JP6458400B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly to an air conditioner having a circuit in which a heat transfer medium that exchanges heat with a refrigerant circulating in a heat source side circuit circulates.

  In recent years, in the field of air-conditioning apparatuses, there has been a demand for a reduction in the amount of refrigerant such as chlorofluorocarbon in the field of air conditioning equipment. On the other hand, the adoption of a secondary circuit type air conditioner has been studied. Here, the secondary circuit type air conditioner has a use side circuit in which a heat transfer medium that performs heat exchange with a refrigerant circulating in the heat source side circuit circulates, and the use side heat exchange that the use side circuit has. Air conditioning is performed by heat exchange of the heat transfer medium in the vessel. That is, by adopting the secondary circuit method, it is considered to reduce the amount of refrigerant by reducing the circuit portion (here, the heat source side circuit) in which the refrigerant circulates throughout the apparatus.

  Further, as a secondary circuit type air conditioner, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-161724) discloses a liquid-solid phase in order to improve the heat transfer capability of a heat transfer medium circulating in a use side circuit. There has been proposed a configuration in which a slurry containing a substance that utilizes latent heat obtained with the transition is used as a heat transfer medium.

  In the configuration of Patent Document 1, the heat transfer medium flows through the use side heat exchanger that forms the use side circuit. For this reason, it is necessary to develop the utilization unit provided with the utilization side heat exchanger and the utilization side heat exchanger for the heat transfer medium. However, in the development of a utilization unit provided with a utilization-side heat exchanger or utilization-side heat exchanger, the utilization-side heat exchanger or utilization-side heat used in the primary circuit type air conditioner that only circulates the refrigerant. It is difficult to divert the configuration of the utilization unit provided with the exchanger.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner having a circuit in which a heat transfer medium that exchanges heat with a refrigerant that circulates in a heat source side circuit, while satisfying the demand for reducing the amount of refrigerant by using a transfer medium, The purpose is to make it possible to easily develop a utilization unit provided with a heat exchanger and a utilization side heat exchanger.

An air conditioner according to a first aspect includes a heat source side circuit in which a heat source side refrigerant circulates, a transfer side circuit in which a heat transfer medium that exchanges heat with the heat source side refrigerant, and a use that exchanges heat with the heat transfer medium. A utilization side circuit in which the side refrigerant circulates. And the utilization side circuit has a utilization side heat exchanger, and the heat from the heat source side circuit is conveyed to the utilization side circuit through the conveyance side circuit, and by heat exchange of the utilization side refrigerant in the utilization side heat exchanger. Air conditioning is performed, and the heat transport medium is a slurry containing an electronic phase transition material that is a material that performs an electronic phase transition, which is a phase transition related to the degree of freedom of electrons. Moreover, the heat-source-side refrigerant sealed in the heat-source-side circuit and the use-side refrigerant sealed in the use-side circuit are the same refrigerant.

  Here, the utilization side circuit in the secondary circuit system includes a conveyance side circuit in which a heat carrier medium that exchanges heat with the heat source side refrigerant circulates, and a utilization side circuit in which a utilization side refrigerant that exchanges heat with the heat carrier medium circulates And a slurry containing an electronic phase transition material, which is a material that undergoes an electronic phase transition, is used as a heat transfer medium. Here, a configuration having three circuits, that is, a heat source side circuit, a conveyance side circuit, and a use side circuit is referred to as a tertiary circuit system. In addition, as described in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2010-163510), the electronic phase transition is the degree of freedom of electrons, orbital degrees of freedom, or charge, spin, orbital. It is a phase transition with multiple degrees of freedom including at least two degrees of freedom. This electronic phase transition is a phase transition that occurs in a solid state (solid-solid phase transition), and latent heat can be obtained along with the phase transition, and the volume change at the time of the phase transition becomes a solid-liquid phase transition. There is a characteristic that it is small compared. Here, a slurry in which a large amount of an electronic phase transition material, which is a material that performs such an electronic phase transition, is mixed in a liquid medium such as water, an aqueous solution, or oil is used as a heat transfer medium.

  For this reason, here, heat exchange between the heat-source-side refrigerant circulating in the heat-source-side circuit and the heat-transporting medium circulating in the transfer-side circuit causes the temperature change of the liquid medium and the phase transition of the electronic phase-change material in the heat-transfer medium. Occurs. Then, heat exchange between the heat transfer medium circulating in the transfer side circuit and the use side refrigerant circulating in the use side circuit causes the temperature change of the liquid medium and the phase transition of the electronic phase change material (however, the heat source) Temperature change and phase transition opposite to heat exchange between the heat source side refrigerant circulating in the side circuit and the heat transfer medium circulating in the transfer side circuit occur. And air conditioning is performed by the heat exchange of the utilization side refrigerant | coolant in a utilization side heat exchanger. That is, here, heat transfer from the heat source side circuit to the transfer side circuit and heat transfer from the transfer side circuit to the use side circuit are performed using the latent heat due to the electronic phase transition of the electronic phase change material. In addition, since the volume change of the electronic phase transition material during the electronic phase transition is small, the pressure change in the transport side circuit can be suppressed. At this time, since the usage-side refrigerant flows through the usage-side heat exchanger constituting the usage-side circuit, a usage unit provided with the usage-side heat exchanger and usage-side heat exchanger is developed for the heat transfer medium. There is no need to do. In developing a utilization unit provided with a utilization-side heat exchanger or utilization-side heat exchanger, utilization-side heat used in a primary circuit type air conditioner in which only a refrigerant such as a utilization-side refrigerant circulates is used. The structure of the utilization unit provided with an exchanger or a utilization side heat exchanger can be diverted. In addition, it is possible to share the heat source side circuit in which the refrigerant circulates in the same manner as the use side circuit. From the viewpoint of such common use, in particular, the heat source side refrigerant and the use side refrigerant can be made the same refrigerant. preferable.

  Thereby, here, it is possible to easily develop a usage unit provided with a usage-side heat exchanger and a usage-side heat exchanger, while satisfying the demand for reducing the amount of refrigerant by using the carrier medium.

  An air conditioner according to a second aspect is the air conditioner according to the first aspect, wherein the heat source side circuit, the transfer side circuit, and the use side circuit are air-conditioned as a use side circuit from the heat source side circuit through the transfer side circuit. Cooling that conveys cold heat and uses cold energy by evaporation of the usage-side refrigerant in the usage-side heat exchanger, and transfers heat from the heat source side circuit to the usage-side circuit through the conveyance-side circuit and releases heat from the usage-side refrigerant in the usage-side heat exchanger And heating using warm heat. The electronic phase transition material contained in the heat transfer medium has an electronic phase transition temperature for performing an electronic phase transition of 10 ° C to 30 ° C.

  Here, there are cooling and heating as air conditioning. During cooling, cold heat is transferred from the heat source side circuit to the use side circuit through the transfer side circuit, and during heating, heat is transferred from the heat source side circuit to the use side circuit through the transfer side circuit. Done. Here, since the cooling is performed by depressurizing the use-side refrigerant that has obtained cold through the heat transfer circuit and then evaporating in the use-side heat exchanger, the cooling heat transferred to the use-side circuit through the heat transfer circuit at the time of cooling. The temperature level may be equal to or higher than the temperature level at which the usage-side refrigerant is evaporated in the usage-side heat exchanger. In addition, since heating is performed by increasing the pressure of the use-side refrigerant that has obtained heat through the heat transfer circuit and then releasing the heat in the use-side heat exchanger, the temperature of the heat transferred to the use-side circuit through the heat transfer circuit during heating The level may be equal to or lower than a temperature level at which the usage-side refrigerant dissipates heat in the usage-side heat exchanger. That is, the temperature level of the heat transfer medium circulating in the heat transfer circuit is equal to or higher than the temperature level (10 ° C. or higher) of the use-side refrigerant used in the use-side heat exchanger during cooling, and the use-side heat exchanger during heating. It may be an intermediate temperature level (10 ° C. to 30 ° C.) that is not higher than the temperature level (30 ° C. or lower) of the use-side refrigerant used in the above. Therefore, here, as described above, a material containing an electronic phase transition material having an electronic phase transition temperature of 10 ° C. to 30 ° C. is used as the heat transfer medium. For this reason, compared with the case where a secondary circuit system is employ | adopted here, a heat transfer medium can be circulated at the temperature level close | similar to outside temperature or room temperature. Further, it is unnecessary to include both the cooling electronic phase change material and the heating electronic phase change material in the heat transfer medium.

  Thereby, compared with the case where a secondary circuit system is employ | adopted here, the heat loss of the heat transfer medium which circulates through a heat transfer circuit can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to use only a heat transfer medium including one kind of electronic phase change material that is also used for cooling and heating.

  An air conditioner according to a third aspect is the air conditioner according to the first or second aspect, wherein the transfer side circuit and the use side circuit perform heat exchange between the heat transfer medium and the use side refrigerant. A use side refrigerant heat exchanger is included, and the heat source side circuit and the transfer side circuit include a medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the heat source side refrigerant and the heat transfer medium.

  Here, heat transfer from the heat source side refrigerant circulating in the heat source side circuit to the heat transfer medium circulating in the transfer side circuit is performed by the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger, and the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger Heat transfer from the heat transfer medium circulating in the transfer side circuit to the use side refrigerant circulating in the use side circuit is performed. That is, here, the heat from the heat source side circuit can be transferred to the use side circuit through the transfer side circuit by the two heat exchangers provided across the circuits.

  An air conditioner according to a fourth aspect is the air conditioner according to the third aspect, wherein the heat source side circuit, the transport side circuit, and the use side circuit are connected to each other by connecting the heat source unit, the intermediate unit, and the use unit. It is configured. The medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger is provided in the heat source unit, the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger is provided in the intermediate unit, and the use side heat exchanger is provided in the use unit. ing.

  Here, first, a medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger provided between the heat source side circuit and the transport side circuit is provided in the heat source unit, and spans between the transport side circuit and the use side circuit. The provided medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger is provided in the intermediate unit, and the use side heat exchanger is provided in the use unit. Therefore, the pipe connecting the heat source unit and the intermediate unit is a heat transfer medium pipe through which the heat transfer medium flows, and the heat source side refrigerant circulates by elongating the heat transfer medium pipe. It is possible to make the circuit small and to prevent the use unit from including a portion through which the heat transfer medium flows (that is, a part of the heat transfer circuit). In particular, in a primary circuit type air conditioner in which only a refrigerant such as a heat source side refrigerant circulates, the refrigerant pipe connecting the outdoor side (heat source unit) and the indoor side (use unit) becomes long. In some cases, the amount of refrigerant flowing through this refrigerant pipe may be close to half of the amount of refrigerant used in the entire device. By adopting such a tertiary circuit system, the amount of refrigerant used on the heat source side is greatly reduced. can do.

  Thereby, here, it is possible to develop the utilization unit in consideration of only the utilization side refrigerant while reducing the amount of the heat source side refrigerant used.

  An air conditioner according to a fifth aspect is the air conditioner according to the fourth aspect, wherein the use side circuit has a use side compressor for circulating the use side refrigerant, The intermediate unit is provided.

  Here, since the utilization side compressor for circulating the utilization side refrigerant is provided in the intermediate unit and not in the utilization unit, the primary circuit type air conditioning in which only the same refrigerant as the utilization side refrigerant circulates is provided. The configuration of the utilization unit used in the apparatus can be used as it is.

  An air conditioner according to a sixth aspect is the air conditioner according to the fourth aspect, wherein the use side circuit has a use side compressor for circulating the use side refrigerant, , Provided in the use unit.

  Here, since the usage-side compressor for circulating the usage-side refrigerant is provided in the usage unit, the operating capacity of the usage-side compressor of each usage unit is controlled when a plurality of usage units are connected. Therefore, detailed operation control can be performed for each use unit. For example, target values for the discharge pressure (high pressure in the usage side circuit) and suction pressure (low pressure in the usage side circuit) of the usage side compressor are set for each usage unit, and the usage side compression is performed so that such target values can be obtained. The operating capacity of the machine can be controlled.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  In the air conditioner according to the first aspect, the use side heat exchanger and the use unit provided with the use side heat exchanger can be easily developed while satisfying the requirement of reducing the amount of refrigerant by using the carrier medium. can do.

  In the air conditioner according to the second aspect, heat loss of the heat transfer medium circulating in the heat transfer circuit can be reduced as compared with the case where the secondary circuit method is adopted. In addition, it is possible to use only a heat transfer medium including one kind of electronic phase change material that is also used for cooling and heating.

  In the air conditioner according to the third aspect, the heat from the heat source side circuit can be transferred to the use side circuit through the transfer side circuit by the two heat exchangers provided across the circuits.

  In the air conditioner according to the fourth aspect, it is possible to develop a utilization unit considering only the utilization side refrigerant while reducing the amount of heat source side refrigerant used.

  In the air conditioner according to the fifth aspect, the configuration of the utilization unit used in the primary circuit type air conditioner in which only the same refrigerant as the utilization side refrigerant circulates can be used as it is.

  In the air conditioner according to the sixth aspect, when a plurality of usage units are connected, it is possible to perform fine operation control for each usage unit by controlling the operating capacity of the usage side compressor of each usage unit. .

It is a schematic block diagram of the air conditioning apparatus concerning one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow of the refrigerant | coolant at the time of air conditioning apparatus and a heat carrier medium. It is a figure which shows the flow of the refrigerant | coolant at the time of heating of an air conditioning apparatus, and a heat carrier medium. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning to the building of an air conditioning apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning to the building of an air conditioning apparatus. It is a schematic block diagram of the air conditioning apparatus concerning the modification of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow of the refrigerant | coolant at the time of cooling of the air conditioning apparatus concerning a modification, and a heat carrier medium. It is a figure which shows the flow of the refrigerant | coolant at the time of the heating of the air conditioning apparatus concerning a modification, and a heat carrier medium. It is a schematic block diagram of the air conditioning apparatus concerning the other modification of this invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of an air conditioner according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings. In addition, the specific structure of embodiment of the air conditioning apparatus concerning this invention is not restricted to the following embodiment, It can change in the range which does not deviate from the summary of invention.

(1) Configuration FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioner 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Next, the whole structure of the air conditioning apparatus 1 is demonstrated.

<Overall>
From the viewpoint of the circuit configuration, the air conditioner 1 includes a heat source side circuit 20 in which the heat source side refrigerant circulates, a transfer side circuit 40 in which a heat transfer medium that exchanges heat with the heat source side refrigerant, and a heat transfer medium. It is an apparatus having a utilization side circuit 50 in which a utilization side refrigerant that performs heat exchange circulates. And as for the air conditioning apparatus 1, the utilization side circuit 50 has utilization side heat exchanger 42a, 42b, the heat from the heat source side circuit 20 is conveyed by the utilization side circuit 50 through the conveyance side circuit 40, Air conditioning is performed by heat exchange of the use-side refrigerant in the use-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b. Here, the heat source side circuit 20 constitutes a vapor compression (direct expansion) refrigeration cycle in which the heat source side refrigerant circulates while performing steps of pressure increase, heat dissipation, pressure reduction, and evaporation. In addition, the transport side circuit 40 constitutes a heat transport cycle in which the heat transport medium circulates while transporting heat (cold heat or heat) obtained from the heat source side circuit 20 to the use side circuit 50. Further, the use side circuit 50 uses a vapor compression type (direct expansion) in which the use side refrigerant circulates while performing steps of pressure increase, heat release, pressure reduction, and evaporation while using heat (cold heat and heat) obtained from the conveyance side circuit 40. The refrigeration cycle of the formula) is configured. Thus, the air conditioner 1 employs a tertiary circuit system. Here, the heat source side refrigerant and the use side refrigerant may be different refrigerants or the same refrigerant. However, from the viewpoint of common use of the heat source side circuit 20 and the use side circuit 50, the same refrigerant is used. It is preferable.

  The air conditioner 1 is mainly configured by connecting the heat source unit 2, the intermediate unit 3, and the utilization units 4a and 4b from the viewpoint of the unit configuration. Here, the heat source unit 2 is provided outside a building or the like, and the intermediate unit 3 and the utilization units 4a and 4b are provided in the building. The heat source unit 2 and the intermediate unit 3 are connected via a feed-side heat transfer medium communication tube 6 and a return-side heat transfer medium communication tube 7 through which the heat transfer medium flows. The intermediate unit 3 and the usage units 4a and 4b are connected via a liquid usage side refrigerant communication tube 8 and a gas usage side refrigerant communication tube 9 through which the usage side refrigerant flows. That is, in the air conditioner 1, the heat source side circuit 20 in which the heat source side refrigerant circulates is provided in the heat source unit 2, and the transport side circuit 40 in which the heat transport medium circulates includes the feed side heat transport medium communication pipe 6 and the return side. It is provided across the heat source unit 2 and the intermediate unit 3 via the heat transfer medium communication tube 7. Further, in the air conditioner 1, the use side circuit 50 in which the use side refrigerant circulates is provided across the intermediate unit 3 and the use units 4a and 4b via the liquid use side refrigerant communication pipe 8 and the gas use side refrigerant communication pipe 9. It has been. Thus, in the air conditioner 1, the connection between the outdoor side (here, the heat source unit 2) and the indoor side (here, the intermediate unit 3 and the utilization units 4a, 4b) installed at locations separated from each other, The heat transfer medium communication pipes 6 and 7 through which the heat transfer medium flows are performed, and the heat source side circuit 20 in which the heat source side refrigerant circulates is contained only in the outdoor side (here, the heat source unit 2) and is used. The use side circuit 50 in which the side refrigerant circulates is accommodated only in the indoor side (in this case, the intermediate unit 3 and the use units 4a and 4b).

  Here, a plurality (two in this case) of utilization units 4a and 4b are provided so that a plurality of spaces in the building can be air-conditioned. In addition, a heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23 for switching the flow direction of the heat source side refrigerant in the heat source side circuit 20 is provided in the heat source side circuit 20 so that cooling and heating can be performed as air conditioning. A utilization side refrigerant switching mechanism 33 for switching the flow direction of the utilization side refrigerant at 50 is provided in the utilization side circuit 50. Here, the cooling is air conditioning in which cold heat is conveyed from the heat source side circuit 20 to the usage side circuit 50 through the conveyance side circuit 40 and the cold side is utilized by evaporation of the usage side refrigerant in the usage side heat exchangers 42a and 42b. Heating is air conditioning in which warm heat is conveyed from the heat source side circuit 20 to the utilization side circuit 50 through the conveyance side circuit 40 and the heat is utilized by heat radiation of the utilization side refrigerant in the utilization side heat exchangers 42a and 42b. The number of use units is not limited to two, and may be three or more. Next, a detailed configuration of the air conditioner 1 will be described.

<Heat source unit>
As described above, the heat source unit 2 is installed outside the room, and constitutes a part of the transport side circuit 40 and the heat source side circuit 20. The heat source unit 2 mainly includes a heat source side compressor 21, a heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23, a heat source side heat exchanger 24, a heat source side expansion mechanism 25, a medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26, and a circulation pump. 29. And the heat source side refrigerant | coolant comprised by connecting the heat source side compressor 21, the heat source side refrigerant | coolant switching mechanism 23, the heat source side heat exchanger 24, the heat source side expansion mechanism 25, and the medium-heat source side refrigerant | coolant heat exchanger 26 is obtained. The circuit that circulates is the heat source side circuit 20. Further, the heat transfer medium configured by connecting the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 and the circulation pump 29 to the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 via the heat transfer medium connecting pipes 6 and 7 circulates. The circuit that performs this is the conveyance side circuit 40.

  The heat source side compressor 21 is a device for increasing the pressure of the low-pressure heat source side refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle until the pressure becomes high and circulating the heat source side refrigerant. Here, the heat source side compressor 21 is configured to rotationally drive a volume type compression element (not shown) such as a rotary type or a scroll type by a heat source side compressor motor 22 whose frequency (number of rotations) can be controlled by an inverter. It has become. That is, the heat source side compressor 21 is configured to be able to control the operation capacity by changing the frequency (the number of rotations). Both the suction side and the discharge side of the heat source side compressor 21 are connected to the heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23.

  The heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23 is a mechanism for switching the flow direction of the heat source side refrigerant in the heat source side circuit 20. During cooling, the heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23 causes the heat source side heat exchanger 24 to function as a radiator of the heat source side refrigerant boosted in the heat source side compressor 21, and the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 is used as the heat source. The side heat exchanger 24 is switched to a cooling cycle state that functions as an evaporator of the heat source side refrigerant that has radiated heat. In other words, the heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23 is connected to the discharge side of the heat source side compressor 21 and the gas side of the heat source side heat exchanger 24 during cooling (see the solid line of the heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23 in FIG. 1). ). Moreover, the suction side of the heat source side compressor 21 and the gas side of the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 are connected (see the solid line of the heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23 in FIG. 1). Further, the heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23 causes the heat source side heat exchanger 24 to function as an evaporator of the heat source side refrigerant radiated in the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 during heating, and the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat Switching to a heating cycle state is performed in which the exchanger 26 functions as a radiator of the heat source side refrigerant whose pressure is increased in the compressor 21. That is, the heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23 is connected to the discharge side of the heat source side compressor 21 and the gas side of the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 during heating (the heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23 of FIG. 1). (See dashed line). In addition, the suction side of the heat source side compressor 21 and the gas side of the heat source side heat exchanger 24 are connected (see the broken line of the heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23 in FIG. 1). Here, a four-way switching valve is used as the heat-source-side refrigerant switching mechanism 23, but it is configured to perform the same function as the four-way switching valve by using a circuit configuration in which a plurality of valves are combined. May be.

  The heat source side heat exchanger 24 functions as a radiator of the heat source side refrigerant whose pressure is increased in the heat source side compressor 21 using outdoor air as a cooling source during cooling, and is depressurized in the heat source side expansion mechanism 25 using outdoor air as a heating source during heating. It is a heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator of the heat source side refrigerant. The heat source side heat exchanger 24 has a liquid side connected to the heat source side expansion mechanism 25 and a gas side connected to the heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23. Here, the heat source unit 2 has an outdoor fan 27 for sucking outdoor air into the heat source unit 2 and exchanging heat with the heat source side refrigerant in the heat source side heat exchanger 24 and then discharging the heat to the outside. Yes. That is, the heat source unit 2 includes the outdoor fan 27 as a fan that supplies outdoor heat as a cooling source or a heating source of the heat source side refrigerant flowing through the heat source side heat exchanger 24 to the heat source side heat exchanger 24. Here, a propeller fan or the like driven by an outdoor fan motor 28 is used as the outdoor fan 27.

  The heat source side expansion mechanism 25 depressurizes the high pressure heat source side refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle radiated in the heat source side heat exchanger 24 during cooling to the low pressure of the refrigeration cycle, and refrigeration radiated in the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 during heating. This is a mechanism for depressurizing the high-pressure heat source side refrigerant of the cycle to the low pressure of the refrigeration cycle. One end of the heat source side expansion mechanism 25 is connected to the liquid side of the heat source side heat exchanger 24, and the other end is connected to the gas side of the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26. Here, an electric expansion valve is used as the heat source side expansion mechanism 25.

  The medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 is a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the heat source side refrigerant circulating in the heat source side circuit 20 and the heat transfer medium circulating in the transfer side circuit 40. During cooling, the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 exchanges heat between the heat source side refrigerant depressurized by the heat source side expansion mechanism 25 and the heat transfer medium that has absorbed heat in the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34. It functions as a refrigerant evaporator and a heat transfer medium radiator. Further, during heating, the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 exchanges heat between the heat source side refrigerant whose pressure has been increased in the heat source side compressor 21 and the heat carrier medium radiated in the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34. It functions as a heat radiator for the heat source side refrigerant and as a heat absorber for the heat transfer medium. In the portion of the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 where the heat source side refrigerant flows, the liquid side is connected to the heat source side expansion mechanism 25 and the gas side is connected to the heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23. Further, the portion of the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 through which the heat transfer medium flows has an inlet side connected to the discharge side of the circulation pump 29 and an outlet side connected to the feed side heat transfer medium connecting pipe 6. Thus, the heat source side circuit 20 and the conveyance side circuit 40 have the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26.

  The circulation pump 29 is a device for increasing the pressure of the heat transfer medium and circulating the heat transfer medium. Here, the circulation pump 29 has a structure in which a pump element such as a centrifugal type or a positive displacement type is driven by a pump motor 30. The circulation pump 29 has a suction side connected to the return side heat transfer medium communication pipe 7 and a discharge side connected to the inlet side of the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26. The circulation pump 29 is not limited to a mechanical pump such as a centrifugal type or a positive displacement type, and a configuration based on a pressure increasing / decreasing operation as described in Patent Document 1 may be used. The connection position of the circulation pump 29 is not limited to the inlet side of the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26, and may be connected to the outlet side of the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26. In this case, the part through which the heat transfer medium of the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 flows is connected to the return side heat transfer medium connecting pipe 7 on the inlet side and connected to the discharge side of the circulation pump 29 on the outlet side. become.

<Intermediate unit>
The intermediate unit 3 is installed indoors as described above, and constitutes a part of the transport side circuit 40 and a part of the use side circuit 50. The intermediate unit 3 mainly includes a medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34, a use side compressor 31, and a use side refrigerant switching mechanism 33. The medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 is connected to the circulation pump 29 and the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 via the heat transfer medium communication tubes 6, 7 to circulate the heat transfer medium configured. The circuit that performs this is the conveyance side circuit 40. Further, the use side compressor 31, the use side refrigerant switching mechanism 33 and the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 are connected to the use side flow rate adjusting mechanisms 4a and 41b and the use side heat exchanger via the use side refrigerant communication pipes 8 and 9, respectively. A circuit in which the use-side refrigerant configured by being connected to 42a and 42b circulates is the use-side circuit 50.

  The medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 is a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between the heat transfer medium circulating in the transfer side circuit 40 and the use side refrigerant circulating in the use side circuit 50. At the time of cooling, the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 transfers heat by heat exchange between the heat transfer medium radiated in the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 and the use-side refrigerant pressurized in the use-side compressor 31. It functions as a heat sink for the medium and a heat radiator for the use-side refrigerant. Further, during heating, the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 heats the heat transfer medium that has absorbed heat in the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 and the use-side refrigerant depressurized in the use-side flow rate adjusting mechanisms 41a and 41b. By exchanging, it functions as a radiator for the heat transfer medium and as an evaporator for the use-side refrigerant. In the portion of the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 through which the heat transfer medium flows, the inlet side is connected to the feed-side heat transfer medium connecting pipe 6 and the outlet side is connected to the return-side heat transfer medium connecting pipe 7. Further, the portion of the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 through which the use side refrigerant flows is connected to the liquid use side refrigerant communication tube 8 on the liquid side and connected to the use side refrigerant switching mechanism 33 on the gas side. Thus, the conveyance side circuit 40 and the use side circuit 50 have the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34.

  The use side compressor 31 is a device for circulating the use side refrigerant by increasing the low pressure use side refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle until the pressure becomes high. Here, the use side compressor 21 is configured such that a rotary type or scroll type positive displacement compression element (not shown) is rotationally driven by a use side compressor motor 32 whose frequency (number of rotations) can be controlled by an inverter. It has become. That is, the use side compressor 31 is configured to be able to control the operation capacity by changing the frequency (the number of rotations). Both the suction side and the discharge side of the use side compressor 31 are connected to the use side refrigerant switching mechanism 33.

  The usage-side refrigerant switching mechanism 33 is a mechanism for switching the direction of the usage-side refrigerant flow in the usage-side circuit 50. The use-side refrigerant switching mechanism 33 causes the medium-use-side heat exchanger 34 to function as a radiator for the use-side refrigerant whose pressure is increased in the use-side compressor 31 during cooling, and the use-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b are operated. The medium-use side heat exchanger 34 is switched to a cooling cycle state in which it functions as an evaporator of the use side refrigerant that has radiated heat. That is, the use-side refrigerant switching mechanism 33 is connected to the discharge side of the use-side compressor 31 and the gas side of the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 during cooling (the use-side refrigerant switching mechanism 33 of FIG. 1). (See solid line). In addition, the suction side of the use side compressor 31 and the gas side of the use side heat exchangers 42a and 42b are connected (see the solid line of the use side refrigerant switching mechanism 33 in FIG. 1). Further, the use side refrigerant switching mechanism 33 causes the medium-use side heat exchanger 34 to function as an evaporator of the use side refrigerant radiated in the use side heat exchangers 42a and 42b during heating, and the use side heat exchanger. Switching to a heating cycle state is performed in which 42a and 42b function as a radiator of the usage-side refrigerant whose pressure is increased in the usage-side compressor 31. That is, the use-side refrigerant switching mechanism 33 is connected to the discharge side of the use-side compressor 31 and the gas side of the use-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b during heating (the broken line of the use-side refrigerant switching mechanism 33 in FIG. 1). See). Moreover, the suction side of the use side compressor 31 and the gas side of the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 are connected (see the broken line of the use side refrigerant switching mechanism 33 in FIG. 1). In this case, a four-way switching valve is used as the use-side refrigerant switching mechanism 33. However, by using a circuit configuration in which a plurality of valves are combined, the same function as the four-way switching valve can be achieved. May be.

<Usage unit>
The usage units 4a and 4b are installed indoors as described above, and constitute a part of the usage-side circuit 50. The utilization unit 4a mainly includes a utilization side flow rate adjustment mechanism 41a and a utilization side heat exchanger 42a. Similarly to the usage unit 4a, the usage unit 4b mainly includes a usage-side flow rate adjustment mechanism 41b and a usage-side heat exchanger 42b. The use side flow rate adjusting mechanisms 41a and 41b and the use side heat exchangers 42a and 42b are connected to the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34, the use side compressor 31 and the use side refrigerant via the use side refrigerant communication tubes 8 and 9. A circuit in which the use-side refrigerant configured by being connected to the switching mechanism 33 circulates is the use-side circuit 50. Since the usage unit 4b has the same configuration as that of the usage unit 4a, in the following description, only the configuration of the usage unit 4a will be described, and the configuration of the usage unit 4b will be denoted by reference numerals indicating the respective parts of the usage unit 4a. The explanation is omitted by replacing the subscript “a” with the subscript “b”.

  The usage-side flow rate adjustment mechanism 41a is a mechanism for adjusting the flow rate of the usage-side refrigerant flowing through the usage-side heat exchanger 42a. One end of the use side flow rate adjusting mechanism 41a is connected to the liquid use side refrigerant communication tube 8, and the other end is connected to the liquid side of the use side heat exchanger 42a. Here, an electric expansion valve is used as the use side flow rate adjustment mechanism 41a. The use-side flow rate adjustment mechanism 41a reduces the high-pressure use-side refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle radiated in the medium-use-side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 during cooling to the low pressure of the refrigeration cycle, and the use-side heat exchanger 42a, The high-pressure heat-source-side refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle that has radiated heat in 42b is decompressed to the low pressure of the refrigeration cycle.

  The use-side heat exchanger 42a is a heat exchanger that functions as an evaporator for the use-side refrigerant during cooling and cools the room air, and functions as a radiator for the use-side refrigerant during heating and heats the room air. The use side heat exchanger 42 a has a liquid side connected to the use side flow rate adjustment mechanism 41 a and a gas side connected to the gas use side refrigerant communication tube 9. Here, after the utilization unit 4a sucks indoor air into the utilization unit 4a and exchanges heat with the utilization-side refrigerant in the utilization-side heat exchanger 42a, the utilization unit 4a supplies an indoor fan 45a to be supplied indoors as supply air. Have. That is, the usage unit 4a includes an indoor fan 45a as a fan that supplies indoor air as an evaporation source or a heat radiation source of the usage-side refrigerant flowing through the usage-side heat exchanger 42a to the usage-side heat exchanger 42a. Here, as the indoor fan 45a, a centrifugal fan or a multiblade fan driven by an indoor fan motor 46a is used.

<Control unit>
The air conditioner 1 includes a control unit 10 that controls the operation of each unit constituting the heat source unit 2, the intermediate unit 3, and the use units 4a and 4b including the heat source side circuit 20, the conveyance side circuit 40, and the use side circuit 50. ing. The control unit 10 includes a microcomputer, a memory, and the like provided to control each part of the heat source unit 2, the intermediate unit 3, and the utilization units 4a and 4b. Here, for convenience, the control unit 10 is illustrated as being provided in the heat source unit 2, but the actual control unit 10 is a control board for the heat source unit 2, the intermediate unit 3, and the utilization units 4a and 4b. It is configured by communication connection between them. Various operations such as cooling and heating as air conditioning are performed by the control unit 10.

<Heat transport medium>
As a heat transfer medium used in the air conditioner 1 of the tertiary circuit system as described above, in order to improve the heat transfer capability of the transfer side circuit, a substance capable of utilizing the latent heat obtained with the phase transition It is preferable to use a heat transfer medium containing

  However, when the substance contained in the heat transfer medium undergoes a liquid-solid phase transition as in Patent Document 1, a volume change of the substance occurs, and thus a pressure change occurs in the transfer side circuit 40. It will be. For this reason, when using a heat transfer medium containing a substance that undergoes a liquid-solid phase transition, in addition to the configuration of the transfer side circuit 40 described above, a buffer tank or the like for absorbing pressure changes is further added. As a result, the transport side circuit 40 becomes complicated.

  Therefore, here, a slurry containing an electronic phase transition material, which is a material that undergoes an electronic phase transition, which is a phase transition related to the degree of freedom of electrons, is used as the heat transfer medium. Here, as described in Patent Document 2, the electronic phase transition is the degree of freedom of electrons, orbital degrees of freedom, or at least two of degrees of freedom of charges, spins, and orbitals. This is a phase transition with multiple degrees of freedom including. This electronic phase transition is a phase transition that occurs in a solid state (solid-solid phase transition), and latent heat can be obtained along with the phase transition, and the volume change at the time of the phase transition becomes a solid-liquid phase transition. There is a characteristic that it is small compared.

As such an electronic phase transition material, there are various materials such as VO ₂ (vanadium dioxide) and a part of V (vanadium) of VO ₂ (vanadium dioxide) substituted with W (tungsten). In air conditioning applications such as cooling and heating, it is preferable to use an electronic phase transition material that undergoes an electronic phase transition within a temperature range of about 0 ° C to 50 ° C. For example, V _0.99 W _0.01 O ₂ (electronic phase transition temperature: 42 ° C. to 44 ° C.), V _0.977 W _0.023 O ₂ (electronic phase transition temperature: 10 ° C. to 11 ° C.), V _{0 .98} Ta _0.02 O ₂ (electronic phase transition temperature: 48 ° C. to 49 ° C.), V _0.92 Ta _0.08 O ₂ (electronic phase transition temperature: 3 ° C. to 4 ° C.), V _0.95 Nb _{0 .05} O ₂ (electronic phase transition temperature: 15 ° C. to 16 ° C.), V _0.975 Ru _0.025 O ₂ (electronic phase transition temperature: 36 ° C. to 37 ° C.), V _0.97 Mo _0.03 O ₂ (Electronic phase transition temperature: 33 ° C. to 34 ° C.), LiMn ₂ O ₄ (electronic phase transition temperature: 21 ° C.), LiVS ₂ (electronic phase transition temperature: 40 ° C.), TbBaFe ₂ O ₅ (electronic phase transition temperature: 12 ° C), DyBaFe ₂ O ₅ (electronic phase transition temperature: 21 ° C), HoBaFe ₂ O ₅ (electronic phase transition temperature: 23 ° C.), YBaFe ₂ O ₅ (electronic phase transition temperature: 37 ° C.), DyBaCo ₂ O _5.54 (electronic phase transition temperature: 45 ° C.), HoBaCo ₂ O _5.48 (electrons) Phase transition temperature: 31 ° C.), YBaCo ₂ O _5.49 (electronic phase transition temperature: 24 ° C.) can be used.

  In this case, a slurry in which a large amount of an electronic phase transition material, which is a material that performs electronic phase transition as described above, is mixed in a liquid medium such as water, an aqueous solution, or oil is used as a heat transfer medium.

Here, a material containing an electronic phase transition material having an electronic phase transition temperature of 10 ° C. to 30 ° C. is used as the heat transfer medium. As an electronic phase transition material having such an electronic phase transition temperature, V _0.977 W _0.023 O ₂ (electronic phase transition temperature: 10 ° C. to 11 ° C.), V _0.95 Nb _0.05 O ₂ ( Electronic phase transition temperature: 15 ° C to 16 ° C), LiMn ₂ O ₄ (electronic phase transition temperature: 21 ° C), TbBaFe ₂ O ₅ (electronic phase transition temperature: 12 ° C), DyBaFe ₂ O ₅ (electronic phase transition temperature: 21 ° C.), HoBaFe ₂ O ₅ (electronic phase transition temperature: 23 ° C.), YBaCo ₂ O _5.49 (electronic phase transition temperature: 24 ° C.), etc. are preferably selected.

(2) Operation FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the flow of the refrigerant and the heat transfer medium during cooling of the air conditioner 1, and FIG. 3 illustrates the flow of the refrigerant and the heat transfer medium during heating of the air conditioner 1. FIG. Next, the operation of the air conditioner 1 (cooling and heating as air conditioning) will be described.

<Cooling>
During cooling, the heat-source-side refrigerant switching mechanism 23 and the use-side refrigerant switching mechanism 33 are switched to the cooling cycle state (the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 2).

  In the heat source side circuit 20 provided in the heat source unit 2, the heat source side refrigerant in the low-pressure gas state of the refrigeration cycle is sucked into the heat source side compressor 21 and is discharged after being pressurized to the high pressure of the refrigeration cycle. The high-pressure gaseous heat-source-side refrigerant discharged from the heat-source-side compressor 21 is sent to the heat source-side heat exchanger 24 through the heat source-side refrigerant switching mechanism 23. The heat source side refrigerant in a high-pressure gas state sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 24 performs heat exchange with the outdoor air supplied as a cooling source by the outdoor fan 27 in the heat source side heat exchanger 24, and dissipates heat. It becomes a heat source side refrigerant in a high pressure liquid state. The high-pressure liquid-state heat-source-side refrigerant that has radiated heat in the heat-source-side heat exchanger 24 is decompressed to the low pressure of the refrigeration cycle in the heat-source-side expansion mechanism 25 to become a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase heat source-side refrigerant. The low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase heat source side refrigerant decompressed by the heat source side expansion mechanism 25 is sent to the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26. The low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase heat source side refrigerant sent to the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 is circulated through the conveyance side circuit 40 by the circulation pump 29 in the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26. It exchanges heat with the medium and evaporates to become a low pressure gas state heat source side refrigerant. The low-pressure gas state heat source side refrigerant evaporated in the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 is again sucked into the heat source side compressor 21 through the heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23.

  On the other hand, in the transfer side circuit 40 provided across the heat source unit 2 and the intermediate unit 3 via the heat transfer medium connecting pipes 6 and 7, the heat transfer medium is the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger as described above. In 26, heat is radiated by evaporation of the heat source side refrigerant circulating in the heat source side circuit 20. At this time, in the heat transfer medium, a temperature drop of the liquid medium occurs, and a phase transition (cold heat accumulation) of the electronic phase transition material occurs at the electronic phase transition temperature. The heat transfer medium that has fallen in temperature and accumulated in cold in the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 is sent from the heat source unit 2 to the intermediate unit 3 through the feed-side heat transfer medium connecting pipe 6. The heat transfer medium that has been sent to the intermediate unit 3 and that has accumulated cold and cold is sent to the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34. The heat transfer medium that has been sent to the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 and has accumulated cold and cold is used in the high-pressure gas state discharged from the use-side compressor 31 in the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34. Heat is exchanged with the side refrigerant to absorb heat. At this time, in the heat transfer medium, the temperature of the liquid medium increases, and the phase transition (cold heat release) of the electronic phase transition material occurs at the electronic phase transition temperature. The heat transfer medium that has risen in temperature and released with cold heat in the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 is sent from the intermediate unit 3 to the heat source unit 2 through the return-side heat transfer medium connecting pipe 7 and again sucked into the circulation pump 29. The

  On the other hand, the high-pressure gas state of the refrigeration cycle discharged from the use-side compressor 31 in the use-side circuit 50 provided across the intermediate unit 3 and the use units 4a and 4b via the use-side refrigerant communication tubes 8 and 9 As described above, the use-side refrigerant dissipates heat by absorbing heat from the heat transfer medium circulating in the transfer-side circuit 40 in the medium-use-side refrigerant heat exchanger 34, and becomes a high-pressure liquid use-side refrigerant. The high-pressure liquid-use use-side refrigerant radiated in the medium-use-side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 is sent from the intermediate unit 3 to the use units 4 a and 4 b through the liquid use-side refrigerant communication pipe 8. The use side refrigerant in the high pressure liquid state sent to the use units 4a and 4b is decompressed to the low pressure of the refrigeration cycle and the flow rate is adjusted in the use side flow rate adjusting mechanisms 41a and 41b, and is in a low pressure gas-liquid two-phase state. Becomes a usage-side refrigerant. The low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase use-side refrigerant whose pressure is reduced and adjusted in the use-side flow rate adjusting mechanisms 41a and 41b is sent to the use-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b. The low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase use-side refrigerant sent to the use-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b is combined with indoor air supplied as an evaporation source by the indoor fans 45a and 45b in the use-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b. Heat exchange is carried out to evaporate to become a use side refrigerant in a low pressure gas state. Thereby, indoor air is cooled and cooling is performed by being supplied indoors after that. The use side refrigerant in the low-pressure gas state evaporated in the use side heat exchangers 42 a and 42 b is sent from the use units 4 a and 4 b to the intermediate unit 3 through the gas use side refrigerant communication pipe 9. The use-side refrigerant in a low-pressure gas state sent to the intermediate unit 3 is again sucked into the use-side compressor 31 through the use-side refrigerant switching mechanism 33. The use side refrigerant in a high-pressure gas state discharged from the use side compressor 31 is sent again to the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 through the use side refrigerant switching mechanism 33.

  Thus, cooling as air conditioning is performed by conveying cold heat from the heat source side circuit 20 to the utilization side circuit 50 through the conveyance side circuit 40 using the latent heat due to the electronic phase transition of the electronic phase transition material. .

<Heating>
During heating, the heat-source-side refrigerant switching mechanism 23 and the use-side refrigerant switching mechanism 33 are switched to the heating cycle state (the state indicated by the broken line in FIG. 3).

  In the heat source side circuit 20 provided in the heat source unit 2, the heat source side refrigerant in the low-pressure gas state of the refrigeration cycle is sucked into the heat source side compressor 21 and is discharged after being pressurized to the high pressure of the refrigeration cycle. The high-pressure gaseous heat-source-side refrigerant discharged from the heat-source-side compressor 21 is sent to the medium-heat source-side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 through the heat source-side refrigerant switching mechanism 23. The heat-source-side refrigerant in a high-pressure gas state sent to the medium-heat source-side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 is heated in the medium-heat source-side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 with the heat transfer medium and heat circulated through the transfer-side circuit 40 by the circulation pump 29. It exchanges and dissipates heat to become a high pressure liquid state heat source side refrigerant. The high-pressure liquid-state heat-source-side refrigerant radiated in the medium-heat-source-side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 is decompressed to the low pressure of the refrigeration cycle in the heat source-side expansion mechanism 25 to become a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase heat source-side refrigerant. . The low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase heat source side refrigerant decompressed by the heat source side expansion mechanism 25 is sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 24. The low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase heat source side refrigerant sent to the heat source side heat exchanger 24 evaporates by exchanging heat with outdoor air supplied as a heating source by the outdoor fan 27 in the heat source side heat exchanger 24. Thus, the heat source side refrigerant is in a low-pressure gas state. In the heat source side heat exchanger 24, the evaporated low pressure gas state heat source side refrigerant is again sucked into the heat source side compressor 21 through the heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23.

  On the other hand, in the transfer side circuit 40 provided across the heat source unit 2 and the intermediate unit 3 via the heat transfer medium connecting pipes 6 and 7, the heat transfer medium is the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger as described above. In 26, heat is absorbed by the heat radiation of the heat source side refrigerant circulating in the heat source side circuit 20. At this time, in the heat transport medium, the temperature of the liquid medium increases, and the phase transition (thermal accumulation) of the electronic phase transition material occurs at the electronic phase transition temperature. The heat transfer medium that has risen in temperature and accumulated in the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 is sent from the heat source unit 2 to the intermediate unit 3 through the feed-side heat transfer medium connecting pipe 6. The heat transfer medium that has been sent to the intermediate unit 3 and has accumulated temperature is sent to the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34. The heat transfer medium that has been sent to the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 and has accumulated heat is dissipated in the use-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b in the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34, and the use-side flow rate. Heat is dissipated by exchanging heat with the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase use-side refrigerant decompressed to the low pressure of the refrigeration cycle in the adjusting mechanisms 41a and 41b. At this time, in the heat transfer medium, a temperature drop of the liquid medium occurs, and a phase transition (thermal release) of the electronic phase transition material occurs at the electronic phase transition temperature. The heat transfer medium that has fallen in temperature and released in the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 is sent from the intermediate unit 3 to the heat source unit 2 through the return-side heat transfer medium connecting pipe 7 and again sucked into the circulation pump 29. The

  On the other hand, in the use side circuit 50 provided across the intermediate unit 3 and the use units 4a and 4b via the use side refrigerant communication pipes 8 and 9, the use side heat exchangers 42a and 42b dissipate heat to adjust the use side flow rate. The low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase use-side refrigerant decompressed to the low pressure of the refrigeration cycle in the mechanisms 41a and 41b is the heat circulating in the transport-side circuit 40 in the medium-use-side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 as described above. It evaporates by the heat radiation of the carrier medium and becomes a use side refrigerant in a low-pressure gas state. The gas-side use-side refrigerant evaporated in the medium-use-side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 is sucked into the use-side compressor 31 through the use-side refrigerant switching mechanism 33. And the utilization side refrigerant | coolant of the high pressure gas state discharged from the utilization side compressor 31 is sent to utilization unit 4a, 4b from the intermediate | middle unit 3 through the utilization side refrigerant | coolant switching mechanism 33 and the gas utilization side refrigerant | coolant communication pipe | tube 9. Again, it is sent to the use side heat exchangers 42a, 42b. The high-pressure gas-side use-side refrigerant sent to the use-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b exchanges heat with indoor air supplied as a heat radiation source by the indoor fans 45a and 45b to radiate heat. Thereby, indoor air is heated and heating is performed by being supplied indoors after that. The high-pressure liquid-use use-side refrigerant radiated in the use-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b is adjusted in flow rate in the use-side flow rate adjusting mechanisms 41a and 41b and reduced to the low pressure of the refrigeration cycle, so that the low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase It becomes the use side refrigerant in the state and is sent again to the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 through the liquid use side refrigerant communication tube 8.

  Thus, heating as air conditioning is performed by transferring the heat from the heat source side circuit 20 to the use side circuit 50 through the transfer side circuit 40 using the latent heat due to the electronic phase transition of the electronic phase change material. .

(3) Features Next, features of the air conditioner 1 will be described.

<A>
Here, as described above, the use side circuit in the conventional secondary circuit method is used as the transfer side circuit 40 in which the heat transfer medium that exchanges heat with the heat source side refrigerant circulates, and the use side that exchanges heat with the heat transfer medium. While adopting a tertiary circuit system constituted by a utilization side circuit 50 in which the side refrigerant circulates, a slurry containing an electronic phase transition material that is a material that undergoes an electronic phase transition is used as a heat transfer medium.

  For this reason, here, heat exchange between the heat source side refrigerant circulating in the heat source side circuit 20 and the heat transfer medium circulating in the transfer side circuit 40 causes the temperature change of the liquid medium and the electronic phase transition material in the heat transfer medium. A phase transition occurs. Then, heat exchange between the heat transfer medium circulating in the transfer side circuit 40 and the use side refrigerant circulating in the use side circuit 50 causes the temperature change of the liquid medium and the phase transition of the electronic phase change material (however, in the heat transfer medium) Then, a temperature change and phase transition opposite to the heat exchange between the heat source side refrigerant circulating in the heat source side circuit 20 and the heat transfer medium circulating in the transfer side circuit 40 occur. Then, air conditioning is performed by heat exchange of the usage-side refrigerant in the usage-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b. That is, here, the heat transfer from the heat source side circuit 20 to the transfer side circuit 40 and the heat transfer from the transfer side circuit 40 to the use side circuit 50 are performed using the latent heat due to the electronic phase transition of the electronic phase change material. Done. In addition, since the volume change of the electronic phase transition material during the electronic phase transition is small, the pressure change in the transport side circuit 40 can also be suppressed. At this time, since the use-side refrigerant flows through the use-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b constituting the use-side circuit 50, the use-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b and the use-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b are provided. There is no need to develop the utilization units 4a, 4b to be used for the heat transfer medium. In developing the usage units 4a and 4b provided with the usage-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b and the usage-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b, a primary circuit type air conditioner in which only a refrigerant such as the usage-side refrigerant circulates is used. The structure of the utilization unit provided with the utilization side heat exchanger currently used in the apparatus or the utilization side heat exchanger can be diverted. Moreover, it is possible to share the heat source side circuit 20 in which the refrigerant circulates in the same manner as the use side circuit 50. From the viewpoint of such common use, the heat source side refrigerant and the use side refrigerant can be made the same refrigerant. preferable.

  Thereby, here, the use units 4a and 4b provided with the use side heat exchangers 42a and 42b and the use side heat exchangers 42a and 42b can be easily obtained while satisfying the requirement of reducing the refrigerant amount by using the carrier medium. Can be developed.

<B>
In addition, here, as described above, there are cooling and heating as air conditioning. During cooling, the cooling heat is transferred from the heat source side circuit 20 to the use side circuit 50 through the transfer side circuit 40, and from the heat source side circuit 20 during heating. Heat is transferred to the use side circuit 50 through the side circuit 40. Here, the cooling is performed by evaporating in the use side heat exchangers 42a and 42b after depressurizing the use side refrigerant that has obtained cold through the heat transfer circuit 40, and thus the use side circuit 50 through the heat transfer circuit 40 during cooling. The temperature level of the cold heat conveyed to may be equal to or higher than the temperature level at which the usage-side refrigerant is evaporated in the usage-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b. In addition, heating is performed by increasing the pressure of the use-side refrigerant that has obtained heat through the heat transfer circuit 40 and then releasing the heat in the use-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b. The temperature level of the warm heat conveyed may be equal to or lower than the temperature level when the usage-side refrigerant radiates heat in the usage-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b. That is, the temperature level of the heat transfer medium circulating in the heat transfer circuit 40 is equal to or higher than the temperature level (10 ° C. or higher) of the use-side refrigerant used in the use-side heat exchangers 42a and 42b during cooling and is used during heating. It may be an intermediate temperature level (10 ° C. to 30 ° C.) below the temperature level (30 ° C. or lower) of the use side refrigerant used in the side heat exchangers 42a and 42b. Therefore, here, as described above, a material containing an electronic phase transition material having an electronic phase transition temperature of 10 ° C. to 30 ° C. is used as the heat transfer medium. For this reason, compared with the case where a secondary circuit system is employ | adopted here, a heat transfer medium can be circulated at the temperature level close | similar to outside temperature or room temperature. Further, it is unnecessary to include both the cooling electronic phase change material and the heating electronic phase change material in the heat transfer medium.

  Thereby, compared with the case where a secondary circuit system is employ | adopted here, the heat loss of the heat transfer medium which circulates through the heat transfer circuit 40 can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to use only a heat transfer medium including one kind of electronic phase change material that is also used for cooling and heating.

<C>
Here, as described above, the transport side circuit 40 and the use side circuit 50 include the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 that performs heat exchange between the heat transfer medium and the use side refrigerant, The heat source side circuit 20 and the transfer side circuit 40 have a medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 that performs heat exchange between the heat source side refrigerant and the heat transfer medium.

  Here, heat transfer from the heat source side refrigerant circulating in the heat source side circuit 20 to the heat transfer medium circulating in the transfer side circuit 40 is performed by the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26, and medium-use side refrigerant heat exchange is performed. Heat is transferred from the heat transfer medium circulating in the transfer side circuit 40 to the use side refrigerant circulating in the use side circuit 50 by the vessel 34. That is, here, the heat from the heat source side circuit 20 can be transferred to the use side circuit 50 through the transfer side circuit 40 by the two heat exchangers 26 and 34 provided between the circuits 20, 40 and 50. it can.

<D>
Here, as described above, the heat source side circuit 20, the transport side circuit 40, and the use side circuit 50 are configured by connecting the heat source unit 2, the intermediate unit 3, and the use units 4a and 4b. . The medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 is provided in the heat source unit 2, and the medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 is provided in the intermediate unit 3, and the use side heat exchangers 42a and 42b. Are provided in the use units 4a and 4b. That is, here, the medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 26 provided between the heat source side circuit 20 and the transport side circuit 40 is provided in the heat source unit 2, and the transport side circuit 40 and the use side circuit 50 are provided. The medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 34 provided between the two is provided in the intermediate unit 3, and the use side heat exchangers 42a and 42b are provided in the use units 4a and 4b. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pipes connecting the heat source unit 2 and the intermediate unit 3 are heat transfer medium pipes 6 and 7 through which the heat transfer medium flows, and such a heat transfer medium. By making the pipes 6 and 7 longer, the heat source side circuit 20 through which the heat source side refrigerant circulates can be made smaller, and a portion through which the heat transfer medium flows in the utilization units 4a and 4b (that is, a part of the heat transfer circuit 40). ) Can be excluded. In particular, in a primary circuit type air conditioner in which only a refrigerant such as a heat source side refrigerant circulates, the refrigerant pipe connecting the outdoor side (heat source unit) and the indoor side (use unit) becomes long. In some cases, the amount of refrigerant flowing through this refrigerant pipe may be close to half of the amount of refrigerant used in the entire device. By adopting such a tertiary circuit system, the amount of refrigerant used on the heat source side is greatly reduced. can do. Here, FIG.4 and FIG.5 is a figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning to the building of the air conditioning apparatus 1. FIG. Specifically, in FIG. 4, the heat source unit 2 is arranged on the roof of the building, the intermediate unit 3 is arranged only on a predetermined floor of the building (here, only the lower floor), and each floor (here, the intermediate unit 3) is arranged. , Upper floor and lower floor), the usage units 4a and 4b are branched and arranged. FIG. 5 is an example in which the heat source unit 2 is arranged on the roof of the building, the intermediate unit 3 is branched and arranged on each floor of the building, and the utilization units 4a and 4b are arranged corresponding to the intermediate unit 3 on each floor.

  Thereby, here, it is possible to develop the utilization units 4a and 4b in consideration of only the utilization side refrigerant while reducing the amount of the heat source side refrigerant used.

<E>
Here, as described above, the use side circuit 50 includes the use side compressor 31 for circulating the use side refrigerant, and the use side compressor 31 is provided in the intermediate unit 3. .

  Here, since the use side compressor 31 for circulating the use side refrigerant is provided in the intermediate unit 3 and not in the use units 4a and 4b, the primary refrigerant only circulates the same refrigerant as the use side refrigerant. The configuration of the utilization units 4a and 4b used in the circuit type air conditioner can be used as it is.

(4) Modified Example In the above configuration (see FIG. 1), the use side compressor 31 for circulating the use side refrigerant in the intermediate unit 3 is provided. However, you may make it provide a utilization side compressor in utilization unit 4a, 4b.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the use unit 4a is provided with a use side compressor 31a (including a use side compressor motor 32a) and a use side refrigerant switching mechanism 33a, and the use unit 4b is used side compression. A machine 31b (including a use side compressor motor 32b) and a use side refrigerant switching mechanism 33b may be provided. Here, use side compressor 31a, 31b and use side refrigerant | coolant switching mechanism 33a, 33b are the same structures as the use side compressor 31 and the use side refrigerant | coolant switching mechanism 33 in said structure. Since the usage-side compressors 31a and 31b and the usage-side refrigerant switching mechanisms 33a and 33b are provided in the usage units 4a and 4b, the usage-side compressor 31 and the usage-side refrigerant switching mechanism in the above configuration (see FIG. 1). 33 is omitted from the intermediate unit 3. The gas use side refrigerant communication tube 9 is caused to function as a refrigerant tube connected to the gas side of the medium-use side refrigerant switching mechanisms 33a and 33b.

  And in the structure (refer FIG. 6) of this modification, it can air-condition by circulating a utilization side refrigerant | coolant by operating utilization side compressor 31a, 31b provided in utilization unit 4a, 4b. it can. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the usage-side refrigerant switching mechanisms 33a and 33b provided in the usage units 4a and 4b are switched to the cooling cycle state (the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 7), and then used. Cooling can be performed by operating the side compressors 31a and 31b. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the use side refrigerant switching mechanisms 33a and 33b provided in the use units 4a and 4b are switched to the heating cycle state (state shown by the broken line in FIG. 8), and the use side compressor is switched. Heating can be performed by operating 31a and 31b.

  In the configuration of this modification example (see FIGS. 6 to 8) as well as the above configuration (see FIGS. 1 to 5), while satisfying the request for reducing the amount of refrigerant by using the transport medium, The utilization units 4a and 4b provided with the utilization side heat exchangers 42a and 42b and the utilization side heat exchangers 42a and 42b can be easily developed. Moreover, compared with the case where a secondary circuit system is employ | adopted, the heat loss of the heat transfer medium which circulates through the heat transfer circuit 40 can be reduced. In addition, it is possible to use only a heat transfer medium including one kind of electronic phase change material that is also used for cooling and heating. Further, the heat from the heat source side circuit 20 can be transferred to the use side circuit 50 through the transfer side circuit 40 by the two heat exchangers 26 and 34 provided across the circuits 20, 40 and 50. In addition, the usage units 4a and 4b can be developed in consideration of only the usage-side refrigerant while reducing the amount of heat-source-side refrigerant used.

  However, here, the use side compressors 31a and 31b are provided in the use units 4a and 4b, which is different from the above configuration (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

  Therefore, as described above, when a plurality of usage units are connected (here, two usage units 4a and 4b), the operating capacities of the usage side compressors 31a and 31b of the usage units 4a and 4b are controlled. By doing so, detailed operation control can be performed for every utilization unit 4a, 4b. For example, a target value for the discharge pressure (high pressure in the use side circuit 50) and suction pressure (low pressure in the use side circuit 50) of the use side compressors 31a and 31b is set for each use unit 4a, 4b, and such target value is set. Therefore, the operating capacity of the use side compressors 31a and 31b can be controlled.

(5) Other modifications <A>
In the above configuration (see FIGS. 1 and 6), each usage unit 4a is connected to the usage-side refrigerant communication pipes 8 and 9 that connect the intermediate unit 3 and a plurality (here, two) of usage units 4a and 4b. Although the branched part to 4b is formed, it is not limited to this.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the intermediate unit 3 is formed with a branching portion to each usage unit 4a, 4b, and the usage side refrigerant communication pipes 8, 9 are connected to each usage unit 4a, 4b. May be. 9 shows a configuration in which the usage side compressors 31a and 31b are provided in the usage units 4a and 4b. However, in the configuration in which the usage side compressor 31 is provided in the intermediate unit 3 (see FIG. 1), You may make it the structure which formed the branch part to each utilization unit 4a, 4b in the intermediate | middle unit 3. FIG.

<B>
In the above configuration (see FIGS. 1 and 6), the heat source side circuit 20 is provided with the heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23 and the usage side circuit 50 is provided with the usage side refrigerant switching mechanism 31, so that cooling and heating can be performed as air conditioning. The structure provided with 31a, 31b is adopted. However, in the case where only air conditioning or heating may be used as the air conditioning, the heat source side refrigerant switching mechanism 23 is omitted from the heat source side circuit 20 in the above configuration (see FIGS. 1 and 6), and the use side circuit 50 is used. To the use side refrigerant switching mechanisms 31, 31a, 31b may be omitted.

  The present invention can be widely applied to an air conditioner having a circuit in which a heat transfer medium that exchanges heat with a refrigerant circulating in a heat source side circuit is circulated.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conditioning apparatus 2 Heat source unit 3 Intermediate unit 4a, 4b Use unit 20 Heat source side circuit 26 Medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger 31, 31a, 31b Use side compressor 34 Medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger 40 Conveyance side circuit 42a, 42b Use side heat exchanger 50 Use side circuit

JP 2000-161724 A JP 2010-163510 A

Claims (6)

A heat source side circuit (20) in which the heat source side refrigerant circulates;
A transfer side circuit (40) in which a heat transfer medium that exchanges heat with the heat source side refrigerant circulates;
A utilization side circuit (50) in which a utilization side refrigerant for heat exchange with the heat transfer medium circulates;
With
The utilization side circuit includes utilization side heat exchangers (42a, 42b),
The heat from the heat source side circuit is transferred to the use side circuit through the transfer side circuit, and air conditioning is performed by heat exchange of the use side refrigerant in the use side heat exchanger,
The heat carrier medium, Ri slurry der including electronic phase transition material is a substance which performs an electronic phase transition is a phase transition regarding freedom with electron,
The heat source side refrigerant sealed in the heat source side circuit (20) and the use side refrigerant sealed in the use side circuit (50) are the same refrigerant.
Air conditioner (1). The heat source side circuit (20), the transfer side circuit (40) and the use side circuit (50) transfer cold heat from the heat source side circuit to the use side circuit through the transfer side circuit as the air conditioning. In the heat exchanger (42a, 42b), cooling that uses the cold energy by evaporation of the use-side refrigerant, and heat is transferred from the heat-source side circuit to the use-side circuit through the transfer-side circuit, in the use-side heat exchanger And heating using the heat by radiating heat of the use side refrigerant,
The electronic phase transition material contained in the heat transfer medium has an electronic phase transition temperature for performing the electronic phase transition of 10 ° C. to 30 ° C.,
The air conditioner (1) according to claim 1. The transport side circuit (40) and the use side circuit (50) include a medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger (34) for performing heat exchange between the heat transfer medium and the use side refrigerant,
The heat source side circuit (20) and the transfer side circuit have a medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger (26) that performs heat exchange between the heat source side refrigerant and the heat transfer medium.
The air conditioner (1) according to claim 1 or 2. The heat source side circuit (20), the transfer side circuit (40), and the use side circuit (50) are connected to a heat source unit (2), an intermediate unit (3), and use units (4a, 4b). Consists of
The medium-heat source side refrigerant heat exchanger (26) is provided in the heat source unit,
The medium-use side refrigerant heat exchanger (34) is provided in the intermediate unit,
The use side heat exchangers (42a, 42b) are provided in the use unit.
The air conditioner (1) according to claim 3. The utilization side circuit (50) has a utilization side compressor (31) for circulating the utilization side refrigerant,
The use side compressor is provided in the intermediate unit (3).
The air conditioner (1) according to claim 4. The usage side circuit (50) includes usage side compressors (31a, 31b) for circulating the usage side refrigerant,
The use side compressors (31a, 31b) are provided in the use units (4a, 4b).
The air conditioner (1) according to claim 4.

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