JPH0552633A - Level detector for ice heat-storage tank - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect ice existent part positions accurately by arranging plural number of detecting pipes housing a heater and a temperature sensor in the depth direction in a tank, and arranging a temperature control device to compare temperatures detected by means of the temperature sensors. CONSTITUTION:Detecting pipes 6 are arranged so that opening edge parts are projected inside of a heat storage tank 1. When electric current is supplied to a heater 7 so as to heats it, chilled water in the ice existent part is warmed up, but since the temperatures is balanced with melting heat of ice pieces, temperature rise in this part is not caused and the temperature is kept approximately at 0 deg.C, but the temperature rises in the ice nonexistent part. These temperatures are detected by means of temperature sensors 8 so as to be informed to a temperature control device 9. The temperature control device 9 compares temperature information detected by means of the temperature sensors 8 with each other, so that ice existent levels in the heat storage tank 1 can be detected. By operating a cooling device 5 according to its necessity, water in the tank 1 can be cooled by means of cooling pipes 4.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a level detecting device for an ice heat storage tank that stores sherbet-shaped ice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 shows a fish tank which is installed indoors for cooling and storing fish and the like. A prismatic heat storage tank, 2 is sherbet-like ice in which fine crushed ice and cold water are mixed, and 3 is a water level gauge.

Next, the operation will be described. Sherbet-shaped ice 2 is poured and stored in the heat storage tank 1. The sherbet-shaped ice 2 in this state has cold water in the lower layer due to its specific gravity, and the mixed portion of crushed ice and water is in the upper layer. The temperature of the water in the lower layer is approximately 1 to 3 ° C, and the temperature of the water between the crushed ice in the upper layer is approximately 0 ° C. A fish or the like that needs to be preserved is immersed and cooled in such sherbet-shaped ice 2.

With the passage of time, the sherbet-shaped ice 2 dissolves crushed ice and changes into water. As the crushed ice gradually dissolves in this way, the cooling capacity decreases, so it is necessary to replenish the crushed ice with a new one. The water level gauge 3 detects that the crushed ice melts and the amount of water increases. At the time of replenishing ice-breaking ice, the cold water in the heat storage tank 1 is checked by operating the drain valve to drain the cold water in the heat storage tank 1 so that the ice breaker does not overflow.

[0005]

Since the conventional level detecting device for the ice heat storage tank is configured as described above, if the crushed ice rises in a mountain shape above the sherbet-shaped ice, the water is capillarized. Since the water level is sucked up by the water and the water level cannot be accurately detected, the iced area becomes unclear, and the temperature difference between the cold water in the iced area and the ice-free area is small. There were problems such as being inaccurate.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a level detecting device for an ice storage tank capable of accurately detecting the position of an iced portion.

[0007]

A level detecting device for an ice heat storage tank according to the present invention has a cooling pipe supplied with a refrigerant, which is easily attached to and detached from the heat storage tank, along the depth direction. A heater and a detection tube accommodating a temperature sensor are provided, and a temperature management device for comparing the temperatures detected by the temperature sensor is provided.

Further, the heat storage tank is such that a closed cooling tank is provided along a predetermined tank surface, and a cooling device supplies a refrigerant into the closed cooling tank.

Further, above the heat storage tank, an ice supply tank containing crushed ice and an ice throwing device for reversing and inclining the ice supply tank according to a command are provided.

Further, a hole having a width of about ⅔ of the pipe diameter is provided on the upper portion of the detection pipe wall.

Further, the detection tubes are provided in a zigzag manner or obliquely provided along the depth direction of the heat storage tank.

Also, the detection tube is embedded in the tank wall of the heat storage tank,
The end surfaces of the heater and the temperature sensor are provided on the same surface as the inner surface of the tank.

[0013]

The ice heat storage tank level detection device according to the present invention detects the latent heat of the ice-containing part and the temperature of the rise of the ice-free part by the temperature sensor by heating the heater in the detection pipe, and detects the temperature at these detection pipes. When the ice level is judged and a predetermined level is reached, a coolant is supplied into the cooling pipe to cool the inside of the tank.

If necessary, the inside of the heat storage tank is cooled by the closed cooling tank provided inside the heat storage tank.

Further, when the amount of crushed ice decreases, the ice throwing device is operated to invert the ice supply tank and the crushed ice is supplied into the heat storage tank in response to the detection and command of the detection tube.

Further, since the hole for allowing the ice remaining in the tube to pass therethrough is provided above the detection tube, the temperature inside the detection tube can be detected accurately.

Further, the detection tubes are arranged obliquely in the depth direction, the actual distance in the oblique direction is kept above the heat affected range of the heater in the tube, and the apparent distance in the depth direction is more than the above-mentioned actual distance. The number of detection tubes is reduced to increase the number.

Further, since the detection tube is embedded in the tank wall of the heat storage tank, there is no protrusion in the tank, and it can be effectively utilized.

[0019]

【Example】

Example 1. An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 4 denotes a cooling pipe that is easily mounted in the heat storage tank 1 so that the refrigerant can be circulated and supplied from the cooling device 5. A plurality of 6 projecting from the inner wall of the heat storage tank 1 are arranged linearly along the depth direction at intervals of, for example, about 200 mm, which are larger than the heat affected range from the adjacent heat source, and projecting ends are opened in the tank. In the detection tube, the heater 7 and the temperature sensor 8 are separately arranged as a pair inside the tube with an interval in the vertical direction. 9
Is a temperature control device for instructing ON / OFF operation of the heater 7 and receiving temperature information detected by the temperature sensor 8 for mutual comparison. It should be noted that the holding side end portions of the heater 7 and the temperature sensor 8 are protected by a heat insulating cover, penetrate the wall portion of the heat storage tank 1 and are kept watertight by a normal watertight treatment, for example, a rubber bushing, and the like. Is connected to the temperature control device 9 by being pulled out to the outside, and the cooling device 5 is also connected to the temperature control device 9 by wiring.

Next, the operation will be described. The detection tube 6 is arranged so that the opening end projects into the heat storage tank 1. Although fish and the like are buried in the sherbet-shaped ice 2 in the heat storage tank 1 and cooled as in the conventional case, the ice is melted and the iced portion is reduced with the passage of time. The inside of the detection tube 6 communicating with the inside of the heat storage tank 1 at the opening end is naturally in the same state, and when the heater 7 is energized for heating, the cold water in the upper iced portion is heated by the heating. The heat energy becomes the heat of crushed ice melting, that is, the latent heat, and there is no temperature rise, and the temperature is maintained at 0 ° C. Next, the lower ice-free portion, which is only cold water, is gradually heated simultaneously with the above heating. These temperatures are detected by the temperature sensor 8 and reported to the temperature management device 9.

As described above, the temperature difference between the ice-free portion and the ice-free portion detected by each detection tube 6 is widened, so that comparison can be facilitated and the ice-containing level in the heat storage tank 1 can be determined. Accordingly, the cooling device 5 is operated to cool the water in the heat storage tank 1 by the cooling pipe 4. This cooling state is 0 according to the storage application.
Chilled water at ℃, partial ice making, etc. can be arbitrarily selected. Further, since the cooling pipes 4 are detachable, they can be used in a plurality of heat storage tanks 1 with sequentially shifted timings.

Example 2. In the above embodiment, the heat storage tank 1
As shown in FIG. 3, the re-cooling means is equipped with a cooling pipe which can be easily attached and detached. However, as shown in FIG. 3, the cooling pipes are almost equal to or below the tank surface along a pair of inner surfaces facing each other. A thin closed cooling tank 10 having a surface is provided, and a refrigerant is supplied from the cooling device 5 into the closed cooling tank 10 to recool the water in the heat storage tank 1. The temperature detection and determination that requires recooling and the state of recooling are the same as in the above embodiment. The detection tube 6 is arranged on another tank surface where the closed cooling tank 10 is not provided.

The closed cooling tank 10 may be provided on the bottom surface. Further, although the closed cooling tank 10 is shown as a separate type that can be attached to the existing heat storage tank, it may be integrally formed as a tank wall of the heat storage tank 1. Further, since the cooling effect is good, when operating so that the temperature inside the tank is always kept at 0 ° C., it is sufficient to provide only one detection tube 6 for safety measurement.

Example 3. FIG. 4 shows another embodiment. In the figure, 11 is an ice supply tank for storing crushed ice, and 12 is an ice throwing device for reversing and inclining the ice supply tank 11 according to a command from the temperature control device 9. Both are installed above the heat storage tank 1. Reference numeral 13 is an electromagnetic drain valve provided near the bottom of the heat storage tank 1.

The level of the iced portion in the heat storage tank 1 is determined by the temperature difference between the positions of the respective detection tubes 6 by the same means as in the above embodiment.
When the position where re-cooling is required due to a decrease in ice breaking is detected, first, the electromagnetic drain valve 13 is changed from the closed state to the open state in response to a command from the temperature management device 9, and the water in the heat storage tank 1 is drained.
After a predetermined time, the electromagnetic drain valve 13 is closed to stop draining. Next, in response to a command from the temperature management device 9, the ice supply device 12 tilts the ice supply tank 11 upside down, the crushed ice is supplied into the heat storage tank 1, and the cooling capacity is restored. The ice supply tank 11 is restored to the original state and after a predetermined time, crushed ice is stored.

Example 4. Further, FIG. 5 shows another embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 14 indicates the inner diameter of the pipe so that the inner diameter of the pipe is larger than the size of crushed ice that can enter the upper portion of the wall of the detection pipe 6 from the open end of the pipe. It is a hole opened with a width of 2/3.
This hole 14 is intended to prevent the crushed ice that has entered the detection tube 6 from being confined as it is, and as the icy portion rises, the crushed ice is spontaneously released from this hole 14 and becomes the same state as in the tank, and it remains abnormally. The temperature detection is accurate because the temperature is eliminated.

Example 5. Further, FIG. 6 shows another embodiment, in which the detection tubes 6 are arranged in a staggered manner or obliquely along the depth direction of the heat storage tank 1, and the actual interval in the oblique direction is the heater 7 in the tube. It is provided at, for example, 200 mm, which is larger than the heat affected range, and the apparent spacing in the depth direction is set to a dimension smaller than the actual spacing, for example, 100 mm. When the detection tubes 6 are arranged in a staggered manner, for example, the distance between the detection tubes 6 arranged in a straight line in the depth direction is 200 mm, which is more than the heat-affected range of the heater 7. Further, if the detection tubes 6 are arranged in two rows obliquely in the depth direction and are displaced by a half pitch in the depth direction, the temperature measurement position is increased and the position detection of the iced portion is improved.

Example 6. In addition, FIG. 7 shows another embodiment. In the figure, 15 is a detection tube embedded in the tank wall of the heat storage tank 1, and the inner surface of the heat storage tank 1 together with the end faces of the heater 7 and the temperature sensor 8. It is provided on almost the same plane as.
The heater 7 and the temperature sensor 8 in the detection tube 15 are arranged in the same manner as in the above-described first embodiment, and further, the space between the detection tube 15 is filled with a filling material 16 made of a heat insulating resin or the like to break ice. Is prevented from abnormally remaining in the detection tube 15, the ice level of the heat storage tank 1 is accurately detected, and since the protruding portion into the tank is eliminated, there is no contact with a cooling object and damage is caused. It will disappear and the volume of utilization will increase. Further, the filling material 16 is shown as filling the inside of the detection pipe 15 embedded in the heat storage tank 1, but it is filled in the detection pipe 6 of the first embodiment, and the heater 7 and the temperature sensor 8 are filled.
You may make it expose only the edge vicinity.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, the enlarged temperature difference between the latent heat of the ice-free portion and the temperature rise of the ice-free portion is detected and compared by heating the heater in the detection tube, and the ice-containing portion is compared. Since the cooling pipe that re-cools the water in the tank when the temperature reaches a predetermined level is easily attached and detached, it can be used by sequentially replacing it with a plurality of heat storage tanks with different ice levels, so the equipment cost is low. There is an effect.

Further, since the closed cooling tank is provided on the inner surface of the heat storage tank, there is an effect that the cooling efficiency in the tank is improved and the freshness of the cooling product is improved.

Further, when it is detected that the iced portion reaches a predetermined level, the ice throwing device is operated to supply the crushed ice stored in the ice supply tank into the heat storage tank. There is an effect that it can be appropriately supplied even if no worker is present at the supply time.

Further, since a hole is provided in the upper part of the detection tube so as to be the same as the ice level of the heat storage tank so that there is no abnormal residual of crushed ice in the detection tube, the temperature can be accurately detected. There is.

Further, since the detection tubes are arranged obliquely in the depth direction and arranged at intervals equal to or larger than the heat affected range of the heater, the number of detection tubes arranged in the depth direction in the heat storage tank is increased. Then
This has the effect of improving the temperature detection level.

Further, since the detection tube is constructed so as to be embedded in the tank wall of the heat storage tank, there is an effect that the projection is eliminated in the tank and the cooling volume in the tank is increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a level detection device for a heat storage tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a detailed view of the detection tube of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Heat storage tank 4 Cooling pipe 5 Cooling device 6 Detection pipe 7 Heater 8 Temperature sensor 9 Temperature control device 10 Closed cooling tank 11 Ice supply tank 12 Ice charging device 14 Hole 15 Detection pipe 16 Filling material

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A heat storage tank for storing ice, a cooling pipe that is easily attached to and detached from the heat storage tank, a cooling device that supplies a refrigerant into the cooling pipe, and an inner wall of the heat storage tank along a depth direction. A plurality of detection tubes having open ends projecting into the tank, a heater and a temperature sensor arranged in a pair in the detection tubes with an interval, and the operation of the heater is commanded and detected by the temperature sensor. A level detection device for an ice heat storage tank, which is provided with a temperature control device for comparing the stored temperatures. 2. The heat storage tank is characterized in that a thin sealed cooling tank is formed along a predetermined tank surface in the tank, and the cooling device supplies the refrigerant to the sealed cooling tank. The level detection device for an ice heat storage tank according to item 1. 3. An ice supply tank for storing crushed ice, an ice charging device for reversing and inclining the ice supply tank according to a command, a heat storage tank installed below the ice supply tank for storing sherbet-shaped ice, and this heat storage tank. A plurality of detection tubes whose opening end projects into the tank along the depth direction on the inner wall of the tank, a pair of heaters and temperature sensors arranged in the detection tubes at intervals, and operation of the heater And a temperature control device for comparing the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and under the predetermined condition according to the comparison result of the detected temperature, the ice throwing device is operated to operate in the ice supply tank. An ice heat storage tank level detection device comprising crushed ice supplied to the heat storage tank. 4. The detection tube according to claim 1, wherein a hole having a width of about 2/3 of the inner diameter of the tube is provided on the upper side of the wall of the detection tube. Level detector for ice storage tank. 5. The detection pipes are arranged in a zigzag manner or in a slanting manner along the depth direction of the heat storage tank, and the actual spacing in the slanting direction is kept above the heat-affected range of the heater in the pipe, and at the same time, in the depth direction. The apparent spacing between the two is set to be smaller than the actual spacing, the first spacing, the second spacing, or the third spacing.
Item 5. A level detection device for an ice storage tank according to item 4 or item 4. 6. The detection tube is embedded in the tank wall of the heat storage tank, and the end surfaces of the heater and the temperature sensor held by the filler in the tube are installed on substantially the same plane as the inner surface of the tank. The ice heat storage tank level detection device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, or 5.