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EP-4741737-A1 - HEAT SOURCE UNIT

EP4741737A1EP 4741737 A1EP4741737 A1EP 4741737A1EP-4741737-A1

Abstract

A heat source unit connected to a utilization unit (12) via a connection pipe (13) includes a flow path switching unit (18) including a valve body (60) having a first passage (61, 62) through which a refrigerant flows, and a casing (32) that rotatably accommodates the valve body (60) and has a first refrigerant flow path (36d) through which a refrigerant flows, and a controller (26) that controls a rotation of the valve body (60), in which the connection pipe (13) is connected to the first refrigerant flow path (36d), and the controller (26) controls the rotation of the valve body (60) between a first state in which the first refrigerant flow path (36d) is closed by an outer surface (60a) of the valve body (60) not having the first passage (61, 62) and a second state in which the first passage (61, 62) communicates with the first refrigerant flow path (36d).

Inventors

  • HAMADATE, Junichi
  • KOIKE, Fumiaki
  • KINOSHITA, ATSUSHI
  • ISHIYAMA, Taichi

Assignees

  • Daikin Industries, Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250806

Claims (6)

  1. A heat source unit connected to a utilization unit (12) via a connection pipe (13), the heat source unit comprising: a flow path switching unit (18) including a valve body (60) having a first passage (61, 62) through which a refrigerant flows, and a casing (32) that rotatably accommodates the valve body (60) and has a first refrigerant flow path (36d) through which a refrigerant flows; and a controller (26) that controls a rotation of the valve body (60), wherein the connection pipe (13) is connected to the first refrigerant flow path (36d), and the controller (26) controls the rotation of the valve body (60) between a first state in which the first refrigerant flow path (36d) is closed by an outer surface (60a) of the valve body (60) not having the first passage (61, 62) and a second state in which the first passage (61, 62) communicates with the first refrigerant flow path (36d).
  2. The heat source unit according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing unit that presses the outer surface (60a) of the valve body (60) against a periphery of the first refrigerant flow path (36d) in the first state.
  3. The heat source unit according to claim 2, wherein the pressing unit is the refrigerant leaking between the outer surface (60a) of the valve body (60) and an inner surface of the casing (32) in the second state.
  4. The heat source unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the casing (32) has a second refrigerant flow path (36a) and a third refrigerant flow path (36b) through which the refrigerant flows, and in the second state, the controller (26) causes the first refrigerant flow path (36d) and the second refrigerant flow path (36a) or the first refrigerant flow path (36d) and the third refrigerant flow path (36b) to communicate with each other by the first passage (61, 62).
  5. The heat source unit according to claim 4, wherein the casing (32) has a fourth refrigerant flow path (36c) through which the refrigerant flows, the valve body (60) has a second passage (61, 62) through which the refrigerant flows, and in the second state, the controller (26) causes the fourth refrigerant flow path (36c) and the third refrigerant flow path (36b) or the fourth refrigerant flow path (36c) and the second refrigerant flow path (36a) to communicate with each other by the second passage (61, 62).
  6. The heat source unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the valve body (31) and the casing (32) are made of synthetic resin, and the flow path switching unit (18) includes a second casing (33) made of metal, the second casing (33) covering an outside of the casing (32).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to a heat source unit. BACKGROUND ART Some air conditioners that adjust indoor temperature and humidity include an outdoor unit (heat source unit) and an indoor unit (utilization unit). The outdoor unit accommodates a compressor, a four-way switching valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, a shutoff valve, and the like, and the indoor unit accommodates an indoor heat exchanger. These devices are connected by a refrigerant pipe to constitute a refrigerant circuit. CITATION LIST [PATENT LITERATURE] PATENT LITERATURE 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2020-79645 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [TECHNICAL PROBLEM] Since many devices such as a compressor, a four-way switching valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a shutoff valve are accommodated in the outdoor unit, and these devices are connected by the refrigerant pipe, reductions in size and cost are difficult. An object of the present disclosure is to provide a heat source unit that can be reduced in size and cost. [SOLUTION TO PROBLEM] (1) A heat source unit of the present disclosure is connected to a utilization unit via a connection pipe, and includes a flow path switching unit includinga valve body having a first passage through which a refrigerant flows, anda casing that rotatably accommodates the valve body and has a first refrigerant flow path through which a refrigerant flows, anda controller that controls a rotation of the valve body,in whichthe connection pipe is connected to the first refrigerant flow path, andthe controller controls the rotation of the valve body between a first state in which the first refrigerant flow path is closed by an outer surface of the valve body not having the first passage and a second state in which the first passage communicates with the first refrigerant flow path. In the above configuration, the first refrigerant flow path to which the connection pipe is connected can be closed by using the valve body accommodated in the casing of the flow path switching unit, and the flow path switching unit can be substantially used as a shutoff valve. Therefore, the shutoff valve and the refrigerant pipe connected to the shutoff valve can be eliminated or reduced, and the heat source unit can be downsized and reduced in cost. (2) The heat source unit (1) further includes a pressing unit that presses the outer surface of the valve body against a periphery of the first refrigerant flow path in the first state. In the above configuration, the first refrigerant flow path can be reliably closed by pressing the outer surface of the valve body against the periphery of the first refrigerant flow path. (3) In the heat source unit according to (2), the pressing unit is a refrigerant leaking between the outer surface of the valve body and an inner surface of the casing in the second state. In the above configuration, the valve body can be pressed against the periphery of the first refrigerant flow path by using the leaking refrigerant. (4) In the heat source unit according to any one of (1) to (3), the casing has a second refrigerant flow path and a third refrigerant flow path through which the refrigerant flows, and in the second state, the controller causes the first refrigerant flow path and the second refrigerant flow path or the first refrigerant flow path and the third refrigerant flow path to communicate with each other by the first passage. In the above configuration, a valve (three-way valve or the like) capable of switching and connecting at least three refrigerant flow paths can function as a shutoff valve. (5) In the heat source unit according to (4), the casing has a fourth refrigerant flow path through which the refrigerant flows,the valve body has a second passage through which the refrigerant flows, andin the second state, the controller causes the fourth refrigerant flow path and the third refrigerant flow path or the fourth refrigerant flow path and the second refrigerant flow path to communicate with each other by the second passage. In the above configuration, a valve (four-way switching valve or the like) capable of switching and connecting at least four refrigerant flow paths can function as a shutoff valve. (6) In the heat source unit according to any one of (1) to (5), the valve body and the casing are made of synthetic resin, andthe flow path switching unit includes a second casing made of metal, the second casing covering an outside of the casing. In the above configuration, by forming the valve body and the casing with synthetic resin, weight reduction and formation of the first passage and the first refrigerant flow path can be easily performed, and by providing the second casing made of metal, pressure resistance of the casing made of synthetic resin can be supplemented. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circuit of a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a flow path switching unit according to Embodiment 1 of the p