阅读说明：本技术 空调装置 (Air conditioner ) 是由 金子智 于 2020-03-12 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供一种空调装置,在将单元化的空调装置设置在车室内的结构中,即使在压力控制阀打开的情况下,高温高压的热介质也不会向用户排出,能安全地使用。包括排出流路,通过与热介质的热交换,所述排出流路在制冷时排出热风,在制热时排出冷风。在泄压阀工作时,热介质能通过排出流路无障碍地排出。(Provided is an air conditioner, which can be safely used without discharging a high-temperature and high-pressure heat medium to a user even when a pressure control valve is opened in a structure in which a unitized air conditioner is installed in a vehicle interior. The heat exchanger includes a discharge flow path that discharges hot air during cooling and discharges cold air during heating by heat exchange with a heat medium. When the relief valve is operated, the heat medium can be discharged through the discharge flow path without hindrance.)

1. An air conditioner in which each component for air conditioning including a heat medium circuit through which a heat medium circulates is unitized,

the air conditioning device includes:

a discharge flow path that discharges hot air during cooling and discharges cold air during heating by heat exchange with the heat medium; and

and a relief valve having a discharge port communicating with the discharge flow path and discharging the heat medium therein when the pressure of the heat medium circuit reaches a preset set value.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1,

the heat medium circuit includes at least a compressor, a radiator, an expansion mechanism, and an evaporator.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2,

the air conditioning device includes:

a cold air flow path through which cold air cooled by heat exchange with the evaporator flows;

a hot air flow path through which hot air heated by heat exchange with the radiator flows;

a flow path switching unit that communicates the discharge flow path with the hot air flow path in a state of being cut off from the cold air flow path during cooling, and communicates the discharge flow path with the cold air flow path in a state of being cut off from the hot air flow path during heating; and

and a switching control valve that causes the discharge port of the relief valve to communicate with the hot air flow path in a state of being shut off from the cold air flow path during cooling, and causes the discharge port of the relief valve to communicate with the cold air flow path in a state of being shut off from the hot air flow path during heating.

4. Air conditioning unit according to any of claims 1 to 3,

the air conditioning device is installed in a vehicle cabin of a vehicle.

5. Air conditioning unit according to claim 4,

the discharge flow path communicates with the outside of the vehicle compartment.

6. Air conditioning unit according to any of claims 1 to 3,

the air conditioning device can be carried by a user.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 6,

the air conditioner includes a supply flow path that supplies hot air to a user during heating and supplies cold air to the user during cooling by heat exchange with the heat medium,

the discharge port of the discharge flow path is directed in a direction different from the supply port of the supply flow path.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an air conditioner having a heat medium circuit through which a heat medium circulates and configured to condition air to be conditioned.

Background

Generally, an air conditioner includes a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant as a heat medium circulates, and performs temperature adjustment of air to be conditioned by exchanging heat with an evaporator and a radiator constituting the refrigeration cycle. For example, patent document 1 can be cited as an air conditioner mounted on a vehicle or the like. In patent document 1, in order to suppress a problem that the refrigerant compressed in the refrigeration cycle leaks into a narrow vehicle interior due to an impact applied to the vehicle from the outside, an electromagnetic valve is provided that can release the heat medium circulation path to the atmosphere when detecting an impact applied to the vehicle.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. Hei 10-175426

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

On the other hand, air conditioners have been developed in which all components constituting a heat medium circuit, such as a compressor, a radiator, an expansion valve, and an evaporator, are unitized into one component and are mounted on, for example, each seat in a vehicle cabin, thereby individually conditioning air for each seat. In this case, when an abnormal pressure occurs in the heat medium circuit, a relief valve that opens at a predetermined pressure or higher needs to be provided to protect the heat medium circuit. However, in the structure in which the unit air conditioner is installed in the vehicle interior, there is a problem that the high-temperature and high-pressure heat medium is finally discharged into the vehicle interior when the relief valve is opened. The technical problem of the present invention is therefore to improve the safety of the relief valve when it is opened.

Technical scheme for solving technical problem

An air conditioner according to an aspect of the present invention is an air conditioner in which components for air conditioning including a heat medium circuit through which a heat medium circulates are unitized, the air conditioner including: a discharge flow path that discharges hot air during cooling and discharges cold air during heating by heat exchange with a heat medium; and a relief valve having a discharge port communicating with the discharge flow path and discharging the internal heat medium when the pressure of the heat medium circuit reaches a preset set value.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, when the relief valve is operated, the heat medium is discharged to the discharge flow path. Since the discharge flow path is a flow path that discharges without being supplied to the user, safety can be improved.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an air conditioner during cooling of indoor intake air.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an air conditioner during cooling of outdoor intake air.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an air conditioner in heating of indoor intake air.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an air conditioner in heating outdoor intake air.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a modification example in which the outlet of the relief valve communicates with the discharge flow path.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of use of the air conditioner according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an air conditioner during cooling according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an air conditioner during heating according to the second embodiment.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Each drawing is a schematic drawing, and may be different from an actual member. The following embodiments are intended to exemplify an apparatus and a method for embodying the technical idea of the present invention, and the configuration is not limited to the following configuration. That is, the technical idea of the present invention can be variously modified within the technical scope described in the claims.

First embodiment

Structure (of the related Art)

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air conditioner 11 according to a first embodiment. The air conditioner 11 of the present embodiment includes a heat medium circuit through which a heat medium circulates, and components for air conditioning are housed in a casing 11a, are unified, and are mounted in a vehicle interior of a vehicle. For example, by attaching each air conditioner 11 to each seat, air conditioning can be performed individually for each seat. A casing 11a constituting the air conditioner 11 constitutes a cold air flow path 12 and a hot air flow path 13 by a partition wall 11 b. The cold air flow path 12 and the hot air flow path 13 are each of a duct structure.

The upstream side of the cool air flow path 12 communicates with an internal air introduction path 21 for introducing internal air from the vehicle interior and an external air introduction path 22 for introducing external air from the outside of the vehicle interior, and includes a switching damper 23. The switching damper 23 is rotatable between a position at which the cold air flow path 12 communicates with the internal air introduction path 21 and a position at which the cold air flow path 12 communicates with the external air introduction path 22. The downstream side of the cool air flow path 12 communicates with a supply flow path 24 for supplying air into the vehicle interior and a discharge flow path 25 for discharging air outside the vehicle interior, and includes a switching damper 26. The switching damper 26 (flow path switching unit) is rotatable between a position where the cold air flow path 12 communicates with the supply flow path 24 and a position where the cold air flow path 12 communicates with the discharge flow path 25.

The hot air flow path 13 is provided with a switching damper 33, which communicates with an internal air introduction path 31 for introducing internal air from the vehicle interior and an external air introduction path 22 for introducing external air from the outside of the vehicle interior on the upstream side. The upstream side of the internal gas introduction path 31 merges with the upstream side of the internal gas introduction path 21. The switching damper 33 is rotatable between a position at which the hot air flow path 13 communicates with the internal air introduction path 31 and a position at which the hot air flow path 13 communicates with the external air introduction path 22. The hot air flow path 13 is connected on the downstream side to a supply flow path 34 for supplying air into the vehicle interior and a discharge flow path 25 for discharging air out of the vehicle interior, and includes a switching damper 36. The downstream side of the supply passage 34 merges with the downstream side of the supply passage 24. The switching flapper 36 (flow path switching unit) is rotatable between a position at which the hot air flow path 13 communicates with the supply flow path 34 and a position at which the hot air flow path 13 communicates with the discharge flow path 25.

In the cool air flow path 12, an air supply fan 27 and an evaporator 28 constituting a refrigeration cycle described later in detail are provided. The blower fan 27 is provided on the upstream side of the cool air flow path 12, and sucks and sends the outside air and the inside air to the downstream side when driven by the motor. The evaporator 28 is provided downstream of the blower fan 27, and performs heat exchange between air flowing around the fins and a low-temperature heat medium (refrigerant) flowing through the tubes as a heat absorber and a dehumidifier. That is, the heat medium in the tube is evaporated and vaporized, thereby cooling the air around the fins and causing dew condensation on the surfaces of the fins to dehumidify the air.

The hot air flow path 13 is provided with a blower fan 37 and a radiator 28 constituting a refrigeration cycle together with the evaporator 28. The blower fan 37 is provided on the upstream side of the hot air flow path 13, and sucks and sends the outside air and the inside air to the downstream side when driven by the motor. The radiator 38 is provided on the downstream side of the blower fan 37, and serves as a radiator that heats the air around the fins by exchanging heat between the air flowing around the fins and a high-temperature heat medium (heat medium) flowing through the tubes.

Next, a refrigeration cycle constituting the heat medium circuit in the present invention will be described. The refrigeration cycle constituting the heat medium circuit is constituted by connecting at least a compressor 41, a radiator 38, an expansion valve 42, and an evaporator 28 in this order in a ring shape. The compressor 41 compresses a low-pressure heat medium in a gas phase to increase the pressure of the heat medium to a high-pressure heat medium that is easily liquefied. For example, a rotary compressor, a swash plate compressor, a scroll compressor, or the like can be employed. As the drive source, an engine and a motor can be used. The expansion valve 42 reduces the pressure to a low-pressure heat medium that is easily vaporized by spraying a high-pressure heat medium in a liquid phase, and a temperature expansion valve, a capillary tube, an orifice, or the like can be used.

The heat medium circuit 43 in the present invention includes a relief valve 44 and a three-way valve 45 (switching control valve). The relief valve 44 is provided in a flow path branched from between the compressor 41 and the radiator 38, for example, and opens when the pressure in the heat medium circuit 43 reaches a preset value. The relief valve may be electrically controlled or mechanically opened. The three-way valve 45 can be, for example, a three-port two-position switching solenoid valve. In this case, specifically, the position where the outlet of the relief valve 44 communicates with the downstream side of the evaporator 28 in the cold air flow path 12 and the position where the outlet of the relief valve 44 communicates with the downstream side of the radiator 38 in the hot air flow path 13 are switched to any one of.

The air conditioner 11 in the present embodiment includes a control device, not shown, and drives and controls the switching dampers 23, 33, 26, and 36, the blower fans 27 and 37, the compressor 41, the expansion valve 42, and the three-way valve 45.

As the heat medium used in the refrigeration cycle constituting the heat medium circuit in the present invention, a freon refrigerant such as R134a, HFO1234yf, R32, a hydrocarbon refrigerant such as isobutane, CO, or the like can be used₂Etc. natural refrigerants.

Next, each operation mode will be described. Hereinafter, cooling of the indoor intake air, cooling of the outdoor intake air, heating of the indoor intake air, and heating of the outdoor intake air will be described.

[ Cooling operation ]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a state of the air conditioner 11 during cooling of the indoor intake air. In this cooling operation, the switching damper 23 causes the upstream side of the cold air flow path 12 to communicate with the internal air introduction path 21 in a state of being blocked from the external air introduction path 22, and the switching damper 26 causes the downstream side of the cold air flow path 12 to communicate with the supply flow path 24 in a state of being blocked from the discharge flow path 25. The switching damper 33 causes the upstream side of the hot air flow path 13 to communicate with the external air introduction path 22 in a state of being blocked from the internal air introduction path 31, and the switching damper 36 causes the downstream side of the hot air flow path 13 to communicate with the discharge flow path 25 in a state of being blocked from the supply flow path 34. The three-way valve 45 communicates the outlet of the relief valve 44 with the hot air flow path 13 on the downstream side of the radiator 38. Then, the blower fan 27, the blower fan 37, and the compressor 41 are driven.

Thereby, the high-temperature and high-pressure heat medium discharged from the compressor 41 flows into the radiator 38 and is cooled and radiated. The heat medium cooled by the heat dissipation is decompressed to a low pressure in the expansion valve 42, evaporated and gasified in the evaporator 28, and a heat absorption action is exerted. Thus, the air introduced into the cool air flow path 12 is cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator 28 and supplied into the vehicle interior. The outside air flowing from the outside of the vehicle interior into the hot air flow path 13 is discharged to the outside of the vehicle interior after being heat-exchanged with the radiator 38.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a state of the air conditioner 11 during cooling of outdoor intake air. When outdoor air is sucked, the switching damper 23 may communicate the upstream side of the cool air flow path 12 with the outside air introduction path 22 in a state of being blocked from the inside air introduction path 21, and the switching damper 33 may communicate the upstream side of the warm air flow path 12 with the inside air introduction path 31 in a state of being blocked from the outside air introduction path 22. Thus, the air introduced from the outside of the vehicle interior into the cool air flow path 12 is cooled and dehumidified by the evaporator 28 and supplied into the vehicle interior. The air introduced from the vehicle interior into the hot air flow path 13 is heat-exchanged with the radiator 38 and then discharged to the outside of the vehicle interior.

[ heating operation ]

Next, the heating operation will be described. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a state of the air conditioner 11 during heating of the indoor intake air. In the heating operation, the switching damper 23 causes the upstream side of the cool air passage 12 to communicate with the external air introduction passage 22 in a state of being blocked from the internal air introduction passage 21, and the switching damper 26 causes the downstream side of the cool air passage 12 to communicate with the discharge passage 25 in a state of being blocked from the supply passage 24. The switching damper 33 causes the upstream side of the hot air flow path 13 to communicate with the internal gas introduction path 31 in a state of being blocked from the external gas introduction path 22, and the switching damper 36 causes the downstream side of the hot air flow path 13 to communicate with the supply flow path 34 in a state of being blocked from the discharge flow path 25. Further, the three-way valve 45 communicates the outlet of the relief valve 44 with the downstream side of the evaporator 28 in the cool air flow path 12. Then, the blower fan 27, the blower fan 37, and the compressor 41 are driven.

Thus, the air introduced from the vehicle interior into the hot air flow path 13 is heated by the radiator 38, and warm air is supplied into the vehicle interior. The outside air flowing into the cool air flow path 12 from outside the vehicle interior is discharged to the outside of the vehicle interior after exchanging heat with the evaporator 28.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a state of the air conditioner 11 during heating of outdoor intake air. When outdoor air is sucked, the switching damper 23 may communicate the upstream side of the cool air flow path 12 with the internal air introduction path 22 in a state of being blocked from the external air introduction path 22, and the switching damper 33 may communicate the upstream side of the hot air flow path 13 with the external air introduction path 22 in a state of being blocked from the internal air introduction path 31. Thus, the outside air introduced into the hot air flow path 13 from outside the vehicle interior is heated by the radiator, and warm air is supplied into the vehicle interior. The air flowing from the vehicle interior into the cool air flow path 12 is discharged to the outside of the vehicle interior after exchanging heat with the evaporator 28.

Action

Next, the main operational effects of the first embodiment will be described. As described above, in each of the cooling and heating operations, the outlet of the relief valve 44 communicates with the discharge flow path 25. Specifically, during the cooling operation, the switching flapper 26 causes the downstream side of the cool air flow path 12 to communicate with the supply flow path 24 in a state of being blocked from the discharge flow path 25. The switching damper 36 connects the downstream side of the hot air flow path 13 to the discharge flow path 25 in a state where the downstream side of the hot air flow path 13 is blocked from the supply flow path 34. The three-way valve 45 communicates the outlet of the relief valve 44 with the hot air flow path 13 on the downstream side of the radiator 38. Thus, during the cooling operation, the outlet of the relief valve 44 can be made to communicate with the discharge flow path 25.

On the other hand, during the heating operation, the switching damper 26 causes the downstream side of the cool air flow path 12 to communicate with the discharge flow path 25 in a state of being blocked from the supply flow path 24. The switching damper 36 communicates the downstream side of the hot air flow path 13 with the supply flow path 34 in a state of being blocked from the discharge flow path 25. Further, the three-way valve 45 communicates the outlet of the relief valve 44 with the downstream side of the evaporator 28 in the cool air flow path 12. Thus, during the heating operation, the outlet of the relief valve 44 can be made to communicate with the discharge flow path 25.

As a result, the pressure in the heat medium circuit 43 becomes abnormally high, and when the relief valve 44 is actuated, the heat medium is discharged to the discharge flow path 25 via the three-way valve 45. Therefore, even when the unit air conditioner 11 is installed in the vehicle interior, the heat medium discharged by opening the relief valve 44 is discharged to the outside of the vehicle interior through the discharge flow path 25 communicating with the outside of the vehicle interior without being supplied to the user, and therefore, safety can be improved.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the outlet of the relief valve 44 can be easily communicated with the discharge flow path 25 only by driving and controlling the switching flapper 26, the switching flapper 36, and the three-way valve 45. In particular, in the present embodiment, since the air conditioner 11 is mounted in the vehicle interior of the automobile, the comfort in the vehicle interior can be improved. Further, since the discharge flow path 25 communicates with the outside of the vehicle interior, the heat medium and oil of high temperature and high pressure can be prevented from being discharged into the vehicle interior, and safety can be improved.

Modifications of the examples

In the present embodiment, a solenoid valve is used as the three-way valve 45, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a rotary valve may be used, for example. Further, two-way valves that can be opened and closed may be provided in each of the flow path communicating with the cold air flow path 12 and the flow path communicating with the hot air flow path 13, and one of the two-way valves may be closed when opened and the other one may be opened when closed. Further, lid-like valve elements that can be opened and closed may be provided at the end of the flow path communicating with the cold air flow path 12 and the end of the flow path communicating with the hot air flow path 13, respectively, and one of the valve elements may be closed when opened and the other valve element may be opened when closed. That is, if the switching can be made either to communicate the outlet of the relief valve 44 with the cold air flow path 12 or to communicate the outlet of the relief valve 44 with the hot air flow path 13, any switching control valve can be used.

In the present embodiment, the outlet of the relief valve 44 is communicated with the downstream side of the cold air flow path 12 or the downstream side of the hot air flow path 13, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the outlet of the relief valve 44 may be directly communicated with the discharge flow path 25.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a modification example in which the outlet of the relief valve communicates with the discharge flow path. In this way, by directly connecting the outlet of the relief valve 44 to the discharge flow path 25, the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained even if the three-way valve 45 and the driving process of the three-way valve are omitted.

Second embodiment

Structure (of the related Art)

The second embodiment is applied to a mobile portable air conditioner that can be carried by a user. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of use of the air conditioner according to the second embodiment. The air conditioner 51 is a portable air conditioner that can be carried by a user, and includes an inlet 52, a supply port 53, and an outlet 54. The inlet 52 introduces outside air. The supply port 53 supplies cool air to the user during cooling and supplies hot air to the user during heating. The discharge port 54 is directed at least in a direction different from the direction of the supply port 53, and discharges hot air during cooling and cold air during heating. Therefore, when the air conditioner 51 is used, the supply port 53 is disposed on the user side and the discharge port 54 is disposed on a side other than the user side. Further, an additional exhaust duct can be installed at the exhaust port 54 to keep the exhaust away from the user.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an air conditioning apparatus according to a second embodiment. In the air conditioner 51, the internal air introduction path 21, the external air introduction path 22, the switching damper 23, the internal air introduction path 31, and the switching damper 33 are omitted, and an introduction port 52, a supply port 53, and an exhaust port 54 are added. Other structures are the same as those of the first embodiment, and detailed description of common parts is omitted. The air conditioner 51 is housed in a casing, not shown, and for convenience of carrying, for example, a handle and a caster are provided in the casing.

The upstream side of the cold air flow path 12 communicates with the inlet 52. The downstream side of the cold air flow path 12 communicates with the supply port 53 and the discharge port 54. The switching damper 26 (flow path switching unit) is rotatable between a position at which the cold air flow path 12 communicates with the supply port 53 and a position at which the cold air flow path 12 communicates with the discharge port 54. The upstream side of the hot air flow path 13 communicates with the inlet 52. The downstream side of the hot air flow path 13 communicates with the supply port 53 and the discharge port 54. The supply port 53 of the hot air flow path 13 is common to the supply port 53 of the cold air flow path 12. The switching flapper 36 (flow path switching unit) is rotatable between a position at which the hot air flow path 13 communicates with the supply port 53 and a position at which the hot air flow path 13 communicates with the discharge port 54.

Next, each operation mode will be described.

[ Cooling operation ]

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an air conditioner during cooling. Here, the switching damper 26 causes the downstream side of the cool air flow path 12 to communicate with the supply port 53 in a state of being blocked from the discharge port 54. The switching flapper 36 communicates the downstream side of the hot air flow path 13 with the discharge port 54 in a state of being blocked from the supply port 53. The three-way valve 45 communicates the outlet of the relief valve 44 with the hot air flow path 13 on the downstream side of the radiator 38. Then, the blower fan 27, the blower fan 37, and the compressor 41 are driven.

[ heating operation ]

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an air conditioner during heating. Here, the switching damper 26 causes the downstream side of the cool air flow path 12 to communicate with the discharge port 54 in a state of being blocked from the supply port 53. The switching flapper 36 communicates the downstream side of the hot air flow path 13 with the supply port 53 in a state of being cut off from the discharge port 54. Further, the three-way valve 45 communicates the outlet of the relief valve 44 with the downstream side of the evaporator 28 in the cool air flow path 12. Then, the blower fan 27, the blower fan 37, and the compressor 41 are driven.

Action

Next, the main operational effects of the second embodiment will be described. The air conditioner 51 is a portable air conditioner, and the discharge port 54 is configured to face in a direction different from the supply port 53. Therefore, even if the relief valve 44 is operated, the heat medium is not discharged to the user, and safety can be improved. Other operational effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations may be made in the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

(symbol description)

11 … air conditioning equipment;

11a … housing;

11b … partition wall;

12 … cold air flow path;

13 … hot air flow path;

21 … internal gas introduction path;

22 … external gas introduction path;

23 … switching baffle;

24 … supply flow path;

25 … discharge flow path;

26 … switching baffle;

27 … blower fan;

28 … evaporator;

31 … internal gas introduction path;

33 … switching baffle;

34 … supply flow path;

36 … switching baffles;

37 … blower fan;

38 … heat sink;

41 … compressor;

42 … expansion valve;

43 … heat medium circuit;

44 … pressure relief valve;

a 45 … three-way valve;

51 … air conditioning unit;

52 … introduction port;

53 … supply port;

54 … discharge port.