Heat pump use apparatus

Abstract

Provided is a heat pump use apparatus, including a refrigerant circuit, a heat medium circuit, and a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between refrigerant and a heat medium. A main passage of the heat medium circuit includes a branching portion and a joining portion. A pressure protection device and a refrigerant leakage detection device are connected to the main passage. The pressure protection device is connected to the main passage at a connecting portion located between the heat exchanger and one of the branching portion and the joining portion. A first interruption device configured to be able to interrupt a flow from the heat exchanger to the connecting portion is provided in the main passage at a portion between the heat exchanger and the connecting portion. A second interruption device configured to be able to interrupt a flow from the heat exchanger to an other of the branching portion and the joining portion is provided in the main passage at a portion between the heat exchanger and the other of the branching portion and the joining portion.

1 . A heat pump use apparatus, comprising:
 a refrigerant circuit configured to circulate refrigerant;   a heat medium circuit configured to allow a heat medium to flow therethrough; and   a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and the heat medium,   the heat medium circuit including a main passage extending through the heat exchanger,   the main passage including
 a branching portion to which a plurality of branch passages branched from the main passage are connected, the branching portion being provided at a downstream end of the main passage, and 
 a joining portion at which the plurality of branch passages are connected to each other to be joined to the main passage, the joining portion being provided at an upstream end of the main passage, 
   the heat pump use apparatus further comprising a pressure protection device and a refrigerant leakage detection device that are connected to the main passage,   the pressure protection device being connected to the main passage at a connecting portion located between the heat exchanger and one of the branching portion and the joining portion,   the main passage including a first interruption device configured to interrupt a flow from the heat exchanger to the connecting portion, the first interruption device being provided between the heat exchanger and the connecting portion,   the main passage including a second interruption device configured to interrupt a flow from the heat exchanger to an other of the branching portion and the joining portion, the second interruption device being provided between the heat exchanger and the other of the branching portion and the joining portion.   
     
     
         2 . The heat pump use apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first interruption device and the second interruption device comprises an on-off valve which is closed when leakage of the refrigerant into the heat medium circuit is detected. 
     
     
         3 . The heat pump use apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant leakage detection device is connected to the main passage at the other of the branching portion and the joining portion, a portion between the other of the branching portion and the joining portion and the connecting portion, or the connecting portion. 
     
     
         4 . The heat pump use apparatus of  claim 1 ,
 wherein one interruption device of the first interruption device and the second interruption device, which is provided between the heat exchanger and the joining portion, comprises a check valve, and   wherein the refrigerant leakage detection device is connected to the main passage at a portion between the check valve and the connecting portion or at the connecting portion.   
     
     
         5 . The heat pump use apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant leakage detection device is connected to the main passage at a portion between the first interruption device and the second interruption device. 
     
     
         6 . The heat pump use apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant leakage detection device is configured to detect the leakage of the refrigerant into the heat medium circuit based on pressure in the heat medium circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The heat pump use apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an outdoor unit accommodating the refrigerant circuit, a part of the heat medium circuit, and the heat exchanger; and   an indoor unit accommodating an other part of the heat medium circuit,   wherein one of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit accommodates the first interruption device, the second interruption device, and the refrigerant leakage detection device.   
     
     
         8 . The heat pump use apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an outdoor unit accommodating a part of the refrigerant circuit; and   an indoor unit accommodating an other part of the refrigerant circuit, the heat medium circuit, and the heat exchanger,   wherein the indoor unit accommodates the first interruption device, the second interruption device, and the refrigerant leakage detection device.   
     
     
         9 . The heat pump use apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant comprises flammable refrigerant or toxic refrigerant.