JPH04353375A - ice making device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an ice-making device that supercools water, etc. using a heat exchanger in a water circulation path in which water or an aqueous solution circulates to produce frozen products, which are stored in an ice storage tank. In particular, it concerns measures to prevent freezing of water circulation channels.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-1406
As disclosed in Publication No. 3, an ice storage tank stores water as a heat storage medium and stores cold heat by freezing the water;
The ice storage system includes a heat exchanger that supercools the water in the ice storage tank via a brine pipe connected to the refrigerator, and a water circulation path that circulates the water in the ice storage tank via the heat exchanger. It is a known technique to circulate water from the bottom of an ice storage tank to a circulation path by providing a strainer for removing ice at a predetermined height from the bottom of the tank.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, when trying to freeze water in an ice storage tank by supercooling using a heat exchanger like the conventional one, if ice crystals enter the heat exchanger, it will freeze from there. There is a risk that the entire water circulation path may freeze and become unable to circulate. In that case, by separating the ice in the water using a strainer at the bottom of the ice storage tank, as in the conventional ice storage tank, it is possible to prevent ice kernels from entering the heat exchanger.

However, since the water at the bottom of the ice storage tank is supercooled, when the supercooled state is removed after entering the water circulation path, the water solidifies and forms ice crystals, which form ice nuclei. As a result, it will enter the heat exchanger. Therefore, the above-mentioned conventional device has a problem in that it cannot reliably prevent freezing of the water circulation path.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and its object is to effectively prevent freezing of the water circulation path by taking measures to prevent ice nuclei from entering the heat exchanger in the water circulation path. The purpose is to prevent it.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the means taken by the invention of claim 1 are as shown in FIG.
The ice making device includes an ice storage tank (5) for storing frozen water or an aqueous solution, a heat exchanger (22) connected to a cooling device for supercooling the water or an aqueous solution, and a pump (52).
) A water circulation path (51) for forcedly circulating water or an aqueous solution between the heat exchanger (22) and the ice storage tank (5).
An ice making device equipped with

[0007] A water circulation path (51
) is installed on the upstream side of the heat exchanger (22), and separates and removes ice pieces from water or an aqueous solution using centrifugal force.
) and a bypass path (54) for separating the water or aqueous solution containing ice pieces separated by the ice separator (9) and then merging the water or aqueous solution on the downstream side of the heat exchanger (22). This is what I did.

In addition to the above invention of claim 1, the means taken by the invention of claim 2 includes an on-off valve (55) for opening and closing the passage of the bypass path (54), and an on-off valve (55) that intermittently operates the on-off valve (55). Opening/closing control means (100A) for controlling the opening/closing operation is provided.

In addition to the above-mentioned invention of claim 1, the means taken by the invention of claim 3 includes an on-off valve (55) that opens and closes the passage of the bypass path (54), and an on-off valve (55) that opens and closes the passage of the bypass path (54). This configuration includes an opening/closing control means (100B) that controls opening.

The means taken by the invention of claim 4 is that in the invention of claim 1, 2 or 3, the ice separator (9) is provided with a vertically provided cylindrical container (91) and the ice separator (9). container(
provided in the upper part of the container (91) in a concentric position with the container (91),
It is composed of a small cylindrical member (92A) that partitions the upper space inside the container (91) into an inner small cylindrical space and an outer annular space, and the inlet piping from the water circulation path (51) is connected to the container (91). )
The outlet piping to the water circulation path (51) is connected along the circumference of the upper annular space and is connected to the outer periphery of the lower part of the container (91) and along the swirling direction of the water or aqueous solution in the container (91). The upstream end of the bypass passage (54) is connected to the small cylindrical space inside the small cylindrical member (92A).

The means taken by the invention of claim 5 is that in the invention of claim 1, 2 or 3, the ice separator (9) is provided with a vertically provided cylindrical container (91) and the ice separator (9). container(
91) is provided at the lower part of the container (91) and concentrically with the container (91),
A small cylindrical member (92B) that partitions the lower space in the container (91) into an inner small cylindrical space and an outer annular space, and a small cylindrical member (92B) provided in the upper central part of the container (91) and containing water or an aqueous solution. It consists of a storage part (93) that stores solid objects such as ice chips and garbage inside, and the inlet piping from the water circulation path (51) is connected to the container (93).
91) Connect in the direction along the circumference of the lower annular space, and connect the outlet piping to the water circulation path (51) to the outer periphery of the upper part of the container (91) and in the swirling direction of the water or aqueous solution in the container (91). The upstream end of the bypass path (54) is connected to the reservoir (93).

[0012] In addition to the invention of claim 4 or 5, the means taken by the invention of claim 6 is that the container (91) is provided with filtration to remove solid substances such as ice chips and dust from the water or aqueous solution. A member (94) is provided.

[0013] In addition to the invention of claims 4, 5, or 6, the means taken by the invention of claim 7 is to heat and melt ice pieces in water or an aqueous solution in the central part of the interior of the container (91). A heating member (96) is provided.

[0014]

[Operation] With the above configuration, in the invention of claim 1, the water etc. in the ice storage tank (5) is supplied to the water circulation path (6) by the pump (52).
The ice is forcibly circulated through the heat exchanger (22) to be supercooled and frozen, and the frozen product is stored in the ice storage tank (5).

[0015] At this time, if ice chips are generated due to elimination of the supercooled state in the water circulation path (6) on the upstream side of the heat exchanger (22), or if solid matter that becomes ice cores is generated due to the contamination of dust, etc., the heat exchange is interrupted. There is a risk that ice crystals will grow using these as nuclei in the water circulation path (6) of the vessel (22), etc. Here, in the present invention, the ice separator (
9), ice pieces with light specific gravity are separated from the water flowing through the water circulation path (51) by centrifugal force, and the water from which the ice pieces have been removed is supplied to the heat exchanger (22), and the water circulation path (51) Freezing is prevented. Then, the water or aqueous solution containing ice pieces separated by centrifugal force in the ice separator (9) is bypassed to the downstream side of the heat exchanger (22) via the bypass path (54). (9) The ice pieces inside are removed to the outside without overflowing inside, making continuous operation possible and making it possible to use the ice pieces as ice nuclei to eliminate supercooling.

In the invention of claim 2, the opening/closing control means (10
0A), the on-off valve (55) provided in the bypass path (54) is controlled to open and close intermittently, so that excessive outflow of water, etc. to the bypass path (54) side is suppressed. become.

In the invention of claim 3, the opening/closing control means (10
0B), the on-off valve (55) installed in the bypass path (54) is controlled to open only during ice-making operation, so ice chips contained in water etc. bypassed from the bypass path (54) are not supercooled. It will be effectively used only for ice making as an ice core for melting.

In the invention of claim 4, in the operation of the invention of claim 1, 2 or 3, water etc. flowing in from the water circulation path (51) swirls in the annular space around the small cylindrical member (92A). Due to the flow and centrifugal force, water with a large specific gravity is moved to the outside.
Ice pieces with lower specific gravity separate on the inside. And the container (9
Below the small cylindrical member (92A) in 1), the ice pieces collected inside the annular space due to the rapid expansion of the flow path area are collected in the center of the container (91), and due to the density difference, the ice pieces are 91), that is, the cylindrical space inside the small cylindrical member (92A). Therefore, the downstream heat exchanger (
22) Water, etc. from which ice chips etc. have been removed is supplied, and
Water containing a lot of ice chips from the cylindrical space flows into the bypass path (5
4), the container (91
) A smooth ice-making action can be obtained without the ice kernels overflowing below the ice.

In the invention of claim 5, in the operation of the invention of claim 1, 2 or 3, the ice pieces in the water etc. are moved to the upper center by the centrifugal force of the water etc. swirling in the container (91). Since water, etc. containing a large amount of ice chips is collected in the storage section (93) and is bypassed from the storage section (93) to the bypass path (54), the same effect as the invention of claim 4 can be obtained. become.

[0020] In the invention of claim 6, the above-mentioned claims 1, 2,
In addition to the effects of the inventions 3, 4 or 5, a filtering member (94)
As a result, ice particles such as ice chips and dust inside the water can be removed more reliably.

[0021] In the invention of claim 7, the above-mentioned claims 1, 2,
In the operation of the invention of 3, 4, 5 or 6, the heating member (9
6), the ice pieces collected in the center of the container (91) are melted, so even minute ice pieces are removed and the water circulation path (51
) will be more reliably prevented from freezing.

[0022]

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a refrigerant circuit (1) of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the invention according to claims 1 and 2.
11) is the first compressor, (12) is the first compressor (11)
(13) is an outdoor electric expansion valve that adjusts the refrigerant flow rate of the outdoor heat exchanger (12) or reduces the pressure; Therefore, each of the above devices (11) to (13) is the first conduit (14).
are connected in series inside.

Further, (21) is a second compressor, and (22) is arranged on the discharge side of the second compressor (21), for supercooling the water or aqueous solution in the ice storage tank (5), which will be described later. The water heat exchanger (23) is the main heat exchanger of the water heat exchanger (23), which adjusts the refrigerant flow rate when the water heat exchanger (22) functions as a condenser, and reduces the pressure of the refrigerant when it functions as an evaporator. In the electric expansion valve, the above-mentioned devices (21) to (23) are connected in series in a second conduit (24).

Note that (SD1) and (SD2) are oil separators installed in the discharge pipes of the compressors (11) and (21), respectively, and (C1) and (C2) are the oil separators (S
D1 ), (SD2 ) to each compressor (11), (21
) Oil return pipes (RT1) installed on the suction side of each
, (RT2), respectively, are decompression capillary tubes.

Further, (32) and (32) are indoor heat exchangers disposed in each room, and (33) and (33) are indoor electric expansion valves as pressure reducing valves for reducing the pressure of the refrigerant. The devices (32), (33) are each connected in series, and each set is connected in parallel in the third conduit (34).

[0027] The first pipe line (14) and the second pipe line (24) are connected in parallel to the third pipe line (34). In addition, (Ac) is each compressor (11), (21)
This is an accumulator provided in the third pipe line (34) on the suction side.

In addition, (2) connects the gas pipes of the outdoor heat exchanger (12) and the gas pipes of the indoor heat exchangers (32), (32) to the discharge side of each compressor (11), (21) or A four-way switching valve (2) that switches to alternately communicate with the suction side, and when the four-way switching valve (2) switches to the solid line side in the figure, the outdoor heat exchanger (12) connects the condenser and the indoor heat exchanger (32),
(32) functions as an evaporator and performs cooling operation indoors, while when the four-way selector valve (2) switches to the broken line side in the figure, the outdoor heat exchanger (12) functions as an evaporator and an indoor heat exchanger. (3
2) and (32) function as condensers to perform indoor heating operation.

Furthermore, a branch line (25) bypass-connecting the gas pipe of the water heat exchanger (22) and the suction pipe of each compressor (11), (21), and A water side switching valve (26) is provided that alternately connects the gas pipe to the discharge pipe of the second compressor (21) and the branch passage (25). The water side switching valve (26) uses three ports of the four-way switching valve, and when the water side switching valve (26) switches to the solid line side in the figure, the water heat exchanger (22) ) is connected to the branch path (25) side, that is, the suction side of each compressor (11), (21), and the water heat exchanger (22) functions as an evaporator, while the water side switching valve (26 ) switches to the dashed line side in the figure, the gas pipe of the water heat exchanger (22) communicates with the discharge pipe of the second compressor (21), so that the water heat exchanger (22) functions as a condenser. is being done. In addition, (C3
) is a capillary tube installed in the pipe on the dead port side of the water side switching valve (26).

[0030] Furthermore, a bypass passage (3) is provided that connects the discharge pipes of the first compressor (11) and the second compressor (21), and the bypass passage (3) connects the discharge pipes of the first compressor (11) and the second compressor (21). (2
A check valve (4) is provided that allows refrigerant to flow only from the discharge pipe side of the first compressor (1) to the discharge pipe side of the first compressor (11).

That is, when the outdoor heat exchanger (12) and the water heat exchanger (22) function as condensers, if the condensation temperature in the water heat exchanger (22) becomes high and the pressure becomes high, the second compression The discharge gas from the machine (21) is transferred to the outdoor heat exchanger (12).
) side, the amount of heat dissipated can be distributed.

[0032] Here, an ice storage tank (5) for storing a slurry-like frozen product of water or an aqueous solution as a heat storage medium is disposed in the air conditioner. and the water heat exchanger (22) are connected by a water circulation path (51) so that water or an aqueous solution can be circulated therebetween. The water circulation path (
51) is a water heat exchanger (22) from the bottom of the ice storage tank (5).
an outgoing pipe (51A) that supplies water, etc. to the water heat exchanger (2
It consists of a return pipe (51B) that returns frozen material in the form of slurry such as water from 2) to the top of the ice storage tank (5), and an outbound pipe (51B)
The water or aqueous solution in the ice storage tank (5) is forced to circulate within the water circulation path (51) by a pump (52) installed in the ice storage tank (51A).

[0033] Also, in the return pipe (51B) on the downstream side of the water heat exchanger (22), a thermal insulation heat exchanger is installed to heat the return pipe (51B) so as to dissociate the adhesion of frozen substances from the pipe wall. (7)
is interposed, and the liquid line of the refrigerant circuit (1) is provided with a heat retention bypass path (71) that bypasses the liquid refrigerant once to the heat retention heat exchanger (7) side. 71) uses a relatively high temperature refrigerant in a heat retention heat exchanger (
7), it is connected to be returned to the liquid line again. That is, the pipe line is heated by heat exchange with the liquid refrigerant in the heat retention heat exchanger (7) to dissociate frozen substances from the pipe wall and prevent the progress of freezing to the water heat exchanger (22). It is done like this.

Here, as a feature of the present invention, the water circulation path (
On the downstream side of the pump (52) of the outgoing pipe line (51A) of 51), there is an ice separation unit that separates and removes solid substances such as frozen matter and dirt in the water or aqueous solution in the water circulation line (51) by centrifugal force. vessel(
9) is provided. Figures 2 and 3 show the ice separator (9
), (91) is a cylindrical container provided vertically, and the upper part of the container (91) has a container (
91) A small cylindrical member (92A) is provided that partitions the upper part of the inside into an inner small cylindrical space and an outer annular space. The inlet piping of the water circulation path (51) is connected to the container (91).
They are connected along the circumferential direction of the upper annular space, so that water and the like can swirl and flow along the annular space within the container (91). In addition, the outlet pipe of the water circulation path (51) is connected to the outer periphery of the lower part of the container (91) and along the swirling direction of the water, etc., and the water, etc. swirling in the container (91) is separated by centrifugal force. After removing ice chips with low specific gravity, the ice is supplied downstream. Further, the center of the ceiling surface of the container (91), that is, the small cylindrical member (92A)
) and a water heat exchanger (2
2) The downstream return pipeline (51B) is the ice core bypass route (54
), and the water containing frozen products separated in the container (91) is transferred to the return pipe (22) downstream of the water heat exchanger (22).
51B).

Furthermore, (55) is the ice core bypass path (54)
The on-off valve (55) is interposed in the on-off valve and opens and closes the passage, and the on-off valve (55) is controlled to open and close intermittently by a controller (100). With this function, the opening/closing control means (100A) according to the invention of claim 2
is configured. Further, the controller (100) may control the opening/closing valve (55) to open only during ice making operation, and this function constitutes the opening/closing control means (100B) according to the invention of claim 3. .

That is, when a large amount of centrifuged frozen matter accumulates in the cylindrical small space of the ice separator (9), the on-off valve (55) is opened to drain water containing frozen matter to the ice core bypass path. (54) to the return pipe (51B),
The water heat exchanger (22) removes the supercooled state of the supercooled water and generates a slurry-like frozen product.

[0037] When the air conditioner is operated to carry out cooling operation indoors, the four-way selector valve (2) is switched to the solid line side in the figure. When the water side switching valve (26) is switched to the solid line side in the figure, each compressor (11), (21)
After the refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger (12), it is evaporated in each of the indoor heat exchangers (32) and (32), thereby cooling the room. In addition, the water side switching valve (
26) is switched to the broken line side in the figure, the first
The refrigerant discharged from the compressor (11) flows to the outdoor heat exchanger (12), while the refrigerant discharged from the second compressor (21) flows to the water heat exchanger (22), and after being condensed, the refrigerant is transferred to each indoor heat exchanger. The liquid is circulated through the vessels (32) and (32) to evaporate it.

Furthermore, when electricity is cheap, such as at night, a cold storage heat operation is performed in which cold heat is stored in the ice storage tank (5). That is, the four-way switching valve (2) and the water side switching valve (26) are switched to the solid line side in the figure, and each indoor electric expansion valve (33), (33)
is closed and the refrigerant discharged from each compressor (11), (21) is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger (12), and then the water side electric expansion valve (2) is closed.
3) (or the preheating electric expansion valve (62)) and evaporates it in the water heat exchanger (22), thereby supercooling the water or aqueous solution in the ice storage tank (5) and turning it into an ice storage tank (5). It is designed to freeze water, etc., and store cold energy.

Therefore, in the above embodiment, the water circulation path (
51) upstream of the water heat exchanger (22), the ice separator (9)
Ice chips with light specific gravity are separated from the water flowing through the water circulation path (51) by centrifugal force, and the water from which the ice chips have been removed is supplied to the water heat exchanger (22), and the water flowing through the water circulation path (51) is Freezing is prevented. Then, water or aqueous solution containing ice pieces separated by centrifugal force in the ice separator (9) is bypassed to the downstream side of the water heat exchanger (22) via the ice kernel bypass path (54). Ice pieces in the ice separator (9) are removed to the outside without overflowing inside, allowing continuous operation.

In particular, by using the ice pieces bypassed through the ice core bypass path (54) as ice cores to eliminate supercooling as in the above embodiment, it is possible to eliminate supercooling without taking any additional measures. , which has the advantage of being able to make continuous ice.

[0041] In addition, an on-off valve (
55) and by the opening/closing control means (100A),
When the on-off valve (55) is opened and closed intermittently,
There is an advantage that excessive outflow of water, etc. to the ice core bypass path (54) side can be suppressed.

In particular, water containing a large amount of ice chips bypassed from the ice core bypass path (54) is used as ice cores to eliminate supercooling, and the opening/closing control means (100B) is configured to open only during ice making operation. When controlled, there is an advantage that the ice pieces can be effectively used only for making ice.

Here, the ice separator (9) is composed of a cylindrical container (91) and a small cylindrical member (92A) installed at the upper part of the container (91) as in the above embodiment, When the upstream end of the ice core bypass path (54) is connected to the upper end of the cylindrical space surrounded by the small cylindrical member (92A), water flowing in from the outbound pipe (51A) of the water circulation path (51) Since the water swirls and flows in the annular space around the small cylindrical member (92A), centrifugal force separates water and the like with high specific gravity to the outside, and ice pieces with low specific gravity to the inside. Since the flow path area suddenly expands below the small cylindrical member (92A) in the container (91), the ice pieces collected inside the annular space are collected in the center of the container (91). At the same time, due to the density difference, it is stored in the upper part of the container (91), that is, in the cylindrical space inside the small cylindrical member (92A). That is, water from which ice pieces have been removed is supplied to the downstream water heat exchanger (22), and water containing many ice pieces is bypassed from the cylindrical space to the ice core bypass passage (54). Therefore, smooth ice making is performed without ice kernels overflowing from the cylindrical space to the bottom of the container (91).

Next, a second embodiment according to the fifth aspect of the invention will be described. 4 and 5 show the configuration of an ice separator (9) in a second embodiment. In this embodiment, a small cylindrical member (92B) is installed at the bottom of a cylindrical container (91), and a water circulation path (51 )'s outgoing pipe line (51A) is connected to the container (91
), and the piping of the return pipe (51B) is connected to the upper part of the container (91), respectively, in a positional relationship opposite to that of the first embodiment. Furthermore, in the upper center of the container (91),
A storage section (93) consisting of a small cylindrical container is provided to store ice pieces, etc., which are collected in the center by the centrifugal force of swirling water, etc.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, the container (9
1) Due to the centrifugal force of the water, etc. swirling in the water, ice pieces in the water, etc. are collected in the upper center storage part (93), and the ice pieces are transferred from this storage part (93) to the ice core bypass path (54). Since water containing a large amount of water is bypassed, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.

Next, a third embodiment according to the sixth aspect of the invention will be described. Figure 6 shows the ice separator (
9), and in addition to the configuration shown in the first embodiment (FIG. 2), the container (91) is
A filter (94A) is provided as a filtering member that extends in a tapered shape to the bottom surface of the filter (91), and is designed to filter out ice chips and dirt in water and the like.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the third embodiment,
In addition to the configuration of the second embodiment (FIG. 4), the ice separator (9) includes a filter (94B) extending in a tapered shape from the lower end of the storage section (93) to the side tube of the container (91).
).

Therefore, in the third embodiment, in addition to the effects of the second embodiment, the filter (94A or 94B)
), ice chips such as ice chips and dust inside the water can be removed more reliably.

Next, a fourth embodiment according to the seventh aspect of the invention will be described. Figure 8 shows the ice separator (
9), and shows the configuration of the third embodiment (FIG. 6).
), a heat exchanger tube (96A) is provided as a heating member that passes vertically through the center of the container (91) to melt the ice pieces collected at the center. In addition, the heat exchanger tube (9
6A), the refrigerant bypassed from the refrigerant circuit (1) is configured to flow therein.

FIG. 9 shows a modification of the fourth embodiment,
In addition to the configuration of the modification of the third embodiment (FIG. 7), an electric heater (96B) as a heating member extending in the vertical direction is provided at the center of the container (91).

Therefore, in the fourth embodiment, the heat exchanger tube (96A) or the electric heater (96B) is used as the heating member.
), the ice pieces collected in the center of the container (91) are melted, so even the minute pieces of ice that do not get caught in the filter (94) are removed, thereby more reliably preventing freezing of the water circulation path (51). be able to.

[0052]

As explained above, according to the invention of claim 1, water or an aqueous solution stored in an ice storage tank is circulated through a water circulation path, and ice is made by supercooling it with a heat exchanger in the water circulation path. In the ice making apparatus, an ice separator that separates and removes ice pieces from water or an aqueous solution by centrifugal force is installed on the upstream side of the heat exchanger in the water circulation path. A bypass path is provided to bypass the water or aqueous solution containing ice chips to the downstream side of the heat exchanger, and an ice separator separates ice chips with light specific gravity using centrifugal force, and the water from which the ice chips have been removed is transferred to the heat exchanger. At the same time, the water or aqueous solution containing ice chips is bypassed to the downstream side of the heat exchanger via the bypass path, so that the ice chips in the ice separator are reliably removed to the outside while the water circulation path is In addition to being able to prevent ice from freezing, the ice pieces can be used as ice cores to eliminate supercooling, and smooth ice-making operation can be performed.

According to the invention of claim 2, in the invention of claim 1, an on-off valve is interposed in the bypass path and the on-off valve is opened and closed intermittently, thereby preventing water etc. from flowing into the bypass path side. Excessive outflow can be suppressed.

According to the invention of claim 3, in the invention of claim 1, an on-off valve is interposed in the bypass path, and the on-off valve is opened only during ice-making operation, so that the water bypassed from the bypass path is The ice chips contained in the ice can be effectively used only for ice making as ice cores to eliminate supercooling.

According to the invention of claim 4, the above-mentioned claim 1,
In the invention of 2 or 3, the ice separator is constituted by a cylindrical container provided vertically and a small cylindrical member provided at the upper part of the container, and an annular space is formed in the upper part of the container,
The inlet piping of the water circulation path is connected to the annular space, the outlet piping is connected to the bottom of the container, and the upstream end of the bypass path is connected to the upper end of the cylindrical space surrounded by a small cylindrical member. This generates a swirling flow and supplies water, etc. with a high specific gravity from the outside to the downstream heat exchanger via the outlet pipe, while separating ice pieces with a low specific gravity to the inside, and water, etc. containing a large amount of ice pieces. It is possible to bypass the columnar space surrounded by the small cylindrical member to the downstream side of the heat exchanger via the bypass path, and therefore, continuous ice making can be performed.

According to the invention of claim 5, the above-mentioned claim 1,
In the invention of 2 or 3, the ice separator is comprised of a cylindrical container provided vertically, a small cylindrical member provided at the lower part of the container, and a storage section for ice chips, etc. provided at the upper part of the center of the container. forming an annular space in the lower part of the container, connecting the inlet piping of the water circulation path to the annular space and the outlet piping to the upper part of the container, and connecting the upstream end of the bypass path to the upper end of the storage part,
A high-speed swirling flow is generated in the annular space inside the container, and water containing a large amount of ice chips is bypassed from the storage section to the downstream side of the heat exchanger via the bypass path. The same effect as the invention can be obtained.

According to the invention of claim 6, in addition to the invention of claim 4 or 5, a filtration member for removing ice chips and dirt in the water or aqueous solution is provided in the container. Ice nuclei such as dust can be removed more reliably.

According to the invention of claim 7, the above-mentioned claim 4,
In addition to inventions 5 and 6, a heating member is provided in the center of the container to heat and melt ice pieces contained in water, etc., so that even minute ice pieces collected in the center of the container can be removed. Therefore, the effects of each of the above inventions can be exhibited.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a piping system diagram of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the ice separator according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ice separator according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ice separator according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ice separator according to a modification of the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ice separator according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of an ice separator according to a modification of the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Refrigerant circuit 5 Ice storage tank 7 Pump 22 Water heat exchanger 51 Water circulation path 54 Ice kernel bypass path 55 Opening/closing valve 100 Controller (opening/closing control means) 9 Ice separator 91 Container 92 Small cylindrical member 93 Reservoir 94 Filter ( 95A Heat exchanger tube (heating means) 95B Electric heater (heating means)

Claims (7)

[Claims] Claim 1: An ice storage tank (5) for storing frozen water or an aqueous solution, a heat exchanger (22) connected to a cooling device and for supercooling the water or an aqueous solution, and a pump (52).
) A water circulation path (51) for forcedly circulating water or an aqueous solution between the heat exchanger (22) and the ice storage tank (5).
an ice separator (9) that is interposed on the upstream side of the heat exchanger (22) in the water circulation path (51) and separates and removes ice pieces in water or an aqueous solution by centrifugal force; and a bypass path (54) for separating the water or aqueous solution containing ice pieces separated by the ice separator (9) and then merging the water or aqueous solution on the downstream side of the heat exchanger (22). Featured ice making device. 2. The ice making apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an on-off valve (55) for opening and closing the passage of the bypass passage (54);
An ice-making apparatus comprising an opening/closing control means (100A) that controls the opening/closing valve (55) to open and close intermittently. 3. The ice making apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an on-off valve (55) for opening and closing the passage of the bypass passage (54);
An ice-making device comprising an opening/closing control means (100B) for controlling the opening/closing valve (55) to open only during ice making. 4. The ice making apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the ice separator (9) includes a cylindrical container (91) provided in a vertical direction, and an ice separator (9) comprising a cylindrical container (91) provided in a vertical direction and container(
91) and a small cylindrical member (92A) that partitions the upper space inside the container (91) into an inner small cylindrical space and an outer annular space. The inlet pipe is connected along the circumference of the annular space at the upper part of the container (91), and the outlet pipe to the water circulation path (51) is connected to the outer periphery of the lower part of the container (91) and inside the container (91). are connected along the swirling direction of the water or aqueous solution, and the upstream end of the bypass path (54) is connected to a small cylindrical space inside the small cylindrical member (92A). ice making equipment. 5. The ice making apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the ice separator (9) includes a cylindrical container (91) provided in a vertical direction, and a cylindrical container (91) provided in the lower part of the container (91). container(
a small cylindrical member (92B) that is provided concentrically with the container (91) and partitions the lower space inside the container (91) into an inner cylindrical small space and an outer annular space, and an upper part inside the container (91). It is provided with a storage part (93) provided in the center for storing solid substances such as ice chips and dust in water or an aqueous solution, and the inlet piping from the water circulation path (51) is connected to the container (91). The water circulation path (5
The outlet piping to 1) is connected to the outer periphery of the upper part of the container (91) and along the swirling direction of the water or aqueous solution in the container (91), and the upstream end of the bypass path (54) is An ice-making device characterized in that it is connected to the storage section (93). 6. The ice making apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, further comprising a filter member (94) inside the container (91) for removing solid substances such as ice chips and dust from the water or aqueous solution. ice making equipment. 7. The ice making apparatus according to claim 4, 5 or 6, further comprising a heating member (96) disposed in the center of the container (91) for heating and melting ice pieces in water or an aqueous solution. Featured ice making device.