Refrigeration cycle apparatus

Abstract

Provided is a refrigeration cycle apparatus, including: a refrigerant circuit configured to circulate refrigerant having a flammability; an indoor unit including a casing configured to accommodate a load-side heat exchanger of the refrigerant circuit; and a controller configured to control the indoor unit, wherein the indoor unit includes a refrigerant detection unit and an air-sending fan, wherein the controller is configured to control the air-sending fan to operate at an airflow rate Q [m 3 /h] when the refrigerant is detected, and wherein, when a lower flammability limit of the refrigerant is LFL [kg/m 3 ] and an assumed leaking speed of the refrigerant is W [kg/h], the airflow rate Q, the lower flammability limit LFL, and the assumed leaking speed W are set to satisfy a relationship of Q>W/LFL.

1 . A refrigeration cycle apparatus, comprising:
 a refrigerant circuit configured to circulate refrigerant having a flammability;   an indoor unit including a casing configured to accommodate a load-side heat exchanger of the refrigerant circuit; and   a controller configured to control the indoor unit,   wherein the indoor unit includes a refrigerant detection unit and an air-sending fan,   wherein the controller is configured to control the air-sending fan to operate at an airflow rate Q [m 3 /h] when the refrigerant is detected, and   wherein, when a lower flammability limit of the refrigerant is LFL [kg/m 3 ] and an assumed leaking speed of the refrigerant is W [kg/h], the airflow rate Q, the lower flammability limit LFL, and the assumed leaking speed W are set to satisfy a relationship of Q>W/LFL.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the casing has an air inlet, an air outlet, and an air passage formed between the air inlet and the air outlet, and   wherein the load-side heat exchanger, the refrigerant detection unit, and the air-sending fan are arranged in the air passage, or a space inside the casing which communicates with the air passage.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a heat source unit configured to accommodate a heat source-side heat exchanger of the refrigerant circuit; and   an extension pipe, which connects the indoor unit and the heat source unit to each other,   wherein the extension pipe and the load-side heat exchanger are connected to each other through intermediation of a joint portion, and   wherein the joint portion is arranged in the air passage, or the space inside the casing which communicates with the air passage.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the refrigerant detection unit is arranged below the load-side heat exchanger or the joint portion. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein R32 is used as the refrigerant, and   the airflow rate Q satisfies a relationship of Q>32.7 [m 3 /h].   
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration cycle apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the indoor unit comprises an indoor unit of a floor type. 
     
     
         7 . An airflow setting method of setting an airflow rate Q in a refrigeration cycle apparatus, the refrigeration cycle apparatus, comprising:
 a refrigerant circuit configured to circulate refrigerant having a flammability;   an indoor unit including a casing configured to accommodate a load-side heat exchanger of the refrigerant circuit; and   a controller configured to control the indoor unit,   wherein the indoor unit includes a refrigerant detection unit and an air-sending fan,   wherein the controller is configured to control the air-sending fan to operate at the airflow rate Q [m 3 /h] when the refrigerant is detected, and   wherein, when a lower flammability limit of the refrigerant is LFL [kg/m 3 ] and an assumed leaking speed of the refrigerant is W [kg/h], the airflow rate Q is set so that the airflow rate Q, the lower flammability limit LFL, and the assumed leaking speed W satisfy a relationship of Q>W/LFL.