Refrigeration – Intermediate fluid container transferring heat to heat... – Flow line connected transfer fluid supply and heat exchanger
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-16
2001-07-03
Buiz, Michael (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Intermediate fluid container transferring heat to heat...
Flow line connected transfer fluid supply and heat exchanger
C062S430000, C165S150000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253567
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an ice thermal storage type air conditioner in which ice making or thawing is effected by causing a refrigerant to flow in a heat transfer tube provided in an ice thermal storage tank and, more particularly, to an ice thermal storage type air conditioner suitable to increase the productivity of the ice thermal storage tank.
Conventionally, a technology has been known in which fins are provided so as to fill a clearance between heat transfer tubes forming a heat exchanger in the ice thermal storage tank, and a space that has not been used effectively for ice making is used, by which the ice packing factor is increased. Such a technology has been disclosed in JP-A-7-332711, for example. Also, JP-A-64-10081 has disclosed a technology in which a panel type ice making coil is filled in an ice thermal storage tank so that ice is made into a panel shape, by which water is prevented from being confined in the process of ice making, and the breakage of a heat transfer tube is prevented.
In the aforementioned prior art described in JP-A-7-332711, because the fins are provided in the horizontal direction of the heat transfer tube, the convection of water is hindered in the ice thermal storage tank at the time of ice making. Therefore, the confinement of water occurs, so that there is the possibility that the confined ice freezes at the time of icing and expands, resulting in the breakage of the heat transfer tube.
Also, the aforementioned prior art described in JP-A-64-10081 proposes an ice thermal storage type air conditioner opposed to an external melt type in which air conditioning is performed by circulating water at the time of thawing. For the ice thermal storage type air conditioner of a complete internal melt type in which the ice thermal storage tank is handled as a part of condenser at the time of thawing, the heat transfer tube of an ice making heat exchanger also has a high pressure. For the ice thermal storage type air conditioner using a non-azeotropic mixture refrigerant, a stronger pressure-resisting heat transfer tube is needed. For the panel type ice making coil, improper joining and corrosion of the joint portion, leakage of refrigerant, or entrance of water into a refrigerating cycle must be considered.
Further, the panel type ice making coil must be formed specially, so that the coil of this type cannot be said to be suitable for the decrease in cost. Further, it must be manufactured from the beginning so as to match the size of the ice thermal storage tank, so that there is a problem in terms of common use and flexibility, etc.
The present invention has been made to solve the problems with the aforementioned prior arts, and an object thereof is to provide an ice thermal storage tank and an ice thermal storage type air conditioner, in which the ice packing factor is increased, the leakage of refrigerant or the entrance of water into the refrigerating cycle is prevented, the reliability is enhanced even when a non-azeotropic mixture refrigerant, a natural refrigerant, or the like is used, and a low cost is achieved.
The present invention solves at least one of the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problems, the present invention provides an ice thermal storage type air conditioner having an outdoor unit equipped with a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor unit equipped with an indoor heat exchanger and an expansion valve, and an ice thermal storage tank equipped with a heat exchanger therein, comprising: the heat exchanger which is used as a condenser when switching is performed to a refrigerating cycle using accumulated heat; a pipe-shaped heat transfer tube and a plate-shaped fin installed to the heat transfer tube, which form the heat exchanger; and the ice thermal storage tank in which the fin is installed vertically, and a plurality of rows of the heat transfer tubes and the fins are arranged.
Thus, since the heat transfer tube is in a pipe shape, it is highly pressure-resisting, and there is no fear of leakage of refrigerant. Also, since the plate-shaped fin is provided, a clearance between the heat transfer tubes is filled, and a space that has not been used for ice making can be used effectively. Further, since the plurality of rows of the heat transfer tubes and the fins are arranged, the ice packing factor can be increased. Also, since the fin is installed vertically, the convection of water in the ice thermal storage tank is accelerated at the time of ice making, so that the breakage of the heat transfer tube can be prevented. Further, since the heat transfer tube and the fin have only to be assembled so as to match the size of the ice thermal storage tank, this ice thermal storage type air conditioner is advantageous in common use and flexibility.
Therefore, the leakage of a refrigerant or the entrance of water into the refrigerating cycle is prevented, and the reliability can be increased even when a non-azeotropic mixture refrigerant, a natural refrigerant, or the like are used.
Also, in the above mode of the present invention, the heat transfer tube and the fin are arranged from the bottom of the ice thermal storage tank to the vicinity of the top end of the vessel.
Therefore, the size of the ice thermal storage tank can be used effectively, so that the ice packing factor can further be increased.
Further, in the above mode of the present invention, the fin has a concave portion which is a semicircular groove, and the heat transfer tube is fixed by the concave portion.
Therefore, since the fin can be manufactured easily by pressing or other methods, the cost can be kept low.
Further, in the above mode of the present invention, the heat transfer tube is bent into a bellows shape so that each row of the plurality of rows forms a series, and the fin is provided at a straight pipe portion thereof.
Further, the present invention provides an ice thermal storage type air conditioner having an outdoor unit equipped with a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor unit equipped with an indoor heat exchanger and an expansion valve, and an ice thermal storage tank equipped with a heat exchanger therein, comprising: the heat exchanger which is used as a condenser when switching is performed to a refrigerating cycle using accumulated heat; a flat-shaped fin which forms the heat exchanger and has a dimension in the height direction ranging from the bottom of the ice thermal storage tank to the vicinity of the top end of the vessel; a pipe-shaped heat transfer tube fixed to the fin; and the ice thermal storage tank in which the fin is installed vertically, and a plurality of fins are laminated in the thickness direction.
Thus, since the heat transfer tube is in a pipe shape, it is highly pressure-resisting, and there is no fear of leakage of refrigerant. Since the flat-shaped fin has a dimension in the height direction ranging from the bottom of the ice thermal storage tank to the vicinity of the top end of the vessel, fixes the pipe-shaped heat transfer tube, and is installed vertically, a space that has not been used for ice making can be used effectively, and the ice packing factor can be increased. Also, the convection of water in the ice thermal storage tank is accelerated at the time of ice making, so that water is not confined at the time of ice making.
Further, the present invention provides an ice thermal storage type air conditioner having an outdoor unit equipped with a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor unit equipped with an indoor heat exchanger and an expansion valve, and an ice thermal storage tank equipped with a heat exchanger therein, comprising: a heat transfer tube in a pipe shape of a circular cross section having an outside diameter of 7 to 9 mm; a plate-shaped fin with a thickness of 0.3 to 1.0 mm for fixing the heat transfer tube; and the ice thermal storage tank in which the fin is installed vertically, and the heat transfer tube and the fin are laminated at an interval of 10 to 50 mm, characterized in that
Fukushima Toshihiko
Imanari Masao
Matsubara Katsumi
Mochizuki Yoshihiko
Sekiya Sachio
Antonelli Terry Stout & Kraus LLP
Buiz Michael
Hitachi , Ltd.
Jiang Chen-Wen
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