JP5482501B2 - Refrigerant circuit device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerant circuit device, and more particularly, to a refrigerant circuit device including a refrigerant circuit having a heat pump function.

  Conventionally, the following is known as a refrigerant circuit device including a refrigerant circuit having a heat pump function. That is, a refrigerant circuit having a main path, a high-pressure refrigerant introduction path, a heat radiation path, and a return path is provided.

  The main path is configured in an annular shape by sequentially connecting the internal heat exchanger, the compressor, the external heat exchanger, and the expansion mechanism through the refrigerant pipe. The internal heat exchanger is disposed inside a target room. The compressor sucks the refrigerant that has passed through the internal heat exchanger, compresses the sucked refrigerant, and discharges it in a high-temperature and high-pressure state. The external heat exchanger introduces and condenses the refrigerant compressed by the compressor. The expansion mechanism depressurizes the refrigerant condensed in the external heat exchanger and adiabatically expands it.

  In such a main path, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor is condensed by the external heat exchanger, and the condensed refrigerant is adiabatically expanded by the expansion mechanism and evaporated by the internal heat exchanger. The refrigerant evaporated in the internal heat exchanger is sucked by the compressor, compressed again, and circulated. Thereby, the internal air of the chamber in which the internal heat exchanger is disposed is cooled.

  The high-pressure refrigerant introduction path introduces the refrigerant compressed by the compressor, and supplies it to the one disposed in the chamber to be heated among the internal heat exchangers constituting the main path. In this way, the refrigerant is condensed. Thereby, the internal air of the chamber in which the internal heat exchanger is disposed is heated.

  The heat radiation path introduces the refrigerant condensed in the internal heat exchanger and supplies it to the external heat exchanger constituting the main path or another internal heat exchanger. As a result, in the external heat exchanger and the other internal heat exchangers, the refrigerant passing therethrough exchanges heat with ambient air and evaporates.

  The return path introduces the refrigerant evaporated in the external heat exchanger and returns it to the main path. As a result, the refrigerant that has passed through the return path reaches the main path and is then sent to the compressor.

  In the refrigerant circuit device having such a configuration, when only cooling the internal air of a corresponding chamber (when performing a single cooling operation), the refrigerant may be circulated only in the main path. On the other hand, when cooling the internal air of one chamber and heating the internal air of the other chamber (when performing cooling heating operation), a part of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor is circulated in the main path, In addition, another part of the refrigerant may be circulated in the order of the high-pressure refrigerant introduction path, the heat radiation path, and the return path. Furthermore, when only heating the internal air of the corresponding chamber (when performing heating only operation), the refrigerant compressed by the compressor is passed through the high-pressure refrigerant introduction path, the heat radiation path, and the return path in this order. It may be circulated so as to return to (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-304397 A

  By the way, when performing the cooling and heating operation, it is rare that the size of the cooling request in one chamber is equal to the size of the heating request in the other chamber, and the size of the cooling request is different from the size of the heating request. Is common.

  For this reason, in the refrigerant circuit device proposed in Patent Document 1 described above, when the size of the cooling request and the size of the heating request are different, the switching operation of various valves provided in the refrigerant circuit is performed to perform cooling alone. Switch to operation or switch to heating single operation.

  However, when switching from the cooling heating operation to another operation (heating single operation or cooling single operation) in this way, the desired cooling capacity and heating capacity can be temporarily obtained by changing the refrigerant flow path. A so-called loss time will occur. Since various devices of the refrigerant circuit are driven even during such a loss time, as a result, an increase in the number of switching operations causes an increase in power consumption.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a refrigerant circuit device that can perform a cooling and heating operation according to the size of a cooling request and a heating request and can reduce power consumption. Objective.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a refrigerant circuit device according to claim 1 of the present invention sucks the refrigerant that has passed through the internal heat exchanger disposed inside the target chamber and the internal heat exchanger. The main path configured by sequentially connecting the compressor that compresses the refrigerant and the external heat exchanger that introduces and condenses the refrigerant compressed by the compressor with refrigerant piping, and the introduction valve provided in itself are opened. By introducing at least a part of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor and supplying it to the chamber heat exchanger disposed in the chamber to be heated, the refrigerant in the chamber heat exchanger A high-pressure refrigerant introduction path for condensing and heating the internal atmosphere of the chamber, a heat radiation path for introducing the refrigerant condensed in the internal heat exchanger and supplying the refrigerant to the gas cooler, and introducing the refrigerant that has passed through the gas cooler, Return to the upstream side of the heat exchanger in the main path of the main path And a refrigerant circuit provided with at least one of the main path and the return path, and an expansion mechanism for adiabatically expanding either the refrigerant condensed by the external heat exchanger or the refrigerant that has passed through the gas cooler In the apparatus, the heat radiation path is disposed in the middle of the heat radiation pipe extending from the internal heat exchanger to the gas cooler, and allows the refrigerant to pass through the heat radiation pipe when it opens. Is closed from the branch point upstream of the heat dissipation valve in the heat dissipation pipe and from the heat dissipation valve in the heat dissipation pipe. A branch pipe connected in a manner of joining at a downstream junction, and a branch expansion unit that is disposed in the branch pipe and adiabatically expands the refrigerant that passes through the branch pipe. Characterized in that was.

  A refrigerant circuit device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the refrigerant circuit device according to the first aspect, wherein a bypass valve provided in the refrigerant circuit device opens to introduce a refrigerant that has dissipated heat in the gas cooler, and the refrigerant circuit device is connected to the external heat exchanger. A bypass path for evaporating in the external heat exchanger by supplying the refrigerant as a low-pressure refrigerant, and introducing a refrigerant evaporated in the external heat exchanger by opening a feedback valve provided on the bypass path; And a return path for returning to the compressor.

  According to the refrigerant circuit device of the present invention, the refrigerant passes through the gas cooler by closing the heat radiation valve and flowing the refrigerant condensed in the internal heat exchanger into the branch pipe and adiabatic expansion of the refrigerant in the branch expansion unit. In this case, the refrigerant can be evaporated by exchanging heat with ambient air. As a result, even if the refrigerant is subsequently passed through another internal heat exchanger, the cooling capacity of the refrigerant is reduced, and the cooling capacity is compared with the heating capacity while maintaining the cooling heating operation. It can be lowered relatively. Therefore, the cooling and heating operation can be maintained, and thereafter the cooling operation and the heating operation can be stopped at the same time, so that loss time caused by switching to another operation does not occur and power consumption is reduced. Can do. Therefore, it is possible to perform the cooling and heating operation according to the size of the cooling request and the heating request, and it is possible to reduce the power consumption.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where an internal structure of a vending machine to which the refrigerant circuit device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied is viewed from the front. FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1, and is a cross-sectional side view of the right commodity storage. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the refrigerant circuit device applied to the vending machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the flow of refrigerant when the CCC operation is performed in the refrigerant circuit device shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing a refrigerant flow when the HCC operation is performed in the refrigerant circuit device shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a refrigerant flow when the HCC operation is performed in the refrigerant circuit device shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the refrigerant circuit device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing a refrigerant flow when the HCC operation is performed in the refrigerant circuit device shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing a refrigerant flow when the HCC operation is performed in the refrigerant circuit device shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing the flow of the refrigerant when the single heating operation is performed in the refrigerant circuit device shown in FIG.

  Exemplary embodiments of a refrigerant circuit device according to the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Embodiment 1>
1 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where an internal structure of a vending machine to which the refrigerant circuit device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention is applied is viewed from the front. The vending machine illustrated here includes a main body cabinet 1.

  The main body cabinet 1 has a rectangular shape with an open front surface. The main body cabinet 1 is provided with three independent commodity containers 3 partitioned by, for example, two heat insulating partition plates 2 in a side-by-side manner. This product storage 3 is for storing products such as canned beverages and beverages containing plastic bottles while maintaining them at a desired temperature, and has a heat insulating structure.

  FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the vending machine shown in FIG. 1 and is a cross-sectional side view of the right product storage case 3. Here, the internal structure of the right product storage 3 (hereinafter also referred to as the right storage 3a) is shown, but the central product storage 3 (hereinafter also referred to as the intermediate storage 3b) and the left product storage 3 are shown. The internal structure (hereinafter also referred to as the left warehouse 3c as appropriate) has substantially the same configuration as the right warehouse 3a. In the present specification, the right side indicates the right side when the vending machine is viewed from the front, and the left side indicates the left side when the vending machine is viewed from the front.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an outer door 4 and an inner door 5 are provided on the front surface of the main body cabinet 1. The outer door 4 is for opening and closing the front opening of the main body cabinet 1, and the inner door 5 is for opening and closing the front surface of the commodity storage 3. The inner door 5 is divided into upper and lower parts, and the upper door 5a opens and closes when a product is replenished.

  The product storage 3 is provided with a product storage rack 6, a carry-out mechanism 7 and a carry-out shooter 8. The commodity storage rack 6 is for storing commodities in a manner arranged in the vertical direction. The carry-out mechanism 7 is provided at the lower part of the product storage rack 6 and is used to carry out the products at the bottom of the product group stored in the product storage rack 6 one by one. The carry-out shooter 8 is for guiding the product carried out from the carry-out mechanism 7 to the product take-out port 4 a provided in the outer door 4.

  FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the refrigerant circuit device applied to the vending machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The refrigerant circuit device exemplified here includes a refrigerant circuit 10 including a main path 20, a high-pressure refrigerant introduction path 30, a heat radiation path 40, and a return path 50. The refrigerant circuit 10 has a refrigerant (for example, R134a) sealed therein.

  The main path 20 is configured by sequentially connecting a compressor 21, an external heat exchanger 22, and an internal heat exchanger 24 through a refrigerant pipe 25.

  The compressor 21 is disposed in the machine room 9 as shown in FIG. The machine room 9 is a room inside the main body cabinet 1, partitioned from the product storage 3 and below the product storage 3. The compressor 21 sucks the refrigerant through the suction port, compresses the sucked refrigerant to be in a high-temperature and high-pressure state (high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant), and discharges it from the discharge port.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the external heat exchanger 22 is disposed in the machine room 9 similarly to the compressor 21. When the refrigerant | coolant compressed with the compressor 21 passes, this external heat exchanger 22 condenses this refrigerant | coolant.

  A high-pressure solenoid valve 261 is provided in the refrigerant pipe 25 that connects the external heat exchanger 22 and the compressor 21. The high-pressure electromagnetic valve 261 is a valve body that can be opened and closed. When the opening command is given from a controller (not shown), the high-pressure solenoid valve 261 opens and allows the refrigerant to pass therethrough, but closes when the closing command is given. In this way, the passage of the refrigerant is restricted.

  A plurality of (three in the illustrated example) heat exchangers 24 in the cabinet are provided, which are disposed in the lower interior of each commodity storage 3 and on the front side of the rear duct D (see FIG. 2). is there. The refrigerant pipe 25 connecting the internal heat exchanger 24 and the external heat exchanger 22 branches into three at the first branch point P1 in the middle, and the internal heat disposed in the right warehouse 3a. On the inlet side of the exchanger 24 (hereinafter also referred to as the right internal heat exchanger 24a), the inlet of the internal heat exchanger 24 (hereinafter also referred to as the internal heat exchanger 24b) disposed in the intermediate warehouse 3b. The inlet side of the internal heat exchanger 24 (hereinafter also referred to as the left internal heat exchanger 24c) disposed inside the left warehouse 3c is connected to each side.

  Further, in the refrigerant pipe 25, the inlet-side low-pressure solenoid valve 262a is provided on the way from the first branch point P1 to each of the right internal heat exchanger 24a, the central internal heat exchanger 24b, and the left internal heat exchanger 24c. , 262b, 262c and expansion mechanisms 231, 232, 233 are provided. The inlet-side low-pressure solenoid valves 262a, 262b, 262c are openable and closable valve elements. When the controller receives an opening command, the inlet-side low-pressure solenoid valve 262a, 262b, 262c opens and allows the refrigerant to pass. Is closed to restrict the passage of refrigerant.

  The expansion mechanisms 231, 232, and 233 are configured by, for example, a capillary tube, an electronic expansion valve, or the like, and adiabatic expansion is performed by depressurizing the refrigerant that passes therethrough.

  The refrigerant pipe 25 connected to the outlet side of the internal heat exchanger 24 joins at the first joining point P <b> 2 and is connected to the compressor 21. In addition, outlet side low-pressure solenoid valves 263b and 263c are arranged in the middle of the refrigerant pipe 25 from the outlet side of the inner heat exchanger 24b and the left inner heat exchanger 24c to the first junction P2. The outlet-side low-pressure solenoid valves 263b and 263c are valve bodies that can be opened and closed. When the opening command is given from the controller, the outlet-side low-pressure solenoid valves 263b and 263c are opened and allowed to pass the refrigerant, while when the closing command is given. It closes and regulates the passage of refrigerant.

  In such a main path 20, reference numerals 27 and 281 in FIG. 3 are an internal heat exchanger and a relief valve. The internal heat exchanger 27 exchanges heat between the high-pressure refrigerant and the low-pressure refrigerant. The relief valve 281 is provided in the middle of the relief pipe 28 that connects the refrigerant pipe 25 extending from the compressor 21 to the high-pressure electromagnetic valve 261 and the refrigerant pipe 25 extending from the high-pressure electromagnetic valve 261 to the external heat exchanger 22. It is provided. The relief valve 281 is normally closed, but is opened when the pressure on the discharge side of the compressor 21 exceeds a predetermined magnitude to allow passage of the high-pressure refrigerant.

  The high-pressure refrigerant introduction path 30 branches from a high-pressure side branch point P3 in the middle of the path between the compressor 21 and the high-pressure solenoid valve 261, and further branches in the middle, one side being the inlet side of the internal heat exchanger 24b The other is a path constituted by a high-pressure refrigerant introduction pipe 31 that merges with the refrigerant pipe 25 on the other side and the refrigerant pipe 25 on the inlet side of the left-side internal heat exchanger 24c. The high-pressure refrigerant introduction path 30 is a path for introducing the refrigerant (high-pressure refrigerant) compressed by the compressor 21.

  In the high-pressure refrigerant introduction pipe 31, high-pressure introduction valves 321 and 322 are provided on the downstream side of the branch point, respectively. The high-pressure introduction valves 321 and 322 are valve bodies that can be opened and closed, and are opened when the opening command is given from the controller and allowed to pass through the refrigerant, but are closed when the closing command is given. This restricts the passage of refrigerant.

  That is, when the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 is supplied through the high-pressure refrigerant introduction path 30, the inner-compartment heat exchanger 24 b and the left-compartment heat exchanger 24 c It heats the internal air of the product storage 3 (the central storage 3b and the left storage 3c).

  The heat radiation path 40 is branched in the middle of each of the refrigerant pipes 25 connected to the outlet side of the internal heat exchanger 24b and the left internal heat exchanger 24c, merges at the second junction P4, and the external heat This is a path constituted by a heat radiating pipe 41 connected to the inlet side of the gas cooler 42 arranged in a manner adjacent to the exchanger 22. This heat radiation path 40 is for supplying the gas cooler 42 with the refrigerant condensed in at least one of the internal heat exchanger 24b and the left internal heat exchanger 24c.

  The gas cooler 42 exchanges heat between the refrigerant passing through the gas cooler 42 and the ambient air. That is, the heat radiation path 40 introduces the refrigerant condensed in the internal heat exchanger 24 and sends it to the gas cooler 42.

  A second junction from the branch point of the refrigerant pipe 25 connected to the outlet side of the heat exchanger 24b and the left heat exchanger 24c in the middle of the heat radiation pipe 41 constituting the heat radiation path 40. On the way to P4, check valves 431 and 432 are provided, respectively.

  The return path 50 is connected to the outlet side of the gas cooler 42 and is connected to the refrigerant pipe 25 constituting the main path 20, that is, the external heat exchanger 22 and the first branch point P1 (in the illustrated example, the internal heat exchanger 27). It is comprised by the return piping 51 connected to the 3rd junction P5 of the refrigerant | coolant piping 25 between. The return path 50 is for introducing the refrigerant radiated by the gas cooler 42 and returning it to the upstream side of the internal heat exchanger 24 of the main path 20.

  And in the heat dissipation path 40 of the refrigerant circuit 10 which comprises the refrigerant circuit apparatus which is this Embodiment 1, the heat dissipation valve 441, the branch path 45, and the branch expansion unit 47 are arrange | positioned.

  The heat radiation valve 441 is provided in the middle of the heat radiation pipe 41. The heat dissipating valve 441 is a valve body that can be opened and closed. When the controller receives an open command from the controller, the heat dissipating valve 441 opens and allows the refrigerant to pass. It regulates the passage of

  The branch path 45 is branched from the second branch point P6 upstream of the heat dissipation valve 441 in the heat dissipation pipe 41 and joins at the fourth junction P7 downstream of the heat dissipation valve 441 in the heat dissipation pipe 41. It is composed of connected branch pipes 46.

  The branch expansion unit 47 is disposed in the branch pipe 46. The branch expansion unit 47 is constituted by, for example, a capillary tube, an electronic expansion valve, or the like, and adiabatically expands by reducing the pressure of the refrigerant passing through the branch pipe 46.

  The refrigerant circuit device having the above-described configuration cools or heats the product stored in the product storage 3 as follows.

  First, the case where CCC operation (operation which cools the internal air of all the goods storage 3) is performed is explained. In this case, the controller gives a close command to the high pressure introduction valves 321 and 322, and gives an open command to the high pressure solenoid valve 261, the inlet side low pressure solenoid valves 262a, 262b, 262c and the outlet side low pressure solenoid valves 263b, 263c. As a result, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 circulates as shown in FIG.

  That is, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 passes through the high-pressure electromagnetic valve 261 to be opened and reaches the external heat exchanger 22. The refrigerant that has reached the external heat exchanger 22 dissipates heat to the surrounding air (outside air) and condenses while passing through the external heat exchanger 22. The refrigerant condensed in the external heat exchanger 22 branches into three at the first branch point P1, and then adiabatically expands in the expansion mechanisms 231, 232, and 233, respectively, and the right internal heat exchanger 24a and the internal internal heat. It reaches the exchanger 24b and the left internal heat exchanger 24c, evaporates in each internal heat exchanger 24, takes heat from the internal air of the product storage 3, and cools the internal air. The cooled internal air circulates in the interior by driving each internal blower fan (F1: see FIG. 2), whereby the products stored in each product storage 3 are cooled to the circulating internal air. The refrigerant evaporated in each internal heat exchanger 24 joins at the first joining point P2, and is then sucked into the compressor 21 and compressed by the compressor 21, and the above-described circulation is repeated.

  Next, the case where the HCC operation (operation for heating the internal air of the left warehouse 3c and cooling the internal air of the right warehouse 3a and the middle warehouse 3b) is described. In this case, the controller gives a close command to the high-pressure solenoid valve 261, the inlet-side low-pressure solenoid valve 262c, the outlet-side low-pressure solenoid valve 263c, and the high-pressure introduction valve 321, and the high-pressure introduction valve 322, inlet-side low-pressure solenoid valves 262a, 262b. Then, an opening command is given to the outlet side low pressure solenoid valve 263b and the heat radiation valve 441. As a result, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 circulates as shown in FIG.

  That is, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 passes through the high-pressure refrigerant introduction pipe 31 and reaches the left-inside heat exchanger 24c. The refrigerant that has reached the left internal heat exchanger 24c exchanges heat with the internal air of the left internal 3c while passing through the heat exchanger, and dissipates heat to the internal air to condense. Thereby, the internal air of the left warehouse 3c is heated. The heated internal air circulates in the left warehouse 3c by driving the internal blower fan (F1: see FIG. 2), whereby the product stored in the left warehouse 3c is heated by the circulating internal air. The

  The refrigerant condensed in the left internal heat exchanger 24c passes through the heat radiation pipe 41 constituting the heat radiation path 40, reaches the gas cooler 42, and radiates heat to the ambient air by the gas cooler 42. The refrigerant radiated by the gas cooler 42 passes through the return pipe 51, flows into the main path 20 from the third junction P5, and passes through the inlet-side low-pressure electromagnetic valves 262a and 262b that are opened. The refrigerant that has passed through the inlet-side low-pressure solenoid valves 262a and 262b is adiabatically expanded by the expansion mechanisms 231 and 232, respectively, and reaches the right internal heat exchanger 24a and the internal heat exchanger 24b, and these right internal heat exchangers. 24a and the internal heat exchanger 24b evaporate to take heat from the internal air of each commodity storage 3, and cool the internal air. The cooled internal air is circulated through the interior of each product storage 3 by driving each internal blower fan (F1: see FIG. 2), whereby each product storage 3 (right store 3a and middle store 3b) is circulated. The contained goods are cooled. The refrigerant evaporated in the right internal heat exchanger 24a and the internal internal heat exchanger 24b is sucked into the compressor 21, compressed by the compressor 21, and repeats the circulation described above.

  When performing such an HCC operation, that is, a cooling heating operation, when the cooling request for the right warehouse 3a and the middle warehouse 3b is larger than the heating demand for the left warehouse 3c, for example, due to the high outside air temperature, Although not clearly shown, it is possible to meet the request by increasing the number of rotations of the external fan F2 (see FIG. 2) provided in the vicinity of the gas cooler 42 and increasing the heat radiation amount in the gas cooler 42. Become.

  By the way, when performing this HCC operation (cooling heating operation), when the heating request for the left warehouse 3c is larger than the cooling demand for the right warehouse 3a and the middle warehouse 3b due to, for example, the outside air temperature being low, Like this.

  That is, the controller gives a close command to the high-pressure solenoid valve 261, the inlet-side low-pressure solenoid valve 262c, the outlet-side low-pressure solenoid valve 263c, the high-pressure introduction valve 321 and the heat radiation valve 441, and the high-pressure introduction valve 322, the inlet-side low-pressure solenoid valve An open command may be given to 262a, 262b and the outlet-side low-pressure solenoid valve 263b. As a result, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 circulates as shown in FIG.

  That is, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 passes through the high-pressure refrigerant introduction pipe 31 and reaches the left-inside heat exchanger 24c. The refrigerant that has reached the left internal heat exchanger 24c exchanges heat with the internal air of the left internal 3c while passing through the heat exchanger, and dissipates heat to the internal air to condense. Thereby, the internal air of the left warehouse 3c is heated. The heated internal air circulates in the left warehouse 3c by driving an internal blower fan (not shown) (F1: see FIG. 2), and the products stored in the left warehouse 3c thereby circulate internal air. To be heated.

  The refrigerant condensed in the left-side heat exchanger 24c passes through the heat radiation pipe 41 constituting the heat radiation path 40, and reaches the branch pipe 46 through the second branch point P6. The refrigerant passing through the branch pipe 46 adiabatically expands in the branch expansion unit 47, and the refrigerant adiabatically expanded passes through the fourth junction P7 and reaches the gas cooler 42. The refrigerant that has reached the gas cooler 42 evaporates while passing through the gas cooler 42 by exchanging heat with the ambient air. The refrigerant evaporated in the gas cooler 42 passes through the return pipe 51, flows into the main path 20 from the third junction P5, and passes through the inlet-side low-pressure electromagnetic valves 262a and 262b that are opened. The refrigerant that has passed through the inlet-side low pressure solenoid valves 262a and 262b passes through the expansion mechanisms 231 and 232 to reach the right-side heat exchanger 24a and the inner-side heat exchanger 24b, and these right-side heat exchanger 24a and After passing through the internal heat exchanger 24b, it is sucked into the compressor 21, compressed by the compressor 21, and the above-described circulation is repeated.

  As described above, in the refrigerant circuit device according to the first embodiment, the refrigerant (high-pressure refrigerant) condensed by the left-side heat exchanger 24c is caused to flow into the branch pipe 46 by closing the heat radiation valve 441, and the branch expansion unit. By adiabatic expansion of the refrigerant at 47, when the refrigerant passes through the gas cooler 42, heat exchange with ambient air can be performed to evaporate the refrigerant. As a result, even if the refrigerant is subsequently passed through the right internal heat exchanger 24a and the intermediate internal heat exchanger 24b, the cooling capacity due to the refrigerant is reduced, and thus the cooling capacity is maintained while maintaining the HCC operation. Can be reduced relative to the heating capacity.

  Therefore, according to the refrigerant circuit device according to the first embodiment, the cooling and heating operation can be maintained, and thereafter the cooling operation and the heating operation can be stopped at the same time. Loss time does not occur and power consumption can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to perform a cooling and heating operation according to the size of the cooling request and the heating request, and to reduce the power consumption.

<Embodiment 2>
FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram conceptually showing the refrigerant circuit device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated to what has the same structure as the refrigerant circuit apparatus which is Embodiment 1 mentioned above.

  The refrigerant circuit device illustrated here includes a refrigerant circuit 11 including a main path 20, a high-pressure refrigerant introduction path 30, a heat radiation path 40, and a return path 50. The refrigerant circuit 11 has a refrigerant (for example, R134a) sealed therein.

  The main path 20 is configured by sequentially connecting a compressor 21, an external heat exchanger 22, and an internal heat exchanger 24 through a refrigerant pipe 25.

  The compressor 21 is disposed in the machine room 9. The machine room 9 is a room inside the main body cabinet 1, partitioned from the product storage 3 and below the product storage 3. The compressor 21 sucks the refrigerant through the suction port, compresses the sucked refrigerant to be in a high-temperature and high-pressure state (high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant), and discharges it from the discharge port.

  The external heat exchanger 22 is disposed in the machine room 9 similarly to the compressor 21. When the refrigerant | coolant compressed with the compressor 21 passes, this external heat exchanger 22 condenses this refrigerant | coolant.

  A high-pressure solenoid valve 261 is provided in the refrigerant pipe 25 that connects the external heat exchanger 22 and the compressor 21. The high-pressure electromagnetic valve 261 is a valve body that can be opened and closed. When the opening command is given from a controller (not shown), the high-pressure solenoid valve 261 opens and allows the refrigerant to pass therethrough, but closes when the closing command is given. In this way, the passage of the refrigerant is restricted.

  A plurality of (three in the illustrated example) heat exchangers 24 in the cabinet are provided, which are disposed in the lower interior of each commodity storage 3 and on the front side of the rear duct D (see FIG. 2). is there. The refrigerant pipe 25 connecting the internal heat exchanger 24 and the external heat exchanger 22 branches into three at the first branch point P1 in the middle, and the internal heat disposed in the right warehouse 3a. On the inlet side of the exchanger 24 (hereinafter also referred to as the right internal heat exchanger 24a), the inlet of the internal heat exchanger 24 (hereinafter also referred to as the internal heat exchanger 24b) disposed in the intermediate warehouse 3b. The inlet side of the internal heat exchanger 24 (hereinafter also referred to as the left internal heat exchanger 24c) disposed inside the left warehouse 3c is connected to each side.

  Further, in the refrigerant pipe 25, the inlet-side low-pressure solenoid valve 262a is provided on the way from the first branch point P1 to each of the right internal heat exchanger 24a, the central internal heat exchanger 24b, and the left internal heat exchanger 24c. , 262b, 262c and expansion mechanisms 231, 232, 233 are provided. The inlet-side low-pressure solenoid valves 262a, 262b, 262c are openable and closable valve elements. When the controller receives an opening command, the inlet-side low-pressure solenoid valve 262a, 262b, 262c opens and allows the refrigerant to pass. Is closed to restrict the passage of refrigerant.

  The expansion mechanisms 231, 232, and 233 are configured by, for example, a capillary tube, an electronic expansion valve, or the like, and adiabatic expansion is performed by depressurizing the refrigerant that passes therethrough.

  The refrigerant pipe 25 connected to the outlet side of the internal heat exchanger 24 joins at the first joining point P <b> 2 and is connected to the compressor 21. In addition, outlet side low-pressure solenoid valves 263b and 263c are arranged in the middle of the refrigerant pipe 25 from the outlet side of the inner heat exchanger 24b and the left inner heat exchanger 24c to the first junction P2. The outlet-side low-pressure solenoid valves 263b and 263c are valve bodies that can be opened and closed. When the opening command is given from the controller, the outlet-side low-pressure solenoid valves 263b and 263c are opened and allowed to pass the refrigerant, while when the closing command is given. It closes and regulates the passage of refrigerant.

  In such a main path 20, reference numerals 27 and 281 in FIG. 7 are an internal heat exchanger 27 and a relief valve 281. The internal heat exchanger 27 exchanges heat between the high-pressure refrigerant and the low-pressure refrigerant. The relief valve 281 is provided in the middle of the relief pipe 28 that connects the refrigerant pipe 25 extending from the compressor 21 to the high-pressure electromagnetic valve 261 and the refrigerant pipe 25 extending from the high-pressure electromagnetic valve 261 to the external heat exchanger 22. It is provided. The relief valve 281 is normally closed, but is opened when the pressure on the discharge side of the compressor 21 exceeds a predetermined magnitude to allow passage of the high-pressure refrigerant.

  The high-pressure refrigerant introduction path 30 branches from a high-pressure side branch point P3 in the middle of the path between the compressor 21 and the high-pressure solenoid valve 261, and further branches in the middle, one side being the inlet side of the internal heat exchanger 24b The other is a path constituted by a high-pressure refrigerant introduction pipe 31 that merges with the refrigerant pipe 25 on the other side and the refrigerant pipe 25 on the inlet side of the left-side internal heat exchanger 24c. The high-pressure refrigerant introduction path 30 is a path for introducing the refrigerant (high-pressure refrigerant) compressed by the compressor 21.

  In the high-pressure refrigerant introduction pipe 31, high-pressure introduction valves 321 and 322 are provided on the downstream side of the branch point, respectively. The high-pressure introduction valves 321 and 322 are valve bodies that can be opened and closed, and are opened when the opening command is given from the controller and allowed to pass through the refrigerant, but are closed when the closing command is given. This restricts the passage of refrigerant.

  That is, when the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 is supplied through the high-pressure refrigerant introduction path 30, the inner-compartment heat exchanger 24 b and the left-compartment heat exchanger 24 c It heats the internal air of the product storage 3 (the central storage 3b and the left storage 3c).

  The heat radiation path 40 is branched in the middle of each of the refrigerant pipes 25 connected to the outlet side of the internal heat exchanger 24b and the left internal heat exchanger 24c, merges at the second junction P4, and the external heat This is a path constituted by a heat radiating pipe 41 connected to the inlet side of the gas cooler 42 arranged in a manner adjacent to the exchanger 22. This heat radiation path 40 is for supplying the gas cooler 42 with the refrigerant condensed in at least one of the internal heat exchanger 24b and the left internal heat exchanger 24c.

  The gas cooler 42 is arranged in such a manner that the refrigerant passing through each of the gas coolers 42 can exchange heat with the outside heat exchanger 22, and heat is exchanged with the refrigerant passing through the outside heat exchanger 22. In addition to exchanging, heat is exchanged between the refrigerant passing through itself and the ambient air to dissipate the refrigerant. That is, the heat radiation path 40 introduces the refrigerant condensed in the internal heat exchanger 24 and sends it to the gas cooler 42, and the gas cooler 42 radiates the refrigerant.

  A second junction from the branch point of the refrigerant pipe 25 connected to the outlet side of the heat exchanger 24b and the left heat exchanger 24c in the middle of the heat radiation pipe 41 constituting the heat radiation path 40. On the way to P4, check valves 431 and 432 are provided, respectively.

  The return path 50 is connected to the outlet side of the gas cooler 42 and is connected to the refrigerant pipe 25 constituting the main path 20, that is, the external heat exchanger 22 and the first branch point P1 (in the illustrated example, the internal heat exchanger 27). It is comprised by the return piping 51 connected to the 3rd junction P5 of the refrigerant | coolant piping 25 between. The return path 50 is for introducing the refrigerant radiated by the gas cooler 42 and returning it to the upstream side of the internal heat exchanger 24 of the main path 20.

  And in the heat dissipation path 40 of the refrigerant circuit 11 which comprises the refrigerant circuit apparatus which is this Embodiment 2, the heat dissipation valve 441, the branch path 45, and the branch expansion unit 47 are arrange | positioned.

  The heat radiation valve 441 is provided in the middle of the heat radiation pipe 41. The heat dissipating valve 441 is a valve body that can be opened and closed. When the controller receives an open command from the controller, the heat dissipating valve 441 opens and allows the refrigerant to pass. It regulates the passage of

  The branch path 45 is branched from the second branch point P6 upstream of the heat dissipation valve 441 in the heat dissipation pipe 41 and joins at the fourth junction P7 downstream of the heat dissipation valve 441 in the heat dissipation pipe 41. It is composed of connected branch pipes 46.

  The branch expansion unit 47 is disposed in the branch pipe 46. The branch expansion unit 47 is constituted by, for example, a capillary tube, an electronic expansion valve, or the like, and adiabatically expands by reducing the pressure of the refrigerant passing through the branch pipe 46.

  The refrigerant circuit 11 having the above configuration includes a bypass path 60 and a return path 70 in addition to the above configuration.

  The bypass path 60 branches from the third branch point P8 in the middle of the refrigerant pipe 25 extending from the first branch point P1 to the inlet-side low pressure solenoid valve 262a, and between the external heat exchanger 22 and the third junction P5. The bypass pipe 61 is provided in such a manner that it joins the fifth junction P9 in the middle of the refrigerant pipe 25. Such a bypass pipe 61 is provided with a bypass valve 621 and an expansion unit 622.

  The bypass valve 621 is a valve body that can be opened and closed. When the controller receives an opening command from the controller, the bypass valve 621 opens and allows the refrigerant to pass. It regulates passage.

  The expansion unit 622 is provided between the bypass valve 621 and the fifth junction P9. The expansion unit 622 is composed of, for example, a capillary tube or an electronic expansion valve, and adiabatically expands by reducing the pressure of the passing refrigerant.

  The return path 70 branches from a fourth branch point P10 on the downstream side of the relief valve 281 (external heat exchanger 22 side) of the relief pipe 28, and the first junction P2 (in the illustrated example, the internal heat exchanger 27). ) And the inlet side of the compressor 21 is constituted by a return pipe 71 provided in such a manner that it merges with the sixth junction P11 in the middle of the refrigerant pipe 25. Such a return pipe 71 is provided with a return valve 72.

  The feedback valve 72 is a valve body that can be opened and closed. When the opening command is given from the controller, the feedback valve 72 opens and permits the passage of the refrigerant. On the other hand, when the closing command is given, the feedback valve 72 closes and opens the refrigerant. It regulates passage.

  The refrigerant circuit device having the above-described configuration cools or heats the product stored in the product storage 3 as follows.

  Here, a case where the HCC operation (operation for heating the internal air of the left warehouse 3c and cooling the internal air of the right warehouse 3a and the central warehouse 3b) is described. In this case, the controller gives a close command to the high pressure solenoid valve 261, the inlet side low pressure solenoid valve 262c, the outlet side low pressure solenoid valve 263c, the high pressure introduction valve 321, the bypass valve 621, and the feedback valve 72, and the high pressure introduction valve 322, An opening command is given to the inlet-side low-pressure solenoid valves 262a and 262b, the outlet-side low-pressure solenoid valve 263b, and the heat dissipation valve 441. As a result, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 circulates as shown in FIG.

  That is, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 passes through the high-pressure refrigerant introduction pipe 31 and reaches the left-inside heat exchanger 24c. The refrigerant that has reached the left internal heat exchanger 24c exchanges heat with the internal air of the left internal 3c while passing through the heat exchanger, and dissipates heat to the internal air to condense. Thereby, the internal air of the left warehouse 3c is heated. The heated internal air circulates in the left warehouse 3c by driving an internal blower fan (not shown) (F1: see FIG. 2), and the products stored in the left warehouse 3c thereby circulate internal air. To be heated.

  The refrigerant condensed in the left internal heat exchanger 24c passes through the heat radiation pipe 41 constituting the heat radiation path 40, reaches the gas cooler 42, and radiates heat to the ambient air by the gas cooler 42. The refrigerant radiated by the gas cooler 42 passes through the return pipe 51, flows into the main path 20 from the third junction P5, and passes through the inlet-side low-pressure electromagnetic valves 262a and 262b that are opened. The refrigerant that has passed through the inlet-side low-pressure solenoid valves 262a and 262b is adiabatically expanded by the expansion mechanisms 231 and 232, respectively, and reaches the right internal heat exchanger 24a and the internal heat exchanger 24b, and these right internal heat exchangers. 24a and the internal heat exchanger 24b evaporate to take heat from the internal air of each commodity storage 3, and cool the internal air. The cooled internal air is circulated through the interior of each product storage 3 by driving each internal blower fan (F1: see FIG. 2), whereby each product storage 3 (right store 3a and middle store 3b) is circulated. The contained goods are cooled. The refrigerant evaporated in the right internal heat exchanger 24a and the internal internal heat exchanger 24b is sucked into the compressor 21, compressed by the compressor 21, and repeats the circulation described above.

  When performing such an HCC operation, that is, a cooling heating operation, when the cooling request for the right warehouse 3a and the middle warehouse 3b is larger than the heating demand for the left warehouse 3c due to, for example, the outside air temperature being high, the figure shows Although not clearly shown, it is possible to meet the request by increasing the number of rotations of the external fan F2 provided in the vicinity of the gas cooler 42 and increasing the heat radiation amount in the gas cooler 42.

  By the way, when performing this HCC operation (cooling heating operation), when the heating request for the left warehouse 3c is larger than the cooling demand for the right warehouse 3a and the middle warehouse 3b due to, for example, the outside air temperature being low, Like this.

  That is, the controller gives a close command to the high-pressure solenoid valve 261, the inlet-side low-pressure solenoid valve 262c, the outlet-side low-pressure solenoid valve 263c, the high-pressure introduction valve 321, the bypass valve 621, the feedback valve 72, and the heat radiation valve 441 to introduce a high pressure. An open command may be given to the valve 322, the inlet side low pressure solenoid valves 262a, 262b, and the outlet side low pressure solenoid valve 263b. That is, the heat dissipation valve 441 may be closed in the state of FIG. As a result, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 circulates as shown in FIG.

  That is, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 passes through the high-pressure refrigerant introduction pipe 31 and reaches the left-inside heat exchanger 24c. The refrigerant that has reached the left internal heat exchanger 24c exchanges heat with the internal air of the left internal 3c while passing through the heat exchanger, and dissipates heat to the internal air to condense. Thereby, the internal air of the left warehouse 3c is heated. The heated internal air circulates in the left warehouse 3c by driving an internal blower fan (not shown) (F1: see FIG. 2), and the products stored in the left warehouse 3c thereby circulate internal air. To be heated.

  The refrigerant condensed in the left-side heat exchanger 24c passes through the heat radiation pipe 41 constituting the heat radiation path 40, and reaches the branch pipe 46 through the second branch point P6. The refrigerant passing through the branch pipe 46 adiabatically expands in the branch expansion unit 47, and the refrigerant adiabatically expanded passes through the fourth junction P7 and reaches the gas cooler 42. The refrigerant that has reached the gas cooler 42 evaporates while passing through the gas cooler 42 by exchanging heat with the ambient air. The refrigerant evaporated in the gas cooler 42 passes through the return pipe 51, flows into the main path 20 from the third junction P5, and passes through the inlet-side low-pressure electromagnetic valves 262a and 262b that are opened. The refrigerant that has passed through the inlet-side low pressure solenoid valves 262a and 262b passes through the expansion mechanisms 231 and 232 to reach the right-side heat exchanger 24a and the inner-side heat exchanger 24b, and these right-side heat exchanger 24a and After passing through the internal heat exchanger 24b, it is sucked into the compressor 21, compressed by the compressor 21, and the above-described circulation is repeated.

  As described above, in the refrigerant circuit device according to the second embodiment, the refrigerant (high-pressure refrigerant) condensed by the left-side heat exchanger 24c is flown into the branch pipe 46 by closing the heat radiation valve 441, and the branch expansion unit. By adiabatic expansion of the refrigerant at 47, when the refrigerant passes through the gas cooler 42, heat exchange with ambient air can be performed to evaporate the refrigerant. As a result, even if the refrigerant is subsequently passed through the right internal heat exchanger 24a and the intermediate internal heat exchanger 24b, the cooling capacity due to the refrigerant is reduced, and thus the cooling capacity is maintained while maintaining the HCC operation. Can be reduced relative to the heating capacity.

  Therefore, according to the refrigerant circuit device according to the second embodiment, the cooling and heating operation can be maintained, and the cooling operation and the heating operation can be stopped at the same time. Loss time does not occur and power consumption can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to perform a cooling and heating operation according to the size of the cooling request and the heating request, and to reduce the power consumption.

  Further, when the HCC operation (cooling heating operation) shown in FIG. 8 is performed, the heating request for the left chamber 3c is extremely larger than the cooling request for the right chamber 3a and the middle chamber 3b due to, for example, the outside air temperature being low. When it is not necessary to cool the internal air of the storage 3a and the internal storage 3b, the following may be performed through the controller.

  That is, the controller gives a close command to the high-pressure solenoid valve 261, the inlet-side low-pressure solenoid valves 262a, 262b, 262c, the outlet-side low-pressure solenoid valves 263b, 263c, the high-pressure introduction valve 321 and the heat radiation valve 441, and the high-pressure introduction valve 322 The opening command may be given to the bypass valve 621 and the feedback valve 72. As a result, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 circulates as shown in FIG.

  That is, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 passes through the high-pressure refrigerant introduction pipe 31 and reaches the left-inside heat exchanger 24c. The refrigerant that has reached the left internal heat exchanger 24c exchanges heat with the internal air of the left internal 3c while passing through the heat exchanger, and dissipates heat to the internal air to condense. Thereby, the internal air of the left warehouse 3c is heated. The heated internal air circulates in the left warehouse 3c by driving an internal blower fan (not shown) (F1: see FIG. 2), and the products stored in the left warehouse 3c thereby circulate internal air. To be heated.

  The refrigerant condensed in the left-side heat exchanger 24c passes through the heat radiation pipe 41 constituting the heat radiation path 40, and reaches the branch pipe 46 through the second branch point P6. The refrigerant passing through the branch pipe 46 adiabatically expands in the branch expansion unit 47, and the refrigerant adiabatically expanded passes through the fourth junction P7 and reaches the gas cooler 42. The refrigerant that has reached the gas cooler 42 evaporates while passing through the gas cooler 42 by exchanging heat with the ambient air. The refrigerant evaporated in the gas cooler 42 passes through the return pipe 51, flows into the main path 20 from the third junction P5, passes through the first branch point P1 and the third branch point P8, and forms a bypass path 60. It reaches the pipe 61. The refrigerant passing through the bypass pipe 61 passes through the expansion unit 622 and the fifth junction P9 and reaches the external heat exchanger 22. The refrigerant that reaches the external heat exchanger 22 flows into the return pipe 71 from the fourth branch point P10 via the relief pipe 28 and passes through the return pipe 71. The refrigerant that has passed through the return pipe 71 passes through the sixth junction P11 and is then sucked into the compressor 21, is compressed by the compressor 21, and repeats the above-described circulation.

  According to this, although it switches from HCC operation to heating independent operation, it can prevent cooling the internal air of right warehouse 3a and middle warehouse 3b. In addition, the distance from the gas cooler 42 to the compressor 21 can be shortened as compared with the case of passing through the right internal heat exchanger 24a and the intermediate internal heat exchanger 24b, and the pressure loss in the refrigerant circuit 11 can be reduced. It can be reduced.

  The preferred embodiment 1 and embodiment 2 of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications can be made.

  In Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 described above, control by the controller is not particularly mentioned, but in the present invention, the temperature is determined based on the detection result by the inside temperature sensor of each commodity storage 3 or the outside air temperature sensor. You may make it control opening / closing of the thermal radiation valve 441 by calculating | requiring a change speed and measuring the completion | finish time of the cooling operation and heating operation in a cooling heating operation.

  As described above, the refrigerant circuit device according to the present invention is useful for vending machines that sell products such as canned beverages and plastic bottled beverages.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body cabinet 10 Refrigerant circuit 20 Main path 21 Compressor 22 External heat exchanger 231 Expansion mechanism 232 Expansion mechanism 233 Expansion mechanism 24 Internal heat exchanger 24a Right internal heat exchanger 24b Central internal heat exchanger 24c Left warehouse Internal heat exchanger 25 Refrigerant pipe 261 High pressure solenoid valve 262a Inlet side low pressure solenoid valve 262b Inlet side low pressure solenoid valve 262c Inlet side low pressure solenoid valve 263b Outlet side low pressure solenoid valve 263c Outlet side low pressure solenoid valve 30 High pressure refrigerant introduction path 31 High pressure refrigerant introduction Pipe 321 High pressure introduction valve 322 High pressure introduction valve 40 Heat radiation path 41 Heat radiation pipe 42 Gas cooler 441 Heat radiation valve 45 Branch path 46 Branch pipe 47 Branch expansion unit 50 Return path 51 Return pipe 60 Bypass path 61 Bypass pipe 62 Bypass valve 70 Return path 71 Feedback Piping 72 Return bar

Claims (2)

An internal heat exchanger disposed inside the target chamber, a compressor that sucks and compresses the refrigerant that has passed through the internal heat exchanger, and a warehouse that introduces and condenses the refrigerant compressed by the compressor A main path configured by sequentially connecting an external heat exchanger with a refrigerant pipe;
When the introduction valve provided in itself opens, at least a part of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor is introduced and supplied to the internal heat exchanger disposed in the chamber to be heated. A high-pressure refrigerant introduction path for condensing the refrigerant in the internal heat exchanger and heating the internal atmosphere of the chamber,
A heat dissipation path for introducing the refrigerant condensed in the internal heat exchanger and supplying the refrigerant to the gas cooler;
A return path that introduces the refrigerant that has passed through the gas cooler and returns the refrigerant to the upstream side of the heat exchanger in the main path;
An expansion mechanism that is provided in at least one of the main path and the return path and that adiabatically expands either the refrigerant condensed in the external heat exchanger or the refrigerant that has passed through the gas cooler;
The heat dissipation path is
It is arranged in the middle of the heat radiating pipe from the internal heat exchanger to the gas cooler, and when it opens, it allows the refrigerant to pass through the heat radiating pipe, while when it closes, A heat dissipation valve that restricts refrigerant from passing through the heat dissipation pipe;
A branch pipe branched from the branch point upstream of the heat dissipation valve in the heat dissipation pipe, and connected in a manner of joining at a junction point downstream of the heat dissipation valve in the heat dissipation pipe; and
A refrigerant circuit device comprising: a branch expansion unit that is disposed in the branch pipe and adiabatically expands the refrigerant that passes through the branch pipe. A bypass path that opens by itself and introduces a refrigerant that dissipates heat in the gas cooler, and supplies the refrigerant as a low-pressure refrigerant to the external heat exchanger to evaporate in the external heat exchanger; and
A return path for introducing the refrigerant evaporated in the external heat exchanger by opening a feedback valve provided therein and returning the refrigerant to the compressor is provided. Refrigerant circuit device.

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