Patents by Inventor Yuji Motomura
Yuji Motomura has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11060779Abstract: An air-conditioning system includes a heat-source device that includes a compressor and a heat-source-side heat exchanger, a relay device that includes a pump and an intermediate heat exchanger, and a plurality of indoor units that each include a load-side heat exchanger. The air-conditioning system includes a refrigerant circuit through which refrigerant circulates and a heat medium circuit through which a heat medium circulates. The air-conditioning system includes a flow rate detection unit configured to detect flow rate information associated with a flow rate of a heat medium that flows through each of the plurality of indoor units and a controller configured to control the compressor and the pump. The controller controls operation of at least either the compressor or the pump on the basis of the flow rate information detected by the flow rate detection unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2018Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Naofumi Takenaka, Kimitaka Kadowaki, Hiroki Washiyama, Yuji Motomura
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Publication number: 20210207859Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus includes, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between a first heat medium and a second heat medium, flow rate control valves, and a pump. In a heating mode, a controller is configured to open the flow rate control valve corresponding to a heat exchanger, of the third heat exchangers, to which a request for air conditioning has been made, and to dose the flow rate control valve(s) corresponding to a heat exchanger(s), of the third heat exchangers, to which the request for air conditioning has not been made. In a defrosting mode, when a temperature of the second heat medium is lower than a first determination temperature, the controller is configured to open at least one of the flow rate control valve(s) corresponding to the heat exchanger(s) to which the request for air conditioning has not been made.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2018Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: Naoki KATO, Yuji MOTOMURA, Naofumi TAKENAKA, Kimitaka KADOWAKI
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Publication number: 20210190402Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes: a plurality of outdoor units each including a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, refrigerant flowing through the plurality of outdoor units; an indoor unit including an indoor heat exchanger, a heat medium flowing through the indoor unit; a plurality of relay devices to which the plurality of outdoor units are connected independently, and to which the indoor unit is connected, each of the plurality of relay devices including a heat medium heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and the heat medium; and a controller configured to control action of the plurality of outdoor units, the indoor unit, and the plurality of relay devices, wherein the controller includes a defrost determination unit configured to determine necessity for a defrosting operation, a load determination unit configured to compare, in a case where the defrosting operation is necessary, an indoor unit total load with an outdoor unit total capacity, and an equipment contrType: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2018Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Hiroki WASHIYAMA, Yuji MOTOMURA, Kimitaka KADOWAKI, Koji AZUMA, Naofumi TAKENAKA
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Publication number: 20210164684Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes: a heat-medium transfer device including a pump provided to transfer a heat medium that contains water or brine and transfers heat; a plurality of indoor units each of which includes an indoor heat exchanger provided to cause heat exchange to be performed between indoor air and the heat medium, and a flow control valve provided to adjust a flow rate of the heat medium that flows through the indoor heat exchanger, the plurality of indoor units being connected to the heat-medium transfer device by respective heat medium pipes; and a controller provided to control an opening degree of the flow control valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2018Publication date: June 3, 2021Inventors: Naofumi TAKENAKA, Kimitaka KADOWAKI, Hiroki WASHIYAMA, Yuji MOTOMURA, Koji FURUYA, Jun NISHIO, Koji AZUMA
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Patent number: 11002467Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus capable of performing pump down operation while suppressing degradation in performance is provided. The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor including an inlet side and an outlet side, at least one indoor heat exchanger, a four-way valve, a check valve including an inlet side and an outlet side, a pipe serving as a first flow path connecting the outlet side of the check valve to the inlet side of the compressor, a first on-off valve, and a refrigerant leak detection device. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured such that, when a refrigerant leak is detected by the refrigerant leak detection device, pump down operation is performed as refrigerant transfer operation of transferring the refrigerant from the indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2016Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Makoto Wada, Takuya Matsuda, Yuji Motomura, Katsuhiro Ishimura
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Publication number: 20210041128Abstract: When a state in which a driving voltage of a pump is set to an upper limit voltage and an opening degree of at least one of a plurality of flow rate control valves is set to a maximum opening degree continues for a first determination time period, an operation frequency of a compressor is raised at a first time so as to increase an amount of heat exchange by a second heat exchanger. When an operation stop request is input, or an indoor temperature reaches a set temperature, in at least one of a plurality of third heat exchangers after the first time, the operation frequency of the compressor is lowered or the driving voltage of the pump is lowered.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2018Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: Naoki KATO, Yuji MOTOMURA, Naofumi TAKENAKA, Kimitaka KADOWAKI
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Publication number: 20210041130Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus has a first mode and a second mode as operation modes. In the first mode, a degree of opening of a first flow rate adjustment valve is fixed to a first degree of opening smaller than 100% and greater than 0%, and an operation frequency of a compressor is varied in accordance with air conditioning performance required of a third heat exchanger. In the second mode, the degree of opening of the first flow rate adjustment valve is varied in accordance with air conditioning performance required of the third heat exchanger. When a difference between the air conditioning performance required of the third heat exchanger and air conditioning performance offered by the third heat exchanger becomes greater than a determination value, the operation mode is changed from the first mode to the second mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2018Publication date: February 11, 2021Inventors: Naoki KATO, Yuji MOTOMURA, Naofumi TAKENAKA, Kimitaka KADOWAKI
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Publication number: 20210025627Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes a heat medium circulation circuit and a heat-source-side refrigerant circulation circuit. In the heat medium circulation circuit, a pump configured to pressurize a heat medium that contains water or brine, an indoor heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between an indoor air and the heat medium, and a flow control device installed corresponding to the indoor heat exchanger and configured to control a flow rate of the heat medium passing through the indoor heat exchanger are connected by a pipe to circulate the heat medium therein. A plurality of the indoor heat exchangers are installed in respective indoor units. Each of the indoor units includes a detection device configured to detect a physical quantity related to a heat quantity involved in heat exchange of the indoor heat exchanger, and is configured to perform communication by a signal containing data on detection of the detection device.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2018Publication date: January 28, 2021Inventors: Hiroki WASHIYAMA, Kimitaka KADOWAKI, Naofumi TAKENAKA, Yuji MOTOMURA
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Publication number: 20200400340Abstract: An air-conditioning system includes a plurality of indoor units; a relay unit including an intermediate heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between refrigerant and a heat medium; and a heat source unit configured to supply cooling energy or heating energy to each of the plurality of indoor units via the relay unit. The heat source unit and the relay unit are connected by a heat-source connection pipe through which the refrigerant flows, and the relay unit and the plurality of indoor units are connected by a load connection pipe through which the heat medium flows. The load connection pipe comprises a main pipe connecting between the relay unit and one of the indoor units provided at an end of the load connection pipe opposite to the relay unit. The main pipe has branch parts associated with the indoor units.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2018Publication date: December 24, 2020Inventors: Naofumi TAKENAKA, Hiroki WASHIYAMA, Yuji MOTOMURA, Kimitaka KADOWAKI
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Publication number: 20200363086Abstract: A controller has a timer operation mode in which the operation of a refrigeration cycle that operates as a heat source or a cold source is started before a set operation start time of an indoor fan by a preliminary operation time period. In the timer operation mode, the controller calculates a heat capacity of water or brine, calculates a heat storage amount of a second heat medium from a temperature detected by a temperature sensor and the heat capacity, and determines the preliminary operation time period from the heat storage amount. By determining the preliminary operation time period in this manner, timer operation can be performed such that air at an appropriate temperature is blown from an indoor unit at the operation start time of the indoor fan, from the initial time at which an air conditioning apparatus is installed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2018Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventors: Takuya MATSUDA, Naofumi TAKENAKA, Kimitaka KADOWAKI, Yuji MOTOMURA
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Publication number: 20200348064Abstract: An air-conditioning system includes a heat-source device that includes a compressor and a heat-source-side heat exchanger, a relay device that includes a pump and an intermediate heat exchanger, and a plurality of indoor units that each include a load-side heat exchanger. The air-conditioning system includes a refrigerant circuit through which refrigerant circulates and a heat medium circuit through which a heat medium circulates. The air-conditioning system includes a flow rate detection unit configured to detect flow rate information associated with a flow rate of a heat medium that flows through each of the plurality of indoor units and a controller configured to control the compressor and the pump. The controller controls operation of at least either the compressor or the pump on the basis of the flow rate information detected by the flow rate detection unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2018Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventors: Naofumi TAKENAKA, Kimitaka KADOWAKI, Hiroki WASHIYAMA, Yuji MOTOMURA
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Publication number: 20200256589Abstract: An air-conditioning system includes a heat source side refrigerant circuit in which a heat source side heat exchanger is provided, a load side heat medium circuit in which a load side heat exchanger is provided, an intermediate heat exchanger, and a heat medium sealing. The heat medium sealing mechanism includes a supply port through which the heat medium and gas flow, the gas being more soluble in the heat medium than air, a discharge port through which the gas pushed by the heat medium is discharged, and a flow straightener that is connected to the load side heat medium circuit in such a manner that, when the gas is supplied, the gas flows from the supply port to the discharge port, and when the heat medium is supplied, the heat medium flows from the supply port to the discharge port.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2017Publication date: August 13, 2020Inventors: Naofumi TAKENAKA, Yuji MOTOMURA, Osamu MORIMOTO
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Patent number: 10739050Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes: a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a four-way valve, a heat source-side heat exchanger, an expansion valve and a load-side heat exchanger are connected; and a controller which controls a refrigeration cycle in which refrigerant is circulated in the refrigerant circuit, to switch a flow passage for the refrigerant in accordance with which of a cooling operation, a heating operation and a defrosting operation is performed. The controller includes: a refrigeration-cycle control unit which controls the four-way valve to switch the flow passage of the refrigerant when the operation to be performed is switched from the heating operation to the defrosting operation; and a compressor control unit which sets an operation frequency of the compressor at a value lower than an operation frequency which is applied during the heating operation, when the operation is switched from the heating operation to the defrosting operation.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2016Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Kazuyoshi Shinozaki, Osamu Morimoto, Yuji Motomura
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Publication number: 20200011580Abstract: When a refrigerant leakage sensor detects a leakage of refrigerant, a refrigerant recovery operation is started. In the refrigerant recovery operation, recovery of refrigerant in an accumulator and a pump down operation are performed in a stepwise manner. In recovery of refrigerant in the accumulator, refrigerant in a liquid phase is accumulated in the accumulator as a result of circulation of refrigerant by operating a compressor in the state where a liquid shut-off valve and a gas shut-off valve are opened. After recovery of refrigerant in the accumulator is ended, the refrigerant in a liquid phase is accumulated in an outdoor heat exchanger by the pump down operation for operating the compressor in the state where the liquid shut-off valve is closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2017Publication date: January 9, 2020Inventors: Takuya MATSUDA, Makoto WADA, Yuji MOTOMURA, Katsuhiro ISHIMURA
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Publication number: 20190390876Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus includes a gas leakage sensor and a control device. When refrigerant leakage is detected by the gas leakage sensor, the control device performs a first mode operation to operate a compressor in such a state that a four-way valve is set to a cooling operation state, an expansion valve is opened, and a first shutoff valve is closed. After performing the first mode operation, the control device performs a second mode operation to operate the compressor in such a state that the four-way valve is set to a heating operation state and the first shutoff valve is closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2017Publication date: December 26, 2019Inventors: Takuya MATSUDA, Makoto WADA, Yuji MOTOMURA, Katsuhiro ISHIMURA
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Publication number: 20190383535Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus includes: a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a four-way valve, a heat source-side heat exchanger, an expansion valve and a load-side heat exchanger are connected; and a controller which controls a refrigeration cycle in which refrigerant is circulated in the refrigerant circuit, to switch a flow passage for the refrigerant in accordance with which of a cooling operation, a heating operation and a defrosting operation is performed. The controller includes: a refrigeration-cycle control unit which controls the four-way valve to switch the flow passage of the refrigerant when the operation to be performed is switched from the heating operation to the defrosting operation; and a compressor control unit which sets an operation frequency of the compressor at a value lower than an operation frequency which is applied during the heating operation, when the operation is switched from the heating operation to the defrosting operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2016Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Kazuyoshi SHINOZAKI, Osamu MORIMOTO, Yuji MOTOMURA
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Publication number: 20190368782Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus capable of performing pump down operation while suppressing degradation in performance is provided. The refrigeration cycle apparatus includes an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor including an inlet side and an outlet side, at least one indoor heat exchanger, a four-way valve, a check valve including an inlet side and an outlet side, a pipe serving as a first flow path connecting the outlet side of the check valve to the inlet side of the compressor, a first on-off valve, and a refrigerant leak detection device. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured such that, when a refrigerant leak is detected by the refrigerant leak detection device, pump down operation is performed as refrigerant transfer operation of transferring the refrigerant from the indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2016Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: Makoto WADA, Takuya MATSUDA, Yuji MOTOMURA, Katsuhiro ISHIMURA
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Publication number: 20190331377Abstract: A space in which an indoor unit is disposed has its corresponding refrigerant leakage sensor. A remote control for the indoor unit has its corresponding information output device for notifying the user of information visually and/or aurally. When the refrigerant leakage sensor detects a leakage of refrigerant, an alarm outputs a warning sound and a safety measure device is activated. Further, the information output device outputs guidance information for notifying the user action to be taken after the safety measure device takes the safety measure. After outputting the guidance information, the information output device stops outputting the guidance information in response to completion of the user action.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 19, 2017Publication date: October 31, 2019Inventors: Takuya MATSUDA, Makoto WADA, Yuji MOTOMURA, Katsuhiro ISHIMURA
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Patent number: 10451305Abstract: The air-conditioning apparatus includes: a refrigerant cycle circuit through which a heat source side refrigerant circulates; a plurality of heat medium cycle circuits through which a heat medium circulates, the plurality of heat medium cycle circuits including a plurality of use-side heat exchangers, the heat medium exchanging heat with the heat source side refrigerant of the refrigerant cycle circuit in intermediate heat exchangers; and a heat medium distribution device provided in one of the plurality of heat medium cycle circuits to which a plurality of the use-side heat exchangers are connected, the heat medium distribution device controlling flow rates of the heat medium of the plurality of use-side heat exchangers connected to the heat medium cycle circuit.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2015Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventor: Yuji Motomura
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Patent number: 10451306Abstract: An air-conditioning apparatus, including an outdoor unit including a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, a plurality of indoor units each including an indoor heat exchanger, and a relay unit configured to distribute refrigerant supplied from the outdoor unit to the plurality of indoor units, the relay unit including a first branch unit in which liquid-side pipes connected to the plurality of indoor units join together, and a refrigerant shutoff valve, which is configured to control bidirectional flow of the refrigerant, and is provided to the first branch unit, the number of the refrigerant shut off valve being smaller than a number of the plurality of indoor units.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2015Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Naofumi Takenaka, Shinichi Wakamoto, Yuji Motomura, Osamu Morimoto, Hirofumi Koge, Koji Yamashita