WO2014076891A1

WO2014076891A1 - Environmental testing device

Info

Publication number: WO2014076891A1
Application number: PCT/JP2013/006311
Authority: WO
Inventors: 小林　誠
Original assignee: ナガノサイエンス株式会社
Priority date: 2012-11-15
Filing date: 2013-10-24
Publication date: 2014-05-22
Also published as: JP2014098521A

Abstract

The cooling device (40) of an environmental testing device is equipped with: a principal cooling circuit (41a) and an auxiliary cooling circuit (41b); a heat storage tank (50) for storing brine and cooling the brine using one of the evaporators (45a, 45b) in the two coolant circuits (41a, 41b); and a cooling-heat exchanger (54) for cooling and dehumidifying the air in a testing chamber by using the brine, and to which the brine from the heat storage tank (50) is supplied.

Description

Environmental test equipment

The present invention relates to an environmental test apparatus.

Conventionally, in a stability test for pharmaceuticals and the like, a constant temperature and humidity chamber (chamber) is disclosed, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 in order to test the performance of a product under conditions of a predetermined temperature and a predetermined humidity. There is known an environmental test apparatus including The environmental test equipment is equipped with a refrigerator, a heater, and a humidifier. The test chamber of the thermo-hygrostat surrounded by a heat insulating wall is cooled and dehumidified by the refrigerator, and heated by the heater and humidifier. It is warmed and humidified to maintain the target temperature and humidity.

JP 7-140061 A

By the way, in the environmental test apparatus as described above, since the cooling and dehumidifying action by the refrigerator greatly contributes to the temperature and humidity control, if the refrigerator breaks down, the temperature and humidity control cannot be performed, and the apparatus must be temporarily stopped. I must. Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a spare refrigerator and operate the spare refrigerator when the main refrigerator fails. However, in this case, there is a problem that the temperature and humidity in the test chamber is greatly disturbed because the cooling and dehumidifying action is reduced when switching from the main refrigerator to the spare refrigerator.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object thereof is to stably control the temperature and humidity of the test room even if the refrigeration apparatus breaks down.

The first invention is directed to an environmental test apparatus including a constant temperature and humidity chamber having a test chamber and a refrigeration apparatus for cooling and dehumidifying the test chamber. The refrigeration apparatus includes a main heat source unit, a preliminary heat source unit for the main heat source unit, a heat storage tank in which a heat medium is stored, and the heat medium is cooled by one of the two heat source units, and the heat storage unit. The tank is supplied with a heat medium, and includes a cooling heat exchanger that cools and dehumidifies the air in the test chamber by the heat medium.

In the first invention, the heat medium in the heat storage tank is cooled and stored by the main heat source machine. In the cooling heat exchanger, the heat medium in the heat storage tank and the air in the test chamber exchange heat, and the air is cooled and dehumidified. Here, when the main heat source machine stops due to a failure or the like, the standby heat source machine is operated. Even at the time of switching from the main heat source unit to the standby heat source unit, a low-temperature heat medium is supplied from the heat storage tank to the cooling heat exchanger. Therefore, sufficient cooling capacity and dehumidifying capacity are exhibited in the cooling heat exchanger.

According to a second invention, in the first invention, each of the heat source units includes a refrigerant circuit that performs a refrigeration cycle by connecting a compression mechanism, a condenser, an expansion mechanism, and an evaporator. The heat medium in the heat storage tank is cooled.

In the second invention, in the refrigerant circuit, the refrigerant compressed by the compression mechanism is condensed by the condenser, decompressed by the expansion mechanism, and then evaporated by exchanging heat with the heat medium in the heat storage tank. Thereby, the heat medium of a thermal storage tank is cooled.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the two heat source units include a thermoelectric element that cools the heat medium of the heat storage tank.

In the third invention, the heat medium in the heat storage tank absorbs heat by the heat absorption part (cooling part) of the thermoelectric element. Thereby, the heat medium of a thermal storage tank is cooled. In the thermoelectric element, the heat absorbed from the heat medium is radiated from the heat radiating part (heating part).

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, each of the heat source devices includes a plurality of the thermoelectric elements, and the thermoelectric elements sequentially perform a cooling operation for each predetermined time.

In the fourth invention, the thermoelectric elements are sequentially operated for a predetermined time. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, only one thermoelectric element is activated from among the plurality of thermoelectric elements. And when predetermined time passes, while the thermoelectric element which was drive | operating will stop, another thermoelectric element will start. This operation cycle is performed in a plurality of thermoelectric elements.

As described above, according to the present invention, since the main heat source device for cooling the heat medium and the spare heat source device are provided, even if the main heat source device stops due to a failure or the like, the heat medium is cooled by the spare heat source device. can do. Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the heat storage tank for storing the heat medium cooled by the main heat source apparatus is provided, the low-temperature heat medium in the heat storage tank is cooled even when switching from the main heat source apparatus to the standby heat source apparatus. It can be supplied to a heat exchanger. Therefore, sufficient cooling capacity and dehumidifying capacity can be exhibited in the cooling heat exchanger. As a result, the temperature and humidity in the test chamber can be stably controlled.

Further, according to the second invention, the main heat source device and the preliminary heat source device cool the heat medium in the heat storage tank by the refrigerant circuit that performs the refrigeration cycle, and therefore, the cooling capacity for the heat medium can be sufficiently obtained. Therefore, cold heat can be sufficiently stored in the heat storage tank. As a result, the temperature and humidity in the test chamber can be controlled more stably even when switching from the main heat source unit to the standby heat source unit.

Further, according to the third invention, the main heat source device and the standby heat source device cool the heat medium in the heat storage tank by the thermoelectric element, so that the configuration of both the heat source devices and the refrigeration apparatus can be made compact.

In addition, according to the fourth invention, the plurality of thermoelectric elements are sequentially cooled (operated) for a predetermined time in order, so that the life per thermoelectric element can be extended. Thereby, the temperature and humidity control of the test chamber can be stabilized over a long period of time.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of an environmental test apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a piping diagram illustrating the configuration of the refrigeration apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a piping diagram illustrating the configuration of the refrigeration apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 4 is a time chart showing the operating state of the Peltier module.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are essentially preferable examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, its application, or its use.

Embodiment 1
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The environmental test apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is used for, for example, a stability test of pharmaceuticals or the like, and for that purpose, the temperature and humidity in the test chamber S of the constant temperature and humidity chamber 11 (chamber) are stable within a preset range. To maintain.

As shown in FIG. 1, the constant temperature and humidity chamber 11 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a door 12 is attached from the upper end of the front surface (the left surface in FIG. 1) to the center portion so that the door 12 can be opened and closed. On the front surface of the door 12, although not shown, an operation panel for setting a temperature and humidity that are control targets and a display for displaying setting values and the like are arranged in the vertical direction.

A lattice-like air outlet 13a is opened above the partition wall 13 on the back side (right side in FIG. 1) in the test chamber S, and conditioned air whose temperature and humidity are adjusted by the air conditioner 20 is supplied to the test chamber by the fan 70. S is supplied. After this conditioned air circulates in the test chamber S, it is circulated from the air suction port 13b below the partition wall 13 to the air conditioner 20 side.

In addition, in this embodiment, although the air blower outlet 13a is opened in the upper part of the division | segmentation wall 13 of the back | inner side in the test room S, and the air suction inlet 13b is each opened in the lower part, it is an example to the last, The opening positions of the air outlet 13a and the air inlet 13b can be set as appropriate.

In the test chamber S, two shelf plates 14 are arranged vertically and a sample is placed on each shelf plate 14. The number of shelves 14 and the arrangement thereof are not limited to this form, and can be set as appropriate.

The air outlet 13a is provided with a temperature and humidity sensor (not shown) in the constant temperature and humidity chamber 11, and the temperature, relative humidity, and absolute humidity of the air blown from the air outlet 13a according to the measured value of the temperature and humidity sensor. Is measured. The location of the temperature / humidity sensor is not limited to the vicinity of the air outlet 13a, but may be provided in the vicinity of the air inlet. A measurement signal from the temperature / humidity sensor is transmitted to the controller 80 disposed in the lower part of the constant temperature and humidity chamber 11. The controller 80 controls the air conditioner 20 according to the measured value of the temperature / humidity sensor so that the temperature and humidity in the test chamber S are set in advance.

The air conditioner 20 appropriately adjusts the temperature, humidity, flow rate, and the like of the conditioned air supplied into the test chamber S through the air outlet 13a according to the control signal output from the controller 80. The air conditioner 20 includes a humidifier 30, a refrigerating device 40, a heating device 60, and a fan 70.

The humidifier 30 includes a heater 31 and a receiving tray 32 that stores water for humidification. The heater 31 heats the water for humidification with a heating amount corresponding to the supplied electric energy. The tray 32 is supplied with water from a water supply tank (not shown) provided outside the test chamber S. Then, the humidifier 30 performs an operation of evaporating the water stored in the tray 32 with the heater 31 and humidifying the air to the set humidity based on the control signal output from the controller 80. Thereby, the humidifier 30 humidifies the inside of the test room S with the humidification amount according to the supplied electric energy.

The refrigeration apparatus 40 performs an operation of cooling the circulated air to the dew point temperature calculated based on the set temperature and the set humidity based on the control signal output from the controller 80. As a result, the necessary amount of water at the set temperature and set humidity is ensured. The configuration of the refrigeration apparatus 40 will be described in detail later.

The heating device 60 performs an operation of raising the air cooled by the refrigeration device 40 to a set temperature based on the control signal output from the controller 80. Thereby, the heating device 60 heats the inside of the test chamber S with a heating amount corresponding to the supplied power amount.

The fan 70 operates so as to circulate conditioned air conditioned by the humidifying device 30, the refrigeration device 40, and the heating device 60 into the test chamber S. In this way, the air in the test chamber S is circulated by the fan 70, the humidifier 30, the refrigeration device 40, and the heating device 60 are operated as necessary, and the temperature and humidity in the test chamber S are detected by the temperature and humidity sensor. By performing feedback control, the temperature and humidity in the test chamber S are stably maintained within a preset range.

-Configuration of refrigeration equipment-
As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigeration apparatus 40 according to the present embodiment includes a main refrigerant circuit 41 a, a preliminary refrigerant circuit 41 b, a heat storage tank 50, and a heat medium circuit 51.

The main refrigerant circuit 41a constitutes a main heat source unit, the spare refrigerant circuit 41b constitutes a spare heat source unit of the main heat source unit, and both

refrigerant circuits

41a and 41b have the same circuit configuration. Specifically, in each

refrigerant circuit

41a, 41b,

compressors

42a, 42b (compression mechanism),

condensers

43a, 43b,

expansion valves

44a, 44b (expansion mechanism), and

evaporators

45a, 45b are connected in order. Closed circuit. Each

refrigerant circuit

41a, 41b is configured to perform a vapor compression refrigeration cycle by circulating the refrigerant.

The heat storage tank 50 stores brine as a heat medium. The heat storage tank 50 is connected to the

evaporators

45a and 45b of the

refrigerant circuits

41a and 41b, and the brine is cooled by the

evaporators

45a and 45b. And the heat storage tank 50 stores the cold of brine.

The heat medium circuit 51 is provided with a cooling heat exchanger 54 in which brine circulates between the heat storage tank 50 and the circulation path 52. The circulation path 52 is provided with a pump 53 for circulating the brine. The cooling heat exchanger 54 is configured to exchange heat between the brine and the air in the test chamber S taken in by the fan 70. That is, in the cooling heat exchanger 54, the air in the test chamber S is cooled and dehumidified by heat exchange with the brine.

-Operation of refrigeration equipment-
In the refrigeration apparatus 40, either the main refrigerant circuit 41a or the auxiliary refrigerant circuit 41b is operated. Further, the main refrigerant circuit 41a is operated with priority, and the auxiliary refrigerant circuit 41b is operated when the main refrigerant circuit 41a becomes inoperable due to a failure or the like.

In each

refrigerant circuit

41a, 41b, when the

compressors

42a, 42b are driven, the refrigerant is compressed by the

compressors

42a, 42b and discharged. The discharged refrigerant is condensed by exchanging heat with, for example, air in the

condensers

43a and 43b. The condensed refrigerant is decompressed to a predetermined pressure by the

expansion valves

44a and 44b and then flows to the

evaporators

45a and 45b. In the

evaporators

45a and 45b, the refrigerant evaporates by exchanging heat with the brine in the heat storage tank 50, and the brine is cooled. In the heat storage tank 50, the cold energy of the cooled brine is stored.

In the heat medium circuit 51, when the pump 53 is driven, the brine circulates between the heat storage tank 50 and the cooling heat exchanger 54. In the cooling heat exchanger 54, the low-temperature brine supplied from the heat storage tank 50 exchanges heat with the air in the test chamber S. Thereby, the air of the test room S is cooled to the dew point temperature calculated based on the set temperature and the set humidity. Note that the heat-exchanged brine returns to the heat storage tank 50 again.

During the operation described above, if the main refrigerant circuit 41a becomes inoperable due to a failure or the like, the auxiliary refrigerant circuit 41b is operated. At the time of switching from the main refrigerant circuit 41a to the spare refrigerant circuit 41b, brine is continuously supplied from the heat storage tank 50 to the cooling heat exchanger 54. Immediately after switching to the auxiliary refrigerant circuit 41b (that is, immediately after starting the auxiliary refrigerant circuit 41b), the cooling capacity in the evaporator 45b of the auxiliary refrigerant circuit 41b is not sufficient. Therefore, immediately after the start of the auxiliary refrigerant circuit 41b, the cooling capacity for the brine of the heat storage tank 50 is reduced. However, since the cold heat of the brine is sufficiently stored in the heat storage tank 50, it is possible to supply a sufficiently low-temperature brine to the cooling heat exchanger 54 even immediately after the standby refrigerant circuit 41b is activated. Thereby, the cooling capacity in the cooling heat exchanger 54 can be sufficiently maintained.

-Effect of Embodiment 1-
According to the present embodiment, since the refrigeration apparatus 40 is provided with the main refrigerant circuit 41a for cooling the brine and the auxiliary refrigerant circuit 41b, even if the main refrigerant circuit 41a stops due to a failure or the like, the auxiliary refrigerant circuit 41b The brine can be cooled. Furthermore, since the heat storage tank 50 for storing the brine cooled by the main refrigerant circuit 41a is provided, a sufficiently low-temperature brine in the heat storage tank 50 is provided even when switching from the main refrigerant circuit 41a to the auxiliary refrigerant circuit 41b. The cooling heat exchanger 54 can be supplied. Therefore, sufficient cooling capacity and dehumidifying capacity can be maintained in the cooling heat exchanger 54. As a result, the temperature and humidity in the test chamber S can be stably controlled.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the refrigeration apparatus 40 is inflated, and the spare circuit (preliminary refrigerant circuit 41b) is provided only for the refrigerant circuit on the primary side, so that the spare apparatus for the entire refrigeration apparatus The refrigeration apparatus 40 can be made more compact than the case where the refrigeration apparatus is provided.

<< Embodiment 2 >>
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present embodiment is obtained by changing the configuration of the refrigeration apparatus 40 in the first embodiment. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the refrigeration apparatus 40 of the present embodiment includes a main Peltier module 46a and a spare Peltier instead of the first embodiment provided with the main refrigerant circuit 41a and the spare refrigerant circuit 41b. A module 46b is provided.

In the refrigeration apparatus 40 of the present embodiment, the main Peltier module 46a constitutes a main heat source machine, and the spare Peltier module 46b constitutes a spare heat source machine. The refrigeration apparatus 40 includes a plurality of main Peltier modules 46a and spare Peltier modules 46b (three in this embodiment as an example). Each

Peltier module

46 a, 46 b has

Peltier elements

47 a, 47 b (thermoelectric elements) and

aluminum jackets

48 a, 48 b, and is attached to the outer wall surface of the heat storage tank 50.

When the

Peltier elements

47a and 47b are energized, a heat absorbing part (cooling part) and a heat radiating part (heating part) are formed. The

jackets

48a and 48b are attached to the outer wall surface of the heat storage tank 50 so that the brine in the heat storage tank 50 circulates inside. In each

Peltier module

46a, 46b, the brine flowing through the

jackets

48a, 48b is absorbed by the heat absorbing portions of the

Peltier elements

47a, 47b and cooled. Thereby, the brine of the heat storage tank 50 is cooled.

In the refrigeration apparatus 40 of the present embodiment, one of the main Peltier module 46a and the spare Peltier module 46b is operated. Also, the main Peltier module 46a is operated with priority, and the spare Peltier module 46b is operated when the main Peltier module 46a becomes inoperable due to a failure or the like.

And also in this embodiment, at the time of switching from the main Peltier module 46a to the spare Peltier module 46b, a sufficiently low-temperature brine in the heat storage tank 50 can be supplied to the cooling heat exchanger 54. Therefore, sufficient cooling capacity and dehumidifying capacity can be maintained in the cooling heat exchanger 54. As a result, the temperature and humidity in the test chamber S can be stably controlled.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the

Peltier modules

46a and 46b are relatively small, the refrigeration apparatus 40 can be made compact.

Further, in the refrigeration apparatus 40 of the present embodiment, not only a mode in which all three main Peltier modules 46a are operated simultaneously, but also a mode in which each main Peltier module 46a sequentially performs a cooling operation for a predetermined time ta. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, only the first main Peltier module 46a set in advance among the three main Peltier modules 46a is operated. When a predetermined time ta elapses from the start of the operation, the first main Peltier module 46a that has been operating is stopped, while another second main Peltier module 46a is operated. When a predetermined time ta has elapsed from the start of the operation, the second main Peltier module 46a that has been operating is stopped, while another third main Peltier module 46a is operated. When a predetermined time ta has elapsed from the start of the operation, the third main Peltier module 46a that has been operating stops, while the first first main Peltier module 46a is operated again. In this way, each main Peltier module 46a is operated in turn for a predetermined time ta. By operating in this way, the lifetime per Peltier element 47a can be extended. Thereby, the temperature and humidity control of the test chamber S can be stabilized over a long period of time. The spare Peltier module 46b can be operated similarly.

<< Other Embodiments >>
In the environmental test apparatus 10 of the above embodiment, the configuration including the constant temperature and humidity chamber 11 having the test chamber S therein has been described, but the size of the test chamber S is not particularly limited. That is, it may be configured to include a constant temperature and humidity chamber having the test chamber S as a room of a size that allows an operator to enter and exit.

The present invention is useful for the environmental test apparatus 10 including a refrigeration apparatus for cooling and dehumidifying the test chamber.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Environmental test apparatus 11 Constant temperature and humidity tank 40 Refrigeration apparatus 41a Main refrigerant circuit (main heat source machine)
41b Preliminary refrigerant circuit (preliminary heat source machine)
42a, 42b Compressor (compression mechanism)
43a, 43b

Condensers

44a, 44b Expansion valves (expansion mechanism)
45a, 45b Evaporator 46a Main Peltier module (main heat source)
46b Spare Peltier module (spare heat source)
47a, 47b Peltier elements (thermoelectric elements)
50 Heat storage tank 54 Cooling heat exchanger S Test room

Claims

An environmental test apparatus comprising a constant temperature and humidity chamber having a test chamber and a refrigeration apparatus for cooling and dehumidifying the test chamber,
The refrigeration apparatus includes a main heat source unit, a preliminary heat source unit for the main heat source unit, a heat storage tank in which a heat medium is stored, and the heat medium is cooled by one of the two heat source units, An environmental test apparatus comprising a cooling heat exchanger to which a heat medium is supplied and that cools and dehumidifies the air in the test chamber by the heat medium.
In claim 1,
The both heat source units include a refrigerant circuit that performs a refrigeration cycle by connecting a compression mechanism, a condenser, an expansion mechanism, and an evaporator, and cools the heat medium in the heat storage tank by the evaporator. Environmental test equipment.
In claim 1,
The both heat source units have a thermoelectric element that cools the heat medium of the heat storage tank.
In claim 3,
The both heat source devices include a plurality of the thermoelectric elements, and the thermoelectric elements are configured to sequentially perform a cooling operation for each predetermined time.