EP4166873A1 - Kältekreislaufvorrichtung - Google Patents
Kältekreislaufvorrichtung Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP4166873A1 EP4166873A1 EP20940299.9A EP20940299A EP4166873A1 EP 4166873 A1 EP4166873 A1 EP 4166873A1 EP 20940299 A EP20940299 A EP 20940299A EP 4166873 A1 EP4166873 A1 EP 4166873A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- state
- indoor units
- pressure
- heat exchanger
- low
- 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
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- 238000005057 refrigeration Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 151
- 239000003507 refrigerant Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 257
- 230000005856 abnormality Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 203
- 238000004781 supercooling Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 99
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 45
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 claims description 62
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 54
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 54
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 53
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 36
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 23
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 23
- 230000002159 abnormal effect Effects 0.000 description 22
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 15
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 13
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 10
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 8
- 239000011555 saturated liquid Substances 0.000 description 8
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000005012 migration Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013508 migration Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000284 extract Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000013526 supercooled liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- F25B41/00—Fluid-circulation arrangements
- F25B41/20—Disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control valves
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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
- F24F11/38—Failure diagnosis
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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
- F25B49/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F25B49/005—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices of safety devices
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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
- F24F2140/00—Control inputs relating to system states
- F24F2140/20—Heat-exchange fluid temperature
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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
- 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
- F25B2313/0233—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for using multiple indoor units in parallel arrangements
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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
- F25B2313/031—Sensor arrangements
- F25B2313/0314—Temperature sensors near the indoor heat exchanger
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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
- F25B2313/031—Sensor arrangements
- F25B2313/0315—Temperature sensors near the outdoor heat exchanger
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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
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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
- F25B2600/00—Control issues
- F25B2600/25—Control of valves
- F25B2600/2507—Flow-diverting 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
- F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
- F25B2700/19—Pressures
- F25B2700/193—Pressures of the compressor
- F25B2700/1931—Discharge pressures
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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
- F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
- F25B2700/21—Temperatures
- F25B2700/2116—Temperatures of a condenser
- F25B2700/21163—Temperatures of a condenser of the refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser
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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
- F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
- F25B2700/21—Temperatures
- F25B2700/2117—Temperatures of an evaporator
- F25B2700/21174—Temperatures of an evaporator of the refrigerant at the inlet of the evaporator
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a relay unit.
- Patent Literature 1 There has heretofore been a technique for identifying an abnormality in a device mounted in a refrigeration cycle apparatus (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
- Patent Literature 1 in a case in which an indoor unit expansion valve is a device to be subjected to an abnormality judgment, a comparison between operating states is made by comparing a current opening degree and a current degree of superheating of the indoor unit expansion valve with a past opening degree and a past degree of superheating of the indoor unit expansion valve under equal load conditions, for example, during cooling operation. That is the opening degree of the indoor unit expansion valve is an operating point of the device, and the degree of superheating is a quantity of state of the device. Since it has been previously verified that the indoor unit expansion valve operates in a predetermined control range, the indoor unit expansion valve is subjected to an abnormality judgment based on the opening degree of the indoor unit expansion valve and the magnitude of the degree of superheating associated therewith.
- Patent Literature 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-084969
- the present disclosure was made to solve such a problem as that mentioned above, and has as an object to provide a refrigeration cycle apparatus capable of, when including a relay unit having a plurality of high-pressure valves and a plurality of low-pressure valves, identifying an open-lock abnormality in the high-pressure valves or the low-pressure valves.
- a refrigeration cycle apparatus includes an outdoor unit including a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, a plurality of indoor units each including an indoor heat exchanger and an expansion device, a relay unit intervening between the outdoor unit and each of the plurality of indoor units and serving to cause refrigerant from the outdoor unit to branch off into each of the indoor units, a refrigerant circuit in which the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion device and the indoor heat exchanger are connected by refrigerant pipes and through which refrigerant circulates, and a controller configured to control the plurality of indoor units.
- the relay unit includes a plurality of high-pressure valves each provided in a corresponding one of a plurality of high-pressure pipes connecting a high-pressure side of the outdoor unit and each of the indoor units and a plurality of low-pressure valves each provided in a corresponding one of a plurality of low-pressure pipes connecting a low-pressure side of the outdoor unit and each of the indoor units.
- the controller is configured to, when an operation state of at least one of the indoor units is changed from a first state to a second state, judge, based on a degree of supercooling of an outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger or the indoor heat exchanger that functions as a condenser or based on a degree of superheating of a suction side of the compressor, whether an abnormality is present in the plurality of high-pressure valves or the plurality of low-pressure valves.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured to, when an operation state of at least one of the indoor units is changed from a first state to a second state, judge, based on a degree of supercooling of an outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger or the indoor heat exchanger that functions as a condenser or based on a degree of superheating of a suction side of the compressor, whether an abnormality is present in the plurality of high-pressure valves or the plurality of low-pressure valves.
- Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1.
- Embodiment 1 takes, as an example of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100, an air-conditioning apparatus, configured to carry out cooling operation and heating operation, in which, as shown in Fig. 1 , two indoor units 20a and 20b are connected via a relay unit 40 to one outdoor unit 10. It should be noted that although Fig. 1 shows a configuration in which the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 includes the two indoor units 20a and 20b, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 needs only include more than one indoor unit.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 includes the outdoor unit 10, the two indoor units 20a and 20b, and the relay unit 40. Moreover, refrigerant having flowed out of the outdoor unit 10 is caused by the relay unit 40 to branch off into the two indoor units 20a and 20b, and flows into each of the indoor units 20a and 20b. Then, the refrigerant having flowed out of each of the indoor units 20a and 20b returns to the outdoor unit 10 via the relay unit 40 again.
- the outdoor unit 10 includes a compressor 11, an outdoor heat exchanger 12, a flow switching device 13, a refrigerant connecting pipes 18 and 19, check valves 14 to 17, temperature sensors 53, 54a, and 54b, and a pressure sensor 61.
- the indoor unit 20a includes an expansion device 21a and an indoor heat exchanger 22a.
- the indoor unit 20b includes an expansion device 21b and an indoor heat exchanger 22b.
- the relay unit 40 includes high-pressure pipes 46a and 46b, low-pressure pipes 47a and 47b, high-pressure valves 41a and 41b, low-pressure valves 42a and 42b, valves 43 and 44, and a reservoir 45.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 includes a refrigerant circuit 1 in which the compressor 11, the flow switching device 13, the outdoor heat exchanger 12, the reservoir 45, the expansion devices 21a and 21b, and the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b are connected by refrigerant pipes and through which refrigerant circulates.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 includes a controller 30, a notifying unit 36, and an operation mode switching unit 37, and the notifying unit 36 and the operation mode switching unit 37 are each connected to the controller 30. It should be noted that the notifying unit 36 and the operation mode switching unit 37 may be provided in the controller 30 as part of the controller 30.
- the compressor 11 is a fluid machine configured to suction low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant, compress the low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant into high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant, and discharge the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant. While the compressor 11 is in operation, refrigerant circulates through the refrigerant circuit 1.
- the compressor 11 is for example an inverter-driven compressor with adjustable operating frequency. Further, operation of the compressor 11 is controlled by the controller 30.
- the outdoor heat exchanger 12 exchanges heat between refrigerant and outdoor air, and functions as a condenser or an evaporator.
- a fan (not illustrated) may be provided near the outdoor heat exchanger 12, and in that case, the amount of heat that is exchanged with outdoor air can be changed by changing the rotation speed of the fan and thereby changing the volume of air.
- the flow switching device 13 is for example a four-way valve, and enables switching between cooling operation and heating operation to be done by switching the direction of flow of refrigerant. Switching of the flow switching device 13 is controlled by the controller 30. It should be noted that as the flow switching device 13, a combination of a two-way valve and a three-way valve or other devices may be used instead of the four-way valve.
- the check valve 14 permits unidirectional flow of refrigerant, is provided in a refrigerant pipe between the outdoor heat exchanger 12 and the relay unit 40, and causes refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 to flow through the relay unit 40 during cooling operation.
- the check valve 15 permits unidirectional flow of refrigerant, is provided in the refrigerant connecting pipe 18, and causes refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 to flow through the relay unit 40 during heating operation.
- the check valve 16 permits unidirectional flow of refrigerant, is provided in the refrigerant connecting pipe 19, and causes refrigerant having returned from the relay unit 40 to flow to a suction side of the compressor 11 during heating operation.
- the check valve 17 permits unidirectional flow of refrigerant, is provided in a refrigerant pipe between the flow switching device 13 and the relay unit 40, and causes refrigerant having returned from the relay unit 40 to flow to the suction side of the compressor 11 during cooling operation.
- These check valves 14 to 17 are indispensable for always supplying high-pressure refrigerant to the reservoir 45 even when the flow switching device 13 has switched.
- the refrigerant connecting pipe 18 connects a refrigerant pipe between the flow switching device 13 and the check valve 17 and a refrigerant pipe between the check valve 14 and the relay unit 40 in the outdoor unit 10.
- the refrigerant connecting pipe 19 connects a refrigerant pipe between the check valve 17 and the relay unit 40 and a refrigerant pipe between the outdoor heat exchanger 12 and the check valve 14 in the outdoor unit 10.
- the temperature sensor 53 is provided between the outdoor heat exchanger 12 and the reservoir 45, senses the temperature of an outlet side of the outdoor heat exchanger 12 while the outdoor heat exchanger 12 is functioning as a condenser during cooling operation, and outputs a sensing signal to the controller 30.
- the temperature sensor 54a is provided between the expansion device 21a and the indoor heat exchanger 22a, senses the temperature of an outlet side of the indoor heat exchanger 22a while the indoor heat exchanger 22a is functioning as a condenser during heating operation, and outputs a sensing signal to the controller 30.
- the temperature sensor 54b is provided between the expansion device 21b and the indoor heat exchanger 22b, senses the temperature of an outlet side of the indoor heat exchanger 22b while the indoor heat exchanger 22b is functioning as a condenser during heating operation, and outputs a sensing signal to the controller 30.
- the temperature sensors 53, 54a, and 54b are for example thermistors whose values of resistance change with temperature.
- the pressure sensor 61 is provided at a discharge side of the compressor 11, senses the pressure of the discharge side of the compressor 11, and outputs a sensing signal to the controller 30.
- the pressure sensor 61 for example receives the pressure of refrigerant, hydraulically senses the pressure with a pressure sensitive element, converts the pressure into an electrical signal corresponding to the pressure, and outputs the electrical signal.
- a two-phase temperature sensor (not illustrated) configured to sense the temperature of two-phase refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger 12 and output a sensing signal to the controller 30 may be provided at an intermediate position in a pipe forming the outdoor heat exchanger 12.
- the expansion devices 21a and 21b cause refrigerant to adiabatically expand.
- the expansion devices 21a and 21b are for example electronic expansion valves or temperature expansion valves, they may be capillary tubes or other devices.
- the opening degrees of the expansion devices 21a and 21b are controlled by the controller 30 so that the degrees of superheating of outlet sides of the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b come close to target values.
- the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b cause heat exchange to be performed between refrigerant and indoor air and function as condensers or evaporators.
- Fans may be provided near the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b, and in that case, the amounts of heat that are exchanged with indoor air can be changed by changing the rotation speeds of the fans and thereby changing the volumes of air.
- the high-pressure valve 41a is constituted, for example, by a two-way valve or other devices, is provided in the high-pressure pipe 46a between the reservoir 45 and the indoor unit 20a, and permits or blocks the flow of refrigerant from the relay unit 40 to the indoor unit 20a.
- the high-pressure valve 41b is constituted, for example, by a two-way valve or other devices, is provided in the high-pressure pipe 46b between the reservoir 45 and the indoor unit 20b, and permits or blocks the flow of refrigerant from the relay unit 40 to the indoor unit 20b.
- the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b are in an open state during supply of high-pressure refrigerant to the indoor units 20a and 20b, for example, during heating operation, and are in a closed state under suspension or during cooling operation.
- the low-pressure valve 42a is constituted, for example, by a two-way valve or other devices, is provided in the low-pressure pipe 47a between the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20a, and permits or blocks the flow of refrigerant from the relay unit 40 to the outdoor unit 10.
- the low-pressure valve 42b is constituted, for example, by a two-way valve or other devices, is provided in the low-pressure pipe 47b between the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20b, and permits or blocks the flow of refrigerant from the relay unit 40 to the outdoor unit 10.
- the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b are in an open state during supply of low-pressure refrigerant to the indoor units 20a and 20b, for example, during cooling operation, and are in a closed state under suspension or during heating operation.
- the reservoir 45 is an element device for achieving cooling and heating simultaneous operation, and holds liquid refrigerant.
- This reservoir 45 combined with the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b and the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b, makes it possible to supply refrigerant to the indoor units 20a and 20b in proper condition.
- the valves 43 and 44 are element devices needed to achieve cooling and heating simultaneous operation, and may have adjustable opening degrees or may simply open and close without adjustable opening degrees. In a case in which the outdoor heat exchanger 12 functions as a condenser, the valves 43 and 44 are controlled so that the valve 43 is in an open state and the valve 44 is in a closed state, and in a case in which the outdoor heat exchanger 12 functions as an evaporator, the valves 43 and 44 are controlled so that the valve 43 is in a closed state and the valve 44 is in an open state.
- the controller 30 is constituted, for example, by dedicated hardware or a CPU (also referred to as “central processing unit”, “central processing apparatus”, “processing apparatus”, “arithmetic apparatus”, “microprocessor”, and “processor”) configured to execute a program stored in the after-mentioned storage unit 31.
- CPU also referred to as "central processing unit”, “central processing apparatus”, “processing apparatus”, “arithmetic apparatus”, “microprocessor”, and “processor”
- the controller 30 falls in the category of, for example, a single circuit, a complex circuit, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof.
- Functional units that the controller 30 implements may each be implemented via separate pieces of hardware, or the functional units may all be implemented via one piece of hardware.
- controller 30 In a case in which the controller 30 is a CPU, functions that the controller 30 executes are implemented via software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. Software and firmware are described as programs and stored in the storage unit 31. The CPU implements each of the functions of the controller 30 by executing a program stored in the storage unit 31.
- controller 30 may be implemented via dedicated hardware and others may be implemented via software or firmware.
- the controller 30 controls overall operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 by controlling the compressor 11, the expansion devices 21a and 21b, or other devices based on sensing signals from the various sensors provided in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100, operating signals from an operating unit (not illustrated), or other signals. Further, the controller 30 makes an abnormality judgment on the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b or the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b. It should be noted that the controller 30 may be provided inside the outdoor unit 10 or the indoor units 20a and 20b or may be provided outside the outdoor unit 10 or the indoor units 20a and 20b.
- the controller 30 includes the storage unit 31, an extraction unit 32, a computing unit 33, a comparing unit 34, and a judging unit 35 as functional blocks configured to make an abnormality judgement.
- abnormality judgement here means judging whether an abnormality is present in the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b or the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100.
- the storage unit 31 stores various types of information, and includes, for example, a rewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory such as a flash memory, an EPROM, and an EEPROM. In addition to that, the storage unit 31 may include a nonrewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory such as a ROM or a rewritable volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM.
- the storage unit 31 stores temperature and pressure data sensed separately by each of the various sensors. It should be noted that these temperature and pressure data are regularly acquired during operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100.
- the extraction unit 32 extracts, from among the data stored in the storage unit 31, data needed for an abnormality judgment.
- an abnormality judgment involves the use of data extracted while the compressor 11 is operating.
- a reason for this is that while the compressor 11 is not operating, a proper judgment cannot be made as to whether an abnormality is present in the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b or the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b.
- the computing unit 33 carries out a necessary computation based on data extracted by the extraction unit 32.
- the comparing unit 34 makes a comparison between a value obtained by a computation carried out by the computing unit 33 and a threshold set in advance or a comparison between values obtained by computations carried out by the computing unit 33.
- the judging unit 35 makes, based on a result of a comparison made by the comparing unit 34, a judgment as to whether an abnormality is present in the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b or the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b.
- the notifying unit 36 provides notification of various types of information such as the occurrence of an abnormality upon command from the controller 30.
- the notifying unit 36 includes at least either display means for providing visual notification of information or audio output means for providing auditory notification of information.
- the operation mode switching unit 37 accepts, from a user, an operation of switching from one operation mode to another.
- a signal is outputted from the operation mode switching unit 37 to the controller 30, and the controller 30 switches from one operation mode to another based on the signal.
- the controller 30 has at least a normal operation mode and an abnormality sensing mode as operation modes.
- Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit state where the two indoor units 20a and 20b of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 are both in cooling operation.
- High-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 passes through the flow switching device 13, flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 12, exchanges heat with outdoor air through the outdoor heat exchanger 12, and condenses into high-pressure liquid refrigerant. After that, the high-pressure liquid refrigerant passes through the check valve 14, flows out of the outdoor unit 10, and flows into the relay unit 40. After having flowed into the relay unit 40, the high-pressure liquid refrigerant passes through the reservoir 45 and the valve 43 and braches into flows of refrigerant that then flow out of the relay unit 40 and flow separately into each of the indoor units 20a and 20b.
- the liquid refrigerant After having flowed into the indoor units 20a and 20b, the liquid refrigerant is caused by the expansion devices 21a and 21b to adiabatically expand into low-temperature and low-pressure two-phase refrigerant. After that, the low-temperature and low-pressure two-phase refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b, exchanges heat with indoor air through the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b, and evaporates into low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant. After that, the low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant flows out of the indoor units 20a and 20b and flows into the relay unit 40.
- the flows of low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant pass through the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b and merge into a flow of low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant that then flows out of the relay unit 40.
- the low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant flows into the outdoor unit 10, passes through the check valve 17 and the flow switching device 13, and is suctioned into the compressor 11.
- Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit state where one of the two indoor units 20a and 20b of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 is in cooling operation and the other of the two indoor units 20a and 20b is under suspension.
- the indoor unit 20a is under suspension
- the indoor unit 20b is in cooling operation.
- the expansion device 21a of the indoor unit 20a thus suspended is in a closed state, and the low-pressure valve 42a, which is connected to the indoor unit 20a, is in a closed state. That is, all valves connected to an inlet side and the outlet side of the indoor heat exchanger 22a of the indoor unit 20a thus suspended are in a closed state, so that no refrigerant is supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 22a thus suspended.
- Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit state where one of the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 is in a state of open-lock abnormality and the two indoor units 20a and 20b are both in cooling operation.
- an open-lock abnormality is present in the high-pressure valve 41a.
- the term "open-lock abnormality" here refers to an abnormality of a valve remaining open and becoming unable to be closed.
- Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit state where one of the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 is in a state of open-lock abnormality, one of the two indoor units 20a and 20b is in cooling operation, and the other of the two indoor units 20a and 20b is under suspension.
- an open-lock abnormality is present in the high-pressure valve 41a, the indoor unit 20a is under suspension, and the indoor unit 20b is in cooling operation.
- Embodiment 1 Although not described in Embodiment 1, at the occurrence of refrigerant leakage, the amount of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 1 decreases, with the result that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC decreases and the degree of superheating at compressor suction SH s increases. This makes it possible to isolate a refrigerant leakage abnormality from an open-lock abnormality. Therefore, in sensing an open-lock abnormality, an action of isolating an open-lock abnormality from other abnormalities may be added. Examples of the action include checking for the absence of refrigerant leakage first before the start of the sensing.
- Fig. 6 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram of refrigerant flowing through a bypass in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1.
- Fig. 7 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram of refrigerant not flowing through a bypass in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1. It should be noted that the pressure-enthalpy diagram shown in Fig. 6 represents the refrigerant circuit state shown in Fig. 4 and the pressure-enthalpy diagram shown in Fig. 7 represents the refrigerant circuit state shown in Fig. 5 .
- the suction side of the compressor 11 is in a state of gaining a degree of superheating, provided there is no bypass for refrigerant formed by the open-lock abnormality in the high-pressure valve 41a.
- liquid refrigerant is present at the suction side of the compressor 11, it is found, as shown in Fig. 6 , that refrigerant at the suction side of the compressor 11 is in a two-phase state or a saturated state.
- Fig. 8 is a flow chart showing a flow of control of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 during the abnormality sensing mode.
- the abnormality sensing mode a judgment is made as to whether an open-lock abnormality is present in the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b or the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b.
- the controller 30 switches from the normal operation mode to the abnormality sensing mode and executes an abnormality judgment process shown in Fig. 8 .
- the following describes the flow of control of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 during the abnormality sensing mode with reference to Fig. 8 .
- the controller 30 brings all indoor units 20a and 20b under suspension. At this point in time, the controller 30 brings the expansion devices 21a and 21b, the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b, the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b, and the valves 43 and 44 into a closed state.
- the controller 30 brings all indoor units 20a and 20b into cooling operation. At this point in time, the controller 30 brings the expansion devices 21a and 21b, the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b, and the valve 43 into an open state.
- the controller 30 calculates the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC by subtracting a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 53 from a saturated liquid temperature into which a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor 61 is converted.
- the controller 30 judges whether the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is less than a threshold X set in advance. In a case in which the controller 30 judges that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is less than the threshold X (YES), the controller 30 proceeds to step S105. On the other hand, in a case in which the controller 30 judges that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is not less than the threshold X (NO), the controller 30 proceeds to step S110.
- the threshold X is for example 4 and is a value that is set for higher operating efficiency.
- the controller 30 brings one indoor unit 20b under suspension. At this point in time, the controller 30 brings the expansion device 21b and the low-pressure valve 42b, which are connected to the indoor heat exchanger 22b, into a closed state.
- the controller 30 calculates the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC by subtracting a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 53 from a saturated liquid temperature into which a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor 61 is converted.
- the controller 30 judges whether the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is less than the threshold X. In a case in which the controller 30 judges that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is less than the threshold X (YES), the controller 30 proceeds to step S108. On the other hand, in a case in which the controller 30 judges that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is not less than the threshold X (NO), the controller 30 proceeds to step S109.
- the controller 30 notifies through the notifying unit 36 that an open-lock abnormality is present in the high-pressure valve 41a.
- the controller 30 notifies through the notifying unit 36 that an open-lock abnormality is present in the high-pressure valve 41b.
- the controller 30 notifies through the notifying unit 36 that there is no abnormality in the high-pressure valve 41a or 41b. It should be noted that step S110 may be omitted.
- Fig. 9 is a flow chart showing a flow of control of a modification of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 during an abnormality sensing mode.
- a judgment is made as to whether an open-lock abnormality is present in the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b.
- the controller 30 switches from the normal operation mode to the abnormality sensing mode and executes an abnormality judgment process shown in Fig. 9 .
- the following describes the flow of control of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to the modification of Embodiment 1 during the abnormality sensing mode with reference to Fig. 9 .
- the controller 30 brings all indoor units 20a and 20b under suspension. At this point in time, the controller 30 brings the expansion devices 21a and 21b, the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b, the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b, and the valves 43 and 44 into a closed state.
- the controller 30 brings one indoor unit 20a into cooling operation. At this point in time, the controller 30 brings the expansion device 21a and the low-pressure valve 42a, which are connected to the indoor heat exchanger 22a, and the valve 43 into an open state.
- the controller 30 calculates the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC by subtracting a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 53 from a saturated liquid temperature into which a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor 61 is converted.
- the controller 30 judges whether the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is less than a threshold X set in advance. In a case in which the controller 30 judges that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is less than the threshold X (YES), the controller 30 proceeds to step S205. On the other hand, in a case in which the controller 30 judges that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is not less than the threshold X (NO), the controller 30 proceeds to step S207.
- the threshold X is for example 4 and is a value that is set for higher operating efficiency.
- the controller 30 notifies through the notifying unit 36 that an open-lock abnormality is present in the high-pressure valve 41a.
- the controller 30 brings the indoor unit 20a under suspension out of operation. At this point in time, the controller 30 brings the expansion device 21a and the low-pressure valve 42a, which are connected to the indoor heat exchanger 22a, into a closed state.
- the controller 30 brings the other indoor unit 20b into cooling operation. At this point in time, the controller 30 brings the expansion device 21b and the low-pressure valve 42b, which are connected to the indoor heat exchanger 22b, into an open state.
- the controller 30 calculates the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC by subtracting a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 53 from a saturated liquid temperature into which a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor 61 is converted.
- the controller 30 judges whether the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is less than the threshold X. In a case in which the controller 30 judges that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is less than the threshold X (YES), the controller 30 proceeds to step S210. On the other hand, in a case in which the controller 30 judges that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is not less than the threshold X (NO), the controller 30 proceeds to step S211.
- the controller 30 notifies through the notifying unit 36 that an open-lock abnormality is present in the high-pressure valve 41b.
- the controller 30 notifies through the notifying unit 36 that there is no abnormality in the high-pressure valve 41a and 41b. It should be noted that step S211 may be omitted.
- the abnormality sensing mode of Embodiment 1 shown in Fig. 8 includes bringing all indoor units 20a and 20b into operation and then bringing them one by one under suspension, calculating the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC of each of the indoor units 20a and 20b, and judging whether the value is not lower than a value set in advance.
- the abnormality sensing mode of the modification of Embodiment 1 shown in Fig. 9 includes bringing the indoor units 20a and 20b one by one into operation, calculating the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC of each of the indoor units 20a and 20b, and judging whether the value is not lower than a value set in advance.
- a reason for this is that in a case in which at the occurrence of an open-lock abnormality in the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b, a bypass for refrigerant comes into being out of nothingness as in the case of the abnormality sensing mode of the modification of Embodiment 1, high-pressure liquid refrigerant flows in to the low-pressure side without causing liquid refrigerant at the low-pressure side to migrate to a high-pressure side, with the result that a rapid change in state appears as a change in the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC.
- the abnormality sensing mode of the modification of Embodiment 1 in which high-pressure liquid refrigerant flows in to the low-pressure side without causing liquid refrigerant at the low-pressure side to migrate to the high-pressure side, requires a shorter time for processing than the abnormality sensing mode of Embodiment 1.
- Embodiment 1 describes a method for identifying an open-lock abnormality in the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b from a change in the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC, this is not intended to impose any limitation. It is also possible to identify an open-lock abnormality in the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b from a change in the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11.
- the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11 may be calculated by using, for example, a low-pressure pressure sensor (not illustrated) configured to sense the pressure of a low-pressure side of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 and a suction-side temperature sensor (not illustrated) configured to sense the temperature of the suction side of the compressor 11.
- the low-pressure pressure sensor may be replaced by a two-phase temperature sensor (not illustrated) provided at an intermediate position in a pipe forming the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b and configured to sense the temperature of two-phase refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b and output a sensing signal to the controller 30.
- a two-phase temperature sensor (not illustrated) provided at an intermediate position in a pipe forming the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b and configured to sense the temperature of two-phase refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b and output a sensing signal to the controller 30.
- Embodiment 1 and the modification thereof have described processing in the case of two indoor units 20a and 20b, this is not intended to impose any limitation and is also applicable to the case of three or more indoor units 20a and 20b. Further, although Embodiment 1 and the modification thereof describe a method for identifying an abnormality while bringing the indoor units 20a and 20b one by one under suspension or into operation, this is not intended to impose any limitation.
- a refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 includes an outdoor unit 10 including a compressor 11 and an outdoor heat exchanger 12, a plurality of indoor units 20a and 20b each including an indoor heat exchanger 22a or 22b and an expansion device 21a or 21b. Further, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 includes a relay unit 40 intervening between the outdoor unit 10 and each of the plurality of indoor units 20a and 20b and serving to cause refrigerant from the outdoor unit 10 to branch off into each of the indoor units 20a and 20b.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 includes a refrigerant circuit 1 in which the compressor 11, the outdoor heat exchanger 12, the expansion device 21a or 21b, and the indoor heat exchanger 22a or 22b are connected by refrigerant pipes and through which refrigerant circulates and a controller 30 configured to control the plurality of indoor units 20a and 20b.
- the relay unit 40 includes a plurality of high-pressure valves 41a and 41b each provided in a corresponding one of a plurality of high-pressure pipes 46a and 46b connecting a high-pressure side of the outdoor unit 10 and each of the indoor units 20a and 20b and a plurality of low-pressure valves 42a and 42b each provided in a corresponding one of a plurality of low-pressure pipes 47a and 47b connecting a low-pressure side of the outdoor unit 10 and each of the indoor units 20a and 20b.
- the controller 30 is configured to, when an operation state of at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is changed from a first state to a second state, judge, based on a degree of supercooling of an outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger 12 or the indoor heat exchanger 22a or 22b that functions as a condenser or based on a degree of superheating of a suction side of the compressor 11, whether an abnormality is present in the plurality of high-pressure valves 41a and 41b or the plurality of low-pressure valves 42a and 42b.
- the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b and the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b connected to the indoor units 20a and 20b that are under suspension are controlled to be in a closed state, the first state is an operating state, and the second state is a suspended state.
- the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b and the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b connected to the indoor units 20a and 20b that are under suspension are controlled to be in a closed state, the first state is a suspended state, and the second state is an operating state.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 is configured to, when an operation state of at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is changed from a first state to a second state, judge, based on a degree of supercooling of an outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger 12 or the indoor heat exchanger 22a or 22b that functions as a condenser or based on a degree of superheating of a suction side of the compressor 11, whether an abnormality is present in the plurality of high-pressure valves 41a and 41b or the plurality of low-pressure valves 42a and 42b.
- the first state is a state where one of the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b connected to the at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is controlled to be in an open state
- the second state is a state where one of the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b connected to the at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is controlled to be in a closed state.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 is configured to, when one of the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b connected to the at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is changed from an open state to a closed state, judge, based on the degree of supercooling of the outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger 12 that functions as a condenser or based on the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11, whether an open-lock abnormality is present in the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b.
- the first state is a state where one of the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b connected to the at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is controlled to be in a closed state
- the second state is a state where one of the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b connected to the at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is controlled to be in an open state.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 is configured to, when one of the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b connected to the at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is changed from a closed state to an open state, judge, based on the degree of supercooling of the outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger 12 that functions as a condenser or based on the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11, whether an open-lock abnormality is present in the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b.
- the refrigerant circuit 1 is configured such that the outdoor heat exchanger 12 serves as a condenser, and in a case in which the degree of supercooling of the outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger 12 that functions as a condenser when all of the indoor units 20a and 20b are in an operating state or the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11 is less than a threshold X set in advance, the controller 30 is configured to, in a case in which when the operation state of at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is changed from an operating state that is the first state to a suspended state that is the second state, the degree of supercooling of the outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger 12 that functions as a condenser or the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11 is less than the threshold X, judge that an abnormality is present in one of the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b connected to one of the indoor units 20a and 20b that is in an
- the refrigerant circuit 1 is configured such that the outdoor heat exchanger 12 serves as a condenser, and in a case in which all of the indoor units 20a and 20b are in a suspended state, the controller 30 is configured to, in a case in which when the operation state of at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is changed from a suspended state that is the first state to an operating state that is the second state, the degree of supercooling of the outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger 12 that functions as a condenser or the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11 is less than a threshold X set in advance, judge that an abnormality is present in one of the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b connected to one of the indoor units 20a and 20b that is in an operating state and, in a case in which the degree of supercooling of the outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger 12 that functions as a condenser or the degree of superheating of the suction side of
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 makes it possible to, when including a relay unit 40 having a plurality of high-pressure valves 41a and 41b and a plurality of low-pressure valves 42a and 42b, identify an open-lock abnormality in the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b.
- Embodiment 2 The following describes Embodiment 2, but omits to describe features that overlap those of Embodiment 1 and assigns identical reference signs to components that are identical or equivalent to those of Embodiment 1.
- Embodiment 2 is described by taking heating operation as an example, whereas Embodiment 1 has been described by taking cooling operation as an example.
- the following describes a normal operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 by taking heating operation as an example. It should be noted that during heating operation, the flow switching device 13 is switched so that the suction side of the compressor 11 becomes connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 12.
- Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit state where the two indoor units 20a and 20b of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 2 are both in heating operation.
- High-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 passes through the flow switching device 13 and the check valve 15, flows out of the outdoor unit 10, and flows into the relay unit 40. After having flowed into the relay unit 40, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant passes through the reservoir 45 and the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b and braches into flows of refrigerant that then flow out of the relay unit 40 and flow separately into each of the indoor units 20a and 20b.
- the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b, exchanges heat with indoor air through the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b, and condenses into high-pressure liquid refrigerant.
- the high-pressure liquid refrigerant is caused by the expansion devices 21a and 21b to adiabatically expand into low-temperature and low-pressure two-phase refrigerant that then flows out of the indoor units 20a and 20b and flows into the relay unit 40.
- the low-temperature and low-pressure two-phase refrigerant passes through the valve 44, flows out of the relay unit 40, and flows into the outdoor unit 10.
- the low-temperature and low-pressure two-phase refrigerant passes through the check valve 16, flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 12, exchanges heat with outdoor air through the outdoor heat exchanger 12, and evaporates into low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant. After that, the low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant passes through the flow switching device 13 and is suctioned into the compressor 11.
- Fig. 11 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit state where one of the two indoor units 20a and 20b of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 2 is in heating operation and the other of the two indoor units 20a and 20b is under suspension.
- the indoor unit 20a is under suspension
- the indoor unit 20b is in heating operation.
- the expansion device 21a of the indoor unit 20a thus suspended is in a closed state, and the high-pressure valve 41a, which is connected to the indoor unit 20a, is in a closed state. That is, all valves connected to an inlet side and the outlet side of the indoor heat exchanger 22a of the indoor unit 20a thus suspended are in a closed state, so that no refrigerant is supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 22a thus suspended.
- Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit state where one of the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 2 is in a state of open-lock abnormality and the two indoor units 20a and 20b are both in heating operation.
- an open-lock abnormality is present in the low-pressure valve 42a.
- Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit state where one of the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 2 is in a state of open-lock abnormality, one of the two indoor units 20a and 20b is in heating operation, and the other of the two indoor units 20a and 20b is under suspension.
- an open-lock abnormality is present in the low-pressure valve 42a, the indoor unit 20a is under suspension, and the indoor unit 20b is in heating operation.
- the degree of supercooling of the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger 22a or 22b that functions as a condenser is referred to as “degree of supercooling at condenser outlet”
- the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11 is referred to as “degree of superheating at compressor suction”.
- Embodiment 2 at the occurrence of refrigerant leakage, the amount of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 1 decreases, with the result that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC decreases and the degree of superheating at compressor suction SH s increases.
- This makes it possible to isolate a refrigerant leakage abnormality from an open-lock abnormality. Therefore, in sensing an open-lock abnormality, an action of isolating an open-lock abnormality from other abnormalities may be added. Examples of the action include checking for the absence of refrigerant leakage first before the start of the sensing.
- a description of a pressure-enthalpy diagram representing the time when the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 2 is in a state of open-lock abnormality and a pressure-enthalpy diagram representing the time when the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 2 is in a normal state is omitted, as the pressure-enthalpy diagrams are identical in content to those shown in Figs. 6 and 7 described in Embodiment 1.
- Fig. 14 is a flow chart showing a flow of control of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 2 during an abnormality sensing mode.
- the controller 30 switches from the normal operation mode to the abnormality sensing mode and executes an abnormality judgment process shown in Fig. 14 .
- the following describes the flow of control of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 during the abnormality sensing mode with reference to Fig. 14 .
- the controller 30 brings all indoor units 20a and 20b under suspension. At this point in time, the controller 30 brings the expansion devices 21a and 21b, the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b, the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b, and the valves 43 and 44 into a closed state.
- the controller 30 brings all indoor units 20a and 20b into heating operation. At this point in time, the controller 30 brings the expansion devices 21a and 21b, the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b, and the valve 44 into an open state.
- the controller 30 calculates the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC by subtracting a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 54a or 54b from a saturated liquid temperature into which a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor 61 is converted.
- the controller 30 judges whether the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is less than a threshold Y set in advance. In a case in which the controller 30 judges that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is less than the threshold Y (YES), the controller 30 proceeds to step S305. On the other hand, in a case in which the controller 30 judges that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is not less than the threshold Y (NO), the controller 30 proceeds to step S310.
- the threshold Y is for example 4 and is a value that is set for higher operating efficiency.
- the controller 30 brings one indoor unit 20b under suspension. At this point in time, the controller 30 brings the expansion device 21b and the high-pressure valve 41b, which are connected to the indoor heat exchanger 22b, into a closed state.
- the controller 30 calculates the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC by subtracting a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 54a from a saturated liquid temperature into which a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor 61 is converted.
- the controller 30 judges whether the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is less than the threshold Y. In a case in which the controller 30 judges that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is less than the threshold Y (YES), the controller 30 proceeds to step S308. On the other hand, in a case in which the controller 30 judges that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is not less than the threshold Y (NO), the controller 30 proceeds to step S309.
- the controller 30 notifies through the notifying unit 36 that an open-lock abnormality is present in the low-pressure valve 42a.
- the controller 30 notifies through the notifying unit 36 that an open-lock abnormality is present in the low-pressure valve 42b.
- the controller 30 notifies through the notifying unit 36 that there is no abnormality in the low-pressure valve 42a and 42b. It should be noted that step S310 may be omitted.
- Fig. 15 is a flow chart showing a flow of control of a modification of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 2 during an abnormality sensing mode.
- a judgment is made as to whether an open-lock abnormality is present in the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b.
- the controller 30 switches from the normal operation mode to the abnormality sensing mode and executes an abnormality judgment process shown in Fig. 15 .
- the following describes the flow of control of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to the modification of Embodiment 2 during the abnormality sensing mode with reference to Fig. 15 .
- the controller 30 brings all indoor units 20a and 20b under suspension. At this point in time, the controller 30 brings the expansion devices 21a and 21b, the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b, the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b, and the valves 43 and 44 into a closed state.
- the controller 30 brings one indoor unit 20a into heating operation. At this point in time, the controller 30 brings the expansion device 21a and the high-pressure valve 41a, which are connected to the indoor heat exchanger 22a, and the valve 44 into an open state.
- the controller 30 calculates the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC by subtracting a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 54a from a saturated liquid temperature into which a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor 61 is converted.
- the controller 30 judges whether the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is less than a threshold Y set in advance. In a case in which the controller 30 judges that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is less than the threshold Y (YES), the controller 30 proceeds to step S405. On the other hand, in a case in which the controller 30 judges that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is not less than the threshold Y (NO), the controller 30 proceeds to step S407. It should be noted that the threshold Y is for example 4 and is a value that is set for higher operating efficiency.
- the controller 30 notifies through the notifying unit 36 that an open-lock abnormality is present in the low-pressure valve 42a.
- the controller 30 brings the indoor unit 20a under suspension out of operation. At this point in time, the controller 30 brings the expansion device 21a and the high-pressure valve 41a, which are connected to the indoor heat exchanger 22a, into a closed state.
- the controller 30 brings the other indoor unit 20b into heating operation. At this point in time, the controller 30 brings the expansion device 21b and the high-pressure valve 41b, which are connected to the indoor heat exchanger 22b, into an open state.
- the controller 30 calculates the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC by subtracting a temperature sensed by the temperature sensor 54b from a saturated liquid temperature into which a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor 61 is converted.
- the controller 30 judges whether the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is less than the threshold Y. In a case in which the controller 30 judges that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is less than the threshold Y (YES), the controller 30 proceeds to step S410. On the other hand, in a case in which the controller 30 judges that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC is not less than the threshold Y (NO), the controller 30 proceeds to step S411.
- the controller 30 notifies through the notifying unit 36 that an open-lock abnormality is present in the low-pressure valve 42b.
- the controller 30 notifies through the notifying unit 36 that there is no abnormality in the low-pressure valve 42a and 42b. It should be noted that step S411 may be omitted.
- the abnormality sensing mode of Embodiment 2 shown in Fig. 14 includes bringing all indoor units 20a and 20b into operation and then bringing them one by one under suspension, calculating the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC of each of the indoor units 20a and 20b, and judging whether the value is not lower than a value set in advance.
- the abnormality sensing mode of the modification of Embodiment 2 shown in Fig. 15 includes bringing the indoor units 20a and 20b one by one into operation, calculating the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC of each of the indoor units 20a and 20b, and judging whether the value is not lower than a value set in advance.
- a reason for this is that in a case in which at the occurrence of an open-lock abnormality in the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b, a bypass for refrigerant comes into being out of nothingness as in the case of the abnormality sensing mode of the modification of Embodiment 2, high-pressure liquid refrigerant flows in to the low-pressure side without causing liquid refrigerant at the low-pressure side to migrate to a high-pressure side, with the result that a rapid change in state appears as a change in the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC.
- the abnormality sensing mode of the modification of Embodiment 2 in which high-pressure liquid refrigerant flows in to the low-pressure side without causing liquid refrigerant at the low-pressure side to migrate to the high-pressure side, requires a shorter time for processing than the abnormality sensing mode of Embodiment 2.
- Embodiment 2 describes a method for identifying an open-lock abnormality in the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b from a change in the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC, this is not intended to impose any limitation. It is also possible to identify an open-lock abnormality in the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b from a change in the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11.
- the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11 may be calculated by using, for example, a low-pressure pressure sensor (not illustrated) configured to sense the pressure of a low-pressure side of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 and a suction-side temperature sensor (not illustrated) configured to sense the temperature of the suction side of the compressor 11.
- the low-pressure pressure sensor may be replaced by a two-phase temperature sensor (not illustrated) provided at an intermediate position in a pipe forming the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b and configured to sense the temperature of two-phase refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b and output a sensing signal to the controller 30.
- a two-phase temperature sensor (not illustrated) provided at an intermediate position in a pipe forming the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b and configured to sense the temperature of two-phase refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b and output a sensing signal to the controller 30.
- Embodiment 2 and the modification thereof have described processing in the case of two indoor units 20a and 20b, this is not intended to impose any limitation and is also applicable to the case of three or more indoor units 20a and 20b. Further, although Embodiment 2 and the modification thereof describe a method for identifying an abnormality while bringing the indoor units 20a and 20b one by one under suspension or into operation, this is not intended to impose any limitation.
- the first state is a state where one of the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b connected to the at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is controlled to be in an open state
- the second state is a state where one of the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b connected to the at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is controlled to be in a closed state.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 is configured to, when one of the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b connected to the at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is changed from an open state to a closed state, judge, based on the degree of supercooling of the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger 22a or 22b that functions as a condenser or based on the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11, whether an open-lock abnormality is present in the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b.
- the first state is a state where one of the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b connected to the at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is controlled to be in a closed state
- the second state is a state where one of the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b connected to the at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is controlled to be in an open state.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 is configured to, when one of the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b connected to the at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is changed from a closed state to an open state, judge, based on the degree of supercooling of the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger 22a or 22b that functions as a condenser or based on the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11, whether an open-lock abnormality is present in the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b.
- the refrigerant circuit 1 is configured such that the outdoor heat exchanger 12 serves as an evaporator, and in a case in which the degree of supercooling of the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger 22a or 22b that functions as a condenser when all of the indoor units 20a and 20b are in an operating state or the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11 is less than a threshold Y set in advance, the controller 30 is configured to, in a case in which when the operation state of at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is changed from an operating state that is the first state to a suspended state that is the second state, the degree of supercooling of the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger 22a or 22b that functions as a condenser or the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11 is less than the threshold Y, judge that an abnormality is present in one of the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b connected to one of the indoor units 20a
- the refrigerant circuit 1 is configured such that the outdoor heat exchanger 12 serves as an evaporator, and in a case in which all of the indoor units 20a and 20b are in a suspended state, the controller 30 is configured to, in a case in which when the operation state of at least one of the indoor units 20a and 20b is changed from a suspended state that is the first state to an operating state that is the second state, the degree of supercooling of the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger 22a or 22b that functions as a condenser or the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11 is less than a threshold Y set in advance, judge that an abnormality is present in one of the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b connected to one of the indoor units 20a and 20b that is in an operating state and, in a case in which the degree of supercooling of the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger 22a or 22b that functions as a condenser or the degree of superhe
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 makes it possible to, when including a relay unit 40 having a plurality of high-pressure valves 41a and 41b and a plurality of low-pressure valves 42a and 42b, identify an open-lock abnormality in the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b.
- Embodiment 3 describes Embodiment 3, but omits to describe features that overlap those of Embodiments 1 and 2 and assigns identical reference signs to components that are identical or equivalent to those of Embodiments 1 and 2.
- Fig. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration of a refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 3.
- Embodiment 3 takes, as an example of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100, an air-conditioning apparatus, configured to carry out cooling operation and heating operation, in which, as shown in Fig. 16 , two indoor units 20a and 20b are connected via a relay unit 40 to one outdoor unit 10. It should be noted that although Fig. 16 shows a configuration in which the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 includes the two indoor units 20a and 20b, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 needs only include more than one indoor unit.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 includes the outdoor unit 10, the two indoor units 20a and 20b, and the relay unit 40. Moreover, refrigerant having flowed out of the outdoor unit 10 is caused by the relay unit 40 to branch off into the two indoor units 20a and 20b, and flows into each of the indoor units 20a and 20b. Then, the refrigerant having flowed out of each of the indoor units 20a and 20b returns to the outdoor unit 10 via the relay unit 40 again.
- the outdoor unit 10 includes a compressor 11, an outdoor heat exchanger 12, on-off valves 51 and 52, a temperature sensor 53, and a pressure sensor 61.
- a two-phase temperature sensor (not illustrated) configured to sense the temperature of two-phase refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger 12 and output a sensing signal to the controller 30 may be provided at an intermediate position in a pipe forming the outdoor heat exchanger 12.
- the indoor unit 20a includes an expansion device 21a, an indoor heat exchanger 22a, and a temperature sensor 54a.
- the indoor unit 20b includes an expansion device 21b, an indoor heat exchanger 22b, and a temperature sensor 54b.
- the relay unit 40 includes high-pressure pipes 46a and 46b, low-pressure pipes 47a and 47b, high-pressure valves 41a and 41b, and low-pressure valves 42a and 42b.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 includes a refrigerant circuit 1 in which the compressor 11, the outdoor heat exchanger 12, the expansion devices 21a and 21b, and the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b are connected by refrigerant pipes and through which refrigerant circulates.
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 includes a controller 30, a notifying unit 36, and an operation mode switching unit 37, and the notifying unit 36 and the operation mode switching unit 37 are each connected to the controller 30. It should be noted that the notifying unit 36 and the operation mode switching unit 37 may be provided in the controller 30 as part of the controller 30.
- the on-off valves 51 and 52 are for example two-way valves, and enable switching between cooling operation and heating operation to be done by switching between an open state and a closed state.
- the on-off valve 51 is in an open state, and the on-off valve 52 is in a closed state.
- the on-off valve 51 is in a closed state, and the on-off valve 52 is in an open state.
- the following describes a normal operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 by taking cooling operation as an example.
- the on-off valve 51 is in an open state
- the on-off valve 52 is in a closed state.
- Fig. 17 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit state where the two indoor units 20a and 20b of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 3 are both in cooling operation.
- High-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 passes through the on-off valve 51, flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 12, exchanges heat with outdoor air through the outdoor heat exchanger 12, and condenses into high-pressure liquid refrigerant. After that, the high-pressure liquid refrigerant flows out of the outdoor unit 10, branches into flows of refrigerant that then flow separately into each of the indoor units 20a and 20b. After having flowed into the indoor units 20a and 20b, the liquid refrigerant is caused by the expansion devices 21a and 21b to adiabatically expand into low-temperature and low-pressure two-phase refrigerant.
- the low-temperature and low-pressure two-phase refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b, exchanges heat with indoor air through the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b, and evaporates into low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant.
- the low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant flows out of the indoor units 20a and 20b and flows into the relay unit 40.
- the flows of low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant pass through the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b and merge into a flow of low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant that then flows out of the relay unit 40.
- the low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant flows into the outdoor unit 10 and is suctioned into the compressor 11.
- Fig. 18 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit state where one of the two indoor units 20a and 20b of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 3 is in cooling operation and the other of the two indoor units 20a and 20b is under suspension.
- the indoor unit 20a is under suspension
- the indoor unit 20b is in cooling operation.
- the expansion device 21a of the indoor unit 20a thus suspended is in a closed state, and the low-pressure valve 42a, which is connected to the indoor unit 20a, is in a closed state. That is, all valves connected to an inlet side and the outlet side of the indoor heat exchanger 22a of the indoor unit 20a thus suspended are in a closed state, so that no refrigerant is supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 22a thus suspended.
- Fig. 19 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit state where one of the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 3 is in a state of open-lock abnormality and the two indoor units 20a and 20b are both in cooling operation.
- an open-lock abnormality is present in the high-pressure valve 41a.
- Fig. 20 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit state where one of the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 3 is in a state of open-lock abnormality, one of the two indoor units 20a and 20b is in cooling operation, and the other of the two indoor units 20a and 20b is under suspension.
- an open-lock abnormality is present in the high-pressure valve 41a, the indoor unit 20a is under suspension, and the indoor unit 20b is in cooling operation.
- Embodiment 3 at the occurrence of refrigerant leakage, the amount of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 1 decreases, with the result that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC decreases and the degree of superheating at compressor suction SH s increases.
- This makes it possible to isolate a refrigerant leakage abnormality from an open-lock abnormality. Therefore, in sensing an open-lock abnormality, an action of isolating an open-lock abnormality from other abnormalities may be added. Examples of the action include checking for the absence of refrigerant leakage first before the start of the sensing.
- a description of a pressure-enthalpy diagram representing the time when the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 3 is in a state of open-lock abnormality and a pressure-enthalpy diagram representing the time when the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 3 is in a normal state is omitted, as the pressure-enthalpy diagrams are identical in content to those shown in Figs. 6 and 7 described in Embodiment 1. Further, a description of a flow of control of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 3 during the abnormality sensing mode is omitted, as the flow of control is identical in content to those shown in Figs. 8 and 9 described in Embodiment 1.
- Embodiment 3 describes a method for identifying an open-lock abnormality in the high-pressure valves 41 a and 41b from a change in the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC, this is not intended to impose any limitation. It is also possible to identify an open-lock abnormality in the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b from a change in the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11.
- the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11 may be calculated by using, for example, a low-pressure pressure sensor (not illustrated) configured to sense the pressure of a low-pressure side of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 and a suction-side temperature sensor (not illustrated) configured to sense the temperature of the suction side of the compressor 11.
- the low-pressure pressure sensor may be replaced by a two-phase temperature sensor (not illustrated) provided at an intermediate position in a pipe forming the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b and configured to sense the temperature of two-phase refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b and output a sensing signal to the controller 30.
- a two-phase temperature sensor (not illustrated) provided at an intermediate position in a pipe forming the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b and configured to sense the temperature of two-phase refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b and output a sensing signal to the controller 30.
- Embodiment 4 describes Embodiment 4, but omits to describe features that overlap those of Embodiments 1 to 3 and assigns identical reference signs to components that are identical or equivalent to those of Embodiments 1 to 3.
- Embodiment 4 is described by taking heating operation as an example, whereas Embodiment 3 has been described by taking cooling operation as an example.
- the following describes a normal operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 by taking heating operation as an example.
- the on-off valve 51 is in a closed state
- the on-off valve 52 is in an open state.
- Fig. 21 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit state where the two indoor units 20a and 20b of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 4 are both in heating operation.
- High-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 flows out of the outdoor unit 10 and flows into the relay unit 40.
- the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant passes through the high-pressure valves 41a and 41b and braches into flows of refrigerant that then flow out of the relay unit 40 and flow separately into each of the indoor units 20a and 20b.
- the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b, exchanges heat with indoor air through the indoor heat exchangers 22a and 22b, and condenses into high-pressure liquid refrigerant.
- the high-pressure liquid refrigerant is caused by the expansion devices 21a and 21b to adiabatically expand into low-temperature and low-pressure two-phase refrigerant that then flows out of the indoor units 20a and 20b.
- the flows of low-temperature and low-pressure two-phase refrigerant merge into a flow of low-temperature and low-pressure two-phase refrigerant that then flows into the outdoor unit 10.
- the low-temperature and low-pressure two-phase refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 12, exchanges heat with outdoor air through the outdoor heat exchanger 12, and evaporates into low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant.
- the low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant passes through the on-off valve 52 and is suctioned into the compressor 11.
- Fig. 22 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit state where one of the two indoor units 20a and 20b of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 4 is in heating operation and the other of the two indoor units 20a and 20b is under suspension.
- the indoor unit 20a is under suspension
- the indoor unit 20b is in heating operation.
- the expansion device 21a of the indoor unit 20a thus suspended is in a closed state, and the high-pressure valve 41a, which is connected to the indoor unit 20a, is in a closed state. That is, all valves connected to an inlet side and the outlet side of the indoor heat exchanger 22a of the indoor unit 20a thus suspended are in a closed state, so that no refrigerant is supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 22a thus suspended.
- Fig. 23 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit state where one of the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 4 is in a state of open-lock abnormality and the two indoor units 20a and 20b are both in heating operation.
- an open-lock abnormality is present in the low-pressure valve 42a.
- Fig. 24 is a diagram showing a refrigerant circuit state where one of the low-pressure valves 42a and 42b of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 4 is in a state of open-lock abnormality, one of the two indoor units 20a and 20b is in heating operation, and the other of the two indoor units 20a and 20b is under suspension.
- an open-lock abnormality is present in the low-pressure valve 42a, the indoor unit 20a is under suspension, and the indoor unit 20b is in heating operation.
- the degree of supercooling of the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger 22a or 22b that functions as a condenser is referred to as “degree of supercooling at condenser outlet”
- the degree of superheating of the suction side of the compressor 11 is referred to as “degree of superheating at compressor suction”.
- Embodiment 4 at the occurrence of refrigerant leakage, the amount of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 1 decreases, with the result that the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC decreases and the degree of superheating at compressor suction SH s increases.
- This makes it possible to isolate a refrigerant leakage abnormality from an open-lock abnormality. Therefore, in sensing an open-lock abnormality, an action of isolating an open-lock abnormality from other abnormalities may be added. Examples of the action include checking for the absence of refrigerant leakage first before the start of the sensing.
- a description of a pressure-enthalpy diagram representing the time when the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 4 is in a state of open-lock abnormality and a pressure-enthalpy diagram representing the time when the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 4 is in a normal state is omitted, as the pressure-enthalpy diagrams are identical in content to those shown in Figs. 6 and 7 described in Embodiment 1. Further, a description of a flow of control of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 4 during the abnormality sensing mode is omitted, as the flow of control is identical in content to those shown in Figs. 14 and 15 described in Embodiment 2.
- refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 may be capable of executing only cooling operation or heating operation.
- refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 including one outdoor unit 10
- the refrigeration cycle apparatus 100 may include a plurality of the outdoor units 10.
- control during the abnormality sensing modes shown in Figs. 8 and 9 includes using the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC to judge whether an open-lock abnormality is present, this is not intended to impose any limitation. It is also possible to use the degree of superheating at compressor suction SH s in addition to the degree of supercooling at condenser outlet SC to judge, from changes in the two parameters, whether an open-lock abnormality is present, or it is also possible to use only the degree of superheating at compressor suction SH s to judge whether an open-lock abnormality is present.
- each of the embodiments described above illustrates a case in which the indoor units are brought one by one under suspension or into operation, this is not intended to impose any limitation.
- the indoor units are divided into a plurality of groups for efficient identification of a high-pressure valve or a low-pressure valve with an open-lock abnormality.
- the indoor units are divided into a plurality of groups for efficient identification of a high-pressure valve or a low-pressure valve with an open-lock abnormality.
- it can be judged that a high-pressure valve or a low-pressure valve connected to a group of indoor units that are in operation is abnormal.
- gradually reducing the number of indoor units that are in operation makes it possible to efficiently identify a high-pressure valve or a low-pressure valve with an open-lock abnormality.
- each of the embodiments described above has illustrated a configuration in which the control under which all valves connected to an indoor heat exchanger of an indoor unit under suspension is utilized to switch between an operating state and a suspended state to check a change in the degree of supercooling of an outlet of the condenser, this is not intended to impose any limitation.
- Such a configuration may be set up that each valve can be subjected to opening and closing control regardless of the operating state of an indoor unit and, for example, with a low-pressure valve switched from an open state to a closed state without switching the operating state of the indoor unit, a change in the degree of supercooling of an outlet of a condenser is checked.
- refrigerant circuit 10: outdoor unit, 11: compressor, 12: outdoor heat exchanger, 13: flow switching device, 14 to 17: check valve, 18, 19: refrigerant connecting pipe, 20a, 20b: indoor unit, 21a, 21b: expansion device, 22a, 22b: indoor heat exchanger, 30: controller, 31: storage unit, 32: extraction unit, 33: computing unit, 34: comparing unit, 35: judging unit, 36: notifying unit, 37: operation mode switching unit, 40: relay unit, 41a, 41b: high-pressure valve, 42a, 42b: low-pressure valve, 43, 44: valve, 45: reservoir, 46a, 46b: high-pressure pipe, 47a, 47b: low-pressure pipe, 51, 52: on-off valve, 53, 54a, 54b: temperature sensor, 61: pressure sensor, 100: refrigeration cycle apparatus
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