JPH09273822A - Capacity control device for thermal gas engine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a speedy capacity control by preventing lowering of a heating temperature while preventing an increase in the number of parts which require pressure resistance. SOLUTION: A thermal gas engine comprises operating chambers 13, 14 which are operated by an external heat and provide a thermal cycle by a pressure change of a working fluid and a machine chamber 63 which receives a small pressure change. In a capacity control device of this thermal engine, the operating chambers 13, 14 are communicated with the machine chamber 63 and means is provided for maintaining the pressure of the working medium in the machine chamber 63 at either an approximately lowermost pressure or an approximately highest pressure of the changing pressure in the operating chambers 13, 14.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a capacity control device for a hot gas engine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a hot gas engine having a low temperature heat exchanger and a high temperature heat exchanger is provided, and a heat medium exchanged through the low temperature heat exchanger and the high temperature heat exchanger of the hot gas engine is
A heat pump type cooling and heating device that cools and heats a room to be conditioned by circulating the heat source side heat exchanger and the use side heat exchanger is known. This type of equipment is equipped with a combustor for driving the hot gas engine. With regard to the capacity control of the heating and cooling system, it is general to control the combustion amount of this combustor to control the capacity of the hot gas engine. is there.

However, in the method for controlling the heating temperature described above, the algorithm is simple because it only controls the amount of combustion, but since the time-consuming process of changes in the amount of combustion and heat transfer is involved, the response is responsive. There is a problem of being inferior.

On the other hand, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-198671, an electric motor having a large capacity is provided,
A method is proposed in which the heating temperature control described above is performed after the rotation speed is changed by this electric motor.
According to this, although capacity control can be performed promptly, it is necessary to supply electric power to the electric motor, so that there is a problem that energy efficiency is lowered as a whole.

Further, in the above-mentioned method of controlling the heating temperature, the control for lowering the heating temperature by the combustor is performed in the case of a low load, but the low heating temperature results in low efficiency of the heat cycle. Therefore, there is a problem that it is not preferable from the viewpoint of energy efficiency.

Further, as a method for preventing a decrease in heating temperature and performing a quick capacity control, there is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-104346.
As described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-246453 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-246453, a method of changing the working pressure of a working fluid is proposed.

[0007]

However, according to this method, a buffer tank for temporarily storing the working fluid is required, so that the number of parts requiring pressure resistance is increased and the installation of this tank is required. There is a problem that space is required.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, to prevent a decrease in heating temperature without increasing the number of parts that require pressure resistance, and to perform a quick capacity control of a hot gas engine. It is to provide a control device.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In a capacity control device for a hot gas engine, which has a working chamber that is operated by heat from the outside and forms a heat cycle by pressure fluctuations of a working fluid, and a machine control chamber having a small pressure fluctuation, the working chamber and the machine chamber are A means for maintaining the pressure of the working fluid in the machine chamber at a substantially minimum pressure or a maximum pressure of the fluctuation pressure in the working chamber is provided.

A second aspect of the present invention is a capacity control device for a hot gas engine having a working chamber that operates by heat from the outside and forms a heat cycle by pressure fluctuations of the working fluid, and a machine chamber with little pressure fluctuations. In, the working chamber and the machine chamber are connected by two passages each having an on-off valve and a check valve, the respective check valves are arranged in opposite directions, and the pressure of the working fluid in the machine chamber is It is characterized in that a means for maintaining the fluctuation pressure of the working chamber at the minimum pressure or the maximum pressure is provided.

A third aspect of the present invention is a capacity control device for a hot gas engine having a working chamber which is operated by heat from the outside and forms a heat cycle by a pressure fluctuation of a working fluid, and a machine room with little pressure fluctuation. In the above, the working chamber and the machine room are connected to each other by one switching valve which is connected to the working chamber and has a neutral point, and two passages which branch from the switching valve and are connected to the machine room and each have a check valve, The respective check valves are arranged in opposite directions, and a means for maintaining the pressure of the working fluid in the machine chamber at substantially the minimum pressure or the maximum pressure of the fluctuation pressure in the working chamber is provided. Is.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second or third aspect, the opening / closing valve is opened / closed by an actuator.

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of an air conditioner equipped with a hot gas engine 1 utilizing the Vilmier cycle according to the present invention.

The Vilmier cycle hot gas engine 1 itself is publicly known, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. However, the high temperature side displacer piston 2 and the low temperature side displacer piston 3 are arranged orthogonally to each other, and these are arranged such as helium. It is stored in a container in which the working gas is sealed. The inside of the container is divided into a high temperature chamber 12, middle greenhouses 13 and 14, and a low temperature chamber 15. Further, it has a heater 16, and the heater 16 is heated by the combustor 11.

The two displacer pistons 2 and 3 are positioned at 90 ° from each other, for example, when the high temperature side displacer piston 2 reaches an intermediate position toward the bottom dead center, the low temperature side displacer piston 3 reaches the right dead center. ℃
It is connected via a crank 10 driven by a motor 9 so that it can be operated out of phase. When the high-temperature side displacer piston 2 and the low-temperature side displacer piston 3 operate, the enclosed working gas moves through the high-temperature regenerator 4 and the low-temperature regenerator 7 and passes through the regenerators 4 and 7. The working gas is pressurized or depressurized by being heated or cooled. For example, when the working gas in the high temperature chamber 12 moves to the middle temperature chamber 13 through the high temperature regenerator 4, the working gas stores heat in the high temperature regenerator 4. Further, when the working gas returns from the high-temperature regenerator 4 to the high-temperature chamber 12, the heat stored in the high-temperature regenerator 4 is returned to the working gas.

The exchange of heat with the outside is achieved by the heater 1
6, medium temperature heat exchangers 5 and 6 connected to the middle greenhouse and low temperature heat exchanger 8 connected to the low temperature chamber. For example, the heater 16 gives heat to the working gas in the high temperature chamber 12, the working gases in the middle greenhouses 13 and 14 radiate heat in the middle temperature heat exchangers 5 and 6, and the working gas in the low temperature chamber 15 cools the low temperature heat exchanger 8. Absorbs heat at. That is, the heater 16 and the low temperature heat exchanger 8 form the heat absorbing part of the hot gas engine 1, and the medium temperature heat exchangers 5 and 6 form the heat radiating part of the hot gas engine 1.

According to this embodiment, a heat pump type cooling and heating device (hereinafter,
"Air conditioner". ) 100 is configured. The air conditioner 100 includes a usage side unit 200 and a heat source side unit 300 that houses the hot gas engine 1. A usage-side heat exchanger 201 is arranged in the usage-side unit 200, and the hot-gas engine 1 is installed in the heat-source-side unit 300.
Besides, a heat source side heat exchanger 301 is provided. 203
Is an indoor fan, and 303 is an outdoor fan.

For example, at the time of cooling, the low-temperature heat exchanger (heat absorbing portion) 8 and the use-side heat exchanger 201 are connected to the pipe 21 and the four-way valve 6.
1 and a pipe 22, and further a use side heat exchanger 2
01 The low temperature heat exchanger (heat absorbing part) 8 includes a pipe line 23 and a four-way valve 6.
2 and the pipe 24. Further, the middle-temperature heat exchanger (radiator) 5 and the heat-source-side heat exchanger 301 are connected by a pipe 31, a four-way valve 61, and a pipe 32, and further, the heat-source-side heat exchanger 301 and the middle-temperature heat exchanger (radiator). 6 is connected by a pipe 33, a four-way valve 62 and a pipe 34. Further, the intermediate temperature heat exchangers (heat radiation parts) 5 and 6 are connected by a pipe line 35. As the heat medium circulating in the pipe, for example, water is used.

Next, the cooling / heating operation will be described.

During the cooling operation, the hot gas engine 1 is activated by the ignition of the combustor 11, and the medium-temperature heat exchanger (radiating section) 5,
Heat is radiated from 6 and low temperature heat exchanger (heat absorbing part) 8
Is absorbed. The four-way valves 61 and 62 are switched as shown by the solid line in FIG. In this case, the cold water absorbed in the low temperature heat exchanger (heat absorbing section) 8 flows to the utilization side heat exchanger 201 through the pipe 21, the four-way valve 61, and the pipe 22, where heat is exchanged and the indoor fan 203 is operated. After the cooling air is blown out into the room by rotating (cooling), it returns to the low temperature heat exchanger (heat absorbing part) 8 through the pipe line 23, the four-way valve 62 and the pipe line 24.

At this time, the hot water radiated by the intermediate-temperature heat exchanger (radiator) 5 flows through the pipe 31, the four-way valve 61, and the pipe 32 to the heat source side heat exchanger 301, where the outdoor fan 303 rotates. After performing the heat exchange,
It flows through the pipe 33, the four-way valve 62, and the pipe 34 to the middle-temperature heat exchanger (radiator) 6, and further returns to the middle-temperature heat exchanger 5 through the pipe 35.

During the heating operation, the hot gas engine 1 is activated by the ignition of the combustor 11, and the medium-temperature heat exchanger (radiating section) 5,
Heat is radiated from 6 and low temperature heat exchanger (heat absorbing part) 8
Is absorbed. Further, the four-way valves 61 and 62 are switched as shown by a dotted line in FIG. In this case, the hot water that has received heat radiation in the intermediate temperature heat exchanger (heat radiation section) 5 flows to the usage-side heat exchanger 201 through the pipe 31, the four-way valve 61, and the pipe 22, and the indoor fan 203 is rotated there. After exchanging heat and sending out warm air to the room (heating), it flows to the intermediate temperature heat exchanger (radiating section) 6 through the pipe 23, the four-way valve 62 and the pipe 34, and further through the pipe 35. Return to 5.

At this time, the cold water absorbed by the low-temperature heat exchanger (heat absorbing portion) 8 flows to the heat source side heat exchanger 301 through the pipe 21, the four-way valve 61, and the pipe 32, where the outdoor fan 3
After exchanging heat by rotating 03, pipe 3
It returns to the low temperature heat exchanger (heat absorbing part) 8 through the three, four-way valve 62 and the pipe line 24.

Next, the hot gas engine 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

The hot gas engine 1 includes a high temperature side displacer piston 2 and a low temperature side displacer piston 3.
Two pipes (which connect the middle greenhouses (hereinafter, referred to as “working chambers”) 13 and 14 corresponding to the respective rod side chambers of the above and a crank chamber (hereinafter, referred to as “machine room”) 63 that houses the crank 10 ( Passages) 65a and 65b are provided. An electric valve (open / close valve) 71 is provided on each of the pipes 65a and 65b.
a and 71b and check valves 73a and 73b are provided, and the check valves 73a and 73b are arranged in opposite directions.
Incidentally, 75a and 75b constitute an actuator for opening and closing the on-off valve.

Next, the operation will be described.

Looking at the pressure change of the working gas in the hot gas engine 1, the pressure of the working gas in the working chambers 13, 14 fluctuates with time in synchronization with the rotation cycle of the crank 10, as shown in FIG. To do. On the other hand, the working chambers 13, 14
Since the machine chamber 63 and the machine chamber 63 are separated via the seals 100 and 101, the pressure fluctuations of the working gas in the working chambers 13 and 14 described above are not propagated to the machine chamber 63, and the operation of the machine chamber 63 is performed. As shown in FIG. 3, the pressure fluctuation of the gas becomes extremely smaller than the pressure fluctuation of the working gas in the working chambers 13 and 14. If the capacity is reduced in the above-described cooling and heating apparatus if this state is left as it is, the combustor 1
There is a problem that the capacity of the hot gas engine 1 must be reduced by decreasing the combustion amount of No. 1 and decreasing the temperature of the high temperature chamber.

(A) According to this embodiment, when the air conditioning load is reduced, the electric valve 71b is kept closed without reducing the combustion amount of the combustor 11 of the hot gas engine 1. In advance, the opening degree of the electric valve 71a is opened. When this is opened, (a) the pressure of the working gas in the working chambers 13 and 14 becomes
3 is higher than the working gas pressure, the working chambers 13, 14
Of the working gas moves to the machine room 63 through the pipe 65a, and the pressure of the working gas in the machine room 63 and the working chambers 13, 1
It becomes almost equal to the pressure of the working gas of No. 4.

(B) When the pressure of the working gas in the machine chamber 63 is higher than the pressure of the working gas in the working chambers 13 and 14, the check valve 73a is provided in the pipe 65a. There is no inflow, and if there is, there is an inflow through the seals 100 and 101, but this inflow is extremely small compared to the inflow through the pipe 65a.

According to this, the working gas is the working chamber 13,
Since it moves from 14 to the machine room 63, as shown in FIG. 4, the pressure of the machine room 63 is maintained at approximately the maximum pressure of the fluctuating pressure of the work rooms 13 and 14, and the average pressure of the work rooms 13 and 14 is low. Since it is suppressed, the capacity of the hot gas engine 1 can be reduced to meet the air conditioning load without reducing the combustion amount of the combustor 11.

(B) Contrary to the above, when the air conditioning load increases, the electric valve 71a is closed and the electric valve is closed without increasing the combustion amount of the combustor 11 of the hot gas engine 1. Open the opening of 71b. When this is opened, (a) the pressure of the working gas in the machine chamber 63 changes the working chambers 13, 1
4 is higher than the pressure of the working gas of the machine chamber 63, the working gas of the machine chamber 63 moves to the working chambers 13 and 14 through the pipe 65b, and the pressure of the working gas of the machine chamber 63 and the pressure of the working gas of the working chambers 13 and 14 are increased. Is almost equal to.

(B) When the pressure of the working gas in the working chambers 13 and 14 is higher than the pressure of the working gas in the machine chamber 63, the check valve 73b is provided in the pipe 65b. There is no inflow, and if there is, there is an inflow through the seals 100 and 101, but this inflow is extremely small compared to the inflow through the pipe 65b.

According to this, since the working gas moves from the machine chamber 63 to the work chambers 13 and 14, the pressure in the machine chamber 63 is approximately the fluctuation pressure of the work chambers 13 and 14 as shown in FIG. Since the minimum pressure is maintained and the average pressure of the working chambers 13 and 14 becomes high, the capacity of the hot gas engine 1 can be increased to meet the air conditioning load without increasing the combustion amount of the combustor 11. .

According to this embodiment, as described above,
First, by opening and closing the motor-operated valves 71a and 71b, the average pressure of the working chambers 13 and 14 is increased or decreased, and the capacity of the hot gas engine 1 is increased or decreased. Next, if necessary, the combustion amount of the combustor 11 is increased / decreased, and the capacity of the hot gas engine 1 is increased / decreased.

According to this, the heating temperature by the combustor 11 does not need to be extremely lowered particularly when the load is low, so the capacity of the hot gas engine 1 can be increased or decreased without lowering the efficiency of the heat cycle. You can

(C) When the two motor-operated valves 71a and 71b are closed, since the working gas does not move through the pipes 65a and 65b, the average pressure of the working gases in the working chambers 13 and 14 and the machine chamber 63 It becomes almost equal to the average pressure of the working gas, and becomes an intermediate state between the two states (A) and (B).

(D) When the two electric valves 71a, 71b are opened, the working chambers 13, 14 and the machine chamber 63 communicate with each other through the two pipes 65a, 65b. This state is
The effect is exhibited when the hot gas engine 1 is started.

That is, the hot gas engine 1 starts by starting the motor 9 and starts self-sustaining operation by igniting the combustor 11. When the motor 9 starts, the motor-operated valves 71a and 71b are opened at a predetermined timing. Working rooms 13 and 14 and machine room 6
By connecting 3 with 3, it is possible to reduce the amount of work for compressing the gas in the working chambers 13 and 14 at the time of startup, so that it is possible to reduce the load on the motor 9 at the start of operation. Therefore, the motor 9 can be downsized.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment.

In this embodiment, the working chambers 13 and 14 and the machine chamber 63 are connected as follows. That is, one switching valve 80 having a neutral point (Fig. 6c) is connected to the working chambers 13 and 14, and the switching valve 80 has check valves 81a and 81b arranged in opposite directions. The two pipes 83 and 85 are connected, and these two pipes 8
3, 85 are connected to the machine room 63.

According to this, when the switching valve 80 is switched to the position shown in FIG. 6a, working gas moves from the working chambers 13 and 14 to the machine chamber 63, and when switched to the position shown in FIG. The working gas moves from 63 to the working chambers 13 and 14. Further, when the position is switched to the position (neutral point) shown in FIG. 6c, the movement of the working gas between the working chambers 13 and 14 and the machine chamber 63 is blocked. The states of FIGS. 6a to 6c are the same as those of the embodiment of FIG. 1 (A), (B), and (C), respectively.
Is equivalent to As shown in FIG. 6d, when the switching valve 80 is switched, the working chambers 13 and 14 communicate with the machine chamber 63. The state of FIG. 6d corresponds to the above (D) of the embodiment of FIG.

In short, according to this embodiment, as compared with the above-mentioned embodiments, only the single switching valve 80 is used instead of the two electric valves 71a and 71b, so that the structure is simplified, The manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Although the present invention has been described based on the embodiment, it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, the Vilmier cycle hot gas engine 1 has been described above, but if the Stirling cycle is applied, the Stirling refrigerator, the multiple Ericsson cycle heat pump and the like can also be applied.

[0046]

According to the present invention, the average pressure of the working chamber is increased or decreased by maintaining the pressure of the working fluid in the machine chamber at the minimum pressure or the maximum pressure of the fluctuation pressure in the working chamber. Therefore, the capacity of the hot gas engine can be increased or decreased without increasing or decreasing the combustion amount of the combustor.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a pressure change in a working chamber of a hot gas engine.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a pressure change in a machine room of a hot gas engine.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing pressure changes in a working chamber and a machine chamber of the hot gas engine when the capacity of the hot gas engine according to the present invention is reduced.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing pressure changes in the working chamber and the machine chamber of the hot gas engine when the capacity of the hot gas engine according to the present invention is increased.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Hot Gas Engine 2 High Temperature Side Displacer Piston 3 Low Temperature Displacer Piston 4 High Temperature Regenerator 5,6 Medium Temperature Heat Exchanger (Radiation Section) 7 Low Temperature Regenerator 8 Low Temperature Heat Exchanger (Heat Absorption Section) 10 Crank 11 Combustor 12 High Greenhouse 13, 14 Medium greenhouse (working room) 15 Low greenhouse 16 Heater 63 Machine room 71a, 71b Motorized valve (open / close valve) 80 Switching valve 100 Air conditioner 200 Usage side unit 300 Heat source side unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A capacity control device for a hot gas engine, comprising: a working chamber that is operated by heat from the outside and forms a heat cycle by a pressure fluctuation of a working fluid; and a working chamber for a hot gas engine, wherein: A capacity control device for a hot gas engine, comprising means for connecting to the machine chamber and maintaining the pressure of the working fluid in the machine chamber at a substantially minimum pressure or a maximum pressure of the fluctuation pressure in the working chamber. . 2. A capacity control device for a hot gas engine, comprising: a working chamber which is operated by heat from the outside and forms a heat cycle by pressure fluctuation of a working fluid; The machine chamber is connected with two passages each having an on-off valve and a check valve, and the respective check valves are arranged in opposite directions, and the pressure of the working fluid in the machine chamber is set to the fluctuation pressure of the working chamber. A capacity control device for a hot gas engine, characterized in that it is provided with means for maintaining a substantially minimum pressure or a substantially maximum pressure. 3. A capacity control device for a hot gas engine, comprising: a working chamber that is operated by heat from the outside and forms a heat cycle by pressure fluctuation of a working fluid; The machine chamber is connected to one switching valve that is connected to the working chamber and has a neutral point, and is connected to two passages that branch from this switching valve and that are connected to the machine chamber and each have a check valve. A capacity control device for a hot gas engine, which is arranged in opposite directions and is provided with means for maintaining the pressure of the working fluid in the machine chamber at a substantially minimum pressure or a substantially maximum pressure of the fluctuation pressure in the working chamber. . 4. The capacity control device for a hot gas engine according to claim 2, wherein the on-off valve is opened and closed by an actuator.