REFRIGERATING APPARATUS

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerating apparatus.

A typical refrigerating apparatus includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. The high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant produced by the compressor is first sent to the condenser. In the condenser, heat exchange between the refrigerant and air is performed, and the refrigerant becomes a high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant.

Thereafter, by passing through the expansion valve, the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant are lowered, and the refrigerant becomes a low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant. Further, by exchanging heat with air in the evaporator, the refrigerant becomes a low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous refrigerant. In this process, the temperature of the space where the condenser or evaporator is installed is adjusted.

Here, in order to improve the output of the refrigerating apparatus, in recent years, a two-stage compression configuration in which a plurality of compressors is arranged in series may be adopted (see PCT International Publication No. WO 2017/081781WO2017081781A). In this case, an intermediate heat exchanger is generally disposed between the compressor on the low-pressure side and the compressor on the high-pressure side. The intermediate heat exchanger is provided to improve the efficiency of the refrigerating apparatus.

When the intermediate heat exchanger as described above is provided, if the outside air temperature is excessively low, the liquid refrigerant may remain in the intermediate heat exchanger. If this liquid refrigerant is sent to the high-pressure side compressor as it is when the refrigerating apparatus is started, liquid compression occurs, which affects the stable operation of the compressor.

The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerating apparatus that can be operated more stably.

In order to solve the above problems, a refrigerating apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a main circuit that is a circulation passage through which a refrigerant flows, a first compressor and a second compressor that are arranged in series on the main circuit, an intermediate heat exchanger that is disposed between the first compressor and the second compressor, a condenser that is disposed on a downstream side of the second compressor, a first expansion valve that is disposed on a downstream side of the condenser, a receiver that is disposed on a downstream side of the first expansion valve, a second expansion valve that is disposed on a downstream side of the receiver, an evaporator that is disposed on a downstream side of the second expansion valve, a three-way valve provided between the intermediate heat exchanger and the second compressor on the main circuit, a first bypass passage that couples the three-way valve and the receiver, a second bypass passage that couples the receiver, the three-way valve, and the second compressor, a check valve that is provided in the first bypass passage and allows the refrigerant to flow only in a direction from the three-way valve toward the receiver, a first solenoid valve that is provided in the second bypass passage and switches over to an open state of the second bypass passage, and a second solenoid valve that is provided between the receiver and the second expansion valve in the main circuit and switches over to an open state of the main circuit.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a refrigerating apparatus that can be operated more stably.

• FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of a refrigerating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
• FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of the refrigerating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure and is a diagram showing an operating state when only a second compressor is started.
• FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of the refrigerating apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, and is a diagram showing an operating state when only a first compressor is started.

Hereinafter, a refrigerating apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The refrigerating apparatus 100 is a heat pump type apparatus that exchanges heat between a refrigerant and air by operating in a refrigeration cycle.

As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerating apparatus 100 includes a main circuit 90 formed as a circulation passage, a first compressor 1, a second compressor 2, an intermediate heat exchanger 3, a condenser 4, a first expansion valve 5, a receiver 6, a second expansion valve 7, an evaporator 8, a first three-way valve 9, a first bypass passage 10, a second bypass passage 11, a first check valve 12, a first solenoid valve 13, a second solenoid valve 14, an accumulator 15, a third bypass passage 16, a second three-way valve 17, a second check valve 18, a control unit 80, and the like.

The main circuit 90 is filled in a state of a refrigerant in a liquid or a gas. The first compressor 1 and the second compressor 2 are arranged in series on the main circuit 90. That is, the discharge side of the first compressor 1 faces the suction side of the second compressor 2. As the first compressor 1 and the second compressor 2, for example, a scroll compressor, a rotary compressor, or a rotary compressor can be used. In the following description, on the main circuit 90, the side on which the second compressor 2 is located when viewed from the first compressor 1 may be referred to as a downstream side, and the opposite side thereof may be referred to as an upstream side.

The first three-way valve 9 and the second check valve 18 are arranged in this order on the downstream side of the first compressor 1. The details of the first three-way valve 9 will be described later. The second check valve 18 is configured to allow the refrigerant to flow only in the direction from the upstream side toward the downstream side.

The intermediate heat exchanger 3 is disposed between the first compressor 1 and the second compressor 2. In the intermediate heat exchanger 3, the high-temperature refrigerant discharged from the first compressor 1 is cooled by exchanging heat with the external air in the intermediate heat exchanger 3 and then sent to the second compressor 2. The intermediate heat exchanger 3 is provided for improving the efficiency of the refrigerating apparatus 100.

The condenser 4 is disposed on the downstream side of the second compressor 2. The condenser 4 is a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the external air and the refrigerant. A fan (not shown) is provided in the vicinity of the condenser 4, and it is possible to forcibly exchange heat between the air and the refrigerant. The high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant produced by the second compressor 2 is condensed by passing through the condenser 4 and becomes a high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant.

The first expansion valve 5 is provided on the downstream side of the condenser 4. The high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant supplied from the condenser 4 passes through the first expansion valve 5, the pressure and temperature decrease, and the refrigerant becomes a low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant.

The receiver 6 is coupled to the downstream side of the first expansion valve 5. The receiver 6 is a container for storing at least a part of the liquid refrigerant that has passed through the first expansion valve 5. The amount of liquid refrigerant that can exist in the main circuit 90 varies depending on the operating conditions. The receiver 6 is provided to cope with this variation.

The second solenoid valve 14 and the second expansion valve 7 are arranged in this order on the downstream side of the receiver 6. As will be described in detail later, the second solenoid valve 14 is provided to switch over to the open state of the main circuit 90. The second expansion valve 7 is provided to further reduce the temperature and pressure of the low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant that has passed through the receiver 6. The first expansion valve 5 and the second expansion valve 7 are electromagnetic expansion valves that can be switched between the open and closed states by an electric signal from the outside.

The evaporator 8 is provided on the downstream side of the second expansion valve 7. The evaporator 8 is a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the external air and the refrigerant. A fan (not shown) is provided in the vicinity of the evaporator 8 so that heat exchange between air and the refrigerant can be forcibly performed. The low-temperature and low-pressure liquid refrigerant that has passed through the second expansion valve 7 evaporates by exchanging heat with the outside air when passing through the evaporator 8 and becomes a low-temperature and low-pressure gaseous refrigerant.

The accumulator 15 is provided on the downstream side of the evaporator 8. The accumulator 15 is a container for storing the liquid refrigerant that could not be completely evaporated by the evaporator 8. After the liquid component is removed by the accumulator 15, the gaseous refrigerant is sent to the first compressor 1 again and compressed. By continuously repeating such a cycle (refrigeration cycle), the refrigerating apparatus 100 is operated.

The first bypass passage 10 is a passage coupling the first three-way valve 9 and the receiver 6. That is, the first bypass passage 10 branches from the main circuit 90 via the first three-way valve 9 and extends to the receiver 6. The first check valve 12 is provided on the first bypass passage 10. The first check valve 12 is configured to allow the refrigerant to flow only in the direction from the first three-way valve 9 toward the receiver 6.

The second bypass passage 11 couples the above-mentioned second check valve 18 and the second compressor 2, and the receiver 6. The first solenoid valve 13 is provided on the second bypass passage 11. The open and closed states of the first solenoid valve 13 can be switched by an electric signal from the outside.

The third bypass passage 16 is a passage that bypasses the downstream side of the accumulator 15 and between the first compressor 1 and the intermediate heat exchanger 3. The second three-way valve 17 is provided on the upstream side of the third bypass passage 16. That is, the third bypass passage 16 branches from the main circuit 90 via the second three-way valve 17.

The control unit 80 is provided to switch between the open and closed states of each valve device described above and the operating state of the first compressor 1 and the second compressor 2 by an electric signal. Specifically, the control unit 80 can switch between the open and closed states of the first expansion valve 5, the first three-way valve 9, the second three-way valve 17, the first solenoid valve 13, and the second solenoid valve 14. Further, the control unit 80 can place at least one of the first compressor 1 and the second compressor 2 in an operating state and the other in a stopped state.

Subsequently, an example of the operation of the refrigerating apparatus 100 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, in normal operation of the refrigerating apparatus 100, the control unit 80 closes the first solenoid valve 13. Further, the control unit 80 switches over to the open state of the first three-way valve 9 so that the first three-way valve 9 is opened only in the direction from the intermediate heat exchanger 3 toward the second compressor 2. Further, the control unit 80 switches over to the open state of the second three-way valve 17 so that the second three-way valve 17 is opened only in the direction from the accumulator 15 toward the first compressor 1. As a result, the first bypass passage 10, the second bypass passage 11, and the third bypass passage 16 are closed, and the refrigerant circulates only in the main circuit 90. In the middle of circulating in the main circuit 90, the above-mentioned refrigeration cycle occurs continuously.

Here, a part of the gaseous refrigerant may be condensed inside the intermediate heat exchanger 3 to generate a liquid refrigerant. In particular, if the outside air temperature is excessively low, the liquid refrigerant may remain in the intermediate heat exchanger 3. If this liquid refrigerant is sent to the compressor as it is when the refrigerating apparatus 100 is started, liquid compression occurs, which affects the stable operation of the compressor.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the first bypass passage 10, the second bypass passage 11, and the third bypass passage 16 are provided, respectively. For example, a case where only the second compressor 2 is started will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, in this case, the control unit 80 switches over to the open state of the first three-way valve 9 so that the first three-way valve 9 is opened only in the direction from the intermediate heat exchanger 3 toward the receiver 6. That is, the first bypass passage 10 is in an open state. Further, the control unit 80 opens the first solenoid valve 13 so that the second bypass passage 11 is opened. Further, the control unit 80 switches over to the open state of the second three-way valve 17 so that the refrigerant flows into the third bypass passage 16.

In this state, the flow of the refrigerant as shown by the arrow in FIG. 2 occurs. When only the second compressor 2 is started, the pumping force of the second compressor 2 is transmitted to the receiver 6 through the second bypass passage 11. As a result, the pressure in the receiver 6 is lowered. When the pressure in the receiver 6 is lowered, the liquid refrigerant remaining in the intermediate heat exchanger 3 flows toward the receiver 6 through the first bypass passage 10. This makes it possible to recover the liquid refrigerant in the intermediate heat exchanger to the receiver 6. In the receiver 6, only the liquid component is separated from the refrigerant and stored in the receiver 6. By performing such an operation for several minutes as an example, the liquid refrigerant is removed from the intermediate heat exchanger 3. Thereafter, the above-mentioned normal operation is started.

The third bypass passage 16 is placed in an open state in order to prevent the stopped first compressor 1 from being in a reverse pressure state when only the second compressor 2 is started.

Further, as another example, when only the first compressor 1 is started, the state is as shown in FIG. 3. In this case, the control unit 80 closes the first solenoid valve 13 and switches over to the open state of the first three-way valve 9 so that the first bypass passage 10 is opened. Further, the control unit 80 places the second solenoid valve 14 in an open state. Further, the third bypass passage 16 is in a closed state.

In this state, the flow of the refrigerant as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3 occurs. When only the first compressor 1 is started, the liquid refrigerant in the intermediate heat exchanger 3 located on the downstream side of the first compressor 1 is pumped through the first bypass passage 10 by the pumping force of the first compressor 1. The liquid refrigerant pumped through the first bypass passage 10 is stored in the receiver 6. In this way, the liquid refrigerant in the intermediate heat exchanger 3 can be recovered to the receiver 6. In the receiver 6, only the liquid component is separated from the refrigerant and stored in the receiver 6. By performing such an operation for several minutes as an example, the liquid refrigerant is removed from the intermediate heat exchanger 3. Thereafter, the above-mentioned normal operation is started.

As described above, in the refrigerating apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to remove the liquid refrigerant remaining in the intermediate heat exchanger 3 in advance prior to the normal operation. This reduces the possibility of liquid compression occurring in the second compressor 2. As a result, damage to the second compressor 2 is avoided, and the refrigerating apparatus 100 can be operated stably for a longer period of time.

Although the embodiment of the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment and includes design changes and the like within a range not deviating from the gist of the present disclosure.

The refrigerating apparatus 100 described in each embodiment is grasped as follows, for example.

1. (1) The refrigerating apparatus 100 according to a first aspect includes the main circuit 90 that is a circulation passage through which a refrigerant flows, the first compressor 1 and the second compressor 2 that are arranged in series on the main circuit 90, the intermediate heat exchanger 3 that is disposed between the first compressor 1 and the second compressor 2, the condenser 4 that is disposed on the downstream side of the second compressor 2, the first expansion valve 5 that is disposed on the downstream side of the condenser 4, the receiver 6 that is disposed on the downstream side of the first expansion valve 5, the second expansion valve 7 that is disposed on the downstream side of the receiver 6, the evaporator 8 that is disposed on the downstream side of the second expansion valve 7, the first three-way valve 9 that is provided between the intermediate heat exchanger 3 and the second compressor 2 on the main circuit 90, the first bypass passage 10 that couples the first three-way valve 9 and the receiver 6, the second bypass passage 11 that couples the receiver 6, the first three-way valve 9, and the second compressor 2, the first check valve 12 that is provided in the first bypass passage 10 and allows the refrigerant to flow only in the direction from the first three-way valve 9 toward the receiver 6, the first solenoid valve 13 that is provided in the second bypass passage 11 and switches over to the open state of the second bypass passage 11, and the second solenoid valve 14 that is provided between the receiver 6 and the second expansion valve 7 in the main circuit 90 and switches over to the open state of the main circuit 90.
   According to the above configuration, even when the liquid refrigerant remains in the intermediate heat exchanger 3, the liquid refrigerant can flow to the receiver 6 through the first bypass passage 10 and can be recovered.
2. (2) The refrigerating apparatus 100 according to a second aspect further includes the control unit 80 that switches between the open and closed states of the first expansion valve 5, the first three-way valve 9, the first solenoid valve 13, and the second solenoid valve 14, and the operating state of the first compressor 1 and the second compressor 2, in which when only the second compressor 2 is started, the control unit 80 closes the first expansion valve 5, opens the first solenoid valve 13, and opens the first three-way valve 9 only in the direction from the main circuit 90 toward the first bypass passage 10.
   According to the above configuration, when only the second compressor 2 is started, the pumping force of the second compressor 2 is transmitted to the receiver 6 through the second bypass passage 11. As a result, the pressure in the receiver 6 is lowered. When the pressure in the receiver 6 is lowered, the liquid refrigerant remaining in the intermediate heat exchanger 3 flows toward the receiver 6 through the first bypass passage 10. In this way, it is possible to recover the liquid refrigerant in the intermediate heat exchanger 3 to the receiver 6.
3. (3) In the refrigerating apparatus 100 according to the second aspect, when only the first compressor 1 is started, the control unit 80 closes the first expansion valve 5 and the first solenoid valve 13, opens the first three-way valve 9 only in the direction from the main circuit 90 toward the first bypass passage 10, and opens the second solenoid valve 14.

According to the above configuration, when only the first compressor 1 is started, the liquid refrigerant in the intermediate heat exchanger 3 located on the downstream side of the first compressor 1 is pumped through the first bypass passage 10 by the pumping force of the first compressor 1. The liquid refrigerant pumped through the first bypass passage 10 is stored in the receiver 6. In this way, the liquid refrigerant in the intermediate heat exchanger 3 can be recovered to the receiver 6.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, omissions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as being limited by the foregoing description and is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.

• 100 refrigerating apparatus
• 90 main circuit
• 80 control unit
• 1 first compressor
• 2 second compressor
• 3 intermediate heat exchanger
• 4 condenser
• 5 first expansion valve
• 6 receiver
• 7 second expansion valve
• 8 evaporator
• 9 first three-way valve (three-way valve)
• 10 first bypass passage
• 11 second bypass passage
• 12 first check valve (check valve)
• 13 first solenoid valve
• 14 second solenoid valve
• 15 accumulator
• 16 third bypass passage
• 17 second three-way valve
• 18 second check valve