Air conditioner

Abstract

To provide an air conditioner capable of reducing a refrigerant remaining amount of a machine chamber.SOLUTION: An air conditioner of the present invention is an air conditioner comprising an outdoor unit 101 that exchanges heat between outdoor air and a refrigerant. The refrigerant is a flammable refrigerant. The outdoor unit 101 has a partition plate 2 that separates a machine chamber 5a from a space (blower chamber 5b) in which an outdoor fan 9 is arranged. The partition plate 2 has an opening part 10 that communicates the machine chamber 5a and the space (blower chamber 5b) in which the outdoor fan 9 is arranged.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in absorption heat pump systems, a technique has been known in which the outdoor fan is rotated in the reverse direction when a refrigerant leak is detected inside the outdoor unit's housing (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Specifically, this heat pump system uses flammable dimethyl ether as the refrigerant, and the outdoor fan is used to exhaust the refrigerant from the housing where the refrigerant absorber and regenerator are located. This heat pump system can keep the refrigerant concentration inside the housing below the flammability limit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-115939 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent air conditioners, which require refrigerants with both low GWP (Global Warming Potential) and low ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential), some of them use a highly flammable refrigerant (R290: propane). Therefore, it is necessary to consider measures to be taken in the event of a refrigerant leak, even in these air conditioners. However, unlike the absorption type, an air conditioner using a compression refrigeration cycle has an outdoor fan that promotes heat exchange between the outdoor air and the refrigerant, and is located away from the heat-generating compressor. Therefore, unlike the heat pump system, this air conditioner cannot reduce the amount of refrigerant remaining in the machine room where the compressor is located using the outdoor fan.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that can reduce the amount of refrigerant remaining in the machine room. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The air conditioner of the present invention is an air conditioner equipped with an outdoor unit that performs heat exchange between outdoor air and a refrigerant, wherein the refrigerant is a flammable refrigerant, and the outdoor unit has a partition plate that separates the machine room from a space in which an outdoor fan is located, and the partition plate has an opening that connects the machine room to the space in which the outdoor fan is located. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an air conditioner that can reduce the amount of refrigerant remaining in the machine room. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a perspective view showing an outdoor unit constituting an air conditioner with the front panel and top panel removed. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a front view schematically illustrating the outdoor unit with the front panel removed. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view of an opening forming member provided on the partition plate of the outdoor unit. [Figure 5A] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VA-VA in FIG. 4. [Figure 5B] 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the opening forming member of FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 6] 5 is a partially enlarged front view showing another modified example of the opening forming member of FIG. 4. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a mode (embodiment) for carrying out an air conditioner of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an air conditioner 100 according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, an air conditioner 100 includes an outdoor unit 101 installed outdoors and an indoor unit 102 installed indoors. The air conditioner 100 of this embodiment is configured with a compression-type refrigeration cycle using R290 (propane) as the refrigerant. However, the "flammable refrigerant (combustible refrigerant)" in the air conditioner of the present invention is not limited to R290, and examples include single hydrocarbon (HC) refrigerants such as R170 (ethane), R1270 (propylene), and R600a (isobutane), as well as mixed HC refrigerants of these. The refrigerant may also be a fluorine-based refrigerant such as HFO-1234yf or R-32. Alternatively, it may be a mixed refrigerant of these refrigerants. The flammable refrigerant includes mildly flammable and highly flammable refrigerants. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a refrigerant with a specific gravity greater than that of air is preferably used as the refrigerant.

[0010] During cooling operation, the air conditioner 100 takes in liquid refrigerant (including gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant) from the outdoor unit 101 via the liquid piping 20 to flow through the heat transfer tubes of the indoor heat exchanger (not shown) in the indoor unit 102. At this time, the indoor heat exchanger (not shown) functions as an evaporator to cool the surrounding air (room air). The gas refrigerant vaporized in the indoor heat exchanger is then sent to the outdoor unit 101 via the gas piping 30.

[0011] Furthermore, during heating operation, the air conditioner 100 sends high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant from a compressor 7 (see FIG. 2), which will be described later, to the indoor unit 102 via gas piping 30 by switching the refrigerant flow path using a four-way valve (not shown) in the outdoor unit 101. At this time, the indoor heat exchanger (not shown) functions as a condenser to heat the surrounding air (indoor air). Then, the liquid refrigerant (including two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant) condensed in the heat transfer tube (not shown) of this indoor heat exchanger is sent to the outdoor unit 101 via liquid piping 20.

[0012] Next, the outdoor unit 101 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 1 of the outdoor unit 101 is configured to include a front panel 1a, side panels 1b, and a top panel 1c. The front panel 1a is formed with a circular opening 1a1 to accommodate an outdoor fan 9 (see FIG. 2) which will be described later. A fan grill 1a2 is attached to this opening 1a1.

[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the outdoor unit 101 with the front panel 1a (see FIG. 1) and the top panel 1c (see FIG. 1) that constitute the housing 1 removed. As shown in FIG. 2, an outdoor fan 9, a compressor 7, an accumulator 4, and an outdoor heat exchanger 3 are arranged inside the outdoor unit 101. Specifically, the interior of the outdoor unit 101 is divided into a fan chamber 5b and a machine chamber 5a by a partition plate 2 having an opening forming member 11, which will be described in detail later. The outdoor fan 9 is disposed in the fan chamber 5b, and the compressor 7 and accumulator 4 are disposed in the machine chamber 5a. In FIG. 2, the symbol S denotes a refrigerant concentration detection sensor disposed in the machine chamber 5a near the opening forming member 11.

[0014] The outdoor heat exchanger 3 is provided from the fan chamber 5b to the machine chamber 5a along the side panel 1b and back surface (rear surface) of the outdoor unit 101. The side panel 1b and back surface (rear surface) of the outdoor unit 101 form an intake section (not shown) for suctioning outdoor air into the outdoor unit 101.

[0015] During cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 3 functions as a condenser, and sends liquid refrigerant (including gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant) back to the indoor unit 102 (see FIG. 1) via the liquid piping 20 (see FIG. 1). During heating operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 3 functions as an evaporator, and sends gas refrigerant from the compressor 7 back to the indoor unit 102 via the gas piping 30 (see FIG. 1). The accumulator 4 separates the gas refrigerant from the liquid refrigerant of the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant sent via the liquid piping 20 (see FIG. 1), and sends it to the compressor 7.

[0016] The outdoor fan 9 rotates to blow air so that the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is on the windward side and the fan grille 1a2 (see FIG. 1) is on the leeward side. Specifically, as will be described later, the outdoor fan 9 rotates clockwise when viewed from the front of the outdoor unit 101. In this way, the outdoor fan 9 circulates the outdoor air that has been drawn into the outdoor unit 101 from the suction section (not shown) through the outdoor heat exchanger 3, promoting heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger 3 and the outdoor air.

[0017] As shown in Fig. 2, an electrical component box assembly 8 is provided inside the upper part of the housing 1. The electrical component box assembly 8 includes an electrical component box 8a, a control board 8b, and a board support 8c. The control board 8b constitutes a control unit (not shown) that performs overall control of the air conditioner 100 (see Fig. 1). The board support 8c supports the control board 8b from its underside. A terminal block for a power supply (not shown) is provided at the right end of the electrical component box 8a.

[0018] Next, the partition plate 2 (see FIG. 2) will be described. Fig. 3 is a front view schematically showing the outdoor unit 101 with the front panel 1a (see Fig. 1) removed. Note that in Fig. 3, the compressor 7 (see Fig. 2), the accumulator 4 (see Fig. 2), and the outdoor heat exchanger 3 (see Fig. 2) are omitted for convenience of drawing. As shown in Fig. 3, the partition plate 2 is formed of a curved plate and extends in the vertical direction so as to face the space on the outdoor fan 9 side and the space on the compressor 7 side in the left-right direction. An opening-forming member 11, which will be described in detail later, is attached to the lower part of the partition plate 2.

[0019] 3, the partition plate 2 in this embodiment is bent so as to form a step in the left-right direction. Specifically, the partition plate 2 is made up of a first plate 2a extending in the vertical direction at an upper part within the housing 1 of the outdoor unit 101, a third plate 2c extending in the vertical direction at a lower part within the housing 1 and displaced to the right of the first plate 2a, and a second plate 2b extending at an angle in the middle of the housing 1 so as to connect the lower edge of the first plate 2a and the upper edge of the third plate 2c. As described above, the partition plate 2 separates the inside of the outdoor unit 101, thereby forming the machine room 5a between itself and the right side panel 1b. In addition, the second plate body 2b of the partition plate 2 forms a space 5a1 (machine room space) between the second plate body 2b and the right side plate 1b above the opening forming member 11, in which the horizontal cross-sectional area A gradually decreases downward.

[0020] Next, the opening forming member 11 (see FIG. 2) will be described. Fig. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the opening forming member 11. Fig. 4 shows the opening forming member 11 as viewed obliquely upward from the front lower part of the fan chamber 5b (see Fig. 2). As shown in Fig. 4, the opening-forming member 11 has a louvered shape. That is, the opening-forming member 11 is composed of a wall plate 12, a plurality of slits 13 that are long in the front-rear direction and formed in the wall plate 12, and slats 14 that cover each of the slits 13 from above to form openings 10 that open downward. In this embodiment, the slits 13 are arranged in multiple rows (specifically, two rows) in the front-rear direction and multiple rows (specifically, eight rows) in the up-down direction. However, the number and arrangement of the slits 13 are not limited to this.

[0021] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VA-VA in FIG. 5A, the blades 14 of the opening-forming member 11 forming the louver shape are supported on the upper edges of the slits 13 formed in the wall panel 12. Furthermore, the blades 14 are bent downward in the vertical direction as they extend from the wall panel 12 toward the fan chamber 5b. As described above, the blades 9a (see FIG. 3) of the outdoor fan 9 (see FIG. 3), which rotates clockwise, pass from above to below the blade plate 14, as shown by the white arrow in FIG. 5A.

[0022] Furthermore, a downward opening 10 having a left-right width W1 is formed between the lower edge of the slats 14 and the lower edge of the slits 13. This opening 10 is formed horizontally long with a front-to-rear width W2, as shown in Fig. 4. Such opening 10 communicates between the fan chamber 5b and the machine chamber 5a via the slits 13. In this embodiment, the width W1 of the opening 10 is set to be less than the quenching distance, ie, less than 1.5 mm. The opening 10 having such a left-right width W1 exhibits an anti-inflammatory effect regardless of the length of the front-rear width W2 (see FIG. 4) of the opening 10.

[0023] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the opening forming member 11 of FIG. 5B, the blades 14 of the opening-forming member 11 according to the modified example are supported by the wall plate 12 at the upper edges of the slits 13, and are inclined so as to be gradually displaced toward the fan chamber 5b as they extend downward. In other words, the blades 14 of the opening-forming member 11 are formed so as to extend obliquely downward in the vertical direction.

[0024] The lower edge of the slat 14 and the lower edge of the slit 13 form a downward opening 10 with a width W1 between them. As shown in FIG. 4, the opening 10 is formed horizontally long with a front-rear width W2. In this embodiment, the width W1 of the opening 10 is set to be less than the quenching distance, ie, less than 1.5 mm. In FIG. 5B, the outline arrow indicates the direction of movement of the blades 9a (see FIG. 3) of the rotating outdoor fan 9 (see FIG. 3). Incidentally, with the opening-forming member 11 according to this modified example, the lateral width W1 of the opening 10 can be adjusted by adjusting the inclination angle of the slats 14.

[0025] Returning to FIG. 3, the outdoor unit 101 has a refrigerant concentration detection sensor S disposed adjacent to the opening 10 of the opening-forming member 11. The refrigerant concentration detection sensor S is not particularly limited as long as it can detect the concentration of propane gas, and for example, a thermal conduction gas sensor or other sensors can be used.

[0026] In this embodiment, the refrigerant concentration detection sensor S outputs a propane gas detection signal to the control board 8b of the electrical component box assembly 8 via signal line L1. A control unit (not shown) defined in the control board 8b determines whether the propane gas concentration in the machine room 5a is higher than a predetermined threshold based on the propane gas detection signal from the refrigerant concentration detection sensor S. If the control unit determines that the propane gas concentration is higher than the threshold, it outputs an alarm transmission command to an alarm transmission circuit (not shown) of the indoor unit 102 via signal line L2 shown in FIG. 1. The alarm transmission circuit (not shown) causes an alarm display unit 102a, which is composed of an alarm lamp or the like, of the indoor unit 102 to display an indication that a refrigerant is leaking from the outdoor unit 101.

[0027] <Action and effect> Next, the effects and advantages achieved by the air conditioner 100 of this embodiment will be described. The air conditioner 100 of this embodiment comprises an indoor unit 102 that exchanges heat between indoor air and a refrigerant, and an outdoor unit 101 that exchanges heat between outdoor air and a refrigerant, the refrigerant being combustible. The outdoor unit 101 has a partition plate 2 that separates the machine room 5a from a space (blower room 5b) in which the outdoor fan 9 is arranged, and the partition plate 2 has an opening 10 that connects the machine room 5a to the space (blower room 5b) in which the outdoor fan 9 is arranged.

[0028] According to this air conditioner 100, the opening 10 that communicates with the space (blower room 5b) in which the outdoor fan 9 is disposed can reduce the amount of flammable refrigerant that accumulates in the machine room 5a. The rotation of the outdoor fan 9 can draw air into the machine room through the opening 10, thereby preventing stagnation. As a result, the air conditioner 100 can avoid the combustion of refrigerant in the machine room 5a even in the unlikely event that a refrigerant leak occurs in the machine room 5a.

[0029] Furthermore, in this air conditioner 100, the refrigerant is R290, and the opening 10 is provided in the lower part of the partition plate 2 in the vertical direction. According to this air conditioner 100, R290 (propane gas), which is heavier than air, can be efficiently discharged from the machine room 5a through the opening 10 provided in the lower part of the partition plate 2.

[0030] Furthermore, in this air conditioner 100, the refrigerant is R290, and the gap (left-right width W1) of the opening 10 is set to be less than the quenching distance of propane (less than 1.5 mm). With this air conditioner 100, even if the refrigerant remaining in the machine room 5a catches fire, it is possible to prevent the fire from spreading to the fan room 5b. Furthermore, even if the refrigerant discharged from the machine room 5a to the fan room 5b exceeds the flammability limit concentration and the refrigerant remaining in the fan room 5b catches fire, it is possible to prevent the fire from spreading to the machine room 5a.

[0031] Furthermore, in this air conditioner 100, the opening 10 is provided in an opening forming member 11 having a louvered shape, and the blades 14 of the opening forming member 11 forming the louvered shape extend vertically downward or diagonally downward so as to form the opening 10 that opens downward. According to this air conditioner 100, when rainwater enters the fan room 5b, the intrusion of the rainwater into the machine room 5a through the opening 10 can be suppressed.

[0032] Furthermore, in this air conditioner 100, the rotation direction of the outdoor fan 9 is set so that the blades 9a of the outdoor fan 9 pass from above the blade plate 14 downward. In this air conditioner 100, rainwater droplets that have entered the fan room 5b are forcibly guided by the airflow from the rotating outdoor fan blades to pass from above to below the blades 14. This more effectively prevents rainwater from entering the machine room 5a through the opening 10.

[0033] Furthermore, in this air conditioner 100, a refrigerant concentration detection sensor S is further provided in the housing 1 of the outdoor unit 101, and the refrigerant concentration detection sensor S is disposed adjacent to the opening . According to such an air conditioner 100, the refrigerant concentration detection sensor S is disposed adjacent to the opening 10, which is also the discharge path (passageway) of the leaking refrigerant from the machine room 5a, thereby further improving the refrigerant detection sensitivity.

[0034] Furthermore, in this air conditioner 100, the refrigerant is R290, and above the opening 10 there is provided a space 5a1 (machine room space) in which the horizontal cross-sectional area A of the machine room 5a gradually decreases downward. With this air conditioner 100, even if there is a refrigerant leak in the machine room 5a, the R290 (propane gas), which is heavier than air, moves downward, narrowing the area where it accumulates. The refrigerant R290 is efficiently discharged from the machine room 5a through the opening 10.

[0035] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be embodied in various forms. In the above embodiment, the opening forming member 11 has a louver shape. However, the opening forming member 11 is not limited to the louver shape. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the opening forming member 11 made of a mesh member 15. As shown in Figure 6, the mesh member 15 has a mesh structure with diamond-shaped openings 15a that are long in the front-to-back direction when viewed from the front to back of the opening-forming member 11 in a left-to-right direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of Figure 6).

[0036] Specifically, opening 15a has a diamond shape in which width W4 is longer than length W3. In this embodiment, the vertical width W3 of the opening 15a is set to be less than the quenching distance, that is, less than 1.5 mm. The opening 15a having such a vertical width W3 exhibits an extinguishing effect regardless of the horizontal width W4 of the opening 15a.

[0037] Furthermore, the mesh shape of the mesh member 15 is not limited to a diamond shape, but may be a rectangle (including a square) or other shapes. In particular, a mesh member formed by plain weaving extremely fine metal wires to form rectangular meshes is preferable because commercially available products can be used. Although not shown, the opening forming member 11 can also be made of a punched metal having a plurality of small holes with an extinction diameter of less than 1.5 mm. The opening forming member 11 made of such a mesh member can also prevent insects from entering the machine room 5a.

[0038] Furthermore, although the opening 10 in the above embodiment is formed in the opening forming member 11, the opening 10 can also be formed directly in the partition plate 2. The size of the opening 10 can also be set to exceed the quenching distance or quenching diameter in order to improve the rate at which the gas refrigerant is reduced in the machine chamber 5a. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1 chassis 2 Dividers 100 Air conditioner 101 Outdoor unit 102 Indoor unit 5a Machine room 5a1 Space (machine room space) 5b Blower room 9 Outdoor fan 10 Opening 11 Opening forming member 14 Slats A horizontal cross-sectional area S Refrigerant concentration detection sensor

Claims

1. An air conditioner having an outdoor unit that exchanges heat between outdoor air and a refrigerant, The refrigerant is a flammable refrigerant, The outdoor unit has a partition plate that separates a machine room from a space in which an outdoor fan is disposed, The partition plate has an opening that connects the machine room with a space in which the outdoor fan is disposed.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the opening is provided at a lower portion of the partition plate in the vertical direction.

3. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the gap at the opening is set to be less than the extinction distance of the flammable refrigerant.

4. The opening is provided in an opening forming member having a louver shape, 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the slats of the opening-forming member forming the louver shape extend vertically downward or obliquely downward so as to form an opening that opens downward.

5. 5. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein a rotation direction of the outdoor fan is set so that blades of the outdoor fan pass from above to below the blade plates.

6. a refrigerant concentration detection sensor is further provided in the housing of the outdoor unit; 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant concentration detection sensor is disposed adjacent to the opening.

7. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a machine room space above the opening, the horizontal cross-sectional area of ​​which gradually decreases downward.

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