GB2548522A - Air-conditioning device - Google Patents

Air-conditioning device Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2548522A
GB2548522A GB1710186.6A GB201710186A GB2548522A GB 2548522 A GB2548522 A GB 2548522A GB 201710186 A GB201710186 A GB 201710186A GB 2548522 A GB2548522 A GB 2548522A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
heat medium
heat
refrigerant
unit
flow switching
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Granted
Application number
GB1710186.6A
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GB201710186D0 (en
GB2548522B (en
Inventor
Motomura Yuji
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Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Publication of GB201710186D0 publication Critical patent/GB201710186D0/en
Publication of GB2548522A publication Critical patent/GB2548522A/en
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F3/00—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems
    • F24F3/06—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the arrangements for the supply of heat-exchange fluid for the subsequent treatment of primary air in the room units
    • F24F3/08—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the arrangements for the supply of heat-exchange fluid for the subsequent treatment of primary air in the room units with separate supply and return lines for hot and cold heat-exchange fluids i.e. so-called "4-conduit" system
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F3/00—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems
    • F24F3/06—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the arrangements for the supply of heat-exchange fluid for the subsequent treatment of primary air in the room units
    • F24F3/065—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the arrangements for the supply of heat-exchange fluid for the subsequent treatment of primary air in the room units with a plurality of evaporators or condensers
    • 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
    • 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
    • F25B25/00—Machines, plants or systems, using a combination of modes of operation covered by two or more of the groups F25B1/00 - F25B23/00
    • F25B25/005—Machines, plants or systems, using a combination of modes of operation covered by two or more of the groups F25B1/00 - F25B23/00 using primary and secondary systems
    • 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
    • F25B29/00—Combined heating and refrigeration systems, e.g. operating alternately or simultaneously
    • F25B29/003—Combined heating and refrigeration systems, e.g. operating alternately or simultaneously of the compression type system
    • 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
    • F25B2313/004—Outdoor unit with water as a heat sink or heat source
    • 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
    • F25B2313/006—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for two pipes connecting the outdoor side to the indoor side with multiple indoor units
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2313/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for
    • F25B2313/023—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for using multiple indoor units
    • F25B2313/0231—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for using multiple indoor units with simultaneous cooling and heating
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • F25B2313/02743—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for characterised by the reversing means using three four-way valves
    • 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
    • F25B2500/05—Cost reduction

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Other Air-Conditioning Systems (AREA)
  • Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)
  • Compression-Type Refrigeration Machines With Reversible Cycles (AREA)

Abstract

An air-conditioning device is equipped with a branching unit 60 for addition of usage-side heat exchangers. The branching unit 60 is equipped with: a connecting section 61, which is connected via connecting conduits 70 to a connection port 2a used for branching unit connection in a relay unit 2, and through which a heat medium in a heat medium circulation circuit B passes; a branching section 62, which is connected to one or more additional usage-side heat exchangers 35e-35h, and which branches the heat medium flowing into the branching unit 60 via the connecting section 61, and circulates the heat medium to the one or more additional usage-side heat exchangers 35e-35h; and second heat medium flow path switching means (first heat medium flow path switching devices 32e-32h, second heat medium flow path switching devices 33e-33h, and heat medium flow path switching devices 34e-34h), which are provided in correspondence with the one or more additional usage-side heat exchangers 35e-35h, and which connect the one or more additional usage-side heat exchangers 35e-35h to one of multiple inter-heat-medium heat exchangers 25a, 25b.

Description

DESCRIPTION
Title of Invention Air-conditioning Apparatus Technical Field [0001]
The present invention relates to an air-conditioning apparatus applicable to, for example, a multi-air-conditioning apparatus intended for an office building. Background Art [0002]
Hitherto, an air-conditioning apparatus such as a multi-air-conditioning apparatus intended for an office building has been proposed in which refrigerant circulates between an outdoor unit and a relay unit while a heat medium such as water circulates between the relay unit and each of indoor units, whereby the power of transporting the heat medium is reduced while the heat medium such as water circulates the indoor units (see Patent Literature 1, for example).
Citation List Patent Literature [0003]
Patent Literature 1: International Publication No. 10/049998 Patent Literature 2: International Publication No. 2014/128961 Patent Literature 3: International Publication No. 2014/128962 Summary of Invention Technical Problem [0004]
In a technique of aforementioned Patent Literature 1, the number of branch ports that can be taken from a housing of a single relay unit, that is, the number of indoor units that can be connected to the single relay unit is fixed, and the technique does not allow indoor units to be additionally connected to the relay unit. Hence, if indoor units are additionally installed although the number of indoor units exceeds the number of indoor units that can be connected to the single relay unit, a set of a relay unit and an outdoor unit has to be newly additionally introduced in accordance with the number of additionally installed indoor units. The additional introduction may cause an increase in cost.
[0005]
The present invention is made to address the above-described problem, and an object of the invention is to provide an air-conditioning apparatus that can handle an increase in the number of indoor units to be additionally connected with low cost. Solution to Problem [0006]
An air-conditioning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, a first expansion device, and refrigerant-side passages of a plurality of intermediate heat exchangers are connected by refrigerant pipes, the refrigerant circuit being configured to circulate heat-source-side refrigerant therethrough, a heat medium cycle circuit in which heat-medium-side passages of the plurality of intermediate heat exchangers, a plurality of heat medium transporting devices, and a plurality of use-side heat exchangers are connected by heat medium pipes, the heat medium cycle circuit being configured to circulate a heat medium therethrough, a plurality of first heat medium flow switching units each provided for the plurality of corresponding use-side heat exchangers in the heat medium cycle circuit, the first plurality of heat medium flow switching units each being configured to switch a passage of the heat medium to connect the plurality of use-side heat exchangers to one of the plurality of intermediate heat exchangers, a relay unit including the plurality of intermediate heat exchangers, the relay unit being connected to the plurality of use-side heat exchangers via the plurality of the first heat medium flow switching units, and a branch unit for additionally installing a use-side heat exchanger. The branch unit includes a connection portion connected to a connection port for connecting a branch unit of the relay unit via a connection pipe, the heat medium in the heat medium cycle circuit flowing through the connection portion, a branch portion connected to one or a plurality of additionally installed use-side heat exchangers, the branch portion branching the heat medium flowing into the branch unit through the connection portion and causing the heat medium to circulate through the one or plurality of additionally installed use-side heat exchangers, and a second heat medium flow switching unit provided for each of the one or plurality of additionally installed heat exchangers, the second heat medium flow switching unit connecting each of the one or plurality of additionally installed use-side heat exchangers to one of the plurality of intermediate heat exchangers.
Advantageous Effects of Invention [0007]
With the present invention, the air-conditioning apparatus that can handle the increase in the number of indoor units to be additionally connected with low cost can be obtained.
Brief Description of Drawings [0008] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary installation of an air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment of the present invention.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of circuit configurations of an outdoor unit 1 and a relay unit 2 in the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment of the present invention.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a heat medium cycle circuit configuration of a branch unit 60 in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of a refrigerant circuit in the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment of the present invention.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow of heat-source-side refrigerant and a flow of a heat medium in heating only operation of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 4.
[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating a flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant and a flow of the heat medium in the heating only operation of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 5.
[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating a flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant and a flow of the heat medium in cooling only operation of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 4.
[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant and a flow of the heat medium in the cooling only operation of the air-conditioning apparatus 110 shown in Fig. 5.
[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating a flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant and a flow of the heat medium in heating main operation among from mixed operations of the air-conditioning apparatus shown in Fig. 4.
[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a diagram (case 1) illustrating a flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant and a flow of the heat medium in the heating main operation among from the mixed operations of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 5.
[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is a diagram (case 2) illustrating a flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant and a flow of the heat medium in the heating main operation among from the mixed operations of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 5.
Description of Embodiments [0009]
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
[0010]
Embodiment
Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary installation of an air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in Fig. 1, the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment includes an outdoor unit (heat source unit) 1, a plurality of indoor units 3, and one relay unit 2 interposed between the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor units 3. In the air-conditioning apparatus 100, the operation is selectable from the cooling operation and the heating operation on each of the indoor units 3. The modes of operations performed by the air-conditioning apparatus 100 include the following four modes.
[0011] (a) A cooling only operation mode in which the indoor units 3 that are in operation are all performing cooling operations. (b) A heating only operation mode in which the indoor units 3 that are in operation are all performing heating operations. (c) A cooling main operation mode included in a cooling and heating mixed operation mode in which some indoor units 3 perform the cooling operations and other indoor units 3 perform the heating operations and in which a cooling load is larger than a heating load. (d) A heating main operation mode included in the cooling and heating mixed operation mode in which some indoor units 3 perform the cooling operations and other indoor units 3 perform the heating operations and in which the heating load is larger than the cooling load.
[0012]
The relay unit 2 exchanges heat between heat-source-side refrigerant and a heat medium. The outdoor unit 1 and the relay unit 2 are connected by refrigerant pipes 4 through which heat-source-side refrigerant flows, and form a refrigerant cycle circuit A that is the refrigeration cycle through which the heat-source-side refrigerant circulates. The relay unit 2 and the indoor unit 3 are connected by heat medium pipes 5 through which the heat medium flows, and form a heat medium cycle circuit B through which the heat medium circulates. Respective components such as a switching device connected to each of the refrigerant cycle circuit A and the heat medium cycle circuit B will be described later. Cooling energy or heating energy generated in the outdoor unit 1 is distributed to the indoor units 3 via the relay unit 2.
[0013]
Also, one of features of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment is being capable of increasing the number of indoor units 3 to be additionally connected. A branch unit 60 is connected to the relay unit 2. The branch unit 60 can increase the number of branches for the heat medium in the heat medium cycle circuit B and increase the number of indoor units 3 to be additionally connected. The relay unit 2 has a connection port 2a (see Fig. 2, described later) for connecting the branch unit 60. The branch unit 60 is connected to the connection port 2a by connection pipes 70.
[0014]
In the following description, the outdoor unit 1, the relay unit 2, and the indoor units 3 are described first, and the branch unit 60 will be described later.
[0015]
The outdoor unit 1 is in general provided in an outdoor space 6 that is a space outside a building 9 such as an office building (a space on the rooftop, for example), and supplies cooling energy or heating energy to the indoor units 3 via the relay unit 2.
[0016]
The relay unit 2 transfers the heating energy or the cooling energy generated by the outdoor unit 1 to the indoor units 3. The relay unit 2 is separate from the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor units 3 to be installable at a position that is separate from the outdoor space 6 and indoor spaces 7. The relay unit 2 is connected to the outdoor unit 1 by the refrigerant pipes 4 and to the indoor units 3 by the heat medium pipes 5.
[0017]
The indoor units 3 are provided at such positions that cooling air or heating air can be supplied to the indoor spaces 7 that are spaces inside the building 9 (rooms, for example), and supply cooling air or heating air to the indoor spaces 7 that correspond to air-conditioned spaces. While the indoor units 3 illustrated in Fig. 1 are of a ceiling concealed type, the indoor units 3 are not limited thereto.
[0018]
The heat-source-side refrigerant is transported from the outdoor unit 1 to the relay unit 2 through the refrigerant pipes 4. The heat-source-side refrigerant thus transported exchanges heat with the heat medium in intermediate heat exchangers 25 (to be described below, see Fig. 2) provided in the relay unit 2, thereby heating or cooling the heat medium. That is, the heat medium is heated or cooled in the intermediate heat exchangers and thus turns into hot water or cold water. The hot water or the cold water obtained in the relay unit 2 is transported to the indoor units 3 through the heat medium pipes 5 by pumps 31 (to be described below, see Fig. 2).
In the Indoor units 3, the hot water or the cold water Is used for the heating operation or the cooling operation performed on the indoor spaces 7.
[0019]
The heat-source-side refrigerant may be, for example, single-component refrigerant such as R-22 or R-134a, a near-azeotropic refrigerant mixture such as R-410Aor R-404A, a zeotropic refrigerant mixture such as R-407C, a refrigerant such as CFs or CF=CFl2 that has any double bonds in its chemical formula and that has a relatively small global warming potential ora mixture containing such refrigerant, or a natural refrigerant such as CO2 or propane.
[0020]
On the other hand, the heat medium may be, for example, water, brine (antifreeze), a mixture of water and antifreeze, or a mixture of water and a highly anticorrosive additive. That is, the air-conditioning apparatus 100 employing any of such substances as the heat medium contributes to an improvement in safety from the leakage of the heat medium in the indoor spaces 7. The air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment is described on the premise that water is employed as the heat medium.
[0021]
As illustrated in Fig. 1, in the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment, the outdoor unit 1 and the relay unit 2 are connected to each other by two refrigerant pipes 4, and the relay unit 2 and each of the indoor units 3 are connected to each other by two heat medium pipes 5. Hence, the air-conditioning apparatus 100 is easy to construct by connecting the units (the outdoor unit 1, the relay unit 2, and the indoor units 3) by two kinds of pipes (the refrigerant pipes 4 and the heat medium pipes 5).
[0022]
Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary case where the relay unit 2 is provided in a space such as a space above a ceiling (hereinafter simply referred to as the space 8) that is inside the building 9 but is separate from the indoor spaces 7. Alternatively, the relay unit 2 may be provided in a common space or the like where elevators or other facilities are provided. While Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary case where the indoor units 3 are of a ceiling cassette type, the present invention is not limited to such a case. The indoor units 3 may be of any other type such as a ceiling concealed type or a ceiling suspended type, as long as heating air or cooling air can be blown into the indoor spaces 7 directly or via ducts or the like.
[0023]
While Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary case where the outdoor unit 1 is provided in the outdoor space 6, the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, the outdoor unit 1 may be provided in an enclosed space with a vent, such as a machine room. Moreover, the outdoor unit 1 may be provided inside the building 9, as long as waste heat can be exhausted to the outside of the building 9 via an exhaust duct. If the outdoor unit 1 is of a water-cooled type, the outdoor unit 1 may be provided inside the building 9. Even if the outdoor unit 1 is provided in such a place, no particular problem arises.
[0024]
The relay unit 2 may be provided near the outdoor unit 1. Flowever, if the relay unit 2 is provided near the outdoor unit 1, the lengths of the heat medium pipes 5 that connect the relay unit 2 and the indoor units 3 are to be carefully considered. This is because of the following reason. If the distance from the relay unit 2 to each of the indoor units 3 increases, the power of transporting the heat medium increases correspondingly, reducing the effect of energy saving.
[0025]
The numbers of outdoor units 1, relay units 2, and indoor units 3 are not limited to those illustrated in Fig. 1 and may be determined on the basis of the building 9 in which the air-conditioning apparatus 100 is to be provided.
[0026]
If a plurality of relay units 2 are connected to one outdoor unit 1, the plurality of relay units 2 may be provided at separate positions in, for example, common spaces or spaces above the ceiling of a building such as an office building. Thus, the air conditioning load can be shared among the intermediate heat exchangers 25a and 25b (described later, see Fig. 2) provided in each of the relay units 2. Moreover, the indoor units 3 can be provided at distances or levels that are within allowable ranges of transport by pumps 31 a and 31 b (see Fig. 2) provided in each of the relay units 2. Thus, the indoor units 3 can be provided over the entirety of the building such as an office building.
[0027]
Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of circuit configurations of the outdoor unit 1 and the relay unit 2 in the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in Fig. 2, the outdoor unit 1 and the relay unit 2 are connected to each other by the refrigerant pipes 4 via the intermediate heat exchangers 25a and 25b included in the relay unit 2. Furthermore, the relay unit 2 and the indoor units 3 are connected to each other by the heat medium pipes 5 via the intermediate heat exchangers 25a and 25b. That is, the intermediate heat exchangers 25a and 25b exchange heat between the heat-source-side refrigerant that is supplied thereto through the refrigerant pipes 4 and the heat medium that is supplied thereto through the heat medium pipes 5.
[0028] [Outdoor Unit 1]
The outdoor unit 1 includes a compressor 10, a first refrigerant flow switching device 11 such as a four-way valve, a heat-source-side heat exchanger 12, and an accumulator 19 that are connected to one another by the refrigerant pipes 4. The outdoor unit 1 further includes a first connection pipe 4a, a second connection pipe 4b, and check valves 13a to 13d. With the first connection pipe 4a, the second connection pipe 4b, and the check valves 13a to 13d, the air-conditioning apparatus 100 allows the heat-source-side refrigerant to flow in a specific direction from the outdoor unit 1 into the relay unit 2, regardless of whether the air-conditioning apparatus 100 is in a heating operation mode or in a cooling operation mode.
[0029]
The compressor 10 sucks the refrigerant, compresses the refrigerant to a high temperature and a high pressure, and then transports the refrigerant to the refrigerant cycle circuit A. The compressor 10 is connected to the first refrigerant flow switching device 11 on a discharge side thereof and to the accumulator 19 on a suction side thereof. The compressor 10 may be, for example, an inverter compressor of which capacity is controllable.
[0030]
The first refrigerant flow switching device 11 allows the discharge side of the compressor 10 and the check valve 13d to be connected to each other and the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12 and a suction side of the accumulator 19 to be connected to each other in the heating only operation mode and in the heating main operation mode included in the cooling and heating mixed operation mode. The first refrigerant flow switching device 11 also allows the discharge side of the compressor 10 and the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12 to be connected to each other and the check valve 13c and the suction side of the accumulator 19 to be connected to each other in the cooling operation mode and in the cooling main operation mode included in the cooling and heating mixed operation mode.
[0031]
The heat-source-side heat exchanger 12 functions as an evaporator in the heating operation and as a condenser (or a radiator) in the cooling operation. The heat-source-side heat exchanger 12 exchanges heat between air as a fluid that is supplied thereto from a non-illustrated air-sending device such as a fan and the heat-source-side refrigerant, whereby the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12 evaporates and gasifies or condenses and liquefies the heat-source-side refrigerant. In the heating operation mode, the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12 is connected to the check valve 13b on one side thereof and to the suction side of the accumulator 19 on the other side thereof. In the cooling operation mode, the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12 is connected to the discharge side of the compressor 10 on one side thereof and to the check valve 13a on the other side thereof. The heat-source-side heat exchanger 12 may be, for example, a plate-fin-and-tube heat exchanger that is capable of exchanging heat between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe and air flowing through the fins.
[0032]
The accumulator 19 accumulates excessive refrigerant occurring because of the difference between a state in the heating operation mode and a state in the cooling operation mode and excessive refrigerant occurring because of changes in the transition of the operation (for example, a change in the number of indoor units 3 that are in operation). In the heating operation mode, the accumulator 19 is connected to the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12 on the suction side thereof and to the suction side of the compressor 10 on a discharge side thereof. In the cooling operation mode, the accumulator 19 is connected to the check valve 13c on the suction side thereof and to the suction side of the compressor 10 on the discharged side thereof.
[0033]
The check valve 13a is provided in the other refrigerant pipe 4 that extends between the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12 and the relay unit 2 and allows the heat-source-side refrigerant to flow only in a predetermined direction (a direction from the outdoor unit 1 to the relay unit 2).
The check valve 13c is provided in one of the refrigerant pipes 4 that extends between the relay unit 2 and the first refrigerant flow switching device 11 and allows the heat-source-side refrigerant to flow only in a predetermined direction (a direction from the relay unit 2 to the outdoor unit 1).
The check valve 13b is provided in the second connection pipe 4b and allows the heat-source-side refrigerant that has returned from the relay unit 2 to flow toward the suction side of the compressor 10 in the heating operation.
The check valve 13d is provided in the first connection pipe 4a and allows the heat-source-side refrigerant that has been discharged from the compressor 10 to flow into the relay unit 2 in the heating operation.
[0034]
The first connection pipe 4a in the outdoor unit 1 connects a portion of the one refrigerant pipe 4 between the first refrigerant flow switching device 11 and the check valve 13c and a portion of the other refrigerant pipe 4 between the check valve 13a and the relay unit 2 to each other. The second connection pipe 4b in the outdoor unit 1 connects a portion of the one refrigerant pipe 4 between the check valve 13c and the relay unit 2 and a portion of the other refrigerant pipe 4 between the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12 and the check valve 13a to each other. While Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary case where the first connection pipe 4a, the second connection pipe 4b, the check valve 13a, the check valve 13b, the check valve 13c and the check valve 13d are provided, the present invention is not limited to such a case. All the foregoing elements are not necessarily provided.
[0035] [Indoor Units 3]
The indoor units 3 include respective use-side heat exchangers 35a to 35d (also simply denoted as use-side heat exchangers 35). The use-side heat exchangers 35 are connected to respective heat medium flow control devices 34a to 34d (also simply denoted as heat medium flow control devices 34) via corresponding ones of the heat medium pipes 5 and to respective second heat medium flow switching devices 33a to 33d (also simply denoted as second heat medium flow switching devices 33) via corresponding ones of the heat medium pipes 5. The use-side heat exchangers 35 each exchange heat between air that is supplied thereto from a non-illustrated air-sending device such as a fan and the heat medium, thereby generating heating air or cooling air to be supplied to a corresponding one of the indoor spaces 7.
[0036]
Fig. 2 illustrates an exemplary case where four indoor units 3a to 3d are connected to the relay unit 2 by the heat medium pipes 5. The use-side heat exchangers 35 are arranged in correspondence with the indoor units 3a to 3d in the following order from the upper side of the page: the use-side heat exchanger 35a, the use-side heat exchanger 35b, the use-side heat exchanger 35c, and the use-side heat exchanger 35d. The number of indoor units 3 is not limited to four.
[0037] [Relay Unit 2]
The relay unit 2 includes the two intermediate heat exchangers 25a and 25b (also simply denoted as intermediate heat exchangers 25), two first expansion devices 26a and 26b (also simply denoted as first expansion devices 26), two opening and closing devices 27 and 29, and two second refrigerant flow switching devices 28a and 28b (also simply denoted as second refrigerant flow switching devices 28). The relay unit 2 further includes the two pumps 31 a and 31 b (also simply denoted as pumps 31) as two heat medium transporting devices, four first heat medium flow switching devices 32a to 32d (also simply denoted as first heat medium flow switching devices 32), the four second heat medium flow switching devices 33a to 33d (also simply denoted as second heat medium flow switching devices 33), and the four heat medium flow control devices 34a to 34d (also simply denoted as heat medium flow control devices 34). The first heat medium flow switching devices 32, the second heat medium flow switching devices 33, and the heat medium flow control devices 34 form a first heat medium flow switching unit according to the present invention.
[0038]
The first heat medium flow switching devices 32a to 32d, the second heat medium flow switching devices 33a to 33d, and the heat medium flow control devices 34a to 34d may be replaced with an integrated flow switching device in which the functions of these switching devices are integrated. To be specific, the integrated flow switching device may have a block (integrated) structure, such as Patent Literature 2 or Patent Literature 3, having the respective functions of the first heat medium flow switching devices 32a to 32d, the second heat medium flow switching devices 33a to 33d, and the heat medium flow control devices 34a to 34d.
[0039]
The intermediate heat exchangers 25, functioning as condensers (radiators) or evaporators, each exchange heat between the heat-source-side refrigerant and the heat medium and transfer the cooling energy or the heating energy generated by the outdoor unit 1 and stored in the heat-source-side refrigerant to the heat medium.
That is, in the heating operation, the intermediate heat exchangers 25 each serve as a condenser (radiator) and transfer the heating energy of the heat-source-side refrigerant to the heat medium. In the cooling operation, the intermediate heat exchangers 25 each serve as an evaporator and transfer the cooling energy of the heat-source-side refrigerant to the heat medium.
[0040]
The intermediate heat exchanger 25a is provided between the first expansion device 26a and the second refrigerant flow switching device 28a in the refrigerant cycle circuit A and is used for cooling the heat medium in the cooling and heating mixed operation mode. The intermediate heat exchanger 25b is provided between the first expansion device 26b and the second refrigerant flow switching device 28b in the refrigerant cycle circuit A and is used for heating the heat medium in the cooling and heating mixed operation mode.
[0041]
The first expansion devices 26 each have a function as a pressure reducing valve or an expansion valve and expand the heat-source-side refrigerant by reducing the pressure of the heat-source-side refrigerant. The first expansion device 26a is provided on the upstream side of the intermediate heat exchanger 25a in the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant during the cooling operation (see Fig. 8 to be described later). The first expansion device 26b is provided on the upstream side of the intermediate heat exchanger 25b in the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant during the cooling operation (see Fig. 8 to be described later). The first expansion devices 26 may each be a device of which opening degree is variably controllable, such as an electronic expansion valve.
[0042]
The opening and closing device 27 and the opening and closing device 29 are each, for example, a solenoid valve that is openable and closable when powered. The opening and closing device 27 and the opening and closing device 29 open or close respective passages on which they are provided. That is, the opening and closing device 27 and the opening and closing device 29 are controlled to be opened or closed in accordance with the operation mode and thus switch the passage of the heat-source-side refrigerant.
[0043]
The opening and closing device 27 is provided in the refrigerant pipe 4 that is on a side of the entrance for the heat-source-side refrigerant (one of the refrigerant pipes 4 connecting the outdoor unit 1 and the relay unit 2 that is illustrated at the lowest position of the page). The opening and closing device 29 is provided in a pipe (a bypass pipe 20) connecting the refrigerant pipe 4 that is on the side of the entrance for the heat-source-side refrigerant and the refrigerant pipe 4 that is on a side of the exit for the heat-source-side refrigerant to each other. The opening and closing device 27 and the opening and closing device 29 only need to be capable of opening and closing the respective passages on which they are provided, and may each be, for example, an electronic expansion valve of which opening degree is controllable.
[0044]
The second refrigerant flow switching devices 28 are each, for example, a four way valve and switch the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant such that the intermediate heat exchangers 25 serve as condensers or evaporators in accordance with the operation mode. The second refrigerant flow switching device 28a is provided on the downstream side of the intermediate heat exchanger 25a in the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant during the cooling operation (see Fig. 8 to be described later). The second refrigerant flow switching device 28b is provided on the downstream side of the intermediate heat exchanger 25b in the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant during the cooling only operation mode (see Fig. 8 to be described later).
[0045]
The pumps 31 cause the heat medium flowing in the heat medium pipes 5 to circulate through the heat medium cycle circuit B. The pump 31a is provided in one of the heat medium pipes 5 that extend between the intermediate heat exchanger 25a and the second heat medium flow switching devices 33. The pump 31 b is provided in another one of the heat medium pipes 5 that extends between the intermediate heat exchanger 25b and the second heat medium flow switching devices 33. The pumps 31 may be, for example, pumps of which capacities are controllable so that the flow rates thereof can be regulated in accordance with the loads occurring in the indoor units 3.
[0046]
The first heat medium flow switching devices 32 each switch the connection at a position between a heat medium passage on the exit side of a corresponding one of the use-side heat exchangers 35 and heat medium passages on the entrance side of the intermediate heat exchangers 25. The number of first heat medium flow switching devices 32 (four in this case) corresponds to the number of indoor units 3.
[0047]
The first heat medium flow switching devices 32 each switch the connection target of a heat medium passage on the exit side of a corresponding one of the use-side heat exchangers 35 between a heat medium passage on the entrance side of the intermediate heat exchanger 25a and a heat medium passage on the entrance side of the intermediate heat exchanger 25b. The first heat medium flow switching devices 32 each have three ways, one of which is connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25a, another of which is connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b, and the remainder of which is connected to a corresponding one of the heat medium flow control devices 34. The first heat medium flow switching devices 32 are provided in the respective heat medium passages on the exit side of the use-side heat exchangers 35. The first heat medium flow switching devices 32 are arranged in correspondence with the indoor units 3 in the following order from the upper side of the page: the first heat medium flow switching device 32a, the first heat medium flow switching device 32b, the first heat medium flow switching device 32c, and the first heat medium flow switching device 32d. The switching of each heat medium passage includes not only full switching from one way to another but also partial switching from one way to another. The first heat medium flow switching devices 32 may each be, for example, a three-way valve.
[0048]
The second heat medium flow switching devices 33 each switch the connection target of a heat medium passage on the entrance side of a corresponding one of the use-side heat exchangers 35 between a heat medium passage on the exit side of the intermediate heat exchanger 25a and heat medium passages on the exit side of the intermediate heat exchangers 25b. The number of second heat medium flow switching devices 33 (four in this case) corresponds to the number of indoor units 3. The second heat medium flow switching devices 33 each have three ways, one of which is connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25a, another of which is connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b, and the remainder of which is connected to a heat medium passage on the entrance side of a corresponding one of the use-side heat exchangers 35. The second heat medium flow switching devices 33 are arranged in correspondence with the indoor units 3 in the following order from the upper side of the page: the second heat medium flow switching device 33a, the second heat medium flow switching device 33b, the second heat medium flow switching device 33c, and the second heat medium flow switching device 33d. The switching of each heat medium passage includes not only full switching from one way to another but also partial switching from one way to another. The second heat medium flow switching devices 33 may each be, for example, a three-way valve.
[0049]
The heat medium flow control devices 34 are each a two-way valve or the like of which opening area is controllable, and each control the flow rate of the heat medium flowing in a corresponding one of the heat medium pipes 5. The number of heat medium flow control devices 34 (four in this case) corresponds to the number of indoor units 3. One way of each heat medium flow control device 34 is connected to a corresponding one of the use-side heat exchangers 35, and the other way of each heat medium flow control device 34 is connected to a corresponding one of the first heat medium flow switching devices 32. The heat medium flow control devices 34 are provided in the respective heat medium passages on the exit side of the use-side heat exchangers 35. That is, the heat medium flow control devices 34 each regulate the volume of heat medium flowing into a corresponding one of the indoor units 3 in accordance with the temperature of the heat medium flowing into the indoor unit 3 and the temperature of the heat medium discharged from the indoor unit 3, thereby allowing a volume of heat medium that is most suitable for the load occurring in a corresponding one of the rooms to be supplied to the indoor unit 3.
[0050]
The heat medium flow control device 34a, the heat medium flow control device 34b, the heat medium flow control device 34c, and the heat medium flow control device 34d are arranged in that order from the upper side of the page in accordance with the indoor units 3. The heat medium flow control devices 34 may alternatively be provided in the respective heat medium passages on the entrance side of the use-side heat exchangers 35. Moreover, the heat medium flow control devices 34 may each be provided in a corresponding one of the heat medium passages on the entrance side of the use-side heat exchangers 35 and between a corresponding one of the second heat medium flow switching devices 33 and a corresponding one of the use-side heat exchangers 35. When no loads are requested on the indoor units 3 because, for example, when the indoor units 3 are in the stop mode or in the state where the thermostats are off, the heat medium flow control devices 34 are fully closed, whereby the supply of the heat medium to the indoor units 3 is stopped.
[0051]
If the first heat medium flow switching devices 32 or the second heat medium flow switching devices 33 additionally have a function as the heat medium flow control devices 34, the heat medium flow control devices 34 are omittable.
[0052]
Also, as described above, the first heat medium flow switching devices 32, the second heat medium flow switching devices 33, and the heat medium flow control devices 34 may be integrated (unified as a block), and the integrated flow switching device having the flow switching function, the flow rate control function, and the passage close function may be used instead of the first heat medium flow switching devices 32, the second heat medium flow switching devices 33, and the heat medium flow control devices 34.
[0053]
The relay unit 2 includes two temperature sensors 40a and 40b (also simply denoted as temperature sensors 40). The temperature sensors 40 each detect the temperature of the heat medium that has been discharged from a corresponding one of the intermediate heat exchangers 25. That is, the temperature sensors 40 each detect the temperature of the heat medium at the exit of a corresponding one of the intermediate heat exchangers 25. The temperature sensor 40a is provided on one of the heat medium pipes 5 that is on the heat-medium-suction side of the pump 31a. The temperature sensor 40b is provided on another one of the heat medium pipes 5 that is on the heat-medium-suction side of the pump 31 b. The temperature sensors 40 may each be, for example, a thermistor.
[0054]
Information (temperature information) detected by the temperature sensors 40 is sent to a controller 50 that generally controls the operation of the air-conditioning apparatus 100. The information (temperature information) detected by the temperature sensors 40 is used for controlling the driving frequency of the compressor 10, the rotation speeds of the non-illustrated air-sending devices, the switching of the first refrigerant flow switching device 11, the driving frequencies of the pumps 31, the switching of the second refrigerant flow switching devices 28, the switching of the heat medium passages, the regulation of the flow rates of the heat medium in the indoor units 3, and so forth. While the above description concerns an exemplary case where the controller 50 is provided in the relay unit 2, the present invention is not limited to such a case. The controller 50 may be communicably provided in the outdoor unit 1, each of the indoor units 3, or each of all the foregoing units.
[0055]
The controller 50 includes a microprocessor or the like and controls the following on the basis of the results of detections obtained by various detecting units and instructions from remote controllers: the driving frequency of the compressor 10, the rotation speeds (including the on and off states) of the air-sending devices, the switching of the first refrigerant flow switching device 11, the driving of the pumps 31, the opening degrees of the first expansion devices 26, and the opening degree of a second expansion device 26c. The controller 50 also controls the switching of the second refrigerant flow switching devices 28, the switching of the first heat medium flow switching devices 32, the switching of the second heat medium flow switching devices 33, the driving of the heat medium flow control devices 34, the driving of heat medium passage opening and closing devices 37, the opening and closing of the opening and closing devices 27 and 29, the opening and closing of the heat medium passage opening and closing devices 36, and so forth.
[0056]
The controller 50 controls the temperature of a corresponding one of the indoor spaces to maintain the preset temperature. If the temperature of the indoor space reaches the preset temperature, the controller 50 stops the supply of the heat medium to the use-side heat exchangers 35 provided in the indoor units 3 (a state where thermostats are off). Furthermore, if an instruction is given by a user, the controller 50 stops not only the supply of the heat medium to the use-side heat exchanger 35 provided in a corresponding one of the indoor units 3 but also the operation of a fan provided to that use-side heat exchanger 35 (a stop mode) even if the temperature of a corresponding one of the indoor spaces has not reached the preset temperature. Thus, when the temperatures of any indoor spaces reach the preset temperatures, the controller 50 turns corresponding ones of the thermostats off to regulate the temperatures of the indoor spaces. Furthermore, when the controller 50 receives an instruction to stop the operation from a user, the controller 50 executes an operation in the stop mode.
[0057]
The heat medium pipes 5 through which the heat medium flows include those connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25a and those connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b. The foregoing heat medium pipes 5 each have branches (four branches in this case) in correspondence with the number of indoor units 3 connected to the relay unit 2. The heat medium pipes 5 that are connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25a and the heat medium pipes 5 that are connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b are connected to each other at the first heat medium flow switching devices 32 and the second heat medium flow switching devices 33. Controlling the first heat medium flow switching devices 32 and the second heat medium flow switching devices 33 determines which of the heat medium from the intermediate heat exchanger 25a and the heat medium from the intermediate heat exchanger 25b is allowed to flow into the use-side heat exchangers 35.
[0058]
According to Embodiment, the number of indoor units 3 to be additionally connected to the relay unit 2 can be increased as described above. The branch unit 60 is described below.
[0059] [Branch Unit 60]
Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a heat medium cycle circuit configuration of the branch unit 60 in Fig. 1.
The branch unit 60 includes a connection portion 61 for connection to the relay unit 2. The branch unit 60 and the relay unit 2 are connected to each other by the connection pipes 70 via the connection portion 61. The branch unit 60 also includes a branch portion 62 that branches the flow of the heat medium in the heat medium cycle circuit B flowed from the relay unit 2 via the connection portion 61. The branch portion 62 has a plurality of branch ports. In this case, the number of indoor units to be additionally installed is four, and hence four branch ports are provided. Use-side heat exchangers (additionally installed use-side heat exchangers) 35a to 35d of additionally installed indoor units 3 are connected respectively to the branch ports to allow the heat medium to circulate between the Intermediate heat exchangers 25a and 25b of the relay unit 2 and the use-side heat exchangers 35a to 35d.
[0060]
The branch unit 60 includes the connection pipes 70, four first heat medium flow switching devices 32e to 32h (also simply denoted as first heat medium flow switching devices 32 like the first heat medium flow switching devices 32 in the relay unit 2), the four second heat medium flow switching devices 33e to 33h (also simply denoted as second heat medium flow switching devices 33 like the second heat medium flow switching devices 33 in the relay unit 2), and four heat medium flow control devices 34e to 34h (also simply denoted as heat medium flow control devices 34 like the heat medium flow control devices 34 in the relay unit 2).
[0061]
Alternatively, the first heat medium flow switching devices 32e to 32h, the second heat medium flow switching devices 33e to 33h, and the heat medium flow control devices 34e to 34h may be replaced with an integrated flow switching device in which the functions of these switching devices are integrated. To be specific, the integrated flow switching device may have a block structure, such as of Patent Literature 2, having the respective functions of the first heat medium flow switching devices 32a to 32d, the second heat medium flow switching devices 33a to 33d, and the heat medium flow control devices 34a to 34d. The first heat medium flow switching devices 32e to 32h, the second heat medium flow switching devices 33e to 33h, and the heat medium flow control devices 34e to 34h form a second heat medium flow switching unit according to the present invention.
[0062]
The first heat medium flow switching devices 32 of the branch unit 60 are connected to the relay unit 2 by two pipes included in the connection pipes 70, and each switch the connection at a position between a heat medium passage on the exit side of a corresponding one of the use-side heat exchangers 35 in the relay unit 2 and heat medium passages on the entrance side of the intermediate heat exchangers 25. The number of first heat medium flow switching devices 32 (four in this case) corresponds to the number of indoor units 3 connected to the branch unit.
[0063]
The first heat medium flow switching devices 32 each have three ways, one of which is connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25a in the relay unit 2 via the connection pipe 70, another of which is connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b in the relay unit 2 by the connection pipe 70, and the remainder of which is connected to a corresponding one of the heat medium flow control devices 34 in the branch unit 60. The first heat medium flow switching devices 32 are provided in the respective heat medium passages on the exit side of the use-side heat exchangers 35 connected to the branch unit 60. The first heat medium flow switching devices 32 are arranged in correspondence with the indoor units 3 connected to the branch unit 60 in the following order from the upper side of the page: the first heat medium flow switching device 32e, the first heat medium flow switching device 32f, the first heat medium flow switching device 32g, and the first heat medium flow switching device 32h. The switching of each heat medium passage includes not only full switching from one way to another but also partial switching from one way to another. The first heat medium flow switching devices 32 may each be, for example, a three-way valve.
[0064]
The second heat medium flow switching devices 33 in the branch unit 60 are connected to the relay unit 2 by two pipes included in the connection pipes 70, and each switch the connection at a position between heat medium passages on the exit side of the intermediate heat exchangers 25 and a heat medium passage on the entrance side of a corresponding one of the use-side heat exchangers 35. The number of second heat medium flow switching devices 33 (four in this case) in the branch unit 60 corresponds to the number of indoor units 3 additionally connected to the branch unit 60.
[0065]
The second heat medium flow switching devices 33 each have three ways, one of which is connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25a in the relay unit 2 by the connection pipe 70, another of which is connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b in the relay unit 2 by the connection pipe 70, and the remainder of which is connected to a corresponding one of the use-side heat exchangers 35 connected to the branch unit 60. The second heat medium flow switching devices 33 are provided in the respective heat medium passages on the entrance side of the use-side heat exchangers 35 connected to the branch unit 60.
[0066]
The second heat medium flow switching devices 33 are arranged in correspondence with the indoor units 3 connected to the branch unit 60 in the following order from the upper side of the page: the second heat medium flow switching device 33e, the second heat medium flow switching device 33f, the second heat medium flow switching device 33g, and the second heat medium flow switching device 33h. The switching of each heat medium passage includes not only full switching from one way to another but also partial switching from one way to another. The second heat medium flow switching devices 33 may each be, for example, a three-way valve.
[0067]
The heat medium flow control devices 34 in the branch unit 60 are each a two-way valve or the like of which opening area is controllable, and each control the flow rate of the heat medium transported from the relay unit 2 and flowing in a corresponding one of the connection pipes 70. The heat medium flow control devices 34 in the branch unit 60 are provided by the number (four in this case) corresponding to the number of indoor units 3 connected to the branch unit 60. One way of each heat medium flow control device 34 in the branch unit 60 is connected to a corresponding one of the use-side heat exchangers 35 connected to the branch unit 60, and the other way of the heat medium flow control device 34 is connected to a corresponding one of the first heat medium flow switching devices 32 connected to the branch unit 60. The heat medium flow control devices 34 are provided in the respective heat medium passages on the exit side of the use-side heat exchangers 35 connected to the branch unit 60.
[0068]
That is, the heat medium flow control devices 34 each regulate the volume of heat medium flowing into a corresponding one of the indoor units 3 connected to the branch unit 60 in accordance with the temperature of the heat medium flowing into the indoor unit 3 and the temperature of the heat medium discharged from the indoor unit 3, thereby allowing a volume of heat medium that is most suitable for the load occurring in a corresponding one of the rooms to be supplied to the indoor unit 3.
[0069]
The heat medium flow control device 34e, the heat medium flow control device 34f, the heat medium flow control device 34g, and the heat medium flow control device 34h are arranged in that order from the upper side of the page in accordance with the indoor units 3 connected to the branch unit 60. The heat medium flow control devices 34 may alternatively be provided in the respective heat medium passages on the entrance side of the use-side heat exchangers 35. Moreover, the heat medium flow control devices 34 may each be provided in a corresponding one of the heat medium passages on the entrance side of the use-side heat exchangers 35 and between a corresponding one of the second heat medium flow switching devices 33 and a corresponding one of the use-side heat exchangers 35. When no loads are requested on the indoor units 3 because, for example, when the indoor units 3 are in the stop mode or in the state where the thermostats are off, the heat medium flow control devices 34 are fully closed, whereby the supply of the heat medium to the indoor units 3 is stopped.
[0070]
If the first heat medium flow switching devices 32 or the second heat medium flow switching devices 33 additionally have a function as the heat medium flow control devices 34, the heat medium flow control devices 34 are omittable.
[0071]
Also, as described above, the first heat medium flow switching devices 32, the second heat medium flow switching devices 33, and the heat medium flow control devices 34 may be integrated (unified as a block), and the integrated flow switching device having the flow switching function, the flow rate control function, and the passage close function may be used instead of the first heat medium flow switching devices 32, the second heat medium flow switching devices 33, and the heat medium flow control devices 34.
[0072]
Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a circuit configuration of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 in Fig. 1.
The connection pipes 70 through which the heat medium flows are connected to the relay unit 2, and include those connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25a and those connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b in the relay unit 2 as shown in Fig. 4. The foregoing connection pipes 70 each have branches (four branches in this case) in correspondence with the number of indoor units 3 to be connected to the branch unit 60. Some of the connection pipes 70 that are connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25a and some of the connection pipes 70 that are connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b in the relay unit 2 are connected to each other at the first heat medium flow switching devices 32 in the branch unit 60 and the second heat medium flow switching devices 33 in the branch unit 60.
[0073]
Controlling the first heat medium flow switching devices 32 in the branch unit 60 and the second heat medium flow switching devices 33 in the branch unit 60 determines which of the heat medium from the intermediate heat exchanger 25a in the relay unit 2 and the heat medium from the intermediate heat exchanger 25b in the relay unit 2 is allowed to flow into the use-side heat exchangers 35.
[0074]
Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example of a refrigerant circuit in the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5 illustrates a configuration in which connection pipes 70 each connect between a branch unit 60 and respective two relay units 2. The branch unit 60 in Fig. 5 includes another connection portion 63 in addition to the connection portion 61 of the branch unit 60 in Fig. 4, and is connected to the two relay units 2 by the connection pipes 70 via the connection portions 61 and 63. The connection pipes 70 can be connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25a or the intermediate heat exchanger 25b in the relay unit 2 for each of the two relay units 2.
[0075]
In the air-conditioning apparatus 100 shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the compressor 10, the first refrigerant flow switching device 11, the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12, the opening and closing device 27, the opening and closing device 29, the second refrigerant flow switching devices 28, the refrigerant passages of the intermediate heat exchangers 25, the first expansion devices 26, and the accumulator 19 are connected to one another by the refrigerant pipes 4, whereby the refrigerant cycle circuit A is formed. Furthermore, the heat medium passages of the intermediate heat exchangers 25, the pumps 31, the first heat medium flow switching devices 32, the heat medium flow control devices 34, the use-side heat exchangers 35, and the second heat medium flow switching devices 33 are connected to one another by the heat medium pipes 5, whereby the heat medium cycle circuit B is provided. That is, a plurality of use-side heat exchangers 35 are connected in parallel to each of the intermediate heat exchangers 25, whereby the heat medium cycle circuit B includes a plurality of systems.
[0076]
Flence, in the air-conditioning apparatus 100, the outdoor unit 1 and the relay unit 2 are connected to each other via the intermediate heat exchanger 25a and the intermediate heat exchanger 25b provided in the relay unit 2. Furthermore, the relay unit 2 and the indoor units 3 are connected to each other via the intermediate heat exchangers 25a and 25b. That is, in the air-conditioning apparatus 100, the heat-source-side refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant cycle circuit A and the heat medium circulating through the heat medium cycle circuit B exchange their heat in the intermediate heat exchanger 25a and in the intermediate heat exchanger 25b. With such a configuration, the air-conditioning apparatus 100 realizes a cooling operation or a heating operation that is most suitable for the loads occurring in the rooms.
[0077]
The modes of operations performed by the air-conditioning apparatus 100 include the heating only operation mode, the cooling only operation mode, the cooling main operation mode, and the heating main operation mode as described above. These operation modes are realized by combining the switching of the first refrigerant flow switching device 11, the second refrigerant flow switching devices 28, the first heat medium flow switching devices 32, and the second heat medium flow switching devices 33 and the opening and closing of the opening and closing device 27 and the opening and closing device 29.
[0078]
The above modes will now be described.
[0079] [Heating Operation Mode (Heating Only Operation Mode)]
Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating a flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant and a flow of the heat medium in the heating only operation of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 6, pipes through which the heat-source-side refrigerant flows are represented by bold lines. In Fig. 6, the direction in which the heat-source-side refrigerant flows is represented by solid-line arrows, and the direction in which the heat medium flows is represented by broken-line arrows. An example is described in which the four indoor units 3a to 3d connected to the relay unit 2 are connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b side, thereby forming a single system heat medium cycle circuit B, and the four indoor units 3e to 3h connected to the branch unit 60 are connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b side, thereby forming another single system heat medium cycle circuit B.
[0080]
In the heating operation mode (heating only operation mode), the first refrigerant flow switching device 11 included in the outdoor unit 1 is switched in such a manner as to allow the heat-source-side refrigerant that has been discharged from the compressor 10 to flow into the relay unit 2 without flowing through the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12.
[0081]
In the relay unit 2, the four first heat medium flow switching devices 32a to 32d and the four second heat medium flow switching devices 33a to 33d are switched in such a manner that the four indoor units 3a to 3d are connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b. The four heat medium flow control devices 34a to 34d control the heat medium to flow at respective flow rates required for handling the air conditioning loads requested in the respective rooms in which the indoor units 3a to 3d are installed. Also, the opening and closing device 27 is closed, and the opening and closing device 29 is open. The second refrigerant flow switching devices 28 are switched to the heating operation side.
[0082]
In the relay unit 2, the pumps 31 perform operations based on the air conditioning loads of the indoor units 3a to 3d connected to the relay unit 2, and the air conditioning loads of the indoor units 3e to 3h connected to the branch unit 60.
[0083]
In the branch unit 60, the four first heat medium flow switching devices 32e to 32h and the four second heat medium flow switching devices 33e to 33h are switched in such a manner that the four indoor units 3e to 3h are connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25a. The four heat medium flow control devices 34e to 34h control the heat medium to flow at respective flow rates required for handling the air conditioning loads requested in the respective rooms in which the indoor units 3e to 3h are installed.
[0084]
First, the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant in the refrigerant cycle circuit A will be described.
[0085]
Low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant is compressed by the compressor 10 and is discharged from the compressor 10 in the form of high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant that has been discharged from the compressor 10 flows through the first refrigerant flow switching device 11 and the first connection pipe 4a and is discharged from the outdoor unit 1. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant that has been discharged from the outdoor unit 1 flows through the refrigerant pipe 4 into the relay unit 2. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant that has flowed into the relay unit 2 flows through the second refrigerant flow switching devices 28a and 28b, then flows through the intermediate heat exchangers 25a and 25b, flows through the first expansion devices 26a and 26b, and flows through the opening and closing device 29. The refrigerant that has flowed through the opening and closing device 29 is transported to the outdoor unit 1, and exchanges heat with the outdoor air in the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12, thereby turning into low-temperature, low-pressure gas refrigerant. The low-temperature, low-pressure gas refrigerant flows through the first refrigerant flow switching device 11 and the accumulator 19 and is sucked into the compressor 10 again.
[0086]
In this state, the opening degrees of the first expansion devices 26a and 26b are controlled in a manner that the values of subcooling (the degrees of subcooling) of the refrigerant at the exit of the intermediate heat exchangers 25a and 25b become constant. The values of subcooling (the degrees of subcooling) each are obtained as the difference between a value obtained by a conversion of the pressure of the heat-source-side refrigerant flowing between the intermediate heat exchanger 25a or 25b and the first expansion device 26a or 26b into a saturated temperature and the temperature of the heat-source-side refrigerant on the exit side of the intermediate heat exchanger 25a or 25b.
[0087]
Next, the flow of the heat medium in the heat medium cycle circuit B will now be described.
[0088]
The heat medium whose pressure is increased by driving of the pump 31a and the pump 31 b is sent to the use-side heat exchangers 35a to 35h, exchanges heat with the indoor air, then is discharged from the use-side heat exchangers 35a to 35h, and flows into the heat medium flow control devices 34a to 34h. In this state, the heat medium flows through the use-side heat exchangers 35a to 35h and the heat medium flow control devices 34a to 34h while the heat medium flow control devices 34a to 34h control the heat medium to flow into the use-side heat exchangers 35a to 35h at respective flow rates required for handling the air conditioning loads requested in the respective rooms.
[0089] A portion of the heat medium that has been discharged from the heat medium flow control devices 34a to 34d in the relay unit 2 from the heat medium that has been discharged from the heat medium flow control devices 34a to 34h flows through the heat medium pipe 5 as a result that the passages are switched by the first heat medium flow switching devices 32a to 32d, and flows into and flows through the intermediate heat exchanger 25b. The heat medium that has flowed through the intermediate heat exchanger 25b is sucked into the pump 31b again, then flows through the second heat medium flow switching devices 33a to 33d, and is sent to the use-side heat exchangers 35a to 35d.
[0090]
On the other hand, a portion of the heat medium that has been discharged from the heat medium flow control devices 34e to 34h in the branch unit 60 from the heat medium that has been discharged from the heat medium flow control devices 34a to 34h flows through the connection pipe 70 as a result that the passages are switched by the first heat medium flow switching devices 32e to 32h, and flows into and flows through the intermediate heat exchanger 25a. The heat medium that has flowed through the intermediate heat exchanger 25a is sucked into the pump 31a again, then flows through the second heat medium flow switching devices 33e to 33h, and is sent to the use-side heat exchangers 35e to 35h.
[0091]
In this way, the heat medium circulates between corresponding one of the intermediate heat exchanger 25a and the intermediate heat exchanger 25b, and the use-side heat exchangers 35a to 35h. The heat medium exchanges heat with the indoor air in the use-side heat exchangers 35e to 35h serving as condensers, whereby the respective rooms in which the indoor units 3e to 3h are installed are heated.
[0092]
The selection from the intermediate heat exchangers 25a and 25b to which the indoor units 3a to 3h in operation are connected to form the heat medium cycle circuit B is desirably determined in accordance with the purpose of the system; however, is determined as follows for example. That is, the determination is made in a manner that the total heating capacity requested for the indoor units 3 connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25a and the full heating capacity requested for the indoor units 3 connected to the intermediate transfer device 25b are divided into substantially halves of the full heating capacity requested for the all indoor units 3.
The heating capacity of each of the indoor units 3 can be determined by the controller 50. The first heat medium flow switching devices 32a to 32h and the second heat medium flow switching devices 33a to 33h may be switched in accordance with the heating capacity.
[0093]
Next, the heating only operation mode in the configuration in which the branch unit 60 is connected to the plurality of relay units 2 via the connection pipes 70 is described.
[0094]
Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating a flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant and a flow of the heat medium in the heating only operation of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 5. The flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant in the refrigerant cycle circuit A is as described above with reference to Fig. 6. For convenience of the following description, the upper relay unit 2 in Fig. 7 is referred to as relay unit 2A, and the lower relay unit 2 in Fig. 7 is referred to as relay unit 2B if the two relay units 2 are required to be discriminated from each other.
[0095]
For the configuration in Fig. 7, two types of connection forms are conceivable as connection forms of the indoor units 3e to 3h, connected to the branch unit 60, to the relay units 2 as follows: (1) a connection form in which the indoor units 3e to 3h connected to the branch unit 60 are connected to only one of the relay unit 2A and the relay unit 2B, and (2) a connection form in which the indoor units 3e to 3h connected to the branch unit 60 are connected to the respective relay unit 2A and relay unit 2B.
[0096]
The flow of the heat medium in each of the connection forms will be described. The effect of the heat medium in the heat medium cycle circuit B is similar to the above-described effect.
[0097]
Case (1)
In this case, if all the indoor units 3e to 3h connected to the branch unit 60 are to be connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25a of the relay unit 2A, the flow of the heat medium is the same as the flow described with reference to Fig. 6. Also, the heat medium flow control devices 34e to 34h control the heat medium to flow into the use-side heat exchangers 35e to 35h at respective flow rates required for handling the air conditioning loads requested in the respective rooms, and then the heat medium flows through the use-side heat exchangers 35e to 35h and the heat medium flow control devices 34e to 34h.
[0098]
In this connection form, the connection target of the branch unit 60 can be switched to the relay unit 2A or the relay unit 2B to be used. For example, if the relay unit 2A cannot be used because the relay unit 2A is in maintenance, the connection target of the branch unit 60 is switched to the relay unit 2B, whereby operation can be continued.
[0099]
Case (2)
In this case, an example is described in which the indoor units 3e to 3g connected to the branch unit 60 are connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25a of the relay unit 2A, and the indoor unit 3h connected to the branch unit 60 is connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b of the relay unit 2B. Also, it is assumed that the indoor units 3a to 3d connected to the relay unit 2A are connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b of the relay unit 2A, and the indoor unit 3a to 3d connected to the relay unit 2B are connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b of the relay unit 2B.
[0100]
The flow of the heat medium in the indoor units 3a to 3d connected to the relay units 2A and 2B is similar to the flow described with reference to Fig. 6, and hence the flow of the heat medium in the branch unit 60 is mainly described now.
[0101]
In the branch unit 60, the first heat medium flow switching devices 32e to 32g and the second heat medium flow switching devices 33e to 33g are switched to the intermediate heat exchanger 25a side. In the case (2), as illustrated in an enlarged view in Fig. 7, on-off valves 71a to 71 d are provided between the relay unit 2Aand the branch unit 60, and on-off valves 72a to 72d are provided between the relay unit 2B and the branch unit 60. The on-off valve 71 b and the on-off valve 71 d provided in pipes that directly communicate with the intermediate heat exchanger 25a are changed to "open" among the on-off valves 71a to 71 d provided on the relay unit 2A side. On the other hand, the on-off valve 71a and the on-off valve 71c provided in pipes that directly communicate with the intermediate heat exchanger 25b are changed to "close" among the on-off valves 71 a to 71 d. Accordingly, the heat medium cycle circuit B is formed in which the heat medium circulates between the intermediate heat exchanger 25a of the relay unit 2A and the use-side heat exchangers 35e to 35g. In the heat medium cycle circuit B, the heat medium flow control devices 34e to 34g control the heat medium to circulate at respective flow rates required for handling the air conditioning loads requested in the respective rooms and to heat the rooms.
[0102]
Also, in the branch unit 60, the first heat medium flow switching device 32h and the second heat medium flow switching device 33h are switched to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b side. Further, the on-off valve 72a and the on-off valve 72c provided in pipes that directly communicate with the intermediate heat exchanger 25b are changed to "open" among the on-off valves 72a to 72d provided on the relay unit 2B side. On the other hand, the on-off valve 72b and the on-off valve 72d provided in pipes that directly communicate with the intermediate heat exchanger 25a are changed to "close" among the on-off valves 72a to 72d. Accordingly, the heat medium cycle circuit B is formed in which the heat medium circulates between the intermediate heat exchanger 25b of the relay unit 2B and the use-side heat exchanger 35h. In the heat medium cycle circuit B, the heat medium flow control device 34h controls the heat medium to circulate at a flow rate required for handling the air conditioning load requested in the room and to heat the room.
[0103]
The on-off valves 71 a to 71 d and the on-off valves 72a to 72d may be valves like electromagnetically opening and closing solenoid valves, or manually opening and closing valves that can be manually opened and closed.
[0104]
In this way, when the indoor units 3e to 3h in the branch unit 60 are connected to the two relay units 2A and 2B, and the heat medium is distributed to flow to the relay units 2A and 2B, the following advantages can be obtained. If the indoor units 3e to 3h in the branch unit 60 are connected to one of the two relay units 2A and 2B, the transporting power source in the branch unit is limited to the pumps 31 of the only one relay unit 2. However, by connecting the indoor units 3e to 3h to the two relay units 2, both the pumps 31 included in the two relay units 2 can be used as the transporting power source. Accordingly, when the air conditioning loads of the indoor units 3 connected to the relay unit 2Aare large and the transporting power of the pumps 31 of the relay unit 2A is insufficient, by also using the pumps 31 of the relay unit 2B, the insufficiency of the power can be compensated, and efficient air-conditioning can be provided.
[0105]
For example, if the indoor units 3 connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b of the relay unit 2A and the indoor units 3 connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b of the relay unit 2B are both present in the branch unit 60, for example, a valve is provided to prevent the refrigerant directed from the relay unit 2A to the branch unit 60 and the refrigerant directed from the relay unit 2B to the branch unit 60 from colliding with each other in a single connection pipe 70.
[0106] [Cooling Operation Mode (Cooling Only Operation Mode)]
Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating a flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant and a flow of the heat medium in the cooling only operation of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 8, the direction in which the heat-source-side refrigerant flows is represented by solid-line arrows, and the direction in which the heat medium flows is represented by broken-line arrows. An example is described in which the four indoor units 3a to 3d connected to the relay unit 2 are connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b side, thereby forming a heat medium cycle circuit B, and the four indoor units 3e to 3h connected to the branch unit 60 are connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b side, thereby forming another heat medium cycle circuit B.
[0107]
In the cooling operation mode (cooling only operation mode), the first refrigerant flow switching device 11 included in the outdoor unit 1 is switched in such a manner as to allow the heat-source-side refrigerant that has been discharged from the compressor 10 to flow into the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12.
[0108]
In the relay unit 2, the first heat medium flow switching devices 32a to 32d and the four second heat medium flow switching devices 33a to 33d are switched in such a manner that the four indoor units 3a to 3d are connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b. The four heat medium flow control devices 34a to 34d control the heat medium to flow at respective flow rates required for handling the air conditioning loads requested in the respective rooms in which the indoor units 3a to 3d are installed. Also, the opening and closing device 27 is closed, and the opening and closing device 29 is open. The second refrigerant flow switching device 28 is switched to the cooling operation side.
[0109]
In the branch unit 60, the first heat medium flow switching devices 32e to 32h and the four second heat medium flow switching devices 33e to 33h are switched in such a manner that the four indoor units 3e to 3h are connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25a. The four heat medium flow control devices 34e to 34h control the heat medium to flow at respective flow rates required for handling the air conditioning loads requested in the respective rooms in which the indoor units 3e to 3h are installed.
[0110]
In the relay unit 2, the pumps 31 are operated based on the air conditioning loads of the indoor units 3a to 3d connected to the relay unit 2, and the air conditioning loads of the indoor units 3e to 3h connected to the branch unit 60.
[0111]
First, the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant in the refrigerant cycle circuit A will be described.
[0112]
Low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant is compressed by the compressor 10 and is discharged from the compressor 10 in the form of high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant that has been discharged from the compressor 10 flows through the first refrigerant flow switching device 11 into the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12, where the refrigerant exchanges heat with the outdoor air, thereby turning into high-temperature, high-pressure liquid or two-phase refrigerant. The high-temperature, high-pressure liquid or two-phase refrigerant that has been discharged from the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12 flows through the check valve 13a and is discharged from the outdoor unit 1. The high-temperature, high-pressure liquid or two-phase refrigerant that has been discharged from the outdoor unit 1 flows through the refrigerant pipe 4 into the relay unit 2.
[0113]
The high-temperature, high-pressure liquid or two-phase refrigerant flowing into the relay unit 2 flows through the opening and closing device 27, flows through the first expansion devices 26a and 26b, and then becomes low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase refrigerant. The low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase refrigerant exchanges heat with the heat medium in the intermediate heat exchangers 25a and 25b, then becomes low-temperature, low-pressure gas refrigerant, then is discharged from the relay unit 2, and flows into the outdoor unit 1. The low-temperature, low-pressure gas refrigerant that has flowed into the outdoor unit 1 flows through the first refrigerant flow switching device 11 and the accumulator 19 and is sucked into the compressor 10 again.
[0114]
In this case, the opening degrees of the first expansion devices 26a and 26b are controlled such that the values of superheat (the degrees of superheat) of the refrigerant on the exit side of the intermediate heat exchangers 25a and 25b become constant. The values of superheat (the degrees of superheat) each are obtained as the difference between a value obtained by a conversion of the pressure of the heat-source-side refrigerant flowing between the intermediate heat exchanger 25a or 25b and the first expansion device 26a or 26b into a saturated temperature and the temperature of the heat-source-side refrigerant on the exit side of the intermediate heat exchanger 25a or 25b.
[0115]
The flow of the heat medium in the heat medium cycle circuit B is the same as the flow of the heat medium described with reference to Fig. 6. That is, the heat medium flow control devices 34a to 34d control the heat medium to circulate between the intermediate heat exchanger (in this case, evaporator) 25b and the use-side heat exchangers 35a to 35d at respective flow rates required for handling the air conditioning loads requested in the respective rooms. The heat medium exchanges heat with the indoor air in the use-side heat exchangers 35a to 35d, and hence cools the respective rooms in which the indoor units 3a to 3d are installed. Also, the heat medium flow control devices 34e to 34h control the heat medium to circulate between the intermediate heat exchanger (in this case, evaporator) 25a and the use-side heat exchangers 35e to 35h at respective flow rates required for handling the air conditioning loads requested in the respective rooms. The heat medium exchanges heat with the indoor air in the use-side heat exchangers 35e to 35h, and hence cools the respective rooms in which the indoor units 3e to 3h are installed.
[0116]
Next, the cooling only operation mode in the configuration in which the branch unit 60 is connected to the plurality of relay units 2 via the connection pipes 70 is described.
[0117]
Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant and a flow of the heat medium in the cooling only operation of the air-conditioning apparatus 110 shown in Fig. 5.
The flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant in the refrigerant cycle circuit A with this configuration is as described above with reference to Fig. 8. Also, the flow of the heat medium in the heat medium cycle circuit B is as described above with reference to Fig. 7. That is, the flow includes the above-described cases (1) and (2). In the heat medium cycle circuit B, the heat medium flow control devices 34a to 34h control the heat medium to circulate at respective flow rates required for handling the air conditioning loads requested in the respective rooms. The heat medium exchanges heat with the indoor air in the use-side heat exchangers 35a to 35h, and hence cools the respective rooms in which the indoor units 3a to 3h are installed.
[0118] [Mixed Operation Mode (Heating Main Operation Mode)]
Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating a flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant and a flow of the heat medium in the heating main operation among from the mixed operations of the air-conditioning apparatus shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 10, pipes through which the heat-source-side refrigerant and the heat medium flow are represented by bold lines. In Fig. 10, the direction in which the heat-source-side refrigerant flows is represented by solid-line arrows, and the direction in which the heat medium flows is represented by broken-line arrows. Fig. 10 illustrates an exemplary case of the heating main operation mode where the indoor unit 3a is in the heating operation mode and the indoor unit 3e is in the cooling operation mode. It is assumed that the other indoor units 3b to 3d and 3f to 3h are stopped and do not receive a load (not required to cool or heat the rooms, including a state where thermostats are off), and the heat medium does not flow to the use-side heat exchangers 35b to 35d, and 35f to 35h.
[0119]
In the mixed operation mode (heating main operation mode), the first refrigerant flow switching device 11 included in the outdoor unit 1 is switched in such a manner as to allow the heat-source-side refrigerant that has been discharged from the compressor 10 to flow into the relay unit 2 without flowing through the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12. Also, in the relay unit 2, the opening and closing device 27 is closed and the opening and closing device 29 is closed. Also, in the relay unit 2, the heat medium flow control device 34a is open to the opening degree that allows the heat medium to flow at a flow rate required for handling the air conditioning load (in this case, heating load) requested in the room in which the indoor unit 3a is installed, and the heat medium flow control devices 34b to 34d are closed. Also, in the branch unit 60, the heat medium flow control device 34e is open to the opening degree that allows the heat medium to flow at a flow rate required for handling the air conditioning load (in this case, cooling load) requested in the room in which the indoor unit 3a is installed, and the heat medium flow control devices 34f to 34h are closed.
[0120]
First, the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant in the refrigerant cycle circuit A will be described.
[0121]
Low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant is compressed by the compressor 10 and is discharged from the compressor 10 in the form of high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant that has been discharged from the compressor 10 flows through the first refrigerant flow switching device 11 and the first connection pipe 4a and is discharged from the outdoor unit 1. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant that has been discharged from the outdoor unit 1 flows through the refrigerant pipe 4 into the relay unit 2. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant that has flowed into the relay unit 2 flows through the second refrigerant flow switching device 28b and then flows through the intermediate heat exchanger 25b serving as a condenser.
[0122]
The refrigerant that has flowed through the intermediate heat exchanger 25b flows through the first expansion device 26b, then flows through the first expansion device 26a, and flows through the intermediate heat exchanger 25a serving as an evaporator. The refrigerant that has flowed through the intermediate heat exchanger 25a flows through the second refrigerant flow switching device 28a, and is transported to the outdoor unit 1. The refrigerant that has been transported to the outdoor unit 1 exchanges heat with the outdoor air in the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12, hence becomes low-temperature, low-pressure gas refrigerant, then flows through the first refrigerant flow switching device 11 and the accumulator 19, and is sucked into the compressor 10 again.
[0123]
In this state, the opening degree of the first expansion device 26b is controlled such that the value of subcooling (the degree of subcooling) of the refrigerant at the exit of the intermediate heat exchanger 25b becomes constant. The value of subcooling (the degree of subcooling) is obtained as the difference between a value obtained by a conversion of the pressure of the heat-source-side refrigerant flowing between the intermediate heat exchanger 25b and the first expansion device 26b into a saturated temperature and the temperature of the heat-source-side refrigerant on the exit side of the intermediate heat exchanger 25b.
[0124]
Also, the opening degree of the first expansion device 26a is controlled such that the value of superheat (the degrees of superheat) of the refrigerant at the exit of the intermediate heat exchanger 25 becomes constant. The value of superheat (the degrees of superheat) is obtained as the difference between a value obtained by a conversion of the pressure of the heat-source-side refrigerant flowing between the first expansion device 26a and the intermediate heat exchanger 25a into a saturated temperature and the temperature of the heat medium on the exit side of the intermediate heat exchanger 25a.
[0125]
Next, the flow of the heat medium in the heat medium cycle circuit B will now be described.
[0126]
The heat medium whose pressure is increased by driving of the pump 31 b is sent to the use-side heat exchanger 35a, exchanges heat with the indoor air, heats the room, and then is discharged from the use-side heat exchanger 35a. The heat medium that has been discharged from the use-side heat exchanger 35a flows through the heat medium flow control device 34a, and then flows into the intermediate heat exchanger 25b. The heat medium that has flowed through the intermediate heat exchanger 25b is sucked into the pump 31 b again, then flows through the second heat medium flow switching device 33a, and is sent to the use-side heat exchanger 35a.
[0127]
The heat medium whose pressure is increased by driving of the pump 31a is sent to the use-side heat exchanger 35e, exchanges heat with the indoor air, cools the room, and then is discharged from the use-side heat exchanger 35e. The heat medium that has flowed through the heat medium flow control device 34e flows through the heat medium flow control device 34e, and then flows into and flows through the intermediate heat exchanger 25a. The heat medium that has flowed through the intermediate heat exchanger 25a is sucked into the pump 31a again, then flows through the second heat medium flow switching device 33e, and is sent to the use-side heat exchanger 35e.
[0128]
Next, the heating main operation mode in the configuration in which the branch unit 60 is connected to the plurality of relay units 2 via the connection pipes 70 is described.
[0129]
Fig. 11 is a diagram (case 1) illustrating a flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant and a flow of the heat medium in the heating main operation among from mixed operations of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 5.
The flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant in the refrigerant cycle circuit A with this configuration is as described above with reference to Fig. 10. Also, the flow of the heat medium in the heat medium cycle circuit B is as described above with reference to Fig. 7. That is, the flow includes the above-described cases (1) and (2).
[0130]
An exemplary flow of the above-described case (2) is described where the indoor units 3a to 3d connected to the relay unit 2A, the indoor unit 3h connected to the branch unit 60, and the indoor units 3a to 3d connected to the relay unit 2B are in the heating operation mode, and the indoor units 3e to 3h connected to the branch unit 60 are in the cooling operation mode.
[0131]
In this case, the flow of the heat medium is similar to the flow in the above-described case (2) that has described with reference to Fig. 7. That is, the heat medium circulates between the intermediate heat exchanger (in this case, condenser) 25b of the relay unit 2Aand the indoor units 3a to 3d connected to the relay unit 2A, and heats the rooms. Also, the heat medium circulates between the intermediate heat exchanger (in this case, evaporator) 25a of the relay unit 2A and the indoor units 3e to 3g connected to the branch unit 60, and cools the rooms. Also, the heat medium circulates among the intermediate heat exchanger (in this case, condenser) 25b of the relay unit 2B, the indoor unit 3h connected to the branch unit 60, and the indoor units 3a to 3d connected to the relay unit 2B, and heats the room. The point that the heat medium flow control devices 34 control the heat medium to flow at respective flow rates required for handling the air conditioning loads requested in the respective rooms is similar to the point described above.
[0132]
The flow of the heat medium is merely an example. The indoor units 3a to 3d connected to the relay units 2A and 2B may be selectively connected to the intermediate heat exchangers 25b serving as condensers in the corresponding relay units 2A and 2B or the intermediate heat exchangers 25a serving as evaporators in the corresponding relay units 2A and 2B to which the indoor units 3a to 3d are connected, in accordance with whether the operation is in the heating operation mode or the cooling operation mode. Similarly, the indoor units 3e to 3h connected to the branch unit 60 may be selectively connected to one of the two intermediate heat exchangers 25b serving as condensers in the two relay units 2 and one of the two intermediate heat exchangers 25a serving as evaporators in the two relay units 2 via the connection pipes 70, in accordance with whether the operation is in the heating operation mode or the cooling operation mode.
[0133]
Switching from the heating only operation to the cooling only operation is considered now. To be specific, for example, a case is considered where the state is switched from the heating only operation in which the indoor units 3a to 3h are connected to the relay unit 2A and execute the heating operation and the operation of the relay unit 2B is stopped, to the cooling and heating mixed operation. For example, a case may be that the rooms where the indoor units 3e to 3h are installed are changed from working spaces to server rooms that are required to be cooled, or that the number of people in the rooms where the indoor units 3e to 3h are installed increases and the operation mode of the indoor units 3e to 3h is switched from the heating operation to the cooling operation.
[0134]
In such a case, the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant in the refrigerant cycle circuit A in the relay unit 2B is changed to the flow described with reference to Fig. 10, and the connection target of the indoor units 3e to 3h is switched from the relay unit 2A to the intermediate heat exchanger 25a serving as an evaporator in the relay unit 2B.
[0135] [Mixed Operation Mode (Heating Main Operation Mode) Case 2]
Fig. 12 is a diagram (case 2) illustrating a flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant and a flow of the heat medium in the heating main operation among from mixed operations of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 5. Described below is the heating main operation mode when all one of the two installed outdoor units 1A and 1B, the relay unit 2B connected to this outdoor unit 1 (in this case, 1B), and the indoor units 3a to 3d connected to this relay unit 2B are stopped. Also, described below is an exemplary case where some of the indoor units 3a to 3d connected to the relay unit 2A and the indoor units 3e to 3h connected to the branch unit 60 (in this case, the indoor units 3a to 3d connected to the relay unit 2A) are in the heating operation mode, and the remainder (in this case, the indoor units 3e to 3h connected to the branch unit 60) is in the cooling operation mode.
[0136]
In Fig. 12, pipes through which the heat-source-side refrigerant flows are represented by bold lines. In Fig. 12, the direction in which the heat-source-side refrigerant flows is represented by solid-line arrows, and the direction in which the heat medium flows is represented by broken-line arrows.
[0137]
The flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant in the refrigerant cycle circuit A is similar to the flow in [Mixed Operation Mode (Heating Main Operation Mode]) described with reference to Fig. 10.
[0138]
The flow of the heat medium in the heat medium cycle circuit B is the same as the flow of the heat medium described with reference to Fig. 6. That is, the heat medium circulates between the intermediate heat exchanger (in this case, condenser) 25b of the relay unit 2A and the indoor units 3a to 3d connected to the relay unit 2A. The heat medium exchanges heat with the indoor air in the use-side heat exchangers 35a to 35d, and hence heats the respective rooms in which the indoor units 3a to 3d are installed. Also, the heat medium circulates between the intermediate heat exchanger (in this case, evaporator) 25a of the relay unit 2A and the indoor units 3e to 3h connected to the branch unit 60. The heat medium exchanges heat with the indoor air in the use-side heat exchangers 35e to 35h, and hence cools the respective rooms in which the indoor units 3e to 3h are installed. The point that the heat medium flow control devices 34a to 34h control the heat medium to flow at respective flow rates required for handling the air conditioning loads requested in the respective rooms is similar to the point described above.
[0139]
The flow of the heat medium is merely an example. The indoor units 3a to 3d connected to the relay unit 2A may be selectively connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b serving as a condenser in the relay unit 2A or the intermediate heat exchanger 25 serving as an evaporator in the relay unit 2A to which each of the indoor units 3a to 3d is connected, in accordance with whether the operation is in the heating operation mode or the cooling operation mode. Similarly, the indoor units 3e to 3h connected to the branch unit 60 may be selectively connected to the intermediate heat exchanger 25b serving as a condenser in the relay unit 2A and the intermediate heat exchanger 25 serving as an evaporator in the relay unit 2A via the connection pipes 70, in accordance with whether the operation is in the heating operation mode or the cooling operation mode.
[0140] [Mixed Operation Mode (Cooling Main Operation Mode)]
The flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant and the flow of the heat medium in the cooling main operation mode are similar to those in the heating main operation mode.
[0141]
As described above, according to Embodiment, an outdoor unit 1 may be additionally installed by connecting the branch unit 60 to the connection port 2a for connecting a branch unit provided at the relay unit 2. The branch unit 60 has a configuration including merely a switching device, and not including a heat exchanger and other units. Accordingly, when the indoor unit 3 is additionally installed, a minimum required system configuration can be attained. Consequently, the system can be more easily used and constructed, and be economic.
[0142]
Also, in the single operation mode, such as the heating only operation mode or the cooling only operation mode, the connection target of each indoor unit 3 can be properly selected from the intermediate heat exchanger 25a and the intermediate heat exchanger 25b to distribute the full air-conditioning capacity of all the indoor units 3 in operation into halves as described above. Accordingly, a problem in which the transporting power requested for the two pumps 31 a and 31 b is unevenly distributed and becomes insufficient can be restricted.
[0143]
On the other hand, in the mixed operation mode, the pumps 31a and 31b are used respectively dedicatedly for cooling and heating. Hence, the connection targets of the respective indoor units 3 cannot be distributed in accordance with the air-conditioning capacities. However, as long as the branch unit 60 is connected to the plurality of relay units 2, the pumps 31 a and 31 b of the plurality of relay units 2 can be used as the transporting power. Accordingly, by using the pumps 31a and 31 b of the respective relay units 2, efficient air-conditioning can be provided.
[0144]
In the branch unit 60 connected to the two relay units 2 as shown in Fig. 5, on-off valves may be added to the connection pipes 70 connected to the respective relay units 2 and an opening and closing operation may be executed. Accordingly, the inflow and discharge of the heat medium between the relay units 2 can be controlled. For example, in the operation mode described above, if the heat medium not required for an indoor unit 3 connected to the branch unit 60 may be possibly transported to the indoor unit 3, the on-off valves provided in the connection pipes 70 may be closed and the heat medium may be inhibited from flowing into the connection pipes 70.
[0145]
Also, the air-conditioning apparatus 100 may further include a temperature sensor and a controller for executing operation control on the first heat medium flow switching devices 32, the second heat medium flow switching devices 33, and the heat medium flow control devices 34 in the branch unit 60, and the on-off valves added to the connection pipes 70.
[0146]
While the above description concerns an exemplary case where the second refrigerant flow switching devices 28 are each a four-way valve, the second refrigerant flow switching devices 28 are not limited thereto and may each be a combination of a plurality of two-way-switchable valves or three-way-switchable valves to allow the refrigerant to flow in the same manner as described above, similarly to a case using a four-way valve.
[0147]
Also, for the intermediate heat exchangers 25, a plurality of intermediate heat exchangers 25 each having a heat exchange function may be of course provided. Also, for the first expansion devices 26, a plurality of expansion devices 26 each having an expansion function may be of course provided.
[0148]
While the above description concerns an exemplary case where the heat medium flow control devices 34 are included in the relay unit 2, the present invention is not limited to such a case. That is, the heat medium flow control devices 34 may be arranged in the indoor unit 3, or may neither be arranged in the relay unit 2 nor the indoor unit 3 and may be arranged outside the housings of these units.
[0149]
While the above description concerns an exemplary case where the air-conditioning apparatus 100 includes the accumulator 19, the air-conditioning apparatus 100 does not necessarily include the accumulator 19. Moreover, while the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12 and the use-side heat exchangers 35 in general tend to be provided with air-sending devices so that condensation or evaporation is promoted by sending air, the present invention is not limited to such a case. For example, the use-side heat exchangers 35 may each be a panel heater or the like utilizing radiation. The heat-source-side heat exchanger 12 may be a water-cooled device that transfers heat by using water or antifreeze. That is, the heat-source-side heat exchanger 12 and the use-side heat exchangers 35 may be of any type, as long as they are capable of transferring or receiving heat.
[0150]
While the above description concerns an exemplary case where the use-side heat exchangers 35 and the heat medium flow control devices 34 include four use-side heat exchangers 35 and four heat medium flow control devices 34 (four pairs in total), the present invention is not limited to such a case, as long as at least one pair of a use-side heat exchanger 35 and a heat medium flow control device 34 are provided. This is similarly applied to the use-side heat exchangers 35 and the heat medium flow control devices 34 connected to the branch unit 60.
[0151]
While the above description concerns an exemplary case where two intermediate heat exchangers 25 are provided, the present invention is not limited to such a case. Any number of intermediate heat exchangers 25 may be provided, as long as they are capable of cooling and/or heating the heat medium. Moreover, the number of pumps 31 a and the number of pumps 31 b are each not limited to one. A plurality of small-capacity pumps may be connected in parallel.
[0152]
Moreover, while the above description concerns an exemplary configuration where the branch unit 60 is connected to the two relay units 2, the number of relay units 2 is not limited to two, and may be more than two. In this case, the branch unit 60 includes connection portions 61 by the same number as the number of relay units 2 to be connected. The heat medium from the respective relay units 2 may be properly switched and circulate toward the use-side heat exchangers 35 connected to the branch unit 60.
Reference Signs List [0153] 1 outdoor unit, 1A outdoor unit, IB outdoor unit, 2 relay unit, 2A relay unit, 2B relay unit, 2a connection port, 3 (3a to 3h) indoor unit, 4 refrigerant pipe, 4a first connection pipe, 4b second connection pipe, 5 heat medium pipe, 6 outdoor space, 7 indoor space, 8 space, 9 building, 10 compressor, 11 first refrigerant flow switching device, 12 heat-source-side heat exchanger, 13a check valve, 13b check valve, 13c check valve, 13d check valve, 15 heat medium air discharging device, 19, accumulator, 20 bypass pipe, 25 (25a, 25b) intermediate heat exchanger, 26 (26a, 26b) first expansion device, 26c second expansion device, 27 opening and closing device, 28 (28a, 28b) second refrigerant flow switching device, 29 opening and closing device, 31 (31a, 31b) pump, 32 (32a to 32h) first heat medium flow switching device, 33 (33a to 33h) second heat medium flow switching device, 34 (34a to 34h) heat medium flow control device, 35 (35a to 35h) use-side heat exchanger, 36 heat medium passage opening and closing device, 37 heat medium passage opening and closing device, 40 (40a, 40b) temperature sensor, 50 controller, 60 branch unit, 61 connection portion, 62 branch portion, 63 connection portion, 70 connection pipe, 71a to 71d on-off valve, 72a to 72d on-off valve, 100 air-conditioning apparatus, A refrigerant cycle circuit, B heat medium cycle circuit.

Claims (1)

  1. CLAIMS [Claim 1] An air-conditioning apparatus comprising: a refrigerant cycle circuit in which a compressor, a heat-source-side heat exchanger, a first expansion device, and refrigerant-side passages of a plurality of intermediate heat exchangers are connected by refrigerant pipes, the refrigerant cycle circuit being configured to circulate heat-source-side refrigerant therethrough; a heat medium cycle circuit in which heat-medium-side passages of the plurality of intermediate heat exchangers, a plurality of heat medium transporting devices, and a plurality of use-side heat exchangers are connected by heat medium pipes, the heat medium cycle circuit being configured to circulate a heat medium therethrough; a plurality of first heat medium flow switching units each provided for the plurality of corresponding use-side heat exchangers in the heat medium cycle circuit, the plurality of first heat medium flow switching units each being configured to switch a passage of the heat medium to connect the plurality of use-side heat exchangers to one of the plurality of intermediate heat exchangers; a relay unit including the plurality of intermediate heat exchangers, the relay unit being connected to the plurality of use-side heat exchangers via the plurality of the first heat medium flow switching units; and a branch unit for additionally installing a use-side heat exchanger, wherein the branch unit includes a connection portion configured to be connected to a connection port for connecting a branch unit of the relay unit via a connection pipe, the heat medium in the heat medium cycle circuit flowing through the connection portion, a branch portion connected to one or a plurality of additionally installed use-side heat exchangers, the branch portion branching the heat medium flowing into the branch unit through the connection portion and causing the heat medium to circulate through the one or plurality of additionally installed use-side heat exchangers, and a second heat medium flow switching unit provided for each of the one or plurality of additionally installed heat exchangers, the second heat medium flow switching unit connecting each of the one or plurality of additionally installed use-side heat exchangers to one of the plurality of intermediate heat exchangers. [Claim 2] The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first heat medium flow switching units and the second heat medium flow switching unit each includes one or a plurality of heat medium flow switching valves and a flow control valve. [Claim 3] The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first heat medium flow switching units and the second heat medium flow switching unit is formed of an integrated switching unit, a function of a plurality of heat medium flow switching valves and a function of a flow control valve being integrated in the integrated switching unit. [Claim 4] The air-conditioning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the relay unit includes a plurality of relay units including the relay unit, and the branch unit includes a connection portion connected to each of the plurality of relay units. [Claim 5] The air-conditioning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the refrigerant cycle circuit further includes a refrigerant flow switching device configured to switch a flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant discharged from the compressor to perform a cooling operation and a heating operation.
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