Refrigeration unit

Abstract

The refrigerator unit aims to reduce the size of the device and improve cooling efficiency. [Solution] The system comprises a compressor unit having a compressor and an expander driven by the drive shaft of a drive device, a first cooler that cools high-pressure refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor and sends it to the expander, a second cooler that cools an object to be cooled with low-pressure refrigerant gas from which expansion energy has been recovered by the expander and returns it to the compressor, and a regenerative heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant gas sent from the first cooler to the expander and the refrigerant gas returned from the second cooler to the compressor, and the compressor unit and the regenerative heat exchanger are arranged facing each other in the vertical direction.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator unit. [Background technology]

[0002] A refrigerator performs cooling using the sensible heat of gas circulating in the gas phase. That is, a refrigerator uses air as a refrigerant, generates high-pressure, high-temperature air using a compressor, cools the high-pressure, high-temperature air using a cooler (heat exchanger), generates low-pressure, low-temperature air using an expander, and cools an object to be cooled using the sensible heat of the low-pressure, low-temperature air. An example of such a refrigerator is described in Patent Document 1. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5934482 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a refrigerator is used for various purposes, it is required to reduce the size of the device and improve the cooling efficiency.

[0005] The present disclosure is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a refrigerator unit that reduces the size of the device and improves cooling efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the refrigeration unit of the present disclosure comprises a compressor unit having a compressor and an expander driven by a drive shaft of a drive device, a first cooler that cools high-pressure refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor and sends it to the expander, a second cooler that cools an object to be cooled with low-pressure refrigerant gas from which expansion energy has been recovered by the expander and returns it to the compressor, and a regenerative heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant gas sent from the first cooler to the expander and the refrigerant gas returned from the second cooler to the compressor, and the compressor unit and the regenerative heat exchanger are arranged facing each other in the vertical direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the refrigerator unit of the present disclosure, it is possible to reduce the size of the device and improve the cooling efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a refrigerator unit according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the refrigerator units of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a refrigerator unit according to a second embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the refrigerator unit of the second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a rear view showing the refrigerator unit of the third embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a cooling path of a refrigerator unit according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a first modified example of the cooling path of the refrigerator unit of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a second modified example of the cooling path of the refrigerator unit of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a control system of a refrigerator unit according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 10]FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a control system of a refrigerator unit according to the sixth embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an electric compressor in a refrigerator unit according to a seventh embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a gas supply path of a refrigerator unit according to the seventh embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the gas supply path of the refrigerator unit of the seventh embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments, and when there are multiple embodiments, the present disclosure also includes configurations that combine the embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the embodiments include those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art, those that are substantially identical, and those that are within the so-called equivalent range.

[0010] [First embodiment] <Refrigerator unit> FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a refrigerator unit according to a first embodiment.

[0011] As shown in Fig. 1, the refrigerator unit 10 includes a compressor unit 11, a water-cooled heat exchanger (first cooler) 12, a brine heat exchanger (second cooler, brine cooler) 13, and a regenerative heat exchanger 14. The refrigerator unit 10 cools an object to be cooled by flowing a refrigerant gas through the compressor unit 11, the water-cooled heat exchanger 12, the brine heat exchanger 13, and the regenerative heat exchanger 14. Here, the refrigerant gas is preferably a working fluid such as air, nitrogen, argon, helium, or an organic medium, but is not limited to these working fluids.

[0012] The compressor unit 11 has a drive device 21, a compressor 22, and an expander 23. The compressor unit 11 has the compressor 22 and the expander 23 driven by a drive shaft 24 of the drive device 21. The drive device 21 is an electric motor and has a drive shaft 24 that can be driven to rotate. The compressor 22 is connected to one axial end of the drive shaft 24, and the expander 23 is connected to the other axial end. The compressor 22 has compressor blades (not shown) attached to one end of the drive shaft 24, and the expander 23 has turbine blades (not shown) attached to the other end of the drive shaft 24.

[0013] The compressor 22 compresses refrigerant gas to generate high-pressure refrigerant gas. The compressor 22 is connected to the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 by a pipe L1. The water-cooled heat exchanger 12 cools the high-pressure refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 22. The water-cooled heat exchanger 12 is connected to an external cooler 31, and cools the high-pressure refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 22 with a cooling medium supplied from the cooler 31.

[0014] The water-cooled heat exchanger 12 is connected to the expander 23 by a pipe L2. The expander 23 recovers expansion energy from the high-pressure refrigerant gas cooled by the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 to generate low-pressure refrigerant gas. The expander 23 is connected to the brine heat exchanger 13 by a pipe L3. The brine heat exchanger 13 cools brine (an object to be cooled) with the low-pressure refrigerant gas from which expansion energy has been recovered by the expander 23. The brine heat exchanger 13 is connected to, for example, a freezing chamber (an object to be cooled) 32, and cools the freezing chamber 32 with the cooled brine. The brine heat exchanger 13 is connected to the compressor 22 by a pipe L4.

[0015] The regenerative heat exchanger 14 is disposed on the pipes L2 and L4. In this case, the pipe L2 has a pipe L21 connecting the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 and the regenerative heat exchanger 14, and a pipe L22 connecting the regenerative heat exchanger 14 and the expander 23. The pipe L4 has a pipe L41 connecting the brine heat exchanger 13 and the regenerative heat exchanger 14, and a pipe L42 connecting the regenerative heat exchanger 14 and the compressor 22. The regenerative heat exchanger 14 exchanges heat between the refrigerant gas sent from the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 to the expander 23 and the refrigerant gas returned from the brine heat exchanger 13 to the compressor 22. That is, the regenerative heat exchanger 14 cools the refrigerant gas sent from the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 to the expander 23 through the pipe L2, using the low-temperature refrigerant gas returned from the brine heat exchanger 13 to the compressor 22 through the pipe L4.

[0016] Also provided is a pipe L5 that connects a pipe L2 that sends refrigerant gas from the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 to the expander 23 with a pipe L4 that returns refrigerant gas from the brine heat exchanger 13 to the compressor 22. A balance valve 33 is provided in the pipe L5. When the balance valve 33 is open, it bypasses and sends a portion of the refrigerant gas flowing through the pipe L2 to the pipe L4.

[0017] In the chiller unit 10, when the drive device 21 is driven, the drive shaft 24 is driven to rotate, and the compressor 22 and the expander 23 are operated. When the compressor 22 is operated, it compresses refrigerant gas to generate high-pressure refrigerant gas, which is sent to the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 through pipe L1. The water-cooled heat exchanger 12 cools the high-pressure refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 22 and sends it to the expander 23 through pipe L2. When the expander 23 is operated, it recovers expansion energy from the high-pressure refrigerant gas cooled by the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 to generate low-pressure refrigerant gas, which is sent to the brine heat exchanger 13 through pipe L3. The brine heat exchanger 13 cools the brine using the low-pressure refrigerant gas from which the expansion energy has been recovered by the expander 23, and returns the brine to the compressor 22 through pipe L4. The regenerative heat exchanger 14 cools the refrigerant gas sent from the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 through the pipe L2 to the expander 23 with the low-temperature refrigerant gas returned from the brine heat exchanger 13 through the pipe L4 to the compressor 22.

[0018] Furthermore, when the refrigerator unit 10 starts up, the balance valve 33 is opened, and a portion of the refrigerant gas flowing through the pipe L2 is sent as a bypass to the pipe L4. When the compressor 22 and the expander 23 have different capacities, the flow rates of the refrigerant gas flowing through the pipes L2 and L4 are balanced. After a predetermined time has elapsed since the refrigerator unit 10 started up, the balance valve 33 is closed.

[0019] Although the refrigerator unit 10 is a closed-loop refrigerator unit including the compressor unit 11, the water-cooled heat exchanger 12, the brine heat exchanger 13, and the regenerative heat exchanger 14, the refrigerator unit 10 is not limited to this type. For example, the refrigerator unit 10 may be an open-loop refrigerator unit. In this case, the second cooler is, for example, a cooler that directly supplies and exhausts refrigerant gas to and from the inside of the freezing chamber (object to be cooled) 32.

[0020] <Location of refrigerator unit> FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the refrigerator units of the first embodiment.

[0021] 1 and 2, the compressor unit 11 and the regenerative heat exchanger 14 are disposed facing each other in the vertical direction. Specifically, the compressor unit 11 is disposed adjacent to and below the regenerative heat exchanger 14 in the vertical direction.

[0022] The water-cooled heat exchanger 12 and the brine heat exchanger 13 are disposed adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction. The water-cooled heat exchanger 12 and the brine heat exchanger 13 are disposed adjacent to the regenerative heat exchanger 14 in the horizontal direction. One horizontal side (the left side in FIG. 2 ) of the brine heat exchanger 13 is connected to an end of a pipe L3 through which low-pressure refrigerant gas is sent from the expander 23, and to an end of a pipe L41 (L4) through which refrigerant gas is sent to the regenerative heat exchanger 14.

[0023] Here, the pipe L22 that sends refrigerant gas from the regenerative heat exchanger 14 to the expander 23 is a metal pipe. The pipe L3 that sends low-pressure refrigerant gas from the expander 23 to the brine heat exchanger 13 is a flexible metal pipe. The pipe L42 that returns refrigerant gas from the regenerative heat exchanger 14 to the compressor 22 and the pipe L1 that sends high-pressure refrigerant gas from the compressor 22 to the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 are rubber pipes. All of the pipes L1, L2, L3, and L4 may be metal pipes.

[0024] In the refrigerator unit 10 of the first embodiment, the compressor unit 11 is disposed adjacent to and vertically below the regenerative heat exchanger 14. This allows the lengths of the pipes L22, L42 connecting the compressor unit 11 and the regenerative heat exchanger 14 to be shortened, thereby enabling the device to be made more compact.

[0025] If the refrigerator unit 10 is of an open loop type, there is a possibility that refrigerant gas (moisture) may enter the compressor unit 11 (expander 23) or the regenerative heat exchanger 14, causing ice to form. Therefore, by arranging the compressor unit 11 (expander 23) below the regenerative heat exchanger 14, it becomes easier to discharge moisture from the regenerative heat exchanger 14.

[0026] The water-cooled heat exchanger 12, the brine heat exchanger 13, and the regenerative heat exchanger 14 are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction. An end of the pipe L3 from the expander 23 and an end of the pipe L41 (L4) to the regenerative heat exchanger 14 are connected to one horizontal side of the brine heat exchanger 13. This allows the lengths of the pipes L3, L41, and L22 to be shortened, thereby enabling the device to be made more compact. Furthermore, by shortening the lengths of the pipes L3, L41, and L22, it is possible to suppress a rise in the temperature of the refrigerant gas, thereby improving cooling efficiency.

[0027] Furthermore, by using a metal pipe for the pipe L22 that sends refrigerant gas from the regenerative heat exchanger 14 to the expander 23, the compressor unit 11 and the regenerative heat exchanger 14 can be firmly connected and vibration can be suppressed. By using a flexible metal pipe for the pipe L3 that sends low-pressure refrigerant gas from the expander 23 to the brine heat exchanger 13 and using rubber pipes for the pipe L42 that returns refrigerant gas from the regenerative heat exchanger 14 to the compressor 22 and the pipe L1 that sends high-pressure refrigerant gas from the compressor 22 to the water-cooled heat exchanger 12, the assembly of various devices can be facilitated and the assemblability can be improved.

[0028] [Second embodiment] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a refrigeration unit of the second embodiment. The basic configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment described above, and will be described using Fig. 2. Members having the same functions as those of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0029] 2 and 3, the housing 40 has a box-like shape and can be opened and closed, for example, by a lid (not shown). The housing 40 has a shelf 41 provided therein, thereby forming a lower storage space 42 and an upper storage space 43.

[0030] The compressor unit 11, the water-cooled heat exchanger 12, the brine heat exchanger 13, and the regenerative heat exchanger 14 that constitute the chiller unit 10 are disposed inside the housing 40. Specifically, the chiller unit 10 is disposed in a lower storage space 42 of the housing 40. The chiller unit 10 also includes a circulator 15 and an electrical system 16. The circulator 15 and the electrical system 16 are disposed in an upper storage space 43 of the housing 40.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the refrigerator unit of the second embodiment.

[0032] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the refrigerator unit 10 is disposed in a lower storage space 42 of the housing 40, and the circulator 15 and the electrical system 16 are disposed in an upper storage space 43 of the housing 40. A base 44 is disposed in the lower part of the lower storage space 42 of the housing 40. The base 44 is provided with rails (not shown) at its bottom, allowing it to move in the front-to-rear direction. The refrigerator unit 10 is mounted on the base 44. Therefore, the refrigerator unit 10 can be pulled out from the housing 40 to the outside by moving the base 44.

[0033] Although the refrigerator unit 10 is mounted on the base 44, only the compressor unit 11 may be mounted on the base 44. Therefore, by removing the pipes L1, L22, L3, and L42 from the refrigerator unit 10 and then moving the base 44, only the compressor unit 11 can be pulled out from the housing 40 to the outside.

[0034] The refrigerator unit 10 of the second embodiment can be stored compactly by being disposed inside the housing 40. Furthermore, the refrigerator unit 10 (compressor unit 11) can be pulled out from the housing 40 by the base 44, thereby improving the maintainability of the compressor unit 11.

[0035] [Third embodiment] 5 is a rear view showing the refrigerator unit of the third embodiment. Note that members having the same functions as those in the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0036] 1 and 5, in the refrigerator unit 10A, the compressor unit 11 and the regenerative heat exchanger 14 are arranged facing each other in the vertical direction. Specifically, the regenerative heat exchanger 14 is arranged adjacent to and below the compressor unit 11 in the vertical direction.

[0037] The water-cooled heat exchanger 12 and the brine heat exchanger 13 are disposed adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction. The water-cooled heat exchanger 12 and the brine heat exchanger 13 are disposed adjacent to the regenerative heat exchanger 14 in the horizontal direction. One horizontal side (the left side in FIG. 2 ) of the brine heat exchanger 13 is connected to an end of a pipe L3 through which low-pressure refrigerant gas is sent from the expander 23, and to an end of a pipe L41 (L4) through which refrigerant gas is sent to the regenerative heat exchanger 14.

[0038] In the chiller unit 10A of the third embodiment, the regenerative heat exchanger 14 is disposed adjacent to and vertically below the compressor unit 11. This allows the lengths of the pipes L22, L42 connecting the compressor unit 11 and the regenerative heat exchanger 14 to be shortened, thereby enabling the device to be made more compact. In addition, water caused by condensation outside the regenerative heat exchanger 14 can be prevented from falling onto the compressor unit 11 when the chiller unit 10 is stopped.

[0039] [Fourth embodiment] 6 is a schematic diagram showing the cooling path of the refrigerator unit of the fourth embodiment. Note that members having the same functions as those in the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 6 , the compressor unit 11 has a drive device 21, a compressor 22, and an expander 23, and the compressor 22 and the expander 23 are connected to a drive shaft 24. The drive device 21 has an electric motor and is connected to an inverter 51. The compressor unit 11 is provided with a cooling path 52 that flows a cooling medium to the inverter 51 and the drive device 21. The cooling path 52 is provided with a pump 53 that supplies cooling water as a cooling medium. The inverter 51 and the drive device 21 are provided with cooling flow paths through which the cooling medium flows. The cooling path 52 is connected in series to the cooling flow paths of the inverter 51 and the drive device 21.

[0041] When the pump 53 is driven while the compressor unit 11 is in operation, cooling water is supplied from the inverter 51 to the drive device 21 through the cooling path 52. Therefore, the inverter 51 and the drive device 21 are appropriately cooled by the cooling water.

[0042] FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a first modified example of the cooling path of the refrigerator unit of the fourth embodiment.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 7, the compressor unit 11 is provided with a cooling path 54 that flows a cooling medium to the inverter 51 and the drive device 21. The cooling path 54 supplies refrigerant gas as a cooling medium. That is, the cooling path 54 is provided by branching off from a pipe L21 that sends the refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 22 to the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 via a pipe L1 and then sends the refrigerant gas from the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 to the regenerative heat exchanger 14. The cooling path 54 is provided with a flow rate adjustment valve 55. The base end of the cooling path 54 is connected to the pipe L21, and the other end is connected in series to the cooling flow paths of the inverter 51 and the drive device 21.

[0044] While the compressor unit 11 is operating, the refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 22 is sent through pipe L1 to the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 and cooled, and then sent from the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 to the regenerative heat exchanger 14 through pipe L21. At this time, a portion of the refrigerant gas flowing through pipe L21 flows into the cooling path 54 in an amount corresponding to the opening of the flow control valve 55. Then, the refrigerant gas is supplied from the inverter 51 to the drive device 21 through the cooling path 54. Therefore, the inverter 51 and the drive device 21 are appropriately cooled by the refrigerant gas. The cooling gas that has cooled the inverter 51 and the drive device 21 is returned to the compressor 22.

[0045] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a second modified example of the cooling path of the refrigerator unit of the fourth embodiment.

[0046] As shown in Fig. 8, the compressor unit 11 is provided with a cooling path 56 that flows a cooling medium to the inverter 51 and the drive device 21. The cooling path 56 supplies refrigerant gas as the cooling medium. That is, the cooling path 56 is provided by branching off from a pipe L3 that sends low-pressure refrigerant gas expanded by the expander 23 to the brine heat exchanger 13 via the pipe L3. The cooling path 56 is provided with a flow rate adjustment valve 57. The base end of the cooling path 56 is connected to the pipe L3, and the other end is connected in series to the cooling flow paths of the inverter 51 and the drive device 21.

[0047] While the compressor unit 11 is operating, the low-pressure refrigerant gas expanded by the expander 23 is sent to the brine heat exchanger 13 through the pipe L3 and cooled. At this time, a portion of the low-pressure refrigerant gas flowing through the pipe L3 flows into the cooling path 56 in an amount that corresponds to the opening of the flow control valve 57. The low-pressure refrigerant gas is then supplied from the inverter 51 to the drive device 21 through the cooling path 56. Therefore, the inverter 51 and the drive device 21 are appropriately cooled by the low-pressure refrigerant gas. The cooling gas that has cooled the inverter 51 and the drive device 21 is returned to the brine heat exchanger 13 or the compressor 22.

[0048] In the above description, the cooling medium flows from the inverter 51 to the drive device 21, but it may also flow from the drive device 21 to the inverter 51. Also, the cooling medium may flow only through the inverter 51 or only through the drive device 21. The cooling medium may also flow in parallel to the inverter 51 and the drive device 21.

[0049] The refrigerator unit 10 of the fourth embodiment is provided with cooling paths 52, 54, 56 for flowing a cooling medium to the inverter 51 and the drive device 21. Therefore, the inverter 51 and the drive device 21 can be appropriately cooled.

[0050] [Fifth embodiment] 9 is a schematic diagram showing a control system of a refrigerator unit according to the fifth embodiment. Note that members having the same functions as those in the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0051] 9, the compressor unit 11 has a drive device 21, a compressor 22, and an expander 23, and the compressor 22 and the expander 23 are coupled to a drive shaft 24. The drive device 21 has an electric motor and is connected to an inverter 51. The inverter 51 has a converter circuit (AC / DC converter) 61 and an inverter circuit 62. The inverter 51 is connected to a control device 63, and the control device 63 is connected to a power supply device 64.

[0052] The power supply device 64 supplies power to the control device 63. The control device 63 supplies power to the inverter 51 and the drive device 21. The converter circuit 61 converts the AC from the power supply device 64 into DC, and the inverter circuit 62 converts the DC back into AC. The inverter 51 changes the voltage and frequency of the electricity and outputs it to the drive device 21. Note that an extended communication interface or CAN (Controller Area Network) communication is applied between the control device 63 and the inverter 51 (converter circuit 61, inverter circuit 62).

[0053] Also provided is a temperature sensor 65 that measures the temperature of the refrigerant gas returned from the brine heat exchanger 13 to the regenerative heat exchanger 14. The temperature sensor 65 is connected to the control device 63. The control device 63 controls the rotation speed of the drive device via the inverter 51 based on the temperature of the refrigerant gas measured by the temperature sensor 65. That is, the control device 63 adjusts the rotation speed of the motor in the drive device based on the temperature of the refrigerant gas measured by the temperature sensor 65 so that the temperature of the refrigerant gas at the outlet of the brine heat exchanger 13 becomes a specified optimum temperature. In this case, when the temperature of the refrigerant gas measured by the temperature sensor 65 is higher than the optimum temperature, the control device 63 increases the rotation speed of the motor in the drive device.

[0054] The refrigerator unit 10 of the fifth embodiment is provided with a temperature sensor 65 that measures the temperature of the refrigerant gas at the outlet of the brine heat exchanger 13, and the control device 63 controls the rotation speed of the drive device based on the temperature of the refrigerant gas measured by the temperature sensor 65. Therefore, the temperature of the refrigerant gas at the outlet of the brine heat exchanger 13 can be adjusted to an optimum temperature.

[0055] [Sixth embodiment] 10 is a schematic diagram showing a control system of a refrigerator unit according to the sixth embodiment. Note that members having the same functions as those in the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 10 , a power failure detector 66 is connected to the control device 63. The power failure detector 66 detects a loss of power in the power supply device 64. A power storage device 67 is connected to the inverter 51. The power storage device 67 is connected to the inverter 51 via a changeover switch 68. The changeover switch 68 is a normally open switch. When the power failure detector 66 detects a loss of power in the power supply device 64, it switches the changeover switch 68 to a conductive state. Then, the power storage device 67 is connected to the inverter 51 via the changeover switch 68.

[0057] When the power supply device 64 is normal, the power supply device 64 can supply power to the control device 63, the inverter 51, and the drive device 21. When the power failure detector 66 detects a loss of power in the power supply device 64, The power storage device that supplies power to the drive device and the control device is energized, and the selector switch 68. Then, the power storage device 67 is connected to the inverter 51 via the selector switch 68, and the power storage device 67 becomes able to supply power to the control device 63, the inverter 51, and the drive device 21.

[0058] The refrigeration unit 10 of the sixth embodiment is provided with a power failure detector 66 and a power storage device 67. Therefore, even if the power supply device 64 loses power, power can be supplied from the power storage device 67 to the control device 63, the inverter 51, and the drive device 21.

[0059] [Seventh embodiment] Fig. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an electric compressor in a refrigerator unit of the seventh embodiment, and Fig. 12 is a schematic view showing a gas supply path in the refrigerator unit of the seventh embodiment. Note that members having the same functions as those in the first embodiment described above are given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 11, the compressor unit 11 has a drive device 21, a compressor 22, and an expander 23, and the compressor 22 and the expander 23 are connected to a drive shaft 24.

[0061] The drive unit 21 has a housing 71, a stator 72, a rotating shaft 73, and a rotor 74. The stator 72 is fixed to the inner periphery of the housing 71. The rotating shaft 73 functions as the drive shaft 24, and the rotor 74 is fixed to the outer periphery. The rotating shaft 73 is rotatably supported in the housing 71 by a pair of gas bearings 75 and 76. The gas bearings 75 and 76 are foil-type journal bearings. The rotating shaft 73 is rotatably supported in the housing 71 by a thrust bearing 77. The inner and outer peripheries of the stator 72 and the rotor 74 face each other with a radial gap between them. Therefore, when current flows through the stator coil of the stator 72, the rotor 74 rotates due to the attractive and repulsive forces of the generated magnetic force, outputting a rotational force.

[0062] In the drive device 21, the compressor 22 is disposed on one axial end of the rotary shaft 73, and the expander 23 is disposed on the other axial end of the rotary shaft 73. The compressor 22 has a compressor wheel 78 connected to one end of the rotary shaft 73. The expander 23 has a turbine wheel 79 connected to the other end of the rotary shaft 73.

[0063] The drive unit 21 is provided with a refrigerant gas flow path 80 therein. The refrigerant gas flow path 80 has an inlet-side flow path 81, an axial flow path 82, and an outlet-side flow path 83. The inlet-side flow path 81 is provided on the compressor 22 side, with one end opening to the outside of the housing 71 and the other end communicating with the thrust bearing 77 and the gas bearing 75. The axial flow path 82 is provided in the gap between the stator 72 and the rotor 74, with one end communicating with the gas bearing 75 and the other end communicating with the gas bearing 76. The outlet-side flow path 83 is provided on the expander 23 side, with one end opening to the outside of the housing 71 and the other end communicating with the gas bearing 76.

[0064] 11 and 12 , the compressor unit 11 is provided with a gas supply path 91 that flows a cooling medium to the drive device 21. The gas supply path 91 supplies refrigerant gas as a cooling medium to the refrigerant gas flow path 80 of the drive device 21. The gas supply path 91 is provided by branching off from a line L21 that sends the refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 22 to the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 via a line L1 and then sends the refrigerant gas from the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 to the regenerative heat exchanger 14. A flow rate adjustment valve 92 is provided in the gas supply path 91. A base end of the gas supply path 91 is connected to the line L21, and the other end is connected to an inlet-side flow path 81 of the refrigerant gas flow path 80 in the drive device 21.

[0065] During operation of the compressor unit 11, the refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 22 is sent to the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 through the pipe L1 and cooled, and then sent from the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 to the regenerative heat exchanger 14 through the pipe L21. At this time, a portion of the refrigerant gas flowing through the pipe L21 flows into the gas supply path 91 in an amount corresponding to the opening degree of the flow control valve 92. Then, the refrigerant gas is supplied to the drive device 21 through the gas supply path 91.

[0066] In the drive unit 21, the refrigerant gas supplied from the gas supply path 91 to the refrigerant gas flow path 80 is supplied from the inlet-side flow path 81 to the thrust bearing 77 and the gas bearing 75, flows through the gap between the stator 72 and the rotor 74 via the axial flow path 82, is supplied to the gas bearing 76, and is discharged to the outside through the outlet-side flow path 83. Therefore, in the drive unit 21, the stator 72 and the rotor 74 are appropriately cooled by the refrigerant gas, and the thrust bearing 77 and the gas bearings 75, 76 function appropriately. The cooling gas that has cooled the drive unit 21 is returned to the compressor 22.

[0067] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a modified example of the gas supply path of the refrigerator unit of the seventh embodiment.

[0068] 11 and 13, the compressor unit 11 is provided with a gas supply path 93 that flows a cooling medium to the drive device 21. The gas supply path 93 supplies refrigerant gas as a cooling medium to the refrigerant gas flow path 80 of the drive device 21. The gas supply path 93 is provided by branching off from a pipe L3 that sends low-pressure refrigerant gas expanded by the expander 23 to the brine heat exchanger 13 via the pipe L3. A flow rate adjustment valve 94 is provided in the gas supply path 93. A base end of the gas supply path 93 is connected to the pipe L3, and the other end is connected to the inlet-side flow path 81 of the drive device 21.

[0069] While the compressor unit 11 is operating, the low-pressure refrigerant gas expanded by the expander 23 is sent to the brine heat exchanger 13 through the pipe L3 and cooled there. At this time, a portion of the low-pressure refrigerant gas flowing through the pipe L3 flows into the gas supply path 93 in an amount corresponding to the opening degree of the flow control valve 94. Then, the low-pressure refrigerant gas is supplied to the drive device 21 through the gas supply path 93.

[0070] In the drive unit 21, the refrigerant gas supplied from the gas supply path 93 to the refrigerant gas flow path 80 is supplied from the inlet-side flow path 81 to the thrust bearing 77 and the gas bearing 75, flows through the gap between the stator 72 and the rotor 74 via the axial flow path 82, is supplied to the gas bearing 76, and is discharged to the outside from the outlet-side flow path 83. Therefore, in the drive unit 21, the stator 72 and the rotor 74 are appropriately cooled by the refrigerant gas, and the thrust bearing 77 and the gas bearings 75, 76 function appropriately. The cooling gas that has cooled the inverter 51 and the drive unit 21 is returned to the brine heat exchanger 13 or the compressor 22.

[0071] The refrigerator unit 10 of the seventh embodiment is provided with gas supply paths 91, 93 that supply refrigerant gas to the refrigerant gas flow path 80 of the drive device 21. Therefore, by supplying refrigerant gas to the thrust bearing 77 and the gas bearings 75, 76, the thrust bearing 77 and the gas bearings 75, 76 can function properly.

[0072] [Effects of this embodiment] The refrigeration unit according to the first embodiment comprises a compressor unit 11 having a compressor 22 and an expander 23 driven by a drive shaft of a drive device 21, a water-cooled heat exchanger (first cooler) 12 that cools the high-pressure refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 22 and sends it to the expander 23, a brine heat exchanger (second cooler, brine cooler) 13 that cools an object to be cooled with the low-pressure refrigerant gas from which expansion energy has been recovered by the expander 23 and returns it to the compressor 22, and a regenerative heat exchanger 14 that exchanges heat between the refrigerant gas sent from the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 to the expander 23 and the refrigerant gas returned from the brine heat exchanger 13 to the compressor 22, and the compressor unit 11 and the regenerative heat exchanger 14 are arranged facing each other in the vertical direction.

[0073] In the refrigerator unit according to the first aspect, the compressor unit 11 and the regenerative heat exchanger 14 are arranged facing each other in the vertical direction, which shortens the lengths of the pipes L22 and L42 connecting the compressor unit 11 and the regenerative heat exchanger 14. As a result, the size of the device can be reduced.

[0074] The refrigerator unit according to the second aspect is the refrigerator unit according to the first aspect, and further, the compressor unit 11 is disposed vertically below the regenerative heat exchanger 14. This allows the device to be made more compact.

[0075] The refrigerator unit according to the third aspect is the refrigerator unit according to the first aspect, and further, the regenerative heat exchanger 14 is disposed vertically below the compressor unit 11. This allows the device to be made more compact.

[0076] A refrigeration unit according to a fourth aspect is the refrigeration unit according to any one of the first to third aspects, and further includes a brine heat exchanger 13 that cools the brine using low-pressure refrigerant gas whose expansion energy has been recovered by the expander 23, and the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 and the brine heat exchanger 13 are arranged adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction. This allows the lengths of the pipes L3, L41, and L22 to be shortened, thereby enabling the device to be made more compact. Furthermore, shortening the lengths of the pipes L3, L41, and L22 allows the temperature rise of the refrigerant gas to be suppressed, thereby improving cooling efficiency.

[0077] A chiller unit according to a fifth aspect is the chiller unit according to the fourth aspect, further comprising: the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 and the brine heat exchanger 13 disposed horizontally adjacent to the regenerative heat exchanger 14. This allows the lengths of the pipes L3, L41, and L22 to be shortened, thereby enabling the device to be made more compact. Furthermore, by shortening the lengths of the pipes L3, L41, and L22, it is possible to suppress a rise in the temperature of the refrigerant gas, thereby improving cooling efficiency.

[0078] A refrigeration unit according to a sixth aspect is the refrigeration unit according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, and further, the brine heat exchanger 13 cools the brine with low-pressure refrigerant gas whose expansion energy has been recovered by the expander 23, and one horizontal side of the brine heat exchanger 13 is connected to an end of a pipe L3 through which low-pressure refrigerant gas is sent from the expander 23, and to an end of a pipe L41 through which refrigerant gas is sent to the regenerative heat exchanger 14. This makes it possible to easily arrange the pipes L3 and L41 connected to the brine heat exchanger 13.

[0079] A chiller unit according to a seventh aspect is the chiller unit according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, further comprising: a pipe L22 that sends refrigerant gas from the regenerative heat exchanger 14 to the expander 23 made of metal; a pipe L3 that sends low-pressure refrigerant gas from the expander 23 to the brine heat exchanger 13 made of flexible metal; and a pipe L42 that returns refrigerant gas from the regenerative heat exchanger 14 to the compressor 22 and a pipe L1 that sends high-pressure refrigerant gas from the compressor 22 to the water-cooled heat exchanger 12 made of rubber. This allows the compressor unit 11 and the regenerative heat exchanger 14 to be firmly connected by the metal pipes, thereby suppressing vibration. Furthermore, the flexible metal pipes and rubber pipes facilitate the assembly of various devices, improving assembly efficiency.

[0080] The refrigerator unit according to an eighth aspect is the refrigerator unit according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, and further, the compressor unit 11, the water-cooled heat exchanger 12, the brine heat exchanger 13, and the regenerative heat exchanger 14 are arranged inside a housing 40, and at least the compressor unit 11 is supported on a movable base 44 and can be pulled out from the housing 40. This improves the maintainability of the refrigerator unit 10 (compressor unit 11).

[0081] A refrigeration unit according to a ninth aspect is the refrigeration unit according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, and further includes cooling paths 52, 54, and 56 for flowing a cooling medium to the drive device 21 and the inverter 51 of the drive device 21. This allows the inverter 51 and the drive device 21 to be appropriately cooled.

[0082] A refrigeration unit according to a tenth aspect is the refrigeration unit according to the ninth aspect, wherein the cooling medium is a refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 22 or a low-pressure refrigerant gas from which expansion energy has been recovered by the expander 23. By using a refrigerant gas as the cooling medium, a pump is not required, thereby simplifying the device.

[0083] A refrigeration unit according to an eleventh aspect is the refrigeration unit according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, and further includes a brine heat exchanger 13 that cools the brine with low-pressure refrigerant gas whose expansion energy has been recovered by the expander 23, and a temperature sensor 65 that measures the temperature of the refrigerant gas returned from the brine heat exchanger 13 to the regenerative heat exchanger 14, and a control device 63 that controls the rotation speed of the drive device 21 based on the temperature of the refrigerant gas measured by the temperature sensor 65. This makes it possible to adjust the temperature of the refrigerant gas at the outlet of the brine heat exchanger 13 to an optimal temperature, and enables the refrigeration unit 10 to operate optimally.

[0084] A refrigeration unit according to a twelfth aspect is the refrigeration unit according to the eleventh aspect, and further includes a power supply device 64 that supplies power to the drive device 21 and the control device 63, a power failure detector 66 that detects a power loss in the power supply device 64, and a power storage device 67 that supplies power to the drive device 21 and the control device 63 when the power failure detector 66 detects a power loss in the power supply device 64. As a result, even if the power supply device 64 loses power, power can be supplied from the power storage device 67 to the control device 63, the inverter 51, and the drive device 21, and the refrigeration unit 10 can operate continuously.

[0085] A refrigeration unit according to a thirteenth aspect is the refrigeration unit according to any one of the first to twelfth aspects, and further includes drive device 21 including housing 71 having cylindrical stator 72 on its inner periphery, rotating shaft 73 having rotor 74 disposed inside housing 71 and facing stator 72, gas bearings 75, 76 rotatably supporting rotating shaft 73, and gas supply paths 91, 93 for supplying high-pressure refrigerant gas compressed by compressor 22 or low-pressure refrigerant gas whose expansion energy has been recovered by expander 23 to gas bearings 75, 76. Thus, by supplying refrigerant gas to refrigerant gas flow path 80 of drive device 21 through gas supply paths 91, 93, the refrigerant gas can cause thrust bearing 77 and gas bearings 75, 76 to function properly. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 10,10A Refrigeration Unit 11 Compressor unit 12 Water-cooled heat exchanger (1st cooler) 13 Brine heat exchanger (secondary cooler, brine cooler) 14 Regenerative heat exchanger 21 Drive unit 22 Compressor 23 Expander 24 drive shaft 31 Cooler 32 Freezer 33 Balance valve 51 Inverter 52, 54, 56 Cooling path 53 Pump 55,57 Flow control valve 61 Converter Circuit 62 Inverter circuit 63 Control device 64 Power supply 65 Temperature Sensor 66 Power Outage Detector 67 Energy storage device 68 Changeover switch 71 Housing 72 Stator 73 Rotation axis 74 rotor 75,76 Gas bearings 77 Thrust bearing 78 Compressor Wheel 79 Turbine Wheel 80 refrigerant gas flow path 81 Inlet side flow path 82 Axial flow passage 83 Outlet side flow path 91 Gas supply route 92 Flow control valve L1,L2,L21,L22,L3,L4,L41,L42,L5 Piping

Claims

1. a compressor unit having a compressor and an expander driven by a drive shaft of a drive device; a first cooler that cools the high-pressure refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor and sends the cooled refrigerant gas to the expander; a second cooler as a brine cooler that cools brine using the low-pressure refrigerant gas whose expansion energy has been recovered by the expander and returns the brine to the compressor; a regenerative heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant gas sent from the first cooler to the expander and the refrigerant gas returned from the second cooler to the compressor; Equipped with the compressor unit is disposed vertically below the regenerative heat exchanger, the first cooler and the second cooler are disposed adjacent to each other in a horizontal direction, the first cooler and the second cooler are disposed adjacent to the regenerative heat exchanger in a horizontal direction intersecting a direction in which the first cooler and the second cooler are adjacent to each other, The expander and one horizontal side of the second cooler are connected by a pipe that sends low-pressure refrigerant gas from the expander to the second cooler, and the one horizontal side of the second cooler and one horizontal side of the regenerative heat exchanger are connected by a pipe that sends refrigerant gas from the second cooler to the regenerative heat exchanger. Refrigeration unit.

2. a compressor unit having a compressor and an expander driven by a drive shaft of a drive device; a first cooler that cools the high-pressure refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor and sends the cooled refrigerant gas to the expander; a second cooler as a brine cooler that cools brine using the low-pressure refrigerant gas whose expansion energy has been recovered by the expander and returns the brine to the compressor; a regenerative heat exchanger that exchanges heat between the refrigerant gas sent from the first cooler to the expander and the refrigerant gas returned from the second cooler to the compressor; Equipped with the regenerative heat exchanger is disposed vertically below the compressor unit, the first cooler and the second cooler are disposed adjacent to each other in a horizontal direction, the first cooler and the second cooler are disposed adjacent to the regenerative heat exchanger in a horizontal direction intersecting a direction in which the first cooler and the second cooler are adjacent to each other, The expander and one horizontal side of the second cooler are connected by a pipe that sends low-pressure refrigerant gas from the expander to the second cooler, and the one horizontal side of the second cooler and one horizontal side of the regenerative heat exchanger are connected by a pipe that sends refrigerant gas from the second cooler to the regenerative heat exchanger. Refrigeration unit.

3. a pipe for sending refrigerant gas from the regenerative heat exchanger to the expander being made of metal, a pipe for sending low-pressure refrigerant gas from the expander to the second cooler being made of flexible metal, and a pipe for returning refrigerant gas from the regenerative heat exchanger to the compressor and a pipe for sending high-pressure refrigerant gas from the compressor to the first cooler being made of rubber pipes; The refrigerator unit according to claim 1 .

4. the compressor unit, the first cooler, the second cooler, and the regenerative heat exchanger are disposed inside a housing, and at least the compressor unit is supported on a movable base and can be pulled out from the housing. The refrigerator unit according to claim 1 .

5. A cooling path is provided through which a cooling medium flows in the drive unit and the inverter of the drive unit. The refrigerator unit according to claim 1 .

6. The cooling medium is a refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor and then cooled by the first cooler, or a low-pressure refrigerant gas whose expansion energy has been recovered by the expander. The refrigerator unit according to claim 5.

7. The second cooler is a brine cooler that cools brine using low-pressure refrigerant gas whose expansion energy has been recovered by the expander, and includes a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the refrigerant gas returned from the brine cooler to the regenerative heat exchanger, and a control device that controls the rotation speed of the drive device based on the temperature of the refrigerant gas measured by the temperature sensor. The refrigerator unit according to claim 1 .

8. A power supply device that supplies power to the drive device and the control device, a power failure detector that detects a power loss of the power supply device, and a power storage device that supplies power to the drive device and the control device when the power failure detector detects a power loss of the power supply device, The refrigerator unit according to claim 7.

9. The drive device includes a housing having a cylindrical stator on an inner periphery thereof, a rotating shaft having a rotor disposed inside the housing and facing the stator, a gas bearing rotatably supporting the rotating shaft, and a gas supply path for supplying to the gas bearing a high-pressure refrigerant gas that has been compressed by the compressor and then cooled by the first cooler or a low-pressure refrigerant gas whose expansion energy has been recovered by the expander. The refrigerator unit according to claim 1 .

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