Refrigeration cycle equipment

Abstract

The refrigeration cycle system includes a compressor, condenser, pressure reducing device, and evaporator, a refrigerant circuit through which the refrigerant circulates, a cooling device positioned at the air intake on the upstream side of the condenser and having a water-retaining filter that holds water, which cools the condenser by lowering the temperature of the air after it passes through the water-retaining filter through vaporization of water, and passing the cooled air through to the condenser, an air temperature sensor positioned between the water-retaining filter and the condenser that detects the intake air temperature, which is the temperature of the air that has passed through the water-retaining filter, a condensation temperature sensor that detects the condensation temperature of the condenser, a blower that supplies air to the condenser, and a control device. The control device controls the temperature difference between the condensation temperature and the intake air temperature by controlling the rotation speed of the blower motor, and controls the spraying and stopping of water spraying on the water-retaining filter in the cooling device based on the motor control state, and sprays water on the water-retaining filter in the cooling device when the blower motor is rotating at its maximum rotation speed.

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , ,

[0001] [[ID=​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a refrigeration cycle system comprising a refrigerant circuit and an indirect water-sprinkling type cooling device. The cooling device of Patent Document 1 includes a water-retaining filter that is kept moist by water dripped from above. The cooling device of Patent Document 1 also has a blower that forms an airflow that passes through the condenser. In the cooling device of Patent Document 1, the water-retaining filter is positioned on the windward side of the condenser, and the temperature of the air after passing through the water-retaining filter, i.e., the intake air temperature, is lowered by the latent heat of vaporization of water, and the condenser is cooled by the lowered temperature air, thereby improving condensation performance. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-90134 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] In refrigeration and air conditioning equipment employing an indirect water-spraying auxiliary cooling device, such as the refrigeration cycle device described in Patent Document 1, water spraying onto the condenser improves cooling capacity when operating at high ambient temperatures. However, in the refrigeration cycle device described in Patent Document 1, the optimal timing for water spraying and the control method for the fan during water spraying have not been established to optimize energy-saving performance during operation. In refrigeration cycle devices, there is a desire for improved high ambient temperature capacity, that is, improved ability to continue stable operation even at high ambient temperatures, as well as improved energy-saving performance.

[0007] This disclosure aims to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a refrigeration cycle device that can improve the ability to continue operating stably even under high ambient temperatures, as well as improve energy-saving performance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The refrigeration cycle system according to this disclosure comprises a compressor, a condenser, a pressure reducing device, and an evaporator, which are sequentially connected by refrigerant piping to circulate the refrigerant; a cooling device positioned at the air intake on the upstream side of the condenser and having a water-retaining filter that holds water, which cools the condenser by lowering the temperature of the air after it has passed through the water-retaining filter through the vaporization of water, and passing the cooled air through to the condenser; an air temperature sensor positioned between the water-retaining filter and the condenser in the direction of airflow through the water-retaining filter and detecting the intake air temperature, which is the temperature of the air that has passed through the water-retaining filter; a condensation temperature sensor that detects the condensation temperature of the condenser; a blower that supplies air to the condenser; and a control device, wherein the control device is The rotation speed of the blower motor is controlled so that the temperature difference between the condensation temperature and the intake air temperature is a predetermined value. When the blower motor is running at its maximum rotational speed, water is sprayed onto the water retention filter in the cooling system. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The refrigeration cycle device described herein can improve the ability to continue operating stably even under high ambient temperatures, and can also improve energy-saving performance. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a schematic refrigerant circuit diagram showing an example of the configuration of a refrigeration cycle device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram of the cooling device of the refrigeration cycle device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of a refrigeration cycle device according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram of the cooling device of the refrigeration cycle device according to Embodiment 2. [Figure 5] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the refrigeration cycle device according to Embodiment 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] The following description details a refrigeration cycle device according to an embodiment, with reference to the drawings. This disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of this disclosure.

[0012] Embodiment 1. [Refrigeration cycle device 100] Figure 1 is a schematic refrigerant circuit diagram showing an example configuration of a refrigeration cycle device 100 according to Embodiment 1. The refrigeration cycle device 100 is used for refrigeration or air conditioning applications, such as refrigerators or freezers, vending machines, air conditioning systems, refrigeration equipment, and water heaters. In the following description, the refrigeration cycle device 100 will be described in the case where it is used for air conditioning applications, but the refrigeration cycle device 100 is not limited to those used for air conditioning applications.

[0013] The refrigeration cycle device 100 has a compressor 11, a condenser 12, a pressure reducing device 13, and an evaporator 21, which are sequentially connected by refrigerant piping 10a to form a refrigerant circuit 10b through which the refrigerant circulates. The refrigeration cycle device 100 also includes a cooling device 30, an air temperature sensor 61, a condensation temperature sensor 60, a blower 12a, and a control device 40. The refrigeration cycle device 100 will be described in more detail below.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the refrigeration cycle system 100 includes a refrigeration unit 10 and a cooling unit 30 for cooling the condenser 12 of the refrigeration unit 10, which will be described later. The refrigeration unit 10 includes an outdoor unit 1 and an indoor unit 2. The outdoor unit 1 includes a compressor 11, a condenser 12, a blower 12a, and a pressure reducing device 13. The indoor unit 2 includes an evaporator 21. The compressor 11, condenser 12, pressure reducing device 13, and evaporator 21 are sequentially connected by refrigerant piping 10a, forming a refrigerant circuit 10b through which the refrigerant circulates. The pressure reducing device 13 is located in the outdoor unit 1, but it may also be located in the indoor unit 2, or in both the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2.

[0015] The compressor 11 draws in low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant, compresses it, and discharges it as high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. The compressor 11 is an inverter compressor, such as a scroll type, rotary type, reciprocating type, or screw type, whose capacity can be controlled by an inverter. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 flows into the condenser 12.

[0016] The condenser 12 performs heat exchange between the air supplied by the blower 12a (described later) and the refrigerant, cooling and condensing the refrigerant. The condenser 12 is, for example, a finned tube heat exchanger. The condenser 12 is, for example, an aluminum heat exchanger in which the fins 12b and heat transfer tubes 12c are made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The condenser 12 is composed of a heat exchanger having a plurality of heat transfer tubes 12c through which the refrigerant flows, and the plurality of heat transfer tubes 12c are made of aluminum pipes. Note that the condenser 12 is not limited to an aluminum heat exchanger, and may also be a heat exchanger composed of copper. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 becomes a low-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant in the condenser 12, and after flowing out of the condenser 12, flows into the depressurizing device 13.

[0017] The pressure reducing device 13 reduces the pressure and expands the liquid refrigerant that flows out of the condenser 12 and into the pressure reducing device 13. The pressure reducing device 13 is, for example, an electronic expansion valve with adjustable opening. In addition to an electronic expansion valve, the pressure reducing device 13 may also be a mechanical expansion valve with a diaphragm in the pressure-receiving part, a thermostatic expansion valve, a capillary tube, or any other type that performs a similar function. The liquid refrigerant reduced in pressure by the pressure reducing device 13 flows out of the pressure reducing device 13 and then into the evaporator 21.

[0018] The evaporator 21 is, for example, a fin-tube type heat exchanger or the like, and performs heat exchange between the air in the target space such as the indoor space supplied by a blower (not shown) including a fan and the refrigerant flowing out from the pressure reducing device 13 and flowing into the evaporator 21, and evaporates the refrigerant. The evaporator 21 may be a water-cooled heat exchanger such as a plate type heat exchanger in addition to an air-cooled type. In this case, the evaporator 21 performs heat exchange between the water supplied by a water pump (not shown) or the like and the refrigerant. The refrigerant flowing out from the evaporator 21 flows into the compressor 11.

[0019] During the cooling operation, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 11 becomes a high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant and is sent into the condenser 12. The refrigerant flowing into the condenser 12 exchanges heat with the outside air conveyed by the blower 12a and liquefies by releasing heat. The liquefied refrigerant is depressurized by the pressure reducing device 13 to become a gas-liquid two-phase state and flows into the evaporator 21. The refrigerant flowing into the evaporator 21 exchanges heat with the air in the target space supplied by a blower (not shown), gasifies by absorbing heat, and is returned to the compressor 11. As described above, the refrigeration cycle device 100 performs the cooling operation by circulating the refrigerant through the refrigerant circuit 10b. The air in the target space is cooled by exchanging heat with the refrigerant flowing into the evaporator 21, and the cold air is sent from the indoor unit 2 into the target space to cool the target space.

[0020] (Cooling device 30) FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the cooling device 30 of the refrigeration cycle device 100 according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the refrigeration cycle device 100 according to Embodiment 1. In FIG. 2, the configurations such as the compressor 11 that are unnecessary for the explanation of the cooling device 30 are not shown. The cooling device 30 of the refrigeration cycle device 100 according to Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0021] The cooling device 30 includes an evaporative air cooling device 31, a water supply device 32, and a drain bucket 33, etc. As shown in Figure 2, the cooling device 30 is an indirect water-spraying type cooling device and includes the above-mentioned evaporative air cooling device 31, water supply device 32, drain bucket 33, as well as a water recovery device 34 and a pump 35. In Figure 2, the direction indicated by the white arrow, that is, the direction viewed from the left side of Figure 2, is considered the front of the evaporative air cooling device 31. In the following description, the left-right direction in Figure 2 is considered the depth direction, and the direction perpendicular to the plane of Figure 2 is considered the width direction.

[0022] The evaporative air cooling device 31 is equipped with a water-retaining filter 31a that absorbs water dripped from the water supply device 32 and maintains a moist state. The water-retaining filter 31a is positioned on the windward side of the condenser 12 and is sized to cover the entire condenser 12 when viewed from the front. The water-retaining filter 31a is, for example, commonly known as a cooling pad and is made of processed wood chip paper, polyethylene, and glass fiber, and has been commercially available for a long time. As shown by the thin arrows, outside air passes through the water-retaining filter 31a, and the outside air that has passed through the water-retaining filter 31a flows into the condenser 12.

[0023] The water supply device 32 is positioned above the evaporative air cooling device 31 and supplies water to the upper surface of the evaporative air cooling device 31. The water supply device 32 has a length approximately the same as the width of the evaporative air cooling device 31, and for example, multiple holes are drilled in a pipe, through which water is dripped or sprayed onto the upper surface of the evaporative air cooling device 31.

[0024] The drain bucket 33 is located below the evaporative air cooling device 31 and is a bucket that collects water that is not absorbed by the water retention filter 31a after being sprayed from the water supply device 32 onto the water retention filter 31a. The water collected in the drain bucket 33 is recovered by the water recovery device 34 via the water distribution pipe 33a.

[0025] The water recovery device 34 is a device that recovers water drained from the evaporative air cooling device 31. The water recovery device 34 includes a water storage tank 34a for storing water, a float 34b that moves vertically according to the height of the liquid level in the water storage tank 34a, and a float valve 34c that opens and closes according to the position of the float 34b. Replenishment water, such as tap water, is supplied to the water recovery device 34 from a replenishment water pipe 34d.

[0026] The float valve 34c opens when the float 34b descends after the liquid level in the water storage tank 34a falls below a set height. When the float valve 34c is open, water is supplied to the water storage tank 34a from the replenishment water pipe 34d. When the replenishment water is supplied to the water storage tank 34a and the liquid level rises above the set height, the float 34b rises and the float valve 34c closes. When the float valve 34c is closed, the supply of water from the replenishment water pipe 34d is stopped.

[0027] Pump 35 pumps water from the water storage tank 34a of the water recovery device 34 and supplies it to the water supply device 32 via the water supply pipe 35a. Pump 35 is operated and controlled by signals from the control device 40, which will be described later. Pump 35 is connected to the control device 40 by an external contact signal output method. The signal output method from the control device 40 to the pump 35 is not limited to a contact method; it may also be a wired or wireless communication method, or an analog signal output method such as DC 4-20mA.

[0028] In the cooling device 30 with the above configuration, water in the water recovery device 34 is pumped up by the pump 35 and supplied from the water supply device 32 to the evaporative air cooling device 31 via the water supply pipe 35a. The water supplied to the evaporative air cooling device 31 is absorbed by the water retention filter 31a, and the water that is not absorbed by the water retention filter 31a and is drained from the water retention filter 31a is first collected in the drain bucket 33 and then recovered to the water recovery device 34 via the water distribution pipe 33a. The water recovered in the water recovery device 34 is pumped up again by the pump 35 and circulated within the cooling device 30 as described above.

[0029] As shown by the thin arrows in Figure 2, outside air passes through the water-retaining filter 31a. The cooling device 30 lowers the temperature of the outside air passing through the water-retaining filter 31a by the latent heat of vaporization of the water held in the water-retaining filter 31a, and cools the condenser 12 by passing the cooled air through to the condenser 12. In other words, the cooling device 30 is located in the air intake section 12d on the upwind side of the condenser 12, has a water-retaining filter 31a that holds water, and cools the condenser 12 by lowering the temperature of the air after it passes through the water-retaining filter 31a due to the vaporization of water, and by passing the cooled air through to the condenser 12.

[0030] The refrigeration cycle device 100 is equipped with a water-retaining filter 31a at the air intake section 12d of the heat exchanger that constitutes the condenser 12, enabling indirect water-spraying cooling by flowing water through the water-retaining filter 31a to cool the passing air. The refrigeration cycle device 100 improves the cooling capacity by cooling the condenser 12 with the cooling device 30 in this way and improving the condensation performance of the condenser 12.

[0031] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the refrigeration cycle device 100 further includes a control device 40 that controls the entire refrigeration cycle device 100, a condensation temperature sensor 60, an air temperature sensor 61, a blower 12a, and the like.

[0032] The control device 40 performs, for example, control of the refrigerant circuit 10b, the cooling device 30, and the blower 12a. The control device 40 consists of a CPU (also called a Central Processing Unit, central processing unit, processing unit, arithmetic unit, microprocessor, microcomputer, or processor) that executes a program stored in dedicated hardware or memory.

[0033] If the control device 40 is dedicated hardware, it may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), an FPGA (field-programmable gate array), or a combination thereof. Each of the functional units realized by the control device 40 may be realized by individual hardware, or each functional unit may be realized by a single piece of hardware.

[0034] When the control device 40 is a CPU, each function performed by the control device 40 is realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software and firmware are written as programs and stored in memory. The CPU realizes each function of the control device 40 by reading and executing the programs stored in memory. Here, the memory is a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, EPROM, or EEPROM.

[0035] The control device 40 may implement some of its functions using dedicated hardware and some of its functions using software or firmware.

[0036] The condensation temperature sensor 60 is placed in the condenser 12 and detects the condensation temperature of the condenser 12. The condensation temperature detected by the condensation temperature sensor 60 is input to the control device 40.

[0037] The air temperature sensor 61 is positioned on the upwind side of the condenser 12 in a location unaffected by indirect water spraying, and detects the temperature of the air before it flows into the condenser 12 and the air that passes through the condenser 12. The air temperature sensor 61 is positioned between the water retention filter 31a and the condenser 12 in the direction of airflow through the water retention filter 31a, and detects the intake air temperature, which is the temperature of the air that has passed through the water retention filter 31a. The intake air temperature measured by the air temperature sensor 61 is input to the control device 40.

[0038] The blower 12a has a motor 12a1 and a plurality of blades 12a2. The rotation of the motor 12a1 and the plurality of blades 12a2 transports air and supplies it to the condenser 12. In the refrigeration cycle device 100, the rotation of the blades 12a2 of the blower 12a causes air to pass through the condenser 12, and air also flows through the air passage 15 formed inside the outdoor unit 1. The rotation speed of the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is controlled by the control device 40.

[0039] The condensation temperature and intake air temperature input to the control device 40 are used to control the refrigerant circuit 10b, the cooling device 30, and the blower 12a, etc.

[0040] For example, the control device 40 controls the temperature difference between the condensation temperature and the intake air temperature by controlling the rotation speed of the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a. The control device 40 controls the temperature difference between the condensation temperature and the intake air temperature with the aim of optimizing energy saving performance considering the input to the compressor 11. For example, the control device 40 controls the rotation speed of the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a so that the temperature difference between the condensation temperature and the intake air temperature is maintained at T℃. Note that T℃, the temperature difference between the condensation temperature and the intake air temperature, is set as appropriate. If the temperature difference between the condensation temperature and the intake air temperature exceeds T℃, the control device 40 increases the rotation speed of the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a. If the temperature difference between the condensation temperature and the intake air temperature falls below T℃, the control device 40 decreases the rotation speed of the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a.

[0041] Controlling the temperature difference between the condensation temperature and the intake air temperature means widening or narrowing the temperature difference by raising or lowering the controllable condensation temperature. The reference is a preset target temperature difference (T°C in a specific example), and the condensation temperature is controlled so that the current temperature difference is T°C. Increasing the rotational speed of the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a can lower the condensation temperature (high pressure), which reduces the input to the compressor. The total electrical input is mainly the sum of the inputs from the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a and the compressor 11, and the target temperature difference (T°C) is set so that the total input value is minimized. The airflow rate is controlled by the rotational speed of the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a, and the airflow rate affects the heat exchange performance, which in turn affects the temperature difference, such that, for example, higher wind speed results in higher performance. Specifically, the equation heat exchange amount Q = heat transfer area A × heat transfer coefficient K × temperature difference ΔT holds true, and the heat transfer coefficient K changes in proportion to the wind speed. If the heat exchange rate Q and the heat transfer area A are constant, the fluctuation in the heat transfer coefficient K corresponds to the fluctuation in the temperature difference ΔT, and the temperature difference can be controlled by controlling the airflow rate of the blower 12a's motor 12a1.

[0042] Furthermore, the control device 40 controls the water spraying and stopping of water spraying to the water retention filter 31a in the cooling device 30 based on the control state of the motor 12a1. The control device 40 sprays water to the water retention filter 31a in the cooling device 30 when the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is rotating at its maximum speed. The timing of water spraying by the control device 40 is such that the fan control of the blower 12a is at full speed. Note that the state in which the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is rotating at its maximum speed is when the temperature difference between the condensation temperature and the intake air temperature exceeds the target value (T℃). Since the upper limit of the rotation speed is determined by the specifications of the blower motor, there is also an upper limit to the airflow. When the heat exchange amount Q is large, the heat transfer coefficient K needs to be considerably large in order to make the temperature difference reach the target value (T°C). However, if the rotational speed of the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is reached first, the control device 40 will keep the motor 12a1 rotating at its maximum speed. When the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is rotating at its upper limit, the motor 12a1 will continue to rotate at its maximum speed.

[0043] The refrigeration cycle unit 100 is equipped with a blower 12a that controls the temperature difference between the condensation temperature and the intake air temperature. The intake air temperature is detected by the air temperature at the outlet of the water retention filter 31a, and water is sprayed when the blower 12a is operating at full speed. The control device 40 stops water spraying to the water retention filter 31a in the cooling device 30 when the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is not rotating at its maximum speed. The refrigeration cycle unit 100 detects the intake air temperature at the air outlet of the water retention filter 31a, and the same control can be applied whether water is being sprayed or not, thus optimizing energy-saving performance.

[0044] More specifically, the cooling device 30 includes a pump 35 for circulating water, as described above. As shown in Figure 3, the control device 40 controls the blower 12a based on the condensation temperature detected by the condensation temperature sensor 60 and the intake air temperature detected by the air temperature sensor 61. Also, as shown in Figure 3, the control device 40 controls the operation and stopping of the pump 35 based on the condensation temperature detected by the condensation temperature sensor 60 and the intake air temperature detected by the air temperature sensor 61.

[0045] The control device 40 controls the temperature difference between the condensation temperature and the intake air temperature by controlling the rotation speed of the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a. When the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is rotating at its maximum speed, the control device 40 operates the pump 35 to spray water onto the water retention filter 31a. When the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is not rotating at its maximum speed, the control device 40 stops the pump 35 and stops spraying water onto the water retention filter 31a.

[0046] [Effects and Effects of Refrigeration Cycle Device 100] The refrigeration cycle device 100 includes a compressor 11, a condenser 12, a pressure reducing device 13, and an evaporator 21, which are sequentially connected by refrigerant piping 10a to form a refrigerant circuit 10b through which the refrigerant circulates. The refrigeration cycle device 100 also includes a cooling device 30 positioned at the air intake 12d on the windward side of the condenser 12, which has a water-retaining filter 31a that holds water, and which cools the condenser 12 by lowering the temperature of the air after it passes through the water-retaining filter 31a through vaporization of the water, and passing the cooled air through the condenser 12. The refrigeration cycle device 100 also includes an air temperature sensor 61 positioned between the water-retaining filter 31a and the condenser 12 in the direction of airflow through the water-retaining filter 31a, which detects the intake air temperature, which is the temperature of the air that has passed through the water-retaining filter 31a. Furthermore, the refrigeration cycle device 100 includes a condensation temperature sensor 60 for detecting the condensation temperature of the condenser 12, a blower 12a for supplying air to the condenser 12, and a control device 40.

[0047] The control device 40 of the refrigeration cycle unit 100 controls the temperature difference between the condensation temperature and the intake air temperature by controlling the rotation speed of the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a, and also controls the spraying and stopping of water spraying onto the water retention filter 31a in the cooling unit 30 based on the control state of the motor 12a1. The control device 40 sprays water onto the water retention filter 31a in the cooling unit 30 when the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is rotating at its maximum rotation speed.

[0048] The refrigeration cycle system 100, with the above configuration, can improve its ability to continue operating stably even under high ambient temperatures, and can also improve its energy-saving performance. The effects of the refrigeration cycle system 100 will be described in more detail below.

[0049] The refrigeration cycle device 100 can cool the condenser 12 by an indirect water spraying method using a cooling device 30 having a water retention filter 31a, thereby improving high ambient temperature capacity, i.e., improving the ability to continue stable operation even under high ambient temperatures. The refrigeration cycle device 100 can cool the condenser 12 by an indirect water spraying method based on the above configuration, thereby avoiding increased power consumption and high pressure rises required to satisfy the necessary capacity of the condenser at high ambient temperatures such as in summer, and improving energy-saving performance.

[0050] Furthermore, as described above, the control device 40 sprays water onto the water retention filter 31a in the cooling device 30 when the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is rotating at its maximum speed. In the refrigeration cycle device 100, the potential of the condenser 12 reaches its upper limit when the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is rotating at its maximum speed and the capacity of the blower 12a is at its maximum. The cooling effect of the condenser by water spraying is maximized in the refrigeration cycle device when the potential of the condenser is at its upper limit. Since the refrigeration cycle device 100 sprays water onto the water retention filter 31a when the potential of the condenser 12 is at its upper limit, the cooling effect of water spraying on the condenser 12 is maximized. Compared to the case where water is sprayed when the cooling effect of water spraying on the condenser is not at its maximum, the refrigeration cycle device 100 can cool the condenser 12 more efficiently and improve energy saving performance. Furthermore, the refrigeration cycle device 100 can minimize the amount of water sprayed compared to when water spraying is performed when the cooling effect of water spraying on the condenser is not at its maximum, thereby improving energy-saving performance.

[0051] Furthermore, the refrigeration cycle device 100 performs water spraying when the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is rotating at its maximum speed, thus maximizing the cooling effect of the water spray on the condenser 12. Compared to the case where water spraying is performed when the cooling effect of the water spray on the condenser is not at its maximum, the refrigeration cycle device 100 can cool the condenser 12 more efficiently, thereby improving energy-saving performance. In addition, compared to the case where water spraying is performed when the cooling effect of the water spray on the condenser is not at its maximum, the refrigeration cycle device 100 can minimize the amount of water sprayed, thereby improving energy-saving performance.

[0052] The refrigeration cycle device 100, having the above configuration, can detect the intake air temperature at the air outlet of the water retention filter 31a and can handle both cases, with and without water spraying, with the same control, thereby optimizing energy-saving performance. The refrigeration cycle device 100, having the above configuration, can detect the intake air temperature at the air outlet of the water retention filter 31a and can standardize the control of the blower 12a, with and without water spraying, thereby optimizing energy-saving performance.

[0053] Furthermore, the cooling device 30 is equipped with a pump 35 for circulating water. The control device 40 controls the operation and stopping of the pump 35, and when the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is rotating at its maximum speed, the pump 35 is operated to spray water onto the water retention filter 31a. With this configuration, the refrigeration cycle device 100 can efficiently cool the condenser 12 by operating the pump 35 compared to when water is sprayed when the cooling effect of water spraying on the condenser is not at its maximum, thereby improving energy saving performance. In addition, the refrigeration cycle device 100 can minimize the amount of water sprayed by operating the pump 35 compared to when water is sprayed when the cooling effect of water spraying on the condenser is not at its maximum, thereby improving energy saving performance.

[0054] Furthermore, the condenser 12 is composed of a heat exchanger having multiple heat transfer tubes 12c through which a refrigerant flows, and the multiple heat transfer tubes 12c are made of aluminum. The refrigeration cycle system 100 can cool the condenser 12 by an indirect water spraying method using a cooling device 30 having a water retention filter 31a, eliminating the need to spray water on the aluminum heat transfer tubes 12c. Compared to a refrigeration cycle system having a cooling device with a direct water spraying method that directly sprays water onto the condenser to lower the temperature of the intake air, the refrigeration cycle system 100 can improve high outside air capacity while avoiding aluminum corrosion of the heat transfer tubes 12c.

[0055] Embodiment 2. Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of the cooling device 30 of the refrigeration cycle device 100 according to Embodiment 2. Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the refrigeration cycle device 100 according to Embodiment 2. Note that in Figure 4, components such as the compressor 11, which are not necessary for the explanation of the cooling device 30, are omitted from the illustration. The cooling device 30 of the refrigeration cycle device 100 according to Embodiment 2 will be explained using Figures 4 and 5. Components that have the same function and operation as the cooling device 30 according to Embodiment 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals and their explanations are omitted. The following explanation will focus on the differences between Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 1, and components not explained in Embodiment 2 are the same as in Embodiment 1.

[0056] The cooling device 30, like the cooling device 30 according to Embodiment 1, has a water supply device 32 positioned above the water retention filter 31a and supplying water to the upper surface of the water retention filter 31a. The cooling device 30 according to Embodiment 2 further has a supply pipe 35a1 that supplies water to the water supply device 32, and an on / off valve 36 provided in the supply pipe 35a1 that adjusts the amount of water flowing into the water supply device 32.

[0057] The supply pipe 35a1 is a pipe through which water flows and is connected to the water supply device 32. The supply pipe 35a1 is used to supply water to the water supply device 32. The water supply device 32 is supplied with tap water or other supply water from the supply pipe 35a1. In Figure 4, the supply pipe 35a1 is shown as a separate pipe from the water supply pipe 35a, but the supply pipe 35a1 may be connected to the water supply pipe 35a.

[0058] The on-off valve 36 may be configured to open or close the water flow path supplied to the water supply device 32. The on-off valve 36 may be configured as, for example, a two-way valve, and its opening and closing is controlled by the control device 40. The on-off valve 36 may be configured as, for example, a solenoid valve. Alternatively, the on-off valve 36 may be configured as, for example, a valve whose opening degree (opening area) can be controlled.

[0059] In the refrigeration cycle device 100, when the on-off valve 36 is fully closed, the on-off valve 36 blocks the flow of water through the supply pipe 35a1 and stops the inflow of water into the water supply device 32. In the refrigeration cycle device 100, when the on-off valve 36 is fully closed, the inflow of water into the water supply device 32 stops, and therefore, water is not sprayed onto the water retention filter 31a in the cooling device 30.

[0060] In the refrigeration cycle device 100, when the on-off valve 36 is opened, water flows through the supply pipe 35a1 and into the water supply device 32. In the refrigeration cycle device 100, when the on-off valve 36 is opened, water flows into the water supply device 32, causing water to be sprayed onto the water retention filter 31a in the cooling device 30.

[0061] The control device 40 controls the temperature difference between the condensation temperature and the intake air temperature, for example, by controlling the rotation speed of the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a. The control device 40 also controls the opening degree of the on-off valve 36 based on the control state of the blower 12a, such as the rotation speed of the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a.

[0062] The control device 40 controls the temperature difference between the condensation temperature and the intake air temperature by controlling the rotation speed of the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a, and also controls the spraying and stopping of water spraying onto the water retention filter 31a in the cooling device 30 based on the control state of the motor 12a1. The control device 40 sprays water onto the water retention filter 31a in the cooling device 30 when the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is rotating at its maximum rotation speed.

[0063] More specifically, the control device 40 opens the on-off valve 36 and sprays water onto the water retention filter 31a when the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is rotating at its maximum speed. When the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is not rotating at its maximum speed, the control device 40 completely closes the on-off valve 36 and stops spraying water onto the water retention filter 31a.

[0064] [Effects and Effects of Refrigeration Cycle Device 100] The cooling device 30 of the refrigeration cycle device 100 is positioned above the water retention filter 31a and has a water supply device 32 that supplies water to the upper surface of the water retention filter 31a. The cooling device 30 also has a supply pipe 35a1 that supplies water to the water supply device 32 and an on-off valve 36 provided in the supply pipe 35a1 that adjusts the amount of water flowing into the water supply device 32. When the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is rotating at its maximum speed, the control device 40 opens the on-off valve 36 and sprays water onto the water retention filter 31a.

[0065] The control device 40 controls the on-off valve 36, and when the motor 12a1 of the blower 12a is rotating at its maximum speed, it opens the on-off valve 36 to spray water onto the water retention filter 31a. With this configuration, the refrigeration cycle device 100 can cool the condenser 12 more efficiently compared to when water is sprayed when the cooling effect of water spraying on the condenser is not at its maximum, thereby improving energy saving performance. In addition, the refrigeration cycle device 100 can minimize the amount of water sprayed by controlling the on-off valve 36 compared to when water is sprayed when the cooling effect of water spraying on the condenser is not at its maximum, thereby improving energy saving performance.

[0066] The refrigeration cycle device 100 according to Embodiment 2 has the same configuration as the refrigeration cycle device 100 according to Embodiment 1, and therefore can exhibit the same effects as the refrigeration cycle device 100 according to Embodiment 1. That is, by having the above configuration, the refrigeration cycle device 100 can improve its ability to continue operating stably even under high ambient temperatures, and can also improve its energy-saving performance.

[0067] Each of the above embodiments 1 and 2 can be implemented in combination with each other. Furthermore, the configurations shown in the above embodiments are merely examples, and can be combined with other known technologies, and parts of the configuration can be omitted or modified without departing from the gist of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0068] 1 Outdoor unit, 2 Indoor unit, 10 Refrigeration system, 10a Refrigerant piping, 10b Refrigerant circuit, 11 Compressor, 12 Condenser, 12a Blower, 12a1 Motor, 12a2 Blades, 12b Fins, 12c Heat transfer tube, 12d Air intake, 13 Pressure reducing device, 15 Air passage, 21 Evaporator, 30 Cooling device, 31 Evaporative air cooling device, 31a Water retention filter, 32 Water supply device, 33 Drain bucket, 33a Water distribution pipe, 34 Water recovery device, 34a Water storage tank, 34b Float, 34c Float valve, 34d Makeup water pipe, 35 Pump, 35a Water supply pipe, 35a1 Supply pipe, 36 On / off valve, 40 Control device, 60 Condensation temperature sensor, 61 Air temperature sensor, 100 Refrigeration cycle device.

Claims

1. A refrigerant circuit comprising a compressor, condenser, pressure reducing device, and evaporator, which are sequentially connected by refrigerant piping to circulate the refrigerant, A cooling device is provided which is positioned in the air intake on the upwind side of the condenser and has a water-retaining filter that holds water, and which cools the condenser by lowering the temperature of the air after it has passed through the water-retaining filter through the vaporization of the water, and passing the cooled air through to the condenser. An air temperature sensor is positioned between the water-retaining filter and the condenser in the direction of airflow passing through the water-retaining filter, and detects the intake air temperature, which is the temperature of the air that has passed through the water-retaining filter. A condensation temperature sensor for detecting the condensation temperature of the condenser, A blower that supplies air to the condenser, Control device and Equipped with, The control device is The rotation speed of the blower motor is controlled so that the temperature difference between the condensation temperature and the intake air temperature is a predetermined value. A refrigeration cycle device that sprays water onto the water-retaining filter in the cooling device when the motor of the blower is rotating at its maximum speed.

2. The cooling device, The system includes a pump for circulating the aforementioned water, The control device is Controlling the operation and stopping of the aforementioned pump, The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pump is operated to spray water onto the water retention filter when the motor of the blower is rotating at its maximum speed.

3. The cooling device, A water supply device is positioned above the water retention filter and supplies water to the upper surface of the water retention filter, A supply pipe that supplies water to the aforementioned water supply device, A shut-off valve is provided in the supply pipe and adjusts the amount of water flowing into the water supply device, Having The control device is The refrigeration cycle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the on-off valve is opened and water is sprayed onto the water retention filter when the motor of the blower is rotating at its maximum speed.

4. The aforementioned condenser is, It is composed of a heat exchanger having multiple heat transfer tubes through which the refrigerant flows, The aforementioned plurality of heat transfer tubes are A refrigeration cycle device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising aluminum tubing.

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