JP2000329414A - Hybrid refrigerating machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerating machine, which can be operated with a refrigerant of low critical temperature. SOLUTION: This refrigerating machine compresses a refrigerant vaporized by an evaporator 14 by a compressor 11 and sends it to a condenser 12. The condenser 12 cools and condenses the vaporized refrigerant from the compressor to the liquid refrigerant. The condensed high-pressure liquid refrigerant is decompressed through an expansion valve 13 and sent out to the evaporator 14. The low-pressure evaporator 14 absorbs heat from the surrounding environment by the evaporation of the liquid refrigerant. A refrigerating cycle comprises them and the inside 31a of a box body 31 with a lid is cooled to a predetermined temperature by the evaporator 14. The heat absorbing junction side of a thermoelectric cooler 21 is brought into thermal contact with the condenser 12 of the refrigerating cycle. The thermoelectric cooler 21 cools the condenser 12 of the refrigerating cycle to a temperature below the critical temperature of the used refrigerant by current from a power supply 22. Therefore, the condenser 12 can be kept at lower temperature and the refrigerant of the lower critical temperature can be used.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hybrid refrigerator in which an evaporator of a refrigeration cycle is cooled by a thermoelectric element so that a refrigerant having a low critical temperature can be used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant is condensed and liquefied and cooled by the evaporation heat, the refrigerant cannot be condensed unless the refrigerant has a critical temperature or lower. Therefore, in a refrigerant having a low critical temperature, cooling of the condenser becomes a problem. In particular, when using ethane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide gas, or other refrigerants whose critical temperature is about the same as the ambient temperature, it is necessary to take special measures such as cooling the condenser with water. However, performing water cooling or the like has problems in terms of equipment and cost, and cannot be used as a home refrigerator or the like.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a hybrid refrigerator capable of using a refrigerant having a low critical temperature.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems A compressor for compressing and sending vapor refrigerant evaporated by an evaporator, a condenser for cooling and condensing the vapor refrigerant sent from the compressor, A refrigeration cycle consisting of an expansion valve that sends high-pressure liquid refrigerant to a low-pressure evaporator, an evaporator that cools the surroundings by evaporating the liquid refrigerant sent through the expansion valve, and two junctions that absorb or release heat depending on the direction of current. A thermoelectric cooler composed of a thermoelectric element having a portion, and a configuration in which a junction for absorbing heat of the thermoelectric cooler is brought into thermal contact with a condenser of the refrigeration cycle and heat is radiated from the other junction, and a condenser of the refrigeration cycle is provided. The temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature.

[0005] The refrigeration cycle includes ethane, nitrous oxide,
Carbon dioxide or other refrigerants whose critical temperature is approximately the same as the ambient temperature are used.

[0006] The hybrid refrigerator is used for a refrigerator installed indoors.

A temperature detector for detecting the temperature of the condenser and a current controller for controlling the value of the current supplied to the thermoelectric element based on the temperature are provided to keep the temperature of the condenser at a predetermined temperature or lower.

The thermoelectric cooler is provided in thermal contact with only the portion of the condenser on the expansion valve side.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of one embodiment of a hybrid refrigerator according to the present invention. It is assumed that the inside 31a of the closed box 31 made of a heat insulating material or the like is cooled to a predetermined temperature using a hybrid refrigerator. In the compressor 11, the vapor refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator 14 is compressed and sent to the condenser 12. In the condenser 12, the vapor refrigerant sent from the compressor is cooled and condensed to be a liquid refrigerant. The condensed high-pressure liquid refrigerant is reduced in pressure through the expansion valve 13 and sent to the evaporator 14. In the low-pressure evaporator 14, the liquid refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat from the surroundings. Thus, a refrigeration cycle is formed, and the inside 31a of the closed box 31 is cooled to a predetermined temperature by the evaporator 14. The junction side of the thermoelectric cooler 21 that absorbs heat is brought into thermal contact with the condenser 12 of the refrigeration cycle. The thermoelectric cooler 21 is composed of a thermoelectric element having two junctions that absorb or radiate heat depending on the direction of current.
With the current from 2, the condenser 12 of the refrigeration cycle is cooled to below the critical temperature of the refrigerant used. By configuring the hybrid refrigerator as described above, the temperature of the condenser 12 can be lowered, and a refrigerant having a low critical temperature can be used.

[0010] As the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle, ethane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide gas and other refrigerants whose critical temperature is about the same as the ambient temperature are used. Thereby, the range of selection of the refrigerant can be expanded, and it is possible to select an appropriate refrigerant according to the purpose of reducing pollution. The hybrid refrigerator is used for a refrigerator installed indoors. Thus, a refrigerator using a low-pollution refrigerant such as carbon dioxide can be obtained.

The power supply section 22 has a temperature detecting section 23 for detecting the temperature of the condenser 12 and a thermoelectric cooler 21 based on the temperature.
And a current control unit for controlling a current value supplied to the thermoelectric element. Thereby, the temperature of the condenser 12 is set to a predetermined temperature or lower which is lower than the critical temperature of the refrigerant to be used. The condenser 1
When 2 has a temperature gradient, a thermoelectric cooler 21 may be attached to a part of the condenser 12. In this case, the thermoelectric cooler 21 is provided so as to be in thermal contact with only the expansion valve side portion 12b of the condenser 12, and
By cooling the opposite side 12a having a higher temperature with air, the coefficient of performance of the entire hybrid refrigerator can be improved.

[0012]

As described above, a compressor for compressing and sending vapor refrigerant evaporated from an evaporator, a condenser for cooling and condensing the vapor refrigerant sent from the compressor, An expansion valve that sends high-pressure liquid refrigerant from the device to a low-pressure evaporator, and a refrigeration cycle consisting of an evaporator that evaporates the liquid refrigerant sent through the expansion valve and cools the surroundings.
A thermoelectric cooler comprising a thermoelectric element having two junctions for absorbing or releasing heat depending on the direction of current is provided, and the junction for absorbing heat of the thermoelectric cooler is brought into thermal contact with a condenser of a refrigeration cycle, and the other junction. By setting the temperature of the condenser of the refrigeration cycle to a predetermined temperature or less, it is possible to use even a refrigerant having a low critical temperature, the range of selection of the refrigerant is expanded, for example, air-cooled low-pollution refrigerant is used. It can also be used for refrigerators that condense.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of one embodiment of a hybrid refrigerator according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Compressor 12 Condenser 13 Expansion valve 14 Evaporator 21 Thermoelectric cooler 22 Power supply part 23 Temperature detection part 31 Covered box

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A compressor for compressing and sending vapor refrigerant evaporated from an evaporator, a condenser for cooling and condensing the vapor refrigerant sent from the compressor, and a high-pressure liquid refrigerant from the condenser. Refrigeration cycle consisting of an expansion valve that sends air to a low-pressure evaporator, an evaporator that cools the surroundings by evaporating liquid refrigerant sent through the expansion valve, and a thermoelectric device that has two joints that absorb or radiate heat depending on the direction of current. A thermoelectric cooler composed of elements is provided, and a junction for absorbing heat of the thermoelectric cooler is brought into thermal contact with the condenser of the refrigeration cycle and heat is radiated from the other junction. A hybrid refrigerator having a temperature of not more than a temperature. 2. The hybrid refrigerating machine according to claim 1, wherein the refrigeration cycle uses ethane, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, or another refrigerant having a critical temperature of about the same temperature. 3. The hybrid refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein said hybrid refrigerator is used for a refrigerator installed indoors. 4. A temperature detector for detecting a temperature of the condenser;
2. The hybrid refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a current controller for controlling a current value supplied to the thermoelectric element based on the temperature, and controlling a temperature of the condenser to a predetermined temperature or lower. 5. The thermoelectric cooler is provided in thermal contact with only a portion of the condenser on the expansion valve side.
The hybrid refrigerator as described.