EP3617602A1 - Refrigerant-sensing device and indoor unit for air conditioner - Google Patents
Refrigerant-sensing device and indoor unit for air conditioner Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3617602A1 EP3617602A1 EP17907606.2A EP17907606A EP3617602A1 EP 3617602 A1 EP3617602 A1 EP 3617602A1 EP 17907606 A EP17907606 A EP 17907606A EP 3617602 A1 EP3617602 A1 EP 3617602A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- refrigerant
- air
- air passage
- detection
- indoor unit
- Prior art date
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 194
- 239000003507 refrigerant Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 180
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 86
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 description 3
- QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ammonia Chemical compound N QGZKDVFQNNGYKY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910021529 ammonia Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000005219 brazing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- NBVXSUQYWXRMNV-UHFFFAOYSA-N fluoromethane Chemical compound FC NBVXSUQYWXRMNV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000007779 soft material Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
- F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
- F24F11/32—Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
- F24F11/36—Responding to malfunctions or emergencies to leakage of heat-exchange fluid
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
- F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
- F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
- F24F1/00077—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units receiving heat exchange fluid entering and leaving the unit as a liquid
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
- F24F11/70—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
- F24F11/80—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air
- F24F11/83—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
- F24F13/08—Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
- F24F13/20—Casings or covers
-
- 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
- F25B49/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F25B49/02—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for compression type machines, plants or systems
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
- F24F11/62—Control or safety arrangements characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an air-conditioning apparatus, and more particularly, to a refrigerant detection device that detects refrigerant leaking from a refrigerant circuit into a housing, and an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus that is provided with the refrigerant detection device.
- a sensor that detects leakage of refrigerant from a refrigerant circuit is provided in a housing of the air-conditioning apparatus.
- a heat exchanger is provided at an air passage in a housing, and a fan covered by a fan casing is provided below the heat exchanger.
- a refrigerant detection unit is provided in the fan casing and at a higher position than an indoor fan.
- the refrigerant detection unit for example, a semiconductor gas sensor or a hot-wire semiconductor gas sensor is used.
- the entire leakage refrigerant flows into the fan casing, and the refrigerant detection unit can thus promptly and reliably detect leakage of the refrigerant.
- Patent Literature 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-29322
- the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus because of the limited constraints of an internal structure of the indoor unit, it is sometimes impossible to provide the refrigerant detection unit at the air passage in the housing as disclosed in Patent Literature 1, or it is hard to provide the refrigerant detection unit at an optimal position. Furthermore, the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is capable of detecting refrigerant leakage especially when the air-conditioning apparatus is in the stopped state, but it is difficult or impossible for the indoor unit to detect refrigerant leakage when the air-conditioning apparatus is in operation.
- the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a refrigerant detection device that can be applied to indoor units of different air-conditioning apparatuses having respective structures, and also an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus that uses the refrigerant detection device.
- a refrigerant detection device includes a refrigerant-detection air passage having both ends connected to a main air passage extending from a suction port of an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus to an air outlet of the indoor unit; and a refrigerant detection sensor that detects refrigerant in the refrigerant-detection air passage.
- An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus includes: a housing formed in a shape of a box and including a suction port and an air outlet; a main air passage extending from the suction port to the air outlet; a fan provided in the main air passage and configured to send air from the suction port to the air outlet; a heat exchanger that transfers heat between the air flowing through the main air passage and refrigerant; and a refrigerant detection device including a refrigerant-detection air passage that branches off from the main air passage and then joins the main air passage, and a refrigerant detection sensor that detects refrigerant in the refrigerant-detection air passage and is provided in the refrigerant-detection air passage.
- the refrigerant detection device can guide air to the outside of the main air passage in the housing of the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus, and to detect refrigerant leakage.
- the refrigerant detection device can be provided in the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus without imposing a restriction on the configuration of the main air passage.
- the refrigerant detection device can be applied to the device models of different structures without the load on designing how to design the refrigerant detection device.
- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit 100 of an air-conditioning apparatus according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.
- Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of air passages in the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus as illustrated in Fig. 1.
- Figs. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus.
- the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus includes a housing 1 formed in the shape of a box, and the inside of the housing 1 is partitioned into a fan chamber A and a heat-exchanger chamber B by a fan plate 5.
- a motor 2 and two fan casings 3 are provided in the fan chamber A.
- a fan 40 is provided in each of the fan casings 3.
- An opening port is provided at the housing 1, and the fan chamber A is provided with a suction port 18 for taking in air from the outside of the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus.
- the suction port 18 is provided in an end surface of the housing 1; however, it can be provided at any location as long as air can be taken from the outside of the housing 1 into the fan chamber A by the fan 40 though the suction port 18.
- a heat exchanger 4 is provided in the heat-exchanger chamber B.
- An air outlet 19 is provided in an end surface of the housing 1 that is located at the heat exchanger chamber B. From the air outlet 19, air is blown after subjected to heat exchange in the heat exchanger 4. The location of the air outlet 19 can be arbitrarily changed.
- the fan casing 3 is attached to the fan plate 5.
- An air-sending port 42 is provided in the fan plate 5. From the air-sending port 42, air is blown from the fan 40 into the heat-exchanger chamber B.
- the fan casing 3 is provided with an intake port 41 for taking air flowing in the fan chamber A into the fan casing 3.
- the fan 40 is provided in the fan casing 3 is driven by a motor 2 to take in air flowing in the fan chamber A from the intake port 41 of the fan casing 3, and to blow out air into the heat-exchanger chamber B through the air-sending port 42.
- the air blown into the heat-exchanger chamber B exchanges heat, in the heat exchanger 4, with refrigerant flowing through a heat transfer tube 30 in the heat exchanger 4, and is blown out from the air outlet 19. That is, a main air passage 50 is formed in the housing 1 to extend from the suction port 18 to the air outlet 19 via the fan 40 and the heat exchanger 4.
- a refrigerant detection device 20 is provided to take in air flowing in the main air passage 50 provided in the housing 1, and to detect whether refrigerant is contained in the air or not.
- the refrigerant detection device 20 includes a pipe 9 connected to the main air passage 50, a refrigerant detection box 6 in which a refrigerant detection sensor 11 is provided, and a pipe 10 connected to the main air passage 50 to return air flowing through the refrigerant detection sensor 11 to the main air passage 50.
- an inlet port 7 is provided to take in air flowing through the main air passage 50.
- an air return port 8 is provided to return air from a refrigerant-detection air passage 60 to the main air passage 50.
- An air passage that branches off from the main air passage 50 in the housing 1 and extends from the inlet port 7 to the air return port 8 to send air to the refrigerant detection sensor 11 and to return air to the main air passage 50 will be referred to as the refrigerant-detection air passage 60.
- Material of the pipe 9 and the pipe 10 may be resin or metal as long as it has a satisfactory strength and does not affect detection of refrigerant.
- the pipes 9 and 10 are formed of soft material that can be freely changed in shape; and in the housing 1, attachment of the pipe 9 to the inlet port 7 and attachment of the pipe 10 to the air return port are achieved by the same attachment structure, and at least one of the lengths and shapes of the pipes 9 and 10 in the refrigerant detection device 20 is changed, whereby a refrigerant-detection air passage 60 that branches off from the main air passage 50 and then re-join the main air passage 50 can be made in indoor units of various types of air-conditioning apparatuses.
- a refrigerant-detection air passage 60 that branches off from the main air passage 50 and then re-join the main air passage 50 can be made in indoor units of various types of air-conditioning apparatuses.
- the refrigerant detection device 20 is provided outside the housing 1, but may be provided in the housing 1.
- the refrigerant detection device 20 may be provided in the machine chamber.
- the pressure of air on a downstream side of the fan 40 that is, on a side where the air-sending port 42 is located, is raised higher than the pressure of air on an upstream side of the fan 40, that is, a side where the intake port 41 is located.
- the inlet port 7 is provided in the heat-exchanger chamber B whose air pressure is high, and the air return port 8 is provided in the fan chamber A whose air pressure is low, and because of the difference between these air pressures, air easily flows into the refrigerant-detection air passage 60.
- the inlet port 7 is provided at lower part of the housing 1.
- the refrigerant for use in the air-conditioning apparatus is refrigerant, such as ammonia, which is lighter than air when it is in a gas state
- the inlet port 7 may be provided at upper part of the housing 1. In embodiment 1, for example, the inlet port 7 is provided at the lower part of the housing 1 as illustrated in Fig. 1 .
- the inlet port 7 is provided in only one of side surfaces of the housing 1, but inlet ports 7 may be provided at side surfaces of the housing 1 or on upper and lower surfaces of the housing 1, for example, in accordance with the structure of the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus. Also, as in the inlet port 7, the position of the air return port 8 or the numbers of air return ports 8 can be changed as appropriate in accordance with the refrigerant for use in the air-conditioning apparatus or the structure of the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus.
- the inlet port 7 and the air return port 8 are circular, but may be formed in another shape. Furthermore, the opening areas of the inlet port 7 and the air return port 8 are determined in consideration of, for example, the lengths and strengths of the pipes 9 and 10, and a flow velocity at which the refrigerant detection sensor 11 can easily perform detection.
- Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the refrigerant detection box 6 as illustrated in Fig. 1 .
- the refrigerant detection box 6 is illustrated, with its top and front plates removed.
- the refrigerant detection box 6 is provided with the refrigerant detection sensor 11 that detects the density of the refrigerant, and a control unit 12 which processes a signal from the refrigerant detection sensor 11.
- the refrigerant detection sensor 11 may be driven by power supplied from the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus or power supplied from an external power supply at an actual place where the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus is installed.
- the refrigerant detection sensor 11 is a refrigerant detection sensor which cannot be driven by power supplied from the indoor unit 100 or the external power supply
- a battery may be incorporated in the refrigerant detection box 6.
- the refrigerant detection sensor 11 and the control unit 12 are fixed at a bottom surface of the refrigerant detection box 6 in a vertical direction, but the refrigerant detection sensor 11 and the control unit 12 may be fixed at another surface or other surfaces.
- the refrigerant detection box 6 is fixed at the housing 1 of the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus, but may be freely provided outside the housing 1.
- the refrigerant detection box 6 can be provided at a ceiling surface in the case where the indoor unit is a ceiling-suspended indoor unit, and can be provided at a floor surface in the case where the indoor unit is a floor-installed indoor unit.
- the refrigerant detection box 6 can be provided at an optimal positon in consideration of environments of the actual place where the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus is installed and the ease of maintenance of the refrigerant detection box 6.
- the refrigerant detection device 20 can be installed in the housing 1, for example, in the machine chamber, and thus, the refrigerant detection device 20 may be installed at a position in the machine chamber where maintenance can be easily performed.
- the pipes 9 and 10 are fixed to the inlet port 7 and the air return port 8, respectively, by screws or the like, thereby enabling the refrigerant detection device 20 only to be replaced by a new one.
- Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the inlet port 7 and the periphery thereof in the refrigerant detection device 20 as illustrated in Fig. 1 .
- Fig. 4 illustrates the housing 1 of the indoor unit 100, but omits a top surface and a side surface of the housing 1.
- a plurality of heat transfer tubes 30 are arranged and end portions of the heat transfer tubes 30 are connected by, for example, U-shaped pipes 31, thereby forming a refrigerant flow passage.
- a plurality of fins 33 are attached to the plurality of heat transfer tubes 30, and heat is exchanged between air and refrigerant flowing through the heat transfer tubes 30 by causing air to flow between the fins 33.
- refrigerant may leak from connection portions 32 where the heat transfer tubes 30 and the U-shaped pipes 31 are connected by, for example, brazing.
- a shielding plate 13 is provided in such a manner as to project in the same direction as the U-shaped pipes 31 project from an end portion of the heat exchanger 4 where the fins 33 are provided, and blocks part of the main air passage 50.
- the shielding plate 13 is provided in such a manner as to project from an end portion of a surface of the heat exchanger 4 that faces a downstream side of the main air passage 50, and in parallel with the surface.
- the shielding plate 13 blocks the flow of air passing through a region at the end portion of the heat exchanger 4 where the U-shaped pipes 31 are provided.
- the heat exchanger 4 is inclined relative to the flow direction of air in the main air passage 50.
- the shielding plate 13 blocks part of the main air passage 50 in the main air passage 50 on a downstream side of the inlet port 7. Thereby, a flow passage is provided in such a manner as to guide air passing through the end portion of the heat exchanger 4 such that the air is collected at the inlet port 7, and the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus can improve the accuracy of detection of refrigerant leakage.
- the refrigerant detection device 20 can be applied without being affected by the difference between the internal structures of the housings 1 of the above different air-conditioning apparatuses 20, and the housing 1 does not need to be enlarged for provision of the refrigerant detection device 20.
- the refrigerant detection device 20 is provided outside the housing 1 of the indoor unit 100, maintenance of the refrigerant detection sensor 11 and peripheral components, which form the refrigerant detection device 20, can be easily performed regardless of the internal structure of the indoor unit 100 or the position or size of an inspection port.
- a refrigerant detection device 220 of an indoor unit 200 of an air-conditioning apparatus according to embodiment 2 is obtained by adding a small fan to the refrigerant detection device 20 of the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to embodiment 1.
- Embodiment 2 will be described by referring mainly to the differences between embodiments 1 and 2. Matters not particularly described regarding embodiment 2 are the same as or similar to those in embodiment 1, and functions and components in embodiment 2 which are the same as those in embodiment 1 will be denoted by the same reference signs.
- Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the refrigerant detection device 220 according to embodiment 2 of the present invention.
- the refrigerant detection device 20, as well as the refrigerant detection device 20 according to embodiment 1, is attached to the indoor unit 200 of the air-conditioning apparatus.
- the refrigerant detection device 220 includes a fan box 14 provided with a fan that sends air in the refrigerant-detection air passage 60, in addition to the refrigerant detection box 6 of embodiment 1.
- the flow rate of air passing through the refrigerant detection box 6 can be adjusted to a flow rate suitable for detection, by adjusting the rotation speed of the fan in the refrigerant-detection air passage 60.
- the fan box 14 is provided at the pipe 9 between the inlet port 7 and the refrigerant detection box 6, but the fan box 14 may be provided at the pipe 10 between the refrigerant detection box 6 and the air return port 8.
- the fan of the refrigerant detection device 20 can be easily inspected and replaced by a new one.
- a refrigerant detection device 320 of an indoor unit 300 of an air-conditioning apparatus according to embodiment 3 is achieved by adding protrusion pipes 15 and 16 to the refrigerant detection device 20 of the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to embodiment 1.
- the protrusion pipes 15 and 16 protrude into the main air passage 50 from the inlet port 7 and the air return port 8, respectively.
- Embodiment 3 will be described by referring mainly to the differences between embodiments 1 and 3. Matters not particularly described in embodiment 3 are assumed to be the same as or similar to those in embodiment 1, and components which have the same functions and structures as those in embodiment 1 will be denoted by same reference signs.
- Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the indoor unit 300 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to embodiment 3 of the present invention.
- the inlet port 7 and the air return port 8 are provided on a side of the main air passage 50 in the housing 1.
- the protrusion pipes 15 and 16 are further provided to protrude into the main air passage 50 in the indoor unit 300, and the inlet port 7 and the air return port 8 are provided at distal ends of the protrusion pipe 15 and 16, respectively. Because of such a structure, it is possible to change the position at which air in the main air passage 50 is taken in and the position where air having flowed through the refrigerant-detection air passage 60 is returned.
- short protrusion pipes 15 and 16 are each provided to straightly extend into the main air passage 50 from a connection portion between the main air passage 50 and the refrigerant-detection air passage 60.
- the protrusion pipe 15 includes the inlet port 7 at its distal end portion, and for example, is located close to an end portion of the heat exchanger 4. Also, the protrusion pipe 15 is formed to easily take in refrigerant leaking from the connection portion 32 between the heat transfer tube 30 and the U-shaped pipe 31 at the end portion of the heat exchanger 4.
- the shape of the protrusion pipe 15 may be changed as appropriate, and the position of the distal end portion of the protrusion pipe 15 may be changed as appropriate to a position where refrigerant leakage can be easily detected. It is also possible to detect refrigerant leakage at a plurality of positions in the main air passage 50 by branching the distal end portion of the protrusion pipe 15 into two or more, and therefore possible to further improve the accuracy of the detection by the refrigerant detection device 320.
- the refrigerant-detection air passage 60 includes the protrusion pipes 15 and 16 protruding into the main air passage 50, and the protrusion pipe 15 includes, at the distal end portion thereof, the inlet port 7 for taking in air from the main air passage 50.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to an air-conditioning apparatus, and more particularly, to a refrigerant detection device that detects refrigerant leaking from a refrigerant circuit into a housing, and an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus that is provided with the refrigerant detection device.
- In an existing air-conditioning apparatus, a sensor that detects leakage of refrigerant from a refrigerant circuit is provided in a housing of the air-conditioning apparatus. For example, according to
Patent Literature 1, in an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus that uses refrigerant having a higher density than that of air, a heat exchanger is provided at an air passage in a housing, and a fan covered by a fan casing is provided below the heat exchanger. A refrigerant detection unit is provided in the fan casing and at a higher position than an indoor fan. As the refrigerant detection unit, for example, a semiconductor gas sensor or a hot-wire semiconductor gas sensor is used. In the case where refrigerant leaks from the heat exchanger provided in the housing, while the air-conditioning apparatus is in the stopped state, the entire leakage refrigerant flows into the fan casing, and the refrigerant detection unit can thus promptly and reliably detect leakage of the refrigerant. - Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2016-29322 - However, in the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus, because of the limited constraints of an internal structure of the indoor unit, it is sometimes impossible to provide the refrigerant detection unit at the air passage in the housing as disclosed in
Patent Literature 1, or it is hard to provide the refrigerant detection unit at an optimal position. Furthermore, the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus disclosed inPatent Literature 1 is capable of detecting refrigerant leakage especially when the air-conditioning apparatus is in the stopped state, but it is difficult or impossible for the indoor unit to detect refrigerant leakage when the air-conditioning apparatus is in operation. Furthermore, in device models having different structures, structures of air passages in the housings of the device models are also different, and thus the positions where the refrigerant is detected in the air passages and how to attach the refrigerant detection units are also different. It is therefore necessary to design and manufacture a refrigerant detection unit in accordance with the internal structure of each of device models, and it is hard to use a single refrigerant detection unit in common by the device models. - The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the invention is to provide a refrigerant detection device that can be applied to indoor units of different air-conditioning apparatuses having respective structures, and also an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus that uses the refrigerant detection device. Solution to Problem
- A refrigerant detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a refrigerant-detection air passage having both ends connected to a main air passage extending from a suction port of an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus to an air outlet of the indoor unit; and a refrigerant detection sensor that detects refrigerant in the refrigerant-detection air passage.
- An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, according to another embodiment of the present invention, includes: a housing formed in a shape of a box and including a suction port and an air outlet; a main air passage extending from the suction port to the air outlet; a fan provided in the main air passage and configured to send air from the suction port to the air outlet; a heat exchanger that transfers heat between the air flowing through the main air passage and refrigerant; and a refrigerant detection device including a refrigerant-detection air passage that branches off from the main air passage and then joins the main air passage, and a refrigerant detection sensor that detects refrigerant in the refrigerant-detection air passage and is provided in the refrigerant-detection air passage.
- According to the embodiments, the refrigerant detection device can guide air to the outside of the main air passage in the housing of the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus, and to detect refrigerant leakage. Thereby, the refrigerant detection device can be provided in the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus without imposing a restriction on the configuration of the main air passage. Furthermore, since a connection portion between the refrigerant-detection air passage and the main air passage in the indoor unit is made such that it can be applied to devices models of different structures, the refrigerant detection device can be applied to the device models of different structures without the load on designing how to design the refrigerant detection device.
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Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 1 of the present invention. - [
Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of air passages in the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus as illustrated inFig. 1 . - [
Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a refrigerant detection box as illustrated inFig. 1 . - [
Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of an inlet port and the periphery thereof in a refrigerant detection device as illustrated inFig. 1 . - [
Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a refrigerant detection device according toembodiment 2 of the present invention. - [
Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 3 of the present invention. - Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each of the figures in the drawings, components, etc., which are the same as or similar to those in a previous figure are denoted by the same reference signs. The same is true of the entire text of the specification. Furthermore, forms of components described in the entire specification are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited as described in the specification. Particularly, each of combinations of components is not limited to a combination of components provided in a single embodiment, that is, a component provided in an embodiment can be applied to another embodiment. Furthermore, with respect to a plurality of devices of the same kind that are distinguished from each other by reference sings including suffixes, in the case where it is not particularly necessary to distinguish the devices from each other, there is a case where they are denoted by the reference signs not including the suffixes. Also, in the figures, there is a case where the relationship in size between components may be different from an actual one.
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Fig. 1 is a perspective view of anindoor unit 100 of an air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 1 of the present invention.Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of air passages in theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus as illustrated inFig. 1. Figs. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus. Theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus includes ahousing 1 formed in the shape of a box, and the inside of thehousing 1 is partitioned into a fan chamber A and a heat-exchanger chamber B by afan plate 5. In the fan chamber A, amotor 2 and twofan casings 3 are provided. In each of thefan casings 3, afan 40 is provided. An opening port is provided at thehousing 1, and the fan chamber A is provided with asuction port 18 for taking in air from the outside of theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus. Inembodiment 1, thesuction port 18 is provided in an end surface of thehousing 1; however, it can be provided at any location as long as air can be taken from the outside of thehousing 1 into the fan chamber A by thefan 40 though thesuction port 18. - A
heat exchanger 4 is provided in the heat-exchanger chamber B. Anair outlet 19 is provided in an end surface of thehousing 1 that is located at the heat exchanger chamber B. From theair outlet 19, air is blown after subjected to heat exchange in theheat exchanger 4. The location of theair outlet 19 can be arbitrarily changed. - The
fan casing 3 is attached to thefan plate 5. An air-sendingport 42 is provided in thefan plate 5. From the air-sendingport 42, air is blown from thefan 40 into the heat-exchanger chamber B. Furthermore, thefan casing 3 is provided with anintake port 41 for taking air flowing in the fan chamber A into thefan casing 3. Thefan 40 is provided in thefan casing 3 is driven by amotor 2 to take in air flowing in the fan chamber A from theintake port 41 of thefan casing 3, and to blow out air into the heat-exchanger chamber B through the air-sendingport 42. The air blown into the heat-exchanger chamber B exchanges heat, in theheat exchanger 4, with refrigerant flowing through aheat transfer tube 30 in theheat exchanger 4, and is blown out from theair outlet 19. That is, amain air passage 50 is formed in thehousing 1 to extend from thesuction port 18 to theair outlet 19 via thefan 40 and theheat exchanger 4. - At a side surface of the heat-exchanger chamber B, a
refrigerant detection device 20 is provided to take in air flowing in themain air passage 50 provided in thehousing 1, and to detect whether refrigerant is contained in the air or not. Therefrigerant detection device 20 includes apipe 9 connected to themain air passage 50, arefrigerant detection box 6 in which arefrigerant detection sensor 11 is provided, and apipe 10 connected to themain air passage 50 to return air flowing through therefrigerant detection sensor 11 to themain air passage 50. In a side surface of thehousing 1 that is located at the heat-exchanger chamber B, aninlet port 7 is provided to take in air flowing through themain air passage 50. Furthermore, in a side surface of thehousing 1 which is located at the fan chamber A, anair return port 8 is provided to return air from a refrigerant-detection air passage 60 to themain air passage 50. An air passage that branches off from themain air passage 50 in thehousing 1 and extends from theinlet port 7 to theair return port 8 to send air to therefrigerant detection sensor 11 and to return air to themain air passage 50 will be referred to as the refrigerant-detection air passage 60. - Material of the
pipe 9 and thepipe 10 may be resin or metal as long as it has a satisfactory strength and does not affect detection of refrigerant. Furthermore, thepipes housing 1, attachment of thepipe 9 to theinlet port 7 and attachment of thepipe 10 to the air return port are achieved by the same attachment structure, and at least one of the lengths and shapes of thepipes refrigerant detection device 20 is changed, whereby a refrigerant-detection air passage 60 that branches off from themain air passage 50 and then re-join themain air passage 50 can be made in indoor units of various types of air-conditioning apparatuses. Inembodiment 1, as illustrated inFig. 1 , therefrigerant detection device 20 is provided outside thehousing 1, but may be provided in thehousing 1. For example, in a structure such as the structure of a machine chamber in which nomain air passage 50 is provided in thehousing 1, therefrigerant detection device 20 may be provided in the machine chamber. - Air taken in from the
inlet port 7 flows through thepipe 9, and through thepipe 10 via therefrigerant detection box 6, and is returned to themain air passage 50 through theair return port 8. In themain air passage 50, when thefan 40 is driven, the pressure of air on a downstream side of thefan 40, that is, on a side where the air-sendingport 42 is located, is raised higher than the pressure of air on an upstream side of thefan 40, that is, a side where theintake port 41 is located. Theinlet port 7 is provided in the heat-exchanger chamber B whose air pressure is high, and theair return port 8 is provided in the fan chamber A whose air pressure is low, and because of the difference between these air pressures, air easily flows into the refrigerant-detection air passage 60. - For example, in the case where refrigerant for use in the air-conditioning apparatus is refrigerant, such as fluorocarbon-based refrigerant, which has a higher specific gravity than air when it is in a gas state, it is appropriate that the
inlet port 7 is provided at lower part of thehousing 1. By contrast, in the case where the refrigerant for use in the air-conditioning apparatus is refrigerant, such as ammonia, which is lighter than air when it is in a gas state, theinlet port 7 may be provided at upper part of thehousing 1. Inembodiment 1, for example, theinlet port 7 is provided at the lower part of thehousing 1 as illustrated inFig. 1 . Furthermore, inembodiment 1, theinlet port 7 is provided in only one of side surfaces of thehousing 1, butinlet ports 7 may be provided at side surfaces of thehousing 1 or on upper and lower surfaces of thehousing 1, for example, in accordance with the structure of theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus. Also, as in theinlet port 7, the position of theair return port 8 or the numbers ofair return ports 8 can be changed as appropriate in accordance with the refrigerant for use in the air-conditioning apparatus or the structure of theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus. - In
embodiment 1, theinlet port 7 and theair return port 8 are circular, but may be formed in another shape. Furthermore, the opening areas of theinlet port 7 and theair return port 8 are determined in consideration of, for example, the lengths and strengths of thepipes refrigerant detection sensor 11 can easily perform detection. -
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of therefrigerant detection box 6 as illustrated inFig. 1 . InFig. 3 , therefrigerant detection box 6 is illustrated, with its top and front plates removed. Therefrigerant detection box 6 is provided with therefrigerant detection sensor 11 that detects the density of the refrigerant, and acontrol unit 12 which processes a signal from therefrigerant detection sensor 11. Therefrigerant detection sensor 11 may be driven by power supplied from theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus or power supplied from an external power supply at an actual place where theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus is installed. In the case where therefrigerant detection sensor 11 is a refrigerant detection sensor which cannot be driven by power supplied from theindoor unit 100 or the external power supply, a battery may be incorporated in therefrigerant detection box 6. Furthermore, referring toFig. 3 , therefrigerant detection sensor 11 and thecontrol unit 12 are fixed at a bottom surface of therefrigerant detection box 6 in a vertical direction, but therefrigerant detection sensor 11 and thecontrol unit 12 may be fixed at another surface or other surfaces. - Referring to
Fig. 1 , therefrigerant detection box 6 is fixed at thehousing 1 of theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus, but may be freely provided outside thehousing 1. For example, therefrigerant detection box 6 can be provided at a ceiling surface in the case where the indoor unit is a ceiling-suspended indoor unit, and can be provided at a floor surface in the case where the indoor unit is a floor-installed indoor unit. Therefrigerant detection box 6 can be provided at an optimal positon in consideration of environments of the actual place where theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus is installed and the ease of maintenance of therefrigerant detection box 6. Furthermore, as described above, therefrigerant detection device 20 can be installed in thehousing 1, for example, in the machine chamber, and thus, therefrigerant detection device 20 may be installed at a position in the machine chamber where maintenance can be easily performed. - In the case where the
refrigerant detection device 20 is fixed at thehousing 1 of theindoor unit 100, thepipes inlet port 7 and theair return port 8, respectively, by screws or the like, thereby enabling therefrigerant detection device 20 only to be replaced by a new one. - Furthermore, as illustrated in
Fig. 3 , in order that an upper surface and a front surface of therefrigerant detection box 6 be removed and replacement and inspection of therefrigerant detection sensor 11 and thecontrol unit 12 be performed, it suffices that elements forming the upper surface and front surface of therefrigerant detection sensor 11 are fixed by screws or the like, such that they can be freely removed. -
Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of theinlet port 7 and the periphery thereof in therefrigerant detection device 20 as illustrated inFig. 1 .Fig. 4 illustrates thehousing 1 of theindoor unit 100, but omits a top surface and a side surface of thehousing 1. Referring toFig. 4 , in theheat exchange 4, a plurality ofheat transfer tubes 30 are arranged and end portions of theheat transfer tubes 30 are connected by, for example,U-shaped pipes 31, thereby forming a refrigerant flow passage. A plurality offins 33 are attached to the plurality ofheat transfer tubes 30, and heat is exchanged between air and refrigerant flowing through theheat transfer tubes 30 by causing air to flow between thefins 33. In theindoor unit 100, there is a possibility that refrigerant may leak from connection portions 32 where theheat transfer tubes 30 and theU-shaped pipes 31 are connected by, for example, brazing. - As illustrated in
Fig. 4 , brazed connected parts between theheat transfer tubes 30 and theU-shaped pipes 31 are concentratedly located at an end portion of theheat exchanger 4, and if refrigerant leakage occurs, the density of refrigerant in air around the end portion of theheat exchanger 4 tends to increase. Therefore, in theindoor unit 100 according toembodiment 1, a shieldingplate 13 is provided in such a manner as to project in the same direction as theU-shaped pipes 31 project from an end portion of theheat exchanger 4 where thefins 33 are provided, and blocks part of themain air passage 50. Furthermore, the shieldingplate 13 is provided in such a manner as to project from an end portion of a surface of theheat exchanger 4 that faces a downstream side of themain air passage 50, and in parallel with the surface. The shieldingplate 13 blocks the flow of air passing through a region at the end portion of theheat exchanger 4 where theU-shaped pipes 31 are provided. Theheat exchanger 4 is inclined relative to the flow direction of air in themain air passage 50. Thus, as indicated in allows inFig. 4 , air flowing from an upstream side of themain air passage 50 strikes the shieldingplate 13 after passing through the end portion of theheat exchanger 4, and then flows along a surface of the shieldingplate 13 as indicated by arrows inFig. 4 . The shieldingplate 13 blocks part of themain air passage 50 in themain air passage 50 on a downstream side of theinlet port 7. Thereby, a flow passage is provided in such a manner as to guide air passing through the end portion of theheat exchanger 4 such that the air is collected at theinlet port 7, and theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus can improve the accuracy of detection of refrigerant leakage. -
- (1) The
refrigerant detection device 20 according toembodiment 1 includes the refrigerant-detection air passage 60 having end portions both connected to themain air passage 50, which extends from thesuction port 18 of theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus to theair outlet 19, and therefrigerant detection sensor 11 that detects refrigerant in the refrigerant-detection air passage 60. - (2) The
indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 1 includes the box-shapedhousing 1 including thesuction port 18 and theair outlet 19, themain air passage 50 extending from thesuction port 18 to theair outlet 19, thefan 40 provided at themain air passage 50 to send air from thesuction port 18 to theair outlet 19, theheat exchanger 4 which transfers heat between air flowing through themain air passage 50 and refrigerant, and therefrigerant detection device 20. Therefrigerant detection device 20 includes the refrigerant-detection air passage 60 that branches off from themain air passage 50 and then joins themain air passage 50. At the refrigerant-detection air passage 60, therefrigerant detection sensor 11 that detects refrigerant in the refrigerant-detection air passage 60 is provided.
Because of the above configuration, therefrigerant detection device 20 can be provided without narrowing themain air passage 50 in theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus. Furthermore, air flowing through themain air passage 50 can be guided to therefrigerant detection sensor 11 without being hindered. Furthermore, therefrigerant detection device 20 can be provided outside themain air passage 50 of theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus or outside thehousing 1, and can thus be also applied to theindoor unit 100 of another air-conditioning apparatus having a different internal structure from that of the above air-conditioning apparatus, simply by changing the lengths and shapes of thepipes refrigerant detection device 20 is applied to theindoor unit 100 of another air-conditioning apparatus having a different internal structure from that of the above air-conditioning apparatus, it can be more easily designed how therefrigerant detection device 20 is installed at theindoor unit 100. - (3) In the
refrigerant detection device 20 according toembodiment 1, the refrigerant-detection air passage 60 includes thepipes refrigerant detection box 6 connected to thepipes pipes main air passage 50. Therefrigerant detection sensor 11 is provided in therefrigerant detection box 6.
Because of such a configuration, since therefrigerant detection sensor 11 is provided in therefrigerant detection box 6 that is provided independent of thehousing 1, it is possible to easily perform maintenance of therefrigerant detection sensor 11, such as inspection and replacement of therefrigerant detection sensor 11, while obtaining the advantages (1) and (2) as described above. Furthermore, since therefrigerant detection box 6 is detachable from thepipes refrigerant detection sensor 11 or thecontrol unit 12 is broken, therefrigerant detection box 6 in which therefrigerant detection sensor 11 and thecontrol unit 12 are provided can be easily replaced by a new one. - (4) In the
indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 1, the refrigerant-detection air passage 60 causes theintake port 41 of thefan 40 and the air-sendingport 42 of thefan 40 to communicate with each other.
In such a configuration, air flows from the air-sendingport 42 of thefan 40 where the pressure is high to theintake port 41 where the pressure is low, through the refrigerant-detection air passage 60, and thus when theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus is in operation, air in themain air passage 50 naturally flows into therefrigerant detection box 6. Thus, theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus may achieve a structure for guiding air into therefrigerant detection sensor 11 with a simple structure, and can also obtain advantages as described in the above items (1) and (2). - (5) With the
indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 1, the refrigerant-detection air passage 60 includes theinlet port 7 for taking in air from themain air passage 50, and theair return port 8 for returning the taken-in air to themain air passage 50. At themain air passage 50, a plurality ofinlet ports 7 are provided.
Therefore, since the plurality ofinlet ports 7 can be provided at locations in themain air passage 50, where refrigerant leakage highly likely occurs, theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus can detect refrigerant leakage at a higher accuracy. - (6) In the
indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 1, thehousing 1 includes the heat-exchanger chamber B where theheat exchanger 4 is provided, and the fan chamber A where thefan 40 is provided, and the refrigerant-detection air passage connects the heat-exchanger chamber B and the fan chamber A.
Because of such a configuration, air flows through the refrigerant-detection air passage 60, from the heat-exchanger chamber B where the pressure is high and refrigerant leakage may occur, to the fan chamber A where the pressure is low, and thus when theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus is in operation, air in themain air passage 50 naturally flows into therefrigerant detection box 6. Therefore, theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus can guide air into therefrigerant detection sensor 11 with a simple structure, and also obtain the advantages as described in the above items (1) and (2). - (7) In the
indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 1, theheat exchanger 4 is provided with the shieldingplate 13 at an end portion of theheat exchanger 4. The shieldingplate 13 blocks part of themain air passage 50, and guides air passing through the end portion of theheat exchanger 4 to a connection port between themain air passage 50 and the refrigerant-detection air passage 60.
Because of such a configuration, air passing through the end portion of theheat exchanger 4, where refrigerant leakage may occur in themain air passage 50, can be easily guided to theinlet port 7. Therefore, theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus can accurately and promptly detect refrigerant leakage. - (8) In the
indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 1, the refrigerant-detection air passage 60 is installed outside thehousing 1. - Because of such a configuration, it is not particularly necessary to provide space for providing the refrigerant-
detection air passage 60, in thehousing 1 of theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus. Furthermore, also in the case of applying therefrigerant detection device 20 to theindoor unit 100 of another air-conditioning apparatus having a different internal structure from that of the above air-conditioning apparatus 20, therefrigerant detection device 20 can be applied without being affected by the difference between the internal structures of thehousings 1 of the above different air-conditioning apparatuses 20, and thehousing 1 does not need to be enlarged for provision of therefrigerant detection device 20. Furthermore, since therefrigerant detection device 20 is provided outside thehousing 1 of theindoor unit 100, maintenance of therefrigerant detection sensor 11 and peripheral components, which form therefrigerant detection device 20, can be easily performed regardless of the internal structure of theindoor unit 100 or the position or size of an inspection port. - A
refrigerant detection device 220 of anindoor unit 200 of an air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 2 is obtained by adding a small fan to therefrigerant detection device 20 of theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 1.Embodiment 2 will be described by referring mainly to the differences betweenembodiments embodiment 2 are the same as or similar to those inembodiment 1, and functions and components inembodiment 2 which are the same as those inembodiment 1 will be denoted by the same reference signs. -
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of therefrigerant detection device 220 according toembodiment 2 of the present invention. Therefrigerant detection device 20, as well as therefrigerant detection device 20 according toembodiment 1, is attached to theindoor unit 200 of the air-conditioning apparatus. Therefrigerant detection device 220 includes afan box 14 provided with a fan that sends air in the refrigerant-detection air passage 60, in addition to therefrigerant detection box 6 ofembodiment 1. Because of provision of the fan and a motor in thefan box 14, even when the differential pressure between theinlet port 7 and theair return port 8 is small, and air in the refrigerant-detection air passage 60 does not smoothly flow or does not flow at all, such as in a weak-wind mode in which the amount of air flowing in themain air passage 50 in thehousing 1 is small or in the case where the operation of theindoor unit 100 is stopped, air in themain air passage 50 can be sent to therefrigerant detection sensor 11 by forcibly sending air in a direction from theinlet port 7 toward theair return port 8. Therefore, also when theindoor unit 200 of the air-conditioning apparatus is operated in a weak-wind mode or when theindoor unit 200 is in the stopped state, refrigerant leakage can be detected by therefrigerant detection device 220. - By provision of the fan at the refrigerant-
detection air passage 60, even in the case where the rotation speed of thefan 40 of theindoor unit 200, the amount of air sent from thefan 40, etc., are changed, the flow rate of air passing through therefrigerant detection box 6 can be adjusted to a flow rate suitable for detection, by adjusting the rotation speed of the fan in the refrigerant-detection air passage 60. - It should be noted that referring to
Fig. 5 , thefan box 14 is provided at thepipe 9 between theinlet port 7 and therefrigerant detection box 6, but thefan box 14 may be provided at thepipe 10 between therefrigerant detection box 6 and theair return port 8. -
- (9) In the
refrigerant detection device 220 according toembodiment 2, the refrigerant-detection air passage 60 includes a fan which sends air from one of end portions of the refrigerant-detection air passage 60 to the other end portion. - (10) In the
indoor unit 200 of the air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 1, the refrigerant-detection air passage 60 includes a fan that sends air from one of end portions of the refrigerant-detection air passage 60 to the other end portion.
Because of such a configuration, even when the difference in pressure between theinlet port 7 and theair return port 8 is small in the stopped state of theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus or in the weak-wind mode of theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus, air in themain air passage 50 can be sent to therefrigerant detection sensor 11 by driving the fan. Therefore, even when theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus is in the stopped state or in the weak-wind mode, refrigerant can be detected by therefrigerant detection device 20. - (11) In the
refrigerant detection device 220 or theindoor unit 200 of the air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 2, the refrigerant-detection air passage 60 further includes thepipes fan box 14 connected to thepipes pipes main air passage 50. The fan is provided in thefan box 14. - By virtue of the above configuration, in the
indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus, the fan of therefrigerant detection device 20 can be easily inspected and replaced by a new one. - A
refrigerant detection device 320 of anindoor unit 300 of an air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 3 is achieved by addingprotrusion pipes 15 and 16 to therefrigerant detection device 20 of theindoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 1. Theprotrusion pipes 15 and 16 protrude into themain air passage 50 from theinlet port 7 and theair return port 8, respectively.Embodiment 3 will be described by referring mainly to the differences betweenembodiments
inembodiment 3 are assumed to be the same as or similar to those inembodiment 1, and components which have the same functions and structures as those inembodiment 1 will be denoted by same reference signs. -
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of theindoor unit 300 of the air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 3 of the present invention. It should be noted that inembodiments inlet port 7 and theair return port 8 are provided on a side of themain air passage 50 in thehousing 1. By contrast, in theindoor unit 300 of the air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 3, theprotrusion pipes 15 and 16 are further provided to protrude into themain air passage 50 in theindoor unit 300, and theinlet port 7 and theair return port 8 are provided at distal ends of theprotrusion pipe 15 and 16, respectively. Because of such a structure, it is possible to change the position at which air in themain air passage 50 is taken in and the position where air having flowed through the refrigerant-detection air passage 60 is returned. - As illustrated in
Fig. 6 ,short protrusion pipes 15 and 16 are each provided to straightly extend into themain air passage 50 from a connection portion between themain air passage 50 and the refrigerant-detection air passage 60. The protrusion pipe 15 includes theinlet port 7 at its distal end portion, and for example, is located close to an end portion of theheat exchanger 4. Also, the protrusion pipe 15 is formed to easily take in refrigerant leaking from the connection portion 32 between theheat transfer tube 30 and theU-shaped pipe 31 at the end portion of theheat exchanger 4. It should be noted that the shape of the protrusion pipe 15 may be changed as appropriate, and the position of the distal end portion of the protrusion pipe 15 may be changed as appropriate to a position where refrigerant leakage can be easily detected. It is also possible to detect refrigerant leakage at a plurality of positions in themain air passage 50 by branching the distal end portion of the protrusion pipe 15 into two or more, and therefore possible to further improve the accuracy of the detection by therefrigerant detection device 320. - (12) In the
indoor unit 300 of the air-conditioning apparatus according toembodiment 1, the refrigerant-detection air passage 60 includes theprotrusion pipes 15 and 16 protruding into themain air passage 50, and the protrusion pipe 15 includes, at the distal end portion thereof, theinlet port 7 for taking in air from themain air passage 50. - Thereby, because of provision of the protrusion pipe 15 especially at the
inlet port 7, air in themain air passage 50 can be taken in at a position where refrigerant leakage can be more easily detected. By branching the distal end portion of the protrusion pipe 15 into two or more, detection for refrigerant leakage can be performed at a plurality of positions in themain air passage 50, and the accuracy of detection by therefrigerant detection device 320 can be further improved. -
- 1
housing 2motor 3fan casing 4heat exchanger 5fan plate 6refrigerant detection box 7inlet port 8air return port 9pipe 10pipe 11refrigerant detection sensor 12 control unit - 13
shielding plate 14 fan box 15protrusion pipe 16protrusion pipe 18suction port 19air outlet 20refrigerant detection device 30heat transfer tube 31 U-shaped pipe 32 connection portion - 33
fin 40fan 41intake port 42 air-sendingport 50main air passage 60 refrigerant-detection air passage 100 indoor unit - 200
indoor unit 220refrigerant detection device 300 indoor unit - 320 refrigerant detection device A fan chamber B heat-exchanger chamber
Claims (13)
- A refrigerant detection device comprising:a refrigerant-detection air passage having both ends connected to a main air passage extending from a suction port of an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus to an air outlet of the indoor unit; anda refrigerant detection sensor configured to detect refrigerant in the refrigerant-detection air passage.
- The refrigerant detection device of claim 1,
wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage includes:a pipe having one end connected to the main air passage, anda refrigerant detection box connected to the pipe, andwherein the refrigerant detection sensor is provided in the refrigerant detection box. - The refrigerant detection device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage includes a fan configured to send air from one of ends of the refrigerant-detection air passage to the other.
- The refrigerant detection device of claim 3,
wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage further includes:a pipe having one end connected to the main air passage, anda fan box connected to the pipe, andthe fan is provided in the fan box. - An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, comprising:a housing formed in a shape of a box and including a suction port and an air outlet;a main air passage extending from the suction port to the air outlet;a fan provided in the main air passage and configured to send air from the suction port to the air outlet;a heat exchanger configured to transfer heat between the air flowing through the main air passage and refrigerant; anda refrigerant detection device including a refrigerant-detection air passage that branches off from the main air passage and then joins the main air passage, and a refrigerant detection sensor configured to detect refrigerant in the refrigerant-detection air passage and provided in the refrigerant-detection air passage.
- The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 5, wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage is provided to cause an air-sending port side and an intake port side of the fan to communicate with each other.
- The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 5 or 6,
wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage includes
an inlet port configured to take in the air from the main air passage, and
an air return port configured to return the taken-in air to the main air passage, and
a plurality of the inlet ports are provided in the main air passage. - The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of any one of claims 5 to 7,
wherein the housing includes a heat-exchanger chamber in which the heat exchanger is provided, and an fan chamber in which the fan is provided, and
wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage causes the heat-exchanger chamber and a fan chamber to communicate with each other. - The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 8,
wherein the heat exchanger is provided with a shielding plate at an end portion of the heat exchanger, the shielding plate being configured to block part of the main air passage, and
wherein the shielding plate guides the air passing through the end portion of the heat exchanger to a connection port between the main air passage and the refrigerant-detection air passage. - The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of any one of claims 5 to 9,
wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage includes a fan configured to send the air from one of ends of the refrigerant-detection air passage to the other end. - The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 10,
wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage further includes:a pipe having one end connected to the main air passage, anda fan box connected to the pipe, andwherein the fan is provided in the fan box. - The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of any one of claims 5 to 11,
wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage includes:a protrusion pipe protruding into the main air passage, andwherein the protrusion pipe includes, at a distal end portion thereof, an inlet port configured to take in the air from the main air passage. - The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of any one of claims 5 to 12, wherein the refrigerant-detection air passage is provided outside the housing.
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PCT/JP2017/016195 WO2018198165A1 (en) | 2017-04-24 | 2017-04-24 | Refrigerant-sensing device and indoor unit for air conditioner |
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EP3617602A1 true EP3617602A1 (en) | 2020-03-04 |
EP3617602A4 EP3617602A4 (en) | 2020-05-20 |
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US (1) | US20200056799A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3617602B1 (en) |
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JP6635275B2 (en) * | 2018-03-30 | 2020-01-22 | 株式会社富士通ゼネラル | Ceiling-mounted air conditioner |
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JP6653455B1 (en) * | 2019-02-20 | 2020-02-26 | パナソニックIpマネジメント株式会社 | Indoor unit |
JP6906168B2 (en) * | 2019-02-20 | 2021-07-21 | パナソニックIpマネジメント株式会社 | Indoor unit |
EP3719405B1 (en) * | 2019-04-02 | 2023-08-09 | Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. | Indoor unit of air conditioning apparatus |
CN113853501A (en) * | 2019-05-31 | 2021-12-28 | 三菱电机株式会社 | Air conditioner |
JP7474923B2 (en) | 2020-06-25 | 2024-04-26 | パナソニックIpマネジメント株式会社 | Air conditioners |
JP7422314B2 (en) | 2021-02-05 | 2024-01-26 | パナソニックIpマネジメント株式会社 | air conditioner |
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WO2023129777A1 (en) * | 2021-12-30 | 2023-07-06 | Goodman Manufacturing Company, L.P. | System with leak detection for detecting refrigerant leak |
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2000186848A (en) * | 1998-12-18 | 2000-07-04 | Daikin Ind Ltd | Air conditioner |
KR100486441B1 (en) * | 1999-06-29 | 2005-05-03 | 캐리어 코포레이션 | Biosensors for monitoring air conditioning and refrigeration processes |
JP2003176941A (en) * | 2001-12-10 | 2003-06-27 | Kazuo Taka | Simple installation-type smoke ejecting mechanism |
DK2229579T3 (en) * | 2008-01-17 | 2018-12-17 | Carrier Corp | Detection of CO2 emissions in a container |
JP5401825B2 (en) * | 2008-04-16 | 2014-01-29 | パナソニック株式会社 | vending machine |
CN103392102B (en) * | 2011-09-14 | 2016-08-10 | 松下电器产业株式会社 | Air conditioner |
WO2015029094A1 (en) * | 2013-08-25 | 2015-03-05 | Masuda Keiji | Leak detecting structure for flammable refrigerant |
JP5865529B1 (en) * | 2014-07-15 | 2016-02-17 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Air conditioner |
JP6402779B2 (en) * | 2014-12-25 | 2018-10-10 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Refrigerant leak detection device and refrigeration cycle device provided with the same |
JP6565271B2 (en) * | 2015-03-31 | 2019-08-28 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | Refrigeration unit heat source unit |
JP6463478B2 (en) * | 2015-07-17 | 2019-02-06 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Air conditioner |
JP2017053514A (en) * | 2015-09-08 | 2017-03-16 | ジョンソンコントロールズ ヒタチ エア コンディショニング テクノロジー(ホンコン)リミテッド | Air conditioner |
-
2017
- 2017-04-24 JP JP2019514896A patent/JP6727421B2/en active Active
- 2017-04-24 EP EP17907606.2A patent/EP3617602B1/en active Active
- 2017-04-24 WO PCT/JP2017/016195 patent/WO2018198165A1/en unknown
- 2017-04-24 US US16/486,700 patent/US20200056799A1/en not_active Abandoned
Also Published As
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JP6727421B2 (en) | 2020-07-22 |
EP3617602B1 (en) | 2024-04-10 |
EP3617602A4 (en) | 2020-05-20 |
US20200056799A1 (en) | 2020-02-20 |
JPWO2018198165A1 (en) | 2019-12-12 |
WO2018198165A1 (en) | 2018-11-01 |
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