Air Conditioning System

Abstract

To disclose one example of an air conditioner using fuel gas such as hydrogen gas.SOLUTION: An emergency air conditioner 20 includes: a power generator 21 for generating power by using fuel gas; a decompressor 22 for decompressing the fuel gas and supplying it to the power generator 21; a cooler 23 for heat exchanging the fuel gas decompressed by the decompressor 22 with air to be supplied to indoors, and cooling the air; and a heater 24 for heat-exchanging heat generated in power generation of the power generator 21 with air to be supplied to indoors, and heating the air. With this, in the emergency air conditioner 20, air conditioning wind can be generated by using fuel gas to be used in power generation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This disclosure , sky Regarding tuning systems. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, high-pressure hydrogen gas is reduced in pressure and supplied to a fuel cell, which generates electricity, and the medium after heat exchange is cooled by a pressure reducing mechanism of a pressure adjustment mechanism. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-123510 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present disclosure discloses an example of an air conditioner that uses a fuel gas such as hydrogen gas. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An air conditioner that adjusts the temperature of air to be supplied indoors desirably includes at least one of the following components: a generator (21) that generates electricity using fuel gas, a pressure reducer (22) that reduces the pressure of the fuel gas and supplies it to the generator (21), a cooler (23) that exchanges heat between the fuel gas reduced in pressure by the pressure reducer (22) and the air to be supplied indoors, thereby cooling the air, and a heater (24) that exchanges heat generated during power generation by the generator (21) and the air to be supplied indoors, thereby heating the air.

[0006] This makes it possible for the air conditioner to generate conditioned air using the fuel gas that is used during power generation.

[0007] Incidentally, the symbols in the above parentheses are examples showing the corresponding relationship with the specific configurations etc. described in the embodiments described below, and the present disclosure is not limited to the specific configurations etc. shown by the symbols in the above parentheses. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an air conditioning system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an air conditioning system according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] The following "embodiment of the invention" shows an example of an embodiment that falls within the technical scope of the present disclosure. In other words, the invention-specific matters described in the claims are not limited to the specific configurations and structures shown in the following embodiment.

[0010] At least one of each of the components or parts described with a reference number is provided, unless otherwise specified by "one". In other words, unless otherwise specified by "one", the component may be provided in two or more. The air conditioning system shown in the present disclosure includes at least the components or parts described with a reference number, as well as the structural parts shown in the drawings.

[0011] (First embodiment) <1. Air conditioning system configuration> In this embodiment, the present disclosure is applied to an air conditioning system that provides air conditioning in a communication equipment room, a server room, etc. (hereinafter, referred to as a server room.) At least one piece of information and communication technology equipment is installed in the server room.

[0012] 1 adjusts the temperature of air supplied into a server room. The air conditioning system 1 includes a regular air conditioner 10 and an emergency air conditioner 20.

[0013] <Common air conditioner> The regular air conditioner 10 is an air conditioner that operates when power is supplied. Specifically, the regular air conditioner 10 is an air conditioner that is configured with a vapor compression refrigeration machine that operates with an electric compressor 11.

[0014] That is, the service air conditioner 10 includes at least an electric compressor 11, a radiator 12, a pressure reducer 13, an evaporator 14, and a blower fan 16. In this embodiment, a gas-liquid separator 15 is provided on the suction side of the electric compressor 11.

[0015] The electric compressor 11 is a compressor driven by an electric motor (not shown) and compresses the low-pressure gas-phase refrigerant flowing out from the evaporator 14. The radiator 12 cools the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the electric compressor 11 and whose temperature has increased. In the radiator 12 according to this embodiment, the cooled refrigerant is condensed (liquefied).

[0016] The pressure reducer 13 reduces the pressure of the refrigerant flowing out from the radiator 12. The evaporator 14 evaporates the liquid-phase refrigerant reduced in pressure by the pressure reducer 13 to generate refrigeration capacity, i.e., cold heat. Specifically, the evaporator 14 is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the air supplied to the server room and the refrigerant, thereby cooling the air.

[0017] The blower fan 16 is an electric blower that generates an air flow that passes through the evaporator 14. The gas-liquid separator 15 stores surplus refrigerant as liquid-phase refrigerant when the rotation speed of the electric compressor 11 is low or when the thermal load on the evaporator 14 is small.

[0018] <2.Emergency air conditioner> The emergency air conditioner 20 is an air conditioner that operates when the power supply is stopped, that is, during a power outage. Note that the regular air conditioner 10 cannot supply conditioned air to the server room during a power outage. Conditioned air refers to air whose temperature has been adjusted.

[0019] <2.1 Configuration of emergency air conditioning system> The emergency air-conditioning system 20 includes at least a generator 21, a pressure reducer 22, a cooler 23, a heater 24, and a blower fan 25. The generator 21 generates electricity using fuel gas. The generator 21 according to this embodiment is a fuel cell that generates electricity by utilizing a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen.

[0020] Therefore, the fuel gas according to this embodiment is hydrogen gas. The electric power generated by the generator 21 is supplied to a battery (not shown) or the like. The battery supplies electric power to information and communication technology devices or the like in the event of a power outage.

[0021] The fuel gas is stored in a fuel storage tank 27. The fuel storage tank 27 is filled with hydrogen gas at high pressure (for example, about 70 MPa). For this reason, the fuel storage tank 27 according to this embodiment is composed of a plurality of high-pressure gas containers.

[0022] The pressure reducer 22 reduces the pressure of the fuel gas and supplies it to the generator 21. The pressure reducer 22 according to this embodiment is configured with an expansion turbine. The blower fan 25 is driven by the rotational force extracted by the expansion turbine. The blower fan 25 is a blower that blows conditioned air into the room. The rotational force output from the expansion turbine is reduced in speed by a reducer (not shown) and transmitted to the blower fan 25.

[0023] The cooler 23 is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the fuel gas, which has been reduced in pressure by the pressure reducer 22 and has a low temperature, and the air to be supplied into the room, thereby cooling the air. The heater 24 is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the waste heat generated during power generation by the generator 21 and the air to be supplied into the room, thereby heating the air.

[0024] The waste heat generated during power generation is absorbed by a heat medium such as water (hereinafter referred to as waste heat water). The waste heat water circulates between the heater 24 and the generator 21, thereby supplying the waste heat to the heater 24.

[0025] For this reason, the emergency air-conditioning system 20 is provided with a two-way valve 26. The two-way valve 26 is an electrically operated flow control valve for adjusting the circulating flow rate of the waste heat water. The two-way valve 26 is controlled by a control unit (not shown).

[0026] The control unit controls, for example, the opening degree of the two-way valve 26 or an electric pump (not shown) that circulates the waste heat water so that the temperature of the conditioned air becomes a predetermined temperature. The two-way valve 26, the electric pump, and the control unit are supplied with power from a battery (not shown).

[0027] The heater 24 is disposed upstream of the cooler 23. In other words, the air heated by the heater 24 is then cooled by the cooler 23 and supplied to the server room. This is to prevent the conditioned air supplied to the server room from being excessively dehumidified.

[0028] <3. Features of the Air Conditioning System According to the Present Embodiment> The emergency air conditioner 20 is capable of generating conditioned air using the fuel gas used during power generation, which can prevent the temperature inside the server room from rising excessively during a power outage and can also reduce investment in emergency generators.

[0029] Second embodiment The pressure reducer 22 in the above-described embodiment is configured with an expansion turbine. In contrast, the pressure reducer 22 in the present embodiment is configured with a variable valve such as an expansion valve or a fixed throttle such as a capillary tube.

[0030] The blower fan 25 according to this embodiment is an electric fan. The electric fan is supplied with power from a battery (not shown). The same components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the above-described embodiment.

[0031] (Other embodiments) In the above-described embodiment, the present disclosure is applied to an air conditioning system that conditions the air in a server room. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the present disclosure can also be applied to an air conditioning system in an office building, for example. Similarly, the power generated by the generator 21 may be supplied to electrical equipment other than information and communication technology equipment.

[0032] The two-way valve 26 according to the above embodiment is an electrically operated valve controlled by a control unit. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be, for example, a non-electrical temperature-sensing valve in which the valve opening is mechanically adjusted by a thermostat or the like that senses temperature.

[0033] The air conditioning system according to the embodiment described above includes the service air conditioner 10 and the emergency air conditioner 20. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may include, for example, only the emergency air conditioner 20, and the emergency air conditioner 20 may also be used as the service air conditioner.

[0034] The generator 21 according to the above embodiment is a fuel cell. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the present disclosure may be a generator operated by a heat engine such as a gas turbine engine or a rotary engine. In the case of power generation using a heat engine, hydrogen gas or a combustible gas other than hydrogen gas (e.g., propane gas, natural gas, etc.) may be used as a fuel gas.

[0035] In the above-described embodiment, the fuel storage tank is filled with gaseous fuel gas. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be configured, for example, such that the fuel storage tank is filled with liquefied fuel gas (e.g., liquid hydrogen, LPG, LNG, etc.), or such that the fuel gas is supplied to the emergency air-conditioning device 20 through a gas pipe or the like.

[0036] In the above-described embodiment, the heater 24 is disposed upstream of the cooler 23. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be configured such that, for example, the cooler 23 is disposed upstream of the heater 24.

[0037] In the first embodiment described above, the blower fan 25 is driven by the expansion turbine that constitutes the pressure reducer 22. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be configured such that the pressure reducer 22 is constituted by an expansion device and the blower fan 25 is electrically driven, for example.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the blower fan 25, the two-way valve 26, the electric pump, and the control unit are supplied with power from a battery. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be configured such that, for example, power generated by the generator 21 is supplied.

[0039] In the above-described embodiment, the electric blower fan 25 and the electric pump are used. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. That is, the present disclosure may be configured such that, for example, when the generator 21 is an engine, the blower fan 25 and the electric pump are operated by obtaining driving force from the engine.

[0040] The service air conditioner 10 according to the above embodiment is configured as a vapor compression type refrigeration machine. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the service air conditioner may be configured as, for example, an absorption type or adsorption type refrigeration machine.

[0041] In the above-described embodiment, the waste heat generated by the generator 21 is transferred to the heater 24 by an electric pump. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. That is, the present disclosure may be configured, for example, to transfer the waste heat to the heater 24 by using a heat pipe, or to provide the generator 21 with heat dissipation fins and use the heat dissipation fins as a heater.

[0042] Furthermore, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments as long as it is consistent with the gist of the disclosure described in the above-mentioned embodiments. Therefore, the present disclosure may be a configuration in which at least two of the above-mentioned embodiments are combined, or a configuration in which any of the components illustrated or the components described with reference numerals in the above-mentioned embodiments are eliminated. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1... Air conditioning system 10... Regular air conditioning unit 20... Emergency air conditioning unit 21... Generator 22... Pressure reducer 23... Cooler 24... Heater 25... Blower fan 26... Two-way valve 27… Fuel storage tank

Claims

1. In an air conditioning system that adjusts the temperature of air supplied to a room, A regular air conditioning device including a vapor compression refrigeration unit operated by an electric compressor; Equipped with emergency air conditioning equipment, The emergency air conditioning device is A generator that generates electricity using fuel gas; a pressure reducer that reduces the pressure of the fuel gas and supplies it to the generator; a cooler that exchanges heat between the fuel gas decompressed by the pressure reducer and air to be supplied into a room, and cools the air; a heater that exchanges heat between the heat generated when the generator generates electricity and the air to be supplied to the room, and heats the air; An air conditioning system having:

2. The pressure reducer is an expansion turbine, The air conditioning system of claim 1 , further comprising a blower fan driven by the expansion turbine.

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