TWI701416B - Cold storage device and method for indicating state of cold storage body - Google Patents

Abstract

The cold storage device includes a plurality of boxes, blowers, temperature sensors, display information generators, and display units. A plurality of boxes are arranged in the first direction in the cold storage chamber, and each stores the cold storage body. The blower generates air flow between the boxes. The multiple positions of the temperature sensor in the second direction detect the surface temperature of the box, the surface temperature of the cold storage body, or the internal temperature of the cold storage body. The display information generator generates state information indicating the state of the cold storage body based on the information showing the surface temperature of the box, the surface temperature of the cold storage body, or the temperature inside the cold storage body at a plurality of positions. The display unit displays status information.

Description

Cold storage device and method for indicating state of cold storage body

Invention field

This disclosure relates to a cold storage device and a method for indicating the state of the cold storage body.

Background of the invention

So far, a cold storage incubator (Cold Roll Box) equipped with a cold storage device is known. The cold storage incubator, for example, is a state in which items such as food are housed inside the cold storage incubator, and is stored on a shelf of a delivery vehicle for transportation.

Patent Document 1 describes a cold storage incubator equipped with a cold storage device that includes a cold storage solvent, a memory unit, a temperature detection unit, a cold storage amount calculation unit, and a display unit. The concentration of the additive is adjusted in the cold storage solvent so as to have a predetermined temperature gradient characteristic between the freezing start temperature and the freezing end temperature. The freezing start temperature of the cold storage solvent is, for example, approximately -7°C, and the freezing end temperature of the cold storage solvent is approximately -22°C. The memory part stores data related to temperature gradient characteristics. The temperature detection part detects the temperature of the cold storage solvent. The cold storage capacity calculation unit obtains the cold storage capacity based on the detected temperature obtained from the temperature detection unit and the data related to the temperature gradient characteristics obtained from the memory unit. The display unit displays the cold storage capacity obtained by the cold storage capacity calculation unit.

Prior art literature Patent literature

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-318215

Summary of the invention

In the cold storage device described in Patent Document 1, depending on the situation, it may not be possible to appropriately obtain the cold storage amount. Here, the present disclosure is to provide a cold storage device that can determine the state of the cold storage body more reliably and appropriately.

The present disclosure provides a cold storage device, which includes: a plurality of boxes arranged in the first direction in the cold storage chamber, and the cold storage bodies are respectively housed; the blower is arranged in a storage room that can communicate with the cold storage chamber and is arranged separately , In a plane parallel to the bottom surface of the cold storage chamber in which the plurality of boxes are arranged, along a second direction intersecting the first direction, a space defined by the boxes in the second direction is generated The flow of air circulates the air cooled by the aforementioned cold storage body; the temperature sensor detects the surface temperature of at least one of the aforementioned boxes at a plurality of positions in the aforementioned second direction, and is stored in at least one of the aforementioned The surface temperature of the aforementioned cold storage body of the box, or the internal temperature of the aforementioned cold storage body contained in at least one of the aforementioned boxes; a display information generator, which displays the information of the temperature detected by the aforementioned temperature sensor Input, according to the surface temperature of the box, the surface temperature of the cold storage body, or the inside of the cold storage body that display the plurality of positions The temperature information of the part generates state information indicating the state of the aforementioned cold storage body; and the display part displays the aforementioned state information.

The above-mentioned cold storage device can obtain the state of the cold storage body more reliably and appropriately.

10: Cold storage body

10a: Cold storage material

10b: container

11: Cabinet

12: Temperature sensor

12a: The first temperature sensor

12b: Second temperature sensor

12c: The third temperature sensor

12d: Fourth temperature sensor

13: recess

15: Cold storage room

20: Blower

21: Air-conditioning pipe

30: Display information generator

40: Display

50: storage room

60: Floor

70: refrigeration cycle device

71: Evaporator

72: Compressor

73: Condenser

74: Expansion valve

80: Storage room temperature sensor

100, 200: cold storage device

A[J], C[J]: remaining amount of cold storage

B[W]: The heat and cold per unit time released from the inside of the cold storage device to the outside

D[J]: The heat and cold stored by the cold storage body when the whole is solidified

E[W]: cooling capacity of evaporator

Te: freezing end temperature

Ts: freezing start temperature

T _EV : The temperature of the evaporator

IV-IV: Section line

S: Step

X, Y, Z: direction

Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the cold storage device of the first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the flow of air in the cold storage chamber.

Fig. 3 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a part of the cold storage device of the embodiment.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the box along the line IV-IV of Figure 3;

Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the cold storage device.

Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of detection results obtained by the temperature sensor of the cold storage device of the embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a part of a cold storage device of a modification.

Fig. 8A is a configuration diagram showing a part of a cold storage device of another modification.

Fig. 8B is a configuration diagram showing a part of a cold storage device of another modification.

Fig. 9A is a diagram schematically showing an example of the detection result obtained by the temperature sensor of the cold storage device of Fig. 8A.

Figure 9B is a schematic diagram showing the temperature sensing of the cold storage device of Figure 8B A line graph of an example of the test results obtained by the detector.

Fig. 10A is a cross-sectional view of a case of a cold storage device according to another modification.

Fig. 10B is a cross-sectional view of a case of a cold storage device according to another modification.

Fig. 11 is a configuration diagram schematically showing the cold storage device of the second embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the box in the cold storage device of the second embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a diagram schematically showing an example of detection results obtained by the temperature sensor of the cold storage device of the second embodiment.

The form used to implement the invention

The cold storage device described in Reference 1 was designed without considering the possibility of spatial unevenness in the temperature of the cold storage solvent. Therefore, in the cold storage device described in Reference 1, when the temperature of the cold storage solvent is spatially uneven, there is a possibility that the amount of cold storage cannot be appropriately obtained. In addition, in the cold storage device described in Citation 1, for example, a cold storage solvent having a freezing start temperature of approximately -7°C and a freezing end temperature Te of approximately -22°C is used, and a temperature between the freezing start temperature Ts and the freezing end temperature Te is used. The absolute value of the difference reached approximately 15°C. For this reason, according to the cold storage device described in Citation 1, using the temperature gradient characteristics between the freezing start temperature and the freezing end temperature, the cold storage capacity can be easily obtained. However, in the cold storage device described in Citation 1, when the absolute value of the difference between the freezing start temperature and the freezing end temperature becomes smaller, the amount of cold storage must be appropriately calculated. Difficult.

The first aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a cold storage device, including: a plurality of boxes arranged in a first direction in the cold storage chamber, respectively containing cold storage bodies; and a blower is arranged in a communication and isolated installation that can communicate with the cold storage chamber In the storage room, in a plane parallel to the bottom surface of the cold storage room in which the plurality of boxes are arranged, along a second direction that intersects the first direction, generation is defined by the boxes in the second direction. The air flow in the space circulates the air cooled by the aforementioned cold storage body; the temperature sensor detects the surface temperature of at least one of the aforementioned boxes at a plurality of positions in the aforementioned second direction, and is stored in at least one The surface temperature of the cold storage body of one of the aforementioned boxes, or the internal temperature of the aforementioned cold storage body stored in at least one of the aforementioned boxes; a display information generator that displays the temperature detected by the temperature sensor Input, based on the information showing the surface temperature of the box, the surface temperature of the cold storage body, or the internal temperature of the cold storage body in the plurality of positions, to generate state information indicating the state of the cold storage body; and the display unit displays The aforementioned status information.

According to the first aspect, the display information generator generates state information indicating the state of the cold storage body based on the information of the surface temperature of the box, the surface temperature of the cold storage body, or the internal temperature of the cold storage body displaying multiple positions. For this reason, even if there is a possibility of spatial unevenness in the temperature of the cold storage body, the state of the cold storage body can be appropriately obtained. Furthermore, according to the first aspect, the state of the cold storage body can be appropriately obtained regardless of the temperature gradient characteristics between the freezing start temperature and the freezing end temperature of the cold storage material contained in the cold storage body. In addition, it’s not necessary to ensure the The flow path must be arranged away from the bottom surface of the cold storage chamber with multiple boxes. Furthermore, since the blower is arranged in the storage room, the flow velocity of the air flow in the space defined between the boxes is not likely to be uneven.

The second aspect of the present disclosure is based on the first aspect, and provides a cold storage device, wherein the plurality of boxes are in contact with the bottom surface of the cold storage chamber. According to the second aspect, the air can easily flow through the space defined between the boxes in the second direction, so that the air can be efficiently cooled through the cold storage body.

The third aspect of the present disclosure is based on the first aspect or the second aspect, and provides a cold storage device, wherein the longest side of each of the plurality of boxes is parallel to the second direction Extending in the direction. According to the third aspect, the overall melting state of the regenerator is likely to be uneven in the second direction. In addition, the period during which the air flows through the space defined between the boxes in the second direction is easily elongated, so that the air guided to the space defined between the boxes can be easily and reliably cooled. Furthermore, since the pressure loss caused by the flow of air flowing through the spaces defined between the boxes is relatively large, the air can be easily and evenly guided in a plurality of spaces where air flows are generated.

The fourth aspect of the present disclosure is based on any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, and provides a cold storage device, wherein the two ends of the box in the second direction are located in the foregoing When one end of the box on the upstream side of the flow of air is defined as the upstream end, and one end of the box on the downstream side of the flow of air among the two ends is defined as the downstream end, the plurality of positions are relative Densely distributed in the middle and the front The upstream ends are relatively distantly distributed between the intermediate position and the downstream end. The intermediate position is an intermediate position between the upstream end and the downstream end in the second direction and is away from the upstream end. And the aforementioned downstream end is equidistant. According to the fourth aspect, based on the following reasons, the state information indicating the state of the cold storage body can be generated with better accuracy and easily.

Regarding the input heat from the outside of the cold storage device, in order to keep the temperature of the space in the cold storage device within a specific temperature range, there will be heat exchange and reception between the internal circulating air of the cold storage device and the cold storage body. It can offset the need of the input heat. When the cold storage body has a heat transfer area sufficient for the air circulating inside the cold storage device to receive the cold heat, when the cold storage body as a whole has more cold heat, the temperature difference between the air and the cold storage body is particularly large Near the upstream end of the box can effectively exchange heat between the air and the cold storage body. For this reason, the cold and heat of the cold storage body near the upstream end will be consumed first, and the cold storage body will sequentially melt from the upstream end to the middle position. As a result, between the upstream end and the intermediate position in the second direction, it is easy to make the temperature detected by the temperature sensor uneven. The melting of the cold storage body continues from the upstream end to the vicinity of the middle position. At the time when the total amount of cold heat in the cold storage body decreases, the melting behavior of the cold storage body between the middle position and the downstream end is related to the cold storage body. The melting behavior of the cold storage body near the upstream end is different when the whole body has more heat and cold. At this time, the regenerator between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end melts approximately uniformly between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end.

At the time when the total amount of heat and cold of the cold storage body decreases, the cold storage body between the upstream end and the middle position is melting. However, at least a part of the cold storage body located between the upstream end and the intermediate position has the temperature of the air flowing into the space defined between the boxes, which is sufficient to cool the air as sensible heat. For this reason, the air flowing into the space is cooled to a temperature close to the melting point of the cold storage body while flowing from the upstream end to the vicinity of the intermediate position. Furthermore, while the air flows between the downstream ends from the vicinity of the intermediate position, it can be cooled to below the melting point of the regenerator. At this time, since the cold accumulator between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end consumes less heat, the melting state of the cold accumulator between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end is unlikely to be uneven in the air flow direction. For this reason, the melting behavior of the cold storage body located between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end is different from that of the cold storage body located between the upstream end and the vicinity of the intermediate position, and the melting behavior is approximately uniform between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end. melt. As a result, the melting state of the cold storage body located between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end is unlikely to be uneven in the air flow direction, and the temperature of the cold storage body located between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end is in the air flow direction It is not easy to have unevenness. For this reason, the plurality of positions where the temperature sensor detects the temperature are relatively densely distributed between the middle position and the upstream end, so that the cold storage capacity of the cold storage body can be calculated with good accuracy and easily, and the cold storage capacity of the cold storage body can be calculated with good accuracy and easy Ground generates state information indicating the state of the cold storage body.

The fifth aspect of the present disclosure is based on any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, and provides a cold storage device, wherein the two ends of the box in the second direction are located in the foregoing Upstream of the air flow When one end of the box on the side is defined as the upstream end, and one end of the box on the downstream side of the flow of air among the two ends is defined as the downstream end, the plurality of positions are relatively densely distributed in the middle Between the position and the downstream end, and relatively distantly distributed between the intermediate position and the upstream end, the intermediate position is an intermediate position between the upstream end and the downstream end in the second direction, and the distance The upstream end and the downstream end are equidistant. According to the fifth aspect, for example, when the heat transfer area of the cold storage body is relatively small, state information indicating the state of the cold storage body can be easily generated with good accuracy. When the heat transfer area of the cold storage body is relatively small, the cold storage body located between the upstream end and the middle position is easily melted uniformly, and between the upstream end and the middle position in the second direction, the temperature sensor The detected temperature is not easy to be uneven. On the other hand, the cold storage body located between the intermediate position and the downstream end melts sequentially from the intermediate position to the downstream end. For this reason, it is located between the middle position and the downstream end in the second direction, and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is prone to unevenness. Therefore, the plurality of positions where the temperature sensor detects the temperature are relatively densely distributed between the middle position and the downstream end, so that the cold storage capacity of the cold storage body can be calculated with good accuracy and easily, and the cold storage capacity of the cold storage body can be calculated with better accuracy and It is easy to generate state information indicating the state of the cold storage body.

The sixth aspect of the present disclosure is based on any one of the first aspect to the fifth aspect, and provides a cold storage device, wherein the at least one of the boxes accommodates an array arranged in the second direction A plurality of the aforementioned cold storage bodies. According to the sixth aspect, for a specific cold accumulator among a plurality of cold accumulators, the heat of other cold accumulators adjacent to this specific cold accumulator will be Not easy to pass. For this reason, it is easy to appropriately determine the state of the cold storage body.

The seventh aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a cold storage device based on any one of the first aspect to the sixth aspect, wherein the temperature sensor detects the surface temperature of at least one of the tanks or At least one surface temperature of the regenerator contained in the box. According to the seventh aspect, since it is not necessary to install the temperature sensor inside the cold storage body, it is not easy to cause leakage of the cold storage material caused by defective sealing gaskets in the cold storage body. In addition, even when the cold storage body needs to be replaced, the temperature sensor can be easily installed, or the temperature sensor can be installed without requiring it.

The eighth aspect of the present disclosure is based on the seventh aspect, and provides a cold storage device, wherein the temperature sensor is provided on the surface of the cold storage body or the surface of the box. According to the seventh aspect, the surface temperature of the cold storage body or the surface temperature of the box can be detected more reliably.

An example of the eighth aspect of the present disclosure (aspect 8A) is to provide a cold storage device based on the eighth aspect, wherein the temperature sensor includes a plurality of temperature sensors, and the second direction Among the two ends of the box, one end of the box located on the upstream side of the flow of the air is defined as the upstream end, and one end of the box located on the downstream side of the flow of the air of the two ends is defined as the downstream end, The plurality of temperature sensors are relatively densely arranged between an intermediate position equidistant from the upstream end and the downstream end and the upstream end, and the intermediate position is located between the upstream end and the downstream in the second direction An intermediate position in the middle of the end, and relatively distantly arranged between the aforementioned intermediate position and the aforementioned downstream end.

According to aspect 8A, for the same reason as the third aspect, the state information indicating the state of the cold storage body can be easily generated with better accuracy.

Another example of the eighth aspect of the present disclosure (aspect 8B) is to provide a cold storage device based on aspect 8A, Wherein, the longest side of each of the plurality of boxes extends in a direction parallel to the second direction, and the temperature sensor includes a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a first temperature sensor. For three temperature sensors, when the length of the longest side of the box is further defined as L, the first temperature sensor is arranged at a distance from the upstream end to the downstream end that exceeds L/2 Position, the second temperature sensor is arranged at a position less than L/2 from the upstream end to the downstream end, and the third temperature sensor is arranged at the upstream end and the upstream end in the second direction Between the aforementioned second temperature sensor.

According to the aspect 8B, the air guided into the space defined between the boxes can be efficiently cooled, and the state information indicating the state of the cold storage body can be easily generated with better accuracy.

Another example of the eighth aspect of the present disclosure (aspect 8C) is to provide a cold storage device based on aspect 8B, wherein the aforementioned temperature sensor further includes a fourth temperature sensor, and the aforementioned four temperature sensors The sensor is provided between the upstream end and the third temperature sensor in the second direction. According to the aspect 8C, the state information indicating the state of the cold storage body can be further easily generated with better accuracy.

The ninth aspect of this disclosure is based on the first aspect to the eighth aspect Based on any one of the aspects, a cold storage device is provided, wherein the aforementioned state information is the remaining amount of cold storage, the possible time of cold storage, and a predetermined amount of the cold storage body contained in the cold storage device until it solidifies. At least one of the required time. According to the tenth aspect, the user can be presented with at least one of the remaining amount of cold storage, the possible time for cold storage, and the time required for a predetermined amount of the cold storage body included in the cold storage device to solidify. For this reason, the convenience for the user is high.

The tenth aspect of the present disclosure is based on any one of the first aspect to the ninth aspect, and provides a cold storage device, wherein the display information generator is based on the box that displays the plurality of positions The surface temperature of the cold storage body, the surface temperature of the cold storage body, or the internal temperature information of the cold storage body, estimate the spatial temperature distribution of the cold storage body based on the part of the total temperature distribution that exceeds a predetermined limit value Ratio, calculate the remaining amount of cold storage as the aforementioned state information. According to the eleventh aspect, the spatial temperature distribution of the cold storage body can be estimated, and an appropriate remaining amount of cold storage can be calculated easily.

The eleventh aspect of the present disclosure is based on any one of the first aspect to the tenth aspect, and provides a cold storage device, which further includes an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve The piping is connected in this order to form a ring-shaped refrigeration cycle, and the evaporator is in contact with at least a part of the surface of the box. According to the twelfth aspect, since the evaporator is in contact with at least a part of the surface of the box, it can efficiently cool the cold storage body inside the box and cool the air passing through the space defined between the boxes.

The twelfth aspect of the present disclosure provides a method for displaying the state of the cold storage body, which includes the following steps: using a blower, and arranged in the first direction in the cold storage room with a plurality of cold storage bodies respectively accommodated In a plane parallel to the bottom surface of the cold storage chamber of each box, the flow of air passing through the space defined between the boxes in the second direction is generated in the second direction intersecting the first direction, so that Circulation of air cooled by the aforementioned cold storage body; using temperature sensors to detect the surface temperature of at least one of the aforementioned boxes and the surface of the aforementioned cold storage body contained in at least one of the aforementioned boxes at a plurality of positions in the aforementioned second direction Temperature, or the internal temperature of at least one of the regenerators contained in the box; use a display information generator to obtain information that displays the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and display the plurality of positions according to the Information on the surface temperature of the box, the surface temperature of the cold storage body, or the internal temperature of the cold storage body generates state information indicating the state of the cold storage body; and the state information is displayed on the display unit.

According to the twelfth aspect, the same effect as the first aspect can be obtained.

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the following description is only an example of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these contents. In addition, in the formulae in the drawings, the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction respectively show the same direction. In addition, constituent elements not mentioned but explained on the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis can be arranged at appropriate positions as needed.

<First Embodiment>

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cold storage device 100 includes a plurality of cabinets 11, a blower 20, a temperature sensor 12, a display information generator 30, and a display unit 40. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of boxes 11 are arranged in the first direction (Y-axis direction) in the cold storage chamber 15. For example, a plurality of boxes 11 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the Y-axis direction. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3, the cold storage body 10 is accommodated in each of a plurality of boxes 11, respectively. The arrow symbols in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate the flow direction of the air generated by the operation of the blower 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the blower 20 is arranged in the storage room 50. The storage chamber 50 can be isolated and provided in communication with the cold storage chamber 15. As shown in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2, the blower 20 is in a plane (in the XY plane) parallel to the bottom surface of the cold storage chamber 15 in which a plurality of boxes 11 are arranged along a second direction intersecting the first direction (Y-axis direction) (X-axis positive direction), a flow of air passing through the space defined between the boxes 11 in the second direction is generated. Thereby, the blower 20 circulates the air cooled by the cold storage body 10. The temperature sensor 12 detects the surface temperature of at least one box 11, the surface temperature of the cold storage body 10 contained in at least one box 11, or the internal temperature of the cold storage body 10 contained in at least one box 11 . As shown in Fig. 3, the temperature sensor 12 will add this temperature at a plurality of positions in the second direction (the direction of air flow through the space defined between the boxes 11: the positive X-axis). Detection. The display information generator 30 is inputted to display information of the display temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12. The display information generator 30 displays the surface temperature of the box 11, the surface temperature of the cold storage body 10, or the inside of the cold storage body 10 at a plurality of positions in the second direction (the direction of air flow: X-axis positive direction) The information of the temperature of, and the state information representing the state of the cold storage body 10 is generated. The display unit 40 displays the status generated by the display information generator 30 News.

The display information generator 30 of the cold storage device 100, as described above, generates state information indicating the state of the cold storage body 10, so even when the temperature of the cold storage body 10 may be spatially uneven, it can still be appropriate The state of the cold storage body 10 is obtained ground. Furthermore, in order to ensure a flow path for circulating the air, it is not necessary for the plurality of boxes 11 to be arranged away from the bottom surface of the cold storage chamber 15. In addition, since the blower 20 is arranged in the storage room 50, the flow velocity of the air flow in the space defined between the boxes 11 is unlikely to be uneven.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of boxes 11 are in contact with the bottom surface of the cold storage chamber 15, for example. This makes it easier for air to flow through the space defined between the boxes 11 in the second direction, and the air is efficiently and easily cooled by the regenerator 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cold storage body 10 is defined as, for example, the cold storage material 10a is sealed in a container 10b made of a film. The cold storage body 10 can, for example, cool and solidify the liquid cold storage material 10a, thereby storing cold heat in the form of latent heat. The cold storage material 10a is not particularly limited, but is, for example, a mixture containing sodium chloride added with sodium chloride at a predetermined concentration and water. The absolute value of the difference between the crystallization start temperature of the cold storage material 10a and the crystallization end temperature of the cold storage material 10b is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 2°C or less. The film forming the container 10b is, for example, a laminated film including an aluminum layer and two or more resin layers arranged on both sides in the thickness direction of the aluminum layer.

The display information generator 30 of the cold storage device 100 proceeds as described above to generate state information indicating the state of the cold storage body 10, so even if it is When the difference between the crystallization start temperature of the cold storage material 10a and the crystallization end temperature of the cold storage material 10a is small, the state of the cold storage body 10 can be appropriately determined. In addition, if the difference between the crystallization start temperature of the cold storage material 10a and the crystallization end temperature of the cold storage material 10a is small, for example, when the allowable range of the cold storage temperature allowed for cold storage of goods is narrow, the cold storage body 10 can be advantageously used .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, the longest side of each of the plurality of boxes 11 extends in a direction parallel to the second direction. Thereby, the melting state of the entire cold storage body 10 is likely to be uneven in the second direction. In addition, the period during which the air flows through the space defined between the boxes 11 in the second direction is easily elongated, and the air introduced into the space defined between the boxes 11 is surely and easily cooled. Furthermore, since the flow of air flowing through the spaces defined between the boxes 11 has a large flow rate and pressure loss, the air is easily introduced into a plurality of spaces that generate air flows.

Although the box body 11 is not particularly limited, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it has an external shape of a rectangular parallelepiped elongated in the second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction). Considering the ease of assembly, the box body 11 can also be formed by a plurality of parts that can be combined in the Y-axis direction. Although the material for forming the box body 11 is not particularly limited, for example, metals or alloys such as aluminum. At this time, the cold and heat possessed by the cold storage body 10 will be easily transferred to the air flowing near the box 11.

Although the number of the plurality of boxes 11 arranged in the cold storage chamber 15 is not particularly limited, for example, it depends on the cold heat and heat storage required by the cold storage device 100 Parameters such as the size of the cold body 10 and the height of the cold storage chamber 15 are appropriately determined. In addition, the number of the boxes 11 arranged in the cold storage chamber 15 is preferably determined to be able to sufficiently ensure the heat exchange area between the air flowing through the cold storage chamber 15 and the boxes 11. Furthermore, the number of the plurality of boxes 11 arranged in the cold storage chamber 15 is preferably set so that the pressure loss caused by the flow of air in the air flow path defined between the boxes 11 can be Maintain the appropriate size.

At least one case 11, which is the object of temperature detection by the temperature sensor 12, may be configured to store a single number of regenerators 10, but it is more desirable to store them arranged in the second as shown in FIG. A configuration of multiple (two in FIG. 3) regenerators 10 in the direction (flow direction of air: X-axis direction). For example, a predetermined gap is defined between a plurality of regenerators 10. As described above, the container 10b of the regenerator 10 has a form formed of, for example, a thin film containing an aluminum layer. For this reason, when a singular number of regenerators 10 are stored in the box 11, the second direction of the regenerator 10 (air flow direction: X-axis direction) will be stored in a location near the specific location. The heat of the body 10 is easily transmitted through the container 10b. In this regard, as long as the box 11 contains a plurality of cold storage bodies 10 arranged in the second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction), it is difficult to make a specific cold storage body 10 among the plurality of cold storage bodies 10 Heat transfer possessed by other cold storage bodies 10 adjacent to the specific cold storage body 10. Therefore, the temperature of the specific cold storage body 10 is not easily affected by the heat of other cold storage bodies 10 adjacent to the specific cold storage body 10, and the state of the cold storage body 10 can be advantageously obtained.

Although the temperature sensor 12 is not particularly limited, for example, it has Contact temperature sensor with thermocouple or thermistor or non-contact temperature sensor with thermopile. As shown in FIG. 3, the temperature sensor 12 is respectively arrange|positioned at a plurality of positions in the second direction (flow direction of air: X-axis direction), for example. For example, for each of the two regenerators 10 housed in the box 11, six temperature sensors 12 are arranged corresponding to three different positions in the second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction). The six temperature sensors 12 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the X-axis direction, for example. In addition, if the temperature sensor 12 is a non-contact temperature sensor with a wide viewing angle or a non-contact temperature sensor with a movable viewing angle, one temperature sensor 12 can also be used in the first The temperature of the object is detected at multiple positions in two directions (the air flow direction: X-axis direction). In addition, when the temperature sensor 12 of a non-contact temperature sensor is used to measure the surface temperature of the cold storage body 10, it is desirable to set an opening on the box 11 to detect the surface temperature of the cold storage body 10.

The temperature sensor 12 preferably detects the surface temperature of at least one box 11 or the surface temperature of the cold storage body 10 housed in at least one box 11. At this time, since it is not necessary to install the temperature sensor 12 inside the cold storage body 10, leakage of the cold storage material 10a caused by the poor sealing in the cold storage body 10 is unlikely to occur. In addition, even when the cold storage body 10 needs to be replaced, the installation operation of the temperature sensor 12 can be easily performed, or the installation operation of the temperature sensor 12 can be eliminated.

The temperature sensor 12 is, for example, provided on the surface of the cold storage body 10 or the surface of the box 11. In other words, the temperature sensor 12 is in contact with the surface of the cold storage body 10 or the surface of the box 11. At this time, since the surface of the cold storage body 10 Or there is almost no specified gap between the surface of the box 11 and the temperature sensor 12, so the surface of the cold storage body 10 or the surface of the box 11 and the temperature sensor 12 are not likely to hinder the temperature sensor 12 The foreign body detected by the temperature is present. For this reason, the surface temperature of the cold storage body 10 or the surface temperature of the box 11 can be detected more reliably. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the temperature sensor 12 is provided on the surface of the cold storage body 10.

As shown in FIG. 3, the display information generator 30 may be connected to the temperature sensor 12 through wired or wireless communication. To this end, at the display information generator 30, information showing the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12 is input. The display information generator 30 is, for example, a computer configured to include an interface for inputting and inputting information, a computing device such as a CPU, a main storage device such as a memory, and an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk drive. The display information generator 30 is configured as described above, and generates state information indicating the state of the regenerator 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the display information generator 30 is connected to the display unit 40 via a communication cable, and outputs status information indicating the state of the cold storage body 10 to the display unit 40. Although the display unit 40 is not particularly limited, it is, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The display unit 40 is, for example, arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the casing of the cold storage device 100.

As shown in Fig. 1, the cold storage device 100 includes, for example, a cold air duct 21, a floor 60, and a refrigeration cycle device 70. The internal space of the cold storage device 100 including the cold storage room 15 is partitioned into the cold storage room 15 and the storage room 50 by the floor 60. For example, the bottom from the floor 60 (the negative direction of the Z-axis) is defined as the cold storage room 15, and the top from the floor 60 (the positive direction of the Z-axis) is defined as the storage room 50. The storage room 50 is used to store food and other items that need to be kept cold between. For example, a gap is defined between a part of one end of the floor 60 and the wall surface of the predetermined storage room 50, and the cold storage room 15 and the storage room 50 are communicated through the gap.

The blower 20 is arranged inside the storage room 50, for example. The blower 20 is arranged near the ceiling surface of the storage room 50 and on the side surface of the storage room 50. The cold air duct 21 communicates between the cold storage chamber 15 and the space behind the blower 20. When the blower 20 operates, the air inside the cold storage chamber 15 passes through the space defined by the boxes 11 with each other. At this time, the air can be cooled by the cold storage body 10. The cooled air is guided to the space behind the blower 20 through the inside of the cold air duct 21, and is blown out to the storage room 50 by the blower 20. Thereby, the items stored in the storage room 50 can be kept cold. A part of the air inside the storage room 50 is guided to the cold storage room 15 through a predetermined gap between a part of one end of the floor 60 and the wall surface of the predetermined storage room 50.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cold storage device 100 further includes, for example, a refrigeration cycle device 70. The refrigeration cycle device 70 includes an evaporator 71, a compressor 72, a condenser 73, and an expansion valve 74. These permeation pipes are connected in a ring shape so that the refrigerant passes through the evaporator 71, the compressor 72, the condenser 73, and the expansion valve 74 in this order. The evaporator 71 is arranged in the cold storage chamber 15. As soon as the refrigeration cycle device 70 is activated, the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 71 exchanges heat with the air in the cold storage chamber 15 to cool the air in the cold storage chamber 15. The temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator 71 is lower than the temperature at the end of the crystallization of the cold storage material 10a. Therefore, the cold storage material 10a in a liquid state is solidified and the cold storage body 10 can store heat and cold. The refrigerating cycle device 70 is used in the cold storage body 10 in order to store cold and heat before storing items in the storage room 50 cold. For this, freeze The circulation device 70 is usually stopped while the storage room 50 keeps the items cold.

The cold storage device 100 may not include the refrigeration cycle device 70. For example, it is also possible to arrange in the cold storage chamber 15 a plurality of boxes 11 containing the cold storage body 10 in a state where heat and cold are stored by another refrigeration device. At this time, the plurality of boxes 11 are, for example, installed in a detachable state to the cold storage device 100.

Next, an example of the operation of the cold storage device 100 for indicating the state of the cold storage body 10 will be described. This operation is not particularly limited, but it can be implemented in a manner that, for example, a blower 20 is used to generate a flow of air passing through a space defined between the boxes 11 to circulate the air cooled by the cold storage body 10. This operation can be implemented even when the refrigeration cycle device 70 is operated while the air blower 20 is stopped, and the cold storage body 10 stores cold and heat. As shown in FIG. 5, when the predetermined condition is satisfied, the cold storage device 100 will start an action to indicate the state of the cold storage body 10. Here, although the predetermined conditions are not particularly limited, for example, the operation of the blower 20 or the refrigerating cycle device 70 starts to exceed the predetermined time, and the input request is to display the status of the cold storage body 10 on the display information generator 30 News. The cold storage device 100 may also periodically perform an operation to indicate the state of the cold storage body 10.

First, in step S1, the temperature sensor 12 will detect the surface temperature of the box 11, the surface temperature of the cold storage body 10, or the cold storage at multiple positions in the second direction (the air flow direction: X-axis direction) The temperature inside the body 10. Here, the surface temperature of the box 11 is the surface temperature of at least one box 11. The surface temperature of the cold storage body 10 is at least one box 11 The surface temperature of the stored regenerator 10. The temperature inside the cold storage body 10 is the temperature inside the cold storage body 10 housed in at least one box 11.

Next, in step S2, the display information generator 30 obtains information showing the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12. The information includes one of the surface temperature of the box 11, the surface temperature of the cold storage body 10, or the internal temperature of the cold storage body 10 displayed at a plurality of positions in the second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction) News.

Next, in step S3, the display information generator 30 is based on the surface temperature of the box 11, the surface temperature of the cold storage body 10, or the cold storage body at a plurality of positions in the second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction) The information of the internal temperature of 10 generates state information indicating the state of the cold storage body 10. Next, in step S4, the status information generated by the display information generator 30 is output to the display unit 40, and the display unit 40 displays the status information, and a series of actions ends.

The status information displayed by the display unit 40 is, for example, one of the remaining amount of cold storage, the possible time for cold storage, and the time required for a predetermined amount of the cold storage body 10 included in the cold storage device 100 to solidify.

The remaining amount of cold storage corresponds to, for example, the proportion of the capacity of the cold storage body 10 having a temperature below a predetermined limit value in the total capacity of the cold storage body 10 housed in the box 11. The display information generator 30 is based on, for example, the surface temperature of the box 11, the surface temperature of the cold storage body 10, or the inside of the cold storage body 10 at a plurality of positions in the second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction). The temperature information estimates the spatial temperature distribution of the regenerator 10. At this time, the display information generator 30 will be based on the estimated temperature The proportion of the whole cloth that exceeds the predetermined limit value is calculated to calculate the remaining amount of cold storage. For example, consider a case where the temperature of at least one box 11 is detected by the temperature sensor 12 at 10 locations distributed at equal intervals in the second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction). Furthermore, it is assumed that the temperature detected at each location at 10 where the temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 12 represents the temperature of the regenerator 10 of equal volume. When the blower 20 is operating, since the cold and heat of the cold storage body 10 will be consumed first from the upstream side of the air flow, the temperature of the cold storage body 10 will change from the position on the upstream side of the air flow to the position on the downstream side of the air flow. The limit value is exceeded sequentially. For example, from a position on the upstream side of the flow of air to a position on the downstream side of the flow of air, among the 10 positions where the temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 12, each time the limit value exceeds the limit value increases by one, the display information is generated The device 30 reduces the remaining amount of cold storage by 10%. However, the calculation method for calculating the remaining amount of cold storage based on the proportion of the portion exceeding the predetermined limit value in the entire estimated temperature distribution is not limited to this. The calculation method used to calculate the remaining amount of cold storage can be appropriately determined according to the number of parts where the temperature is measured by the temperature sensor 12, the position where the temperature is measured by the temperature sensor 12, and the structure of the cold storage body 10 or the box 11 It can be. The predetermined limit value is, for example, set based on the melting point of the cold storage material 10a. Moreover, when there is a difference between the crystallization start temperature of the cold storage material 10a and the crystallization end temperature of the cold storage material 10a, the predetermined limit value may be set to a temperature range having an upper limit and a lower limit.

With the six temperature sensors 12 shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the detection result shown in FIG. 6 can be obtained. The one-point chain line in the line graph in Figure 6 shows the predetermined limit value, and the predetermined limit value is defined as having an upper limit and a lower limit The specific temperature range. At this time, the cold storage material 10a changes from a solid to a liquid within this specific temperature range. Each point in FIG. 6 shows the temperature detected by the six temperature sensors 12 shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 6, among the six temperature sensors 12, the temperature detected by the two temperature sensors 12 located on the upstream side of the air flow exceeds a predetermined limit value. Specifically, the temperature detected by the two temperature sensors 12 located on the upstream side of the flow of air has exceeded the upper limit of the predetermined limit value. On the other hand, among the six temperature sensors 12, the temperature detected by the four temperature sensors 12 located on the downstream side of the air flow is below the upper limit of the predetermined limit value. In this way, the display information generator 30 estimates the spatial temperature distribution based on the information showing the temperature detected by the six temperature sensors 12, as shown in FIG. The display information generator 30 calculates the remaining amount of cold storage based on the proportion of the portion exceeding the upper limit of the predetermined limit value in the total temperature distribution estimated here.

The cold storage possible time means, for example, the time during which the air passing through the cold storage chamber 15 can be cooled below a predetermined temperature by the cold storage body 10. The cold storage possible time can be obtained, for example, based on the amount of cold heat and the remaining amount of cold storage discharged from the inside of the cold storage device 100 to the outside of the cold storage device 100 per unit time. The amount of cold heat per unit time that is discharged from the inside of the cold storage device 100 to the outside of the cold storage device 100 is determined based on, for example, the difference between the temperature of the outside of the cold storage device 100 and the temperature of the internal space of the cold storage device 100. At this time, for example, temperature sensors (not shown) are respectively arranged outside the housing of the storage room 50 and the cold storage device 100, and the information showing the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is input to the display information generation器30. display The information generator 30 first calculates the amount of cold heat per unit time that is discharged from the inside of the cold storage device 100 to the outside of the cold storage device 100 based on the information, and then calculates the cold storage possible time. The cold storage possible time, for example, when the remaining amount of cold storage is A[J], and the amount of cold heat per unit time released from the inside of the cold storage device 100 to the outside of the cold storage device 100 is B[W], it will be calculated as A/B[ second]. In addition, the display information generator 30 can also calculate the cold storage possible time based on the time required for the cold and heat stored in the cold storage body 10 to be consumed to the predetermined remaining cold storage amount. For example, if the time required for the remaining cold storage capacity of the cold storage body 10 contained in the box 11 to become half from the operation of the blower 20 is 1 hour, the cold storage possible time can also be calculated as "1 hour".

The display information generator 30, for example, when the cold storage material 10a is in a liquid state and the cold storage body 10 is stored in the refrigeration cycle device 70, calculates the amount of the cold storage body 10 in the cold storage body 10 contained in the cold storage device 100 until it solidifies The required time is used as state information indicating the state of the cold storage body 10. The predetermined amount of the cold storage body 10 may be all of the cold storage body 10 included in the cold storage device 100 or part of the cold storage body 10 included in the cold storage device 100. For example, the display information generator 30 can calculate the time required until the entire cold storage body 10 is solidified based on the cooling capacity of the evaporator 71 and the remaining amount of cold storage. The cooling capacity of the evaporator 71 is memorized in the display information generator 30, for example. The time required until the entire cold storage body 10 is solidified is calculated as follows. For example, the remaining amount of cold storage body 10 is C[J], and when the entire cold storage body 10 is solidified, the amount of cold heat accumulated in the cold storage body 10 is D[J], evaporator 71 When the cooling capacity is E[W], it is (DC)/E[sec]. In addition, the display information generator 30 may also be based on what is needed when the cold storage body 10 accumulates cold heat to a predetermined remaining amount of cold storage. Calculate the time required until the entire regenerator 10 is solidified. For example, if the time required from the operation of the refrigeration cycle device 70 until the remaining amount of cold storage becomes half is one hour, the time required to solidify the entire cold storage body 10 can also be calculated as "1 hour".

(Modification)

The above-mentioned cold storage device 100 can be changed from various viewpoints. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, at least one box 11, which is the object of temperature detection by the temperature sensor 12, may also be housed in a second direction (air flow direction: X-axis direction). 4 cold storage bodies 10. At this time, the temperature sensor 12 can also be used to detect the surface temperature of each regenerator 10. The number of regenerators 10 accommodated in the box 11 may be 3 or 5 or more. When the number of regenerators 10 stored in the box 11 is large, the number of regenerators 10 in which the heat of the adjacent regenerators 10 is not easily transferred is also large. As a result, since the number of cold storage bodies 10 that are not easily affected by the heat of the adjacent cold storage bodies 10 increases, the state of the cold storage bodies 10 can be advantageously obtained.

In the second direction (X-axis direction), one of the two ends of the box 11 located upstream of the flow of air is defined as the upstream end, and the two ends of the box 11 are located at the flow of air One end of the box 11 on the downstream side is defined as the downstream end. At this time, as shown in FIG. 8A, the temperature sensor 12 detects a plurality of positions of temperature, for example, may be relatively densely distributed between the middle position and the upstream end, and relatively spaced between the middle position and the downstream end. Here, the so-called intermediate position is a position located between the upstream end of the box 11 and the downstream end of the box 11 in the second direction, and is a position equidistant from the upstream end of the box 11 and the downstream end of the box 11.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the temperature sensor 12 includes a plurality of temperature sensors. A plurality of temperature sensors are arranged relatively densely between the middle position of the box 11 and the upstream end of the box 11, and are relatively spaced apart between the middle position of the box 11 and the downstream end of the box 11 Set up.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the longest side in each of the plurality of boxes 11 extends in a direction parallel to the second direction. The temperature sensor 12 includes a first temperature sensor 12a, a second temperature sensor 12b, and a third temperature sensor 12c. The length of the longest side of the box 11 is defined as L. The first temperature sensor 12a is arranged at a position where the distance from the upstream end to the downstream end exceeds L/2. The second temperature sensor 12b is arranged at a position less than L/2 from the upstream end to the downstream end. The third temperature sensor 12c is arranged between the upstream end of the box 11 and the second temperature sensor 12b in the second direction.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8A, the temperature sensor 12 further includes a fourth temperature sensor 12d, and the fourth temperature sensor 12d is arranged at the upstream end of the box 11 in the second direction and the third temperature sensor Detector 12c.

In order to keep the temperature of the storage room 50 within a predetermined temperature range with respect to the input heat from the outside of the cold storage device 100, it is necessary to exchange heat with the cold storage body 10 to allow the internal circulating air of the cold storage device 100 to receive The cold and heat to offset the input heat. When the cold storage body 10 has a sufficient heat transfer area for the air circulating inside the cold storage device 100 to receive the cold and heat, when the cold storage body 10 as a whole has a large amount of cold and heat, the difference between the air and the cold storage In the vicinity of the upstream end of the box body 11 where the temperature difference between the bodies 10 is particularly large, the heat exchange between the air and the cold storage body 10 can be effectively performed. For this reason, the cold storage body 10 near the upstream end of the box 11 has The heat and cold will be consumed first, and the cold storage body 10 will melt sequentially from the upstream end to the middle position. As a result, between the upstream end and the intermediate position in the second direction, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12 is likely to be uneven as shown in FIG. 9A. As the melting of the cold storage body 10 from the upstream end of the box 11 to the vicinity of the middle position progresses, the melting behavior of the cold storage body 10 between the vicinity of the middle position and the downstream end when the total amount of cold heat of the cold storage body 10 decreases It is different from the melting behavior of the cold storage body 10 in the vicinity of the upstream end where the entire cold storage body 10 has a long time. In this case, the cold storage body 10 between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end melts almost uniformly between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end.

When the total amount of cold heat of the cold storage body 10 decreases, the cold storage body 10 between the upstream end and the middle position of the box 11 will continue to melt. However, at least a part of the cold storage body 10 between the upstream end and the intermediate position has sufficient cold heat as sensible heat for the temperature of the air flowing into the space defined between the boxes 11 to cool the air. Therefore, the air flowing into the space is cooled to a temperature close to the melting point of the cold storage body 10 while flowing from the upstream end to the vicinity of the intermediate position. In addition, the air can be cooled to below the melting point of the regenerator 10 while flowing from the vicinity of the intermediate position to the downstream end. At this time, since the cold storage body 10 between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end consumes less heat and cold, the melting state of the cold storage body 10 between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end is unlikely to be uneven in the air flow direction. . For this reason, the melting behavior of the cold storage body 10 between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end is different from the melting behavior of the cold storage body 10 between the upstream end and the vicinity of the intermediate position, and the melting behavior between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end is almost uniform. melt. As a result, the melting state of the cold storage body 10 between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end is not easily uneven in the air flow direction, and the temperature of the cold storage body 10 between the vicinity of the intermediate position and the downstream end is in the air flow direction Not easy to be uneven. For this reason, if a plurality of positions where the temperature sensor 12 detects the temperature are relatively densely distributed between the intermediate position and the upstream end, the cold storage capacity of the cold storage body 10 can be easily calculated with good accuracy, and furthermore The state information indicating the state of the regenerator 10 can be easily generated with good accuracy.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the locations where the temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 12 may be relatively densely distributed on the upstream side of the air flow, and relatively distancing on the downstream side of the air flow. For example, the temperature sensor 12 is located in the second direction (the direction of the air flow: X-axis direction) for the regenerator 10 located on the upstream side of the flow of air among the two regenerators 10 housed in the box 11 The surface temperature of the cold storage body 10 is detected at four locations located at predetermined intervals on the upper side. On the other hand, the temperature sensor 12 is placed in the second direction (air flow direction: X axis) for the cold storage body 10 located on the downstream side of the air flow among the two cold storage bodies 10 housed in the box 11 The surface temperature of the regenerator 10 is detected at two locations located at a predetermined interval in the direction). In this case, with six temperature sensors 12, the detection result shown in FIG. 9A can be obtained, for example. Each point in FIG. 9A shows the temperature detected by the six temperature sensors 12 shown in FIG. 8A. In this way, when the blower 20 is operating, the surface temperature of the cold storage body 10 will be detected at more locations on the upstream side of the flow of air whose temperature has exceeded the predetermined limit value early. Thereby, the temperature of the cold storage body 10 can be increased to exceed the predetermined limit. The detection accuracy of the remaining amount of cold storage at the initial stage of the limit.

In the second direction (X-axis direction), one end of the box 11 located on the upstream side of the flow of air among the two ends of the box 11 is defined as the upstream end, and the two ends of the box 11 located in the air One end of the tank 11 on the downstream side of the flow is defined as the downstream end. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8B, the temperature sensor 12 detects a plurality of positions of temperature, for example, may be relatively densely distributed between the middle position and the downstream end, and relatively distant between the middle position and the upstream end. Distributed. Here, the so-called intermediate position is a position located between the upstream end of the box 11 and the downstream end of the box 11 in the second direction, and a position equidistant from the upstream end of the box 11 and the downstream end of the box 11.

When the heat transfer area of the cold storage body 10 is relatively small, the cold storage body 10 between the upstream end and the middle position is easily melted uniformly, and in the second direction between the upstream end and the middle position, the temperature sensor 12 The temperature detected will not be easy to be uneven. On the other hand, the regenerator 10 between the intermediate position and the downstream end melts sequentially from the intermediate position toward the downstream end. Therefore, between the intermediate position and the downstream end in the second direction, as shown in FIG. 9B, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12 tends to be uneven. Therefore, the plural positions of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12 are relatively densely distributed between the intermediate position and the downstream end, which makes it easier to calculate the cold storage capacity of the cold storage body 10 with high accuracy, and then it is easier to calculate the cold storage capacity with high accuracy. State information indicating the state of the cold storage body 10 is generated.

In addition, the parts where the temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 12 can also be distributed relatively distancing from the upstream side of the air flow, and in the air flow The downstream side of the movement is relatively densely distributed. In this case, when the temperature of the cold storage body 10 has exceeded the predetermined limit value in multiple places, the detection accuracy of the remaining amount of cold storage can be improved. In addition, the parts where the temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 12 may also be distributed in a predetermined area of the box 11 relatively distantly from other areas.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the temperature sensor 12 can also be arranged on the surface of the box 11. When the temperature sensor 12 is arranged on the surface of the box body 11, the distance between the inner peripheral surface of the box body 11 and the cold storage body 10 is not uniform at a plurality of positions where the temperature sensor 12 detects the temperature. The situation is more ideal. Also, as shown in FIG. 10A, if a gap is defined between the inner peripheral surface of the box 11 and the cold storage body 10, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12 can be separated from the actual temperature of the cold storage body 10. The gap easily becomes larger. Therefore, from the viewpoint of obtaining the state of the regenerator 10 more appropriately, as shown in FIG. 10B, for example, a recess 13 for disposing the temperature sensor 12 may be defined on the surface of the box 11, and the recess 13 may be arranged Temperature sensor 12. At this time, since the inner peripheral surface of the box body 11 is protruded toward the cold storage body 10 by the recess 13, it is not easy to form a gap between the inner peripheral surface of the box body 11 and the cold storage body 10. The recess 13 is preferably such that the inner peripheral surface of the box 11 defined by the recess 13 is defined to contact the regenerator 10. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the unevenness of the distance between the inner circumferential surface of the box body 11 and the regenerator 10 at the plural positions where the temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 12. In addition, it is possible to obtain a cold storage device that reduces the difference between the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 12 and the actual temperature of the cold storage body 10, and can obtain a more favorable condition of the cold storage body 10 more appropriately.

<Second Embodiment>

The cold storage device 200 of the second embodiment will be described. The second embodiment has the same configuration as the first embodiment, except for cases specifically described. The constituent elements of the second embodiment that are the same as or corresponding to the constituent elements of the first embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions are omitted. The descriptions related to the first embodiment and this modification can be applied to the second embodiment as long as there is no technical contradiction.

As shown in FIG. 11, the cold storage device 200 has a refrigeration cycle device 70 like the cold storage device 100. The refrigeration cycle device 70 connects the evaporator 71, the compressor 72, the condenser 73, and the expansion valve 74 in this order in a ring shape by pipes. As shown in FIG. 12, the evaporator 71 is in contact with at least a part of the surface of the box 11.

For example, the pipe that determines the flow path of the refrigerant in the evaporator 71 is in contact with the surface of the box 11. In order to keep the heat transfer between the boxes 11 in a good state, for example, a metal pressing member (not shown in the figure) is used to push, so that the pipes are brought into contact with the surface of the box 11. The piping that determines the flow path of the refrigerant in the evaporator 71 extends from the upstream end of the box 11 to the downstream end in the second direction, and is bent at the downstream end and then extends in the second direction toward the upstream end in the second direction. The piping that determines the flow path of the refrigerant in the evaporator 71 may extend from the downstream end of the box 11 to the upstream end in the second direction, bend at the upstream end and then extend in the second direction toward the downstream end.

As shown in FIG. 11, the cold storage device 200 includes a storage room temperature sensor 80, for example. The storage room temperature sensor 80 is a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the air in the storage room 50.

When storing the cold storage body 10, for example, it is necessary to make the freezing cycle The ring device 70 operates to maintain the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 71 at a temperature that is 10° C. lower than the freezing point of the cold storage body 10. In most cases, the cold storage body 10 may not immediately crystallize and become a supercooled state even if the temperature of the cold storage body 10 is lowered and is lower than the freezing point of the cold storage body 10. Therefore, by, for example, cooling the regenerator body 10 with a refrigerant that is 10° C. or more lower than the freezing point of the regenerator body 10, the supercooled state can be released and crystallized. Furthermore, by increasing the difference between the freezing point of the cold storage body 10 and the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 71, the cold storage body 10 can be cooled and solidified faster.

When storing the cold storage body 10, depending on the situation, in order to adjust the temperature of the storage room 50 to a temperature suitable for the cold storage of articles, it is necessary to cool the air in the storage room 50. At this time, in order to make the temperature detected by the storage room temperature sensor 80 become a predetermined target temperature higher than the freezing point of the regenerator 10, the blower 20 is activated. In this way, the air in the storage room 50 is supplied to the cold storage room 15, the air is cooled by the cold storage body 10 or the evaporator 71, and the cooled air is transmitted to the storage room 50. In this way, the cooled air will circulate inside the cold storage device 200. As a result, the temperature of the air in the storage room 50 is adjusted to a temperature suitable for keeping the articles cold.

When the cold and heat of the refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 71 is only used for the cold storage of the cold storage body 10, the evaporator 71 cools the box 11 as a whole. However, if the blower 20 is activated for cooling the air in the storage room 50, and the cooled air circulates inside the cold storage device 200, as shown in FIG. 13, the case 11 or the cold storage body 10 will generate from the case 11 The temperature distribution decreases stepwise from the upstream end to the downstream end. In addition, in FIG. 13, the dotted line showing the lowest temperature means the temperature T _{EV of the} evaporator 71. Once the cold storage body 10 is cooled for a long period of time by the evaporator 71, the temperature of the tank 11 or the cold storage body 10 located at the downstream end of the tank 11 will be reduced to T _EV . On the other hand, the temperature of the box 11 or the regenerator 10 located near the upstream end of the box 11 is maintained at a temperature that balances with the heat of the air flowing into the space defined between the boxes 11 stable. Similar to when the cold storage body 10 is dissolved, from this temperature distribution generated by the circulation of air in the cold storage chamber 15, the cold storage amount of the cold storage body 10 can be calculated. In this case, it is desirable to consider both the amount of cold and heat possessed by the regenerator 10 as sensible heat and the amount of cold and heat possessed by the regenerator 10 as latent heat. For example, the amount of cold storage obtained from the temperature distribution shown in FIG. 13 subtracts the amount of cold and heat that is obtained from the temperature of the cold storage body 10 as the sensible heat, so that the amount of cold storage body 10 can be calculated. The cold and heat it has is used as latent heat. For example, from the difference between the freezing point of the cold storage body 10 and the temperature of the cold storage body 10 and the heat capacity of the cold storage body 10 and the box 11, the cold heat quantity of the cold storage body 10 can be obtained as sensible heat. In this case, as the temperature of the cold storage body 10, for example, an arithmetic average value lower than the freezing point of the cold storage body 10 detected by the temperature sensor 12 at a plurality of positions can be used. Furthermore, as the heat capacity of the cold storage body 10 and the tank 11, it is possible to use the one corresponding to the sum of the volumes of the cold storage body 10 and the tank 11 represented by each of the plural positions where the temperature lower than the freezing point of the cold storage body 10 is detected. Heat capacity. In addition, as the temperature of the cold storage body 10, a plurality of temperatures lower than the freezing point of the cold storage body 10 detected at a plurality of positions by the temperature sensor 12 may be used. In this case, as sensible heat, the cold heat of the cold storage body 10 can be used as the difference between the temperature and the freezing point of the cold storage body 10, and the cold storage body 10 and the box represented by each of the plural positions The volume of 11 corresponds to the sum of the product of heat capacity.

Industrial availability

The cold storage device of the present disclosure can be used for refrigeration or freezing for temporary storage of cold and heat.

10‧‧‧Cool storage body

11‧‧‧Box

12‧‧‧Temperature sensor

30‧‧‧Display Information Generator

40‧‧‧Display

100‧‧‧Cool storage device

IV-IV‧‧‧ Section line

X, Y, Z‧‧‧direction

Claims (11)

A cold storage device, comprising: a plurality of boxes arranged in the first direction in the cold storage room, respectively accommodating the cold storage body; a blower is arranged in a storage room that can communicate with the aforementioned cold storage room and is arranged separately, and is arranged in and In the plane parallel to the bottom surface of the cold storage chamber of the plurality of boxes, a flow of air passing through the space defined between the boxes in the second direction is generated along a second direction intersecting the first direction, Circulate the air cooled by the aforementioned cold storage body; temperature sensors, in plural positions in the aforementioned second direction, detect the surface temperature of at least one of the aforementioned boxes, and at least one of the aforementioned cold storage body contained in the aforementioned boxes The surface temperature, or the internal temperature of the regenerator contained in at least one of the boxes; the display information generator is inputted to display the information of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, according to the display of the plurality of positions Information on the surface temperature of the box, the surface temperature of the cold storage body, or the internal temperature of the cold storage body generates state information indicating the state of the cold storage body; and a display unit that displays the state information, and the display information generator is based on Display the information of the surface temperature of the box, the surface temperature of the cold storage body, or the temperature inside the cold storage body at the plurality of positions, to estimate the spatial temperature distribution of the cold storage body, and based on the overall temperature distribution Calculate the remaining amount of cold storage as the aforementioned state information based on the proportion of the part that exceeds the predetermined limit value. The cold storage device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of boxes are in contact with the bottom surface of the cold storage chamber. The cold storage device of claim 1, wherein the longest side in each of the plurality of boxes extends in a direction parallel to the second direction. The cold storage device of claim 1, wherein, among the two ends of the box in the second direction, one end of the box located on the upstream side of the flow of the air is defined as the upstream end, and the two ends When one end of the box located on the downstream side of the flow of air is defined as the downstream end, the plurality of positions are relatively densely distributed between the intermediate position and the upstream end, and relatively distantly distributed between the intermediate position and the foregoing Between the downstream ends, the intermediate position is an intermediate position located between the upstream end and the downstream end in the second direction, and is equidistant from the upstream end and the downstream end. The cold storage device of claim 1, wherein, among the two ends of the box in the second direction, one end of the box located on the upstream side of the flow of the air is defined as the upstream end, and the two ends When one end of the box located on the downstream side of the flow of the air is defined as the downstream end, the plurality of positions are relatively densely distributed between the intermediate position and the downstream end, and relatively distantly distributed between the intermediate position and the aforementioned Between the upstream ends, the intermediate position is an intermediate position between the upstream end and the downstream end in the second direction, and is equidistant from the upstream end and the downstream end. Such as the cold storage device of claim 1, wherein the aforementioned to At least one of the aforementioned boxes accommodates a plurality of the aforementioned regenerators arranged in the aforementioned second direction. The cold storage device of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor detects the surface temperature of at least one of the boxes or the surface temperature of the cold storage body stored in at least one of the boxes. The cold storage device of claim 7, wherein the temperature sensor is provided on the surface of the cold storage body or the surface of the box. The cold storage device of claim 1, wherein the state information is at least 1 of the remaining amount of cold storage, the possible time for cold storage, and the time required for a predetermined amount of the cold storage body contained in the cold storage device to solidify item. For example, the cold storage device of claim 1, which further has a refrigeration cycle in which an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve are connected in this order to form a ring using piping, and the evaporator is at least the surface of the box One part touches. A method for displaying information indicating the state of a cold storage body, including the following steps: using a blower, on a surface parallel to the bottom surface of the cold storage room in which the plurality of boxes respectively containing the cold storage body are arranged in the first direction in the cold storage room Inside, the flow of air passing through the space defined between the boxes in the second direction is generated in the second direction intersecting the first direction, so that the air cooled by the cold storage body is circulated, and the temperature is used. Detector, multiple positions in the aforementioned second direction, Detect the surface temperature of at least one of the aforementioned boxes, the surface temperature of the aforementioned cold storage body contained in at least one of the aforementioned boxes, or the internal temperature of the aforementioned cold storage body contained in at least one of the aforementioned boxes, using a display information generator Obtain the information showing the temperature detected by the temperature sensor, and generate the information based on the information showing the surface temperature of the box, the surface temperature of the cold storage body, or the temperature inside the cold storage body at the plurality of positions State information indicating the state of the aforementioned cold storage body, and the aforementioned state information is displayed on the display part.

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