WO2018189830A1

WO2018189830A1 - Refrigeration cycle device

Info

Publication number: WO2018189830A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/014991
Authority: WO
Inventors: 暁八柳; 石橋　晃; 前田　剛志; 中村　伸
Original assignee: 三菱電機株式会社
Priority date: 2017-04-12
Filing date: 2017-04-12
Publication date: 2018-10-18
Also published as: JP6808023B2; JPWO2018189830A1

Abstract

A refrigeration cycle device according to the present invention comprising an outdoor heat exchanger functioning as an evaporator, an outdoor fan for blowing air to the outdoor heat exchanger, a casing that accommodates the outdoor heat exchanger and the outdoor fan and has a drain hole for discharging water formed in the lower part of the casing, a discharge detection device for detecting water being discharged from the drain hole, and a control device for controlling an operation of defrosting the outdoor heat exchanger. The control device is configured so as to operate the blower fan when the discharge detection device has detected the water while the defrosting operation is being performed once the blower fan has been stopped.

Description

Refrigeration cycle equipment

The present invention relates to a refrigeration cycle apparatus with improved drainage of an outdoor heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator.

Conventionally, a refrigeration cycle apparatus including an outdoor heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator, such as an air conditioner, is known. In such a refrigeration cycle apparatus, when the outdoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator under low temperature outdoor air conditions, moisture contained in the outdoor air is condensed on the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger, and the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger Frost formation occurs.

Further, conventionally, as a heat exchanger used as an outdoor heat exchanger, a plurality of plate-like fins arranged in parallel with a prescribed fin pitch interval, and a plurality of fins penetrating the fins along the parallel arrangement direction of the fins A fin-and-tube heat exchanger including a heat transfer tube is known.

When frost forms on the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger, heat exchange between the refrigerant flowing in the heat transfer tube and the air outside the heat transfer tube is hindered, and the heat exchanger performance is deteriorated. In addition, the frost attached to the fin surface grows and the fin may be damaged, and the frost affects the reliability of the apparatus. For this reason, the conventional refrigeration cycle apparatus provided with the outdoor heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator performs a defrosting operation in which frost adhering to the outdoor heat exchanger is melted and discharged as water. For example, in the defrosting operation, high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor is caused to flow into the outdoor heat exchanger, thereby melting frost attached to the outdoor heat exchanger.

During the defrosting operation, the frost adhering to the outdoor heat exchanger is melted, and most of the water is discharged as water to the outside of the housing that houses the outdoor heat exchanger. However, some water may stay on the surfaces of the heat transfer tubes and fins without being discharged outside the casing. Thus, the water that cannot be drained in the defrosting operation and stays in the outdoor heat exchanger is solidified by heat exchange with the low-temperature refrigerant when the outdoor heat exchanger functions again as an evaporator after the defrosting operation. For this reason, it becomes a factor which inhibits heat exchange with the air supplied with the outdoor fan, and the refrigerant | coolant which flows through the inside of a heat exchanger tube, and heat exchanger performance falls. In particular, in a flat tube heat exchanger provided with a heat transfer tube having a flat cross section, water tends to stay on the upper and lower surfaces of the heat transfer tube, and such a problem becomes significant.

For this reason, the conventional refrigeration cycle apparatus provided with the outdoor heat exchanger functioning as an evaporator has a refrigeration cycle in which water generated by frost melting during defrosting operation is prevented from staying in the outdoor heat exchanger. Devices have also been proposed. For example, the refrigeration cycle apparatus described in Patent Document 1 performs fan defrosting operation control for rotating an outdoor fan before normal operation for causing the outdoor heat exchanger to function as an evaporator after completion of the defrosting operation. The refrigeration cycle apparatus described in Patent Document 1 is caused by frost melting during defrosting operation by discharging water staying in the outdoor heat exchanger to the outside of the outdoor heat exchanger by blowing air from the outdoor fan. Water is prevented from staying in the outdoor heat exchanger.

Japanese Patent No. 4666061

The refrigeration cycle apparatus described in Patent Document 1 performs fan defrosting operation control between a defrosting operation and a normal operation in which the outdoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator. Thereby, the refrigeration cycle apparatus described in Patent Document 1 suppresses the retention of water generated by frost melting during the defrosting operation in the outdoor heat exchanger, and improves the drainage of the outdoor heat exchanger. . However, since the refrigeration cycle apparatus described in Patent Document 1 needs to perform fan defrosting operation control between the defrosting operation and the normal operation, the next normal operation from the start of the defrosting operation, that is, from the end of the normal operation. The time until the start will be longer. For this reason, the refrigeration cycle apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that the average heating capacity in the use-side heat exchanger for a certain period of time is reduced by repeating the normal operation and the defrosting operation. That is, the refrigeration cycle apparatus described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is impossible to achieve both improvement in drainage of the outdoor heat exchanger and suppression of reduction in average heating capacity. Note that the average heating capacity corresponds to the average heating capacity in a predetermined time by repeating the heating operation and the defrosting operation when, for example, a refrigeration cycle apparatus is used as an air conditioner.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and provides a refrigeration cycle apparatus that can improve drainage of an outdoor heat exchanger and can suppress a decrease in average heating capacity. For the purpose.

The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention accommodates an outdoor heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator, an outdoor fan that blows air to the outdoor heat exchanger, the outdoor heat exchanger and the outdoor fan, and discharges water to the bottom. A drain hole detection device that detects water discharged from the drain hole, and a control device that controls a defrosting operation of the outdoor heat exchanger. During the defrosting operation with the outdoor fan stopped, the outdoor fan is operated when the drainage detection device detects water.

When the defrosting operation is started and frost adhering to the outdoor heat exchanger is melted to generate water, most of the water is discharged from the outdoor heat exchanger. In the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention, the outdoor heat exchanger is accommodated in the housing. For this reason, the water discharged | emitted from the outdoor heat exchanger is discharged | emitted from the drain hole formed in the lower part of a housing | casing to the exterior of a housing | casing. At this time, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to detect that the water generated by melting of the frost adhering to the outdoor heat exchanger is discharged from the drain hole by the drainage detection device. And if the refrigeration cycle apparatus which concerns on this invention detects that the water is discharged | emitted from the drain hole with a waste_water | drain detection apparatus, an outdoor fan will be operated. Thereby, when the water produced by the melting of frost during the defrosting operation stays in the outdoor heat exchanger, the water can be discharged from the outdoor heat exchanger by blowing air from the outdoor fan. That is, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention, the water staying in the outdoor heat exchanger can be discharged outside the outdoor heat exchanger by the outdoor fan during the defrosting operation. For this reason, the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention can suppress an increase in the time from the start of the defrosting operation, that is, from the end of the normal operation to the start of the next normal operation. Therefore, the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention can improve the drainage of the outdoor heat exchanger, and can also suppress a decrease in average heating capacity.

It is a refrigerant circuit figure which shows an example of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a control flowchart figure at the time of the defrost operation in the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a time flow figure showing operation of a compressor and an outdoor fan at the time of defrosting operation in an air harmony device concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows an example of the outdoor heat exchanger of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a principal part enlarged view of the outdoor heat exchanger shown in FIG. It is a principal part enlarged view of the outdoor heat exchanger shown in FIG. It is a principal part enlarged view which shows another example of the outdoor heat exchanger of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a refrigerant circuit figure which shows an example of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the information for calculating the operating time of the outdoor fan in the defrost operation with which the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention was equipped. It is a control flowchart figure at the time of the defrost operation in the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a time flow figure showing operation of a compressor and an outdoor fan at the time of defrosting operation in an air harmony device concerning Embodiment 2 of the present invention. It is a control flowchart figure at the time of the defrost driving | operation in the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a time flow figure showing operation of a compressor and an outdoor fan at the time of defrosting operation in an air harmony device concerning Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an example of the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each of the following embodiments, a case where the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention is used as an air conditioner, in other words, a case where the use side heat exchanger according to the present invention is used as an indoor heat exchanger is described. An example of the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention will be described as an example.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating an example of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the refrigerant flow during the cooling operation is indicated by a broken line arrow, and the refrigerant flow during the heating operation is indicated by a solid line arrow. First, the configuration of the air-conditioning apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

[Configuration of Air Conditioner 1]
As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 1 includes a compressor 2, an indoor heat exchanger 3, an indoor fan 6, an expansion device 4, an outdoor heat exchanger 100, and an outdoor fan 7. The compressor 2, the indoor heat exchanger 3, the expansion device 4, and the outdoor heat exchanger 100 are connected by a refrigerant pipe to form a refrigerant circuit.

The compressor 2 compresses the refrigerant. The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 2 is discharged and sent to the indoor heat exchanger 3. The compressor 2 can be composed of, for example, a rotary compressor, a scroll compressor, a screw compressor, or a reciprocating compressor.

The indoor heat exchanger 3 functions as a condenser during heating operation. The indoor heat exchanger 3 is, for example, a fin and tube heat exchanger, a microchannel heat exchanger, a shell and tube heat exchanger, a heat pipe heat exchanger, a double pipe heat exchanger, or a plate heat exchange It can be composed of a container or the like.

The expansion device 4 expands and decompresses the refrigerant that has passed through the indoor heat exchanger 3. The expansion device 4 may be constituted by an electric expansion valve that can adjust the flow rate of the refrigerant, for example. As the expansion device 4, not only an electric expansion valve but also a mechanical expansion valve employing a diaphragm for a pressure receiving portion, a capillary tube, or the like can be applied.

The outdoor heat exchanger 100 functions as an evaporator during heating operation. As with the indoor heat exchanger 3, the outdoor heat exchanger 100 can use heat exchangers having various configurations. In the first embodiment, the outdoor heat exchanger 100 is configured by a fin-and-tube heat exchanger. The outdoor heat exchanger 100 will be described in detail later.

The indoor fan 6 is provided in the vicinity of the indoor heat exchanger 3 and supplies heat exchange fluid to the indoor heat exchanger 3.
The outdoor fan 7 is provided in the vicinity of the outdoor heat exchanger 100 and supplies outdoor air, which is a heat exchange fluid, to the outdoor heat exchanger 100. That is, the outdoor fan 7 blows air to the outdoor heat exchanger 100.

In addition, the air conditioner 1 includes a housing 10 that houses at least the outdoor heat exchanger 100 and the outdoor fan 7. A drain hole 13 for discharging water from the inside of the housing 10 to the outside of the housing 10 is formed in the lower portion of the housing 10. The housing 10 is also formed with a suction port 11 and an air outlet 12. That is, when the outdoor fan 7 rotates in the housing 10, outdoor air that exchanges heat with the outdoor heat exchanger 100 is sucked into the housing 10 from the suction port 11, and the outdoor air that exchanges heat with the outdoor heat exchanger 100 is absorbed. It is configured to be blown out of the housing 10 from the air outlet 12. Of course, the expansion device 4 and the compressor 2 may be accommodated in the housing 10.

In addition, the air conditioner 1 includes a flow path switching device 5 provided on the discharge side of the compressor 2 in order to enable a cooling operation in addition to a heating operation. The flow path switching device 5 is, for example, a four-way valve. The flow path switching device 5 switches the connection destination of the discharge port of the compressor 2 to the indoor heat exchanger 3 or the outdoor heat exchanger 100. That is, the flow path switching device 5 switches the refrigerant flow between the heating operation and the cooling operation. Specifically, the flow path switching device 5 switches between the discharge port of the compressor 2 and the indoor heat exchanger 3 and connects the suction port of the compressor 2 and the outdoor heat exchanger 100 during heating operation. It is done. Further, the flow path switching device 5 is switched so as to connect the discharge port of the compressor 2 and the outdoor heat exchanger 100 and to connect the suction port of the compressor 2 and the indoor heat exchanger 3 during the cooling operation. . That is, during the cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 100 functions as a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger 3 functions as an evaporator.

The air conditioner 1 also includes a plurality of detection devices and the components of the air conditioner 1 (the frequency of the compressor 2, the opening of the expansion device 4, the flow path switching device based on the detection values of these detection devices. 5, the rotational speed of the indoor fan 6, the rotational speed of the outdoor fan 7, etc.). As will be described later, the control device 30 also controls the defrosting operation of the outdoor heat exchanger 100.

Specifically, the housing 10 is provided with a first temperature detection device 21 that detects the temperature of the outdoor air sucked into the housing 10 by the outdoor fan 7, for example, in the vicinity of the suction port 11. The first temperature detection device 21 is, for example, a thermistor. The outdoor heat exchanger 100 is provided with a second temperature detection device 22 that detects the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger 100. The second temperature detection device 22 is, for example, a thermistor. The casing 10 is provided with a drainage detection device 23 that detects water discharged from the drain hole 13, for example, on a wall surface that forms the drain hole 13. In the first embodiment, an electrode type sensor is used as the waste water detection device 23. An electrode type sensor detects the presence or absence of water based on a difference in current value when a voltage is applied between electrodes. The drainage detection device 23 is not limited to an electrode sensor, and various sensors capable of detecting the presence or absence of water, such as an infrared sensor and a vibration sensor, can be adopted as the drainage detection device 23. In addition, a flow rate sensor or the like that can detect a specific flow rate of water discharged from the drain hole 13 may be used as the drainage detection device 23.

The control device 30 is configured by dedicated hardware or a CPU (also referred to as a central processing unit, a central processing unit, a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a processor) that executes a program stored in a memory. .

When the control device 30 is dedicated hardware, the control device 30 is, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit), an FPGA (field-programmable gate array), or a combination of these. Applicable. Each functional unit realized by the control device 30 may be realized by individual hardware, or each functional unit may be realized by one piece of hardware.

When the control device 30 is a CPU, each function executed by the control device 30 is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. Software and firmware are described as programs and stored in a memory. The CPU implements each function of the control device 30 by reading and executing a program stored in the memory. Here, the memory is a nonvolatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM, a ROM, a flash memory, an EPROM, or an EEPROM.

It should be noted that a part of the functions of the control device 30 may be realized by dedicated hardware and a part may be realized by software or firmware.

The control device 30 according to the first embodiment includes a defrost determining unit 31, a control unit 32, a storage unit 33, and the like as functional units. The defrost determining unit 31 determines whether to start the defrost operation during the heating operation. The method for determining whether or not the defrost determining unit 31 starts the defrosting operation is not particularly limited, and a known method may be used. For example, when the air-conditioning apparatus 1 includes the second temperature detection device 22 as in the first embodiment, the defrost determination unit 31 has a detection temperature of the second temperature detection device 22 that is lower than a specified temperature. In such a case, the start of the defrosting operation may be determined. In other words, the defrost determining unit 31 may determine the start of the defrost operation when the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger 100 becomes lower than the specified temperature. For example, the defrost determination part 31 may determine the start of a defrost operation, when the accumulation time of heating operation becomes more than regulation time. For example, when the air conditioning apparatus 1 includes the first temperature detection device 21 that detects the temperature of the outdoor air as in the first embodiment, the defrost determination unit 31 detects the temperature detected by the first temperature detection device. When the cumulative time of the heating operation performed under the condition that the temperature is equal to or lower than the specified temperature becomes equal to or longer than the specified time, the start of the defrosting operation may be determined. In the air-conditioning apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1, as described later, the defrost determining unit 31 performs the defrost operation when the temperature detected by the second temperature detection device 22 is lower than the specified temperature. Determine the start of.

Moreover, the defrost determination part 31 determines completion | finish of a defrost operation during a defrost operation. The method for determining whether or not the defrost determining unit 31 ends the defrosting operation is not particularly limited, and a known method may be used. For example, when the air-conditioning apparatus 1 includes the second temperature detection device 22 as in the first embodiment, the defrost determination unit 31 has a detection temperature of the second temperature detection device 22 that is higher than a specified temperature. In such a case, the end of the defrosting operation may be determined. In other words, the defrost determining unit 31 may end the start of the defrost operation when the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger 100 becomes higher than the specified temperature. For example, the defrost determination part 31 may determine completion | finish of a defrost operation, when the time of a defrost operation becomes more than regulation time. In the air conditioning apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment, as described later, the defrost determining unit 31 performs the defrost operation when the detected temperature of the second temperature detecting device 22 is higher than the specified temperature. Determine the end of.

The control unit 32 operates and stops the compressor 2 based on the detection value of the detection device included in the air conditioner 1, a command from a remote controller (not shown), the frequency at the time of operation of the compressor 2, the throttle device 4. Open / close, opening degree of the expansion device 4, flow path of the flow path switching device 5, operation and stop of the indoor fan 6, rotation speed when the indoor fan 6 is operated, operation and stop of the outdoor fan 7, outdoor fan 7 is used to control the rotational speed during operation. Moreover, the control part 32 performs control which operates the outdoor fan 7 during the defrost operation of the outdoor heat exchanger 100 based on the quantity of the water which the waste_water | drain detection apparatus 23 detects.

The storage unit 33 stores a comparison value used for comparison with the detection value of the detection device included in the air conditioner 1, information necessary for the operation of the air conditioner 1, and the like.

[Operation of the air conditioner 1]
Next, operation | movement of the air conditioning apparatus 1 is demonstrated with the flow of a refrigerant | coolant. First, the cooling operation performed by the air conditioner 1 will be described. In addition, the flow of the refrigerant at the time of the cooling operation is indicated by broken line arrows in FIG. Here, the operation | movement of the air conditioning apparatus 1 is demonstrated to an example when the heat exchange fluid of the indoor heat exchanger 3 is the air of air-conditioning object space.

As shown in FIG. 1, by operating the compressor 2, high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant is discharged from the compressor 2. Hereinafter, the refrigerant flows according to the broken line arrows. Specifically, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant (single phase) discharged from the compressor 2 flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 100 functioning as a condenser via the flow path switching device 5. In the outdoor heat exchanger 100, heat exchange is performed between the flowing high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant and the outdoor air supplied by the outdoor fan 7. The high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant condenses into a high-pressure liquid refrigerant (single phase).

The high-pressure liquid refrigerant sent out from the outdoor heat exchanger 100 becomes a two-phase refrigerant consisting of a low-pressure gas refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant by the expansion device 4. The two-phase refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchanger 3 that functions as an evaporator. In the indoor heat exchanger 3, heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant flowing in the two-phase state and the air in the air-conditioning target space supplied by the indoor fan 6, and the liquid refrigerant of the two-phase refrigerant evaporates. It becomes a low-pressure gas refrigerant (single phase). By this heat exchange, the air-conditioning target space such as the room is cooled. The low-pressure gas refrigerant sent out from the indoor heat exchanger 3 flows into the compressor 2 via the flow path switching device 5, is compressed to become a high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant, and is discharged from the compressor 2 again. Thereafter, this cycle is repeated.

Next, the heating operation performed by the air conditioner 1 will be described. In addition, the flow of the refrigerant | coolant at the time of heating operation is shown by the solid line arrow in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, by operating the compressor 2, high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant is discharged from the compressor 2. Hereinafter, the refrigerant flows according to solid arrows. Specifically, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant (single phase) discharged from the compressor 2 flows into the indoor heat exchanger 3 that functions as a condenser via the flow path switching device 5. In the indoor heat exchanger 3, heat exchange is performed between the flowing high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant and the air in the air-conditioned space supplied by the indoor fan 6. The high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant condenses into a high-pressure liquid refrigerant (single phase). By this heat exchange, the air-conditioning target space such as a room is heated.

The high-pressure liquid refrigerant sent out from the indoor heat exchanger 3 becomes a two-phase refrigerant of low-pressure gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant by the expansion device 4. The two-phase refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 100 that functions as an evaporator. In the outdoor heat exchanger 100, heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant flowing in the two-phase state and the outdoor air supplied by the outdoor fan 7, and the liquid refrigerant evaporates out of the two-phase refrigerant, resulting in a low pressure. Gas refrigerant (single phase).

The low-pressure gas refrigerant sent out from the outdoor heat exchanger 100 flows into the compressor 2 via the flow path switching device 5, is compressed to become a high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant, and is discharged from the compressor 2 again. Thereafter, this cycle is repeated.

When the refrigerant flows into the compressor 2 in the liquid state during the cooling operation and the heating operation described above, liquid compression occurs, causing the compressor 2 to malfunction. For this reason, it is desirable that the refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator is a gas refrigerant (single phase). During the cooling operation, the indoor heat exchanger 3 functions as an evaporator, and during the heating operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 100 functions as an evaporator.

Here, in the evaporator, when heat exchange is performed between the air supplied from the fan and the refrigerant flowing inside the heat transfer tubes constituting the evaporator, moisture in the air is condensed, Water droplets form on the surface of the evaporator. Some of the water droplets generated on the surface of the evaporator fall downward along the surfaces of the fins and the heat transfer tubes, and are discharged as drain water to the outside of the evaporator. When the evaporator is the outdoor heat exchanger 100, the drain water discharged from the outdoor heat exchanger 100 is discharged out of the housing 10 through a drain hole 13 formed in the lower portion of the housing 10.

In addition, the outdoor heat exchanger 100 functions as an evaporator during heating operation in a low outside air temperature state. For this reason, the moisture in the air may form frost on the outdoor heat exchanger 100 during the heating operation. For this reason, in an air conditioner or the like capable of heating operation, “defrosting operation” for removing frost adhering to the outdoor heat exchanger during heating operation is usually performed.

The “defrosting operation” is a hot gas (high-temperature high-pressure gas refrigerant) from the compressor 2 to the outdoor heat exchanger 100 in order to melt and remove frost attached to the outdoor heat exchanger 100 functioning as an evaporator. It is a driving to supply. In the air conditioning apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1, when the defrosting operation is started, the control unit 32 switches the flow path of the flow path switching device 5 to the flow path during the cooling operation. Thereby, the flow path between the discharge port of the compressor 2 and the outdoor heat exchanger 100 is opened, and hot gas is supplied from the compressor 2 to the outdoor heat exchanger 100. And the frost adhering to the outdoor heat exchanger 100 is melt | dissolved by the hot gas supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger 100. FIG.

Here, the channel switching device 5 corresponds to the channel switching device of the present invention. That is, in the first embodiment, the flow path switching device 5 is used as a flow path opening / closing device. The flow path switching device is not limited to the flow path switching device 5 as long as it is a device that opens and closes the flow path between the discharge port of the compressor 2 and the outdoor heat exchanger 100. For example, by using a bypass refrigerant pipe that connects the discharge port of the compressor 2 and the outdoor heat exchanger 100 and an opening / closing device that opens and closes the flow path of the bypass refrigerant pipe, the compressor 2 can be hot from the compressor 2 to the outdoor heat exchanger 100. A defrosting operation for supplying gas is also conventionally known. Of course, such a bypass pipe and an opening / closing device may be used as the channel opening / closing device of the present invention.

[Operation at the time of defrosting operation of the air conditioner 1]
FIG. 2 is a control flowchart for the defrosting operation in the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a time flow diagram showing operations of the compressor and the outdoor fan during the defrosting operation in the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Hereinafter, the detailed operation during the defrosting operation of the air-conditioning apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

For example, when a heating operation command is issued from a remote controller (not shown) to the control device 30, the air conditioning apparatus 1 performs the heating operation (step S1). The operation of the air conditioner 1 during the heating operation is as described above. That is, the compressor 2 and the outdoor fan 7 are operating during the heating operation. This heating operation is continued while the temperature detected by the second temperature detection device 22 is equal to or higher than the specified temperature Th1 (No in step S2). On the other hand, when the detected temperature of the second temperature detection device 22 becomes lower than the specified temperature Th1 (Yes in step S2), the defrost determining unit 31 determines the start of the defrost operation. The specified temperature Th1 is stored in the storage unit 33, for example.
Here, the specified temperature Th1 corresponds to the second specified temperature of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the specified temperature Th1 is set to −6 ° C., for example.

When the defrost determining unit 31 determines the start of the defrosting operation, the control unit 32 stops the compressor 2 and the outdoor fan 7 (step S3), and the flow of the flow path switching device 5 is the same as that during the cooling operation. Switch to the road (step S4). And the control part 32 starts a defrost driving | operation after step S5. That is, when the defrost determining unit 31 determines the start of the defrosting operation, the control unit 32 is a channel opening / closing device that opens the channel between the discharge port of the compressor 2 and the outdoor heat exchanger 100. The outdoor heat exchanger 100 is defrosted by controlling a certain flow path switching device 5 and supplying the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 2 to the outdoor heat exchanger 100.

Specifically, in step S5, the control unit 32 operates the compressor 2. Thereby, hot gas is supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger 100 from the compressor 2, and the frost adhering to the outdoor heat exchanger 100 begins to melt | dissolve. Immediately after the start of frost melting, water generated by thawing (hereinafter, defrosted water) is absorbed in the frost or stays in the outdoor heat exchanger 100 because the frost blocks the drainage path. When the amount of frost decreases with the progress of melting, the defrost water is affected by gravity and moves to the lower part of the outdoor heat exchanger 100. And this defrost water leaves | separates from the lower end part of the outdoor heat exchanger 100, and falls to the lower part of the housing | casing 10. FIG. Thereafter, the defrost water falling to the lower portion of the housing 10 is discharged out of the housing 10 through the drain hole 13.

The defrost water discharged from the drain hole 13 to the outside of the housing 10 is detected by the drainage detection device 23. When the drainage detection device 23 detects that more defrosted water is discharged from the drain hole 13 than the prescribed flow rate W1 (Yes in step S6 in FIG. 2, point A in FIG. 3), the control unit In step S7 and subsequent steps 32, the frost drainage drainage control is performed. In other words, as shown in FIG. 3, the air conditioner 1 performs a defrosting air discharge operation in the defrosting operation. The prescribed flow rate W1 is stored in the storage unit 33, for example.

Here, the prescribed flow rate W1 corresponds to the first prescribed flow rate of the present invention. As described above, in the first embodiment, the drainage detection device 23 uses an electrode sensor that detects the presence or absence of water. For this reason, the waste water detection device 23 according to the first embodiment can detect whether or not the defrost water is discharged from the drain hole 13. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the specified flow rate W1 is set to 0 m ³ / sec. In addition, when using the flow sensor etc. which can detect the specific flow volume of the defrost water which flows through the drain hole 13 as the waste_water | drain detection apparatus 23, of course, you may make prescribed flow rate W1 into values other than 0 m < ³ > / sec.

Most of the defrost water is discharged outside the outdoor heat exchanger 100. However, a part of defrost water may adhere to the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger 100 and stay in the outdoor heat exchanger 100 in some cases. In this way, the defrost water staying in the outdoor heat exchanger 100 is re-solidified by exchanging heat with the low-temperature refrigerant when the outdoor heat exchanger 100 functions as an evaporator again after the defrosting operation. For this reason, it becomes a factor which inhibits heat exchange with the outdoor air supplied with the outdoor fan 7, and the refrigerant | coolant which flows through the inside of a heat exchanger tube, and the heat exchange performance of the outdoor heat exchanger 100 falls. Therefore, in the air conditioner 1 according to the first embodiment, the defrosting air discharge control that discharges the defrost water that has accumulated in the outdoor heat exchanger 100 to the outside of the outdoor heat exchanger 100 due to the blowing of the outdoor fan 7. I do. Specifically, in step S7, the control unit 32 operates the outdoor fan 7. At this time, the control unit 32 operates the outdoor fan 7 at, for example, a specified rotational speed stored in the storage unit 33. That is, the control device 30 operates the outdoor fan 7 when the drainage detection device 23 detects more water than the specified flow rate W1 during the defrosting operation with the outdoor fan 7 stopped.

By the frost drainage drainage control, the frost melting of the outdoor heat exchanger 100 further proceeds, and the discharge of the defrost water is also promoted by the blowing from the outdoor fan 7. For this reason, out of the amount of heat supplied from the hot gas, the amount of heat consumed for the temperature rise and melting of frost and the temperature rise of water is reduced, and the amount of heat is used to raise the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger 100. . Therefore, the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger 100, in other words, the detected temperature of the second temperature detection device 22 increases. And if the detection temperature of the 2nd temperature detection apparatus 22 becomes higher than regulation temperature Th2 (Yes of step S8), the defrost determination part 31 will determine completion | finish of a defrost operation, and the control part 32 will return to step S1 and again Start heating operation. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the control unit 32 stops the operation of the compressor 2 while continuing the operation of the outdoor fan 7. And a control part switches the flow path of the flow-path switching apparatus 5 to the flow path at the time of heating operation, restarts the compressor 2, and starts heating operation again.
Here, the specified temperature Th2 corresponds to the second specified temperature of the present invention. The specified temperature Th2 is stored in the storage unit 33, for example.

[Details of outdoor heat exchanger 100]
Finally, an example of the outdoor heat exchanger 100 according to the first embodiment will be introduced.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of an outdoor heat exchanger of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 5 and 6 are enlarged views of main parts of the outdoor heat exchanger shown in FIG. In FIG. 4 and subsequent figures, the X direction is a lateral direction and represents a direction that is a short direction (width direction) of the fin 110 of the outdoor heat exchanger 100. The Y direction is a lateral direction, and represents a direction that is a parallel arrangement direction of the fins 110 that constitute the same heat exchanging section (a windward side heat exchanger 101 or a leeward side heat exchanger 102 described later). The Z direction is the vertical direction (gravity direction) and represents the direction that is the longitudinal direction of the fin 110. A white arrow represents a flow direction of air supplied from the outdoor fan 7 to the outdoor heat exchanger 100. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the outdoor heat exchanger 100 according to the first embodiment is supplied with air from the outdoor fan 7 in the X direction. Moreover, FIG. 5 has shown the principal part when the outdoor heat exchanger 100 is observed in the Y direction. FIG. 6 shows a main part when the outdoor heat exchanger 100 is observed in the X direction.

The outdoor heat exchanger 100 is, for example, a two-row heat exchanger, and includes an upwind heat exchanger 101 and a leeward heat exchanger 102. The windward side heat exchanger 101 and the leeward side heat exchanger 102 are fin-and-tube heat exchangers, and are arranged in parallel along the X direction, which is the flow direction of air supplied from the outdoor fan 7. One end of the heat transfer tube of the windward heat exchanger 101 is connected to the windward header collecting tube 103. One end of the heat transfer tube of the leeward heat exchanger 102 is connected to the leeward header collecting tube 104. Further, the other end of the heat transfer tube of the leeward side heat exchanger 101 and the other end of the heat transfer tube of the leeward side heat exchanger 102 are connected to the inter-column connection member 105.

That is, the outdoor heat exchanger 100 according to the first embodiment transmits one of the windward side heat exchanger 101 and the leeward side heat exchanger 102 from one of the windward side header collecting pipe 103 and the leeward side header collecting pipe 104. The refrigerant is distributed to the heat pipe. Then, the refrigerant distributed to one heat transfer tube of the windward side heat exchanger 101 and the leeward side heat exchanger 102 passes through the inter-column connection member 105, and the refrigerant of the windward side heat exchanger 101 and the leeward side heat exchanger 102 It flows into the other heat transfer tube. Thereafter, the refrigerant flowing into the other heat transfer pipes of the windward side heat exchanger 101 and the leeward side heat exchanger 102 joins at the other side of the windward side header collecting pipe 103 and the leeward side header collecting pipe 104, and is sucked by the compressor 2. It flows toward the mouth or squeezing device 4.

In the first embodiment, the windward side heat exchanger 101 and the leeward side heat exchanger 102 have the same configuration. For this reason, below, the wind-side heat exchanger 101 is demonstrated on behalf of both. In addition, when one side of the windward side heat exchanger 101 or the leeward side heat exchanger 102 can cover the heat exchange load of the outdoor heat exchanger 100, only one of the windward side heat exchanger 101 or the leeward side heat exchanger 102 has outdoor heat. Of course, the exchanger 100 may be configured.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the windward side heat exchanger 101 includes fins 110 and heat transfer tubes 120 that penetrate the fins 110. Further, the fin 110 has an upper end portion 113 and a lower end portion 114. Further, the fin 110 has a first end 111 and a second end 112 in the lateral direction.

Specifically, the windward side heat exchanger 101 includes a plurality of fins 110 and a plurality of heat transfer tubes 120. The plurality of fins 110 are plate-shaped members that are long in the vertical direction. The plurality of fins 110 are, for example, formed in a rectangular shape that is long in the vertical direction. The plurality of fins 110 are arranged side by side with a predetermined fin pitch interval FP. In addition, a plurality of through holes 115 having a shape corresponding to the outer peripheral shape of the heat transfer tube 120 are formed in each of the fins 110 at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. The heat transfer tubes 120 are inserted into these through holes 115. That is, the plurality of heat transfer tubes 120 are arranged side by side with a predetermined interval in the vertical direction.
In the first embodiment, as the heat transfer tube 120, a heat transfer tube whose cross section is a flat shape such as a substantially elliptical shape or a substantially oval shape is used. For this reason, the through-hole formed in the fin 110 is also a flat shape.

Here, the wind-side heat exchanger 101 is supplied with air from the first end 111 side by the outdoor fan 7. Further, the fin 110 is formed with a drainage region 117 in which a notch is not formed from the upper end 113 to the lower end 114 in a range closer to the second end 112 than the heat transfer tube 120. That is, the fin 110 is formed with a drainage region 117 in which a notch is not formed from the upper end portion 113 to the lower end portion 114 in a range downstream of the heat transfer tube 120 in the blowing direction of the outdoor fan 7. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a virtual straight line that connects the ends 122 of the heat transfer tubes 120 on the second end 112 side is defined as a virtual straight line 123. In this case, in the fin 110 according to the first embodiment, no notch is formed between the virtual straight line 123 and the second end 112 from the upper end 113 to the lower end 114. That is, the drainage region 117 is between the virtual straight line 123 and the second end portion 112.

In this way, by configuring the upside heat exchanger 101, in other words, the outdoor heat exchanger 100, when performing the defrosting blast drainage control for operating the outdoor fan 7 during the defrosting operation, the fin 110 and the heat transfer tube 120. The defrosted water adhering to the surface is carried to the drainage region 117 by the air blown from the outdoor fan 7. And the defrost water conveyed to the drainage area | region 117 slides down the drainage area | region 117 toward the lower end part 114 with gravity. And the defrost water which reached | attained the lower end part 114 falls from this lower end part 114, and in other words, is discharged | emitted from the outdoor heat exchanger 100 in the windward side heat exchanger 101.

As described above, the drainage region 117 is not formed with a notch from the upper end 113 to the lower end 114. For this reason, when the defrost water slides down the drainage region 117 toward the lower end portion 114, the defrost water is not attracted to the notch by the surface tension. Therefore, when the wind-side heat exchanger 101, in other words, the outdoor heat exchanger 100 is configured as described above, when the defrosting blast drainage control for operating the outdoor fan 7 during the defrosting operation is performed, the defrosting is quickly performed. Water can be discharged from the outdoor heat exchanger 100, and the drainage of the outdoor heat exchanger 100 can be improved.

In addition, you may comprise the outdoor heat exchanger 100 which concerns on this Embodiment 1 as follows.
FIG. 7 is an essential part enlarged view showing another example of the outdoor heat exchanger of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. This FIG. 7 has shown another example of the outdoor heat exchanger 100 from the same observation direction as FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a notch 116 that communicates with the through hole 115 and opens to the first end 111 side may be formed in the fin 110. By forming the notch 116 in the fin 110 in this manner, the heat transfer tube can be inserted into the through hole 115 through the notch 116, and the heat transfer tube 120 can be easily inserted into the through hole 115. That is, the outdoor heat exchanger 100 can be easily assembled.

Here, in order to improve the drainage performance of the outdoor heat exchanger 100 when performing the defrosting ventilation drainage control during the defrosting operation, the range that is on the downstream side of the heat transfer tube 120 in the blowing direction of the outdoor fan 7 In addition, it is necessary to dispose the drainage region 117. That is, as indicated by D1 in FIG. 7, it is necessary to blow air from the outdoor fan 7 to the outdoor heat exchanger 100 from the first end 111 side where the notch 116 is formed. Therefore, as shown by D2 in FIG. 7, when the outdoor fan 7 blows air from the second end 112 side to the outdoor heat exchanger 100 during the heating operation, when performing the defrosting air discharge control, the outdoor fan 7 is rotated in the opposite direction to that during the heating operation, and the blowing direction of the outdoor fan 7 is set to the direction D1 in FIG.

As described above, the air-conditioning apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 includes the outdoor heat exchanger 100 that functions as an evaporator, the outdoor fan 7 that blows air to the outdoor heat exchanger 100, the outdoor heat exchanger 100, and the outdoor fan 7. The housing 10 in which the drain hole 13 that accommodates and discharges water is formed in the lower part, the drainage detection device 23 that detects the water discharged from the drain hole 13, and the defrosting operation of the outdoor heat exchanger 100 are controlled. And a control device 30. The control device 30 is configured to operate the outdoor fan 7 when the drainage detection device 23 detects water during the defrosting operation with the outdoor fan 7 stopped.

The air conditioner 1 according to the first embodiment can discharge the defrosted water staying in the outdoor heat exchanger 100 by the blowing of the outdoor fan 7 to the outside of the outdoor heat exchanger 100. Therefore, the air conditioning apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 can improve the drainage of the outdoor heat exchanger 100.

Here, when the defrosting operation is started and frost adhering to the outdoor heat exchanger 100 is melted to generate defrost water, most of the defrost water is discharged from the outdoor heat exchanger 100. In the air conditioner 1 according to Embodiment 1, the outdoor heat exchanger 100 is accommodated in the housing 10. For this reason, the defrost water discharged | emitted from the outdoor heat exchanger 100 is discharged | emitted from the drain hole 13 formed in the lower part of the housing | casing 10 to the exterior of the housing | casing 10. FIG. At this time, in the air-conditioning apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1, the drainage detection device 23 can detect that the defrost water is discharged from the drain hole 13. And if the air conditioning apparatus 1 which concerns on this Embodiment 1 detects that the defrost water is discharged | emitted from the drain hole 13 with the waste_water | drain detection apparatus 23, the outdoor fan 7 will be operated.

Thereby, the defrost water staying in the outdoor heat exchanger 100 can be discharged from the outdoor heat exchanger 100 by blowing from the outdoor fan 7 during the defrosting operation. For this reason, the air conditioning apparatus 1 which concerns on this Embodiment 1 can suppress that time from the time of a defrost operation start, ie, the end of heating operation, to the next heating operation start becoming long. Therefore, the air-conditioning apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 can improve the drainage of the outdoor heat exchanger 100, and the average heating capacity in a certain period of time is reduced by repeating the heating operation and the defrosting operation. Can be suppressed.

Moreover, in the air conditioning apparatus 1 which concerns on this Embodiment 1, the outdoor heat exchanger 100 has the upper end part 113 and the lower end part 114, and has the 1st end part 111 and the 2nd end part 112 in the horizontal direction. A fin 110 and a heat transfer tube 120 penetrating the fin 110 are provided, and air is supplied from the first end 111 side by the outdoor fan 7 during the defrosting operation. Further, in the fin 110, a drainage region 117 in which notches are not formed from the upper end 113 to the lower end 114 is formed in a range closer to the second end 112 than the heat transfer tube 120. For this reason, the air conditioning apparatus 1 which concerns on this Embodiment 1 can further improve the drainage of the outdoor heat exchanger 100, and can further suppress the fall of an average heating capability.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In Embodiment 1, the outdoor fan 7 was continuously operated from the start of the defrosting air discharge control to the start of the heating operation. However, the operation method of the outdoor fan 7 is not limited to the operation method shown in the first embodiment. For example, as shown in the second embodiment, the operating time of the outdoor fan 7 may be changed according to the temperature of the outdoor air. In the second embodiment, items that are not particularly described are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the same functions and configurations are described using the same reference numerals.

FIG. 8 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating an example of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
The air conditioner 1 according to the second embodiment includes a calculation unit 34 as a functional unit of the control device 30 in addition to the configuration described in the first embodiment. The calculation unit 34 calculates the operating time of the outdoor fan 7 during the defrosting operation from the temperature detected by the first temperature detection device 21 that detects the temperature of the outdoor air. And in the air conditioning apparatus 1 which concerns on this Embodiment 2, the control part 32 of the control apparatus 30 is only during the operation time calculated by the calculation part 34 during the defrost operation, ie, during the defrost ventilation / drainage control. The outdoor fan 7 is operated. That is, the control device 30 varies the operating time of the outdoor fan 7 during the defrosting operation according to the temperature detected by the first temperature detection device 21.

As described above, the drainage of the outdoor heat exchanger 100 can be improved by operating the outdoor fan 7 during the defrosting operation, that is, by performing the blast drainage control during the defrosting. However, when the temperature of the outdoor air is below freezing point, if the outdoor fan 7 is continuously operated from the start of the defrosting ventilation drainage control to the start of the heating operation, the defrosted water attached to the outdoor heat exchanger 100 May re-solidify. The time until the defrost water re-solidifies is faster as the temperature of the outdoor air is lower. Also, when the temperature of outdoor air is below freezing point, the temperature difference between the outdoor air and hot gas is large, so the amount of heat of the hot gas that should be consumed for thawing residual frost is consumed by heat exchange with air. Will be. For this reason, melting of frost is delayed, and the defrosting time becomes long. Therefore, the calculation unit 34 is configured to calculate the operating time of the outdoor fan 7 as the detected temperature of the first temperature detection device 21 that detects the temperature of the outdoor air is lower. That is, the control device 30 shortens the operating time of the outdoor fan 7 as the detected temperature of the first temperature detecting device 21 that detects the temperature of the outdoor air is lower.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of information for calculating the operating time of the outdoor fan during the defrosting operation, which is provided in the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
For example, the storage unit 33 of the control device 30 stores a table as shown in FIG. And the calculation part 34 calculates the operating time of the outdoor fan 7 during a defrost operation using this table.

Specifically, when the detected temperature T1 of the first temperature detection device 21 is equal to or higher than the specified temperature Ta1, in other words, when the outdoor air temperature is equal to or higher than the specified temperature Ta1, the calculation unit 34 assumes that re-solidification of defrost water does not occur. The operation time of the outdoor fan 7 is calculated so that the outdoor fan 7 is continuously operated from the start of the defrosting air discharge control to the start of the heating operation. In the second embodiment, the specified temperature Ta1 is set to 1 ° C., for example.

Further, when the detected temperature T1 of the first temperature detecting device 21 is equal to or higher than the specified temperature Ta2 and lower than the specified temperature Ta1, in other words, when the outdoor air temperature is equal to or higher than the specified temperature Ta2 and lower than the specified temperature Ta1, the calculation is performed. The part 34 calculates the operation of the outdoor fan 7 from the start of the defrosting air discharge control as S seconds. That is, the calculation unit 34 operates the outdoor fan 7 for a time during which the defrost water does not resolidify, and improves the drainage of the outdoor heat exchanger 100. In the second embodiment, the specified temperature Ta2 is set to −3 ° C., for example. Further, the S second is set to 60 seconds, for example.

In addition, when the detected temperature T1 of the first temperature detection device 21 is lower than the specified temperature Ta2, in other words, when the outdoor air temperature is lower than the specified temperature Ta2, the calculation unit 34 performs the defrosting air discharge control. The operation of the outdoor fan 7 from the start of is calculated as 0 seconds. That is, the control device 30 sets the operation time of the outdoor fan 7 to 0 seconds. In other words, the control device 30 prevents the outdoor fan 7 from operating. When the outdoor air temperature is lower than the specified temperature Ta2, the time until the defrost water is re-solidified is short, and before the effect of improving the drainage of the outdoor heat exchanger 100 by the blowing of the outdoor fan 7 is obtained, This is because the defrost water is solidified again.
Here, in the second embodiment, the specified temperature Ta2 corresponds to the first specified temperature of the present invention.

The table shown in FIG. 9 is an example of information for calculating the operating time of the outdoor fan 7 during the defrosting operation. Although FIG. 9 shows a table in which the range of the detected temperature of the first temperature detection device 21 is divided into three, it may be a table in which the range of the detected temperature of the first temperature detection device 21 is divided into two, or the first temperature detection It is good also as a table which divided | segmented the range of the detected temperature of the apparatus 21 into four or more. Further, as information for calculating the operating time of the outdoor fan 7 during the defrosting operation, a relational expression between the detected temperature of the first temperature detecting device 21 and the operating time of the outdoor fan 7 during the defrosting operation is used. Also good. That is, the operating time of the outdoor fan 7 may be changed continuously according to the temperature detected by the first temperature detection device 21.

[Operation at the time of defrosting operation of the air conditioner 1]
FIG. 10 is a control flowchart for the defrosting operation in the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a time flow diagram showing the operations of the compressor and the outdoor fan during the defrosting operation in the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
The air conditioning apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 2 configured as described above operates as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 during the defrosting operation.

Specifically, in the air conditioning apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment, during the defrosting operation, instead of the control of step S7 shown in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment, step S11 as shown in FIG. , 12 are controlled. Specifically, when the drainage detection device 23 detects that a larger amount of defrost water than the specified flow rate W1 is discharged from the drain hole 13 (Yes in step S6 in FIG. 2), the calculation unit 34 in step S11 The operating time of the outdoor fan 7 during the defrosting operation is calculated from the detected temperature of the first temperature detecting device 21 that detects the temperature of the outdoor air. In step S <b> 12, the control unit 32 operates the outdoor fan 7 for the operation time calculated by the calculation unit 34. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 11, depending on the operating time of the outdoor fan 7, the outdoor fan 7 may stop before the defrosting operation ends (see point B in FIG. 11).

As described above, in the air conditioner 1 according to the second embodiment, in addition to the configuration shown in the first embodiment, the control device 30 uses the detected temperature of the first temperature detection device 21 to increase the outdoor fan during the defrosting operation. 7 different operating hours. For this reason, in addition to the effect shown in Embodiment 1, the air conditioning apparatus 1 which concerns on this Embodiment 2 can prevent that defrost water re-solidifies during ventilation defrosting drain control at the time of defrost, and The effect that the defrosting time can be prevented from being prolonged due to the frost melting being delayed by the blowing of the outdoor fan 7 can be obtained.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
The air conditioner 1 according to the third embodiment changes the operating time of the outdoor fan 7 depending on the progress of the defrost water discharge with respect to the air conditioner 1 shown in the first embodiment or the second embodiment. Control is added. Below, the example which added the said control to Embodiment 1 is demonstrated. In Embodiment 3, items that are not particularly described are the same as those in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, and the same functions and configurations are described using the same reference numerals.

FIG. 12 is a control flowchart for the defrosting operation in the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a time flow diagram showing the operations of the compressor and the outdoor fan during the defrosting operation in the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
In the air conditioner 1 according to the third embodiment, the control in steps S21 and S22 is added to the defrosting blast drainage control shown in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment.

Specifically, when the outdoor fan 7 is operated in step S7, the drainage detection device 23 detects that the flow rate of the defrost water discharged from the drain hole 13 is equal to or less than the specified flow rate W2 ( In step S21 in FIG. 12, the control unit 32 stops the outdoor fan 7 in step S22. That is, as shown at point C in FIG. 13, when the drainage detection device 23 detects that the flow rate of the defrost water discharged from the drain hole 13 is equal to or less than the specified flow rate W2, the defrost operation is finished. Even if it does not do, the outdoor fan 7 will stop. The prescribed flow rate W2 is stored in the storage unit 33, for example.

Here, the prescribed flow rate W2 corresponds to the second prescribed flow rate of the present invention. Note that, also in the air conditioner 1 according to the third embodiment, as in the first embodiment, an electrode type sensor that detects the presence or absence of water is used as the drainage detection device 23. For this reason, the waste water detection device 23 according to the third embodiment can detect whether or not the defrost water is discharged from the drain hole 13. Therefore, in the third embodiment, the specified flow rate W2 is set to 0 m ³ / sec. In addition, when using the flow sensor etc. which can detect the specific flow volume of the defrost water which flows through the drain hole 13 as the waste_water | drain detection apparatus 23, of course, you may make prescribed flow rate W2 into values other than 0 m < ³ > / sec.

The fact that the flow rate of the defrost water discharged from the drain hole 13 is equal to or less than the specified flow rate W2 means that almost all the defrost water is discharged to the outside of the housing 10. For this reason, even if the outdoor fan 7 is operated in such a state, it does not contribute much to the improvement of drainage of the outdoor heat exchanger 100. That is, by stopping the outdoor fan 7 in such a state, the power consumption in the outdoor fan 7 can be reduced without reducing the drainage of the outdoor heat exchanger 100.

In addition, when adding control of step S21,22 in the defrosting ventilation drainage control shown in FIG. 10 of Embodiment 2, if step S21,22 is added between step S12 and step S8, it is more. . Thereby, the power consumption in the outdoor fan 7 can be reduced without reducing the drainage of the outdoor heat exchanger 100.

In the third embodiment, the outdoor fan 7 is stopped in step S22. However, in step S22, the rotational speed of the outdoor fan 7 may be reduced to such an extent that the outdoor fan 7 is not stopped. Thus, even if the rotational speed of the outdoor fan 7 is controlled, the power consumption in the outdoor fan 7 can be reduced without reducing the drainage of the outdoor heat exchanger 100. In the third embodiment, the outdoor fan 7 is stopped so that the power consumption of the outdoor fan 7 can be reduced most. In other words, in Embodiment 3, the rotational speed of the outdoor fan 7 is reduced to 0 rpm so that the power consumption of the outdoor fan 7 can be reduced most.

As described above, in the air-conditioning apparatus 1 according to the third embodiment, in addition to the configuration shown in the first or second embodiment, the control unit 32 operates the outdoor fan 7 during the defrosting operation. At this time, when the drainage detection device 23 detects that the flow rate of the defrost water discharged from the drain hole 13 is equal to or less than the specified flow rate W2, the rotational speed of the outdoor fan 7 is reduced. For this reason, in addition to the effect shown in Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, the air conditioning apparatus 1 which concerns on this Embodiment 3 is the outdoor fan 7 without reducing the drainage of the outdoor heat exchanger 100. It is also possible to obtain an effect that the power consumption can be reduced.

In Embodiments 1 to 3, the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention has been described by taking the air conditioner 1 using the use side heat exchanger according to the present invention as the indoor heat exchanger 3 as an example. However, the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to the air conditioner. For example, the present invention can be implemented in various refrigeration cycle apparatuses having an outdoor heat exchanger housed in a housing, such as a hot water supply apparatus that heats water with the use side heat exchanger according to the present invention.

1 air conditioner, 2 compressor, 3 indoor heat exchanger, 4 throttling device, 5 flow path switching device, 6 indoor fan, 7 outdoor fan, 10 housing, 11 inlet, 12 outlet, 13 drain hole, 21 1st temperature detection device, 22 2nd temperature detection device, 23 Waste water detection device, 30 Control device, 31 Defrost determination unit, 32 Control unit, 33 Storage unit, 34 Calculation unit, 100 Outdoor heat exchanger, 101 Windward heat Exchanger, 102 leeward heat exchanger, 103 leeward header collecting pipe, 104 leeward header collecting pipe, 105 inter-row connecting member, 110 fin, 111 first end, 112 second end, 113 upper end, 114 Lower end, 115 through hole, 116 notch, 117 drainage area, 120 heat transfer tube, 122 end, 123 virtual straight line.

Claims

An outdoor heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator,
An outdoor fan that blows air to the outdoor heat exchanger;
A housing in which the outdoor heat exchanger and the outdoor fan are accommodated and a drain hole for discharging water is formed in the lower part;
A waste water detection device for detecting water discharged from the drain hole;
A control device for controlling the defrosting operation of the outdoor heat exchanger;
With
The control device includes:
A refrigerating cycle device configured to operate the outdoor fan when the drainage detection device detects water during the defrosting operation in a state where the outdoor fan is stopped.
The control device includes:
2. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein the outdoor fan is operated when the drainage detection device detects more water than the first specified flow rate while the defrosting operation is being performed with the outdoor fan stopped. Refrigeration cycle equipment.
The control device includes:
A defrost determining unit that determines the start and end of the defrosting operation of the outdoor heat exchanger;
When the defrosting determination unit determines the start of the defrosting operation, the outdoor fan is stopped and the defrosting operation is started. During the defrosting operation, the amount of water detected by the drainage detection device is set. A control unit for operating the outdoor fan that is stopped based on,
The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:
The outdoor heat exchanger is
A fin having an upper end and a lower end, and having a first end and a second end in the lateral direction;
A heat transfer tube passing through the fin;
With
During the defrosting operation, air is supplied from the first end side by the outdoor fan,
The drainage region in which notches are not formed from the upper end portion to the lower end portion is formed in a range where the fin is closer to the second end portion than the heat transfer tube. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of the above.
A first temperature detecting device for detecting a temperature of air sucked into the housing by the outdoor fan;
The refrigeration according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control device is configured to vary an operation time of the outdoor fan during the defrosting operation according to a temperature detected by the first temperature detection device. Cycle equipment.
The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control device is configured to shorten the operation time as the temperature detected by the first temperature detection device is lower.
The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the control device is configured to set the operation time to 0 seconds when the temperature detected by the first temperature detection device is lower than a first specified temperature.
8. The control device according to claim 5, further comprising a calculating unit that calculates the operating time of the outdoor fan during the defrosting operation from the temperature detected by the first temperature detecting device. The refrigeration cycle apparatus described in 1.
When the outdoor fan is operating during the defrosting operation, the controller detects that the flow rate of water discharged from the drain hole is equal to or less than a second specified flow rate. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured to reduce a rotation speed of the outdoor fan.
When the outdoor fan is operating during the defrosting operation, the control device detects that the flow rate of water discharged from the drain hole is equal to or less than the second specified flow rate. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the outdoor fan is stopped when the outdoor fan is stopped.
A second temperature detection device for detecting the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger;
The refrigeration according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the control device is configured to start the defrosting operation when a temperature of the second temperature detection device becomes lower than a second specified temperature. Cycle equipment.
The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control device is configured to end the defrosting operation when a temperature of the second temperature detection device becomes higher than a third specified temperature.
A compressor,
A flow path opening and closing device for opening and closing a flow path between the discharge port of the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger;
With
When the control device starts the defrosting operation, the control device controls the flow path opening / closing device to open a flow path between the discharge port of the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger, and the compressor compresses the flow. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the outdoor heat exchanger is defrosted by supplying the cooled refrigerant to the outdoor heat exchanger.
A use side heat exchanger;
A flow path switching device that is provided on the discharge side of the compressor and switches the connection destination of the discharge port of the compressor to the use side heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger;
With
The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the flow path switching device is used as the flow path switching device.