JP5549888B2 - Temperature control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a temperature adjusting device configured to be able to supply water adjusted to a temperature within a target temperature range to a supply target body.

  As this type of temperature control device, the applicant discloses a cooling device for supplying a coolant to an object to be cooled such as a machine tool in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-29974. This cooling device is a circulation type cooling device that collects and supplies the coolant supplied to the object to be cooled, and supplies it again. The water tank for storing the coolant, a pump for pumping the coolant, and the coolant are cooled. And a refrigeration cycle for carrying out the above, and these are housed in an apparatus housing. Further, in the apparatus housing, a condenser cooling air flow path A (hereinafter also simply referred to as “air flow path A”) from the air suction port to the air outlet through the condenser of the refrigeration cycle, and refrigeration A first heat distribution panel exhaust heat flow channel C (hereinafter simply referred to as “air flow channel C”) from the machine room in which the cycle or the like is disposed to the air flow path A through the distribution panel room in which the distribution panel is disposed. Various air flow paths are also formed.

  In this cooling device, by operating a blower fan disposed in the air flow path A, a condenser cooling air flow is generated in the air flow path A, and the first switchboard in the air flow path C. A configuration that generates an air flow for exhaust heat is employed. Thereby, in this cooling device, without providing a dedicated blower fan for generating an air flow for cooling the switchboard, the outside air is drawn into the device casing only by the blower fan arranged in the air flow path A. It can be introduced to cool both the condenser and the switchboard. Therefore, in this cooling device, compared to a configuration in which a blower fan for cooling the condenser and a blower fan for cooling the switchboard are separately provided, one blower fan is used for cooling the condenser and the switchboard. It is possible to reduce the size of the switchboard room by reducing the capacity of the switchboard room, because it is possible to reduce the size of the switchboard room by avoiding the situation where heat is accumulated in the switchboard room by generating an air flow in the air flow path C. It has become.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2010-29974 (page 5-7, FIG. 1-3)

  However, the cooling device disclosed by the applicant has the following problems to be improved. In other words, the cooling device disclosed by the applicant employs a configuration in which both the condenser and the switchboard are cooled by introducing the outside air into the device housing by the blower fan disposed in the air flow path A. However, in summer and the like when the temperature rises, the temperature of the outside air introduced into the apparatus housing also rises. In addition, since a machine tool or the like that is a supply target of the coolant is installed in a room where the cooling device or the like is installed, the room temperature rises due to exhaust heat from the machine tool or the like during operation of the cooling device. The temperature of the outside air introduced into the housing will also rise. For this reason, in the cooling device disclosed by the applicant, when the ambient temperature rises above the assumed temperature, it may be difficult to sufficiently cool the switchboard as the temperature rises. Therefore, it is preferable to improve this point because there is a risk that the power supply from the switchboard must be stopped in order to protect the devices disposed on the switchboard and prevent malfunction.

  This invention is made | formed in view of this subject, and it aims at providing the temperature control apparatus which can continue the electric power supply from a switchboard even when ambient temperature rises.

  In order to achieve the above object, the temperature adjusting device according to claim 1 includes a refrigeration cycle, a first heat exchanger that exchanges heat between water supplied to a supply object and a refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle, and at least the refrigeration. A temperature adjusting device comprising a switchboard for supplying power to a compressor in a cycle, and supplying the water adjusted to a temperature within a target temperature range in the first heat exchanger to the supply object, wherein the water And the second heat exchanger for exchanging heat between at least one of the refrigerant and the surrounding air, and the air cooled by heat exchange between the at least one of the second heat exchanger and the at least one of the refrigerant And a blower for cooling the switchboard.

  The temperature adjusting device according to claim 2 is the temperature adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the blower is arranged so as to blow the air toward a heat sink provided in the switchboard.

  Furthermore, the temperature regulating device according to claim 3 is the temperature regulating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second heat exchanger is arranged so that heat can be exchanged between the water and the air. Yes.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the temperature regulating device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the second heat exchanger is disposed so that heat can be exchanged between the refrigerant and the air. Yes.

  According to the temperature control apparatus of Claim 1, 3, 4, it supplies the switchboard with the air which was heat-exchanged between at least one of water and a refrigerant | coolant in the 2nd heat exchanger, and was cooled. By cooling, it is possible to avoid the situation where each device mounted on the switchboard excessively rises in temperature and causes malfunction or thermal destruction, and it is possible to avoid the stoppage of the switchboard due to excessive temperature rise. As a result, stable supply of water adjusted to a temperature within the target temperature range can be continued.

  Moreover, according to the temperature control apparatus of Claim 2, in a ventilation object site | part in contact with the air cooled in the 2nd heat exchanger, an air blower blows air toward the heat sink provided in the switchboard. Even if dew condensation occurs, only the condensed water adheres to the heat sink, and the condensed water does not adhere to each device on the switchboard. Malfunctions and failures can be avoided.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of 1 A of temperature control apparatuses which concern on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the temperature control apparatus 1B which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a temperature adjustment device will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  A temperature adjusting apparatus 1A shown in FIG. 1 is a water W adjusted to “temperature within a target temperature range (for example, 20 ° C. ± 1 ° C.)”, various machine tools such as a laser processing machine and a cutting machine, and an injection molding machine. And a circulation-type temperature adjusting device that can be supplied to various “suppliers” such as medical devices, and includes a water storage tank 2, pipes 3a to 3c, a pressure pump 4, a refrigeration cycle 5A, heat exchangers 6, 7a, The temperature sensor 8, the controller 9, and the switchboard 10 are provided, and these are accommodated and comprised in the housing | casing which is not shown in figure.

  As an example, the water tank 2 includes a water tank main body 21 formed into a top opening box shape by welding a stainless steel plate material, and a lid 22 that closes the upper surface opening of the water tank main body 21. Has been. In addition, although the actual water tank 2 is provided with a water supply port, an overflow port, a drain port, etc., in order to make an understanding regarding the structure of the temperature control apparatus 1A easy, illustration and description about these are omitted. . Moreover, in this temperature control apparatus 1A, the pressure pump 4 and the heat exchanger 6 are provided in the piping 3a for supplying the water W from the water storage tank 2 to a supply target body. In this case, the pressure feed pump 4 pumps (supplies) the water W stored in the water storage tank 2 to the supply target body according to the control of the controller 9, and the temperature of the supply target body is raised by this pressure feed. Water W is collected from the supply object into the water tank 2.

  Further, in the temperature adjusting device 1 </ b> A of the present example, a pipe 3 b for recovering the water W that has been supplied to the supply object by the pressure feeding by the pressure feeding pump 4 and has been raised in temperature is connected to the water tank 2. Furthermore, in the temperature control apparatus 1A of the present example, the pipe 3a is branched between the pressure feed pump 4 and the heat exchanger 6 and connected to the pipe 3c. The pipe 3c is provided with an electromagnetic valve 31 for adjusting the flow rate of the water W passing through the pipe 3c, and a heat exchanger 7a corresponding to a “second heat exchanger”, and a pressure pump 4 Thus, a part of the water W pumped toward the heat exchanger 6 is connected so as to pass through the solenoid valve 31 and the heat exchanger 7a in this order from the pipe 3a and be collected in the water tank 2.

  The refrigeration cycle 5 </ b> A includes a compressor 41, a condenser 42, and an electronic expansion valve 43, and a fan 42 a that blows ambient air to the condenser 42 under the control of the controller 9. Further, a heat exchanger 6 is connected between the electronic expansion valve 43 and the compressor 41 of the refrigeration cycle 5A. The actual refrigeration cycle 5A is provided with a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an accumulator, a strainer, and the like. However, in order to facilitate understanding of the configuration of the refrigeration cycle 5A, illustration and description thereof are omitted. . In this case, in the temperature control apparatus 1A of this example, an inverter control type compressor is adopted as the compressor 41, and the supply amount of the refrigerant to the heat exchanger 6 is changed by changing the operation state of the compressor 41. It is configured so that it can be adjusted.

  The heat exchanger 6 is an example of a “first heat exchanger”, and exchanges heat between the refrigerant in a gas-liquid mixed state passed through the electronic expansion valve 43 and the water W in the pipe 3a. As a result, the water W in the pipe 3a is cooled, and the temperature of the refrigerant is increased and vaporized. Further, the heat exchanger 7a is disposed in the vicinity of a switchboard 10 described later, and between the water W that is pumped by the pumping pump 4 and passed through the pipe 3c and the surrounding air (air in the housing). The surrounding air is cooled by exchanging heat at. Specifically, the heat exchanger 7a, as an example, is formed by bending a copper pipe that constitutes a part of the longitudinal direction of the pipe 3c in a twisted manner, and water W that is allowed to pass through the copper pipe; The fan 32 (an example of “blower”) is configured to exchange heat with air blown to the outer surface of the copper pipe. The temperature sensor 8 detects the temperature of the water W that is temperature-adjusted in the heat exchanger 6 and is supplied to the supply target body via the pipe 3a, and outputs a sensor signal.

  The controller 9 generally controls the temperature adjustment device 1A. Specifically, the controller 9 controls the pumping pump 4 to supply water W from the water storage tank 2 to the supply target body. Further, the controller 9 specifies the temperature of the water W supplied to the supply target body based on the sensor signal from the temperature sensor 8, and changes the operating state of the refrigeration cycle 5A according to the specified temperature. The temperature of the water W is adjusted to a temperature within the target temperature range. More specifically, the controller 9 controls the inverter provided in the switchboard 10 as will be described later, thereby causing the compressor 41 to compress a necessary amount of refrigerant and controlling the electronic expansion valve 43 to thereby heat exchanger. 6 adjusts the amount of refrigerant discharged toward the engine 6, and controls the fan 42a to blow ambient air toward the condenser 42. Further, the controller 9 controls the electromagnetic valve 31 to adjust the flow rate of the water W passing through the pipe 3c. Further, the controller 9 controls the fan 32 to blow the air in the housing toward the heat exchanger 7a, thereby blowing the air cooled in the heat exchanger 7a to the switchboard 10.

  The switchboard 10 supplies a necessary amount of power to the pumping pump 4 and the compressor 41 according to the control of the controller 9. In this case, the switchboard 10 is provided with devices such as an inverter and a power source that generate heat during operation and become high temperature. If these devices become excessively hot, there is a risk of causing malfunction or thermal destruction. is there. Therefore, in this type of apparatus, a heat sink (not shown) for exhausting heat generated in each of the above devices is provided on the switchboard, and a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of each device. ) Is provided on the heat sink, and the heat sink temperature specified on the basis of the sensor signal from the temperature sensor reaches a predetermined temperature in order to avoid malfunction and thermal destruction due to heat generation. Is provided with a protective circuit (not shown) for stopping the operation.

  However, when the operation of the switchboard 10 is stopped in order to avoid malfunction and thermal destruction, the power supply to the pressure feed pump 4 and the compressor 41 is stopped, thereby stopping the water W and refrigerant pressure feed. . For this reason, when each apparatus of the switchboard 10 becomes excessively high temperature, it becomes impossible to supply the water W adjusted to the temperature within the target temperature range to the supply target body. As a result, the part to be cooled in the supply target body It is difficult to cool the battery normally, and various troubles may be caused in the supply object. For this reason, in the temperature control apparatus 1A of this example, as described later, each of the above-described devices disposed on the switchboard 10 by blowing air cooled in the heat exchanger 7a onto a heat sink provided on the switchboard 10 The structure which avoids the situation where becomes high temperature excessively is employ | adopted.

  When the water W is supplied to the supply target body by the temperature adjusting device 1A, first, the controller 9 controls the pressure pump 4 to supply the water W in the water storage tank 2 to the supply target body. In addition, the controller 9 operates the compressor 41 and the electronic expansion valve 43 so that the temperature of the water W in the pipe 3a specified based on the sensor signal from the temperature sensor 8 becomes a temperature within the target temperature range. To control the opening degree. Thereby, the heat exchanger 6 functions as an evaporator, heat exchange is performed between the water W pumped by the pumping pump 4 and the supplied refrigerant, and the water supplied to the supply target body As W is cooled, the temperature of the refrigerant is raised and vaporizes. Further, the water W whose temperature has been raised by cooling the supply target body is collected and stored in the water storage tank 2 via the pipe 3b.

  In this case, when the controller 9 determines based on the sensor signal from the temperature sensor 8 that the temperature of the water W supplied to the supply target body via the pipe 3a is likely to be lower than the target temperature range, the switchboard By controlling the inverter 10, the operation state of the compressor 41 is shifted to the low speed operation, and the amount of refrigerant supplied to the heat exchanger 6 is reduced by sufficiently restricting the electronic expansion valve 43. At this time, the amount of refrigerant exchanged with the water W in the heat exchanger 6 is reduced. As a result, the water W is excessively cooled in the heat exchanger 6 and water W having a temperature lower than the target temperature range is supplied. The situation of being supplied to the body is avoided.

  When the controller 9 determines that the temperature of the water W supplied to the supply object via the pipe 3a is likely to be higher than the target temperature range based on the sensor signal from the temperature sensor 8, the switchboard 10 By controlling the inverter, the operating state of the compressor 41 is shifted to high speed operation, and the electronic expansion valve 43 is fully opened, thereby increasing the amount of refrigerant supplied to the heat exchanger 6. At this time, as a result of an increase in the amount of refrigerant heat-exchanged with the water W in the heat exchanger 6, the water W is sufficiently cooled in the heat exchanger 6 and water W having a temperature higher than the target temperature range is supplied. The situation of being supplied to the object is avoided.

  On the other hand, as described above, when the pumping pump 4 and the compressor 41 are operated, each device of the switchboard 10 that supplies power to them generates heat and the temperature rises. Therefore, the controller 9 opens the solenoid valve 31 when it is determined that each device of the switchboard 10 has reached a specified temperature (70 ° C. as an example) based on a sensor signal from a temperature sensor provided in the switchboard 10. And the fan 32 is controlled to start blowing. At this time, a part of the water W pumped from the water storage tank 2 toward the heat exchanger 6 by the pumping pump 4 passes through the electromagnetic valve 31 and is supplied to the heat exchanger 7a. Air is blown toward the heat exchanger 7a.

  As a result, the water W in the copper pipe constituting the heat exchanger 7a and the air blown by the fan 32 (air around the heat exchanger 7a) are heat-exchanged, and the blown air is cooled. The cooled low-temperature air is blown toward the heat sink of the switchboard 10. At this time, since the heat sink is cooled by the blown air, the temperature of each device of the switchboard 10 is gradually lowered. In addition, the water W that has been subjected to heat exchange with the surrounding air in the heat exchanger 7a and has risen in temperature is collected in the water tank 2 through the pipe 3c.

  Further, when the controller 9 determines that each device of the switchboard 10 has sufficiently lowered in temperature based on a sensor signal from a temperature sensor provided in the switchboard 10 (as an example, a heat sink specified based on the sensor signal). When the temperature reaches 60 ° C.), the solenoid valve 31 is closed and the fan 32 is stopped. This avoids a situation where a part of the water W to be supplied to the supply target body is supplied to the heat exchanger 7a in a state where there is no need to cool the switchboard 10, and also avoids power consumption by the fan 32. Is done.

  As described above, according to the temperature adjusting device 1A, the air that has been cooled by the heat exchange with the water W in the heat exchanger 7a is supplied to the switchboard 10 to cool the switchboard 10, whereby the switchboard 10 As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which each device mounted on the device excessively increases in temperature and causes malfunction or thermal destruction, and it is possible to avoid stoppage of operation of the switchboard 10 due to excessive temperature increase. Stable supply of the water W adjusted to a temperature within the range to the supply object can be continued.

  Moreover, according to this temperature control apparatus 1A, when the fan 32 blows air toward the heat sink provided in the switchboard 10, dew condensation occurs in the blow target area in contact with the air cooled in the heat exchanger 7 a. Even if the condensed water adheres only to the heat sink and does not cause the condensed water to adhere to each device of the switchboard 10, each device (the switchboard 10) caused by the adherence of condensed water does not. Malfunctions and failures can be avoided.

  Next, another embodiment of the temperature adjusting device will be described. In addition, about the component which has the same function as said temperature control apparatus 1A, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The temperature adjusting device 1B shown in FIG. 2 has the point that the pipe 3c, the electromagnetic valve 31, and the heat exchanger 7a in the temperature adjusting device 1A described above are not present, and the point that a refrigeration cycle 5B is provided instead of the refrigeration cycle 5A. Except for this, it is configured in substantially the same manner as the temperature adjustment device 1A.

  The refrigeration cycle 5B includes a compressor 41, a condenser 42, a fan 42a, and an electronic expansion valve 43 in the same manner as the refrigeration cycle 5A, and a heat exchanger 6 is connected between the electronic expansion valve 43 and the compressor 41. Has been configured. Further, in the refrigeration cycle 5B, the refrigerant pipe between the condenser 42 and the electronic expansion valve 43 is branched, and a part of the refrigerant from the condenser 42 passes through the electronic expansion valve 43 by one refrigerant pipe. And the other refrigerant pipe passes through the capillary tube 44 to be supplied to the heat exchanger 7b by the other refrigerant pipe. .

  The “expansion valve” disposed in front of the heat exchanger 7 b is not limited to a “mechanical expansion valve” such as the capillary tube 44, and an electronic expansion valve disposed in front of the heat exchanger 6. An “electronic expansion valve” similar to 43 can also be employed. The actual refrigeration cycle 5B is provided with a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an accumulator, a strainer, and the like. However, in order to facilitate understanding of the configuration of the refrigeration cycle 5B, illustration and description thereof are omitted. .

  The heat exchanger 7 b is another example of the “second heat exchanger” and is disposed in the vicinity of the switchboard 10. In the heat exchanger 7b, a part of the refrigerant moved from the condenser 42 toward the electronic expansion valve 43 during the operation of the refrigeration cycle 5B is passed through the capillary tube 44 and supplied in a gas-liquid mixed state. Then, heat is exchanged between the supplied refrigerant and the surrounding air (air in the housing) to cool the surrounding air and raise the temperature of the refrigerant to be vaporized. Specifically, as an example, the heat exchanger 7b is formed by bending a copper pipe constituting a part of the longitudinal direction of the refrigerant pipe in a twisted manner, and allows the refrigerant to pass through the copper pipe and the fan. It is comprised so that heat may be exchanged with the air sprayed on the outer surface of a copper pipe by 32.

  In this temperature adjusting device 1B, when the pumping pump 4 and the compressor 41 are operated, each device of the switchboard 10 supplying power to them generates heat and the temperature rises. Therefore, the controller 9 controls the fan 32 when it is determined that each device of the switchboard 10 has reached a specified temperature (70 ° C. as an example) based on a sensor signal from a temperature sensor provided in the switchboard 10. To start blowing. At this time, a part of the refrigerant moving from the condenser 42 toward the electronic expansion valve 43 passes through the capillary tube 44 and is supplied to the heat exchanger 7b, and the air in the housing is converted into the heat exchanger. Sprayed toward 7b.

  Thereby, heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant supplied in a gas-liquid mixed state in the copper pipe constituting the heat exchanger 7b and the air blown by the fan 32 (air around the heat exchanger 7b). As a result, the blown air is cooled, and the temperature of the refrigerant is raised and vaporized. The cooled low-temperature air is blown toward the heat sink of the switchboard 10. At this time, since the heat sink is cooled by the blown air, the temperature of each device of the switchboard 10 is gradually lowered. Note that the refrigerant vaporized by heat exchange with ambient air in the heat exchanger 7b is sucked into the compressor 41 through the refrigerant pipe. Further, when the heat load applied to the temperature adjusting device 1B is small, the situation in which the water W is unnecessarily cooled in the heat exchanger 6 can be avoided by controlling the electronic expansion valve 43 to the fully closed state.

  On the other hand, when the controller 9 determines that the temperature of each device of the switchboard 10 has sufficiently decreased based on a sensor signal from a temperature sensor provided in the switchboard 10 (as an example, a heat sink specified based on the sensor signal). The fan 32 is stopped when the temperature of the air reaches 60 ° C.). Thereby, power consumption by the fan 32 is avoided in a state where it is not necessary to cool the switchboard 10.

  As described above, according to the temperature adjusting device 1B, the heat exchanged in the heat exchanger 7b with the refrigerant in the heat exchanger 6 is supplied to the switchboard 10 to cool the switchboard 10 by cooling it. Thus, in the same manner as the temperature adjusting device 1A described above, it is possible to avoid a situation in which each device mounted on the switchboard 10 excessively increases in temperature and causes malfunction or thermal destruction, and excessively increases in temperature. As a result of avoiding the accompanying operation stop of the switchboard 10, stable supply of the water W adjusted to a temperature within the target temperature range to the supply target body can be continued.

  Moreover, according to this temperature adjustment apparatus 1B, the fan 32 cooled in the heat exchanger 7b like the temperature adjustment apparatus 1A mentioned above by sending air toward the heat sink provided in the switchboard 10. Even if dew condensation occurs in the air blowing target part in contact with the air, the dew condensation water does not become a state where the dew condensation water adheres to each device of the switchboard 10 only because the dew condensation water adheres to the heat sink. It is possible to avoid malfunction and failure of each device (distribution panel 10) due to adhesion.

  The configuration of the “temperature adjusting device” is not limited to the configuration of the temperature adjusting devices 1A and 1B. For example, a temperature adjusting device 1A having a configuration in which a part of the water W being pumped from the water storage tank 2 toward the heat exchanger 6 by the pumping pump 4 is introduced into the heat exchanger 7a to exchange heat with the surrounding air is taken as an example. However, instead of (or in addition to) such a configuration, a part of the water W cooled in the heat exchanger 6 and pumped toward the supply object is used as the heat exchanger. A configuration is adopted in which heat is exchanged with the surrounding air by introducing the water W in the water storage tank 2 into the heat exchanger 7a separately from the water W to be introduced into the body 7a or pumped toward the supply object. You can also. Even when such a configuration is adopted, the same effects as those of the temperature adjusting device 1A described above can be obtained.

  In addition, the configuration in which the heat exchangers 7a and 7b are disposed in the vicinity of the switchboard 10 has been described as an example. However, the heat exchangers 7a and 7b are disposed at positions separated from the switchboard 10 and the heat exchanger 7a. , 7b can be used to blow the air cooled to the switchboard 10 through a duct (not shown). Even when such a configuration is adopted, the same effects as those of the temperature control devices 1A and 1B can be obtained. Further, instead of (or in addition to) the pressure pump 4, a “suction pump (not shown)” is disposed in the pipe 3 b to suck and collect the water W from the supply target, and The structure which supplies the low temperature water W to a supply target body by this attraction | suction is employable. Even when such a configuration is adopted, the same effects as those of the temperature control devices 1A and 1B can be obtained.

1A, 1B Temperature control device 2 Water storage tank 3a-3c Piping 4 Pressure pump 5A, 5B Refrigeration cycle 6, 7a, 7b Heat exchanger 8 Temperature sensor 9 Controller 10 Switchboard 31 Solenoid valve 32, 42a Fan 41 Compressor 42 Condenser 43 Electronic expansion valve 44 Capillary tube W Water

Claims (4)

A refrigeration cycle, a first heat exchanger that exchanges heat between water to be supplied to a supply object and a refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle, and a switchboard that supplies power to at least the compressor in the refrigeration cycle, A temperature adjusting device that supplies the water adjusted to a temperature within a target temperature range in one heat exchanger to the supply object,
The second heat exchanger that exchanges heat between at least one of the water and the refrigerant and ambient air, and the second heat exchanger is cooled by heat exchange between the at least one of the water and the refrigerant. A temperature control device comprising: a blower that supplies the air to the switchboard and cools the switchboard.   The temperature adjusting device according to claim 1, wherein the blower is arranged so that the air can be blown toward a heat sink provided in the switchboard.   The temperature adjusting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second heat exchanger is disposed so that heat can be exchanged between the water and the air.   The temperature adjusting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second heat exchanger is disposed so that heat can be exchanged between the refrigerant and the air.

Images