Thermal media circulation device

Abstract

Provided is a heat medium circulation device comprising a heat source-side circuit 20, an outdoor blower 26, a utilization-side circuit 30, and an electrical box 27, wherein: a combustible refrigerant is enclosed in the heat source-side circuit 20; a heat medium is enclosed in the utilization-side circuit 30; the combustible refrigerant and the heat medium flow to the intermediate heat exchanger 23; heat medium piping 31 has at least a gas discharge device 50 made of an air vent valve 51 and a pressure relief valve 52; the gas discharge device 50 is stored in a space C; the space C and the electrical box 27 are isolated from each other by at least one partition wall, thereby reducing the risk that the electrical box 27, which has a high risk as an ignition source, ignites, and further improving safety in an outdoor unit 11 formed from the heat source-side circuit 20 using the combustible refrigerant, the refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger 23, and the air vent valve 51 or pressure relief valve 52, which is a part of the utilization-side circuit 30.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a heat medium circulation device including a heat source side circuit and a utilization side circuit.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a heat pump device including a heat source side circuit and a utilization side circuit using a flammable refrigerant. This heat pump device houses a heat source side circuit, a heat medium heat exchanger, and a utilization side circuit in an outdoor unit, and provides a refrigerant release valve composed of at least one of a pressure relief valve and an air purge valve in the utilization side circuit. The outdoor unit includes a first space provided with at least a compressor of the heat source side circuit, and a refrigerant release valve is provided in a second space partitioned from the first space.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003] [[ID=又は25]]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a heat medium circulation device excellent in safety in which, in an outdoor unit composed of a heat source side circuit using a flammable refrigerant, a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger, and an air vent valve or a pressure relief valve which is a part of the utilization side circuit, even if the flammable refrigerant leaks by any chance, the electrical equipment box does not become an ignition source.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The heat transfer fluid circulation device in the present invention comprises a heat source side circuit in which a compressor, an intermediate heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a heat source side heat exchanger are sequentially connected in a ring by refrigerant piping; an outdoor fan that blows air to the heat source side heat exchanger; a user side circuit in which a transport pump that transports the heat transfer fluid, the intermediate heat exchanger, and a user side heat exchanger are sequentially connected in a ring by heat transfer fluid piping; and an electrical box consisting of a control board and power supply components that control the operation of the compressor, the expansion device, and the outdoor fan, wherein a flammable refrigerant is sealed in the heat source side circuit. The heat transfer medium is sealed in the user-side circuit, the flammable refrigerant and the heat transfer medium flow through the intermediate heat exchanger, the heat transfer medium piping has a gas release device consisting of at least an air vent valve or a pressure relief valve, the gas release device and the intermediate heat exchanger are housed in space C, space C and the electrical box are separated by at least one partition wall, the partition wall having a first partition wall, a second partition wall and a third partition wall, the housing of the electrical box being the first partition wall, and space A where the compressor is installed and the electrical box and the outdoor fan The space B in which the electrical equipment is located is separated from the space C by the second partition wall, the space A and the space C are separated by the third partition wall, and the electrical equipment box and the space C are separated by the first partition wall, the second partition wall, and the third partition wall. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] In the heat transfer fluid circulation device according to the present invention, even if the flammable refrigerant sealed in the heat source circuit leaks from the intermediate heat exchanger or mixes into the user circuit via the intermediate heat exchanger and is released from the gas discharge device, the probability of the refrigerant reaching power terminals or electronic component contacts in the electrical box, which could act as an ignition source, is extremely low. This eliminates the risk of ignition in the electrical box and further improves safety. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Schematic diagram of the heat transfer medium circulation device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. [Figure 2] Schematic diagram of the heat transfer medium circulation device in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. [Figure 3] Schematic diagram of the heat transfer medium circulation device in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] (Knowledge and other information that formed the basis of this invention) Generally, heat transfer fluid circulation systems are equipped with an air vent valve in the user-side circuit for removing air during equipment installation, and a pressure relief valve as a safety device in case the heat transfer fluid pressure rises above a predetermined pressure. Therefore, if flammable refrigerant flows into the user-side circuit, it will be released outside the circuit via the air vent valve and pressure relief valve. Therefore, in this industry, the challenge was to improve the safety of heat transfer fluid circulation systems using flammable refrigerants. As a result, product designs generally involved enhancing the explosion-proof properties of each high-risk electronic component in the outdoor unit, which consists of the heat source circuit, the refrigerant / heat transfer fluid heat exchanger, and parts of the user circuit such as air vent valves and pressure relief valves, thereby reducing the probability of ignition even in the presence of potentially flammable refrigerants. Under these circumstances, the inventors, inspired by the fact that the ignition probability of a flammable refrigerant can be expressed as the product of three factors (the probability of refrigerant leakage, the probability of an ignition source being present, and the probability of the flammable refrigerant encountering an ignition source), concluded that reducing the ignition probability of a flammable refrigerant was necessary to enhance safety. As one measure to achieve this, they conceived the idea that it could be addressed by reducing the probability of the flammable refrigerant encountering an ignition source, which is one of the factors mentioned above. The inventors then discovered that realizing their idea required pursuing a multi-layered safety design to minimize contact between the flammable refrigerant and the ignition source. To solve this problem, they arrived at the subject matter of the present invention.

[0009] Therefore, the present invention comprises a heat source side circuit in which a compressor, an intermediate heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a heat source side heat exchanger are sequentially connected in a ring by refrigerant piping; an outdoor fan that blows air to the heat source side heat exchanger; a user side circuit in which a transport pump that transports a heat transfer medium, an intermediate heat exchanger, and a user side heat exchanger are sequentially connected in a ring by heat transfer medium piping; and an electrical box consisting of a control board and power supply components that control the operation of the compressor, expansion device, and outdoor fan. The heat source side circuit is filled with a flammable refrigerant, the user side circuit is filled with a heat transfer medium, and the intermediate heat exchanger is filled with the flammable refrigerant and the heat transfer medium. The heat transfer piping includes a gas discharge device consisting of at least an air vent valve or a pressure relief valve, the gas discharge device and the intermediate heat exchanger are housed in space C, space C and the electrical box are separated by at least one partition wall, the partition wall being a first partition wall, a second partition wall and a third partition wall, the housing of the electrical box being the first partition wall, space A where the compressor is installed and space B where the electrical box is located being separated by the second partition wall, space A and space C being separated by the third partition wall, and the electrical box and space C being separated by the first partition wall, the second partition wall and the third partition wall, thereby providing a heat transfer circulating device.

[0010] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary details may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters or redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. The attached drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present invention and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0011] (Embodiment 1) [1-1. Structure] Figure 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a heat transfer medium circulation device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In Figure 1, the heat transfer medium circulation device 10 is composed of an outdoor unit 11 and an indoor unit 12. The heat source circuit 20 consists of a compressor 22, an intermediate heat exchanger (refrigerant / heat transfer medium heat exchanger) 23, an expansion device 24, and a heat source side heat exchanger 25, which are sequentially connected in a ring shape by refrigerant piping 21. An outdoor fan 26 blows air to the heat source side heat exchanger 25. The heat source circuit 20 is filled with a flammable refrigerant. The user-side circuit 30 consists of a transport pump 32 for transporting the heat transfer medium, an intermediate heat exchanger 23, and the user-side heat exchanger 33, which are sequentially connected in a ring shape by heat transfer medium piping 31. The user-side circuit 30 is sealed with heat transfer medium. The flammable refrigerant and heat transfer medium flow through the intermediate heat exchanger 23.

[0012] The refrigerant absorbs heat from the outside air in the heat source side heat exchanger 25, is compressed to high temperature and pressure in the compressor 22, and releases heat in the intermediate heat exchanger 23. The heat transfer medium is heated by heat exchange with the flammable refrigerant in the intermediate heat exchanger 23, and is circulated through the user side circuit 30 by the transfer pump 32, releasing heat in the user side heat exchanger 33. Terminal equipment 41 is connected to the indoor unit 12, and terminal equipment 41 is used for hot water heating and hot water supply. Water or antifreeze is used as the heat transfer medium.

[0013] The outdoor unit 11 is equipped with a compressor 22, an intermediate heat exchanger 23, an expansion device 24, a heat source side heat exchanger 25, an outdoor fan 26, and an electrical box 27. The indoor unit 12 is equipped with a transport pump 32 and a heat exchanger 33 on the user side. The outdoor unit 11 and the indoor unit 12 are connected by a heat transfer piping 31. The electrical box 27 consists of a control board and power supply components that control the operation of the compressor 22, expansion device 24, and outdoor blower 26. The heat transfer piping 31 is equipped with a gas release device 50 consisting of at least an air vent valve 51 or a pressure relief valve 52. The air vent valve 51 discharges gaseous components contained in the user-side circuit 30. The pressure relief valve 52 operates when the pressure in the user-side circuit 30 rises excessively.

[0014] The outdoor unit 11 forms spaces A, B, and C. In space A, a compressor 22 and an expansion device 24 are installed. In space B, a heat source side heat exchanger 25, an outdoor blower 26, and an electrical equipment box 27 are installed. In space C, a utilization side heat exchanger 33 and a gas discharge device 50 are installed. The electrical equipment box 27 is covered with a housing 27a, and the housing 27a functions as a first partition wall. The space A where the compressor 22 is installed and the space B where the electrical equipment box 27 is arranged are partitioned and isolated by a soundproof board 28, and the soundproof board 28 functions as a second partition wall. The space between space A and space C is isolated by a partition wall 29, and the partition wall 29 functions as a third partition wall. In this way, the electrical equipment box 27 and space C are isolated by the first partition wall 27a, the second partition wall 28, and the third partition wall 29. The intermediate heat exchanger 23 and the gas discharge device 50 are housed in space C, and the space between space C and the electrical equipment box 27 is isolated by at least one or more partition walls. By doing so, even when the combustible refrigerant enclosed in the heat source side circuit 20 leaks from the intermediate heat exchanger 23 or mixes into the utilization side circuit 30 through the intermediate heat exchanger 23 and is discharged from the gas discharge device 50, the probability that the refrigerant reaches the power supply terminals or the contacts of the electronic components in the electrical equipment box 27, which can be an ignition source, is extremely low. Thereby, the ignition risk in the electrical equipment box 27 can be reduced, and the safety can be further improved. The electrical equipment box 27 is installed at the top in space B, and space C is installed at the bottom in space A. Thus, it is preferable to arrange the electrical equipment box 27 above in space B and arrange space C below in space A.

[0015] Also, the indoor unit 12 is installed in the air-conditioned space and is composed of a transport pump 32 for transporting the heat medium and a utilization side heat exchanger 33 that exchanges heat with the heat medium. The outdoor unit 11 is physically isolated by partition walls 27a, 28, and 29 in the three spaces A, space B, and space C, respectively. The space A in which the compressor 22 is housed and the space B in which the electrical component box 27, the heat source side heat exchanger 25, and the outdoor blower 26 are housed are partitioned by a sound insulation board 28. Also, the electrical component box 27 is installed above in the space B. The pressure relief valve 52 has a communication pipe 62a for discharging gas. The communication pipe 62a discharges gas outside the outdoor unit 11 without passing through the space A and the space B.

[0016] [1-2. Operation] Regarding the heat medium circulation device 10 configured as described above, its operation and effects will be described below. Based on FIG. 1, the effects of the heat medium circulation device 10 will be described. Even if a leakage of the combustible refrigerant occurs in the heat source side circuit 20 of the heat medium circulation device 10, the probability that the refrigerant reaches the power supply terminals or the contacts of the electronic components installed inside the housing 27a of the electrical component box 27, which can be an ignition source, is low. Also, a plurality of heat transfer partitions (not shown) are provided between the refrigerant and the heat medium in the refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger 23. If some of the plurality of heat transfer partitions are damaged due to some cause, there is a risk that the refrigerant in the heat source side circuit 20 with high pressure flows into the utilization side circuit 30 with low pressure. Also, when the heat medium side flow path in the refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger 23 freezes and expands and cracks occur, there is a risk that the refrigerant leaks to the space C side of the refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger 23. Even in such a case, the air vent valve 51, pressure relief valve 52, and refrigerant / heat transfer medium heat exchanger 23 in the user-side circuit 30 within space C are isolated from space A by a partition wall 29, and space A and space B are further isolated by a soundproof wall 28. Therefore, flammable refrigerant flows into the user-side circuit 30 and is released from the air vent valve 51 and pressure relief valve 52. Alternatively, even if flammable refrigerant leaks from the refrigerant / heat transfer medium heat exchanger 23, the electrical box 27, which poses a high risk of becoming an ignition source, is located in space B, and the power terminals and electronic components inside the housing 27a of the electrical box 27 are isolated from space C by a triple partition wall 27a, 28, and 29 consisting of the housing 27a of the electrical box 27, the partition wall 29 of space C, and the soundproof panel 28. Therefore, the probability of flammable refrigerant diffused in space C reaching the electrical box 27 via the triple partition wall 27a, 28, and 29 is significantly reduced. Furthermore, if the flammable refrigerant used in the heat source circuit 20 of the heat transfer medium circulation device 10 has a higher specific gravity than air, space C is located at the bottom of space A, and the electrical box 27 is located at the top of space B. Therefore, the probability of the refrigerant, which is heavier than air and diffused in space C, reaching the electrical box 27 located above becomes even lower.

[0017] [1-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, in this embodiment, the electrical box 27 is installed at the top of space B, which is isolated from space A where the compressor 22 is housed. Space C, enclosed by the partition wall 29, is installed at the bottom of space A, and the air vent valve 51, pressure relief valve 52, and refrigerant / heat transfer medium heat exchanger 23 are housed in space C. As a result, even if a leak of flammable refrigerant occurs in the heat source circuit 20, the probability of the refrigerant reaching the power terminals or electronic component contacts inside the housing 27a of the electrical box 27, which could act as an ignition source, in the user circuit 30 is reduced. Furthermore, even if flammable refrigerant is released from the air vent valve 51, the pressure relief valve 52, and the refrigerant / heat transfer medium heat exchanger 23, the probability (probability of encountering an ignition source) that the flammable refrigerant, which is heavier than air, reaches the power terminals or electronic component contacts inside the housing 27a of the electrical box 27 located at the top of space B from space C through the gaps in the triple partition walls 27a, 28, and 29 is significantly reduced. Also, the probability (probability of encountering an ignition source) that the flammable refrigerant reaches the compressor 22 or the power supply unit of the refrigerant components in space A through the gaps in the single partition wall and reaches the lower flammability limit (LFL) is significantly reduced. Therefore, regardless of whether the device is in operation or not, the risk of ignition in the electrical box 27, the compressor 22, and refrigerant components is reduced, thus providing a heat transfer medium circulation device 10 with further improved safety.

[0018] (Embodiment 2) [2-1. Structure] Figure 2 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a heat transfer medium circulation device in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In Figure 2, the basic configuration is the same as in Embodiment 1. That is, the heat transfer medium circulation device 10 is composed of an outdoor unit 11 and an indoor unit 12, and the outdoor unit 11 has three spaces A, B, and C, and spaces A, B, and C are physically isolated by partition walls 27a, 28, and 29, respectively. In Embodiment 2 of the present invention, there are ventilation openings 61a and 61b that introduce air from outside the outdoor unit 11 into space C and discharge the air inside space C to the outside of the outdoor unit 11. In Figure 2, space C is equipped with a first vent 61a above it that allows for the introduction of outside air and ventilation, and space C is equipped with a second vent 61b below it that also allows for the introduction of outside air and ventilation. The ventilation openings 61a and 61b do not connect space C to space A, nor do they connect space C to space B.

[0019] [2-2. Operation] The operation and function of the heat transfer medium circulation device 10, configured as described above, will now be explained. When flammable refrigerant is released from the air vent valve 51, pressure relief valve 52, and refrigerant / heat transfer medium heat exchanger 23 in space C, outside air flows in through the first vent 61a and the second vent 61b, and the air and leaked refrigerant are mixed in space C. There are two vents, 61a and 61b. As a result, an airflow is generated from one of the vents, allowing outside air to flow in, and an airflow is generated from the other vent, allowing a mixture of air in space C and leaked refrigerant to flow out of the outdoor unit 11.

[0020] [2-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, this embodiment includes a first vent 61a above the space C that allows for the introduction of outside air and ventilation, and a second vent 61b below the space C that allows for the introduction of outside air and ventilation. As a result, even if flammable refrigerant is released from the air vent valve 51, pressure relief valve 52, and refrigerant / heat transfer medium heat exchanger 23 in space C, outside air flows in through either the first vent 61a or the second vent 61b, and the leaked refrigerant mixed with air in space C is discharged to the outside of the outdoor unit 11 through the other. Therefore, the amount of flammable refrigerant remaining in space C decreases, lowering the refrigerant concentration in space C. This significantly reduces the probability that the refrigerant concentration reaching the power supply unit of the compressor 22 in space A, or the power terminals and electronic component contacts in the electrical box 27 in space C, will reach the lower flammability limit (LFL). Thus, the risk of ignition in the electrical box 27 can be further reduced. Furthermore, the space C, which houses the air vent valve 51, the pressure relief valve 52, and the refrigerant / heat transfer medium heat exchanger 23, is separated by a partition wall from space A, which houses the compressor 22, whose operating noise is a source of noise. Therefore, the operating noise of the compressor 22 does not propagate from the first vent 61a or the second vent 61b in space C to the outside of the outdoor unit 11. Therefore, even if refrigerant leaks into the user-side circuit 30 and flammable refrigerant diffuses into space C, the operating noise of the compressor 22 is not transmitted outside the machine, and the probability of ignition in the electrical box 27 is reduced. Thus, it is possible to achieve both safety and quietness.

[0021] (Embodiment 3) Figure 3 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a heat transfer medium circulation device in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In Figure 3, the basic configuration is the same as in Embodiment 1. That is, the heat transfer medium circulation device 10 is composed of an outdoor unit 11 and an indoor unit 12, and the outdoor unit 11 has three spaces A, B, and C, and spaces A, B, and C are physically isolated by partition walls 27a, 28, and 29, respectively. In space C in Figure 3, there is a connecting pipe 62b that connects the exhaust port of the air vent valve 51 to the outside air. Thus, the gas release device 50 has connecting pipes 62a and 62b that release gas, and the connecting pipes 62a and 62b release the gas outside the outdoor unit 11 without passing through spaces A and B.

[0022] [3-2. Operation] The operation and function of the heat transfer medium circulation device 10, configured as described above, will now be explained. If flammable refrigerant is released from the air vent valve 51 in space C, the refrigerant will not be discharged into space C, but will be directly discharged to the outside of the outdoor unit 11 via the connecting pipe 62b.

[0023] [3-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, in this embodiment, a connecting pipe 62b is provided within space C that connects the exhaust port of the air vent valve 51 to the outside air. As a result, even if flammable refrigerant is released from the air vent valve 51 in space C, the refrigerant will not be discharged into space C, but will be directly discharged to the outside of the outdoor unit 11 via the connecting pipe 62b. Therefore, since flammable refrigerant does not accumulate in space C, the refrigerant released from the user-side circuit 30 does not reach the power supply unit of the compressor 22 in space A, or the power terminals and electronic component contacts in the electrical box 27 in space C. As a result, even if flammable refrigerant is released through the air vent valve 51 in space C, the power supply unit of the compressor 22 and the power terminals and electronic component contacts in the electrical box 27 will not become ignition sources. Therefore, a heat transfer medium circulation device 10 with further improved safety can be provided.

[0024] Furthermore, since the embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes only, various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc., can be made within the scope of the claims or their equivalents. [Industrial applicability]

[0025] This invention reduces the probability that flammable refrigerant will reach power terminals or electronic component contacts in the electrical box, which could act as ignition sources, even if a leak of flammable refrigerant occurs in the heat source circuit. Furthermore, even if flammable refrigerant leaks from the heat source circuit to the user circuit via the intermediate heat exchanger and is released from the air vent valve, pressure relief valve, and intermediate heat exchanger, the probability that refrigerant will reach power terminals or electronic component contacts in the electrical box, which could act as ignition sources, is further reduced. Therefore, in heat transfer fluid circulation systems using flammable refrigerants, the risk of ignition in the electrical box can be reduced, making it possible to provide a device with further improved safety. Thus, the present invention is applicable to heating equipment that heats a heat transfer fluid such as water or antifreeze and uses the generated hot water or hot air, as well as devices that use a heat transfer fluid such as water or antifreeze for cooling and freezing, in other words, devices that perform freezing, refrigeration, air conditioning, hot water supply, etc. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0026] 10 Heat medium circulation device 11 Outdoor Unit 12 Indoor Units 20 Heat source side circuit 21 Refrigerant Piping 22 Compressor 23 Intermediate heat exchanger (refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger) 24. Expansion device 25 Heat source side heat exchanger 26 Outdoor blower 27 Electrical box 27a Enclosure (First Bulkhead) 28. Soundproofing panel (second bulkhead) 29 Bulkhead (3rd bulkhead) 30 User side circuit 31 Heat medium piping 32 Conveyor pumps 33 User side heat exchanger 41 Terminal devices 50 Gas release device 51 Air vent valve 52 Pressure relief valve 61a First ventilation opening 61b Second ventilation opening 62a, 62b communication pipe A, B, C space

Claims

1. A heat source side circuit in which a compressor, intermediate heat exchanger, expansion device, and heat source side heat exchanger are sequentially connected in a ring shape by refrigerant piping, An outdoor fan that blows air to the heat source side heat exchanger, A user-side circuit in which a transfer pump for transporting a heat transfer medium, the intermediate heat exchanger, and the user-side heat exchanger are sequentially connected in a ring shape by heat transfer medium piping, An electrical box comprising a control board and power supply components for controlling the operation of the compressor, the expansion device, and the outdoor fan, Equipped with, The aforementioned heat source circuit is filled with a flammable refrigerant. The aforementioned user-side circuit is sealed with the heat transfer medium. The flammable refrigerant and the heat transfer medium flow through the aforementioned intermediate heat exchanger. The heat transfer piping is equipped with a gas release device consisting of at least an air vent valve or a pressure relief valve. The gas discharge device and the intermediate heat exchanger are housed in space C. The space C and the electrical box are separated by at least one partition wall. The aforementioned partition wall comprises a first partition wall, a second partition wall, and a third partition wall. The housing of the electrical equipment box is used as the first partition wall. The space A in which the compressor is installed and the space B in which the electrical box and the outdoor fan are located are separated by the second partition wall. The space A and the space C are separated by the third partition wall. The electrical box and the space C are separated by the first partition, the second partition, and the third partition. A heat transfer medium circulation device characterized by the following features.

2. The aforementioned electrical box is positioned above in the space B. The space C is located below the space A. The heat transfer medium circulation device according to feature 1.

3. The spaces A, B, and C are formed in the outdoor unit. The space C has a vent that introduces air from outside the outdoor unit and discharges the air inside the space C to the outside of the outdoor unit. The aforementioned vent does not connect space C and space A, nor does it connect space C and space B. The heat transfer medium circulation device according to feature 1.

4. The spaces A, B, and C are formed in the outdoor unit. The gas release device has a connecting pipe for releasing gas, The connecting pipe releases the gas outside the outdoor unit without passing through spaces A and B. The heat transfer medium circulation device according to feature 1.

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