JPH05149653A - Ice making device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To extend degree of freedom in design by shortening the length of a pipe downstream of a supercooling part in an ice making device wherein water or the like of an ice storage tank is circulated through a water circulation line and supercooling and elimination of supercooling is effected to turn the water into ice in a slurry-like state. CONSTITUTION:In a water circulation line 51 through which water or aqueous solution of an ice storage tank is circulated, there are provided a supercooling generating heat exchanger 22 and a supercooling eliminating part 8 for eliminating supercooled state on the downstream side of the exchanger 22. Further, a supercooling elimination completion part 9 with a sharply expanded section 9a which is formed by sharply expanding the diameter of the line 51 is provided downstream of the part 8. By an agitating action due to turbulent flow caused by the part 9a, the length of line needed for completing the elimination of supercooling of water or the like can be shortened and at the same time heating area required for prevention of attachment of freezed matters to pipe walls can be reduced, resulting in reduced cost. A plurality of parts 9a are provided or an impingement member is provided downstream of the part 9a, whereby effects thereof can be improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice making device in which water or the like in an ice storage tank is supercooled by a heat exchanger to be iced, and more particularly to measures for improving supercooling elimination completion performance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an ice making device, a water circulation passage for circulating water in an ice storage tank is provided, and the water is supercooled by a heat exchanger to produce slurry-like iced matter, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-217171, an inclined gutter formed so that the outlet side of the water circulation path is directed downward on the upstream side and the outlet end is opened at a certain height above the water surface of the ice storage tank. , A heat exchanger is provided between the gutters, and the water cooled by the heat exchangers in the water circulation path is melted at the outlet of the gutter to eliminate the supercooled state, and is frozen in a slurry form. It is a well-known technique to prevent freezing of the water circulation path due to the progress of freezing of water by dropping it in an ice storage tank.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-112345, a heat exchanger is provided by opening an outlet end of a water circulation path above an ice storage tank and installing an inclined gutter having a baffle plate in front of it. By releasing the supercooled water into the atmosphere and colliding with the baffle plate, the supercooled state of the water is canceled and the water is frozen, and it is dropped into the ice storage tank through the gutter. It is a known technique to more reliably prevent the freezing of the water circulation path.

[0004]

However, in the latter of the above-mentioned conventional ones, since the supercooling elimination section is provided above the ice storage tank, the distance between the heat exchanger and the subcooling elimination section is large. If it is long, there is a risk that the supercooled state will be eliminated in the pipe between them. Therefore, since the heat exchanger has to be provided near the ice storage tank, there is a problem that design restrictions are large, such as difficulty in processing such as bending the water pipe.

On the other hand, in the former one of the above-mentioned conventional ones, it is necessary to install a gutter having a considerable height difference above the ice storage tank as the supercooling elimination portion, which also has a large design restriction. In addition, since it is exposed to the atmosphere for a long time, there is a problem that heat is wasted due to heat exchange with the atmosphere.

Therefore, the supercooled state is eliminated in the continuous flow path through which the supercooled water or the like passes on the downstream side of the supercooling generation heat exchanger of the water circulation path, and the slurry-like iced substance is continuously generated. It is possible to continue.

However, in that case, if the supercooled state is eliminated by simply recooling or increasing the flow velocity by throttling in a natural flow, it takes a long process and time to complete the supercooling elimination. However, during that time, the probability that ice adheres to and grows on the pipe wall of the flow passage to clog the pipe passage increases. Also,
If water or the like remaining in the supercooled state is returned to the ice storage tank and is circulated again in the subcooling generation heat exchanger, the heat exchanger may be frozen.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to shorten the stroke of the supercooling elimination completion portion by providing means for promoting completion of elimination of the supercooling state, It is to improve the degree of freedom in design while eliminating the risk of freezing and clogging.

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems To achieve the above object, the means of the present invention as set forth in claim 1 is, as shown in FIG. An ice bath (5) and a subcooling generation heat exchanger (22) connected to a cooling device for supercooling water or an aqueous solution, and an ice storage tank (5) in the subcooling generation heat exchanger (22). Water circulation path (51) for forcibly circulating the water or aqueous solution of the above, and a water circulation path (51) provided downstream of the heat exchanger (22) and provided with a supercooling means for eliminating a supercooled state of the water or aqueous solution. The object is an ice making device provided with a cooling elimination unit (8).

Then, the supercooling elimination having a sudden expansion portion (9a) formed by abruptly increasing the pipe diameter of the water circulation passage (51) is provided downstream of the supercooling elimination portion (8) of the water circulation passage (51). The completion unit (9) is provided.

As shown in FIG. 4, the means taken by the invention of claim 2 is, in the invention of claim 1 described above, a plurality of sudden expansion parts (9a1), ( 9a2) is provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, the means taken by the invention of claim 3 is the ice making device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the supercooling elimination completion portion (9) is provided with a rapid water circulation path (51). A collision member (9c) that collides with the flow of water or an aqueous solution is provided on the downstream side of the enlarged portion (9a).

[0013]

With the above construction, in the invention of claim 1, in the water circulation path (51), water or the like is supercooled to generate heat exchanger (2).
The supercooled water is supercooled in 2), and water in the supercooled state is started to be recooled in the supercooling elimination section (8) to eliminate the supercooled state. When the elimination is completed, it turns into a slurry-like frozen product and returns to the ice storage tank (5). At that time, since the supercooling elimination completion portion (9) having the sudden enlargement portion (9a) formed by rapidly enlarging the pipe diameter is provided on the downstream side of the supercooling elimination portion (8), this sudden enlargement portion is provided. At (9a), a turbulent flow occurs due to the rapid expansion of the flow of water or the like, and the stirring action of this turbulent flow promotes the completion of elimination of supercooling. Therefore, the pipeline length on the downstream side of the supercooling elimination portion (8) is shortened, and the degree of freedom in design is expanded.
Further, since the length of the pipe line is shortened, the amount of heating for preventing the adhesion of the iced substance to the pipe wall is reduced, so that the cost is also reduced.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the supercooling elimination completion section (9) is provided with a plurality of sudden expansion sections (9a1), (9a2), the action of stirring the flow of water or the like is further increased. ,
The completion of elimination of supercooling is promoted.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the completion of the supercooling elimination is further promoted by the stirring action of the flow by the sudden expansion portion (9a) and the collision member (9c).

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the refrigerant circuit (1) of the air conditioner of the first embodiment according to the invention of claim 1, and (11)
Is a first compressor, (12) is an outdoor heat exchanger that is arranged on the discharge side of the first compressor (11) and exchanges heat between the refrigerant and outdoor air, and (13) is the outdoor heat exchanger ( 12) An outdoor electric expansion valve for adjusting the refrigerant flow rate of 12) or for reducing the pressure, wherein the above-mentioned devices (11) to (13) are connected in series in a first conduit (14).

Further, (21) is a second compressor, and (22) is arranged on the discharge side of the second compressor (21) to supercool water or an aqueous solution in an ice storage tank (5) described later. The water heat exchanger, which is the main heat exchanger of (23), regulates the refrigerant flow rate when the water heat exchanger (22) functions as a condenser, and depressurizes the refrigerant when the water heat exchanger (22) functions as an evaporator. In the electric expansion valve, the devices (21) to (23) are connected in series in the second pipe line (24).

Incidentally, (SD1) and (SD2) are oil separators provided in the discharge pipes of the compressors (11) and (21), and (C1) and (C2) are oil separators (SD1). ),
The pressure reducing capillary tubes are respectively provided in oil return pipes (RT1) and (RT2) provided on the suction sides of the compressors (11) and (21) from (SD2).

Further, (32) and (32) are indoor heat exchangers arranged in each room, and (33) and (33) are indoor electric expansion valves as pressure reducing valves for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant. The devices (32) and (33) are each connected in series, and their respective sets are connected in parallel in the third conduit (34).

The first pipeline (14) and the second pipeline (24) are connected in parallel with the third pipeline (34). In addition, (Ac) is each compressor (11), (21)
It is an accumulator provided in the third conduit (34) on the suction side of.

Further, in (2), the gas pipe of the outdoor heat exchanger (12) and the gas pipes of the indoor heat exchangers (32) and (32) are connected to the discharge sides of the compressors (11) and (21) or A four-way switching valve (2) that is switched so as to be alternately communicated with the intake side. When the four-way switching valve (2) is switched to the solid line side in the figure, the outdoor heat exchanger (12) is a condenser, an indoor unit. Heat exchanger (32),
While (32) functions as an evaporator to perform cooling operation indoors, when the four-way switching valve (2) is switched to the broken line side in the figure, the outdoor heat exchanger (12) is an evaporator and an indoor heat exchanger. (3
2) and (32) function as a condenser to perform heating operation in the room.

Further, a branch passage (25) for bypass-connecting the gas pipe of the water heat exchanger (22) and the suction pipes of the compressors (11) and (21) and the water heat exchanger (22). A water side switching valve (26) for alternately connecting the gas pipe to the discharge pipe of the second compressor (21) and the branch passage (25) is provided. The water side switching valve (26) utilizes three ports of the four-way switching valve, and when the water side switching valve (26) is switched to the solid line side in the figure, the water heat exchanger (22 ) Is connected to the branch passage (25) side, that is, the suction side of each of the compressors (11) and (21), and the water heat exchanger (22) functions as an evaporator, while the water side switching valve (26 ) Is switched to the broken line side in the figure, the gas pipe of the water heat exchanger (22) communicates with the discharge pipe of the second compressor (21) so that the water heat exchanger (22) functions as a condenser. Has been done. In addition, (C3)
Is a capillary tube provided in the dead port side pipe of the water side switching valve (26).

Further, a bypass passage (3) for connecting the discharge pipes of the first compressor (11) and the second compressor (21) is provided, and the second compressor is provided in the bypass passage (3). A check valve (4) which allows only refrigerant flow from the discharge pipe side of (21) to the discharge pipe side of the first compressor (11) is interposed.

That is, when the outdoor heat exchanger (12) and the water heat exchanger (22) function as condensers, if the condensation temperature in the water heat exchanger (22) is high and the pressure is high, the second compression The gas discharged from the machine (21) is used as an outdoor heat exchanger (1
The amount of heat radiation can be distributed by letting it escape to the 2) side.

Here, the air conditioner is provided with an ice storage tank (5) for storing a slurry-like iced product of water or an aqueous solution as a heat storage medium, and the ice storage tank (5). The water and the water heat exchanger (22) are connected by a water circulation path (51) so that water or an aqueous solution can circulate. The water circulation path (51) extends from the bottom of the ice storage tank (5) to the water heat exchanger (2).
Outgoing line (51A) for supplying water etc. to 2) and returning line (51B) for returning slurry-like iced substances such as water from the water heat exchanger (22) to the upper part of the ice storage tank (5) The pump (52) provided in the forward path (51A) forcibly circulates the water or the aqueous solution in the ice storage tank (5) in the water circulation path (51).

Then, the forward path (51) of the water circulation path (51)
On the downstream side of the pump (52) of A), the water circulation path (51)
A strainer (53) for removing solid matters such as iced matter and dust in the water or the aqueous solution of the above is interposed, and further, a water heat exchanger (22) is provided on the downstream side of the strainer (53). A preheat heat exchanger (6) for preheating water or the like supplied to the is installed. On the other hand, the liquid line of the refrigerant circuit (1) is provided with a preheating bypass passage (61) for circulating a part of the liquid refrigerant to the preheat heat exchanger (6) by bypassing the water side electric expansion valve (23). Further, a preheat electric expansion valve (62) having a refrigerant decompression function and a flow rate control function is provided downstream of the preheat exchanger (6) in the preheat bypass passage (61). The preheat electric expansion valve (62) and the water side electric expansion valve (23) adjust the refrigerant flow rate of the preheat bypass passage (61) and reduce the pressure of the refrigerant during the ice making operation of the water heat exchanger (22). Is also supposed to do.

Further, in the return pipe (51B) of the water circulation passage (51), the water or the like in the return pipe (51B) is cooled downstream of the water heat exchanger (22) to cool the water heat exchanger. (2
A recooler (8) as a supercooled state eliminating unit for eliminating the supercooled state of water or the like supercooled in 2), and for completing the elimination of supercooled state of water or the like by the recooler (8). A subcooling elimination completion section (9) is provided in order from the upstream side. In addition, (7) is interposed between the recooler (8) and the water heat exchanger (22), and the freezing of the return conduit (51B) progresses to the water heat exchanger (22). It is a heat retention heat exchanger as a freezing progress prevention unit for preventing the above.

A water heat exchanger (22) is provided between the liquid line of the refrigerant circuit (1) and the branch passage (gas line) on the suction side of each compressor (11), (21). A recooling bypass passage (81) for bypassing and circulating the refrigerant is provided, and the recooling bypass passage (81) is provided with the recooling capillary tube (C4) and the recooler (in order from the upstream side). 8) is installed. That is, recooler (8)
A low-temperature refrigerant whose pressure has been reduced by a re-cooling capillary tube (C4) is circulated in the water, and heat exchange with the refrigerant is performed to re-cool water and the like supercooled in the water heat exchanger (22). There is.

In this case, the gas side pipe of the water heat exchanger (22) is connected to the branch passage (25) via the water side switching valve (26) while the gas side of the recooler (8) is directly connected. The water side switching valve (26) by connecting to the branch passage (25)
A pressure loss is caused in the water heat exchanger (22) by the flow resistance due to the passage of water, and the evaporation temperature of the recooler (8) is maintained at a temperature lower than that of the water heat exchanger (22). (22)
The subcooled water or the like can be further cooled to a lower temperature by the recooler (8).

In addition, the heat insulation bypass passage (71) for bypassing and circulating the liquid refrigerant from the liquid line of the refrigerant circuit (1) to the heat insulation heat exchanger (7) and returning it to the liquid line.
In the heat retention heat exchanger (7), the return pipe (51B) is heated by heat exchange with the liquid refrigerant in the liquid line, and the recooler (8) and the return pipe (51B) are heated. In this case, it is possible to prevent the iced substance generated by the elimination of supercooling of water or the like from adhering to the pipe wall of the return pipe (51B) and freezing to the water heat exchanger (22).

The four-way switching valve (2) is switched to the side of the solid line in the figure when the air-conditioning apparatus is operating and the indoor cooling operation is performed. When the water side switching valve (26) is switched to the solid line side in the figure, the compressors (11), (21)
After the refrigerant discharged from each of them is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger (12), it is evaporated in each of the indoor heat exchangers (32) and (32) to cool the room. Further, when the water side switching valve (26) is switched to the broken line side in the figure, the refrigerant discharged from the first compressor (11) flows to the outdoor heat exchanger (12), while the second compressor (21). The discharged refrigerant of (1) flows into the water heat exchanger (22), is condensed, and then circulates so as to be evaporated in the indoor heat exchangers (32) and (32).

When the electric power is cheap at night or the like, the cold storage operation for storing the cold heat in the ice storage tank (5) is performed. That is, the four-way switching valve (2) and the water side switching valve (26) are switched to the solid line side in the figure, and the indoor electric expansion valves (33), (33) are switched.
And the refrigerant discharged from the compressors (11) and (21) is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger (12), and the water-side electric expansion valve (2
3) (or preheat electric expansion valve (62)) to reduce pressure and evaporate in water heat exchanger (22) to supercool water or aqueous solution in ice storage tank (5) to ice, Cold heat is stored in (5).

Here, as a feature of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, the subcooling elimination completion section (9) has a return pipe (51).
A large diameter sudden expansion portion (9a) that is formed by rapidly expanding the pipe diameter of B), that is, a stepped cylindrical shape, and then a narrowing portion (9b) that continuously narrows the pipe diameter to the diameter before expansion. Which is recooled by the recooler (8) to eliminate the supercooled state and rapidly expands the flow of water or the like to generate a turbulent flow, and eliminates the supercooling by its stirring action. Is designed to facilitate the completion of.

In the first embodiment described above, after water and the like are supercooled in the water heat exchanger (22) in the water circulation path (51),
By recooling the water or the like in the supercooled state in the recooler (8) of the return conduit (51B), the supercooled state is eliminated, and it becomes a frosted product in the form of slurry and the ice storage tank (5). Return to.
At that time, even if it is simply recooled to eliminate the supercooled state,
It takes a long time, that is, a stroke, to complete the elimination of supercooling only by the action of eliminating subcooling by recooling. For this reason, the pipe length from the recooler (8) to the ice storage tank (5) becomes long, which causes a restriction in design. However, in the first embodiment, the recooler (8) is provided downstream. Since the subcooling elimination completion portion (9) having the sudden expansion portion (9a) is provided, the flow of water or the like rapidly expands at this sudden expansion portion (9a) to generate a turbulent flow.
Completion of elimination of supercooling is promoted by the stirring action by this turbulent flow. Therefore, the pipeline length on the downstream side of the recooler (8) can be shortened, and the degree of freedom in design is expanded, and
By reducing the pipe length, the amount of heating for preventing freezing due to the adhesion of the iced substance to the pipe wall is reduced, so that the cost can be reduced.

The effect of accelerating the completion of supercooling elimination will be described below. Particle diameter 0.5m in water with supercooling degree of 1.5deg
The time required for the spherical ice nuclei of m to grow to twice the size is 6.9 seconds without stirring and 1.9 seconds with stirring. Therefore, the flow rate of water etc. is 100
If the flow rate is 1 / min, the pipe length required to complete elimination of supercooling is 9.15 when the pipe diameter is 40 mm and there is no enlarged portion.
m, the diameter of the pipe is 1.12 m when the enlarged portion is enlarged from 40 mm to 60 mm, and the area of the tube wall heated to prevent the adhesion of ice nuclei is 1.15 m when there is no enlarged portion.
m ^2, and a 0.21 m ² when there is a larger portion, it can be seen a significant shortening of the pipe length and the heating area.

Next, a second embodiment according to the invention of claim 2 will be described. Also in this embodiment, the configurations of the refrigerant circuit (1), the water circulation path (51) and the like are the same as those in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 shows the shape of the sudden expansion portion (9a) of the supercooling elimination completion portion (9) in the second embodiment, where the sudden expansion portion (9a) sharply reduces the pipe diameter on the downstream side of the recooler (8). A slightly larger diameter first enlarged portion (9a1) and the first enlarged portion (9a1).
It is provided with a large-diameter second enlarged portion (9a2) obtained by further rapidly enlarging the enlarged portion (9a1).

In the second embodiment, by providing a plurality of such abruptly expanding portions (9a1), (9a2), the stirring action of the flow can be further increased and a remarkable effect can be exhibited. .. Needless to say, three or more sudden expansion portions (9a) may be provided.

Next, a third embodiment according to the invention of claim 3 will be described. Also in this embodiment, the refrigerant circuit (1)
The structure of the water circulation path (51) is similar to that of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 shows the structure of the supercooling elimination completion section (9) in the present embodiment, in which the turbulent flow is generated in the central portion of the pipeline on the downstream side of the rapid expansion section (9a) by colliding with the flow. A collision member (9c) for tightening is provided.

In the third embodiment, the agitating action of the flow by the sudden expansion portion (9a) and the collision member (9c) promotes completion of elimination of the supercooled state, and can exert a remarkable effect.

Although the recooler (8) in each of the above-mentioned embodiments is designed to recool water by heat exchange with the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit (1), the present invention is not limited to such embodiments. Needless to say, it may be cooled by, for example, a thermopile.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, the description has been made of the case where the supercooled state is eliminated by re-cooling water or the like, but the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and the flow rate is reduced by narrowing the pipeline. It can also be applied to those in which the supercooled state is eliminated by increasing the number. FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment in which the present invention is applied to the one in which the supercooling is eliminated by such a throttle. For example, the downstream side of the supercooling elimination unit (8) in which the pipe diameter is reduced from 40 mm to 20 mm. so,
Sudden expansion part (9a) formed by rapidly expanding the pipe diameter to 40 mm
Is an example in which is provided. Also in this case, by providing the subcooling elimination completion section (9) as in the first to third embodiments, the elimination completion of supercooling can be promoted, and the same effect as each embodiment is exhibited. can do.

Further, although the embodiment is omitted, instead of the recooler (8), the forward line (51) of the water circulation path (51) is used.
The present invention can also be applied to a system in which a bypass passage is provided from A) to the downstream side of the water heat exchanger (22) and supercooling is eliminated by introducing ice nuclei.

[0044]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the water in the ice storage tank is circulated in the circulation path, and the subcooling generation heat exchanger and the subcooling elimination section are provided in the circulation path. In an ice-making device in which after supercooling water in the water circulation path, the supercooling elimination section eliminates the supercooled state to continuously produce slurry-like iced matter, on the downstream side of the supercooling elimination section. Since the supercooling elimination completion portion having the sudden expansion portion formed by rapidly enlarging the pipe diameter of the water circulation passage is provided, the pipe length required for completing the supercooling elimination by the stirring action due to the turbulent flow Therefore, the degree of freedom in design can be increased, and the cost can be reduced by reducing the heating area for preventing the frozen product from freezing on the tube wall.

According to the invention of claim 2, in the invention of claim 1, since a plurality of sudden expansion portions are provided in the supercooling elimination completion portion, the stirring effect due to turbulent flow can be further increased. It is possible to further promote the completion of cooling elimination.

According to the invention of claim 3, in the invention of claim 1 or 2, a collision member for colliding with the flow of water or the like and disturbing the flow is provided downstream of the rapid expansion part of the supercooling elimination completion part. Therefore, the stirring effect due to the turbulent flow can be further increased, and therefore a remarkable effect can be exhibited.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a piping system diagram of an ice making device and an air conditioner according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a supercooling elimination completion unit in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a supercooling elimination completion unit in a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a supercooling elimination completion unit in a third embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a supercooling elimination unit and a supercooling elimination completion unit in the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerant circuit 5 Ice storage tank 22 Water heat exchanger (supercooling generation heat exchanger) 8 Recooler (supercooling elimination part) 9 Supercooling elimination completion part 9a Rapid expansion part 9c Collision member 51 Water circulation path

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A subcooling generation heat exchanger for supercooling water or an aqueous solution, which is connected to an ice storage tank (5) for storing a slurry-like iced product of water or an aqueous solution and a cooling device ( Two
2) and an ice storage tank (5) in the supercooling generation heat exchanger (22).
Water circulation path for forced circulation of water or aqueous solution (5)
1) and an ice making device comprising a water cooling passage (51) downstream of the heat exchanger (22) and a supercooling elimination section (8) for eliminating a supercooled state of water or an aqueous solution. , A supercooling elimination completion portion which is provided on the downstream side of the supercooling elimination portion (8) of the water circulation passageway (51) and has a sudden enlargement portion (9a) formed by rapidly increasing the pipe diameter of the water circulation passageway (51). An ice making device comprising (9). 2. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the supercooling elimination completion section (9) includes a plurality of sudden expansion sections (9).
An ice making device comprising a1) and (9a2). 3. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the supercooling elimination completion section (9) collides with a flow of water or an aqueous solution on a downstream side of the sudden expansion section (9a) of the water circulation path (51). An ice making device having a collision member (9c) for