EP4553396A1 - Unité intérieure, et dispositif de conditionnement d'air équipé de celle-ci - Google Patents

Unité intérieure, et dispositif de conditionnement d'air équipé de celle-ci Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4553396A1
EP4553396A1 EP24731227.5A EP24731227A EP4553396A1 EP 4553396 A1 EP4553396 A1 EP 4553396A1 EP 24731227 A EP24731227 A EP 24731227A EP 4553396 A1 EP4553396 A1 EP 4553396A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
refrigerant
space
indoor unit
passage
indoor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP24731227.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP4553396A4 (fr
Inventor
Kanako BANDO
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Daikin Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Daikin Industries Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Daikin Industries Ltd filed Critical Daikin Industries Ltd
Publication of EP4553396A4 publication Critical patent/EP4553396A4/fr
Publication of EP4553396A1 publication Critical patent/EP4553396A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
    • F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
    • F24F1/0043—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements
    • F24F1/0047—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements mounted in the ceiling or at the ceiling
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
    • F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
    • F24F1/0018—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by fans
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
    • F24F11/32—Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
    • F24F11/36—Responding to malfunctions or emergencies to leakage of heat-exchange fluid
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/20—Casings or covers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/02—Ducting arrangements
    • F24F13/06—Outlets for directing or distributing air into rooms or spaces, e.g. ceiling air diffuser
    • F24F2013/0616—Outlets that have intake openings

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to an air conditioner and particularly relates to an indoor unit including a refrigerant sensor configured to detect a refrigerant leaked from a refrigerant circuit.
  • Patent Literature 1 discloses an indoor unit to be embedded in a ceiling.
  • This indoor unit includes a refrigerant sensor configured to detect a leaked refrigerant.
  • the refrigerant sensor is disposed near a suction port of the indoor unit, and detects a refrigerant component contained in the air sucked into the indoor unit.
  • This refrigerant component is the refrigerant that has leaked from the refrigerant circuit, then come out to the indoor space, and been diluted with the indoor air.
  • the refrigerant leaked from a refrigerant circuit disposed outside a bell mouth needs to reach a refrigerant sensor disposed inside the bell mouth.
  • the refrigerant leaked from the refrigerant circuit needs to flow over the height of the bell mouth to reach the refrigerant sensor. It takes time for detection also in this case.
  • An indoor unit is of a ceiling embedded type.
  • the indoor unit includes a case, a heat exchanger, a fan, an air guide member, a passage, and a refrigerant sensor.
  • the case has a suction port.
  • the fan sucks indoor air via the suction port and sends the indoor air thus sucked to the heat exchanger.
  • the air guide member guides the indoor air sucked into the fan.
  • the air guide member divides an internal space of the case into a first space and a second space.
  • the second space is disposed downstream of the first space in an air flow.
  • the passage is provided in the air guide member.
  • the passage allows a refrigerant to pass through from the second space to the first space.
  • the refrigerant sensor is disposed closer to the first space in the passage.
  • the refrigerant sensor is configured to detect the refrigerant having passed through the passage.
  • a refrigerant leaked around the heat exchanger passes through the passage to reach the refrigerant sensor. Accordingly, the leaked refrigerant to be detected does not need to flow over an upper end of the air guide member. This achieves quick detection of refrigerant leakage.
  • the refrigerant sensor is positioned to be easily replaced, thereby also facilitating maintenance.
  • An indoor unit according to a second aspect is the indoor unit according to the first aspect, in which the refrigerant sensor is disposed to be directed upward in a lower portion of the passage.
  • An indoor unit is the indoor unit according to the first or second aspect, and further includes a drain pan.
  • the drain pan is disposed adjacent to the air guide member.
  • the drain pan is disposed to face a lower end of the heat exchanger.
  • the drain pan has a bottom positioned lower than an upper end of the passage.
  • the bottom of the drain pan is positioned lower than the passage. Drain water leaking from around the bottom of a cracked drain pan is thus less likely to reach the passage. This inhibits the drain water from damaging the refrigerant sensor.
  • An indoor unit according to a fourth aspect is the indoor unit according to any one of the first to third aspects, and further includes a sealing material.
  • the sealing material seals a gap between the passage and the refrigerant sensor.
  • the gap between the passage and the refrigerant sensor is sealed in this configuration. This inhibits leakage of conditioned air to keep air conditioning efficiency.
  • An indoor unit according to a fifth aspect is the indoor unit according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, and further includes a filter.
  • the filter is provided at the suction port.
  • An air conditioner according to a sixth aspect includes the indoor unit according to any one of the first to fifth aspects.
  • This configuration achieves quick detection of refrigerant leakage in the air conditioner.
  • the refrigerant sensor is positioned to be easily replaced, thereby facilitating maintenance of the air conditioner.
  • FIG. 1 depicts an air conditioner 100 according to an embodiment.
  • the air conditioner 100 is constituted by an outdoor unit 10, an indoor unit 20, and a refrigerant pipe group 30 connecting the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20.
  • the air conditioner 100 includes a refrigerant circuit for circulation of a refrigerant R.
  • the outdoor unit 10 includes, as components of the refrigerant circuit, a compressor 11, a four-way switching valve 12, an outdoor heat exchanger 13, an outdoor expansion valve 15, an accumulator 16, a liquid shutoff valve 17, and a gas shutoff valve 18.
  • the indoor unit 20 includes an indoor heat exchanger 23 as a component of the refrigerant circuit.
  • the refrigerant pipe group 30 includes a liquid connection pipe 31 and a gas connection pipe 32 as components of the refrigerant circuit.
  • a cooling operation is an operation in which the air conditioner 100 provides a user with cold heat.
  • the compressor 11 sucks a low-pressure gas refrigerant from an suction tube 11a and compresses it to generate a high-pressure gas refrigerant to be discharged from a discharge tube 11b.
  • the four-way switching valve 12 achieves connection indicated by solid lines.
  • the outdoor heat exchanger 13 condenses the high-pressure gas refrigerant to generate a high-pressure liquid refrigerant.
  • An outdoor fan 14 promotes heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air in the outdoor heat exchanger 13.
  • the outdoor expansion valve 15 decompresses the high-pressure liquid refrigerant to generate a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant.
  • the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant passes through the liquid shutoff valve 17 and the liquid connection pipe 31 to reach the indoor heat exchanger 23.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 23 evaporates the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant to generate a low-pressure gas refrigerant, generating hot heat to be supplied to a user during this process.
  • An indoor fan 24 promotes heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air in the indoor heat exchanger 23, and delivers, to a user, cold heat in the form of cool air.
  • the low-pressure gas refrigerant passes through the gas connection pipe 32, the gas shutoff valve 18, and the four-way switching valve 12 to reach the accumulator 16.
  • the accumulator 16 separates a fluid component mixed in the low-pressure gas refrigerant and reserves the fluid component.
  • the low-pressure gas refrigerant flowing out of the accumulator 16 is sucked from the suction tube 11a by the compressor 11.
  • the compressor 11 sucks a low-pressure gas refrigerant from an suction tube 11a and compresses it to generate a high-pressure gas refrigerant to be discharged from a discharge tube 11b.
  • the four-way switching valve 12 achieves connection indicated by broken lines.
  • the high-pressure gas refrigerant passes through the four-way switching valve 12, the gas shutoff valve 18, and the gas connection pipe 32 to reach the indoor heat exchanger 23.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 23 condenses the high-pressure gas refrigerant to generate a high-pressure liquid refrigerant, generating hot heat to be supplied to a user during this process.
  • the indoor fan 24 promotes heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air in the indoor heat exchanger 23, and delivers, to a user, hot heat in the form of warm air.
  • the high-pressure liquid refrigerant passes through the liquid connection pipe 31 and the liquid shutoff valve 17 to reach the outdoor expansion valve 15.
  • the outdoor expansion valve 15 decompresses the high-pressure liquid refrigerant to generate a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant.
  • the outdoor heat exchanger 13 evaporates the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant to generate a low-pressure gas refrigerant.
  • An outdoor fan 14 promotes heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air in the outdoor heat exchanger 13.
  • the low-pressure gas refrigerant reaches the accumulator 16 via the four-way switching valve 12.
  • the accumulator 16 separates a fluid component mixed in the low-pressure gas refrigerant and reserves the fluid component.
  • the low-pressure gas refrigerant flowing out of the accumulator 16 is sucked from the suction tube 11a by the compressor 11.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a structure of the indoor unit 20.
  • the indoor unit 20 is designed to be embedded in a ceiling.
  • the indoor unit 20 includes a case 50, the indoor heat exchanger 23, the indoor fan 24, an air guide member 70, a refrigerant sensor 60, and a drain pan 73.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the indoor unit 20. This figure depicts, in an upper side, a lower surface of the indoor unit 20. This figure depicts, in a lower side, an upper surface of the indoor unit 20 as a portion to be embedded in a ceiling.
  • the case 50 accommodates components constituting the indoor unit 20 including the indoor heat exchanger 23 and the indoor fan 24.
  • the case 50 is provided with a single suction port 51 for intake of air from an indoor space, and four blow-out ports 52 for supply of conditioned air into the indoor space.
  • the suction port 51 is provided with a filter 53 configured to remove dust or dirt from intake air.
  • FIG. 3 does not depict the filter 53.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 23 depicted in FIG. 2 functions as an evaporator for the refrigerant R during the cooling operation and functions as a condenser for the refrigerant R during the heating operation.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 23 exemplarily includes a plurality of heat transfer tubes and a fin. An air flow passing through the indoor heat exchanger 23 exchanges heat with the refrigerant R.
  • indoor air is sucked via the suction port 51 and passes through the filter 53 during the process.
  • a flow of the air then passes through the indoor heat exchanger 23 and exchanges heat with the refrigerant R to be conditioned.
  • Conditioned air flows from the indoor heat exchanger 23 to the blow-out ports 52 so as to blow into the indoor space.
  • the air guide member 70 depicted in FIG. 2 guides the indoor air sucked into the indoor fan 24.
  • the air guide member 70 includes a bell mouth 71 and a plate 72.
  • the bell mouth 71 is a tubular member provided to concentrate an air flow path to the indoor fan 24.
  • the plate 72 is a plate member having a tabular or bowl shape and provided to protect components constituting the indoor unit 20 disposed in a region that may be exposed via the blow-out ports 52.
  • the plate 72 is disposed adjacent to the bell mouth 71 and is connected to the bell mouth 71.
  • the air guide member 70 divides an internal space of the case 50 into a first space 77 and a second space 78.
  • the first space 77 is positioned upstream of the air flow and occupies a region expanding from the suction port 51 to the indoor fan 24.
  • the second space 78 is positioned downstream of the air flow and occupies a region expanding from the indoor fan 24 to the blow-out ports 52.
  • FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the indoor unit 20. This figure indicates that the bell mouth 71 has a slant surface portion provided continuously to a horizontal portion of the plate 72.
  • the air guide member 70 is provided with a passage 75 allowing the first space 77 and the second space 78 to communicate with each other.
  • the actual form of the passage 75 may be a hole or a cutout provided in the bell mouth 71 or the plate 72.
  • the passage 75 allows the refrigerant R leaked from the refrigerant circuit, such as the indoor heat exchanger 23, to pass through from the second space 78 to the first space 77.
  • the passage 75 depicted in FIG. 4 has an upper end 75a, which is a surface of the air guide member 70 located on the side of the second space 78.
  • the refrigerant sensor 60 depicted in FIG. 4 detects the refrigerant R leaked from the refrigerant circuit.
  • the refrigerant sensor 60 is disposed at the passage 75 on the side of the first space 77.
  • the refrigerant sensor 60 is disposed below the passage 75 and oriented upward.
  • the refrigerant sensor 60 detects the refrigerant R that has passed through the passage 75.
  • the air guide member 70 has an upper end substantially as high as an upper end of the indoor heat exchanger 23.
  • the air guide member 70 has a lower end substantially as high as a lower end of the indoor heat exchanger 23.
  • the air guide member 70 can thus serve as a barrier against the refrigerant R that leaks from the indoor heat exchanger 23 to reach the refrigerant sensor 60.
  • the passage 75 provided in the air guide member 70 enables the refrigerant R to quickly reach the refrigerant sensor 60.
  • the components constituting the refrigerant circuit are mainly disposed in the second space 78.
  • the refrigerant R leaked from the refrigerant circuit thus initially drifts in the second space 78.
  • the specific gravity of the refrigerant R is heavier than that of air, and the refrigerant R can be R32.
  • the refrigerant R drifting in the second space 78 then passes through the passage 75 due to gravity or the like to reach the refrigerant sensor 60.
  • FIG. 5 depicts a structure of the refrigerant sensor 60.
  • the refrigerant sensor 60 includes an upper case 61, a lower case 62, a circuit board 63, a refrigerant detecting element 64, a connector 65, and a wire 66.
  • the upper case 61 is provided with a detection window 61a.
  • the detection window 61a allows a refrigerant leaked outside the upper case 61 to reach the refrigerant detecting element 64.
  • the lower case 62 is provided with a screwing through hole 62a.
  • the circuit board 63 is equipped with the refrigerant detecting element 64 and the connector 65.
  • the wire 66 extending from the connector 65 extends to an unillustrated electric component box.
  • FIG. 6 depicts the refrigerant sensor 60 fixed to the air guide member 70.
  • the refrigerant sensor 60 is fixed to the air guide member 70 with use of a screw 67 attached to the screwing through hole 62a.
  • the drain pan 73 depicted in FIG. 4 is a container configured to collect dew condensation water produced on a surface of the indoor heat exchanger 23. The dew condensation water thus collected is discarded outdoors via an unillustrated drainage path.
  • the drain pan 73 is disposed adjacent to the air guide member 70.
  • the drain pan 73 is disposed to face the lower end of the indoor heat exchanger 23.
  • the drain pan 73 has a concave shape opened upward, and surrounds the lower end of the indoor heat exchanger 23.
  • the drain pan 73 has a bottom 73a positioned lower than the upper end 75a of the passage 75.
  • the indoor unit 20 is designed to be embedded in a ceiling.
  • the indoor unit 20 may be designed to be hung from a ceiling.
  • the indoor unit 20 may be of a wall mounted type or a floorstanding type.
  • Patent Literature 1 WO 2019-234902

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)
  • Devices For Blowing Cold Air, Devices For Blowing Warm Air, And Means For Preventing Water Condensation In Air Conditioning Units (AREA)
  • Air Filters, Heat-Exchange Apparatuses, And Housings Of Air-Conditioning Units (AREA)
EP24731227.5A 2023-09-29 2024-04-12 Unité intérieure, et dispositif de conditionnement d'air équipé de celle-ci Pending EP4553396A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2023170450A JP7623610B1 (ja) 2023-09-29 2023-09-29 室内ユニット及びそれを備えた空気調和装置
PCT/JP2024/014783 WO2025069517A1 (fr) 2023-09-29 2024-04-12 Unité intérieure, et dispositif de conditionnement d'air équipé de celle-ci

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4553396A4 EP4553396A4 (fr) 2025-05-14
EP4553396A1 true EP4553396A1 (fr) 2025-05-14

Family

ID=91664876

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP24731227.5A Pending EP4553396A1 (fr) 2023-09-29 2024-04-12 Unité intérieure, et dispositif de conditionnement d'air équipé de celle-ci

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Country Link
EP (1) EP4553396A1 (fr)
JP (2) JP7623610B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN121866434A (fr)
WO (1) WO2025069517A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE202025106175U1 (de) 2025-10-10 2026-01-15 Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. Inneneinheit

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015029094A1 (fr) 2013-08-25 2015-03-05 Masuda Keiji Structure de détection de fuite pour un réfrigérant inflammable
US20200056799A1 (en) * 2017-04-24 2020-02-20 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Refrigerant detection device and indoor unit of air-conditioning apparatus
JP7176175B2 (ja) * 2017-06-30 2022-11-22 三菱電機株式会社 空気調和機
WO2019234902A1 (fr) 2018-06-08 2019-12-12 三菱電機株式会社 Unité intérieure de dispositif de conditionnement d'air et dispositif de conditionnement d'air
EP3719405B1 (fr) * 2019-04-02 2023-08-09 Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. Unité intérieure de climatiseur
JP6922947B2 (ja) * 2019-07-12 2021-08-18 ダイキン工業株式会社 冷凍装置の室内機
JP7595252B2 (ja) 2020-07-17 2024-12-06 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 空気調和装置の室内機

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP4553396A4 (fr) 2025-05-14
WO2025069517A1 (fr) 2025-04-03
CN121866434A (zh) 2026-04-14
JP7623610B1 (ja) 2025-01-29
JP2025059992A (ja) 2025-04-10
JP2025060418A (ja) 2025-04-10

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