Refrigeration cycle device

Abstract

To prevent an aluminum- or aluminum alloy-based device included in a refrigerant circuit from corroding due to mercury contained in a refrigerant.SOLUTION: A refrigeration cycle device comprises a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit has an aluminum- or aluminum alloy-based device, and an adsorber including an adsorbent for adsorbing mercury contained in a refrigerant. The device may be a heat exchanger that has an aluminum- or aluminum alloy-based heat transfer pipe. The adsorbent contains any one of active charcoal, a crystalline zeolite and a metal organic structure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This relates to a refrigeration cycle device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 (JP Patent Publication No. 2000-146325) discloses a refrigeration system incorporating a sulfur adsorbent in the refrigeration cycle. The refrigeration system of Patent Document 1 prevents the sulfur contained in the hydrocarbon refrigerant from corroding copper and copper alloys used in piping and the like. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] It is known that hydrocarbon refrigerants may contain trace amounts of mercury during the manufacturing process in addition to sulfur. Mercury has the property of forming an alloy (amalgam) with other metals at room temperature and liquefying. In particular, aluminum loses its corrosion resistance and may corrode as an oxide film is not formed due to the formation of amalgam.

[0004] The present disclosure proposes a refrigeration cycle device that suppresses corrosion of aluminum or aluminum alloy equipment included in a refrigerant circuit due to mercury contained in the refrigerant. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to a first aspect includes a refrigerant circuit having an aluminum or aluminum alloy device and an adsorber including an adsorbent that adsorbs mercury contained in the refrigerant.

[0006] The refrigeration cycle device can adsorb mercury contained in the refrigerant to the adsorbent, thereby preventing corrosion of aluminum or aluminum alloy devices included in the refrigerant circuit due to the mercury contained in the refrigerant.

[0007] A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to a second aspect is the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the first aspect, in which the device is a heat exchanger having a heat transfer tube made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0008] The heat transfer tubes of a heat exchanger are designed to be thin in thickness to ensure heat transfer efficiency, so heat exchangers with heat transfer tubes made of aluminum or aluminum alloy are prone to refrigerant leakage if corrosion occurs due to mercury.

[0009] The present refrigeration cycle apparatus can suppress corrosion of a heat exchanger having a heat transfer tube made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, caused by mercury contained in the refrigerant.

[0010] A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to a third aspect is the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the second aspect, wherein the heat transfer tube is a flat tube.

[0011] Heat exchangers whose heat transfer tubes are flat tubes made of aluminum or aluminum alloy have high heat transfer efficiency but tend to have thin walls, and therefore are prone to refrigerant leakage when corrosion due to mercury occurs in heat exchangers whose heat transfer tubes are flat tubes made of aluminum or aluminum alloy.

[0012] The present refrigeration cycle apparatus can suppress corrosion of a heat exchanger having flat tubes made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, caused by mercury contained in the refrigerant.

[0013] A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to a fourth aspect is the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, wherein the adsorbent includes any one of activated carbon, crystalline zeolite, and a metal-organic framework.

[0014] A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to a fifth aspect is the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, wherein the adsorbent is impregnated with aluminum.

[0015] Mercury contained in the refrigerant passing through the adsorber forms an amalgam with the aluminum impregnated in the adsorbent, so that in this refrigeration cycle device, the adsorbent can adsorb mercury contained in the refrigerant more effectively than in a case where aluminum is not impregnated in the adsorbent.

[0016] A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to a sixth aspect is the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of the first aspect to the fifth aspect, wherein the adsorbent functions as a filter through which the refrigerant passes.

[0017] In the present refrigeration cycle device, the adsorbent can adsorb mercury while allowing the refrigerant to pass through it.

[0018] A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to a seventh aspect is the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of the first aspect to the sixth aspect, wherein the adsorber is provided in a liquid refrigerant pipe of the refrigerant circuit.

[0019] Mercury, which has a larger specific gravity than the refrigerant, is more likely to separate from the liquid refrigerant, which flows at a slower speed than the gas refrigerant. Therefore, in this refrigeration cycle device, the adsorber installed in the liquid refrigerant pipe can effectively adsorb mercury separated from the liquid refrigerant.

[0020] A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to an eighth aspect is the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of the first aspect to the seventh aspect, wherein the adsorber is a first container provided in a low-pressure pipe of the refrigerant circuit.

[0021] A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to a ninth aspect is the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the eighth aspect, in which the first container is an accumulator.

[0022] The surplus refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit accumulates in a liquid state vertically downward inside the accumulator. Therefore, refrigerant separated from the liquid refrigerant tends to accumulate vertically downward inside the accumulator. In this refrigeration cycle device, the adsorbent can effectively adsorb mercury separated from the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the accumulator.

[0023] A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to a tenth aspect is the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of the first aspect to the seventh aspect, in which the adsorber is a second vessel provided in a high-pressure pipe of the refrigerant circuit.

[0024] The refrigeration cycle apparatus of an eleventh aspect is the refrigeration cycle apparatus of the tenth aspect, in which the second container is a receiver.

[0025] The surplus refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit accumulates in a liquid state vertically downward inside the high-pressure receiver. Therefore, refrigerant separated from the liquid refrigerant tends to accumulate vertically downward inside the high-pressure receiver. In this refrigeration cycle device, the adsorbent can effectively adsorb mercury separated from the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the high-pressure receiver.

[0026] A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to a twelfth aspect is the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of the first aspect to the eleventh aspect, wherein the adsorber is provided in the refrigerant circuit so that a refrigerant including a liquid phase passes through the adsorber.

[0027] Mercury, which has a higher specific gravity than the refrigerant, is more likely to separate from the liquid refrigerant, which flows at a slower speed than the gas refrigerant. Therefore, an adsorber installed in a refrigerant circuit through which refrigerant containing a liquid phase passes can effectively adsorb mercury that has separated from the liquid refrigerant.

[0028] A refrigeration cycle apparatus according to a thirteenth aspect is the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of the first aspect to the twelfth aspect, wherein the refrigerant includes a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a refrigeration cycle device 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the outdoor heat exchanger 11. FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of a refrigeration cycle device 1 according to a modified example B. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of a refrigeration cycle device 1 according to a modified example C. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] (1) Overall structure 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 is an apparatus that performs cooling operation and heating operation in a space to be air-conditioned (not shown) by performing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle. The space to be air-conditioned is, for example, a space inside a building such as an office building, a commercial facility, or a residence. Note that the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 is merely an example of a refrigeration cycle apparatus, and may be used in, for example, a refrigerator, a freezer, a water heater, a floor heating apparatus, and the like.

[0031] The refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 mainly has an outdoor unit 2, an indoor unit 9, a liquid refrigerant connection pipe 4, a gas refrigerant connection pipe 5, and a control unit 3 that controls the devices that constitute the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 9. The liquid refrigerant connection pipe 4 and the gas refrigerant connection pipe 5 are refrigerant connection pipes that connect the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 9. In the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1, a refrigerant circuit 6 is formed by connecting the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 9 via the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 4 and the gas refrigerant connection pipe 5.

[0032] The refrigerant charged in the refrigerant circuit 6 includes a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant. More specifically, the refrigerant charged in the refrigerant circuit 6 is a single refrigerant consisting of only a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant, or a mixed refrigerant containing a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant and another refrigerant. In this embodiment, it is propane (R290). The hydrocarbon-based refrigerant may be selected from the group consisting of methane (R50), ethane (R170), propane (R290), butane (R600), isobutane (R600a), pentane (R601), isopentane (R601a), ethylene (R1150), propylene (R1270), and cyclopropane (RC270).

[0033] (1-1) Outdoor unit The outdoor unit 2 is installed outside the space to be air-conditioned, for example, on the roof of a building or near a wall of a building.

[0034] The outdoor unit 2 mainly has an accumulator 7, a compressor 8, a four-way switching valve 10, an outdoor heat exchanger 11 (an example of a heat exchanger), an expansion mechanism 12, a liquid side shut-off valve 13 and a gas side shut-off valve 14, an outdoor fan 16, and an adsorber 22.

[0035] The outdoor unit 2 mainly has a suction pipe 17, a discharge pipe 18, a first gas refrigerant pipe 19, a liquid refrigerant pipe 20, and a second gas refrigerant pipe 21 as refrigerant pipes that connect the devices that make up the refrigerant circuit 6. The suction pipe 17 connects the four-way switching valve 10 and the suction side of the compressor 8. The accumulator 7 is provided in the suction pipe 17. The discharge pipe 18 connects the discharge side of the compressor 8 and the four-way switching valve 10. The first gas refrigerant pipe 19 connects the four-way switching valve 10 and the gas side of the outdoor heat exchanger 11. The liquid refrigerant pipe 20 connects the liquid side of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 and the liquid side stop valve 13. The expansion mechanism 12 is provided in the liquid refrigerant pipe 20. The second gas refrigerant pipe 21 connects the four-way switching valve 10 and the gas side stop valve 14.

[0036] The suction pipe 17 is an example of a low pressure pipe. The discharge pipe 18, the first gas refrigerant pipe 19, the liquid refrigerant pipe 20, and the second gas refrigerant pipe 21 are an example of a high pressure pipe.

[0037] (1-1-1) Compressor The compressor 8 draws in low-pressure refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle from a suction pipe 17, compresses the refrigerant by a compression mechanism (not shown), and discharges the compressed refrigerant to a discharge pipe .

[0038] (1-1-2) Four-way switching valve The four-way switching valve 10 switches the flow direction of the refrigerant to change the state of the refrigerant circuit 6 between a cooling operation state and a heating operation state. When the refrigerant circuit 6 is in a cooling operation state, the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as a refrigerant radiator (condenser), and the indoor heat exchanger 91 functions as an evaporator of the refrigerant. When the refrigerant circuit 6 is in a heating operation state, the outdoor heat exchanger 11 functions as an evaporator of the refrigerant, and the indoor heat exchanger 91 functions as a condenser of the refrigerant. When the four-way switching valve 10 sets the state of the refrigerant circuit 6 to a cooling operation state, the four-way switching valve 10 communicates the suction pipe 17 with the second gas refrigerant pipe 21 and communicates the discharge pipe 18 with the first gas refrigerant pipe 19 (see the solid lines in the four-way switching valve 10 in FIG. 1). When the four-way switching valve 10 sets the state of the refrigerant circuit 6 to a heating operation state, the four-way switching valve 10 connects the suction pipe 17 to the first gas refrigerant pipe 19 and connects the discharge pipe 18 to the second gas refrigerant pipe 21 (see the dashed lines within the four-way switching valve 10 in Figure 1).

[0039] (1-1-3) Outdoor heat exchanger The outdoor heat exchanger 11 exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing inside and the air (heat source air) in the location where the outdoor unit 2 is installed. Details of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 will be described later. The outdoor heat exchanger 11 is a microchannel type heat exchanger composed of a plurality of flat tubes 11a and fins 11b. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the outdoor heat exchanger 11. The outdoor heat exchanger 11 is an example of equipment.

[0040] The flat tubes 11a are heat transfer tubes through which a refrigerant flows. The refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger 11 flows through a plurality of refrigerant flow paths 11c formed in the flat tubes 11a. Some of the refrigerant flow paths 11c of the plurality of flat tubes 11a are connected to each other at the end of each flat tube 11a by a header, a U-shaped tube, or the like (not shown). The fins 11b are plate-shaped members that support the plurality of flat tubes 11a at a predetermined interval. The flat tubes 11a and the fins 11b are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The outdoor heat exchanger 11 is an example of a device made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0041] (1-1-4) Expansion mechanism The expansion mechanism 12 adjusts the pressure and flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the liquid refrigerant pipe 20. The expansion mechanism 12 is disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger 11 and the indoor heat exchanger 91 in the refrigerant circuit 6. In this embodiment, the expansion mechanism 12 is disposed in the liquid refrigerant pipe 20 between the outdoor heat exchanger 11 and the liquid side stop valve 13. In this refrigeration cycle device 1, the expansion mechanism 12 is provided in the outdoor unit 2, but instead, the expansion mechanism 12 may be provided in the indoor unit 9 described later. In this embodiment, the expansion mechanism 12 is an electronic expansion valve with a variable opening degree, but the expansion mechanism 12 may be a temperature sensing cylinder type expansion valve or a capillary tube.

[0042] (1-1-5) Accumulator The accumulator 7 is a container having a gas-liquid separation function that separates the refrigerant that flows in into a gas refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant. The accumulator 7 also serves as a container for storing surplus refrigerant that is generated in response to fluctuations in the operating load, etc.

[0043] (1-1-6) Liquid side shutoff valve and gas side shutoff valve The liquid side shut-off valve 13 is a valve provided at the connection between the liquid refrigerant pipe 20 and the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 4. The gas side shut-off valve 14 is a valve provided at the connection between the second gas refrigerant pipe 21 and the gas refrigerant connection pipe 5. The liquid side shut-off valve 13 and the gas side shut-off valve 14 are open when the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 is operating.

[0044] (1-1-7) Outdoor fan The outdoor fan 16 draws external heat source air into the casing of the outdoor unit 2 (not shown) and supplies it to the outdoor heat exchanger 11, and discharges the air that has exchanged heat with the refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger 11 out of the casing of the outdoor unit 2.

[0045] (1-1-8) Adsorption device The adsorber 22 accommodates an adsorbent 22a therein. The adsorber 22 is provided in the liquid refrigerant pipe 20 so that the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 6 passes through the inside of the adsorber 22. The adsorbent 22a adsorbs mercury contained in the refrigerant passing through the adsorber 22 (inside the adsorber 22).

[0046] In this embodiment, the adsorber 22 is a cylindrical member having liquid refrigerant pipes 20 connected to both ends. The adsorbent 22a is accommodated inside the adsorber 22 so as to be capable of adsorbing mercury contained in the refrigerant flowing inside. The adsorbent 22a functions as a filter through which the refrigerant passes. Specifically, the adsorbent 22a adsorbs mercury contained in the refrigerant while allowing the refrigerant to pass through. The adsorbent 22a is not particularly limited as long as it can adsorb mercury contained in the refrigerant. The adsorbent 22a may include, for example, any of activated carbon, crystalline zeolite, and metal organic frameworks (MOFs).

[0047] (1-2) Indoor unit The indoor unit 9 supplies air of the target space to be air-conditioned, which has been heated or cooled by exchanging heat with an indoor heat exchanger 91 (described later), to the target space air conditioning. The indoor unit 9 may be installed in the target space to be air-conditioned, or may be installed outside the target space to be air-conditioned. When installed outside the target space to be air-conditioned, the heated or cooled air is supplied to the target space to be air-conditioned through a duct. The indoor unit 9 mainly has an indoor heat exchanger 91 and an indoor fan 92.

[0048] (1-2-1) Indoor heat exchanger The indoor heat exchanger 91 exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger 91 and the air in the space to be air-conditioned. The indoor heat exchanger 91 is, for example, a fin-and-tube type heat exchanger having a plurality of heat transfer tubes and fins (not shown), although the type is not limited thereto. One end of the indoor heat exchanger 91 is connected to the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 4 via a refrigerant piping. The other end of the indoor heat exchanger 91 is connected to the gas refrigerant connection pipe 5 via a refrigerant piping.

[0049] (1-2-2) Indoor fan The indoor fan 92 draws air in the space to be air conditioned into a casing (not shown) of the indoor unit 9 and supplies it to the indoor heat exchanger 91, and blows the air that has exchanged heat with the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 91 out into the space to be air conditioned.

[0050] (1-3) Control section The control unit 3 is a functional unit that controls the operation of the devices that constitute the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1. The control unit 3 is electrically connected to various devices of the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 9, including the compressor 8, the four-way switching valve 10, the expansion mechanism 12, the outdoor fan 16, and the indoor fan 92. The control unit 3 is also electrically connected to various sensors (not shown) provided in the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 9. The control unit 3 is also configured to be able to communicate with a remote control (not shown) operated by a user of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1.

[0051] The control unit 3 controls operation and stop of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 and operation of devices constituting the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 based on measurement signals from various sensors and commands received from a remote control (not shown).

[0052] The control unit 3 is realized by a computer. The control unit 3 includes a control arithmetic device and a storage device (both not shown). The control arithmetic device is a processor such as a CPU or GPU. The control arithmetic device reads a program stored in the storage device and performs predetermined processing according to the program. Furthermore, the control arithmetic device can write the calculation results to the storage device and read information stored in the storage device according to the program.

[0053] (2) Operation of the refrigeration cycle device 1 In the cooling operation, the control unit 3 controls the four-way switching valve 10 to set the state of the refrigerant circuit 6 to the cooling operation state and controls the compressor 8 to start operation. The compressor 8 draws in low-pressure gas refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle from the suction pipe 17, compresses it to high pressure in the refrigeration cycle, and discharges it to the discharge pipe 18 as high-pressure gas refrigerant. The high-pressure gas refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 11 via the four-way switching valve 10 and the first gas refrigerant pipe 19. The high-pressure gas refrigerant that flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 11 exchanges heat with the air at the installation location of the outdoor unit 2, condenses, and becomes a high-pressure liquid refrigerant, and flows out from the outdoor heat exchanger 11 to the liquid refrigerant pipe 20. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant passes through the adsorber 22 and the expansion mechanism 12 in the liquid refrigerant pipe 20. At this time, the adsorbent 22a contained in the adsorber 22 can adsorb mercury contained in the refrigerant. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant is decompressed when passing through the expansion mechanism 12 and becomes a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant. The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchanger 91 via the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 4. The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that flows into the indoor heat exchanger 91 exchanges heat with the air in the space to be air-conditioned (cools the air) and evaporates to become low-pressure gas refrigerant, and flows out of the indoor heat exchanger 91 into the gas refrigerant communication pipe 5. The low-pressure gas refrigerant flows into the suction pipe 17 via the second gas refrigerant pipe 21 and the four-way switching valve 10, and then passes through the accumulator 7 to be sucked into the compressor 8 again.

[0054] In the heating operation, the control unit 3 causes the four-way switching valve 10 to set the state of the refrigerant circuit 6 to the heating operation state and causes the compressor 8 to start operation. The compressor 8 draws in low-pressure gas refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle from the suction pipe 17, compresses it to high pressure in the refrigeration cycle, and discharges it to the discharge pipe 18 as high-pressure gas refrigerant. The high-pressure gas refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchanger 91 via the four-way switching valve 10, the second gas refrigerant pipe 21, and the gas refrigerant connection pipe 5. The high-pressure gas refrigerant that flows into the indoor heat exchanger 91 exchanges heat with the air in the space to be air-conditioned (heats the air), condenses, and becomes high-pressure liquid refrigerant, and flows out from the indoor heat exchanger 91 to the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 4. When the high-pressure liquid refrigerant flows from the liquid refrigerant connection pipe 4 into the liquid refrigerant pipe 20, it passes through the expansion mechanism 12. When the high-pressure liquid refrigerant passes through the expansion mechanism 12, it is decompressed and becomes a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant. The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant passes through the adsorber 22 and flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 11. At this time, the adsorbent 22a contained in the adsorber 22 can adsorb the mercury contained in the refrigerant. The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 11 exchanges heat with the air in the installation location of the outdoor unit 2, evaporates, and becomes low-pressure gas refrigerant, and flows out of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 into the first gas refrigerant pipe 19. The low-pressure gas refrigerant flows into the suction pipe 17 via the four-way switching valve 10, passes through the accumulator 7, and is sucked into the compressor 8 again.

[0055] (3) Features (3-1) The refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 includes a refrigerant circuit 6. The refrigerant circuit 6 includes equipment made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, and an adsorber 22 including an adsorbent 22a that adsorbs mercury contained in the refrigerant.

[0056] The refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 can adsorb mercury contained in the refrigerant to the adsorbent 22a. Therefore, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 can suppress corrosion of aluminum or aluminum alloy devices included in the refrigerant circuit due to mercury contained in the refrigerant.

[0057] (3-2) The device is an outdoor heat exchanger 11 having a heat transfer tube made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0058] The heat transfer tubes of a heat exchanger are designed to be thin in thickness to ensure heat transfer efficiency, so heat exchangers with heat transfer tubes made of aluminum or aluminum alloy are prone to refrigerant leakage if corrosion occurs due to mercury.

[0059] The refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 can suppress corrosion of the outdoor heat exchanger 11, which has a heat transfer tube made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, due to mercury contained in the refrigerant.

[0060] (3-3) The heat transfer tube is a flat tube 11a.

[0061] The outdoor heat exchanger 11, whose heat transfer tubes are flat tubes 11a made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, has a high heat transfer efficiency but tends to have a thin wall thickness. Therefore, the outdoor heat exchanger 11, whose heat transfer tubes are flat tubes 11a made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, is prone to refrigerant leakage if corrosion due to mercury occurs.

[0062] The refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 can suppress corrosion of the outdoor heat exchanger 11 having the flat tubes 11a made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy, caused by mercury contained in the refrigerant.

[0063] (3-4) The adsorbent 22a includes any one of activated carbon, crystalline zeolite, and a metal-organic framework.

[0064] (3-5) The adsorbent 22a functions as a filter through which the refrigerant passes.

[0065] In the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1, the adsorbent 22a can adsorb mercury while allowing the refrigerant to pass through it.

[0066] (3-6) The adsorber 22 is provided in the liquid refrigerant pipe 20 of the refrigerant circuit 6 .

[0067] Mercury, which has a larger specific gravity than the refrigerant, is easily separated from the liquid refrigerant, which flows at a slower speed than the gas refrigerant. Therefore, in the refrigeration cycle device 1, the adsorber 22 provided in the liquid refrigerant pipe 20 can effectively adsorb the mercury separated from the liquid refrigerant.

[0068] (3-7) The refrigerant includes a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant.

[0069] (4) Variations (4-1) Variation A The adsorbent 22a contained in the adsorber 22 may be impregnated with aluminum.

[0070] Mercury contained in the refrigerant passing through the adsorber 22 forms an amalgam with the aluminum impregnated in the adsorbent 22a. Therefore, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 according to modification A, the adsorbent 22a can adsorb mercury contained in the refrigerant more effectively than in a case where the adsorbent 22a is not impregnated with aluminum.

[0071] (4-2) Variation B The adsorber 22 may be provided in the suction pipe 17, which is an example of a low-pressure pipe. The adsorber 22 may be an accumulator 7 provided in the suction pipe 17. When the adsorber 22 is the accumulator 7, the adsorbent 22a may be accommodated vertically below the accumulator 7. Fig. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 according to modification B. The accumulator 7 is an example of a first container.

[0072] The surplus refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 6 accumulates in a liquid refrigerant state vertically downward inside the accumulator 7. For this reason, the refrigerant separated from the liquid refrigerant tends to accumulate vertically downward inside the accumulator 7. In the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 according to the modification B, the adsorbent 22a can effectively adsorb mercury separated from the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the accumulator 7.

[0073] (4-3) Variation C The adsorber 22 may be provided in any one of the discharge pipe 18, the first gas refrigerant pipe 19, the liquid refrigerant pipe 20, and the second gas refrigerant pipe 21, which are examples of high-pressure piping. The adsorber 22 may be a high-pressure receiver 23 provided in the liquid refrigerant pipe 20. The high-pressure receiver 23 is a container having a gas-liquid separation function that separates the inflowing refrigerant into a gas refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant. The high-pressure receiver 23 is also a container in which surplus refrigerant generated according to fluctuations in the operating load, etc., accumulates. When the adsorber 22 is the high-pressure receiver 23, the adsorbent 22a may be accommodated vertically below the high-pressure receiver 23. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the refrigeration cycle device 1 according to the modified example C. The high-pressure receiver 23 is an example of a second container.

[0074] The surplus refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 6 accumulates in a liquid state vertically downward inside the high-pressure receiver 23. For this reason, the refrigerant separated from the liquid refrigerant tends to accumulate vertically downward inside the high-pressure receiver 23. In the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 according to modification C, the adsorbent 22a can effectively adsorb mercury separated from the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the high-pressure receiver 23.

[0075] (4-4) Variation D The adsorber 22 may be provided in the refrigerant circuit 6 so that the refrigerant containing a liquid phase passes through it.

[0076] Mercury, which has a larger specific gravity than the refrigerant, is more likely to separate from the liquid refrigerant, which flows at a slower speed than the gas refrigerant. Therefore, the adsorber 22, which is provided in the refrigerant circuit 6 so that the refrigerant containing the liquid phase passes through, can effectively adsorb the mercury separated from the liquid refrigerant.

[0077] (4-5) Variation E The equipment made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy is not limited to the outdoor heat exchanger 11. For example, the indoor heat exchanger 91 may be a microchannel heat exchanger having flat tubes made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0078] In addition, the various devices that constitute the refrigerant circuit 6 (accumulator 7, compressor 8, four-way switching valve 10, expansion mechanism 12, liquid side shut-off valve 13, gas side shut-off valve 14) and / or refrigerant pipes (suction pipe 17, discharge pipe 18, first gas refrigerant pipe 19, liquid refrigerant pipe 20, second gas refrigerant pipe 21) may be made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

[0079] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it will be understood that various changes in form and details can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure described in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0080] 1 Refrigeration cycle equipment 6 Refrigerant circuit 7 Accumulator 11 Outdoor heat exchanger 11a flat tube 17 Suction pipe (low pressure piping) 18 Discharge pipe (high pressure piping) 19 First gas refrigerant pipe (high pressure piping) 20 Liquid refrigerant pipe (high pressure piping) 21 Second gas refrigerant pipe (high pressure piping) 22 Adsorption device 22a Adsorbent 23 High pressure receiver [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0081] [Patent Document 1] JP 2000-146325 A

Claims

1. A refrigeration cycle device (1) having a refrigerant circuit (6), The refrigerant circuit includes: An apparatus (7, 11, 23) made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy; an adsorber (22) including an adsorbent (22a) for adsorbing mercury contained in a refrigerant; having Refrigeration cycle equipment.

2. The device comprises: A heat exchanger having a heat transfer tube made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The refrigeration cycle device according to claim 1.

3. The heat transfer tube is A flat tube (11a), The refrigeration cycle device according to claim 2.

4. The adsorbent is The present invention relates to a method for producing a porous material comprising the steps of: The refrigeration cycle device according to claim 1.

5. The adsorbent is Aluminum impregnated The refrigeration cycle device according to claim 4.

6. The adsorbent is Functions as a filter through which the refrigerant passes; The refrigeration cycle device according to claim 1.

7. The adsorber comprises: A liquid refrigerant pipe (20) of the refrigerant circuit is provided. The refrigeration cycle device according to claim 1.

8. The adsorber comprises: A first container (7) provided in a low-pressure pipe (17) of the refrigerant circuit. The refrigeration cycle device according to claim 1.

9. The first container comprises: An accumulator (7), The refrigeration cycle device according to claim 8.

10. The adsorber comprises: a second container (23) provided in the high-pressure piping (18, 19, 20, 21) of the refrigerant circuit; The refrigeration cycle device according to claim 1.

11. The second container comprises: A high pressure receiver (23), The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 10.

12. The adsorber comprises: The refrigerant circuit is provided with a refrigerant passage through which the refrigerant containing a liquid phase passes. The refrigeration cycle device according to claim 1.

13. The refrigerant is Contains hydrocarbon refrigerants The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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