Air conditioning system

Abstract

This disclosure is, This disclosure provides an air conditioning system that can prevent the refrigerant leak sensor from being accidentally disabled and that can implement appropriate safety measures using the refrigerant leak sensor. [Solution] The air conditioning system of the present disclosure comprises an indoor unit with a built-in refrigerant leak sensor, a safety device that executes safety measures in the indoor unit when the refrigerant leak sensor detects a refrigerant leak, and a setting means for setting whether to enable or disable the refrigerant leak sensor. When the refrigerant leak sensor is enabled by the setting means, the safety device executes safety measures when the refrigerant leak sensor detects a refrigerant leak, and when the refrigerant leak sensor is disabled by the setting means, the system comprises an alarm means that sounds an alarm if there is an indoor unit to which the safety device is connected.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 includes a connection determination unit, a display control unit, and a switching unit. The connection determination unit performs a communication determination on whether communication with a refrigerant leakage sensor can be performed normally. The refrigerant leakage sensor detects refrigerant leakage in a target space. The display control unit outputs error display information (notification information) when the connection determination unit determines that communication with the refrigerant leakage sensor cannot be performed normally. The switching unit performs switching on whether to cause the connection determination unit to perform the communication determination and the display control unit to output the notification information, and discloses an air conditioner.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure provides an air conditioner that can suppress accidentally setting a refrigerant leakage sensor to be invalid and can perform appropriate safety measures by the refrigerant leakage sensor.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The air conditioning system of this disclosure includes an indoor unit with a built-in refrigerant leak sensor, a safety device that performs safety measures in the indoor unit when the refrigerant leak sensor detects a refrigerant leak, and a setting means for setting whether to enable or disable the refrigerant leak sensor. The system includes an alarm means that sounds an alarm if the refrigerant leak sensor is enabled by the setting means and the refrigerant leak sensor detects a refrigerant leak, and if the refrigerant leak sensor is disabled by the setting means and there is an indoor unit to which the safety device is connected. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the air conditioning system of this disclosure, if the refrigerant leak sensor of the indoor unit to which the safety device is connected is set to disabled, an alarm is issued by the alarm means. This prevents the refrigerant leak sensor from being mistakenly disabled when safety measures against refrigerant leakage are necessary. Therefore, appropriate safety measures can be taken using the refrigerant leak sensor. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Configuration diagram showing the air conditioning system in Embodiment 1 [Figure 2] Block diagram showing the control configuration in Embodiment 1 [Figure 3] Configuration diagram showing the air conditioning system in Embodiment 2 [Figure 4] Block diagram showing the control configuration in Embodiment 3 [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] (Knowledge and other information that formed the basis of this disclosure) At the time the inventors conceived of this disclosure, there was a technology in which the display control unit would output error display information (notification information) if the connection determination unit determined that communication with the refrigerant leak sensor could not be performed properly. In some air conditioning systems, there is a function that allows the user to select whether to enable or disable the refrigerant leak sensor. When the amount of refrigerant used is small, or when the volume of the indoor space in which the indoor unit is installed is large and it is safe even if refrigerant leakage occurs, the refrigerant leak sensor is set to be disabled. However, the inventors discovered a problem with conventional technology: if an operator disables the refrigerant leak sensor when it is required, appropriate safety measures cannot be taken in the event of a refrigerant leak, potentially compromising safety. To solve this problem, the subject matter of this disclosure was established. This disclosure provides an air conditioning system that can prevent the refrigerant leak sensor from being accidentally disabled and that can implement appropriate safety measures using the refrigerant leak sensor.

[0009] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary details may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters or redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid the following explanation becoming unnecessarily verbose and to facilitate understanding for those skilled in the art. The attached drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand this disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0010] (Embodiment 1) Embodiment 1 will be described below with reference to the drawings. [1-1. Structure] [1-1-1. Configuration of the air conditioning system] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioning system in Embodiment 1. As shown in Figure 1, the air conditioning system 1 comprises one outdoor unit 10 and three indoor units 20 (20a, 20b, 20c) connected in parallel to the outdoor unit 10 by refrigerant piping 2. Note that there may be one indoor unit 20 or four or more indoor units 20.

[0011] In the air conditioning system 1, the refrigeration cycle 5 is composed of an outdoor unit 10, an indoor unit 20, and refrigerant piping 2. The air conditioning system 1 provides air conditioning to the room in which the indoor unit 20 is installed by circulating the refrigerant compressed by the outdoor unit 10 between the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 via the refrigerant piping 2. In this embodiment, an example is given where a flammable refrigerant is used as the refrigerant. The flammable refrigerant is R32 or a mixed refrigerant containing 70% or more by weight of R32, or propane or a mixed refrigerant containing propane. Note that the refrigerant used in the air conditioning system 1 is not limited to a flammable refrigerant, and a non-flammable refrigerant may also be used.

[0012] The outdoor unit 10 includes a compressor 11, a gas-liquid separator 12, an oil separator 13, a four-way valve 14, an outdoor heat exchanger 16 having an outdoor fan 15, and an outdoor expansion valve 17. A gas-liquid separator 12, which supplies gaseous refrigerant to the compressor 11, is connected to the suction side of the compressor 11, and a four-way valve 14 is connected to the discharge side of the compressor 11 via an oil separator 13. An outdoor heat exchanger 16 is connected to the four-way valve 14. Heat exchange takes place in the outdoor heat exchanger 16 between the air supplied by the outdoor fan 15 and the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger 16. An outdoor expansion valve 17 is connected to the downstream side of the outdoor heat exchanger 16.

[0013] Each indoor unit 20 is equipped with an indoor heat exchanger 22 with an indoor fan 21 and an indoor expansion valve 23. The indoor expansion valve 23 is located in the liquid pipe 2a upstream of the indoor heat exchanger 22. A shut-off valve kit 30 for opening and closing the liquid pipe 2a and gas pipe 2b is connected between the outdoor unit 10 and each indoor unit 20. The shut-off valve kit 30 is a safety device as referred to in this disclosure.

[0014] In Figure 1, the shut-off valve kit 30 is connected to two indoor units 20a and 20b, while the shut-off valve kit 30 is not connected to one indoor unit 20c. The indoor space where the indoor unit 20c without the shut-off valve kit 30 connected is installed is, for example, a space where the space to be air-conditioned by the air conditioner 1 is large and safety can be ensured even if refrigerant leakage occurs, or a case where the amount of refrigerant used is small and the standard concentration is not reached even if all the refrigerant leaks.

[0015] The shut-off valve kit 30 is provided with a liquid pipe on-off valve 31 provided in the liquid pipe 2a and a gas pipe on-off valve 32 provided in the gas pipe 2b. When refrigerant leakage is detected in the indoor unit 20 by a refrigerant leakage sensor described later, the shut-off valve kit 30 closes the liquid pipe on-off valve 31 and the gas pipe on-off valve 32 to stop the refrigerant from flowing into the indoor heat exchanger 22 of the indoor unit 20. The liquid pipe on-off valve 31 and the gas pipe on-off valve 32 are shut-off valves as referred to in the present disclosure.

[0016] The indoor unit 20 is provided with a refrigerant leakage sensor 35 for detecting refrigerant leakage. The refrigerant leakage sensor 35 may be provided on the wall of the air-conditioned space or the like. Each indoor unit 20 is connected to a remote controller 36 for giving instructions on the start and stop of air-conditioning operation, setting the air-conditioning temperature, displaying the operating state, etc., and giving a predetermined alarm by a display unit or an audio output unit or the like. That is, the remote controller 36 functions as setting means and alarm means as referred to in the present disclosure. The alarm means may be a separately independent alarm device instead of the remote controller 36.

[0017] [1-1-2. Control Configuration] Next, the control configuration in Embodiment 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control configuration in Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, a control device 40 for controlling the air conditioner 1 is provided. The control device 40 may be installed, for example, in the outdoor unit 10 on which the compressor 1 is mounted in the air conditioner 1, may be installed in the indoor unit 20, or may be installed in a server capable of communicating with the outdoor unit 10 or the indoor unit 20. The control device 40 includes a processor 41 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or MPU (Micro Processor Unit), a memory 42, and an interface circuit (not shown) for connecting other devices and sensors.

[0018] Memory 42 is a storage device that stores programs and data. Memory 42 has a non-volatile storage area and stores a predetermined control program. Memory 42 is composed of, for example, ROM (Read Only Memory) or RAM (Random Access Memory). The processor 41 controls each part of the air conditioning system 1 by reading and operating the control program stored in the memory 42.

[0019] A remote control 36 is connected to the control device 40. The control device 40 receives the setting information from the remote control 36. The control device 40 also receives the detected value from the refrigerant leak sensor 35. The processor 41 of the control device 40 drives and controls the compressor 11, the outdoor fan 15, the outdoor expansion valve 17, the indoor fan 21, the indoor expansion valve 23, the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32 of the shut-off valve kit 30.

[0020] In this embodiment, it is possible to set whether to enable or disable the refrigerant leak sensor 35 based on the settings information of the remote control 36. When the shut-off valve kit 30 is connected and the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is disabled by the remote control 36, the processor 41 is configured to trigger an alarm via the remote control 36. Furthermore, if the shut-off valve kit 30 is connected and the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is enabled, the remote control 36 will not issue an alarm.

[0021] Furthermore, if no safety device is connected to the indoor unit 20, and the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is enabled via the remote control 36, the processor 41 will not issue an alarm via the remote control 36. Furthermore, if a shut-off valve kit 30 is connected to the indoor unit 20, and the refrigerant leak sensor 35 of the indoor unit 20 to which the shut-off valve kit 30 is connected is disabled by the remote control 36, the remote control 36 will issue an alarm.

[0022] Furthermore, when multiple indoor units 20 are connected to a single refrigerant pipe 2, and one indoor unit 20 is designated as the master indoor unit 20a, and the other indoor units 20 are designated as sub-indoor units 20b and 20c, the master indoor unit 20a and the sub-indoor units 20b and 20c are capable of communicating with each other. In this case, with the shut-off valve kit 30 connected, the main indoor unit 20a checks the status of the refrigerant leak sensors 35 of the sub-indoor units 20b and 20c. If the refrigerant leak sensor 35 of either sub-indoor unit 20b or 20c is disabled by the remote control 36, the processor 41 issues an alarm via the remote control 36.

[0023] [1-2. Operation] Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. First, the processor 41 determines whether the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is enabled or disabled based on the settings information of the remote control 36. If the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is enabled, the refrigerant leak sensor 35 detects a refrigerant leak in the indoor unit 20. When the processor 41 detects a refrigerant leak using the refrigerant leak sensor 35, it controls the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32 of the shut-off valve kit 30 to close.

[0024] On the other hand, if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is disabled, an alarm will be issued via the remote control 36 of indoor units 20a and 20b to which the shut-off valve kit 30 is connected. Also, even if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is disabled, no alarm will be issued via the remote control 36 for indoor unit 20c to which the shut-off valve kit 30 is not connected. Furthermore, for indoor units 20c that are not connected to a safety device, the remote control 36 will not issue an alarm even if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is enabled via the remote control 36. This is because the safety of the indoor space is maintained even if the shut-off valve kit 30 is not connected.

[0025] In Embodiment 1, if one indoor unit 20 is designated as the master indoor unit 20a and the other indoor units 20 are designated as sub-indoor units 20b and 20c, the master indoor unit 20a is capable of communicating with the shut-off valve kit 30, and the master indoor unit 20a and the sub-indoor units 20b and 20c are capable of communicating with each other. The main indoor unit 20a checks the status of the refrigerant leak sensor 35, and as described above, if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is enabled, it detects a refrigerant leak using the refrigerant leak sensor 35 and controls the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32 of the shut-off valve kit 30 to close. On the other hand, if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is disabled, an alarm is triggered by the remote control 36 of the indoor unit 20 to which the shut-off valve kit 30 is connected.

[0026] Furthermore, the main indoor unit 20a communicates with the sub-indoor units 20b and 20c to check the status of the refrigerant leak sensors 35 in each of the sub-indoor units 20b and 20c. Furthermore, if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is disabled despite the shut-off valve kit 30 being connected to the sub-indoor unit 20b, the main indoor unit 20a will issue an alarm via the remote control 36 of the indoor unit 20b to which the shut-off valve kit 30 is connected.

[0027] [1-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, the air conditioning system 1 of Embodiment 1 includes an indoor unit 20 with a built-in refrigerant leak sensor 35, a shut-off valve kit 30 (safety device) that executes safety measures in the indoor unit 20 when the refrigerant leak sensor 35 detects a refrigerant leak, and a remote control 36 (setting means) that sets whether to enable or disable the refrigerant leak sensor 35. When the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is set to enable by the remote control 36, the shut-off valve kit 30 executes safety measures when the refrigerant leak sensor 35 detects a refrigerant leak. When the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is set to disable by the remote control 36, the system includes a remote control 36 (alarm means) that sounds an alarm if there is an indoor unit 20 to which the shut-off valve kit 30 is connected.

[0028] As a result, if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 of the indoor unit 20 to which the shut-off valve kit 30 is connected is disabled, an alarm will be issued by the remote control 36. This prevents the refrigerant leak sensor 35 from being mistakenly disabled when safety measures for refrigerant leakage are necessary. Therefore, appropriate safety measures can be taken using the refrigerant leak sensor 35.

[0029] Furthermore, in the first embodiment of the air conditioning system 1, if the indoor unit 20 to which the shut-off valve kit 30 (safety device) is not connected is set to have the refrigerant leak sensor 35 enabled by the remote control 36 (setting means), the remote control 36 (alarm means) will not issue an alarm. As a result, for indoor units 20 that are not connected to the shut-off valve kit 30, even if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is enabled by the remote control 36, the remote control 36 will not issue an alarm, thereby suppressing unnecessary warnings.

[0030] Furthermore, in the first embodiment of the air conditioning system 1, the indoor unit 20 consists of a main indoor unit 20 that can communicate with a shut-off valve kit 30 (safety device) and a sub-indoor unit 20 that can communicate with the main indoor unit 20. When the shut-off valve kit 30 (safety device) is connected, the main indoor unit 20 checks the status of the refrigerant leak sensor 35 of the sub-indoor unit 20, and if there is a sub-indoor unit 20 in which the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is set to disabled, it issues an alarm using the remote control 36 (alarm means). This allows the parent indoor unit 20 to check the status of the refrigerant leak sensor 35 of the child indoor unit 20, thereby enabling management of the child indoor unit 20, which is connected to the parent indoor unit 20 in a communicative manner.

[0031] Furthermore, the air conditioning system 1 of Embodiment 1 includes safety devices: a liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and a gas pipe shut-off valve 32 (shut-off valve) that are shut off when the refrigerant leak sensor 35 detects a refrigerant leak. The system also includes a remote control 36 (alarm means) that issues an alarm when the refrigerant leak sensor 35 of the indoor unit 20, which corresponds to the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32, is disabled by the remote control 36 (setting means). As a result, if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 of the indoor unit 20, which corresponds to the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32, is set to disabled, the remote control 36 will issue an alarm. This prevents the refrigerant leak sensor 35 from being mistakenly disabled when safety measures for refrigerant leakage are necessary.

[0032] (Embodiment 2) Next, Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure will be described. [2-1. Structure] Figure 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the air conditioning system in Embodiment 2. As shown in Figure 3, the air conditioning system 1 in this embodiment is a so-called 3-way air conditioning system 1 in which each of the multiple indoor units 20 can perform either cooling or heating operations. The outdoor unit 10 and each indoor unit 20 are connected via a liquid pipe 2a, a gas pipe 2b, and a suction pipe 2c.

[0033] In this embodiment, a shut-off valve kit 30 is connected between the indoor unit 20 and multiple indoor units 20. The shut-off valve kit 30 includes switching valves 33 positioned between the gas pipe 2b and the indoor heat exchanger 22, and between the suction pipe 2c and the indoor heat exchanger 22. The switching valves 33 are used to switch between connecting the gas pipe 2b or the suction pipe 2c to the indoor heat exchanger 22. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the shut-off valve kit 30 includes a liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and a gas pipe shut-off valve 32. That is, in this embodiment, the shut-off valve kit 30 is configured to function as a means for switching the refrigerant flow path, as well as as a safety device using the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the shut-off valve kit 30 is configured to allow switching between enabling or disabling the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32. Specifically, under normal conditions, the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32 are operational, and by installing a short-circuit pin, the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32 can be disabled.

[0035] Furthermore, in this embodiment as in Embodiment 1, the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is also configured to be enabled or disabled. The setting of enabling or disabling the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is performed using the remote control 36, as in Embodiment 1.

[0036] Note that the other components are the same as in Embodiment 1, so their description will be omitted. Details of the outdoor unit will also be omitted.

[0037] [2-2. Operation] Next, the operation of Embodiment 2 will be described. If the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32 are in a functional state and the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is enabled, the remote control 36 will not issue an alarm. Instead, if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 detects a refrigerant leak, it will control the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32 of the shut-off valve kit 30 to close. Furthermore, even if the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32 are in a functional state, if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is disabled, an alarm will be issued by the remote control 36.

[0038] On the other hand, if the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32 are not functioning, the remote control 36 will not issue an alarm, regardless of whether the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is enabled or disabled.

[0039] [2-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, in the first embodiment of the air conditioning system 1, the shut-off valve kit 30 (safety device) consists of a liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and a gas pipe shut-off valve 32 (shut-off valves) that are shut off when the refrigerant leak sensor 35 detects a refrigerant leak. The liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32 are provided in the shut-off valve kit 30. The shut-off valve kit 30 can be switched on or off to enable the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32. If the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32 are not enabled, the indoor unit 20 connected to the shut-off valve kit 30 will not issue an alarm via the remote control 36 if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is disabled. If the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32 are enabled, the indoor unit 20 connected to the shut-off valve kit 30 will issue an alarm via the remote control 36 (alarm means) if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is disabled.

[0040] As a result, if the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32 are not functioning, the indoor unit 20 connected to the shut-off valve kit 30 will not issue an alarm via the remote control 36 if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is disabled. If the liquid pipe shut-off valve 31 and the gas pipe shut-off valve 32 are functioning, the indoor unit 20 connected to the shut-off valve kit 30 will issue an alarm via the remote control 36 if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is disabled. This prevents the refrigerant leak sensor 35 from being mistakenly disabled when safety measures for refrigerant leakage are necessary. Therefore, appropriate safety measures can be taken using the refrigerant leak sensor 35.

[0041] (Embodiment 3) Next, Embodiment 3 of this disclosure will be described. [3-1. Structure] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the control configuration in Embodiment 3. As shown in Figure 4, the control device 40 includes a measurement unit 43 that measures the time the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is energized. The control device 40 also includes a replacement notification unit 44 that notifies the system of replacement information for the refrigerant leak sensor 35 when the time the measurement unit 43 energizes the refrigerant leak sensor 35 exceeds a predetermined time. The replacement information from the replacement notification unit 44 may be notified to, for example, the remote control 36, or to the control device 40 or other devices. The refrigerant leak sensor 35 is always energized, regardless of whether it is active or inactive. Therefore, the energization time for the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is constantly measured by the measurement unit 43.

[0042] [3-2. Operation] In this embodiment, the measurement unit 43 measures the time the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is energized. As described in Embodiments 1 and 2, if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is enabled, the replacement notification unit 44 notifies the system of replacement information for the refrigerant leak sensor 35 when the energization time to the refrigerant leak sensor 35 measured by the measurement unit 43 exceeds a predetermined time.

[0043] On the other hand, if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is disabled, the replacement notification unit 44 will not send replacement information. In this case, the replacement information will be sent by the replacement notification unit 44 when the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is enabled.

[0044] [3-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, the air conditioning system 1 of Embodiment 1 further includes a replacement notification unit 44 that notifies of replacement information for the refrigerant leak sensor 35 when the energized time to the refrigerant leak sensor 35 exceeds a predetermined time. If the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is active, the replacement notification unit 44 notifies the replacement information, but if the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is deactivated, the replacement notification unit 44 does not notify the replacement information. This allows notifications to be sent only when the refrigerant leak sensor 35 is enabled, thereby enabling notifications to be sent according to the usage of the refrigerant leak sensor 35.

[0045] (Other embodiments) As described above, embodiments have been explained as examples of the technology disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited to these embodiments and can be applied to embodiments that have been modified, replaced, added, or omitted. Furthermore, it is possible to create new embodiments by combining the components described in each of the above embodiments.

[0046] (Note) Based on the above description of embodiments, the following technologies are disclosed. (Technology 1) An air conditioning system comprising: an indoor unit with a built-in refrigerant leak sensor; a safety device that executes safety measures in the indoor unit when the refrigerant leak sensor detects a refrigerant leak; and a setting means for setting whether to enable or disable the refrigerant leak sensor, wherein when the setting means is set to enable the refrigerant leak sensor, the safety device executes safety measures when the refrigerant leak sensor detects a refrigerant leak; and an alarm means that sounds an alarm if the setting means is set to disable the refrigerant leak sensor and there is an indoor unit to which the safety device is connected. With this configuration, if the refrigerant leak sensor of the indoor unit to which the safety device is connected is disabled, an alarm will be issued by the alarm mechanism. This prevents the refrigerant leak sensor from being mistakenly disabled when safety measures against refrigerant leakage are necessary. Therefore, appropriate safety measures can be taken using the refrigerant leak sensor.

[0047] (Technical 2) The air conditioning system according to Technical Item 1, wherein if the indoor unit to which the safety device is not connected is set to have the refrigerant leak sensor enabled by the setting means, the alarm means does not issue an alarm. With this configuration, for indoor units that are not connected to a safety device, even if the refrigerant leak sensor is enabled by the setting means, the alarm means will not issue an alarm, thereby suppressing unnecessary warnings.

[0048] (Technology 3) The air conditioning system according to Technology 1 or Technology 2, wherein the indoor unit comprises a master indoor unit capable of communicating with the safety device and a sub-indoor unit capable of communicating with the master indoor unit, and the master indoor unit, when the safety device is connected, checks the status of the refrigerant leak sensor of the sub-indoor unit, and if there is a sub-indoor unit in which the refrigerant leak sensor is set to disabled, an alarm is issued by the alarm means. With this configuration, the main indoor unit can check the status of the refrigerant leak sensor in the sub-indoor unit, thereby enabling management of the sub-indoor unit that is connected to the main indoor unit in a communicative manner.

[0049] (Technical 4) The air conditioning system according to any one of Technical 1 to 3, wherein the safety device is a shut-off valve that is shut off when the refrigerant leak sensor detects a refrigerant leak, and the alarm means makes an alarm when the refrigerant leak sensor of the indoor unit corresponding to the shut-off valve is disabled by the setting means. With this configuration, if the refrigerant leak sensor in the indoor unit corresponding to the shut-off valve is set to disabled, an alarm is issued by the alarm mechanism. This prevents the refrigerant leak sensor from being mistakenly disabled when safety measures against refrigerant leakage are necessary.

[0050] (Technical 5) The air conditioning system according to Technical 11, wherein the safety device is a shut-off valve that is shut off when the refrigerant leak sensor detects a refrigerant leak, the shut-off valve is provided in a shut-off valve kit, the shut-off valve kit is switchable on or off, and when the shut-off valve is not activated, the indoor unit connected to the shut-off valve kit does not make an alarm if the refrigerant leak sensor is set to disabled, and when the shut-off valve is activated, the indoor unit connected to the shut-off valve kit makes an alarm if the refrigerant leak sensor is set to disabled. With this configuration, if the shut-off valve is not functioning, the alarm will not sound if the indoor unit connected to the shut-off valve kit has its refrigerant leak sensor disabled. If the shut-off valve is functioning, the alarm will sound if the indoor unit connected to the shut-off valve kit has its refrigerant leak sensor disabled. This prevents the refrigerant leak sensor from being mistakenly disabled when safety measures against refrigerant leakage are necessary. Therefore, appropriate safety measures can be taken using the refrigerant leak sensor.

[0051] (Technical 6) An air conditioning system according to any one of Technical 1 to 5, further comprising a replacement notification unit that notifies information about replacing the refrigerant leak sensor when the energized time to the refrigerant leak sensor exceeds a predetermined time, wherein the replacement notification unit notifies the replacement information when the refrigerant leak sensor is active, and does not notify the replacement information when the refrigerant leak sensor is deactivated. With this configuration, notifications regarding the replacement of the refrigerant leak sensor are sent only when the refrigerant leak sensor is enabled, thereby enabling notifications tailored to the use of the refrigerant leak sensor. [Industrial applicability]

[0052] This disclosure can be suitably used in an air conditioning system that can prevent the refrigerant leak sensor from being accidentally disabled and that can implement appropriate safety measures using the refrigerant leak sensor. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0053] 1. Air conditioning system 2 Refrigerant piping 2a Liquid pipe 2b Gas pipe 2c Suction pipe 5 Refrigeration cycle 10 Outdoor unit 11 Compressor 12 Gas-liquid separator 13 Oil Separator 14. Four-way valve 15 Outdoor fan 16 Outdoor heat exchanger 17 Outdoor expansion valve 20(20a,20b,20c) Indoor unit 21 Indoor fan 22 Indoor heat exchanger 23. Indoor expansion valve 30 Shut-off valve kit 31. Shut-off valve for liquid lines 32. Gas pipe shut-off valve 33 Switching valve 35 Refrigerant leak sensor 36 Remote Controls 40 Control device 41 processors 42 memory 43 Measurement Unit 44 Exchange Notification Department

Claims

1. An indoor unit with a built-in refrigerant leak sensor, A safety device that, when a refrigerant leak is detected by the refrigerant leak sensor, executes safety measures in the indoor unit, The system includes a setting means for setting whether to enable or disable the refrigerant leak sensor, When the refrigerant leak sensor is effectively set by the setting means, if the refrigerant leak sensor detects a refrigerant leak, the safety device will execute safety measures. If the refrigerant leak sensor is disabled by the setting means, and there is an alarm means that sounds an alarm if the indoor unit to which the safety device is connected is provided. Air conditioning system.

2. If the indoor unit, to which the safety device is not connected, has the refrigerant leak sensor set to be active by the setting means, the alarm means will not issue an alarm. The air conditioning device according to claim 1.

3. The indoor unit consists of a master indoor unit capable of communicating with the safety device and a sub-indoor unit capable of communicating with the master indoor unit. The main indoor unit, when the safety device is connected, checks the status of the refrigerant leak sensor in the sub-indoor unit, and if there is a sub-indoor unit in which the refrigerant leak sensor is set to disabled, it issues an alarm using the alarm means. The air conditioning device according to claim 1.

4. The safety device is a shut-off valve that is shut off when the refrigerant leak sensor detects a refrigerant leak. If the refrigerant leak sensor of the indoor unit corresponding to the shut-off valve is disabled by the setting means, the alarm means will issue an alarm. The air conditioning device according to claim 1.

5. The safety device is a shut-off valve that is shut off when the refrigerant leak sensor detects a refrigerant leak, and the shut-off valve is provided in a shut-off valve kit. The shut-off valve kit is switchable on or off, If the shut-off valve is not functioning, the indoor unit connected to the shut-off valve kit will not issue an alarm if the refrigerant leak sensor is disabled. If the shut-off valve is in a functional state, the indoor unit connected to the shut-off valve kit will issue an alarm using the alarm means if the refrigerant leak sensor is set to disabled. The air conditioning device according to claim 1.

6. The system further includes a replacement notification unit that notifies the system of replacement information for the refrigerant leak sensor when the energized time to the refrigerant leak sensor exceeds a predetermined time, If the refrigerant leak sensor is enabled, the replacement notification unit will notify the replacement information. If the refrigerant leak sensor is disabled, the replacement notification unit will not send replacement information. The air conditioning device according to claim 1.

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