Abstract: A safety system for a heat pump system includes a plurality of valve units each having refrigerant pipe portions with control valves, a refrigerant leakage detector, and a casing accommodating the valves and the refrigerant leakage detector and formed with first and second openings. The safety system further includes a connection structure connecting the internal spaces of the casings via the first and second openings, and a discharge structure connected to the connection structure or one of the casings and configured to discharge air from the internal space of the casing in which a refrigerant leakage has occurred. The casing has first and second lateral faces facing different directions, and the first opening is formed in the first lateral face and the second opening is formed in the second lateral face.

Abstract: Provided is a heat pump system having a compressor, a liquid-side on-off valve, a gas-side on-off valve, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform a refrigerant recovery operation for recovering refrigerant from a utilization-side piping section to a heatsource-side piping section by operating the compressor while the liquid-side on-off valve is closed and the gas-side on-off valve is open, and control the system such that the gas-side on-off valve starts closing when a predetermined valve-close condition is satisfied during the compressor is operating for recovering refrigerant, and such that the operation of the compressor for recovering refrigerant stops after the closing of the gas-side on-off valve started.

Abstract: Provided is a heat pump system having a liquid-side on-off valve, a gas-side on-off valve, an ambient temperature detector configured to detect temperature of fluid which passes through a heatsource-side heat exchanger, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform a refrigerant recovery operation for recovering refrigerant from a utilization-side piping section to a heatsource-side piping section by operating a compressor while the liquid-side on-off valve is closed and the gas-side on-off valve is open, and control the compressor such that, when the ambient temperature is higher than or equal to a predetermined value, increase rate of compressor rotation speed is low compared with that of when the ambient temperature is lower than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A method monitors an air-conditioner having a semi-conductor gas sensor, the method including: determining that a refrigerant leakage has occurred on condition that the detection value is equal to or greater than a first threshold when the fan is in operation; starting operation of the fan as a provisional operation if the detection value is equal to or greater than a second threshold when the fan is not in operation; stopping the provisional operation of the fan; determining that a refrigerant leakage has occurred on condition that the detection value is equal to or greater than a third threshold after stopping the provisional operation of the fan; and taking a predetermined action for outputting alarm information and/or limiting supply of refrigerant to the heat exchanger when a refrigerant leakage is determined to have occurred.

Abstract: A refrigerant cycle apparatus includes a refrigerant circuit that circulates a refrigerant, and a leak sensor that detects a refrigerant leaking from the refrigerant circuit, in which the refrigerant cycle apparatus includes, as an operating mode, a recovery mode for recognizing occurrence of an abnormality in the leak sensor and recovering a refrigerant to a predetermined location in the refrigerant circuit.

Abstract: A heat pump system includes a first bypass pipe provided with a first bypass valve and connecting a liquid refrigerant pipe and a low-pressure refrigerant pipe, a refrigerant heat exchanger configured to cause a heat-exchange between refrigerant flowing in the liquid refrigerant pipe and refrigerant flowing in first bypass pipe, a second bypass pipe provided with a second bypass valve and connecting the liquid refrigerant pipe and the low-pressure refrigerant pipe, and a controller. The controller is configured to control opening degree of the first bypass valve based on detected superheated temperature of refrigerant flowing in the first bypass pipe, and detected discharge temperature of a compressor and control opening degree of the second bypass valve based on the detected discharge temperature.

Abstract: A valve unit for a heat-pump system, includes: a liquid refrigerant pipe portion; a gas refrigerant pipe portion; a liquid control valve disposed in the liquid refrigerant pipe portion; a gas control valve disposed in the gas refrigerant pipe portion; a casing accommodating the liquid control valve and the gas control valve; and an air-discharge mechanism that discharges air in an internal space of the casing to an external space outside the casing in response to a refrigerant leakage in the casing.

Abstract: A ceiling-mounted air conditioning indoor unit for a heat pump including a refrigerant circuit, the ceiling-mounted air conditioning indoor unit includes: a casing including an air inlet and an air outlet; a drain pan in a bottom portion of the casing; a heat exchanger in the refrigerant circuit that is disposed above the drain pan such that water dropping from the heat exchanger accumulates in the drain pan; a fan in the casing that draws air in from the air inlet, through the heat exchanger, and out of the air outlet; a bell mouth at the air inlet that guides the air drawn-in to the fan; a refrigerant leakage detection sensor that detects refrigerant leaking from the refrigerant circuit. The drain pan includes a first rim and a second rim.

Abstract: A heat source unit for an air conditioner that includes a refrigerant circuit includes: an external housing; a cooling heat exchanger disposed in the external housing and that is connected to the refrigerant circuit; a controller that controls the valve; and a first temperature sensor disposed within the external housing. The external housing accommodates: a compressor connected to the refrigerant circuit; a heat source heat exchanger that is connected to the refrigerant circuit and that exchanges heat between a refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit and a heat source; and an electric box. The electric box includes a top and a plurality of side walls; accommodates electrical components that control the air conditioner; and further includes an air passage that comprises an air inlet and an air outlet.

Abstract: A heat pump device having a refrigerant circuit includes: a valve configured to maintain an opening degree during non-energization; a valve drive circuit configured to cause operation of the valve; a valve controller configured to control the valve drive circuit; and a power source circuit configured to supply a power source to the valve drive circuit. The power source circuit includes: a first power source circuit unit configured to receive power source supply from outside to generate a DC: voltage; and a second power source circuit unit for backup. The second power source circuit unit receives power source supply from the outside to store power in a capacitor, and connects the capacitor in parallel to a first output electric path of the first power source circuit unit.

Abstract: The present invention aims to alleviate the risk of leakage of refrigerant from a refrigerant circuit and particularly at the utilization side of the refrigerant circuit without the need to provide a dedicated bypass for refrigerant leakage prevention. A refrigerant system is configured such that, when a refrigerant leakage detection sensor detects refrigerant leakage, a controller is configured to adjust a opening degree of a bypass expansion valve independently of a pressure and/or temperature value detected by a sensor. A method of controlling a refrigerant system is also provided.

Abstract: A compressor unit includes a first case, a compressor, a connecting port, and a shutoff valve. The connecting port includes a first connecting port and a second connecting port. The shutoff valve includes a first shutoff valve and a second shutoff valve. A heat source heat exchanger is accommodated in a second case. A utilization heat exchanger is accommodated in a third case. The compressor unit is disposed inside a building. The first connecting port is connected to the heat source heat exchanger via a first connection piping. The second connecting port is connected to the utilization heat exchanger via a second connection piping. The first shutoff valve shuts off flow of a refrigerant between the first connecting port and the heat source heat exchanger. The second shutoff valve shuts off flow of the refrigerant between the second connecting port and the utilization heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heat pump includes a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a first heat exchanger, a main expansion mechanism and a second heat exchanger arranged in a refrigeration path, the compressor having a suction port, a compression port and an injection port; a gas injection valve connected on a first side to the refrigeration path between the first heat exchanger and the main expansion mechanism and on a second side to the injection port of the compressor; a liquid injection valve connected on a first side to the refrigeration path between the first heat exchanger and the main expansion mechanism and on a second side between the second heat exchanger and the suction port of the compressor; and a controller, the controller being configured to operate the gas injection valve to inject at least partly gaseous refrigerant into the compressor through the injection port of the compressor, and to operate the liquid injection valve to inject substantially liquid refrigerant into the compressor through the suction port

Abstract: A compressor unit includes a first case, a first compressor, a cascade heat exchanger, a second compressor, a first connecting port, and a second connecting port. The first compressor, the cascade heat exchanger, and a heat source heat exchanger accommodated in a second case constitute a first refrigerant cycle. The second compressor, the cascade heat exchanger, and a utilization heat exchanger accommodated in a third case constitute a second refrigerant cycle. The first connecting port is connected to the heat source heat exchanger via a first connection piping. The second connecting port is connected to the utilization heat exchanger via a second connection piping.

Abstract: A heat source unit for a heat pump having a refrigerant circuit, the heat source unit having: an outer casing including a bottom plate; and a compressor assembly accommodated in the outer casing, the compressor assembly including a compressor of the refrigerant circuit of the heat pump including a compressor housing, a support plate supporting the compressor, the support plate being mounted via dampers to the bottom plate, and a compressor casing enclosing the compressor and the compressor housing. A damping mechanism is arranged between the compressor and the support plate, and the compressor casing is fixed to the support plate out of contact with the compressor housing.

Abstract: An outdoor unit for a heat pump includes a refrigerant circuit, the outdoor unit including a compressor, a discharge pipe of the refrigerant circuit connected to a discharge side of the compressor, a bottom plate, the bottom plate having a base and an outer flange protruding upward from an outer edge of the base, a heat source heat exchanger supported on the bottom plate, a liquid refrigerant pipe of the refrigerant circuit connected to the heat source heat exchanger, and a defrosting bypass pipe connected at one end to the discharge pipe and at the opposite end to the liquid refrigerant pipe, the defrosting bypass pipe being arranged between an inner side of the flange and an outer side of the heat source heat exchanger.