Refrigerant leakage method of detection, in the manner which detects the leakage of the refrigerant

摘要

PPROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a coolant leakage detecting method, accurately and stably detecting leakage of a coolant over a long period of time while holding down the manufacturing cost, a coolant leakage detector implementing the method, and an air conditioner including the detector. PSOLUTION: This coolant leakage detecting method includes the steps of: detecting the temperature of a heat exchanger and the temperature of the periphery of a coolant circuit and calculating the temperature range of the heat exchanger sequentially detected in a predetermined time (step S106); determining whether or not a temperature difference between the temperature of the heat exchanger and the temperature of the periphery of a coolant circuit exceeds a predetermined value (step S109); and deciding the leakage of the coolant from the coolant circuit (step S110) when the calculated temperature range is within a predetermined range (YES in the step S107) and the temperature difference is determined not to exceed the predetermined value (NO in the step S109). PCOPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT