JP2003287343A - Cooling storage - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent ignition of combustible gas leaked in a machine room 13 in a cooling storage using the combustible gas as a refrigerant. <P>SOLUTION: In this cooling storage, a cooling fan 10 is arranged in the machine room 13 on the most windward side to a flow of a cooling wind flowing in the machine room 13. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling storage using a flammable gas as a refrigerant, and more particularly to safety when the flammable gas leaks.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional cooling storage, there is one shown in FIG. Hereinafter, one example of the conventional cooling storage will be described with reference to the drawings.

A conventional configuration is shown in FIG. In FIG.
Reference numeral 1 is a cooling system using a flammable gas as a refrigerant, and is composed of a compressor 2, a condenser 3, a pressure reducing means 4, an evaporator 5, a cooling fan 8 composed of a motor portion 6 and a blade portion 7. . A machine room 9 houses the compressor 2, the condenser 3, the cooling fan 8 and electric parts (not shown) inside. Further, in the machine room 9, the cooling fan 8 is arranged between the compressor 2 and the condenser 3, and cooling air is flown into the machine room 9 to cool the compressor 2 and the condenser 3.

During operation of the cooling system 1, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 2 is liquefied in the condenser 3 as the condenser 3 is cooled by the cooling fan 8 and flows to the pressure reducing means 4.
The refrigerant decompressed by the decompression means 4 evaporates in the evaporator 5,
The object to be cooled in the refrigerator is cooled by removing the heat by the latent heat of vaporization.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, when a hole is formed in the welded portion of the pipe or the pipe itself due to vibration or impact, and the flammable gas inside the cooling system 1 leaks, the leakage occurs. The combustible gas mixed with the cooling air may pass through the motor section 6 of the cooling fan 8, the power supply connector section (not shown) of the compressor 2 and electric parts.

At this time, when the concentration of the flammable gas is within the flammable range determined by the gas and sparks are generated at the contacts of the motor section 6, the power supply connector section and the electric parts, the flammable gas is ignited and explodes. There was a risk of fire.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. Ignition of flammable gas is prevented by preventing the leaked flammable gas from passing through the motor part of the cooling fan, the power supply connector part of the compressor, and electric parts. It is to prevent it from happening and to make it a highly safe cooling storage.

When the cooling fan 8 is used on the discharge side, the cooling air is unevenly distributed, and when the combustible gas leaks, the combustible gas leaked to the stagnation part of the cooling air is cooled by the cooling fan 8 in the machine room. There was a risk that ignition would increase due to an increase in concentration without being discharged from No. 9.

Another object of the present invention is to use the cooling fan on the suction side so that the cooling air flows evenly in the machine room, and the leakage refrigerant is promptly discharged from the machine room to reduce the risk of ignition. The goal is to make it a low and safe cooling storage.

[0010]

In order to solve this problem, a cooling storage of the present invention comprises a compressor, a condenser, a pressure reducing means, an evaporator, and a cooling fan for cooling the compressor and the condenser. In a cooling storage room that includes a cooling system that uses a flammable gas as a refrigerant and a machine room that houses a compressor, a condenser, and a cooling fan, the cooling air flow of the cooling fan in the machine room is the most A cooling fan is arranged on the windward side.

As a result, the leaked flammable gas does not pass through the motor part of the cooling fan, and the flammable gas can be prevented from being ignited by the motor part of the cooling fan. can do.

Further, a compressor, a condenser, a pressure reducing means,
An evaporator, a cooling fan that cools the compressor and the condenser, and a cooling system that uses a flammable gas as a refrigerant,
In a cooling storage with a machine room that houses a compressor, a condenser, and a cooling fan, the motor part of the cooling fan is placed on the most windward side of the cooling air flow of the cooling fan in the machine room, and on the most leeward side. The cooling fan blades are installed.

Thus, the cooling air flowing through the machine room is not biased, the leaked combustible gas is prevented from accumulating in a part of the machine room, and the risk of ignition is prevented from being increased, thereby providing a safer cooling storage. be able to.

Further, the compressor is arranged on the windward side of the condenser with respect to the flow of the cooling air of the cooling fan, and the compressor is arranged so that the connector portion is on the windward side.

As a result, the leaked flammable gas does not pass through the connector portion of the compressor, and the flammable gas can be prevented from being ignited by the connector portion of the compressor. Can be

[0016] Further, in the machine room, there is provided an electric component arranged on the windward side of the compressor and the condenser with respect to the flow of the cooling air of the cooling fan.

As a result, the flammable gas that has leaked does not pass through the electric part, and it is possible to prevent the flammable gas from being ignited by the electric parts, and it is possible to provide a safer cold storage.

The cooling fan is always operated when power is supplied.

Thus, there is no risk of flammable gas leaking when the cooling fan is stopped, diffused to the motor part of the cooling fan, and ignited when the cooling fan is restarted, and a safer cooling storage can be provided. .

Further, in the machine room, no holes or gaps communicating with the outside are provided in addition to the inlet and outlet of the cooling air.

As a result, the leaked combustible gas leaks out from the middle of the machine room to the outside, and the combustible gas is sucked into the cooling fan again, so that the motor part of the cooling fan,
Since there is no risk of ignition in the connector part and electric parts of the compressor, a safer cooling storage can be obtained.

Further, a leak sensor arranged at the most leeward side of the cooling air flow of the cooling fan in the machine room, and a power cutoff means for cutting off the power supply to the equipment when the leak sensor detects the leak of the combustible gas. It was a prepared structure.

As a result, the flammable gas leaked in the machine room is always detected by the leak sensor wherever it leaks, and there is no risk of ignition by shutting off the power.
It is possible to provide a safer cooling storage.

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. It should be noted that the same components as those of the related art will be denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a machine room of a cooling storage according to a first aspect of the present invention.
Is a cooling fan that is composed of a motor unit 11 and blades 12 and cools the compressor 2 and the condenser 3. Reference numeral 13 denotes a machine room that houses the compressor 2, the condenser 3, and the cooling fan 10, and the cooling fan 10 is arranged on the most windward side with respect to the flow of the cooling air of the cooling fan 10.

The operation of the cooling storage constructed as described above will be described below.

During normal operation, the refrigerant is circulated by the operation of the compressor 2 and at the same time, the condenser 3 is cooled by the cooling fan 10 to perform the cooling operation.

Here, the machine room 13 is subject to vibrations and shocks.
If cracks or holes open in the welded part of the inner pipe or the pipe itself,
The flammable gas that is the refrigerant in the cooling system leaks into the machine room 13. The flammable gas that leaks mixes with air in the machine room 13, reaches a certain range where the mixing ratio is determined for each flammable gas, and ignites when there is an ignition source in the vicinity, causing an explosion or fire. May occur.

However, in the cooling storage of the present invention, the motor portion 11 of the cooling fan 10 which is one of the ignition sources is arranged in the machine room 13 at the most windward side with respect to the flow of the cooling air. The leaked flammable gas causes the motor 11
Never pass through. As a result, even if flammable gas leaks in the machine room 13, there is no ignition source, so there is no risk of ignition. Therefore, even if flammable gas leaks, it will not ignite,
It can be a highly safe cooling storage.

Although the present embodiment has been described on the assumption of only the cooling operation, the same effect can be obtained when the heat pump operation for heating the inside of the refrigerator is performed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the machine room 1
Although it has been described that the condenser 3 is housed inside the condenser 3, the same effect can be obtained when the condenser 3 is not accommodated inside the machine room 13 as in a refrigerator-freezer.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a machine room of a cooling storage according to a second aspect of the present invention.
Is a cooling fan composed of a motor section 15 arranged on the most windward side and a blade section 16 arranged on the most leeward side with respect to the flow of the cooling air.

The operation of the cooling storage constructed as described above will be described below.

First, it is assumed that the blade portion 16 of the cooling fan 14 is arranged on the windward side of the compressor 2 and the condenser 3 with respect to the flow of the cooling air. Generally, the cooling air on the discharge side of the fan flows only in a certain direction determined by the shape of the blade portion 16, so that the flow of the cooling air is uneven.

Therefore, a stagnant region where the cooling air does not flow may occur in the machine room 13. If the flammable gas that is the refrigerant in the cooling system leaks in such a state, the flammable gas may gradually accumulate in the stagnant region.

Then, the flammable gas accumulated in the stagnant region is mixed with air, and the mixing ratio reaches a certain range determined for each flammable gas. In this state, if an ignition source exists in the vicinity, ignition occurs. Explosion or fire may occur.

On the other hand, in the cooling storage of the present invention, the blade portion 16 of the cooling fan 14 is arranged on the most downstream side with respect to the flow of cooling air in the machine chamber. Unlike the cooling air on the discharge side, the cooling air on the suction side of the fan tries to suck in from the entire suction side, so a stagnant region is unlikely to occur.

As a result, even if the flammable gas leaks in the machine room 13, the cooling air flows through the entire machine room 13 and is quickly discharged to the outside. Therefore, even if the flammable gas leaks, it does not collect in the machine room, and the risk of ignition is reduced, so that the cooling storage can be made safer.

The same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained by this embodiment.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the cooling air flows through the entire condenser 3 and can be cooled efficiently, the efficiency of the cooling system is also increased, and the cooling storage can be made highly efficient.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a machine room of a cooling storage according to a third aspect of the present invention.
Is a compressor that is arranged on the windward side of the condenser 19 in such a direction that the power supply connector portion 18 is on the windward side with respect to the flow of cooling air in the machine room 13.

The operation of the cooling storage configured as described above will be described below.

During normal operation, the refrigerant is circulated by the operation of the compressor 17, and at the same time, the condenser 19 is operated by the cooling fan 10.
Is cooled and the cooling operation is performed.

Here, due to vibrations and shocks, the machine room 13
If cracks or holes open in the welded part of the inner pipe or the pipe itself,
The flammable gas that is the refrigerant in the cooling system leaks into the machine room 13. The flammable gas that leaks mixes with air in the machine room 13, reaches a certain range where the mixing ratio is determined for each flammable gas, and ignites when there is an ignition source in the vicinity, causing an explosion or fire. May occur.

However, in the cooling storage of the present invention, the power source connector portion 18 of the compressor 17, which is one of the ignition sources, in the machine chamber 13 against the flow of cooling air is condensed by the condenser 1
It is arranged on the windward side of 9, and the leaked combustible gas does not pass through the power supply connector portion 18. As a result, even if the flammable gas leaks in the machine room 13, there is no ignition source, so there is no risk of ignition. Therefore, even if the flammable gas leaks, it does not ignite, so that the cooling storage can be made safer.

The same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained by this embodiment.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a machine room of a cooling storage according to a fourth aspect of the present invention.
Is an electric component and is arranged on the windward side of the compressor 17 and the condenser 19 with respect to the flow of the cooling air of the cooling fan 10.

The operation of the cooling storage configured as described above will be described below.

During normal operation, the refrigerant is circulated by the operation of the compressor 17, and at the same time, the condenser 19 is operated by the cooling fan 10.
Is cooled and the cooling operation is performed.

Here, the machine room 13 is subject to vibrations and shocks.
If cracks or holes open in the welded part of the inner pipe or the pipe itself,
The flammable gas that is the refrigerant in the cooling system leaks into the machine room 13. The flammable gas that leaks mixes with air in the machine room 13, reaches a certain range where the mixing ratio is determined for each flammable gas, and ignites when there is an ignition source in the vicinity, causing an explosion or fire. May occur.

However, in the cooling storage of the present invention, the electric component 20, which is one of the ignition sources, is arranged in the machine room 13 on the windward side of the compressor 17 and the condenser 19 with respect to the flow of cooling air. Therefore, the leaked combustible gas does not pass through the electric component 20. As a result, the machine room 13
Even if flammable gas leaks inside, there is no ignition source so there is no danger of ignition.

Therefore, even if the flammable gas leaks, it does not ignite, so that the cooling storage can be made safer.

The same effects as those of the third embodiment can be obtained by this embodiment.

In the present embodiment, the electric parts are not particularly specified, but any electric parts that can serve as an ignition source, such as electric wiring, a board, and a switch, can be used.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a machine room of a cooling storage according to a fifth aspect of the present invention.
Is a cooling fan that cools the condenser 19, has a motor unit 22, and is always operating when power is supplied to the cooling storage.

The operation of the cooling storage configured as described above will be described below.

During normal operation, the refrigerant is circulated by the operation of the compressor 17, and at the same time the condenser 19 is operated by the cooling fan 21.
Is cooled and the cooling operation is performed.

When the object to be cooled in the refrigerator has reached the target temperature, the compressor 17 is stopped and the cooling operation is interrupted. When the cooling operation is interrupted, the cooling fan 21 normally stops operating, but the cooling fan 21 of the present embodiment continues to operate. At this time, if a crack or a hole is formed in the welded portion of the pipe in the machine room 13 or the pipe itself due to vibration, impact, etc., the flammable gas that is the refrigerant in the cooling system leaks into the machine room 13.

If the cooling fan 21 is stopped while flammable gas is leaking into the machine room 13,
The leaked combustible gas may be diffused around the electric components 20, the power supply connector portion of the compressor 17, the motor portion 22 of the cooling fan 21, and other components that can be ignition sources.

When the cooling operation is restarted in such a state,
These ignition sources may ignite the flammable gas and cause an explosion or fire.

However, the cooling fan 21 of the present embodiment is always in operation when power is supplied to the cooling storage, and the leaked combustible gas is discharged to the outside of the machine room 13 without diffusion. . As a result, even if the flammable gas leaks in the machine room 13, there is no ignition source, so there is no risk of ignition. Therefore, even if the flammable gas leaks, it does not ignite, so that the cooling storage can be made safer.

The same effect as that of the fourth embodiment can be obtained by the present embodiment.

(Embodiment 6) FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a machine room of a cooling storage according to a sixth aspect of the present invention.
Is a machine room for accommodating the cooling fan 21, the compressor 17, the condenser 19, and the electric components 20 therein, and there is no hole or gap communicating with the outside except the inlet and the outlet for the cooling air.

The operation of the cooling storage configured as described above will be described below.

During normal operation, the refrigerant is circulated by the operation of the compressor 17, and at the same time, the condenser 19 is operated by the cooling fan 21.
Is cooled and the cooling operation is performed.

In general, the machine room 23, which is the cooling air passage of the cooling fan 21, has a hole or a gap at the joint because of the ease of processing and assembling.

In such a case, the cooling air from the cooling fan 21 partially leaks from the hole or the gap before reaching the discharge port. Since the cooling seal leaking out in the middle of the cooling air passage is relatively close to the suction port of the cooling fan 21, it may be sucked again from the suction port and flow in the machine room 23.

At this time, due to vibration, impact, etc., the machine room 23
If cracks or holes open in the welded part of the inner pipe or the pipe itself,
The flammable gas that is the refrigerant in the cooling system leaks into the machine room 23. Part of the leaked flammable gas is in the machine room 23.
Is discharged from the holes and gaps of the cooling fan 21 and sucked into the cooling fan 21 again, and the motor portion 22 of the cooling fan 21 that is the ignition source is discharged.
There is a possibility that an explosion or a fire may occur by igniting after passing through the power supply connector section 18 of the compressor 17 or the electric component 20.

However, the machine room 23 of the present embodiment
Has a structure in which there is no hole or gap in the middle of the cooling air passage, so that the cooling air leaks out in the middle of the machine room 23 and is not sucked into the cooling fan 21 again and is completely discharged.

Therefore, even if the flammable gas leaks, it does not ignite, so that the cooling storage can be made safer.

The fifth embodiment is also applicable to the present embodiment.
The same effect as can be obtained.

(Embodiment 7) FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a machine room of a cooling storage according to a seventh aspect of the present invention.
Is a leak sensor disposed in the machine room 23 on the most leeward side with respect to the flow of the cooling air of the cooling fan 21, and detects a combustible gas. Reference numeral 25 is a power shutoff means for shutting off power supply to the cooling storage when the leak sensor 24 detects a leak of flammable gas.

The operation of the cooling storage configured as described above will be described below.

During normal operation, the refrigerant is circulated by the operation of the compressor 17, and at the same time, the condenser 19 is operated by the cooling fan 21.
Is cooled and the cooling operation is performed.

Here, the machine room 23 is subject to vibrations and shocks.
If cracks or holes open in the welded part of the inner pipe or the pipe itself,
The flammable gas that is the refrigerant in the cooling system leaks into the machine room 23. The flammable gas that leaks mixes with air in the machine room 23, and the mixture ratio reaches a certain range determined for each flammable gas, and if there is an ignition source in the surroundings, it ignites, causing an explosion or a fire. May occur.

However, in the present embodiment,
Since the leak sensor 24 is located on the most leeward side with respect to the flow of the cooling air, the combustible gas leaked in the machine room 23 always passes through the leak sensor 24, so that the combustible gas can be reliably detected. When the leak sensor 24 detects the flammable gas that has leaked, the power shutoff means 25 shuts off the power supplied to the cooling storage.

As a result, when the flammable gas leaks, no power is supplied to the cooling storage, and there is no ignition source in the cooling storage.

Therefore, even if the flammable gas leaks, it does not ignite, so that the cooling storage can be made safer.

[0079]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the cooling fan is arranged on the most windward side with respect to the flow of the cooling air in the machine room, even if the flammable gas leaks in the machine room, it leaks. Since the combustible gas does not pass through the motor part of the cooling fan, which is one of the ignition sources, and does not ignite, the danger of explosion or fire is low, and a highly safe cooling storage can be provided.

Further, with respect to the flow of cooling air in the machine room,
Since the motor part of the cooling fan is located on the most windward side and the blade part is located on the most leeward side, the cooling air flows through the machine room
The concentration of the flammable gas does not increase because the flammable gas leaking into the machine room flows without being accumulated, the risk of explosion and fire is reduced, and a safer cooling storage can be provided.

Further, since the compressor is arranged on the windward side of the condenser in such a direction that the windward side is the power supply connector portion with respect to the flow of the cooling air in the machine chamber, flammable gas leaks in the machine chamber. However, the leaked flammable gas does not pass through the power connector of the compressor, which is one of the ignition sources, and it does not ignite, so there is less risk of explosion or fire, and a more safe cooling storage Can be

Further, since the electric parts are arranged on the most windward side with respect to the flow of the cooling air in the machine room, even if the flammable gas leaks in the machine room, the leaked flammable gas is one of the ignition sources. Since it does not pass through the electric parts and does not ignite, the risk of explosion or fire is low, and a safer cooling storage can be obtained.

Further, since the cooling fan is always operated while the power is supplied to the cooling storage, the combustible gas leaked by the stop of the cooling fan is the ignition source motor part of the cooling fan. Since it does not spread to the power supply connector part of the compressor or the electric parts and does not ignite, the risk of explosion or fire is low, and a safer cooling storage can be obtained.

Further, since no holes or gaps are formed in the machine room other than the inlet and outlet of the cooling air and the cooling air does not leak outside in the middle of the machine room, the leaked flammable gas is It is sucked into the machine room again, does not pass through the motor part of the cooling fan that is the ignition source, the power connector part of the compressor, and the electric parts, and does not ignite, so the risk of explosion and fire is low, and more It can be a highly safe cooling storage.

Further, since the leak sensor is arranged on the most leeward side with respect to the flow of the cooling air in the machine room, the flammable gas leaked in the machine room can be surely detected and the power supply to the cooling storage should be shut off. As a result, the flammable gas that has leaked does not ignite, so the risk of explosion or fire is low, and a safer cooling storage can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a machine room of a cooling storage according to claim 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a machine room of a cooling storage according to claim 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a machine room of a cooling storage according to claim 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a machine room of the cooling storage according to claim 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a machine room of a cooling storage according to claim 5 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a machine room of a cooling storage according to claim 6 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a machine room of the cooling storage according to claim 7 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional cooling storage machine room.

[Explanation of symbols]

2,17 compressor 3,19 condenser 10,14,21 Cooling fan 11,15,22 Motor part 12, 16 blades 13,23 Machine room 18 Power connector 20 electrical components 24 Leakage sensor 25 Power shutoff means

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Michi Kusaka             4-2-5 Takaidahondori, Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture               Within Matsushita Cold Machinery Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shoji Kamei             4-2-5 Takaidahondori, Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture               Within Matsushita Cold Machinery Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuhiko Machida             4-2-5 Takaidahondori, Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture               Within Matsushita Cold Machinery Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Eiko Maki             4-2-5 Takaidahondori, Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture               Within Matsushita Cold Machinery Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3L045 AA07 BA01 CA02 DA02 EA01                       PA04

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A cooling system comprising a compressor, a condenser, a pressure reducing means, an evaporator, a cooling fan for cooling the compressor and the condenser, and a combustible gas as a refrigerant. In a cooling storage including a machine room that houses a compressor, the condenser, and the cooling fan, the cooling fan is arranged on the most windward side with respect to the flow of the cooling air of the cooling fan in the machine room. And a cold storage. 2. A cooling system comprising a compressor, a condenser, a pressure reducing means, an evaporator, a cooling fan for cooling the compressor and the condenser, and a combustible gas as a refrigerant. In a cooling storage including a compressor, the condenser, and a machine room accommodating the cooling fan, the motor section of the cooling fan is arranged on the most windward side with respect to the flow of the cooling air of the cooling fan in the machine room. A cooling storage cabinet, in which blades of the cooling fan are arranged on the most leeward side. 3. The compressor is arranged on the windward side of the condenser with respect to the flow of the cooling air of the cooling fan, and the compressor is arranged so that the connector portion is on the windward side. Item 3. A cooling storage cabinet according to Item 1 or 2. 4. The cooling storage according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an electric component arranged on the windward side of the compressor and the condenser with respect to the flow of the cooling air of the cooling fan in the machine room. . 5. The cooling storage according to claim 4, wherein the cooling fan is always operated when power is supplied. 6. The cooling storage cabinet according to claim 5, wherein the machine room has no holes or gaps communicating with the outside in addition to the intake and the exhaust of the cooling air. 7. A leak sensor arranged at the most leeward side with respect to the flow of cooling air from a cooling fan in a machine room, and a power shutoff means for shutting off the power supplied to the equipment when the leak sensor detects a leak of flammable gas. The cooling storage according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: