JP2021042872A - Refrigeration cycle device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a refrigeration cycle device that can preferably employ mixed refrigerant containing trifluoroiodomethane.SOLUTION: A refrigeration cycle device 1 includes a refrigeration circuit 2 including a compressor 5, a radiator, an expansion valve 7, a heat absorber and a refrigerant pipe 11 through which mixed refrigerant containing trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I) circulates. The refrigeration circuit 2 has a zinc-free junction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to refrigeration cycle equipment.

In order to prevent global warming, the refrigerant used in the refrigeration cycle equipment is required to be converted to a refrigerant having a smaller global warming potential (GWP).

Currently, refrigeration cycle devices that use a flammable refrigerant such as R32, which has a low global warming potential, are being developed. However, when using a flammable refrigerant such as R32, it is necessary to ensure safety by taking safety measures. Safety measures are based on, for example, JRA (Japan Racing Association Standard) and JRA-GL (Japan Racing Association Guidelines) of the Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association. Specific safety measures are to limit the amount of refrigerant charged and to install safety measures such as leak detectors, alarms, shutoff valves, and mechanical ventilation devices. Limiting the amount of refrigerant charged leads to a decrease in the performance of the refrigeration cycle device. Installing safety equipment will increase the cost of refrigeration cycle equipment.

Therefore, a refrigeration cycle device using a mixed refrigerant containing trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I, hereinafter referred to as "CF3I"), which is incombustible and has a small global warming potential, has been proposed.

By the way, it is known that iodine and zinc constituting CF3I react with each other using water as a catalyst. In addition, CF3I decomposes with zinc as a catalyst to produce iodine.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-228947 Special Fair 6-035419 Gazette JP-A-2015-38214

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigeration cycle apparatus capable of preferably adopting a mixed refrigerant containing trifluoroiodomethane.

The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention connects a compressor, a radiator, an expansion valve, a heat absorber, the compressor, the radiator, the expansion valve, and the heat absorber to trifluoroiodomethane. A refrigerating circuit including a refrigerant pipe for flowing a mixed refrigerant containing methane (CF3I) is provided, and the refrigerating circuit has a zinc-free junction.

The schematic diagram of the refrigeration cycle apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The external view of the vicinity of the joint portion of the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

An embodiment of the refrigeration cycle apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 2. In the plurality of drawings, the same or corresponding configurations are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a refrigeration cycle device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigeration cycle device 1 according to the present embodiment is, for example, an air conditioner. The refrigerant used in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 is a mixed refrigerant containing trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I, hereinafter referred to as “CF3I”). The refrigerant used in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 is described as difluoromethane (HFC-32, R32, hereinafter referred to as “R32”) and pentafluoroethane (HFC125, R125, hereinafter referred to as “R125”). ), And CF3I mixed refrigerant. The refrigerant used in the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 is, for example, a mixed refrigerant containing 49.0% by weight R32, 11.5% by weight R125, and 39.5% by weight CF3I. Refrigerants with such composition ratios (components) are tentatively registered as Refrigerant No. R466A in Standard 34 of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

The refrigeration cycle device 1 includes a refrigeration circuit 2. The refrigeration circuit 2 includes a compressor 5, an outdoor heat exchanger 6, an expansion valve 7, an indoor heat exchanger 9, a compressor 5, an outdoor heat exchanger 6, an expansion valve 7, and an indoor heat exchanger 9. It includes a refrigerant pipe 11 that is connected to flow the refrigerant.

Further, the refrigerating circuit 2 sends the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 5 to either the outdoor heat exchanger 6 or the indoor heat exchanger 9, and passes through either the outdoor heat exchanger 6 or the indoor heat exchanger 9. It includes a four-way valve 12 that sends the generated refrigerant to the compressor 5 again, and an accumulator 13 provided in the refrigerant pipe 11 between the four-way valve 12 and the compressor 5.

The outdoor heat exchanger 6 and the indoor heat exchanger 9 are fin-and-tube type or plate type.

The outdoor heat exchanger 6 functions as a radiator (also referred to as a “condenser”) when the refrigeration cycle device 1 is cooled, and a heat absorber (“evaporation”) when the refrigeration cycle device 1 is heated. It also functions as a vessel.)

The indoor heat exchanger 9 functions as a heat absorber when the refrigeration cycle device 1 is cooled, and functions as a radiator when the refrigeration cycle device 1 is heated.

The compressor 5 compresses the refrigerant, boosts the pressure, and discharges the refrigerant. The compressor 5 may have an operating frequency that can be changed by, for example, a known inverter control, or may have an operating frequency that cannot be changed.

The expansion valve 7 is, for example, a PMV (Pulse Motor Valve). The expansion valve 7 can adjust the valve opening degree. Although not shown, the expansion valve 7 includes, for example, a valve body having a through hole, a needle capable of advancing and retreating with respect to the through hole, and a power source for advancing and retreating the needle. When the through hole is closed with a needle, the expansion valve 7 stops (blocks) the flow of the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle device 1. At this time, the expansion valve 7 is in the closed state, and the opening degree of the expansion valve 7 is the smallest. When the needle is farthest from the through hole, the flow rate of the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle device 1 is maximized. At this time, the opening degree of the expansion valve 7 is the largest.

The power source of the expansion valve 7 is, for example, a stepping motor. When the number of pulses input to the stepping motor is 0, the expansion valve 7 closes. When the number of pulses input to the stepping motor is the maximum pulse, the expansion valve 7 reaches the maximum opening degree. The maximum number of pulses is, for example, several hundred pulses, for example, 500 pulses.

The refrigerant pipe 11 connects a compressor 5, an accumulator 13, a four-way valve 12, an outdoor heat exchanger 6, an expansion valve 7, and an indoor heat exchanger 9. The refrigerant pipe 11 includes a first refrigerant pipe 11a connecting the discharge side of the compressor 5 and the four-way valve 12, a second refrigerant pipe 11b connecting the suction side of the compressor 5 and the four-way valve 12, the four-way valve 12 and the outdoor. A third refrigerant pipe 11c connecting the heat exchanger 6, a fourth refrigerant pipe 11d connecting the outdoor heat exchanger 6 and the indoor heat exchanger 9, and a fifth refrigerant connecting the indoor heat exchanger 9 and the four-way valve 12. Includes tube 11e and.

The accumulator 13 is provided in the second refrigerant pipe 11b.

The fourth refrigerant pipe 11d is provided with an expansion valve 7.

The refrigerant pipe 11, that is, the first refrigerant pipe 11a, the second refrigerant pipe 11b, the third refrigerant pipe 11c, the fourth refrigerant pipe 11d, and the fifth refrigerant pipe 11e are each of the devices (compressor 5, accumulator 13). , A four-way valve 12, an outdoor heat exchanger 6, an expansion valve 7, and an indoor heat exchanger 9). The refrigeration circuit 2 includes a joint portion 21 at a joint portion between each connection end of the refrigerant pipes 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, and 11e and each device.

Further, the first refrigerant pipe 11a, the second refrigerant pipe 11b, the third refrigerant pipe 11c, the fourth refrigerant pipe 11d, and the fifth refrigerant pipe 11e may be formed by joining and extending a plurality of pipes. .. The connecting portions of the plurality of pipes constituting the refrigerant pipe 11 are also joint portions 21. That is, the refrigeration circuit 2 has a plurality of joints 21.

The four-way valve 12 switches the direction of the flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe 11. When the refrigeration cycle device 1 is cooled (the flow of the refrigerant shown by the solid line in FIG. 1) to lower the room temperature in the building, the four-way valve 12 flows the refrigerant from the first refrigerant pipe 11a to the third refrigerant pipe 11c. And the refrigerant is circulated from the fifth refrigerant pipe 11e to the second refrigerant pipe 11b. When the refrigeration cycle device 1 is heated (the flow of the refrigerant shown by the broken line in FIG. 1) to raise the room temperature in the building, the four-way valve 12 flows the refrigerant from the first refrigerant pipe 11a to the fifth refrigerant pipe 11e. And the refrigerant is circulated from the third refrigerant pipe 11c to the second refrigerant pipe 11b.

During the cooling operation, the refrigerating cycle device 1 discharges the compressed high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant from the compressor 5 and sends this refrigerant to the outdoor heat exchanger 6 via the four-way valve 12. The outdoor heat exchanger 6 exchanges heat between the air outside the building and the refrigerant passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 6 to cool the refrigerant into a high-pressure liquid state. That is, during the cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 6 functions as a radiator. The refrigerant that has passed through the outdoor heat exchanger 6 passes through the expansion valve 7, is depressurized, becomes a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, and reaches the indoor heat exchanger 9. The indoor heat exchanger 9 cools the air inside the building by exchanging heat between the air inside the building and the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger 9. At this time, the indoor heat exchanger 9 functions as a heat absorber that evaporates the refrigerant to make it in a gaseous state. The refrigerant that has passed through the indoor heat exchanger 9 is sucked into the compressor 5.

On the other hand, during the heating operation, the refrigerating cycle device 1 inverts the four-way valve 12 to cause the refrigerating cycle device 1 to have a flow of the refrigerant opposite to the flow of the refrigerant at the time of cooling. At this time, the indoor heat exchanger 9 functions as a radiator, and the outdoor heat exchanger 6 functions as a heat absorber.

The refrigeration cycle device 1 may be dedicated to cooling without the four-way valve 12. In this case, the discharge side of the compressor 5 is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 6 through the refrigerant pipe 11, and the suction side of the compressor 5 is connected to the indoor heat exchanger 9 through the refrigerant pipe 11.

By the way, CF3I contained in the refrigerant may generate iodine using zinc as a catalyst. The generated iodine is granular contamination and may flow through the refrigeration cycle device 1 together with the refrigerant and adversely affect the refrigeration cycle device 1. In addition, iodine constituting CF3I may react with zinc using water as a catalyst.

Therefore, in the refrigeration circuit 2, the portion exposed to the refrigerant is made of a zinc-free material. Specifically, the compressor 5, the accumulator 13, the four-way valve 12, the outdoor heat exchanger 6, the expansion valve 7, the indoor heat exchanger 9, and the refrigerant pipe 11 are made of a zinc-free material such as stainless steel. It is composed of a zinc-free copper alloy.

Further, in the refrigeration circuit 2, the sliding portion is made of a zinc-free material. Specifically, the compression mechanism in the compressor 5, for example, a member having a sliding portion such as a roller, a cylinder, and a slide vane, is made of a zinc-free material.

Further, the refrigeration circuit 2 has a zinc-free junction 21.

The joint portion 21 is joined by welding, for example. A zinc-free filler metal is used for the joint portion 21. For brazing, zinc-free copper brazing material and nickel amorphous brazing material are suitable.

Further, the joint portion 21 may be joined by a zinc-free mechanical joint. The mechanical joint is suitable for the joint between the plate heat exchanger and the refrigerant pipe 11. The mechanical joint is a pipe joint that does not involve welding, and includes various joining methods that utilize plastic deformation of screws and joints, such as a screw type, a union type, a flange type, a bite type, a flare type, and a housing type. These mechanical joints are composed of zinc-free members.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the vicinity of the joint portion of the refrigeration cycle device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is provided in the vicinity of the joint portion 21 and is a visible sign that calls attention to join at the zinc-free joint portion 21. The unit 22 is provided.

The marking portion 22 may be provided at least at the joint portion 21 before joining. In other words, the marking portion 22 may be removed after the joining portion 21 has been joined. In the case of a joint portion that can release the joint state, for example, a joint portion 21 using a mechanical joint, it is preferable that the marker portion 22 is permanently visible.

As described above, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a refrigeration circuit 2 having a zinc-free joint portion 21. Therefore, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 can easily and preferably apply CF3I without adding a stabilizer such as a diene base compound to the refrigerant.

Further, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a joint portion 21 to be joined with a zinc-free filler metal. Therefore, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 can easily and preferably apply CF3I without adding a stabilizer such as a diene base compound to the refrigerant.

Further, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a joint portion 21 to be joined by brazing using amorphous brazing material as the filler metal. Therefore, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 can easily and preferably apply CF3I without adding a stabilizer such as a diene-based compound to the refrigerant. Further, the brazing using amorphous brazing improves the joining strength of the joining portion 21 as compared with the brazing using copper brazing and the brazing using silver brazing, which are generally applied to the refrigeration circuit 2. This improvement in joint strength reduces the risk of refrigerant leakage due to mechanical vibration of the compressor or the like.

Further, the refrigeration cycle device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a refrigeration circuit 2 having a zinc-free mechanical joint as a joint portion 21. Therefore, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 can easily and preferably apply CF3I without adding a stabilizer such as a diene base compound to the refrigerant. Further, the mechanical joint has higher manufacturability than the joint portion 21 joined by welding.

Further, the refrigeration cycle device 1 is provided in the vicinity of the joint portion 21 and includes a visible marking portion 22 that calls attention to join at the zinc-free joint portion 21. Therefore, the refrigeration cycle device 1 easily and easily prevents the joint portion 21 from being welded with a filler material containing zinc and the joint portion 21 from being joined by a mechanical joint formed of a material containing zinc. it can.

Further, in the refrigeration cycle device 1 according to the present embodiment, the portion exposed to the refrigerant is made of a zinc-free material. Therefore, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 can easily and preferably apply CF3I without adding a stabilizer such as a diene base compound to the refrigerant.

Further, in the refrigeration cycle device 1 according to the present embodiment, the sliding portion is made of a zinc-free material. Therefore, the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 can easily and preferably apply CF3I without adding a stabilizer such as a diene base compound to the refrigerant.

Therefore, according to the refrigeration cycle apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, a mixed refrigerant containing CF3I can be suitably adopted. That is, the refrigeration cycle device 1 can preferably employ a refrigerant having a low global warming potential and high safety.

Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

1 ... Refrigerant cycle device, 2 ... Refrigerant circuit, 5 ... Compressor, 6 ... Outdoor heat exchanger, 7 ... Expansion valve, 9 ... Indoor heat exchanger, 11 ... Refrigerant pipe, 11a ... First refrigerant pipe, 11b ... No. (2) Refrigerant pipe, 11c ... Third refrigerant pipe, 11d ... Fourth refrigerant pipe, 11e ... Fifth refrigerant pipe, 12 ... Four-way valve, 13 ... Accumulator, 21 ... Joint part, 22 ... Marking part.

Claims (7)

A refrigerant that connects a compressor, a radiator, an expansion valve, a heat absorber, the compressor, the radiator, the expansion valve, and the heat absorber to flow a mixed refrigerant containing trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I). With a tube and a refrigeration circuit with
The refrigeration circuit is a refrigeration cycle device having a zinc-free joint. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the joint portion is joined with a zinc-free filler metal. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the filler metal is amorphous brazing. At least one of the radiator and the heat absorber is a plate heat exchanger,
The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the joint portion between the refrigerant pipe and the plate heat exchanger is connected via a zinc-free mechanical joint. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is provided at least in the vicinity of the joint portion before joining and has a visible marking portion that calls attention to encourage joining at the zinc-free joint portion. Refrigeration cycle equipment. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the portion exposed to the refrigerant is made of a zinc-free material. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sliding portion is made of a zinc-free material.

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