Inspection device and inspection method

Abstract

When there exists in an outdoor unit a second refrigerant path which enables circulation of refrigerant in the outdoor unit even if circulation of the refrigerant through a first refrigerant path is blocked by closure of a first valve provided in the first refrigerant path which circulates the refrigerant between an indoor unit and the outdoor unit of an air conditioner, a signal transmission unit transmits to the outdoor unit, a command signal commanding the outdoor unit to close a second valve which is provided in the second refrigerant path and closure of which blocks the circulation of the refrigerant through the second refrigerant path. A determination unit determines whether the first valve is closed or not after the command signal is transmitted from the signal transmission unit to the outdoor unit.

1 . An inspection device comprising:
 processing circuitry   when there exists in an outdoor unit a second refrigerant path which enables circulation of refrigerant in the outdoor unit even if circulation of the refrigerant through a first refrigerant path is blocked by closure of a first valve provided in the first refrigerant path which circulates the refrigerant between an indoor unit and the outdoor unit of an air conditioner, to transmit to the outdoor unit, a command signal commanding the outdoor unit to close a second valve which is provided in the second refrigerant path and closure of which blocks the circulation of the refrigerant through the second refrigerant path; and   to determine whether the first valve is closed or not, in a situation where it is unknown whether the first valve is closed or not, where the command signal is transmitted to the outdoor unit, and where the second valve is closed and the circulation of the refrigerant through the second refrigerant path is blocked.   
     
     
         2 . The inspection device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the processing circuitry determines whether the first valve is closed or not with use of at least either of a high pressure value and a low pressure value of the refrigerant in a compressor included in the outdoor unit.   
     
     
         3 . The inspection device according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the processing circuitry determines whether the first valve is closed or not by comparing any of the high pressure value, the low pressure value, and a pressure difference between the high pressure value and the low pressure value with a variable threshold that changes in accordance with an operating condition of the air conditioner.   
     
     
         4 . The inspection device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 when it is determined that the first valve is closed, the processing circuitry transmits to the outdoor unit, a command signal commanding opening of the first valve.   
     
     
         5 . The inspection device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second refrigerant path is a refrigerant path in which a subcool coil is included and in which an expansion valve for subcool coil is provided as the second valve.   
     
     
         6 . The inspection device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second refrigerant path is a refrigerant path in which an economizer is included and in which an expansion valve for injection for adjustment of an injection amount to be injected into an injection compressor included in the outdoor unit is provided as the second valve.   
     
     
         7 . The inspection device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second refrigerant path is a refrigerant path which includes an oil separator to separate refrigerant oil included in the refrigerant discharged from a compressor included in the outdoor unit and a capillary tube to adjust flow rates of the refrigerant oil and the refrigerant to be returned from the oil separator to the compressor and in which an oil return valve to return the refrigerant oil and the refrigerant to the compressor is provided as the second valve.   
     
     
         8 . An inspection method comprising:
 when there exists in an outdoor unit a second refrigerant path which enables circulation of refrigerant in the outdoor unit even if circulation of the refrigerant through a first refrigerant path is blocked by closure of a first valve provided in the first refrigerant path which circulates the refrigerant between an indoor unit and the outdoor unit of an air conditioner, transmitting to the outdoor unit, a command signal commanding the outdoor unit to close a second valve which is provided in the second refrigerant path and closure of which blocks the circulation of the refrigerant through the second refrigerant path; and   determining whether the first valve is closed or not, in a situation where it is unknown whether the first valve is closed or not, where the command signal is transmitted to the outdoor unit, and where the second valve is closed and the circulation of the refrigerant through the second refrigerant path is blocked.