Refrigerant amount measurement system and refrigerant use system

Abstract

A refrigerant amount measurement system includes a connecting portion, a reservoir, a sensor, and a storage. The connecting portion is connected to a first refrigerant circuit of a first refrigeration cycle apparatus. The reservoir reserves a refrigerant in the first refrigerant circuit via the connecting portion, and returns the reserved refrigerant to the first refrigerant circuit via the connecting portion. The sensor measures an amount of the refrigerant in the reservoir. A memory stores a measurement result measured by the sensor.

1 . A refrigerant amount measurement system comprising:
 a connecting portion connected to a first refrigerant circuit of a first refrigeration cycle apparatus;   a reservoir that keeps a refrigerant in the first refrigerant circuit via the connecting portion and returns the refrigerant kept in the first refrigerant circuit via the connecting portion;   a sensor that measures an amount of the refrigerant in the reservoir; and   a memory that stores a measurement result measured by the sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerant amount measurement system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the connecting portion includes a first pipe and a second pipe, and   each of the first pipe and the second pipe is provided with an on-off valve.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerant amount measurement system according to  claim 2 , further comprising a control unit that includes circuitry configured to
 perform a first refrigerant amount measurement operation that controls the first refrigeration cycle apparatus and the on-off valve to transfer the refrigerant from the first refrigerant circuit to the reservoir,   cause the sensor to measure the amount of the refrigerant, and   control the reservoir to return the refrigerant from the reservoir to the first refrigerant circuit.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerant amount measurement system according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the connecting portion is also connected to a second refrigerant circuit of a second refrigeration cycle apparatus,   the connecting portion further includes a third pipe and a fourth pipe each provided with an on-off valve, and   the connecting portion is connected to the first refrigerant circuit by the first pipe and the second pipe and is connected to the second refrigerant circuit by the third pipe and the fourth pipe.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerant amount measurement system according to  claim 4 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to
 perform a second refrigerant amount measurement operation that controls the second refrigeration cycle apparatus and the on-off valve to transfer the refrigerant from the second refrigerant circuit to the reservoir,   cause the sensor to measure the amount of the refrigerant, and control the reservoir to return the refrigerant from the reservoir to the second refrigerant circuit.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerant amount measurement system according to  claim 5 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to perform the first refrigerant amount measurement operation and the second refrigerant amount measurement operation at different times. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerant amount measurement system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to
 perform the first refrigerant amount measurement operation in a time zone in which a normal operation of the first refrigeration cycle apparatus is stopped, and 
 perform the second refrigerant amount measurement operation in a time zone in which a normal operation of the second refrigeration cycle apparatus is stopped. 
   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerant amount measurement system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the circuitry is further configured to
 perform a first reserving operation of transferring the refrigerant from the first refrigerant circuit to the reservoir under a condition the refrigerant leaks from the first refrigerant circuit, and 
 perform a second reserving operation of transferring the refrigerant from the second refrigerant circuit to the reservoir under a condition the refrigerant leaks from the second refrigerant circuit. 
   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerant amount measurement system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes an electrode rod. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerant amount measurement system according to  claim 9 , wherein the sensor further includes a cylindrical member surrounding the electrode rod. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerant amount measurement system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure the amount of refrigerant with at least one of radio waves, ultrasonic energy, a float, a pressure detection, differential pressure, and electrostatic capacitance. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigerant use system comprising:
 a refrigeration cycle apparatus; and   a refrigerant amount measurement system that includes
 a connecting portion connected to a first refrigerant circuit of a first refrigeration cycle apparatus, 
 a reservoir that keeps a refrigerant in the first refrigerant circuit via the connecting portion and returns the refrigerant kept in the first refrigerant circuit via the connecting portion, 
 a sensor that measures an amount of the refrigerant in the reservoir, and 
 a memory that stores a measurement result measured by the sensor. 
   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerant use system according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the connecting portion includes a first pipe and a second pipe, and   each of the first pipe and the second pipe is provided with an on-off valve.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerant use system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a control unit that includes circuitry configured to
 perform a first refrigerant amount measurement operation that controls the first refrigeration cycle apparatus and the on-off valve to transfer the refrigerant from the first refrigerant circuit to the reservoir,   cause the sensor to measure the amount of the refrigerant, and   control the reservoir to return the refrigerant from the reservoir to the first refrigerant circuit.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerant use system according to  claim 14 , wherein
 the connecting portion is also connected to a second refrigerant circuit of a second refrigeration cycle apparatus,   the connecting portion further includes a third pipe and a fourth pipe each provided with an on-off valve, and   the connecting portion is connected to the first refrigerant circuit by the first pipe and the second pipe and is connected to the second refrigerant circuit by the third pipe and the fourth pipe.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerant use system according to  claim 15 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to
 perform a second refrigerant amount measurement operation that controls the second refrigeration cycle apparatus and the on-off valve to transfer the refrigerant from the second refrigerant circuit to the reservoir,   cause the sensor to measure the amount of the refrigerant, and control the reservoir to return the refrigerant from the reservoir to the second refrigerant circuit.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerant use system according to  claim 16 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to perform the first refrigerant amount measurement operation and the second refrigerant amount measurement operation at different times. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerant use system according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the circuitry is configured to
 perform the first refrigerant amount measurement operation in a time zone in which a normal operation of the first refrigeration cycle apparatus is stopped, and 
 perform the second refrigerant amount measurement operation in a time zone in which a normal operation of the second refrigeration cycle apparatus is stopped. 
   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerant use system according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the circuitry is further configured to
 perform a first reserving operation of transferring the refrigerant from the first refrigerant circuit to the reservoir under a condition the refrigerant leaks from the first refrigerant circuit, and 
 perform a second reserving operation of transferring the refrigerant from the second refrigerant circuit to the reservoir under a condition the refrigerant leaks from the second refrigerant circuit. 
   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerant use system according to  claim 12 , wherein the sensor includes an electrode rod.