JP2007303791A - Refrigerating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerating apparatus capable of measuring the temperature in a storing chamber using a measuring hole without exerting any influence on installation environment. <P>SOLUTION: This refrigerating apparatus 1 includes a low temperature side refrigerant circuit 38 constructed by a compressor 20, an evaporation pipe 62 and so on, and the storage chamber 4 constructed in a heat insulating box 2 by the evaporation pipe 62 is cooled to a very low temperature. The apparatus includes a machine room 3 constructed on the side of the heat insulating box 2 to install the compressor 20 and so on. The measuring hole 19 communicated with the interior of the storage chamber 4 is constructed in a side wall on the machine room 3 side of the heat insulating box 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigeration apparatus that includes a refrigerant circuit composed of a compressor, an evaporator, and the like, and cools a storage chamber formed in a heat insulating box by an evaporator to an extremely low temperature.

  Conventionally, a refrigeration apparatus that keeps the inside of a refrigerator at an extremely low temperature has a main body constituted by a heat insulating box body that is configured by filling a space formed by combining an inner box and an outer box with a foam heat insulating material, and the heat insulating box. An ultra-low temperature space of, for example, −80 ° C. or lower is formed in a storage chamber formed in the body by, for example, a two-dimensional refrigeration system refrigeration apparatus (see Patent Document 1).

  In general, a refrigeration apparatus that maintains a storage chamber at an ultra-low temperature such as −80 ° C. or less includes a heat insulating box having an opening on the upper surface and a heat insulating door that opens and closes the upper surface opening. A machine room in which a two-dimensional refrigeration cooling device is disposed is formed. Insulation box body is filled with heat insulating material of considerable thickness between inner box and outer box in consideration of temperature difference between outside and inner box in order to reduce leakage of cold heat in inner box Is done.

  On the other hand, the refrigeration apparatus is used for preservation of living cells in a physics and chemistry laboratory and the like, and sometimes accurately measures and records the temperature at which the sample stored in the storage chamber is actually stored. In such a case, it is necessary to install a temperature sensor for measuring the actual temperature in the storage room, not the temperature sensor for temperature control provided in the refrigeration apparatus, in the sample in the storage room. A measurement hole for introducing the temperature sensor is required.

  FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a conventional refrigeration apparatus 100. The refrigeration apparatus 100 includes a heat insulating box 101 having an opening on the upper surface and forming a storage chamber therein, and a machine room 102 formed adjacent to the side of the heat insulating box 101. The upper surface opening of the heat insulation box 101 is closed by the heat insulation door 103 so as to be freely opened. And the measurement hole 105 is formed in the side surface 101A located in the opposite side to the side in which the machine room 102 of this heat insulation box 101 is formed.

The measurement hole 105 can insert a temperature sensor into the storage chamber from the outside, and wiring drawn from the temperature sensor is connected to an external recording apparatus main body through the measurement hole 105. Then, the measurement hole 105 is closed with a plug 106 made of a spongy deformable special material in the gap with the wiring. When the temperature sensor is not attached, the measurement hole 105 is adiabatically closed by the stopper 106.
JP-A-62-73046

  Here, since the refrigeration apparatus is often installed along the wall or in other equipment in a physics and chemistry laboratory or the like, if a measurement hole is formed in the back of the storage, a temperature sensor for recording is used. Since it is difficult to take in and out, it is often formed on the side surface of the heat insulating box located on the opposite side to the side on which the machine room is formed.

  However, in such a configuration, when the refrigeration apparatus is installed, the side surface of the heat insulation box on the side where the measurement hole is formed is installed with a predetermined dimension away from a wall such as a laboratory or other equipment. Otherwise, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to use the measurement hole.

  On the other hand, this refrigeration apparatus needs to use a heat insulating box filled with a heat insulating material of a predetermined thickness in order to maintain the storage chamber at a predetermined ultra-low temperature as described above. For this reason, the overall dimensions with respect to the volume in the storage chamber are increased. In addition to this, since the refrigeration apparatus must be installed with a predetermined dimension away from walls and other equipment such as a laboratory in order to use the measurement hole, the area required for the installation of the refrigeration apparatus is reduced. There was an expanding problem.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the conventional technical problem, and a refrigeration apparatus that can measure the temperature and the like in the storage chamber using the measurement hole without affecting the installation environment. The purpose is to provide.

  The refrigeration apparatus of the present invention includes a refrigerant circuit composed of a compressor, an evaporator, and the like, and is formed by cooling the storage chamber configured in the heat insulation box with an evaporator to an ultra-low temperature. A machine room is provided on the side and provided with a compressor and the like, and the measurement hole communicating with the storage room is formed on the side wall of the heat insulation box on the machine room side.

  In the refrigeration apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the heat insulating box is formed of a composite structure of a vacuum heat insulating panel and a foam heat insulating material, and the vacuum heat insulating panel is connected to the front and rear walls of the heat insulating box and the machine room. It arrange | positions in the side wall on the opposite side to.

  A refrigeration apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in each of the above inventions, an openable / closable panel for concealing the measurement hole is provided in the machine room.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the top panel of the machine room is configured to be openable and closable, and the measurement hole can be operated with the top panel open.

  According to the present invention, in a refrigeration apparatus that includes a refrigerant circuit composed of a compressor, an evaporator, and the like, and cools a storage chamber configured in the heat insulation box by the evaporator to an ultra-low temperature, the side of the heat insulation box And a measuring hole communicating with the storage chamber is formed on the side wall on the machine room side of the heat insulation box, so that the measuring device can be connected to the measurement hole from the machine room side. By inserting, it becomes possible to easily install the measuring device in the storage chamber.

  As a result, even when the refrigeration unit is installed adjacent to the wall of the installation environment or other equipment, it is not necessary to have a special interval for using the measurement hole, and the refrigeration unit can be installed. It is possible to reduce the area required. This is suitable for the layout of a laboratory or the like.

  According to invention of Claim 2, in the said invention, the heat insulation box is formed by the composite structure of a vacuum heat insulation panel and a foam heat insulating material, and the front and rear walls of a heat insulation box and a machine room are made into a vacuum heat insulation panel. Is placed in the opposite side wall, so that the vacuum heat insulation panel can be arranged in the heat insulation box without being affected by the position of the measurement hole formed in the heat insulation box. The amount of leakage can be reduced, and wasteful use of cooling energy can be suppressed.

  In particular, by arranging the vacuum heat insulation panel in the front and rear walls of the heat insulation box configured to face the outside and the side wall opposite to the machine room, the storage chamber becomes ultra low temperature such as −150 ° C. or lower. Even if it is a case, it becomes possible to improve the heat insulation performance of the heat insulation box itself, the size can be reduced, and the accommodation volume in the storage chamber can be increased even with the same external dimensions as the conventional one. It becomes possible. Or even if it is the accommodation volume similar to the past, it becomes possible to reduce an external dimension, and also it becomes possible to aim at the narrowing of the area required for installation of a freezing apparatus.

  Further, according to the invention of claim 3, in each of the above inventions, the machine room is provided with an openable / closable panel for concealing the measurement hole, so that the measurement hole is not exposed to the exterior. Can be improved.

  According to the invention of claim 4, in the above invention, the top panel of the machine room is configured to be openable and closable, and the measurement hole can be operated with the top panel open. It becomes easy to improve workability. In addition, the operation to other equipment in the machine becomes easy, and the maintenance work can be improved.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigeration apparatus 1 to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a front view of the refrigeration apparatus 1, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the refrigeration apparatus 1, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the refrigeration apparatus 1 with the top panel 5 opened. The refrigeration apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is suitable for ultra-low temperature storage of, for example, a living tissue or specimen that performs long-term low-temperature storage, and is located on the side of the heat-insulating box 2 that opens to the upper surface. And the main body is comprised by the machine room 3 in which the compressor 10 grade | etc., Is installed in the inside.

  The heat insulating box 2 is composed of a steel plate outer box 6 having an open upper surface, an inner box 7 made of metal such as aluminum having good thermal conductivity, and a synthetic resin that connects between the upper ends of these boxes 6 and 7. And a heat insulating material 9 made of polyurethane resin filled in the space surrounded by the outer box 6, the inner box 7 and the breaker 8 by an in-situ foaming method. The inside is a storage chamber 4 whose upper surface is open.

  In this embodiment, in order to set the target storage chamber 4 internal temperature (hereinafter referred to as the internal temperature) to −150 ° C. or lower, for example, the heat insulating box 2 that partitions the internal storage room 4 from the outside air is A large heat insulation capacity is required as compared with a low temperature in which the internal temperature is set to around 0 ° C. Therefore, in order to ensure the heat insulation capability only by the above-described heat insulating material 9 made of polyurethane resin, it must be formed extremely thick, and the limited amount of the main body allows a sufficient amount of storage in the storage chamber 4. There is a problem that cannot be secured.

  Therefore, the heat insulation box 2 in the present embodiment is a glass wool vacuum heat insulation on each inner wall surface of the side wall 6C located on the side opposite to the side where the front wall 6A, the rear wall 6B and the machine room 3 are provided. After the panel 12 is arranged and temporarily fixed with a double-sided adhesive tape at one end, a heat insulating material 9 is filled between these boxes 6 and 7 by an in-situ foaming method.

  This vacuum heat insulation panel 12 stores glass wool having heat insulation in a container formed of a multilayer film made of aluminum, synthetic resin or the like that does not have air permeability. Thereafter, the air in the container is discharged by a predetermined evacuation means, and the opening of the container is joined by thermal welding. Therefore, this vacuum heat insulation panel 12 can acquire the same heat insulation effect by making the thickness dimension of the heat insulating material 9 thinner than before due to the heat insulation performance.

  On the other hand, an evaporator (evaporation pipe) 62 constituting a refrigerant circuit of a cooling device R, which will be described in detail later, is attached to the peripheral surface of the inner box 7 on the heat insulating material 9 side in a heat exchange manner.

  And the upper surface of the breaker 8 of the heat insulation box 2 comprised as mentioned above is shape | molded in step shape as FIG.2 and FIG.4 shows, and the heat insulation door 13 has one end through the packing which is not shown there. In this embodiment, the pivot members 14 and 14 are provided so as to be rotatable about the rear end. In addition, the upper opening of the storage chamber 4 is provided with an inner lid 15 made of a heat insulating material so as to be freely opened and closed. In addition, a pressing portion configured to protrude downward is formed on the lower surface of the heat insulating door 13, whereby the pressing portion of the heat insulating door 13 presses the inner lid 15, thereby the upper surface of the storage chamber 4. The opening is closed so as to be freely opened and closed. Further, a handle portion 16 is provided at the other end of the heat insulating door 13, that is, the front end in this embodiment, and the heat insulating door 13 is opened and closed by operating the handle portion 16.

  On the other hand, on the side of the heat insulation box 2, a machine room 3 is provided by a side panel 3B that constitutes a side surface opposite to the side on which the front panel 3A, a rear panel (not shown) and the heat insulation box 2 are provided. . The machine room 3 in the present embodiment is provided with a partition plate 17 that divides the interior vertically. Below the partition plate 17, the compressors 10, 20 and the like constituting the cooling device R as described above are housed and installed. The front panel 3A and the side panel 3B located below the partition plate 17 are provided with ventilation A slit 3C is formed.

  Above the partition plate 17 is an upper machine chamber 18 having an upper surface opened. In the upper opening of the upper machine chamber 18, the top panel 5 is provided so as to be pivotable around one end, in this embodiment, the rear end, so that the inside of the upper machine chamber 18 can be opened and closed freely. Is done. The panel provided in front of the upper machine room 18 is an operation panel 21 for operating the refrigeration apparatus 1.

  A measurement hole 19 is formed in the side surface of the upper machine chamber 18 on the heat insulation box 2 side. The measurement hole 19 penetrates the outer box 6, the heat insulating material 9, and the inner box 7 constituting the heat insulating box 2 so as to communicate with the storage chamber 4 formed in the heat insulating box 2 provided adjacently. Formed. The measurement hole 19 can insert a temperature sensor into the storage chamber 4 from the outside, and the wiring drawn from the temperature sensor is connected to an external recording apparatus main body through the measurement hole 19. Then, the measurement hole 19 is closed with a plug 19A made of a special material that can be deformed in a sponge-like manner and has a heat insulating property. When the temperature sensor is not attached, the measurement hole 19 is adiabatically closed by the plug 19A.

  Thus, when using a device that measures, records, etc. the temperature in the storage chamber 4, the top panel 5 provided in the machine room 3 is opened and the heat insulating box 2 located in the upper machine room 18. The measurement instrument can be inserted into the storage chamber 4 through the measurement hole 19 formed on the side surface. Therefore, the work of installing the measuring device in the storage chamber 4 cooled to a predetermined ultra-low temperature becomes easy.

  In particular, unlike the measurement hole provided in the conventional refrigeration apparatus, the measurement hole 19 in the present embodiment is formed on the side surface of the heat insulating box 2 on the machine room 18 side. Even when it is installed adjacent to a wall or other equipment in the installation environment, it is not necessary to have a space necessary for using the measurement hole 19 exceptionally. As a result, the area required for installing the refrigeration apparatus 1 can be reduced, which is suitable for layout of a laboratory or the like.

  Moreover, the measurement hole 19 is formed in the wall surface of the heat insulation box 2 on the side adjacent to the machine room 3, so that the heat insulation box is configured to face the side other than the machine room 3, that is, the outside. The vacuum heat insulation panel 12 as described above can be disposed on the front and rear walls and side surfaces of the body 2 without affecting the position where the measurement hole 19 is formed.

  Further, a heat insulating structure 70 in which a cascade heat exchanger 43, each intermediate heat exchanger 48, and the like are integrally formed of a heat insulating material on the wall surface of the heat insulating box 2 in which the measurement hole 19 is formed, as will be described in detail later. Therefore, even if the vacuum heat insulation panel 12 is not provided, the inside of the storage chamber 4 can be effectively insulated by the heat insulation structure 70.

  Thereby, the amount of cold heat leakage in the storage chamber 4 can be reduced, and wasteful use of cooling energy can be suppressed.

  Therefore, even when the interior of the storage chamber 4 is set to an ultra-low temperature such as −150 ° C. or less as in this embodiment, the heat insulation performance of the heat insulation box 2 itself can be improved, and the size of the heat insulation wall can be improved. It is possible to reduce the size, and it is possible to increase the storage volume in the storage chamber 4 even if the external dimensions are the same as the conventional size. Or even if it is the same storage volume as before, it is possible to reduce the outer dimensions, and this also makes it possible to reduce the area required for installing the refrigeration apparatus 1.

  Furthermore, since the measurement hole 19 in the present embodiment can be concealed by the top panel 5 that can open and close the upper surface opening of the upper machine room 18, the measurement hole 19 may be configured not to be exposed to the appearance. It is possible to improve the appearance. Further, by opening the top panel 5, it becomes possible to easily operate the measurement hole 19, and workability can be improved. Moreover, by removing the partition plate 17, it becomes easy to operate the equipment constituting the other cooling device R installed below the partition plate 17, and the maintenance work can be improved. The top panel 5 can be used as a working side stand by closing the inside of the machine room 18 except when operating the measurement hole 19. Thus, it is suitable for delivery work of articles such as samples into the storage chamber 4.

  In the present embodiment, the measurement hole 19 is concealed by the top panel 5 that closes the upper surface opening of the upper machine chamber 18, but is not limited to this, and in the vicinity of the measurement hole 19, A lid member or the like for concealing the measurement hole 19 may be provided.

  Next, the refrigerant circuit of the refrigeration apparatus 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The refrigerant circuit of the refrigeration apparatus 1 in the present embodiment is a multi-stage multi-stage refrigerant circuit, which includes a high-temperature side refrigerant circuit 25 as an independent first refrigerant circuit and a low-temperature side refrigerant circuit 38 as a second refrigerant circuit. The original two-stage refrigerant circuit is used.

  The compressor 10 constituting the high temperature side refrigerant circuit 25 is an electric compressor using a one-phase or three-phase AC power supply, and the discharge side pipe 10 </ b> D of the compressor 10 is connected to the auxiliary condenser 26. The auxiliary condenser 26 is connected to a frame pipe 27 for heating the opening edge of the storage chamber 4 to prevent dew condensation. The frame pipe 27 is connected to the oil cooler 29 of the compressor 10 and then connected to the condenser 28. The refrigerant pipe exiting the condenser 28 is connected to the oil cooler 30 of the compressor 20 constituting the low-temperature side refrigerant circuit 38, and then connected to the condenser 31, and the refrigerant pipe exiting the condenser 31 is In addition, a dryer 32 and a capillary tube 33 as a decompression device are connected to an evaporator 34 as an evaporator part constituting the evaporator via a tube. An accumulator 35 serving as a refrigerant reservoir is connected to the outlet side refrigerant pipe of the evaporator 34, and the refrigerant pipe exiting the accumulator 35 is connected to the suction side pipe 10 </ b> S of the compressor 10. In addition, the auxiliary condenser 26 and the condensers 28 and 31 in the present embodiment are configured as an integral condenser and are cooled by the condenser blower 36.

The high temperature side refrigerant circuit 25 is filled with a refrigerant composed of R407D and n-pentane as a non-azeotropic refrigerant having different boiling points. R407D is composed of R32 (difluoromethane: CH ₂ F ₂ ), R125 (pentafluoroethane: CHF ₂ CF ₃ ), and R134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane: CH ₂ FCF ₃ ). The composition of R32 is 15% by weight, R125 is 15% by weight, and R134a is 70% by weight. The boiling point of each refrigerant is −321.8 ° C. for R32, −48.57 ° C. for R125, and −26.16 ° C. for R134a. The boiling point of n-pentane is + 36.1 ° C.

  The high-temperature gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor 10 is condensed in the auxiliary condenser 26, the frame pipe 27, the oil cooler 29, the condenser 28, the oil cooler 30 of the compressor 20 in the low-temperature side refrigerant circuit 38, and the condenser 31. Then, the moisture contained in the dryer 32 is removed, and the pressure is reduced in the capillary tube 33 and flows into the evaporator 34 one after another to evaporate the refrigerants R32, R125, and R134a. It absorbs and cools the evaporator 34, and returns to the compressor 10 through the accumulator 35 as a refrigerant liquid reservoir.

  At this time, the capacity of the compressor 10 is 1.5 HP, for example, and the final temperature reached by the evaporator 34 during operation is −27 ° C. to −35 ° C. Under such a low temperature, the boiling point of n-pentane in the refrigerant is + 36.1 ° C., so that it does not evaporate in the evaporator 34 and remains in a liquid state, and therefore hardly contributes to cooling. The function of returning the mixed moisture that could not be absorbed by the dryer 32 to the compressor 10 while being dissolved therein and the evaporation of the liquid refrigerant in the compressor 10 reduce the temperature of the compressor 10. Play a function.

  On the other hand, in the low-temperature side refrigerant circuit 38, the compressor 20 is an electric compressor that uses a one-phase or three-phase AC power supply in the same way as the compressor 10, and the discharge side pipe 20D of the compressor 20 has a wire condenser. An oil separator 40 is connected through a radiator 39 configured by The oil separator 40 is connected to an oil return pipe 41 that returns to the compressor 20. The refrigerant pipe connected to the outlet side of the oil separator 40 is connected to a condensing pipe 42 as a high-pressure side pipe inserted into the evaporator 34. The condensing pipe 42 and the evaporator 34 constitute a cascade heat exchanger 43.

  The discharge pipe connected to the outlet side of the condensing pipe 42 is connected to the first gas-liquid separator 46 via the dryer 44. The gas-phase refrigerant separated by the gas-liquid separator 46 passes through the first intermediate heat exchanger 48 via the gas-phase pipe 47 and flows into the second gas-liquid separator 49. The liquid-phase refrigerant separated by the first gas-liquid separator 46 flows into the first intermediate heat exchanger 48 via the liquid-phase pipe 50, the dryer 51, and the capillary tube 52 serving as a decompression device. Cooling is achieved by evaporating the phase refrigerant.

  The liquid-phase refrigerant separated by the second gas-liquid separator 49 flows through the liquid-phase piping 53 through the dryer 54 and then through the capillary tube 55 as a decompression device to the second intermediate heat exchanger 56. The gas-phase refrigerant separated by the second gas-liquid separator 54 passes through the second intermediate heat exchanger 56 via the gas-phase pipe 57, and the third and fourth intermediate heat exchangers 58, The liquid is cooled and liquefied while passing through 59, and flows into a capillary tube 61 as a pressure reducing device through a pipe 68 through a dryer 60. The capillary tube 61 is connected to an evaporation pipe 62 as an evaporator, and the evaporation pipe 62 is further connected to a fourth intermediate heat exchanger 59 via a return pipe 69.

  The fourth intermediate heat exchanger 59 is connected to the third, second, and first intermediate heat exchangers 58, 56, and 48 one after another, and then connected to the suction side pipe 20 </ b> S of the compressor 20. Further, an expansion tank 65 for storing refrigerant when the compressor 20 is stopped is connected to the suction side pipe 20S via a capillary tube 66 as a decompression device, and the direction of the expansion tank 65 is forward to the capillary tube 66. The check valve 67 is connected in parallel.

The low temperature side refrigerant circuit 38 is filled with a non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture including R245fa, R600, R404A, R508, R14, R50, and R740 as seven types of mixed refrigerants having different boiling points. R245fa is 1,1,1, -3,3-pentafluoropropane (CF ₃ CH ₂ CHF ₂ ), and R600 is butane (CH ₃ CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₃ ). The boiling point of R245fa is + 15.3 ° C., and the boiling point of R600 is −0.5 ° C. Therefore, by mixing these at a predetermined ratio, it can be used as a substitute for R21 having a boiling point of + 8.9 ° C., which has been conventionally used.

  Since R600 is a flammable substance, it is mixed with the nonflammable R245fa at a predetermined ratio, in this embodiment, at a ratio of R245fa / R600: 70/30, so that it is sealed in the refrigerant circuit 38 as nonflammable. And In this embodiment, R245fa is set to 70% by weight based on the total weight of R245fa and R600, but if it is more than that, it becomes nonflammable, so it may be more than that.

R404A includes R125 (pentafluoroethane: CHF ₂ CF ₃ ), R143a (1,1,1-trifluoroethane: CH ₃ CF ₃ ), and R134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane: CH ₂ FCF ₃ ), and the composition thereof is 44% by weight of R125, 52% by weight of R143a, and 4% by weight of R134a. The mixed refrigerant has a boiling point of −46.48 ° C. Therefore, it can be used as a substitute for R22 having a boiling point of −40.8 ° C. which has been conventionally used.

R508 is composed of R23 (trifluoromethane: CHF ₃ ) and R116 (hexafluoroethane: CF ₃ CF ₃ ), and the composition thereof is 39% by weight for R23 and 61% by weight for R116. The mixed refrigerant has a boiling point of −88.64 ° C.

R14 is tetrafluoromethane (carbon tetrafluoride: CF ₄ ), R50 is methane (CH ₄ ), and R740 is argon (Ar). As for these boiling points, R14 is −127.9 ° C., R50 is −161.5 ° C., and R740 is −185.86 ° C. Although R50 has a danger of causing an explosion when combined with oxygen, mixing with R14 eliminates the danger of an explosion. Therefore, even if a mixed refrigerant leakage accident occurs, no explosion occurs.

  These refrigerants described above are once mixed with R245fa and R600 and R14 and R50 in advance to be incombustible state, then mixed with R245fa and R600, R404A, R508A, R14 and R50. The mixed refrigerant and R740 are mixed in advance and sealed in the refrigerant circuit. Alternatively, they are sealed in the order of R245fa and R600, then R404A, R5080A, R14 and R50, and finally R740 in descending order of boiling point. The composition of each refrigerant is, for example, 10.3% by weight of a mixed refrigerant of R245fa and R600, 28% by weight of R404A, 29.2% by weight of R508A, 26.4% by weight of a mixed refrigerant of R14 and R50, and R740. It shall be 5.1% by weight.

  In this embodiment, 4% by weight of n-pentane (in the range of 0.5 to 2% by weight with respect to the total weight of the non-azeotropic refrigerant) may be added to R404A.

  Next, the circulation of the refrigerant on the low temperature side will be described. The high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous mixed refrigerant discharged from the compressor 20 flows into the radiator 39 through the discharge-side pipe 20D and is radiated there, and the oil having a high boiling point in the mixed refrigerant and good oil compatibility. A part of n-pentane or R600 as a carrier refrigerant condenses.

  The mixed refrigerant that has passed through the radiator 39 flows into the oil separator 40, and most of the lubricating oil of the compressor 20 mixed with the refrigerant and a part of the refrigerant condensed and liquefied by the radiator 39 (n-pentane). , A part of R600) is returned to the compressor 20 by the oil return pipe 41. Thereby, a low-boiling-point refrigerant with higher purity flows through the refrigerant circuit 38 subsequent to the cascade heat exchanger 43, and it is possible to efficiently obtain an ultra-low temperature. Thereby, even if it is the compressors 10 and 20 of the same capability, it becomes possible to cool the inside of the storage chamber 4 which is a to-be-cooled object of larger capacity to a predetermined ultra-low temperature, and the entire refrigeration apparatus 1 is enlarged. It is possible to increase the storage capacity without doing so.

  Here, in this embodiment, since the refrigerant flowing into the oil separator 40 is once cooled by the radiator 39, the temperature of the refrigerant entering the cascade heat exchanger 43 can be lowered. Specifically, in the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the refrigerant temperature flowing into the cascade heat exchanger 43 from about + 65 ° C. to about + 45 ° C. in the present embodiment.

  Therefore, in the cascade heat exchanger 43, it is possible to reduce the load applied to the compressor of the high temperature side refrigerant circuit 25 for cooling the refrigerant in the low temperature side refrigerant circuit 35. In addition, since the refrigerant in the low temperature side refrigerant circuit 35 can be effectively cooled, the load applied to the compressor 20 constituting the low temperature side refrigerant circuit 35 can be reduced. Thereby, it becomes possible to improve the operation efficiency of the entire refrigeration apparatus 1.

  Other mixed refrigerants themselves are cooled to about −40 ° C. to −30 ° C. from the evaporator 34 by the cascade heat exchanger 43, and some of the refrigerants having a high boiling point in the mixed refrigerant (one of R245fa, R600, R404A, and R508). Part). The mixed refrigerant that has exited the condensing pipe 42 of the cascade heat exchanger 43 flows into the first gas-liquid separator 46 through the dryer 44. At this time, R14, R50, and R740 in the mixed refrigerant are not condensed yet because they have a very low boiling point, and are in a gas state, and only a part of R245fa, R600, R404A, and R508 is condensed and liquefied. , R50 and R740 are separated into the gas phase piping 47, and R245fa, R600, R404A and R508A are separated into the liquid phase piping 50.

  The refrigerant mixture that has flowed into the gas phase piping 47 is condensed by exchanging heat with the first intermediate heat exchanger 48, and then reaches the second gas-liquid separator 49. Here, the low-temperature refrigerant returning from the evaporation pipe 62 flows into the first intermediate heat exchanger 48, and the liquid refrigerant flowing into the liquid-phase pipe 50 is decompressed by the capillary tube 52 through the dryer 51. Thereafter, it flows into the first intermediate heat exchanger 48 and evaporates there, thereby contributing to cooling. As a result, a part of uncondensed R14, R50, R740, and R508 is cooled, resulting in the first intermediate heat. The intermediate temperature of the exchanger 48 is about −60 ° C. Accordingly, R508 in the mixed refrigerant that has passed through the gas-phase pipe 47 is completely condensed and liquefied, and is divided into the second gas-liquid separator 49. R14, R50, and R740 are still in a gas state because of their lower boiling points.

  In the second intermediate heat exchanger 56, R508 separated by the second gas-liquid separator 49 is dehydrated by the dryer 54 and decompressed by the capillary tube 55, and then the second intermediate heat exchanger 56. R14, R50, and R740 in the gas-phase pipe 57 are cooled together with the low-temperature refrigerant returning to the evaporation pipe 62 and condensing R14 having the highest evaporation temperature. As a result, the intermediate temperature of the second intermediate heat exchanger 56 is about −90 ° C.

  The gas phase pipe 57 passing through the second intermediate heat exchanger 56 passes through the fourth intermediate heat exchanger 59 via the third intermediate heat exchanger 58. Here, the refrigerant immediately after leaving the evaporator 62 is fed back to the fourth intermediate heat exchanger 59, and according to experiments, the intermediate temperature of the fourth intermediate heat exchanger 59 is about -130 ° C. Reach low temperature.

  Therefore, in the fourth intermediate heat exchanger 59, a part of R50 and R740 in the gas-phase pipe 57 is condensed, and a part of the liquefied R14, R50 and R740 is removed by the dryer 60, and the capillary After being depressurized by the tube 61, it flows into the evaporation pipe 62, where it evaporates and cools the surroundings. According to experiments, at this time, the temperature of the evaporation pipe 62 became an extremely low temperature of −160.3 ° C. to −157.3 ° C.

  In this way, by using the difference in the evaporation temperature of each refrigerant in the low-temperature side refrigerant circuit 38, the intermediate heat exchangers 48, 56, 58, 59 condense the refrigerant still in a gas phase state one after another, An extremely low temperature of −150 ° C. or lower can be achieved in the evaporation pipe 42. Therefore, the said evaporation pipe 62 is comprised by heat-exchanged along the heat insulating material 9 side of the inner box 6, and the inside of the storage chamber 4 of the freezing apparatus 1 has the internal temperature of -152 degrees C or less. It can be realized.

  The refrigerant exiting the evaporation pipe 62 flows in sequence into the fourth intermediate heat exchanger 59, the third intermediate heat exchanger 58, the second intermediate heat exchanger 56, and the first intermediate heat exchanger 48, It merges with the refrigerant evaporated in each heat exchanger and returns to the compressor 20 from the suction pipe 20S.

  Most of the oil discharged from the compressor 20 after being mixed with the refrigerant is separated by the oil separator 40 and returned to the compressor 20. However, the oil is discharged from the oil separator 40 together with the refrigerant in the form of a mist. What has been removed is returned to the compressor 20 in a state of being dissolved in R600 having high compatibility with oil. Thereby, poor lubrication and locking of the compressor 20 can be prevented. Moreover, since R600 returns to the compressor 20 in a liquid state and is evaporated in the compressor 20, the discharge temperature of the compressor 20 can be reduced.

  The compressor 20 constituting the low-temperature side refrigerant circuit 38 as described above is ON / OFF controlled by a control device (not shown) based on the internal temperature in the storage chamber 4. In this case, when the operation of the compressor 20 is stopped by the control device, the mixed refrigerant in the low-temperature side refrigerant circuit 38 enters the expansion tank 65 via the check valve 67 whose forward direction is the direction of the expansion tank 65. To be recovered.

  Therefore, the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 38 is recirculated through the check valve 67 more rapidly than when the refrigerant is collected in the expansion tank 65 through the capillary tube 66 when the compressor 20 is stopped. It becomes possible to collect in 65.

  As a result, it is possible to prevent the pressure in the refrigerant circuit 38 from rising, and when the compressor 20 is activated by the control device, the refrigerant circuit 38 gradually enters the refrigerant circuit 38 from the expansion tank 65 via the capillary tube 66. It becomes possible to reduce the starting load of the compressor 20 by returning the refrigerant to the initial position.

  Therefore, by quickly collecting the refrigerant into the expansion tank 65 when the compressor 20 is stopped, the pressure in the refrigerant circuit 38 can be quickly balanced, and the compressor 20 is compressed when the compressor 20 is restarted. The compressor 20 can be smoothly restarted without imposing a load on the machine 20. Thereby, the operation efficiency of the compressor 20 can be improved by significantly reducing the time required for the inside of the refrigerant circuit 38 to reach the equilibrium pressure when the compressor is started. For example, the time required for the pull-down operation is reduced. It is possible to improve convenience.

  On the other hand, in the refrigerant circuit of the refrigeration apparatus 1 as described above, the evaporation pipe 62 of the low-temperature side refrigerant circuit 38 becomes an extremely low temperature of −160.3 ° C. to −157.3 ° C., and the cascade heat exchanger 43 also −40 ° C. to −− The temperature is as low as 30 ° C. Further, the first intermediate heat exchanger 48 is about −60 ° C., the second intermediate heat exchanger 56 is about −90 ° C., and the third and fourth intermediate heat exchangers 58 and 59 are −130 ° C. It becomes extremely low at around ℃. Therefore, it is necessary to sufficiently insulate the heat exchanger 43 and the like other than the evaporation pipe 62 disposed in the heat insulating box 2.

  Therefore, the cascade heat exchanger 43 and the first, second, third, and fourth intermediate heat exchangers are formed as a heat insulating structure 70 that is surrounded by a heat insulating material to form a rectangular body. FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the heat insulating structure 70, and FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the heat insulating structure 70 with the heat insulating material removed.

  Here, the detailed structure of the heat insulation structure 70 is demonstrated. 6, in addition to the heat exchangers described above, in addition to the heat exchangers described above, accumulator 35 that constitutes high-temperature side refrigerant circuit 25, capillary tube 33, and dryer 44 that constitutes low-temperature side refrigerant circuit 38, The gas-liquid separators 46 and 49, the dryers 51 and 54, and the capillary tubes 52 and 55 constitute the heat insulating structure 70. A cascade heat exchanger 43 is disposed at one end of the heat insulating structure 70, and the intermediate heat exchangers 48, 56, 58, 59 are arranged in layers in a side position of the cascade heat exchanger 43. It is installed.

  Each of the intermediate heat exchangers 48, 56, 58, and 59 superimposes a plurality of flattened outer pipes of relatively large diameter that are spirally wound in a plurality of stages, and each air gap is spaced apart from each other. The phase pipes 47 and 57 are constituted by a spiral double pipe structure that passes through as inner pipes. In the present embodiment, the fourth and third intermediate heat exchangers 58 and 59 are arranged in order from the lowest temperature from the bottom, that is, the lowermost layer, and the second intermediate heat exchanger 56 is arranged thereon, and the lowest. A first intermediate heat exchanger 48 is disposed in the upper layer.

  Then, the gas-liquid separators 46 and 49 (the second gas-liquid separator 49 is not shown in FIG. 8), the dryer 44, and the inside of the intermediate heat exchanger and around the cascade heat exchanger 43. 51, 54 (not shown in FIG. 8), capillary tubes 33, 52, 55 and an accumulator 35 (not shown) are provided to reduce dead space and reduce the size.

  Further, the heat insulating structure 70 in the embodiment is configured such that the pipe connecting the device disposed in the heat insulating structure 70 and the device disposed outside the heat insulating structure 70 is the cascade heat exchanger. 34 is disposed so as to face one side surface opposite to the side on which 34 is disposed. Specifically, the discharge-side pipe 10D after passing through the condenser 31 of the high-temperature side refrigerant circuit 25 connected to the cascade heat exchanger 34, the suction-side pipe 10S connected to the compressor 10, and the cascade heat exchanger 34, the discharge side pipe 20D after passing through the oil separator 40 of the low temperature side refrigerant circuit 38, the suction side pipe 20S connected to the suction side of the compressor 20, and the fourth intermediate heat exchanger 59. The connecting portion of each pipe of the pipe 68 connected to the evaporation pipe 62 from the gas-phase pipe 57 and the return pipe 69 connected to the fourth intermediate heat exchanger 59 from the evaporation pipe 62 is a heat insulating structure. 70 is concentrated on one side.

  At this time, the suction-side pipes 10S and 20S through which the refrigerant having a relatively high temperature flows and the discharge-side pipe 20D are converged outwardly, and in this embodiment, the heat insulation structure 70 is attached to the heat insulation box 2. In such a state, the pipe 68 connected to the evaporation pipe 62 and the return pipe 69 through which the ultra-low temperature refrigerant flows are converged so that the suction side pipe 10S and the like are converged. In the present embodiment, the heat insulating structure 70 is attached to the heat insulating box 2 toward the heat insulating box 2 in the outer side on the opposite side. The dryer 60 and the capillary tube 61 connected to the pipe 68 are disposed outside the heat insulating structure 70.

  On the other hand, FIG. 9 shows a rear perspective view of the refrigeration apparatus 1. In the refrigeration apparatus 1, a rectangular opening 71 extending in the front-rear direction and opening rearward is formed on the side wall of the heat insulating box 2 located on the machine room 3 side, and corresponds to the opening 71. A notch 72 is also formed in the rear portion of the side wall on the machine room 3 side. The heat insulating structure 70 as described above is inserted into the opening 71 from the back of the heat insulating box 2. At this time, the heat insulating structure 70 is inserted into the opening 71 from the side where the cascade heat exchanger 34 is disposed, and thereby each pipe 10 </ b> S that extends and is disposed on one side of the heat insulating structure 70. , 20S, 20D, 68, 69, the pipe 10D to which the capillary tube 33 of the high temperature side refrigerant circuit 25 is connected is a surface in a direction in which the heat insulating structure 70 is inserted and removed, in this embodiment, the heat insulating box 2 It will face the back.

  Therefore, after installing devices such as the compressors 10 and 20 in the machine room 3, the heat insulation structure 70 is finally inserted into the opening 71, and in this state, the pipes 68 and 69 are provided on the heat insulation box 2 side. In addition to making a pipe connection to the evaporation pipe 62, the pipes 10S, 10D, 20S, and 20D are connected to equipment on the machine room 3 side. Thereby, the apparatus which comprises the said heat insulation structure 70, the apparatus, such as the evaporation pipe 62 arrange | positioned in the heat insulation box 2, the compressors 10 and 20 arrange | positioned in the machine room 3, and a heat insulation box Piping can be easily connected from the back surface of the body 2, and piping workability and assembly workability can be improved. Further, even when each device constituting the heat insulation structure 70 is broken, it is easy to pull out the heat insulation structure 70 in a direction that is not the side where the heat insulation box 2 or the machine room 3 is formed. It is possible to perform maintenance work.

  Then, the back surface constituted by extending each pipe of the heat insulating structure 70 and a part of the side surface facing the machine chamber 3 side are closed by a cover member 73 bent in a substantially L-shaped cross section. In this case, a heat insulating plate (not shown) loaded with glass wool or the like may be disposed in the gap formed between the heat insulating structure 70 and the side surface on the machine room 3 side.

  According to the configuration as described above, the cascade heat exchanger 43 and the intermediate heat exchangers 48, 56, 58, 59 are in the state of the heat insulating structure 70 integrally formed of the heat insulating material, and the machine of the heat insulating box 2 Since it is disposed on the side wall on the chamber 3 side, the depth dimension of the entire refrigeration apparatus 1 can be reduced as compared with the case where the heat insulating structure 70 is installed on the back surface of the heat insulating box 2 as in the prior art. It becomes possible.

  Therefore, the presence of the overhang portion by the heat insulating structure 70 for surrounding the cascade heat exchanger 43 and the like can avoid the inconvenience that the overall depth dimension of the apparatus 1 becomes large, and the internal temperature as in this embodiment can be avoided. Even if it is a refrigeration apparatus having a temperature of −150 ° C. or lower, for example, it is possible to reduce the overall depth dimension to about 765 mm while securing the depth dimension in the warehouse to about 495 mm. In general, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience of being about 800 mm. In particular, since the heat insulating structure 70 can be delivered from a general carry-in port in a state of being attached to the apparatus 1, the heat insulating structure 70 is separated and connected from the main body at the installation location. This eliminates the need for complicated operations.

  This makes it possible to easily carry in and out the refrigeration apparatus 1 without particularly reducing the storage volume in the warehouse. In addition, since the heat insulating structure 70 for surrounding the cascade heat exchanger 43 and the like does not protrude outward from the back surface at the installation location, the area required for installation can be reduced.

  In addition, since the heat insulation structure for enclosing the periphery of each cascade heat exchanger and each intermediate heat exchanger is not provided on the back surface of the heat insulation box 2 as in the prior art, as described above, it faces the outside. It is possible to dispose the vacuum heat insulation panel 12 in the front wall 6A and the rear wall 6B of the heat insulation box 2 configured as described above and in the side wall 6C opposite to the machine room. Even in the case of such an ultra-low temperature, the heat insulating performance of the heat insulating box 2 itself can be improved. Therefore, the size can be reduced, and the storage volume in the storage chamber 4 can be increased even with the same external dimensions as the conventional one. Or even if it is the same storage volume as before, it is possible to reduce the outer dimensions, and this also makes it possible to reduce the area required for installing the refrigeration apparatus 1.

  In the present embodiment, the heat insulating structure 70 can be inserted into and removed from the rear side of the refrigeration apparatus 1, that is, from the back, into the side wall of the heat insulating box 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be possible to insert / remove from the front of the body 2 or from above. As a result, as in the present embodiment, the cascade heat exchanger 43 and the intermediate heat exchangers 48 integrated as the heat insulating structure 70 can be easily incorporated into the main body of the apparatus 1 and the assembly workability is improved. Can be made.

  Similarly to the present embodiment, the heat insulating structure 70 can be taken out from the main body of the apparatus 1 by pulling it forward or upward, and the cascade heat exchanger 43 and the intermediate heat exchanges constituting the heat insulating structure 70 can be obtained. Maintenance work of the container 48 and the like can be easily performed.

  In the present embodiment, the heat insulating structure 70 is configured integrally with the cascade heat exchanger 43, each intermediate heat exchanger 48, and the like constituting the refrigeration apparatus 1, but in addition to this, Only the cascade heat exchanger 43 or only the intermediate heat exchangers 48 or the like may be integrally formed as a heat insulating structure 70 and may be detachably disposed on the side wall of the heat insulating box 2 as in this embodiment. Shall.

  Further, in this embodiment, the refrigerant circuit constituting the refrigeration apparatus 1 condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 10 or 20, respectively, and then evaporates to evaporate the refrigerant circuit, thereby forming an independent refrigerant closed circuit that exhibits a cooling action. The refrigerant circuit 25 includes a refrigerant circuit 25 and a low-temperature refrigerant circuit 38. The low-temperature refrigerant circuit 38 is connected in series so that the compressor 20, the condensation pipe 42, the evaporation pipe 62, and the return refrigerant from the evaporation pipe 62 circulate. A plurality of, specifically, four intermediate heat exchangers 48, 56, 58, 59 and a plurality of, more specifically, three capillary tubes 42, 55, 61. The boiling mixed refrigerant is enclosed, and the condensed refrigerant in the refrigerant passing through the condensation pipe 42 is joined to each intermediate heat exchanger via each capillary tube, and the uncondensed refrigerant in the refrigerant is cooled by the intermediate heat exchanger. , The refrigerant having a boiling point lower than the next is condensed, and the refrigerant having the lowest boiling point is caused to flow into the evaporation pipe 62 through the capillary tube 61 at the final stage, and at the same time, the evaporator 34 of the high temperature side refrigerant circuit 25 and the condensation pipe of the low temperature side refrigerant circuit 38. 42, the cascade heat exchanger 43 is configured as a two-stage multi-stage refrigeration apparatus 1 that obtains ultra-low temperature with the evaporation pipe 42 of the low-temperature side refrigerant circuit 38, but the present invention is limited to this. It is not a thing.

  That is, for example, each of the high-temperature side refrigerant circuit includes a high-temperature side refrigerant circuit and a low-temperature side refrigerant circuit that constitute an independent refrigerant closed circuit that condenses and evaporates the refrigerant discharged from the compressor and exhibits a cooling action. A cascade heat exchanger is constituted by the evaporator and the condenser of the low-temperature side refrigerant circuit, and even if it is a simple multiple (two-way) type refrigeration apparatus that obtains ultra-low temperature in the evaporator of the low-temperature side refrigerant circuit, the cascade The heat exchanger 43 is configured in the heat insulating structure 70 as in this embodiment, and the heat insulating structure 70 can be inserted into and removed from the side surface of the heat insulating box 2 on the machine room 3 side, thereby obtaining the same effect. Can do.

  Similarly, a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a plurality of intermediate heat exchangers connected in series so that a return refrigerant from the evaporator circulates, and a plurality of decompression devices are provided, and a plurality of types of non-azeotropic components are provided. The mixed refrigerant is enclosed, and the condensed refrigerant in the refrigerant that has passed through the condenser is joined to the intermediate heat exchanger via the decompression device, and the uncondensed refrigerant in the refrigerant is cooled by the intermediate heat exchanger, thereby sequentially lowering Even in a simple multi-stage refrigeration system that obtains an ultra-low temperature by condensing a boiling-point refrigerant and flowing the lowest-boiling-point refrigerant into the evaporator via a decompression device in the final stage, each intermediate heat exchanger is By configuring the heat insulating structure 70 as described above and making the heat insulating structure 70 detachable from the side surface of the heat insulating box 2 on the machine room 3 side, the same effect can be obtained.

It is a perspective view of the freezing apparatus to which this invention is applied. It is a front view of the freezing apparatus of FIG. It is a top view of the freezing apparatus of FIG. It is the side view of the state which saw through the storage chamber of the freezing apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view of the freezing apparatus in the state where the top panel is opened. FIG. 2 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the refrigeration apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a perspective view of a heat insulation structure. It is a perspective view of the state where the heat insulating material of the heat insulation structure was removed. It is a back perspective view of the freezing apparatus which shows the state which attaches a heat insulation structure. It is a perspective view of the conventional freezing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigeration apparatus 2 Heat insulation box 3 Machine room 4 Storage room 5 Top panel 10 High temperature side compressor 11 Vacuum heat insulation panel 13 Heat insulation door 17 Partition plate 18 Upper machine room 19 Measurement hole 19A Plug 20 Low temperature side compressor 25 High temperature side refrigerant Circuit 26 Auxiliary condenser 28, 31 Condenser 32, 44, 51, 54, 60 Dryer 33, 52, 55, 61 Capillary tube 34 Evaporator 35 Accumulator 36 Blower for condenser 38 Low temperature side refrigerant circuit 39 Heat radiator 42 Condensation pipe 43 Cascade Heat Exchanger 46 First Gas-Liquid Separator 48 First Intermediate Heat Exchanger 49 Second Gas-Liquid Separator 56 Second Intermediate Heat Exchanger 58 Third Intermediate Heat Exchanger 59 Fourth Intermediate Heat exchanger 62 Evaporation pipe

Claims (4)

In a refrigeration apparatus comprising a refrigerant circuit composed of a compressor and an evaporator, etc., and cooling the storage chamber configured in the heat insulation box by the evaporator to an ultra-low temperature,
It is configured on the side of the heat insulation box, includes a machine room in which the compressor or the like is installed, and a measurement hole communicating with the storage room is configured on a side wall on the machine room side of the heat insulation box. Refrigeration equipment characterized.   The heat insulation box is formed of a composite structure of a vacuum heat insulation panel and a foam heat insulation material, and the vacuum heat insulation panel is disposed in the front and rear walls of the heat insulation box and the side wall opposite to the machine room. The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1.   The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the machine room is provided with an openable and closable panel that conceals the measurement hole.   The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the top panel of the machine room is configured to be openable and closable, and the measurement hole can be operated with the top panel open.

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