Freezer

Abstract

To provide a freezer with a pipe capable of easily being removed.MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM: A freezer comprises a first device in a refrigerant circuit through which a refrigerant passes, a second device in the refrigerant circuit through which the refrigerant passes, and a pipe provided between the first device and the second device, where a central axis of one end part of the pipe and the central axis of the other end part are in a twisted position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to refrigeration devices. [Background technology]

[0002] The refrigeration system described in Patent Document 1 has a refrigeration circuit including a compressor, a gas cooler, an expander, and an evaporator. The refrigerant compressed by the compressor dissipates heat in the gas cooler. The refrigerant that has dissipated heat in the gas cooler is decompressed by the expander and evaporated in the evaporator. The evaporation of the refrigerant at this time cools the surrounding air.

[0003] The devices that make up the refrigeration circuit are connected by pipes (refrigerant pipes). The pipes send refrigerant to each device that makes up the refrigeration circuit. Because the refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit is at high temperature and pressure, the pipes must be durable and robust. For this reason, the pipes used in the refrigeration circuit are very strong. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-174402 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the refrigeration system described in Patent Document 1, when replacing or adding equipment that constitutes the refrigeration circuit, workers are required to heat the pipes and remove them. For example, if the two ends of a U-shaped pipe are inserted into separate pipes and welded, a worker needs to heat the welded portion at one end of the pipe and pull the pipe. However, because the other end is fixed by welding, it is very difficult for a single worker to pull the pipe manually, and the pipe cannot be removed. In this case, at least two workers are required to simultaneously heat the welded portions at both ends of the pipe and pull the pipe, making it difficult to remove the pipe.

[0006] Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure contribute to providing a refrigeration system with easily removable piping. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A refrigeration device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first device through which a refrigerant passes in a refrigerant circuit, a second device through which the refrigerant passes in the refrigerant circuit, and a pipe provided between the first device and the second device, wherein the central axis of one end of the pipe and the central axis of the other end of the pipe are in a twisted position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigeration system including piping that can be easily removed can be provided.

[0009] Further advantages and benefits of an embodiment of the present disclosure will become apparent from the specification and drawings. Such advantages and / or benefits may be provided by some of the embodiments and features described in the specification and drawings, respectively, but not necessarily all of them may be provided to obtain one or more identical features. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a refrigeration device according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a left side view of a machine room of a refrigeration device according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a refrigerant circuit of a refrigeration device according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] 2. An enlarged view of a portion A of the piping according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] Schematic diagram showing an example of U-shaped piping DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. However, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanation of already well-known matters or redundant explanation of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid unnecessary redundancy in the following explanation and to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0012] The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0013] The refrigeration device 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the refrigeration device 1 according to the embodiment. Figure 2 is a view of the machine room 2 of the refrigeration device 1 according to the embodiment as seen from the left side. Figures 1 and 2 are views showing the refrigeration device 1 with a cover covering the side of the machine room 2 removed. Below, the up / down, left / right, and front / rear directions of the refrigeration device 1 are defined by arrows shown in each drawing. The refrigeration device 1 has a machine room 2 and an electrical box 3.

[0014] The machine room 2 is located on the left side of the refrigeration device 1. The machine room 2 accommodates a refrigerant circuit 10.

[0015] The electrical equipment box 3 is provided adjacent to the machine room 2 and is arranged on the right side of the machine room 2. The electrical equipment box 3 houses electronic devices that control the refrigerant circuit 10.

[0016] In the machine room 2, a compressor 11, a duct 20, an exhaust section 30, piping 40, etc. are provided.

[0017] The compressor 11 sucks in and compresses a refrigerant (for example, a CO2 refrigerant). The compressor 11 circulates the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10.

[0018] The duct 20 has a tubular structure, extends in the left-right direction of the refrigeration device 1, connects the electrical box 3 to the left side of the machine room 2, and discharges heat generated by the electronic devices housed in the electrical box 3 to the outside of the electrical box 3.

[0019] The exhaust section 30 is provided at the opening of the duct 20, and as described above, releases heat generated inside the electrical box 3 to the outside of the machine room 2. The exhaust section 30 also has a dustproof function that prevents moisture, dust, and the like from entering the inside of the machine room 2.

[0020] The piping 40 is a piping that is connected to the oil separator 12. For example, the piping 40 is welded to the oil separator 12. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the devices housed in the machine room 2 are each connected by piping. An appropriate piping is used depending on the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant passing through. The piping 40 forms a flow path through which the refrigerant flows, and is sometimes called a refrigerant piping.

[0021] The refrigerant circuit 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the refrigerant circuit 10 of the refrigeration device 1 according to the embodiment. The refrigerant circuit 10 has a compressor 11, an oil separator 12, a gas cooler 13, an expansion valve 14, a receiver tank 15, a cold energy recovery device 16, inlet expansion valves 17 (17a, 17b), and an evaporator 18 (18a, 18b). In the refrigerant circuit 10, the refrigerant passes through these devices.

[0022] The compressor 11 draws in and compresses the refrigerant that has flowed out from the evaporators 18a and 18b. The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 11 flows into the oil separator 12.

[0023] The oil separator 12 separates oil contained in the refrigerant that flows out from the compressor 11. The oil separated from the refrigerant is returned from the oil separator 12 to the compressor 11. The refrigerant circuit 10 may be configured without the oil separator 12. In this case, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 11 flows out to the gas cooler 13.

[0024] The gas cooler 13 is a cooling means that cools the refrigerant that flows out of the compressor 11 by dissipating heat. A gas cooler blower that air-cools the gas cooler 13 is disposed near the gas cooler 13. The refrigerant cooled by the gas cooler 13 flows out to the expansion valve 14.

[0025] The expansion valve 14 expands the high-pressure refrigerant that has flowed out from the gas cooler 13. The expansion valve 14 is an expansion means formed of an electric expansion valve, and the refrigerant expanded by the expansion valve 14 flows into the receiver tank 15. The opening and closing of the expansion valve 14 is controlled, for example, by a control device provided in the refrigerant circuit 10.

[0026] The receiver tank 15 is a tank that temporarily stores excess refrigerant for adjusting the amount of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10. In other words, the receiver tank 15 is a buffer device that stores excess refrigerant for adjusting the amount of refrigerant inside the refrigerant circuit 10. The receiver tank 15 separates the refrigerant expanded by the expansion valve 14 into saturated liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant and stores them.

[0027] For example, when an increase in the outside air temperature causes an excess of refrigerant inside the refrigerant circuit 10, the refrigerant circuit 10 recovers the excess refrigerant and stores it in the receiver tank 15.

[0028] Furthermore, for example, when the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 becomes insufficient due to a drop in the outside air temperature, the receiver tank 15 releases the insufficient refrigerant into the refrigerant circuit 10.

[0029] The flow of the refrigerant in the receiver tank 15 will be described below with reference to FIG.

[0030] The recovery pipe 151 is a pipe through which the refrigerant expanded by the expansion valve 14 passes when flowing into the receiver tank 15. The receiver tank 15 receives the liquid refrigerant or a mixed refrigerant (liquid / gas mixed refrigerant).

[0031] The liquid discharge pipe 152 is a pipe through which the liquid refrigerant stored in the receiver tank 15 passes when flowing out of the receiver tank 15. The liquid refrigerant that has flowed out of the receiver tank 15 flows into the cold heat recovery device 16.

[0032] The gas release pipe 153 is a pipe through which the gas refrigerant stored in the receiver tank 15 passes when flowing out of the receiver tank 15. The gas refrigerant that has flowed out of the receiver tank 15 passes through the gas release pipe 153 and flows into the gas return valve 154 or the pressure relief valve 155.

[0033] The gas return valve 154 is a valve through which the gas refrigerant that has flowed out of the receiver tank 15 passes before flowing into the compressor 11. For example, when the refrigerant circuit 10 is short of refrigerant, the refrigerant is supplied from the receiver tank 15 to the compressor 11. The opening and closing of the gas return valve 154 is controlled by an electronic device (for example, an electrical valve coil) housed in the electrical box 3.

[0034] The pressure relief valve 155 is a valve through which the gas refrigerant that has flowed out of the receiver tank 15 passes before flowing out of the refrigeration device 1. For example, when the pressure inside the receiver tank 15 exceeds a threshold value, the pressure relief valve 155 opens, and the gas refrigerant is released from the receiver tank 15.

[0035] The cold energy recovery device 16 has a liquid refrigerant flow path and a gas refrigerant flow path, and exchanges heat between the refrigerants flowing through both paths. The cold energy recovery device 16 adjusts the temperature of the refrigerant or increases the energy efficiency of the refrigerant circuit 10.

[0036] The inlet expansion valves 17a and 17b expand the refrigerant that flows in from the cold energy recovery unit 16. The refrigerant in the liquid phase or gas-liquid mixed state that flows into the inlet expansion valves 17a and 17b is expanded by the inlet expansion valves 17a and 17b, which are, for example, electrically operated expansion valves. The refrigerant that flows out of the inlet expansion valves 17a and 17b flows into the evaporators 18a and 18b, respectively, via pipes.

[0037] The evaporators 18a and 18b evaporate the refrigerant that flows in through the inlet expansion valves 17a and 17b. The evaporators 18a and 18b absorb the latent heat required for evaporating the refrigerant from the inside of a showcase (not shown) installed in, for example, a supermarket, and cool or freeze the inside of the showcase.

[0038] The piping 40 and the U-shaped piping 50 will be described with reference to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of part A in Fig. 2 of the piping 40 according to the embodiment. Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing an example of the U-shaped piping 50.

[0039] The pipe 40 is provided between the oil separator 12 and the gas cooler 13. The pipe 40 has a first connection portion 41a and a second connection portion 41b. The first connection portion 41a is connected to a pipe extending from the oil separator 12, and the second connection portion 41b is connected to a pipe extending from the gas cooler 13.

[0040] For example, the first connecting portion 41a is expanded, a pipe extending from the oil separator 12 is inserted into the first connecting portion 41a, and the pipe extending from the oil separator 12 is connected to the pipe extending from the oil separator 12 by brazing. Similarly, the second connecting portion 41b is expanded, a pipe extending from the gas cooler 13 is inserted into the first connecting portion 41a, and the pipe extending from the gas cooler 13 is connected to the pipe extending from the gas cooler 13 by brazing.

[0041] The pipe 40 has one end 40a with a first connection portion 41a and another end 40b with a second connection portion 41b.

[0042] One end 40a of the pipe 40 extends horizontally (to the left of the refrigeration apparatus 1), and the other end 40b of the pipe 40 extends downward (toward the bottom of the refrigeration apparatus 1). The central axis A1 of the one end 40a of the pipe 40 and the central axis A2 of the other end 40b are in a twisted position. In other words, the central axis A1 of the one end 40a of the pipe 40 and the central axis A2 of the other end 40b of the pipe 40 are not parallel to each other and do not intersect. In this embodiment, the angle formed by the central axis A1 of the one end 40a of the pipe 40 and the central axis A2 of the other end 40b is 90 degrees.

[0043] Furthermore, between one end 40a and the other end 40b of the piping 40, the piping 40 has a first portion 401 extending downward (below the refrigeration device 1) from one end 40a, a second portion 402 extending diagonally upward (rear-upward direction of the refrigeration device 1) from the first portion 401 toward the other end 40b, and curved pipe portions 403, 404, and 405 connecting them.

[0044] When removing the pipe 40, the worker heats the first connection portion 41a and applies a force in the forward direction, along which the central axis A1 of the one end portion 40a extends, causing a torsional force to act on the other end portion 40b of the pipe 40, where the second connection portion 41b is provided. Because the pipe 40 is easily deformed in the torsional direction, the pipe extending from the oil separator 12 can be easily removed in the forward direction from the first connection portion 41a. Next, the worker heats the second connection portion 41b and applies a force in the downward direction, along which the central axis A2 of the other end portion 40b extends, thereby removing the pipe extending from the gas cooler 13 downward from the second connection portion 41b.

[0045] In this way, the removal work of the piping 40 in this embodiment can be performed by one worker. Note that the installation work of the piping 40 can also be performed by one worker, just like the piping removal work. Furthermore, because the other end 40b is twisted, deformation of other parts is small, and the impact on other parts during the removal work can be reduced.

[0046] Furthermore, since long pipes are more susceptible to deformation than short pipes, it is preferable that the pipes 40 be as long as the space in the machine room 2 allows.

[0047] On the other hand, when removing a U-shaped pipe 50 having one end 50a and the other end 50b facing in the same direction as shown in Fig. 5, a worker heats the first connection portion 51a and applies a force in the direction of the central axis B1 of the one end 50a. In this case, a force acts on the end of the pipe 50 where the second connection portion 51b is provided, in a direction that bends the end of the pipe 40 rather than a force in a twisting direction, making it difficult to deform the pipe 40. For this reason, it is difficult for a worker to remove the pipe 40 from the pipe extending from the oil separator 12.

[0048] At least two workers must work simultaneously to remove such U-shaped pipe 50. That is, a first worker must heat first connection portion 51a and apply force in the direction of central axis B1 of one end portion 50a, and simultaneously, a second worker must heat second connection portion 51b and apply force in the direction of central axis B2 of the other end portion 50b.

[0049] <Summary of the embodiment> As described above, the refrigeration device of this embodiment comprises a first device through which a refrigerant passes in a refrigerant circuit, a second device through which the refrigerant passes in the refrigerant circuit, and a pipe provided between the first device and the second device, and the central axis of one end of the pipe and the central axis of the other end are in a twisted position.

[0050] With this configuration, when removing the pipe, even a single worker can perform the pipe removal work, and the worker can remove the pipe 40 more efficiently than in the past.

[0051] Since the central axis A1 of one end 40a of the pipe 40 and the central axis A2 of the other end 40b are in a twisted position, the pipe 40 can be easily deformed by human force. This reduces the labor and time required for removing the pipe 40.

[0052] Since the first connecting portion 41a and the second connecting portion 41b of the pipe 40 are welded, leakage of the refrigerant from the first connecting portion 41a and the second connecting portion 41b can be suppressed.

[0053] Furthermore, various devices can be added or replaced as needed to the refrigerant circuit 10. For example, a water-cooled heat exchanger can be added to the refrigerant circuit 10. This allows the refrigeration device 1 to be used as a hot water supply system or a central heating system that utilizes exhaust heat.

[0054] The piping 40 in this embodiment is a piping that connects the oil separator 12 and the gas cooler 13, but can be applied to any piping used in the refrigerant circuit 10. For example, the piping 40 may be a piping that connects the compressor 11 and the oil separator 12.

[0055] Although the embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, the present disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can conceive of various modifications or alterations within the scope of the claims. It is understood that such modifications or alterations also fall within the technical scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the components in the embodiments may be combined in any manner without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0056] In the above-described embodiments, the notation "... part" used for each component may be replaced with other notations such as "... circuitry," "... assembly," "... device," "... unit," or "... module." [Industrial Applicability]

[0057] The present disclosure is useful in refrigeration devices. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1 Refrigeration equipment 2 Machine room 3 Electrical box 10 Refrigerant circuit 11 Compressor 12 Oil separator 13 Gas Cooler 14 Expansion valve 15 Receiver Tank 16 Cold and heat recovery unit 17 Inlet expansion valve 18 Evaporator 20 Duct 30 Exhaust section 40 Piping 40a One end 40b Other end 41a First connection part 41b Second connection part 45a 1st direction 45b 2nd direction 151 Recovery piping 152 Liquid discharge piping 153 Gas release piping 154 Valve 155 valve 401 Part 1 402 Part 2 A1 center axis A2 center axis

Claims

1. a first device through which a refrigerant passes in a refrigerant circuit; a second device through which the refrigerant passes in the refrigerant circuit; a pipe provided between the first device and the second device; and Equipped with The central axis of one end of the pipe and the central axis of the other end of the pipe are in a twisted position. Refrigeration equipment.

2. The angle between the central axis of one end of the pipe and the central axis of the other end is 90 degrees. The refrigeration system of claim 1.

3. The one end extends horizontally and the other end extends downward, and a portion of the piping between the one end and the other end has a first portion extending downward from the one end and a second portion extending obliquely upward from the first portion toward the other end.

3. The refrigeration system of claim 2.

4. The first device is an oil separator and the second device is a gas cooler. The refrigeration system of claim 1.

5. the oil separator and the piping are connected by welding at a first connection portion, and the gas cooler and the piping are connected by welding at a second connection portion.

5. The refrigeration system of claim 4.

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