JPS62169981A - Power saving type freezing refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (A) Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to an energy-saving refrigerator-freezer that recovers and utilizes condensation heat from a condenser of a refrigeration cycle and generates thermoelectric power using a C thermocouple.

(B) Conventional technology In a conventional refrigerator-freezer, the condensation heat generated from the condenser of the refrigeration cycle is converted into waste heat by either forced cooling using a radiation fan or natural cooling. It is scattered inside and thrown away.

(Q) Problems that the invention aims to solve: As stated in the following, the condensation heat generated from the condenser of the refrigeration cycle of conventional refrigerator-freezers was completely wasted into the atmosphere as waste heat.

For this reason, in the case of forced cooling, it is necessary to install a heat dissipation fan and increase the operating power cost, and in the case of natural cooling, it is necessary to take measures to increase the heat dissipation area, and furthermore, it is necessary to take measures to increase the heat dissipation area. Although separated by an insulating wall due to dissipation, this waste heat had a negative effect on the cooling efficiency inside the refrigerator-freezer, placing an additional load on the electric compressor.

Means for Solving Problems q In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a refrigeration system consisting of an electric compressor for compressing refrigerant or an electric compressor capable of controlling the rotation speed, a condenser, a pressure reducer, an evaporator, etc. The so-called Seebeck The electric power generated by generating a thermoelectromotive force is converted into direct current or alternating current to be used on the necessary demand side, such as an electric compressor, or a rotation speed controlled electric compressor, or other necessary parts (for example, an interior light, By supplying supplementary power to defrosting fans, electric hot water water heaters, etc.), the power required to drive the electric compressor, rotation speed controlled electric compressor, or other necessary parts can be saved accordingly. at the same time,
This waste heat recovery eliminates the need for a heat dissipation fan for forced cooling or a large heat dissipation area for natural cooling, and also eliminates the need for a heat dissipation fan for forced cooling or a large heat dissipation area for natural cooling. The design was designed to reduce the extra power load on the electric compressor.

Note that the refrigeration cycle is a general term for a normal refrigeration cycle and a high-performance, high-efficiency super refrigeration cycle that is currently under development, unless otherwise specified. In addition, unless otherwise specified, thermocouple is a general term for ordinary single or multiple pairs of thermocouples and high-performance/high-efficiency single or multiple pairs of extraneous thermocouples that are under development.

(G) Function Generally speaking, when a temperature difference is applied between the fixed joints of a thermocouple, the thermoelectromotive force E generated by the Seebeck effect as mentioned above is E-α(Tr-T2) - (1) where α is the thermoelectric power. At present, the α value of semiconductors is about an order of magnitude larger than that of metals. T1 is the high temperature junction absolute temperature, and T2 is the low temperature junction absolute temperature. In addition, the thermoelectric figure of merit 2 indicates the performance of the thermocouple.
z=, 2 K --- (2) where z is the electrical conductivity of the thermoelectric element material, and K is its thermal conductivity. Therefore, from equation (2), in order for the thermoelectric element to have high performance (that is, Z is large), it is necessary that the thermoelectric power α is large, the electrical conductivity meter is large, and the thermal conductivity K is small. It has advantageous properties as a thermoelectric element material because of its high capacity and low thermal conductivity. In particular, compound semiconductors have more advantageous conditions.

On the other hand, the maximum heat-to-electricity conversion efficiency of the thermoelectric power generation system using the Seebeck effect using thermocouples is currently about 10%, so this is defined as ηOm.Also, heat is generated per unit time from the condenser of the refrigeration cycle. Let QO be the heat of condensation, and let it be collected by n pairs of thermocouples, and let the remaining heat of condensation be Qna.
n = QO(1-”omax)n≦0,9°Qo
'-(4) If the recovery rate is about 90%, then from equation (4) n'-, 22 degrees, that is, about 22 pairs of thermocouples can be used to recover.

Furthermore, the coefficient of performance of the refrigeration cycle is 2 to 3. Considering that in the case of a high-performance, high-efficiency super refrigeration cycle, the number of thermocouple pairs is approximately twice that, we can expect the number of thermocouple pairs to be reduced. Furthermore, as the technological development of thermoelectric element materials with even better thermoelectric figures of merit progresses, it is expected that the number of these pairs will further decrease.

Note that using multiple pairs of thermocouples in series has the advantage that the output (power generation amount) can be increased more than the output (power generation amount) obtained with one pair of thermocouples.

(Embodiment D) An embodiment of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings. Fig. 1 shows an example of an energy-saving refrigerator/freezer according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an electric compressor. In the figure, 1 is an electric compressor, 2 is a condenser, 3 is a two-way valve, and 4 is a
is a pressure reducer, 5 is an evaporator, and 6 is an accumulator. Note that the two-way valve, pressure reducer, evaporator, etc. are not particularly shown, although they consist of a plurality of parallel valves each having the same number as the cooling chambers of a refrigerator-freezer or a similar number.

A heat exchanger 7 is heated by the condensation heat from the condenser 2 and is composed of, for example, a heat pipe. 8 is a thermocouple of a thermoelectric generator,
a is the high temperature junction of the thermocouple 8, and b is its low temperature junction. Reference numeral 9 denotes a heat transfer connector that transmits the condensed heating heat from the heat exchanger 7 to the high-temperature junction a of the thermocouple 8, and is made of, for example, a heat pipe. Note that if the heat exchanger 7 and the thermocouple 8 are directly connected to the high-temperature junction a, the heat transfer connector 9 is not necessary. 10
a and tob are thermoelectric elements of different types (p-type, n-type, etc.) that constitute the thermocouple 8.

11 is a battery or a capacitor, 12 is a control unit, and 13 is a DC/AC converter (for example, an inverter). However, if there is no need to convert to alternating current, the direct current converter 13 is not necessary. 14 is a regulator that adjusts and controls the main input to the electric compressor 1 from an external power source and the supplementary input of thermoelectromotive force from the DC converter 13 or the control unit 12.

Note that the condenser 2. The heat exchanger 7 is selected to be as efficient as possible, and in the case of a super refrigeration cycle, a high-performance electric compressor is selected. The thermoelectric elements 10a and 10b are made of materials that have high thermoelectric power, high electric conductivity, low thermal conductivity, and excellent energy conversion characteristics, such as Bi2 Tea and B12 (Tera) of the V-■ group of semiconductors. 3
System: v-v group B1Sb 1(B18b)2TeB system:
Other compound semiconductors are used. Furthermore, if technological development progresses and a supernatural couple made of materials with dramatically higher performance and efficiency is developed, it will be used. The solid joints a and b of the thermocouple 8 are made of metal (for example, Ou, etc.), and heat is transferred to the thermoelectric elements IQa,
10b and at the same time serves as an electrode. However, when contacting semiconductors with metals, it is necessary to carefully consider the relationship between the work functions of each semiconductor and select the optimal metal material. If a more excellent and optimal material other than metal is developed in the future, we will use it. Further, the refrigerant used in the refrigeration cycle is freon, ammonia, etc., and in the case of a soot-cooled refrigeration cycle, a mixed refrigerant or a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant of these is used.

Next, in its operation, the refrigerant compressed at the rotational speed of the electric compressor 1 flows into the condenser 2, condenses and liquefies, radiates heat, and is heated and heat exchanged with the heat exchanger 7. The high temperature joint part a of pair 8 is heated by heat transfer. On the other hand, the liquid refrigerant after heat dissipation is reduced in pressure by a pressure reducer 4 via a two-way valve 3, and is then reduced to an evaporator 5.
The liquid flows into the refrigerator and is evaporated and cooled to cool each cooling chamber of the refrigerator-freezer. The vaporized refrigerant thus cooled flows into the accumulator 6 and returns to the intake side of the electric compressor 1, forming a refrigeration cycle. In the case of a high-performance/high-efficiency super refrigeration cycle, the mixed refrigerant or non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant compressed by the high-performance electric compressor 1 is transferred to the high-efficiency condenser 2. Pressure reducer4. Evaporator 5.
A super refrigeration cycle is formed through other equipment.

On the other hand, 108.10 for thermoelectric elements of different types (p-type, n-type, etc.)
Each high temperature junction a of the thermocouple 8 combined with b,
A temperature difference occurs between the low-temperature junction l), and a thermoelectromotive force is generated due to the Seebeck effect. The amount of power generated is determined by equation (1), and the generated DC power is stored in a battery or capacitor 11, and the control unit 12° DC/AC converter 1
3. Through the regulator 14, power is supplied to the electric compressor 1 in a controlled manner in addition to the main power from an external power source, thereby saving the amount of main power supplied accordingly. Note that if DC current is sufficient, the DC/AC converter 13 is unnecessary, and power is supplied from the control unit 12 via the regulator 14 to the electric compressor 1 in a supplementary controlled manner together with the main power from the external power source. Furthermore, when a high-performance, high-efficiency superstatic couple is used, the amount of generated thermoelectromotive force is further increased, and the amount of WJ electricity supplied to the electric compressor 1 is also increased. The above explanation is an example of supplementary power supply of the generated thermoelectromotive force to the electric compressor 1, but power is supplied or supplementary power to other necessary demand sides (for example, interior lights, defrosting fans, electric water heaters, etc.) If so, it is performed via the DC/AC converter 13 or the control section 12.

In the case of a rotation speed controlled electric compressor, thermoelectromotive force is supplied with supplementary control power to the rotation speed control (inverter control for AC drive, Thyris-Screenard control for DC drive, etc.) along with the main power from an external power source. Ru. In addition, a flow control valve (not particularly shown) is provided on the inlet or outlet side of each of the condenser 2 and evaporator 4 to control the refrigerant to an optimum refrigerant flow rate corresponding to the rotation speed of the electric compressor 1 for synchronous control. By doing so, the refrigerant can be finely controlled to flow into the condenser 2 and the evaporator 4, respectively, and the thermoelectromotive force can be controlled and generated even more precisely.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram in which the high-temperature joints of the condenser and thermocouple of the refrigeration cycle of the power-saving refrigerator-freezer are directly connected to generate a thermoelectromotive force. In the figure, the condenser 2 is directly connected to form the high-temperature joint a of the thermocouple 8, so the heat transfer connector 9 is not required. However, the heat exchanger 7 may be required. All other details are almost the same as in the case of FIG.

The embodiments shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 each use one pair of thermocouples, but as mentioned above, the condensation heat generated from the condenser 2 is recovered as much as possible, and a larger amount of power generation is generated. In practice, a plurality of pairs of thermocouples are often connected in series to generate thermoelectromotive force.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram in which the condensed heat from the condenser of the refrigeration cycle of a conventional refrigerator-freezer is forcibly cooled as waste heat by a radiation fan and discarded into the atmosphere. In the figure, 15 is a heat dissipation fan.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of the reactor being discarded into the atmosphere due to natural cooling.

(Q Effect of the Invention As explained above, the effect of the power-saving refrigerator-freezer of the present invention is that the condensation heat generated from the condenser of the refrigeration cycle of the conventional refrigerator-freezer is completely discarded into the atmosphere as waste heat. The waste heat energy is recovered by heat exchange and thermoelectric power generation method using thermocouples using the Seebeck effect is used to generate thermoelectromotive force and convert the waste heat energy into electricity.The generated electricity is then used for electric compressors on the demand side or other - By supplying supplementary power, the required driving power of the electric compressor or other required power can be saved accordingly.

In addition, forced cooling by a heat dissipation fan is unnecessary, and the driving power and equipment costs are also eliminated.

Alternatively, there is no need to provide a large heat dissipation area for natural cooling, and the condenser can be made compact, resulting in rationalization.

In addition, the extra power load of the electric compressor, which is used to compensate for the decrease in cooling efficiency in refrigerators and freezers where the waste heat of condensation heat generated in the past is used, is also reduced, and the power saving effect is further increased. I can do it.

Incidentally, the increase in equipment cost and weight of the thermoelectric generator set can be kept to a minimum as much as possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the refrigeration cycle and thermocouple of an energy-saving refrigerator-freezer. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram in which the high-temperature joints of the condenser and thermocouple of the refrigeration cycle of an energy-saving refrigerator-freezer are directly connected to generate a thermoelectromotive force. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram in which the condensed heat from the condenser of the refrigeration cycle of a conventional refrigerator-freezer is discarded as waste heat by forced cooling by a radiation fan. Figure 4 is a configuration diagram that is also discarded due to natural cooling. It is. 1: Electric compressor 2: Condenser 3: Two-way valve 4: Pressure reducer 5: Evaporator 6: Accumulator 7: Heat exchanger 8: Thermocouple JL: Thermocouple high temperature junction 1: Low temperature junction 9 : Heat transfer connectors 10a, 10b : Thermoelectric element 11 : Battery or capacitor 12 : Control unit 13 : DC/AC converter 14 : Regulator 15 : Radiation fan

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a refrigerator with a refrigeration cycle consisting of an electric compressor for compressing refrigerant, a condenser, a pressure reducer, an evaporator, etc., one of the two junctions of a thermocouple that combines different types of thermoelectric elements. By exchanging heat with the condenser and heating the high temperature junction with the condensation heat to create a temperature difference between the two junctions, a thermoelectromotive force is generated and the generated power is supplied to the necessary demand side. This is an energy-saving refrigerator/freezer that is configured to save electricity by a certain amount. 2. The thermoelectromotive force generated by exchanging heat with the condenser of a refrigeration cycle driven by an electric compressor that can control the rotation speed and using the condensation heat to create a temperature difference between both junctions of the thermocouple is transferred to the necessary demand side. The power-saving refrigerator-freezer according to claim 1, characterized in that it is configured to be able to save power by supplying power.