JPH0264367A - heat pump equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a heat pump device that uses a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant and stores a high boiling point refrigerant to vary its composition through composition separation.

Conventional technology Conventionally, a heat pump device uses a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant and stores a high boiling point refrigerant through composition separation to vary the composition.
A device as shown in FIG. 4 has been proposed. In FIG. 4, 1 is a compressor, 2 is a condenser, 3 is a throttle device, and 4 is an evaporator, which are connected by piping to form a main circuit.

5 is a rectification separator filled with filler, and the upper part is a pipe 6
to the condenser 2 outlet, and also to the evaporator 4 via the pressure reducer 7.
Each is connected to the population. Further, a reservoir 8 is disposed below the rectification separator 5, the bottom of which is connected to a pressure reducer 7 via an on-off valve 9, and a heater 10 is provided inside the reservoir 8.

A method of enclosing a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant in such an apparatus and varying the composition will be described. First, when operating with the composition of the sealed mixed refrigerant unchanged (no separation mode), by turning off the heating heater 10, the reservoir 8
The main circuit simply stores excess refrigerant, and when the on-off valve 9 is closed, it is stored as it is, and when it is opened, it is stored and a part of it only flows out to the evaporator 4 via the pressure reducer 7. The system will be operated with the composition of the sealed mixed refrigerant rich in high boiling point refrigerant. Next, when storing high boiling point refrigerant and operating with a composition rich in low boiling point refrigerant (separation mode), close the on-off valve 9 and turn on the heating heater 10.
Among the refrigerants inside the reservoir 8, mainly low boiling point refrigerants are vaporized and rise inside the rectification separator 5. At this time, liquid refrigerant is supplied from the condenser 2 outlet via piping 6, and a rectification action occurs due to gas-liquid contact inside the rectification separator 5, and the rising gas increases the concentration of the low boiling point refrigerant, causing The concentration of the high boiling point refrigerant in the liquid that descends increases, and the high boiling point refrigerant is stored in the reservoir 8 in the form of a condensed liquid.

On the other hand, since the rising gas rich in low-boiling point refrigerant flows into the evaporator 4 via the pressure reducer 7, the main circuit can be operated with a composition rich in low-boiling point refrigerant.

This type of compositionally variable heat pump device is
For example, it is applied to water heaters, which operate with a high-boiling refrigerant-enriched composition to obtain high-temperature water during normal use, and when it is necessary to store hot water in the shortest possible time, a low-boiling refrigerant with high heating capacity is used. It becomes possible to operate with a rich composition.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above-mentioned heat pump device, the rectification separator is connected to the high-pressure side piping, so a high-temperature heat source such as a heating heater or compressor discharge side piping is used to perform the rectification action. This has the disadvantage that energy efficiency decreases when the composition is varied.

In the heat pump device of the present invention, by connecting the rectification separator to the main circuit via a pressure reducer so that the pressure is at an intermediate pressure, the heat pump device maintains an intermediate temperature when performing rectification separation during both heating operation and cooling operation. The present invention provides a heat pump cycle configuration in which a heat source such as the sensible heat of a liquid refrigerant at the outlet of a condenser can be used for therapeutic purposes.

Means for Solving the Problems The heat pump device of the present invention connects the upper part of the rectification separator provided with the reservoir at the lower part to the piping between the expansion device and the utilization side heat exchanger, and the expansion device and the heat source side heat exchanger. It is characterized by being connected to the pipes between the two via pressure reducers.

Furthermore, the reservoir installed at the bottom of the rectification separator must be connected to the piping between the heat exchanger on the user side and the expansion device, or the piping between the heat exchanger on the heat source side and the expansion device, via an on-off valve. It is characterized by:

In addition, check valves and pressure reducers are installed in the reservoir installed at the bottom of the rectification separator, and in the piping between the heat exchanger on the user side and the expansion device, and the piping between the heat exchanger on the heat source side and the expansion device. The apparatus is characterized in that the upper part of the rectification separator is connected between each of the back pressure valves and the pressure reducer.

Operation According to the above-described configuration, in the separation mode, the heater vaporizes mainly the low boiling point refrigerant in the refrigerant inside the reservoir, which is at an intermediate pressure, and rises inside the rectification separator. At this time, liquid refrigerant is supplied from the outlet of the heat exchanger, which serves as a condenser, via a pressure reducer, and a rectification action occurs due to gas-liquid contact inside the rectification separator, and the rising gas has a low boiling point refrigerant concentration. The concentration of the high boiling point refrigerant in the liquid rising and falling conversely increases, and the high boiling point refrigerant is stored in the reservoir in the form of a condensed liquid. On the other hand, the gas rich in low-boiling refrigerant that has risen is guided from the upper part of the rectification separator via a pressure reducer to the inlet side of a heat exchanger that becomes an evaporator. Since the composition of the refrigerant is separated at an intermediate pressure in this way, there is no need to raise the temperature of the heating heater, and it is possible to effectively utilize an intermediate temperature heat source, such as the sensible heat of the liquid refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser. Furthermore, in the non-separation mode, by turning off the heating heater, the system can be operated with the composition of the enclosed mixed refrigerant unchanged.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of the heat pump device of the present invention, in which 11 is a compressor, 12 is a four-way valve, 13 is a user side heat exchanger, 14 is a diaphragm device, and 15 is a heat source side heat exchanger. The main heat pump circuit is constructed by connecting these with piping. 16 is a rectification separator filled with filler, the upper part of which is connected to the piping between the expansion device 14 and the utilization side heat exchanger 13 via a first pressure reducer 17, and the rectification separator 16 The upper part of the compressor 14 and the heat exchanger 1 on the user side
3 via a second pressure reducer 18, and a reservoir 20 containing a heating heater 19 is provided below the rectification separator 16.

A method of enclosing a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant in such a heat pump device and varying the composition will be described. First, in the no-separation mode, by turning off the heating heater 19, during heating operation, a part of the refrigerant condensed in the user-side heat exchanger 13 is divided into the first pressure reducer 17, the rectification separator 16, and the It flows into the heat source side heat exchanger 15 which becomes an evaporator via the second pressure reducer 18. At this time, intermediate-pressure surplus refrigerant is stored in the reservoir 20, but the main circuit operates with the composition of the mixed refrigerant rich in high-boiling refrigerant sealed therein. Similarly, during the cooling operation, a part of the refrigerant condensed in the heat source side heat exchanger 15 is diverted to the second pressure reducer 1.
8, it flows through the rectification separator 16 and the first pressure reducer 17 into the user-side heat exchanger 13, which serves as an evaporator. At this time, reservoir 2
Although surplus refrigerant at an intermediate pressure is stored in the refrigerant 0, the main circuit operates with the composition of the mixed refrigerant rich in high boiling point refrigerant sealed therein.

Next, in the mode with separation during heating operation, heating heater 1
By turning on the refrigerant 9, mainly the low boiling point refrigerant in the refrigerant inside the reservoir 20, which is at intermediate pressure by the heating heater 19, is vaporized and rises inside the rectification separator 16. At this time, a part of the liquid refrigerant condensed in the user-side heat exchanger 13 is divided and supplied to the upper part of the rectification separator 16 via the first pressure reducer 17, and is caused by gas-liquid contact inside the rectification separator 16. A rectification effect occurs, and the rising gas has an increased concentration of low-boiling refrigerant,
Conversely, the concentration of the high boiling point refrigerant in the descending liquid increases, and the high boiling point refrigerant is stored in the storage device 20 in the form of a condensed liquid. On the other hand, the rising gaseous refrigerant rich in low boiling point refrigerant is reduced in pressure to the evaporation pressure by the second pressure reducer 18, and then merges with the refrigerant flowing in the main circuit and guided to the heat source side heat exchanger 15 which becomes an evaporator. . In this way, the main circuit can be operated with a mixed refrigerant composition enriched with low boiling point refrigerants.

In addition, even in the separation mode during cooling operation, by turning on the heating heater 19, mainly the low boiling point refrigerant in the refrigerant inside the reservoir 20, which is at an intermediate pressure, is vaporized, and the rectifying separator 16 Ascend inside. At this time, a part of the liquid refrigerant condensed in the heat source side heat exchanger 15 is divided and supplied to the upper part of the rectification separator 16 via the second pressure reducer 18, and is caused by gas-liquid contact inside the rectification separator 16. A rectification effect occurs, and the rising gas has an increased concentration of low-boiling point refrigerant, and conversely, the descending liquid has an increased concentration of high-boiling point refrigerant, and the high-boiling point refrigerant is stored in the reservoir 2o in the form of condensate. become. On the other hand, gaseous refrigerants rich in low boiling point refrigerants are
After being depressurized to the evaporation pressure by the first decompressor 17, it joins with the refrigerant flowing in the main circuit and is led to the user-side heat exchanger 13, which serves as an evaporator. In this way, the main circuit can be operated with a mixed refrigerant composition enriched with low boiling point refrigerants.

In order to restore the composition of the main circuit to its original state, the heating heater 19 is turned off, so that the high boiling point refrigerant in the reservoir 20 naturally diffuses and mixes with the mixed refrigerant rich in low boiling point refrigerant flowing through the main circuit. The main circuit has a sealed mixed refrigerant composition rich in high boiling point refrigerant.

Note that it goes without saying that a high-temperature heat source during the heat pump cycle, such as the discharge pipe of the compressor 11, may be used instead of the heater 19. Furthermore, in the present invention, the rectification separator has an intermediate pressure. Since the system is connected to the main circuit via a pressure reducer, during both heating and cooling operations, intermediate temperature heat sources such as the sensible heat of the liquid refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser can be effectively utilized during rectification separation. It is possible.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the heat pump device of the present invention, in which the same functional parts as in the embodiment of FIG. 1 are denoted by the same numbers.

In this embodiment, a reservoir 20 provided at the lower part of the rectification separator 16 is connected to a pipe between the user-side heat exchanger 13 and a throttle device 140 via an on-off valve 21.

In such a heat pump device, by closing the on-off valve 21, during heating operation in the separation mode,
The same operation as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 can be performed during both the cooling operation and the cooling operation. Also, when switching from the mode with separation to the mode without separation, the heating heater 19 is turned off,
By opening the on-off valve 21, during heating operation, part of the liquid refrigerant condensed in the user-side heat exchanger 13 is diverted to the first pressure reducer 17, on-off valve 21, reservoir 20, and rectification separator. 16, heat source side heat exchanger 15 via the second pressure reducer 1.8
Also, during cooling operation, a part of the liquid refrigerant condensed in the heat source side heat exchanger 15 is diverted to the second pressure reducer 18,
The high boiling point refrigerant in the storage device 20 is converted into a low boiling point refrigerant flowing through the main circuit by flowing into the user-side heat exchanger 15 via the rectifying separator 16, the storage device 201, the on-off valve 21, and the first pressure reducer 17. It can be forcibly mixed into a mixed refrigerant rich in high boiling point refrigerant, and in a short period of time the main circuit becomes encapsulated with a mixed refrigerant composition rich in high boiling point refrigerant.

Note that in this embodiment, the reservoir 20 has an on-off valve 21.
Although it is connected to the piping between the heat exchanger 13 on the user side and the expansion device 14 via the heat exchanger 15 on the heat source side, the same effect can be achieved when connected to the piping between the heat exchanger 15 on the heat source side and the expansion device 14. It is.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the heat pump device of the present invention, in which 22 is a compressor, 23 is a four-way valve, 24 is a utilization side heat exchanger, 25 is a throttle device, and 26 is a heat source side heat exchanger. The main heat pump circuit is constructed by connecting these with piping. A reservoir 29 which is provided at the bottom of the rectification separator 27 filled with filler material and has a built-in heating heater 28
A first check valve 30, a first pressure reducer 31, and a second check valve are installed in the piping between the user side heat exchanger 24 and the expansion device 25 and the piping between the heat source side heat exchanger 26 and the expansion device 25, respectively. Connected via a stop valve 32 and a second pressure reducer 33,
The upper part of the rectification separator 27 is connected to the first check valve 307 and the first pressure reducer 3.
1, it is connected between the second check valve 32 and the second pressure reducer 33.

A method of enclosing a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant in such a heat pump device and varying the composition will be described. First, in the no-separation mode, by turning off the heating heater 28, during heating operation, a part of the refrigerant condensed in the user-side heat exchanger 24 is divided into the first pressure reducer 31, the rectification separator 27, and the The refrigerant flows into the heat source side heat exchanger 26 which becomes an evaporator via the second pressure reducer 32, and a part of the refrigerant leaving the first pressure reducer 31 is transferred to the first check valve 30, the reservoir 29, and the rectification separator. 2
7. It flows into the heat source side heat exchanger 26 which becomes an evaporator via the second pressure reducer 32. At this time, surplus refrigerant at intermediate pressure is stored in the reservoir 29, but the main circuit continues to operate with the composition of the mixed refrigerant rich in high boiling point refrigerant sealed therein. Similarly, during cooling operation, the heat source side heat exchanger 26
A part of the refrigerant condensed in is diverted to the second pressure reducer 32,
It flows through the rectification separator 27 and the first pressure reducer 31 into the utilization side heat exchanger 24 which becomes an evaporator, and also flows into the second pressure reducer 33.
A part of the refrigerant that exits flows through the second check valve 32, the reservoir 29, the rectification separator 27, and the first pressure reducer 31 into the user-side heat exchanger 24, which serves as an evaporator. At this time, surplus refrigerant at intermediate pressure is stored in the reservoir 29, but the main circuit is operated with the composition of the mixed refrigerant rich in high boiling point refrigerant sealed therein.

Next, in the mode with separation during heating operation, heating heater 2
8 is turned on, mainly the low boiling point refrigerant in the refrigerant inside the reservoir 29 which is at an intermediate pressure by the heating heater 28 is vaporized and rises inside the rectification separator 27 . At this time, the pressure inside the reservoir 29 increases slightly due to heating, so a part of the liquid refrigerant condensed in the utilization side heat exchanger 24 is diverted and does not enter the reservoir 29 via the first pressure reducer 31. figure,
It is supplied to the upper part of the rectification separator 27, and a rectification action occurs due to gas-liquid contact inside the rectification separator 27. The rising gas increases the temperature of the low boiling point refrigerant, and conversely, the descending liquid increases the temperature of the high boiling point refrigerant. The concentration increases, and the high boiling point refrigerant is stored in the reservoir 29 in the form of condensate. On the other hand, the rising gas refrigerant rich in low boiling point refrigerant is reduced in pressure to the evaporation pressure by the second pressure reducer 32, and then merges with the refrigerant flowing in the main circuit and guided to the heat source side heat exchanger 26 which becomes an evaporator. . In this way, the main circuit can be operated with a mixed refrigerant composition rich in low boiling point refrigerants.

In addition, even in the separation mode during cooling operation, by turning on the heating heater 28, mainly the low boiling point refrigerant in the refrigerant inside the reservoir 29, which is at an intermediate pressure, is vaporized by the heating heater 28, and the rectifying separator 27 Ascend inside. At this time, the pressure inside the reservoir 29 increases slightly due to heating, so a part of the liquid refrigerant condensed in the heat source side heat exchanger 26 is diverted and does not enter the reservoir 29 via the second pressure reducer 32. First, the rectifying separator 27 is supplied to the upper part of the rectifying separator 27, and a rectifying action occurs due to gas-liquid contact inside the rectifying separator 27. The rising gas has an increased concentration of low-boiling point refrigerant, and conversely, the descending liquid has a high-boiling point refrigerant. The concentration of the refrigerant increases, and the high boiling point refrigerant is stored in the reservoir 29 in the form of condensate. On the other hand, the gas refrigerant rich in low boiling point refrigerant that has risen is reduced in pressure to the evaporation pressure by the first pressure reducer 31, and then merges with the refrigerant flowing in the main circuit,
The heat exchanger 24 serves as an evaporator. In this way, the main circuit can be operated with a mixed refrigerant composition rich in low boiling point refrigerants.

In addition, in order to restore the composition of the main circuit to its original state, the pressure in the reservoir 29 is reduced by turning off the heating heater 28.
Therefore, the refrigerant flow is the same as in the no-separation mode,
The high boiling point refrigerant in the reservoir 29 is mixed with the mixed refrigerant rich in low boiling point refrigerant flowing through the main circuit, so that the main circuit has a composition of the enclosed refrigerant mixture rich in high boiling point refrigerant.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above explanation, the heat pump device of the present invention connects the upper part of the rectification separator provided with the reservoir at the lower part to the piping between the expansion device and the utilization side heat exchanger and the expansion device. Since the configuration is characterized in that the piping between the heat exchanger and the heat source side is connected via a pressure reducer, the rectification separator is at an intermediate pressure during both heating operation and cooling operation. It is possible to effectively utilize a heat source at an intermediate temperature, such as the sensible heat of the liquid refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser.

Furthermore, the reservoir provided at the bottom of the rectification separator can be connected to the piping between the user-side heat exchanger and the expansion device, or the piping between the heat source-side heat exchanger and the expansion device, via an on-off valve. When switching from separation mode to non-separation mode, the on-off valve is operated to force the high boiling point refrigerant stored in the reservoir into the mixed refrigerant rich in low boiling point refrigerant flowing through the main circuit. The refrigerant composition can be returned to the high-boiling point refrigerant-rich mixed refrigerant composition in a short period of time.

Further, in the heat pump device of the present invention, the reservoir provided at the bottom of the rectification separator is connected to the piping between the user-side heat exchanger and the expansion device and the piping between the heat source-side heat exchanger and the expansion device, respectively. Since the configuration is characterized in that they are connected via a check valve and a pressure reducer, and the upper part of the rectification separator is connected between each of the check valves and the pressure reducer, it is possible to operate in a mode with separation. When switching from to non-separation mode operation, the high boiling point refrigerant stored in the reservoir is switched to the low It can be forcibly mixed into a refrigerant mixture rich in boiling point refrigerants, and the composition can be returned to the mixed refrigerant composition rich in high boiling point refrigerants with the main circuit sealed in a short time, which has great practical effects. It is something that can be demonstrated.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a heat pump device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a heat pump according to another embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a heat pump according to another embodiment of the present invention. , FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a conventional heat pump device. IL22... Compressor, 12.23... Four-way valve, 13.24... User-side heat exchanger, 14.25...
... Throttling device, 15.26 ... Heat source side heat exchanger, 1
6.27... Rectification separator, 17.31... 1st
Pressure reducer, 18.33...Second pressure reducer, 20,29...
...Reservoir, 21...Opening/closing valve, 30...1st
Check valve, 32...Second check valve. Name of agent: Patent attorney Shigetaka Kurino and 1 other person Figure 1/l-Ichiyako 9 years old/2-Kataka Kuchi/3--Ichiga〕'@1 Momentarily narrowed/7-1 Voice 3 pressure number / 8 --- 'Is 2-bed anti-haru 20 ~ -- # @ drinking

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) Enclose a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant, connect the compressor, four-way valve, user side heat exchanger, expansion device, and heat source side heat exchanger with piping in order to form the main heat pump circuit, and store it in the lower part. The upper part of the rectification separator provided with the filter is connected to the piping between the expansion device and the utilization side heat exchanger and the piping between the expansion device and the heat source side heat exchanger, respectively, via a pressure reducer. A heat pump device characterized by: (2) The reservoir installed at the bottom of the rectification separator is connected to the piping between the user side heat exchanger and the expansion device, or the piping between the heat source side heat exchanger and the expansion device, via the on-off valve. The heat pump device according to claim 1, characterized in that: (3) Enclose a non-azeotropic mixed refrigerant, connect the compressor, four-way valve, user-side heat exchanger, expansion device, and heat source-side heat exchanger with piping in order to configure the main heat pump circuit, and perform rectification separation. The reservoir installed at the bottom of the container is connected to the piping between the user side heat exchanger and the expansion device and the piping between the heat source side heat exchanger and the expansion device via a check valve and a pressure reducer, respectively. , A heat pump device characterized in that an upper part of the rectification separator is connected between each of the check valves and a pressure reducer.