Refrigeration equipment

Abstract

To provide a refrigeration device that can efficiently evaporate drain water. [Solution] The refrigeration system comprises a cooler for cooling a storage room and a machine room located below the storage room, the machine room comprising a condenser connected to the cooler by refrigerant piping, a compressor, a blower for drawing in air from outside the machine room, and an evaporator for evaporating the drain water generated by the cooler, the evaporator being positioned at an angle to the depth of the machine room.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a refrigeration device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technology of a refrigeration device including an evaporation tray that receives drain water generated from a cooling device and performs evaporation treatment.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure provides a refrigeration device capable of efficiently evaporating drain water.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The refrigeration device in the present disclosure includes a cooler that cools a storage chamber, and a machine chamber provided below the storage chamber. The machine chamber includes a condenser connected to the cooler by a refrigerant pipe, a compressor, a blower that sucks air from outside the machine chamber, and an evaporation device that evaporates drain water generated by the cooler. The evaporation device is disposed obliquely with respect to the depth direction of the machine chamber.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] The refrigeration device in the present disclosure can suppress the stagnation and confrontation of air around the evaporation device, so that the air flow in the machine chamber is improved, and the drain water can be efficiently processed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] [Figure 1] Perspective view of the refrigeration device in Embodiment 1 [Figure 2] Perspective view showing the interior of the machine room in Embodiment 1 [Figure 3] Top view showing the interior of the machine room in Embodiment 1 [Figure 4] Perspective view of the evaporation apparatus in Embodiment 1 [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] (Knowledge and other information that formed the basis of this disclosure) At the time the inventors conceived of this disclosure, there was a technology in which, in a refrigeration system equipped with a cooling device, drain water generated from the cooling device was received by an evaporator located in the machine room, and the water was evaporated by flowing air through the evaporator. However, in the conventional technology, components located near the evaporator could cause air to stagnate, preventing proper airflow to the evaporator. As a result, the inventors discovered a problem of reduced drain water evaporation efficiency, and the subject matter of this disclosure was established in order to solve this problem. Therefore, this disclosure provides a refrigeration system that can efficiently process drain water.

[0009] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, some unnecessarily detailed explanations may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters or redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. The attached drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand this disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, directions such as front, back, left, right, and up and down refer to the same directions as when viewing the refrigeration unit from the front in Figure 1. In each figure, UP indicates the upward direction of the refrigeration unit, FR indicates the forward direction, and R indicates the right direction. The width direction corresponds to the left-right direction, and the depth direction corresponds to the front-back direction.

[0010] (Embodiment 1) [1-1. Structure] [1-1-1. Configuration of the Refrigeration System] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the refrigeration device 1 according to this embodiment. The refrigeration device 1 in this embodiment is a so-called showcase for displaying and selling products such as beverages and food while controlling their temperature.

[0011] The refrigeration system 1 comprises a storage room 5 and a machine room 10. The storage compartment 5 is equipped with a plurality of display shelves 6 that are arranged at an angle so that the front is lower. Each display shelf 6 is equipped with a heater on its bottom. In addition, a cooling device (not shown) is provided at the rear of the storage compartment 5. The refrigeration device 1 of this embodiment can adjust the temperature of the products on the display shelves 6 using the heater and the cooling device.

[0012] The machine room 10 is equipped with an air intake port 11 on its front for drawing in air. Although not shown in the figure, the machine room 10 is also equipped with an exhaust port on its rear for exhausting air.

[0013] [1-1-2. Machine Room Configuration] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the interior of the machine room 10. Figure 2 omits the depiction of the side and top surfaces of the machine room 10. Figure 3 is a top view showing the interior of the machine room 10. The arrows in Figure 3 indicate airflow. The machine room 10 houses the compressor 12, condenser 13, accumulator 15, and other components that constitute the refrigeration cycle along with the cooling system. Although not shown in the diagram, these are connected by refrigerant piping to form the refrigeration cycle.

[0014] As shown in Figure 2, in this embodiment, a condenser 13 is located at the front of the machine room 10. A blower 14 is located behind the condenser 13. In this embodiment, the blowers 14 are arranged in three rows, namely the right-row blower 14R, the center-row blower 14C, and the left-row blower 14L. Each row of blowers 14R, 14C, 14L further includes two blowers arranged vertically. Therefore, six blowers 14 are arranged with respect to the condenser 13. By the operation of the blowers 14, air is sucked from the air inlet 11 in front of the machinery room 10.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 3, a heating dish 16 is arranged behind the blower 14. A compressor 12 is arranged behind the heating dish 16. An evaporation device 17 is arranged to the left of the condenser 13, the heating dish 16, and the compressor 12. Also, an accumulator 15 is arranged to the right of the heating dish 16. Electrical enclosures 18 for housing substrates and the like are provided at both left and right ends of the machinery room 10.

[0016] The evaporation device 17 is composed of a box-shaped evaporation dish 17a having a predetermined depth and a plurality of evaporation promoting members 17b arranged in parallel in a predetermined direction within the evaporation dish 17a. In this embodiment, the evaporation promoting members 17b are arranged horizontally with respect to the air flow passing through the evaporation promoting members 17b. In this embodiment, the evaporation device 17 is provided detachably from the machinery room 10.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the evaporation device 17 is arranged in an inclined state with respect to the depth direction of the machinery room 10. More specifically, the rear part of the evaporation device 17 is inclined to the right with respect to the depth direction. Thereby, a space S is formed between the left surface of the machinery room 10 and the evaporation device 17.

[0018] In the space S, a guide member 19 is arranged. The guide member 19 is a member that guides to a predetermined position when arranging the evaporation device 17 into the machine room 10. Thereby, when opening the front surface of the machine room 10 and inserting the evaporation device 17 from the front of the machine room 10, the guide member 19 guides the evaporation device 17 in an inclined state, so that the attachment of the evaporation device 17 into the machine room 10 becomes easy. In the present embodiment, the guide member 19 is provided at a position lower than the evaporation dish 17a. Thereby, the air that has passed through the evaporation device 17 is not obstructed by the guide member 19, and it is possible to prevent the occurrence of air flow opposition and stagnation.

[0019] The heating dish 16 is a box-shaped member having a predetermined depth. The heating dish 16 is arranged in a direction intersecting the evaporation device 17. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the left part of the heating dish 16 is arranged in a state of being inclined rearward with respect to the width direction of the machine room 10. In the present embodiment, the heating dish 16 is arranged so as to be substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the evaporation device 17.

[0020] Inside the heating dish 16, the discharge pipe 12a of the compressor 12 is wound and accommodated. Further, a drain pipe (not shown) is provided above the heating dish 16. By the drain pipe, the drain water generated from the cooling device is guided to the heating dish 16, and the drain water is stored in the heating dish 16.

[0021] A drain part 16a is provided at the rear part of the heating dish 16. When the drain water accumulated in the heating dish 16 overflows, the drain part 16a guides it to the evaporation dish 17a.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, due to the operation of the blower 14, a wind direction dispersion member 20 and a plurality of wind direction plates 21, 22, 23, 24 for guiding the air sucked from the intake port 11 of the machine room 10 to the evaporation device 17 are provided. As shown by the arrow in FIG. 3, the wind direction dispersion member 20 guides the air to either the evaporation device 17 side or the right side electric cabinet 18R side. The first wind direction plate 21 and the third wind direction plate 23 guide the air to the evaporation device 17 side.

[0023] The airflow distribution member 20 and the first airflow deflector 21 are installed from the bottom to the top of the machine room 10, partitioning a portion of the machine room 10. In other words, the upper ends of the airflow distribution member 20 and the first airflow deflector 21 are located above the upper end of the heating plate 16.

[0024] The airflow distribution member 20 is provided in front of the accumulator 15. The airflow distribution member 20 is a roughly V-shaped flat plate that covers the front of the accumulator 15 and also functions as a fixing plate to which the accumulator 15 is attached. In this embodiment, the surface of the airflow distribution member 20 is inclined with respect to the air drawn in from the front of the machine room 10. This guides the air drawn in from the intake port 11 on the front of the machine room 10 to the left and right sides of the machine room 10. In other words, the airflow distribution member 20 guides the air to the side of the electrical equipment box 18 located on the right side and to the side of the heating plate 16 (evaporator 17).

[0025] A roughly L-shaped first air deflector 21 is provided from the end of the airflow distribution member 20. The first air deflector 21 is formed along the side surface of the heating dish 16. In other words, it is provided along the side edge of the heating dish 16 away from the blower 14. As a result, the airflow distribution member 20 and the first air deflector partition the space between the accumulator 15 and compressor 12 and the heating dish 16 and blower 14. This guides the air directed by the right-row blower 14R and the airflow distribution member 20 to the evaporator 17.

[0026] Furthermore, a third air deflector 23 is provided in front of the heating plate 16. The third air deflector 23 extends from the right side of the upper blower 14 in the left row of blowers 14L. That is, the third air deflector 23 partitions the space between the upper blowers 14 of the left row of blowers 14L and the central row of blowers 14C, and guides the air entering from around the left row of blowers 14L to the evaporator 17.

[0027] Figure 4 shows the evaporator 17, the guide section 22, and the fourth air deflector 24. The arrows in Figure 4 indicate the airflow from the heating plate 16 side. A guide section 22 and a fourth air deflector 24 are provided between the heating plate 16 and the evaporation device 17.

[0028] The guide section 22 is a roughly V-shaped sheet metal and is fixed to the bottom surface of the machine room 10. Specifically, the guide section 22 comprises a second air deflector 22a that extends inclined from the bottom surface of the machine room 10 to the upper right end of the heating plate 16, and a guide surface 22b that extends from the upper end of the second air deflector 22a to the bottom surface of the machine room 10. As a result, the second air deflector 22a guides the air blown onto the heating plate 16 to the evaporation accelerating member 17b. In addition, the guide surface 22b, together with the guide member 19, guides the evaporation device 17 to a predetermined position within the machine room 10 when the evaporation device 17 is being positioned.

[0029] The fourth air deflector 24 is fixed to the top surface of the machine room 10 and extends inclined towards the upper end of the evaporator 17. In other words, the fourth air deflector 24 extends inclined from the upper right end of the evaporation promoting member 17b toward the heating plate 16. This guides the air flowing above the evaporator 17 toward the evaporator 17.

[0030] [1-2. Effect] Next, the operation of Embodiment 1 will be described. The drain water generated by the operation of the refrigeration unit 1 is guided to the heating plate 16 by the drain pipe. The drain water accumulated in the heating plate 16 is heated and evaporated by the discharge pipe 12a of the compressor 12. If the drain water overflows from the heating plate 16 at this time, it is sent to the evaporation plate 17a of the evaporation unit 17 through the drain section 16a. The drain water stored in the evaporation plate 17a permeates the evaporation promoting member 17b located inside the evaporation plate 17a. As heated air passes through this evaporation unit 17, the drain water evaporates from the evaporation plate 17a and the evaporation promoting member 17b.

[0031] As shown by the arrows in Figure 3, in this embodiment, the operation of the blower 14 draws in air from outside the machine room 10 through the intake port 11 on the front of the machine room 10. The drawn-in air passes through the condenser 13 and is guided to the evaporator 17 by the airflow distribution member 20 and the airflow deflectors 21, 22, 23, and 24. This guided air promotes evaporation in the heating plate 16 and the evaporator 17. The air that has passed through the evaporator 17 is guided to the rear of the machine room 10 by the left side of the machine room 10 and the left electrical box 18L, and is exhausted through the exhaust port.

[0032] In the conventional configuration, no space S was provided, and it was not possible to secure space between the left side of the machine room 10 and the evaporator 17. As a result, the air reflected from the left side of the machine room 10 caused air to stagnate and clash around the evaporator 17, making it difficult to properly vent the air that had passed through the evaporator 17.

[0033] In this embodiment, since a space S is provided, the stagnation and opposition of air that has passed through the evaporator 17 can be suppressed, and the air that has passed through the evaporator 17 can be improved. In other words, since the amount of air passing through the evaporator 17 increases, the evaporation efficiency of the drain water can be improved.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the airflow distribution member 20 and the first airflow deflector 21 are provided from the bottom to the top of the machine room 10. In addition, the second airflow deflector 22a and the fourth airflow deflector 24 allow air that would not normally pass through the evaporator 17 to be guided to the evaporator 17. Therefore, for example, air that would conventionally pass above the evaporator 17 is now guided to and passes through the evaporator 17. In other words, the amount of air passing through the evaporator 17 increases, which improves the evaporation efficiency of the drain water.

[0035] The airflow distribution member 20 guides the air supplied from the blower 14 toward the evaporator 17 and toward the right-side electrical box 18R. The air guided toward the evaporator 17 passes through the heating plate 16 and the evaporator 17, allowing for efficient processing of drain water. At the same time, the air guided toward the right-side electrical box 18R can lower the temperature of the right-side electrical box 18R and the compressor 12.

[0036] [1-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, the refrigeration system 1 of this embodiment comprises a cooler for cooling the storage chamber 5 and a machine room 10 located at the bottom of the storage chamber 5. The machine room 10 comprises a condenser 13 connected to the cooler by refrigerant piping, a compressor 12, a blower 14 for drawing in air from outside the machine room 10, and an evaporator 17 for evaporating the drain water generated by the cooler. The evaporator 17 is positioned at an angle to the depth of the machine room 10. According to this, air stagnation and opposition around the evaporator 17 can be suppressed, improving airflow within the machine room 10 and enabling efficient treatment of drain water.

[0037] The evaporator 17 comprises an evaporation tray 17a and an evaporation promoting member 17b housed in the evaporation tray 17a. The machine room 10 is provided with a heating tray 16 that sends drain water to the evaporation tray 17a, and the heating tray 16 is provided with a first air deflector 21 that guides air supplied from the blower 14 to the evaporator 17. According to this, the first air deflector 21 can guide air to the evaporator 17, thus enabling efficient treatment of drain water.

[0038] The heating dish 16 is positioned near the downstream side of the air that is sent by the blower 14 through the condenser 13, and is positioned approximately perpendicular to the evaporation dish 17a. The first air deflector 21 is provided along the side edge of the heating dish 16 away from the blower 14. According to this, air can be efficiently guided to the heating plate 16 and the evaporator 17, thereby enabling efficient treatment of drain water.

[0039] The heating plate 16 is mounted on the bottom surface of the machine room 10, and the upper end of the first air deflector 21 is located above the upper end of the heating plate 16. According to this, air passing over the evaporator 17 can be guided to the evaporator 17, and the drain water can be processed efficiently.

[0040] The machine room 10 is provided with a guide section 22 that guides the evaporator 17 to a predetermined position. According to this, even when inserting or removing the evaporator 17, it can be easily positioned in the appropriate location.

[0041] The guide section is located below the heating plate 16 side of the evaporation plate 17a, and the guide section 22 extends inclined toward the heating plate 16 side and includes a second air deflector 22a that guides the air supplied from the heating plate 16 to the evaporation promoting member 17b. According to this, the second wind deflector 22a also functions as a guide for positioning the evaporator 17, making it easy to insert and remove the evaporator 17, and at the same time guiding air to the evaporator 17 to efficiently process the drain water.

[0042] The machine room 10 is provided with airflow distribution members 20 that guide the air supplied from the blower 14 in at least one direction towards the heating plate 16 and in other directions. According to this, the air sent in the direction of the heating plate 16 can efficiently process the drain water. At the same time, the air sent in the other direction can lower the temperature of the machinery located on the other side.

[0043] The wind direction dispersion member 20 is a fixing plate for fixing the accumulator 15, which is installed in the machine room 10. According to this, by making the wind direction dispersion member 20 and the fixing member the same part, it can be implemented with a simple configuration without increasing the number of parts.

[0044] (Other embodiments) As described above, Embodiment 1 has been presented as an example disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited to this and can be applied to embodiments that have been modified, replaced, added, or omitted. Furthermore, it is possible to create new embodiments by combining the components described in Embodiment 1.

[0045] In the above-described embodiment 1, an example was described in which the airflow dispersion member 20 guides air toward the right-side electrical box 18R and the heating plate 16. However, the direction in which the air is guided is not limited to this. That is, as long as air can be guided toward the heating plate 16, the other direction is not limited.

[0046] Since the embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes of the technology described herein, various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc., can be made within the claims or their equivalents.

[0047] (Note) Based on the above description of embodiments, the following technologies are disclosed.

[0048] (Technical 1) A refrigeration system comprising a cooler for cooling a storage room and a machine room located below the storage room, wherein the machine room comprises a condenser connected to the cooler by refrigerant piping, a compressor, a blower for drawing in air from outside the machine room, and an evaporator for evaporating the drain water generated by the cooler, the evaporator being positioned at an angle to the depth of the machine room. According to this, air stagnation and opposition around the evaporator can be suppressed, improving airflow within the machine room and enabling efficient treatment of drain water.

[0049] (Technical 2) The refrigeration apparatus according to Technical 1, wherein the evaporation apparatus comprises an evaporation dish and an evaporation promoting member housed in the evaporation dish, the machine room is provided with a heating dish for sending the drain water to the evaporation dish, and the heating dish is provided with a first air deflector for guiding the air sent from the blower to the evaporation apparatus. According to this, the first air deflector can guide air to the evaporator, allowing for efficient treatment of drain water.

[0050] (Technical 3) The refrigeration apparatus according to Technical 2, wherein the heating plate is positioned near the downstream side of the air that is sent by the blower through the condenser and is positioned substantially perpendicular to the evaporation plate, and the first air deflector is provided along the side edge of the heating plate away from the blower. According to this, air can be efficiently guided to the heating plate and evaporation device, allowing for efficient treatment of drain water.

[0051] (Technical 4) The refrigeration apparatus according to Technical 2 or 3, wherein the heating plate is attached to the bottom surface of the machine room, and the upper end of the first air deflector is located above the upper end of the heating plate. According to this, air passing above the evaporator can be guided into the evaporator, and the drain water can be processed efficiently.

[0052] (Technical 5) The refrigeration apparatus according to any one of Technical 2 to 4, wherein the machine room is provided with a guide section for guiding the evaporator to a predetermined position. According to this, even when inserting or removing the evaporator, it is easy to position it in the appropriate location.

[0053] (Technical 6) The refrigeration apparatus according to Technical 5, wherein the guide portion is provided below the heating plate side of the evaporation plate, the guide portion extends so as to be inclined toward the heating plate side, and is equipped with a second air deflector that guides the air sent from the heating plate to the evaporation promoting member. According to this design, the second wind deflector also functions as a guide for positioning the evaporator, making it easy to insert and remove the evaporator, while simultaneously guiding air to the evaporator to efficiently process the drain water.

[0054] (Technical 7) The refrigeration apparatus according to any one of Technical 2 to 6, wherein the machine room is provided with an airflow distribution member that guides the air supplied from the blower in at least the direction of the heating dish and in other directions. According to this design, the air blown towards the heating plate can efficiently process the drain water. At the same time, the air blown in other directions can lower the temperature of the machinery located on the other side.

[0055] (Technical 8) The refrigeration apparatus according to Technical 7, wherein the airflow dispersion member is a fixing plate for fixing an accumulator provided in the machine room. According to this, by making the wind direction dispersing member and the fixing member the same part, it can be implemented with a simple configuration without increasing the number of parts. [Industrial applicability]

[0056] As described above, the refrigeration apparatus according to the present invention can be used for the treatment of drain water. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0057] 1. Refrigeration equipment 5 Storage Room 6 display shelves 10 Machine room 11 Air intake 12 Compressor 12a Discharge pipe 13 Condenser 14 Blower 14C center row blower 14L left row blower 14R Right row blower 15 Accumulator 16 Heating dish 16a Drainage section 17 Evaporator 17a Evaporating dish 17b Evaporation accelerating member 18 Electrical box 18L left-side electrical box 18R Right side electrical box 19 Guide member 20 Wind direction dispersing member 21. First wind deflector 22 Guide section 22a Second wind deflector 22b Guide surface 23. Third wind vane 24. Fourth wind deflector

Claims

1. It comprises a cooler for cooling the storage chamber and a machine room located below the storage chamber, The machine room comprises a condenser connected to the cooler by refrigerant piping, a compressor, a blower that draws in air from outside the machine room, and an evaporation device that evaporates the drain water generated by the cooler. The evaporator is positioned at an inclination with respect to the depth of the machine room. Refrigeration equipment.

2. The evaporation apparatus comprises an evaporation dish and an evaporation promoting member housed in the evaporation dish. The machine room is provided with a heating plate that sends the drain water to the evaporation tray. The heating plate is provided with a first air deflector that guides the air supplied from the blower to the evaporation device. The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The heating dish is positioned near the downstream side of the air that is sent by the blower through the condenser, and is positioned substantially perpendicular to the evaporation dish. The first air deflector is provided along the side edge of the heating plate away from the blower. The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 2.

4. The heating plate is attached to the bottom surface of the machine room, The upper end of the first air deflector is located above the upper end of the heating plate. The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 2.

5. The machine room is provided with a guide section for guiding the evaporator to a predetermined position. The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 2.

6. The guide portion is provided below the heating plate side of the evaporation plate, The guide portion extends inclined toward the heating plate and includes a second air deflector that guides the air supplied from the heating plate to the evaporation promoting member. The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 5.

7. The machine room is provided with airflow distribution members that guide the air supplied from the blower in at least one direction toward the heating plate and another direction. The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 2.

8. The wind direction dispersing member is a fixing plate for fixing an accumulator installed in the machine room. The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 7.

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