Refrigeration cycle device

Abstract

To provide a refrigeration cycle device capable of preventing a refrigerant from being stolen.SOLUTION: In a refrigeration cycle device, a refrigerant circulates within a body in which a compressor, an expansion valve and a heat exchanger are connected by piping, and the refrigeration cycle device includes a box-shaped article or a partition for inhibiting access to at least an outlet port of the body having a valve capable of allowing removal of the refrigerant, or detection means for detecting an operation of the valve. The partition includes: a partition plate for partitioning inside and outside of the body together with the heat exchanger; and a special screw that is used for fixing the partition plate to the body and can be removed only by a dedicated tool. The box-shaped article is provided to surround the outlet port or the compressor. The detection means includes: measurement means connected to the outlet port to measure a flow rate of the refrigerant; and control means for issuing warning on the basis of the measurement result from the measurement means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigeration cycle device in which a refrigerant circulates inside a main body that has a compressor, an expansion valve, and a heat exchanger connected by piping. [Background technology]

[0002] In refrigeration cycle devices such as air conditioners, a refrigerant circulates inside a main body that connects a compressor, expansion valve, and heat exchanger with piping, and the refrigerant exchanges heat with the circulating refrigerant to cool air, water, etc. Refrigeration cycle devices use materials such as copper, whose prices are rising rapidly, increasing the risk of theft.

[0003] A technique is known for preventing theft of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner and its parts by detecting when the pressure inside the pipes reaches atmospheric pressure and activating an acoustic device to emit a sound (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-257613 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As part of the trend toward refrigerant regulations, there is a demand for a shift to refrigerants with low global warming potential (GWP). In response to this, refrigeration cycle equipment that uses non-fluorocarbon refrigerants (e.g., R1234yf), which have a GWP value of "1," the same as that of carbon dioxide, is now on the market. However, the amount of R1234yf distributed on the market is still small, making it an expensive refrigerant.

[0006] The above-mentioned conventional technology is aimed at preventing theft of the outdoor unit and its parts, but is not primarily aimed at preventing theft of the refrigerant. Therefore, there has been a demand for a refrigeration cycle device that can prevent theft of the refrigerant. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a refrigeration cycle device in which a refrigerant circulates inside a main body having a compressor, an expansion valve, and a heat exchanger connected by piping, the device comprising: A box-like object or partition for blocking access to at least the outlet of the main body having a valve through which the refrigerant can be taken out, or a detection means for detecting the operation of the valve A refrigeration cycle device is provided, comprising: [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a refrigeration cycle device that can prevent theft of refrigerant. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a refrigeration cycle device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first configuration example in which the main body of the refrigeration cycle device is covered with a cover. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a fixing tool. [Figure 4] 10 is a diagram showing the position of an outlet having a valve through which the refrigerant sealed in the main body of the refrigeration cycle device can be taken out. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a first configuration example in which the outlet is covered with a box-shaped object. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration in which the entire component having the outlet is covered with a box-shaped object. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second configuration example in which the outlet is covered with a box-shaped object. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for detecting valve operation. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a third configuration example in which the outlet is covered with a box-shaped object. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second configuration example in which the main body of the refrigeration cycle device is covered with a cover. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The refrigeration cycle device according to this embodiment includes a main body having a compressor, an expansion valve, and a heat exchanger connected by piping, a refrigerant sealed inside the main body, and the sealed refrigerant circulates inside the main body and exchanges heat with the circulating refrigerant to cool or heat air, water, etc. Examples of refrigeration cycle devices include air conditioners, chillers (cooling water circulation devices), and refrigerators.

[0011] FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a refrigeration cycle device. Here, the refrigeration cycle device will be described as an air-cooled chiller unit. Chiller unit 10 includes a compressor 11, an expansion valve 12, and two heat exchangers. The two heat exchangers are a water-side heat exchanger 13 that cools the water to be cooled, and an air-side heat exchanger 14 that air-cools the refrigerant.

[0012] The compressor 11, expansion valve 12, water-side heat exchanger 13, and air-side heat exchanger 14 are connected to one another by piping to form a main body, and a refrigerant is sealed inside the main body. As part of refrigerant regulations, a shift to refrigerants with low GWP values ​​is required, and therefore R1234yf or other non-fluorocarbon refrigerants with a GWP value of "1," equivalent to that of carbon dioxide, are used as the refrigerant sealed inside the main body. R1234yf is 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (C3H2F4). R1234yf is expensive because its market distribution volume is still small. While R1234yf has been cited here as an example of a refrigerant with a low GWP value, the refrigerant is not limited to this.

[0013] The compressor 11 is a screw compressor, rotary compressor, scroll compressor, or the like, and is driven by a compressor drive motor to compress a low-temperature, low-pressure gas refrigerant and discharge it as a high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant. An accumulator may be provided on the inlet side of the compressor 11, and the accumulator separates gas and liquid to prevent liquid from entering the compressor 11 and damaging it.

[0014] The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 is supplied to the air-side heat exchanger 14. The air-side heat exchanger 14 has heat transfer tubes, and exchanges heat between the high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant supplied from the compressor 11 and flowing inside the heat transfer tubes, and air taken in by a fan 15 serving as ventilation means and flowing outside the heat transfer tubes. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant is cooled and condensed by heat exchange with the air, becoming a room-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant.

[0015] The room-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant is decompressed by expansion valve 12 to become a low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant, which is then supplied to water-side heat exchanger 13. Water-side heat exchanger 13 has, for example, heat transfer tubes, and performs heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing through the heat transfer tubes and water flowing in a container surrounding the heat transfer tubes. The water is cooled by heat exchange with the refrigerant, and the low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant evaporates and becomes a low-temperature, low-pressure gas refrigerant, which is discharged and returned to compressor 11. The refrigerant circulates inside the main body and cools the water that is supplied. Note that the heat exchanger is not limited to the above structure, as long as it can perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and water.

[0016] The chiller unit 10 may include a solenoid valve, a second expansion valve, and a subcooler between the air-side heat exchanger 14 and the expansion valve 12.

[0017] The subcooler is used to improve refrigeration capacity by branching the liquid refrigerant coming out of the air-side heat exchanger 14 and a portion of the liquid refrigerant coming out of the subcooler, leading it to the second expansion valve by opening the solenoid valve, and subcooling the liquid refrigerant by heat exchange with the refrigerant decompressed by the second expansion valve.

[0018] The chiller unit 10 may be provided with a four-way valve to reverse the flow direction of the refrigerant, heat the supplied water, and provide hot water.

[0019] Figure 2 shows a first example configuration in which the main body of the chiller unit is covered with a cover. Chiller unit 10 is a top-blowing device in which air-side heat exchanger 14 is arranged to cover part of the side of frame 16 assembled using steel sections with an L-shaped cross section, fan 15 is arranged on top, and compressor 11, expansion valve 12, and water-side heat exchanger 13 are installed in the hollow interior portion.

[0020] Air flows from the outside through the air-side heat exchanger 14 into the hollow space inside by the fan 15 and is then blown out from the top. As the air passes through the air-side heat exchanger 14, it exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing inside the air-side heat exchanger 14.

[0021] The chiller unit 10, together with the air-side heat exchanger 14, is separated into the inside and outside of the main body by a cover 17 made of an iron plate or the like which serves as a partition plate, and the cover 17 is fixed to a frame 16 or the like using screws 18 which serve as fixing devices which form the partition.

[0022] A pressure sensor that detects the suction pressure and discharge pressure of the refrigerant is connected via a valve to compressor 11. In addition, the pipe connecting air-side heat exchanger 14 and expansion valve 12 and the pipe connecting water-side heat exchanger 13 and expansion valve 12 are provided with refrigerant connection ports with valves that are used when charging the refrigerant. The pressure sensor and refrigerant connection ports are located inside chiller unit 10, but can be accessed by removing screws 18 and cover 17.

[0023] Chiller unit 10 uses copper for the heat exchanger and piping, and rising copper prices have led to theft of copper parts. In response to this, technology has been developed to prevent theft of parts, as described in the aforementioned Patent Document 1. Theft is not limited to parts; it is also thought to occur with expensive refrigerants, which are still in limited supply on the market. Unlike theft of parts, refrigerants can be easily extracted by simply opening a valve, for example. Therefore, separate measures are needed to prevent theft of refrigerants.

[0024] If someone were to steal the refrigerant, they could remove the cover 17 to enter the inside of the chiller unit 10, remove the pressure sensor, and open the valve or the valve at the refrigerant connection port, and then easily take out the refrigerant.

[0025] Therefore, rather than using ordinary screws as fasteners to attach the cover 17, special screws 18 that cannot be removed without a special tool, as shown in FIG. 3, are used to fasten the cover to the frame 16, etc. The screws 18 shown in FIG. 3 are called tamper-resistant screws and consist of a head 20 and a threaded portion 21. The head 20 has a hexagonal hole, and the screw 18 has a cylindrical pin 23 at the center of the drive portion 22, which is a hexagonal hole in the head 20. Because the pin 23 is at the center of the drive portion 22, a hex wrench, which is an ordinary tool, cannot be inserted into the screw 18. The screw 18 cannot be inserted and rotated without a special tool that has a circular hole at the center of the hexagonal surface at the tip of the hex wrench into which the pin 23 can be inserted. Such special screws 18 are not limited to hexagonal socket screws with a pin, but may also be screws with holes of other shapes, such as cross-recessed screws with a pin or screws with two circular holes.

[0026] In the example shown in Figure 2, all open parts of chiller unit 10 except for air-side heat exchanger 14 on the side are covered with cover 17 and fixed with special screws 18 to prevent free access to the interior, but instead of special screws 18, ordinary screws (screws that can be removed with an ordinary flat-head screwdriver or Phillips head screwdriver) can be used, and only the outlets for removing refrigerant, such as the internal refrigerant connection port and the connection port to which the pressure sensor is connected, or the entire component (unit) equipped with the outlets can be enclosed in a box-like object to prevent free access to the outlets.

[0027] First, with reference to Figure 4, the location of an outlet having a valve that allows the refrigerant sealed in the main body of chiller unit 10 to be removed will be described. Chiller unit 10 is equipped with compressor 11, expansion valve 12, water-side heat exchanger 13, and air-side heat exchanger 14, which are connected by piping to form an enclosed space. After that, check valves 30 and 31 provided for sealing the refrigerant are opened to seal the refrigerant. Check valves 30 and 31 are provided on lines branching off from the main line through which the refrigerant circulates. The main line through which the refrigerant circulates is a circulation path through which the refrigerant circulates, connected by compressor 11, expansion valve 12, water-side heat exchanger 13, air-side heat exchanger 14, piping, other valves, etc.

[0028] The branch line having the check valve 30 is provided in the high-pressure line between the air-side heat exchanger 14 and the expansion valve 12, and the branch line having the check valve 31 is provided in the low-pressure line between the water-side heat exchanger 13 and the expansion valve 12, and both can serve as outlets from which the refrigerant can be extracted.

[0029] Two pressure sensors 32, 33 are attached to the compressor 11, and are connected to the suction side and discharge side via valves, respectively. The refrigerant can be extracted by removing the pressure sensors 32, 33 attached to the compressor 11 and opening the valves to which the pressure sensors 32, 33 are connected. Therefore, the lines having the valves to which the pressure sensors 32, 33 are connected can serve as outlets from which the refrigerant can be extracted. Note that a high-pressure cutoff device may be connected to the line having the valve to which the pressure sensor 33 is connected, in addition to the pressure sensor 33. The high-pressure cutoff device is a device that detects an abnormal rise in refrigerant pressure and stops the compressor drive motor of the compressor 11 to prevent the pressure from rising abnormally.

[0030] Additionally, a pressure switch 34 is connected to the compressor 11 via a valve. The pressure switch 34 is a device that detects a set pressure and outputs a signal, which is used to control the compressor 11. The refrigerant can be extracted by removing the pressure switch 34 and opening the valve to which the pressure switch 34 is connected. Therefore, the line having the valve to which the pressure switch 34 is connected can serve as an outlet from which the refrigerant can be extracted. Note that these outlets are merely examples and are not limited to these.

[0031] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a first configuration example in which the outlet is covered with a box-shaped object. In the example shown in Fig. 5, a check valve 31 is provided in a branch line branching off from a pipe 40 connected to the expansion valve 12, and the entire branch line including the check valve 31 is covered with a box-shaped object 41. Because the outlet is covered with the box-shaped object 41, the check valve 31 cannot be accessed, and theft of the refrigerant can be prevented.

[0032] The box-shaped object 41 is made up of, for example, six plates, each having a hole through which the pipe 40 passes. The plates can be connected to each other by welding or fusion, or by using the above-mentioned tamper-resistant screws. At least one plate is fixed using a tamper-resistant screw, so that the plate can be removed to access the interior as needed, for example to check for refrigerant leakage from the check valve 31. The plates that make up the box-shaped object 41 are preferably made of metal and have a certain thickness so that they are not easily cut or damaged.

[0033] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration in which the entire component having an outlet is covered with a box-shaped object. In Fig. 6, compressor 11 is shown as an example component, and compressor 11 is entirely covered with box-shaped object 41 to prevent free access to the inside of compressor 11. By covering it with box-shaped object 41 in this way, pressure sensors 32, 33 and pressure switch 34 cannot be accessed, making it possible to prevent theft of refrigerant.

[0034] The compressor 11 has an intake port 50 for sucking in a refrigerant, a discharge port 51 for discharging the compressed refrigerant, an intake-side valve 52 connected to a pressure sensor 32 for detecting the suction pressure, and a discharge-side valve 53 connected to a pressure sensor 33 for detecting the discharge pressure and a pressure switch 34.

[0035] 5, the box-like object 41 is made up of, for example, six plates, and the plates can be connected to each other by welding or melting, or by using tamper-resistant screws. At least one plate is fixed with a tamper-resistant screw, so that the plate can be removed as needed to access the inside for inspection, etc.

[0036] The component is not limited to the compressor 11, but may be a pipe provided with a check valve, or the like.

[0037] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second configuration example in which the outlet is covered with a box-shaped object. The configuration shown in FIG. 7 is similar to the configuration shown in FIG. 5, but a single plate is provided with a hinge or the like on one side so that it can be opened and closed like a door 42. Note that the single plate may serve as the door 42, or a separate door 42 may be provided on a portion of the single plate. The door 42 is locked with a lock 43 such as a padlock or a lever tumbler lock to prevent access by anyone other than authorized persons. The door 42 can be easily opened and closed, but by locking it with the lock 43, it becomes difficult to open and close, thereby preventing theft of the refrigerant.

[0038] Lock 43 is attached to door 42 and is composed of a lock with an openable / closable mechanism and a key for operating the lock. Lock 43 may be a mechanical lock such as the padlock or lever tumbler lock described above, or it may be an electronic lock or electric lock. Examples of electronic locks or electric locks include those that use card keys, smartphones, numeric keypads, biometric authentication, etc. Note that even when covering all of the components shown in FIG. 6, a configuration in which door 42 is provided and locked with lock 43 may be adopted.

[0039] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a third example configuration in which the outlet is covered with a box-shaped object. In the configuration shown in Fig. 8, a single plate constituting the box-shaped object 41 is provided with a hinge or the like on one side, so that it can be opened and closed like a door 42. Note that the single plate may serve as the door 42, or a separate door 42 may be provided on a part of the single plate. The door 42 may be locked with a lock 43, similar to the configuration shown in Fig. 7.

[0040] A control device 60 is connected to the door 42 as a control means, and the control device 60 is capable of monitoring the number of times the door 42 is opened and closed when accessing the outlet, and outputting an alarm.

[0041] The door 42 and the control device 60 may be configured to communicate via a cable, or may be configured to communicate wirelessly.

[0042] The control device 60 includes a processor, memory, storage device, communication I / F, and sound output device or display device, or both, and the door 42 includes, for example, an open / close sensor as an open / close detection means. The open / close sensor is composed of, for example, a magnet and a magnetic sensor, and detects the open / close state of the door 42 by detecting changes in the magnetic field. Note that the open / close sensor is not limited to the above-mentioned one composed of a magnet and a magnetic sensor, as long as it can detect the open / close state of the door 42.

[0043] The control device 60 communicates with the opening / closing sensor of the door 42, monitors the number of times the door 42 is opened and closed, and when the opening / closing sensor detects that the door 42 has been opened or closed, increments a counter that counts the number of times the door 42 is opened and closed by one. The control device 60 can realize processes such as communication with the door 42, monitoring the number of times the door 42 is opened and closed, and counting the number of times the door 42 is opened and closed by having a processor read into memory a program stored in a storage device and execute it. Note that this process is not limited to being realized by a program, and some or all of it may be realized using hardware such as a dedicated circuit.

[0044] The counter includes a first counter that counts the number of times the door 42 is opened and a second counter that counts the number of times the door 42 is closed. The door 42 is periodically opened by an operator to check whether or not refrigerant is leaking from the check valve 31.

[0045] When an operator opens door 42, it is for inspection, and the operator always closes door 42 after the inspection. On the other hand, a thief who steals the refrigerant would likely open door 42, steal the refrigerant, and then not bother to close door 42. This causes the value of the first counter and the value of the second counter to differ, and an alarm can be output to notify the operator that refrigerant has been removed. In other words, the control device 60 can output an alarm based on the detection result of the open / close sensor.

[0046] As long as the alarm can be notified to the administrator who manages the chiller unit 10, it may be output as sound by a sound output device, or it may be output as a display by a display device, or both.

[0047] A thief attempting to steal the refrigerant may close the door 42 to delay detection. Generally, inspection of the check valve 31 is completed in a short time of a few minutes, since it only involves checking for the presence or absence of refrigerant leakage. On the other hand, removing the refrigerant is a time-consuming task.

[0048] Therefore, the time from when the value of the first counter is increased by one until the value of the second counter is also increased by one is measured, and if this time is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, it is determined that the refrigerant is being removed and an alarm is output. Note that the predetermined time can be set arbitrarily.

[0049] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration for detecting valve operation. In the example shown in Fig. 9, a flow meter 61 serving as a measuring means for measuring the flow rate of a refrigerant is provided in a line to which check valve 31 is connected as a detecting means for detecting valve operation, and flow meter 61 is connected to control device 60. Note that the detecting means is not limited to flow meter 61 as long as it can detect valve operation.

[0050] The flow meter 61 opens the check valve 31 and measures the flow rate when the refrigerant is removed. The control device 60 communicates with the flow meter 61 by wire or wirelessly, monitors the flow rate measured by the flow meter 61, and detects whether or not the refrigerant is leaking or being removed based on the flow rate. When the control device 60 detects that the refrigerant is being removed, it outputs an alarm to notify that the theft of the refrigerant is currently occurring. That is, the control device 60 outputs an alarm based on the measurement result of the flow meter 61.

[0051] When stealing refrigerant, the flow rate when extracting the refrigerant tends to be high because the thief tries to extract the refrigerant as quickly as possible. On the other hand, when the refrigerant leaks, the flow rate is likely to be low unless the check valve 31 is broken.

[0052] The control device 60 can determine that a refrigerant leak has occurred when the flow rate measured by the flow meter 61 is less than the first threshold value, and that a refrigerant removal has occurred when the flow rate is equal to or greater than the first threshold value, and output an alarm for each case. In this case, different alarms can be output for each case, and notification can be made to distinguish between a leak and a removal.

[0053] Furthermore, the control device 60 can determine that there is no refrigerant leakage when the flow rate measured by the flow meter 61 is less than a second threshold value that is smaller than the first threshold value, and can determine that there is a refrigerant leakage when the flow rate is equal to or greater than the second threshold value. The second threshold value for determining that there is no refrigerant leakage may be set to 0, but because there is a possibility that the flow meter 61 may have an error, it is desirable to set the maximum value of that error as the second threshold value.

[0054] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a second configuration example in which the main body of the refrigeration cycle apparatus is covered with a cover. As in the configuration shown in Fig. 2, the main body is covered with a cover 17 using special screws 18, but in Fig. 10, a control device 60 is installed inside the cover 17, and a remote monitoring device 70 is installed in a location away from the refrigeration cycle apparatus.

[0055] As already explained, the flow meter 61 measures the flow rate of the refrigerant, and the control device 60 detects whether or not there is a leak or whether or not the refrigerant has been removed, and therefore the explanation thereof will be omitted here. The control device 60 and the remote monitoring device 70 are connected by a cable or via a network. The control device 60 and the remote monitoring device 70 may also be connected wirelessly. The control device 60 transmits the results of the detection of whether or not there is a leak or whether or not the refrigerant has been removed to the remote monitoring device 70.

[0056] The remote monitoring device 70 outputs an alarm based on the results received from the control device 60. Different alarms can be output to distinguish between a leak and a removal. The control device 60 may also send the refrigerant flow rate measured by the flow meter 61 directly to the remote monitoring device 70, and the remote monitoring device 70 may determine whether a refrigerant leaks or is being removed from the received flow rate and output an alarm.

[0057] The chiller unit 10 may or may not include the remote monitoring device 70.

[0058] As described above, by preventing access to the refrigerant outlet inside the refrigeration cycle device, it is possible to prevent theft of refrigerant from the refrigerant outlet.

[0059] The refrigeration cycle device of the present invention has been described in detail using the above-mentioned embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and can be modified within the scope of what a person skilled in the art can conceive, such as other embodiments, additions, modifications, deletions, etc., and any aspect is included in the scope of the present invention as long as it achieves the functions and effects of the present invention.

[0060] Lubricating oil is also used in the refrigeration cycle device, and when expensive lubricating oil is used, theft of the lubricating oil can also be prevented in the same way. [Explanation of symbols]

[0061] 10...Chiller unit 11...Compressor 12...Expansion valve 13…Water side heat exchanger 14...Air side heat exchanger 15...Fan 16...Frame 17...Cover 18...Screw 20…Head 21...Threaded part 22...Drive unit 23...pin 30, 31...Stop valve 32, 33...Pressure sensors 34...Pressure switch 40...Piping 41...Box-like object 42...door 43...Lock 50...Intake port 51...Discharge port 52...Suction side valve 53...Discharge side valve 60...Control device 61…Flow meter 70...Remote monitoring device

Claims

1. A refrigeration cycle device in which a refrigerant circulates inside a main body in which a compressor, an expansion valve, and a heat exchanger are connected by piping, a box-like object or partition for blocking access to at least the outlet of the main body, which has an outlet having a valve through which the refrigerant can be taken out, or a detection means for detecting operation of the valve; A refrigeration cycle device comprising:

2. the partition includes a partition plate that separates the inside and outside of the main body together with the heat exchanger, and a fastener for fastening the partition plate to the main body, The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a special screw that can be removed only with a dedicated tool.

3. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the box-shaped object is provided so as to surround the outlet or the compressor.

4. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the box-shaped object has an openable and closable door, and the door is locked with a lock.

5. The door is provided with an opening / closing detection means for detecting opening / closing of the door, The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a control means for outputting an alarm based on a detection result of the open / close detection means.

6. 2. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection means includes: a measuring means connected to the outlet and configured to measure a flow rate of the refrigerant; and a control means configured to output an alarm based on a measurement result of the measuring means.

7. The refrigeration cycle device according to claim 6, wherein the control means determines whether or not the refrigerant is being removed based on the measurement result, and outputs the alarm when it determines that the refrigerant is being removed.

8. The refrigeration cycle device according to claim 7, wherein the control means determines whether or not there is a leakage of the refrigerant based on the measurement result, and when it determines that there is a leakage of the refrigerant, outputs a second alarm different from the alarm.

9. 2. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detection means includes: a measuring means connected to the outlet and configured to measure a flow rate of the refrigerant; and a control means configured to transmit a determination result, based on a measurement result of the measuring means, as to whether or not at least the refrigerant is being taken out, to a remote monitoring device that outputs an alarm.

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