Indoor AC Pipe Connection Layout for External Refrigerant Leak Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning apparatuses face difficulties in detecting refrigerant leaks that occur outside the casing, as the leaked refrigerant is not easily guided inside for detection by sensors.
Innovation Solution
The air conditioning apparatus includes a communication passage between the refrigerant pipe and a dew condensation prevention member, which guides the leaked refrigerant inside the casing, where a refrigerant leakage sensor can detect it, using a non-metallic pipe to prevent dew condensation and ensure stable positioning with fastening members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gas sensor is installed inside the casing to detect refrigerant leaks, then the detection reliability for internal leaks is improved, but the detection capability for external leaks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The communication passage acts as an intermediary channel that connects the external environment (where refrigerant may leak) to the internal sensor location. It guides the leaked refrigerant from outside the casing through the passage to the gas sensor, enabling detection of external leaks without moving the sensor itself. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the sensor's protected internal position while extending its effective detection range to external areas.
2Strength
If a metallic pipe is used for the communication passage, then the structural strength is improved, but dew condensation occurs causing measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The communication passage is constructed from non-metallic materials (such as plastic or resin) that combine sufficient structural strength with thermal insulation properties. This composite material approach prevents dew condensation on the passage surface by maintaining a temperature different from the dew point, thereby avoiding water accumulation that would interfere with refrigerant leak detection while still providing the necessary mechanical strength for installation and operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the pipe-connection end portion is exposed outside the casing, then the installation flexibility is improved, but the refrigerant leak detection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The communication passage serves as a mediator that bridges the exposed pipe-connection end portion (outside the casing) and the gas sensor (inside the casing). By providing this guided pathway, the system maintains the installation flexibility of having the connection end exposed for easy connection to refrigerant lines, while simultaneously enabling detection of leaks at this exposed location through the communication passage that directs leaked refrigerant to the sensor.
Data Source
AI summary
An object is to provide an air conditioning apparatus in which, even when a refrigerant leaks outside a casing, the leaked refrigerant is easily guided to the inside of the casing. In an indoor unit (3) of an air conditioning apparatus (1) that includes a casing (30) having an opening (64a), an indoor heat exchanger (51) disposed in the casing (30), a liquid-side connection pipe (53) or a gas-side connection pipe (54) extending from the indoor heat exchanger (51) to the outside of the casing (30) through the opening (64a), and an indoor-side dew condensation prevention member (71) that covers the periphery of the liquid-side connection pipe (53) or the gas-side connection pipe (54), an end portion of the liquid-side connection pipe (53) or the gas-side connection pipe (54) is used in a state of being covered from the periphery thereof by a connection-side dew condensation prevention member (72) or is covered from the periphery thereof by the indoor-side dew condensation prevention member (71), and there is formed a communication passage (91) that causes a space of a part covered by the dew condensation prevention member at the end portion of the liquid-side connection pipe (53) or the gas-side connection pipe (54) to be in communication with the internal space of the casing (30).