JP2008175477A - Cold reserving storage - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To let its user clearly know that its cold reserving storage is put in an energy-saving mode state, when the cold reserving storage is put in the energy-saving mode state. <P>SOLUTION: An energy-saving mode display lamp 7 is arranged on an operation panel 1 for setting an operation condition such as the setting temperature of the cold reserving storage, for displaying that this cold reserving storage is put in the energy-saving mode state of stopping operation of a compressor 8. This energy-saving mode display lamp 7 lets the user know that this cold reserving storage is put in the energy-saving mode state, by turning on in any of a case where the outside air temperature T3 is lower than the setting temperature T1 or a case where a constituting apparatus stops by exceeding predetermined time t2. Thus, this user can determines that the stopping is based on any of the energy-saving mode function or failure of the constituting apparatus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a cold storage for storing agricultural products such as brown rice.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the cold storage for storing agricultural products such as brown rice includes a compressor 8 that compresses refrigerant gas, a condensing fan 10 that cools a condenser (not shown), and cold air in the warehouse. For setting the operating conditions such as the cooling cycle of the internal fan 11 that circulates air to the evaporator 12, the dew-proof heater 9 that prevents dew condensation at the door opening of the cool box body, and the set temperature of the cool box. It comprises an operation panel 1 and temperature sensors 13 and 14 for measuring the temperature inside and outside the cold storage.

The cooling process by the cooling cycle will be described. The refrigerant gas is compressed by the compressor 8 into a high temperature and high pressure state, the refrigerant gas is sent to the condenser, and the refrigerant gas is cooled and liquefied by the condenser. This liquefied refrigerant gas is sent to the evaporator 12 to vaporize it, and the evaporator 12 is cooled by heat of vaporization at that time. The inside of the cool box is cooled by circulating and blowing the cool air around the evaporator 12 into the cool box by the internal fan 11.
As the refrigerant gas is cooled, the condenser generates heat. Due to this heat generation, the cooling efficiency of the refrigerant gas decreases. Therefore, the condenser fan 10 blows air toward the condenser to cool the condenser.
Further, since the evaporator 12 is cooled by the heat of vaporization of the refrigerant gas, moisture in the air in the cool box is attached to the surface of the evaporator 12, and it freezes to generate frost. Since this frost hinders the contact between the surface of the evaporator 12 and the air in the cool box, the cooling efficiency of the evaporator 12 decreases. Therefore, for example, at a predetermined interval of several hours to several days, the cooling cycle other than the internal fan 11 is stopped, and a defrosting operation is performed in which the frost on the surface of the evaporator 12 is melted by the circulating air f of the internal fan 11 to evaporate. The cooling efficiency by the vessel 12 is restored.

  The operation panel 1 attached to the cold storage will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The operation panel 1 includes a temperature setting button 2, a set temperature display unit 3, an automatic operation button 4 and a manual operation button 5. And an operation mode display lamp 6 indicating the operation status of the operation mode. The user of this cool box sets the desired set temperature and operation mode by operating these buttons, and confirms the setting status by the display of the set temperature display section 3 and the lighting status of the operation mode display lamp 6.

As shown in FIG. 6A, a general cool box is temperature-controlled so that the internal temperature T2 falls within a predetermined temperature range ΔT with respect to the set temperature T1 set on the operation panel 1. The
In this temperature control, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), the cooling cycle of the compressor 8 or the like is operated to cool the inside of the warehouse, and if the inside temperature T2 falls to the set temperature lower limit (T1-ΔT), Stop the cooling cycle. Due to this stop, the cold storage body is warmed by the outside air, so that the internal temperature T2 rises. When the internal temperature T2 rises to the upper limit temperature (T1 + ΔT), the cooling cycle is operated to restart the internal cooling. (For example, refer to FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1). The cooling cycle stop time t1 is usually a short time of about several minutes to several tens of minutes.
JP-A-10-339547

  As described above, when the cold storage is for storing agricultural products, the cold storage is set in a temperature range suitable for maintaining the quality of the agricultural products, for example, a temperature range of about 2 to 15 ° C. This temperature setting range is considerably higher than the set temperature of the freezer compartment of a general refrigerator-freezer is about minus 20 ° C. Therefore, in the cold season, when the set temperature T1 and the outside air temperature T3 are compared, the outside air temperature T3 may be lower than the set temperature T1.

In this case, since the cool box body is directly cooled by the outside air, it is not necessary to operate the cooling cycle until the outside air temperature T3 becomes higher than the set temperature T1. Therefore, in this type of cold storage, the set temperature T1 and the outside air temperature T3 are compared, and when the outside air temperature T3 is lower, the operation such as the cooling cycle is stopped, which is a so-called energy saving mode state. Some are equipped with functions. Since the state of this energy saving mode continues until the outside air temperature T3 becomes higher than the set temperature T1, the cooling cycle operation may be stopped for a long period of several weeks or more in the cold season. is there.
In the state of the energy saving mode, since the outside air temperature T3 is lower than the set temperature T1, the cool box body is cooled by the outside air, and the inside temperature T2 may be lower than the set temperature T1.

  Even if the outside air temperature T3 is higher than the set temperature T1, if the two temperatures are close as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the main body of the cool box is stopped after the cooling cycle is stopped. Hard to be warmed by the outside air. Therefore, the temperature rise is moderate as compared with the case shown in FIG. 6A, and the stop time t1 of the cooling cycle until the internal temperature T2 reaches the set temperature upper limit T1 + ΔT becomes longer. The stop time t1 may be several hours depending on the degree of approach between the two temperatures.

When the outside air temperature is sufficiently higher than the set temperature of the cool box, the operation / stop of the cooling cycle is repeatedly performed at short intervals of several minutes to tens of minutes. Therefore, the user of this cold storage can confirm that this cold storage is operating normally if it stays next to the cold storage for at least ten minutes.
However, if the outside temperature of the cool box is lower than the set temperature set on the operation panel of the cool box, or the cool box is in the energy saving mode, or the outside temperature is higher than the set temperature, both temperatures Therefore, when the operation of the cooling cycle is stopped for a long time, the user may not be able to confirm the operation state of the cooling cycle. Therefore, there is a problem that it cannot be determined whether the cold storage is stopped according to the function of the energy saving mode or whether the cold storage is stopped because the cooling cycle is broken.

  Therefore, the present invention provides the user with the cold storage when the cold storage is in the energy saving mode or when the cooling cycle is stopped for a long time. It is an object to clearly indicate that the storage is in the energy saving mode and to inform that the stop of the operation of the cold storage is not due to a failure but according to the function of the energy saving mode of the cold storage.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the present invention, an energy-saving mode in which the operation of the compressor, the condensing fan, the internal fan and the dew-proof heater of the cold storage is stopped on the operation panel for setting the operation conditions such as the set temperature of the cold storage An energy-saving mode display unit for displaying that the state is in the state is provided.

  An outside temperature sensor for measuring the temperature outside the refrigerator is attached to the cold storage, and the outside temperature measured by the outside temperature sensor is compared with the set temperature set by the operation panel. If it is lower, the operation of the component device is stopped to enter the state of the energy saving mode, and the state of the energy saving mode can be clearly indicated by the display of the energy saving mode display unit.

  In addition, when the outside air temperature is higher than the set temperature, even when the operation of the component device has stopped for a predetermined time, the energy saving mode display unit displays the energy saving. You can clearly indicate that you are in a mode state.

  According to the present invention, the user of the cold storage room can visually confirm the display of the energy saving mode so that when the component device is stopped, the stop is not due to a failure of the compressor or the like, If the storage is stopped based on the function of the energy saving mode of the warehouse, it can be determined without hesitation.

A setting panel 1 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. The setting panel 1 includes an energy saving mode display lamp in addition to the temperature setting button 2, the set temperature display unit 3, the automatic operation button 4, the manual operation button 5, and the operation mode display lamp 6 which are also provided in the conventional setting panel. 7 is provided.
The energy saving mode display lamp 7 is (1) when the outside air temperature T3 is lower than the set temperature T1 set by the setting panel 1, or (2) when the outside air temperature T3 is higher than the set temperature T1. When the component device remains stopped for a predetermined time t2 or longer, it is turned on in any case to notify the user of this cool box that the cool box is in the energy saving mode.
The value of the predetermined time t2 is stored in a control unit that controls the operation of the cold storage at the shipping stage so that the user can input the predetermined time t2 by operating the setting panel 1. The specification can be changed.

  Instead of the energy saving mode display lamp 7, a buzzer is attached to the cool box, and the buzzer is sounded to notify that the energy saving mode is in effect.

  First, an example of the operation pattern of the cooling cycle in the case of (1) will be described with reference to FIG. In this operation pattern, the outside air temperature T3 is partially higher than the set temperature T1 (stage A), and then the outside air temperature T3 is lowered to be lower than the set temperature T1 (stage B). Is raised and becomes higher than the set temperature T1 again (stage C).

In the stage A, as usual, the cooling cycle of the compressor 8 and the like, and the operation of the dew proof heater 9 (shaded portion in the figure) and stop (the hatched portion in the figure) are repeatedly performed and determined in advance. The defrosting operation is performed every time. In this defrosting operation, with the compressor 8, the condensing fan 10 and the dew proof heater 9 stopped, only the internal fan 11 is operated and blown to the evaporator 12, and the frost adhering to the evaporator 12 is dissolved. To remove.
Since the compressor 8 and the like are stopped during the defrosting operation, the cool box is not cooled, and the temperature of the cool box increases with time. When a predetermined time has elapsed, the defrosting operation is terminated and the normal cooling operation is resumed.

Next, in the stage B, the operation of the compressor 8, the condensing fan 10, the internal fan 11, and the dew proof heater 9 is stopped, the energy saving mode display lamp 7 is lit, and the cold storage is in the energy saving mode. This is clearly indicated to the user.
In this energy-saving mode, when the internal temperature T2 becomes lower than the set temperature T1, for example, the energy-saving mode display lamp 7 blinks, and it is not abnormal even if the internal temperature T2 is lower than the set temperature T1. Can also be specified to the user.

  Further, at the stage C, the energy saving mode display lamp 7 is turned off, the cooling cycle of the compressor 8 and the like and the operation of the dew-proof heater 9 are resumed, and the normal cooling operation is resumed.

  Next, an example of the operation pattern of the cooling cycle in the case (2) will be described with reference to FIG. This operation pattern is when the outside air temperature T3 is always higher than the set temperature T1, but both temperatures are close (see FIG. 7).

Also in this case, as in the case of (1) above, the cooling cycle of the compressor 8 and the like and the operation of the dew proof heater 9 (shaded area in the figure) / stop (the shaded area in the figure) are repeated. However, since the outside air temperature T3 and the set temperature T1 are close to each other, it is difficult for the cool box body to be warmed by the outside air at the time of the stop. Therefore, the stop time t1 is longer than in the case (1).
When the stop time t1 exceeds a predetermined time t2, the energy saving mode display lamp 7 is turned on to clearly indicate to the user that the cold storage is in the energy saving mode.

  In the state of the energy saving mode shown in the above (1) and (2), it is preferable to stop the operation of the compressor 8, the condensing fan 10, the internal fan 11, and the dew proof heater 9, which have particularly large power consumption in the cold storage. However, in order to further enhance the energy saving effect, the operation of other devices such as the interior light can also be stopped.

The figure which shows one Example of the setting panel in this invention The figure which shows an example of the driving | running pattern in this invention The figure which shows the other example of the driving | running pattern in this invention Sectional view showing the structure of the refrigerator The figure which shows one Example of the setting panel in a prior art The figure which shows an example of the driving pattern in conventional technology The figure which shows the other example of the driving pattern in a prior art

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Operation panel 7 Energy saving mode display part 8 Compressor 9 Dew-proof heater 10 Condensing fan 11 Inside fan 14 Outside temperature sensor T1 Set temperature T3 Outside temperature t2 Predetermined time

Claims (3)

  In a cold storage provided with an operation panel (1) for setting operating conditions such as set temperature, the cold storage is connected to the compressor (8), the condensing fan (10), the internal fan ( 11) and an energy saving mode display section (7) for displaying that the state of the energy saving mode in which the operation of the dew proof heater (9) is stopped is provided.   The outside temperature (T3) measured by the outside temperature sensor (14) attached outside the cold storage is compared with the set temperature (T1) set by the operation panel (1), and the set temperature (T1) is compared. ) Is higher, it is determined that it is in the state of energy saving mode, and the fact that the cold storage is in the state of energy saving mode is clearly indicated by the display of the energy saving mode display section (7). The cool box as described in 1.   When the operation of the cooling cycle of the cool box is stopped for a predetermined time (t2) determined in advance, it is determined that the cool box is in the energy saving mode, and the cool box is in the energy saving mode. The cold storage according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the state is clearly indicated by the display of the energy saving mode display section (7).

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