JP2005127565A - 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 form a refrigerant circuit (10), and includes a separation membrane device (34). The separation membrane device 34 operates the compressor 21 to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10, whereby the helium gas enclosed in the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 by gas replacement flows through the liquid side refrigerant circuit 11. A separation membrane 34b that separates from the inside is provided, and the helium gas separated by the separation membrane 34b is discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 10.
[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. Air conditioning in which condensable gas and refrigerant are mixed and then supplied to the separation membrane without increasing the pressure of the mixed gas of refrigerant and noncondensable gas to separate and remove noncondensable gas from the refrigerant A device 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, since the non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe is air, carbon dioxide or hydrocarbons substituted from the air, when the separation performance of the separation membrane is low, together with these non-condensable gases There is a problem that the refrigerant is released into the atmosphere.
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 piping, comprising a refrigerant circuit configuration step, a gas replacement 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 gas replacement step, the non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe is replaced with helium gas. In the non-condensable gas discharge step, the compressor is operated to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, and helium gas is extracted from the refrigerant flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger and the use side heat exchanger using a separation membrane. Is separated and discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit.

  In this construction method of the refrigeration apparatus, in the refrigerant circuit configuration step, after connecting the heat source unit and the utilization unit via the refrigerant communication pipe, in the gas replacement step, oxygen gas, nitrogen gas, etc. remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe Heat source side heat exchange by replacing helium gas with non-condensable gas, the main component of which is air component, and circulating the helium gas together with the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit by operating the compressor in the non-condensable gas discharge step The helium gas as a non-condensable gas is separated from the refrigerant containing helium gas at a high pressure by using a separation membrane by increasing the pressure of the refrigerant and helium gas flowing between the heat exchanger and the use side heat exchanger. Are discharged outside 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 helium gas as a non-condensable gas in the separation membrane can be improved.

In addition, prior to the non-condensable gas discharge step, the non-condensable gas mainly composed of air components such as oxygen gas and nitrogen gas is replaced with helium gas in the gas replacement step. It is further improved. Thereby, even if the separation performance of the separation membrane is low, the refrigerant can be prevented from being 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. Since the gas-tight gas with the reduced amount of oxygen gas is replaced with helium gas, the non-condensable gas can be discharged even when the gas replacement operation from the gas-tight gas to the helium gas is insufficient. In the step, 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 the method according to claim 2, wherein the airtight gas used in the airtightness test step is helium gas.
In this refrigeration apparatus construction method, since helium gas is used as the gas-tight gas, the three steps of the gas-tightness test step, the gas-tight gas discharge step, and the gas replacement step can be substantially performed in one step. Thus, workability is improved.

  The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 4 includes a heat source unit having a compressor and a heat source side heat exchanger and a utilization unit having a utilization side heat exchanger connected via a refrigerant communication pipe to constitute a refrigerant circuit. A refrigeration apparatus connected to a liquid side refrigerant circuit connecting a heat source side heat exchanger and a usage side heat exchanger, and operating a compressor to circulate refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, thereby replacing gas It has a separation membrane that separates the helium gas enclosed in the refrigerant communication pipe from the refrigerant flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger and the use side heat exchanger, and helium gas separated by the separation membrane is A separation membrane device for discharging to the outside is provided.

  In this refrigeration system, non-condensable gas mainly composed of air components such as oxygen gas and nitrogen gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe is replaced with helium gas, and this helium gas together with the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit is connected to the compressor. By operating and circulating, the pressure of the refrigerant and helium gas flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger and the use side heat exchanger is increased, and a separation membrane is used from among the refrigerant containing the helium gas at a high pressure. Thus, helium gas as a non-condensable gas is separated 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 helium gas as a non-condensable gas in the separation membrane can be improved.

  Moreover, prior to the non-condensable gas discharge step, the non-condensable gas mainly composed of air components such as oxygen gas and nitrogen gas is replaced with helium gas, so that the separation efficiency in the separation membrane is further improved. . Thereby, even if the separation performance of the separation membrane is low, the refrigerant can be prevented from being released into the atmosphere.

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
In the invention according to claim 1, in the refrigerant circuit configuration step, 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 removed from the helium gas in the gas replacement step. In the non-condensable gas discharge step, helium gas is circulated by operating the compressor together with the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, so that the separation efficiency of the helium gas as the non-condensable gas in the separation membrane is improved. be able to. In addition, since the non-condensable gas is replaced with helium gas prior to the non-condensable gas discharge step, the separation efficiency in the separation membrane is further improved, and the refrigerant can be removed even when the separation performance of the separation membrane is low. It can be prevented from being released into the atmosphere.

  In the invention according to claim 2, by performing an airtight test of the refrigerant communication pipe using an airtight gas such as nitrogen gas and releasing the airtight gas to the atmosphere, the amount of oxygen gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe is reduced. Therefore, even when the work of replacing the gas-tight gas with helium gas is insufficient, the amount of oxygen gas circulating in the refrigerant circuit together with the refrigerant can be reduced, and the refrigerant and refrigerating machine oil can be reduced. The possibility of malfunctions such as deterioration can be eliminated.

According to the invention, since helium gas is used as the gas-tight gas, the three steps of the gas-tightness test step, the gas-tight gas discharge step and the gas replacement step can be substantially performed in one step. Thus, workability is improved.
In the invention according to claim 4, the non-condensable gas mainly containing air components such as oxygen gas and nitrogen gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe is replaced with the non-condensable gas, and the helium gas is replaced with the refrigerant. Since the compressor is operated and circulated together with the refrigerant in the circuit, the separation efficiency of helium gas as a non-condensable gas in the separation membrane can be improved. Moreover, since the non-condensable gas is replaced with helium gas, the separation efficiency in the separation membrane is further improved, and even when the separation performance of the separation membrane is low, the refrigerant can be prevented from being released into the atmosphere. .

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.

In the present embodiment, the gas separation device 31 mainly includes a separation membrane device 34.
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 permeate components with a large molecular diameter. Here, R22 and R134a used as the refrigerant of the air conditioner, and R32 and R125 included in the mixed refrigerant R407C and R410A are all water vapor, oxygen gas, nitrogen gas, and further in a gas replacement step described later. Since the molecular diameter is larger than that of the helium gas substituted from the airtight gas, it can be separated by this porous 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 space S ₂ is a valve for air release, the non-condensable gas flowing separated in the space S ₂ by a separation layer 34b and the air discharged from the space S _2, the outside of the refrigerant circuit 10 Can be discharged.

  For example, when a polyimide membrane is used as the separation membrane 34b, as shown in FIG. 3, R125 contained in R407C and R410A has a molecular diameter compared to nitrogen gas and helium gas, which are the main components of an airtight gas. Since the transmission speed is large and low, it can be seen that it is less permeable through the film than nitrogen gas or helium gas. In addition, nitrogen gas has a larger molecular diameter and a lower permeation rate than helium gas, so that it can be seen that nitrogen gas is less likely to pass through the film than helium gas. Such a tendency is the same not only in the polyimide film but also in other porous films. For this reason, when separating the refrigerant and non-condensable gas with a porous membrane, it must be replaced with a gas component that has a smaller molecular diameter and a higher permeation rate than air components such as helium gas, such as helium gas. As a result, the separation efficiency between the refrigerant and the non-condensable gas in the separation membrane 34b can be improved.

(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 order to prevent air from entering from the outside of the refrigerant circuit 10, the atmospheric discharge operation is performed so that 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.

<Gas replacement step>
After releasing the gas-tight gas, a supply port (not shown) provided in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6, the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 or the like for the airtight test portion including the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 Then, helium gas is supplied, and then the atmosphere gas (airtight gas) of the airtight test portion is repeatedly released to the atmosphere, and the atmosphere gas (airtight gas) of the airtight test portion is replaced with helium gas.

<Non-condensable gas discharge step>
After the atmosphere gas (airtight gas) in the airtight test portion is replaced with helium 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 opened. And 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. Thereby, in the refrigerant circuit 10, helium gas as a non-condensable gas enclosed in the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 after the gas replacement step (if the airtight test of the usage unit 5 is also performed, the usage unit 5 The encapsulated helium 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, a saturated gas-liquid mixed-phase refrigerant containing helium gas as a non-condensable gas sealed in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 flows into the receiver 25 after gas replacement. become. 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 helium gas is accumulated in the upper part of the receiver 25, and the liquid refrigerant is temporarily accumulated in the receiver 25, then flows out from the lower part of the receiver 25 and is sent to the heat source side expansion valve 26. 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, an operation for discharging helium gas as a non-condensable gas from the refrigerant circuit 10 using the separation membrane device 34 is performed by the following procedure. First, the gas refrigerant introduction valve 38 a is opened, and a gas refrigerant (supply gas) containing helium 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, the space S ₂ of the separation membrane device 34 is open to the atmosphere. Then, since the space S ₁ of the separation membrane device 34 communicates with the upper part of the receiver 25, a difference corresponding to the pressure difference between the refrigerant condensing pressure and the atmospheric pressure is established between the space S ₁ and the space S _2. Pressure is generated. For this reason, the helium 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 is released into the atmosphere through the discharge valve 34c. . 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 helium gas sealed in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 is discharged from the refrigerant circuit 10.

And after helium gas is discharged | emitted from the inside of the refrigerant circuit 10, all the gas refrigerant introduction valves 38a and the exhaust valve 34c which comprise the gas separation apparatus 31 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. Therefore, in the receiver 25, as in the cooling operation, a saturated gas-liquid mixed phase containing helium gas as a non-condensable gas sealed in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 after gas replacement is provided. Refrigerant flows 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, the same helium gas discharge operation as in the cooling operation state can be performed. Since this procedure is the same as the operation of discharging the helium gas in the cooling operation state described above, 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, a gas separation device 31 having a separation membrane device 34 is connected to the liquid side refrigerant circuit 11, and after the device installation step (refrigerant circuit configuration step), the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7. Since the non-condensable gas (specifically, airtight gas) remaining in the gas can be discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 10, a conventional gas separator using a large amount of adsorbent is used. Compared with the case where it does, the size of the gas separation apparatus 31 can be made small. Thereby, the vacuuming work at the time of on-site construction can be omitted without increasing the size of the heat source unit 2.

(B)
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 gas replacement step , The compressor 21 is operated (specifically, the cooling operation or the heating operation) and circulated together with the refrigerant in the helium gas refrigerant circuit 10 as the non-condensable gas enclosed in the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7. The gas separation device having the separation membrane device 34 out of the refrigerant containing the helium gas having a high pressure by increasing the pressure of the refrigerant and helium gas flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger 23 and the use side heat exchanger 51. 31 is used to separate helium gas and discharge it outside 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 helium gas in 34b can be improved.

In addition, prior to the non-condensable gas discharge step, the non-condensable gas mainly composed of air components such as oxygen gas and nitrogen gas is replaced with helium gas in the gas replacement step, so that the separation efficiency in the separation membrane 34b is reduced. Is further improved. Thereby, even if the separation performance of the separation membrane 34b is low, the refrigerant can be prevented from being released into the atmosphere.
(C)
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. And, in the gas replacement step, since the gas-tight gas in a state where the amount of oxygen gas is reduced is replaced with helium gas, even if the gas replacement work from the gas-tight gas to the helium gas is insufficient, 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.

(4) Modification 1
In the above airtightness test step, nitrogen gas is used as the airtightness test gas, but helium gas may be used. As a result, the three series of steps of the hermetic test step, the hermetic gas discharge step, and the gas replacement step can be performed substantially in one step, so that workability is improved.

(5) Modification 2
In the gas separation device 31 described above, the receiver 25 and the separation membrane device 34 are connected via the gas refrigerant introduction circuit 238, but are incorporated in the heat source unit 102 of the air conditioner 101 of the present modification shown in FIG. Like the gas separation device 131, the receiver 25 and the separation membrane device 34 may be integrally formed.

[Second Embodiment]
(1) Configuration of Air Conditioner FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner 501 as an example of a refrigeration apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the air conditioner 501 is an air conditioner capable of cooling operation and heating operation, similar to the air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment, and includes the heat source unit 502, the utilization unit 5, and the heat source unit 502. 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 531 of the air conditioning apparatus 501 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 531 mainly has a separation membrane device 534.
Similar to the separation membrane device 34 of the first embodiment, the separation membrane device 534 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 an apparatus for discharging the sex gas to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 10. The separation membrane device 534 is connected to the receiver 25 via the gas refrigerant introduction circuit 38. As shown in FIG. 6, the separation membrane device 534 includes, in this embodiment, a device main body 534 a, a space S ₃ (primary side) and a space that communicates the space in the device main body 534 a with the gas refrigerant introduction circuit 38. A separation membrane 534b arranged to be divided into S ₄ (secondary side), a discharge valve 534c connected to the space S ₃ , and a gas refrigerant outflow circuit 541 connected to the space S _4. Yes. In the present embodiment, the separation membrane 534b 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, R22 and R134a used as the refrigerant of the air conditioner, and R32 and R125 included in the mixed refrigerant R407C and R410A are all water vapor, oxygen gas, nitrogen gas, and further in a gas replacement step described later. Since the boiling point is higher than that of the helium gas substituted from the gas-tight gas, the non-porous membrane can be used for separation.

Thereby, the separation membrane 534b 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 541 is provided so as to connect the space S ₄ of the separation membrane device 534 and the suction side of the compressor 21, and the gas refrigerant that passes through the separation membrane 534 b and is returned into the refrigerant circuit 10. A gas refrigerant return valve 541a for circulating / blocking is provided. Here, since the gas refrigerant outflow circuit 541 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 541 is provided between the space S ₃ and the space S _4. It is possible to increase the differential pressure. Discharge valve 534c is the non-condensable gas remaining in the space S ₃ by transmitting gas refrigerant in the separation membrane 534b by atmospheric discharge, it is possible to discharge to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 10.

  Here, in the case of using the separation membrane 534b made of the non-porous membrane as described above, R32 and R125 contained in R407C and R410A have boiling points as compared with nitrogen gas and helium gas which are the main components of the airtight gas. It can be seen that it is easier to permeate through the membrane than nitrogen gas or helium gas because of high and high permeation speed. Further, nitrogen gas has a higher boiling point and a higher permeation rate than helium gas, so that it can be seen that nitrogen gas easily permeates through the film as compared with helium gas. For this reason, when separating the refrigerant and the non-condensable gas with a non-porous membrane, the gas component must be replaced with a gas component having a lower boiling point and a lower permeation rate than the air component such as a refrigerant or nitrogen gas, such as helium gas. As a result, the separation efficiency between the refrigerant and the noncondensable gas in the separation membrane 534b can be improved.

(2) Construction method of air conditioner Next, a construction method of the air conditioner 501 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 gas-tight gas, the liquid side gate valve 27 and the gas side gate valve 28 of the heat source unit 502 are opened so that the refrigerant circuit of the utilization unit 5 and the refrigerant circuit of the heat source unit 502 are connected. As a result, the refrigerant pre-filled in the heat source unit 502 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 502 in advance is not sufficient, the external refrigerant is filled as necessary. The refrigerant is additionally charged. When the heat source unit 502 is not filled with a refrigerant in advance, all of the necessary refrigerant amount is filled from the outside. Thereby, in the refrigerant circuit 10, helium gas as a non-condensable gas enclosed in the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 after the gas replacement step (enclosed in the usage unit 5 when an airtight test of the usage unit 5 is performed at the same time). The helium gas is also contained) 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. 5, 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 541a, and the discharge valve 534c constituting the gas separation device 531 are all closed, and the gas separation device 531 is not used.

When the compressor 21 is started in the state of the refrigerant circuit 10 and the gas separation device 531, the same cooling operation as that in the first embodiment is performed. 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, an operation of discharging helium gas as a non-condensable gas from the refrigerant circuit 10 using the gas separation device 531 will be described. First, the gas refrigerant introduction valve 38 a is opened, and a gas refrigerant (supply gas) containing helium gas accumulated in the upper part of the receiver 25 is introduced into the separation membrane device 1034. Subsequently, the gas refrigerant return valve 541 a of the separation membrane device 534 is opened so that the refrigerant pressure in the space S ₄ of the separation membrane device 534 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 534 communicates with the upper part of the receiver 25, the refrigerant condensing pressure and the suction side pressure of the compressor 21 are between the space S ₃ and the space S ₄ . A differential pressure corresponding to the pressure difference is generated. Therefore, gas refrigerant contained in the feed gas accumulated in the space S _3, this differential pressure becomes a driving force, the separation membrane 534b passes through a valve return gas refrigerant flows into the space S ₄ side 541a To the suction side of the compressor 21. On the other hand, helium gas remaining in the space S ₃ by flowing into the space S ₄ side gas refrigerant passes through the separation membrane 534b (non-permeate gas) is discharged to the atmosphere by opening the discharge valve 534c. When this operation is performed for a predetermined time, the helium gas sealed in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 is discharged from the refrigerant circuit 10.

And after helium gas is discharged | emitted from the inside of the refrigerant circuit 10, all the gas refrigerant introduction valves 38a, the gas refrigerant return valve 541a, and the exhaust valve 534c which comprise the gas separation apparatus 531 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. 5, 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 541a, and the discharge valve 534c constituting the gas separation device 531 are all closed, and the gas separation device 531 is not used.

When the compressor 21 is started in the state of the refrigerant circuit 10 and the gas separation device 531, the heating operation similar to that in the first embodiment is performed. The operation of the refrigerant circuit 10 and the gas separation device 531 is the same as the operation of discharging helium 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 501 of this embodiment, a non-porous membrane as a membrane that selectively separates refrigerant is adopted as the separation membrane 534b that constitutes the separation membrane device 534. However, in the gas replacement step, a non-condensable gas mainly composed of an air component such as oxygen gas or nitrogen gas is replaced with helium gas in the gas replacement step. By doing so, it has the same characteristics as the air-conditioning apparatuses 1 and 101 of the first embodiment and its construction method of improving the separation efficiency in the separation membrane 534b made of a non-porous membrane.

(4) Modification 1
In the gas separation device 531 described above, the gas refrigerant separated in the separation membrane device 534 is returned to the suction side of the compressor 21 via the gas refrigerant outflow circuit 541, which is shown in FIG. Like the gas separation device 631 incorporated in the heat source unit 602 of the air conditioner 601 of this modification, the gas refrigerant outflow circuit 641 is located downstream of the separation membrane device 534 and the heat source side expansion valve 26 (specifically, the heat source It may be provided so as to connect between the downstream side of the side expansion valve 26 and the check valves 24c and 24d of the bridge circuit 24).

(5) Other Modifications In the gas separation device 631 described above, the receiver 25 and the separation membrane device 534 may be integrally formed as in the gas separation device 131 of the modification of the first embodiment.
[Third 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 third 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.
Similar to the separation membrane devices of the first and second embodiments, 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. This is a device for discharging the condensable gas to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 10. The separation membrane device 1034 is connected to the receiver 25 via the gas refrigerant introduction circuit 38. As shown in FIG. 9, the separation membrane device 1034 has separation membranes provided in multiple stages (in this embodiment, two stages). The separation membrane device 1034 mainly includes a first separation membrane module 1063 and a second separation membrane module 1064 connected to the downstream side of the first separation membrane module 1063.

The first separation membrane module 1063 includes a first module body 1063a, a space S ₅ (primary side) and a space S ₆ (secondary side) in which the space in the first module body 1063a is communicated with the gas refrigerant introduction circuit 38. And a gas refrigerant outflow circuit 1041 connected to the space S ₂ . The first separation membrane 1063b can selectively permeate the gas refrigerant from the gas refrigerant containing helium gas as the non-condensable gas, like the separation membrane 534b constituting the separation membrane device 534 of the second embodiment. It is a possible membrane. As a result, the first separation membrane 1063b is 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 1041 is provided so as to connect the space S _{6 of} the first separation membrane module 1063 and the suction side of the compressor 21, and passes through the first separation membrane 1063 b and returns to the refrigerant circuit 10. It has a gas refrigerant return valve 1041a for circulating / blocking the gas refrigerant. Here, the gas refrigerant outflow circuit 1041, because it is provided so that the gas refrigerant is returned to the suction side of the lower compressor 21 most refrigerant pressure in the refrigerant circuit 10, between the space S ₅ and the space S ₆ It is possible to increase the differential pressure.

The second separation membrane module 1064 is connected to the first separation membrane module 1063 via the second separation membrane introduction circuit 1042, and has a second module body 1064a, a second separation membrane 1064b, and a discharge valve 1034c. doing. The second separation membrane 1064b divides the space in the second module main body 1064a into a space S ₇ (primary side) and a space S ₈ (secondary side) communicated with the second separation membrane introduction circuit 1042. Is arranged. The space S ₇ is communicated with the space S ₅ of the first separation membrane module 1063 via the second separation membrane introduction circuit 1042. The second separation membrane 1064b selectively allows permeation of non-condensable gas from a gas refrigerant containing helium gas as non-condensable gas, similarly to the separation membrane 34b constituting the separation membrane device 34 of the first embodiment. It is a possible membrane. Accordingly, the second separation membrane 1064b is a non-condensable gas containing a non-condensable gas (specifically, a non-permeating gas that is a mixed gas of the gas refrigerant that has not permeated the first separation membrane 1063b and the 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 1064, exhaust valve 1034c is connected. Exhaust valve 1034c is a space S ₈ is a valve for air release, and a non-condensable gas that has flowed into the space S ₈ are separated by a second separation membrane 1064b released into the atmosphere from the space S _8, the refrigerant circuit 10 It is possible to discharge outside.

  As described above, the separation membrane device 1034 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 part of the receiver 25) in the preceding stage. A first separation membrane 1063b 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 the inside of the first separation membrane 1063b, which is a non-permeating gas that is a mixed gas of a gas refrigerant and a non-condensable gas) A multi-stage separation membrane device having a second separation membrane 1064b (specifically, a porous membrane) is configured.

(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. Thereby, in the refrigerant circuit 10, helium gas as a non-condensable gas enclosed in the refrigerant communication pipes 6 and 7 after the gas replacement step (residual in the utilization unit 5 when an airtight test of the utilization unit 5 is performed at the same time). Helium gas is also contained) 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, an operation of discharging helium gas as a non-condensable gas from the refrigerant circuit 10 using the gas separator 1031 will be described. First, the gas refrigerant introduction valve 38 a is opened, and a gas refrigerant (supply gas) containing helium gas accumulated in the upper part of the receiver 25 is introduced into the separation membrane device 1034. Subsequently, by opening the gas refrigerant return valve 1041a of the separation membrane device 1034, to be the refrigerant pressure in the space S ₆ of the first separation membrane module 1063 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 1063 communicates 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 1063b, the return gas refrigerant flows in the space S ₆ side It is returned to the suction side of the compressor 21 through the valve 1041a. On the other hand, by flowing into the space S ₆ side gas refrigerant passes through the first separation membrane 1063b, Within the space S _5, is removed the majority of the gas refrigerant in a state where the helium gas is concentrated. Then, the gas refrigerant (non-permeate gas) in which the concentration of helium gas accumulated in the space S ₅ increases flows into the space S _{7 of} the second separation membrane module 1064 through the second separation membrane introduction circuit 1042.

Next, by opening the discharge valve 1034c of the separation membrane device 1034, the space S ₈ of the second separation membrane module 1064 is open to the atmosphere. Then, since the space S ₇ of the second separation membrane module 1064 communicates with the space S ₅ of the first separation membrane module 1063, the refrigerant condensing pressure and the atmospheric pressure are between the space S ₇ and the space S _8. A pressure difference corresponding to the pressure difference occurs. Therefore, the helium gas contained in the non-permeate gas remaining in the space S _7, the differential pressure is transmitted through the second separation membrane 1064b been a driving force, through the discharge valve 1034c flows in the space S ₈ side Released into the atmosphere. When this operation is performed for a predetermined time, the helium gas remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 is discharged from the refrigerant circuit 10.

And after helium gas is discharged | emitted from the inside of the refrigerant circuit 10, all the gas refrigerant introduction valves 38a, the gas refrigerant return valve 1041a, and the exhaust valve 1034c which comprise the gas separation apparatus 1031 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 same operation as the heating operation is performed as in the first embodiment. Note that the operation of the refrigerant circuit 10 and the gas separation device 1031 is the same as the operation of discharging the noncondensable 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 1001 of this embodiment, the first separation membrane module 1063 that selectively separates the refrigerant from the refrigerant containing the non-condensable gas and the non-condensable gas. A multistage separation membrane device 1034 having a second separation membrane module 1064 that selectively separates non-condensable gas from the contained refrigerant is employed.

  Even when such a multistage separation membrane apparatus 1034 is employed, by replacing the non-condensable gas mainly composed of air components such as oxygen gas and nitrogen gas with helium gas in the gas replacement step, It has the same characteristics as the air conditioners 1, 101, 501, and 601 and the construction method thereof according to the first and second embodiments for improving the separation efficiency in the separation membranes 1063b and 1064b.

[Fourth Embodiment]
(1) Configuration and Features of Air Conditioner FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner 2001 as an example of a refrigeration apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner 2001 is an air conditioner that can perform a cooling operation and a heating operation, and includes a heat source unit 2002, a plurality (two in this embodiment) of usage units 2005, a heat source unit 2002, and a plurality of usage units 2005. The liquid refrigerant communication pipe 2006 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 2007 are connected to each other to form a so-called multi-type air conditioner.

The usage unit 2005 mainly includes a usage side heat exchanger 51 and a usage side expansion valve 2052. 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 2052 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 2052 has a function of expanding the refrigerant, particularly during the cooling operation.

  The heat source unit 2002 mainly includes a compressor 21, a four-way switching valve 22, a heat source side heat exchanger 23, a bridge circuit 2024, a receiver 25, a heat source side expansion valve 2026, 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 the present embodiment, the bridge circuit 2024 includes three check valves 24 a to 24 c and a heat source side expansion valve 2026, 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 2026 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 2026 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 2024 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 2026, and the refrigerant is used on the use side as in 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 of the outlet of the receiver 25 flows in the heat source side expansion valve 2026. It functions so as to flow toward the heat source side heat exchanger 23 after being expanded.

  The liquid refrigerant communication pipe 2006 connects between the liquid side of the use side heat exchanger 51 of the plurality of use units 2005 and the liquid side gate valve 27 of the heat source unit 2002. The gas refrigerant communication pipe 2007 connects between the gas side of the use side heat exchanger 51 of the plurality of use units 2005 and the gas side gate valve 28 of the heat source unit 2002. The liquid refrigerant communication pipe 2006 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 2007 are used when updating one or both of the refrigerant communication pipe, the heat source unit 2002, and the utilization unit 2005 that are installed on site when the air conditioning apparatus 2001 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 liquid refrigerant communication pipe 2006, the liquid side gate valve 27, the bridge circuit 2024, the receiver 25, and the heat source side heat exchanger 23 including the heat source side expansion valve 2026 is liquid. A side refrigerant circuit 2011 is assumed. Further, a refrigerant circuit in a range from the use side heat exchanger 51 to the gas refrigerant communication pipe 2007, 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 2012. And In other words, the refrigerant circuit 2010 of the air conditioner 2001 includes a liquid side refrigerant circuit 2011 and a gas side refrigerant circuit 2012.

  The air conditioner 2001 further includes a gas separation device 31 connected to the liquid side refrigerant circuit 2011. The gas separation device 31 operates the compressor 21 to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 2010, thereby separating the non-condensable gas remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 2006 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 2007 from the refrigerant. It is a device that can be discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 2010, and is built in the heat source unit 2002 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, the description thereof is omitted.

In such an air conditioner 2001 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 2010 is circulated, so that the liquid refrigerant is used. An operation of discharging the helium gas sealed in the communication pipe 2006 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 2007 from the refrigerant circuit 2010 can be performed.
Particularly, in the case of a multi-type air conditioner such as the air conditioner 2001 of the present embodiment, the refrigerant communication pipes 2006 and 2007 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 2010 is large.

(2) Modified Examples As the gas separation device of the air conditioner 2001, the gas separating device 131 of the modified example of the first embodiment, the second embodiment and the gas separating devices 531 and 631 of the modified example, and the gas of the third embodiment. A separation device 1031 may be employed.
[Fifth Embodiment]
(1) Configuration and Features of Air Conditioner FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner 2101 as an example of a refrigeration apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner 2101 is an air conditioner dedicated to cooling operation, and includes the heat source unit 2102, the utilization unit 5, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 for connecting the heat source unit 2102 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 2102 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 2102 is exclusively used for the 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 2111. 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 2112. That is, the refrigerant circuit 2110 of the air conditioner 2101 includes a liquid side refrigerant circuit 2111 and a gas side refrigerant circuit 2112.

  The air conditioner 2101 further includes a gas separation device 31 connected to the liquid side refrigerant circuit 2111. The gas separation device 31 operates the compressor 21 to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 2110, thereby separating the non-condensable gas remaining in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 from the refrigerant. This is a device that can be discharged to the outside of the refrigerant circuit 2110 and is built in the heat source unit 2102 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, the description thereof is omitted.

Also in such an air conditioner 2101, a liquid refrigerant is used using the gas separation device 31 by circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 2110 using the same construction method as the air conditioner 1 of the first embodiment. An operation for discharging the helium gas sealed in the communication pipe 6 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 7 from the refrigerant circuit 2110 can be performed.
(2) Modified Examples As the gas separation device of the air conditioner 2101, the gas separating device 131 of the modified example of the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the gas separating devices 531 and 631 of the modified example, and the gas of the third embodiment. A separation device 1031 may be employed.

[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 table | surface which shows the data of the molecular diameter of various gases in a polyimide film, and the transmission rate ratio. It is the schematic of the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning apparatus concerning the modification of 1st 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 concerning the modification 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, 101, 501, 601, 1001, 2001, 2101 Air conditioning apparatus (refrigeration apparatus)
2, 102, 502, 602, 1002, 2002, 2102 Heat source unit 5, 2005 Utilization unit 6, 2006 Liquid refrigerant communication pipe 7, 2007 Gas refrigerant communication pipe 10, 2010, 2110 Refrigerant circuit 11, 2011, 2111 Liquid side refrigerant circuit 21 compressor 23 heat source side heat exchanger 34, 534, 1034 separation membrane device 34b, 534b, 1063b, 1064b separation membrane 51 use side heat exchanger

Claims (4)

A heat source unit (2, 102, 502, 602, 1002, 2002, 2102) having a compressor (21) and a heat source side heat exchanger (23), and a utilization unit (5) having a utilization side heat exchanger (51) 2005) and a refrigerant communication pipe (6, 2006, 7, 2007) for connecting the heat source unit and the utilization unit,
A refrigerant circuit configuration step of configuring a refrigerant circuit (10, 2010, 2110) by connecting the heat source unit and the utilization unit via the refrigerant communication pipe;
A gas replacement step of replacing the non-condensable gas remaining in the refrigerant communication pipe with helium gas;
Separation membranes (34b, 534b, 1063b, 1064b) 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 helium gas using the gas and discharging the helium gas to the outside of the refrigerant circuit;
Construction method of refrigeration equipment provided with Before the non-condensable gas discharging step, an airtight test step for performing an airtight test of the refrigerant communication pipe (6, 2006, 7, 2007);
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 2, wherein the gas-tight gas used in the gas-tightness test step is helium gas. A heat source unit (2, 102, 502, 602, 1002, 2002, 2102) having a compressor (21) and a heat source side heat exchanger (23), and a utilization unit (5) having a utilization side heat exchanger (51) 2005) is connected to the refrigerant communication pipe (6, 2006, 7, 2007) to form a refrigerant circuit (10, 2010, 2110),
By connecting to the liquid side refrigerant circuit (11, 2011, 1111) connecting the heat source side heat exchanger and the use side heat exchanger, the compressor is operated to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. Separation membrane (34b, 534b, 1063b, 1064b) for separating helium gas sealed in the refrigerant communication pipe by gas replacement from the refrigerant flowing between the heat source side heat exchanger and the use side heat exchanger And a refrigeration apparatus (1, 101, 501, 601, 1001, 2001) including a separation membrane device (34, 534, 1034) for discharging the helium gas separated by the separation membrane to the outside of the refrigerant circuit. 2101).

Images