Outdoor unit, packaging unit, and method of storing or transporting the outdoor unit

Abstract

To provide an air conditioning unit that can be stored safely while suppressing mixing of unnecessary matters, and to provide a package unit.SOLUTION: An outdoor unit (20) is encapsulated with a refrigerant having combustibility, where an encapsulation amount of the refrigerant having combustibility is equal to or larger than an amount of refrigerant of which pressure becomes atmospheric pressure at the atmospheric temperature of -40°C and less than an amount of refrigerant of which pressure becomes 0.2 MPa at the atmospheric temperature of 20°C.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to air conditioning units and packaging units. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, with growing concern about the global environment, refrigerants with low global warming potential (hereinafter referred to as GWP), which do not have a significant impact on the destruction of the ozone layer or global warming, have been attracting attention. Some of these refrigerants are flammable, and it is necessary to ensure safety by preventing ignition.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 (JP 2011-094871 A) proposes that the outdoor unit is shipped from the factory with a non-flammable refrigerant sealed in the refrigerant circuit components, and that when the unit is installed at the site where it will be used, a necessary amount of flammable or slightly flammable refrigerant is additionally sealed in the refrigerant circuit to ensure safety. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in some cases, it is desirable to pre-fill an air conditioning unit with a flammable refrigerant, even if it is a flammable refrigerant, in order to reduce the amount of refrigerant that needs to be added at the installation site. Air conditioning units filled with a flammable refrigerant must be stored safely. It is also desirable to prevent the air conditioning unit from being contaminated with anything that will be unnecessary for operation after installation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The air conditioning unit according to the first aspect is filled with a flammable refrigerant, and the amount of the flammable refrigerant filled is equal to or greater than the amount of refrigerant that reaches atmospheric pressure at an ambient temperature of -40°C and less than the amount of refrigerant that reaches 0.2 MPa at an ambient temperature of 20°C.

[0006] Although this air conditioning unit contains a flammable refrigerant, the amount is kept low—less than the amount that would result in a pressure of 0.2 MPa at an ambient temperature of 20°C—so that even if the refrigerant were to leak, ignition is suppressed. Furthermore, because the amount of flammable refrigerant contained in this air conditioning unit is equal to or greater than the amount that would result in atmospheric pressure at an ambient temperature of -40°C, even if the ambient temperature drops during storage, the pressure in the area where the flammable refrigerant is contained is likely to be maintained above atmospheric pressure, suppressing the intrusion of air from the surrounding area. This allows for safe storage while suppressing the intrusion of unwanted substances.

[0007] An air conditioning unit according to a second aspect is the air conditioning unit according to the first aspect, which is an outdoor unit connected to an indoor unit for use.

[0008] This air conditioning unit can be stored safely while preventing air from entering the outdoor unit.

[0009] An air conditioning unit according to a third aspect is the air conditioning unit according to the first or second aspect, wherein the flammable refrigerant includes one or more selected from the group consisting of R290, R600, and R600a.

[0010] A packaging unit according to a fourth aspect includes the air conditioning unit according to any one of the first to third aspects and packaging material for packaging the air conditioning unit. The air conditioning unit is isolated from the air outside the packaging material.

[0011] In this packaging unit, the air conditioning unit is packed in packaging material, which prevents air from outside the packaging material from mixing into the air conditioning unit.

[0012] A packaging unit according to a fifth aspect is the packaging unit according to the fourth aspect, wherein the packaging material includes one or more materials selected from the group consisting of vinyl chloride, polyethylene, and polypropylene.

[0013] This packaging unit makes it easier to package the air conditioning unit.

[0014] A packaging unit according to a sixth aspect is the packaging unit according to the fourth or fifth aspect, wherein the internal space of the packaging material is in a low-oxygen state.

[0015] This packaging unit prevents ignition in the internal space of the packaging material even if refrigerant leaks from the air conditioning unit.

[0016] A packaging unit according to a seventh aspect is the packaging unit according to any one of the fourth aspect to the sixth aspect, wherein an inert gas is sealed in the internal space of the packaging material.

[0017] This packaging unit prevents ignition in the internal space of the packaging material even if refrigerant leaks from the air conditioning unit.

[0018] A packaging unit according to an eighth aspect is the packaging unit according to any one of the fourth to seventh aspects, further comprising an oxygen absorber, which is disposed in the interior space of the packaging material.

[0019] This packaging unit makes it possible to reduce the oxygen concentration around the air conditioning unit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioning device. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic control block diagram of the air conditioning apparatus. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a packaging unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] (1) Air conditioning unit The air conditioning unit may be a device filled with a flammable refrigerant and capable of performing a refrigeration cycle, or may be a component part of a refrigeration cycle. For example, the air conditioning unit may be an outdoor unit that forms a refrigerant circuit by being connected to one or more indoor units via refrigerant piping.

[0022] Examples of flammable refrigerants include highly flammable refrigerants of Class A3 and B3, flammable refrigerants of Class A2 and B2, and slightly flammable refrigerants of Class A2L and B2L, as defined by the ASHRAE Safety Group. The flammable refrigerant may be one or more selected from the group consisting of R290, R600, and R600a.

[0023] The air conditioning unit contains a flammable refrigerant. The amount of flammable refrigerant contained in this air conditioning unit is equal to or greater than the amount required to achieve atmospheric pressure at an ambient temperature of -40°C and less than the amount required to achieve 0.2 MPa at an ambient temperature of 20°C. Although the air conditioning unit contains a flammable refrigerant, the amount is kept low, less than the amount required to achieve 0.2 MPa at an ambient temperature of 20°C. This prevents ignition even in the unlikely event of a refrigerant leak from the air conditioning unit, allowing for safe storage and transportation. Furthermore, the amount of flammable refrigerant contained in this air conditioning unit is equal to or greater than the amount required to achieve atmospheric pressure at an ambient temperature of -40°C. This ensures that the pressure in the area containing the flammable refrigerant remains above atmospheric pressure, even if the ambient temperature drops during storage or transportation. This prevents ambient air from entering the air conditioning unit. This improves the reliability of refrigeration cycle operation after installation.

[0024] (2) Packaging unit The air conditioning unit is preferably stored in a packaged state. Such a package is preferably one having gas barrier properties, and preferably contains one or more materials selected from the group consisting of vinyl chloride, polyethylene, and polypropylene. This prevents the leakage from spreading outside the package even if a flammable refrigerant leaks from the air conditioning unit. It also prevents air and moisture from outside the package from being mixed into the air conditioning unit.

[0025] The interior space of the packaging material is preferably in a hypoxic state. The hypoxic state may be, for example, an oxygen concentration of 10.0% or less, more preferably 8.0% or less, and even more preferably an oxygen-free state. The oxygen-free state may be an oxygen concentration of 1.0% or less, more preferably 0.1% or less. To facilitate maintaining a low oxygen concentration in the interior space of the packaging material, it is preferable to store the air conditioning unit with an oxygen scavenger placed in the interior space of the packaging material. Such oxygen scavenger is preferably a self-reactive type that already contains the moisture necessary for reaction and begins absorbing oxygen the moment it comes into contact with air. Examples of suitable oxygen scavenger include iron powder, zeolite, salt, activated carbon, and mixtures thereof. The amount of oxygen scavenger used is preferably an amount that absorbs more than the value obtained by multiplying the interior space of the packaging material (the volume inside the packaging material minus the volume of the air conditioning unit) by the percentage of oxygen in air (21%).

[0026] The internal space of the packaging material is preferably filled with an inert gas. The inert gas may be any of helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, radon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, fluorocarbon (excluding flammable refrigerants), and mixtures thereof. The inert gas may also be flue gas with a low oxygen concentration, such as exhaust gas generated by fuel combustion. When an inert gas is filled in the internal space of the packaging material, the above-mentioned oxygen scavenger may also be used.

[0027] (3) Example when the air conditioning unit is an outdoor unit The following description will be given taking as an example an air conditioner 1 in which an outdoor unit is used as the air conditioning unit.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the air conditioner 1. Fig. 2 shows a schematic control block configuration diagram of the air conditioner 1.

[0029] The air conditioner 1 is a device that conditions the air in a target space by performing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle.

[0030] The air conditioning device 1 mainly has an outdoor unit 20, an indoor unit 30, a liquid side refrigerant connection pipe 6 and a gas side refrigerant connection pipe 5 that connect the outdoor unit 20 and the indoor unit 30, a remote control (not shown) that serves as an input device and an output device, and a controller 7 that controls the operation of the air conditioning device 1.

[0031] In the air conditioner 1, a refrigeration cycle is performed in which a refrigerant sealed in a refrigerant circuit 10 is compressed, cooled or condensed, decompressed, heated or evaporated, and then compressed again. In this embodiment, the refrigerant circuit 10 is filled with a refrigerant for performing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant is a flammable refrigerant. The refrigerant circuit 10 is also filled with refrigeration oil along with the flammable refrigerant.

[0032] (3-1) Outdoor unit 20 The outdoor unit 20 is connected to the indoor unit 30 via the liquid-side refrigerant connection pipe 6 and the gas-side refrigerant connection pipe 5, and constitutes part of the refrigerant circuit 10. The outdoor unit 20 mainly has a compressor 21, a four-way switching valve 22, an outdoor heat exchanger 23, an outdoor expansion valve 24, an outdoor fan 25, a liquid-side shut-off valve 29, a gas-side shut-off valve 28, and a service port 26.

[0033] The compressor 21 is a device that compresses a low-pressure refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle to a high pressure. Here, a compressor with a sealed structure in which a rotary, scroll, or other positive displacement compression element (not shown) is rotationally driven by a compressor motor is used as the compressor 21. The compressor motor is used to change the capacity, and the operating frequency can be controlled by an inverter.

[0034] By switching the connection state, the four-way switching valve 22 can switch between a cooling operation connection state in which the discharge side of the compressor 21 is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 23 and the suction side of the compressor 21 is connected to the gas side shut-off valve 28, and a heating operation connection state in which the discharge side of the compressor 21 is connected to the gas side shut-off valve 28 and the suction side of the compressor 21 is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 23.

[0035] The outdoor heat exchanger 23 is a heat exchanger that functions as a condenser of high-pressure refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle during cooling operation, and functions as an evaporator of low-pressure refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle during heating operation.

[0036] The outdoor fan 25 draws outdoor air into the outdoor unit 20, exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger 23, and then generates an air flow that is discharged to the outside. The outdoor fan 25 is rotationally driven by an outdoor fan motor.

[0037] The outdoor expansion valve 24 is provided between the liquid side end of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 and the liquid side shut-off valve 29. The outdoor expansion valve 24 may be a mechanical expansion valve used together with a capillary tube or a temperature sensing bulb, but is preferably an electric expansion valve whose valve opening can be adjusted by control.

[0038] The liquid-side shutoff valve 29 is a manual valve arranged at the connection portion between the outdoor unit 20 and the liquid-side refrigerant communication pipe 6.

[0039] The gas-side shutoff valve 28 is a manual valve arranged at the connection between the outdoor unit 20 and the gas-side refrigerant communication pipe 5.

[0040] The service port 26 is provided adjacent to the gas-side shutoff valve 28 and is a manual valve arranged at the connection between the outdoor unit 20 and the gas-side refrigerant communication pipe 5.

[0041] The outdoor unit 20 has an outdoor unit control unit 27 that controls the operation of each part that constitutes the outdoor unit 20. The outdoor unit control unit 27 has a microcomputer including a CPU, memory, etc. The outdoor unit control unit 27 is connected to the indoor unit control units 34 of each indoor unit 30 via a communication line, and transmits and receives control signals, etc.

[0042] The outdoor unit 20 is provided with a discharge pressure sensor 61, a discharge temperature sensor 62, a suction pressure sensor 63, a suction temperature sensor 64, an outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 65, an outdoor air temperature sensor 66, and the like. Each of these sensors is electrically connected to the outdoor unit control unit 27 and transmits a detection signal to the outdoor unit control unit 27. The discharge pressure sensor 61 detects the pressure of the refrigerant flowing through a discharge pipe connecting the discharge side of the compressor 21 and one of the connection ports of the four-way switching valve 22. The discharge temperature sensor 62 detects the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the discharge pipe. The suction pressure sensor 63 detects the pressure of the refrigerant flowing through a suction pipe connecting the suction side of the compressor 21 and one of the connection ports of the four-way switching valve 22. The suction temperature sensor 64 detects the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the suction pipe. The outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 65 detects the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through a liquid side outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger 23, which is opposite to the side connected to the four-way switching valve 22. The outdoor air temperature sensor 66 detects the temperature of the outdoor air before it passes through the outdoor heat exchanger 23 .

[0043] (3-2) Indoor unit 30 The indoor unit 30 is installed on the wall or ceiling of the room, which is the target space. The indoor unit 30 is connected to the outdoor unit 20 via the liquid-side refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas-side refrigerant communication pipe 5, and constitutes part of the refrigerant circuit 10. Note that, although the present embodiment has been described taking as an example a case where one indoor unit 30 is connected to one outdoor unit 20, multiple indoor units may be connected in parallel to one outdoor unit 20.

[0044] The indoor unit 30 includes an indoor heat exchanger 31 and an indoor fan 32 .

[0045] The liquid side of the indoor heat exchanger 31 is connected to the liquid side refrigerant communication pipe 6, and the gas side end is connected to the gas side refrigerant communication pipe 5. The indoor heat exchanger 31 is a heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator of low-pressure refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle during cooling operation, and as a condenser of high-pressure refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle during heating operation.

[0046] The indoor fan 32 draws indoor air into the indoor unit 30, exchanges heat with the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 31, and then generates an air flow to be discharged to the outside. The indoor fan 32 is rotationally driven by an indoor fan motor.

[0047] The indoor unit 30 also has an indoor unit control unit 34 that controls the operation of each component of the indoor unit 30. The indoor unit control unit 34 has a microcomputer including a CPU, memory, etc. The indoor unit control unit 34 is connected to the outdoor unit control unit 27 via a communication line, and transmits and receives control signals, etc.

[0048] The indoor unit 30 is provided with an indoor liquid-side heat exchanger temperature sensor 71, an indoor air temperature sensor 72, etc. Each of these sensors is electrically connected to the indoor unit control unit 34 and sends a detection signal to the indoor unit control unit 34. The indoor liquid-side heat exchanger temperature sensor 71 detects the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the liquid-side outlet of the indoor heat exchanger 31, which is opposite to the side connected to the four-way switching valve 22. The indoor air temperature sensor 72 detects the temperature of the indoor air before passing through the indoor heat exchanger 31.

[0049] (3-3) Details of Controller 7 In the air conditioner 1, the outdoor unit control section 27 and the indoor unit control section 34 are connected via a communication line to form a controller 7 that controls the operation of the air conditioner 1.

[0050] The controller 7 mainly has a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and memories such as ROM and RAM. Note that the various processes and controls performed by the controller 7 are realized by the integrated functioning of the various parts included in the outdoor unit control section 27 and / or the indoor unit control section 34.

[0051] (3-4) Operation mode The operation modes will be described below.

[0052] The operation modes include a cooling operation mode and a heating operation mode.

[0053] The controller 7 determines whether to operate in a cooling operation mode or a heating operation mode based on an instruction received from a remote control or the like, and executes the determined mode.

[0054] (3-4-1) Cooling operation mode In the air conditioning device 1, in the cooling operation mode, the connection state of the four-way switching valve 22 is set to a cooling operation connection state in which the discharge side of the compressor 21 is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 23 and the suction side of the compressor 21 is connected to the gas side shut-off valve 28, and the refrigerant filled in the refrigerant circuit 10 is circulated mainly through the compressor 21, the outdoor heat exchanger 23, the outdoor expansion valve 24, and the indoor heat exchanger 31 in that order.

[0055] More specifically, when the cooling operation mode is started, in the refrigerant circuit 10, the refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 21, compressed, and then discharged.

[0056] In the compressor 21, capacity control is performed according to the cooling load required by the indoor unit 30. The gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 passes through a four-way switching valve 22 and flows into the gas side end of the outdoor heat exchanger 23.

[0057] The gas refrigerant that flows into the gas side end of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 exchanges heat with the outdoor air supplied by the outdoor fan 25 in the outdoor heat exchanger 23, condenses, and becomes liquid refrigerant, which flows out from the liquid side end of the outdoor heat exchanger 23.

[0058] The refrigerant flowing out from the liquid side end of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 is decompressed when passing through the outdoor expansion valve 24. The refrigerant decompressed by the outdoor expansion valve 24 passes through the liquid side shut-off valve 29 and the liquid side refrigerant connection pipe 6 and flows into the indoor unit 30.

[0059] The refrigerant that has flowed into the indoor unit 30 flows into the indoor heat exchanger 31, where it exchanges heat with indoor air supplied by the indoor fan 32 and evaporates, becoming gaseous refrigerant and flowing out from the gas side end of the indoor heat exchanger 31. The gaseous refrigerant that has flowed out from the gas side end of the indoor heat exchanger 31 flows into the gas side refrigerant connection pipe 5.

[0060] The refrigerant that has flowed through the gas side refrigerant communication pipe 5 passes through the gas side shutoff valve 28 and the four-way switching valve 22, and is sucked into the compressor 21 again.

[0061] (3-4-2) Heating operation mode In the air conditioning device 1, in the heating operation mode, the connection state of the four-way switching valve 22 is set to a heating operation connection state in which the discharge side of the compressor 21 is connected to the gas side shut-off valve 28 and the suction side of the compressor 21 is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 23, and the refrigerant filled in the refrigerant circuit 10 is circulated mainly through the compressor 21, indoor heat exchanger 31, outdoor expansion valve 24, and outdoor heat exchanger 23 in that order.

[0062] More specifically, when the heating operation mode is started, refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 21 in the refrigerant circuit 10, compressed, and then discharged. The gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 flows through the four-way switching valve 22 and the gas side refrigerant communication pipe 5, and then flows into the indoor unit 30.

[0063] The refrigerant that has flowed into the indoor unit 30 flows into the gas side end of the indoor heat exchanger 31, where it exchanges heat with the indoor air supplied by the indoor fan 32 and condenses, becoming a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant or liquid refrigerant, which flows out from the liquid side end of the indoor heat exchanger 31. The refrigerant that has flowed out from the liquid side end of the indoor heat exchanger 31 flows into the liquid side refrigerant connection pipe 6.

[0064] The refrigerant that has flowed through the liquid-side refrigerant communication pipe 6 flows into the outdoor unit 20, passes through the liquid-side shut-off valve 29, and is decompressed in the outdoor expansion valve 24 until it reaches a low pressure in the refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant decompressed in the outdoor expansion valve 24 flows into the liquid-side end of the outdoor heat exchanger 23.

[0065] The refrigerant that flows into the liquid side end of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 exchanges heat with the outdoor air supplied by the outdoor fan 25 in the outdoor heat exchanger 23, evaporates, and becomes gas refrigerant, which flows out from the gas side end of the outdoor heat exchanger 23.

[0066] The refrigerant flowing out from the gas side end of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 passes through the four-way selector valve 22 and is sucked into the compressor 21 again.

[0067] (4) Installation of air conditioning unit 1 The air conditioning device 1 is constructed by transporting the outdoor unit 20, which is filled with a predetermined amount of refrigerant, and the indoor unit 30, which is not filled with refrigerant, separately to the construction site and connecting them by the gas side refrigerant communication pipe 5 and the liquid side refrigerant communication pipe 6.

[0068] The lengths of the gas-side refrigerant connection pipe 5 and the liquid-side refrigerant connection pipe 6 connecting the outdoor unit 20 and the indoor unit 30 vary depending on the conditions of the property where the installation is to be performed. Therefore, the outdoor unit 20 is pre-filled with a refrigerant amount that is less than the amount of refrigerant required to properly operate the refrigeration cycle in the refrigerant circuit 10. After the outdoor unit 20 and the indoor unit 30 are connected via the gas-side refrigerant connection pipe 5 and the liquid-side refrigerant connection pipe 6 to form the refrigerant circuit 10, the refrigerant that is lacking to properly operate the refrigeration cycle is added through the service port 26. Specifically, a refrigerant cylinder is connected to the service port 26, and the refrigerant is added to the refrigerant circuit 10. When the refrigerant circuit 10 is additionally charged through the service port 26, the refrigerant may be added while the compressor 21 is operating and the refrigeration cycle is being operated. After the predetermined amount of refrigerant has been added, the service port 26 is closed.

[0069] (5) Storage and transportation of outdoor unit 20 3, the outdoor unit 20 is stored and transported in a state where it is packed in a packing material 15. Specifically, the outdoor unit 20 and the packing material 15 form a packing unit 100.

[0070] The outdoor unit 20 packed in the packing material 15 is filled with a flammable refrigerant in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of refrigerant that becomes atmospheric pressure at an ambient temperature of -40°C and less than the amount of refrigerant that becomes 0.2 MPa at an ambient temperature of 20°C, and the service port 26, the liquid side shut-off valve 29, and the gas side shut-off valve 28 are all closed.

[0071] The packaging material 15 packs the entire outdoor unit 20 and isolates the outdoor unit 20 from the air outside the packaging material 15. The packaging material 15 is in the form of a bag made of an impermeable material, and is sealed at a stopper 15a when the outdoor unit 20 is packed therein.

[0072] An oxygen absorber 18 is disposed in the internal space of the packaging material 15 around the outdoor unit 20. By using the oxygen absorber 18 in this manner, the internal space of the packaging material 15 is maintained at a low oxygen concentration. The location of the oxygen absorber 18 is not particularly limited, but when the outdoor unit 20 is filled with a flammable refrigerant that has a higher specific gravity than the atmosphere, it is preferable that the oxygen absorber 18 be disposed at a lower height than the service port 26, the liquid-side shut-off valve 29, and the gas-side shut-off valve 28. The internal space of the packaging material 15 may be filled with an inert gas.

[0073] The outdoor unit 20 is stored in the packaging unit 100 and transported to the construction site. The packaging unit 100 is preferably stored and transported in an environment where the ambient temperature is −4° C. or higher. The packaging material 15 is then removed at the time of construction.

[0074] (Addendum) Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it will be understood that various changes in form and details can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1. Air conditioning equipment 7 Controller 10 Refrigerant circuit 15 Packaging materials 18 Oxygen absorber 20 Outdoor unit (air conditioning unit, outdoor unit) 21 Compressor 23 Outdoor heat exchanger 24 Outdoor expansion valve 25 Outdoor fan 30 Indoor unit (indoor unit) 31 Indoor heat exchanger 32 Indoor fan 100 packing units [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0076] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-094871

Claims

1. An outdoor unit (20) used in connection with an indoor unit (30), The indoor unit and the outdoor unit are transported to the construction site in a separated state, and the air conditioning device is constructed by connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, The outdoor unit is filled with R290, a flammable refrigerant used in the air conditioning device, The amount of the flammable refrigerant sealed in the outdoor unit is equal to or greater than the amount of refrigerant that reaches atmospheric pressure at an ambient temperature of −40° C. and is less than the amount of refrigerant that reaches 0.2 MPa at an ambient temperature of 20° C., The air conditioning apparatus is configured such that the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are connected at the construction site and the flammable refrigerant is additionally charged. outdoor unit.

2. The outdoor unit according to claim 1; A packaging material (15) for packaging the outdoor unit; Equipped with The outdoor unit is isolated from the air outside the packaging material. Packaging unit (100).

3. The packaging material contains one or more materials selected from the group consisting of vinyl chloride, polyethylene, and polypropylene.

3. The packaging unit of claim 2.

4. The internal space of the packaging material is in a low-oxygen state.

3. The packaging unit of claim 2.

5. An inert gas is sealed in the internal space of the packaging material.

3. The packaging unit of claim 2.

6. The packaging material further includes an oxygen absorber (18) disposed in the interior space of the packaging material.

3. The packaging unit of claim 2.

7. A method for storing or transporting an outdoor unit (20) that contains a flammable refrigerant used in an air conditioning system and is connected to an indoor unit (30), comprising: The indoor unit and the outdoor unit are transported to the construction site in a separated state, and the air conditioning device is configured by connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, The air conditioning apparatus is configured such that the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are connected at the construction site and the flammable refrigerant is additionally charged, the amount of the flammable refrigerant sealed in the outdoor unit (20) is equal to or greater than the amount of refrigerant that becomes atmospheric pressure at an ambient temperature of −40° C. and is less than the amount of refrigerant that becomes 0.2 MPa at an ambient temperature of 20° C.; The flammable refrigerant includes R290. A method for storing or transporting an outdoor unit (20).

8. Stored or transported in an environment with an ambient temperature of -4°C or higher. A method for storing or transporting an outdoor unit (20) according to claim 7.

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