Railway vehicle refrigeration cycle learning machine

Abstract

To provide a train refrigeration cycle learning machine with a simple structure that can grasp phenomena caused by the state of each major piece of equipment. [Solution] The device has at least a mounting base 11 having a horizontal surface 11a that intersects with the direction of gravity, a compressor 2 that compresses the refrigerant, a condenser 3 that condenses the refrigerant, an evaporator 6 that evaporates the refrigerant, and piping 7 that circulates the refrigerant to the compressor 2, condenser 3, and evaporator 6 in sequence, and is equipped with a refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism 12 mounted on the horizontal surface 11a, and has an inhibiting structure 101 that reduces the performance of objects in the refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism 12 excluding the compressor 2 when the compressor 2 is operated under certain conditions.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a railway vehicle refrigeration cycle learning machine for learning the refrigeration cycle of a railway vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a refrigeration cycle learning machine that enables beginners to understand the principles of refrigeration and air conditioning technology for learning and practical training of industrial air conditioners (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The purpose of this refrigeration cycle learning machine is to learn about the operating principles and performance of each major piece of equipment, and to conduct experiments on refrigeration equipment using Mollier diagrams.

[0003] The refrigeration cycle learning machine (referred to as a refrigeration cycle training unit in the document) described in Patent Document 1 has compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation units arranged in that order on a vertically erected panel. Patent Document 1 also discloses a technology for understanding phenomena that lead to a decrease in refrigeration capacity by changing the rotation speed of the compressor in order to learn about accidents that occur when the capacity of a unit is exceeded and problems that arise during practical operation. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-313654 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The refrigeration cycle learning machine described in Patent Document 1 is capable of learning that changing the rotation speed of the compressor leads to a decrease in refrigeration capacity, but there is room for improvement in understanding the causes of problems in each major piece of equipment (for example, a decrease in heat exchange efficiency due to dirt in the condenser).In addition, the degree to which the rotation speed of the compressor is changed varies depending on the state of each major piece of equipment, so it is insufficient for understanding phenomena to learn about problems that occur during actual operation.

[0006] Therefore, there is a demand for a railway vehicle refrigeration cycle learning machine that has a simple structure and is capable of understanding phenomena caused by the state of each major piece of equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The characteristic configuration of the refrigeration cycle learning machine for railway vehicles of the present invention is that it has at least a mounting base having a horizontal plane that intersects the direction of gravity, a compressor that compresses a refrigerant, a condenser that condenses the refrigerant, an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant, and piping that circulates the refrigerant to the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator in sequence, and a refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism mounted on the horizontal plane, and when the compressor is operated under certain conditions, it has an inhibiting structure that reduces the performance of the refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism for objects other than the compressor.

[0008] In this configuration, the refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism is placed on a horizontal surface, making it a railway vehicle refrigeration cycle learning machine that reproduces the main refrigeration cycle equipment installed in railway vehicles. As a result, it is possible to learn about the refrigeration cycle of an actual railway vehicle.

[0009] Furthermore, because the refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism has an inhibiting structure that reduces the performance of all components except the compressor when the compressor is operated under certain conditions, it is possible to create a state in which, for example, dust has accumulated on the condenser, reducing its heat exchange efficiency. As a result, it is possible to understand the changes in the state of the refrigerant (pressure, temperature, etc.) caused by a reduction in the condenser's heat exchange capacity, as well as the impact on other major equipment. In this way, it is a railway vehicle refrigeration cycle learning machine that can grasp phenomena caused by the state of each major equipment with a simple structure.

[0010] Another characteristic feature is that the obstruction structure includes a switch that stops the operation of at least one of the condenser and the evaporator.

[0011] If the obstruction structure includes a switch that stops the operation of at least one of the condenser and the evaporator, as in this configuration, it is easy to stop the condenser, etc. Furthermore, when the condenser is stopped, high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant from the compressor flows through the piping, which can cause a rise in pressure and a decrease in heat exchange efficiency due to the flow of high-temperature refrigerant.

[0012] Another characteristic feature is that the obstruction structure includes a valve that changes the amount of the refrigerant flowing through the pipe.

[0013] With this configuration, by using the simple method of using a valve to throttle the amount of refrigerant to reproduce the phenomenon of a clogged pipe, it is possible to confirm phenomena such as less refrigerant flowing to the evaporator and reduced cooling effectiveness.

[0014] Another feature of the present invention is that the piping is disposed in an exposed state and the outer surface is temperature-controlled so that it can be touched.

[0015] As in this configuration, if the temperature of the pipes is adjusted to a level that allows them to be touched while exposed, the temperature of the evaporator inlet and the temperature of the condenser outlet can be felt in the refrigeration cycle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a refrigeration cycle learning machine for a railway vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are provided to illustrate, but are not limited to, the following embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 1 , the railway vehicle refrigeration cycle learning machine 100 according to this embodiment includes a mounting base 11 having a horizontal surface 11a intersecting the direction of gravity, and a refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism 12 mounted on the horizontal surface 11a. The refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism 12 includes a compressor 2 for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser 3 for condensing the refrigerant, a dryer 4 for drying the refrigerant, an expander 5 for expanding the refrigerant, an evaporator 6 for evaporating the refrigerant, and piping 7 for circulating the refrigerant sequentially through the compressor 2, the condenser 3, the dryer 4, the expander 5, and the evaporator 6. Because the refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism 12 is mounted on the horizontal surface 11a, the railway vehicle refrigeration cycle learning machine 100 reproduces the main refrigeration cycle components installed in a railway vehicle. As a result, the refrigeration cycle of an actual railway vehicle can be learned.

[0019] The mounting base 11 is a flat member having a rectangular shape when viewed from above, and supports the refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism 12. A pair of U-shaped grips 11b are provided on both left and right ends of the mounting base 11, allowing the user to carry the mechanism by holding these grips 11b. A support member 11c that supports the compressor 2 is fixed to the center of the mounting base 11, and vibrations of the compressor 2 are absorbed by this support member 11c.

[0020] The refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism 12 repeats a series of steps of the refrigeration cycle (evaporation, compression, condensation, expansion) to circulate the refrigerant and perform cooling or heating. The refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism 12 in this embodiment is for use in a railway vehicle, and each device is arranged assuming that the outdoor unit (condenser 3) is installed under the floor and the indoor unit (evaporator 6) is installed above the ceiling.

[0021] The compressor 2 is a known compressor such as a scroll, reciprocating, rotary, or screw type that compresses the refrigerant to increase its temperature and pressure, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The condenser 3 is a heat exchanger made of metal fins, tubes, or the like that cools the refrigerant that has been heated to a high temperature / pressure by the compressor 2 and condenses it from a gas state into a liquid. The condenser 3 is a known condenser that may be an air-cooled type that exchanges heat with external air using an air-cooling fan F1, an air-cooled type that exchanges heat with cooling water, or an evaporative cooling type that exchanges heat with steam, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The condenser 3 in this embodiment is an air-cooled condenser that exchanges heat with external air using an air-cooling fan F1.

[0022] The dryer 4 removes moisture and impurities from the pipe 7 through which the refrigerant flowing out from the condenser 3 flows, preventing the refrigerant from freezing inside the expander 5. The dryer 4 is a known dryer having a mesh filter, moisture absorbent material, partition plate, etc. installed inside the housing, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The expander 5 reduces the pressure of the refrigerant to convert the high-temperature / high-pressure liquid into a low-temperature / low-pressure gas-liquid mixed fluid. The expander 5 is a known expansion valve formed by a capillary tube made of thin tubes or a thermostatic expansion valve, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The expander 5 in this embodiment is an expansion valve formed by a capillary tube.

[0023] The evaporator 6 is a heat exchanger made up of metal fins, tubes, etc., that evaporates the gas-liquid mixture fluid flowing out of the expander 5 to turn it into a gaseous refrigerant. The condenser 3 is a known evaporator that is an air-cooled type that exchanges heat with external air using an air-cooling fan F2, or an air-cooled type that exchanges heat with cooling water, and therefore a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The evaporator 6 in this embodiment is an air-cooled evaporator that exchanges heat with external air using an air-cooling fan F2.

[0024] The piping 7 includes a first piping 7A connecting the first outlet 71 of the compressor 2 and the second inlet 72 of the condenser 3, a second piping 7B connecting the second outlet 73 of the condenser 3 and the third inlet 74 of the dryer 4, a third piping 7C connecting the third outlet 75 of the dryer 4 and the fourth inlet 76 of the expander 5, a fourth piping 7D connecting the fourth outlet 77 of the expander 5 and the fifth inlet 78 of the evaporator 6, and a fifth piping 7E connecting the fifth outlet 79 of the evaporator 6 and the first inlet 70 of the compressor 2.

[0025] The first pipe 7A is provided with a first pressure gauge Pa that measures the pressure of the high-temperature / high-pressure refrigerant flowing out from the compressor 2, and the second pipe 7B is provided with a first thermometer Ta that measures the temperature of the liquid refrigerant flowing out from the condenser 3. Furthermore, the third pipe 7C is provided with a valve V that changes the amount of refrigerant flowing through the pipe 7, and the fifth pipe 7E is provided with a second thermometer Tb that measures the temperature of the gaseous refrigerant flowing out from the evaporator 6 and a second pressure gauge Pb that measures the refrigerant pressure.

[0026] Furthermore, the refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism 12 is provided with a switch S that stops the operation of at least one of the condenser 3 and the evaporator 6. This switch S has a first switch Sa that switches the operation / stop (ON / OFF) of the air-cooling fan F1 of the condenser 3, a second switch Sb that switches the operation / stop (ON / OFF) of the evaporator 6, and further has a third switch Sc that switches the operation / stop (ON / OFF) of the compressor 2. Note that this third switch Sc is an emergency stop switch that prevents breakdown of the compressor 2, and is basically kept in an ON state in which the compressor 2 is operated.

[0027] The railway vehicle refrigeration cycle learning machine 100 in this embodiment has an inhibiting structure 101 that reduces the capacity of the objects (in this embodiment, the condenser 3, the expander 5, the evaporator 6, or the piping 7) of the refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism 12 excluding the compressor 2 when the compressor 2 is driven under certain conditions. In this way, because the inhibiting structure 101 that reduces the capacity of the objects (in this embodiment, the condenser 3, the expander 5, the evaporator 6, or the piping 7) of the refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism 12 excluding the compressor 2 when the compressor 2 is driven under certain conditions, it is possible to create a state in which, for example, dust adheres to the condenser 3, reducing the heat exchange efficiency. As a result, it is possible to grasp the change in the state of the refrigerant (pressure, temperature, etc.) due to the reduction in the heat exchange capacity of the condenser 3 and the impact on other major equipment.

[0028] The obstruction structure 101 includes a switch S that stops the operation of at least one of the condenser 3 and the evaporator 6. When the first switch Sa is turned OFF to stop the condenser 3, high-temperature / high-pressure refrigerant from the compressor 2 flows through the pipe 7 (first pipe 7A). This allows the user to feel a decrease in heat exchange efficiency by visually checking the first pressure gauge Pa to confirm a rise in pressure, by visually checking the first thermometer Ta to confirm that the refrigerant is hot, or by touching the fourth pipe 7D, etc. Furthermore, when the second switch Sb is turned OFF to stop the evaporator 6, the user can feel a decrease in heat exchange efficiency by visually checking the second pressure gauge Pb to confirm a rise in pressure, by visually checking the second thermometer Tb to confirm that the refrigerant is cold, or by visually checking that the expansion device 5 or the fourth pipe 7D is frozen.

[0029] To reduce the capacity of at least one of the condenser 3 and the evaporator 6, the obstruction structure 101 may be formed by pressing a plate member (not shown) such as a base plate that obstructs the flow of air from the air-cooling fans F1 and F2 against the surface of the condenser 3 or the evaporator 6. This allows for learning about the reduction in heat exchange efficiency of the refrigeration cycle, similar to the switch S described above. It is preferable that the pipes 7 are arranged in an exposed state, and that the temperature of their outer surfaces is adjusted to a temperature that allows them to be touched. For example, the first pipe 7A and the second pipe 7B may be covered with thermal tape to prevent burns when touched, or a predetermined amount of heat may be removed from a branch pipe branching off a portion of the refrigerant from the first pipe 7A or the second pipe 7B to make them accessible to the touch. In this way, if the pipes 7 are exposed and adjusted to a temperature that allows them to be touched, the temperature at the inlet of the evaporator 6 and the temperature at the outlet of the condenser 3 can be experienced in the refrigeration cycle.

[0030] Furthermore, the obstruction structure 101 in this embodiment includes a valve V that changes the amount of refrigerant flowing through the pipe 7. As described above, the valve V is provided in the third pipe 7C located before the expander 5, and therefore can throttle the amount of refrigerant to reproduce a phenomenon in which the pipe 7 or the expander 5 is clogged. As a result, it is possible to confirm a phenomenon in which the amount of refrigerant flowing to the evaporator 6 is reduced, resulting in poor cooling effectiveness.

[0031] [Other embodiments] (1) In the above-described embodiment, the devices are arranged assuming that the outdoor unit (condenser 3) is installed under the floor and the indoor unit (evaporator 6) is installed above the ceiling. However, the outdoor unit may be the evaporator 6 and the indoor unit may be the condenser 3. In this case, the refrigerant may flow in the opposite direction to form the refrigeration cycle learning machine 100 for railway vehicles. (2) In the above-described embodiment, a gas-liquid separator may be provided between the evaporator 6 and the compressor 2, or a drain pan for receiving condensation water from the evaporator 6 may be provided. (3) In order to accurately reproduce the outdoor unit (condenser 3) and the indoor unit (evaporator 6), the condenser 3 and the evaporator 6 may be housed in separate housings. (4) The pipe 7 in the above-described embodiment may be partially provided with a sight glass so that the state of the refrigerant can be visually observed. [Industrial Applicability]

[0032] The present invention can be used in a railway vehicle refrigeration cycle learning machine for learning the refrigeration cycle of a railway vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 2: Compressor, 3: Condenser, 4: Dryer, 5: Expander, 6: Evaporator, 7: Piping, 11: Placement base, 11a: Horizontal surface, 12: Refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism, 100: Refrigeration cycle learning machine for railway vehicles, 101: Obstruction structure, S: Switch, V: Valve

Claims

1. a mounting table having a horizontal plane intersecting the direction of gravity; a refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism having at least a compressor that compresses a refrigerant, a condenser that condenses the refrigerant, an evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant, and piping that circulates the refrigerant through the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator in that order, and the refrigerant cycle reproduction mechanism is placed on the horizontal surface; A refrigeration cycle learning machine for railway vehicles having an inhibiting structure that reduces the capacity of objects other than the compressor in the refrigeration cycle reproduction mechanism when the compressor is operated under certain conditions.

2. 2. The refrigeration cycle learning machine for a railway vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the inhibiting structure includes a switch for stopping the driving of at least one of the condenser and the evaporator.

3. 2. The railway vehicle refrigeration cycle learning machine according to claim 1, wherein the obstruction structure includes a valve that changes the amount of the refrigerant flowing through the piping.

4. 4. The railway vehicle refrigeration cycle learning machine according to claim 1, wherein the piping is arranged in an exposed state and the temperature of the outer surface is adjusted to a temperature that allows touching.

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