KR20060010789A - Freezing device construction method and freezing device - Google Patents

Abstract

In a freezing device having an arrangement in which an non-condensable gas remaining in refrigerant communication pipes during on-site construction is mixed with a refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit and in this mixed state it is separated and removed using a separation film, it is intended to improve the efficiency of separation of the non-condensable gas in the separation film. In an air conditioner (1), a heat source unit (2) and a utilization unit (5) are connected through the refrigerant communication pipes (6, 7) to form a refrigerant circuit (10), the air conditioner having a gas separation device (31). The gas separation device (31) has a separation film device (34) connected to a liquid-side refrigerant circuit (11) which connects a heat-source-side heat exchanger (22) and a utilization- side heat exchanger (51). The separation film device (34) has a separation film (34b) which, in that a compressor (21) is operated to cause the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit (10) to circulate, is capable of separating the non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipes (6, 7) from the refrigerant and discharging it outside the refrigerant circuit (10).

Description

Construction method of refrigeration unit and refrigeration unit {FREEZING DEVICE CONSTRUCTION METHOD AND FREEZING DEVICE}

The present invention provides a construction method and a refrigerating device of a refrigerating device, in particular, a refrigerating device having a heat source unit having a compressor and a heat source side heat exchanger, a use unit having a use side heat exchanger, and a refrigerant communication pipe connecting the heat source unit and the use unit. It relates to a construction method and a refrigeration apparatus.

As one of the conventional refrigeration apparatuses, there is a separate air conditioner. Such an air conditioner mainly includes a heat source unit having a compressor and a heat source side heat exchanger, a use unit having a use side heat exchanger, and a liquid refrigerant communication pipe and a gas refrigerant communication pipe connecting the units.

In such an air conditioner, a series of constructions from equipment installation, piping, wiring work to the start of operation are mainly composed of the following four steps.

(1) Equipment installation, piping, wiring work

(2) vacuum suction of refrigerant contact pipe

(3) additional refrigerant charge (if necessary)

(4) Start operation

In the vacuum suction operation of the refrigerant communication pipe in the construction of the above air conditioner, the main components are air components such as oxygen discharge, refrigerant gas deterioration due to residual oxygen gas, residual refrigerant gas, and oxygen gas and nitrogen gas. In order to prevent an increase in the operating pressure due to non-condensable gas and the like, it is an important task. However, there is a problem that it takes time, for example, to connect a vacuum pump to a liquid refrigerant communication pipe and a gas refrigerant communication pipe.

In order to solve this problem, by connecting a gas separation device filled with an adsorbent to the refrigerant circuit to circulate the refrigerant, an air conditioning system is used for adsorption and removal of non-condensable gas collected into the refrigerant communication pipe after installation, piping, and wiring work. An apparatus has been proposed. Thereby, it is said that the vacuum suction operation | work using a vacuum pump can be abbreviate | omitted and the construction of an air conditioner can be simplified (for example, refer patent document 1). However, this air conditioner requires a large amount of adsorbent to adsorb all of the non-condensable gas contained in the refrigerant, so that the entire apparatus is large and it is difficult to actually mount it in the refrigeration apparatus.

In addition, a jig having a separator is connected to the refrigerant circuit to fill the entire refrigerant circuit with the refrigerant, which is previously enclosed in the heat source unit, and the non-condensable gas collected into the refrigerant communication pipe after installation, piping, and wiring work. After mixing a refrigerant | coolant, the air conditioner which supplied to the separator and raises and removes the non-condensable gas without raising the mixed gas pressure of a refrigerant | coolant and a non-condensable gas is proposed. Thereby, it is said that the vacuum suction operation using a vacuum pump can be omitted, and the construction of an air conditioner can be simplified (for example, refer patent document 2). However, in this air conditioner, the pressure difference between the primary side (i.e., within the refrigerant circuit) and the secondary side (i.e., outside the refrigerant circuit) of the separator cannot be increased, so the separation efficiency of the non-condensable gas in the separator is low. There is a problem.

<Patent Document 1>

JP-A-569571

<Patent Document 2>

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-213363.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a structure capable of separating and removing a non-condensable gas remaining in a refrigerant communication pipe at a local construction by using a separator from a state in which a noncondensable gas remaining in a refrigerant communication pipe is mixed with a refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit. The refrigeration apparatus provided is for improving the separation efficiency of the non-condensable gas in a separation membrane.

The construction method of the refrigerating device which concerns on 1st invention is a refrigeration apparatus provided with the heat source unit which has a compressor and a heat source side heat exchanger, the use unit which has a use side heat exchanger, and the refrigerant communication piping which connects a heat source unit and a use unit. In the construction method, an apparatus installation step and a non-condensable gas discharge step are provided. In the device installation step, the heat source unit and the use unit are provided, and connected to the refrigerant communication pipe to form a refrigerant circuit. The non-condensable gas discharge step operates the compressor to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, and separates the non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe from the refrigerant flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger and the use side heat exchanger to the outside of the refrigerant circuit. Discharge.

In the construction method of the refrigerating device, after the heat source unit and the use unit are installed in the device arrangement step and connected to the refrigerant communication pipe to form the refrigerant circuit, the non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe in the non-condensable gas discharge step is stored in the refrigerant circuit. By operating and circulating the compressor together with the refrigerant, the pressure of the refrigerant and the non-condensable gas flowing between the heat source-side heat exchanger and the use-side heat exchanger is increased, and the non-condensable gas is discharged from the refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas at this high pressure. The membrane is separated and discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit. In this way, by operating the compressor to circulate the refrigerant, the pressure difference between the primary side (ie, within the refrigerant circuit) and the secondary side (ie, outside the refrigerant circuit) of the membrane used for membrane separation can be increased. Therefore, the separation efficiency of the non-condensable gas in the separation membrane can be improved.

The construction method of the refrigerating device which concerns on 2nd invention of the refrigerating device provided with the heat source unit which has a compressor and a heat source side heat exchanger, the use unit which has a use side heat exchanger, and the refrigerant communication piping which connects a heat source unit and a use unit. In the construction method, a refrigerant circuit configuration step and a non-condensable gas discharge step are provided. The refrigerant circuit configuration step configures the refrigerant circuit by connecting the heat source unit and the utilization unit through the refrigerant communication pipe. The non-condensable gas discharge step operates the compressor to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, and separates the non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe by using a separator from the refrigerant flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger and the use side heat exchanger. To the outside.

In the construction method of the refrigerating device, after the heat source unit and the use unit are connected through the refrigerant communication pipe in the refrigerant circuit construction step, the non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe in the non-condensable gas discharge step is combined with the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. The pressure of the refrigerant and the non-condensable gas flowing between the heat source-side heat exchanger and the use-side heat exchanger is increased to circulate, thereby circulating the non-condensable gas from the refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas at high pressure. Separated and discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit. As such, by operating the compressor to circulate the refrigerant, the pressure difference between the primary side (i.e., in the refrigerant circuit) and the secondary side (i.e., outside the refrigerant circuit) of the separation membrane used for membrane separation can be increased. The separation efficiency of the non-condensable gas in the separation membrane can be improved.

The construction method of the refrigerating device according to the third invention is the construction method of the refrigerating device according to the first or second invention. After gas-liquid separation is carried out by the gas refrigerant | coolant containing liquid gas and liquid refrigerant | coolant, non-condensable gas is isolate | separated from the gas refrigerant | coolant separated by gas-liquid separation.

In the construction method of the refrigerating device, since the refrigerant flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger and the utilization side heat exchanger is gas-liquid separated into a gas refrigerant containing a non-condensable gas and a liquid refrigerant, the amount of gas to be processed by membrane separation is reduced. It is possible to reduce the size of the gas separation device that performs the operation.

The construction method of the refrigerating device which concerns on 4th invention is the construction method of the refrigeration device which concerns on 3rd invention WHEREIN: The non-condensable gas discharge | release step discharge | releases the separated non-condensable gas to air | atmosphere.

In the construction method of this refrigeration apparatus, since the container etc. which collect | separated the separated non-condensable gas are unnecessary, the size of the gas separation apparatus which isolate | separates a membrane can be made further smaller.

The construction method of the refrigerating device which concerns on 5th invention is the construction method of the refrigerating device which concerns on any one of 1st-4th invention WHEREIN: The airtight test which performs the airtightness test of a refrigerant | coolant communication pipe before a non-condensable gas discharge step. And an airtight gas discharge step of releasing and reducing the airtight gas in the refrigerant communication pipe after the airtight test step.

In the construction method of the refrigerating device, the airtight test of the refrigerant communication pipe is carried out using an airtight gas such as nitrogen gas, and the airtight gas is discharged to the air. Therefore, the amount of oxygen gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe after these steps decreases. have. As a result, the amount of oxygen gas circulated in the refrigerant circuit together with the refrigerant can be reduced, thereby eliminating the risk that the state of the refrigerant or the refrigerant oil deteriorates.

A refrigeration apparatus according to a sixth invention is a refrigeration apparatus in which a heat source unit having a compressor and a heat source side heat exchanger and a use unit having a use side heat exchanger are connected through a refrigerant communication pipe to form a refrigerant circuit, wherein the heat source side heat exchanger is used. The non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe can be separated from the refrigerant to be discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit by being connected to the liquid-side refrigerant circuit connecting the side heat exchanger to operate the compressor to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. A gas separation device having a separation membrane is provided.

In this refrigeration apparatus, after the heat source unit and the use unit are connected through the refrigerant communication pipe, a non-condensable gas mainly composed of air components such as oxygen gas and nitrogen gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe is used together with the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. By operating and circulating, the pressure of the refrigerant and the non-condensable gas flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger and the use side heat exchanger is increased, and a gas separation device having a separation membrane from the refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas at this high pressure is used. The non-condensable gas is separated and discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit. As a result, the pressure difference between the primary side (i.e., within the refrigerant circuit) and the secondary side (i.e., outside the refrigerant circuit) of the separation membrane is increased by operating the compressor to circulate the refrigerant, so that the non-condensable gas in the separation membrane is increased. Can improve the separation efficiency.

In the refrigerating device according to the seventh invention, in the refrigerating device according to the sixth invention, the liquid-side refrigerant circuit further includes a receiver capable of collecting refrigerant flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger and the use-side heat exchanger. The gas separation device is connected to the receiver to separate the non-condensable gas contained in the gas refrigerant collected in the upper portion of the receiver.

In this refrigeration apparatus, a gas separation device is connected to a receiver provided in the liquid-side refrigerant circuit, and gas-liquid separation of the refrigerant flowing through the liquid-side refrigerant circuit into a gas refrigerant containing a non-condensable gas and a liquid refrigerant reduces the amount of processing gas, and then gas separation. Since the non-condensable gas can be separated by the device, the size of the gas separation device can be reduced.

The refrigerating device according to the eighth invention is the refrigerating device according to the seventh invention, wherein the gas separation device further has a discharge valve for releasing the separated non-condensable gas to the atmosphere.

In this refrigeration apparatus, a container for collecting the separated non-condensable gas is not required, and the size of the gas separation apparatus can be further reduced.

1 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner as a refrigerating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a receiver and a gas separation device of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment.

3 is a table showing molecular weight data of various gases.

4 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner according to Modification Example 1 of the first embodiment.

5 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner according to Modification Example 2 of the first embodiment.

6 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a receiver and a gas separation device of the air conditioner according to Modification Example 2 of the first embodiment.

7 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner as a refrigerating device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner according to Modification Example 1 of the second embodiment.

9 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner as a refrigerating device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a schematic structure of a separator device of an air conditioner according to a third embodiment.

11 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner according to Modification Example 1 of the third embodiment.

12 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner according to Modification Example 2 of the third embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner as a refrigeration device in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the Example of a construction method of a refrigeration apparatus concerning this invention, and an Example of a refrigeration apparatus are described based on drawing.

[First Example]

(1) Configuration of the air conditioner

1 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner 1 as an example of a refrigerating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner 1 is an air conditioner dedicated to cooling in this embodiment, and is a liquid refrigerant for connecting the heat source unit 2, the use unit 5, the heat source unit 2, and the use unit 5. The communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 are provided.

The utilization unit 5 mainly has a utilization side heat exchanger 51.

The use-side heat exchanger 51 is a device capable of cooling indoor air by a refrigerant flowing therein.

The heat source unit 2 mainly includes a compressor 21, a heat source side heat exchanger 23, a heat source side expansion valve 26, a liquid side partition valve 27, and a gas side partition valve 28.

The compressor 21 is a device for compressing the sucked gas refrigerant.

The heat source side heat exchanger 23 is a device which can condense a refrigerant by using air or water as a heat source. The heat source side expansion valve 26 is a valve connected to the outlet side of the heat source side heat exchanger 23 in order to adjust the refrigerant pressure or the refrigerant flow rate. The liquid side partition valve 27 and the gas side partition valve 28 are respectively connected to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7.

The liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 connects between the inlet side of the utilization side heat exchanger 51 of the utilization unit 5 and the outlet side of the heat source side heat exchanger 23 of the heat source unit 2. The gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 connects between the outlet side of the utilization side heat exchanger 51 of the utilization unit 5 and the suction side of the compressor 21 of the heat source unit 2. The liquid refrigerant communication pipe (6) and the gas refrigerant communication pipe (7) update only the refrigerant communication pipe, the heat source unit (2) and the use unit (5) which are locally installed when the air conditioner (1) is newly constructed. It is a refrigerant communication piping useful from an existing air conditioner.

Here, the liquid side of the refrigerant circuit from the use side heat exchanger 51 to the heat source side heat exchanger 23 including the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6, the liquid side partition valve 27, and the heat source side expansion valve 26 is provided. A refrigerant circuit 11 is used. In addition, the refrigerant circuit in the range from the use side heat exchanger 51 to the heat source side heat exchanger 23 including the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7, the gas side partition valve 28, and the compressor 21 is provided. Let circuit 12 be used. That is, the refrigerant circuit 10 of the air conditioner 1 is composed of a liquid side refrigerant circuit 11 and a gas side refrigerant circuit 12.

The air conditioner 1 further includes a receiver 25 provided in the liquid side refrigerant circuit 11 in this embodiment. More specifically, it is provided between the heat source side heat exchanger 23 and the heat source side expansion valve 26. The receiver 25 can collect the refrigerant condensed in the heat source side heat exchanger 23. The liquid refrigerant condensed in the heat source side heat exchanger 23 flows out from the bottom of the receiver 25 and is sent to the heat source side expansion valve 26. For this reason, the gas refrigerant which was not condensed in the heat source side heat exchanger 23 is gas-liquid separated in the receiver 25, and it collects in the upper part of the receiver 25 (refer FIG. 2).

The air conditioner 1 further includes a gas separation device 31 connected to the liquid-side refrigerant circuit 11. In the present embodiment, the gas separation device 31 mainly has a separation device 34.

The membrane device 34 operates the compressor 21 to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 so that the non-condensable gas remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 is transferred into the refrigerant. It is possible to discharge to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 10 from. Here, non-condensable gas is gas which has air components, such as oxygen gas and nitrogen gas, as a main component. For this reason, when the coolant in the coolant circuit 10 is circulated, it is not condensed in the heat source side heat exchanger 23, but flows into the receiver 25 and collects in the upper part of the receiver 25 together with the gas coolant.

The membrane device 34 is a device which is integrally installed with the upper part of the receiver 25 in this embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 2, the container main body 34a in which part is in communication with the upper part of the receiver 25. And a separation membrane 34b arranged to divide the space in the container body 34a into the space S1 and the space S2, and a discharge valve 34c connected to the space S2.

The separation membrane 34b is made of a material such as a polyimide membrane, a cellulose acetate membrane, a polysulfone membrane or a carbon membrane, and permeates water vapor, oxygen gas or nitrogen gas, which is a relatively small molecular weight component, but does not permeate a gas refrigerant having a large molecular weight. It is a membrane having a function of no, and is called a porous membrane. Here, the porous membrane is a membrane having a large number of very fine pores, and the membrane separating the pores by the speed difference when gas passes through, that is, the component having a small molecular diameter, is allowed to penetrate the molecular diameter. This large component is a membrane that does not permeate. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the molecular weight (more specifically, molecular diameter) of R22, R134a used as a refrigerant | coolant of an air conditioner, and R32 or R125 contained in R407C or R410A of mixed refrigerant | coolant are all Since it is larger than the molecular weight (more specifically, molecular diameter) of water vapor, oxygen gas, or nitrogen gas, it can isolate | separate by the separator 34b. The space S1 is a space communicated with the upper portion of the receiver 25. The space S2 is a space into which the air component that has passed through the separator 34b flows. The discharge valve 34c is a valve provided to open the space S2 to the atmosphere, and it is possible to discharge air components such as oxygen gas and nitrogen gas that have passed through the separation membrane 34b to the air from the space S2.

(2) Construction method of air conditioner

Next, the construction method of the air conditioner 1 is demonstrated.

<Equipment setting step (refrigerant circuit constitution step)>

First, the new use unit 5 and the heat source unit 2 are installed, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 are installed, and the use unit 5 and the heat source unit ( 2) to form the refrigerant circuit 10 of the air conditioner 1. Here, the liquid side diaphragm valve 27 and the gas side diaphragm valve 28 of the new heat source unit 2 are closed (stoppage), and a predetermined amount of refrigerant is previously contained in the refrigerant circuit of the heat source unit 2. It is charged. And the discharge valve 34c of the separator device 34 is closed.

In addition, either or both of the utilization unit 5 and the heat source unit 2 are utilized by utilizing the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 constituting the existing air conditioner. ), Only the use unit 5 and the heat source unit 2 are newly installed.

<Confidential test step>

After the refrigerant circuit 10 of the air conditioner 1 is configured, an airtight test of the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 is performed. In addition, when the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6, the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7, the partition valve, etc. are not provided in the use unit 5, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 The airtight test of is performed in the state connected to the utilization unit 5.

First, a supply port provided to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 or the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 or the like for the airtight test portion including the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 (not shown). Nitrogen gas as a gas for gas tight test is supplied from the gas, and the pressure of the gas tight test part is increased to the gas tight test pressure. After stopping the supply of nitrogen gas, it is confirmed that the airtight test pressure is maintained for the airtight test portion over a predetermined test time.

<Secret gas discharge step>

After the airtight test is completed, the atmosphere gas (secret gas) in the airtight test part is released to the air in order to reduce the pressure in the airtight test part. Here, since the atmospheric gas of the hermetic test part contains a large amount of nitrogen gas used for the hermetic test, most of the atmospheric gas of the hermetic test part after the air discharge is replaced with nitrogen gas and the amount of oxygen gas is reduced. Here, in the air discharge operation, in order to prevent intrusion of air from the outside of the refrigerant circuit 10, the pressure of the airtight test portion including the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 is slightly higher than atmospheric pressure. The pressure is reduced until pressure is reached.

<Non-condensable gas discharge step>

After discharging the airtight gas, the liquid side diaphragm valve 27 and the gas side diaphragm valve 28 of the heat source unit 2 are opened, and the refrigerant circuit of the utilization unit 5 and the refrigerant circuit of the heat source unit 2 are connected. It is in a state. As a result, the refrigerant previously charged in the heat source unit 2 is supplied to the entire refrigerant circuit 10. When the refrigerant charge amount is not sufficient only by the amount of refrigerant previously charged in the heat source unit 2, such as when the length of the piping of the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 is long, the refrigerant is additionally charged from the outside as necessary. In addition, when the refrigerant | coolant is not previously filled in the heat source unit 2, all of the required amount of refrigerant | coolant is charged from the exterior. Thus, the airtight gas as the non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 after the gaseous gas discharge step in the refrigerant circuit 10 (when the airtight test of the use unit 5 is also performed simultaneously, the use unit ( The non-condensable gas remaining in 5) is also included) and the refrigerant.

In this circuit configuration, as in the normal operation, the compressor 21 is started to operate to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10. At this time, the range from the discharge side of the compressor 21 to the heat source side expansion valve 26 of the liquid side refrigerant circuit 11 is increased to the condensation pressure of the refrigerant by adjusting the opening degree of the heat source side expansion valve 26. It is becoming. That is, the receiver 25 is elevated to the condensation pressure of the refrigerant. As a result, the receiver 25 has a saturated state containing the non-condensable gas (air component containing a lot of nitrogen gas) remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 after the gas discharge. A gas-liquid mixed refrigerant flows in. The refrigerant introduced into the receiver 25 is gas-liquid separated into a gas refrigerant including a non-condensable gas and a liquid refrigerant. The gas refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas is collected into the upper space of the receiver 25, and the liquid refrigerant flows out from the lower portion of the receiver 25 and is sent to the heat source side expansion valve 26.

In this state, the discharge valve 34c of the membrane device 34 is opened to make the space S2 of the membrane device 34 open to the atmosphere. In this case, since the space S1 communicates with the upper portion of the receiver 25, a differential pressure corresponding to the pressure difference between the condensation pressure of the refrigerant and the atmospheric pressure is generated between the space S1 and the space S2. The non-condensable gas contained in the gas refrigerant gathered into the space S1 becomes the propulsion force, passes through the separator 34b, and flows to the space S2 side to be released into the atmosphere. On the other hand, the gas coolant is brought into the receiver 25 without passing through the separation membrane 34b. When this operation is performed over a predetermined time, the non-condensable gas remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 is discharged from the refrigerant circuit 10.

As described above, after the non-condensable gas is discharged from the refrigerant circuit 10, the discharge valve 34c of the membrane device 34 is closed.

(3) Features of the air conditioner and its construction method

The air conditioner 1 of this embodiment and its construction method have the following characteristics.

(A)

In the air conditioner 1 of this embodiment, the gas separation device 31 having the separation membrane 34b is connected to the liquid side refrigerant circuit 11, and the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 after the device installation step (refrigerant circuit configuration step). ) And non-condensable gases such as oxygen gas and nitrogen gas remaining in the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 can be separated and discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 10. As compared with the case of using the gas separation apparatus to be used, the size of the gas separation apparatus 31 can be made small. Thereby, the vacuum suction operation at the time of construction can be omitted, without increasing the size of the whole refrigeration apparatus (in this embodiment, the heat source unit 2).

(B)

In the air conditioner 1, after the heat source unit 2 and the use unit 5 are connected through the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 at the device installation step (refrigerant circuit configuration step), the refrigerant is discharged at the non-condensable gas discharge step. Heat source side heat exchanger by circulating non-condensable gas remaining in the communication pipes 6 and 7 by operating the compressor 21 (specifically, cooling operation or heating operation) together with the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10. The pressure of the refrigerant and the non-condensable gas flowing between the 23 and the use-side heat exchanger 51 is increased, and the non-condensable gas is removed from the refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas at this high pressure by using the gas separation device 31. Separated and discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit (10). In this manner, the pressures of the primary side (that is, the space S1 side) and the secondary side (that is, the space S2 side) of the separator 34b of the separator device 34 constituting the gas separation apparatus 31 are as described above. Since the difference can be increased, the separation efficiency of the non-condensable gas in the separation membrane 34b can be improved.

(C)

In addition, in the air conditioner 1, the gas separation device 31 is connected to the receiver 25 provided in the liquid-side refrigerant circuit 11 (in this embodiment, is integrally installed in the receiver 25), the liquid side After the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 11 is gas-liquid separated into a gas refrigerant containing a non-condensable gas and a liquid refrigerant to reduce the amount of processing gas, the gas separation device 31 makes it possible to separate and discharge the non-condensable gas. As a result, the size of the gas separation device 31 can be reduced.

Furthermore, since the air conditioner 1 further has a discharge valve 34c for discharging the non-condensable gas separated by the gas separation device 31, a container or the like for collecting the separated non-condensable gas becomes unnecessary. The size of the gas separation device which performs membrane separation can be made smaller.

(D)

In the construction method of the air conditioner 1, since the airtight test of the liquid refrigerant communication piping 6 and the gas refrigerant communication piping 7 is carried out using airtight gases, such as nitrogen gas, airtight gas is discharge | released to the air, After these steps, the amount of oxygen gas remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 can be reduced. As a result, the amount of oxygen gas circulated in the refrigerant circuit 10 together with the refrigerant can be reduced, thereby eliminating the possibility that the state such as deterioration of the refrigerant or the refrigeration oil will be deteriorated.

(4) Modification Example 1

Since the gas separation device 31 of the above embodiment is provided to separate the non-condensable gas from the gas refrigerant in the upper portion of the receiver 25, the gas separation device 31 is separated and separated from the water present as water vapor in the gas refrigerant in the receiver 25. Although it is possible to remove, the water present in the liquid refrigerant cannot be separated and removed.

For this reason, for example, when a large amount of water remains in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 due to the situation of the piping construction, together with a non-condensable gas such as nitrogen gas or oxygen gas. Moisture may not be able to be removed until it reaches an operational level from within the refrigerant circuit 10.

In order to cope with this, the separation membrane device 34 is connected to the receiver 25 like the gas separation device 131 put in the heat source unit 102 of the air conditioner 101 of the present modification shown in FIG. 4. In addition, the dryer 44 may be connected to the liquid-side refrigerant circuit 11. In addition, in FIG. 4, the dryer 44 is connected upstream of the receiver 26, that is, between the heat source side heat exchanger 23 and the receiver 25, but downstream of the receiver 25, that is, the receiver 25. ) And the heat source side expansion valve 26 may be connected.

As a result, the non-condensable gas is separated and discharged, and the water remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 is reliably removed until it becomes an operable level from the refrigerant circuit 10. can do.

(5) Modification 2

In the above gas separation apparatuses 31 and 131, the separator 34 is integrally formed with the receiver 25, but the heat source unit 202 of the air conditioner 201 of the present modification shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Like the gas separation device 231 enclosed in the above), the separation device 34 may be connected to the upper portion of the receiver 25 via the gas refrigerant introduction circuit 238. Here, the gas refrigerant introduction circuit 238 is a conduit for introducing the gas refrigerant including the non-condensable gas collected to the upper portion of the receiver 25 into the separator device 34, and from the upper portion of the receiver 25. It has a gas refrigerant introduction valve 238a for circulating / blocking a gas refrigerant containing a non-condensable gas introduced into the separator device 34.

In addition, the gas separation device 231 performs an operation of discharging the gas tight gas as the non-condensable gas from the inside of the refrigerant circuit 10 in the following order. First, the gas coolant introduction valve 238a is opened to introduce a gas coolant (supply gas) containing a non-condensable gas collected into the receiver 25 into the separator 34. Then, the discharge valve 34c of the membrane device 34 is opened, and the space S2 of the membrane device 34 is brought into the open air state. As a result, the space S1 of the membrane device 34 communicates with the upper portion of the receiver 25, so that a differential pressure corresponding to the pressure difference between the condensation pressure of the refrigerant and the atmospheric pressure is maintained between the space S1 and the space S2. Occurs. For this reason, the non-condensable gas contained in the supply gas in space S1 becomes a propulsion force, permeate | transmits the separation membrane 34b, flows to the space S2 side, and is discharged | emitted through the discharge valve 34c. On the other hand, the gas refrigerant contained in the supply gas is brought into the space S1 without passing through the separation membrane 34b. When this operation is performed over a predetermined time, the non-condensable gas remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 is discharged from the refrigerant circuit 10. After the non-condensable gas is discharged from the refrigerant circuit 10, both the gas refrigerant introduction valve 238a and the discharge valve 34c constituting the gas separation device 231 are closed.

[Example 2]

(1) Configuration of the air conditioner

7 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner 501 as an example of the refrigeration apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner 501 is an air conditioner capable of cooling operation and heating operation in this embodiment, and connects the heat source unit 502, the use unit 5, the heat source unit 502, and the use unit 5. The liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 for this purpose are provided. In addition, the structure of the use unit 5 and the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 of the air conditioner 501 of this embodiment is the use unit 5 and the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 of the first embodiment and its modifications. ), So description is omitted.

The heat source unit 502 mainly includes the compressor 21, the four-way switching valve 522, the heat source side heat exchanger 23, the bridge circuit 524, the receiver 25, and the heat source side expansion valve 26. And a liquid side partition valve 27 and a gas side partition valve 28. That is, the heat source unit 502 of the present embodiment has a four-way switching valve 522 and a bridge circuit 524 in addition to the configuration of the heat source units 2, 102, 202 of the first embodiment and its modifications. Both the side heat exchanger 51 and the heat source side heat exchanger 23 function as the condenser and the evaporator of the refrigerant. Hereinafter, the four-way switching valve 522 and the bridge circuit 524 will be described.

The four-way switching valve 522 is a valve for switching the direction of the refrigerant flow at the time of switching between the cooling operation and the heating operation, and the gas of the discharge side and the heat source side heat exchanger 23 of the compressor 21 during the cooling operation. The side of the compressor 21 is connected to the suction side of the compressor 21 and the gas side diaphragm valve 28. In the heating operation, the discharge side of the compressor 21 and the gas side diaphragm valve 28 are connected together. It is possible to connect the suction side of 21 and the gas side of the heat source side heat exchanger 23.

The bridge circuit 524 is comprised from four check valves 524a-524d, and is connected between the heat source side heat exchanger 23 and the liquid side partition valve 27. As shown in FIG. Here, the check valve 524a is a valve that allows only the flow of the refrigerant from the heat source side heat exchanger 23 to the receiver 25. The check valve 524b is a valve that allows only the flow of the refrigerant from the liquid side partition valve 27 to the receiver 25. The check valve 524c is a valve that allows only the flow of the refrigerant from the receiver 25 to the liquid side partition valve 27. The check valve 524d is a valve that allows only the flow of the refrigerant from the receiver 25 to the heat source side heat exchanger 23. As a result, when the refrigerant flows from the heat source side heat exchanger 23 side toward the use side heat exchanger 51 side as in the cooling operation, the bridge circuit 524 receives the receiver 25 through the inlet of the receiver 25. ) And the refrigerant flowing out from the outlet of the receiver 25 flows toward the use-side heat exchanger 51 side after being expanded by the heat source-side expansion valve 26 and flows toward the use-side heat exchanger 51 side. When the refrigerant flows from the utilization side heat exchanger 51 side toward the heat source side heat exchanger 23 side, the refrigerant flows into the receiver 25 through the inlet of the receiver 25 and from the outlet of the receiver 25. The refrigerant flowing out functions to expand toward the heat source side heat exchanger 23 side after being expanded by the heat source side expansion valve 26.

Here, the heat source side heat exchanger including the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6, the liquid side partition valve 27, the bridge circuit 524, the receiver 25, and the heat source side expansion valve 26 from the use side heat exchanger 51. The refrigerant circuit in the range up to (23) is referred to as the liquid side refrigerant circuit 511. Further, the range from the use side heat exchanger 51 to the heat source side heat exchanger 23 including the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7, the gas side partition valve 28, the four-way switching valve 522, and the compressor 21. Is a gas side refrigerant circuit 512. That is, the refrigerant circuit 510 of the air conditioner 501 is composed of a liquid side refrigerant circuit 511 and a gas side refrigerant circuit 512.

The air conditioner 501 further includes a gas separation device 231 connected to the liquid side refrigerant circuit 511. Since the gas separation device 231 is the same as the gas separation device 231 of the modification of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

(2) Construction method of air conditioner

Next, the construction method of the air conditioner 501 is demonstrated. In addition, since it is the same as the construction method of the air conditioner 1 of 1st Example, the procedure which excludes a non-condensable gas discharge step is abbreviate | omitted description.

<Non-condensable gas discharge step>

After discharging the airtight gas, the liquid side diaphragm valve 27 and the gas side diaphragm valve 28 of the heat source unit 502 are opened to connect the refrigerant circuit of the utilization unit 5 and the refrigerant circuit of the heat source unit 502. I do it. As a result, the refrigerant previously charged in the heat source unit 502 is supplied to the entire refrigerant circuit 510. If the amount of refrigerant previously charged in the heat source unit 502 does not reach the required amount of refrigerant charge, such as when the length of the piping of the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 is long, the refrigerant is additionally charged from the outside as necessary. In addition, when the refrigerant | coolant is not previously filled in the heat source unit 502, all of the required amount of refrigerant | coolant is charged from the exterior. Thereby, the airtight gas as the non-condensable gas which remained in the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 after the airtight gas discharge step in the refrigerant circuit 510 (when the airtight test of the use unit 5 was also performed simultaneously, the use unit ( The non-condensable gas remaining in 5) is also included) and the refrigerant.

In this circuit configuration, the compressor 21 is started to operate to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 510.

(When discharging non-condensable gas while performing cooling operation)

First, the case where the operation which circulates the refrigerant | coolant in the refrigerant circuit 510 is performed by a cooling operation is demonstrated. At this time, the four-way switching valve 522 is in a state shown by the solid line in FIG. 7, that is, the discharge side of the compressor 21 is connected to the gas side of the heat source side heat exchanger 23, and the suction side of the compressor 21. It is in the state connected to this gas side partition valve 28. Moreover, the heat source side expansion valve 26 is also in the state which the opening degree was adjusted. Further, both the gas refrigerant introduction valve 238a and the discharge valve 34c constituting the gas separation device 231 are closed, and the gas separation device 231 is not used.

When the compressor 21 is started in the state of the refrigerant circuit 510 and the gas separation device 231, the gas refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 21 and compressed, and then the heat source side heat exchange is performed via the four-way switching valve 522. It is sent to the group 23 and condenses by exchanging heat with air or water as a heat source. This condensed liquid refrigerant flows into the receiver 25 through the check valve 524a of the bridge circuit 524. Here, the heat source side expansion valve 26 connected to the downstream side of the receiver 25 is in a state where the opening degree is adjusted, and from the discharge side of the compressor 21 to the heat source side expansion valve 26 of the liquid side refrigerant circuit 511. The refrigerant pressure in the range of up to is increased to the condensation pressure of the refrigerant. That is, the refrigerant pressure in the receiver 25 is elevated to the condensation pressure of the refrigerant. For this reason, in the receiver 25, saturated gas-liquid mixed phase containing the non-condensable gas (specifically, gas-tight gas) which remained in the liquid refrigerant | coolant communication piping 6 and the gas refrigerant communication piping 7 after airtight gas discharge | release. Of refrigerant is introduced. The refrigerant introduced into the receiver 25 is gas-liquid separated into a gas refrigerant including a non-condensable gas and a liquid refrigerant. The gas refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas is collected at the top of the receiver 25, and the liquid refrigerant is temporarily collected into the receiver 25, and then flowed out from the bottom of the receiver 25 and sent to the heat source side expansion valve 26. Lose. The liquid refrigerant sent to the heat source-side expansion valve 26 is expanded to a gas-liquid abnormal state, and the check valve 524c, the liquid side partition valve 27, and the liquid refrigerant communication piping of the bridge circuit 524. It is sent to the use unit 5 via (6). The refrigerant sent to the use unit 5 is evaporated by heat exchange with the indoor air in the use side heat exchanger 51. The evaporated gas refrigerant is again sucked into the compressor 21 via the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7, the gas side partition valve 28, and the four-way switching valve 522.

In this cooling operation state, the operation | movement which discharges non-condensable gas like the gas separation apparatus 231 of 1st Example and its modification can be performed. Since this procedure is the same as the operation of discharging the non-condensable gas in the gas separation device 231 of the modification of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

(When discharging non-condensable gas while heating operation)

Next, the case where the operation which circulates the refrigerant | coolant in the refrigerant circuit 510 is performed by a heating operation is demonstrated. At this time, the four-way switching valve 522 is in a state shown by broken lines in FIG. 7, that is, the discharge side of the compressor 21 is connected to the gas side partition valve 28, and the suction side of the compressor 21 is a heat source. It is in the state connected to the gas side of the side heat exchanger 23. Moreover, the heat source side expansion valve 26 is also in the state which the opening degree was adjusted. Further, both the gas refrigerant introduction valve 238a and the discharge valve 34c constituting the gas separation device 231 are closed, and the gas separation device 231 is not used.

When the compressor 21 is started in the state of the refrigerant circuit 510 and the gas separation device 231, the gas refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 21 and compressed, and then via the four-way switching valve 522, the gas side It is sent to the utilization unit 5 via the partition valve 28 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7. The refrigerant sent to the utilization unit 5 is condensed by exchanging heat with indoor air in the utilization side heat exchanger 51. The condensed liquid refrigerant flows into the receiver 25 through the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6, the liquid side partition valve 27, and the check valve 524b of the bridge circuit 524. Here, the heat source side expansion valve 26 connected to the downstream side of the receiver 25 is in a state where the opening degree is also adjusted as in the cooling operation, and the heat source side expansion of the liquid side refrigerant circuit 511 from the discharge side of the compressor 21 is performed. The refrigerant pressure in the range up to the valve 26 is elevated to the condensation pressure of the refrigerant. That is, the refrigerant pressure in the receiver 25 is elevated to the condensation pressure of the refrigerant. For this reason, the receiver 25 contains the non-condensable gas (specifically hermetic gas) which remained in the liquid refrigerant | coolant communication piping 6 and the gas refrigerant communication piping 7 after discharge | release of hermetic gas similarly to a cooling operation. Saturated gas-liquid mixture flows in. The refrigerant introduced into the receiver 25 is gas-liquid separated into a gas refrigerant including a non-condensable gas and a liquid refrigerant. The gas refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas is collected in the upper portion of the receiver 25, and the liquid refrigerant temporarily accumulates in the receiver 25, and then flows out of the lower portion of the receiver 25 and is sent to the heat source side expansion valve 26. Lose. The liquid refrigerant sent to the heat source side expansion valve 26 is expanded to a gas-liquid abnormal state, and is sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 23 via the check valve 524d of the bridge circuit 524. The refrigerant sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 23 is evaporated by heat exchange with air or water as a heat source. The evaporated gas refrigerant is again sucked into the compressor 21 via the four-way switching valve 522.

Even in this heating operation state, the operation which discharges a non-condensable gas like a cooling operation state can be performed. The procedure is the same as the operation for discharging the non-condensable gas in the cooling operation state described above, that is, the operation for discharging the non-condensable gas in the gas separation device 231 of the modification of the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

In this manner, in the air conditioner 501 of the present embodiment, like the first embodiment and its modification, the liquid refrigerant communication is carried out using the gas separation device 231 by circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 510. The operation for discharging the non-condensable gas remaining in the pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 from within the refrigerant circuit 510 can be performed.

(3) Modification Example 1

In the gas separation device 231, the receiver 25 and the membrane device 34 are connected via the gas refrigerant introduction circuit 238, but the heat source unit of the air conditioner 601 of the present modification shown in FIG. Like the gas separation device 31 of the first embodiment, the receiver 25 and the membrane device 34 may be integrally formed as in the gas separation device 31 of the first embodiment.

(4) another modification

In the air conditioners 501 and 601 provided with the gas separation devices 31 and 231 described above, similarly to the air conditioner 101 of the modification of the first embodiment, the moisture remaining in the refrigerant circuit 10 is removed. A drier for this connection may be connected to the liquid-side refrigerant circuit 510.

[Example 3]

(1) Configuration of the air conditioner

9 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner 1001 as an example of the refrigerating device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner 1001 is an air conditioner capable of cooling operation and heating operation similarly to the air conditioner 501 of the second embodiment in this embodiment, and includes a heat source unit 1002, a use unit 5, And a liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and a gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 for connecting the heat source unit 1002 and the utilization unit 5 to each other. In addition, since the structure which removes the gas separation apparatus 1031 of the air conditioner 1001 of this embodiment is the same as that of the air conditioner 501 of a 2nd embodiment, it abbreviate | omits description.

The gas separation device 1031 mainly has a separation device 1034 in this embodiment.

The separation membrane device 1034, like the separation membrane devices 34 of the first and second embodiments, separates the non-condensable gas from the gas refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas collected in the upper portion of the receiver 25, thereby separating the non-condensing. A device for discharging the accumulated gas to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 510. The membrane device 1034 is connected to the receiver 25 through the gas refrigerant introduction circuit 238. As shown in FIG. 10, the separator device 1034 is a space (S3, primary) in which the device body 1034a and the space in the device body 1034a communicate with the gas refrigerant introduction circuit 238 in this embodiment. Side) and the separation membrane 1034b arranged to be divided into the space S4 and the secondary side, a discharge valve 1034c connected to the space S3, and a gas refrigerant outlet circuit 1041 connected to the space S4. Have As the separation membrane 1034b, a membrane capable of selectively permeating the gas refrigerant from the gas refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas is used in this embodiment. As such a separation membrane, a nonporous membrane composed of a polysulfone membrane, a silicone rubber membrane, or the like is used. Here, the non-porous membrane is a homogeneous membrane which does not have many very fine pores as the porous membrane has, and the membrane is separated by the speed difference when gas passes through the membrane through the process of dissolution diffusion-delysis. That is, it is a membrane which transmits a component having a high boiling point and high solubility to the membrane but does not transmit a component having a low boiling point and low solubility to the membrane. Here, since R22, R134a used as the refrigerant of the air conditioner, and R32C and R125 included in the mixed refrigerant R407C or R410A have a higher boiling point than water vapor, oxygen gas or nitrogen gas, separation by the non-porous membrane is recommended. It is possible. As a result, the separation membrane 1034b selectively selects the gas refrigerant from a gas refrigerant containing a non-condensable gas (specifically, a supply gas that is a mixed gas of the non-condensable gas and the gas refrigerant collected in the upper portion of the receiver 25). The gas refrigerant can be introduced into the space S4 from the space S3. The gas coolant outlet circuit 1041 is provided to connect the space S4 of the separator device 1034 and the suction side of the compressor 21, and passes through the separator 1034b to return to the refrigerant circuit 10. Has a gas refrigerant return valve 1041a for circulating / blocking the gas. Here, since the gas coolant outlet circuit 1041 is provided so that the gas coolant is returned to the suction side of the compressor 21 having the lowest refrigerant pressure in the coolant circuit 10, the space between the space S3 and the space S4. It is possible to increase the differential pressure. The discharge valve 1034c discharges the non-condensable gas remaining in the space S3 to the outside by allowing the gas refrigerant to pass through the separation membrane 1034b, and discharges it to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 510.

(2) Construction method of air conditioner

Next, the construction method of the air conditioner 1001 is demonstrated. In addition, since it is the same as the construction method of the air conditioner 1 of 1st Example, the procedure which excludes a non-condensable gas discharge step is abbreviate | omitted description.

<Non-condensable gas discharge step>

After discharging the airtight gas, the liquid side diaphragm valve 27 and the gas side diaphragm valve 28 of the heat source unit 1002 are opened, and the refrigerant circuit of the utilization unit 5 and the refrigerant circuit of the heat source unit 1002 are connected. It is in a state. As a result, the refrigerant previously charged in the heat source unit 1002 is supplied to the entire refrigerant circuit 10. If the amount of refrigerant previously charged in the heat source unit 1002 does not reach the required amount of refrigerant charge, such as when the length of the piping of the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 is long, the refrigerant is additionally charged from the outside as necessary. In addition, when the refrigerant | coolant is not previously filled in the heat source unit 1002, all of the required amount of refrigerant | coolant is charged from the exterior. Thereby, the airtight gas as the non-condensable gas which remained in the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 after the airtight gas discharge step in the refrigerant circuit 510 (when the airtight test of the use unit 5 was also performed simultaneously, the use unit ( The non-condensable gas remaining in 5) is also included) and the refrigerant.

In this circuit configuration, the compressor 21 is started to operate to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 510.

(When discharging non-condensable gas while performing cooling operation)

First, the case where the operation which circulates the refrigerant | coolant in the refrigerant circuit 510 is performed by a cooling operation is demonstrated. At this time, the four-way switching valve 522 is in the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 9, that is, the discharge side of the compressor 21 is connected to the gas side of the heat source side heat exchanger 23, and the suction side of the compressor 21 is also present. It is in the state connected to this gas side partition valve 28. Moreover, the heat source side expansion valve 26 is also in the state which the opening degree was adjusted. Further, the gas refrigerant introduction valve 238a, the gas refrigerant return valve 1041a, and the discharge valve 1034c constituting the gas separation device 1031 are all closed, so that the gas separation device 1031 is not used. have.

When the compressor 21 is started in the refrigerant circuit 510 and the gas separation device 1031, the cooling operation as in the second embodiment is performed. In addition, since the operation | movement operation | movement of the refrigerant circuit 510 is the same as that of 2nd Example, description is abbreviate | omitted.

Next, the operation | movement operation | movement which discharges non-condensable gas from inside the refrigerant circuit 510 using the gas separation apparatus 1031 is demonstrated. First, the gas coolant introduction valve 238a is opened to introduce a gas coolant (supply gas) containing a non-condensable gas collected into the receiver 25 into the separator device 1034. Subsequently, the gas refrigerant return valve 1041a of the membrane device 1034 is opened so that the refrigerant pressure in the space S4 of the membrane device 1034 is equal to the refrigerant pressure flowing through the suction side of the compressor 21. Then, since the space S3 of the membrane device 1034 communicates with the upper portion of the receiver 25, the condensation pressure of the refrigerant between the space S3 and the space S4 and the pressure at the suction side of the compressor 21 are maintained. Differential pressure is generated corresponding to the pressure difference of. For this reason, the gas refrigerant contained in the supply gas collected into the space S3 has this differential pressure as the propulsive force, passes through the separation membrane 1034b, flows to the space S4 side, and flows to the space S4 side through the gas refrigerant return valve 1041a. Is returned to the suction side. On the other hand, as the gas refrigerant passes through the separation membrane 1034b and flows to the space S4 side, the non-condensable gas (non-permeable gas) remaining in the space S3 is released to the atmosphere by opening the discharge valve 1034c. When this operation is performed over a predetermined time, the non-condensable gas remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 is discharged from the refrigerant circuit 510.

After the non-condensable gas is discharged from the refrigerant circuit 510, all of the gas refrigerant introduction valve 238a, the gas refrigerant return valve 1041a, and the discharge valve 1034c constituting the gas separation device 1031 are closed. .

(When discharging non-condensable gas while heating operation)

Next, the case where the operation which circulates the refrigerant | coolant in the refrigerant circuit 510 is performed by heating operation is demonstrated. At this time, the four-way switching valve 522 is in the state shown by the broken line in FIG. 9, that is, the discharge side of the compressor 21 is connected to the gas side partition valve 28, and the suction side of the compressor 21 is the heat source side. It is in the state connected to the gas side of the heat exchanger 23. Moreover, the heat source side expansion valve 26 is also in the state which the opening degree was adjusted. Further, the gas refrigerant introduction valve 238a, the gas refrigerant return valve 1041a, and the discharge valve 1034c constituting the gas separation device 1031 are all closed, and the gas separation device 1031 is not used. It is.

When the compressor 21 is started in the refrigerant circuit 510 and the gas separation device 1031, the heating operation as in the second embodiment is performed. In addition, since the operation | movement operation | movement of this refrigerant circuit 510 and the gas separation apparatus 1031 is the same as operation which discharges the non-condensable gas in a cooling operation state, it abbreviate | omits description.

(3) Features of the air conditioner and its construction method

In the air conditioner 1001 of the present embodiment, the air conditioner of the first and second embodiments is adopted as the membrane 1034b constituting the separator device 1034 employs a non-porous membrane as a membrane for selectively permeating refrigerant. Although it is different from the structure of (1-201, 501, 601), it has the same characteristics as the characteristic in the air conditioners 1-201, 501, 601 of 1st and 2nd Example, and its construction method.

(4) Modification Example 1

In the above gas separation device 1031, the gas refrigerant separated in the membrane device 1034 is returned to the suction side of the compressor 21 through the gas refrigerant outlet circuit 1041, but in the present modified example shown in FIG. 11. Like the gas separation device 1131 put in the heat source unit 1102 of the air conditioner 1101, the gas refrigerant outlet circuit 1141 is downstream of the membrane device 1034 and the heat source side expansion valve 26 (specific volume). It may be provided so as to connect between the downstream side of the heat source side expansion valve 26 and the check valves 524c and 524d of the bridge circuit 524).

(5) Modification 2

Although the receiver 25 and the membrane device 1034 are connected through the gas refrigerant introduction circuit 238 in the gas separation devices 1031 and 1131 described above, the air conditioner 1201 of the present modification shown in FIG. Like the gas separation device 1231 in the heat source unit 1202, the receiver 25 and the separation membrane device 1034 may be integrally formed similarly to the gas separation device 31 of the first embodiment. At this time, the upper space of the receiver 25 (that is, the space on the primary side of the separator 34b) is connected to the discharge valve 1034c, and the space on the secondary side of the separator 1034b is connected to the gas refrigerant outlet circuit 1041. ).

(6) another modification

In the gas separation device 1131, the receiver 25 and the membrane device 1034 may be integrally formed like the gas separation device 1231.

Further, the membrane device 1034 of the present embodiment and its modifications may be employed as the membrane device forming the gas separation device in the air conditioners 1, 101, 201, 501, and 601 of the first embodiment and its modifications. It's okay.

Furthermore, in the air conditioners 1001, 1101, 1201 provided with the gas separation devices 1031, 1131, and 1231, the refrigerant is supplied to the liquid-side refrigerant circuit 511 like the air conditioner 101 of the modification of the first embodiment. A dryer for removing moisture remaining in the circuit 510 may be connected.

[Example 4]

(1) Configuration and features of the air conditioner

13 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner 1501 as an example of the refrigerating device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner 1501 is an air conditioner capable of a cooling operation and a heating operation, and includes a heat source unit 1502, a plurality (two in this embodiment) use units 1505, a heat source unit 1502, and the like. The liquid refrigerant communication pipe 1506 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 1507 for connecting the plurality of use units 1505 are provided, for example, to constitute a multi-type air conditioner.

The utilization unit 1505 mainly includes a utilization side heat exchanger 51 and a utilization side expansion valve 1552. Here, since the use side heat exchanger 51 is the same as the use side heat exchanger 51 of the air conditioner 501 of the second embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

The utilization side expansion valve 1552 is a valve connected to the liquid side of the utilization side heat exchanger 51 in order to adjust the refrigerant pressure or the refrigerant flow rate. The utilization side expansion valve 1552 has a function of expanding the refrigerant in the present embodiment, particularly in the cooling operation.

The heat source unit 1502 mainly includes a compressor 21, a four-way switching valve 522, a heat source side heat exchanger 23, a bridge circuit 1524, a receiver 25, and a heat source side expansion valve 1526. And a liquid side partition valve 27 and a gas side partition valve 28. Here, the compressor 21, the four-way switching valve 522, the heat source side heat exchanger 23, the receiver 25, the liquid side diaphragm valve 27 and the gas side diaphragm valve 28 are the air conditioners of the second embodiment ( Since it is the same as the compressor 21 of the 501, the four-way switching valve 522, the heat source side heat exchanger 23, the receiver 25, the liquid side partition valve 27, and the gas side partition valve 28, description is abbreviate | omitted.

The bridge circuit 1524 is composed of three check valves 524a to 524c and a heat source side expansion valve 1526 in this embodiment, and is connected between the heat source side heat exchanger 23 and the liquid side partition valve 27. have. Here, the check valve 524a is a valve that allows only the flow of the refrigerant from the heat source side heat exchanger 23 to the receiver 25. The check valve 524b is a valve that allows only the flow of the refrigerant from the liquid side partition valve 27 to the receiver 25. The check valve 524c is a valve that allows only the flow of the refrigerant from the receiver 25 to the liquid side partition valve 27. The heat source side expansion valve 1526 is a valve connected between the outlet of the receiver 25 and the heat source side heat exchanger 23 in order to adjust the refrigerant pressure or the refrigerant flow rate. The heat source-side expansion valve 1526 is completely abolished during the cooling operation in this embodiment, and the refrigerant flowing from the heat source-side heat exchanger 23 toward the use-side heat exchanger 51 through the inlet of the receiver 25 receives the receiver ( 25) and the opening degree is adjusted during the heating operation to expand the refrigerant flowing toward the heat source side heat exchanger 23 from the use side heat exchanger 51 (specifically, the outlet of the receiver 25). It is functioning. As a result, when the refrigerant flows from the heat source side heat exchanger 23 side to the use side heat exchanger 51 side as in the cooling operation, the bridge circuit 1524 receives the receiver 25 through the inlet of the receiver 25. And flows the refrigerant toward the use-side heat exchanger (51) side without introducing the refrigerant into the heat exchange-side expansion valve (1526) without introducing the refrigerant into the inside of the receiver (25). When the refrigerant flows from the use side heat exchanger 51 side toward the heat source side heat exchanger 23 side, the refrigerant flows into the receiver 25 through the inlet of the receiver 25 and exits the receiver 25. The refrigerant flowing out from the air is expanded to the heat source side heat exchanger 23 side after being expanded by the heat source side expansion valve 1526.

The liquid refrigerant communication pipe 1506 connects between the liquid side of the use side heat exchanger 51 of the plurality of use units 1505 and the liquid side partition valve 27 of the heat source unit 1502. The gas refrigerant communication pipe 1507 connects between the gas side of the use side heat exchanger 51 of the plurality of use units 1505 and the gas side partition valve 28 of the heat source unit 1502. The liquid refrigerant communication pipe 1506 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 1507 are either refrigerant communication pipes that are locally constructed when the air conditioner 1501 is newly constructed, or one of the heat source unit 1502 and the use unit 1505. Or it is a refrigerant communication piping useful from an existing air conditioner when updating both.

Here, the heat source side heat exchanger including the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 1506, the liquid side partition valve 27, the bridge circuit 1524, the receiver 25, and the heat source side expansion valve 1526 from the use side heat exchanger 51. The refrigerant circuit in the range up to 23 is referred to as the liquid side refrigerant circuit 1511. Further, the range from the use side heat exchanger 51 to the heat source side heat exchanger 23 including the gas refrigerant communication pipe 1507, the gas side partition valve 28, the four-way switching valve 522, and the compressor 21. Is a gas side refrigerant circuit 1512. That is, the refrigerant circuit 1510 of the air conditioner 1501 includes a liquid side refrigerant circuit 1511 and a gas side refrigerant circuit 1512.

The air conditioner 1501 further includes a gas separation device 231 connected to the liquid side refrigerant circuit 1511. The gas separation device 231 operates the compressor 21 to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 1510, thereby cooling the non-condensable gas remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 1506 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 1507. It is a device which can be separated from the inside and discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 1510, and is incorporated in the heat source unit 1502 in this embodiment. Here, since the gas separation device 231 is the same as the gas separation device 231 of the air conditioner 201 of the modification of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

In the air conditioner 1501 as described above, the liquid refrigerant is circulated using the gas separation device 231 by circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 1510 using the same construction method as the air conditioner 501 of the second embodiment. The operation for discharging the non-condensable gas remaining in the communication pipe 1506 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 1507 from within the refrigerant circuit 1510 can be performed.

In particular, in the case of a multi-type air conditioner such as the air conditioner 1501 of the present embodiment, the pipe length and pipe diameter of the refrigerant contact pipes 1506 and 1507 are refrigerant contact of a relatively small air conditioner such as a room air conditioner. This construction method is useful because it is larger than piping and the amount of non-condensable gas which has to be discharged from inside the refrigerant circuit 1510 is large.

(2) Modification

Like the gas separation device 31 according to the first and second embodiments, the receiver 25 and the membrane device 34 may be integrally formed.

As the gas separation device, gas separation devices 1031, 1131 and 1231 having a separation membrane 1034b made of the non-porous membrane according to the third embodiment and its modifications may be employed.

[Other Example]

As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described based on drawing, the specific structure is not limited to these Examples, It can change in the range which does not deviate from the summary of invention.

For example, in the said Example, although this invention was applied to the air conditioner which can switch and operate an air-conditioning operation, the air conditioner for exclusive use of a cooling operation, and the multi-type air conditioner to which several use units were connected, it is limited to this. It may be applied to an ice heat storage type air conditioner or another separate type refrigeration device.

According to the present invention, it is possible to separate and remove non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe at the time of local construction by using a separator from the state mixed with the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit for the purpose of omitting the vacuum suction operation. In the refrigeration apparatus provided with, it is possible to improve the separation efficiency of the non-condensable gas in the separation membrane.

Claims (8)

Heat source units 2 to 202, 502, 602, 1002 to 1202 and 1502 having a compressor 21 and a heat source side heat exchanger 23, use units 5 and 1505 having a use side heat exchanger 51 and In the construction method of the refrigerating device provided with the refrigerant communication piping 6, 1506, 7, 1507 which connects the said heat source unit and the said use unit, An apparatus installation step of installing the heat source unit and the utilization unit and connecting the refrigerant communication pipe to configure the refrigerant circuits 10, 510, and 1510; The compressor is operated to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, to separate the non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe from the refrigerant flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger and the utilization side heat exchanger, and to the outside of the refrigerant circuit. Non-condensable gas discharge step to exhaust Construction method of a refrigeration apparatus having a. Heat source units 2 to 202, 502, 602, 1002 to 1202 and 1502 having a compressor 21 and a heat source side heat exchanger 23, use units 5 and 1505 having a use side heat exchanger 51 and In the construction method of the refrigerating device provided with the refrigerant communication piping 6, 1506, 7, 1507 which connects the said heat source unit and the said use unit, A refrigerant circuit configuration step of forming a refrigerant circuit (10, 510, 1510) by connecting the heat source unit and the utilization unit through the refrigerant communication pipe; The compressor is operated to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, and the non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe is separated from the refrigerant flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger and the utilization side heat exchanger using separation membranes 34b and 1034b. Non-condensable gas discharge step to separate and discharge to the outside of the refrigerant circuit Construction method of a refrigeration apparatus having a. The method according to claim 1 or 2, In the non-condensable gas discharging step, the refrigerant flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger 23 and the utilization side heat exchanger 51 is separated by gas-liquid separation into a gas refrigerant including the non-condensable gas and a liquid refrigerant. And a non-condensable gas from the gas-liquid separated gas refrigerant. The method of claim 3, And a non-condensable gas discharging step, wherein the separated non-condensable gas is discharged to the atmosphere. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, An airtight test step of conducting an airtight test of the refrigerant communication pipes 6, 1506, 7, 1507 before the non-condensable gas discharge step; After the airtight test step, the airtight gas discharge step of releasing and reducing the airtight gas in the refrigerant communication pipe to the air Construction method of a refrigeration apparatus further provided. The heat source units 2 to 202, 502, 602, 1002 to 1202 and 1502 having the compressor 21 and the heat source side heat exchanger 23, and the use units 5 and 1505 having the use side heat exchanger 51 are provided. In the refrigerating device connected to the refrigerant communication pipes (6, 1506, 7, 1507) to constitute the refrigerant circuit (10, 510, 1510), Connected to the liquid-side refrigerant circuits 11, 511, and 1511 which connect the heat source-side heat exchanger and the use-side heat exchanger, and operate the compressor to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, thereby remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe. Refrigerating apparatuses (1 to 201, 501) having gas separation apparatuses (31 to 231, 1031 to 1231) having separation membranes (34b and 1034b) capable of separating the accumulated gas from the refrigerant and discharging them out of the refrigerant circuit. 601, 1001-1201, 1501). The method of claim 6, The liquid side refrigerant circuits 11, 511, and 1511 further have a receiver 25 capable of collecting refrigerant flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger 23 and the utilization side heat exchanger 51, The gas separation devices 31 to 231 and 1031 to 1231 are connected to the receiver to separate the non-condensable gas contained in the gas refrigerant collected in the upper portion of the receiver. Refrigeration apparatus (1-201, 501, 601, 1001-1201, 1501). The method of claim 7, wherein The gas separation apparatuses 31 to 231 and 1031 to 1231 further include refrigeration apparatuses 1 to 201, 501, 601, 1001 to 1201, which further include discharge valves 34c and 1034c for releasing the separated non-condensable gas into the atmosphere. 1501).

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