Cooling and dehumidification system

Abstract

To provide a cooling and dehumidifying system that reduces energy consumption while achieving miniaturization. [Solution] The cooling and dehumidifying system 1 has an indoor unit 11 and an outdoor unit 15, and is a cooling device 10 that removes heat from the air A passing through the indoor unit 11 by a phase change of the refrigerant R circulating between the indoor unit 11 and the outdoor unit 15 and releases it from the outdoor unit 15, and comprises a cooling device 10 that cools the air A to a temperature at which condensed water produced from the air A cooled in the indoor unit 11 can freeze, and an air heat exchanger 20 that causes heat exchange to occur between the air A before it is cooled in the indoor unit 11 and the air A after it has been cooled in the indoor unit 11.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cooling and dehumidifying system.

Background Art

[0002] In warehouses where food is stored at low temperatures, a low-temperature and low-humidity environment is required to prevent deterioration of products. When producing air to be supplied into a warehouse with a low dew point, it is difficult to perform cooling and dehumidification using a general refrigerator, so cooling and dehumidification is performed using a special refrigerator such as a brine chiller. When a special refrigerator such as a brine chiller is used, the system becomes complicated and large-scale, resulting in increased costs. As a system for generating low-temperature and low-humidity air without using a special refrigerator such as a brine chiller, there is a system in which introduced outside air is dehumidified by a desiccant rotor and then cooled by a cooler (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A desiccant dehumidifier is relatively compact and thus space-saving, but its low dehumidification efficiency tends to increase energy consumption.

[0005] In view of the above problems, the present disclosure relates to providing a cooling and dehumidifying system that reduces energy consumption while achieving size reduction.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] A cooling and dehumidifying system according to a first aspect of the present disclosure is a cooling device having an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, which removes heat from the air passing through the indoor unit by a phase change of a refrigerant circulating between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit and releases it from the outdoor unit, and comprises a cooling device that cools the air to a temperature at which condensed water produced from the air cooled in the indoor unit can freeze, and an air heat exchanger that causes heat exchange to occur between the air before it is cooled in the indoor unit and the air after it has been cooled in the indoor unit.

[0007] With this configuration, instead of a brain chiller, a cooling system with an indoor unit and an outdoor unit that circulate a phase-changing refrigerant is used to cool and dehumidify the air. This simplifies the system configuration and allows for a smaller cooling system. Furthermore, because an air heat exchanger is included, the heat removed by pre-cooling the air before cooling and dehumidifying it in the indoor unit can be used to reheat the air after it has been cooled and dehumidified in the indoor unit, thereby reducing energy consumption.

[0008] Furthermore, as a cooling and dehumidifying system according to a second aspect of the present disclosure, in the cooling and dehumidifying system according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the internal unit may have a first internal unit and a second internal unit, and a control device may be provided to control the internal unit so as to operate the first internal unit and the second internal unit alternately.

[0009] With this configuration, the air can be continuously cooled and dehumidified by removing the ice buildup attached to the non-operating of the first and second indoor units.

[0010] Furthermore, as a cooling and dehumidifying system according to a third aspect of this disclosure, a cooling and dehumidifying system according to the first or second aspect of this disclosure may be provided with a chamber for housing the internal unit.

[0011] With this configuration, the air cooled and dehumidified by the internal unit can be temporarily stored in the chamber before being discharged towards the air heat exchanger. By ensuring that cooled and dehumidified air is available in the chamber, it is possible to avoid a shortage of cooled and dehumidified air being directed to the air heat exchanger.

[0012] Furthermore, as a cooling and dehumidifying system according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the air heat exchanger may be housed inside the chamber in the cooling and dehumidifying system according to the third aspect of the present disclosure.

[0013] This configuration prevents condensation on the air heat exchanger and allows for a relatively large chamber volume.

[0014] Furthermore, as a cooling and dehumidifying system according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a cooling and dehumidifying system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present disclosure may be provided with a heating means for heating the refrigerant pipe through which the refrigerant flows in the internal unit.

[0015] This configuration makes it possible to melt and remove ice deposits that have accumulated on the refrigerant pipes.

[0016] Furthermore, as a cooling and dehumidifying system according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a cooling and dehumidifying system according to any one of the first to fifth aspects of the present disclosure may include: a de-icing means for removing ice deposits attached to refrigerant pipes through which the refrigerant flows in the indoor unit; a camera for photographing the refrigerant pipes; a receiving unit for receiving images of the refrigerant pipes taken by the camera as data; a storage unit for storing a plurality of images of the refrigerant pipes with the ice deposits attached as data, wherein each of the plurality of images of the refrigerant pipes shows the ice deposits attached to the refrigerant pipes in a different manner; and a determination unit for comparing an acquired image, which is an image of the refrigerant pipes received by the receiving unit, with a stored image, which is an image of the refrigerant pipes stored in the storage unit, and determining whether the ice deposits attached to the refrigerant pipes in the acquired image are at a level that should be removed.

[0017] This configuration allows for the removal of ice deposits from the refrigerant pipes at the appropriate time, thereby suppressing a decrease in the air cooling capacity. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present disclosure, instead of a brine chiller, a cooling device having an indoor unit and an outdoor unit in which a phase-change refrigerant circulates is used for cooling and dehumidifying air, so that the device configuration can be simplified and the cooling device can be reduced in size. In addition, since an air heat exchanger is provided, the heat removed by pre-cooling the air before it is cooled and dehumidified by the indoor unit can be used for reheating the air after it is cooled and dehumidified by the indoor unit, thereby reducing energy consumption. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] [Figure 1] It is a system diagram showing a schematic configuration of a cooling and dehumidifying system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] It is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a control device included in the cooling and dehumidifying system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] It is a psychrometric chart showing an example of changes in the state of air accompanying the operation of the cooling and dehumidifying system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] It is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of deicing control performed in the cooling and dehumidifying system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, identical or corresponding members are denoted by identical or similar reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions are omitted. In addition, dimensions and ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for convenience of description, and may differ from actual ratios.

[0021] First, a cooling and dehumidification system 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a schematic configuration of the cooling and dehumidification system 1. The cooling and dehumidification system 1 is a system capable of generating air having a low dew point temperature with relatively low energy consumption by using a relatively small cooling device. Air having a low dew point temperature is typically air required for an environment inside a warehouse where food is stored, but may also be air supplied to environments other than food storage warehouses where a low dew point is required. Such air may have a dew point temperature of, for example, 10°C or lower, further 5°C or lower, or 1°C or lower, or about -1°C. In the present embodiment, the cooling and dehumidification system 1 includes a cooling device 10, a sensible heat exchanger 20, a chamber 30, and a control device 50.

[0022] The cooling device 10 is a device for cooling air A supplied to a supply location where a low dew point is required, such as a food storage warehouse, to a desired dew point temperature. In the present embodiment, a low-temperature packaged air conditioner is used as the cooling device 10. The use of a low-temperature packaged air conditioner can avoid an increase in size of the device compared to a case where a brine chiller is used. The cooling device 10 includes an indoor unit 11, an outdoor unit 15, and a refrigerant pipe 14 connecting these units. The cooling device 10 is formed with a sealed flow path in which a refrigerant R circulates across the indoor unit 11, the refrigerant pipe 14, and the outdoor unit 15. Although not shown in the figure, this sealed flow path is provided with a compressor that compresses gaseous refrigerant R traveling from the indoor unit 11 to a heat radiating portion of the outdoor unit 15, and an expansion valve that decompresses liquid refrigerant R traveling from the heat radiating portion of the outdoor unit 15 to the indoor unit 11. The cooling device 10 utilizes the phase change of the refrigerant R circulating in the sealed flow path to absorb heat from the air A in the indoor unit 11, conveys the absorbed heat to the outdoor unit 15, and releases the heat to the atmosphere in the outdoor unit 15. The outdoor unit 15 is typically disposed outdoors. As the refrigerant R circulating in the cooling device 10, a refrigerant suitable for low-temperature environments and having a relatively large latent heat of vaporization is typically used.

[0023] The indoor unit 11 has refrigerant pipes 12 through which refrigerant R flows. Cooled air A is supplied to the outside of the refrigerant pipes 12. In the indoor unit 11, the air A comes into contact with the outside of the refrigerant pipes 12 through which liquid refrigerant R flows at low temperature and low pressure, and the air A is cooled by the latent heat of vaporization required for the liquid refrigerant R to evaporate from the air A. The refrigerant pipes 12 may be provided with multiple (typically many) fins to increase the contact area with the air A. When the air A cooled in the indoor unit 11 is cooled to a temperature typically below its dew point temperature, the moisture it contains condenses. In this embodiment, the indoor unit 11 cools the air A to a temperature lower than that of air used in general air conditioning, so the condensed water (or dew) produced from the cooled air A may freeze. Here, the temperature at which condensed water produced from cooled air A can freeze is typically the same as the temperature at which condensed water adhering to the refrigerant pipe 12 can freeze. The refrigerant R flowing inside the refrigerant pipe 12 is often below freezing point, but the cooled air A does not necessarily have to be below freezing point.

[0024] In this embodiment, the indoor unit 11 is equipped with a heater 18. The heater 18 is provided on or near the outer surface of the refrigerant pipe 12 and can heat the refrigerant pipe 12, thus constituting a heating means. By heating the refrigerant pipe 12, the heater 18 can melt and remove ice deposits adhering to the outer surface of the refrigerant pipe 12, thus constituting a de-icing means. The ice deposits referred to here mainly mean frost and ice (including icicles) formed by the freezing of condensed water. Typically, an electric heater is used for the heater 18, but a tube through which hot water or steam flows may also be used.

[0025] The sensible heat exchanger 20 is a device that exchanges heat between air A before it is cooled in the internal unit 11 and air A after it has been cooled in the internal unit 11, and is equivalent to an air heat exchanger. Typically, a plate heat exchanger is used for the sensible heat exchanger 20, but other types of heat exchangers may also be used. The sensible heat exchanger 20 is provided with a pre-cooling side flow path through which air A before it is cooled in the internal unit 11 passes, and a heated side flow path through which air A after it has been cooled in the internal unit 11 passes. In the sensible heat exchanger 20, the air A flowing in the pre-cooling side flow path and the air A flowing in the heated side flow path, which exchange heat with each other, do not mix. In the sensible heat exchanger 20, typically, the sensible heat is exchanged between the air A units, so the absolute humidity of each air A unit does not change.

[0026] Chamber 30 forms a space for housing the internal unit 11. Chamber 30 also functions as a space for storing the air A cooled by the internal unit 11. Therefore, the size of chamber 30 should be determined considering the amount of air A to be stored and the size of the space that can be used as chamber 30. There are no particular restrictions on the shape of chamber 30, but it may be a rectangular parallelepiped from the viewpoint of ease of manufacture. There are no particular restrictions on the material of chamber 30, and it may be made of metal such as steel plate or synthetic resin plate, but if there is a risk of condensation, it is advisable to provide insulation on the inner or outer surface. It is preferable that chamber 30 is airtight so that the air A inside does not leak out. Chamber 30 may have an opening (not shown) that can be closed with a door to allow access to the inside for inserting and removing the internal unit 11 and / or for inspection. Chamber 30 may have a transparent part 31 (e.g., a window) in part so that the inside can be seen from the outside.

[0027] In this embodiment, a camera 35 is provided to photograph the refrigerant pipes 12 of the indoor unit 11. In this embodiment, the camera 35 is installed outside the chamber 30 from the viewpoint of preventing overcooling, but it may also be installed inside the chamber 30. The camera 35 installed outside the chamber 30 photographs the refrigerant pipes 12 of the indoor unit 11 installed inside the chamber 30 through a transparent portion 31 provided in the chamber 30. The camera 35 can photograph the refrigerant pipes 12 continuously or at predetermined intervals, and the captured images can be saved as data in internal or external memory. Hereinafter, the images of the refrigerant pipes 12 captured by the camera 35 may also be referred to as "acquired images".

[0028] Various ducts are connected to the sensible heat exchanger 20 and the chamber 30. A return air duct 41 is connected to the inlet of the pre-cooling side flow path of the sensible heat exchanger 20. The outlet of the pre-cooling side flow path of the sensible heat exchanger 20 is connected to the chamber 30 by a pre-cooling duct 42. A return air fan 43 is provided in the pre-cooling duct 42. The return air fan 43 causes the air A inside the return air duct 41, the pre-cooling side flow path of the sensible heat exchanger 20, and the pre-cooling duct 42 to flow towards the chamber 30. The chamber 30 is connected to the inlet of the heated side flow path of the sensible heat exchanger 20 by a cooling duct 44. A supply duct 45 is connected to the outlet of the heated side flow path of the sensible heat exchanger 20. The supply duct 45 typically extends to a location where low-dew-point air A is supplied (e.g., a food storage warehouse). A supply air fan 46 is provided in the supply duct 45. The supply fan 46 transports the air A in the chamber 30 to a location where low-dew-point air A is supplied, via the cooling duct 44, the heated side flow path of the sensible heat exchanger 20, and the supply duct 45. The pre-cooling duct 42 and cooling duct 44 connected to the chamber 30 are preferably connected in such a position that the air A flowing into the chamber 30 from the pre-cooling duct 42 is drawn into the internal unit 11, cooled and dehumidified by the internal unit 11, and then the air A stored in the chamber 30 flows into the cooling duct 44.

[0029] The control device 50 is a device that controls the operation of the cooling and dehumidifying system 1. In this embodiment, the control device 50 has a control unit 51, a receiving unit 52, a storage unit 53, and a decision unit 54. Although these units are distinguished by function for the sake of explanation, they are typically configured as a single unit within the control device 50, or one or more of these units may be physically separated, or one unit may be physically divided into multiple parts. The operation of the control unit 51, the receiving unit 52, the storage unit 53, and the decision unit 54 may affect the operation of the other parts.

[0030] The control unit 51 is the part that controls the operation of each device and equipment that constitutes the cooling and dehumidification system 1. The control unit 51 is connected to the cooling equipment 10 by a communication line (wired or wireless; the same applies hereinafter) and controls the starting and stopping of the cooling equipment 10, and in addition to starting and stopping, it may also control the cooling capacity. The control unit 51 is also connected to the heater 18 by a communication line and controls the starting and stopping of the heater 18, and in addition to starting and stopping, it may also control the heating capacity. The control unit 51 is also connected to the return air fan 43 and the supply air fan 46 by communication lines and controls the starting and stopping of the return air fan 43 and the supply air fan 46 individually, and in addition to starting and stopping, it may also individually control the discharge air volume. The control unit 51 also has a timing means (not shown) for measuring time, such as a timer. The control unit 51 may also have a program for properly operating each of the above-mentioned devices and equipment. The control unit 51 may include a physical configuration of a processor and / or memory (RAM).

[0031] The receiving unit 52 is the part that receives various types of data. The receiving unit 52 is connected to the camera 35 by a communication line and receives images captured by the camera as data. Hereinafter, when "image" is used, unless otherwise specified, it means image data. The receiving unit 52 may also be connected by communication lines to various sensors, such as temperature sensors and pressure sensors (not shown), provided by the cooling and dehumidifying system 1, and may receive values ​​detected by these sensors as signals. The receiving unit 52 may also receive information provided from outside the cooling and dehumidifying system 1 (for example, weather information). The receiving unit 52 may include a communication interface.

[0032] The memory unit 53 is the part where various types of data are stored. The memory unit 53 stores (or stores) multiple images of the refrigerant pipes 12 of the indoor unit 11. The multiple images of the refrigerant pipes 12 stored in the memory unit 53 typically include multiple images showing a gradual increase in the amount of ice attached to the refrigerant pipes 12, from images where no ice is attached to the refrigerant pipes 12 at all to images where the refrigerant pipes 12 are covered with ice. In other words, the images of the refrigerant pipes 12 stored in the memory unit 53 include multiple images in which ice is attached to the refrigerant pipes 12 in different ways. Hereinafter, each of the multiple images of the refrigerant pipes 12 stored in the memory unit 53 may also be referred to as a "stored image". Each stored image is typically tagged to indicate whether or not it is necessary to remove the ice (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "de-icing"). The memory unit 53 may also store programs necessary for the operation of the cooling and dehumidification system 1. The memory unit 53 may include a physical configuration of storage and / or memory (ROM and / or RAM).

[0033] The determination unit 54 is responsible for determining whether or not ice has accumulated on the refrigerant pipes 12 of the indoor unit 11 to the extent that de-icing is necessary. In this embodiment, the determination unit 54 compares the image of the refrigerant pipes 12 received by the receiving unit 52 with multiple images of the refrigerant pipes 12 stored in the storage unit 53, and determines whether or not the compared image is at a level where de-icing is necessary. The determination made by the determination unit 54 is typically based on a program executed by the control unit 51.

[0034] The hardware configuration of the control device 50 will now be explained with reference to the block diagram shown in Figure 2. The block diagram shown in Figure 2 illustrates the concept of the physical configuration of the control device 50. The control device 50 includes a processor 55, memory 56, storage 57, and a communication interface 58. The control device 50 may also be a computer.

[0035] The processor 55 processes various types of information in the control device 50. This information includes the content and transmission timing of control signals to be transmitted to each device and equipment constituting the cooling and dehumidification system 1, the image acquisition interval by the camera 35, and whether or not de-icing is necessary by the determination unit 54. The processor 55 may be a single processor or two or more processors. The operation of the processor 55 may be performed not only by a single processor 55, but also by the cooperation of multiple processors 55 located in physically separate locations. The processor 55 may include a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a microprocessor, a circuit board, or other electrical circuits. The processor 55 can execute programs, manipulate data, and perform operations of the control device 50, including operations using any algorithms, methods, functions, processes, and procedures described herein.

[0036] Memory 56 (which can also be considered as the first memory) temporarily or permanently stores programs and / or data used for information processing in the control device 50. Memory 56 may also store programs used by the control device 50 when making various judgments and decisions. These programs can be added and modified retrospectively (i.e., after the control device 50 is manufactured). Memory 56 may be a single memory or two or more memories. Memory 56 may include volatile memory such as RAM and cache, and non-volatile memory such as ROM.

[0037] The storage 57 (which can also be considered as a second memory) temporarily or permanently records programs and / or data used for information processing in the control device 50. In this embodiment, the storage 57 stores images of the multiple refrigerant pipes 12 stored in the memory unit 53. The storage 57 may also store acquired images received by the receiving unit 52. In addition, the storage 57 can record acquired data regarding the operating status of the cooling and dehumidifying system 1 as needed. The storage 57 may hold other programs, including an operating system, that can be executed in the control device 50 or other devices. The storage 57 may include a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid-state drive (SSD), and / or flash memory, etc.

[0038] The communication interface 58 communicates with each device and equipment constituting the cooling and dehumidification system 1 and transmits control signals to them regarding their operation (e.g., starting and stopping). The communication interface 58 also communicates with the camera 35 and receives images acquired from the camera 35. Furthermore, the communication interface 58 can receive control signals regarding the operating status of the cooling and dehumidification system 1 as needed.

[0039] Each component of the control device 50 (including the processor 55, memory 56, storage 57, and communication interface 58) is connected to each other by a bus, such as a system bus or control bus, and can communicate with each other. The control device 50 also has a power supply 59. The power supply 59 typically includes a power plug that draws power from a commercial power supply or other power source. The power supply 59 may include a replaceable or non-replaceable battery, which may be able to be charged by receiving power from a commercial power supply or other power source.

[0040] In the above description of the hardware configuration of the control device 50, the programs and / or data that are stored in the memory 56 and / or storage 57 may also be stored in a non-temporary computer-readable medium. The non-temporary computer-readable medium stores computer-readable instructions and / or data that are used by a computer to perform a method performed by the computer. The computer-readable medium may include magneto-optical disks and optical memory devices, as well as digital video discs (DVDs), CD-ROMs, DVD+ / -R, DVD-RAM, DVD-ROMs, HD-DVDs, and BLURAY®. The computer-readable medium may also include magnetic devices such as tapes, cartridges, cassettes, and removable disks. Each program (including program products) may include one or more modules of computer program instructions encoded on a tangible non-temporary computer-readable medium for execution by an information processing device including a computer (control device 50 in this embodiment) or for controlling the operation of the information processing device. The programs and / or data may also be downloaded from an external device via a network.

[0041] Next, the operation of the cooling and dehumidifying system 1 will be explained with reference to Figure 3. Figure 3 is a psychrometric chart showing an example of the changes in the state of the air accompanying the operation of the cooling and dehumidifying system 1. Hereafter, when referring to air A, specific states in the psychrometric chart of Figure 3 will be indicated as A1, A2, A3, and A4 according to the symbols in Figure 3, and when no particular distinction is made, they will be collectively referred to as "air A". In the following explanation, when referring to the configuration of the cooling and dehumidifying system 1, Figure 1 will be referred to as appropriate. Note that, unless otherwise specified, the operation of each device connected to the control device 50 by a communication line is typically controlled by the control device 50.

[0042] In the cooling and dehumidifying system 1 according to this embodiment, the operation of the return air fan 43 causes air A1 (for example, with a dry-bulb temperature of approximately 26.5°C and an absolute humidity of approximately 0.0065 kg / kg') to flow into the pre-cooling side flow path of the sensible heat exchanger 20 via the return air duct 41. The air A1 that flows into the sensible heat exchanger 20 dissipates heat to the air A passing through the heated side flow path of the sensible heat exchanger 20, becoming air A2 and flowing out of the sensible heat exchanger 20. Air A2 has a specific enthalpy that is, for example, 13 kJ / kg (DA) lower than air A1. The air A2 that flows out of the sensible heat exchanger 20 flows into the chamber 30 via the pre-cooling duct 42.

[0043] Air A2 that flows into the chamber 30 is taken into the indoor unit 11 by a fan (not shown) built into the indoor unit 11 and typically passes through the indoor unit 11 while in contact with the outer surface of the refrigerant pipe 12. As air A2 passes through the indoor unit 11, it is cooled and dehumidified by the refrigerant R flowing inside the refrigerant pipe 12, and flows out of the indoor unit 11 as air A3 (for example, with a dry-bulb temperature of about 2°C and an absolute humidity of about 0.004 kg / kg'). The air A3 that flows out of the indoor unit 11 is temporarily stored inside the chamber 30. By allowing the indoor unit 11 to receive the air A2 inside the chamber 30 and cool the air A3, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the performance of the low-temperature package air conditioner (i.e., cooling equipment 10).

[0044] In the indoor unit 11, the liquid refrigerant R, which flows inside the refrigerant pipe 12 at low temperature and pressure, absorbs heat from the air A2 and evaporates to become gaseous refrigerant R. The gaseous refrigerant R is compressed by the compressor to become gaseous refrigerant R at high temperature and pressure and is guided to the heat dissipation section of the outdoor unit 15. At the heat dissipation section of the outdoor unit 15, the gaseous refrigerant R typically condenses into the atmosphere as it releases heat, becoming liquid refrigerant R at high pressure. The liquid refrigerant R that flows out from the heat dissipation section of the outdoor unit 15 passes through the expansion valve to become liquid refrigerant R at low temperature and pressure and is guided to the indoor unit 11, where the above cycle is repeated.

[0045] Air A3 stored inside the chamber 30 flows into the heated-side flow path of the sensible heat exchanger 20 via the cooling duct 44 when the supply fan 46 is activated. The air A3 that flows into the sensible heat exchanger 20 is reheated by receiving heat from air A passing through the pre-cooling-side flow path of the sensible heat exchanger 20, and flows out of the sensible heat exchanger 20 as air A4. Air A4 has a specific enthalpy that is, for example, 13 kJ / kg (DA) higher than air A3, and a dry-bulb temperature of approximately 14°C. In the cooling and dehumidification system 1, the reheating of air A3 to air A4 after cooling and dehumidification is performed by the heat removed during pre-cooling from air A1 to air A2, so external energy such as fuel combustion or heat generation from electricity is not consumed, and energy consumption can be reduced.

[0046] The air A4 that flows out of the sensible heat exchanger 20 is supplied to the low-dew-point air supply location via the supply duct 45. From the viewpoint of preventing condensation, the air supplied to the low-dew-point air supply location is preferably at a temperature higher than the dew point temperature of the supply location. If the dry-bulb temperature of air A is lower than the dew point temperature of the supply location, a heater may be provided as necessary to further heat air A4. The low-dew-point air supply location may also be the space of air A1. In this case, since the dry-bulb temperature of the supplied air A4 is higher than the dew point temperature of air A1, condensation at the supply location can be avoided.

[0047] When the cooling and dehumidifying system 1 is operating as described above, the temperature of the air A cooled in the indoor unit 11 is low, and as described above, ice can adhere to the outer surface of the refrigerant pipe 12. When ice adheres to the outer surface of the refrigerant pipe 12, the air A cannot be cooled sufficiently. Therefore, in this embodiment, de-icing is performed in a timely manner in the following manner.

[0048] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating the de-icing control procedure. While the cooling and dehumidifying system 1 is operating, the camera 35 photographs the refrigerant pipe 12 (S1). The camera 35 typically photographs the refrigerant pipe 12 at predetermined intervals. Therefore, if it is the second or subsequent time since the cooling and dehumidifying system 1 was started, and a predetermined amount of time has not elapsed since the previous time, the camera waits for the predetermined time to elapse before photographing the refrigerant pipe 12 again (S1). The predetermined time should be longer than the time required for the processes described below, and should be determined considering the computational burden on the control device 50 and the rate at which ice deposits form on the refrigerant pipe 12.

[0049] The image of the refrigerant pipe 12 captured by the camera 35 (i.e., the acquired image) is transmitted to the receiving unit 52 and compared with multiple saved images stored in the storage unit 53 (S2). Once the acquired image has been compared with each saved image, the determination unit 54 determines whether or not de-icing of the refrigerant pipe 12 is necessary in the acquired image (S3). If the determination unit 54 determines that de-icing of the refrigerant pipe 12 is unnecessary (NO in step S3), the process returns to the step of photographing the refrigerant pipe 12 (S1). On the other hand, if the determination unit 54 determines that de-icing of the refrigerant pipe 12 is necessary (YES in step S3), de-icing of the refrigerant pipe 12 is performed (S4).

[0050] De-icing of the refrigerant pipe 12 (S4) is typically performed when a determination unit 54, which has determined that de-icing of the refrigerant pipe 12 is necessary, transmits this to the control unit 51, and the control unit 51 activates the heater 18. When the heater 18 is activated, the refrigerant pipe 12 is heated, which melts any ice buildup on the refrigerant pipe 12, and removes the ice buildup from the refrigerant pipe 12. In this embodiment, the control unit 51 stops the heater 18 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the heater 18 was activated. The predetermined time may be determined experimentally.

[0051] Once the de-icing of the refrigerant pipe 12 is complete, the control device 50 determines whether or not it has received a command to stop the cooling and dehumidifying system 1 (S5). Typically, the control unit 51 determines whether or not it has received a command to stop the cooling and dehumidifying system 1 by checking the stop signal received by the receiving unit 52 against the program being executed by the control unit 51. If it has not received a command to stop the cooling and dehumidifying system 1 (NO in step S5), it returns to the step of photographing the refrigerant pipe 12 (S1). On the other hand, if it has received a command to stop the cooling and dehumidifying system 1 (YES in step S5), the de-icing control is terminated.

[0052] As described above, the cooling and dehumidifying system 1 according to this embodiment uses a cooling device 10 having an indoor unit 11 and an outdoor unit 15, such as a low-temperature packaged air conditioner, as the device for cooling and dehumidifying the air A to a low dew point, rather than a brain chiller. Therefore, the device for cooling and dehumidifying the air A to a low dew point can be made relatively small, and the system configuration can be simplified. In addition, since a sensible heat exchanger 20 is provided, the heat removed by pre-cooling the air A before it is cooled by the indoor unit 11 can be used for reheating the air A after it has been cooled by the indoor unit 11, thereby reducing energy consumption. In addition, since a chamber 30 housing the indoor unit 11 is provided, the air A flowing into and out of the indoor unit 11 flows into and out of the chamber 30 rather than into and out of a duct, which suppresses a decrease in the performance of the low-temperature packaged air conditioner. Furthermore, by keeping the air A cooled by the indoor unit 11 in the chamber 30, it is possible to avoid a shortage of cooled air A guided to the heated side flow path of the sensible heat exchanger 20. Furthermore, since a heater 18 is provided to heat the refrigerant pipe 12, any ice deposits attached to the refrigerant pipe 12 can be melted and removed. In addition, the timing of de-icing is determined by comparing the acquired image captured by the camera 35 with multiple stored images stored in the memory unit 53, so that the cooling and dehumidification of the air A and the de-icing of the refrigerant pipe 12 can be performed efficiently.

[0053] In the above description, it was assumed that the cooling equipment 10 has one indoor unit 11 and one outdoor unit 15, but it may have multiple indoor units 11. For example, the cooling equipment 10 may have two indoor units 11, a first indoor unit and a second indoor unit. In this case, there may also be two outdoor units 15 corresponding to the first and second indoor units, and the two indoor units 11 may be connected to one outdoor unit 15. When there are two indoor units 11, a first and a second indoor unit, the control device 50 may be controlled to operate the first and second indoor units alternately in cooling operation. By operating the first and second indoor units alternately in cooling operation, and performing cooling operation on one refrigerant pipe 12 while the other is performing cooling operation, it is possible to continue cooling and dehumidifying the air A even while the refrigerant pipe 12 is being de-iced.

[0054] In the above description, the heating means for heating the refrigerant pipe 12 of the indoor unit 11 of the cooling equipment 10 for de-icing is described as a heater 18, but it may also be hot gas or the like. If hot gas is used as the heating means, it is advisable to provide the necessary configuration for supplying the hot gas to the refrigerant pipe 12, such as installing a four-way valve in the circulation path of the refrigerant R.

[0055] In the above explanation, the de-icing means for removing ice deposits attached to the refrigerant pipe 12 was described as a heater 18 that heats the refrigerant pipe 12 to melt the ice deposits. However, a scraper or other method that physically removes the ice deposits may also be used.

[0056] In the above description, it was assumed that the indoor unit 11 is housed inside the chamber 30, but it is also possible to omit the chamber 30 and use a duct to allow air A to enter and exit the indoor unit 11. However, it is preferable to provide the chamber 30 because it allows for securing a volume to store the cooled and dehumidified air A in the indoor unit 11.

[0057] In the above description, the sensible heat exchanger 20 is assumed to be located outside the chamber 30, but it may also be housed inside the chamber 30 together with the internal unit 11. This would suppress condensation on the sensible heat exchanger 20 and increase the volume of the chamber 30, thereby increasing the amount of cooled and dehumidified air A that can be stored. When the sensible heat exchanger 20 is located inside the chamber 30, typically a duct is provided to guide air A from outside the chamber 30 to the pre-cooling side flow path of the sensible heat exchanger 20, and a duct is provided to guide air A that has passed through the heated side flow path from the sensible heat exchanger 20 to the outside of the chamber 30.

[0058] In the above explanation, the air heat exchanger is assumed to be a sensible heat exchanger 20, but a total heat exchanger may also be used. However, it is preferable to use a sensible heat exchanger 20 in order to avoid an increase in the absolute humidity of the air A that has been cooled and dehumidified by the indoor unit 11 of the cooling equipment 10.

[0059] In the above description, a heating means (heater 18 in this embodiment) is provided, but if no ice is formed on the surface of the refrigerant pipe 12, a heating means may not be necessary.

[0060] In the above explanation, it was assumed that the operating time of the heater 18 in the de-icing process of the refrigerant pipe 12 is predetermined. However, the operating time of the heater 18 may also be determined by photographing the refrigerant pipe 12 with the camera 35 during the de-icing process and judging the status of ice removal from the acquired image. In this case, in the de-icing process of the refrigerant pipe 12 (S4) shown in the flowchart of Figure 4, after starting the heater 18, the process of comparing the acquired image with the saved image should be repeated until the ice attached to the refrigerant pipe 12 has substantially disappeared, and the process should proceed to the next step S5 when the ice has substantially disappeared.

[0061] In the above explanation, for the sake of explanation, the memory unit 53 and the judgment unit 54 are distinguished, but a part of the memory unit 53 and the judgment unit 54 may be constructed as a trained model that has learned multiple images through machine learning. This trained model can be constructed by preparing multiple (typically many) training data of images of the refrigerant pipe 12 that do not require de-icing and those that do, and training the model with these data. When an acquired image is input to the constructed trained model, it will output whether or not de-icing is required.

[0062] In the above explanation, de-icing control is performed as shown in Figure 4, but de-icing may be performed by methods other than those described. Depending on the modification of the de-icing means, it may not be necessary to provide the camera 35, as well as the storage unit 53 and judgment unit 54 that process the acquired and saved images, and the configuration of the control device 50 can also be changed as appropriate. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0063] 1. Cooling and dehumidification system 10 Cooling equipment 11 Indoor unit 15 External engine 18. Heater (heating means, de-icing means) 20. Sensible heat exchanger (air heat exchanger) 30 Chambers 35 Camera 50 Control device 52 Receiving section 53 Memory section 54 Judgment Department A air R refrigerant

Claims

1. A cooling device having an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, which removes heat from the air passing through the indoor unit by a phase change of a refrigerant circulating between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit and releases it from the outdoor unit, and a cooling device that cools the air to a temperature at which condensed water produced from the air cooled in the indoor unit can freeze, The system includes an air heat exchanger that causes heat exchange to occur between air before it is cooled in the internal unit and air after it has been cooled in the internal unit. Cooling and dehumidification system.

2. The aforementioned internal unit comprises a first internal unit and a second internal unit. The system includes a control device that controls the internal units so as to operate the first internal unit and the second internal unit alternately. The cooling and dehumidifying system according to claim 1.

3. It comprises a chamber for housing the internal unit, The cooling and dehumidifying system according to claim 1.

4. The air heat exchanger is housed inside the chamber. The cooling and dehumidifying system according to claim 3.

5. The unit is equipped with a heating means for heating the refrigerant pipe through which the refrigerant flows. The cooling and dehumidifying system according to claim 1.

6. A de-icing means for removing ice deposits from the refrigerant pipes through which the refrigerant flows in the indoor unit, A camera for photographing the aforementioned refrigerant pipe, A receiving unit that receives the image of the refrigerant pipe taken by the camera as data, A storage unit that stores multiple images of the refrigerant pipe to which the ice-forming material is attached as data, wherein each of the multiple images of the refrigerant pipe shows the ice-forming material attached to the refrigerant pipe in a different manner, The system includes a determination unit that compares the acquired image, which is an image of the refrigerant pipe received by the receiving unit, with a stored image, which is an image of the refrigerant pipe stored in the storage unit, and determines whether the ice deposits attached to the refrigerant pipe in the acquired image are at a level that should be removed. A cooling and dehumidifying system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Images