JP2008039250A - Cooling unit and storage provided with cooling unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive cooling unit capable of using its construction and components in common in both an off-cycle method and a hot-gas method without largely changing structure. <P>SOLUTION: In this cooling unit, a refrigerating cycle circulating a refrigerant into an electric compressor 1, a condenser 2 and an evaporator 3 is provided, a hot gas circuit is provided for defrosting the evaporator 3, and also a heat conducting means 21 is arranged, for communicating the inside and outside of a storage with each other through the drainage pass 11 of a resin drain pan 10 provided under the evaporator 3. Thereby, the drain pan 10 can be heated by utilizing outside air heat, and a sufficient drain condition can be provided. Accordingly, defrosting operation can be performed within a deformation temperature of a heat insulating member supporting the resin drain pan, the drainage pass and the drain pan, these components used in the off-cycle method can be utilized without change, and the cost of the cooling unit can be suppressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology of a cooling unit that is attached to a device that stores and stores rice grains, agricultural products, and the like and adjusts the temperature inside the device.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional cooling unit.

  The conventional cooling unit will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a storage with a cooling unit attached. FIG. 6 is a plan sectional view of the cooling unit, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a drain pan in the cooling unit.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the storage body 101 has a heat insulating structure and is formed to a size that can store brown rice, vegetables, and other foods. The front surface can be opened and closed by a door 103, and a cooling unit 104 is attached to the upper surface. ing. In order to prevent the taste of the food to be stored from deteriorating, the cooling unit 104 causes cold air to flow into and circulate in the storage body 101 as means for maintaining the atmosphere in the storage body 101 under appropriate conditions.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cooling unit 104 includes a refrigeration cycle including cooling portions of the electric compressor 1, the condenser 2, and the evaporator 3. Note that 4 is a capillary tube, 5 is a dryer, and 6 is a fan attached to the evaporator 3.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the cooling unit 104 communicates with the inside of the storage body 101 by a suction port 7 provided on the upstream side of the evaporator 3 and a blowout port 8 provided on the downstream side of the evaporator 3. . Then, the air in the storage body 101 flows into the evaporator 3 from the suction port 7 through the fan 6 and exchanges heat, and heat is exchanged and cold air flows out from the outlet 8 into the storage body 101. Cold air circulates in 101 and adjusts the temperature in the storage body 101. Since the portion of the evaporator 3 is the coldest region in the refrigeration cycle, it is surrounded by a heat insulating member 9 to block the outside air in order to avoid contact with the outside air and being affected by the outside air temperature. However, since the evaporator 3 is frosted by moisture or the like in the storage body 101, it is necessary to defrost. When the temperature in the storage body 101 is 2 ° C. or higher, the evaporator 3 is defrosted by an off-cycle defrosting method in which the air in the storage body 101 is blown to the evaporator 3 every several hours for 10 minutes. .

The water (drain water) generated by the defrosting of the evaporator 3 is located below the evaporator 3 and stored in a resin drain pan 10 fitted in a recess provided in the heat insulating member 9 (FIG. 7). A drain water drainage channel 11 is projected from the drain pan 10, and the water stored in the drain pan 10 is drained to the outside of the heat insulating member 9 through the drain water drainage channel 11.
JP 2002-81846 A

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, when the air temperature in the storage body is controlled to 0 ° C. or lower and the operation is performed, heating for preventing freezing of the drainage path is necessary so that the drain water does not freeze at the time of defrosting. 10 and the heat insulating member 9 that supports the drain pan 10 are made of resin. Therefore, the heating means such as a heater is liable to be deformed, and the structure and material must be changed greatly (for example, the drain pan Therefore, there is a problem that the parts cannot be shared and the cost is increased.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and provides a cooling unit that can share the structure and parts in the off-cycle method and the hot gas method without significant difference in structure, and can reduce costs. Objective.

  In order to solve the above conventional problems, the cooling unit of the present invention has a hot gas system for defrosting the evaporator and communicates the inside and outside of the chamber through a drain water drainage channel of a resin drain pan provided at the lower part of the evaporator. The heat conducting means is disposed.

  As a result, the drain pan can be heated using the outside air heat, and a good drainage state of the drain water can be obtained, so within the deformation temperature of the heat insulating member supporting the drain pan made of resin, the drain water drainage channel, the drain pan. The defrosting operation can be performed, and these parts used in the off-cycle method can be used as they are.

  The cooling unit of the present invention can provide a cooling unit that can reduce the cost because the structure and parts can be shared between the off-cycle method and the hot gas method without significant difference in structure.

  The invention according to claim 1 includes a refrigeration cycle for circulating a refrigerant through an electric compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator, a hot gas circuit is provided for defrosting the evaporator, and a lower part of the evaporator is provided. Because the heat conduction means that communicates the inside and outside of the chamber through the drain water drainage path of the resin drain pan, the drain pan can be heated using outside air heat, and a good drainage state of the drain water can be obtained. It is possible to perform defrosting operation within the deformation temperature of the heat insulation member supporting the drain pan, drain water drainage channel, drain pan, and these resin parts used in the off-cycle method can be used as they are, A cooling unit with reduced cost can be provided.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the heat conducting means is a heat conducting metal, so that the drain pan can be heated using outside air heat at a low cost. It can prevent frost residue and icing on the road, and a good drainage state of drain water can be obtained.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the second aspect, by forming fins on the outer side of the heat conducting metal, the outside air heat is used more efficiently, so that the drain pan and drain water drainage are used. The remaining frost and freezing on the road can be prevented, and a better drainage state of the drain water can be obtained.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein a plate is joined to the bottom surface of the drain pan, and the heat conducting metal is joined to the plate, so that a large contact area with frost can be obtained. Melting of the frost that has fallen on the drain pan is further promoted.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the heat conducting means is a heat pipe, so that the drain pan can be efficiently heated using outside air heat, and the drain pan and drain water drainage channel are provided. Frost residue and freezing can be prevented, and a good drainage state of drain water can be obtained.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fifth aspect, by forming fins on the outside of the heat pipe, the heat from outside air can be used more efficiently, so that the drain pan and drain water drainage channel can be used. Frost residue and freezing can be prevented, and a better drainage state of drain water can be obtained.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 5, wherein a plate is joined to the bottom surface of the drain pan, and the heat pipe is joined to the plate, so that a large contact area with frost can be obtained. Melting of the frost that falls on the surface is further promoted.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the condenser fan is always in operation, so that the outside air heat is used more efficiently, so that the frost residue in the drain pan and drain water drainage channel is obtained. It can prevent freezing and freezing, and it can dramatically improve drainage.

  Invention of Claim 9 is a store | warehouse | chamber provided with the cooling unit as described in any one of Claim 1-7, The resin component currently used by the off cycle system can be utilized as it is, and cost is reduced. Since the cooling unit which suppresses can be mounted, the cost of the storage body can be suppressed.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as those of the conventional example or the embodiments described above, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view of a cooling unit according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a drain pan and heat conduction means of the cooling unit of the same embodiment, and FIG. It is a perspective view of the drain pan and heat conduction means of the cooling unit.

  Reference numeral 10 denotes a drain pan provided below the evaporator 3 and provided with an integrated drain water drainage channel 11.

  21 is a heat conducting means, which is a heat conducting metal and is a copper bar. One end of the heat conducting means 21 protrudes from the drain water drainage channel 11 in the direction opposite to the drain pan 10 and is on the outside of the warehouse, and a plurality of rectangular fins 22 are closely fixed to one end portion. The other end of the heat conducting means 21 is located inside the drain pan 10. The heat conducting means 21 is disposed in the drain pan 10 and is closely fixed to the bottom surface of the drain pan 10, and communicates the inside and outside of the chamber through the drain water drainage channel 11.

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

  Since the operation of cooling the storage of the cooling unit is the same as that of the conventional example, the description thereof is omitted. A hot gas defrosting method is adopted for defrosting, and the refrigerant discharged from the electric compressor 1 is caused to flow directly to the evaporator 3 to melt the frost.

  Water (drain water) generated by defrosting of the evaporator 3 flows down to a resin drain pan 10 located below the evaporator 3 and is discharged to the outside through an integrated drain water drainage channel 11.

  Here, when water remains on the drain pan 10 in a drop form, it freezes when returning to the cooling operation after the completion of the defrosting and becomes an obstacle to drainage during the next defrosting operation, but is provided inside the drain pan 10. By the heat conduction means 21, the drain pan 10 is heated using outside air heat, so that a good drainage state is obtained. Regarding the absorption of outside air heat, the fins 22 on the outside of the heat conduction means 21 increase the efficiency.

  Further, the condenser fan provided in the refrigeration cycle is always operated, and the supply of the outside heat to the heat conducting means 21 is further promoted.

  In the case of hot gas defrosting, the pipe surface temperature of the hot gas piping is relatively low compared to the heater surface temperature in the heater defrosting, so that the temperature rise of the drain pan 10 can be suppressed and within the deformation temperature of the drain pan 10. The defrosting operation can be performed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a refrigeration cycle for circulating a refrigerant through the electric compressor 1, the condenser 2, and the evaporator 3 is provided, a hot gas circuit is provided for defrosting the evaporator 3, and evaporation is performed. The resin drain pan 10, the drain water drainage channel 11, and the drain pan 10 are supported by disposing the heat conduction means 21 that communicates the inside and outside of the chamber through the drain water drainage channel 11 of the resin drain pan 10 provided in the lower part of the vessel. The defrosting operation within the deformation temperature of the heat insulating member can be performed, and these resin parts used in the off-cycle method can be used as they are, and a cooling unit with reduced costs can be provided.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, if the rectangular plate 23 is joined to the bottom surface of the drain pan 10, and the heat conduction means 21 is joined to the plate 23, the contact area with the frost can be increased, and the drain pan 10 flows down. The melting of frost is promoted, and a better drainage state is obtained.

  Further, since the condenser fan is always operated, the supply of the outside air heat to the heat conducting means 21 is further promoted.

  In the present embodiment, the heat conducting means 21 is a bar, but may be a pipe.

  In the present embodiment, the fins 21 are rectangular, but may be continuous spiral fins, so-called spiral fins.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the drain pan and heat conduction means of the cooling unit according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

  Reference numeral 31 denotes a heat conduction means, which is a heat pipe. One end of the heat pipe 31 protrudes from the drain water drainage channel 11 in the opposite direction to the drain pan 10 and becomes the outside of the warehouse. A plurality of 32 are fixed in close contact. The other end of the heat pipe 31 is located inside the drain pan 10. The heat pipe 31 is disposed in the drain pan 10 and communicates with the outside through the drain water drainage channel 11.

  The rectangular plate 33 is joined to the bottom surface of the drain pan 10, and the heat pipe 31 is joined to the plate 33. The contact area with the frost can be increased, and the melting of the frost that has flowed down to the drain pan 10 is promoted. A good drainage condition.

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

  The water (drain water) generated by the defrosting of the evaporator 3 flows down into the resin drain pan 10 located below the evaporator 3. Some of them are removed from the evaporator as frost and flow down into the drain pan 10. What has fallen off in the frost state remains on the heat pipe 31 and the plate 33, but since the heat pipe 31 and the plate 33 are heated by the heat of the outside air, the frost is melted and passed through the drain water drainage channel 11. Drain water is discharged to the outside.

  By joining the plate 33 to the heat pipe 31, a large contact area with the frost can be obtained, and the frost can be melted in a shorter time.

  In the case of hot gas defrosting, the pipe surface temperature of the hot gas piping is relatively low compared to the heater surface temperature in the heater defrosting, so that the temperature rise of the drain pan 10 can be suppressed and within the deformation temperature of the drain pan 10. The defrosting operation can be performed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the defrosting of the evaporator 3 is provided with a hot gas system, and the inside and outside of the chamber are communicated through the drain water drainage channel 11 of the resin drain pan 10 provided at the lower part of the evaporator 3. By disposing the heat pipe 31, the defrosting operation can be performed within the deformation temperature of the resin drain pan 10, the drain water drainage channel 11, and the heat insulating member supporting the drain pan 10, and it is used in an off-cycle method. These resin parts can be used as they are, and a cooling unit with reduced costs can be provided.

  The cooling unit of the present invention is provided with a hot gas system for defrosting the evaporator and by disposing a heat conduction means that communicates the inside and outside of the chamber through the drain water drainage path of the resin drain pan provided at the lower part of the evaporator. Also, since there is no deformation of the resin drain pan and the heat insulating member supporting the drain pan, these parts used in the off-cycle method can be used as they are, so that they can also be applied to uses such as commercial refrigerators.

Plan sectional drawing of the cooling unit in Embodiment 1 of this invention The perspective view of the drain pan and heat conduction means of the cooling unit in the same embodiment The perspective view of the drain pan and heat conduction means of another cooling unit in the same embodiment The perspective view of the drain pan of a cooling unit and heat conduction means in Embodiment 2 of this invention A perspective view showing an agricultural product cold storage equipped with a conventional cooling unit Plan sectional view of a conventional cooling unit A perspective view showing a drain pan of a conventional cooling unit

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric compressor 2 Condenser 3 Evaporator 10 Drain pan 11 Drain water drainage channel 21, 31 Heat conduction means 22, 32 Fin 23, 33 Plate

Claims (9)

  A drain water drainage path for a resin drain pan provided with a refrigeration cycle for circulating a refrigerant through an electric compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator, and a hot gas circuit for defrosting the evaporator, and a lower part of the evaporator A cooling unit provided with heat conduction means that communicates the inside and outside of the cabinet.   The cooling unit according to claim 1, wherein the heat conducting means is a heat conducting metal.   The cooling unit according to claim 2, wherein fins are formed outside the heat conductive metal.   The cooling unit according to claim 2, wherein a plate is joined to a bottom surface of the drain pan, and the heat conducting metal is joined to the plate.   The cooling unit according to claim 1, wherein the heat conducting means is a heat pipe.   The cooling unit according to claim 5, wherein fins are formed outside the heat pipe.   The cooling unit according to claim 5, wherein a plate is joined to a bottom surface of the drain pan, and the heat pipe is joined to the plate.   The cooling unit according to claim 1, wherein the condenser fan is always operated.   A storage provided with the cooling unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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