JP6745487B2 - Method for displaying the state of the cool storage device and the cool storage body - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a cold storage device and a method of displaying a state of a cold storage body.

Conventionally, a cold roll box provided with a cold storage device is known. In the cold roll box, for example, articles such as foods are stored in the cold roll box and are loaded and transported on the bed of the delivery vehicle.

Patent Document 1 describes a cold roll box including a cold storage device including a cold storage solvent, a storage unit, a temperature detection unit, a cool storage amount calculation unit, and a display unit. In the cold storage solvent, the additive concentration is adjusted so as to have a predetermined temperature gradient characteristic between the freezing start temperature and the freezing end temperature. The freezing start temperature of the cold storage solvent is, for example, approximately −7° C., and the freezing end temperature of the cold storage solvent is approximately −22° C. The storage unit stores data relating to the temperature gradient characteristic. The temperature detection unit detects the temperature of the cold storage solvent. The cool storage amount calculation unit obtains the cool storage amount based on the detected temperature obtained from the temperature detection unit and the data relating to the temperature gradient characteristic obtained from the storage unit. The display unit displays the cool storage amount calculated by the cool storage amount calculation unit.

JP, 7-318215, A

In some cases, the cool storage device described in Patent Document 1 may not be able to appropriately obtain the cool storage amount. Therefore, the present disclosure provides a cool storage device that can more reliably and appropriately determine the state of the cool storage body.

Means for solving the problem

This disclosure is
A plurality of boxes that are arranged in the first direction in the cool storage chamber and each store a cool storage body;
Along the second direction intersecting with the first direction in a plane parallel to the bottom surface of the cool storage chamber in which the plurality of boxes are arranged, the storage chamber being partitioned so as to be able to communicate with the cool storage chamber. A blower for causing a flow of air passing through the space defined between the boxes in the second direction to circulate the air cooled by the regenerator,
The surface temperature of at least one of the boxes, the surface temperature of the regenerator stored in at least one of the boxes, or the internal temperature of the regenerator of at least one of the boxes is defined as A temperature sensor that detects at a plurality of positions in the direction 2;
Information indicating the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is input, and at the plurality of positions, the surface temperature of the box body, the surface temperature of the regenerator, or the information indicating the temperature inside the regenerator is used. A display information generator that generates state information indicating the state of the regenerator,
E Bei and a display unit that displays the status information,
The display information generator, in the plurality of positions, the surface temperature of the box body, the surface temperature of the regenerator, or the spatial temperature distribution of the regenerator based on information indicating the temperature inside the regenerator. Estimate, based on the proportion of the portion that exceeds a predetermined threshold value in the entire temperature distribution, to calculate the cold storage residual amount that is the state information,
Provide a cool storage device.

The above-mentioned regenerator can more reliably and properly determine the state of the regenerator.

The block diagram which shows typically the cool storage device which concerns on 1st Embodiment. Perspective view illustrating the flow of air in the cool storage chamber The block diagram which shows typically a part of cool storage apparatus which concerns on embodiment. Sectional drawing of the box along the IV-IV line of FIG. Flow chart showing the operation of the cool storage device The graph which shows an example of the detection result by the temperature sensor of the cool storage apparatus which concerns on embodiment. The block diagram which shows typically a part of cool storage apparatus which concerns on a modification. The block diagram which shows a part of cool storage apparatus which concerns on another modification. The block diagram which shows a part of cool storage apparatus which concerns on another modification. The graph which shows typically an example of the detection result by the temperature sensor of the cool storage apparatus of FIG. 8A. The graph which shows typically an example of the detection result by the temperature sensor of the cool storage apparatus of FIG. 8B. Sectional drawing of the box of the cool storage device which concerns on another modification. Sectional drawing of the box of the cool storage device which concerns on another modification. The block diagram which shows typically the cool storage apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. Sectional drawing of the box in the cool storage apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. The graph which shows typically an example of the detection result by the temperature sensor of the cool storage apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

The regenerator described in the cited document 1 is not devised in consideration of the possibility that the temperature of the regenerator solvent spatially varies. For this reason, the cool storage device described in the cited document 1 may not be able to appropriately obtain the cool storage amount when the temperature of the cool storage solvent varies spatially. Further, in the cold storage device described in the cited document 1, for example, a cold storage solvent having a freezing start temperature of approximately −7° C. and a freezing end temperature Te of approximately −22° C. is used, and the freezing start temperature Ts and the freezing end temperature are used. The absolute value of the difference from Te reaches approximately 15°C. Therefore, according to the cool storage device described in the cited document 1, it is easy to obtain the cool storage amount by using the temperature gradient characteristic between the freezing start temperature and the freezing end temperature. However, in the cool storage device described in the cited document 1, it becomes difficult to appropriately obtain the cool storage amount when the absolute value of the difference between the freezing start temperature and the freezing end temperature becomes small.

1st aspect of this indication is arrange|positioned at the storage room which is arranged in the 1st direction in a cold storage room, and the several box body which each stores a cold storage body, and the storage room which is partitioned so that communication with the said cold storage room is possible, In the plane parallel to the bottom surface of the cold storage chamber in which the plurality of boxes are arranged, the space defined between the boxes along the second direction intersecting with the first direction is defined by the second space. A blower for causing a flow of air passing in a direction to circulate the air cooled by the regenerator, the surface temperature of at least one of the boxes, and the regenerator housed in at least one of the boxes. Surface temperature or temperature sensor for detecting the temperature inside the regenerator stored in at least one of the boxes at a plurality of positions in the second direction, and information indicating the temperature detected by the temperature sensor Is input and the state information indicating the state of the regenerator is generated based on information indicating the surface temperature of the box body, the surface temperature of the regenerator, or the temperature inside the regenerator at the plurality of positions. Provided is a cool storage device including a display information generator and a display unit that displays the status information.

According to the first aspect, the display information generator is the state information indicating the state of the regenerator based on the information indicating the surface temperature of the box body, the surface temperature of the regenerator, or the temperature inside the regenerator at a plurality of positions. To generate. Therefore, even if there is a possibility that the temperature of the regenerator will vary spatially, the state of the regenerator can be appropriately determined. Further, according to the first aspect, the state of the regenerator can be appropriately obtained regardless of the temperature gradient characteristic between the freezing start temperature and the freezing end temperature of the regenerator material included in the regenerator. In addition, in order to secure the flow path for circulating the air, the plurality of boxes need not necessarily be arranged apart from the bottom surface of the cold storage chamber. Furthermore, since the blower is arranged in the storage chamber, the flow velocity of the air flow is unlikely to vary in the space defined between the boxes.

A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a regenerator in which, in addition to the first aspect, the plurality of boxes are in contact with the bottom surface of the regenerator. According to the second aspect, the air easily flows along the second direction in the space defined between the boxes, and the air is easily cooled efficiently by the cool storage body.

A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a cold storage device in which, in addition to the first aspect or the second aspect, the longest side in each of the plurality of boxes extends in a direction parallel to the second direction. To do. According to the third aspect, the melting state of the entire regenerator is likely to vary in the second direction. In addition, the period in which the air flow passes through the space defined between the boxes in the second direction is likely to be long, and the air introduced into the space defined between the boxes is reliably cooled. Cheap. In addition, since the pressure loss generated in the air flow that flows through the space defined between the boxes is relatively large, the air is likely to be uniformly guided to the plurality of spaces where the air flow occurs.

A fourth aspect of the present disclosure is, in addition to any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, the box located on the upstream side of the air flow in both ends of the box body in the second direction. When the end of the body is defined as the upstream end and the end of the box body located on the downstream side of the air flow of the both ends is defined as the downstream end, the plurality of positions are in the second direction. In the intermediate position located between the upstream end and the downstream end in, relatively densely between the upstream end and the intermediate position equidistant from the downstream end and the upstream end. Provided is a cold storage device that is distributed and is relatively sparsely distributed between the intermediate position and the downstream end. According to the fourth aspect, the state information indicating the state of the regenerator can be easily generated more accurately for the following reasons.

In order to keep the temperature of the space for accommodating articles in the cool storage device within a specific temperature range with respect to heat input from the outside of the cool storage device, a cold heat amount that cancels the heat input is circulated inside the cool storage device. Air must be received by heat exchange with the regenerator. If the regenerator has a heat transfer area sufficient to receive the amount of cold energy of the air circulating inside the regenerator, at the time when the amount of cold energy of the entire regenerator is large, the air and the regenerator are The heat exchange between the air and the regenerator is effectively performed in the vicinity of the upstream end of the box body in which the temperature difference is particularly large. Therefore, the cold heat of the regenerator near the upstream end is consumed first, and the regenerator gradually melts from the upstream end toward the intermediate position. As a result, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor tends to vary between the upstream end and the intermediate position in the second direction. When the regenerator melts from the upstream end to the vicinity of the intermediate position and the amount of cold heat that the entire regenerator has becomes small, the melting behavior of the regenerator between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end is It differs from the melting behavior of the regenerator near the upstream end when there is a large amount of cold heat. In this case, the regenerator between the intermediate position and the downstream end melts almost uniformly between the intermediate position and the downstream end.

At the time when the amount of cold heat of the entire regenerator has decreased, the regenerator between the upstream end and the intermediate position has melted. However, at least a part of the regenerator between the upstream end and the intermediate position has a sufficient amount of cold heat to cool the air flowing into the space defined between the boxes with respect to the temperature of the air. It has as sensible heat. Therefore, the air that has flowed into the space is cooled to a temperature near the melting point of the regenerator in the period in which the air flows from the upstream end toward the intermediate position. Further, the air can be cooled to a temperature equal to or lower than the melting point of the regenerator in the period of flowing between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end. At this time, since the amount of cold heat consumed by the cool storage body between the intermediate position and the downstream end is small, the melting state of the cool storage body between the intermediate position and the downstream end is unlikely to vary in the air flow direction. For this reason, the regenerator between the intermediate position and the downstream end is different from the melting behavior of the regenerator between the upstream end and the intermediate position, and is almost the same between the intermediate position and the downstream end. Thaw evenly. As a result, the melting state of the regenerator between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end does not easily fluctuate in the air flow direction, and the temperature of the regenerator between the intermediate position and the downstream end does not fluctuate in the air flow direction. For this reason, since the plurality of positions where the temperature sensor detects the temperature are relatively densely distributed between the intermediate position and the upstream end, it is easy to accurately calculate the cool storage amount of the cool storage body, and eventually the cool storage It is easy to more accurately generate the state information indicating the body state.

A fifth aspect of the present disclosure is, in addition to any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, the box located on the upstream side of the air flow in both ends of the box body in the second direction. When the end of the body is defined as the upstream end and the end of the box body located on the downstream side of the air flow of the both ends is defined as the downstream end, the plurality of positions are in the second direction. In the intermediate position located between the upstream end and the downstream end in, relatively densely between the intermediate position and the downstream end equidistant from the upstream end and the downstream end. A regenerator is provided that is distributed and relatively sparsely distributed between the intermediate position and the upstream end. According to the fifth aspect, for example, when the heat transfer area of the regenerator is relatively small, it is easier to more accurately generate the state information indicating the state of the regenerator. When the heat transfer area of the regenerator is relatively small, the regenerator between the upstream end and the intermediate position easily melts uniformly, and is detected by the temperature sensor between the upstream end and the intermediate position in the second direction. It is difficult for the temperature to vary. On the other hand, the regenerator between the intermediate position and the downstream end gradually melts from the intermediate position toward the downstream end. Therefore, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor tends to vary between the intermediate position and the downstream end in the second direction. Therefore, since the plurality of positions where the temperature sensor detects the temperature are relatively densely distributed between the intermediate position and the downstream end, the cool storage amount of the cool storage body can be easily calculated with high accuracy, and as a result, the cool storage It is easy to more accurately generate the state information indicating the body state.

In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, in addition to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the at least one box body accommodates a plurality of the regenerators arranged in the second direction. To provide a cold storage device. According to the sixth aspect, the heat of another cool storage body adjacent to the particular cool storage body is less likely to be transmitted to the particular cool storage body of the plurality of cool storage bodies. Therefore, it is easy to properly obtain the state of the cool storage body.

According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, in addition to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the temperature sensor is housed in at least one surface temperature of the box or in at least one box. Provided is a cool storage device that detects a surface temperature of the cool storage body. According to the seventh aspect, since it is not necessary to install the temperature sensor inside the regenerator, leakage of the regenerator material due to defective sealing in the regenerator is unlikely to occur. Further, even when the regenerator needs to be replaced, the temperature sensor installation work can be simplified or the temperature sensor installation work can be omitted.

An eighth aspect of the present disclosure provides a regenerator in which, in addition to the seventh aspect, the temperature sensor is installed on the surface of the regenerator or the surface of the box. According to the seventh aspect, the surface temperature of the regenerator or the surface temperature of the box can be detected more reliably.

In an example of the eighth aspect of the present disclosure (aspect 8A), in addition to the eighth aspect, the temperature sensor includes a plurality of temperature sensors, and the flow of the air in both ends of the box body in the second direction. The end of the box body located on the upstream side of is defined as the upstream end, and the end of the box body located on the downstream side of the air flow of the both ends is defined as the downstream end, and the plurality of temperature sensors are A middle position between the upstream end and the downstream end in the second direction, the intermediate position being equidistant from the upstream end and the downstream end, and the upstream end. Is relatively densely installed, and is relatively sparsely installed between the intermediate position and the downstream end,
Provide a cool storage device.

According to the aspect 8A, the state information indicating the state of the cool storage body can be more easily generated more accurately for the same reason as in the third aspect.

Another example of the eighth aspect of the present disclosure (aspect 8B) is, in addition to the aspect 8A,
The longest side in each of the plurality of boxes extends in a direction parallel to the second direction, and the temperature sensor includes a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a third temperature sensor, When the length of the longest side of the box is further defined as L, the first temperature sensor is installed at a position separated from the upstream end toward the downstream end by more than L/2. And the second temperature sensor is installed at a position less than L/2 away from the upstream end toward the downstream end, and the third temperature sensor is installed at the upstream end and the upstream end in the second direction. Provided is a cool storage device installed between the second temperature sensor.

According to Aspect 8B, the air guided to the space defined between the boxes can be efficiently cooled, and the state information indicating the state of the regenerator can be generated more accurately.

Yet another example of the eighth aspect of the present disclosure (aspect 8C) is, in addition to the aspect 8B, the temperature sensor further includes a fourth temperature sensor, and the fourth temperature sensor is the upstream side in the second direction. Provided is a cool storage device installed between an end and the third temperature sensor. According to Aspect 8C, it is easier to more accurately generate the state information indicating the state of the cool storage body.

In a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, in addition to any one of the first aspect to the eighth aspect, the state information includes a remaining amount of cold storage, a coolable time, and the regenerator included in the regenerator. Provided is a regenerator, which is at least one of the times required for a predetermined amount of the regenerator to solidify. According to the tenth aspect, it is possible to inform the user of at least one of the remaining amount of cold storage, the coolable time, and the time required for a predetermined amount of the cold storage bodies to solidify among the cold storage bodies included in the cold storage device. Therefore, it is highly convenient for the user.

In a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, in addition to one aspect of any one of the first aspect to the ninth aspect, the display information generator is configured such that the surface temperature of the box body and the cool storage body at the plurality of positions. Surface temperature, or to estimate the spatial temperature distribution of the regenerator based on the information indicating the temperature inside the regenerator, based on the proportion of the part of the temperature distribution that exceeds a predetermined threshold value A cool storage device for calculating the cool storage remaining amount, which is the state information, is provided. According to the eleventh aspect, an appropriate remaining amount of cold storage can be calculated relatively easily after estimating the spatial temperature distribution of the cold storage body.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, in addition to any one of the first to tenth aspects, an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve are annularly connected in this order using piping. The evaporator further includes a refrigerating cycle, and the evaporator provides a regenerator in contact with at least a part of a surface of the box body. According to the twelfth aspect, since the evaporator is in contact with at least a part of the surface of the box, the space defined between the boxes can be efficiently cooled while efficiently cooling the regenerator inside the box. It can cool the passing air.

A twelfth aspect of the present disclosure is a method of displaying information indicating a state of a regenerator, wherein a plurality of boxes in which regenerators are housed are arranged in a regenerator in a first direction by using a blower. The flow of air passing through the space defined between the boxes along the second direction intersecting the first direction in the plane parallel to the bottom surface of the stored cold storage chamber in the second direction. Generated and circulate the air cooled by the regenerator, using a temperature sensor, the surface temperature of at least one of the boxes, the surface temperature of the regenerator housed in at least one of the boxes, or The temperature inside the regenerator housed in at least one of the boxes is detected at a plurality of positions in the second direction, and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is indicated using a display information generator. Acquiring information, and generating the state information indicating the state of the regenerator on the basis of information indicating the surface temperature of the box body, the surface temperature of the regenerator, or the temperature inside the regenerator at the plurality of positions. Then, a method of displaying the status information on the display unit is provided.

According to the twelfth aspect, the same effect as that of the first aspect can be obtained.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The following description relates to an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this. In the attached drawings, the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction indicate the same direction. Also, the components described without reference to the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis can be arranged in appropriate positions as needed.

<First Embodiment>
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cool storage device 100 includes a plurality of boxes 11, a blower 20, a temperature sensor 12, a display information generator 30, and a display unit 40. As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of boxes 11 are arranged in the cool storage chamber 15 in the first direction (Y-axis direction). For example, the plurality of boxes 11 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the Y-axis direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the cool storage body 10 is housed in each of the plurality of box bodies 11. The arrows in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate the flow direction of air generated by the action of the blower 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the blower 20 is arranged in the storage room 50. The storage chamber 50 is partitioned so that it can communicate with the cold storage chamber 15. As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the blower 20 intersects with the first direction (Y-axis direction) in a plane (in the XY plane) parallel to the bottom surface of the cool storage chamber 15 in which the plurality of boxes 11 are arranged. An air flow is generated which passes through the space defined between the box bodies 11 in the second direction along the second direction (X-axis positive direction) in the second direction. Thereby, the blower 20 circulates the air cooled by the regenerator 10. The temperature sensor 12 is the surface temperature of at least one box 11, the surface temperature of the regenerator 10 housed in at least one box 11, or the inside of the regenerator 10 housed in at least one box 11. Detects the temperature of. As shown in FIG. 3, the temperature sensor 12 determines the temperature at a plurality of positions in the second direction (the direction of the flow of air passing through the space defined between the boxes 11: the X-axis positive direction). Detect with. Information indicating the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12 is input to the display information generator 30. The display information generator 30 includes the surface temperature of the box body 11, the surface temperature of the regenerator 10, or the inside of the regenerator 10 at a plurality of positions in the second direction (the direction of the air flow: the positive direction of the X axis). The state information indicating the state of the regenerator 10 is generated based on the information indicating the temperature. The display unit 40 displays the state information generated by the display information generator 30.

Since the display information generator 30 of the cool storage device 100 generates the state information indicating the state of the cool storage body 10 as described above, even when the temperature of the cool storage body 10 may vary spatially, The state of the regenerator 10 can be appropriately obtained. In addition, in order to secure the flow path for circulating the air, the plurality of boxes 11 do not necessarily have to be arranged apart from the bottom surface of the cold storage chamber 15. Further, since the blower 20 is arranged in the storage chamber 50, the flow velocity of the air flow is unlikely to vary in the space defined between the boxes 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of boxes 11 are in contact with the bottom surface of the cold storage chamber 15, for example. Thereby, air easily flows in the space defined between the boxes 11 along the second direction, and the air is easily cooled efficiently by the regenerator 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the regenerator 10 is defined by, for example, a regenerator material 10a sealed in a film container 10b. The cold storage body 10 can store cold heat in the form of latent heat by cooling and solidifying the liquid cold storage material 10a, for example. The cold storage material 10a is not particularly limited, but is, for example, a mixture containing sodium chloride to which sodium chloride is added at a predetermined concentration and water. The absolute value of the difference between the crystal start temperature of the cold storage material 10a and the crystal end temperature of the cold storage material 10b is not particularly limited, but is 2° C. or less, for example. The film forming the container 10b is, for example, a laminated film including an aluminum layer and two or more resin layers arranged on both sides of the aluminum layer in the thickness direction.

Since the display information generator 30 of the cold storage device 100 generates the state information indicating the state of the cold storage body 10 as described above, the difference between the crystallization start temperature of the cold storage material 10a and the crystallization end temperature of the cold storage material 10a is different. Even if it is relatively small, the state of the regenerator 10 can be properly obtained. When the difference between the crystallization start temperature of the cold storage material 10a and the crystallization end temperature of the cold storage material 10a is relatively small, for example, when the allowable range of the cold storage temperature allowed to cool the article is narrow, It can be used to advantage.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, the longest side in each of the plurality of boxes 11 extends in a direction parallel to the second direction. As a result, the entire melted state of the regenerator 10 tends to vary in the second direction. In addition, the period in which the air flow passes through the space defined between the box bodies 11 in the second direction is likely to be long, and the air guided to the space defined between the box bodies 11 is surely secured. Easily cooled. In addition, since the pressure loss generated in the flow of air flowing through the space defined between the box bodies 11 is relatively large, the air is likely to be uniformly guided to the plurality of spaces where the air flows.

Although not particularly limited, the box body 11 has, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an outer shape of a rectangular parallelepiped elongated in a second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction). The box body 11 may be formed of a plurality of components that can be combined in the Y-axis direction in consideration of ease of assembly. The material forming the box 11 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, a metal such as aluminum or an alloy. In this case, the cold heat of the regenerator 10 is easily transferred to the air flowing near the box 11.

The number of the plurality of boxes 11 arranged in the cold storage chamber 15 is not particularly limited, but is based on, for example, the amount of cold heat required for the cold storage device 100, the size of the cold storage device 10, the height of the cold storage chamber 15, and the like. Be determined appropriately. Further, the number of the plurality of boxes 11 arranged in the cool storage chamber 15 is preferably determined so that a sufficient heat exchange area between the box body 11 and the air flowing through the cool storage chamber 15 is secured. Further, the number of the plurality of box bodies 11 arranged in the cold storage chamber 15 is preferably such that the pressure loss generated in the air flow in the air flow path defined between the box bodies 11 is kept at an appropriate level. Determined to lean.

At least one box body 11 whose temperature is to be detected by the temperature sensor 12 may house a single regenerator 10, but desirably, as shown in FIG. 3, the second direction (air flow) is used. Direction: The plurality of (two in FIG. 3) regenerators 10 arranged in the X-axis direction are housed. For example, a predetermined gap is defined between the plurality of cool storage bodies 10. As described above, the container 10b of the cool storage body 10 may be formed of, for example, a film including an aluminum layer. Therefore, when the box body 11 stores a single regenerator body 10, the regenerator body 10 is located at a particular location in the second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction) near the particular location. In, the heat of the regenerator 10 is easily transferred through the container 10b. On the other hand, if the box body 11 accommodates the plurality of regenerator bodies 10 arranged in the second direction (the air flow direction: the X-axis direction), a specific regenerator body among the plurality of regenerator bodies 10 is stored. It is difficult for the heat of another cool storage body 10 adjacent to the particular cool storage body 10 to be transmitted to the heat storage unit 10. Therefore, the temperature of the specific regenerator 10 is less likely to be affected by the heat of another regenerator 10 adjacent to the particular regenerator 10, and the state of the regenerator 10 can be advantageously obtained.

The temperature sensor 12 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, a contact-type temperature sensor having a thermocouple or a thermistor or a non-contact-type temperature sensor having a thermopile. As shown in FIG. 3, the temperature sensors 12 are respectively arranged at a plurality of positions in the second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction), for example. For example, six temperature sensors 12 are arranged corresponding to three different positions in the second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction) for each of the two regenerator bodies 10 housed in the box body 11. Has been done. The six temperature sensors 12 are arranged at specific intervals in the X-axis direction, for example. When the temperature sensor 12 is a non-contact type temperature sensor having a wide measurement viewing angle or a non-contact type temperature sensor having a movable viewing angle, one temperature sensor 12 is used for the second direction (air flow direction). The temperature of the target object may be detected at a plurality of positions (in the X-axis direction). When the surface temperature of the regenerator 10 is measured using the temperature sensor 12 which is a non-contact type temperature sensor, the box 11 preferably has an opening for detecting the surface temperature of the regenerator 10. There is.

The temperature sensor 12 desirably detects the surface temperature of the at least one box 11 or the surface temperature of the cool storage body 10 housed in the at least one box 11. In this case, since it is not necessary to install the temperature sensor 12 inside the regenerator 10, leakage of the regenerator material 10a due to a seal defect in the regenerator 10 is unlikely to occur. Further, even when the regenerator 10 needs to be replaced, the installation work of the temperature sensor 12 can be simplified or the installation work of the temperature sensor 12 can be made unnecessary.

The temperature sensor 12 is installed, for example, on the surface of the regenerator 10 or the surface of the box 11. In other words, the temperature sensor 12 is in contact with the surface of the regenerator 10 or the surface of the box 11. In this case, since a gap is hardly defined between the surface of the regenerator 10 or the surface of the box 11 and the temperature sensor 12, the temperature sensor is provided between the surface of the regenerator 10 or the surface of the box 11 and the temperature sensor 12. Foreign substances that hinder the temperature detection by 12 are unlikely to exist. Therefore, the surface temperature of the regenerator 10 or the surface temperature of the box 11 can be detected more reliably. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the temperature sensor 12 is installed on the surface of the regenerator 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the temperature sensor 12 is connected to the display information generator 30 so as to be communicable by wire or wirelessly. Therefore, information indicating the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12 is input to the display information generator 30. The display information generator 30 is configured as a computer including, for example, an interface for inputting/outputting information, an arithmetic unit such as a CPU, a main storage device such as a memory, and an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk drive. The display information generator 30 generates the state information indicating the state of the regenerator 10 as described above. As shown in FIG. 3, the display information generator 30 is connected to the display unit 40 by a communication cable and outputs the state information indicating the state of the regenerator 10 to the display unit 40. The display unit 40 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The display unit 40 is arranged, for example, on the outer peripheral surface of the housing of the cold storage device 100.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the cold storage device 100 includes, for example, a cold air duct 21, a floor plate 60, and a refrigeration cycle device 70. An internal space including the cold storage chamber 15 of the cold storage device 100 is divided into a cold storage chamber 15 and a storage chamber 50 by a floor plate 60. For example, the cold storage chamber 15 is defined below the floor plate 60 (Z axis negative direction), and the storage chamber 50 is defined above the floor plate 60 (Z axis positive direction). The storage room 50 is a space for storing articles such as foods that need to be kept cold. For example, a gap is defined between a part of the end of the floor plate 60 and the wall surface that defines the storage chamber 50, and the cold storage chamber 15 and the storage chamber 50 communicate with each other through this gap.

The blower 20 is arranged inside the storage room 50, for example. The blower 20 is arranged on the side surface of the storage chamber 50 near the ceiling surface of the storage chamber 50. The cool air duct 21 connects the cool storage chamber 15 and the space behind the blower 20. When the blower 20 operates, the air inside the cold storage chamber 15 passes through the space defined between the boxes 11. At this time, the regenerator 10 cools the air. The cooled air is guided to the space behind the blower 20 through the inside of the cool air duct 21, and is blown into the storage chamber 50 by the blower 20. As a result, the articles stored in the storage room 50 are kept cool. Part of the air inside the storage chamber 50 is guided to the cold storage chamber 15 through a gap defined between a part of the end of the floor plate 60 and the wall surface defining the storage chamber 50.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cold storage device 100 further includes, for example, a refrigeration cycle device 70. The refrigeration cycle device 70 includes an evaporator 71, a compressor 72, a condenser 73, and an expansion valve 74. The evaporator 71, the compressor 72, the condenser 73, and the expansion valve 74 are annularly connected by piping so that the refrigerant passes through in this order. The evaporator 71 is arranged in the cold storage chamber 15. When the refrigeration cycle device 70 is operated, the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 71 and the air in the cold storage chamber 15 exchange heat with each other, whereby the air in the cold storage chamber 15 is cooled. The temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator 71 is lower than the crystallization end temperature of the cold storage material 10a. Therefore, the cold storage material 10a in the liquid state is solidified and cold heat is stored in the cold storage body 10. The refrigeration cycle device 70 is used to store cold heat in the regenerator 10 before keeping the article cold in the storage chamber 50. Therefore, the refrigeration cycle device 70 is normally stopped while the article is kept cold in the storage chamber 50.

The cold storage device 100 may not include the refrigeration cycle device 70. For example, a plurality of boxes 11 accommodating the regenerator 10 in a state in which cold heat is stored by another refrigerating device may be arranged in the regenerator 15. In this case, the plurality of boxes 11 can be attached to and detached from the cool storage device 100, for example.

Next, an example of the operation of the cool storage device 100 for displaying the state of the cool storage body 10 will be described. This operation is not particularly limited, but, for example, using the blower 20, a flow of air that passes through the space defined between the box bodies 11 is generated, and the air cooled by the regenerator 10 is circulated. It is carried out when there is. This operation may be performed when the refrigeration cycle device 70 is operated and cold heat is stored in the regenerator 10, even when the blower 20 is stopped. As shown in FIG. 5, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the cool storage device 100 starts an operation for displaying the state of the cool storage body 10. Here, the predetermined condition is not particularly limited, but, for example, that a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of operation of the blower 20 or the refrigeration cycle device 70, and a display of the state of the regenerator 10 is displayed on the display information generator 30. The requested information has been entered. The cool storage device 100 may periodically perform an operation for displaying the state of the cool storage body 10.

First, in step S1, the temperature sensor 12 determines the surface temperature of the box body 11, the surface temperature of the regenerator body 10, or the temperature inside the regenerator body 10 in the second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction). The position is detected. Here, the surface temperature of the box body 11 is the surface temperature of at least one box body 11. The surface temperature of the regenerator 10 is the surface temperature of the regenerator 10 housed in at least one box 11. The temperature inside the regenerator 10 is the temperature inside the regenerator 10 housed in at least one box 11.

Next, in step S2, the display information generator 30 acquires information indicating the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12. This information indicates the surface temperature of the box 11, the surface temperature of the regenerator 10, or the temperature inside the regenerator 10 at a plurality of positions in the second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction). Information is included.

Next, in step S3, the display information generator 30 causes the surface temperature of the box body 11, the surface temperature of the regenerator body 10, or the surface temperature of the cold storage body 10 at a plurality of positions in the second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction), or Based on the information indicating the temperature inside the regenerator 10, state information indicating the state of the regenerator 10 is generated. Next, in step S4, the state information generated by the display information generator 30 is output to the display unit 40, the display unit 40 displays the state information, and the series of operations ends.

The state information displayed on the display unit 40 is, for example, one of the remaining amount of cold storage, the available cold storage time, and the time required for a predetermined amount of the cold storage bodies 10 of the cold storage bodies 10 included in the cold storage apparatus 100 to solidify. is there.

The cold storage residual amount corresponds to, for example, the ratio of the capacity of the cool storage body 10 having a temperature equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value to the entire capacity of the cool storage body 10 stored in the box 11. The display information generator 30 includes, for example, the surface temperature of the box body 11, the surface temperature of the regenerator body 10, or the inside of the regenerator body 10 at a plurality of positions in the second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction). The spatial temperature distribution of the regenerator 10 is estimated based on the information indicating the temperature of. In this case, the display information generator 30 calculates the remaining cool storage amount based on the ratio of the portion of the estimated temperature distribution that exceeds the predetermined threshold value. For example, consider a case where the temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 12 at ten locations that are located at equal intervals in the second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction) on at least one box 11. Further, it is assumed that the temperatures detected by the temperature sensor 12 at each of the 10 locations represent the temperatures of the regenerator 10 having the same volume. When the blower 20 is operating, the cold heat of the regenerator 10 is consumed first from the upstream side of the air flow, so the temperature of the regenerator 10 varies from the upstream position of the air flow to the downstream of the air flow. The threshold value is sequentially exceeded to the side position. For example, if one of the 10 locations where the temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 12 exceeds the threshold value, the display information is generated from the upstream location of the air flow to the downstream location of the air flow. The container 30 reduces the remaining amount of cold storage by 10%. However, the algorithm for calculating the remaining amount of cold storage is not limited to this, based on the proportion of the portion of the estimated temperature distribution that exceeds the predetermined threshold value. The algorithm for calculating the cold storage residual amount is appropriately determined according to the number of locations where the temperature is measured by the temperature sensor 12, the position where the temperature is measured by the temperature sensor 12, and the structure of the cool storage body 10 or the box body 11. Good. The predetermined threshold value is determined based on, for example, the melting point of the cold storage material 10a. Further, when there is a difference between the crystallization start temperature of the cold storage material 10a and the crystallization end temperature of the cold storage material 10a, the predetermined threshold value is set as a temperature range having an upper limit value and a lower limit value. Good.

It is assumed that the six temperature sensors 12 shown in FIG. 3 obtain the detection results shown in FIG. The dashed-dotted line in the graph of FIG. 6 shows a predetermined threshold value, and the predetermined threshold value is defined as a specific temperature range having an upper limit value and a lower limit value. In this case, the cold storage material 10a changes from a solid to a liquid in this specific temperature range. Each plot in FIG. 6 shows the temperature detected by the six temperature sensors 12 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, among the six temperature sensors 12, the temperature detected by the two temperature sensors 12 located on the upstream side of the air flow exceeds the predetermined threshold value. Specifically, the temperature detected by the two temperature sensors 12 located on the upstream side of the air flow exceeds the upper limit value of the predetermined threshold value. On the other hand, among the six temperature sensors 12, the temperature detected by the four temperature sensors 12 located on the downstream side of the air flow is equal to or lower than the upper limit value of the predetermined threshold value. In this way, the display information generator 30 estimates the spatial temperature distribution as shown in FIG. 6 based on the information indicating the temperatures detected by the six temperature sensors 12. The display information generator 30 calculates the remaining amount of cold storage based on the proportion of the part of the estimated temperature distribution that exceeds the upper limit of the predetermined threshold value.

The cool keeping time means, for example, a time during which the air passing through the cool storage chamber 15 can be cooled to a predetermined temperature or lower by the cool storage body 10. The coolable time can be calculated based on, for example, the amount of cold heat and the remaining amount of cold storage per unit time released from the inside of the cold storage device 100 to the outside of the cold storage device 100. The amount of cold heat released from the inside of the cold storage device 100 to the outside of the cold storage device 100 is determined based on, for example, the difference between the temperature outside the cold storage device 100 and the temperature inside the internal space of the cold storage device 100. .. In this case, for example, temperature sensors (not shown) are arranged outside the housings of the storage chamber 50 and the cool storage device 100, and information indicating the temperature detected by the temperature sensors is input to the display information generator 30. .. The display information generator 30, for example, based on this information, calculates the amount of cold heat released from the inside of the cold storage device 100 to the outside of the cold storage device 100 per unit time, and then calculates the coolable time. The coolable time is, for example, when the remaining amount of cold storage is A[J] and the amount of cold heat released from the inside of the cold storage device 100 to the outside of the cold storage device 100 per unit time is B[W], A/ It is calculated as B [seconds]. In addition, the display information generator 30 may calculate the coolable time based on the time required to consume the cold heat stored in the cool storage body 10 up to a predetermined cool storage amount. For example, if the time required from the start of the operation of the blower 20 to the time when the remaining amount of cold storage of the cold storage body 10 housed in the box body 11 is half is 1 hour, the coolable time is “1 hour”. It may be calculated.

The display information generator 30, for example, when the cold storage material 10a stores cold heat in the cool storage body 10 in a liquid state by the refrigeration cycle device 70, a predetermined amount of the cool storage body 10 among the cool storage bodies 10 included in the cool storage apparatus 100 is used. The time required for solidification is calculated as the state information indicating the state of the regenerator 10. The predetermined amount of regenerator 10 may be all regenerator 10 included in regenerator 100, or may be a part of regenerator 10 included in regenerator 100. For example, the display information generator 30 can calculate the time required for the entire regenerator 10 to solidify based on the cooling capacity of the evaporator 71 and the remaining amount of regenerator. The cooling capacity of the evaporator 71 is stored in, for example, the display information generator 30. The time required until the entire regenerator 10 is solidified is, for example, the remaining amount of cold storage is C [J], and the amount of cold heat stored in the regenerator 10 when the entire regenerator 10 is solidified is D [J]. When the cooling capacity of the evaporator 71 is E [W], it is calculated as (D−C)/E [second]. Further, the display information generator 30 may calculate the time required for the entire regenerator 10 to solidify based on the time required to store cold heat in the regenerator 10 up to a predetermined remaining amount of cool. For example, if the time required from the start of the operation of the refrigeration cycle device 70 until the remaining amount of cold storage becomes half is 1 hour, the time required for the entire regenerator 10 to solidify is calculated as “1 hour”. May be.

(Modification)
The cold storage device 100 described above can be modified from various viewpoints. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, at least one box 11 that is the target of temperature detection by the temperature sensor 12 has four cool storage bodies 10 arranged in the second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction). May be stored. In this case, the temperature sensor 12 may detect the surface temperature of each regenerator 10. The number of cool storage bodies 10 stored in the box body 11 may be three, or may be five or more. When the number of the regenerators 10 stored in the box 11 is large, the number of the regenerators 10 in which the heat of the adjacent regenerators 10 is difficult to be transferred is large. As a result, the number of regenerators 10 that are not easily affected by the heat of the adjacent regenerators 10 increases, so that the state of the regenerator 10 can be obtained advantageously.

Of the both ends of the box body 11 in the second direction (X-axis direction), the end of the box body 11 located upstream of the air flow is defined as the upstream end, and both ends of the box body 11 are The end of the box 11 located on the downstream side of the flow is defined as the downstream end. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8A, the plurality of positions at which the temperature sensor 12 detects the temperature are relatively densely distributed between the intermediate position and the upstream end, and between the intermediate position and the downstream end, for example. It may be distributed relatively sparsely. Here, the intermediate position is located between the upstream end of the box body 11 and the downstream end of the box body 11 in the second direction, such as from the upstream end of the box body 11 and the downstream end of the box body 11. It is a position that is a long distance away.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the temperature sensor 12 includes a plurality of temperature sensors. The plurality of temperature sensors are installed relatively densely between the intermediate position of the box body 11 and the upstream end of the box body 11, and are relatively dense between the intermediate position of the box body 11 and the downstream end of the box body 11. It is installed sparsely.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the longest side of each of the plurality of boxes 11 extends in the direction parallel to the second direction. The temperature sensor 12 includes a first temperature sensor 12a, a second temperature sensor 12b, and a third temperature sensor 12c. The length of the longest side of the box 11 is defined as L. The first temperature sensor 12a is installed at a position away from the upstream end toward the downstream end by more than L/2. The second temperature sensor 12b is installed at a position less than L/2 away from the upstream end toward the downstream end. The third temperature sensor 12c is installed between the upstream end of the box body 11 and the second temperature sensor 12b in the second direction.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the temperature sensor 12 further includes a fourth temperature sensor 12d, and the fourth temperature sensor 12d is located between the upstream end of the box 11 and the third temperature sensor 12c in the second direction. is set up.

In order to keep the temperature of the storage chamber 50 within a specific temperature range with respect to the heat input from the outside of the cold storage device 100, the air circulating inside the cold storage device 100 is the amount of cold heat that cancels the heat input. You must receive it by exchanging heat with. When the regenerator 10 has a heat transfer area sufficient to receive the amount of cold heat of the air circulating inside the regenerator 100, when the amount of cold heat of the entire regenerator 10 is large, Heat exchange between the air and the regenerator 10 is effectively performed near the upstream end of the box body 11 where the temperature difference with the regenerator 10 is particularly large. Therefore, the cold heat of the regenerator 10 near the upstream end of the box 11 is consumed first, and the regenerator 10 gradually melts from the upstream end toward the intermediate position. As a result, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12 tends to vary between the upstream end and the intermediate position in the second direction, as shown in FIG. 9A. At the time when the regenerator 10 melts from the upstream end of the box 11 to the vicinity of the intermediate position and the amount of cold heat of the entire regenerator 10 decreases, the regenerator 10 melts between the intermediate position and the downstream end. The behavior is different from the melting behavior of the regenerator 10 near the upstream end when the amount of cold heat that the entire regenerator 10 has is large. In this case, the regenerator 10 between the intermediate position and the downstream end melts almost uniformly between the intermediate position and the downstream end.

At the time when the amount of cold heat that the entire regenerator 10 has decreased, the regenerator 10 between the upstream end of the box 11 and the intermediate position has melted. However, at least a part of the regenerator 10 between the upstream end and the intermediate position is cold enough to cool the air flowing into the space defined between the boxes 11 with respect to the temperature of the air. It has a quantity as sensible heat. Therefore, the air that has flowed into the space is cooled to a temperature near the melting point of the regenerator 10 during the period in which the air flows from the upstream end toward the vicinity of the intermediate position. Further, the air can be cooled to a temperature equal to or lower than the melting point of the regenerator 10 during a period of flowing between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end. At this time, since the amount of cold heat consumed by the regenerator 10 between the intermediate position and the downstream end is small, the melting state of the regenerator 10 between the intermediate position and the downstream end is unlikely to vary in the air flow direction. .. For such a reason, the regenerator 10 between the intermediate position and the downstream end is different from the melting behavior of the regenerator 10 between the upstream end and the intermediate position, and is different between the intermediate position and the downstream end. Melts almost uniformly at. As a result, the melted state of the regenerator 10 between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end is unlikely to vary in the air flow direction, and the temperature of the regenerator 10 between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end varies in the air flow direction. Hateful. Therefore, since the plurality of positions where the temperature sensor 12 detects the temperature are relatively densely distributed between the intermediate position and the upstream end, it is easy to accurately calculate the cool storage amount of the cool storage body 10, As a result, the state information indicating the state of the regenerator 10 can be generated more accurately.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the locations where the temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 12 are relatively densely distributed on the upstream side of the air flow and relatively sparsely distributed on the downstream side of the air flow. Good. For example, the temperature sensor 12 is in the second direction (air flow direction: X) with respect to the cool storage body 10 located on the upstream side of the air flow of the two cool storage bodies 10 housed in the box body 11. The surface temperature of the regenerator 10 is detected at four locations located at predetermined intervals in the axial direction). On the other hand, the temperature sensor 12 is in the second direction (air flow direction: X) with respect to the cool storage body 10 located on the downstream side of the air flow, of the two cool storage bodies 10 housed in the box 11. The surface temperature of the regenerator 10 is detected at two locations located at predetermined intervals in the axial direction. In this case, the six temperature sensors 12 can obtain a detection result as shown in FIG. 9A, for example. Each plot in FIG. 9A shows the temperatures detected by the six temperature sensors 12 shown in FIG. 8A. Thus, when the blower 20 is operating, the surface temperature of the regenerator 10 is detected at more points on the upstream side of the air flow where the temperature of the regenerator 10 exceeds the predetermined threshold value earlier. To be done. This makes it possible to improve the accuracy of detecting the remaining amount of cold storage in the initial stage when the temperature of the cold storage body 10 starts to exceed the predetermined threshold value.

Of the both ends of the box body 11 in the second direction (X-axis direction), the end of the box body 11 located upstream of the air flow is defined as the upstream end, and both ends of the box body 11 are The end of the box 11 located on the downstream side of the flow is defined as the downstream end. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8B, the plurality of positions at which the temperature sensor 12 detects the temperature are relatively densely distributed between the intermediate position and the downstream end, and between the intermediate position and the upstream end, for example. It may be distributed relatively sparsely. Here, the intermediate position is located between the upstream end of the box body 11 and the downstream end of the box body 11 in the second direction, such as from the upstream end of the box body 11 and the downstream end of the box body 11. It is a position that is a distance away.

When the heat transfer area of the regenerator 10 is relatively small, the regenerator 10 between the upstream end and the intermediate position is likely to be uniformly melted, and the temperature sensor is provided between the upstream end and the intermediate position in the second direction. The temperature detected by 12 is unlikely to vary. On the other hand, the regenerator 10 between the intermediate position and the downstream end gradually melts from the intermediate position toward the downstream end. Therefore, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12 easily varies between the intermediate position and the downstream end in the second direction, as shown in FIG. 9B. Therefore, since the plurality of positions where the temperature sensor 12 detects the temperature are relatively densely distributed between the intermediate position and the downstream end, it is easy to accurately calculate the cool storage amount of the cool storage body 10, As a result, the state information indicating the state of the regenerator 10 can be generated more accurately.

The locations where the temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 12 may be relatively sparsely distributed on the upstream side of the air flow and relatively densely distributed on the downstream side of the air flow. In this case, the accuracy of detecting the remaining amount of cold storage can be improved when the temperature of the cold storage body 10 exceeds a predetermined threshold value at many places. Moreover, the locations where the temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 12 may be distributed relatively sparsely in a specific area of the box 11 as compared with other areas.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the temperature sensor 12 may be arranged on the surface of the box body 11. When the temperature sensor 12 is arranged on the surface of the box body 11, the distance between the inner peripheral surface of the box body 11 and the cool storage body 10 may not vary at a plurality of positions where the temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 12. desirable. Further, as shown in FIG. 10A, when a gap is defined between the inner peripheral surface of the box body 11 and the regenerator body 10, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12 and the actual temperature of the regenerator body 10 are The difference between them tends to be large. Therefore, from the viewpoint of more appropriately obtaining the state of the cold storage body 10, for example, as shown in FIG. 10B, a recess 13 for arranging the temperature sensor 12 is defined on the surface of the box body 11, and the temperature of the recess 13 is reduced. The sensor 12 may be arranged. In this case, since the inner peripheral surface of the box body 11 projects toward the cool storage body 10 due to the concave portion 13, it is difficult to form a gap between the inner peripheral surface of the box body 11 and the cool storage body 10. The recess 13 is preferably defined such that the inner peripheral surface of the box body 11 defined by the recess 13 contacts the cool storage body 10. As a result, the distance between the inner peripheral surface of the box 11 and the regenerator 10 is suppressed from varying at a plurality of positions where the temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 12. Further, the difference between the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12 and the actual temperature of the regenerator 10 becomes small, and it is possible to obtain a regenerator that is advantageous in more appropriately obtaining the state of the regenerator 10.

<Second Embodiment>
The cool storage device 200 according to the second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment except where specifically described. The constituent elements of the second embodiment that are the same as or correspond to the constituent elements of the first embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted. The description regarding the first embodiment and its modifications applies to the second embodiment as long as there is no technical contradiction.

As shown in FIG. 11, the regenerator 200 includes a refrigeration cycle device 70, like the regenerator 100. In the refrigeration cycle device 70, an evaporator 71, a compressor 72, a condenser 73, and an expansion valve 74 are connected in a ring shape in this order using piping. As shown in FIG. 12, the evaporator 71 is in contact with at least a part of the surface of the box body 11.

For example, the pipe defining the refrigerant flow path of the evaporator 71 is in contact with the surface of the box body 11. In order to improve heat transfer between the pipe and the box 11, the pipe is pressed by a metal pressing member (not shown) so as to come into contact with the surface of the box 11. The pipe defining the refrigerant flow path of the evaporator 71 extends, for example, from the upstream end of the box body 11 to the downstream end along the second direction, is bent at the downstream end, and extends toward the upstream end along the second direction. Is extended. The pipe defining the refrigerant flow path of the evaporator 71 extends from the downstream end of the box body 11 to the upstream end along the second direction, bends at the upstream end, and extends toward the downstream end along the second direction. May be.

As shown in FIG. 11, the cold storage device 200 includes, for example, a storage room temperature sensor 80. The storage room temperature sensor 80 is a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the air in the storage room 50.

When the cool storage body 10 is stored with cold, for example, it is necessary to operate the refrigeration cycle device 70 to keep the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 71 at a temperature lower than the freezing point of the cool storage body 10 by 10° C. or more. In many cases, the regenerator 10 does not crystallize immediately even if the temperature of the regenerator 10 is lowered below the freezing point of the regenerator 10, and may be in a supercooled state. Therefore, for example, by cooling the regenerator 10 with a refrigerant that is lower than the freezing point of the regenerator 10 by 10° C. or more, the supercooled state can be released and crystallization can be performed. Further, by increasing the difference between the freezing point of the regenerator 10 and the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 71, the regenerator 10 can be cooled and solidified more quickly.

When the cool storage body 10 is stored with cold, in some cases, it is necessary to cool the air in the storage room 50 in order to adjust the temperature of the storage room 50 to a temperature suitable for keeping the article cool. In this case, the blower 20 is operated so that the temperature detected by the storage room temperature sensor 80 becomes a predetermined target temperature higher than the freezing point of the regenerator 10. Thereby, the air in the storage chamber 50 is supplied to the cold storage chamber 15, the air is cooled by the regenerator 10 or the evaporator 71, and the cooled air is sent toward the storage chamber 50. In this way, the cooled air circulates inside the regenerator 200. As a result, the temperature of the air in the storage chamber 50 is adjusted to a temperature suitable for keeping the article cool.

When the cold heat of the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 71 is used only for the cold storage of the cold storage body 10, the box body 11 is entirely cooled by the evaporator 71. However, when the blower 20 operates to cool the air in the storage chamber 50 and the cooled air circulates inside the regenerator 200, the box 11 or the regenerator 10 has a box body as shown in FIG. A temperature distribution that gradually decreases from the upstream end to the downstream end of 11 is generated. In addition, in FIG. 13, the broken line showing the lowest temperature means the temperature T _EV of the evaporator 71. When the regenerator 10 is cooled for a long period of time by the evaporator 71, the temperature of the box 11 or the regenerator 10 at the downstream end of the box 11 decreases to T _EV . On the other hand, the temperature of the box 11 or the regenerator 10 near the upstream end of the box 11 is stable at a temperature balanced with the amount of heat of the air flowing into the space defined between the boxes 11. Similar to when the regenerator 10 melts, the regenerator amount of the regenerator 10 can be calculated from this temperature distribution generated by the circulation of air in the regenerator 15. In this case, desirably, both the amount of cold heat of the regenerator 10 as sensible heat and the amount of cold heat of the regenerator 10 as latent heat are considered. For example, the amount of cold heat of the regenerator 10 can be calculated as latent heat by subtracting the amount of cold heat of the regenerator 10 as sensible heat obtained from the temperature of the regenerator 10 from the amount of regenerator obtained from the temperature distribution as shown in FIG. .. For example, the amount of cold heat of the regenerator 10 can be obtained as sensible heat from the difference between the freezing point of the regenerator 10 and the temperature of the regenerator 10 and the heat capacities of the regenerator 10 and the box 11. In this case, as the temperature of the regenerator 10, for example, an arithmetic mean value of temperatures below the freezing point of the regenerator 10 detected by the temperature sensor 12 at a plurality of positions is adopted. In addition, the heat capacity of the cold storage body 10 and the box body 11 corresponds to the sum of the volumes of the cold storage body 10 and the box body 11 represented by each of the plurality of positions where the temperatures below the freezing point of the cold storage body 10 are detected. The heat capacity of Further, as the temperature of the cool storage body 10, each of a plurality of temperatures below the freezing point of the cool storage body 10 detected by the temperature sensor 12 at a plurality of positions may be adopted. In this case, the amount of cold heat that the regenerator 10 has as sensible heat corresponds to the difference between each of the temperatures and the freezing point of the regenerator 10, and the volumes of the regenerator 10 and the box 11 represented by each of the plurality of positions. It can be obtained as the sum of products with the heat capacity.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The cool storage device of the present disclosure can be used for applications in which cold heat is temporarily stored in refrigeration or freezing.

10 Cool Storage Body 11 Box Body 12 Temperature Sensor 12a First Temperature Sensor 12b Second Temperature Sensor 12c Third Temperature Sensor 12d Fourth Temperature Sensor 15 Cold Storage Room 20 Blower 30 Display Information Generator 40 Display Unit 50 Storage Room 70 Refrigeration Cycle Device 71 Evaporator 72 Compressor 73 Condenser 74 Expansion valve 100 Regenerator

Claims (11)

A plurality of boxes that are arranged in the first direction in the cool storage chamber and each store a cool storage body;
Along the second direction intersecting with the first direction in a plane parallel to the bottom surface of the cool storage chamber in which the plurality of boxes are arranged, the storage chamber being partitioned so as to be able to communicate with the cool storage chamber. A blower for causing a flow of air passing through the space defined between the boxes in the second direction to circulate the air cooled by the regenerator,
The surface temperature of at least one of the boxes, the surface temperature of the regenerator stored in at least one of the boxes, or the internal temperature of the regenerator of at least one of the boxes is defined as A temperature sensor that detects at a plurality of positions in the direction 2;
Information indicating the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is input, and at the plurality of positions, the surface temperature of the box body, the surface temperature of the regenerator, or the information indicating the temperature inside the regenerator is used. A display information generator that generates state information indicating the state of the regenerator,
E Bei and a display unit that displays the status information,
The display information generator, in the plurality of positions, the surface temperature of the box body, the surface temperature of the regenerator, or the spatial temperature distribution of the regenerator based on information indicating the temperature inside the regenerator. Estimate, based on the proportion of the portion that exceeds a predetermined threshold value in the entire temperature distribution, to calculate the cold storage residual amount that is the state information,
Cold storage device. The cool storage device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of boxes are in contact with the bottom surface of the cool storage chamber. The regenerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the longest side of each of the plurality of boxes extends in a direction parallel to the second direction. Of the two ends of the box in the second direction, the end of the box located upstream of the air flow is defined as the upstream end, and the end of the box is located downstream of the air flow. When the end of the box body is defined as a downstream end, the plurality of positions are intermediate positions located between the upstream end and the downstream end in the second direction, and the upstream end. And relatively densely distributed between an intermediate position and the upstream end that are equidistant from the downstream end, and relatively sparsely distributed between the intermediate position and the downstream end. Item 16. The cool storage device according to any one of items 1 to 3. Of the two ends of the box in the second direction, the end of the box located upstream of the air flow is defined as the upstream end, and the end of the box is located downstream of the air flow. When the end of the box body is defined as a downstream end, the plurality of positions are intermediate positions located between the upstream end and the downstream end in the second direction, and the upstream end. And relatively densely distributed between an intermediate position equidistant from the downstream end and the downstream end, and relatively sparsely distributed between the intermediate position and the upstream end, Item 16. The cool storage device according to any one of items 1 to 3. The regenerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one box body accommodates the plurality of regenerator bodies arranged in the second direction. The cold storage according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the temperature sensor detects a surface temperature of at least one of the boxes or a surface temperature of the regenerator stored in at least one of the boxes. apparatus. The regenerator according to claim 7, wherein the temperature sensor is installed on a surface of the regenerator or a surface of the box. The status information is at least one of a remaining amount of cold storage, a coolable time, and a time required for solidifying a predetermined amount of the regenerator among the regenerators included in the regenerator. The regenerator according to any one of 1. Further comprising a refrigeration cycle in which the evaporator, the compressor, the condenser, and the expansion valve are annularly connected in this order using piping,
The evaporator is in contact with at least a portion of a surface of the box body, the cold storage apparatus according to any one of claims 1-9. A method for displaying information indicating the state of the regenerator,
Using blowers, second plurality of box bodies each of said cold storage body is accommodated intersects with the first direction in a plane parallel to the first bottom surface of the cold accumulation chamber arranged in the direction of the cold storage room The flow of air passing through the space defined between the box bodies in the second direction along the direction of, to circulate the air cooled by the regenerator,
Using a temperature sensor, at least one surface temperature of the box body, at least one surface temperature of the regenerator body housed in the box body, or at least one of the regenerator body housed in the box body Detecting the internal temperature at a plurality of positions in the second direction,
Using the display information generator, to obtain information indicating the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, at the plurality of positions, the surface temperature of the box body, the surface temperature of the regenerator, or the inside of the regenerator. Generates state information indicating the state of the regenerator based on the information indicating the temperature,
Display the status information on the display unit ,
The display information generator, in the plurality of positions, the surface temperature of the box body, the surface temperature of the regenerator, or the spatial temperature distribution of the regenerator based on information indicating the temperature inside the regenerator. Estimate, based on the proportion of the portion that exceeds a predetermined threshold value in the entire temperature distribution, to calculate the cold storage residual amount that is the state information,
Method.

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