[TECHNICAL FIELD]
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a refrigeration cycle device.
[BACKGROUND TECHNIQUE]
[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a refrigeration device including a plurality of compressors
placed in multiple stages in series for compressing refrigerant, and a bypass refrigerant
circuit which bypasses a portion of circulating refrigerant of a main refrigerant
circuit to a location between the plurality of compressors.
[0003] The portion of the refrigerant of the main refrigerant circuit is expanded by an
electronic expansion valve placed in the bypass refrigerant circuit, the portion of
the refrigerant exchanges heat with refrigerant which flows through the main refrigerant
circuit and thereafter, the portion of the refrigerant bypasses to the location between
the plurality of compressors, it joins up with refrigerant discharged from low stage
one of the plurality of compressors, and it is sucked into high stage one of the compressors.
[0004] Discharge temperature of the high stage compressor is always detected, and when it
is expected that the discharge temperature of the high stage compressor exceeds an
upper limit, and control is performed such that an opening degree of the electronic
expansion valve in the bypass refrigerant circuit is temporarily increased to lower
the discharge temperature.
[PRIOR ART DOCUMENT]
[PATENT DOCUMENT]
[SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION]
[PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION]
[0006] The present disclosure provides a refrigeration cycle device having high reliability
in which even if discharge temperature and discharge pressure increase and their values
reach upper limits of an operating range, it is possible to suppress increase in discharge
temperature and discharge pressure without exceeding the upper limits.
[MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM]
[0007] A refrigeration cycle device in the present disclosure includes: a main refrigerant
circuit formed by sequentially connecting, to one another through a pipe, a compressing
mechanism composed of a compression rotating element, a usage-side heat exchanger
for heating usage-side heat medium by refrigerant which is discharged from the compression
rotating element, an intermediate heat exchanger, a first expanding device and a heat
source-side heat exchanger; a bypass refrigerant circuit in which refrigerant which
branches off from the pipe between the usage-side heat exchanger and the first expanding
device is decompressed by the second expanding device and thereafter, heat of the
refrigerant is exchanged with that of the refrigerant which flows through the main
refrigerant circuit by the intermediate heat exchanger, and the refrigerant joins
up with the refrigerant which is in middle of a compression operation of the compression
rotating element; discharge temperature detecting means for detecting discharge temperature
of the compression rotating element; discharge pressure detecting means for detecting
discharge pressure of the compression rotating element; and a control device, wherein
when the discharge pressure of the compression rotating element is higher than predetermined
pressure and the discharge temperature of the compression rotating element is higher
than predetermined temperature, the control device increases opening degrees of both
the first expanding device and the second expanding device.
[EFFECT OF THE INVENTION]
[0008] The present disclosure can provide a refrigeration cycle device having high reliability
in which even if discharge temperature and discharge pressure increase and their values
reach upper limits of an operating range, it is possible to suppress increase in discharge
temperature and discharge pressure without exceeding the upper limits.
[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS]
[0009]
Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a refrigeration cycle in an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
Fig. 2 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram (P-h diagram) when an opening degree of only
a second expanding device is increased in a refrigeration cycle device of the embodiment;
Fig. 3 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram (P-h diagram) when an opening degree of only
a first expanding device is increased in the refrigeration cycle device of the embodiment;
and
Fig. 4 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram (P-h diagram) when the opening degrees of the
first and second expanding devices are increased in the refrigeration cycle device
of the embodiment.
[MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION]
[0010] An embodiment will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. However,
excessively detailed description more than necessary will be omitted in some cases.
For example, detailed description of already well known matters, or redundant description
of substantially the same configuration will be omitted in some cases.
[0011] The accompanying drawing and the following description are provided so that a person
skilled in the art can sufficiently understand the present disclosure, and it is not
intended that they limit the subject matter described in claims.
(Embodiment)
[0012] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below using Figs. 1 to
3.
[1-1. Configuration]
[0013] In Fig. 1, a refrigeration cycle device includes a main refrigerant circuit 8 and
a bypass refrigerant circuit 6.
[0014] The main refrigerant circuit 8 is formed by sequentially connecting, to one another
through a pipe, a compressing mechanism 1 which is composed of a compression rotating
element, a usage-side heat exchanger 2 which is a radiator, an intermediate heat exchanger
5, a first expanding device 3 and a heat source-side heat exchanger 4 which is an
evaporator. Carbon dioxide (CO
2) is used as refrigerant.
[0015] The compressing mechanism 1 is composed of a high stage compressing portion 11 and
a low stage compressing portion 12. In the usage-side heat exchanger 2, usage-side
heat medium is heated by refrigerant discharged from the compressing mechanism 1.
[0016] In Fig. 1, the compression rotating element is illustrated as a two-stage compressing
mechanism composed of the low stage compressing portion 12 and the high stage compressing
portion 11, but the compression rotating element can be applied to a single compressing
mechanism. When the single compressing mechanism is employed, a position where refrigerant
from the bypass refrigerant circuit 6 is sucked is defined as a compression midstream
of the compression rotating element. A portion of the compression rotating element
extending up to a position where refrigerant from the main refrigerant circuit 8 and
refrigerant from the bypass refrigerant circuit 6 merge with each other is defined
as the low stage compressing portion 12. A portion of the compression rotating element
extending after the position where the refrigerant from the bypass refrigerant circuit
6 merge is defined as the high stage compressing portion 11.
[0017] The bypass refrigerant circuit 6 branches off from the main refrigerant circuit 8
through a pipe between the usage-side heat exchanger 2 and the intermediate heat exchanger
5, and the bypass refrigerant circuit 6 is connected to a location between the low
stage compressing portion 12 and the high stage compressing portion 11.
[0018] The bypass refrigerant circuit 6 is provided with a second expanding device 7. A
partial high pressure refrigerant which passes through the usage-side heat exchanger
2 is decompressed by the second expanding device 7, and becomes intermediate pressure
refrigerant. The intermediate pressure refrigerant exchanges heat in the intermediate
heat exchanger 5 with high pressure refrigerant which flows through the main refrigerant
circuit 8, and the intermediate pressure refrigerant joins up with refrigerant which
flows through the main refrigerant circuit 8 between the low stage compressing portion
12 and the high stage compressing portion 11 and which is in the compression midstream
state.
[0019] Usage-side heat medium heated by the usage-side heat exchanger 2 is utilized for
heating a room by a usage-side terminal (not shown). Water or antifreeze liquid is
used as the usage-side heat medium.
[0020] In the main refrigerant circuit 8, a discharge pipe of the compressing mechanism
1 is provided with a discharge temperature sensor 15 which is discharge temperature
detecting means and a discharge pressure sensor 16 which is discharge pressure detecting
means. Discharge temperature detected by the discharge temperature sensor 15 and discharge
pressure detected by the discharge pressure sensor 16 are taken into a control device
20 as data.
[0021] Here, predetermined temperature is a value which is lower, by a first predetermined
value, than a value of discharge temperature that is the upper limit of the operating
range of the refrigeration cycle device, and predetermined pressure is a value which
is lower, by a second predetermined value, than a value of discharge pressure that
is the upper limit of the operating range of the refrigeration cycle device. The predetermined
temperature and the predetermined pressure are preset in the control device 20 as
threshold values.
[0022] The value of the discharge temperature which is the upper limit of the operating
range of the refrigeration cycle device and the value of the discharge pressure which
is the upper limit of the operating range of the refrigeration cycle device are values
in which the control device 20 stops the operation of the refrigeration cycle device.
[0023] When the discharge temperature detected by the discharge temperature sensor 15 and
the discharge pressure detected by the discharge pressure sensor 16 respectively exceeds
the threshold values, the control device 20 controls such that the opening degree
of the first expanding device 3 and the opening degree of the second expanding device
7 are increased.
[0024] The discharge pressure sensor 16 detects pressure of high pressure refrigerant of
the main refrigerant circuit 8. The discharge pressure sensor 16 is provided in a
discharge-side pipe of the compressing mechanism 1, or is provided in an upstream-side
pipe of the first expanding device 3. The discharge-side pipe of the compressing mechanism
1 and the upstream-side pipe of the first expanding device 3 are pipes of the main
refrigerant circuit 8.
[0025] Figs. 2 to 4 are pressure-enthalpy diagrams (P-h diagrams) when the opening degrees
of the first and second expanding devices are increased in the refrigeration cycle
device of the embodiment.
[0026] Fig. 2 shows variation of the refrigeration cycle when the opening degree of only
the second expanding device 7 is increased. Solid lines show a state before the opening
degree is increased, and broken lines show a state after the opening degree is increased.
[0027] Fig. 3 shows variation of the refrigeration cycle when the opening degree of only
the first expanding device 3 is increased. Solid lines show a state before the opening
degree is increased, and broken lines show a state after the opening degree is increased.
[0028] Fig. 4 shows variation of the refrigeration cycle when the opening degrees of the
first and second expanding devices 3 and 7 are increased. Solid lines show a state
before the opening degree is increased, and broken lines show a state after the opening
degree is increased.
[0029] In Figs. 2 to 4, values of both the discharge temperature and the discharge pressure
which become the upper limits of the operating range of the refrigeration cycle device
are shown with broken lines. Points a to e and points A and B correspond to points
in the brock diagram of the refrigeration cycle device shown in Fig. 1.
[1-2. Action]
[0030] Action and operation of the refrigeration cycle device configured as described above
will be described below.
[0031] First, the action of the refrigeration cycle device will be described based on Figs.
1 and 2.
[0032] In the refrigeration cycle device before (solid lines) the opening degree of the
second expanding device 7 is increased, high pressure refrigerant (point a) compressed
by the high stage compressing portion 11 and discharged from the compressing mechanism
1 radiates heat in the usage-side heat exchanger 2 and thereafter, the high pressure
refrigerant branches from the main refrigerant circuit 8 at a refrigerant branch point
A, and the high pressure refrigerant is decompressed to the intermediate pressure
by the second expanding device 7, and becomes the intermediate pressure refrigerant
(point e). The intermediate pressure refrigerant exchanges heat in the intermediate
heat exchanger 5, and joins up with refrigerant of the main refrigerant circuit 8
compressed by the low stage compressing portion 12 (point B).
[0033] The high pressure refrigerant flowing through the main refrigerant circuit 8 after
it radiates heat in the usage-side heat exchanger 2 exchanges heat with the intermediate
pressure refrigerant (point e) which flows through the bypass refrigerant circuit
6, and the high pressure refrigerant is cooled. The cooled high pressure refrigerant
is decompressed by the first expanding device 3 in a state where its enthalpy is reduced
(point b).
[0034] Refrigerant of the main refrigerant circuit 8 which is decompressed by the first
expanding device 3 and becomes gas-liquid two-phase state evaporates by endotherm
from the outside air in the evaporator 4, and becomes gas phase. The refrigerant which
becomes the gas phase returns to a suction side (point d) of the compressing mechanism
1, and is compressed by the low stage compressing portion 12 of the compressing mechanism
1.
[0035] When an outside air temperature is low and heating ability is required, under such
an operation condition that it is required to discharge high temperature water, it
is necessary to increase the rotation frequency of the compressing mechanism 1. At
that time, the discharge temperature of the compressing mechanism 1 exceeds the threshold
value and not only that, the discharge pressure of the compressing mechanism 1 is
also close to almost the threshold value.
[0036] Here, broken lines show variation of the refrigeration cycle when the opening degree
of the second expanding device 7 is increased.
[0037] If the opening degree of the second expanding device 7 is increased, an amount of
low temperature refrigerant which flows through the bypass refrigerant circuit 6 is
increased, and temperature of refrigerant which is in the process of compression with
which refrigerant flowing through the bypass refrigerant circuit 6 and refrigerant
flowing through the main refrigerant circuit 8 merge with each other is reduced.
[0038] The merged refrigerant whose temperature was lowered is compressed by the high stage
compressing portion 11 and discharged from the compressing mechanism 1. The discharge
temperature (point a) of the discharged refrigerant can be equal to or lower than
the threshold value, and it is possible to suppress a rise in the discharge temperature.
[0039] However, since the amount of refrigerant flowing through the bypass refrigerant circuit
6 increases, the amount of refrigerant which flows into the compressing mechanism
1 increases, and discharge pressure rises. Therefore, discharge pressure adversely
exceeds the threshold value.
[0040] Next, action of the refrigeration cycle device will be described based on Figs. 1
and 3.
[0041] Action of the refrigeration cycle device before (solid lines) the opening degree
of the first expanding device 3 is increased is the same as action before the opening
degree of the second expanding device 7 in Fig. 2 is increased and therefore, its
description will be omitted.
[0042] When the outside air temperature is low and heating ability is required, under such
an operation condition that it is required to discharge high temperature water, it
is necessary to increase the rotation frequency of the compressing mechanism 1. At
that time, the discharge pressure of the compressing mechanism 1 exceeds the threshold
value and not only that, the discharge temperature of the compressing mechanism 1
is also close to almost the threshold value.
[0043] Here, broken lines show variation of the refrigeration cycle when the opening degree
of the first expanding device 3 is increased.
[0044] If the opening degree of the first expanding device 3 is increased, the amount of
refrigerant flowing through the main refrigerant circuit 8 is increased, and the amount
of refrigerant flowing through the bypass refrigerant circuit 6 is reduced. Therefore,
discharge pressure of the compressing mechanism 1 is reduced and it can be equal to
or lower than the threshold value.
[0045] However, since the amount of refrigerant flowing through the bypass refrigerant circuit
6 is reduced, temperature of refrigerant which is the process of compression (point
B) where refrigerant flowing through the bypass refrigerant circuit 6 and refrigerant
flowing through the main refrigerant circuit 8 merge with each other increases.
[0046] Therefore, discharge temperature (point a) of refrigerant which is compressed by
the high stage compressing portion 11 and which is discharged from the compressing
mechanism 1 rises and exceeds the threshold value.
[0047] In this manner, if the opening degree of only the second expanding device 7 is increased,
although the discharge temperature reduces, the discharge pressure increases. If the
opening degree of only the first expanding device 3 is increased, although the discharge
pressure reduces, the discharge temperature increases.
[0048] When the outside air temperature is low and heating ability is required, under such
an operation condition that it is required to discharge high temperature water, the
discharge temperature and the discharge pressure are close to the upper limits of
the operating range of the refrigeration cycle device. That is, the refrigeration
cycle device is operated in a state where both the discharge temperature and the discharge
pressure exceed the respective threshold values.
[0049] However, when ambient environment of the refrigeration cycle device is varied and
the discharge temperature exceeds the threshold value, the discharge pressure adversely
exceeds the threshold value only by increasing the opening degree of the second expanding
device 7, and operation with an appropriate refrigeration cycle cannot be realized.
[0050] When the ambient environment of the refrigeration cycle device is varied and the
discharge pressure exceeds the threshold value, the discharge temperature adversely
exceeds the threshold value only by increasing the opening degree of the first expanding
device 3, and operation with an appropriate refrigeration cycle cannot be realized.
[0051] Hence, the control device 20 controls to increase the opening degrees of both the
first expanding device 3 and the second expanding device 7. According to this, a state
of the refrigeration cycle shown with solid lines is changed to that shown with broken
lines.
[0052] That is, it is possible to provide a refrigeration cycle device having high reliability
in which the discharge pressure and the discharge temperature are equal to or lower
than the threshold values, respectively, i.e., it is possible to suppress the rise
in the discharge temperature and the discharge pressure without exceeding the upper
limit value of the operating range as showing Fig. 4.
[0053] Here, the predetermined temperature is a value which is lower, by the first predetermined
value, than the discharge temperature value which is the upper limit of the operating
range of the refrigeration cycle device, and the predetermined pressure is a value
which is lower, by the second predetermined value, than the discharge pressure value
which is the upper limit of the operating range of the refrigeration cycle device.
The predetermined temperature and the predetermined pressure are preset in the control
device 20 as respective threshold values.
[0054] If the discharge temperature detected by the discharge temperature sensor 15 and
the discharge pressure detected by the discharge pressure sensor 16 respectively exceed
the threshold values, the control device 20 controls to increase the opening degrees
of the first expanding device 3 and the second expanding device 7.
[0055] According to this, to reduce the discharge temperature, an opening degree of the
second expansion device 7 is increased, and a merging amount of refrigerant having
low temperature is increased. At that time, even if a flow rate of refrigerant which
flows into the compressing mechanism 1 increases and the discharge pressure increases,
an opening degree of the first expansion device 3 is increased, and an amount of refrigerant
which flows through the main refrigerant circuit 8 is increased. According to this,
the increased discharge pressure can be reduced.
[0056] After the opening degree of the second expanding device 7 is increased, the control
device 20 controls to increase the opening degree of the first expanding device 3.
[0057] According to this, the amount of low temperature refrigerant which joins up from
the bypass refrigerant circuit 6 is increased and thereafter, the pressure reduction
amount of the main refrigerant circuit 8 is reduced. Hence, it is possible to control
the pressure reduction amount of the main refrigerant circuit 8 while detecting, by
the discharge temperature sensor 15, a rise in discharge temperature caused by reduction
in the flow rate of refrigerant of the bypass refrigerant circuit 6 caused by reduction
in the pressure reduction amount of the main refrigerant circuit 8.
[0058] As the discharge temperature of the compressing mechanism 1 is higher, the control
device 20 controls to increase the variation amount of the opening degree of the second
expanding device 7.
[0059] According to this, as the discharge temperature of the compressing mechanism 1 is
higher, it is possible to more swiftly increase the flow rate of low temperature refrigerant
which joins up from the bypass refrigerant circuit 6.
[0060] More specifically, as a temperature difference between the threshold value and the
discharge temperature of the compressing mechanism 1 is greater, the control device
20 controls to increase the variation amount of the opening degree of the second expanding
device 7.
[0061] According to this, since the discharge temperature of the compressing mechanism 1
is continuously detected, it is possible to more swiftly and reliably detect the excessive
rise in the discharge temperature, and the opening degree of the second expanding
device 7 can be controlled.
[1-3. Effect and the like]
[0062] In the embodiment, as described above, a refrigeration cycle device includes: a main
refrigerant circuit 8 formed by sequentially connecting, to one another through a
pipe, a compressing mechanism 1 composed of a compression rotating element, a usage-side
heat exchanger 2 for heating usage-side heat medium by refrigerant which is discharged
from the compression rotating element, an intermediate heat exchanger 5, a first expanding
device 3 and a heat source-side heat exchanger 4; a bypass refrigerant circuit 6 in
which refrigerant which branches off from the pipe between the usage-side heat exchanger
2 and the first expanding device 3 is decompressed by the second expanding device
7 and thereafter, heat of the refrigerant is exchanged with that of the refrigerant
which flows through the main refrigerant circuit 8 by the intermediate heat exchanger
5, and the refrigerant joins up with the refrigerant which is in middle of a compression
operation of the compression rotating element; discharge temperature detecting means
15 for detecting discharge temperature of the compression rotating element; discharge
pressure detecting means 16 for detecting discharge pressure of the compression rotating
element; and a control device 20, wherein when the discharge pressure of the compression
rotating element is higher than predetermined pressure and the discharge temperature
of the compression rotating element is higher than predetermined temperature, the
control device 20 increases opening degrees of both the first expanding device 3 and
the second expanding device 7.
[0063] According to this, even if the discharge temperature and the discharge pressure
increase and their values reach the upper limit values of the operating range, it
is possible to suppress the increase in the discharge temperature and the discharge
pressure without exceeding the upper limits. Hence, it is possible to provide a refrigeration
cycle device having high reliability.
[0064] In the refrigeration cycle device of the embodiment, after the control device 20
increases the opening degree of the second expanding device 7, the control device
20 increases the opening degree of the first expanding device 3.
[0065] According to this, the amount of the low temperature refrigerant which joins up from
the bypass refrigerant circuit 6 is increased and thereafter, the pressure reduction
amount of the main refrigerant circuit 8 is reduced.
[0066] Hence, it is possible to control the pressure reduction amount of the main refrigerant
circuit 8 while detecting a rise in the discharge temperature caused by reduction
of the flow rate of refrigerant of the bypass refrigerant circuit 6 which is caused
by reduction of the pressure reduction amount of the main refrigerant circuit 8.
[0067] Therefore, even when the rising speed of the discharge temperature is fast, it is
possible to suppress the rise in the discharge temperature in a shorter time and more
effectively. Hence, it is possible to provide a refrigeration cycle device having
high reliability.
[0068] In the refrigeration cycle device of the embodiment, the higher the discharge temperature
of the compression rotating element is, the greater the control device 20 increases
a variation amount of the opening degree of the second expanding device 7.
[0069] According to this, as the discharge temperature is higher, it is possible to more
swiftly increase the flow rate of low temperature refrigerant which joins up from
the bypass refrigerant circuit 6, and to more swiftly lower the discharge temperature.
[0070] Therefore, even when the discharge temperature largely exceeds the predetermined
temperature, it is possible to swiftly lower the discharge temperature. Hence, it
is possible to provide a refrigeration cycle device having higher reliability.
[0071] In the refrigeration cycle device of the embodiment, the control device 20 determines
a variation amount of the opening degree of the second expanding device 7 based on
a temperature difference between the discharge temperature of the compression rotating
element and the predetermined temperature.
[0072] According to this, since the temperature of discharged refrigerant of the compressing
mechanism 1 is continuously detected, it is possible to more swiftly and reliably
detect the excessive rise in the discharge temperature, and to control the second
expanding device 7.
[0073] Therefore, it is possible to decrease the discharge temperature more swiftly. Hence,
it is possible to provide a refrigeration cycle device having higher reliability.
[INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY]
[0074] According to the present disclosure, even when the discharge temperature and discharge
pressure rise and their values reach the upper limits of the operating range, it is
possible to suppress the rise of the discharge temperature and discharge pressure
without exceeding the upper limits. Therefore, since it is possible to provide the
refrigeration cycle device having high reliability, the present invention can be applied
to an air conditioner, a hot water supply system and the like.
[EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS]
[0075]
1 compressing mechanism
2 radiator (usage-side heat exchanger)
3 first expanding device
4 evaporator (heat source-side heat exchanger)
5 intermediate heat exchanger
6 bypass refrigerant circuit
7 second expanding device
8 main refrigerant circuit
11 high stage compressing portion
12 low stage compressing portion
15 discharge temperature sensor (discharge temperature detecting means)
16 discharge pressure sensor (discharge pressure detecting means)
20 control device