JP2004278851A - Freezing device and refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a freezing device and a refrigerator capable of precluding inflammation previously by inserting an overcurrent shutoff device in each phase in order to avoid a hazard of explosional destruction in case the freezing device uses a combustible refrigerant. <P>SOLUTION: The freezing device is equipped with a refrigeration cycle using a refrigerant of hydrocarbon series as combustible, a heat emitting apparatus such as a lamp, heater, etc., and the overcurrent shutoff device installed in each phase of the AC mains to supply the electric power to the freezing device for precluding inflammation of the heat emitting apparatus in case the refrigerant of hydrocarbon series leaks. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a refrigerating apparatus such as a refrigerator or an air conditioner using a flammable refrigerant that does not adversely affect the global environment such as ozone layer depletion and global warming.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a refrigerant used for a refrigerating device such as a refrigerator or an air conditioner, a CFC-based refrigerant having stable physical properties and being easy to handle is used. Among the CFC-based refrigerants, the CFC-based and HCFC-based refrigerants are degrading the ozone layer, and the shift to HFC-based CFC refrigerants is in progress. For example, in home refrigerators, HFC-134a is widely used as the HFC-based refrigerant. Have been. However, since HFC refrigerants that do not destroy the ozone layer have a much higher global warming potential than hydrocarbon-based refrigerants, they are thought to have a negative effect on global warming. From the viewpoint, a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is a flammable refrigerant is used. In the case of a refrigeration system using a flammable refrigerant, if a refrigerant leaks from the refrigeration cycle, ignition may occur and the refrigeration system may explode. Therefore, make sure that heat-generating devices such as heaters do not come into contact with the flammable refrigerant. And so on.
[0003]
In the conventional refrigeration system, only one phase of the AC power supply is equipped with an overcurrent cutoff device such as a fuse. With an AC power supply, the ground changes depending on the direction of the outlet, and the phase without a fuse is not always the ground side. It may not be possible to interrupt overcurrent. Depending on the presence or absence of the ground of the AC power supply, there is a problem that a fuse cannot be blown despite a large current flowing.
[0004]
Further, if the refrigerant leaks while the large current is flowing, the refrigerant may ignite and the refrigeration apparatus may explode. It is more likely to occur in situations such as earthquakes.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2002-233142 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
If the heating equipment such as the compressor, lamp, heater, etc. of the conventional refrigeration system is grounded, the AC power supply will change the ground depending on the direction of the outlet, and even if the overcurrent protection device is mounted on one phase of the AC power supply, When the heat-generating device is disconnected and grounded, the phase without a fuse is not always located on the ground side, there is a possibility that overcurrent interruption cannot be performed, and current continues to flow from the power supply to generate heat. In the case where a flammable refrigerant is used, if refrigerant leaks for any reason, there is a risk of ignition and further explosion and destruction.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and in the case where a flammable refrigerant is used in a refrigeration system, an overcurrent cutoff device is inserted in each phase in order to avoid a risk of explosion and destruction. The purpose is to prevent fire by doing so.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A refrigeration apparatus according to the present invention is provided in each phase of a refrigeration cycle using a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is a combustible refrigerant, a heating device such as a lamp and a heater, and an AC power supply that supplies power to the refrigeration apparatus. And an overcurrent cutoff device for preventing ignition of the heat-generating equipment when the hydrogen-based refrigerant leaks.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1 FIG.
Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 3 are diagrams showing a first embodiment, FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram using an overcurrent interrupter for each phase of an AC power supply of a refrigeration system using a combustible refrigerant, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a case where a ground fault occurs, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a case where a heating device breaks and a phase different from that of FIG.
[0010]
In the figure, a refrigerating device such as a refrigerator-freezer or an air conditioner is supplied with electric power by an AC power supply 1. The AC power supply 1 is provided with an overcurrent cutoff device 2, 3 such as a fuse for each phase. The compressor 4 is used in a refrigerating cycle of the refrigerating device. For the refrigerating device, a heating device 5 such as a lamp (for example, a refrigerator interior light) or a heater (for example, a defrosting heater for a refrigerator) is used. In the refrigerating cycle, heat exchangers 6 and 7 serving as an evaporator or a condenser and a capillary tube 8 serving as a decompression device are used.
[0011]
In the conventional refrigeration system, when the heating device 5 such as the compressor 4, the lamp, and the heater is grounded, the ground of the AC power supply 1 is changed depending on the direction of the outlet, and the overcurrent interruption device is mounted in one phase of the AC power supply. Even so, there is a possibility that the overcurrent cannot be interrupted, and the current continues to flow from the AC power supply 1 to generate heat. When a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant, which is a flammable refrigerant, is used, if a refrigerant leaks for some reason, there is a risk of ignition and further explosion and destruction.
[0012]
According to the present invention, even when the heat generating device 5 of FIG. 1 is grounded as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is possible to prevent the current from continuously flowing from the AC power supply 1 by the overcurrent interruption devices 2 and 3 installed in each phase. .
[0013]
In general, home refrigerators also include an evaporator as a heat exchanger among refrigeration systems, and the cool air that has been heat-exchanged in the evaporator is sent out into the refrigerator by a fan. Frost. Therefore, a heater for defrosting is arranged near the evaporator, and frost formed on the evaporator by natural convection of radiant heat or heater heat is defrosted. As this heater, a glass tube heater or the like is used. Therefore, if the flammable refrigerant leaks from the evaporator, there is a high possibility of ignition. However, the overcurrent cutoff devices 2 and 3 prevent the current from continuing to flow from the AC power supply 1 and cause ignition and explosion. Can be prevented.
[0014]
In the refrigerating apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a single-phase AC power source 1 is shown, but it goes without saying that the present invention is also applicable to a three-phase AC power source.
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
A refrigeration apparatus according to the present invention is provided in each phase of a refrigeration cycle using a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is a combustible refrigerant, a heating device such as a lamp and a heater, and an AC power supply that supplies power to the refrigeration apparatus. By providing an overcurrent cutoff device for preventing ignition of the heat-generating equipment when the hydrogen-based refrigerant leaks, it is possible to prevent the hydrocarbon-based refrigerant from igniting due to a ground drop of the heat-generating equipment.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a view showing a first embodiment, and is a circuit diagram in which an overcurrent interruption device is used for each phase of an AC power supply of a refrigerating device using a combustible refrigerant.
FIG. 2 shows the first embodiment, and shows a case where a heating device is disconnected and a ground fault occurs.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the first embodiment, and shows a case where a heating device is disconnected and another phase different from FIG. 2 is grounded;
[Explanation of symbols]
1 AC power supply, 2, 3 overcurrent cut-off device, 4 compressor, 5 heating equipment, 6, 7
Heat exchanger, 8 capillary tubes.

Claims (3)

A refrigeration cycle using a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is a flammable refrigerant;
Heating equipment such as lamps and heaters,
An overcurrent cutoff device that is provided in each phase of an AC power supply that supplies electric power to the refrigeration device and that prevents ignition of the heating device when the hydrocarbon-based refrigerant leaks,
A refrigeration apparatus comprising: The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a fuse is used for the overcurrent cutoff device. A refrigeration cycle having an evaporator, using a hydrocarbon-based refrigerant that is a flammable refrigerant,
A heater for defrosting provided near the evaporator,
An overcurrent cutoff device that is provided in each phase of an AC power supply that supplies power to a refrigerator and that prevents the defrosting heater from igniting when the hydrocarbon-based refrigerant leaks,
A refrigerator comprising:

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