Equipment management system and refrigerant amount estimation method

Abstract

To provide an apparatus management system for accurately estimating a refrigerant quantity in an apparatus in an actual use environment, and a refrigerant quantity estimation method.SOLUTION: An apparatus management system comprises: an apparatus having a refrigerant; an acquisition part for acquiring a refrigerant temperature in the apparatus, an electrical characteristic of the apparatus, and measurement information indicating a measurement result of environment information around the apparatus; and an estimation part for estimating a refrigerant quantity in the apparatus on the basis of the measurement information acquired by the acquisition part, apparatus information related to a preset apparatus, and apparatus installation information related to an installation environment of the apparatus.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an equipment management system and a refrigerant amount estimation method. [Background technology]

[0002] An air conditioner has been disclosed that estimates the amount of refrigerant in the equipment by adjusting the temperature so that the temperature of the target space meets predetermined judgment temperature conditions and measuring the refrigerant temperature under stable conditions (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-198710 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The conventional technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 is capable of estimating the refrigerant amount when the air conditioning loads of the outdoor and indoor units are constant, the compressor frequency is constant, and the refrigeration cycle is stable. However, since the outdoor temperature is not constant throughout the day, and the air conditioning load on the indoor unit changes depending on the number of people in the room and the activity level of the people in the room, there is no realistic environment where the air conditioning load is constant. Therefore, with the conventional technology, it is difficult to estimate the refrigerant amount in an actual usage environment, and special operation is required to estimate the refrigerant amount.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and one of its objectives is to provide an equipment management system and a refrigerant amount estimation method that accurately estimate the amount of refrigerant in equipment in an actual usage environment without requiring special operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An equipment management system according to the present disclosure includes an equipment having a refrigerant; an acquisition unit that acquires measurement information indicating measurement results of a refrigerant temperature in the equipment measured by a temperature sensor, electrical characteristics of the equipment, and environmental information around the equipment; and an estimation unit that estimates an amount of refrigerant in the equipment based on the measurement information acquired by the acquisition unit, preset equipment information about the equipment, and equipment installation information about an installation environment of the equipment; The equipment includes an outdoor unit having a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, and an indoor unit having an indoor heat exchanger, and the estimation unit determines the amount of refrigerant oil remaining in the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the indoor heat exchanger, respectively, from the refrigerant oil used in the equipment, based on the measurement information, the equipment information, the equipment installation information, and operating conditions of the equipment, and the estimation unit estimates the amount of refrigerant dissolved in the refrigerant oil by multiplying the oil amount by an oil dissolution ratio calculated from refrigerant temperatures in the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the indoor heat exchanger. .

[0007] In addition, the present disclosure relates to An apparatus including an outdoor unit having a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, and an indoor unit having an indoor heat exchanger, A refrigerant amount estimation method for estimating a refrigerant amount in a device having a refrigerant includes: a step in which an acquisition unit acquires measurement information indicating measurement results of a refrigerant temperature in the device, electrical characteristics of the device, and environmental information around the device; and a step in which an estimation unit estimates the refrigerant amount in the device based on the measurement information acquired by the acquisition unit, preset device information about the device, and device installation information about an installation environment of the device. In the step of estimating the amount of refrigerant in the equipment, the estimation unit determines the amount of refrigerant oil remaining in the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the indoor heat exchanger, out of the refrigerating machine oil used in the equipment, based on the measurement information, the equipment information, the equipment installation information, and operating conditions of the equipment, and estimates the amount of refrigerant dissolved in the refrigerating machine oil by multiplying the oil amount by an oil dissolution ratio calculated from refrigerant temperatures in the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the indoor heat exchanger. . [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, the amount of refrigerant in a device can be estimated with high accuracy in an actual usage environment without requiring special operation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a device management system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a refrigerant circuit of a device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of temperature measurement points shown in FIG. 2 according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 is a diagram showing an example of a refrigerant circuit of a multi-type air conditioner according to a first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a Mollier diagram immediately after startup according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a Mollier diagram in a stable state according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an electric circuit of the device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of data items of device acquired data according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of device acquisition data transmitted by a device according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of data items of device information according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of data items of device installation information according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a device management device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 13] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a refrigerant amount estimation process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for calculating an estimated refrigerant amount according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a device management system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a device management system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of time-series data held by a device management apparatus according to a third embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of time-series data of each of a plurality of devices held by a device management apparatus according to a third embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the amount of refrigerant and the performance of the device according to the fourth embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 11 is a graph showing a comparative example of the relationship between the performance of the device and the temperature according to the fourth embodiment, compared with catalog values. [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a device management system according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 22] FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of a display displayed on a general-purpose device according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 23]FIG. 13 is a view showing an example of a display displayed on a general-purpose device according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a refrigerant circuit of a water heater as a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. First Embodiment First, the first embodiment will be described. [Overview of the equipment management system] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a device management system according to this embodiment. The device management system SYS shown in this diagram includes a device 1 that contains a refrigerant, and a device management device 2 that can communicate with the device 1. The device 1 is, for example, an air conditioner that includes an outdoor unit 100 and an indoor unit 200. The device management device 2 is a data management destination that stores communication data from the device 1, and also estimates the amount of refrigerant in the device 1. Here, an external terminal 3 and a cloud 4 are shown as examples of the device management device 2.

[0011] The external terminal 3 is a terminal device such as a smartphone or a PC (Personal Computer). In addition to communicating with the device 1, the external terminal 3 may also communicate with the cloud 4 and transmit communication data from the device 1 to the cloud 4. The cloud 4 is a group of arithmetic processing devices connected via a communication network such as a public line. The device management device 2 may be the external terminal 3 or the cloud 4.

[0012] In the equipment management system SYS, an equipment management device 2, such as an external terminal 3 or a cloud 4, which is communicatively connected to the equipment 1, estimates the amount of refrigerant in the equipment 1 based on equipment acquisition data 10 acquired by the equipment 1, equipment information 20 related to the equipment 1, and equipment installation information 30 related to the installation environment in which the equipment 1 is installed.

[0013] For example, the device acquisition data 10 includes measurement information such as a measurement value of the refrigerant temperature inside the device 1 (hereinafter referred to as "refrigerant temperature 11"), a measurement value of an electrical characteristic inside the device 1 (hereinafter referred to as "electrical input 12"), and a measurement value of environmental information such as the temperature or humidity around the device 1 (hereinafter referred to as "environmental information 13"). The device 1 transmits the device acquisition data 10 to the device management device 2.

[0014] The device management device 2 acquires device acquisition data 10 transmitted from the device 1. The device management device 2 also has preset device information 20 and device installation information 30. The device information 20 includes pre-shipment inspection data. For example, the device information 20 includes inspection data (steady-state data or time-series data) of the refrigerant temperature in the device 1 under specific inspection conditions, electrical characteristics in the device 1, or environmental information, as well as the inspection conditions and the specifications (configuration) of the device 1 at the time of inspection. The device installation information 30 includes the environment or installation state of the location where the device is installed. Details of the device acquisition data 10, device information 20, and device installation information 30 will be described later.

[0015] [Configuration of refrigerant circuit of device 1] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a refrigerant circuit of the device according to this embodiment. The outdoor unit 100 and the indoor unit 200 are connected by internal / external connection pipes 301, 302. A gaseous refrigerant passes through the internal / external connection pipe 301. A liquid refrigerant passes through the internal / external connection pipe 302. The four-way valve 101 provided in the outdoor unit 100 is switched to change the refrigerant circulation direction, thereby switching between heating operation and cooling operation. The direction of the solid arrow indicates the direction of refrigerant flow during cooling operation, and the direction of the dashed arrow indicates the direction of refrigerant flow during heating operation.

[0016] In heating operation, the refrigerant in a gaseous state compressed by the compressor 102 of the outdoor unit 100 flows through the four-way valve 101 and the indoor / outdoor connecting piping 301 to the indoor heat exchanger 201 of the indoor unit 200. The refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 201 exchanges heat with the surrounding air to warm it. The refrigerant that has become a liquid through the heat exchange flows through the indoor / outdoor connecting piping 302 to the expansion valve 103 of the outdoor unit 100, and then flows through the expansion valve 103 into the outdoor heat exchanger 104. The refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger 104 exchanges heat with the surrounding air. The refrigerant that has become a gaseous state through the heat exchange returns to the compressor 102 through the four-way valve 101.

[0017] In cooling operation, the refrigerant in a gaseous state compressed by the compressor 102 of the outdoor unit 100 passes through the four-way valve 101 and flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 104. The refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger 104 exchanges heat with the surrounding air. The refrigerant that has become a liquid through the heat exchange passes through the expansion valve 103 and the indoor / outdoor connecting piping 302 and flows into the indoor heat exchanger 201 of the indoor unit 200. The refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 201 exchanges heat with the surrounding air and cools it. The refrigerant that has become a gaseous state through the heat exchange passes through the indoor / outdoor connecting piping 301 and the four-way valve 101 and returns to the compressor 102 of the outdoor unit 100.

[0018] Temperature sensors for measuring refrigerant temperatures are provided in various parts of the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor unit 200. Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the temperature measurement points T1 to T8 shown in Figure 2. Temperature sensors are provided on both the outlet and inlet sides of the compressor 102, with measurement point T1 on the outlet side being the discharge temperature and measurement point T8 on the inlet side being the measurement point for the suction temperature.

[0019] Furthermore, the expansion valve 103 and outdoor heat exchanger 104 of the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor heat exchanger 201 of the indoor unit 200 are each provided with temperature sensors at three locations: the outlet side, the inlet side, and a location midway between the outlet and inlet. The outdoor heat exchanger 104 functions as a condenser during cooling operation. Measurement points T2, T2-3, and T3 are used to measure the inlet temperature, intermediate temperature, and outlet temperature of the condenser during cooling operation, respectively. On the other hand, the outdoor heat exchanger 104 functions as an evaporator during heating operation. Measurement points T2, T2-3, and T3 are used to measure the outlet temperature, intermediate temperature, and inlet temperature of the evaporator during heating operation, respectively.

[0020] The indoor heat exchanger 201 functions as an evaporator during cooling operation. Measurement points T6, T6-7, and T7 are measurement points for the inlet temperature, intermediate temperature, and outlet temperature of the evaporator during cooling operation, respectively. On the other hand, the indoor heat exchanger 201 functions as a condenser during heating operation. Measurement points T6, T6-7, and T7 are measurement points for the outlet temperature, intermediate temperature, and inlet temperature of the condenser during heating operation, respectively.

[0021] Furthermore, measurement point T4 is the measurement point for the inlet temperature of expansion valve 103 during cooling operation, and the measurement point for the outlet temperature of expansion valve 103 during heating operation. Measurement point T5 is the measurement point for the outlet temperature of expansion valve 103 during cooling operation, and the measurement point for the inlet temperature of expansion valve 103 during heating operation.

[0022] The device 1 may be a multi-type air conditioner (so-called package air conditioner) in which a plurality of indoor units 200 are connected to one outdoor unit 100.

[0023] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a refrigerant circuit of a multi-type air conditioner. Fig. 4 shows an example of a refrigerant circuit in which two indoor units 200 are connected to an outdoor unit 100. In Fig. 4, components corresponding to those in Fig. 2 are given the same reference numerals. The configuration of the refrigerant circuit shown in the figure is the same as the example of the refrigerant circuit shown in Fig. 2, except for the number of indoor units 200. Note that the number of indoor units 200 is not limited to two.

[0024] Since a multi-type air conditioner has multiple indoor units 200, the indoor units 200 are assigned numbers such as Unit 1, Unit 2, etc. Then, the units are assigned numbers such as "Unit 1 discharge temperature, condenser inlet temperature, etc.", "Unit 2 discharge temperature, condenser inlet temperature, etc.", and the refrigerant temperature is handled separately for each unit.

[0025] In this embodiment, whether there is one indoor unit 200 or multiple indoor units 200, the number of devices 1 is basically one for one outdoor unit 100.

[0026] 5 and 6 are schematic diagrams showing examples of Mollier diagrams during cooling operation. FIG. 5 shows an example of a Mollier diagram immediately after startup (at the beginning of operation). FIG. 6 shows an example of a Mollier diagram during stable operation. Generally, at the beginning of operation, all measurement points T1 to T8 are in the gas-liquid two-phase region (two-phase region) (see FIG. 5). Thereafter, as the refrigerant gas is gradually compressed by the compressor 102, the pressure difference between the condenser and the evaporator increases, and at measurement point T1 for the discharge temperature, the refrigerant gas is gasified and transitions to the gas phase region (see FIG. 6). Also, at measurement point T3 for the condenser outlet temperature, the enthalpy decreases due to heat exchange with the air by the condenser. If the amount of refrigerant gas and the amount of heat exchange in the condenser are sufficient, the measurement point T3 transitions to the liquid phase region (see FIG. 6). On the other hand, if the amount of refrigerant gas is insufficient, the heat exchange in the condenser and evaporator becomes insufficient.

[0027] [Configuration of the electrical circuit of device 1] Next, an example of a main electric circuit of the device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an electric circuit of the device 1 according to this embodiment. In Fig. 7, components corresponding to those in Fig. 2 are given the same reference numerals.

[0028] The outdoor unit 100 is equipped with an outdoor unit control unit 110. The outdoor unit control unit 110 is configured to include a microcomputer, and controls each part of the outdoor unit 100 and acquires measurement values ​​from various sensors provided in the outdoor unit 100. For example, the outdoor unit control unit 110 acquires measurement values ​​from temperature sensors provided at each of the refrigerant temperature measurement points T1, T2, T2-3, T3, T4, T5, and T8 described in Figures 2 and 3.

[0029] In addition, the outdoor unit control unit 110 controls the switching of the refrigerant flow direction in the four-way valve 101, controls the compressor 102, controls the opening degree of the expansion valve 103, and controls the rotation of the outdoor fan 105 that blows air to the outdoor heat exchanger 104.

[0030] The compressor 102 includes a compression section 102a and a compressor motor 102b. The compression section 102a has a compression mechanism such as a rotary or scroll type, compresses the refrigerant drawn in from the inlet side, and discharges the refrigerant from the outlet side. The compressor motor 102b includes a three-phase motor whose rotation can be controlled by an inverter 120, and drives the compression mechanism of the compression section 102a. The outdoor unit control section 110 controls the inverter 120 to control the rotation of the compressor motor 102b and thereby control the compression mechanism of the compression section 102a.

[0031] The indoor unit 200 is equipped with an indoor unit control unit 210. The indoor unit control unit 210 is configured to include a microcomputer, and controls each part of the indoor unit 200 and acquires measurement values ​​from various sensors provided in the indoor unit 200. For example, the indoor unit control unit 210 acquires measurement values ​​from temperature sensors provided at each of the refrigerant temperature measurement points T6, T6-7, and T7 described in Figures 2 and 3. The indoor unit control unit 210 also controls the rotation of the indoor fan 202 that sends air to the indoor heat exchanger 201, etc.

[0032] The indoor unit 200 also includes a wireless device 220. The wireless device 220 is, for example, one of the device-related devices that is added as an option to the indoor unit 200. The wireless device 220 connects to a communication network such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet via wireless communication, and performs data communication with the device management device 2 (external terminal 3 or cloud 4).

[0033] The indoor unit control unit 210 is connected to the outdoor unit control unit 110 via an internal / external communication line 310. The indoor unit control unit 210 generates device acquisition data 10 based on data acquired from the outdoor unit control unit 110 via the internal / external communication line 310 and data acquired by the indoor unit control unit 210 itself. The indoor unit control unit 210 then transmits the device acquisition data 10 to the device management device 2 (external terminal 3 or cloud 4) via the wireless device 220.

[0034] In conventional air conditioners, the compressor frequency must be fixed and various refrigerant temperatures or pressures must be obtained from the air conditioner when the refrigeration cycle is stable. This is because, in order to accurately estimate the refrigerant amount, it is necessary to know the pressure in the condenser's two-phase gas-liquid region and the subcooled region on the outlet side of the condenser due to the characteristics of the refrigeration cycle.

[0035] That is, in a conventional air conditioner, it was possible to estimate the amount of refrigerant when the air conditioning loads of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit were constant, the compressor frequency was constant, and the refrigeration cycle was stable.

[0036] However, in reality, there is no environment like a test room where the air conditioning load on the outdoor and indoor units is constant. For example, when focusing on the outdoor unit, the air conditioning load on the outdoor unit changes depending on the outside temperature, which varies throughout the day. Similarly, when focusing on the indoor unit, the air conditioning load on the indoor unit changes depending on the number of people in the room and their activity level.

[0037] Therefore, when controlling the compressor of an air conditioner to maintain a constant indoor temperature (or humidity), the compressor frequency changes variably, making it difficult to estimate the amount of refrigerant when considering the actual usage environment. Therefore, special operation is required to estimate the amount of refrigerant.

[0038] Furthermore, in the conventional technology, in order to estimate the amount of refrigerant, parameters must be defined through experiments or numerical simulations, and all the parameters must be evaluated depending on the number of specifications of the equipment. This increases development costs. On the other hand, if the specifications of the equipment are defined to be a general-purpose common model, the accuracy of estimating the amount of refrigerant decreases.

[0039] 1, in this embodiment, an equipment management device 2 (external terminal 3 or cloud 4) connected to and communicating with the equipment 1 estimates the amount of refrigerant in the equipment 1 based on equipment acquisition data 10, equipment information 20, and equipment installation information 30. This allows the equipment management system SYS to accurately estimate the amount of refrigerant in the equipment 1 in an actual usage environment without requiring special operation. This will be described in detail below.

[0040] [Specific examples of equipment acquisition data] First, specific examples of data items included in the device acquisition data 10 will be described. 8 is a diagram showing an example of data items of the device acquisition data 10 according to this embodiment. As described above, the device acquisition data 10 includes the refrigerant temperature 11, the electrical input 12, and the environmental information 13.

[0041] Refrigerant temperature 11 includes, for example, the discharge temperature, temperatures at any location from the inlet to the outlet of the condenser and evaporator (e.g., inlet temperature, intermediate temperature, outlet temperature), the temperature of expansion valve 103 (e.g., inlet temperature, outlet temperature), and suction temperature. Refrigerant temperature 11 may include the temperatures of all or some of the above locations. If refrigerant temperature 11 includes some of the above locations, it is preferable that it includes at least the discharge temperature. If refrigerant temperature 11 does not include all of the inlet temperature, intermediate temperature, and outlet temperature of the condenser and evaporator, it is preferable that it includes at least the intermediate temperature.

[0042] Temperature sensors may also be provided in the internal and external connection pipes 301 and 302, and the temperature of the internal and external connection pipe 301 (for example, the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature) may be included in the refrigerant temperature 11. Furthermore, the refrigerant temperature 11 is not limited to the temperatures at the above locations, and may include the refrigerant temperature at any location that can be acquired by the device 1. The more locations at which the refrigerant temperature measurements are included in the refrigerant temperature 11, the higher the accuracy of estimating the amount of refrigerant.

[0043] The electrical input 12 includes, for example, the voltage (bus voltage, line voltage, phase voltage), current (bus current, line current, phase current), rotation speed (current rotation speed, command rotation speed), power consumption, etc. of the outdoor fan 105 and the indoor fan 202. The electrical input 12 also includes, for example, the voltage (bus voltage, line voltage, phase voltage), current (bus current, line current, phase current), frequency (current frequency, command frequency), power consumption, etc. of the compressor 102. The electrical input 12 also includes, for example, the opening (current opening, command opening), power consumption, etc. of the expansion valve 103. The electrical input 12 also includes, for example, the voltage (primary voltage) and current (primary current) on the power supply side, and power consumption of devices attached to the equipment (e.g., wireless equipment 220, heater, air purification device, etc.).

[0044] In addition, the power consumption of the device attached to the equipment is used to indirectly estimate the voltage, current, or power that cannot be obtained from the total of the entire equipment 1 when the voltage, current, or power of the outdoor fan 105, the indoor fan 202, or the compressor 102 cannot be obtained directly.

[0045] The electrical input 12 may include all or some of the above data items. For example, the electrical input 12 preferably includes at least the rotation speeds (current rotation speeds) of the outdoor fan 105 and the indoor fan 202, the bus current and current frequency of the compressor 102, and the current opening of the expansion valve 103.

[0046] In addition to the above data items, the electrical input 12 may include any electrical characteristics of the device 1 that can be acquired by the device 1. The more data items included in the electrical input 12, the higher the accuracy of the estimation of the refrigerant amount.

[0047] The environmental information 13 includes, for example, the ambient temperature (outdoor temperature, indoor temperature) and humidity (outdoor humidity, indoor humidity) acquired by the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor unit 200. The environmental information 13 may include all or some of the above data items. For example, it is preferable that the environmental information 13 includes at least the indoor temperature.

[0048] In addition to the above data items, the environmental information 13 may include other environmental information that can be acquired by the device 1. The more data items included in the environmental information 13, the higher the accuracy of estimating the amount of refrigerant.

[0049] The device 1 transmits the device acquisition data 10 described with reference to Fig. 8 to the device management device 2. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the device acquisition data 10 transmitted by the device 1. For example, as shown in Fig. 9, the device 1 transmits time-series data of the device acquisition data 10 measured at regular time intervals. Note that when transmitting the device acquisition data 10, the device 1 may transmit data at a fixed point under certain conditions.

[0050] [Examples of device information] Next, specific examples of data items included in the device information 20 will be described. 10 is a diagram showing an example of data items of the device information 20 according to this embodiment. As described above, the device information 20 includes pre-shipment inspection data, inspection conditions, and specifications (configuration) of the device 1 at the time of inspection.

[0051] 10, the common items include the specifications (configuration) of the device 1 at the time of inspection. For example, the common items include the inspection date and time (No. 1), the testing room used for the inspection (No. 2), manufacturing information and product specifications of the inspected device 1. The manufacturing information includes the lot number (No. 3) and manufacturing year (No. 6). The product specifications include the model (No. 4) and capacity (No. 5) of the device 1, as well as the power supply specifications, the type and amount of refrigerant charged, the type and amount of refrigeration oil, the model of the compressor 102, the stroke volume, the specifications of the compressor motor 102b, the internal volume of the compressor 102, the internal volume of the outdoor heat exchanger 104, the internal volume of the indoor heat exchanger 201, and the internal volume of the receiver (Nos. 7 to 18).

[0052] The receiver is provided, for example, near the connection between the expansion valve 103 of the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor / outdoor connecting pipe 302. This receiver is provided to store surplus refrigerant, as the amount of refrigerant required differs between cooling operation and heating operation. Generally, the internal volume of the outdoor unit 100 is larger than that of the indoor unit 200, and during heating operation, the amount of refrigerant in the indoor unit 200, which acts as a condenser, decreases compared to when the outdoor unit 100 is in cooling operation.

[0053] The pre-shipment inspection data includes the refrigerant temperature in the device 1 under specific inspection conditions, electrical characteristics in the device 1, or inspection data (steady-state data or time-series data) of environmental information.

[0054] 10, items No. 1 to No. 5 of the inspection data items are common inspection conditions regardless of the type of device 1. These common inspection conditions include test conditions (e.g., cooling standard or heating standard), outdoor DB (Dry Bulb), outdoor WB (Wet Bulb), indoor DB, and indoor WB.

[0055] Furthermore, items No. 8 to No. 11 of the inspection data items are inspection conditions that differ for each piece of equipment or for each capacity band of the equipment, and include control settings for the equipment at the time of inspection that differ for each piece of equipment, such as the command frequency of the compressor 102, the command rotation speeds of the indoor fan 202 and the outdoor fan 105, and the command opening of the expansion valve 103.

[0056] Among the test data items, items No. 6 to No. 7 and No. 12 to No. 19 are test data (steady-state data or time-series data) under the above test conditions. For example, the test data includes the capacity (indoor capacity) of the indoor unit 200, power consumption, thermal characteristics of the outdoor heat exchanger 104 and the indoor heat exchanger 201, discharge temperature, inlet and outlet temperatures of the condenser and evaporator, and suction temperature.

[0057] The device information 20 may include all or some of the above data items. For example, the device information 20 preferably includes at least the type of refrigerant and the volume of the space through which the refrigerant can flow. The volume of the space through which the refrigerant can flow refers to the internal volume of the compressor 102, the internal volume of the outdoor heat exchanger 104, the internal volume of the indoor heat exchanger 201, the internal volume of the receiver, etc. The volume of the space through which the refrigerant can flow may include some or all of the internal volumes of the compressor 102, the external heat exchanger 104, the internal volume of the indoor heat exchanger 201, and the receiver.

[0058] In addition to the above data items, any information that can be measured at the time of inspection may be included in the device information 20. The more data items included in the device information 20, the higher the accuracy of estimating the refrigerant amount.

[0059] Generally, before product shipment, a sampling inspection is conducted in addition to a 100% inspection, and in the sampling inspection, for example, the most recent lot is used as a representative value.

[0060] [Specific examples of equipment installation information] Next, specific examples of data items included in the device installation information 30 will be described. 11 is a diagram showing an example of data items of the device installation information 30 according to this embodiment. As described above, the device installation information 30 includes information on the installation location or installation environment of the device 1.

[0061] For example, the device installation information 30 includes, as information on the installation location or installation environment, the location (latitude, longitude) of the installation location of the device 1, building specifications, installation direction (north-facing, south-facing, etc.), installation method of the outdoor unit 100 (rooftop, ground-mounted, ceiling-mounted, wall-mounted, etc.), height of the indoor unit 200 (height from floor), size of the indoor space, length and diameter of the indoor / outdoor connection pipes 301, 302 connecting the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor unit 200, and elevation difference (indoor / outdoor elevation difference) between the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor unit 200. Here, the building specifications are elements necessary to define the insulation performance of the building itself, such as wood, reinforced concrete, an apartment building, or a detached house, and are parameters necessary for calculating the load on the indoor unit 200. The difference in height between the indoor and outdoor units is the difference in height between the position where the indoor and outdoor connection pipes 301, 302 are connected to the outdoor unit 100 and the position where the indoor and outdoor connection pipes 301, 302 are connected to the indoor unit 200.

[0062] The equipment installation information 30 may include all or some of the above data items. For example, the equipment installation information 30 preferably includes the length and diameter of the internal and external connection pipes 301, 302, which are related to the volume of the space through which the refrigerant can flow.

[0063] The equipment installation information 30 may include any information other than the above data items regarding the environment or installation status of the installation location. The more data items included in the equipment installation information 30, the higher the accuracy of estimating the refrigerant amount.

[0064] For example, the installation location or installation environment of the device 1 varies depending on the user. Differences in the installation location or installation environment also affect the estimation of the refrigerant amount. For example, regarding the installation location of the device 1, when the outdoor unit 100 is installed on the first floor, the height of the indoor unit 200 relative to the outdoor unit 100 generally differs by approximately 5 m between when the outdoor unit 100 is installed on the first floor and when the indoor unit 200 is installed on the third floor. Therefore, even if the amount of refrigerant in the device 1 excluding the internal / external connecting pipes 301 and 302 is the same, the lengths of the internal / external connecting pipes 301 and 302 are different, and therefore it is expected that the refrigeration cycle will exhibit different behavior. Therefore, it is conceivable that the installation location of the device 1 will affect the estimation of the refrigerant amount.

[0065] Even if the height difference between the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor unit 200 is the same, the lengths of the indoor / outdoor connecting pipes 301, 302 may differ. In this case, refrigerant is distributed within the indoor / outdoor connecting pipes 301, 302. If additional refrigerant is not charged for the length of the indoor / outdoor connecting pipes 301, 302, the amount of refrigerant in the device 1, excluding the indoor / outdoor connecting pipes, may decrease overall, resulting in a gas shortage. Furthermore, with regard to the installation environment of the device 1, the lengths of the indoor / outdoor connecting pipes 301, 302 differ depending on whether the outdoor unit 100 is ceiling-mounted, ground-mounted, or roof-mounted. Even if the outdoor unit 100 is also ground-mounted, the air conditioning load differs depending on whether it is installed facing south and exposed to direct sunlight, or north and in the shade, which affects the refrigeration cycle. Therefore, the installation environment of the device 1 may also affect the estimation of the refrigerant amount.

[0066] Furthermore, regarding the installation environment of the device 1, the thermal insulation performance differs depending on whether the building in which the device 1 is installed is made of wood or reinforced concrete. For example, if the building is made of wood and has poor thermal insulation, the air conditioning load will be large, which will affect the refrigeration cycle and the estimation of the amount of refrigerant.

[0067] Therefore, by using the equipment installation information 30, the equipment management device 2 can estimate the amount of refrigerant depending on the installation location or installation environment of the equipment 1, without fixing the installation location or installation environment of the equipment 1.

[0068] Next, the configuration of the device management device 2 and the operation of the refrigerant amount estimation process for estimating the refrigerant amount will be described. 12 is a schematic block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the device management device 2 according to this embodiment. As described above, the device management device 2 is the external terminal 3 or the cloud 4, and includes, for example, a storage unit 401, a communication unit 402, and a processing unit 403.

[0069] The storage unit 401 stores various data and control programs that control the various components of the device management device 2. For example, the storage unit 401 includes a dynamic random access memory (DRAM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a flash ROM, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), etc. The storage unit 401 stores, in advance, for example, device information 20 (see FIG. 10) and device installation information 30 (see FIG. 11).

[0070] The communication unit 402 performs data communication with the device 1 or other devices via wireless communication. For example, the communication unit 402 connects to a communication network such as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet via wireless communication and performs data communication with the device 1 or other devices. Note that the communication unit 402 may also support wired communication.

[0071] The processing unit 403 includes an acquisition unit 404, an estimation unit 405, and an output unit 406 as functional components for performing a refrigerant amount estimation process for estimating a refrigerant amount by causing a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to execute a control program stored in the storage unit 401. The acquisition unit 404 acquires device acquisition data 10 (see FIG. 8 ) from the device 1 (e.g., the indoor unit 200) via the communication unit 402 and stores the data in the storage unit 401. The estimation unit 405 estimates the refrigerant amount in the device 1. Here, the estimated refrigerant amount is referred to as the “estimated refrigerant amount 40.” For example, the estimation unit 405 calculates the estimated refrigerant amount 40 in the device 1 based on the device acquisition data 10 acquired by the acquisition unit 404 and the device information 20 and device installation information 30 stored in the storage unit 401. The output unit 406 outputs the refrigerant amount estimation result obtained by the estimation unit 405.

[0072] Next, the operation of the refrigerant amount estimation process executed in the device management system SYS will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the refrigerant amount estimation process according to this embodiment.

[0073] The device 1 (for example, the indoor unit 200) periodically (for example, every five minutes) transmits device acquisition data 10 to the device management device 2, either spontaneously by the device 1 or passively by a user operating the device 1. The device management device 2 receives the device acquisition data 10 transmitted from the device 1 (step S101).

[0074] When the device management apparatus 2 receives the device acquisition data 10 transmitted from the device 1, the device management apparatus 2 acquires the device acquisition data 10 each time it receives the data, and stores and accumulates the data in the storage unit 401 (step S103).

[0075] Furthermore, the device management device 2 estimates the amount of refrigerant in the device 1 at any timing other than the internal periodic processing. The device management device 2 determines whether it is time to estimate the amount of refrigerant (step S105). If it is not time to estimate the amount of refrigerant (NO), the process returns to step S101, and the device management device 2 periodically receives device acquisition data 10 from the device 1 (step S103).

[0076] If it is time to estimate the refrigerant amount (YES), the equipment management device 2 estimates the amount of refrigerant in the equipment 1 (step S107). Specifically, the equipment management device 2 calculates the estimated refrigerant amount 40 based on the accumulated equipment acquisition data 10 and the equipment information 20 and equipment installation information 30 previously stored therein. Then, the equipment management device 2 outputs the estimated refrigerant amount (estimated refrigerant amount 40) (step S109).

[0077] Here, a method for calculating the estimated refrigerant amount 40 will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 14. Fig. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a method for calculating the estimated refrigerant amount according to this embodiment. As shown in this figure, the equipment management device 2 calculates the estimated refrigerant amount 40 by, for example, adding a converted refrigerant amount 41, a dissolved refrigerant amount 42, and a stagnant refrigerant amount 43. Note that the estimated refrigerant amount 40 may be directly set if it can be determined from a calculated value or a refrigerant charging operation, etc.

[0078] The converted refrigerant amount 41 is the amount of refrigerant in the primary refrigerant state within each component constituting the device 1. For example, if the volume ratio of the gas phase to the liquid phase at the condenser inlet is 95:5, the converted refrigerant amount 41 indicates the amount of refrigerant in the gas phase. On the other hand, if the volume ratio of the gas phase to the liquid phase at the condenser inlet is 5:95, the converted refrigerant amount 41 indicates the amount of refrigerant in the gas phase. Also, if the volume ratio of the gas phase to the liquid phase at the condenser inlet is the same, the converted refrigerant amount 41 indicates the amount of refrigerant using the two-phase average density. For example, the converted refrigerant amount 41 is calculated by multiplying the internal volume of each component of the device 1 by the refrigerant density. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the converted refrigerant amount 41 is calculated by multiplying the internal volume 31 of the internal and external connection pipes 301 and 302, which is determined from the device installation information 30 (the length and diameter of the internal and external connection pipes 301 and 302), by the internal volume 51 of each component within the device 1 included in the device information 20, and the refrigerant density 50 of each component.

[0079] Here, the refrigerant density of each component can be determined from the relationship between pressure and density by converting the refrigerant temperature in the equipment acquisition data 10 into pressure. The relationship between pressure and density is determined depending on the type of refrigerant. Note that if refrigerant pressure data can be directly acquired from the equipment 1, the refrigerant density can be determined based on the acquired refrigerant pressure or pressure data. The components described here are components that make up the equipment 1 and have a space through which the refrigerant can flow, such as the compressor 102, the outdoor heat exchanger 104, the indoor heat exchanger 201, the receiver, and the indoor / outdoor connecting pipes 301 and 302.

[0080] Dissolved refrigerant amount 42 is the amount of refrigerant dissolved in the refrigeration oil used in equipment 1. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, dissolved refrigerant amount 42 is calculated by summing up the product of accumulated oil amount 52 in each component and oil dissolution ratio 53 of each component for each component. Here, the total amount of oil in equipment 1 is the oil amount value in equipment information 20 shown in FIG. 10. Of the amount of oil in equipment 1, accumulated oil amount 52 accumulated in each component is determined by experiment or numerical calculation for each operating condition (cooling, heating, etc.) based on equipment acquisition data 10, equipment information 20, and equipment installation information 30. For example, accumulated oil amount 52 in each component determined by this experiment or numerical calculation is further included in equipment information 20.

[0081] The oil solubility ratio 53 of each part can be calculated using a Daniel chart, which shows the amount of refrigerant dissolved in refrigeration oil according to temperature and pressure determined by an experimental method. For example, the current oil solubility ratio 53 of each part can be calculated using the Daniel chart and the measured value of the refrigerant temperature of each part included in the equipment acquisition data 10. When using the Daniel chart, an approximation formula may be used for calculation.

[0082] The amount of accumulated oil 52 in each component may be calculated by counting only components with a large internal volume that are prone to accumulating refrigerant oil, and may exclude components with little refrigerant oil accumulation. For example, refrigerant oil tends to accumulate in the compressor 102, the outdoor heat exchanger 104, and the indoor heat exchanger 201, and is therefore present in large amounts.

[0083] The amount of stagnant refrigerant 43 is the amount of refrigerant that remains in liquid form in each component (such as the receiver and the internal / external connection pipes 301 and 302) in the gas-liquid two-phase region. If the cross-sectional area of ​​the refrigerant flow path of each component is small, the refrigerant flow rate is fast, making it less likely to stagnate, while if the cross-sectional area is large, the refrigerant flow rate is slow, making it more likely to stagnate. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, for example, the amount of stagnant refrigerant 43 can be determined by experiment or numerical calculation based on the cross-sectional area of ​​the refrigerant flow path of each component and the refrigerant flow rate circulating within the component 1, based on the device acquisition data 10, device information 20, and device installation information 30.

[0084] Since most of the liquid accumulates in the downstream parts of the components with height differences, other components may be excluded. Also, the amount of accumulated refrigerant 43 is intended for transient phenomena in the refrigeration cycle, and can be ignored when the refrigeration cycle is stable.

[0085] The flow rate of the refrigerant circulating inside the device 1 is determined by the frequency of the compressor 102 and the density of the suction refrigerant. The density of the suction refrigerant can be uniquely determined by the amount of heat exchanged between the condenser and the evaporator inside the device 1. It can also be determined from the suction temperature or pressure obtained by the device 1.

[0086] Furthermore, the amount of heat exchange between the condenser and the evaporator is determined by the outdoor or indoor environmental load, and can be calculated from the equipment acquisition data 10 and the equipment installation information 30.

[0087] As described above, in the device management system SYS according to this embodiment, the device management device 2 acquires device acquisition data 10 (measurement information) indicating measurement results of the refrigerant temperature inside the device 1, the electrical input (electrical characteristics) of the device 1, and environmental information around the device 1. The device management device 2 then calculates an estimated refrigerant amount 40 based on the acquired device acquisition data 10 and preset device information 20 and device installation information 30, thereby estimating the refrigerant amount inside the device 1. Note that this refrigerant amount estimation may be performed by the external terminal 3, the cloud 4, or the cloud 4 via the external terminal 3, for example.

[0088] As a result, unlike conventional methods of estimating the amount of refrigerant, the device management system SYS can estimate the amount of refrigerant in the device 1 during normal operation. In other words, the device management system SYS can accurately estimate the amount of refrigerant in the device in an actual usage environment without requiring special operation.

[0089] For example, the device information 20 includes at least information regarding the volume of the space through which the refrigerant can flow within the device 1 and the type of refrigerant possessed by the device 1. This allows the device management system SYS to estimate the amount of refrigerant within the space through which the refrigerant can flow within the device 1 according to the type of refrigerant.

[0090] Furthermore, the equipment management device 2 calculates the amount of refrigerant in the equipment 1 based on the volume of the space within the equipment 1 through which the refrigerant can flow and the refrigerant density calculated based on the refrigerant temperature and type within the equipment 1. This allows the equipment management system SYS to accurately estimate the amount of refrigerant in the equipment 1.

[0091] Furthermore, the equipment management device 2 calculates the amount of refrigerant in the equipment 1 by adding the amount of refrigerant dissolved in the refrigeration oil used in the equipment 1 (dissolved refrigerant amount 42) and the amount of refrigerant in the liquid stagnant portion (stagnant refrigerant amount 43) to the amount of refrigerant calculated from the volume of the space through which the refrigerant can flow and the refrigerant density in the equipment 1 (converted refrigerant amount 41). In other words, the equipment management device 2 calculates the estimated refrigerant amount 40 by adding the converted refrigerant amount 41, the dissolved refrigerant amount 42, and the stagnant refrigerant amount 43. This allows the equipment management system SYS to accurately estimate the amount of refrigerant in the equipment 1 even during transient phenomena.

[0092] Furthermore, the device 1 is configured such that the outdoor unit 100, which includes a compressor 102, an outdoor heat exchanger 104, and an expansion valve 103, and the indoor unit 200, which includes an indoor heat exchanger 201, are connected by indoor / outdoor connection pipes 301 and 302 through which a refrigerant flows. The device installation information 30 includes information on at least the volume of the indoor / outdoor connection pipes 301 and 302 (for example, the diameter and length of the indoor / outdoor connection pipes 301 and 302). This allows the device management system SYS to accurately estimate the amount of refrigerant in the device 1, including the connection between the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor unit 200.

[0093] Furthermore, the environmental information about the surroundings of the device 1 includes at least information about the ambient temperature of the device 1. For example, the ambient temperature is the temperature of the environment (indoors) in which the indoor unit 200 is installed (indoor temperature) or the temperature of the environment (outdoors) in which the outdoor unit 100 is installed (outdoor temperature). This allows the device management system SYS to accurately estimate the amount of refrigerant in the device 1, taking into account the ambient temperature of the device 1.

[0094] Furthermore, the device management system SYS includes an external terminal 3 or a cloud 4 that can communicate with the device 1 as the device management device 2. This eliminates the need for the device 1 to have the functionality required to estimate the amount of refrigerant, and therefore the device management system SYS can be easily applied to a variety of devices 1.

[0095] In addition, in the equipment management system SYS of this embodiment, the refrigerant amount estimation method for estimating the amount of refrigerant in equipment 1 having refrigerant includes a step in which the equipment management device 2 acquires equipment acquisition data 10 (measurement information) indicating measurement results of the refrigerant temperature in equipment 1, the electrical input (electrical characteristics) of equipment 1, and environmental information around equipment 1, and a step in which the equipment management device 2 estimates the amount of refrigerant in equipment 1 based on the acquired equipment acquisition data 10, preset equipment information 20, and equipment installation information 30.

[0096] As a result, unlike conventional methods of estimating the amount of refrigerant, the device management system SYS can estimate the amount of refrigerant in the device 1 during normal operation. In other words, the device management system SYS can accurately estimate the amount of refrigerant in the device in an actual usage environment without requiring special operation.

[0097] <Second embodiment> Next, a second embodiment will be described. The basic configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, except that a plurality of devices 1 are connected to the device management device 2.

[0098] 15 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a device management system according to this embodiment. The device management system SYS shown in this figure includes multiple devices 1 containing refrigerant and a device management device 2 capable of communicating with each of the devices 1. While this figure shows an example in which there are three devices 1, there may be two, four or more devices.

[0099] The configuration and operation of the refrigerant amount estimation process in the device management system SYS are the same as those in the first embodiment. For example, in the device management device 2, the acquisition unit 404 acquires device acquisition data 10 from each of the multiple devices 1. The estimation unit 405 calculates the refrigerant amount (total amount of refrigerant) in the multiple devices 1 based on the device acquisition data 10 acquired by the acquisition unit 404 and preset device information 20 and device installation information 30.

[0100] In this way, the device management system SYS can estimate the total amount of refrigerant for the multiple devices 1 by collectively managing the device acquisition data 10, device information 20, and device installation information 30 for each of the multiple devices 1. The device management system SYS can also estimate the amount of refrigerant for each of the multiple devices 1 individually.

[0101] <Third embodiment> Next, a third embodiment will be described. The basic configuration of the device management system SYS according to this embodiment is the same as that of the first and second embodiments. The basic operation of the device management system SYS according to this embodiment is also the same as that of the first and second embodiments, except that a refrigerant management value is used.

[0102] The impact on the global environment varies depending on the type of refrigerant used in device 1, and generally, there is a trend to gradually reduce the use of refrigerants with higher global warming potential (GWP) in the market. For example, refrigerants in use on the market include R410a and R32, with R410a having a GWP of 2090 and R32 having a GWP of 675. In other words, R410a is a refrigerant type with approximately three times the impact on global warming of R32. Therefore, when using R410a, limiting the amount of refrigerant to one-third of the amount used when using R32 will equalize the impact on the global environment (global warming).

[0103] The amount of refrigerant that is restricted for use in device 1 for each refrigerant type (the standard amount of refrigerant for each refrigerant type) is defined as the refrigerant management value described above. For example, the refrigerant management value is calculated as the sum of the amount of refrigerant charged into device 1 at the time of shipment and the amount of additional refrigerant that will be required for device 1.

[0104] FIG. 16 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a device management system according to this embodiment. The equipment management device 2 estimates the amount of refrigerant in the equipment 1 based on the equipment acquisition data 10, the equipment information 20, and the equipment installation information 30, and compares the value of the estimated refrigerant amount (estimated refrigerant amount 40) with the refrigerant management value to determine whether the amount of refrigerant in the equipment 1 is excessive or insufficient.

[0105] For example, the device management device 2 is configured to estimate the amount of refrigerant in the device 1 at any timing in addition to internal periodic processing, and therefore can store time-series data such as that shown in Fig. 17. For example, the estimation unit 405 calculates the refrigerant management value of the device 1 by adding the amount of refrigerant charged at the time of shipment of the device 1 and the amount of refrigerant additionally required for the device 1. Then, the estimation unit 405 compares the estimated refrigerant amount value in the device 1 with the refrigerant management value of the device 1 to determine whether the amount of refrigerant in the device is excessive or insufficient.

[0106] FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of time-series data held by the device management device. This diagram shows time-series data of the refrigerant management value and the estimated refrigerant amount value at each time. The estimated refrigerant amount value from time t0 to t1 is an estimate of the amount of refrigerant sealed in device 1 at the time of installation, and corresponds to the amount of charged refrigerant at the time of shipment of device 1. Next, if the additional amount of refrigerant required for the device is charged to device 1 from time t1 to t2, the estimated refrigerant amount value at time t2 will be close to the refrigerant management value. If the amount of refrigerant in device 1 subsequently decreases due to an external factor or the like after time t3, the estimated refrigerant amount value will decrease after time t3, and then stabilize at a certain value after time t4.

[0107] The device management device 2 can determine whether the amount of refrigerant in the device 1 is excessive or insufficient by comparing the difference between the refrigerant management value and the estimated refrigerant amount value based on time-series data such as that shown in FIG.

[0108] If it is determined that the amount of refrigerant in the device 1 is insufficient, it is assumed that the refrigerant gas is leaking and decreasing, and on the other hand, if the amount of refrigerant in the device 1 is excessive, it is assumed that the device is overfilled. For example, if the estimated refrigerant amount value is continuously decreasing, the device management device 2 can determine that refrigerant gas is leaking.

[0109] In addition, the equipment management device 2 determines whether the amount of refrigerant in the equipment 1 is excessive or insufficient at any timing with high accuracy (for example, 30 minutes after the equipment 1 is started) or by sampling periodically (for example, every minute), and outputs the result as instantaneous values ​​or time series data.

[0110] For example, when determining whether the amount of refrigerant is insufficient or excessive for one device 1, the device management device 2 simply determines whether the amount of refrigerant is insufficient or excessive within the device 1. On the other hand, when determining whether the amount of refrigerant is insufficient or excessive for multiple devices 1, the device management device 2 can also manage the amount of refrigerant used in the market.

[0111] For example, if the device management system SYS includes multiple devices 1, the device management device 2 can obtain time-series data of the refrigerant management value and the estimated refrigerant amount value at each time for each of the multiple devices 1, as shown in Fig. 18. Fig. 18 is a diagram showing an example of time-series data for each of the multiple devices 1 (here, devices A, B, and C) held by the device management device 2.

[0112] The device management device 2 can determine the total amount of refrigerant in the multiple devices 1 at the time of installation by calculating the sum of the estimated refrigerant amount values ​​at time t0, when each of the multiple devices 1 was installed. In the example shown in Fig. 18, additional refrigerant was charged only in device A between time t1 and t2, and it can be seen that a refrigerant leak occurred in device A because the refrigerant gas in device A decreased between time t3 and time t4. Similarly, it can be seen that a refrigerant leak occurred in device C between time t2 and time t3. Furthermore, if devices A to C were removed at time t4, it can be seen that the remaining refrigerant could be recovered, excluding the refrigerant leaked from devices A and C.

[0113] Therefore, although the leaked refrigerant has an impact on the environment, it can be seen that the recovered refrigerant does not have an impact on the environment even if it is replaced with new equipment 1 that contains the same amount of refrigerant. This has the effect of enabling the equipment 1 that contains refrigerant to be used continuously. Furthermore, even if the new equipment 1 contains a different type of refrigerant, it can be replaced without impacting the environment by applying the refrigerant management value according to the type of refrigerant.

[0114] <Fourth embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. The basic configuration of the device management system SYS according to this embodiment is the same as that of the first and second embodiments. Furthermore, the basic operation of the device management system SYS according to this embodiment is the same as that of the first and second embodiments, except that the performance of the device 1 is estimated based on the estimated refrigerant amount 40, and the estimated operating performance is compared with device information 20 of the device 1, publicly available inspection data, catalog information, or the like. The catalog information is information listed in a catalog from the manufacturer of the device 1, and includes, for example, numerical values ​​related to the specifications of the device 1.

[0115] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the amount of refrigerant and the performance of the device according to this embodiment. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a comparative example of the relationship between the performance of the device according to this embodiment and the temperature, compared to catalog values. Here, the performance of the device 1 refers to, for example, the operating performance of cooling, heating, dehumidification, refrigeration, etc. Note that the performance of the device 1 may also be expressed as the power consumption of the device 1.

[0116] The equipment management device 2 calculates the estimated refrigerant amount 40 of the equipment 1 having the characteristics shown in FIG. 19, and obtains the performance of the equipment 1 from the calculated estimated refrigerant amount 40. The equipment management device 2 then summarizes the calculated performance of the equipment 1 as characteristics shown in FIG. 20. Note that the relationship between the refrigerant amount and the performance of the equipment 1 shown in FIG. 19 is determined by numerical calculation based on the equipment information 20 and the equipment installation information 30. Similarly, the example shown in FIG. 20 is also determined by numerical calculation based on the equipment information 20, publicly available test data, or catalog information. Note that the publicly available test data or catalog information is included in the equipment information 20.

[0117] In this way, the device management system SYS according to this embodiment can estimate the performance of the device 1 based on the device information 20, the device installation information 30, and the estimated refrigerant amount, thereby ascertaining the performance of the device 1. Furthermore, when there are multiple devices 1, the device management system SYS can ascertain not only the performance of each device 1, but also the overall performance of the multiple devices 1. Furthermore, the device management system SYS can evaluate the performance of the device 1 by comparing the estimated performance of each device 1 or the overall performance of the multiple devices 1 with the device information 20, publicly available inspection data, or catalog information, thereby making it possible to ascertain, for example, the validity of the performance of the device 1.

[0118] <Fifth embodiment> Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. The basic configuration of the device management system SYS according to this embodiment is the same as that of the first and second embodiments, but differs in that it further includes a general-purpose device.

[0119] 21 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a device management system according to this embodiment. In this diagram, a device management apparatus 2 is configured to be able to communicate with a general-purpose device 5. Here, the general-purpose device 5 is an example of an external device, such as a device with a display screen (e.g., a smartphone or a PC) or a device that emits sound (e.g., wireless earphones).

[0120] The basic operation of the equipment management system SYS of this embodiment is the same as that of embodiments 1 to 4, but differs in that the equipment management device 2 outputs information based on the estimated refrigerant amount 40 or performance of the equipment 1 calculated from the general-purpose device 5, thereby providing visual or audible guidance or warning to the user.

[0121] For example, the device management device 2 may transmit information on the estimated refrigerant amount 40 or performance of the device 1 to the general-purpose device 5, thereby displaying the information on the general-purpose device 5. The device management device 2 may also transmit information on the excess or deficiency of the amount of refrigerant in the device 1, determined based on a comparison result between the value of the estimated refrigerant amount 40 of the device 1 and the refrigerant management value, to the general-purpose device 5, thereby displaying the information on the general-purpose device 5. The device management device 2 may also transmit information on the determination result based on a comparison between the performance of the device 1 and the device information 20, publicly available test data, or catalog information, to the general-purpose device 5, thereby displaying the information on the general-purpose device 5.

[0122] Specifically, the output unit 406 of the device management device 2 transmits information on the estimated refrigerant amount 40 or performance of the device 1 to the communication unit 402, thereby transmitting the information to the general-purpose device 5. The general-purpose device 5 acquires the estimated refrigerant amount 40 or performance information of the device 1 transmitted from the device management device 2 and displays it on the display screen of the general-purpose device 5. The output unit 406 also transmits information on the refrigerant amount surplus or shortage in the device 1 to the communication unit 402, thereby transmitting the information to the general-purpose device 5. The general-purpose device 5 acquires the information on the refrigerant amount surplus or shortage in the device 1 transmitted from the device management device 2 and displays it on the display screen of the general-purpose device 5. The general-purpose device 5 may also output the information transmitted from the device management device 2 by voice.

[0123] 22 is a diagram showing an example of a display displayed on the general-purpose device 5 according to this embodiment. This diagram shows an example of displaying information that provides guidance or warnings about the estimated refrigerant amount 40, a shortage of the amount of refrigerant in the device 1, a refrigerant leak, performance evaluation results, etc. Note that the display example shown in this diagram is just an example and is not limited to this.

[0124] The visual or audible guidance or warning is given, for example, when it is determined that the amount of refrigerant in the device 1 is continuously insufficient. In this case, it is considered that refrigerant gas is leaking, so the purpose is to prompt the user to contact the manager or repairman of the device 1 to minimize the impact of the refrigerant gas leakage, or, if the device 1 is in operation, to stop the device 1 or switch it to a mode that cuts off the refrigerant leakage.

[0125] Here, when all other conditions except the amount of refrigerant are consistent under certain environmental conditions or operating conditions of device 1, the performance of device 1 can be expressed as a function with the amount of refrigerant as a parameter. Taking power consumption as an example of the performance of device 1, if the amount of refrigerant is insufficient, the amount of heat exchanged in the heat exchanger will decrease in proportion to the decrease in the amount of refrigerant, and therefore power consumption will decrease. A similar trend can be seen in the operating performance of cooling, heating, dehumidification, or refrigeration.

[0126] Therefore, the device management device 2 can determine the performance of the device 1 based on the estimated refrigerant amount, and provides a visual or audible guide or warning of the result to the user or administrator who uses the device 1 via the general-purpose device 5. Furthermore, even when multiple devices 1 are connected, the device management device 2 can determine the performance of each device 1 based on the refrigerant amount estimated for each device 1. Note that the device management device 2 compares the performance of each device 1 obtained at this time with device information 20, publicly available test data, or catalog information so that it can be objectively determined.

[0127] In addition, if the amount of refrigerant in equipment 1 is insufficient compared to the refrigerant management value of equipment 1 and a decrease in performance of equipment 1 is observed, equipment management device 2 provides visual or audible guidance or warning that performance is decreasing due to a lack of refrigerant gas amount.

[0128] In this way, the device management system SYS according to this embodiment outputs visual or audible guidance or warning information via the general-purpose device 5 based on the estimation result of the refrigerant amount or performance of the device 1. In this way, the device management system SYS allows various people (for example, an unspecified number of people) such as users who use the device 1, workers or repairers who perform maintenance on the device 1, and managers to easily understand the status of the device 1.

[0129] Sixth Embodiment Next, a sixth embodiment will be described. The basic configuration and operation of the device management system SYS according to this embodiment are the same as those of the fifth embodiment, and information is sent from the device management apparatus 2 to the general-purpose device 5 for display. In this embodiment, the content displayed on the general-purpose device 5 differs from that of the fifth embodiment.

[0130] The equipment management device 2 transmits information relating to the failure or maintenance of the equipment 1 to the general-purpose device 5 based on the calculated refrigerant amount or performance of the equipment 1, the equipment acquired data 10, the equipment information 20, the equipment installation information 30, etc., and causes the information relating to the failure or maintenance to be displayed on the general-purpose device 5. The information relating to the failure or maintenance is, for example, information that assists in the failure or maintenance work and is useful to the worker.

[0131] Specifically, the output unit 406 of the device management device 2 outputs information about the failure or maintenance of the device 1 to the communication unit 402, thereby transmitting the information to the general-purpose device 5. The general-purpose device 5 acquires the information about the failure or maintenance transmitted from the device management device 2 and displays it on the display screen of the general-purpose device 5. The general-purpose device 5 may also output the information transmitted from the device management device 2 by voice.

[0132] FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of a display displayed on the general-purpose device 5 according to this embodiment. The display example shown in this figure displays, as information about the device 1, the operation start date, the device name, and the compressor model. Furthermore, as installation information about the device 1, information about the installation location of the outdoor unit and the height at which the indoor unit is installed is displayed. Also displayed are graphs of the estimated refrigerant quantity and performance of the device 1, as well as time-series data of the estimated refrigerant quantity and refrigerant management value. This display information is information that assists in work in the event of a malfunction or maintenance. Note that the display example shown in this figure is merely an example and is not limited thereto. For example, the display example shown in FIG. 23 allows the user to grasp the amount of refrigerant in the device 1 as an instantaneous value or a time series, and also allows the user to confirm information that assists in work in the event of a malfunction or maintenance of the device 1.

[0133] In this way, the device management system SYS according to this embodiment outputs information related to failure or maintenance of the device 1 via the general-purpose device 5 based on the estimation result of the refrigerant amount or performance of the device 1. This allows the device management system SYS to check information that will assist in work related to failure or maintenance of the device 1. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the burden on workers involved in failure or maintenance of the device 1 and to improve work efficiency.

[0134] Seventh Embodiment Next, a seventh embodiment will be described. The basic configuration and operation of the device management system SYS according to this embodiment are the same as those of the fourth embodiment.

[0135] As described in the fourth embodiment, the device management device 2 estimates the performance of the device 1 based on the amount of refrigerant in the device 1. In this embodiment, based on the estimated performance of the device 1, if the environment in which the device 1 is used is likely to exceed the capacity of the device 1, the device management device 2 operates the device 1 in advance by pre-cooling or pre-heating.

[0136] For example, compared to device 1 with a normal filling amount (amount of refrigerant that meets the refrigerant management value), device 1 with a reduced amount of refrigerant has reduced performance, so control is performed such as increasing the frequency of compressor 102, but the pressure increase caused by the increased frequency may cause intermittent shutdowns due to protective operations.

[0137] In this case, it may take longer for the device 1 to reach the set temperature during cooling operation, for example, and the room temperature may rise instead of dropping if the indoor air conditioning load increases beyond the capacity of the device 1. Therefore, the device management device 2 has the device 1 perform pre-cooling to reduce the indoor air conditioning load and prevent the device 1 from going into protective mode even if its performance is degraded.

[0138] For example, when a cooling or heating operation is reserved for device 1, device management device 2 (processing unit 403) acquires the reserved time from device 1 via communication unit 402 and determines whether the current environment (e.g., temperature) is likely to exceed the cooling or heating capacity of device 1's performance calculated based on the estimated refrigerant amount value. If processing unit 403 determines that the current environment is likely to exceed the cooling or heating capacity of device 1's performance, it transmits an instruction to device 1 via communication unit 402 to cause device 1 to perform cooling or heating operation prior to the reserved time. In response to receiving this instruction, device 1 performs pre-cooling or pre-heating operation.

[0139] In this way, the device management system SYS according to this embodiment controls the operation of the device 1 to pre-cool or pre-heat based on the performance of the device 1. As a result, when the environment in which the device 1 is used exceeds the capacity of the device 1, the device management system SYS can operate the device 1 more stably than when pre-cooling or pre-heating is not performed.

[0140] For example, if the environment exceeds the capacity of the device 1, the device 1 may be unable to withstand the load and may perform a protective action such as stopping operation or suppressing operation to protect itself. If the device 1 performs a protective action, the device 1 becomes unusable, which may cause discomfort to the user using the device 1. According to this embodiment, the device 1 is controlled to perform pre-cooling or pre-warming operation based on the performance of the device 1, so that it is possible to prevent such a protective action from occurring. For example, even if the performance of the device 1 is reduced due to factors such as reduced heat exchange performance of the heat exchanger due to contamination or air path blockage, or a shortage of refrigerant gas, the impact on use can be minimized.

[0141] In addition, the equipment management system SYS may operate the equipment 1 in a dehumidifying or freezing mode not only for cooling or heating, but also for dehumidifying or freezing, before the scheduled time if the environment in which the equipment 1 is used exceeds the capacity of the equipment 1.

[0142] Each embodiment has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, but the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and it is possible to combine the embodiments, or to modify or omit the embodiments as appropriate.

[0143] In the above embodiment, an air conditioner capable of switching between cooling operation and heating operation has been described as an example of the device 1, but the device may be a cooling-only device or a heating-only device. In the case of a cooling-only device, the refrigerant circuit is for cooling only, with the four-way valve 101 removed in Fig. 2. In the case of a heating-only device, the refrigerant circuit is for heating only, with the four-way valve 101 removed in Fig. 2.

[0144] Furthermore, the device 1 is not limited to an air conditioner as long as it is a device that has a refrigerant. For example, the device 1 may be a refrigerator or a freezer that has a condenser and an evaporator integrated into one unit. In the case of a refrigerator or a freezer, the refrigerant circuit is for cooling only.

[0145] Furthermore, for example, the device 1 may be a water heater (ATW: Air To Water). Fig. 24 is a diagram showing an example of a refrigerant circuit when the device 1 is a water heater. In Fig. 24, the same reference numerals are used for components corresponding to those in Fig. 2. When estimating the heat exchange amount of the gas cooler 205 of the device 1 (water heater), the inlet and outlet temperatures T6', T7' of the water circuit may be used instead of the inlet and outlet temperatures T6, T7 of the refrigerant gas cooler 205.

[0146] Furthermore, the examples of Mollier diagrams shown in Figures 5 and 6 differ depending on the type of refrigerant. For example, the CO2 refrigerant used in water heaters becomes supercritical during operation, so there is no distinction between the liquid and gas phases, but the relationship between pressure and enthalpy change is similar to the example shown in Figure 6. Furthermore, in water heaters, if the refrigerant temperature at gas cooler 205 cannot be measured, it can be converted from the refrigerant circulation volume, the water volume in the water circuit, the inlet and outlet temperatures T6' and T7' of the water circuit, and the heat exchange efficiency.

[0147] In the above embodiment, the device management device 2 is the external terminal 3 or the cloud 4, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the device management device 2 may be provided in the device 1.

[0148] It is also possible to record a program for realizing the functions of the device management device 2 on a computer-readable recording medium, and have a computer system read and execute the program to perform the processing of the device management device 2. Note that the term "computer system" here includes the OS and hardware such as peripheral devices.

[0149] Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks built into computer systems. Furthermore, the term "computer-readable recording medium" also includes devices that dynamically store programs for a short period of time, such as communication lines used when transmitting programs over a network such as the Internet or over communication lines such as telephone lines, and devices that store programs for a fixed period of time, such as volatile memory within a computer system that serves as a server or client in such cases. The program may be a program that implements part of the aforementioned functions, or may be a program that can implement the aforementioned functions in combination with a program already stored in the computer system. The program may also be stored on a designated server and distributed (e.g., downloaded) over communication lines in response to requests from other devices.

[0150] Furthermore, some or all of the functions of the device management device 2 may be realized as an integrated circuit such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration). Each function may be individually implemented as a processor, or some or all of the functions may be integrated into a processor. The integrated circuit method is not limited to LSI, and may be implemented using a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. Furthermore, if an integrated circuit technology that can replace LSI emerges due to advances in semiconductor technology, an integrated circuit based on that technology may be used. [Explanation of symbols]

[0151] 1 equipment 2 Equipment management device 3 External terminal 4. Cloud 5 General-purpose devices 10. Equipment Acquisition Data 11 Refrigerant temperature 12 Electrical Input 13 Environmental information 20 Device information 30 Equipment installation information 31 Internal volume of internal and external connecting piping 40 Estimated refrigerant volume 41 Equivalent refrigerant amount 42 Dissolved refrigerant amount 43 Retained refrigerant amount 50 Refrigerant Density 51 Internal volume of each part in the equipment 52 Remaining oil amount 53 Oil dissolution ratio 100 Outdoor unit 101 Four-way valve 102 Compressor 102a Compression section 102b Compressor motor 103 Expansion valve 104 Outdoor heat exchanger 105 Outdoor fan 110 Outdoor unit control unit 120 Inverter 200 indoor unit 201 Indoor heat exchanger 202 Indoor fan 210 Indoor unit control unit 220 Radio equipment 301,302 Internal and external connection piping 310 Internal and external communication line 401 Storage section 402 Communications Department 403 Processing Unit 404 Acquisition Department 405 Estimation section 406 Output section SYS Equipment Management System

Claims

1. an apparatus having a refrigerant; an acquisition unit that acquires measurement information indicating measurement results of the refrigerant temperature in the device measured by a temperature sensor, electrical characteristics of the device, and environmental information around the device; an estimation unit that estimates an amount of refrigerant in the equipment based on the measurement information acquired by the acquisition unit, preset equipment information about the equipment, and equipment installation information about an installation environment of the equipment; Equipped with The device includes an outdoor unit including a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, and an indoor unit including an indoor heat exchanger, the estimation unit calculates the amount of refrigeration oil remaining in the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the indoor heat exchanger, out of the refrigeration oil used in the equipment, based on the measurement information, the equipment information, the equipment installation information, and operating conditions of the equipment; the estimation unit estimates the amount of refrigerant dissolved in the refrigeration oil by multiplying the oil amount by an oil dissolution ratio calculated from refrigerant temperatures of the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the indoor heat exchanger. Equipment management system.

2. The equipment installation information includes at least one of a location including latitude and longitude of the installation location of the equipment, building specifications, and installation direction. The device management system according to claim 1 .

3. The indoor unit and the outdoor unit are connected by a first connecting pipe and a second connecting pipe, The equipment installation information includes information regarding the volumes of the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe, and the difference in elevation between a position where the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe are connected to the outdoor unit and a position where the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe are connected to the indoor unit. The device management system according to claim 1 .

4. The device information includes at least information regarding the volume of a space within the device through which a refrigerant can flow and the type of refrigerant contained in the device. The device management system according to claim 1 .

5. The estimation unit calculating the amount of refrigerant in the equipment based on a volume of a space in the equipment through which the refrigerant can flow and a refrigerant density calculated based on the refrigerant temperature and the type of refrigerant in the equipment; The device management system according to claim 4 .

6. The indoor unit and the outdoor unit are connected by a first connecting pipe and a second connecting pipe, the estimation unit estimates the amount of refrigerant remaining in liquid form in the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe based on cross-sectional areas of refrigerant flow paths in the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe and a flow rate of refrigerant circulating within the device. The device management system according to claim 1 .

7. The outdoor unit is equipped with an expansion valve, The refrigerant temperature includes at least one of the discharge temperature and suction temperature of the compressor, the temperature on the inlet side, the temperature on the outlet side, and the intermediate temperature between the outlet and the inlet of the indoor heat exchanger, the temperature on the inlet side, the temperature on the outlet side, and the intermediate temperature between the outlet and the inlet of the outdoor heat exchanger, and the temperature of the expansion valve. The device management system according to claim 1 .

8. The outdoor unit is equipped with an expansion valve, The equipment management system according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical characteristics of the equipment include at least one of an opening degree of the expansion valve, a command opening degree of the expansion valve, and a power consumption of the expansion valve.

9. The estimation unit calculating a refrigerant control value indicating a reference refrigerant amount for each refrigerant type based on the equipment information; The device management system according to claim 1 .

10. the estimation unit calculates the refrigerant management value by adding an amount of refrigerant sealed in the equipment at the time of shipment and an amount of refrigerant additionally filled in the equipment. The device management system according to claim 9.

11. The estimation unit determining whether the amount of refrigerant in the equipment is excessive or insufficient by comparing the estimated amount of refrigerant in the equipment with the refrigerant control value; The device management system according to claim 9.

12. The estimation unit estimating performance of the equipment based on the equipment information, the equipment installation information, and the estimated amount of refrigerant in the equipment; The device management system according to claim 1 .

13. A refrigerant amount estimation method for estimating a refrigerant amount in an apparatus having a refrigerant, the apparatus comprising an outdoor unit having a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, and an indoor unit having an indoor heat exchanger, the method comprising: an acquiring unit acquiring measurement information indicating measurement results of a refrigerant temperature in the device, electrical characteristics of the device, and environmental information around the device; an estimation unit estimating an amount of refrigerant in the equipment based on the measurement information acquired by the acquisition unit, preset equipment information about the equipment, and equipment installation information about an installation environment of the equipment; Including, In the step of estimating the amount of refrigerant in the equipment, the estimation unit calculates amounts of refrigerating machine oil remaining in the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the indoor heat exchanger, out of the refrigerating machine oil used in the equipment, based on the measurement information, the equipment information, the equipment installation information, and operating conditions of the equipment, the estimation unit estimates the amount of refrigerant dissolved in the refrigeration oil by multiplying the oil amount by an oil dissolution ratio calculated from refrigerant temperatures of the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the indoor heat exchanger. Refrigerant quantity estimation method.

14. The equipment installation information includes at least one of a location including latitude and longitude of the installation location of the equipment, building specifications, and installation direction. The method for estimating a refrigerant amount according to claim 13.

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