Refrigeration – Reversible – i.e. – heat pump
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-23
2001-05-29
Doerrler, William (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Reversible, i.e., heat pump
C062S238400, C062S501000, C062S335000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237356
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a refrigerating apparatus wherein a heat-source-side refrigerant circuit and a use-side refrigerant circuit are connected to each other such that heat exchange is allowed therebetween and heat transfer is accomplished between the heat-source-side refrigerant circuit and the use-side refrigerant circuit through the heat exchange. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved refrigerating apparatus having a use-side refrigerant circuit including a plurality of heat exchangers such that some of the heat exchangers perform heat absorbing operation, while the others perform heat releasing operation.
BACKGROUND ART
There has conventionally been known a refrigerating system comprising a plurality of refrigerant circuits such as one disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. SHO 62-238951. The refrigerating system of this type comprises a primary refrigerant circuit composed of: a compressor; a heat-source-side heat exchanger; a pressure reducing mechanism;
and a heat-source-side heat exchanging part of a middle heat exchanger which are connected to each other by refrigerant piping and a secondary refrigerant circuit composed of a pump, a use-side heat exchanging part of the middle heat exchanger, and a use-side heat exchanger which are connected to each other by the refrigerant piping. In the middle heat exchanger, heat is exchangeable between the heat-source-side heat exchanging part and the use-side heat exchanging part. In the case of applying the system to an air conditioner, the use-side heat exchanger is disposed in a room.
In such a structure, indoor air conditioning is performed by causing a heat exchange between the primary refrigerant circuit and the secondary refrigerant circuit by means of the middle heat exchanger and transferring heat from the primary refrigerant circuit to the secondary refrigerant circuit.
As an example of a refrigerating system having a plurality of use-side heat exchangers each capable of selectively performing heat absorbing operation and heat releasing operation, there is an apparatus disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. HEI 6-82110. The primary refrigerant circuit of the apparatus has a primary heat exchanger for heating and a primary heat exchanger for cooling. On the other hand, the secondary refrigerant circuit thereof has a circuit for heating and a circuit for cooling. In the circuit for heating, a secondary heat exchanger for heating which exchanges heat with the primary heat exchanger for heating, an indoor heat exchanger for heating, and a pump are connected successively. In the circuit for cooling, a secondary heat exchanger for cooling which exchanges heat with the primary heat exchanger for cooling, an indoor heat exchanger for cooling, and a pump are connected successively.
In the structure, if a cooling load is larger than a heating load, the heat-source-side heat exchanger of the primary refrigerant circuit is used as a condenser. Conversely, if the heating load is larger than the cooling load, the heat-source-side heat exchanger of the primary refrigerant circuit is used as an evaporator. This enables some of the use-side heat exchangers and the others thereof to simultaneously and individually perform heat absorbing operation and heat releasing operation in accordance with an air conditioning load.
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
The primary refrigerant circuit, the secondary heat exchanger for heating, and the secondary heat exchanger for cooling are contained in an outdoor unit of the foregoing apparatus in which the plurality of use-side heat exchangers are capable of simultaneously and individually performing the heat absorbing operation and the heat releasing operation. On the other hand, the indoor heat exchanger for heating and the indoor heat exchanger for cooling are contained in each of indoor units. The outdoor unit and the indoor unit are connected to each other by four connecting pipes. Specifically, the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are connected to each other by outgoing and incoming pipes for the heating circuit and outgoing and incoming pipes for the cooling circuit.
In the apparatus of this type, there has been a request for a reduction in the number of connecting pipes in order to provide a simpler structure and a simpler installing operation. However, since each of the heating circuit and the cooling circuit requires the outgoing pipe and the incoming pipe in the foregoing structure, the requirement cannot be satisfied.
The present invention has been achieved in view of the foregoing and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a secondary refrigerant system comprising a plurality of use-side heat exchangers, which is a refrigerating apparatus wherein the heat exchangers are capable of simultaneously and individually performing heat absorbing operation and heat releasing operation and a reduced number of connecting pipes are provided.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Outline of the Invention
The present invention provides a plurality of heat exchangers in a use-side part and causes the heat exchangers to perform heat releasing operation and heat absorbing operation, while allowing the use-side part and a heat-source-side part to be connected to each other by two gas pipes.
Means for Solving the Problems
Specifically, first solving means as shown in
FIG. 1
is for a refrigerating apparatus comprising: a heat-source-side unit (A); use-side units (B, C); and at least one of heat exchangers (
12
,
14
) contained in each of the use-side units (B, C), heat generated in the heat-source-side unit (A) being supplied to the use-side units (B, C), at least one (
12
) of the heat exchangers forming a heat-release-side heat exchanger (
12
) for performing heat releasing operation, the other (
14
) of the heat exchangers forming a heat-absorption-side heat exchanger (
14
) for performing heat absorbing operation.
The heat-source-side unit (A) includes a heating element (
3
A), a cooling element (
5
A), a heat absorbing element (
3
B) for receiving warm heat from the heating element (
3
A), and a heat releasing element (
5
B) for receiving cold heat from the cooling element (
5
A).
Moreover, transfer means (
11
), the heat absorbing element (
3
B), the heat releasing element (
5
B), and the heat exchangers (
12
,
14
) are connected to each other by a liquid pipe (LL) and gas pipes (GH, GL) to constitute a use-side refrigerant circuit (
10
) through which a refrigerant circulates.
In addition, in the use-side refrigerant circuit (
10
), the liquid refrigerant is evaporated in the heat absorbing element (
3
B) with the warm heat from the heating element (
3
A), the gas refrigerant flows to the use-side units (B, C) via the gas pipe (GH) and releases heat in the heat-release-side heat exchanger (
12
) to be condensed, the liquid refrigerant absorbs heat in the heat-absorption-side heat exchanger (
14
) to be evaporated, the gas refrigerant flows to the heat-source-side unit (A) via the gas pipe (GL) to be condensed in the heat releasing element (
5
B) with the cold heat from the cooling element (
5
A), and then the liquid refrigerant flows into the heat absorbing element (
3
B).
In the first solving means, the heat-source-side unit (A) and the use-side units (B, C) are connected to each other by the two gas pipes (GH, GL). The gas pipes (GH, GL) enable the circulating operation of the refrigerant in the use-side refrigerant circuit (
10
), while enabling one heat exchanger (
12
) and the other heat exchanger (
14
) to simultaneously perform heat releasing operation and heat absorbing operation, respectively.
As shown in
FIG. 2
, second solving means is obtained by providing, in the first solving means, a bypass path (
20
) in the. use-side refrigerant circuit (
10
) such that the condensed refrigerant in the heat-release-side heat exchanger (
12
) bypasses the heat-absorption-side heat exchanger (
14
) to flow into the heat releasing element (
5
B).
As shown in
FIG. 3
, third solving means is obtain
Hori Yasushi
Sada Shinri
Daikin Industries Ltd.
Doerrler William
Nixon & Peabody LLP
Shulman Mark
Studebaker Donald R.
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