JP2000130866A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a refrigerant from mixing with oil by holding a temperature on the circumference of each compressor or of an oil separator to a predetermined level, and improve reliability. SOLUTION: A heat-insulating material sealing therein a heat-accumulating material having heat accumulation and heat insulation functions is mounted on the circumference of each compressor 1 or of an oil separator 13, and a power supply decision means is provided which turns ON/OFF a power supply source according to a temperature detected by a temperature detecting means 10. Heat is accumulated and insulated in the heat-accumulating material during operation of an air conditioner, and ON/OFF operation of the power supply source is controlled so that the heat-accumulating material holds a temperature at a predetermined level, according to the detected temperature during a standing time, thereby making a heater capacity smaller and reducing a standby power.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly to an air conditioner in which a heat insulating material incorporating a heat storage material is mounted on a component to reduce standby power.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional air conditioner, a heater attached to a compressor and an oil separator is energized while the air conditioner is on standby to prevent the refrigerant from dissolving into oil, and the oil viscosity is maintained by keeping the heater warm. And ensured the reliability of the air conditioner.

On the other hand, in order to eliminate the machine room by reducing the weight of the air conditioner and to reduce noise, a heat insulating member having a water-proof and soundproof function is wound around the compressor and the oil separator.

[0004]

However, the above structure requires a large-capacity heater and consumes standby power.

Conventionally, as a heat insulating member,
There has been no practical use of a heat insulating member having a function of further storing and maintaining heat in addition to the above-mentioned function, and no means has been explicitly stated for storing and maintaining heat using a heat insulating material in which a heat storage material is sealed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat insulating material in which a heat storage material is incorporated around a compressor and an oil separator by sealing or the like, and to store and maintain heat to prevent the refrigerant from dissolving into the oil, thereby achieving air conditioning. It is to improve the reliability of the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce the capacity of a heater and reduce standby power by storing heat during operation of an air conditioner in a heat insulating material in which the heat storage material is sealed and keeping the heat.

[0008] Furthermore, by having a function of heating the heat insulating material in which the heat storage material is sealed by itself, the heater can be eliminated and cost reduction can be achieved.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to store heat around components such as a compressor of an air conditioner or an oil separator.
A heat insulating material incorporating a heat storage material capable of keeping heat is attached, temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the component parts, and a power supply for turning on / off a power supply for keeping the heat storage material at a constant temperature according to the detected temperature. This is achieved by providing the determination means.

According to the above means, the heat of the compressor and the like is stored during the operation of the air conditioner by incorporating the heat storage material,
During standby of the air conditioner, the power supply is turned on / off to keep the temperature constant. This makes it possible to reduce the heater capacity and reduce the standby power. As a result of maintaining the compressor and the like at a constant temperature, the reliability of the air conditioner can be ensured.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner. The two-dot chain line indicates an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, respectively.

The refrigeration cycle comprises a compressor 1, a four-way valve 2, an outdoor heat exchanger 3, an outdoor expansion valve 4, an indoor expansion valve 5, an indoor heat exchanger 6, and a gas-liquid separator 7. It is established by connecting with piping and circulating the refrigerant during this cycle. In the cycle, the refrigerant is a gas,
The state is a mixture of gas and liquid (gas-liquid two-phase), and the state changes to liquid.

In the cooling operation, in the air conditioner, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed by the compressor 1 reaches the outdoor heat exchanger 3 via the four-way valve 2. Here, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is deprived of heat by the wind sent by the blower fan 8 and condensed to become a low-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant. From the outdoor unit heat exchanger 4 to the indoor expansion valve 5
The refrigerant that has reached is decompressed here, becomes a low-temperature low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, flows into the indoor heat exchanger 6, and takes heat there.
That is, the temperature of the indoor air is reduced and the air returns to the compressor 1 again. This is a brief description of the cooling operation.

In the heating operation, by switching the four-way valve to circulate the refrigerant in the opposite manner as in the cooling operation, the indoor heat exchanger 6 becomes a condenser to heat the room.

In the air conditioner, the detected values obtained from the pressure detecting means 9 and the temperature detecting means 10 are input to the detected value input means 1.
1 and is operated by the refrigeration cycle operating means and the power supply determining means 12 for the heater.

FIG. 2 shows a refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner in which a plurality of compressors and oil separators are mounted in one refrigerant system.

When a plurality of compressors 1 are mounted, an oil separator 13 is mounted to supply uniform oil to the compressor 1 in order to prevent oil breakage due to uneven lubrication oil.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which a heat insulating material in which a heat storage material is sealed is mounted around a compressor or an oil separator.

The compressor 1 or the oil separator 13 stores heat,
A heat insulating material 14 sealing a heat storage material having a heat retaining function and a heater 15 are mounted. Further, the heat insulating material 14 in which the heat storage material is sealed has a water resistance and a soundproof function.

FIG. 4 shows a structural diagram of a heat insulating material in which the heat storage material is sealed.

When winding the heat insulating material 14 sealed with the heat storage material around the compressor 1 and the oil separator 13, a plurality of split type heat storage materials 17a are mounted inside the heat insulating material 16 to improve workability. And

Further, the structure may be such that the integrated heat storage material 17b is attached to the heat insulating material 16, and the heat storage material may be a cylindrical structure. Further, the heat storage material does not have to be a structure sealed with a heat insulating material, but may be any material as long as a heat storage material is incorporated.

The function of the heat insulating material in which the heat storage material is sealed will be described with reference to FIG.

During operation of the air conditioner, the heat insulating material 14 sealing the heat storage material stores heat from the compressor 1 or the oil separator 13.

While the air conditioner is on standby, the stored heat is used to keep the compressor 1 or the oil separator 13 warm, prevent the refrigerant from dissolving into the oil, keep the oil viscosity constant, and maintain the air conditioner for a long time. In such a case, the heat retaining function of the heat insulating material 14 in which the heat storage material is sealed decreases, so the heater 15 is turned on when the temperature falls below the set lower limit temperature, and turned off when the temperature exceeds the upper limit temperature. ON / OFF
A constant temperature is ensured by performing the OFF control. Thereby, the reliability of the air conditioner can be ensured. This function makes it possible to reduce standby power.

Here, it goes without saying that the sensor portions Ts and Td of the temperature detecting means 10 for adjusting the temperature are mounted on the compressor 1 or the oil separator 13. The temperature detecting means may use a bimetal thermostat in addition to the sensor, and has a control for turning off when a certain temperature is reached.

FIG. 6 shows that in the case where the air conditioner is stopped for a long time as described above, the heat retaining function of the heat insulating material 14 in which the heat storage material is sealed is energized to the heat storage materials 17a and 17b by themselves. An example of a case where heating can be performed and heat retention is enabled is shown. In this case, a heat storage material having an electric heating property is used. Heater 15 separately installed by this function
Can be eliminated, and costs can be reduced.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which the heat insulating material of the present invention in which the heat storage material is sealed is applied to a multi-refrigeration cycle. Also in this refrigeration cycle, the standby power of the air conditioner can be reduced.

The present invention can also be applied to a regenerative refrigeration cycle and an internal / external multi refrigeration cycle.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, in order to keep the temperature of a compressor or an oil separator constant, heat is stored and kept warm using a sealed heat insulating material incorporating a heat storage material. In addition, the standby capacity can be reduced by reducing the heater capacity.

Further, by providing a heat storage material which can be heated by itself, the heater can be eliminated, and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a refrigeration cycle system diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a refrigeration cycle system diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a mounting structure of a heat insulating material sealing a heat storage material to a compressor or an oil separator.

FIG. 4 is a structural diagram of an example of a heat insulating material in which a heat storage material is sealed.

FIG. 5 is a functional explanatory view of a heat insulating material in which a heat storage material is sealed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is another functional explanatory view of the heat insulating material in which the heat storage material is sealed according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a system diagram of a multi-refrigeration cycle according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Compressor, 2 ... 4-way valve, 3 ... Outdoor heat exchanger, 4 ... Outdoor expansion valve, 5 ... Indoor expansion valve, 6 ... Indoor heat exchanger, 7 ... Gas-liquid separator, 8 ... Blower fan, 9 ... Pressure detecting means, 10: Temperature detecting means, 11: Detected value input means, 12: Refrigeration cycle operating means and means for determining energization to the heater, 13: Oil separator, Ps: Compressor suction pressure sensor section, Ts: Compressor Suction temperature sensor part, Pd ... compressor discharge pressure sensor part, Td
... compressor discharge temperature sensor unit, 14 ... heat insulating material sealing the heat storage material, 15 ... heater, 16 ... heat insulating material, 17a ... split type heat storage material, 17b ... integrated heat storage material.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Kenichi Nakamura 390 Muramatsu, Shimizu-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture Inside Air Conditioning Systems Division, Hitachi, Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinichiro Yamada 390 Muramatsu, Shimizu-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture Air Conditioning System, Hitachi, Ltd. Within Business Unit (72) Inventor Hiroshi Takenaka 390 Muramatsu, Shimizu-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture Air Conditioning System Business Division, Hitachi, Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An air conditioner having a refrigeration cycle including at least a compressor, a use side heat exchanger, a pressure reducing mechanism, a heat source side heat exchanger, and a pipe connecting these components. Temperature detecting means for mounting a heat insulating material incorporating a heat storage material around the temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the component, and energizing determining means for turning on / off an energizing power supply for keeping the heat storage material at a constant temperature in accordance with the detected temperature; An air conditioner comprising: