JPH11281176A - Chiller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a chiller in which quick cooling operation (pull-down operation) of respective showcase groups coupled with a refrigerating machine is not overlapped. SOLUTION: The chiller comprises a refrigerating machine 1, and a plurality of showcase groups A, B, C, D coupled with the refrigerating machine 1 through a refrigerant tube 3 wherein defrosting operation and subsequent quick cooling operation are performed periodically for respective showcase groups A, B, C, D. The chiller further comprises a control means 5 for shifting the period of defrosting operation such that subsequent quick cooling operation is not overlapped tar respective showcase groups A, B, C, D.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a plurality of showcase groups.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a refrigerating apparatus is known in which a plurality of showcase groups, for example, for meat fish, milk, vegetables, etc., having different temperature zones are connected to a refrigerator via a refrigerant pipe.

[0003] In this type, since the control temperature zone is different, the manner of frost is different for each showcase group. Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG.
A defrosting operation is executed by presetting the number and cycle of defrosting for each day for each of the showcase groups A to D including a3, b1 to b3, c1 to c3, and d1 to d3. In addition, there are two methods of defrosting the showcase: a method of stopping the cooling operation of the showcase and removing it naturally, and a method of stopping the cooling operation of the showcase and actively heating and removing it with the heater. A method has been proposed. In any case, after the defrosting operation shown by the thick line in FIG. 4 is completed, the temperature in the showcase rises.
In order to rapidly cool the inside of the showcase, a rapid cooling operation (hereinafter referred to as a pull-down operation) indicated by a thin line is executed.

[0004]

However, in the conventional configuration, the number and cycle of defrosting per day are preset for each of the showcase groups A to D. For example, in the two showcase groups A and B, The pull-down operations indicated by thin lines may overlap (circles in the figure). When the pull-down operation overlaps, a power consumption peak occurs. When this overlap occurs during the day, for example, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, the peak of the power consumption becomes significantly large.

An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art and to provide a refrigeration system in which the pull-down operations of each showcase group do not overlap.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator, and a plurality of showcase groups connected to the refrigerator by refrigerant pipes. In a refrigerating apparatus that periodically performs a rapid cooling operation after the defrosting operation, in the refrigeration apparatus, the rapid cooling operation after the defrosting operation of each showcase group does not overlap, and the defrosting operation of each showcase group does not overlap. Control means for performing a defrosting operation at a shifted cycle is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator, and a plurality of showcase groups connected to the refrigerator by a refrigerant pipe. Each of the showcase groups has a defrosting operation and a rapid defrosting operation after the end of the defrosting operation. In a refrigeration system that periodically performs a cooling operation, the rapid cooling operation after defrosting operation of each showcase group is prevented from overlapping, and the next showcase group is defrosted during one rapid cooling operation. Control means for performing a defrosting operation at a shifted cycle so as to perform the operation is provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the control means operates only for a predetermined time in one day.

According to these inventions, since the rapid cooling operation in each showcase group does not overlap, an increase in the cooling load is avoided, the peak of power consumption does not occur, and the power consumption is leveled. Things.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a refrigerator. A plurality of showcase groups A, B, C, and D are connected to the refrigerator 1 through a refrigerant pipe 3, and each of the showcase groups A, B, C, and D includes three showcases a1 to a3.
, B1 to b3, c1 to c3, and d1 to d3. Each of the showcase groups A, B, C, and D constitutes a different showcase group for meat fish, milk, vegetables, and the like.

Each of the showcases a1 to a3, b1 to b3,
Each of c1 to c3 and d1 to d3 has a built-in timer, and can be set to start a defrosting operation described later at a predetermined cycle (timer means).

In this type, since the control temperature zone is different, the manner of frost on the cooler (not shown) is different for each of the showcase groups A, B, C, and D. Therefore, in this embodiment, for example, the number of defrosting operations of the showcase group A is six.
Times / day, and the number of defrosting operations of the remaining showcase groups B, C, D is set to 4 times / day.

The defrosting operation of each of the showcase groups A, B, C, and D is executed with a period shifted from one another as shown in FIG. This defrosting operation control is executed by the control means 5 shown in FIG.

The defrosting operation of the showcase includes a method of stopping the cooling operation of the showcase to remove the water naturally and a method of stopping the cooling operation of the showcase and actively heating and removing the heat with the heater. Have been proposed.

In any case, after the defrosting operation shown by the bold line in FIG. 2 is completed, the temperature in the showcase rises greatly, so that the inside of the showcase is rapidly cooled by a thin line. Pull-down operation is performed as follows. That is, each showcase is provided with a means for detecting the temperature inside the showcase, and when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature (defrosting end temperature), the system automatically shifts to the pull-down operation (defrosting operation end means). When the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature (cooling temperature), the pull-down operation ends and the operation shifts to the normal operation (rapid cooling operation end means).

According to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, when executing the defrosting operation of the showcase group B, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the thick line of the showcase group A performing the defrosting operation first The defrosting operation is executed on condition that the defrosting operation indicated by has been completed and all the showcases a1 to a3 of the showcase group A have shifted to the pull-down operation indicated by thin lines. In short, even if it is the time to execute the defrosting operation of the showcase group B,
Unless all the showcases a1 to a3 in the showcase group A end the defrosting operation and shift to the pull-down operation, do not execute the defrosting operation for the showcase group B, and wait until all the shifts to the pull-down operation. Control is performed so that the pull-down operations of the showcase groups A and B do not overlap.

More specifically, when all the showcases a1 to a3 of the showcase group A shift to the pull-down operation indicated by the thin line, a defrosting operation end signal is output. The defrosting operation of the group B is performed.

According to this, since the pull-down operations do not overlap, an increase in the cooling load is avoided, the peak of power consumption does not occur, and the power consumption is leveled.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment.

According to this embodiment, the control means 5 terminates the defrosting operation indicated by the thick line of the showcase group C at about 8:00 am, for example, and shifts all the showcases c1 to c3 to the pull-down operation indicated by the dotted line. Then, the defrosting operation of another showcase group A is started, the defrosting operation of this showcase group A is completed, and all of the showcases a1 to
When a3 shifts to the pull-down operation, the defrosting operation of another showcase group B is started. Specifically, when all of the showcases in the showcase group shift to the pull-down operation, a defrosting operation end signal is output, and after obtaining the defrosting operation end signal, the defrosting operation of another showcase group must be performed. Is executed.

In general, during the daytime, for example, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, the frequency of the defrosting operation is increased as compared with other time zones, but the defrosting operation of the showcase group is completed, and all of them shift to the pull-down operation. After that, the defrosting operation of another showcase group is always executed, so that the pull-down operation does not overlap at all and the cooling load of the showcase is prevented from increasing, the power consumption peak does not occur, and the power consumption is reduced. Leveled.

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

For example, in the above two embodiments, the end judgment of the defrosting operation (timing for outputting the defrosting operation end signal) is output when the defrosting of all the showcases in the showcase group during the defrosting is completed. , But may be variously changed. In particular,
At least one of the showcases a1 to a3 of the showcase group A may output a defrosting operation end signal when the defrosting operation is completed, or as a compromise, about 70 to 80% of the showcase group. At the time of termination, a defrosting operation end signal may be output.

These can be determined in consideration of the magnitude of the peak power consumption in each case described above, the effectiveness of the defrosting operation, and the like.

Further, for example, in order to equalize the power consumption, in recent years, in addition to a refrigerator and a showcase group, an ice heat storage tank has been provided, and a cooling system using the ice in the ice heat storage tank has been operated. However, the present invention is also applicable to this type of cooling system. Also, for convenience, the cooling target was described as a showcase,
The invention is not limited to this, and the object to be cooled can be, for example, a prefabricated freezer or a prefabricated refrigerator.

[0027]

According to these inventions, since the pull-down operation in each showcase group does not overlap, an increase in cooling load is avoided, a peak in power consumption does not occur, and power consumption is leveled. it can. If the peak power consumption is kept low, it is possible to construct a system with the same cooling capacity even if the maximum output of the refrigerator is smaller than before, so that high efficiency, miniaturization (space saving), A low-cost refrigeration apparatus can be provided.

Further, if the present invention is applied to a cooling system that includes an ice heat storage tank in addition to the refrigerator and the showcase group and performs a cooling operation using the ice in the ice heat storage tank, high efficiency operation (power (Reduction of fees).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation system diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation system diagram showing another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a conventional operation system diagram.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator 3 Refrigerant pipe 5 Control means A, B, C, D Showcase group a1-a3 showcase b1-b3 showcase c1-c3 showcase d1-d3 showcase

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tomoyuki Shiomi 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Akira Oiwa 2-chome Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Masao Kashima 2-5-5 Keihanhondori 2-chome, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture (72) Kensuke Oka 2 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture 5-5, Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator; and a plurality of showcase groups connected to the refrigerator by refrigerant pipes, and periodically performing a defrosting operation and a rapid cooling operation after the end of the defrosting operation for each showcase group. In the refrigerating apparatus, a control unit that performs the defrosting operation at a different cycle so that the rapid cooling operation after the defrosting operation of each showcase group does not overlap after the end of the defrosting operation of each showcase group is provided. A refrigeration apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. A refrigerator, and a plurality of showcase groups connected to the refrigerator by a refrigerant pipe, wherein a defrosting operation and a rapid cooling operation after the end of the defrosting operation are periodically performed for each showcase group. In the refrigeration system, the rapid cooling operation after the end of the defrosting operation of each showcase group is prevented from overlapping, and the cycle is set so that one showcase group performs the defrosting operation during the rapid cooling operation. A refrigeration system comprising a control means for performing a defrosting operation by shifting. 3. The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control means operates only for a predetermined time in a day.