JP7785624B2 - Freezer - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to chillers, particularly water-cooled chillers.

A refrigerator comprises refrigeration cycle components and an electrical component box that controls the refrigeration cycle components. It supplies liquid-phase refrigerant to a cooler installed in, for example, a facility or warehouse. The refrigeration cycle components include, for example, a compressor, air-cooled condenser, fan motor, and accumulator, and circulate the refrigerant through piping. There are also water-cooled refrigerators that are equipped with a water-cooled condenser instead of an air-cooled condenser, eliminating the need for an air-cooled condenser and fan motor. The electrical component box houses various electrical components that control the operation of these refrigeration cycle components, such as a control board, communication module, and display.

Water-cooled chillers can be made smaller because they do not require an air-cooled condenser or fan motor. All refrigeration cycle components and electrical component boxes are compactly mounted on a common base (unit base). Such water-cooled chillers are often incorporated into refrigeration/freezing equipment. The water piping connected to the water-cooled condenser is made of sturdy tubing and is connected to the condenser from a predetermined direction. The refrigerant piping that supplies the refrigerant cooled by the water-cooled condenser to a cooler, etc., is also connected to the water-cooled condenser from a predetermined direction, while the refrigerant piping that carries the refrigerant supplied to the cooler and returned to the accumulator is also connected from a predetermined direction. Because the refrigerant piping is made of copper, it can be bent gently but not sharply, which imposes restrictions on the direction in which it can be connected. For this reason, like the water piping connected to the water-cooled condenser, it is generally connected from a single, predetermined direction.

The exterior shape of an electrical component box is defined by, for example, a box-shaped housing that houses electrical components and a cover that can be attached or removed from the housing. When installing or maintaining the refrigerator, the cover is removed from the housing to expose the electrical components. For this reason, in consideration of ease of access to the electrical components, it is preferable to install the refrigerator so that the worker can directly face the opening of the housing with the cover removed.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-82146

However, when installing a water-cooled chiller in a refrigeration/freezing unit, for example, if an operator attempts to install the chiller in a desired orientation that allows the operator to directly face the opening of the electrical components box, the water piping and refrigerant piping may not be able to be connected in the specified direction. In other words, the installation direction of the water-cooled chiller is uniquely determined due to the routing of the water piping and refrigerant piping in the refrigeration/freezing unit, and the water-cooled chiller cannot be placed in any direction. As a result, depending on the installation location, it may not be possible to install the water-cooled chiller in the desired orientation that allows the operator to directly face the opening of the electrical components box. For example, if the outline shape of the unit base is rectangular, the installation orientation of the water-cooled chiller is likely to be restricted by the installation location, and it may not be possible to install the water-cooled chiller in the desired orientation. Therefore, there is a need to increase the versatility of the installation orientation of water-cooled chillers.

The purpose of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can be installed in a more versatile manner.

A water-cooled chiller according to one embodiment comprises a compressor, a water-cooled condenser, a refrigerant connection, a water piping connection, an electrical component box, and a base member. The compressor compresses and discharges a refrigerant. The water-cooled condenser cools and condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor with cooling water. The refrigerant connection is connected to a refrigerant piping that circulates the refrigerant with the outside. The water piping connection is connected to the water-cooled condenser and to a water piping that circulates the cooling water with the outside. The electrical component box houses a control board that controls the operation of the compressor. The base member has a substantially rectangular outline and is equipped with the compressor, the water-cooled condenser, the refrigerant piping, the water piping, and the electrical component box. The base member comprises a first base member on which the compressor and the water-cooled condenser are mounted, and a second base member on which the electrical component box is mounted. The contour shape of the first base member is a substantially square with the lengths of the short sides of the substantially rectangular contour shape of the base member as the lengths of its four sides. The contour shape of the second base member is a substantially rectangular with the length of the short sides of the base member as the length of its long sides. The second base member is assembled to the first base member so that one of the three sides of the contour shape of the first base member other than the one side straddled by the refrigerant piping connected to the refrigerant connection portion and the water piping connected to the water piping connection portion is close to the long side of the substantially rectangular contour shape of the second base member.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a water-cooled chiller according to an embodiment. 1 is a plan view illustrating a state before a first base member and a second base member are assembled in a water-cooled chiller according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first assembly mode in which a first base member and a second base member are assembled in a water-cooled chiller according to an embodiment; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a first assembly mode of the water-cooled chiller according to the embodiment, as viewed from the direction of arrow A3 shown in FIG. 3. FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a second assembly mode in which the first base member and the second base member are assembled in the water-cooled chiller according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a third assembly mode in which the first base member and the second base member are assembled in the water-cooled chiller according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a water-cooled chiller 1 according to this embodiment. This water-cooled chiller 1 is an indoor chiller that is generally installed indoors, and supplies a liquid refrigerant cooled by a refrigeration cycle to a load-side device. The load-side device may be, for example, a device such as a thermo-hygrostat or a cooler installed in a building such as a prefabricated building (whether or not it is in the same building as the water-cooled chiller 1). In Fig. 1, solid lines indicate the refrigerant flow path in the refrigeration cycle of the water-cooled chiller 1, and dashed lines indicate the control system of the water-cooled chiller 1.

As shown in Figure 1, the water-cooled chiller (hereinafter simply referred to as chiller) 1 mainly comprises a refrigeration cycle component 2 and an electrical component box 4. These refrigeration cycle component 2 and electrical component box 4 are mounted on a base member 6.

The refrigeration cycle components 2 are various devices that make up the refrigeration cycle in the chiller 1, including, for example, a compressor 21, a water-cooled condenser 22, an accumulator 23, refrigerant control components 24, and refrigerant pipes 25 and 28. These are connected to a refrigerant flow path 20 that circulates the refrigerant between the load-side equipment to which the cooled refrigerant is supplied. The compressor 21 compresses and discharges the refrigerant. The water-cooled condenser 22 is a tank-shaped component filled with refrigerant, and condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 by cooling (absorbing heat) it with cooling water flowing through external water pipes 8a and 8c that are connected when the chiller 1 is installed. The cooling water flows through the water pipe 8a from the cooling water inlet (water pipe connection) 22a of the water-cooled condenser 22 to the water-cooled condenser 22, into the water flow passage 22b, which is made of copper piping or the like, installed inside the water-cooled condenser 22, and exchanges heat with the refrigerant inside the water-cooled condenser 22 before flowing out the cooling water outlet (water pipe connection) 22c, which is connected to the water pipe 8c. The water flow passage 22b is made of, for example, a serpentine or spiral pipe to promote heat exchange between the cooling water flowing therethrough and the refrigerant stored outside. The cooling water is supplied from an external source, such as groundwater or industrial water. The accumulator 23 separates the refrigerant that is supplied to the load equipment and then returned, supplying only the gas-phase refrigerant to the compressor 21. Furthermore, a gas-liquid separator (accumulator) 21a is installed at the suction side of the compressor 21 to prevent the compressor 21 from compressing the liquid-phase refrigerant. Refrigerant control components 24 are electronic devices and sensors that control the flow state of the refrigerant, such as flow rate and pressure, and include an electronically controlled valve (PMV) 24a that functions as a flow control valve and a pressure sensor 24b. Refrigerant pipes 25 and 28 form part of the refrigerant flow path 20 and circulate the refrigerant with the load-side equipment. Water pipes 8a and 8c are connected to the water-cooled condenser 22 and circulate cooling water with the outside.

The electrical component box 4 houses electrical components that control the operation of the refrigeration cycle components 2. These electrical components include, for example, a control board 41 that controls the operation of the compressor 21 and refrigerant control components 24 and collects temperature and pressure data from the refrigerant control components 24, as well as a communication module and a display. As shown in FIG. 2 , the electrical component box 4 is composed of, for example, a metal housing 42 with an opening that houses the control board 41 and other components, and a cover 43 attached with screws to close the opening. By removing the screws or the like that secure the cover 43 to the housing 42 and opening the opening, the control board 41, which is attached in a position opposite the opening, is exposed to the outside. This makes the control board 41 housed in the electrical component box 4 accessible from the outside. The opening in the housing 42 corresponds to the openable portion 44 of the electrical component box 4.

The control board 41 is, for example, a single printed circuit board on which various electrical and electronic components are connected by soldering or the like. Depending on the circuit configuration, the printed circuit board may be divided into multiple boards. The control board 41 is also provided with an operation unit consisting of a DIP switch, rotary switch, etc., and a display unit such as an 8-segment LED, allowing various control settings to be configured. Therefore, when installing or adjusting the refrigerator 1, a user can remove the cover 43 to open the opening and operate the operation unit on the control board 41 and check the displayed contents from outside. Furthermore, in the event of a malfunction of the refrigerator 1, an inspector or repairer can remove the cover 43 to open the opening in the housing 42, allowing access to the control board 41 from outside, facilitating the replacement or repair of electrical components.

Returning to Figure 1, the base member 6 is a substantially flat member having an area 6a (hereinafter referred to as the mounting area) on which the refrigeration cycle components 2 and the electrical component box 4 are mounted. The mounting area 6a of the base member 6 has a substantially rectangular outline. The outline is the planar shape indicated by the outline of the mounting area 6a of the base member 6 when viewed vertically from above. In this embodiment, the mounting area 6a extends over substantially the entire base member 6. Therefore, the outline of the base member 6 is substantially rectangular, similar to the outline of the mounting area 6a. The base member 6 must firmly support heavy components such as the compressor 21 on its upper surface. It is made of a steel plate approximately 2 to 3 mm thick, with the entire edge bent downward to create a space of approximately 1 to 2 cm relative to the mounting surface of the base member 6.

The base member 6 has a first base member 61 and a second base member 62, which can be assembled into an integrated structure. The first base member 61 has an area (hereinafter referred to as the first area) 61a where the refrigeration cycle components 2 are mounted. The second base member 62 has an area (hereinafter referred to as the second area 62a) where the electrical component box 4 is mounted. The first area 61a is part of the mounting area 6a, and the second area 62a corresponds to the mounting area 6a other than the first area 61a.

In Figure 1, the flow of refrigerant during the refrigeration cycle is indicated by arrows along the refrigerant piping. When the chiller 1 starts operating, high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 is discharged into the refrigerant flow path 20. The discharged gas refrigerant is guided to the water-cooled condenser 22. The gas refrigerant guided to the water-cooled condenser 22 is cooled and condensed by cooling water flowing through the water flow path 22b of the water-cooled condenser 22, transforming into high-pressure liquid refrigerant. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant is supplied to a load-side device, such as a cooler (not shown), through external refrigerant piping 100 connected to the liquid-side refrigerant piping 25 and the liquid-side valve (refrigerant connection) 26. The other end of the refrigerant piping 25 is connected to the refrigerant piping connection port 22d of the water-cooled condenser 22. Before being supplied to the load-side cooler, the high-pressure liquid refrigerant is decompressed by a pressure reducing device installed in the load-side refrigerant piping path, transforming into low-temperature, low-pressure gas refrigerant.

In the cooler, the low-pressure gas refrigerant exchanges heat with water or air, evaporating and changing into a low-pressure gas refrigerant with a raised temperature. The low-pressure gas refrigerant is guided from the cooler through refrigerant piping 101, gas-side valve (refrigerant connection) 27, and gas-side refrigerant piping 28 to the accumulator 23. The other end of refrigerant piping 28 is connected to the refrigerant piping connection port (inlet) 23a of the accumulator 23. If the refrigerant contains liquid refrigerant that has not completely evaporated, it is separated into liquid and gas refrigerants in the accumulator 23. Pressure sensor 24b detects the pressure of the low-pressure gas refrigerant guided to the accumulator 23. The low-pressure gas refrigerant separated from the liquid refrigerant is drawn from the accumulator 23 into the compressor 21, where it is compressed again into high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant and discharged into the refrigerant flow path 20.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, a portion of the refrigerant that has passed through the water-cooled condenser 22, such as a liquid-phase refrigerant or a two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant, is diverted from the refrigerant flow path 20 and returned to the compressor 21 to cool the interior of the compressor 21 through an injection flow path 20a. The electronic control valve 24a is controlled by a controller, such as an MCU, mounted on the control board 41 to adjust the flow rate of the low-temperature, low-pressure gas-phase refrigerant flowing through the injection flow path 20a. If the temperature of the compressor 21 increases, the amount of refrigerant flowing through the injection flow path 20a is increased, and if the temperature of the compressor 21 is low, the injection flow path 20a is closed. The temperature of the compressor 21 may be detected by detecting the case temperature of the compressor 21, or the discharge temperature of the compressor 21 may be used as a substitute. If the compressor 21 does not become too hot, the injection flow path 20a may be omitted. If precise temperature control of the compressor 21 is not required, an on-off valve may be used instead of the electronic control valve 24a.

As described above, in this embodiment, the refrigeration cycle components 2 are mounted on the first base member 61, and the electrical component box 4 is mounted on the second base member 62. Figures 2 to 6 schematically show the configuration of the base member 6 formed by assembling the first base member 61 and the second base member 62.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first base member 61 has a first region 61a that has a substantially square outline shape in a plane viewed from above in the vertical direction. A substantially square shape is defined as a shape that includes not only a square but also, for example, a quadrilateral whose four sides are different enough to be considered the same length and whose four corners are right angles or can be considered to be right angles. The outline shape is the planar shape indicated by the outline of the first region 61a of the first base member 61 when viewed from above in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the first region 61a extends over substantially the entire first base member 61. Therefore, the outline shape of the first base member 61 is substantially square, similar to the outline shape of the first region 61a.

As described above, the first area 61a is equipped with refrigeration cycle components 2, such as the compressor 21, water-cooled condenser 22, accumulator 23, refrigerant control components 24, refrigerant pipes 25, 28, and water pipes 8a, 8b. The first area 61a has a substantially square outline, with the lengths of the four sides 611-614 being the short sides of the base member 6, i.e., the short sides 6s of the mounting area 6a, which has a substantially rectangular outline. The length of the short sides 6s of the mounting area 6a is indicated by L6s in FIG. 3. The lengths of the four sides 611-614 of the first area 61a are indicated by L61 in FIG. 2. These lengths L6s and L61 are substantially the same.

The second base member 62 has a second region 62a that has a substantially rectangular outline shape in a plane viewed from above in the vertical direction. A substantially rectangular shape is defined as a shape that includes not only a rectangle but also, for example, a quadrilateral whose four corners are right angles or can be considered to be right angles, and includes quadrilaterals whose long sides differ in length to the extent that they can be considered to be the same, and quadrilaterals whose short sides differ in length to the extent that they can be considered to be the same. Note that a substantially rectangular shape also includes a substantially square. The outline shape is the planar shape indicated by the outline of the second region 62a of the second base member 62 when viewed from above in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the second region 62a extends over substantially the entire second base member 62. Therefore, the outline shape of the second base member 62 is a substantially rectangular shape similar to the outline shape of the second region 62a.

As described above, the electrical component box 4 is mounted in the second area 62a. The second area 62a has a substantially rectangular outline, with the length of its long sides 621, 623 being the length L6s of the short side 6s of the mounting area 6a, which has a substantially rectangular outline, of the base member 6. The length of the long sides 621, 623 of the second area 62a is indicated by L62l in FIG. 2 and is substantially the same as the length L6s of the short side 6s of the mounting area 6a and the length L61 of the four sides 611-614 of the first area 61a. The length of the short sides 622, 624 of the second area 62a is indicated by L62s in FIG. 2 and may be any length less than the length L62l of the long sides 621, 623 of the second area 62a.

The second base member 62 is attached to the first base member 61 so that one of the four sides of the first region 61a is adjacent to the long side of the second region 62a. This gives the mounting region 6a of the base member 6 a substantially rectangular shape. The length L6s of the short side 6s of the mounting region 6a is substantially the same as the length L61 of the four sides 611-614 of the first region 61a and the length L62l of the long sides 621, 623 of the second region 62a. The length L6l of the long side 6l of the mounting region 6a is substantially the same as the length L61 of the four sides 611-614 of the first region 61a plus the length L62s of the short sides 622, 624 of the second region 62a.

As shown in Figures 3 to 6, one end of a refrigerant pipe 25, through which a liquid-phase refrigerant flows, is connected to the refrigerant pipe connection port 22d of the water-cooled condenser 22. The other end of the refrigerant pipe 25 is connected to a liquid-side valve 26. One end of an external refrigerant pipe 100 is connected to the liquid-side valve 26. The other end of the refrigerant pipe 100 is connected to a load-side device (e.g., a cooler). Furthermore, one end of a refrigerant pipe 28, through which a gas-phase refrigerant flows, is connected to the refrigerant pipe connection port 23a of the accumulator 23. The other end of the refrigerant pipe 28 is connected to a gas-side valve 27. One end of an external refrigerant pipe 101 is connected to the gas-side valve 27. The other end of the refrigerant pipe 101 is connected to a load-side device (e.g., a cooler).

One end of the water pipes 8a and 8c, through which cooling water flows, is connected to the cooling water inlet 22a and cooling water outlet 22c of the water-cooled condenser 22, respectively. The cooling water inlet 22a and cooling water outlet 22c are connection ports for the water pipes 8a and 8c from the outside. The other end of the water pipe 8a is connected to, for example, a cooling water supply source. The other end of the water pipe 8c is connected to, for example, a cooling water drainage channel or circulation channel.

The refrigerant pipes 100, 101 and the water pipes 8a, 8c are arranged across a specific side (hereinafter referred to as the reference side) of the four sides of the first region 61a. In the example shown in Figures 3 to 6, side 611 of the four sides 611-614 of the first region 61a is the reference side (hereinafter referred to as the reference side 611). The liquid side valve 26 and the gas side valve 27, which serve as refrigerant connections, open toward the reference side 611 in the direction in which the refrigerant pipes 100, 101 cross the reference side 611, and the refrigerant pipes 100, 101 are connected through these openings. The cooling water inlet 22a and the cooling water outlet 22c, which serve as cooling water connections, open toward the reference side 611 in the direction in which the water pipes 8a, 8c cross the reference side 611, and the water pipes 8a, 8c are connected through these openings. That is, the liquid side valve 26, the gas side valve 27, the cooling water inlet 22a, and the cooling water outlet 22c are arranged so that the refrigerant pipes 100, 101 and the water pipes 8a, 8c straddle the same reference side 611.

As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the electrical component box 4 is mounted on the second base member 62 with the openable portion 44 facing one of the long sides 621, 623 of the second area 62a. In the example shown in Figures 3 to 6, the electrical component box 4 is mounted with the openable portion 44, i.e., the cover 43, facing the long side 623 of the second area 62a. In the following description, the long side 623 of the second area 62a is referred to as the reference side 623.

Therefore, the second base member 62 is assembled to the first base member 61 so that one of the three sides 612, 613, and 614 of the first region 61a other than the reference side 611 is adjacent to the long side of the second region 62a. Specifically, the second base member 62 is assembled to the first base member 61 so that the long side 621 of the second region 62a other than the reference side 623 is adjacent to one of the three sides 612, 613, and 614 of the first region 61a other than the reference side 611. In other words, the first base member 61 and the second base member 62 are assembled in one of three ways in which one of the three sides 612, 613, and 614 of the first region 61a is adjacent to the long side 621 of the second region 62a.

The first assembly mode shown in Figures 3 and 4 is an assembly mode in which one side 612 of the first region 61a and the long side 621 of the second region 62a are close to each other. In the first assembly mode, the refrigerant pipe (liquid side refrigerant pipe) 100 connected to the liquid side valve 26, the refrigerant pipe (gas side refrigerant pipe) 101 connected to the gas side valve 27, and the water pipes 8a and 8c connected to the water-cooled condenser 22 are piped downward in Figure 3 and toward the front in Figure 4.

The second assembly mode shown in Figure 5 is an assembly mode in which one side 613 of the first region 61a and the long side 621 of the second region 62a are close to each other. In the second assembly mode, the refrigerant pipes 100, 101 connected to the liquid side valve 26 and the gas side valve 27, and the water pipes 8a, 8c connected to the water-cooled condenser 22 are piped toward the right in Figure 5.

The third assembly mode shown in Figure 6 is an assembly mode in which one side 614 of the first region 61a and the long side 621 of the second region 62a are close to each other. In the third assembly mode, the refrigerant pipes 100, 101 connected to the liquid side valve 26 and the gas side valve 27, and the water pipes 8a, 8c connected to the water-cooled condenser 22 are arranged facing upward in Figure 6.

There are no particular limitations on the method of assembling the first base member 61 and the second base member 62. In the examples shown in Figures 3 to 6, the first base member 61 and the second base member 62 are fastened and assembled with fastening members 9.
The first base member 61 has through holes (hereinafter referred to as first through holes) 610a to 610d near the four sides 611 to 614. The first through holes 610a to 610d penetrate the first region 61a. The second base member 62 has through holes (hereinafter referred to as second through holes) 620a and 620b near the long side 621 that communicate with the first through hole 61b.

In the example shown in Figures 2 to 6, the first through holes 610a-610d are provided near the ends of the four sides 611-614, in other words, near each of the four corners of the first region 61a. The second through holes 620a, 620b are provided near each of the ends of the long side 621 of the second region 62a. The second base member 62 has a pair of mounting pieces 625, 626 that extend a predetermined width from both ends of the long side 621 of the second region 62a along the short sides 622, 624. The second through holes 620a, 620b pass through these mounting pieces 625, 626.

In the first assembly mode shown in Figures 3 and 4, the first through hole 610a and the second through hole 620a are connected, and the first through hole 610b and the second through hole 620b are connected. Bolts 9a and 9b, which serve as fastening members 9, are inserted into these connected through holes to assemble the first base member 61 and the second base member 62. Note that screws may also be used as fastening members.

In the second assembly mode shown in Figure 5, the first through-hole 610b and the second through-hole 620a are connected, and the first through-hole 610c and the second through-hole 620b are connected. Bolts 9a and 9b are inserted into these connected through-holes to assemble the first base member 61 and the second base member 62.

In the third assembly mode shown in Figure 6, the first through-hole 610c and the second through-hole 620a are connected, and the first through-hole 610d and the second through-hole 620b are connected. Bolts 9a and 9b are inserted through these connected through-holes, and the first base member 61 and the second base member 62 are assembled and integrated.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the base member 6 can be constructed by assembling the first base member 61 and the second base member 62. Of these base members 61, 62, the first base member 61 has a substantially square outline, with the length L6s of the short side 6s of the base member 6, which has a substantially rectangular outline, being the length L61 of the four sides 611 to 614. The second base member 62 has a substantially rectangular outline, with the length L6s of the short side 6s of the base member 6 being the length of the long sides 621, 623. The second base member 62 is assembled to the first base member 61 so that the long side 621 other than the reference side 623 of the second region 62a is adjacent to one of the three sides 612, 613, 614 other than the reference side 611 of the first region 61a.

The first base member 61 and the second base member 62 can therefore be assembled in one of three ways, in which one of the three sides 612, 613, and 614 of the first region 61a is adjacent to the long side 621 of the second region 62a. That is, the first base member 61 and the second base member 62 can be assembled in one of the first to third assembly ways shown in Figures 3 to 6. Therefore, regardless of which of the first to third assembly ways is selected, the outline shape of the base member 6 can be made the same, approximately rectangular shape.

In this embodiment, in any of the first to third assembly modes, the first base member 61 and the second base member 62 can be assembled so that one of the three sides 612, 613, and 614 other than the reference side 611 is adjacent to the long side 621 other than the reference side 623. Meanwhile, the refrigerant pipes 100 and 101 connected to the liquid-side valve 26 and the gas-side valve 27, and the water pipes 8a and 8c connected to the water-cooled condenser 22, are all piped across the reference side 611. This allows the refrigerant pipes 100 and 101 and the water pipes 8a and 8c to be piped without interfering with the electrical component box 4. After assembling the first base member 61 and the second base member 62, electrical wiring from the electrical component box 4 is connected to the compressor 21 and the refrigerant control component 24 using connectors or the like.

As described above, the outline shape of the base member 6 is the same approximately rectangular shape in all of the first to third assembly modes. Therefore, the water-cooled chiller 1 can be installed by changing the connection direction of the refrigerant pipes 100, 101 and water pipes 8a, 8c to the water-cooled condenser 22 without changing the outline shape of the base member 6. In other words, the installation orientation of the water-cooled chiller 1 can be more versatile.

In this embodiment, the electrical component box 4 is mounted with the openable portion 44, i.e., the cover 43, facing the reference edge 623 of the second region 62a. Meanwhile, the first base member 61 and the second base member 62 can be assembled using any of the first, second, and third assembly configurations. This makes it easier to avoid situations where the refrigerant pipe 25 and water pipes 8a and 8c cannot be connected to the water-cooled condenser 22 in a predetermined direction, for example, when installing the water-cooled chiller 1 in a desired orientation that allows an operator to directly face the openable portion 44 of the electrical component box 4. Furthermore, even though the base member 6 has a generally rectangular contour, the installation orientation is less restricted by the installation location, thereby increasing the versatility of the installation orientation of the water-cooled chiller 1 that can be installed indoors. This makes it easier to install the water-cooled chiller 1 in a desired orientation that allows an operator to directly face the openable portion 44 of the electrical component box 4, thereby improving workability with the electrical component box 4.

The above describes an embodiment of the present invention, but this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Such novel embodiments can be embodied in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the claims.

1...Water-cooled chiller, 2...Refrigeration cycle components, 4...Electrical component box, 6...Base member, 6a...Mounting area, 6l...Long side of mounting area, 6s...Short side of mounting area, 8a, 8c...Water piping, 9...Fastening member, 20...Refrigerant flow path, 21...Compressor, 22...Water-cooled condenser, 22a...Cooling water inlet (water piping connection), 22c...Cooling water outlet (water piping connection), 25, 100...Refrigerant piping (liquid side refrigerant piping), 26...Liquid side valve (refrigerant connection), 27...Gas side valve (refrigerant connection), 28, 101...Refrigerant piping (gas side refrigerant piping), 41...Control board, 42...Housing, 43...Cover, 44...Open Movable portion, 61...first base member, 61a...first region, 62...second base member, 62a...second region, 610a, 610b, 610c, 610d...first through-hole, 611, 612, 613, 614...four sides of the first region, 620a, 620b...second through-hole, 621, 623...long sides of the second region, 622, 624...short sides of the second region, 625, 626...assembly pieces, L6l...length of long sides of the mounting region, L6s...length of short sides of the mounting region, L61...length of four sides of the first region, L62l...length of long sides of the second region, L62s...length of short sides of the second region.

Claims (5)

a compressor that compresses and discharges a refrigerant;
a water-cooled condenser that cools and condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor with cooling water;
a refrigerant connection portion to which a refrigerant pipe for circulating the refrigerant to the outside is connected;
a water pipe connection portion connected to the water-cooled condenser and to which a water pipe for circulating the cooling water to the outside is connected;
an electrical component box that houses a control board that controls the operation of the compressor;
a base member having a substantially rectangular contour and on which the compressor, the water-cooled condenser, the refrigerant piping, the water piping, and the electrical component box are mounted,
the base member includes a first base member on which the compressor and the water-cooled condenser are mounted, and a second base member on which the electrical component box is mounted;
the contour shape of the first base member is a substantially square having four sides whose lengths are the same as the short sides of the substantially rectangular contour shape of the base member;
The contour shape of the second base member is a substantially rectangular shape whose long side has the same length as the short side of the base member,
the second base member is assembled to the first base member such that one of three sides other than one side of the contour shape of the first base member, which are spanned by the refrigerant piping connected to the refrigerant connection portion and the water piping connected to the water piping connection portion, is close to a long side of the substantially rectangular contour shape of the second base member. the electrical component box has an openable portion that exposes the control board to the outside, and is mounted on the second base member with the openable portion facing one of the long sides of the contour shape of the second base member,
The water-cooled chiller according to claim 1, wherein the second base member is assembled to the first base member such that the other of the long sides of the contour shape is adjacent to one of the three sides of the contour shape of the first base member. the first base member has first through holes near four sides;
the second base member has second through holes in the vicinity of four sides thereof, the second through holes communicating with the first through holes;
The water-cooled chiller according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first base member and the second base member are fastened and assembled together by fastening members inserted through the first through-holes and the second through-holes. The water-cooled chiller according to claim 3 , wherein the water pipe connection portion has an opening facing the one side of the first base member in a direction in which the water pipe straddles the one side, and the water pipe is connected through the opening. The water-cooled chiller according to claim 4 , wherein the refrigerant connection portion opens toward the one side of the first base member in a direction in which the refrigerant pipe straddles the one side, and the refrigerant pipe is connected through the opening.