EP2503266B1 - Refrigeration cycle device and information propagation method adapted thereto - Google Patents
Refrigeration cycle device and information propagation method adapted thereto Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2503266B1 EP2503266B1 EP09851418.5A EP09851418A EP2503266B1 EP 2503266 B1 EP2503266 B1 EP 2503266B1 EP 09851418 A EP09851418 A EP 09851418A EP 2503266 B1 EP2503266 B1 EP 2503266B1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- hot
- unit
- refrigerant
- water supply
- refrigeration cycle
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B13/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B7/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, with cascade operation, i.e. with two or more circuits, the heat from the condenser of one circuit being absorbed by the evaporator of the next circuit
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2313/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for
- F25B2313/023—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for using multiple indoor units
- F25B2313/0231—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for using multiple indoor units with simultaneous cooling and heating
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2313/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for
- F25B2313/027—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for characterised by the reversing means
- F25B2313/0272—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for characterised by the reversing means using bridge circuits of one-way valves
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2313/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for
- F25B2313/027—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for characterised by the reversing means
- F25B2313/02741—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for characterised by the reversing means using one four-way valve
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2500/00—Problems to be solved
- F25B2500/19—Calculation of parameters
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a refrigeration cycle apparatus used in an air-conditioning apparatus or an air-conditioning hot-water supply combined system and an information transfer method used in the refrigeration cycle apparatus, and to a refrigeration cycle apparatus that increases system COP and an information transfer method used in the refrigeration cycle apparatus.
- EP 1 275 913 A2 refers to a multiform gas heat pump type of air conditioning system having: a plurality of indoor units that are each provided with an indoor heat exchanger and that perform a heat exchange between air inside a room and refrigerant; an outdoor unit provided with a compressor driven by a gas engine and an outdoor heat exchanger for performing a heat exchange between outside air and the refrigerant; and a split flow control unit for controlling a flow direction of the refrigerant in each of the indoor units and for performing a selection switching between cooling and heating operations.
- EP 1 340 949 A1 refers to a multi-stage type refrigeration system including a chiller unit and a freezer unit by eliminating a cascade unit.
- the freezer unit is provided with a freezing compressor for compressing a refrigerant in a total of two stages together with compressors in an outdoor unit.
- the freezing compressor is formed by an inverter compressor.
- An oil separator is disposed on the discharge of the freezing compressor, a heat exchanger is provided for cooling an inverter with an refrigeration oil separated by the oil separator and a suction refrigerant.
- US2006/0218948 also discloses a multi use-side unit cooling and/or heating system.
- Patent Literature 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 11-270920 ( Fig. 1 etc.)
- the present invention has been made in order to overcome the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a refrigeration cycle apparatus that achieves load balancing (for example, the balance between a cooling load and the heating load and the balance between the cooling load and the heating and hot water loads) to increase system COP and an information transfer method used in the refrigeration cycle apparatus.
- load balancing for example, the balance between a cooling load and the heating load and the balance between the cooling load and the heating and hot water loads
- a refrigeration cycle apparatus is a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1.
- An information transfer method according to the present invention is an information transfer method used in the above refrigeration cycle apparatus, wherein the method is as according to claim 7.
- a refrigeration cycle apparatus allows a plurality of use-side units to be operated so that the thermal cooling load and the thermal heating load to be executed by the plurality of use-side units are balanced, and can therefore increase system COP and achieve a reduction in running cost while realizing energy saving.
- An information transfer method according to the present invention is used in the above refrigeration cycle apparatus. Therefore, a stable operation can be efficiently continued.
- Fig. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating an example of the refrigerant circuit configuration of a refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- the refrigerant circuit configuration and operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1 .
- Fig. 1 a case where the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 is an air-conditioning hot-water supply combined system capable of simultaneously supplying a cooling load (thermal cooling load) and heating and hot water loads (thermal heating load) by utilizing a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant (air conditioning refrigerant) is circulated is illustrated by way of example. It should be noted that the dimensional relationships of components in Fig. 1 and other subsequent figures may be different from the actual ones.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 is constituted by a refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1, a refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2, and a hot-water supply device 3, and is configured such that the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 and the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 exchange heat in a refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 and the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 and the hot-water supply device 3 exchange heat in a heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51 without each of the refrigerants and water being mixed.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 further has mounted therein a hot-water supply unit F.
- the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 is constituted by a heat source unit A, an indoor unit B and an indoor unit C each of which takes charge of the cooling load or the heating load, a heat source circuit for hot-water supply D serving as a heat source of the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2, and a relay unit E.
- the indoor unit B, the indoor unit C, and the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D are connected in parallel to the heat source unit A and mounted.
- the relay unit E which is disposed between the heat source unit A and the other components, that is, the indoor unit B, the indoor unit C, and the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D, switches a flow of a refrigerant to cause the indoor unit B, the indoor unit C, and the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D to perform their respective functions.
- the heat source unit A has a function for supplying heating energy or cooling energy to the indoor unit B, the indoor unit C, and the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D.
- the heat source unit A has mounted therein an air conditioning compressor 101, a four-way valve 102, an outdoor heat exchanger (heat source side heat exchanger) 103, and an accumulator 104, which are connected in series.
- the air conditioning compressor 101 is configured to suck in the air conditioning refrigerant and compress the air conditioning refrigerant into a high-temperature high-pressure state.
- the four-way valve 102 is configured to switch the flow of the air conditioning refrigerant.
- the outdoor heat exchanger 103 functions as an evaporator or a radiator (condenser), and is configured to exchange heat between air supplied from a fan or the like (not illustrated) and the air conditioning refrigerant to evaporate and gasify the air conditioning refrigerant or condense and liquefy the air conditioning refrigerant.
- the accumulator 104 is disposed on the suction side of the air conditioning compressor 101, and is configured to store excessive air conditioning refrigerant.
- the accumulator 104 may be any container capable of storing excessive air conditioning refrigerant.
- a check valve 105a is provided in a high-pressure-side connection pipe 106 between the outdoor heat exchanger 103 and the relay unit E for permitting the air conditioning refrigerant to flow only in a predetermined direction (the direction from the heat source unit A to the relay unit E), and a check valve 105b is provided in a low-pressure-side connection pipe 107 between the four-way valve 102 and the relay unit E for permitting the air conditioning refrigerant to flow only in a predetermined direction (the direction from the relay unit E to the heat source unit A).
- the high-pressure-side connection pipe 106 and the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107 are connected to each other through a first connection pipe 130 that connects the upstream side (connection portion a) of the check valve 105a and the upstream side (connection portion c) of the check valve 105b and through a second connection pipe 131 that connects the downstream side (connection portion b) of the check valve 105a and the downstream side (connection portion d) of the check valve 105b.
- a check valve 105c is provided in the first connection pipe 130 for permitting the air conditioning refrigerant to be distributed only in the direction from the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107 to the high-pressure-side connection pipe 106.
- a check valve 105d is provided in the second connection pipe 131 for permitting the air conditioning refrigerant to be distributed only in the direction from the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107 to the high-pressure-side connection pipe 106.
- Each of the indoor unit B and the indoor unit C has a function of taking charge of the heating load or the cooling load upon receipt of heating energy or cooling energy supplied from the heat source unit A.
- Each of the indoor unit B and the indoor unit C has mounted therein air conditioning expansion devices 117 and indoor heat exchangers (use side heat exchangers) 118, which are connected in series.
- the indoor unit B and the indoor unit C, each of which has mounted therein two air conditioning expansion devices 117 and two indoor heat exchangers 118 in such a manner the two air conditioning expansion devices 117 are parallel to each other and the two indoor heat exchangers 118 are parallel to each other, are illustrated by way of example.
- connection pipes 133 connection pipes that connect the relay unit E to the indoor heat exchangers 118
- connection pipes 134 connection pipes that connect the relay unit E to the air conditioning expansion devices 117
- the air conditioning expansion devices 117 function as pressure reducing valves and expansion valves, and are configured to reduce the pressure of the air conditioning refrigerant to cause the air conditioning refrigerant to expand.
- Each of the air conditioning expansion devices 117 may be constituted by a mechanism whose opening degree is variably controllable, such as a precise flow rate control device based on an electronic expansion valve or an inexpensive refrigerant flow rate regulating device such as a capillary tube.
- the indoor heat exchangers 118 function as radiators (condensers) or evaporators, and are configured to exchange heat between air supplied from the fan or the like (not illustrated) and the air conditioning refrigerant to evaporate and gasify the air conditioning refrigerant or condense and liquefy the air conditioning refrigerant.
- the air conditioning expansion devices 117 and the indoor heat exchangers 118 are connected in series.
- the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D has a function for supplying the heating energy or cooling energy from the heat source unit A to the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 via the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41.
- the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D is configured such that a heat source expansion device for hot-water supply 119 and the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 are connected in series. That is, the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 and the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 are cascade-connected via the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41.
- connection pipe 135 a connection pipe that connects the relay unit E to the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41
- connection pipe 136 a connection pipe that connects the relay unit E to the heat source expansion device for hot-water supply 119.
- the heat source expansion device for hot-water supply 119 functions as a pressure reducing valve and an expansion valve, and is configured to reduce the pressure of the air conditioning refrigerant to cause the air conditioning refrigerant to expand.
- the heat source expansion device for hot-water supply 119 may be constituted by a mechanism whose opening degree is variably controllable, such as a precise flow rate control device based on an electronic expansion valve or an inexpensive refrigerant flow rate regulating device such as a capillary tube.
- the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 functions as a radiator (condenser) or an evaporator, and is configured to exchange heat between the hot-water supply refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle of the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 and the air conditioning refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle of the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1.
- the relay unit E connects the use-side units (the indoor unit B, the indoor unit C, and the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D) and the heat source unit A, and has a function of determining whether the indoor heat exchangers 118 are to be radiators or evaporators and the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 is to be a water cooler or a water heater by opening and closing either valve means 109a or valve means 109b of a first distribution unit 109.
- the relay unit E is constituted by a gas-liquid separator 108, the first distribution unit 109, a second distribution unit 110, a first internal heat exchanger 111, a first relay expansion device 112, a second internal heat exchanger 113, and a second relay expansion device 114.
- connection pipes 133 and the connection pipe 135 each branch into two pipes, first pipes (connection pipes 133b and a connection pipe 135b) of which are connected to the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107 and second pipes (connection pipes 133a and a connection pipe 135a) of which are connected to a connection pipe (referred to as a connection pipe 132) connected to the gas-liquid separator 108.
- the valve means 109a that are controlled to be opened or closed to allow the refrigerant to pass or not pass therethrough are provided in the connection pipes 133a and the connection pipe 135a
- the valve means 109b that are controlled to be opened or closed to allow the refrigerant to pass or not pass therethrough are provided in the connection pipes 133b and the connection pipe 135b.
- connection pipes 134 and the connection pipe 136 each branch into two pipes, first pipes (connection pipes 134a and a connection pipe 136a) of which are connected to a first junction unit 115 and second pipes (connection pipes 134b and a connection pipe 136b) of which are connected to a second junction unit 116.
- second distribution unit 110 furthermore, check valves 110a that permit the refrigerant to be distributed only in one direction are provided in the connection pipes 134a and the connection pipe 136a, and check valves 110b that permit the refrigerant to be distributed only in one direction are provided in the connection pipes 134b and the connection pipe 136b.
- the first junction unit 115 is connected to the gas-iiquid separator 108 from the second distribution unit 110 via the first relay expansion device 112 and the first internal heat exchanger 111.
- the second junction unit 116 branches into pipes between the second distribution unit 110 and the second internal heat exchanger 113, one pipe being connected via the second internal heat exchanger 113 to the first junction unit 115 between the second distribution unit 110 and the first relay expansion device 112 and the other pipe (a second junction unit 116a) being connected to the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107 via the second relay expansion device 114, the second internal heat exchanger 113, and the first internal heat exchanger 111.
- the gas-liquid separator 108 is configured to separate the air conditioning refrigerant into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant, and is provided in the high-pressure-side connection pipe 106.
- the gas-liquid separator 108 has one end connected to the valve means 109a of the first distribution unit 109 and another end connected to the second distribution unit 110 through the first junction unit 115.
- the first distribution unit 109 has a function of allowing the air conditioning refrigerant to flow into the indoor heat exchangers 118 and the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 by either the valve means 109a or the valve means 109b being opened or closed.
- the second distribution unit 110 has a function of permitting the air conditioning refrigerant to flow in either one direction through each of the check valves 110a and check valves 110b.
- the first internal heat exchanger 111 is provided in the first junction unit 115 between the gas-liquid separator 108 and the first relay expansion device 112, and is configured to exchange heat between the air conditioning refrigerant passing through the first junction unit 115 and the air conditioning refrigerant passing through the second junction unit 116a branching from the second junction unit 116.
- the first relay expansion device 112 is provided in the first junction unit 115 between the first internal heat exchanger 111 and the second distribution unit 110, and is configured to reduce the pressure of the air conditioning refrigerant to cause the air conditioning refrigerant to expand.
- the first relay expansion device 112 may be constituted by a mechanism whose opening degree is variably controllable, such as a precise flow rate control device based on an electronic expansion valve or an inexpensive refrigerant flow rate regulating device such as a capillary tube.
- the second internal heat exchanger 113 is provided in the second junction unit 116, and is configured to exchange heat between the air conditioning refrigerant passing through the second junction unit 116 and the air conditioning refrigerant passing through the second junction unit 116a branching from the second junction unit 116.
- the second relay expansion device 114 is provided in the second junction unit 116 between the second internal heat exchanger 113 and the second distribution unit 110.
- the second relay expansion device 114 functions as a pressure reducing valve and an expansion valve, and is configured to reduce the pressure of the air conditioning refrigerant to cause the air conditioning refrigerant to expand.
- the second relay expansion device 114 may be constituted by a mechanism whose opening degree is variably controllable, such as a precise flow rate control device based on an electronic expansion valve or an inexpensive refrigerant flow rate regulating device such as a capillary tube.
- the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 constitutes a first refrigerant circuit in which the air conditioning compressor 101, the four-way valve 102, the indoor heat exchangers 118, the air conditioning expansion devices 117, and the outdoor heat exchanger 103 are connected in series, in which the air conditioning compressor 101, the four-way valve 102, the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41, the heat source expansion device for hot-water supply 119, and the outdoor heat exchanger 103 are connected in series, and in which the indoor heat exchangers 118 and the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 are connected in parallel via the relay unit E, and is established by circulating an air conditioning refrigerant in the first refrigerant circuit.
- the air conditioning compressor 101 may be of any type capable of compressing a sucked refrigerant into a high-pressure state, and the type thereof is not particularly limited.
- the air conditioning compressor 101 may be of any of various types such as reciprocating, rotary, scroll, and screw types.
- the air conditioning compressor 101 may also be of a type whose rotation speed is variably controllable by an inverter, or of a type whose rotation speed is fixed.
- the kind of refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 is not particularly limited, and natural refrigerants such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), hydrocarbon, and helium, alternative chlorine-free refrigerants such as HFC410A, HFC407C, and HFC404A, and fluorocarbon refrigerants used in existing products, such as R22 and R134a, may be used.
- natural refrigerants such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), hydrocarbon, and helium
- alternative chlorine-free refrigerants such as HFC410A, HFC407C, and HFC404A
- fluorocarbon refrigerants used in existing products such as R22 and R134a
- the air conditioning refrigerant compressed into a high-temperature high-pressure refrigerant by the air conditioning compressor 101 is discharged from the air conditioning compressor 101, traveling through the four-way valve 102, passing through the check valve 105c, introduced into the high-pressure-side connection pipe 106, and flows into the gas-liquid separator 108 of the relay unit E in a superheated gaseous state.
- the air conditioning refrigerant in the superheated gaseous state flowing into the gas-liquid separator 108 is distributed to circuits of the first distribution unit 109 in which the valve means 109a are open.
- the air conditioning refrigerant in the superheated gaseous state flows into the indoor unit C and the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D.
- the air conditioning refrigerants flowing into the indoor unit C transfer heat in the indoor heat exchangers 118 (to thereby warm indoor air), undergo pressure reduction in the air conditioning expansion devices 117, and merge in the first junction unit 115. Also, the air conditioning refrigerant flowing into the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D transfers heat in the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 (to thereby supply heat to the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2), undergoes pressure reduction in the heat source expansion device for hot-water supply 119, and merges with the air conditioning refrigerants flowing from the indoor unit C in the first junction unit 115.
- the portion of the air conditioning refrigerant in the superheated gaseous state output from the first internal heat exchanger 111 travels through the first relay expansion device 112, and merges with the air conditioning refrigerant that has been used for air conditioning (air conditioning refrigerants that have flowed into the indoor unit C and the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D and that have transferred heat in the indoor heat exchangers 118 and the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41) in the first junction unit 115.
- the portion of the air conditioning refrigerant in the superheated gaseous state to travel through the first relay expansion device 112 may be prevented from traveling through the first relay expansion device 112 by fully closing the first relay expansion device 112. After that, the portion of the air conditioning refrigerant in the superheated gaseous state exchanges heat, in the second internal heat exchanger 113, with the air conditioning refrigerant that has been expanded and has become a low-temperature low-pressure refrigerant in the second relay expansion device 114 to obtain a degree of supercooling.
- This air conditioning refrigerant is distributed to the second junction unit 116 side and to the second relay expansion device 114 side.
- the air conditioning refrigerant passing through the second junction unit 116 is distributed to circuits in which the valve means 109b are open.
- the air conditioning refrigerant passing through the second junction unit 116 flows into the indoor unit B, and is caused to expand into low-temperature low-pressure refrigerants by the air conditioning expansion devices 117.
- the low-temperature low-pressure refrigerants evaporate in the indoor heat exchangers 118, traveling through the valve means 109b, and merge in the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107.
- the air conditioning refrigerant passing through the second relay expansion device 114 evaporates by heat exchange in the second internal heat exchanger 113 and the first internal heat exchanger 111, and merges with the air conditioning refrigerants flowing from the indoor unit B in the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107.
- the merged air conditioning refrigerant in the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107 is introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger 103 through the check valve 105d, where liquid refrigerant that may remain depending on operating conditions is evaporated, and returns to the air conditioning compressor 101 through the four-way valve 102 and the accumulator 104.
- the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 is constituted by a hot-water supply compressor 21, the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51, a hot-water supply expansion device 22, and the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41. That is, the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 constitutes a second refrigerant circuit in which the hot-water supply compressor 21, the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51, the hot-water supply expansion device 22, and the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 are connected in series by a refrigerant pipe 45, and is established by circulating the hot-water supply refrigerant in the second refrigerant circuit.
- the hot-water supply compressor 21 is configured to suck in the hot-water supply refrigerant and compress the hot-water supply refrigerant into a high-temperature high-pressure state.
- the hot-water supply compressor 21 may be of a type whose rotation speed is variably controllable by an inverter, or of a type whose rotation speed is fixed. Furthermore, the hot-water supply compressor 21 may be of any type capable of compressing a sucked refrigerant into a high-pressure state, and the type thereof is not particularly limited.
- the hot-water supply compressor 21 may be constituted by any of various types such as reciprocating, rotary, scroll, and screw types.
- the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51 is configured to exchange heat between the heat medium (fluid such as water) circulating in the hot-water supply device 3 and the hot-water supply refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2. That is, the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 and the hot-water supply device 3 are cascade-connected via the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51.
- the hot-water supply expansion device 22 functions as a pressure reducing valve and an expansion valve, and is configured to reduce the pressure of the hot-water supply refrigerant to cause the hot-water supply refrigerant to expand.
- the hot-water supply expansion device 22 may be constituted by a mechanism whose opening degree is variably controllable, such as a precise flow rate control device based on an electronic expansion valve or an inexpensive refrigerant flow rate regulating device such as a capillary tube.
- the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 is configured to exchange heat between the hot-water supply refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 and the air conditioning refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1.
- the kind of refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 is not particularly limited, and natural refrigerants such as carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon, and helium, alternative chlorine-free refrigerants such as HFC410A, HFC407C, and HFC404A, and fluorocarbon refrigerants used in existing products, such as R22 and R134a, may be used.
- the hot-water supply refrigerant compressed into a high-temperature high-pressure refrigerant by the hot-water supply compressor 21 is discharged from the hot-water supply compressor 21, and flows into the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51.
- the flowing hot-water supply refrigerant transfers heat by heating the water circulating in the hot-water supply device 3.
- the hot-water supply refrigerant is expanded by the hot-water supply expansion device 22 until its temperature has dropped to less than or equal to the outlet temperature of the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 in the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D of the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1.
- the expanded hot-water supply refrigerant receives heat from the air conditioning refrigerant flowing in the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D included in the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1, evaporates in the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41, and returns to the hot-water supply compressor 21.
- the hot-water supply device 3 is constituted by a water circulation pump 31, the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51, and a hot-water storage tank 32. That is, the hot-water supply device 3 constitutes a water circuit (heat medium circuit) in which the water circulation pump 31, the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51, and the hot-water storage tank 32 are connected in series by a stored hot-water/water circulating pipe 203, and is established by circulating water for hot-water supply in the water circuit.
- the stored hot-water/water circulating pipe 203 included in the water circuit is composed of a copper tube, a stainless tube, a steel tube, a vinyl chloride pipe, or the like.
- the water circulation pump 31 is configured to suck in the water stored in the hot-water storage tank 32, pressurize the water, and circulate the water in the hot-water supply device 3.
- the water circulation pump 31 may be of a type whose rotation speed is controlled by an inverter, by way of example.
- the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51 is configured to exchange heat between the heat medium (fluid such as water) circulating in the hot-water supply device 3 and the hot-water supply refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2.
- the hot-water storage tank 32 is configured to store the water heated by the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51.
- comparatively low temperature water stored in the hot-water storage tank 32 is drawn out of the bottom of the hot-water storage tank 32 and is pressurized by the water circulation pump 31.
- the water pressurized by the water circulation pump 31 flows into the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51, and receives heat in the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51 from the hot-water supply refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2. That is, the water flowing into the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51 is boiled by the hot-water supply refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2, and its temperature rises. The boiled water returns to a comparatively high temperature upper portion of the hot-water storage tank 32, and is stored in the hot-water storage tank 32.
- the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 and the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 have independent refrigerant circuit configurations (the first refrigerant circuit constituting the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 and the second refrigerant circuit constituting the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2).
- the refrigerants to be circulated in the respective refrigerant circuits may be of the same type or of different types. That is, the refrigerants in the respective refrigerant circuits flow so as to exchange heat in the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 and the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51 without being mixed.
- a refrigerant with a low critical temperature When a refrigerant with a low critical temperature is used as a hot-water supply refrigerant, the hot-water supply refrigerant in the heat transferring process performed by the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51 is assumed to enter a supercritical state during high-temperature hot-water supply.
- the COP largely fluctuates due to changes in the radiator pressure and the radiator outlet temperature. In order to operate with high COP, more sophisticated control is demanded.
- a refrigerant with a low critical temperature has a higher saturation pressure than other refrigerants for the same temperature, and the thickness of the pipes and compressors needs to be increased accordingly, resulting in an increase in cost.
- the target temperature of hot-water supply is assumed to be typically 60 degrees C or higher at minimum.
- a refrigerant having a critical temperature of 60 degrees C or higher at minimum is used as the hot-water supply refrigerant.
- high COP can be achieved more stably with lower cost. It is anticipated that temperature and pressure will become high in the refrigerant circuit when the refrigerant is commonly used around the critical temperature. Using a high pressure shell type compressor as the hot-water supply compressor 21 enables stable operation.
- the invention is not limited to this, and the accumulator 104 may be omitted if excessive refrigerant is stored in a heat exchanger serving as a radiator in a refrigeration cycle.
- the number of indoor units to be connected is not particularly limited, and, for example, one or more indoor units B and no indoor unit C or one or more indoor units C may be connected.
- the capacities of indoor units included in the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 may be the same or different from high to low.
- the hot water load system uses a binary cycle.
- a demand for high-temperature hot-water supply for example, 80 degrees C
- it is only required to set the temperature of the radiator of the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 to a high temperature for example, a condensing temperature of 85 degrees C.
- a high temperature for example, a condensing temperature of 85 degrees C.
- the condensing temperature for example, 50 degrees C
- energy saving is achieved.
- a demand for high-temperature hot-water supply during the air conditioning cooling operation in the summer would conventionally need to be provided through a boiler or the like. Because hot-water supply is performed through collection and reuse of heating energy, which has been conventionally released in the air, the system COP is significantly increased, leading to energy saving.
- the hot-water supply unit F has mounted therein the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41, the heat source expansion device for hot-water supply 119, the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51, the hot-water supply compressor 21, and the hot-water supply expansion device 22. That is, the hot-water supply unit F accommodates therein a portion of the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 via the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41, the entirety of the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2, and a portion of the hot-water supply device 3 via the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51.
- Fig. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining information transfer in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information transfer performed by the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 will be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 .
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 in which two indoor units (an indoor unit B and an indoor unit C) and two hot-water supply units F (a hot-water supply unit F1 and a hot-water supply unit F2) are connected to one heat source unit A is illustrated by way of example.
- the heat source unit A and the relay unit E are connected via refrigerant pipes 5 (the high-pressure-side connection pipe 106, the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107), and the relay unit E and the use-side units are connected via refrigerant pipes 6 (the connection pipes 133, the connection pipes 134, the connection pipe 135, the connection pipe 136), thereby constituting a single refrigerant circuit system (the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1).
- the heat source unit A is provided with a heat source unit controller 61
- the relay unit E is provided with a relay unit controller 62.
- Each of the indoor unit B and the indoor unit C is provided with an indoor unit controller (use-side unit controller) 63
- each of the hot-water supply units F is provided with a hot-water supply unit controller (use-side unit controller) 64.
- the heat source unit A is controlled by the heat source unit controller 61
- the relay unit E is controlled by the relay unit controller 62
- the indoor unit B and the indoor unit C are controlled by the indoor unit controllers 63
- the hot-water supply units F are controlled by the hot-water supply unit controllers 64.
- the heat source unit controller 61 and the relay unit controller 62 are connected to each other via a transmission line 7 so that information can be transferred between them.
- the relay unit controller 62 and the indoor unit controllers 63 are connected to each other via a transmission line 8 so that information can be transferred between them.
- the relay unit controller 62 and the hot-water supply unit controllers 64 are connected to each other via the transmission line 8 so that information can be transferred between them.
- the indoor unit controllers 63 and the hot-water supply unit controllers 64 are connected to remote controllers 65 via transmission lines 9 so that information can be transferred between the indoor unit controllers 63 and the associated remote controllers 65 and between the hot-water supply unit controllers 64 and the associated remote controllers 65.
- the heat source unit controller 61 is further connected to a heat source unit controller in another refrigerant system (not illustrated) via a transmission line 10.
- a centralized controller 66 for centralized management of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 is also connected to the transmission line 10.
- Each of the heat source unit controller 61, the relay unit controller 62, the indoor unit controllers 63, the hot-water supply unit controllers 64, the remote controllers 65, and the centralized controller 66 is assigned a unique address, and is configured to obtain the address of a communication partner through manual setting or automatic determination at the time of system start.
- the heat source unit controller 61 is configured to obtain the operating capacities of all the units connected to the relay unit E, including the indoor unit B, the indoor unit C, and the hot-water supply units F, through communication at the time of system start.
- Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating the connection state in a hot-water supply unit F of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- the connection state in a hot-water supply unit F will be described with reference to Fig. 3 .
- the hot-water supply unit F is provided with the hot-water storage tank 32.
- the hot-water storage tank 32 is provided with a water supply valve 33 disposed at a water inlet (illustration omitted), a water discharge valve 34 disposed at a water outlet (illustration omitted), a water temperature sensor 35 that detects the temperature of water, hot water, or the like stored in the hot-water storage tank 32, and a water level sensor 36 that detects the amount (water level) of water, hot water, or the like stored in the hot-water storage tank 32.
- the hot-water supply unit controller 64 is connected to the water temperature sensor 35 and the water level sensor 36, and is configured to be capable of obtaining the temperature of water and the amount of water in the hot-water storage tank 32 on the basis of information transferred from the water temperature sensor 35 and the water level sensor 36.
- the hot-water supply unit controller 64 is also connected to the water supply valve 33, and is configured to control the opening and closing of the water supply valve 33. That is, the hot-water supply unit controller 64 is configured to open the water supply valve 33 to supply the hot-water storage tank 32 with cold water.
- the hot-water supply unit controller 64 is further connected to the water discharge valve 34, and is configured to control the opening and closing of the water discharge valve 34. That is, the hot-water supply unit controller 64 is configured to open the water discharge valve 34 so that hot water can be discharged to the outside of the hot-water storage tank 32.
- Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a communication/operation process executed by the heat source unit controller 61.
- the flow of the communication/operation process executed by the heat source unit controller 61 will be described with reference to Fig. 4 .
- Steps S100 to S106 illustrated in Fig. 4 represent processes executed by the heat source unit controller 61.
- a description will be given by taking the hot-water supply unit F1 as an example.
- a user operates the associated remote controller 65 and sets a set temperature of the hot-water supply unit F1.
- the user can set a binary set temperature.
- the term binary set temperature refers to a hot-water supply temperature (first set temperature) required for the hot-water supply unit F1 and a temperature (second set temperature) when the hot-water supply unit F1 automatically operates for the purpose of energy saving or continuation of stable operation of the overall system.
- the second set temperature is set to a value higher than the first set temperature. For example, the user sets 55 degrees C as the first set temperature and 60 degrees C as the second set temperature.
- the remote controller 65 When a set temperature is input, the remote controller 65 saves the set binary set temperature in a memory, and transmits the set binary set temperature to the associated hot-water supply unit controller 64 via the transmission line 9.
- the hot-water supply unit controller 64 Upon receipt of the set binary set temperature, the hot-water supply unit controller 64 saves the received binary set temperature in a memory, and transmits the binary set temperature to the relay unit controller 62 via the transmission line 8.
- the binary set temperature is further transmitted to the centralized controller 66 through the transmission line 8, the transmission line 7, and the transmission line 10.
- the relay unit controller 62 that has received the binary set temperature also transmits the binary set temperature of each hot-water supply unit F to the heat source unit controller 61 via the transmission line 7.
- the user When the user do not wish to cause the hot-water supply unit F to automatically operate, they may not set the second set temperature.
- the user It will also be possible for the user to set the binary set temperature by manipulating the centralized controller 66. In this case, the centralized controller 66 saves a set binary set temperature in a memory, and transmits the set binary set temperature to the associated hot-water supply unit controller 64 through the transmission line 10, the transmission line 7, and the transmission line 8.
- the hot-water supply unit controller 64 Upon receipt of the set binary set temperature, the hot-water supply unit controller 64 transmits the received binary set temperature to the relay unit controller 62 via the transmission line 8, and also transmits the binary set temperature to the associated remote controller 65 through the transmission line 9.
- the above communication allows the heat source unit controller 61 to keep information about all the hot-water supply units F connected to the refrigerant circuit as to whether or not automatic operation is possible.
- the heat source unit controller 61 performs an analysis process for newly received communication (step S101).
- the communication received here includes the operating/stopping state of all the units connected to the refrigerant circuit, including the indoor units B, the indoor units C, and the hot-water supply units F, and information as to whether or not automatic operation is possible.
- the heat source unit controller 61 determines whether or not automatic operation is possible (step S102). For example, if one or more of automatically operable hot-water supply units F are stopped or are under automatic operation, it is determined that automatic operation is possible. This is because the apparatus may be used such that even when there is a hot-water supply unit F that is set as a unit possible to perform automatic operation, it may not be permitted to automatically stop when normal operation is started by a user operation.
- the heat source unit controller 61 analyses the operating capacity, the load state, the system COP, and the like from various kinds of data, such as the operating/stopping state, pressure, temperature, compressor operating frequency, current, and the like of all the units connected to the refrigerant circuit, such as the indoor units B, the indoor units C, and the hot-water supply units F (step S103).
- the balance of the cooling load, heating load, and the hot water load are determined from the total capacity of an indoor unit B and an indoor unit C with the cooling thermo-on, the total capacity of an indoor unit B and an indoor unit C with the heating thermo-on, and the total capacity of hot-water supply units F with the thermo-on.
- the heat source unit controller 61 determines whether or not the operating condition can be improved by operating or stopping an automatically operable hot-water supply unit F (step S104). For example, when the cooling load is larger than the heating and hot water loads, if the difference between the cooling load and the heating and hot water loads can be reduced by operating an automatically operable hot-water supply unit F, then it can be determined that the system COP will be increased by allowing the hot-water supply unit F to operate.
- the motor efficiency of the air conditioning compressor 101 when in the state of the small-capacity heating operation, it can be determined that the motor efficiency of the air conditioning compressor 101 will be improved by allowing an automatically operable hot-water supply unit F to operate, which results in energy saving operation.
- the number of indoor units C that perform heating operation is increased by manipulation of an user operation and when the heating load becomes large, then, it can be determined that power consumption can be reduced by stopping the hot-water supply unit F that has been allowed to automatically operate.
- the high-pressure-side pressure can be reduced by operating an automatically operable hot-water supply unit F and that stable operation can be continued. After that, if the high-pressure-side pressure is sufficiently reduced by, for example, change of the number of units operated, it can be determined that power consumption can be reduced by stopping the hot-water supply unit F that has been allowed to automatically operate.
- the hot-water supply units F to be changed are determined in accordance with a preset priority.
- the priority may be manually set in advance.
- the priority may be set in accordance with the intended use such as for a guest room in a hotel, a room for employees, and the like.
- Another method is also possible in which the priority is set in accordance with the addresses of the hot-water supply unit controllers 64. In this case, the method is made feasible by setting the values of the addresses in ascending order or descending order in accordance with the priority.
- the priority is determined in accordance with the integrated operating time of each hot-water supply unit F.
- a hot-water supply unit F with a short integrated operating time is operated with priority to make the integrated operating times uniform, thereby making it possible to avoid the problem of shortening the product life of only a specific hot-water supply unit F.
- the priority is set in accordance with the value of the difference between the water temperature in the hot-water storage tank 32 of each hot-water supply unit F and a set temperature. In this method, a hot-water supply unit F having a large temperature difference is preferentially operated, thereby enabling continuous operation for a long time.
- the heat source unit controller 61 transmits information of the hot-water supply unit or units F to be operated and stopped to the relay unit controller 62 (step S105). After the completion of the transmission process, the heat source unit controller 61 performs normal processes such as receiving a sensor input and controlling the actuators (step S106). Meanwhile, also when it is determined that automatic operation is not possible (step S102; N) or when it is determined that the operating condition cannot be improved by operating and stopping an automatically operable hot-water supply unit F (step S104; N), the heat source unit controller 61 performs the normal processes (step S106).
- the relay unit controller 62 Upon receipt of an automatic operation/stopping command for a hot-water supply unit F from the heat source unit controller 61, the relay unit controller 62 transmits the automatic operation/stopping command to the associated hot-water supply unit controller 64. Upon receipt of notification of a change of the operating condition from an indoor unit controller 63 or a hot-water supply unit controller 64, the relay unit controller 62 transmits the notification of the change in the operating condition to the heat source unit controller 61.
- the hot-water supply unit controller 64 Upon receipt of an automatic operation/stopping command from the relay unit controller 62, the hot-water supply unit controller 64 changes the operating condition in accordance with the command, and transmits notification of the change of the operating condition to the associated remote controller 65 and the centralized controller 66.
- the hot-water supply unit controller 64 Upon receipt of a normal operation or stopping command from the remote controller 65 or the centralized controller 66, the hot-water supply unit controller 64 changes the operating condition in accordance with the command, and transmits the change of the operating condition to the relay unit controller 62.
- the hot-water supply unit controller 64 further identifies the operating condition of the associated hot-water supply unit F as that in normal operation or automatic operation, and holds the operating condition. Further, the hot-water supply unit controller 64 also transmits information of the identified operating conditions of the remote controllers 65 and the centralized controller 66 to the remote controllers 65 and the centralized controller 66.
- the hot-water supply unit controller 64 operates in order to allow the water temperature to reach the first set temperature, and the hot-water supply unit controller 64 turns off the thermostat when the water temperature has reached the first set temperature. In automatic operation, however, the hot-water supply unit controller 64 maintains the on-state of the thermostat until the water temperature has reached the second set temperature. This is because the hot-water supply unit F is made to be able to continue its operation for a long time for the purpose of energy saving or continuation of stable operation of the overall system.
- the water supply valve 33 is opened to supply the hot-water storage tank 32 with cold water to reduce the water temperature, and the operation is continued.
- the hot-water storage tank 32 If the hot-water storage tank 32 is full, the water discharge valve 34 is opened to discharge a certain amount of hot water. Then, the hot-water storage tank 32 is supplied with cold water, and the operation is continued. It is assumed here that the discharge control of cold water can be selected by separately providing a means for determining a priority over continuation of automatic operation.
- the remote controller 65 and the centralized controller 66 Upon receipt of notification of a change of the automatic operation/stopping condition from the associated hot-water supply unit controller 64, the remote controller 65 and the centralized controller 66 recognize the information, and reflect the information on display. In this case, also regarding display, the normal operation and the automatic operation may be displayed in a distinguishable manner. The purpose is to allow the user to recognize that the automatic operation is in progress and to prevent the user from mistakenly thinking that some other event is in progress such as forgetting to turn off the associated hot-water supply unit F using a remote control (remote controller 65). Additionally, when the associated hot-water supply unit F is operated or stopped by a user, the remote controller 65 and the centralized controller 66 recognize information, reflect the information on display, and transmit the information to the associated hot-water supply unit controller 64.
- the heat source unit controller 61 includes a means for allowing the hot-water supply unit F to operate is illustrated by way of example. Any other controller may include a means for allowing the hot-water supply unit F to operate.
- the advantage of the system having a means for allowing the hot-water supply unit F to operate in the heat source unit controller 61 is that the amount of communication can be reduced because the heat source unit A is capable of performing control determination using data of the pressure and temperature thereof, compressor operating frequency, current, and the like.
- the centralized controller 66 can include a means for operating a hot-water supply unit F. The advantage of this method is that an optimum operating schedule of the hot-water supply unit F can be predicted and created by performing determination using schedule setting information of the overall system which is held in the centralized controller 66.
- each of the indoor unit controllers 63 can include a means for operating a hot-water supply unit F.
- control can be performed using a simple algorithm such as operating and stopping a hot-water supply unit F in association with operating and stopping of the indoor unit B and the indoor unit C.
- a means for operating a hot-water supply unit F can also be provided in the hot-water supply unit controller 64 itself.
- the advantage of this system is that, due to the autonomous control, the hot-water supply unit F can contribute to energy saving while reducing changes in water temperature.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 when the cooling load is larger than the heating load and the hot water load, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 operates the hot-water supply device, thereby increasing the system COP and enabling a reduction in running cost while achieving energy saving. Also, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 operates the hot-water supply device during the small-capacity heating operation, thereby improving the motor efficiency of the air conditioning compressor 101 and enabling a reduction in running cost while further achieving energy saving. Additionally, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 causes the hot-water supply device to operate in the case of the small-capacity overloaded heating operation, thereby reducing the high-pressure-side pressure and allowing for continuation of stable operation.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 in which the secondary refrigerant (hot water) of a hot-water supply unit F is used as a heat storing heat medium has been described by way of example.
- the configuration of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 is not limited to this.
- an air-conditioning apparatus illustrated in Fig. 5 (of the type in which heat is transferred from a direct expansion air conditioner to another secondary refrigerant) can also be used in a similar manner.
- a case where a hot-water supply unit F is present has been described by way of example.
- the overall air conditioning loads of the indoor unit B and the indoor unit C may be desirably balanced.
- Fig. 5 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating another example of the refrigerant circuit configuration of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as a refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A).
- the refrigerant circuit configuration and operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A will be described with reference to Fig. 5 .
- a case where the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A is an air-conditioning apparatus capable of simultaneously supplying a cooling load and a heating load (or a hot water load) by utilizing a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant (heat-source refrigerant) is circulated is illustrated by way of example.
- the difference between Fig. 5 and Fig. 1 will be primarily described, and, in Fig. 5 , the same portions as those in Fig. 1 are assigned the same numerals and a description thereof is omitted.
- the heat source unit A and a relay unit (hereinafter referred to as the relay unit E1) are connected to each other by a refrigerant pipe 5 (the high-pressure-side connection pipe 106, the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107) via a heat exchanger related to heat medium 71a and a heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b which are included in the relay unit E1.
- the relay unit E1 and an indoor unit (hereinafter referred to as the indoor unit B1) are also connected to each other by a refrigerant pipe 6 via the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71a and the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b.
- all the illustrated indoor units are referred to as indoor units B1 for convenience of illustration.
- Each of the indoor units B1 has mounted therein an indoor heat exchanger 118. That is, each of the indoor units B1 is different from the indoor unit B in that the air conditioning expansion device 117 is not mounted.
- the indoor heat exchangers 118 are designed to be connected to heat medium flow control devices 75 and second heat medium flow switching devices 76 in the relay unit E1 by refrigerant pipes 6.
- Fig. 5 a case where four indoor units B1 are connected to the relay unit E1 is illustrated by way of example. However, the number of indoor units B1 connected is not limited to four.
- the relay unit E1 has mounted therein the two heat exchangers related to heat medium 71, two expansion devices 72, two on-off devices 73, two second refrigerant flow switching devices 74, two pumps 80, four first heat medium flow switching devices 77, the four second heat medium flow switching devices 76, and the four heat medium flow control devices 75.
- Each of the two heat exchangers related to heat medium 71 functions as a condenser (radiator) or an evaporator, and is configured to exchange heat between the heat-source-side refrigerant and the heat medium to transfer cooling energy or heating energy generated by the heat source unit A and stored in the heat-source-side refrigerant to the heat medium.
- the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71a is provided between the expansion device 72a and a second refrigerant flow switching device 74a, and serve to cool the heat medium in a cooling/heating combined operation mode.
- the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b is provided between the expansion device 72b and a second refrigerant flow switching device 74b, and serves to heat the heat medium in the cooling/heating combined operation mode.
- Each of the two expansion devices 72 has the function of a pressure reducing valve or an expansion valve, and is configured to reduce the pressure of the heat-source-side refrigerant to cause the heat-source-side refrigerant to expand.
- the expansion device 72a is provided upstream from the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71a in the direction of the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant during the cooling operation.
- the expansion device 72b is provided upstream from the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b in the direction of the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant during the cooling operation.
- Each of the two expansion devices 72 may be constituted by a mechanism whose opening degree is variably controllable, such as an electronic expansion valve.
- the two on-off devices 73 are constituted by two-way valves or the like, and are configured to open and close the refrigerant pipe 5.
- the on-off device 73a is provided on the heat-source-side refrigerant inlet side of the refrigerant pipe 5.
- the on-off device 73b is provided in a pipe that connects the heat-source-side refrigerant inlet and outlet sides of the refrigerant pipe 5.
- Each of the two second refrigerant flow switching devices 74 (the second refrigerant flow switching device 74a and the second refrigerant flow switching device 74b) is constituted by a four-way valve or the like, and is configured to switch the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant in accordance with the operation mode.
- the second refrigerant flow switching device 74a is provided downstream from the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71a in the direction of the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant during the cooling operation.
- the second refrigerant flow switching device 74b is provided downstream from the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b in the direction of the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant during the cooling only operation.
- the two pumps 80 (a pump 80a and a pump 80b) are configured to circulate the heat medium passing through the refrigerant pipes 6.
- the pump 80a is provided in the refrigerant pipe 6 between the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71a and the second heat medium flow switching devices 76.
- the pump 80b is provided in the refrigerant pipe 6 between the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b and the second heat medium flow switching devices 76.
- the two pumps 80 may be constituted by, for example, pumps whose capacity can be controlled or the like.
- Each of the four first heat medium flow switching devices 77 is constituted by a three-way valve or the like, and is configured to switch the flow path of the heat medium.
- the first heat medium flow switching devices 77 the number of which corresponds to the number of indoor units B1 installed (here, four), are provided.
- one of the three ways is connected to the associated heat exchanger related to heat medium 71a
- another of the three ways is connected to the associated heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b
- the other of the three ways is connected to the associated heat medium flow control device 75.
- the first heat medium flow switching devices 77 are provided on the outlet side of the heat medium flow paths extending from the indoor heat exchangers 118.
- Each of the four second heat medium flow switching devices 76 is constituted by a three-way valve or the like, and is configured to switch the flow path of the heat medium.
- the second heat medium flow switching devices 76 the number of which corresponds to the number of indoor units B installed (here, four), are provided.
- one of the three ways is connected to the associated heat exchanger related to heat medium 71a
- another of the three ways is connected to the associated heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b
- the other of the three ways is connected to the associated indoor heat exchanger 118
- the second heat medium flow switching devices 76 are provided on the inlet side of the heat medium flow paths extending from the indoor heat exchangers 118.
- Each of the four heat medium flow control devices 75 is constituted by a two-way valve or the like using, for example, a stepping motor, and is configured to make changeable the opening degree of the associated refrigerant pipe 6 serving as a heat medium flow path to control the flow rate of the heat medium.
- the heat medium flow control devices 75 the number of which corresponds to the number of indoor units B1 installed (here, four), are provided.
- one way is connected to the associated indoor heat exchanger 118 and the other way is connected to the associated first heat medium flow switching device 77, and the heat medium flow control devices 75 are provided on the outlet side of the heat medium flow paths extending from the indoor heat exchangers 118.
- the heat medium flow control devices 75 may be provided on the inlet side of the heat medium flow paths extending from the indoor heat exchangers 118.
- the heat source unit A and the relay unit E1 are connected to each other via the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71a and the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b which are provided in the relay unit E1, and the relay unit E1 and the indoor units B1 are also connected to each other via the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71a and the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A is configured such that the heat-source-side refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 and the heat medium circulating in the a heat medium cycle (for example, the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 described with reference to Fig. 1 ) exchange heat in the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71a and the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A having the above configuration increases the system COP by causing the hot-water supply device to operate when the cooling load is larger than the heating load (or the hot water load), and enables a reduction in running cost while achieving energy saving.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A further improves the motor efficiency of the air conditioning compressor 101 by causing the heating device (or the hot-water supply device) to operate during the small-capacity heating operation, and enables a reduction in running cost while further achieving energy saving. Additionally, in the case of the small-capacity overloaded heating operation, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A causes the heating device (or the hot-water supply device) to operate, thereby reducing the high-pressure-side pressure and allowing for continuation of stable operation.
- 1 refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 2 refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply, 3 hot-water supply device, 5 refrigerant pipe, 6 refrigerant pipe, 7 transmission line, 8 transmission line, 9 transmission line, 10 transmission line, 21 hot-water supply compressor, 22 hot-water supply expansion device, 31 water circulation pump, 32 hot-water storage tank, 33 water supply valve, 34 water discharge valve, 35 water temperature sensor, 36 water level sensor, 41 refrigerant heat exchanger, 45 refrigerant pipe, 51 refrigerant heat exchanger, 61 heat source unit controller, 62 relay unit controller, 63 indoor unit controller, 64 hot-water supply unit controller, 65 remote controller, 66 centralized controller, 71 heat exchanger related to heat medium, 71a heat exchanger related to heat medium, 71b heat exchanger related to heat medium, 72 expansion device, 72a expansion device, 72b expansion device, 73 on-off device, 73a on-off device, 73b on-off device, 74 refrigerant flow switching device, 74a refrigerant flow switching device, 74b
Description
- The present invention relates to a refrigeration cycle apparatus used in an air-conditioning apparatus or an air-conditioning hot-water supply combined system and an information transfer method used in the refrigeration cycle apparatus, and to a refrigeration cycle apparatus that increases system COP and an information transfer method used in the refrigeration cycle apparatus.
- Conventionally, there are air-conditioning hot-water supply combined systems capable of simultaneously supplying a cooling load, a heating load, and a hot water load. As such, there has been proposed a "multifunctional heat pump system including one compressor and constituted by refrigerant circuits in which the compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, a cooling energy storage tank, and a hot water heat exchanger are connected to one another, wherein flows of refrigerant to the respective heat exchangers are switched to construct refrigeration cycles that enable single operations of cooling, heating, hot-water supply, heat storage, and cool storage and also enable combinations of these operations" (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
EP 1 275 913 A2 refers to a multiform gas heat pump type of air conditioning system having: a plurality of indoor units that are each provided with an indoor heat exchanger and that perform a heat exchange between air inside a room and refrigerant; an outdoor unit provided with a compressor driven by a gas engine and an outdoor heat exchanger for performing a heat exchange between outside air and the refrigerant; and a split flow control unit for controlling a flow direction of the refrigerant in each of the indoor units and for performing a selection switching between cooling and heating operations. The outdoor heat exchanger that switches selection between cooling and heating operations is divided into a plurality of units that are connected in parallel and there is also provided a refrigerant supply switching means that controls the refrigerant flow in each of the divided portions of the outdoor heat exchanger.
EP 1 340 949 A1 refers to a multi-stage type refrigeration system including a chiller unit and a freezer unit by eliminating a cascade unit. The freezer unit is provided with a freezing compressor for compressing a refrigerant in a total of two stages together with compressors in an outdoor unit. The freezing compressor is formed by an inverter compressor. An oil separator is disposed on the discharge of the freezing compressor, a heat exchanger is provided for cooling an inverter with an refrigeration oil separated by the oil separator and a suction refrigerant.US2006/0218948 also discloses a multi use-side unit cooling and/or heating system. - Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
11-270920 Fig. 1 etc.) - In the air-conditioning hot-water supply combined systems capable of simultaneously supplying a cooling load, a heating load, and a hot water load, including the air-conditioning hot-water supply combined system as described in Patent Literature 1, it has been hitherto known that balancing between a cooling load and heating and hot water loads increases system COP. In actuality, however, since the air conditioning load and the hot water load required by users varies in time zones and in the amount required, efficient operations with increased system COP have not necessarily been achieved. For example, in the summer, the cooling load becomes high primarily in the daytime, and the hot water load becomes high in the nighttime when baths, showers, or the like are frequently taken. The operations for the air conditioning load and the hot water load generally span many different time zones.
- In conventional air-conditioning hot-water combined systems, there is also a problem in that, while in a low-capacity operation, because the motor efficiency of the compressor is low while operated by an inverter at low speed, the efficiency of energy consumption is impaired. In conventional air-conditioning hot-water supply combined systems, furthermore, there is another problem in that when the system is operating under conditions indicating small-capacity overloaded heating operation, a situation occurs in that the operation cannot be continued because high-pressure-side pressure becomes too high.
- The present invention has been made in order to overcome the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a refrigeration cycle apparatus that achieves load balancing (for example, the balance between a cooling load and the heating load and the balance between the cooling load and the heating and hot water loads) to increase system COP and an information transfer method used in the refrigeration cycle apparatus. Solution to Problem
- A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention is a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1.
- An information transfer method according to the present invention is an information transfer method used in the above refrigeration cycle apparatus, wherein the method is as according to claim 7.
- A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention allows a plurality of use-side units to be operated so that the thermal cooling load and the thermal heating load to be executed by the plurality of use-side units are balanced, and can therefore increase system COP and achieve a reduction in running cost while realizing energy saving.
- An information transfer method according to the present invention is used in the above refrigeration cycle apparatus. Therefore, a stable operation can be efficiently continued.
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Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating an example of the refrigerant circuit configuration of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. - [
Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining information transfer in a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. - [
Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating the connection state in a hot-water supply unit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. - [
Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a communication/operation process executed by a heat source unit controller. - [
Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating another example of the refrigerant circuit configuration of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. - Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Fig. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating an example of the refrigerant circuit configuration of arefrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerant circuit configuration and operation of therefrigeration cycle apparatus 100 will be described with reference toFig. 1 . InFig. 1 , a case where therefrigeration cycle apparatus 100 is an air-conditioning hot-water supply combined system capable of simultaneously supplying a cooling load (thermal cooling load) and heating and hot water loads (thermal heating load) by utilizing a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant (air conditioning refrigerant) is circulated is illustrated by way of example. It should be noted that the dimensional relationships of components inFig. 1 and other subsequent figures may be different from the actual ones. - The
refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 is constituted by a refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1, a refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2, and a hot-water supply device 3, and is configured such that the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 and the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 exchange heat in a refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 and the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 and the hot-water supply device 3 exchange heat in a heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51 without each of the refrigerants and water being mixed. Therefrigeration cycle apparatus 100 further has mounted therein a hot-water supply unit F. - The refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 is constituted by a heat source unit A, an indoor unit B and an indoor unit C each of which takes charge of the cooling load or the heating load, a heat source circuit for hot-water supply D serving as a heat source of the refrigeration cycle for hot-
water supply 2, and a relay unit E. Among them, the indoor unit B, the indoor unit C, and the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D are connected in parallel to the heat source unit A and mounted. The relay unit E, which is disposed between the heat source unit A and the other components, that is, the indoor unit B, the indoor unit C, and the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D, switches a flow of a refrigerant to cause the indoor unit B, the indoor unit C, and the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D to perform their respective functions. - The heat source unit A has a function for supplying heating energy or cooling energy to the indoor unit B, the indoor unit C, and the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D. The heat source unit A has mounted therein an
air conditioning compressor 101, a four-way valve 102, an outdoor heat exchanger (heat source side heat exchanger) 103, and anaccumulator 104, which are connected in series. - The
air conditioning compressor 101 is configured to suck in the air conditioning refrigerant and compress the air conditioning refrigerant into a high-temperature high-pressure state. The four-way valve 102 is configured to switch the flow of the air conditioning refrigerant. Theoutdoor heat exchanger 103 functions as an evaporator or a radiator (condenser), and is configured to exchange heat between air supplied from a fan or the like (not illustrated) and the air conditioning refrigerant to evaporate and gasify the air conditioning refrigerant or condense and liquefy the air conditioning refrigerant. Theaccumulator 104 is disposed on the suction side of theair conditioning compressor 101, and is configured to store excessive air conditioning refrigerant. Theaccumulator 104 may be any container capable of storing excessive air conditioning refrigerant. - In the heat source unit A, furthermore, a
check valve 105a is provided in a high-pressure-side connection pipe 106 between theoutdoor heat exchanger 103 and the relay unit E for permitting the air conditioning refrigerant to flow only in a predetermined direction (the direction from the heat source unit A to the relay unit E), and acheck valve 105b is provided in a low-pressure-side connection pipe 107 between the four-way valve 102 and the relay unit E for permitting the air conditioning refrigerant to flow only in a predetermined direction (the direction from the relay unit E to the heat source unit A). - The high-pressure-
side connection pipe 106 and the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107 are connected to each other through afirst connection pipe 130 that connects the upstream side (connection portion a) of thecheck valve 105a and the upstream side (connection portion c) of thecheck valve 105b and through a second connection pipe 131 that connects the downstream side (connection portion b) of thecheck valve 105a and the downstream side (connection portion d) of thecheck valve 105b. Acheck valve 105c is provided in thefirst connection pipe 130 for permitting the air conditioning refrigerant to be distributed only in the direction from the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107 to the high-pressure-side connection pipe 106. Also, acheck valve 105d is provided in the second connection pipe 131 for permitting the air conditioning refrigerant to be distributed only in the direction from the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107 to the high-pressure-side connection pipe 106. - Each of the indoor unit B and the indoor unit C has a function of taking charge of the heating load or the cooling load upon receipt of heating energy or cooling energy supplied from the heat source unit A. Each of the indoor unit B and the indoor unit C has mounted therein air conditioning expansion devices 117 and indoor heat exchangers (use side heat exchangers) 118, which are connected in series. The indoor unit B and the indoor unit C, each of which has mounted therein two air conditioning expansion devices 117 and two
indoor heat exchangers 118 in such a manner the two air conditioning expansion devices 117 are parallel to each other and the twoindoor heat exchangers 118 are parallel to each other, are illustrated by way of example. - The relay unit E determines that, for example, the indoor unit B takes charge of the cooling load and the indoor unit C takes charge of the heating load. For convenience of description, connection pipes that connect the relay unit E to the
indoor heat exchangers 118 are referred to asconnection pipes 133, and connection pipes that connect the relay unit E to the air conditioning expansion devices 117 are referred to asconnection pipes 134. - The air conditioning expansion devices 117 function as pressure reducing valves and expansion valves, and are configured to reduce the pressure of the air conditioning refrigerant to cause the air conditioning refrigerant to expand. Each of the air conditioning expansion devices 117 may be constituted by a mechanism whose opening degree is variably controllable, such as a precise flow rate control device based on an electronic expansion valve or an inexpensive refrigerant flow rate regulating device such as a capillary tube. The
indoor heat exchangers 118 function as radiators (condensers) or evaporators, and are configured to exchange heat between air supplied from the fan or the like (not illustrated) and the air conditioning refrigerant to evaporate and gasify the air conditioning refrigerant or condense and liquefy the air conditioning refrigerant. The air conditioning expansion devices 117 and theindoor heat exchangers 118 are connected in series. - The heat source circuit for hot-water supply D has a function for supplying the heating energy or cooling energy from the heat source unit A to the refrigeration cycle for hot-
water supply 2 via the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41. The heat source circuit for hot-water supply D is configured such that a heat source expansion device for hot-water supply 119 and the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 are connected in series. That is, the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 and the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 are cascade-connected via the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41. For convenience of description, a connection pipe that connects the relay unit E to the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 is referred to as aconnection pipe 135, and a connection pipe that connects the relay unit E to the heat source expansion device for hot-water supply 119 is referred to as aconnection pipe 136. - Similarly to the air conditioning expansion devices 117, the heat source expansion device for hot-water supply 119 functions as a pressure reducing valve and an expansion valve, and is configured to reduce the pressure of the air conditioning refrigerant to cause the air conditioning refrigerant to expand. The heat source expansion device for hot-water supply 119 may be constituted by a mechanism whose opening degree is variably controllable, such as a precise flow rate control device based on an electronic expansion valve or an inexpensive refrigerant flow rate regulating device such as a capillary tube. The refrigerant-to-
refrigerant heat exchanger 41 functions as a radiator (condenser) or an evaporator, and is configured to exchange heat between the hot-water supply refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle of the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 and the air conditioning refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle of the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1. - The relay unit E connects the use-side units (the indoor unit B, the indoor unit C, and the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D) and the heat source unit A, and has a function of determining whether the
indoor heat exchangers 118 are to be radiators or evaporators and the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 is to be a water cooler or a water heater by opening and closing either valve means 109a or valve means 109b of afirst distribution unit 109. The relay unit E is constituted by a gas-liquid separator 108, thefirst distribution unit 109, asecond distribution unit 110, a first internal heat exchanger 111, a firstrelay expansion device 112, a secondinternal heat exchanger 113, and a secondrelay expansion device 114. - In the
first distribution unit 109, theconnection pipes 133 and theconnection pipe 135 each branch into two pipes, first pipes (connection pipes 133b and aconnection pipe 135b) of which are connected to the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107 and second pipes (connection pipes 133a and aconnection pipe 135a) of which are connected to a connection pipe (referred to as a connection pipe 132) connected to the gas-liquid separator 108. In thefirst distribution unit 109, furthermore, the valve means 109a that are controlled to be opened or closed to allow the refrigerant to pass or not pass therethrough are provided in theconnection pipes 133a and theconnection pipe 135a, and the valve means 109b that are controlled to be opened or closed to allow the refrigerant to pass or not pass therethrough are provided in the connection pipes 133b and theconnection pipe 135b. - In the
second distribution unit 110, theconnection pipes 134 and theconnection pipe 136 each branch into two pipes, first pipes (connection pipes 134a and aconnection pipe 136a) of which are connected to afirst junction unit 115 and second pipes (connection pipes 134b and aconnection pipe 136b) of which are connected to asecond junction unit 116. In thesecond distribution unit 110, furthermore,check valves 110a that permit the refrigerant to be distributed only in one direction are provided in theconnection pipes 134a and theconnection pipe 136a, andcheck valves 110b that permit the refrigerant to be distributed only in one direction are provided in theconnection pipes 134b and theconnection pipe 136b. - The
first junction unit 115 is connected to the gas-iiquid separator 108 from thesecond distribution unit 110 via the firstrelay expansion device 112 and the first internal heat exchanger 111. Thesecond junction unit 116 branches into pipes between thesecond distribution unit 110 and the secondinternal heat exchanger 113, one pipe being connected via the secondinternal heat exchanger 113 to thefirst junction unit 115 between thesecond distribution unit 110 and the firstrelay expansion device 112 and the other pipe (asecond junction unit 116a) being connected to the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107 via the secondrelay expansion device 114, the secondinternal heat exchanger 113, and the first internal heat exchanger 111. - The gas-
liquid separator 108 is configured to separate the air conditioning refrigerant into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant, and is provided in the high-pressure-side connection pipe 106. The gas-liquid separator 108 has one end connected to the valve means 109a of thefirst distribution unit 109 and another end connected to thesecond distribution unit 110 through thefirst junction unit 115. Thefirst distribution unit 109 has a function of allowing the air conditioning refrigerant to flow into theindoor heat exchangers 118 and the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 by either the valve means 109a or the valve means 109b being opened or closed. Thesecond distribution unit 110 has a function of permitting the air conditioning refrigerant to flow in either one direction through each of thecheck valves 110a andcheck valves 110b. - The first internal heat exchanger 111 is provided in the
first junction unit 115 between the gas-liquid separator 108 and the firstrelay expansion device 112, and is configured to exchange heat between the air conditioning refrigerant passing through thefirst junction unit 115 and the air conditioning refrigerant passing through thesecond junction unit 116a branching from thesecond junction unit 116. The firstrelay expansion device 112 is provided in thefirst junction unit 115 between the first internal heat exchanger 111 and thesecond distribution unit 110, and is configured to reduce the pressure of the air conditioning refrigerant to cause the air conditioning refrigerant to expand. The firstrelay expansion device 112 may be constituted by a mechanism whose opening degree is variably controllable, such as a precise flow rate control device based on an electronic expansion valve or an inexpensive refrigerant flow rate regulating device such as a capillary tube. - The second
internal heat exchanger 113 is provided in thesecond junction unit 116, and is configured to exchange heat between the air conditioning refrigerant passing through thesecond junction unit 116 and the air conditioning refrigerant passing through thesecond junction unit 116a branching from thesecond junction unit 116. The secondrelay expansion device 114 is provided in thesecond junction unit 116 between the secondinternal heat exchanger 113 and thesecond distribution unit 110. The secondrelay expansion device 114 functions as a pressure reducing valve and an expansion valve, and is configured to reduce the pressure of the air conditioning refrigerant to cause the air conditioning refrigerant to expand. Similarly to the firstrelay expansion device 112, the secondrelay expansion device 114 may be constituted by a mechanism whose opening degree is variably controllable, such as a precise flow rate control device based on an electronic expansion valve or an inexpensive refrigerant flow rate regulating device such as a capillary tube. - As described above, the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 constitutes a first refrigerant circuit in which the
air conditioning compressor 101, the four-way valve 102, theindoor heat exchangers 118, the air conditioning expansion devices 117, and theoutdoor heat exchanger 103 are connected in series, in which theair conditioning compressor 101, the four-way valve 102, the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41, the heat source expansion device for hot-water supply 119, and theoutdoor heat exchanger 103 are connected in series, and in which theindoor heat exchangers 118 and the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 are connected in parallel via the relay unit E, and is established by circulating an air conditioning refrigerant in the first refrigerant circuit. - The
air conditioning compressor 101 may be of any type capable of compressing a sucked refrigerant into a high-pressure state, and the type thereof is not particularly limited. Theair conditioning compressor 101 may be of any of various types such as reciprocating, rotary, scroll, and screw types. Theair conditioning compressor 101 may also be of a type whose rotation speed is variably controllable by an inverter, or of a type whose rotation speed is fixed. Furthermore, the kind of refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 is not particularly limited, and natural refrigerants such as carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrocarbon, and helium, alternative chlorine-free refrigerants such as HFC410A, HFC407C, and HFC404A, and fluorocarbon refrigerants used in existing products, such as R22 and R134a, may be used. - The operation of the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 will now be described. Here, a description will be given of the operation when the indoor unit B takes charge of the cooling load, the indoor unit C takes charge of the heating load, and the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D takes charge of the hot water load.
- First, the air conditioning refrigerant compressed into a high-temperature high-pressure refrigerant by the
air conditioning compressor 101 is discharged from theair conditioning compressor 101, traveling through the four-way valve 102, passing through thecheck valve 105c, introduced into the high-pressure-side connection pipe 106, and flows into the gas-liquid separator 108 of the relay unit E in a superheated gaseous state. The air conditioning refrigerant in the superheated gaseous state flowing into the gas-liquid separator 108 is distributed to circuits of thefirst distribution unit 109 in which the valve means 109a are open. Here, the air conditioning refrigerant in the superheated gaseous state flows into the indoor unit C and the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D. - The air conditioning refrigerants flowing into the indoor unit C transfer heat in the indoor heat exchangers 118 (to thereby warm indoor air), undergo pressure reduction in the air conditioning expansion devices 117, and merge in the
first junction unit 115. Also, the air conditioning refrigerant flowing into the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D transfers heat in the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 (to thereby supply heat to the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2), undergoes pressure reduction in the heat source expansion device for hot-water supply 119, and merges with the air conditioning refrigerants flowing from the indoor unit C in thefirst junction unit 115. - On the other hand, a portion of the air conditioning refrigerant in the superheated gaseous state flowing into the gas-
liquid separator 108 exchanges heat, in the first internal heat exchanger 111, with the air conditioning refrigerant that has been expanded and has become a low-temperature low-pressure refrigerant in the secondrelay expansion device 114 to obtain a degree of supercooling. The portion of the air conditioning refrigerant in the superheated gaseous state output from the first internal heat exchanger 111 travels through the firstrelay expansion device 112, and merges with the air conditioning refrigerant that has been used for air conditioning (air conditioning refrigerants that have flowed into the indoor unit C and the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D and that have transferred heat in theindoor heat exchangers 118 and the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41) in thefirst junction unit 115. - The portion of the air conditioning refrigerant in the superheated gaseous state to travel through the first
relay expansion device 112 may be prevented from traveling through the firstrelay expansion device 112 by fully closing the firstrelay expansion device 112. After that, the portion of the air conditioning refrigerant in the superheated gaseous state exchanges heat, in the secondinternal heat exchanger 113, with the air conditioning refrigerant that has been expanded and has become a low-temperature low-pressure refrigerant in the secondrelay expansion device 114 to obtain a degree of supercooling. This air conditioning refrigerant is distributed to thesecond junction unit 116 side and to the secondrelay expansion device 114 side. - The air conditioning refrigerant passing through the
second junction unit 116 is distributed to circuits in which the valve means 109b are open. Here, the air conditioning refrigerant passing through thesecond junction unit 116 flows into the indoor unit B, and is caused to expand into low-temperature low-pressure refrigerants by the air conditioning expansion devices 117. The low-temperature low-pressure refrigerants evaporate in theindoor heat exchangers 118, traveling through the valve means 109b, and merge in the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107. The air conditioning refrigerant passing through the secondrelay expansion device 114 evaporates by heat exchange in the secondinternal heat exchanger 113 and the first internal heat exchanger 111, and merges with the air conditioning refrigerants flowing from the indoor unit B in the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107. The merged air conditioning refrigerant in the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107 is introduced into theoutdoor heat exchanger 103 through thecheck valve 105d, where liquid refrigerant that may remain depending on operating conditions is evaporated, and returns to theair conditioning compressor 101 through the four-way valve 102 and theaccumulator 104. - The refrigeration cycle for hot-
water supply 2 is constituted by a hot-water supply compressor 21, the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51, a hot-water supply expansion device 22, and the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41. That is, the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 constitutes a second refrigerant circuit in which the hot-water supply compressor 21, the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51, the hot-water supply expansion device 22, and the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 are connected in series by arefrigerant pipe 45, and is established by circulating the hot-water supply refrigerant in the second refrigerant circuit. - The hot-
water supply compressor 21 is configured to suck in the hot-water supply refrigerant and compress the hot-water supply refrigerant into a high-temperature high-pressure state. The hot-water supply compressor 21 may be of a type whose rotation speed is variably controllable by an inverter, or of a type whose rotation speed is fixed. Furthermore, the hot-water supply compressor 21 may be of any type capable of compressing a sucked refrigerant into a high-pressure state, and the type thereof is not particularly limited. The hot-water supply compressor 21 may be constituted by any of various types such as reciprocating, rotary, scroll, and screw types. - The heat medium-to-
refrigerant heat exchanger 51 is configured to exchange heat between the heat medium (fluid such as water) circulating in the hot-water supply device 3 and the hot-water supply refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2. That is, the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 and the hot-water supply device 3 are cascade-connected via the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51. The hot-water supply expansion device 22 functions as a pressure reducing valve and an expansion valve, and is configured to reduce the pressure of the hot-water supply refrigerant to cause the hot-water supply refrigerant to expand. The hot-water supply expansion device 22 may be constituted by a mechanism whose opening degree is variably controllable, such as a precise flow rate control device based on an electronic expansion valve or an inexpensive refrigerant flow rate regulating device such as a capillary tube. - The refrigerant-to-
refrigerant heat exchanger 41 is configured to exchange heat between the hot-water supply refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 and the air conditioning refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1. The kind of refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 is not particularly limited, and natural refrigerants such as carbon dioxide, hydrocarbon, and helium, alternative chlorine-free refrigerants such as HFC410A, HFC407C, and HFC404A, and fluorocarbon refrigerants used in existing products, such as R22 and R134a, may be used. - The operation of the refrigeration cycle for hot-
water supply 2 will now be described. - First, the hot-water supply refrigerant compressed into a high-temperature high-pressure refrigerant by the hot-
water supply compressor 21 is discharged from the hot-water supply compressor 21, and flows into the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51. In the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51, the flowing hot-water supply refrigerant transfers heat by heating the water circulating in the hot-water supply device 3. The hot-water supply refrigerant is expanded by the hot-water supply expansion device 22 until its temperature has dropped to less than or equal to the outlet temperature of the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 in the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D of the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1. The expanded hot-water supply refrigerant receives heat from the air conditioning refrigerant flowing in the heat source circuit for hot-water supply D included in the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1, evaporates in the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41, and returns to the hot-water supply compressor 21. - The hot-water supply device 3 is constituted by a water circulation pump 31, the heat medium-to-
refrigerant heat exchanger 51, and a hot-water storage tank 32. That is, the hot-water supply device 3 constitutes a water circuit (heat medium circuit) in which the water circulation pump 31, the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51, and the hot-water storage tank 32 are connected in series by a stored hot-water/water circulating pipe 203, and is established by circulating water for hot-water supply in the water circuit. The stored hot-water/water circulating pipe 203 included in the water circuit is composed of a copper tube, a stainless tube, a steel tube, a vinyl chloride pipe, or the like. - The water circulation pump 31 is configured to suck in the water stored in the hot-
water storage tank 32, pressurize the water, and circulate the water in the hot-water supply device 3. The water circulation pump 31 may be of a type whose rotation speed is controlled by an inverter, by way of example. As described above, the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51 is configured to exchange heat between the heat medium (fluid such as water) circulating in the hot-water supply device 3 and the hot-water supply refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2. The hot-water storage tank 32 is configured to store the water heated by the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51. - The operation of the hot-water supply device 3 will now be described. First, comparatively low temperature water stored in the hot-
water storage tank 32 is drawn out of the bottom of the hot-water storage tank 32 and is pressurized by the water circulation pump 31. The water pressurized by the water circulation pump 31 flows into the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51, and receives heat in the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51 from the hot-water supply refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2. That is, the water flowing into the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51 is boiled by the hot-water supply refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2, and its temperature rises. The boiled water returns to a comparatively high temperature upper portion of the hot-water storage tank 32, and is stored in the hot-water storage tank 32. - As described above, the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 and the refrigeration cycle for hot-
water supply 2 have independent refrigerant circuit configurations (the first refrigerant circuit constituting the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 and the second refrigerant circuit constituting the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2). The refrigerants to be circulated in the respective refrigerant circuits may be of the same type or of different types. That is, the refrigerants in the respective refrigerant circuits flow so as to exchange heat in the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41 and the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51 without being mixed. - When a refrigerant with a low critical temperature is used as a hot-water supply refrigerant, the hot-water supply refrigerant in the heat transferring process performed by the heat medium-to-
refrigerant heat exchanger 51 is assumed to enter a supercritical state during high-temperature hot-water supply. However, in general, when the refrigerant in the heat transferring process is in a supercritical state, the COP largely fluctuates due to changes in the radiator pressure and the radiator outlet temperature. In order to operate with high COP, more sophisticated control is demanded. In general, a refrigerant with a low critical temperature has a higher saturation pressure than other refrigerants for the same temperature, and the thickness of the pipes and compressors needs to be increased accordingly, resulting in an increase in cost. - In addition, taking into consideration that the recommended temperature of the water to be stored in the hot-
water storage tank 32 is 60 degrees C or higher in order to prevent growth of legionella bacteria and the like, the target temperature of hot-water supply is assumed to be typically 60 degrees C or higher at minimum. On the basis of the above consideration, a refrigerant having a critical temperature of 60 degrees C or higher at minimum is used as the hot-water supply refrigerant. With the use of the above refrigerant as the hot-water supply refrigerant for the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2, high COP can be achieved more stably with lower cost. It is anticipated that temperature and pressure will become high in the refrigerant circuit when the refrigerant is commonly used around the critical temperature. Using a high pressure shell type compressor as the hot-water supply compressor 21 enables stable operation. - While the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 in which excessive refrigerant is stored in a liquid receiver (the accumulator 104) has been illustrated, the invention is not limited to this, and the
accumulator 104 may be omitted if excessive refrigerant is stored in a heat exchanger serving as a radiator in a refrigeration cycle. Additionally, while in the illustration ofFig. 1 , more than one indoor unit B and more than one indoor unit C are connected by way of example, the number of indoor units to be connected is not particularly limited, and, for example, one or more indoor units B and no indoor unit C or one or more indoor units C may be connected. The capacities of indoor units included in the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 may be the same or different from high to low. - As described above, in the
refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to this embodiment, the hot water load system uses a binary cycle. Thus, to provide a demand for high-temperature hot-water supply (for example, 80 degrees C), it is only required to set the temperature of the radiator of the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 to a high temperature (for example, a condensing temperature of 85 degrees C). Even if there are other heating loads, there is no need to also increase the condensing temperature (for example, 50 degrees C) of the indoor unit C, thus , energy saving is achieved. Furthermore, for example, a demand for high-temperature hot-water supply during the air conditioning cooling operation in the summer would conventionally need to be provided through a boiler or the like. Because hot-water supply is performed through collection and reuse of heating energy, which has been conventionally released in the air, the system COP is significantly increased, leading to energy saving. - The hot-water supply unit F has mounted therein the refrigerant-to-
refrigerant heat exchanger 41, the heat source expansion device for hot-water supply 119, the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51, the hot-water supply compressor 21, and the hot-water supply expansion device 22. That is, the hot-water supply unit F accommodates therein a portion of the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 via the refrigerant-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 41, the entirety of the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2, and a portion of the hot-water supply device 3 via the heat medium-to-refrigerant heat exchanger 51. -
Fig. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining information transfer in therefrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The information transfer performed by therefrigeration cycle apparatus 100 will be described with reference toFigs. 1 and2 . InFig. 2 , therefrigeration cycle apparatus 100 in which two indoor units (an indoor unit B and an indoor unit C) and two hot-water supply units F (a hot-water supply unit F1 and a hot-water supply unit F2) are connected to one heat source unit A is illustrated by way of example. - As described with reference to
Fig. 1 , in therefrigeration cycle apparatus 100, the heat source unit A and the relay unit E are connected via refrigerant pipes 5 (the high-pressure-side connection pipe 106, the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107), and the relay unit E and the use-side units are connected via refrigerant pipes 6 (theconnection pipes 133, theconnection pipes 134, theconnection pipe 135, the connection pipe 136), thereby constituting a single refrigerant circuit system (the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1). The heat source unit A is provided with a heatsource unit controller 61, and the relay unit E is provided with arelay unit controller 62. Each of the indoor unit B and the indoor unit C is provided with an indoor unit controller (use-side unit controller) 63, and each of the hot-water supply units F is provided with a hot-water supply unit controller (use-side unit controller) 64. - In the
refrigeration cycle apparatus 100, the heat source unit A is controlled by the heatsource unit controller 61, and the relay unit E is controlled by therelay unit controller 62. Further, the indoor unit B and the indoor unit C are controlled by theindoor unit controllers 63, and the hot-water supply units F are controlled by the hot-watersupply unit controllers 64. - The heat
source unit controller 61 and therelay unit controller 62 are connected to each other via a transmission line 7 so that information can be transferred between them. Therelay unit controller 62 and theindoor unit controllers 63 are connected to each other via a transmission line 8 so that information can be transferred between them. Similarly, therelay unit controller 62 and the hot-watersupply unit controllers 64 are connected to each other via the transmission line 8 so that information can be transferred between them. Theindoor unit controllers 63 and the hot-watersupply unit controllers 64 are connected toremote controllers 65 via transmission lines 9 so that information can be transferred between theindoor unit controllers 63 and the associatedremote controllers 65 and between the hot-watersupply unit controllers 64 and the associatedremote controllers 65. - The heat
source unit controller 61 is further connected to a heat source unit controller in another refrigerant system (not illustrated) via a transmission line 10. Acentralized controller 66 for centralized management of therefrigeration cycle apparatus 100 is also connected to the transmission line 10. - Each of the heat
source unit controller 61, therelay unit controller 62, theindoor unit controllers 63, the hot-watersupply unit controllers 64, theremote controllers 65, and thecentralized controller 66 is assigned a unique address, and is configured to obtain the address of a communication partner through manual setting or automatic determination at the time of system start. In addition, the heatsource unit controller 61 is configured to obtain the operating capacities of all the units connected to the relay unit E, including the indoor unit B, the indoor unit C, and the hot-water supply units F, through communication at the time of system start. -
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram schematically illustrating the connection state in a hot-water supply unit F of therefrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The connection state in a hot-water supply unit F will be described with reference toFig. 3 . As illustrated with reference toFig. 1 , the hot-water supply unit F is provided with the hot-water storage tank 32. The hot-water storage tank 32 is provided with awater supply valve 33 disposed at a water inlet (illustration omitted), awater discharge valve 34 disposed at a water outlet (illustration omitted), awater temperature sensor 35 that detects the temperature of water, hot water, or the like stored in the hot-water storage tank 32, and awater level sensor 36 that detects the amount (water level) of water, hot water, or the like stored in the hot-water storage tank 32. - The hot-water
supply unit controller 64 is connected to thewater temperature sensor 35 and thewater level sensor 36, and is configured to be capable of obtaining the temperature of water and the amount of water in the hot-water storage tank 32 on the basis of information transferred from thewater temperature sensor 35 and thewater level sensor 36. The hot-watersupply unit controller 64 is also connected to thewater supply valve 33, and is configured to control the opening and closing of thewater supply valve 33. That is, the hot-watersupply unit controller 64 is configured to open thewater supply valve 33 to supply the hot-water storage tank 32 with cold water. The hot-watersupply unit controller 64 is further connected to thewater discharge valve 34, and is configured to control the opening and closing of thewater discharge valve 34. That is, the hot-watersupply unit controller 64 is configured to open thewater discharge valve 34 so that hot water can be discharged to the outside of the hot-water storage tank 32. -
Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of a communication/operation process executed by the heatsource unit controller 61. The flow of the communication/operation process executed by the heatsource unit controller 61 will be described with reference toFig. 4 . Steps S100 to S106 illustrated inFig. 4 represent processes executed by the heatsource unit controller 61. A description will be given by taking the hot-water supply unit F1 as an example. - First, the details of communication when a set temperature of the hot-water supply unit F1 is set will be described.
- A user operates the associated
remote controller 65 and sets a set temperature of the hot-water supply unit F1. At this time, the user can set a binary set temperature. The term binary set temperature refers to a hot-water supply temperature (first set temperature) required for the hot-water supply unit F1 and a temperature (second set temperature) when the hot-water supply unit F1 automatically operates for the purpose of energy saving or continuation of stable operation of the overall system. The second set temperature is set to a value higher than the first set temperature. For example, the user sets 55 degrees C as the first set temperature and 60 degrees C as the second set temperature. - When a set temperature is input, the
remote controller 65 saves the set binary set temperature in a memory, and transmits the set binary set temperature to the associated hot-watersupply unit controller 64 via the transmission line 9. Upon receipt of the set binary set temperature, the hot-watersupply unit controller 64 saves the received binary set temperature in a memory, and transmits the binary set temperature to therelay unit controller 62 via the transmission line 8. The binary set temperature is further transmitted to thecentralized controller 66 through the transmission line 8, the transmission line 7, and the transmission line 10. Therelay unit controller 62 that has received the binary set temperature also transmits the binary set temperature of each hot-water supply unit F to the heatsource unit controller 61 via the transmission line 7. - When the user do not wish to cause the hot-water supply unit F to automatically operate, they may not set the second set temperature. Alternatively, it is possible to allow the setting of whether or not the automatic operation be carried out in the hot-water supply F by way of using, for example, a DIP switch or the like provided in the heat source unit A. It will also be possible for the user to set the binary set temperature by manipulating the
centralized controller 66. In this case, thecentralized controller 66 saves a set binary set temperature in a memory, and transmits the set binary set temperature to the associated hot-watersupply unit controller 64 through the transmission line 10, the transmission line 7, and the transmission line 8. - Upon receipt of the set binary set temperature, the hot-water
supply unit controller 64 transmits the received binary set temperature to therelay unit controller 62 via the transmission line 8, and also transmits the binary set temperature to the associatedremote controller 65 through the transmission line 9. The above communication allows the heatsource unit controller 61 to keep information about all the hot-water supply units F connected to the refrigerant circuit as to whether or not automatic operation is possible. - Next, the details of control during the operation of the heat
source unit controller 61 will be described. - First, the heat
source unit controller 61 performs an analysis process for newly received communication (step S101). The communication received here includes the operating/stopping state of all the units connected to the refrigerant circuit, including the indoor units B, the indoor units C, and the hot-water supply units F, and information as to whether or not automatic operation is possible. After the analysis process has been performed, the heatsource unit controller 61 determines whether or not automatic operation is possible (step S102). For example, if one or more of automatically operable hot-water supply units F are stopped or are under automatic operation, it is determined that automatic operation is possible. This is because the apparatus may be used such that even when there is a hot-water supply unit F that is set as a unit possible to perform automatic operation, it may not be permitted to automatically stop when normal operation is started by a user operation. - If automatic operation is possible (step S102; Y), the heat
source unit controller 61 analyses the operating capacity, the load state, the system COP, and the like from various kinds of data, such as the operating/stopping state, pressure, temperature, compressor operating frequency, current, and the like of all the units connected to the refrigerant circuit, such as the indoor units B, the indoor units C, and the hot-water supply units F (step S103). For example, the balance of the cooling load, heating load, and the hot water load are determined from the total capacity of an indoor unit B and an indoor unit C with the cooling thermo-on, the total capacity of an indoor unit B and an indoor unit C with the heating thermo-on, and the total capacity of hot-water supply units F with the thermo-on. Further, when in a state where heating load is small with no cooling load, and the operating frequency of the compressor is low, then it can be determined that a small-capacity heating operation is being performed. Additionally, when the outdoor temperature is high along with the indoor temperature, and the high-pressure side pressure is high, then it can be determined that a small-capacity overloaded heating operation is performed. - After the analysis process has been performed, the heat
source unit controller 61 determines whether or not the operating condition can be improved by operating or stopping an automatically operable hot-water supply unit F (step S104). For example, when the cooling load is larger than the heating and hot water loads, if the difference between the cooling load and the heating and hot water loads can be reduced by operating an automatically operable hot-water supply unit F, then it can be determined that the system COP will be increased by allowing the hot-water supply unit F to operate. Further, from this state, when the number of indoor units C that perform heating operation is increased by manipulation of a user operation and, accordingly, when the heating and hot water loads become larger than the cooling load, then, while preventing switching from the cooling main operation to the heating main operation, it can be determined that the system COP will be increased by stopping the hot-water supply unit F that has been allowed to automatically operate. - Furthermore, when in the state of the small-capacity heating operation, it can be determined that the motor efficiency of the
air conditioning compressor 101 will be improved by allowing an automatically operable hot-water supply unit F to operate, which results in energy saving operation. Additionally, from this state, when the number of indoor units C that perform heating operation is increased by manipulation of an user operation and when the heating load becomes large, then, it can be determined that power consumption can be reduced by stopping the hot-water supply unit F that has been allowed to automatically operate. When in the state of the small-capacity overloaded heating operation, it can be determined that the high-pressure-side pressure can be reduced by operating an automatically operable hot-water supply unit F and that stable operation can be continued. After that, if the high-pressure-side pressure is sufficiently reduced by, for example, change of the number of units operated, it can be determined that power consumption can be reduced by stopping the hot-water supply unit F that has been allowed to automatically operate. - Here, when a plurality of automatically operable hot-water supply units F exist and the operating condition can be most improved by changing only some of the hot-water supply units F, the hot-water supply units F to be changed are determined in accordance with a preset priority. Here, for example, the priority may be manually set in advance. The priority may be set in accordance with the intended use such as for a guest room in a hotel, a room for employees, and the like. Another method is also possible in which the priority is set in accordance with the addresses of the hot-water
supply unit controllers 64. In this case, the method is made feasible by setting the values of the addresses in ascending order or descending order in accordance with the priority. - There is another method in which the priority is determined in accordance with the integrated operating time of each hot-water supply unit F. In this method, a hot-water supply unit F with a short integrated operating time is operated with priority to make the integrated operating times uniform, thereby making it possible to avoid the problem of shortening the product life of only a specific hot-water supply unit F. There is also a method in which the priority is set in accordance with the value of the difference between the water temperature in the hot-
water storage tank 32 of each hot-water supply unit F and a set temperature. In this method, a hot-water supply unit F having a large temperature difference is preferentially operated, thereby enabling continuous operation for a long time. - If it is determined that the operating condition can be improved by operating and stopping an automatically operable hot-water supply unit F (step S104; Y), the heat
source unit controller 61 transmits information of the hot-water supply unit or units F to be operated and stopped to the relay unit controller 62 (step S105). After the completion of the transmission process, the heatsource unit controller 61 performs normal processes such as receiving a sensor input and controlling the actuators (step S106). Meanwhile, also when it is determined that automatic operation is not possible (step S102; N) or when it is determined that the operating condition cannot be improved by operating and stopping an automatically operable hot-water supply unit F (step S104; N), the heatsource unit controller 61 performs the normal processes (step S106). - Next, the operation of the
relay unit controller 62 will be described. Upon receipt of an automatic operation/stopping command for a hot-water supply unit F from the heatsource unit controller 61, therelay unit controller 62 transmits the automatic operation/stopping command to the associated hot-watersupply unit controller 64. Upon receipt of notification of a change of the operating condition from anindoor unit controller 63 or a hot-watersupply unit controller 64, therelay unit controller 62 transmits the notification of the change in the operating condition to the heatsource unit controller 61. - Next, the operation of the hot-water
supply unit controller 64 will be described. - Upon receipt of an automatic operation/stopping command from the
relay unit controller 62, the hot-watersupply unit controller 64 changes the operating condition in accordance with the command, and transmits notification of the change of the operating condition to the associatedremote controller 65 and thecentralized controller 66. Upon receipt of a normal operation or stopping command from theremote controller 65 or thecentralized controller 66, the hot-watersupply unit controller 64 changes the operating condition in accordance with the command, and transmits the change of the operating condition to therelay unit controller 62. The hot-watersupply unit controller 64 further identifies the operating condition of the associated hot-water supply unit F as that in normal operation or automatic operation, and holds the operating condition. Further, the hot-watersupply unit controller 64 also transmits information of the identified operating conditions of theremote controllers 65 and thecentralized controller 66 to theremote controllers 65 and thecentralized controller 66. - In normal operation, the hot-water
supply unit controller 64 operates in order to allow the water temperature to reach the first set temperature, and the hot-watersupply unit controller 64 turns off the thermostat when the water temperature has reached the first set temperature. In automatic operation, however, the hot-watersupply unit controller 64 maintains the on-state of the thermostat until the water temperature has reached the second set temperature. This is because the hot-water supply unit F is made to be able to continue its operation for a long time for the purpose of energy saving or continuation of stable operation of the overall system. Here, when the water temperature is near the second set temperature, if the hot-water storage tank 32 has some room in its storage capacity, thewater supply valve 33 is opened to supply the hot-water storage tank 32 with cold water to reduce the water temperature, and the operation is continued. If the hot-water storage tank 32 is full, thewater discharge valve 34 is opened to discharge a certain amount of hot water. Then, the hot-water storage tank 32 is supplied with cold water, and the operation is continued. It is assumed here that the discharge control of cold water can be selected by separately providing a means for determining a priority over continuation of automatic operation. - Next, the operation of a
remote controller 65 and thecentralized controller 66 will be described. - Upon receipt of notification of a change of the automatic operation/stopping condition from the associated hot-water
supply unit controller 64, theremote controller 65 and thecentralized controller 66 recognize the information, and reflect the information on display. In this case, also regarding display, the normal operation and the automatic operation may be displayed in a distinguishable manner. The purpose is to allow the user to recognize that the automatic operation is in progress and to prevent the user from mistakenly thinking that some other event is in progress such as forgetting to turn off the associated hot-water supply unit F using a remote control (remote controller 65). Additionally, when the associated hot-water supply unit F is operated or stopped by a user, theremote controller 65 and thecentralized controller 66 recognize information, reflect the information on display, and transmit the information to the associated hot-watersupply unit controller 64. - In
Fig. 4 , a case where the heatsource unit controller 61 includes a means for allowing the hot-water supply unit F to operate is illustrated by way of example. Any other controller may include a means for allowing the hot-water supply unit F to operate. The advantage of the system having a means for allowing the hot-water supply unit F to operate in the heatsource unit controller 61 is that the amount of communication can be reduced because the heat source unit A is capable of performing control determination using data of the pressure and temperature thereof, compressor operating frequency, current, and the like. In addition, thecentralized controller 66 can include a means for operating a hot-water supply unit F. The advantage of this method is that an optimum operating schedule of the hot-water supply unit F can be predicted and created by performing determination using schedule setting information of the overall system which is held in thecentralized controller 66. - Also, each of the
indoor unit controllers 63 can include a means for operating a hot-water supply unit F. The advantage of this system is that control can be performed using a simple algorithm such as operating and stopping a hot-water supply unit F in association with operating and stopping of the indoor unit B and the indoor unit C. Additionally, a means for operating a hot-water supply unit F can also be provided in the hot-watersupply unit controller 64 itself. The advantage of this system is that, due to the autonomous control, the hot-water supply unit F can contribute to energy saving while reducing changes in water temperature. - As described above, when the cooling load is larger than the heating load and the hot water load, the
refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 operates the hot-water supply device, thereby increasing the system COP and enabling a reduction in running cost while achieving energy saving. Also, therefrigeration cycle apparatus 100 operates the hot-water supply device during the small-capacity heating operation, thereby improving the motor efficiency of theair conditioning compressor 101 and enabling a reduction in running cost while further achieving energy saving. Additionally, therefrigeration cycle apparatus 100 causes the hot-water supply device to operate in the case of the small-capacity overloaded heating operation, thereby reducing the high-pressure-side pressure and allowing for continuation of stable operation. - In this embodiment, the
refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 in which the secondary refrigerant (hot water) of a hot-water supply unit F is used as a heat storing heat medium has been described by way of example. However, the configuration of therefrigeration cycle apparatus 100 is not limited to this. It goes without saying that, for example, an air-conditioning apparatus illustrated inFig. 5 (of the type in which heat is transferred from a direct expansion air conditioner to another secondary refrigerant) can also be used in a similar manner. In this embodiment, furthermore, a case where a hot-water supply unit F is present has been described by way of example. However, it goes without saying that even in the case of the absence of a hot-water supply unit F, the overall air conditioning loads of the indoor unit B and the indoor unit C may be desirably balanced. -
Fig. 5 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating another example of the refrigerant circuit configuration of a refrigeration cycle apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as arefrigeration cycle apparatus 100A). The refrigerant circuit configuration and operation of therefrigeration cycle apparatus 100A will be described with reference toFig. 5 . InFig. 5 , a case where therefrigeration cycle apparatus 100A is an air-conditioning apparatus capable of simultaneously supplying a cooling load and a heating load (or a hot water load) by utilizing a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant (heat-source refrigerant) is circulated is illustrated by way of example. The difference betweenFig. 5 andFig. 1 will be primarily described, and, inFig. 5 , the same portions as those inFig. 1 are assigned the same numerals and a description thereof is omitted. - As illustrated in
Fig. 5 , the heat source unit A and a relay unit (hereinafter referred to as the relay unit E1) are connected to each other by a refrigerant pipe 5 (the high-pressure-side connection pipe 106, the low-pressure-side connection pipe 107) via a heat exchanger related toheat medium 71a and a heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b which are included in the relay unit E1. The relay unit E1 and an indoor unit (hereinafter referred to as the indoor unit B1) are also connected to each other by arefrigerant pipe 6 via the heat exchanger related toheat medium 71a and the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b. InFig. 5 , all the illustrated indoor units are referred to as indoor units B1 for convenience of illustration. - Each of the indoor units B1 has mounted therein an
indoor heat exchanger 118. That is, each of the indoor units B1 is different from the indoor unit B in that the air conditioning expansion device 117 is not mounted. Theindoor heat exchangers 118 are designed to be connected to heat mediumflow control devices 75 and second heat mediumflow switching devices 76 in the relay unit E1 byrefrigerant pipes 6. InFig. 5 , a case where four indoor units B1 are connected to the relay unit E1 is illustrated by way of example. However, the number of indoor units B1 connected is not limited to four. - The relay unit E1 has mounted therein the two heat exchangers related to heat medium 71, two expansion devices 72, two on-off devices 73, two second refrigerant flow switching devices 74, two pumps 80, four first heat medium
flow switching devices 77, the four second heat mediumflow switching devices 76, and the four heat mediumflow control devices 75. - Each of the two heat exchangers related to heat medium 71 (the heat exchanger related to
heat medium 71a and the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b) functions as a condenser (radiator) or an evaporator, and is configured to exchange heat between the heat-source-side refrigerant and the heat medium to transfer cooling energy or heating energy generated by the heat source unit A and stored in the heat-source-side refrigerant to the heat medium. The heat exchanger related toheat medium 71a is provided between the expansion device 72a and a second refrigerantflow switching device 74a, and serve to cool the heat medium in a cooling/heating combined operation mode. The heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b is provided between theexpansion device 72b and a second refrigerantflow switching device 74b, and serves to heat the heat medium in the cooling/heating combined operation mode. - Each of the two expansion devices 72 (the expansion device 72a and the
expansion device 72b) has the function of a pressure reducing valve or an expansion valve, and is configured to reduce the pressure of the heat-source-side refrigerant to cause the heat-source-side refrigerant to expand. The expansion device 72a is provided upstream from the heat exchanger related toheat medium 71a in the direction of the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant during the cooling operation. Theexpansion device 72b is provided upstream from the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b in the direction of the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant during the cooling operation. Each of the two expansion devices 72 may be constituted by a mechanism whose opening degree is variably controllable, such as an electronic expansion valve. - The two on-off devices 73 (an on-off
device 73a and an on-offdevice 73b) are constituted by two-way valves or the like, and are configured to open and close the refrigerant pipe 5. The on-offdevice 73a is provided on the heat-source-side refrigerant inlet side of the refrigerant pipe 5. The on-offdevice 73b is provided in a pipe that connects the heat-source-side refrigerant inlet and outlet sides of the refrigerant pipe 5. Each of the two second refrigerant flow switching devices 74 (the second refrigerantflow switching device 74a and the second refrigerantflow switching device 74b) is constituted by a four-way valve or the like, and is configured to switch the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant in accordance with the operation mode. The second refrigerantflow switching device 74a is provided downstream from the heat exchanger related toheat medium 71a in the direction of the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant during the cooling operation. The second refrigerantflow switching device 74b is provided downstream from the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b in the direction of the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant during the cooling only operation. - The two pumps 80 (a
pump 80a and apump 80b) are configured to circulate the heat medium passing through therefrigerant pipes 6. Thepump 80a is provided in therefrigerant pipe 6 between the heat exchanger related toheat medium 71a and the second heat mediumflow switching devices 76. Thepump 80b is provided in therefrigerant pipe 6 between the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b and the second heat mediumflow switching devices 76. The two pumps 80 may be constituted by, for example, pumps whose capacity can be controlled or the like. - Each of the four first heat medium
flow switching devices 77 is constituted by a three-way valve or the like, and is configured to switch the flow path of the heat medium. The first heat mediumflow switching devices 77, the number of which corresponds to the number of indoor units B1 installed (here, four), are provided. In each of the first heat mediumflow switching devices 77, one of the three ways is connected to the associated heat exchanger related toheat medium 71a, another of the three ways is connected to the associated heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b, and the other of the three ways is connected to the associated heat mediumflow control device 75. The first heat mediumflow switching devices 77 are provided on the outlet side of the heat medium flow paths extending from theindoor heat exchangers 118. - Each of the four second heat medium
flow switching devices 76 is constituted by a three-way valve or the like, and is configured to switch the flow path of the heat medium. The second heat mediumflow switching devices 76, the number of which corresponds to the number of indoor units B installed (here, four), are provided. In each of the second heat mediumflow switching devices 76, one of the three ways is connected to the associated heat exchanger related toheat medium 71a, another of the three ways is connected to the associated heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b, and the other of the three ways is connected to the associatedindoor heat exchanger 118, and the second heat mediumflow switching devices 76 are provided on the inlet side of the heat medium flow paths extending from theindoor heat exchangers 118. - Each of the four heat medium
flow control devices 75 is constituted by a two-way valve or the like using, for example, a stepping motor, and is configured to make changeable the opening degree of the associatedrefrigerant pipe 6 serving as a heat medium flow path to control the flow rate of the heat medium. The heat mediumflow control devices 75, the number of which corresponds to the number of indoor units B1 installed (here, four), are provided. In each of the heat mediumflow control devices 75, one way is connected to the associatedindoor heat exchanger 118 and the other way is connected to the associated first heat mediumflow switching device 77, and the heat mediumflow control devices 75 are provided on the outlet side of the heat medium flow paths extending from theindoor heat exchangers 118. The heat mediumflow control devices 75 may be provided on the inlet side of the heat medium flow paths extending from theindoor heat exchangers 118. - In the
refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A, therefore, the heat source unit A and the relay unit E1 are connected to each other via the heat exchanger related toheat medium 71a and the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b which are provided in the relay unit E1, and the relay unit E1 and the indoor units B1 are also connected to each other via the heat exchanger related toheat medium 71a and the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b. That is, therefrigeration cycle apparatus 100A is configured such that the heat-source-side refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle for air conditioning 1 and the heat medium circulating in the a heat medium cycle (for example, the refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply 2 described with reference toFig. 1 ) exchange heat in the heat exchanger related toheat medium 71a and the heat exchanger related to heat medium 71b. - The
refrigeration cycle apparatus 100A having the above configuration increases the system COP by causing the hot-water supply device to operate when the cooling load is larger than the heating load (or the hot water load), and enables a reduction in running cost while achieving energy saving. Therefrigeration cycle apparatus 100A further improves the motor efficiency of theair conditioning compressor 101 by causing the heating device (or the hot-water supply device) to operate during the small-capacity heating operation, and enables a reduction in running cost while further achieving energy saving. Additionally, in the case of the small-capacity overloaded heating operation, therefrigeration cycle apparatus 100A causes the heating device (or the hot-water supply device) to operate, thereby reducing the high-pressure-side pressure and allowing for continuation of stable operation. - 1 refrigeration cycle for air conditioning, 2 refrigeration cycle for hot-water supply, 3 hot-water supply device, 5 refrigerant pipe, 6 refrigerant pipe, 7 transmission line, 8 transmission line, 9 transmission line, 10 transmission line, 21 hot-water supply compressor, 22 hot-water supply expansion device, 31 water circulation pump, 32 hot-water storage tank, 33 water supply valve, 34 water discharge valve, 35 water temperature sensor, 36 water level sensor, 41 refrigerant heat exchanger, 45 refrigerant pipe, 51 refrigerant heat exchanger, 61 heat source unit controller, 62 relay unit controller, 63 indoor unit controller, 64 hot-water supply unit controller, 65 remote controller, 66 centralized controller, 71 heat exchanger related to heat medium, 71a heat exchanger related to heat medium, 71b heat exchanger related to heat medium, 72 expansion device, 72a expansion device, 72b expansion device, 73 on-off device, 73a on-off device, 73b on-off device, 74 refrigerant flow switching device, 74a refrigerant flow switching device, 74b refrigerant flow switching device, 75 heat medium flow control device, 76 second heat medium flow switching device, 77 first heat medium flow switching device, 80 pump, 80a pump, 80b pump, 100 refrigeration cycle apparatus, 100A refrigeration cycle apparatus, 101 air conditioning compressor, 102 four-way valve, 103 outdoor heat exchanger, 104 accumulator, 105a check valve, 105b check valve, 105c check valve, 105d check valve, 106 high-pressure-side connection pipe, 107 low-pressure-side connection pipe, 108 gas-liquid separator, 109 first distribution unit, 109a valve means, 109b valve means, 110 second distribution unit, 110a check valve, 110b check valve, 111 internal heat exchanger, 112 first relay expansion device, 113 internal heat exchanger, 114 second relay expansion device, 115 first junction unit, 116 second junction unit, 116a second junction unit, 117 air conditioning expansion device, 118 indoor heat exchanger, 119 heat source expansion device for hot-water supply, 130 first connection pipe, 131 second connection pipe, 132 connection pipe, 133 connection pipe, 133a connection pipe, 133b connection pipe, 134 connection pipe, 134a connection pipe, 134b connection pipe, 135 connection pipe, 135a connection pipe, 135b connection pipe, 136 connection pipe, 136a connection pipe, 136b connection pipe, 203 stored hot-water/water circulating pipe, A heat source unit, B indoor unit, B1 indoor unit, C indoor unit, D heat source circuit for hot-water supply, E relay unit, E1 relay unit, F hot-water supply unit, F1 hot-water supply unit, F2 hot-water supply unit, a connection portion, b connection portion, c connection portion, d connection portion.
Claims (7)
- A refrigeration cycle apparatus (100) comprising:at least one heat source unit (A) having mounted therein at least an air conditioning compressor (101) and a heat-source-side heat exchanger (103);a plurality of use-side units (B, C, D) each having mounted therein at least a use-side heat exchanger (118), the use-side units being automatically operable; andat least one relay unit (E) that is disposed between the heat source unit (A) and the use-side units and that transfers heating energy or cooling energy generated by the heat source side unit to the use-side units,wherein the heat source unit (A) is provided with a heat source unit controller (61) that controls operation of the plurality of use-side units, characterized in thatin the case that at least one of the plurality of use-side units is stopped or is under automatic operation among the plurality of automatically operable use-side units (B, C, D), by using the at least one of the plurality of use-side units that is stopped or is under automatic operation among the plurality of automatically operable use-side units (B, C, D), the plurality of use-side units are operated so that a thermal cooling load and a thermal heating load to be executed by the plurality of use-side units are balanced, and in thatwhen a total load on a use-side unit that is executing a thermal cooling load operation is larger than a total load on a use-side unit that is executing a thermal heating load operation,a use-side unit that is stopped or is under automatic operation among the plurality of use-side units (B, C, D) is made to execute the thermal heating load operation.
- The refrigeration cycle apparatus (100) of claim 1, wherein
when the thermal heating load is small under no thermal cooling load and a compressor operating frequency is lower than a predetermined value, or when both an outside temperature and an indoor temperature are higher than a predetermined value and a high-pressure-side pressure is higher than a predetermined value,
it is determined that a total load on a use-side unit that is executing the thermal cooling load operation is larger than a total load on a use-side unit that is executing the thermal heating load operation. - The refrigeration cycle apparatus (100) of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein
the thermal heating load operation to be executed by a use-side unit is a heating operation or a hot-water supply operation, and
the thermal cooling load operation to be executed by a use-side unit is a cooling operation. - The refrigeration cycle apparatus (100) of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
two temperatures can be set for each of the use-side units (B, C, D), the two temperatures including a first set temperature required by the use-side unit and a second set temperature when the use-side unit is automatically operated, and
it is determined that a use-side unit that is set the second set temperature is an automatically operable use-side unit. - The refrigeration cycle apparatus (100) of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
when there are a plurality of use-side units (B, C, D) that are not executing either the thermal heating load operation or the thermal cooling load operation,
a use-side unit among the not-executing use-side units is made to execute the thermal heating load operation in accordance with a preset priority. - The refrigeration cycle apparatus (100) of any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein
when there is no use-side unit that is not executing either the thermal heating load operation or the thermal cooling load operation,
the thermal heating load operation is continued by supplying-cold water. - An information transfer method applied to the refrigeration cycle apparatus (100) of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
the heat source unit (A) is provided with a heat source unit controller (61), the relay unit (E) is provided with a relay unit controller (62), each of the use-side units (B, C, D) is provided with a use-side unit controller (63), and
transfer of information from each of the controllers enables any of the controllers to determine the load balance between the plurality of use-side units (B, C, D).
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PCT/JP2009/006177 WO2011061792A1 (en) | 2009-11-18 | 2009-11-18 | Refrigeration cycle device and information propagation method adapted thereto |
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US (1) | US20120222440A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2503266B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5642085B2 (en) |
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WO (1) | WO2011061792A1 (en) |
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JP5404333B2 (en) * | 2009-11-13 | 2014-01-29 | 三菱重工業株式会社 | Heat source system |
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KR101212698B1 (en) * | 2010-11-01 | 2013-03-13 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Heat pump type speed heating apparatus |
KR101203579B1 (en) * | 2010-11-05 | 2012-11-21 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Speed heating apparatus with air conditioner and Control process of the same |
WO2013046269A1 (en) * | 2011-09-29 | 2013-04-04 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Combined air-conditioning/hot water supply system |
CN103890502B (en) * | 2011-10-24 | 2017-03-01 | 三菱电机株式会社 | Heat pump, control device, method for regulating temperature and program |
EP2829823B1 (en) * | 2012-03-15 | 2019-07-17 | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Refrigeration cycle apparatus |
EP2908070B1 (en) * | 2012-10-10 | 2020-08-05 | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Air conditioning device |
WO2014091548A1 (en) * | 2012-12-11 | 2014-06-19 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Air conditioning hot water supply composite system |
US9933192B2 (en) * | 2012-12-20 | 2018-04-03 | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Air-conditioning apparatus |
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US10775056B2 (en) * | 2014-09-08 | 2020-09-15 | United Maintenance, Inc. | Natatorium dehumidifier |
WO2016133226A1 (en) | 2015-02-16 | 2016-08-25 | 볼보 컨스트럭션 이큅먼트 에이비 | Torque control system for dpf regeneration |
CN111486613B (en) * | 2020-04-29 | 2022-05-20 | 广东美的暖通设备有限公司 | Air conditioning system, control method and device thereof and storage medium |
CN114992693A (en) * | 2021-03-01 | 2022-09-02 | 艾欧史密斯(中国)热水器有限公司 | Heat pump unit and control method and device thereof, heat pump system and combined supply system |
EP4227605A1 (en) * | 2022-02-11 | 2023-08-16 | Daikin Europe N.V. | Refrigeration device |
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- 2009-11-18 CN CN200980162495.5A patent/CN102695929B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2009-11-18 JP JP2011541733A patent/JP5642085B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2009-11-18 EP EP09851418.5A patent/EP2503266B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2009-11-18 WO PCT/JP2009/006177 patent/WO2011061792A1/en active Application Filing
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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JPWO2011061792A1 (en) | 2013-04-04 |
WO2011061792A1 (en) | 2011-05-26 |
JP5642085B2 (en) | 2014-12-17 |
US20120222440A1 (en) | 2012-09-06 |
CN102695929A (en) | 2012-09-26 |
EP2503266A4 (en) | 2016-10-05 |
CN102695929B (en) | 2014-07-30 |
EP2503266A1 (en) | 2012-09-26 |
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