JPH09287859A - Ice making equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [PROBLEMS] A heat exchanger connected to a refrigerant circulation circuit (A).
In the ice heat storage device (B), in which iced products produced by supercooling water in (42) are stored in the storage part (T) to store cold heat, the ice flowing out from the storage part (T) together with water The melting efficiency of the ice pieces is increased so that the amount of ice pieces flowing into the heat exchanger (42) can be suppressed, and the number of thawing operations can be reduced to improve the amount of ice making. SOLUTION: A pump (P) is attached to the outlet side of the preheater (40) arranged in the circulation path (45) between the outlet side of the reservoir (T) and the inlet side of the heat exchanger (42). Deploy. Further, the mixer (41) is arranged on the discharge side of the pump (P).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for supercooling an ice-making liquid such as water circulating in a circulation path by a heat exchanger connected to a refrigerating device, and storing the iced product produced in a reservoir. The present invention relates to a measure for increasing the melting efficiency of ice pieces that flow out of a reservoir and flow into a heat exchanger.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of ice making device is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-63.
It is widely known, for example, in the publication of -14063. As shown in FIG. 16, this is a storage tank (a) capable of storing water as an ice-making liquid and a refrigerant of the refrigerating machine (A) while being connected to the refrigerating machine (A). It is equipped with a heat exchanger (b) for subcooling and a circulation path (c) for circulating water between the storage tank (a) and the heat exchanger (b). In the circulation path (a) between the outlet side and the inlet side of the heat exchanger (b), there is a pump (d) that discharges the water sucked from the storage tank (a) toward the heat exchanger (b). It is arranged. Then, in the heat exchanger (b), the refrigeration system (A)
The water is supercooled by exchanging heat with the refrigerant to produce a slurry of iced matter, and the iced matter is stored in the storage tank (a).
The cold heat generated by the refrigerating apparatus (A) is stored in a latent heat state.

In the above ice making device, when the ice pieces stored in the storage tank (a) flow out from the storage tank (a) together with water into the heat exchanger (b), the heat exchanger
(b) may be frozen. Therefore, conventionally, in order to avoid the inflow of ice pieces into the heat exchanger (b), a circulation path between the discharge side of the pump (d) and the inlet side of the heat exchanger (b) is used.
A cylindrical mixer (e) is installed in (a) and this mixer is used.
Inside (e), the flow of ice pieces and water is changed to a swirling flow, and the swirling flow promotes the melting of the ice pieces by mixing and stirring the ice pieces and water. At that time, in order to enhance the melting efficiency of the ice pieces in the mixer (e), a preheater (f) is provided between the pump (d) and the mixer (e), and this preheater is used. In (f), ice pieces and water are heated. Furthermore, if there is still a possibility that freezing will proceed in the heat exchanger (b), heat exchange can be performed by performing anti-freezing operation (thaw operation) before the heat exchanger (b) is completely frozen. It is designed to thaw the ice in the container (b).

[0004]

However, during the above-mentioned thawing operation, the ice making operation of the ice making device is stopped. In other words, if the number of thawing operations is large, the amount of ice making decreases accordingly. Therefore, in the above ice making device, in order to improve the amount of ice making, it is very important to increase the melting efficiency of the ice pieces that are about to flow into the heat exchanger (b).

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to make an ice-making product which is obtained by supercooling an ice-making liquid in a heat exchanger and storing the produced ice product in a storage portion. In the equipment, by reviewing the arrangement of pumps,
The melting efficiency of ice pieces that have flowed out from the reservoir together with the ice-making liquid can be increased to further suppress the amount of ice pieces that flow into the heat exchanger, thus reducing the number of thaw operations and improving the amount of ice making. To do so.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention focuses on the stirring effect of the pump and guides the water heated by the preheater to the pump, not to the mixer. By vigorously stirring with this pump, the melting efficiency for ice pieces was increased.

Specifically, in the invention of claim 1, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, respectively, a storage part (T) capable of storing an ice making liquid and its frozen product, and a refrigeration system (A).
Connected to the heat exchanger (42) for supercooling the ice making liquid by the refrigerant of the refrigeration system (A), and circulating the ice making liquid between the reservoir (T) and the heat exchanger (42). A circulation path (45) for allowing the circulation path (45) to be provided between the outlet side of the storage section (T) and the inlet side of the heat exchanger (42).
The pump (P) that draws in the ice-making liquid from and discharges it toward the heat exchanger (42), the outlet side of the reservoir (T) and the heat exchanger (4
It was provided in the circulation path (45) between the inlet side of 2) and a preheater (40) for heating the ice-making liquid flowing from the reservoir (T) to the heat exchanger (42). An ice making device is a prerequisite.

The pump (P) is connected to the preheater (4
It is assumed to be located on the exit side of 0).

In the above structure, the ice pieces flowing out from the reservoir (T) together with the ice making liquid according to the operation of the pump (P) are heated by the preheater (40) and then by the pump (P). Stir with the ice-making liquid. At this time, since the stirring by the pump (P) has a larger stirring effect than the conventional stirring by the mixer, it is possible to stir the heated ice pieces and the ice-making liquid in the mixer more than the conventional case. The melting efficiency of ice pieces is high.

According to the invention of claim 2, in the invention of claim 1, as shown in FIG. 1, the pump (P) is provided between the discharge side and the inlet side of the heat exchanger (42). It is assumed that a mixer (41) for swirling the ice-making liquid discharged from P) is arranged.

In the above structure, the ice pieces and the ice-making liquid stirred by the pump (P) are further stirred by the mixer (41), so that the stirring effect is further increased accordingly.
Also in this invention, the melting efficiency of ice pieces is further increased. At that time, since the mixer (41) is arranged on the discharge side of the pump (P), it is easier to secure the suction pressure of the pump (P) than when it is arranged on the suction side of the pump. Become. Further, since the ice making liquid discharged from the pump (P) is introduced into the mixer (41) without passing through the preheater (40), it is possible to introduce the ice making liquid through the preheater. A stronger swirling flow is formed in the mixer (41) than in the above case, and the melting efficiency itself in the mixer (41) is correspondingly increased.

According to the invention of claim 3, in the invention of claim 1, as shown in FIG. 14, between the outlet side of the preheater (40) and the suction side of the pump (P), the preheater ( It is assumed that a mixer (41) for swirling the ice making liquid heated by 40) is arranged.

In the above structure, the ice pieces and the ice-making liquid heated by the preheater (40) are introduced into the mixer (41) before being sucked into the pump (P), and the inside of the mixer (41). After being turned into a swirling flow and being stirred, it is sucked into the pump (P) and further stirred by this pump (P). That is, the ice pieces that have been melted to a certain extent by being heated by the preheater (40) and being stirred by the mixer (41) are subjected to the strong stirring action of the pump (P). The melting efficiency of the ice pieces is higher than when the ice-making liquid heated in 40) is sucked into the pump (P) as it is. In this case, add a preheater to the suction side of the pump (P).
Since the (40) and mixer (41) are located, the pump
It is difficult to secure the suction pressure of (P), but the mixer (4
The ice-making liquid in 1) is discharged from the mixer (41) while being sucked into the pump (P) .Therefore, it should be discharged while being pushed out by the ice-making liquid introduced via the preheater. As compared with the conventional case, a stronger swirl flow is formed in the mixer (41), and therefore, also in the present invention, the melting efficiency itself in the mixer (41) is higher.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 3 shows the overall structure of an ice heat storage device (B) as an ice making device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the ice heat storage device (B) is an air conditioner. It is connected to a refrigerant circulation circuit (A) as a refrigerating device, and is used when storing cold heat generated by the refrigerant circulation circuit (A) in an ice state and warm heat in a hot water state. In the ice heat storage device (B), water is used as the ice making liquid.

The air conditioner comprises one outdoor unit.
(X) and a plurality of indoor units (Y, Y, Y) (three in the illustrated example) are a liquid side communication pipe (RL) and a gas side that form a part of the refrigerant circulation circuit (A). It is a so-called indoor multi-type that is connected by a connecting pipe (RG). Hereinafter, the refrigerant circulation circuit (A) and the ice heat storage device (B) will be described in order.

-Description of Refrigerant Circulation Circuit-First, the main circuit configuration of the refrigerant circulation circuit (A) will be described. This refrigerant circulation circuit (A) consists of a compression mechanism (1) provided in the outdoor unit (X), a four-way switching valve (2), and an outdoor fan (F).
Outdoor heat exchangers as heat source side heat exchangers arranged close to each other
(3), each of the receiver (4) and the first outdoor electric expansion valve (5), and the indoor electric expansion valve provided in each indoor unit (Y)
The main refrigerant circuit (A-1) is formed by sequentially connecting (6) and each of the indoor heat exchangers (7) as the use side heat exchangers by a refrigerant pipe (8).

The liquid side connecting pipe (RL) is a plurality of indoor liquid pipes.
It is connected to the liquid side of each indoor heat exchanger (7,7,7) via (7a, 7a, 7a). The indoor electric expansion valves (6, 6, 6) are provided in the indoor liquid pipes (7a, 7a, 7a). On the other hand, the gas side connecting pipe (RG) is connected to the gas side of each indoor heat exchanger (7, 7, 7) via a plurality of indoor gas pipes (7b, 7b, 7b). The gas side connecting pipe (RG) is connected to the four-way switching valve (2) through the gas pipe (15).
By (2), the connection state of the compression mechanism (1) with respect to the discharge side and the suction side can be switched.

Explaining in detail the connection state of each device by the refrigerant pipe (8), one end of the outdoor heat exchanger (3) has a gas side pipe (10) and the other end has a liquid side pipe (11). ) Are connected respectively. The gas side pipe (10) is switchably connected to the discharge side and the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) by a four-way switching valve (2). In other words, this gas side pipe (1
0) is the first discharge gas line (10a) that connects the discharge side of the compression mechanism (1) and the four-way switching valve (2) to each other, and the four-way switching valve
The second discharge gas line (10b) that connects (2) and the outdoor heat exchanger (3) to each other, and the intake gas line (10c that connects the intake sides of the four-way switching valve (2) and the compression mechanism (1) to each other. ) And mainly. An accumulator (12) is provided in the suction gas line (10c).

On the other hand, the liquid side pipe (11) is an outdoor heat exchanger.
The first liquid line (1) connecting the (3) and the receiver (4) to each other.
1a), the second liquid line (11b) connecting the receiver (4) and the first outdoor electric expansion valve (5) to each other, the first outdoor electric expansion valve (5) and the liquid side connecting pipe (RL) to each other. It mainly consists of the third liquid line (11c) to be connected. The first liquid line (11a) has a first check valve (CV1) that allows only the passage of the refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger (3) to the receiver (4), and the third liquid line (11c). Are respectively provided with second and third check valves (CV2, CV3) which allow only the passage of the refrigerant from the first outdoor electric expansion valve (5) toward the liquid side connecting pipe (RL). . First liquid line (11) between the first check valve (CV1) and receiver (4)
a) and the third liquid line (11c) downstream of the second check valve (CV3)
And are connected by a fourth liquid line (11d). A fourth check valve (CV4) which allows only the flow of the refrigerant from the third liquid line (11c) to the first liquid line (11a) is interposed in the fourth liquid line (11d).

The compression mechanism (1) is a variable displacement upstream compressor whose displacement is controlled in multiple stages by inverter control.
(COMP-1) and a downstream compressor (C) with an unloader mechanism that is controlled to switch between three stages: full load, unload, and stop.
It is a so-called twin type in which OMP-2) is connected in parallel.

Further, the compression mechanism (1) includes each compressor (C
An oil return mechanism (20) for returning the lubricating oil discharged from the OMP-1, COMP-2) together with the refrigerant to the suction side of the upstream compressor (COMP-1) is provided. This oil return mechanism (20) is an oil separator (21, 22)
And oil return pipe (23, 24). Oil separator (21,22)
Are the discharge pipes (10a- of the upstream compressor (COMP-1) and the downstream compressor (COMP-2) that are part of the first discharge gas line (10a).
1,10a-2). In addition, the oil return pipe (23,2
4) is equipped with a capillary tube (CP) and sucks in the lower end of the oil separator (21, 22) and the upstream compressor (COMP-1) which is a part of the suction gas line (10c). The oil separators (21, 22) are connected so that they communicate with the pipes (10c-1).
The lubricating oil accumulated in the above is returned to the upstream compressor (COMP-1). In addition, each discharge pipe on the downstream side of the oil separator (21, 22)
(10a-1, 10a-2), 5th and 6th non-return valves allowing only passage of each refrigerant from each compressor (COMP-1, COMP-2) to the four-way switching valve (2) Valves (CV5, CV6) are installed respectively.

Further, the suction pipe (10c-2) of the downstream side compressor (COMP-2) which is a part of the suction gas line (10c) is the suction pipe (10c) of the upstream side compressor (COMP-1). The pressure loss is set larger than in the case of -1). In addition, these compressors (COMP-
1, COMP-2) is an oil equalizing pipe equipped with a capillary tube (CP).
They are communicated with each other by (25). As a result, part of the lubricating oil recovered by the high-pressure side upstream compressor (COMP-1) is supplied to the low-pressure side downstream compressor (COMP-2). As a result, the lubricating oil is evenly collected in each compressor (COMP-1, COMP-2).

The outdoor heat exchanger (3) includes an auxiliary heat exchanger.
(30) is adjacent. The gas side of the auxiliary heat exchanger (30) is connected to the first discharge gas line (10a) on the downstream side of the fifth and sixth check valves (CV5, CV6) by the auxiliary gas line (31). There is. On the other hand, the liquid side of the auxiliary heat exchanger (30) is connected to the first liquid line (11a) downstream of the first check valve (CV1) by the auxiliary liquid line (32). The auxiliary liquid line (32) has a capillary tube (CP) and a first solenoid valve.
(SV1) are installed respectively.

Further, the first liquid line (11a) upstream of the first check valve (CV1) and the third liquid line (11c) upstream of the second check valve (CV2) are heated. Connected by liquid line (33). This heating liquid line (33) has a third liquid line (1
A seventh check valve (CV7) is provided which allows only the passage of the refrigerant from 1c) to the outdoor heat exchanger (3). Further, the second liquid line (11b) and the third liquid line (11c) on the downstream side of the second check valve (CV2) are connected by a bypass line (34). This bypass line (34) has a second solenoid valve
(SV2) and second liquid line (11b) to third liquid line (11c)
And an eighth check valve (CV8) which allows only the passage of the refrigerant toward. The main circuit configuration of the refrigerant circuit (A) has been described above.

-Description of Ice Heat Storage Device- Next, the ice heat storage device (B) will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The ice heat storage device (B) includes a heat storage tank (T) as a storage unit capable of storing water and ice pieces thereof, and a refrigerant during the cold heat storage operation and the simultaneous cold storage / cooling operation of the refrigerant circulation circuit (A). Heat storage heat exchanger (42) as a heat exchanger consisting of a vertical shell-and-tube heat exchanger that supercools water by means of these heat storage tanks (T) and heat storage heat exchanger (42)
It is installed in the circulation path (45) for circulating water between them and the circulation path (45) between the outlet side of the heat storage tank (T) and the inlet side of the heat storage heat exchanger (42). , A centrifugal pump (P) that sucks water from the heat storage tank (T) and discharges it toward the heat storage heat exchanger (42), and the outlet side of the heat storage tank (T) and the heat storage heat exchanger.
From the heat exchanger of double pipe structure that is installed in the circulation path (45) between the inlet side of (42) and preheats the water going from the heat storage tank (T) to the heat storage heat exchanger (42). It is equipped with a preheater (40).

In the circulation path (45) on the outlet side of the heat storage heat exchanger (42), an ice nucleus generator (for generating ice nuclei in the supercooled water flowing out from the heat storage heat exchanger (42) ( 46) and a supercooling elimination device (43) which is cylindrical and changes the flow of the supercooling water into a swirling flow are sequentially arranged. These ice nucleators
The (46) and the supercooling elimination device (43) have a function of eliminating the supercooled state of the supercooled water and changing the phase from the liquid phase to the solid phase to generate an iced substance. Further, on the upstream side of the ice nucleus generator (46), an ice progress preventer (47) for preventing the generated ice from advancing to the heat storage heat exchanger (42) is provided.

In this embodiment, the pump (P)
Is arranged on the outlet side of the preheater (40) as shown in an enlarged scale in FIG. The circulation path (45) between the discharge side of the pump (P) and the inlet side of the heat storage heat exchanger (42) has a mixer (41) for swirling the water discharged from the pump (P). Are arranged.

Hereinafter, the preheater (40) of this refrigerant circulation circuit (A)
Also, the configuration of the refrigerant circulation circuit (A) for supplying a refrigerant that exchanges heat with water to the heat storage heat exchanger (42) will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the preheater (40) is provided in the middle of the third liquid line (11c) and circulates in the central space of the double pipe preheater (40). The water in the passage (45) and the refrigerant in the third liquid line (11c) flow in the outer space, so that heat is exchanged between them. Further, the third liquid line (11c) between the preheater (40) and the bypass gas line (34) and the upstream side of the accumulator (12) are connected by a defrosting bypass line (50). A third solenoid valve (SV3) is provided in the thawing bypass line (50).

The heat storage heat exchanger (42) has an upper connecting pipe (5
1) and the lower connecting pipe (52) are connected respectively. The upper connection pipe (51) has one end on the upper end of the side surface of the heat storage heat exchanger (42) and the other end on the upstream side of the suction gas line (10c) to which the above defrosting bypass line (50) is connected. It is connected. On the other hand, one end of the lower connecting pipe (52) is a heat storage heat exchanger.
The lower end of the side surface of (42) and the other end thereof are connected to the third liquid line (11c) between the preheater (40) and the third check valve (CV3), respectively. Further, the upper connecting pipe (51) has a fourth solenoid valve (S
V4), and the lower connecting pipe (52) has a second outdoor electric expansion valve (5
2a) are installed respectively. That is, in the heat storage heat exchanger (42), heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and the water introduced and led out by the upper connection pipe (51) and the lower connection pipe (52).

The upper end of the receiver (4) and the second
The lower connection pipe (52) between the outdoor electric expansion valve (52a) and the heat storage heat exchanger (42) is connected by a heat storage use bypass pipe (53). A capillary tube (CP) and a fifth solenoid valve (SV5) are provided in the heat storage utilization bypass pipe (53), respectively.

Further, the first discharge gas line between the downstream side of the fifth and sixth check valves (CV5, CV6) and the connection position of the first discharge gas line (10a) and the auxiliary gas line (31). (10a)
Is the lower connecting pipe between the connecting position of the lower connecting pipe (52) and the heat storage bypass pipe (53) and the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a).
It is connected to (52) via a hot gas supply pipe (54). This hot gas supply pipe (54) has a sixth solenoid valve (SV6)
Is interposed. Further, the hot gas supply pipe (54) on the downstream side of the sixth solenoid valve (SV6) and the upper side surface of the heat storage heat exchanger (42) are connected by a heat storage utilization supply pipe (55). The heat storage utilization supply pipe (55) is provided with a seventh solenoid valve (SV7).

In this way, the preheater of the ice heat storage device (B)
(40) and the heat storage heat exchanger (42), since the refrigerant pipe of the refrigerant circulation circuit (A) is connected, each device (40,
When the refrigerant is supplied to 42), heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant and the water of the ice heat storage device (B) to cool or heat the water. Specifically, for example, water is cooled in the heat storage heat exchanger (42) to generate supercooled water, or preheated to melt the ice when the ice circulates in the circulation path (45). Heat water in vessel (40).

Next, the ice nucleus generator (46) and the ice growth preventer (47) will be described. The ice nucleator (46) has a water pipe (4
Part of the water flowing through 5a) is cooled into ice by the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation circuit (A), and the ice is supplied to the supercooling elimination device (43) as ice nuclei. Then, a refrigerant introduction pipe (58) and a refrigerant discharge pipe (59) for ice nucleus generation are connected to the ice nucleus generator (46). The refrigerant introduction pipe (58) includes a capillary tube (CP), and one end thereof has a connection position of the lower connection pipe (52) and the hot gas supply pipe (54) and a second outdoor electric expansion valve (5).
2a) to the lower connecting pipe (52) and the other end to the ice nucleator
Connected to (46) respectively. On the other hand, the refrigerant outlet pipe
(59) is a suction pipe (10c-2) of one end of the downstream compressor (COMP-2)
, And the other end is connected to the ice nucleator (46), respectively. With these, the ice nucleation generator (46) from the refrigerant introduction pipe (58)
The refrigerant introduced into the water and the water flowing through the water pipe (45a) are heat-exchanged to cool the water, and part of the water is adhered to the inner wall surface of the water pipe (45a) as ice blocks. By doing so, a part of the ice block is peeled off by the water pressure in the water pipe (45a), and the ice block is supplied to the supercooling elimination section (43) as an ice nucleus.

The ice growth preventer (47) is an ice nucleator (46)
It is installed on the upstream side of the
It prevents the ice from traveling toward the heat storage heat exchanger (42) along the pipe wall of (45a). And this ice growth prevention device (4
The refrigerant introduction pipe (60) and the refrigerant discharge pipe (6)
1) are connected respectively. The refrigerant introduction pipe (60),
One end to the auxiliary gas line (31) and the other end to the ice expansion preventer
Connected to (47) respectively. On the other hand, the refrigerant outlet pipe
(61) has a capillary tube (CP) and a first solenoid valve at one end
It is connected to the auxiliary liquid line (32) between (SV1) and the other end to the ice spread preventer (47). This refrigerant outlet pipe (61)
Is equipped with a capillary tube (CP). The refrigerant introduced from the refrigerant introduction pipe (60) heats the pipe wall of the water pipe (45a) to prevent the ice nucleation generator (46) from advancing the ice.

The mixer (41) and the supercooling elimination device (43) are
Both are made of hollow cylindrical containers, and water introduced in the tangential direction of the inner peripheral surface by the circulation path (45) becomes a swirling flow. As a result, in the mixer (41), as will be described later, ice flowing out together with water from the heat storage tank (T) is mixed and stirred with the water to promote melting of the ice. On the other hand, in the subcooling elimination device (43), the ice nuclei produced in the ice nuclei generator (46) and the supercooled water produced in the heat storage heat exchanger (42) are mixed and agitated to produce a supercooled state. It is designed to promote resolution.
1 and 2 (62) is a filter for removing ice and impurities from the water introduced into the preheater (40).

Here, during cold storage of the ice heat storage device (B),
And each basic operation at the time of the cooling operation of the air conditioner performed by utilizing the cold heat will be briefly described. First, for example, during cold heat storage (during cold heat storage operation and simultaneous cold heat storage / cooling simultaneous operation described later), the heat storage heat exchanger (42) functions as an evaporator of the refrigerant circulation circuit (A). That is, the refrigerant circulation circuit
The refrigerant of (A) is introduced into the heat storage heat exchanger (42) to cool the ice heat storage device.
The water is supercooled by evaporating by heat exchange with the water of (B). Then, the water in the heat storage heat exchanger (42) flows out from the heat storage heat exchanger (42) with the operation of the pump (P),
After ice nuclei are generated in the ice nuclei generator (46), a swirling flow is generated in the supercooling elimination device (43), which causes a phase change to generate iced substances. This ice product is a heat storage tank (T)
Is stored.

On the other hand, when the ice pieces stored in the heat storage tank (T) flow out together with water from the outlet side of the heat storage tank (T) with the operation of the pump (P), the ice pieces are first By being heated by the preheater (40), it becomes in a state of being easily melted. Then, when it is sucked into the pump (P) and discharged, it is subjected to a strong stirring action by the blades in the pump (P), whereby the ice pieces are strongly melted.
Then, the ice pieces discharged from the pump (P) are mixed in a mixer.
It is introduced into the (41), becomes a swirling flow in the mixer (41), is agitated again, and is further melted, and then introduced into the heat storage heat exchanger (42).

Further, for example, when the cooling operation of the refrigerant circulation circuit (A) is carried out by utilizing the cold heat stored in the ice heat storage device (B) (during the cooling operation using the cold heat storage described later), the heat storage heat is stored. The exchanger (42) functions as a condenser of the refrigerant circulation circuit (A). That is, the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation circuit (A) is the ice storage device.
The water is heated by condensing and liquefying by heat exchange with the water of (B).

-Structure of Sensors-The refrigerant circulation circuit (A) and the ice heat storage device (B) are provided with various sensors. Explaining each sensor, first, in the refrigerant circulation circuit (A), as shown in FIG.
An outdoor air temperature sensor (Th-1) that detects the outdoor air temperature is located near the outdoor heat exchanger (3), and an outdoor liquid temperature sensor (Th-2) that detects the liquid refrigerant temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger (3). The compression mechanism on the side of the flow dividing pipe
Discharge gas temperature sensor (T
h-31, Th-32) is the discharge pipe (10a- of each compressor (COMP-1, COMP-2)
1, 10a-2), an intake gas temperature sensor (Th-4) for detecting the intake gas refrigerant temperature of the compression mechanism (1) is provided in the intake gas line (10c) of the compression mechanism (1). In addition, a high-pressure pressure sensor (SEN) that detects the pressure of the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1).
-H) is connected to the first discharge gas line (10a), and the low pressure sensor (SEN-L) for detecting the suction refrigerant pressure of the compression mechanism (1) is connected to the suction gas line (10c). Each compressor (COMP-1, COMP-2) has a high pressure protective switch (HPS, HPS) that operates when the discharge refrigerant pressure of each compressor rises to a predetermined high pressure. (COMP-1, COMP-
The discharge pipes (10a-1, 10a-2) of 2) are provided respectively.

On the other hand, in the ice heat storage device (B), as shown in FIG. 1, at the inlet side portion of the preheater (40), an inlet water temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of water flowing into the preheater (40). (Th-W1)
However, at the outlet side portion of the mixer (41), an outlet water temperature sensor (Th-W for detecting the temperature of water that is about to flow out of the mixer (41).
2) is the circulation path (45) near the outlet side of the heat storage heat exchanger (42)
In, the subcooling water temperature sensor (Th-W3) for detecting the temperature of the water flowing out from the heat storage heat exchanger (42), the subcooling elimination device (43) at the inlet side portion of the subcooling elimination device (43). ) Are provided with ice generation detection sensors (Th-W4). Further, the water inlet pipe (45b) connected to the inlet of the preheater (40) detects the flow velocity of water in the water inlet pipe (45b), and turns on when the flow velocity falls below a predetermined value. A switch (SW-F) is provided.

-Control Configuration- In this air conditioner, each sensor (Th-1 to SEN-L, Th-W1
~ Th-W4), switch (HPS) and switch (SW-F) detection signals are respectively input to the controller (70), and this controller (70) uses the four-way switching valve based on these detection signals.
It controls the switching of (2), the switching of each solenoid valve (SV1 to SV7), the opening adjustment of each electric expansion valve (5, 6, 52a), and the capacity of the compression mechanism (1).

-Driving Operation- Next, the driving operation of the air conditioner configured as described above will be described in detail for each operation mode. The operation mode of this air conditioner includes [1] normal cooling operation,
[2] Normal heating operation, [3] Ice nucleation operation, [4] Cold heat storage operation, [5] Thaw operation, [6] Cold heat storage / cooling simultaneous operation, [7] Cold heat storage cooling operation, [8] Thermal storage operation,

There are [9] simultaneous heat storage / heating operation and [10] heating operation using heat storage. The refrigerant circulation operation in each operation mode will be described below.

[1] Normal cooling operation In this operation mode, the controller (70) switches the four-way switching valve (2) to the solid line side in FIG. 4 and the indoor electric expansion valve (6) to a predetermined opening degree. While being adjusted (superheat control), the other electric expansion valves are closed. Further, the second solenoid valve (SV2) is opened, while the other solenoid valves are closed.

When the compression mechanism (1) operates in this state, the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1) passes through the four-way switching valve (2) and the outdoor heat exchanger ( Introduced into 3), heat is exchanged with the outside air in the outdoor heat exchanger (3) to condense and liquefy. Then, this refrigerant is liquid side piping (11)
And after being introduced into the indoor unit (Y, Y, Y) via the bypass line (34) and decompressed by the indoor electric expansion valve (6,6,6), in the indoor heat exchanger (7,7,7). Heat is exchanged with the room air to evaporate and gasify the room air. Then, this gas refrigerant is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) via the gas pipe (15), the four-way switching valve (2) and the suction gas line (10c) in this order. By performing such a circulation operation of the refrigerant, indoor cooling is performed.

[2] Normal heating operation In this operation mode, the controller (70) switches the four-way switching valve (2) to the broken line side in FIG.
While the first outdoor electric expansion valve (5) is adjusted to a predetermined opening,
The indoor electric expansion valve (6,6,6) is fully opened. Further, the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a) and each solenoid valve are closed.

When the compression mechanism (1) operates in this state, the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1) flows through the four-way switching valve (2) and the gas pipe (15) as shown by the arrow in FIG. After that, it is introduced into the indoor unit (Y, Y, Y), and heat is exchanged with the indoor air in the indoor heat exchanger (7, 7, 7) to condense and heat the indoor air. Thereafter, the refrigerant reaches the receiver (4) via the third liquid line (11c) and the fourth liquid line (11d), flows from the receiver (4) through the second liquid line (11b), and flows into the first outdoor electric line. After the pressure is reduced by the expansion valve (5), the heat is introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger (3) from the heating liquid line (33), and the outdoor heat exchanger (3) exchanges heat with the outside air to evaporate. . Then, through the four-way switching valve (2) and the suction gas line (10c), the compression mechanism
It is returned to the suction side of (1). The indoor heating is performed by performing such a circulation operation of the refrigerant.

[3] Ice Nucleus Generation Operation This operation mode is for generating ice nuclei used to eliminate the supercooled state of the supercooled water in the cold heat storage operation described below. Further, in this operation mode, a water cooling operation for cooling the water in the ice heat storage device (B) to a predetermined temperature (for example, 2 ° C.) is performed before the start of the ice nucleation operation. Explaining the water and refrigerant circulating operation of this water cooling operation, the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a) is adjusted to a predetermined opening degree, and both the first and second solenoid valves (SV1, SV2) are opened. It On the other hand, the other electric expansion valves and solenoid valves are closed. The four-way switching valve (2) is switched to the solid line side in FIG. In this state, the pump (P) is operated to circulate the water in the ice heat storage device (B) and the compression mechanism (1) is operated.
Then, the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1) is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger (3) and then passes through the liquid side pipe (11) and the lower connecting pipe (52) to the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a). ) After decompressing with
It is introduced into the heat storage heat exchanger (42), where heat is exchanged with water, and the water is cooled and evaporated. Thereafter, this refrigerant is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) by the upper connecting pipe (51) and the suction gas line (10c). Such a water cooling operation is performed for a predetermined time and the water temperature of the ice heat storage device (B) drops,
When the temperature reaches the predetermined temperature, the following ice nucleation operation is started.

In this ice nucleation operation, the controller (70)
Accordingly, the four-way switching valve (2) is set to the solid line side, the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a) is adjusted to a predetermined opening degree, and the other electric expansion valves are closed. In addition, the first and second solenoid valves (SV1, SV1
2) are opened together, while the other solenoid valves are closed.

In this state, in the ice heat storage device (B),
The pump (P) operates to circulate the water cooled by the above-described water cooling operation in the ice heat storage device (B). on the other hand,
In the refrigerant circulation circuit (A), only the upstream compressor (COMP-1) of the compression mechanism (1) operates. And this compressor (COM
The refrigerant discharged from P-1) is, as indicated by the arrow in FIG.
Part of the heat is introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger (3) through the four-way switching valve (2), and heat exchanges with the outside air in the outdoor heat exchanger (3) to condense. After that, this refrigerant is
(11), bypass line (34), lower connection pipe (52), second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a), and ice nucleation refrigerant introduction pipe (58) to be introduced into the ice nucleus generator (46) . Further, another part of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (COMP-1) is introduced into the auxiliary heat exchanger (30) through the auxiliary gas line (31), and the auxiliary outdoor heat exchanger.
At (30), heat is exchanged with the outside air to condense. Thereafter, the refrigerant joins the liquid side pipe (11). And
The refrigerant condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger (3) and the auxiliary outdoor heat exchanger (30) is decompressed by the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a), and the water pipe ( After cooling the water flowing through 45a) to generate ice nuclei, it passes through the ice nucleation refrigerant outlet pipe (59) and the suction pipe (10c-1) to the upstream compressor (C
It is returned to the suction side of OMP-1).

On the other hand, a part of the refrigerant flowing through the auxiliary gas line (31) is supplied to the ice growth preventive device (47) via the expansion prevention refrigerant introduction pipe (60), and the pipe of the water pipe (45a). Heating the wall prevents ice from developing from the ice nucleator (46) along the tube wall. Then, this refrigerant is joined to the auxiliary liquid line (32) via the progress prevention refrigerant outlet pipe (61). For this reason, even if the ice progresses along the pipe wall surface of the water pipe (45a) to the upstream side (heat storage heat exchanger (42) side), the ice reaches the progress preventer (47). This progress is due to the rapid melting in the part, so this heat storage heat exchanger (42)
Never reach. After such ice nucleation operation is continuously performed for a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes), the next cold heat storage operation is started.

[4] Cold heat storage operation In this operation mode, the supercooled water is brought into contact with the ice nuclei generated by the above-mentioned ice nucleation operation to eliminate the supercooled state around the ice nuclei to cool the ice nuclei. It is for generating ice for heat storage.

In this operation mode, the four-way switching valve (2) is set to the solid line side in FIG. 7 by the controller (70), and the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a) is adjusted to a predetermined opening degree. The other electric expansion valve is closed. Further, the first, second and fourth solenoid valves (SV1, SV2, SV4) are all opened while the other solenoid valves are closed.

In this state, in the ice heat storage device (B),
The pump (P) operates and water circulates in the ice heat storage device (B). On the other hand, in the refrigerant circuit (A), the compression mechanism
The refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1) when (1) is activated is partially partly replaced by the four-way switching valve as shown by the arrow in FIG.
It is introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger (3) via (2), and heat exchanges with the outside air in the outdoor heat exchanger (3) to condense.
After that, this refrigerant is connected to the liquid side pipe (11) and the bypass line (3
It is introduced into the heat storage heat exchanger (42) via 4) and the lower connecting pipe (52). Further, the other part of the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1) is introduced into the auxiliary heat exchanger (30) through the auxiliary gas line (31) and is discharged to the outside air in the auxiliary outdoor heat exchanger (30). Heat exchange between the two to condense. Thereafter, the refrigerant joins the liquid side pipe (11) via the auxiliary liquid line (32). Each heat exchanger
The refrigerant condensed at (3, 30) is decompressed by the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a). Then, the refrigerant introduced into the heat storage heat exchanger (42) exchanges heat with the water flowing inside the heat storage heat exchanger (42) to evaporate, and thus the water is overheated. After cooling to a cooling state (for example -2 ° C), connect the upper connecting pipe (5
1) and is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) through the suction gas line (10c).

Even in this operation, the ice nucleation operation described above is simultaneously performed. That is, a part of the refrigerant flowing through the lower connecting pipe (52) is introduced into the ice nucleator (46) via the ice nucleation refrigerant introducing pipe (58). Thereby, continuous ice making can be performed. Then, the refrigerant that has cooled the water in the ice nucleator (46) to generate the ice nuclei is the ice nucleation refrigerant outlet pipe (59) and the suction gas line (10c) as in the ice nucleation operation described above. After that, it is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1).

At the same time, the auxiliary gas line (31)
Part of the refrigerant flowing through is supplied to the ice spread prevention device (47),
Prevent ice development as above. This avoids a situation in which the progress of the ice reaches the heat storage heat exchanger (42), the supercooled state of the supercooled water is eliminated and the heat exchanger (42) freezes. .

The supercooled water generated in the heat storage heat exchanger (42) by performing such a circulation operation of water and refrigerant is
Ice nuclei are mixed in the vicinity of the ice nucleus generator (46) and are introduced into the supercooling elimination device (43) in this state. Then, in the supercooling elimination device (43), the supercooled water is eliminated from the supercooled state around the ice nuclei along with the swirling flow of the supercooled water, whereby slurry ice for cold storage is generated. This ice is collected in the heat storage tank (T) and stored in the heat storage tank (T).

At this time, whether or not the subcooling elimination operation is being carried out in the subcooling elimination device (43) is confirmed by the subcooling water temperature sensor (Th-W3) and the ice formation detection sensor (Th-W4). It is performed based on the detected water temperature. In other words, when a good ice making operation is being performed, the supercooled water temperature sensor (Th-W3) detects the water temperature in the supercooled state (for example, -2).
℃) and the ice formation detection sensor (Th-W4) detects the supercooled state and detects the water temperature (for example, 0 ℃) in which ice and water are mixed.
By detecting (Th-W3, Th-W4), it is confirmed that the supercooling elimination operation is being performed.

Further, the compression mechanism in this cold heat storage operation
The capacity control of (1) is performed so that the water temperature detected by the supercooling water temperature sensor (Th-W3) is maintained at a predetermined temperature (for example, −2 ° C. described above). In addition, since the relatively high-temperature refrigerant also flows into the preheater (40) during this operation, ice temporarily flows out from the heat storage tank (T) to the circulation path (45), which is the preheater (40). )), The preheater (4
Water and ice heated in (0) are pumped (P) and mixer
Since the melting of ice is promoted by being stirred in each of (41), supercooled water in the heat storage heat exchanger (42) is avoided while avoiding mixing of ice in the heat storage heat exchanger (42). Can be satisfactorily performed. On the other hand, the supercooled water generated by the heat storage heat exchanger (42) is a supercooling canceller (43).
Since the supercooled state is not eliminated until the temperature reaches, the freezing of the heat storage heat exchanger (42) due to the elimination of the supercooled state in the heat storage heat exchanger (42) is avoided.

[5] Thaw operation In the cold heat storage operation as described above, when the supercooled state of water in the heat storage heat exchanger (42) disappears and the heat storage heat exchanger (42) freezes, This cold heat storage operation is temporarily interrupted and switched to the thawing operation. In this thawing operation, the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a), the third, fourth, and sixth solenoid valves (SV3, SV4, SV
V6) is opened, and other electric expansion valves and solenoid valves are closed. In this state, the compression mechanism (1) operates and the hot gas refrigerant from the compression mechanism (1) is supplied to the lower connecting pipe (52) by the hot gas supply pipe (54) as shown by the arrow in FIG. Then
A part of the heat storage heat exchanger (42) passes through the lower connecting pipe (52),
The balance is introduced into the preheater (40). And
The refrigerant (hot gas) introduced into the heat storage heat exchanger (42) is
The warm heat melts the ice in the heat storage heat exchanger (42).
At that time, if the pump (P) of the ice heat storage device (B) is operated, the ice is slightly melted, and the ice heat is exchanged by the water pressure from the pump (P). Bowl (42)
It is easily separated from the wall of the water passage inside the
It will be washed away toward 3). Then, this refrigerant is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) via the upper connection pipe (51) and the suction gas line (10c). On the other hand, the refrigerant introduced into the preheater (40) is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) via the defrosting bypass line (50) and the suction gas line (10c).

In the cold heat storage operation, the heat storage heat exchanger (4
The operation to detect that 2) has frozen is as follows: When the water temperature detected by the supercooled water temperature sensor (Th-W3) rises rapidly from -2 ° C to 0 ° C, this supercooled water temperature sensor (T
It is determined that the supercooling elimination operation is performed on the upstream side of h-W3) and ice is generated, and the above-mentioned thawing operation is performed for a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes) based on this determination. In addition, as an operation to start the thawing operation, the flow switch (S
When the flow velocity of water detected by (WF) falls below a predetermined value, it is determined that the ice blocks a part of the circulation path (45) of the ice heat storage device (B), and in this case also the thawing operation To thaw the ice. When the thawing operation is completed, the cold storage operation is started again.

[6] Simultaneous operation of cold heat storage / cooling In this operation mode, the heat storage tank is used while cooling the room.
This is an operation to store ice in (T) and is performed in a state where the cooling load is relatively small.

In this operation mode, the indoor electric expansion valves (6, 6, 6) are opened in the cold heat storage operation described above. That is, as shown by the broken line arrow in FIG. 9, a part of the refrigerant condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger (3) and the auxiliary heat exchanger (30) is supplied to the indoor unit (Y, Y, Y), After decompressing with the indoor electric expansion valve (6,6,6), the indoor heat exchanger (7,7,7)
To evaporate. This gas refrigerant is supplied to the gas pipe (15), the four-way switching valve (2), and the suction gas line (10
It will be returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) via c). The other circulation operations of water and refrigerant are the same as those in the cold heat storage operation described above.

[7] Cooling operation using cold heat storage This operation mode is for cooling the room while utilizing the cold heat of the ice stored in the heat storage tank (T) in the cold heat storage operation described above.

In this operation mode, the four-way switching valve (2) is switched to the solid line side in FIG. 10 by the controller (70), and the indoor electric expansion valve (6, 6, 6) is adjusted to a predetermined opening degree. , The second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a) is fully opened, while the first
The outdoor electric expansion valve (5) is closed. Further, the fifth to seventh solenoid valves (SV5 to SV7) are opened, while the other solenoid valves are closed.

In this state, in the ice heat storage device (B),
The pump (P) operates and water circulates in the ice heat storage device (B). As a result, the ice storage device (B) has a heat storage tank.
The cold water cooled by the ice in (T) circulates. On the other hand, in the refrigerant circuit (A), the compression mechanism (1)
The refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1) is partially operated by a part of the four-way switching valve (2) as shown by an arrow in FIG.
Is introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger (3) through the outdoor heat exchanger (3).
In the above, heat exchange is performed with the outside air to condense. Thereafter, the refrigerant is supplied to the first liquid line (11a), the receiver (4),
It flows toward the indoor unit (Y, Y, Y) via the heat storage bypass pipe (53), the lower connecting pipe (52), and the third liquid line (11c). Also, some other refrigerant bypasses the four-way switching valve (2) and the outdoor heat exchanger (3) and flows through the hot gas supply pipe (54) and the heat storage utilization supply pipe (55) to store heat. It is introduced into the vessel (42), where heat is exchanged with the cold water circulating in the ice heat storage device (B) to condense, and then introduced into the lower connecting pipe (52).
The refrigerant introduced into the lower connecting pipe (52) is the third
It joins the liquid line (11c) and flows toward the indoor unit (Y, Y, Y). The refrigerant that has reached this indoor unit (Y, Y, Y) is
After decompressing with the indoor electric expansion valve (6,6,6), the indoor heat exchanger
Evaporate at (7,7,7), gas pipe (15) and suction gas line (1
It is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) via 0c). In this way, the indoor cooling operation using the cold heat of the ice stored in the heat storage tank (T) is performed.

In the cooling operation utilizing the cold heat storage, when the water temperature detected by the supercooling water temperature sensor (Th-W3) rises to reach a predetermined temperature (for example, 5 ° C.), the second outdoor electric expansion is performed. Valve (52a) and fifth to seventh solenoid valves (S
While the V5 to SV7) are closed, the second solenoid valve (SV2) is opened to end the cooling storage utilization cooling operation and switch to the normal cooling operation. That is, when it is determined that most of the cold heat in the heat storage tank (T) has been used based on the water temperature of the supercooled water temperature sensor (Th-W3), the normal cooling operation is switched to.

[8] Heat storage operation This operation mode is for storing hot water in the heat storage tank (T) as the heat used during the heating operation.

In this operation mode, the controller (70) switches the four-way switching valve (2) to the broken line side in FIG. 11, the first outdoor electric expansion valve (5) is adjusted to a predetermined opening degree, and The second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a) and the seventh solenoid valve (SV7) are opened, while the other electric expansion valves and solenoid valves are closed.

In this state, in the ice heat storage device (B),
The pump (P) operates and water circulates in the ice heat storage device (B). On the other hand, in the refrigerant circuit (A), the compression mechanism
The refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1) when the (1) is operated is the hot gas supply pipe (54) as shown by the arrow in FIG.
Also, it is introduced into the heat storage heat exchanger (42) through the heat storage utilization supply pipe (55), where heat is exchanged with the water of the ice heat storage device (B) to heat and condense the water. The refrigerant is supplied to the lower connecting pipe (52), the third liquid line (11c), and the fourth liquid line (11d).
Through the second liquid line (11b) and the heating liquid line (33),
After the pressure is reduced by the first outdoor electric expansion valve (5), the outdoor heat exchanger
Introduced in (3). After this heat is exchanged with the outside air in the outdoor heat exchanger (3) to evaporate, it passes through the four-way switching valve (2) and the suction gas line (10c) to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1). Will be returned. By performing such a circulation operation of water and refrigerant, the water flowing through the ice heat storage device (B) receives heat from the refrigerant in the heat storage heat exchanger (42) and becomes hot water of high temperature, and the heat storage tank (T). It will be stored inside.

When the water temperature detected by the inlet water temperature sensor (Th-W1) rises and reaches a predetermined high temperature (for example, 35 ° C.) during such a heat storage operation, the heat storage tank (T) is stored. Operation is terminated when it is judged that sufficient heat has been stored.

[0072]

[9] Simultaneous operation of thermal heat storage / heating This operation mode is used for heating the interior of a room while storing heat.
It is an operation to store hot water in (T) and is performed in a state where the heating load is relatively small.

In this operation mode, in the heat storage operation described above, as shown in FIG. 12, the indoor electric expansion valves (6, 6,
6) is done by opening. That is, a part of the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1) is introduced into the indoor heat exchanger (7,7,7) through the gas pipe (15), and this indoor heat exchanger is
At (7,7,7), heat is exchanged with the indoor air to heat and condense the indoor air, and then the refrigerant is merged with the refrigerant in the third liquid line (11c). The other circulation operations of water and refrigerant are the same as those in the above-mentioned heat storage operation.

[10] Heating Operation Utilizing Heat Storage In this operation mode, the room is heated while utilizing the heat of the hot water stored in the heat storage tank (T) in the heat storage operation described above.

In this operation mode, the controller (70) switches the four-way switching valve (2) to the broken line side in FIG. 13, and adjusts the first outdoor electric expansion valve (5) to a predetermined opening degree. The indoor electric expansion valve (6, 6, 6) and the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a) are fully opened. Also, the 4th solenoid valve (SV4)
Is opened and the other solenoid valves are closed.

When the compression mechanism (1) operates in this state, the refrigerant discharged from the compression mechanism (1) flows through the four-way switching valve (2) and the gas pipe (15) as shown by the arrow in FIG. After that, it is introduced into the indoor unit (Y, Y, Y), and heat is exchanged with the indoor air in the indoor heat exchanger (7, 7, 7) to condense and heat the indoor air. Thereafter, the refrigerant is supplied to the third liquid line (11c).
Then, the pressure reaches the receiver (4) via the fourth liquid line (11d), and is reduced from the receiver (4) via the second liquid line (11b) by the first outdoor electric expansion valve (5). After that, this refrigerant
A part is introduced into the heat storage heat exchanger (42) through the second liquid line (11b) and the lower connecting pipe (52), where heat is exchanged with hot water to evaporate, and then the upper connecting pipe ( It is collected on the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) via 51) and the suction gas line (10c). The other part of the refrigerant decompressed by the first outdoor electric expansion valve (5) is introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger (3) through the heating liquid line (33), and this outdoor heat exchanger (3) After being heat-exchanged with the outdoor air and evaporated, it is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism (1) through the four-way switching valve (2) and the suction gas line (10c). In this way, the indoor heating operation using the heat of the hot water stored in the heat storage tank (T) is performed.

Also in this heating operation using warm heat storage, the water temperature detected by the inlet water temperature sensor (Th-W1) decreases to a predetermined temperature (for example, 20 ° C.) as in the cooling operation using cold heat storage described above. When it reaches, the second outdoor electric expansion valve (52a) and the fourth solenoid valve (SV4) are closed, the heating operation using heat storage is terminated, and the normal heating operation is started. That is, when it is determined that most of the heat in the heat storage tank (T) has been used based on the water temperature of the inlet water temperature sensor (Th-W1), the normal heating operation is switched to. The air conditioning in the room is performed by each operation as described above.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, in the ice heat storage device (B) that is combined with the refrigerant circulation circuit (A) to form the air conditioner, the ice that has flowed out from the heat storage tank (T) together with the water. Since the pieces can be melted by the strong stirring action of the pump (P) immediately after heating them in the preheater (40), it is necessary to stir the heated ice pieces and water in the mixer compared to the conventional case. The stirring effect can be increased, and the melting efficiency of the ice pieces can be increased correspondingly.

In addition, after the agitation by the pump (P) and the agitation by the mixer (41), the melting efficiency for ice pieces can be further enhanced. At this time, since the water discharged from the pump (P) is directly introduced into this mixer (41), the swirling flow stronger than in the conventional case where it is introduced via the preheater is used. Can be formed in the mixer (41), and the melting efficiency itself in the mixer (41) can be increased accordingly.

Therefore, since the melting efficiency of the ice pieces flowing out from the heat storage tank (T) can be increased and the amount of the ice pieces flowing into the heat storage heat exchanger (42) can be greatly suppressed, the air conditioner The number of thawing operations can be reduced, and the amount of cold heat stored by the ice storage device (B) can be correspondingly increased.

In the first embodiment, the ice heat storage device (B)
Although water is used for the above, a brine aqueous solution or the like may be used instead.

In the first embodiment described above, the case where the present invention is applied to the ice heat storage device (B) that performs not only cold heat storage but also warm heat storage has been described. It can also be applied to an ice making device that does not directly store cold heat.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 14 shows an ice heat storage device (B) as an ice making device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In this embodiment as well, as in the case of Embodiment 1 above. , The ice heat storage device (B) is connected to the refrigerant circulation circuit (A) of the air conditioner, and the cold heat generated by the refrigerant circulation circuit (A) is in the ice state and the hot heat is in the hot water state. It is used when storing heat respectively. In the figure, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, the preheater (41) and the pump
A mixer (41) for swirling the water heated by the preheater (40) is arranged in a circulation path (45) between the mixer and (P). That is, contrary to the case of the first embodiment, the ice pieces and water heated by the preheater (40) are first introduced into the mixer (41) before being sucked into the pump (P), and this mixer After being swirled in (41) to be agitated, it is sucked into the pump (P) and agitated again.

Therefore, according to the second embodiment, the ice pieces melted to a certain extent by the preheater (40) and the mixer (41) can be strongly stirred by the pump (P). Also, according to this embodiment, it is possible to increase the melting efficiency of the ice pieces and significantly suppress the amount of the ice pieces flowing into the heat storage heat exchanger (42), thereby reducing the number of thawing operations of the air conditioner. The amount of cold heat stored by the ice heat storage device (B) can be increased.

In the case of this embodiment, the pump
Since the preheater (40) and the mixer (41) are located on the suction side of (P), it is difficult to secure the suction pressure of the pump (P), but the water inside the mixer (41) Since it is discharged from the mixer (41) while being sucked into the pump (P), it is discharged in a state of being pushed out by the water introduced into the mixer via the preheater than in the conventional case. A powerful swirl flow can be created in the mixer (41). Therefore, as in the case of the first embodiment, there is an advantage that the melting efficiency itself of the mixer (41) can be increased.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 15 shows an ice making device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This ice making device is also the same as in the case of the first and second embodiments, and the ice heat storage of the air conditioner is used. Used as device (B). In the figure, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals.

In this embodiment, the circulation path (45) is connected to the mixer.
(41) is omitted. That is, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 16, the pump (P) is arranged on the inlet side of the preheater (f), and the mixer (e) is arranged on the outlet side of the preheater (f). In contrast, the pump (P) is connected to the mixer
It is arranged in place of (e) instead of the mixer (e). Then, the heat storage tank is activated by the operation of the pump (P).
The water flowing out from (T) is first heated by the preheater (40), then sucked into the pump (P), and is strongly stirred and discharged in this pump (P). Since the other configurations are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

Therefore, according to the third embodiment, the ice pieces flowing out together with water from the heat storage tank (T) are removed from the preheater (40).
After being heated at 1, since it can be melted by the strong stirring action of the pump (P), this embodiment also allows the ice pieces and water to be stirred in the mixer to be stirred, compared to the conventional stirring. The stirring effect on the ice pieces can be increased, and the melting efficiency of the ice pieces can be increased correspondingly.

[0090]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, the ice making liquid is formed by the refrigerant of the refrigerating apparatus in a state of being connected to the storing section capable of storing the ice making liquid and the frozen product thereof. A heat exchanger for subcooling the ice-making liquid, and a circulation path for circulating the ice-making liquid between the reservoir and the heat exchanger,
A pump that is provided in a circulation path between the outlet side of the reservoir and the inlet side of the heat exchanger, sucks the ice-making liquid in the reservoir and discharges it toward the heat exchanger, and the outlet side of the reservoir. In a circulation path between the heat exchanger and the inlet side of the heat exchanger, and an ice making device comprising a preheater for heating the ice making liquid flowing from the reservoir to the heat exchanger, wherein the pump is the outlet of the preheater. The ice-making liquid heated by the preheater is strongly stirred by the pump to melt the ice pieces, so that the heated ice-making liquid is swirled in the mixer to stir it. The melting efficiency for ice pieces can be increased more than in the conventional case, and the amount of ice pieces flowing into the heat exchanger can be significantly suppressed. Therefore, the number of thawing operations for the ice making device can be reduced, and Only the amount of ice making can be increased.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the mixer is arranged on the discharge side of the pump, the melting efficiency for ice pieces can be further enhanced, and therefore the amount of ice making can be further increased. You can

According to the invention of claim 3, since the mixer is arranged between the outlet side of the preheater and the suction side of the pump, the present invention further improves the melting efficiency for ice chips. The amount of ice making can be increased to further increase.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an overall configuration of an ice heat storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged circuit diagram showing a main part of the ice heat storage device.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an overall configuration of an air conditioner provided with an ice heat storage device.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a refrigerant circulation operation during normal cooling operation in the air conditioner.

5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a refrigerant circulation operation during a normal heating operation.

FIG. 6 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a refrigerant circulation operation during an ice nucleation operation.

FIG. 7 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a refrigerant circulation operation during a cold heat storage operation.

FIG. 8 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a refrigerant circulation operation during a thawing operation.

FIG. 9 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a refrigerant circulation operation during the cold heat storage / cooling simultaneous operation.

FIG. 10 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a refrigerant circulation operation during a cooling operation using cold heat storage.

FIG. 11 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a refrigerant circulation operation during the warm heat storage operation.

FIG. 12 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 showing the refrigerant circulation operation during the simultaneous heat storage / heating operation.

FIG. 13 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a refrigerant circulation operation during a heating operation using heat storage.

FIG. 14 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing the overall configuration of an ice heat storage device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing the overall configuration of an ice heat storage device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing the overall configuration of a conventional ice making device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (T) Heat storage tank (reservoir) (42) Heat storage heat exchanger (heat exchanger) (45) Circulation path (P) Pump (40) Preheater (41) Mixer (A) Refrigerant circulation circuit (refrigeration system) (B) Ice heat storage device (ice making device)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An ice-making liquid is supercooled by a refrigerant of the freezing device (A) while being connected to a storage part (T) capable of storing the ice-making liquid and its frozen product and the freezing device (A). Heat exchanger
(42), a circulation path (45) for circulating the ice making liquid between the storage section (T) and the heat exchanger (42), the outlet side of the storage section (T) and the heat exchanger (42 ) Is installed in the circulation path (45) between the inlet side and the inlet side of the
The pump (P) that discharges toward (42) and the circulation path (45) between the outlet side of the reservoir (T) and the inlet side of the heat exchanger (42) are installed to store In the ice making device provided with a preheater (40) for heating the ice making liquid flowing from (T) to the heat exchanger (42), the pump (P) is arranged on the outlet side of the preheater (40). An ice making device characterized in that 2. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the pump (P) discharges into a circulation path (45) between the discharge side of the pump (P) and the inlet side of the heat exchanger (42). An ice making device characterized in that a mixer (41) for swirling the ice making liquid is arranged. 3. The ice making device according to claim 1, wherein the circulation path (45) between the outlet side of the preheater (40) and the suction side of the pump (P) is heated by the preheater (40). An ice making device characterized in that a mixer (41) for swirling the ice making liquid is arranged.