JPH11281458A - Ice storage tank and measuring method for ice filling rate in ice storage tank - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a measuring method for an ice filling rate in an ice storage tank by which the filling rate of the ice in the tank is accurately measures irrelevant to properties of the ice. SOLUTION: Ice produced in an evaporator 1 is led into a tank main body 21 of an ice storage tank 5 along with water via a slurry carrying pipe 11, the ice is sunk under the water surface by a bowl porous plate 22 arranged in the tank main body 21, and the buoyancy of the ice acting on the porous plate 22 is detected by a force detector 23 to find the whole volume of the ice under the water so that the ice filling rate in the ice storage tank 5 can be measured.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ice storage tank and a method for measuring an ice filling rate in the ice storage tank.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an ice making device provided in a cold water supply system, there is an ice making device using an absorption refrigeration cycle.

[0003] This ice making device comprises an evaporator for evaporating water as a refrigerant liquid, an absorber for absorbing the water vapor evaporated in the evaporator into an absorbing solution comprising an aqueous solution of lithium bromide, and A regenerator that absorbs water vapor and heats the diluted absorbent having a reduced concentration to evaporate water to obtain a concentrated absorbent, a condenser that condenses water vapor evaporated by the regenerator, and a condenser inside the evaporator. And an ice storage tank for guiding and storing the ice obtained by cooling the water by the heat of vaporization of the water in the form of an ice slurry together with the water. In addition, a 0 ° C. refrigerant (sherbet-like ice or water) is guided from an ice storage tank to an external heat exchanger to cool water introduced from the outside to near 0 ° C., and the cold water is supplied through a cold water supply pipe. Supplied to cold water demand points.

In the above ice making device, when the filling rate of the ice in the ice storage tank exceeds a certain value, the refrigerant circulation piping system for circulating the refrigerant between the evaporator and the ice storage tank becomes blocked. In such a case, the operation cannot be performed. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly grasp the filling rate of ice in the ice storage tank.

Conventionally, a refrigerant temperature measuring method or an electric conductivity measuring method has been used to measure the volume of ice in an ice storage tank. In the refrigerant temperature measurement method, as the ice in the ice storage tank is stored, the concentration of the freezing point depressant in the refrigerant increases, and the freezing point of the refrigerant decreases. This is a method for measuring the filling rate of ice in the ice storage tank by detecting this temperature change.

In the electric conductivity measuring method, when the ratio of water and ice in the ice storage tank changes, that is, when water changes to ice, the electric conductivity decreases. This method measures the filling rate of ice in the ice storage tank by detecting the electric conductivity.

[0007]

The above-mentioned conventional methods for measuring the ice filling rate in an ice storage tank are both methods using water as a medium, but the ice obtained by the evaporator of the ice making device is a sherbet. Since the water is present between the ice particles stored in the ice storage tank, there is a problem that the measurement error is inevitably increased.

Accordingly, the present invention provides
An object of the present invention is to provide an ice storage tank capable of accurately measuring the filling rate of ice in a tank and a method of measuring the filling rate of ice in the ice storage tank.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first ice storage tank of the present invention is an ice storage tank for storing ice together with water, and an ice floating prevention member is disposed in a tank body. In addition, a force detector for detecting the buoyancy of ice acting on the ice floating prevention member is provided.

The first method for measuring the ice filling rate in an ice storage tank according to the present invention comprises detecting the buoyancy of ice acting on an ice floating prevention member disposed in an ice storage tank storing ice together with water. This is a method for measuring the filling rate of ice in an ice storage tank.

The second ice storage tank of the present invention is an ice storage tank for storing ice together with water, wherein an ice floating prevention member made of a porous plate or a mesh is disposed in a tank body. A liquid level gauge is provided for detecting the position of the water surface in the tank body with the ice submerged by the ice floating prevention member.

The second method of measuring the ice filling rate in an ice storage tank according to the present invention is a method for measuring ice by an ice floating prevention member made of a porous plate or a net placed in an ice storage tank storing ice together with water. This is a method of measuring the filling rate of ice in an ice storage tank by detecting the position of the water surface under the water.

According to the above-mentioned ice storage tanks and the method of measuring the ice filling rate in the ice storage tanks, the buoyancy of the ice submerged in the tank is detected, and the ice in the tank is brought under the water. Since the ice filling rate is measured by detecting the water surface position in the submerged state, even if water exists between the ice particles, the ice filling rate is accurately measured. I can do it.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an ice storage tank and a method for measuring an ice filling rate in the tank according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In the first embodiment, an ice storage tank provided in an ice making device using an absorption refrigeration cycle using an aqueous solution of lithium bromide as an absorbing solution will be described.

First, the general configuration of the ice making device will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the ice making device includes an evaporator 1 for evaporating water as a refrigerant liquid, and a vapor guide S for guiding water vapor S evaporated in the evaporator 1 to be absorbed by an absorbing liquid composed of a lithium bromide aqueous solution. Absorber 2, regenerator 3 that absorbs water vapor in this absorber 2, heats the diluted absorbent whose concentration has been reduced, evaporates water to obtain a concentrated absorbent, and evaporates in this regenerator 3. A condenser 4 for guiding and condensing steam S;
An ice storage tank 5 having a closed structure (or an open structure) for guiding and storing the ice obtained in the evaporator 1 together with water as an ice slurry through a slurry transfer pipe 11;
And a water return pipe 12 for returning water into the evaporator 1.

The ice storage tank 5 has a spherical tank body 21 and a bowl-shaped (plate-shaped or plate-shaped periphery) disposed inside the tank body 21 for sinking the whole ice below the water surface. A porous plate (which may be bent) (an example of an anti-floating member, specifically, a punching metal is used, and its opening ratio is preferably, for example, 40 mesh or more) 22; Porous plate 22
And an upper portion of the tank body 21 for holding ice below the surface of the water, and a pressing member 24 provided with a force detector (for example, a spring balance) 23 in the middle. I have.

In the above ice making apparatus, the ice generated in the evaporator 1 by the operation of the refrigeration cycle is transferred to the ice storage tank 5 together with the water through the slurry transfer pipe 11. Then, in the ice storage tank 5, the ice A enters the lower side of the porous plate 22, and the porous plate 22 is pushed up by the buoyancy of the ice. The buoyancy according to the product is detected by the force detector 23. From the buoyancy detected by the force detector 23, the porous plate 22
The total volume of ice below is determined by calculation.

As described above, since all the ice in the ice storage tank 5 is submerged below the water surface and the total volume of the ice is obtained, when water exists between the ice particles (the ice is small and the sherbet is used). In such a case, the filling rate of ice can be accurately measured.

Next, an ice storage tank according to a second embodiment of the present invention and a method for measuring the ice filling rate in the tank will be described with reference to FIG. Also in the second embodiment,
A case where the present invention is applied to an ice making device using an absorption refrigeration cycle using an aqueous solution of lithium bromide as an absorbing solution will be described.

This ice making apparatus comprises an evaporator 51 for evaporating water as a refrigerant liquid, and an absorber 52 for guiding water vapor S evaporated in the evaporator 51 and absorbing the vapor S into an absorbing liquid composed of an aqueous solution of lithium bromide. A regenerator 53 that absorbs water vapor with the absorber 52 and heats the diluted absorbent having a reduced concentration to evaporate water to obtain a concentrated absorbent;
A condenser 54 for guiding and condensing the water vapor S evaporated in 3;
An ice storage tank 55 having a closed structure (may be an open structure) for guiding and storing the ice obtained by the evaporator 51 together with water as ice slurry through a slurry transfer pipe 61, and water from the ice storage tank 55 to the evaporator 1 Water return pipe 62 for returning inside
And a liquid level control device 63 for keeping the water level in the evaporator 1 constant.

The ice storage tank 55 has a spherical tank main body 71 and a flat plate (flat plate or flat plate) disposed inside the tank main body 71 and having a bent edge for sinking the whole ice below the water surface. A bowl-shaped porous plate (an example of an ice floating prevention member, specifically, a punching metal is used, and its opening ratio is preferably 40 mesh or more, for example) 72; And a liquid level gauge 73 for detecting a water surface position in the inside.

Further, the liquid level control device 63 includes a flow control valve 81 provided in the middle of the water return pipe 62, a liquid level meter 82 provided in the evaporator 51, and a liquid level meter 82. , And a controller 83 for outputting a control signal to the flow control valve 81 so that the liquid level in the evaporator 51 becomes constant.

In the above ice making device, when the refrigeration cycle operates, ice is generated in the evaporator 51,
This ice A is supplied to the ice storage tank 55 through the slurry transfer pipe 61.
And is accumulated in a state of entering the lower side of the porous plate 22.

During a steady operation in which the operation of the refrigeration cycle is performed stably, the amount of water evaporated in the evaporator 51 and the amount of water transferred from the condenser 54 to the evaporator 51 are balanced. And the liquid level control device 6
3 controls the liquid level in the evaporator 51 to be always constant. That is, the amount of water in the system including the evaporator 51, the ice storage tank 55, the slurry transfer pipe 61, and the water return pipe 62 is controlled to be constant.

Therefore, in this system, when part of the water becomes ice, the volume increases in accordance with the amount of ice, and this increase in volume appears as a rise in the water level in the ice storage tank 55.

That is, this increase in the water level is caused by the ice storage tank 5
The level of the ice in the ice storage tank 55 is measured by detecting the total volume of the ice on the basis of the detected value.

As described above, all the ice in the ice storage tank 55 is submerged by the porous plate 72 below the water surface, and the total volume of the ice is obtained. Even when water is present between the particles (in the case where the ice is small and has a sherbet-like shape), the filling rate of the ice can be accurately measured.

In each of the above embodiments,
Although the tank body of the ice storage tank has been described as being spherical, it may have a shape other than a spherical shape, for example, a cylindrical shape.

In each of the above embodiments, the porous plate is used as the ice floating prevention member. However, for example, a mesh (preferably 40 mesh or more, or a plate having an equivalent aperture ratio) is used. May be used, and in some cases, it is also possible to simply use a plate body in which an air escape hole is formed, that is, a member that can accumulate ice below the water surface without containing air. The shape and material are not limited.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to an ice storage tank in an ice making device operated by a single-effect absorption refrigeration cycle has been described. The present invention can also be applied to an ice storage tank in a case where ice is made by a compression refrigerator.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where ice generated by the evaporator is transferred to the ice storage tank in the form of slurry has been described.
The present invention can also be applied to the measurement of the filling rate of ice when producing ice.
That is, regardless of the nature of the ice (ice production may be dynamic or static),
The filling rate of ice can be accurately measured.

[0033]

As described above, according to the ice storage tank and the method of measuring the ice filling rate in the ice storage tank of the present invention, the buoyancy of ice submerged in the tank is detected, and The ice filling rate is measured by detecting the position of the water surface in a state where the ice is submerged under the water surface, so that the ice filling rate can be accurately measured regardless of the properties of the ice .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an ice making device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an ice making device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 5 Ice Storage Tank 21 Tank Main Body 22 Porous Plate 23 Force Measuring Device 24 Holding Member 55 Ice Storage Tank 63 Liquid Level Controller 71 Tank Main Body 72 Porous Plate 73 Liquid Level Meter

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshito Masuda 2-4-12-301, Ichikawa Minami, Ichikawa, Chiba (72) Inventor Kimio Yoshikawa 3-7-37, Azamino, Aoba-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture (72) Invention Person Atsushi Sekikawa 4-13-21 E104 Nakameguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo E72 (72) Inventor Takashi Yoshida 2-6-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo In-house Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Masanobu Saito, Nishi-shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 2-6-1 Shinjuku Oki In-house Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Sasao 2-6-1 Nishi Shinjuku Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo In-house Co., Ltd. 7-89, Hitachi Zosen Corporation (72) Inventor Masaharu Furuji 1-7-89, Minami Kohoku, Suminoe-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Hitachi Zosen Corporation (72) Inventor Tatsuhiko Umeda Hitachi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Otsuka 1-7-89 Minami Kohoku, Suminoe-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Hiroshima Otsuka Yoshinobu Takagi 1-89, Minami Kohoku, Suminoe-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Within Hitachi Zosen Corporation

Claims (6)

[Claims] An ice storage tank for storing ice together with water, wherein an ice floating prevention member is disposed in a tank body, and a force detector for detecting the buoyancy of ice acting on the ice floating prevention member is provided. An ice storage tank characterized by the following. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a buoyancy of the ice acting on an ice floating prevention member disposed in an ice storage tank storing ice together with water is detected to measure a filling rate of the ice in the ice storage tank. For measuring the ice filling rate in an ice storage tank. 3. An ice storage tank for storing ice together with water, wherein an ice floating prevention member is disposed in the tank body, and the ice is submerged by the ice floating prevention member. An ice storage tank provided with a liquid level gauge for detecting a water surface position. 4. The ice storage tank according to claim 3, wherein a porous plate or a net is used as the ice floating prevention member. 5. The filling rate of ice in an ice storage tank by detecting the position of the water surface in a state where the ice is submerged by an ice floating prevention member disposed in an ice storage tank storing ice together with water. A method for measuring an ice filling rate in an ice storage tank, wherein the ice filling rate is measured. 6. The method for measuring an ice filling rate in an ice storage tank according to claim 5, wherein a porous plate or a net is used as the ice floating prevention member.