JP2001074280A - Air conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To satisfactorily cool a refrigerant liquid pump irrespective of its mounting position. SOLUTION: The present air conditioning apparatus is adapted such that a discharge side piping 12 of a refrigerant liquid pump 11 is connected with a pump cooling passage 11' in a housing of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 through a capillary tube 25. An oil drawing tube 11e is connected with a low pressure side piping 19 of the refrigerant liquid pump through a check valve and a piping 23. A liquid refrigerant is directly injected from a discharge side of the liquid pump into a pump cooling passage in a housing and a liquid level is kept unchanged to prevent abnormal heating and bearing weariness. Further, arrangement in the figure B can keep the liquid level over a wide range.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner using ice heat storage, and more particularly, to cooling of a liquid refrigerant pump motor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows a conventional refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner using ice heat storage. In this method, ice is produced and heat is stored, that is, cold is stored, and the cooled ice cools a refrigerant to be sent to a heat exchanger for cooling indoor air. In an ice making operation generally performed at night, the on-off valve 50 is closed, and the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed by the compressor 1 enters the outdoor heat exchanger 2 and is radiated and condensed to become a high-pressure liquid refrigerant.
Through the pipe joint 4 and the on-off valve 5 and into the ice making expansion valve 6.

[0003] The refrigerant decompresses and expands here to become a low-pressure refrigerant and enters the ice making heat exchanger 7a of the heat storage tank 7, and exchanges heat with water to cool the water and make ice. The ice produced by the ice making operation is a fraction of the whole water and is made on the surface of the ice making heat exchanger 7a. The gas refrigerant evaporated by heat exchange with water is sucked into the compressor 1 through the check valve 8 and the pipe joint 10 and is compressed.

At the time of cooling operation generally performed in the daytime using ice made at night, water in the heat storage tank 7 is circulated to the water heat exchanger 20 by the water pump 24. The refrigerant liquefied in the water heat exchanger 20 passes through the pipe 21 and is a refrigerant liquid pump 1
The pressure rises from the suction pipe 11a into the piston / cylinder section 11c and is discharged from the discharge pipe 11b. The liquid refrigerant having the increased pressure passes through the discharge side pipe 12 and the pipe joint 13,
The refrigerant is decompressed and expanded by the indoor cooling throttle 14, becomes a low-pressure refrigerant, and enters the indoor heat exchanger 15, where it exchanges heat with indoor air and cools (cools) it. The low-pressure refrigerant that has absorbed heat from the indoor air evaporates to become a gas refrigerant (partially unevaporated), exits the indoor heat exchanger 15, passes through the pipe joint 16, the pipe 9, and enters the accumulator 17. Here, the unevaporated refrigerant is separated,
The gas refrigerant passes through the check valve 18 and the pipe 19, enters the lowest temperature water heat exchanger 20, and is cooled and condensed. As described above, the gas refrigerant is cooled by the ice produced at night to convert the gas refrigerant into liquid refrigerant in the daytime, and the refrigerant liquid pump 11 performs cooling for sending to the indoor unit, thereby enabling power-saving cooling without operating the compressor 1.

[0005]

A piston / cylinder unit 1 for increasing the pressure of a sucked liquid refrigerant is provided in a refrigerant liquid pump 11.
1c and a motor unit 11d for driving the same. A thin cooling passage 11 'in the pump connected to the liquid drain pipe 11e is provided around the motor part 11d, and a part of the refrigerant in the piston / cylinder part 11c flows to lower the temperature of the motor part 11d. Further, abnormal heat generation and bearing wear of the motor portion 11d are prevented. The liquid drain pipe 11 e is connected to a low-pressure pipe 19 of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 via a check valve 22 and a pipe 23. With the above structure, the amount of liquid refrigerant flowing into the cooling passage 11 ′ in the pump changes due to the pressure difference between the piston / cylinder portion 11c and the housing, so that the indoor heat exchanger 15 In the case of installation (reverse head installation), the pressure difference on the discharge side of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 decreases, so that the pressure difference becomes too small, and there is a problem that the motor unit 11d cannot be cooled sufficiently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of sufficiently cooling regardless of the location of a refrigerant liquid pump.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a cold heat producing means for producing cold heat, a cold accumulating means for accumulating the produced cold heat, and a refrigerant liquid pump for guiding the cold energy stored in the cold accumulating means. A cold storage heat exchanger that cools the refrigerant sent to the indoor air cooling heat exchanger, and a refrigerant gas-liquid separation unit that separates the refrigerant after heat exchange in the indoor air cooling heat exchanger into a gaseous refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant. A refrigerant liquid pump is formed by driving a piston in a cylinder formed in a housing by a motor, and a pump cooling passage is formed in the housing to guide a part of the refrigerant in the cylinder to cool the pump. In the air conditioner connected to the inlet pipe of the refrigerant liquid pump with a liquid drain pipe, the liquid level of the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage in the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump is provided outside the refrigerant liquid pump. Air conditioning apparatus characterized by providing a liquid level securing means for holding the to prevent the heat of the refrigerant fluid pump is provided. According to the air conditioner configured as described above, the liquid level of the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage in the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump is secured by the liquid level securing means provided outside the refrigerant liquid pump, and Heating is prevented.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the liquid level securing means guides the refrigerant from outside the refrigerant liquid pump to the pump cooling passage of the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump. An air conditioner is provided. According to the air conditioner thus configured, the refrigerant is guided to the pump cooling passage of the refrigerant liquid pump housing by the external refrigerant introduction passage, and the liquid level of the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage in the refrigerant liquid pump housing is secured. Thus, the heating of the refrigerant liquid pump is prevented.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the air conditioner according to the second aspect, wherein the external refrigerant introduction passage is a capillary tube. According to the air conditioner configured as described above, the refrigerant is guided to the pump cooling passage of the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump by the capillary tube to secure the liquid level of the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage within the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump. Heating of the refrigerant liquid pump is prevented.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the external refrigerant introduction passage is a pump outlet refrigerant introduction passage for guiding the refrigerant at the refrigerant liquid pump outlet to the pump cooling passage of the housing. An apparatus is provided. According to the air conditioner configured as described above, the refrigerant at the refrigerant liquid pump outlet is guided to the pump cooling passage of the housing through the pump outlet refrigerant introduction passage, and the liquid level of the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage within the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump is changed. And the heating of the refrigerant liquid pump is prevented.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the external refrigerant introduction passage is a separated refrigerant introduction passage for guiding the liquid refrigerant separated by the refrigerant gas-liquid separation means to the pump cooling passage of the housing. An air conditioner is provided. According to the air conditioner configured as described above, the liquid refrigerant separated by the refrigerant gas-liquid separation means in the separated refrigerant introduction passage is guided to the pump cooling passage in the housing, and the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage in the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump is cooled. And the heating of the refrigerant liquid pump is prevented.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, an introduction refrigerant flow control valve for controlling a refrigerant flow rate of the external refrigerant introduction passage is interposed in the external refrigerant introduction passage. An air conditioner is provided in which the control valve controls the refrigerant flow according to the pump temperature or the temperature difference between the pump temperature and the refrigerant temperature at the pump inlet.
According to the air conditioner configured as described above, the refrigerant flow rate of the external refrigerant introduction passage is controlled by the introduction refrigerant flow rate control valve,
Alternatively, the refrigerant is guided to the pump cooling passage of the refrigerant liquid pump housing while controlling according to the temperature difference between the pump temperature and the refrigerant temperature at the pump inlet, and the liquid level of the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage in the refrigerant liquid pump housing is controlled. And the heating of the refrigerant liquid pump is prevented.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the liquid level securing means controls the flow rate of the refrigerant in the drainage pipe to control the flow of the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage of the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump. An air conditioner is provided, which is a drain pipe flow rate control means for securing a liquid level. According to the air conditioner configured as described above, the liquid flow rate of the liquid drain pipe is controlled by the liquid drain pipe flow rate control means to secure the liquid level of the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage in the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump. Heating of the refrigerant liquid pump is prevented.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the air conditioner according to the seventh aspect, wherein the liquid drain pipe flow control means comprises a capillary pipe and a discharge refrigerant flow control valve arranged in parallel. . According to the air conditioner configured as described above, the refrigerant flow rate of the liquid drain pipe is controlled by the liquid drain pipe flow rate control means including the capillary pipe and the discharge refrigerant flow rate control valve arranged in parallel, and the inside of the refrigerant liquid pump housing is controlled. The liquid level of the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage is secured to prevent the refrigerant liquid pump from being heated.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the eighth aspect, the discharge refrigerant flow control valve is provided with a pump temperature,
Alternatively, there is provided an air conditioner configured to control a flow rate according to a temperature difference between a pump temperature and a refrigerant temperature at a pump inlet. According to the air conditioner configured as described above, the refrigerant flow rate of the liquid drain pipe is controlled by the discharge refrigerant flow rate control valve according to the pump temperature or the temperature difference between the pump temperature and the refrigerant temperature at the pump inlet, The refrigerant in the pump cooling passage in the housing of the liquid pump is drained to secure the liquid level of the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage in the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump, thereby preventing the refrigerant liquid pump from being heated.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner according to the sixth or ninth aspect, wherein the temperature of the pump is detected from the surface temperature of the housing of the pump or the temperature of the drain pipe. You. According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the air conditioner according to the first aspect, wherein a plurality of liquid drain pipes are provided. According to the air conditioner configured as described above, the liquid level can be secured over a wider range.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the air conditioner according to the first aspect of the present invention, further comprising a pressure increasing means for increasing the outlet pressure of the refrigerant liquid pump. According to the air conditioner configured as described above, the outlet pressure of the refrigerant liquid pump is increased by the pressure increasing means, and a higher head can be obtained. According to the invention of claim 13, claim 12
In the invention described in (1), an air conditioner is provided in which the pressure increasing means is a sub-refrigerant liquid pump interposed in series between the refrigerant liquid pump and the indoor air cooling heat exchanger. According to the air conditioner configured as described above, the auxiliary refrigerant liquid pump interposed in series between the refrigerant liquid pump and the indoor air cooling heat exchanger increases the outlet pressure of the refrigerant liquid pump. Claim 1
According to the fourth aspect, in the twelfth aspect,
An air conditioner is provided in which a sub-refrigerant liquid pump can be retrofitted. According to the air conditioner configured as described above, since the sub-refrigerant liquid pump can be retrofitted,
It is possible to respond to changes in required specifications by retrofitting.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, components common to the embodiments will be described together with their operations. In the ice making operation generally performed at night, the on-off valve 50 is closed and the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed by the compressor 1 enters the outdoor heat exchanger 2 and is radiated and condensed to become a high-pressure liquid refrigerant. As a result, the pressure is reduced, and the gas enters the ice making expansion valve 6 through the pipe joint 4 and the on-off valve 5.

Here, the refrigerant is decompressed and expanded to become a low-pressure refrigerant and enters the ice-making heat exchanger 7a of the heat storage tank 7, and exchanges heat with water to cool the water and make ice. The gas refrigerant evaporated by heat exchange with water is sucked into the compressor 1 through the check valve 8 and the pipe joint 10 and is compressed. The ice produced by the ice making operation is a fraction of the whole water and is made on the surface of the ice making heat exchanger 7a.

In the operation for cooling in the daytime using ice produced at night, the water in the heat storage tank 7 is circulated to the water heat exchanger 20 by the water pump 24. On the other hand, the low-pressure refrigerant evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger 15 passes through the pipe joint 16 and the pipe 9 and enters the accumulator 17. Here, the unevaporated refrigerant is separated,
The gas refrigerant passes through the check valve 18 and the pipe 19, enters the lowest temperature water heat exchanger 20, and is cooled and condensed.

The liquefied refrigerant passes through a pipe 21 from a suction pipe 11a of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 to a piston / cylinder section 11c.
And the pressure is increased and discharged from the discharge pipe 11b. The liquid refrigerant having increased pressure passes through the discharge side pipe 12 and the pipe joint 13, and is decompressed and expanded by the indoor cooling throttle 14, and enters the indoor heat exchanger 15 as a low-pressure refrigerant. Here, heat is exchanged with room air to cool (cool) the room air. On the other hand, the low-pressure refrigerant that has absorbed heat from the indoor air evaporates to become a gas refrigerant (with some non-evaporated) and exits the indoor heat exchanger 15. As described above, the ice produced at night cools the gas refrigerant in the daytime into a liquid refrigerant, and power-saving cooling without operating the compressor 1 for cooling to be sent to the indoor unit by the refrigerant liquid pump is enabled.

The refrigerant liquid pump 11 has a piston / cylinder section 11c for increasing the pressure of the sucked liquid refrigerant and a motor section 11d for driving the same. A small cooling passage 11 'in the pump connected to the liquid drain pipe 11e around the motor portion 11d.
Is provided to allow a part of the refrigerant in the piston / cylinder portion 11c to flow to lower the temperature of the motor portion 11d, thereby preventing abnormal heat generation and bearing wear of the motor portion 11d. The drain pipe 11e is connected to the check valve 22 and the pipe 2
3 is connected to the low pressure side pipe 19 of the refrigerant liquid pump 11.

Hereinafter, the features of each embodiment and its modifications will be described. <First Embodiment> A refrigerant circuit diagram of a first embodiment is shown in FIG.
The discharge-side pipe 12 of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 is connected to the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 via. And
From the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump 11, a liquid drain pipe 11e is provided.
The refrigerant liquid pump 11 is connected to a low-pressure side pipe 19 via a check valve 22 and a pipe 23. The first embodiment is configured as described above, and the liquid refrigerant is directly injected into the housing from the refrigerant liquid pump discharge side. As a result, under the condition that the injection amount is large, the liquid level in the housing rises, and the liquid flows from the liquid drain pipe 11e to the low-pressure side pipe 19, so that the liquid level is secured. In addition, since the liquid level can be secured in a wide range, abnormal motor heat generation and bearing wear can be prevented.

<Modification of First Embodiment> First Embodiment
A refrigerant circuit diagram of a modification of the embodiment is shown in FIG.
As compared with the first embodiment, a plurality of drain pipes 11 are provided.
e₁, 11e_TwoIs different. As a result,
When the amount of liquid injected into the pipe increases, a plurality of drain pipes 11
e ₁, 11e_TwoIs provided, compared to the first embodiment.
The liquid level can be secured over a wider range.

<Second Embodiment> A characteristic portion of a refrigerant circuit according to a second embodiment is shown in FIG.
Compared to the first embodiment, the discharge side pipe 12 of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 is connected to the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 via the on-off valve 26, and the temperature at which the temperature of the housing is detected. The difference is that the sensor 27 is attached to the housing. The second embodiment is configured as described above, and detects the housing temperature of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 with the temperature sensor 27, and opens the on-off valve 26 when it is higher than a predetermined first set value. The liquid refrigerant is caused to flow into the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 from the discharge pipe 12 of the refrigerant liquid pump 11, and when the liquid refrigerant is lower than the second predetermined value, the on-off valve 26 is closed to stop the flow. As described above, since the heat generated by the motor of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 is detected via the temperature of the housing and the amount of liquid flowing into the housing is controlled, abnormal motor heat generation and bearing wear can be protected in a wide range of operation and installation.

<First Modification of Second Embodiment> A refrigerant circuit diagram of a first modification of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. 2B, and a second embodiment is shown. The difference is that a temperature sensor 27A is provided on the liquid drain pipe 11e of the housing. The first modified example of the second embodiment is configured as described above, and the liquid drain pipe 11 of the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 is provided.
e is detected by the temperature sensor 27A, and a predetermined first
Is higher than the set value, the on-off valve 26 is opened, and the liquid refrigerant is discharged from the discharge pipe 12 of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 to the refrigerant liquid pump 1.
If the flow rate is lower than the second predetermined value, the on-off valve 26 is closed to stop the flow. In this way, the same effect as in the second embodiment can be obtained.

<Second Modification of Second Embodiment> A refrigerant circuit diagram of a second modification of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. The difference is that a temperature sensor 27B is provided in the suction pipe 11a of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 and a temperature sensor 27A is provided in the liquid return pipe 11e. The second modified example of the second embodiment is configured as described above, and detects the temperature of the suction pipe 11a of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 through which the liquid refrigerant (low pressure) flows by the temperature sensor 27B, and detects the liquid in the housing. The temperature of the extraction pipe 11e is detected by the temperature sensor 27A. The pressure inside the liquid drain pipe 11e is low, and when the liquid refrigerant does not flow, the temperature difference from the suction pipe 11a (low pressure) is large.
When the liquid level in the housing rises and the liquid refrigerant flows in the liquid drain pipe 11e, there is a characteristic that this temperature difference becomes smaller. Based on this characteristic, the on-off valve 26 is opened when the temperature difference between the temperature sensors 27A and 27B is larger than a first set value, and closed when the temperature difference is smaller than a second set value.
Secure the liquid level in the housing. In this way, the second
The same effect as that of the embodiment can be obtained.

<Third Modification of Second Embodiment> A refrigerant circuit diagram of a third modification of the second embodiment is shown in FIG. The difference from the second modification is that a temperature sensor 27 for detecting the temperature of the housing is provided instead of the temperature sensor 27A for detecting the temperature of the liquid drain pipe 11e of the housing. The third modified example of the second embodiment is configured as described above, and similarly to the second modified example of the second embodiment, the first temperature difference between the temperature sensors 27 and 27A is determined in advance. On-off valve 2 when larger than set value
6 is opened, and when it is smaller than a predetermined second set value, it is closed to secure the liquid level of the housing. In this way, the same effect as in the second embodiment can be obtained.

<Third Embodiment> A characteristic part of a refrigerant circuit according to a third embodiment is shown in FIG.
The accumulator 17 is provided at a position higher than the refrigerant liquid pump 11. From the accumulator 17 to the capillary tube 3
The difference from the first embodiment lies in that the refrigerant liquid pump 11 is connected to a housing of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 via a flow control pipe 1 (or a flow control pipe). The third embodiment is configured as described above. By providing the accumulator 17 at a position higher than the refrigerant liquid pump 11, the accumulator 17 uses the head to provide a gaseous state to the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 via the capillary tube 31. The liquid refrigerant from which the refrigerant has been separated and removed is injected. Accumulator 1
Under the condition in which the liquid level in 7 rises, the injection amount into the refrigerant liquid pump 11 increases, the liquid level in the housing rises, and the liquid flows out from the liquid drain pipe 11e to the low-pressure pipe 19, so that the liquid level is secured. You. In this manner, the liquid level of the refrigerant in the refrigerant liquid pump is secured, and motor overheating and bearing wear of the refrigerant liquid pump can be prevented.

<Modification of Third Embodiment> A refrigerant circuit according to a modification of the third embodiment is characterized in FIG.
The third point is that a plurality of drainage pipes 11e are provided.
This embodiment is different from the embodiment. A modification of the third embodiment is as follows.
With the above configuration, when the amount of liquid injected into the housing increases, a plurality of liquid drain pipes 11e ₁ and 11e ₂ are provided, so that the liquid level can be secured over a wider range.

<Fourth Embodiment> A characteristic portion of a refrigerant circuit according to a fourth embodiment is shown in FIG.
The third embodiment is different from the third embodiment in that the accumulator 17 and the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 are connected via an on-off valve 30 and a temperature sensor 27 for detecting the temperature of the housing is provided. The fourth embodiment is configured as described above. When the housing temperature becomes higher than a predetermined first set value, the on-off valve 30 is opened, a liquid refrigerant is injected into the refrigerant liquid pump 11, and Decrease temperature. On the other hand, when the housing temperature becomes lower than the first set value, the on-off valve 30 is closed to increase the temperature of the housing. In this way, the liquid level of the refrigerant in the refrigerant liquid pump is secured, and motor overheating of the liquid pump and bearing wear can be prevented.

<First Modification of Fourth Embodiment> The characteristic part of the refrigerant circuit of the first modification of the fourth embodiment is shown in FIG.
(A), and compared with the fourth embodiment,
The difference is that a temperature sensor 27A for detecting the temperature of the liquid drain pipe 11e of the housing is provided instead of the temperature sensor 27 for detecting the temperature of the housing. The first modified example of the fourth embodiment is configured as described above, and, similarly to the fourth embodiment, when the temperature of the liquid drain pipe of the housing becomes higher than a first set value set in advance. The on-off valve 30 is opened, and liquid refrigerant is injected into the refrigerant liquid pump 11 to lower the temperature of the housing. On the other hand, when the housing temperature becomes lower than the first set value, the on-off valve 30 is closed to increase the temperature of the housing. In this way, the liquid level of the refrigerant in the refrigerant liquid pump is secured, and the motor of the refrigerant liquid pump is overheated.
Bearing wear can be prevented.

<Second Modification of Fourth Embodiment> A refrigerant circuit according to a second modification of the fourth embodiment is shown in FIG.
(B), and compared to the fourth embodiment,
The difference is that a temperature sensor 27B is provided in the liquid pump suction pipe 11a and a temperature sensor 27A is provided in the liquid drain pipe 11e. The second modified example of the fourth embodiment is configured as described above, and detects the temperature of the suction pipe 11a of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 through which the liquid refrigerant (low pressure) flows by the temperature sensor 27B, and detects the liquid in the housing. The temperature of the extraction pipe 11e is detected by the temperature sensor 27A. The pressure inside the liquid drain pipe 11e is low, and when the liquid refrigerant does not flow, the temperature difference from the suction pipe 11a (low pressure) is large.
When the liquid level in the housing rises and the liquid refrigerant flows in the liquid drain pipe 11e, there is a characteristic that this temperature difference becomes smaller. Based on this characteristic, the on-off valve 30 is opened when the temperature difference between the temperature sensors 27 and 27A is larger than a predetermined first set value, and closed when the temperature difference is smaller than the set value 2, to secure the liquid level in the housing. In addition, the motor of the refrigerant liquid pump is prevented from overheating and bearing wear is prevented.

<Third Modification of Fourth Embodiment> A characteristic portion of a refrigerant circuit of a third modification of the fourth embodiment is shown in FIG.
(C), a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the housing, instead of the temperature sensor 27A for detecting the temperature of the liquid drain pipe 11e, as compared with the second modification of the fourth embodiment. 27 is provided. The third modified example of the fourth embodiment is configured as described above, and, like the second modified example of the fourth embodiment, the first temperature difference between the temperature sensors 27 and 27A is set to a first value. When the value is larger than the set value, the on-off valve 30 is opened, and when the value is smaller than the second predetermined value, the valve is closed to secure the liquid level of the housing.

<Fifth Embodiment> The fifth embodiment is different from the first to fourth embodiments in that the flow rate of the liquid drain pipe is controlled to secure the liquid level of the refrigerant in the housing. Is what you do. The characteristic part of the refrigerant circuit according to the fifth embodiment is shown in FIG. 5A, in which the on-off valve 29 and the capillary 28 are connected in parallel from the liquid drain pipe 11 e of the housing of the refrigerant pump 11. A temperature sensor 2 connected to the suction side pipe 19 of the refrigerant pump 11 and detecting the temperature of the housing.
7 is attached to the housing. In the fifth embodiment,
When the housing temperature of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 detected by the temperature sensor 27 is higher than a first set value, the on-off valve 29 is closed and the piston / cylinder of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 is closed. The liquid that has flowed into the housing from the gap of the portion 11c flows into the suction-side pipe 19 of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 through the liquid drain pipe 11e, the capillary tube 28, and the pipe 23. Since the capillary tube 28 is thin, the amount of liquid refrigerant flowing therethrough decreases, the amount of liquid in the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 increases, and the temperature of the housing decreases due to a rise in the liquid level. The temperature of the temperature sensor 27 is a second predetermined value.
When the value falls below the set value, the on-off valve 29 is opened,
The amount of refrigerant flowing from the housing to the suction pipe 19 of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 increases, and the amount of liquid in the housing decreases. In this way, the liquid level of the refrigerant in the housing is ensured, and the heat generation and abnormality of the motor of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 can be prevented.

<First Modification of Fifth Embodiment> A characteristic part of a refrigerant circuit of a first modification of the fifth embodiment is shown in FIG. The difference from the fifth embodiment is that a temperature sensor 27A is provided on the tube 11e. The first modified example of the fifth embodiment is configured as described above, and similarly to the fifth embodiment, the temperature sensor 27A
If the detected temperature of the liquid drain pipe 11e of the housing is lower than a predetermined first set value, the on-off valve 29 is opened, the liquid refrigerant in the refrigerant liquid pump 11 is drained, and the predetermined second When the pressure is higher than the set value, the on-off valve 29 is closed, and the liquid level of the refrigerant in the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 is secured, so that the fifth
The same effect as that of the embodiment can be obtained.

<Second Modification of Fifth Embodiment> A characteristic part of the refrigerant circuit of the fifth embodiment is shown in FIG. 5C, in which the temperature of the liquid pump suction pipe 11a is reduced. The fifth embodiment is different from the fifth embodiment in that a temperature sensor 27B for detecting the temperature and a temperature sensor 27A for detecting the temperature of the drain pipe 11e are provided. The second modified example of the fifth embodiment is a refrigerant liquid pump 11 configured as described above and through which a liquid refrigerant (low pressure) flows.
Temperature of the suction pipe 11a is detected by the temperature sensor 27A,
The temperature of the liquid drain pipe 11e of the housing is detected by the temperature sensor 27. When the pressure inside the liquid drain pipe 11e is low and the liquid refrigerant does not flow, there is a large temperature difference from the suction pipe 11a (low pressure), but the liquid level in the housing rises and the liquid refrigerant flows into the liquid drain pipe 11e. Then, there is a characteristic that this temperature difference becomes small. Based on this characteristic, when the temperature difference between the temperature sensors 27 and 27A is larger than a predetermined first set value, the on-off valve 29 is closed, and the amount of liquid to be drained from the refrigerant liquid pump 11 is reduced. The liquid refrigerant is stored in 11. The liquid level rises, the liquid refrigerant flows through the liquid drain pipe 11e, and the temperature sensor 27
When the temperature of the liquid has dropped and the temperature difference between the temperature sensors 27 and 27A is smaller than a predetermined second set value, the on-off valve 29 is opened, the liquid level in the refrigerant liquid pump 11 is secured, and the fifth The same effect as in the embodiment can be obtained.

<Third Modification of Fifth Embodiment> The characteristic portion of a refrigerant circuit of a third modification of the fifth embodiment is shown in FIG.
(D), compared to the second modification of the fifth embodiment, a temperature sensor 27 for detecting the temperature of the drain pipe.
The difference is that a temperature sensor 27 for detecting the temperature of the housing is provided instead of A. The third modified example of the fifth embodiment is configured as described above, and the second modified example of the fifth embodiment.
Similarly to the modification, when the temperature difference between the temperature sensor 27 and the temperature sensor 27B is larger than a predetermined first set value, the on-off valve 2
9 is closed, the amount of liquid to be drained from the refrigerant liquid pump 11 is reduced, and the liquid refrigerant is stored in the refrigerant liquid pump 11. When the liquid level rises, the temperature of the temperature sensor 27 in the housing decreases, and the temperature difference between the temperature sensor 27 and the temperature sensor 27B becomes smaller than a second predetermined value, the on-off valve 29 is opened and the refrigerant The liquid level in the liquid pump 11 is secured, and the same effect as that of the second modified example of the fifth embodiment can be obtained.

If a variable valve such as an electronic expansion valve is used instead of the on-off valve 26, the on-off valve 29, and the on-off valve 30 of the second, fourth, and fifth embodiments, the refrigerant liquid pump The temperature of the housing 11 (detected by the temperature sensor 27) can be finely controlled.

<Sixth Embodiment> In the sixth embodiment, a high head is obtained by increasing the pressure on the discharge side of the refrigerant liquid pump, thereby enabling long piping. FIG. 6A shows a characteristic portion of the sixth embodiment. In the third embodiment described above, the refrigerant liquid pump 11 and the indoor heat exchanger 15 are used. A refrigerant liquid pump 51 as a sub-refrigerant liquid pump is interposed between the indoor cooling throttles 14 in series.

The discharge pipe 11b of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 and the suction pipe 51a of the refrigerant liquid pump 51 are connected via a pipe 71. The discharge pipe 51 b of the refrigerant liquid pump 51 is connected to the pipe joint 13 via the pipe 12. The liquid drain pipe 51 e of the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump 51 is connected to the check valve 5.
2. Low pressure side pipe 1 of refrigerant liquid pump 11 via pipe 72
9 is connected.

With this configuration, the pressure on the discharge side of the refrigerant liquid pump is increased, and the indoor heat exchanger 15
The pressure of the refrigerant delivered to the indoor cooling throttle 14 is increased by the refrigerant liquid pump 11 and the refrigerant liquid pump 51.
If the indoor heat exchanger 15 is located at a high position, the pressure difference is obtained by a factor of two, whereby the restriction on the installation of the front head where the indoor unit is installed above is increased by about twice, or It is possible to cope with the case where it is arranged at a distant position.

The liquid level of the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 is ensured by providing the accumulator 17 at a position higher than the refrigerant liquid pump 11 as in the third embodiment.
By increasing the pressure on the discharge side of the refrigerant liquid pump 51 as described above, the flow of the liquid refrigerant from the piston cylinder portion 51c of the refrigerant liquid pump 51 into the housing is ensured,
When the liquid level in the housing rises, the liquid flows from the liquid drain pipe 51e to the low pressure side pipe 19 of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 via the check valve 52 and the pipe 72, so that the liquid level in the refrigerant liquid pump 11 is secured.

<Modification of Sixth Embodiment> FIG. 6B shows a characteristic portion of a modification of the sixth embodiment. The modification of the embodiment has a configuration in which the sub-refrigerant liquid pump 51 can be easily attached later. That is, the sixth line shown in FIG.
In the embodiment (and the first to fifth embodiments),
The portion between the pipe joints 4 and 10 and the pipe joints 13 and 16 is configured as one unit (indicated by A in FIG. 6A), but in a modification of the sixth embodiment, The same part is composed of two units A1 and A2, and A1 and A2 are connected by pipe joints 53 and 54.

More specifically, a pipe 12 connected to the discharge pipe 11b of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 and a pipe 55 connected to the suction pipe 51a of the refrigerant liquid pump 51 are connected via a pipe joint 54. The pipe 55 connected to the discharge pipe 51b of the refrigerant liquid pump 51 is connected to the pipe joint 13 as in the sixth embodiment. On the other hand, a pipe 57 is connected between a pipe joint 53 to which the pipe 9 is connected and the pipe joint 16, and a liquid drain pipe 51 e of the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump 51 is connected to the pipe 57 by the check valve 52 and the pipe 57. 56 are connected.

With such a configuration, the sixth
Similarly to the embodiment, when the pressure of the refrigerant delivered to the indoor cooling throttle 14 for the indoor heat exchanger 15 is increased and the indoor heat exchanger 15 is disposed at a high position, the refrigerant is disposed at a distant position. Can be handled, but the above-mentioned A2
Can be easily retrofitted, thereby reducing construction costs.

The liquid level of the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump 11 is ensured by providing the accumulator 17 at a position higher than the refrigerant liquid pump 11 as described in the sixth embodiment. In addition, by increasing the pressure on the discharge side of the refrigerant liquid pump 51 as described above, the refrigerant liquid pump 51
The flow of the liquid refrigerant is secured from the piston cylinder portion 51c into the housing, and when the liquid level in the housing rises, the refrigerant flows from the liquid drain pipe 51e to the low-pressure pipe 57 through the check valve 52 and the pipe 56, The liquid level in the liquid pump 11 is secured.

Although the sixth embodiment and its modification are obtained by adding a refrigerant liquid pump 51 to the third embodiment, the refrigerant liquid pump 51 is also used in other embodiments. Can be added.

[0049]

According to the invention described in each claim, the liquid level of the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage in the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump is ensured by the liquid surface securing means provided outside the refrigerant liquid pump. Heating of the liquid pump is prevented. In particular, claim 2,
According to 3, 4, 5, and 6, the refrigerant is guided to the pump cooling passage of the refrigerant liquid pump housing by the external refrigerant introduction passage, and the liquid level of the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage in the refrigerant liquid pump housing is secured. Thus, the heating of the refrigerant liquid pump is prevented.
In particular, according to the fourth aspect, the refrigerant at the outlet of the relatively high-pressure refrigerant liquid pump can be guided, and the liquid level of the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage can be easily secured. In particular, according to the seventh, eighth, and ninth aspects, the flow rate of the refrigerant in the liquid drain pipe is controlled to secure the liquid level of the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage of the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump. Therefore, the liquid level of the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage in the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump can be secured without changing the configuration of the pump. In particular, according to the sixth and ninth aspects, according to the pump temperature detected by the temperature sensor, the refrigerant is introduced into the pump cooling passage of the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump by the flow control valve, or is discharged therefrom. Since the flow rate of the refrigerant is controlled, fine control can be performed. In particular, according to claim 11,
A plurality of liquid drain pipes are provided, so that the liquid level of the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage in the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump can be secured in a wider range. In particular, according to the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth aspects, the pressure at the outlet of the refrigerant liquid pump is increased, so that sufficient cooling can be performed even when the indoor heat exchanger is at a high position or a distant position. Particularly, since it can be retrofitted according to the fourteenth aspect, it is possible to cope with a change in required specifications due to remodeling or the like at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a first embodiment. FIG. 6B is a circuit diagram of a characteristic portion of a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 2A is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a characteristic portion of the second embodiment. (B) It is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the characteristic part of the 1st modification of a 2nd embodiment. (C) It is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the characteristic part of the 2nd modification of a 2nd embodiment. (D) It is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the characteristic part of the characteristic part of the 3rd modification of 2nd Embodiment.

FIG. 3A is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a characteristic portion of the third embodiment. (B) It is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the characteristic part of the 1st modification of 3rd Embodiment.

FIG. 4A is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a characteristic portion of the fourth embodiment. (B) It is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the characteristic part of the 1st modification of a 4th embodiment. (C) It is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the characteristic part of the 2nd modification of a 4th embodiment. (D) It is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the characteristic part of the 3rd modification of 4th Embodiment.

FIG. 5A is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a characteristic portion of the fifth embodiment. (B) It is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the characteristic part of the 1st modification of a 5th embodiment. (C) It is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the characteristic part of the 2nd modification of a 5th embodiment. (D) It is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the characteristic part of the 3rd modification of a 5th embodiment.

FIG. 6A is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a characteristic portion of the sixth embodiment. (B) It is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the characteristic part of the modification of 6th Embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Compressor 2 ... Outdoor heat exchanger 3 ... Decompression capillary 5 ... Open / close valve 6 ... Ice making expansion valve 7 ... Storing heat tank 7a ... Ice making heat exchanger 8 ... Check valve 11 ... Refrigerant liquid pump 11 '... In the pump Cooling passage 11a ... (pump) suction pipe 11b ... (pump) discharge pipe 11c ... (pump) piston / cylinder section 11d ... (pump) motor 11e ... (pump) liquid drain pipe 14 ... indoor cooling throttle 15 ... indoor heat exchanger 17 ... accumulator 18 ... check valve 20 ... water heat exchanger 22 ... refrigerant gas-liquid separator 23 ... gas vent tube 24 ... water pump 25 ... heat exchanger 50 ... open / close valve

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A cold heat producing means for producing cold heat, a cold accumulating means for accumulating the produced cold heat, and cooling the refrigerant sent to the indoor air cooling heat exchanger by a refrigerant liquid pump by guiding the cold energy stored in the cold accumulating means. And a refrigerant gas-liquid separation unit that separates the refrigerant after heat exchange in the indoor air cooling heat exchanger into a gaseous refrigerant and a liquid refrigerant, and a refrigerant liquid pump is provided in a cylinder formed in the housing. The housing is provided with a pump cooling passage that guides a part of the refrigerant in the cylinder to cool the pump, and the pump cooling passage is a drain pipe, which is on the inlet side of the refrigerant liquid pump. In the air conditioner connected to the pipe, a liquid level securing means for securing a liquid level of the refrigerant in a pump cooling passage in a housing of the refrigerant liquid pump is provided outside the refrigerant liquid pump. An air conditioning apparatus is characterized in that so as to prevent heating of. 2. The liquid level securing means is an external refrigerant introduction passage for guiding a refrigerant from outside the refrigerant liquid pump to a pump cooling passage of a housing of the refrigerant liquid pump.
An air conditioner according to item 1. 3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the external refrigerant introduction passage is a capillary tube. 4. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the external refrigerant introduction passage is a pump outlet refrigerant introduction passage for guiding the refrigerant at the refrigerant liquid pump outlet to the pump cooling passage of the housing. 5. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the external refrigerant introduction passage is a separated refrigerant introduction passage for guiding the liquid refrigerant separated by the refrigerant gas-liquid separation means to a pump cooling passage of the housing. 6. An external refrigerant introduction passage is provided with an introduced refrigerant flow control valve for controlling a refrigerant flow rate of the external refrigerant introduction passage, and the introduced refrigerant flow control valve is provided with a pump temperature or a pump temperature and a refrigerant at a pump inlet. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein a refrigerant flow rate is controlled according to a temperature difference between the temperatures. 7. The liquid level securing means is a liquid drain pipe flow rate controlling means for controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant in the liquid drain pipe to secure the liquid level of the refrigerant in the pump cooling passage of the housing of the refrigerant liquid pump. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein 8. The air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein the liquid drain pipe flow rate control means comprises a capillary pipe and a discharged refrigerant flow rate control valve arranged in parallel. 9. The air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein the discharge refrigerant flow control valve controls the flow according to the pump temperature or a temperature difference between the pump temperature and the refrigerant temperature at the pump inlet. . 10. The air conditioner according to claim 6, wherein the temperature of the pump is detected from a surface temperature of a housing of the pump or a temperature of a drain pipe. 11. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of drain pipes are provided. 12. The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure increasing means for increasing an outlet pressure of the refrigerant liquid pump. 13. The air conditioner according to claim 12, wherein the pressure increasing means is a sub-refrigerant liquid pump interposed in series between the refrigerant liquid pump and the indoor air cooling heat exchanger. 14. The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the additional refrigerant liquid pump can be retrofitted.