JP2000146372A - Refrigerant recovering apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To recover a refrigerant and to reduce in size and weight an apparatus without compressor and recovery compressor in a refrigerator, by providing a refrigerant recovery container containing a refrigerant absorbing and discharging agent with characteristics increasing an absorbing amount of the refrigerant as a temperature drops and a heat exchange means for cooling. SOLUTION: A refrigerant recovering apparatus 200 is provided on the way of piping 5 from an evaporator 1 to a compressor 2 of a refrigerator 100, and a refrigerant recovering container 12 for containing a refrigerant is connected. The container 12 is charged with a carbon dioxide absorbing and discharging agent 13 such as a lithium zirconate or the like having characteristics for increasing an absorption amount of a carbon dioxide refrigerant as a temperature drops is charged in the container 12. The refrigerant is abruptly expanded in a recovery pipe 11 wound on a circumference so that a refrigerant temperature is lowered to cool the container 12. As a result, the refrigerant is fed to the container 12 by means of an inner pressure difference between the refrigerator 100 and the container 12, and is abruptly cooled to perform carbon dioxide absorbing power, thereby recovering the refrigerant.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerating apparatus using a natural refrigerant such as carbon dioxide as a refrigerant.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 4, a conventional refrigerating apparatus comprises an evaporator 1, a compressor 2, a condenser 3, and a decompressor 4 such as an expansion valve.
Are connected to each other by a pipe 5 to realize a refrigeration cycle as shown in FIG.

That is, the refrigerant gas from the evaporator 1 is supplied to the compressor 2
The gas is compressed (→) into high-temperature, high-pressure gas, and the refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor 2 is sent to the condenser 3 and is condensed by releasing heat to a high-temperature heat source (outside air).
(→). The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant liquid liquefied by condensation is supplied to the pressure reducer 4, and expanded (→),
It becomes a low-pressure refrigerant liquid. The refrigerant liquid from the pressure reducer 4 is supplied to the evaporator 1
To be evaporated and take heat from the low-temperature heat source (freezer)
(→), and is supplied to the compressor 2 as a refrigerant gas.

The above refrigeration cycle (→→→→)
Is repeated, heat is transferred from the low-temperature heat source to the high-temperature heat source, and the low-temperature heat source is cooled.

[0005] The refrigerant is CFC, HCFC, HF.
C-based refrigerants such as C are the most widespread.

On the other hand, recently, the above-mentioned CFC-based refrigerant, which has been widely used as a refrigerant, has become a major problem as a cause of destruction of the ozone layer and global warming. It is growing. Under such circumstances, natural refrigerants such as carbon dioxide gas such as carbon dioxide are receiving attention. In particular, since carbon dioxide has no toxicity and no explosive property, its use as a refrigerant has been studied.

[0007]

However, when carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant, the normal temperature pressure in the refrigeration system becomes higher than that of the above-mentioned fluorocarbon refrigerant due to the thermodynamic characteristics of carbon dioxide itself. It reaches about 6-7 [Mpa]. As described above, the handling was difficult due to the large pressure difference from the atmosphere.

When the refrigerant is recovered from the refrigeration system by using a compressor or the like in the refrigeration system,
The amount of refrigerant in the refrigeration system decreases with recovery, and the compressor must be operated at a considerably low pressure from a steady state, and a considerable load is temporarily applied to the compressor, which may cause a failure. Was.

When the recovery device has a recovery compressor or a heat exchanger, the above-mentioned problem is solved, but the recovery device becomes large and it is very troublesome to carry it. .

[0010] The present invention has been made in view of the above point, it is possible to recover the refrigerant without using a compressor in the refrigeration system, and to recover the refrigerant without using a recovery compressor, It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerant recovery device that realizes a smaller and lighter device.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a refrigerant recovery apparatus for recovering a refrigerant from a refrigeration apparatus, wherein the refrigerant recovery contains a refrigerant absorbing / desorbing agent having a characteristic that the absorption amount of the refrigerant increases as the temperature decreases. It is characterized by comprising a container and heat exchange means for cooling the refrigerant recovery container.

By using this configuration, when the refrigerant recovery device is connected to the refrigeration system, the refrigerant absorbing / desorbing agent in the refrigerant recovery container cooled by the heat exchange means exhibits the refrigerant absorption capacity, and The refrigerant present in the interior is recovered. As a result, the refrigerant can be recovered without using a compressor or a recovery compressor in the refrigeration apparatus.

Further, the refrigerant recovery container may be connected to the refrigerant flow path of the refrigeration system by piping, and the heat exchange means may cool the refrigerant recovery container using heat generated in the piping. Further, the heat exchanging means may be configured to perform heat exchange by bringing the pipe into contact with the refrigerant recovery container, and specifically, may be configured to have a part of the pipe wound around the refrigerant recovery container.

By using this configuration, the refrigerant absorbing / desorbing agent in the refrigerant recovery container is cooled by utilizing the heat generated in the piping, so that it is not necessary to newly provide a device for cooling the refrigerant recovery container. .

[0015] The initial pressure in the refrigerant recovery container may be set to a pressure lower than the pressure in the refrigerating apparatus in the operation stopped state by using carbon dioxide gas as the refrigerant. By using this configuration, in the refrigeration system using the carbon dioxide gas refrigerant, the pressure in the refrigeration system in the operation stop state becomes high, so even if the initial pressure in the refrigerant recovery container is set to the atmospheric pressure, By connecting the refrigerant recovery container to the refrigeration unit via a pipe, the internal pressure difference between the refrigeration unit and the refrigerant recovery container causes the carbon gas refrigerant in the refrigeration unit to flow into the refrigerant recovery container and causes the refrigerant to absorb heat. As a result, the refrigerant absorbing and releasing agent in the refrigerant recovery container is rapidly cooled.

[0016] Further, an opening / closing means may be provided in the middle of the pipe to allow passage of the refrigerant when the pressure in the refrigerating apparatus is higher than the pressure in the refrigerant recovery container by a predetermined pressure or more. By using this configuration, when the refrigerant recovery to the refrigerant recovery container is completed, the communication state with the refrigerating device is automatically released, and when the refrigerant recovery device is removed, the refrigerant leaks to the outside or the recovered refrigerant flows backward. It is possible to prevent returning to the inside of the refrigeration apparatus.

Further, lithium zirconate, dialkyl ether, or amine-based absorbing / releasing agent can be used as the refrigerant absorbing / releasing means.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a refrigerant recovery apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a state in which a refrigerant recovery device according to the present invention is attached to a refrigeration device. The refrigeration apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 is configured by connecting an evaporator 1, a compressor 2, a condenser 3, and a decompressor 4 to each other by a pipe 5, similarly to the above-described conventional apparatus (FIG. 4). A refrigeration cycle as shown in FIG. Note that carbon dioxide gas is used as the refrigerant, and carbon dioxide is employed in this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a refrigerant recovery device is connected to a recovery port 51 provided in the pipe 5 from the evaporator 1 to the compressor 2.
200 is connected. Specifically, one end of the collection pipe 11 is connected to the collection port 51, and the other end is
A refrigerant collection container 12 for collecting and storing the refrigerant therein from 100 refrigerant channels is connected.

As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerant recovery container 12 is made of a material such as lithium zirconate, dialkyl ether, and amine-based absorbing / desorbing agent having a characteristic that the absorption amount of the carbon dioxide refrigerant increases as the temperature decreases. The container is filled with a carbon dioxide absorbing / releasing agent (refrigerant absorbing / releasing agent) 13 and the initial pressure inside the container is a normal temperature pressure (about 6-7 [Mpa]) in the refrigeration system 100.
(In this embodiment, about 1 [Mp
a]).

A recovery pipe 11 is wound around the refrigerant recovery container 12. At the start of the refrigerant recovery, the pressure difference between the pressure in the refrigeration system 100 and the pressure in the refrigerant recovery container 12 is large. However, the refrigerant expands rapidly in the recovery pipe 11, and the refrigerant temperature decreases. Therefore, a heat exchange means for cooling the refrigerant recovery container 12 by utilizing the heat absorption effect generated at the winding portion 11A of the recovery pipe 11 is provided. Thus, the refrigerant recovery container 12 and the carbon dioxide absorbing / desorbing agent filled in the refrigerant recovery container 12 by the heat exchange means 11A
13 is cooled, and the temperature of the carbon dioxide refrigerant flowing into the refrigerant recovery container 12 via the recovery pipe 11 is low, so that the carbon dioxide absorbing and releasing agent 13 is also cooled. .

As a result, the collection pipe 11 is connected to the collection port 51.
By connecting the refrigerant recovery container 12 through the refrigeration apparatus 100, the carbon dioxide refrigerant in the refrigeration apparatus 100 flows into the refrigerant recovery container 12 due to the internal pressure difference between the refrigeration apparatus 100 and the refrigerant recovery container 12, and The carbon dioxide adsorbing / releasing agent 13 is rapidly cooled, and the carbon dioxide adsorbing / releasing agent 13 exhibits carbon dioxide absorbing ability, so that the refrigerant present in the refrigeration apparatus 100 can be collected.

FIG. 3 qualitatively shows the relationship between the temperature T of the carbon dioxide adsorbing / desorbing agent 13 and the absorption amount W of carbon dioxide gas. The temperature T changes from the first state value T1 to the second state value T2. , The absorption amount W increases by an amount ΔW corresponding to the temperature decrease.

That is, when the refrigerant recovery device 200 is connected to the recovery port 51 of the refrigeration device 100, the carbon dioxide absorbing / desorbing agent 13 in the refrigerant recovery container 12 is rapidly cooled, and its temperature T becomes the first state value T1. From this to the second state value T2. Accordingly, the carbon dioxide absorbing / desorbing agent 13 in the refrigerant recovery container 12 exhibits the carbon dioxide absorbing ability, so that the refrigerant existing in the refrigeration apparatus 100 can be recovered.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a refrigeration unit is provided in the middle of the recovery pipe 11 between the recovery port 51 and the heat exchange means 11A.
A differential pressure valve 14 is provided as an opening / closing means that allows the passage of the refrigerant to the refrigerant recovery container 12 only when the pressure in the 100 is large and the differential pressure is present. Thereby, when the refrigerant recovery to the refrigerant recovery container 12 is completed, the communication state with the refrigeration apparatus 100 is automatically released, and the refrigerant does not leak to the outside when the refrigerant recovery apparatus 12 is removed, After the refrigerant is recovered, the recovered refrigerant does not flow backward and return into the refrigeration apparatus 100.

The description of the above embodiment is for the purpose of describing the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention described in the claims or reducing the scope thereof. Also, the configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment,
It goes without saying that various modifications are possible within the technical scope described in the claims.

For example, in the description of the above embodiment, a configuration using a differential pressure valve as the opening / closing means 14 has been described.
The invention is not limited thereto, and has a detection unit for detecting the internal pressure of the refrigeration system 100 and the refrigerant recovery container 12, respectively, and an open / close valve provided in the middle of the recovery pipe 11, and the open / close valve based on the detection value of the detection unit. A configuration may be adopted in which the flow rate of the refrigerant is controlled by adjusting the opening degree of the refrigerant. According to this configuration, the amount of the collected refrigerant can be accurately detected, and the refrigerant can be efficiently collected.

Further, the configuration in which the refrigerant recovery device 200 is connected in the middle of the pipe 5 from the evaporator 1 to the compressor 2 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be connected in the middle of the pipe 5 to 3.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, by connecting the refrigerant recovery device to the refrigerating device, the refrigerant absorbing / desorbing agent in the refrigerant recovery container cooled by the heat exchange means exhibits the refrigerant absorbing ability. As a result, the refrigerant present in the refrigeration apparatus can be recovered, and the refrigerant can be recovered without using a compressor or a recovery compressor in the refrigeration apparatus. Therefore,
The collection operation can be simplified and the device can be reduced in size and weight.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a refrigeration apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a refrigerant recovery container 12 of the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the relationship between the temperature and the amount of absorption of the carbon dioxide absorbing / releasing agent 13.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram of a conventional refrigeration apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a Mollier diagram showing a refrigeration cycle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Evaporator 2 Compressor 3 Condenser 4 Pressure reducer 5 Pipe 11 Recovery pipe (Pipe) 11A Heat exchange means 12 Refrigerant recovery container 13 Carbon dioxide absorption / release agent (Refrigerant absorption / release agent) 14 Differential pressure valve (Opening / closing means) 100 Refrigeration Equipment 200 Refrigerant recovery equipment

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tetsuya Masuda 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Takashi Yamakawa 2-5-2 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kenji Nasako 2-5-5 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A refrigerant recovery device that connects a compressor, a condenser, a decompressor, and an evaporator to recover a refrigerant from a refrigeration device constituting a refrigeration cycle, wherein the refrigerant absorption increases as the temperature decreases. A refrigerant recovery device comprising: a refrigerant recovery container storing a refrigerant absorbing / desorbing agent having characteristics; and a heat exchange unit for cooling the refrigerant recovery container. 2. The refrigerant recovery container is connected to a refrigerant flow path of a refrigerating device by a pipe, and the heat exchange means cools the refrigerant recovery container by using heat generated in the pipe. The refrigerant recovery device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The refrigerant recovery device according to claim 2, wherein said heat exchange means performs heat exchange by bringing said pipe into contact with said refrigerant recovery container. 4. The refrigerant recovery device according to claim 3, wherein the heat exchange means winds a part of the pipe around the refrigerant recovery container. 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein carbon dioxide is used as a refrigerant, and an initial pressure in the refrigerant recovery container is set to a lower pressure state than a pressure in the refrigeration apparatus in an operation stop state. 5. The refrigerant recovery device according to any one of 4. 6. An opening / closing means which is provided in the middle of the pipe and allows passage of the refrigerant when the pressure in the refrigerating apparatus is larger than the pressure in the refrigerant recovery container by a predetermined pressure or more. The refrigerant recovery device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein: 7. The refrigerant recovery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein lithium zirconate, dialkyl ether, or amine-based adsorption / desorption agent is used as the refrigerant adsorption / desorption means.