TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigeration device, and particularly relates
to a refrigeration device in which the refrigerant attains a supercritical state during
the refrigeration cycle.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventional refrigeration devices are widely known that are provided with a refrigerant
circuit in which a compressor, a radiator, a first expansion valve, a liquid receiver,
a second expansion valve, and an evaporator are connected in sequence (see Patent
Documents 1 and 2, for example).
<Patent Document 1>
[0003] Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No.
10-130
470 (page 4, fifth column, line 12 through page 5, seventh column, line 39; FIG. 3)
<Patent Document 2>
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Technical Problem>
[0005] In a case in which carbon dioxide or another supercritical refrigerant is used as
a refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit of such a refrigeration device, when the
refrigerant (hereinafter referred to as the high-pressure-side refrigerant) that flows
from the refrigerant discharge side of the compressor to the refrigerant inflow side
of the first expansion valve has been in a subcritical state since the time operation
was started, the high-pressure-side refrigerant sometimes transitions from a supercritical
state to a subcritical state when the refrigerant flowing into the radiator has a
low temperature, and at other times. When supercooling of the refrigerant that flows
out from the radiator is insufficient in this state in which the high-pressure-side
refrigerant is in a subcritical state, the refrigerant that flows out from the first
expansion valve attains a gas-liquid two-phase state, and it is difficult to control
the refrigerant level in the liquid receiver.
[0006] An object of the present invention is to enable the refrigerant level in the liquid
receiver to be stably controlled even when the high-pressure-side refrigerant is in
a subcritical state in a refrigeration device such as the one described above.
<Solution to Problem>
[0007] A refrigeration device according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises
the features as disclosed in claim 1. In this refrigeration device, the control unit
minimizes the degree of pressure reduction by the first expansion mechanism when the
high-pressure-side refrigerant has undergone a transition from a supercritical state
to a subcritical state. Therefore, the refrigerant that flows out from the first expansion
mechanism can be made to approach a saturated state even when the high-pressure-side
refrigerant has undergone a transition from a supercritical state to a subcritical
state in this refrigeration device. Consequently, by adopting an appropriate expansion
mechanism (in the case of an expansion valve, an expansion valve that has an appropriate
maximum degree of opening) in this refrigeration device, it is possible to place the
refrigerant that flows out from the first expansion mechanism into a near-saturated
state even when the high-pressure-side refrigerant has undergone a transition from
a supercritical state to a subcritical state. It is thereby possible in this refrigeration
device to stably control the level of refrigerant in the liquid receiver even when
the high-pressure-side refrigerant has undergone a transition from a supercritical
state to a subcritical state.
[0008] The refrigeration device further comprises a pressure detector. The pressure detector
is provided between the refrigerant discharge side of the compression mechanism and
the refrigerant inflow side of the first expansion mechanism. The control unit minimizes
the degree of pressure reduction by the first expansion mechanism when the pressure
detected by the pressure detector is equal to or less than a predetermined pressure.
The "predetermined pressure" referred to herein is the pressure at which the refrigerant
attains a subcritical state.
[0009] In this refrigeration device, the control unit minimizes the degree of pressure reduction
by the first expansion mechanism when the pressure detected by the pressure detector
is equal to or less than a predetermined pressure. It is therefore possible to easily
determine whether the high-pressure-side refrigerant is in a subcritical state in
this refrigeration device.
[0010] Alternatively, the refrigeration device further comprises a first temperature detector
and a second temperature detector. The first temperature detector is provided to a
first specific region of the radiator. The term "first specific region" refers to
a region in which the high-pressure-side refrigerant is in a gas-liquid two-phase
state when the high-pressure-side refrigerant has undergone a transition to a subcritical
state. The second temperature detector is provided to the first specific region of
the radiator. The control unit minimizes the degree of pressure reduction by the first
expansion mechanism when the difference between the temperature detected by the first
temperature detector and the temperature detected by the second temperature detector
is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.
[0011] In this refrigeration device, the control unit minimizes the degree of pressure reduction
by the first expansion mechanism when the difference between the temperature detected
by the first temperature detector and the temperature detected by the second temperature
detector is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value. It is therefore
possible to easily determine whether the high-pressure-side refrigerant is in a subcritical
state in this refrigeration device.
[0012] A refrigeration device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the
refrigeration device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein
the first expansion mechanism is a first expansion valve. The control unit fully opens
the first expansion valve when the refrigerant that flows from the refrigerant discharge
side of the compression mechanism to the refrigerant inflow side of the first expansion
mechanism has undergone a transition from a supercritical state to a subcritical state.
[0013] In this refrigeration device, the control unit fully opens the first expansion valve
when the refrigerant that flows from the refrigerant discharge side of the compression
mechanism to the refrigerant inflow side of the first expansion mechanism has undergone
a transition from a supercritical state to a subcritical state. Therefore, the refrigerant
that flows out from the first expansion valve can be made to approach a saturated
state even when the high-pressure-side refrigerant has undergone a transition from
a supercritical state to a subcritical state in this refrigeration device. Consequently,
by adopting an expansion valve that has an appropriate maximum degree of opening as
the first expansion valve in this refrigeration device, it is possible to place the
refrigerant that flows out from the first expansion mechanism into a near-saturated
state even when the high-pressure-side refrigerant has undergone a transition from
a supercritical state to a subcritical state. It is thereby possible in this refrigeration
device to stably control the level of refrigerant in the liquid receiver even when
the high-pressure-side refrigerant has undergone a transition from a supercritical
state to a subcritical state.
[0014] A refrigeration device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the
refrigeration device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein
the first expansion mechanism is a first expansion valve. The control unit fully opens
the first expansion valve when the pressure detected by the pressure detector is equal
to or less than a predetermined pressure.
[0015] In this refrigeration device, the control unit fully opens the first expansion valve
when the pressure detected by the pressure detector is equal to or less than a predetermined
pressure. It is therefore possible to easily determine whether the high-pressure-side
refrigerant is in a subcritical state in this refrigeration device.
[0016] A refrigeration device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the
refrigeration device according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein
the first expansion mechanism is a first expansion valve. The control unit fully opens
the first expansion valve when the difference between the temperature detected by
the first temperature detector and the temperature detected by the second temperature
detector is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.
[0017] In this refrigeration device, the control unit fully opens the first expansion valve
when the difference between the temperature detected by the first temperature detector
and the temperature detected by the second temperature detector is equal to or less
than a predetermined threshold value. It is therefore possible to easily determine
whether the high-pressure-side refrigerant is in a subcritical state in this refrigeration
device.
[0018] A refrigeration device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the
refrigeration device according to the first aspect of the present invention, further
comprising a 30 third temperature detector. The third temperature detector is provided
to a second specific region of the radiator. The term "second specific region" refers
to a region in which the high-pressure-side refrigerant does not attain a temperature
equal to or lower than the critical temperature when the high-pressure-side refrigerant
is in a supercritical state, and in which the high-pressure-side refrigerant attains
the saturation temperature when the
high-pressure-side refrigerant is in a subcritical state. The control unit minimizes
the degree of pressure reduction by the first expansion mechanism when the temperature
detected by the third temperature detector is equal to or less than the critical temperature
of the refrigerant.
[0019] In this refrigeration device, the control unit minimizes the degree of pressure reduction
by the first expansion mechanism when the temperature detected by the third temperature
detector is equal to or less than the critical temperature of the refrigerant. It
is therefore possible to easily determine whether the high-pressure-side refrigerant
is in a subcritical state in this refrigeration device.
[0020] A refrigeration device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the
refrigeration device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, wherein
the first expansion mechanism is a first expansion valve. The control unit fully opens
the first expansion valve when the temperature detected by the third temperature detector
is equal to or less than the critical temperature of the refrigerant.
[0021] In this refrigeration device, the control unit fully opens the first expansion valve
when the temperature detected by the third temperature detector is equal to or less
than the critical temperature of the refrigerant. It is therefore possible to easily
determine whether the high-pressure-side refrigerant is in a subcritical state in
this refrigeration device.
<Advantageous Effects of Invention>
[0022] In the refrigeration device according to the first aspect, the refrigerant that flows
out from the first expansion mechanism can be made to approach a saturated state even
when the high-pressure-side refrigerant has undergone a transition from a supercritical
state to a subcritical state. Consequently, by adopting an appropriate expansion mechanism
(in the case of an expansion valve, an expansion valve that has an appropriate maximum
degree of opening) in this refrigeration device, it is possible to place the refrigerant
that flows out from the first expansion mechanism into a near-saturated state even
when the high-pressure-side refrigerant has undergone a transition from a supercritical
state to a subcritical state. It is thereby possible in this refrigeration device
to stably control the level of refrigerant in the liquid receiver even when the high-pressure-side
refrigerant has undergone a transition from a supercritical state to a subcritical
state. Further, it is easy to determine whether the high-pressure-side refrigerant
is in a subcritical state.
[0023] In the refrigeration device according to the second aspect, the refrigerant that
flows out from the first expansion valve can be made to approach a saturated state
even when the high-pressure-side refrigerant has undergone a transition from a supercritical
state to a subcritical state. Consequently, by adopting an expansion valve that has
an appropriate maximum degree of opening as the first expansion valve in this refrigeration
device, it is possible to place the refrigerant that flows out from the first expansion
mechanism into a near-saturated state even when the high-pressure-side refrigerant
has undergone a transition from a supercritical state to a subcritical state. It is
thereby possible in this refrigeration device to stably control the level of refrigerant
in the liquid receiver even when the high-pressure-side refrigerant has undergone
a transition from a supercritical state to a subcritical state.
[0024] In the refrigeration device according to the third through sixth aspects, it is possible
to easily determine whether the high-pressure-side refrigerant is in a subcritical
state.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the refrigerant circuit of an air conditioning device
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for describing control of the first electric expansion valve when
the high-pressure-side refrigerant is in a supercritical state in the air conditioning
device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for describing a state in which the high-pressure-side refrigerant
is in a subcritical state in the air conditioning device according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for describing control of the first electric expansion valve when
the high-pressure-side refrigerant is in a subcritical state in the air conditioning
device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning device
according to Modification (A).
FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing control of the first electric expansion valve when
the high-pressure-side refrigerant is in a supercritical state in the air conditioning
device according to Modification (B).
FIG. 7 is a diagram for describing a state in which the high-pressure-side refrigerant
is in a subcritical state in the air conditioning device according to Modification
(B).
FIG. 8 is a diagram for describing g control of the first electric expansion valve
when the high-pressure-side refrigerant is in a subcritical state in the air conditioning
device according to Modification (B).
EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS/SYMBOLS/SIGNS
[0026]
1, 101 air conditioning device (refrigeration device)
11 compressor (compression mechanism)
13 outdoor heat exchanger
15 first electric expansion valve (first expansion mechanism)
16 liquid receiver
17, 33a, 33b second electric expansion valve (second expansion mechanism)
21 high-pressure sensor (pressure detector)
23 control device
31, 31a, 31b indoor heat exchanger
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
<Structure of air conditioning device>
[0027] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the refrigerant circuit 2 of the air conditioning device
1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] This air conditioning device 1 is an air conditioning device that is capable of cooling
operation and heating operation using carbon dioxide as the refrigerant, and is primarily
composed of a refrigerant circuit 2, blower fans 26, 32, a control device 23, a high-pressure
sensor 21, an intermediate-pressure sensor 24, a temperature sensor 22, and other
components.
[0029] The refrigerant circuit 2 is equipped primarily with a compressor 11, a four-way
switch valve 12, an outdoor heat exchanger 13, a first electric expansion valve 15,
a liquid receiver 16, a second electric expansion valve 17, and an indoor heat exchanger
31, and the devices are connected via a refrigerant pipe, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0030] In the present embodiment, the air conditioning device 1 is a separate-type air conditioning
device, and can also be described as comprising an indoor unit 30 primarily having
the indoor heat exchanger 31 and an indoor fan 32; an outdoor unit 10 primarily having
the compressor 11, the four-way switch valve 12, the outdoor heat exchanger 13, the
first electric expansion valve 15, the liquid receiver 16, the second electric expansion
valve 17, the high-pressure sensor 21, the temperature sensor 22, and the control
device 23; a first connecting pipe 41 for connecting the pipe for refrigerant fluid
and the like of the indoor unit 30 and the pipe for refrigerant fluid and the like
of the outdoor unit 10; and a second connecting pipe 42 for connecting the pipe for
refrigerant gas and the like of the indoor unit 30 and the pipe for refrigerant gas
and the like of the outdoor unit 10. The first connecting pipe 41 and the pipe for
refrigerant fluid and the like of the outdoor unit 10 are connected via a first close
valve 18 of the outdoor unit 10, and the second connecting pipe 42 and the pipe for
refrigerant gas and the like of the outdoor unit 10 are connected via a second close
valve 19 of the outdoor unit 10.
(1) Indoor unit
[0031] The indoor unit 30 primarily has the indoor heat exchanger 31, the indoor fan 32,
and other components.
[0032] The indoor heat exchanger 31 is a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the
refrigerant and the indoor air, which is the air inside the room to be air-conditioned.
[0033] The indoor fan 32 is a fan for taking the air inside the air-conditioned room into
the unit 30 and blowing conditioned air, which is the air after heat exchange with
the refrigerant via the indoor heat exchanger 31, back into the air-conditioned room.
[0034] Employing such a configuration makes it possible for the indoor unit 30 to cause
heat to be exchanged between the indoor air taken in by the indoor fan 32 and the
liquid refrigerant that flows through the indoor heat exchanger 31, and generate conditioned
air (cool air) during cooling operation, as well as to cause heat to be exchanged
between the indoor air taken in by the indoor fan 32 and supercritical refrigerant
that flows through the indoor heat exchanger 31, and generate conditioned air (warm
air) during heating operation.
(2) Outdoor unit
[0035] The outdoor unit 10 primarily has the compressor 11, the four-way switch valve 12,
the outdoor heat exchanger 13, the first electric expansion valve 15, the liquid receiver
16, the second electric expansion valve 17, an outdoor fan 26, the control device
23, the high-pressure sensor 21, the intermediate-pressure sensor 24, the temperature
sensor 22, and other components.
[0036] The compressor 11 is a device for sucking in low-pressure refrigerant gas flowing
through an intake pipe and compressing the refrigerant gas to a supercritical state,
and then discharging the refrigerant to a discharge pipe.
[0037] The four-way switch valve 12 is a valve for switching the flow direction of the refrigerant
in accordance with each operation mode, and is capable of connecting the discharge
side of the compressor 11 and the high-temperature side of the outdoor heat exchanger
13, and connecting the intake side of the compressor 11 and the gas side of the indoor
heat exchanger 31 during cooling operation; as well as connecting the discharge side
of the compressor 11 and the second close valve 19, and connecting the intake side
of the compressor 11 and the gas side of the outdoor heat exchanger 13 during heating
operation.
[0038] The outdoor heat exchanger 13 is capable of cooling the high-pressure supercritical
refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 using the air outside the air-conditioned
room as a heat source during cooling operation, and evaporating the liquid refrigerant
returning from the indoor heat exchanger 31 during heating operation.
[0039] The first electric expansion valve 15 reduces the pressure of the supercritical refrigerant
(during cooling operation) that flows out from the low-temperature side of the outdoor
heat exchanger 13, or the liquid refrigerant (during heating operation) that flows
in through the liquid receiver 16.
[0040] The liquid receiver 16 stores refrigerant that occurs as excess depending on the
operating mode or the air conditioning load.
[0041] The second electric expansion valve 17 reduces the pressure of the liquid refrigerant
(during cooling operation) that flows in through the liquid receiver 16, or the supercritical
refrigerant (during heating operation) that flows out from the low-temperature side
of the indoor heat exchanger 31.
[0042] The outdoor fan 26 is a fan for taking the outdoor air into the unit 10 and discharging
the air after heat exchange with the refrigerant via the outdoor heat exchanger 13.
[0043] The high-pressure sensor 21 is provided to the discharge side of the compressor 11.
[0044] The temperature sensor 22 is provided on the outdoor heat exchanger side of the first
electric expansion valve 15.
[0045] The intermediate-pressure sensor 24 is provided between the first electric expansion
valve 15 and the liquid receiver 16.
[0046] The control device 23 has a communication connection with the high-pressure sensor
21, the intermediate-pressure sensor 24, the temperature sensor 22, the first electric
expansion valve 15, the second electric expansion valve 17, and other components,
and controls the degree of opening of the first electric expansion valve 15 and the
second electric expansion valve 17 on the basis of temperature information transmitted
from the temperature sensor 22, high-pressure information transmitted from the high-pressure
sensor 21, and intermediate-pressure information transmitted from the intermediate-pressure
sensor 24. Control of the degree of opening of the first electric expansion valve
15 and the second electric expansion valve 17 will be described in detail using Mollier
diagram.
[0047] When the high pressure information transmitted from the high-pressure sensor 21 indicates
a pressure equal to or above the supercritical pressure, the control device 23 determines
that the refrigerant (hereinafter referred to as high-pressure-side refrigerant) that
flows from the refrigerant discharge side of the compressor 11 to the refrigerant
inflow side of the first electric expansion valve 15 is in a supercritical state,
and performs first liquid receiver level control and superheating degree control.
Since the high-pressure sensor 21 is disposed on the discharge side of the compressor
11, and the temperature sensor 22 is disposed on the outdoor heat exchanger side of
the first electric expansion valve 15 in the air conditioning device 1 of the present
embodiment, the saturation pressure of the refrigerant that flows out from the first
electric expansion valve 15 can be calculated using a Mollier diagram (see FIG. 2).
Therefore, during first liquid receiver level control in this air conditioning device
1, the control device 23 appropriately adjusts the degree of opening of the first
electric expansion valve 15 and the second electric expansion valve 17 so that the
refrigerant that has flowed out from the first electric expansion valve 15 is in the
state of point D
0 in FIG. 2; i.e., so that the value indicated by the intermediate-pressure sensor
24 corresponds to the saturation pressure calculated as described above. In FIG. 2,
A
0 → B
0 indicates the compression stroke, B
0 → C
0 indicates the cooling stroke, C
0 → D
0 indicates the first expansion stroke (pressure reduction by the first electric expansion
valve 15), D
0 → E
0 indicates the second expansion stroke (pressure reduction by the second electric
expansion valve 17), and E
0 → A
0 indicates the evaporation stroke. Also, K indicates a critical point, and Tm indicates
an isothermal line. At this time, since the degree of superheating is also controlled
at the same time, the control device 23 concurrently controls the degree of opening
of the second electric expansion valve 17. In the present embodiment, the control
device 23 controls the first electric expansion valve 15 and the second electric expansion
valve 17 so that the pressure indicated by the intermediate-pressure sensor 24 is
equal to or lower than the pressure of {critical pressure (MPa) - 0.3 (MPa)}. The
pressure of {critical pressure (MPa) - 0.3 (MPa)} is determined in the following manner.
The results of tests performed by the inventors show that the pressure (hereinafter
referred to as the intermediate pressure) between the first electric expansion valve
15 and the second electric expansion valve 17 can be controlled to within a range
of about ±0.1 MPa from the target value in the case of the refrigerant. In order to
prevent the intermediate pressure from coming near the critical point, the target
value of the intermediate pressure is preferably the critical pressure (MPa) - 0.3
(MPa), with a safety factor of 3.
[0048] When the high-pressure-side refrigerant attains a subcritical state, the control
device 23 performs second liquid receiver level control at the same time as superheating
degree control. When the high-pressure-side refrigerant attains a subcritical state,
the refrigeration cycle is a refrigeration cycle such as the one indicated by the
solid line in FIG. 3. The refrigeration cycle indicated by the dashed line in FIG.
3 is the refrigeration cycle shown in FIG. 2, i.e., the refrigeration cycle that occurs
when the high-pressure-side refrigerant is in a supercritical state. As is apparent
from FIG. 3, the pressure significantly decreases when the high-pressure-side refrigerant
attains a subcritical state. When the control device 23 in this state requires the
same degree of opening of the first electric expansion valve 15 as during the first
liquid receiver level control, the refrigeration cycle becomes A
0 → B
1 → C
1 → D
1 → E
0 → A
0, the refrigerant that flows out from the first electric expansion valve 15 attains
a gas-liquid two-phase state, and it becomes essentially impossible to stabilize the
level of refrigerant stored in the liquid receiver 16. Therefore, when the high-pressure
information transmitted from the high-pressure sensor 21 indicates a pressure that
is less than the critical pressure, i.e., when the high-pressure-side refrigerant
is in a subcritical state, the control device 23 performs the second liquid receiver
level control in which the first electric expansion valve 15 is fully opened. The
refrigeration cycle is then the refrigeration cycle indicated by the solid line in
FIG. 4. The refrigeration cycle indicated by the dashed line in FIG. 4 is the refrigeration
cycle shown in FIG. 2, i.e., the refrigeration cycle that occurs when the high-pressure-side
refrigerant is in a supercritical state. Specifically, since the refrigeration cycle
is A
0 → B
1 → C
1 → D
2 → E
0 → A
0, the refrigerant that flows out from the first electric expansion valve 15 is in
a near-saturated state. In this air conditioning device 1, the refrigerant level in
the liquid receiver is stably controlled in this manner during cooling operation.
<Operation of the air conditioning device>
[0049] The operation of the air conditioning device 1 will be described using FIG. 1. This
air conditioning device 1 is capable of cooling operation and heating operation, as
described above.
(1) Cooling operation
[0050] During cooling operation, the four-way switch valve 12 is in the state indicated
by the solid line in FIG. 1, i.e., a state in which the discharge side of the compressor
11 is connected to the high-temperature side of the outdoor heat exchanger 13, and
the intake side of the compressor 11 is connected to the second close valve 19. The
first close valve 18 and the second close valve 19 are also open at this time.
[0051] When the compressor 11 is activated in this state of the refrigerant circuit 2, the
refrigerant gas is sucked into the compressor 11 and compressed to a supercritical
state, and then sent through the four-way switch valve 12 to the outdoor heat exchanger
13 and cooled in the outdoor heat exchanger 13.
[0052] This cooled supercritical refrigerant is sent to the first electric expansion valve
15. The supercritical refrigerant sent to the first electric expansion valve 15 is
depressurized to a saturated state, and then sent to the second electric expansion
valve 17 via the liquid receiver 16. The refrigerant in a saturated state sent to
the second electric expansion valve 17 is depressurized to liquid refrigerant, and
then fed to the indoor heat exchanger 31 via the first close valve 18, where the refrigerant
cools the indoor air and evaporates into refrigerant gas.
[0053] The refrigerant gas is again sucked into the compressor 11 via the second close valve
19, the internal heat exchanger 14, and the four-way switch valve 12. Cooling operation
is performed in this manner. The control device 23 performs the control described
above in this cooling operation.
(2) Heating operation
[0054] During heating operation, the four-way switch valve 12 is in the state indicated
by the dashed line in FIG. 1, i.e., a state in which the discharge side of the compressor
11 is connected to the second close valve 19, and the intake side of the compressor
11 is connected to the gas side of the outdoor heat exchanger 13. The first close
valve 18 and the second close valve 19 are also open at this time.
[0055] When the compressor 11 is activated in this state of the refrigerant circuit 2, the
refrigerant gas is sucked into the compressor 11 and compressed to a supercritical
state, and then is fed to the indoor heat exchanger 31 via the four-way switch valve
12 and the second close valve 19.
[0056] The supercritical refrigerant heats the indoor air, and is cooled in the indoor heat
exchanger 31. The cooled supercritical refrigerant is sent through the first close
valve to the second electric expansion valve 17. The supercritical refrigerant sent
to the second electric expansion valve 17 is depressurized to a saturated state, and
then sent to the first electric expansion valve 15 via the liquid receiver 16. The
refrigerant in a saturated state sent to the first electric expansion valve 15 is
depressurized to liquid refrigerant, and then sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 13
via the internal heat exchanger 14 and evaporated to refrigerant gas in the outdoor
heat exchanger 13. This refrigerant gas is again sucked into the compressor 11 via
the four-way switch valve 12. Heating operation is performed in this manner.
<Characteristics of the air conditioning device>
[0057] In the air conditioning device 1 according to the present embodiment, the control
device 23 is capable of fully opening the first electric expansion valve 15 and placing
the refrigerant that flows out from the first electric expansion valve 15 in a near-saturated
state when the high-pressure information transmitted from the high-pressure sensor
21 indicates a pressure that is less than the critical pressure, i.e., when the high-pressure-side
refrigerant is in a subcritical state. The refrigerant level in the liquid receiver
can therefore be stably controlled even when the high-pressure-side refrigerant is
in a subcritical state.
<Modifications>
(A)
[0058] In the embodiment described above, the invention of the present application is applied
to a separate-type air conditioning device 1 in which one indoor unit 30 is provided
for one outdoor unit 10, but the invention of the present application may also be
applied to a multi-type air conditioning device 101 in which a plurality of indoor
units is provided for one outdoor unit, such as shown in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5, the same
reference numerals are used to refer to components that are the same as those of the
air conditioning device 1 according to the embodiment described above. In FIG. 5,
the reference numeral 102 refers to a refrigerant circuit, 110 refers to an outdoor
unit, 130a and 130b refer to indoor units, 31a and 31b refer to indoor heat exchangers,
32a and 32b refer to indoor fans, 33a and 33b refer to second electric expansion valves,
34a and 34b refer to indoor control devices, and 141 and 142 refer to connecting ducts.
In this case, the control device 23 controls the second electric expansion valves
33a, 33b via the indoor control devices 34a, 34b. The second electric expansion valves
33a, 33b are housed in the indoor units 130a, 130b in the present modification, but
the second electric expansion valves 33a, 33b may also be housed in the outdoor unit
110.
(B)
[0059] In the air conditioning device 1 according to the embodiment described above, although
not particularly mentioned in the above description, a supercooling heat exchanger
(which may be an internal heat exchanger) may be provided between the liquid receiver
16 and the second electric expansion valve 17. In this case, in the first liquid receiver
level control, the degree of opening of the first electric expansion valve 15 is controlled
by the control device 23 so that a refrigeration cycle such as the one shown in FIG.
6 is executed. In FIG. 6, A
0 → B
0 indicates the compression stroke, B
0 → C
0 indicates the cooling stroke, C
0 → D
0 indicates the first expansion stroke (pressure reduction by the first electric expansion
valve 15), D
0 → F
0 indicates the supercooling stroke (cooling by the supercooling heat exchanger), F
0 → E
3 indicates the second expansion stroke (pressure reduction by the second electric
expansion valve 17), and E
3 → A
0 indicates the evaporation stroke. Also, K indicates a critical point, and Tm indicates
an isothermal line. In other words, in this first liquid receiver level control, the
control device 23 controls the degree of opening of the first electric expansion valve
15 so that the refrigerant that flows out from the first electric expansion valve
15 attains a saturated state.
[0060] In the second liquid receiver level control, the refrigeration cycle is a refrigeration
cycle such as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 7, and when the control device 23
in this state requires the same degree of opening of the first electric expansion
valve 15 as during the liquid receiver level control, the refrigeration cycle becomes
A
0 → B
1 → C
1 → D
1 → F
1 → E
3 → A
0, the refrigerant that flows out from the first electric expansion valve 15 attains
a gas-liquid two-phase state, and it becomes essentially impossible to stabilize the
level of refrigerant stored in the liquid receiver 16. Therefore, when the high-pressure
information transmitted from the high-pressure sensor 21 indicates a pressure that
is less than the critical pressure, i.e., when the high-pressure-side refrigerant
is in a subcritical state, the control device 23 causes the first electric expansion
valve 15 to be fully open. The refrigeration cycle is then the refrigeration cycle
indicated by the solid line in FIG. 8. Specifically, since the refrigeration cycle
is A
0 → B
1 → C
1 → D
0 → F
0 → E
3 → A
0, the refrigerant that flows out from the first electric expansion valve 15 is in
a near-saturated state. In this air conditioning device 1, the refrigerant level in
the liquid receiver is stably controlled in this manner during cooling operation.
(C)
[0061] In the air conditioning device 1 according to the embodiment described above, the
first electric expansion valve 15, the liquid receiver 16, the second electric expansion
valve 17, and other components are disposed in the outdoor unit 10, but the positioning
of these components is not particularly limited. For example, the second electric
expansion valve 17 may be disposed in the indoor unit 30.
(D)
[0062] An electric expansion valve is used as the means for reducing the pressure of the
refrigerant in the air conditioning device 1 according to the embodiment described
above, but an expansion device or the like may instead be used.
(E)
[0063] Although not particularly mentioned in the air conditioning device 1 according to
the embodiment described above, the liquid receiver 16 and the intake pipe of the
compressor 11 may be connected to form a gas release circuit. In this case, an electric
expansion valve, an electromagnetic valve, or the like is preferably provided to the
gas release circuit.
(F)
[0064] The intermediate-pressure sensor 24 is provided in the air conditioning device 1
according to the embodiment described above, but the intermediate-pressure sensor
24 may also be omitted. In this case, during the first liquid receiver level control,
the total degree of opening of the first electric expansion valve 15 and the second
electric expansion valve 17 may be expressed as a function in advance using the degree
of superheating in the intake pipe of the compressor 11 as the variable, for example,
or a control table may be created that shows the relationship of the total degree
of opening and the degree of superheating, and the ratio of the degree of opening
of the first electric expansion valve 15 and the second electric expansion valve 17
may thereby be expressed as a function in advance using the high pressure and the
entry temperature of the first electric expansion valve as variables. The degree of
opening of the first electric expansion valve 15 and the second electric expansion
valve 17 can thereby be uniquely determined.
(G)
[0065] In the air conditioning device 1 according to the embodiment described above, the
transition of the high-pressure-side refrigerant from a supercritical state to a subcritical
state is detected by the high-pressure sensor 21. However, the transition of the high-pressure-side
refrigerant from a supercritical state to a subcritical state may be detected by another
method. For example, two temperature sensors may be provided to the region in which
the high-pressure-side refrigerant attains a gas-liquid two-phase state when the high-pressure-side
refrigerant undergoes a transition to a subcritical state, i.e., a specific region
of the heat transfer tube of the radiator, and it can be determined that the high-pressure-side
refrigerant has undergone a transition to a subcritical state when the temperature
information obtained from the two temperature sensors is substantially the same (e.g.,
the temperature information is determined to be substantially the same when the difference
between the sets of temperature information is equal to or smaller than a predetermined
threshold value). A temperature sensor may also be provided in a region in which the
high-pressure-side refrigerant does not reach a temperature equal to or lower than
the critical temperature when the high-pressure-side refrigerant is in a supercritical
state, and in which the high-pressure-side refrigerant reaches the saturation temperature
when the high-pressure-side refrigerant is in a subcritical state, i.e., a specific
region of the heat transfer tube of the radiator, for example, and a determination
can be made that the high-pressure-side refrigerant has undergone a transition to
the subcritical state when the temperature information obtained from the temperature
sensor indicates a temperature that is equal to or lower than the critical temperature.
A single temperature sensor is adequate in this case.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0066] The refrigeration device of the present invention has the characteristic of enabling
the refrigerant level in the liquid receiver to be stably controlled, and the present
invention is particularly useful in a refrigeration device in which carbon dioxide
or the like is used as the refrigerant.
1. Kältegerät (1, 101), umfassend:
einen Kompressionsmechanismus (11), der derart konfiguriert ist, um ein Kältemittel
zu komprimieren;
einen Kühler (13), der an einer Kältemittel-Ablassseite des Kompressionsmechanismus
angeschlossen ist;
einen ersten Expansionsmechanismus (15), der an einer Ausgangsseite des Kühlers angeschlossen
ist;
einen Flüssigkeitstank (16), der an einer Kältemittel-Ausflussseite des ersten Expansionsmechanismus
angeschlossen ist;
einen zweiten Expansionsmechanismus (17, 33a, 33b), die an einer Ausgangsseite des
Flüssigkeitstanks angeschlossen ist;
einen Verdampfer (31, 31a, 31b), der an einer Kältemittel-Ausflussseite des zweiten
Expansionsmechanismus und an einer Kältemittel-Einlassseite des Kompressionsmechanismus
angeschlossen ist; und
eine Steuereinheit (23) zum Reduzieren des Ausmaßes eines Druckabfalls durch den ersten
Expansionsmechanismus, wenn sich das Kältemittel, das von der Kältemittel-Ablassseite
des Kompressionsmechanismus zu einer Kältemittel-Einflussseite des ersten Expansionsmechanismus
strömt, einem Übergang von einem überkritischen Zustand in einen subkritischen Zustand
unterzogen hat,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Kältegerät weiter Folgendes umfasst
einen Druckdetektor (21), der zwischen der Kältemittel-Ablassseite des Kompressionsmechanismus
und der Kältemittel-Einflussseite des ersten Expansionsmechanismus bereitgestellt
ist, wobei die Steuereinheit (23) derart konfiguriert ist, um das Ausmaß eines Druckabfalls
durch den ersten Expansionsmechanismus zu reduzieren, wenn der von dem Druckdetektor
detektierte Druck kleiner oder gleich einem vorbestimmten Druck ist; oder
dadurch, dass das Kältegerät weiter Folgendes umfasst
einen ersten Temperaturdetektor, der in einer ersten spezifischen Region des Kühlers
bereitgestellt ist; und
einen zweiten Temperaturdetektor, der in der ersten spezifischen Region des Kühlers
bereitgestellt ist, wobei die Steuereinheit (23) derart konfiguriert ist, um das Ausmaß
eines Druckabfalls durch den ersten Expansionsmechanismus zu reduzieren, wenn der
Unterschied zwischen der von dem ersten Temperaturdetektor detektierten Temperatur
und der von dem zweiten Temperaturdetektor detektierten Temperatur kleiner oder gleich
einem vorbestimmten Grenzwert ist.
2. Kältegerät nach Anspruch 1, wobei
der erste Expansionsmechanismus ein erstes Expansionsventil ist; und
die Steuereinheit das erste Expansionsventil vollständig öffnet, wenn sich das Kältemittel,
das von der Kältemittel-Ablassseite des Kompressionsmechanismus zu der Kältemittel-Einflussseite
des ersten Expansionsmechanismus strömt, einem Übergang von einem überkritischen Zustand
in einen subkritischen Zustand unterzogen hat.
3. Kältegerät nach Anspruch 1, wobei
der erste Expansionsmechanismus ein erstes Expansionsventil ist; und
die Steuereinheit das erste Expansionsventil vollständig öffnet, wenn der von dem
Druckdetektor detektierte Druck kleiner oder gleich einem vorbestimmten Druck ist.
4. Kältegerät nach Anspruch 1, wobei
der erste Expansionsmechanismus ein erstes Expansionsventil ist; und
die Steuereinheit das erste Expansionsventil vollständig öffnet, wenn der Unterschied
zwischen der von dem ersten Temperaturdetektor detektierten Temperatur und der von
dem zweiten Temperaturdetektor detektierten Temperatur kleiner oder gleich einem vorbestimmten
Grenzwert ist.
5. Kältegerät nach Anspruch 1, weiter umfassend:
einen dritten Temperaturdetektor, der in einer zweiten spezifischen Region des Kühlers
bereitgestellt ist; wobei
die Steuereinheit das Ausmaß eines Druckabfalls durch den ersten Expansionsmechanismus
minimiert, wenn die von dem dritten Temperaturdetektor detektierte Temperatur kleiner
oder gleich der kritischen Temperatur des Kältemittels ist.
6. Kältegerät nach Anspruch 5, wobei
der erste Expansionsmechanismus ein erstes Expansionsventil ist; und
die Steuereinheit das erste Expansionsventil vollständig öffnet, wenn die von dem
dritten Temperaturdetektor detektierte Temperatur kleiner oder gleich der kritischen
Temperatur des Kältemittels ist.