JP2010007957A - Temperature controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a miniaturized temperature controller, solving the problem of the conventional temperature controller having insufficient heating capability for a temperature-controlled fluid. <P>SOLUTION: In this temperature controller, some of high-temperature heating medium discharged from a compressor 18 is supplied to the heater 14 to control the temperature of a temperature-controlled fluid passed through a heater 14 of a heating circuit and a cooler 16 of a cooling circuit, and the remainder of high-temperature heating medium is condensed by a heat exchanger piping 46 for condensation and then adiabatic-expanded to be supplied to the cooler 16. The controller includes: heat exchanger piping 44 for absorbing heat of a heat pump means for improving heating capability of the heating circuit by absorbing heat from externally supplied water; a supply means for joining heating media, each temperature of which is elevated by absorbing heat using the cooler 16 and the heat exchanger piping 44 for absorbing heat, and supplying the same to the compressor 18; and a controlling part 22 for controlling a proportional three-way valve 20 so that the temperature-controlled fluid is controlled to reach a predetermined temperature, wherein the heat exchanger piping 46 for condensation and the heat exchanger piping 44 for absorbing heat are housed in a cylindrical container 42 to which water is supplied from the outside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a temperature adjustment device, and more particularly to a temperature adjustment device that adjusts a temperature adjustment target fluid that passes through a heating means and a cooling means to a predetermined temperature.

Usually, in the precision processing field such as the manufacturing process of semiconductor devices, most of them are installed in a clean room in which temperature and humidity are controlled.
However, in recent years, in the precision processing field, processes requiring precision processing with higher processing accuracy than before have been emerging.
In a process that requires such high precision processing, it is usually required that the temperature change environment is smaller than that of a clean room. For this reason, a process requiring high precision processing or the like is provided in a space unit in which precise temperature management is performed.
As a temperature adjusting device used for adjusting the temperature of such a space unit, for example, the temperature adjusting device shown in FIG.
10 includes a cooling circuit including a compressor 100, a three-way valve 102, a condenser 104, an expansion valve 106, and a cooler 108, a compressor 100, a three-way valve 102, a heater 110, and an expansion valve 106. And a heating circuit comprising:
The cooler 108 and the heater 110 adjust the temperature of the air flow to be adjusted by the fan 112.

In such a temperature adjusting device, the high-temperature heat medium compressed by the compressor 100 is distributed to the cooling circuit and the heating circuit by the three-way valve 102. The high-temperature heat medium distributed to the cooling circuit side is cooled and condensed by the condenser 104. The cooled / condensed heat medium is adiabatically expanded by the expansion valve 106 to be cooled and supplied to the cooler 108. In the cooler 108, the heat medium heated by absorbing heat while cooling the air flow subject to temperature adjustment blown by the fan 112 is supplied to the compressor 100.
On the other hand, the high-temperature heat medium distributed to the heating circuit side is supplied to the heater 110, and the air flow to be temperature-adjusted cooled by the cooler 108 is heated and adjusted to a desired temperature. In this manner, in the heater 110, the heat medium that has been radiated and cooled while heating the air flow to be temperature-cooled that has been cooled by the cooler 108 passes through the expansion valve 106 and the cooler 108, and passes through the compressor 100. To be supplied.
JP-A 51-97048

In the temperature adjusting device shown in FIG. 10, the entire amount of the high-temperature heat medium compressed by the compressor 100 passes through the expansion valve 106, is adiabatically expanded and cooled, and is supplied to the cooler 108. The amount of cooling energy for cooling the air flow to be temperature-adjusted is constant.
On the other hand, by adjusting the amount of the high-temperature heat medium distributed to the heating circuit side by the three-way valve 102, the amount of heating in the heater 110 with respect to the air flow to be temperature-adjusted cooled by the cooler 108 can be adjusted.
Therefore, since the temperature adjustment apparatus shown in FIG. 10 is relatively small, the temperature adjustment target air passing through the cooler 108 and the heater 110 in a relatively narrow place such as a clean room where temperature adjustment is performed in advance. It is possible to control the temperature of the flow in a narrow temperature range within the space unit where the temperature can be adjusted and the temperature is precisely controlled.
However, in the temperature control apparatus shown in FIG. 10, the entire amount of the high-temperature heat medium compressed by the compressor 100 passes through the expansion valve 106, is adiabatically expanded and cooled, and is supplied to the cooler 108. The temperature adjustment for the air flow to be adjusted by the fan 112 is performed exclusively by reheating the high-temperature heat medium compressed by the compressor 100 supplied to the heater 110.

Therefore, in the temperature control method employed in the temperature control apparatus shown in FIG. 10, the heat medium used for heating also flows through the cooling circuit, so the amount of heat that can be heated is only the amount of heat of the compressor power, and the cooler 108 and the heater 110 is difficult to cope with load fluctuations.
For this reason, when the set temperature of the air flow subject to temperature adjustment passing through the cooler 108 and the heater 110 is significantly increased, the temperature of the air flow subject to temperature adjustment does not reach the set temperature or reaches the set temperature. It may take a long time to complete.
In order to compensate for such a shortage of heating amount of the temperature adjusting device shown in FIG. 10, it may be possible to provide the auxiliary electric heater 114 as shown in FIG. 11, but this is wasteful in terms of energy.
Therefore, the present invention solves the problem of the conventional temperature adjusting device that has insufficient heating capability for the temperature adjustment target fluid and needs to be provided with auxiliary heating means such as an auxiliary electric heater, and is suitable for the temperature adjustment target fluid. An object of the present invention is to provide a temperature-adjustable device that can improve the heating capacity and can save energy, and can be miniaturized.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors tried a temperature adjusting device shown in FIG. 12 includes a heating circuit in which a part of the high-temperature first heat medium compressed and heated by the compressor 18 is supplied to the heater 14, and a remaining portion of the high-temperature first heat medium. A cooling circuit that is cooled by the condenser 26 and then adiabatically expanded by the first expansion valve 28, further cooled and supplied to the cooler 16, and a temperature that passes through the heater 14 and the cooler 16. A high temperature first heat medium is distributed to the heating circuit and the cooling circuit so that the air to be adjusted is adjusted to a predetermined temperature, and the first heat medium that has passed through each of the heating circuit and the cooling circuit is an accumulator 36. It is a temperature adjusting device that merges and is re-supplied to the compressor 18.
In such a temperature adjusting device, a part of the high temperature first heat medium discharged from the compressor 18 is distributed to the heating circuit side, and the remaining part of the high temperature first heat medium is distributed to the cooling circuit side, and The proportional three-way valve 20 as a distribution means capable of changing the distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the heating circuit and the cooling circuit, and the heater 14 so as to improve the heating capacity of the heating circuit. The first heat medium that has been discharged and cooled and then further adiabatically expanded by the second expansion valve 34 and further cooled includes a heat absorber 32 that absorbs heat from water as the second heat medium. The temperature adjustment target that passes through the heater 14 and the cooler 16 by controlling the heat pump means and the proportional three-way valve 20 and adjusting the distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the heating circuit and the cooling circuit. And a control unit 22 for controlling the air at a predetermined temperature. That.

According to the temperature adjustment device shown in FIG. 12, the heating capacity of the heater 14 can be improved by the heat pump means provided on the heating circuit side, and it is necessary to provide the auxiliary electric heater 114 as in the temperature adjustment device shown in FIG. This is extremely advantageous in terms of energy.
Further, the proportional three-way valve 20 changes the distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the heating circuit and the cooling circuit, and the heating amount for the air to be temperature-adjusted passing through the heater 14 and the cooler 16. And the amount of cooling can be adjusted easily, and the temperature of the air to be adjusted can be precisely adjusted.
However, in the temperature control apparatus shown in FIG. 12, separate heat exchangers are used as the heat absorber 26 and the condenser 26, and therefore the first heat medium supply / exhaust pipe and water supply to each of the heat exchangers. It is necessary to connect to the exhaust pipe, the pipe becomes complicated, and the use of separate heat exchangers as the heat absorber 26 and the condenser 26 increases the size of the apparatus. There was found.
For this reason, the present inventors have further studied and use a heat exchanger in which the heat exchange heat exchange pipe used for the heat absorber 26 and the heat exchanger pipe for condensation used for the condenser 26 are accommodated in the same container. As a result, it has been found that the piping can be simplified and the size of the apparatus can be reduced, and the present invention has been achieved.

  That is, the present invention provides a heating circuit in which a part of the high-temperature first heat medium compressed and heated by the compressor is supplied to the heating means, and the remainder of the high-temperature first heat medium is cooled by the condenser. And a cooling circuit that is adiabatically expanded by the first expansion means and further cooled and supplied to the cooling means, and the temperature adjustment target fluid that passes through the heating means and the cooling means is brought to a predetermined temperature. The hot first heat medium is distributed to a heating circuit and a cooling circuit, and the first heat medium that has passed through each of the heating circuit and the cooling circuit is joined and re-supplied to the compressor. And a part of the high temperature first heat medium discharged from the compressor is distributed to the heating circuit side, and a remaining part of the high temperature first heat medium is distributed to the cooling circuit side. And a high temperature first heat medium distributed to the heating circuit and the cooling circuit. The distribution means that can change the distribution ratio of the heating circuit, and the heating circuit releases the heat by the heating means and cools it, and then adiabatically expands by the second expansion means and further cools. The first heat medium is a heat pump means including a heat absorber that absorbs heat from the second heat medium as an external heat source, and the distribution means is controlled, and the first high temperature heat distributed to the heating circuit and the cooling circuit. A control unit that adjusts a distribution ratio of the heat medium and controls a fluid to be temperature-adjusted that passes through the heating unit and the cooling unit to a predetermined temperature, and serves as the condenser and the heat absorber as the cooling circuit side. The heat exchange pipe for condensation supplied with the high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the heat exchange pipe for heat absorption supplied with the first heat medium cooled through the second expansion valve is in the same container. The heat exchanger housed in the The high-temperature first heat medium supplied to the pipe is cooled and condensed, and the first heat medium supplied to the heat-absorbing heat exchange pipe absorbs heat and is heated in the container. 2. A temperature adjusting device characterized in that a water supply pipe for supplying water as a heat medium is provided.

In the present invention, in the container, the heat exchange pipe for condensing is accommodated on the water supply port side of the container, and the heat exchange pipe for heat absorption is accommodated on the water discharge port side of the container. The heat removed by the exchange pipe can be used for the heat absorption of the first heat medium supplied to the heat absorption heat exchange pipe, which is advantageous in terms of energy saving.
As the condensation heat exchange pipe and the endothermic heat exchange pipe, a coiled heat exchange pipe can be suitably used.
Further, the water supply pipe to the container is provided with a control means for controlling the amount of water supplied into the container so that the discharge pressure of the compressor is constant, thereby adjusting the temperature of the temperature adjustment target fluid. It can be done easily.
Further, the fluid whose temperature is to be adjusted is a liquid, a high-temperature first heat medium is supplied to heat the heat exchange pipe for heating the liquid, and a first heat medium cooled by passing through the first expansion valve is supplied. A heat exchange pipe for cooling the liquid to be cooled and housed in the same container, a supply pipe for supplying the liquid to be temperature-adjusted to the container, and a temperature-adjusted liquid from the container. By providing the discharge pipe for discharging, it is possible to simplify the heat exchanger for adjusting the temperature of the temperature adjustment target liquid, and to further reduce the size of the temperature adjustment device.
A coiled heat exchange pipe can be suitably used as the heat exchange pipe for heating and the heat exchange pipe for cooling.

In the temperature control apparatus according to the present invention, the heating capability of the heating means can be improved by the heat pump means provided on the heating circuit side, and it is not necessary to provide an auxiliary electric heater, which is extremely advantageous in terms of energy.
Further, the distribution means changes the distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the heating circuit and the cooling circuit, and the heating amount and the cooling for the temperature adjustment target fluid passing through the heater means and the cooler means are changed. The volume can be easily adjusted, and the temperature of the fluid to be temperature adjusted can be precisely adjusted.
Moreover, since the heat exchanger which accommodated the heat exchange pipe | tube for condensation and the heat exchange pipe | tube for heat absorption in the same container is used as a condenser and a heat absorber, the water supply / discharge pipe | tube as a 2nd heat carrier is used as a heat exchanger. It is enough to connect to the container.
As a result, in the temperature adjustment device according to the present invention, compared to a temperature adjustment device in which a condenser and a heat absorber are separately provided, and a water supply / discharge pipe is connected to each of the condenser and the heat absorber. Combined with the fact that the device can be simplified, the device can be reduced in size and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

An example of the temperature control apparatus according to the present invention is shown in FIG. FIG. 1 shows heating in which the temperature and humidity of the air in the clean room as the fluid sucked in by the fan 12 is adjusted more precisely in the space unit 10 installed in the temperature-controlled clean room. A circuit and a cooling circuit are provided.
A heater 14 as a heating means constituting such a heating circuit and a cooler 16 as a cooling means constituting a cooling circuit are provided, and the air in the clean room sucked by the fan 12 in the space unit 10 is cooled. Heat and adjust temperature precisely. According to the arrangement of the cooler 16 and the heater 14 with respect to the air flow, dehumidification of the air flow passing through the heater 14 and the cooler 16 can be further improved.
The heater 14 and the cooler 16 are supplied with, for example, hydrocarbons such as propane, isobutane, and cyclopentane, chlorofluorocarbons, ammonia, and carbon dioxide as the first heat medium, and clean room is obtained by vaporizing and liquefying the first heat medium. The inside air is heated and cooled to adjust to a predetermined temperature.
Such a first heat medium is compressed and heated by the compressor 18 and discharged in the form of a gas at a high temperature (for example, 70 ° C.). The high-temperature first heat medium discharged from the compressor 18 is distributed to the heating circuit side provided with the heater 14 and the cooling circuit side provided with the cooler 16 by the proportional three-way valve 20 serving as a distribution means. .
In this proportional three-way valve 20, the total amount of the high temperature first heat medium distributed to the heating circuit side and the high temperature first heat medium distributed to the cooling circuit side is the high temperature first heat medium discharged from the compressor 18. Distribute to equal the amount.
The proportional three-way valve 20 is controlled by the control unit 22. The control unit 22 substantially determines the distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the heating circuit side and the cooling circuit side based on the temperature signal measured by the temperature sensor 24 provided in the space unit 10. And the fluid sucked into the space unit 10 is adjusted to a predetermined temperature.
This “substantially continuously changing” means that when the proportional three-way valve 20 is driven by step control, the proportional three-way valve 20 is microscopically driven stepwise, but is continuously continuous as a whole. This includes the case where it is driven.
The set temperature set in the control unit 22 may be arbitrarily set. Further, the temperature sensor 24 shown in FIG. 1 is installed on the discharge side of the fan 12, but may be installed on the suction side of the fan 12, or may be provided on the discharge side and suction side of the fan 12.

The high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the heating circuit side is directly supplied to the heater 14, and the air flow sucked by the fan 12 and cooled by the cooler 16 is heated in the space unit 10 to a predetermined temperature. Adjust to. At that time, the high-temperature first heat medium is radiated by the heater 14 and cooled to become the first heat medium containing the condensate.
The first heat medium radiated by the heater 14 is expanded adiabatically by the expansion valve 34 as the second expansion means, and is cooled to a temperature lower than the external ambient temperature (about 10 ° C.). The cooled first heat medium is supplied to the heat absorption heat exchange pipe 44 of the heat exchanger 40.
In the heat exchanger 40, a coil-shaped heat absorption heat exchange pipe 44 to which the cooled first heat medium is supplied is accommodated on the upper side in the cylindrical container 42, and a lower part in the container 42. This is a heat exchanger in which a coiled condensation heat exchange pipe 46 to which a high-temperature first heat medium described later is supplied is accommodated on the side.
Further, a water supply pipe 37 for supplying water, which is a second heat medium as an external heat source, into the container 42 is connected to the bottom side of the container 42, and the container 42 is connected to the upper side of the container 42. A water discharge pipe 39 for discharging the water inside is connected.
For this reason, the water supplied to the bottom side of the container 42 flows to the upper side of the container 42, and the heat removed by the condensation heat exchange pipe 46 disposed on the water supply port side of the container 42 is removed from the container 42. It can be used with the heat-absorbing heat exchange pipe 44 arranged on the water discharge port side, which is advantageous in terms of energy saving.
Therefore, it is preferable that the heat exchanger pipe 46 for condensation and the heat exchanger pipe 44 for endothermic heat be disposed close to each other.

The first heat medium that is supplied to the heat-absorbing heat exchange pipe 44 of the heat exchanger 40 and is adiabatically expanded and cooled by the expansion valve 34 is based on the temperature difference from the water supplied into the container 42. Can absorb heat.
On the other hand, the high temperature first heat medium distributed to the cooling circuit side is supplied to the heat exchange pipe 46 for condensation of the heat exchanger 40 and cooled by water, and then adiabatic by the expansion valve 28 as the first expansion means. And cooled to a temperature lower than the external ambient temperature (for example, cooled to 10 ° C.). The cooled first heat medium is supplied to the cooler 16 to cool the air flow sucked into the space unit 10, and at that time, the first heat medium supplied to the cooler 16 absorbs heat from the air flow. Then the temperature is raised.
In this way, the heat medium absorbed by the heat absorber 32 and the cooler 16 merges and is supplied to the compressor 18 via the accumulator 36. The accumulator 36 is also supplied with a heat medium that absorbs heat from the fluid supplied to the cooler 16 and sucked into the space unit 10. As this accumulator 36, an accumulator type accumulator was used.
As the accumulator 36, an accumulator of a type capable of storing a liquid component and re-supplying only the gas component to the compressor 18 can be used in order to reliably supply only the gas component of the heat medium to the compressor 18.
Even if the accumulator 36 is not installed, it is sufficient if the heat medium that has passed through the heat absorber 32 and the cooler 16 can be joined and re-supplied to the compressor 18.

In the temperature adjusting device shown in FIG. 1, the first heat medium radiated by the heater 14 is adiabatically expanded and cooled by the expansion valve 34, but in the cooling by adiabatic expansion in the expansion valve 34, There is no exchange of heat between the heat medium and the external atmosphere. For this reason, the first heat medium cooled in an adiabatic manner can absorb heat from the water supplied from the outside into the heat exchanger 40.
Therefore, the energy absorbed from the water supplied from the outside by the heat pump means can be added to the compression power energy by the compressor 18 to the high temperature first heat medium discharged from the compressor 18. As a result, it is not necessary to use other heating means such as an auxiliary heater.

1 can improve the heating capacity of the heating circuit, and the high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the heating circuit side by the proportional three-way valve 20 and the high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the cooling circuit side. The distribution ratio with one heat medium can be substantially changed according to the temperature in the space unit 10.
For this reason, in the temperature adjustment apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the high temperature 1st heat medium is always supplied to a heating circuit and a cooling circuit, and the temperature adjustment which passes the heater 14 of a heating circuit, and the cooler 16 of a cooling circuit Minute load fluctuations in the target air flow can be quickly dealt with by quickly finely adjusting the distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium distributed between the heating circuit and the cooling circuit using the proportional three-way valve 20 to improve responsiveness. it can.
Accordingly, it is possible to control the temperature of the air flow subject to temperature adjustment passing through the heater 14 of the heating circuit and the cooler 16 of the cooling circuit with an accuracy of ± 0.1 ° C. or less with respect to the set temperature. The temperature change of the space unit 10 in which the adjusting device is installed can be made smaller than the temperature change of the clean room, and a process requiring precision machining can be installed.

Further, in the temperature adjusting device shown in FIG. 1, one heat exchanger 40 in which a condensation heat exchange pipe 46 and an endothermic heat exchange pipe 44 are accommodated in a cylindrical container 42 is used. For this reason, it is sufficient to connect the water supply pipe 37 and the water discharge pipe 39 to the container 42, and each of the condenser 26 and the heat absorber 32 that are provided separately as shown in FIG. The number of pipes can be reduced as compared with the case of connecting the supply pipe and the discharge pipe. Furthermore, in the temperature control apparatus shown in FIG. 1, it is sufficient to install one heat exchanger 40, as compared with the case where two heat exchangers are installed like the temperature control apparatus shown in FIG. Combined with the decrease in the number of pipes, the apparatus can be downsized and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
The container 42 of the heat exchanger 40 shown in FIG. 1 may adopt an arbitrary shape such as a cylindrical cross section or a streamline shape. However, the heat exchange pipe 46 for condensation and the heat exchange pipe for heat absorption disposed inside. It is preferable that the water flow smoothly. The material of the container 42 can be appropriately selected in consideration of the corrosion resistance, strength, etc. of stainless steel or resin.
In the heat exchanger 40 shown in FIG. 1, the cooling heat exchange pipe 44 is disposed above the condensation heat exchange pipe 46, but the condensation heat exchange pipe 46 is disposed above the cooling heat exchange pipe 44. , And natural convection may be generated in the water in the container 42.
In the heat exchanger 40 of FIG. 1, the heat exchange pipe 46 for condensation and the heat exchange pipe 44 for heat absorption are provided in the same container 42, but the temperature adjustment accuracy of the air flow to be temperature adjusted is improved. There was no problem.

The temperature control apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a water control valve 48 as a control means for controlling the discharge pressure of the compressor 18 to be constant in the middle of the water supply pipe 37. The water control valve 48 controls the amount of water supplied to the heat exchanger 40.
As shown in FIG. 2, the water control valve 48 includes a rod-shaped member 48c formed with a valve body 48b for adjusting the opening area of the water supply passage 48a, and a direction in which the supply passage 48a is closed by the valve body 48b. A spring 48d as an urging member for urging the rod-shaped member 48c and the supply passage 48a closed by the valve body 48b are compressed by pressing the rod-shaped member 48c against the urging force of the spring 48d by the discharge pressure of the compressor 18. And a bellows 48e as a pressing member that opens according to the discharge pressure of the machine 18.

According to this water control valve 48, when the discharge pressure of the compressor 18 becomes equal to or greater than the urging force of the spring 48 c, the valve body 48 b moves in a direction to open the supply passage 48 a by the bellows 48 e, and enters the heat exchanger 40. The amount of water supplied increases, and the cooling capacity of the heat exchange pipe for condensation 46 is improved. For this reason, the discharge pressure of the compressor 18 decreases.
On the other hand, when the discharge pressure of the compressor 18 becomes equal to or less than the urging force of the spring 48d, the valve body 48b moves in a direction to close the supply passage 48a, and the amount of water supplied to the heat exchanger 40 is reduced. The cooling capacity of the heat exchange pipe 46 is reduced. For this reason, the discharge pressure of the compressor 18 becomes high.
In this way, the temperature adjusting device can be stably operated by keeping the discharge pressure of the compressor 18 constant. Moreover, it can adjust so that water may be supplied to the heat exchanger 40 more than needed, and it may not discharge | emit out of the system.

Here, when the setting of the adjustment temperature of the air flow to be temperature-adjusted is changed and the distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium is significantly biased toward the heating circuit, the discharge pressure of the compressor 18 may decrease. . In this case, the water control valve 48 is closed, the amount of water supplied to the heat exchanger 40 is insufficient, and the endothermic heat exchange pipe 44 may be frozen.
For this reason, in the temperature control apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a control valve 51 whose opening and closing is controlled by the control unit 22 is provided in a bypass pipe 53 that bypasses the water control valve 48. When the control unit 22 determines that the distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium is significantly biased toward the heating circuit and the discharge pressure of the compressor 18 may be reduced, the control valve 51 It is possible to eliminate the possibility that the heat-absorbing heat exchange pipe 44 is frozen by introducing water into the container 42.

1, the proportional three-way valve 20 is used, but instead of the proportional three-way valve 20, gate valves 38a and 38b as two two-way valves are used as shown in FIG. be able to. Each of the two gate valves 38 a and 38 b is controlled by the control unit 22. The control unit 22 adjusts the opening degree of each of the gate valves 38a and 38b, and distributes the gaseous high temperature first heat medium compressed and heated by the compressor 18 to the heating circuit and the cooling circuit. Are adjusted substantially continuously to control the air flow through the heater 14 and cooler 16 to a predetermined temperature. At that time, the total amount of the amount of the high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the heater 14 side and the amount of the high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the cooler 16 side is the high-temperature discharged from the compressor 18. The gate valves 38a and 38b are adjusted in opening so as to be equal to the amount of the first heat medium, and are continuously proportionally distributed.
At that time, as shown in FIG. 4, each of the gate valves 38a and 38b has a non-linear relationship between the valve opening and the flow rate. Therefore, the control unit 22 holds the flow rate characteristic data for each of the gate valves 38a and 38b shown in FIG. 4, and the control unit 22 receives the gate valve 38a based on the flow rate characteristics of the gate valves 38a and 38b. , 38b is transmitted.
Here, “to adjust the distribution ratio distributed to the heating circuit and the cooling circuit substantially continuously” or “to adjust the distribution ratio substantially continuously” is to drive the gate valves 38a and 38b by step control. However, when adjusting the distribution ratio between the heating circuit and the cooling circuit, the opening degree of the gate valves 38a and 38b is microscopically driven and adjusted, but is continuously driven as a whole. Is meant to include being adjusted.

In the temperature adjustment apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the temperature adjustment target is an air flow, but FIG. 5 shows a temperature adjustment apparatus in which the temperature adjustment target is a liquid. In the temperature adjustment device shown in FIG. 5, the liquid to be temperature adjusted is supplied to the heat exchanger 50 by the pump 62 from the tank 60 that stores the liquid returned from the USER. In the cylindrical container 52 of the heat exchanger 50, a coil-shaped heating heat exchange pipe 54 supplied with a high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the heating circuit side, and an expansion valve as a first expansion means A coil-shaped cooling heat exchange pipe 56 to which the first heat medium which has been adiabatically expanded and cooled at 28 is supplied is accommodated.
The temperature adjustment target liquid supplied into the container 52 is heated by the heating heat exchange pipe 54, cooled by the cooling heat exchange pipe 56, temperature-adjusted, and supplied to the USER.
In the temperature adjusting device shown in FIG. 5, a temperature sensor 24 is provided at the outlet pipe of the heat exchanger 50. The liquid temperature measured by the temperature sensor 24 is transmitted to the control unit 22, and the control unit 22 determines the distribution ratio of the high temperature first heat medium by the proportional three-way valve 20 based on the temperature difference from the set temperature.
In the temperature adjustment device shown in FIG. 5, the same components as those in the temperature adjustment device shown in FIG.

In the temperature adjustment apparatus shown in FIG. 5, the heat exchanger 50 in which the heating heat exchange pipe 54 and the cooling heat exchange pipe 56 are provided in the cylindrical container 52 is used. However, the temperature adjustment of the temperature adjustment target liquid is performed. There was no problem with accuracy.
As described above, when the heat exchanger 50 in which the heat exchange pipe 54 for heating and the heat exchange pipe 56 for cooling are provided in the cylindrical container 52 is used, the cooler and the heater are individually arranged. As compared with the above, the piping can be simplified and the temperature adjusting device can be downsized.
5 employs the heat exchanger 40 in which the condensation heat exchange pipe 46 and the endothermic heat exchange pipe 44 are provided in the container 42. Together, the temperature adjustment device can be further reduced in size.
In the temperature adjusting device shown in FIG. 5, the gate valves 38 a and 38 b shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 can be used instead of the proportional three-way valve 20.

In the temperature adjusting device shown in FIG. 1, for example, when the air to be temperature adjusted is on the cooling side, in an expected operation state where the air temperature is stable, as shown in FIG. The air cooled at the side is heated at the heating side including the heater 14. In the operation state shown in FIG. 6A, the energy to be heated on the heating side may be larger than the energy A required to cool the air. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6B, if the overlapping energy between the cooling side portion and the heating side portion can be reduced as much as possible, energy saving can be achieved.
On the other hand, when the temperature adjustment target air is on the heating side, the air heated on the heating side including the heater 14 is cooled in the intended operation state where the air temperature is stable, as shown in FIG. Cooling is performed on the cooling side including 16. In the operating state shown in FIG. 6A, the energy to cool on the cooling side may be larger than the energy B required to heat the air. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3B, energy saving can be achieved if the overlapping energy between the cooling side portion and the heating side portion can be reduced.
However, if the heater 14 and the cooler 16 are ON / OFF controlled so that the heat load canceling each other is zero, the operation of the temperature adjusting device becomes unstable and the space unit 10 is stabilized at a predetermined temperature. It takes time. For this reason, to the extent that the temperature adjusting device can be stably operated, it is necessary that the heat load applied to each of the heater 14 and the cooler 16 be at least the amount of heat load that cancels each other out.
Note that the minimum necessary heat loads that cancel each other are somewhat different depending on the temperature adjusting device, and are preferably obtained experimentally.

Thus, FIG. 8 shows a temperature adjusting device that can reduce the overlapping energy between the cooling side portion and the heating side portion. In the temperature adjustment apparatus shown in FIG. 8, the distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the heater 14 as the heating means and the cooler 16 as the cooling means is continuously changed to cool the heater 14 and the cooling device. Each of the first controller 22a for controlling the proportional three-way valve 20 serving as a distributing means, and the heater 14 and the cooler 16 so as to adjust the air that is the temperature adjustment target fluid passing through the heater 16 to a predetermined temperature. Among the heat loads applied to the compressor 18, an inverter 19, which is a rotation speed control means for controlling the rotation speed of the compressor 18, has a distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium that can reduce the heat loads that cancel each other. A control unit 22 including a second control unit 22b that changes the rotational speed of the compressor 18 is provided. A change amount for changing the rotation speed of the compressor 18 is preset in the second control unit 22a.
In the temperature adjustment device shown in FIG. 8, the same components as those in the temperature adjustment device shown in FIG.

The second control unit 22b constitutes the control unit 22 together with the first control unit 22a that controls the proportional three-way valve 20. The control of the proportional three-way valve 20 by the first controller 22a and the control of the rotation speed of the compressor 18 by the second controller 22b are shown in the flowchart of FIG.
When the temperature adjustment device shown in FIG. 8 is trial run, when the temperature adjustment target air is operated on the cooling side, the heat load applied to the heater 14 is increased by the proportional three-way valve 20 to the heater 14 side. 5 to 15% of the distribution ratio of one heat medium (described as “high temperature heat medium” in FIG. 9) (the distribution ratio of the high temperature heat medium to the cooler 16 side by the proportional three-way valve 20 is 95 to 85%) It was found that it is preferable from the viewpoint of stable operation. On the other hand, when the temperature adjustment target air is operated on the heating side, as a heat load applied to the heater 14 side, the distribution ratio of the high-temperature heat medium to the heater 14 side by the proportional three-way valve 20 is 95 to 85% ( It has been found that it is preferable from the standpoint of stable operation to set the distribution ratio of the high-temperature heat medium to the cooler 16 side by the proportional three-way valve 20 to 5 to 15%.
For this reason, in the control shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, the heat load applied to the heater 14 side, specifically, the distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium to the heater 14 side by the proportional three-way valve 20 is adjusted. When the target air is operated on the cooling side, the number of revolutions of the compressor 18 is controlled to be 5 to 15%, and when the temperature adjustment target air is operated on the heating side, 95 to 85% is distributed. It was decided to control the number of rotations of the compressor 18 so as to achieve a rate.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, after starting the compressor 18 in step S10, the temperature signal measured by the temperature sensor 24 provided in the space unit 10 so that the space unit 10 is set to a predetermined temperature in step S12. Based on the above, the distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the heater 14 side and the cooler 16 side by the proportional three-way valve 20 is continuously changed, and the air sucked into the space unit 10 is changed to a predetermined temperature. Adjust to.
In step S14, it is determined whether the space unit 10 reaches a predetermined temperature and is stable. If the temperature in the space unit 10 is not stable, the process returns to step S12, and the heater 14 by the proportional three-way valve 20 is returned. The distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the side and the cooler 16 side is continuously changed. Steps S12 and S14 are performed by the first controller 22a.
Here, in step S14, when the temperature in the space unit 10 measured in advance within a set time (for example, several minutes) is at a predetermined temperature, it is determined that the temperature in the space unit 10 is stable.
On the other hand, if the space unit 10 reaches a predetermined temperature and is stable, is the distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the heater 14 side in steps S16 to S22 within a predetermined range? Judge whether or not. Steps S16 to S22 are performed by the second controller 22b.
Note that the average high-temperature heat medium distribution rate shown in FIG. 9 varies in the distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the heater 14 side. It is the value taken.

First, in step S16 and step S18, when it is assumed that the temperature adjustment target air is on the cooling side, it is determined whether or not the average high-temperature heat medium distribution ratio to the heater 14 side is within 5 to 15%. .
Here, when the average high-temperature heat medium distribution ratio to the heater 14 side is within 5 to 15%, among the heat loads applied to the heater 14 and the cooler 44, the heat load components that cancel each other out. Since there is little and it is in the range where the operation of the temperature control device is stable, the process passes through step S16 and proceeds from step S18 to step S28. In step S28, it is determined whether or not the compressor 18 is in operation. If the compressor 18 is in operation, the process returns to step 14.
On the other hand, when the average high-temperature heat medium distribution ratio to the heater 14 side is less than 5%, the average high-temperature heat medium distribution ratio to the heater 14 side is too low, and the operation of the temperature adjustment device becomes unstable. easy. For this reason, in order to increase the average high-temperature heat medium distribution rate to the heater 14 side, the process proceeds from step S16 to step S24, and the rotational speed of the compressor 18 is increased. In step S24, an increase signal is transmitted from the second control unit 22b to the inverter 18 to increase the rotational speed of the compressor 18 set in the inverter 18 with a minimum change amount. This is because the temperature adjusting device can be stably operated by increasing the rotation speed of the compressor 18 with the minimum change amount.
Here, the amount of change for changing the rotational speed of the compressor 18 is set in advance in the second control unit 22b. This amount of change is preferably the minimum number of rotations of the compressor 18. The minimum number of rotations varies depending on the temperature adjusting device, and is preferably obtained experimentally. However, when the number of rotations of the compressor 18 is 2000 to 5000 rpm, the minimum change amount may be in the range of 3 to 10%. preferable.

Further, when the average high temperature heat medium distribution ratio to the heater 14 side exceeds 15%, it is determined that the temperature adjustment target air is not on the cooling side through steps S16 and S18. The process proceeds to step S20 and step S22. In Step S20 and Step S22, when it is assumed that the temperature adjustment target air is on the heating side, it is determined whether or not the average high temperature heat medium distribution ratio to the heater 14 side is within 95 to 85%.
Here, when the average high-temperature heat medium distribution ratio to the heater 14 side is within 85 to 95%, among the heat loads applied to the heater 14 and the cooler 44, the heat load components that cancel each other out. Since the temperature is within a range where the operation of the temperature control device is stable, the process passes through step S20 and proceeds from step S22 to step S28. In step S28, it is determined whether or not the compressor 18 is in operation. If the compressor 18 is in operation, the process returns to step 14.
On the other hand, when the average high temperature heat medium distribution ratio to the heater 14 side exceeds 95%, the average high temperature heat medium distribution ratio to the heater 14 side is too high, and the operation of the temperature adjusting device becomes unstable. easy. For this reason, in order to reduce the average high-temperature heat medium distribution ratio to the heater 14 side, the process proceeds from step S20 to step S24, and the rotational speed of the compressor 18 is increased. In step S <b> 24, an increase signal for increasing the rotational speed of the compressor 18 set in the inverter 18 with a minimum change amount is transmitted from the control unit 22 b to the inverter 18.

Further, when the average high-temperature heat medium distribution ratio to the heater 14 side is less than 85%, among the heat loads applied to the heater 14 and the cooler 44 in step S22, heat loads that cancel each other out. It is judged that there are many minutes. For this reason, it transfers to step S26 and the rotation speed of the compressor 18 is reduced. In step S <b> 26, a reduction signal is transmitted from the control unit 22 b to the inverter 18 to reduce the rotation speed of the compressor 18 set in the inverter 18 with the minimum change amount. This is because the number of rotations of the compressor 18 is reduced by the minimum change amount, and the heat loads that cancel each other out of the heat loads applied to the heater 14 and the cooler 44 are reduced.
Next, the process proceeds to step S28 through step S24 or step S26. If the compressor 18 is in operation, the process returns to step S14. In step S14, it is determined whether the space unit 10 has reached a predetermined temperature and is stable in a state where the rotation speed of the compressor 18 is increased or decreased by the minimum change amount in step S24 or step S26. When the space unit 10 has reached the predetermined temperature and is stable, it is determined whether or not the average high-temperature heat medium distribution rate to the heater 14 side is within the predetermined range again in steps S16 to S26. To do.
On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that the temperature in the space unit 10 is not stable, the process returns to step S12 and the high-temperature heat medium distributed to the heater 14 side and the cooler 16 side by the proportional three-way valve 20 is returned. Change the distribution ratio continuously. After the space unit 10 reaches a predetermined temperature and stabilizes, the process proceeds to steps S16 to S26.
In step S28, when the compressor 18 is not in an operating state, the control by the control unit 22 is stopped.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 described above, the first control unit 22a performs control while paying attention to the average high-temperature heat medium distribution ratio toward the heater 14, but the average high-temperature heat toward the cooler 16 side. You may control by paying attention to a medium distribution rate.
In FIG. 8, the temperature adjustment device is illustrated as an air temperature adjustment device. However, like the temperature adjustment device shown in FIG. 5, the temperature adjustment device is a liquid temperature adjustment device, and the heater 44 as a heating unit and cooling are used. The distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium to be distributed to the cooler 46 as the means is continuously changed, and the liquid, which is the temperature adjustment target passing through the heater 44 and the cooler 46, is changed to a predetermined temperature. Among the thermal loads applied to the first controller 22a that controls the proportional three-way valve 20 as the distribution means and the heater 14 and the cooler 16 so as to adjust to A second control unit 22b that changes the rotational speed of the compressor 18 via an inverter 19 as rotational speed control means for controlling the rotational speed of the compressor 18 so as to obtain a distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium to be obtained; A control unit 22 comprising Good thing is of course of it.

It is the schematic explaining an example of the temperature control apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing explaining the internal structure of the water control valve 48 shown in FIG. It is the schematic explaining the other distribution means used with the temperature control apparatus shown in FIG. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the opening degree of the gate valves 38a and 38b shown in FIG. 3, and flow volume. It is the schematic explaining the other example of the temperature control apparatus which concerns on this invention. In the temperature adjusting device according to the present invention, it is an explanatory diagram for explaining the principle of energy saving when the fluid to be temperature adjusted is on the cooling side. In the temperature control apparatus which concerns on this invention, it is explanatory drawing explaining the principle of energy saving in case the fluid of temperature adjustment object exists in a heating side. It is the schematic explaining the other example of the temperature control apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the control part 22 shown in FIG. It is the schematic explaining the conventional temperature control apparatus. It is the schematic explaining the example of improvement of the conventional temperature control apparatus shown in FIG. It is the schematic explaining the temperature control apparatus which the present inventors examined.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Spatial unit 12 Fan 14 Heater 16 Cooler 18 Compressor 20 Proportional three-way valve 22 Control part 22a 1st control part 22b 2nd control part 24 Temperature sensor 28 Expansion valve (1st expansion means)
32 heat absorber 32 condenser 34 expansion valve (second expansion means)
36 accumulator 37 water supply pipes 38a, 38b gate valve 39 water discharge pipe 40 heat exchanger 42 container 44 heat absorption heat exchange pipe 46 heat exchange pipe 48 for condensation water control valve 50 heat exchanger 51 control valve 52 container 54 heat for heating Exchange piping 56 Heat exchange piping for cooling 60 Tank 62 Pump

Claims (6)

A heating circuit in which a part of the high-temperature first heat medium compressed and heated by the compressor is supplied to the heating means, and the first expansion after the remainder of the high-temperature first heat medium is cooled by the condenser A cooling circuit that is adiabatically expanded by the means, further cooled and supplied to the cooling means, and adjusts the temperature adjustment target fluid that passes through the heating means and the cooling means to a predetermined temperature. A temperature adjusting device in which a high-temperature first heat medium is distributed to a heating circuit and a cooling circuit, and the first heat medium that has passed through each of the heating circuit and the cooling circuit merges and is re-supplied to the compressor. And
A part of the high temperature first heat medium discharged from the compressor is distributed to the heating circuit side, and the remaining part of the high temperature first heat medium is distributed to the cooling circuit side, and the heating circuit and the cooling circuit are cooled. Distribution means capable of changing a distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the circuit;
In order to improve the heating capacity of the heating circuit, the first heat medium that is cooled by releasing heat by the heating means and then adiabatically expanded by the second expansion means and further cooled is used as an external heat source. Heat pump means comprising a heat absorber that absorbs heat from the second heat medium;
The distribution means is controlled to adjust the distribution ratio of the high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the heating circuit and the cooling circuit, so that the temperature adjustment target fluid that passes through the heating means and the cooling means has a predetermined temperature. And a control unit for controlling
As the condenser and heat absorber, a heat exchange pipe for condensation to which a high-temperature first heat medium distributed to the cooling circuit side is supplied and a first heat medium cooled through the second expansion valve are supplied. A heat exchanger in which the heat-absorbing heat exchange pipe is housed in the same container is used, and the high-temperature first heat medium supplied to the condensation heat-exchange pipe is cooled and condensed, and the heat absorption A water supply pipe for supplying water as the second heat medium is provided in the container so that the first heat medium supplied to the heat exchange pipe for heat is absorbed and heated. Temperature control device.   The temperature adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein a heat exchange pipe for condensation is accommodated in a water supply port side of the container, and a heat exchange pipe for heat absorption is accommodated in a water discharge port side of the container.   The temperature adjusting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heat exchange pipe for condensation and the heat exchange pipe for endotherm are coiled heat exchange pipes.   The water supply piping to the container is provided with control means for controlling the amount of water supplied into the container so that the discharge pressure of the compressor is constant. Temperature control device.   A fluid whose temperature is to be adjusted is a liquid, and a high-temperature first heat medium is supplied to heat the heat exchange pipe for heating the liquid, and a first heat medium cooled through the first expansion valve is supplied. A heat exchanger in which a cooling heat exchange pipe for cooling the liquid is housed in the same container is used, a supply pipe for supplying a liquid to be temperature-adjusted to the container, and a liquid whose temperature is adjusted from the container The temperature control apparatus as described in any one of Claims 1-4 with which the discharge piping which discharges is provided.   The temperature adjusting device according to claim 5, wherein the heating heat exchange pipe and the cooling heat exchange pipe are coiled heat exchange pipes.

Images