Patent Application
20090044564
The present invention relates to a refrigerating apparatus including a refrigerant circuit including a gas-liquid separator for performing two-stage compression/two-stage expansion refrigeration cycle utilizing of CO2 refrigerant at high pressure as that at its critical pressure.
Conventionally, refrigerating apparatuses including a refrigerant circuit are widely applied to air conditioners and the like.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an air conditioner including a refrigerant circuit including a gas-liquid separator for performing a two-stage compression/two-stage expansion refrigeration cycle.
The refrigerant circuit of this air conditioner includes a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, a gas-liquid separator, a second expansion valve, and a second heat exchanger. The compressor is of two-stage compression type in which a low pressure side compression mechanism and a high pressure side compression mechanism are connected by means of a drive shaft. The gas-liquid separator is so composed to separate intermediate-pressure refrigerant in a gas-liquid two-phase state into liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant.
In a cooling operation of the air conditioner, refrigerant discharged form the compressor flows into the first heat exchanger. In the first heat exchanger, the refrigerant release heat to the air. The refrigerant having passed through the first heat exchanger is reduced in pressure up to intermediate pressure through the first expansion valve and flows then into the gas-liquid separator. In the gas-liquid separator, the intermediate-pressure refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state is separated into the gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant thus separated in the gas-liquid separator is reduced in pressure up to low pressure through the second expansion valve and flows then into the second heat exchanger. In the second heat exchanger, the refrigerant absorbs heat from the air to be evaporated. In this way, the indoor cooling is performed.
The refrigerant having passed through the second heat exchanger is sucked into the compressor to be compressed up to intermediate pressure in the low pressure side compression mechanism. The refrigerant discharged from the low pressure side compression mechanism is mixed with the gas refrigerant separated in the gas-liquid separator. In other words, the air conditioner performs generally-called intermediate pressure gas injection in which the intermediate-pressure gas refrigerant is mixed with the refrigerant discharged from the low pressure side compression mechanism. Thereafter, the thus mixed refrigerant is compressed up to high pressure in the high pressure side compression mechanism and is then discharged from the compressor again.
As described above, the air conditioner of Patent Document 1 performs the intermediate pressure gas injection to lower the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor for reducing the power required for driving the compressor, thereby increasing the COP (coefficient of performance) of the air conditioner.
Patent Document 2 discloses an air conditioner in which the aforementioned intermediate pressure gas injection is performed with CO2 refrigerant filled in a refrigerant circuit. This air conditioner performs a generally-called supercritical cycle in which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is compressed over its critical pressure.
In the air conditioner as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the volume (displacement volume) of each compression mechanism of the two-stage compression type compressor is so designed to attain efficient two-stage compression. On the other hand, in the supercritical cycle using CO2 as the refrigerant of such an air conditioner, the refrigerant after being compressed up to its supercritical pressure and releasing heat in an heat exchanger may be at the supercritical pressure yet in the gas-liquid separator. The refrigerant at supercritical pressure (in the critical state) in the gas-liquid separator is difficult to be separated into the gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant. This inhibits sending of only the gas refrigerant to the intermediate-pressure refrigerant in the compressor to inhibit the aforementioned intermediate pressure gas injection. Accordingly, desired effects by the intermediate pressure gas injection cannot be attained to invite lowering of the COP of the air conditioner.
The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing and has its object of enabling operation at an optimal COP in a refrigerating apparatus performing two-stage compression/two-stage expansion refrigeration cycle using CO2 refrigerant.
A first aspect of the present invention premises a refrigerating apparatus including a refrigerant circuit for performing a two-stage compression/two-stage expansion refrigeration cycle in which CO2 refrigerant at high pressure is utilized as that at its critical pressure, the refrigerant circuit including: a compressor including a low pressure side compression mechanism and a high pressure side compression mechanism connected to each other by means of a drive shaft; and a gas-liquid separator for separating refrigerant at intermediate pressure into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant. In this refrigerating apparatus, a volume ratio of a displacement volume of the high pressure side compression mechanism to that of the low pressure side compression mechanism falls in a range between 0.8 and 1.3, both exclusive.
The refrigerant circuit (10) in the first aspect is filled with CO2 refrigerant. Further, the compressor (30) including the low pressure side compression mechanism (34) and the high pressure side compression mechanism (35) is provided in the refrigerant circuit (10). In the refrigerant circuit (10), the following two-stage compression/two-stage expansion refrigeration cycle is performed.
The refrigerant compressed up to its critical pressure in the high pressure side compression mechanism (35) releases heat in, for example, an indoor heat exchanger, is reduced in pressure up to intermediate pressure, and flows then into the gas-liquid separator (15). In the gas-liquid separator (15), the intermediate-pressure refrigerant is separated into the gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant is reduced in pressure up to low pressure, is evaporated in, for example, an outdoor heat exchanger, and is then sucked into the low pressure side compression mechanism (34). This refrigerant is compressed up to intermediate pressure in the low pressure side compression mechanism (34). Then, the gas refrigerant separated in the liquid-gas separator (15) is introduced into this refrigerant. Thus, the aforementioned intermediate pressure gas injection is performed. Thereafter, the refrigerant is compressed up to high pressure (critical pressure) in the high pressure side compression mechanism (35).
In the case where the two-stage compression/two-stage expansion refrigeration cycle is performed with the use of CO2 refrigerant in this way, the intermediate-pressure refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator may reach its critical pressure in the conventional refrigerating apparatus. If so, the refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator cannot be separated into the gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant to inhibit desired intermediate pressure gas injection. To tackle this problem, the volume ratio of the high pressure side compression mechanism (35) to the low pressure side compression mechanism (34) is set greater than 0.8. When the volume ratio is set equal to or smaller than 0.8, the displacement volume of the high pressure side compression mechanism (35) becomes relatively smaller than that of the low pressure side compression mechanism (34), thereby increasing the pressure of the intermediate-pressure refrigerant to invite an increase in pressure of the refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator (15) over its critical pressure. In contrast, in this aspect of the present invention, in which the volume ratio is set greater than 0.8, the refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator (15) can be suppressed at its subcritical pressure. Hence, in this aspect, the refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator (15) is definitely separated into the gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant to attain desired effects by the intermediate pressure gas injection.
When assumed that the volume ratio is set equal to or greater than 1.3, the displacement volume of the high pressure side compression mechanism (35) is relatively greater than that of the low pressure side compression mechanism (34). As a result, the amount of the refrigerant sucked in the high pressure side compression mechanism (35) is secured insufficiently to invite lowering of the compression efficiency of the compressor (30). In contrast, this aspect of the present invention sets the volume ratio to be smaller than 1.3 to secure a sufficient amount of the refrigerant sucked in the high pressure side compression mechanism (35), with a result that the refrigerant can be compressed in two stages efficiently.
Referring to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the volume ratio falls in a range between 0.9 and 1.1, both inclusive.
In the second aspect of the present invention, the volume ratio of the displacement volume of the high pressure side compression mechanism (35) to that of the low pressure side compression mechanism (34) is set in the range between 0.9 and 1.1, both inclusive. The volume ratio exceeding 0.9 definitely makes the refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator (15) reach its critical pressure. While, the volume ratio not exceeding 1.1 attains further efficient two-stage compression of the refrigerant.
Referring to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the volume ratio is 1.0.
In the third aspect of the present invention, the volume of the low pressure side compression mechanism (34) and that of the high pressure side compression mechanism (35) are set equal to each other.
Referring to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the low pressure side compression mechanism and the high pressure side compression mechanism are rotary compression mechanisms.
In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the compressor (30) is so composed that the low pressure side compression mechanism (34) and the high pressure side compression mechanism (35) are connected to each other by means of the drive shaft (33).
In the present invention, the volume ratio of the high pressure side compression mechanism (35) to the low pressure side compression mechanism (34) is set in the range between 0.8 and 1.3, both exclusive. The volume ratio over 0.8 reduces the pressure of the refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator (15) lower than its critical pressure. Accordingly, desired intermediate pressure gas injection can be performed in the refrigerant circuit (10) to increase the COP of the refrigerating apparatus in the present invention. On the other hand, the volume ratio below 1.3 invites no lowering of the compression efficiency accompanied by insufficiency of the amount of the refrigerant sucked in the high pressure side compression mechanism (35), thereby attaining two-stage compression of the refrigerant. Hence, the COP of the refrigerating apparatus can be increased further in the present invention.
Particularly, the volume ratio of the high pressure side compression mechanism (35) to the low pressure side compression mechanism (34) is set in the range between 0.9 and 1.1, both inclusive, in the second aspect of the present invention. In other words, the volume ratio of the high pressure side compression mechanism (35) to the low pressure side compression mechanism (34) is set in further optimum range. Hence, the COP of the refrigerating apparatus can be increased further in this aspect.
In the third aspect of the present invention, the volume ratio of the low pressure side compression mechanism (34) to the volume ratio of the high pressure side compression mechanism (35) are set equal to each other. Accordingly, the low pressure side compression mechanism (34) and the high pressure side compression mechanism (35) can be structured according to the same specification in their compression mechanism, thereby contemplating cost reduction and simplification of the compressor (30).
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, desired intermediate pressure gas injection is performed in the refrigerating apparatus including the compressor (30) including the two rotary compression mechanisms to thus increase the COP thereof.
1 air conditioner
10 refrigerant circuit
30 compressor
34 first compression mechanism (low pressure side compression mechanism)
35 second compression mechanism (high pressure side compression mechanism)
A refrigerating apparatus in accordance with one embodiment composes an air conditioner (1) performing indoor air conditioning. The air conditioner (1) is capable of heating and cooling the interior of a room.
The air conditioner (1) includes an indoor unit (11) installed indoors and an outdoor unit (12) installed outdoors. The indoor unit (11) and the outdoor unit (12) are connected to each other by means of two communication pipes. Accordingly, a refrigerant circuit (10) is formed across the indoor unit (11) and the outdoor unit (12) in the air conditioner (1). In the refrigerant circuit (10), CO2 refrigerant is filled so that a two-stage compression/two-stage expansion refrigeration cycle is performed with the CO2 refrigerant at high pressure utilized as that at its critical pressure.
In the indoor unit (11), an indoor heat exchanger (13) is provided which is of fin-and-tube type. In the indoor heat exchanger (13), the indoor air blown by an indoor fan is heat-exchanged with the refrigerant.
The outdoor unit (12) includes a compressor (30), which will be described later, an outdoor heat exchanger (14), and a gas-liquid separator (15).
The outdoor heat exchanger (14) is of fin-and-tube type. In the outdoor heat exchanger (14), the outdoor air blown by an outdoor fan is heat-exchanged with the refrigerant.
The gas-liquid separator (15) is composed of a cylindrical hermetic container. An inflow pipe (15a) and a gas injection pipe (15b) are connected to the gas-liquid separator (15) so as to pass through the top of the gas-liquid separator (15). The gas injection pipe (15b) forms a flow path for introducing gas refrigerant at intermediate pressure into the compressor (30). An outflow pipe (15c) is connected to the gas-liquid separator (15) so as to pass through the lower part of the gas-liquid separator (15). In the gas-liquid separator (15), the intermediate-pressure refrigerant in a gas-liquid two-phase state is separated into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant.
The outdoor unit (12) further includes a four-way switching valve (16), a bridge circuit (17), a first expansion valve (18), and a second expansion valve (19).
The four-way switching valve (16) includes first to fourth ports. In the four-way switching valve (16), the first port is connected to a discharge pipe (41) of the compressor (30), the second port is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger (14), the third port is connected to the indoor heat exchanger (13), and the fourth port is connected to a suction pipe (42) of the compressor (30). The four-way switching valve (16) is exchangeable between a state (the state indicated by solid lines in
The bridge circuit (17) is composed of four pipes in a bridge like combination and four check valves provided at the pipes. The check valves of the bridge circuit (17) allow the refrigerant to flow only in the directions indicated by the arrows in
The first expansion valve (18) and the second expansion valve (19) are electronic expansion valves of which opening is adjustable. The first expansion valve (18) is provided in the piping on the inflow side of the gas-liquid separator (15) while the second expansion valve (19) is provided in the piping on the outflow side thereof.
As shown in
The electric motor (32) is composed of a stator fixed on the inner peripheral face of the casing (31) and a rotor fixed on the outer peripheral face of the drive shaft (33). The drive shaft (33) is supported by a bearing so as to extend vertically. The drive shaft (33) is rotatable by being driven by the electric motor (32).
The first compression mechanism (34) is arranged near the bottom of the casing (31) and serves as a low pressure side compression mechanism. On the other hand, the second compression mechanism (35) is arranged near the electric motor (32) and serves as a high pressure side compression mechanism.
The first compression mechanism (34) and the second compression mechanism (35) are rotary swing type compression mechanisms. Pistons are accommodated in cylindrical cylinder chambers of the compression mechanisms (34, 35). Each piston is connected to the drive shaft (33) so as to be eccentric from the axis of the drive shaft (33). Accordingly, when the drive shaft (33) is rotated, each piston of the compression mechanisms (34, 35) rotates with their centers being eccentric with respect to the drive shaft (33). Further, the pistons of the compression mechanisms (34, 35) are connected to the drive shaft (33) so as to be phase-sifted by 180° from each other. This offsets the centrifugal forces of the pistons in operation, thereby suppressing vibration and variation in torque load.
The first compression mechanism (34) is connected on the suction side thereof to the suction pipe (42) and is connected on the discharge side thereof to one end of an intermediate communication pipe (43). The second compression mechanism (35) is connected on the suction side thereof to the other end of the intermediate communication pipe (43) and is connected on the discharge side thereof to the discharge pipe (41).
The intermediate communication pipe (43) forms a flow path for introducing the refrigerant after being compressed in the first compression mechanism (34) into the suction side of the second compression mechanism (35). The outflow end of the gas injection pipe (15b) is connected to a U-shape curved part of the intermediate communication pipe (43).
In the air conditioner (1) of the present embodiment, the ratio (volume ratio V2/V1) of the displacement volume V2 of the second compression mechanism (35) to that V1 of the first compression mechanism (34) are set in the range between 0.8 and 1.3, both exclusive. This increases the COP (coefficient of performance) of the air conditioner (1). The relationship between the volume ratio V2/V1 and the COP will be described later in detail.
—Driving Operations—
Driving operations of the air conditioner (1) in accordance with the present embodiment will be described. The air conditioner (1) is capable of performing the following heating and cooling operations.
<Heating Operation>
In the heating operation, the four-way switching valve (16) is set as shown in
The refrigerant compressed up to its critical pressure is discharged from the compressor (30). The refrigerant passes through the four-way switching valve (16) and then flows into the indoor heat exchanger (13). In the indoor heat exchanger (13), the refrigerant releases heat to the indoor air. This means indoor heating. The refrigerant flowing out from the indoor heat exchanger (13) passes through the first expansion valve (18) to be reduced in pressure up to intermediate pressure and flows then into the gas-liquid separator (15).
In the gas-liquid separator (15), the intermediate-pressure refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state is retained. This refrigerant is separated into the gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator (15). The gas refrigerant retained in the upper part of the gas-liquid separator (15) flows into the gas injection pipe (15b). On the other hand, the liquid refrigerant retained in the lower part of the gas-liquid separator (15) passes through the second expansion valve (19) to be reduced in pressure up to low pressure and flows then into the outdoor heat exchanger (14). In the outdoor heat exchanger (14), the refrigerant absorbs heat from the outdoor air to be evaporated. The refrigerant flowing out from the outdoor heat exchanger (14) is sucked into the compressor (30).
In the compressor (30), the refrigerant is first sucked into the first compression mechanism (34) through the suction pipe (42). The refrigerant is compressed up to intermediate pressure in the first compression mechanism (34). The refrigerant discharged from the first compression mechanism (34) flows into the intermediate communication pipe (43). This discharged refrigerant is mixed with the gas refrigerant flowing out from the gas injection pipe (15b). As a result, the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the first compression mechanism (34) lowers. The refrigerant flowing out from the intermediate communication pipe (43) is sucked into the second compression mechanism (35). In the second compression mechanism (35), the refrigerant is compressed up to its critical pressure.
—Cooling Operation—
In the cooling operation, the four-way switching valve (16) is set as shown in
The refrigerant compressed up to its critical pressure is discharged from the compressor (30). The refrigerant passes through the four-way switching valve (16) and flows then into the outdoor heat exchanger (14). In the outdoor heat exchanger (14), the refrigerant release heat to the outdoor air. The refrigerant flowing out from the outdoor heat exchanger (14) passes through the first expansion valve (18) to be reduced in pressure up to intermediate pressure and flows then into the gas-liquid separator (15).
In the gas-liquid separator (15), the intermediate-pressure refrigerant in the gas-liquid two-phase state is retained. This refrigerant is separated into the gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator (15). The gas refrigerant retained in the upper part of the gas-liquid separator (15) flows into the gas injection pipe (15b). On the other hand, the liquid refrigerant retained in the lower part of the gas-liquid separator (15) passes through the second expansion valve (19) to be reduced in pressure up to low pressure and flows then into the indoor heat exchanger (13). In the indoor heat exchanger (13), the refrigerant absorbs heat from the indoor air to be evaporated. This means indoor cooling. The refrigerant flowing out from the indoor heat exchanger (13) is sucked into the compressor (30).
In the compressor (30), the refrigerant is first sucked into the first compression mechanism (34) through the suction pipe (42). The refrigerant is compressed up to intermediate pressure in the first compression mechanism (34). The refrigerant discharged from the first compression mechanism (34) flows into the intermediate communication pipe (43). This discharged refrigerant is mixed with the gas refrigerant flowing out from the gas injection pipe (15b). As a result, the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the first compression mechanism (34) lowers. The refrigerant flowing out from the intermediate communication pipe (43) is sucked into the second compression mechanism (35). In the second compression mechanism (35), the refrigerant is compressed up to its critical pressure.
—Relationship Between Volume Ratio Between Two Compression Mechanisms and COP—
As described above, in the heating operation and the cooling operation of the air conditioner (1) of the present embodiment, the generally-called intermediate pressure gas injection is performed by mixing the gas refrigerant separated in the gas-liquid separator (15) with the intermediate-pressure refrigerant in the compressor (30). As a result, in this air conditioner (1), the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the first compression mechanism (34) is lowered and the power required for driving the compressor (30) is reduced, thereby increasing the COP.
In the refrigerant circuit (10) of the air conditioner (1), a generally-called supercritical cycle is performed by compressing the high-pressure refrigerant up to its critical pressure. Therefore, if the intermediate-pressure refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator (15) reaches its critical pressure, it becomes difficult to separate the refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator (15) into the gas refrigerant and the liquid refrigerant, thereby inhibiting performance of the intermediate pressure gas injection. To tackle this problem, in the present invention, the volume ratio (V2/V1) of the volume V2 of the second compression mechanism (35) to that V1 of the first compression mechanism (34) is set in the optimum range to allow the pressure of the intermediate-pressure refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator (15) to be lower than its critical pressure, thereby enabling desired intermediate pressure gas injection.
As shown in
On the other hand, the air conditioner with a volume ratio of 1.3 has low COPs in the heating operation and in the cooling operation under a low outdoor temperature condition. This is because: with a volume ratio of 1.3 or greater, the displacement volume of the second compression mechanism (35) is too great relative to that of the first compression mechanism (34), so that an insufficient amount of the refrigerant sucked in the second compression mechanism (35) is secured. In other words, with a volume ratio of 1.3 or greater, the refrigerant is compressed in two stages inefficiently to increase the power required for driving the compressor (30) with a result of lowering of the COP. In reverse, the air conditioner with a volume ratio smaller than 1.3 can perform relatively efficient two-stage compression of the refrigerant to attain a high COP.
In addition, as shown in
In the above embodiment, the volume ratio of the second compression mechanism (35) to the first compression mechanism (34) is set within the range between 0.8 and 1.3, both exclusive. When the volume ratio is set greater than 0.8, the pressure of the refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator (15) is allowed to be smaller than its critical pressure. This attains desired intermediate pressure gas injection in the refrigerant circuit (10) to increase the COP of the air conditioner (1) in the present embodiment. Further, when the volume ratio is set smaller than 1.3, the refrigerant can be compressed in two stages with no lowering of the compression efficiency invited, which is accompanied by an insufficient amount of the refrigerant sucked in the second compression mechanism (35). Hence, according to the above embodiment, the COP of the air conditioner (1) can be increased further.
Particularly, when the volume ratio of the second compression mechanism (35) to the first compression mechanism (34) is set within the range between 0.9 and 1.1, both inclusive, a high COP can be obtained as shown in
Further, when the volumes of the first compression mechanism (34) and the second compression mechanism (35) are set equal to each other (volume ratio is 1.0), a high COP can be obtained in each of the cooling operation and the heating operation. In addition, when the volumes of the first compression mechanism (34) and the second compression mechanism (35) are set equal to each other, the compression mechanisms can be structured according to the same specification in their compression mechanism. Hence, the compressor (30) can be manufactured comparatively easily at low cost.
The above embodiment may have any of the following structure.
In the above embodiment, the discharge side of the low pressure side compression mechanism (34) and the suction side of the high pressure side compression mechanism (35) are connected by means of the intermediate communication pipe (43), and the outflow end of the gas injection pipe (15b) is connected to the intermediate communication pipe (43). However, the intermediate-pressure gas refrigerant may be introduced into the casing (31) in the case where the compressor (30) is a generally-called intermediate pressure dome type compressor by filling the casing (31) of the compressor (30) with the refrigerant discharged from, for example, the low pressure side compression mechanism (34).
Further, the low pressure side compression mechanism (34) and the high pressure side compression mechanism (35) are composed of swing type compression mechanisms in the above embodiment but may be rotary piston type compression mechanisms or compression mechanisms each composed of an anchor tooth and a movable tooth (of scroll type, for example).
It should be noted that the above embodiments are mere essentially preferable examples and is not intended to limit the present invention, applicable objects, and usable range.
As described above, the present invention is useful in refrigerating apparatuses including a refrigerant circuit including a gas-liquid separator for performing two-stage compression/two-state expansion refrigeration cycle utilizing CO2 refrigerant at high pressure as that at its critical pressure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-053431 | Feb 2006 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2007/053255 | 2/22/2007 | WO | 00 | 8/18/2008 |
