JPH1183244A - Coolant collector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent explosion at the time of collecting a flammable gas coolant by fixing the stator of a motor for a compressor to the outside of an enclosed container and arranging the rotor of the motor on the inside of the enclosed container. SOLUTION: At the time of collecting the flammable gas coolant, e.g. isobutane, of a cooler 1, the air is mixed with the flammable gas in the system piping of a coolant collection unit if a large quantity of air in a case 2 is mixed through gas leakage from a collection port 3 or an on/off valve 6. The mixture gas of the flammable gas and the air is absorbed into the enclosed container of a compressor 7 through operation thereof. Since the stator of a motor is arranged on the outside of the enclosed container, the mixture gas of the flammable gas and the air does not touch a spark generated from the stator of the motor even in case of abnormal overheat where the concentration of flammable gas in the enclosed container reaches the explosion range thus preventing explosion.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerant recovery device used for repairing a refrigeration system such as a refrigerator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional refrigerant recovery apparatus is disclosed in
There is a technique disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Publication No.

[0003] A conventional refrigerant recovery apparatus will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 5 shows a conventional refrigerant recovery device. In FIG. 5, the refrigeration system 1 is connected at the recovery port 3. When the on-off valve 4 is opened and the compressor 7 is started,
The lubricating oil and the refrigerant in the refrigeration system 1 are collected by the recovery port 3
, And is sucked and stored in the oil separator 5.
The gas refrigerant separated from the lubricating oil in the oil separator 5 is discharged under high pressure by the compressor 7 and condensed by the condenser 8 to become a liquid refrigerant, which is stored in the recovery container 9 and the recovery is completed.

[0004]

In the refrigerant recovery of a refrigeration system in which the refrigerant is a flammable gas such as isobutane, during the recovery operation, a large amount of air in the case 1 is discharged from the recovery port 3 or the on-off valve 6 due to a gas leak or the like. If mixed, air is brought in with the combustible gas into the system piping of the refrigerant recovery device. The mixed gas of combustible gas and air is supplied to the compressor 7
Is drawn into the compressor 7 by the operation. However,
In the above-described conventional configuration, when the concentration of the flammable gas in the compressor 7 reaches the explosion range, there is a possibility that a spark from the stator of the electric motor ignites in the compressor 7 and explodes.

An object of the present invention is to solve the conventional problem and to provide a refrigerant recovery apparatus which can prevent an explosion even in refrigerant recovery of a refrigeration system using a flammable gas as a refrigerant.

[0006]

In the refrigerant recovery apparatus according to the present invention, the stator of the motor of the compressor is mounted outside the closed vessel, and the rotor of the motor is disposed inside the closed vessel.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a refrigerant recovery device which can prevent explosion even in refrigerant recovery of a refrigeration system using flammable gas as a refrigerant.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is directed to a recovery port for connecting to a refrigeration system, an oil separator connected to the recovery port for separating refrigerant from lubricating oil, and a recovery port. And an on-off valve installed in a connection conduit of the oil separator, an electric compressor connected to the oil separator and sucking and compressing a refrigerant, a sealed container for sealing the compressor, A condenser that condenses the discharged refrigerant, a recovery container that stores the refrigerant liquefied in the condenser, a case that includes the on-off valve, the oil separator, the compressor, the condenser, and the recovery container. In the configured refrigerant recovery device, the stator of the motor of the compressor is attached to the outside of the closed container, and the inside of the closed container has a rotor of the motor, a compression mechanism, and a rotational force of the rotor. In which it is disposed a drive shaft for transmitting to said compression mechanism.

Next, the operation will be described. In the refrigerant recovery of a refrigeration system in which the refrigerant is a flammable gas such as isobutane, when a large amount of air is introduced along with the flammable gas into the system piping of the refrigerant recovery device from a recovery port or an on-off valve, the flammable gas The mixed gas of air is sucked into the compressor by the operation of the compressor. At this time, even if sparks are generated from the stator of the motor or abnormal heating occurs, the concentration of the flammable gas in the compressor reaches the explosion range because the stator of the motor is provided outside the closed container. However, it does not come into contact with the combustible gas / air mixture gas in the system and does not ignite and explode.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an air supply port, an exhaust port, and at least one of an air supply fan and an exhaust fan are provided on the wall surface of the case.

Next, the operation will be described. In the refrigerant recovery of a refrigeration system in which the refrigerant is a flammable gas such as isobutane, if there is a welding failure in the weld of the system piping of the refrigerant recovery device, the flammable gas leaks to the outside of the system piping of the refrigerant recovery device. To be charged within. At this time, the outside air is sucked in from the intake port by the rotation of the exhaust fan that operates together with the operation of the compressor, and the flammable gas is discharged from the exhaust port, so that the concentration of the flammable gas in the case of the refrigerant recovery device falls within the explosion range. And no sparks are generated from the stator of the motor of the compressor.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, an oxygen scavenger is enclosed. Next, the operation will be described.

[0013] In the refrigerant recovery of a refrigeration system in which the refrigerant is a flammable gas such as isobutane, when a large amount of air is introduced together with the flammable gas into the system piping of the refrigerant recovery device from a recovery port or an on-off valve, the flammable gas is removed. The mixed gas of the neutral gas and the air is sucked into the compressor by the operation of the compressor, compressed, and then collected in the collection container. At this time, since an oxygen scavenger is sealed inside the collection container, the oxygen concentration in the air inside the collection container is reduced by the reaction of the oxygen scavenger and does not reach the explosion range. For this reason, after refrigerant collection is completed, explosion can be prevented when handling the collected refrigerant for reuse or the like.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a refrigerant recovery apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the compressor according to the embodiment.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 denotes a cylindrical closed container having a step. Numeral 11 denotes a stator of the electric motor, which is inserted outside the hermetic container 10 and is joined when it comes into contact with a step of the hermetic container 10. Reference numeral 12 denotes a rotor of the electric motor, which is provided inside the closed casing 10. Reference numeral 13 denotes a drive shaft, which is injected into the center of the rotor 12 and transmits the torque generated by the stator 11 and the rotor 12 of the electric motor. Reference numeral 14 denotes a compression mechanism, which includes a fixed scroll 15 and an orbiting scroll 16. The rotation of the orbiting scroll 16 by the rotation of the drive shaft 13 compresses the low-pressure gas refrigerant sucked into the sealed container 10. Then, it is sent to the condenser 8.

The operation of the refrigerant recovery apparatus configured as described above will be described below. In the refrigerant recovery of the refrigeration apparatus 1 in which the refrigerant is a flammable gas such as isobutane, if a large amount of air in the case 1 is mixed from the recovery port 3 or the on-off valve 6 due to a gas leak or the like during the recovery operation, the refrigerant recovery apparatus Air enters with flammable gas in the system piping. This mixed gas of combustible gas and air is sucked into the closed container 10 of the compressor 7 by the operation of the compressor 7. At this time, even if a spark or the like is generated from the stator 11 of the electric motor or abnormal overheating occurs, the stator 11 of the electric motor
Is provided outside, the flammable gas in the closed container 10 does not come into contact with the flammable gas and air mixed gas in the system even if the concentration of the flammable gas reaches the explosion range, and it does not ignite and explode. .

Therefore, even if a large amount of air is mixed into the system pipe of the refrigerant recovery device due to gas leak or the like during the operation of recovering the combustible gas refrigerant, an explosion can be prevented and a safe refrigerant recovery operation can be performed.

In the above description, a case has been described in which a scroll compression mechanism using a fixed scroll and an orbiting scroll is used as the compression mechanism. However, similar effects can be obtained by using a reciprocating compression mechanism including a piston and a cylinder.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 3 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a refrigerant recovery apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 17 denotes an air supply port, which is provided on the wall surface of the case 2 and communicates with the outside world so that outside air can be sucked. An exhaust port 18 is provided on the wall surface of the case 2 facing the air supply port 17 and communicates with the outside world so that the gas in the case 2 can be released. An exhaust fan 19 is provided in the exhaust port 17 and operates together with the operation of the compressor 7.

The operation of the refrigerant recovery apparatus configured as described above will be described below. In the refrigerant recovery of a refrigeration system in which the refrigerant is a flammable gas such as isobutane, if there is a welding failure in the weld of the system piping of the refrigerant recovery device, the flammable gas leaks to the outside of the system piping of the refrigerant recovery device. Fill within 2. At this time, the outside air is sucked in from the air supply port 17 by the rotation of the exhaust fan 19 that operates together with the operation of the compressor 7, and the flammable gas is discharged from the exhaust port 18. Does not reach the explosion range, and no spark is generated from the stator of the electric motor of the compressor 7 or even if abnormally overheated, it does not catch fire and explode.

Therefore, even if the flammable gas leaks outside the system piping of the refrigerant recovery device due to poor welding of the welded portion of the system piping of the refrigerant recovery device, the explosion can be prevented and the safe refrigerant recovery work can be performed. it can.

In the above description, the exhaust fan is used. However, the same effect can be obtained by providing an air supply fan in the air supply port to suck in the outside air and discharge the flammable gas from the discharge port.

Although the intake port and the exhaust port are provided at positions facing each other, the present invention is not limited to this position.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 4 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a refrigerant recovery apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 20 denotes an oxygen scavenger, which is made of active iron oxide and is provided at the upper part in the recovery container 9.

The operation of the refrigerant recovery apparatus configured as described above will be described below. In the refrigerant recovery of a refrigeration system in which the refrigerant is a flammable gas such as isobutane, when a large amount of air is introduced together with the flammable gas into the system piping of the refrigerant recovery device from a recovery port or an on-off valve, the flammable gas and the air The mixed gas is sucked into the compressor 7 by the operation of the compressor 7, compressed, and then collected in the collection container 9. At this time, the oxygen in the air in the recovery container 9 reacts with the active iron oxide and is removed because the oxygen absorber 20 made of active iron oxide is sealed in the upper part in the recovery container 9. Therefore, the oxygen concentration in the recovery container 9 is reduced and does not reach the explosion range.

Therefore, after the refrigerant recovery is completed, explosion can be prevented during handling such as reuse of the refrigerant in the recovery container.

In the above description, active iron oxide is used because the oxygen scavenger is relatively inexpensive. However, similar effects can be obtained by using calcium hydroxide or the like.

Further, the oxygen scavenger is disposed at the upper part in the collection container, but the invention is not limited to this as long as it is a place such as a side surface in the collection container that comes into contact with air.

[0031]

As described above, according to the present invention, an explosion can be prevented and a safe refrigerant recovery operation can be performed in refrigerant recovery of a refrigeration system using a flammable gas as a refrigerant.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerant recovery device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a compressor of the refrigerant recovery device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerant recovery device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a refrigerant recovery device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional refrigerant recovery device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigeration apparatus 2 Case 3 Collection port 4 Opening / closing valve 5 Oil separator 6 Discharge valve 7 Compressor 8 Condenser 9 Recovery container 10 Airtight container 11 Stator 12 Rotor 13 Drive shaft 14 Compression mechanism 15 Fixed scroll 16 Rotating scroll 17 Feeding Vent 18 Exhaust port 19 Exhaust fan 20 Oxygen absorber

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Takanori Ishida, Inventor 4-5-2-5 Takaida Hondori, Higashi-Osaka City, Osaka Inside Matsushita Refrigerating Machinery Co., Ltd. No.2-5 Matsushita Refrigeration Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A recovery port for connecting to a refrigeration apparatus, an oil separator connected to the recovery port to separate refrigerant from lubricating oil, and an on-off valve installed in a connection line between the recovery port and the oil separator. An electric compressor connected to the oil separator for sucking and compressing a refrigerant, a sealed container for sealing the compressor, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant discharged from the compressor, and the condenser A recovery container configured to store the refrigerant liquefied in, a refrigerant recovery device including the on-off valve, the oil separator, the compressor, the condenser, and a case that includes the recovery container, wherein the motor of the compressor includes: The stator is attached to the outside of the closed container, and a rotor of the electric motor, a compression mechanism, and a drive shaft for transmitting the rotational force of the rotor to the compression mechanism are provided inside the closed container. A refrigerant recovery device, characterized in that: 2. An air supply port, an exhaust port,
2. The refrigerant recovery device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of an air supply fan and an exhaust fan. 3. The refrigerant recovery device according to claim 1, wherein an oxygen scavenger is sealed inside the recovery container.