Control method, control device, refrigeration cycle device, program

Abstract

A control method for a refrigeration cycle circuit allowing circulation of a working fluid containing a refrigerant component capable of undergoing a disproportionation reaction includes interrupting or limiting an operation of the refrigeration cycle circuit in response to detecting a sign of the disproportionation reaction based on at least one of a first state regarding a drive circuit for driving a compressor of the refrigeration cycle circuit or a second state regarding the working fluid.

1 . A control method for a refrigeration cycle circuit allowing circulation of a working fluid containing a refrigerant component capable of undergoing a disproportionation reaction, comprising interrupting or limiting an operation of the refrigeration cycle circuit in response to detecting a sign of the disproportionation reaction based on at least one of a first state regarding a drive circuit for driving a compressor of the refrigeration cycle circuit or a second state regarding the working fluid,
 the control method further comprising determining a number of discharge occurrences in the compressor, based on the first state, and   the sign of the disproportionation reaction is that the number of the discharge occurrences is equal to or larger than a predetermined number of times corresponding to accumulated energy.   
     
     
         2 . The control method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second state is a temperature [K] of the working fluid at a portion of the refrigeration cycle circuit; and   the sign of the disproportionation reaction is that the temperature [K] of the working fluid at the portion of the refrigeration cycle circuit becomes at least ten times higher than a maximum value [K] within a temperature range during a rated operation.   
     
     
         3 . The control method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second state is a temperature [K] of the working fluid at a portion of the refrigeration cycle circuit; and   the sign of the disproportionation reaction is that the temperature [K] of the working fluid at the portion of the refrigeration cycle circuit becomes equal to or larger than 2000 K.   
     
     
         4 . The control method of  claim 1 , comprising determining a number of light emissions from the working fluid at the compressor based on the second state,
 wherein the sign of the disproportionation reaction is that the number of light emissions from the working fluid is equal to or larger than a predetermined number of times.   
     
     
         5 . The control method of  claim 1 , comprising determining an index value of an amount of a product produced from the working fluid by the disproportionation reaction, based on the second state,
 wherein the sign of the disproportionation reaction is that the amount of the product or an increase in the amount of the product during a predetermined period is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount.   
     
     
         6 . The control method of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the product includes at least one of an intermediate product or a final product;   the intermediate product is a thermodynamically unstable chemical species; and   the final product is a thermodynamically stable chemical species.   
     
     
         7 . A control device for controlling a refrigeration cycle circuit allowing circulation of a working fluid containing a refrigerant component capable of undergoing a disproportionation reaction, comprising:
 a drive circuit configured to drive a compressor of the refrigeration cycle circuit; and   a control circuit configured to interrupt or limit an operation of the refrigeration cycle circuit in response to detecting a sign of the disproportionation reaction based on at least one of a first state regarding a drive circuit for driving the compressor of the refrigeration cycle circuit or a second state regarding the working fluid.   
     
     
         8 . The control device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the drive circuit includes a converter circuit configured to output DC power so that a voltage of the DC power is equal to a first voltage, based on input power from a power supply, and an inverter circuit configured to output AC power to the compressor of the refrigeration cycle circuit, based on the DC power;   the control device comprises a voltage detector configured to detect the DC power to output a detection voltage indicative of the voltage of the DC power, as the first state;   the control circuit is configured to determine a number of discharge occurrences in the compressor by a number of times that the detection voltage falls below a second voltage equal to or smaller than the first voltage; and   the sign of the disproportionation reaction is that a number of the discharge occurrences is equal to or larger than a predetermined number of times.   
     
     
         9 . The control device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the control device includes a light detection device configured to detect light inside a sealed container of the compressor of the refrigeration cycle circuit to output an intensity of the light as the second state;   the control circuit is configured to determine a number of light emissions from the working fluid at the compressor based on a number times that the intensity of the light exceeds a threshold value of the light; and   the sign of the disproportionation reaction is that the number of the light emissions from the working fluid is equal to or larger than a predetermined number of times.   
     
     
         10 . The control device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the control device comprises a light detection device configured to receive light by way of an inside of the refrigeration cycle circuit to output an intensity of the light received, as the second state;   the control circuit is configured to determine an index value of an amount of a product produced from the working fluid by the disproportionation reaction, based on the intensity of the light; and   the sign of the disproportionation reaction is that an amount of the product or an increase in the amount of the product during a predetermined period is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount.   
     
     
         11 . The control device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the refrigeration cycle circuit includes a phosphor containing a fluorescent dye;   the control device comprises a light detection device configured to detect light with a wavelength corresponding to a fluorescence wavelength of the fluorescent dye to output the intensity of the light detected, as the second state;   the control circuit is configured to determine an index value of an amount of a product produced from the working fluid by the disproportionation reaction, based on the intensity of the light detected by the light detection device; and   the sign of the disproportionation reaction is an amount of the product or an increase in the amount of the product during a predetermined period is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount.   
     
     
         12 . The control device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the refrigeration cycle circuit includes a light absorber containing a dye;   the control device comprises a light detection device configured to receive light with a wavelength band containing an absorption wavelength of the dye to output an intensity of the light received, as the second state;   the control circuit is configured to determine an index value of an amount of a product produced from the working fluid by the disproportionation reaction, based on the intensity of the light detected by the light detection device; and   the sign of the disproportionation reaction is that an amount of the product or an increase in the amount of the product during a predetermined period is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount.   
     
     
         13 . A refrigeration cycle device comprising:
 the control device of  claim 7 ; and   the refrigeration cycle circuit.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigeration cycle device of  claim 13 , wherein the refrigerant component contains ethylene-based fluoroolefin. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program executable by a computer system included in a control device for controlling a refrigeration cycle circuit allowing circulation of a working fluid containing a refrigerant component capable of undergoing a disproportionation reaction, the program enabling the computer system to perform a process of interrupting or limiting an operation of the refrigeration cycle circuit in response to detecting a sign of the disproportionation reaction based on at least one of a first state regarding a drive circuit for driving a compressor of the refrigeration cycle circuit or a second state regarding the working fluid.