Refrigerant detection device and air conditioning system
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND THERMAL SYST
- Filing Date
- 2022-05-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-03
Smart Images
Figure 0007884362000001 
Figure 0007884362000002 
Figure 0007884362000003
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a refrigerant detection device and an air conditioning system.
Background Art
[0002] In order to detect refrigerant leakage of an air conditioner, it is known to provide a refrigerant sensor. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration including a sensor (second sensor unit) capable of detecting a refrigerant and a power supply unit that supplies sensor drive power to the sensor, and detecting the occurrence of refrigerant leakage based on the detection result of the sensor. In this configuration, the power supply unit is provided in a remote controller disposed below an indoor unit constituting the air conditioner.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] By the way, when applying a configuration as described in Patent Document 1 to a commercial air conditioner installed in a building or the like, the remote controller and the refrigerant sensor are connected by a wired connection, and power supply and the signal of the refrigerant sensor are performed via the wiring. Therefore, when arranging refrigerant sensors at a plurality of locations indoors where the indoor unit is installed, for example, the communication line may become long depending on the distance between the remote controller and the refrigerant sensor. Then, there is a problem that the signal of the sensor is particularly likely to be affected by noise.
[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a refrigerant detection device and an air conditioning system capable of suppressing the influence of noise.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] To solve the above problems, the refrigerant detection device according to the present disclosure includes a signal processing kit connected to a remote control communication line to which a DC power supply voltage is supplied from an indoor unit. The signal processing kit includes a remote control communication circuit connectable to the remote control communication line, a supply unit capable of supplying a sensor drive voltage based on the DC power supply voltage to a refrigerant sensor, and a processing unit capable of acquiring a refrigerant detection signal detected by the refrigerant sensor. The remote control communication circuit is capable of outputting a superimposed signal obtained by superimposing a pulse signal related to the refrigerant detection signal onto the DC power supply voltage, and is capable of bidirectional communication with the indoor unit via the remote control communication line. [Effects of the Invention]
[0007] The refrigerant detection device and air conditioning system of this disclosure can suppress the effects of noise. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0008] [Figure 1] This figure shows a schematic configuration of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] This figure shows the functional configuration of a refrigerant detection device and an air conditioning system according to the first embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 3] This figure shows the functional configuration of a refrigerant detection device and an air conditioning system according to the second embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 4] This figure shows the functional configuration of a refrigerant detection device and an air conditioning system according to the third embodiment of this disclosure. [Figure 5] This figure shows the functional configuration of a refrigerant detection device and an air conditioning system according to a modified example of the third embodiment of the present disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0009] <First Embodiment> (Air conditioning system configuration) Hereinafter, the refrigerant detection device and air conditioning system according to the embodiments of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the air conditioning system 1 comprises an indoor unit 2, an outdoor unit (not shown), a remote controller 5, and a refrigerant detection device 10A. As shown in Figure 1, the indoor unit 2 is installed in a room R provided in various buildings and structures. The indoor unit 2 is, for example, placed on the ceiling Rt of room R. The indoor unit 2 may be placed, for example, on the wall Rw of room R. The indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit are connected via a refrigerant circuit (not shown). Refrigerant circulates between the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit through a refrigerant circuit. In this embodiment, for example, a flammable gas is used as the refrigerant. Flammable gases used as refrigerants include, for example, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) such as difluoromethane. In this embodiment, the flammable gas has a higher specific gravity than air and sinks downwards in room R. As shown in Figure 2, the indoor unit 2 operates using the AC power supply voltage provided by the AC power supply 6. The indoor unit 2 is equipped with an AC-DC converter (not shown) that converts the AC power supply voltage supplied from the AC power supply 6 into a DC power supply voltage. The indoor unit 2 supplies the converted DC power supply voltage to the remote controller 5 and the refrigerant detection device 10A via the remote control communication line 100, which will be described later.
[0010] The remote controller 5 is used to remotely control the operation of the indoor unit 2. The remote controller 5 is equipped with buttons, switches, etc. (not shown) for remotely operating the indoor unit 2. As shown in Figure 1, the remote controller 5 is placed, for example, on the wall Rw of room R. The remote controller 5 is positioned below the indoor unit 2. The remote controller 5 may have lamps, display screens, etc., that indicate the operating status of the indoor unit 2.
[0011] The remote controller 5 is connected to the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100. The remote controller 5 operates with the DC power supply voltage supplied via the remote control communication line 100. The remote controller 5 remotely operates the operation of the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100. The remote controller 5 transfers a command signal for remotely operating the indoor operation to the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100. The remote control communication line 100 transfers by superimposing the DC power supply voltage and the command signal.
[0012] (Configuration of refrigerant detection device) As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerant detection device 10A detects leakage of refrigerant from a refrigerant circuit (not shown). The refrigerant detection device 10A includes at least one refrigerant sensor 20 and a signal processing kit 30A. In the present embodiment, the refrigerant detection device 10A includes a plurality of refrigerant sensors 20, a signal processing kit 30A, and a sensor kit 40.
[0013] The refrigerant sensor 20 detects the refrigerant. When the refrigerant sensor 20 detects the refrigerant, it outputs a refrigerant detection signal indicating that the refrigerant has been detected. In the present embodiment, the refrigerant sensor 20 is provided in the signal processing kit 30A and the sensor kit 40, respectively. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerant sensor 20 is disposed, for example, on the wall Rw of the room R. The refrigerant sensor 20 is disposed within a range of a predetermined height (for example, 30 cm) from the floor Rf of the room R.
[0014] (Configuration of signal processing kit) As shown in FIG. 2, the signal processing kit 30A is connected to the remote control communication line 100. The signal processing kit 30A is supplied with the DC power supply voltage supplied from the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100. The signal processing kit 30A includes a remote control communication circuit 31, a processing unit 32, and a supply unit 33. In this embodiment, the signal processing kit 30A further comprises a refrigerant sensor 20.
[0015] The remote control communication circuit 31 can be connected to the remote control communication line 100. The remote control communication circuit 31 is connected to the remote control communication line 100 via the input / output interface 35. The remote control communication circuit 31 can output a superimposed signal to the remote control communication line 100, which is obtained by superimposing a pulse signal related to the refrigerant detection signal output when the refrigerant sensor 20 detects refrigerant onto the DC power supply voltage supplied from the indoor unit 2. The remote control communication circuit 31 transmits a pulse signal related to the refrigerant detection signal superimposed on the DC power supply voltage via the remote control communication line 100, thereby supplying power to the signal processing kit 30A and performing two-wire communication with the refrigerant detection signal output from the refrigerant sensor 20, which will be described later. The remote control communication circuit 31 can communicate bidirectionally with the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100.
[0016] The supply unit 33 drives the refrigerant sensor 20 by receiving a DC power supply voltage from the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100. The supply unit 33 can supply a sensor drive voltage based on the DC power supply voltage to the sensor kit 40 (refrigerant sensor 20). The supply unit 33 includes a DC-DC converter (not shown) that reduces the DC power supply voltage supplied from the indoor unit 2 to a desired DC power supply voltage, and supplies the reduced DC power supply voltage to the sensor kit 40 as the sensor drive voltage.
[0017] The processing unit 32 receives the DC power supply voltage supplied from the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100 and the remote control communication circuit 31. The processing unit 32 can acquire the refrigerant detection signal output when the refrigerant sensor 20 detects a refrigerant. When the processing unit 32 acquires a refrigerant detection signal output from the refrigerant sensor 20, it outputs the refrigerant detection signal, or a signal indicating that the refrigerant detection signal has been acquired, as a pulse signal related to the refrigerant detection signal. The processing unit 32 transmits the pulse signal output when the refrigerant sensor 20 detects refrigerant to the remote controller 5 and indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication circuit 31 and remote control communication line 100. The processing unit 32 is, in terms of hardware, a processor such as a CPU.
[0018] When the indoor unit 2 receives a pulse signal from the processing unit 32 that is output when refrigerant is detected by the refrigerant sensor 20, that is, when refrigerant leakage is detected, the indoor unit 2 stops operating, for example. When the remote controller 5 receives a pulse signal from the processing unit 32 that is output when the refrigerant sensor 20 detects refrigerant, it may output information indicating that a refrigerant leak is occurring to the outside by displaying text, lighting a lamp, or the like. Furthermore, when the processing unit 32 receives a refrigerant detection signal output from the refrigerant sensor 20, it may also output to the outside that a refrigerant leak is occurring, such as by sounding a buzzer (not shown).
[0019] (Sensor kit configuration) The sensor kit 40 is connected to the signal processing kit 30A via the sensor signal line 110. In this embodiment, multiple (for example, three) sensor kits 40 are arranged. Each of the multiple sensor kits 40 is assigned address information, and the processing unit 32 of the signal processing kit 30A can identify the multiple sensor kits 40. Each sensor kit 40 is connected to the connection interface 38 of the signal processing kit 30A via the sensor signal line 110. The sensor signal line 110 is connected to the connection interface 45 of the sensor kit 40. The sensor kit 40 receives the DC power supply voltage supplied from the indoor unit 2 to the signal processing kit 30A via the sensor signal line 110. The sensor kit 40 comprises a sensor processing unit 42, a supply unit 43, and a refrigerant sensor 20.
[0020] The supply unit 43 drives the refrigerant sensor 20 using the DC power supply voltage received from the supply unit 33 of the signal processing kit 30A via the sensor signal line 110. The supply unit 43 can supply a sensor drive voltage based on the DC power supply voltage to the refrigerant sensor 20. The supply unit 43 receives the DC power supply voltage from the supply unit 33 of the signal processing kit 30A via the sensor signal line 110 and supplies it to the refrigerant sensor 20 of the sensor kit 40 as the sensor drive voltage.
[0021] The sensor processing unit 42 receives the DC power supply voltage supplied from the supply unit 33 of the signal processing kit 30A via the sensor signal line 110. The sensor processing unit 42 can acquire the refrigerant detection signal output when the refrigerant sensor 20 of the sensor kit 40 detects a refrigerant. When the sensor processing unit 42 acquires a refrigerant detection signal output from the refrigerant sensor 20, it outputs the refrigerant detection signal, or a signal indicating that the refrigerant detection signal has been acquired, as a pulse signal related to the refrigerant detection signal. The sensor processing unit 42 transmits the pulse signal output by the refrigerant sensor 20 when refrigerant is detected to the processing unit 32 of the signal processing kit 30A via the sensor signal line 110. The processing unit 32 transfers the pulse signal transmitted via the sensor signal line 110 to the indoor unit 2.
[0022] In this type of refrigerant detection device 10A, the signal processing kit 30A receives the DC power supply voltage from the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100 and the remote control communication circuit 31. The remote control communication circuit 31 outputs a superimposed signal, which is the DC power supply voltage superimposed with a pulse signal related to the refrigerant detection signal. The supply unit 33 supplies the sensor drive voltage based on the DC power supply voltage received via the remote control communication circuit 31 to the refrigerant sensor 20. This eliminates the need for a separate configuration to supply power to the refrigerant sensor 20. When the refrigerant sensor 20 detects refrigerant, it outputs a refrigerant detection signal. When the processing unit 32 acquires the refrigerant detection signal detected by the refrigerant sensor 20, it outputs a pulse signal related to that refrigerant detection signal to the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100. This allows measures such as stopping the indoor unit 2 to be taken when the refrigerant sensor 20 detects a refrigerant leak.
[0023] With the configuration described above, power is supplied to the refrigerant sensor 20, and pulse signals related to the refrigerant detection signal from the refrigerant sensor 20 are transmitted through the remote control communication line 100. Therefore, there is no need to install a new signal line to supply power to the refrigerant sensor 20 or to transmit pulse signals related to the refrigerant detection signal from the refrigerant sensor 20. In addition, since the remote control communication circuit 31 can communicate bidirectionally with the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100, when a pulse signal related to the refrigerant detection signal is transmitted from the remote control communication circuit 31 to the indoor unit 2, the indoor unit 2 responds to the remote control communication circuit 31 to indicate whether or not it has correctly received the pulse signal. Therefore, even if the remote control communication line 100 is long and noise is easily superimposed on the pulse signal, if noise is superimposed on the pulse signal and the indoor unit 2 does not correctly receive the pulse signal, the noisy pulse signal can be discarded. As a result, the effects of noise can be suppressed.
[0024] Furthermore, the signal processing kit 30A is further equipped with a refrigerant sensor 20 capable of detecting refrigerant. This allows the refrigerant sensor 20, which is included in the signal processing kit 30A, to detect the refrigerant.
[0025] The system further includes a sensor kit 40 which has a refrigerant sensor 20 and is connected to the signal processing kit 30A via a sensor signal line 110. This allows the sensor kit 40, which includes the refrigerant sensor 20, to be installed at a different location from the signal processing kit 30A. In this case, the signal processing kit 30A and the sensor kit 40 are connected via the sensor signal line 110. Power supply to the refrigerant sensor 20 and transmission of the refrigerant detection signal from the refrigerant sensor 20 can be performed between the signal processing kit 30A and the refrigerant sensor 20 of the sensor kit 40 via the sensor signal line 110. Thus, the sensor kit 40 is connected to the signal processing kit 30A, which is connected to the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100. Therefore, since the sensor kit 40 is not directly connected to the indoor unit 2, there is no need to assign an address for control to the refrigerant sensor 20 of the sensor kit 40. This allows the sensor kit 40 to be positioned using the remote control communication line 100 without increasing the number of addresses, thereby increasing the design flexibility of the entire refrigerant detection device 10A.
[0026] Furthermore, the sensor kit 40 is further equipped with a sensor processing unit 42. The sensor processing unit 42 outputs the refrigerant detection signal detected by the refrigerant sensor 20 to the signal processing kit 30A. Therefore, the signal processing kit 30A can easily determine which refrigerant sensor 20 detected the refrigerant, even if multiple sensor kits 40 are installed.
[0027] Furthermore, the signal processing kit 30A is connected to the remote controller 5 via the remote control communication line 100. In this way, by connecting the signal processing kit 30A to the remote controller 5 via the remote control communication line 100, the length of the remote control communication line 100 connecting the signal processing kit 30A to the remote controller 5, which is located at a lower position compared to the indoor unit 2, can be reduced compared to the case where the signal processing kit 30A is directly connected to the indoor unit 2, which is often located at a high position such as the ceiling Rt, via the remote control communication line 100.
[0028] Furthermore, by providing multiple refrigerant sensors 20, a refrigerant detection device 10A can be configured that can detect refrigerant at multiple locations within the room R.
[0029] <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 3. In the second embodiment, components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted. The signal processing kit 30B of the first embodiment included a refrigerant sensor 20 and a sensor kit 40. In contrast, the second embodiment does not include the sensor kit 40, and the refrigerant sensor 20 is located outside the signal processing kit 30B. As shown in Figure 3, the refrigerant detection device 10B of the air conditioning system 1 in this embodiment comprises one or more refrigerant sensors 20 and a signal processing kit 30B. In this embodiment, the refrigerant detection device 10B comprises a plurality of refrigerant sensors 20 and a signal processing kit 30B.
[0030] (Configuration of the signal processing kit) As shown in Figure 3, the signal processing kit 30B is connected to the remote control communication line 100. The signal processing kit 30B is supplied with a DC power supply voltage from the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100. The signal processing kit 30B includes a remote control communication circuit 31, a processing unit 32, and a supply unit 33.
[0031] The refrigerant sensor 20 is located outside the signal processing kit 30B. The refrigerant sensor 20 is connected to the connection interface 38 of the signal processing kit 30B via the signal line 120. When the refrigerant sensor 20 detects a refrigerant, it outputs a refrigerant detection signal indicating that a refrigerant has been detected.
[0032] The processing unit 32 can acquire the refrigerant detection signal output when the refrigerant sensor 20, which is located outside the signal processing kit 30B, detects refrigerant. When the processing unit 32 acquires a refrigerant detection signal output from the refrigerant sensor 20, it outputs the refrigerant detection signal, or a signal indicating that the refrigerant detection signal has been acquired, as a pulse signal related to the refrigerant detection signal. The processing unit 32 transmits the pulse signal output when the refrigerant sensor 20 detects refrigerant to the remote controller 5 and indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication circuit 31 and remote control communication line 100.
[0033] In this type of refrigerant detection device 10B, the remote control communication circuit 31 can communicate bidirectionally with the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100. Therefore, if noise is superimposed on the pulse signal and the indoor unit 2 does not correctly receive the pulse signal, the noisy pulse signal can be discarded. As a result, the effects of noise can be suppressed.
[0034] <Third Embodiment> Next, the third embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 4. In the third embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as those in the first and second embodiments, and detailed descriptions are omitted. The third embodiment differs from the first and second embodiments in that it includes multiple signal processing kits 30C. As shown in Figure 4, the refrigerant detection device 10C of the air conditioning system 1 in this embodiment comprises one or more refrigerant sensors 20 and a signal processing kit 30C. In this embodiment, the refrigerant detection device 10C comprises a plurality of refrigerant sensors 20 and a signal processing kit 30C.
[0035] (Configuration of the signal processing kit) As shown in Figure 4, each of the multiple signal processing kits 30C is connected to the remote control communication line 100. Multiple signal processing kits 30C are each connected in parallel to the remote controller 5 via remote control communication lines 100. Each signal processing kit 30C is supplied with a DC power supply voltage from the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100. Each signal processing kit 30C includes a remote control communication circuit 31, a processing unit 32, and a supply unit 33.
[0036] The refrigerant sensor 20 is located outside each signal processing kit 30C. The refrigerant sensor 20 is connected to the connection interface 38 of each signal processing kit 30C via the signal line 120.
[0037] The processing unit 32 can acquire the refrigerant detection signal output when the refrigerant sensor 20, which is located outside the signal processing kit 30C, detects a refrigerant. When the processing unit 32 acquires a refrigerant detection signal output from the refrigerant sensor 20, it outputs the refrigerant detection signal, or a signal indicating that the refrigerant detection signal has been acquired, as a pulse signal related to the refrigerant detection signal. The processing unit 32 transmits the pulse signal output when the refrigerant sensor 20 detects refrigerant to the remote controller 5 and indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication circuit 31 and remote control communication line 100.
[0038] In this type of refrigerant detection device 10C, the remote control communication circuit 31 can communicate bidirectionally with the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100. Therefore, if noise is superimposed on the pulse signal and the indoor unit 2 does not correctly receive the pulse signal, the noisy pulse signal can be discarded. As a result, the effects of noise can be suppressed.
[0039] In such a refrigerant detection device 10C, multiple signal processing kits 30C are connected to the remote control communication line 100. This allows multiple signal processing kits 30C to be arranged via the remote control communication line 100, starting from the indoor unit 2.
[0040] (Modified version of the third embodiment) As shown in Figure 5, the signal processing kit 30C of the refrigerant detection device 10C described in the third embodiment may further include a temperature sensor 50 capable of detecting the temperature of the space conditioned by the indoor unit 2.
[0041] In such a refrigerant detection device 10C, a temperature sensor 50 is provided to detect the temperature of the space conditioned by the indoor unit 2, thereby enabling more sensitive detection of temperature changes in the space caused by refrigerant leakage. Furthermore, by equipping the signal processing kit 30, which is positioned lower than the indoor unit 2, with a temperature sensor 50, it is possible to more accurately detect the temperature near people in the indoor space.
[0042] While several embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. These embodiments can be implemented in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the disclosure. These embodiments and their variations are included in the claims and their equivalents, as well as in the scope and gist of the disclosure. For example, in the above embodiment, the remote controller 5 is placed between the signal processing kits 30A to 30C and the indoor unit 2, but the configuration is not limited to this. The signal processing kits 30A to 30C may be directly connected to the remote control communication line 100 without going through the remote controller 5.
[0043] <Note> The refrigerant detection devices 10A, 10B, 10C and the air conditioning system 1 described in each embodiment are understood, for example, as follows.
[0044] (1) The refrigerant detection devices 10A, 10B, and 10C according to the first embodiment include signal processing kits 30A, 30B, and 30C connected to a remote control communication line 100 to which a DC power supply voltage is supplied from the indoor unit 2. The signal processing kits 30A, 30B, and 30C include a remote control communication circuit 31 connectable to the remote control communication line 100, a supply unit 33 capable of supplying a sensor drive voltage based on the DC power supply voltage to the refrigerant sensor 20, and a processing unit 32 capable of acquiring a refrigerant detection signal detected by the refrigerant sensor 20. The remote control communication circuit 31 is capable of outputting a superimposed signal obtained by superimposing a pulse signal related to the refrigerant detection signal onto the DC power supply voltage, and is capable of bidirectional communication with the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100.
[0045] The refrigerant detection devices 10A, 10B, and 10C receive the DC power supply voltage from the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100 and the remote control communication circuit 31, through the signal processing kits 30A, 30B, and 30C. The remote control communication circuit 31 outputs a superimposed signal, which is the DC power supply voltage superimposed with a pulse signal related to the refrigerant detection signal. The supply unit 33 supplies the sensor drive voltage based on the DC power supply voltage received via the remote control communication circuit 31 to the refrigerant sensor 20. This eliminates the need for a separate configuration to supply power to the refrigerant sensor 20. When the refrigerant sensor 20 detects a refrigerant, it outputs a refrigerant detection signal. When the processing unit 32 acquires the refrigerant detection signal detected by the refrigerant sensor 20, it outputs a pulse signal related to that refrigerant detection signal to the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100. In this way, since the pulse signal related to the refrigerant detection signal is transmitted through the remote control communication line 100, there is no need to provide a new signal line for transmitting the pulse signal. Furthermore, since the remote control communication circuit 31 can communicate bidirectionally with the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100, for example, when a pulse signal related to the refrigerant detection signal is transmitted from the remote control communication circuit 31 to the indoor unit 2, the indoor unit 2 can respond to the remote control communication circuit 31 by indicating whether or not it has correctly received the pulse signal. Therefore, even if the remote control communication line 100 is long and noise is easily superimposed on the pulse signal, if noise is superimposed on the pulse signal and the indoor unit 2 does not correctly receive the pulse signal, the pulse signal with noise superimposed on it can be discarded. As a result, the effects of noise can be suppressed.
[0046] (2) The refrigerant detection device 10A according to the second embodiment is the refrigerant detection device 10A of (1), wherein the signal processing kit 30A further comprises a refrigerant sensor 20 capable of detecting refrigerant.
[0047] This allows the refrigerant sensor 20, which is included in the signal processing kit 30A, to detect the refrigerant.
[0048] (3) The refrigerant detection device 10A according to the third embodiment is the refrigerant detection device 10A according to (1) or (2), further comprising a sensor kit 40 having a refrigerant sensor 20 that is connected to the signal processing kit 30A via a sensor signal line 110 and capable of detecting refrigerant.
[0049] As a result, when the sensor kit 40, which includes the refrigerant sensor 20, is installed in a different location from the signal processing kit 30A, the signal processing kit 30A and the sensor kit 40 are connected via the sensor signal line 110. Power supply to the refrigerant sensor 20 and transmission of the refrigerant detection signal from the refrigerant sensor 20 can be performed between the signal processing kit 30A and the refrigerant sensor 20 of the sensor kit 40 via the sensor signal line 110. Thus, the sensor kit 40 is connected to the signal processing kit 30A, which is connected to the indoor unit 2 via the remote control communication line 100. Therefore, since the sensor kit 40 is not directly connected to the indoor unit 2, there is no need to assign an address for control to the refrigerant sensor 20 of the sensor kit 40. This allows the sensor kit 40 to be positioned using the remote control communication line 100 without increasing the number of addresses, thereby increasing the design flexibility of the entire refrigerant detection device 10A.
[0050] (4) The refrigerant detection device 10A according to the fourth embodiment is the refrigerant detection device 10A of (3), wherein the sensor kit 40 further comprises a sensor processing unit 42 that can acquire the refrigerant detection signal detected by the refrigerant sensor 20 and can output the refrigerant detection signal to the signal processing kit 30A.
[0051] As a result, the sensor processing unit 42 outputs the refrigerant detection signal detected by the refrigerant sensor 20 to the signal processing kit 30A. Therefore, the signal processing kit 30A can easily determine which refrigerant sensor 20 detected the refrigerant, even if multiple sensor kits 40 are installed.
[0052] (5) The refrigerant detection device 10C according to the fifth embodiment is any one of the refrigerant detection devices 10C from (1) to (4), wherein a plurality of the signal processing kits 30C are connected to the remote control communication line 100.
[0053] This allows multiple signal processing kits 30C to be connected to the remote control communication line 100, enabling the indoor unit 2 to be used as the starting point and the multiple signal processing kits 30C to be arranged via the remote control communication line 100.
[0054] (6) The refrigerant detection devices 10A, 10B, and 10C according to the sixth embodiment are any one of the refrigerant detection devices 10A, 10B, and 10C of (1) to (5), further comprising a remote controller 5 connected to the remote control communication line 100 and capable of remotely operating the indoor unit 2, and the signal processing kits 30A, 30B, and 30C are connected to the remote controller 5 via the remote control communication line 100.
[0055] As a result, the signal processing kits 30A, 30B, and 30C are connected to the remote controller 5 via the remote control communication line 100. Compared to the case where the signal processing kits 30A, 30B, and 30C are connected to the indoor unit 2, which is often located at a high position such as the ceiling Rt, via the remote control communication line 100, the length of the remote control communication line 100 connecting the remote controller 5, which is located at a lower position than the indoor unit 2, and the signal processing kits 30A, 30B, and 30C can be reduced.
[0056] (7) The refrigerant detection devices 10A, 10B, and 10C according to the seventh embodiment are any one of the refrigerant detection devices 10A, 10B, and 10C of (1) to (6), and are equipped with a plurality of the refrigerant sensors 20.
[0057] This makes it possible to configure refrigerant detection devices 10A, 10B, and 10C that can detect refrigerant at multiple locations within the room R by equipping them with multiple refrigerant sensors 20.
[0058] (8) The refrigerant detection devices 10A, 10B, and 10C according to the eighth embodiment are any one of the refrigerant detection devices 10A, 10B, and 10C of (1) to (7), wherein the signal processing kits 30A, 30B, and 30C further include a temperature sensor 50 capable of detecting the temperature of the space conditioned by the indoor unit 2.
[0059] As a result, the signal processing kits 30A, 30B, and 30C are equipped with a temperature sensor 50 that detects the temperature of the space conditioned by the indoor unit 2, thereby enabling more sensitive detection of temperature changes in the space caused by refrigerant leakage.
[0060] (9) The air conditioning system 1 according to the ninth embodiment includes one of the refrigerant detection devices 10A, 10B, or 10C from (1) to (8).
[0061] This makes it possible to configure an air conditioning system 1 equipped with refrigerant detection devices 10A, 10B, and 10C that can suppress the effects of noise. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0062] 1…Air conditioning system 2…Indoor unit 5… Remote controller 6…AC power supply 10A~10C... Refrigerant detection device 20… Refrigerant sensor 30A~30C...Signal processing kit 31…Remote control communication circuit 32… Processing Unit 33…Supply section 35… Input / Output Interface 38…Connection Interface 40...Sensor kit 42...Sensor Processing Unit 43...Supply section 45…Connection Interface 50...Temperature sensor 100... Remote control communication line 110... Sensor signal line 120... Signal line R…Room Rf…bed Rt…patio Rw…wall
Claims
1. It includes a signal processing kit that connects to the remote control communication line supplied with DC power from the indoor unit, The aforementioned signal processing kit is A remote control communication circuit that can be connected to the aforementioned remote control communication line, A supply unit capable of supplying a sensor drive voltage based on the DC power supply voltage to the refrigerant sensor, The system comprises a processing unit capable of acquiring the refrigerant detection signal detected by the refrigerant sensor, The remote control communication circuit is It is possible to output a superimposed signal obtained by superimposing a pulse signal related to the refrigerant detection signal onto the DC power supply voltage. The indoor unit can communicate bidirectionally via the aforementioned remote control communication line. The aforementioned pulse signal contaminated with noise can be discarded. Refrigerant detection device.
2. The signal processing kit further comprises a refrigerant sensor capable of detecting the refrigerant. The refrigerant detection device according to claim 1.
3. The signal processing kit further comprises a sensor kit having a refrigerant sensor capable of detecting refrigerant, which is connected to the signal processing kit via a sensor signal line. The refrigerant detection device according to claim 1 or 2.
4. The aforementioned recovery kit is The system further comprises a sensor processing unit capable of acquiring the refrigerant detection signal detected by the refrigerant sensor and outputting the refrigerant detection signal to the signal processing kit. The refrigerant detection device according to claim 3.
5. Multiple signal processing kits are connected to the aforementioned remote control communication line. The refrigerant detection device according to claim 1 or 2.
6. The unit further comprises a remote controller connected to the aforementioned remote control communication line, which allows for remote operation of the indoor unit. The signal processing kit is connected to the remote controller via the remote control communication line. The refrigerant detection device according to claim 1 or 2.
7. Multiple refrigerant sensors are provided. The refrigerant detection device according to claim 1 or 2.
8. The signal processing kit further comprises a temperature sensor capable of detecting the temperature of the space conditioned by the indoor unit. The refrigerant detection device according to claim 1 or 2.
9. The refrigerant detection device is provided according to claim 1 or 2. Air conditioning system.