JPH11281191A - Solar-heat-driven refrigerating machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a solar-heat-driven refrigerating machine where higher refrigeration efficiency than that in the past can be obtained. SOLUTION: For this solar-heat-driven refrigerating machine, a heat collector 4 is connected through a switch 2 on high temperature side to a heat pump device 1 where a pair of heat pumps P1 and P2 are juxtaposed, and also a freezer 7 is connected through a switch 3 on low temperature side to it. In this case, the setting of the regeneration mode to let hydrogen gas flow from the reactors 11 and 13 on high temperature side of the heat pumps P1 and P2 to the reactors 12 and 14 on low temperature side, and the cold heat generation to let the hydrogen gas flow reversely is possible. Moreover, flow meters 81 and 82 are connected to the coupling pipes 17 and 18 for coupling the reactors 11 and 13 on high temperature side with the reactors 12 and 14 on low temperature side, and the measurement data of the flow of hydrogen gas are supplied to a control circuit 8, and the flow is integrated. Then, when this integrated value reaches the specified value, each heat pumps P1 and P2 are switches between the regeneration mode and the cold heat generation mode by controlling the system of both switches 2 and 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a solar-driven refrigerator for cooling a refrigeration load using solar heat as a heat source.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The applicant has proposed a solar powered refrigerator as shown in FIG. In the solar powered refrigerator,
A heat collector (4) and an air / water heat exchanger (6) are switchably connected to a heat pump device (1) via a high-temperature side switching device (2), and a low-temperature side switching device (3). The air-water-cooled heat exchanger (5) and the freezer (7) are switchably connected to each other through the, and between the heat collector (4) and the high temperature side switching device (2),
A heat storage tank (9) is interposed.

[0003] The heat pump device (1) includes a first heat pump P1 and a second heat pump P2. The first heat pump P1 includes a high-temperature first reaction vessel (11) containing a hydrogen storage alloy MH1 having a low hydrogen equilibrium pressure and a low-temperature first reaction vessel (12) containing a hydrogen storage alloy MH2 having a high hydrogen equilibrium pressure. Are connected via a connecting pipe (17), and a valve (15) is interposed in the connecting pipe (17). The second heat pump P2 includes a high temperature side second reaction vessel (13) containing a hydrogen storage alloy MH1 having a low hydrogen equilibrium pressure and a low temperature side second reaction vessel (14) containing a hydrogen storage alloy MH2 having a high hydrogen equilibrium pressure. ) Are connected via a connecting pipe (18), and a valve (16) is interposed in the connecting pipe (18).

[0004] The high temperature side switching device (2) comprises a heat medium supply pipe (41) and a heat medium return pipe (42) extending from the heat storage tank (9).
The refrigerant supply pipe (61) and the refrigerant return pipe (62), which are connected to one of the reaction vessel (11) and the high-temperature side second reaction vessel (13) and extend from the air / water heat exchanger (6), are connected to the other. And a plurality of three-way valves interposed in the piping system. The low temperature side switching device (3) comprises a refrigerant supply pipe (51) and a refrigerant return pipe (52) extending from the air / water heat exchanger (5) and a low temperature side first reaction vessel (12) and a low temperature side second reaction vessel. A piping system for connecting to one of the reaction vessels (14) and connecting a refrigerant return pipe (71) and a refrigerant supply pipe (72) extending from the freezer (7) to the other reaction vessel; And a plurality of four-way valves interposed therebetween.

[0005] The heat collector (4) is constituted by a plurality of heat collection tubes having a heat pipe structure and can supply high-temperature water (heat medium) at about 140 ° C. The heat medium outlet pipe (43) and the heat medium inlet pipe (44) extending from the heat collector (4) are connected to the heat storage tank (9), and the heat medium outlet pipe (43) is connected to the three-way valve (91). Connected to the heat medium inlet pipe (44) through the heat medium outlet pipe (43) when the heat medium supplied from the heat collector (4) reaches about 140 ° C. Then, a high-temperature (about 140 ° C.) heat medium is supplied to the heat storage tank (9). As a result, sufficient heat is stored in the heat storage tank (9), and a heat medium at a constant temperature (about 140 ° C.) is supplied from the heat storage tank (9) to the heat pump device (1) via the heat medium supply pipe (41). Because

In the heat pump device (1), a heat collector
(4) is a heat source, an air-water-cooled heat exchanger (5) and an air-water-cooled heat exchanger (6) are radiating means, and a freezer (7) is a refrigeration load. →) is configured. For example, in the first heat pump P1, first,
By heating the hydrogen storage alloy MH1 in the high temperature side first reaction vessel (11), hydrogen is released (→), and the released hydrogen is sent to the low temperature side first reaction vessel (12), It is absorbed by the storage alloy MH2 (→: regeneration mode). Here, heat generated by the absorption of hydrogen by the hydrogen storage alloy MH2 is radiated from the air-water cooled heat exchanger (5). Next, the freezer (7) is connected to the low temperature side first reaction vessel (12) by the switching of the low temperature side switching device (3). In this state, in the low temperature side first reaction vessel (12), the hydrogen absorbed in the hydrogen storage alloy MH2 is released (→), whereby the hydrogen is supplied from the freezer (7) via the refrigerant return pipe (71). Is cooled, and the low-temperature refrigerant is sent to the freezer (7) via the refrigerant supply pipe (72). Also, high-temperature side switching device (2)
The air-water-cooled heat exchanger (6) is connected to the high-temperature-side first reaction vessel (11) by the switching. In this state, the low-temperature side first
The gas released from the reaction vessel (12) is the first reaction vessel on the high temperature side.
Sent to (11) and absorbed by the hydrogen storage alloy MH1
(→: cold heat generation mode). Here, the hydrogen storage alloy MH
The heat generated by the absorption of hydrogen by 1 is radiated from the air / water heat exchanger (6).

The above-described refrigeration cycle is connected to a first heat pump P
The first and second heat pumps P2 perform the operation with a phase difference of 180 degrees, so that a low-temperature refrigerant is continuously supplied to the freezer (7).
It is kept at a low temperature.

[0008] In the above solar powered refrigerator, the heat collector
Since the heat medium at a constant temperature is supplied from (4) through the heat storage tank (9) to the heat pump device (1), the reaction vessel (11) (1)
The transfer of the hydrogen gas from 3) to the reaction vessels (12) and (14) on the low temperature side is performed in a fixed time (for example, about 20 minutes). Therefore, switching between the regeneration mode and the cold heat generation mode in each heat pump can be performed in a fixed time by setting a timer or the like.

[0009]

The refrigeration efficiency of a solar-powered refrigerator depends on the product of the heat collection efficiency of the heat collector (4) and the heat efficiency of the heat pump device (1).
The heat collection efficiency of (4) decreases with increasing temperature, whereas
The heat efficiency of the heat pump device (1) increases with the temperature due to the characteristics of the hydrogen storage alloy, and the efficiencies of the heat collector (4) and the heat pump device (1) show opposite characteristics with respect to temperature. Here, the amount of solar radiation received by the heat collector (4) varies depending on the season and time, and the temperature of the heat medium supplied from the heat collector (4) changes. Conventionally, this temperature change is made constant by the three-way valve (91) and the heat storage tank (9) as described above, and the temperature is kept constant (about 140 ° C.).
Was supplied to the heat pump device (1).

Therefore, in particular, after noon, when the amount of solar radiation increases, despite the fact that a high-temperature heat medium exceeding, for example, 140 ° C. is obtained from the heat collector (4), the temperature is lowered to reduce the heat pump device ( 1), the heat efficiency of the heat pump device (1) becomes lower than the value that should be originally obtained, and as a result, there is a problem that the refrigeration efficiency of the solar heat driven refrigerator becomes low. On the other hand, in the morning when the amount of solar radiation is small, the heat collection efficiency at 140 ° C. is low, and the required amount of heat collection cannot be obtained. Of course, in the conventional solar-powered refrigerator, the heat loss in the heat storage tank (9) interposed between the heat collector (4) and the heat pump device (1) is large.
There is a problem that the improvement of refrigeration efficiency is limited.

An object of the present invention is to provide a solar-driven refrigerator capable of obtaining a higher refrigeration efficiency than before.

[0012]

The solar powered refrigerator according to the present invention comprises a pair of heat pumps P1 and P2, each of which incorporates two kinds of hydrogen storage alloys having different hydrogen equilibrium pressures. A high-temperature reaction vessel and a low-temperature reaction vessel are connected to each other, and a regeneration mode in which hydrogen gas flows from the high-temperature reaction vessel to the low-temperature reaction vessel and a cold heat generation in which hydrogen gas flows from the low-temperature reaction vessel to the high-temperature reaction vessel A heat pump device whose mode is to be set, a heat medium system for selectively supplying a high-temperature heat medium from a heat source to a high-temperature reaction vessel of one of the heat pumps, and a low-temperature reaction vessel of any one of the heat pumps System for selectively supplying low-temperature refrigerant to the refrigeration load from the refrigeration load, and hydrogen gas flowing from the high-temperature side reaction vessel to the low-temperature side reaction vessel of the heat pump to be set to the regeneration mode Measuring means for measuring the integrated value of the flow rate, or a physical quantity corresponding to the integrated value, and when the value measured by the measuring means reaches a predetermined value, controls the heat medium system and the refrigerant system to regenerate each heat pump. Control means for switching between the mode and the cold heat generation mode.

Specifically, a high-temperature side cooling system for alternately cooling the high-temperature side reaction vessels of both heat pumps;
A low-temperature side cooling system for alternately cooling the low-temperature side reaction vessels of both heat pumps is provided.

In the above-described solar-powered refrigerator of the present invention, the heat storage tank provided in the conventional refrigerator is omitted,
Alternatively, a heat storage tank having a smaller capacity than before is provided. Therefore, the heat medium supplied from the heat source is supplied to one heat pump of the heat pump device in a state where the temperature changes in accordance with the amount of solar radiation. As a result, the high-temperature side reaction vessel of the heat pump is heated, and hydrogen gas is released from the hydrogen storage alloy in the vessel. This hydrogen gas is sent from the high-temperature side reaction vessel to the low-temperature side reaction vessel, and is absorbed by the hydrogen storage alloy in the low-temperature side reaction vessel (regeneration mode).

In this process, the integrated value of the flow rate (per unit time) of the hydrogen gas moving from the high-temperature side reaction vessel to the low-temperature side reaction vessel, or a physical quantity corresponding to the integrated value is measured.
The measured value is compared with a predetermined value. Here, the predetermined value is a regeneration process in a predetermined refrigeration cycle (FIG. 6).
The total amount of hydrogen gas to be moved is set by (→) or a physical amount corresponding to the total amount. Therefore, when the measured value reaches the predetermined value, it means that the hydrogen gas required for the regeneration process has moved from the high-temperature side reaction vessel to the low-temperature side reaction vessel. Therefore, at this point, the heat pump is switched from the regeneration mode to the cold heat generation mode.

As a result, hydrogen is released from the low-temperature side reaction vessel of the heat pump, whereby the temperature of the low-temperature side reaction vessel decreases, and a low-temperature refrigerant is supplied to the refrigeration load. Hydrogen gas released from the low-temperature side reaction vessel is sent to the high-temperature side reaction vessel and absorbed by the hydrogen storage alloy (
→).

Thus, a predetermined refrigeration cycle (FIG. 6)
The refrigeration cycle is repeatedly performed with a phase difference of 180 degrees between the first heat pump P1 and the second heat pump P2, so that a low-temperature refrigerant is continuously supplied to the refrigeration load, and the temperature of the refrigeration load is low. Is kept.

In the above-described solar-powered refrigerator, since the heat medium from the heat source is supplied to the heat pump device in a state where the temperature changes according to the amount of solar radiation, a predetermined amount of hydrogen gas is supplied from the high-temperature side reaction vessel to the low-temperature side reaction vessel. The time required for the movement of the heat pump varies depending on the amount of solar radiation on that day, and as a result, the switching time between the regeneration mode and the cold heat generation mode in each heat pump also changes.

The hydrogen transfer amount in the regeneration mode is supplied to the high-temperature side reaction vessel after the hydrogen gas starts to move from the high-temperature side reaction vessel to the low-temperature side reaction vessel of the heat pump to be set in the regeneration mode. Since it is proportional to the integrated value of the temperature difference between the heat medium and the heat medium discharged from the high-temperature side reaction vessel, the integrated value of the temperature difference can be used as the physical quantity.

The amount of hydrogen transfer in the regeneration mode depends on the temperature of the refrigerant returning from the low-temperature side reaction vessel to the low-temperature side cooling means and the temperature of the refrigerant supplied from the low-temperature side cooling means to the low-temperature side reaction vessel to be set in the regeneration mode. Since it is proportional to the integrated value of the difference, the integrated value of the temperature difference can be adopted as the physical quantity.

[0021]

As described above, the solar heat driven refrigerator according to the present invention employs a configuration in which the temperature of the heat medium supplied from the heat source is supplied to the heat pump device without lowering the temperature thereof. Therefore, the conventional heat storage tank is omitted. Alternatively, a heat storage tank having a smaller capacity than before can be provided. Therefore, not only the problem of heat loss in the heat storage tank is solved, but also a high-temperature heat medium according to the amount of solar radiation can be supplied to the heat pump device, thereby increasing the heat efficiency of the heat pump device, High refrigeration efficiency can be obtained.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. First Embodiment In the solar-powered refrigerator of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a heat pump device (1) is connected to a heat collector (4) via a high-temperature side switching device (2) with an air / water cooling type heat exchanger. The air-water-cooled heat exchanger (5) and the freezer (7) are switchably connected to the heat collector (6) via a low-temperature side switching device (3). 4) and the high temperature side switching device (2) are directly connected. If necessary, a three-way valve similar to the conventional one and a heat storage tank having a smaller capacity than the conventional one can be connected between the heat collector (4) and the high-temperature side switching device (2).

The heat pump device (1) includes a first heat pump P1 and a second heat pump P2. The first heat pump P1 includes a high-temperature first reaction vessel (11) containing a hydrogen storage alloy MH1 having a low hydrogen equilibrium pressure and a low-temperature first reaction vessel (12) containing a hydrogen storage alloy MH2 having a high hydrogen equilibrium pressure. Are connected via a connecting pipe (17), and a valve (15) and a flow meter (81) are interposed in the connecting pipe (17). The second heat pump P2 is a high-temperature side second reaction vessel containing a hydrogen storage alloy MH1 having a low hydrogen equilibrium pressure.
(13) and a low-temperature side second reaction vessel (14) containing a hydrogen storage alloy MH2 having a high hydrogen equilibrium pressure are connected via a connecting pipe (18), and a valve (16) is connected to the connecting pipe (18). ) And the flow meter (82) are interposed.

The high-temperature side switching device (2) includes a heat medium supply pipe (41) and a heat medium return pipe (42) extending from the heat storage tank (9), which are connected to the first high temperature side.
The refrigerant supply pipe (61) and the refrigerant return pipe (62), which are connected to one of the reaction vessel (11) and the high-temperature side second reaction vessel (13) and extend from the air / water heat exchanger (6), are connected to the other. And a plurality of three-way valves interposed in the piping system. The low temperature side switching device (3) comprises a refrigerant supply pipe (51) and a refrigerant return pipe (52) extending from the air / water heat exchanger (5) and a low temperature side first reaction vessel (12) and a low temperature side second reaction vessel. A piping system for connecting to one of the reaction vessels (14) and connecting a refrigerant return pipe (71) and a refrigerant supply pipe (72) extending from the freezer (7) to the other reaction vessel; And a plurality of four-way valves interposed therebetween.

The heat collector (4) is provided with a plurality of heat collector tubes having a heat pipe structure, and can supply high-temperature water (heat medium) at about 140 ° C. The heat medium supply pipe (41) and the heat medium return pipe (42) extending from the heat collector (4) are directly connected to the high-temperature side switching device (2). A heat medium of ~ 160 ° C is supplied from the heat collector (4) to the heat pump device (1) via the high temperature side switching device (2). Incidentally, the heating medium in the heat medium supply pipe (41) is pressurized by nitrogen gas N ₂ with a predetermined pressure.

The refrigeration cycle (→→→→ shown in FIG. 6) constituted by the heat pump device (1) is the same as the conventional one, but in this embodiment, the high-temperature side switching device (2) and the low-temperature side switching device ( 3) and valve of heat pump device (1)
(15) The switching of (16) is controlled based on the integrated value of the hydrogen gas flow rate per unit time measured by the flow meters (81) and (82), whereby the switching from the regeneration mode to the cold heat generation mode is performed. Is performed.

That is, the flow meter (81) of the first heat pump P1
Measurement data Q1 and the flow meter (8
The measurement data Q2 of 2) is supplied to a control circuit (8) including a microcomputer, and these measurement data are integrated. When the integrated value exceeds a predetermined value, the valves (15) and (16) of the high-temperature side switching device (2), the low-temperature side switching device (3) and the heat pump device (1) are switched, and the heat pump in the regeneration mode is switched. Is switched to the cold heat generation mode, and the heat pump in the cold heat generation mode is switched to the regeneration mode.

In the initial state, the high-temperature first switch of the heat pump device (1) is set by the switching setting of the high-temperature switch device (2).
A heat collector (4) is connected to the reaction vessel (11), and an air-water-cooled heat exchanger (6) is connected to the high-temperature second reaction vessel (13), while the low-temperature side switching device (3) is connected. The air-water-cooled heat exchanger (5) is connected to the low-temperature first reaction vessel (12) of the heat pump device (1), and the freezer (7) is connected to the low-temperature second reaction vessel (14). Is connected.

In this state, the hydrogen storage alloy MH1 in the first reaction vessel (11) on the high temperature side of the first heat pump P1 is heated to release hydrogen (→), and the released hydrogen is reduced to the low temperature side. 1 It is sent to the reaction vessel (12) and absorbed by the hydrogen storage alloy MH2 (→). Here, the heat generated by the hydrogen storage alloy MH2 absorbing hydrogen is:
The heat is radiated from the air-water cooled heat exchanger (5). When the integrated value of the flow rate of the hydrogen gas moving from the high temperature side first reaction vessel (11) to the low temperature side first reaction vessel (12) exceeds a predetermined value, the control circuit (8) sends a high temperature side switching device ( These devices (2) and (3) are switched by control signals C1 and C2 supplied to 2) and the low-temperature side switching device (3), and the high-temperature side first reaction vessel
An air-water-cooled heat exchanger (6) is connected to (11), and a heat collector (4) is connected to the high-temperature second reaction vessel (13), while a low-temperature first reaction vessel (13) is connected. A freezer (7) is connected to 12), and an air / water heat exchanger (5) is connected to the low-temperature second reaction vessel (14). The valves (15) and (16) of the heat pump device (1) are controlled by the control signal C3 supplied from the control circuit (8) when the high-temperature switching device (2) and the low-temperature switching device (3) are switched. Closed temporarily.

In this state, in the low temperature side first reaction vessel (12), the hydrogen absorbed in the hydrogen storage alloy MH2 is released.
(→), whereby the refrigerant return pipe (7
The refrigerant supplied via 1) is cooled, and the low-temperature refrigerant is sent to the freezer (7) via the refrigerant supply pipe (72). The hydrogen gas released from the low-temperature side first reaction vessel (12) is sent to the high-temperature side first reaction vessel (11) and is absorbed by the hydrogen storage alloy MH1 (→). Here, heat generated by the absorption of hydrogen by the hydrogen storage alloy MH1 is radiated from the air / water cooled heat exchanger (6).

The above refrigeration cycle is connected to the first heat pump P
The first and second heat pumps P2 are repeatedly operated with the phase shifted by 180 degrees, so that a low-temperature refrigerant is continuously supplied to the freezer (7), and the inside of the freezer (7) is maintained at a low temperature of, for example, 20 ° C below zero. It saps

FIG. 4 shows a control procedure executed by the control circuit (8). First, in step S1, the system of the high-temperature side switching device (2) and the low-temperature side switching device (3) is initialized, and in step S2, the integrated value F of the hydrogen flow rate is set to zero. Next, in step S3, the measurement data Q of the hydrogen flow rate is fetched from the flow meter, and in step S4, the measurement data Q is added to the integrated value F of the hydrogen flow rate to integrate the hydrogen flow rate. Subsequently, in step S5, the integrated value F of the hydrogen flow rate is obtained.
Is greater than a predetermined value Fs, and if NO, steps S3 to S5 are repeated. Then, step S5
If the answer is yes in step S6, the process proceeds to step S6, where the system of the high-temperature switching device (2) and the low-temperature switching device (3) is switched, and the process returns to step S2. As the predetermined value Fs, the total amount of hydrogen gas to be moved in the regeneration process (→) in the refrigeration cycle shown in FIG. 6 is set. By the above procedure, the refrigeration cycle of FIG. 6 is repeatedly executed.

Second Embodiment In this embodiment, a heat medium supply pipe extending from the heat collector (4) to the heat pump device (1) as shown in FIG. 2 is used instead of the integrated value of the hydrogen flow rate in the first embodiment. (41) and a thermometer (83) attached to the heat medium supply pipe (41) and the heat medium return pipe (42) for integrating the temperature difference between the heat medium flowing through the heat medium return pipe (42) ( 84)
Are supplied to the control circuit (8).

After the heat pump regeneration process (movement of hydrogen gas) to be set to the regeneration mode is started, the control circuit (8) takes in the measurement data T1 and T2 from the thermometers (83) and (84), The difference between the two measurement data is integrated. When the integrated value exceeds a predetermined value, the high temperature side switching device (2), the low temperature side switching device (3) and the valves (15) and (16) are switched,
The heat pump in the regeneration mode switches to the cold heat generation mode, and the heat pump in the cold heat generation mode switches to the regeneration mode. Note that, as the predetermined value, an integrated value of a temperature difference generated by moving a predetermined amount of hydrogen gas in the regeneration process (→) in the refrigeration cycle shown in FIG. 6 is set in advance. The time at which the regeneration process of the heat pump to be set to the regeneration mode starts is, for example, the temperature (eg, 120 ° C.) at which the hydrogen storage alloy MH1 in the reaction vessel on the high temperature side of the heat pump starts releasing hydrogen.
Can be detected as having reached

According to this embodiment, since the integrated value of the difference between the measured data is proportional to the integrated value of the hydrogen flow rate, the mode can be switched at substantially the same time as in the first embodiment.

Third Embodiment In this embodiment, instead of the integrated value of the hydrogen flow rate in the first embodiment, the refrigerant extending from the heat pump device (1) to the air-water cooled heat exchanger (5) as shown in FIG. It integrates the temperature difference between the heat medium flowing through the supply pipe (51) and the refrigerant return pipe (52), and is a thermometer (85) (86) attached to the refrigerant supply pipe (51) and the refrigerant return pipe (52). ) Are supplied to the control circuit (8).

Immediately after the system of the high-temperature side switching device (2) and the low-temperature side switching device (3) are switched, the control circuit (8) reads the measurement data T3 and T4 from the thermometers (85) and (86). Then, the difference between the two measurement data is integrated. Then, when the integrated value exceeds a predetermined value, the high-temperature side switching device (2), the low-temperature side switching device (3) and the valves (15) and (16) are switched, and the heat pump in the regeneration mode switches to the cold heat generation mode. And
The heat pump in the cold heat generation mode switches to the regeneration mode. Note that, as the predetermined value, an integrated value of a temperature difference to be obtained by moving a predetermined amount of hydrogen gas in the regeneration process (→) in the refrigeration cycle shown in FIG. 6 is set in advance.

In this embodiment, since the integrated value of the difference between the measurement data is proportional to the integrated value of the hydrogen flow rate, the mode can be switched at substantially the same time as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows the results of a computer simulation performed to verify the effect of the solar-powered refrigerator of the present invention (first embodiment). FIG. 7A shows the change in the daily solar radiation Ij in July, the change in the refrigeration output Rj 'of the conventional solar-driven refrigerator (heating medium supply temperature = 140 ° C. constant), and the solar-driven refrigeration of the present invention. Represents the change in the refrigeration output Rj of the machine. FIG. 4B shows the change in the daily solar radiation Ia in April, the change in the refrigeration output Ra 'of the conventional solar-driven refrigerator (heating medium supply temperature = 130 ° C. constant), and the solar heat of the present invention. It shows the change in the refrigeration output Ra of the drive refrigerator.

As is clear from FIG. 5, in the solar-powered refrigerator of the present invention, a refrigeration output according to a change in the amount of solar radiation is obtained, whereas in the conventional solar-powered refrigerator,
In particular, the temperature of the heat medium obtained by a large amount of solar radiation after noon is not effectively used, and the refrigeration output is lower than the refrigeration output obtained by the present invention. In the solar-powered refrigerator of the present invention, output is obtained from 10:00 in July and from 11:00 in April, whereas in the conventional solar-powered refrigerator, the output is obtained in July and April. In any case, no output was obtained until 12:00. As a result, the amount of power obtained by the solar-powered refrigerator of the present invention as a total amount per day is larger than the amount of output obtained by the conventional solar-powered refrigerator.

This is because, in the solar-powered refrigerator of the present invention, the heat medium having a temperature corresponding to the change in the amount of solar radiation, particularly a high-temperature heat medium exceeding 140 ° C. after noon when a large amount of solar radiation is obtained. This is because the heat pump device (1) is heated, so that the heat efficiency of the heat pump device (1) as a daily average is improved as compared with the conventional case. Furthermore, even in the morning and evening when the amount of solar radiation is small, by performing heat collection at 140 ° C. or less, a necessary amount of heat collection can be obtained.
Further, in the solar heat driven refrigerator of the present invention, since the heat storage tank conventionally interposed between the heat collector (4) and the heat pump device (1) is omitted, heat loss in the heat storage tank is eliminated. Thus, the refrigeration efficiency is improved. It is clear that the same effect can be obtained in the solar-powered refrigerators of the second and third embodiments.

The configuration of each part of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the technical scope described in the claims. For example, the physical quantity corresponding to the integrated value of the flow rate of the hydrogen gas flowing from the high-temperature side reaction vessel to the low-temperature side reaction vessel is not limited to the integrated value of the temperature difference employed in the second and third embodiments. It is also possible to adopt the integrated value of the pressure difference between the high-temperature side reaction vessel and the low-temperature side reaction vessel in the heat pump of the regeneration process.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a configuration of a solar heat refrigerator according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram illustrating a configuration of a solar-powered refrigerator according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram illustrating a configuration of a solar-driven refrigerator according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of a control circuit in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the results of a computer simulation performed to demonstrate the effect of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle of a heat pump.

FIG. 7 is a system diagram showing a configuration of a conventional solar-powered refrigerator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Heat pump device P1 Heat pump P2 Heat pump (2) High-temperature switching device (3) Low-temperature switching device (4) Collector (5) Air / water cooling type heat exchanger (6) Air / water cooling type heat exchanger (7) Freezer (8) Control circuit (81) Flow meter (82) Flow meter (83) Thermometer (84) Thermometer (85) Thermometer (86) Thermometer

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] February 19, 1999

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0004

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[0004] The high temperature side switching device (2) comprises a heat medium supply pipe (41) and a heat medium return pipe (42) extending from the heat storage tank (9).
A heat medium connected to one of the reaction vessel (11) and the high-temperature side second reaction vessel (13) and extending from the air / water heat exchanger (6).
It comprises a piping system for connecting the supply pipe (61) and the heat medium return pipe (62) to the other reaction vessel, and a plurality of three-way valves interposed in the piping system. The low temperature side switching device (3) comprises a refrigerant supply pipe (51) and a refrigerant return pipe (52) extending from the air / water heat exchanger (5) and a low temperature side first reaction vessel (12) and a low temperature side second reaction vessel. A piping system for connecting to one of the reaction vessels (14) and connecting a refrigerant return pipe (71) and a refrigerant supply pipe (72) extending from the freezer (7) to the other reaction vessel; And a plurality of four-way valves interposed therebetween.

[Procedure amendment 3]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0024

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

The high-temperature side switching device (2) includes a heat medium supply pipe (41) and a heat medium return pipe (42) extending from the heat storage tank (9), which are connected to the first high temperature side.
A heat medium connected to one of the reaction vessel (11) and the high-temperature side second reaction vessel (13) and extending from the air / water heat exchanger (6).
It comprises a piping system for connecting the supply pipe (61) and the heat medium return pipe (62) to the other reaction vessel, and a plurality of three-way valves interposed in the piping system. The low temperature side switching device (3) comprises a refrigerant supply pipe (51) and a refrigerant return pipe (52) extending from the air / water heat exchanger (5) and a low temperature side first reaction vessel (12) and a low temperature side second reaction vessel. A piping system for connecting to one of the reaction vessels (14) and connecting a refrigerant return pipe (71) and a refrigerant supply pipe (72) extending from the freezer (7) to the other reaction vessel; And a plurality of four-way valves interposed therebetween.

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Drawing

[Correction target item name] Fig. 6

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

FIG. 6

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A solar heat driven refrigerator for cooling a refrigeration load using solar heat as a heat source, wherein a high temperature side reaction vessel and a low temperature side reaction vessel containing two kinds of hydrogen storage alloys having different hydrogen equilibrium pressures are connected to each other. A heat pump that should be set to a regeneration mode in which hydrogen gas flows from the high-temperature side reaction vessel to the low-temperature side reaction vessel, and a cold-heat generation mode in which hydrogen gas flows from the low-temperature side reaction vessel to the high-temperature side reaction vessel. A heat medium system for supplying a high-temperature heat medium to the high-temperature reaction vessel, a refrigerant system for supplying a low-temperature refrigerant from the low-temperature reaction vessel to the refrigeration load, and a low-temperature Measuring means for measuring the integrated value of the flow rate of hydrogen gas flowing to the side reaction vessel, or a physical quantity corresponding to the integrated value, when the measured value by the measuring means reaches a predetermined value, the heating medium system and By controlling the medium system, solar driven refrigerator and control means for switching the reproduction mode and cold generating mode. 2. A solar heat driven refrigerator for supplying a refrigerant to a refrigeration load using solar heat as a heat source, comprising a pair of heat pumps, wherein each heat pump has two types of hydrogen having different hydrogen equilibrium pressures. A high-temperature side reaction vessel and a low-temperature side reaction vessel containing an occlusion alloy are connected to each other, and a regeneration mode in which hydrogen gas flows from the high-temperature side reaction vessel to the low-temperature side reaction vessel, and a hydrogen mode from the low-temperature side reaction vessel to the high-temperature side reaction vessel A heat pump device in which a cold heat generation mode for flowing gas is to be set; a heat medium system for selectively supplying a high-temperature heat medium from a heat source to a high-temperature side reaction vessel of one of the heat pumps; A refrigerant system for selectively supplying low-temperature refrigerant from the low-temperature side reaction vessel to the refrigeration load, and a high-temperature side reaction vessel from the high-temperature side reaction vessel of the heat pump to be set to the regeneration mode Flow rate integrated value of the hydrogen gas flowing into the reaction container vessel,
Or, a measuring means for measuring a physical quantity corresponding to the integrated value, and when the measured value by the measuring means reaches a predetermined value, the heat medium system and the refrigerant system are controlled to set each heat pump in a regeneration mode and a cold heat generation mode. And a control means for switching between the two. 3. A high-temperature side cooling system for alternately cooling the high-temperature side reaction vessels of both heat pumps, and a low-temperature side cooling system for alternately cooling the low-temperature side reaction vessels of both heat pumps. The solar-powered refrigerator according to claim 2. 4. The heat medium supplied to the high-temperature side reaction vessel and discharged from the high-temperature side reaction vessel after the hydrogen gas starts moving from the high-temperature side reaction vessel to the low-temperature side reaction vessel. The solar heat driven refrigerator according to claim 2 or 3, which is an integrated value of a temperature difference of the heat medium. 5. The physical quantity is an integrated value of a temperature difference between a refrigerant returning from the low-temperature side reaction vessel of the heat pump to be set to the regeneration mode to the low-temperature side cooling means and a refrigerant supplied from the low-temperature side cooling means to the low-temperature side reaction vessel. The solar-powered refrigerator according to claim 3, which is: 6. A solar heat driven refrigerator for supplying a refrigerant to a refrigeration load using solar heat as a heat source, wherein the heat pump device (1) is connected to a heat collector (4) via a high temperature side switching device (2). And the air / water cooling type heat exchanger (6) are switchably connected, and the air / water cooling type heat exchanger (5) and the freezer (7) are switchably connected via the low temperature side switching device (3). The heat pump device (1) includes a first heat pump and a second heat pump, and the first heat pump includes a high-temperature side first reaction vessel (11) containing a hydrogen storage alloy MH1 having a low hydrogen equilibrium pressure. A low-temperature first reaction vessel (12) containing a hydrogen storage alloy MH2 with a high hydrogen equilibrium pressure is connected to each other, and a second heat pump is connected to a high-temperature second reaction vessel containing a hydrogen storage alloy MH1 with a low hydrogen equilibrium pressure. Reaction vessel (13) and hydrogen storage alloy MH2 with high hydrogen equilibrium pressure Built-in low-temperature side second
A reaction mode in which hydrogen gas flows from the high-temperature side reaction vessel to the low-temperature side reaction vessel, and a regeneration mode in which hydrogen gas is supplied from the low-temperature side reaction vessel to the high-temperature side reaction vessel. It is possible to set a cooling heat generation mode to flow, and the high temperature side switching device (2) and the low temperature side switching device (3) are controlled by a control circuit (8).
Measurement means for measuring the integrated value of the flow rate of hydrogen gas flowing from the reaction vessel on the high-temperature side to the reaction vessel on the low-temperature side of the heat pump to be set to the regeneration mode, or a measuring means for measuring a physical quantity corresponding to the integrated value, is connected. When the integrated value or the physical quantity reaches a predetermined value, each heat pump is switched between a regeneration mode and a cold heat generation mode. 7. A measuring means includes a flow meter (81) installed in a connecting pipe (17) connecting the high temperature side first reaction vessel (11) and the low temperature side first reaction vessel (12) of the first heat pump. A second reaction vessel (13) on the high temperature side of the second heat pump and a second reaction vessel (14) on the low temperature side
The solar-powered refrigerator according to claim 6, which is constituted by a flow meter (82) installed in a connecting pipe (18) connecting the two. 8. A heating medium supply pipe (41) and a heating medium return pipe (42) connecting between a heat collector (4) and a high temperature side switching device (2).
The solar-powered refrigerator according to claim 6, which is constituted by thermometers (83) and (83) installed in the refrigerator. 9. A thermometer installed in a refrigerant supply pipe (51) and a refrigerant return pipe (52) connecting the low temperature side switching device (3) and the low temperature side air / water heat exchanger (5). The solar-powered refrigerator according to claim 6, comprising (85) and (86).