AU2019432579A1

AU2019432579A1 - Indoor unit of air conditioning apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU2019432579A1
Application number: AU2019432579A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yoshiki Moriya; Koji Yamaguchi
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date: 2019-03-06
Filing date: 2019-03-06
Publication date: 2021-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 2039-03-06
Also published as: DE112019006979T5; AU2019432579B2; JPWO2020179007A1; WO2020179007A1

Abstract

This indoor unit of an air conditioning apparatus is provided with a housing, a heat exchanger, a flare connection part, a drain pan, a refrigerant leakage detection means, and a control device. The housing has therein a heat exchanger chamber and a machine chamber that are partitioned from each other in the lateral width direction, which is orthogonal to the front-back direction. The heat exchanger and the drain pan are disposed in the heat exchanger chamber. The control device is disposed in the upper portion of the machine chamber, and the flare connection part and the refrigerant leakage detection means are disposed in the lower portion of the machine chamber. The refrigerant leakage detection means is disposed so as to face the flare connection part, and is disposed such that at least a part of the contour thereof is housed between a side surface of the drain pan and the inner surface of the housing.

Description

P00110 DESCRIPTION

Title of Invention INDOOR UNIT OF AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS

Technical Field

[0001]

The present disclosure relates to an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus,

which includes a refrigerant leakage detection unit.

Background Art

[0002]

In recent years, air-conditioning apparatuses using R32 and other flammable

refrigerants that are refrigerants having a low global warming potential (GWP) have

been known. These refrigerant are used as a replacement for R410. However, there

is a risk that flammable refrigerant will, for example, leak from a heat exchanger, flow

into a drain pan, and overflow the drain pan or will leak from a joint of refrigerant pipes

provided inside an indoor unit. Since flammable refrigerants have a greater specific

gravity than air, the flammable refrigerant easily flows to a region close to a floor surface

in an air-conditioned space and accumulate in the region in the air-conditioned space,

as a result which a fire or an oxygen deficiency may be caused. In particular, in floor

standing type indoor units, leaking flammable refrigerant easily accumulate in the region

close to the floor surface or in the indoor unit, and is hard to diffuse. This easily cause

a fire or an oxygen deficiency.

[0003]

In view of the above, in a floor-standing type indoor unit of an air-conditioning

apparatus disclosed in, for example, Patent Literature 1, a refrigerant gas detection

sensor is provided at the same level as a drain pan or below the drain pan, and at a

different position from that of the drain pan in a depth direction of the indoor unit. Also, in the indoor unit, a refrigerant pipe that extends from an indoor heat exchanger and a

communication pipe that extends from an outdoor unit are connected to each other by a

connector. The connector is provided above and away from the refrigerant gas

detection sensor.

P00110 Citation List Patent Literature

[0004] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-90109 Summary of Invention Technical Problem

[0005] In the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus as disclosed in Patent Literature 1, the refrigerant gas detection sensor is provided away from the drain pan in the depth direction in order that condensation water received by the drain pan should not splash on the refrigerant gas detection sensor. As a result, in this indoor unit, the refrigerant gas detection sensor may be unable to easily detect flammable refrigerant that leaks from the heat exchanger and flows into the drain pan. Furthermore, in the indoor unit, since the connector for the refrigerant pipes is located above and away from the refrigerant gas detection sensor, the sensor may also be unable to promptly detect flammable refrigerant that leaks from the connector.

[0006] The present disclosure is applied to solve the above problem, and relates to an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus that is capable of promptly detecting flammable refrigerant that leaks from a heat exchanger and flows into a drain pan and flammable refrigerant that leaks from a connector for refrigerant pipes. Solution to Problem

[0007] An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, includes: a housing that includes an air inlet located on a front side thereof, an air outlet located above the air inlet, and an air passage extending from the air inlet to the air outlet; a heat exchanger provided in the air passage; a flare connector that connects a pipe for use in supplying refrigerant to the heat exchanger to a pipe connected to an outdoor unit; a drain pan provided below the heat exchanger; a

P00110 refrigerant leakage detection unit configured to detect leakage of the refrigerant; and a

controller configured to determine whether the refrigerant leaks or not based on detection information obtained by detection performed by the refrigerant leakage

detection unit. The inside of the housing is partitioned into a heat exchanger chamber

and a machine chamber in a lateral direction orthogonal to a front-back direction of the

indoor unit. The heat exchanger and the drain pan are provided in the heat exchanger

chamber. The controller is provided in an upper space in the machine chamber and

the flare connector and the refrigerant leakage detection unit are provided in a lower

space in the machine chamber. The refrigerant leakage detection unit is provided in

such a manner as to face the flare connector and such that at least part of an outer shell

of the refrigerant leakage detection unit is located between a side of the drain pan and

an inner surface of the housing.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0008] According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the refrigerant leakage

detection unit is provided in such a manner as to face the flare connector and such that

at least part of the outer shell of the refrigerant leakage detection unit is located

between the side of the drain pan and the inner surface of the housing. It is therefore

possible to promptly detect both flammable refrigerant that leaks from the heat

exchanger and flows into the drain pan and flammable refrigerant that leaks from the

flare connector.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0009]

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an indoor unit of an air-conditioning

apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, with a front portion of

a housing detached therefrom.

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an internal configuration of an

indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according the embodiment of the present

disclosure.

[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a front view illustrating the internal configuration of the indoor unit

P00110 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along a line indicated by arrows A-A in Fig.

3.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along a line indicated by arrows B-B in Fig.

3.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of part C in Fig. 2.

[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of part D in Fig. 3.

[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is an enlarged view illustrating the part D in Fig. 3 as viewed side

on.

[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the part D that is taken along a line indicted by

arrows E-E in Fig. 3.

[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a drain pan in the indoor unit of the air

conditioning apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a refrigerant leakage detection unit in the

indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the embodiment of the present

disclosure.

[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is a front view of the refrigerant leakage detection unit in the

disclosure.

[Fig. 13] Fig. 13 is a plan view of the refrigerant leakage detection unit in the

disclosure.

[Fig. 14] Fig. 14 illustrates an internal configuration of the refrigerant leakage

detection unit in the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the

embodiment of the present disclosure.

Description of Embodiments

[0010]

An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the

figures. In each of the figures, components that are the same as or equivalent to those

in a previous figure or figures are denoted by the same reference signs, and their

P00110 descriptions will be omitted or simplified as appropriate. The shapes, sizes, positions, etc. of components as illustrated in the figures can be appropriately changed within the

scope of the present disclosure.

[0011]

Embodiment

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an indoor unit of an air-conditioning

a housing detached therefrom. Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an internal

configuration of the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the

embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 3 is a front view illustrating the internal

embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 4 is a sectional view that is taken along a

line indicated by arrows A-A in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view that is taken along a

line indicated by arrows B-B in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of part C in Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of part D in Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view illustrating the

part D in Fig. 3 as viewed side-on. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the part D that is taken

along a line indicated by arrows E-E in Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a drain pan

in the indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the embodiment of the

present disclosure.

[0012]

An indoor unit 100 of an air-conditioning apparatus according to the present

embodiment and an outdoor unit (not illustrated) installed outdoors are connected by

refrigerant pipes to form a refrigeration cycle. In the indoor unit 100 of the air

conditioning apparatus according to the present embodiment, flammable refrigerant

having a low global warming potential is used. The flammable refrigerant is refrigerant

that ignites in the case where an ignition source is present in the vicinity of the

refrigerant on a condition that the concentration of the refrigerant in air falls within a

predetermined range. Examples of the flammable refrigerant are single-component

refrigerant such as HFO1234yf and HFF1123zf, mixed refrigerant of the single

component refrigerant and hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) such as R32, and hydrocarbon

P00110 refrigerant such as propane (R290). Also, mildly flammable refrigerants are included in the flammable refrigerant.

[0013] The indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present

embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 1, has a cuboid shape as an overall appearance

configuration and is a floor-standing type indoor unit that is installed on a floor surface,

with a back of the indoor unit located to face a wall surface in an air-conditioned space

16. The indoor unit 100, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, includes a housing 1, a heat

exchanger 2, a flare connector 3, a drain pan 4, a fan 5, a refrigerant leakage detection

unit 6, and a controller 7.

[0014]

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the housing 1 can be divided into a front side and a rear

side in a front-back direction, and includes a front portion 10 on the front side and a rear

portion 11 on the rear side. The front portion 10 can be attached to and detached from

the rear portion 11. The housing 1 has an air inlet 12 that is provided on the front side

to allow air to be sucked in the housing 1 and an air outlet 13 that is provided above the

air inlet 12 to allow air to be discharged from the housing 1. In an example as

illustrated, the air inlet 12 and the air outlet 13 are formed in the front portion 10. In the

housing 1, as illustrated in Fig. 5, an air passage 15 is provided to extend from the air

inlet 12 to the air outlet 13. Furthermore, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the inside of

the housing 1 is partitioned into a heat exchanger chamber X and a machine chamber Y

in a lateral direction orthogonal to the front-back direction. The heat exchanger

chamber X is located on the left side as viewed from the front side. The machine

chamber Y is located on the right side as viewed from the front side. The heat

exchanger 2, the drain pan 4, and the fan 5 are disposed in the heat exchanger

chamber X. Machine components such as the controller 7 are disposed in an upper

space in the machine chamber Y and the flare connector 3 and the refrigerant leakage

detection unit 6 are disposed in a lower space in the machine chamber Y.

[0015] As illustrated in Fig. 1, an air intake hole 14 is provided in a side of the housing 1

P00110 that adjoins the machine chamber Y, in such a manner as to cause the air-conditioned

space 16 and the machine chamber Y to communicate with each other and allow air to

be taken from the air-conditioned space 16 into the housing 1. The air intake hole 14 is provided in the front portion 10 of the housing 1 and below the controller 7. As

illustrated in Fig. 3, a temperature detection unit 8 that includes, for example, a

thermistor is provided close to the air intake hole 14.

[0016]

The heat exchanger 2 operates as an evaporator in a cooling operation and

operates as a condenser in a heating operation, and causes heat exchange to be

performed between refrigerant and the air. The heat exchanger 2 is, for example, a

finned tube type heat exchanger, and includes a plurality of fins arranged at intervals

and a plurality of heat transfer tubes that extend through the fins in a direction

perpendicular to the fins. The refrigerant flows into the heat transfer tubes. The heat

exchanger 2, as illustrated in Fig. 5, includes a front heat exchanger 20 and a rear heat

exchanger 21 that are arranged in a V-shape as viewed side-on. The front heat

exchanger 20 and the rear heat exchanger 21 may be provided as a single unit that is

attached to the inside of in the housing 1 or may be separate units that are attached to

the inside the housing 1, for example.

[0017]

As illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9, the flare connectors 3 are joint parts that connect

communication pipes 30a and 30b and connection pipes 31a and 31b that are

connected to the outdoor unit (omitted from the drawings). The communication pipes

a and 30b are used to supply the refrigerant to the heat exchanger 2. As illustrated

in Figs. 1 to 4, the flare connectors 3 are disposed below the controller 7 in the machine

chamber Y. This is because work for the connection of the refrigerant pipes will be

hard if the flare connectors are disposed along with the controller 7, which has a

complicated structure, in the upper space.

[0018]

Both the communication pipes 30a and 30b and the connection pipes 31a and

31b are refrigerant pipes, and the number of these communication pipes and that of

P00110 these connection pipes are two. The communication pipe 30a and the connection pipe

31a are liquid pipes. The communication pipe 30b and the connection pipe 31b are

gaspipes. The communication pipe 30a and the connection pipe 31a are connected

by flare connection. The communication pipe 30b and the connection pipe 31b are

connected by flare connection. The flare connection is, for example, a connection in

which flare union joints are fixed to connection portions of the communication pipes 30a

and 30b, trumpet-shaped flare portions are formed at connection portions of the

connection pipes 31a and 31b, and flare nuts are attached in such a manner as to

surround peripheries of the flare portions, for example. The communication pipe 30a

and the connection pipe 31a are connected by the flare union joint and the flare nut that

are screwed and coupled to each other. The communication pipe 30b and the

connection pipe 31b are screwed and connected to each other by the flare union joints.

[0019]

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 and 5, the drain pan 4 is provided below the heat

exchanger 2 to receive and store, for example, condensation water that adheres to the

heat exchanger 2. The drain pan 4 is a thin receptacle having an opening portion

located on an upper side thereof and is long in the lateral direction orthogonal to the

front-back direction. The drain pan 4 is provided such that the opening portion on the

upper side faces a lower end of the heat exchanger 2, and receives condensation water

that falls along the heat exchanger 2 through the opening portion on the upper side.

The condensation water received by the drain pan 4 is drained therefrom to an outdoor

space by a drain hose 43 connected to the drain pan 4.

[0020]

As illustrated in Fig. 10, an inner bottom surface 40 of the drain pan 4 is inclined

such that the level of the inner bottom surface 40 gradually lowers from the rear side of

the drain pan 4 toward the front side thereof. This is intended to guide collected

condensation water to the front side and protect the refrigerant leakage detection unit 6,

which is provided at a side of the drain pan 4, against the condensation water, and is

also intended to cause a user to notice that condensation water overflows from the drain

pan 4 when such an overflow occurs.

P00110

[0021]

Also, as illustrated in Fig. 10, the inner bottom surface 40 of the drain pan 4 is inclined such that the level of the inner bottom surface 40 gradually lowers from the heat

exchanger chamber X toward the machine chamber Y. This is intended to guide the

flammable refrigerant that leaks from the heat exchanger 2 and flows into the drain pan

4 to the machine chamber Y, in which the refrigerant leakage detection unit 6 is

provided, thereby causing the refrigerant leakage detection unit 6 to promptly detect the

flammable refrigerant.

[0022]

In the drain pan 4, as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, the inner bottom surface 40

has a protrusion 41 that is long in a direction from the heat exchanger chamber X

toward the machine chamber Y. This is intended to increase the density of the

refrigerant that leaks from the heat exchanger 2 by causing the refrigerant to be in close

state in recesses 42 formed on both sides that adjoin the protrusion 41 in the front-back

direction of the indoor unit 100, without allowing the refrigerant to disperse. Therefore, the refrigerant leakage detection unit 6 can detect leakage of the refrigerant with a

higher accuracy. It should be noted that although only one protrusion 41 is illustrated, it is not limiting; that is, a plurality of protrusions 41 may be provided in a row.

Furthermore, although it is not illustrated, in the recess or recesses 42, a further recess

that is recessed further downward may be formed The inner bottom surface 40 of the

drain pan 4 may have a recess that is long in a direction from the heat exchanger

chamber X toward the machine chamber Y without having the protrusion 41.

[0023]

As illustrated in Fig. 5, the fan 5 is provided above the heat exchanger 2 in the air

passage 15. That is, the fan 5 is located on a downstream side in the flow of air. In

the indoor unit 100, when the fan 5 is rotated, air in the air-conditioned space 16 is

sucked into the air passage 15 through the air inlet 12. While the indoor unit is in

operation, the air from the air-conditioned space 16 is cooled or heated by the front heat

exchanger 20 and the rear heat exchanger 21 and is blown as air-conditioned air from

the air outlet 13.

P00110

[0024]

The refrigerant leakage detection unit 6 is configured to detect a leak of flammable refrigerant. As illustrated in Figs. 2 to 9, the refrigerant leakage detection

unit 6 is provided in such a manner as to face the flare connectors 3 and such that at

least part of an outer shell of the refrigerant leakage detection unit 6 is located between

the side of the drain pan 4 and an inner surface 1a of the housing 1, in order for the

refrigerant leakage detection unit 6 to promptly detect both flammable refrigerant that

leaks from the heat exchanger 2 and flows into the drain pan 4 and flammable

refrigerant that leaks from the flare connector or connectors 3.

[0025]

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the refrigerant leakage detection unit in the indoor

unit of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the embodiment of the present

disclosure. Fig. 12 is a front view of the refrigerant leakage detection unit in the indoor

disclosure. Fig. 13 is a plan view of the refrigerant leakage detection unit in the indoor

disclosure. Fig. 14 illustrates an internal configuration of the refrigerant leakage

embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026]

As illustrated in Figs. 11 to 14, the refrigerant leakage detection unit 6 includes a

refrigerant sensor 60 and a holder member 61 that houses the refrigerant sensor 60 to

protect the refrigerant sensor 60. The refrigerant leakage detection unit 6 is, for

example, of an oxygen concentration type or a flammable gas detection type. The

refrigerant leakage detection unit 6 is fixed to the inner surface 1a of the housing 1 by

an attachment member 62 that is made of sheet metal and that is attached to the holder

member 61. In both end portions of the attachment member 62, respective holes 62a

are formed to allow fixing members such as screws to pass through the holes 62a.

The attachment member 62 is fixed to the inner surface 1a of the housing 1 by the fixing

members that passes through the respective holes 62a.

P00110

[0027] In a surface of the holder member 61 that faces the drain pan 4, a plurality of slits

61a are formed in order that flammable refrigerant that leaks from the heat exchanger 2

and flows into the drain pan 4 be promptly taken in the holder member 61 through the

slits 61a and be detected.

[0028]

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the refrigerant leakage detection unit 6 is located at a

lower position than the air intake hole 14 to efficiently detect flammable refrigerant that

is heavier than air, when the flammable refrigerant flows along with the air into the

housing after leaking into the air-conditioned space 16.

[0029]

The refrigerant leakage detection unit 6 is connected to the controller 7 by a

signal line. Detection information obtained from detection by the refrigerant leakage

detection unit 6 is sent to the controller 7 through the signal line.

[0030]

As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, the controller 7 is housed in an electric component

box. The controller 7 performs a control over components that is necessary for the

cooling or heating operation of the air-conditioning apparatus. The electric component

box including the controller 7 is provided in the upper space in the machine chamber Y.

This is intended to provide the controller 7, which is an ignition source, away from

flammable refrigerant gas that is heavier than air and collects in a lower space in the

indoor unit 100 when the flammable refrigerant gas leaks, that is, it is intended to

prevent a fire from occurring when the flammable refrigerant gas leaks. Furthermore, the controller 7 determines whether the flammable refrigerant gas leaks or not based

on, for example, detection information obtained from detection by the refrigerant

leakage detection unit 6, and drives, for example, the fan 5 when the controller

determines that the flammable refrigerant gas leaks.

[0031]

Meanwhile, there is a risk that the flammable refrigerant will, for example, leak

from the heat exchanger 2, flow into the drain pan 4, and overflow the drain pan 4 or will

P00110 leak from the flare connector or connectors 3 that are provided in the indoor unit 100. Since flammable refrigerant has a greater specific gravity than air, the flammable

refrigerant easily flow to the region close to the floor surface in the air-conditioned space

16 and accumulate at the region in the air-conditioned space 16, and may cause a fire

or an oxygen deficiency in some cases. In particular, in the case where the indoor unit

100 is of the floor-standing type, when leaking, flammable refrigerant easily accumulate

at the region close to the floor surface or in the indoor unit 100 and does not easily

diffuse. This was a leading cause of a fire or an oxygen deficiency.

[0032] In view of the above, in the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus

according to the present embodiment, the housing 1 is provided with the air inlet 12

located on the front side, the air outlet 13 located above the air inlet 12, and the air

passage 15 that extends from the air inlet 12 to the air outlet 13. The indoor unit 100

further includes the heat exchanger 2, the flare connectors 3, the drain pan 4, the

refrigerant leakage detection unit 6, and the controller 7. The heat exchanger 2 is

provided in the air passage 15. The flare connectors 3 connect the communication

pipes 30a and 30b for use in supply of the refrigerant to the heat exchanger 2 and the

connection pipes 31a and 31b connected to the outdoor unit. The drain pan 4 is

provided below the heat exchanger 2. The refrigerant leakage detection unit 6 is

configured to detect leakage of the refrigerant. The controller 7 is configured to

determine whether the refrigerant leaks or not based on detection information obtained

from detection by the refrigerant leakage detection unit 6. The housing 1 is partitioned

into the heat exchanger chamber X and the machine chamber Y in the lateral direction

orthogonal to the front-back direction. In the heat exchanger chamber X, the heat

exchanger 2 and the drain pan 4 are provided. In the machine chamber Y, the

controller 7 is provided in the upper space, and the flare connectors 3 and the

refrigerant leakage detection unit 6 are provided in the lower space. The refrigerant

leakage detection unit 6 is located in such a manner as to face the flare connectors 3

and such that at least part of the outer shell of the refrigerant leakage detection unit is

located between the side of the drain pan 4 and the inner surface 1a of the housing 1.

P00110

[0033] That is, in the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the

present embodiment, the refrigerant leakage detection unit 6 is provided in such a

manner as to face the flare connectors 3 and such that at least part of the outer shell of

the refrigerant leakage detection unit 6 is located between the side of the drain pan 4

and the inner surface 1a of the housing 1,whereby it is possible to promptly detect both

4 and flammable refrigerant that leaks from the flare connector or connectors 3.

[0034]

Furthermore, the housing 1 has the air intake hole 14 through which the air

conditioned space 16 and the machine chamber Y communicate with each other, and

which allows air to be taken in the housing 1 from the air-conditioned space 16. The

refrigerant leakage detection unit 6 is provided at a lower position than the air intake

hole 14. Thus, in the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the

present embodiment, it is possible to cause refrigerant gas that leaks to the air

conditioned space 16 to flow into the housing 1, along with air, and efficiently detect the

refrigerant gas, which is heavier than the air, using the refrigerant leakage detection unit

6, which is located at the lower position than the air intake hole 14.

[0035]

The inner bottom surface 40 of the drain pan 4 is inclined such that the level of

the inner bottom surface 40 gradually lowers in a direction from the rear side toward the

front side. Thus, in the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to

the present embodiment, it is possible to guide collected condensation water to the front

side and thus protect the refrigerant leakage detection unit 6, which is located between

the side of the drain pan 4 and the inner surface 1a of the housing 1, against the

condensation water. It is therefore possible to prevent occurrence of a failure at the

refrigerant leakage detection unit 6, which would occur if the condensation water

splashes on the refrigerant leakage detection unit 6.

[0036]

The refrigerant leakage detection unit 6 includes the refrigerant sensor 60 and the

P00110 holder member 61 that houses the refrigerant sensor 60 to protect the refrigerant

sensor. In a side surface of the holder member 61 that faces the drain pan 4, the slits

61a are formed. Thus, in the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus

according to the present embodiment, it is possible to promptly take flammable

refrigerant that leaks from the heat exchanger 2 and flows into the drain pan 4, into the

holder member 61 through the slits 61a, and thus promptly detect the flammable

refrigerant.

[0037]

the inner surface 40 gradually lowers from the heat exchanger chamber X toward the

machine chamber Y. Thus, in the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus

according to the present embodiment, it is possible to guide flammable refrigerant that

leaks from the heat exchanger 2 and flows into the drain pan 4 to the machine chamber

Y, and thus promptly detect the flammable refrigerant using the refrigerant leakage

detection unit 6.

[0038]

The inner bottom surface 40 of the drain pan 4 includes the protrusion 41, which

is long in the direction from the heat exchanger chamber X toward the machine

chamber Y. Thus, in the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to

the present embodiment, it is possible to increase the density of refrigerant that leaks

from the heat exchanger 2, by causing the refrigerant to be in close state in the

recesses 42 formed on both sides that adjoin the protrusion 41 without allowing the

refrigerant to disperse. It is therefore possible to increase the detection accuracy of

the refrigerant leakage detection unit 6.

[0039]

Although the above description is made with respect to the embodiment, it is not

limiting. For instance, the above description concerning the indoor unit 100 of the air

conditioning apparatus is not limiting, and the indoor unit 100 thus may include

components other than the components referred to in the description. Furthermore, illustration of the housing 1 in the drawings is not limiting, and the housing 1 may be

P00110 configured such that, for example, a front side of a box-shaped rear portion is covered with a panel-shaped front portion, or may be configured in another manner. In the

drain pan 4, it is not indispensable that the inner bottom surface 40 of the drain pan 4 is

inclined. The inner bottom surface 40 may be a horizontal surface. Also, the inner

bottom surface 40 of the drain pan 4 may be formed without having the protrusion 41 or

the recesses 42. Furthermore, the housing 1 may be formed without having the air

intake hole 14. That is, the scope of the present disclosure covers design changes

and variations of application that are made ordinarily by a person with ordinary skill in

the art without deviating from the technical idea of the present disclosure.

Reference Signs List

[0040]

1: housing, 1a: inner surface, 2: heat exchanger, 3: flare connector, 4: drain pan,

: fan, 6: refrigerant leakage detection unit, 7: controller, 8: temperature detection unit,

: front portion, 11: rear portion, 12: air inlet, 13: air outlet, 14: air intake hole, 15: air

passage, 16: air-conditioned space, 20: front heat exchanger, 21: rear heat exchanger,

a, 30b: communication pipe, 31a, 31b: connection pipe, 40: inner bottom surface, 41:

protrusion, 42: recess, 43: drain hose, 60: refrigerant sensor, 61: holder member, 61a:

slit, 62: attachment member, 62a: hole, 100: indoor unit, X: heat exchanger chamber, Y:

machine chamber

Claims

P00110 CLAIMS

[Claim 1] An indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, comprising:

a housing that includes an air inlet located on a front side thereof, an air outlet

located above the air inlet, and an air passage extending from the air inlet to the air

outlet; a heat exchanger provided in the air passage;

a flare connector that connects a pipe for use in supplying refrigerant to the heat

exchanger to a pipe connected to an outdoor unit;

a drain pan provided below the heat exchanger;

a refrigerant leakage detection unit configured to detect leakage of the refrigerant;

and

a controller configured to determine whether the refrigerant leaks or not based on

detection information obtained from detection by the refrigerant leakage detection unit,

wherein an inside of the housing is partitioned into a heat exchanger chamber

and a machine chamber in a lateral direction orthogonal to a front-back direction of the

indoor unit,

the heat exchanger and the drain pan are provided in the heat exchanger

chamber,

the controller is provided in an upper space in the machine chamber, and the flare

connector and the refrigerant leakage detection unit are provided in a lower space in the

machine chamber, and

the refrigerant leakage detection unit is provided in such a manner as to face the

flare connector and such that at least part of an outer shell of the refrigerant leakage

detection unit is located between a side of the drain pan and an inner surface of the

housing.
[Claim 2]

The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus and of claim 1, wherein the

housing has an air intake hole through which an air-conditioned space and the machine

chamber communicate with each other to take air in the housing from the air

P00110 conditioned space, and

the refrigerant leakage detection unit is provided at a lower position than the air

intake hole.
[Claim 3]

The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus and of claim 1 or 2, wherein an

inner bottom surface of the drain pan is inclined such that the level of the inner bottom

surface gradually lowers in a direction from a rear side of the housing toward the front

side.
[Claim 4]

The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus and of claim 3, wherein the

refrigerant leakage detection unit includes a refrigerant sensor and a holder member

that houses the refrigerant sensor to protect the refrigerant sensor, and

the holder member has a slit formed in a side surface of the holder member that

faces the drain pan.
[Claim 5]

The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus and of any one of claims 1 to 4,

wherein an inner bottom surface of the drain pan is inclined such that the level of the

inner bottom surface gradually lowers in a direction from the heat exchanger chamber

toward the machine chamber.
[Claim 6]

The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus and of any one of claims 1 to 5,

wherein an inner bottom surface of the drain pan has a protrusion that is long in a

direction from the heat exchanger chamber toward the machine chamber.