JP2001091065A - Refrigerant heater - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerant heater for heating refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit stably and efficiently. SOLUTION: This refrigerant heater comprises a body section (26), having a heating part formed by employing a magnetic body at least a part of a refrigerant pipe (20) and a coil wound on the outer circumference thereof, and a highfrequency power supply connected to the coil. The body section (26) is secured closely to a compressor (10) and a gas/liquid separator (23) by means of an iron securing band (25). The compressor (10), the gas/liquid separator (23) and the securing band (25) are heated by leakage field of the coil, and the energy thereof is collected as thermal energy by refrigerant in the compressor (10) and the gas/liquid separator (23).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a refrigerant heating device for heating a refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a refrigerant heating device for heating a refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit has been known as an auxiliary heat source for shortening a heating rise time and a defrost time. For example, a refrigerant heating device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-223194 has a hollow cylindrical body and a spiral heating wire (heater wire) built in the cylindrical body so as to heat the refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe. ), And the refrigerant pipe is inserted into the cylindrical body. Then, when electricity is supplied to the heating wire, the heat of the heating wire, which generates heat by electric resistance, is transmitted to the refrigerant via the refrigerant pipe.

[0003]

However, since this refrigerant heating device uses a resistance heating type heater, there is a problem that the heating time until reaching a predetermined temperature is long and controllability is poor. In addition, since a tubular body containing a spiral heater wire is mounted on the refrigerant pipe, there is a problem in that the apparatus becomes large in order to obtain a sufficient amount of heat for heating the refrigerant.

In order to solve such a problem, the applicant of the present invention has disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 10-333747 a method in which an electromagnetic induction coil is wound around a refrigerant pipe partly made of a magnetic material, and an electromagnetic induction heating method is used. A new technology has been proposed in which a refrigerant pipe is heated by using the heat of the refrigerant pipe.

The high-frequency magnetic field generated by the electromagnetic induction coil is generated only in the vicinity of the electromagnetic induction coil. However, for example, when another refrigerant pipe or the like is disposed near the coil, the high-frequency magnetic field is not generated. Other refrigerant pipes are also heated by the leakage magnetic field, and a part of the high-frequency magnetic field may be wasted. It is conceivable to provide an electromagnetic shield outside the electromagnetic induction coil in order to prevent such waste of the high-frequency magnetic field. However, if a new electromagnetic shield is provided, an increase in the number of parts and an increase in cost will be caused. Further, when the electromagnetic induction coil is provided at a corner in the casing, the distance between the electromagnetic induction coil and the wall surface of the casing becomes short, and the casing itself may be heated by the leakage magnetic field. Therefore, in order to increase the distance between the electromagnetic induction coil and the casing wall surface, it is conceivable to increase the size of the casing.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to make more efficient use of a high-frequency magnetic field and to increase the efficiency and cost of a refrigerant heating device. It is in.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electromagnetic induction coil near a pressure vessel and uses a part of a high frequency magnetic field leaking from the electromagnetic induction coil for heating the pressure vessel. It was to be.

Specifically, the refrigerant heating device according to the present invention is a refrigerant heating device for heating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit (21), and at least a part of the refrigerant circuit (21) is made of a magnetic material. Pressure vessel (10, 23) is provided, and the pressure vessel (10, 2
Heating means having a heat generating portion (16a) in which a part of the refrigerant pipe (20) disposed in the vicinity of 3) is made of a magnetic material, and an electromagnetic induction coil (16b) wound around the heat generating portion (16a). (26).

Thus, when a high-frequency current flows through the electromagnetic induction coil, a high-frequency magnetic field is generated around the electromagnetic induction coil. For this reason, an eddy current is generated in the heat generating portion of the refrigerant pipe by the electromagnetic induction action, and the heat generating portion is instantly heated to a high temperature. Then, the heat of the heat generating portion is transmitted to the refrigerant, and the refrigerant is quickly and efficiently heated. At this time, a part of the high-frequency magnetic field is not used for heat generation of the heat generating portion, and may leak to the outside of the refrigerant pipe. However, since the heat generating portion is disposed near the pressure vessel, the leakage magnetic field generates an eddy current in the pressure vessel, and the pressure vessel is heated. As described above, the magnetic field that is not used for heating the heat generating portion of the refrigerant pipe is used for heating the pressure vessel, so that the energy of the leakage magnetic field is recovered as heat energy in the pressure vessel. Therefore, the efficiency of the device is improved. Also, no electromagnetic shield is required,
The number of parts and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

The heating means (26) is preferably fixed to the pressure vessels (10, 23) by fixing means (25) made of a magnetic material.

Thus, the leakage magnetic field of the electromagnetic induction coil of the heating means is used not only for heating the pressure vessel but also for heating the fixing means. Then, the heat of the fixing means is used for heating the refrigerant in the pressure vessel. Therefore, effective use of the leakage magnetic field is achieved, and leakage of the high-frequency magnetic field to the outside is further reduced.

The above-mentioned pressure vessel comprises a compressor (10), a compressor (10)
It may be a gas-liquid separator (23), a gas-liquid separator, or a liquid receiver attached to.

[0013] Thus, the leakage magnetic field of the electromagnetic induction coil is used for heating the compressor, the gas-liquid separator attached to the compressor, the gas-liquid separator, or the receiver, and as a result, the pressure in the pressure vessel is reduced. Used for heating the refrigerant.

The heating means (26) is preferably housed in a casing (30) together with the pressure vessels (10, 23).

Thus, the leakage magnetic field of the electromagnetic induction coil of the heating means is exclusively used for heating the pressure vessel, so that the casing is not heated by the leakage magnetic field. Therefore, it is not necessary to enlarge the casing in order to secure a sufficient distance between the heating means and the casing, and the casing can be reduced in size.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment> As shown in FIG. 1, a refrigeration apparatus (1) in which a refrigerant heating device according to the first embodiment is incorporated.
Is an air conditioner including an outdoor unit (1a) and an indoor unit (1b). Compressor (10) in outdoor unit (1a),
The outdoor heat exchanger (11), the expansion valve (12), and the indoor unit (1
The indoor heat exchanger (13) in (b) is connected in order by a refrigerant pipe (20) to form a refrigerant circuit (21).

The compressor (10) and both heat exchangers (11), (13)
The refrigerant is connected via a four-way switching valve (22), and the circulation direction of the refrigerant is configured to be reversible so that the heating operation and the cooling operation can be selectively executed. During the heating operation, the four-way switching valve (22) is switched to the solid line side in FIG. 1, the indoor heat exchanger (13) becomes a condenser, and the outdoor heat exchanger (11) becomes an evaporator. On the other hand, during the cooling operation, the four-way switching valve (22) is switched to the broken line side in FIG. 1, the outdoor heat exchanger (11) becomes a condenser, and the indoor heat exchanger (13) becomes an evaporator.

The outdoor unit (1a) contains an outdoor heat exchanger (1).
An outdoor blower (14) for supplying air to 1) is provided, and an indoor blower (15) for supplying air to the indoor heat exchanger (13) is provided in the indoor unit (1b).

The outdoor heat exchanger (11) is provided with a frost sensor (17) for detecting frost formation on the outdoor heat exchanger (11) during a heating operation. A refrigerant heating device is provided between the expansion valve (12) on the refrigerant circuit (21) and the outdoor heat exchanger (11) so as to heat the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant pipe (20) during the defrost operation.
(16) is provided.

The outdoor blower (14), the indoor blower (15), the refrigerant heating device (16), and the frost sensor (17) include a controller (18).
It is connected to the. When receiving the frost detection signal from the frost sensor (17) during the heating operation, the controller (18)
While continuing the operation of (10) in the normal cycle, the refrigerant heating device (1
6) is operated to perform the defrost operation. At this time, both blowers (14) and (15) are controlled so as to stop operation.

Next, with reference to FIG.
The configuration of (16) will be described. The refrigerant heating device (16) has a heating part (16a) in which a part of the refrigerant pipe (20) is formed of a magnetic material,
A coil (16b) wound around the heating part (16a) and a high-frequency current connected to the coil (16b) so that a high-frequency current is supplied to the coil (16b) and an induction current flows through the heating part (16a). A high frequency power supply (16c) as a generating means. In this configuration, the heat generating portion (16a) forms a part of the refrigerant pipe (20), and also serves as a component of the refrigerant heating device (16). The heat generating part (16a), the coil (16b) and the heat insulating material (16d) form a main body (26) (see FIG. 3) as a heating means.

The heat generating portion (16a) may be formed by joining a cylinder made of a magnetic material to the refrigerant pipe (20) or winding a thin plate of a magnetic material around the refrigerant pipe (20). it can. The coil (16b) is entirely covered with a heat insulating material (16d).

As shown in FIG. 3, the main body (26) of the refrigerant heating device (16) is disposed so as to extend in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the compressor (10). And this main body (26)
(10) and a gas-liquid separator (23) attached to the compressor (10) so as to be close to the compressor by an iron fixed band (25).
(10) and fixed to the gas-liquid separator (23). Fixed band
(25) is formed in a half-cylindrical shape of a cylinder slightly larger than the main body (26) so as to cover the entire main body (26) of the refrigerant heating device (16).

In general, the higher the frequency of the high-frequency current used, the higher the heating efficiency can be increased. However, since excessive heat generation is not necessary, the amount of heat required for heating the refrigerant and the size and material of the heat generating portion In consideration of the above condition, an appropriate range may be selected.

As shown in FIG. 4, the refrigerant heating device (16)
It is housed inside the casing (30) of the outdoor unit (1a) together with the compressor (10), the gas-liquid separator (23), the outdoor heat exchanger (11), the outdoor blower (14), and the like.

Next, the operation of the present refrigeration system will be described. During the heating operation, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor (10) exchanges heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchanger (13), condenses, and heats the indoor air. The heated room air is supplied to the room as warm air, and the room is heated. After the condensed refrigerant flows out of the indoor heat exchanger (13),
The pressure is reduced by the expansion valve (12) and flows into the outdoor heat exchanger (11).
In the outdoor heat exchanger (11), the refrigerant exchanges heat with outdoor air to evaporate, flows out of the outdoor heat exchanger (11), and flows out of the compressor (1).
Return to 0). Thereafter, the above heating cycle is repeated.

In this heating operation, the outdoor heat exchanger (11)
When frost occurs on the outdoor heat exchanger (11), the frost
(17) detected by the frost sensor (17)
A frost detection signal is transmitted to (18). The controller (18) that has received the frost detection signal activates the refrigerant heating device (16) and starts the defrost operation. When the refrigerant heating device (16) operates, a high-frequency current flows through the coil (16b), and a high-frequency magnetic field (F) is generated therearound. Along with that, an eddy current (C) is generated in the heating part (16a) of the refrigerant pipe (20), the heating part (16a) is instantly heated to a high temperature, and the heat of the heating part (16a) is transmitted to the refrigerant. .
At this time, the leakage magnetic field from the coil (16b) is generated by the compressor (10),
An eddy current is generated in the gas-liquid separator (23) and the fixed band (25), and is used for heating the refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator (23) and the compressor (10).

During the defrost operation, since the operation of the compressor (10) is continued with the heating cycle, the refrigerant pipe (2)
0) The refrigerant flowing inside is heated by the refrigerant heating device (16) and then sent to the outdoor heat exchanger (11). The refrigerant heated by the refrigerant heating device (16) is supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger.
When circulating (11), the frost of the outdoor heat exchanger (11) is melted, whereby defrosting is performed.

In the first embodiment, since both fans (14) and (15) are stopped during the defrost operation, heat exchange is not performed in any of the heat exchangers (11) and (13). Not done. Therefore, the refrigerant is not cooled in the indoor heat exchanger (13), but is quickly heated by the refrigerant heating device (16). During the defrost operation, it is also possible to operate the indoor blower (15), so that the outdoor unit (1a) side heats the outdoor unit (1a) while blowing hot air from the indoor unit (1b) to continue heating. The defrost of (11) can be executed.

On the other hand, when performing the cooling operation, the four-way switching valve
(22) is switched to the broken line side of FIG.
To outdoor heat exchanger (11), expansion valve (12), indoor heat exchanger (13)
, And cool air is supplied to the room.

As described above, according to the refrigerant heating device (16), the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit (21) is heated by the electromagnetic induction heating method, so that the refrigerant can be quickly and efficiently heated. Can be. In addition, the responsiveness of the heating control can be improved. Furthermore, since the heating device of the electromagnetic induction heating system can obtain a sufficient amount of heat even if it is small, the whole device can be downsized. Moreover, refrigerant piping (20)
Since a heating part (16a) is provided in a part of the refrigerant heating device (16)
The coil (16b) can be wound around the heat generating portion (16a), and a simple configuration in which only a high-frequency current flows through the coil (16b) can be obtained.

The main body (26) of the refrigerant heating device (16) is connected to a compressor.
(10) and the gas-liquid separator (23), the compressor (10), the gas-liquid separator (23) and the fixed band (25) are heated by the leakage magnetic field from the coil (16b). As a result, the refrigerant in the compressor (10) and the gas-liquid separator (23) can be heated. Therefore, the energy of the leakage magnetic field from the coil (16b) can be recovered as heat energy by the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit (21), and the efficiency of the heating device can be improved.

The leakage magnetic field of the coil (16b) is
0) and the gas-liquid separator (23).
Since the possibility of heating the sheet metal or the like in 0) is small, the heat loss is reduced. Further, since the possibility that the casing (30) is heated in this way is small, the main body (26) of the refrigerant heating device (16)
The distance between the casing and the wall surface of the casing (30) can be reduced, and the casing (30) can be downsized.

Since an electromagnetic shield is not required, the cost of the entire apparatus can be reduced.

-Modifications- In the above-described embodiment, the compressor (10) and the gas-liquid separator (23) are used as pressure vessels. Of course, it may be a vessel or the like.

<Second Embodiment> A refrigerant heating device according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. This refrigerant heating device is obtained by adding an iron core (16e) to the refrigerant heating device of the first embodiment. The iron core (16e) is made of a rod-shaped member made of a magnetic metal. And the iron core (16e) is a supporting member.
(16f) is fixed inside the refrigerant pipe (20), and the coil (16
It is held inside the refrigerant pipe (20) along the longitudinal direction of the refrigerant pipe (20).

In the second embodiment, the refrigerant heating device (1
When a high-frequency current is passed through the coil (16b) of (6), an eddy current (C) is generated in both the heating part (16a) and the iron core (16e) due to the high-frequency magnetic field (F) generated therearound. (16a) and iron core (1
6e) generates heat, and heat of both the heat generating portion (16a) and the iron core (16e) is transmitted to the refrigerant. As described above, according to the second embodiment, since the heat generation area is larger than that of the first embodiment, the refrigerant can be more quickly and efficiently heated.

-Modification- As in Embodiment 2, the iron core (1) is provided inside the refrigerant pipe (20).
When 6e) is provided, the heat generating portion (16a) may not be provided in the refrigerant pipe (20). Even without providing the heat generating portion (16a), the refrigerant is heated by the iron core (16e), so that the refrigerant can be sufficiently heated.

Third Embodiment A refrigerant heating device according to a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The refrigerant heating device includes an iron core (16e) fixed by a support member (16f) inside the refrigerant pipe (20), and a refrigerant pipe wound around the iron core (16e).
A coil (16b) located inside (20) and a high-frequency power supply (16c) connected to the coil (16b) are provided.

The iron core (16e) is formed by spirally winding a thin plate of a magnetic material. Although not shown, the inner end and the outer end are electrically connected. In addition, this iron core (1
6e) may be constituted by a rod-shaped member made of a magnetic material as shown in FIG.

A wiring hole (20a) is formed in a part of the refrigerant pipe (20), and a coil (16b) and a high frequency power supply (16c) are connected by a lead wire (16g) passed through the wiring hole (20a). It is connected. Note that the wiring hole (20a) is sealed after wiring, and is processed so as not to leak refrigerant.

With this configuration, when a high-frequency current is applied to the coil (16b), the core (16e) generates heat, and the core (16e)
Heat is quickly transferred to the refrigerant. Further, in the present embodiment, since the entire heat generating portion of the refrigerant heating device (16) is built in the refrigerant pipe (20), all the heat generating portions come into contact with the refrigerant, and the heating efficiency is increased. Moreover, in the present embodiment, since the coil (16b) is not wound outside the refrigerant pipe (20), the entire apparatus can be configured smaller.

-Modification- In the configuration of FIG. 6, the refrigerant pipe (20) has at least a heat generating portion made of a magnetic material ((16a) in FIGS. 2 and 5) at a portion located outside the coil (16b). Reference). Then, in the refrigerant heating device (16) of the third embodiment, heat can be more efficiently transmitted to the refrigerant, and the refrigerant can be heated more quickly.

[0045]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the electromagnetic induction coil is provided in the vicinity of the pressure vessel, the leakage magnetic field from the electromagnetic induction coil which is not used for heating the heat generating part is reduced. It can be effectively used for heating the container. Therefore, the energy of the leakage magnetic field can be recovered as heat energy by the refrigerant in the pressure vessel, and the efficiency of refrigerant heating can be enhanced. Further, an electromagnetic shield for preventing a leakage magnetic field is not required, so that the number of parts of the apparatus can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

If the heating means having the electromagnetic induction coil is fixed by fixing means made of a magnetic material, the fixing means can be heated by the leakage magnetic field of the electromagnetic induction coil, and the refrigerant is heated by the heat of the fixing means. can do. Therefore, the leakage magnetic field of the electromagnetic induction coil can be used more effectively.

If the heating means is housed in the casing together with the pressure vessel, there is little risk of heating the casing itself due to the leakage magnetic field of the electromagnetic induction coil. Therefore, the heating means is arranged close to the wall surface of the casing. This makes it possible to reduce the size of the casing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of an air conditioner.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a refrigerant heating device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main body of the refrigerant heating device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a refrigerant heating device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of a refrigerant heating device according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Air conditioner (refrigerator) (1a) Outdoor unit (1b) Indoor unit (10) Compressor (11) Outdoor heat exchanger (13) Indoor heat exchanger (14) Outdoor blower (15) Indoor blower ( 16) Refrigerant heating device (16a) Heating part (16b) Coil (16c) High frequency power supply (16d) Insulation material (16e) Iron core (20) Refrigerant piping (21) Refrigerant circuit (23) Gas-liquid separator (25) Fixed band (Fixing means) (26) Body (heating means) (30) Casing

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A refrigerant heating device for heating a refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit (21), wherein the refrigerant circuit (21) is provided with a pressure vessel (10, 23) at least partially made of a magnetic material, Refrigerant piping (20) arranged near the pressure vessel (10, 23)
A heat generating portion (16a) made of a part of a magnetic material;
A refrigerant heating device comprising a heating means (26) having an electromagnetic induction coil (16b) wound around a). 2. The refrigerant heating device according to claim 1, wherein the heating means is fixed to the pressure vessel by a fixing means made of a magnetic material. 3. The pressure vessel is a compressor (10), a gas-liquid separator (23) attached to the compressor (10), a gas-liquid separator, or a liquid receiver. A refrigerant heating device according to one of the preceding claims. 4. The refrigerant heating device according to claim 1, wherein the heating means (26) is housed in the casing (30) together with the pressure vessels (10, 23).