JP2009030914A - Operation method of refrigerating cycle, and operation method of inclusion hydrate slurry manufacturing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide operation technique of a refrigerating cycle easy and inexpensive and low in energy consumption, for melting a latent heat storage material adhered to a heat exchanger for generating the latent heat storage material, and operation technique of an inclusion hydrate slurry manufacturing device for melting inclusion hydrate adhered to a heat exchanger for generating the inclusion hydrate. <P>SOLUTION: The operation method of the refrigerating cycle wherein a compressor, a condenser, a pressure reducing device, and an evaporator are successively connected by piping, and compression, condensation, reduction of the pressure and evaporation of the refrigerant passing through the piping are successively performed is provided with a process for supplying the thermal energy of the refrigerant existing in any of the compressor, the condenser, the piping connecting them, and the condenser, the pressure reducing device, and the piping connecting them to the evaporator through the piping connecting the pressure reducing device and the evaporator and/or the piping connecting the evaporator and the compressor, raising a temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator, and melting the latent heat storage material existing in the evaporator. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for melting and removing a latent heat storage material adhering to a heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger when operating a refrigeration cycle that generates a latent heat storage material by cooling with a refrigerant flowing in a heat exchanger. The latent heat storage material may be generated in an evaporator constituting the refrigeration cycle, or may be generated in a heat exchanger provided separately from the evaporator.

  The present invention cools an aqueous solution of a clathrate hydrate guest compound with a refrigerant flowing in the heat exchanger, and stably generates the clathrate hydrate from the aqueous solution or maintains the heat exchanger. It is particularly useful for producing a large amount, stably or continuously, of a clathrate hydrate slurry formed by dispersing or suspending clathrate hydrate in an aqueous solution thereof.

In the present invention, the following terms are defined or interpreted as follows.
(1) “Clusion clathrate hydrate” includes quasi clathrate hydrate.
(2) The “clathrate hydrate slurry” or “hydrate slurry” refers to a slurry-like substance formed by dispersing or suspending clathrate hydrate in an aqueous solution or aqueous solvent of the guest compound. As long as the clathrate hydrate is dispersed or suspended even if another composition (including additives) is present in the aqueous solution or water solvent, the “clathrate hydrate slurry” or “hydration” Corresponds to "Slurry".
(3) “Aqueous solution of clathrate hydrate guest compound” refers to an aqueous solution containing a guest compound of clathrate hydrate as a solute, and clathrate hydrate or another composition ( Even if an additive is present, the solution falls under the “aqueous solution of a clathrate hydrate guest compound” as long as the clathrate hydrate guest compound is an aqueous solution.
(4) “Raw material solution” refers to an aqueous solution of a clathrate hydrate guest compound that has the property of forming clathrate hydrate upon cooling.
(5) “Raw material slurry” refers to a clathrate hydrate slurry or a hydrate slurry that has the property of producing clathrate hydrates upon cooling.
(6) “Refrigerant” and “heat medium” are different in terms and terms, and have different uses such as hydrate generation and condensation, but both store and transport thermal energy. Means a substance that can.
(7) When the refrigeration cycle is such that a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by piping, and the refrigerant flowing through the piping is sequentially compressed, condensed, decompressed and evaporated, the refrigeration cycle “A compressor or a condenser and a pipe connecting them and a place of the condenser, a pressure reducing device and a pipe connecting them or in the place” may be abbreviated as a “specific region”.
(8) “Positive flow” of the refrigerant means that the refrigerant, the condenser, the decompression device, and the evaporator in the forward direction (counterclockwise in any of FIGS. 1 to 3) This means that the refrigerant flows through at least a part of the piping connecting the devices and apparatuses. “Reverse flow” means that the evaporator, the decompression device, the condenser, and the compressor are in the forward direction in the refrigeration cycle (FIG. 1). In any of the cases 3 to 3, the refrigerant flows in a clockwise direction) through at least a part of a pipe connecting these devices and apparatuses.

  When the phase change material is generated by heat exchange between the raw material of the phase change material and the refrigerant and is used as a latent heat storage material, the heat exchanger that performs the heat exchange (that is, heat for generating the latent heat storage material) The phase change material may adhere to the heat transfer surface of the exchanger and lower the heat transfer efficiency, or the attached phase change material may cause physical obstruction and blockage of piping or flow obstruction. Typical methods for solving these problems are to increase the temperature of the raw material that comes into contact with the heat exchanger (water in the production of ice and water slurries), and the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger. By raising the temperature, the adhesion of the phase change material (ice in the production of ice / water slurry) is prevented or the adhered material is melted.

For example, when ice is used as a latent heat storage material, ice attached to the heat transfer surface of a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between water and refrigerant is melted and removed by supplying room temperature water instead of refrigerant Is known (see Patent Document 1).
Also, for clathrate hydrate, which is an example of a latent heat storage material, when the clathrate hydrate is generated by cooling via a heat exchanger between the raw material solution or the raw material slurry and the refrigerant, the temperature of the refrigerant is set. It is known that the clathrate hydrate adhering to the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger is melted and removed by increasing (see Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3). In particular, Patent Document 3 discloses that a clathrate hydrate slurry is produced by cooling a raw material solution through a heat exchanger (evaporator) for generating a latent heat storage material with a refrigerant cooled to a low temperature by a refrigerator. When the circulation system of the raw material solution is clogged with clathrate hydrate, the cooling of the raw material solution is stopped as a technique for eliminating the clogging, and the refrigerator for the latent heat storage material generating heat exchanger (evaporator) A technique for melting and removing clathrate hydrate by supplying a high-temperature refrigerant therein is disclosed.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-233418 JP 2004-85008 A JP 2004-93052 A

Here, the method of quickly increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the heat exchanger for generating latent heat storage material and the method of removing the latent heat storage material adhering to the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger are simple and inexpensive, It is desirable that consumption be low.
On the other hand, a refrigeration cycle that produces thermal energy for producing a latent heat storage material is connected to a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator in sequence, and the compression, condensation, decompression, and evaporation of the refrigerant flowing through the piping are performed. When the evaporator is a heat exchanger for generating a latent heat storage material, the compressor, the condenser, and a pipe connecting them, and the condenser, the pressure reducing device, and a pipe connecting them are arranged in order. When the refrigerant present in any of the above places is in a higher temperature and pressure state than the refrigerant in the evaporator, or when the compressor is stopped or its output is reduced, the refrigerant (especially the condenser) It has been well known that the refrigerant in the pipe and the refrigerant in the pipe extending from the discharge port of the compressor to the condenser are in a higher temperature and high pressure state than the refrigerant in the evaporator. The technique disclosed in Patent Document 3 uses the thermal energy of the refrigerant for melting and removing the latent heat storage material.

  However, the technique disclosed in Patent Document 3 constitutes a refrigeration cycle by using the thermal energy of the refrigerant while continuing normal operation of the compressor without stopping the compressor or reducing its output. This method is based on a method of melting and removing latent heat storage materials by transporting them to an evaporator that requires melting and removal of latent heat storage materials through bypass piping provided separately from the piping to be used. Specifically, the high-temperature refrigerant gas is supplied from a high-temperature refrigerant gas supply bypass pipe branched from the compressor outlet pipe, or the high-temperature refrigerant liquid is melted from the latent heat storage material by a high-temperature refrigerant liquid supply bypass pipe branched from the condenser outlet pipe. Or supply to an evaporator that needs to be removed. Therefore, the apparatus for producing a latent heat storage material employing the technology disclosed in Patent Document 3 requires a high-temperature refrigerant gas supply bypass pipe or a high-temperature refrigerant liquid supply bypass pipe, and also performs melting and removal of the latent heat storage material. In addition, since the compressor is always operated at a rated output or more, the apparatus becomes complicated or expensive, and extra power is consumed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and pays attention to the thermal energy of a relatively high temperature / high pressure refrigerant present in the refrigeration cycle, and is simple and inexpensive, and has a low energy consumption. Operation technology of the refrigeration cycle that melts the latent heat storage material adhering to the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger for material generation and melting clathrate hydrate adhering to the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger for clathrate hydrate generation It aims at providing the operation technique of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the operation method of the refrigeration cycle according to the first aspect of the present invention is such that a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are connected in series by a pipe, and the refrigerant is circulated through the pipe. A method of operating a refrigeration cycle in which condensation, decompression and evaporation are sequentially performed, and any of the compressor, the condenser and a pipe connecting them, and the condenser, the pressure reducing device and a pipe connecting them The heat energy of the refrigerant present in the place is supplied to the evaporator through a pipe connecting the decompression device and the evaporator and / or a pipe connecting the evaporator and the compressor, It has a step of melting the latent heat storage material present in the evaporator by increasing the temperature of the refrigerant.

  The operation method of the refrigeration cycle according to the second aspect of the present invention is the operation method according to the first aspect, wherein the evaporator generates a latent heat storage material by exchanging heat with the refrigerant. A heat exchanger is provided.

  In the operation method of the refrigeration cycle according to the third aspect of the present invention, a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by piping, and compression, condensation, decompression, and evaporation of the refrigerant flowing through the piping are sequentially performed. A method of operating a refrigeration cycle, wherein the evaporator includes a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the heat medium that transmits heat energy to the heat exchanger for generating a latent heat storage material and the refrigerant. The compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and the heat energy of the refrigerant present in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing apparatus and the pipe connecting them, the pressure reducing apparatus and the evaporator Supplying the evaporator through a pipe connecting the evaporator and / or a pipe connecting the evaporator and the compressor, and increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator; and the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator By raising, it is characterized in further comprising the step of increasing the temperature of the heating medium to melt the latent heat storage material adhering to the heat transfer surface of the latent-heat storage material producing heat exchanger.

  The operation method of the refrigeration cycle according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the operation method according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the compression is performed by stopping the compressor or reducing its output. And the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and supplying the heat energy of the refrigerant present in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing device and the pipe connecting them to the evaporator. Is.

  The operating method of the refrigeration cycle according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is the operating method according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the compression is performed by stopping the compressor or reducing its output. The refrigerant existing in any one of the condenser, the condenser and the piping connecting them, and the condenser, the pressure reducing device and the piping connecting them is supplied to the evaporator.

  The operation method of the refrigeration cycle according to the 6-1 aspect of the present invention is the operation method of the refrigeration cycle according to the second aspect, wherein the heat exchanger for generating a latent heat storage material is a guest compound of clathrate hydrate It is a heat exchanger which produces | generates the said clathrate hydrate by cooling the aqueous solution of this with the said refrigerant | coolant.

  The operation method of the refrigeration cycle according to the 6-2 aspect of the present invention is the operation method of the refrigeration cycle according to the third aspect, wherein the latent heat storage material generating heat exchanger is a guest compound of clathrate hydrate It is a heat exchanger which produces | generates the said clathrate hydrate by cooling the aqueous solution of this with a heat medium.

  The operation method of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus according to the seventh aspect of the present invention is such that a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by a pipe, and compression and condensation of refrigerant flowing through the pipe The clathrate hydrate is generated by reducing the pressure and evaporating sequentially and cooling the aqueous solution of the clathrate hydrate guest compound by heat exchange with the refrigerant. An operation method of a clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus including a heat exchanger, the compressor, the condenser and a pipe connecting them, and the condenser, the pressure reducing apparatus, and a pipe connecting them. The heat energy of the refrigerant existing in the place is supplied to the evaporator through a pipe connecting the decompression device and the evaporator and / or a pipe connecting the evaporator and the compressor, and the inside of the evaporator Increase the temperature of the refrigerant It allows those characterized by having a step of melting the clathrate hydrate deposited on the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate-producing heat exchanger.

  The operation method of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus according to the eighth aspect of the present invention is such that a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are connected in series by a pipe, and compression and condensation of refrigerant flowing through the pipe The pressure reduction and the evaporation are sequentially performed, and the evaporator includes a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and the heat medium that transmits heat energy to the clathrate hydrate-generating heat exchanger, The clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger is a clathrate hydrate that generates an clathrate hydrate by cooling an aqueous solution of a clathrate hydrate guest compound by heat exchange with the heat medium. A method for operating a hydrate slurry production apparatus, wherein the refrigerant present in any place of the compressor, the condenser and a pipe connecting them, and the condenser, the pressure reducing apparatus and a pipe connecting them. Having the thermal energy having the pressure reducing device and the evaporator A step of increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator, and a step of increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator by supplying to the evaporator through a subsequent pipe and / or a pipe connecting the evaporator and the compressor The temperature of the heating medium is increased in order to melt the clathrate hydrate adhering to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger. is there.

  The operation method of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus according to the ninth aspect of the present invention is the operation method according to the seventh or eighth aspect, wherein the compressor is stopped or its output is reduced. Supplying the heat energy of the refrigerant existing in any place of the compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and the condenser, the pressure reducing device, and the pipe connecting them to the evaporator. It is a feature.

  The clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus operating method according to the tenth aspect of the present invention is the operating method according to the seventh or eighth aspect, wherein the compressor is stopped or its output is reduced. , The compressor, the condenser and piping connecting them, and the refrigerant present in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing device and piping connecting them to the evaporator It is.

  An operating method of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention is the operating method according to any of the seventh to tenth aspects, wherein the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus A step of measuring a parameter related to the operating state, and based on the measurement result of the parameter, the adhesion of the clathrate hydrate to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger or its indication When a change in the operating state of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus shown is detected, a step of increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator is started.

  Note that the “parameter related to the operating state of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus”, which is the measurement target, is a variable that can be measured during the operation of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus. It can be used to directly or indirectly evaluate the quality (including the presence / absence or degree of adhesion of clathrate hydrate in the heat exchanger for clathrate hydrate generation), for example, heat for clathrate hydrate generation Pressure loss of the raw material solution or raw material slurry by circulating the exchanger (differential pressure between the heat exchanger outlet and inlet), the flow rate and flow rate of the raw material solution or raw material slurry flowing to the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger, The temperature of the raw material solution at the inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger for clathrate hydrate generation, the amount of exchange heat of the raw material solution, raw material slurry or clathrate hydrate slurry in the heat exchanger for clathrate hydrate generation, clathrate Solidity of clathrate hydrate slurry extracted from heat exchanger for hydrate formation Rate (weight ratio of clathrate hydrate to clathrate hydrate slurry), temperature of refrigerant at the inlet and outlet of clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger, clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger Means at least one of the exchange heat quantity of the refrigerant and so on.

In addition, based on the measurement results of the parameters, the clathrate hydrate adheres to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger or changes in the operating state of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus showing the sign ”Is detected” means that, as a result of analyzing or evaluating measured values of parameters related to the operating state of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus, the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger It means “when the inclusion of clathrate hydrate or a change in the parameter indicating its sign is detected”. For example, the correspondence between the operating status of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus and the measured values of the above parameters, in particular the adhesion of clathrate hydrate to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger or A value range or threshold value of the parameter indicating the indication is obtained in advance, and this corresponds to a case where the measured value of the parameter is in the value range or exceeds the threshold value.
But that doesn't stop there. For example, as a result of a person who was observing the measured values or changes of the above parameters studying the measured values or changes thereof, the inclusion of clathrate hydrate on the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger for hydrate generation Or, this is the case when it is recognized based on its own experience knowledge or rule of thumb and the indication of the sign.

  An operating method of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention is the operating method according to any of the seventh to eleventh aspects, wherein the condenser is used to condense the refrigerant. The clathrate hydrate adhering to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger is melted by adjusting the temperature of the condensation heat medium supplied to the heat exchanger. Is.

  In the refrigeration cycle operating method according to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by piping, and the compression, condensation, decompression and evaporation of the refrigerant flowing through the piping are sequentially performed. A method for operating a refrigeration cycle, wherein the compressor, the condenser, and a pipe connecting them, and a part of the refrigerant existing in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing device, and a pipe connecting them. In a reverse direction, and at least a part of the remaining portion is forward-flowed and supplied into the evaporator to raise the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator.

  A refrigeration cycle operation method according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention is the refrigeration cycle operation method according to the thirteenth aspect, wherein the evaporator generates a latent heat storage material by heat exchange with the refrigerant. A heat exchanger is provided.

  In the operating method of the refrigeration cycle according to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by piping, and compression, condensation, decompression and evaporation of the refrigerant flowing through the piping are sequentially performed. A method of operating a refrigeration cycle, wherein the evaporator includes a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the heat medium that transmits heat energy to the heat exchanger for generating a latent heat storage material and the refrigerant. , The compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and the refrigerant, the decompression device, and a part of the refrigerant existing in any place of the piping connecting them back flow, and at least a part of the remaining part And supplying the refrigerant into the evaporator to increase the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator, and increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator, thereby generating the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger. Heat transfer surface It is characterized in further comprising the step of increasing the temperature of the heating medium to melt the latent heat storage material deposited.

  A refrigeration cycle operating method according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention is the operating method according to any of the thirteenth to fifteenth aspects, wherein the compressor is stopped or the output thereof is reduced by stopping the compressor. And the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and supplying the heat energy of the refrigerant present in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing device and the pipe connecting them to the evaporator. Is.

  A refrigeration cycle operating method according to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention is the operating method according to any of the thirteenth to fifteenth aspects, wherein the compressor is stopped or the output is reduced by stopping the compressor. The refrigerant existing in any one of the condenser, the condenser and the piping connecting them, and the condenser, the pressure reducing device and the piping connecting them is supplied to the evaporator.

  The operating method of the refrigeration cycle according to the eighteenth aspect of the present invention is the operating method according to the fourteenth aspect, wherein the latent heat storage material generating heat exchanger uses an aqueous solution of clathrate hydrate guest compound. A clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger for generating the clathrate hydrate by cooling with the refrigerant, and the operation method according to the fifteenth aspect, wherein the latent heat storage material generating heat exchange The vessel is a clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger for generating the clathrate hydrate by cooling an aqueous solution of the clathrate hydrate guest compound with the heat medium. is there.

  The operation method of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus according to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention is such that a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by piping, and compression and condensation of refrigerant flowing through the piping The clathrate hydrate is generated by reducing the pressure and evaporating sequentially and cooling the aqueous solution of the clathrate hydrate guest compound by heat exchange with the refrigerant. An operation method of a clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus including a heat exchanger, the compressor, the condenser and a pipe connecting them, and the condenser, the pressure reducing apparatus, and a pipe connecting them. The heat energy of the refrigerant existing in the place is supplied to the evaporator through a pipe connecting the decompression device and the evaporator and / or a pipe connecting the evaporator and the compressor, and the inside of the evaporator Raised the temperature of the refrigerant The Rukoto, is characterized in further comprising the step of melting the clathrate hydrate deposited on the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate-producing heat exchanger.

  The clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus operating method according to the twentieth aspect of the present invention is such that a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by piping, and compression and condensation of refrigerant flowing through the piping are performed. The pressure reduction and the evaporation are sequentially performed, and the evaporator includes a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and the heat medium that transmits heat energy to the clathrate hydrate-generating heat exchanger, The clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger is a clathrate hydrate that generates an clathrate hydrate by cooling an aqueous solution of a clathrate hydrate guest compound by heat exchange with the heat medium. A method for operating a hydrate slurry production apparatus, wherein the refrigerant present in any place of the compressor, the condenser and a pipe connecting them, and the condenser, the pressure reducing apparatus and a pipe connecting them. And having the thermal energy having the pressure reducing device and the evaporator Supplying the evaporator through a pipe to be connected and / or a pipe to connect the evaporator and the compressor, and increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator; and increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator The temperature of the heating medium is increased in order to melt the clathrate hydrate adhering to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger. is there.

  The operating method of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus according to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention is the operating method according to the nineteenth or twentieth aspect, wherein the compressor is stopped or its output is reduced. Supplying the heat energy of the refrigerant existing in any place of the compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and the condenser, the pressure reducing device, and the pipe connecting them to the evaporator. It is a feature.

  The operation method of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus according to the twenty-second aspect of the present invention is the operation method according to the nineteenth or twentieth aspect, wherein the compressor is stopped or its output is reduced. , The compressor, the condenser and piping connecting them, and the refrigerant present in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing device and piping connecting them to the evaporator It is.

  An operating method of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus according to the twenty-third aspect of the present invention is the operating method according to any of the nineteenth to twenty-second aspects, wherein the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus is A step of measuring a parameter related to the operating state, and based on the measurement result of the parameter, the adhesion of the clathrate hydrate to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger or its indication When a change in the operating state of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus shown is detected, a step of increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator is started.

  The operating method of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus according to the twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention is the operating method according to any of the nineteenth to twenty-third aspects, wherein the condenser is used to condense the refrigerant. The clathrate hydrate adhering to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger is melted by adjusting the temperature of the condensation heat medium supplied to the heat exchanger. Is.

  The method for raising the temperature of the clathrate hydrate generating refrigerant according to the twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention flows through a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by piping, A method for raising the temperature of a refrigerant that exchanges heat with an aqueous solution of a clathrate hydrate guest compound in the evaporator, the compressor, the condenser, piping connecting them, the condenser, the pressure reducing device, and Thermal energy of refrigerant existing in any place of piping connecting them is connected to the evaporator through the pressure-reducing device and the evaporator and / or piping connecting the evaporator and the compressor. It has the process of supplying to.

  The clathrate hydrate generating refrigerant temperature rising method according to the twenty-sixth aspect of the present invention is a refrigerant that circulates in a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by piping. This is a method for raising the temperature of a clathrate hydrate generating refrigerant that exchanges heat with an aqueous solution of a clathrate hydrate guest compound in a clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger in response to the transmission of heat energy of the clathrate hydrate. The evaporator includes a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the heat medium that transmits heat energy to the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger and the refrigerant, and the heat medium It is a heating medium that transmits thermal energy of the refrigerant to the clathrate hydrate generating refrigerant itself or the clathrate hydrate generating refrigerant, and the compressor, the condenser, a pipe connecting them, and the condensation One of the vacuum vessel, the pressure reducing device and the pipe connecting them The heat energy of the refrigerant present in the place is supplied to the evaporator through a pipe connecting the decompressor and the evaporator and / or a pipe connecting the evaporator and the compressor, The method includes a step of increasing the temperature of the refrigerant, and a step of increasing the temperature of the heat medium by increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator.

  A clathrate hydrate-generating refrigerant temperature raising method according to a twenty-seventh aspect of the present invention is the temperature raising method according to the twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth aspect, wherein the compressor is stopped or its output is reduced. Thus, the compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and the heat energy of the refrigerant existing in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing device and the pipe connecting them are supplied to the evaporator. It is characterized by this.

  A clathrate hydrate generating refrigerant temperature rising method according to a twenty-eighth aspect of the present invention is the temperature rising method according to the twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth aspect, wherein the compressor is stopped or its output is reduced. The refrigerant, the condenser, the pipe connecting them, and the refrigerant existing in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing device and the pipe connecting them are supplied to the evaporator. To do.

  A clathrate hydrate-generating refrigerant temperature raising method according to a twenty-ninth aspect of the present invention is the temperature raising method according to the twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth aspect, wherein the compressor is stopped or its output is reduced. Thus, the compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and a part of the refrigerant existing in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing device and the pipe connecting them are back flowed, and at least the remaining part A part is made to flow forward and supplied to the evaporator.

  A method for raising the temperature of a clathrate hydrate producing refrigerant according to a thirtieth aspect of the present invention is the temperature rise method according to any of the twenty-fifth to twenty-ninth aspects, wherein the clathrate hydrate is produced. A step of measuring a parameter related to an operating state of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus including the heat exchanger, and a heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger based on a measurement result of the parameter Starting the step of increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator when the clathrate hydrate adheres to the clathrate hydrate or a change in the operating state of the clathrate hydrate slurry production apparatus showing signs thereof is detected. It is characterized by.

  A temperature rising method for a clathrate hydrate generating refrigerant according to a thirty-first aspect of the present invention is the temperature rising method according to any one of the twenty-fifth to thirtieth aspects, wherein the refrigerant is condensed in order to condense the refrigerant. The method comprises the step of melting the clathrate hydrate adhering to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger by adjusting the temperature of the condensation heat medium supplied to the condenser. It is what.

  In the clathrate hydrate removal method according to the thirty-second aspect of the present invention, a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by piping, and compression, condensation, decompression, and cooling of the refrigerant flowing through the piping are performed. Evaporation is performed sequentially, and the evaporator is generated by operating a refrigeration cycle having a clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the clathrate hydrate guest compound aqueous solution. A method for removing clathrate hydrate adhering to a heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger, the compressor, the condenser, piping connecting them, and the condenser The heat energy of the refrigerant present in any place of the decompression device and the piping connecting them is connected to the piping connecting the decompression device and the evaporator and / or the evaporator and the compressor. Provided to the evaporator through piping And the clathrate hydrate adhering to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger is melted by increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator. Is.

  According to the thirty-third embodiment of the clathrate hydrate removal method, a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by a pipe, and the refrigerant flowing through the pipe is compressed, condensed, decompressed, and A refrigeration cycle comprising a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger that sequentially performs evaporation, and wherein the evaporator exchanges heat between the heat medium that transmits heat energy to the clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger and the refrigerant. A method for removing clathrate hydrate generated by operation and adhering to a heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger, the compressor, the condenser, and connecting them The piping and the condenser, the decompression device, and the piping and / or the evaporator and the compression that connect the decompression device and the evaporator with heat energy of refrigerant present in any place of the piping connecting them Through the pipe connecting the machine And increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator, and increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator, thereby increasing the heat transfer of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger. In order to melt the clathrate hydrate adhering to the surface, the method has a step of increasing the temperature of the heat medium.

  A clathrate hydrate removal method according to a thirty-fourth aspect of the present invention is the removal method according to the thirty-second or thirty-third aspect, wherein the compression is stopped by stopping the compressor or reducing its output. And the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and supplying the heat energy of the refrigerant present in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing device and the pipe connecting them to the evaporator. Is.

  The clathrate hydrate removal method according to the thirty-fifth aspect of the present invention is the removal method according to the thirty-second or thirty-third aspect, wherein the compression is stopped by stopping the compressor or reducing its output. The refrigerant existing in any one of the condenser, the condenser and the piping connecting them, and the condenser, the pressure reducing device and the piping connecting them is supplied to the evaporator.

  A clathrate hydrate removal method according to a thirty-sixth aspect of the present invention is the temperature raising method according to the thirty-second or thirty-third aspect, wherein the compressor is stopped or the output thereof is reduced. A part of the refrigerant existing in any place of the compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and the condenser, the pressure reducing device, and the pipe connecting them is made to flow backward, and at least a part of the remaining part is made normal. It is made to flow and it supplies to the said evaporator.

  A clathrate hydrate removal method according to a thirty-seventh aspect of the present invention is the removal method according to any of the thirty-second to thirty-sixth aspects, comprising the heat exchanger for clathrate hydrate generation. A step of measuring a parameter related to the operating state of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus, and the clathrate to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger based on the measurement result of the parameter A process of increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator is started when a change in the operating state of the clathrate hydrate slurry production apparatus showing adhesion or indication of hydrate is detected. It is.

  A clathrate hydrate removal method according to a thirty-eighth aspect of the present invention is the removal method according to any of the thirty-second to thirty-seventh aspects, wherein the clathrate hydrate removal method is supplied to the condenser to condense the refrigerant. Adjusting the temperature of the heat medium for condensing to melt the clathrate hydrate adhering to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger. .

<Basic principle of the present invention>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the basic principle of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator, which are devices for constituting a refrigeration cycle, are connected by piping.
In the refrigeration cycle, immediately after the compressor is in operation or immediately after it is stopped, the refrigerant present in any place of the compressor, the condenser and the piping connecting them, and the condenser, the decompression device, and the piping connecting them is the evaporator. It has higher pressure and higher heat energy than the internal refrigerant. As described above, a region where the refrigerant having higher pressure and higher temperature thermal energy than the refrigerant in the evaporator is present during operation of the compressor or immediately after it is stopped is referred to as a specific region, and is indicated by a gray portion in FIG.

  If the valve in the piping from the evaporator to the compressor and the condenser is not closed immediately after the compressor is stopped or when the output of the compressor is reduced, it exists in the compressor, the condenser and the piping connecting them. Since the refrigerant to be performed has a higher pressure than the refrigerant in the evaporator, the refrigerant flows back to the evaporator having a low pressure. As a result, a refrigerant having high-pressure and high-temperature heat energy can be supplied to the evaporator, and the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator can be raised.

  Also, if the valve in the piping from the condenser to the decompression device and the evaporator is not closed immediately after the compressor is stopped or when the output of the compressor is reduced, the condenser, the decompression device, and the piping connecting them Since the refrigerant present in the refrigerant has a higher pressure than the refrigerant in the evaporator, it moves in a positive direction to the evaporator having a low pressure. As a result, a refrigerant having high-pressure and high-temperature heat energy can be supplied to the evaporator, and the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator can be raised.

  Also, immediately after the compressor is stopped or when the output of the compressor is reduced, the valves in the piping from the evaporator to the compressor and the condenser and the valves in the piping from the condenser to the decompression device and the evaporator are closed. If not, the refrigerant present in any place (specific area) of the compressor, the condenser and the piping connecting them, and the condenser, the decompression device and the piping connecting them is higher than the refrigerant in the evaporator. Therefore, a part of the refrigerant flows back to the low pressure evaporator, and at least a part of the remaining part moves in the forward direction. As a result, a refrigerant having high-pressure and high-temperature heat energy can be supplied to the evaporator, and the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator can be raised.

When the evaporator is equipped with a heat exchanger for generating latent heat storage material and the heat exchanger for generating latent heat storage material is a clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger, an aqueous solution of the clathrate hydrate guest compound is used as a refrigerant. The clathrate hydrate is produced as a latent heat storage material by cooling with heat exchange.
In this case, in order to melt the latent heat storage material adhering to the heat transfer surface of the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger, the heat energy of the refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator as described above, and the refrigerant in the evaporator The temperature can be increased.

<When the evaporator is equipped with a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger>
FIG. 2 shows a basic principle of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, and further includes a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger in which an evaporator performs heat exchange between a heat medium and a refrigerant whose heat energy is transmitted to a heat exchanger for generating a latent heat storage material. It is explanatory drawing of the basic principle which added providing.

When the heat medium is heat-exchanged by the refrigerant in the refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger provided in the evaporator to be cooled, and the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger is a clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger, In the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger, the clathrate hydrate guest compound aqueous solution is cooled by heat exchange with a heat medium to produce clathrate hydrate as a latent heat storage material.
In order to melt the latent heat storage material adhering to the heat transfer surface of the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger, the thermal energy of the refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator as described above, and the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator is increased. In addition, the temperature of the heat medium in the heat exchanger for generating latent heat storage material can be increased by increasing the temperature of the heat medium by heat exchange with the refrigerant.

  In each of the first, third, fourth, seventh, eighth, twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth, thirty-second and thirty-third forms of the present invention, “the compressor, the condenser, and the pipes connecting these, A pipe connecting the pressure reducing device and the evaporator and / or the evaporator and the compressor with the heat energy of the refrigerant existing in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing device and the pipe connecting them; There is no particular limitation on the method of “supplying the evaporator through a pipe connecting the” as long as the effects of the present invention are exhibited. In this method, (a) the refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator through a separately provided pipe and circulated in the evaporator. (B) the heat medium is exchanged with another refrigerant through at least one heat exchange. Transmit thermal energy, supply the other heat medium to the evaporator, and circulate it in the evaporator. (C) Make a part or all of the refrigerant reverse flow or forward flow or reverse flow and forward flow Even if an additional device such as (d) transferring the energy of the refrigerant to the evaporator through a heat transfer member that is thermally connected to the refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator, As long as the effects of the present invention are exhibited, the technical idea of the present invention is included.

  The “piping connecting the decompression device and the evaporator” does not have to be the entire piping connecting the decompression device and the evaporator, and may be a part thereof. Even if there is any device, equipment, or appliance between the decompression device and the evaporator, the decompression device and the evaporator may be connected by piping through the device, equipment, or appliance. For example, a part or all of the piping corresponds to “a piping connecting the decompression device and the evaporator”. However, “a compressor, a condenser, a pressure reducing device, and an evaporator are connected by a pipe in order, and provided separately from the pipe in a refrigeration cycle in which compression, condensation, pressure reduction and evaporation of refrigerant flowing through the pipe are sequentially performed. Bypass piping, which supplies the evaporator with the heat energy of the compressor, the condenser, the piping connecting them, and the refrigerant present in any place of the condenser, the decompression device, and the piping connecting them. (That is, bypass piping as disclosed in Patent Document 3) does not correspond to this.

  Further, the “pipe connecting the evaporator and the compressor” does not have to be the entire pipe connecting the evaporator and the compressor, but may be a part thereof. Even if there is any device, equipment, or appliance between the evaporator and the compressor, the evaporator and the compressor may be connected by piping through the device, equipment, or appliance. For example, a part or all of the piping corresponds to “a piping connecting the evaporator and the compressor”. However, “a compressor, a condenser, a pressure reducing device, and an evaporator are connected by a pipe in order, and provided separately from the pipe in a refrigeration cycle in which compression, condensation, pressure reduction and evaporation of refrigerant flowing through the pipe are sequentially performed. Bypass piping, which supplies the evaporator with the heat energy of the compressor, the condenser, the piping connecting them, and the refrigerant present in any place of the condenser, the decompression device, and the piping connecting them. (That is, bypass piping as disclosed in Patent Document 3) does not correspond to this.

  Further, in each of the fifth, tenth, twenty-eighth and thirty-fifth aspects of the present invention, “the compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and the condenser, the pressure reducing device and the pipe connecting them”. There is no particular limitation on the technique of “returning the refrigerant present in any place and supplying it to the evaporator” as long as the effects of the present invention are exhibited. Of course, this method is based on the premise that at least a part of the refrigerant flows back through the piping constituting the refrigeration cycle and is supplied to the evaporator. For example, (a) the refrigerant is provided separately. (B) supplying at least a part of the remaining portion of the refrigerant backflowing to the evaporator (thus not backflowing) to the evaporator and supplying it to the evaporator. Additional devices such as supplying the energy of the refrigerant to the evaporator through a heat transfer member that is thermally connected to the remaining refrigerant may be applied.

  Further, in each of the thirteenth, fifteenth, nineteenth, twentieth, twenty-ninth and thirty-sixth aspects of the present invention, “the compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, the condenser, the pressure reducing device, and The method of causing a part of the refrigerant existing in any place of the pipe connecting these components to flow backward and at least a part of the remaining refrigerant to flow forward to supply to the evaporator ”has the effect of the present invention. As long as there is no particular limitation. Of course, this method is based on the premise that at least a part of the refrigerant flows forward through the piping constituting the refrigeration cycle, and the remaining part flows backward to be supplied to the evaporator. ) Supplying the refrigerant to the evaporator through a separately provided pipe, (b) Additional energy such as supplying energy of the refrigerant to the evaporator via a heat transfer member thermally connected to the refrigerant You may give a device.

  Further, the “heat medium for transferring thermal energy to the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger” in each of the third and fifteenth aspects of the present invention is a heat that directly supplies thermal energy to the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger. The heat medium is not limited to the medium, and may be a heat medium that supplies the heat energy to the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger finally or as a result via another heat medium or a heat transfer member. The same applies to the “heat medium for transferring thermal energy to the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger” in each of the eighth, twentieth, twenty-sixth and thirty-third embodiments of the present invention. The heat energy is not limited to the heat medium that directly supplies heat energy to the heat exchanger, but the heat energy is finally or eventually supplied to the heat exchanger for generating latent heat storage material via another heat medium or heat transfer member. It may be a heat medium. For example, the compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and the heat energy of the refrigerant existing in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing device and the pipe connecting them is at least once with the refrigerant. When the heat medium is transferred to another heat medium through the heat exchange and supplied to the heat exchanger for generating a heat storage material, the other heat medium “heat energy is transferred to the heat exchanger for generating a latent heat storage material”. If the latent heat storage material is clathrate hydrate, it corresponds to “heat medium that transmits thermal energy to the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger”.

"Parameters related to operating state of clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus" and "heat exchanger for clathrate hydrate generation based on parameter measurement results" in each of the 23rd, 30th and 37th aspects of the present invention The meaning of “when detecting the adhesion of clathrate hydrate to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate or the change in the operating state of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus showing signs thereof” means the meaning of those in the eleventh embodiment. The same.
Further, the “condenser” in each of the twelfth, twenty-fourth, thirty-first and thirty-eighth aspects of the present invention normally constitutes a circulation cycle of the heat medium for condensation together with the cooling tower and the pump. In this case, a typical example of the heat medium for condensation is water.

(A) The evaporator constituting the refrigeration cycle or the heat exchanger included in the evaporator is a heat exchanger for generating a latent heat storage material that exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing in the evaporator and the raw material of the phase change material. Can function as. Further, when a heat exchanger for generating a latent heat storage material is provided outside the refrigeration cycle, the evaporator or the heat exchanger included in the evaporator is provided inside the heat exchanger for generating the latent heat storage material and the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator. Thus, it can function as a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the raw material of the phase change material and the heat medium that exchanges heat. And even if it is a case where an evaporator or a heat exchanger with which it functions as a heat exchanger for generating a latent heat storage material (for example, refer to the first, second, thirteenth and fourteenth aspects of the present invention), the refrigerant / Even if it functions as a heat medium heat exchanger (see, for example, the third, eighth, fifteenth and twentieth aspects of the present invention), the latent heat storage material is present on the heat transfer surface of the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger. If attached, it may cause various troubles, and it is necessary to melt and remove them.

  On the other hand, in a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by piping, and the refrigerant flowing through the piping is sequentially compressed, condensed, decompressed, and evaporated, its operating state In the compressor, the condenser and the piping connecting them, and the condenser, the pressure reducing device, and the piping connecting them at any place (that is, in a specific region), the refrigerant has a higher temperature and pressure than the evaporator. Exists. Immediately after the compressor is stopped or when the output of the compressor is reduced, such a relatively high temperature / high pressure refrigerant exists in the specific region.

  Therefore, the thermal energy of the relatively high temperature / high pressure refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator through a pipe connecting the decompression device and the evaporator and / or a pipe connecting the evaporator and the compressor. This thermal energy is transmitted to the heat transfer surface of the latent heat storage material generating heat exchanger, and the latent heat storage material adhering to the heat transfer surface is melted.

More specifically, when the evaporator or the heat exchanger provided therein functions as a heat exchanger for generating a latent heat storage material (for example, refer to the first, second, thirteenth and fourteenth aspects of the present invention), the comparison The heat energy of the high-temperature / high-pressure refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator, the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator is raised to the melting point of the latent heat storage material or higher, and the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger for generating the latent heat storage material And the latent heat storage material adhering to the heat transfer surface is melted.
Further, when the evaporator or the heat exchanger provided therein functions as a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger (see, for example, the third, eighth, fifteenth and twentieth aspects of the present invention), the thermal energy Thus, the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator is increased, the temperature of the heat medium exchanging heat with the refrigerant is increased, and the temperature of the refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger, and thus the temperature of the heat medium is increased. Then, by directly or indirectly supplying the heat energy of the heat medium to the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger provided outside the refrigeration cycle, the temperature of the heat transfer surface of the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger is increased. The latent heat storage material adhering to the heat transfer surface is melted.
Such a melting action of the latent heat storage material is a result of utilizing the heat energy originally present in the refrigeration cycle and the piping constituting the refrigeration cycle, and is a remarkable device, apparatus, piping, etc. (disclosed in Patent Document 3). In other words, it is simple and inexpensive, and the energy consumption is low.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger for generating a latent heat storage material, which is simple and inexpensive and has low energy consumption, by supplying the evaporator with the heat energy of the refrigerant existing in the specific region. Refrigeration cycle operation technology (first to sixth and thirteenth to eighteenth aspects of the present invention) for melting the latent heat storage material adhering to the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger for clathrate hydrate generation Operation technology of clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus for melting adhering clathrate hydrate (seventh, twelfth and nineteenth to twenty-fourth aspects of the present invention), A temperature raising technique (25th to 31st aspects of the present invention) and a clathrate hydrate removal technique (32nd and 38th aspects of the present invention) can be realized.

  In the case where the evaporator or the heat exchanger provided therein functions as a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger, the heat energy of the heat medium is indirectly supplied to the heat exchanger for generating a latent heat storage material provided outside the refrigeration cycle. There is no particular limitation on the method of supplying the material as long as the effects of the present invention are exhibited. Specific examples of this method are (a) supplying the heat medium to the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger through a separately provided pipe, and circulating the heat medium in the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger. The heat energy is transmitted to another heat medium through at least one heat exchange with the heat medium, the other heat medium is supplied to the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger, and the latent heat storage material generation heat exchange is performed. And (c) transferring the energy of the heat medium to the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger through a heat transfer member that is thermally connected to the heat medium.

  In the present invention, when the thermal energy of the refrigerant existing in the specific region of the refrigeration cycle is supplied to the evaporator, the refrigerant is supplied through the piping constituting the refrigeration cycle, that is, using the configuration of the refrigeration cycle as it is. If it is moved, it is preferable because it becomes simpler and cheaper (for example, the first, third, seventh, eighth, thirteenth, fifteenth, nineteenth, twentieth, twenty-fifth, twenty-sixth, (Refer to each of the 29th, 32nd, 33rd and 36th forms). The direction in which the refrigerant is moved through the piping constituting the refrigeration cycle varies depending on, for example, the structure of the refrigeration system (for example, the type and structure of the decompression device) and the manner of operation, but the forward flow direction, the reverse flow direction, and both directions Either is acceptable. The same can be said for the following case (B).

(B) When the compressor is stopped or the output is reduced during the operation of the refrigeration cycle (for example, the fourth, fifth, ninth, tenth, sixteenth, seventeenth, twenty-seventh to twenty-seventh to thirty-seventh aspects of the present invention). (Refer to each of the 29th and 34th thirty-sixth and thirty-six forms) In the specific region, the vapor of the refrigerant in a relatively high temperature / high pressure state moves to a relatively low temperature / low pressure state. The direction of movement may be a forward flow direction, a reverse flow direction, or both directions, depending on the structure of the refrigeration cycle (for example, the type and structure of the decompression device) and the operation. It depends on how you do it. However, since the evaporator exists on the low temperature / low pressure side that is the destination of the movement, the refrigerant vapor in the relatively high temperature / high pressure state eventually moves to the evaporator. . Therefore, whether the evaporator or the heat exchanger provided therein functions as a heat exchanger for generating a latent heat storage material, or functions as a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger, a relatively high temperature and high pressure state. The heat energy of the refrigerant in is transferred to the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger for generating latent heat storage material, and the latent heat storage material adhering to the heat transfer surface is melted.

More specifically, when the evaporator or the heat exchanger included in the evaporator functions as a heat exchanger for generating a latent heat storage material, the heat energy of the relatively high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator, and the evaporator The temperature of the refrigerant inside is increased to the melting point of the latent heat storage material or higher, the temperature of the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger for generating the latent heat storage material is increased, and the latent heat storage material attached to the heat transfer surface To melt.
In addition, when the evaporator or the heat exchanger included in the evaporator functions as a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger, the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator is increased by the thermal energy, and heat is exchanged with the refrigerant. The temperature of the medium is increased to increase the temperature of the refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger, and thus the temperature of the heat medium. Then, by directly or indirectly supplying the heat energy of the heat medium to the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger provided outside the refrigeration cycle, the temperature of the heat transfer surface of the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger is increased. The latent heat storage material adhering to the heat transfer surface is melted.
Such melting of the latent heat storage material is the result of using the heat energy originally present in the refrigeration cycle, and does not require any special equipment, equipment, piping, etc., so it is simple and inexpensive and has low energy consumption. . In addition, it can be realized by the operation that is normally performed in the refrigeration cycle such as stopping the compressor or reducing the output, and it can be realized by using the configuration of the refrigeration cycle that is a specific area and a pipe that connects the specific area and the evaporator as it is. And cheap.
Further, it is not necessary to operate the compressor at a rated output or higher even during the melting operation of the latent heat storage material as disclosed in Patent Document 3, and no extra power is consumed.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, the thermal energy of the refrigerant existing in the specific region is supplied to the evaporator by stopping the compressor or reducing its output, so that it is simpler and less expensive and consumes energy. Operating technology of the refrigeration cycle (fourth, fifth, sixteenth and seventeenth aspects of the present invention) for melting the latent heat storage material adhered to the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger for generating the latent heat storage material, and Operation technology of clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus for melting clathrate hydrate adhered to heat transfer surface of clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger (9th and 10th aspects of the present invention), Heating technology of refrigerant in clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger (27th to 29th aspects of the present invention) and clathrate hydrate adhering to clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger The removal technique (the 34th to 36th aspects of the present invention) can be realized.

(C) The present invention is characterized in that the heat energy of the refrigerant existing in a specific region of the refrigeration cycle is supplied to the evaporator. However, the ease of collecting the refrigerant (and hence the large amount of heat energy). When paying attention, it is effective to supply the evaporator with the heat energy of the refrigerant existing in any place of the compressor and the condenser and the piping connecting them in the specific region, especially in the condenser. It can be said that it is more effective to supply the heat energy of the existing refrigerant to the evaporator.

  In the present invention, the execution of the process of supplying the evaporator with the thermal energy of the refrigerant existing in the specific region of the refrigeration cycle may be a long time or a short time. For example, when the process is performed in order to remove the latent heat storage material attached to the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger (see the thirty-second to thirty-eighth aspects of the present invention), the attached latent heat storage material The goal is achieved even when the is removed, and it is not necessary to continue to do so after achieving that goal. In such a case, the execution of the process may be stopped at the stage where the latent heat storage material is removed, and the execution of the process is stopped in a short time. In addition, for example, the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus that has been operating stably and continuously fails or malfunctions, and the cause is clathrate water to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger. When there is a possibility of the attachment of a Japanese product or when the possibility is suspected, the process is carried out in an attempt, and then the inclusion is performed by returning to the original operating condition or an operating condition close to the original condition. There may be an operation method in which the operation of the hydrate slurry production apparatus is continued and the state is observed. The execution of the process in such a case is clearly temporary.

(D) In addition to the above, the specific effects achieved by the present invention are as follows.
(D-1)
In the present invention, even if the evaporator or the heat exchanger provided therein functions as a heat exchanger for generating latent heat storage materials, it functions as a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger and generates latent heat storage materials outside the refrigeration cycle. Even if a heat exchanger is provided, the temperature of the refrigerant or heat medium in the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger is raised, and the latent heat storage material attached to the heat transfer surface of the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger is melted. Can be removed. For example, in each of the twenty-seventh to twenty-ninth and thirty-fourth to thirty-sixth aspects of the present invention, the latent heat is obtained simply by operating the compressor so as to stop or reduce the output of the compressor constituting the refrigeration cycle. The latent heat storage material adhering to the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger for generating heat storage material can be melted and removed. This means that deposits that hinder stable operation of the heat exchanger for generating latent heat storage materials can be easily melted and removed. Therefore, according to the present invention, when a change occurs in the operation status of the latent heat storage material manufacturing and manufacturing apparatus, it becomes easy to improve this. This is beneficial when aiming for stable continuous production of clathrate hydrate slurry.

(D-2)
In each of the eleventh, twenty-third and thirtieth aspects of the present invention, the present invention is based on the measurement results of the parameters related to the operating state of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus including the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger. When it is detected that the clathrate hydrate adheres to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate production heat exchanger or changes in the operating state of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus showing signs thereof, the inside of the evaporator Increase the temperature of the refrigerant. This prevents the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus from malfunctioning or malfunctioning due to the clathrate hydrate adhering to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger. When this malfunctions or malfunctions, temporarily raise the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator and remove some or all of the deposits to the original operating conditions or conditions. The operation of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus can be continued by returning to near operating conditions. At this time, as described in (D-1) above, the deposits that hinder the stable operation of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus can be easily melted and removed. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to realize a stable continuous production of clathrate hydrate slurry.

(D-3)
In each of the twelfth, twenty-fourth, thirty-first and thirty-eighth aspects of the present invention, the refrigerant present in the condenser is adjusted by adjusting the temperature of the aggregating refrigerant supplied to the aggregator constituting the refrigeration cycle. The temperature of the (liquid or steam) is not lowered or is made higher. Thus, even when the evaporator or the heat exchanger provided therein functions as a heat exchanger for generating latent heat storage materials, it functions as a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger and heat exchange for generating latent heat storage materials outside the refrigeration cycle. If the refrigerant present in the condenser is moved to a relatively low temperature / low pressure state, particularly to the evaporator, the refrigerant in the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger or The temperature of the heat medium is raised, and the latent heat storage material adhered to the heat transfer surface of the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger can be melted and removed.
(To adjust the temperature of the condensing heat medium supplied to the condenser, the operation of the cooling tower and pump is adjusted in the condensing heat medium circulation cycle composed of the condenser, cooling tower and pump. do it.

  In these forms, the latent heat storage material attached to the heat transfer surface of the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger is adjusted by adjusting the temperature of the aggregating refrigerant without operating the compressor constituting the refrigeration cycle. Can be melted and removed. How to adjust the temperature of the refrigerant in the condenser varies depending on the outside air temperature and other conditions, such as the physical properties, type, and quantity of the latent heat storage material, the type and structure of the heat exchanger for generating the latent heat storage material.

  For example, when the latent heat storage material adheres to the heat transfer surface of the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger and the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than the melting point of the latent heat storage material, the cooling tower fan and the cooling water pump are started. The heat medium for condensing (for example, water) is generally raised to the outside temperature (exactly the outside air wet bulb temperature), and the temperature of the refrigerant in the condenser, and thus the refrigerant or heat in the heat exchanger for generating the latent heat storage material The temperature of the medium is also raised to the outside temperature. Thereby, the latent heat storage material adhering to the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger for generating latent heat storage material can be melted and removed when the temperature reaches the melting point or higher of the latent heat storage material.

  Melting and removing the latent heat storage material adhering to the heat transfer surface of the latent heat storage material generation heat exchanger by adjusting the temperature of the coagulation refrigerant without operating the compressor constituting the refrigeration cycle Can do.

  The following examples illustrate the invention.

In this embodiment, the evaporator 9 or the heat exchanger provided therein is a clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger.
<Description of the device>
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. A compressor unit driven by the electric motor 1, a condenser 5, a pressure reducing device 7 (orifice or flow rate adjusting valve), an evaporator 9 and a pipe 11 connecting them constitute a refrigerator unit, which starts the refrigerator unit. This constitutes the refrigeration cycle. An inlet guide vane 13 is provided on the suction side of the compressor 3.

The compressor 3 is preferably a centrifugal compressor, but is not limited thereto. When the compressor 3 is a centrifugal type, the decompression device 7 is often an orifice.
In addition, a cooling water pipe 15 for circulating cooling water is connected to the condenser 5, and a cooling water pump 17 and a cooling tower 19 are installed in the cooling water pipe 15. The condenser 5, the cooling tower 19, the cooling water pump 17, and the cooling water pipe 15 connecting them constitute a circulation cycle of the heat medium for condensation (water).
The clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 9 corresponding to the evaporator 9 constituting the refrigeration cycle is a shell-and-tube type heat exchanger, and forms the main part of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus. A raw material solution or a raw material slurry is supplied to the tube side of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger, and the raw material solution or the raw material is supplied via the heat transfer surface of the tube by the cold heat when the shell-side Freon refrigerant (here, R134a) evaporates. The slurry is cooled. This cooling produces clathrate hydrate. The clathrate hydrate slurry is produced by dispersing or suspending the produced clathrate hydrate in the raw material solution or the raw slurry.

  The raw material flow path 21 for supplying the raw material solution or the raw material slurry to the tube side of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 9 is a tank 23 for storing the raw material solution or the raw material slurry (the raw material solution is stored at the start of production). ) And a supply pump 25 provided on the downstream side of the tank 23. When the clathrate hydrate slurry is used as a heat storage agent or a cold transport medium for the heat storage type air conditioning system, the tank 23 stores the clathrate hydrate slurry as a heat storage tank, and the air utilization operation includes clathrate water. Supply Japanese slurry.

  Although not shown, the condenser 5 and the evaporator 9 are provided with a pressure gauge and a thermometer, and a thermometer, a differential pressure gauge, and a flow meter are also provided at the inlet and outlet of the clathrate hydrate slurry side of the evaporator 9. Etc. are provided.

In the refrigeration cycle configured as described above, the high-temperature refrigerant gas boosted by the compressor 3 is sent to the condenser 5. Cooling water is supplied to the tube side of the condenser 5 from the cooling tower 19 via the cooling water pump 17, and the above-described refrigerant gas is cooled and condensed by this cooling water to become a high-pressure refrigerant liquid. The high-pressure refrigerant liquid is depressurized by the decompression device 7 (orifice or flow rate adjusting valve) and sent to the evaporator 9. The refrigerant gas evaporated in the evaporator 9 is supplied to the compressor 3 through the inlet guide vane 13.
On the other hand, the raw material solution or the raw slurry is supplied to the tube side of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 9, and the raw solution or the raw slurry is cooled via the heat transfer surface of the tube by the cold heat that evaporates the refrigerant on the shell side. And an clathrate hydrate slurry is produced as described above.

<Driving method>
In this example, an aqueous solution of tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (hereinafter referred to as “TBAB aqueous solution”) having a concentration of 14.4 wt% was used as a raw material solution. The hydrate formation starting temperature of this concentration of aqueous TBAB solution is about 8 ° C.

[Operation of clathrate hydrate slurry production equipment]
The clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus is operated as follows.
After adjusting the inverter of the supply pump 25 so as to obtain a predetermined flow rate and supplying the raw material solution or the raw slurry into the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 9, the refrigeration cycle and the condensing heat medium circulation cycle And the refrigerant is evaporated in the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 9 to cool the raw material solution or the raw slurry, and clathrate hydrate is produced to produce the clathrate hydrate slurry.

By adjusting the compressor 3 of the refrigerator unit, the temperature of the refrigerant in the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 9 is kept constant, and the clathrate hydrate slurry is continuously produced.
When R134a is used as the chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant, the temperature of the refrigerant when evaporated in the evaporator 9 is about 2 to 4 ° C. (saturation pressure, 0.31 to 0.34 MPa). Further, in the condenser 5, when the cooling water temperature is 32 ° C., the temperature of the refrigerant in the condenser 5 is 32 to 38 ° C. (saturation pressure, 0.82 to 0.96 MPa).
When the differential pressure between the clathrate hydrate slurry outlet and the inlet of the clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger 9 is measured, it is observed that the differential pressure gradually increases. It shows that the pressure loss is increasing as the deposit is attached and the thickness is increased. When the adhesion thickness of clathrate hydrate increases and the pressure loss increases and the differential pressure between the clathrate hydrate slurry outlet and the inlet becomes higher than a predetermined value, the following melting operation is performed. .

[Melting operation]
When the clathrate hydrate slurry is continuously produced in the tube in the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 9, the clathrate hydrate adheres to the inner wall surface of the tube, and the pressure loss is reduced. Over time, the pressure loss becomes excessive, and the distribution of the raw material solution, the raw material slurry and the clathrate hydrate slurry is hindered, resulting in clogging, making it impossible to produce a stable clathrate hydrate slurry. Therefore, in order to stably produce the clathrate hydrate slurry, a melting operation for melting and removing the hydrate attached to the inner wall surface of the tube in the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 9 is performed.

This melting operation is performed as follows.
The operation of the compressor 3 is stopped. If necessary, the cooling water pump 17 is also stopped, and the circulation cycle of the heat medium for condensation is also stopped. The inlet guide vane 13 is fully opened, and the flow rate adjusting valve 7 that is a pressure reducing device is opened. In this way, a path is formed through which the refrigerant circulates in the refrigeration cycle in the reverse direction (reverse flow direction) to that during the refrigeration cycle operation (compressor operation).

Immediately before stopping the operation of the compressor 3, the refrigerant in the condenser 5 is high pressure and high temperature, while the refrigerant in the evaporator 9 is low pressure and low temperature.
In this state, when a path through which the refrigerant circulates in the reverse direction is formed, the high-pressure and high-temperature refrigerant gas in the condenser 5 flows backward through the compressor 3 and enters the evaporator 9, and the evaporator 9 is condensed at a low temperature. Is done. Although the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant in the condenser 5 decrease, the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator 9 increase, and the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant in the condenser 5 and the evaporator 9 during the compressor operation. Balance at an intermediate value. Although it depends on the amount of each refrigerant, the pressure is generally 10 to 20 ° C. (0.4 to 0.6 MPa in pressure). Increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator 9 causes the clathrate hydrate present in the evaporator to melt. More specifically, the temperature of the refrigerant supplied to the evaporator 9, that is, the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 9 rises, and the hydrate adhering to the inner wall surface of the tube is thereby melted and removed. The

  The differential pressure between the clathrate hydrate slurry outlet and the inlet of the clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger 9 was measured and reduced to the differential pressure at the start of production when no clathrate hydrate was attached. If it is confirmed that the clathrate hydrate adhered by other means can be melted and removed, the compressor 3 can be turned on (when the circulation cycle of the heat medium for condensation is stopped). Will also start) and restart the clathrate hydrate slurry production operation.

(Operation to adjust the temperature of the heat medium for cooling (cooling water))
The operation of the compressor 3 is stopped and a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant flows back from the condenser 5 to the evaporator 9 to raise the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator 9 to completely remove the hydrate attached to the inner wall surface of the tube. If the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator 9 is lower than the melting point of the clathrate hydrate, instead of or in addition to that operation, the condenser 5 supplied to the condenser 5 You may perform operation which adjusts the temperature of a heat carrier.

  In order to adjust the temperature of the condensing heat medium supplied to the condenser 5, the compressor 3 of the refrigeration unit is stopped, and the cooling tower fan and cooling of the circulation cycle of the condensing heat medium supplied to the condenser 5 are performed. The water pump 17 is operated to adjust the temperature of the heat medium for condensation. If the cooling tower fan and the cooling water pump 17 are operated when the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than the melting point of clathrate hydrate, the heat medium for cooling (cooling water) generally rises to the outside air temperature (exactly, the outside air wet bulb temperature). Therefore, the temperature of the refrigerant in the condenser 5 can be raised to approximately the outside air temperature, and as a result, the temperature of the refrigerant in the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 9 can also be substantially raised to the outside temperature. As a result, the temperature becomes equal to or higher than the melting point of the clathrate hydrate, so that the clathrate hydrate adhering to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 9 can be melted.

When the outside air temperature is equal to or lower than the melting point of the clathrate hydrate, the temperature in the condenser 5 and the evaporator 9 cannot be raised above the melting point of the clathrate hydrate. However, the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus having the clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger is practically problematic as long as the clathrate hydrate slurry is used as a heat storage material for cooling. Must not. This is because it is usually unnecessary to use the clathrate hydrate slurry as a heat storage material if the outside air temperature is lower than the melting point of the clathrate hydrate.

(Determination of melting operation start time)
When the melting operation is started, parameters related to the operating state of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus are measured, and the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 9 is measured based on the parameter measurement results. It is useful to detect when a clathrate hydrate slurry production apparatus has detected the change in the clathrate hydrate slurry production apparatus showing the adhesion or sign of the clathrate hydrate.

  In this embodiment, the differential pressure or pressure loss between the clathrate hydrate slurry outlet and the inlet of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 9 is used as the parameter, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the flow rate and flow rate of the clathrate hydrate slurry flowing through the clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger, the raw material solution, the raw slurry or clathrate at the inlet and outlet of the clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger The temperature of the hydrate slurry, the raw material solution in the clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger, the amount of exchange heat of the raw slurry or clathrate hydrate slurry, the clathrate extracted from the clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger Solid phase ratio of hydrate slurry (weight ratio of clathrate hydrate in clathrate hydrate slurry), temperature of refrigerant at inlet and outlet of heat exchanger for clathrate hydrate generation, clathrate water The amount of heat exchanged by the refrigerant in the heat exchanger for generating a product can also be adopted as the parameter, and this may be detected and monitored, and when a predetermined value is exceeded, the operation may be shifted to the melting operation.

(Supplementary information)
1) In the above description, it has been described that the thermal energy of the refrigerant in the condenser 5 is supplied to the evaporator 9, but strictly speaking, the thermal energy of the refrigerant existing in a specific region including the inside of the condenser 5. Should be supplied to the evaporator 9. However, taking into account the quantitative distribution in a specific region of the refrigerant that can supply the heat energy to the evaporator 9, since there is more refrigerant in the condenser 9, the heat energy that the refrigerant in the condenser 9 has. Even if it is described that is supplied to the evaporator 9, it is not correct but it is not an error.
2) In the above description, a case has been described in which the inlet guide vane 13 is fully opened and the flow rate control valve 7 is opened, whereby the refrigerant existing in the specific region flows backward. At least a part of the refrigerant is an evaporator. 9 can move in the direction of positive flow. The same applies to the case where an orifice is employed as the decompression device 7, and at least a part of the refrigerant can move toward the evaporator 9 in the positive flow direction. However, how much refrigerant moves in the forward flow direction, the reverse flow direction, or in each direction depends on the configuration and structure of the refrigeration cycle, the selection and opening of the types and structures of the inlet guide vane 13 and the decompression device 7. It depends on the degree of
3) In the above, the case where the operation of the compressor 3 is stopped is described. However, even when the output of the compressor 3 is reduced, the refrigerant present in the specific region is relatively high in temperature and pressure. Therefore, if the thermal energy having the refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator, the clathrate hydrate existing in the evaporator can be melted and removed. In this case, although the output is reduced, the compressor 3 operates to move the refrigerant in the forward flow direction, so that the refrigerant existing in the specific region hardly flows backward. Therefore, if the refrigerant reaches the evaporator 9, it can be assumed that not a few of them have moved in the positive flow direction and are supplied to the evaporator 9.

[When the evaporator or the heat exchanger included in the evaporator is a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger]
In the present embodiment, the evaporator 9 or the heat exchanger included in the evaporator 9 exchanges heat between the heat medium exchanged with the raw material solution in the clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger 31 and the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle. / Heat medium heat exchanger 41.

<Description of the device>
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the second embodiment.
The clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 31 is a one-pass shell & shell in which 27 SUS304 pipes having an outer diameter of 17.3 mm and an inner diameter of 14 mm are arranged in a shell processed from a SUS304 nominal diameter 150A steel pipe. It is a tube heat exchanger. The raw material solution or raw material slurry flows in the tube, and the heat medium flows to the shell side.

The raw material flow path 33 for supplying the raw material solution or the raw material slurry to the tube side of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 31 is a tank 35 for storing the raw material solution or the raw material slurry (the raw material solution is stored at the start of production). And a supply pump 37 provided on the downstream side of the tank 35.
The flow rate of the raw material solution or raw material slurry sent to the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 31 is adjusted to a predetermined amount by adjusting the rotational speed of the pump by an inverter attached to the supply pump 37.

  To the shell side of the clathrate hydrate-generating heat exchanger 31, R134a of a chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant is supplied as a heat medium through the heat medium circuit 39. The heat medium circuit 39 is provided with a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger 41, a gas-liquid separator 43, and a heat medium pump 45. The refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger 41 is supplied with a chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant R404a cooled by a refrigerator unit 53 including a compressor 47, a condenser 49, and a pressure reducing device 51 (expansion valve 51), and the heat medium R134a Perform heat exchange.

The compressor 47, the condenser 49, the decompression device 51 (expansion valve 51), the evaporator, and the piping connecting them constitute a refrigerator unit 53, and the evaporator corresponds to the refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger 41.
In addition, a cooling water pipe 55 for circulating cooling water is connected to the condenser 49, and a cooling water pump 57 and a cooling tower 59 are installed in the cooling water pipe 55. The condenser 49, the cooling tower 59, the cooling water pump 57, and the cooling water pipe 55 connecting them constitute a circulation cycle of the heat medium for condensation (water).

The high-temperature refrigerant gas (Freon refrigerant R404a) boosted by the compressor 47 is sent to the condenser 49. Cooling water is supplied to the tube side of the condenser 49 from the cooling tower 59 via the cooling water pump 57, and the refrigerant gas is cooled and condensed by this cooling water to become a high-pressure refrigerant liquid. The high-pressure refrigerant liquid is decompressed by the decompression device 51 (expansion valve 51) and sent to the evaporator. The gas evaporated in the evaporator is sucked into the compressor 47.
The refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger 41, which is an evaporator, is a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, in which a heat medium (R134a) flows through the tube side, and the heat medium is removed when the shell-side refrigerant (R404a) evaporates. Cooling.

The heat medium at about 2 ° C. cooled by the refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger 41 is supplied by the heat medium pump 45 through the gas-liquid separator 43 into the shell of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 31. Then, a part of the heat medium liquid evaporates in the shell, whereby the raw material solution or raw material slurry in the tube is cooled, clathrate hydrate is generated, and clathrate hydrate slurry is manufactured. The evaporated heat medium gas and heat medium liquid are returned to the gas-liquid separator 43.
The heat medium gas separated by the gas-liquid separator 43 is sent to the refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger 41, cooled and condensed, and becomes a liquid heat medium and returns to the gas-liquid separator 43.

  Although not shown in the figure, the difference in measuring the differential pressure between the outlet and the inlet of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 31 of the raw material solution or raw slurry supplied to the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 31 A pressure gauge, a thermometer for measuring the temperature of the clathrate hydrate slurry extracted from the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 31, and a thermometer for measuring the temperature of the heat medium are provided.

<Driving method>
A TBAB aqueous solution having a concentration of 14.4 wt% was used as a raw material solution. The hydrate formation start temperature of this aqueous TBAB solution is about 8 ° C.
[Clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing operation]
After adjusting the inverter of the circulation pump to circulate the raw material solution or the raw material slurry in the circulation flow path so that the predetermined flow rate is obtained, the refrigerator unit 53, the condensing heat medium circulation cycle and the heat medium pump 45 are started. Then, the refrigerant is evaporated by the refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger 41 to cool the heat medium, and the cooled heat medium is sent into the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 31, and the raw solution or slurry in the tube is supplied. To cool the clathrate hydrate slurry.
By adjusting the compressor 47 of the refrigerator unit 53, the refrigerant temperature of the refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger 41 is kept constant, the heat medium temperature of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 31 is kept constant, and the clathrate is included. The hydrate slurry is continuously produced.
When the differential pressure between the clathrate hydrate slurry outlet and the inlet of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 31 is measured, the pressure gradually increases, and the clathrate hydrate adheres to the inner wall surface of the tube and the thickness of the deposit increases. This indicates that the pressure loss is increasing.

[Melting operation]
FIG. 5 shows the differential pressure between the outlet and the inlet of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 31, the temperature of the clathrate hydrate slurry extracted from the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 31, and the heat medium. It is a graph which shows the time change of temperature.
In FIG. 5, the horizontal axis represents the time after several tens of minutes from the start of production of the clathrate hydrate slurry, the left vertical axis represents the temperature of the clathrate hydrate slurry and the temperature of the heat medium, and the right vertical axis. The differential pressure is shown on the axis.

After several tens of minutes have passed since the production of the clathrate hydrate slurry, the differential pressure between the outlet and the inlet of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 31 has increased to 27.5 kPa, It turns out that hydrate adheres and the pressure loss becomes large.
Therefore, at 23 minutes, when the refrigerator is stopped and the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant in the condenser 49 flows back to the evaporator, that is, the refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger 41, the heat medium is heated and heat exchange for clathrate hydrate generation is performed. The temperature of the heat medium in the vessel 31 increases as shown in FIG.

Increasing the temperature of the heat medium in the shell of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 31 melts and removes the clathrate hydrate adhering to the inner wall surface of the tube and lowers the differential pressure. 24 minutes after the refrigerator is stopped, the pressure drops to 18 kPa when the clathrate hydrate is not attached at the start of the clathrate hydrate slurry production.
Since the pressure drops to the differential pressure at the start of production of the clathrate hydrate slurry to which no clathrate hydrate has adhered, it can be confirmed that all the clathrate hydrate that has adhered has been melted and removed. .
Thereafter, the refrigerator is started to restart the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing operation.

(Operation to adjust the temperature of the heat medium for condensation)
As an operation to melt the clathrate hydrate adhering to the inner wall surface of the tube, instead of the operation of stopping the refrigerator and causing the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant of the condenser 49 to flow back to the evaporator to increase the heat medium temperature, Or in addition to the said operation, you may perform operation which adjusts the temperature of the heat medium for condensation supplied to the condenser 49. FIG.

  In order to adjust the temperature of the condensing heat medium supplied to the condenser 49, the compressor 47 of the refrigerator is stopped, and the cooling tower fan and the cooling water in the circulation cycle of the condensing heat medium supplied to the condenser 49 are used. The pump 57 is operated to adjust the temperature of the heat medium for condensation. If the cooling tower fan and the cooling water pump 57 are operated when the outside air temperature is equal to or higher than the melting point of the clathrate hydrate, the cooling water generally rises to the outside air temperature (exactly the outside air wet bulb temperature). As a result, the temperature of the refrigerant in the clad hydrate generating heat exchanger 31 can be raised to substantially the outside temperature. In this way, the temperature of the heat medium can be at least the melting point of the clathrate hydrate, and the clathrate adhering to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 31. Hydrate can be melted.

  In particular, only by the operation of stopping the refrigerator and causing the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant in the condenser 49 to flow back to the evaporator to increase the temperature of the heat medium, it adheres to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 31. The clathrate hydrate cannot be melted, or the temperature of the heat medium in the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger 31 rises only to a temperature below the melting point of the clathrate hydrate. In such a case, it is effective to perform an operation of adjusting the temperature of the condensing heat medium supplied to the condenser 49.

It is explanatory drawing of the basic principle of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the basic principle of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of Example 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of Example 2 of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of Example 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

3, 47 Compressor 5, 49 Condenser 7, 51 Depressurizer 9 Evaporator (heat exchanger for clathrate hydrate production)
31 Heat exchanger for clathrate hydrate generation 41 Refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger

Claims (13)

A compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by a pipe, and a refrigerant cycle operation method in which compression, condensation, decompression and evaporation of the refrigerant flowing through the pipe are sequentially performed,
The compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and the heat energy of the refrigerant present in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing apparatus and the pipe connecting them, and the evaporator and the evaporator. The latent heat storage material present in the evaporator is supplied to the evaporator through a pipe to be connected and / or a pipe to connect the evaporator and the compressor, and the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator is increased. A method for operating a refrigeration cycle, comprising the step of melting the refrigeration. The operation method of the refrigeration cycle according to claim 1, wherein the evaporator includes a heat exchanger for generating a latent heat storage material that generates a latent heat storage material by exchanging heat with the refrigerant. A compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by a pipe, and a refrigerant cycle operation method in which compression, condensation, decompression and evaporation of the refrigerant flowing through the pipe are sequentially performed,
The evaporator includes a refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a heat medium that transmits heat energy to the heat exchanger for generating a latent heat storage material and the refrigerant,
The compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and the heat energy of the refrigerant present in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing apparatus and the pipe connecting them, and the evaporator and the evaporator. Supplying the evaporator through a pipe to be connected and / or a pipe to connect the evaporator and the compressor, and increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator; and increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator A method for operating a refrigeration cycle, comprising: increasing the temperature of the heat medium so as to melt the latent heat storage material adhered to the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger for generating latent heat storage material. By stopping the compressor or reducing its output, the compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and the refrigerant present in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing device and the pipe connecting them. 4. The method for operating a refrigeration cycle according to claim 1, wherein the heat energy of the refrigeration cycle is supplied to the evaporator. By stopping the compressor or reducing its output, the compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and the refrigerant present in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing device and the pipe connecting them. The refrigeration cycle operating method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the refrigeration cycle is supplied to the evaporator. The heat exchanger for generating a latent heat storage material is a heat exchanger that generates the clathrate hydrate by cooling an aqueous solution of the clathrate hydrate guest compound with the refrigerant. 3. A method for operating the refrigeration cycle according to 2. The latent heat storage material generating heat exchanger is a heat exchanger that generates the clathrate hydrate by cooling an aqueous solution of the clathrate hydrate guest compound with the heat medium. Item 4. A method for operating a refrigeration cycle according to Item 3. A compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by a pipe, and the refrigerant flowing through the pipe is sequentially compressed, condensed, decompressed, and evaporated, and the evaporator is included by heat exchange with the refrigerant. An operation method of a clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus comprising a clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger that cools an aqueous solution of a hydrate guest compound to generate the clathrate hydrate,
The compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and the heat energy of the refrigerant present in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing apparatus and the pipe connecting them, and the evaporator and the evaporator. Heat supply for clathrate hydrate generation by supplying the evaporator through a pipe to be connected and / or a pipe connecting the evaporator and the compressor, and increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator A method for operating a clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus comprising the step of melting clathrate hydrate adhering to a heat transfer surface of a vessel. A compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by piping, and the refrigerant flowing through the piping is sequentially compressed, condensed, decompressed and evaporated, and the evaporator performs heat exchange for clathrate hydrate generation. A refrigerant / heat medium heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the heat medium that transfers heat energy to the vessel and the refrigerant, and the clathrate hydrate-generating heat exchanger is included by heat exchange with the heat medium. An operation method of an clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus, which is a heat exchanger that cools an aqueous solution of a hydrate guest compound to generate the clathrate hydrate,
The compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and the heat energy of the refrigerant present in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing apparatus and the pipe connecting them, and the evaporator and the evaporator. Supplying the evaporator through a pipe to be connected and / or a pipe to connect the evaporator and the compressor, and increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator; and increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator The inclusion of the clathrate hydrate, the step of raising the temperature of the heating medium to melt the clathrate hydrate adhering to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger Operation method of hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus. By stopping the compressor or reducing its output, the compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and the refrigerant present in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing device and the pipe connecting them. The operation method of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the thermal energy of the clathrate hydrate slurry is supplied to the evaporator. By stopping the compressor or reducing its output, the compressor, the condenser and the pipe connecting them, and the refrigerant present in any place of the condenser, the pressure reducing device and the pipe connecting them. Is supplied to the evaporator, The operation method of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8 or 9. Measuring a parameter related to the operating state of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus,
Based on the measurement result of the parameter, the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus showing the adherence of the clathrate hydrate to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generation heat exchanger or its sign The operation method of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein a process of increasing the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator is started when a change is detected. The clathrate hydrate adhering to the heat transfer surface of the clathrate hydrate generating heat exchanger is adjusted by adjusting the temperature of the condensing heat medium supplied to the condenser to condense the refrigerant. The operation method of the clathrate hydrate slurry manufacturing apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 12, further comprising a melting step.

Images