JP3826560B2 - Refrigeration unit with freshness maintaining device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a refrigeration apparatus including a freshness maintaining apparatus having an ethylene gas decomposition mechanism.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to maintain the freshness of fruits and vegetables, etc. in the freshness maintaining device, a catalyst that decomposes and removes ethylene gas involved in the deterioration of freshness has been used.
There are several types of catalysts used for removing ethylene gas, and any of these catalysts utilizes ethylene gas adsorption and decomposition reactions.
When these devices are installed in a low-temperature environment such as a refrigerator, the ethylene adsorption efficiency is good, but the ethylene decomposition reaction and the decomposition product desorption are inefficient due to the low temperature.
[0003]
In order to improve the decomposition reaction efficiency of ethylene, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-5228 discloses an ethylene removal and deodorization apparatus provided with an ethylene removal and deodorization sheet and a heater perpendicular to the air flow direction.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-277326 includes an adsorbent that adsorbs ethylene in the air flowing down the duct and a temperature control device disposed upstream thereof, and cools or heats the adsorbent. Discloses an atmosphere control device for increasing or decreasing the ethylene adsorption amount of the adsorbent.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-disclosed apparatus is newly provided with heating means for heating the catalyst, increasing the size of the entire apparatus and increasing the energy cost.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a freshness maintaining device that has good ethylene gas adsorption efficiency and ethylene gas decomposition efficiency, and can achieve downsizing of the device.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The refrigeration apparatus with a freshness maintaining device of the present invention constitutes a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant is circulated through a refrigerant passage disposed between a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator to change from a high temperature and a high pressure to a low temperature and a low pressure. A configuration is provided in which a refrigerant circulation passage communicating with the freshness maintaining device is formed in the passage of the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant flowing out.
The refrigerant circulation passage communicating with the freshness maintaining device includes a passage opening / closing means, and has a configuration passing through the upstream side of the ethylene adsorption / decomposition catalyst.
[0006]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of a refrigeration apparatus with a freshness maintaining apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a mechanism explanatory view of a refrigeration apparatus with a freshness holding device, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the freshness holding device.
[0007]
The refrigeration apparatus 1 includes a compressor 10 that compresses a refrigerant, a condenser 20 that condenses the compressed refrigerant, and an evaporator 30 that evaporates the refrigerant from the condenser 20.
The gas refrigerant flowing out of the compressor 10 flows into the condenser 20 from the first refrigerant passage 15 and is liquefied. The liquid refrigerant flowing out of the condenser 20 flows into the evaporator 30 from the second refrigerant passage 25, takes away the surrounding heat, and is gasified. The gas refrigerant flows into the compressor 10 through the third refrigerant passage 35, is compressed, and is circulated from the first refrigerant passage 15.
[0008]
The first refrigerant passage 15 is provided with a fourth refrigerant passage 45 that communicates with the freshness maintaining device 40 via a passage switch 50.
The fourth refrigerant passage 45 includes an inflow side passage 45A through which the refrigerant flows from the first refrigerant passage 15 into the freshness maintaining device 40, and an outflow side passage 45B through which the refrigerant flowing out from the freshness holding device 40 is returned to the first refrigerant passage 15. Have
The refrigerant flows from the branch point 17 of the first passage 15 through the inflow side passage 45A into the freshness maintaining device 40, passes through the outflow side passage 45B, flows from the branch point 19 into the first refrigerant passage 15 and circulates. It is arranged like this.
[0009]
The passage switch 50 includes a first valve 51 disposed in the vicinity of the first refrigerant passage 15 of the inflow side passage 45A, a second valve 53 disposed in the vicinity of the first refrigerant passage 15 of the outflow side passage 45B, A third valve 55 disposed in the first passage 15 between the branch point 17 and the branch point 19 of the first refrigerant passage 15 is provided. Each valve 51, 53, 55 is controlled to be opened and closed by an opening / closing control device 60.
[0010]
The freshness maintaining device 40 has a catalyst unit 41 that contains a catalyst for removing and decomposing ethylene.
As the catalyst of the catalyst part 41, activated carbon as an adsorbent that adsorbs ethylene and platinum, palladium, titanium oxide or the like as an ethylene decomposition catalyst are kneaded and mixed.
In addition, although ethylene is decomposed into carbon dioxide gas and water by an oxidation reaction by a decomposition catalyst, ozone may be applied in order to activate the decomposition reaction and further promote decomposition.
[0011]
On the surface of the catalyst portion 41, a refrigerant thin tube portion 450 having a fourth refrigerant passage 45 extending over the entire surface is disposed.
For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerant thin tube portion 450 covers the entire surface of the portion where the catalyst portion 41 is disposed by meandering a thin tube whose diameter is smaller than the pipe size forming the fourth refrigerant passage 45. It arrange | positions so that it may do. The refrigerant thin tube portion 450 is disposed on the wind inflow side with respect to the catalyst portion 41 of the freshness maintaining device 40.
[0012]
The control device 60 of the passage switch 50 controls the opening / closing of the first valve 51, the second valve 53, and the third valve 55.
For example, the first valve 51 and the second valve 53 are released, and the third valve 55 is closed. In this state, the refrigerant that has flowed out of the compressor 10 flows from the first refrigerant passage 15 into the fourth refrigerant passage 45, passes through the narrow tube portion 450 of the freshness maintaining device 40 from the inflow side passage 45A, and from the outflow side passage 45B. It circulates in the first refrigerant passage 15 and flows into the condenser 20.
At this time, since the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 10 has a high temperature and high pressure, the high temperature refrigerant passes through the entire surface of the catalyst portion 41 from the fourth refrigerant passage 45 to warm the catalyst of the low temperature catalyst portion 41 and flows out. The side passage 45B returns to the first refrigerant passage 15.
When a certain time has elapsed, the third valve 55 is opened, and the first and second valves 51 and 53 are closed.
In this state, the compressed high-temperature refrigerant from the compressor 10 flows into the condenser 20 through the first refrigerant passage 15 and executes normal refrigerant circulation.
[0013]
Since the refrigeration apparatus 1 has the freshness maintaining apparatus 40 installed in a cold atmosphere, the catalyst part 41 efficiently adsorbs ethylene contained in the air from the direction of the arrow.
And the control apparatus 60 circulates the high temperature refrigerant | coolant compressed for every fixed time to the catalyst part 41 of the freshness holding apparatus 40. FIG. The catalyst temperature of the catalyst unit 41 of the freshness maintaining device 40 is increased, and the decomposition of ethylene and the separation of decomposition products are promoted. The temperature rise by the narrow tube portion 450 proceeds to the inside of the catalyst portion 41 by the wind flowing in the direction of the arrow, and the temperature rise of the entire catalyst portion 41 is promoted to further promote the decomposition and separation of ethylene.
[0014]
As described above, by the series of valve opening / closing control of the passage switch 50 of the control device 60, the surface temperature of the catalyst of the freshness maintaining device 40 repeatedly repeats the low temperature and the high temperature at regular intervals, thereby efficiently performing the adsorption and decomposition of ethylene. , Improve ethylene removal ability.
In this embodiment, the example in which the control device controls the opening / closing of the valve according to time has been described. However, the same effect can be achieved by controlling the temperature, the concentration, and the like.
[0015]
(Example)
Next, the Example which arrange | positions the refrigeration apparatus provided with the freshness holding | maintenance apparatus 40 in a container is described (refer FIG. 3).
In the refrigerated container 100, the refrigeration apparatus 1 and the freshness maintaining apparatus 40 are disposed.
The refrigerator 1 is equipped with a compressor 10 disposed outside the container 100, a condenser 20 disposed within the container 100, an evaporator 30, and the like.
The evaporator 30 takes in the air in the refrigerated container 10 to achieve dehumidification and cooling, and releases dry cold air.
[0016]
The freshness maintaining device 40 is disposed on the upstream side of the evaporator 30.
The freshness maintaining device 40 adsorbs and decomposes the ethylene gas in the air flowing into the container 100 to remove the ethylene gas in the container.
The freshness maintaining device 40 communicates with the refrigerant circulation system of the refrigeration apparatus 1 through a fourth refrigerant passage 45 branched from the refrigerant passage 15 of the refrigeration apparatus 1.
[0017]
When the fourth refrigerant passage 45 communicates with the first refrigerant passage 15 by the switch 50, the refrigerant compressed to a high temperature flowing out from the compressor 10 flows into the freshness maintaining device 40 from the fourth refrigerant passage 45. Then, the catalyst accommodated in the freshness maintaining device 40 is heated to promote the decomposition of ethylene adsorbed on the catalyst.
In addition, when a certain time elapses in this state, the switch 50 is switched, and the refrigerant from the compressor 10 flows into the condenser 20 without passing through the freshness maintaining device 40. During this time, the catalyst of the freshness maintaining device 40 is cooled in a cold atmosphere, and ethylene is adsorbed.
[0018]
【The invention's effect】
The refrigeration apparatus with the freshness maintaining apparatus of the present invention achieves heating and cooling of the catalyst, and has good ethylene gas adsorption efficiency and ethylene gas decomposition efficiency. Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide a special device such as a heating device, and the size of the device can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory view of a refrigeration apparatus with a freshness maintaining apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a freshness holding device.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a refrigeration apparatus with a freshness maintaining apparatus disposed in a refrigerated container.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Compressor 15 1st refrigerant path 20 Condenser 25 2nd refrigerant path 30 Evaporator 35 3rd refrigerant path 40 Freshness maintenance apparatus 41 Catalyst part 50 Switching apparatus 51, 53, 55 Valve 60 Control apparatus 450 Narrow pipe part

Claims (3)

A refrigeration apparatus having a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a refrigerant passage for refrigerant connecting the compressor, the condenser and the evaporator, and a freshness maintaining apparatus having an ethylene adsorption / decomposition catalyst for adsorbing and decomposing ethylene gas in the air. The refrigerant passage connecting the compressor and the condenser forms a refrigerant circulation passage communicating with the freshness maintaining device. The refrigerating apparatus with a freshness-keeping device according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant circulation passage communicating with the freshness-keeping device comprises passage opening / closing means . Circulating passage ethylene adsorptive decomposition arranged by comprising Claim 1 Symbol placement freshness retaining device with refrigeration apparatus to pass through the upstream side of the catalyst of the refrigerant to contact freshness retaining device.

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