JPH0996468A - Cooling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve the raving of fluorocarbon of a cooling system with the compressor type refrigeration cycle by thermally coupling the heat radiating side of thermoelement with the downstream side of the coolant of an evaporator and arranging the heat-absorbing side heat exchanger of the thermoelement in the space to be cooled. SOLUTION: A Peltier element 4 is arranged between the heat absorbing side heat exchanger 5 and an evaporator 6, the heat absorbing side heat exchanger 5 is thermally coupled with the heat absorbing side of the Peltier element 4, and the downstream side of the evaporator 6 is thermally coupled with the heat radiating side of the Peltier element 4. The inside of a compartment 3 is cooled by the heat of evaporation of coolant in the evaporator 6, the voltage of the predetermined polarity is applied to the Peltier element 4 and the Peltier element 4 cools the inside of the compartment 3 absorbing the heat from it through the heat absorbing side of the heat exchanger 5. At the heat producing side of the Peltier element 4, the coolant outlet temperature of the evaporator 6 is raised by imparting radiated heat to the part of the downstream side of the evaporator 6. The cooling capability is increased as the inside of the compartment 3 is cooled by both the heat absorbing side heat exchange 5 and the evaporator 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling device using a compressor type refrigerating cycle such as a refrigerator, a showcase, a vending machine or an air conditioner, and more particularly to a cooling device using a thermoelectric conversion element such as a Peltier element. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A compressor type refrigeration cycle is known as a cooling device for refrigerators, showcases, vending machines, air conditioners and the like.

In general, most compressor type refrigeration cycles use CFCs as a refrigerant, and the refrigerant is evaporated by an evaporator (evaporator) arranged in a refrigerator or in a ventilation passage communicating with a cooling space in the refrigerator, and the heat of vaporization of the refrigerant is evaporated. Is used to cool the air, and then a condenser is used to condense and liquefy the gasified refrigerant, and the liquefied refrigerant is expanded by an expander, and then the refrigerant is circulated again to the evaporator.

[0004]

However, in recent years, development of alternative CFCs and promotion of CFC saving have been requested from the viewpoint of environmental protection such as destruction of CFC's ozone layer and global warming.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cooling device capable of achieving CFC saving.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to an evaporator arranged in a space to be cooled, and a compression for compressing a gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator. Compressor, a condenser that condenses the gaseous refrigerant from the compressor, and an expander that expands the liquid refrigerant from the condenser, and a compressor that supplies the expanded liquid refrigerant to the refrigerant upstream side of the evaporator. In a cooling device using a system refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant downstream side of the evaporator is thermally coupled to the heat radiation side of the thermoelectric conversion element, and the heat absorption side heat exchanger of the thermoelectric conversion element is arranged in the cooling target space. It is characterized by

According to the present invention, the cooling capacity can be increased by the heat absorption side heat exchanger of the thermoelectric conversion element, so that the cooling capacity on the refrigeration cycle side can be reduced by that amount, and at the same time, CFC saving is achieved. Achieve miniaturization of the refrigerant circuit including the evaporator, condenser, and expander. Further, since the heat from the heat radiation side of the thermoelectric conversion element is given to the downstream side of the evaporator, the refrigerant temperature (pressure) at the inlet of the compressor rises,
Therefore, the compression action of the compressor is correspondingly assisted, the load on the compressor is reduced, and the heat radiation from the thermoelectric conversion element can be effectively used.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an evaporator arranged in an air passage communicating with the space to be cooled, a compressor for compressing a gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator, and a gaseous state from the compressor In a cooling device using a compressor-type refrigeration cycle, which comprises a condenser for condensing a refrigerant and an expander for expanding the liquid refrigerant from the condenser, and supplying the expanded liquid refrigerant to a refrigerant upstream side of the evaporator. The heat radiation side of the thermoelectric conversion element is thermally coupled with a refrigerant pipe between the evaporator and the compressor, and the heat absorption side heat exchanger of the thermoelectric conversion element is arranged in the cooling target space. Characterize.

According to the present invention, the cooling capacity can be increased by the heat absorption side heat exchanger of the thermoelectric conversion element, so that the cooling capacity on the refrigeration cycle side can be reduced by that amount, and at the same time, CFC saving is achieved. Achieve miniaturization of the refrigerant circuit including the evaporator, condenser, and expander. Further, since the heat from the heat radiation side of the thermoelectric conversion element is given to the refrigerant pipe between the evaporator and the compressor, the refrigerant temperature (pressure) at the inlet of the compressor rises, and therefore the compressor temperature is increased by that amount. The compression action is assisted, the load on the compressor is reduced, and the heat radiation from the thermoelectric conversion element can be effectively used.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(I) First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a vertical sectional view of a freezer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment discloses an example in which the present invention is applied to a refrigeration cycle of a direct cooling system.

As shown in FIG. 1, a freezer casing 1
An evaporator 6 made of an L-shaped roll bond panel is arranged along the bottom surface and the bottom surface of the interior 3 formed by. Further, the heat absorption side heat exchanger 5 composed of a heat panel on a flat plate having an inverted L shape is arranged so that a part thereof overlaps with the refrigerant downstream side of the evaporator 6 along the upper surface to the rear surface of the interior 3. . The Peltier element 4 is arranged between the heat absorption side heat exchanger 5 and the refrigerant downstream side of the evaporator 6, and the heat absorption side heat exchanger 5
Is thermally coupled to the heat absorption side of the Peltier element 4, and the evaporator 6
The downstream side of is thermally coupled to the heat radiation side of the Peltier element 4. 2 shows a door.

The downstream side of the evaporator 6 is connected to a compressor 7 via a refrigerant pipe, the compressor 7 is a condenser 8, the condenser 8 is an expander 9, and the expander 9 is an upstream side of the evaporator 6. And a compressor type refrigeration cycle is configured.

Next, the operation will be described. The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 7 is condensed in the condenser 8 to be liquefied, and then flows from the upstream side of the evaporator 6 via the expander 9. In the evaporator 6, the heat of vaporization of the refrigerant deprives the heat of the inside 3 and cools the inside 3. On the other hand, when a voltage is applied to the Peltier element 4 with a predetermined polarity to conduct electricity, the heat absorption side of the Peltier element 4 takes away heat from the inside 3 via the heat absorption side heat exchanger 5, and the inside 3 is cooled. In this way, the inside 3 is cooled by both the heat absorption side heat exchanger 5 and the evaporator 6, and the cooling capacity is increased. On the heat radiation side of the Peltier element 4, the heat released is given to the downstream side portion of the evaporator 6, and the heat causes the refrigerant outlet temperature (pressure) of the evaporator 6 to rise. This gas refrigerant is returned to the compressor 7, and the same refrigeration cycle operation is performed thereafter. Here, the load on the compressor 7 is reduced due to the rise of the outlet temperature (pressure) of the refrigerant from the evaporator 6.

(II) Second Embodiment FIG. 2 shows a partial vertical sectional view of a freezer according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows its front view. This embodiment discloses an example in which the present invention is applied to an indirect cooling type refrigeration cycle.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a ventilation passage 15 is provided along the inner surface of the back portion of the casing 1 of the freezer. Inside the ventilation passage 15, the cross fin type evaporator 10 and the heat absorption side heat exchange are provided. The container 12 is arranged. The Peltier element 11 is attached to the heat absorption side heat exchanger 12 in a state of being thermally coupled on the heat absorption side. A heat radiation side heat exchanger 13 is provided on the heat radiation side of the Peltier element 11, and an outlet refrigerant pipe 1 from the evaporator 10 is provided in the heat radiation side heat exchanger 13.
4 is thermally coupled.

A refrigerant circuit is connected to the evaporator 10. The refrigerant circuit includes a compressor 7 for compressing the gasified refrigerant from the evaporator 10, a condenser 8 for condensing and liquefying the compressed refrigerant, and a liquefied refrigerant. The compressor-type refrigeration cycle includes an expander 9 that expands the refrigerant and an evaporator 10 that evaporates the expanded refrigerant to remove heat of vaporization.

Next, the operation will be described. First, the air flow A in the direction shown in the drawing flows in the ventilation passage 15 by driving the blower fan 16 and is supplied into the inside 3 of the refrigerator. The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 7 is condensed in the condenser 8 and liquefied, and then flows from the upstream side of the evaporator 10 through the expander 9. Evaporator 10
Then, the heat of the airflow A passing through the inside of the ventilation path 15 is taken by the heat of vaporization of the refrigerant, and the inside 3 is cooled. On the other hand, when a voltage is applied to the Peltier element 11 with a predetermined polarity to conduct electricity, the heat absorption side of the Peltier element 11 takes away the heat of the airflow A passing through the ventilation path 15 via the heat absorption side heat exchanger 12, and Inner 3 is cooled. In this way, the inside 3 is cooled by both the evaporator 10 and the heat absorption side heat exchanger 12, and the cooling capacity is increased. Further, the heat released on the heat radiation side of the heat radiation side heat exchanger 13 is given to the outlet refrigerant pipe 14 via the heat radiation side heat exchanger 13, and the heat raises the temperature (pressure) of the gaseous refrigerant. This gas refrigerant is the compressor 7
And then the same refrigeration cycle operation is performed.
Here, the load on the compressor 7 is reduced due to the rise of the refrigerant outlet temperature (pressure) of the evaporator 10.

The embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned aspect. For example, the heat absorption side heat exchanger 12 of the Peltier element 11 may have various forms. For example, an extruded fin, a shaving fin, a plate-type heat pipe, a finned tube, a heat pipe, or a combination thereof can be used. In addition, 13 may be configured to use the fin of the above-described aspect or to hold the refrigerant pipe 14 itself and transmit the heat radiation of the Peltier element 11.

[0020]

As described above, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, since the cooling capacity can be increased by the heat absorption side heat exchanger of the thermoelectric conversion element, the cooling on the refrigeration cycle side is correspondingly increased. It is possible to reduce the capacity, and it is possible to achieve a reduction in the size of the refrigerant circuit including the evaporator, the condenser, and the expander as well as the saving of CFCs. Further, since the heat from the heat radiation side of the thermoelectric conversion element is given to the refrigerant on the downstream side (or in the outlet pipe) of the evaporator, the refrigerant temperature (pressure) at the inlet of the compressor rises, and accordingly, the compressor temperature increases accordingly. Of the thermoelectric conversion element can be effectively utilized by reducing the load on the compressor.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

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

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Casing 2 Door 3 Inside 4 Peltier element 5 Endothermic side heat exchanger 6 Evaporator 7 Compressor 8 Condenser 9 Expander 10 Evaporator 11 Peltier element 12 Endothermic side heat exchanger 13 Radiating side heat exchanger 14 Refrigerant piping 15 Ventilation passage 16 Blower fan A Airflow

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An evaporator arranged in a cooling target space,
A compressor for compressing the gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator, a condenser for condensing the gaseous refrigerant from the compressor, and an expander for expanding the liquid refrigerant from the condenser, the expanded liquid refrigerant In a cooling device using a compressor type refrigeration cycle for supplying the refrigerant to the refrigerant upstream side of the evaporator, the refrigerant downstream side of the evaporator is thermally coupled to the heat dissipation side of the thermoelectric conversion element, and the heat absorption side of the thermoelectric conversion element. A cooling device in which a heat exchanger is arranged in the cooling target space. 2. An evaporator arranged in an air passage communicating with a space to be cooled, a compressor for compressing a gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator, and a condenser for condensing the gaseous refrigerant from the compressor. And a expander for expanding the liquid refrigerant from the condenser, in a cooling device using a compressor type refrigeration cycle for supplying the expanded liquid refrigerant to the refrigerant upstream side of the evaporator, on the heat dissipation side of the thermoelectric conversion element. In the cooling device, the refrigerant pipe between the evaporator and the compressor is thermally coupled to the heat exchanger, and the heat absorption side heat exchanger of the thermoelectric conversion element is arranged in the cooling target space.