JP2005127564A - Refrigeration equipment construction method and refrigeration equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a separation membrane having a configuration capable of separating and removing a non-condensable gas remaining in a refrigerant communication pipe at a site construction from a state mixed with a refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit using a separation membrane. Even when the separation capacity of the refrigerant is low, the refrigerant is prevented from being released into the atmosphere.
An air conditioner (1) includes a heat source unit (2) and a use unit (5) connected via refrigerant communication pipes (6, 7) to constitute a refrigerant circuit (10), a separation membrane device (34), a refrigerant recovery mechanism (65). And. The separation membrane device 34b operates the compressor 21 to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 and separates the non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 from the refrigerant flowing through the liquid side refrigerant circuit 11. The non-condensable gas separated by the separation membrane 34b is discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 10. The refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 recovers the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas separated in the separation membrane device 34b.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigeration apparatus construction method and a refrigeration apparatus, and in particular, connects a heat source unit having a compressor and a heat source side heat exchanger, a utilization unit having a utilization side heat exchanger, and a heat source unit and the utilization unit. The present invention relates to a construction method and a refrigeration apparatus for a refrigeration apparatus including a refrigerant communication pipe.

As one of conventional refrigeration apparatuses, there is a separate type air conditioner. Such an air conditioner mainly includes a heat source unit having a compressor and a heat source side heat exchanger, a use unit having a use side heat exchanger, a liquid refrigerant communication pipe and a gas connecting these units. And a refrigerant communication pipe.
In such an air conditioner, a series of constructions from equipment installation, piping, wiring work to start of operation is mainly composed of the following four steps.

(1) Equipment installation, piping, wiring work (2) Vacuum drawing of refrigerant communication pipe (3) Filling with additional refrigerant (perform as necessary)
(4) Start of operation In the construction of the air conditioner as described above, for the vacuuming operation of the refrigerant communication pipe, the refrigerant is released into the atmosphere, the deterioration of the refrigerant and refrigerating machine oil due to the residual oxygen gas, the oxygen gas and the nitrogen gas, etc. Although it is an important work to prevent an increase in operating pressure due to non-condensable gas containing the main component of air, it is necessary to work such as connecting the vacuum pump to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe and the gas refrigerant communication pipe. There is a problem that it takes time and effort.

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

In addition, a jig having a separation membrane is connected to the refrigerant circuit, so that the refrigerant that has been sealed in the heat source unit in advance is filled in the entire refrigerant circuit, and the non-recovery that has accumulated in the refrigerant communication pipe after equipment installation, piping, and wiring work. An air conditioner that mixes a condensable gas and a refrigerant and then supplies the separation gas to the separation membrane without increasing the pressure of the mixed gas of the refrigerant and the non-condensable gas to separate and remove the non-condensable gas from the refrigerant. Has been proposed. Thereby, it is said that the vacuuming operation | work using a vacuum pump can be abbreviate | omitted and construction of an air conditioning apparatus can be simplified (for example, refer patent document 2). However, in this air conditioner, the separation capability of the separation membrane is low, and when the refrigerant is contained in the non-condensable gas separated by the separation membrane, the refrigerant is released into the atmosphere together with the non-condensable gas. There's a problem.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-69571 JP-A-10-213363

  An object of the present invention is to use a separation membrane to separate and remove non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe during field construction from the state of being mixed with refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit for the purpose of omitting vacuuming work. In a refrigeration apparatus having a configuration capable of achieving this, the refrigerant is prevented from being released into the atmosphere even when the separation capability of the separation membrane is low.

  The construction method of the refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1 includes a heat source unit having a compressor and a heat source side heat exchanger, a use unit having a use side heat exchanger, and a refrigerant communication connecting the heat source unit and the use unit. A method for constructing a refrigeration apparatus including a pipe, comprising a refrigerant circuit configuration step and a non-condensable gas discharge step. The refrigerant circuit configuration step configures the refrigerant circuit by connecting the heat source unit and the utilization unit via a refrigerant communication pipe. In the non-condensable gas discharge step, the compressor is operated to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, and the non-condensation is performed using the separation membrane from the refrigerant flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger and the use side heat exchanger. Sexual gas is separated and discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit. In the refrigerant recovery step, the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas separated using the separation membrane is recovered.

  In this method of constructing the refrigeration apparatus, after connecting the heat source unit and the utilization unit through the refrigerant communication pipe in the refrigerant circuit configuration step, oxygen gas and nitrogen remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe in the non-condensable gas discharge step. A refrigerant that flows between the heat source side heat exchanger and the use side heat exchanger by operating and circulating a non-condensable gas mainly composed of an air component such as gas together with the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, and The pressure of the non-condensable gas is increased, and the non-condensable gas is separated from the refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas at a high pressure using a separation membrane and discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit. As described above, by operating the compressor to circulate the refrigerant, the pressure difference between the primary side (that is, inside the refrigerant circuit) and the secondary side (that is, outside the refrigerant circuit) of the separation membrane can be increased. Therefore, the separation efficiency of the non-condensable gas in the separation membrane can be improved.

Moreover, in this method of constructing the refrigeration apparatus, the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas separated using the separation membrane is recovered in the refrigerant recovery step, and therefore the separation membrane has a low separation capability. Even if it exists, it can be prevented that the refrigerant is released into the atmosphere.
The construction method of the refrigeration apparatus according to claim 2 is the airtight test step in which the airtight test of the refrigerant communication pipe is performed before the non-condensable gas discharge step, and the airtightness in the refrigerant communication pipe after the airtight test step. An airtight gas releasing step for releasing the gas to the atmosphere and reducing the pressure.

  In this refrigeration equipment construction method, the airtight test of the refrigerant communication pipe is performed using an airtight gas such as nitrogen gas, and the airtight gas is released to the atmosphere. Therefore, after these steps, the oxygen remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe The amount of gas is decreasing. As a result, the amount of oxygen gas circulating in the refrigerant circuit together with the refrigerant can be reduced, and the risk of problems such as deterioration of the refrigerant and refrigerating machine oil can be eliminated.

The construction method of the refrigeration apparatus according to claim 3 is that in claim 1 or 2, in the refrigerant recovery step, the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is recovered using an absorbent.
In this method for constructing a refrigeration apparatus, in the refrigerant recovery step, the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is recovered using the absorbent, so that the non-condensable gas is released to the atmosphere without releasing the refrigerant to the atmosphere. be able to.

The construction method of the refrigeration apparatus according to claim 4 is that in claim 1 or 2, in the refrigerant recovery step, the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is recovered using an adsorbent.
In this refrigeration apparatus construction method, the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is collected using the adsorbent in the refrigerant recovery step, so that the non-condensable gas is released to the atmosphere without releasing the refrigerant to the atmosphere. be able to.

The construction method of the refrigeration apparatus according to claim 5 is the refrigerant recovery step according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the refrigerant contained in the noncondensable gas is recovered together with the noncondensable gas in the refrigerant recovery step. .
In this refrigeration apparatus construction method, the refrigerant is recovered together with the non-condensable gas using the collection container in the refrigerant recovery step, so that it is possible to reliably prevent the refrigerant from being released into the atmosphere.

The construction method of the refrigeration apparatus according to claim 6 is the refrigerant recovery step according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the refrigerant recovery step includes any two or more of the absorbent, the adsorbent, and the collection container in the non-condensable gas. The recovered refrigerant is recovered.
In this refrigeration apparatus construction method, in the refrigerant recovery step, the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is recovered using any two or more of the absorbent, the adsorbent, and the collection container. Release can be reliably prevented.

  In the refrigeration apparatus according to claim 7, a heat source unit having a compressor and a heat source side heat exchanger and a use unit having a use side heat exchanger are connected via a refrigerant communication pipe to form a refrigerant circuit. The refrigeration apparatus includes a separation membrane device and a refrigerant recovery mechanism. The separation membrane device is connected to a liquid side refrigerant circuit that connects the heat source side heat exchanger and the use side heat exchanger, and operates in the compressor to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, thereby allowing the refrigerant communication pipe to be circulated. A separation membrane for separating the non-condensable gas from the refrigerant containing the remaining non-condensable gas is provided, and the non-condensable gas separated by the separation membrane is discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant recovery mechanism recovers the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas separated in the separation membrane device.

  In this refrigeration apparatus, after the heat source unit and the utilization unit are connected via the refrigerant communication pipe, the non-condensable gas mainly containing air components such as oxygen gas and nitrogen gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe is supplied to the refrigerant circuit. By operating and circulating the compressor together with the refrigerant inside, the pressure of the refrigerant and non-condensable gas flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger and the use side heat exchanger is increased, and this high pressure non-condensation is achieved. A non-condensable gas is separated from a refrigerant containing a functional gas using a separation membrane device having a separation membrane and discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit. As described above, by operating the compressor to circulate the refrigerant, the pressure difference between the primary side (that is, inside the refrigerant circuit) and the secondary side (that is, outside the refrigerant circuit) of the separation membrane can be increased. Therefore, the separation efficiency of the non-condensable gas in the separation membrane can be improved.

Moreover, in this refrigeration apparatus, the refrigerant recovery mechanism recovers the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas separated by using the separation membrane apparatus, so that the separation membrane has a low separation capability. However, the refrigerant can be prevented from being released into the atmosphere.
The refrigeration apparatus according to an eighth aspect is the absorption apparatus according to the seventh aspect, wherein the refrigerant recovery mechanism includes an absorbent that absorbs the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas.

In this refrigeration apparatus, since the refrigerant recovery mechanism is an absorption apparatus having an absorbent, non-condensable gas can be released to the atmosphere without releasing the refrigerant to the atmosphere.
A refrigeration apparatus according to a ninth aspect is the adsorption apparatus according to the seventh aspect, wherein the refrigerant recovery mechanism includes an adsorbent that adsorbs the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas.
In this refrigeration apparatus, since the refrigerant recovery mechanism is an adsorption apparatus having an adsorbent, non-condensable gas can be released to the atmosphere without releasing the refrigerant to the atmosphere.

A refrigeration apparatus according to a tenth aspect is the collection container according to the seventh aspect, wherein the refrigerant recovery mechanism collects the refrigerant contained in the noncondensable gas together with the noncondensable gas.
In this refrigeration apparatus construction method, since the refrigerant recovery mechanism is a collection container, the refrigerant can be recovered together with the non-condensable gas to reliably prevent the refrigerant from being released into the atmosphere.
The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 11 is the refrigeration apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the refrigerant recovery mechanism adsorbs the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas, the absorber having an absorbent that absorbs the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas. 2 or more of the adsorption | suction apparatus which has the adsorbent which collects, and the collection container which collects the refrigerant | coolant contained in noncondensable gas with noncondensable gas.

  In this refrigeration apparatus, since the refrigerant recovery mechanism includes any two or more of the absorption apparatus having the absorbent, the adsorption apparatus having the adsorbent, and the collection container, it is possible to reliably prevent the refrigerant from being released into the atmosphere. it can.

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
In the invention according to claim 1, after the heat source unit and the utilization unit are connected via the refrigerant communication pipe, the non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe is circulated by operating the compressor together with the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. Therefore, the separation efficiency of the non-condensable gas in the separation membrane can be improved. Moreover, since the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas separated using the separation membrane is recovered, the refrigerant should not be released to the atmosphere even when the separation membrane has a low separation capability. Can do.

In the invention according to claim 2, an airtight test of the refrigerant communication pipe is performed using an airtight gas such as nitrogen gas, and the amount of oxygen gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe is reduced by releasing the airtight gas to the atmosphere. Therefore, the amount of oxygen gas circulating in the refrigerant circuit together with the refrigerant can be reduced, and the risk of problems such as damage to the compressor can be eliminated.
In the invention according to claim 3, since the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is recovered using the absorbent, the non-condensable gas can be released to the atmosphere without releasing the refrigerant to the atmosphere.

In the invention according to claim 4, since the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is recovered using the adsorbent, the non-condensable gas can be released into the atmosphere without releasing the refrigerant into the atmosphere.
In the invention concerning Claim 5, since the refrigerant | coolant is collect | recovered with the noncondensable gas using the collection container, the atmospheric | air release of a refrigerant | coolant can be prevented reliably.
In the invention according to claim 6, since the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is recovered by using any two or more of the absorbent, the adsorbent, and the collection container, the release of the refrigerant into the atmosphere is surely prevented. be able to.

  In the invention according to claim 7, after the heat source unit and the utilization unit are connected via the refrigerant communication pipe, the non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe is circulated by operating the compressor together with the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. Therefore, the separation efficiency of the non-condensable gas in the separation membrane can be improved. Moreover, since the refrigerant recovery mechanism recovers the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas separated by using the separation membrane device, the refrigerant is kept in the atmosphere even when the separation membrane has a low separation capability. It can be prevented from being released.

In the invention according to claim 8, since the refrigerant recovery mechanism is an absorption device having an absorbent, the non-condensable gas can be released to the atmosphere without releasing the refrigerant to the atmosphere.
In the invention according to claim 9, since the refrigerant recovery mechanism is an adsorption device having an adsorbent, the non-condensable gas can be released to the atmosphere without releasing the refrigerant to the atmosphere.
In the invention concerning Claim 10, since a refrigerant | coolant collection | recovery mechanism is a collection container, a refrigerant | coolant can be collect | recovered with non-condensable gas and the air | atmosphere discharge | release of a refrigerant | coolant can be prevented reliably.

  In the invention concerning Claim 11, since the refrigerant | coolant collection | recovery mechanism has any two or more of the absorber which has an absorber, the adsorption device which has an adsorbent, and a collection container, reliable discharge | release of the refrigerant | coolant to the atmosphere is ensured. Can be prevented.

Hereinafter, a construction method of a refrigeration apparatus and an embodiment of a refrigeration apparatus according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings.
[First Embodiment]
(1) Configuration of Air Conditioner FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner 1 as an example of a refrigeration apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner 1 is an air conditioner capable of cooling operation and heating operation in the present embodiment, and is a liquid refrigerant for connecting the heat source unit 2, the utilization unit 5, and the heat source unit 2 and the utilization unit 5. A communication pipe 6 and a gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 are provided.

The usage unit 5 mainly has a usage-side heat exchanger 51.
The use side heat exchanger 51 is a heat exchanger capable of cooling or heating indoor air by evaporating or condensing the refrigerant flowing inside.
The heat source unit 2 mainly includes a compressor 21, a four-way switching valve 22, a heat source side heat exchanger 23, a bridge circuit 24, a receiver 25, a heat source side expansion valve 26, and a liquid side gate valve 27. And a gas side gate valve 28.

The compressor 21 is a device for sucking and compressing a gas refrigerant.
The four-way switching valve 22 is a valve for switching the flow direction of the refrigerant when switching between the cooling operation and the heating operation. During the cooling operation, the discharge side of the compressor 21 and the gas side of the heat source side heat exchanger 23 are connected. And the suction side of the compressor 21 and the gas side gate valve 28 are connected. During the heating operation, the discharge side of the compressor 21 and the gas side gate valve 28 are connected, and the suction side and the heat source side of the compressor 21 are connected. It is possible to connect the gas side of the heat exchanger 23.

The heat source side heat exchanger 23 is a heat exchanger capable of condensing or heating a refrigerant flowing inside using air or water as a heat source.
The bridge circuit 24 includes four check valves 24 a to 24 d and is connected between the heat source side heat exchanger 23 and the liquid side gate valve 27. Here, the check valve 24 a is a valve that only allows the refrigerant to flow from the heat source side heat exchanger 23 to the receiver 25. The check valve 24 b is a valve that allows only the refrigerant to flow from the liquid side gate valve 27 to the receiver 25. The check valve 24 c is a valve that allows only the refrigerant to flow from the receiver 25 to the liquid side gate valve 27. The check valve 24 d is a valve that allows only the refrigerant to flow from the receiver 25 to the heat source side heat exchanger 23. As a result, the bridge circuit 24 allows the refrigerant to flow into the receiver 25 through the inlet of the receiver 25 when the refrigerant flows from the heat source side heat exchanger 23 side toward the use side heat exchanger 51 side as in the cooling operation. The refrigerant functions to flow in and flow out from the outlet of the receiver 25 toward the use side heat exchanger 51 after being expanded in the heat source side expansion valve 26, and the refrigerant exchanges use side heat as in heating operation. When flowing from the heater 51 side toward the heat source side heat exchanger 23 side, the refrigerant flows into the receiver 25 through the inlet of the receiver 25 and the refrigerant flowing out from the outlet of the receiver 25 is expanded in the heat source side expansion valve 26. After that, it functions to flow toward the heat source side heat exchanger 23 side.

  The receiver 25 is a device capable of storing the refrigerant condensed in the heat source side heat exchanger 23 or the use side heat exchanger 51. The refrigerant flowing into the receiver 25 is always flown from the inlet provided in the upper part (gas phase) of the receiver 25 by the bridge circuit 24. The liquid refrigerant stored in the lower part (liquid phase) of the receiver 25 flows out from the outlet of the receiver 25 provided in the lower part of the receiver 25 and is sent to the heat source side expansion valve 26. For this reason, the gas refrigerant that has flowed into the receiver 25 together with the liquid refrigerant is gas-liquid separated in the receiver 25 and accumulates in the upper part of the receiver 25 (see FIG. 2).

The heat source side expansion valve 26 is a valve connected between the outlet of the receiver 25 and the bridge circuit 24 in order to adjust the refrigerant pressure and the refrigerant flow rate. In the present embodiment, the heat source side expansion valve 26 has a function of expanding the refrigerant in both the cooling operation and the heating operation.
The liquid side gate valve 27 and the gas side gate valve 28 are connected to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7, respectively.

  The liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 connects between the liquid side of the use side heat exchanger 51 of the use unit 5 and the liquid side gate valve 27 of the heat source unit 2. The gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 connects between the gas side of the use side heat exchanger 51 of the use unit 5 and the gas side gate valve 28 of the heat source unit 2. The liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 are used to update one or both of the refrigerant communication pipe and / or the heat source unit 2 and the utilization unit 5 that are installed in the field when the air conditioner 1 is newly constructed. It is refrigerant | coolant communication piping diverted from the existing air conditioning apparatus.

  Here, the refrigerant circuit in the range from the use side heat exchanger 51 to the heat source side heat exchanger 23 including the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6, the liquid side gate valve 27, the bridge circuit 24, the receiver 25, and the heat source side expansion valve 26 is liquid. The side refrigerant circuit 11 is used. Further, the refrigerant circuit in the range from the use side heat exchanger 51 to the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7, the gas side gate valve 28, the four-way switching valve 22, and the heat source side heat exchanger 23 including the compressor 21 is a gas side refrigerant circuit 12. And That is, the refrigerant circuit 10 of the air conditioner 1 includes a liquid side refrigerant circuit 11 and a gas side refrigerant circuit 12.

  The air conditioner 1 further includes a gas separation device 31 connected to the liquid side refrigerant circuit 11. The gas separation device 31 operates the compressor 21 to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10, thereby separating the non-condensable gas remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 from the refrigerant. It is a device that can be discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 10, and is incorporated in the heat source unit 2 in this embodiment. Here, the non-condensable gas is a gas mainly composed of an air component such as oxygen gas or nitrogen gas. For this reason, even if the compressor 21 is operated and the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 is circulated, the refrigerant flows in the liquid side refrigerant circuit 11 without being condensed in the heat source side heat exchanger 23 and the use side heat exchanger 51. And, when the liquid side refrigerant circuit 11 has the receiver 25 as in the present embodiment, the gas refrigerant that has not been condensed in the heat source side heat exchanger 23 and the use side heat exchanger 51 is placed above the receiver 25. It will accumulate (see FIG. 2).

In the present embodiment, the gas separation device 31 mainly includes a separation membrane device 34 and a refrigerant recovery mechanism 65.
The separation membrane device 34 separates the non-condensable gas from the gas refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas accumulated in the upper part of the receiver 25 and discharges the separated non-condensable gas to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 10. Device. The separation membrane device 34 is connected to the receiver 25 via a gas refrigerant introduction circuit 38. The gas refrigerant introduction circuit 38 is a conduit for introducing the gas refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas accumulated in the upper part of the receiver 25 into the separation membrane device 34, and is introduced into the separation membrane device 34 from the upper part of the receiver 25. A gas refrigerant introduction valve 38a for circulating / blocking a gas refrigerant containing a non-condensable gas is provided. In this embodiment, the separation membrane device 34 includes a device main body 34a, a space S ₁ (primary side) and a space S ₂ (secondary side) in which the space in the device main body 34a is communicated with the gas refrigerant introduction circuit 38. The separation membrane 34b is arranged so as to be divided into _two , and the discharge valve 34c connected to the space S2. In this embodiment, the separation membrane 34b uses a membrane that can selectively permeate non-condensable gas from a gas refrigerant containing non-condensable gas. As such a separation membrane, a porous membrane made of a polyimide membrane, a cellulose acetate membrane, a polysulfone membrane, a carbon membrane or the like is used. Here, a porous membrane is a membrane having a large number of very fine pores, and a membrane that is separated by a speed difference when gas passes through these pores, that is, a component having a small molecular diameter is It is a membrane that permeates but does not penetrate components with a large molecular diameter. Here, R22 and R134a used as the refrigerant of the air conditioner, and R32 and R125 contained in the mixed refrigerant R407C and R410A all have a molecular diameter larger than that of water vapor, oxygen gas, and nitrogen gas. It can be separated by a membrane. As a result, the separation membrane 34b is non-condensable from a gas refrigerant containing a non-condensable gas (specifically, a supply gas that is a mixed gas of the non-condensable gas and the gas refrigerant accumulated in the upper portion of the receiver 25). Gas can be selectively permeated to allow non-condensable gas to flow from space S ₁ to space S ₂ . Exhaust valve 34c is a valve for communicating the space S ₂ to the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65, the inflow of the non-condensable gas flowing separated in the space S ₂ by a separation layer 34b from the space S ₂ to the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 It is possible to make it.

  The refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 is a device for recovering the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas separated in the separation membrane device 34 when the refrigerant is contained in the non-condensable gas separated in the separation membrane device 34. is there. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 captures the refrigerant contained in the noncondensable gas flowing in through the discharge valve 34c after being separated in the separation membrane device 34 together with the noncondensable gas. It is a collection container to collect. By providing such a refrigerant recovery mechanism 65, the refrigerant can be prevented from being released into the atmosphere.

(2) Construction method of air conditioner Next, a construction method of the air conditioner 1 will be described.
<Equipment installation step (refrigerant circuit configuration step)>
First, the new use unit 5 and the heat source unit 2 are installed, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 are installed, connected to the use unit 5 and the heat source unit 2, and the refrigerant circuit 10 of the air conditioner 1 is installed. Constitute. Here, the liquid side gate valve 27 and the gas side gate valve 28 of the newly installed heat source unit 2 are closed, and the refrigerant circuit of the heat source unit 2 is filled with a predetermined amount of refrigerant in advance. And the discharge valve 34c of the separation membrane apparatus 34 which comprises the gas separation apparatus 31 is closed.

When the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 constituting the existing air conditioner are used to update one or both of the heat source unit 2 and the utilization unit 5, the heat source Only one or both of the unit 2 and the utilization unit 5 are newly installed.
<Airtight test step>
After the refrigerant circuit 10 of the air conditioner 1 is configured, an airtight test of the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 is performed. If the use unit 5 is not provided with the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 and the gate valve, an airtight test of the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 is performed on the use unit 5. This is done while connected.

  First, for an airtight test portion including the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7, an airtight test gas is supplied from a supply port (not shown) provided in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6, the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7, and the like. As a result, the pressure of the airtight test portion is increased to the airtight test pressure. Then, after stopping the supply of nitrogen gas, it is confirmed that the airtight test pressure is maintained for a predetermined test time for the airtight test portion.

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

Note that the atmosphere gas in the airtight test portion may be replaced with nitrogen gas during the airtight test step or the airtight gas discharge step. Thereby, the oxygen gas contained in the atmospheric gas of an airtight test part can be removed reliably.
<Non-condensable gas discharge step>
After releasing the airtight gas, the liquid side gate valve 27 and the gas side gate valve 28 of the heat source unit 2 are opened, and the refrigerant circuit of the utilization unit 5 and the refrigerant circuit of the heat source unit 2 are connected. Thereby, the refrigerant previously filled in the heat source unit 2 is supplied to the entire refrigerant circuit 10. When the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 have a long pipe length or the like, if the refrigerant quantity that has been filled in the heat source unit 2 in advance is not sufficient, the external refrigerant is necessary as necessary. The refrigerant is additionally charged. In addition, when the refrigerant | coolant is not beforehand filled into the heat-source unit 2, all the required refrigerant | coolants amount is filled from the outside. As a result, in the refrigerant circuit 10, an airtight gas as a non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 after the airtight gas discharge step (if the airtight test of the use unit 5 is performed at the same time, it remains in the use unit 5. The non-condensable gas is also included) and the refrigerant is mixed.

In this circuit configuration, the compressor 21 is started and an operation of circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 is performed.
(When discharging non-condensable gas during cooling operation)
First, the case where the operation for circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 is performed by the cooling operation will be described. At this time, the four-way switching valve 22 is in the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, that is, the discharge side of the compressor 21 is connected to the gas side of the heat source side heat exchanger 23 and the suction side of the compressor 21 is the gas side. It is in a state connected to the gate valve 28. Further, the heat source side expansion valve 26 is in a state in which the opening degree is adjusted. Further, the gas refrigerant introduction valve 38a and the discharge valve 34c constituting the gas separation device 31 are both closed, and the gas separation device 31 is not used.

  When the compressor 21 is started in the state of the refrigerant circuit 10 and the gas separation device 31, the gas refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 21 and compressed, and then the heat source side heat exchanger via the four-way switching valve 22. 23 and is condensed by exchanging heat with air or water as a heat source. The condensed liquid refrigerant flows into the receiver 25 through the check valve 24a of the bridge circuit 24. Here, the heat source side expansion valve 26 connected to the downstream side of the receiver 25 is in a state in which the opening degree is adjusted, and ranges from the discharge side of the compressor 21 to the heat source side expansion valve 26 of the liquid side refrigerant circuit 11. The refrigerant pressure is increased to the condensation pressure of the refrigerant. That is, the refrigerant pressure in the receiver 25 is increased to the refrigerant condensation pressure. For this reason, in the receiver 25, a saturated gas-liquid mixed phase refrigerant containing non-condensable gas (specifically, gas-tight gas) remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 after releasing the gas-tight gas. Will flow in. The refrigerant flowing into the receiver 25 is gas-liquid separated into a gas refrigerant containing a non-condensable gas and a liquid refrigerant. The gas refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas is accumulated in the upper part of the receiver 25, and the liquid refrigerant is temporarily accumulated in the receiver 25, and then flows out from the lower part of the receiver 25 to be sent to the heat source side expansion valve 26. It is done. The liquid refrigerant sent to the heat source side expansion valve 26 is expanded into a gas-liquid two-phase state via the check valve 24c, the liquid side gate valve 27 and the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 of the bridge circuit 24. It is sent to the usage unit 5. The refrigerant sent to the usage unit 5 is evaporated by exchanging heat with indoor air in the usage-side heat exchanger 51. The evaporated gas refrigerant is again sucked into the compressor 21 via the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7, the gas side gate valve 28, and the four-way switching valve 22.

In this cooling operation state, the gas separation device 31 is used to discharge airtight gas as non-condensable gas from the refrigerant circuit 10 by the following procedure. First, the gas refrigerant introduction valve 38 a is opened, and the gas refrigerant (supply gas) containing the non-condensable gas accumulated in the upper part of the receiver 25 is introduced into the separation membrane device 34. Next, by opening the discharge valve 34c of the separation membrane device 34, into a state space S _2, which communicates with the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 comprising a collection vessel of the separation membrane device 34. Then, since the space S ₁ of the separation membrane device 34 communicates with the upper portion of the receiver 25, the pressure between the refrigerant condensation pressure and the pressure in the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 is between the space S ₁ and the space S _2. A differential pressure corresponding to the difference occurs. Here, the pressure in the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 is in the state of atmospheric pressure or in the state of being evacuated in advance. For this reason, the non-condensable gas contained in the supply gas in the space S ₁ passes through the separation membrane 34b with this differential pressure as a driving force, flows to the space S ₂ side, and recovers the refrigerant through the discharge valve 34c. It flows into the mechanism 65. On the other hand, the gas refrigerant contained in the feed gas is in a state accumulated in the space S ₁ without passing through the separation membrane 34b. When this operation is performed for a predetermined time, the non-condensable gas remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 is discharged from the refrigerant circuit 10.

Here, the separation performance of the separation membrane 34b constituting the separation membrane device 34 is low, and the non-condensable gas separated in the separation membrane device 34 may contain a refrigerant. In this case, an external (i.e., the space S ₂ side of the separation membrane 34b) of the separation membrane device 34 through the discharge valve 34c is a non-condensible gas containing refrigerant is to be discharged, in this embodiment The refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is recovered together with the non-condensable gas by the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 including a collection container connected to the downstream side of the separation membrane device 34.

Then, after the non-condensable gas is discharged from the refrigerant circuit 10 and the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is recovered by the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65, the gas refrigerant introduction valve 38a constituting the gas separation device 31 and the exhaust gas are discharged. All the valves 34c are closed.
(When discharging non-condensable gas while heating operation)
Next, the case where the operation for circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 is performed by the heating operation will be described. At this time, the four-way switching valve 22 is in the state shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, that is, the discharge side of the compressor 21 is connected to the gas side gate valve 28, and the suction side of the compressor 21 is the heat source side heat exchanger 23. It is in the state connected to the gas side. Further, the heat source side expansion valve 26 is in a state in which the opening degree is adjusted. Further, the gas refrigerant introduction valve 38a and the discharge valve 34c constituting the gas separation device 31 are both closed, and the gas separation device 31 is not used.

  When the compressor 21 is started in the state of the refrigerant circuit 10 and the gas separation device 31, the gas refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 21 and compressed, and then the gas side gate valve via the four-way switching valve 22. 28 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 are sent to the utilization unit 5. The refrigerant sent to the usage unit 5 is condensed by exchanging heat with indoor air in the usage-side heat exchanger 51. The condensed liquid refrigerant flows into the receiver 25 through the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6, the liquid side gate valve 27 and the check valve 24 b of the bridge circuit 24. Here, the heat source side expansion valve 26 connected to the downstream side of the receiver 25 is in a state in which the opening degree is adjusted as in the cooling operation, and from the discharge side of the compressor 21 to the heat source side of the liquid side refrigerant circuit 11. The refrigerant pressure in the range up to the expansion valve 26 is increased to the condensation pressure of the refrigerant. That is, the refrigerant pressure in the receiver 25 is increased to the refrigerant condensation pressure. For this reason, in the receiver 25, as in the cooling operation, saturation including non-condensable gas (specifically, airtight gas) remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 after releasing the airtight gas. The gas-liquid mixed phase refrigerant in the state will flow in. The refrigerant flowing into the receiver 25 is gas-liquid separated into a gas refrigerant containing a non-condensable gas and a liquid refrigerant. The gas refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas is accumulated in the upper part of the receiver 25, and the liquid refrigerant is temporarily accumulated in the receiver 25, and then flows out from the lower part of the receiver 25 to be sent to the heat source side expansion valve 26. It is done. The liquid refrigerant sent to the heat source side expansion valve 26 is expanded into a gas-liquid two-phase state and sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 23 via the check valve 24 d of the bridge circuit 24. The refrigerant sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 23 is evaporated by exchanging heat with air or water as a heat source. The evaporated gas refrigerant is again sucked into the compressor 21 via the four-way switching valve 22.

Even in this heating operation state, it is possible to perform an operation for discharging non-condensable gas similar to the cooling operation state. Since this procedure is the same as the operation for discharging the non-condensable gas in the cooling operation state, the description thereof is omitted.
(3) Features of the air conditioning apparatus and its construction method The air conditioning apparatus 1 and its construction method of the present embodiment have the following characteristics.

(A)
In the air conditioner 1, after connecting the heat source unit 2 and the utilization unit 5 via the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 in the equipment installation step (refrigerant circuit configuration step), in the noncondensable gas discharge step, the refrigerant communication pipe By circulating the non-condensable gas remaining in 6 and 7 together with the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 by operating the compressor 21 (specifically, cooling operation or heating operation), Using the gas separation device 31 having the separation membrane device 34 out of the refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas that has been increased in pressure by increasing the pressure of the refrigerant and non-condensable gas flowing between the use-side heat exchanger 51. Non-condensable gas is separated and discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 10. In this way, the pressure difference between the primary side (that is, the space S ₁ side) and the secondary side (that is, the space S ₂ side) of the separation membrane 34b of the separation membrane device 34 can be increased. The separation efficiency of the non-condensable gas in 34b can be improved.

Moreover, in the air conditioner 1, the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 recovers the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas separated by using the separation membrane device 34. Therefore, the separation capability of the separation membrane 34b is low. Even in this case, the refrigerant can be prevented from being released into the atmosphere.
(B)
Since the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 is a collection container that collects the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas together with the non-condensable gas, it collects the refrigerant together with the non-condensable gas and reliably prevents the refrigerant from being released into the atmosphere. Can do.

(C)
In the air conditioner 1, since the separation membrane device 34 is connected to the receiver 25 provided in the liquid side refrigerant circuit 11, the refrigerant flowing through the liquid side refrigerant circuit 11 is converted into a gas refrigerant containing a non-condensable gas and a liquid refrigerant. Thus, the amount of the refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas that is separated into the gas and liquid and processed in the separation membrane device 34 can be reduced. Thereby, the size of the separation membrane device 34 can be reduced.

(D)
In the construction method of the air conditioner 1, an airtight test of the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 is performed using an airtight gas such as nitrogen gas, and the airtight gas is released to the atmosphere. The amount of oxygen gas remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 can be reduced. As a result, the amount of oxygen gas circulating in the refrigerant circuit 10 together with the refrigerant can be reduced, and the risk of problems such as deterioration of the refrigerant and refrigerating machine oil can be eliminated.

Further, by replacing the atmospheric gas in the airtight test portion with the airtight gas during the airtight test step or the airtight gas releasing step, the oxygen gas contained in the atmospheric gas in the airtight test portion can be reliably removed.
(4) Modification 1
In the gas separation device 31, as the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65, a collection container that collects the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas flowing in through the discharge valve 34 c after being separated in the separation membrane device 34 together with the non-condensable gas. However, like the gas separation device 131 incorporated in the heat source unit 102 of the air conditioner 101 of this modification shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the refrigerant recovery mechanism 165 is a non-condensable gas. You may employ | adopt the absorber which has an absorber which absorbs the refrigerant | coolant contained in. Specifically, the refrigerant recovery mechanism 165 includes an absorbent 165a such as refrigerating machine oil for absorbing gas refrigerant, an absorber main body 165b for storing the absorbent 165a, and a non-condensable gas from the absorber main body 165b. And a discharge valve 165c for discharging the non-condensable gas including the refrigerant separated in the separation membrane device 34 can flow into the absorbent 165a. By providing such a refrigerant recovery mechanism 165, non-condensable gas can be released to the atmosphere without releasing the refrigerant to the atmosphere.

(5) Modification 2
In the gas separation device 131 described above, an absorption device having an absorbent that absorbs the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is adopted as the refrigerant recovery mechanism 165, but this modification shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 is used. As in the gas separation device 231 incorporated in the heat source unit 202 of the air conditioner 201, an adsorption device having an adsorbent that adsorbs the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas may be adopted as the refrigerant recovery mechanism 265. Good. Specifically, the refrigerant recovery mechanism 265 includes an adsorbent 265a such as zeolite for adsorbing a gas refrigerant, an adsorber body 265b for containing the adsorbent 265a, and a non-condensable gas from the adsorber body 265b. A non-condensable gas containing refrigerant after being separated in the separation membrane device 34 is allowed to pass through the adsorbent 265a layer. . By providing such a refrigerant recovery mechanism 265, non-condensable gas can be released to the atmosphere without releasing the refrigerant to the atmosphere.

(6) Modification 3 and Modification 4
In the gas separation devices 31, 131, and 231, any one of the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 including the collection container, the refrigerant recovery mechanism 165 including the absorption device, and the refrigerant recovery mechanism 265 including the adsorption device is used as the separation membrane device 34. Although connected downstream, any two or more of these refrigerant recovery mechanisms may be provided in combination. For example, an absorption device 165 connected to the downstream side of the separation membrane device 34, such as a gas separation device 331 incorporated in the heat source unit 202 of the air conditioner 201 of Modification 3 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. A refrigerant recovery mechanism 365 having a collection container 65 connected to the downstream side of the absorption device 165 may be provided. Further, an adsorption device 265 connected to the downstream side of the separation membrane device 34, such as a gas separation device 431 incorporated in the heat source unit 302 of the air conditioner 301 of Modification 4 shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. A refrigerant recovery mechanism 465 having a collection container 65 connected to the downstream side of the adsorption device 265 may be provided. Thereby, it is possible to reliably prevent the refrigerant from being released into the atmosphere.

[Second Embodiment]
(1) Configuration of Air Conditioner FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner 1001 as an example of a refrigeration apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the air conditioner 1001 is an air conditioner capable of cooling operation and heating operation, similar to the air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment, and includes a heat source unit 1002, a utilization unit 5, and a heat source unit 1002. And a liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and a gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 are provided. In addition, since the structure except the gas separation apparatus 1031 of the air conditioning apparatus 1001 of this embodiment is the same as that of the air conditioning apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.

In this embodiment, the gas separation device 1031 mainly has a separation membrane device 1034 and a refrigerant recovery mechanism 65. Here, since the refrigerant | coolant collection | recovery mechanism 65 is a collection container similar to the refrigerant | coolant collection | recovery mechanism 65 which comprises the gas separation apparatus of 1st Embodiment (refer FIG. 3), description is abbreviate | omitted.
Similar to the separation membrane device 34 of the first embodiment, the separation membrane device 1034 separates the non-condensable gas from the gas refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas accumulated in the upper part of the receiver 25 and separates the non-condensable gas. It is an apparatus for discharging the sex gas to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 10. The separation membrane device 34 is connected to the receiver 25 via a gas refrigerant introduction circuit 38. As shown in FIG. 9, the separation membrane device 1034 is, in this embodiment, a device main body 1034 a, a space S ₃ (primary side) and a space that communicates the space in the device main body 1034 a with the gas refrigerant introduction circuit 38. A separation membrane 1034b arranged to be divided into S ₄ (secondary side), a discharge valve 1034c connected to the space S ₃ , and a gas refrigerant outflow circuit 1041 connected to the space S _4. Yes. In this embodiment, the separation membrane 1034b uses a membrane that can selectively permeate the gas refrigerant from the gas refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas. As such a separation membrane, a non-porous membrane made of a polysulfone membrane or a silicon rubber membrane is used. Here, the non-porous film is a homogeneous film having many very fine pores as the porous film has, and the gas passes through the film through the process of dissolution-diffusion-de-dissolution. Membranes that are separated by the difference in speed when they are produced, that is, membranes that permeate components with high boiling point and high solubility in the membrane but do not permeate components with low boiling point and low solubility in the membrane. Here, since R22 and R134a used as refrigerants of the air conditioner and R32 and R125 contained in the mixed refrigerants R407C and R410A have higher boiling points than water vapor, oxygen gas, and nitrogen gas, this non-porous It can be separated by a membrane. Thus, the separation membrane 1034b removes the gas refrigerant from the gas refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas (specifically, the supply gas that is a mixed gas of the non-condensable gas and the gas refrigerant accumulated in the upper part of the receiver 25). The gas refrigerant can flow from the space S ₃ to the space S _{4 by} being selectively permeated. The gas refrigerant outflow circuit 1041 is provided so as to connect the space S ₄ of the separation membrane device 1034 and the suction side of the compressor 21, and gas refrigerant that passes through the separation membrane 1034 b and is returned into the refrigerant circuit 10. It has a gas refrigerant return valve 1041a for circulating / blocking. Here, since the gas refrigerant outflow circuit 1041 is provided so that the gas refrigerant is returned to the suction side of the compressor 21 having the lowest refrigerant pressure in the refrigerant circuit 10, the gas refrigerant outflow circuit 1041 is provided between the space S ₃ and the space S _4. It is possible to increase the differential pressure. Exhaust valve 1034c is a non-condensable gas remaining in the space S ₃ by transmitting gas refrigerant in the separation membrane 1034b it is possible to flow into the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65.

(2) Construction Method of Air Conditioner Next, a construction method of the air conditioner 1001 will be described. In addition, about the procedure except a noncondensable gas discharge step, since it is the same as that of the construction method of the air conditioning apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.
<Non-condensable gas discharge step>
After releasing the airtight gas, the liquid side gate valve 27 and the gas side gate valve 28 of the heat source unit 1002 are opened, and the refrigerant circuit of the utilization unit 5 and the refrigerant circuit of the heat source unit 1002 are connected. As a result, the refrigerant pre-filled in the heat source unit 1002 is supplied to the entire refrigerant circuit 10. When the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 have a long pipe length or the like, when the refrigerant quantity that has been filled in the heat source unit 1002 in advance is not sufficient, the external refrigerant is necessary as necessary. The refrigerant is additionally charged. When the heat source unit 1002 is not filled with the refrigerant in advance, all of the necessary refrigerant amount is filled from the outside. As a result, in the refrigerant circuit 10, an airtight gas as a non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 after the airtight gas discharge step (if the airtight test of the use unit 5 is performed at the same time, it remains in the use unit 5. The non-condensable gas is also included) and the refrigerant is mixed.

In this circuit configuration, the compressor 21 is started and an operation of circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 is performed.
(When discharging non-condensable gas during cooling operation)
First, the case where the operation for circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 is performed by the cooling operation will be described. At this time, the four-way switching valve 22 is in the state indicated by the solid line in FIG. 8, that is, the discharge side of the compressor 21 is connected to the gas side of the heat source side heat exchanger 23 and the suction side of the compressor 21 is the gas side. It is in a state connected to the gate valve 28. Further, the heat source side expansion valve 26 is in a state in which the opening degree is adjusted. Further, the gas refrigerant introduction valve 38a, the gas refrigerant return valve 1041a, and the discharge valve 1034c constituting the gas separation device 1031 are all closed, and the gas separation device 1031 is not used.

When the compressor 21 is started in the state of the refrigerant circuit 10 and the gas separation device 1031, the same operation as the cooling operation is performed as in the first embodiment. Note that the operation of the refrigerant circuit 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.
Next, the operation | movement operation | movement which discharges | emits noncondensable gas from the inside of the refrigerant circuit 10 using the gas separation apparatus 1031 is demonstrated. First, the gas refrigerant return valve 1041 a of the separation membrane device 1034 is opened so that the refrigerant pressure in the space S ₄ of the separation membrane device 1034 becomes the same pressure as the refrigerant pressure flowing on the suction side of the compressor 21. Then, since the space S ₃ of the separation membrane device 1034 communicates with the upper part of the receiver 25, a gas refrigerant (supply gas) containing a non-condensable gas accumulated in the upper part of the receiver 25 is introduced into the space S ₃ . Thus, a differential pressure corresponding to the pressure difference between the refrigerant condensing pressure and the suction side pressure of the compressor 21 is generated between the space S ₃ and the space S ₄ . For this reason, the gas refrigerant contained in the supply gas accumulated in the space S ₃ is driven by this differential pressure, passes through the separation membrane 1034b, flows to the space S ₄ side, and flows into the gas refrigerant return valve 1041a. To the suction side of the compressor 21. On the other hand, the non-condensable gas (non-permeate gas) remaining in the space S _{3 as a} result of the gas refrigerant passing through the separation membrane 1034 b and flowing to the space S ₄ side is opened to the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 by opening the discharge valve 1034 c. Inflow.

Here, the separation performance of the separation membrane 1034b constituting the separation membrane device 1034 is low, and the non-condensable gas separated in the separation membrane device 1034 may contain a refrigerant. In such cases, external of the separation membrane device 1034 via a discharge valve 1034c (i.e., the space S ₃ side of the separation membrane 1034b) although non-condensable gases containing refrigerant is to be discharged, in this embodiment The refrigerant | coolant contained in noncondensable gas is collect | recovered with the noncondensable gas by the refrigerant | coolant collection | recovery mechanism 65 which consists of a collection container connected to the downstream of the separation membrane apparatus 1034.

Then, after the non-condensable gas is discharged from the refrigerant circuit 10 and the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is recovered by the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65, the gas refrigerant introduction valve 38a constituting the gas separation device 1031 and the gas All of the refrigerant return valve 1041a and the discharge valve 1034c are closed.
(When discharging non-condensable gas while heating operation)
Next, the case where the operation for circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 is performed by the heating operation will be described. At this time, the four-way switching valve 22 is in the state shown by the broken line in FIG. 8, that is, the discharge side of the compressor 21 is connected to the gas side gate valve 28, and the suction side of the compressor 21 is the heat source side heat exchanger 23. It is in the state connected to the gas side. Further, the heat source side expansion valve 26 is in a state in which the opening degree is adjusted. Further, the gas refrigerant introduction valve 38a, the gas refrigerant return valve 1041a, and the discharge valve 1034c constituting the gas separation device 1031 are all closed, and the gas separation device 1031 is not used.

When the compressor 21 is started in the state of the refrigerant circuit 10 and the gas separation device 1031, the heating operation is performed as in the first embodiment. The operation of the gas separation device 1031 is the same as the operation for discharging the non-condensable gas in the cooling operation state, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
(3) Features of air conditioner and construction method thereof In the air conditioner 1001 of this embodiment, a non-porous membrane as a membrane that selectively permeates refrigerant is adopted as the separation membrane 1034b that constitutes the separation membrane device 1034. However, the air-conditioning apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment is different from the structure of the air-conditioning apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 including the collection container is connected to the space S ₃ of the separation membrane device 1034, that is, the upper part of the receiver 25, and thus is close to the refrigerant condensation pressure in the refrigerant circuit 10. The non-condensable gas containing the refrigerant can be recovered in a state having pressure. Thereby, the size of the refrigerant | coolant collection | recovery mechanism 65 which consists of a collection container can be made small.

(4) Modification 1
In the gas separation device 1031, as the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65, a collection container that collects the refrigerant contained in the noncondensable gas flowing in through the discharge valve 1034 c after being separated in the separation membrane device 1034 together with the noncondensable gas. However, as in the modified example of the first embodiment, the refrigerant is similar to the gas separator 1131 incorporated in the heat source unit 1102 of the air conditioner 1101 of the modified example shown in FIGS. 8 and 4. As the recovery mechanism 165, an absorption device having an absorbent that absorbs the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas may be employed. Specifically, the refrigerant recovery mechanism 165 includes an absorbent 165a such as refrigerating machine oil for absorbing gas refrigerant, an absorber main body 165b for storing the absorbent 165a, and a non-condensable gas from the absorber main body 165b. And a discharge valve 165c for discharging the non-condensable gas including the refrigerant after being separated in the separation membrane device 1034 can flow into the absorbent 165a. By providing such a refrigerant recovery mechanism 165, non-condensable gas can be released to the atmosphere without releasing the refrigerant to the atmosphere.

In this modification, the refrigerant recovery mechanism 165 made of an absorption device is connected to the space S ₃ of the separation membrane device 1034 having the separation membrane 1034b made of a non-porous membrane, that is, the upper part of the receiver 25. The non-condensable gas containing the refrigerant can be allowed to flow into the absorbent 165a in a state having a pressure close to the condensation pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10. Thereby, the ability of the absorbent 165a to absorb the refrigerant is improved, and the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas can be reliably absorbed and collected in the absorber main body 165a.

(5) Modification 2
In the gas separation device 1131, an absorption device having an absorbent that absorbs the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is employed as the refrigerant recovery mechanism 165, but as in the modification of the first embodiment, FIG. 8 and the gas separation device 1231 incorporated in the heat source unit 1202 of the air conditioner 1201 of this modification shown in FIG. 5, the refrigerant recovery mechanism 265 serves as an adsorption that adsorbs the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas. You may employ | adopt the adsorption | suction apparatus which has an agent. Specifically, the refrigerant recovery mechanism 265 includes an adsorbent 265a such as zeolite for adsorbing a gas refrigerant, an adsorber body 265b for containing the adsorbent 265a, and a non-condensable gas from the adsorber body 265b. And a discharge valve 265c for discharging the non-condensable gas including the refrigerant separated in the separation membrane device 1034 can pass through the adsorbent 265a layer. . By providing such a refrigerant recovery mechanism 265, non-condensable gas can be released to the atmosphere without releasing the refrigerant to the atmosphere.

In this modification, the refrigerant recovery mechanism 265 made of the adsorption device is connected to the space S ₃ of the separation membrane device 1034 having the separation membrane 1034b made of a non-porous membrane, that is, the upper part of the receiver 25. The non-condensable gas containing the refrigerant can be allowed to flow into the adsorbent 265a layer in a state having a pressure close to the condensation pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10. Thereby, the capability of the adsorbent 265a to adsorb the refrigerant is improved, and the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas can be reliably adsorbed and collected in the adsorbing device main body 265a.

(6) Modification 3 and Modification 4
In the gas separation devices 1031, 1131, and 1231, any one of the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 including the collection container, the refrigerant recovery mechanism 165 including the absorption device, and the refrigerant recovery mechanism 265 including the adsorption device is used as the separation membrane device 34. Although connected downstream, any two or more of these refrigerant recovery mechanisms may be provided in combination. For example, an absorption device 165 connected to the downstream side of the separation membrane device 1034, such as a gas separation device 1331 incorporated in the heat source unit 1202 of the air conditioner 1201 of Modification 3 shown in FIGS. A refrigerant recovery mechanism 365 having a collection container 65 connected to the downstream side of the absorption device 165 may be provided. Also, an adsorption device 265 connected to the downstream side of the separation membrane device 1034, such as a gas separation device 1431 incorporated in the heat source unit 1302 of the air conditioner 1301 of Modification 4 shown in FIGS. A refrigerant recovery mechanism 465 having a collection container 65 connected to the downstream side of the adsorption device 265 may be provided. Thereby, it is possible to reliably prevent the refrigerant from being released into the atmosphere.

(7) Modification 5
In the gas separation device 1231 described above, the refrigerant recovery mechanism 265 including the adsorption device is connected to the downstream side of the separation membrane device 34, and the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is adsorbed by the adsorbent 265a to adsorb the apparatus main body 265b. The non-condensable gas is discharged to the outside of the adsorption device main body 265b, but the gas incorporated in the heat source unit 1502 of the air conditioner 1501 of the present modification shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 Like the separation device 1531, the adsorption device may be a refrigerant recovery mechanism 1565 including a pressure swing type adsorption device.

Below, the refrigerant | coolant collection | recovery mechanism 1565 of this modification is demonstrated. Note that the refrigerant circuit 10 and the separation membrane device 1034 of the air conditioner 1501 are the same as the refrigerant circuit 10 and the separation membrane device 1034 of the air conditioning devices 1001, 1101, 1201, 1301, and 1401, and thus the description thereof is omitted. .
The refrigerant recovery mechanism 1565 is mainly a pressure swing type adsorption device having two refrigerant adsorbers 1566 and 1567 and an adsorber switching mechanism 1568 including a plurality of valves 1568a to 1568g.

  The refrigerant adsorber 1566 includes an adsorbent 1566a and an adsorber body 1566b for accommodating the adsorbent 1566a. Similarly to the refrigerant adsorber 1566, the refrigerant adsorber 1567 includes an adsorbent 1567a and an adsorber body 1567b for accommodating the adsorbent 1567a. For example, the adsorbents 1566a and 1567a adsorb the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas under the pressurizing condition such as the condensation pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10, and the suction pressure of the compressor 21 in the refrigerant circuit 10 and the like. Under reduced pressure conditions, it has the property of desorbing the refrigerant adsorbed under pressurized conditions. The adsorbents 1566a and 1567a are made of, for example, zeolite. The refrigerant adsorbers 1566 and 1567 are non-condensed by the adsorber switching mechanism 1568 when non-condensable gas including refrigerant flowing from the separation membrane device 1034 through the discharge valve 1034c passes through the adsorbents 1566a and 1567a. Adsorption state where non-condensable gas is released to the atmosphere by adsorbing refrigerant contained in the adsorbent gas, and refrigerant adsorbed by the adsorbents 1566a, 1567a by depressurizing the inside of the refrigerant adsorbers 1566, 1567 to adsorb the refrigerant The desorption state in which the adsorbents 1566a and 1567a are regenerated by being discharged outside the containers 1566 and 1567 can be switched.

  In the present embodiment, the adsorber switching mechanism 1568 includes a plurality of valves 1568a to 1568g and a pipe group connected to the refrigerant adsorbers 1566 and 1567. The inlet valves 1568a and 1568b are valves for introducing / blocking non-condensable gas including refrigerant flowing from the separation membrane device 1034 via the discharge valve 1034c to the refrigerant adsorbers 1566 and 1567. The outlet valves 1568c and 1568d are valves that can release the non-condensable gas released into the atmosphere after the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is adsorbed and removed by the refrigerant adsorbers 1566 and 1567 while reducing the pressure. The return valves 1568e and 1568f depressurize the refrigerant adsorbers 1566 and 1567, thereby desorbing the refrigerant adsorbed by the adsorbents 1566a and 1567a of the refrigerant adsorbers 1566 and 1567 and discharging them to the outside of the refrigerant adsorbers 1566 and 1567. When opening, it is a valve that opens. Note that the refrigerant discharged to the outside of the refrigerant adsorbers 1566 and 1567 through the return valves 1568e and 1568f is compressed through the refrigerant return circuit 1569 that connects the return valves 1568e and 1568f to the suction side of the compressor 21. It is returned to the suction side of the machine 21. When the pressure equalizing valve 1568g changes one of the adsorbed refrigerant adsorbers 1566 and 1567 to the adsorbed state, the pressure equalizing valve 1568g allows the discharge valve 1034c from the separation membrane device 1034 to pass through the other of the adsorbed refrigerant adsorbers 1566 and 1567. It is a valve for introducing non-condensable gas including refrigerant flowing in through the adsorber and pressurizing the inside of the adsorber bodies 1566b and 1567b. As described above, the refrigerant recovery mechanism 1565 can alternately release the non-condensable gas into the atmosphere by alternately repeating the adsorption state and the desorption state of the refrigerant adsorbers 1566 and 1567 by the adsorber switching mechanism 1568. It has become.

Next, the operation of the refrigerant recovery mechanism 1565 will be described.
In the state before operating the refrigerant recovery mechanism 1565, the refrigerant adsorber 1566 is in the adsorbed state, and the refrigerant adsorber 1567 is in the desorbed state. Specifically, the inlet valve 1568a, the outlet valve 1568c, and the return valve 1568f are opened, and the other valves 1568b, 1568d to 1568e, 1568g are closed.

  First, by opening the discharge valve 1034c of the separation membrane device 1034, non-condensable gas containing a refrigerant is introduced from the separation membrane device 1034 into the refrigerant adsorber 1566 through the inlet valve 1568a. When the non-condensable gas containing the refrigerant introduced into the refrigerant adsorber 1566 passes through the adsorbent 1566a layer in the refrigerant adsorber 1566, the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is adsorbed and removed. Then, the non-condensable gas from which the refrigerant has been removed is released into the atmosphere via the outlet valve 1568c. Here, the refrigerant adsorber 1567 has substantially the same pressure as the suction pressure of the compressor 21 through the refrigerant return circuit 1569 because the return valve 1568f is open and the valves 1568b, 1568d, and 1568g are closed. ing.

  Next, after operating the refrigerant adsorber 1566 in an adsorption state for a predetermined time, the refrigerant adsorber 1566 is changed to a desorption state, and the refrigerant adsorber 1567 is changed to an adsorption state. Specifically, the state is changed according to the following procedure. First, the return valve 1568f is closed and the pressure equalizing valve 1568g is opened so that both the refrigerant adsorbers 1566 and 1567 are in the adsorbed state. Then, the non-condensable gas is introduced from the refrigerant adsorber 1566 side into the decompressed refrigerant adsorber 1567, and the inside of the refrigerant adsorber 1567 is pressurized. Thereafter, the pressure equalizing valve 1568g is closed, the inlet valve 1568b and the outlet valve 1568d are opened, the non-condensable gas containing the refrigerant is introduced into the refrigerant adsorber 1567 from the separation membrane device 1034, and the refrigerant adsorber is brought into the adsorption state. From 1567, non-condensable gas is released into the atmosphere.

  Next, the inlet valve 1568a and the outlet valve 1568c of the refrigerant adsorber 1566 are closed, and the non-condensable gas containing the refrigerant supplied through the separation membrane device 1034 is stopped. Further, in order to put the refrigerant adsorber 1566 in the desorbed state, the discharge valve 1568e is opened to decompress the refrigerant adsorber 1566, and the refrigerant adsorbed by the refrigerant adsorbent 1566a is desorbed to the outside of the refrigerant adsorber 1566. Discharge. The discharged refrigerant is returned to the suction side of the compressor 21 through the refrigerant return circuit 1569.

As described above, the adsorption / desorption state switching between the refrigerant adsorbers 1566 and 1567 is alternately performed to continuously release the non-condensable gas into the atmosphere, and the refrigerant is supplied to the refrigerant circuit 10 (specifically, compressed). The suction side of the machine 21).
As described above, by adopting the refrigerant recovery mechanism 1565 including the pressure swing type adsorption device as in this modification, not only the refrigerant is released into the atmosphere, but also the non-condensable gas is released into the atmosphere. Since the adsorbents 1566a and 1567a can be regenerated, the refrigerant adsorbers 1566 and 1567 constituting the refrigerant recovery mechanism 1565 can be reduced in size. In addition, since the refrigerant desorbed in the refrigerant adsorbers 1566 and 1567 can be returned into the refrigerant circuit 10, the loss of the refrigerant is reduced.

[Third Embodiment]
(1) Configuration of Air Conditioner FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner 2001 as an example of a refrigeration apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the air conditioner 2001 is an air conditioner capable of cooling operation and heating operation, similar to the air conditioner 1 of the first and second embodiments, and includes a heat source unit 2002, a utilization unit 5, A liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and a gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 for connecting the heat source unit 2002 and the utilization unit 5 are provided. In addition, since the structure except the gas separation apparatus 2031 of the air conditioning apparatus 2001 of this embodiment is the same as that of the air conditioning apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.

In this embodiment, the gas separation device 2031 mainly has a separation membrane device 2034 and a refrigerant recovery mechanism 65. Here, since the refrigerant | coolant collection | recovery mechanism 65 is a collection container similar to the refrigerant | coolant collection | recovery mechanism 65 which comprises the gas separation apparatus of 1st Embodiment (refer FIG. 3), description is abbreviate | omitted.
Similar to the separation membrane device 34 of the first embodiment, the separation membrane device 2034 separates the non-condensable gas from the gas refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas accumulated in the upper portion of the receiver 25 and separates the non-condensable gas. It is a device for discharging gas to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 10. The separation membrane device 2034 is connected to the receiver 25 via the gas refrigerant introduction circuit 38. As shown in FIG. 13, the separation membrane device 2034 has separation membranes provided in multiple stages (in this embodiment, two stages). The separation membrane device 2034 mainly includes a first separation membrane module 2063 and a second separation membrane module 2064 connected to the downstream side of the first separation membrane module 2063.

The first separation membrane module 2063 includes a first module body 2063a, a space S ₅ (primary side) and a space S ₆ (secondary side) in which the space in the first module body 2063a communicates with the gas refrigerant introduction circuit 38. The first separation membrane 2063b is arranged so as to be divided into _two and the gas refrigerant outflow circuit 2041 connected to the space S2. The first separation membrane 2063b is a membrane that can selectively permeate a gas refrigerant from a gas refrigerant containing a non-condensable gas, like the separation membrane 1034b constituting the separation membrane device 1034 of the second embodiment. is there. As a result, the first separation membrane 2063b gas from the gas refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas (specifically, the supply gas that is a mixed gas of the non-condensable gas and the gas refrigerant accumulated in the upper part of the receiver 25). selectively transmitting the refrigerant, the gas refrigerant can flow from the space S ₅ to the space S _6. The gas refrigerant outflow circuit 2041 is provided so as to connect the space S _{6 of} the first separation membrane module 2063 and the suction side of the compressor 21, and passes through the first separation membrane 2063 b and returns to the refrigerant circuit 10. The gas refrigerant return valve 2041a for circulating / blocking the gas refrigerant is provided. Here, since the gas refrigerant outflow circuit 2041 is provided so that the gas refrigerant is returned to the suction side of the compressor 21 having the lowest refrigerant pressure in the refrigerant circuit 10, the gas refrigerant outflow circuit 2041 is provided between the space S ₅ and the space S _6. It is possible to increase the differential pressure.

The second separation membrane module 2064 is connected to the first separation membrane module 2063 via the second separation membrane introduction circuit 2042, and has a second module body 2064a, a second separation membrane 2064b, and a discharge valve 2034c. doing. The second separation membrane 2064b divides the space in the second module main body 2064a into a space S ₇ (primary side) and a space S ₈ (secondary side) communicated with the second separation membrane introduction circuit 2042. Has been placed. The space S ₇ is communicated with the space S ₅ of the first separation membrane module 2063 via the second separation membrane introduction circuit 2042. Similar to the separation membrane 34b constituting the separation membrane device 34 of the first embodiment, the second separation membrane 2064b can selectively permeate the non-condensable gas from the gas refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas. It is a membrane. Thereby, the second separation membrane 2064b is a non-condensable gas that is a gas refrigerant containing a non-condensable gas (specifically, a gas mixture that has not permeated the first separation membrane 2063b and a non-condensable gas). ) The non-condensable gas can be selectively permeated from the inside to allow the non-condensable gas to flow from the space S ₇ into the space S ₈ . In the space S ₈ of the second separation membrane module 2064, exhaust valve 2034c is connected. Exhaust valve 2034c is a valve for communicating the space S ₈ to the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65, the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 of the non-condensable gas that has flowed into the space S ₈ are separated by a second separation layer 2064b from the space S ₈ It is possible to flow in.

  As described above, the separation membrane device 2034 of the present embodiment includes a gas refrigerant containing a non-condensable gas (specifically, a mixed gas of the non-condensable gas and the gas refrigerant accumulated in the upper portion of the receiver 25) in the preceding stage. A first separation membrane 2063b made of a membrane (specifically, a non-porous membrane) capable of selectively permeating a gas refrigerant from a certain supply gas), and a gas refrigerant containing a non-condensable gas in the subsequent stage. Specifically, a membrane capable of selectively permeating non-condensable gas from a gas refrigerant that has not permeated through the first separation membrane 2063b and non-condensable gas (non-permeable gas). Specifically, a multistage separation membrane apparatus having a second separation membrane 2064b made of a porous membrane) is configured.

(2) Construction Method of Air Conditioner Next, a construction method of the air conditioner 2001 will be described. In addition, about the procedure except a noncondensable gas discharge step, since it is the same as that of the construction method of the air conditioning apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.
<Non-condensable gas discharge step>
After releasing the airtight gas, the liquid side gate valve 27 and the gas side gate valve 28 of the heat source unit 2002 are opened, and the refrigerant circuit of the utilization unit 5 and the refrigerant circuit of the heat source unit 2002 are connected. As a result, the refrigerant pre-filled in the heat source unit 2002 is supplied to the entire refrigerant circuit 10. When the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 have a long pipe length or the like, if the refrigerant charge amount that has been filled in the heat source unit 2002 in advance is not sufficient, the external refrigerant is necessary as necessary. The refrigerant is additionally charged. When the heat source unit 2002 is not filled with the refrigerant in advance, all of the necessary refrigerant amount is filled from the outside. As a result, in the refrigerant circuit 10, an airtight gas as a non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 after the airtight gas discharge step (if the airtight test of the use unit 5 is performed at the same time, it remains in the use unit 5. The non-condensable gas is also included) and the refrigerant is mixed.

In this circuit configuration, the compressor 21 is started and an operation of circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 is performed.
(When discharging non-condensable gas during cooling operation)
First, the case where the operation for circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 is performed by the cooling operation will be described. At this time, the four-way switching valve 22 is in the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 12, that is, the discharge side of the compressor 21 is connected to the gas side of the heat source side heat exchanger 23 and the suction side of the compressor 21 is the gas side. It is in a state connected to the gate valve 28. Further, the heat source side expansion valve 26 is in a state in which the opening degree is adjusted. Further, the gas refrigerant introduction valve 38a, the gas refrigerant return valve 2041a, and the discharge valve 2034c constituting the gas separation device 2031 are all closed, and the gas separation device 2031 is not used.

When the compressor 21 is started in the state of the refrigerant circuit 10 and the gas separation device 2031, an operation similar to the cooling operation is performed as in the first embodiment. Note that the operation of the refrigerant circuit 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.
Next, the operation | movement operation | movement which discharges | emits noncondensable gas from the inside of the refrigerant circuit 10 using the gas separation apparatus 2031 is demonstrated. First, the gas refrigerant introduction valve 38 a is opened, and the gas refrigerant (supply gas) containing the non-condensable gas accumulated in the upper part of the receiver 25 is introduced into the separation membrane device 2034. Subsequently, by opening the gas refrigerant return valve 2041a of the separation membrane device 2034, to be the refrigerant pressure in the space S ₆ of the first separation membrane module 2063 to the same pressure as the pressure of refrigerant flowing through the suction side of the compressor 21 . Then, since the space S ₅ of the first separation membrane module 2063 is communicated with the upper part of the receiver 25, the refrigerant condensing pressure and the pressure on the suction side of the compressor 21 are between the space S ₅ and the space S _6. A pressure difference corresponding to the pressure difference occurs. Therefore, gas refrigerant contained in the feed gas accumulated in the space S _5, this differential pressure becomes a driving force is transmitted through the first separation membrane 2063B, back gas refrigerant flows in the space S ₆ side It is returned to the suction side of the compressor 21 through the valve 2041a. On the other hand, by flowing into the space S ₆ side gas refrigerant passes through the first separation membrane 2063B, Within the space S _5, in a state where most of the gas refrigerant is removed, the non-condensable gas enriched . Then, the gas refrigerant (non-permeate gas) in which the concentration of the non-condensable gas accumulated in the space S ₅ increases flows into the space S _{7 of} the second separation membrane module 2064 through the second separation membrane introduction circuit 2042. To do.

Next, by opening the discharge valve 2034c of the separation membrane device 2034, a state space S ₈ which communicates with the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 comprising a collection vessel of the second separation membrane module 2064. Then, since the space S ₇ of the second separation membrane module 2064 is communicated with the space S ₅ of the first separation membrane module 2063, the refrigerant condensing pressure and the refrigerant recovery are between the space S ₇ and the space S _8. A differential pressure corresponding to the pressure difference from the pressure in the mechanism 65 is generated. Here, the pressure in the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 is in an atmospheric pressure state or previously evacuated. For this reason, the non-condensable gas contained in the non-permeating gas remaining in the space S ₇ passes through the second separation membrane 2064b with this differential pressure as a driving force, flows to the space S ₈ side, and is discharged. The refrigerant flows into the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 through 2034c. When this operation is performed for a predetermined time, the non-condensable gas remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 is discharged from the refrigerant circuit 10.

Here, separation performance of the separation membranes 2063b and 2064b constituting the separation membrane device 2034 is low, and the non-condensable gas separated in the separation membrane device 2034 may contain a refrigerant. In this case, an external (i.e., the space S ₈ side of the separation membrane 2064B) of the separation membrane device 2034 via a discharge valve 2034c is noncondensable gas containing refrigerant is to be discharged, in this embodiment The refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is recovered together with the non-condensable gas by the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 including a collection container connected to the downstream side of the separation membrane device 2034.

Then, after the non-condensable gas is discharged from the refrigerant circuit 10 and the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is recovered by the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65, the gas refrigerant introduction valve 38a constituting the gas separation device 2031, the gas All the refrigerant return valves 2041a and the discharge valves 2034c are closed.
(When discharging non-condensable gas while heating operation)
Next, the case where the operation for circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 is performed by the heating operation will be described. At this time, the four-way switching valve 22 is in the state shown by the broken line in FIG. 12, that is, the discharge side of the compressor 21 is connected to the gas side gate valve 28, and the suction side of the compressor 21 is the heat source side heat exchanger 23. It is in the state connected to the gas side. Further, the heat source side expansion valve 26 is in a state in which the opening degree is adjusted. Further, the gas refrigerant introduction valve 38a, the gas refrigerant return valve 2041a, and the discharge valve 2034c constituting the gas separation device 2031 are all closed, and the gas separation device 2031 is not used.

When the compressor 21 is started in the state of the refrigerant circuit 10 and the gas separation device 2031, an operation similar to the heating operation is performed as in the first embodiment. The operation of the gas separation device 2031 is the same as the operation for discharging the non-condensable gas in the cooling operation state, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
(3) Features of the air conditioner and its construction method In the air conditioner 2001 of the present embodiment, a refrigerant containing a noncondensable gas (specifically, a noncondensable gas and a gas refrigerant accumulated in the upper part of the receiver 25) A first separation membrane module 2063 that selectively permeates the refrigerant from the supply gas (a mixed gas), and a first separation membrane 2063b made of a refrigerant containing non-condensable gas (specifically, a non-porous membrane), In the latter stage, a gas refrigerant containing a non-condensable gas, specifically, a non-condensable gas from a non-permeate gas which is a mixed gas of a gas refrigerant and a non-condensable gas that has not permeated the first separation membrane 2063b. A multi-stage separation membrane device 2034 having a second separation membrane module 2064 that selectively permeates is adopted.

Even when such a multistage separation membrane apparatus 2034 is employed, the air-conditioning apparatus 1 of the first embodiment and the construction method thereof have the same characteristics.
(4) Modification Although the gas separation device of the air conditioner 2001 includes the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 including a collection container, the gas separation devices 131, 231, 331, and 431 according to the modification of the first embodiment. As described above, a refrigerant recovery mechanism 165 including an absorption device, a refrigerant recovery mechanism 265 including an adsorption device, or a refrigerant recovery mechanism 365 or 465 combining two or more of these may be used.

[Fourth Embodiment]
(1) Configuration and Features of Air Conditioner FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner 3001 as an example of a refrigeration apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner 3001 is an air conditioner capable of cooling operation and heating operation, and includes a heat source unit 3002, a plurality (two in this embodiment) of usage units 3005, a heat source unit 3002, and a plurality of usage units 3005. The liquid refrigerant communication pipe 3006 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 3007 are connected to each other to form a so-called multi-type air conditioner.

The usage unit 3005 mainly includes a usage-side heat exchanger 51 and a usage-side expansion valve 3052. Here, since the use side heat exchanger 51 is the same as the use side heat exchanger 51 of the air conditioning apparatus 1 of 1st Embodiment, description is abbreviate | omitted.
The use side expansion valve 3052 is a valve connected to the liquid side of the use side heat exchanger 51 in order to adjust the refrigerant pressure and the refrigerant flow rate. In the present embodiment, the use side expansion valve 3052 has a function of expanding the refrigerant, particularly during the cooling operation.

  The heat source unit 3002 mainly includes a compressor 21, a four-way switching valve 22, a heat source side heat exchanger 23, a bridge circuit 3024, a receiver 25, a heat source side expansion valve 3026, and a liquid side gate valve 27. And a gas side gate valve 28. Here, the compressor 21, the four-way switching valve 22, the heat source side heat exchanger 23, the receiver 25, the liquid side gate valve 27, and the gas side gate valve 28 are the compressor 21, the air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment, Since it is the same as that of the four-way switching valve 22, the heat source side heat exchanger 23, the receiver 25, the liquid side gate valve 27, and the gas side gate valve 28, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In this embodiment, the bridge circuit 3024 includes three check valves 24 a to 24 c and a heat source side expansion valve 3026, and is connected between the heat source side heat exchanger 23 and the liquid side gate valve 27. ing. Here, the check valve 24 a is a valve that only allows the refrigerant to flow from the heat source side heat exchanger 23 to the receiver 25. The check valve 24 b is a valve that allows only the refrigerant to flow from the liquid side gate valve 27 to the receiver 25. The check valve 24 c is a valve that allows only the refrigerant to flow from the receiver 25 to the liquid side gate valve 27. The heat source side expansion valve 3026 is a valve connected between the outlet of the receiver 25 and the heat source side heat exchanger 23 in order to adjust the refrigerant pressure and the refrigerant flow rate. In the present embodiment, the heat source side expansion valve 3026 is fully closed during the cooling operation, and the refrigerant flowing from the heat source side heat exchanger 23 toward the use side heat exchanger 51 flows into the receiver 25 through the inlet of the receiver 25. It functions to flow in, and functions to expand the refrigerant flowing from the use side heat exchanger 51 (specifically, the outlet of the receiver 25) toward the heat source side heat exchanger 23 by adjusting the opening during heating operation. doing. As a result, the bridge circuit 3024 allows the refrigerant to flow into the receiver 25 through the inlet of the receiver 25 when the refrigerant flows from the heat source side heat exchanger 23 side toward the use side heat exchanger 51 side as in the cooling operation. The refrigerant that flows in and flows out from the outlet of the receiver 25 functions to flow toward the use side heat exchanger 51 without being expanded in the heat source side expansion valve 3026, and the refrigerant is used on the use side as in the heating operation. When flowing from the heat exchanger 51 side toward the heat source side heat exchanger 23 side, the refrigerant flows into the receiver 25 through the inlet of the receiver 25, and the refrigerant flowing out from the outlet of the receiver 25 passes through the heat source side expansion valve 3026. It functions so as to flow toward the heat source side heat exchanger 23 after being expanded.

  The liquid refrigerant communication pipe 3006 connects between the liquid side of the use side heat exchanger 51 of the plurality of use units 3005 and the liquid side gate valve 27 of the heat source unit 3002. The gas refrigerant communication pipe 3007 connects between the gas side of the use side heat exchanger 51 of the plurality of use units 3005 and the gas side gate valve 28 of the heat source unit 3002. The liquid refrigerant communication pipe 3006 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 3007 are used to update one or both of the refrigerant communication pipe, the heat source unit 3002 and the utilization unit 3005 that are installed on site when the air conditioning apparatus 3001 is newly constructed. It is refrigerant | coolant communication piping diverted from the existing air conditioning apparatus.

  Here, the refrigerant circuit in the range from the use side heat exchanger 51 to the heat source side heat exchanger 23 including the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 3006, the liquid side gate valve 27, the bridge circuit 3024, the receiver 25 and the heat source side expansion valve 3026 is liquid. A side refrigerant circuit 3011 is assumed. Further, the refrigerant circuit in the range from the use side heat exchanger 51 to the gas refrigerant communication pipe 3007, the gas side gate valve 28, the four-way switching valve 22 and the heat source side heat exchanger 23 including the compressor 21 is a gas side refrigerant circuit 3012. And In other words, the refrigerant circuit 3010 of the air conditioner 3001 includes a liquid side refrigerant circuit 3011 and a gas side refrigerant circuit 3012.

  The air conditioner 3001 further includes a gas separation device 31 connected to the liquid side refrigerant circuit 3011. The gas separation device 31 operates the compressor 21 to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 3010, thereby separating the noncondensable gas remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 3006 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 3007 from the refrigerant. It is a device that can be discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 3010, and is built in the heat source unit 3002 in this embodiment. Here, since the gas separation device 31 is the same as the gas separation device 31 of the air-conditioning apparatus 1 of the first embodiment (see FIGS. 1 and 3), description thereof is omitted.

In such an air conditioner 3001 as well, by using the same construction method as that of the air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment, the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 3010 is circulated, so that the liquid refrigerant is used. An operation of discharging the non-condensable gas remaining in the communication pipe 3006 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 3007 from the refrigerant circuit 3010 can be performed.
Particularly, in the case of a multi-type air conditioner such as the air conditioner 3001 of the present embodiment, the refrigerant communication pipes 3006 and 3007 have a pipe length and a pipe diameter of a relatively small air conditioner such as a room air conditioner. This construction method is useful because the amount of non-condensable gas that is larger than the communication pipe and must be discharged from the refrigerant circuit 3010 is large.

(2) Modification The gas separation device of the air conditioner 3001 has the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 including a collection container, but the gas separation devices 131, 231, 331, and 431 according to the modification of the first embodiment. As described above, a refrigerant recovery mechanism 165 including an absorption device, a refrigerant recovery mechanism 265 including an adsorption device, or a refrigerant recovery mechanism 365 or 465 combining two or more of these may be used.

The gas separation device of the air conditioner 3001 includes the separation membrane device 34 having the separation membrane 34b made of a porous membrane, but includes the separation membrane device 1034 having the separation membrane 1034b made of a non-porous membrane. You may employ | adopt the gas separation apparatus 1031,1311,1231,1331,1431,1531 of 2nd Embodiment and its modification.
Further, as the gas separation device of the air conditioner 3001, the gas separation device 2031 of the third embodiment including the separation membrane device 2034 having the multi-stage separation membranes 2063b and 2064b may be adopted.

[Fifth Embodiment]
(1) Configuration and Features of Air Conditioner FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner 3101 as an example of a refrigeration apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner 3101 is an air conditioner dedicated to cooling operation, and includes the heat source unit 3102, the utilization unit 5, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 for connecting the heat source unit 3102 and the utilization unit 5. And. Here, the usage unit 5, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 are the same as the usage unit 5, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 of the air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment. The description is omitted.

  The heat source unit 3102 mainly includes a compressor 21, a four-way switching valve 22, a heat source side heat exchanger 23, a receiver 25, a heat source side expansion valve 26, a liquid side gate valve 27, and a gas side gate valve. 28. Here, since the heat source unit 3102 is exclusively for cooling operation, the four-way switching valve 22 and the bridge circuit 24 provided in the heat source unit 2 of the first embodiment are omitted, but the compressor 21 is different. About the heat source side heat exchanger 23, the receiver 25, the liquid side gate valve 27, and the gas side gate valve 28, the compressor 21, the heat source side heat exchanger 23, the receiver 25, the liquid of the air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment. Since it is the same as the side gate valve 27 and the gas side gate valve 28, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  Here, a refrigerant circuit in a range from the use side heat exchanger 51 to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6, the liquid side gate valve 27 and the heat source side heat exchanger 23 including the receiver 25 is referred to as a liquid side refrigerant circuit 3111. A refrigerant circuit in a range from the use side heat exchanger 51 to the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7, the gas side gate valve 28, and the heat source side heat exchanger 23 including the compressor 21 is referred to as a gas side refrigerant circuit 3112. That is, the refrigerant circuit 3110 of the air conditioner 3101 includes a liquid side refrigerant circuit 3111 and a gas side refrigerant circuit 3112.

  The air conditioner 3101 further includes a gas separation device 31 connected to the liquid side refrigerant circuit 3111. The gas separation device 31 operates the compressor 21 to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 3110 to separate non-condensable gas remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 from the refrigerant. It is a device that can be discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 3110 and is built in the heat source unit 3102 in this embodiment. Here, since the gas separation device 31 is the same as the gas separation device 31 of the air-conditioning apparatus 1 of the first embodiment (see FIGS. 1 and 3), description thereof is omitted.

In such an air conditioner 3101 as well, by using the same construction method as the air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment, the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 3110 is circulated, so that the liquid refrigerant is used. An operation for discharging the non-condensable gas remaining in the communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 from the refrigerant circuit 3110 can be performed.
(2) Modification The gas separation device of the air conditioner 3101 has the refrigerant recovery mechanism 65 including a collection container, but the gas separation devices 131, 231, 331, and 431 according to the modification of the first embodiment. As described above, a refrigerant recovery mechanism 165 including an absorption device, a refrigerant recovery mechanism 265 including an adsorption device, or a refrigerant recovery mechanism 365 or 465 combining two or more of these may be used.

The gas separation device of the air conditioner 3101 includes the separation membrane device 34 having the separation membrane 34b made of a porous membrane, but includes the separation membrane device 1034 having the separation membrane 1034b made of a non-porous membrane. You may employ | adopt the gas separation apparatus 1031,1311,1231,1331,1431,1531 of 2nd Embodiment and its modification.
Further, as the gas separation device of the air conditioner 3001, the gas separation device 2031 of the third embodiment including the separation membrane device 2034 having the multi-stage separation membranes 2063b and 2064b may be adopted.

[Other Embodiments]
As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described based on drawing, a specific structure is not restricted to these embodiment, It can change in the range which does not deviate from the summary of invention.
For example, in the embodiment, the present invention is applied to an air conditioner that can be operated by switching between cooling and heating operations, an air conditioner dedicated to cooling operation, and a multi-type air conditioner in which a plurality of utilization units are connected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention may be applied to an ice heat storage type air conditioner or other separate refrigeration apparatus.

  If the present invention is used, the non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe at the time of on-site construction is separated and removed from the mixed state with the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit by using a separation membrane for the purpose of omitting the vacuuming operation. In the refrigeration apparatus having a configuration capable of performing the above operation, the refrigerant can be prevented from being released into the atmosphere even when the separation capability of the separation membrane is low.

It is the schematic of the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning apparatus as an example of the refrigeration apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the receiver and separation membrane apparatus of the air conditioning apparatus concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the refrigerant | coolant collection | recovery mechanism of the air conditioning apparatus concerning 1st and 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the refrigerant | coolant collection | recovery mechanism of the air conditioning apparatus concerning the modification 1 of 1st and 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the refrigerant | coolant collection | recovery mechanism of the air conditioning apparatus concerning the modification 2 of 1st and 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the refrigerant | coolant collection | recovery mechanism of the air conditioning apparatus concerning the modification 3 of 1st and 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the refrigerant | coolant collection | recovery mechanism of the air conditioning apparatus concerning the modification 4 of 1st and 2nd embodiment. It is the schematic of the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning apparatus as an example of the refrigeration apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the separation membrane apparatus of the air conditioning apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is the schematic of the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning apparatus as an example of the freezing apparatus concerning the modification 5 of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the refrigerant | coolant collection | recovery mechanism of the air conditioning apparatus concerning the modification 5 of 2nd Embodiment. It is the schematic of the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning apparatus as an example of the refrigeration apparatus concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the separation membrane apparatus of the air conditioning apparatus concerning 3rd Embodiment. It is the schematic of the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning apparatus as an example of the freezing apparatus concerning 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic of the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning apparatus as an example of the refrigeration apparatus concerning 5th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1-401, 1001-1501, 2001, 3001, 3101 Air conditioning apparatus (refrigeration apparatus)
1 to 402, 1002 to 1502, 2002, 3002, 3102 Heat source unit 5, 3005 Utilization unit 6, 3006 Liquid refrigerant communication pipe 7, 3007 Gas refrigerant communication pipe 10, 3010, 3110 Refrigerant circuit 11, 3011, 3111 Liquid side refrigerant circuit 21 Compressor 23 Heat source side heat exchanger 34, 1034, 2034 Separation membrane device 34b, 1034b, 2063b, 2064b Separation membrane 51 Usage side heat exchanger 65, 165, 265, 1565 Refrigerant recovery mechanism 165a Absorbent 265a, 1566a, 1567a Adsorbent

Claims (11)

A heat source unit (2-402, 1002-1502, 2002, 3002, 3102) having a compressor (21) and a heat source side heat exchanger (23), and a utilization unit (5) having a utilization side heat exchanger (51) 3005) and a refrigerant communication pipe (6, 3006, 7, 3007) for connecting the heat source unit and the utilization unit,
A refrigerant circuit configuration step of configuring a refrigerant circuit (10, 3010, 3110) by connecting the heat source unit and the utilization unit via the refrigerant communication pipe;
Separation membranes (34b, 1034b, 2063b, 2064b) from the refrigerant flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger and the utilization side heat exchanger by operating the compressor and circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit A non-condensable gas discharging step for separating the non-condensable gas using the gas and discharging the gas outside the refrigerant circuit;
A refrigerant recovery step of recovering a refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas separated using the separation membrane;
Construction method of refrigeration equipment provided with Before the non-condensable gas discharging step, an airtight test step for performing an airtight test on the refrigerant communication pipe (6, 3006, 7, 3007);
After the airtight test step, an airtight gas release step for releasing the airtight gas in the refrigerant communication pipe to the atmosphere and reducing the pressure,
The construction method of the refrigeration apparatus of Claim 1 further equipped with these.   The construction method of the refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the refrigerant recovery step, the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is recovered using an absorbent (165a).   The construction method of the refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the refrigerant recovery step, the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is recovered using an adsorbent (265a, 1566a, 1567a).   The method for constructing a refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in the refrigerant recovery step, the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is recovered together with the non-condensable gas using a collection container (65). .   In the refrigerant recovery step, the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas is recovered using any two or more of the absorbent (165a), the adsorbent (265a), and the collection container (65). Item 3. The construction method of the refrigeration apparatus according to Item 1 or 2. A heat source unit (2-402, 1002-1502, 2002, 3002, 3102) having a compressor (21) and a heat source side heat exchanger (23), and a utilization unit (5) having a utilization side heat exchanger (51) , 3005) is connected to the refrigerant communication pipe (6, 3006, 7, 3007) to form a refrigerant circuit (10, 3010, 3110),
By connecting to the liquid side refrigerant circuit (11, 3011, 3111) connecting the heat source side heat exchanger and the use side heat exchanger, and operating the compressor to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. And a separation membrane (34b, 1034b, 2063b, 2064b) for separating the non-condensable gas from the refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe, and the non-condensable gas separated by the separation membrane. Separation membrane devices (34, 1034, 2034) for discharging condensable gas to the outside of the refrigerant circuit;
A refrigerant recovery mechanism (65, 165, 265, 365, 465, 1565) for recovering a refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas separated in the separation membrane device;
(1 to 401, 1001 to 1501, 2001, 3001, 3101).   The refrigeration apparatus (101, 1101, 2001, 3001) according to claim 7, wherein the refrigerant recovery mechanism (165) is an absorption apparatus having an absorbent (165a) that absorbs a refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas. 3101).   The refrigeration apparatus (201) according to claim 7, wherein the refrigerant recovery mechanism (265, 1565) is an adsorption device having an adsorbent (265a, 1566a, 1567a) that adsorbs a refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas. 1201, 1501, 2001, 3001, 3101).   The refrigeration apparatus (1, 1001, 2001, 3001) according to claim 7, wherein the refrigerant recovery mechanism (65) is a collection container that collects the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas together with the non-condensable gas. 3101).   The refrigerant recovery mechanism (365, 465) adsorbs the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas, the absorber (165) having an absorbent (165a) that absorbs the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas. It has any two or more of an adsorption device (265) having an adsorbent (265a) and a collection container (65) for collecting the refrigerant contained in the non-condensable gas together with the non-condensable gas. The refrigeration apparatus (301, 401, 1301, 1401, 2001, 3001, 3101) according to claim 7.

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