Oil and dust removal filters for heat exchangers and refrigerators

Abstract

This invention provides an oil and dust removal filter for heat exchangers that reduces the frequency of cleaning and replacement of the heat exchanger fins. [Solution] The heat exchanger oil dust removal filter 1 is constructed by stacking multiple mesh bodies 10 made of fine wires of metal or synthetic resin, and each mesh body 10 has a structure in which at least one of the mesh position and mesh shape is offset in the stacking direction in a range of at least a part from one side to the other in the stacking direction. Oil dust is captured not only near the front in the intake direction but also at the back in the thickness direction, and the oil dust removal rate can be maintained at a high level over a long period of time. Therefore, by installing it on the intake side of the heat exchanger (upstream of the fins in the intake direction), the frequency of cleaning and replacement of components such as fins inside the heat exchanger can be reduced, and maintenance costs can be reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , , , ,

[0003]

[0001] The present invention relates to an oil and dust removal filter for a heat exchanger and a refrigerator having the oil and dust removal filter for the heat exchanger.

Background Art

[0002] A fan is provided in the condenser of a refrigerator, and it is configured to suck outside air and discharge the heat exchanged (see FIG. 7). However, since oil and dust are also sucked in when sucking outside air, if they adhere to and accumulate on the fins, the fins must be cleaned to maintain the heat exchange function. In particular, in the condenser of a commercial refrigerator installed in a restaurant kitchen or a place adjacent to the kitchen, the speed of adhesion and accumulation of oil and dust on the fins is fast. Although an alkaline agent needs to be used for cleaning the fins, since the fin material is aluminum, it is likely to lead to corrosion. Therefore, generally, the cleaning of the fins is limited to about 10 times, and if it exceeds this limit, the fins or the condenser needs to be replaced. However, the replacement cost of the fins and the like is high. Therefore, at present, the cleaning frequency of the fins in such commercial refrigerators is suppressed to about twice a year. Also, when cleaning the fins, it is necessary to turn off the power of the refrigerator, but during the maintenance of the fins, it is necessary to transfer the food in the refrigerator being maintained to another refrigerator. Also, in small stores, in the first place, since the number of installed refrigerators is small, it is impossible to secure an alternative refrigerator, and as a result, it is difficult to determine the timing of turning off the power, and it may be difficult to perform the maintenance of the fins itself.

[0003] In front of the intake direction of the intake port of the condenser, there is also a pre-filter such as a non-woven fabric provided. However, in the case of a commercial refrigerator installed in a restaurant kitchen or a place adjacent to the kitchen, the pre-filter made of non-woven fabric clogs early, the replacement frequency of the pre-filter is high, and it is inconvenient for the user.

[0004] The above points apply not only to refrigerator condensers but also to other heat exchangers. Even when a pre-filter is installed in the intake system of a heat exchanger, pressure loss (static pressure) and clogging can occur prematurely depending on the heat exchanger's installation location, leading to frequent cleaning, maintenance, and replacement of internal components such as fins.

[0005] On the other hand, the applicant has proposed in Patent Document 1 a grease filter made of 57 to 100 mesh-like bodies formed from metal fibers with a fiber diameter of 0.15 mm or less and with a mesh width of 4 mm or more, which are laminated together. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3145887 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] According to the grease filter of Patent Document 1, the size and shape of the gaps formed by the mesh of each mesh element are random. Therefore, oil dust passes not only through the mesh near the surface, which is the suction side of the grease filter, but also through the coarser parts near the surface, capturing the grease in the mesh further inside. As a result, it has the characteristics of high oil dust removal efficiency, low pressure loss (static pressure), and resistance to clogging.

[0008] However, Patent Document 1 only provides examples of the grease filter's use in the exhaust systems of gas ranges and fryers in restaurant kitchens, and does not mention its use in the intake system of a heat exchanger, for example, as a pre-filter placed on the intake side (before the fins) of the condenser of a refrigerator (especially a commercial refrigerator).

[0009] This invention has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a heat exchanger oil and dust removal filter that has a high oil and dust removal rate, low pressure loss (static pressure), and is less prone to clogging, and is placed in the intake system of the heat exchanger. Furthermore, this invention aims to provide a refrigerator equipped with this heat exchanger oil and dust removal filter. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To solve the above problems, this invention provides: The present invention provides an oil and dust removal filter for a heat exchanger, characterized in that it is constructed by stacking multiple mesh-like bodies formed using fine wires made of metal or synthetic resin, and that at least one of the positions and shapes of the mesh of each mesh-like body has a structure in which there is a displacement in the stacking direction in a range of at least a portion from one side to the other in the stacking direction, and is disposed on the intake side of the heat exchanger.

[0011] The aforementioned thin wire is preferably in the range of 0.08 to 0.15 mm in diameter. The mesh size is preferably in the range of 4 to 8 mm. It is preferable that the number of layers of the mesh structure is in the range of 20 to 50. Preferably, the mesh-like body is formed by the Raschel knitting of the fine wires. Preferably, the heat exchanger is equipped with an anemometer that detects the wind speed of the airflow generated by the operation of a fan placed inside the heat exchanger, and also has a notification means that notifies the user when it is time to replace the filter when the wind speed passing through the filter surface falls below a predetermined value. The heat exchanger is preferably a condenser for a refrigerator and is used as a pre-filter positioned in front of the condenser in the intake direction.

[0012] Furthermore, this invention provides a refrigerator in which the oil and dust removal filter for the heat exchanger is installed as a pre-filter on the front side in the intake direction of the condenser. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to this invention, a mesh structure is constructed by stacking multiple mesh bodies formed using fine wires made of metal or synthetic resin, and at least one of the mesh positions and mesh shapes of each mesh body has a structure in which there is a misalignment in the stacking direction in at least a portion of the range from one side to the other in the stacking direction. In other words, when viewed from the front in the intake direction, the mesh size and shape are random, so that oil dust is captured not only near the front in the intake direction but also at the back in the thickness direction, and the oil dust removal rate can be maintained at a high level over a long period of time. Therefore, by placing it on the intake side of the heat exchanger (upstream (front) from the fins in the intake direction), the frequency of cleaning and replacement of components such as fins inside the heat exchanger can be reduced, and maintenance costs can be reduced. Thus, by using it as a pre-filter for the condenser of a refrigerator, especially a commercial refrigerator, the accumulation of oil dust on the condenser fins can be suppressed over a long period of time, contributing to fin protection and reduction of maintenance costs. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is an exploded perspective view showing an oil and dust removal filter for a heat exchanger according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a plan view showing a portion of a mesh-like structure knitted using the Raschel knitting technique. [Figure 3] This is a plan view of a mesh structure used to make an oil and dust removal filter for a heat exchanger. [Figure 4] This is a diagram illustrating the manufacturing method of an oil and dust removal filter for heat exchangers. [Figure 5] This diagram shows a portion of the overlapping reticular structure. [Figure 6] This is a diagram illustrating another method of manufacturing an oil and dust removal filter for heat exchangers. [Figure 7] This figure shows a refrigerator having a coagulator equipped with an oil and dust removal filter for the heat exchanger according to the above embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on the embodiments shown in the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the oil dust removal filter 1 for a heat exchanger according to this embodiment has air passage portions 21a and 22a formed from slits, holes, etc., and is arranged between a pair of two frames 21 and 22 that are arranged opposite to each other and formed, for example, in a substantially square shape. Inside the frames of each of the frames 21 and 22, net members 23 and 24 capable of collecting dust with a large particle size are disposed, and the oil dust removal filter 1 for a heat exchanger is sandwiched between these net members 23 and 24. The net members 23 and 24 also have a function of holding the oil dust removal filter 1 for a heat exchanger within the frames 21 and 22.

[0016] As will be described later, the frames 21 and 22 can hold the oil dust removal filter 1 for a heat exchanger having a predetermined thickness, and the shape thereof is not limited as long as it can allow air to pass through. Also, when used for the condenser of a refrigerator (especially a commercial refrigerator), it is generally made of metal, but depending on the type of heat exchanger, it is not limited to being made of metal, and it may be made of synthetic resin.

[0017] The oil dust removal filter 1 for a heat exchanger is configured, for example, by laminating a plurality of net-like bodies 10 formed by knitting metal fibers, which are fine metal wires, in a net shape. The material is not limited to fine metal wires, and may be fine synthetic resin wires, but depending on the location where the heat exchanger is used, it is preferable to use those with high heat resistance and incombustibility, such as stainless steel and aluminum. The diameter (fiber diameter) of these fine wires (fibers) is preferably in the range of 0.08 to 0.3 mm, and more preferably in the range of 0.1 to 0.15 mm. The smaller the fiber diameter, the less likely it is to be clogged by oil dust.

[0018] The reticulated body 10 is formed by weaving thin wires made of metal or synthetic resin in the vertical and horizontal directions so that the mesh is substantially square when viewed from the intake side (front). The weaving method is not limited, but for example, when the fiber diameter is about 0.15 mm or less, there is a possibility that the shape of the mesh and the overall shape of the reticulated body 10 cannot be maintained with a simple weaving method where the fibers cross each other only once. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, it is preferably formed by so-called Russell weaving in which the fibers 10a and 10b are intricately intertwined and woven vertically and horizontally.

[0019] When laminating the reticulated body 10, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a reticulated body 10 having a predetermined length longer than the width L of the heat exchanger oil dust removal filter 1 at the time of completion and the length of the heat exchanger oil dust removal filter 1 at the time of completion (the length in the direction orthogonal to the width L) is prepared. Also, a square core material 11 formed from cardboard or the like that is substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the width and length of the heat exchanger oil dust removal filter 1 at the time of completion is prepared.

[0020] Then, the reticulated body 10 of a predetermined length is sequentially wound around this core material 11 as shown in FIG. 4, and the core material 11 is removed after the winding is completed. Although the reticulated bodies are connected, a structure in which a predetermined number of reticulated bodies are laminated (a structure in which the reticulated bodies 10 of a predetermined length are bent and overlapped) is formed.

[0021] As the heat exchanger oil dust removal filter 1, a form in which a plurality of reticulated bodies 10 laminated using the core material 11 are formed may be used as it is, or a configuration in which a plurality of the reticulated bodies 10 formed in this way are further overlapped may also be used.

[0022] Also, if a plate-like member made of stainless steel or the like having a thickness of about 0.2 to 1 mm and provided with an air passage portion is used as the core material 11, it can also be used as the heat exchanger oil dust removal filter 1 without removing the core material 11 in the form of winding the reticulated body 10 of a predetermined length. <00,00108>

[0023] In this way, by forming the heat exchanger oil dust removal filter 1 by winding a mesh body 10 of a predetermined length around a core material 11, the positions of the mesh in the overlapping portions of the mesh body 10 will hardly coincide, resulting in a natural misalignment. As a result, the structure will have misaligned mesh in at least a portion of the range from one side to the other in the stacking direction. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the mesh 101c of the first mesh body 101, shown by a solid line, and the mesh 102c of the second mesh body 102, shown by a dashed line, will be misaligned.

[0024] Furthermore, the mesh body 10 constituting the heat exchanger oil dust removal filter 1 can also be constructed by simply stacking multiple mesh bodies that have been pre-formed to be approximately the same size as the completed heat exchanger oil dust removal filter 1 (see Figure 6). In this case, it is preferable to integrate the edges with tape or the like, or tie and integrate them using metal fibers or synthetic resin fibers, so that the stacked mesh bodies 10 do not collapse. Also, the shape of the mesh of the mesh body 10 is not limited, and it may be approximately square, as well as approximately trapezoidal, approximately rhombic, approximately triangular, or other shapes. In addition, multiple mesh bodies 10 with different mesh shapes and mesh widths, such as mesh bodies 10 with approximately square meshes and mesh bodies 10 with approximately triangular meshes, may be prepared and stacked. Even with this method, the structure will have a misalignment of the mesh in the stacking direction in at least a portion of the range from one side to the other in the stacking direction.

[0025] While there are no restrictions on the size of each mesh or the number of layers of mesh, if the mesh size of each mesh is too small, the gaps formed by the mesh will become too small when multiple layers of mesh are stacked. Therefore, it is generally preferable to knit the mesh so that it is 4 mm or larger.

[0026] The heat exchanger oil and dust removal filter 1 of this embodiment is positioned on the intake side of the heat exchanger. For example, in the condenser of the refrigerator shown in Figure 7, it is positioned as a pre-filter in front of the intake side. Since a fan is installed inside the condenser, when the fan is running, outside air is drawn in from the intake side. At this time, the outside air passes through the heat exchanger oil and dust removal filter 1 of this embodiment, which is a pre-filter. At that time, the oil and dust drawn in along with the outside air 0 is captured by the heat exchanger oil and dust removal filter 1, which is a pre-filter. As a result, the amount of oil and dust drawn into the condenser is suppressed, and the amount of oil and dust adhering to the heat exchange fins is reduced.

[0027] The mesh of the heat exchanger oil dust removal filter 1 in this embodiment has a misalignment in the stacking direction in at least a portion of the range from one side to the other in the stacking direction. That is, there is at least a portion where the gaps when viewed from the front are of random size and shape. As a result, some oil dust adheres to the fibers of the first mesh, while other oil dust passes through the mesh of the first mesh and adheres to the fibers of the second mesh. Furthermore, some oil dust passes through the mesh of the second mesh and adheres to the fibers that make up the third, fourth, and subsequent meshes.

[0028] In other words, oil and dust do not adhere only to the surface of the heat exchanger oil and dust removal filter 1, but rather adhere to the entire depth portion of the heat exchanger oil and dust removal filter 1. Therefore, unlike conventional designs, oil and dust do not concentrate and accumulate only on the intake side surface, or in this embodiment, only around the mesh of the first mesh element located closest to the intake, which prematurely clogs the mesh on this intake side.

[0029] In this embodiment, oil dust does not only adhere to and accumulate on the intake side surface, but also adheres to and accumulates on the fibers constituting the mesh structure located on the exhaust side. As a result, the area on which oil dust can adhere and accumulate becomes three-dimensional and substantially increases, improving the oil dust removal efficiency and enhancing performance. At the same time, the period during which the heat exchanger oil dust removal filter 1 itself can be used without cleaning is also extended. As a result, not only is the maintenance work on the fins inside the condenser reduced, but the number of times the heat exchanger oil dust removal filter 1 itself needs to be cleaned is also reduced, leading to a significant reduction in maintenance work and costs.

[0030] (Example test) A heat exchanger oil dust removal filter 1 (500mm x 500mm x 13mm thick) was fabricated by folding a raschel knit made of 0.1mm diameter stainless steel fibers with a mesh size of 6 x 6mm, resulting in 40 layers of mesh and a weight of 0.7kg.

[0031] When the airflow velocity on the filter surface of this heat exchanger oil dust removal filter 1 was measured, the values ​​were 1.1, 1.3, and 1.2 on the left, middle, and right sides of the upper part of the filter surface, 1.1, 1.1, and 1.1 on the left, middle, and right sides of the middle part of the filter surface, and 1.1, 1.1, and 1.1 on the left, middle, and right sides of the lower part of the filter surface. The average airflow velocity was 1.13 m / sec, the static pressure was 1.6 mmAq at the start of the test and 1.8 mmAq after 4 hours, and the oil dust removal rate was 87%.

[0032] In addition to the above-mentioned test examples, the inventor conducted several tests by changing various conditions regarding the fiber diameter of the mesh, the mesh width, and the number of layers of the mesh. As a result, it was found that a fiber diameter of 0.15 mm or less is more preferable for the mesh, as described above, from the viewpoint of being less prone to clogging, having low static pressure, a high oil and dust removal rate, and achieving the desired lifespan. The mesh width is preferably 4 mm or more, as described above, for example, 4 × 4 mm, 6 × 6 mm, or 8 × 8 mm, and the number of layers is preferably 10 to 60, and more preferably 20 to 50. The thickness of the heat exchanger oil and dust removal filter 1 depends on the number of layers, but it is preferably 30 mm or less as a pre-filter for a heat exchanger, and more preferably in the range of 8 to 15 mm as a pre-filter for a refrigerator condenser.

[0033] It is preferable that an anemometer 30, which detects the wind speed of the airflow generated by the operation of a fan located inside the heat exchanger, is installed near the heat exchanger oil dust removal filter 1. By periodically detecting the wind speed passing through the filter surface with the anemometer 30, a configuration can be made to notify the system that it is time to replace the filter when the wind speed falls below a predetermined value, thereby enabling prompt maintenance. The notification means may be a lamp attached to the heat exchanger oil dust removal filter 1, the heat exchanger, or the refrigerator that lights up in a predetermined case upon receiving the detection signal from the anemometer 30, or a monitor of a monitoring device that monitors the operating status of the heat exchanger or refrigerator may be used, or a communication device may be used to notify the administrator's terminal device via wired or wireless communication means that the anemometer has fallen below a predetermined value. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0034] 1. Oil and dust removal filter for heat exchangers 10, 101, 102 Reticular 10a, 10b Fibers 101c, 102c mesh 11 Heartwood 21,22 frames 23,24 Net components 30 Anemometer

Claims

1. A heat exchanger oil dust removal filter characterized by being constructed by stacking multiple mesh-like bodies formed using fine wires made of metal or synthetic resin, having a structure in which at least one of the position of the mesh holes and the shape of the mesh holes is offset in the stacking direction in at least a portion of the range from one side to the other in the stacking direction, and being disposed on the intake side of the heat exchanger.

2. The oil dust removal filter for a heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the fine wire has a diameter in the range of 0.08 to 0.15 mm.

3. The oil and dust removal filter for a heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the mesh width is in the range of 4 to 8 mm.

4. The oil and dust removal filter for a heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the number of layers of the mesh structure is in the range of 20 to 50.

5. The oil and dust removal filter for a heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the mesh-like body is formed by the fine wire raschel weaving method.

6. The oil dust removal filter for a heat exchanger according to claim 1, which is equipped with an anemometer for detecting the wind speed of the airflow generated by the operation of a fan placed inside the heat exchanger, and has a notification means for notifying that it is time to replace the filter when the wind speed passing through the filter surface falls below a predetermined value.

7. The oil and dust removal filter for a heat exchanger according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the heat exchanger is a condenser of a refrigerator, and is used as a pre-filter positioned in front of the intake air of the condenser.

8. A refrigerator in which the oil and dust removal filter for a heat exchanger described in any one of claims 1 to 6 is installed as a pre-filter on the front side of the condenser in the intake direction.

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