JP2000283586A - Regenerative air conditioner and operation control therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure reduction of electric power consumption. SOLUTION: A regenerative air conditioner comprises refrigerant piping in which an outdoor unit, a regenerative unit and one or more outdoor unit are connected so as to utilize heat, which has been stored during night time, for day time air conditioning. Specifically, the air conditioner comprises a first regenerative unit 2a for passing refrigerant which has been transferred from an outdoor unit 1 to indoor units 3a, 3b during the operation of a compressor 4, and comprises a second regenerative unit 2b for passing the refrigerant which is returning to a liquid refrigerant pump 16 from the indoor units 3a, 3b during the operation of the pump 1. The individual regenerative units 2a, 2b are connected parallel between the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor units 3a, 3b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a regenerative air conditioner and an operation control method thereof, and more particularly to a regenerative air conditioner suitable for reduction of power consumption during daytime and an operation control method thereof. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In particular, since power consumption increases rapidly during the daytime in the middle of summer, heat is stored during a time period when power consumption at night is low and power rates are low, and this heat is used during the daytime to consume power during the daytime. To reduce the power consumption during the night and day, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-4721,
A regenerative air conditioner disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-311585 has been proposed.

[0003] These regenerative air conditioners include a normal (non-thermal type) refrigeration cycle for connecting an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, and a regenerative refrigeration cycle for connecting a heat storage tank and the indoor unit. It is configured to switch between a normal operation mode and an operation mode using heat storage at a preset time.

[0004] Therefore, it is possible to suppress the power consumption during the time when the power consumption reaches a peak, and to contribute to the leveling during the day and night.

[0005]

However, in a normal operation mode performed before and after the operation mode using heat storage, the power consumption is not reduced, so that the power consumption of the heat storage type air conditioner is reduced. Was not always sufficient.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a regenerative air conditioner capable of reliably reducing power consumption and a method of controlling the operation thereof.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application is to connect an outdoor unit, a heat storage unit, and one or more indoor units by a refrigerant pipe. A heat storage type air conditioner in which heat stored at night is used for air conditioning in daytime, wherein a first heat storage for passing a refrigerant sent from the outdoor unit toward the indoor unit during operation of the compressor. A unit, and a second heat storage unit that allows the refrigerant returning from the indoor unit to the refrigerant liquid pump to pass during operation of the refrigerant liquid pump,
Each of the heat storage units was connected in parallel between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a compressor, and an outdoor heat exchanger connected to a discharge side of the compressor.
A first heat storage flow control valve connected to the outdoor heat exchanger; a first heat storage heat exchanger connected to the heat storage flow control valve and disposed in the first heat storage tank; A check valve connected to the compressor, a plurality of indoor flow control valves connected in parallel to the check valve, and individually connected to these indoor flow control valves, and an outlet connected to the suction side of the compressor. First opening / closing connected between the plurality of indoor heat exchangers, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the first heat storage flow control valve, and between the indoor heat exchanger and the suction side of the compressor. A valve, a second heat storage flow control valve connected between the outdoor heat exchanger and the first opening / closing valve, and a second heat storage flow control valve connected to the heat storage flow control valve and arranged in the second heat storage tank. 2, a refrigerant liquid pump connected to the heat storage heat exchanger, a discharge side of the refrigerant liquid pump, the check valve, and the chamber. A second on-off valve connected between the refrigerant liquid pump and the second on-off valve, between the discharge side of the refrigerant liquid pump, the check valve, and the indoor flow regulating valve; A third on-off valve connected in parallel; a fourth on-off valve connected between the first heat storage heat exchanger and the check valve and between the indoor heat exchanger and the suction side of the compressor. And a fifth on-off valve connected between the second heat storage heat exchanger and the refrigerant liquid pump and between the indoor heat exchanger and the suction side of the compressor.

The invention described in claim 3 is the same as the invention in claim 2
In the invention described in (1), the refrigerant liquid pump, the second on-off valve, and the third on-off valve are configured as one unit.

Further, according to the present invention, the refrigerant is circulated between the first heat storage unit, which passes the refrigerant sent from the outdoor unit and sends it to the indoor unit, and a refrigerant liquid pump between the first heat storage unit and the indoor unit. A method for controlling the operation of a regenerative air conditioner in which a second heat storage unit is provided and the respective heat storage units are connected in parallel between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. Before the operation, the compressor was always operated, and the subcooled liquid refrigerant was supplied to the refrigerant liquid pump through the second heat storage heat exchanger.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a regenerative air conditioner according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a time course and an operation pattern of the regenerative air conditioner in FIG. 1, and FIG. 1 is an outdoor unit. 2a is a first heat storage unit,
2b is a second heat storage unit, which is connected to the outdoor unit 1 in parallel. 3a and 3b are indoor units, which are connected to the outdoor unit 1 in parallel. Reference numeral 4 denotes a compressor, which is arranged in the outdoor unit 1. A refrigerant liquid pump 16 is attached to the second heat storage unit 2b.

Reference numeral 26 denotes time setting means for setting a current time, a start time and a switching time of air conditioning by compressor operation and air conditioning by refrigerant liquid operation, a start time of heat storage operation, and the like. Numeral 21 denotes a time counting means for measuring the current time and transmitting a switching signal when the time set in the time setting means 26 comes. A switching unit 22 switches between air conditioning by the compressor operation and air conditioning by the refrigerant liquid pump based on a switching signal from the timing unit.

With such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, for example, at 22:00, the heat storage operation for operating the compressor 4 of the outdoor unit 1 is started. At this time, the refrigerant condensed into a liquid state in the outdoor unit 1 is the first liquid refrigerant.
Is evaporated in the heat storage unit 2a and the second heat storage unit 2b, and the refrigerant in each of the heat storage units 2a and 2b (for example,
The water (water) is cooled (ice-formed) to become a gas-phase refrigerant and returned to the compressor 4.

At 8:00 the next morning, the operation is switched to the heat storage operation in which the compressor 4 is operated. At this time, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant sent from the outdoor unit 1 becomes a liquid refrigerant supercooled by the first heat storage unit 2a, and becomes a liquid refrigerant.
a and 3b, and exchanges heat with the indoor air to cool the room and return to the outdoor unit 1 as a gas-phase refrigerant.

At 13:00, the compressor 4 of the outdoor unit 1 is stopped, the refrigerant liquid pump 16 attached to the second heat storage unit 2b is operated, and the operation is switched to the heat storage utilization operation by the refrigerant liquid pump 16. At this time, the refrigerant circulates through the second heat storage unit 2b and the indoor units 3a and 3b, and is supercooled by the second heat storage unit 2b.

At 16:00, the second heat storage unit 2b
The ice stored in the inside is almost completely used up, the refrigerant liquid pump 16 is stopped, and the cooling operation by the compressor 4 is started again.

As described above, the cooling operation is performed by the refrigerant liquid pump 16 which consumes a small amount of electric power, particularly during the period from 13:00 to 16:00 when the electric power consumption in the summer season shows a peak value. The value can be kept low.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of the refrigeration cycle in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a switching operation of the compressor and the refrigerant liquid pump. It is a figure which shows the driving pattern at the time.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 4 denotes a compressor. An outdoor heat exchanger 5 is connected to the discharge side of the compressor 4. 6 is the first
Is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 5. Reference numeral 7 denotes a first heat storage heat exchanger, which is disposed in the first heat storage tank 8 and is connected to the heat storage flow control valve 6. A check valve 9 is connected to the heat storage heat exchanger 7. 10a, 10
b is an indoor flow control valve, which is connected to the check valve 9 in parallel. 11a and 11b are indoor heat exchangers connected to the indoor flow rate control valves 10a and 10b, respectively. The indoor heat exchangers 11a and 11b are connected to the suction side of the compressor 4.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a first on-off valve, which is connected between the outdoor heat exchanger 5 and the heat storage flow control valve 6 and between the indoor heat exchangers 11a and 11b and the compressor 4. Reference numeral 13 denotes a second heat storage flow control valve, which is connected between the outdoor heat exchanger 5 and the on-off valve 12. Reference numeral 14 denotes a second heat storage heat exchanger which is arranged in the second heat storage tank 15 and connected to the heat storage flow control valve 13.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a refrigerant liquid pump, which is a heat storage heat exchanger 14.
It is connected to the. Reference numeral 17 denotes a second opening / closing valve, which is the discharge side of the refrigerant liquid pump 16, the check valve 9, and the indoor flow rate regulating valves 10a, 1a.
0b. Reference numeral 18 denotes a third on-off valve, which is provided between the heat storage heat exchanger 14 and the refrigerant liquid pump 16 and between the check valve 9 and the indoor flow regulating valves 10a and 10b.
And the on-off valve 17 are connected in parallel.

A fourth opening / closing valve 19 is provided between the heat storage heat exchanger 7 and the check valve 9, the indoor heat exchangers 11a and 11b and the compressor 4
Connected between Reference numeral 20 denotes a fifth on-off valve which is provided between the heat storage heat exchanger 14 and the refrigerant liquid pump 16 and between the indoor heat exchanger 11
a, 11 b and the compressor 4.

With such a configuration, when storing heat in the heat storage tank 8 and the heat storage tank 15, the heat storage flow control valves 6, 13 and the opening / closing valves 12, 19, 20 are opened, and the indoor flow control valve 10 is opened.
Compressor 4 is operated with a, 10b and on-off valves 12, 17 closed.

Then, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 4 is:
The condensed gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant passes through the outdoor heat exchanger 5 and is supplied to the heat storage heat exchangers 7 and 14 from the heat storage flow rate regulating valves 6 and 13 and exchanges heat with the water in the heat storage tanks 8 and 14. The water in the heat storage tanks 8 and 14 is frozen to make ice, and is evaporated to be a gas-phase refrigerant. The refrigerant is returned to the suction side of the compressor 4 through the on-off valves 19 and 20.

Further, during the heat storage operation, the heat storage amount (temperature) is detected by a sensor (not shown) attached to each of the heat storage tanks 8 and 14, and connected to the heat storage tanks 8 and 14 which have reached a predetermined temperature. The heat storage flow control valves 6 and 13 are closed. The heat storage operation is continued for the heat storage tanks 8 and 14 that have not reached the predetermined heat storage amount. When all the heat storage tanks 8 and 14 reach a predetermined heat storage amount, the operation of the compressor 4 is stopped and the apparatus stands by.

When the heat storage utilizing operation by the compressor 4 is performed, the heat storage flow control valve 6 and the indoor flow control valve 10a,
10b, open the heat storage flow control valve 13, the on-off valve 12,
Compressor 4 is operated with 7, 18, 19, and 20 closed.

Then, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 4 is
A liquid that is condensed through the outdoor heat exchanger 5 to be a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant is sent from the heat storage flow control valve 6 to the heat storage heat exchanger 7, further cooled by the heat storage heat exchanger 7, and supercooled. It becomes a phase refrigerant. Then, it passes through the check valve 9 and the indoor flow control valve 10
a, 10b, flows into the indoor heat exchangers 11a, 11b and exchanges heat with the indoor air to become a gaseous refrigerant, and
Is returned to the suction side.

When the heat storage utilization operation is performed by the refrigerant liquid pump 16, the heat storage flow control valve 13, the indoor flow control valves 10a and 10b, and the on-off valves 12 and 17 are opened, and the heat storage flow control valve 6 and the on-off valve 18 are opened. , 19, and 20 are closed, and the refrigerant liquid pump 16 is operated.

Then, the refrigerant supercooled and liquefied by the ice in the heat storage tank 15 is discharged from the refrigerant liquid pump 16,
The air flows into the indoor heat exchangers 11a and 11b from the indoor flow control valves 10a and 10b through the open / close valve 17, and exchanges heat with the indoor air. As a gaseous refrigerant, the refrigerant passes through the open / close valve 12 and the heat storage flow control valve 13. And returned to the heat storage heat exchanger 14.

When switching from the operation using heat storage by the compressor 4 to the operation using heat storage by the refrigerant liquid pump 16, the operation and stop of the compressor 4 and the refrigerant liquid pump 16, and the opening and closing of the heat storage flow control valves 6 and 13 are performed. Opening and closing of the valves 12, 17, 18 is performed over a required time as shown in FIG.

When a switching signal is applied from the switching means 22 in FIG. 1 while the compressor 4 is performing the heat storage operation, first, the heat storage flow control valve 13 and the third on-off valve 18 are opened. Is done.

Then, the heat storage flow control valve 6 passes through the heat storage heat exchanger 7 and the check valve 9 and passes through the indoor flow control valves 10a and 10a.
A part of the refrigerant flowing toward 0b is diverted from the heat storage flow control valve 13 to the heat storage heat exchanger 14, and the refrigerant liquid pump 16
To the subcooled liquid refrigerant. A part of the liquid refrigerant supercooled by the heat storage heat exchanger 14 passes through the on-off valve 18 and joins the refrigerant from the heat storage heat exchanger 7. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an excessive pressure from being applied to the suction side of the refrigerant liquid pump 16.

When a predetermined time has elapsed since the heat storage flow control valve 13 was opened, the second on-off valve 17 is opened, the third on-off valve 18 is closed, and the refrigerant liquid pump 16 is operated. And sends out the liquid refrigerant supplied to the suction side. At the same time, the compressor 4 stops, the heat storage flow control valve 6 closes,
The first on-off valve 12 opens.

Then, the liquid refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant liquid pump 16 is supplied to the on-off valve 17, the indoor flow rate adjusting valves 10a, 10b.
Through the indoor heat exchangers 11a and 11b.

At this time, when the refrigerant liquid pump 16 is operated, the pressure in the pipe on the suction side of the refrigerant liquid pump 16 is temporarily reduced, but cavitation (bubble generation) occurs because the refrigerant liquid is supercooled. Can be prevented.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention and is a configuration diagram of a refrigerant liquid pump unit.

In the figure, reference numeral 16 denotes a refrigerant liquid pump. 17
Is a second on-off valve, which is connected in series to the refrigerant liquid pump 16. Reference numeral 18 denotes a third opening / closing valve, which is connected in parallel with the refrigerant liquid pump 16 and the opening / closing valve 17.

Reference numeral 23 denotes a signal receiving means for receiving a switching signal from the switching means 22 in FIG. 24 is a signal processing means for processing the signal received by the signal receiving means 23 and setting the operation timing of the refrigerant liquid pump 16 and the on-off valves 17 and 18. Reference numeral 25 denotes a driving unit that drives the refrigerant liquid pump 16 and the on-off valves 17 and 18 based on the timing set by the signal processing unit 24.

By using the refrigerant liquid pump unit having such a configuration, it is possible to easily perform the work on the installation site of the regenerative air conditioner.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention, the refrigerant passes through the heat storage tank not only at the time of operating the refrigerant liquid pump but also at the time of air conditioning by operating the compressor.
The output of the compressor can be reduced, and power consumption during compressor operation can be reduced. Therefore, the power consumption of the regenerative air conditioner can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a regenerative air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a lapse of time and an operation pattern of the regenerative air conditioner in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a refrigeration cycle in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation pattern when the operation of the compressor and the refrigerant liquid pump is switched.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a refrigerant liquid pump unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 outdoor unit, 2a, 2b heat storage unit, 3a,
3b ... indoor unit, 4 ... compressor, 5 ... outdoor heat exchanger,
6: heat storage flow control valve, 7: heat storage heat exchanger, 8: heat storage tank,
9: check valve, 10a, 10b: indoor flow rate control valve, 11
a, 11b: indoor heat exchanger, 12: on-off valve, 13:
Heat storage flow control valve, 14: heat storage heat exchanger, 15: heat storage tank,
16: Refrigerant liquid pump, 17: On-off valve, 18: On-off valve, 1
9 opening / closing valve, 20 opening / closing valve, 21 timing means, 22 switching means, 23 signal receiving means, 24 signal processing means, 2
5: driving means, 26: time setting means.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A regenerative air conditioner in which an outdoor unit, a heat storage unit, and one or more indoor units are connected by a refrigerant pipe, and heat stored at night is used for air conditioning in daytime. A first passage that allows the refrigerant sent from the outdoor unit to the indoor unit to pass during operation of the compressor.
A second heat storage unit for passing a refrigerant returning from the indoor unit to the refrigerant liquid pump during operation of the refrigerant liquid pump.
Wherein the heat storage units are connected in parallel between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. 2. A compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger connected to a discharge side of the compressor, and a first heat exchanger connected to the outdoor heat exchanger.
Heat storage flow control valve, and connected to this heat storage flow control valve,
A first heat storage heat exchanger disposed in the first heat storage tank, a check valve connected to the heat storage heat exchanger, and a plurality of indoor flow control valves connected in parallel to the check valve. A plurality of indoor heat exchangers individually connected to these indoor flow rate control valves, the outlets of which are connected to the suction side of the compressor, and between the outdoor heat exchanger and the first heat storage flow rate control valve. A first on-off valve connected between the indoor heat exchanger and a suction side of the compressor;
A second heat storage flow control valve connected between the outdoor heat exchanger and the first opening / closing valve; and a second heat storage connected to the heat storage flow control valve and arranged in a second heat storage tank. A heat exchanger, a refrigerant liquid pump connected to the heat storage heat exchanger, a second on-off valve connected between the discharge side of the refrigerant liquid pump, the check valve, and the indoor flow regulating valve, A third on-off valve connected in parallel with the refrigerant liquid pump and a second on-off valve between a discharge side of the refrigerant liquid pump, the check valve, and the indoor flow rate regulating valve; A fourth on-off valve connected between the heat exchanger and the check valve and between the indoor heat exchanger and the suction side of the compressor; and a fourth on-off valve between the second heat storage heat exchanger and the refrigerant liquid pump. A regenerative air conditioner comprising a fifth on-off valve connected between the indoor heat exchanger and the suction side of the compressor. 3. The regenerative air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the refrigerant liquid pump, the second on-off valve and the third on-off valve are integrally formed as one refrigerant liquid pump unit. . 4. A first heat storage unit for passing a refrigerant sent from an outdoor unit and sending it to an indoor unit, and a second heat storage unit for circulating a refrigerant between the indoor unit and a refrigerant liquid pump. An operation control method for a heat storage type air conditioner in which each of the heat storage units is connected in parallel between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, wherein the compressor is always operated before starting the operation of the refrigerant liquid pump. ,
An operation control method for a regenerative air conditioner, wherein a subcooled liquid refrigerant is supplied to a refrigerant liquid pump through the second heat storage heat exchanger.