REFRIGERANT LEAKAGE DETECTING DEVICE AND REFRIGERATOR USING THE SAME

摘要

A refrigerant leakage detecting device capable of improving accuracy in detection of refrigerant leakage by reliably coping with variations in input to a compressor in a refrigerator using a combustible refrigerant. If there is a place where there occurs a refrigerant leakage on the low pressure side in a refrigerating cycle, the cycle inner pressure during operation is a negative pressure, so that air is drawn in to increase electric power. If the amount of increase in an instantaneous electric power value (Wi (t)) for decision purposes exceeds an increase reference value (G1), a decision is given to the effect that there is a leakage on the low pressure side. Further, if there is a place where there occurs a refrigerant leakage on the high pressure side in the refrigerating cycle, the electric power decreases pursuant to a cycle inner pressure decrease during operation. If the decrease in this instantaneous electric power value (Wi (t)) for decision purposes exceeds a decrease reference value (G2), a decision is given to the effect that there is a high pressure leakage.