Ventilation system and cooling device

Abstract

To provide a ventilation system that can readily and properly measure indoor air quality, and to provide a cooling device.SOLUTION: A ventilation system 100 includes: a ventilation device 20 for discharging air from a selling area 220 to the outside; a first show case 10 including a fan 11a disposed in the selling area 220 to circulate the air of the selling area 220 and an air quality sensor 12 for measuring air quality of the air 220a circulated to the selling area 220 by the fan 11a; and an integrated control device 110 for integrating operation of the ventilation device 20 on the basis of a measurement result by the air quality sensor 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to ventilation systems and cooling devices, and more particularly to ventilation systems and cooling devices that are equipped with sensors for measuring air quality. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a supply and ventilation system equipped with a carbon dioxide sensor for measuring air quality has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] The above-mentioned Patent Document 1 discloses a supply and ventilation system including a supply and ventilation means, a carbon dioxide sensor that detects carbon dioxide concentration, a control unit that controls the airflow rate of the supply and ventilation means, and a system management unit that controls the control unit. The system management unit in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 receives carbon dioxide concentration data detected by the carbon dioxide sensor and determines the airflow rate of the ventilation means in accordance with the carbon dioxide concentration data. Also, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, one or more carbon dioxide sensors are placed at any position in a room and detect the carbon dioxide concentration in the room where they are placed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-159634 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As described above, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which one or more carbon dioxide sensors are placed at any position in a room to detect the carbon dioxide concentration in the room. However, because the carbon dioxide concentration in a room may not be uniform, depending on the position of the carbon dioxide sensor, the carbon dioxide concentration measured by the carbon dioxide sensor may deviate from the average carbon dioxide concentration in the room. In this case, appropriate ventilation may not be possible. Furthermore, adjusting the position of the carbon dioxide sensor (air quality measurement unit) so that the carbon dioxide concentration (air quality) measured by the carbon dioxide sensor (air quality measurement unit) does not deviate from the average carbon dioxide concentration (air quality) in the room requires repeatedly changing the position and measuring at the new position, which is extremely time-consuming. Therefore, a ventilation system that can easily and appropriately measure indoor air quality is desired.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one object of the present invention is to provide a ventilation system and a cooling device that can easily and appropriately measure indoor air quality. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A ventilation system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a ventilation device that exhausts indoor air to the outside, an indoor device that is placed indoors and includes an air circulation unit that circulates the indoor air, and an air quality measurement unit that measures the air quality of the air circulated into the room by the air circulation unit, and a control device that controls the operation of the ventilation device based on the measurement results of the air quality measurement unit.

[0008] As described above, a ventilation system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an indoor device that is disposed indoors and includes an air circulation unit that circulates indoor air, and an air quality measurement unit that measures the air quality of the air circulated into the room by the air circulation unit. Because the air quality measurement unit can measure the air quality of the circulated air, the air measured by the air quality measurement unit is not the air of a local space within the room. Therefore, unlike when the air quality measurement unit measures the air quality of a local space, it is possible to prevent the air quality measured by the air quality measurement unit from deviating from the average air quality in the room. As a result, indoor air quality can be easily and appropriately measured.

[0009] In the ventilation system according to the first aspect, the air circulation unit preferably includes a fan that draws indoor air into the indoor unit and exhausts air from the indoor unit into the room. With this configuration, intake and exhaust are performed by a fan provided in the indoor unit that is originally installed in the room, so the number of parts can be reduced and the ventilation system can be simplified in configuration compared to a case where an air circulation unit is provided separately from the fan of the indoor unit.

[0010] In this case, preferably, the indoor device is a cooling device that cools items, and the cooling device includes an evaporator, a condenser, and a fan that draws in indoor air to cool the condenser, and the fan is configured to circulate air within the room by drawing in indoor air into the cooling device and exhausting air from the cooling device into the room. With this configuration, intake and exhaust are performed by the fan that is provided in the cooling device originally installed in the room and cools the condenser, so that the number of parts can be reduced and the ventilation system can be configured simply compared to when an air circulation unit is provided separately from the cooling device fan.

[0011] In the above ventilation system including a fan, the indoor device preferably includes an air tunnel connected to the first and second air vents through which the indoor air circulated by the fan passes, and the air quality measurement unit is disposed inside the air tunnel, at a position near the first air vent where the circulating indoor air flows, or at a position near the second air vent where the circulating indoor air flows. With this configuration, the air quality measurement unit can measure the circulating indoor air more directly than when the air quality measurement unit is disposed at a position farther away from the air tunnel. As a result, the air quality of the indoor air can be measured more evenly.

[0012] In this case, preferably, the fan is provided inside the air tunnel, draws in indoor air through the first ventilation hole, and exhausts the air into the room through the second ventilation hole, and the air quality measuring unit is disposed inside the air tunnel between the fan and the second ventilation hole. With this configuration, the air quality measuring unit can be disposed in a position (space) where the air is agitated by the fan and variations in air quality are suppressed. As a result, the air quality measuring unit can measure a more averaged indoor air quality, effectively suppressing deviations between the measurement results of the air quality measuring unit and the average indoor air quality.

[0013] In the ventilation system including the fan, preferably, the air quality includes carbon dioxide concentration, the fan and the air quality measurement unit are disposed in the space between the floor and ceiling of the room, close to the floor, and the air quality measurement unit measures the carbon dioxide concentration of the air circulated by the fan in the space close to the floor. With this configuration, even if carbon dioxide, which has a high specific gravity compared to air, is distributed close to the floor of the room, the carbon dioxide concentration can be appropriately measured using the fan and the air quality measurement unit disposed in the space close to the floor.

[0014] In this case, the control device is preferably configured to control the ventilation device to increase the amount of air discharged outdoors in response to an increase in the carbon dioxide concentration measured by the air quality measurement unit. This configuration allows ventilation to be performed in response to the carbon dioxide concentration measured by the air quality measurement unit, thereby suppressing an increase in the carbon dioxide concentration indoors. As a result, it is possible to suppress the adverse effects on people indoors that are caused by an increase in the carbon dioxide concentration indoors, based on the measurement results of the air quality measurement unit.

[0015] In the ventilation system, the cooling device includes an evaporator, a condenser, and a fan for cooling the condenser. Preferably, the cooling device includes a store cooling device that is disposed in a sales area of ​​a store and circulates air within the sales area and cools merchandise. With this configuration, the cooling device that cools the merchandise can be used to easily and appropriately measure the air quality of the air circulating in the sales area of ​​the store.

[0016] In the ventilation system in which the cooling device includes an evaporator, a condenser, and a fan for cooling the condenser, preferably, a plurality of cooling devices are provided, and the control device is configured to control the plurality of cooling devices so that when the fan of one of the plurality of cooling devices is stopped, the fans of the other cooling devices are operated. With this configuration, even if the fan of one of the cooling devices stops operating, the air quality of the circulating indoor air can be measured using the other cooling devices. As a result, even if the fan of one of the cooling devices stops operating, indoor ventilation can be easily and appropriately performed.

[0017] The cooling device according to this second aspect includes a cooling unit including an evaporator and a condenser, and an air circulation unit that draws in indoor air to cool the condenser and circulates the indoor air, and the air circulation unit includes an air quality measurement unit that measures the indoor air quality.

[0018] As described above, a cooling device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes an air circulation unit that draws in indoor air to cool the condenser and circulates the indoor air. This allows the air quality measurement unit to measure the quality of the circulated indoor air, so the air measured by the air quality measurement unit is not the air in a local space within the room. Therefore, unlike when the air quality measurement unit measures the air quality of a local space, it is possible to prevent the air quality measured by the air quality measurement unit from deviating from the average air quality in the room. Furthermore, the indoor air can be circulated using the air circulation unit that cools the condenser. As a result, a cooling device is provided that can easily and appropriately measure indoor air quality. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the present invention, as described above, it is possible to provide a ventilation system and a cooling device that are capable of easily and appropriately measuring indoor air quality. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a store in which a ventilation system according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed, viewed from above; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of equipment deployed in a store according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a cooling unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first showcase according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first showcase shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating the position where the air channel section of the first showcase placed in the store is placed. [Figure 7] 1 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a ventilation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a plurality of first showcases according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9]FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the placement positions of air quality sensors in a store used in a simulation of the present invention. [Figure 10] 1 is a table showing simulation conditions of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining simulation results of an example of the present invention and a comparative example. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of first showcases according to a modified example of an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] (Store composition) The configuration of a store 200 in which a ventilation system 100 according to this embodiment is installed will be described with reference to FIG.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, a store 200 is provided with a ventilation system 100 including a first showcase 10, a ventilation device 20, and an integrated control unit 110. The store 200 also includes a first backyard 210, a sales floor 220, and a second backyard 230. The store 200 in which the ventilation system 100 is provided is, for example, a convenience store. The sales floor 220 is an example of an "indoor space" and a "sales floor area" as defined in the claims. The integrated control unit 110 is an example of a "control device" as defined in the claims.

[0024] The first backyard 210 is equipped with an integrated control unit 110 and a ventilation device 20. The sales floor 220 is a space in which a plurality of product shelves 221, a first showcase 10, the ventilation device 20, an air conditioner 30 that adjusts the temperature and the like in the sales floor 220, and a second showcase 40 that stores articles therein are arranged, and which can be accessed from the outside by a door 222. The second backyard 230 is equipped with the second showcase 40 and the ventilation device 20. The ventilation device 20 and the air conditioner 30 are each provided on a ceiling 240 (see FIG. 6 ) of the store 200, and are located relatively far from the door 222. A plurality of outdoor units 50 connected to the second showcase 40 are arranged outside the store 200. The first showcase 10 is an example of the "indoor device" and the "cooling device" set forth in the claims.

[0025] (Ventilation system configuration) Next, with reference to FIG. 2, a detailed configuration of the ventilation system 100 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the ventilation system 100 includes a first showcase 10, a ventilation device 20, and an integrated control unit 110. The first showcase 10 is a device for cooling and storing products 300 (see FIG. 3), and includes a cooling unit 11. The first showcase 10 also includes a communication unit 13 and an air quality sensor 12. The first showcase 10 includes two first showcases 10a and 10b, which have the same structure. The detailed configuration of the first showcase 10 will be described later. The air quality sensor 12 is an example of an "air quality measuring unit" in the claims.

[0027] The ventilation device 20 includes a ventilation fan 21 and a ventilation control unit 22. The ventilation device 20 is connected to an outdoor space via a duct (not shown) and is a device for discharging air from the first backyard 210, the sales floor 220, and the second backyard 230 to the outside. The ventilation fan 21 includes a ventilation fan and a drive motor (not shown), and is configured to discharge air from the sales floor 220 to the outside by rotating the ventilation fan with the drive motor. The ventilation control unit 22 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) as a processor, a read-only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM), and executes a program (software) to issue a control command to change the operation (rotation speed) of the drive motor included in each ventilation fan 21. The control command output by the ventilation control unit 22 to the ventilation fan 21 is, for example, a voltage signal. The ventilation control unit 22 also has a wireless communication function and is configured to communicate with the integrated control unit 110 or the communication unit 13 of the first showcase 10.

[0028] The integrated control unit 110 includes, for example, a CPU, ROM, RAM, GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), etc. as a processor, and executes a program (software) to automatically control each of the first showcase 10, the ventilation device 20, the air conditioner 30, the second showcase 40, and the outdoor unit 50. The integrated control unit 110 is equipped with a display unit and an operation unit (not shown), and is configured to be operable by an operator. The integrated control unit 110 is also configured to communicate with the first showcase 10, the ventilation device 20, the air conditioner 30, the second showcase 40, and the outdoor unit 50 wirelessly or via a cable, and to transmit control commands to each of them. Details of the control performed by the integrated control unit 110 will be described later.

[0029] (Cooling device configuration) Next, the detailed configuration of the first showcase 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0030] First, referring to FIG. 3, the cooling unit 11 included in the first showcase 10 will be described. The cooling unit 11 includes a refrigeration cycle made up of a compressor 1, a condenser 2, an expansion valve 3, and an evaporator 4. The cooling unit 11 also includes a cooling space 5 in which the products 300 are cooled. The compressor 1 is configured to compress low-pressure refrigerant vapor into high-pressure gas-phase refrigerant. The refrigerant compressed in the compressor 1 is supplied to the condenser 2. The condenser 2 is configured to change (condense) the high-pressure refrigerant vapor into high-pressure liquid-phase refrigerant. The refrigerant condensed in the condenser 2 is supplied to the expansion valve 3. The condenser 2 is cooled by a fan 11a. The expansion valve 3 is configured to expand the high-pressure liquid-phase refrigerant and change it into a low-pressure, low-temperature two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant. The refrigerant expanded by the expansion valve 3 is supplied to the evaporator 4. The evaporator 4 is configured to change (evaporate) the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant into a low-pressure gas-phase refrigerant. At this time, the refrigerant evaporates by absorbing heat from the air, cooling the air. The air cooled by the evaporator 4 is blown by the internal fan 4a and supplied to the cooling space 5. The gas phase refrigerant then returns to the compressor 1, and the above operation is repeated.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 4, the first showcase 10 is configured to include a cooling space 5 and an air channel 6. In the following description, the height direction of the first showcase 10 is referred to as the Z direction, one of the directions perpendicular to the Z direction is referred to as the X direction, and the direction perpendicular to both the Z direction and the X direction is referred to as the Y direction. The direction with a greater height is referred to as the Z1 direction, and the direction with a smaller height is referred to as the Z2 direction.

[0032] Cooling space 5 is a space surrounded by cooling casing 11b. Cooling casing 11b contains a resin material with relatively high thermal insulation properties and is configured to insulate cooling space 5 from the surroundings. Furthermore, product 300 is placed in cooling space 5, and evaporator 4 is placed below cooling space 5 (see FIG. 5).

[0033] The air tunnel 6 is a space enclosed by an air tunnel housing 6a. The air tunnel housing 6a is formed, for example, from sheet metal. The air tunnel housing 6a also includes a first ventilation hole 6b and a second ventilation hole 6c (see FIG. 5). That is, the air tunnel 6 is connected to the space of the sales floor 220 outside the air tunnel housing 6a via the first ventilation hole 6b and the second ventilation hole 6c. The air tunnel 6 also includes a compressor 1, a condenser 2, and an expansion valve 3.

[0034] Next, the internal structure of the first showcase 10 will be described as shown in FIG. 5. The cooling casing 11b includes a separator 11c therein. The products 300 are arranged in the Z1 direction of the separator 11c, and the evaporator 4 and the internal fan 4a are arranged in the Z2 direction of the separator 11c. The separator 11c also includes an opening 11d. As a result, the cooled air 5a cooled by the evaporator 4 is blown by the internal fan 4a in the direction of the dotted arrow and supplied to the cooling space 5. As a result, the products 300 arranged in the cooling space 5 are cooled. The cooled air 5a in the cooling space 5 is drawn in by the internal fan 4a through the opening 11d and circulates within the cooling space 5.

[0035] In the air tunnel 6 enclosed by the air tunnel housing 6a, a fan 11a, an air quality sensor 12, a communication unit 13, a condenser 2, and a compressor 1 are arranged in this order in the Y direction. In this embodiment, the expansion valve 3 is arranged in the X2 direction of the first showcase 10. The fan 11a draws air 220a from within the sales floor 220 into the air tunnel 6 of the first showcase 10 through the first ventilation holes 6b. At this time, air 220a that has been stirred by the fan 11a and has uniform air quality is blown into the space within the air tunnel 6 on the Y2 side of the fan 11a. The fan 11a also exhausts the air 220b that has passed through the air tunnel 6 of the first showcase 10 through the second ventilation holes 6c into the sales floor 220. In this way, the fan 11a circulates the air within the sales floor 220.

[0036] The condenser 2 and the compressor 1 are disposed in a space inside the air channel 6 on the Y2 side of the fan 11a. That is, the condenser 2 is cooled (air-cooled) by air 220a from the sales floor 220 blown by the fan 11a. The heat of the condenser 2 and the compressor 1 is discharged as air 220b exhausted from the second ventilation holes 6c to the sales floor 220.

[0037] The air quality sensor 12 is configured to measure the air quality of the space in which it is placed at preset time intervals and transmit the measurement results to the communication unit 13. Here, air quality refers to an index value representing the content or concentration of a specific substance in the air, such as a value indicating the carbon dioxide concentration or dust amount. In this embodiment, the air quality sensor 12 is composed of multiple electronic components, such as a light source, an optical filter, and a light-receiving element (not shown), and has the function of measuring the carbon dioxide concentration in the space. In this embodiment, the air quality sensor 12 is located inside the air tunnel 6, in the space on the Y2 side of the fan 11a. That is, the air quality sensor 12 measures the carbon dioxide concentration of the air 220a in the sales area 220 stirred by the fan 11a. Furthermore, because the air quality sensor 12 is located inside the air tunnel 6, in the space on the Y1 side of the condenser 2 and the compressor 1, it is less susceptible to the influence of the exhaust heat from the condenser 2 and the compressor 1.

[0038] The communication unit 13 is configured to transmit the measurement results sent from the air quality sensor 12 to the integrated control unit 110 or the ventilation control unit 22. The communication unit 13 is configured with multiple electronic components for wired or wireless communication functions. The air quality sensor 12 and the communication unit 13 are arranged on, for example, a single printed circuit board.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 6, the first showcase 10 is disposed between the ceiling 240 and the floor 250 in the sales floor 220. In this case, if the height from the floor 250 to the ceiling 240 is defined as h1, the height h2 of the first showcase 10 is, for example, less than half of h1. Furthermore, the height h3 of the air tunnel 6 is smaller than the height h2 of the first showcase 10. In other words, the fan 11a and the air quality sensor 12 disposed inside the air tunnel 6 are disposed in the space between the floor 250 and the ceiling 240 of the sales floor 220, in a space close to the floor 250. Therefore, the air quality sensor 12 measures the carbon dioxide concentration of the air 220a circulated by the fan 11a in the space close to the floor 250.

[0040] (Ventilation system control) Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the control of ventilation in the sales area 220 by the ventilation system 100 according to this embodiment will be described.

[0041] 7, with time on the horizontal axis, shows the relationship between the carbon dioxide concentration in the sales floor 220 (see FIG. 1) measured by the air quality sensor 12 (see FIG. 2, etc.), the voltage signal output by the ventilation control unit 22 (see FIG. 2, etc.), and the ventilation air volume, which is the volume of air exhausted from the sales floor 220 by the ventilation device 20. In this embodiment, the air quality sensor 12 measures the carbon dioxide concentration in the sales floor 220 at time intervals of, for example, period T and communicates the measurement results to the integrated control unit 110 (see FIG. 2, etc.). The integrated control unit 110 calculates the ventilation air volume required for the sales floor 220 and communicates a control command corresponding to the required ventilation air volume to the ventilation control unit 22. In response to the control command communicated from the integrated control unit 110, the ventilation control unit 22 outputs a voltage signal for determining the rotation speed of the drive motor included in the ventilation fan 21.

[0042] Here, at time t1, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 7, when the carbon dioxide concentration measured by the air quality sensor 12 changes from C1 [ppm] to C2 [ppm], the integrated control unit 110, which has acquired the measurement result via the communication unit 13, calculates the ventilation air volume required for the sales floor 220 as Q1 [m 3 / s] to Q2 [m 3 / s] and issues a command to the ventilation control unit 22. The ventilation control unit 22 changes the control command value to Q2 [m 3 In response to the input of Q2 [m / s], the voltage signal to the drive motor (not shown) of the ventilation device 20 is changed from V1 [V] to V2 [V], as shown in the middle diagram of Fig. 7. As a result, the ventilation air volume of the sales floor 220 by the ventilation device 20 is increased as shown in the bottom diagram of Fig. 7, and Q2 [m 3 / s].

[0043] Furthermore, at time t2, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 7, when the carbon dioxide concentration measured by the air quality sensor 12 changes from C2 [ppm] to C3 [ppm], the integrated control unit 110, which has acquired the measurement result via the communication unit 13, determines the ventilation air volume required for the sales floor 220 as Q2 [m 3 / s] to Q3 [m 3 / s] and issues a command to the ventilation control unit 22. The ventilation control unit 22 changes the control command value to Q3 [m 3 / s] is input, the voltage signal to the drive motor (not shown) of the ventilation device 20 is changed from V2 [V] to V3 [V], as shown in the middle diagram of Fig. 7. As a result, the ventilation air volume of the sales floor 220 by the ventilation device 20 decreases as shown in the bottom diagram of Fig. 7, and becomes Q3 [m 3 / s].

[0044] Next, the timing of air circulation (intake and exhaust) within the sales floor 220 by the first showcase 10a and the first showcase 10b will be described with reference to Fig. 8. The first showcase 10a and the first showcase 10b may temporarily stop operation, for example, to remove frost that has formed due to cooling. At this time, the operation of the fan 11a of the first showcase 10a or the first showcase 10b is also stopped. In this embodiment, the fan 11a of at least either the first showcase 10a or the first showcase 10b is controlled to operate.

[0045] The first showcase 10a and the first showcase 10b are configured to have a constant intake and exhaust air volume Qa [m 3 / s] or Qb[m 3 / s]. Here, as shown in the upper diagram of Fig. 8, the integrated control unit 110 (see Fig. 2, etc.) detects that defrosting is necessary only during the period from time t11 to time t12, and stops the operation of the first showcase 10a at time t11. At this time, the integrated control unit 110 performs control so as not to stop the operation of the first showcase 10b. Furthermore, the integrated control unit 110 detects that the defrosting of the first showcase 10a has finished and the intake and exhaust air volume by the fan 11a of the first showcase 10a has increased to Qa [m 3 / s], at time t13, the operation of the first showcase 10b is stopped, as shown in the lower part of Fig. 8. This causes the fan 11a of at least one of the first showcase 10a or the first showcase 10b to operate. In other words, the air inside the sales floor 220 is always circulated by either the first showcase 10a or the first showcase 10b.

[0046] By the above-described control, the air quality sensor 12 of either the first showcase 10a or the first showcase 10b constantly measures the air quality of the air circulating in the sales floor 220. Therefore, the ventilation system 100 constantly controls the ventilation air volume to an appropriate level according to the carbon dioxide concentration of the air circulating in the sales floor 220.

[0047] (Verification results from simulation) Next, the results of a simulation of the carbon dioxide concentration in the sales floor 220 using the ventilation system 100 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 9 to 11. The simulation was carried out for an example using the configuration of the present invention, a first comparative example 1 not using the configuration of the present invention, and a second comparative example 2.

[0048] In an example using the configuration of the present invention, the air quality sensor 12 is placed inside each of the first showcase 10a, the first showcase 10b, and the first showcase 10c in the store 200 shown in Fig. 9. In this simulation, the ventilation fan of the ventilation device 20 placed in the first backyard 210 is referred to as ventilation fan 21a, the ventilation fan of the ventilation device 20 (not shown) placed in the sales floor 220 is referred to as ventilation fan 21b (not shown), and the ventilation fan of the ventilation device 20 placed in the second backyard 230 is referred to as ventilation fan 21c. Note that ventilation fan 21b of the ventilation device 20 (not shown) placed in the sales floor 220 is placed at any one of position A1, position A2, or position A3 inside the sales floor 220 under the simulation conditions.

[0049] In Comparative Example 1, it is assumed that the air quality sensor 12 is placed inside a duct (not shown) connected to each of the ventilation fans 21a to 21c shown in Fig. 9, which are placed on the ceiling 240 (see Fig. 6). In Comparative Example 2, it is assumed that the air quality sensor 12 is placed at a height of about 1.3 m from the ground.

[0050] As shown in Figure 10, simulations were performed for each of the example, comparative example 1, and comparative example 2 under three conditions in which the ventilation volume by ventilation devices 20a to 20c, the positions of ventilation devices 20a to 20c, the air conditioning air volume by air conditioner 30, and the outside air temperature were changed.

[0051] The upper part of Fig. 11 shows the results of measurement simulation of the air quality sensor 12 under condition 1 (see Fig. 10) for each of the example, comparative example 1, and comparative example 2. Under condition 1, the simulation result of the average carbon dioxide concentration in the entire sales floor 220 is expressed as average value C4. Here, in the example, regardless of whether the air quality sensor 12 is placed in the first showcase 10a, first showcase 10b, or first showcase 10c, the measurement result of the air quality sensor 12 is a value within an error of 5% from the average value C4.

[0052] On the other hand, in Comparative Example 1, when air quality sensor 12 was attached to the duct of ventilation device 20b (see FIG. 9), a carbon dioxide concentration close to average value C4 was measured, but when air quality sensor 12 was attached to the ducts of ventilation device 20a and ventilation device 20c, the measurement results of air quality sensor 12 were values ​​with an error of 10% or more from average value C4. Similarly, in Comparative Example 2, when air quality sensor 12 was attached to position B3 (see FIG. 9), a carbon dioxide concentration close to average value C4 was measured, but when air quality sensor 12 was attached to positions B1 and B2, the measurement results of air quality sensor 12 were values ​​with an error of 5% or more from average value C4.

[0053] 11, in the working example, the value is close to the average value C5 or C6 regardless of the position of the air quality sensor 12. On the other hand, in comparative examples 1 and 2, it can be seen that, depending on the position of the air quality sensor 12, measurement results with a large error from the average value C5 or C6 are obtained. In other words, in the working example using the present invention, it is possible to detect a carbon dioxide concentration that is close to the average carbon dioxide concentration in the sales floor 220, compared to comparative examples 1 and 2 in which the air circulating in the sales floor 220 is not measured.

[0054] (Effects of this embodiment) Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0055] The ventilation system 100 of this embodiment includes a ventilation device 20 that exhausts air in a sales floor 220 to the outside, a first showcase 10 that includes a fan 11a that is placed in the sales floor 220 and circulates the air in the sales floor 220, and an air quality sensor 12 that measures the quality of the air 220a circulated through the sales floor 220 by the fan 11a, and an integrated control unit 110 that controls the operation of the ventilation device 20 based on the measurement results of the air quality sensor 12. As a result, the air quality sensor 12 can measure the quality of the circulated air 220a in the sales floor 220, so the air measured by the air quality sensor 12 does not represent the air in a local space in the sales floor 220. Therefore, unlike when the air quality sensor 12 measures the air quality of a local space, it is possible to prevent the air quality measured by the air quality sensor 12 from deviating from the average air quality in the sales floor 220. As a result, the air quality in the sales floor 220 can be measured easily and appropriately.

[0056] In this embodiment, the air circulation unit includes a fan 11a that draws air 220a from the sales floor 220 into the first showcase 10 and exhausts air 220b from the first showcase 10 to the sales floor 220. As a result, air is drawn in and exhausted by the fan 11a provided in the first showcase 10 that is originally placed in the sales floor 220, and therefore, compared to a case where an air circulation unit is provided separately from the fan 11a of the first showcase 10, the number of parts can be reduced and the ventilation system 100 can have a simple configuration.

[0057] Moreover, in this embodiment, the first showcase 10 is a cooling device that cools items, and includes an evaporator 4, a condenser 2, and a fan 11a that draws in air 220a from the sales floor 220 to cool the condenser 2, and the fan 11a is configured to circulate air in the sales floor 220 by drawing in air 220a from the sales floor 220 into the first showcase 10 and exhausting air 220b from the first showcase 10 to the sales floor 220. As a result, air is drawn in and exhausted by the fan 11a that cools the condenser 2 and is provided in the first showcase 10 that is originally placed in the sales floor 220, and therefore, compared to when an air circulation unit is provided separately from the first showcase 10, the number of parts can be reduced and the ventilation system 100 can have a simple configuration.

[0058] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first showcase 10 includes an air tunnel 6 connected to a first ventilation hole 6b through which air 220a in the sales floor 220 circulated by the fan 11a passes, and a second ventilation hole 6c through which air 220b passes, and the air quality sensor 12 is disposed inside the air tunnel 6. This allows the air quality sensor 12 to measure the air 220a circulating in the sales floor 220 more directly than when the air quality sensor 12 is disposed at a position distant from the air tunnel 6. As a result, it is possible to measure a more averaged air quality of the air 220a in the sales floor 220.

[0059] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the fan 11a is provided inside the air tunnel 6, draws in air 220a from the sales floor 220 through the first ventilation holes 6b, and exhausts air 220b to the sales floor 220 through the second ventilation holes 6c, and the air quality sensor 12 is disposed between the fan 11a and the second ventilation holes 6c inside the air tunnel 6. This allows the air quality sensor 12 to be disposed in a position (space) where the air 220a is agitated by the fan 11a and variations in air quality are suppressed. As a result, the air quality sensor 12 can measure a more averaged air quality in the sales floor 220, effectively suppressing deviations between the measurement results of the air quality sensor 12 and the average air quality of the sales floor 220.

[0060] Furthermore, in this embodiment, air quality includes carbon dioxide concentration, and the fan 11a and air quality sensor 12 are placed in the space between the floor 250 and the ceiling 240 of the sales floor 220, in a space close to the floor 250, and the air quality sensor 12 measures the carbon dioxide concentration of the air 220a circulated by the fan 11a in the space close to the floor 250. As a result, even if carbon dioxide, which has a high specific gravity compared to air, is distributed near the floor surface of the sales floor 220, the carbon dioxide concentration can be appropriately measured using the fan 11a and air quality sensor 12 placed in the space close to the floor 250.

[0061] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the integrated control unit 110 is configured to control the ventilation device 20 to increase the amount of air discharged outdoors in response to an increase in the carbon dioxide concentration measured by the air quality sensor 12. This allows ventilation to be performed in response to the carbon dioxide concentration measured by the air quality sensor 12, thereby suppressing an increase in the carbon dioxide concentration in the sales floor 220. As a result, based on the measurement results of the air quality sensor 12, it is possible to suppress adverse effects on people in the sales floor 220 that are associated with an increase in the carbon dioxide concentration in the sales floor 220.

[0062] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first showcase 10 is placed in the sales floor 220 in the store 200, and includes a store cooling device that circulates the air 220a in the sales floor 220 and cools the goods 300. This makes it possible to easily and appropriately measure the air quality of the air 220a circulating in the sales floor 220 in the store 200 using the first showcase 10 that cools the goods 300.

[0063] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a plurality of first showcases 10 are provided, and the integrated control unit 110 is configured to control the plurality of first showcases 10 so that, when the fan 11a of one first showcase 10a among the plurality of first showcases 10 is stopped, the fan 11a of another first showcase 10b among the plurality of first showcases 10 is operated. As a result, even when the operation of the fan 11a of one of the first showcases 10a is stopped, the quality of the circulating air 220a in the sales floor 220 can be measured using the other first showcase 10a. As a result, even when the operation of the fan 11a of one of the first showcases 10 is stopped, the sales floor 220 can be ventilated easily and appropriately.

[0064] [Variations] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims rather than the description of the above embodiments, and further includes all modifications (variations) within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0065] For example, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the fan 11a serving as the air circulation unit of the present invention draws air 220a from the sales floor 220 into the first showcase 10 serving as the indoor device, and exhausts air 220b from the first showcase 10 to the sales floor 220, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the fan 11a may not be provided for intake and exhaust of air from the indoor device, but may be provided separately and independently from the indoor device, for example, as a blower or air circulation device (circulator).

[0066] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the indoor device of the present invention is the first showcase 10 that cools items, and the first showcase 10 includes an evaporator 4, a condenser 2, and a fan 11a serving as the air circulation unit of the present invention that draws in air 220a from the sales floor 220 and cools the condenser 2, and the fan 11a is configured to draw in air 220a from the sales floor 220 into the first showcase 10 and exhaust air 220b from the first showcase 10 to the sales floor 220, thereby circulating the air in the sales floor 220. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the indoor device may not be a cooling device, but may be provided in, for example, a heat retention device (not shown) or an air conditioner 30. In this case, the fan of the heat retention device or the air conditioner 30 is used as the air circulation unit of the present invention.

[0067] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the first showcase 10 includes an air tunnel 6 connected to the first ventilation hole 6b through which the air 220a from the sales floor 220 circulated by the fan 11a passes and the second ventilation hole 6c through which the air 220b passes, and the air quality sensor 12 is disposed inside the air tunnel 6. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the air quality sensor 12 may be disposed outside the air tunnel 6. In this case, the air quality sensor 12 is preferably disposed near the first ventilation hole 6b or the second ventilation hole 6c, where the air 220a or the air 220b from the sales floor 220 flows. When the air quality sensor 12 is disposed outside the air tunnel 6, it is preferable to dispose the air quality sensor 12 near the second ventilation hole 6c, where the air 220b flows, rather than near the first ventilation hole 6b.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the fan 11a is provided inside the air tunnel 6, draws in air 220a from the sales floor 220 through the first ventilation holes 6b, and exhausts air 220b to the sales floor 220 through the second ventilation holes 6c. The air quality sensor 12 is located between the fan 11a and the second ventilation holes 6c inside the air tunnel 6. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the air quality sensor 12 may be located between the fan 11a and the first ventilation holes 6b inside the air tunnel 6. The fan 11a may draw in air 220b from the sales floor 220 through the second ventilation holes 6c and exhaust air 220a to the sales floor 220 through the first ventilation holes 6b. The air quality sensor 12 may be located inside the air tunnel 6 between the condenser 2 and the compressor 1 and the second ventilation holes 6c.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the air quality includes the carbon dioxide concentration, the fan 11a and the air quality sensor 12 are disposed in a space between the floor 250 and the ceiling 240 of the sales floor 220, close to the floor 250, and the air quality sensor 12 measures the carbon dioxide concentration of the air 220a circulated by the fan 11a in the space close to the floor 250. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the air quality measured by the air quality sensor 12 may be, for example, an ammonia concentration, a hydrogen concentration, a nitrogen concentration, an oxygen concentration, a carbon monoxide concentration, a methane concentration, an ethane concentration, an amount of dust, an amount of fine particulate matter (such as PM2.5), or an amount of other organic substances. The air quality sensor 12 may simultaneously measure multiple types of air quality such as those described above. Furthermore, the fan 11a and the air quality sensor 12 may be disposed in a space close to the ceiling 240, for example.

[0070] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the integrated control unit 110 is configured to perform control to increase the amount of air discharged outdoors by the ventilation device 20 in response to an increase in the carbon dioxide concentration measured by the air quality sensor 12, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the integrated control unit 110 may set a threshold value for the carbon dioxide concentration, and increase the amount of air discharged outdoors by the ventilation device 20 when the air quality sensor 12 measures a carbon dioxide concentration equal to or greater than the threshold value.

[0071] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the first showcase 10 is placed in the sales floor 220 in the store 200, circulates the air 220a in the sales floor 220, and includes a store cooling device that cools the products 300 as goods, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the indoor device may be placed indoors in a facility other than the store 200, such as a factory or a warehouse.

[0072] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which two first showcases 10 are provided, and the integrated control unit 110 controls the multiple first showcases 10 so that when the fan 11a of one first showcase 10a among the multiple first showcases 10 is stopped, the fan 11a of another first showcase 10b among the multiple first showcases 10 is operated. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In a normal showcase, the operation of the fan is unnecessary during defrosting operation, so it may be stopped. On the other hand, in the present invention, it is preferable that the integrated control unit 110 controls the operation of the fan 11a not to be stopped even during defrosting operation. By operating in this manner, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the measurement accuracy of the air quality sensor 12 due to the stop of air circulation in the sales floor 220 caused by the stop of the fan 11a. Furthermore, in the present invention, three or more first showcases 10 may be provided, and the fan 11a of any of the first showcases 10 may be controlled to be operated.

[0073] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example has been shown in which the ventilation system 100 is configured by the first showcase 10, the ventilation device 20, and the integrated control unit 110, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the ventilation system 100 may be configured by two devices, the first showcase 10 and the ventilation device 20. In that case, communication is performed between the communication unit 13 of the first showcase 10 and the ventilation control unit 22 of the ventilation device 20, and the ventilation control unit 22 as a control device is configured to determine the ventilation air volume required according to the air quality and to control the operation (number of rotations) of the ventilation fan 21.

[0074] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example has been shown in which one ventilation device 20 is provided in each of the first backyard 210, the sales floor 220, and the second backyard 230, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, multiple ventilation devices 20 may be provided in one room. In this case, the control by the integrated control unit 110 to increase the amount of air discharged to the outside by the ventilation devices 20 may be performed by changing the number of ventilation devices 20 that are in operation.

[0075] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the first showcase 10 is a so-called flat showcase in which the products 300 are put in and taken out from the top of the cooling space 5, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the first showcase 10 may be, for example, a showcase in which the products 300 can be put in and taken out from the front of the cooling space 5, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 12, or a vertical showcase with a door (not shown). In this case, the first ventilation hole 6b that takes in air 220a from the sales floor 220 is provided at the bottom (Z2 direction) of the first showcase 10, and the second ventilation hole 6c for exhausting the air 220b is provided at the top (Z1 direction) of the first showcase 10. Therefore, when the first showcase 10 is a showcase as shown in FIG. 12, the air channel section 6 is provided in an L-shape. [Explanation of symbols]

[0076] 2 Condenser 4. Evaporator 6 Wind tunnel section 6b 1st ventilation hole 6c 2nd ventilation hole 10. First showcase (indoor equipment, cooling equipment) 11a Fan (air circulation section) 12 Air quality sensor (air quality measurement section) 20, 20a, 20b, 20c Ventilation equipment 22 Ventilation control unit (control device) 40 Air conditioner 100 Ventilation System 110 Integrated control unit (control device) 200 stores 220 Sales area (indoor, sales area) 300 products (goods)

Claims

1. A ventilation system that exhausts indoor air to the outside; an indoor device that is disposed in the room and includes an air circulation unit that circulates air in the room and an air quality measurement unit that measures the quality of the air circulated into the room by the air circulation unit; A ventilation system comprising: a control device that controls operation of the ventilation device based on the measurement result of the air quality measurement unit.

2. The ventilation system according to claim 1 , wherein the air circulation unit includes a fan that draws air from the room into the indoor device and exhausts air from the indoor device into the room.

3. the indoor device is a cooling device that cools items, the cooling device includes an evaporator, a condenser, and the fan that draws in air from the room to cool the condenser, 3. The ventilation system according to claim 2, wherein the fan is configured to circulate air in the room by drawing air in the room into the cooling device and exhausting air from the cooling device into the room.

4. the indoor device includes an air channel connected to a first ventilation hole and a second ventilation hole through which the indoor air circulated by the fan passes; 3. The ventilation system according to claim 2, wherein the air quality measuring unit is disposed inside the air tunnel, at a position where the indoor air circulating near the first ventilation hole flows, or at a position where the indoor air circulating near the second ventilation hole flows.

5. the fan is provided inside the air channel portion, and draws air from the room through the first ventilation hole and exhausts the air into the room through the second ventilation hole; The ventilation system according to claim 4 , wherein the air quality measuring unit is disposed inside the air tunnel at a position between the fan and the second ventilation hole.

6. the air quality includes a carbon dioxide concentration; the fan and the air quality measuring unit are disposed in a space between a floor and a ceiling of the room, the space being close to the floor; The ventilation system according to claim 2 , wherein the air quality measurement unit measures a carbon dioxide concentration of the air circulated by the fan in the space close to the floor.

7. The ventilation system according to claim 6, wherein the control device is configured to perform control to increase the amount of air discharged to the outside by the ventilation device in response to an increase in the carbon dioxide concentration measured by the air quality measuring unit.

8. The ventilation system according to claim 3 , wherein the cooling device includes a store cooling device that is arranged in a sales area of ​​a store, circulates air within the sales area, and cools the goods as the articles.

9. A plurality of the cooling devices are provided, 4. The ventilation system according to claim 3, wherein the control device is configured to control the plurality of cooling devices such that, when the fan of one of the plurality of cooling devices is stopped, the fans of the other cooling devices of the plurality of cooling devices are operated.

10. a cooling section including an evaporator and a condenser; an air circulation unit that draws in indoor air to cool the condenser and circulates the indoor air, The cooling device, wherein the air circulation unit includes an air quality measurement unit that measures the air quality in the room.

Images