An explosion-proof method for refrigerant leakage in an outdoor air conditioning unit and the air conditioner

Abstract

This invention provides a method for preventing refrigerant leakage and explosion in an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, and the air conditioner itself. The method includes: S1, detecting the refrigerant concentration C in the compressor chamber; S2, determining whether C ≤ A*LTL%; if yes, the air conditioner unit is allowed to start or maintain normal operation; if no, the air conditioner is shut down and prohibited from starting, proceeding to S3; S3, opening the venting device and detecting C; S4, determining whether C ≤ B*LTL%; if yes, proceeding to S5; if no, continuing to detect C and repeating S4; S5, closing the venting device and determining whether C rises within a rated time t; if yes, proceeding to S6; if no, lifting the restriction on prohibiting the air conditioner from starting; S6, reporting a refrigerant leakage fault and prohibiting the air conditioner from operating. This invention can promptly identify obvious refrigerant leakage and vent the leaking refrigerant, while also improving the accuracy of determining the current refrigerant leakage situation, avoiding prolonged air conditioner shutdown due to misdetection and misjudgment, thus affecting normal user operation.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and in particular to a method for preventing refrigerant leakage and explosion in an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, as well as the air conditioner itself. Background Technology

[0002] Air conditioners are indispensable electrical appliances in people's daily lives, and they come in a variety of structural forms. With the continuous improvement of industrial design and the application of new technologies, materials, and shapes in air conditioners, all kinds of air conditioners have been developed. Taking heat pump air conditioners that can produce hot water as an example, in existing technology, the outdoor unit of a heat pump air conditioner often has a water module installed at the same time as the compressor assembly. This water module serves two purposes: firstly, it uses refrigerant to provide cooling for the user, and secondly, it uses the high-temperature refrigerant generated after cooling to produce hot water.

[0003] However, during the long-term service of an air conditioner, refrigerant leakage is inevitable at the compressor assembly. The refrigerant often flows directly to the water module adjacent to the compressor assembly. As the refrigerant continues to leak, some will spread to the outdoor unit's electrical control box. Since the water module often contains an electric heater, and the electrical control box houses a large number of electrical components, if the leaked refrigerant accumulates inside the outdoor unit of a heat pump air conditioner, a spark generated by the corresponding electrical components during operation could cause a refrigerant explosion, leading to a fire and posing a significant safety hazard. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the present invention aims to propose an explosion-proof method for refrigerant leakage in an outdoor air conditioning unit and an air conditioner, so as to solve the problem of how to effectively deal with refrigerant leakage in the outdoor unit and reduce the risk of explosion and fire in the prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of the present invention is implemented as follows:

[0006] An explosion-proof method for refrigerant leakage in an outdoor unit of an air conditioner includes: S1, real-time detection of the refrigerant concentration C in the compressor chamber; S2, determining whether C ≤ A*LTL%; if yes, allowing the air conditioning unit to start or maintaining normal operation; if no, stopping the air conditioning unit and prohibiting it from starting, proceeding to step S3; S3, opening the air conditioner's exhaust device and continuously detecting the refrigerant concentration C in the compressor chamber; S4, determining whether C ≤ B*LTL%; if yes, proceeding to step S5; if no, continuing the detection... Measure the refrigerant concentration C in the compressor chamber and repeat step S4; S5, shut off the external venting device and determine whether the refrigerant concentration C in the compressor chamber increases within the rated time t; if yes, proceed to step S6; if no, lift the restriction prohibiting the air conditioning unit from starting; S6, report a refrigerant leak fault and prohibit the air conditioning unit from operating; where LTL% is the minimum explosive concentration of refrigerant, A is the danger factor, B is the safety factor, and B < A; preferably, A is 0.2 to 0.7, B is 0.1 to 0.3, and t is 3 min to 10 min. This allows for the timely identification of significant refrigerant leaks. While promptly venting the leaked refrigerant, users can be notified immediately for maintenance, preventing safety accidents such as refrigerant explosions and combustion. Furthermore, in practice, single refrigerant concentration tests are prone to false alarms and misjudgments, such as fluctuations or errors in the refrigerant sensor's readings, or interference from foreign objects. Further verification improves the accuracy of refrigerant leak assessments and prevents prolonged air conditioner shutdowns or continuous operation of the venting device due to false alarms, thus avoiding disruption to normal user experience. Additionally, there is the special case of "extremely low refrigerant leakage." Since the refrigerant leakage may be extremely small (accumulating in the compressor chamber), venting the accumulated refrigerant inside the outdoor unit will not pose a safety hazard in the short term. This allows the restriction on operating the air conditioning unit to be lifted, ensuring a high level of user comfort with minimal safety risks.

[0007] Furthermore, step S6 includes: reporting a refrigerant leak fault, prohibiting the air conditioning unit from operating, and continuously monitoring the refrigerant concentration C in the compressor chamber; opening the venting device when C > A*LTL%; and closing the venting device when C ≤ B*LTL%. Thus, during steps S5 to S6, since the venting device is already closed, to prevent the leaking refrigerant from accumulating inside the outdoor unit, the refrigerant concentration is continuously monitored, and the venting device is opened and closed promptly based on the refrigerant concentration. This avoids the refrigerant leak during the air conditioning fault reporting process from triggering a renewed safety risk, and also allows the venting device to be closed when there is no risk of refrigerant explosion, preventing unnecessary operation of the venting device.

[0008] Furthermore, in step S2, if the air conditioning unit is in a power-on shutdown or standby state, and C≤A*LTL%, the air conditioning unit is allowed to start operating; otherwise, the air conditioning unit is prohibited from starting, and step S3 is executed. If the air conditioning unit is in operation, and C≤A*LTL%, the normal operation of the air conditioning unit is maintained; otherwise, the air conditioning unit is shut down, and starting is prohibited, and step S3 is executed. This allows the refrigerant leakage explosion-proof method of this application to be implemented in various states such as power-on shutdown, standby, and operation of the air conditioner, ensuring comprehensive and all-time explosion-proof protection for the air conditioner, which is beneficial to improving the safety of the air conditioner. Simultaneously, when the air conditioner detects a potential safety risk, it can promptly shut down and prohibit the air conditioning unit from starting, thus preventing potential safety hazards in a timely manner and reminding users to repair any possible malfunctions.

[0009] An air conditioner, specifically a heat pump type, employs a refrigerant leakage prevention method for its outdoor unit. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit comprising a fan, a compressor assembly, a water module assembly, and an exhaust component. A windproof vertical plate is installed between the fan and the compressor assembly. The water module assembly is connected to a water module mounting plate, with at least a portion of the mounting plate positioned between the compressor assembly and the water module assembly. A compressor chamber is formed between the windproof vertical plate and the water module mounting plate. The air inlet side of the exhaust component communicates with the compressor chamber, and the air outlet side of the exhaust component is open to the external environment. A refrigerant sensor is installed on the water module mounting plate. By installing the water module mounting plate, the air module assembly provides assembly and support for the water module assembly. Furthermore, the water module mounting plate can, to a certain extent, separate the compressor assembly and the water module assembly. In the event of refrigerant leakage from the compressor assembly, it can effectively block the refrigerant from flowing directly to the water module assembly, reducing potential safety hazards at the water module assembly. At the same time, an external exhaust component is further installed. The refrigerant concentration is detected by a refrigerant sensor. When the refrigerant concentration reaches a certain threshold, the external exhaust component is opened to extract the refrigerant leaking from the compressor assembly and discharge it into the external environment. This is to avoid safety risks to components such as the water module assembly and even the electrical control box due to excessive refrigerant concentration inside the outdoor unit.

[0010] Furthermore, the outdoor unit includes a chassis, and the lower ends of the windbreak panel and the water module assembly plate are both connected to the chassis. Vertically, the height of the water module assembly plate is less than the height of the windbreak panel. Therefore, since refrigerant density is often greater than air density, leaked refrigerant tends to concentrate in the lower middle part of the second chamber. The water module assembly plate isolates the lower middle parts of the second and third chambers, preventing refrigerant from flowing into the third chamber and causing safety hazards. Simultaneously, the upper part of the third chamber can connect with the upper part of the second chamber, forming a larger space that facilitates the arrangement of pipes and other air conditioning components.

[0011] Furthermore, the water module assembly plate includes a first plate and a second plate, the first plate and the second plate are connected, and at least the first plate is disposed between the compressor assembly and the water module assembly. A refrigerant sensor is disposed on the upper part of the first plate, so that the refrigerant sensor can be located between the compressor assembly and the water module assembly to detect the upper middle part of the third chamber and the upper middle part of the second chamber. When refrigerant overflows from the second chamber into the third chamber, the refrigerant sensor can detect it in time and enable the air conditioner to open the external exhaust component in time to eliminate potential safety hazards.

[0012] Furthermore, the exhaust component is a fan structure, and the outdoor unit includes a front panel with an installation opening that directly communicates with at least the compressor chamber. The exhaust component is positioned within this installation opening and connected to the front panel. Since the area in front of the outdoor unit is often relatively open, the exhaust component allows for direct refrigerant discharge towards the front of the outdoor unit, facilitating timely refrigerant diffusion and preventing refrigerant stagnation at the outdoor unit.

[0013] Furthermore, the exhaust component is a damper structure, which is installed on the windproof vertical plate. During the refrigerant exhaust process, by opening the damper structure, the second chamber is connected to the first chamber through the valve port of the damper structure. As the fan in the first chamber rotates, the leaked refrigerant can be drawn into the first chamber and discharged into the external environment.

[0014] Furthermore, the lower edge of the valve port of the external vent component is lower than the upper end of the water module assembly plate, while the upper edge of the valve port is higher than the upper end of the water module assembly plate. This allows the external vent component to, upon opening, both vent leaked refrigerant from the second chamber and vent gas from the upper part of the third chamber, which connects to the upper part of the second chamber. It can even vent gas from the third chamber to a certain extent, reducing the refrigerant concentration at the water module assembly and other air conditioning components (such as the electrical control box on the top of the outdoor unit), thus preventing safety accidents.

[0015] Compared with existing technologies, the refrigerant leakage prevention and explosion-proof method for an outdoor air conditioner unit and the air conditioner described in this invention have the following advantages:

[0016] The present invention discloses a method for preventing refrigerant leakage and an air conditioner for outdoor unit explosion. Compared with existing technologies, this invention not only forces the unit to shut down and release refrigerant into the external environment when the refrigerant concentration in the compressor chamber is detected to be too high, but also continuously monitors the refrigerant concentration during the refrigerant discharge process. When the refrigerant concentration reaches a relatively safe level, the discharge is stopped. The change in refrigerant concentration over a rated time period t verifies whether a significant refrigerant leak is currently occurring. This verification process allows for timely identification of significant refrigerant leaks, enabling prompt discharge of leaked refrigerant and timely notification of users for maintenance, preventing safety accidents such as refrigerant explosions and combustion. Furthermore, in practice, single refrigerant concentration detections are prone to false detections and misjudgments, such as fluctuations or errors in refrigerant sensor readings, or interference from foreign objects. Further verification improves the accuracy of refrigerant leak assessment and avoids situations where false detections or misjudgments lead to prolonged air conditioner shutdowns or continuous operation of the discharge device, affecting normal user operation.

[0017] In addition, there is a special case of "extremely low refrigerant leakage". Since the refrigerant may leak in extremely small amounts (and accumulate in the compressor chamber), after the refrigerant accumulated inside the outdoor unit is discharged, it will not cause any safety hazards in a short period of time. The restriction prohibiting the air conditioning unit from being turned on can also be lifted, so that the user's air conditioning experience can be fully guaranteed under the condition of extremely low safety risk.

[0018] For the outdoor unit of the air conditioner, in addition to the simultaneous installation of the compressor assembly and the water module assembly, this application provides a water module assembly plate. On the one hand, the water module assembly plate provides assembly and support for the water module assembly. On the other hand, the water module assembly plate can separate the compressor assembly and the water module assembly to a certain extent. When the compressor assembly leaks refrigerant, it can block the refrigerant to a certain extent, preventing the refrigerant from flowing directly to the water module assembly and reducing the safety hazards at the water module assembly. Attached Figure Description

[0019] The accompanying drawings, which form part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments of the invention and their descriptions are used to explain the invention and do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. In the drawings:

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic flowchart of a refrigerant leakage prevention and explosion-proof method for an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a front view of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention (front panel omitted);

[0022] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention (rear view, omitting the compressor assembly, electrical control box, and fan);

[0023] Figure 4 This is an isometric perspective view (front view, omitting the compressor assembly and electrical control box) of another structural form of an outdoor air conditioner unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0025] 1. Fan; 2. Compressor assembly; 3. Water module assembly; 4. Air-insulating vertical panel; 5. Water module assembly plate; 51. First plate; 52. Second plate; 6. Mounting plate; 61. Refrigerant sensor; 7. First chamber; 8. Second chamber; 9. Third chamber; 10. Electrical control box; 11. Chassis; 12. Side panel; 13. Front panel; 14. External exhaust component. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The inventive concepts of this disclosure will be described below using terminology commonly used by those skilled in the art to communicate the essence of their work to others skilled in the art. However, these inventive concepts may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described herein.

[0027] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in these embodiments can be combined with each other. The directional terms used in this application are based on the orientation of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner in its conventional assembly and placement state. Please refer to the appendix for further details. Figure 2 The coordinates in the diagram.

[0028] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0029] In existing technologies, the water module and compressor assembly are often located close to each other inside the outdoor unit of a heat pump air conditioner. If refrigerant leaks at the compressor assembly, the refrigerant will flow directly to the water module. Since the water module often has an electric heater, and the outdoor unit often has an electrical control box and electrical components, if the leaked refrigerant accumulates inside the outdoor unit of the heat pump air conditioner, a spark generated by the corresponding electrical components during operation may cause the refrigerant to explode, leading to a fire and threatening personal safety, posing a significant safety hazard.

[0030] To address the problem of effectively handling refrigerant leakage in outdoor air conditioning units and reducing the risk of explosion and fire in existing technologies, this embodiment proposes an explosion-proof method for refrigerant leakage in air conditioning outdoor units, as shown in the attached figure. Figure 1As shown, the method includes:

[0031] S1. Real-time monitoring of refrigerant concentration C in the compressor chamber;

[0032] In this design, the compressor chamber inside the outdoor unit can be simply considered as an air-mounted enclosure where the compressor assembly 2 is installed. Simultaneously, a refrigerant sensor 61 is installed inside the outdoor unit. This sensor 61 is at least capable of detecting the refrigerant concentration in the compressor chamber. Since the refrigerant sensor 61 can be a sensor from the prior art or purchased directly from the market, this application will not elaborate further. At this time, the air conditioning unit is in a power-on-off state, a standby state, or an operating state; for ease of explanation, all of these are considered the initial state of the air conditioner.

[0033] S2. Determine if C≤A*LTL%. If yes, allow the air conditioning unit to start or maintain its normal operation. If no, put the air conditioning unit in a stopped state and prohibit it from starting. Proceed to step S3.

[0034] Wherein, LTL% represents the minimum explosive concentration of the refrigerant. Given that the minimum explosive concentration varies for different types of refrigerants and can be found in existing technologies or from refrigerant manufacturers, this application does not impose a specific limit on the value of LTL%. A is the hazard factor (dimensionless). When C > A * LTL%, the air conditioner carries a certain risk of refrigerant explosion. A is a preset parameter for the air conditioner and requires safety verification by the air conditioner manufacturer or refrigerant manufacturer. Due to differences in the safety level of the air conditioner and the flammability and explosiveness of different refrigerants, the actual value of A often varies. This application suggests A to be 0.2–0.7 for reference by those skilled in the art, but it is not limited to this range.

[0035] The method of this application can be executed when the air conditioning unit is in a powered-on shutdown state or a standby state, or it can be executed during the operation of the air conditioning unit.

[0036] If the air conditioning unit is in a power-on shutdown state or a standby state, in step S2, if C≤A*LTL%, the air conditioning unit is allowed to start running; otherwise, the air conditioning unit is prohibited from starting, and step S3 is executed.

[0037] If the air conditioning unit is in operation, in step S2, if C≤A*LTL%, the normal operation of the air conditioning unit is maintained; otherwise, the air conditioning unit is shut down and the air conditioning unit is prohibited from being turned on, and step S3 is executed.

[0038] This allows the refrigerant leakage explosion-proof method of this application to be implemented in various states of the air conditioner, such as power-on, power-off, standby, and operation, ensuring that the air conditioner receives comprehensive and all-time explosion-proof protection, which is beneficial to improving the safety of the air conditioner. At the same time, when the air conditioner detects a potential safety risk, it can stop the unit in time and prevent the air conditioning unit from starting. On the one hand, it can eliminate potential safety hazards in time, and on the other hand, it can remind users to repair any possible faults in the air conditioner.

[0039] S3. Open the air conditioner's external exhaust device to release the refrigerant inside the outdoor unit into the external environment, and continuously monitor the refrigerant concentration C in the compressor chamber;

[0040] S4. Determine if C ≤ B*LTL%. If yes, proceed to step S5. If no, continue to check the refrigerant concentration C in the compressor chamber and repeat step S4.

[0041] Where B < A. Specifically, B is a safety factor (dimensionless). When C ≤ B * LTL%, the air conditioner is in a relatively safe condition and there is no risk of refrigerant explosion. B is a preset parameter of the air conditioner and needs to be verified for safety by the air conditioner manufacturer or refrigerant manufacturer. Due to the different safety levels of air conditioners and the flammability and explosiveness of different refrigerants, the actual value of B often varies. In this application, B is suggested to be 0.1 to 0.3 for reference by those skilled in the art, but it is not limited to this value range.

[0042] S5. Close the external exhaust device and determine whether the refrigerant concentration C in the compressor chamber increases within the rated time t. If yes, proceed to step S6. If no, remove the restriction prohibiting the air conditioning unit from starting and restore the air conditioning unit to its initial state.

[0043] The process of restoring the air conditioning unit to its initial state refers to restoring it to the state described in step S1, such as the power-on shutdown state, standby state, or the operating state of the air conditioning unit. The rated duration t is a preset parameter of the air conditioner, which can be preset by the air conditioner manufacturer before the air conditioner leaves the factory. This application does not impose any limitations on it, but only uses a few specific data as examples, such as t being 3 min to 10 min.

[0044] S6. Report of refrigerant leak fault; air conditioning unit must not be operated.

[0045] Compared with existing technologies, this application not only forces the compressor to shut down and releases the refrigerant into the external environment when the refrigerant concentration in the compressor chamber is detected to be too high, but also continuously monitors the refrigerant concentration during the refrigerant discharge process. When the refrigerant concentration reaches a relatively safe level, the discharge is stopped. The change in refrigerant concentration over a rated time period t is used to verify whether a significant refrigerant leak is currently occurring. This verification process allows for timely identification of significant refrigerant leaks, enabling prompt discharge of the leaking refrigerant and timely notification of the user for maintenance, preventing safety accidents such as refrigerant explosions and combustion. Furthermore, in practice, single refrigerant concentration detections are prone to false detections and misjudgments, such as fluctuations or errors in the refrigerant sensor 61, or interference from foreign objects. Further verification improves the accuracy of determining the current refrigerant leak situation and avoids situations where false detections and misjudgments lead to prolonged air conditioner shutdowns or continuous operation of the discharge device, affecting normal user operation.

[0046] In addition, there is a special case of "extremely low refrigerant leakage". Since the refrigerant may leak in extremely small amounts (and accumulate in the compressor chamber), after the refrigerant accumulated inside the outdoor unit is discharged, it will not cause any safety hazards in a short period of time. The restriction prohibiting the air conditioning unit from being turned on can also be lifted, so that the user's air conditioning experience can be fully guaranteed under the condition of extremely low safety risk.

[0047] Step S6 includes: reporting a refrigerant leak fault, prohibiting the air conditioning unit from operating, and continuously monitoring the refrigerant concentration C in the compressor chamber; when C > A*LTL%, opening the venting device; and when C ≤ B*LTL%, closing the venting device. Thus, during steps S5 to S6, since the venting device is already closed, to prevent the leaking refrigerant from accumulating inside the outdoor unit, the refrigerant concentration is continuously monitored, and the venting device is opened and closed promptly based on the refrigerant concentration. This prevents the continuously leaking refrigerant from triggering a safety risk during the air conditioning fault reporting process, and also allows the venting device to be closed when there is no risk of refrigerant explosion, avoiding unnecessary operation of the venting device.

[0048] In this invention, the refrigerant leakage explosion-proof method for the outdoor unit of any air conditioner described in this embodiment can be used. For conventional air conditioners, existing technologies can be referenced, and will not be described in detail in this application.

[0049] This application, based on the aforementioned refrigerant leakage explosion-proof method, focuses on introducing the problems existing in heat pump air conditioners and their corresponding air conditioner structures. Firstly, in the outdoor unit of a conventional heat pump air conditioner, the water module and compressor assembly are often located close together. If a refrigerant leak occurs at the compressor assembly, the refrigerant will flow directly to the water module. Since the water module often contains an electric heater, as the refrigerant concentration at the compressor assembly and water module increases, there is often a safety hazard such as explosion or combustion. Furthermore, as the refrigerant continues to leak, some of it may spread to the outdoor unit's electrical control box. Because the electrical control box contains a large number of electrical components, this further increases the risk of combustion and explosion inside the outdoor unit, in addition to the safety hazard at the water module.

[0050] To address the safety hazard at the water module caused by refrigerant leakage in outdoor units of heat pump air conditioners, which arises as refrigerant concentration increases, this application further improves the structure of the outdoor unit of the heat pump air conditioner based on the aforementioned refrigerant leakage explosion-proof method.

[0051] As attached Figure 2-4 As shown, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner includes a fan 1, a compressor assembly 2, a water module assembly 3, and an exhaust component 14. An air-insulating plate 4 is provided between the fan 1 and the compressor assembly 2. The water module assembly 3 is connected to a water module assembly plate 5. At least a portion of the plate structure of the water module assembly plate 5 is disposed between the compressor assembly 2 and the water module assembly 3. A compressor chamber is formed between the air-insulating plate 4 and the water module assembly plate 5. The air inlet side of the exhaust component 14 is connected to the compressor chamber, and the air outlet side of the exhaust component 14 is connected to the external environment. A refrigerant sensor 61 is provided on the water module assembly plate 5, which is used to detect at least the refrigerant concentration in the compressor chamber.

[0052] For the outdoor unit of the air conditioner, in addition to the simultaneous installation of compressor assembly 2 and water module assembly 3, this application provides water module assembly plate 5. On the one hand, it provides assembly and support for water module assembly 3. On the other hand, water module assembly plate 5 can separate compressor assembly 2 and water module assembly 3 to a certain extent. When refrigerant leakage occurs in compressor assembly 2, it can block the refrigerant to a certain extent, preventing the refrigerant from flowing directly to water module assembly 3 and reducing the safety hazards at water module assembly 3.

[0053] Meanwhile, this application further includes an external discharge component 14, which detects the refrigerant concentration using a refrigerant sensor 61. When the refrigerant concentration reaches a certain threshold, the external discharge component 14 is opened to extract and discharge the refrigerant leaking from the compressor assembly 2 into the external environment, so as to avoid safety risks to components such as the water module assembly 3 and even the electrical control box 10 due to excessively high refrigerant concentration inside the outdoor unit.

[0054] Referring to the accompanying drawings, for ease of description, since the outdoor unit is equipped with a windproof upright plate 4 and a water module assembly plate 5, this application divides the inner cavity of the outdoor unit into a first chamber 7, a second chamber 8, and a third chamber 9 in sequence. The fan 1 is located in the first chamber 7, the compressor assembly 2 is located in the second chamber 8 (the second chamber 8 can be regarded as the compressor chamber), and the water module assembly 3 is located in the third chamber 9.

[0055] The outdoor unit includes a chassis 11. The lower ends of the windbreak panel 4 and the water module assembly plate 5 are both connected to the chassis 11. Vertically, the height of the water module assembly plate 5 is less than the height of the windbreak panel 4. Since refrigerant density is often greater than air density, leaked refrigerant tends to concentrate in the lower middle part of the second chamber 8. The water module assembly plate 5 isolates the lower middle parts of the second chamber 8 and the lower middle parts of the third chamber 9, preventing refrigerant from flowing into the third chamber 9 and causing safety hazards. Simultaneously, the upper part of the third chamber 9 can communicate with the upper part of the second chamber 8, forming a larger space that facilitates the arrangement of pipes and other air conditioning components.

[0056] A refrigerant sensor 61 is installed on the upper part of the water module assembly plate 5. Due to the separation between the air baffle plate 4 and the water module assembly plate 5, leaked refrigerant tends to concentrate in the lower middle part of the second chamber 8. By installing the refrigerant sensor 61 on the upper part of the water module assembly plate 5, when the refrigerant in the second chamber 8 reaches a certain amount and overflows from the second chamber 8 into the third chamber 9, the refrigerant sensor 61 can detect in time that the refrigerant may flow to the water module assembly 3, so that the air conditioner can open the external exhaust component 14 in time. At the same time, it can also avoid the external exhaust component 14 from opening too frequently due to improper placement of the refrigerant sensor 61.

[0057] Regarding the assembly of the refrigerant sensor 61, the water module assembly plate 5 includes a first plate 51 and a second plate 52. The first plate 51 and the second plate 52 are connected. At least the first plate 51 is disposed between the compressor assembly 2 and the water module assembly 3. The refrigerant sensor 61 is disposed on the upper part of the first plate 51, so that the refrigerant sensor 61 can be located between the compressor assembly 2 and the water module assembly 3 to detect the upper middle part of the third chamber 9 and the upper middle part of the second chamber 8. When refrigerant overflows from the second chamber 8 into the third chamber 9, the refrigerant sensor 61 can detect it in time and enable the air conditioner to open the external exhaust component 14 in time to eliminate potential safety hazards.

[0058] Meanwhile, the arrangement of the first plate 51 and the second plate 52 in this application can be adjusted according to the actual space occupied by the water module, and is not limited to the form shown in the attached drawings of this application. For example, the first plate 51 can be parallel to the windproof upright plate 4, or it can intersect with the plane where the windproof upright plate 4 is located; the included angle between the second plate 52 and the first plate 51 can be a right angle or other angles. The second plate 52 can be close to the rear side panel of the outdoor unit (not shown), or it can be close to the front panel 13 of the outdoor unit. However, this application suggests that the second plate 52 be connected to the rear end of the first plate 51, so that the second plate 52 is relatively closer to the rear side panel of the outdoor unit. At this time, the first plate 51, the second plate 52, the side panel 12, and the front panel 13 can enclose the third chamber 9. At the same time, when repairing the outdoor unit, the front panel 13 can be removed and the repair operation can be carried out directly from the front of the outdoor unit.

[0059] Considering the assembly of related components of compressor assembly 2, an mounting plate 6 is provided on the upper part of the first plate 51. The refrigerant sensor 61 is connected to the mounting plate 6. At the same time, related components of compressor assembly 2 (such as liquid storage tank) are connected to the mounting plate 6. Thus, by setting the mounting plate 6, while assembling the refrigerant sensor 61, it is convenient to install and fix individual components of compressor assembly 2. On the one hand, the mounting plate 6 can provide a certain integration assembly function. On the other hand, it avoids setting too many assembly structures on the water module assembly plate 5, so as to ensure the mechanical strength of the water module assembly plate 5.

[0060] The outdoor unit includes an electrical control box 10. An assembly port is provided at the top of the windproof panel 4, and the electrical control box 10 is housed in this port and connected to the windproof panel 4. This design utilizes the windproof panel 4 as a support assembly point for the electrical control box 10, improving its secure assembly within the outdoor unit. Furthermore, it positions the electrical control box 10 at the top of the outdoor unit, keeping it as far away as possible from leaking refrigerant that accumulates in the lower part of the second chamber 8. Simultaneously, through the refrigerant sensor 61 and the external discharge component 14, refrigerant overflowing through the water module assembly plate 5 can be promptly discharged from the outdoor unit, preventing leaked refrigerant from easily flowing to or accumulating in the electrical control box 10. This effectively eliminates the safety hazard of refrigerant leakage causing the electrical control box 10 to explode or burn.

[0061] The external discharge component 14 in this application can be considered as an external discharge device on its own, or it can be combined with other components to form an external discharge device. Specifically, this application proposes two configurations of the external discharge component 14 for reference.

[0062] Form 1

[0063] As attached Figure 3 As shown, the external exhaust component 14 is a fan structure, and the refrigerant can be directly discharged to the external environment through the fan.

[0064] Regarding the assembly of the external exhaust component 14, the outdoor unit includes a front panel 13 with an installation opening that directly communicates with at least the compressor chamber. The external exhaust component 14 is positioned within this installation opening and connected to the front panel 13. Since the area in front of the outdoor unit is often relatively open, when the external exhaust component 14 discharges refrigerant, it allows the refrigerant to directly exit towards the front of the outdoor unit, facilitating timely refrigerant diffusion and preventing refrigerant stagnation at the outdoor unit. In this case, the external exhaust component 14 can be considered a standalone external exhaust device.

[0065] It should be noted that, for different outdoor unit designs, the front panel 13 can be a single front panel of a conventional outdoor unit, or it can be composed of multiple panels. For example, the front panel 13 shown in the attached drawings of this application can be regarded as one of multiple panels, which can be called a small panel. It mainly serves as the front panel structure of the second chamber 8 and the third chamber 9. Correspondingly, another large panel (not shown) is also provided at the first chamber 7. The small panel and the large panel can together form the front panel structure of the entire outdoor unit.

[0066] In the vertical direction, the lower edge of the mounting opening is higher than the upper end of the water module assembly plate 5, so that the exhaust component 14 can not only communicate with the second chamber 8, but also with the upper part of the third chamber 9 and the communication space between the upper part of the second chamber 8, and even with the third chamber 9. This allows the exhaust component 14 to simultaneously exhaust the gas in the second chamber 8 and the third chamber 9, reducing the refrigerant concentration at the water module assembly 3 and other air conditioning components (such as the electrical control box 10 on the top of the outdoor unit), and preventing safety accidents. In addition, considering spatial interference, the upper edge of the mounting opening is lower than the bottom wall of the electrical control box 10 to avoid the electrical control box 10 obstructing the refrigerant exhaust process of the exhaust component 14, ensuring the normal operation of the exhaust component 14.

[0067] Form Two

[0068] As attached Figure 4 As shown, the external discharge component 14 is a damper structure. The external discharge component 14 is mounted on the windproof vertical plate 4. The external discharge component 14 works in conjunction with the fan 1 to form an external discharge device. During the refrigerant discharge process, by opening the damper structure, the second chamber 8 is connected to the first chamber 7 through the valve port of the damper structure. As the fan 1 rotates in the first chamber 7, the leaked refrigerant can be drawn into the first chamber 7 and discharged into the external environment.

[0069] Regarding the assembly of the external exhaust component 14, the windproof vertical plate 4 is provided with a connecting port (not shown). The external exhaust component 14 is connected to the connecting port. Correspondingly, the opening size of the connecting port is adapted to the external exhaust component 14 as much as possible to ensure the normal and reliable assembly of the external exhaust component 14. The external exhaust component 14 (i.e., the damper structure) can be a damper structure, with a motor driving the damper to open and close the external exhaust component 14. Alternatively, it can be in the form of a louver or roller blind, located at the connecting port to block or open it. In this case, the connecting port can be considered the valve port of the external exhaust component 14. Since the specific structure and opening / closing method of the damper can be referenced from existing technology, they will not be elaborated here.

[0070] The lower edge of the valve port of the external discharge component 14 is lower than the upper end of the water module assembly plate 5, and the upper edge of the valve port of the external discharge component 14 is higher than the upper end of the water module assembly plate 5. This allows the external discharge component 14 to, on the one hand, discharge leaked refrigerant from the second chamber 8, and on the other hand, discharge gas from the space connecting the upper part of the third chamber 9 and the upper part of the second chamber 8. It can even discharge gas from the third chamber 9 to a certain extent, reducing the refrigerant concentration at the water module assembly 3 and other air conditioning components (such as the electrical control box 10 on the top of the outdoor unit), thus preventing safety accidents.

[0071] In this invention, any heat pump air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, the indoor unit being connected to the outdoor unit, and employing the refrigerant leakage explosion-proof method for the outdoor unit described in this embodiment. Furthermore, based on the relevant structure and assembly relationship of the outdoor unit provided in this embodiment, the air conditioner also includes conventional outdoor unit components such as heat exchange coils, chassis 11, and related shell parts. Similarly, the air conditioner also includes related components of the indoor unit; since these are all prior art, they will not be described in detail here.

[0072] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An air conditioner characterized by comprising: The air conditioner is a heat pump type air conditioner, which comprises an outdoor unit, and adopts a refrigerant leakage explosion prevention method of an air conditioner outdoor unit, the method comprising: S1, real-time detection of the refrigerant concentration C in the compressor chamber; S2, determining whether C≤A*LTL%; if yes, allowing the air conditioning unit to start running or maintaining the normal running state of the air conditioning unit; if no, making the air conditioning unit in a shutdown state and prohibiting the air conditioning unit from starting, and performing step S3; S3, opening the air conditioner's external exhaust device, and continuously detecting the refrigerant concentration C in the compressor chamber; S4, determining whether C≤B*LTL%; if yes, performing step S5; if no, continuously detecting the refrigerant concentration C in the compressor chamber, and re-executing step S4; S5, closing the external exhaust device, and determining whether the refrigerant concentration C in the compressor chamber rises within a rated time t; if yes, performing step S6; if no, removing the restriction of prohibiting the air conditioning unit from starting; S6, reporting a refrigerant leakage fault, and prohibiting the air conditioning unit from running; Wherein, LTL% is the minimum explosion concentration of the refrigerant, A is a dangerous coefficient, and B is a safety coefficient, B The outdoor unit comprises a fan (1), a compressor assembly (2), a water module assembly (3), and an external exhaust piece (14), a wind isolation vertical plate (4) is arranged between the fan (1) and the compressor assembly (2), the water module assembly (3) is connected with a water module assembly plate (5), at least part of the plate body structure of the water module assembly plate (5) is arranged between the compressor assembly (2) and the water module assembly (3), a compressor chamber is formed between the wind isolation vertical plate (4) and the water module assembly plate (5), the air inlet side of the external exhaust piece (14) is communicated with the compressor chamber, the air outlet side of the external exhaust piece (14) can be communicated with the external environment, and the water module assembly plate (5) is provided with a refrigerant sensor (61); The outdoor unit comprises a bottom disc (11), the lower end of the wind isolation vertical plate (4) and the lower end of the water module assembly plate (5) are connected with the bottom disc (11), and in the vertical direction, the height of the water module assembly plate (5) is less than the height of the wind isolation vertical plate (4); The upper part of the water module assembly plate (5) is provided with a mounting plate (6), the refrigerant sensor (61) is connected with the mounting plate (6), and the liquid storage tank of the compressor assembly (2) is connected with the mounting plate (6).

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein Step S6 comprises: reporting a refrigerant leakage fault, prohibiting the air conditioning unit from running, and continuously detecting the refrigerant concentration C in the compressor chamber; when C>A*LTL%, the external exhaust device is started; and when C≤B*LTL%, the external exhaust device is closed.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein A is 0.2-0.7, B is 0.1-0.3, and t is 3-10 minutes.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein In step S2, when the air conditioning unit is in a power-on shutdown state or a standby state, if C≤A*LTL% is met, the air conditioning unit is allowed to start running, otherwise the air conditioning unit is prohibited from starting, and step S3 is executed; when the air conditioning unit is in a running process, if C≤A*LTL% is met, the normal running state of the air conditioning unit is maintained, otherwise the air conditioning unit is shut down, the air conditioning unit is prohibited from starting, and step S3 is executed.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein The water module assembly plate (5) comprises a first plate body (51) and a second plate body (52), the first plate body (51) is connected with the second plate body (52), at least the first plate body (51) is arranged between the compressor assembly (2) and the water module assembly (3), and a refrigerant sensor (61) is arranged on the upper portion of the first plate body (51).

6. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein The outdoor unit comprises a front panel (13), the front panel (13) is provided with a mounting opening, the mounting opening is at least communicated with the compressor cavity, the outdoor exhaust component (14) is arranged in the mounting opening and connected with the front panel (13).

7. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein The outdoor exhaust component (14) is a wind valve structure, and the outdoor exhaust component (14) is arranged on the air isolation vertical plate (4).

8. The air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein The lower edge of the valve port of the outdoor exhaust component (14) is lower than the upper end of the water module assembly plate (5), and the upper edge of the valve port of the outdoor exhaust component (14) is higher than the upper end of the water module assembly plate (5).

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