JPS63302264A - Air conditioner - 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 <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a heating and cooling system using a vapor compression refrigerant circuit.

<Conventional technology> In recent years, heat pump type air-conditioning equipment has improved its functionality by incorporating inverters and cycle control using microprocessors, and is also superior in safety and cleanliness, so it has gained its status as a household air-conditioning equipment. has been established.

Furthermore, future research and development will lead to even higher functionality and efficiency, and we can expect a dramatic increase in demand.

The use of non-azeotropic mixed refrigerants can be considered as one way to improve the functionality and efficiency of heat pump cycles.

Most conventional heat pump air conditioning systems use a single refrigerant, forming the following cycle.

Figure 2 shows the cycle of a conventional heat pump air conditioning system. Solid arrows indicate the flow of refrigerant during cooling, and dashed arrows indicate the flow of refrigerant during heating. During cooling operation, the high temperature discharged from the compressor 11,
The high-pressure refrigerant vapor enters the outdoor heat exchanger 13 via the electromagnetic four-way valve 12, radiates heat to the outdoor air, and condenses. The condensed refrigerant is depressurized by the expansion valve 14 and becomes low temperature and pressure, and is vaporized by absorbing heat from the indoor air in the indoor heat exchanger 15. The vaporized refrigerant was sucked into the compressor 11 and turned into high-temperature, high-pressure steam again, forming a cooling cycle.

On the other hand, when the heat pump is in heating operation, the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant vapor discharged from the compressor 11 is controlled by an electromagnetic four-way valve! The heat first enters the indoor heat exchanger 15 via the air filter 2, where it radiates heat to the indoor air and condenses. The condensed refrigerant is depressurized by the expansion valve 14 to become low temperature and low pressure, and is vaporized by absorbing heat from the outdoor air in the outdoor heat exchanger 13.

The vaporized refrigerant was sucked into the compressor 2 and turned into high-temperature, high-pressure steam again, forming a heating cycle.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention The conventional cycle described above is a cycle for a single refrigerant such as R12 or R22, and the flow of the refrigerant is reversed between cooling and heat pump heating.

In the case of a single refrigerant, at a constant pressure, the vapor and condensation processes are isothermal changes and did not pose any particular problem.

Non-azeotropic mixed refrigerants (e.g. R12-Rl3B!, R1
52a-R13BISR22-R11, R22-Rl
In the evaporator of a refrigerant circuit using a mixture of 3B and 1), the refrigerant liquid becomes refrigerant vapor while maintaining vapor-liquid equilibrium. During this time,
The evaporation temperature gradually increases. In the condenser, the condensation temperature is exactly the opposite, and the condensation temperature gradually decreases. On the other hand, the air loses heat in the evaporator and becomes low temperature, and in the condenser it gains heat and becomes high temperature. Table 1 summarizes these temperature relationships.

Table 1 This refrigerant circuit for non-azeotropic mixed refrigerants utilizes the characteristic that the temperature of phase change depends on the concentration by performing heat exchange in a countercurrent manner to exchange heat between the refrigerant and the cooling fluid or heating fluid. It can reduce losses and improve coefficient of performance. Countercurrent method refers to piping in which the refrigerant inlet is located in the most leeward row and the outlet is located in the most windward row, so that the refrigerant flows sequentially from the leeward row to the upwind row. This refers to cases where The opposite case is called parallel current method.

In the conventional heat pump cycle, as mentioned above, the flow of refrigerant is completely opposite during cooling and heating, and the flow of air to the heat exchanger by the blower is always in the same direction. Therefore, a refrigerant circuit that performs countercurrent heat exchange during cooling operation uses parallel current heat exchange during heating operation, and a refrigerant circuit that performs countercurrent heat exchange during heating operation uses parallel current heat exchange during cooling operation. Since it was replaced, it was not possible to use a countercurrent system for both cooling and heating.

The present invention was devised in view of these points, and provides an air-conditioning/heating device that uses a countercurrent type evaporator and condenser for both cooling and heating.

Means for Solving the Problems> The means for solving the problems according to the present invention, as shown in FIG.
A refrigerant circuit X using a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant is provided,
A first refrigerant rectifier 6 is provided for making the flow direction of the refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger 2 constant, and a second refrigerant straightening device 6 is provided for making the flow direction of the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger 3 constant. A refrigerant rectifier 7 is provided, and the indoor heat exchanger 2 is connected to the compressor through the first refrigerant rectifier 6! The outdoor heat exchanger 3 is connected to the compressor 1 and the expansion valve 5 via a second refrigerant rectifier 7 .

In the above problem solving means, during cooling operation, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 passes through the electromagnetic four-way valve 4, flows into the second refrigerant rectifier 7, and is flown by the second refrigerant rectifier 7. The refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 3 from the refrigerant population 3a of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 in a limited direction. Then, the flow direction is again limited by the second refrigerant rectifier 7 and reaches the expansion valve 5 via the second refrigerant rectifier 7. Then, the refrigerant flowing out from the expansion valve 5 flows into the first refrigerant rectifier 6, where the flow direction is limited and the refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchanger 2 from the refrigerant population 2a of the indoor heat exchanger 2. The flow direction of the refrigerant is again limited by the first refrigerant rectifier 6, and after reaching the electromagnetic four-way valve 4 through the first refrigerant rectifier 6, it returns to the compressor 1.

In addition, during heating operation, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 passes through the electromagnetic four-way valve 4 and then flows into the first refrigerant rectifier 6, and the flow direction is limited by the first refrigerant rectifier 6, causing indoor heat. The refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchanger 2 from the refrigerant population 2a of the exchanger 2. Then, the flow direction is again limited by the first refrigerant rectifier 6 and reaches the expansion valve 5 via the first refrigerant rectifier 6. The refrigerant flowing out from the expansion valve 5 then flows into the second refrigerant rectifying device 7, where the flow direction is limited and the refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 3 from the refrigerant population 3a of the outdoor heat exchanger 3. The flow direction of the refrigerant is again limited by the second refrigerant rectifier 7, and after reaching the electromagnetic four-way valve 4 through the second refrigerant rectifier 7, it returns to the compressor 1.

As described above, the flow of the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 2 and the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is in the same direction during both cooling and heating operations, and the flow of the refrigerant and the flow of air can be made countercurrent for both heating and cooling operations.

<Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a heating and cooling device showing an embodiment of the present invention. This device uses a refrigerant circuit X using a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant.
It is composed of a compressor 1, an indoor heat exchanger 2, an outdoor heat exchanger 3, an electromagnetic four-way valve 4, an expansion valve 5, a first refrigerant rectifier 6, and a second refrigerant rectifier 7.

The discharge port and suction port of the compressor 1 are connected to the compressor connection port 6c of the first refrigerant rectifier 6 and the compressor connection lower c of the second refrigerant rectifier 7 via the electromagnetic four-way valve 4. Further, the expansion valve connection port 6d of the first refrigerant rectifier 6 and the expansion valve connection lower d of the second refrigerant rectifier 7 are connected via the expansion valve 5.

Moreover, the first refrigerant rectifier 6 and the second refrigerant rectifier 7 each include four check valves 6e to 6h and 7e to 7h. Then, the refrigerant population 2a of the indoor heat exchanger 2
is connected to the refrigerant outlet 6a of the first refrigerant rectifier 6, and the refrigerant outlet 2b of the indoor heat exchanger 2 is connected to the refrigerant outlet 6b of the first refrigerant rectifier 6. The refrigerant population 3a of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is connected to the refrigerant lower a of the second refrigerant rectifier 7,
The refrigerant outlet 3b of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is connected to the refrigerant lower b of the second refrigerant rectifier 7.

In FIG. 1, the wavy arrows 8 of the indoor heat exchanger 2 represent the flow of indoor air, and the wavy arrows 9 of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 represent the flow of outdoor air. This air always flows in one direction. In addition, the flow of refrigerant is shown by solid line arrows during cooling operation, and by broken line arrows during heating operation.

Next, the operation of the air conditioning system will be explained. During cooling operation, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant vapor discharged from the compressor 1 is passed through the electromagnetic four-way valve 4.
(solid line) to the compressor connection lower c of the second refrigerant rectifier 7
The refrigerant flows into the second refrigerant rectifying device 7 through the flow direction of the check valve, flows out from the refrigerant lower a, flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 3 via the refrigerant population 3a, and enters the outdoor air 9. Heat is removed and the refrigerant condenses and liquefies. and refrigerant outlet 3b
The refrigerant flows out through the refrigerant lower b of the second refrigerant rectifying device 7, flows into the second refrigerant rectifying device 7 again, and flows into the expansion valve 5 from the expansion valve connecting lower d according to the flow direction of the check valve. Then, the pressure is reduced by the expansion valve 5, resulting in a low temperature, low pressure gas-liquid mixed state. After that, the refrigerant flows into the first refrigerant rectifier 6 from the expansion valve connection port 6d of the first refrigerant rectifier 6, and then passes through the refrigerant outlet 6a of the indoor heat exchanger 2 from the refrigerant outlet 6a according to the flow direction of the reversal valve for indoor heat exchange. The air flows into the container 2, absorbs heat from the indoor air 8, and performs cooling. Through this heat exchange, the refrigerant becomes a low-temperature, low-pressure vapor, which flows from the refrigerant outlet 2b to the first refrigerant rectifier 6 through the refrigerant population 6b of the first refrigerant rectifier 6, and follows the flow direction of the check valve to the compressor connection port 6C. The air is sucked into the compressor l via the electromagnetic four-way valve 4, and the cycle of being compressed again is repeated.

During heating operation, the electromagnetic four-way valve 4
is the connection shown by the broken line, and the refrigerant is condensed and liquefied in the indoor heat exchanger 2, and evaporated and vaporized in the outdoor heat exchanger 3. However, due to the actions of the first refrigerant rectifier 6 and the second refrigerant rectifier 70, the indoor heat is The flow direction of the refrigerant in the exchanger 2 and the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is the same as in the cooling operation described above.

As shown above, in both the cooling operation and the heating operation, the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 2 flows from the refrigerant population 2a to the refrigerant outlet 2b, and performs countercurrent heat exchange with the indoor air. Further, in the outdoor heat exchanger 3, the refrigerant flows from the refrigerant population 3a toward the refrigerant outlet 3b, and performs countercurrent heat exchange with the outdoor air.

Note that fin-tube heat exchangers are generally used for refrigerant-air heat exchangers in air conditioning equipment, and in a single-row heat exchanger, the refrigerant and air flow in cross flow, and cannot flow in countercurrent or parallel flow. . When there are two or more rows of fin-tube heat exchangers, the refrigerant inlet is located in the most leeward row, the outlet is located in the most windward row, and the refrigerant is sequentially distributed upwind from the leeward row. Countercurrent flow occurs when piping is arranged so that the flow flows in rows. The opposite case is parallel flow. In reality, the refrigerant and air flow in a cross flow in each row, so strictly speaking, it is a mixture of cross flow and countercurrent flow, but this will be referred to as countercurrent flow here. Therefore, in a fin-tube heat exchanger, the larger the number of rows, the greater the effect of counterflow.

<Effects of the Invention> As is clear from the above explanation, non-azeotropic mixed refrigerants are used in evaporators (indoor heat exchangers during cooling, outdoor heat exchangers during heating).
The temperature of the refrigerant increases as heat is exchanged. on the other hand,
In a condenser (an outdoor heat exchanger during cooling, an indoor heat exchanger during heating), the temperature of the refrigerant decreases as heat is exchanged. In the heating and cooling apparatus according to the present invention, heat exchange is performed in a countercurrent manner between the refrigerant and air, so that heat exchange loss in the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger can be reduced.

Furthermore, due to the reduction in heat exchange loss in the evaporator, the temperature of the refrigerant sucked into the compressor increases, and the suction pressure increases. This increases the density of the refrigerant, increases the refrigerant mass flow rate of the compressor, and improves the capacity.

Additionally, the reduction in heat exchange loss in the condenser lowers the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor and lowers the discharge pressure, but due to the above-mentioned increase in suction pressure and decrease in discharge pressure, the compression ratio of the compressor decreases. , the coefficient of performance can be improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a heating and cooling device showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a system diagram of a conventional heating and cooling device. l: Compressor, 2: Indoor heat exchanger, 3: Outdoor heat exchanger, 4
: Solenoid four-way valve, 5: Expansion valve, 6: First refrigerant rectifier, 7
: second refrigerant rectifier, 8: indoor air flow, 9: outdoor air flow, lK = compressor, 12: electromagnetic four-way valve, 13: outdoor heat exchanger, 14: expansion valve, 15: indoor heat exchanger ,X:
Refrigerant circuit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A refrigerant circuit that includes a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, and an expansion valve and uses a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant is provided, and the refrigerant circuit that flows through the indoor heat exchanger is configured to have a constant flow direction. A first refrigerant rectifier is provided, a second refrigerant rectifier is provided for making the flow direction of the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger constant, and the indoor heat exchanger A heating and cooling system characterized in that the outdoor heat exchanger is connected to the compressor and the expansion valve via a second refrigerant rectifier.