JP2013024497A - Refrigeration system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily use a heat pump in a wide area.SOLUTION: A system includes the indoor unit 200 and the outdoor unit 300 of an air conditioner, and a relay unit. The relay unit 100 is detachably connected to the indoor unit 200 and outdoor unit 300. A working fluid is introduced in the relay unit 100 from the outdoor unit 300. The heat exchanger 104 of the relay unit 100 exchanges heat between the working fluid and water in a tank 500 of a hot water supply unit 900.

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid heat exchange unit and a refrigeration system, and more particularly to a liquid heat exchange unit and a refrigeration system including a liquid heat exchanger.

  Conventionally, heat pumps have been used in systems such as air conditioning. And regarding such a system, various techniques have been proposed for its stability and the like.

  For example, in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-032376), in a heat pump liquid heating air conditioner, a liquid heat exchanger is provided between a compressor discharge and a four-way valve, and the heating liquid side circuit is turned on and off. Alternatively, by disposing a pump with variable operating speed, a decrease in liquid temperature on the heated liquid side in the liquid heating heat exchanger when the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is low can be avoided by stopping the pump operation or reducing the pump operation speed. Techniques for doing so are disclosed.

  Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-278582) discloses a heat pump device in which a compressor, a parallel circuit of a hot water supply heat exchanger and an air conditioning heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, and an outdoor heat exchanger are disclosed. Are connected to each other in an annular manner to circulate the refrigerant, and provided with an internal heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the refrigerant at the outlet of the heat exchanger for air conditioning and the refrigerant at the outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger. A technique for exchanging heat in a state where the temperature difference between refrigerants to be exchanged is large is disclosed.

  Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-274134) discloses that in a heat pump floor heating air conditioner, all the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is caused to flow to a floor heating heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger. A technique for securing a flow rate and preventing a decrease in heat transfer performance is disclosed.

  Further, in Patent Document 4 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-172523), in the heat pump floor heating air conditioner, in order to perform combined operation of floor heating and air conditioning heating, sub-throttle is performed. Two condensing temperatures are created by the apparatus, and the high-temperature and high-pressure discharge gas refrigerant is flowed to the floor-heating heat exchanger in preference to the indoor heat exchanger, and is radiated by the floor-heating heat exchanger to reduce the temperature of the refrigerant. A technique is disclosed in which a phase refrigerant is decompressed by a sub-throttle device and flows to a downstream indoor heat exchanger as a two-phase refrigerant having an intermediate pressure and medium temperature.

  Patent Document 5 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-161811) discloses that in an air conditioner, during a peak shift cooling operation and a heat storage (ice making) operation, a hot water supply operation is performed by switching a refrigerant flow path. The technology is disclosed.

  Further, in Patent Document 6 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-242524), the refrigerant discharged from the compressor flows in the order of the four-way valve, the refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger, and the air-cooled outdoor heat exchanger during the cooling operation. In addition, a technology is disclosed in which hot water can be taken out during cooling operation and cold water can be taken out during heating operation by arranging the refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger in the refrigerant circuit and exchanging heat with the refrigerant in the refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger. Has been.

JP 2008-032376 A JP 2007-278582 A JP-A-2005-274134 JP 2003-172523 A JP 2000-161811 A JP 2006-242524 A

  As described above, heat pumps are conventionally used in air conditioning and the like, and because of their environmental load reduction effect and carbon dioxide reduction effect, heat pumps are used not only for air conditioning but also for a wide range of heat storage such as hot water supply. It has become to.

  In such a situation, in the conventional technology described above, when a heat pump is used only for air conditioning, for example, when a heat pump is used for heat storage, it is necessary to construct a new system that combines them. It was.

  Therefore, when trying to expand the range of using a heat pump that exhibits the above effects, the user is required to remove the existing system and build a new system, and on the other hand, waste resources and equipment. It was a forced result.

  The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to make it possible to easily use a heat pump in a wide range.

  The liquid heat exchange unit according to the present invention is a liquid connected to a refrigeration cycle in which a target space heat exchanger, a compressor, a target space heat exchanger, and a first expansion valve are sequentially connected. A heat exchange unit, a liquid heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the first working fluid and the second working fluid passing through the heat exchanger inside the target space and the heat exchanger outside the target space; An expansion valve, and a compressor, a heat exchanger outside the target space, a first expansion valve, a liquid heat exchanger, a second expansion valve, and a heat exchanger in the target space are sequentially connected. In this manner, the refrigeration cycle is detachably connected.

  Preferably, a bypass path for sending the first working fluid from the heat exchanger outside the target space to the second expansion valve without passing the liquid heat exchanger, and whether or not the first working fluid is passed through the bypass path And a predetermined valve for controlling the above.

Preferably, a circulation means for circulating the second working fluid is further provided.
Preferably, control means for controlling operations of the predetermined valve, the second expansion valve, and the circulation means according to a signal received from the refrigeration cycle is further provided.

  Preferably, the control means further receives information relating to accumulation of the second working fluid in the accumulation means for accumulating the second working fluid, and further, according to the information relating to accumulation, a predetermined valve, a second expansion valve, and Controls the operation of the circulation means.

  Preferably, the refrigeration cycle includes a first pipe constituting a first working fluid path from the target space heat exchanger to the target space heat exchanger, and the target space heat exchanger to the target space heat exchanger. And a second pipe that constitutes a path of the first working fluid to and connected to the second pipe.

  Preferably, a first connection portion and a second connection portion for connecting to the second pipe are further provided, and the diameter of the first connection portion is equal to the diameter of the second connection portion.

  A refrigeration system according to the present invention includes a refrigeration cycle in which a heat exchanger in a target space, a compressor, a heat exchanger outside a target space, and a first expansion valve are sequentially connected, and a liquid connected to the refrigeration cycle. A liquid heat exchange unit for exchanging heat between the first working fluid and the second working fluid passing through the heat exchanger inside the target space and the heat exchanger outside the target space. And a second expansion valve, and the liquid heat exchange unit includes a compressor, a heat exchanger outside the target space, a first expansion valve, a liquid heat exchanger, a second expansion valve, The target space heat exchanger is detachably connected to the refrigeration cycle so as to be sequentially connected.

  According to the present invention, the liquid heat exchange unit can be attached to and detached from a refrigeration cycle such as an air conditioner or a refrigerator using a heat pump, so that the liquid heat exchange unit can be used only in the air conditioner or the refrigerator. It can also be used as an air conditioning system or a refrigeration system.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the refrigeration system which is one embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the internal structure of each element of the refrigeration system of FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the hardware constitutions of the relay unit of the refrigeration system of this Embodiment, an indoor unit, and an outdoor unit. It is a flowchart of the process which each central control part of an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a relay unit performs when the refrigeration system of this Embodiment air-conditions target space. It is a figure which shows the 1st modification of a structure of the refrigeration system shown by FIG. It is a figure which shows the 1st modification of the hardware constitutions of FIG. It is a figure which shows the 2nd modification of a structure of the refrigeration system shown by FIG. It is a figure which shows the 2nd modification of the hardware constitutions of FIG. It is a modification of the flowchart of the air-conditioning process shown by FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the air conditioner used as the reference of the system of FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the control amount of the expansion valve of FIG. 1, and the flow volume of the working fluid which flows through the said expansion valve. It is a figure which shows the 6th modification of a structure of the refrigeration system shown by FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a sixth modification of the hardware configuration in FIG. 3.

  Hereinafter, the refrigeration cycle of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, elements having the same function and action are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will not be repeated.

<Schematic configuration of refrigeration system>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a refrigeration system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the present system includes an indoor unit 200 and an outdoor unit 300 of an air conditioner, and a relay unit 100 connected between the indoor unit 200 and the outdoor unit 300. In the present embodiment, the relay unit 100 constitutes an example of a liquid heat exchange unit. Moreover, an example of a refrigerating cycle is comprised by the heat pump cycle in an air conditioner.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an air conditioner that serves as a reference for the system according to the present embodiment. In the air conditioner shown in FIG. 10, the indoor unit 200 and the outdoor unit 300 are directly connected. The relay unit 100 is configured to be detachable from the air conditioner. The system of the present embodiment is configured by inserting the relay unit 100 between the indoor unit 200 and the outdoor unit 300 in the air conditioner as shown in FIG.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the working fluid (first working fluid) is used between the indoor unit 200 and the outdoor unit 300 to perform heat exchange. In the relay unit 100, the heat storage material (second working fluid) and the operation in a heat storage system (for example, a hot water supply unit 900 described later) that is inserted between the indoor unit 200 and the outdoor unit 300 and provided separately from the air conditioner. Heat exchange takes place between the fluids. That is, the relay unit 100 performs (at least) a part of the exhaust heat operation that the outdoor unit 300 should perform. Thereby, in this Embodiment, the (at least) part of the heat | fever discharged | emitted in the outdoor unit 300 is accumulate | stored in a thermal storage material.

  In the present embodiment, as the first working fluid, a refrigerant that is generally used in an empty balance machine is used. Examples of such a refrigerant include HC (hydrocarbon) and HFC (hydrofluorocarbon).

  Moreover, the water stored in the tank 500 utilized with a hot-water supply apparatus is mentioned as a specific example of a heat storage material. The heat storage material (second working fluid) is not limited to water, and may be brine or the like.

<Configuration of refrigeration system>
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of each element of the refrigeration system of FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the arrows indicate the flow direction of the working fluid that flows for heat exchange in the system of the present embodiment. In this system, a pipe 901 and a pipe 902 are disposed between the indoor unit 200 and the outdoor unit 300. The pipe 901 is a pipe for carrying the working fluid that has exchanged heat with the air in the target space from the indoor unit 200 to the outdoor unit 300. The pipe 902 is a pipe for sending the fluid that has exchanged heat with the air outside the target space in the outdoor unit 300 to the indoor unit 200. In the present embodiment, the indoor unit 200 is used for cooling the target space. From this, the working fluid sent through the pipe 901 is mainly in a gaseous state, and the working fluid flowing through the pipe 902 is mainly in a liquid state. Therefore, the pipe 901 is preferably configured to have a larger diameter than the pipe 902 in order to efficiently send the working fluid.

  In the system of the present embodiment, the working fluid that has received heat in the heat exchange in the indoor unit 200 is sent to the outdoor unit 300 through the pipe 901. Then, in the outdoor unit 300, heat exchange for discharging the heat of the fluid is performed. In the system according to the present embodiment, the relay unit 100 is incorporated in a part on the pipe 902.

(Configuration of relay unit 100)
The relay unit 100 includes a pipe 903 for passing the fluid. In this system, the relay unit 100 is connected to the air conditioner by connecting both ends of the pipe 903 to the fluid path constituted by the pipe 902. The diameters of both ends of the pipe 903 connected to the pipe 902 can be equal.

  In the relay unit 100, a heat exchanger (condenser) 104 is provided on the pipe 903. The relay unit 100 is provided with a pipe 106 for a heat storage material for exchanging heat with the working fluid in the heat exchanger 104, and further on the pipe 106 and on the pipe 106, the heat storage in the pipe 106. A pump 105 that circulates the material in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 is provided.

  FIG. 2 further shows a hot water supply unit 900. Hot water supply unit 900 includes a tank 500.

  In the system according to the present embodiment, the heat storage material accumulated in the tank 500 is circulated by the pump 105 to be sent to the pipe 106 via the pipe 910, and then in the pipe 903 by the heat exchanger 104. It exchanges heat with the working fluid and is returned to tank 500 via piping 910. The heat storage material receives heat from the working fluid in the heat exchanger 104. Thereby, in this system, the heat which a working fluid has can be utilized for heating of the thermal storage material in tank 500.

  The tank 500 is provided with a sensor 501 for detecting the temperature of the heat storage material in the tank 500.

(Configuration of indoor unit 200)
The indoor unit 200 includes a heat exchanger 201, a fan 204 for promoting heat exchange, a sensor 202 for detecting the temperature of the target space, and a filter 203 for air sent from the heat exchanger 201. It has been.

  The working fluid sent from the pipe 902 is sent to the heat exchanger 201, and the working fluid after the heat exchange is sent to the pipe 901.

(Configuration of outdoor unit 300)
The outdoor unit 300 includes a compressor 301 that compresses the working fluid sent from the pipe 901, and a heat exchanger (condenser) 303 that exchanges heat with the air outside the target space after the compression. The fan 304 for promoting the heat exchange, the sensor 302 for detecting the temperature outside the target space, and the expansion valve 305 for restricting the working fluid after the heat exchange are provided.

  In the outdoor unit 300, after the working fluid introduced from the pipe 901 is compressed by the compressor 301, heat exchange of air outside the target space is performed by the heat exchanger 303, and further, the working fluid is throttled by the expansion valve 305. , Sent to the pipe 902. Then, the working fluid discharged from the outdoor unit 300 is sent to the relay unit 100 via the pipe 902.

<Hardware configuration of refrigeration system>
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a hardware configuration of the relay unit 100, the indoor unit 200, and the outdoor unit 300 of the refrigeration system according to the present embodiment.

(Hardware configuration of relay unit 100)
Referring to FIG. 3, relay unit 100 includes a central control unit 110 that controls the operation of the relay unit as a whole. The central control unit 110 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

  Relay unit 100 also includes a communication unit 150 for communicating information with indoor unit 200 and / or outdoor unit 300. The communication unit 150 includes, for example, a general-purpose communication control device and a device such as a modem for controlling the communication control device.

  The relay unit 100 also includes a storage unit 130 that stores programs executed by the central control unit 110 and various data. The storage unit 130 is configured by, for example, a hard disk.

  In the relay unit 100, the central control unit 110 controls the operations of the expansion valve 103 and the pump 105.

  The central control unit 110 can also communicate with the control device of the hot water supply unit 900. When central control unit 110 receives information indicating that information for instructing the hot water supply unit 900 to start hot water supply is received, for example, the central control unit 110 starts driving the pump 105 and instructs the stop of the hot water supply. When the information to the effect is received, the driving of the pump 105 is stopped. The central control unit 110 can acquire the detected temperature of the sensor 501 by communicating with the hot water supply unit 900 or by directly communicating with the sensor 501.

(Hardware configuration of indoor unit 200)
The indoor unit 200 includes a central control unit 210 that totally controls the operation of the indoor unit. The central control unit 210 includes a processor such as a CPU.

  Indoor unit 200 further includes an input unit 220, a storage unit 230, and a communication unit 250. The input unit 220 receives input of various information such as start / stop of cooling for the air conditioner and a set temperature for the target space. The input unit 220 may be configured by various buttons, software keys displayed on a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), or a controller (remote controller) provided separately from the indoor unit 200. ) And a transmission / reception device that transmits / receives information to / from the controller.

  The storage unit 230 stores data of the program 260 executed by the central control unit 210 and is configured by, for example, a hard disk.

  The communication unit 250 is a device for information communication with the relay unit 100 and / or the outdoor unit 300. For example, similarly to the communication unit 150, the communication unit 250 includes a communication control device and a device such as a modem that controls the communication control device. Is done.

  In the indoor unit 200, the central control unit 210 receives the temperature detected by the sensor 202, receives an instruction input to the input unit 220, and controls the operations of the communication unit 250 and the fan 204.

(Hardware configuration of outdoor unit 300)
The outdoor unit 300 includes a central control unit 310 that controls the overall operation of the outdoor unit 300. The central control unit 310 includes a processor such as a CPU.

The outdoor unit 300 includes a storage unit 330 and a communication unit 350.
The storage unit 330 stores programs executed by the central control unit 310 and various data, and is configured by, for example, a hard disk.

  The communication unit 350 is a device for communicating information with the indoor unit 200 and / or the relay unit 100, and is configured by a device such as a communication control device and a modem that controls the communication control device, as with the communication unit 150. The

  In the outdoor unit 300, the central control unit 310 receives a temperature detected by the sensor 302. Further, the central control unit 310 controls operations of the compressor 301, the fan 304, the expansion valve 305, and the communication unit 350.

<Air conditioning treatment>
FIG. 4 shows the central control of the indoor unit 200, the central control unit 310 of the outdoor unit 300, and the central control of the relay unit 100 when the refrigeration system of the present embodiment performs air conditioning (cooling) of the target space. 3 is a flowchart of processing executed in a unit 110.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 4, the content of the process for the air conditioning in this Embodiment is demonstrated.
When a cooling start instruction is input to the input unit 220 of the indoor unit 200, the central control unit 210 of the indoor unit 200 performs a process for starting cooling of the target space in step SA10. This process includes the start of rotation of the fan 204.

  In step SA10, the central control unit 210 transmits information indicating that the instruction has been input to the outdoor unit 300 at the start of cooling.

  In response to this, when the central control unit 310 of the outdoor unit 300 receives the information indicating that the cooling start instruction has been given from the indoor unit 200, the central control unit 310 starts the compression operation of the compressor 301 in step SB10, and the fan 301 The rotation of 304 is started.

In step SA10 and step SB10, the target space is cooled.
When the central control unit 110 of the relay unit 100 detects that a hot water supply start instruction has been given in the hot water supply unit 900 during the cooling period of the target space, the central control unit 110 advances the process from step SC10 to step SC20. Then, information indicating that a hot water supply start instruction has been detected is transmitted to the outdoor unit 300.

In step SC <b> 20, central control unit 110 starts driving pump 105.
On the other hand, when central control unit 310 of outdoor unit 300 receives the information on the hot water supply start instruction from relay unit 100, in step SB20, expansion valve 305 is opened and the process proceeds to step SB30. As a result, the working fluid that has been heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger 303 is sent to the pipe 902 without being throttled by the expansion valve 305. In step SB20, the opening degree of the expansion valve 205 may not be increased to the maximum. Here, when the relay unit 100 is not provided between the indoor unit 200 and the outdoor unit 300, the opening degree can be increased as compared with the case where adjustment is performed to throttle the working fluid when the target space is cooled. That's fine.

  In this specification, the opening degree of a valve means the degree which the said valve lets a fluid pass, and the quantity of the fluid which passes increases so that an opening degree is high.

In step SB30, central control unit 310 stops the rotation of fan 304.
In step SB30, instead of stopping the rotation of the fan 304, the rotation speed of the fan 304 may be decreased as compared with that during normal cooling. In step SB30, the degree of heat exchange of the working fluid in the heat exchanger 303 may be reduced as compared with that during normal cooling, and the rotation speed may be reduced instead of stopping the rotation of the fan 304.

  On the other hand, in relay unit 100, after starting drive of pump 105 at step SC20, central controller 110 reduces the opening of expansion valve 103 at step SC30, and the process proceeds to step SC40. As a result, the working fluid sent from the outdoor unit 300 exchanges heat with the heat storage material in the pipe 106 by the heat exchanger 104, and is then throttled by the expansion valve 103 and sent to the pipe 902.

  Then, central control unit 110 of relay unit 100 determines whether or not the temperature of the heat storage material in tank 500 has reached the set temperature of the heat storage material in hot water supply unit 900 in step SC40. The determination is made based on central control unit 110 receiving a set temperature from hot water supply unit 900 and receiving a detection output of sensor 501.

  Then, central controller 110 proceeds to step SC60 when determining that the set temperature has been reached in step SC40, and proceeds to step SC50 when determining that it has not yet reached.

  In step SC50, central control unit 110 determines whether or not an instruction to stop the hot water supply operation has been input in the hot water supply unit. If it is determined that the instruction has been input, the process proceeds to step SC60 and has not yet been input. If it is determined, the process returns to step SC40.

  If central controller 110 determines in step SC40 that the temperature of the heat storage material in tank 500 has reached the set temperature, and if it determines that an instruction to stop the hot water supply operation has been input in hot water supply unit 900, Then, information notifying that is transmitted to the outdoor unit 300.

  In step SC60, central control unit 110 stops the driving of pump 105 and advances the process to step SC70. In step SC70, the central control unit 110 increases the opening of the expansion valve 103 and ends the process. In step SC70, the opening degree of the expansion valve 103 is increased to the opening degree in the initial state. The opening degree in the initial state is, for example, an opening degree that can be sent to the pipe 902 without restricting the working fluid in the pipe 903. However, in the relay unit 100 as well, the working fluid sent from the outdoor unit 300 may be throttled even when the hot water supply operation is not performed. In this case, the opening degree of the expansion valve 103 is Even in the initial state, the working fluid can be throttled to some extent.

  On the other hand, in outdoor unit 300, when information indicating that the heat storage material in tank 500 has reached the set temperature (YES in step SC40) is received from relay unit 100, or an instruction to stop hot water supply operation is input in hot water supply unit 900. When the information indicating that it has been received is received (YES in step SC50), the central control unit 310 closes the expansion valve 305 to the extent that the working fluid can be throttled in step SB40, and proceeds to step SB50.

  Here, it is sufficient that the opening degree is lowered at least to the extent that the opening degree of the expansion valve 305 raised in step SB20 is returned to the original state (step SB20).

  In step SB50, the central control unit 310 resumes the rotation of the fan 304. In step SB30, when the rotational speed of the fan 304 is decreased, the rotational speed is increased so as to return to the original value.

  As a result of the processing in step SB40, step SB50, step SC60, and step SC70 described above, the exhaust heat of the working fluid sent from the indoor unit 200 to the outdoor unit 300 is not performed in the heat exchanger 104 of the relay unit 100. This is mainly performed by the heat exchanger 303 of the outdoor unit 300.

  And in the indoor unit 200, if the instruction | indication which stops the air_conditioning | cooling of object space is input from the input part 220, the central control part 210 will perform the process for stopping air cooling in step SA20. This process includes stopping the fan 204.

  In step SA20, central control unit 210 notifies outdoor unit 300 that an instruction to stop cooling has been input.

  In the outdoor unit 300, upon receiving the notification, the central control unit 310 stops the operations of the compressor 301 and the fan 304.

  In the present embodiment described above, the liquid heat exchange unit is configured by the relay unit 100 that is detachably connected to the air conditioner (the indoor unit 200 and the outdoor unit 300). The heat exchanger 104 constitutes a liquid heat exchanger. The liquid heat exchanger includes a first working fluid that passes through a target space heat exchanger (heat exchanger 201) and a target space heat exchanger (heat exchanger 303), a second working fluid (heat storage material), Heat exchange between the two.

  In the refrigeration system of the present embodiment, the compressor 301, the heat exchanger 303, the expansion valve 305, the heat exchanger 104, the expansion valve 103, the heat in the path of the working fluid between the indoor unit 200 and the outdoor unit 300. The exchanger 201 is connected sequentially.

  In the air conditioning process described with reference to FIG. 4, when the information on the instruction to start the hot water supply operation (start instruction for the operation of the liquid heat exchanger) is input in the hot water supply unit 900 described above, the relay unit 100 is input. The central control unit 110 transmits information to that effect to the outdoor unit 300 (step SC10). Receiving the information, the outdoor unit 300 stops the rotation of the fan 304 (heat radiating fan) or reduces the rotation speed (step SB30), and increases the opening of the first expansion valve (expansion valve 305).

<First Modification>
In the embodiment described above, the relay unit 100 only needs to be able to control the operation of the pump that circulates the heat storage material of the hot water supply unit, and the pump (the pump 105 in FIG. 2) does not necessarily have to be a component thereof.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the pump as described above is provided as the pump 905 on the hot water supply unit 900 side, and the central control unit 110 of the relay unit 100 controls the on / off of the pump 905. Can be transmitted to the hot water supply unit 900. In this case, the hardware configuration shown in FIG. 3 is changed as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 6, the relay unit 100 is not provided with the pump 105. Central control unit 110 transmits an instruction for turning on / off pump 905 of hot water supply unit 900 via communication unit 150. In hot water supply unit 900, the operation of pump 905 is controlled in accordance with the instruction.

<Second Modification>
FIG. 7 is a view showing a modification of the configuration of the refrigeration system shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a modification of the hardware configuration shown in FIG.

  With reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, in this modification, a bypass path 101 for sending the working fluid to the pipe 902 without passing through the heat exchanger 104 is provided for the pipe 903. An electric valve 102 for adjusting the flow rate of the working fluid in the bypass path 101 is provided on the bypass path 101. The operation of the motor operated valve 102 is controlled by the central control unit 110 of the relay unit 100.

  In the present modification, when heat radiation of the working fluid sent from the indoor unit 200 to the outdoor unit 300 is performed in the heat exchanger 104 of the relay unit 100, the operation of the compressor 301 is adjusted, and the bypass path 101 The flow rate of the working fluid at is also adjusted.

FIG. 9 is a modification of the flowchart of the air conditioning process shown in FIG.
Referring to FIG. 9, when central control unit 110 of relay unit 100 receives a notification from hot water supply unit 900 that there is an instruction to start hot water supply in step SC10, central control unit 110 turns pump 105 on in step SC20. In addition, the outdoor unit 300 is notified that the notification to that effect has been received.

  In response to the notification, the central control unit of the outdoor unit 300 reduces the frequency of the compressor 301 in step SB11. Thereby, the degree of compression of the working fluid introduced from the indoor unit 200 decreases.

  Then, as described with reference to FIG. 4, the central control unit 310 increases the opening of the expansion valve 305 in step SB20, and further stops the fan 304 (or decreases the rotational speed) in step SB30. .

  On the other hand, in relay unit 100, central controller 110 starts driving of pump 105 at step SC20, and then closes motor operated valve 102 at step SC21. Thus, the working fluid introduced from the outdoor unit 300 to the relay unit 100 is preferentially introduced into the heat exchanger 104 without passing through the bypass path 101.

  Then, as described with reference to FIG. 4, the central control unit 110 reduces the opening degree of the expansion valve 103 in step SC <b> 30 and restricts the working fluid introduced through the heat exchanger 104. As a result, the working fluid that has passed through the heat exchanger 104 is throttled by the expansion valve 103 and then introduced into the indoor unit 200.

  In this modification, when it is detected that the heat storage material in tank 500 reaches the set temperature (YES in step SC40) or that an instruction to stop hot water supply operation is input to hot water supply unit 900. (YES in step SC50), central controller 110 stops driving of pump 105 in step SC60, further increases the opening of motor-operated valve 102 in step SC61, and opens the opening of expansion valve 103 in step SC70. Is lowered (returned to the initial state).

  On the other hand, in the outdoor unit 300, the central controller 310 reduces the opening of the expansion valve 305 to return to the initial state in step SB40, and restarts the rotation of the fan 304 (or sets the number of rotations in step SB50). In step SB51, the frequency of the compressor 301 lowered in step SB11 is returned to the original state.

  In the air conditioning process of the present modification described above, the first working fluid passes through the predetermined valve provided on the bypass path through the bypass path by closing the motor operated valve 102 in step SC21. Corresponds to the obstructing state.

<Third Modification>
In the present embodiment and each modification described above, driving of the pump 105 (or the pump 905) is started on the condition that a hot water supply instruction is given in the hot water supply unit 900. This pump may be driven even when no hot water supply instruction is given to hot water supply unit 900. For example, the temperature of the outside air detected by the sensor 302 mounted on the outdoor unit 300 is compared with the temperature of the heat storage material detected by the sensor 501, and the operation of the pump 105 (or the pump 905) is performed according to the comparison result. May be controlled.

  Specifically, when the temperature of the heat storage material is lower than the temperature of the outside air temperature, the working fluid exchanges heat with the heat storage material in the heat exchanger 104 rather than exchanging heat with the outside air in the heat exchanger 303. It is thought that heat can be released efficiently. Therefore, when the temperature detected by the sensor 501 is lower than the temperature detected by the sensor 302, the central control unit 110 drives the pump 105 to circulate the heat storage material, and further notifies the outdoor unit 300 of the comparison result. In the outdoor unit 300, when the comparison result is received, the central control unit 310 stops the rotation of the fan 304 or reduces the rotation speed, and further increases the opening degree of the expansion valve 305. As a result, heat exchange of the working fluid is performed mainly in the heat exchanger 104.

  The comparison of the detected temperatures may be performed by the central control unit of the outdoor unit 300, and the comparison result may be transmitted from the central control unit 310 to the central control unit 110.

  On the other hand, the central control unit 110 does not drive the pump 105 when the temperature detected by the sensor 501 is equal to or higher than the temperature detected by the sensor 302. Then, the central control unit 110 notifies the outdoor unit 300 of the comparison result.

  In the outdoor unit 300, upon receiving the notification of the comparison result, the central control unit 310 drives the fan 304 in the same way as the normal heat exchange of the working fluid so that the working fluid can be sufficiently throttled. The opening of 305 is adjusted.

<Fourth Modification>
In the refrigeration system of the present embodiment, in the outdoor unit 300, when hot water is supplied in the hot water supply unit 900 during the cooling operation, the operation of the compressor 301 is performed according to the difference between the temperature of the heat storage material and the set temperature. It may be controlled.

  In this case, the central control unit 110 of the relay unit 100 transmits the detected temperature of the sensor 501 to the outdoor unit 300 at regular time intervals, for example. The central control unit 110 transmits the set temperature of the heat storage material set in the hot water supply unit 900 to the outdoor unit 300 in advance.

  The central control unit 310 of the outdoor unit 300 compares the detected temperature (temperature of the heat storage material) of the sensor 501 received from the relay unit 100 with the set temperature, and when the difference is large (the temperature of the heat storage material is the set temperature). If it is significantly lower), the rotational speed of the compressor 301 is decreased to reduce the degree of compression of the working fluid.

  Further, in the outdoor unit 300, when the temperature of the heat storage material is significantly lower than the set temperature, the rotational speed of the fan 304 is decreased and / or the opening degree of the expansion valve 305 is increased. Thus, in order to reduce the degree of heat exchange of the working fluid in the outdoor unit 300, the above processing is executed.

<Fifth Modification>
In the embodiment and the modifications described above, the central control unit 310 can adjust the opening degree of the expansion valve 305. In this specification, the opening degree is adjusted by the central control unit 310 changing a control amount for adjusting the opening degree of the expansion valve 305. The control amount is, for example, the potential of a voltage applied to adjust the opening degree of the expansion valve 305. When a control step for changing the potential by a certain value is set, the number of steps can be used.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the relationship between the control amount and the flow rate of the working fluid flowing through the expansion valve 305 regarding the expansion valve 305. FIG. 11 shows two types of relationships. What is indicated by a broken line is the flow rate characteristic of the linear expansion valve, and what is indicated by a solid line is the flow rate characteristic of the rapid opening type expansion valve.

  In the flow rate characteristics of the linear expansion valve in FIG. 11, the flow rate decreases at a constant rate as the control amount decreases. On the other hand, in the flow characteristics of the rapid opening type expansion valve in FIG. 11, the change amount of the flow rate with respect to the change amount of the control amount is larger in the region where the control amount is larger than the Q point than in the region smaller than the Q point. In FIG. 11, the flow rate with respect to the control amount at the Q point is indicated by the P point in the flow rate characteristics of the rapid opening type expansion valve of FIG. 11. The point P corresponds to an inflection point in the flow rate characteristic of the rapid opening type expansion valve.

  In the present embodiment, when heat exchange of the working fluid is performed by hot water supply unit 900, expansion valve 305 is preferably in a state that does not cause pressure loss as much as possible. On the other hand, when heat exchange of the working fluid by the hot water supply unit 900 is not performed, that is, when heat exchange is performed only by the outdoor unit 300, the expansion valve 305 has an opening degree to reliably atomize the working fluid. It is required that the opening degree be finely (precisely) controlled in a low region.

  Here, in the flow characteristic of the rapid opening type expansion valve of FIG. 11, the region where the flow rate is larger than the inflection point (P point) (the region where the opening degree is large and to the right of the P point in FIG. 11) In the region where the flow rate is small (the region where the opening degree is small and to the left of the point P in FIG. 11), the inclination is small. That is, the change amount of the flow rate with respect to the control amount is small.

  When a linear expansion valve is employed as the expansion valve 305, it is difficult to precisely control the opening in a low opening area if the flow rate when fully opened is increased for heat exchange in the hot water supply unit 900. It becomes. Therefore, in the system of the present embodiment, when the heat exchange is performed in the hot water supply unit 900, the opening degree is large, and when the heat exchange is performed only in the outdoor unit 300, fine control of the opening degree is possible. Therefore, it is preferable to employ a rapid opening type expansion valve as the expansion valve 305.

  Note that the flow rate characteristic of the rapid opening type expansion valve is not limited to a shape in which a plurality of straight lines with different inclinations are connected as shown in FIG. A plurality of curves having different curvatures may be connected to have an inflection point. Or a straight line and a curve may be connected and the said connection part may be used as an inflection point.

<Sixth Modification>
FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the refrigeration system of the present modification. FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically illustrating the hardware configuration of each element of this modification.

  In the second modified example, as described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 9, the bypass path 101 is provided in the relay unit 100, and the flow rate of the working fluid to the bypass path 101 is further adjusted. A motorized valve 102 was provided.

  In the present modification, as shown in FIG. 12, a change in which a three-way valve 109 is provided instead of the motor-operated valve 102 is added to the second modification. In this modification, the three-way valve 109 is in a state in which all the working fluid sent from, for example, the outdoor unit 300 is sent to the bypass path 101 in the initial state. The operation of the three-way valve 109 is controlled by the central control unit 110.

  As the air conditioning process of this modification, the process described with reference to FIG. 9 in the second modification is executed with appropriate changes.

  That is, in step SC21 (FIG. 9) of the second modified example, the three-way valve 109 is connected to the pipe 903 and the bypass path 101 instead of closing the motor operated valve 102. Thereby, when heat exchange is performed in the relay unit 100, all of the working fluid sent to the relay unit 100 does not pass through the bypass path 101 and passes through the heat exchanger 104. Thereby, the heat carried by the working fluid can be transmitted to the heat storage material more efficiently.

  In this modified example, in step SC61, the three-way valve 109 is controlled to send all the working fluid to the bypass path 101 instead of increasing the opening of the motor operated valve 102.

  In the third modification, the pump (pump 105 or the like) is driven even in a state where no hot water supply instruction is given to the hot water supply unit 900 according to the relationship between the outside air temperature and the temperature of the heat storage material. In this modification, when the pump is driven in this way, the three-way valve 109 is controlled to be in a state of connecting the pipe 903 and the bypass path 101.

  That is, when the temperature of the heat storage material (detected temperature of the sensor 501) is lower than the outside air temperature (sensor 302), the central control unit 110 connects the pipe 903 and the heat exchanger 104 to the three-way valve 109. Thereby, all the working fluid introduced from the outdoor unit 300 is guided to the heat exchanger 104 without passing through the bypass path 101.

  On the other hand, when the temperature of the heat storage material is equal to or higher than the outside air temperature, the central control unit 110 causes the three-way valve 109 to connect the pipe 903 and the bypass path 101. Thereby, the working fluid introduced from the outdoor unit 300 is all guided to the bypass path 101 without passing through the heat exchanger 104.

<Other variations, etc.>
In the present embodiment described above, by connecting the relay unit to the existing air conditioner, the waste heat in the air conditioner is effectively used without introducing an air conditioning system that includes the relay unit again. can do.

  The system of the embodiment and each modification described above is a system that provides cold air in a target space. In addition, if the system according to the present invention cools the target space, the temperature range is not limited to the cooling system, and is a system that freezes the target space (objects such as products existing in the target space). There may be.

  Each embodiment disclosed this time must be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims. In addition, the inventions described in the embodiments and modifications thereof are intended to be implemented alone or in combination as much as possible.

  100 Relay unit, 101 Bypass path, 102 Motorized valve, 103, 205, 305 Expansion valve, 104, 201, 303 Heat exchanger, 105, 905 Pump, 106, 901, 902, 903, 910 Piping, 109 Three-way valve, 110 , 210, 310 Central control unit, 200 indoor unit, 300 outdoor unit, 301 compressor, 500 tank, 900 hot water supply unit.

A refrigeration system according to the present invention is connected to a refrigeration cycle in which a heat exchanger in a target space, a compressor, a heat exchanger outside the target space, and a first expansion valve are sequentially connected, and the refrigeration cycle. a refrigeration system comprising a liquid heat exchange unit that, liquid heat exchange unit heat between the first working fluid and the second working fluid through the object space in the heat exchanger and the space outside the heat exchanger a liquid heat exchanger for exchanging, a second expansion valve, includes a first working fluid of the refrigeration cycle and the first connecting portion and second connecting portion passing through a liquid heat exchanger, the refrigeration cycle When the liquid heat exchange unit is not connected, air conditioning of the target space is possible, and when the liquid heat exchange unit is connected, hot water supply operation is possible in addition to air conditioning .

Preferably, the refrigeration cycle includes a first pipe constituting a first working fluid path from the target space heat exchanger to the target space heat exchanger, and the target space heat exchanger to the target space heat exchanger. And a second pipe constituting a path of the first working fluid to the first connecting portion, the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion of the liquid heat exchange unit are connected to the second pipe, and the first connecting portion And the diameter of the second connecting portion are the same .

Preferably, the apparatus further includes control means for controlling the liquid heat exchange unit when the liquid heat exchange unit is connected .

In this modification, when it is detected that the heat storage material in tank 500 reaches the set temperature (YES in step SC40) or that an instruction to stop hot water supply operation is input to hot water supply unit 900. (YES in step SC50), central controller 110 stops driving of pump 105 in step SC60, further increases the opening of motor-operated valve 102 in step SC61, and opens the opening of expansion valve 103 in step SC70. Is raised (returned to the initial state).

Claims (8)

A liquid heat exchange unit connected to a refrigeration cycle in which a target space heat exchanger, a compressor, a target space heat exchanger, and a first expansion valve are sequentially connected,
A liquid heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the first working fluid and the second working fluid passing through the target space heat exchanger and the target space heat exchanger;
A second expansion valve;
The compressor, the external heat exchanger, the first expansion valve, the liquid heat exchanger, the second expansion valve, and the internal heat exchanger are sequentially connected. A liquid heat exchange unit detachably connected to the refrigeration cycle. A bypass path for sending the first working fluid from the external heat exchanger to the second expansion valve without passing the liquid heat exchanger;
The liquid heat exchange unit according to claim 1, further comprising a predetermined valve for controlling whether or not the first working fluid is allowed to pass through the bypass path.   The liquid heat exchange unit according to claim 2, further comprising circulation means for circulating the second working fluid.   The liquid heat exchange unit according to claim 3, further comprising a control unit that controls operations of the predetermined valve, the second expansion valve, and the circulation unit according to a signal received from the refrigeration cycle. The control means includes
Further receiving information relating to the accumulation of the second working fluid in the accumulating means for accumulating the second working fluid;
Furthermore, the liquid heat exchange unit according to claim 4 which controls operation of said predetermined valve, said 2nd expansion valve, and said circulation means according to the information about said accumulation. The refrigeration cycle includes a first pipe constituting a path of the first working fluid from the heat exchanger in the target space to the heat exchanger outside the target space, and the heat exchanger outside the target space in the target space. A second pipe constituting a path of the first working fluid to the heat exchanger,
The liquid heat exchange unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the liquid heat exchange unit is connected to the second pipe. A first connecting portion and a second connecting portion for connecting to the second pipe;
The liquid heat exchange unit according to claim 6, wherein a diameter of the first connection portion is equal to a diameter of the second connection portion. A refrigeration cycle in which a target space heat exchanger, a compressor, a target space heat exchanger, and a first expansion valve are sequentially connected;
A liquid heat exchange unit connected to the refrigeration cycle,
The liquid heat exchange unit is
A liquid heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the first working fluid and the second working fluid passing through the target space heat exchanger and the target space heat exchanger;
A second expansion valve;
The liquid heat exchange unit includes the compressor, the external heat exchanger, the first expansion valve, the liquid heat exchanger, the second expansion valve, and the internal heat exchange. A refrigeration system that is detachably connected to the refrigeration cycle so as to be sequentially connected to the refrigerator.

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