JP2001330384A - Cold storage body and showcase using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cold storage body improved in the effectiveness of heat exchange with surrounding air and a showcase using the same. SOLUTION: The cold storage body 1 is constituted by filling a cold storage medium inside an exterior member 2. On the occasion, the exterior member 2 is provided beforehand with fins 3. The fins 3 are so provided that the flat surface parts thereof are in parallel to the direction of flow of the surrounding air shown by arrows.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a regenerator for use in regenerative refrigerators and refrigerators, and more particularly to a showcase provided with the regenerator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, showcases as shown in FIG. 4 have been generally used for displaying fresh foods, frozen foods, and other commodities requiring cooling. The showcase 30 shown in the figure is an open type in which one surface of a commodity display section 34 is opened, so that consumers can freely take up the displayed commodity. The showcase 30 shown in FIG.
Is cooled when the air sucked from the suction port 35 provided at the lower part of the product display section 34 passes through the cooler 38 installed at the bottom of the showcase 30.
It is configured to be discharged from a discharge port 36 provided at the upper part of. Therefore, the products displayed in the showcase 30 can be frozen and refrigerated. Reference numeral 37 denotes a ventilation path connecting the suction port 35 and the discharge port 36.

The cooler 38 is a part of a refrigerator, and the refrigerator further includes a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve (not shown). The cooler 38 is a meandering pipe member 38.
The refrigerant is sent to the pipe through an expansion valve, and the refrigerant evaporates in the pipe to perform cooling. Reference numeral 39 denotes a fan for blowing air from the suction port 35 to the discharge port 36, thereby circulating cool air. 4
Reference numeral 2 denotes a cover for covering the opening of the product display unit 34 so that cool air does not escape during the store closing time. This cover is commonly called a "night cover".
Reference numeral 44 denotes a hook for holding the cover 42. The cover 42 is wound up and stored by the winding device 43 during the daytime opening hours as shown in FIG. When the store closes at night, the cover 42 is pulled out from the winding device 43 as shown by the dotted line in FIG.

[0004] Further, a regenerator 31 is provided in the ventilation path 37 downstream of the cooler 38. The cold storage body 31 is configured by filling a cold storage material into a bag-shaped exterior member formed of a resin film. With this configuration, in the showcase 30, cold energy can be stored in the cold storage body 31 using low-cost nighttime electric power, and the product display unit 34 can be cooled using the stored cold heat during the daytime opening hours. Specifically, the cold storage in the cold storage body 31 is performed in a refrigerator (cooler 38) more than the normal time (at the time of opening the store) until the internal cold storage material is cooled and completely solidified in a time zone where nighttime power is applied. ) And the operation rate of the fan 39 is increased. Use of the cold stored in the cool storage body 31, that is, cooling, is performed by stopping the refrigerator (stopping the supply of the refrigerant to the cooler 38) and operating only the fan 39 to remove the cool storage body from the air flowing through the ventilation passage 37. This is done by heat transfer to 31. In this case, the power consumption is sufficient for the operation of the fan 39. Therefore, by using the showcase 30, the power consumption in the daytime can be reduced and the operation cost can be reduced.

However, in the showcase 30, since the heat exchange rate between the regenerator 31 and the air blown from the fan 39 is low, it is necessary to use the stored cold heat at once during the cooling period. Not work, fan 39
There is a problem that the temperature of the product display unit 34 can be maintained within the set range only for a short time depending on only the operation. on the other hand,
It is considered that if the amount of the cold storage material to be filled in the cold storage body 31 is increased, the amount of available cold heat can be increased, and the time that can be maintained within the set range can be extended. However, in this case, the amount of cold energy that cannot be used even if it is stored increases,
This is an unfavorable mode in terms of power efficiency.

Further, during cold storage, since the heat exchange rate is low as described above, the cold storage material may be completely solidified within the time during which nighttime power is applied, and the cold storage may not be completed. Further, since the operating rate of the refrigerator (cooler 38) and the fan 39 is increased, the product displayed on the product display unit 34 before the cool storage material 31 is completely solidified may be excessively cooled. is there. In such a case, for example, the product display unit 3
If the products displayed in No. 4 are fresh foods and beverages, these will solidify and will not be sold. On the other hand, in order to solve such a problem, the cooler 38
There is a showcase in which the pipe member 38a is extended, and the regenerator 31 is arranged in contact with the extended pipe member. However, since there is a limit to the increase in the contact area between the cold storage body 31 and the pipe member, it is difficult to sufficiently cool the cold storage material without excessively cooling the product also in this mode.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a regenerator and a showcase using the regenerator in which the above-mentioned problems are solved and the heat exchange rate with surrounding air is improved. .

[0008]

The regenerator of the present invention has the following features. (1) A cold storage body having a cold storage material inside an exterior member, wherein the exterior member is provided with fins.

(2) The regenerator exchanges heat with the surrounding air, and the fin is provided so that its plane portion is parallel to the flow direction of the surrounding air. The regenerator according to the above (1).

[0010] The showcase of the present invention has the following features. (3) a merchandise display section having an open surface, a suction port provided at a lower portion of the merchandise display section, a discharge port provided at an upper portion of the merchandise display section, and a flow path connecting the suction port and the discharge port; A showcase having at least a cooler installed in a flow path and a blower for sending air from a suction port to a discharge port, wherein the regenerator described in (1) or (2) above is provided in the flow path. A showcase, which is installed on the downstream side of the cooler in (1).

[0011]

The amount of heat Q that moves between the regenerator and the air around it is expressed by the following equations (a) and (b). Note that K
Is the macro thermal conductivity, A is the heat transfer area (contact area with the air around the regenerator), ΔT is the temperature difference between the regenerator and the air around it, (tf−ts) is the cooling time or It shows the cool storage time. Q = KA ・ T (a) ΣQ = KAＡT △ (tf-ts) (b)

Here, in the above equations (a) and (b), in order to increase the value of the heat quantity Q or ΔQ, ΔT and (t
Even if an attempt is made to increase the value of f-ts), it is necessary to greatly change the specifications of the refrigerator, so that it is difficult in terms of the structure of the showcase and the cost. Further, even if an attempt is made to increase the value of the thermal conductivity K, it is difficult to use a special heat transfer device or the like for the same reason as described above.
Accordingly, an increase in the heat transfer area A can be considered as the most effective and low-cost method of increasing the heat quantity Q.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points,
The most effective and low-cost method is to improve the heat exchange rate between the regenerator and the air around it. That is, the above (1)
As shown in (2) and (2), in the cold storage body of the present invention, fins are provided on the exterior member that contains the cold storage material to increase the heat transfer area A, thereby improving the heat quantity Q, that is, the heat exchange rate. .
Further, as shown in the above (3), in the showcase of the present invention, by using the regenerator described in the above (1) or (2), the above-mentioned problem of the conventional showcase is solved.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the cool storage body of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the showcase of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a view showing another example of the showcase of the present invention. 2 and 3 are shown in cross section. Further, the showcase shown in FIGS.
Are arranged.

As shown in the example of FIG. 1, the regenerator 1 of the present invention
Is formed by filling a cold storage material (not shown) in the exterior member 2. The regenerator 1 exchanges heat with the surrounding air, and the arrows in the figure indicate the flow direction of the surrounding air. Fins 3 are provided on the exterior member 2 to increase the heat transfer area. H in the figure indicates the height from the installation surface.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the exterior member 2 is formed of a material having a shape retaining property. However, in the present invention, the exterior member 2 may be a bag-shaped member formed of, for example, a film material.
However, since it is necessary to provide the fins 3 on the exterior member 2, in the present invention, the exterior member 2 is preferably formed of a material having shape retention.

Examples of the material having shape retention properties include resin materials such as polyethylene, nylon, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polyvinyl alcohol, and polyethylene terephthalate, and metal materials such as aluminum, copper, and stainless steel. Among these, it is preferable to use a metal material such as aluminum and copper from the viewpoint of shape retention and heat transfer characteristics.

Examples of the film material include a film of the above resin material and a laminated film obtained by laminating the resin film and a metal foil such as an aluminum foil. Among them, a laminated film formed by laminating a polyethylene film, a nylon film, and an aluminum foil is preferable because of its excellent cold resistance, water resistance, and heat conductivity.

In the present invention, the shape of the exterior member 2 may be determined according to the portion where it is installed, and is not particularly limited. However, if the regenerator of the present invention is installed in a showcase as shown in FIG. 2 described later, it is difficult for the air flowing through the ventilation passage to become a resistance, so that the height from the installation surface as shown in the example of FIG. It is preferable that the height h be as low as possible. In addition, the size of the exterior member may be determined in accordance with the installation site and the required amount of cold storage material, and is not particularly limited. The thickness of the wall of the exterior member 2 may be appropriately set according to the type of the constituent material, the thickness of the cold storage material, and the like.

In the example of FIG. 1, the fins 3 are a plurality of plate members 3.
a are arranged at regular intervals. This plate 3a
The number, outer shape, cross-sectional shape, size, etc., of these are not particularly limited, and may be appropriately set so as to obtain a desired heat exchange rate. In the present invention, the mode of the fins 3 is not limited to this example. For example, a fin having a corrugated cross-sectional shape such as a flat fin, a wavy fin, or an intermittent fin may be used.

In the present invention, the fin 3 may be formed integrally with the exterior member 2 or may be provided separately from the exterior member 2. From the viewpoint of increasing the thickness, it is preferable that the fin 3 is formed integrally with the exterior member 2 using a metal material. Exterior member 2 and fin 3
When forming the fins 3 integrally, the fins 3 may be formed by subjecting the exterior member 2 to bending or pressing. When the exterior member 2 and the fins 3 are provided separately, the fins 3 may be provided on the exterior member 2 by welding or bonding.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the fins 3 are arranged such that the plane portions thereof are parallel to the flow direction of the surrounding air (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1), that is, the space between the plate members 3a. It is installed so that it may become an air flow path. In the present invention, the installation mode of the fins 3 is not particularly limited, but the mode shown in the example of FIG. 1 is a preferable mode in that it does not easily hinder the flow of the surrounding air.

In the present invention, the regenerative material to be filled in the exterior member 2 is not particularly limited, and any of those conventionally used and those to be developed in the future can be used. Specific examples include water, an aqueous solution of sodium chloride (brine), inorganic hydrated salts, and organic substances such as ethylene glycol. These include a freezing point depressant, a supercooling inhibitor, and a pH, if necessary.
Additives, superabsorbent resins, antioxidants, feelers and the like are added.

Next, a showcase of the present invention in which the regenerator 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is installed will be described. As shown in the example of FIG. 2, the showcase 10 of the present invention is an open type showcase. The showcase 10 has a product display part 4 having an open surface, a suction port 5 provided at a lower part of the product display part 4, a discharge port 6 provided at an upper part of the product display part 4, a suction port 5 and a discharge port. 6 has at least a ventilation path 7 which is a flow path connecting the cooling medium 6, a cooler 8 installed in the ventilation path 7, and a blowing means 9 such as a fan for sending air from the suction port 5 to the discharge port 6. And the displayed products can be frozen and refrigerated. In the present invention, the shape and size of the showcase itself are not particularly limited.

Further, as shown in the example of FIG. 2, the showcase 10 of the present invention is provided with the regenerator 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. In the example of FIG. 2, the regenerator 1 is installed on the downstream side of the cooler 8 in the ventilation path 7 and on the back side of the commodity display unit 4. However, in the present invention, the installation position of the regenerator 1 is only required to be on the downstream side of the cooler 8, and is not particularly limited.

The regenerator 1 is provided with fins 3 as shown in FIG. Therefore, in the showcase 10, the heat exchange rate between the regenerator 1 and the air in the ventilation path 7 is improved as compared with the related art. Therefore, for cold storage,
It is possible to completely solidify the cold storage material in a shorter time than before, and it is also possible to avoid a situation in which displayed products are excessively cooled. Furthermore, at the time of cooling, all or almost all of the stored cold heat can be used, so that the time during which the temperature of the product display section 4 can be maintained within the set range only by the operation of the blowing means 9 is extended as compared with the conventional case. Can be.

The cooler 8 is a part of a refrigerator similar to the example of FIG. 4, and the refrigerator further includes a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve (not shown). The cooler 8 is also formed by a meandering pipe member 8a, and the refrigerant that has passed through the expansion valve is sent to the pipe, and the refrigerant evaporates in the pipe to perform cooling. In the present invention, the piping mode of the pipe member 8a constituting the cooler 8 is not particularly limited. Examples of the pipe include a meandering pipe and a collective pipe formed by collecting a plurality of pipe members 8a at an inlet and an outlet of a refrigerant. As the cooler 8, a cooler conventionally used in a showcase can be used.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a showcase frame, which is indicated by hatching. Reference numeral 12 denotes a cover for covering the opening of the product display unit 4 when the store is closed. Reference numeral 13 denotes a winding device for storing the cover 12 when the store is opened. When the store closes, the cover 12 is pulled out from the winding device 13 as shown by the dotted line in the figure and hooked on the hook 14.

In the example of FIG. 3, unlike the example of FIG. 2, a part of the pipe member 8a of the cooler 8 is further extended (extended pipe 15).
Cooling is taking place. The regenerator 1 is installed in contact with the extension pipe 15. For this reason, in the showcase 20 shown in FIG. 3, the heat exchange rate during cold storage can be further increased.

Next, an operation mode of the showcase 10 shown in FIG. 2 will be described. Here, the opening time is 8:00 am
The case where the store close time is used in a store at 6:00 pm is taken as an example.
In addition, from 10 pm when night power is applied to 8 am
Cold storage is performed until the hour, and cooling is performed from 1:00 pm when the amount of power consumption reaches a peak. It is assumed that the blowing means 9 is always operated continuously (operating rate is 95% or more).

When the time is 10:00 pm when the nighttime power is applied, the temperature of the air passing through the ventilation path 7 is further reduced.
The refrigerator (cooler 8) is switched to a continuous operation (operating rate of the refrigerator and the blowing means: 95% or more), and the cool storage unit 1 is cooled. In the present invention, such an operation is referred to as a “cool storage operation”. The cold storage operation is normally performed until 8:00 am in the morning following the nighttime power end time.

From 8:00 am to 1:00 pm when cooling is performed, the refrigerator (cooler 8) is operated at a lower operating rate than during cold storage. Specifically, the operation and the stop are repeated so that the temperature of the product display unit 4 is kept within the set range. The operation rate at this time is determined according to the type of displayed product, the environment where the showcase is placed, and the season. Usually, the operation rate of the refrigerator is about 70%.

At 1:00 pm, the operation of the refrigerator is stopped (the supply of the refrigerant to the cooler 8 is stopped), only the air blowing means 9 is operated, and the cold stored in the cold storage material is used, that is, the cooling is performed by cooling. Cooling to the product is performed. In the present invention, such an operation is referred to as “cooling operation”. Blowing means 9
How long the only operation is performed is determined by the amount of cold heat stored in the cold storage body 1. However, the showcase 10 of the present invention can be performed for a longer time than the conventional showcase. In addition, when it is desired to use the stored cold heat for a long time, the refrigerator is operated intermittently (the operation rate is 20% or less).
80%), the heat transfer from the air in the ventilation path 7 to the regenerator 1 may be performed slowly.

From the end of the use of cold heat until the store is closed, the refrigerator is operated in the same manner as the above-mentioned 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. When the store close time comes, the cover 12 is closed, and it becomes difficult for the cool air to escape, so that the refrigerator is operated at a reduced operating rate. Usually, the operation rate at this time is about 30%. At the time when nighttime power is applied, cold storage is performed again as described above. In the present invention, operations other than the cold storage operation and the cooling operation are referred to as “normal operation”.

[0035]

EXAMPLE 1 A regenerator according to the present invention shown in FIG.
And a showcase was prepared. The regenerator is made of a regenerator material and a finned exterior member (material: aluminum, size (W × D × H): 260 mm × 400 mm ×
(20 mm, thickness: 0.2 mm). The regenerator material has a property of completely solidifying at −5 ° C. (latent heat temperature: −5.9 ° C.). The fin was formed by welding an aluminum plate having a height of 15 mm and a thickness of 0.2 mm to an aluminum frame at a fine pitch of 30 mm.

The six regenerators produced above were mounted as shown in FIG. 2 to produce a showcase of the present invention. The total amount of the regenerator was 9.0 kg. The entire area of the showcase excluding the cool storage body is 1000 mm x 860
mm × 1500 mm, opening size (length × width) is 99
0mm x 900mm, product display part volume is about 0.59m
^Three were used. The showcase also includes a cooler (cooling coil (pipe) diameter: 15.88 mm, 6 rows 3
Stage), a fan motor (100 V, φ150 × 1) and a refrigerator.

Using the showcase obtained above, when both the refrigerator and the blowing means were operated at an operating rate of about 95% with the cover closed, the regenerator material was completely solidified in 8 hours, The temperature of the cold storage material at that time was lower than the latent heat temperature. On the other hand, during that time, the temperature of the product display section was kept within the set range of 0 ° C. to 10 ° C. Next, when the operation of the refrigerator was stopped and only the blowing means was operated at an operating rate of about 95%, the temperature of the product display section was kept within the set range of 0 ° C to 10 ° C for 4 hours. Was kept.

Next, the cold storage operation, the cooling operation, and the normal operation were performed according to the time zone, and the power consumption was measured. The results were as shown in Table 1. In all the operations, the blower operates at an operating rate of 95%. For power consumption [%], remove all cool storage bodies from the above showcase,
In this state, the refrigerator and the blowing means are operated for 4 hours (operating rate of the refrigerator: 75%, operating rate of the blowing means: 95%, evaporation temperature of refrigerant in the cooler: -10 ° C), and 100%.
Is calculated as

[0039]

[Table 1]

Example 2 A showcase was prepared by arranging the same regenerator as in Example 1 as shown in FIG. Except for the cold storage body of the showcase, the same one as in Example 1 was used except that an extension pipe was provided. The extension pipe has an outer diameter of 15.9
mm and a wall thickness of 1.2 mm. The regenerator was installed so as to surround the extension pipe.

Using the showcase obtained above, when both the refrigerator and the blowing means were operated at an operating rate of about 95% with the cover closed, the regenerator material was completely solidified in 3 hours, The temperature of the cold storage material at that time was lower than the latent heat temperature. On the other hand, during that time, the temperature of the product display section was kept within the set range of 0 ° C. to 10 ° C. Next, when the operation of the refrigerator was stopped and only the blowing means was operated at an operating rate of about 95%, the temperature of the product display section was kept within the set range of 0 ° C to 10 ° C for 4 hours. Was kept.

Next, in the same manner as in Example 1, the cold storage operation, the cooling operation, and the normal operation were performed according to the time zone, and the power consumption was measured. The results were as shown in Table 2. Note that, as in the first embodiment, the blower is operated at an operating rate of 95 in all the operations.
% Driving. The calculation of the power consumption [%] is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0043]

[Table 2]

Comparative Example A showcase was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the fin was removed from the regenerator of Example 1. Cold storage and cooling were performed on this showcase in the same manner as in Example 1. As a result, the cold storage material was cooled to the latent heat temperature range in 8 hours, but could not be completely solidified. It took 12 hours to completely solidify. In addition, the temperature of the product display part dropped to -10 ° C, and could not be kept within the set range. In addition, when the operation of the refrigerator was stopped and only the blowing means was operated at an operating rate of about 95%, the temperature of the product display section could be maintained within the set range of 0 ° C to 10 ° C. Was 1 hour.

Next, in the same manner as in Example 1, the cold storage operation, the cooling operation, and the normal operation were performed according to the time zone, and the power consumption was measured. The results were as shown in Table 3. Note that, as in the first embodiment, the blower is operated at an operating rate of 95 in all the operations.
% Driving. The calculation of the power consumption [%] is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

[0046]

[Table 3]

[0047]

As can be seen from the above description, the use of the regenerator of the present invention makes it possible to improve the heat exchange rate at the time of cold storage and at the time of cooling, and to complete the cold storage in a shorter time than before.
Further, the stored cold heat can be used without waste. for that reason,
If a showcase is manufactured using this regenerator, the total power consumption can be reduced and the power cost can be reduced, so that the running cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a cool storage body of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a showcase of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing another example of the showcase of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a conventional showcase.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cold storage body 2 Exterior member 3 Fin

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3B110 AA10 BA04 DA03 EA02 EA03 3L045 AA04 AA07 BA01 BA10 CA02 DA01 EA01 FA02 HA01 KA14 PA04

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A cold storage body having a cold storage material inside an exterior member, wherein the exterior member is provided with fins. 2. The regenerator according to claim 1, wherein said regenerator exchanges heat with surrounding air, and said fin is provided such that a plane portion thereof is parallel to a flow direction of said surrounding air. The regenerator according to claim 1. 3. A merchandise display portion having an open surface, a suction port provided at a lower portion of the merchandise display portion, a discharge port provided at an upper portion of the merchandise display portion, and a flow path connecting the suction port and the discharge port. A showcase having at least a cooler installed in the flow path and a blower for sending air from the suction port to the discharge port, wherein the regenerator according to claim 1 or 2 is provided in the flow path. A showcase, which is installed on the downstream side of the cooler in (1).