Outdoor unit of a heat pump cycle system, and heat pump cycle system

Abstract

To improve workability of a worker in construction and maintenance.SOLUTION: An outdoor unit 2 of a heat pump cycle device has a housing 30 the inside of which is divided into a heat exchange chamber storing an outdoor heat exchanger and an outdoor fan for distributing air to the outdoor heat exchanger, and a machine chamber RB storing an electrical unit for controlling an operation of the outdoor fan. The housing 30 is provided with a blowout port for blowing out air obtained through heat exchange with a refrigerant by the outdoor heat exchanger to the outside of the housing 30 by rotation of the outdoor fan, and the housing 30 is provided with a detachable service panel 40 at a right face side positioned at a machine chamber RB side when a face provided with the blowout port is regarded as a front face of the housing 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an outdoor unit of a heat pump cycle device provided with a machine room in a housing in which a compressor and an electrical equipment unit are stored, and a heat pump cycle device.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, an outdoor unit of a heat pump cycle device includes a housing that is internally divided into a heat exchange chamber and a machine room. A heat exchanger, a fan, etc. are stored in the heat exchange chamber of this housing, and a compressor, an electrical equipment unit, etc. are stored in the machine room of the housing. In this type of outdoor unit, when the side where an air outlet for blowing air to the outside of the housing is formed is taken as the front surface, the housing includes a detachable service panel on the machine room side of the front surface of the housing, and during the installation or maintenance of the outdoor unit, the service panel is removed to enable work (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in this type of outdoor unit, there are some that require work on piping and wiring on the back side of the housing. In an outdoor unit provided with a service panel on the front surface of the housing as in Patent Document 1, for example, there is a wiring port on the back side of the housing. When wiring is passed into the housing through the wiring port during installation or maintenance, the operator inserts the wiring from the back side of the housing forward and then goes around to the front side of the housing with the service panel removed to visually confirm the tip of the wiring. In this case, if the tip of the wiring cannot be confirmed, it is necessary to go back to the back side of the housing and insert the wiring again, resulting in the operation of repeatedly going back and forth between the front and back of the housing, and the workability of the operator is reduced.

[0005] The disclosed technology was developed in view of the above, and aims to provide an outdoor unit for a heat pump cycle system and a heat pump cycle system that can improve the workability of workers during construction and maintenance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The outdoor unit of the heat pump cycle device disclosed in this application comprises a heat exchange chamber housing a heat exchanger and a fan that blows air to the heat exchanger, and an electrical unit , and a water-refrigerant heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a refrigerant and water. The enclosure has a machine room for storing the equipment and an internally divided enclosure. The enclosure has an outlet for blowing out air that has exchanged heat with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger by the rotation of a fan to the outside of the enclosure. When the side with the outlet is considered the front of the enclosure, the enclosure is located on the machine room side. The rear of the unit has a connection port for connecting to the water piping of the water refrigerant heat exchanger, and the housing is located on the machine room side. It features a removable service panel on the side. When the service panel is removed, the interior of the machine room is exposed from the bottom to the top of the enclosure. ru.

[0007] The heat pump cycle device disclosed in this application comprises an outdoor unit located outside and an indoor unit located inside, the outdoor unit having a heat exchange chamber housing a heat exchanger and a fan that blows air to the heat exchanger, and an electrical unit that controls the operation of the fan. , and a water-refrigerant heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a refrigerant and water. The enclosure has a machine room for storing the machine, and the enclosure is divided internally into two sections. The enclosure has an outlet for blowing out air that has exchanged heat with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger by the rotation of the fan to the outside of the enclosure. When the side with the outlet is considered the front of the enclosure, the enclosure is located on the machine room side. The rear of the unit has a connection port for connecting to the water piping of the water refrigerant heat exchanger, and the housing is located on the machine room side. It features a removable service panel on the side. When the service panel is removed, the interior of the machine room is exposed from the bottom to the top of the enclosure. ru. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the outdoor unit of the heat pump cycle system and one embodiment of the heat pump cycle system disclosed in this application, the workability of workers during installation and maintenance can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1]Figure 1 is a circuit diagram showing an example of the refrigerant circuit and water circuit of the heat pump cycle device according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the outdoor unit as seen from the front. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the outdoor unit as seen from the rear. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the outdoor unit. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view of an electrical unit fixed to a partition plate inside the machine room. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows the outdoor unit with the service panel removed, viewed from the right side. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows the service panel as viewed from the inner side facing the inside of the enclosure. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the outdoor unit showing the initial operation of attaching the service panel to the enclosure. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the process of attaching the service panel to the enclosure. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the process of attaching the service panel to the enclosure. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the process of attaching the service panel to the enclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner disclosed in this application will be described in detail based on the drawings. However, this embodiment does not limit the disclosed technology. Furthermore, the embodiment described below may be modified as appropriate, provided that it does not create inconsistencies. [Examples]

[0011] <Configuration of a heat pump cycle system> FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram showing an example of a refrigerant circuit and a water circuit of a heat pump cycle device according to the present embodiment. The heat pump cycle device 1 includes an outdoor unit 2 and an indoor unit 3, and the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 3 are connected by a water pipe to form a water circuit 4. The heat pump cycle device 1 cools or heats the room (space) where the indoor unit 3 is arranged by circulating cold water or warm water through the water circuit 4 of the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 3. In FIG. 1, the heat pump cycle device 1 is illustrated as having one indoor unit 3, but it may have a plurality of indoor units 3 connected in parallel to the outdoor unit 2.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the outdoor unit 2 has a compressor 11, a four-way valve 12, an outdoor heat exchanger (heat exchanger) 13, an outdoor expansion valve 14, a water-cooled refrigerant heat exchanger 15, an accumulator 16, and an outdoor fan (fan) 17. These compressor 11, four-way valve 12, outdoor heat exchanger 13, outdoor expansion valve 14, water-cooled refrigerant heat exchanger 15, and accumulator 16 are respectively connected by a refrigerant pipe 18 to form a refrigerant circuit 10. This refrigerant circuit 10 is completed inside the outdoor unit 2 to form a refrigeration cycle. In addition, a water pipe 19 is connected to the water-cooled refrigerant heat exchanger 15 separately from the refrigerant pipe 18. This water pipe 19 extends outside the outdoor unit 2 and is connected to an indoor unit 23 (described later) of the indoor unit 3 to form the water circuit 4.

[0013] The compressor 11 is, for example, a high-pressure vessel type capacity variable compressor whose operating capacity can be changed, and compresses the inhaled low-pressure gas refrigerant to discharge a high-pressure gas refrigerant. A four-way valve 12 is connected to the refrigerant discharge side of the compressor 11, and an accumulator 16 is connected to the refrigerant suction side.

[0014] The four-way valve 12 is a valve for switching the flow direction of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 and includes a first port 12A to a fourth port 12D. The first port 12A is connected to the refrigerant discharge side of the compressor 11. The second port 12B is connected to one refrigerant inlet / outlet 13A of the outdoor heat exchanger 13. The third port 12C is connected to the refrigerant inflow side of the accumulator 16. And the fourth port 12D is connected to one refrigerant inlet / outlet 15A of the water-cooled refrigerant heat exchanger 15.

[0015] For example, a fin-tube heat exchanger is used as the outdoor heat exchanger 13. The outdoor heat exchanger 13 exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the outside air taken into the interior of the outdoor unit 2 by the rotation of the outdoor fan 17. The other refrigerant inlet / outlet 13B of the outdoor heat exchanger 13 is connected to the other refrigerant inlet / outlet 15B of the water-cooled refrigerant heat exchanger 15 via the outdoor expansion valve 14. The outdoor heat exchanger 13 functions as a condenser when the heat pump cycle device 1 performs a cooling operation to condense (liquefy) the gaseous refrigerant. Also, the outdoor heat exchanger 13 functions as an evaporator when the heat pump cycle device 1 performs a heating operation to evaporate (vaporize) the liquid refrigerant.

[0016] The outdoor expansion valve 14 is provided between the other refrigerant inlet / outlet 13B of the outdoor heat exchanger 13 and the other refrigerant inlet / outlet 15B of the water-cooled refrigerant heat exchanger 15. The outdoor expansion valve 14 is, for example, an electronic expansion valve, and by adjusting the valve opening degree, it decompresses (expands) the liquid refrigerant passing through the outdoor expansion valve 14.

[0017] The water-refrigerant heat exchanger 15 is, for example, a plate heat exchanger. The water-refrigerant heat exchanger 15 exchanges heat between the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit 10 and the water circulating in the water circuit 4. When the heat pump cycle device 1 is performing cooling or defrosting operations, the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 15 functions as an evaporator to evaporate (vaporize) the liquid refrigerant. Also, when the heat pump cycle device 1 is performing heating operations, the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 15 functions as a condenser to condense (liquefy) the gaseous refrigerant. The water-refrigerant heat exchanger 15 has a water inlet 15C and a water outlet 15D, and water pipes 19 are connected to these water inlet 15C and water outlet 15D respectively, forming part of the water circuit 4. In addition, for example, a circulation pump 21 for circulating water in the water circuit 4 is provided on the water inlet 15C side, and an air vent valve 22 for removing air that has entered the water circuit 4 is provided on the water outlet 15D side.

[0018] The refrigerant inlet side of the accumulator 16 is connected to the third port 12C of the four-way valve 12, and the refrigerant outlet side is connected to the refrigerant inlet side of the compressor 11. The accumulator 16 is formed as a hollow pressure vessel and separates the refrigerant flowing into it into gaseous refrigerant and liquid refrigerant, allowing only the gaseous refrigerant to be drawn into the compressor 11.

[0019] The outdoor fan 17 is positioned near the outdoor heat exchanger 13 and blows air toward the outdoor heat exchanger 13. Specifically, the outdoor fan 17 draws outside air into the outdoor unit 2 through the intake port 44 and intake opening 46 of the outdoor unit 2 (described later), and releases the outside air that has exchanged heat with the refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger 13 to the outside of the outdoor unit 2 through the outlet 41 (described later).

[0020] On the other hand, the indoor unit 3 has an indoor unit 23. The indoor unit 23 may be, for example, a floor heating system or a radiator. One refrigerant inlet / outlet 23A of the indoor unit 23 is connected to the water outlet 15D of the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15. The other refrigerant inlet / outlet 23B of the indoor unit 23 is connected to the water inlet 15C of the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15 via a circulation pump 21. As a result, the indoor unit 23 is connected to the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15 by water piping 19 to form a water circuit 4, and by circulating water in this water circuit 4 and performing heat dissipation or heat absorption in the indoor unit 23, heating or cooling is performed in the air-conditioned space in which the indoor unit 3 is installed.

[0021] <Operation during driving> Next, we will explain the flow of refrigerant and water during operation of the heat pump cycle device 1. In Figure 1, the dashed arrows indicate the flow of refrigerant during heating operation, and the solid arrows indicate the flow of refrigerant during cooling operation.

[0022] When the heat pump cycle device 1 performs heating operation, the four-way valve 12 is switched so that the first port 12A and the fourth port 12D are in communication, and the second port 12B and the third port 12C are in communication. As a result, the refrigerant circuit 10 becomes a heating cycle in which the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15 functions as a condenser and the outdoor heat exchanger 13 functions as an evaporator.

[0023] When the compressor 11 is driven in the state described above for the refrigerant circuit 10, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 flows into the four-way valve 12, and from the four-way valve 12 flows into the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15. The high-temperature gaseous refrigerant that flows into the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15 condenses by exchanging heat with the water circulating in the water circuit 4 of the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15 due to the operation of the circulation pump 21. Meanwhile, the water circulating in the water circuit 4 is heated by the refrigerant in the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15 and becomes hot water. This hot water flows into the indoor unit 23 of the indoor unit 3 through the water piping 19 of the water circuit 4. Then, the hot water in the indoor unit 23 releases heat, heating the room in which the indoor unit 3 is installed.

[0024] The liquid refrigerant that has condensed through heat exchange with water in the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15 passes through the outdoor expansion valve 14, is depressurized, and then flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 13. The refrigerant that has flowed into the outdoor heat exchanger 13 evaporates through heat exchange with the outside air that has flowed into the outdoor unit 2 due to the rotation of the outdoor fan 17. The gaseous refrigerant that has evaporated in the outdoor heat exchanger 13 passes through the four-way valve 12 and the accumulator 16 in that order, and is drawn into the compressor 11 and compressed again.

[0025] Furthermore, when the heat pump cycle device 1 performs cooling or defrosting operation, the four-way valve 12 is switched so that the first port 12A and the second port 12B are in communication, and the third port 12C and the fourth port 12D are in communication. As a result, the refrigerant circuit 10 becomes a cooling cycle in which the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15 functions as an evaporator and the outdoor heat exchanger 13 functions as a condenser.

[0026] When the compressor 11 is driven in the state described above in the refrigerant circuit 10, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 flows into the four-way valve 12, and from the four-way valve 12 flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 13. The high-temperature gaseous refrigerant that flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 13 condenses by exchanging heat with the outdoor air taken into the outdoor unit 2 by the rotation of the outdoor fan 17. If defrosting is being performed, the frost generated in the outdoor heat exchanger 13 is melted by the heat of the refrigerant flowing into the outdoor heat exchanger 13.

[0027] The liquid refrigerant condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 13 passes through the outdoor expansion valve 14, is depressurized, and then flows into the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15. The liquid refrigerant that flows into the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15 evaporates by exchanging heat with the water circulating in the water circuit 4 of the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15 due to the operation of the circulation pump 21. Meanwhile, the water circulating in the water circuit 4 is cooled by the refrigerant in the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15 and becomes chilled water. This chilled water flows into the indoor unit 23 of the indoor unit 3 through the water pipe 19 of the water circuit 4. Then, the indoor air is cooled by the chilled water in the indoor unit 23, thereby cooling the room in which the indoor unit 3 is installed. When defrosting is being performed, the circulation pump 21 is stopped to stop the circulation of water in the water circuit 4 in order to suppress the drop in indoor temperature.

[0028] The gaseous refrigerant evaporated in the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15 passes through the four-way valve 12 and the accumulator 16 in that order, and is then drawn into the compressor 11 and compressed again.

[0029] <Structure of the outdoor unit> Next, the external appearance and internal structure of the outdoor unit 2 will be described. Figure 2 is an external perspective view of the outdoor unit as seen from the front, and Figure 3 is an external perspective view of the outdoor unit as seen from the rear. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the outdoor unit. Figure 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the electrical unit fixed to the partition plate inside the machine room. Note that the directions such as front, back, up, down, and left and right described below refer to the direction in which air is blown out from the air outlet 41 (described later) when the outdoor unit 2 is installed, and the directions are those when the outdoor unit 2 is viewed from the front.

[0030] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the outdoor unit 2 is equipped with a rectangular box-shaped housing 30 in which the left-right dimension (width direction) is larger than the front-to-back dimension (depth direction). This housing 30 is equipped with a bottom plate (bottom panel) 31 positioned opposite the installation surface, a top panel 32 positioned above the bottom plate 31 in the height direction, and a side panel section 33 that connects the bottom plate 31 and the top panel 32 and separates the inside from the outside of the housing 30.

[0031] As shown in Figure 4, the interior of the enclosure 30 is divided into a heat exchange chamber RA and a machine room RB by a partition plate 34 erected on the bottom plate 31. The outdoor heat exchanger 13 is housed on the rear side of the heat exchange chamber RA, and the outdoor fan 17 is housed on the front side. The outdoor heat exchanger 13 is formed by bending into an L shape when viewed from above (on the top panel 32 side), and is supported by the bottom plate 31 along the left side from the rear side of the heat exchange chamber RA.

[0032] The outdoor fan 17 is attached to a pair of support members 35, 35 erected on the bottom plate 31. The outdoor fan 17 is a so-called axial flow fan, and its rotational drive by a fan motor (not shown) draws outside air into the heat exchange chamber RA from an intake port 44 (described later) formed on the outside of the outdoor unit 2, i.e., on the rear side of the outdoor heat exchanger 13, and an intake opening 46 (described later) formed on the left side. The air that has undergone heat exchange in the outdoor heat exchanger 13 is then blown forward from an outlet 41 (described later) formed on the front side of the heat exchange chamber RA. Thus, the outdoor unit 2 is a front-discharge type outdoor unit that blows out the air that has undergone heat exchange from the front.

[0033] In the lower space of the machine room RB, circuit components that constitute part of the refrigerant circuit 10, such as a compressor 11, an accumulator 16, a four-way valve 12 (Figure 1), and an outdoor expansion valve 14 (Figure 1), are arranged, and each circuit component is connected by refrigerant piping 18. The compressor 11 and the accumulator 16 are fixed to the bottom plate 31. In addition, circuit components that constitute part of the water circuit 4, such as a water-refrigerant heat exchanger 15, an air vent valve 22, and a circulation pump 21, are arranged in the lower space of the machine room RB (casing 30), and each circuit component is connected by water piping 19. In this embodiment, the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 15 is located near the corner between the rear and right sides in the lower space of the machine room RB (casing 30), and a connection port 47 for the water piping 19, which will be described later, is provided on the rear side.

[0034] Furthermore, an electrical unit 25 containing electrical components for controlling the operation of the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 3 is located in the upper space of the machine room RB. This electrical unit 25 comprises a first control board 27, a second control board 28, and a terminal section 26 for connecting wiring such as power lines and control lines (hereinafter also referred to as electric wires), and is fixed to the partition plate 34. As shown in Figure 5, circuit components such as a four-way valve 12, a sensor 20, and refrigerant piping 18, which constitute part of the refrigerant circuit 10, are located in the upper space of the machine room RB, so the electrical unit 25 is positioned to avoid these circuit components. Specifically, the electrical unit 25 comprises a first support member 61 which is formed in an L-shape when the machine room RB is viewed from above, and a second support member 62 and a third support member 63 which are formed in a straight line. Furthermore, the electrical unit 25 includes a fourth support member 64 formed in a straight line and positioned below the second support member 62, and a fifth support member 65 formed in a straight line and positioned below the third support member 63. These first to third support members 61 to 63 are connected in a rectangular frame shape and fixed to the partition plate 34 and the first right side portion 37B of the rear panel 37. The fourth support member 64 and the fifth support member 65 are connected in an L-shape and fixed to the partition plate 34 and the first right side portion 37B of the rear panel 37. In addition, the second support member 62 and the fourth support member 64 support the first control board 27, and the third support member 63 and the fifth support member 65 support the second control board 28 and the terminal portion 26. As a result, the electrical unit 25 can be positioned in the upper space of the machine room RB while avoiding interference with the circuit components of the refrigerant circuit 10. In this embodiment, the second control board 28 and the terminal section 26 are positioned near the right side of the upper space of the machine room RB, and facing toward that right side.

[0035] Next, the side panel portion 33 of the housing 30 will be described. The side panel portion 33 is formed by combining multiple panel members. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the side panel portion 33 includes a front panel 36, a rear panel 37, a right side panel 38, a left side panel 39, and a service panel 40. When the housing 30 is viewed from above, the front panel 36, rear panel 37, right side panel 38, and left side panel 39 are each formed in an L-shape that includes two adjacent surfaces of the housing 30 and the corner portion sandwiched between these two surfaces.

[0036] Specifically, the front panel 36 integrally comprises a first front portion 36A that forms part of the front of the housing 30 and a first left side portion 36B that forms part of the left side of the housing 30. The rear panel 37 integrally comprises a first rear portion 37A that forms part of the rear of the housing 30 and a first right side portion 37B that forms part of the right side of the housing 30. The right side panel 38 integrally comprises a second right side portion 38A that forms part of the right side of the housing 30 and a second front portion 38B that forms part of the front of the housing 30. The left side panel 39 integrally comprises a second left side portion 39A that forms part of the left side of the housing 30 and a second rear portion 39B that forms part of the rear of the housing 30.

[0037] The first front portion 36A of the front panel 36 is located on the front side of the heat exchange chamber RA, and the second front portion 38B of the right side panel 38 is located on the front side of the machine room RB. These first front portion 36A and second front portion 38B are arranged side by side to form the front of the housing 30. An outlet 41 is formed in the first front portion 36A from which air that has undergone heat exchange inside the heat exchange chamber RA is blown out. This outlet 41 has, for example, a circular bell mouth 41A, and a part of the outdoor fan 17 is located within this bell mouth 41A. A mesh fan guard 42 covering the outlet 41 is provided in front of the front panel 36. When viewed from above, the fan guard 42 is formed in an L shape and is arranged along the first front portion 36A to the first left side portion 36B of the front panel 36. The fan guard 42 is fixed to the front panel 36 with a predetermined gap between the upper end (upper end) 42A of the fan guard 42 and the top panel 32. In addition, a water-blocking plate 43 extending in the left-right (width) direction is provided above the air outlet 41 on the first front section 36A.

[0038] The first rear portion 37A of the rear panel 37 and the second rear portion 39B of the left side panel 39 are arranged side by side with a gap between them, forming the rear of the housing 30. The outdoor heat exchanger 13 is exposed and positioned between the first rear portion 37A and the second rear portion 39B, and this exposed area becomes the intake port 44. Behind this intake port 44, a mesh fin guard 45 is provided. The first rear portion 37A is located on the rear side of the machine room RB, and at the bottom of the first rear portion 37A, there is a pair of connection ports 47, 47 for connecting to the water piping 19 of the water circuit 4 described above, and a wiring port 48 for introducing wiring (electric wires) connected to the electrical unit 25 described above into the housing 30.

[0039] The second right side portion 38A of the right side panel 38 and the first right side portion 37B of the rear panel 37 are arranged side by side with a gap between them, forming the right side (the side facing the machine room RB) that connects the front and rear of the housing 30. The service panel 40 described above is detachably positioned between the second right side portion 38A and the first right side portion 37B. By removing this service panel 40, it is possible to access the machine room RB and easily perform maintenance on the electrical unit 25 and various circuit components.

[0040] The second left side portion 39A of the left side panel 39 and the first left side portion 36B of the front panel 36 are arranged side by side, front to back, forming the left side that connects the front and back of the housing 30. The second left side portion 39A faces a part of the outdoor heat exchanger 13, and multiple intake openings 46 are formed in this second left side portion 39A.

[0041] Furthermore, since the outdoor unit 2 is heavy, the side panel 33 of the housing 30 is provided with multiple handles 51, 52, and 53 for transporting the outdoor unit 2. These handles 51 to 53 are each located near the corners of the housing 30. Specifically, the multiple handles 51 to 53 are provided on the rear panel 37, the right side panel 38, and the left side panel 39, respectively, avoiding the service panel 40. In addition, if the service panel 40 is removed and work is being done on the equipment in the machine room RB, for example, if the wiring does not reach the terminal section 26 during connection, the outdoor unit 2 can be easily moved using the handles 51 to 53.

[0042] <Service Panel> Next, the service panel 40 will be described. Figure 6 is a view of the outdoor unit with the service panel removed, seen from the right side. Figure 7 is a view of the service panel, seen from the inner side facing the inside of the housing. As described above, the outdoor unit 2 of the heat pump cycle device 1 according to this embodiment is equipped with circuit components such as a water-refrigerant heat exchanger 15, an air vent valve 22, and a circulation pump 21 in a machine room RB provided inside the housing 30. The water-refrigerant heat exchanger 15 is supported on a bottom plate 31 and is located near the corner between the rear side and the right side in the lower space of the machine room RB. In addition, at the lower part of the first rear portion 37A of the rear panel 37 which forms part of the rear of the housing 30, there is a connection port 47 for connecting to the water piping 19 and a wiring port 48 for introducing electrical wires into the housing 30. In addition, an electrical unit 25 having a terminal portion 26 to which the electrical wires introduced into the housing 30 are connected is provided in the upper space of the machine room RB through the wiring port 48.

[0043] Therefore, in order to perform various tasks on the electrical unit 25 and circuit components in the machine room RB during the installation and maintenance of the outdoor unit 2, the housing 30 is equipped with a service panel 40 that covers a part of the machine room RB and is detachable from the housing 30. In this embodiment, the service panel 40 is provided on the right side of the housing 30 (the side facing the machine room RB). Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, the right side panel 38 is equipped with a first support portion 38A1 formed integrally with the second right side portion 38A, and the rear panel 37 is equipped with a second support portion 37B1 formed integrally with the first right side portion 37B. A work opening 55 is formed between the first support portion 38A1 and the second support portion 37B1. The opening 55 extends to a position that exposes the bottom plate 31 of the machine room RB. The service panel 40 is supported by the housing 30 (first support portion 38A1 and second support portion 37B1) so as to cover this opening 55. These first support portion 38A1 and second support portion 37B1 function as the side edges of the opening 55 covered by the service panel 40, and the first support portion 38A1 and the second support portion 37B1 each have elongated slits 60, 60 formed in the vertical direction. Furthermore, when the service panel 40 is attached to the housing 30, the opening 55 becomes an area covered by the inner surface 40A (described later) of the service panel 40. In addition, in this embodiment, since the service panel 40 is positioned on the right side of the housing 30, the dividing line between the service panel 40 and the right side panel 38 and the rear panel 37 is not visible from the front, so the design of the outdoor unit 2 is not compromised.

[0044] The service panel 40 is positioned at least in the lower part of the housing 30, corresponding to the area where the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 15 is located, but it may also extend from the lower to the upper part of the housing 30, as in this embodiment. Here, the lower part of the housing 30 refers to the area where the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 15 is located, for example, the area from the bottom plate 31 of the housing 30 to the upper surface of the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 15. The upper part of the housing 30 refers to the area where the electrical unit 25 is located, for example, the area from the top panel 32 of the housing 30 to the lower end of the electrical unit 25. In this embodiment, the service panel 40 extends from the bottom plate 31 to the top panel 32 of the housing 30. Therefore, by removing just one service panel 40, the interior of the machine room RB is exposed from the bottom plate 31 to the top panel 32 of the housing 30.

[0045] Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, the terminal section 26 and the second control board 28 of the electrical unit 25 are visible through the opening 55 at the top of the machine room RB. The second control board 28 is equipped with, for example, a 7-segment display unit (not shown) for displaying error information and various settings, as well as DIP switches and push switches for setting capacity and other functions. As a result, workers can easily access the second control board 28 of the electrical unit 25 by removing the service panel 40, making it easy to configure the equipment and obtain error information during installation and maintenance. The second control board 28 is also equipped with connectors for, for example, the circulation pump 21 of the water circuit 4 and a flow sensor / water temperature thermistor (not shown). As a result, during the manufacturing of the outdoor unit 2, a part of the water circuit 4, including the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15 and the circulation pump 21, can be easily installed later in a separate process or at a separate factory. Furthermore, since the worker can introduce the electric wires into the housing 30 through the wiring port 48 while facing the opening 55, and can visually check the electric wires while connecting them to the terminal section 26, the wiring work can be easily performed. In this way, there is no need to move back and forth between the front and back sides of the housing 30 multiple times, improving the worker's work efficiency during installation and maintenance.

[0046] Furthermore, at the bottom of the machine room RB, circuit components such as the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 15, circulation pump 21, and air vent valve 22 are visible through the opening 55. This allows workers to access, for example, the air vent valve 22 by removing the service panel 40, making it easier to remove air that has entered the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 15 and the water circuit 4.

[0047] Furthermore, the electrical unit 25 and the air vent valve 22 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, and the circuit components of the water circuit 4, including the air vent valve 22, are located below the electrical unit 25. As a result, by removing the service panel 40, workers can access both the terminal section 26 of the electrical unit 25 and the air vent valve 22, enabling them to perform both wiring and maintenance work on the electrical unit 25, as well as work to remove air that has entered the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15 and the water circuit 4. In addition, because the circuit components of the water circuit 4, including the air vent valve 22, are located below the electrical unit 25, even if water drips from, for example, the water piping 19 in the machine room RB, the electrical unit 25 will not be exposed to water, thus preventing malfunction of the electrical unit 25.

[0048] Furthermore, the outdoor unit 2 is equipped with a guide tube 57 that guides the wires connected to the terminal section 26 of the electrical unit 25 into the interior of the housing 30. One end (not shown) of the guide tube 57 passes through the first rear section 37A located on the machine room RB side and is connected to the wiring port 48. The other end 57A of the guide tube 57 is positioned to be visible through the opening 55. This allows workers to easily guide the wires from the rear side of the housing 30 through the guide tube 57 into the visible opening 55 (side side of the housing 30), making it easy to connect the wires to the terminal section 26. In addition, compared to the case where the service panel is on the front side of the housing, the guide tube can be shortened, improving work efficiency and reducing costs.

[0049] <Service panel mounting structure> As shown in Figure 7, the service panel 40 is formed in a rectangular shape that is elongated in the height direction. The lower end 401, upper end 402, and both side edges 403, 403 of the service panel 40 are each bent toward the inner surface 40A, thereby increasing the strength of the service panel 40. The service panel 40 is also provided with claw portions (fixing portions) 404, 404 on both side edges 403, 403. When the service panel 40 is attached to the housing 30, these claw portions 404, 404 protrude toward the inside of the housing 30. The housing 30 is provided with slits 60 into which the claw portions 404 can be inserted in the first support portion 38A1 and the second support portion 37B1, which are the edges of the opening 55 covered by the service panel 40. The claw portions 404 are inserted into the slits 60, 60 formed in the first support portion 38A1 and the second support portion 37B1, respectively.

[0050] The claw portions 404, 404 are located in the center of the service panel 40 in the height direction. Specifically, the service panel 40 has bent portions 406, 406 formed in the center of the height direction of both side edges 403, 403, and are formed by bending a part of the side edges 403, 403 so that they are substantially parallel to the inner surface 40A of the service panel 40. The claw portions 404, 404 are formed integrally with these bent portions 406, 406 and extend substantially parallel to the side edges 403, 403, respectively. Furthermore, each claw portion 404 protrudes perpendicular to the inner surface 40A of the service panel 40, and then its tip protrudes upward, forming an L-shape. The claw portion 404 includes an upper end portion 404A that protrudes upward and can engage with the housing 30 after being inserted into the slit 60, and a lower end portion 404B that does not protrude downward and is supported by the support portion (lower end) 60A of the slit 60, which will be described later, when inserted into the slit 60. The claw portion 404 also includes a contact portion 404C that comes into contact with the restricting portion (upper end) 60B of the slit 60, which will be described later, after being inserted into the slit 60.

[0051] Furthermore, the claw portions 404 are positioned such that the distance H1 between the lower end 401 of the service panel 40 and the lower end 404B of each claw portion 404 is the same. This configuration makes it easier for the worker to install the service panel 40 because the distance H1 between the lower end 401 of the service panel 40 and the lower end 404B of each claw portion 404 is the same.

[0052] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the service panel 40 has a handle formed in an inconspicuous shape to allow for safe handling of the service panel 40. Specifically, the handle is formed by processing the inner surface 40A of the service panel 40 so that it is not visible from the outside. For example, a handle 405 is formed on one (front) side edge 403 of the service panel 40, above the claw portion 404. This handle 405 is formed so that a part of the side edge 403 is folded back towards the inner surface 40A, allowing the worker to grip it safely. Also, the lower end portion 401 of the service panel 40 is folded back entirely towards the inner surface 40A, allowing the worker to grip it safely. With this configuration, for example, the worker can hold the lower end portion 401 with their right hand and the handle 405 formed on a part of the side edge 403 with their left hand, thereby safely holding the service panel 40 when attaching or detaching it. Moreover, since the handle of the service panel 40 is not visible from the outside, the aesthetic appearance is improved. On the other hand, once the service panel 40 is attached to the housing 30, the position of the handle may become difficult to see, potentially making it difficult for the worker to remove the service panel 40. Therefore, as shown in Figure 3, a mark 407 indicating the position of the handle 405 is provided on the outer surface 40B of the service panel 40.

[0053] Next, we will explain the procedure for attaching the service panel 40 to the enclosure 30. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the outdoor unit showing the initial operation of attaching the service panel to the housing, and Figures 9 to 11 are schematic cross-sectional diagrams illustrating the operation of attaching the service panel to the housing. The top panel 32 of the housing 30 has an edge 32A that bends downward. As shown in Figure 8, the worker holds the service panel 40 and inserts the upper end 402 of the service panel 40 into the inside of the edge 32A of the top panel 32.

[0054] Next, as shown in Figure 9, the worker moves the service panel 40 so that it approaches the first support portion 38A1 and the second support portion 37B1, using the upper end portion 402 of the service panel 40 as the pivot point. The height dimension H3 of the claw portion 404 is smaller than the height dimension H2 of the slit 60. Therefore, as shown in Figure 10, the claw portion 404 is inserted into the slit 60. Here, the slit 60 has a support portion 60A at its lower end that contacts the lower end portion 404B of the claw portion 404 to support the service panel 40. As a result, the service panel 40 is supported by the support portion (lower end) 60A of the slit 60. Also, at this time, the upper end portion 402 of the service panel 40 is kept inserted inside the edge portion 32A of the top panel 32, so the upper end portion 402 of the service panel 40 and the edge portion 32A of the top panel 32 overlap by a height dimension H4. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the service panel 40 from detaching from the housing 30 and falling. Furthermore, it is also possible to prevent the service panel 40 from tilting towards the worker, allowing the housing 30 to temporarily support the service panel 40, and enabling the worker to release their hand from the service panel 40 and perform other tasks.

[0055] Next, as shown in Figure 11, when the worker lifts the service panel 40 upward relative to the housing 30, the contact portion 404C of the claw portion 404 comes into contact with the restricting portion (upper end) 60B of the slit 60, preventing the service panel 40 from being lifted any further. At this time, the upper end portion 404A of the claw portion 404 engages with the first support portion 38A1 and the second support portion 37B1, respectively, allowing the through hole 408 of the service panel 40 to be positioned relative to the screw hole 161 of the housing 30. Finally, the worker fixes the service panel 40 and the housing 30 with screws 162 (fixing portion) to complete the installation work. In this case, a sealing material (not shown) is provided between the first support portion 38A1 and the second support portion 37B1 and the inner surface 40A of the service panel 40. The sealing material is, for example, foamed rubber such as sponge rubber (so-called sponge rubber) made by kneading a foaming agent into raw rubber and vulcanizing it. Such a sealing material has compression recovery properties. Therefore, when the service panel 40 is lifted upward while the sealing material is compressed, the contact portion 404C of the claw portion 404 is pressed against the restricting portion 60B of the slit 60 by the resilience (rebound force) of the sealing material between the first support portion 38A1 and the second support portion 37B1 and the service panel 40. This creates a frictional force between the claw portion 404 and the restricting portion 60B, and combined with the frictional force of the sealing material itself, the service panel 40 is maintained in the lifted position. In this way, the service panel 40 is temporarily fixed to the housing 30 and will not fall. Therefore, when screwing it in, the worker does not need to hold the service panel 40 with one hand, making the work easier. To remove the service panel 40 from the housing 30, simply reverse the installation procedure described above.

[0056] As described above, the outdoor unit 2 of the heat pump cycle device 1 according to this embodiment has a housing 30 whose interior is divided into a heat exchange chamber RA that houses an outdoor heat exchanger 13 and an outdoor fan 17 that blows air to the outdoor heat exchanger 13, and a machine chamber RB that houses an electrical unit 25 that controls the operation of the outdoor fan 17. The housing 30 has an intake port 44 that draws air into the housing 30 to exchange heat with the refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger 13 by the rotation of the outdoor fan 17, and an outlet port 41 that blows the heat-exchanged air to the outside of the housing 30. When the surface on which the outlet port 41 is formed is the front of the housing 30, the surface on which the intake port 44 is formed is the back of the housing 30, and the surfaces connecting the front and back of the housing 30 are the right side and left side of the housing 30, the housing 30 is equipped with a removable service panel 40 on the right side, which is located on the machine chamber RB side. With this configuration, workers can easily access the electrical unit 25 through the opening 55 that is revealed by removing the service panel 40. Furthermore, while facing the opening 55, workers can easily perform tasks such as introducing wires into the housing 30 from the rear side of the housing 30 and connecting the introduced wires to the electrical unit 25. In this way, there is no need to move back and forth between the front and rear sides of the housing 30 multiple times, improving the work efficiency of workers during installation and maintenance.

[0057] Furthermore, in the outdoor unit 2 of the heat pump cycle device 1 according to this embodiment, the electrical unit 25 includes a terminal section 26 to which wires for connecting to the indoor unit 3 of the heat pump cycle device 1 are connected. Since the terminal section 26 is positioned facing the inner surface 40A of the service panel 40 mounted on the housing 30, when an operator opens the service panel 40, they can access the terminal section 26 provided on the electrical unit 25, and for example, wires passed from the rear side of the housing 30 can be easily connected to the terminal section 26.

[0058] Furthermore, the outdoor unit 2 of the heat pump cycle device 1 according to this embodiment is equipped in the machine room RB with a water-refrigerant heat exchanger 15 for exchanging heat between a refrigerant and water, and an air vent valve 22 for releasing air that has entered the water circuit 4 that circulates water to the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 15 to the outside. The air vent valve 22 is positioned opposite the inner surface 40A of the service panel 40 mounted on the housing 30. With this configuration, an operator can access the air vent valve 22 by removing the service panel 40, making it easier to release air that has entered the water-refrigerant heat exchanger 15 and the water circuit 4.

[0059] Furthermore, in the outdoor unit 2 of the heat pump cycle device 1 according to this embodiment, the electrical unit 25 and the air vent valve 22 are arranged side by side. Therefore, by removing the service panel 40, the worker can access both the electrical unit 25 and the air vent valve 22, and perform both wiring and maintenance work on the electrical unit 25, and work to vent air that has entered the water refrigerant heat exchanger 15 and water circuit 4.

[0060] Furthermore, in the outdoor unit 2 of the heat pump cycle device 1 according to this embodiment, the electrical unit 25 includes a second control board 28 that controls the water circuit 4, and this second control board 28 is positioned facing the inner surface 40a of the service panel 40 mounted on the housing 30. When an operator opens the service panel 40, they can access the second control board 28 provided in the electrical unit 25, and for example, they can easily connect the circulation pump 21 and the flow sensor / water temperature thermistor of the water circuit 4 to the second control board 28.

[0061] Furthermore, in the outdoor unit 2 of the heat pump cycle device 1 according to this embodiment, the air vent valve 22 is located below the electrical unit 25. Therefore, even if water drips from the air vent valve 22 or the like, the possibility of failure of the electrical unit 25 can be reduced.

[0062] Furthermore, the outdoor unit 2 of the heat pump cycle device 1 according to this embodiment is equipped with a guide tube 57 that guides the wires connected to the electrical unit 25 into the interior of the housing 30. One end of the guide tube 57 penetrates the rear side of the housing 30 located on the machine room RB side, and the other end 57A of the guide tube 57 is positioned opposite the inner surface 40A of the service panel 40 attached to the housing 30. As a result, by removing the service panel 40, the worker can easily guide the wires from the rear side of the housing 30 through the guide tube 57 into an opening 55 visible to the worker, making it easy to connect the wires to the electrical unit 25.

[0063] The above describes one embodiment of the outdoor unit of the heat pump cycle device in this disclosure, but it is not limited to this. For example, in this embodiment, the air vent valve 22 is described as being located below the electrical unit 25, but it is not limited to this, and for example, the air vent valve and the electrical unit may be arranged side by side inside the machine room. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1. Heat pump cycle device 2 Outdoor unit 3 Indoor unit 4 Water circuit 13 Outdoor heat exchanger 15 Water refrigerant heat exchanger 17 Outdoor fan (fan) 21 Circulation pump 22 Air vent valve 25 Electrical Unit 26 Terminal Section 27. First control board 28. Second control board 30 cabinets 31 Bottom plate 32 Top panel 32A Edge 34 partition plates 37 Rear Panel 37A 1st back section 37B 1st right side section 37B1 Second support part 38 Right side panel 38A 2nd right side part 38A1 1st support part 38B 2nd front section 40 Service Panel 40A Inner surface 40B External surface 41 Air outlet 44 Inlet 48 Wiring port 55 Opening 57 Guide tube 57A Other end 60 slits 60A Support section 401 Lower end 402 Upper end 403 Side edge 404 Claw part (fixed part) 404A Upper end 404B Lower end RA heat exchange room RB Machine room

Claims

1. A heat exchange chamber housing a heat exchanger and a fan that blows air to the heat exchanger, The enclosure has an internal division into an electrical unit and a machine room housing a water-refrigerant heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a refrigerant and water, with the heat exchange room and the machine room arranged side by side. The housing has an outlet formed therein for blowing out the air that has exchanged heat with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger by the rotation of the fan to the outside of the housing, and the surface on which the outlet is formed is the front of the housing, and when the housing is viewed from this front side, The housing is provided with a connection port in the area on the machine room side of the rear of the housing for connecting to the water piping of the water refrigerant heat exchanger, The housing comprises a right side panel extending from an area on the front of the housing located on the machine room side to an area on the right side of the housing located on the machine room side, a rear panel extending from an area on the rear of the housing located on the machine room side to an area on the right side of the housing located on the machine room side, and a detachable service panel between the right side panel and the rear panel on the right side of the housing located on the machine room side. An outdoor unit of a heat pump cycle device, characterized in that when the service panel is removed, the interior of the machine room is exposed from the bottom to the top of the housing.

2. The outdoor unit of the heat pump cycle device according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing is provided with a wiring port in the area located on the machine room side on the rear side for introducing electric wires connected to the electrical unit into the housing.

3. The electrical unit includes a terminal section to which the wires for connecting to an indoor unit connected to an outdoor unit of the heat pump cycle system are connected, and the terminal section is positioned facing the inner surface of the service panel mounted on the housing, as described in claim 2 for the heat pump cycle system outdoor unit.

4. The machine room is provided with an air vent valve for releasing air that has entered the water circuit that circulates water to the water refrigerant heat exchanger to the outside. The outdoor unit of a heat pump cycle device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air vent valve is positioned opposite the inner surface of the service panel mounted on the housing.

5. The outdoor unit of the heat pump cycle device according to claim 4, wherein the electrical unit includes a control board for controlling the water circuit, and the control board is positioned facing the inner surface of the service panel mounted on the housing.

6. The outdoor unit of the heat pump cycle device according to claim 4, characterized in that the electrical unit and the air vent valve are arranged side by side.

7. The outdoor unit of the heat pump cycle device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the air vent valve is located below the electrical unit.

8. The housing includes a guide tube that guides the wires connected to the electrical unit into the interior of the housing. The outdoor unit of the heat pump cycle device according to claim 2, characterized in that one end of the guide tube passes through the wiring port formed in the area on the machine room side of the rear surface of the housing, and the other end of the guide tube is positioned opposite the inner surface of the service panel mounted on the housing.

9. A heat pump cycle system comprising an outdoor unit located outside and an indoor unit located inside, The outdoor unit comprises a heat exchange chamber housing a heat exchanger and a fan that blows air to the heat exchanger, The enclosure has an internal division into an electrical unit that controls the operation of the fan and a machine room that houses a water-refrigerant heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a refrigerant and water, with the heat exchange room and the machine room arranged side by side. The housing has an outlet formed therein for blowing out the air that has exchanged heat with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger by the rotation of the fan to the outside of the housing, and the surface on which the outlet is formed is the front of the housing, and when the housing is viewed from this front side, The housing is provided with a connection port in the area on the machine room side of the rear of the housing for connecting to the water piping of the water refrigerant heat exchanger, The heat pump cycle device comprises a housing that includes a right side panel extending from an area on the front of the housing that is located on the machine room side to an area on the right side of the housing that is located on the machine room side, a rear panel extending from an area on the rear of the housing that is located on the machine room side to an area on the right side of the housing that is located on the machine room side, and a removable service panel between the right side panel and the rear panel on the right side of the housing that is located on the machine room side, wherein when the service panel is removed, the interior of the machine room is exposed from the bottom to the top of the housing.

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