JP2000240980A - Refrigerator/air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance refrigeration efficiency of a refrigerator/air conditioner having loads on both cooling/heating operation and refrigerating/freezing load. SOLUTION: In a convenience store, for example, a single compressor is shared by an indoor unit 7 for air conditioning and a showcase body 10. When a heating load and a refrigerating/freezing load are generated simultaneously in winter season, for example, air in the showcase is employed as a hot heat source for heating and indoor air is employed as a cold heat source for refrigeration/freezing. Since conventionally exhausted waste heat is utilized mutually and simultaneously, energy can be saved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus used in a facility where indoor air-conditioning load and refrigeration / freezing and preservation of food occur simultaneously or separately, such as a store such as a supermarket or a convenience store or a food factory.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional refrigeration / air-conditioning system used in the above-mentioned facilities comprises a refrigerant circuit and a control circuit which are independent of an air conditioner and a showcase, and each of which has a compressor, a condenser, a throttle device and an evaporator. The construction of refrigerant piping and the like is also performed independently. FIG. 18 shows such a conventional apparatus. In FIG. 18, (A) shows an air conditioner, in which 1a is a compressor, 2a is a four-way switching valve (hereinafter, referred to as a four-way switching valve)
It is called a four-way valve. ), 3a is an outdoor heat exchanger, 4a is an outdoor unit, 5 is a cooling throttle device, 6 is an indoor heat exchanger, 7 is an air conditioning indoor unit, and 11 is a heating throttle device. A two-way valve 301 is connected in series to the expansion device 11, and a check valve 204 is connected in parallel with the two-way valve 301. Similarly, the throttle device 5 is also provided with a two-way valve 302 and a check valve 201. On the other hand, (B) shows a showcase, in which 1b is a compressor, 3b is an outdoor heat exchanger, 4b is an outdoor unit, 8 is a throttle device, 9 is an indoor heat exchanger, and 10 is a showcase body.

In FIG. 18, for example, when a heating load and a refrigeration load are simultaneously generated in winter, in the air conditioner shown in FIG. 19A, the refrigerant is indicated by a bold line by switching the four-way valve 2a. Move and circulate the circuit in the direction of the arrow.
That is, the refrigerant that has become high temperature and high pressure in the compressor 1a is sent to the indoor exchanger 6, exchanges heat with the indoor air, radiates heat, and heats the indoor air. The refrigerant condensed in the condenser 6 is made low-temperature and low-pressure by the expansion device 11, and exchanges heat with outdoor air in the outdoor heat exchanger 3a, evaporates, and then returns to the compressor 1a. On the other hand, in the showcase (B), the refrigerant moves and circulates in the bold line circuit in the direction of the arrow. That is, the compressor 1b
The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 3b, and exchanges heat with low-temperature outdoor air to radiate heat and condense. Next, the temperature is reduced to a low temperature and low pressure by the expansion device 8, the heat is exchanged with the air in the refrigerator by the heat exchanger 9 in the refrigerator, heat is absorbed and evaporated to cool the refrigerator, and then returned to the compressor 1b.

As shown in FIG. 20, in summer, the refrigerant of the air conditioner moves and circulates in the bold line circuit in the direction of the arrow by switching the four-way valve 2a. That is, the refrigerant which has become high temperature and high pressure by the compressor 1a is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 3a, and exchanges heat with low temperature outdoor air to radiate heat and condense. Next, after the pressure is reduced to a low temperature and low pressure by the expansion device 5, the indoor heat exchanger 6 exchanges heat with the indoor air to evaporate, cools the indoor air, and returns to the compressor 1a. The above operations of the air conditioner and the showcase are performed simultaneously.

[0005]

In the above-mentioned conventional refrigeration and air-conditioning system, the air conditioner and the showcase constitute independent refrigerant circuits and control circuits, respectively, and have a compressor, a condenser, a throttle device, and an evaporator, respectively. In the winter, the air conditioner heats the room and cools the outside, and the showcase heats the room to heat the outdoor air in the winter. That is, although the heating load (cold heat source) and the refrigeration load (warm heat source) are generated simultaneously or separately in the same space, the heat source on the air conditioner side and the cold heat source on the showcase side are mutually connected. Independently obtained from outdoor air has resulted in inefficiency and wasted power energy.

In summer, the cooling / cooling load in the daytime increases, while the difference in power load between the daytime and nighttime increases due to a decrease in the outdoor air temperature at night, and the difference particularly occurs in supermarkets closed at night. A problem of increasing numbers has arisen. Furthermore, in terms of operation control, the compressors of the air conditioner and the showcase are individually operated and stopped repeatedly according to the room temperature and the internal temperature, or the rotation speed of the inverter motor is controlled. Improving efficiency and reducing heat loss had to be considered individually for each compressor, resulting in inefficiency. Furthermore, since the safety factor of the cooling capacity must be checked for each compressor, the installed capacity tends to be excessive as a whole. The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and has as its object to save energy and reduce equipment costs of a refrigeration air conditioner including an air conditioner and a showcase.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a refrigeration air conditioner comprising a heat pump type air conditioner for cooling and heating a room by a refrigeration cycle and a showcase for refrigerated storage of foods. The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem by providing one compressor in common for a showcase and performing both indoor cooling and heating and food preservation by the compressor (claim 1). In that case, it is preferable to insert an evaporation pressure regulating valve at the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner (claim 2). This allows
The evaporating pressure of the air conditioner, which is higher than that of the showcase, can be properly maintained without being affected by the showcase. Further, it is preferable to connect a heat storage device to the refrigerant circuit of the refrigeration air conditioner (claim 3).

According to the above-described invention, for example, when a heating load and a refrigeration load are simultaneously generated in winter, the air inside the showcase is used as a heat source for heating, and the indoor air is used as a cold heat source for refrigeration. By using the heat, the heat that has been conventionally discarded outside as exhaust heat can be simultaneously used, thereby saving energy and reducing running costs. Further, when the heating load and the refrigeration load are generated separately, the outdoor heat exchanger operates so that the heat is absorbed from the outdoor air and the refrigeration is radiated to the outdoor air. In that case, by connecting a heat storage device to the refrigerant circuit, at the time of a heating load, the evaporative heat is absorbed from the heat stored in the heat storage agent by using nighttime electric power or by condensing and discharging heat of the showcase, thereby heating the room. Efficiency can be improved, and at the time of a refrigeration load, the exhaust heat can be effectively used by dissipating the condensed exhaust heat to the heat storage agent and storing the heat.

On the other hand, in the summer, for example, the compressor is operated in response to either a request for cooling or refrigeration and freezing, so that the operation rate is increased, the operation efficiency is improved, the heat loss is reduced, and the installed capacity can be reduced. become. Also, in this case, if a heat storage device is connected, cooling /
When the refrigeration load is reduced and the operating rate of the compressor is reduced, the electric power is stored in the heat storage agent by the extra refrigeration capacity of the compressor using nighttime electric power, and the heat of condensation is stored during the day when the cooling / refrigeration load is large. By releasing heat to the agent, the refrigeration efficiency can be improved. Further, the piping configuration is simplified as compared with the conventional case, and the construction cost is greatly reduced.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the portions corresponding to the conventional example. First, FIG. 1 shows a basic embodiment. 1 is different from the conventional example of FIG. 18 in that one compressor 1 is provided in common for the air conditioner and the showcase, and the common outdoor is connected via a four-way valve 2 and a three-way valve 108. Vessel 4
Thus, the refrigerant is supplied to the air-conditioning indoor unit 7 and the showcase body 10 via the three-way valves 101 to 107, and the evaporation pressure adjusting valve 12 is inserted at the outlet side of the indoor heat exchanger 6. Further, a bypass pipe is provided between the three-way valve 107 and the three-way valve.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a heat storage device 1 in the refrigerant circuit of FIG.
6 shows an embodiment in which 6 is connected. In FIG. 2, a heat storage device 16 has a heat exchanger 15 in contact with a heat storage agent 14 made of, for example, water, and one end thereof is connected to three-way valves 107 and 108 via a throttle device 13 and a three-way valve 109, and the other end. Is connected via a three-way valve 110 to the suction side of the compressor 1 and between the three-way valve 107 and the three-way valve 102.

FIGS. 3 to 7 show various operation modes by switching each valve of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and the refrigerant moves and circulates in the directions shown by thick lines and arrows. FIG. 3 shows a cooling mode of the air conditioner, in which the refrigerant heated to a high temperature and a high pressure by the compressor 1 is condensed by the outdoor heat exchanger 3 to become a liquid, and then decompressed by the expansion device 5 of the air conditioner indoor unit 7, which is composed of, for example, a capillary tube. The pressure is low and low. The liquid refrigerant exchanges heat with the indoor air in the indoor heat exchanger 6 to cool the indoor air. The vaporized refrigerant is evaporated by the evaporation pressure regulating valve 12.
And returns to the compressor 1.

FIG. 4 shows the refrigeration / freezing mode of the showcase. The liquid refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger 3 moves to the showcase main body 10 by switching the three-way valve 103, and the expansion device 8 includes, for example, a temperature type expansion valve. To reduce the pressure to a low temperature and low pressure. The liquid refrigerant exchanges heat with the inside air in the inside heat exchanger 9 and evaporates to cool the inside air. The gasified refrigerant returns to the compressor 1 via the three-way valves 105 and 106.

FIG. 5 shows a simultaneous operation mode of cooling and refrigeration. The liquid refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is supplied to the three-way valve 103
And move to the air-conditioning indoor unit 7 and the showcase main body 10, respectively. After cooling and cooling, respectively, as described in FIGS. 3 and 4, they are merged by the three-way valve 106 and return to the compressor 1.

FIG. 6 shows a heating mode of the air conditioner. In FIG. 6, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant from the compressor 1 enters the air-conditioning indoor unit 7 through the check valve 204 by switching the four-way valve 2, exchanges heat with the indoor air in the indoor heat exchanger 6, and condenses. Heating and heating the indoor air. The refrigerant that has become liquid passes through the check valve 201 and is decompressed by the expansion device 11 composed of, for example, a capillary tube, and becomes low temperature and low pressure. Next, the heat is exchanged with the outdoor air in the outdoor heat exchanger 3 to form a gas, and the gas returns to the compressor 1.

FIG. 7 shows a simultaneous operation mode of heating and refrigeration. As described in FIG. 6, the refrigerant liquefied by heating the indoor air by the air-conditioning indoor unit 7 moves to the showcase body 10 by switching the three-way valve 103, and cools and evaporates the air in the refrigerator. The flow returns to the compressor 1 via the three-way valves 105 and 102 and the four-way valve 2. In this way, by using indoor air as a cold source of air in the showcase storage,
Energy saving becomes possible.

FIGS. 8 to 17 show various operation modes of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 8 shows a cold storage mode.
In FIG. 8, for example, using the nighttime power in the summer, the refrigerant that has been made high-temperature and high-pressure by the compressor 1 moves from the four-way valve 2 to the outdoor unit 4 and exchanges heat with the outdoor air in the outdoor heat exchanger 3. Condense. This liquid refrigerant passes through three-way valves 101, 107 and 109 and is reduced in pressure by a throttle device 13 composed of, for example, a temperature-type expansion valve to a low temperature and low pressure, enters a heat storage device 16 and exchanges heat with a heat storage agent 14 in a heat exchanger 15. After evaporating and storing the heat in the heat storage agent, the flow returns to the compressor 1 via the three-way valve 110. This cool storage mode is performed between 22:00 when the nighttime power is applied and 8:00 the next day, and is completed when a predetermined amount of cool storage in the heat storage agent 14 is secured.

FIG. 9 shows a simultaneous operation mode of cooling and cold storage. This is a mode when a cooling load occurs in the cold storage mode shown in FIG. 8, in which the liquid refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger 3 branches off at the three-way valve 107, and the air conditioner indoor unit 7 and the heat storage device 16
To cool and cool the indoor air, respectively.

FIG. 10 shows a simultaneous operation mode of refrigeration and freezing. This is a mode in which a refrigeration load occurs in the cold storage mode shown in FIG. 8, in which the liquid refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger 3 branches off at the three-way valve 107, and a part thereof
The rest moves to the showcase body 10 via the three-way valve 103, cools the air in the refrigerator, and returns to the compressor 1 via the three-way valve 106.

FIG. 11 shows a simultaneous operation mode of cooling, refrigeration and freezing. This is a mode in which a cooling and refrigeration load occurs in the cold storage mode shown in FIG. 8, in which the liquid refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger 3 branches off at the three-way valve 107, and a part moves to the heat storage device 16, The remainder is further branched by a three-way valve 103, moved to the air-conditioning indoor unit 7 and the showcase main body 10, and cooled the indoor air and the air in the refrigerator, respectively.
Merge at the three-way valve 106 and return to the compressor 1.

FIG. 12 shows the cooling / cooling mode. For example, the refrigeration efficiency is improved by supercooling the refrigerant in the daytime cooling mode using the cold stored in the heat storage agent 14 at night. In FIG. 12, the liquid refrigerant condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 3 moves to the heat storage device 16 by switching the three-way valve 108. This liquid refrigerant is supplied to the three-way valve 109.
The pressure is reduced by the expansion device 13 through the
After being supercooled by heat exchange with the heat storage agent 14 in 5, it moves to the air-conditioning indoor unit 7 via the three-way valves 102 and 103 to perform cooling.

FIG. 13 shows a cooling / refrigerating freezing mode.
The liquid refrigerant supercooled as described in FIG.
After moving to the showcase main body 10 through 02 and 103 and cooling the air in the refrigerator, the air returns to the compressor 1 through the three-way valve 106.

FIG. 14 shows a simultaneous operation mode of cooling / cooling and cooling / refrigeration freezing. The refrigerant supercooled by the heat exchange in the heat storage device 16 branches off at the three-way valve 103 via the three-way valves 110 and 102 and moves to the air-conditioning indoor unit 7 and the showcase body 10. After cooling the room air and cooling the air in the refrigerator, the three-way valve 106 joins the compressor 1
Return to

FIG. 15 shows the temperature storage mode. For example, in the winter season, the refrigerant which has been made high-temperature and high-pressure by the compressor 1 using the nighttime electric power, by switching the four-way valve 2,
It moves to the heat storage device 16 via the three-way valves 106, 105, 102, 110. Then, the heat exchanger 15 exchanges heat with the heat storage agent 14 to condense and store the heat in the heat storage agent 14.
After passing through 09, 107, and 101, the pressure is reduced by the expansion device 13 to a low temperature and a low pressure, and the outdoor heat exchanger 3 exchanges heat with outdoor air to evaporate, and returns to the compressor 1. This thermal storage mode
The operation is performed between 22:00 when the nighttime power is applied and 8:00 the next day, and is completed when a predetermined amount of heat storage is secured in the heat storage agent 14. Most generally, however, the heating load increases at night, so that the use of stored energy is required only at night. Therefore, normally, as described below, the warm exhaust heat during refrigeration and freezing is sequentially stored throughout the day.

FIG. 16 shows a simultaneous operation mode of refrigeration and freezing and exhaust heat storage. This is, for example, in winter, in the normal refrigeration mode shown in FIG. 4, the refrigerant which has been made high-temperature and high-pressure in the compressor 1 is exhausted by heat exchange with outdoor air in the outdoor heat exchanger 3. In FIG. 16, this heat is radiated to the heat storage agent 14, that is, the heat is stored and condensed. This refrigerant moves to the showcase body 10 via the three-way valves 110, 102, and 103, cools the air in the refrigerator, and returns to the compressor 1. Since the refrigeration and freezing load is relatively stable throughout the day in a 24-hour convenience store or the like, the warm exhaust heat can be stably stored, and by using this as a heat source in the heating mode, The efficiency can be stably improved.

FIG. 17 shows the heat radiation / heating mode. In the heating mode in FIG. 20, the refrigerant condensed by heating the indoor air is exchanged with the outdoor air in the outdoor heat exchanger 3a to evaporate. In FIG. 17, the refrigerant condensed in the air-conditioned indoor unit 7 is removed. After the pressure is reduced by the expansion device 13 through the three-way valves 107 and 109, the heat is exchanged with the heat stored in the heat storage agent 14 to evaporate, and then returned to the compressor 1 through the three-way valve 110.
As a result, the evaporation temperature can be increased, and the efficiency can be improved.

[0027]

As described above, according to the present invention, the compressor of the heat pump type air conditioner and the compressor of the refrigeration freezer showcase are integrated to perform the cooling, heating and refrigeration with one compressor. In this way, in the winter season, the air inside the showcase is used as the heat source for heating, the room air is used as the cold heat source for refrigeration and freezing, and the heat that was previously discarded outside as the exhaust heat is mutually effective. Utilization can save energy and reduce running costs. Further, in the summer, the operation efficiency can be improved and the heat loss can be reduced with an increase in the operation rate, and the installed capacity can be reduced. Furthermore, by connecting a heat storage device to the refrigerant circuit,
The waste heat can be more effectively used, and the power load can be leveled during the daytime and nighttime in summer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus showing a different embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating a cooling mode of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating a refrigeration mode of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a refrigerant circuit diagram showing simultaneous cooling and refrigeration modes of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating a heating mode of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating a simultaneous mode of heating and refrigeration of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a refrigerant circuit diagram showing a cool storage mode of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a refrigerant circuit diagram showing a simultaneous mode of cooling and cold storage of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a refrigerant circuit diagram showing a simultaneous mode of refrigeration and freezing and cold storage of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

11 is a refrigerant circuit diagram showing a simultaneous mode of cooling, refrigeration, and cold storage of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating a cooling / cooling mode of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

13 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating a cooling / refrigerating freezing mode of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 14 is a refrigerant circuit diagram showing simultaneous cooling / cooling and cooling / refrigeration freezing modes of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 15 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating a temperature storage mode of the device in FIG. 2;

FIG. 16 is a refrigerant circuit diagram showing a simultaneous mode of refrigeration and freezing and storage of exhaust heat of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 17 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating a heat radiation / heating mode of the device in FIG. 2;

FIG. 18 shows a refrigerant circuit diagram of a conventional device, in which (A) shows a heat pump air conditioner and (B) shows a showcase.

FIG. 19 is a refrigerant circuit diagram showing an operation mode of the device of FIG. 18;
(A) is a heating mode, (B) is a refrigeration mode.

FIG. 20 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating a cooling mode of the device of FIG. 18 (A).

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 compressor 2 four-way valve 3 outdoor heat exchanger 4 outdoor unit 5 air conditioner throttle device 6 air conditioner heat exchanger 7 air conditioner indoor unit 8 showcase throttle device 9 showcase heat exchanger 10 showcase body 11 outdoor device throttle device 12 Evaporation pressure regulating valve 13 Throttle device for heat storage device 14 Heat storage agent 15 Heat storage device heat exchanger 16 Heat storage device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A refrigeration air conditioner comprising a heat pump type air conditioner for cooling and heating the interior of a room by a refrigeration cycle and a showcase for refrigerated freezing and preservation of food, wherein one unit is provided for the air conditioner and the showcase. A refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus, wherein a compressor is provided in common, and the compressor performs both indoor cooling and heating and food preservation. 2. The refrigeration air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein an evaporation pressure regulating valve is inserted at an outlet of the indoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner. 3. The refrigeration / air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a heat storage device is connected to the refrigerant circuit.