KR102353845B1 - Method and apparatus for defrosting refrigerator unit cooler using steam - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a frost removal apparatus for a freezer unit cooler using steam and, more specifically, to a frost removal apparatus for a freezer unit cooler using steam which can safely carry out defrosting work by using steam when frost is created on a unit cooler side used in a freezer system. To this end, in a freezer system including a unit cooler, the frost removal apparatus comprises: a steam boiler generating steam; a steam line wherein one end thereof is connected to the steam boiler, the other end thereof is connected to a drain pipe, and frost is removed by evenly transferring steam generated by the steam boiler to the unit cooler side while a portion of a body is arranged in zigzags in the unit cooler; a high-temperature high-pressure hose connected to an end of the steam line, and having a body inserted into the drain pipe to prevent the drain pipe from freezing; an air cut valve installed on an end of the drain pipe to prevent steam heat generated by the steam boiler from backflowing into a refrigeration warehouse; and an air pump connected to the steam line of the steam boiler through an air line, and creating air when defrosting work is completed to forcibly discharge water formed in the steam line to the outside to prevent the steam line from freezing and bursting.

Description

Refrigerator unit cooler defrosting device using steam {Method and apparatus for defrosting refrigerator unit cooler using steam}

The present invention relates to an apparatus for defrosting a refrigerator unit cooler using steam, and more particularly, to a refrigerator using steam that enables safe defrosting using steam when frost occurs on the unit cooler side used in a refrigerator system. It relates to a unit cooler defrosting device.

In general, a refrigeration system is generally composed of a compressor, a condenser, an outdoor fan, and an expansion valve installed outdoors, and an evaporator and an indoor fan installed indoors. . In addition, the refrigerating device includes a receiver, which is a container for circulating the refrigerant and storing the remaining refrigerant, an oil separator that separates the refrigerant contained in the discharged gas during the discharge gas pipe from the compressor to the condenser, and the refrigerant gas sucked into the compressor. It is equipped with a liquid separator that separates the refrigerant liquid contained therein, and a liquid recovery device that recovers the refrigerant liquid separated from the liquid separator to a receiver or returns it to an evaporator.

Here, in the evaporator that cools air, since air always has moisture, when moisture in the air is condensed and frozen, frost tends to attach to the surface of the cooling pipe, and when this frost grows and its thickness increases, The ventilation volume of the evaporator decreases and the heat transfer rate of the heat transfer tube decreases, resulting in an increase in the temperature in the refrigerating chamber due to a decrease in cooling capacity, and a decrease in the evaporation temperature and pressure, thereby causing an increase in the compression ratio and a decrease in the volumetric efficiency. Therefore, in the prior art, in order to recover the cooling function of the evaporator, various defrosting methods for removing the frost attached to the evaporator have been implemented.

As an example, the defrost method by hot gas (Hot gas defrost), the defrost method by watering (water defrost), the defrost method by electric heat (electric defrost), the defrost method by antifreeze spray and the like.

Here, the defrosting method by hot gas is a method of defrosting by heating the evaporator coil by putting high-temperature and high-pressure gas from the compressor directly into the evaporator. However, if the thickness of the frost is more than a certain amount, there is a disadvantage that it is difficult to defrost.

The method of defrosting by spraying is to spray water on the evaporator coil to defrost, block the refrigerant recovery and air inlet in the evaporator, stop the blower, and then spray water at 10°C to 20°C. This is the simplest and most common method, and it is widely used in unit coolers, etc., and has the characteristic of defrosting in a short time if the watering amount is increased. Occurs. Also, when blowing is started after defrosting is finished, there is a problem in that the water attached to the coil is scattered.

The defrosting method by electric heat is a method of defrosting by installing an electric heater at an appropriate location of the evaporator. Such a defrosting method is simple in operation and control, and heating unevenness can be reduced by properly installing a heater.

The method of defrosting by spraying antifreeze is a method to prevent frost from occurring by continuously spraying antifreeze (brine) on the cooling pipe. However, such a defrosting method is expensive and it is necessary to consider the selection of antifreeze (it is difficult to use antifreeze that increases humidity at low temperature) for sanitation of indoor items.

On the other hand, it has been pointed out that the defrosting method by electric heat is inefficient in that energy is consumed unnecessarily because the heater is operated at regular time intervals by a timer even if frost does not occur on the cooling fins. That is, in this method, even if frost does not occur, when a certain time elapses, the heater is operated by the timer to increase the indoor temperature unnecessarily. It is inefficient because it is consumed.

In particular, heaters, which are often used for defrosting in hazardous materials refrigeration warehouses and small and medium sized refrigeration warehouses, have a disadvantage in that many explosion accidents occur due to electrical sparks or insufficient safety devices. In addition, although a constant temperature wire is installed and used as a means to prevent freezing in the drain pipe used in the intermediate unit cooler, this also has various problems such as being always exposed to a risk of safety accidents from electric sparks.

The object of the present invention was devised in view of the above problems, and when frost occurs on the unit cooler used in the refrigerator system, it is possible to safely defrost using steam. to provide the device.

Another object of the present invention is to supply air to the steam line that has passed through the steam to forcibly discharge the water formed therein, thereby preventing the steam line from being frozen by water. is to provide

Another object of the present invention is to insert a high-temperature and high-pressure hose for inducing steam to a drain pipe side, and then provide a defrosting device for a refrigerator unit cooler using steam to prevent freezing of the drain pipe through the high-temperature and high-pressure hose is doing

The present invention is a means for achieving the above object, comprising the steps of preparing a unit cooler, a steam boiler and an air pump; A defrosting piping step of piping the steam line of the steam boiler into the prepared unit cooler, and connecting the air line of the air pump to the steam line; When the piping required for defrosting is completed, the refrigerator is operated to perform refrigeration, and frost is generated on the unit cooler side during the refrigeration process; Step of operating the steam boiler when frost is generated and the operation of the refrigerator is stopped; A defrosting step using steam, in which the steam generated in the steam boiler moves along the steam line and uniformly delivers the steam to the unit cooler to remove the defrost, and then stops the steam boiler operation; operating the air pump when the frost on the unit cooler side is removed through steam and the defrosting operation is completed; A freezing prevention step of preventing the steam line from being frozen during cooling by forcibly discharging the air generated from the air pump into the steam line along the air line, and the supplied air is forced to discharge water formed inside the steam line to the outside; and restarting the air conditioner when the steam line freezing prevention step is completed; and

A refrigerator system including a unit cooler, comprising: a steam boiler for generating steam; A steam line that has one end connected to the steam boiler and the other end connected to the drain pipe, and a part of the body is piped in a zigzag inside the unit cooler to evenly deliver the steam generated from the steam boiler to the unit cooler to remove the frost; a high-temperature and high-pressure hose connected to the end of the steam line and having a body inserted into the drain pipe to prevent freezing of the drain pipe; an air cut valve installed at the end of the drain pipe to prevent the steam heat generated from the steam boiler from flowing back into the freezing warehouse; It is connected through the steam line and the air line of the steam boiler, and when the defrosting operation is completed, it generates air to forcibly discharge the water formed inside the steam line to the outside, thereby preventing the steam line from freezing. It is the basic characteristic of the technical composition.

As described above, according to the present invention, when frost occurs on the unit cooler side used in the refrigeration system, an electric spark is not generated as in the prior art because the frost is removed using steam. Therefore, it is possible to safely carry out the defrosting operation through the steam method.

In addition, since the water formed therein is forcibly discharged by supplying air into the steam line passing through the steam, it is possible to prevent the steam line from being frozen by water after the defrosting operation is completed.

In addition, according to the present invention, a high-temperature and high-pressure hose for inducing steam is inserted into the drain pipe side, and there is an effect such as preventing the freezing phenomenon of the drain pipe by the steam induced to the drain pipe side through the high-temperature and high-pressure hose. will be.

1 is a block diagram of a refrigerator unit cooler defrosting device using steam according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a connection configuration diagram of the female unit cooler defrosting device using steam according to the present invention.
3 is a flow chart showing a method of defrosting a refrigerator unit cooler using steam according to the present invention.

In order to explain the present invention, the operational advantages of the present invention, and the objects achieved by the practice of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be exemplified below and will be described with reference to them.

First, the terms used in the present application are only used to describe specific embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention, and the singular expression may include a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In addition, in this application, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are intended to designate that a feature, number, operation, component, part, or a combination thereof described in the specification exists, but one or more other features or It should be understood that the existence or addition of numbers, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof is not precluded in advance.

1 is a block diagram of an apparatus for defrosting a refrigerator unit cooler using steam according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention basically includes a refrigerator system including a known unit cooler 300, and a steam boiler 100 and an air pump 200 that are organically installed and used in the unit cooler 300. are mobilized

The unit cooler 300 is generally a part of a refrigerator system installed and used in a refrigeration warehouse, and the configuration and principle of the steam boiler 100 and the air pump 200 connected to the unit cooler 300 are widely used. Since it is a technical content, a detailed description thereof will be omitted below.

The steam boiler 100 according to the present invention is composed of a steam line 110 made of a copper pipe. One end of the steam line 110 is connected to the steam boiler 100 and the other end is connected to the drain pipe 400 . At this time, a part of the body of the steam line 110 is piped in a zigzag inside the unit cooler 300 so that the steam generated from the steam boiler 100 can be evenly delivered to the unit cooler 300 to remove the frost, and when steam is generated It is piped to flow from the top to the bottom so that the naturally formed water does not accumulate inside.

A high-temperature and high-pressure hose 600 is connected to the end of the steam line 110 , and the high-temperature and high-pressure hose 600 is inserted into the drain pipe 400 to drain the steam generated from the steam boiler 100 into the drain pipe 400 . ) has a function of inducing it to the side. This serves to prevent freezing of the drain pipe 400 by naturally inducing steam without a separate anti-freezing device. On the other hand, an air cut valve 500 is installed on the drain pipe 400 side, and the air cut valve 500 is configured to prevent the steam heat generated in the steam boiler 100 from flowing back into the freezing warehouse.
To this end, a drain pipe 400 connected to the end of the steam line 110 and a high-temperature and high-pressure hose 600 are respectively provided, and then, at the end of the steam line 110 , a drain pipe 400 and a high-temperature and high-pressure hose 600 are two Simultaneous connections are used.

The air pump 200 is connected through the steam line 110 and the air line 210 of the steam boiler 100, and when the defrosting operation is completed, air is generated to force the water formed inside the steam line 110 to the outside. It is configured to prevent the steam line 110 from being frozen by discharging.

The refrigerator unit cooler defrosting device using steam configured as above operates the refrigerator (including the unit cooler) system - Frost occurs on the unit cooler side - Refrigeration system operation is stopped - Steam boiler operation - Defrost operation complete - Steam boiler operation stop - Air pump operation - Steam line water discharge through air - Air pump stop operation - Refrigerator (including unit cooler) system operation is controlled. This control operation is managed and controlled through a control unit (not shown). In addition, the air cut valve is closed when the refrigerator system is operated or the steam boiler is operated through the control unit, and can be opened only when the air pump is operated.

2 is a connection configuration diagram of a refrigerator unit cooler defrosting device using steam according to the present invention.

The present invention is not applied to one unit cooler as shown in FIG. 2 , but one steam boiler 100 and an air pump 200 are combined with a steam line 110 and an air line 210 for a plurality of unit coolers. Note that it can be installed and used at (300).

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for removing the frost from a refrigerator unit cooler using steam according to the present invention. The method for removing the frost generated in the unit cooler using steam is as follows.

preparation step (S101);

A known refrigerator system including a unit cooler 300, a separate steam boiler 100 and an air pump 200 are prepared, respectively.

Defrost piping step (S102);

The steam line 110 of the steam boiler 100 is piped in a zigzag pattern inside the prepared unit cooler 300 , and the air line 210 of the air pump 200 is organically connected to the steam line 110 .

frost generation step (S103);

When the piping required for defrosting is completed through the defrost piping step, the refrigerator is operated and refrigeration is carried out inside the freezing warehouse. At this time, frost occurs on the unit cooler 300 side during the freezing process.

Steam boiler operation step (S104);

When frost is generated and the operation of the refrigerator is stopped, the steam boiler 100 operates. At this time, the air cut valve 500 is in a closed state.

Defrosting step using steam (S105);

The steam generated in the steam boiler 100 moves along the steam line 110 and evenly delivers the steam to the unit cooler 300 side to remove the frost, thereby completing the defrosting operation. At this time, when the defrosting operation is completed, the operation of the steam boiler 100 is stopped.

Air pump operation step (S106);

When the frost on the unit cooler 300 side is removed through steam and the defrosting operation is completed, the air pump 200 operates. At this time, the air cut valve 500 is also opened.

Steam line freezing prevention step (S107);

The air generated by the air pump 200 is supplied into the steam line 110 along the air line 210, and the supplied air forcibly discharges the water formed inside the steam line 110 to the outside, and the water is steamed by the water. Prevents line 110 from freezing.

Re-starting the refrigerator (S108);

When the steam line freeze prevention step is completed, the refrigerator is restarted, and as it restarts, freezing is performed in the freezing warehouse. At this time, the air cut valve 500 is closed.

Although the embodiments have been described above, these are merely examples and do not limit the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains are not exemplified above in a range that does not depart from the essential characteristics of the present embodiment. It can be seen that various modifications and applications are possible. For example, each component specifically shown in the embodiments may be implemented by modification. And differences related to these modifications and applications should be construed as being included in the scope of the present invention defined in the appended claims.

100; steam boiler 110; steam line
200; air pump 210; airline
300; unit cooler 400; drain pipe
500; air cut valve 600; high temperature and high pressure hose

Claims (2)

delete Steam boiler 100 for generating steam; and
One end is connected to the steam boiler 100 and the other end is connected to the drain pipe 400, but a part of the body is piped in a zigzag inside the unit cooler 300. Steam line 110 to remove the frost by evenly delivering to the 300 side; and
In the refrigerator system including the unit cooler 300,
After the drain pipe 400 connected to the end of the steam line 110 and the high-temperature and high-pressure hose 600 are provided, respectively, the drain pipe 400 and the high-temperature and high-pressure hose 600 are connected to the end of the steam line 110 . simultaneous connections;
an air cut valve 500 installed on the drain pipe 400 side to prevent the steam heat generated from the steam boiler 100 from flowing back into the freezing warehouse; and
It is connected to the steam line 110 of the steam boiler 100, and when the defrosting operation is completed through the steam line 110, air is generated to forcibly discharge the water formed inside the steam line 110 to the outside, thereby forming a steam line. (110) an air pump 200 formed with an air line 210 for preventing freezing; includes;
After inserting a high-temperature and high-pressure hose (600) for inducing steam to the side of the drain pipe (400), it is possible to prevent freezing of the drain pipe (400) through the high-temperature and high-pressure hose (600) Defrosting device for cooler unit cooler using steam.

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