This application is a U.S. national stage application of PCT/JP2020/017033 filed on Apr. 20, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a relay unit configured to exchange heat between refrigerant and a heat medium and to an air-conditioning apparatus including the relay unit.
A known air-conditioning apparatus includes an outdoor unit, an indoor unit, and a heat medium relay unit provided between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit (see, for example, Patent Literature 1). A primary heat medium circulates between the outdoor unit and the heat medium relay unit. A secondary heat medium circulates between the indoor unit and the heat medium relay unit. The heat medium relay unit exchanges heat between the primary heat medium and the secondary heat medium.
Patent Literature 1: International Publication No. 2014/192139
In the case of the heat medium relay unit disclosed in Patent Literature 1, refrigerant pipes through which the primary heat medium circulates between the outdoor unit and the heat medium relay unit and heat medium pipes through which the secondary heat medium circulates between the indoor unit and the heat medium relay unit are attached to respective sides of a casing of the heat medium relay unit. Accordingly, to extend these pipes in an upward direction of the casing of the heat medium relay unit, it is necessary to temporarily extend the pipes in respective sideward directions of the casing and thereafter extend the pipes in the upward direction, thus resulting in an increase in the pipe length.
The present disclosure has been made to solve such a problem and an object thereof is to provide a relay unit configured to prevent pipes to be connected thereto from being lengthened and an air-conditioning apparatus including the relay unit.
A relay unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is a relay unit to be connected between a heat source side unit and a load side unit and includes: a heat medium heat exchanger that is to be connected to the heat source side unit via refrigerant pipes and that is to be connected to the load side unit via heat medium pipes; a casing containing the heat medium heat exchanger; a first refrigerant pipe connection port to be connected to one of the refrigerant pipes, the refrigerant pipes including a refrigerant pipe through which refrigerant flows from the heat source side unit into the heat medium heat exchanger and a refrigerant pipe through which the refrigerant flows out from the heat medium heat exchanger into the heat source side unit; a second refrigerant pipe connection port to be connected to an other of the refrigerant pipes; a first heat medium pipe connection port to be connected to one of the heat medium pipes, the heat medium pipes including a heat medium pipe through which a heat medium flows from the load side unit into the heat medium heat exchanger and a heat medium pipe through which the heat medium flows out from the heat medium heat exchanger into the load side unit; and a second heat medium pipe connection port to be connected to an other of the heat medium pipes. The first refrigerant pipe connection port, the second refrigerant pipe connection port, the first heat medium pipe connection port, and the second heat medium pipe connection port are provided on a top surface of the casing and face in a direction opposite to a direction of gravity.
An air-conditioning apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a heat source side unit configured to generate a heat source; a load side unit configured to use the heat source generated by the heat source side unit; and the relay unit.
According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the port serving as a part to be connected to each of the refrigerant pipes and the heat medium pipes to be connected to the relay unit is provided on the top surface of the casing, and each port faces in the direction opposite to the direction of gravity. Thus, the refrigerant pipes and the heat medium pipes are connected, from above the casing, to the respective pipes connected to the heat medium heat exchanger. Accordingly, when the refrigerant pipes and the heat medium pipes extend in the upward direction from the top surface of the casing, it is possible to inhibit an increase in the pipe length compared with a configuration in which refrigerant pipes and heat medium pipes are attached to a side of a casing.
The configuration of a relay unit in Embodiment 1 will be described.
As illustrated in
The configuration illustrated in
In addition, a first opening 12 for a power supply line and a second opening 13 for a transmission line are formed in the top surface 5a. A power supply line and a transmission line (not illustrated) are each also connected to extend from the top surface 5a of the casing 5. Thus, it is possible to prevent cables including a power supply line and a transmission line from extending in sideward directions of the casing 5 from any of the first side 5b to the fourth side 5e.
In addition, this configuration is a configuration in which pipes and cables extend upward from the top surface 5a of the casing 5. Thus, when an operator performs maintenance of the relay unit 4, the operator can easily perform operations by detaching the first side 5b.
As illustrated in
In
Next, a configuration example of an air-conditioning apparatus including the relay unit 4 in Embodiment 1 will be described.
The configuration example illustrated in
The heat source side unit 2 and the relay unit 4 are connected by refrigerant pipes 51 and 52. Refrigerant circulates between the heat source side unit 2 and the relay unit 4 via the refrigerant pipes 51 and 52. The load side unit 3a and the relay unit 4 are connected by heat medium pipes 32a and 33a. A heat medium such as water or brine circulates between the load side unit 3a and the relay unit 4 via the heat medium pipes 32a and 33a. The load side unit 3b and the relay unit 4 are connected by heat medium pipes 32b and 33b. A heat medium circulates between the load side unit 3b and the relay unit 4 via the heat medium pipes 32b and 33b.
The load side unit 3c and the relay unit 4 are connected by heat medium pipes 32c and 33c. A heat medium circulates between the load side unit 3c and the relay unit 4 via the heat medium pipes 32c and 33c. The load side unit 3d and the relay unit 4 are connected by heat medium pipes 32d and 33d. A heat medium circulates between the load side unit 3d and the relay unit 4 via the heat medium pipes 32d and 33d. The load side unit 3e and the relay unit 4 are connected by heat medium pipes 32e and 33e. A heat medium circulates between the load side unit 3e and the relay unit 4 via the heat medium pipes 32e and 33e. The load side unit 3f and the relay unit 4 are connected by heat medium pipes 32f and 33f. A heat medium circulates between the load side unit 3f and the relay unit 4 via the heat medium pipes 32f and 33f.
The heat source side unit 2 includes a compressor 21, a heat source side heat exchanger 22, a four-way valve 23, an accumulator 24, an expansion valve 25, and a controller 20, which is configured to control the air-conditioning apparatus 1. The compressor 21, the heat source side heat exchanger 22, the four-way valve 23, the accumulator 24, and the expansion valve 25 are connected via refrigerant pipes 26.
The load side unit 3a includes a load side heat exchanger 31a. The load side unit 3b includes a load side heat exchanger 31b. The load side unit 3c includes a load side heat exchanger 31c. The load side unit 3d includes a load side heat exchanger 31d. The load side unit 3e includes a load side heat exchanger 31e. The load side unit 3f includes a load side heat exchanger 31f.
The relay unit 4 includes a pump 41, a heat medium heat exchanger 42, and flow control valves 44a to 44f. The heat medium heat exchanger 42, the pump 41, and the flow control valves 44a to 44f are connected via heat medium pipes 46. One of two refrigerant pipe connection ports of the heat medium heat exchanger 42 is connected to the expansion valve 25 of the heat source side unit 2 via refrigerant pipes 45 and 51. The other of the two refrigerant pipe connection ports of the heat medium heat exchanger 42 is connected to the four-way valve 23 of the heat source side unit 2 via refrigerant pipes 45 and 52.
One of two heat medium pipe connection ports of the heat medium heat exchanger 42 is connected to the flow control valves 44a to 44f via the heat medium pipes 46 forming six branches. The other of the two heat medium pipe connection ports of the heat medium heat exchanger 42 is connected to a heat medium discharge port of the pump 41 via heat medium pipes 46. The flow control valve 44a is connected to the load side heat exchanger 31a via the heat medium pipe 32a. The flow control valve 44b is connected to the load side heat exchanger 31b via the heat medium pipe 32b. The flow control valve 44c is connected to the load side heat exchanger 31c via the heat medium pipe 32c, The flow control valve 44d is connected to the load side heat exchanger 31d via the heat medium pipe 32d. The flow control valve 44e is connected to the load side heat exchanger 31e via the heat medium pipe 32e. The flow control valve 44f is connected to the load side heat exchanger 31f via the heat medium pipe 32f. The heat medium pipes 46 located closer to a heat medium suction port of the pump 41 form six branches and are connected to the heat medium pipes 33a to 33f.
Next, the pipe connection configuration between the relay unit 4 illustrated in
One of the refrigerant pipes 51 and 52 illustrated in
The first heat medium pipe connection port 8c illustrated in
The ports for connecting the respective refrigerant pipes and the ports for connecting the respective heat medium pipes are not gathered on any of the first side 5b to the fourth side 5e of the casing 5 but on the top surface 5a. In addition, as illustrated in
Next, a trial operation of the installed air-conditioning apparatus 1 in Embodiment 1 will be described. An operator installs the air-conditioning apparatus 1 illustrated in
In the relay unit 4 in Embodiment 1, air is easily purged from a heat medium filled in the heat medium pipes 46 compared with a horizontal pipe structure in which heat medium pipes are attached to a side of a casing in a sideward direction. This will be described with reference to
For example, when the heat medium is water and water is filled in the heat medium pipes 46 of the relay unit 4, as illustrated in
The first refrigerant pipe connection port 6, the second refrigerant pipe connection port 7, the first heat medium pipe connection ports 8a to 8f, and the second heat medium pipe connection ports 9a to 9f are provided on the top surface 5a of the casing 5 of the relay unit 4 in Embodiment 1. The first refrigerant pipe connection port 6, the second refrigerant pipe connection port 7, the first heat medium pipe connection ports 8a to 8f, and the second heat medium pipe connection ports 9a to 9f each face in the direction opposite to the direction of gravity.
According to Embodiment 1, the port serving as a part to be connected to each of the refrigerant pipes and the heat medium pipes to be connected to the relay unit 4 is provided on the top surface 5a of the casing 5, and each port faces in the direction opposite to the direction of gravity. Thus, the refrigerant pipes and the heat medium pipes are connected, from above the casing 5, to the respective pipes connected to the heat medium heat exchanger 42. When the refrigerant pipes and the heat medium pipes extend in the upward direction from the top surface 5a of the casing 5, it is possible to inhibit an increase in the pipe length compared with an existing relay unit in which refrigerant pipes and heat medium pipes are attached to a side of a casing.
In addition, in the relay unit 4 in Embodiment 1, pipes such as a refrigerant pipe and cables such as a power supply line are not connected to the first side 5b, which is the front side of the casing 5. Accordingly, an operator can use the front side of the casing 5 as a maintenance space for the relay unit 4 and easily detach the first side 5b, thus improving maintenance efficiency.
Furthermore, the first heat medium pipe connection ports 8a to 8f and the second heat medium pipe connection ports 9a to 9f are provided on the top surface 5a of the casing 5 of the relay unit 4 in Embodiment 1, and each port faces in the direction opposite to the direction of gravity. Thus, as described with reference to
Embodiment 2 is an example in which heat medium pipes are connected to the relay unit 4 described in Embodiment 1. In Embodiment 2, the same components as those described in Embodiment 1 have the same reference signs, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.
The configuration of the relay unit 4 in Embodiment 2 will be described.
In the configuration example illustrated in
In the configuration example illustrated in
An air purge valve 14a is provided at a place in the heat medium pipe 33a located above the second heat medium pipe connection port 9a illustrated in
An air purge valve 14d is provided at a place in the heat medium pipe 33d located above the second heat medium pipe connection port 9d illustrated in
In the configuration example illustrated in
Although not illustrated in
As described in Embodiment 1, the first opening 12 and the second opening 13 are formed in the top surface 5a of the casing 5. As illustrated in
In the relay unit 4 in Embodiment 2, the first heat medium pipe connection ports 8a to 8f are provided at the respective positions closer to the first side 5b, and the second heat medium pipe connection ports 9a to 9f are provided at the respective positions closer to the second side 5c. The height of the first heat medium pipe connection ports 8a to 8f is lower than the height of the second heat medium pipe connection ports 9a to 9f. Since the height of the second heat medium pipe connection ports 9a to 9f located closer to the rear side of the casing 5 is higher than the height of the first heat medium pipe connection ports 8a to 8f located closer to the front side of the casing 5, an operator can easily operate the on-off valve 15 attached to each of the second heat medium pipe connection ports 9a to 9f and easily attach the air purge valves 14a to 14f above the second heat medium pipe connection ports 9a to 9f. In this manner, Embodiment 2 facilitates attachment of air purge valves, and hangers necessary for a horizontal pipe structure do not have to be provided, thus improving workability and serviceability.
In addition, in Embodiment 2, the relay unit 4 may include the power supply line 71 extending from the inside of the casing 5 via the first opening 12 formed in the top surface 5a of the casing 5. Furthermore, the relay unit 4 may include the transmission line 72 extending from the inside of the casing 5 via the second opening 13 formed in the top surface 5a of the casing 5.
Since the first opening 12 and the second opening 13 are formed in the top surface 5a of the casing 5, it is possible to draw out, through the top surface 5a of the casing 5, the power supply line 71 and the transmission line 72 connected to the inside of the relay unit 4. Thus, it is possible to route the power supply line 71 and the transmission line 72 along pipes such as the heat medium pipe 32a extending toward a ceiling.
Embodiment 2 enables pipes such as refrigerant pipes and heat medium pipes and cables including the power supply line 71 and the transmission line 72 to be bundled together and to be fixed to the top surface 5a of the casing 5. Thus, such cables are not attached to the front side. Accordingly, when an operator detaches the front panel to perform maintenance of the relay unit 4, the operator does not have to beware of cutting cables compared with an example in which cables are attached to the front of a casing. In addition, since cables are not attached to the front side of the casing 5, the operator can use the front side of the casing 5 as a maintenance space, thus improving maintenance efficiency.
Embodiment 3 is an example in which the relay unit 4 described in Embodiment 1 includes a drain pan. In Embodiment 3, the same components as those described in Embodiments 1 and 2 have the same reference signs, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.
The configuration of the relay unit 4 in Embodiment 3 will be described.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Next, the overall configuration of the drain pan 18 illustrated in
Next, the positional relationships between the first drain socket 16a to the fourth drain socket 16d illustrated in
In
In addition, the third drain socket 16c is formed at a position in the second side 5c, the position in the second side 5c and the position of the first drain socket 16a being symmetrical relative to the centroid 67 as the symmetry center point. That is, the third drain socket 16c is formed at the position in the second side 5c at the first distance x1 from the fourth edge 66. The fourth drain socket 16d is formed at a position in the fourth side 5e, the position in the fourth side 5e and the position of the second drain socket 16b being symmetrical relative to the centroid 67 as the symmetry center point. The fourth drain socket 16d is formed at the position in the fourth side 5e at the second distance y1 from the fourth edge 66.
The configuration illustrated in
Next, an example in which the relay unit 4 is installed beside walls will be described.
In this manner, even when the casing 5 is installed beside walls, an operator can choose a port for the drain hose 55 according to the layout of walls and a maintenance area, for example.
The relay unit 4 in Embodiment 3 includes the drain pan 18, which is configured to store dew condensation water and to be slid and drawn out from the casing 5. Thus, the drain pan 18 is easy to clean. In addition, in Embodiment 3, a port for the drain hose 55 is provided in each of the first side 5b to the fourth side Se of the relay unit 4, and drain ports are provided in two parts of the drain pan 18. When an operator houses the drain pan 18 in the casing 5, the operator can choose between two orientations of the drain pan 18 to be inserted into the casing 5 and choose, from four sides, that is, the first side 5b to the fourth side 5e, a surface to which the drain hose 55 is attached.
In Embodiment 3, a surface to which the drain hose 55 is attached can be chosen from four sides, that is, the first side 5b to the fourth side 5e. Thus, even when the relay unit 4 is installed beside walls, it is possible to attach the drain hose 55 to the relay unit 4 as long as a side located beside an open space is included in the four sides.
In addition, in Embodiment 3, two drain ports are provided in the drain pan 18. Thus, one of the two drain ports can be used as a regular drain port, and the other of the two drain ports can be used as an emergency drain port.
In Embodiment 4, the relay unit 4 described in Embodiment 3 is formed to include a drain pan whose configuration is different. In Embodiment 4, the same components as those described in Embodiments 1 to 3 have the same reference signs, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.
The configuration of a drain pan to be provided in the relay unit 4 in Embodiment 4 will be described. Other than the drain pan, the relay unit 4 in Embodiment 4 has a configuration similar to that described in Embodiment 3, and detailed descriptions thereof are thus omitted.
A drain pan 18a includes the plate 81 and the four frame portions 82a to 82d, which are provided around the plate 81. Of the two frame portions 82a and 82b, the first drain port 17a is formed at the position in one frame portion, that is, the frame portion 82a, at the first distance x1 from the second edge 64, where the two frame portions 82a and 82b are in contact with each other, and the second drain port 17b is formed at the position in the other frame portion, that is, the frame portion 82b, at the second distance y1 from the second edge 64.
A projection 56 is provided, between the first drain port 17a and the second drain port 17b, at a corner portion on the plate 81 where the second edge 64 is formed. In the configuration example illustrated in
In the drain pan 18a illustrated in
In the relay unit 4 in Embodiment 4, the projection 56 is provided, between the first drain port 17a and the second drain port 17b, at the corner portion on the plate 81 of the drain pan 18a where the second edge 64 is formed. Thus, even when one of the two drain ports is closed, water collected on the plate 81 is discharged, along the projection 56, to the outside from the other thereof that is open. As a result, dew condensation water does not remain at the corner portion of the drain pan 18a Water does not remain at the corner portion of the drain pan 18a, thus inhibiting production of foreign matter such as dust and slime that causes clogging of a drain port. In addition, this structure is a structure in which water is unlikely to be collected in the drain pan 18a and can thus reduce rusting and water leakage.
1: air-conditioning apparatus, 2: heat source side unit, 3a to 3f: load side unit, 4: relay unit, 5: casing, 5a: top surface, 5b: first side, 5c: second side, 5d: third side, 5e: fourth side, 5f: bottom surface, 6: first refrigerant pipe connection port, 7: second refrigerant pipe connection port, 8a to 8f: first heat medium pipe connection port, 9a to 9f: second heat medium pipe connection port, 10: heat medium pipe connection port, 11: refrigerant pipe connection port, 12: first opening, 13: second opening, 14a to 14f: air purge valve, 15: on-off valve, 16a: first drain socket, 16b: second drain socket, 16c: third drain socket, 16d: fourth drain socket, 17a: first drain port, 17b: second drain port, 18, 18a: drain pan, 20: controller, 21: compressor, 22: heat source side heat exchanger, 23: four-way valve, 24: accumulator, 25: expansion valve, 26: refrigerant pipe, 31a to 31f: load side heat exchanger, 32a to 32f: heat medium pipe, 33a to 33f: heat medium pipe, 35: heat medium pipe, 41: pump, 42: heat medium heat exchanger, 44a to 44f: flow control valve, 45: refrigerant pipe, 46: heat medium pipe, 50: drawer panel, 51: refrigerant pipe, 55: drain hose, 56: projection, 61: first edge, 62: vertex, 64: second edge, 65: third edge, 66: fourth edge, 67: centroid, 71: power supply line, 72: transmission line, 73: cable tie, 81: plate, 82a to 82d: frame portion, 101: air
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2020/017033 | 4/20/2020 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2021/214822 | 10/28/2021 | WO | A |
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