JP2000274907A - Controller for peltier cooling storage chamber - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controller for a Peliter cooling storage chamber capable of achieving both of substantial energy saving and silencing. SOLUTION: There are provided a Peltier element 23 for cooling a storage chamber 7 constructed in a heat insulation box 2, a chamber fan 19 for circulating cold air cooled at a cooling surface of the Peltier element 23 into the storage chamber, a water cooling circuit for cooling a heat dissipation surface of the Peltier element, a circulation pump 15 for circulating cooling water to the water cooling circuit, and a fan 17 outside the chamber for air cooling cooling water. In this case, there is further provided a microcomputer for controlling operation of the Peltier elements, chamber fan, circulation pump, and the fan outside the chamber, which executes predetermined operation mode based upon a timer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device for a Peltier-type cold storage installed in, for example, a guest room of a hotel or a hospital room of a hospital.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an electronic Peltier refrigerator employing a Peltier element as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-243747 is installed in a guest room of a hotel or a hospital room of a hospital. This Peltier element is configured by joining two types of thermoelectric semiconductors, consisting of a P-type element and an N-type element, in a π-type with metal electrodes. When a current flows from the N-type element to the P-type element, the Peltier effect is applied. It absorbs heat from one surface (cooling surface) and dissipates heat from the other surface (heat radiating surface), and cools the storage room of the refrigerator using the heat absorbing action at this time.

In this case, since the operating efficiency of the Peltier element depends on the heat radiation efficiency of the heat radiation surface thereof, a water cooling circuit is conventionally provided on the heat radiation surface of the Peltier element, and cooling water is flowed through the water cooling circuit. A method has been adopted in which water is circulated by a circulation pump and air-cooled by an external fan.

[0004]

The degree of influence on the cooling performance of the Peltier refrigerator is determined by the following equation: applied voltage of the Peltier element> rotation speed of the external fan> cooling air cooled on the cooling surface of the Peltier element. It has been found that the order of rotation speed of the fan in the refrigerator for circulating indoors> voltage applied to the circulation pump.

Accordingly, the cooling performance of the refrigerator is improved by increasing the applied voltage of the Peltier element having a large influence or by increasing the rotation speed of the external fan, but increasing the applied voltage of the Peltier element. As the power consumption increases, the increase in the rotation speed of the external fan leads to an increase in noise.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a control device for a Peltier-type cooling storage that can achieve both substantial energy saving and noise reduction by controlling the operation of each of these devices according to the time zone. It is.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a Peltier-type cooling storage, which is cooled by a Peltier element for cooling a storage room formed in a heat insulating box and a cooling surface of the Peltier element. An internal fan that circulates cool air into the storage room, a water cooling circuit that cools the heat radiation surface of the Peltier element, a circulation pump that circulates cooling water through the water cooling circuit, and an external fan that air cools the cooling water And control means for controlling the operation of the Peltier element, the internal fan, the circulation pump, and the external fan, and the control means executes a predetermined operation mode based on the time limit means. It is characterized by doing.

[0008] In the Peltier-type cooling storage according to the second aspect of the present invention, in the above, the control means operates the inside fan and the outside fan at low speed during bedtime and reduces the voltage applied to the circulating pump to reduce the Peltier cooling. In addition to executing the first operation mode in which the temperature in the storage compartment is controlled by the voltage applied to the element, the voltage applied to the Peltier element is reduced during periods other than the bedtime, and the internal fan is operated at high speed to circulate. A second operation mode in which the voltage applied to the pump is increased and the temperature in the storage room is controlled by the rotation speed of the external fan is executed.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the Peltier element for cooling the storage room formed in the heat insulating box, and the inside of the refrigerator for circulating the cool air cooled on the cooling surface of the Peltier element into the storage room. In a Peltier-type cooling storage provided with a fan, a water cooling circuit for cooling a heat dissipation surface of the Peltier element, a circulation pump for circulating cooling water in the water cooling circuit, and an external fan for air cooling the cooling water. , A control means for controlling the operation of the Peltier element, the internal fan, the circulation pump and the external fan is provided, and the control means executes a predetermined operation mode based on the time limit means. Accordingly, the operation of the Peltier element, the internal fan, the circulation pump, and the external fan can be controlled in an operation mode suitable for the time zone.

In other words, for example, during sleep time, the internal fan and the external fan are operated at low speed, and the voltage applied to the circulating pump is reduced to store the voltage by applying the voltage to the Peltier element. The first operation mode for controlling the indoor temperature is executed, and at the time other than the bedtime,
The second operation mode in which the voltage applied to the Peltier element is reduced, the internal fan is operated at high speed, the voltage applied to the circulation pump is increased, and the temperature in the storage room is controlled by the rotation speed of the external fan is executed. For example, during the sleeping time when noise reduction is required, the storage room temperature is controlled by the voltage applied to the Peltier device from the first operation mode, and the internal fan and
The noise generated from the external fan and the circulation pump can be reduced.

In a time period other than the bedtime period, the voltage applied to the Peltier element is reduced from the second operation mode.
If the internal fan is operated at a high speed, the voltage applied to the circulation pump is increased, and the temperature of the storage room is controlled by the rotation speed of the external fan, the power consumption of the Peltier element can be reduced to save energy. Become like

[0012] This makes it possible to perform an operation suitable for the time zone according to the time zone, thereby achieving both substantial energy saving and noise reduction for the user.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a Peltier-type cold storage according to the third aspect, wherein the control means stops all operations for a certain period of time or raises the set temperature of the storage room in a time period other than the sleeping time period. The operation mode is executed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above, the control means stops all the operations for a certain period of time or increases the set temperature of the storage room during a period other than the bedtime period. Since the mode is executed, the predetermined period is set as, for example, a hotel check-out time period, thereby eliminating or significantly reducing power consumption in a time period where cooling is substantially unnecessary. Can be realized. This can be very effective especially in hotels.

A Peltier-type cooling storage according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in each of the above-mentioned inventions, includes a door for opening and closing the storage chamber, and a switch for detecting whether the door is opened or closed. If the opening / closing has not been performed for a certain period of time, raise the set temperature of the storage room,
When the rise period is continued for a predetermined time or more, the set temperature is returned to a value before the rise.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above-described inventions, a switch for detecting the opening and closing of the door of the storage room is provided, and the control means controls the opening and closing of the door for a predetermined time or more based on the switch. If not, the set temperature of the storage room is raised, and if the rise period is continued for a predetermined time or more, the set temperature is returned to the value before the rise,
When the door is hardly opened and closed at the time of bedtime, that is, in a situation where the cooling storage is hardly used, the power consumption can be further reduced.

Further, when the rise period is continued for a predetermined time or more, the set temperature is returned to the value before the rise, so that it is possible to prevent the temperature rise due to the abnormality.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above, the control means increases the set temperature stepwise in addition to the above.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above, the control means increases the set temperature stepwise, so that when the door is unexpectedly opened and closed during the increase in the set temperature. Also, it is possible to return to the set temperature before the rise relatively early.

[0020]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a Peltier type cooling storage 1 to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the cooling storage 1. Cooling storage 1 of the embodiment
Is a refrigerator installed in, for example, a guest room of a hotel or a hospital room of a hospital, and has a main body constituted by a housing-like heat-insulating box 2 opening to the front.

The heat-insulating box 2 includes, for example, an inner box 4 made of, for example, a hard resin having an opening on the front surface, an outer box 3 made of a steel plate having an opening on the front surface, and a polyurethane foam-filled between the two boxes 4, 3. It is composed of a heat insulating material 5. A rear panel 9 is provided behind the rear plate 10 of the outer box 3 at a predetermined interval.

Inside the inner box 4 of the heat-insulating box 2, a storage room 7 having an opening 6 on the front surface is formed. On the front surface of the heat-insulating box 2, a heat-insulating door 8 that closes the opening 6 so as to be able to open and close is pivotally supported. A switch 51 (FIG. 2) for detecting opening and closing of the door 8 is attached to the door 8, and the switch 51 is a general-purpose microcomputer 5 as a control means as shown in FIG.
Connected to 0. Also, this microcomputer 50
Is also connected to a temperature sensor 52 mounted in the storage room 7, and the detected temperature in the storage room 7 is transmitted to the microcomputer 50.

A cooling sink 20 is attached to the back wall 4A of the inner box 4 of the storage room 7 in contact with the cooling surface of the Peltier element 23. At the front side of the cooling sink 20, a partition 21 extending from below the cooling sink 20 to the upper part in the storage room 7 is attached at a predetermined distance from the back wall 4 </ b> A of the inner box 4. In the storage room 7 in front of the partition 21, shelves 4 for placing foods and the like are provided.
6 is erected.

A vertically extending cold air duct 22 is formed between the partition 21 and the back wall 4A.
Are located in the cool air duct 22. The upper end of the partition 21 is inclined forward and high, for example, toward the center of the top wall 4B of the inner box 4, and an inclined surface 21A is formed there. A cool air discharge port 45 is formed on the inclined surface 21A. The inside fan 19 is arranged inside the discharge port 45 to
It is attached to 1.

A cold air duct 22 is provided at the lower end of the partition 21.
Is formed, and an upper cold air inlet 47 is formed in the partition wall 21 at a position corresponding to the rear of the shelf 46.

On the other hand, a duct 11 is formed between the back panel 9 and the back plate 10 of the outer box 3. A brine (cooling water) reservoir 14 and a circulating pump are provided below the duct 11. 15 and a fin tube type heat exchanger for heat radiation 1
6 are provided. A heat sink 12 is attached to the heat radiation surface of the Peltier element 23, and the heat sink 12 is located in the heat insulating material 5 and is in contact with the inner surface of the back plate 10.

A cooling water passage 13 formed in the heat sink 12 is connected to the brine reservoir 14, a circulation pump 15 and a fin tube type heat exchanger 16 for heat radiation, thereby forming an annular water cooling circuit. are doing. That is, the cooling water passage 13, the brine reservoir 14, the circulation pump 1
5. The heat-exchanging heat exchangers 16 are connected to each other by pipes to form an annular brine (cooling water) circulation path.

An external fan 17 for air-cooling the heat radiating heat exchanger 16 is mounted above the heat radiating heat exchanger 16. The microcomputer 50 controls the Peltier device 23, the circulation pump 15, the outside fan 17 and the inside fan 19.

On the other hand, the microcomputer 50 comprises:
A timer 53 is connected as a time limit means, and each of the first operation mode, the second operation mode, and the third operation mode can be set for each time zone based on the timer 53. The microcomputer 53 may have the timer 53 as its function.

The microcomputer 50 includes a voltage applied to the Peltier device 23, a voltage applied to the circulation pump 15, the external fan 17, and the internal fan 1 as described later.
9 is controlled. When a DC voltage is applied to the Peltier device 23, a heat absorbing action occurs on the cooling surface of the Peltier device 23, and heat absorbed on the cooling surface is dissipated on the heat dissipation surface. The cooling action in this case changes depending on the applied voltage.

The cooling sink 20 is cooled on the cooling surface of the Peltier element 23, and the cool air that has exchanged heat with the cooling sink 20 is sucked by the fan 19 in the refrigerator and blown out into the storage chamber 7 through the cool air discharge port 45. . Then, the cool air circulated in the storage room 7 and cooled therein returns to the cool air duct 22 from both the suction ports 47 and 48. The amount of cool air circulating in the storage chamber 7 changes according to the rotation speed of the internal fan 19.

On the other hand, on the heat radiation surface of the Peltier element 23, the heat radiation sink 12 is heated to heat the cooling water circulated in the cooling water passage 13 by the circulation pump 15.
Thus, the heat from the heat radiating surface is transferred to the heat radiating heat exchanger 16 via the cooling water. Outside air is passed through the heat exchanger 16 for heat radiation by an external fan 17, and the cooling water is air-cooled here, and then recirculated to the heat sink 1.
Perform a cycle back to 2. This cooling water circulation amount is determined by the circulation pump 1
The cooling capacity of the cooling water in the heat radiation heat exchanger 16 changes according to the rotation speed of the external fan 17.

Next, the operation of switching the operation mode of the cooling storage 1 according to the present invention when it is installed in a guest room of a hotel or the like with the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, mode 1 is an operation mode in a bedtime period, for example, a time period from 0:00 am to 7:00 am. In this mode 1, based on the timer 53, the microcomputer 50 operates the inside fan 19 and the outside fan 17 at a low speed (for example, about 1000 rpm) from midnight to 7:00 am
m). Then, the voltage applied to the circulating pump 15 is reduced (usually 12 V is reduced to 8 V).

The microcomputer 50 controls the voltage applied to the Peltier element 23 on the basis of the output of the sensor 52, so that the temperature in the storage room 7 is, for example, +
Control to a set temperature such as 5 ° C. Accordingly, in such a bedtime, both the fans 17 and 19 are operated at a low speed and the voltage applied to the circulating pump 15 is reduced, so that the noise due to the operation of each device can be reduced.

Next, mode 2 and mode 3 in FIG.
Will be described. Normally, hotel rooms are divided into a check-out time zone and a check-in time zone. During the check-in time, the cooling storage 1 is used, but during the check-out time, the cooling storage 1 is not used. Conceivable.

The microcomputer 50 sets the mode 2 to a check-in time period and a time period other than the bedtime time period, for example, a time period from 7 am to 10 am and a time period from 4 pm to 12 pm Execute. In this mode 2, the microcomputer 50 lowers the voltage applied to the Peltier element 23, and in this state,
9 is a high-speed operation, and the voltage applied to the circulation pump 15 is increased. Then, the temperature inside the storage room 7 is controlled to the set temperature by controlling the rotation speed of the external fan 17.

As a result, the voltage applied to the Peltier device 23 during a time period other than the bedtime period is reduced, so that the power consumption in the Peltier device 23 is reduced.
Since this time zone is not a bedtime zone, both fans 1
Even if 7, 19 or the circulation pump 15 is operated with a large capacity,
It is not uncomfortable for users such as customers.

Next, mode 3 is an operation mode in a check-out time zone, for example, a time zone from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. In this mode 3, the Peltier device 23
The microcomputer 50 stops all operations of the internal fan 19, the external fan 17, and the circulation pump 15. Even without stopping, the microcomputer 50 sets the set temperature in the storage room 7 higher than usual (for example, + 8 ° C. to + 9 ° C.), the Peltier element 23, the inside fan 19, the outside fan 17, the circulation pump 15 May be reduced.

As a result, the operating rate during the check-out period, which is assumed to be infrequently used or not used, is reduced, or the equipment is stopped, so that the power consumption of the entire cooling storage 1 is significantly reduced. Energy saving effect can be improved.

In this embodiment, the case where the apparatus is used in a guest room of a hotel or the like is described. However, the mode 3 is not executed, and the mode 2 is executed from 7:00 am to 24:00 pm. This is suitable when installed in a hospital room.

Next, referring to FIG. 4 or FIG.
The operation control of the cooling storage 1 accompanying the opening and closing of will be described. FIG.
The vertical axis indicates the temperature in the storage room 7 and the horizontal axis indicates the passage of time. The microcomputer 50 includes a switch 51
The microcomputer 50 monitors the opening and closing of the door 8, and if the door 8 has not been opened or closed for a time T1 (for example, 2 hours) since the last opening and closing, the microcomputer 50 adjusts the set temperature in the storage room 7 From the set temperature t1 ° C (+ 5 ° C above) to t
Raise to 2 ° C. This t2 ° C. is a temperature that is, for example, 3 ° C. to 4 ° C. higher than t1 ° C.

Then, from the time when the set temperature is raised to t2 ° C., for a time T2 (for example,
(Time to 6 hours), the microcomputer 50 returns the set temperature to the initial setting temperature t1 ° C. before the rise. If the opening and closing of the door 8 is detected by the switch 51 before the time T2 elapses, the microcomputer 50 immediately returns the set temperature in the storage room 7 to the initial set temperature t1 ° C.

Thus, when the door 8 is not opened or closed for a certain period of time or more, the set temperature is set higher than the normal set temperature, so that the power consumption of the entire cooling storage 1 is reduced.

Next, FIG. 5 shows an example in which the set temperature in FIG. 4 is increased stepwise. That is, in FIG. 5, when the door 8 is not opened and closed for the T1 time, the time T3 is a time shorter than the time T2 (for example, 2 hours), and the temperature t3 ° C. which is lower than the time t2 ° C. Value)
Increase the set temperature.

If the time T3 has elapsed, the time t4
° C (a value increased by, for example, 2 ° C from t3 ° C), and when this T3 time has elapsed, the temperature is further increased to t5 ° C.
The set temperature is increased to (a value increased by, for example, 2 ° C. from t4 ° C.). And when this T3 time has passed,
The microcomputer 50 sets the initial installation temperature t before the rise.
Return the set temperature to 1 ° C.

When the opening / closing of the door 8 is detected by the switch 51 during the stepwise increase in the set temperature, the microcomputer 50 immediately returns the set temperature in the storage room 7 to the initial set temperature t1 ° C.

The temperature inside the storage room 7 can be set higher than the normal temperature if the door 8 is not opened or closed for a certain period of time or more. Can be reduced. Particularly, in this case, since the set temperature is increased stepwise, even if the door 8 is unexpectedly opened while the set temperature is rising, the set temperature can be immediately returned to the initial set temperature. , And the temperature return is quick.

[0048]

As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the Peltier element for cooling the storage room formed in the heat insulating box, and the cool air cooled on the cooling surface of the Peltier element. An internal fan circulating in the storage room, a water cooling circuit for cooling the radiating surface of the Peltier element, a circulating pump for circulating cooling water in the water cooling circuit, and an external fan for air cooling the cooling water. In the provided Peltier-type cooling storage, a control means for controlling the operation of the Peltier element, the internal fan, the circulation pump and the external fan is provided, and the control means executes a predetermined operation mode based on the time limit means. As a result, the operation of the Peltier element, the internal fan, the circulation pump, and the external fan can be controlled in an operation mode suitable for the time zone according to the time zone.

That is, for example, during the bedtime, the internal fan and the external fan are operated at low speed, and the voltage applied to the circulating pump is reduced to store the voltage by applying the voltage to the Peltier device. The first operation mode for controlling the indoor temperature is executed, and at the time other than the bedtime,
The second operation mode in which the voltage applied to the Peltier element is reduced, the internal fan is operated at high speed, the voltage applied to the circulation pump is increased, and the temperature in the storage room is controlled by the rotation speed of the external fan is executed. For example, during the sleeping time when noise reduction is required, the storage room temperature is controlled by the voltage applied to the Peltier device from the first operation mode, and the internal fan and
The noise generated from the external fan and the circulation pump can be reduced.

In a time period other than the bedtime period, the voltage applied to the Peltier device is reduced from the second operation mode.
If the internal fan is operated at a high speed, the voltage applied to the circulation pump is increased, and the temperature of the storage room is controlled by the rotation speed of the external fan, the power consumption of the Peltier element can be reduced to save energy. Become like

As a result, it is possible to perform an operation suitable for the time zone according to the time zone, thereby achieving both substantial energy saving and noise reduction for the user.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above, the control means stops all the operations for a certain period of time in a time period other than the sleeping time period, or increases the set temperature of the storage room. Since the mode is executed, the predetermined period is set as, for example, a hotel check-out time period, thereby eliminating or significantly reducing power consumption in a time period where cooling is substantially unnecessary. Can be realized. This can be very effective especially in hotels.

According to the invention of claim 4, in addition to the above-mentioned inventions, a switch for detecting the opening and closing of the door of the storage room is provided, and the control means controls the opening and closing of the door for a predetermined time or more based on this switch. If not, the set temperature of the storage room is raised, and if the rise period is continued for a predetermined time or more, the set temperature is returned to the value before the rise,
When the door is hardly opened and closed at the time of bedtime, that is, in a situation where the cooling storage is hardly used, the power consumption can be further reduced.

When the rise period is continued for a predetermined time or more, the set temperature is returned to the value before the rise, so that it is possible to prevent the temperature rise due to the abnormality.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above, the control means increases the set temperature stepwise, so that when the door is unexpectedly opened and closed during the increase in the set temperature. Also, it is possible to return to the set temperature before the rise relatively early.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view of a cooling storage to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of a cooling storage.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating control of mode 1 to mode 3 by a microcomputer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a transition of a storage room temperature by control based on opening and closing of a door by a microcomputer.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a change in the storage room temperature by another control based on the opening and closing of the door by the microcomputer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cooling storage room 8 Door 15 Circulation pump 17 Outside fan 19 Inside fan 23 Peltier element 50 Microcomputer 51 Switch 52 Sensor 53 Timer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Junichi Kubota 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Kenji Nojima 2-5-2, Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ken Yamada 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka F-term in Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. 3L045 AA02 BA01 CA02 DA04 EA01 FA02 LA10 LA11 LA12 MA11 MA15 NA15 NA16 PA01 PA02 PA04

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A Peltier device for cooling a storage room formed in a heat insulating box, a fan in a refrigerator for circulating cool air cooled on a cooling surface of the Peltier device into the storage room, and a Peltier device. A water cooling circuit for cooling the heat radiating surface, and a circulation pump for circulating cooling water in the water cooling circuit,
In a Peltier-type cooling storage provided with an external fan for air-cooling the cooling water, the Peltier device, an internal fan, a circulating pump, and a control unit for controlling operation of the external fan are provided, and the control unit includes: A control device for a Peltier-type cooling storage, wherein a predetermined operation mode is executed based on timed means. 2. The control means controls the internal fan and the external fan to operate at a low speed during a bedtime, lowers the voltage applied to the circulating pump, and controls the temperature in the storage room by the voltage applied to the Peltier device. While executing the first operation mode, during a time period other than the bedtime period, the voltage applied to the Peltier element is reduced, the internal fan is operated at high speed, and the voltage applied to the circulation pump is increased. 2. The control device for a Peltier-type cooling storage according to claim 1, wherein a second operation mode for controlling the temperature of the storage room based on the rotation speed of the external fan is executed. 3. 3. The control means according to claim 3, wherein during a time period other than the bedtime time period, all operations are stopped for a certain period or a third operation mode for increasing a set temperature of the storage room is executed. Item 2. A control device for a Peltier-type cold storage according to Item 2. 4. A door for opening and closing the storage room, and a switch for detecting the opening and closing of the door, wherein the control means, based on the switch, stores the door when the opening and closing of the door has not been performed for a predetermined time or more. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the set temperature of the room is increased, and when the increase period is continued for a predetermined time or more, the set temperature is returned to a value before the increase. Control device for Peltier cooling storage. 5. The control device for a Peltier-type cooling storage according to claim 4, wherein the control means increases the set temperature stepwise.