JP2006177644A - Refrigeration device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigeration device capable of effectively utilizing cold heat energy by preventing wasteful release of a low-temperature gas used in freezing and cooling a cooled object, to the atmospheric air. <P>SOLUTION: The refrigeration device comprises a circulation flow channel L<SB>1</SB>including a compressor 11, a cooler 12, a heat exchanger 13, an expander 14 and a freezing chamber 15, to allow a refrigerant gas to flow through the compressor 11, the cooler 12, the heat exchanger 13, the expander 14 and the freezing chamber 15, and return to the compressor 11 through the heat exchanger 13 again, and a liquefied refrigerant gas supply flow channel L<SB>2</SB>for guiding a liquefied refrigerant gas from a liquefied refrigerant gas supply source 16 to a supply sprayer 17, and injecting the liquefied refrigerant gas from the supply sprayer 17 into the freezing chamber 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigeration apparatus for rapidly freezing food, for example.

  Conventionally, a refrigeration apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 6 is known, and this refrigeration apparatus 50 includes a freezer compartment 54 in which a conveyor 51 is arranged, a food inlet 52 is formed on one side, and a food outlet 53 is formed on the other side. , A stirring fan 55, a spray nozzle 57 for injecting the liquefied gas from the cold evaporator 56 onto the food on the conveyor 51, and an exhaust blower 59 for releasing the gas through the damper 58 to the atmosphere (non-contained) Patent Document 1). The refrigeration apparatus 50 rapidly freezes the object to be processed by spraying, for example, liquid nitrogen in the form of a spray with a spray nozzle 57 directly onto the object to be processed such as food in the freezer compartment 54 kept at a low temperature. Since the object to be treated is cooled by liquid nitrogen that evaporates at, for example, -196 ° C, the object to be treated is suitable for quick freezing. The freezer compartment 54 is kept at a low temperature, for example, about −70 ° C. to −100 ° C., and vaporized nitrogen gas is used for this cooling medium, so that the object to be cooled before freezing or the object to be cooled after freezing is cooled. Used for cold storage.

In addition, a refrigerating apparatus (Patent Document 1) that sprays low-temperature liquids sequentially on an object carried by a conveying means, and a freezing that uses liquid nitrogen as a refrigerant and freezes food in a batch manner. An apparatus (Patent Document 2) is known.
Iwatani Sangyo Co., Ltd. Catalog “Highray LN liquefied gas freezing (liquefied nitrogen / liquefied carbonic acid)” Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-127830 JP 2003-14356 A

  In the case of the refrigeration apparatus 50 described in Non-Patent Document 1, liquid nitrogen is vaporized in the process of refrigeration cooling of an object to be cooled, and becomes nitrogen gas. The nitrogen gas is used for cooling and storage in the freezer compartment 54 and then released into the atmosphere. Despite the fact that the released gas is at an ambient temperature in the freezer compartment 54, for example, a low temperature of about −70 ° C. to −100 ° C., this cooling energy is wasted without being reused as a cooling source. There is.

  The refrigeration apparatuses described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 also have a problem in that the cold energy of liquid nitrogen is not fully utilized and is wasted, as described above.

  The present invention has been made in order to eliminate such a conventional problem, and it is possible to eliminate the wasteful release of low-temperature gas used for refrigeration cooling of an object to be cooled to the atmosphere and to effectively use the cold energy. It is intended to provide a refrigeration apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problems, the first invention includes a compressor, a cooler, a heat exchanger, an expander, and a refrigeration treatment chamber, and has passed through the compressor, the cooler, the heat exchanger, the expander, and the refrigeration treatment chamber. Thereafter, the refrigerant gas circulation path returning to the compressor through the heat exchanger again, and the liquefied refrigerant gas is led from the liquefied refrigerant gas supply source to the supply spray means, and the liquefied refrigerant gas is supplied from the supply spray means to the above-mentioned It was set as the structure provided with the liquefied refrigerant gas supply flow path injected into the freezing process chamber.

  The second invention, in addition to the configuration of the first invention, branches at the portion of the circulation channel directly from the heat exchanger to the compressor, and a branch channel provided with a flow control valve and a blower; When the detected pressure is higher than the set pressure, the opening of the flow control valve is increased, while when the detected pressure is lower than the set pressure, the flow control is provided. It was set as the structure provided with the pressure regulator which makes the opening degree of a valve small.

  In the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the configuration of the second aspect of the invention, the communication flow from the shaft seal portion in the compressor and / or the shaft seal portion in the expander to the branch flow path portion on the primary side of the flow control valve. It was set as the structure provided with the path.

  In addition to the configuration of the first invention, the fourth invention is an exhaust passage provided with a flow rate adjusting valve and a blower from the shaft seal part in the compressor and / or the shaft seal part in the expander to the outside. When the detected pressure is higher than the set pressure, the opening of the flow control valve is increased when the detected pressure is higher than the set pressure so that the pressure can be detected in the part of the circulation flow path directly from the heat exchanger to the compressor. When the detected pressure is lower than the set pressure, the pressure regulator is configured to reduce the opening of the flow control valve.

  In addition to the structure of 1st invention, the 5th invention branches in the part of the said circulation flow path from the said heat exchanger directly to the said compressor, the branched flow path provided with the flow control valve and the air blower, When the detected pressure is higher than a set pressure, the opening degree of the flow control valve is increased when the detected pressure is higher than a set pressure, while when the detected pressure is lower than the set pressure, A pressure regulator for reducing the opening of the flow rate regulating valve, a flow rate regulating valve interposed in the liquefied refrigerant gas supply channel, and the refrigeration treatment chamber are provided so that the temperature can be detected, and the detected temperature is higher than the set temperature. In this case, the flow control valve is configured to include a temperature controller that increases the opening degree of the flow rate control valve, and reduces the opening degree of the flow rate control valve when the detected temperature is lower than a set temperature.

  The sixth invention includes a compressor, a heat exchanger, an expander, and a refrigeration chamber, and after passing through the compressor, heat exchanger, expander, and refrigeration chamber, returns to the compressor through the heat exchanger again. A refrigerant gas circulation channel, a liquefied refrigerant gas supply channel for guiding the liquefied refrigerant gas from the liquefied refrigerant gas supply source to the supply spray means, and for injecting the liquefied refrigerant gas from the supply spray means into the refrigeration chamber; Cooling in which the liquefied refrigerant gas from the liquefied refrigerant gas supply source is guided to the cooling spraying means, and the liquefied refrigerant gas is injected from the cooling spraying means directly to the part of the circulation flow path extending from the compressor to the heat exchanger. It was set as the structure provided with the flow path.

  According to the refrigeration apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that wasteful release of low-temperature gas used for refrigeration cooling of an object to be cooled is eliminated to the atmosphere, and effective use of the cold energy is possible.

  According to the refrigeration apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, there is an effect that it becomes possible to prevent the intrusion of air into the circulation flow path, particularly into the compressor and the expander.

  According to the refrigeration apparatus according to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the effect of the second aspect of the invention, it becomes possible to prevent the lubricating oil from entering the space in which the refrigerant gas in the compressor and / or the expander flows. There is an effect.

  According to the refrigeration apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the invention, there are substantially the same effects as the third aspect of the invention.

  According to the refrigeration apparatus according to the fifth invention, in addition to the effects of the first invention, appropriately adjusting the cooling capacity to be supplied according to the change in the cooling load necessary for cooling the object to be cooled. There is an effect that can be.

  According to the air compressor of the sixth aspect of the invention, as in the case of the first aspect of the invention, wasteful release of the low-temperature gas used for refrigeration cooling of the object to be cooled to the atmosphere is eliminated, and effective use of the cold energy is achieved. In addition to this, the structure is simplified as compared with the first invention.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a refrigeration apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The refrigeration apparatus 1 includes a compressor 11, a cooler 12, a heat exchanger 13, an expander 14, and a refrigeration treatment chamber 15, and includes a compressor. 11, a cooler 12, heat exchanger 13 after passing through the expander 14, the freezing chamber 15, and the circulation passage L ₁ of the nitrogen gas is a refrigerant gas returns to the compressor 11 through the heat exchanger 13 again, liquefied A liquefied refrigerant gas supply flow path L ₂ that guides liquefied refrigerant gas from the refrigerant gas supply source 16 to the supply spray means 17, sprays the liquefied refrigerant gas from the supply spray means 17 into the refrigeration treatment chamber 15, and It has.

  The rotors of the compressor 11 and the expander 14 are rotated through driven gears 23 and 24 that mesh with a drive gear 22 attached to the output shaft of the motor 21.

In the refrigeration apparatus 1 configured as described above, first, nitrogen gas is supplied from the liquefied refrigerant gas supply source 16 to the refrigeration processing chamber 15 via the liquefied refrigerant gas supply flow path L ₂ and the supply spraying means 17, and the circulation flow path L _1. with circulation of the nitrogen gas is initiated at an internal, freezing chamber 15 is actuated exhaust blower (not shown) provided within, the exhaust gas freezing chamber 15, air in the circulation flow path L ₁ is Yuki is replaced with nitrogen gas, after which circulation flow path L ₁ is filled with fully nitrogen gas, the exhaust blower is stopped. A state where the circulation flow path L ₁ is filled with nitrogen gas, the nitrogen gas compressed by the compressor 11 reaches is cooled by the cooler 12 into heat exchanger 13, the refrigeration process forms a counter flow to be described later herein The temperature is lowered by exchanging heat with nitrogen gas from the chamber 15 and sucked into the expander 14. The nitrogen gas introduced to the expander 14 is expanded to reduce the pressure, and further to a very low temperature region, and sent from the expander 14 to the refrigeration processing chamber 15. The refrigeration chamber 15 is a refrigeration warehouse that freezes food, for example. Quick freezing is performed by directly contacting an object to be processed such as food with dry nitrogen gas that has fallen to the above-described extremely low temperature region. It is something to process. Nitrogen gas takes heat from the object to be processed in the refrigeration chamber 15 and is at a higher temperature than when it flows into the refrigeration chamber 15, that is, the ambient temperature in the refrigeration chamber 15, for example, from −70 ° C. to −100. It flows out from the refrigeration chamber 15 toward the heat exchanger 13 at a temperature of about 0C. Then, in the heat exchanger 13, the temperature is increased by exchanging heat with the compressed nitrogen gas that forms the counterflow from the cooler 12, and is sucked into the compressor 11 again, compressed, discharged, and the above Similarly, repeated circulation in the circulation flow path L within _1. Actually, some leakage of nitrogen gas to the outside due to the entry and exit of the object to be processed into the refrigeration treatment chamber 15 is unavoidable, but the decrease in nitrogen gas due to this is caused by the liquefied refrigerant gas supply source. 16 is replenished.

  As described above, in this refrigeration apparatus 1, nitrogen gas after freezing the object to be processed in the refrigeration chamber 15 is basically reused without being actively released to the outside. Effective utilization of the cold energy of gas is possible.

FIG. 2 shows a refrigeration apparatus 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this refrigeration apparatus 2, portions common to the refrigeration apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
In this refrigeration apparatus 2, a branch flow path L ₃ that exits the heat exchanger 13 in the circulation flow path L _{1 and} branches directly to the compressor 11, and is provided with a flow control valve 26 and a blower 27, When the detected pressure is higher than a predetermined set pressure, the opening degree of the flow control valve 26 is increased when the detected pressure is higher than a preset pressure. A pressure regulator 28 for reducing the opening degree of the flow regulating valve 26 is provided.

With such a configuration, after cooling the nitrogen gas to the expander 14 with the nitrogen gas exiting the refrigeration chamber 15 in the heat exchanger 13, excess nitrogen gas is released from the blower 27 to the outside of the apparatus. to become the cold energy pressure in the circulation flow path L ₁ is maintained at a predetermined pressure, which enables stable operation. Further, by higher than atmospheric pressure above the set pressure, the circulation flow path L within _1, it is possible to particularly prevent air from entering the compressor 11 and the expander 14.

FIG. 3 shows a refrigeration apparatus 3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In this refrigeration apparatus 3, parts common to the refrigeration apparatus 2 shown in FIG.
In the refrigeration apparatus 3, a communication flow path L ₄ that leads from the shaft seal portion in the compressor 11 to the primary side portion of the flow rate control valve 26 in the branch flow path L ₃ via the opening / closing valve 31, A communication flow path L ₅ is provided from the shaft sealing portion to the primary side portion of the flow rate control valve 26 in the branch flow path L ₃ via the opening / closing valve 32. The set pressure is set to a value equal to or higher than atmospheric pressure.

  And by such a structure, the pressure of each shaft seal part of the compressor 11 and the expander 14 can be maintained to the specific value more than the said setting pressure, and it supplies to the bearing part adjacent to a shaft seal part. It is possible to prevent the lubricating oil from entering the shaft seal portion side, and hence the lubricating oil from entering the space in which the nitrogen gas in the compressor 11 and the expander 14 flows.

FIG. 4 shows a refrigeration apparatus 4 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this refrigeration apparatus 4, parts common to the refrigeration apparatus 3 shown in FIG. .
In this refrigeration apparatus 4, instead of the branch flow path L ₃ and the communication flow paths L ₄ and L ₅ of the refrigeration apparatus 3 shown in FIG. 3, the shaft sealing portion in the compressor 11 is connected to the outside via the opening / closing valve 31. In addition, an exhaust passage L ₇ is provided from the shaft seal portion in the expander 14 to the outside via the opening / closing valve 32. Note that the pressure regulator 28 is provided in the exhaust flow path L ₇ at a portion where the flow path from the shaft seal portion in the compressor 11 and the flow path from the shaft seal portion in the expander 14 merge. A flow rate adjusting valve 26 and a blower 27 whose opening degree is adjusted are provided. Further, the set pressure is set to a value equal to or higher than the atmospheric pressure as in the case of the refrigeration apparatus 3 shown in FIG.

  And with such a structure, the effect substantially equivalent to the freezing apparatus 3 which concerns on 3rd Embodiment mentioned above is acquired.

FIG. 5 shows a refrigeration apparatus 5 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. In this refrigeration apparatus 5, parts common to the refrigeration apparatus 2 shown in FIG.
In this refrigeration apparatus 5, a pressure regulator 28 is provided in the refrigeration chamber 15 in place of the above-described portion between the heat exchanger 13 and the compressor 11 so as to detect the internal pressure. Further, in the refrigeration system 5, with a flow rate regulating valve 33 is interposed in the liquefied refrigerant gas supply passage L _2, the freezing chamber 15, temperature regulator 34 is provided to detect the temperature of the interior When the detected temperature is higher than a predetermined set temperature by the temperature controller 34, the opening degree of the flow rate adjusting valve 33 is enlarged, whereas when the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature. The opening degree of the flow control valve 33 is reduced.

  Such a configuration makes it possible to adjust the amount of liquefied refrigerant gas (nitrogen gas) supplied to the refrigeration processing chamber 15 according to the temperature inside the refrigeration processing chamber 15, and to cool the object to be cooled. Even if the required cooling load varies during operation, stable cooling operation can be continued. Further, even when the operation of the compressor / expander cannot be continued due to a sudden event such as a power failure, the supply amount of the liquefied refrigerant gas (nitrogen gas) can be increased and the cooling operation can be continued.

FIG. 6 shows a refrigeration apparatus 6 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In this refrigeration apparatus 6, parts common to the refrigeration apparatus 3 shown in FIG.
In this refrigeration apparatus 6, instead of the circulation passage L _1, the cooler 12 through the circulation flow path L ₁ omitting _'are formed therefrom. Further, in this refrigeration apparatus 6, instead of the cooler 12, a cooling spray means 35 is provided in a portion of the circulation flow path L ₁ ′ from the compressor 11 directly to the heat exchanger 13, and a liquefied refrigerant gas supply source A cooling flow path L ₆ is provided from 16 to the cooling spray means 35 via the flow rate adjusting valve 36, and liquefied nitrogen is gaseously injected from the cooling spray means 35 into the circulation flow path L ₁ ′. As in the cooler 12, the compressed nitrogen gas can be cooled.

  Such a configuration simplifies the structure as compared with the case where the cooler 12 is used for cooling the compressed nitrogen gas.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the freezing apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the freezing apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the freezing apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the freezing apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the freezing apparatus which concerns on 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the freezing apparatus which concerns on 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the conventional freezing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1-6 Refrigeration apparatus 11 Compressor 12 Cooler 13 Heat exchanger 14 Expander 15 Refrigeration processing chamber 16 Liquefied refrigerant gas supply source 17 Supply spray means 21 Motor 22 Drive gears 23 and 24 Drive gear 26 Flow control valve 27 Blower 28 Pressure regulators 31, 32 On-off valve 33 Flow rate regulating valve 34 Temperature regulator 35 Cooling spray means 36 Flow rate regulating valves L ₁ , L ₁ ′ Circulating channel L ₂ Liquefied refrigerant gas supply channel L ₃ Branch channel L ₄ , L ₅ communication flow path L ₆ cooling flow path L ₇ exhaust flow path

Claims (6)

It includes a compressor, cooler, heat exchanger, expander, and refrigeration chamber. After passing through the compressor, cooler, heat exchanger, expander, and refrigeration chamber, it passes through the heat exchanger again to the compressor. The return refrigerant gas circulation path,
A refrigeration system comprising: a liquefied refrigerant gas supply channel that guides liquefied refrigerant gas from a liquefied refrigerant gas supply source to supply spraying means and injects the liquefied refrigerant gas from the supply spray means into the refrigeration chamber. apparatus. Branching in the part of the circulation channel from the heat exchanger directly to the compressor, a branch channel provided with a flow control valve and a blower,
When the detected pressure is higher than the set pressure, the opening of the flow control valve is increased, while when the detected pressure is lower than the set pressure, the flow control is provided. The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure regulator that reduces an opening of the valve.   3. A communication flow path from the shaft seal portion in the compressor and / or the shaft seal portion in the expander to the branch flow channel portion on the primary side of the flow control valve is provided. Refrigeration equipment. An exhaust passage provided with a flow rate adjusting valve and a blower from the shaft seal in the compressor and / or the shaft seal in the expander to the outside;
When the detected pressure is higher than the set pressure, the opening of the flow control valve is increased when the detected pressure is higher than the set pressure so that the pressure can be detected in the part of the circulation flow path directly from the heat exchanger to the compressor. The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure regulator that reduces an opening degree of the flow rate control valve when the detected pressure is lower than a set pressure. Branching in the part of the circulation channel from the heat exchanger directly to the compressor, a branch channel provided with a flow control valve and a blower,
When the detected pressure is higher than a set pressure, the opening degree of the flow control valve is increased when the detected pressure is higher than a set pressure, while when the detected pressure is lower than the set pressure, A pressure regulator that reduces the opening of the flow control valve;
A flow rate regulating valve interposed in the liquefied refrigerant gas supply channel;
When the detected temperature is higher than the set temperature, the flow rate control valve is increased when the detected temperature is higher than the set temperature, and when the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature, the flow rate control is performed. The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature controller that reduces an opening of the valve. Refrigerant gas circulation flow including compressor, heat exchanger, expander, and refrigeration chamber, after passing through compressor, heat exchanger, expander, and refrigeration chamber, and then returning to the compressor through the heat exchanger again Road,
A liquefied refrigerant gas supply channel for guiding the liquefied refrigerant gas from the liquefied refrigerant gas supply source to the supply spray means, and for injecting the liquefied refrigerant gas from the supply spray means into the refrigeration processing chamber;
Cooling in which the liquefied refrigerant gas from the liquefied refrigerant gas supply source is guided to the cooling spraying means, and the liquefied refrigerant gas is injected from the cooling spraying means directly to the part of the circulation flow path extending from the compressor to the heat exchanger. A refrigeration apparatus comprising a flow path.

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