JP5053527B2 - Showcase cooling system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a showcase cooling apparatus that cools a plurality of installed showcases with a common compressor.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a showcase cooling device that installs a plurality of showcases in a store and cools each showcase with a common compressor. In this showcase cooling device, in order to reliably cool the products in each showcase, the suction pressure of the compressor is set to correspond to the summer when the heat load is high so that the output of the compressor is increased.

  However, even if the set suction pressure is appropriate when the heat load is high, the set suction pressure is too low in the winter when the heat load is low, which reduces the operating efficiency of the showcase cooling system, which is disadvantageous in terms of energy saving. It was a thing.

  The applicant has proposed a showcase cooling device described in Patent Document 1 in order to solve the above problems.

The showcase cooling device proposed by the applicant sets the target suction pressure of the compressor based on the enthalpy in the store and the set temperature in each showcase, and the deviation between this target suction pressure and the actual suction pressure of the compressor Based on the above, the output (rotation speed) of the compressor is controlled. According to this showcase cooling device, the compressor has a high output in the summer when the heat load (enthalpy) is high, while it has a low output in the winter when the heat load is low. There is no decline.
JP 2001-272149 A

  However, in the latter showcase cooling device, in order to set the target suction pressure, the optimum suction pressure data based on the enthalpy in the store and the set temperature in each showcase is collected in advance by experiments, etc. It is necessary to store this collected data in a microcomputer or the like. Also, when showcases with different internal temperatures are set, setting the target suction pressure may be difficult.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a showcase cooling device that can reliably cool all the showcases and is excellent in energy saving in view of the conventional problems.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the invention of claim 1 includes a common compressor that circulates refrigerant to evaporators installed in a plurality of showcases, and a control unit that controls the output of the compressor. In the showcase cooling apparatus, each showcase includes an internal temperature sensor that detects an internal temperature, and an expansion valve that can change a flow rate of the refrigerant to each evaporator, and the control means includes the internal temperature sensor. An expansion valve opening degree control unit that controls the opening degree of each expansion valve based on the difference between the temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the preset internal temperature is calculated, and the refrigerant superheat degree of each evaporator is calculated. A refrigerant superheat degree calculation part, a refrigerant superheat degree determination part for determining the magnitude of each refrigerant superheat degree calculated by the refrigerant superheat degree calculation part, and the refrigerant superheat degree determined by the refrigerant superheat degree determination part Refrigerant superheat corresponding to small values It is closed and the rotational speed calculating setting unit for setting calculates the rotational speed of such a proper refrigerant superheat the compressor, including an alarm means for informing the cooling abnormal state of the respective showcases, the control means Among the refrigerant superheat degrees determined by the refrigerant superheat degree determination unit, the refrigerant that calculates the difference between the refrigerant superheat degree with the smallest value and the refrigerant superheat degree with the second smallest value to obtain the actual refrigerant superheat degree difference The superheat degree difference calculation unit, the refrigerant superheat degree difference comparison unit that compares the actual refrigerant superheat degree difference with a preset set refrigerant superheat degree difference, and the refrigerant superheat degree difference comparison unit calculate the actual refrigerant superheat degree difference. When it is determined that the difference is greater than the set refrigerant superheat degree difference, an alarm output signal is output to the alarm means, and the refrigerant superheat degree determined by the refrigerant superheat degree determination unit is set to the second smallest value. Alarm output / superheat degree switching section for switching to refrigerant superheat degree And it has a structure having a.

According to the invention of claim 1, since the rotation speed of the compressor is set based on the minimum refrigerant superheat degree among the refrigerant superheat degrees of the evaporators of each showcase, the show in which the refrigerant superheat degree is minimum. The case is reliably cooled. In addition, the showcase with the minimum refrigerant superheat is the showcase with the highest heat load relative to the set temperature inside the cabinet, so other showcases with a lower heat load than this showcase can be reliably cooled. can do. Further, since the rotation speed of the compressor is set to be an appropriate refrigerant superheat degree, the refrigerant superheat degree is not “0 (zero)” or very small. As a result, the compressor performs liquid compression. In addition, the degree of superheat of the refrigerant does not increase excessively. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the heat exchange amount in the evaporator. When the actual refrigerant superheat difference between the smallest refrigerant superheat degree and the second smallest refrigerant superheat degree is larger than the set refrigerant superheat difference, the showcase having the smallest refrigerant superheat degree is displayed. A failure, for example, a failure of the internal circulation fan is expected. When such a situation occurs, the refrigerant superheat degree determined by the refrigerant superheat degree determination unit is switched to the second smallest refrigerant superheat degree, and an alarm is output. Accordingly, not only can the alarm means notify that the showcase having the smallest refrigerant superheat degree is out of order, but even when there is an abnormality, it is possible to operate at a set suction pressure that approximates the appropriate refrigerant superheat degree.

The invention of claim 2 is a showcase cooling apparatus comprising a common compressor for circulating a refrigerant in evaporators installed in a plurality of showcases , and a control means for controlling the output of the compressor. The case includes an internal temperature sensor that detects the internal temperature, and an expansion valve that can change a refrigerant flow rate to each of the evaporators, and the control means is preset with a detection temperature of the internal temperature sensor. An expansion valve opening degree control unit that controls the opening degree of each expansion valve based on a difference from the set temperature inside the storage chamber, a refrigerant superheat degree calculation unit that calculates a refrigerant superheat degree of each evaporator, and the refrigerant The refrigerant superheat degree determination unit that determines the magnitude of each refrigerant superheat degree calculated by the superheat degree calculation unit, and the refrigerant superheat degree corresponding to the smallest value among the refrigerant superheat degrees determined by the refrigerant superheat degree determination part is before such that the proper refrigerant superheat Calculates the rotational speed of the compressor possess a rotation speed calculation setting unit that sets, including an alarm means for informing the cooling abnormal state of the respective showcases, the control means is calculated by the refrigerant superheating degree calculation unit An average refrigerant superheat degree calculation unit for calculating an average refrigerant superheat degree from the refrigerant superheat degree, and a difference between the refrigerant superheat degree having the smallest value determined by the refrigerant superheat degree determination part and the average refrigerant superheat degree. A refrigerant superheat difference calculating unit for obtaining an actual refrigerant superheat difference, a refrigerant superheat difference comparing unit for comparing the actual refrigerant superheat difference with a preset set refrigerant superheat difference, and the refrigerant superheat difference comparison When it is determined that the actual refrigerant superheat difference is greater than the set refrigerant superheat difference, the refrigerant having the smallest value determined by the refrigerant superheat determination unit and outputting an alarm output signal to the alarm means Refrigerant superheat with the second smallest superheat It has a structure having an alarm output, superheat switching section for switching the.

According to the invention of claim 2, since the rotation speed of the compressor is set based on the minimum refrigerant superheat degree among the refrigerant superheat degrees of the evaporators of the respective showcases, the show having the minimum refrigerant superheat degree. The case is reliably cooled. In addition, the showcase with the minimum refrigerant superheat is the showcase with the highest heat load relative to the set temperature inside the cabinet, so other showcases with a lower heat load than this showcase can be reliably cooled. can do. Further, since the rotation speed of the compressor is set to be an appropriate refrigerant superheat degree, the refrigerant superheat degree is not “0 (zero)” or very small. As a result, the compressor performs liquid compression. In addition, the degree of superheat of the refrigerant does not increase excessively. As a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the heat exchange amount in the evaporator. In addition, when the actual refrigerant superheat difference between the smallest refrigerant superheat degree and the average refrigerant superheat is larger than the set refrigerant superheat degree difference, the showcase having the smallest refrigerant superheat degree is broken, for example, a warehouse. Failure of internal circulation fan is expected. When such a situation occurs, the refrigerant superheat degree determined by the minimum refrigerant superheat degree determination unit is switched to the second smallest refrigerant superheat degree, and an alarm is output. Accordingly, not only can the alarm means notify that the showcase having the smallest refrigerant superheat degree is out of order, but even when there is an abnormality, it is possible to operate at a set suction pressure that approximates the appropriate refrigerant superheat degree.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the showcase cooling apparatus according to the first or second aspect , the control means includes an average suction pressure calculation unit that calculates an average suction pressure for a predetermined time before defrosting, and an average suction pressure calculation unit. Pull-down operation suction pressure calculation setting that subtracts a predetermined correction suction pressure from the average suction pressure calculated in step 1 to calculate the pull-down operation mode setting suction pressure and sets the pull-down operation mode suction pressure as the set suction pressure. It has the structure which has a part.

  Generally, after the defrosting (defrosting) operation of each showcase is completed, the pull-down operation mode is executed so that the interior temperature of each showcase reaches the interior set temperature in a short time, but the interior is not cooled. However, there is a possibility that the superheat degree becomes the set superheat degree, the rotational speed is lowered, and the pull-down operation time becomes long.

Therefore, in the control means according to the invention of claim 3 , when setting the set suction pressure in the pull-down operation mode, first, the average suction pressure for a predetermined time before defrosting is calculated, and further corrected from this average suction pressure. Set the suction pressure by subtracting the suction pressure.

  Thus, since the set suction pressure in the pull-down operation mode is calculated based on the average suction pressure before defrosting and the corrected suction pressure, the suction pressure corresponds to the outside air temperature and the amount of goods in the warehouse, and an appropriate pull-down speed is obtained.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the showcase cooling apparatus according to the first or second aspect , the control means includes an average suction pressure calculation unit that calculates an average suction pressure for a predetermined time before defrosting, and an average suction pressure calculation unit. The correction suction pressure calculation unit that calculates the correction suction pressure based on the average suction pressure calculated in step 1, and the suction pressure in the pull-down operation mode is calculated by subtracting the correction suction pressure from the average suction pressure. And a pull-down operation mode suction pressure calculation setting unit for setting the suction pressure as a set suction pressure.

According to the invention of claim 4 , when setting the set suction pressure in the pull-down operation mode, first, the average suction pressure for a predetermined time before defrosting is calculated, and then the correction suction pressure is calculated from the average suction pressure. Further, the set suction pressure is set by subtracting the corrected suction pressure from the average suction pressure.

  Thus, since the set suction pressure in the pull-down operation mode is calculated based on the average suction pressure before defrosting and the corrected suction pressure corresponding to this average suction pressure, the suction pressure corresponds to the outside air temperature and the amount of goods in the warehouse, An appropriate pull-down speed is obtained.

The invention according to claim 5 is the showcase cooling apparatus according to claim 3 or 4 , wherein the control means determines whether or not each showcase has a set internal temperature based on the temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor. And a structure having an internal temperature determining unit for determining the internal temperature and an operation mode switching unit for switching the pull-down operation mode to the steady operation mode when all the showcases reach the internal set temperature in the internal temperature determination unit. It has become.

According to the invention of claim 5 , in the pull-down operation mode, when all the showcases reach the respective set temperatures in the respective cabinets, the pull-down operation mode is shifted to the steady operation mode, and the pull-down operation is prevented from continuing more than necessary. is doing.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the showcase cooling apparatus according to the first or second aspect , the control means sets the lowest value among the set suction pressures for start operation preset for each showcase. It has a structure having a start operation mode intake pressure setting unit that selects an intake pressure and sets the selected set intake pressure as the set intake pressure of the start operation mode.

According to the invention of claim 6 , since the operation is started based on the set suction pressure of the showcase having the highest heat load among the showcases, that is, the set suction pressure having the lowest value, Even other showcases with low heat loads can be cooled reliably.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the showcase cooling apparatus according to the sixth aspect , the control means determines whether or not each showcase has reached its respective set temperature based on the temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor. The internal temperature determination unit and the operation mode switching unit that switches the start operation mode to the steady operation mode when all of the showcases reach the internal set temperature in the internal temperature determination unit.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the start operation mode, when all the showcases reach the respective set temperatures in the respective compartments, the start operation mode is shifted to the steady operation mode, and the start operation is not restricted more than necessary. is doing.

  According to the present invention, the rotational speed of the compressor and the suction pressure are set based on the minimum refrigerant superheat degree among the refrigerant superheat degrees of the evaporators of each showcase. Therefore, the showcase with the minimum refrigerant superheat can be appropriately cooled according to the outside air conditions and the amount of products in the warehouse, and other showcases with a lower heat load than this showcase can be reliably cooled. be able to.

  FIGS. 1 to 7 show a first embodiment of a showcase cooling apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a refrigerant line diagram between a showcase and a refrigerator, and FIG. 2 is a refrigerant phase change of an evaporator. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a drive circuit of the showcase cooling apparatus, FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of the drive circuit of the showcase cooling apparatus, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing suction pressure control in the start operation mode and the steady operation mode. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the suction pressure control in the pull-down operation mode, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the suction pressure control at the time of failure of each showcase.

  First, the refrigerant piping system of each showcase and the refrigerator in the store constituting the showcase cooling apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. A large number of showcases 10a, 10b, and 10c are arranged in the store 1 (an example in which three showcases 1 are arranged in FIG. 1 is shown), and these showcases 10a to 10c are for cooling inside the store. The evaporators 11a, 11b, and 11c are installed. Further, these evaporators 11a to 11c are connected to the refrigerator 2 in parallel via the expansion valves 12a, 12b, and 12c.

  The refrigerator 2 includes a liquid receiver 21, a condenser 22, and a compressor 23, and the refrigerant of the showcase cooling device circulates as shown by solid line arrows in FIG. 1. That is, the refrigerant is sequentially circulated in the order of the compressor 23 → the condenser 22 → the liquid receiver 21 → the expansion valves 12a to 12c → the evaporators 11a to 11c → the compressor 23. Here, each expansion valve 12 is comprised from the electric expansion valves 12a-12c, for example. The opening degree of the electric expansion valves 12a to 12c can be varied from 0% to 100%, and thereby the refrigerant flow rate to each of the evaporators 11a to 11c can be adjusted. The compressor 23 is of a variable capacity type that can arbitrarily change the rotational speed by an inverter.

  Various temperature sensors are installed in the showcase cooling device. Each showcase 1 is provided with interior temperature sensors 14a, 14b, and 14c for detecting the interior temperature. Further, outlet temperature sensors 15a, 15b, and 15c for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant flowing out of the evaporators 11a to 11c are installed in the refrigerant pipes on the refrigerant outlet side of the evaporators 11a to 11c. Further, a suction pressure sensor 24 for detecting the pressure of the suction refrigerant is installed in the refrigerant pipe on the suction port side of the compressor 23.

  Further, the control device of the showcase cooling device has a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) configuration. This control device is a refrigerator for controlling a refrigerator 2 including a compressor 23 for a showcase (hereinafter referred to as a showcase microcomputer) 100, 200, and 300 for controlling each showcase 10a to 10c. Machine microcomputer 400 (hereinafter referred to as a refrigerator microcomputer) 400, each showcase microcomputer 100 to 300, and a parent machine microcomputer 500 that drives and controls the refrigerator microcomputer 400. These microcomputers 100 to 500 control the compressor 23, the electric expansion valves 12a to 12c, and the like, and these controls are set for each of the steady operation mode, the pull-down operation mode, and the start operation mode.

  First, the structure of each showcase microcomputer 100-300 is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 3, each showcase microcomputer 100 to 300 has CPUs 310, 210, 310 and memories 120, 220, 320, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 4, each of the CPUs 110 to 310 has electric expansion valve opening degree setting units 111, 211, and 311 that control the valve opening degree of the electric expansion valves 12 a to 12 c, and a refrigerant superheat degree that calculates the superheat degree of the refrigerant. Calculation units 112, 212, and 312 are included. The memories 120 to 320 store the set suction pressure of the compressor 23 in the start operation mode, store the pipe pressure loss from the showcases 10a to 10c to the compressor 23, and further store the showcases 10a to 10a. The internal set temperature of 10c is stored. Here, the set suction pressure and the pipe pressure loss in the start operation mode are optimum values obtained by experiments or the like, and the set temperature in the cabinet is the optimum cold insulation temperature of the product stored in each showcase 10a to 10c. It is. The pipe pressure loss is set when each showcase 10a to 10c is installed. In addition, the pipe pressure loss is calculated from the pipe length, the pipe diameter, the refrigerant characteristics, the suction pressure and the rotation speed of the compressor 23. May be set.

  In the showcase microcomputers 100 to 300 configured as described above, the electric expansion valve opening degree setting units 111 to 311 and the refrigerant superheat degree calculation units 112 to 312 are configured as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 4, each electric expansion valve opening degree setting unit 111 to 311 compares the detected temperatures of the internal temperature sensors 14 a to 14 c with the internal set temperatures stored in the memories 120 to 320, respectively. The opening degree of the electric expansion valves 12a to 12c is controlled based on the difference between the two temperatures. Specifically, when the internal detection temperature is higher than the internal set temperature, the opening degree of the electric expansion valves 12a to 12c is increased, and conversely, when the internal detection temperature is lower than the internal set temperature, the electric expansion valve It controls so that the opening degree of 12a-12c may be made small.

  Each of the refrigerant superheat calculation units 112 to 312 corresponds to the evaporation pressure based on the suction pressure detected by the suction pressure sensor 24 and the pipe pressure loss from each showcase 10a to 10c (evaporator 11a to 11c) to the compressor 23. The temperature is calculated, and the refrigerant superheat degree of each of the evaporators 11a to 11c is calculated based on the difference between the temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 24 and the temperature corresponding to the evaporation pressure.

  As a calculation procedure of the refrigerant superheat degree, as shown in FIG. 4, first, an evaporation pressure equivalent temperature is calculated based on the pressure detected by the suction pressure sensor 24 and the pipe pressure loss stored in each of the memories 120 to 320. Here, the evaporation pressure is the evaporation pressure of the refrigerant in each of the evaporators 11a to 11c, and the equivalent temperature is the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant corresponding to the evaporation pressure. Further, when calculating the temperature corresponding to the evaporation pressure, the calculation is performed by adding the pipe pressure loss to the detected suction pressure. This is because there is a pipe pressure loss before the refrigerant circulates from the evaporators 11a to 11c to the compressor 23. Specifically, the pressure obtained by adding the pipe pressure loss to the detected suction pressure is determined as the evaporation pressure.

  When the evaporation pressure equivalent temperature is calculated, the refrigerant superheat degree is calculated by subtracting the evaporation pressure equivalent temperature from the temperature detected by the outlet temperature sensor 24. That is, the refrigerant superheat degree is a difference between the evaporation temperature (evaporation pressure equivalent temperature) of each of the evaporators 11a to 11c and the evaporator outlet temperature. This will be described with reference to FIG. 2. When the refrigerant flows from the refrigerant inlets of the evaporators 11 a to 11 c toward the refrigerant outlet, the refrigerant exchanges heat with air and gradually changes from a liquid state to a gas state. Here, the temperature difference from the point at which all the refrigerants change from liquid to gas to the refrigerant outlet becomes the refrigerant superheat degree. As can be seen from FIG. 2, when the refrigerant superheat degree is small (for example, 4 deg shown in the upper diagram), the two-phase part (latent heat exchange part) is large, so that the heat exchange efficiency is good. When the refrigerant superheat degree is large (for example, 10 deg shown in the lower diagram), the two-phase portion is small and the superheat region (sensible heat exchange portion) is large, so that the heat exchange efficiency is lowered. Of course, when the refrigerant superheat degree is extremely small, the liquid refrigerant may be sucked into the compressor 23, so that the refrigerant superheat degree needs to be set to 3 deg or more, for example.

  Each of the memories 120 to 320 stores a set suction pressure in the start operation mode. The set suction pressure is a value set based on the cooling characteristics of the products stored in the showcases 10a to 10c.

  Next, the configuration of the refrigerator microcomputer 400 will be described. The refrigerator microcomputer 400 includes a CPU 410 and a memory 420 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 410 calculates an average suction pressure calculation unit 411 that calculates an average suction pressure for a predetermined time before the pull-down operation mode, and a pull-down operation suction pressure calculation setting unit that calculates and sets a set suction pressure in the pull-down operation mode. 412.

  In the refrigerator microcomputer 400 configured as described above, the average suction pressure calculation unit 411 and the pull-down operation suction pressure calculation setting unit 412 are configured as follows.

  The average suction pressure calculation unit 412 calculates the average suction pressure based on the suction pressure detected by the suction pressure sensor 24 for a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) before the pull-down operation mode. The pull-down operation suction pressure calculation setting unit 412 subtracts a correction suction pressure stored in a memory 520 (described later) of the parent microcomputer 500 from the average suction pressure calculated by the average suction pressure calculation unit 411. The set suction pressure is calculated, the suction pressure in the pull-down operation mode is set as the set suction pressure, and the output (rotation speed) of the compressor 23 is controlled. The correction suction pressure can be selected from various suction pressure values including 0 (zero) according to the characteristics of the showcases 10a to 10c.

  Next, the configuration of the parent microcomputer 500 will be described. The master microcomputer 500 has a CPU 510 and a memory 520 as shown in FIG. The master microcomputer 500 is connected to a start switch 16, an input device 17 for inputting various data of each showcase 10a to 10c, a display device 18 for displaying input data, and a warning device 19 such as an alarm lamp. Yes.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 510 includes a start operation mode intake pressure setting unit 511, a refrigerant superheat degree determination unit 512, a steady operation mode intake pressure calculation setting unit 513, an internal temperature determination unit 514, and an operation mode switching. A unit 515, a refrigerant superheat degree difference calculating unit 516, a refrigerant superheat degree difference comparing unit 517, and an alarm output / superheat degree switching unit 518. The memory 520 stores the set refrigerant superheat degree for each of the evaporators 11a to 11c, and stores the correction suction pressure described above.

  The start operation mode suction pressure setting unit 511 sets the start operation mode set suction pressure stored in each of the memories 120 to 320 when starting the cooling operation of all the showcases 10a to 10c (when the start switch 16 is turned on). The lowest setting suction pressure is selected, and the selected setting suction pressure is set as the setting suction pressure in the start operation mode.

  The refrigerant superheat degree determination unit 512 determines the magnitude of each refrigerant superheat degree calculated by each refrigerant superheat degree calculation unit 112-312.

  The steady operation mode suction pressure calculation setting unit 513 sucks the steady operation mode such that the refrigerant superheat degree corresponding to the smallest value among the refrigerant superheat degrees determined by the refrigerant superheat degree determination unit 512 becomes the appropriate refrigerant superheat degree. The pressure is calculated, and the calculated suction pressure is set as the set suction pressure in the steady operation mode.

  The internal temperature determination unit 514 determines whether or not each of the showcases 10a to 10c has reached the internal set temperature based on the temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor.

  The operation mode switching unit 515 switches the pull-down operation mode to the steady operation mode when the internal temperature determination unit 514 determines that all the showcases 10a to 10c have reached the internal set temperatures, and starts the operation. The operation mode is switched to the steady operation mode.

  The refrigerant superheat difference calculating unit 516 subtracts the refrigerant superheat degree having the second smallest value from the refrigerant superheat degree having the smallest value among the refrigerant superheat degrees determined by the refrigerant superheat degree determining unit 512 to obtain the actual refrigerant. The superheat difference is calculated.

  The refrigerant superheat degree difference comparison unit 517 compares the actual refrigerant superheat degree difference calculated by the refrigerant superheat degree difference calculation unit 516 with the set refrigerant superheat degree difference stored in the memory of the parent microcomputer 500. .

  The alarm output / superheat degree switching unit 518 outputs an alarm output signal to the alarm means 19 and the refrigerant when the refrigerant superheat degree difference comparison unit 517 determines that the actual refrigerant superheat degree difference is larger than the set refrigerant superheat degree difference. Of the refrigerant superheat degrees determined by the superheat degree determination unit 512, the refrigerant superheat degree having the smallest value is switched to the refrigerant superheat degree having the second smallest value.

  In the showcase cooling apparatus configured as described above, the suction pressure of the compressor 23 is controlled as shown in the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

First, suction pressure control in the start operation mode and the steady operation mode will be described with reference to FIG. In the drawing, SH ₁ a refrigerant superheating degree of the showcase 10a, the refrigerant superheating degree of SH ₂ showcase 10b, SH ₃ refrigerant superheating degree of the showcase 10c, SH ₀ is proper refrigerant superheat, SHL ₁ each refrigerant superheating degree of the smallest value among the showcases 10a to 10c, SP ₁ is set suction pressure of the starting operation mode of the showcase 10a, SP ₂ is set suction pressure of the starting operation mode of the showcase 10b, SP ₃ Shaw target suction pressure starting operation mode of the case 10c, SPL ₁ is set suction pressure, SP ₀ of the smallest value among the showcases 10a~10c shows the set suction pressure of the compressor.

First, it is monitored whether the start switch 16 is turned on (S1). When the start switch 16 is turned on, the set suction pressures SP ₁ , SP ₂ , SP ₃ of the start operation mode of each showcase 10a to 10c are read from the memories 120, 220, 320, and the start operation mode suction pressure setting unit 511 The smallest set suction pressure SPL ₁ is selected from the set suction pressures SP ₁ , SP ₂ , SP ₃ (S2). Then, it sets the target suction pressure SPL ₁ as set suction pressure SP ₀ compressor, setting the rotational speed of the compressor 23 so as to correspond to the target suction pressure SP ₀ (S3, S4).

  In the start operation mode based on the compressor rotational speed, the internal temperature determination unit 514 monitors whether the internal temperatures of the showcases 10a to 10c all become the internal set temperature (S5). That is, the operation (starting operation mode) of the compressor 23 at the rotation speed is continued until all the interior temperatures of the showcases 10a to 10c reach the interior set temperature in step S4.

When all the inside temperatures of the showcases 10a to 10c become the inside set temperature in this step S5, the operation mode switching unit 515 shifts to the steady operation mode. In the steady operation mode, the refrigerant superheating degree SH ₁ in each of the refrigerant superheating degree calculation unit 112~312, SH _2, SH ₃ is calculated (S6). Then, the refrigerant superheat degree determination unit 512 determines the magnitude of each refrigerant superheat degree SH ₁ , SH ₂ , SH ₃ , and selects the refrigerant superheat degree SHL ₁ having the smallest value (S 7). Thereafter, the refrigerant superheat degree SHL ₁ and the appropriate refrigerant superheat degree SH ₀ are compared in the steady operation mode intake pressure calculation setting unit 513, and the set intake pressure is set so that the refrigerant superheat degree SHL ₁ becomes the appropriate refrigerant superheat degree SH _0. Correction is performed (S8).

  Such processes of steps S6 to S8 are repeated over a predetermined time (S9), and the suction pressure is controlled to be an optimum as needed in the steady operation mode. Needless to say, the rotational speed of the compressor 23 changes based on the set suction pressure.

  Next, suction pressure control in the pull-down operation mode will be described with reference to FIG.

  Generally, in order to defrost the evaporators 11a to 11c of the showcases 10a to 10c during the continuous operation mode, the defrosting (defrosting) operation of the showcases 10a to 10c is performed. Moreover, after this defrost operation is completed, the pull-down operation mode is executed so that the internal temperature of each showcase 10a to 10c reaches the internal set temperature in a short time. There is a possibility that the degree becomes the set superheat degree and the rotational speed of the compressor 23 is lowered, and the pull-down operation time becomes long.

  The suction pressure control in the pull-down operation mode according to the present embodiment is to prevent such drawbacks.

  First, before entering the pull-down operation mode, the suction pressure value before defrosting is acquired by the suction pressure sensor 24 (S10). Here, whether or not the pull-down operation mode following the defrost operation has been monitored is monitored (S11). When the pull-down operation mode is started, the average suction pressure calculation unit 411 averages the average suction pressure for a certain period before defrosting. Is calculated (S12). Next, the pull-down operation mode suction pressure calculation setting unit 412 subtracts the corrected suction pressure read from the memory 520 from the average suction pressure to set the set suction pressure (S13). The pull-down operation is continued with this set suction pressure. During the pull-down operation mode, the internal temperature determination unit 514 monitors whether or not the internal temperature of each showcase 10a to 10c has reached the internal set temperature (S15), and each showcase 10a to 10c is monitored. When all of the interior temperatures have reached the interior set temperature, the operation mode switching unit 515 switches to the steady operation mode (S16).

  Next, the suction pressure control at the time of failure of each showcase 10a to 10c will be described with reference to FIG.

  As described above, in the steady operation mode, the suction pressure of the compressor 23 is controlled based on the smallest refrigerant superheat degree. However, when the showcase having the smallest refrigerant superheat degree fails, for example, when the internal circulation fan or the like fails, the internal temperature becomes high, and this causes the refrigerant superheat degree of the showcase to increase. In such a case, in general, the master microcomputer 500 automatically controls the suction pressure to be lowered, thereby causing a problem that energy cannot be saved.

The suction pressure control at the time of failure according to the present embodiment is to prevent such drawbacks. In the figure, SH ₀ is the appropriate refrigerant superheat degree, SHL ₁ is the smallest refrigerant superheat degree among the showcases 10a to 10c, and SHL ₂ is the second smallest value among the showcases 10a to 10c. Refrigerant superheat degree, SHL ₀ indicates a set refrigerant superheat difference, and SP ₀ indicates a set suction pressure of the compressor 23.

First, when the suction pressure control is performed in the steady operation mode (when the suction pressure control is performed in the steady operation mode shown in FIG. 5), the refrigerant superheat degree SHL _{1 having} the smallest value is obtained from the refrigerant superheat degree determination unit 512. The refrigerant superheat degree SHL ₂ having the second smallest value is read out and (SHL ₁ −SHL ₂ ) is calculated by the refrigerant superheat degree difference calculation unit 516. Thereafter, the refrigerant superheat degree difference comparison unit 517 compares the calculated refrigerant superheat degree difference with the set refrigerant superheat degree difference SHL ₀ read from the memory 520 of the parent microcomputer 500 (S21).

If it is determined in step 21 that the calculated refrigerant superheat difference is smaller than the set refrigerant superheat difference SHL _0, it is determined that the steady operation mode is normally performed, and the steady operation is continued. On the other hand, when it is determined in step 21 that the calculated refrigerant superheat difference is equal to or greater than the set refrigerant superheat difference SHL ₀ , it is determined that the showcase having the smallest refrigerant superheat degree is broken. Then, the alarm device 19 is turned on (S22). Further, the second smallest refrigerant superheat degree SHL ₂ is selected in order to prevent the parent microcomputer 500 from controlling the lowering of the suction pressure (S23). Thereafter, by comparing the refrigerant superheating degree SHL ₂ and proper refrigerant superheating degree SH ₀ in the steady operation mode suction pressure calculation setting unit 513, the target suction pressure as the refrigerant superheating degree SHL ₂ is proper refrigerant superheating degree SH ₀ Correction is performed (S24). In such a failure state, the operation of the failure showcase is manually stopped, and the showcases other than the failure showcase continue the steady operation. The set refrigerant superheat difference SHL ₀ may be set in advance as in the present embodiment, or (SHL ₁ −SHL ₂ ) may be calculated as needed.

  According to this embodiment, since the suction pressure of the compressor 23 is set based on the minimum refrigerant superheat degree among the refrigerant superheat degrees of the evaporators 11a to 11c of the showcases 10a to 10c, the refrigerant superheat degree is minimum. The showcase is now cooled down reliably. In addition, the showcase with the minimum refrigerant superheat is the showcase with the highest heat load relative to the set temperature inside the cabinet, so other showcases with a lower heat load than this showcase can be reliably cooled. can do. Further, since the set suction pressure is set so as to be the appropriate refrigerant superheat degree, the refrigerant superheat degree is not “0 (zero)” or very small. As a result, the compressor 23 performs liquid compression or the like. In addition, the degree of superheat of the refrigerant does not increase excessively, and as a result, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the amount of heat exchange in the evaporators 11a to 11c.

  Further, since the refrigerant superheat degree is calculated based on the detection signals of the existing suction pressure sensor 24 and the outlet temperature sensors 15a to 15c, it is not necessary to newly install various devices for calculating the refrigerant superheat degree, Cost is not expensive.

  Furthermore, when the showcase corresponding to the smallest value of the refrigerant superheat degree has failed, the alarm device 19 can notify the operator of the failure, and the refrigerant superheat degree is set to the second smallest value of the refrigerant superheat degree. By switching, it is possible to operate at a set suction pressure that approximates the appropriate refrigerant superheat degree even when the showcase fails.

  Furthermore, when setting the set suction pressure in the pull-down operation mode, first, calculate the average suction pressure for a predetermined time before defrosting, and further subtract the corrected suction pressure from this average suction pressure to obtain the set suction pressure. Since it is set, the suction pressure corresponds to the outside air temperature and the amount of goods in the warehouse, and the appropriate pull-down operation speed is obtained.

  Furthermore, in the pull-down operation mode, when all of the showcases reach the set temperature in each cabinet, the pull-down operation mode is shifted to the steady operation mode, so that the pull-down operation does not continue more than necessary and is excellent in energy saving. It has become a basis.

  Furthermore, in the start-up operation mode, since the set suction pressure having the lowest value among the set suction pressures is selected, all the showcases 10a to 10c are cooled in a short time, and each showcase 10a to 10c is cooled. When all of these have reached the set temperature in each cabinet, the start operation mode is shifted to the steady operation mode, so the start operation does not continue more than necessary and is excellent in terms of energy saving.

  8 and 9 show a second embodiment of the showcase cooling apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a drive circuit of the showcase cooling apparatus, and FIG. 9 shows suction pressure control in a pull-down operation mode. It is a flowchart. In addition, while using the same code | symbol as the component same as the component demonstrated in the said 1st Embodiment, the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the first embodiment, when the set suction pressure for the pull-down operation is calculated, processing is performed based on the average suction pressure calculated by the average suction pressure calculation unit 411 and the correction suction pressure stored in the memory 520.

  In contrast, in the present embodiment, a correction suction pressure calculation unit 413 is provided instead of the correction suction pressure stored in the memory 520. That is, the CPU 410 of the refrigerator microcomputer 400 has a correction suction pressure calculation unit 413 as shown in FIG. 8, and calculates the correction suction pressure based on the average suction pressure calculated by the average suction pressure calculation unit 411. It is supposed to be. The suction pressure in the pull-down operation mode is calculated and set based on the calculated correction suction pressure and average suction pressure. Further, the suction pressure control in the pull-down operation mode is shown in FIG. 9 as a flowchart. That is, in the suction pressure control according to the present embodiment, after step 12 (calculating the average suction pressure for a predetermined time before defrosting), the correction suction pressure is calculated from this average suction pressure (S12-1), and this corrected suction pressure is calculated. The set suction pressure is calculated and set from the pressure and the average suction pressure.

  According to this embodiment, since the correction suction pressure corresponding to the average suction pressure is automatically selected, the pull-down operation corresponding to the outside air condition, the product heat load, etc. is executed, which is further advantageous in terms of energy saving. Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  10 and 11 show a third embodiment of the showcase cooling apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of a drive circuit of the showcase cooling apparatus, and FIG. 11 is an intake pressure at the time of each showcase failure. It is a flowchart which shows control.

  In the first embodiment, the refrigerant superheat difference calculation unit 516 calculates the difference between the smallest refrigerant superheat degree and the second smallest refrigerant superheat degree.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, an average refrigerant superheat degree calculation unit 519 is provided. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the CPU 510 of the master microcomputer 500 has an average refrigerant superheat degree calculation unit 519, acquires the refrigerant superheat degree calculated by each of the refrigerant superheat degree calculation units 112 to 312 and obtains the average refrigerant The degree of superheat is calculated. The refrigerant superheat difference calculation unit 516 calculates the difference between the smallest value of the refrigerant superheat degree acquired from the refrigerant superheat degree determination unit 512 and the average refrigerant superheat degree. Further, if the suction pressure control at the time of the failure is shown in a flowchart, it is as shown in FIG. In the suction pressure control according to the present embodiment, the average refrigerant superheat degree SHL ₃ is calculated during step 20 (intake pressure control in the steady operation mode) (S20-1), and the average refrigerant superheat degree SHL ₃ is the smallest value. The difference from the refrigerant superheat degree SHL ₁ is obtained and compared with the set refrigerant superheat degree difference SHL ₀ (S21-1).

According to this embodiment, since the average refrigerant superheat degree SHL ₃ is used instead of the refrigerant superheat degree SHL _{2 having} the second smallest value in the first embodiment, it depends on the temporary fluctuation of the refrigerant superheat degree. In this way, it is possible to reduce misinformation regarding failures in the showcases 10a to 10c. Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  12 and 13 show a fourth embodiment of the showcase cooling apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of a drive circuit of the showcase cooling apparatus, and FIG. 13 is a suction in the start operation mode and the steady operation mode. It is a flowchart which shows pressure control.

In the first embodiment, the refrigerant superheat degree SHL ₁ and the appropriate refrigerant superheat degree SH ₀ are compared in the steady operation mode suction pressure calculation setting unit 513 so that the refrigerant superheat degree SHL ₁ becomes the proper refrigerant superheat degree SH _0. The set suction pressure is corrected (see step 8 in FIG. 5).

In contrast, in this embodiment, instead of the steady operation mode suction pressure calculation setting unit 513, a steady operation mode rotation speed calculation setting unit 520 is provided as shown in FIG. The steady-state operation mode rotation speed calculation setting unit 520 is configured so that the refrigerant superheat degree corresponding to the smallest value among the refrigerant superheat degrees determined by the refrigerant superheat degree determination unit 512 is the appropriate refrigerant superheat degree. The rotation speed is calculated, and this calculated rotation speed is set as the set rotation speed of the compressor 23 in the steady operation mode. If the control of the steady operation mode rotation speed calculation setting unit 520 is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 13, the steady operation mode suction pressure calculation setting unit 520 compares the refrigerant superheat degree SHL ₁ with the appropriate refrigerant superheat degree SH _0. Then, the rotation speed of the compressor 23 is calculated such that the refrigerant superheat degree SHL ₁ becomes the appropriate refrigerant superheat degree SH _0, and the calculated rotation speed is set as the set rotation speed of the compressor 23 (S8-1).

According to the present embodiment, since the rotational speed of the compressor 23 is directly controlled based on the refrigerant superheat degree SHL ₁ , the set suction pressure SP ₀ of the compressor 23 is not calculated and set as compared with the first embodiment. Therefore, the rotational speed control of the compressor 23 in the steady operation mode is simplified. Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In each of the above embodiments, the various operation modes are controlled by the showcase microcomputers 100, 200, 300, the refrigerator microcomputer 400, and the master microcomputer 500, but this is only an example. For example, each showcase 10a, 10b, 10c may be controlled by a single showcase microcomputer. In the fourth embodiment, the compressor rotation speed control signal output from the main unit microcomputer 500 may be directly input to the compressor 23 without passing through the refrigerator microcomputer 400.

Refrigerant pipeline diagram between showcase and refrigerator Schematic showing the refrigerant phase change of the evaporator The block diagram which shows the drive circuit of the showcase cooling device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The block diagram of the drive circuit of the showcase cooling device which concerns on 1st Embodiment The flowchart which shows the suction pressure control of the starting operation mode and steady operation mode which concern on 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the suction pressure control of the pull-down operation mode which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the suction pressure control at the time of failure of each showcase which concerns on 1st Embodiment The block diagram of the drive circuit of the showcase cooling device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment Flowchart showing suction pressure control in pull-down operation mode according to the second embodiment. The block diagram of the drive circuit of the showcase cooling device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment The flowchart which shows the suction pressure control at the time of failure of each showcase which concerns on 3rd Embodiment The block diagram of the drive circuit of the showcase cooling device which concerns on 4th Embodiment Flowchart showing the suction pressure control in the start operation mode and the steady operation mode according to the fourth embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Store, 2 ... Refrigerator, 10a-10c ... Showcase, 11a-11c ... Evaporator, 12a-12c ... Electric expansion valve, 14a-14c ... Inside temperature sensor, 15a-15c ... Outlet temperature sensor, 16 ... Start switch, 19 ... alarm device, 23 ... compressor, 24 ... suction pressure sensor, 100, 200, 300 ... showcase microcomputer, 400 ... refrigerator microcomputer, 500 ... master microcomputer, 110, 210, 310, 410, 510 ... CPU, 120, 220, 320, 420, 520 ... Memory, 111 to 311 ... Electric expansion valve opening setting section, 112 to 312 ... Refrigerant superheat degree calculation section, 411 ... Average suction pressure calculation section, 412 ... Pull-down operation mode Suction pressure calculation setting unit, 413 ... Correction suction pressure calculation unit, 511 ... Start-up operation mode suction pressure setting unit, 512 ... Refrigerant superheat setting Reference numeral 513: Steady operation mode suction pressure calculation setting unit 514: Internal temperature determination unit 515: Operation mode switching unit 516: Refrigerant superheat degree calculation unit 517: Refrigerant superheat degree difference comparison unit 518: Alarm output / overheat Degree switching unit, 519 ... average refrigerant superheat degree calculation unit, 520 ... steady operation mode rotational speed calculation setting unit.

Claims (7)

In a showcase cooling apparatus having a common compressor for circulating a refrigerant to evaporators installed in a plurality of showcases, and a control means for controlling the output of the compressors,
Each showcase includes an internal temperature sensor for detecting the internal temperature, and an expansion valve capable of varying a refrigerant flow rate to each evaporator,
The control means includes
While having an expansion valve opening degree control unit for controlling the opening degree of each expansion valve based on the difference between the detection temperature of the internal temperature sensor and the preset internal temperature set,
A refrigerant superheat degree calculation unit for calculating the refrigerant superheat degree of each evaporator;
A refrigerant superheat degree determination unit that determines the magnitude of each refrigerant superheat degree calculated by the refrigerant superheat degree calculation unit;
A rotation speed calculation setting unit that calculates and sets the rotation speed of the compressor such that the refrigerant superheat degree corresponding to the smallest value among the refrigerant superheat degrees determined by the refrigerant superheat degree determination part becomes an appropriate refrigerant superheat degree. It has a door,
Alarm means for notifying the abnormal cooling state of each showcase,
The control means calculates an actual refrigerant superheat degree by calculating a difference between the refrigerant superheat degree having the smallest value and the refrigerant superheat degree having the second smallest value among the refrigerant superheat degrees judged by the refrigerant superheat degree judging unit. Refrigerant superheat difference calculation unit for obtaining the difference,
A refrigerant superheat difference comparison unit for comparing the actual refrigerant superheat difference with a preset refrigerant superheat difference set in advance;
When the refrigerant superheat difference comparison unit determines that the actual refrigerant superheat difference is larger than the set refrigerant superheat difference, the refrigerant superheat degree determination unit outputs an alarm output signal to the alarm means. A showcase cooling apparatus having an alarm output / superheat degree switching unit for switching the refrigerant superheat degree having the smallest value to the refrigerant superheat degree having the second smallest value . In a showcase cooling apparatus having a common compressor for circulating a refrigerant to evaporators installed in a plurality of showcases , and a control means for controlling the output of the compressors,
Each showcase includes an internal temperature sensor for detecting the internal temperature, and an expansion valve capable of varying a refrigerant flow rate to each evaporator,
The control means includes
While having an expansion valve opening degree control unit for controlling the opening degree of each expansion valve based on the difference between the detection temperature of the internal temperature sensor and the preset internal temperature set,
A refrigerant superheat degree calculation unit for calculating the refrigerant superheat degree of each evaporator;
A refrigerant superheat degree determination unit that determines the magnitude of each refrigerant superheat degree calculated by the refrigerant superheat degree calculation unit;
A rotation speed calculation setting unit that calculates and sets the rotation speed of the compressor such that the refrigerant superheat degree corresponding to the smallest value among the refrigerant superheat degrees determined by the refrigerant superheat degree determination part becomes an appropriate refrigerant superheat degree. It has a door,
Alarm means for notifying the abnormal cooling state of each showcase,
The control means includes an average refrigerant superheat degree calculation unit that calculates an average refrigerant superheat degree from the refrigerant superheat degree calculated by the refrigerant superheat degree calculation part,
A refrigerant superheat degree difference calculating section for calculating a difference between the refrigerant superheat degree of the smallest value determined by the refrigerant superheat degree determining section and the average refrigerant superheat degree to obtain an actual refrigerant superheat degree difference;
A refrigerant superheat difference comparison unit for comparing the actual refrigerant superheat difference with a preset refrigerant superheat difference set in advance;
When the refrigerant superheat difference comparison unit determines that the actual refrigerant superheat difference is larger than the set refrigerant superheat difference, the refrigerant superheat degree determination unit outputs an alarm output signal to the alarm means. A showcase cooling apparatus having an alarm output / superheat degree switching unit for switching the refrigerant superheat degree having the smallest value to the refrigerant superheat degree having the second smallest value . The control means includes
An average suction pressure calculation unit for calculating an average suction pressure for a predetermined time before defrosting;
The predetermined suction pressure for correction is subtracted from the average suction pressure calculated by the average suction pressure calculation unit to calculate the set suction pressure in the pull-down operation mode, and the suction pressure in the pull-down operation mode is calculated as the set suction pressure. showcase cooling device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the and a pull-down operation suction pressure calculation setting unit that sets a. The control means includes
An average suction pressure calculation unit for calculating an average suction pressure for a predetermined time before defrosting;
A correction suction pressure calculation unit that calculates a correction suction pressure based on the average suction pressure calculated by the average suction pressure calculation unit;
A pull-down operation mode suction pressure calculation setting unit that subtracts the correction suction pressure from the average suction pressure to calculate a suction pressure in the pull-down operation mode and sets the suction pressure in the pull-down operation mode as the set suction pressure; The showcase cooling apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein The control means includes
An internal temperature determination unit that determines whether each showcase has reached the internal set temperature based on the temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor,
An operation mode switching unit that switches the pull-down operation mode to a steady operation mode when it is determined by the internal temperature determination unit that all the showcases have reached the internal set temperature. The showcase cooling apparatus according to claim 3 or 4 . The control means includes
Start in which the set suction pressure having the lowest value among the preset suction pressures for start operation set in advance for each showcase is selected, and the selected set suction pressure is set as the set suction pressure in the start operation mode. showcase cooling device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the having the operation mode suction pressure setting unit. The control means includes
An internal temperature determination unit that determines whether each showcase has reached the internal set temperature based on the temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor,
Claim 6, wherein when all of the respective showcases in the in-compartment temperature determination unit has reached the in-compartment set temperature is characterized by having a driving mode switching unit for switching the starting operation mode to the normal operation mode Showcase cooling system.

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