JP6152267B2 - Refrigerator operation control method and environmental test apparatus in environmental test apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation control method of a refrigerator and an environmental test apparatus in an environmental test apparatus that performs an environmental test on a sample to be tested such as an electronic component, an electrical device, and a polymer material.

  Conventionally, when a predetermined environmental test is performed on a sample to be tested such as an electronic component, an electric device, or a polymer material, for example, a water temperature controlled humidifying environmental test apparatus has been used.

  This environmental test apparatus includes a test room for storing a sample to be tested such as an electronic component or an electric device and performing a predetermined environmental test, and an air conditioning room for air conditioning the test room. The test chamber is heated by the chamber heater installed in the chamber, and evaporating water is supplied to the test chamber by heating the humidified water poured in the evaporative humidifying tray installed in the air conditioning chamber with the water heater. On the other hand, the test chamber is adjusted to a predetermined temperature and humidity by cooling the test chamber with a refrigerator (for example, Patent Document 1). Here, the refrigerator is configured to perform a refrigeration cycle by circulating refrigerant through a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an electronic expansion valve, and an evaporator. Further, the compressor is configured to be able to control the rotational speed of the drive motor by changing the power supply frequency by an inverter.

  The environmental test equipment configured in this way throttles the electronic expansion valve when it is necessary to reduce the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator due to a change in the test temperature, etc., and that alone reduces the refrigeration capacity sufficiently. When it is not possible to reduce the rotational frequency of the drive motor of the compressor by lowering the power supply frequency with the inverter, the power supply frequency is reduced with the inverter when the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator needs to be increased. By increasing the speed, the rotational speed of the drive motor of the compressor is increased, and when this alone cannot sufficiently increase the refrigerating capacity, the electronic expansion valve is opened.

  Accordingly, the test chamber can be set to predetermined test conditions, and a predetermined environmental test can be easily and reliably performed on a sample to be tested such as an electronic component, an electric device, or a polymer material.

JP 2001-311567 A

  However, in the conventional environmental test apparatus configured as described above, it is necessary to increase the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator, although a predetermined environmental test can be easily and reliably performed on a sample to be tested. In this case, it is necessary not only to reduce the power consumption of the compressor effectively but also to reduce the refrigeration capacity by giving priority to increasing the rotational speed of the drive motor by increasing the power supply frequency with the inverter. Since the power consumption of the compressor cannot be effectively suppressed by giving priority to lowering the evaporation temperature of the evaporator by restricting the electronic expansion valve when this occurs, the viewpoint of power saving There was a problem of being inconvenient.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an operation control method and an environmental test apparatus for a refrigerator in an environmental test apparatus that can effectively promote power saving. .

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a refrigerator that cools a test chamber by performing a refrigeration cycle by circulating a refrigerant through a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an electronic expansion valve and an evaporator. The compressor is capable of controlling the rotational speed of the drive motor by an inverter, and the evaporator is set to a predetermined evaporation temperature by adjusting the opening of the electronic expansion valve. A method for controlling the operation of a refrigerator in a test apparatus, wherein when the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator is reduced when performing temperature control of the test chamber, the refrigeration is performed after the decrease while maintaining the opening of the electronic expansion valve. The power frequency of the drive motor according to the refrigerating capacity required by the machine is obtained, and the power frequency of the drive motor is reduced to the obtained power frequency by the inverter. A step of lowering the rolling speed, the time decrease the rotational speed steps odor Te was lower down is to the lowest power frequency of the variable range that is pre-Me set obtains refrigeration capacity required under the power frequency calculated evaporation temperature of the evaporator for is characterized in that it comprises, between about Engineering you as low evaporation temperature determined the evaporation temperature of the evaporator by throttling the electronic expansion valve.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the method according to the first aspect, when increasing the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator when performing temperature control of the test chamber, a refrigerator is necessary after the increase while maintaining the power frequency. Obtaining the evaporation temperature of the evaporator in accordance with the refrigerating capacity and increasing the evaporation temperature of the evaporator to the obtained evaporation temperature by opening the electronic expansion valve; and increasing the evaporation temperature when the electronic expansion valve such that the highest evaporation temperature of the variable range that is pre Me set is opened Te odor, the drive motor for obtaining a refrigeration capacity required under the evaporation temperature seeking the power supply frequency, are characterized by comprising, a more engineering to raise the rotational speed of the drive motor of the compressor by increasing until the power frequency power frequency was determined the by the inverter .

The invention of claim 3 includes a refrigerator that cools the test chamber by circulating a refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an electronic expansion valve, and an evaporator to perform a refrigeration cycle. The operation of the refrigerator in the environmental test apparatus which can control the rotation speed of the drive motor by an inverter and sets the evaporator to a predetermined evaporation temperature by adjusting the opening of the electronic expansion valve In the control method, when the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator is increased in performing temperature control of the test chamber, the refrigeration capacity required by the refrigeration machine after the increase is maintained while maintaining the power supply frequency of the drive motor. the evaporator seek evaporation temperature of the steps to increase the evaporation temperature of the evaporator by opening the electronic expansion valve to the evaporation temperature determined above, step smell to increase the evaporation temperature When the electronic expansion valve is opened so that the highest evaporation temperature of the variable range that is pre-Me settings of the drive motor in order to obtain the refrigeration capacity required under the evaporation temperature supply determined frequency, is characterized by comprising a power supply frequency as engineering to raise the rotational speed of the drive motor of the compressor by increasing to the power supply frequency obtained above, the by the inverter.

The invention of claim 4 includes a refrigerator that cools the test chamber by circulating a refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an electronic expansion valve, and an evaporator to perform a refrigeration cycle. The environmental test apparatus is capable of controlling the rotational speed of the drive motor by an inverter, and sets the evaporator to a predetermined evaporation temperature by adjusting the opening of the electronic expansion valve, An evaporating temperature sensor for measuring the evaporating temperature of the evaporator, a temperature determining unit for determining whether it is necessary to decrease or increase the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator when performing temperature control of the test chamber, and and a temperature control unit for controlling the electronic expansion valve and the drive motor, the temperature control unit, when necessary to reduce the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator is determined that there by the temperature determination portion, the electrostatic While maintaining the opening degree of Formula expansion valve determines the power frequency of the drive motor in accordance with the refrigerating capacity required by the refrigerator after the reduction, by reducing to a power supply frequency of the power source frequency was determined the by the inverter the performed step of decreasing the rotational speed of the drive motor of the compressor, when said lowest power frequency or power supply frequency of the drive motor of the variable range that is preset in the step of decreasing the rotational speed is lowered, the Obtaining the evaporation temperature of the evaporator to obtain the necessary refrigerating capacity under the power frequency, and narrowing the electronic expansion valve based on the evaporation temperature measured by the evaporation temperature sensor It is characterized by performing to that control lower evaporating temperature to the evaporation temperature obtained above.

The invention according to claim 5 relates to the invention according to claim 4, wherein the temperature control unit maintains the power supply frequency when the temperature determination unit determines that the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerator needs to be increased . The evaporator is obtained by obtaining the evaporation temperature of the evaporator according to the refrigerating capacity required by the refrigerator after the increase , and opening the electronic expansion valve based on the evaporation temperature measured by the evaporation temperature sensor. of performed higher step evaporation temperature to the evaporation temperature obtained above, the opening degree of the highest I蒸 onset temperature so as to the electronic expansion valve of the variable range that is preset in the step of increasing the evaporation temperature When opened, the power frequency of the drive motor for obtaining the refrigerating capacity required under the evaporation temperature is obtained, and the power frequency is increased to the obtained power frequency by the inverter. It is characterized by performing control for increasing the rotational speed of the drive motor of the compressor by.

The invention of claim 6 comprises a refrigerator that cools the test chamber by circulating a refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit comprising a compressor, a condenser, an electronic expansion valve, and an evaporator, and performing a refrigeration cycle. The environmental test apparatus is capable of controlling the rotational speed of the drive motor by an inverter, and sets the evaporator to a predetermined evaporation temperature by adjusting the opening of the electronic expansion valve, An evaporating temperature sensor for measuring the evaporating temperature of the evaporator, a temperature determining unit for determining whether it is necessary to decrease or increase the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator when performing temperature control of the test chamber, and and a temperature control unit for controlling the electronic expansion valve and the drive motor, the temperature control unit, when said necessary to increase the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator is determined that there the temperature determination unit, the drive While maintaining the power supply frequency of the motor, the refrigerator determined evaporation temperature of the evaporator in accordance with a refrigerating capacity required by the later increase, on the basis of the evaporating temperature measured by the evaporation temperature sensor the electronic expansion valve performs a process of increasing the evaporation temperature of the evaporator to the evaporator temperature obtained above by opening, said to be the highest I蒸 onset temperature variable range that is preset in the step of increasing the evaporation temperature When the opening of the electronic expansion valve is opened, the power frequency of the drive motor for obtaining the necessary refrigerating capacity under the evaporation temperature is obtained, and the power frequency is increased to the obtained power frequency by the inverter. Thus, control is performed to increase the rotational speed of the drive motor of the compressor.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when reducing the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerator, the power supply frequency is lowered before the operation of reducing the evaporation temperature of the evaporator by reducing the electronic expansion valve to drive the compressor. Since the compressor that requires a large amount of drive power is effectively reduced in function, unnecessary power consumption in the compressor can be suppressed, resulting in effective power saving. Can be promoted.

  According to the invention of claim 2, in the operation control method of the refrigerator according to claim 1, when increasing the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerator, the power frequency is increased to increase the rotation speed of the drive motor of the compressor. Since the electronic expansion valve is opened prior to the operation to raise the evaporation temperature of the evaporator, it is possible to effectively suppress the increase in the function of the compressor that requires a large amount of driving power. As a result of suppressing consumption, power saving can be effectively promoted.

  According to the invention of claim 3, when increasing the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerator, the electronic expansion valve is opened before the operation of increasing the power frequency and increasing the rotational speed of the compressor drive motor. Since the evaporation temperature of the evaporator is raised, it is possible to suppress unnecessary power consumption in the compressor by effectively suppressing an increase in the function of the compressor that requires a large drive power. Can be effectively promoted.

  According to the invention of claim 4, when reducing the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerator, the power supply frequency is lowered before the operation of reducing the evaporation temperature of the evaporator by reducing the electronic expansion valve to drive the compressor. Since the compressor that requires a large amount of drive power is effectively reduced in function, unnecessary power consumption in the compressor can be suppressed, resulting in effective power saving. An environmental test apparatus that can be promoted can be realized.

  According to the invention of claim 5, in the environmental test apparatus according to claim 4, when increasing the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator, the operation is to increase the rotational frequency of the drive motor of the compressor by increasing the power frequency. First, the electronic expansion valve is opened to raise the evaporation temperature of the evaporator, so that it is possible to effectively suppress the increase in the function of the compressor that requires a large amount of drive power, thereby suppressing unnecessary power consumption in the compressor. As a result, an environmental test apparatus that can effectively promote power saving can be realized.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator is increased, the electronic expansion valve is opened before the operation of increasing the power frequency and increasing the rotational speed of the drive motor of the compressor. Since the evaporation temperature of the evaporator is raised, it is possible to suppress unnecessary power consumption in the compressor by effectively suppressing an increase in the function of the compressor that requires a large drive power. An environmental test apparatus that can be effectively promoted can be realized.

It is a figure which shows roughly the structure of the environmental test apparatus with which the operation control method of the refrigerator in the environmental test apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is applied. It is a characteristic curve figure of evaporation temperature versus refrigeration capacity by making the power supply frequency of the drive motor in the refrigerator applied to an environmental test apparatus into a parameter. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the temperature control operation | movement of an environmental test apparatus. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the temperature control operation | movement of an environmental test apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of an environmental test apparatus to which an operation control method for a refrigerator in an environmental test apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. That is, the environmental test apparatus 10 to which the operation control method of the refrigerator in the environmental test apparatus according to the present invention is applied stores a sample S to be tested such as an electronic component, an electric device, etc. A test chamber 16 having a test chamber 12 for performing the environmental test and an air-conditioning chamber 14 for air-conditioning the test chamber 12 is provided, and a predetermined space is provided above a partition wall 18 that partitions the test chamber 12 and the air-conditioning chamber 14. A delivery port 20 is formed to send air adjusted to temperature and humidity from the air conditioning chamber 14 to the test chamber 12, and air passing through the test chamber 12 is sent from the test chamber 12 to the air conditioning chamber 14 below the partition wall 18. By forming the return port 22 for returning, the test chamber 12 and the air-conditioning chamber 14 are in a state in which ventilation is possible.

  The environmental test apparatus 10 heats the air in the test chamber 12, and evaporates moisture in the test chamber 12 by heating and evaporating the humidifier water 28 disposed in the air conditioning chamber 14 and the humidified water 28. A water heater provided in the evaporative humidifying tray 30 for heating the evaporative humidifying tray 30 disposed in the air conditioning chamber 14 and the humidified water 28 poured in the evaporative humidifying tray 30. 32, the test chamber 12 is cooled via the refrigerator 20 that adjusts the temperature of the test chamber 12 by cooling the test chamber 12 and balancing the amount of heat generated by the chamber heater 26, and the outlet 20 and the return port 22. The temperature and humidity of the test chamber 12 are made uniform by circulating air between the air conditioning chamber 14 and a blower 36 disposed in the air conditioning chamber 14.

  Furthermore, the environmental test apparatus 10 is for measuring the temperature of the test chamber 12, and is for measuring the humidity of the test chamber 12 and the room temperature sensor 40 disposed near the outlet 20 of the test chamber 12. Therefore, by controlling the operation of the chamber humidity sensor 42, the chamber heater 26, the water heater 32 and the refrigerator 34 disposed in the vicinity of the delivery port 20 of the test chamber 12, the test chamber 12 is set to a predetermined test temperature. And an environmental control unit 46 disposed outside the test tank 16.

  Here, the chamber heater 26 and the water heater 32 are constituted by an electric heater or the like. The refrigerator 34 performs a refrigeration cycle by circulating a refrigerant through a refrigerant circuit including a compressor 50, a condenser 52, an electronic expansion valve 54 and an evaporator 56. The evaporator 56 is disposed in the air conditioning chamber 14. The compressor 50, the condenser 52 and the electronic expansion valve 54 are disposed outside the test tank 16. The compressor 50 includes a drive motor 60 whose rotational speed is controlled by varying the power supply frequency by an inverter 58. Further, on the inlet side of the evaporator 56, an evaporation temperature sensor 62 constituted by a temperature sensitive element for measuring the inlet temperature of the evaporator 56 is disposed.

  The room temperature sensor 40 is configured by a thermocouple. The room humidity sensor 42 is constituted by a wet bulb thermometer around which a water absorbing body such as gauze absorbed by a thermocouple measuring unit is wound, and the blower 36 is constituted by a motor with a fan. The environment control unit 46 includes a CPU that executes arithmetic processing, a ROM that stores processing programs, data, and the like, and a microcomputer that includes a RAM that temporarily stores data.

  The environmental control unit 46 includes the above-described room heater 26, water heater 32, refrigerator 34 (electronic expansion valve 54, inverter 58), blower 36, room temperature sensor 40, room humidity sensor 42, and evaporation. Each temperature sensor 62 is connected via an interface circuit (not shown), a test condition setting unit 68 for setting test conditions, a calculation formula for calculating the humidity of the test chamber 12, and a power source to be set for the drive motor 60 A calculation formula for calculating the frequency, a calculation formula for calculating the evaporation temperature to be set by the evaporator 56, a storage unit 70 for storing predetermined data used for the calculation formula, and a timer 72 for measuring the test time are provided. They are connected via an interface circuit (not shown).

  The environment control unit 46 includes a room temperature determination unit 76, a power supply frequency calculation unit 78, an evaporation temperature calculation unit 80, a room temperature control unit 82, a refrigerator determination unit 84, a room humidity calculation unit 86, and a room humidity determination unit 88. And each function implementation | achievement part as the room humidity control part 90 is provided.

  Here, the room temperature discrimination unit 76 discriminates the temperature of the test chamber 12 by comparing the temperature of the test chamber 12 detected by the room temperature sensor 40 with the temperature set by the test condition setting unit 68. When the test temperature setting is changed by the test condition setting unit 68, it is determined whether the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34 needs to be decreased or increased when the temperature control of the test chamber 12 is performed. is there.

  That is, when the temperature of the test chamber 12 detected by the room temperature sensor 40 is lower than the temperature set by the test condition setting unit 68, it is determined that the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34 needs to be reduced, and the room temperature sensor When the temperature of the test chamber 12 detected at 40 is higher than the temperature set by the test condition setting unit 68, it is determined that the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34 needs to be increased. In addition, when the room temperature sensor 40 is comprised with the thermocouple, it will discriminate | determine compared with a setting value based on the electromotive force produced | generated by the room temperature sensor 40. FIG.

  The power frequency calculation unit 78 stores in the storage unit 70 the power frequency of the drive motor 60 set by the inverter 58 in accordance with the refrigerating capacity required by the refrigerator 34 that is determined in relation to the amount of heat generated by the room heater 26. It is calculated based on the calculated formula. The calculation formula for calculating the power supply frequency of the drive motor 60 is experimentally obtained in advance based on, for example, the amount of heat generated by the room heater 26 and the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerator 34.

  The evaporation temperature calculation unit 80 stores the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56 corresponding to the refrigerating capacity required by the refrigerator 34 determined in relation to the amount of heat generated by the room heater 26 in accordance with the power frequency of the drive motor 60. This is calculated based on the calculation formula stored in the unit 70. The calculation formula for calculating the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56 is experimentally obtained in advance based on, for example, the amount of heat generated by the chamber heater 26 or the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerator 34.

  The room temperature control unit 82 supplies power by controlling the operation of a power supply circuit (not shown) to the room heater 26, while the temperature of the test chamber 12 detected by the room temperature sensor 40 and the test condition setting unit 68. By the room heater 26 by controlling the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerator 34 in accordance with the comparison result with the temperature set in step S3 and the comparison result between the heating amount of the room heater 26 and a predetermined specified value. The temperature of the test chamber 12 is set to the temperature set by the test condition setting unit 68 by balancing the heating operation and the cooling operation by the refrigerator 34.

  That is, as is apparent from the characteristic curve shown in FIG. 2, when the evaporator 34 is set so that the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56 (FIG. 1) becomes high, the refrigerating capacity increases and the evaporator 56 evaporates. When the temperature is set to be low, the refrigerating capacity decreases. In this case, the higher the power supply frequency of the drive motor 60 of the compressor 50, the larger the increase rate of the refrigerating capacity with respect to the unit change of the evaporation temperature, and the lower the power supply frequency of the drive motor 60 of the compressor 50, the more the unit temperature change. It has the characteristic that the increase rate of the refrigerating capacity becomes small.

  For this reason, the actuator of the electronic expansion valve 54 is operated to increase the opening of the valve so that the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56 is increased, or the inverter 58 is used to supply power to the drive motor 60 of the compressor 50. The refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34 can be increased by increasing the frequency. Further, by operating the actuator of the electronic expansion valve 54 to reduce the valve opening degree, the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56 is lowered or the power frequency of the drive motor 60 of the compressor 50 is driven by the inverter 58. The refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34 can be reduced by lowering the value.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, when it is necessary to reduce the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34 when performing temperature control, for example, by changing the test temperature of the test chamber 12, the power frequency of the drive motor 60 is set by the inverter 58. By lowering, the rotation speed of the drive motor 60 of the compressor 50 is lowered, and then the electronic expansion valve 54 is throttled to lower the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56.

More specifically, as schematically shown by the dotted arrow in FIG. 2, the inverter 58 sets the power supply frequency to a value (preferably the lowest value) lower than the current set value within the variable range, The electronic expansion valve 54 is throttled so that the evaporation temperature at which the refrigerating capacity is required at the set frequency is obtained. The valve opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 54 is adjusted by an actuator so that the temperature detected by the evaporation temperature sensor 62 becomes an evaporation temperature that provides a required refrigeration capacity.

  Thus, when it is necessary to reduce the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerator 34, the power frequency is lowered before the operation of restricting the electronic expansion valve 54 to lower the rotational speed of the drive motor 60 of the compressor 50. Since the compressor 50 that requires a large amount of driving power is effectively reduced in function, unnecessary power consumption in the compressor 50 can be suppressed, and power saving can be effectively promoted. In other words, if the electronic expansion valve 54 is throttled prior to the operation of lowering the power supply frequency, the reduction amount of the evaporation frequency is increased and the reduction amount of the power supply frequency is reduced. As a result, the compressor 50 is effective. As a result, the function is not reduced, and effective power saving cannot be achieved. However, even if it is necessary to reduce the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34, if the degree is small, there is a case where it is only necessary to lower the power supply frequency of the drive motor 60 while keeping the electronic expansion valve 54 as it is.

  In addition, when it is necessary to increase the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34 when performing temperature control, for example, by changing the test temperature of the test chamber 12, the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56 is opened by opening the electronic expansion valve 54. After that, the number of revolutions of the drive motor 60 of the compressor 50 is increased by increasing the power supply frequency by the inverter 58.

  That is, more specifically, as schematically shown by the solid line arrow in FIG. 2, the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56 is set to a high value (preferably the highest within a variable range in the power supply frequency of the drive motor 60 currently set. The electronic expansion valve 54 is opened so as to have a high value, and the power frequency of the drive motor 60 is adjusted by the inverter 58 so as to achieve the refrigerating capacity required at the evaporation temperature set thereby. The opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 54 is adjusted by an actuator so that the temperature detected by the evaporation temperature sensor 62 becomes the above-described predetermined evaporation temperature.

  Thus, when it is necessary to increase the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerator 34, the electronic expansion valve 54 is opened prior to the operation of increasing the power supply frequency of the drive motor 60. Therefore, the compressor requires a large amount of drive power. By effectively suppressing the function increase of 50, unnecessary power consumption in the compressor 50 can be suppressed, and power saving can be effectively promoted. That is, if the power supply frequency of the drive motor 60 is increased prior to the operation of opening the electronic expansion valve 54, the increase in the power supply frequency increases and the increase in the evaporation temperature decreases, resulting in an increase in the function of the compressor 50. As a result, it cannot be effectively suppressed, and effective power saving cannot be achieved. However, even when it is necessary to increase the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerator 34, if the degree is slight, it may be sufficient to open the electronic expansion valve 54 and raise the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56.

  The power supply frequency of the drive motor 60 set by the inverter 58 and the valve opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 54 adjusted by the actuator are stored in the storage unit 70, and these values are updated each time they are set. Will be.

  The refrigerator discriminating unit 84 is for discriminating the current refrigerating operation state of the refrigerator 34, and the current power frequency level of the drive motor 60 set by the inverter 58 and the electronic type adjusted by the actuator. This is executed by reading the current valve opening level of the expansion valve 54 from the storage unit 70. By obtaining this discrimination result, the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34 can be continuously controlled.

  The room humidity calculating unit 86 is based on the calculation formula stored in the storage unit 70 and based on the temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 40 and the temperature detected by the room humidity sensor 42 (relative to the humidity of the test chamber 12). Humidity). The room humidity calculation unit 86 may obtain the humidity by reading from a table stored in the storage unit 70 or the like instead of obtaining the humidity based on the calculation formula.

  The room humidity determination unit 88 calculates the humidity of the test chamber 12 obtained based on the temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 40 and the temperature detected by the room humidity sensor 42 and the humidity set by the test condition setting unit 68. By comparing, it is determined whether or not the humidity of the test chamber 12 is the set humidity.

  The room humidity control unit 90 controls the electric power supplied to the water heater 32 in accordance with the determination result in the room humidity determination unit 88 to adjust the evaporation amount of the humidified water 28 so that the test chamber 12 performs the test. The humidity set by the condition setting unit 68 is set. For example, the higher the set humidity is, the larger the electric power supplied to the water heater 32 is to increase the amount of evaporation of the humidified water 28 per unit time.

  The environmental test apparatus 10 configured as described above has a test temperature, a test humidity, a test time, and the like set by the test condition setting unit 68, and a start button (not shown) is turned on. Each of the heater 32, the refrigerator 34, and the blower 36 is operated at a predetermined timing. Then, the test temperature of the test chamber 12 is adjusted to the set temperature in the test condition setting unit 68 by the operation of the room temperature determination unit 76 and the room temperature control unit 82, and the room humidity calculation unit 86 and the room humidity determination unit 88. The test humidity in the test chamber 12 is adjusted to the set humidity in the test condition setting unit 68 by the operation of the room humidity control unit 90 and the like, and a predetermined environmental test is performed on the sample S, while being counted by the timer 72. When the test time reaches the set time in the test condition setting unit 68, the environmental test is terminated.

  3 and 4 are flowcharts for schematically explaining an example of the temperature control operation in the test chamber 12 when the environmental test is performed by the environmental test apparatus 10. FIG. 3 is an example of operation when it is necessary to reduce the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34 due to a change in setting of the test temperature, and FIG. 4 shows an operation of the refrigerator when the setting of the test temperature is changed. This is an operation example when it is necessary to increase the refrigerating capacity of 34.

  Note that FIG. 3 shows an example in which the refrigeration capacity cannot be reduced only by adjusting the power supply frequency of the drive motor 60, and thus the refrigeration capacity is reduced by adjusting the valve opening of the electronic expansion valve 54 together. FIG. 4 shows a case where the refrigeration capacity cannot be increased only by adjusting the valve opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 54, and therefore the refrigeration capacity is increased by adjusting the power frequency of the drive motor 60 together. It is an example.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when it is necessary to reduce the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34, the power supply frequency of the drive motor 60 required to reduce the refrigeration capacity under the currently set evaporation temperature. Is calculated by the power frequency calculation unit 78 (step S1). In this example, since the required refrigeration capacity cannot be obtained only by adjusting the power supply frequency of the drive motor 60, the lowest value of the preset variable range is calculated. Although different from this example, since the degree to which the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerator 34 can be reduced is small, if the refrigerating capacity can be reduced only by lowering the power frequency, the power frequency required for that is calculated. Will be.

  Next, the inverter 58 is controlled by the room temperature control unit 82 so that the power supply frequency calculated by the power supply frequency calculation unit 78 is obtained (step S3). The control of the inverter 58 is executed based on the power supply frequency currently set from the storage unit 70 by the refrigerator discrimination unit 84 and the read power supply frequency. Thus, the drive motor 60 is rotationally driven at the lowest power frequency of the variable range set by the inverter 58, and the compressor 50 is operated by the rotational drive of the drive motor 60.

  Next, the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56 for obtaining a necessary refrigerating capacity under the power frequency calculated by the power frequency calculation unit 78 is calculated by the evaporation temperature calculation unit 80 (step S5), and then the room temperature control is performed. When the actuator is controlled by the unit 82, the electronic expansion valve 54 is throttled and set to the evaporation temperature calculated by the evaporation temperature calculation unit 80 (step S7). The valve opening of the electronic expansion valve 54 is adjusted based on the read valve opening by reading the valve opening currently set from the storage unit 70 by the refrigerator discriminating unit 84.

  Next, whether or not the test chamber 12 has reached the set temperature in the test condition setting unit 68 is determined by the chamber temperature determination unit 76 (step S9). If the determination in step S9 is affirmed, the series of temperature control operations in the case where the test temperature is changed or the like ends. If the determination in step S9 is negative, the process waits until the determination is positive.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when it is necessary to increase the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34, an evaporator necessary to increase the refrigeration capacity under the power supply frequency of the drive motor 60 that is currently set. The evaporation temperature 56 is calculated by the evaporation temperature calculator 80 (step S11). In this example, since the required refrigerating capacity cannot be obtained only by adjusting the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56, the highest value of the preset variable range is calculated. Note that, unlike this example, if the degree of increase in the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerator 34 is only small, it is only necessary to increase the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56, so that the evaporation temperature necessary for it is calculated. become.

  Next, the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 54 is controlled by the room temperature control unit 82 so as to be the evaporation temperature calculated by the evaporation temperature calculation unit 80 (step S13). The control of the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 54 is executed based on the valve opening degree currently set from the storage unit 70 read by the refrigerator discriminating unit 84 and based on the read valve opening degree. The Thereby, the evaporator 56 is adjusted and operated by the electronic expansion valve 54 so that the temperature detected by the evaporation temperature sensor 62 becomes the highest evaporation temperature in the variable range.

  Next, the power supply frequency of the drive motor 60 for obtaining the necessary refrigerating capacity under the evaporation temperature calculated by the evaporation temperature calculation unit 80 is calculated by the power supply frequency calculation unit 78 (step S15), and then the room temperature control is performed. The inverter 58 is controlled by the unit 82, calculated by the power supply frequency calculation unit 78, and set to the power supply frequency (step S17). The control of the inverter 58 is executed based on the power supply frequency currently set from the storage unit 70 by the refrigerator discrimination unit 84 and the read power supply frequency.

  Next, whether or not the test chamber 12 has reached the set temperature in the test condition setting unit 68 is determined by the chamber temperature determination unit 76 (step S19). If the determination in step S19 is affirmative, a series of temperature control operations in the case where the test temperature is changed or the like ends. If the determination in step S19 is negative, the process waits until the determination is affirmed.

  Here, even if the temperature control operation shown in the flow charts of FIGS. 3 and 4 is completed, the temperature of the test chamber 12 can be changed between the ambient temperature and the heat generation of the blower 36 until the environmental test is completed. Although it varies depending on various factors, the amount of electric power supplied to the chamber heater 26 is controlled so as to maintain a predetermined set temperature corresponding to the variation. In this case, the room temperature control unit 82 reduces the amount of electric power supplied to the room heater 26 as much as possible, and reduces the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34 as much as possible. The test chamber 12 is controlled so as to have a predetermined set temperature by balancing with the cooling operation by 34, thereby saving power.

  As described above, in controlling the heating operation by the chamber heater 26 and the cooling operation by the refrigerator 34, the amount of electric power supplied to the chamber heater 26 is predetermined according to the set temperature of the test chamber 12. When it is larger than the value, the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34 is reduced, and thereby the amount of electric power supplied to the room heater 26 is reduced to be controlled to a specified value. Also in this case, the control operation similar to the temperature control operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 is executed.

  In controlling the heating operation by the chamber heater 26 and the cooling operation by the refrigerator 34, the amount of electric power supplied to the chamber heater 26 is determined from a predetermined value corresponding to the set temperature of the test chamber 12. If it is smaller, the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34 is increased, and thereby the amount of electric power supplied to the chamber heater 26 is increased to be controlled to a specified value. In addition, a control operation similar to the temperature control operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is executed.

  Whether the amount of electric power supplied to the chamber heater 26 is larger than a predetermined value corresponding to the set temperature of the test chamber 12 and whether it is smaller than a predetermined value. The determination of whether or not is performed by the room temperature determination unit 76.

  As described above, according to the operation control method of the refrigerator and the environment test apparatus 10 in the environmental test apparatus according to the present invention, when the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34 is reduced when the temperature control of the test chamber 12 is performed, the inverter 58 Thus, the rotation frequency of the drive motor 60 of the compressor 50 is lowered by lowering the power frequency, and then the electronic expansion valve 54 is throttled to lower the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56. As a result, the compressor 50 that requires a large amount of driving power is effectively reduced in function by setting the power supply frequency to be low. As a result, unnecessary power consumption in the compressor 50 can be suppressed and power saving can be achieved. Can be effectively promoted.

  Further, when increasing the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34 when performing temperature control of the test chamber 12, the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56 is increased by opening the electronic expansion valve 54, and then the power frequency is increased by the inverter 58. By doing so, the rotational speed of the drive motor 60 of the compressor 50 is increased. For this reason, as the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56 is set high, an increase in the function of the compressor 50 that requires a large amount of driving power is effectively suppressed. As a result, unnecessary power consumption in the compressor 50 is suppressed. This can effectively promote power saving.

  The refrigerator operation control method and the environmental test apparatus 10 in the environmental test apparatus according to the present invention are configured as in the above embodiment, but are not limited to those in this embodiment. For example, various modifications as described below can be adopted as necessary.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the environmental test apparatus 10 is configured to be able to control the humidity of the test chamber 12, but is not limited thereto. For example, it is possible to remove the evaporating / humidifying pan 30, the water heater 32, etc. and perform only temperature control.

  (2) In the above embodiment, when controlling the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerator 34, the current power supply frequency level of the drive motor 60 and the current valve opening level of the electronic expansion valve 54 are read from the storage unit 70, Although the electronic expansion valve 54 and the inverter 58 are controlled based on the read value, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the electronic expansion valve 54 and the inverter 58 can be directly controlled based on the values calculated by the power supply frequency calculation unit 78 and the evaporation temperature calculation unit 80 without being based on the values read from the storage unit 70.

  (3) In the above embodiment, in the example shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3 for explaining the temperature control operation when the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34 needs to be reduced, it is necessary only by adjusting the power supply frequency of the drive motor 60. Therefore, the lowest value of the preset variable range is calculated, and the inverter 58 is controlled so that the calculated power supply frequency is obtained. It is not limited.

  For example, even if the required refrigeration capacity cannot be obtained only by adjusting the power supply frequency of the drive motor 60, it is not the lowest value of the variable range, but only a predetermined value set in advance from the currently set value. The inverter 58 may be controlled so that a low value is calculated and the calculated power supply frequency is reached.

  Even in this case, since the rotation speed of the drive motor 60 of the compressor 50 is lowered before the operation of lowering the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56, the compressor 50 requiring a large drive power is effective. Therefore, unnecessary power consumption in the compressor 50 can be suppressed, and power saving can be effectively promoted.

  (4) In the above embodiment, in the example shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 for explaining the temperature control operation when the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator 34 needs to be increased, it is necessary only by adjusting the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56. Therefore, the highest value of the preset variable range is calculated, and the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 54 is controlled so as to be the calculated evaporation temperature. However, it is not limited to this.

  For example, even if the required refrigeration capacity cannot be obtained only by adjusting the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56, it is not the highest value in the variable range, but only a predetermined value set in advance from the currently set value. A high value may be calculated, and the valve opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 54 may be controlled so that the calculated evaporation temperature is obtained.

  Even in this case, since the evaporation temperature of the evaporator 56 is raised prior to the operation of increasing the rotational speed of the drive motor 60 of the compressor 50, the function of the compressor 50 requiring a large drive power is improved. By being suppressed effectively, unnecessary power consumption in the compressor 50 can be suppressed, and power saving can be effectively promoted.

  (5) In the above-described embodiment, the air conditioning chamber 14 that can ventilate the test chamber 12 is provided. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to remove the partition wall 18 that divides the test chamber 12 and the air-conditioning chamber 14 to make the test chamber 12 as a whole. In this case, the chamber heater 26, the evaporative humidifying tray 30, the blower 36 and the evaporator 56 may be disposed in the test chamber 12.

  (6) In the above embodiment, the test chamber 12 is filled with air (gas), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the test chamber 12 can be filled with an inert gas (gas) such as nitrogen. In this case, the temperature and humidity of the test chamber 12 can be made uniform by circulating the inert gas.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Environmental test apparatus 12 Test room 14 Air-conditioning room 34 Refrigerator 50 Compressor 52 Condenser 54 Electronic expansion valve 56 Evaporator 58 Inverter 60 Drive motor 76 Room temperature discrimination | determination part (temperature discrimination | determination part)
82 Room temperature controller (temperature controller)

Claims (6)

A refrigerating machine is provided that cools the test chamber by circulating a refrigerant through a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an electronic expansion valve, and an evaporator to perform a refrigeration cycle, and the compressor rotates the drive motor with an inverter. Is an operation control method of a refrigerator in an environmental test apparatus in which the evaporator is set to a predetermined evaporation temperature by adjusting the opening of the electronic expansion valve,
When reducing the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator when performing temperature control of the test chamber, the drive motor according to the refrigeration capacity required by the refrigerator after the decrease while maintaining the opening of the electronic expansion valve Reducing the number of revolutions of the drive motor of the compressor by lowering the power frequency to the determined power frequency by the inverter;
Wherein when reducing the rotational speed steps odor Te was lower down is to the lowest power frequency of the variable range that is pre-Me set the evaporation of the evaporator to obtain a refrigeration capacity required under the power frequency It determined the temperature, the evaporator of Engineering and as you as low evaporation temperature determined the evaporation temperature, the operation control method of the refrigerator in environmental testing equipment, characterized in that it comprises a by squeezing the electronic expansion valve . When increasing the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator when performing temperature control of the test chamber, the evaporation temperature of the evaporator according to the refrigeration capacity required by the chiller after the increase is obtained while maintaining the power frequency. Increasing the evaporation temperature of the evaporator to the determined evaporation temperature by opening the electronic expansion valve;
Highest when the evaporation temperature and so as to the electronic expansion valve is opened, the refrigerating capacity required under the evaporation temperature of the variable range that is pre-Me set Te step smell to increase the evaporation temperature obtaining the power frequency of the drive motor to obtain, characterized in that it comprises, and more engineering to raise the rotational speed of the drive motor of the compressor by increasing until the power frequency power frequency was determined the by the inverter The operation control method of the refrigerator in the environmental test apparatus of Claim 1. A refrigerating machine is provided that cools the test chamber by circulating a refrigerant through a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an electronic expansion valve, and an evaporator to perform a refrigeration cycle, and the compressor rotates the drive motor with an inverter. Is an operation control method of a refrigerator in an environmental test apparatus in which the evaporator is set to a predetermined evaporation temperature by adjusting the opening of the electronic expansion valve,
When increasing the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator when performing the temperature control of the test chamber, the evaporation of the evaporator according to the refrigeration capacity required by the refrigerator after the increase while maintaining the power supply frequency of the drive motor. Determining the temperature and increasing the evaporation temperature of the evaporator to the determined evaporation temperature by opening the electronic expansion valve;
Highest when the evaporation temperature and so as to the electronic expansion valve is opened, the refrigerating capacity required under the evaporation temperature of the variable range that is pre-Me set Te step smell to increase the evaporation temperature obtaining the power frequency of the drive motor to obtain, characterized in that it comprises, and more engineering to raise the rotational speed of the drive motor of the compressor by increasing until the power frequency power frequency was determined the by the inverter The operation control method of the refrigerator in the environmental test apparatus. A refrigerating machine is provided that cools the test chamber by circulating a refrigerant through a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an electronic expansion valve, and an evaporator to perform a refrigeration cycle, and the compressor rotates the drive motor with an inverter. Is an environmental test apparatus that sets the evaporator to a predetermined evaporation temperature by adjusting the opening of the electronic expansion valve,
An evaporation temperature sensor for measuring the evaporation temperature of the evaporator;
A temperature discriminating unit for discriminating whether it is necessary to decrease or increase the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerator in performing the temperature control of the test chamber;
A temperature control unit for controlling the electronic expansion valve and the drive motor;
When it is determined by the temperature determination unit that the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator needs to be reduced, the temperature control unit needs a refrigerator after the reduction while maintaining the opening of the electronic expansion valve. Obtaining a power frequency of the drive motor according to the refrigerating capacity to be performed, and lowering the power frequency to the determined power frequency by the inverter to reduce the rotational speed of the compressor drive motor , lowered when the lowest power frequency or power supply frequency of the drive motor of the variable range that is previously set is lowered in the step, of the evaporator to obtain a refrigeration capacity required under the power frequency An evaporation temperature is obtained, and the evaporation temperature of the evaporator is obtained by narrowing the electronic expansion valve based on the evaporation temperature measured by the evaporation temperature sensor. Environmental testing apparatus according to claim in that to that control is carried out low. When the temperature control unit determines that the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator needs to be increased by the temperature determination unit, the temperature control unit responds to the refrigeration capacity required by the chiller after the increase while maintaining the power supply frequency. The step of obtaining the evaporation temperature of the evaporator and raising the evaporation temperature of the evaporator to the obtained evaporation temperature by opening the electronic expansion valve based on the evaporation temperature measured by the evaporation temperature sensor is performed. , when opening the opening of the electronic expansion valve such that the highest I蒸 onset temperature variable range that is preset in the step of increasing the evaporation temperature is necessary under the evaporation temperature The power supply frequency of the drive motor for obtaining the refrigerating capacity is obtained, and the rotation speed of the drive motor of the compressor is increased by increasing the power supply frequency to the obtained power supply frequency by the inverter. Environmental testing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the performing control that. A refrigerating machine is provided that cools the test chamber by circulating a refrigerant through a refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a condenser, an electronic expansion valve, and an evaporator to perform a refrigeration cycle, and the compressor rotates the drive motor with an inverter. Is an environmental test apparatus that sets the evaporator to a predetermined evaporation temperature by adjusting the opening of the electronic expansion valve,
An evaporation temperature sensor for measuring the evaporation temperature of the evaporator;
A temperature discriminating unit for discriminating whether it is necessary to decrease or increase the refrigerating capacity of the refrigerator in performing the temperature control of the test chamber;
A temperature control unit for controlling the electronic expansion valve and the drive motor;
When the temperature control unit determines that the refrigeration capacity of the refrigerator needs to be increased by the temperature determination unit, the refrigeration required by the refrigerator after the increase is maintained while maintaining the power supply frequency of the drive motor. The evaporation temperature of the evaporator according to the capacity is obtained, and the evaporation temperature of the evaporator is increased to the obtained evaporation temperature by opening the electronic expansion valve based on the evaporation temperature measured by the evaporation temperature sensor. perform step, when opening the opening of the electronic expansion valve such that the highest I蒸 onset temperature variable range that is preset in the step of increasing the evaporation temperature, under the evaporation temperature The drive motor of the compressor is obtained by obtaining a power supply frequency of the drive motor for obtaining a necessary refrigeration capacity and increasing the power supply frequency to the obtained power supply frequency by the inverter. Environmental testing apparatus and performs control for increasing the rotational speed.

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