Outdoor fan control device, outdoor unit, air conditioning device, outdoor fan control method, and program

Abstract

Provided is an outdoor fan control device capable of suppressing stagnation of a flammable refrigerant outside a housing of an outdoor unit when a person is present around the housing of the outdoor unit.　An outdoor unit control device (140) is an outdoor fan control device that is disposed in an upper portion of a housing (130) of an outdoor unit (10) constituting a portion of an air conditioning device (0) that employs a flammable refrigerant, the outdoor fan control device controlling the drive of an outdoor fan (110) that generates a flow of air by sucking in air outside the housing (130) from an intake port (131) provided in a side surface of the housing (130) and exhausting air inside the housing (130) from an exhaust port (132) provided in an upper surface of the housing (130), wherein the outdoor unit control device (140) drives the outdoor fan (110) upon receiving a detection signal indicating that a person is present in a region along an outer periphery of the housing (130).

Description

Outdoor fan control device, outdoor unit, air conditioner, outdoor fan control method and program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an outdoor fan control device, an outdoor unit, an air conditioner, and an outdoor fan control method and program.

[0002] In recent years, air conditioners using natural refrigerants with low environmental impact have become widespread. Hydrocarbon refrigerants have attracted attention as natural refrigerants with low environmental impact. However, because hydrocarbon refrigerants are flammable, measures must be taken to prevent refrigerant leakage when they are used in products.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a heat pump system that includes, inside the housing of an outdoor unit, a gas sensor that detects refrigerant leakage, a refrigerant discharge damper that activates when the gas sensor detects refrigerant leakage, and a blower fan that rotates in the opposite direction from normal operation when the gas sensor detects refrigerant leakage. In the heat pump system of Patent Document 1, in the event of a refrigerant leakage, when the gas sensor detects the leakage of a flammable refrigerant, the fan motor rotates in the opposite direction to suck in air outside the housing and discharges the leaked refrigerant outside the housing through the refrigerant discharge damper provided at the bottom of the housing, thereby preventing the refrigerant concentration inside the housing from entering the explosive range and avoiding the risk of explosion, etc.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-115939

[0005] In the heat pump system of Patent Document 1, the refrigerant discharge damper is provided at the bottom of the housing, so if there is an obstruction such as a building on the side of the housing where the refrigerant discharge damper is installed, the flammable refrigerant discharged outside the housing may accumulate between the damper and the obstruction. If a person comes into contact with the flammable refrigerant accumulated outside the outdoor unit housing, there is a risk of fire or health damage.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an outdoor fan control device that can prevent flammable refrigerant from accumulating outside the outdoor unit housing when people are present around the outdoor unit housing.

[0007] The outdoor fan control device of the present disclosure is an outdoor fan control device that is placed on top of the housing of an outdoor unit that constitutes part of an air conditioning device that uses a flammable refrigerant, and controls the operation of an outdoor fan that generates an air flow that draws in air outside the housing through an air intake port provided on the side of the housing and exhausts air inside the housing through an exhaust port provided on the top surface of the housing, and drives the outdoor fan when it receives a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing.

[0008] The outdoor unit of the present disclosure comprises a housing having an intake port provided on at least a portion of a side surface of the housing and an exhaust port provided on at least a portion of an upper surface of the housing; an outdoor fan disposed on the top of the housing and generating an air flow that draws in air outside the housing through the intake port and exhausts air inside the housing through the exhaust port; a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the air outside the housing drawn in through the intake port and a flammable refrigerant; and the outdoor fan control device described above.

[0009] An air conditioning apparatus according to the present disclosure includes the outdoor unit and an indoor unit described above.

[0010] The outdoor fan control method of the present disclosure is a control method for an outdoor fan that is placed on top of the housing of an outdoor unit that constitutes part of an air conditioning apparatus that uses a flammable refrigerant, and generates an air flow that draws in air outside the housing through an air intake port provided on the side of the housing and exhausts air inside the housing through an exhaust port provided on the top surface of the housing, and includes a judgment processing step that determines whether or not a person is present in an area along the outer periphery of the housing based on a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in the area along the outer periphery of the housing, and an instruction processing step that instructs the outdoor fan to be driven if it is determined in the judgment processing step that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing.

[0011] The program disclosed herein is an outdoor fan control device that is placed on top of the housing of an outdoor unit that constitutes part of an air conditioning system that uses a flammable refrigerant, and controls the operation of an outdoor fan that generates an air flow that draws in air outside the housing through an air intake port provided on the side of the housing and exhausts air inside the housing through an exhaust port provided on the top surface of the housing.The program makes the computer realize a judgment processing function that determines whether or not a person is present in an area along the outer periphery of the housing based on a detection signal that indicates the presence of a person in the area along the outer periphery of the housing, and an instruction processing function that instructs the outdoor fan to be operated when the judgment processing function determines that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing.

[0012] The outdoor fan control device, outdoor unit, air conditioning device, and outdoor fan control method and program disclosed herein can prevent flammable refrigerant from accumulating outside the outdoor unit housing when a person is present around the outdoor unit housing.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an installation example of an air conditioning apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an overview of the equipment configuration provided in the air conditioning apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a side schematic diagram showing the configuration arrangement of an outdoor unit according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a system block diagram showing an outdoor unit control device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an outdoor unit control device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a method for controlling an outdoor unit by an outdoor unit control device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of a determination processing step by an outdoor unit control device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of an apparatus operating state determination processing step by an outdoor unit control device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of an outdoor fan drive state determination processing step by an outdoor unit control device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing the configuration and arrangement of an outdoor unit according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the configuration and arrangement of an outdoor unit according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is a system block diagram showing one outdoor unit control device among a plurality of outdoor unit control devices according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a system block diagram showing another outdoor unit control device among a plurality of outdoor unit control devices according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a correspondence table showing an example of the correspondence between a detection device and an outdoor fan according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram showing an overview of the equipment configuration provided in an air conditioning apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] Hereinafter, examples of an outdoor fan control device, an outdoor unit, an air conditioner, and an outdoor fan control method and program according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

[0015] Embodiment 1. Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure relates to an outdoor fan control device that drives an outdoor fan 110 when a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of a housing is received, an outdoor unit 10 that is equipped with the outdoor fan control device, and an air conditioning apparatus 0 that is equipped with the outdoor unit 10. Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure also relates to a control method for the outdoor fan 110 equipped in the outdoor unit 10, and a program that causes a computer to realize processing related to the control of the outdoor fan control device. In Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, a case will be described as an example in which the outdoor fan control device is an outdoor unit control device 140 equipped in the outdoor unit 10.

[0016] <Air Conditioning Apparatus> First, an installation example of an air conditioning apparatus 0 including an outdoor unit 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described using Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an installation example of an air conditioning apparatus 0. Note that in Fig. 1, arrows indicate the flow of air generated by an indoor unit 30 to adjust the temperature or humidity of an indoor space 9.

[0017] 1 , the air conditioning apparatus 0 includes one outdoor unit 10 that serves as a heat source unit, multiple indoor units 30 (indoor unit 30a, indoor unit 30b, indoor unit 30c) that serve as load-side devices, and a relay unit 20. The outdoor unit 10 and the relay unit 20 are connected by refrigerant piping 40, and the indoor units 30 and the relay unit 20 are connected by heat medium piping 50.

[0018] 1, the air conditioning apparatus 0 is equipped with one outdoor unit 10 and three indoor units 30, but the number of outdoor units 10 and indoor units 30 is not limited to this. The air conditioning apparatus 0 may be equipped with multiple outdoor units 10 and multiple indoor units 30, or may be equipped with one outdoor unit 10 and one indoor unit 30. Furthermore, while FIG. 1 shows an example in which one relay unit 20 is connected to one outdoor unit 10, multiple relay units 20 may be connected in parallel to one outdoor unit 10.

[0019] The outdoor unit 10 and the relay unit 20, connected by the refrigerant piping 40, constitute a heat-source-side refrigerant circulation circuit that circulates the heat-source-side refrigerant. Furthermore, the indoor unit 30 and the relay unit 20, connected by the heat medium piping 50, constitute a heat medium circulation circuit that circulates a heat medium such as water that transfers and transports heat. In other words, the relay unit 20 is a unit that relays heat transfer between the heat-source-side refrigerant circulating in the heat-source-side refrigerant circulation circuit and the heat medium circulating in the heat medium circulation circuit. Furthermore, the refrigerant piping 40 is a piping that serves as a flow path for the heat-source-side refrigerant, and the heat medium piping 50 is a piping that serves as a flow path for the heat medium.

[0020] The heat source-side refrigerant circulation circuit functions as a heat source-side device that supplies hot or cold heat to the indoor space 9 by heating or cooling the heat medium in the heat medium circulation circuit. In other words, the heat source-side refrigerant circulation circuit and the heat medium circulation circuit work together to transfer heat, so that the air conditioner 0 achieves air conditioning of the indoor space 9. Hereinafter, the heat source-side refrigerant circulation circuit and the heat medium circulation circuit will be collectively referred to as a heat pump cycle.

[0021] A flammable refrigerant is used as the heat source side refrigerant circulating through the heat source side refrigerant circuit. For example, hydrocarbon refrigerants such as R1234yf, R454C, R454B, R32, and R290 can be used. Furthermore, for example, brine (antifreeze), water, a mixture of brine and water, or a mixture of water and an additive with a high corrosion prevention effect can be used as the heat medium circulating through the heat medium circuit. In this way, the air conditioning apparatus 0 of embodiment 1 can use a highly safe heat medium.

[0022] <Heat Pump Cycle> Next, the configuration for realizing the air conditioning function of the air conditioner 0 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an overview of the equipment configuration of the air conditioner 0.

[0023] As described above, the heat source side refrigerant circulation circuit is configured by connecting the outdoor unit 10 and the relay unit 20 with the refrigerant piping 40. In addition, the relay unit 20 and each indoor unit 30 are connected with the heat medium piping 50 to configure the heat medium circulation circuit.

[0024] The outdoor unit 10 is a unit that circulates a heat-source-side refrigerant in a heat-source-side refrigerant circulation circuit to transport heat, and exchanges heat with the heat medium in a heat medium heat exchanger 201 of the relay unit 20. As shown in Fig. 2 , the outdoor unit 10 includes a compressor 101, a refrigerant flow switching device 102, an outdoor heat exchanger 103, a throttling device 104, an accumulator 105, an outdoor fan 110, and an outdoor fan motor 111 inside a housing 130. The compressor 101, the refrigerant flow switching device 102, the outdoor heat exchanger 103, the throttling device 104, and the accumulator 105 are devices that make up the heat-source-side refrigerant circulation circuit, and are connected by refrigerant piping 40.

[0025] The compressor 101 draws in the heat-source-side refrigerant, compresses it, and discharges it at a high temperature and pressure. The compressor 101 may be, for example, a capacity-controllable inverter compressor. The refrigerant flow switching device 102 switches the flow path of the heat-source-side refrigerant between cooling and heating operations. If only one of cooling and heating operations is performed, the refrigerant flow switching device 102 is not necessary. The outdoor heat exchanger 103 exchanges heat between the air outside the housing 130 supplied by the outdoor fan 110 and the heat-source-side refrigerant. The outdoor heat exchanger 103 functions as an evaporator during heating operation, absorbing heat from the heat-source-side refrigerant, and as a condenser during cooling operation, releasing heat from the heat-source-side refrigerant. The throttling device 104 functions as a pressure reducing valve and an expansion valve and reduces the pressure of the heat-source-side refrigerant. The throttling device 104 may be a device such as an electronic expansion valve, which can adjust the flow rate of the heat-source-side refrigerant by controlling its opening. The accumulator 105 is provided on the suction side of the compressor 101. The accumulator 105 stores excess refrigerant that occurs, for example, when the amount of refrigerant used during heating operation and cooling operation differs, or when the operating conditions change during a transitional period. The accumulator 105 may not be provided in the heat source side refrigerant circulation circuit.

[0026] The indoor units 30 are units that send conditioned air to the indoor space 9. As shown in Fig. 2 , the indoor units 30 (indoor unit 30a, indoor unit 30b, indoor unit 30c) include an indoor heat exchanger 301, an indoor flow control device 302, and an indoor fan 303. The indoor heat exchanger 301 and the indoor flow control device 302 are devices that constitute a heat medium circulation circuit, and are connected by heat medium piping 50.

[0027] The indoor flow control device 302 is configured as a two-way valve whose valve opening is controllable. The indoor flow control device 302 controls the flow rate of the heat medium passing through the indoor heat exchanger 301 by adjusting its opening. The indoor flow control device 302 also adjusts the flow rate of the heat medium passing through the indoor heat exchanger 301 based on the inlet and outlet temperatures of the heat medium in the indoor unit 30. This allows the indoor heat exchanger 301 to exchange heat in an amount corresponding to the thermal load of the indoor space 9. Here, the indoor flow control device 302 can fully close the valve to stop the supply of heat medium to the indoor heat exchanger 301, because the indoor heat exchanger 301 does not need to exchange heat with the thermal load when the indoor unit 300 is stopped. In FIG. 2 , the indoor flow control device 302 is installed in the piping on the heat medium outlet side of the indoor heat exchanger 301, but this is not limited thereto. The indoor flow control device 302 may also be installed on the heat medium inlet side of the indoor heat exchanger 301.

[0028] The indoor heat exchanger 301 is composed of heat transfer tubes and fins. The heat medium passes through the heat transfer tubes of the indoor heat exchanger 301 and exchanges heat with the air in the indoor space 9 supplied from the indoor fan 303 via the heat transfer tubes. When a heat medium that is cooler than the air in the indoor space 9 passes through the heat transfer tubes, the temperature of the air in the indoor space 9 decreases, and when a heat medium that is warmer than the air in the indoor space 9 passes through the heat transfer tubes, the temperature of the air in the indoor space 9 increases, thereby controlling the temperature of the indoor space 9. The indoor fan 303 plays a role in blowing the air in the indoor space 9 through the indoor heat exchanger 301 and returning the temperature-controlled air to the indoor space 9.

[0029] The relay unit 20 is a unit configured with devices related to heat exchange between the heat source-side refrigerant circulating in the heat source-side refrigerant circuit and the heat medium circulating in the heat medium circuit. The relay unit 20 is configured with a heat medium heat exchanger 201, a heat medium pump 202, and an inverter device 203.

[0030] The heat medium heat exchanger 201 is connected to both the refrigerant pipe 40 through which the heat source side refrigerant passes and the heat medium pipe 50 through which the heat medium passes, and transfers heat from the heat source side refrigerant side to the heat medium side by performing heat exchange between the heat source side refrigerant and the heat medium. When cooling the heat medium, the heat medium heat exchanger 201 functions as an evaporator, causing the heat source side refrigerant to absorb heat. When heating the heat medium, the heat medium heat exchanger 201 functions as a condenser, causing the heat source side refrigerant to release heat.

[0031] The heat medium pump 202 is a device that draws in the heat medium, pressurizes it, and circulates it through the heat medium circuit. An inverter device 203 is connected to the heat medium pump 202. The inverter device 203 arbitrarily changes the drive frequency related to the power supplied to the heat medium pump 202, and finely changes the rotation speed of a motor (not shown) of the heat medium pump 202 in accordance with the drive frequency. By changing the drive frequency, the inverter device 203 can suppress excessive power consumption of the heat medium pump 202.

[0032] Next, the operation of the components of the heat-source-side refrigerant circulation circuit provided in the air conditioning apparatus 0 will be described based on the flow of the heat-source-side refrigerant circulating in the heat-source-side refrigerant circulation circuit.

[0033] First, cooling operation, i.e., when the heat medium is cooled, will be described. The compressor 101 draws in heat-source-side refrigerant, compresses it, and discharges it into a high-temperature, high-pressure state. The discharged high-temperature, high-pressure heat-source-side refrigerant flows through the refrigerant flow switching device 102 into the outdoor heat exchanger 103. In the outdoor heat exchanger 103, heat exchange occurs between the heat-source-side refrigerant and air outside the housing 130, supplied by the outdoor fan 110, causing the heat-source-side refrigerant to condense and liquefy. The liquefied heat-source-side refrigerant flows into the expansion device 104. The expansion device 104 reduces the pressure of the liquefied refrigerant passing through it. After leaving the outdoor unit 10, the reduced-pressure heat-source-side refrigerant passes through the refrigerant piping 40 and flows into the heat medium heat exchanger 201 of the relay unit 20. In the heat medium heat exchanger 201, heat exchange occurs between the heat-source-side refrigerant passing through it and the heat medium, causing the heat-source-side refrigerant to evaporate. At this time, the heat medium is cooled because heat is absorbed by the heat source side refrigerant. The vaporized refrigerant flowing out of the heat medium heat exchanger 201 leaves the relay unit 20, passes through the refrigerant piping 40, and flows into the outdoor unit 10. The vaporized refrigerant passes through the refrigerant flow switching device 102 and is drawn into the compressor 101 again, where it is compressed.

[0034] Next, heating operation, i.e., when the heat medium is heated, will be described. The compressor 101 draws in the heat-source-side refrigerant, compresses it, and discharges it in a high-temperature, high-pressure state. The discharged high-temperature, high-pressure heat-source-side refrigerant passes through the refrigerant flow switching device 102, exits the outdoor unit 10, passes through the refrigerant piping 40, and flows into the heat medium heat exchanger 201 of the relay unit 20. In the heat medium heat exchanger 201, heat exchange occurs between the passing heat-source-side refrigerant and the heat medium, causing the heat-source-side refrigerant to condense and liquefy. At this time, the heat medium is heated by the heat-source-side refrigerant dissipating heat. After exiting the relay unit 20, the liquefied heat-source-side refrigerant passes through the refrigerant piping 40 and flows into the expansion device 104 of the outdoor unit 10. The expansion device 104 depressurizes the liquefied refrigerant passing through. The depressurized heat-source-side refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 103. In the outdoor heat exchanger 103, heat is exchanged between the air outside the housing 130 supplied by the outdoor fan 110 and the heat source side refrigerant, causing the heat source side refrigerant to evaporate and vaporize. The vaporized refrigerant passes through the refrigerant flow switching device 102 and is drawn back into the compressor 101 and compressed.

[0035] Next, the configuration of the control device in the air conditioning apparatus 0 will be described. As shown in Fig. 2, the outdoor unit 10, the relay unit 20, and the indoor unit 30 each have a control device that controls the equipment provided in that unit. The outdoor unit 10 has an outdoor unit control device 140. The relay unit 20 has a relay unit control device 220. Each indoor unit 30 has an indoor unit control device 320.

[0036] The outdoor unit control device 140, the relay control device 220, and the indoor unit control device 320 control the devices included in each unit by performing processing based on signals indicating physical quantity data sent from various sensors described below, or instruction signals or setting-related signals sent from an input device (not shown), etc. Here, each control device is connected to other control devices by wired or wireless communication, and can communicate various signals with other control devices.

[0037] Furthermore, the outdoor unit control device 140, the repeater control device 220, and the indoor unit control device 320 can check the operating status of each device based on signals indicating physical quantity data sent from various sensors described below. In detail, the outdoor unit control device 140, the repeater control device 220, and the indoor unit control device 320 receive physical quantity data measured by various sensors such as pressure sensors and temperature sensors, and record the received physical quantity data over time to monitor fluctuations in the physical quantity data and check the operating status of each device according to the fluctuation values.

[0038] The outdoor unit control device 140 provided in the outdoor unit 10 is a control device that controls the devices provided in the outdoor unit 10. By controlling the devices provided in the outdoor unit 10, the outdoor unit control device 140 controls the heat pump cycle and realizes control of the air conditioning apparatus 0. Furthermore, the outdoor unit control device 140 realizes a countermeasure function in the event of leakage of heat source side refrigerant by controlling the drive of the outdoor fan 110. First, the control of the heat pump cycle by the outdoor unit control device 140 will be described, and the control of the drive of the outdoor fan 110 by the outdoor unit control device 140 will be described later.

[0039] The outdoor unit control device 140 controls the heat pump cycle by performing processing based on signals indicating physical quantity data sent from various sensors equipped in the outdoor unit 10, the relay unit 20, and the indoor unit 30, or signals related to instructions or settings sent from an input device (not shown), etc. For example, the outdoor unit control device 140 receives signals such as pressure and temperature measured by various sensors equipped in the outdoor unit 10, the relay unit 20, and the indoor unit 30, and controls the aperture of the expansion device 104 based on the received signals. By controlling the aperture of the expansion device 104, the outdoor unit control device 140 can adjust the flow rate of the heat-source-side refrigerant and control the heat pump cycle.

[0040] Next, a description will be given of sensors installed in the air conditioner 0 for controlling the heat pump cycle. The air conditioner 0 is installed with various sensors for measuring physical quantities for controlling the heat pump cycle.

[0041] First, the sensors installed in the heat source side refrigerant circuit will be described. In the heat source side refrigerant circuit, a discharge temperature sensor 501, a discharge pressure sensor 502, and an outdoor temperature sensor 503 are installed inside the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10.

[0042] The discharge temperature sensor 501 measures the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 101 and outputs a discharge temperature electrical signal. The discharge temperature electrical signal output by the discharge temperature sensor 501 is received by the outdoor unit control device 140. The discharge temperature sensor 501 includes a thermistor or the like. The other temperature sensors described below also include thermistors or the like. The discharge pressure sensor 502 measures the pressure of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 101 and outputs a discharge pressure electrical signal. The discharge pressure electrical signal output by the discharge pressure sensor 502 is received by the outdoor unit control device 140. The outdoor temperature sensor 503 is installed in the air inlet portion of the outdoor heat exchanger 103 in the outdoor unit 10. The outdoor temperature sensor 503 measures the outdoor temperature, which is the temperature around the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10, and outputs an outdoor temperature electrical signal. The outdoor temperature electrical signal output by the outdoor temperature sensor 503 is received by the outdoor unit control device 140.

[0043] Furthermore, in the heat source side refrigerant circulation circuit, the relay unit 20 is provided with a first refrigerant temperature sensor 504 and a second refrigerant temperature sensor 505. The first refrigerant temperature sensor 504 is provided on the refrigerant inlet pipe of the heat medium heat exchanger 201 when cooling the heat medium in the refrigerant flow in the heat source side refrigerant circulation circuit. The first refrigerant temperature sensor 504 and the second refrigerant temperature sensor 505 measure the temperature of the refrigerant flowing in and out of the heat medium heat exchanger 201 and output a refrigerant side electrical signal. The refrigerant side electrical signals output by the first refrigerant temperature sensor 504 and the second refrigerant temperature sensor 505 are received by the relay unit control device 220.

[0044] Next, the sensors installed in the heat source side refrigerant circuit will be described. In the heat medium circuit, the relay unit 20 is provided with a heat medium inlet side temperature sensor 511 and a heat medium outlet side temperature sensor 512. The heat medium inlet side temperature sensor 511 is installed in the piping on the heat medium inlet side of the heat medium heat exchanger 201 in the flow of the heat medium in the heat medium circuit. The heat medium inlet side temperature sensor 511 measures the temperature of the heat medium flowing into the heat medium heat exchanger 201 and outputs a heat medium inlet side temperature electrical signal indicating that temperature. The heat medium inlet side temperature electrical signal output by the heat medium inlet side temperature sensor 511 is received by the relay unit control device 220. The heat medium outlet side temperature sensor 512 is installed in the piping on the heat medium outlet side of the heat medium heat exchanger 201 in the flow of the heat medium in the heat medium circuit. The heat medium outlet side temperature sensor 512 measures the temperature of the heat medium flowing out of the heat medium heat exchanger 201 and outputs a heat medium outlet side temperature electrical signal indicating that temperature. As with the inflow side, the heat medium outlet side temperature electrical signal output by the heat medium outlet side temperature sensor 512 is received by the relay control device 220 .

[0045] Furthermore, in the heat medium circuit, the relay unit 20 is provided with a heat medium pump inlet side pressure sensor 523 and a heat medium pump outlet side pressure sensor 524. The heat medium pump inlet side pressure sensor 523 is provided in the piping on the heat medium inlet side of the heat medium pump 202 in the flow of heat medium in the heat medium circuit. The heat medium pump inlet side pressure sensor 523 measures the pressure of the heat medium flowing into the heat medium pump 202 and outputs a heat medium inlet side pressure electrical signal. The heat medium pump outlet side pressure sensor 524 is provided in the piping on the heat medium outlet side of the heat medium pump 202 in the flow of heat medium in the heat medium circuit. The heat medium pump outlet side pressure sensor 524 measures the pressure of the heat medium flowing out of the heat medium pump 202 and outputs a heat medium outlet side pressure electrical signal. The heat medium inlet side pressure electric signal outputted by the heat medium pump inlet side pressure sensor 523 and the heat medium outlet side pressure electric signal outputted by the heat medium pump outlet side pressure sensor 524 are received by the relay control device 220 .

[0046] In the heat medium circulation circuit, each indoor unit 30 is provided with an indoor inlet temperature sensor 513 and an indoor outlet temperature sensor 514. The indoor inlet temperature sensor 513 measures the temperature of the heat medium flowing into the indoor heat exchanger 301 and outputs an inlet electrical signal. The inlet electrical signal output by the indoor inlet temperature sensor 513 in each indoor unit 30 is received by the indoor unit control device 320 provided in each indoor unit 30. The indoor outlet temperature sensor 514 measures the temperature of the heat medium flowing out of the indoor heat exchanger 301 and outputs an outlet electrical signal. As with the inlet side, the outlet electrical signal output by the indoor outlet temperature sensor 514 in each indoor unit 30 is received by the indoor unit control device 320 provided in each indoor unit 30.

[0047] Furthermore, in the heat medium circulation circuit, an indoor inflow pressure sensor 521 is installed in each indoor unit 30. Also, an indoor outlet pressure sensor 522 is installed in each indoor unit 30. The indoor inflow pressure sensor 521 and the indoor outlet pressure sensor 522 are installed on the heat medium inflow and outflow sides of the indoor flow rate control device 302 of each indoor unit 30, respectively, and output an electrical signal according to the measured pressure. The electrical signals output by the indoor inflow pressure sensor 521 and the indoor outlet pressure sensor 522 in each indoor unit 30 are received by the indoor unit control device 320 provided in each indoor unit 30.

[0048] In the air conditioning apparatus 0 of Embodiment 1, the indoor inlet pressure sensor 521 of the indoor unit 30 can be omitted. Also, a flow rate measuring device that measures flow rate may be installed in place of or together with each pressure sensor. Also, a calorific value measuring device that can measure the amount of heat involved in heat exchange with the air in the indoor space 9, which is the thermal load, may be installed in the heat medium circulation circuit.

[0049] Each indoor unit 30 is also provided with an indoor temperature sensor 515. The indoor temperature sensor 515 measures the temperature of air flowing into the indoor heat exchanger 301 by driving the indoor fan 303, and outputs an intake temperature electrical signal. The intake temperature measured by the indoor temperature sensor 515 can be taken as the temperature of the indoor air in the indoor space 9, which is the heat load.

[0050] Furthermore, the air conditioning apparatus 0 may be equipped with a power meter (not shown). The power meter is a device that is connected to a circuit (not shown) that supplies power to the air conditioning apparatus 0 and that measures the amount of power consumed by the air conditioning apparatus. By providing the air conditioning apparatus 0 with a power meter, it is possible to measure the amount of power consumed by the air conditioning apparatus and check the operating status of the air conditioning apparatus 0.

[0051] The air conditioning apparatus 0 may also be equipped with a current sensor or voltage sensor (not shown). The current sensor or voltage sensor is installed in the power supply circuit of each device and measures the current that flows when the device is driven. For example, a current sensor is installed in the power supply circuit of the outdoor fan 110. If the current sensor or voltage sensor installed in the power supply circuit of the outdoor fan 110 detects a current or voltage, it can be determined that the outdoor fan 110 is being driven.

[0052] <Outdoor Unit> Next, the configuration and arrangement of the outdoor unit 10 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a side view schematic diagram showing the configuration and arrangement of the outdoor unit 10. Note that FIG. 3 shows only the main components of the outdoor unit 10, and some components are omitted. Also, in FIG. 3, arrows indicate the flow of air generated when the outdoor fan 110 is driven. In FIG. 3, dotted lines indicate the connection relationships between the devices. Here, the dotted lines indicate connections made via wireless communication or connections via signal lines.

[0053] As described above, the outdoor unit 10 includes, inside the housing 130, the compressor 101, the refrigerant flow switching device 102, the outdoor heat exchanger 103, the expansion device 104, the accumulator 105, the outdoor fan 110, the outdoor fan motor 111, the outdoor unit control device 140, the discharge temperature sensor 501, the discharge pressure sensor 502, and the outdoor temperature sensor 503. As shown in Fig. 3, the housing 130 has an intake port 131 provided in a part of the side surface and an exhaust port 132 provided in a part of the top surface.

[0054] 3, the outdoor fan 110 is disposed on the upper part of the housing 130. The outdoor heat exchanger 103 is disposed inside the housing 130 along the side where the air intake 131 of the housing 130 is provided. The outdoor fan 110 is driven by an outdoor fan motor 111.

[0055] The outdoor fan 110 is driven by the outdoor fan motor 111 to draw in air outside the housing 130 through an air intake 131 and exhaust air inside the housing 130 through an air exhaust 132. In detail, when the outdoor fan 110 is driven, air is drawn into the housing 130 from the air intake 131 provided on the side of the housing 130, passes through the outdoor heat exchanger 103, and is exhausted from an air exhaust 132 provided on the top surface of the housing 130 so as to be sucked up by the outdoor fan 110.

[0056] As described above, the outdoor heat exchanger 103 exchanges heat between the air outside the housing 130 supplied from the outdoor fan 110 and the heat-source-side refrigerant. More specifically, heat exchange occurs between the air outside the housing 130 taken in through the intake port 131 and the heat-source-side refrigerant, which is a flammable refrigerant.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 3 , the outdoor unit 10 further includes a detection device 120. The detection device 120 outputs a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in an area along the periphery of the housing 130. The area along the periphery of the housing 130 refers to the area surrounding the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10, and more specifically, refers to an area that is a predetermined distance from the outside of the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10. Here, the predetermined distance refers to the distance at which a person may come into contact with the heat-source-side refrigerant, which is a flammable refrigerant, if it leaks from the outdoor unit 10. The area along the periphery of the housing 130 may be a two-dimensional area or a three-dimensional area. The area along the periphery of the housing 130 is set in advance depending on the installation location of the outdoor unit 10. For example, if the outdoor unit 10 is installed next to a building, the area between the outdoor unit 10 and the building, particularly the area between the outdoor unit 10 and a window or door of the building, may be defined as the area along the periphery of the housing 130. Furthermore, the more walls that obstruct the diffusion of exhausted air there are around the outdoor unit 10, the wider the area may be that which follows the outer periphery of the housing 130. If the outdoor unit 10 is installed on the roof of a building, the area from the outdoor unit 10 to the door that serves as an entrance and exit to the roof of the building may be that which follows the outer periphery of the housing 130.

[0058] The detection device 120 is a device that detects the presence of a person within an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130. As the detection device 120, for example, an infrared human presence sensor that detects the presence of a person by detecting infrared rays emitted from the body temperature of the person, or an ultrasonic human presence sensor that detects the presence of a person and the distance from the sensor to the person by measuring the reflection time of sound waves, is used.

[0059] The detection device 120 is installed outside the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10 or in the housing 130. The detection device 120 may be installed in a position where it can detect the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130. The outside of the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10 where the detection device 120 is installed is, for example, a wall of a building near where the outdoor unit 10 is installed.

[0060] The detection device 120 detects the presence of a person in an area along the periphery of the housing 130 and outputs a detection signal. More specifically, if the detection device 120 is installed in a position where it can detect only the presence of a person in an area along the periphery of the housing 130, when the detection device 120 detects the presence of a person, it outputs a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in an area along the periphery of the housing 130. Furthermore, if the detection device 120 is installed in a position where it can detect not only the presence of a person in an area along the periphery of the housing 130 but also the presence of a person outside the area, it determines the presence or absence of a person in an area along the periphery of the housing 130 based on the information detected by the detection device 120, and outputs a detection signal when it determines that a person is present in the area along the periphery of the housing 130. For example, if an ultrasonic human presence sensor is used as the detection device 120, when the distance from the sensor to the person detected by the detection device 120 is shorter than a predetermined value, it determines that a person is present in the area along the periphery of the housing 130 and outputs a detection signal. The detection device 120 continuously outputs a detection signal while it detects the presence of a person in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, and stops outputting the detection signal when it no longer detects the presence of a person in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130. The detection signal output by the detection device 120 is received by the outdoor unit control device 140.

[0061] The outdoor unit control device 140 is connected to the detection device 120 via wired or wireless communication and can receive a detection signal output by the detection device 120. The outdoor unit control device 140 drives the outdoor fan 110 when it receives a detection signal that indicates the presence of a person in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, as detected by the detection device 120. As described above, the outdoor unit control device 140 is a control device that controls the devices included in the outdoor unit 10. The outdoor unit control device 140 controls the heat pump cycle described above and the outdoor fan 110.

[0062] In the above, the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is exemplified as the area between the outdoor unit 10 and the building (particularly the area between the outdoor unit 10 and a window or door installed in the building) and the area from the outdoor unit 10 to the door that serves as an entrance / exit on the roof of the building. However, this is not limiting. For example, the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 may also include an indoor space connected to the installation location of the outdoor unit 10. Here, the installation location of the outdoor unit 10 refers to an outdoor space such as the side of a building or the roof of a building, and the indoor space connected to the installation location of the outdoor unit 10 refers to an indoor space that can exchange air with the installation location of the outdoor unit 10 via a window or door installed in the building that leads to the roof. There is a possibility that heat-source-side refrigerant will flow into the indoor space connected to the installation location of the outdoor unit 10 from the installation location of the outdoor unit 10 through a window or door. Although the above description has been given of an example in which the detection device 120 is installed outside or within the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10, the detection device 120 may be installed in a location that can detect the presence of a person within the area along the periphery of the housing 130. If an indoor space connected to the installation location of the outdoor unit 10 is included in the area along the periphery of the housing 130, the detection device 120 may be installed in the indoor space or in a window or door connecting the indoor space to the installation location of the outdoor unit 10. By setting the indoor space connected to the installation location of the outdoor unit 10 to be included in the area along the periphery of the housing 130 and using the detection device 120 to detect the presence of a person in the area and drive the outdoor fan 110, it is possible to prevent people from coming into contact with the heat-source-side refrigerant in the indoor space. The presence of a person in the indoor space may be detected regardless of whether a window or door is open, or may be detected only when a window or door is open.

[0063] In the above example, the detection device 120 determines whether a person is present in the area along the periphery of the housing 130 and outputs a detection signal when it determines that a person is present in the area along the periphery of the housing 130. However, the detection device 120 may output a signal containing information that enables it to determine that a person is present in the area along the periphery of the housing 130. Furthermore, the outdoor unit control device 140 may process the signal output by the detection device 120 and determine whether a person is present in the area along the periphery of the housing 130. In other words, the detection device 120 does not need to determine whether a person is present in the area along the periphery of the housing 130 at the time of outputting the signal. The outdoor unit control device 140, which receives the signal output by the detection device 120, may determine whether a person is present in the area along the periphery of the housing 130. For example, if an ultrasonic motion sensor is used as the detection device 120, the detection device 120 detects the distance from the sensor to the person and outputs a signal. When the outdoor unit control device 140 receives the distance information output by the ultrasonic motion sensor, the outdoor unit control device 140 performs a process of comparing the received distance information with a predetermined value set in advance, and determines whether or not a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130. Specifically, if the received distance information is smaller than the predetermined value set in advance, it is determined that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, and if the received distance information is greater than the predetermined value set in advance, it is determined that a person is not present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130.

[0064] The functional configuration of the outdoor unit control device 140 will now be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a system block diagram of the outdoor unit control device 140. As shown in Fig. 4, the outdoor unit control device 140 includes a communication unit 150, a control processing unit 160, and a storage unit 170.

[0065] The communication unit 150 performs processing to enable the outdoor unit control device 140 to communicate signals with each device provided in the outdoor unit 10, including the detection device 120, the repeater control device 220, or the indoor unit control device 320. In detail, the communication unit 150 converts signals to receive or transmit signals with each device provided in the outdoor unit 10, including the detection device 120, the repeater control device 220, or the indoor unit control device 320. For example, the communication unit 150 receives a detection signal output by the detection device 120, converts the received detection signal, and inputs it to the control processing unit 160.

[0066] The control processing unit 160 is composed of a determination processing unit 161 and an instruction processing unit 162. The determination processing unit 161 determines whether or not a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 based on the detection signal detected by the detection device 120. In particular, when the detection device 120 detects the presence of a person in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, the determination processing unit 161 receives the detection signal output by the detection device 120 via the communication unit 150 and determines that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130. If the detection device 120 does not detect the presence of a person in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, the detection device 120 does not output a detection signal, and the determination processing unit 161 does not receive the detection signal and therefore determines that no person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130. When the determination processing unit 161 determines that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, the instruction processing unit 162 instructs the outdoor fan 110 to operate. In detail, when the judgment processing unit 161 determines that a person is present within the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, the instruction processing unit 162 transmits an instruction signal to control the operation of the outdoor fan 110 to the outdoor fan motor 111 via the communication unit 150.

[0067] The storage unit 170 stores data used when the control processing unit 160 performs processing. The storage unit 170 also stores programs processed by the control processing unit 160. The outdoor unit control device 140 reads and executes the programs stored in the storage unit 170, thereby controlling the driving of the outdoor fan 110 when a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is received.

[0068] The program stored in the storage unit 170 is a program for causing a computer to function as the outdoor unit control device 140 according to Embodiment 1 and for executing the method for controlling the outdoor fan 110 according to Embodiment 1. In detail, the program causes the computer to realize a determination processing function that determines whether or not a person is present in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 based on a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, and an instruction processing function that instructs the outdoor fan 110 to be driven when the determination processing function determines that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130.

[0069] Next, the hardware configuration of the outdoor unit control device 140 will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the outdoor unit control device 140.

[0070] 5 , the outdoor unit control device 140 is configured with a calculation device 401, a storage device 402, an auxiliary storage device 403, and a communication device 404. The calculation device 401, the storage device 402, the auxiliary storage device 403, and the communication device 404 are connected via a signal line 405.

[0071] The arithmetic device 401 is a device that realizes each function of the control processing unit 160 shown in FIG. 4 . The arithmetic device 401 reads necessary programs from the auxiliary storage device 403 and executes processing to realize each function of the control processing unit 160 of the outdoor unit control device 140. The arithmetic device 401 is, for example, a processor, and the processor is an integrated circuit (IC) that performs arithmetic processing. Specific examples of the processor are a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), and a graphics processing unit (GPU). The arithmetic device 401 may also be a personal computer, a microcomputer board, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) board, or the like.

[0072] The storage device 402 is the storage unit 170 shown in Fig. 4 and is the main storage device of the outdoor unit control device 140. The main storage device temporarily stores calculations of the processes performed by the arithmetic device 401. The storage device 402 is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0073] The auxiliary storage device 403 is the storage unit 170 shown in Fig. 4 and is an auxiliary storage device of the outdoor unit control device 140. The auxiliary storage device 403 stores programs necessary to realize each function of the control processing unit 160 of the outdoor unit control device 140. The auxiliary storage device 403 is, for example, a read-only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), or a solid state drive (SSD).

[0074] The communication device 404 is the communication section 150 shown in Fig. 4 and is an input / output interface of the outdoor unit control device 140. The communication device 404 receives, for example, a detection signal output by the detection device 120 and inputs the detection signal to the arithmetic device 401. The communication device 404 also outputs, for example, a drive instruction signal for the outdoor fan 110 processed by the arithmetic device 401 to the outdoor fan motor 111.

[0075] <Method of controlling outdoor fan> Next, the procedure of the method of controlling the outdoor fan 110 according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the method of controlling the outdoor fan 110 by the outdoor unit control device 140 according to Embodiment 1.

[0076] 6 , the control method for the outdoor fan 110 includes a determination process step S10, an apparatus operation state determination process step S20, an outdoor fan operation state determination process step S30, and an instruction process step S40. These process steps are repeated while the outdoor unit control device 140 is powered on. These process steps are executed by the control processing unit 160 of the outdoor unit control device 140. In detail, the determination process step S10, the apparatus operation state determination process step S20, and the outdoor fan operation state determination process step S30 are executed by the determination processing unit 161. The instruction process step S40 is executed by the instruction processing unit 162.

[0077] The determination processing step S10 is a step for determining whether or not a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 based on a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130. The specific processing procedure of the determination processing step S10 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the determination processing step S10 by the outdoor unit control device 140.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 7 , in the determination process step S10, the determination processing unit 161 first determines whether the outdoor unit control device 140 has received a detection signal (step S11). Here, the detection signal is a signal output by the detection device 120, which detects the presence of a person in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130. The detection device 120 transmits the detection signal to the communication unit 150 provided in the outdoor unit control device 140 via wired or wireless communication. The communication unit 150 transmits the detection signal received from the detection device 120 to the control processing unit 160. When the detection signal is transmitted to the control processing unit 160, the determination processing unit 161 constituting the control processing unit 160 determines that the detection signal has been received (Yes in step S11). When the determination processing unit 161 determines that the detection signal has been received, the determination processing unit 161 determines that a "person is present" state, meaning that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 (step S12). If the detection signal from the detection device 120 is not transmitted to the control processing unit 160 and the judgment processing unit 161 determines that it has not received the detection signal (No in step S11), the judgment processing unit 161 determines that the state is "no person present" in which no person is present within the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 (step S13).

[0079] Following determination processing step S10, device operating state determination processing step S20 is executed by the determination processing unit 161. Device operating state determination processing step S20 is a step for determining the operating state of the air conditioning device 0. The specific processing procedure of device operating state determination processing step S20 will be explained using Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of device operating state determination processing step S20 by the outdoor unit control device 140.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 8 , in the device operating state determination process step S20, the determination processing unit 161 determines whether the air conditioning device 0 is operating (step S21). Whether the air conditioning device 0 is operating is determined from physical quantity data output from various sensors equipped in the air conditioning device 0. Specifically, physical quantity data measured by pressure sensors and temperature sensors equipped in the outdoor unit 10, relay unit 20, and indoor unit 30 is monitored by the outdoor unit control device 140, relay unit control device 220, and indoor unit control device 320. If there is a fluctuation in each physical data, it is determined that the air conditioning device 0 is operating ("device in operation") (step S22). If each physical data remains within a certain range, it is determined that the air conditioning device 0 is not operating ("device not in operation") (step S23).

[0081] Note that, in step S21, an example has been shown in which the operating state of the air conditioning apparatus 0 is determined from physical quantity data measured by the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor, but this method is not limiting as long as the operating state can be determined. For example, if the air conditioning apparatus 0 is connected to a power meter, the operating state of the air conditioning apparatus 0 may be determined by monitoring the amount of power consumption of the air conditioning apparatus 0 measured by the power meter. Furthermore, the operating state of the air conditioning apparatus 0 may be determined based on whether the outdoor unit control apparatus 140, the relay control apparatus 220, and the indoor unit control apparatus 320 are transmitting instruction signals to each device.

[0082] When the operation state of the air conditioning apparatus 0 is determined by the determination processing unit 161 in apparatus operation state determination processing step S20, the outdoor fan operation state determination processing step S30 is executed by the determination processing unit 161. Outdoor fan operation state determination processing step S30 is a step for determining the operation state of the outdoor fan 110. The specific processing procedure of outdoor fan operation state determination processing step S30 will be explained using Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of outdoor fan operation state determination processing step S30 by the outdoor unit control device 140.

[0083] As shown in Fig. 9 , in outdoor fan operating state determination processing step S30, it is determined whether the outdoor fan motor 111 is driving the outdoor fan 110 (step S31). Whether the outdoor fan motor 111 is driving the outdoor fan 110 is determined from the power supply status of the outdoor fan motor 111. Specifically, the current value or voltage value applied to the outdoor fan motor 111 is measured by a current sensor or voltage sensor connected to the power supply circuit of the outdoor fan motor 111. When a current is detected by the current sensor connected to the power supply circuit of the outdoor fan motor 111, or when a voltage value lower than the voltage supplied by the voltage sensor connected to the power supply circuit of the outdoor fan motor 111 is detected, it is determined that the outdoor fan motor 111 is driving the outdoor fan 110, and that the outdoor fan is in an "outdoor fan operating" state (step S32). If no current is detected by the current sensor connected to the power supply circuit of the outdoor fan motor 111, or if a voltage value equivalent to the voltage supplied by the voltage sensor connected to the power supply circuit of the outdoor fan motor 111 is detected, it is determined that the outdoor fan motor 111 is not driving the outdoor fan 110 and is in an "outdoor fan not operating" state (step S33).

[0084] Note that, in step S31, an example has been shown in which the operating state of the outdoor fan 110 is determined using a current sensor and a voltage sensor connected to the power supply circuit of the outdoor fan motor 111. However, this method is not limited to this as long as the operating state can be determined. For example, the outdoor unit 10 may be configured to include a vibration sensor (not shown). If the outdoor unit 10 is equipped with a vibration sensor, the vibration sensor is installed in the outdoor fan motor 111 and detects vibrations generated when the outdoor fan 110 is operating, thereby determining the operating state of the outdoor fan 110. Alternatively, the operating state of the outdoor fan 110 may be determined based on whether the outdoor unit control device 140 is transmitting an instruction signal to the outdoor fan motor 111.

[0085] As described above, after the determination processing steps (S10, S20, S30) are executed by the determination processing unit 161, the instruction processing step S40 is executed by the instruction processing unit 162. The instruction processing step S40 is a step in which an instruction to control the drive of the outdoor fan 110 is issued based on the determination results of the determination processing steps (S10, S20, S30). The specific processing procedure of the instruction processing step S40 will be described using FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the instruction processing step S40 by the outdoor unit control device 140.

[0086] As shown in Figure 10, in the instruction processing step S40, the instruction processing unit 162 issues an instruction to control the operating state of the outdoor fan 110 depending on the presence or absence of a person in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 determined by the judgment processing unit 161, the operating state of the air conditioning unit 0, and the operating state of the outdoor fan 110.

[0087] First, a case where it is determined in the determination process step S10 that “a person is present” will be described. When it is determined in the determination process step S10 that “a person is present,” the instruction process step S40 instructs the outdoor fan motor 111 to drive the outdoor fan 110.

[0088] 10 , if it is determined in determination process step S10 that "people are present" (Yes in S41), and if it is determined in outdoor fan operation state determination process step S30 that "the outdoor fan is operating" regardless of the determination result in device operation state determination process step S20 (Yes in S43a and Yes in S43b), an instruction signal to keep the outdoor fan 110 operating is sent to the outdoor fan motor 111 (step S44). On the other hand, if it is determined in determination process step S10 that "people are not present" (No in S41), and if it is determined in outdoor fan operation state determination process step S30 that "the outdoor fan is not operating" regardless of the determination result in device operation state determination process step S20 (No in S43a and No in S43b), an instruction signal to drive the outdoor fan 110 is sent to the outdoor fan motor 111 (step S45).

[0089] The instruction signal in step S44 to keep the outdoor fan 110 in operation and the instruction signal in step S45 to drive the outdoor fan 110 are both signals that instruct the outdoor fan 110 to be in operation. That is, instruction processing step S40 instructs the outdoor fan 110 to be driven when it is determined in determination processing step S10 that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130.

[0090] Next, a case where "no person is present" is determined in determination process step S10 will be described. As shown in Fig. 10 , if "no person is present" is determined in determination process step S10 (No in S41), if "the device is operating" is determined in device operation state determination process step S20 (Yes in S42b), or if "the outdoor fan is operating" is determined in outdoor fan operation state determination process step S30 (Yes in S43c), an instruction signal to maintain the operating state of the outdoor fan 110 is transmitted to the outdoor fan motor 111 (step S44). Also, if "no person is present" is determined in determination process step S10 (No in S41), or if "the outdoor fan is not operating" is determined in outdoor fan operation state determination process step S30 regardless of the determination result of device operation state determination process step S20 (No in S43c and No in S43d), an instruction signal to maintain the non-operating state of the outdoor fan 110 is transmitted to the outdoor fan motor 111 (step S46). Furthermore, if it is determined in the determination process step S10 that "no person is present" (No in S41), if it is determined in the device operation state determination process step S20 that "the device is not operating" (No in S42b), or if it is determined in the outdoor fan operation state determination process step S30 that "the outdoor fan is operating" (Yes in S43d), an instruction signal to stop the outdoor fan 110 is sent to the outdoor fan motor 111 (step S47).

[0091] As described above, the determination process step S10, the device operation state determination process step S20, the outdoor fan operation state determination process step S30, and the instruction process step S40 are repeated while the outdoor unit control device 140 is powered on. Here, a case will be described in which a person approaches the outdoor unit 10, remains in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, and then leaves the area while the outdoor unit control device 140 is powered on. First, when a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, it is determined in the determination process step S10 that "a person is present," and the outdoor fan 110 is driven. Then, when a person remains in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 and then leaves the area, it is determined in the determination process step S10 that "a person is not present," and in the outdoor fan operation state determination process step S30 that "the outdoor fan is operating."

[0092] When a person approaches the outdoor unit 10, remains within the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, and then leaves the area, if the air conditioning apparatus 0 is not operating, the instruction processing step S40 instructs the outdoor fan motor 111 to stop the outdoor fan 110. Also, when a person approaches the outdoor unit 10, remains within the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, and then leaves the area, if the air conditioning apparatus 0 is operating, the instruction processing step S40 instructs the outdoor fan motor 111 to continue operating the outdoor fan 110.

[0093] In the instruction processing step S40, the instruction signal to keep the outdoor fan 110 in an operating state in step S44 and the instruction signal to keep the outdoor fan 110 in an inoperating state in step S47 do not have to be transmitted to the outdoor fan motor 111. The instruction processing unit 162 only needs to transmit an instruction signal to the outdoor fan motor 111 when the current operating state of the outdoor fan 110 is to be changed. Here, a case where the current operating state of the outdoor fan 110 is changed is when the instruction processing unit 162 transmits to the outdoor fan motor 111 an instruction signal to drive the outdoor fan 110 in step S45 and an instruction signal to stop the outdoor fan 110 in step S46. By configuring the instruction processing unit 162 to transmit an instruction signal to the outdoor fan motor 111 only when the current operating state of the outdoor fan 110 is to be changed, the processing load on the outdoor unit control device 140 can be reduced.

[0094] 6 illustrates an example in which the steps of the control method for the outdoor fan 110 are performed in the order of determination processing step S10, device operation state determination processing step S20, and outdoor fan operation state determination processing step S30. However, the order in which steps S10, S20, and S30 are performed is not limited to this. It is sufficient that the determination results of steps S10, S20, and S30 are obtained in instruction processing step S40, and steps S10, S20, and S30 may be performed in parallel. Furthermore, when the determination result of any one of steps S10, S20, and S30 changes during the repetition of the processing steps in FIG. 6, instruction processing step S40 may be performed. However, when the determination result does not change, instruction processing step S40 need not be performed.

[0095] As described above, according to the determination processing step S10, the device operation state determination processing step S20, the outdoor fan operation state determination processing step S30, and the instruction processing step S40, the outdoor fan 110 can be driven when a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is received.

[0096] When the outdoor fan 110 is driven by the outdoor unit control device 140, as described above, it generates an airflow that draws in air outside the housing 130 through the air inlet 131 and exhausts air inside the housing 130 through the air outlet 132. If the heat-source-side refrigerant, which is a flammable refrigerant, leaks outside the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10, the outdoor fan 110 is driven to draw the heat-source-side refrigerant that has leaked outside the housing 130 together with air through the air inlet 131 on the side of the housing 130. The heat-source-side refrigerant is diluted by being drawn into the housing 130 together with air and is then discharged from an exhaust port provided on the top surface of the housing 130. Because the exhaust port 132, which discharges the leaked heat-source-side refrigerant, is provided on the top surface of the housing 130 with no surrounding obstructions, the heat-source refrigerant is discharged above the outdoor unit 10 without stagnation and diffuses into the surrounding area. In this way, when the outdoor fan 110 is driven, the heat-source-side refrigerant that has leaked outside the housing 130 is drawn in together with air from the intake port 131 and discharged from the exhaust port provided on the top surface of the housing 130, thereby preventing the leaked heat-source refrigerant from accumulating outside the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10. As a result, it is possible to prevent a high-concentration region of the heat-source refrigerant from being formed around the outdoor unit 10.

[0097] It is desirable that the intake port 131 be provided in the lower part of the side surface of the housing 130. Because a hydrocarbon-based heat-source-side refrigerant is heavier than air, if it leaks outside the housing 130, it is likely to accumulate in the lower part of the housing 130 outside the housing 130. By providing the intake port 131 in the lower part of the side surface of the housing 130, it is possible to efficiently suck in the heat-source-side refrigerant that has leaked outside the housing 130 and accumulated in the lower part of the housing 130, and it is possible to enhance the effect of suppressing the accumulation of the leaked heat-source refrigerant around the outdoor unit 10.

[0098] <Operations and Effects of First Embodiment> Next, operations and effects of the outdoor unit control device 140 (outdoor fan control device), outdoor unit 10, air conditioner 0, and outdoor fan 110 control method and program according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0099] The outdoor unit control device 140 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is an outdoor fan control device that controls the operation of the outdoor fan 110, which generates an air flow that draws in air outside the housing 130 through an air intake 131 provided on the side of the housing 130 and exhausts air inside the housing 130 through an exhaust outlet 132 provided on the top surface of the housing 130, and drives the outdoor fan 110 when it receives a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130.

[0100] The outdoor unit 10 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a housing 130, an intake port 131 provided on at least a part of a side surface of the housing 130, an exhaust port 132 provided on at least a part of the top surface of the housing 130, an outdoor fan 110 arranged on the top of the housing 130 and generating an air flow that draws in air outside the housing 130 through the intake port 131 and exhausts air inside the housing 130 through the exhaust port 132, an outdoor heat exchanger 103 that exchanges heat between the air outside the housing 130 drawn in through the intake port 131 and a flammable refrigerant, and the outdoor unit control device 140 described above.

[0101] The air conditioning apparatus 0 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure includes the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 30 described above.

[0102] The control method for the outdoor fan 110 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is a control method for the outdoor fan 110 that generates an air flow that draws in air outside the housing 130 through an air intake 131 provided on the side of the housing 130 and exhausts air inside the housing 130 through an air exhaust 132 provided on the top surface of the housing 130, and includes a determination processing step S10 that determines whether or not a person is present in the vicinity of an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 based on a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in the vicinity of the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, and an instruction processing step S40 that instructs the outdoor fan 110 to be driven if it is determined in the determination processing step S10 that a person is present in the vicinity of the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130.

[0103] The program according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is an outdoor unit control device 140 that controls the operation of the outdoor fan 110, which generates an air flow that draws in air outside the housing 130 through an air intake 131 provided on the side of the housing 130 and exhausts air inside the housing 130 through an exhaust 132 provided on the top surface of the housing 130. The outdoor unit control device 140 has a computer that implements a judgment processing function that determines whether or not a person is present in the area around the outer periphery of the housing 130 based on a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in the area around the outer periphery of the housing 130, and an instruction processing function that instructs the outdoor fan 110 to be operated when it is determined in judgment processing step S10 that a person is present in the area around the outer periphery of the housing 130.

[0104] According to the control method and program for the outdoor unit control device 140 (outdoor fan control device), outdoor unit 10, air conditioner 10, and outdoor fan 110 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, when the outdoor unit control device 140 receives a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10, the outdoor unit control device 140 drives the outdoor fan 110. Even if flammable refrigerant is leaking around the outdoor unit 10, the driven outdoor fan 110 draws in and dilutes the flammable refrigerant leaked around the housing 130 together with air, and the diluted flammable refrigerant is exhausted to the upper part of the housing 130 where there is no shield, thereby preventing the flammable refrigerant from accumulating outside the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10. Therefore, according to the control method and program for the outdoor unit control device 140 (outdoor fan control device), outdoor unit 10, air conditioning device 0, and outdoor fan 110 of embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent flammable refrigerant from accumulating outside the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10 when a person is present around the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10.

[0105] Furthermore, according to the control method and program for the outdoor unit control device 140 (outdoor fan control device), outdoor unit 10, air conditioning device 0, and outdoor fan 110 of embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, when a person is present around the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10, it is possible to prevent flammable refrigerant from accumulating outside the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10, thereby reducing the possibility of ignition.

[0106] Furthermore, according to the control method and program for the outdoor unit control device 140 (outdoor fan control device), the outdoor unit 10, the air conditioning apparatus 0, and the outdoor fan 110 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to suppress accumulation of flammable refrigerant outside the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10 when a person is present around the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10, thereby preventing the person from coming into contact with the accumulated high-concentration refrigerant. In conventional outdoor units, restrictions on people's access to the area around the outdoor unit have been imposed as a method of preventing people from coming into contact with the high-concentration refrigerant when refrigerant leaks outside the outdoor unit housing. According to the control method and program for the outdoor unit control device 140 (outdoor fan control device), the outdoor unit 10, the air conditioning apparatus 0, and the outdoor fan 110 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to prevent people from coming into contact with the accumulated high-concentration refrigerant, thereby eliminating the need to impose restrictions on people's access to the area around the outdoor unit 10.

[0107] In the first embodiment, an example has been described in which the outdoor fan control device that controls the drive of the outdoor fan 110 is the outdoor unit control device 140. The outdoor fan control device that controls the drive of the outdoor fan 110 may be the repeater control device 220 or the indoor unit control device 320, or may be another control device (not shown) that is provided outside the air conditioning apparatus 0. One or more of the outdoor unit control device 140, the repeater control device 220, the indoor unit control device 320, or another control device (not shown) may control the drive of the outdoor fan 110 provided in the outdoor unit 10.

[0108] Although the first embodiment shows an example in which one outdoor unit 10 is provided with one detection device 120, one outdoor unit 10 may be provided with multiple detection devices 120. By providing multiple detection devices 120, it is possible to more reliably detect the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130. By reliably detecting the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, it is possible to reliably prevent flammable refrigerant from accumulating outside the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10 when a person is present around the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10.

[0109] In the first embodiment, an example in which the outdoor unit 10 is provided with the detection device 120 has been described, but the detection device 120 does not have to be provided with the outdoor unit 10. The detection device 120 only needs to be able to output a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 and transmit the signal to the outdoor unit control device 140 provided in the outdoor unit 10. For example, the detection device 120 may be one piece of security equipment provided in the facility in which the outdoor unit 10 is installed. If the outdoor unit 10 is one piece of security equipment provided in the facility in which it is installed, there is no need to install a new detection device 120, and therefore the cost associated with installing the detection device 120 can be reduced.

[0110] Variation 1. Next, Variation 1 of Embodiment 1 will be described. In Embodiment 1, the outdoor unit control device 140 was described, which drives the outdoor fan 110 when a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is received. Variation 1 will describe an outdoor unit control device 140a that receives a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 and drives the outdoor fan 110 when the time during which the detection signal is continuously received (hereinafter referred to as the detection signal reception duration) exceeds a preset time. Variation 1 of Embodiment 1 also relates to the outdoor unit control device 140a, an outdoor unit 10a equipped with the outdoor unit control device 140a, an air conditioning apparatus equipped with the outdoor unit 10a, a method of controlling the outdoor fan 110 equipped in the outdoor unit 10a, and a program that causes a computer to implement processing related to the control of the outdoor unit control device 140a.

[0111] The outdoor unit control device 140a according to the first modification of the first embodiment differs from the outdoor unit control device 140 according to the first embodiment in that the outdoor fan 110 is driven when the duration of reception of a detection signal exceeds a preset time. More specifically, the outdoor unit control device 140a according to the first modification of the first embodiment differs from the outdoor unit control device 140 according to the first embodiment in that, in the control method for the outdoor fan 110 provided in the outdoor unit 10a according to the first modification of the first embodiment, a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is received in determination processing step S10, and when the duration of the received detection signal exceeds a preset time, it is determined that a person is present in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130. Hereinafter, the differences from the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be mainly described, and descriptions of parts that are the same as or correspond to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be omitted.

[0112] First, the functional configuration of the outdoor unit control device 140a according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a system block diagram of the outdoor unit control device 140a. As shown in Fig. 11, the outdoor unit control device 140a includes a communication unit 150, a control processing unit 160a, a storage unit 170a, and a timing unit 180.

[0113] The communication unit 150 is the same as in the first embodiment, and performs processing for the outdoor unit control device 140a to communicate signals with each device provided in the outdoor unit 10a, including the detection device 120, the relay control device 220, or the indoor unit control device 320. For example, the communication unit 150 receives a detection signal output by the detection device 120, converts the received detection signal, and inputs it to the control processing unit 160.

[0114] The control processing unit 160a is composed of a determination processing unit 161a and an instruction processing unit 162. The determination processing unit 161a determines whether or not a person is present within an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 based on the duration of reception of a detection signal detected by the detection device 120. The duration of reception of a detection signal refers to the time during which the determination processing unit 161a continues to receive the detection signal via the communication unit 150, and the determination processing unit 161a measures the time by controlling the timing unit 180 to measure the time during which the detection signal is continuously received. In detail, upon receiving a detection signal output by the detection device 120 via the communication unit 150, the determination processing unit 161a causes the timing unit 180 to start timing. The determination processing unit 161a acquires the elapsed time from the start of timing indicated by the timing unit 180 every time a predetermined time elapses until the detection signal from the detection device 120 is no longer received or until a preset time stored in the storage unit 170a has elapsed. Then, when the elapsed time from the start of timing acquired by the determination processing unit 161a at predetermined time intervals, i.e., the continuous reception time of the detection signal, exceeds the time preset in the storage unit 170a, the determination processing unit 161a determines that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130. The instruction processing unit 162 is the same as in the first embodiment, and when the determination processing unit 161a determines that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, it instructs the outdoor fan 110 to be driven.

[0115] Note that the determination processing unit 161a does not need to acquire the elapsed time from the start of timekeeping indicated by the timer unit 180 every time a predetermined time elapses. The determination processing unit 161a only needs to acquire the elapsed time from the start of timekeeping indicated by the timer unit 180 when the determination processing unit 161a stops receiving a detection signal during the period from when it received the detection signal until the preset time stored in the storage unit 170a has elapsed, or when the preset time stored in the storage unit 170a has elapsed.

[0116] The timing unit 180 measures the time used for calculations by the outdoor unit control device 140a. For example, the timing unit 180 measures the duration of reception of the detection signal output by the detection device 120, which indicates the presence of a person in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, under the control of the determination processing unit 161a, and outputs the time to the determination processing unit 161a.

[0117] The storage unit 170a stores data used by the control processing unit 160a when performing processing. The data used by the control processing unit 160a when performing processing includes, for example, the duration of reception of the detection signal measured by the timing unit 180 and information on a preset time used for determination by the determination processing unit 161a. The control processing unit 160a determines that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 when the duration of reception of the detection signal measured by the timing unit 180 exceeds the preset time used for determination by the determination processing unit 161a, which is stored in the storage unit 170a.

[0118] The storage unit 170a also stores a program to be processed by the control processing unit 160a. The outdoor unit control device 140a reads and executes the program stored in the storage unit 170a to receive a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, and controls the outdoor fan 110 to be driven if the duration of the detection signal exceeds a preset time.

[0119] The program stored in the storage unit 170a is a program for causing a computer to function as the outdoor unit control device 140a according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1 and for executing a method for controlling the outdoor fan 110 provided in the outdoor unit 10a according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1. In detail, the program causes the computer to realize a determination processing function that determines, based on a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, that a person is present in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 if the duration of the detection signal exceeds a preset time, and an instruction processing function that instructs the outdoor fan 110 to be driven when the determination processing function determines that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130.

[0120] Next, the hardware configuration of the outdoor unit control device 140a will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of the outdoor unit control device 140a.

[0121] 12 , the outdoor unit control device 140a further includes a timing device 406 in addition to the calculation device 401, storage device 402, auxiliary storage device 403, and communication device 404 that are similar to those of the outdoor unit control device 140 according to Embodiment 1. The calculation device 401, storage device 402, auxiliary storage device 403, communication device 404, and timing device 406 are connected via a signal line 405.

[0122] The timing device 406 is a device that measures the time used for processing by the control processing unit 160. The timing device 406 measures, for example, the duration during which the communication device 404 receives a detection signal from the detection device 120, and outputs the measured duration to the calculation device 401. The timing device 406 is, for example, a timer.

[0123] Next, determination processing step S10 of the method for controlling the outdoor fan 110 provided in the outdoor unit 10a according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1 will be described using Fig. 13. Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing the processing steps of determination processing step S10 by the outdoor unit control device 140a according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1. Note that the method for controlling the outdoor fan 110 provided in the outdoor unit 10a according to Modification 1 of Embodiment 1 is the same as that shown in Fig. 6, except for the processing steps of determination processing step S10.

[0124] The determination processing step S10 according to the first modification of the first embodiment is executed by the determination processing unit 161a constituting the control processing unit 160a of the outdoor unit control device 140a. As shown in FIG. 13 , in the determination processing step S10, the determination processing unit 161a first determines whether the outdoor unit control device 140a has received a detection signal (step S11). The detection device 120 transmits the detection signal to the communication unit 150 provided in the outdoor unit control device 140a via wired or wireless communication. The communication unit 150 transmits the detection signal received from the detection device 120 to the control processing unit 160a. When the detection signal is transmitted to the control processing unit 160a, the determination processing unit 161a constituting the control processing unit 160a determines that the detection signal has been received (Yes in step S11). When the determination processing unit 161a determines that the detection signal has been received, the determination processing unit 161a starts timing by the timer unit 180 (step S14). The timing unit 180 is controlled by the determination processing unit 161a to measure the duration of reception of the detection signal and output the time to the determination processing unit 161a. Specifically, the timing unit 180 is controlled by the determination processing unit 161a to continue measuring the time while the determination processing unit 161a continues to receive the detection signal via the communication unit 150, and outputs the elapsed time since the start of measuring the time to the determination processing unit 161a at predetermined intervals. The determination processing unit 161a then checks whether the duration of reception of the detection signal exceeds a time preset in the storage unit 170a (step S15). If the determination processing unit 161a determines that the duration of the detection signal exceeds the preset time (Yes in step S15), the determination processing unit 161a determines that a "person is present" state, meaning that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 (step S12). When the determination processing unit 161a confirms that the duration of the detection signal has not exceeded the preset time (No in step S15), the determination processing unit 161a determines whether or not the detection signal is still being received (step S16). If the determination processing unit 161a continues to receive the detection signal (Yes in step S16), the process returns to step S15, and the determination processing unit 161a checks whether or not the duration of the detection signal has exceeded the time preset in the storage unit 170a.If the determination processing unit 161a has not received a detection signal (No in step S16), the determination processing unit 161a determines that a "no person present" state exists, meaning that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 (step S13). After determining whether or not a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, the determination processing unit 161a initializes the timekeeping of the timing unit 180 (step S16). The processing procedure from determination processing step S10 onwards is the same as the control method of the outdoor fan 110 provided in the outdoor unit 10 according to embodiment 1.

[0125] According to the outdoor unit control device 140a of Modification 1 of Embodiment 1, if the duration of a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 exceeds a preset time, it is determined that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 and the outdoor fan 110 is driven. Therefore, if a person is temporarily present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, for example, by crossing the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, the outdoor fan 110 can be prevented from being driven. In other words, the outdoor unit control device 140a of Modification 1 of Embodiment 1 can determine whether a person has been present in the area for a certain period of time or more and efficiently control the drive of the outdoor fan 110. Therefore, the outdoor unit control device 140a of Modification 1 of Embodiment 1 can prevent the outdoor fan 110 from being operated more than necessary, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0126] Embodiment 2. In the first embodiment of the present disclosure, the outdoor unit control device 140, 140a is described, which drives the outdoor fan 110 when a detection signal is received from the detection device 120 that detects the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130. In the second embodiment, the outdoor unit control device 141 is described, which drives the outdoor fan 110 when a detection signal is received from the detection device 121 that detects that a window or door in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is open. Note that in the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment of the present disclosure are designated by the same reference numerals, and descriptions of the same or corresponding parts are omitted. Below, the outdoor unit control device 141 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Embodiment 2 of the present disclosure relates to an outdoor unit control device 141, an outdoor unit 11 equipped with the outdoor unit control device 141, an air conditioning device equipped with the outdoor unit 11, a control method for the outdoor fan 110 equipped in the outdoor fan 110 equipped in the outdoor unit 11, and a program that causes a computer to realize processing related to the control of the outdoor unit control device 141.

[0127] The outdoor unit 11 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure is installed near a window of a building, on the roof of a building, etc. When a person opens a window or a door 8 leading to the roof, for example, there is a high possibility that a person is approaching the area around the outdoor unit 11. Therefore, the detection device 121 provided in the outdoor unit 11 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure is used as a device that detects that a window or door in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is open, and outputs a detection signal indicating that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130.

[0128] The configuration and arrangement of the outdoor unit 11 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 14 . FIG. 14 is a side view schematic diagram showing the configuration and arrangement of the outdoor unit 11. Note that FIG. 14 shows only the main components of the outdoor unit 11, and some components are omitted. Also, in FIG. 14 , arrows indicate the flow of air generated when the outdoor fan 110 is driven. Furthermore, in FIG. 14 , dotted lines indicate the connection relationships between the devices. Here, the dotted lines indicate connections made via wireless communication or connections via signal lines.

[0129] 14, the outdoor unit 11 includes a detection device 121 that is different from the detection device 120 according to embodiment 1. The configuration other than the detection device 121 is the same as that of the outdoor unit 10 according to embodiment 1.

[0130] The detection device 121 is a device that detects whether a window (not shown) or door 8 in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is in an open state. In detail, the detection device 121 is a device that detects whether the window or door 8 is in an open state or a closed state, and a non-contact open / close sensor that uses infrared rays or ultrasonic waves, or a contact open / close sensor that uses a switch or a reed switch, is used.

[0131] The detection device 121 is installed near a window or door 8 present in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130. The detection device 121 may be installed in a position where it can detect that the window or door 8 present in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is open.

[0132] The detection device 121 outputs a detection signal indicating that a window or door 8 within an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is in an open state. Here, when the window or door 8 within an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is in an open state, it can be assumed that the window or door 8 has been opened by a person, and therefore the detection signal detected by the detection device 121 can be regarded as a detection signal indicating that a person is present within the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130. Here, if the detection device 121 detects that the window or door 8 is open even for a short period of time, it outputs a detection signal.

[0133] The detection signal output by the detection device 121 is received by the outdoor unit control device 141. As in the first embodiment, when the outdoor unit control device 141 receives the detection signal detected by the detection device 121, it drives the outdoor fan 110. When the outdoor unit control device 141 receives a detection signal indicating that a window or door 8 in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is open, it determines that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, and drives the outdoor fan 110.

[0134] The outdoor unit control device 141 may drive the outdoor fan 110 for a preset time when it receives a detection signal indicating that a window or door 8 in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is open. In particular, when the determination processing unit 161 of the outdoor unit control device 141 receives a detection signal indicating that a window or door 8 in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is open and determines that a person is present in the area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, the instruction processing unit 162 of the outdoor unit control device 141 may send to the outdoor fan motor 111 a signal to drive the outdoor fan 110 for a preset time. By sending an instruction to the outdoor fan motor 111 by the instruction processing unit 162 to continue only for the preset time, it is possible to prevent the outdoor fan 110 from operating more than necessary and reduce power consumption.

[0135] The following describes the operations and effects of the outdoor unit control device 141, the outdoor unit 11, an air conditioner including the outdoor unit 11, and a control method and program for the outdoor fan 110 included in the outdoor unit 11 according to embodiment 2. According to the control method and program for the outdoor unit control device 141, the outdoor unit 11, the air conditioner, and the outdoor fan 110 according to embodiment 2, when the outdoor unit control device 141 receives a detection signal indicating that a window or door 8 in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is open, detected by the detection device 121 that detects that a window or door 8 in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is open, i.e., a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, the outdoor unit control device 141 drives the outdoor fan 110. Therefore, according to the outdoor unit 11 according to embodiment 2, it is possible to prevent flammable refrigerant from accumulating outside the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10 when a person is present around the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10. As a result, according to the outdoor unit 11 according to the second embodiment, it is possible to prevent a high concentration region of the heat-source refrigerant from being formed around the outdoor unit 11 .

[0136] Furthermore, according to the outdoor unit control device 141, outdoor unit 11, air conditioning apparatus equipped with the outdoor unit 11, and control method and program for the outdoor fan 110 of embodiment 2, the outdoor fan 110 is driven when a window or door 8 in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is open, so that even if refrigerant is leaking around the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 11, it is possible to prevent refrigerant from flowing into the indoor space 9 through the window or door 8.

[0137] Furthermore, in conventional outdoor units, as a method of preventing people from coming into contact with high-concentration refrigerant if the refrigerant leaks outside the outdoor unit housing, restrictions have sometimes been placed on the installation location of the outdoor unit, such as not installing the outdoor unit near a window or door that leads to the indoor space 9. According to the outdoor unit control device 141, outdoor unit 11, air conditioning apparatus including the outdoor unit 11, and control method and program for the outdoor fan 110 of embodiment 2, when a window or door 8 within an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is open, the outdoor fan 110 can be driven to prevent refrigerant from entering the indoor space 9 through the window or door 8, eliminating the need to place restrictions on the installation location of the outdoor unit 11.

[0138] Although the second embodiment shows an example in which one outdoor unit 11 is provided with one detection device 121, one outdoor unit 11 may be provided with multiple detection devices 121. For example, if there are multiple windows or doors 8 in an area along the outer periphery of the outdoor unit 11, a detection device 121 may be installed in each of the multiple windows or doors 8. By providing multiple detection devices 121, it is possible to more reliably detect the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130. Therefore, if one outdoor unit 11 is provided with multiple detection devices 121, it is possible to reliably prevent flammable refrigerant from accumulating outside the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 11 when a person is present around the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 11.

[0139] Furthermore, one outdoor unit 11 may be provided with a detection device 121 that detects that a window or door 8 in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 is open, and the detection device 120 shown in embodiment 1 that detects the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130. By providing the detection device 120 shown in embodiment 1 and the detection device 121 shown in embodiment 2, it is possible to more reliably detect the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, and it is possible to reliably prevent flammable refrigerant from accumulating outside the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 11 when a person is present around the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 11.

[0140] In the second embodiment, an example in which the outdoor unit 11 is provided with the detection device 121 has been described, but the detection device 121 does not have to be provided with the outdoor unit 11. The detection device 121 only needs to be able to output a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 and transmit the signal to the outdoor unit control device 141 provided in the outdoor unit 11. For example, the detection device 121 may be one piece of security equipment provided in the facility in which the outdoor unit 11 is installed. If the outdoor unit 11 is one piece of security equipment provided in the facility in which it is installed, there is no need to install a new detection device 121, and therefore the cost associated with installing the detection device 121 can be reduced.

[0141] Embodiment 3. In the first embodiment of the present disclosure, an outdoor unit control device 140 that controls the drive of the outdoor fan 110 provided in one outdoor unit 10 has been described. In the third embodiment, an outdoor unit control device 142 that controls the drive of an outdoor fan 110 selected from a plurality of outdoor fans 110 provided in a plurality of outdoor units 12 will be described. Note that in the third embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be designated by the same reference numerals, and descriptions of the same or corresponding parts will be omitted. Below, the outdoor unit control device 142 according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. The third embodiment of the present disclosure relates to the outdoor unit control device 142, an outdoor unit 12 equipped with the outdoor unit control device 142, an air conditioning apparatus equipped with the outdoor unit 12, a method of controlling the outdoor fan 110 provided in the outdoor unit 12, and a program that causes a computer to implement processing related to the control of the outdoor unit control device 142.

[0142] An outdoor unit control device 142 according to embodiment 3 is provided in each of a plurality of outdoor units 12 in an air conditioning apparatus equipped with a plurality of outdoor units 12. First, the configuration of an outdoor unit 12 equipped with an outdoor unit control device 142 will be described using FIG. 15 . FIG. 15 is a side view schematic showing the configuration layout of the outdoor unit 12. Note that FIG. 15 shows only the main components of the outdoor unit 12, and some components are omitted. In FIG. 15 , the connection relationships between the devices are indicated by dotted lines. Here, the dotted lines indicate connections made via wireless communication or connections via signal lines.

[0143] 15 , the air conditioning apparatus according to embodiment 3 includes a plurality of outdoor units 12 each equipped with an outdoor unit control device 142. The plurality of outdoor units 12 (outdoor unit 12A, outdoor unit 12a, outdoor unit 12b, outdoor unit 12c) are installed side by side at an installation location such as the rooftop of a building.

[0144] 15 shows an example in which four outdoor units 12 are installed side by side, but the number of outdoor units 12 is not limited to this. The outdoor units 12 only need to be installed close to each other, and there may be two or more of them.

[0145] The configuration of the outdoor unit 12 is the same as that of Embodiment 1, except for the outdoor unit control device 142. In detail, the outdoor units 12 each include an outdoor fan 110 (outdoor fan 110A, outdoor fan 110a, outdoor fan 110b, outdoor fan 110c), an outdoor fan motor 111 (outdoor fan motor 111A, outdoor fan motor 111a, outdoor fan motor 111b, outdoor fan motor 111c), an outdoor unit control device 142 (outdoor unit control device 142A, outdoor unit control device 142a, outdoor unit control device 142b, outdoor unit control device 142c), and a detection device 120 (detection device 120A, detection device 120a, detection device 120b, detection device 120c).

[0146] As in the first embodiment, the outdoor unit control device 142 provided in each outdoor unit 12 is connected by wired or wireless communication to the detection device 120 provided in each outdoor unit 12. The outdoor unit control device 142 provided in each outdoor unit 12 receives a detection signal output by the detection device 120 provided in each outdoor unit 12, which indicates the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130. Here, the detection signal is a signal used by the outdoor unit control device 142 to determine whether or not to drive the outdoor fan 110.

[0147] Furthermore, the outdoor unit control device 142 according to embodiment 3 transmits and receives detection signals between the multiple outdoor unit control devices 142. As indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 15 , the multiple outdoor unit control devices 142 are connected to each other by wired communication or wireless communication. The multiple outdoor unit control devices 142 can communicate with each other, and the multiple outdoor unit control devices 142 transmit and receive detection signals received from the respective detection devices 120.

[0148] Furthermore, similarly to the first embodiment, the outdoor unit control device 142 provided in each outdoor unit 12 is connected by wired or wireless communication to the outdoor fan motor 111 provided in each outdoor unit 12. The outdoor unit control device 142 provided in each outdoor unit 12 transmits an instruction signal to the outdoor fan motor 111 provided in each outdoor unit 12 to control the driving of the outdoor fan 110 provided in each outdoor unit 12. In other words, the driving of the outdoor fan 110 provided in each outdoor unit 12 is controlled by the outdoor unit control device 142 provided in each outdoor unit 12.

[0149] Of the multiple outdoor unit control devices 142 provided in the multiple outdoor units 12, one outdoor unit control device 142A has a unit selection function, which will be described later, in addition to the functions of the other outdoor unit control devices 142a, 142b, 142c. The unit selection function is a function of selecting a detection device 120 to be used to determine whether or not to drive the outdoor fan 110 from among the multiple detection devices 120 provided in the multiple outdoor units 12, and selecting an outdoor fan 110 from among the multiple outdoor fans 110 provided in the multiple outdoor units 12, the drive of which is controlled based on the detection signal output by the selected detection device 120. The outdoor fan 110 selected by the unit selection function has its drive controlled by the outdoor unit control device 142 provided in the outdoor unit 12 that has the selected outdoor fan 110. Therefore, in the air conditioning apparatus according to embodiment 3, when a detection signal output by a detection device 112 selected by one outdoor unit control device 142A having a unit selection function is received, the outdoor unit control device 142 that controls the driving of the outdoor fan 110 selected by one outdoor unit control device 142A having a unit selection function drives the outdoor fan 110 selected by one outdoor unit control device 142A having a unit selection function.

[0150] The multiple detection devices 120 provided in the multiple outdoor units 12 output detection signals even if they are not selected by the unit selection function, and the detection signals are transmitted to the outdoor unit control devices 142 provided in the outdoor units 12 provided with the detection devices 120. The detection signals received by the outdoor unit control devices 142 from the detection devices 120 are transmitted to the other outdoor unit control devices 142, and thus the detection signals are shared among the multiple outdoor unit control devices 142.

[0151] The functional configuration of the outdoor unit control device 142 will now be described with reference to Fig. 16 and Fig. 17. Fig. 16 is a system block diagram of other outdoor unit control devices 142a, 142b, and 142c among the multiple outdoor unit control devices 142. Fig. 17 is a system block diagram of one outdoor unit control device 142A among the multiple outdoor unit control devices 142.

[0152] As described above, one outdoor unit control device 142A out of the multiple outdoor unit control devices 142 provided in the multiple outdoor units 12 has a unit selection function in addition to the functions of the other outdoor unit control devices 142a, 142b, 142c. Specifically, as shown in Figures 16 and 17, out of the multiple outdoor unit control devices 142, one outdoor unit control device 142A has a unit selection unit 165 that executes the unit selection function. First, the functional configuration of the other outdoor unit control devices 142a, 142b, 142c that do not have the unit selection unit 165 will be described using Figure 16.

[0153] As shown in FIG. 16, the other outdoor unit control devices 142 a , 142 b , and 142 c each include a communication unit 151 , a control processing unit 190 , and a storage unit 171 .

[0154] Similar to the communication unit 150 according to the first embodiment, the communication unit 151 performs processing to enable the other outdoor unit control units 142a, 142b, and 142c among the multiple outdoor unit control units 142 to communicate signals with each device included in the outdoor unit 10, including the detection device 120, the relay control unit 220, or the indoor unit control unit 320. For example, the communication unit 151 receives a detection signal output by the detection device 120, converts the received detection signal, and inputs it to the control processing unit 190. Furthermore, the communication unit 151 performs processing to enable communication between the multiple outdoor unit control units 142, including one outdoor unit control unit 142A. For example, the communication unit 151 transmits and receives the detection signal received by each outdoor unit control unit 142 from each detection device 120, among the multiple outdoor unit control units 142. Furthermore, the communication unit 151 receives, from the communication unit 151A included in one outdoor unit control device 142A having a unit selection unit 165 described later, information relating to the detection device 120 and the outdoor fan 110 selected by the unit selection unit 165 described later. The information relating to the detection device 120 and the outdoor fan 110 selected by the unit selection unit 165 described later, which is received by the communication unit 151, is stored in the storage unit 171.

[0155] The control processing unit 190 is composed of a determination processing unit 163 and an instruction processing unit 164. The determination processing unit 163 and the instruction processing unit 164 perform processing based on information stored in the storage unit 171 about the detection device 120 and the outdoor fan 110 selected by a unit selection unit 165 (described later). In particular, when the outdoor fan 110 provided in the outdoor unit 12 is selected by the unit selection unit 165 (described later), the determination processing unit 163 of the outdoor unit control device 142 provided in the outdoor unit 12 determines whether or not a person is present in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 based on a detection signal output by the detection device 120 selected by the unit selection unit 165 (described later). When the determination processing unit 163 determines that a person is present in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, the instruction processing unit 164 provided in the outdoor unit 12 instructs the outdoor fan 110 selected by the unit selection unit 165 (described later) to be driven.

[0156] The storage unit 171 stores data used when the control processing unit 190 performs processing. The data used when the control processing unit 190 performs processing is, for example, information related to the settings of the detection device 120 and the outdoor fan 110 selected by the unit selection unit 165 (described later). The storage unit 171 also stores programs processed by the control processing unit 190. The determination processing unit 163 and the instruction processing unit 164 perform processing by reading and executing the programs stored in the storage unit 171.

[0157] Next, the functional configuration of one outdoor unit control device 142A having a unit selection unit 165 will be described with reference to Fig. 17. As shown in Fig. 17, one outdoor unit control device 142A having a unit selection function includes a communication unit 151A, a control processing unit 190A, and a storage unit 171A.

[0158] The control processing unit 190A provided in one outdoor unit control device 142A has a unit selection unit 165 in addition to the functions of the control processing units 190 provided in the other outdoor unit control devices 142a, 142b, 142c.

[0159] The unit selection unit 165 executes the unit selection function described above, and selects a detection device 120 to be used for determining whether to drive the outdoor fan 110 from among the plurality of detection devices 120 provided in the plurality of outdoor units 12, and selects an outdoor fan 110 from among the plurality of outdoor fans 110 provided in the plurality of outdoor units 12, the drive of which is controlled based on the detection signal output by the selected detection device 120. In detail, the unit selection unit 165 selects a detection device 120 that outputs a detection signal indicating the presence of a person in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130, and an outdoor fan 110 that is to be driven when it is determined that a person is present in an area along the outer periphery of the housing 130 based on the detection signal output by the detection device 120. The drive of the outdoor fan 110 is controlled by an outdoor unit control device 142 provided in the outdoor unit 12 in which the outdoor fan 110 is provided.

[0160] The unit selection unit 165 selects the detection device 120 and the outdoor fan 110 based on information preset by an input device (not shown) according to the installation locations of the multiple outdoor units 12. The preset information is, for example, a correspondence table showing the correspondence between the detection device 120 used to determine whether to drive the outdoor fan 110 and the outdoor fan 110 whose drive is controlled based on the detection signal output by the detection device 120. The correspondence table is stored in a memory unit 171A provided in one outdoor unit control device 142A, and the unit selection unit 165 selects the detection device 120 and the outdoor fan 110 based on the correspondence table. Information related to the detection device 120 and the outdoor fan 110 selected by the unit selection unit 165 provided in one outdoor unit control device 142A is transmitted to the other outdoor unit control devices 142a, 142b, and 142c via the communication unit 151A. Then, information relating to the detection device 120 and the outdoor fan 110 selected by the unit selection section 165 is stored in the storage sections 171 and 171A provided in each outdoor unit control device 142 .

[0161] The multiple detection devices 120 provided in the multiple outdoor units 12 output detection signals even if they are not selected by the unit selection section 165, and the detection signals are transmitted to the outdoor unit control devices 142 provided in the outdoor units 12 provided with the detection devices 120. The detection signals received by the outdoor unit control devices 142 from the detection devices 120 are transmitted to the other outdoor unit control devices 142, and thus the detection signals are shared among the multiple outdoor unit control devices 142.

[0162] It is not necessary for all of the multiple detectors 120 included in the air conditioning apparatus to output a detection signal. Only the detectors 120 preset in the correspondence table may output a detection signal.

[0163] The correspondence table has one or more pairs of correspondence relationships between the detection devices 120 and the outdoor fans 110. If only one pair of correspondence relationships is set in the correspondence table, the unit selection unit 165 refers to the correspondence table and selects one set of the detection device 120 and the outdoor fan 110. If multiple correspondence relationships are set in the correspondence table, the unit selection unit 165 selects a detection device 120 and an outdoor fan 110 according to the detection status of the detection device 120. Specifically, when one outdoor unit control device 142A receives a detection signal output by one of the multiple detection devices 120 provided in the multiple outdoor units 12, and the detection device 120 that output the received detection signal corresponds to a detection device 120 set in the correspondence table, the unit selection unit 165 selects the detection device 120 and the outdoor fan 110 corresponding to the detection device 120.

[0164] An example of the correspondence relationship between the detecting devices 120 and the outdoor fans 110 will be described with reference to Fig. 15 and Fig. 18. Fig. 18 is a correspondence table showing an example of the correspondence relationship between the detecting devices 120 and the outdoor fans 110.

[0165] A case will be described in which multiple outdoor units 12 are installed on a rooftop or the like, and there are limited entrances and exits for people to access the area along the periphery of the housings 130 of the outdoor units 12. When there are limited entrances and exits for people to access the area along the periphery of the housings 130 of the outdoor units 12, the detection device 120 and outdoor fan 110 provided in the outdoor unit 12 closest to the entrance and exit are set in advance in a correspondence table, and the unit selection unit 165 selects the detection device 120 and the outdoor fan 110 from the correspondence relationships set in the correspondence table depending on the detection status of the detection device 120.

[0166] Specifically, as shown in Fig. 15 , a case will be described in which four outdoor units 12 are installed side by side in a location where people must go through a door 8 to access the outdoor units 12, such as the rooftop of a building, and outdoor unit 12A and outdoor unit 12c are installed closest to door 8. In the situation shown in Fig. 15 , for example, as shown in Fig. 18 , the correspondence table sets outdoor fans 110A and 110a provided in outdoor units 12A and 12a as the outdoor fans corresponding to detection device 120A provided in outdoor unit 12A. Furthermore, outdoor fans 110b and 110c provided in outdoor units 12b and 12c as the outdoor fans corresponding to detection device 120c provided in outdoor unit 12c. Then, when one outdoor unit control device 142A receives a detection signal output by detection device 120A, the unit selector 165 refers to the correspondence table and selects outdoor fan 110A and outdoor fan 110a. In this way, by using the unit selection unit 165 to select and control the detection device 12 and outdoor fan 110 that are located closer to the entrance / exit where people are more likely to be present, it is possible to prevent contact between people and flammable refrigerant even if flammable refrigerant leaks from any of the four outdoor units 12.

[0167] Next, a case will be described in which multiple outdoor units 12 are installed closely together. As shown in Fig. 15, if four outdoor units 12 are installed closely spaced side by side, only the outdoor fan 110b of the central outdoor unit 12b is driven, so that even if flammable refrigerant leaks from any of the four outdoor units 12, the leaked refrigerant can be sufficiently sucked in.

[0168] As described above, by selecting the detection device 120 and the outdoor fan 110 in advance using the unit selection section 165, it is possible to drive the necessary detection device 120 and outdoor fan 110 depending on the installation location of the outdoor unit 12.

[0169] The communication unit 151A included in one outdoor unit control device 142A has the same functions as the communication units 151 included in the other outdoor unit control devices 142a, 142b, and 142c. In addition, the communication unit 151A included in one outdoor unit control device 142A transmits information related to the detection device 120 and outdoor fan 110 selected by the unit selection unit 165 to the communication units 151 included in the other outdoor unit control devices 142a, 142b, and 142c. The information related to the detection device 120 and outdoor fan 110 selected by the unit selection unit 165 is shared among the multiple outdoor unit control devices 142 included in the air conditioning apparatus by being transmitted to the other outdoor unit control devices 142a, 142b, and 142c via the communication units 151A.

[0170] The memory unit 171A provided in one outdoor unit control device 142A stores data used when the control processing unit 190A performs processing, similar to the function of the memory units 171 provided in the other outdoor unit control devices 142a, 142b, 142c. The data used when the control processing unit 190A performs processing is, for example, information related to the settings of the detection device 120 and the outdoor fan 110 selected by the unit selection unit 165 described below. The memory unit 171A also stores programs processed by the control processing unit 190. The processes of the determination processing unit 163, the instruction processing unit 164, and the unit selection unit 165 are performed by reading and executing the programs stored in the memory unit 171A.

[0171] The following describes the actions and effects of the outdoor unit control device 142, the outdoor unit 12, an air conditioning apparatus including the outdoor unit 12, and a control method and program for the outdoor fan 110 provided in the outdoor unit 12 according to embodiment 3. According to the outdoor unit control device 142, the outdoor unit 12, an air conditioning apparatus including the outdoor unit 12, and a control method and program for the outdoor fan 110 provided in the outdoor unit 12 according to embodiment 3, it is possible to prevent the detection device 120 and the outdoor fan 110 from being driven more than necessary depending on the installation location of the outdoor unit 12. Therefore, according to the outdoor unit 12, the air conditioning apparatus, and the control method and program for the outdoor unit 12 according to embodiment 3, it is possible to reduce power consumption and prevent flammable refrigerant from accumulating outside the outdoor unit housing when a person is present around the outdoor unit housing.

[0172] Embodiment 4. In the first embodiment of the present disclosure, an air conditioning apparatus 0 including an outdoor unit 10, a relay unit 20, and an indoor unit 30 has been described. In the fourth embodiment, an air conditioning apparatus 1 including an outdoor unit 13 in which the outdoor unit 10 and the relay unit 20 are integrated, and an indoor unit 30 will be described. Note that in the fourth embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same components as in the first embodiment of the present disclosure, and descriptions of the same or corresponding parts will be omitted. Below, an outdoor unit 13 according to the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0173] The configuration of an air conditioning apparatus 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 19. Fig. 19 is a configuration diagram showing an overview of the configuration of equipment included in the air conditioning apparatus 1.

[0174] 19 , the outdoor unit 13 includes the components of the outdoor unit 10 according to Embodiment 1, as well as the components of the relay unit 20 according to Embodiment 1. Specifically, the outdoor unit 13 includes, inside a housing 130, a compressor 101, a refrigerant flow switching device 102, an outdoor heat exchanger 103, an expansion device 104, an accumulator 105, an outdoor fan 110, an outdoor fan motor 111, a heat medium heat exchanger 201, a heat medium pump 202, and an inverter device 203. That is, the outdoor unit 13 has the functions of the relay unit 20 according to Embodiment 1. In other words, the outdoor unit 13 has, inside the housing 130, all of the devices that constitute the heat-source-side refrigerant circulation circuit.

[0175] The outdoor unit 13 and the indoor unit 30 are connected by heat medium piping 50. The configuration of the indoor unit 30 is the same as in the first embodiment.

[0176] According to the outdoor unit 13, the air conditioning apparatus 1, and the control method and program for the outdoor unit 13 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, all of the devices constituting the heat-source-side refrigerant circulation circuit can be housed inside the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 13, thereby reducing the amount of flammable heat-source-side refrigerant sealed in the heat-source-side refrigerant circulation circuit. Therefore, according to the control method and program for the outdoor unit 13, the air conditioning apparatus 1, and the outdoor unit 13 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, even if flammable refrigerant leaks outside the housing 130 of the outdoor unit 10, the amount of leaked refrigerant is less than in the configuration of the first embodiment, thereby reducing the risk of people coming into contact with the leaked refrigerant. Furthermore, according to the control method and program for the outdoor unit 13, the air conditioning apparatus 1, and the outdoor unit 13 according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, the amount of heat-source-side refrigerant can be reduced, thereby reducing the cost of the heat-source-side refrigerant.

[0177] Furthermore, according to the outdoor unit 13, the air conditioning apparatus 1, and the control method and program for the outdoor unit 13 relating to embodiment 4 of the present disclosure, the outdoor unit 13 and the indoor unit 30 can be connected via piping without going through the relay unit 20, making piping work easier.

[0178] Although the present disclosure has been described above based on the embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments. Furthermore, appropriate combinations, modifications, omissions, etc. of the embodiments are also included within the scope of the technical idea of ​​the present disclosure.

[0179] 0, 1 Air conditioning apparatus 10, 10a, 11, 12, 12A, 12a, 12b, 12c, 13 Outdoor unit 20 Relay unit 30, 30a, 30b, 30c Indoor unit 40 Refrigerant piping 50 Heat medium piping 101 Compressor 102 Refrigerant flow switching device 103 Outdoor heat exchanger 104 Expansion device 105 Accumulator 110 Outdoor fan 111 Outdoor fan motor 120, 121 Detection device 130 Housing 131 Air intake 132 Air outlet 140, 140a, 141, 142, 142A, 142a, 142b, 142c Outdoor unit control device 150, 151, 151A Communication unit 160, 160a, 190 Control processing unit 161, 161a, 163 Determination processing unit 162, 164 Instruction processing unit 165 Unit selection unit 170, 170a, 171, 171A Memory unit 180 Timekeeping unit 201 Heat medium heat exchanger 202 Heat medium pump 203 Inverter device 220 Relay unit control device 301 Indoor heat exchanger 302 Indoor flow rate adjustment device 303 Indoor fan 320 Indoor unit control device 401 Arithmetic unit 402 Storage device 403 Auxiliary storage device 404 Communication device 405 Signal line 406 Timekeeping device 501 Discharge temperature sensor 502 Discharge pressure sensor 503 Outdoor temperature sensor 504 First refrigerant temperature sensor 505 Second refrigerant temperature sensor 511 Heat medium inlet side temperature sensor 512 Heat medium outlet side temperature sensor 513 Indoor inlet temperature sensor 514 Indoor outlet temperature sensor 515 Indoor temperature sensor 521 Indoor inlet pressure sensor 522 Indoor outlet pressure sensor 523 Heat medium pump inlet pressure sensor 524 Heat medium pump outlet pressure sensor 8 Door 9 Indoor space

Claims

1. An outdoor fan control device that controls the drive of an outdoor fan, which is positioned on top of the casing of an outdoor unit that constitutes part of an air conditioning system using a flammable refrigerant, and which generates an airflow that draws in air from outside the casing through an intake port provided on the side of the casing and exhausts air from inside the casing through an exhaust port provided on the top surface of the casing, When a detection signal is received indicating the presence of a person within the area along the outer periphery of the enclosure, the outdoor fan is driven. The aforementioned detection signal is a signal output by a detection device that detects whether a window or door in the area along the outer circumference of the housing is open. Outdoor fan control device.

2. An outdoor fan control device that controls the drive of an outdoor fan, which is positioned on the upper part of the housing of an outdoor unit that constitutes part of an air conditioning system using a flammable refrigerant, and which draws in air from outside the housing through an intake port provided on the side of the housing and exhausts air from inside the housing through an exhaust port provided on the top surface of the housing, When a detection signal is received indicating the presence of a person within the area along the outer periphery of the enclosure, the outdoor fan is driven. If the duration of reception of the detection signal exceeds a preset time, the outdoor fan is driven. Outdoor fan control device.

3. An outdoor fan control device that controls the drive of an outdoor fan, which is positioned on top of the casing of an outdoor unit that constitutes part of an air conditioning system using a flammable refrigerant, and which generates an airflow that draws in air from outside the casing through an intake port provided on the side of the casing and exhausts air from inside the casing through an exhaust port provided on the top surface of the casing, When a detection signal is received indicating the presence of a person within the area along the outer periphery of the enclosure, the outdoor fan is driven. The region along the outer periphery of the housing includes the installation location of the outdoor unit and the indoor space connected to the installation location. Outdoor fan control device.

4. When a detection signal is received indicating the presence of a person within the area along the outer periphery of the aforementioned housing, When the outdoor unit is operating and the outdoor fan is being driven, the outdoor fan will continue to operate. When the outdoor unit is operating and the outdoor fan is not being driven, the outdoor fan is driven. When the outdoor unit is not operating and the outdoor fan is running, the outdoor fan will continue to run. When the outdoor unit is not operating and the outdoor fan is not being driven, the outdoor fan is driven. An outdoor fan control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The aforementioned detection signal is a signal output by a detection device that detects the presence of a person within the area along the outer periphery of the housing. An outdoor fan control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. The housing has an air intake port provided on at least a portion of the side surface and an exhaust port provided on at least a portion of the top surface, The outdoor fan generates an airflow that draws in air from outside the housing through the intake port and exhausts air from inside the housing through the exhaust port, A heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the air outside the housing drawn in through the aforementioned intake port and a flammable refrigerant, An outdoor fan control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, An outdoor unit equipped with an air conditioner.

7. The outdoor unit according to claim 6, Indoor unit and An air conditioning system equipped with the following features.

8. A housing having an air intake port provided on at least a portion of the side and an exhaust port provided on at least a portion of the top surface, An outdoor fan is positioned at the top of the housing and generates an airflow that draws in air from outside the housing through the intake port and exhausts air from inside the housing through the exhaust port. A heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the air outside the housing drawn in through the aforementioned intake port and a flammable refrigerant, A detection device that outputs a detection signal indicating the presence of a person within the area along the outer periphery of the aforementioned housing, An outdoor fan control device that controls the operation of the outdoor fan, Multiple outdoor units equipped with, Equipped with an indoor unit, The outdoor fan control device has a communication unit that transmits and receives the detection signal to and from other outdoor fan control devices. One of the multiple outdoor fan control devices provided by the multiple outdoor units has a unit selection unit that selects a detection device used to determine whether or not to drive the outdoor fan from among the multiple detection devices provided by the multiple outdoor units, and selects an outdoor fan whose drive is controlled based on the detection signal output by the selected detection device from among the multiple outdoor fans provided by the multiple outdoor units. The communication unit of one of the outdoor fan control devices transmits information regarding the detection device and the outdoor fan selected by the unit selection unit to another outdoor fan control device. The outdoor fan control device that drives the outdoor fan selected by the unit selection unit drives the outdoor fan selected by the unit selection unit when it receives the detection signal output by the detection device selected by the unit selection unit. Air conditioning system.

9. A control method for an outdoor fan, which is positioned on top of the casing of an outdoor unit that constitutes part of an air conditioning system using a flammable refrigerant, and which generates an airflow that draws in air from outside the casing through an intake port provided on the side of the casing and exhausts air from inside the casing through an exhaust port provided on the top surface of the casing, A determination process step in which a window or door in the area along the outer perimeter of the housing is detected to be open, and a detection signal indicating the presence of a person is detected, and a determination process step in which the presence or absence of a person in the area along the outer perimeter of the housing is determined; If the determination process step determines that a person is present in the area along the outer perimeter of the housing, the instruction process step instructs the operation of the outdoor fan. A method for controlling an outdoor fan equipped with [a specific feature / equipment].

10. An outdoor fan control device controls the drive of an outdoor fan, which is positioned on top of the casing of an outdoor unit that constitutes part of an air conditioning system using a flammable refrigerant. The outdoor fan controls the drive of an outdoor fan that generates an airflow that draws in air from outside the casing through an intake port provided on the side of the casing and exhausts air from inside the casing through an exhaust port provided on the top surface of the casing, and the computer controls the drive of an outdoor fan. A determination processing function that determines whether or not a person is present in the area along the outer perimeter of the housing based on a detection signal that indicates the presence of a person by detecting that a window or door in the area along the outer perimeter of the housing is open, When the determination processing function determines that a person is present in the area along the outer perimeter of the housing, the instruction processing function instructs the outdoor fan to be driven, A program to achieve this.