JP2018087693A - Refrigeration unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To relatively inexpensively provide a refrigeration unit enabling appropriate supercooling of a high-pressure side refrigerant in a low-stage side refrigerant circuit.SOLUTION: A refrigeration unit 1 includes: a high-stage side refrigerant circuit 4; a plurality of low-stage side refrigerant circuits 6A, 6B; and a plurality of cascade heat exchangers 43A, 43B for evaporating a refrigerant in the high-stage side refrigerant circuit and cooling a high-pressure side refrigerant in each of the low-stage side refrigerant circuits. Carbon dioxide is included in each of the refrigerant circuits as a refrigerant. The high-stage side refrigerant circuit includes: high-stage side gas coolers 11A, 11B; a high-stage side expansion valve 13 connected to outlets of the high-stage side gas coolers 11A, 11B; and a plurality of high-stage side evaporators 16A, 16B each comprising a cascade heat exchanger connected in parallel with an outlet of the high-stage side expansion valve.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigeration apparatus in which a high-stage refrigerant circuit and a low-stage refrigerant circuit are cascade-connected and carbon dioxide is sealed as a refrigerant in each refrigerant circuit.

  Conventionally, for example, in stores such as convenience stores and supermarkets, a plurality of showcases that display and sell products while cooling products in a display room are installed. Each showcase is provided with an evaporator for cooling the display room, and the evaporator is configured to be supplied with a refrigerant from a refrigerator unit installed outside the store.

  Also, carbon dioxide has come to be used as a refrigerant in this kind of showcase due to recent global environmental problems, but a relatively large compressor is required to compress this carbon dioxide. Therefore, the high-stage side refrigerant circuit and the low-stage side refrigerant circuit that constitute independent refrigerant closed circuits are cascade-connected, and the refrigerant in the high-stage side refrigerant circuit is evaporated to pass the high-pressure side refrigerant in the low-stage side refrigerant circuit. A refrigeration apparatus has been developed that obtains a required refrigeration capacity by an evaporator of a low-stage refrigerant circuit by cooling (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

  Here, FIG. 6 illustrates a ph diagram of the low-stage refrigerant circuit of the refrigeration apparatus. In the figure, the vertical axis represents the high-pressure side pressure of the low-stage refrigerant circuit, L1 is a saturated liquid line, L2 is a saturated vapor line, L3 is a + 40 ° C isotherm, and L4 is a + 100 ° C to + 120 ° C isotherm. . In the figure, X1 indicates the difference in specific enthalpy when the + 100 ° C to + 120 ° C refrigerant is cooled to + 40 ° C when the high-pressure side pressure of the low-stage refrigerant circuit is 9 MPa, and X2 indicates the low-stage refrigerant circuit. It shows the difference in specific enthalpy when the refrigerant at + 100 ° C. to + 120 ° C. is cooled to + 40 ° C. when the high-pressure side pressure is 7.5 MPa.

  Since the carbon dioxide refrigerant is cooled in a supercritical state by the gas cooler, the sensible heat changes. As is clear from FIG. 6, the difference in specific enthalpy is larger when the high pressure side pressure of the low stage side refrigerant circuit is 9 MPa than when it is 7.5 MPa, and the refrigerating capacity is increased accordingly. I understand that.

  FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the high-pressure side pressure of the low-stage side refrigerant circuit and the capacity of each heat exchanger (summer high temperature 38 ° C. under different conditions from FIG. 6). In the figure, the rhombus indicates the low-stage gas cooler, the square indicates the high-stage gas cooler, the triangle indicates the cascade heat exchanger, and the circle indicates the COP. As is clear from this figure, it can be seen that the efficiency COP is improved in the region indicated by X3 in the drawing, that is, in the region where the high pressure side pressure of the low stage side refrigerant circuit is high. For example, in the case of the refrigeration apparatus of this example, in an environment where the outside air temperature is + 38 ° C., it can be seen that the efficiency COP is maximized when the high pressure side pressure of the low stage side refrigerant circuit is about 10.5 MPa.

JP 2001-91074 A JP 2000-205672 A

In Patent Document 2, a plurality of low-stage refrigerant circuits are cascade-connected to a single high-stage refrigerant circuit, but each of the high-pressure refrigerants cooled by a single high-stage condenser is separated from each other. Since the current is divided into the cascade heat exchanger, it is difficult to accurately supercool the high-pressure side refrigerant of each low-stage side refrigerant circuit.

  On the other hand, each cascade heat exchanger is provided with a high-stage expansion valve, which complicates the configuration and increases the cost.

  The present invention was made to solve the conventional technical problem, and provides a refrigeration apparatus that can accurately supercool the high-pressure side refrigerant of the low-stage side refrigerant circuit at a relatively low cost. It is.

  In order to solve the above problem, the invention of claim 1 is directed to a high-pressure side refrigerant circuit, a plurality of low-stage refrigerant circuits, and a high-pressure side of each low-stage refrigerant circuit by evaporating the refrigerant in the high-stage refrigerant circuit. A plurality of cascade heat exchangers each for cooling the refrigerant, and each refrigerant circuit is filled with carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, wherein the high stage refrigerant circuit includes a high stage side gas cooler and the high stage side A high-stage expansion valve connected to the outlet of the gas cooler and a plurality of high-stage evaporators connected in parallel to the outlet of the high-stage expansion valve and constituting each cascade heat exchanger And

  The invention of claim 2 includes a plurality of high-stage refrigerant circuits, a plurality of low-stage refrigerant circuits, and a plurality of refrigerants that evaporate the refrigerant in the high-stage refrigerant circuits and cool the high-pressure refrigerant in each low-stage refrigerant circuit. In a refrigeration system comprising a cascade heat exchanger and each refrigerant circuit filled with carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, the high stage refrigerant circuit is connected to a high stage side gas cooler and an outlet of the high stage side gas cooler It is characterized by comprising a high stage side expansion valve and a plurality of high stage side evaporators connected in series to the outlet of the high stage side expansion valve and constituting each cascade heat exchanger.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a high-stage compressor in the high-stage refrigerant circuit without exchanging heat between the refrigerant discharged from the high-stage evaporator in each of the above-described inventions and the high-pressure refrigerant in the high-stage refrigerant circuit. It is made to inhale.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the high-stage refrigerant circuit, the plurality of low-stage refrigerant circuits, and the refrigerant in the high-stage refrigerant circuit are evaporated to cool the high-pressure refrigerant in each low-stage refrigerant circuit. In a refrigeration system comprising a plurality of cascade heat exchangers and each refrigerant circuit filled with carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, the high stage side refrigerant circuit is connected to the high stage side gas cooler and the outlet of the high stage side gas cooler A high stage side expansion valve and a plurality of high stage side evaporators that are connected in parallel to the outlet of the high stage side expansion valve and constitute each cascade heat exchanger. It becomes possible to supercool the high-pressure side refrigerant of the plurality of low-stage side refrigerant circuits in the refrigerant circuit.

  In this case, the high stage side refrigerant circuit is connected in parallel to the high stage side gas cooler, the high stage side expansion valve connected to the outlet of the high stage side gas cooler, and the outlet of the high stage side expansion valve. Since it has multiple high-stage evaporators that constitute each heat exchanger, it is possible to flow refrigerant from one high-stage expansion valve to multiple high-stage evaporators, simplifying control In addition, the cost can be reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the high-stage refrigerant circuit, the plurality of low-stage refrigerant circuits, and the refrigerant in the high-stage refrigerant circuit are evaporated to cool the high-pressure refrigerant in each low-stage refrigerant circuit. In a refrigeration system comprising a plurality of cascade heat exchangers and each refrigerant circuit filled with carbon dioxide as a refrigerant, the high stage side refrigerant circuit is connected to the high stage side gas cooler and the outlet of the high stage side gas cooler And a plurality of high-stage evaporators that are connected in series to the outlets of the high-stage expansion valves and constitute the cascade heat exchangers, respectively. The high-pressure side refrigerant of the plurality of low-stage refrigerant circuits can be supercooled by the stage-side refrigerant circuit.

  In this case, the high stage side refrigerant circuit is connected in series to the high stage side gas cooler, the high stage side expansion valve connected to the outlet of the high stage side gas cooler, and the outlet of the high stage side expansion valve. Since it has a plurality of high stage side evaporators that constitute each heat exchanger, when the operation of any one of the low stage side refrigerant circuits stops, liquid is supplied to the high stage side compressor of the high stage side refrigerant circuit. It is possible to prevent the inconvenience that the back occurs.

  In these, the refrigerant exiting the high stage side evaporator as in the invention of claim 3 is sucked into the high stage side compressor of the high stage side refrigerant circuit without exchanging heat with the high pressure side refrigerant of the high stage side refrigerant circuit. As a result, an abnormal increase in the high-pressure side pressure of the high-stage refrigerant circuit can be prevented, particularly in summer when the outside air temperature becomes high. Moreover, since a high-density refrigerant can be sucked into the high-stage compressor, the efficiency is also improved.

It is a refrigerant circuit figure of the refrigerating device of the reference example of the present invention (reference example). It is a control flowchart of the expansion valve for pressure adjustment by the control apparatus of the freezing apparatus of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating calculation operation | movement of the target value of the high pressure side pressure of the low stage side refrigerant circuit by the control apparatus of the freezing apparatus of FIG. It is a refrigerant circuit figure of the freezing apparatus of one Example to which this invention is applied (Example 1). It is a refrigerant circuit figure of the freezing apparatus of the other Example to which this invention is applied (Example 2). It is a ph diagram of the low stage side refrigerant circuit of this kind refrigeration equipment. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the high voltage | pressure side pressure of the low stage side refrigerant circuit of this kind freezing apparatus, and the capability of each heat exchanger.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.

  FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a refrigeration apparatus 1 according to a reference example of the present invention. The refrigerating apparatus 1 of the reference example supplies refrigerant from a refrigerator unit 3 installed outside the store to a plurality of showcases 2 (four in the reference example) installed in a store such as a convenience store or a supermarket. It is composed of a single high-stage refrigerant circuit 4 and a plurality of (two systems in the reference example) low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B.

  The high-stage side refrigerant circuit 4 of this reference example is connected to a high-stage compressor 7 composed of a scroll compressor and branch pipes 9A and 9B branched from the discharge pipe 8 of the high-stage compressor 7 respectively. 1st and 2nd (several) high stage side gas coolers 11A and 11B, and 1st high stage side expansion valve 13A connected to outlet piping 12A of the 1st high stage side gas cooler 11A, The second high stage side expansion valve 13B connected to the outlet pipe 12B of the second high stage side gas cooler 11B, and the first high stage side connected to the outlet pipe 14A of the first high stage side expansion valve 13A. An evaporator 16A and a second high-stage evaporator 16B connected to the outlet pipe 14B of the second high-stage expansion valve 13B are provided, and these first and second high-stage evaporators 16A are provided. , 16B outlet pipes 17A, 17B are merged, and the high stage compressor 7 Connected to the refrigeration cycle is configured to write pipe 18. The high-stage refrigerant circuit 4 is filled with a predetermined amount of carbon dioxide as a refrigerant.

On the other hand, the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B have the same configuration. That is, the low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A of the reference example (the same applies to the low-stage refrigerant circuit 6B) is connected to the low-stage compressor 21 that is also a scroll compressor and the discharge pipe 22 of the low-stage compressor 21. The first low-stage gas cooler 23 connected, the second low-stage gas cooler 26 connected to the outlet pipe 24 and downstream of the refrigerant of the first low-stage gas cooler 23, and the second low-stage gas cooler 26 The supercooling heat exchanger 28 connected to the outlet pipe 27 of the stage side gas cooler 26, the pressure adjusting expansion valve 31 connected to the outlet pipe 29 of the supercooling heat exchanger 28, and the pressure adjusting expansion Low-stage side expansion valves 34 and 34 connected to branch pipes 33A and 33B branched from the outlet pipe 32 of the valve 31, respectively, and low-stage side evaporation connected to the outlet side of the low-stage side expansion valves 34 and 34, respectively. And 36, 36.

  The low stage side expansion valve 34 and the low stage side evaporator 36 are respectively installed in the two showcases 2. Then, an electromagnetic valve 37 is connected to the outlet side of the low-stage evaporator 36 in each showcase 2, and the outlet pipe 38 of each electromagnetic valve 37 is joined, and then connected to the accumulator 39 via the inlet pipe 42. Then, the outlet side of the accumulator 39 is connected to the suction pipe 41 of the low-stage compressor 21 to constitute a refrigeration cycle. The accumulator 39 is a tank having a predetermined capacity. Each low stage refrigerant circuit 6A, 6B is filled with a predetermined amount of carbon dioxide as a refrigerant.

  Then, the first high-stage evaporator 16A of the high-stage refrigerant circuit 4 and the supercooling heat exchanger 28 of the low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A are provided in a heat exchange relationship, and the first cascade heat exchanger 43A. And the second high-stage side evaporator circuit 16B of the high-stage side refrigerant circuit 4 and the supercooling heat exchanger 28 of the low-stage side refrigerant circuit 6B are provided in a heat exchange relationship to provide a second cascade heat exchange. A device 43B is configured. Further, the branch pipes 33 </ b> A and 33 </ b> B and the outlet pipe 38 are pipes extending from the refrigerator unit 3 to each showcase 2.

  In the figure, 44 is a pressure sensor attached to the discharge pipe 22 of the low-stage compressor 21 of each low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A, 6B, and the pressure of the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the low-stage compressor 21 is shown. To detect. Reference numerals 46 and 47 denote temperature sensors attached to the outlet pipes 27 and 29 of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B, respectively. The temperature sensor 46 indicates the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the supercooling heat exchanger 28, The temperature sensor 47 detects the temperature of the refrigerant flowing out of the supercooling heat exchanger 28, respectively.

  In the figure, reference numerals 51 and 52 denote first and second gas cooler blowers. The first gas cooler blower 51 ventilates each of the high-stage gas coolers 11A and 11B and the first low-stage gas cooler 23 to air-cool them. Then, the second gas cooler blower 52 ventilates the second low-stage gas cooler 26 and cools it by air. In the figure, reference numeral 53 denotes a temperature sensor for detecting the outside air temperature. Further, in the figure, 48 is a control device on the refrigerator unit 3 side, and the operating frequency of the high stage compressor 7 of the high stage side refrigerant circuit 4 based on the output of each sensor 44, 46, 47, 53, etc. Valve openings of the high-stage expansion valves 13A and 13B, operating frequencies of the low-stage compressor 21 of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B, valve openings of the pressure adjusting expansion valve 31, and blowers 51 and 52 for the respective gas coolers. To control the operation.

  The low-stage expansion valve 34 and the electromagnetic valve 37 on the showcase 2 side are controlled by the control device of each showcase 2 based on the temperature in the display room, the temperature of the cold air blown out there, and the like. The control device of the showcase 2 and the control device 48 of the refrigerator unit 3 are centrally controlled by an integrated control device provided in the store, and operate in cooperation with each other.

  With the above configuration, the control device 48 operates the high stage compressor 7 of the high stage refrigerant circuit 4, the low stage compressor 21 of the low stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B, and the gas cooler fans 51 and 52. Then, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant (carbon dioxide) compressed by the high-stage compressor 7 is discharged to the discharge pipe 8 and divided into the branch pipes 9A and 9B, and then flows into the high-stage gas coolers 11A and 11B. . The refrigerant that has flowed into the high-stage gas coolers 11A and 11B is cooled in a supercritical state by the gas cooler blower 51, and the temperature decreases.

The refrigerant cooled by the first high-stage gas cooler 11A flows into the first high-stage expansion valve 13A via the outlet pipe 12A, and is throttled (decompressed) there, and then the first cascade from the outlet pipe 14A. The refrigerant flows into the first high-stage evaporator 16A constituting the heat exchanger 43A, evaporates, and cools the refrigerant flowing through the supercooling heat exchanger 28 of the first low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A (supercooling). . The refrigerant cooled by the second high stage side gas cooler 11B flows into the second high stage side expansion valve 13B via the outlet pipe 12B, and is decompressed there, and then the second cascade heat from the outlet pipe 14B. The refrigerant flows into the second high-stage evaporator 16B constituting the exchanger 43B, evaporates, and cools the refrigerant flowing through the supercooling heat exchanger 28 of the second low-stage refrigerant circuit 6B (supercooling).

  And the refrigerant | coolant which came out of these 1st and 2nd high stage side evaporator 16A, 16B merges via outlet piping 17A, 17B, and repeats the circulation sucked into the high stage side compressor 7 from the suction piping 18. FIG.

  On the other hand, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant (carbon dioxide) compressed by the low-stage compressor 21 of the first low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A (as well as the second low-stage refrigerant circuit 6B) is discharged to the discharge pipe 22. , Flows into the first low-stage gas cooler 23. The refrigerant that has flowed into the first low-stage side gas cooler 23 is cooled in a supercritical state by the gas cooler blower 51, and after the temperature has decreased, it flows into the second low-stage side gas cooler 26 through the outlet pipe 24. To do. The refrigerant that has flowed into the second low-stage gas cooler 26 is cooled in a supercritical state by the gas cooler blower 52 and, after the temperature has further decreased, passes through the outlet pipe 27 and passes through the first cascade heat exchanger 43A (second In the case of the lower stage refrigerant circuit 6B, the refrigerant flows into the supercooling heat exchanger 28 constituting the second cascade heat exchanger 43B).

  The refrigerant flowing into the supercooling heat exchanger 28 evaporates in the first high-stage evaporator 16A (in the case of the second low-stage refrigerant circuit 6B, the second high-stage evaporator 16B). After being cooled (supercooled) by the refrigerant of the high-stage side refrigerant circuit 4 and further lowered in temperature, it reaches the pressure adjusting expansion valve 31 through the outlet pipe 29.

  The high pressure side refrigerant of the low stage side refrigerant circuit 6A (6B) is throttled by the pressure adjusting expansion valve 31, and is branched to the branch pipes 33A and 33B via the outlet pipe 32, and then exits from the refrigerator unit 3 to each showcase 2 to go into. The refrigerant flowing through the branch pipes 33A and 33B reaches the low-stage expansion valve 34 of each showcase 2 and is throttled there, and then flows into the low-stage evaporator 36 and evaporates. The display chamber of each showcase 2 is cooled to a predetermined temperature by the endothermic action at this time.

  The refrigerant exiting the low-stage evaporator 36 of the showcase 2 merges through an electromagnetic valve 37 (when the showcase 2 is cooled, the electromagnetic valve 37 is open) and an outlet pipe 38. Then, it flows into the accumulator 39 from the inlet pipe 42. The refrigerant that has flowed into the accumulator 39 is gas-liquid separated there, and the circulation of the gas refrigerant that is sucked into the low-stage compressor 21 through the suction pipe 41 is repeated.

  The control device 48 detects the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the supercooling heat exchanger 28 detected by the temperature sensor 46 provided in each of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B, and the supercooling heat exchange detected by the temperature sensor 47. Based on the temperature of the refrigerant flowing out from the vessel 28 (for example, based on the difference between them), the high-pressure side refrigerant in the low-stage side refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B is appropriately subcooled in each supercooling heat exchanger 28. The valve opening degree of each high stage side expansion valve 13A, 13B is controlled independently. Thereby, the high pressure side refrigerant | coolant of each low stage side refrigerant circuit 6A, 6B is each exactly supercooled by each cascade heat exchanger 43A, 43B.

In this way, the refrigerant in the high-stage side refrigerant circuit 4 is evaporated in the high-stage side evaporators 16A and 16B of the cascade heat exchangers 43A and 43B, and the low-stage side refrigerant circuits 6A flowing through the supercooling heat exchanger 28. In the case where carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant by supercooling the high-pressure side refrigerant of 6B, a relatively large (high capacity) compressor is used as the compressor 7, 21 of each refrigerant circuit 4, 6A, 6B. Without using it, it becomes possible to obtain the required cooling capacity in the low-stage evaporator 36 of each showcase 2.

  The refrigerant that has exited the low-stage evaporator 36 of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B does not exchange heat with the high-pressure refrigerant of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B, and the low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A, Since it is configured to be sucked into the low-stage compressor 21 of 6B, it is possible to prevent an abnormal increase in the high-pressure side pressure of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B, especially in summer when the outside air temperature becomes high. At the same time, since the high-density refrigerant can be sucked into the low-stage compressor 21, the efficiency is also improved.

  In this case, since the accumulator 39 is provided on the suction side of the low-stage compressor 21, liquid back to the low-stage compressor 21 is prevented. In addition, since the accumulator 39 functions as a liquid reservoir, a sufficient amount of carbon dioxide refrigerant can be sealed in the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B.

  In addition, since the cascade heat exchangers 43A and 43B supercool the refrigerant that has exited the low-stage gas cooler 26, the carbon dioxide refrigerant of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B cooled by the low-stage gas coolers 26 and 26 is used. Further cooling is performed by the cascade heat exchangers 43A and 43B, and further cooling capacity can be improved.

  Furthermore, in this reference example, two low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B and two cascade heat exchangers 43A and 43B respectively provided in the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B are provided. The high-stage side refrigerant circuit 4 can supercool the high-pressure side refrigerants of the two systems (plurality) of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B.

  In this case, the high-stage refrigerant circuit 4 includes two (plural) high-stage gas coolers 11A and 11B connected in parallel and two (multiple-stage) connected to the outlets of the high-stage gas coolers 11A and 11B, respectively. ) High-stage side expansion valves 13A and 13B, and two (plural) high-stage side evaporations respectively connected to the outlets of the high-stage side expansion valves 13A and 13B to constitute the cascade heat exchangers 43A and 43B, respectively. 16A and 16B, even when two low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B are used as in the reference example, each cascade heat exchanger 43A and 43B causes each low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A, The 6B high-pressure refrigerant can be subcooled accurately and independently.

  In addition, the refrigerant that has exited each of the high-stage evaporators 16A and 16B of the high-stage refrigerant circuit 4 does not exchange heat with the high-pressure refrigerant of the high-stage refrigerant circuit 4, and thus the high-stage refrigerant circuit 4 Since the suction is performed by the stage-side compressor 7, an abnormal increase in the high-pressure side pressure of the high-stage refrigerant circuit 4 can be prevented particularly in summer when the outside air temperature becomes high. Moreover, since a high-density refrigerant can be sucked into the high stage side compressor 7, efficiency is also improved.

  Next, the valve opening control of the pressure adjusting expansion valve 31 of each of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B by the control device 48 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the reference example, the control device 48 calculates the optimum high-pressure side pressure of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B based on the outside air temperature, and controls the valve opening degree of each pressure adjusting expansion valve 31 using this as a target value. . That is, the control device 48 detects the outside air temperature detected by the temperature sensor 53 in step S1 of the flowchart of FIG. Next, in step S2, a target value for the high-pressure side pressure of the low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A (6B) is set based on the outside air temperature.

In this case, the control device 48 holds in advance information indicating the relationship between the outside air temperature and the optimum high-pressure side pressure of the low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A (6B) at that time. Here, in the present invention, the optimum value of the high-pressure side pressure means the high-pressure side pressure of the low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A (6B) at which the efficiency COP is maximized or close to the value in FIG. The approximate expression (y = 0.1347x + 5.4132) in FIG. 3 is information indicating the relationship between the optimum high-pressure side pressure of the low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A (6B) and the outside air temperature. 3, the horizontal axis (x) is the outside air temperature, and the vertical axis (y) is the high-pressure side pressure of the low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A (6B) of the refrigeration apparatus 1 (the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the low-stage compressor 21). This approximate expression is obtained in advance by experiments. For example, if FIG. 7 described above is an example of the refrigeration apparatus 1, it can be seen that the optimum value (y) of the high-pressure side pressure is 10.5 MPa in an environment where the outside air temperature (x) is + 38 ° C.

  In step S2, the control device 48 uses this approximate expression to calculate the optimum high-pressure side pressure at that time (the optimum value of the high-pressure side pressure) from the outside air temperature, and sets the calculated high-pressure side pressure as a target value. For example, the target value (optimum high-pressure side pressure) at the outside air temperature + 20 ° C. is about 8.1 MPa, and the target value at + 30 ° C. is about 9.5 MPa. Next, in step S3, the control device 48 sets an initialization opening of the pressure adjusting expansion valve 31 to initialize the opening. In step S4, the control of the high pressure side pressure of the low stage side refrigerant circuit 6A (6B) by the pressure adjusting expansion valve 31 is started.

  The controller 48 first waits for a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) in step S5, and then detects the current high-pressure side pressure detected by the pressure sensor 44 in step S6. Next, in step S7, the absolute value (abs) of the difference (target value-current value) between the target value (optimal high pressure side pressure) and the current high pressure side pressure (current value) is a predetermined value (for example, 0.1 MPa). ) It is determined whether or not the difference is less than or equal to a predetermined value (there is no difference or is small), the process proceeds to step S8 and no instruction to change the valve opening of the pressure adjusting expansion valve 31 is given. (The valve opening degree of the pressure adjusting expansion valve 31 is maintained).

  Next, after waiting for a predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds) in step S9, the outside temperature detected by the temperature sensor 53 is detected again in step S10. Then, the difference (set outside air temperature−current outside air temperature) between the outside air temperature when the target value is set in step S11 (outside air temperature in step S1; set outside air temperature) and the current outside air temperature (current outside air temperature) is obtained. It is determined whether or not the value is within a range of a predetermined value (for example, plus or minus 2K). If the difference is within the predetermined value (plus or minus 2K), the target value of the high pressure side pressure is maintained in step S12, and the process returns to step S6.

  If the difference (set outside air temperature−current outside air temperature) is not within the predetermined value in step S11, the control device 48 proceeds to step S13 to use the approximate expression of FIG. 3 again, and the outside air temperature at that time (current outside air temperature) again. The optimum high-pressure side pressure is calculated, and the calculated high-pressure side pressure is set (updated) as a target value. Then, the process returns to step S6. In this way, the controller 48 updates the target value of the high-pressure side pressure of the low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A (6B) following the change in the outside air temperature.

  On the other hand, if the absolute value of the difference (target value−current value) between the target value and the current high pressure side pressure (current value) is not less than or equal to the predetermined value (0.1 MPa) in step S7 (the difference is large), The control device 48 proceeds to step S14, and determines whether or not the difference (target value−current value) is larger than a predetermined value (for example, 0.1 MPa).

When the current high-pressure side pressure (current value) is low and the difference (target value−current value) is greater than the predetermined value (0.1 MPa), the control device 48 proceeds to step S15 and determines the pressure adjustment expansion valve 31. The valve opening is closed by a predetermined pulse (xxpls). As a result, the high-pressure side refrigerant in the low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A (6B) is more blocked when it exits the supercooling heat exchanger 28 of the cascade heat exchanger 43A (43B). The high pressure side pressure of the refrigerant circuit 6A (6B) increases.

  On the other hand, when the current high-pressure side pressure (current value) of the low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A (6B) is high and the difference (target value−current value) is equal to or less than a predetermined value (0.1 MPa), the control device 48 performs step. Proceeding to S16, the valve opening degree of the pressure adjusting expansion valve 31 is opened by a predetermined pulse (xxpls). As a result, the high-pressure side refrigerant of the low-stage side refrigerant circuit 6A (6B) that has exited the supercooling heat exchanger 28 of the cascade heat exchanger 43A (43B) becomes easier to flow, so the low-stage side refrigerant circuit 6A ( The high pressure side pressure of 6B) decreases.

  By repeating the above, the control device 48 controls the high pressure side pressure of the low stage side refrigerant circuit 6A (6B) to an optimum value by the pressure adjusting expansion valve 31. That is, a pressure adjusting expansion valve 31 for adjusting the high pressure side pressure of the low stage side refrigerant circuits 6A, 6B is provided, and the control unit 48 determines the optimum relevant pressure based on the high pressure side pressure of the low stage side refrigerant circuits 6A, 6B. Since the pressure adjusting expansion valve 31 is controlled with the high pressure side pressure as a target value, the specific enthalpy difference between the high pressure side refrigerants in the low stage side refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B is secured to improve the cooling capacity and the efficiency. It becomes possible to plan.

  Particularly, information (approximate expression) indicating the relationship between the outside air temperature and the optimum high pressure side pressure at that time is stored in advance in the control device 48, and the target value of the high pressure side pressure is calculated based on the outside air temperature. Therefore, the pressure adjusting expansion valve 31 can smoothly control the high pressure side pressure of the low stage side refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B to an optimum value.

  Next, an embodiment of the refrigeration apparatus 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the same or similar functions. Also in this embodiment, the circuit configurations of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B are the same as those in the reference example. In this case, the outlet pipe 12A of the first high-stage side gas cooler 11A of the high-stage side refrigerant circuit 4 and the outlet pipe 12B of the second high-stage side gas cooler 11B are joined together to the inlet of one high-stage side expansion valve 13. It is connected. That is, the high stage side gas coolers 11A and 11B are connected in parallel between the high stage side compressor 7 and the high stage side expansion valve 13.

  Further, the outlet of the high stage side expansion valve 13 branches into branch pipes 54A and 54B, one branch pipe 54A is connected to the inlet of the first high stage side evaporator 16A, and the other branch pipe 54B is the second pipe. Is connected to the inlet of the higher stage evaporator 16B. That is, the high-stage evaporators 16A and 16B are connected in parallel to the outlet of the high-stage side expansion valve 13.

  In the figure, 56 is a pressure sensor which is attached to the discharge pipe 8 of the high stage side compressor 7 and detects the high pressure side pressure of the high stage side refrigerant circuit 4, and 57 in the figure is attached to the outlet pipe 17A. The temperature sensor 58 detects the temperature of the refrigerant that has exited the first high-stage evaporator 16A, and 58 is a temperature sensor that is attached to the outlet pipe 17B and detects the temperature of the refrigerant that has exited the second high-stage evaporator 16B. It is. Further, the temperature sensors 46 and 47 of the reference example are not provided. Other configurations are the same as those in the reference example.

  In the refrigeration apparatus 1 in this case, the control device 48 causes the high-stage compressor 7 of the high-stage refrigerant circuit 4, the low-stage compressor 21 of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6 </ b> A and 6 </ b> B, and the gas cooler blowers 51 and 52 to be used. When operated, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant (carbon dioxide) compressed by the high-stage compressor 7 is discharged to the discharge pipe 8 and divided into the branch pipes 9A and 9B, and then each of the high-stage gas coolers 11A and 11B. Flow into. The refrigerant that has flowed into the high-stage gas coolers 11A and 11B is cooled in a supercritical state by the gas cooler blower 51, and the temperature decreases.

And the refrigerant | coolant cooled by each high stage side gas cooler 11A, 11B is the outlet piping 12A, 1A.
After joining through 2B, it flows into the high stage side expansion valve 13, and after being throttled (decompression), it is branched into the branch pipes 54A and 54B. The refrigerant that has flowed into the branch pipe 54A flows into the first high-stage evaporator 16A that constitutes the first cascade heat exchanger 43A, evaporates, and heat for supercooling the first low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A. The refrigerant flowing through the exchanger 28 is cooled (supercooled). The refrigerant that has flowed into the branch pipe 54B flows into the second high-stage evaporator 16B that constitutes the second cascade heat exchanger 43B, evaporates, and supercools the second low-stage refrigerant circuit 6B. The refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger 28 is cooled (supercooled).

  And the refrigerant | coolant which came out of these 1st and 2nd high stage side evaporator 16A, 16B merges via outlet piping 17A, 17B, and repeats the circulation sucked into the high stage side compressor 7 from the suction piping 18. FIG.

  Further, the control device 48 in this case sets the operating frequency of the high stage compressor 7 based on, for example, an average value of the temperature of the refrigerant that has exited the high stage evaporators 16A and 16B detected by the temperature sensors 57 and 58. Control. At this time, the control device 48 controls the operating frequency of the high-stage compressor 7 so that the required supercooling of the high-pressure refrigerant in the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B can be obtained in the cascade heat exchangers 43A and 43B. .

  Further, the control device 48 determines the valve opening degree of the expansion valve 13 based on the high-pressure side pressure of the high-stage refrigerant circuit 4 detected by the pressure sensor 56, and the pressure adjusting expansion valves for the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B described above. By controlling in the same manner as 31, the high pressure side pressure of the high stage side refrigerant circuit 4 is controlled to an appropriate value (target value of the high pressure side pressure of the high stage side refrigerant circuit 4) as described above. The operation of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B and the control of the control device 48 related thereto are the same as in the reference example.

  This embodiment also includes two (a plurality of) low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B and two (a plurality of) cascade heat exchangers 43A and 43B provided in each of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B. Accordingly, similarly, the high-pressure side refrigerants of the two systems (plurality) of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B can be supercooled by the single high-stage refrigerant circuit 4. In particular, in the case of this embodiment, the high stage side refrigerant circuit 4 includes the first and second high stage side gas coolers 11A and 11B and a single high stage connected to the outlets of these high stage side gas coolers 11A and 11B. A side expansion valve 13 and two (a plurality of) high stage side evaporators 16A and 16B that are connected in parallel to the outlet of the high stage side expansion valve 13 and constitute the cascade heat exchangers 43A and 43B, respectively. As a result, the refrigerant can flow from the single high-stage expansion valve 13 to the two (plural) high-stage evaporators 16A and 16B, thereby simplifying the control and reducing the cost. This has the effect of being able to plan.

  Next, another embodiment of the refrigeration apparatus 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 and 4 indicate the same or similar functions. Also in this embodiment, the circuit configurations of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B are the same as those in the reference example. Also in this case, the outlet pipe 12A of the first high-stage side gas cooler 11A of the high-stage side refrigerant circuit 4 and the outlet pipe 12B of the second high-stage side gas cooler 11B are joined together to the inlet of one high-stage side expansion valve 13. It is connected. That is, the high stage side gas coolers 11A and 11B are connected in parallel between the high stage side compressor 7 and the high stage side expansion valve 13.

  However, the outlet of the high stage side expansion valve 13 is connected to the inlet of the first high stage side evaporator 16A via an outlet pipe 59. The outlet pipe 17A of the first high stage evaporator 16A is connected to the inlet of the second high stage evaporator 16B, and the outlet pipe 17B of the high stage evaporator 16B is connected to the high stage compressor 7. The suction pipe 18 is connected. That is, the high-stage evaporators 16A and 16B are connected in series to the outlet of the high-stage side expansion valve 13.

  Further, the temperature sensor 57 of the first embodiment is not provided, and the temperature sensor 58 is attached to the outlet pipe 17B and detects the temperature of the refrigerant that has exited the second high-stage evaporator 16B. Also in this case, the temperature sensors 46 and 47 of the reference example are not provided. Other configurations are the same as those in the reference example or the first embodiment.

  In the refrigeration apparatus 1 in this case, the control device 48 causes the high-stage compressor 7 of the high-stage refrigerant circuit 4, the low-stage compressor 21 of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6 </ b> A and 6 </ b> B, and the gas cooler blowers 51 and 52 to be used. When operated, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant (carbon dioxide) compressed by the high-stage compressor 7 is discharged to the discharge pipe 8 and divided into the branch pipes 9A and 9B, and then each of the high-stage gas coolers 11A and 11B. Flow into. The refrigerant that has flowed into the high-stage gas coolers 11A and 11B is cooled in a supercritical state by the gas cooler blower 51, and the temperature decreases.

  The refrigerant cooled by the high-stage gas coolers 11A and 11B merges through the outlet pipes 12A and 12B, and then flows into the high-stage expansion valve 13 where it is throttled (decompressed), and then the outlet pipe 59. First, the refrigerant flows into the first high-stage evaporator 16A constituting the first cascade heat exchanger 43A, evaporates, and flows through the supercooling heat exchanger 28 of the first low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A. Is cooled (supercooled). The refrigerant that has exited the first high-stage evaporator 16A flows into the second high-stage evaporator 16B that constitutes the second cascade heat exchanger 43B through the outlet pipe 17A, and then evaporates. The refrigerant flowing through the supercooling heat exchanger 28 of the second low-stage refrigerant circuit 6B is cooled (supercooling).

  And the refrigerant | coolant which came out of this 2nd high stage side evaporator 16B repeats the circulation sucked into the high stage side compressor 7 from the suction piping 18 through the exit piping 17B.

  Further, the control device 48 in this case controls the operating frequency of the high-stage compressor 7 based on the temperature of the refrigerant exiting the second high-stage evaporator 16B detected by the temperature sensor 58. At this time, the control device 48 controls the operating frequency of the high-stage compressor 7 so that the required supercooling of the high-pressure refrigerant in the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B can be obtained in the cascade heat exchangers 43A and 43B. .

  Further, the control device 48 controls the opening degree of the expansion valve 13 based on the high-pressure side pressure of the high-stage refrigerant circuit 4 detected by the pressure sensor 56 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. , 6B, the high pressure side pressure of the high stage side refrigerant circuit 4 is set to an appropriate value similar to the above (target value of the high pressure side pressure of the high stage side refrigerant circuit 4). Control. The operation of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B and the control of the control device 48 related thereto are the same as in the reference example.

  This embodiment also includes two (a plurality of) low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B and two (a plurality of) cascade heat exchangers 43A and 43B provided in each of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B. Accordingly, similarly, the high-pressure side refrigerants of the two systems (plurality) of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A and 6B can be supercooled by the single high-stage refrigerant circuit 4.

  Here, in the case of Example 1, when any one of the low-stage refrigerant circuits 6A or 6B is stopped, a liquid back is generated in the high-stage compressor 7 of the high-stage refrigerant circuit 4. Although there is a risk, in this embodiment, the high stage side refrigerant circuit 4 is configured in series with each cascade heat exchanger in series with the outlet of the high stage side expansion valve 13 connected to the outlets of the high stage side gas coolers 11A and 11B. Two (a plurality of) high stage evaporators 16A and 16B are connected, and the operating frequency of the high stage compressor 7 is set at the temperature of the refrigerant that has exited the second high stage evaporator 16B on the downstream side. Since it is controlled, such inconvenience is solved.

However, in this embodiment, the first high-stage evaporator 16A is upstream, and the second high-stage evaporator 16B is downstream. The supercooling of the refrigerant in the low-stage refrigerant circuit 6A cooled by 43A is prioritized over the low-stage refrigerant circuit 6B. Therefore, the low stage side refrigerant circuit 6A may be configured to share cooling of the showcase 2 where the load becomes larger.

  In the embodiment, a single high-stage refrigerant circuit and two low-stage refrigerant circuits are cascade-connected, but not limited to this, three or more low-stage refrigerant circuits are cascade-connected to the high-stage refrigerant circuit. The present invention is also effective for the refrigeration apparatus. In the embodiments, the present invention is applied to a refrigeration apparatus that cools a showcase. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the present invention is also effective for a refrigeration apparatus that cools a vending machine or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigeration apparatus 2 Showcase 3 Refrigerator unit 4 High stage side refrigerant circuit 6A, 6B Low stage side refrigerant circuit 7 High stage side compressor 11A, 11B High stage side gas cooler 13A, 13B, 13 High stage side expansion valve 16A, 16B High-stage evaporator 21 Low-stage compressor 23, 26 Low-stage gas cooler 28 Supercooling heat exchanger 31 Pressure adjustment expansion valve 34 Low-stage expansion valve 36 Low-stage evaporator 39 Accumulator 48 Controllers 51, 52 Gas cooler blower

Claims (3)

A high stage refrigerant circuit, a plurality of low stage refrigerant circuits, and a plurality of cascade heat exchangers for evaporating the refrigerant in the high stage refrigerant circuit and cooling the high pressure refrigerant in each of the low stage refrigerant circuits, respectively In each of the refrigerant circuits, a refrigeration apparatus in which carbon dioxide is sealed as a refrigerant,
The high-stage refrigerant circuit includes a high-stage gas cooler, a high-stage expansion valve connected to the outlet of the high-stage gas cooler, and the cascade heat connected in parallel to the outlet of the high-stage expansion valve. A refrigeration apparatus comprising a plurality of high-stage evaporators that respectively constitute an exchanger. A high stage refrigerant circuit, a plurality of low stage refrigerant circuits, and a plurality of cascade heat exchangers for evaporating the refrigerant in the high stage refrigerant circuit and cooling the high pressure refrigerant in each of the low stage refrigerant circuits, respectively In each of the refrigerant circuits, a refrigeration apparatus in which carbon dioxide is sealed as a refrigerant,
The high-stage side refrigerant circuit includes a high-stage side gas cooler, a high-stage side expansion valve connected to an outlet of the high-stage side gas cooler, and each cascade heat connected in series to an outlet of the high-stage side expansion valve. A refrigeration apparatus comprising a plurality of high-stage evaporators that respectively constitute an exchanger.   The refrigerant discharged from the high-stage evaporator is sucked into the high-stage compressor of the high-stage refrigerant circuit without exchanging heat with the high-pressure refrigerant of the high-stage refrigerant circuit. The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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