The present disclosure relates to a compressor unit and a refrigeration apparatus including the compressor unit.
Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2018-511771) discloses an air conditioner including a compressor unit, a heat source heat exchanger unit, and a utilization unit.
A compressor unit according to one aspect includes a first case, a compressor, a connecting port, and a shutoff valve. The compressor is accommodated in the first case. The connecting port includes a first connecting port and a second connecting port. The shutoff valve includes a first shutoff valve and a second shutoff valve. The compressor, a heat source heat exchanger, and a utilization heat exchanger constitute a refrigerant cycle. The refrigerant cycle adopts the heat source heat exchanger as a heat source and causes circulation of a refrigerant. The heat source heat exchanger is accommodated in a second case provided separately from the first case. The utilization heat exchanger is accommodated in a third case provided separately from the first case. The compressor unit is disposed inside a building. The first connecting port is connected to the heat source heat exchanger via a first connection pipe. The second connecting port is connected to the utilization heat exchanger via a second connection pipe. The first shutoff valve shuts off movement of the refrigerant between the first connecting port and the heat source heat exchanger. The second shutoff valve shuts off movement of the refrigerant between the second connecting port and the utilization heat exchanger.
With this configuration, the shutoff valve can shut off a connection pipe extending from the compressor unit. Therefore, when the compressor unit has internal refrigerant leakage, leaking refrigerant is restrained from reaching outside the compressor unit.
(2-1) Heat Source Heat Exchanger Unit 10
The heat source heat exchanger unit 10 is disposed outside a building B. The heat source heat exchanger unit 10 includes a case 10a, a heat source heat exchanger 11, a heat source fan 12, a heat source heat exchanger unit expansion valve 13, and a heat source heat exchanger unit control unit 19.
(2-1-1) Case 10a
The case 10a accommodates components constituting the heat source heat exchanger unit 10. The case 10a is made of a metal or the like.
(2-1-2) Heat Source Heat Exchanger 11
The heat source heat exchanger 11 functions as a heat source. The heat source heat exchanger 11 exchanges heat between air outside the building B and the refrigerant R0. During cold heat utilization operation, the heat source heat exchanger 11 functions as a heat radiator (or a condenser) for the refrigerant R0. During hot heat utilization operation, the heat source heat exchanger 11 functions as a heat absorber (or an evaporator) for the refrigerant R0.
(2-1-3) Heat Source Fan 12
The heat source fan 12 generates an air flow to promote heat exchange in the heat source heat exchanger 11.
(2-1-4) Heat Source Heat Exchanger Unit Expansion Valve 13
The heat source heat exchanger unit expansion valve 13 decompresses the refrigerant R0. The heat source heat exchanger unit expansion valve 13 is configured to adjust its opening degree.
(2-1-5) Heat Source Heat Exchanger Unit Control Unit 19
The heat source heat exchanger unit control unit 19 includes a microcomputer and a memory. The heat source heat exchanger unit control unit 19 controls the heat source fan 12, the heat source heat exchanger unit expansion valve 13, and the like. The memory stores software for control of these components.
The heat source heat exchanger unit control unit 19 transmits and receives data and a command, via a communication line (not depicted), to and from each of a compressor unit control unit 29 and a utilization unit control unit 59, which will be described later.
(2-2) Compressor Unit 20
The compressor unit 20 has external appearance depicted in
(2-2-1) Case 20a
The case 20a accommodates components constituting the compressor unit 20. The case 20a is made of a metal or the like.
(2-2-2) Compressor 21
The compressor 21 compresses the refrigerant R0 that is sucked and is in a low-pressure gas state to obtain the refrigerant R0 in a high-pressure gas state. The compressor 21 includes a compressor motor 21a. The compressor motor 21a generates motive power necessary for compression.
The compressor 21 is a vibration source and may thus cause refrigerant leakage from the compressor 21 and a component adjacent thereto.
(2-2-3) Four-Way Switching Valve 22
The four-way switching valve 22 switches connection of a refrigerant circuit. During cold heat utilization operation, the four-way switching valve 22 achieves connection depicted by solid lines in
(2-2-4) Connecting Port 60
The connecting port 60 is provided for connection of a connection pipe. The connecting port 60 includes a first connecting port 23 and a second connecting port 28.
The first connecting port 23 is connected with the first connection piping 30 to be described later. The first connecting port 23 is provided with a first liquid side shutoff valve 23a and a first gas side shutoff valve 23b.
The second connecting port 28 is connected with the second connection piping 40 to be described later. The second connecting port 28 is provided with a second liquid side shutoff valve 28a and a second gas side shutoff valve 28b.
The first liquid side shutoff valve 23a, the first gas side shutoff valve 23b, the second liquid side shutoff valve 28a, and the second gas side shutoff valve 28b shut off a refrigerant flow path in response to a received command. The first liquid side shutoff valve 23a, the first gas side shutoff valve 23b, the second liquid side shutoff valve 28a, and the second gas side shutoff valve 28b may be collectively called a shutoff valve 67 in the present description.
(2-2-5) Leakage Detection Sensor 61
The leakage detection sensor 61 detects leakage of the refrigerant R0. The leakage detection sensor 61 is a refrigerant detection sensor 61a configured to detect presence of the refrigerant R0.
(2-2-6) Compressor Unit Control Unit 29
The compressor unit control unit 29 includes a circuit board, a microcomputer, a memory, an electrical component 74, and a heat sink 75, which are mounted on the circuit board. The electrical component 74 generates heat. The heat sink 75 effectively releases, into air, the heat generated by the electrical component 74.
The compressor unit control unit 29 controls the compressor motor 21a, the four-way switching valve 22, the first liquid side shutoff valve 23a, the first gas side shutoff valve 23b, the second liquid side shutoff valve 28a, the second gas side shutoff valve 28b, the fan 69, and the like. The compressor unit control unit 29 receives a signal from the leakage detection sensor 61. The memory stores software for control of these components.
The compressor unit control unit 29 transmits and receives data and a command, via a communication line (not depicted), to and from each of the heat source heat exchanger unit control unit 19 and the utilization unit control unit 59 to be described later.
(2-2-7) Fan 69
The fan 69 is configured to form a circulation air flow. The circulation air flow hits the circuit board to cool the microcomputer, the memory, the electrical component 74, and the heat sink 75 constituting the compressor unit control unit 29.
(2-3) First Connection Piping 30
The first connection piping 30 connects the heat source heat exchanger unit 10 and the compressor unit 20. The first connection piping 30 includes a first liquid connection pipe 31 and a first gas connection pipe 32.
(2-3-1) First Liquid Connection Pipe 31
The first liquid connection pipe 31 connects the heat source heat exchanger unit 10 and the first liquid side shutoff valve 23a. The first liquid connection pipe 31 guides the refrigerant R0 principally in a high-pressure liquid state or in a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase state.
(2-3-2) First Gas Connection Pipe 32
The first gas connection pipe 32 connects the heat source heat exchanger unit 10 and the first gas side shutoff valve 23b. The first gas connection pipe 32 guides the refrigerant R0 principally in the high-pressure gas state or in the low-pressure gas state.
(2-4) Utilization Units 501 and 502
The utilization units 501 and 502 each have external appearance depicted in
The following description will thus be made to only the utilization unit 501 without repetitively describing the utilization unit 502. The utilization unit 501 includes a case 50a, a utilization unit expansion valve 51, a utilization heat exchanger 52, a utilization fan 53, and the utilization unit control unit 59.
(2-4-1) Case 50a
The case 50a accommodates components constituting the utilization unit 501.
(2-4-2) Utilization Unit Expansion Valve 51
The utilization unit expansion valve 51 decompresses the refrigerant R0. The utilization unit expansion valve 51 controls a flow rate of the refrigerant R0. The utilization unit expansion valve 51 is configured to adjust its opening degree.
(2-4-3) Utilization Heat Exchanger 52
The utilization heat exchanger 52 provides a user with low temperature heat or high temperature heat. The utilization heat exchanger 52 exchanges heat between air inside the building B and the refrigerant R0. During cold heat utilization operation, the utilization heat exchanger 52 functions as a heat absorber (or an evaporator) for the refrigerant R0. During hot heat utilization operation, the utilization heat exchanger 52 functions as heat radiator (or a condenser) for the refrigerant R0.
(2-4-4) Utilization Fan 53
The utilization fan 53 generates an air flow to promote heat exchange in the utilization heat exchanger 52.
(2-4-5) Utilization Unit Control Unit 59
The utilization unit control unit 59 includes a microcomputer and a memory. The utilization unit control unit 59 controls the utilization unit expansion valve 51, the utilization fan 53, and the like. The memory stores software for control of these components.
The utilization unit control unit 59 transmits and receives data and a command, via a communication line (not depicted), to and from each of the heat source heat exchanger unit control unit 19 and the compressor unit control unit 29.
(2-5) Second Connection Piping 40
The second connection piping 40 connects the compressor unit 20 and the utilization units 501 and 502. The second connection piping 40 includes a second liquid connection pipe 41 and a second gas connection pipe 42.
(2-5-1) Second Liquid Connection Pipe 41
The second liquid connection pipe 41 connects the second liquid side shutoff valve 28a and the utilization units 501 and 502. The second liquid connection pipe 41 guides the refrigerant R0 principally in the high-pressure liquid state or in the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase state.
(2-5-2) Second Gas Connection Pipe 42
The second gas connection pipe 42 connects the second gas side shutoff valve 28b and the utilization units 501 and 502. The second gas connection pipe 42 guides the refrigerant R0 principally in the high-pressure gas state or in the low-pressure gas state.
The refrigeration apparatus 100 entirely constitutes a single refrigerant cycle C0. The refrigerant cycle C0 causes circulation of the refrigerant R0. The refrigerant cycle C0 adopts the heat source heat exchanger 11 as a heat source. The refrigerant cycle C0 is constituted by components such as the compressor 21, the four-way switching valve 22, the first gas side shutoff valve 23b, the heat source heat exchanger 11, the heat source heat exchanger unit expansion valve 13, the first liquid side shutoff valve 23a, the second liquid side shutoff valve 28a, the utilization unit expansion valve 51, the utilization heat exchanger 52, and the second gas side shutoff valve 28b.
Hereinafter, assume that the refrigerant R0 has reaction accompanied with phase transition (condensation or evaporation) during heat exchange. The refrigerant R0 is not limited to these in terms of its state, and may have reaction accompanied with no phase transition.
(4-1) Cold Heat Utilization Operation
The compressor 21 discharges the refrigerant R0 in the high-pressure gas state. The refrigerant R0 in the high-pressure gas state passes through the four-way switching valve 22 and the first gas side shutoff valve 23b to reach the heat source heat exchanger 11. The refrigerant R0 condenses to come into the high-pressure liquid state in the heat source heat exchanger 11. The refrigerant R0 in the high-pressure liquid state reaches the heat source heat exchanger unit expansion valve 13. At the heat source heat exchanger unit expansion valve 13, the refrigerant R0 is decompressed to come into the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase state. The refrigerant R0 in the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase state passes through the first liquid side shutoff valve 23a and the second liquid side shutoff valve 28a to reach the utilization unit expansion valve 51. The refrigerant R0 is further decompressed at the utilization unit expansion valve 51. The refrigerant R0 reaches the utilization heat exchanger 52. The refrigerant R0 evaporates to come into the low-pressure gas state at the utilization heat exchanger 52. The refrigerant R0 provides the user with low temperature heat in this process.
The refrigerant R0 in the low-pressure gas state passes through the second gas side shutoff valve 28b and the four-way switching valve 22 to reach the compressor 21. The compressor 21 sucks the refrigerant R0 in the low-pressure gas state.
(4-2) Hot Heat Utilization Operation
The compressor 21 discharges the refrigerant R0 in the high-pressure gas state. The refrigerant R0 in the high-pressure gas state passes through the four-way switching valve 22 and the second gas side shutoff valve 28b to reach the utilization heat exchanger 52. The refrigerant R0 condenses to come into the high-pressure liquid state at the utilization heat exchanger 52. The refrigerant R0 provides the user with high temperature heat in this process. The refrigerant R0 in the high-pressure liquid state reaches the utilization unit expansion valve 51. At the utilization unit expansion valve 51, the refrigerant R0 is decompressed to come into the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase state. The refrigerant R0 in the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase state passes through the second liquid side shutoff valve 28a and the first liquid side shutoff valve 23a to reach the heat source heat exchanger unit expansion valve 13. The refrigerant R0 is further decompressed at the heat source heat exchanger unit expansion valve 13. The refrigerant R0 reaches the heat source heat exchanger 11. The refrigerant R0 evaporates to come into the low-pressure gas state in the heat source heat exchanger 11. The refrigerant R0 in the low-pressure gas state passes through the first gas side shutoff valve 23b and the four-way switching valve 22 to reach the compressor 21. The compressor 21 sucks the refrigerant R0 in the low-pressure gas state.
(4-3) Operation Upon Refrigerant Leakage
When refrigerant leakage occurs in the compressor unit 20, the refrigerant detection sensor 61a detects the refrigerant R0. The refrigerant detection sensor 61a outputs an output signal, which is then received by a microcomputer of the compressor unit 20. The microcomputer transmits, to the shutoff valve 67, a command (or a control signal) for shutoff. The shutoff valve 67 having received the command closes the refrigerant flow path.
(5-1)
The shutoff valve 67 can shut off the first connection piping 30 and the second connection piping 40 extending from the compressor unit 20. When the refrigerant R0 leaks in the compressor unit 20, this configuration can thus inhibit the leaking refrigerant R0 from reaching outside the compressor unit 20.
The compressor unit 20 and the heat source heat exchanger unit 10 are constituted as separate units in the present configuration. The refrigeration apparatus 100 accordingly includes the first connection piping 30 (the first liquid connection pipe 31 and the first gas connection pipe 32) connecting the compressor unit 20 and the heat source heat exchanger unit 10. The refrigeration apparatus 100 including the first connection piping 30 having a large length uses a more refrigerant in comparison to a refrigeration apparatus including the compressor 21 and the heat source heat exchanger 11 belonging to an identical unit. Also in this case, the shutoff valve 67 thus provided can inhibit spread of refrigerant leakage.
(5-2)
The leakage detection sensor 61 detects leakage of the refrigerant R0. The shutoff valve 67 can thus be shut off in accordance with an output signal from the leakage detection sensor 61.
The leakage detection sensor 61 is the refrigerant detection sensor 61a. This configuration accordingly achieves direct detection of the leaking refrigerant R0.
(5-3)
The compressor unit control unit 29 automatically closes the shutoff valve 67 when leakage of the refrigerant R0 is detected. This enables quick inhibition of refrigerant leakage. This configuration can also contain the refrigerant R0 in the first connection piping 30 or the heat source heat exchanger unit 10 to inhibit spread of refrigerant leakage.
(5-4)
The compressor unit control unit 29 is cooled by the circulation air flow formed by the fan 69. This enables effective release of heat generated by the electrical component 74 with the circulation air flow.
This configuration enables effective release of heat generated by the circuit board constituting the compressor unit control unit 29.
The heat source heat exchanger unit 10 according to the above embodiment is disposed outside the building B. The heat source heat exchanger unit 10 may alternatively be disposed inside the building B and be fluid connected to an outside of the building B. As exemplarily depicted in
This configuration does not affect quality in outer appearance of the building B.
(6-3) Modification Example 1C
The above embodiment provides two utilization units, namely, the utilization units 501 and 502. The number of the utilization units may alternatively be other than two. For example, the number of the utilization units may be one, three, or four.
The first refrigerant cycle C1 causes circulation of the first refrigerant R1. The first refrigerant R1 preferably has a low global warming potential (GWP) value. Examples of the first refrigerant R1 include R32 and carbon dioxide. The first refrigerant cycle C1 adopts the heat source heat exchanger 11 as a heat source. The first refrigerant cycle C1 is constituted by components such as the first compressor 21, the first four-way switching valve 22, the first gas side shutoff valve 23b, the heat source heat exchanger 11, the heat source heat exchanger unit expansion valve 13, the first liquid side shutoff valve 23a, and the cascade heat exchanger 24.
The second refrigerant cycle C2 causes circulation of the second refrigerant R2. The second refrigerant R2 preferably has a low GWP value. Examples of the second refrigerant R2 include R410A, R32, and carbon dioxide. The second refrigerant cycle C2 adopts the cascade heat exchanger 24 as a heat source. The second refrigerant cycle C2 is constituted by components such as a second compressor 25, a second four-way switching valve 26, the cascade heat exchanger 24, a compressor unit expansion valve 27, the utilization unit expansion valve 51, the utilization heat exchanger 52, and the first gas side shutoff valve 23b.
Also in this configuration, the shutoff valve 67 can shut off the first connection piping 30 and the second connection piping 40 extending from the compressor unit 20. When the refrigerant R0 leaks in the compressor unit 20, this configuration can thus inhibit the leaking refrigerant R0 from reaching outside the compressor unit 20.
In this configuration, the case 20a of the compressor unit 20 has airtightness, so that the case 20a is likely to contain heat generated by a circuit board. However, the cooling refrigerant pipes 641 and 642 can achieve effective release of heat generated by circuit boards constituting the compressor unit control units 291 and 292, respectively. Alternatively, cooling of the circuit boards may be achieved by disposing the compressor unit control unit 29 outside the case 20a, instead of the cooling refrigerant pipes 641 and 642. Still alternatively, cooling of the circuit boards may be achieved when a fan configured to generate a circulation air flow is adopted instead of the cooling refrigerant pipes 641 and 642.
Furthermore, the case 20a has airtightness to inhibit the refrigerant R0 leaking in the compressor unit 20 from reaching outside the compressor unit 20.
Furthermore, the leakage detection sensor 61 is the pressure sensor 61b to detect leakage of the refrigerant R0 in accordance with pressure change.
Furthermore, the case 20a includes the rupture disk 66, so that the case 20a having high airtightness can be inhibited from being ruptured by high internal pressure.
Moreover, the case 20a having airtightness can inhibit noise of the compressor unit 20.
The case 20a achieves a higher electromagnetic noise cutoff effect when the case 20a is made of a metal.
Any one of the modification examples of the first embodiment may be applied to the second embodiment.
The heat source 71, the fluid-refrigerant heat exchanger 72, and the pump 73 constitute a circuit configured to circulate fluid F such as water or brine.
The refrigerant cycle C0 causes circulation of the refrigerant R0. The refrigerant cycle C0 adopts the fluid-refrigerant heat exchanger 72 as a heat source. The fluid-refrigerant heat exchanger 72 exchanges heat between the fluid F and the refrigerant R0.
The compressor unit 20 includes the second liquid side shutoff valve 28a and the second gas side shutoff valve 28b disposed at the second connecting port 28.
In this configuration, the second connection piping 40 extending from the compressor unit 20 can be shut off by the second liquid side shutoff valve 28a and the second gas side shutoff valve 28b. When the refrigerant R0 leaks in the compressor unit 20, this configuration can thus inhibit the leaking refrigerant R0 from reaching outside the compressor unit 20.
Any one of the modification examples of the first or second embodiment may be applied to the third embodiment.
The embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above. Various modifications to modes and details should be available without departing from the object and the scope of the present disclosure recited in the claims.
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2018-511771
This application is a Continuation of PCT International Application No. PCT/JP2019/034787, filed on Sep. 4, 2019, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20220268499 A1 | Aug 2022 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2019/034787 | Sep 2019 | WO |
Child | 17685710 | US |