Refrigeration cycle device

Abstract

A refrigeration cycle device of an embodiment includes a shutoff valve that is disposed in a pipe connecting an indoor unit and an outdoor unit to circulate a refrigerant and that is opened and closed by power from an alternating-current power source, a backup power source capable of alternatively supplying power for driving the shutoff valve when a power interruption has occurred in the alternating-current power source, an open and close switch that is disposed in a power supply path from the backup power source to the shutoff valve, a control circuit that controls the shutoff valve and the open and close switch, and a power interruption detection unit that detects a power interruption in the alternating-current power source. When the power interruption has been detected, the control circuit closes the open and close switch to close the shutoff valve, and then opens the open and close switch.

1 . A refrigeration cycle device comprising:
 a shutoff valve that is disposed in a pipe connecting an indoor unit and an outdoor unit constituting a refrigeration cycle to circulate a refrigerant and that is opened and closed by power from an alternating-current power source;   a backup power source capable of alternatively supplying power for driving the shutoff valve when a power interruption has occurred in the alternating-current power source;   an open and close switch that is disposed in a power supply path from the backup power source to the shutoff valve;   a control circuit that controls the shutoff valve and the open and close switch; and   a power interruption detection unit that detects a power interruption in the alternating-current power source,   wherein when the power interruption has been detected, the control circuit closes the open and close switch to close the shutoff valve, and then opens the open and close switch.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigeration cycle device according to  claim 1 , wherein when the power interruption has been detected and an operation of closing the open and close switch to close the shutoff valve is performed, the control circuit determines whether or not the backup power source has deteriorated. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigeration cycle device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit keeps the open and close switch open while power is being supplied from the alternating-current power source. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigeration cycle device according to  claim 3 , comprising:
 a discharging circuit that discharges the backup power source,   wherein when a period of time during which the power interruption is not detected has reached a predetermined length, the control circuit causes the discharging circuit to discharge the backup power source to determine whether or not the backup power source has deteriorated.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigeration cycle device according to  claim 2 , wherein the control circuit outputs an alarm when it is determined that the backup power source has deteriorated. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigeration cycle device according to  claim 1 , wherein the backup power source is a nickel-metal hydride battery. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigeration cycle device according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 a refrigerant leakage detection unit that detects refrigerant leakage from the indoor unit,   wherein the control circuit closes the shutoff valve when the refrigerant leakage detection unit detects refrigerant leakage from the indoor unit.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigeration cycle device according to  claim 1 , wherein the shutoff valve, the backup power source, the open and close switch, the control circuit, and the power interruption detection unit are integrated into a shutoff valve device and housed in a box body. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigeration cycle device according to  claim 7 , wherein a shutoff valve unit comprising the shutoff valve and a backup power source unit housing the backup power source and the open and close switch are separate. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigeration cycle device according to  claim 9 , wherein the control circuit is housed in the shutoff valve unit. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigeration cycle device according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the control circuit is divided into two parts: a shutoff valve control circuit that controls the shutoff valve and a switch control circuit that controls the open and close switch,   the shutoff valve control circuit is disposed in the shutoff valve unit, and the switch control circuit is disposed in the backup power source unit, and   the shutoff valve control circuit and the switch control circuit communicate with each other.