JP5627542B2 - Heat medium converter - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat medium conversion device that is used in an air conditioner represented by a building multi-air conditioner and the like to exchange heat between two media. In particular, the present invention relates to a housing structure in consideration of the installation environment of the heat medium conversion device.

  A conventional multi air conditioner for buildings circulates a refrigerant between, for example, an outdoor unit that is a heat source unit arranged outside a building and an indoor unit arranged inside a building. The refrigerant radiates and absorbs heat, and the air-conditioned space is cooled or heated with the heated and cooled air. For example, HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) refrigerant is often used as the refrigerant.

  In addition, a shunt controller that controls and distributes the flow of refrigerant is connected between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, and heat released to the outside of the building through the outdoor unit is exchanged between the indoor units to provide a single air conditioner. Among the systems, there is also a so-called total heat recovery type air conditioner that operates differently from cooling and heating for each indoor unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Furthermore, in an air conditioner called a chiller, a fan coil unit or panel heater in which water or antifreeze liquid (hereinafter, representatively referred to as water) heated or cooled by a heat source device arranged outside a building is arranged indoors or the like. The air is sent to etc. for cooling or heating.

  And what is called an exhaust heat recovery type chiller, which connects four water pipes between the heat source unit and the indoor unit, supplies cooled and heated water at the same time, and can freely select cooling or heating in the indoor unit is there.

JP-A-4-006355 (5th page, FIG. 1 etc.)

  In the conventional building multi-air conditioner, the air conditioner described in Patent Document 1, and the like, the refrigerant is circulated to the indoor unit, so the refrigerant may leak into the room. On the other hand, in air conditioners such as chillers and exhaust heat recovery chillers, the refrigerant does not pass through the indoor unit, but it is necessary to send water from outside the building to the indoor unit side. The energy consumption such as the power of sending out becomes higher than that of the refrigerant and the efficiency is poor. In addition, in an air conditioner such as an exhaust heat recovery chiller, in order to be able to select air conditioning for each indoor unit, the outdoor unit and the indoor unit must be connected by a total of four pipes, Furthermore, the workability is getting worse. From these things, if the system which gives the heat obtained by the total heat recovery type air conditioner like the shunt controller of patent documents 1 to water, and supplies it to an indoor unit can be solved, the above-mentioned problem can be solved. Conceivable.

  However, the above method requires a device for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and water and a device for sending water to the indoor unit. Furthermore, when constructing these individually, installation work, maintenance space, connection work of pipes that connect each other, heat insulation work, and the like are required, and workability is deteriorated. Therefore, it is desirable to integrate these devices, but such devices are often installed behind a narrow ceiling, and when repairing the refrigerant circuit side using a flame such as a gas burner, depending on the scale For disaster prevention, it is necessary to unload the device from the ceiling. In that case, it is necessary to remove not only the refrigerant pipe but also the water pipe connected to the indoor unit and the surrounding heat insulating material, which requires a great deal of time for recovery.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to obtain a heat medium conversion device having a structure capable of easily performing, for example, the decomposition on the refrigerant side and the water side during maintenance. .

  The heat medium conversion device according to the present invention includes a primary heat medium side assembly and a secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly, and the primary heat medium side assembly is connected to an outdoor unit connected by piping. A heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the primary heat medium that circulates between and the secondary heat medium that circulates between the indoor units connected by piping, and a secondary heat medium that circulates between the indoor units Secondary heat medium delivery device that performs pressurization, side panel that covers the side of the device, the lower side for mounting the heat exchanger and the lower frame to which the secondary heat medium delivery device is attached, connecting between the side panels The secondary heat medium flow path switching device assembly selects or mixes the secondary heat medium flowing through the plurality of flow paths and flows into and out of the indoor unit. Secondary heat medium flow path switching device, upper frame connecting between side panels, heat exchange And a secondary side housing part having an inner panel for supporting the secondary heat medium flow switching device attached to the upper side support plate and the upper side frame for fixing the secondary heat medium flow The path switching device assembly is arranged and combined above the primary heat medium side assembly.

  According to the heat medium conversion device of the present invention, the primary heat medium side assembly having the heat exchanger and the secondary heat medium delivery device, and the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly having the secondary heat medium flow switching device. The secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly side is the upper side and the heat medium conversion device is assembled and manufactured, so that, for example, the primary heat medium side component can be removed from the lower side, Maintenance can be performed easily.

It is a whole structure figure in an embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded view of only the housing components in the embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic of the circuit through which the heat carrier in the actual form of this invention circulates. It is a structural view of the primary heat medium side assembly in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a structural diagram of the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly in the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an overall structural diagram of a secondary heat medium flow switching device in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of only a housing part of a secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a structural diagram of the assembly unit in embodiment of this invention. It is a detailed structure figure of the simple joint 13 in the actual form of this invention. It is a structural diagram of the primary heat medium side assembly at the time of maintenance in the embodiment of the present invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, in the following drawings including FIG. 1, the relationship of the size of each component may be different from the actual one.

  FIG. 1 is an overall structural diagram of a heat medium conversion device according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, the configuration of functional parts will be described. The heat medium conversion device of the present embodiment has heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d, secondary heat medium delivery devices 2a and 2b, and a secondary heat medium flow switching device 3 as functional components. . The heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d heat or cool the secondary heat medium by heat exchange with a primary heat medium such as a refrigerant sent from the outdoor unit 11. Here, the heat exchangers 1a and 1b and the heat exchangers 1c and 1d are installed in a distributed manner. For example, one is a heating side heat exchanger and the other is a cooling side heat exchanger. In some cases, both can heat and cool the secondary heat medium. Moreover, although it has and comprises four heat exchangers, heat exchanger 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d here, it is not necessary to limit to this. For example, when the heat medium conversion device of the present embodiment is attached to a ceiling or the like, it can be configured with, for example, two or more even number of heat exchangers as long as the weight balance can be achieved.

  Then, the secondary heat medium delivery devices 2a and 2b configured by, for example, pumps or the like pressurize the heated or cooled secondary heat medium, send it to each of the plurality of flow paths, and circulate it. The secondary heat medium flow switching device 3 performs switching for causing one or a plurality of secondary heat media to flow into and out of the heat exchanger of each indoor unit 12 among the secondary heat media from the plurality of flow paths. Do each.

  The outdoor unit 11 is connected to the heat medium conversion device with two pipes in order to circulate the primary heat medium. The outdoor unit 11 includes, for example, an outdoor heat exchanger (not shown) serving as a compressor, a condenser, or an evaporator for circulating a primary heat medium such as a refrigerant. The indoor unit 12 is also connected to the heat medium conversion device by two pipes. The indoor unit 12 includes, for example, a use side heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the air in the air-conditioning target space and the secondary heat medium. In FIG. 1, the heat medium conversion device is connected to one indoor unit 12 by piping, but is connected to a plurality of indoor units 12 according to the number of secondary heat medium flow switching devices 3 described later. can do.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded view of only components (housing components) constituting the housing of the heat medium conversion device. In the housing, the side panels 4a and 4b cover the side surfaces of the housing as side walls, for example. The frames 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d serve as a framework that connects the side panels 4a and 4b. The frames 5a and 5b are upper frames, and 5c and 5d are lower frames. The inner panels 6a and 6b are provided on the inner side (center side) than the side panels 4a and 4b in order to support the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3, for example. Further, the inner panels 6a and 6b also serve to fix the frames 5a, 5b, 5c, and 5d to each other. As a result, the entire casing is reinforced by a lattice shape, and rigidity can be ensured.

  The support plates 7a, 7b, 7c, and 7d support, for example, the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d shown in FIG. Further, the support plates 7a and 7b fix the frame 5a and 5b, and the support plates 7c and 7d fix the frame 5c and 5d so that the frame is more firmly fixed to reinforce the casing. . The drain pan 8 receives condensed water generated in the housing. The bottom panel 9 is a bottom plate that supports the drain pan 8 and serves as a bottom wall, for example. The hanging metal fittings 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d attached to the side panels 4a and 4b are metal fittings for fixing and installing the heat medium conversion device from the upper surface side to the ceiling.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of a circuit in which the heat medium circulates in the air conditioner using the heat medium heat exchanger of the present embodiment. Next, the flow of each heat medium will be described. First, the primary heat medium radiates or absorbs heat in the outdoor unit 11 and flows into the heat medium converter. The secondary heat medium is heated or cooled by heat exchange in the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d, and then flows out of the heat medium converter and returns to the outdoor unit 11 again. The secondary heat medium circulates between the heat medium conversion device and the indoor unit 12 by the secondary heat medium delivery devices 2a and 2b. At this time, the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are heated or cooled by the primary heat medium. Then, after passing through the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3, in the use side heat exchanger of one or more indoor units 12, the heat exchanger radiates or absorbs heat to the air in the target space, and then the secondary heat medium The flow returns to the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d again through the flow path switching device 3. Here, as will be described later, piping connection between the heat exchangers 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 1 d and the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3 is performed by a simple joint 13.

  Next, a method for assembling the heat medium conversion device of the present embodiment will be described. As described above, two types of heat medium flow in the heat medium converter, and the primary heat medium is a refrigerant or the like in which a high-pressure gas is compressed and sealed in a heat medium circuit. For this reason, when connecting with the outdoor unit 11 by metal piping, and joining the piping and functional component in a heat-medium conversion apparatus, it is necessary to braze.

  On the other hand, for example, in most cases, the functional parts constituting the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3 are made of a resin material. For this reason, there is a possibility of burning if a flame from a burner or the like is touched during brazing. Moreover, since it has a switching valve inside the functional component which comprises the secondary heat-medium flow path switching apparatus 3, if the oxide film produced in the brazing part mixes, a malfunction may be caused. Furthermore, for example, when water pressure inspection of the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3 is performed, if the test pressure on the primary heat medium side is accidentally applied, there is a risk of crushing. The assembly of the apparatus 3 and the watertight inspection are preferably performed separately from the assembly of the functional parts on the primary heat medium side and the airtight inspection.

  FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of the primary heat medium side assembly. First, the component configuration and assembly method of the primary heat medium side assembly in the present embodiment will be described. The primary heat medium side assembly includes heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d, secondary heat medium delivery devices 2a and 2b, side panels 4a and 4b serving as primary housing parts, frames 5c and 5d, and supports. It has plates 7c and 7d and suspension fittings 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d.

  The support plates 7c and 7d are disposed near the side panels 4a and 4b, respectively. For example, the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d mounted on the support plates 7c and 7d are heavy components. Further, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the heat medium conversion device has a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped shape (longer as the number of indoor units 12 to be connected is longer). For this reason, when a heavy component is arranged near the center of the heat medium conversion device, the frame 5c, 5d is attached to the frame 5c, 5d, for example, by installing the hanging brackets 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d provided near the top of the rectangular parallelepiped. There is a possibility that the apparatus itself is deformed, for example, a load is applied and bending occurs. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the support plates 7c and 7d are arranged near the side panels 4a and 4b to distribute the load by the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d. Moreover, by arranging the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d at both ends of the heat medium conversion device, respectively, the balance can be maintained, and the center of gravity position of the heat medium conversion device can be maintained at the center, It also plays a role in preventing falling problems during transport due to cargo collapse and forklifts.

  Next, an example of a method for assembling the primary heat medium assembly will be described. First, the hanging brackets 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d are attached to the side panels 4a and 4b. Then, after the frames 5c and 5d are attached between the side panels 4a and 4b, the support plates 7c and 7d are attached to complete the housing portion related to the primary heat medium side assembly.

  Next, the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are placed (attached) on the support plates 7c and 7d, and the pipe connection ports and the pipes of the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are brazed. To do. Thereafter, the secondary heat medium delivery devices 2a and 2b are attached to the frames 5c and 5d. And an airtight test etc. are performed with respect to the circuit through which the primary side heat medium containing heat exchanger 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d and connection piping circulates, and a primary heat medium side assembly is completed.

  Here, the reason why the side panels 4a and 4b are configured as the primary heat medium side assembly and assembled will be described. For example, in a heat medium conversion device suspended from a ceiling, the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are arranged below the heat medium conversion device in order to facilitate maintenance of the primary heat medium side assembly. For this reason, when brazing the pipe connection port on the lower side of the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d and the pipe, it is difficult to apply the flame of the burner. By attaching and assembling not only the frames 5c and 5d and the supporting plates 7c and 7d but also the side panels 4a and 4b, the rigidity of the primary heat medium side assembly is improved. For example, the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d When brazing the pipe connection port on the lower side and the pipe, the assembly can be lifted (lifted) from the work table. For this reason, it plays the role of the jig | tool which can improve assembly workability | operativity, and can make it easy to hit the flame of a burner when brazing a piping connection port and piping.

  FIG. 5 is a structural diagram of the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly. Next, the component configuration and assembly method of the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly in the present embodiment will be described. The secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly is composed of the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3, frames 5a and 5b, inner panels 6a and 6b, and support plates 7a and 7b, which are secondary side housing portions. ing.

  FIG. 6 is an overall structural diagram of the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3. The secondary heat medium flow switching device 3 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a combination of two three-way valves 3a and 3b serving as switching means and one flow rate adjusting valve 3c, and a plurality of sets of frames. They are arranged so as to be parallel to the direction such as 5a. In FIG. 6, eight sets are arranged side by side. However, the number of sets to be arranged is determined by the number of units to which the indoor unit 12 can be connected, and thus the number of sets arranged is not limited to eight. Moreover, although the flow regulating valve 3c is connected to the three-way valve 3b, it may be connected to the three-way valve 3a. Of the three-way valves 3a and 3b, headers (piping) 3d, 3e, 3f and 3g are connected to the two valves, respectively. Thereby, different sets of valves of the same function (inflow and outflow of the heated secondary heat medium, inflow and outflow of the cooled secondary heat medium) communicate with each other via the headers 3d, 3e, 3f, and 3g. It will be.

  At this time, the three-way valves 3a, 3b and the flow rate adjusting valve 3c are not arranged in a line with respect to the direction of the frame 5a, etc., and only the three-way valve 3a is shifted by a half pitch from the other two valves, They are arranged in a so-called staggered pattern. For example, the piping into which the secondary heat medium flows in and the piping out from the indoor unit 12 shown in FIG. 1 are connected to the three-way valve 3a, the three-way valve 3b, and the flow rate adjustment valve 3c, respectively. Here, for example, when the heat medium conversion device is installed and installed on the ceiling, the maintenance or the like is performed by removing the drain pan 8 as described later. When the operator looks up from below, for example, in order to prevent the pipes from overlapping each other and losing visibility of the pipe closer to the ceiling, the three-way valve 3a and the like can be easily seen by arranging them in a staggered pattern. To make it easy to check.

  Next, a case where the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3 is assembled will be described. First, the three-way valve 3b and the flow rate adjusting valve 3c are connected and attached to the headers 3d, 3e, 3f, and 3g together with the three-way valve 3a. However, it is inefficient to perform all of them manually. Therefore, all the headers 3d, 3e, 3f, and 3g are fixed in place using a jig, and the three-way valve 3a and the combination of the three-way valve 3b and the flow rate adjusting valve 3c are combined with the headers 3d and 3e. It will be attached to 3f and 3g. Here, by assembling the frames 5a and 5b, the inner panels 6a and 6b, and the support plates 7a and 7b in advance, a work jig for manufacturing the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3 can be obtained. it can.

  FIG. 7 is a structural diagram of only the casing components of the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly. FIG. 7 shows the positional relationship between the frames 5a and 5b, the inner panels 6a and 6b, and the support plates 7a and 7b. First, the headers 3d, 3e, 3f, and 3g are passed through opening holes provided in the inner panels 6a and 6b. Here, the interval between the inner panels 6a, 6b is shorter than the length of the headers 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, and the headers 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g are hung on the inner panels 6a, 6b. .

  Further, when the headers 3d, 3e, 3f, and 3g are passed through the opening holes, and the pitch between the headers is a pitch necessary for assembling the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3, the three-way valve 3a In addition, if the combination of the three-way valve 3b and the flow rate adjusting valve 3c is attached to the header, the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3 can be completed. Further, for example, a watertight inspection or the like can be completed as it is. In this manner, the support plates 7a and 7b are attached to the frames 5a and 5b, and the inner panels 6a and 6b that support the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3 are attached, thereby relating to the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly. The housing part is completed.

  FIG. 8 is an assembly structure diagram of the primary heat medium assembly, the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly, the drain pan 8 and the bottom panel 9. Next, the assembly of the primary heat medium side assembly shown in FIG. 4, the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly, the drain pan 8 and the bottom panel 9 shown in FIG. 5 will be described. First, the side panels 4a and 4b and the frames 5c and 5d of the primary heat medium side assembly and the frames 5a and 5b and the inner panels 6a and 6b of the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly are fixed. At this time, the heat exchanger 1a, the support plates 7c, 7d of the primary heat medium side assembly shown in FIG. 4 and the support plates 7a, 7b of the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly shown in FIG. 1b, 1c and 1d are sandwiched and fixed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3 (headers 3d, 3e, 3f and 3g), the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d, and the secondary heat medium delivery devices 2a and 2b. Connect with a pipe. At this time, the simple joint 13 is used for connection so that it can be easily attached and detached during maintenance.

  FIG. 9 is a detailed structural diagram of the simple joint 13. The simple joint 13 includes both pipes having flanges at the ends, a collar 13c having O-rings 13a and 13b attached to the outer periphery, and a band 13d.

  Next, an attachment method will be described. First, the collar 13c is inserted into both pipes. At this time, the O-rings 13a and 13b attached to the outer periphery seal the gap between the inner surfaces of both pipes and the collar 13c, so that the watertightness is maintained unless the collar 13c comes out of the pipe. At this time, the flange portions of both pipe end faces are in close contact with each other, and the band 13d is attached thereto. The band 13d is provided with a slit, and when the band 13d is attached, the flange portions of both pipes are sandwiched and fixed between the slits. Since the pipes are caught by the flanges of the two pipes with which the slits are in close contact with each other, and the pipes are not separated from each other, the pipes are separated and the collar 13c comes out, so that water does not leak out unless the band 13d is removed. The band 13d is in close contact with the pipe in the circumferential direction by its own elastic force. For example, if the fluid pressure of the secondary heat medium is much lower than the rigidity of the pipe, the pipe will not be deformed in the direction in which the band 13d opens, but only the flanges of both pipes fixed by the slits. It is only necessary to prevent the parts from separating. For this reason, the elastic force of the band 13d is such that it can be easily attached and detached with the force of a human finger. By using this simple joint 13 for piping connection between the headers 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g, the secondary heat medium delivery devices 2a, 2b, and the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, the secondary heat medium Only the flow path switching device 3 can be easily divided from the piping circuit.

  Finally, the drain pan 8 is placed on the bottom panel 9, and the bottom panel 9 is fixed to the side panels 4a and 4b shown in FIG. And the watertight test | inspection of the piping connected with the simple joint 13 shown in FIG. 7 is performed. In this way, the heat medium conversion device is assembled.

  Thus, in the heat medium conversion apparatus of this Embodiment, it is set as the structure which can attach the drain pan 8 and the bottom panel 9 in the last process of an assembly. This is because the heat medium conversion device has a narrow design, and as the assembly process progresses, it becomes difficult to get inside the device, so workability can be maintained from the bottom, thereby maintaining workability. is there. In addition, since the drain pan 8 and the bottom panel 9 can be attached to the final assembly process, the maintenance can be removed first, and the inside of the apparatus can be seen from the bottom side. It is also possible to easily check the previous failure location.

  Next, with respect to the heat medium conversion device of the present embodiment, a maintenance method when maintenance of functional components on the primary heat medium side constituting the primary heat medium side assembly is required after being installed on the ceiling Etc. will be described. Here, the heat medium conversion device is installed by being fastened with a nut or the like to a bolt or the like provided from the local ceiling via the hanging metal fittings 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d shown in FIG. .

  As a disassembling procedure of the heat medium conversion device assembled to perform maintenance of the primary heat medium side assembly, first, the bottom panel 9 and the side panels 4a and 4b shown in FIG. And remove the bottom panel 9. Next, the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3 (headers 3d, 3e, 3f and 3g) shown in FIG. 7 and the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d, and the secondary heat medium delivery devices 2a and 2b are provided. Remove the simple joint 13 connected to the pipe. Then, the side panels 4a and 4b and the frames 5c and 5d, and the inner panels 6a and 6b and the frames 5c and 5d are fixed.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the structure of the primary heat medium side assembly related to disassembly. As shown in FIG. 10, the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, the frames 5c, 5d, the support plates 7c, 7d, and the secondary heat medium delivery devices 2a, 2b are removed.

  Therefore, the component configuration of the primary heat medium side assembly to be removed is different from that in FIG. 4 and does not include the side panels 4a and 4b. By doing so, the side panels 4a and 4b fixed to the hanging brackets 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d are left to support the frames 5a and 5b of the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly shown in FIG. Can do. As a result, in the heat medium conversion device of the present embodiment, only the functional component on the primary heat medium side can be lowered from the ceiling with the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3 left on the ceiling. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove the piping and the heat insulating material connected to the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3 and the indoor unit 12 in FIG. 1, and the recovery time until the maintenance is completed can be shortened.

  Here, in order to enable this structure, the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3 is arranged at the uppermost part of the heat medium conversion device so as not to prevent removal of the functional component on the primary heat medium side. It needs to be structured.

  As described above, according to the heat medium conversion device of the present embodiment, the primary heat medium side assembly having the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d and the secondary heat medium delivery devices 2a, 2b and 2 Since the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly having the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3 is assembled and combined with the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly side up, for example, During maintenance, the primary heat medium side assembly and the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly can be easily divided (separated). In particular, by disposing the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly above the primary heat medium side assembly, for example, when it is suspended on the ceiling or the like, it takes time to remove the primary heat medium side assembly. The parts can be easily removed from the lower side, and maintenance can be easily performed. Furthermore, since a plurality of heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d, which are heavy components, are installed at both ends of the apparatus, the load can be dispersed and the balance in the apparatus can be maintained. . Since the drain pan 8 and the bottom panel 9 are attached to the primary heat medium side assembly in the final process of assembling the apparatus, for example, during maintenance, it can be removed first, and the disassembly time can be shortened. Can do.

  Further, when the primary heat medium side assembly is removed after the heat medium conversion device is installed, the side panels 4a and 4b having the hanging brackets 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d are replaced with the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly. The secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly can be left installed on the ceiling. Further, since the three-way valves 3a and 3b serving as switching means are arranged in a so-called zigzag shape with respect to the installation direction of the frame 5a and the like, the secondary heat medium flow from the lower side in maintenance or the like. When the path switching device 3 is viewed, the three-way valve 3a and the like, such as the piping, can be easily seen and can be easily confirmed. Then, the collar 13c is inserted into the pipe between the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3, the heat exchangers 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d and the secondary heat medium delivery devices 2a and 2b using the simple joint 13. Since the flange of the pipe connecting portion is sandwiched and connected by the band 13d, the pipe can be easily attached and detached at the time of maintenance, for example.

  In addition, since the frames 5a and 5b, the inner panels 6a and 6b, and the support plates 7a and 7b can be assembled as a jig for manufacturing the secondary heat medium flow switching device 3, a new jig can be used. There is no need to make it, and the assembly time can be shortened. In addition, since the apparatus is manufactured by separately configuring and combining the primary heat medium side assembly and the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly, an airtight inspection, a watertight inspection, etc. are performed individually. Therefore, inspection time and manufacturing time can be shortened, inspection safety and yield can be improved.

  1a, 1b, 1c, 1d heat exchanger, 2a, 2b secondary heat medium delivery device, 3 secondary heat medium flow switching device, 3a, 3b three-way valve, 3c flow control valve, 3d, 3e, 3f, 3g header 4a, 4b Side panel, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d Frame, 6a, 6b Inner panel, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d Support plate, 8 Drain pan, 9 Bottom panel, 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d Hanging bracket, 11 Outdoor unit, 12 indoor unit, 13 simple joint, 13a, 13b O-ring, 13c collar, 13d band.

Claims (8)

A primary heat medium side assembly and a secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly;
The primary heat medium side assembly is:
A heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a primary heat medium that circulates between piped outdoor units and a secondary heat medium that circulates between piped indoor units;
A secondary heat medium delivery device that pressurizes the secondary heat medium for circulation with the indoor unit;
A primary housing having a side panel covering the side surface of the apparatus, a lower frame for connecting the side panels, a lower frame to which the secondary heat medium delivery device is mounted, and a lower support plate for mounting the heat exchanger. With body parts,
The secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly is:
A secondary heat medium flow switching device for selecting or mixing the secondary heat medium flowing through a plurality of flow paths to flow into and out of the indoor unit;
An upper frame connecting the side panels, an upper support plate for fixing the heat exchanger, and an inner panel attached to the upper frame and supporting the secondary heat medium flow switching device A secondary housing portion having
A heat medium conversion device comprising the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly arranged in combination above the primary heat medium side assembly.   The side panel has a hanging bracket for mounting the apparatus so that the apparatus can be installed from the upper side, and the primary heat is generated so that the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly can be held at the position where the assembly is mounted with the hanging bracket. The heat medium conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the heat medium conversion device is detachable from the medium side assembly.   The heat medium conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the secondary housing portion serves as a jig for manufacturing the secondary heat medium flow switching device. A flange is provided at a pipe connection portion between the heat exchanger or the secondary heat medium delivery device and the secondary heat medium flow switching device,
A collar with an O-ring attached to the outside is inserted into the pipe connection part to connect each pipe, and a flange having a slit is used to sandwich the flange of each pipe connection part with the slit to connect and fix the pipes together. The heat medium converter according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The drain pan for receiving water generated in a housing attached to the lower side of the primary heat medium side assembly in the final step of assembling the apparatus, and a bottom panel for supporting the drain pan are attached. The heat medium converter according to any one of the above.   6. The heat medium conversion device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of heat exchangers are arranged separately at positions corresponding to both end portions of the device inside the side panel.   The secondary heat medium flow switching device includes a switching unit connected to a pipe into which the secondary heat medium flows and a switching unit connected to a pipe from which the secondary heat medium flows out in a staggered manner in the frame direction. It arrange | positions so that it may become. The heat-medium conversion apparatus in any one of Claims 1-6 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The heat medium according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the heat medium is assembled after performing an airtight inspection on the primary heat medium side assembly and an airtight inspection on the secondary heat medium flow switching device assembly. Conversion device.

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