JPH10220913A - Heat exchanging device for generating supercooled water - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heat exchanger for generating supercooled water in which its manufacturing cost is reduced, its size is made small, a heat exchanging capability is improved, icing of the supercooled water is prevented, icing of the supercooled water during stopped state in operation is inhibited and at the same time its re-starting in operation can be performed smoothly. SOLUTION: The heat exchanger 1 for generating supercooled water is constructed such that a brine cooling tank 18 and a water supercooling tank 16 are integrally assembled to each other, both tanks are arranged in such a manner that brine B is overflowed directly from the water supercooling tank 16 to the brine cooling tank 18, the water supercooling tank 16 is arranged in an annular form near an outer upper side of the brine cooling tank 18 and then the brine B is overflowed through an opened annular upper end edge 22a of the brine cooling tank 16. There is provided a discharging port arranged in such a way that the brine B pumped up by a pump 21 may be discharged in an annular direction. The water supercooling tank 16 is provided with a brine discharging port at a lower position than a heat transfer pipe 6, and brine B of a less amount of flow rate to be overflowed is discharged from the brine discharging port to the brine cooling tank 18.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a supercooled water generating heat exchanger for generating supercooled water by supercooling water to 0 ° C. or less. Applications of this heat exchange device include:
A supercooled continuous ice making device that releases the supercooled state of the generated cooling water to continuously obtain ice is used.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, heat exchange devices for producing supercooled water include:
There is one described in JP-A-5-322233. This heat exchange device includes a supercooling device in which both ends of a heat transfer tube disposed in the shell longitudinal direction in the shell are passed through tube plates at both ends of the shell, and a brine cooling device, and a brine pumped up from the brine cooling device. Is flowed from a brine inlet provided at a local portion of a shell of a supercooling device to a brine outlet, thereby supercooling water flowing in the heat transfer tube.

[0003]

However, the conventional heat exchanger for producing supercooled water has the following problems. (A) Since the subcooling device and the brine cooling device are separate and independent units, the size of the device is increased and the manufacturing cost is increased. (B) The brine flowing in the shell of the supercooling device flows from the locally provided brine inlet toward the brine outlet, causing stagnation of the brine in the shell, and causing a stagnation around the heat transfer tube for water flow. In some cases, it may not be possible to bring the brine into contact evenly. For this reason, the heat exchange capacity is reduced and the supercooled water that blocks the heat transfer tubes freezes. (C) When the operation is stopped due to a power failure or the like, water remaining in the heat transfer heat pipe may be frozen by the brine remaining in the shell. Therefore, the heat transfer tube may be damaged,
The restart may not start up smoothly. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a heat exchange device for generating supercooled water that can solve the above-mentioned conventional problems.

[0004]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a cooling pipe for cooling brine is accommodated in a brine cooling tank in order to reduce the manufacturing cost and downsize the apparatus. The heat exchange device for generating supercooled water, comprising: a brine cooling device; and a supercooling device that accommodates a heat transfer tube for water passage in a water supercooling bath that circulates the brine pumped up from the brine cooling bath. The brine cooling tank and the water supercooling tank are integrated, and both tanks are arranged so that the brine overflows from the water supercooling tank directly to the brine cooling tank. In the present invention, since the brine cooling tank and the water supercooling tank are integrated, the apparatus can be made compact, and the brine overflows directly from the water subcooling tank to the brine cooling tank. There is no need for a pipe for guiding the brine discharged from the cooling tank to the brine cooling tank.

[0005] The means adopted by the present invention according to the second aspect of the present invention for improving the heat exchange capacity and preventing freezing of the supercooled water is the same as that of the first aspect. The water subcooling tank is provided annularly near the upper side of the outside of the brine cooling tank, and the brine overflows through the open annular upper edge of the brine cooling tank. In the present invention, brine is introduced from the entire peripheral area of the annular upper edge of the brine cooling tank or from an appropriate position so that the brine uniformly contacts the heat transfer tube for water flow in the brine cooling tank. Can overflow.

The means adopted by the present invention according to claim 3 for improving the heat exchange capacity and preventing freezing of the supercooled water is the same as that of the heat exchanger for generating supercooled water according to claim 2. The annular subcooling tank has a discharge port for discharging the pump-up brine in the annular direction. In the present invention, since the water flows in the subcooling tank without stagnation in the annular direction, the brine flows around the heat transfer tube for water flow while more uniformly contacting.

The means adopted by the present invention according to claim 4 for preventing freezing of the supercooled water at the time of stoppage of operation and for smoothly starting up the re-operation is the supercooled water according to claim 1, 2, or 3. In the heat exchanger for generation, the water supercooling tank is provided with a brine discharge port at a position below the heat transfer tube,
The brine is discharged from the brine discharge port into the brine cooling tank in a smaller amount than the flow rate to be overflowed. In the present invention, when the flow of water to the heat transfer tube and the pump-up of the brine are stopped due to a power failure or the like, the brine remaining in the water supercooling tank is spontaneously discharged from the brine discharge port to the brine cooling tank. Therefore, the water remaining in the heat transfer tubes does not freeze.

The means adopted by the present invention according to claim 5 for preventing icing of the supercooled water at the time of stoppage of operation and for smoothly starting up the re-operation is the supercooled water according to claim 1, 2, or 3. In the heat exchanger for generation, a brine preparatory tank is provided below the water supercooling tank, and a brine discharge port is provided in the water subcooling tank below the heat transfer tube. That is, the tank and the tank were joined in a brine recovery path via an electromagnetic valve that closed when energized and opened when not energized. In the present invention, when the flow of water to the heat transfer tube and the pump-up stop due to a power failure or the like, the brine remaining in the water supercooling tank is guided from the brine discharge port to the open brine recovery path. Since the water is discharged into the brine preparatory tank, the water remaining in the heat transfer tubes does not freeze.

In order to reduce the size of the apparatus, a means adopted by the present invention according to claim 6 is the heat exchange apparatus for generating supercooled water according to claim 5, wherein the water is provided outside the brine cooling tank. That is, the brine preliminary tank is disposed below the supercooling tank. According to the present invention, the water supercooling tank and the brine preparatory tank are located outside the brine cooling tank.
It becomes a step, and the device can be made compact.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a heat exchange device for generating supercooled water according to the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as "heat exchange device of the present invention").
Is described based on an embodiment shown in the drawings as follows. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an outline of an entire supercooled continuous ice making apparatus provided with a heat exchanger according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. It is a top view of the heat exchange device of the present invention cut in the A line. As shown in FIG. 1, a continuous supercooling continuous ice making device 1 includes a precooling device 2 for obtaining cooling water.
A supercooling device 3 for supercooling the cooling water W2 supplied from the precooling device 2; and an ice generating device 4 for converting the supercooled water W3 obtained by the supercooling device 3 to ice I. By continuously supplying the cooling water W2 to the subcooling device 3, the ice I is continuously obtained by the ice generating device 4.

The precooling device 2 includes a tank 5 for storing cooling water W2, and a heat exchanger 9 including a spiral heat transfer tube built in the tank 5. The heat exchanger 9
The refrigerant is circulated between the refrigerant supply device 11 having the refrigerant compressor and the water in the tank 5 is cooled to approximately 0 ° C. When the cooling water W2 stored in the tank 5 decreases, normal temperature water W1 is automatically injected from a water supply pipe 12 such as a water pipe to secure a water storage surface L having a predetermined height. This automatic water supply is performed by the automatic on-off valve 13. In the tank 5, the drain 4a of the ice generator 4 and the inside 5a of the tank are connected by a collection pipe 13, and the ice generator 4 collects the cold water W4 that has not become ice.

The ice making device 1 operates the pre-cooling device 2 and operates the tank 5 even when the sub-cooling device 3 is not operated.
Since the cooling water W2 can be stored in the subcooling device 3, the cooling water W2 having the optimum temperature is supplied to the supercooling device 3 simultaneously with the activation of the supercooling device 3, and the obtained supercooling water W3 is guided to the ice generating device 4. Ice I can be obtained immediately. The supercooling device 3
, A heat exchanger 15 of the present invention is constituted by the brine cooling device 14 attached thereto, and the brine B for supercooling such as ethylene glycol is circulated between the brine cooling device 14 and the brine cooling device 14. The circulating brine B is cooled by the brine cooling device 14 to lower the temperature, and heat is absorbed by the subcooling device 3 to increase the temperature.

The brine cooling device 14 includes a brine cooling tank 18 for storing brine B for cooling, and a heat exchanger 19 including a spiral heat transfer tube built in the brine cooling tank 18. The heat exchanger 19 reduces the brine stored in the brine cooling tank 18 by minus one.
The cooling medium is circulated between the cooling medium supply device 11 and the cooling medium so as to cool to about 2 ° C. to about −14 ° C. The heat exchange device 15 of the present invention comprising the subcooling device 3 and the brine cooling device 14 is formed integrally with an annular water subcooling tank 16 near the upper outside of a cylindrical brine cooling tank 18 having an open upper end. It is. The brine B is guided from the discharge port 18a of the brine cooling tank 18 to the circulation pipe 20 and pumped up by the circulation pump 21 so that the water subcooling tank 16 is cooled.
Is supplied to the supply port 16a.

The brine B supplied to the water subcooling tank 16 exchanges heat with the cooling water W1 passing through the heat transfer pipe 6 while passing through the water supercooling tank 16. do it,
The cooling water W1 is further cooled to be supercooled water W3 of about minus 3 ° C. Brine B that has passed through the water subcooling tank 16
Overflows from the upper end edge 22a of the opening of the annular boundary wall 22 that separates the brine cooling tank 18 and the water supercooling tank 16, and returns to the brine cooling tank 18. The supercooling device 3 can cause the brine B to overflow from the entire peripheral area of the annular upper edge 22a of the brine cooling tank 18 or from an appropriate position, so that the brine is uniformly contacted around the heat transfer tube 6 described later. Becomes possible. The brine cooling tank 18 is provided to allow the brine B to overflow evenly from the entire peripheral area of the annular upper edge 22a or from an appropriate position.
Although not shown, a notch such as a V notch may be provided in the upper edge 22a for each circumferential pitch as appropriate.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the supercooling device 3 houses the heat transfer tubes 6 in an annular water subcooling tank 16. The heat transfer tube 6 is formed by winding a rubber tube (for example, a silicon rubber tube or the like) having cooling resistance and water resistance in a single or multiple (three in the drawing) gentle spiral shape. To maintain the spiral shape. The gentle spiral shape means that the heat transfer tube 6 is formed with a spiral radius that allows cooling water or supercooled water to flow in a stable state without stagnation in the tube. The use of a rubber tube for the heat transfer tube 6 allows the inner surface of the tube to be formed smoothly and to be spirally wound without causing wrinkles on the inner surface of the tube, so that irregularities causing ice nuclei are formed on the inner surface of the tube. Because it does not. Further, since the rubber tube is a material having cooling resistance, there is little fear that a thermal shock that forms an ice nucleus is given to the cooling water.

The precooling device 2 and the subcooling device 3 are connected by a cooling water supply pipe 7 between a drain 5a of a tank 5 of the precooling device 2 and a water supply port 6a of a heat transfer tube 6 of the supercooling device 3. is there.
The cooling water supply pipe 7 is provided with a water supply pump 24 and a detector 8 in the middle thereof. The detector 8 is for detecting a change in the flow rate in the pipe, and a type or the like for obtaining a flow rate by measuring a pressure difference with a flow rate detecting element such as an orifice is selected. In the supercooling device 3, if the generation of ice in the heat transfer tube 6 starts, a small amount of ice adheres to the inner surface of the tube to gradually increase the water flow resistance in the tube, and thus flows through the cooling water supply tube 7. The flow rate of the cooling water W2 also gradually decreases. The detector 8 is
By detecting this decrease in the flow rate, it is possible to detect the start of ice formation in the supercooling device 3. When the detector 8 detects a value smaller than the set flow rate value, the detector 8 automatically outputs a signal a to increase the cooling water load by increasing the water supply amount of the cooling water pump 24, or to increase the cooling load,
By reducing or stopping the amount of circulating water in 4, the cooling capacity is reduced, and the like, and increase in ice generation in the heat transfer tube 6 is prevented.

The supercooling device 3 is provided with a drain port 6 of a heat transfer tube 6.
A guide tube 25 made of a rubber tube (for example, a silicone rubber tube or the like) having cooling resistance and water resistance extends from b. The guide tube 25 has the water outlet 25a facing the ice generating device 4. The ice generating device 4 releases the supercooling of the supercooled water W3 discharged from the water discharge port 25a of the guide tube 25 to form ice. The ice generating device 4 includes a receiving tray 29 for receiving the generated ice I, and forcibly cooling the contact surface 2 for forming an ice nucleus at a place where the ice I is to be contacted with the supercooled water W3.
6 is exposed. The contact surface 26 is formed of a surface of a cooling pipe 27 through which the brine B flows in the pipe, or a heat transfer plate (not shown) that is in heat transfer contact with the cooling pipe 27.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 3A and 3B show a second embodiment of the heat exchange apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a front view of the left half section, and FIG. It is the top view which carried out the cross section by the AA of A), and was partly cut. The heat exchanger 15 of the present invention according to the present embodiment has one discharge port 31 so as to discharge the brine B to be pumped up into the water subcooling tank 16 in the annular direction (direction of arrow C) of the tank 16b. Or a plurality is provided. The structure other than having the discharge port 31 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment. Discharge port 31
Is discharged from the tank 1 of the water subcooling tank 16.
6b flows in the annular direction without stagnation, so that it flows around the heat transfer tube 6 for water flow while making uniform contact. As a result, the heat exchange device 15 of the present invention can improve the heat exchange capacity, and does not cause freezing of the supercooled water that closes the heat transfer tube 6.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the heat exchanger of the present invention, and is a sectional front view. The heat exchange device 1 of the present invention according to the present embodiment
5 is provided with a brine discharge port 33 at a position below the heat transfer tube 6 in the water subcooling tank 16. Brine outlet 33
Discharges a smaller amount of brine into the brine cooling tank 18 than the flow rate overflowing from the upper end edge 22 a of the opening of the boundary wall 22. The structure other than having the brine discharge port 33 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment (see FIG. 1). The same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment denote the same components. Brine circulation pump 21 and water supply pump 2
4 (see FIG. 1) is stopped due to a power failure or the like, since the brine B remaining in the tank 16b of the water subcooling tank 16 is spontaneously discharged from the brine discharge port 33 to the brine cooling tank 18. The water remaining in the heat transfer tube 6 is not frozen. As a result, the heat exchange device 15 of the present invention
Since there is no freezing of water remaining on the heat transfer pipe, re-operation can be started up smoothly and the heat transfer tube 6 is not damaged.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the heat exchanger of the present invention, and is a sectional front view. The heat exchange device 3 of the present invention according to the present embodiment
5 includes a supercooling device 3 and a brine cooling device 14 as in the first embodiment (see FIG. 1). The heat exchange device 35 of the present invention is characterized in that a brine discharge port 33 provided below the heat transfer tube 6 of the water subcooling tank 16 and a brine preliminary tank 38 are joined by a brine recovery path 36 and a brine recovery path 36. Is provided with an electromagnetic valve 37 which closes when energized and opens when not energized. The brine preliminary tank 38 and the brine cooling tank 18 are joined by a brine pumping path 39 and a pump 40, and when the operation is resumed, the brine B in the brine preliminary tank 38 is pumped into the brine cooling tank 18. It is. The brine cooling tank 18 is provided with a stirrer 41 to facilitate cooling of the brine B by the heat exchanger 19. When the brine circulating pump 21 and the water supply pump 24 (see FIG. 1) are stopped due to a power failure or the like, the water subcooling tank 16 is stopped.
Since the brine B remaining in the heat transfer tube 6 is spontaneously discharged from the brine discharge port 33 through the solenoid valve 37 in the open state and into the brine preparatory tank 38, the water remaining in the heat transfer tube 6 cannot be frozen. Absent.

(Fifth Embodiment) FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional front view showing a fifth embodiment of the heat exchange device of the present invention. The heat exchange device 4 of the present invention according to the present embodiment.
5 is a supercooling device 3, a brine cooling device 14, a brine pumping passage 3 as in the fourth embodiment (see FIG. 5).
9 and a pump 40. The present invention heat exchanger 45
The first feature is that a brine preliminary tank 48 is disposed outside the brine cooling tank 18 and below the water supercooling tank 16 to form a two-stage structure with upper and lower parts, thereby making the apparatus compact.

The second characteristic of the heat exchange device 45 of the present invention is that the heat exchange device 45 is provided from a brine discharge port 47 provided below the heat transfer tube 6 of the water supercooling tank 16 to a proper position above the water supercooling tank 16 in the tank. The brine circulation path 49 is extended, and the brine circulation path 4 is extended.
A brine recovery path 46 is extended from a suitable location on the upstream side of a circulation pump 50 provided in the middle of 9 to a brine preliminary tank 48,
Further, an electromagnetic valve 37 similar to that of the fourth embodiment is provided in the middle of the brine collection path 46. In the heat exchange device 45 of the present invention, the brine B in the tank of the water subcooling tank 16 is forcedly circulated by the circulation pump 50 so that the brine B contacts the heat transfer pipe 6 for water flow more evenly. While flowing, the heat exchange capacity can be improved and the freezing of the supercooled water can be prevented.

(Other Embodiments) The Subcooling Device 3
Is an annular brine discharge pipe (not shown) having a large number of discharge holes for discharging brine toward the heat insulating pipe 6 on the bottom side of the water subcooling tank 16 and below the heat insulating pipe 6.
And the brine discharge pipe is connected to the brine circulation pipe 20.
In some cases. In this case, the supercooling device 3 is provided with the brine B discharged from the discharge hole of the brine discharge pipe.
Can be raised in the tank while being uniformly contacted around the heat transfer tube 6 for water flow and overflow.

[0024]

As described in detail above, the heat exchange device of the present invention
It has the following excellent effects. The present invention described in claim 1 reduces the production cost by integrating the brine cooling tank and the water subcooling tank and eliminating the need for piping for guiding the brine discharged from the water subcooling tank to the brine cooling tank. Reduction and space saving can be achieved. According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, since the brine flowing without stagnation in the water subcooling tank is uniformly contacted around the heat transfer tube for water flow, the heat exchange capacity can be improved. In addition, smooth operation can be ensured without freezing of the supercooled water that blocks the heat transfer tube.

According to the present invention, the water remaining in the heat transfer tube is not frozen even when the operation is stopped, so that the re-operation can be started up smoothly and the heat transfer tube can be cooled. No damage. According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the upper and lower two-stage structure of the water subcooling tank and the brine preparatory tank can make the apparatus compact and save space.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an outline of an entire subcooling continuous ice making device provided with a heat exchange device of the present invention according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the heat exchange device of the present invention, taken along a line AA in FIG.

3A and 3B show a second embodiment of the heat exchange apparatus of the present invention, in which FIG. 3A is a front view in which a left half is sectioned, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. It is the top view which carried out partial resection.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional front view showing a third embodiment of the heat exchange device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional front view showing a fourth embodiment of the heat exchange device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional front view showing a fifth embodiment of the heat exchange device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 6: heat transfer tube, 18: brine cooling tank, 16: water supercooling tank, 22a: upper edge, 31: discharge port, 33: brine discharge port, 38 (48): brine preliminary tank

Claims (6)

[Claims] A brine cooling device containing a cooling pipe for cooling brine in a brine cooling tank, and a heat transfer pipe for flowing water to a water supercooling tank for circulating a pump-up brine from the brine cooling tank. In the heat exchange device for generating supercooled water provided with the stored supercooling device, the brine cooling tank and the water supercooling tank are integrated, and the brine is directly transferred from the water subcooling tank to the brine cooling tank. A heat exchanger for generating supercooled water, wherein both tanks are arranged so as to overflow. 2. The water subcooling tank is provided in an annular shape near the upper side of the outside of the brine cooling tank, and the brine is caused to overflow through an open upper end edge of the brine cooling tank. 2. The heat exchanger for generating supercooled water according to 1. 3. The supercooled water generation heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the annular water subcooling tank has a discharge port for discharging the pump-up brine in an annular direction. 4. A brine discharge port is provided in the water subcooling tank at a position below the heat transfer tube, and a smaller amount of brine than the flow rate to be overflowed is discharged from the brine discharge port to the brine cooling tank. Claim 1, which was
4. The heat exchanger for generating supercooled water according to 2 or 3. 5. A brine preparatory tank is provided below the water subcooling tank, and a brine discharge port is provided in the water subcooling tank below the heat transfer tube, and a brine discharge port and a brine preparatory tank are provided. 4. The heat exchanger for generating supercooled water according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger is connected via a solenoid valve that closes when energized and opens when non-energized. 6. The heat exchanger for generating supercooled water according to claim 5, wherein the brine preliminary tank is disposed outside the brine cooling tank and below the water subcooling tank.