WO2009131083A1 - 冷凍装置 - Google Patents
冷凍装置 Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2009131083A1 WO2009131083A1 PCT/JP2009/057824 JP2009057824W WO2009131083A1 WO 2009131083 A1 WO2009131083 A1 WO 2009131083A1 JP 2009057824 W JP2009057824 W JP 2009057824W WO 2009131083 A1 WO2009131083 A1 WO 2009131083A1
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- Prior art keywords
- heat exchanger
- refrigerant
- pressure
- pipe
- compression
- Prior art date
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B9/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point
- F25B9/002—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the refrigerant
- F25B9/008—Compression machines, plants or systems, in which the refrigerant is air or other gas of low boiling point characterised by the refrigerant the refrigerant being carbon dioxide
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B1/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with non-reversible cycle
- F25B1/10—Compression machines, plants or systems with non-reversible cycle with multi-stage compression
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B47/00—Arrangements for preventing or removing deposits or corrosion, not provided for in another subclass
- F25B47/02—Defrosting cycles
- F25B47/022—Defrosting cycles hot gas defrosting
- F25B47/025—Defrosting cycles hot gas defrosting by reversing the cycle
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B13/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2309/00—Gas cycle refrigeration machines
- F25B2309/06—Compression machines, plants or systems characterised by the refrigerant being carbon dioxide
- F25B2309/061—Compression machines, plants or systems characterised by the refrigerant being carbon dioxide with cycle highest pressure above the supercritical pressure
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2313/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for
- F25B2313/027—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for characterised by the reversing means
- F25B2313/0272—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for characterised by the reversing means using bridge circuits of one-way valves
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2313/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for
- F25B2313/027—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for characterised by the reversing means
- F25B2313/02741—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for characterised by the reversing means using one four-way valve
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2313/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for
- F25B2313/031—Sensor arrangements
- F25B2313/0315—Temperature sensors near the outdoor heat exchanger
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
- F25B2400/04—Refrigeration circuit bypassing means
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
- F25B2400/07—Details of compressors or related parts
- F25B2400/072—Intercoolers therefor
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
- F25B2400/13—Economisers
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
- F25B2400/23—Separators
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
- F25B2700/21—Temperatures
- F25B2700/2106—Temperatures of fresh outdoor air
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a refrigeration apparatus, and more particularly to a refrigeration apparatus having a refrigerant circuit configured to be able to switch between a cooling operation and a heating operation and performing a multistage compression refrigeration cycle using a refrigerant operating in a supercritical region.
- Patent Document 1 There is an air conditioner that has a refrigerant circuit configured to be capable of switching between a cooling operation and a heating operation, and performs a two-stage compression refrigeration cycle using carbon dioxide as a refrigerant.
- This air conditioner mainly includes a compressor having two compression elements connected in series, a four-way switching valve for switching between cooling operation and heating operation, an outdoor heat exchanger, and an indoor heat exchanger. have. JP 2007-232263 A
- a refrigeration apparatus is a refrigeration apparatus that uses a refrigerant that operates in a supercritical region, and that compresses the refrigerant, a heat source-side heat exchanger that functions as a refrigerant radiator or an evaporator, and decompresses the refrigerant.
- An expansion mechanism a utilization side heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator or radiator of the refrigerant, a switching mechanism, an intermediate heat exchanger, and an intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe.
- the compression mechanism has a plurality of compression elements, and is configured to sequentially compress the refrigerant discharged from the compression element on the front stage side among the plurality of compression elements by the compression element on the rear stage side.
- compression mechanism refers to a compressor in which a plurality of compression elements are integrally incorporated, a compressor in which a single compression element is incorporated, and / or a compressor in which a plurality of compression elements are incorporated. This means a configuration that includes a unit connected.
- compression element on the front stage and “compression element on the rear stage” It is not only meant to include two compression elements connected in series, but a plurality of compression elements are connected in series, and the relationship between the compression elements is the above-mentioned “previous-side compression element” ”And“ compression element on the rear stage side ”.
- the switching mechanism includes a cooling operation state in which the refrigerant is circulated in the order of the compression mechanism, the heat source side heat exchanger, and the use side heat exchanger, and heating in which the refrigerant is circulated in the order of the compression mechanism, the use side heat exchanger, and the heat source side heat exchanger. It is a mechanism that switches between operating states.
- the heat source side heat exchanger is a heat exchanger using air as a heat source.
- the intermediate heat exchanger is a heat exchanger that uses air that is integrated with the heat source side heat exchanger as a heat source, and is an intermediate refrigerant that allows the refrigerant discharged from the compression element on the front stage side to be sucked into the compression element on the rear stage side It is provided in the pipe and functions as a refrigerant cooler that is discharged from the compression element on the front stage side and sucked into the compression element on the rear stage side.
- the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe is connected to the intermediate refrigerant pipe so as to bypass the intermediate heat exchanger.
- the intermediate heat exchanger is disposed above the heat source side heat exchanger, and the reverse cycle defrosting operation is performed to defrost the heat source side heat exchanger by switching the switching mechanism to the cooling operation state.
- the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe is used to prevent the refrigerant from flowing into the intermediate heat exchanger.
- the critical temperature (about 31 ° C.) of carbon dioxide used as a refrigerant is the temperature of water or air that serves as a cooling source for an outdoor heat exchanger or an indoor heat exchanger that functions as a refrigerant cooler. Since it is the same level and lower than refrigerants such as R22 and R410A, the high pressure of the refrigeration cycle is higher than the critical pressure of the refrigerant so that the refrigerant can be cooled by water or air in these heat exchangers. Driving will be done in the state.
- the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe is connected to the intermediate refrigerant pipe so as to bypass the intermediate heat exchanger, and provided in the intermediate refrigerant pipe for sucking into the compression element.
- the switching mechanism corresponding to the four-way switching valve When the switching mechanism corresponding to the four-way switching valve is in the cooling operation state corresponding to the cooling operation, the intermediate heat exchanger functions as a cooler, and the switching mechanism is in the heating operation state corresponding to the heating operation.
- the intermediate heat exchanger By preventing the intermediate heat exchanger from functioning as a cooler, the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism corresponding to the compressor described above is kept low during the cooling operation, and the By suppressing heat radiation to the outside from the heat exchanger, it is conceivable to prevent a decrease in operating efficiency.
- the intermediate heat exchanger is prevented from functioning as a cooler by the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe during the heating operation, so that the amount of frost formation in the intermediate heat exchanger is small and the heat source side The defrosting of the intermediate heat exchanger is completed earlier than the heat exchanger. For this reason, if the refrigerant continues to flow through the intermediate heat exchanger even after the defrosting of the intermediate heat exchanger is completed, heat is radiated from the intermediate heat exchanger to the outside, and the refrigerant sucked into the compression element on the rear stage side is discharged. As a result, the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism is lowered and the defrosting ability of the heat source side heat exchanger is lowered.
- the intermediate heat exchanger is arranged above the heat source side heat exchanger.
- the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe is used.
- the refrigeration apparatus according to the second invention is the refrigeration apparatus according to the first invention, wherein the refrigerant radiated in the heat source side heat exchanger or the use side heat exchanger is branched and returned to the compression element on the rear stage side.
- An injection pipe is further provided, and when the reverse cycle defrosting operation is performed, the refrigerant sent from the heat source side heat exchanger to the use side heat exchanger is returned to the subsequent stage compression element using the rear stage side injection pipe. It is. Since this refrigeration system employs a reverse cycle defrosting operation in which the heat source side heat exchanger is defrosted by switching the switching mechanism to the cooling operation state, the use side heat exchanger functions as a refrigerant radiator.
- the use-side heat exchanger functions as a refrigerant evaporator, resulting in a temperature drop on the use side.
- the reverse cycle defrosting operation is a cooling operation that is performed in a state where the temperature of the air as a heat source is low and the intermediate heat exchanger does not function as a cooler. The flow rate of the refrigerant sucked from the compression element is reduced.
- the second stage injection pipe is used to return the refrigerant sent from the heat source side heat exchanger to the use side heat exchanger to the rear stage side compression element.
- the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the heat source side heat exchanger can be ensured while the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the use side heat exchanger is reduced.
- the refrigeration apparatus according to the third invention is the refrigeration apparatus according to the first or second invention, wherein the refrigerant operating in the supercritical region is carbon dioxide.
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion I in FIG. 3. It is a figure which shows the flow of the refrigerant
- FIG. 3 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during cooling operation.
- FIG. 3 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during cooling operation.
- FIG. 3 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during heating operation.
- FIG. 3 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during heating operation. It is a flowchart of a defrost operation. It is a figure which shows the flow of the refrigerant
- FIG. 7 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during cooling operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 1.
- FIG. 7 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during cooling operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 1.
- FIG. 6 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during heating operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 1.
- FIG. 10 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during heating operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 1.
- FIG. It is a figure which shows the flow of the refrigerant
- FIG. 6 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during a defrosting operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 1.
- FIG. 10 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during a defrosting operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 1. It is a schematic block diagram of the air conditioning apparatus concerning the modification 2. It is a figure which shows the flow of the refrigerant
- FIG. FIG. 10 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during cooling operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 2.
- 10 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during cooling operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 2.
- FIG. It is a figure which shows the flow of the refrigerant
- FIG. 10 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during heating operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 2.
- FIG. 6 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during heating operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 2.
- FIG. 9 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during a defrosting operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 2.
- FIG. 10 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during a defrosting operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 2. It is a schematic block diagram of the air conditioning apparatus concerning the modification 3. It is a figure which shows the flow of the refrigerant
- FIG. 10 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during cooling operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 3.
- FIG. 10 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during cooling operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 3. It is a figure which shows the flow of the refrigerant
- FIG. 10 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during heating operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 3.
- FIG. 10 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during heating operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 3. It is a figure which shows the flow of the refrigerant
- FIG. 10 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during a defrosting operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 3.
- FIG. 11 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during a defrosting operation in an air conditioner according to Modification 3. It is a schematic block diagram of the air conditioning apparatus concerning the modification 4.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioner 1 as an embodiment of a refrigeration apparatus according to the present invention.
- the air conditioner 1 has a refrigerant circuit 10 configured to be capable of switching between a cooling operation and a heating operation, and uses a refrigerant (here, carbon dioxide) that operates in a supercritical region to perform a two-stage compression refrigeration cycle. It is a device to perform.
- the refrigerant circuit 10 of the air conditioner 1 mainly includes a compression mechanism 2, a switching mechanism 3, a heat source side heat exchanger 4, a bridge circuit 17, a receiver 18, a first expansion mechanism 5a, and a second.
- the compression mechanism 2 includes a compressor 21 that compresses a refrigerant in two stages with two compression elements.
- the compressor 21 has a sealed structure in which a compressor drive motor 21b, a drive shaft 21c, and compression elements 2c and 2d are accommodated in a casing 21a.
- the compressor drive motor 21b is connected to the drive shaft 21c.
- the drive shaft 21c is connected to the two compression elements 2c and 2d. That is, in the compressor 21, two compression elements 2c and 2d are connected to a single drive shaft 21c, and the two compression elements 2c and 2d are both rotationally driven by the compressor drive motor 21b. It has a stage compression structure.
- the compression elements 2c and 2d are positive displacement compression elements such as a rotary type and a scroll type in the present embodiment.
- the compressor 21 sucks the refrigerant from the suction pipe 2 a, compresses the sucked refrigerant by the compression element 2 c, discharges it to the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8, and discharges the intermediate pressure in the refrigeration cycle to the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8.
- the refrigerant is sucked into the compression element 2d to further compress the refrigerant and then discharged to the discharge pipe 2b.
- the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 sucks the intermediate-pressure refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle discharged from the compression element 2c connected to the front stage side of the compression element 2c into the compression element 2d connected to the rear stage side of the compression element 2c. It is a refrigerant pipe for making it.
- the discharge pipe 2b is a refrigerant pipe for sending the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 to the switching mechanism 3.
- the discharge pipe 2b is provided with an oil separation mechanism 41 and a check mechanism 42.
- the oil separation mechanism 41 is a mechanism that separates the refrigeration oil accompanying the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 from the refrigerant and returns it to the suction side of the compression mechanism 2, and is mainly accompanied by the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2.
- An oil separator 41 a that separates the refrigeration oil from the refrigerant
- an oil return pipe 41 b that is connected to the oil separator 41 a and returns the refrigeration oil separated from the refrigerant to the suction pipe 2 a of the compression mechanism 2.
- the oil return pipe 41b is provided with a pressure reducing mechanism 41c for reducing the pressure of the refrigerating machine oil flowing through the oil return pipe 41b.
- a capillary tube is used as the decompression mechanism 41c.
- the check mechanism 42 is a mechanism for allowing the refrigerant flow from the discharge side of the compression mechanism 2 to the switching mechanism 3 and blocking the refrigerant flow from the switching mechanism 3 to the discharge side of the compression mechanism 2.
- a check valve is used.
- the compression mechanism 2 has the two compression elements 2c and 2d, and the refrigerant discharged from the compression element on the front stage of these compression elements 2c and 2d is returned to the rear stage side.
- the compression elements are sequentially compressed by the compression elements.
- the switching mechanism 3 is a mechanism for switching the flow direction of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10, and is used as a radiator for the refrigerant compressed by the compression mechanism 2 and used in the cooling operation during the cooling operation.
- the discharge side of the compression mechanism 2 and one end of the heat source side heat exchanger 4 are connected and the compressor 21
- the suction side and the use side heat exchanger 6 are connected (refer to the solid line of the switching mechanism 3 in FIG. 1, hereinafter, the state of the switching mechanism 3 is referred to as “cooling operation state”).
- the switching mechanism 3 is a four-way switching valve connected to the suction side of the compression mechanism 2, the discharge side of the compression mechanism 2, the heat source side heat exchanger 4, and the use side heat exchanger 6.
- the switching mechanism 3 is not limited to a four-way switching valve, and is configured to have a function of switching the refrigerant flow direction as described above, for example, by combining a plurality of electromagnetic valves. There may be.
- the compression mechanism 2 the heat source side heat exchanger 4 and the use side heat exchanger 6 constituting the refrigerant circuit 10
- the compression mechanism 2 the heat source side that functions as a refrigerant radiator.
- the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is a heat exchanger that functions as a refrigerant radiator or an evaporator. One end of the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is connected to the switching mechanism 3, and the other end is connected to the first expansion mechanism 5 a via the bridge circuit 17.
- the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is a heat exchanger that uses air as a heat source (that is, a cooling source or a heating source), and a fin-and-tube heat exchanger is used in this embodiment.
- the air as the heat source is supplied to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 by the heat source side fan 40.
- the heat source side fan 40 is driven by a fan drive motor 40a.
- the bridge circuit 17 is provided between the heat source side heat exchanger 4 and the use side heat exchanger 6, and is connected to a receiver inlet pipe 18 a connected to the inlet of the receiver 18 and an outlet of the receiver 18. It is connected to the receiver outlet pipe 18b.
- the bridge circuit 17 has four check valves 17a, 17b, 17c, and 17d.
- the inlet check valve 17a is a check valve that only allows the refrigerant to flow from the heat source side heat exchanger 4 to the receiver inlet pipe 18a.
- the inlet check valve 17b is a check valve that allows only the refrigerant to flow from the use side heat exchanger 6 to the receiver inlet pipe 18a.
- the inlet check valves 17a and 17b have a function of circulating the refrigerant from one of the heat source side heat exchanger 4 and the use side heat exchanger 6 to the receiver inlet pipe 18a.
- the outlet check valve 17 c is a check valve that allows only the refrigerant to flow from the receiver outlet pipe 18 b to the use side heat exchanger 6.
- the outlet check valve 17d is a check valve that allows only the refrigerant to flow from the receiver outlet pipe 18b to the heat source side heat exchanger 4. That is, the outlet check valves 17c and 17d have a function of circulating the refrigerant from the receiver outlet pipe 18b to the other of the heat source side heat exchanger 4 and the use side heat exchanger 6.
- the first expansion mechanism 5a is a mechanism that depressurizes the refrigerant provided in the receiver inlet pipe 18a, and an electric expansion valve is used in the present embodiment.
- the first expansion mechanism 5a is configured to send the high-pressure refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle cooled in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 to the use side heat exchanger 6 via the receiver 18 during the cooling operation.
- the pressure is reduced to near the saturation pressure of the refrigerant, and at the time of heating operation, before the high-pressure refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle cooled in the use side heat exchanger 6 is sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 via the receiver 18, the vicinity of the saturation pressure of the refrigerant Depressurize until.
- the receiver 18 is depressurized by the first expansion mechanism 5a so as to be able to store surplus refrigerant generated according to the operating state such as the refrigerant circulation amount in the refrigerant circuit 10 is different between the cooling operation and the heating operation.
- the inlet is connected to the receiver inlet pipe 18a, and the outlet thereof is connected to the receiver outlet pipe 18b.
- the receiver 18 also has a first suction return pipe that can extract the refrigerant from the receiver 18 and return it to the suction pipe 2a of the compression mechanism 2 (that is, the suction side of the compression element 2c on the front stage side of the compression mechanism 2).
- 18f is connected.
- the first suction return pipe 18f is provided with a first suction return on / off valve 18g.
- the first suction return on / off valve 18g is an electromagnetic valve in the present embodiment.
- the second expansion mechanism 5b is a mechanism that depressurizes the refrigerant provided in the receiver outlet pipe 18b, and an electric expansion valve is used in the present embodiment.
- the second expansion mechanism 5b is at a low pressure in the refrigeration cycle before the refrigerant decompressed by the first expansion mechanism 5a is sent to the use-side heat exchanger 6 via the receiver 18 during the cooling operation.
- the refrigerant decompressed by the first expansion mechanism 5a is further depressurized until it reaches a low pressure in the refrigeration cycle before being sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 via the receiver 18.
- the use side heat exchanger 6 is a heat exchanger that functions as a refrigerant evaporator or a radiator.
- the use-side heat exchanger 6 is a heat exchanger that uses water or air as a heat source (that is, a cooling source or a heating source).
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is provided in the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8.
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 functions as a refrigerant cooler that is discharged from the preceding compression element 2c and sucked into the compression element 2d during the cooling operation. It is a heat exchanger that can.
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is a heat exchanger that uses air as a heat source (here, a cooling source), and in this embodiment, a fin-and-tube heat exchanger is used.
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is integrated with the heat source side heat exchanger 4. Next, the configuration in which the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is integrated with the heat source side heat exchanger 4 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
- FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the heat source unit 1a (with the fan grill removed), and FIG. 3 is a side view of the heat source unit 1a with the right plate 74 of the heat source unit 1a removed.
- FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion I in FIG. In the following description, “left” and “right” are based on the case where the heat source unit 1a is viewed from the front plate 75 side.
- the air conditioner 1 is mainly provided with a heat source unit 1a provided with a heat source side fan 40, a heat source side heat exchanger 4 and an intermediate heat exchanger 7, and mainly a use side heat exchanger 6. It is configured by connecting to a use unit (not shown).
- the heat source unit 1a is a so-called top-blowing type that sucks air from the side and blows it upward, and mainly includes the casing 71 and the heat source side heat disposed inside the casing 71. It has refrigerant circuit components such as the exchanger 4 and the intermediate heat exchanger 7 and devices such as the heat source side fan 40.
- the casing 71 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box, and mainly includes a top plate 72 constituting the top surface of the casing 71, a left plate 73, a right plate 74 constituting the outer peripheral surface of the casing 71, and the front.
- the plate 75 and the rear plate 76 and a bottom plate 77 are included.
- the top plate 72 is a member mainly constituting the top surface of the casing 71.
- the top plate 72 is a plate-like member having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view in which the blowing opening 71a is formed at a substantially center.
- the top plate 72 is provided with a fan grill 78 so as to cover the blowout opening 71a from above.
- the left plate 73 is a member that mainly constitutes the left surface of the casing 71.
- the left plate 73 is a plate-like member that is substantially rectangular in a side view extending downward from the left edge of the top plate 72.
- the left plate 73 is formed with a suction opening 73a almost entirely except the upper part.
- the right plate 74 is a member that mainly constitutes the right surface of the casing 71.
- the right plate 74 is a plate-like member that is substantially rectangular in a side view extending downward from the right edge of the top plate 72.
- the right plate 74 is formed with a suction opening 74a almost entirely except the upper part.
- the front plate 75 is a member that mainly constitutes the front surface of the casing 71.
- the front plate 75 is configured by a plate-like member having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front edge of the top plate 72 in order downward.
- the rear plate 76 is a member that mainly constitutes the rear surface of the casing 71.
- the rear plate 76 is configured by a substantially rectangular plate-like member that is disposed in order from the rear edge of the top plate 72 in a downward direction. ing.
- the rear plate 76 is formed with a suction opening 76a in almost the whole except the upper part.
- the bottom plate 77 is a member that mainly constitutes the bottom surface of the casing 71.
- the bottom plate 77 is a plate-like member having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view.
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is integrated with the heat source side heat exchanger 4 in a state of being disposed above the heat source side heat exchanger 4, and is disposed on the bottom plate 77. More specifically, the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is integrated with the heat source side heat exchanger 4 by sharing heat transfer fins (see FIG. 4). In addition, in the present embodiment, the heat source side heat exchanger 4 and the intermediate heat exchanger 7 are integrated to form a heat exchanger panel having a substantially U shape in plan view, and suction openings 73a and 74a. , 76a.
- the heat source side fan 40 is disposed on the upper side of the heat source side heat exchanger 4 and the intermediate heat exchanger 7 that are opposed to the blowout opening 71a of the top plate 72.
- the heat source side fan 40 is an axial fan, and is rotationally driven by the fan drive motor 40a, thereby sucking air as a heat source into the casing 71 from the suction openings 73a, 74a, and 76a. After passing through the heat exchanger 4 and the intermediate heat exchanger 7, the air can be blown upward from the blowout opening 71a (see the arrows indicating the air flow in FIG. 3). That is, the heat source side fan 40 supplies air as a heat source to both the heat source side heat exchanger 4 and the intermediate heat exchanger 7.
- the external shape of the heat source unit 1a and the shape of the heat source unit heat exchanger 4 and the intermediate heat exchanger 7 integrated with each other are not limited to those described above.
- An intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 is connected to the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 so as to bypass the intermediate heat exchanger 7.
- the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 is a refrigerant pipe that limits the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the intermediate heat exchanger 7.
- the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 is provided with an intermediate heat exchanger bypass opening / closing valve 11.
- the intermediate heat exchanger bypass on-off valve 11 is a solenoid valve in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the intermediate heat exchanger bypass on-off valve 11 is basically closed when the switching mechanism 3 is in the cooling operation state except for the defrosting operation described later, and the switching mechanism 3 is in the heating operation state. Control is made when opening.
- the intermediate heat exchanger bypass on-off valve 11 is controlled to be closed when performing the cooling operation and to be opened when performing the heating operation.
- the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 has an intermediate portion between the connecting portion of the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 and the compression element 2c side end on the front stage side to the compression element 2c side end on the front stage side of the intermediate heat exchanger 7.
- a heat exchanger on / off valve 12 is provided.
- the intermediate heat exchanger on / off valve 12 is a mechanism that limits the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the intermediate heat exchanger 7.
- the intermediate heat exchanger on / off valve 12 is an electromagnetic valve in the present embodiment.
- the intermediate heat exchanger on / off valve 12 is basically opened when the switching mechanism 3 is in the cooling operation state, except for the defrosting operation described later, so that the switching mechanism 3 is in the heating operation state. It is controlled to close when That is, the intermediate heat exchanger on / off valve 12 is controlled to be opened when the cooling operation is performed and closed when the heating operation is performed.
- the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 allows the refrigerant to flow from the discharge side of the upstream compression element 2c to the suction side of the downstream compression element 2d, and from the suction side of the downstream compression element 2d to the upstream side.
- a check mechanism 15 is provided for blocking the flow of the refrigerant to the discharge side of the compression element 2c on the side.
- the check mechanism 15 is a check valve in the present embodiment.
- the check mechanism 15 is connected to the compression element 2d side end of the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 from the compression element 2d side end of the intermediate heat exchanger 7 on the rear stage side. It is provided in the part to the connection part.
- the air conditioning apparatus 1 is provided with various sensors.
- the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is provided with a heat source side heat exchange temperature sensor 51 that detects the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the heat source side heat exchanger 4.
- the air conditioner 1 (here, the heat source unit 1 a) is provided with an air temperature sensor 53 that detects the temperature of air as a heat source of the heat source side heat exchanger 4 and the intermediate heat exchanger 7.
- the air conditioner 1 includes a compression mechanism 2, a switching mechanism 3, an expansion mechanism 5, a heat source side fan 40, an intermediate heat exchanger bypass opening / closing valve 11, an intermediate heat exchanger opening / closing valve 12, a first It has a control part which controls operation of each part which constitutes air harmony device 1, such as suction return on-off valve 18g.
- FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the flow of the refrigerant in the air conditioner 1 during the cooling operation
- FIG. 6 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating the refrigeration cycle during the cooling operation
- FIG. 8 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating the refrigeration cycle during the cooling operation
- FIG. 8 shows the heat transfer coefficient when carbon dioxide having an intermediate pressure lower than the critical pressure flows in the heat transfer channel
- It is a figure which shows the characteristic of the heat transfer rate at the time of flowing the high-pressure carbon dioxide exceeding a critical pressure in a heat-transfer channel
- FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the flow of the refrigerant in the air conditioner 1 during the cooling operation
- FIG. 6 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating the refrigeration cycle during the cooling operation
- FIG. 8 shows the heat transfer coefficient when carbon dioxide having an intermediate pressure lower than the critical pressure flows in the heat transfer channel
- It is a figure which shows the characteristic of the heat transfer rate at the time of flowing the high-pressure carbon dioxide exceeding a critical pressure in a
- FIG. 9 is a figure which shows the flow of the refrigerant
- FIG. 10 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating the refrigeration cycle during heating operation
- FIG. 11 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating the refrigeration cycle during heating operation
- FIG. FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the defrosting operation. Is a diagram showing the flow of refrigerant within the air-conditioning apparatus 1 during the defrosting operation.
- operation control in the following cooling operation, heating operation, and defrosting operation is performed by the above-described control unit (not shown).
- “high pressure” means high pressure in the refrigeration cycle (that is, pressure at points D, D ′, and E in FIGS.
- Low pressure means low pressure in the refrigeration cycle (that is, pressure at points A and F in FIGS. 6 and 7 and pressure at points A and E in FIGS. 10 and 11)
- intermediate pressure Means an intermediate pressure in the refrigeration cycle (that is, pressure at points B and C in FIGS. 6 and 7 and pressure at points B, C and C ′ in FIGS. 10 and 11).
- the refrigerant cooled in the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is sucked into the compression element 2d connected to the downstream side of the compression element 2c, further compressed, and discharged from the compression mechanism 2 to the discharge pipe 2b (FIG. 1, (See point D in FIGS. 5-7).
- the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 is compressed to a pressure exceeding the critical pressure (that is, the critical pressure Pcp at the critical point CP shown in FIG. 6) by the two-stage compression operation by the compression elements 2c and 2d.
- the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 flows into the oil separator 41a constituting the oil separation mechanism 41, and the accompanying refrigeration oil is separated.
- the refrigerating machine oil separated from the high-pressure refrigerant in the oil separator 41a flows into the oil return pipe 41b constituting the oil separation mechanism 41, and is compressed after being reduced in pressure by the pressure reduction mechanism 41c provided in the oil return pipe 41b. It is returned to the suction pipe 2a of the mechanism 2 and again sucked into the compression mechanism 2.
- the high-pressure refrigerant after the refrigerating machine oil is separated in the oil separation mechanism 41 is sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 functioning as a refrigerant radiator through the check mechanism 42 and the switching mechanism 3.
- the high-pressure refrigerant sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is cooled in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 by exchanging heat with air as a cooling source supplied by the heat source side fan 40 (FIG. 1). FIG. 5 to FIG. 7 (see point E). Then, the high-pressure refrigerant cooled in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 flows into the receiver inlet pipe 18a through the inlet check valve 17a of the bridge circuit 17, and is reduced to near the saturation pressure by the first expansion mechanism 5a. (See point I in FIGS. 1 and 5).
- the refrigerant stored in the receiver 18 is sent to the receiver outlet pipe 18b and is decompressed by the second expansion mechanism 5b to become a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, and the outlet check valve 17c of the bridge circuit 17 is used. And is sent to the use side heat exchanger 6 functioning as a refrigerant evaporator (see point F in FIGS. 1 and 5 to 7). Then, the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant sent to the use-side heat exchanger 6 is heated by heat exchange with water or air as a heating source to evaporate (FIG. 1, FIG. 1). 5 to point A in FIG. 7). Then, the low-pressure refrigerant heated in the use side heat exchanger 6 is again sucked into the compression mechanism 2 via the switching mechanism 3. In this way, the cooling operation is performed.
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is provided in the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 for allowing the refrigerant discharged from the compression element 2c to be sucked into the compression element 2d, and the cooling is performed.
- the intermediate heat exchanger on / off valve 12 is opened, and the intermediate heat exchanger bypass on / off valve 11 of the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 is closed to make the intermediate heat exchanger 7 function as a cooler. Therefore, when the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is not provided (in this case, the refrigeration cycle is performed in the order of point A ⁇ point B ⁇ point D ′ ⁇ point E ⁇ point F in FIGS.
- the air conditioner 1 since the air conditioner 1 according to the present embodiment uses a refrigerant (in this case, carbon dioxide) that operates in the supercritical region, the critical pressure Pcp (in the case of carbon dioxide, about An intermediate-pressure refrigerant lower than 7.3 MPa flows, and a cooling operation in which a high-pressure refrigerant exceeding the critical pressure Pcp flows in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 functioning as a refrigerant radiator (FIGS. 6 and 7). reference).
- the critical pressure Pcp in the case of carbon dioxide, about An intermediate-pressure refrigerant lower than 7.3 MPa flows
- a cooling operation in which a high-pressure refrigerant exceeding the critical pressure Pcp flows in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 functioning as a refrigerant radiator (FIGS. 6 and 7). reference).
- the critical pressure Pcp in the case of carbon dioxide, about An intermediate-pressure refrigerant lower than 7.3 MPa flows
- a cooling operation in which a high-pressure refrigerant exceeding the
- FIG. 8 shows the value of the heat transfer coefficient (heat transfer on the refrigerant side of the intermediate heat exchanger 7) when 6 MPa carbon dioxide flows at a predetermined mass flow rate in a heat transfer channel having a predetermined channel cross-sectional area.
- the value of the heat transfer coefficient of carbon dioxide of 10 MPa (corresponding to the heat transfer coefficient on the refrigerant side of the heat source side heat exchanger 4) under the same heat transfer flow path and mass flow rate conditions as those of 6 MPa carbon dioxide.
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is temporarily When integrated with the heat source side heat exchanger 4 in a state of being arranged below the heat source side heat exchanger 4, it is integrated with the heat source side heat exchanger 4 at the lower part of the heat source unit 1a where the flow velocity of air serving as the heat source is small.
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 will be arranged, the influence of the reduction in the heat transfer coefficient on the air side of the intermediate heat exchanger 7 due to the arrangement of the intermediate heat exchanger 7 below the heat source unit 1a, and the intermediate heat exchange
- the intermediate heat exchange is performed.
- the heat exchanger 7 Since the heat exchanger 7 is integrated with the heat source side heat exchanger 4 in a state of being disposed above the heat source side heat exchanger 4, the intermediate heat exchange is performed on the upper part of the heat source unit 1a where the flow velocity of air serving as the heat source is large.
- the heat transfer coefficient on the air side of the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is increased, and as a result, the overall heat transfer coefficient of the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is reduced. It is suppressed and the fall of the heat transfer performance of the intermediate heat exchanger 7 can be suppressed.
- the switching mechanism 3 is in the heating operation state indicated by the broken lines in FIGS.
- the opening degree of the first expansion mechanism 5a and the second expansion mechanism 5b is adjusted. Since the switching mechanism 3 is in a heating operation state, the intermediate heat exchanger on / off valve 12 of the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 is closed, and the intermediate heat exchanger bypass on / off valve 11 of the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 is opened. As a result, the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is not allowed to function as a cooler.
- low-pressure refrigerant see point A in FIGS.
- the ink is discharged (see point D in FIGS. 1 and 9 to 11).
- the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 is subjected to the critical pressure (that is, the critical pressure Pcp at the critical point CP shown in FIG. 10) by the two-stage compression operation by the compression elements 2c and 2d as in the cooling operation. ) Compressed to a pressure exceeding
- the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 flows into the oil separator 41a constituting the oil separation mechanism 41, and the accompanying refrigeration oil is separated.
- the refrigerating machine oil separated from the high-pressure refrigerant in the oil separator 41a flows into the oil return pipe 41b constituting the oil separation mechanism 41, and is compressed after being reduced in pressure by the pressure reduction mechanism 41c provided in the oil return pipe 41b. It is returned to the suction pipe 2a of the mechanism 2 and again sucked into the compression mechanism 2.
- the high-pressure refrigerant after the refrigerating machine oil is separated in the oil separation mechanism 41 is sent to the use side heat exchanger 6 functioning as a refrigerant radiator through the check mechanism 42 and the switching mechanism 3 to be cooled. It is cooled by exchanging heat with water or air as a source (see point F in FIGS. 1 and 9 to 11).
- the high-pressure refrigerant cooled in the use-side heat exchanger 6 flows into the receiver inlet pipe 18a through the inlet check valve 17b of the bridge circuit 17, and is reduced to near the saturation pressure by the first expansion mechanism 5a. (See point I in FIGS. 1 and 9). Then, the refrigerant stored in the receiver 18 is sent to the receiver outlet pipe 18b and is reduced in pressure by the second expansion mechanism 5b to become a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, and the outlet check valve 17d of the bridge circuit 17 is supplied. And is sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 functioning as a refrigerant evaporator (see point E in FIGS. 1 and 9 to 11).
- the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 exchanges heat with air as a heating source supplied by the heat source side fan 40 in the heat source side heat exchanger 4. When heated, it evaporates (see point A in FIGS. 1 and 9 to 11). Then, the low-pressure refrigerant heated and evaporated in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is again sucked into the compression mechanism 2 via the switching mechanism 3. In this way, the heating operation is performed.
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is provided in the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 for allowing the refrigerant discharged from the compression element 2c to be sucked into the compression element 2d, and heating is performed.
- the intermediate heat exchanger on / off valve 12 is closed, and the intermediate heat exchanger bypass on / off valve 11 of the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 is opened, so that the intermediate heat exchanger 7 does not function as a cooler. Therefore, when only the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is provided, or when the intermediate heat exchanger 7 functions as a cooler as in the above-described cooling operation (in these cases, in FIG. 9 and FIG.
- the heating operation is performed under the condition that the temperature of the air as the heat source of the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is low, so that the heat source side heat exchanger 4 that functions as the refrigerant evaporator is used.
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is disposed above the heat source side heat exchanger, and therefore the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is integrated with the heat source side heat exchanger 4. Nevertheless, frost formation at the boundary between the intermediate heat exchanger 7 and the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is suppressed, and unlike the case where the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is arranged below the heat source side heat exchanger 4.
- step S1 it is determined whether or not frost formation has occurred in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 during the heating operation. This determination is performed based on the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the heat source side heat exchanger 4 detected by the heat source side heat exchange temperature sensor 51 and the accumulated time of the heating operation.
- the heat source side heat exchanger 4 detected by the heat source side heat exchange temperature sensor 51 when it is detected that the temperature of the refrigerant in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 detected by the heat source side heat exchange temperature sensor 51 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature corresponding to a condition for causing frost formation, or integration of heating operation
- a predetermined temperature corresponding to a condition for causing frost formation, or integration of heating operation
- the time elapses over a predetermined time it is determined that frost formation has occurred in the heat source side heat exchanger 4
- the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is determined. It is determined that no frost formation has occurred.
- the predetermined temperature and the predetermined time depend on the temperature of air as a heat source, it is preferable to set the predetermined temperature and the predetermined time as a function of the air temperature detected by the air temperature sensor 53.
- step S2 when temperature sensors are provided at the inlet and outlet of the heat source side heat exchanger 4, the temperature is detected by these temperature sensors instead of the refrigerant temperature detected by the heat source side heat exchange temperature sensor 51. You may use the temperature of a refrigerant
- step S2 the defrosting operation is started.
- This defrosting operation is a reverse cycle defrosting operation in which the heat source side heat exchanger 4 functions as a refrigerant radiator by switching the switching mechanism 3 from the heating operation state (that is, the heating operation) to the cooling operation state.
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 since the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is disposed above the heat source side heat exchanger as described above, the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is integrated with the heat source side heat exchanger 4. However, frost formation at the boundary between the intermediate heat exchanger 7 and the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is suppressed, and the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is disposed below the heat source side heat exchanger 4.
- the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 11 is used (here, the intermediate heat exchanger on-off valve 12 is closed, and the intermediate heat exchanger is also closed). By opening the bypass on-off valve 11), the refrigerant is prevented from flowing into the intermediate heat exchanger 7.
- step S3 it is determined whether or not the defrosting of the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is completed.
- This determination is made based on the temperature of the refrigerant flowing through the heat source side heat exchanger 4 detected by the heat source side heat exchange temperature sensor 51 and the operating time of the defrosting operation. For example, when it is detected that the temperature of the refrigerant in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 detected by the heat source side heat exchanger temperature sensor 51 is equal to or higher than a temperature corresponding to a condition that no frost formation is present, or a defrosting operation When the predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined that the defrosting of the heat source side heat exchanger 4 has been completed, and when the temperature condition or time condition is not met, the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is removed. It is determined that frost has not been completed.
- step S3 when it determines with the defrosting of the heat source side heat exchanger 4 having been completed, it transfers to the process of step S4, complete
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is disposed above the heat source side heat exchanger 4, so that the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is heat source side heat exchanger 4.
- frost formation at the boundary between the intermediate heat exchanger 7 and the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is suppressed, and the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is placed below the heat source side heat exchanger 4.
- the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is defrosted, the water that has been melted by the defrosting of the heat source side heat exchanger 4 and dropped from the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is less likely to adhere to the intermediate heat exchanger 7 and freeze / grow.
- intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 is used to prevent the refrigerant from flowing into the intermediate heat exchanger 7, thereby preventing heat from being radiated from the intermediate heat exchanger 7 to the outside when the reverse cycle defrosting operation is performed. Since the decrease in the defrosting capacity of the heat exchanger 4 is suppressed, the reverse cycle defrosting operation can be performed efficiently.
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 using air as a heat source is disposed above the heat source side heat exchanger 4.
- the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 is used to prevent the refrigerant from flowing into the intermediate heat exchanger 7 when performing the reverse cycle defrosting operation. Is performed, the decrease in the defrosting capability of the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is suppressed and the reverse cycle defrosting operation is efficiently performed.
- the heat source side heat exchanger 4 or It is conceivable to further provide a first second-stage injection pipe 18c for branching the refrigerant radiated in the use-side heat exchanger 6 and returning it to the second-stage compression element 2d.
- the refrigerant circuit 110 may be provided with the first second-stage injection pipe 18 c.
- the first second-stage injection pipe 18c is a refrigerant pipe capable of performing intermediate pressure injection by extracting the refrigerant from the receiver 18 and returning it to the second-stage compression element 2d of the compression mechanism 2.
- the upper part of the receiver 18 is connected to the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 (that is, the suction side of the compression element 2d on the rear stage side of the compression mechanism 2).
- the first second-stage injection pipe 18c is provided with a first second-stage injection on / off valve 18d and a first second-stage injection check mechanism 18e.
- the first second-stage injection on / off valve 18d is a valve that can be opened and closed, and is an electromagnetic valve in this modification.
- the first second-stage injection check mechanism 18e allows the refrigerant flow from the receiver 18 to the second-stage compression element 2d and blocks the refrigerant flow from the second-stage compression element 2d to the receiver 18. This is a mechanism, and a check valve is used in this modification.
- the first rear-stage injection pipe 18c and the first suction return pipe 18f are integrated with each other on the receiver 18 side.
- the receiver 18 when the receiver 18 uses the first second-stage injection pipe 18c or the first suction-return pipe 18f by opening the first second-stage injection on-off valve 18d or the first suction return on-off valve 18g, the receiver 18 It functions as a gas-liquid separator that separates the refrigerant flowing between the heat exchanger 4 and the use-side heat exchanger 6 between the first expansion mechanism 5a and the second expansion mechanism 5b.
- the receiver 18 returns the gas refrigerant separated from the gas and liquid in 18 to the suction side of the compression element 2d on the rear stage side of the compression mechanism 2 from the upper part of the receiver 18 (here, the outlet side of the intermediate heat exchanger 7 of the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8).
- the intermediate pressure injection can be performed.
- FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the flow of the refrigerant in the air conditioner 1 during the cooling operation
- FIG. 16 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating the refrigeration cycle during the cooling operation
- FIG. 18 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during cooling operation
- FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a refrigerant flow in the air conditioner 1 during heating operation
- FIG. 19 is a diagram during heating operation
- FIG. 20 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating the refrigeration cycle during the heating operation
- FIG. 21 illustrates the air conditioner 1 during the defrosting operation.
- FIG. 22 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating the refrigeration cycle during the defrosting operation
- FIG. 23 is a temperature illustrating the refrigeration cycle during the defrosting operation.
- “high pressure” means high pressure in the refrigeration cycle (that is, pressure at points D, D ′, E in FIGS. 16, 17, 22, 23, and points D, D ′, FIGS. 19, 20).
- "Pressure at F” means “low pressure” means the low pressure in the refrigeration cycle (that is, the pressure at points A and F in FIGS. 16, 17, 22, and 23 and the pressure at points A and E in FIGS. 19, 20).
- the “intermediate pressure” means an intermediate pressure in the refrigeration cycle (that is, pressure at points B, C, G, G ′, I, L, and M in FIGS. 16, 17, 19, 20, 22, and 23). I mean.
- the switching mechanism 3 is in the cooling operation state indicated by the solid lines in FIGS.
- the opening degree of the first expansion mechanism 5a and the second expansion mechanism 5b is adjusted. Since the switching mechanism 3 is in the cooling operation state, the intermediate heat exchanger on / off valve 12 of the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 is opened, and the intermediate heat exchanger bypass on / off valve 11 of the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 is closed. Thus, the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is brought into a state of functioning as a cooler. Further, the first second-stage injection on / off valve 18d is opened. In the state of the refrigerant circuit 110, the low-pressure refrigerant (see point A in FIGS.
- the intermediate-pressure refrigerant that has joined the refrigerant returning from the first latter-stage injection pipe 18c (that is, the intermediate-pressure injection by the receiver 18 as a gas-liquid separator) is connected to the latter stage of the compression element 2c.
- the compressed air is sucked into the compressed element 2d, further compressed, and discharged from the compression mechanism 2 to the discharge pipe 2b (see point D in FIGS. 14 to 17).
- the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 is compressed to a pressure exceeding the critical pressure (that is, the critical pressure Pcp at the critical point CP shown in FIG. 16) by the two-stage compression operation by the compression elements 2c and 2d. Has been.
- the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 flows into the oil separator 41a constituting the oil separation mechanism 41, and the accompanying refrigeration oil is separated.
- the refrigerating machine oil separated from the high-pressure refrigerant in the oil separator 41a flows into the oil return pipe 41b constituting the oil separation mechanism 41, and is compressed after being reduced in pressure by the pressure reduction mechanism 41c provided in the oil return pipe 41b. It is returned to the suction pipe 2a of the mechanism 2 and again sucked into the compression mechanism 2.
- the high-pressure refrigerant after the refrigerating machine oil is separated in the oil separation mechanism 41 is sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 functioning as a refrigerant radiator through the check mechanism 42 and the switching mechanism 3.
- the high-pressure refrigerant sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is cooled by exchanging heat with air as a cooling source supplied by the heat source side fan 40 in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 (FIG. 14). (See point E in FIG. 17).
- the high-pressure refrigerant cooled in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 flows into the receiver inlet pipe 18a through the inlet check valve 17a of the bridge circuit 17, and is reduced to the vicinity of the intermediate pressure by the first expansion mechanism 5a.
- the gas is temporarily stored in the gas and liquid-liquid separation is performed (see points I, L, and M in FIGS. 14 to 17).
- the gas refrigerant separated from the gas and liquid in the receiver 18 is extracted from the upper portion of the receiver 18 by the first second-stage injection pipe 18c, and has the intermediate pressure discharged from the first-stage compression element 2c as described above. It will join the refrigerant. Then, the liquid refrigerant stored in the receiver 18 is sent to the receiver outlet pipe 18b and is decompressed by the second expansion mechanism 5b to become a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, and the outlet check valve of the bridge circuit 17 Through 17c, the refrigerant is sent to the use side heat exchanger 6 functioning as a refrigerant evaporator (see point F in FIGS. 14 to 17).
- the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant sent to the use side heat exchanger 6 is heated by exchanging heat with water or air as a heating source and evaporated (see FIGS. 14 to 14). 17 point A). Then, the low-pressure refrigerant heated in the use side heat exchanger 6 is again sucked into the compression mechanism 2 via the switching mechanism 3. In this way, the cooling operation is performed.
- the first second-stage injection pipe 18c is provided. Since the refrigerant sent from the heat source side heat exchanger 4 to the expansion mechanisms 5a and 5b is branched and returned to the compression element 2d on the rear stage side, the heat is released to the compression element 2d on the rear stage side without performing heat radiation to the outside. The temperature of the sucked refrigerant can be further reduced (see points C and G in FIG. 17). Thereby, the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 is kept low (see points D and D ′ in FIG.
- the switching mechanism 3 is in the heating operation state indicated by the broken lines in FIGS.
- the opening degree of the first expansion mechanism 5a and the second expansion mechanism 5b is adjusted. Since the switching mechanism 3 is in a heating operation state, the intermediate heat exchanger on / off valve 12 of the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 is closed, and the intermediate heat exchanger bypass on / off valve 11 of the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 is opened. As a result, the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is not allowed to function as a cooler. Further, the first second-stage injection on / off valve 18d is opened as in the cooling operation. In the state of the refrigerant circuit 110, the low-pressure refrigerant (see point A in FIGS.
- the intermediate-pressure refrigerant that has passed through the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 without being cooled by the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is returned from the receiver 18 to the second-stage compression mechanism 2d through the first second-stage injection pipe 18c ( Cooling is performed by joining (see point M in FIGS. 14 and 18 to 20) (see point G in FIGS. 14 and 18 to 20).
- the intermediate-pressure refrigerant that has joined the refrigerant returning from the first latter-stage injection pipe 18c (that is, the intermediate-pressure injection by the receiver 18 as a gas-liquid separator) is connected to the latter stage of the compression element 2c.
- the air is sucked into the compressed compression element 2d, further compressed, and discharged from the compression mechanism 2 to the discharge pipe 2b (see point D in FIGS. 14 and 18 to 20).
- the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 is subjected to the critical pressure (that is, the critical pressure Pcp at the critical point CP shown in FIG. 19) by the two-stage compression operation by the compression elements 2c and 2d as in the cooling operation. ) Compressed to a pressure exceeding
- the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 flows into the oil separator 41a constituting the oil separation mechanism 41, and the accompanying refrigeration oil is separated.
- the refrigerating machine oil separated from the high-pressure refrigerant in the oil separator 41a flows into the oil return pipe 41b constituting the oil separation mechanism 41, and is compressed after being reduced in pressure by the pressure reduction mechanism 41c provided in the oil return pipe 41b. It is returned to the suction pipe 2a of the mechanism 2 and again sucked into the compression mechanism 2.
- the high-pressure refrigerant after the refrigerating machine oil is separated in the oil separation mechanism 41 is sent to the use side heat exchanger 6 functioning as a refrigerant radiator through the check mechanism 42 and the switching mechanism 3 to be cooled. It is cooled by exchanging heat with water or air as a source (see point F in FIGS. 14 and 18 to 20).
- the high-pressure refrigerant cooled in the use-side heat exchanger 6 flows into the receiver inlet pipe 18a through the inlet check valve 17b of the bridge circuit 17, and is reduced to the vicinity of the intermediate pressure by the first expansion mechanism 5a.
- the gas is temporarily stored and gas-liquid separation is performed (see points I, L, and M in FIGS. 14 and 18 to 20).
- the gas refrigerant separated from the gas and liquid in the receiver 18 is extracted from the upper portion of the receiver 18 by the first second-stage injection pipe 18c, and has the intermediate pressure discharged from the first-stage compression element 2c as described above. It will join the refrigerant.
- the liquid refrigerant stored in the receiver 18 is sent to the receiver outlet pipe 18b and is decompressed by the second expansion mechanism 5b to become a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, and the outlet check valve of the bridge circuit 17 Through 17d, it is sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 functioning as a refrigerant evaporator (see point E in FIGS. 14 and 18 to 20).
- the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 exchanges heat with air as a heating source supplied by the heat source side fan 40 in the heat source side heat exchanger 4. When heated, it evaporates (see point A in FIGS. 14 and 18 to 20). Then, the low-pressure refrigerant heated and evaporated in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is again sucked into the compression mechanism 2 via the switching mechanism 3. In this way, the heating operation is performed.
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is not functioned as a cooler as in the heating operation in the above-described embodiment, and the first second-stage injection pipe 18c is provided. Since the refrigerant sent from the heat source side heat exchanger 4 to the expansion mechanisms 5a and 5b is branched and returned to the compression element 2d on the rear stage side, the heat is released to the compression element 2d on the rear stage side without performing heat radiation to the outside. The temperature of the sucked refrigerant can be kept low (see points C, G, and G ′ in FIG. 20).
- the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 is lowered, and the heating capacity per unit flow rate of the refrigerant in the use-side heat exchanger 6 is reduced (see points D, D ′, and F in FIG. 20). Since the flow rate of the refrigerant discharged from the compression element 2d on the side increases, a decrease in the heating capacity in the use side heat exchanger 6 can be suppressed. As a result, the power consumption of the compression mechanism 2 is reduced and the operation efficiency is reduced. Can be improved.
- the reverse cycle defrosting operation is a cooling operation performed in a state where the temperature of the air as a heat source is low and the intermediate heat exchanger 7 does not function as a cooler, the low pressure in the refrigeration cycle is low, The flow rate of the refrigerant sucked from the compression element 2c on the side is reduced. If it does so, since the flow volume of the refrigerant
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is not allowed to function as a cooler, and the first second-stage injection pipe 18c is (That is, the first post-stage side injection opening / closing valve 18d is opened and intermediate pressure injection is performed by the receiver 18 as a gas-liquid separator), and the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is sent to the use side heat exchanger 6
- the reverse cycle defrosting operation is performed while returning the refrigerant to be returned to the compression element 2d on the rear stage side (see FIG. 21). Thereby, the cooling operation (point A ⁇ point B shown in FIGS.
- the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the heat source side heat exchanger can be secured while the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the use side heat exchanger 6 is reduced.
- Can be used to perform reverse cycle defrosting operation. While suppressing the temperature decrease on the usage side, thereby making it possible to shorten the defrosting time of the heat source-side heat exchanger 4.
- step S1, S3, S4 in the defrost operation in this modification is the same as that in the above-mentioned embodiment, description is abbreviate
- the second second-stage injection pipe 19 has a function of branching the refrigerant cooled in the heat-source-side heat exchanger 4 or the use-side heat exchanger 6 and returning it to the compression element 2d on the second-stage side of the compression mechanism 2. ing.
- the second second-stage injection pipe 19 is provided to branch the refrigerant flowing through the receiver inlet pipe 18a and return it to the suction side of the second-stage compression element 2d.
- the second second-stage injection pipe 19 is positioned on the upstream side of the first expansion mechanism 5a of the receiver inlet pipe 18a (that is, when the switching mechanism 3 is in the cooling operation state, the heat source side heat
- the refrigerant is branched from the exchanger 4 and the first expansion mechanism 5a and between the use side heat exchanger 6 and the first expansion mechanism 5a when the switching mechanism 3 is in the heating operation state.
- the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 is provided so as to return to a position downstream of the intermediate heat exchanger 7.
- the second second-stage injection pipe 19 is provided with a second second-stage injection valve 19a capable of opening degree control.
- the second second-stage injection valve 19a is an electric expansion valve in this modification.
- the economizer heat exchanger 20 includes the refrigerant that has radiated heat in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 or the use side heat exchanger 6 and the refrigerant that flows through the second second-stage injection pipe 19 (more specifically, the second second-stage injection valve).
- 19a is a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange with the refrigerant after being reduced in pressure to near the intermediate pressure.
- the economizer heat exchanger 20 is positioned on the upstream side of the first expansion mechanism 5a of the receiver inlet pipe 18a (that is, when the switching mechanism 3 is in the cooling operation state, the heat source side heat exchanger 4 Between the first expansion mechanism 5a and when the switching mechanism 3 is in the heating operation state, the refrigerant flowing between the use side heat exchanger 6 and the first expansion mechanism 5a) and the second rear side It is provided so as to perform heat exchange with the refrigerant flowing through the injection pipe 19 and has a flow path through which both refrigerants face each other.
- the economizer heat exchanger 20 is provided on the upstream side of the second second-stage injection pipe 19 of the receiver inlet pipe 18a.
- the refrigerant dissipated in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 or the use side heat exchanger 6 is branched to the second rear-stage injection pipe 19 before heat exchange is performed in the economizer heat exchanger 20 in the receiver inlet pipe 18a. Thereafter, in the economizer heat exchanger 20, heat exchange is performed with the refrigerant flowing through the second second-stage injection pipe 19.
- the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 or the compression mechanism 2 is provided with an intermediate pressure sensor 54 that detects the pressure of the refrigerant flowing through the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8.
- An economizer outlet temperature sensor 55 that detects the temperature of the refrigerant at the outlet of the economizer heat exchanger 20 on the second rear-stage injection pipe 19 side is provided at the outlet of the economizer heat exchanger 20 on the second rear-stage injection pipe 19 side.
- FIGS. 25 is a diagram showing the flow of the refrigerant in the air conditioner 1 during the cooling operation
- FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the flow of the refrigerant in the air conditioner 1 during the cooling operation
- FIG. 26 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating the refrigeration cycle during the cooling operation.
- FIG. 28 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during cooling operation
- FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a flow of refrigerant in the air conditioner 1 during heating operation
- FIG. 29 is a diagram during heating operation.
- FIG. 30 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating the refrigeration cycle during the heating operation
- FIG. 31 illustrates the air conditioner 1 during the defrosting operation.
- FIG. 32 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating the refrigeration cycle during the defrosting operation
- FIG. 33 is a temperature illustrating the refrigeration cycle during the defrosting operation.
- “high pressure” means high pressure in the refrigeration cycle (that is, pressure at points D, D ′, E, and H in FIGS. 26, 27, 32, and 33 and points D and D in FIGS. 29 and 30).
- “low pressure” means low pressure in the refrigeration cycle (ie, pressure at points A, F in FIGS. 26, 27, 32, 33 and points A, E in FIGS. 29, 30).
- “Intermediate pressure” means the intermediate pressure in the refrigeration cycle (ie, the pressure at points B, C, G, G ′, J, K in FIGS. 26, 27, 29, 30, 32, 33).
- the switching mechanism 3 is in the cooling operation state indicated by the solid lines in FIGS.
- the opening degree of the first expansion mechanism 5a and the second expansion mechanism 5b is adjusted. Since the switching mechanism 3 is in the cooling operation state, the intermediate heat exchanger on / off valve 12 of the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 is opened, and the intermediate heat exchanger bypass on / off valve 11 of the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 is closed. Thus, the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is brought into a state of functioning as a cooler. Further, the opening degree of the second second-stage injection valve 19a is adjusted.
- the second rear-stage injection valve 19a has an opening degree so that the degree of superheat of the refrigerant at the outlet of the economizer heat exchanger 20 on the second rear-stage injection pipe 19 side becomes a target value. So-called superheat control is performed.
- the superheat degree of the refrigerant at the outlet of the economizer heat exchanger 20 on the second post-stage injection pipe 19 side is obtained by converting the intermediate pressure detected by the intermediate pressure sensor 54 into the saturation temperature, and the economizer outlet temperature sensor 55. This is obtained by subtracting the saturation temperature value of the refrigerant from the refrigerant temperature detected by the above.
- a temperature sensor is provided at the inlet of the economizer heat exchanger 20 on the second rear-stage injection pipe 19 side, and the refrigerant temperature detected by this temperature sensor is used as the economizer outlet temperature sensor 55.
- the degree of superheat of the refrigerant at the outlet of the economizer heat exchanger 20 on the second rear-stage injection pipe 19 side may be obtained by subtracting from the refrigerant temperature detected by the above.
- the adjustment of the opening degree of the second second-stage injection valve 19a is not limited to the superheat degree control, and is, for example, to open only a predetermined opening degree according to the refrigerant circulation amount in the refrigerant circuit 210. Also good.
- a low-pressure refrigerant (see point A in FIGS. 24 to 27) is sucked into the compression mechanism 2 from the suction pipe 2a and first compressed to an intermediate pressure by the compression element 2c, The refrigerant is discharged into the refrigerant pipe 8 (see point A in FIGS. 24 to 27).
- the intermediate pressure refrigerant discharged from the preceding compression element 2c is cooled by exchanging heat with air as a cooling source supplied by the heat source side fan 40 in the intermediate heat exchanger 7 (FIG. 24). (See point C in FIG. 27).
- the refrigerant cooled in the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is further cooled by joining with the refrigerant (see point K in FIGS.
- the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 flows into the oil separator 41a constituting the oil separation mechanism 41, and the accompanying refrigeration oil is separated.
- the refrigerating machine oil separated from the high-pressure refrigerant in the oil separator 41a flows into the oil return pipe 41b constituting the oil separation mechanism 41, and is compressed after being reduced in pressure by the pressure reduction mechanism 41c provided in the oil return pipe 41b. It is returned to the suction pipe 2a of the mechanism 2 and again sucked into the compression mechanism 2.
- the high-pressure refrigerant after the refrigerating machine oil is separated in the oil separation mechanism 41 is sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 functioning as a refrigerant radiator through the check mechanism 42 and the switching mechanism 3.
- the high-pressure refrigerant sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is cooled in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 by exchanging heat with air as a cooling source supplied by the heat source side fan 40 (FIG. 24). (See point E in FIG. 27).
- the high-pressure refrigerant cooled in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 flows into the receiver inlet pipe 18 a through the inlet check valve 17 a of the bridge circuit 17, and a part thereof is branched to the second second-stage injection pipe 19. .
- the refrigerant flowing through the second second-stage injection pipe 19 is sent to the economizer heat exchanger 20 after being reduced to the vicinity of the intermediate pressure at the second second-stage injection valve 19a (see point J in FIGS. 24 to 27). .
- the refrigerant after branching to the second second-stage injection pipe 19 flows into the economizer heat exchanger 20 and is cooled by exchanging heat with the refrigerant flowing through the second second-stage injection pipe 19 (FIG. 24 to FIG. 24). (See point H in FIG. 27).
- the refrigerant flowing through the second second-stage injection pipe 19 is heated by exchanging heat with the high-pressure refrigerant cooled in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 as a radiator (see point K in FIGS.
- the refrigerant is joined to the intermediate-pressure refrigerant discharged from the preceding compression element 2c.
- the high-pressure refrigerant cooled in the economizer heat exchanger 20 is decompressed to near the saturation pressure by the first expansion mechanism 5a and temporarily stored in the receiver 18 (see point I in FIGS. 24 and 25).
- the refrigerant stored in the receiver 18 is sent to the receiver outlet pipe 18b and is decompressed by the second expansion mechanism 5b to become a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, and the outlet check valve 17c of the bridge circuit 17 is used.
- the use-side heat exchanger 6 functioning as a refrigerant evaporator (see point F in FIGS.
- the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant sent to the use-side heat exchanger 6 is heated by exchanging heat with water or air as a heating source to evaporate (FIG. 24 to FIG. 24). 27 point A). Then, the low-pressure refrigerant heated in the use side heat exchanger 6 is again sucked into the compression mechanism 2 via the switching mechanism 3. In this way, the cooling operation is performed.
- the second rear-stage injection pipe 19 and the economizer heat Since the exchanger 20 is provided so that the refrigerant sent from the heat source side heat exchanger 4 to the expansion mechanisms 5a and 5b is branched and returned to the compression element 2d on the rear stage side, similarly to the above-described first modification, to the outside.
- the temperature of the refrigerant sucked into the compression element 2d on the rear stage side can be further reduced without performing heat dissipation (see points C and G in FIG. 27).
- the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 is suppressed to a low level (see points D and D ′ in FIG. 27), compared to the case where the second rear-stage injection pipe 19 and the economizer heat exchanger 20 are not provided. 27, since the heat dissipation loss corresponding to the area surrounded by connecting points C, D ′, D, and G in FIG. 27 can be further reduced, the power consumption of the compression mechanism 2 can be further reduced, and the operation efficiency can be further improved. Can do.
- the intermediate pressure injection by the economizer heat exchanger 20 employed in the present modification is greatly increased in addition to the first expansion mechanism 5a as the heat source side expansion mechanism after being cooled in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 as the heat radiator.
- the refrigerant circuit configuration that can utilize the pressure difference from the high pressure in the refrigeration cycle to the vicinity of the intermediate pressure in the refrigeration cycle without performing any depressurization operation, it is possible to increase the amount of exchange heat in the economizer heat exchanger 20, whereby, since the flow rate of the refrigerant returned to the compression element 2d on the rear stage side through the second rear stage injection pipe 19 can be increased, the intermediate by the receiver 18 as the gas-liquid separator adopted in the above-described modified example 1 It is more advantageous than pressure injection.
- the switching mechanism 3 is in the heating operation state indicated by the broken lines in FIGS.
- the opening degree of the first expansion mechanism 5a and the second expansion mechanism 5b is adjusted. Since the switching mechanism 3 is in a heating operation state, the intermediate heat exchanger on / off valve 12 of the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 is closed, and the intermediate heat exchanger bypass on / off valve 11 of the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 is opened. As a result, the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is not allowed to function as a cooler. Further, the opening degree of the second second-stage injection valve 19a is adjusted in the same manner as in the cooling operation. In the state of the refrigerant circuit 210, the low-pressure refrigerant (see point A in FIGS.
- the intermediate-pressure refrigerant that has passed through the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 without being cooled by the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is returned from the second second-stage injection pipe 19 to the second-stage compression mechanism 2d (FIG. 24). It further cools by joining (see point K in FIGS. 28 to 30) (see point G in FIGS. 24 and 28 to 30).
- the intermediate-pressure refrigerant that has joined the refrigerant returning from the second second-stage injection pipe 19 that is, the intermediate-pressure injection performed by the economizer heat exchanger 20
- the intermediate-pressure refrigerant that has joined the refrigerant returning from the second second-stage injection pipe 19 that is, the intermediate-pressure injection performed by the economizer heat exchanger 20
- the intermediate-pressure refrigerant that has joined the refrigerant returning from the second second-stage injection pipe 19 that is, the intermediate-pressure injection performed by the economizer heat exchanger 20
- the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 is subjected to the critical pressure (that is, the critical pressure Pcp at the critical point CP shown in FIG. 29) by the two-stage compression operation by the compression elements 2c and 2d as in the cooling operation. ) Compressed to a pressure exceeding
- the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 flows into the oil separator 41a constituting the oil separation mechanism 41, and the accompanying refrigeration oil is separated.
- the refrigerating machine oil separated from the high-pressure refrigerant in the oil separator 41a flows into the oil return pipe 41b constituting the oil separation mechanism 41, and is compressed after being reduced in pressure by the pressure reduction mechanism 41c provided in the oil return pipe 41b.
- the high-pressure refrigerant after the refrigerating machine oil is separated in the oil separation mechanism 41 is sent to the use side heat exchanger 6 functioning as a refrigerant radiator through the check mechanism 42 and the switching mechanism 3 to be cooled. It is cooled by exchanging heat with water or air as a source (see point F in FIGS. 24 and 28 to 30).
- the high-pressure refrigerant cooled in the use-side heat exchanger 6 flows into the receiver inlet pipe 18a through the inlet check valve 17b of the bridge circuit 17, and a part of the refrigerant is branched to the second second-stage injection pipe 19. .
- the refrigerant flowing through the second second-stage injection pipe 19 is reduced to near the intermediate pressure at the second second-stage injection valve 19a, and then sent to the economizer heat exchanger 20 (points in FIGS. 24 and 28 to 30). See J).
- the refrigerant after being branched to the second second-stage injection pipe 19 flows into the economizer heat exchanger 20 and is cooled by exchanging heat with the refrigerant flowing through the second second-stage injection pipe 19 (FIG. 24, (See point H in FIGS. 28 to 30).
- the refrigerant flowing through the second second-stage injection pipe 19 is heated by exchanging heat with the high-pressure refrigerant cooled in the use-side heat exchanger 6 as a radiator (see FIGS. 24 and 28 to 30).
- the refrigerant merges with the intermediate pressure refrigerant discharged from the preceding compression element 2c.
- the high-pressure refrigerant cooled in the economizer heat exchanger 20 is decompressed to near the saturation pressure by the first expansion mechanism 5a and temporarily stored in the receiver 18 (see point I in FIGS. 24 and 28).
- the refrigerant stored in the receiver 18 is sent to the receiver outlet pipe 18b and is reduced in pressure by the second expansion mechanism 5b to become a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, and the outlet check valve 17d of the bridge circuit 17 is supplied. And is sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 functioning as a refrigerant evaporator (see point E in FIGS. 24 and 28 to 30).
- the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 exchanges heat with air as a heating source supplied by the heat source side fan 40 in the heat source side heat exchanger 4. When heated, it evaporates (see point A in FIGS. 24 and 28 to 30). Then, the low-pressure refrigerant heated and evaporated in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is again sucked into the compression mechanism 2 via the switching mechanism 3. In this way, the heating operation is performed.
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is not functioned as a cooler as in the heating operation in the above-described embodiment, and the second second-stage injection pipe 19 and the economizer heat are used. Since the exchanger 20 is provided so that the refrigerant sent from the use side heat exchanger 6 to the expansion mechanisms 5a and 5b is branched and returned to the compression element 2d on the rear stage side, similarly to the above-described first modification, to the outside. The temperature of the refrigerant sucked into the compression element 2d on the rear stage side can be further reduced without performing heat dissipation (see points C, G, and G ′ in FIG. 30).
- the intermediate pressure injection by the economizer heat exchanger 20 employed in the present modification is greatly increased in addition to the first expansion mechanism 5a as the heat source side expansion mechanism after being cooled in the use side heat exchanger 6 as a radiator.
- the refrigerant circuit configuration that can utilize the pressure difference from the high pressure in the refrigeration cycle to the vicinity of the intermediate pressure in the refrigeration cycle without performing any depressurization operation, it is possible to increase the amount of exchange heat in the economizer heat exchanger 20, Thereby, since the flow rate of the refrigerant returned to the compression element 2d on the rear stage side through the second rear stage injection pipe 19 can be increased, the gas-liquid separation employed in the above-described modification 1 is employed as in the cooling operation.
- the reverse cycle defrosting operation is a cooling operation performed in a state where the temperature of the air as a heat source is low and the intermediate heat exchanger 7 does not function as a cooler, the low pressure in the refrigeration cycle is low, The flow rate of the refrigerant sucked from the compression element 2c on the side is reduced. If it does so, since the flow volume of the refrigerant
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is not allowed to function as a cooler, and the second second-stage injection pipe 19 is (Ie, the second post-stage injection valve 19a is opened and intermediate pressure injection is performed by the economizer heat exchanger 20), and the refrigerant sent from the heat source side heat exchanger 4 to the use side heat exchanger 6 is moved to the rear stage.
- the reverse cycle defrosting operation is performed while returning to the compression element 2d on the side (see FIG. 31).
- the opening degree of the second second-stage injection valve 19a is controlled so as to be larger than the opening degree of the second second-stage injection valve 19a during the cooling operation or the heating operation.
- the opening degree of the second second-stage injection valve 19a in the fully closed state is 0% and the opening degree in the fully-opened state is 100%, and the second second-stage injection valve 19a is 50% or less during the cooling operation or the heating operation.
- the flow rate of the refrigerant that is returned to the downstream compression element 2d through the second downstream injection pipe 19 by controlling the opening degree of the second downstream injection valve 19a.
- the flow rate of the refrigerant returned to the compression element 2d on the rear stage side by controlling the opening degree so as to be larger than the opening degree of the second rear stage injection valve 19a during the cooling operation or the heating operation.
- the configuration includes a plurality of usage-side heat exchangers 6 connected in parallel to each other, and each usage-side heat exchanger
- each usage-side heat exchanger In order to obtain the refrigeration load required in each use side heat exchanger 6 by controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the receiver 6, the receiver 18 as a gas-liquid separator and the use side heat exchanger 6 can be obtained.
- the use side expansion mechanism 5c may be provided so as to correspond to each use side heat exchanger 6.
- the mechanism 5c is provided (see FIG. 34), the second expansion mechanism 5b provided in the receiver outlet pipe 18b is deleted, and the low pressure in the refrigeration cycle is replaced with the outlet check valve 17d of the bridge circuit 17 during the heating operation. It is conceivable to provide a third expansion mechanism (not shown) for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant.
- the first expansion mechanism 5a as the heat source side expansion mechanism after being cooled in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 as the radiator like the cooling operation in which the switching mechanism 3 is in the cooling operation state.
- the intermediate pressure by the economizer heat exchanger 20 is the same as in the above-described modification 2. Injection is advantageous.
- each use-side expansion mechanism 5c is used as a radiator so that the refrigeration load required in each use-side heat exchanger 6 as a radiator can be obtained.
- the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through each usage-side heat exchanger 6 is controlled, and the flow rate of the refrigerant passing through each usage-side heat exchanger 6 as a radiator is the same as that of each usage-side heat exchanger 6 as a radiator.
- the opening degree control of each use side expansion mechanism 5c is performed under conditions generally determined by the refrigerant decompression operation by the opening degree control of the use side expansion mechanism 5c provided on the downstream side and the upstream side of the economizer heat exchanger 20, the opening degree control of each use side expansion mechanism 5c is performed.
- the degree of decompression of the refrigerant varies depending not only on the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through each use side heat exchanger 6 as a radiator but also on the state of flow distribution among the use side heat exchangers 6 as a plurality of radiators.
- Multiple users Since the degree of decompression may vary greatly between the tension mechanisms 5c, or the degree of decompression in the use side expansion mechanism 5c may be relatively large, the refrigerant pressure at the inlet of the economizer heat exchanger 20 is low. In such a case, the amount of heat exchanged in the economizer heat exchanger 20 (that is, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the second second-stage injection pipe 19) may be reduced, making it difficult to use.
- a heat source unit mainly including the compression mechanism 2, the heat source side heat exchanger 4 and the receiver 18 and a utilization unit mainly including the utilization side heat exchanger 6 are connected by a communication pipe.
- this connection pipe may be very long depending on the arrangement of the utilization unit and the heat source unit. Therefore, the influence of the pressure loss is also added, and the economizer heat exchanger 20 The refrigerant pressure at the inlet of the refrigerant will further decrease.
- the configuration includes a plurality of usage-side heat exchangers 6 connected in parallel to each other, In order to control the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the use side heat exchanger 6 and obtain the refrigeration load required in each use side heat exchanger 6, the receiver 18 and the use side heat exchanger 6
- the first expansion mechanism 5a reduces the pressure to near the saturation pressure and the receiver. The refrigerant temporarily stored in 18 (see point L in FIG.
- each use-side expansion mechanism 5c is distributed to each use-side expansion mechanism 5c, but the refrigerant sent from the receiver 18 to each use-side expansion mechanism 5c is gas-liquid two-phase.
- Each use is in state Since the time distribution to the expansion mechanisms 5c which may cause uneven flow, it is desirable that the refrigerant fed from the receiver 18 to the usage-side expansion mechanisms 5c as possible supercooled state.
- the receiver 18 can function as a gas-liquid separator so that intermediate pressure injection can be performed. Therefore, the first post-stage injection pipe 18c is connected to the receiver 18 so that the intermediate pressure injection is performed by the economizer heat exchanger 20 during the cooling operation, and the receiver 18 as a gas-liquid separator is used during the heating operation.
- the refrigerant circuit 310 is provided with a supercooling heat exchanger 96 and a second suction return pipe 95 as a cooler between the receiver 18 and the use-side expansion mechanism 5c, while enabling intermediate pressure injection. .
- the second suction return pipe 95 branches the refrigerant sent from the heat source side heat exchanger 4 serving as a radiator to the use side heat exchanger 6 serving as an evaporator, so that the suction side of the compression mechanism 2 (that is, the suction side). It is a refrigerant pipe returned to the pipe 2a).
- the second suction return pipe 95 is provided so as to branch the refrigerant sent from the receiver 18 to the use-side expansion mechanism 5c. More specifically, the second suction return pipe 95 branches the refrigerant from a position upstream of the supercooling heat exchanger 96 (that is, between the receiver 18 and the supercooling heat exchanger 96) and sucks the suction pipe 2a. It is provided to return to.
- the second suction return pipe 95 is provided with a second suction return valve 95a capable of opening degree control.
- the second suction return valve 95a is an electric expansion valve in this modification.
- the supercooling heat exchanger 96 includes a refrigerant sent from the heat source side heat exchanger 4 as a radiator to the utilization side heat exchanger 6 as an evaporator and a refrigerant flowing through the second suction return pipe 95 (more specifically, Is a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange with the refrigerant after being reduced in pressure to the vicinity of low pressure in the second suction return valve 95a.
- the supercooling heat exchanger 96 is a refrigerant that flows through a position upstream of the use-side expansion mechanism 5c (that is, between the position where the second suction return pipe 95 is branched and the use-side expansion mechanism 5c). And the refrigerant flowing through the second suction return pipe 95 are provided for heat exchange.
- the supercooling heat exchanger 96 is provided on the downstream side of the position where the second suction return pipe 95 is branched. For this reason, the refrigerant cooled in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 as the radiator passes through the economizer heat exchanger 20 as the cooler, and then is branched to the second suction return pipe 95 to be subcooled heat exchanger 96. In this case, heat exchange with the refrigerant flowing through the second suction return pipe 95 is performed.
- the first rear-stage injection pipe 18c and the first suction return pipe 18f are integrated with each other on the receiver 18 side.
- the first rear-stage injection pipe 18c and the second rear-stage injection pipe 19 are integrated with each other on the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 side.
- the first suction return pipe 18f and the second suction return pipe 95 are integrated with the suction side portion of the compression mechanism 2.
- the use side expansion mechanism 5c is an electric expansion valve.
- the second second-stage injection pipe 19 and the economizer heat exchanger 20 are used during the cooling operation, and the first second-stage injection pipe 18c is used during the heating operation. Therefore, it is not necessary to make the flow direction of the refrigerant to the economizer heat exchanger 20 constant regardless of the cooling operation and the heating operation, so the bridge circuit 17 is omitted and the configuration of the refrigerant circuit 310 is simplified.
- the suction pipe 2 a or the compression mechanism 2 is provided with a suction pressure sensor 60 that detects the pressure of the refrigerant flowing on the suction side of the compression mechanism 2.
- a supercooling heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor 59 that detects the temperature of the refrigerant at the outlet of the supercooling heat exchanger 96 on the second suction return pipe 95 side is provided at the outlet of the supercooling heat exchanger 96 on the second suction return pipe 95 side. Is provided.
- FIG. 36 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating the refrigeration cycle during the cooling operation.
- FIG. 38 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating a refrigeration cycle during cooling operation
- FIG. 38 is a diagram illustrating the flow of refrigerant in the air conditioner 1 during heating operation
- FIG. 39 is a diagram during heating operation.
- FIG. 40 is a temperature-entropy diagram illustrating the refrigeration cycle during the heating operation
- FIG. 41 is the air conditioner 1 during the defrosting operation.
- FIG. 42 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram illustrating the refrigeration cycle during the defrosting operation
- FIG. 43 is a temperature illustrating the refrigeration cycle during the defrosting operation.
- “high pressure” means the high pressure in the refrigeration cycle (that is, the pressure at points D, D ′, E, H, I, and R in FIGS. 36, 37, 42, and 43
- “Pressure at points D, D ', F” means “low pressure” means the low pressure in the refrigeration cycle (ie, the pressure at points A, F, S, U of Figs. 36, 37, 42, 43) 40
- “ intermediate pressure ” means intermediate pressure in the refrigeration cycle (ie, points B, C, G, G ′, J, K in FIGS. 36, 37, 42, 43).
- the switching mechanism 3 is in the cooling operation state indicated by the solid lines in FIGS. Further, the opening degree of the first expansion mechanism 5a and the use-side expansion mechanism 5c as the heat source side expansion mechanism is adjusted. Since the switching mechanism 3 is in the cooling operation state, the intermediate heat exchanger on / off valve 12 of the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 is opened, and the intermediate heat exchanger bypass on / off valve 11 of the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 is closed. Thus, the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is brought into a state of functioning as a cooler.
- the switching mechanism 3 when the switching mechanism 3 is in the cooling operation state, it is heated in the economizer heat exchanger 20 through the second second-stage injection pipe 19 without performing intermediate pressure injection by the receiver 18 as a gas-liquid separator.
- the intermediate pressure injection by the economizer heat exchanger 20 for returning the refrigerant to the compression element 2d on the rear stage side is performed. More specifically, the first second-stage injection on / off valve 18d is closed, and the second rear-stage injection valve 19a is adjusted in opening degree in the same manner as in the second modification.
- the opening degree of the second suction return valve 95a is also adjusted.
- the second suction return valve 95a adjusts the opening so that the degree of superheat of the refrigerant at the outlet of the supercooling heat exchanger 96 on the second suction return pipe 95 side becomes the target value.
- so-called superheat control is performed.
- the superheat degree of the refrigerant at the outlet on the second suction return pipe 95 side of the supercooling heat exchanger 96 is calculated by converting the low pressure detected by the suction pressure sensor 60 into the saturation temperature, and the supercooling heat exchange outlet temperature. This is obtained by subtracting the saturation temperature value of the refrigerant from the refrigerant temperature detected by the sensor 59.
- a temperature sensor is provided at the inlet of the second cooling return pipe 95 side of the supercooling heat exchanger 96, and the refrigerant temperature detected by this temperature sensor is used as the supercooling heat exchange outlet.
- the degree of superheat of the refrigerant at the outlet of the supercooling heat exchanger 96 on the second suction return pipe 95 side may be obtained.
- the adjustment of the opening degree of the second suction return valve 95a is not limited to the superheat degree control.
- the opening degree of the second suction return valve 95a may be opened by a predetermined opening degree according to the refrigerant circulation amount in the refrigerant circuit 310. Good.
- a low-pressure refrigerant (see point A in FIGS. 34 to 37) is sucked into the compression mechanism 2 from the suction pipe 2a, and is first compressed to an intermediate pressure by the compression element 2c.
- the refrigerant is discharged into the refrigerant pipe 8 (see point A in FIGS. 34 to 37).
- the intermediate pressure refrigerant discharged from the preceding compression element 2c is cooled by exchanging heat with air as a cooling source supplied by the heat source side fan 40 in the intermediate heat exchanger 7 (FIG. 34). (See point C in FIG. 37).
- the refrigerant cooled in the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is further cooled by joining with the refrigerant (see point K in FIGS.
- the intermediate-pressure refrigerant that has joined the refrigerant returning from the second second-stage injection pipe 19 (that is, the intermediate-pressure injection performed by the economizer heat exchanger 20) is compressed on the second-stage side of the compression element 2c. It is sucked into the element 2d, further compressed, and discharged from the compression mechanism 2 to the discharge pipe 2b (see point D in FIGS. 34 to 37).
- the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 is compressed to a pressure exceeding the critical pressure (that is, the critical pressure Pcp at the critical point CP shown in FIG.
- the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 flows into the oil separator 41a constituting the oil separation mechanism 41, and the accompanying refrigeration oil is separated.
- the refrigerating machine oil separated from the high-pressure refrigerant in the oil separator 41a flows into the oil return pipe 41b constituting the oil separation mechanism 41, and is compressed after being reduced in pressure by the pressure reduction mechanism 41c provided in the oil return pipe 41b. It is returned to the suction pipe 2a of the mechanism 2 and again sucked into the compression mechanism 2.
- the high-pressure refrigerant after the refrigerating machine oil is separated in the oil separation mechanism 41 is sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 functioning as a refrigerant radiator through the check mechanism 42 and the switching mechanism 3.
- the high-pressure refrigerant sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is cooled in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 by exchanging heat with air as a cooling source supplied by the heat source side fan 40 (FIG. 34). (See point E in FIG. 37).
- a part of the high-pressure refrigerant cooled in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is branched to the second second-stage injection pipe 19.
- the refrigerant flowing through the second second-stage injection pipe 19 is sent to the economizer heat exchanger 20 after being reduced to near the intermediate pressure by the second second-stage injection valve 19a (see point J in FIGS. 34 to 37). . Further, the refrigerant branched to the second second-stage injection pipe 19 flows into the economizer heat exchanger 20, and is cooled by exchanging heat with the refrigerant flowing through the second second-stage injection pipe 19 (FIG. 34 to FIG. 34). (See point H in FIG. 37). On the other hand, the refrigerant flowing through the second second-stage injection pipe 19 is heated by exchanging heat with the high-pressure refrigerant cooled in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 as a radiator (see point K in FIGS.
- the refrigerant is joined to the intermediate-pressure refrigerant discharged from the preceding compression element 2c. Then, the high-pressure refrigerant cooled in the economizer heat exchanger 20 is decompressed to near the saturation pressure by the first expansion mechanism 5a and temporarily stored in the receiver 18 (see point I in FIGS. 34 to 37). A part of the refrigerant stored in the receiver 18 is branched to the second suction return pipe 95. The refrigerant flowing through the second suction return pipe 95 is depressurized to near low pressure in the second suction return valve 95a, and then sent to the supercooling heat exchanger 96 (see point S in FIGS. 34 to 37).
- the refrigerant branched into the second suction return pipe 95 flows into the supercooling heat exchanger 96, and is further cooled by exchanging heat with the refrigerant flowing through the second suction return pipe 95 (FIG. 34 to FIG. 34). (See point R in FIG. 37).
- the refrigerant flowing through the second suction return pipe 95 is heated by exchanging heat with the high-pressure refrigerant cooled in the economizer heat exchanger 20 (see point U in FIGS. 34 to 37).
- the refrigerant flows through the suction side (here, the suction pipe 2a).
- the refrigerant cooled in the supercooling heat exchanger 96 is sent to the use-side expansion mechanism 5c and decompressed by the use-side expansion mechanism 5c to become a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, which functions as a refrigerant evaporator.
- a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant which functions as a refrigerant evaporator.
- the use side heat exchanger 6 see point F in FIGS. 34 to 37.
- the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant sent to the use side heat exchanger 6 is heated by exchanging heat with water or air as a heating source to evaporate (FIG. 34 to FIG. 34). 37 point A).
- the low-pressure refrigerant heated in the use side heat exchanger 6 is again sucked into the compression mechanism 2 via the switching mechanism 3. In this way, the cooling operation is performed.
- the second rear-stage injection pipe 19 and the economizer Since the heat exchanger 20 is provided so that the refrigerant sent from the heat source side heat exchanger 4 to the expansion mechanisms 5a and 5c is branched and returned to the compression element 2d on the rear stage side, similarly to the above-described second modification, the external It is possible to further reduce the temperature of the refrigerant sucked into the compression element 2d on the rear stage side without performing heat dissipation (see points C and G in FIG. 37).
- the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 is suppressed to a low level (see points D and D ′ in FIG. 37), compared to the case where the second rear-stage injection pipe 19 and the economizer heat exchanger 20 are not provided. 37, since the heat dissipation loss corresponding to the area surrounded by connecting points C, D ′, D, and G in FIG. 37 can be further reduced, further reducing the power consumption of the compression mechanism 2 and further improving the operation efficiency. Can do.
- the refrigerant (see point I in FIGS. 34 to 37) sent from the receiver 18 to the use-side expansion mechanism 5c can be cooled to the supercooled state by the supercooling heat exchanger 96 (FIG. 36, refer to point R in FIG. 37), and the risk of causing a drift at the time of distribution to each utilization side expansion mechanism 5c can be reduced.
- the switching mechanism 3 is in the heating operation state indicated by the broken lines in FIGS. Further, the opening degree of the first expansion mechanism 5a and the use-side expansion mechanism 5c as the heat source side expansion mechanism is adjusted.
- the intermediate heat exchanger on / off valve 12 of the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 is closed, and the intermediate heat exchanger bypass on / off valve 11 of the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 is opened.
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is not allowed to function as a cooler.
- the intermediate pressure injection by the economizer heat exchanger 20 is not performed, and the refrigerant is supplied from the receiver 18 as the gas-liquid separator through the first rear-stage injection pipe 18c. Intermediate pressure injection is performed by the receiver 18 that returns to the compression element 2d on the rear stage side.
- the first second-stage injection on / off valve 18d is opened, and the second second-stage injection valve 19a is fully closed. Furthermore, since the supercooling heat exchanger 96 is not used when the switching mechanism 3 is in the heating operation state, the second suction return valve 95a is also fully closed.
- the low-pressure refrigerant (see point A in FIGS. 34 and 38 to 40) is sucked into the compression mechanism 2 from the suction pipe 2a and first compressed to an intermediate pressure by the compression element 2c. Thereafter, the refrigerant is discharged into the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 (see point B in FIGS. 34 and 38 to 40).
- the intermediate-pressure refrigerant discharged from the preceding-stage compression element 2c does not pass through the intermediate heat exchanger 7 (that is, is not cooled), as in the heating operation in the above-described embodiment and its modifications. ) Passes through the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 (see point C in FIGS. 34 and 38 to 40).
- the intermediate-pressure refrigerant that has passed through the intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 9 without being cooled by the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is returned from the receiver 18 to the second-stage compression mechanism 2d through the first second-stage injection pipe 18c ( 34 (see point M in FIGS. 34 and 38 to 40) and cooling (see point G in FIGS. 34 and 38 to 40).
- the intermediate-pressure refrigerant that has joined the refrigerant returning from the first latter-stage injection pipe 18c (that is, the intermediate-pressure injection by the receiver 18 as a gas-liquid separator) is connected to the latter stage of the compression element 2c.
- the compressed element 2d is sucked and further compressed, and discharged from the compression mechanism 2 to the discharge pipe 2b (see point D in FIGS.
- the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 is subjected to the critical pressure (that is, the critical pressure Pcp at the critical point CP shown in FIG. 39) by the two-stage compression operation by the compression elements 2c and 2d as in the cooling operation. ) Compressed to a pressure exceeding
- the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 2 flows into the oil separator 41a constituting the oil separation mechanism 41, and the accompanying refrigeration oil is separated.
- the refrigerating machine oil separated from the high-pressure refrigerant in the oil separator 41a flows into the oil return pipe 41b constituting the oil separation mechanism 41, and is compressed after being reduced in pressure by the pressure reduction mechanism 41c provided in the oil return pipe 41b.
- the high-pressure refrigerant after the refrigerating machine oil is separated in the oil separation mechanism 41 is sent to the use side heat exchanger 6 functioning as a refrigerant radiator through the check mechanism 42 and the switching mechanism 3 to be cooled. Cooling is performed by exchanging heat with water or air as a source (see point F in FIGS. 34 and 38 to 40).
- the high-pressure refrigerant cooled in the use-side heat exchanger 6 is decompressed to the vicinity of the intermediate pressure by the use-side expansion mechanism 5c, and is then temporarily stored in the receiver 18 and gas-liquid separation is performed (see FIG. 34, see points I, L and M in FIGS. 38 to 40).
- the gas refrigerant separated from the gas and liquid in the receiver 18 is extracted from the upper part of the receiver 18 by the first second-stage injection pipe 18c, and has the intermediate pressure discharged from the first-stage compression element 2c as described above. It will join the refrigerant. Then, the liquid refrigerant stored in the receiver 18 is decompressed by the first expansion mechanism 5a to become a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant and sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 functioning as an evaporator of the refrigerant ( (See point E in FIGS. 34 and 38-40).
- the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 exchanges heat with air as a heating source supplied by the heat source side fan 40 in the heat source side heat exchanger 4. When heated, it evaporates (see point A in FIGS. 34 and 38 to 40). The low-pressure refrigerant heated and evaporated in the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is again sucked into the compression mechanism 2 via the switching mechanism 3. In this way, the heating operation is performed.
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is not functioned as a cooler as in the heating operation in the modified example 1, and the first second-stage injection pipe 18c is provided. Since the refrigerant sent from the use-side heat exchanger 4 to the expansion mechanisms 5a and 5c is branched and returned to the compression element 2d on the rear stage side, heat is radiated to the outside as in the first modification. In addition, the temperature of the refrigerant sucked into the compression element 2d on the rear stage side can be kept low (see points C, G, and G ′ in FIG. 40).
- the reverse cycle defrosting operation is a cooling operation performed in a state where the temperature of the air as a heat source is low and the intermediate heat exchanger 7 does not function as a cooler, the low pressure in the refrigeration cycle is low, The flow rate of the refrigerant sucked from the compression element 2c on the side is reduced. If it does so, since the flow volume of the refrigerant
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 when performing the reverse cycle defrosting operation in step S2 shown in FIG. 12, as in the above modified example 2, the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is not allowed to function as a cooler, Using the second second-stage injection pipe 19 (that is, the second-second-stage injection valve 19a is opened and intermediate pressure injection is performed by the economizer heat exchanger 20), the heat-source-side heat exchanger 4 performs the use-side heat exchange.
- the reverse cycle defrosting operation is performed while returning the refrigerant sent to the vessel 6 to the downstream compression element 2d (see FIG. 41).
- the opening degree control of the second second-stage injection valve 19a is performed in the same manner as in Modification 2 described above.
- step S2 the refrigerant sent from the heat source side heat exchanger 4 to the use side heat exchanger 6 using the second suction return pipe 95 (that is, with the second suction return valve 95a opened).
- the reverse cycle defrosting operation is performed while returning to the suction side of the compression mechanism 2 (see FIG. 41).
- the opening degree of the second suction return valve 95a is controlled so as to be larger than the opening degree of the second suction return valve 95a during the cooling operation.
- the opening degree of the second suction return valve 95a in the fully closed state is set to 0%
- the opening degree in the fully opened state is set to 100%
- the second suction return valve 95a is controlled within an opening range of 50% or less during the cooling operation. If it is, the second suction return valve 95a in step S2 is controlled to increase its opening degree to about 70%.
- step S3 the defrosting of the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is completed. It is fixed at the opening until it is determined.
- the heat source side heat exchanger is reduced while reducing the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the use side heat exchanger 6 as in the above-described modified example 2.
- the flow rate of the flowing refrigerant can be secured,
- the reverse cycle defrosting operation is performed while suppressing the temperature decrease on the usage side, thereby making it possible to shorten the defrosting time of the heat source-side heat exchanger 4.
- step S1, S3, S4 in the defrost operation in this modification is the same as that in the above-mentioned embodiment, description is abbreviate
- the refrigerant is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism 2 through the second suction return pipe 95 and is returned through the second suction return pipe 95 by the opening degree control of the second suction return valve 95a. Therefore, for example, as described above, by controlling the opening degree so as to be larger than the opening degree of the second suction return valve 95a during the cooling operation, The flow rate of the refrigerant returned to the compression element 2d can be greatly increased, thereby further increasing the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the heat source side heat exchanger 4 while further reducing the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the use side heat exchanger 6. .
- the refrigerant discharged from the front-stage compression element of the two compression elements 2c and 2d by the single uniaxial two-stage compression structure 21 is used as the rear-stage compression element.
- the two-stage compression type compression mechanism 2 that compresses sequentially in the above-described manner is configured.
- a multistage compression mechanism may be employed rather than a two-stage compression type such as a three-stage compression type, or a single-stage compression type may be adopted.
- a multistage compression mechanism may be configured by connecting in series a plurality of compressors incorporating a compression element and / or a plurality of compressors incorporating a plurality of compression elements.
- a compression mechanism of the type may be adopted.
- the refrigerant circuit 310 in the refrigerant circuit 310 (see FIG. 34) in the above-described third modification, two-stage compression type compression mechanisms 103 and 104 are arranged in parallel.
- the refrigerant circuit 410 may employ a compression mechanism 102 connected to the refrigerant circuit.
- the first compression mechanism 103 includes the compressor 29 that compresses the refrigerant in two stages with the two compression elements 103c and 103d, and is branched from the suction mother pipe 102a of the compression mechanism 102.
- the first suction branch pipe 103 b and the first discharge branch pipe 103 b that joins the discharge mother pipe 102 b of the compression mechanism 102 are connected.
- the second compression mechanism 104 includes the compressor 30 that compresses the refrigerant in two stages with the two compression elements 104c and 104d, and the second suction mechanism branched from the suction mother pipe 102a of the compression mechanism 102.
- the branch pipe 104a and the second discharge branch pipe 104b joined to the discharge mother pipe 102b of the compression mechanism 102 are connected. Since the compressors 29 and 30 have the same configuration as that of the compressor 21 in the above-described embodiment and its modifications, the reference numerals indicating the parts other than the compression elements 103c, 103d, 104c, and 104d are the 29th and 30th, respectively. The description will be omitted here, with a replacement for the base.
- the compressor 29 sucks the refrigerant from the first suction branch pipe 103a, and after discharging the sucked refrigerant by the compression element 103c, discharges the refrigerant to the first inlet side intermediate branch pipe 81 constituting the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8.
- the refrigerant discharged to the first inlet-side intermediate branch pipe 81 is sucked into the compression element 103d through the intermediate mother pipe 82 and the first outlet-side intermediate branch pipe 83 constituting the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8, and the refrigerant is further compressed. It is configured to discharge to one discharge branch pipe 103b.
- the compressor 30 sucks the refrigerant from the second suction branch pipe 104a, compresses the sucked refrigerant by the compression element 104c, and then discharges the refrigerant to the second inlet side intermediate branch pipe 84 constituting the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8.
- the refrigerant discharged to the two inlet side intermediate branch pipes 84 is sucked into the compression element 104d through the intermediate mother pipe 82 and the second outlet side intermediate branch pipe 85 constituting the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8, and further compressed, so that the second discharge is performed. It is comprised so that it may discharge to the branch pipe 104b.
- the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 is configured so that the refrigerant discharged from the compression elements 103c and 104c connected to the upstream side of the compression elements 103d and 104d is compressed by the compression element 103d connected to the downstream side of the compression elements 103c and 104c.
- 104 d is a refrigerant pipe for inhalation, and mainly a first inlet side intermediate branch pipe 81 connected to the discharge side of the compression element 103 c on the front stage side of the first compression mechanism 103, and a front stage of the second compression mechanism 104.
- a second inlet side intermediate branch pipe 84 connected to the discharge side of the compression element 104c on the side, an intermediate mother pipe 82 where both the inlet side intermediate branch pipes 81 and 84 merge, and a first branch branched from the intermediate mother pipe 82.
- the discharge mother pipe 102b is a refrigerant pipe for sending the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism 102 to the switching mechanism 3.
- the first discharge branch pipe 103b connected to the discharge mother pipe 102b has a first oil separation.
- a mechanism 141 and a first check mechanism 142 are provided, and a second oil separation mechanism 143 and a second check mechanism 144 are provided in the second discharge branch pipe 104b connected to the discharge mother pipe 102b.
- the first oil separation mechanism 141 is a mechanism that separates the refrigeration oil accompanying the refrigerant discharged from the first compression mechanism 103 from the refrigerant and returns it to the suction side of the compression mechanism 102, and is mainly discharged from the first compression mechanism 103.
- the first oil separator 141a that separates the refrigeration oil accompanying the refrigerant to be cooled from the refrigerant, and the first oil separator that is connected to the first oil separator 141a and returns the refrigeration oil separated from the refrigerant to the suction side of the compression mechanism 102 And an oil return pipe 141b.
- the second oil separation mechanism 143 is a mechanism that separates the refrigeration oil accompanying the refrigerant discharged from the second compression mechanism 104 from the refrigerant and returns it to the suction side of the compression mechanism 102, and is mainly discharged from the second compression mechanism 104.
- the second oil separator 143a that separates the refrigeration oil accompanying the refrigerant to be cooled from the refrigerant, and the second oil separator that is connected to the second oil separator 143a and returns the refrigeration oil separated from the refrigerant to the suction side of the compression mechanism 102 And an oil return pipe 143b.
- the first oil return pipe 141b is connected to the second suction branch pipe 104a
- the second oil return pipe 143c is connected to the first suction branch pipe 103a.
- the refrigerant discharged from the first compression mechanism 103 is caused by a deviation between the amount of the refrigerating machine oil accumulated in the first compression mechanism 103 and the amount of the refrigerating machine oil accumulated in the second compression mechanism 104.
- the amount of refrigerating machine oil in the compression mechanisms 103 and 104 is A large amount of refrigeration oil returns to the smaller one, so that the bias between the amount of refrigeration oil accumulated in the first compression mechanism 103 and the amount of refrigeration oil accumulated in the second compression mechanism 104 is eliminated. It has become.
- the first suction branch pipe 103a has a portion between the junction with the second oil return pipe 143b and the junction with the suction mother pipe 102a at the junction with the suction mother pipe 102a.
- the second suction branch pipe 104a is configured such that the portion between the junction with the first oil return pipe 141b and the junction with the suction mother pipe 102a is the suction mother pipe. It is comprised so that it may become a downward slope toward the confluence
- the oil return pipes 141b and 143b are provided with pressure reducing mechanisms 141c and 143c for reducing the pressure of the refrigerating machine oil flowing through the oil return pipes 141b and 143b.
- the check mechanisms 142 and 144 allow the refrigerant flow from the discharge side of the compression mechanisms 103 and 104 to the switching mechanism 3, and block the refrigerant flow from the switching mechanism 3 to the discharge side of the compression mechanisms 103 and 104. It is a mechanism to do.
- the compression mechanism 102 includes the two compression elements 103c and 103d, and the refrigerant discharged from the compression element on the front stage among the compression elements 103c and 103d is used as the compression element on the rear stage side.
- the first compression mechanism 103 configured to sequentially compress the first and second compression elements 104c and 104d, and the refrigerant discharged from the compression element on the front stage of the compression elements 104c and 104d
- the second compression mechanism 104 configured to sequentially compress with the compression element is connected in parallel.
- the intermediate heat exchanger 7 is provided in the intermediate mother pipe 82 constituting the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8, and is discharged from the compression element 103c on the front stage side of the first compression mechanism 103 during the cooling operation.
- This is a heat exchanger that cools the mixture of the refrigerant and the refrigerant discharged from the compression element 104c on the upstream side of the second compression mechanism 104. That is, the intermediate heat exchanger 7 functions as a common cooler for the two compression mechanisms 103 and 104 during the cooling operation.
- first inlet side intermediate branch pipe 81 constituting the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 allows the refrigerant to flow from the discharge side of the compression element 103c on the front stage side of the first compression mechanism 103 to the intermediate mother pipe 82 side,
- a non-return mechanism 81 a for blocking the flow of the refrigerant from the intermediate mother pipe 82 side to the discharge side of the preceding compression element 103 c is provided, and the second inlet-side intermediate branch constituting the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 is provided.
- the pipe 84 allows the refrigerant to flow from the discharge side of the compression element 104c on the front stage side of the second compression mechanism 103 to the intermediate mother pipe 82 side, and the compression element 104c on the front stage side from the intermediate mother pipe 82 side.
- a check mechanism 84a is provided for blocking the flow of the refrigerant to the discharge side.
- check valves are used as the check mechanisms 81a and 84a. For this reason, even if one of the compression mechanisms 103 and 104 is stopped, the refrigerant discharged from the compression element on the front stage side of the operating compression mechanism passes through the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 to the front stage of the stopped compression mechanism.
- the refrigerant discharged from the compression element on the upstream side of the operating compression mechanism passes through the compression element on the upstream side of the compression mechanism that is stopped.
- the refrigerant oil of the stopped compression mechanism does not flow out to the suction side, so that the shortage of the refrigerating machine oil when starting the stopped compression mechanism is less likely to occur.
- the priority of operation is provided between the compression mechanisms 103 and 104 (for example, when the first compression mechanism 103 is a compression mechanism that operates preferentially), it corresponds to the above-described stopped compression mechanism. Since this is limited to the second compression mechanism 104, only the check mechanism 84a corresponding to the second compression mechanism 104 may be provided in this case.
- the first compression mechanism 103 is a compression mechanism that operates preferentially
- the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8 is provided in common to the compression mechanisms 103 and 104
- the first operating mechanism is in operation.
- the refrigerant discharged from the upstream compression element 103c corresponding to the compression mechanism 103 is sucked into the downstream compression element 104d of the stopped second compression mechanism 104 through the second outlet side intermediate branch pipe 85 of the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8.
- the refrigerant discharged from the compression element 103c on the front stage side of the operating first compression mechanism 103 passes through the compression element 104d on the rear stage side of the second compression mechanism 104 that is stopped.
- an opening / closing valve 85a is provided in the second outlet-side intermediate branch pipe 85, and when the second compression mechanism 104 is stopped, the opening / closing valve 85a causes the second outlet-side intermediate branch pipe 85 to The refrigerant flow is cut off. Thereby, the refrigerant discharged from the compression element 103c on the front stage side of the first compression mechanism 103 in operation passes through the second outlet side intermediate branch pipe 85 of the intermediate refrigerant pipe 8, and the rear stage side of the stopped second compression mechanism 104.
- the refrigerant discharged from the compression element 103c on the front stage side of the first compression mechanism 103 during operation becomes the compression element on the rear stage side of the second compression mechanism 104 that is stopped.
- the refrigeration oil of the second compression mechanism 104 that is stopped through the discharge side of the compression mechanism 102 through 104d does not flow out, so that the refrigeration oil when starting the second compression mechanism 104 that is stopped is prevented. The shortage of is even less likely to occur.
- an electromagnetic valve is used as the on-off valve 85a.
- the second compression mechanism 104 is started after the first compression mechanism 103 is started. 8 is provided in common to the compression mechanisms 103 and 104, the pressure on the discharge side of the compression element 103c on the front stage side of the second compression mechanism 104 and the pressure on the suction side of the compression element 103d on the rear stage side are Starting from a state where the pressure on the suction side of the compression element 103c and the pressure on the discharge side of the compression element 103d on the rear stage side become higher, it is difficult to start the second compression mechanism 104 stably.
- an activation bypass pipe 86 is provided to connect the discharge side of the compression element 104c on the front stage side of the second compression mechanism 104 and the suction side of the compression element 104d on the rear stage side.
- the on-off valve 86a blocks the refrigerant flow in the startup bypass pipe 86, and the on-off valve 85a provides the second outlet-side intermediate branch pipe.
- the refrigerant flow in 85 is interrupted, and when the second compression mechanism 104 is activated, the on-off valve 86a allows the refrigerant to flow into the activation bypass pipe 86, whereby the second compression mechanism 104
- the starting bypass pipe 8 does not join the refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element 104c with the refrigerant discharged from the first-stage compression element 103c of the first compression mechanism 103.
- the on-off valve 85a Making the refrigerant flowable into the second outlet-side intermediate branch pipe 85 and shutting off the refrigerant flow in the startup bypass pipe 86 by the on-off valve 86a to shift to the normal cooling operation or heating operation. Can be done.
- one end of the activation bypass pipe 86 is connected between the on-off valve 85a of the second outlet side intermediate branch pipe 85 and the suction side of the compression element 104d on the rear stage side of the second compression mechanism 104.
- the other end is connected between the discharge side of the compression element 104 c on the front stage side of the second compression mechanism 104 and the check mechanism 84 a of the second inlet side intermediate branch pipe 84 to start the second compression mechanism 104.
- the first compression mechanism 103 can be hardly affected by the intermediate pressure portion.
- an electromagnetic valve is used as the on-off valve 86a.
- the operation of the air-conditioning apparatus 1 of the present modification is slightly complicated in circuit configuration around the compression mechanism 102 by the compression mechanism 102 provided in place of the compression mechanism 2. Except for the change due to the above, the operation is basically the same as the operation in the above-described modification 3 (FIGS. 34 to 43 and related descriptions), and thus the description thereof is omitted here. Also in the configuration of the present modification, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as those of Modification 3 described above. (7) Other Embodiments Although the embodiments of the present invention and the modifications thereof have been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments and the modifications thereof. Changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
- water or brine is used as a heating source or a cooling source for performing heat exchange with the refrigerant flowing in the use-side heat exchanger 6, and heat exchange is performed in the use-side heat exchanger 6.
- the present invention may be applied to a so-called chiller type air conditioner provided with a secondary heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the water or brine and indoor air.
- the refrigerant circuit configured to be able to switch between the cooling operation and the heating operation has a refrigerant circuit that operates in the supercritical region.
- the present invention is applicable if it is used as a multistage compression refrigeration cycle.
- the refrigerant operating in the supercritical region is not limited to carbon dioxide, and ethylene, ethane, nitrogen oxide, or the like may be used.
- a refrigerating apparatus having a refrigerant circuit configured to be able to switch between a cooling operation and a heating operation and performing a multistage compression refrigeration cycle using a refrigerant operating in a supercritical region, the reverse cycle Defrosting operation can be performed efficiently.
- Air conditioning equipment (refrigeration equipment) 2,102 Compression mechanism 3 Switching mechanism 4 Heat source side heat exchanger 6 User side heat exchanger 7 Intermediate heat exchanger 8 Intermediate refrigerant pipe 9 Intermediate heat exchanger bypass pipe 18c First second stage side injection pipe 19 Second second stage side injection pipe
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Abstract
Description
この問題に対して、前段側の圧縮要素から吐出されて後段側の圧縮要素に吸入される冷媒の冷却器として機能する中間熱交換器を前段側の圧縮要素から吐出された冷媒を後段側の圧縮要素に吸入させるための中間冷媒管に設けるとともに、中間熱交換器をバイパスするように中間熱交換器バイパス管を中間冷媒管に接続して、この中間熱交換器バイパス管を用いて、上述の四路切換弁に対応する切換機構を冷房運転に対応する冷却運転状態にしている際に中間熱交換器を冷却器として機能させ、切換機構を暖房運転に対応する加熱運転状態にしている際に中間熱交換器を冷却器として機能させないようにすることで、冷却運転時においては、上述の圧縮機に対応する圧縮機構から吐出される冷媒の温度を低く抑え、加熱運転時においては、中間熱交換器から外部への放熱を抑えて、運転効率の低下を防ぐことが考えられる。
しかし、このような冷凍装置では、加熱運転の際、中間熱交換器バイパス管によって中間熱交換器を冷却器として機能させないようにしているため、中間熱交換器における着霜量が少なく、熱源側熱交換器に比べて早く中間熱交換器の除霜が完了してしまう。このため、中間熱交換器の除霜が完了した後にも中間熱交換器に冷媒を流し続けると、中間熱交換器から外部へ放熱が行われて、後段側の圧縮要素に吸入される冷媒の温度が低下してしまい、その結果、圧縮機構から吐出される冷媒の温度が低くなって、熱源側熱交換器の除霜能力が低下するという問題が生じる。
これにより、この冷凍装置では、逆サイクル除霜運転を効率的に行うことができる。
この冷凍装置では、切換機構を冷却運転状態に切り換えることで熱源側熱交換器の除霜を行う逆サイクル除霜運転を採用しているため、利用側熱交換器を冷媒の放熱器として機能させたいのにもかかわらず、利用側熱交換器を冷媒の蒸発器として機能させることになり、利用側の温度低下が生じるという問題がある。また、逆サイクル除霜運転は、熱源としての空気の温度が低い条件において、中間熱交換器を冷却器として機能させない状態で行われる冷却運転であるため、冷凍サイクルにおける低圧が低くなり、前段側の圧縮要素から吸入される冷媒の流量が減少してしまう。そうすると、冷媒回路を循環する冷媒の流量が減少し、熱源側熱交換器を流れる冷媒の流量を確保できなくなるため、熱源側熱交換器の除霜に時間がかかるという問題も生じる。
これにより、この冷凍装置では、逆サイクル除霜運転を行う際に、利用側の温度低下を抑えつつ、熱源側熱交換器の除霜時間を短縮することができる。
(1)空気調和装置の構成
図1は、本発明にかかる冷凍装置の一実施形態としての空気調和装置1の概略構成図である。空気調和装置1は、冷房運転と暖房運転を切り換え可能に構成された冷媒回路10を有し、超臨界域で作動する冷媒(ここでは、二酸化炭素)を使用して二段圧縮式冷凍サイクルを行う装置である。
空気調和装置1の冷媒回路10は、主として、主として、圧縮機構2と、切換機構3と、熱源側熱交換器4と、ブリッジ回路17と、レシーバ18と、第1膨張機構5aと、第2膨張機構5bと、利用側熱交換器6と、中間熱交換器7とを有している。
圧縮機構2は、本実施形態において、2つの圧縮要素で冷媒を二段圧縮する圧縮機21から構成されている。圧縮機21は、ケーシング21a内に、圧縮機駆動モータ21bと、駆動軸21cと、圧縮要素2c、2dとが収容された密閉式構造となっている。圧縮機駆動モータ21bは、駆動軸21cに連結されている。そして、この駆動軸21cは、2つの圧縮要素2c、2dに連結されている。すなわち、圧縮機21は、2つの圧縮要素2c、2dが単一の駆動軸21cに連結されており、2つの圧縮要素2c、2dがともに圧縮機駆動モータ21bによって回転駆動される、いわゆる一軸二段圧縮構造となっている。圧縮要素2c、2dは、本実施形態において、ロータリ式やスクロール式等の容積式の圧縮要素である。そして、圧縮機21は、吸入管2aから冷媒を吸入し、この吸入された冷媒を圧縮要素2cによって圧縮した後に中間冷媒管8に吐出し、中間冷媒管8に吐出された冷凍サイクルにおける中間圧の冷媒を圧縮要素2dに吸入させて冷媒をさらに圧縮した後に吐出管2bに吐出するように構成されている。ここで、中間冷媒管8は、圧縮要素2cの前段側に接続された圧縮要素2cから吐出された冷凍サイクルにおける中間圧の冷媒を、圧縮要素2cの後段側に接続された圧縮要素2dに吸入させるための冷媒管である。また、吐出管2bは、圧縮機構2から吐出された冷媒を切換機構3に送るための冷媒管であり、吐出管2bには、油分離機構41と逆止機構42とが設けられている。油分離機構41は、圧縮機構2から吐出される冷媒に同伴する冷凍機油を冷媒から分離して圧縮機構2の吸入側へ戻す機構であり、主として、圧縮機構2から吐出される冷媒に同伴する冷凍機油を冷媒から分離する油分離器41aと、油分離器41aに接続されており冷媒から分離された冷凍機油を圧縮機構2の吸入管2aに戻す油戻し管41bとを有している。油戻し管41bには、油戻し管41bを流れる冷凍機油を減圧する減圧機構41cが設けられている。減圧機構41cは、本実施形態において、キャピラリチューブが使用されている。逆止機構42は、圧縮機構2の吐出側から切換機構3への冷媒の流れを許容し、かつ、切換機構3から圧縮機構2の吐出側への冷媒の流れを遮断するための機構であり、本実施形態において、逆止弁が使用されている。
切換機構3は、冷媒回路10内における冷媒の流れの方向を切り換えるための機構であり、冷房運転時には、熱源側熱交換器4を圧縮機構2によって圧縮される冷媒の放熱器として、かつ、利用側熱交換器6を熱源側熱交換器4において冷却された冷媒の蒸発器として機能させるために、圧縮機構2の吐出側と熱源側熱交換器4の一端とを接続するとともに圧縮機21の吸入側と利用側熱交換器6とを接続し(図1の切換機構3の実線を参照、以下、この切換機構3の状態を「冷却運転状態」とする)、暖房運転時には、利用側熱交換器6を圧縮機構2によって圧縮される冷媒の放熱器として、かつ、熱源側熱交換器4を利用側熱交換器6において冷却された冷媒の蒸発器として機能させるために、圧縮機構2の吐出側と利用側熱交換器6とを接続するとともに圧縮機構2の吸入側と熱源側熱交換器4の一端とを接続することが可能である(図1の切換機構3の破線を参照、以下、この切換機構3の状態を「加熱運転状態」とする)。本実施形態において、切換機構3は、圧縮機構2の吸入側、圧縮機構2の吐出側、熱源側熱交換器4及び利用側熱交換器6に接続された四路切換弁である。尚、切換機構3は、四路切換弁に限定されるものではなく、例えば、複数の電磁弁を組み合わせる等によって、上述と同様の冷媒の流れの方向を切り換える機能を有するように構成したものであってもよい。
熱源側熱交換器4は、冷媒の放熱器又は蒸発器として機能する熱交換器である。熱源側熱交換器4は、その一端が切換機構3に接続されており、その他端がブリッジ回路17を介して第1膨張機構5aに接続されている。熱源側熱交換器4は、空気を熱源(すなわち、冷却源又は加熱源)とする熱交換器であり、本実施形態において、フィンアンドチューブ型の熱交換器が使用されている。そして、熱源としての空気は、熱源側ファン40によって熱源側熱交換器4に供給されるようになっている。尚、熱源側ファン40は、ファン駆動モータ40aによって駆動される。
レシーバ18は、冷房運転と暖房運転との間で冷媒回路10における冷媒の循環量が異なる等の運転状態に応じて発生する余剰冷媒を溜めることができるように、第1膨張機構5aで減圧された後の冷媒を一時的に溜めるために設けられた容器であり、その入口がレシーバ入口管18aに接続されており、その出口がレシーバ出口管18bに接続されている。また、レシーバ18には、レシーバ18内から冷媒を抜き出して圧縮機構2の吸入管2a(すなわち、圧縮機構2の前段側の圧縮要素2cの吸入側)に戻すことが可能な第1吸入戻し管18fが接続されている。この第1吸入戻し管18fには、第1吸入戻し開閉弁18gが設けられている。第1吸入戻し開閉弁18gは、本実施形態において、電磁弁である。
利用側熱交換器6は、冷媒の蒸発器又は放熱器として機能する熱交換器である。利用側熱交換器6は、その一端がブリッジ回路17を介して第1膨張機構5aに接続されており、その他端が切換機構3に接続されている。利用側熱交換器6は、水や空気を熱源(すなわち、冷却源又は加熱源)とする熱交換器である。
次に、中間熱交換器7が熱源側熱交換器4に一体化された構成について、両者の配置等も含めて、図2~図4を用いて詳細に説明する。ここで、図2は、熱源ユニット1aの外観斜視図(ファングリルを取り除いた状態)であり、図3は、熱源ユニット1aの右板74を取り除いた状態における熱源ユニット1aの側面図であり、図4は、図3のI部分の拡大図である。尚、以下の説明における「左」及び「右」とは、前板75側から熱源ユニット1aを見た場合を基準とする。
ケーシング71は、本実施形態において、略直方体形状の箱体であり、主として、ケーシング71の天面を構成する天板72と、ケーシング71の外周面を構成する左板73、右板74、前板75及び後板76と、底板77とから構成されている。天板72は、主として、ケーシング71の天面を構成する部材であり、本実施形態において、略中央に吹出開口71aが形成された平面視が略長方形状の板状部材である。天板72には、吹出開口71aを上方から覆うようにファングリル78が設けられている。左板73は、主として、ケーシング71の左面を構成する部材であり、本実施形態において、天板72の左縁から下方に延びる側面視が略長方形状の板状部材である。左板73には、上部を除くほぼ全体に吸入開口73aが形成されている。右板74は、主として、ケーシング71の右面を構成する部材であり、本実施形態において、天板72の右縁から下方に延びる側面視が略長方形状の板状部材である。右板74には、上部を除くほぼ全体に吸入開口74aが形成されている。前板75は、主として、ケーシング71の前面を構成する部材であり、本実施形態において、天板72の前縁から下方向に順に配置された正面視が略長方形状の板状部材から構成されている。後板76は、主として、ケーシング71の後面を構成する部材であり、本実施形態において、天板72の後縁から下方向に順に配置された正面視が略長方形状の板状部材から構成されている。後板76には、上部を除くほぼ全体に吸入開口76aが形成されている。底板77は、主として、ケーシング71の底面を構成する部材であり、本実施形態において、平面視が略長方形状の板状部材である。
また、中間冷媒管8には、中間熱交換器バイパス管9の前段側の圧縮要素2c側端との接続部から中間熱交換器7の前段側の圧縮要素2c側端までの部分に、中間熱交換器開閉弁12が設けられている。この中間熱交換器開閉弁12は、中間熱交換器7を流れる冷媒の流量を制限する機構である。中間熱交換器開閉弁12は、本実施形態において、電磁弁である。この中間熱交換器開閉弁12は、本実施形態において、後述の除霜運転を除き、基本的には、切換機構3を冷却運転状態にしている際に開け、切換機構3を加熱運転状態にしている際に閉める制御がなされる。すなわち、中間熱交換器開閉弁12は、冷房運転を行う際に開け、暖房運転を行う際に閉める制御がなされる。
さらに、空気調和装置1には、各種のセンサが設けられている。具体的には、熱源側熱交換器4には、熱源側熱交換器4を流れる冷媒の温度を検出する熱源側熱交温度センサ51が設けられている。空気調和装置1(ここでは、熱源ユニット1a)には、熱源側熱交換器4及び中間熱交換器7の熱源としての空気の温度を検出する空気温度センサ53が設けられている。また、空気調和装置1は、ここでは図示しないが、圧縮機構2、切換機構3、膨張機構5、熱源側ファン40、中間熱交換器バイパス開閉弁11、中間熱交換器開閉弁12、第1吸入戻し開閉弁18g等の空気調和装置1を構成する各部の動作を制御する制御部を有している。
次に、本実施形態の空気調和装置1の動作について、図1、図5~図13を用いて説明する。ここで、図5は、冷房運転時における空気調和装置1内の冷媒の流れを示す図であり、図6は、冷房運転時の冷凍サイクルが図示された圧力-エンタルピ線図であり、図7は、冷房運転時の冷凍サイクルが図示された温度-エントロピ線図であり、図8は、臨界圧力よりも低い中間圧の二酸化炭素を伝熱流路内に流した場合の熱伝達率、及び、臨界圧力を超える高圧の二酸化炭素を伝熱流路内に流した場合の熱伝達率の特性を示す図であり、図9は、暖房運転時における空気調和装置1内の冷媒の流れを示す図であり、図10は、暖房運転時の冷凍サイクルが図示された圧力-エンタルピ線図であり、図11は、暖房運転時の冷凍サイクルが図示された温度-エントロピ線図であり、図12は、除霜運転のフローチャートであり、図13は、除霜運転時における空気調和装置1内の冷媒の流れを示す図である。尚、以下の冷房運転、暖房運転及び除霜運転における運転制御は、上述の制御部(図示せず)によって行われる。また、以下の説明において、「高圧」とは、冷凍サイクルにおける高圧(すなわち、図6、7の点D、D’、Eにおける圧力や図10、11の点D、D’、Fにおける圧力)を意味し、「低圧」とは、冷凍サイクルにおける低圧(すなわち、図6、7の点A、Fにおける圧力や図10、11の点A、Eにおける圧力)を意味し、「中間圧」とは、冷凍サイクルにおける中間圧(すなわち、図6、7の点B、Cにおける圧力や図10、11の点B、C、C’における圧力)を意味している。
冷房運転時は、切換機構3が図1及び図5の実線で示される冷却運転状態とされる。また、第1膨張機構5a及び第2膨張機構5bは、開度調節される。そして、切換機構3が冷却運転状態となるため、中間冷媒管8の中間熱交換器開閉弁12が開けられ、そして、中間熱交換器バイパス管9の中間熱交換器バイパス開閉弁11が閉められることによって、中間熱交換器7が冷却器として機能する状態にされる。
この冷媒回路10の状態において、低圧の冷媒(図1、図5~図7の点A参照)は、吸入管2aから圧縮機構2に吸入され、まず、圧縮要素2cによって中間圧力まで圧縮された後に、中間冷媒管8に吐出される(図1、図5~図7の点B参照)。この前段側の圧縮要素2cから吐出された中間圧の冷媒は、中間熱交換器7において、熱源側ファン40によって供給される冷却源としての空気と熱交換を行うことで冷却される(図1、図5~図7の点C参照)。この中間熱交換器7において冷却された冷媒は、圧縮要素2cの後段側に接続された圧縮要素2dに吸入されてさらに圧縮されて、圧縮機構2から吐出管2bに吐出される(図1、図5~図7の点D参照)。ここで、圧縮機構2から吐出された高圧の冷媒は、圧縮要素2c、2dによる二段圧縮動作によって、臨界圧力(すなわち、図6に示される臨界点CPにおける臨界圧力Pcp)を超える圧力まで圧縮されている。そして、この圧縮機構2から吐出された高圧の冷媒は、油分離機構41を構成する油分離器41aに流入し、同伴する冷凍機油が分離される。また、油分離器41aにおいて高圧の冷媒から分離された冷凍機油は、油分離機構41を構成する油戻し管41bに流入し、油戻し管41bに設けられた減圧機構41cで減圧された後に圧縮機構2の吸入管2aに戻されて、再び、圧縮機構2に吸入される。次に、油分離機構41において冷凍機油が分離された後の高圧の冷媒は、逆止機構42及び切換機構3を通じて、冷媒の放熱器として機能する熱源側熱交換器4に送られる。そして、熱源側熱交換器4に送られた高圧の冷媒は、熱源側熱交換器4において、熱源側ファン40によって供給される冷却源としての空気と熱交換を行って冷却される(図1、図5~図7の点E参照)。そして、熱源側熱交換器4において冷却された高圧の冷媒は、ブリッジ回路17の入口逆止弁17aを通じてレシーバ入口管18aに流入し、第1膨張機構5aによって飽和圧力付近まで減圧されてレシーバ18内に一時的に溜められる(図1及び図5の点I参照)。そして、レシーバ18内に溜められた冷媒は、レシーバ出口管18bに送られて、第2膨張機構5bによって減圧されて低圧の気液二相状態の冷媒となり、ブリッジ回路17の出口逆止弁17cを通じて、冷媒の蒸発器として機能する利用側熱交換器6に送られる(図1、図5~図7の点F参照)。そして、利用側熱交換器6に送られた低圧の気液二相状態の冷媒は、加熱源としての水や空気と熱交換を行って加熱されて、蒸発することになる(図1、図5~図7の点A参照)。そして、この利用側熱交換器6において加熱された低圧の冷媒は、切換機構3を経由して、再び、圧縮機構2に吸入される。このようにして、冷房運転が行われる。
暖房運転時は、切換機構3が図1及び図9の破線で示される加熱運転状態とされる。また、第1膨張機構5a及び第2膨張機構5bは、開度調節される。そして、切換機構3が加熱運転状態となるため、中間冷媒管8の中間熱交換器開閉弁12が閉められ、そして、中間熱交換器バイパス管9の中間熱交換器バイパス開閉弁11が開けられることによって、中間熱交換器7が冷却器として機能しない状態にされる。
この冷媒回路10の状態において、低圧の冷媒(図1、図9~図11の点A参照)は、吸入管2aから圧縮機構2に吸入され、まず、圧縮要素2cによって中間圧力まで圧縮された後に、中間冷媒管8に吐出される(図1、図9~図11の点B参照)。この前段側の圧縮要素2cから吐出された中間圧の冷媒は、冷房運転時とは異なり、中間熱交換器7を通過せずに(すなわち、冷却されることなく)、中間熱交換器バイパス管9を通過して(図1、図9~図11の点C参照)、圧縮要素2cの後段側に接続された圧縮要素2dに吸入されてさらに圧縮されて、圧縮機構2から吐出管2bに吐出される(図1、図9~図11の点D参照)。ここで、圧縮機構2から吐出された高圧の冷媒は、冷房運転時と同様、圧縮要素2c、2dによる二段圧縮動作によって、臨界圧力(すなわち、図10に示される臨界点CPにおける臨界圧力Pcp)を超える圧力まで圧縮されている。そして、この圧縮機構2から吐出された高圧の冷媒は、油分離機構41を構成する油分離器41aに流入し、同伴する冷凍機油が分離される。また、油分離器41aにおいて高圧の冷媒から分離された冷凍機油は、油分離機構41を構成する油戻し管41bに流入し、油戻し管41bに設けられた減圧機構41cで減圧された後に圧縮機構2の吸入管2aに戻されて、再び、圧縮機構2に吸入される。次に、油分離機構41において冷凍機油が分離された後の高圧の冷媒は、逆止機構42及び切換機構3を通じて、冷媒の放熱器として機能する利用側熱交換器6に送られて、冷却源としての水や空気と熱交換を行って冷却される(図1、図9~図11の点F参照)。そして、利用側熱交換器6において冷却された高圧の冷媒は、ブリッジ回路17の入口逆止弁17bを通じてレシーバ入口管18aに流入し、第1膨張機構5aによって飽和圧力付近まで減圧されてレシーバ18内に一時的に溜められる(図1及び図9の点I参照)。そして、レシーバ18内に溜められた冷媒は、レシーバ出口管18bに送られて、第2膨張機構5bによって減圧されて低圧の気液二相状態の冷媒となり、ブリッジ回路17の出口逆止弁17dを通じて、冷媒の蒸発器として機能する熱源側熱交換器4に送られる(図1、図9~図11の点E参照)。そして、熱源側熱交換器4に送られた低圧の気液二相状態の冷媒は、熱源側熱交換器4において、熱源側ファン40によって供給される加熱源としての空気と熱交換を行って加熱されて、蒸発することになる(図1、図9~図11の点A参照)。そして、この熱源側熱交換器4において加熱されて蒸発した低圧の冷媒は、切換機構3を経由して、再び、圧縮機構2に吸入される。このようにして、暖房運転が行われる。
<除霜運転>
まず、ステップS1において、暖房運転時に熱源側熱交換器4に着霜が生じたかどうかを判定する。この判定は、熱源側熱交温度センサ51により検出される熱源側熱交換器4を流れる冷媒の温度や暖房運転の積算時間に基づいて行われる。例えば、熱源側熱交温度センサ51により検出される熱源側熱交換器4における冷媒の温度が着霜が生じる条件に相当する所定温度以下であることが検知された場合、又は、暖房運転の積算時間が所定時間以上経過した場合には、熱源側熱交換器4に着霜が生じているものと判定し、このような温度条件や時間条件に該当しない場合には、熱源側熱交換器4に着霜が生じていないものと判定するものである。ここで、所定温度や所定時間については、熱源としての空気の温度に依存するため、所定温度や所定時間を空気温度センサ53により検出される空気の温度の関数として設定することが好ましい。また、熱源側熱交換器4の入口や出口に温度センサが設けられている場合には、熱源側熱交温度センサ51により検出される冷媒の温度に代えて、これらの温度センサにより検出される冷媒の温度を温度条件の判定に使用してもよい。そして、ステップS1において、熱源側熱交換器4に着霜が生じているものと判定された場合には、ステップS2の処理に移行する。
次に、ステップS3において、熱源側熱交換器4の除霜が完了したかどうかを判定する。この判定は、熱源側熱交温度センサ51により検出される熱源側熱交換器4を流れる冷媒の温度や除霜運転の運転時間に基づいて行われる。例えば、熱源側熱交温度センサ51により検出される熱源側熱交換器4における冷媒の温度が着霜がないとみなせる条件に相当する温度以上であることが検知された場合、又は、除霜運転が所定時間以上経過した場合には、熱源側熱交換器4の除霜が完了したものと判定し、このような温度条件や時間条件に該当しない場合には、熱源側熱交換器4の除霜が完了していないものと判定するものである。ここで、熱源側熱交換器4の入口や出口に温度センサが設けられている場合には、熱源側熱交温度センサ51により検出される冷媒の温度に代えて、これらの温度センサにより検出される冷媒の温度を温度条件の判定に使用してもよい。そして、ステップS3において、熱源側熱交換器4の除霜が完了したものと判定された場合には、ステップS4の処理に移行して、除霜運転を終了し、再び、暖房運転を再開させる処理が行われる。より具体的には、切換機構3を冷却運転状態から加熱運転状態(すなわち、暖房運転)に切り換える処理等が行われる。
上述の実施形態では、切換機構3によって冷房運転と暖房運転とを切換可能に構成された空気調和装置1において、空気を熱源とする中間熱交換器7を熱源側熱交換器4の上方に配置した状態で一体化するとともに、逆サイクル除霜運転を行う際に、中間熱交換器バイパス管9を用いて、中間熱交換器7に冷媒が流れないようにすることで、逆サイクル除霜運転を行う際に、熱源側熱交換器4の除霜能力の低下を抑えて、逆サイクル除霜運転を効率的に行うようにしているが、この構成に加えて、熱源側熱交換器4又は利用側熱交換器6において放熱した冷媒を分岐して後段側の圧縮要素2dに戻すための第1後段側インジェクション管18cをさらに設けることが考えられる。
例えば、図14に示されるように、二段圧縮式の圧縮機構2が採用された上述の実施形態において、第1後段側インジェクション管18cが設けられた冷媒回路110にすることができる。
冷房運転時は、切換機構3が図14及び図15の実線で示される冷却運転状態とされる。また、第1膨張機構5a及び第2膨張機構5bは、開度調節される。そして、切換機構3が冷却運転状態となるため、中間冷媒管8の中間熱交換器開閉弁12が開けられ、そして、中間熱交換器バイパス管9の中間熱交換器バイパス開閉弁11が閉められることによって、中間熱交換器7が冷却器として機能する状態にされる。さらに、第1後段側インジェクション開閉弁18dは、開状態にされる。
この冷媒回路110の状態において、低圧の冷媒(図14~図17の点A参照)は、吸入管2aから圧縮機構2に吸入され、まず、圧縮要素2cによって中間圧力まで圧縮された後に、中間冷媒管8に吐出される(図14~図17の点A参照)。この前段側の圧縮要素2cから吐出された中間圧の冷媒は、中間熱交換器7において、熱源側ファン40によって供給される冷却源としての空気と熱交換を行うことで冷却される(図14~図17の点C参照)。この中間熱交換器7において冷却された冷媒は、レシーバ18から第1後段側インジェクション管18cを通じて後段側の圧縮機構2dに戻される冷媒(図14~図17の点M参照)と合流することでさらに冷却される(図14~図17の点G参照)。次に、第1後段側インジェクション管18cから戻る冷媒と合流した(すなわち、気液分離器としてのレシーバ18による中間圧インジェクションが行われた)中間圧の冷媒は、圧縮要素2cの後段側に接続された圧縮要素2dに吸入されてさらに圧縮されて、圧縮機構2から吐出管2bに吐出される(図14~図17の点D参照)。ここで、圧縮機構2から吐出された高圧の冷媒は、圧縮要素2c、2dによる二段圧縮動作によって、臨界圧力(すなわち、図16に示される臨界点CPにおける臨界圧力Pcp)を超える圧力まで圧縮されている。そして、この圧縮機構2から吐出された高圧の冷媒は、油分離機構41を構成する油分離器41aに流入し、同伴する冷凍機油が分離される。また、油分離器41aにおいて高圧の冷媒から分離された冷凍機油は、油分離機構41を構成する油戻し管41bに流入し、油戻し管41bに設けられた減圧機構41cで減圧された後に圧縮機構2の吸入管2aに戻されて、再び、圧縮機構2に吸入される。次に、油分離機構41において冷凍機油が分離された後の高圧の冷媒は、逆止機構42及び切換機構3を通じて、冷媒の放熱器として機能する熱源側熱交換器4に送られる。そして、熱源側熱交換器4に送られた高圧の冷媒は、熱源側熱交換器4において、熱源側ファン40によって供給される冷却源としての空気と熱交換を行って冷却される(図14~図17の点E参照)。そして、熱源側熱交換器4において冷却された高圧の冷媒は、ブリッジ回路17の入口逆止弁17aを通じてレシーバ入口管18aに流入し、第1膨張機構5aによって中間圧付近まで減圧されてレシーバ18内に一時的に溜められるとともに気液分離が行われる(図14~図17の点I、L、M参照)。そして、レシーバ18において気液分離されたガス冷媒は、第1後段側インジェクション管18cによってレシーバ18の上部から抜き出されて、上述のように、前段側の圧縮要素2cから吐出された中間圧の冷媒に合流することになる。そして、レシーバ18内に溜められた液冷媒は、レシーバ出口管18bに送られて、第2膨張機構5bによって減圧されて低圧の気液二相状態の冷媒となり、ブリッジ回路17の出口逆止弁17cを通じて、冷媒の蒸発器として機能する利用側熱交換器6に送られる(図14~図17の点F参照)。そして、利用側熱交換器6に送られた低圧の気液二相状態の冷媒は、加熱源としての水や空気と熱交換を行って加熱されて、蒸発することになる(図14~図17の点A参照)。そして、この利用側熱交換器6において加熱された低圧の冷媒は、切換機構3を経由して、再び、圧縮機構2に吸入される。このようにして、冷房運転が行われる。
暖房運転時は、切換機構3が図14及び図18の破線で示される加熱運転状態とされる。また、第1膨張機構5a及び第2膨張機構5bは、開度調節される。そして、切換機構3が加熱運転状態となるため、中間冷媒管8の中間熱交換器開閉弁12が閉められ、そして、中間熱交換器バイパス管9の中間熱交換器バイパス開閉弁11が開けられることによって、中間熱交換器7が冷却器として機能しない状態にされる。さらに、第1後段側インジェクション開閉弁18dは、冷房運転時と同様に、開状態にされる。
この冷媒回路110の状態において、低圧の冷媒(図14、図18~図20の点A参照)は、吸入管2aから圧縮機構2に吸入され、まず、圧縮要素2cによって中間圧力まで圧縮された後に、中間冷媒管8に吐出される(図14、図18~図20の点B参照)。この前段側の圧縮要素2cから吐出された中間圧の冷媒は、上述の実施形態における暖房運転時と同様、中間熱交換器7を通過せずに(すなわち、冷却されることなく)、中間熱交換器バイパス管9を通過する(図14、図18~図20の点C参照)。この中間熱交換器7によって冷却されることなく中間熱交換器バイパス管9を通過した中間圧の冷媒は、レシーバ18から第1後段側インジェクション管18cを通じて後段側の圧縮機構2dに戻される冷媒(図14、図18~図20の点M参照)と合流することで冷却される(図14、図18~図20の点G参照)。次に、第1後段側インジェクション管18cから戻る冷媒と合流した(すなわち、気液分離器としてのレシーバ18による中間圧インジェクションが行われた)中間圧の冷媒は、圧縮要素2cの後段側に接続された圧縮要素2dに吸入されてさらに圧縮されて、圧縮機構2から吐出管2bに吐出される(図14、図18~図20の点D参照)。ここで、圧縮機構2から吐出された高圧の冷媒は、冷房運転時と同様、圧縮要素2c、2dによる二段圧縮動作によって、臨界圧力(すなわち、図19に示される臨界点CPにおける臨界圧力Pcp)を超える圧力まで圧縮されている。そして、この圧縮機構2から吐出された高圧の冷媒は、油分離機構41を構成する油分離器41aに流入し、同伴する冷凍機油が分離される。また、油分離器41aにおいて高圧の冷媒から分離された冷凍機油は、油分離機構41を構成する油戻し管41bに流入し、油戻し管41bに設けられた減圧機構41cで減圧された後に圧縮機構2の吸入管2aに戻されて、再び、圧縮機構2に吸入される。次に、油分離機構41において冷凍機油が分離された後の高圧の冷媒は、逆止機構42及び切換機構3を通じて、冷媒の放熱器として機能する利用側熱交換器6に送られて、冷却源としての水や空気と熱交換を行って冷却される(図14、図18~図20の点F参照)。そして、利用側熱交換器6において冷却された高圧の冷媒は、ブリッジ回路17の入口逆止弁17bを通じてレシーバ入口管18aに流入し、第1膨張機構5aによって中間圧付近まで減圧されてレシーバ18内に一時的に溜められるとともに気液分離が行われる(図14、図18~図20の点I、L、M参照)。そして、レシーバ18において気液分離されたガス冷媒は、第1後段側インジェクション管18cによってレシーバ18の上部から抜き出されて、上述のように、前段側の圧縮要素2cから吐出された中間圧の冷媒に合流することになる。そして、レシーバ18内に溜められた液冷媒は、レシーバ出口管18bに送られて、第2膨張機構5bによって減圧されて低圧の気液二相状態の冷媒となり、ブリッジ回路17の出口逆止弁17dを通じて、冷媒の蒸発器として機能する熱源側熱交換器4に送られる(図14、図18~図20の点E参照)。そして、熱源側熱交換器4に送られた低圧の気液二相状態の冷媒は、熱源側熱交換器4において、熱源側ファン40によって供給される加熱源としての空気と熱交換を行って加熱されて、蒸発することになる(図14、図18~図20の点A参照)。そして、この熱源側熱交換器4において加熱されて蒸発した低圧の冷媒は、切換機構3を経由して、再び、圧縮機構2に吸入される。このようにして、暖房運転が行われる。
上述の実施形態では、切換機構3を冷却運転状態に切り換えることで熱源側熱交換器4の除霜を行う逆サイクル除霜運転を採用しているため、利用側熱交換器6を冷媒の放熱器として機能させたいのにもかかわらず、利用側熱交換器6を冷媒の蒸発器として機能させることになり、利用側の温度低下が生じるという問題がある。また、逆サイクル除霜運転は、熱源としての空気の温度が低い条件において、中間熱交換器7を冷却器として機能させない状態で行なわれる冷房運転であるため、冷凍サイクルにおける低圧が低くなり、前段側の圧縮要素2cから吸入される冷媒の流量が減少してしまう。そうすると、冷媒回路10を循環する冷媒の流量が減少し、熱源側熱交換器4を流れる冷媒の流量を確保できなくなるため、熱源側熱交換器4の除霜に時間がかかるという問題も生じる。そして、このような問題は、本変形例の構成においても当てはまる。
これにより、中間熱交換器7を冷却器として機能させない状態で、かつ、気液分離器としてのレシーバ18による中間圧インジェクションを伴う冷房運転(図21~図23に示される点A→点B、C→点G→点D→点E→点I→点L→点Fの順で行われる冷凍サイクル)が行われることになり、中間熱交換器7から外部へ放熱が行われるのを防いで(すなわち、図23の点G、D、D’、G’を結ぶことによって囲まれる面積に相当する分の放熱を防ぐことができる)、熱源側熱交換器4の除霜能力の低下を抑えるとともに(この点は、上述の実施形態における除霜運転と同様である)、利用側熱交換器6を流れる冷媒の流量を減らしつつ、熱源側熱交換器を流れる冷媒の流量を確保することができ、これにより、逆サイクル除霜運転を行う際に、利用側の温度低下を抑えつつ、熱源側熱交換器4の除霜時間を短縮することができるようになっている。尚、本変形例における除霜運転の他のステップS1、S3、S4は、上述の実施形態における除霜運転と同様であるため、ここでは説明を省略する。
上述の変形例1では、切換機構3によって冷房運転と暖房運転とを切換可能に構成された空気調和装置1において、気液分離器としてのレシーバ18による中間圧インジェクションを行うための第1後段側インジェクション管18cを設けて、気液分離器としてのレシーバ18による中間圧インジェクションを行うようにしているが、このレシーバ18による中間圧インジェクションに代えて、第2後段側インジェクション管19及びエコノマイザ熱交換器20を設けて、エコノマイザ熱交換器20による中間圧インジェクションを行うようにすることが考えられる。
例えば、図24に示されるように、上述の変形例1において、第1後段側インジェクション管18cに代えて、第2後段側インジェクション管19、及び、エコノマイザ熱交換器20が設けられた冷媒回路210にすることができる。
次に、本変形例の空気調和装置1の動作について、図24~図33を用いて説明する。ここで、図25は、冷房運転時における空気調和装置1内の冷媒の流れを示す図であり、図26は、冷房運転時の冷凍サイクルが図示された圧力-エンタルピ線図であり、図27は、冷房運転時の冷凍サイクルが図示された温度-エントロピ線図であり、図28は、暖房運転時における空気調和装置1内の冷媒の流れを示す図であり、図29は、暖房運転時の冷凍サイクルが図示された圧力-エンタルピ線図であり、図30は、暖房運転時の冷凍サイクルが図示された温度-エントロピ線図であり、図31は、除霜運転時における空気調和装置1内の冷媒の流れを示す図であり、図32は、除霜運転時の冷凍サイクルが図示された圧力-エンタルピ線図であり、図33は、除霜運転時の冷凍サイクルが図示された温度-エントロピ線図である。尚、以下の冷房運転、暖房運転及び除霜運転における運転制御は、上述の制御部(図示せず)によって行われる。また、以下の説明において、「高圧」とは、冷凍サイクルにおける高圧(すなわち、図26、27、32、33の点D、D’、E、Hにおける圧力や図29、30の点D、D’、F、Hにおける圧力)を意味し、「低圧」とは、冷凍サイクルにおける低圧(すなわち、図26、27、32、33の点A、Fにおける圧力や図29、30の点A、Eにおける圧力)を意味し、「中間圧」とは、冷凍サイクルにおける中間圧(すなわち、図26、27、29、30、32、33の点B、C、G、G’、J、Kにおける圧力)を意味している。
冷房運転時は、切換機構3が図24及び図25の実線で示される冷却運転状態とされる。また、第1膨張機構5a及び第2膨張機構5bは、開度調節される。そして、切換機構3が冷却運転状態となるため、中間冷媒管8の中間熱交換器開閉弁12が開けられ、そして、中間熱交換器バイパス管9の中間熱交換器バイパス開閉弁11が閉められることによって、中間熱交換器7が冷却器として機能する状態にされる。さらに、第2後段側インジェクション弁19aは、開度調節される。より具体的には、本変形例において、第2後段側インジェクション弁19aは、エコノマイザ熱交換器20の第2後段側インジェクション管19側の出口における冷媒の過熱度が目標値になるように開度調節される、いわゆる過熱度制御がなされるようになっている。本変形例において、エコノマイザ熱交換器20の第2後段側インジェクション管19側の出口における冷媒の過熱度は、中間圧力センサ54により検出される中間圧を飽和温度に換算し、エコノマイザ出口温度センサ55により検出される冷媒温度からこの冷媒の飽和温度値を差し引くことによって得られる。尚、本変形例では採用していないが、エコノマイザ熱交換器20の第2後段側インジェクション管19側の入口に温度センサを設けて、この温度センサにより検出される冷媒温度をエコノマイザ出口温度センサ55により検出される冷媒温度から差し引くことによって、エコノマイザ熱交換器20の第2後段側インジェクション管19側の出口における冷媒の過熱度を得るようにしてもよい。また、第2後段側インジェクション弁19aの開度調節は、過熱度制御に限られるものではなく、例えば、冷媒回路210における冷媒循環量等に応じて所定開度だけ開けるようにするものであってもよい。
暖房運転時は、切換機構3が図24及び図28の破線で示される加熱運転状態とされる。また、第1膨張機構5a及び第2膨張機構5bは、開度調節される。そして、切換機構3が加熱運転状態となるため、中間冷媒管8の中間熱交換器開閉弁12が閉められ、そして、中間熱交換器バイパス管9の中間熱交換器バイパス開閉弁11が開けられることによって、中間熱交換器7が冷却器として機能しない状態にされる。さらに、第2後段側インジェクション弁19aは、冷房運転時と同様の開度調節がなされる。
この冷媒回路210の状態において、低圧の冷媒(図24、図28~図30の点A参照)は、吸入管2aから圧縮機構2に吸入され、まず、圧縮要素2cによって中間圧力まで圧縮された後に、中間冷媒管8に吐出される(図24、図28~図30の点B参照)。この前段側の圧縮要素2cから吐出された中間圧の冷媒は、上述の実施形態及びその変形例における暖房運転時と同様、中間熱交換器7を通過せずに(すなわち、冷却されることなく)、中間熱交換器バイパス管9を通過する(図24、図28~図30の点C参照)。この中間熱交換器7によって冷却されることなく中間熱交換器バイパス管9を通過した中間圧の冷媒は、第2後段側インジェクション管19から後段側の圧縮機構2dに戻される冷媒(図24、図28~図30の点K参照)と合流することでさらに冷却される(図24、図28~図30の点G参照)。次に、第2後段側インジェクション管19から戻る冷媒と合流した(すなわち、エコノマイザ熱交換器20による中間圧インジェクションが行われた)中間圧の冷媒は、圧縮要素2cの後段側に接続された圧縮要素2dに吸入されてさらに圧縮されて、圧縮機構2から吐出管2bに吐出される(図24、図28~図30の点D参照)。ここで、圧縮機構2から吐出された高圧の冷媒は、冷房運転時と同様、圧縮要素2c、2dによる二段圧縮動作によって、臨界圧力(すなわち、図29に示される臨界点CPにおける臨界圧力Pcp)を超える圧力まで圧縮されている。そして、この圧縮機構2から吐出された高圧の冷媒は、油分離機構41を構成する油分離器41aに流入し、同伴する冷凍機油が分離される。また、油分離器41aにおいて高圧の冷媒から分離された冷凍機油は、油分離機構41を構成する油戻し管41bに流入し、油戻し管41bに設けられた減圧機構41cで減圧された後に圧縮機構2の吸入管2aに戻されて、再び、圧縮機構2に吸入される。次に、油分離機構41において冷凍機油が分離された後の高圧の冷媒は、逆止機構42及び切換機構3を通じて、冷媒の放熱器として機能する利用側熱交換器6に送られて、冷却源としての水や空気と熱交換を行って冷却される(図24、図28~図30の点F参照)。そして、利用側熱交換器6において冷却された高圧の冷媒は、ブリッジ回路17の入口逆止弁17bを通じてレシーバ入口管18aに流入し、その一部が第2後段側インジェクション管19に分岐される。そして、第2後段側インジェクション管19を流れる冷媒は、第2後段側インジェクション弁19aにおいて中間圧付近まで減圧された後に、エコノマイザ熱交換器20に送られる(図24、図28~図30の点J参照)。また、第2後段側インジェクション管19に分岐された後の冷媒は、エコノマイザ熱交換器20に流入し、第2後段側インジェクション管19を流れる冷媒と熱交換を行って冷却される(図24、図28~図30の点H参照)。一方、第2後段側インジェクション管19を流れる冷媒は、放熱器としての利用側熱交換器6において冷却された高圧の冷媒と熱交換を行って加熱されて(図24、図28~図30の点K参照)、上述のように、前段側の圧縮要素2cから吐出された中間圧の冷媒に合流することになる。そして、エコノマイザ熱交換器20において冷却された高圧の冷媒は、第1膨張機構5aによって飽和圧力付近まで減圧されてレシーバ18内に一時的に溜められる(図24及び図28の点I参照)。そして、レシーバ18内に溜められた冷媒は、レシーバ出口管18bに送られて、第2膨張機構5bによって減圧されて低圧の気液二相状態の冷媒となり、ブリッジ回路17の出口逆止弁17dを通じて、冷媒の蒸発器として機能する熱源側熱交換器4に送られる(図24、図28~図30の点E参照)。そして、熱源側熱交換器4に送られた低圧の気液二相状態の冷媒は、熱源側熱交換器4において、熱源側ファン40によって供給される加熱源としての空気と熱交換を行って加熱されて、蒸発することになる(図24、図28~図30の点A参照)。そして、この熱源側熱交換器4において加熱されて蒸発した低圧の冷媒は、切換機構3を経由して、再び、圧縮機構2に吸入される。このようにして、暖房運転が行われる。
上述の実施形態では、切換機構3を冷却運転状態に切り換えることで熱源側熱交換器4の除霜を行う逆サイクル除霜運転を採用しているため、利用側熱交換器6を冷媒の放熱器として機能させたいのにもかかわらず、利用側熱交換器6を冷媒の蒸発器として機能させることになり、利用側の温度低下が生じるという問題がある。また、逆サイクル除霜運転は、熱源としての空気の温度が低い条件において、中間熱交換器7を冷却器として機能させない状態で行なわれる冷房運転であるため、冷凍サイクルにおける低圧が低くなり、前段側の圧縮要素2cから吸入される冷媒の流量が減少してしまう。そうすると、冷媒回路10を循環する冷媒の流量が減少し、熱源側熱交換器4を流れる冷媒の流量を確保できなくなるため、熱源側熱交換器4の除霜に時間がかかるという問題も生じる。そして、このような問題は、本変形例の構成においても当てはまる。
上述の変形例2における冷媒回路210(図24参照)においては、上述のように、切換機構3を冷却運転状態にする冷房運転及び切換機構3を加熱運転状態にする暖房運転のいずれにおいても、エコノマイザ熱交換器20による中間圧インジェクションを行うことで、後段側の圧縮要素2dから吐出される冷媒の温度を低下させるとともに、圧縮機構2の消費動力を減らし、運転効率の向上を図るようにしている。そして、エコノマイザ熱交換器20による中間圧インジェクションは、1つの利用側熱交換器6を有しており冷凍サイクルにおける高圧から冷凍サイクルの中間圧付近までの圧力差を利用できる冷媒回路構成では、有利であると考えられる。
しかし、複数の空調空間の空調負荷に応じた冷房や暖房を行うこと等を目的として、互いに並列に接続された複数の利用側熱交換器6を有する構成にするとともに、各利用側熱交換器6を流れる冷媒の流量を制御して各利用側熱交換器6において必要とされる冷凍負荷を得ることができるようにするために、気液分離器としてのレシーバ18と利用側熱交換器6との間において各利用側熱交換器6に対応するように利用側膨張機構5cを設ける場合がある。
そして、このような構成においても、切換機構3を冷却運転状態にする冷房運転のように、放熱器としての熱源側熱交換器4において冷却された後に熱源側膨張機構としての第1膨張機構5a以外に大幅な減圧操作が行われることなく、冷凍サイクルにおける高圧から冷凍サイクルの中間圧付近までの圧力差を利用できる条件においては、上述の変形例2と同様、エコノマイザ熱交換器20による中間圧インジェクションが有利である。
ここで、第2吸入戻し管95は、放熱器としての熱源側熱交換器4から蒸発器としての利用側熱交換器6に送られる冷媒を分岐して圧縮機構2の吸入側(すなわち、吸入管2a)に戻す冷媒管である。本変形例において、第2吸入戻し管95は、レシーバ18から利用側膨張機構5cに送られる冷媒を分岐するように設けられている。より具体的には、第2吸入戻し管95は、過冷却熱交換器96の上流側の位置(すなわち、レシーバ18と過冷却熱交換器96との間)から冷媒を分岐して吸入管2aに戻すように設けられている。この第2吸入戻し管95には、開度制御が可能な第2吸入戻し弁95aが設けられている。第2吸入戻し弁95aは、本変形例において、電動膨張弁である。
次に、本変形例の空気調和装置1の動作について、図34~図43を用いて説明する。ここで、図35は、冷房運転時における空気調和装置1内の冷媒の流れを示す図であり、図36は、冷房運転時の冷凍サイクルが図示された圧力-エンタルピ線図であり、図37は、冷房運転時の冷凍サイクルが図示された温度-エントロピ線図であり、図38は、暖房運転時における空気調和装置1内の冷媒の流れを示す図であり、図39は、暖房運転時の冷凍サイクルが図示された圧力-エンタルピ線図であり、図40は、暖房運転時の冷凍サイクルが図示された温度-エントロピ線図であり、図41は、除霜運転時における空気調和装置1内の冷媒の流れを示す図であり、図42は、除霜運転時の冷凍サイクルが図示された圧力-エンタルピ線図であり、図43は、除霜運転時の冷凍サイクルが図示された温度-エントロピ線図である。尚、以下の冷房運転、暖房運転及び除霜運転における運転制御は、上述の制御部(図示せず)によって行われる。また、以下の説明において、「高圧」とは、冷凍サイクルにおける高圧(すなわち、図36、37、42、43の点D、D’、E、H、I、Rにおける圧力や図39、40の点D、D’、Fにおける圧力)を意味し、「低圧」とは、冷凍サイクルにおける低圧(すなわち、図36、37、42、43の点A、F、S、Uにおける圧力や図39、40の点A、Eにおける圧力)を意味し、「中間圧」とは、冷凍サイクルにおける中間圧(すなわち、図36、37、42、43の点B、C、G、G’、J、Kにおける圧力や図39、40の点B、C、G、G’、I、L)を意味している。
冷房運転時は、切換機構3が図34及び図35の実線で示される冷却運転状態とされる。また、熱源側膨張機構としての第1膨張機構5a及び利用側膨張機構5cは、開度調節される。そして、切換機構3が冷却運転状態となるため、中間冷媒管8の中間熱交換器開閉弁12が開けられ、そして、中間熱交換器バイパス管9の中間熱交換器バイパス開閉弁11が閉められることによって、中間熱交換器7が冷却器として機能する状態にされる。また、切換機構3を冷却運転状態にしている際には、気液分離器としてのレシーバ18による中間圧インジェクションを行わずに、第2後段側インジェクション管19を通じて、エコノマイザ熱交換器20において加熱された冷媒を後段側の圧縮要素2dに戻すエコノマイザ熱交換器20による中間圧インジェクションを行うようにしている。より具体的には、第1後段側インジェクション開閉弁18dは閉状態にされて、第2後段側インジェクション弁19aは、上述の変形例2と同様の開度調節がなされる。さらに、切換機構3を冷却運転状態にしている際には、過冷却熱交換器96を使用するため、第2吸入戻し弁95aについても、開度調節される。より具体的には、本変形例において、第2吸入戻し弁95aは、過冷却熱交換器96の第2吸入戻し管95側の出口における冷媒の過熱度が目標値になるように開度調節される、いわゆる過熱度制御がなされるようになっている。本変形例において、過冷却熱交換器96の第2吸入戻し管95側の出口における冷媒の過熱度は、吸入圧力センサ60により検出される低圧を飽和温度に換算し、過冷却熱交出口温度センサ59により検出される冷媒温度からこの冷媒の飽和温度値を差し引くことによって得られる。尚、本変形例では採用していないが、過冷却熱交換器96の第2吸入戻し管95側の入口に温度センサを設けて、この温度センサにより検出される冷媒温度を過冷却熱交出口温度センサ59により検出される冷媒温度から差し引くことによって、過冷却熱交換器96の第2吸入戻し管95側の出口における冷媒の過熱度を得るようにしてもよい。また、第2吸入戻し弁95aの開度調節は、過熱度制御に限られるものではなく、例えば、冷媒回路310における冷媒循環量等に応じて所定開度だけ開けるようにするものであってもよい。
<暖房運転>
暖房運転時は、切換機構3が図34及び図38の破線で示される加熱運転状態とされる。また、熱源側膨張機構としての第1膨張機構5a及び利用側膨張機構5cは、開度調節される。そして、切換機構3が加熱運転状態となるため、中間冷媒管8の中間熱交換器開閉弁12が閉められ、そして、中間熱交換器バイパス管9の中間熱交換器バイパス開閉弁11が開けられることによって、中間熱交換器7が冷却器として機能しない状態にされる。また、切換機構3を加熱運転状態にしている際には、エコノマイザ熱交換器20による中間圧インジェクションを行わずに、第1後段側インジェクション管18cを通じて、気液分離器としてのレシーバ18から冷媒を後段側の圧縮要素2dに戻すレシーバ18による中間圧インジェクションを行うようにしている。より具体的には、第1後段側インジェクション開閉弁18dが開状態にされて、第2後段側インジェクション弁19aが全閉状態にされる。さらに、切換機構3を加熱運転状態にしている際には、過冷却熱交換器96を使用しないため、第2吸入戻し弁95aについても全閉状態にされる。
上述の実施形態では、切換機構3を冷却運転状態に切り換えることで熱源側熱交換器4の除霜を行う逆サイクル除霜運転を採用しているため、利用側熱交換器6を冷媒の放熱器として機能させたいのにもかかわらず、利用側熱交換器6を冷媒の蒸発器として機能させることになり、利用側の温度低下が生じるという問題がある。また、逆サイクル除霜運転は、熱源としての空気の温度が低い条件において、中間熱交換器7を冷却器として機能させない状態で行なわれる冷房運転であるため、冷凍サイクルにおける低圧が低くなり、前段側の圧縮要素2cから吸入される冷媒の流量が減少してしまう。そうすると、冷媒回路10を循環する冷媒の流量が減少し、熱源側熱交換器4を流れる冷媒の流量を確保できなくなるため、熱源側熱交換器4の除霜に時間がかかるという問題も生じる。そして、このような問題は、本変形例の構成においても当てはまる。
上述の実施形態及びその変形例では、1台の一軸二段圧縮構造の圧縮機21によって、2つの圧縮要素2c、2dのうちの前段側の圧縮要素から吐出された冷媒を後段側の圧縮要素で順次圧縮する二段圧縮式の圧縮機構2が構成されているが、三段圧縮式等のような二段圧縮式よりも多段の圧縮機構を採用してもよいし、また、単一の圧縮要素が組み込まれた圧縮機及び/又は複数の圧縮要素が組み込まれた圧縮機を複数台直列に接続することで多段の圧縮機構を構成してもよい。また、利用側熱交換器6が多数接続される場合等のように、圧縮機構の能力を大きくする必要がある場合には、多段圧縮式の圧縮機構を2系統以上並列に接続した並列多段圧縮式の圧縮機構を採用してもよい。
例えば、図44に示されるように、上述の変形例3における冷媒回路310(図34参照)において、二段圧縮式の圧縮機構2に代えて、二段圧縮式の圧縮機構103、104を並列に接続した圧縮機構102を採用した冷媒回路410にしてもよい。
また、中間熱交換器7は、本変形例において、中間冷媒管8を構成する中間母管82に設けられており、冷房運転時には、第1圧縮機構103の前段側の圧縮要素103cから吐出された冷媒と第2圧縮機構104の前段側の圧縮要素104cから吐出された冷媒とが合流したものを冷却する熱交換器である。すなわち、中間熱交換器7は、冷房運転時には、2つの圧縮機構103、104に共通の冷却器として機能するものとなっている。このため、多段圧縮式の圧縮機構103、104を複数系統並列に接続した並列多段圧縮式の圧縮機構102に対して中間熱交換器7を設ける際の圧縮機構102周りの回路構成の簡素化が図られている。
そして、本変形例の構成においても、上述の変形例3と同様の作用効果を得ることができる。
(7)他の実施形態
以上、本発明の実施形態及びその変形例について図面に基づいて説明したが、具体的な構成は、これらの実施形態及びその変形例に限られるものではなく、発明の要旨を逸脱しない範囲で変更可能である。
また、上述のチラータイプの空気調和装置の他の型式の冷凍装置であっても、冷却運転と加熱運転とを切り換え可能に構成された冷媒回路を有し、超臨界域で作動する冷媒を冷媒として使用して多段圧縮式冷凍サイクルを行うものであれば、本発明を適用可能である。
また、超臨界域で作動する冷媒としては、二酸化炭素に限定されず、エチレン、エタンや酸化窒素等を使用してもよい。
2、102 圧縮機構
3 切換機構
4 熱源側熱交換器
6 利用側熱交換器
7 中間熱交換器
8 中間冷媒管
9 中間熱交換器バイパス管
18c 第1後段側インジェクション管
19 第2後段側インジェクション管
Claims (3)
- 超臨界域で作動する冷媒を使用する冷凍装置であって、
複数の圧縮要素を有しており、前記複数の圧縮要素のうちの前段側の圧縮要素から吐出された冷媒を後段側の圧縮要素で順次圧縮するように構成された圧縮機構(2、102)と、
空気を熱源とする熱交換器であって、冷媒の放熱器又は蒸発器として機能する熱源側熱交換器(4)と、
冷媒の蒸発器又は放熱器として機能する利用側熱交換器(6)と、
前記圧縮機構、前記熱源側熱交換器、前記利用側熱交換器の順に冷媒を循環させる冷却運転状態と、前記圧縮機構、前記利用側熱交換器、前記熱源側熱交換器の順に冷媒を循環させる加熱運転状態とを切り換える切換機構(3)と、
前記熱源側熱交換器と一体化した空気を熱源とする熱交換器であって、前記前段側の圧縮要素から吐出された冷媒を前記後段側の圧縮要素に吸入させるための中間冷媒管(8)に設けられ、前記前段側の圧縮要素から吐出されて前記後段側の圧縮要素に吸入される冷媒の冷却器として機能する中間熱交換器(7)と、
前記中間熱交換器をバイパスするように前記中間冷媒管に接続されている中間熱交換器バイパス管(9)とを備え、
前記中間熱交換器は、前記熱源側熱交換器の上方に配置されており、
前記切換機構を前記冷却運転状態に切り換えることで前記熱源側熱交換器の除霜を行う逆サイクル除霜運転を行う際に、前記中間熱交換器バイパス管を用いて、前記中間熱交換器に冷媒が流れないようにする、
冷凍装置(1)。 - 前記熱源側熱交換器(4)又は前記利用側熱交換器(6)において放熱した冷媒を分岐して前記後段側の圧縮要素に戻すための後段側インジェクション管(18c、19)をさらに備え、
前記逆サイクル除霜運転を行う際に、前記後段側インジェクション管を用いて、前記熱源側熱交換器から前記利用側熱交換器に送られる冷媒を前記後段側の圧縮要素に戻す、
請求項1に記載の冷凍装置(1)。 - 前記超臨界域で作動する冷媒は、二酸化炭素である、請求項1又は2に記載の冷凍装置(1)。
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CN2009801147015A CN102016456B (zh) | 2008-04-22 | 2009-04-20 | 冷冻装置 |
EP09733732A EP2306127A1 (en) | 2008-04-22 | 2009-04-20 | Refrigeration device |
US12/988,031 US20110030409A1 (en) | 2008-04-22 | 2009-04-20 | Refrigeration apparatus |
AU2009239038A AU2009239038B2 (en) | 2008-04-22 | 2009-04-20 | Refrigeration apparatus |
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EP (1) | EP2306127A1 (ja) |
JP (1) | JP2009264605A (ja) |
KR (1) | KR101214310B1 (ja) |
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JP5594267B2 (ja) * | 2011-09-12 | 2014-09-24 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | 冷凍装置 |
CN103423919B (zh) * | 2012-05-23 | 2016-06-29 | 约克广州空调冷冻设备有限公司 | 空气源热泵系统和用于该空气源热泵系统的化霜排液方法 |
WO2014083680A1 (ja) * | 2012-11-30 | 2014-06-05 | 三菱電機株式会社 | 空気調和装置 |
JP5949831B2 (ja) * | 2014-05-28 | 2016-07-13 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | 冷凍装置 |
US11187447B2 (en) * | 2016-01-27 | 2021-11-30 | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Refrigeration cycle apparatus |
CN105928244A (zh) * | 2016-06-24 | 2016-09-07 | 海信(山东)空调有限公司 | 一种空调制冷剂循环系统、空调器及空调器控制方法 |
US11268740B2 (en) * | 2016-09-30 | 2022-03-08 | Daikin Industries, Ltd. | Refrigeration apparatus |
JP2018058666A (ja) * | 2016-10-04 | 2018-04-12 | 富士ゼロックス株式会社 | 原稿搬送装置、画像読取り装置および画像形成装置 |
US11105544B2 (en) * | 2016-11-07 | 2021-08-31 | Trane International Inc. | Variable orifice for a chiller |
CN107120861B (zh) * | 2017-06-14 | 2023-12-05 | 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 | 热泵系统 |
WO2020115812A1 (ja) * | 2018-12-04 | 2020-06-11 | 三菱電機株式会社 | 空気調和機 |
JP7331021B2 (ja) * | 2019-02-06 | 2023-08-22 | 三菱電機株式会社 | 冷凍サイクル装置 |
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- 2009-04-20 EP EP09733732A patent/EP2306127A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2009-04-20 KR KR1020107026016A patent/KR101214310B1/ko active IP Right Grant
- 2009-04-20 CN CN2009801147015A patent/CN102016456B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2009-04-20 WO PCT/JP2009/057824 patent/WO2009131083A1/ja active Application Filing
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KR20100135925A (ko) | 2010-12-27 |
US20110030409A1 (en) | 2011-02-10 |
AU2009239038B2 (en) | 2012-05-17 |
CN102016456A (zh) | 2011-04-13 |
KR101214310B1 (ko) | 2012-12-20 |
JP2009264605A (ja) | 2009-11-12 |
EP2306127A1 (en) | 2011-04-06 |
AU2009239038A1 (en) | 2009-10-29 |
CN102016456B (zh) | 2013-08-28 |
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