JPH06159866A - Refrigerating cycle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a capillary tube from being clogged with foreign materials, even when alternate Flon (CFC) such as R-134a which tends to produce the foreign materials is used as a refrigerant. CONSTITUTION:A refrigerating cycle 11 is constructed by connecting a compressor 13, a condenser 14, a drier 15, a capillary tube 16, a foreign material removing unit 25, an evaporator 17 and an accumulator 18 in a closed loop sequentially. The foreign material removing unit 25 is constructed by holding an adsorbent such as activated carbon in a tubular body and removes forein materials called contaminant in a refrigerant by adsorption.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigeration cycle provided in, for example, a household refrigerator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 shows a basic structure of a refrigerating cycle provided in a home refrigerator, for example. That is, the refrigeration cycle is configured by connecting the compressor 1, the condenser 2, the dryer 3, the capillary tube 4, and the evaporator 5 in this order in a closed loop. As a result, the refrigerant enclosed in the refrigeration cycle is compressed by the compressor 1 to a high temperature and high pressure state, liquefied by the condenser 2 and water is removed by the dryer 3, and then passed through the capillary tube 4. To the evaporator 5, and this evaporator 5
At this point, the air in the refrigerator is cooled by performing circulation in which heat is taken from the surrounding air to be vaporized.

By the way, conventionally, in this type of refrigerating cycle, a refrigerant such as R-12 has been used as a refrigerant. However, in recent years, it has been pointed out that when this type of CFC gas is released into the atmosphere, it adversely affects the ozone layer in the stratosphere, and there is a demand to stop the use of CFCs. Therefore, as a refrigerant for this type of refrigeration cycle, it has been considered to use so-called alternative freon such as R-134a in place of conventional freon.

[0004]

According to the experiments and research conducted by the present inventors, impurities such as R-134a in the compressor oil are contained in the high temperature portion when a CFC substitute such as R-134a is used as the refrigerant. Due to a chemical reaction, a foreign substance abbreviated as contamination (for example, a metal salt of carboxylic acid) is generated, and the foreign substance begins to precipitate in the low temperature part. With a long-term use, the foreign substance has a particularly small diameter. It has been found that there is a risk of depositing inside the capillary tube 4 and clogging the capillary tube 4 in the worst case.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a refrigeration cycle capable of preventing the refrigerant flow passage from being clogged with foreign matter.

[0006]

The refrigeration cycle of the present invention comprises a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator connected in a closed loop. The refrigerant flow path between the condenser and the evaporator is a The feature is that a foreign matter remover for removing foreign matter is provided.

In this case, it is effective to provide a foreign matter remover integrally with the dryer in the case where the dryer is provided with a dryer for removing water.

Further, in the one provided with a muffler for noise reduction, the foreign matter remover can be provided integrally with the muffler.

[0009]

When a CFC substitute such as R-134a is used as the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle, impurities in the compressor oil cause a chemical reaction in the high temperature part, and foreign substances abbreviated as contamination are generated. There is a circumstance in which it flows along with the refrigerant and precipitates in the refrigerant flow path between the condenser and the evaporator.

According to the refrigeration cycle of the present invention, the refrigerant is
The compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator flow in this order, but since a foreign matter remover for removing foreign matter from the refrigerant is provided in the refrigerant flow path between the condenser and the evaporator, the situation in which foreign matter is generated Even if there is, the foreign matter can be removed by the foreign matter remover, and it is possible to prevent the refrigerant passage from being clogged with the foreign matter.

In this case, if the foreign matter remover is provided integrally with the dryer or muffler, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps are reduced as compared with the case where the foreign matter remover is provided separately, and the installation space is reduced. Will be less.

[0012]

EXAMPLE A first example (corresponding to claim 1) in which the present invention is applied to a refrigerating cycle of a domestic refrigerator will be described below.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of a refrigeration cycle 11 according to this embodiment, and FIG.
Shows schematically how the refrigeration cycle 11 is incorporated into the refrigerator body 12.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the refrigeration cycle 11 comprises a compressor 13, a condenser 14, a dryer 15, a capillary tube 16, an evaporator 17, and an accumulator 18, which are sequentially connected in a closed loop. In this case, in the refrigeration cycle 11, a substitute CFC such as R-134a that does not adversely affect the ozone layer is enclosed as a refrigerant.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the compressor 13 and the dryer 15 are provided in a machine room 12a provided in the lower portion of the refrigerator body 12 on the rear side, and the condenser 14 is provided in the bottom portion of the body 12. It is provided in.
Further, the evaporator 17 is arranged in a cooler chamber (not shown) formed on the back side of the main body 12. The capillary tube 16 is provided along with a suction pipe 19 that connects the accumulator 18 and the compressor 13.

More specifically, an evaporation pipe 20 for evaporating defrost water is provided between the compressor 13 and the condenser 14.
A clean pipe 20 is provided between the condenser 14 and the dryer 15 so as to pass through the front surface of the partition wall in the main body 12. A differential pressure valve 22 is provided between the dryer 15 and the capillary tube 16, and a check valve 23 at the end of the suction pipe 19 is provided.
A bypass passage 24 is provided that connects to the downstream portion of the.

A foreign matter remover 25 for adsorbing and removing foreign matter in the refrigerant is provided in the refrigerant flow path between the condenser 14 and the evaporator 17, in this case, at the end portion of the capillary tube 16. Has been. This foreign matter remover 25, as shown in FIG.
The inside of the capillary tube 16 is filled with an adsorbent 27 such as activated carbon, and is connected to the end portion of the capillary tube 16.

In the above structure, when the refrigerating cycle 11 is operated, the refrigerant is compressed by the compressor 13 into a high temperature and high pressure state, liquefied by the condenser 14, water and the like are removed by the dryer 15, and the capillary tube is removed. It goes through 16 to the evaporator 17. Then, the evaporator 17 cools the air in the refrigerator by performing circulation in which the refrigerant takes heat from the surrounding air to vaporize it and then returns to the compressor 13 through the accumulator 18. .

Thus, the refrigerant used as an alternative to Freon (R-134)
When a) is used, impurities and the like in the compressor oil cause a chemical reaction in a high temperature part to generate foreign matter (metal salt of carboxylic acid) abbreviated as contamination, and the foreign matter circulates with the refrigerant, especially There is a circumstance that it is likely to be deposited at the terminal end inside the capillary tube 16.

However, in this embodiment, since the foreign matter remover 25 is provided at the end portion of the capillary tube 16, when the refrigerant flows through the foreign matter remover 25, the foreign matter contained therein is removed. Then, it is adsorbed by the adsorbent 27 and removed from the refrigerant. Therefore, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from accumulating in the small-diameter capillary tube 16, and to prevent occurrence of a situation in which the capillary tube 16 is clogged with foreign matter even after long-term use. Of.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since the foreign matter remover 25 is provided at the terminal end portion of the capillary tube 16, there is a circumstance that foreign matter is likely to be generated by using an alternative CFC such as R-134a as the refrigerant. Even in this case, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect that it is possible to prevent the refrigerant flow path from being clogged with foreign matter.

In the above embodiment, the foreign matter remover 25 is provided at the end portion of the capillary tube 16. However, the foreign matter remover 25 is provided at a position where the refrigerant flow path between the condenser 14 and the evaporator 17 is provided. If it is medium, the same effect can be obtained.

Next, a second embodiment (corresponding to claim 2) of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows a basic configuration of the refrigeration cycle 31 according to the present embodiment. This refrigeration cycle 31 has the compressor 13, the condenser 14, and the same as the first embodiment.
The capillary tube 16, the evaporator 17, and the accumulator 18 are sequentially connected in a closed loop. Also, as a refrigerant, substitute CFC (R-134)
a) is enclosed.

In the present embodiment, the dryer 15 described above is used.
Instead of the foreign matter remover 25, a dryer 32 formed by integrating the foreign matter remover is provided between the condenser 14 and the capillary tube 16. 5 and 6
As shown in FIG. 3, the dryer 32 has a substantially cylindrical tubular body 3.
3, a water adsorbent 34 made of, for example, molecular sieves is provided in the upper portion, and an adsorbent 35 such as activated carbon is provided in the lower portion.
It is configured to be housed in a state in which a mesh 36 is arranged above and below and between them. With this, the upper water adsorbent 3
4 functions as a dryer section that mainly adsorbs and removes water from the refrigerant, and the lower adsorbent 35 functions as a foreign matter remover that adsorbs and removes foreign matter from the refrigerant.

As shown in FIG. 6, the dryer 32 has a mesh 33, an adsorbent 35, a mesh 36, a water adsorbent 34, and a water adsorbent 34 in a tube 33 whose upper surface is open in the same diameter state.
It can be manufactured by accommodating the meshes 36 in this order and then drawing the upper portion of the tubular body 33.

Even in such a refrigeration cycle 31,
Similar to the first embodiment, since the dryer 32 having the foreign matter remover integrated therein is provided between the condenser 14 and the capillary tube 16, foreign matter is generated by using an alternative CFC such as R-134a as the refrigerant. Even if it is easy to get rid of the foreign matter, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant flow path from being clogged with foreign matter. In addition to that, a foreign matter remover is provided with a dryer 32.
Since it is integrally provided in the device, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps are reduced and the installation space can be reduced as compared with the case where the foreign matter remover and the dryer are provided separately. It is possible to obtain such advantages.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention (claim 3).
1) shows a muffler 41 in which a foreign matter remover and a drier are integrated, and the muffler 41 is called a contaminant from the refrigerant in addition to the function of the muffler for silencing the refrigerant noise. Function to adsorb and remove foreign matter, and further
It integrally has a dryer function for removing water from the refrigerant.

That is, in the muffler 41, a cavity 43 which functions as a muffler is formed in an upper portion of a large-diameter tubular body 42, and a water adsorbent 44 made of, for example, molecular sieves, which functions as a drier in the middle, An adsorbent 45 such as activated carbon that adsorbs and removes foreign matter from the refrigerant is contained in the lower part through three meshes 46 as well.

Even with such a construction, the muffler 41 (adsorbent 45) integrated with the foreign matter remover is used to convert R-1 into the refrigerant.
Even if foreign matter is likely to be generated by using an alternative CFC such as 34a, the foreign matter in the refrigerant can be adsorbed and removed, and the refrigerant flow path can be prevented from being clogged with the foreign matter. Then, the foreign matter remover and the dryer are attached to the muffler 41.
Since it is configured to be integrally provided in, the foreign matter remover, the dryer, and the muffler are also provided separately,
It is possible to obtain the advantages that the number of parts and the number of assembling steps are reduced, and the space for disposing is reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but is not limited to household refrigerators, for example, and can be applied to general equipment including a refrigeration cycle such as an air conditioner, within the scope of the invention. Various changes are possible with.

[0030]

As is clear from the above description, according to the refrigeration cycle of the present invention, a foreign matter remover for removing foreign matter from the refrigerant is provided in the refrigerant flow path between the condenser and the evaporator. Since it is provided, it is possible to obtain the excellent practical effect of preventing the refrigerant flow passage from being clogged with foreign matter even when using a refrigerant that easily produces foreign matter.

Further, in the case where a dryer for removing water from the refrigerant is provided, if a foreign matter remover is provided integrally with the dryer, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant flow passage from being clogged with foreign matter. In addition, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced, and the installation space can be reduced.

Further, in the one provided with a muffler for noise reduction, if the foreign matter remover is provided integrally with the muffler, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant flow passage from being clogged with foreign matter, and The number of parts and the number of assembling steps are reduced, and the installation space is reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention and is a configuration diagram of a refrigeration cycle.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from the back side showing the assembly configuration of the refrigeration cycle to the refrigerator body.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the structure of a foreign matter remover.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a refrigeration cycle showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the structure of a foreign matter remover.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining a method of manufacturing a foreign matter remover.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing the structure of a foreign matter remover according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a refrigeration cycle showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the drawing, 11 and 31 are refrigeration cycles, 12 is a refrigerator main body, 12a is a machine room, 13 is a compressor, 14 is a condenser, 15 is a dryer, 16 is a capillary tube,
17 is an evaporator, 25 is a foreign matter remover, 26, 33,
42 is a tubular body, 27, 35 and 45 are adsorbents, 32 is a dryer, 34 and 44 are water adsorbents, 36 and 46 are meshes,
41 indicates a muffler, and 43 indicates a cavity.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kazutoshi Taniguchi 1-6 Ota Toshiba-cho, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka Inside the Toshiba Osaka factory (72) Inventor Keizo Tsukamoto 1-6 Ota-Toshiba-cho, Ibaraki-shi, Osaka Issue Toshiba Abu E Co., Ltd. Osaka Office

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator are connected in a closed loop, and a foreign matter remover for removing foreign matter from the refrigerant is provided in a refrigerant flow path between the condenser and the evaporator. A refrigeration cycle characterized by being provided. 2. A dryer is provided between the condenser and the evaporator to remove water from the refrigerant, and
The refrigeration cycle according to claim 1, wherein the foreign matter remover is provided integrally with the dryer. 3. The muffler for noise reduction is provided between the condenser and the evaporator, and the foreign matter remover is provided integrally with the muffler. Refrigeration cycle described in.