Header device

Abstract

To stop leakage of a heat medium when a problem such as breakage occurs in a soil freezing pipe.SOLUTION: A header device comprises a header, a plurality of branch pipes each connected at one end to the header and at the other end to a soil freezing pipe, and a plurality of valves provided in each of the plurality of branch pipes and configured to be able to close the branch pipes by utilizing fluid force of a heat medium directed toward the soil freezing pipe.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a header device capable of storing a heat medium for freezing soil in a soil freezing pipe. [Background technology]

[0002] A method for freezing soil in a specified area is known for the purposes of stabilizing the construction ground, blocking water, etc. In this method, a soil freezing pipe is placed in the soil to be frozen, and a refrigerant is passed through the soil freezing pipe, thereby removing heat from the soil and freezing the target soil (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-148104 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if a problem such as damage occurs in the soil freezing pipe, the pressure of the heat transfer medium inside the soil freezing pipe is relatively high, and the heat transfer medium inside the soil freezing pipe will leak into the soil or into the tunnel or shaft, etc. In this case, unless measures to prevent leakage are taken, there is a risk that most of the heat transfer medium in the heat transfer medium distribution route will leak from the leak point in the soil freezing pipe into the soil or into the tunnel or shaft, etc.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, at least one embodiment of the present disclosure aims to stop leakage of a heat medium when a malfunction such as breakage occurs in a soil freezing pipe. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, a header device includes: A header and a plurality of branch pipes, one end of which is connected to the header and the other end of which is connected to the soil freezing pipe; A plurality of valves are provided in each of the plurality of branch pipes, and are configured to be able to close the branch pipes by utilizing a fluid force of a heat medium directed toward the soil freezing pipe; Equipped with. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, leakage of the heat medium can be stopped if a malfunction such as breakage occurs in the soil freezing pipe. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a soil freezing device as an example of a refrigeration cycle device including a header device according to some embodiments. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a header apparatus according to some embodiments. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a header device according to some embodiments. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows VV in FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc. of components described as embodiments or shown in the drawings are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. For example, expressions expressing relative or absolute arrangement such as "in a certain direction," "along a certain direction," "parallel," "orthogonal," "center," "concentric," or "coaxial" not only express such an arrangement exactly, but also express a state in which there is a relative displacement with a tolerance or an angle or distance to the extent that the same function is obtained. For example, expressions such as "identical," "equal," and "homogeneous" that indicate that something is in an equal state not only indicate a state of strict equality, but also indicate a state in which there is a tolerance or a difference to the extent that the same function is obtained. For example, expressions representing shapes such as a square shape or a cylindrical shape not only represent shapes such as a square shape or a cylindrical shape in the strict geometric sense, but also represent shapes including uneven portions, chamfered portions, etc., to the extent that the same effect can be obtained. On the other hand, the expressions "comprise," "include," "have," "includes," or "have" of one element are not exclusive expressions that exclude the presence of other elements.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a soil freezing device as an example of a refrigeration cycle device including a header device according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the soil freezing device 1 includes a refrigerator 5 having a primary refrigerant circulation system 3 and a secondary refrigerant circulation system 10 connected to the primary refrigerant circulation system 3 via a heat exchanger 7.

[0011] In a secondary refrigerant circulation system 10 according to some embodiments, a receiver tank 11 capable of receiving refrigerant from the heat exchanger 7, a pump 13 for circulating the refrigerant in the receiver tank 11 through the secondary refrigerant circulation system, and a plurality of soil freezing pipes 15 (hereinafter also simply referred to as freezing pipes 15) buried in the soil to freeze the soil 30 are provided in a refrigerant circulation path 21 of the secondary refrigerant circulation system 10. In a secondary refrigerant circulation system 10 according to some embodiments, a liquid header 17 for distributing liquid-phase refrigerant to the plurality of freezing pipes 15 and a gas header 19 for collecting gas-phase refrigerant from the plurality of freezing pipes 15 are provided in the refrigerant circulation path 21. In the secondary refrigerant circulation system 10 according to some embodiments, the refrigerant (secondary refrigerant) is, for example, a CO2 refrigerant.

[0012] In the soil freezing device 1 configured in this manner, the secondary refrigerant cooled by the refrigerator 5 via the heat exchanger 7 is supplied to the liquid header 17 by the pump 13, and then supplied from the liquid header 17 to multiple freezing pipes 15. The secondary refrigerant supplied to the freezing pipes 15 absorbs heat from the soil surrounding the freezing pipes 15 as it evaporates within the freezing pipes 15. As a result, the soil surrounding the freezing pipes 15 freezes.

[0013] The vapor-phase secondary refrigerant evaporated in the freezing pipes 15 is collected in the gas header 19 and returned to the receiver tank 11. The gas-phase secondary refrigerant in the receiver tank is cooled and liquefied in the heat exchanger 7 and returns to the receiver tank 11 as a liquid-phase secondary refrigerant.

[0014] FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a header apparatus 100 according to some embodiments. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a header apparatus 100 according to some embodiments. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrows VV in FIG. The secondary refrigerant circulation system 10 according to some embodiments is provided with a header device 100 as shown in Fig. 2. The header device 100 according to some embodiments includes a liquid header 17, a gas header 19, and a plurality of branch pipes 40 provided between the liquid header 17 and the plurality of freezing pipes 15, and between the gas header 19 and the plurality of freezing pipes 15. In the header device 100 according to some embodiments, each of the branch pipes 40 has one end 40a connected to the liquid header 17 or the gas header 19 and the other end 40b connected to the freezing pipe 15 (see FIG. 1).

[0015] In the secondary refrigerant circulation system 10 according to some embodiments, the liquid header 17 is a feed header for supplying the refrigerant as a heat medium to the freezing pipes 15 . In the secondary refrigerant circulation system 10 according to some embodiments, the liquid header 17 has a cylindrical shape extending horizontally along the central axis AX1, and end plates are provided on both ends. In some embodiments of the secondary refrigerant circulation system 10, the gas header 19 is a return header for recovering refrigerant from the freeze pipe 15. In the secondary refrigerant circulation system 10 according to some embodiments, the gas header 19 has a cylindrical shape extending horizontally along the central axis AX2, and end plates are provided on both ends.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the secondary refrigerant circulation system 10 according to some embodiments, the liquid header 17 and the gas header 19 are arranged to extend in the same direction. As shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5, in the secondary refrigerant circulation system 10 according to some embodiments, the liquid header 17 and the gas header 19 are arranged so that their horizontal and vertical positions are different from each other. 3, in the secondary refrigerant circulation system 10 according to some embodiments, the liquid header 17 and the gas header 19 are arranged so that the center positions of the liquid header 17 and the gas header 19 in the extension direction are the same in a plan view. When the liquid header 17 and the gas header 19 have the same length, the positions of both ends of the liquid header 17 and the positions of both ends of the gas header 19 are the same in the extension direction.

[0017] Each of the branch pipes 40 is a plurality of feed pipes 41 or a plurality of return pipes 43 . Each of the feed pipes 41 is a pipe for guiding refrigerant from the liquid header 17 to the freezing pipe 15, and one end 41a is connected to the liquid header 17 and the other end 41b (see Figure 1) is connected to one end of the freezing pipe 15. Each of the return pipes 43 is a pipe for guiding the refrigerant from the freezing pipe 15 to the gas header 19, with one end 43a connected to the gas header 19 and the other end 43b (see Figure 1) connected to one end of the freezing pipe 15. 1, in which the other end 41b of the feed pipe 41 and the other end 43b of the return pipe 43 are connected to one end of the freezing pipe 15. For example, the other end 41b of the feed pipe 41 may be connected to either one end or the other end of the freezing pipe 15, and the other end 43b of the return pipe 43 may be connected to the other end of the freezing pipe 15.

[0018] The liquid header 17 , the gas header 19 , and the branch pipes 40 are installed on the same frame 51 . This allows for easy installation of the header device 100 in the field. 2 to 5, the frame 51 is shown by a two-dot chain line to prevent the feed pipe 41 and the return pipe 43 from becoming unclear.

[0019] If a problem such as breakage occurs in the freezing pipe 15, the pressure of the refrigerant in the freezing pipe 15 is relatively high, and the refrigerant in the freezing pipe 15 will leak into the ground or into the tunnel or shaft. In this case, unless measures to prevent leakage are taken, most of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation path 21 may leak from the leaking point in the freezing pipe 15. However, for example, when attempting to prevent leakage of the heat medium by installing a valve driven by the power of an actuator in the branch pipe 40, there is a possibility that the valve cannot be closed due to, for example, a malfunction in the electrical control system. Furthermore, the introduction of a valve driven by the power of an actuator may cause problems such as an increase in the complexity and size of the header device 100 and an increase in costs.

[0020] Therefore, in some embodiments of the header device 100, a plurality of valves 45 are provided in each of the plurality of branch pipes 40, and are configured to be able to close the branch pipes 40 by utilizing the fluid force of the refrigerant toward the freezing pipe 15. As a result, if a refrigerant leak occurs in the freezing pipe 15, the above valve 45 is closed by the fluid force of the refrigerant toward the freezing pipe 15, prohibiting the flow of the refrigerant. As a result, even if a refrigerant leak occurs in the freezing pipe 15, the flow of the refrigerant in the branch pipe 40 is prohibited, so it is possible to stop the refrigerant leaking from the freezing pipe 15. Furthermore, by introducing the above valve 45, it is possible to simplify and downsize the header device 100 and reduce costs. Of the multiple valves 45, the valve 45 provided in each feed pipe 41 is an excess flow prevention valve 46 configured to be able to close the feed pipe 41 by utilizing the fluid force of the refrigerant moving from the liquid header 17 to the freezing pipe 15. The excess flow valve 46 is a valve configured to allow the refrigerant to flow if the flow rate per unit time of the refrigerant flowing through the excess flow valve 46 is equal to or less than a predetermined specified flow rate, and to prohibit the refrigerant from flowing if the flow rate per unit time of the refrigerant flowing through the excess flow valve 46 exceeds the predetermined specified flow rate.

[0021] According to the header device 100 of some embodiments, by providing an excess flow prevention valve 46 in each feed pipe 41, even if a refrigerant leak occurs in the freezing pipe 15, the flow of refrigerant toward the freezing pipe 15 in the branch pipe 40 (feed pipe 41) connected to the liquid header 17 is prohibited, and the refrigerant leak from the liquid header 17 can be stopped.

[0022] Of the multiple valves 45, the valve 45 provided in each return pipe 43 is a check valve 47 configured to be able to close the return pipe 43 by utilizing the fluid force of the refrigerant moving from the gas header 19 to the freezing pipe 15. According to the header device 100 of some embodiments, even if a refrigerant leak occurs in the freezing pipe 15, the flow of refrigerant toward the freezing pipe 15 in the branch pipe 40 (return pipe 43) connected to the gas header 19 is prohibited, thereby stopping the refrigerant leak from the gas header 19.

[0023] 2, 4, and 5, in the header device 100 according to some embodiments, one end 41a of the feed pipe 41 is connected to the bottom of the horizontally extending liquid header 17. This prevents the gaseous refrigerant from being sent to the freezing pipe 15 even if the gaseous refrigerant is present in the liquid header 17. 2, 4, and 5, in the header device 100 according to some embodiments, one end 43a of the return pipe 43 is connected to the top of the horizontally extending gas header 19. This allows the refrigerant to smoothly flow from the return pipe 43 into the gas header 19 even if liquid refrigerant is present in the gas header 19.

[0024] In the header device 100 according to some embodiments, each of the feed pipes 41 is aligned linearly along the extension direction of the liquid header 17 at least in the vicinity of the liquid header 17. This allows the feed pipes 41 to be arranged efficiently, and also allows the feed pipes 41 to be connected to the liquid headers 17 efficiently. In the header device 100 according to some embodiments, each of the feed pipes 41 extends vertically downward from the liquid header 17 at least in the vicinity of the liquid header 17. This allows the feed pipes 41 to be arranged efficiently, and also allows the feed pipes 41 to be connected to the liquid headers 17 efficiently.

[0025] In the header device 100 according to some embodiments, each of the return pipes 43 is aligned linearly along the extension direction of the liquid header 17 at least in the vicinity of the gas header 19. This allows the return pipes 43 to be arranged efficiently and the return pipes 43 to be connected to the gas header 19 efficiently. In the header device 100 according to some embodiments, each of the return pipes 43 extends vertically downward at a position spaced apart from the central axis AX2 of the gas header 19 in the horizontal direction. This allows the return pipes 43 to be arranged efficiently, and also makes it easier to connect one end 43a of the return pipes 43 to the top of the gas header 19 extending horizontally.

[0026] In the header device 100 according to some embodiments, the feed pipes 41 and the return pipes 43 are arranged alternately in the extending direction of the liquid header 17 (gas header 19). The branch pipe 40 connected to the freezing pipe 15 is a pair of a feed pipe 41 and a return pipe 43. According to the above configuration, the pair of the feed pipe 41 and the return pipe 43 can be arranged efficiently.

[0027] In the header device 100 according to some embodiments, the liquid header 17 and the gas header 19 may be arranged to be offset from each other in a direction intersecting the direction in which the liquid header 17 and the gas header 19 extend. This makes it easy to connect the liquid header 17 and the gas header 19 to the feed pipes 41 and the return pipes 43 that are alternately arranged in the extending direction of the liquid header 17 and the gas header 19 .

[0028] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but also includes modifications to the above-described embodiments and appropriate combinations of these modifications. For example, in the header device 100 described above, each of the feed pipes 41 and each of the return pipes 43 extend vertically at least near the liquid header 17, but may also extend horizontally at least near the liquid header 17.

[0029] The contents described in each of the above embodiments can be understood, for example, as follows. (1) The header device 100 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a header (liquid header 17, gas header 19), a plurality of branch pipes 40 each having one end 41a, 43a connected to the header (liquid header 17, gas header 19) and the other end 41b, 43b connected to the soil freezing pipe 15, and a plurality of valves 45 (excess flow prevention valve 46, check valve 47) provided on each of the plurality of branch pipes 40 and configured to be able to close the branch pipe 40 by utilizing the fluid force of the heat medium flowing toward the soil freezing pipe 15.

[0030] According to the configuration (1) above, if a leakage of the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) occurs in the soil freezing pipe 15, the fluid force of the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) toward the soil freezing pipe 15 closes the valve 45 according to the configuration (1) above, prohibiting the flow of the heat transfer medium (refrigerant). As a result, even if a leakage of the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) occurs in the soil freezing pipe 15, the flow of the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) in the branch pipe 40 is prohibited, so it is possible to stop the leakage of the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) from the soil freezing pipe 15. Furthermore, by introducing the valve 45 according to the configuration (1) above, it is possible to simplify and downsize the header device 100 and reduce costs.

[0031] (2) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1) above, the headers (liquid header 17, gas header 19) may include a feed header (liquid header 17) for supplying the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) to the soil freezing pipe 15. The multiple branch pipes 40 may each include multiple feed pipes 41 for guiding the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) from the feed header (liquid header 17) to the soil freezing pipe 15. The multiple valves 45 may be excess flow prevention valves 46 provided in each of the multiple feed pipes 41 and configured to be able to close the feed pipe 41 by utilizing the fluid force of the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) flowing from the feed header (liquid header 17) to the soil freezing pipe 15.

[0032] According to the configuration (2) above, even if a leakage of the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) occurs in the soil freezing pipe 15, the flow of the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) toward the soil freezing pipe 15 in the branch pipe 40 connected to the feed header (liquid header 17) is prohibited, and the leakage of the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) from the feed header (liquid header 17) can be stopped.

[0033] (3) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (1) or (2) above, the headers (liquid header 17, gas header 19) may include a return header (gas header 19) for recovering the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) from the soil freezing pipe 15. The multiple branch pipes 40 may each include multiple return pipes 43 for guiding the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) from the soil freezing pipe 15 to the return header (gas header 19). The multiple valves 45 may be check valves 47 provided in each of the multiple return pipes 43 and configured to be able to close the return pipe 43 by utilizing the fluid force of the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) flowing from the return header (gas header 19) toward the soil freezing pipe 15.

[0034] According to the configuration (3) above, even if a leakage of the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) occurs in the soil freezing pipe 15, the flow of the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) toward the soil freezing pipe 15 in the branch pipe 40 connected to the return header (gas header 19) is prohibited, and the leakage of the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) in the return header (gas header 19) can be stopped.

[0035] (4) In some embodiments, in any of the configurations (1) to (3) above, the headers (liquid header 17, gas header 19) may include a feed header (liquid header 17) for supplying the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) to the soil freezing pipe 15 and a return header (gas header 19) for recovering the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) from the soil freezing pipe 15. The feed header (liquid header 17) and the return header (gas header 19) may extend in the same direction. The multiple branch pipes 40 may include multiple feed pipes 41 for guiding the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) from the feed header (liquid header 17) to the soil freezing pipe 15, and multiple return pipes 43 for guiding the heat transfer medium (refrigerant) from the soil freezing pipe 15 to the return header (gas header 19). The multiple feed pipes 41 and the multiple return pipes 43 may be arranged alternately in the extension direction of the feed header (liquid header 17) and the return header (gas header 19).

[0036] The branch pipe 40 connected to the soil freezing pipe 15 is a pair of a feed pipe 41 and a return pipe 43. According to the configuration (4) above, this pair of feed pipe 41 and return pipe 43 can be arranged efficiently.

[0037] (5) In some embodiments, in the configuration of (4) above, the feed header (liquid header 17) and the return header (gas header 19) may be arranged offset from each other in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the feed header (liquid header 17) and the return header (gas header 19).

[0038] According to the above configuration (5), it becomes easy to connect the feed pipes 41 and return pipes 43, which are arranged alternately in the extension direction of the feed header (liquid header 17) and the return header (gas header 19), to the feed header (liquid header 17) and the return header (gas header 19).

[0039] (6) In some embodiments, in any of the configurations (1) to (5) above, the headers (liquid header 17, gas header 19) and the plurality of branch pipes 40 may be installed on the same frame 51.

[0040] According to the above configuration (6), the header device 100 can be easily installed on-site. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1. Soil freezing device 5. Freezer 7 Heat exchanger 10 Secondary refrigerant circulation system 11 Receiver tank 13 Pump 15 Soil freezing tube (freezing tube) 17 Liquid header 19 Gas Header 21 Refrigerant circuit 30 Soil 40 Branch piping 40a one end 40b other end 41 Feed piping 43 Return pipe 45 valves 46 Excess flow prevention valve 47 Check valve 51 Mounting stand 100 Header device

Claims

1. A header and a plurality of branch pipes, one end of which is connected to the header and the other end of which is connected to the soil freezing pipe; A plurality of valves are provided in each of the plurality of branch pipes, and are configured to be able to close the branch pipes by utilizing a fluid force of a heat medium directed toward the soil freezing pipe; A header device comprising:

2. The header includes a feed header for supplying the heat medium to the soil freezing pipe, The plurality of branch pipes include a plurality of feed pipes each for guiding the heat medium from the feed header to the soil freezing pipe, The plurality of valves are excess flow prevention valves provided in the plurality of feed pipes, respectively, and configured to be able to close the feed pipes by utilizing a fluid force of the heat medium directed from the feed header to the soil freezing pipe.

2. The header device of claim 1.

3. The header includes a return header for recovering the heat transfer medium from the soil freezing pipe; The plurality of branch pipes include a plurality of return pipes each for guiding the heat medium from the soil freezing pipe to the return header, The plurality of valves are check valves provided in the plurality of return pipes, respectively, and configured to be able to close the return pipes by utilizing a fluid force of the heat medium directed from the return header to the soil freezing pipe.

3. A header device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The header includes a feed header for supplying the heat medium to the soil freezing pipe and a return header for recovering the heat medium from the soil freezing pipe; the feed header and the return header extend in the same direction; The plurality of branch pipes include a plurality of feed pipes each for guiding the heat medium from the feed header to the soil freezing pipe, and a plurality of return pipes each for guiding the heat medium from the soil freezing pipe to the return header, The plurality of feed pipes and the plurality of return pipes are arranged alternately in an extending direction of the feed header and the return header.

3. A header device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. the feed header and the return header are arranged to be shifted from each other in a direction intersecting an extending direction of the feed header and the return header, 5. The header device of claim 4.

6. The header and the plurality of branch pipes are installed on the same frame.

3. A header device according to claim 1 or 2.

Images