Refrigeration cycle equipment

Abstract

To provide a refrigeration cycle device that can store heat while suppressing a decrease in comfort. [Solution] The refrigeration cycle device 1 includes an indoor heat exchanger 10 that functions as a condenser indoors, a heat storage heat exchanger 6 that holds a heat storage material 61 used in a temperature range including the latent heat range which is a phase change temperature range, and heats the heat storage material 61 with the incoming refrigerant, first flow paths 12 and 32 connected to the indoor heat exchanger 10 that guide the refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger 10, a second flow path 33 that branches off from the first flow paths 12 and 32 and is connected to the heat storage heat exchanger 6 that guides the refrigerant flowing through the heat storage heat exchanger 6, a flow control valve 81 installed in the second flow path 33 that controls the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the heat storage heat exchanger 6, and a control unit 9 that controls the flow control valve 81 to adjust the flow rate of the refrigerant that heats the heat storage material 61 in accordance with the rise in temperature of the heat storage material 61, and to limit the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into the heat storage heat exchanger 6 when the temperature of the heat storage material 61 is in the latent heat range.

Claims

1. Compressor and, An indoor heat exchanger that functions as a condenser, A heat storage heat exchanger that holds a heat storage material used in a temperature range including the latent heat range, which is a temperature range where phase changes occur, and heats the heat storage material with an incoming refrigerant, A heat storage material temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the heat storage material, A first flow path connected to the indoor heat exchanger and guiding the refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger, A second flow path branches off from the first flow path and is connected to the heat storage heat exchanger, and guides the refrigerant flowing into the heat storage heat exchanger, A flow control valve installed in the second flow path controls the flow rate of the refrigerant circulating through the heat storage heat exchanger, A refrigeration cycle device comprising: a control unit that controls the flow rate adjustment valve to adjust the flow rate of the refrigerant in accordance with the rise in the detected value of the heat storage material temperature sensor, and limits the adjustment of the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into the heat storage heat exchanger when the detected value of the heat storage material temperature sensor is in the latent heat range.

2. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines that the temperature of the heat storage material is in the latent heat range when the amount of increase per unit time of the detected value of the heat storage material temperature sensor is less than or equal to a threshold.

3. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines that the temperature of the heat storage material is within the latent heat range when the detected value of the heat storage material temperature sensor falls within the melting point temperature range of the heat storage material that has been stored in advance.

4. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the opening of the flow control valve so that the flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the heat storage heat exchanger remains constant when the detected value of the heat storage material temperature sensor is within the latent heat range.

5. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit controls the opening of the flow control valve so that the flow rate of refrigerant flowing into the heat storage heat exchanger becomes a predetermined flow rate when the detected value of the heat storage material temperature sensor is within the latent heat range.

6. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit controls the opening degree of the flow control valve so that the opening degree corresponds to the rotational speed of the compressor.

7. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the opening of the flow rate control valve so that the temperature difference between the condensation temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the heat storage heat exchanger and the temperature of the heat storage material remains constant when the value detected by the heat storage material temperature sensor is within the latent heat range.

8. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit controls the opening of the flow rate control valve so that the temperature difference between the condensation temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the heat storage heat exchanger and the temperature of the heat storage material becomes a predetermined temperature difference when the value detected by the heat storage material temperature sensor is within the latent heat range.

9. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a heat storage heat exchanger pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the refrigerant flowing into the heat storage heat exchanger, and calculating the pressure of the refrigerant flowing into the heat storage heat exchanger from the value detected by the heat storage heat exchanger pressure sensor.

10. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the flow rate adjustment valve so that the amount of increase in the detected value of the heat storage material temperature sensor follows a predetermined slope when the detected value of the heat storage material temperature sensor is not within the latent heat range.

11. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claims 1 to 10, wherein the flow control valve is provided in the second flow path to the extent that it branches off from the first flow path and is connected to the heat storage heat exchanger.

12. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claims 1 to 10, wherein the flow control valve is provided in the second flow path extending from the heat storage heat exchanger toward an outdoor heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator.

13. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit executes a sensible heat range control mode to adjust the flow rate of the refrigerant in accordance with the increase in the detected value when the value detected by the heat storage material temperature sensor is in the sensible heat range, which is outside the latent heat range, and executes a latent heat range control mode to restrict the flow rate of the refrigerant more than when the sensible heat range control mode is executed when the detected value is in the latent heat range.

14. The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the control unit controls the opening degree of the flow control valve based on the temperature of the heat storage material, the condensation temperature of the indoor heat exchanger, and the ambient temperature when the sensible heat range control mode is executed.

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