JP3079998B2 - Ice storage device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat storage medium, such as water or an aqueous solution, which is cooled to a supercooled state in a circulation path, and then the ice is generated by eliminating the supercooled state. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improvement in an ice making operation in a portion for generating and holding seed ice for quickly performing supercooling elimination operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an ice heat storage device provided in an ice storage type air conditioner or the like, in view of reducing power demand during peak cooling load and expanding power demand during off-peak time. In addition, there is known an apparatus in which slurry-like ice to be used as cooling heat at the time of a cooling load peak is generated at the time of a cooling load off-peak and stored in a heat storage tank.

As one example of this type of ice heat storage device, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion mechanism, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by refrigerant piping as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 4-251177. One having a refrigerant circulation circuit, a heat storage tank, a pump, a water circulation circuit formed by sequentially connecting a supercooled water generating heat exchanger capable of exchanging heat with the evaporator and a supercooling elimination unit by a water pipe. Are known.

[0004] In the ice making operation of this type of ice heat storage device, water taken out from a heat storage tank to a water pipe is exchanged with a refrigerant of an evaporator in a supercooled water generating heat exchanger to be cooled to a supercooled state. Then, the supercooling elimination section eliminates the supercooling state to generate slurry ice. Then, the ice is supplied to a heat storage tank via a water pipe and stored.

[0005] Further, in such an operation of generating ice,
In order to quickly perform the operation of eliminating supercooling, it has been proposed to supply ice nuclei made of fine-grained ice into supercooled water (Japanese Patent Application No. 7-284966). Specifically, an ice nucleus generation unit is provided downstream of the supercooled water generation heat exchanger in the water circulation circuit, and a part of the water cooled to the supercooled state in the supercooled water generation heat exchanger is used as the ice nucleation unit. In the above, fine-grained ice (ice nuclei) is made to flow toward the supercooling elimination section, so that the supercooling elimination section performs the supercooling elimination operation around the ice nuclei to store the ice for heat storage. It is generated. As a configuration of the ice nucleus generating unit, a container having an ice chamber communicating with the inside of the water pipe on the downstream side of the supercooled water generating heat exchanger was provided, and a refrigerant evaporation space was provided on the back side of the ice chamber. A refrigerant evaporation container is provided. Then, heat is exchanged between the refrigerant evaporating in the evaporating space and the water around the ice chamber to convert the water to ice, and the ice chamber is filled with ice, which is retained as seed ice for generating ice nuclei. I am trying to do it.

[0006] By constantly flowing the refrigerant in the evaporating space, if the supercooled water generating heat exchanger or the like freezes,
A thawing operation for melting this is performed, so that even if relatively high temperature water flows in the water pipe, the seed ice in the ice chamber is not melted, and when the ice making operation is resumed after the thawing operation is completed. In addition, ice can be produced by rapid supply of ice nuclei.

[0007]

However, in the above configuration, when the ice making operation is continuously performed for a long time without freezing of the supercooled water generating heat exchanger or the like, However, the temperature of the seed ice held in the ice chamber decreases, and the ice in the ice chamber grows and protrudes greatly into the water pipes. When the ice nucleus having a relatively large diameter flows through the water pipe due to the increase of the ice or the large overhanging ice peels off from the tube wall, the supercooling elimination operation until reaching the supercooling elimination part causes the large diameter ice nucleus to move. Ice may be generated, and a part of the route may be blocked to reduce the circulation amount, which may significantly reduce the ice making efficiency.

In order to avoid such a situation, it is necessary to perform a thaw operation periodically to circulate relatively high-temperature water through a water pipe to suppress excessive growth of seed ice. However, in this case, the thawing operation is forcibly performed even though the freezing of the supercooled water generating heat exchanger or the like does not occur, so that the ice making efficiency is reduced and the ice making operation time is prolonged. There is such a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to improve the operation of generating seed ice so as to obtain a situation in which good seed ice is always held in an ice nucleus generating unit. With the goal.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, the cooling operation for generating seed ice in the ice nucleus generating unit (seed ice generating means) is intermittently performed. In this way, the seed ice is prevented from growing more than necessary.

More specifically, as shown in FIG.
(1), a heat source side heat exchanger (3), an expansion mechanism (52a), and a refrigerant heat exchange section (42a) are connected by a refrigerant pipe (8) so that refrigerant can be circulated by a refrigerant circulation circuit. (A) and a heat storage tank (T) for storing a heat storage medium (W);
A heat storage medium heat exchange section (42) capable of exchanging heat between the circulation means (P) for pumping the heat storage medium (W) and the refrigerant heat exchange section (42a).
b) and a heat storage circulating circuit (B) which is connected to the heat storage medium (W) by a circulation pipe (45) so as to be circulated.
Further, seed ice (I) for eliminating supercooling is produced and the seed ice (I)
Cooling means (81) for cooling and holding
Heat storage for ice (I) flowing downstream of the heat storage medium heat exchange section (42b)
Seed ice generating means (46) to be brought into contact with the medium (W), and the refrigerant evaporated in the refrigerant heat exchange section (42a) and the heat storage medium heat exchange section (42b)
Heat exchange between the liquid storage medium (W) flowing through the heat storage medium (W) and the heat storage medium (W) to a supercooled state,
The seed ice (I) of (46) is brought into contact with the supercooled heat storage medium (W).
'Generates, ice nuclei (I minute particle of ice nuclei (I)' Te produce ice for heat storage by eliminating the supercooled state by passing a) in the heat storage medium in the supercooled state (W) Ice making operation means (71) for performing an ice making operation to recover the ice in the heat storage tank (T) and intermittently cooling the seed ice (I) by the cooling means (81) during the ice making operation by the ice making operation means (71). And intermittent control means (72).

With this configuration, during the ice making operation, the ice making operation means (71) heats the refrigerant evaporated in the refrigerant heat exchange section (42a) and the liquid phase heat storage medium flowing through the heat storage medium heat exchange section (42b). The heat storage medium is cooled to a supercooled state by exchanging the heat storage medium, and after the heat storage medium is led out of the heat storage medium heat exchange section (42b), the supercooled state is eliminated to generate ice, and the ice is stored in the heat storage tank (42). Collect at T). And during this ice making operation,
The intermittent control means (72) intermittently performs the cooling operation of the heat storage medium by the cooling means (81). For this reason, the growth of seed ice can be suppressed without performing an operation such as periodically thawing the water to circulate relatively high-temperature water through the water pipe.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the ice heat storage device according to the first aspect, wherein the seed ice (I) is brought into contact with the cooling means (81) to form an ice block (Ia) having a temperature below the freezing point. , Ice core (Ib) in contact with liquid-phase heat storage medium (W) in circulation pipe (45)
And Further, an ice block temperature detecting means (Th-I1) for detecting the temperature of the ice block section (Ia) is provided. Then, the intermittent control means (72) receives the output of the ice block temperature detecting means (Th-I1), and when the temperature of the ice block section (Ia) falls below a predetermined temperature, the cooling means.
While stopping the cooling operation by (81), this ice block (Ia)
When the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the cooling operation is started.

Thus, it is recognized whether or not the seed ice (I) is likely to grow depending on the temperature of the ice block (Ia), and the cooling operation of the cooling means (81) by the cooling means (81) is controlled based on this. As a result, an appropriate cooling operation of the cooling means (81) according to the degree of growth of the seed ice (I) can be obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ice heat storage device of the first aspect, the intermittent control means (72) includes a cooling means.
The cooling operation and the cooling stop operation according to (81) are alternately repeated at predetermined time intervals.

As a result, the ice making operation can be performed with a relatively simple control operation while suppressing the excessive growth of the seed ice (I).

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the seed ice is prevented from growing more than necessary by appropriately setting the cooling temperature of the heat storage medium by the cooling means. In particular,
Instead of the intermittent control means according to the first aspect of the present invention, the cooling temperature of the cooling means (81) during the ice making operation is
The heat storage medium (W) is set at a value slightly lower than the solidification temperature of the heat storage medium (W) so as to suppress the growth of the seed ice (I) that would block the circulation pipe (45).

With this configuration, it is possible to suppress unnecessary growth of the seed ice (I) such that the circulation pipe (45) is blocked while always performing the cooling operation by the cooling means (81). Therefore, there is no need for the cooling means (81) to perform a cooling operation and a cooling stop operation.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the ice heat storage device of the first or fourth aspect, the cooling means (81) discharges from the compressor (1) and condenses in the heat source side heat exchanger (3). After doing
An evaporating space (81a) is provided in which the refrigerant decompressed by the expansion mechanism (52a) is supplied and the evaporator evaporates, and the evaporating space (81a)
The heat storage medium (W) is cooled by the refrigerant that evaporates in the above.

According to this configuration, the cooling operation of the cooling means (81) can be performed using the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit (A).
Seed ice (I) can be generated without the need for a separate cooling medium.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the ice heat storage device of the first or fourth aspect, the cooling means (81) is a Peltier element.

According to this configuration, the cooling means (81) can quickly obtain the cold required for cooling the heat storage medium,
The time for generating seed ice (I) can be reduced.

[0023]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows the overall configuration of a refrigerant circuit (A) provided in the ice regenerative air conditioner according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a water circulation circuit as a heat storage circulation circuit.
It is a detailed view of (B). As shown in FIG. 2, the present air conditioner has an outdoor unit (X) and a plurality of indoor units (Y, Y, Y).
Are connected by liquid-side and gas-side connecting pipes (RL, RG) which constitute a part of the refrigerant circuit (A). Hereinafter, the refrigerant circuit (A) and the water circuit (B) will be described.

-Description of Refrigerant Circulation Circuit- First, the main circuit configuration of the refrigerant circulation circuit (A) will be described.

This refrigerant circuit (A) is an outdoor unit
(X), an outdoor heat exchanger (3) as a heat source side heat exchanger in which a four-way switching valve (2), an outdoor fan (F) is disposed in close proximity, and a receiver (4) And first outdoor electric expansion valve
(5), a plurality of indoor electric expansion valves (6, 6, 6) provided in the indoor unit (Y), and an indoor heat exchanger (7, 7, 7) as a use-side heat exchanger are connected with refrigerant pipes. (8) A main refrigerant circuit (A-1) sequentially connected by (8).

A detailed description will be given of the connection state of each device by the refrigerant pipe (8). A gas side pipe (10) is provided at one end on the gas side of the outdoor heat exchanger (3), and a gas side pipe (10) is provided at the other end on the liquid side. Are connected to liquid side pipes (11), respectively. Gas side piping
(10) is connected to the discharge side and the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) by a four-way switching valve (2) so as to be switchable. That is, the gas side pipe (10) is connected between the discharge side of the compression mechanism (1) and the four-way switching valve.
(2), a second discharge gas line (10b) connecting the four-way switching valve (2) and the outdoor heat exchanger (3), a four-way switching valve (2). ) And a suction gas line (10c) connecting the suction side of the compression mechanism (1). Also,
The intake gas line (10c) is provided with an accumulator (12).

On the other hand, the liquid side pipe (11) is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger (3).
A first liquid line (11a) connecting the receiver and the receiver (4), a second liquid line (11b) connecting the receiver (4) and the first outdoor electric expansion valve (5), and an outdoor electric expansion valve (5) And a third liquid line (11c) for connecting the liquid side communication pipe (RL) with the third liquid line (11c). The first liquid line (11a) has a receiver from the outdoor heat exchanger (3).
Check valve (CV1) that allows only refrigerant flow to (4)
However, in the third liquid line (11c), two check valves (CV2, CV3) each permitting only the flow of the refrigerant from the outdoor electric expansion valve (5) to the liquid side communication pipe (RL) are provided. Have been.

Also, a check valve in the first liquid line (11a)
The fourth liquid line (11d) is connected between (CV1) and the receiver (4) and the downstream side of the check valve (CV3) in the third liquid line (11c). The fourth liquid line (11d) is provided with a check valve (CV4) that allows only the flow of the refrigerant from the third liquid line (11c) to the first liquid line (11a).

The liquid side communication pipe (RL) is connected to the liquid side of each indoor heat exchanger (7, 7, 7) via a plurality of indoor liquid pipes (7a, 7a, 7a). . Each of the indoor liquid pipes (7a, 7a, 7a) is provided with the indoor electric expansion valve (6, 6, 6).

On the other hand, the gas side communication pipe (RG) is connected to each indoor heat exchanger (7, 7, 7) via a plurality of indoor gas pipes (7b, 7b, 7b).
Is connected to the gas side. In addition, this gas side communication pipe (R
G) is connected to a four-way switching valve (2) via a gas pipe (15), and the connection state between the discharge side and the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) is switched by the four-way switching valve (2). It is possible.

The compression mechanism (1) is a variable displacement type upstream compressor whose capacity is controlled in multiple stages by inverter control.
(COMP-1) and a downstream compressor with an unloader mechanism that is controlled to switch between full load, unload and stop.
(COMP-2) in parallel with each other.

The refrigerant circuit (A) is provided with an oil return mechanism (20) for returning lubricating oil to the compression mechanism (1). The oil return mechanism (20) includes an oil separator (21, 22) and an oil return pipe (23, 24). The oil separators (21, 22) are
The upstream compressor (C) which is a part of the first discharge gas line (10a)
OMP-1) and each discharge pipe (10a-1, 10a) of the downstream compressor (COMP-2).
-2). In addition, the oil return pipe (23,
24) has a capillary tube (CP) and an oil separator (21,
22) and the suction pipe (10c-1) of the upstream compressor (COMP-1), which is a part of the suction gas line (10c),
The lubricating oil collected in the oil separators (21, 22) is transferred to the upstream compressor (COMP-
It is configured to return to 1). In addition, each discharge pipe (10a-
In the downstream side of the oil separators (21, 22) in (1, 10a-2), a reverse flow that allows only the flow of refrigerant from each compressor (COMP-1, COMP-2) to the four-way switching valve (2) is allowed. Stop valves (CV5, CV6) are provided respectively.

The suction pipe (10c-2) of the downstream compressor (COMP-2), which is a part of the suction gas line (10c), is connected to the suction pipe (10c) of the upstream compressor (COMP-1). -1) The pressure loss is set to be greater than that of the compressor (COMP-1, COMP-2), and an oil equalization pipe (25) equipped with a capillary tube (CP) is connected between both compressors (COMP-1, COMP-2).
As a result, the lubricating oil collected by the upstream compressor (COMP-1) on the high pressure side is supplied to the downstream compressor (COMP-2) on the low pressure side, and each of the compressors (COMP-1, COMP-2), lubricating oil is evenly collected.

An auxiliary heat exchanger (30) is provided adjacent to the outdoor heat exchanger (3).
The gas side of (0) is connected to the downstream side of the check valves (CV5, CV6) in the first discharge gas line (10a) by the auxiliary gas line (31). On the other hand, the liquid side of the auxiliary heat exchanger (30) is connected to the downstream side of the check valve (CV1) in the first liquid line (11a) by the auxiliary liquid line (32). The auxiliary liquid line (32) has a capillary tube (CP) and a first solenoid valve.
(SV1) is provided.

Further, a check valve in the third liquid line (11c)
Check valve (C) in the upstream side of (CV2) and the first liquid line (11a).
The heating liquid line (33) is connected to the upstream side of V1). This heating liquid line (33) has a third liquid line (11c)
A check valve (CV7) is provided to allow only the flow of the refrigerant from the outside to the outdoor heat exchanger (3).

Further, the second liquid line (11b) and the downstream side of the check valve (CV2) in the third liquid line (11c) are connected by a bypass line (34). This bypass line (3
4) is provided with a second solenoid valve (SV2) and a check valve (CV8) that allows only the flow of refrigerant from the second liquid line (11b) to the third liquid line (11c). The main circuit configuration of the refrigerant circuit (A) has been described above.

-Description of Water Circulation Circuit- Next, the configuration of the water circulation circuit (B) will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the water circulation circuit (B) includes a heat storage tank (T), a pump (P) as a circulating means, a preheater (40) comprising a heat exchanger of a double pipe structure, Heat exchanger (42) and supercool eliminator (43) as a supercooling heat exchanger composed of a heat exchanger (41), a vertical shell-and-tube heat exchanger
Are sequentially connected by a water pipe (45) so that water circulation (see the arrow in FIG. 3) is possible. The water pipe (45a) connecting the heat storage heat exchanger (42) and the supercooling canceller (43) is provided with an ice nucleus generator (46) and an ice growth preventer (47). In the preheater (40) and the heat storage heat exchanger (42), the refrigerant circulation circuit
The heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant flowing in (A) and water.

Hereinafter, the preheater (40) and the heat storage heat exchanger (4)
The configuration of the refrigerant circuit (A) for supplying a refrigerant that exchanges heat with water in 2) will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the preheater (40) is provided in the middle of the third liquid line (11c). When the refrigerant in the third liquid line (11c) flows through the outer space, heat is exchanged between the two (see FIG. 3). Also, the third
The thawing bypass line (50) connects the liquid line (11c) between the preheater (40) and the connection position of the bypass gas line (34) and the upstream side of the accumulator (12).
The defrost bypass line (50) is provided with a third solenoid valve (SV3).

The heat storage heat exchanger (42) has an upper connecting pipe (5
1) and the lower connecting pipe (52) are connected. Upper connecting pipe (5
1) is one end at the upper end of the side surface of the heat storage heat exchanger (42), and the other end is the thawing bypass line in the intake gas line (10c)
Each is connected to the upstream side of the connection position of (50). on the other hand,
The lower connecting pipe (52) has one end at the lower end of the side surface of the heat storage heat exchanger (42) and the other end at the preheater (4) in the third liquid line (11c).
0) and the check valve (CV3). Also,
A fourth solenoid valve (SV4) is connected to the upper connecting pipe (51), and a lower connecting pipe (5
2) is provided with a second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a) as an expansion mechanism. And, inside the heat storage heat exchanger (42), a water heat exchange unit (42b) as a heat storage medium heat exchange unit formed by a plurality of heat transfer tubes communicating with the water pipe (45)
And a refrigerant heat exchange part (42a) formed around the heat transfer tube and formed as a space extending from the lower connection pipe (52) to the upper connection pipe (51). The heat exchange between the water flowing through the water heat exchange section (42b) and the refrigerant in the refrigerant heat exchange section (42a) is performed.

A heat storage bypass pipe (53) is provided between the upper end of the receiver (4), the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a) and the heat storage heat exchanger (42) in the lower connection pipe (52). Connected by The heat storage bypass pipe (53) is provided with a capillary tube (CP) and a fifth solenoid valve (SV5).

Further, between the connection position of the auxiliary gas line (31) in the first discharge gas line (10a) and the check valves (CV5, CV6), and the heat storage bypass pipe (53) in the lower connection pipe (52). )
And the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a) are connected by a hot gas supply pipe (54). The hot gas supply pipe (54) is provided with a sixth solenoid valve (SV6).

The downstream side of the sixth solenoid valve (SV6) in the hot gas supply pipe (54) and the upper side of the heat storage heat exchanger (42) are connected by a heat storage use supply pipe (55). I have.
The heat storage utilization supply pipe (55) is provided with a seventh solenoid valve (SV7).

Since the refrigerant pipes are connected to the preheater (40) and the heat storage heat exchanger (42) in this way, when the refrigerant is supplied from the refrigerant pipes to the devices (40, 42), Heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant and the water to cool or heat the water. Specifically, for example, the water is cooled so as to generate supercooled water for ice making in the heat storage heat exchanger (42), or the ice is melted when the ice circulates through the water pipe (45). The water is heated by the preheater (40).

Next, the ice nucleus generator (46) and the ice growth preventing device (47) will be described. The ice nucleator (46) is connected to the water pipe (4
5a) A portion of the water flowing through it is cooled and iced by the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation circuit (A) to produce seed ice (I), which is used to form ice nuclei ( I ′) is generated and the ice nuclei (I ′) are supplied to the subcooling canceller (43). Hereinafter, the configuration of the ice nucleus generator (46) will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 4, the ice nucleus generator (46) includes a refrigerant evaporating container (81) as a cooling means and a holding space (C) for forming an ice holding space (C) between the refrigerant evaporating container (81). An ice holding container (82) as a unit is integrally combined.

A description will be given of each member.
(81) has a space (81a) for cooling medium evaporation therein, and has an ice making projection (8) protruding toward the ice holding space (C).
1b). Further, the wall of the ice making projection (81b) is formed to be relatively thin so that the cold heat of the refrigerant evaporated in the refrigerant evaporation space (81a) is easily transmitted to the ice holding space (C). The left and right side walls are connected to an ice nucleation refrigerant introduction pipe (58) and an ice nucleation refrigerant extraction pipe (59).

As shown in FIG. 2, the ice nucleation refrigerant introduction pipe (58) has its upstream end connected to the connection position of the hot gas supply pipe (54) in the lower connection pipe (52) and the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a). ). Further, the ice nucleation refrigerant introduction pipe (58) includes a capillary tube (CP). One of the features of this embodiment is that the ice nucleation generation refrigerant introduction pipe (58) is provided with an openable and closable eighth electromagnetic valve (SV-8) for controlling ice nucleation (see FIG. 4). . That is, when the eighth solenoid valve (SV-8) is opened, the refrigerant is supplied to the refrigerant evaporation space (81a) of the refrigerant evaporation container (81), and when the eighth electromagnetic valve (SV-8) is closed, the refrigerant supply is stopped. On the other hand, a downstream end of the ice nucleation refrigerant outlet pipe (59) is connected to a suction pipe (10c-2) of the downstream compressor (COMP-2). As a result, heat is generated between the refrigerant introduced from the ice nucleation refrigerant introduction pipe (58) into the refrigerant evaporation space (81a) of the ice nucleus generator (46) and water (W) flowing inside the water pipe (45a). The water (W) is cooled by replacement.

On the other hand, the ice holding container (82)
An opening (82a) having a diameter slightly larger than that of the ice making projection (81b) and penetrating in the vertical direction of FIG. 4 is formed, and a contact portion with the refrigerant evaporation container (81) and the water pipe (45a) is formed. Sealing materials (82b, 82b) are interposed in each of them.

The refrigerant evaporating container (81) and the ice holding container (82) having the above-mentioned structures are opened with the ice making projection (81b).
An ice nucleus generator (46) is integrally assembled so as to be located inside (82a).

On the other hand, a water pipe (45a) to which the ice nucleus generator (46) is attached is provided with an opening (8) having a smaller diameter than the opening (82a).
3) is formed, and the ice nucleator (46) is
The opening (82a) of 2) is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the water pipe (45a) so as to communicate with the opening (83) of the water pipe (45a). As a result, when the water (W) is flowing through the water pipe (45a), the ice holding space (C) is filled with cold water, and in this state, the refrigerant evaporating container (81) evaporates. Space (81
a) a refrigerant for ice making is flowed through to the water (W)
Is cooled, and seed ice (I) for generating ice nuclei (I ′) is attached and generated around the outer periphery of the ice making projection (81b).

Also, as described above, the seed ice is stored in the ice holding space (C).
In a state where (I) is generated, the seed ice (I) is held in the ice holding space (C) by being hooked on the inner surface of the opening (83).

On the other hand, the ice growth preventer (47) is disposed upstream of the ice nucleus generator (46) in the direction of water flow, and is connected to the water pipe (45a) from the ice nucleus generator (46). To prevent the ice from spreading along the pipe wall, and is connected to the water pipe (45c) via packings (84, 84) and forms an annular hot gas flow passage (47a). ing. And, as shown in FIG.
An anti-progression refrigerant introduction pipe (60) and an anti-progression refrigerant outlet pipe (61) are connected to the ice progress prevention device (47). One end of the propagation preventing refrigerant introduction pipe (60) is connected to the auxiliary gas line (31). Further, one end of the progress prevention refrigerant outlet pipe (61) is connected between the capillary tube (CP) and the first solenoid valve (SV1) in the auxiliary liquid line (32). Further, the progress prevention refrigerant outlet pipe (61) includes a capillary tube (CP). As a result, the refrigerant introduced into the hot gas flow passage (47a) from the propagation prevention refrigerant introduction pipe (60)
By heating the tube wall of a), the propagation of ice from the ice nucleus generator (46) is prevented.

Further, the mixer (41) and the supercooler (4)
3) is composed of a hollow cylindrical container, and water is introduced from the tangential direction of the inner peripheral surface by a water pipe (45), and the water introduced into the container is swirled. This allows the mixer
In (41), the ice discharged from the thermal storage tank (T) and the preheater (4
By mixing and stirring the water heated in (0), the melting of the ice is promoted.On the other hand, in the supercooler (43), the ice nuclei generated in the ice nucleus generator (46) and the heat storage The supercooled water generated in the heat exchanger (42) is mixed and stirred to promote the elimination of the supercooling.

A filter (62) in FIG. 3 is a filter for removing ice and impurities contained in the water introduced into the preheater (40).

The open / close state of the four-way switching valve (2), the solenoid valves (SV1 to SV8) and the electric expansion valves (5, 6, 52a) is controlled by the controller (70). ing.

-Configuration of Sensors- Various sensors are provided in the refrigerant circuit (A) and the water circuit (B). First, in the refrigerant circuit (A), an outdoor air temperature sensor (Th-1) for detecting the outdoor air temperature is provided near the outdoor heat exchanger (3). An outdoor liquid temperature sensor (Th-2) for detecting the liquid refrigerant temperature of the compression mechanism (1) is provided on the branch pipe side, and discharge gas temperature sensors (Th-31, Th-32) for detecting the discharge gas refrigerant temperature of the compression mechanism (1). A suction gas temperature sensor (Th-4) that detects the suction gas refrigerant temperature of the compression mechanism (1) is provided at the discharge pipe (10a-1, 10a-2) of each compressor (COMP-1, COMP-2). The suction gas lines (10c) of (1) are provided respectively. Further, a high pressure sensor (SEN-H) for detecting the refrigerant pressure discharged from the compression mechanism (1) is provided to the first discharge gas line (10a), and a low pressure pressure sensor (SEN-H) for detecting the suction refrigerant pressure of the compression mechanism (1). -L) are provided in the upper connection pipe (51) connected to the suction gas line (10c), respectively, and the high pressure protection is activated when the discharge refrigerant pressure of each compressor (COMP-1, COMP-2) reaches a predetermined high pressure. The switches (HPS, HPS) are connected to each compressor (COM
P-1, COMP-2) in the discharge pipe (10a-1,10a-2).

On the other hand, in the water circulation circuit (B), an inlet water temperature sensor (Th-W1) is provided at the water inlet at the lower end of the preheater (40).
Near the water outlet at the lower end of (41), an outlet water temperature sensor (Th-W
2) The supercooled water temperature sensor (Th-W3) is provided at the water outlet side at the upper end of the heat storage heat exchanger (42), and the ice formation detection sensor (Th-W4) is provided at the supercool eliminator (43). It detects the water temperature at each part. Further, a flow switch (SW) which is turned on when the flow rate of the water in the water inlet pipe (45b) is detected at the water inlet pipe (45b) connected to the lower end of the preheater (40) and becomes lower than a predetermined value is detected. -F) is provided.

In the present embodiment, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the seed ice (I) in the ice nucleus generator (46) is provided. Specifically, the ice making projection (8) of the refrigerant evaporation container (81)
1b) A first ice temperature sensor (Th-I1) as ice mass temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of ice (Ia) in the vicinity, and the temperature of ice (Ib) at the opening (83) of the water pipe (45a). Second ice temperature sensor to detect
(Th-I2). That is, the first ice temperature sensor
(Th-I1) is close to the ice making projection (81b),
While detecting the temperature of the ice block (Ia) of the present invention, which is a relatively low temperature portion of (I), the second ice temperature sensor (Th-
I2) is the seed ice (I) because it is away from the ice making projection (81b).
Among them, the temperature of the ice core (Ib), which is a relatively high temperature portion (approximately 0 ° C.) of the present invention, is detected.

-Configuration of Control-The air conditioner of the present invention is configured such that each sensor (Th-1 to SEN-L, Th-
W1 to Th-W4, Th-I1, Th-I2), switch (HPS), switch (SW-
F) is input to the controller (70), and based on these detection signals, the opening and closing of each solenoid valve (SV1 to SV8), the opening adjustment of each electric expansion valve (5, 6, 52a), and the compression mechanism The capacity of (1) is controlled.

The controller (70) has an ice making operation means (71) for causing the air conditioner to perform a cold heat storage operation as an ice making operation, and intermittently performs a cooling operation by an ice nucleus generator (46). Intermittent control means (72) .

The ice making operation means (71) sets the water in the water circulation circuit (B) to a supercooled state, removes the supercooled state, generates ice, and stores the ice in the heat storage tank, as in the cold heat storage operation described later. (T)
In this case, a driving operation such as recovery is performed.

The intermittent control means (72) is provided with the ice making operation means (7).
During the cold storage operation according to 1), the first ice temperature sensor (Th-I1)
Ice mass (Ia) detected by the sensor (Th-I1)
When the temperature of the cooling water drops below a predetermined temperature (for example, −3 ° C.), the cooling operation of the seed ice (I) by the refrigerant evaporation container (81) is stopped,
The opening and closing of the eighth solenoid valve (SV-8) is controlled so that the cooling operation of the seed ice (I) is started when the temperature reaches a predetermined temperature (for example, -0.1 ° C) or higher.

-Operational Operation- Next, the operational operation of the air conditioner configured as described above will be described.

The operation modes of the present air conditioner include a normal cooling operation, a normal heating operation, a cold storage operation, a defrosting operation, a simultaneous cold storage / cooling operation, a cooling operation using cold storage, a hot storage operation, and a simultaneous heat storage / heating operation. There are an operation and a heating operation using the heat storage.

Hereinafter, the refrigerant circulation operation in each operation mode will be described.

-Normal Cooling Operation- In this operation mode, the four-way switching valve (2) is switched to the solid line side in the figure by the controller (70), and the indoor electric expansion valve is switched.
(6) is adjusted to a predetermined opening (superheat control), and the other electric expansion valves are closed. On the other hand, the second solenoid valve (SV2) is opened, and the other solenoid valves are closed.

When the compression mechanism (1) is driven in this state, the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1) passes through the four-way switching valve (2) as shown by the arrow in FIG. The heat is exchanged with the outside air in the outdoor heat exchanger (3) and condensed. Thereafter, the refrigerant is introduced into the indoor unit (Y, Y, Y) via the liquid side pipe (11) and the bypass line (34), and is depressurized by the indoor electric expansion valve (6, 6, 6). The heat exchanger (7, 7, 7) exchanges heat with room air to evaporate and cool the room air. This gas refrigerant is supplied to the gas pipe (15), the four-way switching valve (2), and the suction gas line (10
Through c), it is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1). By performing such a circulation operation of the refrigerant, indoor cooling is performed.

-Normal heating operation- In this operation mode, the four-way switching valve (2) is switched to the broken line side by the controller (70), and the first outdoor electric expansion valve is operated.
While (5) is adjusted to a predetermined opening, the indoor electric expansion valve (6)
Is fully opened. Also, the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a)
And each solenoid valve is closed together.

When the compression mechanism (1) is driven in this state, the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1) passes through the four-way switching valve (2) and the gas pipe (15) as shown by arrows in FIG. After being introduced into the indoor unit (Y, Y, Y), the indoor heat exchanger (7, 7, 7) exchanges heat with the indoor air to condense and heat the indoor air. Thereafter, the refrigerant reaches the receiver (4) via the third liquid line (11c) and the fourth liquid line (11d), flows from the receiver (4) through the second liquid line (11b), and flows into the first outdoor electric line. After the pressure is reduced by the expansion valve (5), the heat is introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger (3) from the heating liquid line (33), and the outdoor heat exchanger (3) exchanges heat with the outside air to evaporate. . After that, the compression mechanism (1) passes through the four-way switching valve (2) and the suction gas line (10c).
Is returned to the suction side. The indoor heating is performed by performing such a circulation operation of the refrigerant.

-Cold heat storage operation- In this operation mode, the ice nucleus (I ') generated in the ice nucleus generator (46) is brought into contact with supercooled water, thereby
This is to eliminate the supercooled state around (I ') and generate ice for heat storage.

In this operation mode, the four-way switching valve (2) is set to the solid line side by the controller (70), the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a) is adjusted to a predetermined opening degree, and the other electric expansions are adjusted. The valve is closed. Also, the first, second, and fourth solenoid valves (SV1, S
V2, SV4) are opened, while the other solenoid valves are closed.

In this state, in the water circulation circuit (B),
The pump (P) is driven to circulate water in the water circulation circuit (B). On the other hand, in the refrigerant circuit (A), the compression mechanism
(1) is driven, and a part of the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1) is turned into a four-way switching valve as shown by an arrow in FIG.
It is introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger (3) via (2), and heat exchanges with the outside air in the outdoor heat exchanger (3) to condense.
Thereafter, the refrigerant is supplied to the liquid side pipe (11) and the bypass line.
(34), it is introduced into the heat storage heat exchanger (42) through the lower connecting pipe (52). Further, another part of the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1) is introduced into the auxiliary heat exchanger (30) through the auxiliary gas line (31), and is connected to the outside air in the auxiliary outdoor heat exchanger (30). It exchanges heat between it and condenses. Thereafter, the refrigerant joins the liquid side pipe (11) via the auxiliary liquid line (32). Each heat exchanger (3,3
The refrigerant condensed in step (0) is reduced in pressure by the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a). The refrigerant introduced into the refrigerant heat exchange section (42a) of the heat storage heat exchanger (42) performs heat exchange with water flowing through the water heat exchange section (42b) to evaporate, This water is cooled to a supercooled state (for example, -2 ° C). Thereafter, the refrigerant is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) via the upper connection pipe (51) and the suction gas line (10c).

In this operation, the ice nucleus generator (46)
, An operation of generating an ice nucleus (I ′), which is an operation characteristic of the present embodiment, is performed. To explain this operation,
First, the intermittent control means (7
The second solenoid valve (SV-8) is opened by 2), whereby a part of the refrigerant flowing through the lower connecting pipe (52) and depressurized by the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a) is introduced into the ice nucleation refrigerant introducing pipe. After passing through (58), it is introduced into the refrigerant evaporation container (81) of the ice nucleus generator (46). And
The water present in the ice holding space (C) is cooled inside the refrigerant evaporation container (81) to generate seed ice (I), and the seed ice (I) is used to generate ice nuclei (I '). Will do. This ice nucleus (I ')
8 will be described in detail. First, the refrigerant in the evaporation space (81a) of the refrigerant evaporation container (81) and the water present in the ice holding space (C) exchange heat, and the refrigerant evaporates. As the water cools down and becomes iced, this ice becomes the ice making projection (81b).
The water is filled in the ice holding space (C) while adhering to the surface of the water pipe (45a), and grows toward the inside of the water pipe (45a) through the opening (83) of the water pipe (45a) (FIG. 8 (a)). )). When the supercooled water flowing through the water pipe (45a) comes into contact with the grown ice (I), a part of the supercooled water performs the supercooling elimination operation, and the generated ice (I) is a water pipe (4
It grows along the inner surface of 5a) (see FIG. 8 (b)). In particular, since the temperature of the ice (I) is low in the portion corresponding to the opening (83) of the water pipe (45a), the ice in this portion is low.
As the growth of (I) progresses, ice (I) protrudes toward the center of the water pipe (45a) only in this area (Fig. 8).
(c)). Thereafter, a part of the protruding portion of the ice (I) is separated by the supercooled water flowing through the water pipe (45a) (the separated surface is shown by a virtual line in FIG. It will flow toward the subcooling canceller (43). In other words, relatively small particles of ice that have flowed downstream due to the separation are generated as ice nuclei (I ′). And
In the state where a part of the ice has been peeled off, as shown in FIG. 8 (d), ice (I) is uniformly attached to the inner surface of the water pipe (45a). After the growth of the ice (I) as shown in (1), an operation is repeated in which a part of the ice (I) is peeled off to generate an ice nucleus (I ′). Also,
In some cases, the ice (I) uniformly adhered to the inner surface of the water pipe (45a) peels off from the inner surface and is crushed by the supercooled water stream to become fine-grained ice nuclei to form the supercooled eliminator (43). ). In this case, the state shown in FIG. 8D is changed to the state shown in FIG. In addition, the refrigerant evaporation container
The refrigerant evaporated in the evaporating space (81a) of (81) passes through the ice nucleation refrigerant outlet pipe (59) and the suction pipe (10c-2), and the downstream compressor (COMP).
It is returned to the suction side of -2).

Further, a part of the refrigerant flowing through the auxiliary gas line (31) is supplied from the expansion prevention refrigerant introduction pipe (60) to the ice expansion prevention device.
Heat is supplied to the pipe (47) to heat the pipe wall of the water pipe (45a), thereby preventing ice from developing along the pipe wall from the ice nucleus generator (46). Then, the refrigerant is joined to the auxiliary liquid line (32) from the expansion prevention refrigerant outlet pipe (61). For this reason,
Even in a situation where ice grows along the wall surface upstream (toward the heat storage heat exchanger (42)), so-called ice progresses, this growing ice reaches the growth preventer (47). This progress is made possible by the heat storage heat exchanger
It does not reach (42).

Thus, the operation of generating the ice nucleus (I ′)
The ice nuclei (I ') generated by this operation are mixed into the supercooled water flowing through the water pipe (45a), and these are mixed with the supercooler (4).
By being stirred in 3), slurry-like ice for heat storage is generated and collected and stored in the heat storage tank (T).

During such a cold storage operation, the supercooling canceller (4
In 3), whether or not the supercooling elimination operation is performed favorably is determined by the water temperatures detected by the supercooled water temperature sensor (Th-W3) and the ice formation detection sensor (Th-W4), respectively. In other words, when a good ice making operation is performed, the supercooled water temperature sensor (Th-W3) eliminates the supercooled water temperature (eg, -2 ° C), and the ice formation detection sensor (Th-W4) eliminates the supercooled water temperature. Water temperature of mixed ice and water (eg 0 ° C)
Are detected respectively, and these water temperatures are detected by each sensor (T
h-W3, Th-W4) detect that the supercooling elimination operation is being performed.

The compression mechanism in the cold heat storage operation
The capacity control of (1) is performed so that the water temperature detected by the supercooling water temperature sensor (Th-W3) is maintained at a predetermined temperature (for example, −2 ° C. described above). In addition, during the main operation, relatively high-temperature refrigerant flows into the preheater (40), so that ice temporarily flows out of the heat storage tank (T) into the water pipe (45), and this flows out of the preheater (40). ), The preheater (4
The ice and the water heated in (0) are stirred in the mixer (41) to melt the ice, and to prevent the ice from being mixed into the heat storage heat exchanger (42) while preventing the ice from being mixed. The operation of generating the supercooled water in (42) is performed favorably, and the entire supercooled state of the supercooled water is not canceled until the supercooled water reaches the subcooling canceller (43). That is, freezing due to the supercooling being eliminated by the heat storage heat exchanger (42) is avoided.

The characteristic operation of the present embodiment lies in the control operation of the eighth solenoid valve (SV-8) during the cold storage operation. Hereinafter, this control operation will be described. During the cold storage operation, the temperature of each part of the seed ice (I) is detected by the ice temperature sensors (Th-I1, Th-I2). In particular, the control operation of the eighth solenoid valve (SV-8) is performed by the first ice temperature sensor (Th-I1) which detects the temperature of the ice mass (Ia) on the low temperature side of the seed ice (I). This is performed based on the detection signal. That is, the ice block (I-I1) detected by the first ice temperature sensor (Th-I1)
If the temperature of a) reaches a predetermined temperature (for example, −3 ° C.) or lower, the eighth solenoid valve (SV-8) is closed and the refrigerant evaporation container (81) is closed.
The supply of refrigerant to the pump is stopped. On the other hand, when the temperature of the ice block (Ia) rises with the suspension of the supply of the refrigerant and reaches a predetermined temperature (for example, −0.1 ° C.) or more, the eighth solenoid valve (SV- 8) is opened and the supply of the refrigerant to the refrigerant evaporation container (81) is started again. In other words, if the temperature of the ice block (Ia) becomes too low and the seed ice (I) grows excessively and the water pipe (45a) may become blocked, the seed ice (I) Stop further cooling, and when this possibility disappears, seed ice again
The cooling of (I) is started. As a result, even if the cold storage operation is performed for a long time, the water pipe (45
a) is prevented from being blocked.

-Thawing operation- Next, the thawing operation will be described. During the cold storage operation as described above, when the supercooling of water in the heat storage heat exchanger (42) is resolved and the heat storage heat exchanger (42) freezes, the cold storage operation is temporarily interrupted. And switch to thawing operation. In this thawing operation, the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a), the third, fourth, and sixth solenoid valves (SV3, SV4, SV6) are opened,
Other electric expansion valves and solenoid valves are closed. In this state, the compression mechanism (1) is driven, and as shown by an arrow in FIG.
Hot gas supply pipe for hot gas refrigerant from compression mechanism (1)
(54) to the lower connecting pipe (52).
After 2), a part is introduced into the heat storage heat exchanger (42), and the other is introduced into the preheater (40). Then, the refrigerant (hot gas) introduced into the heat storage heat exchanger (42) is heated by the heat thereof.
2) Thaw the ice inside. This refrigerant is supplied to the upper connection pipe (5
1) and is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) through the suction gas line (10c). On the other hand, the refrigerant introduced into the preheater (40)
It is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) via the decompression bypass line (50) and the suction gas line (10c).

In the cold storage operation, the heat storage heat exchanger (4
The operation for detecting that the subcooling water temperature sensor (T-W3) is frozen when the water temperature detected by the supercooling water temperature sensor (Th-W3) suddenly rises from −2 ° C. to 0 ° C.
It is determined that ice has been generated by performing the supercooling elimination operation on the upstream side of h-W3), and the thawing operation described above is performed for a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes). In addition, as an operation for starting the thawing operation, when the flow rate of the water detected by the flow switch (SW-F) becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value,
It is determined that ice blocks part of the water circulation circuit (B), and in this case also, the thawing operation is performed to melt the ice. When the thawing operation is completed, the cold storage operation is started again.

-Simultaneous operation of cold heat storage / cooling operation-This operation mode is a mode in which the heat storage tank is operated while cooling the room.
The operation of storing ice in (T) is performed in a state where the cooling load is relatively small.

In this operation mode, the operation is performed by opening the indoor electric expansion valves (6, 6, 6) in the cold storage operation described above. That is, as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 10, a part of the refrigerant condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger (3) and the auxiliary heat exchanger (30) is supplied to the indoor unit (Y, Y, Y), After the pressure is reduced by the expansion valves (6, 6, 6), they are evaporated by the indoor heat exchangers (7, 7, 7). Then, this gas refrigerant is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) through the gas pipe (15), the four-way switching valve (2), and the suction gas line (10c). The other water and refrigerant circulation operations are the same as in the cold storage operation described above.

-Cooling operation utilizing cold storage-In this operation mode, indoor cooling is performed while utilizing the cold heat of the ice stored in the heat storage tank (T) in the cold storage operation described above.

In this operation mode, the four-way switching valve (2) is switched to the solid line side by the controller (70), the indoor electric expansion valve (6, 6, 6) is adjusted to a predetermined opening, and the second outdoor While the electric expansion valve (52a) is fully opened, the first outdoor electric expansion valve (5) is closed. In addition, the fifth, sixth, and seventh solenoid valves (S
V5, SV6, SV7) are opened, and the other solenoid valves are closed.

In this state, in the water circulation circuit (B),
The pump (P) is driven to circulate water in the water circulation circuit (B). As a result, the water circulation circuit (B) has a heat storage tank
The cold water cooled by the ice in (T) circulates. On the other hand, in the refrigerant circuit (A), the compression mechanism (1)
As a result, the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1) partially becomes a four-way switching valve (2) as shown by an arrow in FIG.
Is introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger (3) through the outdoor heat exchanger (3).
In the above, heat exchange is performed with the outside air to condense. Thereafter, the refrigerant is supplied to the first liquid line (11a), the receiver (4),
It flows toward the indoor unit (Y, Y, Y) via the heat storage bypass pipe (53), the lower connecting pipe (52), and the third liquid line (11c). In addition, some other refrigerant flows through the hot gas supply pipe (54) and the heat storage supply pipe (55), bypassing the four-way switching valve (2) and the outdoor heat exchanger (3), and performing heat storage heat exchange. The heat is exchanged with the cold water circulating in the water circulation circuit (B) to condense the water, and is introduced into the lower connecting pipe (52). The refrigerant introduced into the lower connecting pipe (52) joins the third liquid line (11c) and flows toward the indoor unit (Y, Y, Y). The refrigerant that has reached the indoor unit (Y, Y, Y) is depressurized by the indoor electric expansion valves (6, 6, 6), and then evaporated by the indoor heat exchanger (7, 7, 7). The gas is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) through the gas pipe (15) and the suction gas line (10c). In this manner, the indoor cooling operation using the cold heat of the ice stored in the heat storage tank (T) is performed.

In the cooling operation utilizing the cold storage heat, if the water temperature detected by the supercooling water temperature sensor (Th-W3) reaches a predetermined temperature (for example, 5 ° C.), the second outdoor electric expansion valve is operated. (52a), the fifth, sixth and seventh solenoid valves (SV5, S5
V6 and SV7) are closed, and the second solenoid valve (SV2) is opened to terminate the cold storage utilizing cooling operation and switch to normal cooling operation. In other words, after the supercooled water temperature sensor (Th-W3) detects that most of the cold heat in the heat storage tank (T) has been used, the operation is switched to the normal cooling operation.

-Heat storage operation- This operation mode is for storing hot water in the heat storage tank (T) as the heat used during the heating operation.

In this operation mode, the four-way switching valve (2) is switched to the broken line side by the controller (70), the first outdoor electric expansion valve (5) is adjusted to a predetermined opening, and the second outdoor electric expansion valve is adjusted. The valve (52a) and the seventh solenoid valve (SV7) are opened, while the other electric expansion valves and solenoid valves are closed.

In this state, in the water circulation circuit (B),
The pump (P) is driven to circulate water in the water circulation circuit (B). On the other hand, in the refrigerant circuit (A), the compression mechanism
(1) is driven and the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1) is supplied to the hot gas supply pipe (54) as shown by an arrow in FIG.
Then, the heat is supplied to the heat storage heat exchanger (42) through the heat storage supply pipe (55), where the heat is exchanged with water in the water circulation circuit (B) to heat and condense the water. The refrigerant is supplied to the lower connecting pipe (52), the third liquid line (11c), and the fourth liquid line (11d).
Through the second liquid line (11b) and the heating liquid line (33),
After the pressure is reduced by the first outdoor electric expansion valve (5), the outdoor heat exchanger
Introduced in (3). Then, in the outdoor heat exchanger (3), heat is exchanged with the outside air to evaporate, and then the air passes through the four-way switching valve (2) and the suction gas line (10c) to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1). Will be returned. By performing the circulation operation of the water and the refrigerant, the water flowing through the water circulation circuit (B) receives heat from the refrigerant in the heat storage heat exchanger (42), becomes high-temperature hot water, and enters the heat storage tank (T). Will be stored.

During such a heat storage operation, when the water temperature detected by the inlet water temperature sensor (Th-W1) reaches a predetermined high temperature (for example, 35 ° C.), the heat storage tank
Judging that sufficient heat has been stored in (T), the operation is terminated.

-Simultaneous operation of heat storage / heating- This operation mode is a mode in which the heat storage tank is heated while heating the room.
(T) is an operation for storing hot water, which is performed in a state where the heating load is relatively small.

In this operation mode, the operation is performed by opening the indoor electric expansion valves (6, 6, 6) in the above-mentioned warm heat storage operation. That is, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 13, a part of the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1) is introduced into the indoor heat exchangers (7, 7, 7) through the gas pipe (15), and this indoor heat exchange is performed. The heat is exchanged with the room air in the chambers (7, 7, 7) to heat and condense the room air, and then join the refrigerant in the third liquid line (11c). The other water and refrigerant circulation operations are the same as in the above-described warm heat storage operation.

-Heating operation using warm heat storage-In this operation mode, indoor heating is performed while utilizing the heat of the warm water stored in the heat storage tank (T) in the warm heat storage operation described above.

In this operation mode, the four-way switching valve (2) is switched to the broken line side by the controller (70), the first outdoor electric expansion valve (5) is adjusted to a predetermined opening, and the indoor electric expansion is adjusted. The valve (6,6,6) and the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a) are fully opened. Further, the fourth solenoid valve (SV4) is opened, and the other solenoid valves are closed.

When the compression mechanism (1) is driven in this state, the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1) passes through the four-way switching valve (2) and the gas pipe (15) as shown by arrows in FIG. After being introduced into the indoor unit (Y, Y, Y), the indoor heat exchanger (7, 7, 7) exchanges heat with the indoor air to condense and heat the indoor air. Thereafter, the refrigerant is supplied to the third liquid line (11c).
Then, the pressure reaches the receiver (4) via the fourth liquid line (11d), and is reduced from the receiver (4) via the second liquid line (11b) by the first outdoor electric expansion valve (5). Thereafter, a part of the refrigerant is introduced into the heat storage heat exchanger (42) through the second liquid line (11b) and the lower connection pipe (52), where the refrigerant exchanges heat with hot water and evaporates. , Upper connecting pipe (51) and suction gas line
After (10c), it is collected on the suction side of the compression mechanism (1). Another part of the refrigerant decompressed by the first outdoor electric expansion valve (5) is introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger (3) through the heating liquid line (33), and is then discharged to the outdoor heat exchanger (3). After evaporating by performing heat exchange with the outdoor air, the air is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) through the four-way switching valve (2) and the suction gas line (10c).
In this manner, the indoor heating operation using the heat of the hot water stored in the heat storage tank (T) is performed.

In the heating operation using the heat storage energy, the water temperature detected by the inlet water temperature sensor (Th-W1) reaches the predetermined temperature (for example, 20 ° C.), similarly to the heating operation using the cold storage energy. The second outdoor electric expansion valve (52
a) and the fourth solenoid valve (SV4) are closed to end the heating operation using the heat storage, and the operation shifts to the normal heating operation. That is,
The heat storage tank is detected by detecting the water temperature of the inlet water temperature sensor (Th-W1).
After it is determined that most of the heat in (T) has been used, the operation is switched to the normal heating operation.

The air conditioning in the room is performed by each operation as described above.

As described above, in the ice storage type air conditioner according to the present embodiment, the ice nucleus generator (46) for generating the seed ice (I) during the cold storage operation is supplied to the refrigerant evaporation container (81). Since the supply of the refrigerant is performed intermittently according to the temperature of the ice block (Ia) of the seed ice (I), the cold storage operation is continuously performed for a long time. Also, it is possible to avoid a situation where the seed ice (I) grows excessively and the water pipe (45a) is blocked. For this reason, unlike the conventional method, the thaw operation is periodically performed to melt the overgrown seed ice, so that the ice making efficiency is reduced and the ice making operation time is not increased. Ice nucleus generator (4
In 6), it is possible to obtain a situation where good seed ice (I) is always maintained, and it is possible to improve ice making efficiency.

-Experimental Example- Next, the results of an experiment performed to confirm the effects of the present embodiment will be described. This experiment was performed as in the above-described embodiment.
The amount of circulating water in the water circulation circuit (B) between the case where the refrigerant supply to the refrigerant evaporation container (81) is intermittently performed and the case where the refrigerant supply to the refrigerant evaporation container (81) is continuously performed as in the conventional case. ,
The measurement was performed by measuring the refrigerant evaporation temperature in the heat storage heat exchanger (42) and the temperature change states of the ice block (Ia) and the ice core (Ib), respectively.

FIG. 15 and FIG. 16 show the results. FIG.
FIG. 5 shows the result when the driving operation of the present embodiment was performed, and FIG.
6 shows the result when the conventional driving operation is performed. First,
In FIG. 16 showing experimental results in a conventional operation, a state in which the refrigerant evaporation temperature (shown by a broken line in FIG. 16) rapidly rises is frequently repeated, and before this temperature rise, the circulating water amount (FIG. (Indicated by a solid line). This is cold
Since the refrigerant is continuously supplied to the medium evaporation container (81) , the seed ice (I) grows excessively around the ice nucleus generator (46),
As a result, the flow path of water becomes narrower and the amount of water circulation decreases, and thereafter, in order to avoid blockage of the water pipe (45) due to the excessively grown seed ice (I), a thawing operation (flow switch SW) is performed. This is because the operation state such as shifting to the start of the thawing operation by the operation of -F) is frequently repeated. Each time such thawing operation is repeated, the temperature of the ice mass (Ia) and the ice core (Ib) (shown by the two-dot chain line and the one-dot chain line in FIG. 16) also increase rapidly each time. This leads to a situation where ice (I) is almost gone.

On the other hand, in FIG. 15 showing experimental results in the operation of the above-described embodiment, the refrigerant evaporation temperature (shown by a broken line in FIG. 15) is always constant, and the circulating water amount (FIG. Is shown by a solid line) is also substantially constant. This is because the intermittent supply of the refrigerant to the refrigerant evaporation container (81) prevents the seed ice from growing excessively around the ice nucleus generator (46) and blocks the water pipe (45a). This is because the amount of circulating water is stable, and there is no need to perform the thawing operation. That is, the refrigerant evaporation container (81)
The intermittent supply of refrigerant to the
The temperature of (Ia) (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 15) only slightly changes, and the others are stable and almost constant values.
It can be seen that the ice making operation is being performed stably.

(Modifications) Next, three types of modifications of the present invention will be described. Each of these modified examples includes a refrigerant supply operation to the ice nucleus generator (46), a means for obtaining cold heat for generating seed ice (I) or a seed ice (I).
Since the other configuration is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, only the differences from the above-described embodiment will be described here.

First Modification Example First, as a first modification example, an eighth operation for switching between the supply operation of the refrigerant to the ice nucleus generator (46) and the supply stop operation is performed.
The solenoid valve (SV8) is alternately switched at predetermined intervals by a timer. That is, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 2, the controller (70) is provided with a timer means (73), and the open / close state of the eighth solenoid valve (SV8) is switched, for example, every 30 minutes. With such control action, the seed ice
By alternately repeating the state where (I) is cooled and the state where (I) is not cooled, excessive growth of the seed ice (I) can be suppressed.

In this example, the opening and closing times of the eighth solenoid valve (SV8) can be set to any values as required.
Further, the opening time and the closing time need not always be the same.

-Modification of Second Type- In this modification, as shown in FIG. 17, a Peltier element (81 ') is used instead of a refrigerant as a means for obtaining cold heat for cooling the seed ice (I). We are using. In other words, a Peltier element (81 ') that joins two kinds of different metals and generates cold by applying an electric current to it is attached to the pipe wall of the water pipe (45a), and the cold generated by the element (81') is attached. Use of seed ice
(I) is to be cooled.

In general, the Peltier element (81 ') has high responsiveness such that it generates cold almost at the same time as energization, so that it can quickly obtain the cold required for cooling the seed ice (I). And the seed ice (I) can be cooled quickly.
In the initial stage of the generation of the seed ice (I), the seed ice (I) can be quickly generated, and the time required for generating the ice nucleus (I ′) can be reduced.

-Modification of Third Type- In this modification, the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporation space (81a) of the refrigerant evaporation container (81) is set to a temperature at which the seed ice (I) does not grow excessively. The value is set to a value slightly lower than the freezing point of water (0 ° C. at atmospheric pressure). Specifically, the evaporation temperature is set to about -1 ° C. As a specific means for setting the evaporation temperature in this way, it is possible to appropriately set the degree of pressure reduction of the refrigerant in the ice nucleation refrigerant introduction pipe (58). For this purpose, an appropriate expansion amount is used as the capillary tube (CP) provided in the ice nucleation refrigerant introduction pipe (58), or an electric expansion valve is used in place of the capillary tube (CP). Then, the valve opening is adjusted so that the evaporation temperature is set to the above temperature. When the evaporation temperature can be set by the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a) provided in the lower connection pipe (52), the means for reducing the pressure in the ice nucleation refrigerant introduction pipe (58) is Not required.

In each of the embodiments, water is used as the heat storage medium for heat storage. However, an aqueous brine solution or the like may be used.

Although the case where the present invention is applied to an ice heat storage device for an air conditioner has been described, the present invention can also be applied to other devices utilizing cold storage heat.

[0111]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the cooling medium circulation circuit and the heat storage circulation circuit are provided, and the heat storage medium is set in a supercooled state by the heat storage medium heat exchange unit, while a part of the heat storage medium is cooled by the seed ice generating means. In the ice making operation, the cooling operation in the seed ice generating means is performed in the ice making operation with respect to a device that eliminates the supercooled state of the heat storage medium by using the ice nuclei generated by using the seed ice generated and held thereby. Due to the intermittent operation, even if the ice making operation is continuously performed for a long time, the seed ice grows excessively and the circulation pipe of the heat storage medium is blocked. Can be avoided. For this reason, it is not necessary to perform the operation of periodically performing the thawing operation to suppress the excessive growth of the seed ice as in the related art, and the improvement of the ice making efficiency and the shortening of the ice making operation time are required for the seed ice generating means. Good seed ice can always be maintained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is recognized whether or not the seed ice is likely to grow depending on the temperature of the ice mass of the seed ice, and the cooling operation of the heat storage medium by the cooling means is performed based on the recognition. Since the control is performed, an appropriate cooling operation of the cooling unit according to the degree of growth of the seed ice can be obtained, and a specific control operation for intermittently performing the cooling operation can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the cooling operation by the cooling means and the cooling stop operation are alternately repeated at predetermined time intervals, the growth of seed ice is suppressed by a relatively simple control operation. Thus, the practicality of the device can be improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the cooling temperature of the cooling means is set to a value slightly lower than the solidification temperature of the heat storage medium, so that the cooling operation by the cooling means is always performed, and the circulation pipe is continuously operated. Excessive growth of seed ice, which may cause blockage, can be suppressed, and excessive growth of seed ice without the need for a cooling unit to perform a cooling operation and a cooling stop operation. Can be suppressed, and it is possible to simultaneously simplify the configuration, improve the ice making efficiency, and shorten the ice making operation time.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the cooling operation of the cooling means is performed using the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, the generation of the seed ice can be performed without requiring a separate cooling medium. And the structure can be simplified.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the cooling means is a Peltier element, it is possible to quickly obtain the cold heat required for cooling the heat storage medium, and to reduce the time required for generating seed ice. Can be shortened, and the entire ice making operation time can be shortened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a refrigerant circuit provided in the air-conditioning apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a water circulation circuit.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an arrangement portion of an ice nucleus generator.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circulation operation in a normal cooling operation.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circulation operation in a normal heating operation.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circulation operation of the cold storage operation.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing an ice nucleus generating operation in the ice nucleus generator.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circulation operation of a thawing operation.

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circulation operation of the cold storage / cooling simultaneous operation.

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circulation operation in a cooling operation utilizing cold storage heat.

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circulating operation of the heat storage operation.

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circulation operation of the simultaneous heat storage / heating operation.

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circulating operation in a heating operation utilizing warm storage heat.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an experimental result when a heat storage operation is performed by the operation control of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing experimental results when a heat storage operation is performed by conventional operation control.

FIG. 17 is a view showing a water pipe in a modification of the second type.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Compression mechanism (3) Outdoor heat exchanger (heat source side heat exchanger) (8) Refrigerant piping (42a) Refrigerant heat exchange part (42b) Water heat exchange part (heat storage medium heat exchange part) (45) Water piping (Circulation piping) (46) Ice nucleus generator (seed ice generation means) (52a) Second outdoor electric expansion valve (expansion mechanism) (71) Ice making operation means (72) Intermittent control means (81) Refrigerant evaporation vessel (cooling) (81a) Evaporation space (Th-I1) First ice temperature sensor (ice block temperature detection means) (A) Refrigerant circulation circuit (B) Water circulation circuit (heat storage circulation circuit) (T) Heat storage tank (P) Pump (circulation) Means) (W) Water (heat storage medium) (I) Seed ice (I ') Ice nucleus (Ia) Ice block (Ib) Ice nucleus

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Junji Matsushima 1304 Kanaokacho, Sakai-shi, Osaka Daikin Industries, Ltd. Sakai Works Kanaoka Factory (56) References JP-A-5-332585 (JP, A) (58) ) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F24F 5/00 F25C 1/00

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A compressor (1), a heat source side heat exchanger (3),
The expansion mechanism (52a) and the refrigerant heat exchange section (42a)
A heat storage tank (T) for storing a heat storage medium (W), a heat storage tank (T) for storing a heat storage medium (W),
(W) under pressure and a circulating means (P)
a) a heat storage circulating circuit (B) in which a heat storage medium heat exchange part (42b) capable of exchanging heat with the heat storage medium (W) is connected by a circulation pipe (45) so that the heat storage medium (W) can be circulated. Generate seed ice (I) for eliminating supercooling and cool the seed ice (I)
Cooling means (81) for holding the seed ice (I)
Heat storage medium flowing downstream of the heat storage medium heat exchange section (42b).
(W) and the refrigerant evaporating in the refrigerant heat exchange section (42a) and the liquid-phase heat storage medium (W) flowing through the heat storage medium heat exchange section (42b). Exchange and cool the heat storage medium (W) to a supercooled state,
Heat storage medium in which seed ice (I) of seed ice generating means (46) is supercooled
(W) to form microscopic ice nuclei (I ′),
By flowing (I ′) into the heat storage medium (W) in a supercooled state, the supercooled state is eliminated, ice for heat storage is generated, and the heat storage tank (T)
An ice making operation means (71) for performing an ice making operation for collecting ice; and an intermittent control means (intermittently controlling means (71) for intermittently cooling seed ice (I) by the cooling means (81) during the ice making operation by the ice making operation means (71). 7
(2) An ice heat storage device comprising: 2. The seed ice (I) is brought into contact with the cooling means (81) to form an ice block (Ia) having a temperature below the freezing point and a liquid heat storage medium (W) in the circulation pipe (45). An ice core portion (Ib) that comes into contact with the ice mass portion (Ib), and an ice mass temperature detecting means (T
h-I1), the intermittent control means (72) receives the output of the ice mass temperature detecting means (Th-I1), and when the temperature of the ice mass part (Ia) falls below a predetermined temperature, the cooling operation by the cooling means (81) is performed. While stopping, this ice block (I
2. The ice heat storage device according to claim 1, wherein the cooling operation is started when -a) is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature. 3. The ice heat storage device according to claim 1, wherein the intermittent control means alternately repeats a cooling operation and a cooling stop operation by the cooling means at predetermined time intervals. 4. A compressor (1), a heat source side heat exchanger (3),
The expansion mechanism (52a) and the refrigerant heat exchange section (42a)
A heat storage tank (T) for storing a heat storage medium (W), a heat storage tank (T) for storing a heat storage medium (W),
(W) under pressure and a circulating means (P)
a) a heat storage circulating circuit (B) in which a heat storage medium heat exchange part (42b) capable of exchanging heat with the heat storage medium (W) is connected by a circulation pipe (45) so that the heat storage medium (W) can be circulated. Generate seed ice (I) for eliminating supercooling and cool the seed ice (I)
Cooling means (81) for holding the seed ice (I)
Heat storage medium flowing downstream of the heat storage medium heat exchange section (42b).
(W) and the refrigerant evaporating in the refrigerant heat exchange section (42a) and the liquid-phase heat storage medium (W) flowing through the heat storage medium heat exchange section (42b). Exchange and cool the heat storage medium (W) to a supercooled state,
Heat storage medium in which seed ice (I) of seed ice generating means (46) is supercooled
(W) to form microscopic ice nuclei (I ′),
By flowing (I ′) into the heat storage medium (W) in a supercooled state, the supercooled state is eliminated, ice for heat storage is generated, and the heat storage tank (T)
An ice making operation means (71) for performing an ice making operation for recovering the water , wherein the cooling means (81) is a seed for closing the circulation pipe (45).
In order to suppress the growth of ice (I),
An ice heat storage device, wherein the cooling temperature is set to a value slightly lower than the solidification temperature of the heat storage medium (W). The cooling means (81) discharges from the compressor (1), condenses in the heat source side heat exchanger (3), and then expands the expansion mechanism (52a).
3. An evaporating space (81a) in which a refrigerant decompressed by the evaporator is supplied and the evaporator evaporates, wherein the heat storage medium (W) is cooled by the evaporating refrigerant in the evaporating space (81a). 5. The ice heat storage device according to 3, 3 or 4. 6. The ice heat storage device according to claim 1, wherein the cooling means is a Peltier element.