CN110895080A

CN110895080A - Cooling modules and cooling devices

Info

Publication number: CN110895080A
Application number: CN201910788614.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 木屋豊明; 仓本哲英; 桑原修
Original assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-09-13
Filing date: 2019-08-26
Publication date: 2020-03-20
Also published as: EP3623708B1; JP2020041781A; EP3623708A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a cooling module and a cooling device. The cooling module and the cooling device include: a first frame body having an upper layer and a lower layer; a refrigerant compressor provided near the front side of the first frame body in one of the upper layer and the lower layer; And an electrical component box provided in the other one of the said upper stage and the said lower stage close to the front side of the said 1st housing|casing.

Description

Cooling module and cooling device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cooling module and a cooling device.

Background

The refrigerator is carried to an installation site with the compressor and the heat exchanger for heat radiation respectively incorporated in the casing. The number of compressors or the size of the heat exchanger increases according to the freezing capacity of the refrigerator. Therefore, the refrigerator having a high freezing capacity has a larger outer size and a smaller number of components to be loaded in a transportation vehicle (e.g., a truck or a ship) than the refrigerator having a low freezing capacity.

In order to accommodate refrigerators having various refrigeration capacities in a short period of time, it is necessary to stock a certain number of refrigerators having various refrigeration capacities.

Therefore, various techniques have been proposed for obtaining a required refrigeration capacity by connecting an appropriate number of refrigerators (hereinafter referred to as "refrigeration modules") each having a relatively low refrigeration capacity and a relatively small size by modularization (for example, patent document 1).

When the refrigeration modules are assembled after being transported to an installation site, the refrigeration modules having a small size can be loaded in a transportation tool with efficient arrangement, and the transportation amount can be increased at one time. Further, since various refrigeration capacities can be accommodated by connecting a number of refrigeration modules corresponding to a required refrigeration capacity, a small number of types of refrigeration modules need to be stored in advance.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2016-125773

Disclosure of Invention

In the technology of connecting such refrigeration modules to constitute refrigerators having different designs, it has been conventionally desired to optimize the arrangement of constituent devices when connecting the refrigeration modules so as to facilitate maintenance of constituent components requiring high maintenance.

The present invention has been made in view of such a desire, and can facilitate maintenance of the cooling device when the cooling modules are connected to each other.

In order to solve the above conventional problems, a cooling module according to the present invention includes: a first frame body having an upper layer and a lower layer; a refrigerant compressor provided in one of the upper stage and the lower stage, the refrigerant compressor being disposed near a front side of the first housing; and an electrical component box provided on the other of the upper layer and the lower layer, near the front side of the first housing.

In order to solve the above conventional problems, a cooling device according to the present invention includes the cooling module.

According to the present invention, when the cooling modules are connected to each other, maintenance of the components requiring high maintenance can be easily performed.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of a freezing module.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of the freezing module.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of the heat exchange module.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining adjustment of the oil level of the compressor between the refrigeration modules in the case where the refrigeration modules are connected.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of the refrigerating apparatus.

Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the structure of the refrigerating apparatus.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of the refrigerating apparatus.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the structure of the refrigeration apparatus with the upper wall of the heat exchange module removed.

Description of the reference numerals

1S, 1L freezing module (cooling module)

1H heat exchange module

2S, 2L, 2H frame

2Su, 2Lu upper layer

Lower layer of 2Sd, 2Ld

3S, 3L electrical component box

4S, 4L refrigerant compressor

5H air cooling heat exchanger

6H air supply part

7a, 7b water-cooled heat exchange

8 shield plate

20 connecting metal parts

10. 10A, 10B refrigerating apparatus (cooling apparatus)

40 oil level sensor

41 oil separator

42 oil return valve

60 air supply device

C1-C12 connector

H main pipe

h branch pipe

LS and LL refrigerant piping

LS0 suction pipe

LS1 discharge pipe

LS2 high-pressure pipe

LR returns oil pipe

LRa oil pipe

Detailed Description

A cooling module and a cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are merely examples, and various modifications and techniques not explicitly described in the embodiments below are not excluded from application. The respective configurations of the embodiments can be implemented by being variously modified within a range not departing from the gist thereof. The configurations of the embodiments can be selected as needed or combined as appropriate.

In the following embodiments, an example will be described in which the cooling device is a refrigeration device and the cooling module is a refrigeration module. The cooling device is a concept including a freezing device, a refrigerating device, a super-low-temperature freezing chamber, and a device having these functions, and a cooling module is also standardized.

Hereinafter, the side where the

refrigerant compressors

4S and 4L described later are disposed will be referred to as the front side, and the opposite side will be referred to as the rear side. The left and right sides are defined based on a front-to-rear view.

In all the drawings for explaining the embodiments, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals in principle, and the explanation thereof may be omitted.

[1. Structure ]

Next, the structure of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of the refrigeration module 1S. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of a refrigeration module 1L according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of a heat exchange module 1H according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining adjustment of the oil levels of the

refrigerant compressors

4S, 4S between the

refrigeration modules

1S, 1S when the

refrigeration modules

1S, 1S are coupled.

[1-1. Structure of freezing Module ]

The rated output P of the refrigeration module 1S shown in fig. 1 is an output PS (P ═ PS), and as shown in fig. 1, each component is appropriately housed in a housing 2S composed of upper and lower two stages.

Specifically, in the upper stage 2Su, an electrical component box 3S accommodating an electrical board and the like is disposed near the front side of the housing 2S, and in the lower stage 2Sd, one refrigerant compressor (hereinafter referred to as "compressor") 4S is disposed near the front side of the housing 2S on the right side. The refrigerant pipe connected to the compressor 4S is branched into a plurality of refrigerant pipes LS, routed to the upper stage 2Su, and connected to the water-cooled heat exchangers 7a and 7b or the air-cooled heat exchanger 5H as condensers by connectors as described later.

The height of the upper surface of the upper layer 2Su is Hu and the height of the upper surface of the lower layer 2Sd is Hd, based on the height of the bottom surface of the leg portion fixed to the installation site.

The rated output P of the refrigeration module 1L shown in fig. 2 is an output PL (P ═ PL, PL > PS) higher than the rated output PS of the refrigeration module 1S. As shown in fig. 2, the refrigeration module 1L is configured such that each component is appropriately disposed in a frame 2L composed of upper and lower stages, as in the refrigeration module 1S.

Specifically, two compressors 4L are provided side by side on the left and right sides near the front side of the housing 2L in the lower stage 2Ld, and an electrical component box 3L accommodating an electrical board and the like is disposed near the front side of the housing 2L in the upper stage 2 Lu. The refrigerant pipe connected to each compressor 4L branches into a plurality of refrigerant pipes LL, and is routed to the upper layer 2Lu and connected to the water-cooled heat exchangers 7a and 7b or the air-cooled heat exchanger 5H, which will be described later.

The height of each upper surface of the upper layer 2Lu and the lower layer 2Ld is set to be the same as the height of each upper surface of the upper layer 2Su and the lower layer 2Sd of the freezing module 1S, based on the height of the bottom surface fixed to the installation site. That is, the height of the upper surface of the upper layer 2Lu is Hu, and the height of the upper surface of the lower layer 2Ld is Hd.

The height of the upper tier 2Su of the freezing module 1S is preferably a height close to the height of the upper tier 2Lu of the freezing module 1L, but need not be exactly the same. Similarly, the height of the lower layer 2Sd of the freezing module 1S is preferably close to the height of the lower layer 2Ld of the freezing module 1L, but need not be exactly the same.

Further, the

refrigeration modules

1S and 1L are provided with oil systems each including an oil level sensor, an oil separator, an oil return valve, and the like (not shown in fig. 1 and 2). The oil system will be described later.

Hereinafter, the refrigeration module 1S is referred to as "refrigeration module 1" when the refrigeration module 1S is not distinguished from the refrigeration module 1L, and the compressor 4S is referred to as "compressor 4" when the compressor 4L is not distinguished from the compressor.

In addition, not only a refrigeration apparatus can be configured by connecting a plurality of refrigeration modules 1 as described below, but also only one refrigeration module 1 can be used as a refrigeration apparatus.

[1-2. Structure of Heat exchange Module ]

The heat exchange module 1H shown in fig. 3 includes: a frame body 2H; air-cooled heat exchangers 5H disposed at the rear edge, left edge and right edge of the frame 2H; and a blower 6H constituting an upper wall of the housing 2H.

The frame 2H is configured to have a size capable of accommodating the two refrigeration modules 1 in a state where the two refrigeration modules 1 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction. In detail, the housing 2H can accommodate the

refrigeration modules

1S and 1L in any of (1) a state in which two refrigeration modules 1S are arranged in a left-right direction, (2) a state in which two refrigeration modules 1L are arranged in a left-right direction, and (3) a state in which the refrigeration modules 1S and the refrigeration modules 1L are arranged in a left-right direction. Further, the front of the frame 2H is open, and therefore the

refrigeration modules

1S and 1L can be housed from the front.

The air blowing unit 6H includes two air blowing devices 60 arranged side by side in the left-right direction. By operating these air blowing devices 60, the air having passed through the air-cooling heat exchanger 5H is discharged from the housing 2H. When the air passes through the air-cooling heat exchanger 5H, the air exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing through the air-cooling heat exchanger 5H, and the refrigerant is cooled and condensed.

[1-3 adjustment of oil level ]

A method of adjusting the oil level of the compressor 4 between the plurality of refrigeration modules 1 when the refrigeration modules 1 are connected will be described with reference to fig. 4. Here, a case where two refrigeration modules 1S are coupled will be described as an example. In fig. 4, the solid line indicates a refrigerant pipe, and the broken line indicates an oil pipe. In fig. 4, the system showing the refrigerant piping is simplified for easy understanding.

An oil level sensor 40 is installed in each compressor 4S. Each oil level sensor 40 detects the oil level of oil inside the casing of the compressor 4S. In the present embodiment, each oil level sensor 40 is a float sensor, and detects the upper limit oil level and the lower limit oil level of the oil in the casing of the compressor 4S.

A suction pipe LS0 (refrigerant pipe LS) is connected to a suction port of each compressor 4S. One end of a discharge pipe LS1 (refrigerant pipe LS) is connected to the discharge port of each compressor 4S, and the other end of each discharge pipe LS1 is connected to the height-direction intermediate portion of the oil separator 41. A high-pressure pipe LS2 is fixed to an upper portion of each oil separator 41.

The oil separator 41 separates oil contained in the high-pressure discharge refrigerant discharged from the compressor 4S from the refrigerant to obtain the oil. Oil pipes LRa are fixed to the lower portions of the oil separators 41, and oil return pipes LR for returning the obtained oil to the compressor 4S are branched from the oil pipes LRa. A return valve 42 whose opening degree can be changed according to the amount of return oil is attached to each return pipe LR.

Here, the refrigerant suction pipes LS0 and LS0 of the respective refrigeration modules 1S are connected to each other by a connector C1, and the refrigerant high-pressure pipes LS2 and LS2 are connected to each other by a connector C2. Further, a communication pipe 41a communicating with the inside of the oil separator 41 is fixed to an upper portion of each oil separator 41, and these communication pipes 41a are connected to each other by a connector C3. The oil return pipes LR, LR of the respective refrigeration modules 1S are connected to each other by a connector C4.

The flow rate of the oil supplied from the oil separator 41 to the compressor 4S is adjusted by controlling the opening degree of the oil return valve 42 connected to each compressor so that the oil surface in the compressor housing of each compressor is between the upper limit and the lower limit based on the detection result of the oil level sensor 40.

When a difference occurs between the heights of the oil levels in the two oil separators 41, the connector C4 for connecting the oil portions of the oil separators 41 serves as a siphon to maintain the heights of the oil levels in the oil separators 41 at substantially the same level.

[1-4. refrigerating apparatus 10A ]

The refrigeration apparatus 10A will be described with reference to fig. 5 and 6. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of the refrigerating apparatus 10A. Fig. 6 is a plan view showing the structure of the refrigeration apparatus 10A.

In a refrigeration apparatus 10A shown in fig. 5, two

refrigeration modules

1L and 1L are connected side by side in the left-right direction. Specifically, the frame bodies 2L of the respective refrigeration modules 1L are connected to each other by the connecting metal fitting 20 at the same height or substantially the same height as the upper layer 2Lu and the lower layer 2Ld on both the front side and the rear side. At least the left and right ends of each connecting metal fitting 20 are fixed to the frame 2L of the refrigeration module 1L by a known method such as bolting or welding.

Each refrigeration module 1L is coupled with the electrical component box 3L and the compressor 4L facing forward. As a result, the

electric component boxes

3L, 3L are arranged at the same height (or substantially the same height) to the left and right near the front side of the refrigeration apparatus 10A, and the

compressors

4L, 4L are arranged at the same height (or substantially the same height) to the left and right on the lower end 2 Ld.

As shown in fig. 6, two water-cooled heat exchangers 7a and 7b are arranged side by side on the left and right sides of the rear side of the upper layer 2Lu of each refrigeration module 1L.

The connection portion (tip) of the refrigerant pipe LL of each refrigeration module 1L penetrates the rear portion of the upper layer 2Lu of the frame 2L upward. These refrigerant pipes LL are connected to the water-cooled heat exchangers 7a and 7b provided in the same refrigeration module 1L by connectors C5, C6, C7, and C8, respectively. The water-cooled heat exchangers 7a and 7b are connected to two main pipes H arranged vertically through branch pipes H. As a result, the refrigerant is cooled by heat exchange between the water supplied from one of the two main pipes H and the refrigerant supplied from the refrigerant pipe LL, and the water having the increased temperature is collected in the other main pipe H and then discharged to the outside.

The refrigerant pipe LL that sends the refrigerant, which has exchanged heat in the water-cooled heat exchangers 7a and 7b of the refrigeration modules 1L, to the cooling load side merges at the connection portion (connector C9), and the refrigerant returning from the cooling load branches at the connection portion (connector C1) and is sucked into the refrigeration modules 1L from the refrigerant pipe LL for suction.

Further, an L-shaped shield plate 8 integrally formed with an upper wall and a rear wall extending downward from a rear end of the upper wall is provided behind the electric component box 3L.

[1-5. refrigerating plant 10B ]

The refrigeration apparatus 10B will be described with reference to fig. 7 and 8. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of the refrigerating apparatus 10B. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the structure of the refrigeration apparatus 10B with the upper wall of the heat exchange module 1H removed.

As shown in fig. 7, in the refrigeration apparatus 10B, the

refrigeration modules

1S and 1L are housed in the heat exchange module 1H in a side-by-side arrangement. The

refrigeration modules

1S and 1L are housed in the heat exchange module 1H in a posture in which the

electrical component boxes

3S and 3L and the

compressors

4S and 4L are directed forward, respectively. As a result, the

electrical component boxes

3S and 3L are arranged at the same height (or substantially the same height) in the upper stage and the

compressors

4S and 4L are arranged at the same height (or substantially the same height) in the lower stage at the front edge portion where the air-cooling heat exchanger 5H is not disposed.

As shown in fig. 8, the refrigerant pipes LS and LL of the

respective refrigeration modules

1S and 1L have a plurality of connection portions (distal ends) extending upward through the rear portions of the upper layers 2Su and 2Lu of the

frames

2S and 2L. Of the penetrating connection portions, the connection portions between a part of the refrigerant tubes LS and the refrigerant tubes LL are connected by connectors C2, C10, C11, and C12. The connection of the remaining refrigerant tubes LS, LL is sealed by a plug. The connector C10 connects the refrigerant pipes LS and LL at the intercooler inlets of the

compressors

4S and 4L. The connector C11 connects refrigerant pipes LS and LL at the outlet of the intercoolers of the

compressors

4S and 4L. The connector C12 connects the refrigerant pipes LS and LL at the outlet of the air-cooling heat exchanger 5H (gas cooler).

When the

refrigeration modules

1S and 1L are combined with the heat exchange module 1H, refrigerant pipes provided on the side surfaces, the back surfaces, or the front surfaces of the lower portions of the

refrigeration modules

1S and 1L are used as refrigerant pipes for sending refrigerant to the cooling load, and therefore, refrigerant pipes LS and LL having extraction ports (connection ports) in the upper layers 2Su and 2Lu of the

refrigeration modules

1S and 1L are not used. Therefore, the outlet (connection port) is sealed by a plug.

The other structures are the same as those of the refrigerating apparatus 10A, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.

[2. Effect ]

(1) The upper layers 2Su and 2Lu or the lower layers 2Sd and 2Ld of the

casings

2S and 2L of the

refrigeration modules

1S and 1L are arranged in the front sides of the

casings

2S and 2L, and the

compressors

4S and 4L and the

electric component boxes

3S and 3L are arranged. Thus, when the

refrigeration apparatuses

10A and 10B are configured by connecting the plurality of

refrigeration modules

1S and 1L, the

compressors

4S and 4L can be arranged on the front side of the same floor (lower floor in the present embodiment), and the

electric component boxes

3S and 3L can be arranged on the front side of the same floor (upper floor in the present embodiment). That is, in the

refrigeration apparatuses

10A and 10B, the

compressors

4S and 4L and the

electric component boxes

3S and 3L, which are important and expensive components and therefore have high maintenance necessity, are easily accessible. Therefore, according to one embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to easily perform maintenance on a component member having a high maintenance requirement.

(2) Since the

compressors

4S and 4L having a constant weight are disposed in the lower layers 2Sd and 2Ld of the

casings

2S and 2L of the

refrigeration modules

1S and 1L, the center of gravity of the

refrigeration modules

1S and 1L and the

refrigeration apparatuses

10A and 10B is close to the bottom, and a stable structure that is difficult to turn over is obtained.

(3) Since the refrigerant pipes LS and LL of the

refrigeration modules

1S and 1L and the connection ports of the oil systems of the

compressors

4S and 4L are arranged in a rear direction, the refrigerant pipes LS and LL of the

refrigeration modules

1S and 1L can be easily connected to the oil systems.

(4) Since the L-shaped shielding plates 8 are provided in the

electric component boxes

3S and 3L, even when the

electric component boxes

3S and 3L are provided in the upper layers 2Su and 2Lu of the

refrigeration modules

1S and 1L as in the present embodiment, the

electric component boxes

3S and 3L can be protected from rainwater, cooling water leaking from the water heat exchangers 7a and 7b, and the like.

[3. other ]

(1) In contrast to the above embodiment, the

electric component boxes

3S and 3L may be disposed on the lower stages 2Sd and 2Ld, and the

compressors

4S and 4L may be disposed on the upper stages 2Su and 2 Lu.

(2) In the above embodiment, two refrigeration modules 1 are coupled, but three or more refrigeration modules 1 may be coupled.

(3) In the above embodiment, the cooling device is configured by assembling two refrigeration modules 1 and one heat exchange module 1, but the cooling device may be configured by assembling one refrigeration module 1 and one heat exchange module 1H.

Industrial applicability

According to the present invention, maintenance of a component member having a high maintenance requirement can be easily performed, and therefore, the present invention has high industrial applicability.

Claims

1. A cooling module, characterized in that it has:

a first frame, which has an upper layer and a lower layer;

a refrigerant compressor provided in one of the upper stage and the lower stage, close to the front side of the first frame body; and

An electrical component box is provided in the other of the said upper stage and the said lower stage, and is close|similar to the front side of the said 1st housing|casing.

2. The cooling module of claim 1, wherein

The refrigerant compressor is arranged on the lower layer,

The electrical component box is provided on the upper layer.

3. The cooling module of claim 2, wherein

A shielding member that shields at least a part of the electrical component box is further provided.

4. The cooling module of claim 1 or 2, wherein

A plurality of the refrigerant compressors are provided side by side on the left and right.

5. The cooling module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

In the upper layer or the lower layer, a refrigerant pipe is provided on the rear side of the first frame body.

6 . A cooling device comprising the cooling module according to claim 1 .

7. The cooling device of claim 6, wherein

There is also a heat exchange module with:

a second frame, which has an upper layer and a lower layer;

an air-cooling heat exchanger, which is arranged on the rear edge, the left edge and the right edge of the second frame to exchange heat between the air and the refrigerant compressed by the refrigerant compressor; as well as

an air blowing part, which is arranged on the upper part of the second frame body and blows air to the air-cooling heat exchanger,

The cooling module is arranged in the second frame.

8. The cooling device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that,

A plurality of the cooling modules are arranged side by side on the left and right,

This cooling device includes a plurality of the cooling modules, and the respective refrigerant compressors are arranged side by side in a row, and the respective electrical component boxes are arranged side by side in a row, and are connected to each other.