U.S. patent application number 15/827103 was filed with the patent office on 2018-03-29 for cooling equipment, temperature control system, air conditioning system, and hot water supply system for the same.
The applicant listed for this patent is Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Kazuhiro DEGUCHI, Tetsuya IDE, Yasuyuki UMENAKA, Yuka UTSUMI, Takashi YAMASHITA.
Application Number | 20180087830 15/827103 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47506045 |
Filed Date | 2018-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180087830 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YAMASHITA; Takashi ; et
al. |
March 29, 2018 |
COOLING EQUIPMENT, TEMPERATURE CONTROL SYSTEM, AIR CONDITIONING
SYSTEM, AND HOT WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM FOR THE SAME
Abstract
The present invention aims to provide cooling equipment which
can reduce power consumption. Cooling equipment 1 includes a
storage chamber 30 that stores storage goods; latent heat storage
materials 101 to 106 disposed inside the storage chamber 30; a
compressor 40 that configures a refrigerating cycle for cooling the
inside of the storage chamber 30; a temperature sensor 60 that
detects a temperature of the latent heat storage materials 101 to
106; and a control unit 100 that controls the compressor 40, based
on a state of the latent heat storage materials 101 to 106.
Inventors: |
YAMASHITA; Takashi; (Sakai
City, JP) ; IDE; Tetsuya; (Sakai City, JP) ;
UMENAKA; Yasuyuki; (Sakai City, JP) ; UTSUMI;
Yuka; (Sakai City, JP) ; DEGUCHI; Kazuhiro;
(Sakai City, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha |
Sakai City |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
47506045 |
Appl. No.: |
15/827103 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14131074 |
Jan 6, 2014 |
|
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PCT/JP2012/067363 |
Jul 6, 2012 |
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15827103 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 60/145 20130101;
F25B 2700/2111 20130101; Y02E 60/14 20130101; F25D 11/006 20130101;
Y02B 40/32 20130101; Y02B 40/00 20130101; F25B 2600/0251 20130101;
F25D 2700/12 20130101; F25D 31/00 20130101; F28D 20/02
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 31/00 20060101
F25D031/00; F28D 20/02 20060101 F28D020/02; F25D 11/00 20060101
F25D011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 12, 2011 |
JP |
2011-153820 |
Nov 22, 2011 |
JP |
2011-255205 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. Cooling equipment comprising: a storage chamber that stores
storage goods; a first latent heat storage member that is disposed
inside the storage chamber and includes at least a first latent
heat storage material which is reversibly phase-transited between a
solid phase and a liquid phase; a second latent heat storage member
that is disposed inside the storage chamber and includes at least a
second latent heat storage material which is reversibly
phase-transited between the solid phase and the liquid phase; a
sensor that detects a state of the second latent heat storage
member; a cooling mechanism that cools the inside of the storage
chamber; and control circuitry that controls the cooling mechanism,
based on the state of the second latent heat storage member;
wherein the second latent heat storage member is phase-transited
earlier than the first latent heat storage member; a thickness of
the second latent heat storage member is thinner than a thickness
of the first latent heat storage member; the first latent heat
storage member has a substantially constant uniform thickness and
the second latent heat storage member has a substantially constant
uniform thickness; and the second latent heat storage material is
at a position where cold air blowing into the storage chamber hits
positions adjacent to and at a corner inside the storage
chamber.
3. The cooling equipment according to claim 2, wherein the first
latent heat storage member functions as a temperature-maintaining
heat storage member in order to maintain a temperature inside the
storage chamber to have a predetermined temperature for a
predetermined period of time; and the second latent heat storage
member functions as the temperature-maintaining heat storage member
in order to control the temperature inside the storage chamber.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to cooling equipment that
cools storage goods.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In the related art, cooling equipment has been known which
includes a refrigeration cycle for cooling storage goods. The
refrigeration cycle is configured to have a compressor which
compresses refrigerant, a condenser which condenses the compressed
refrigerant and radiates condensed heat outward, an expansion unit
which expands the condensed refrigerant, and an evaporator which
vaporizes the expanded refrigerant and cools the inside of the
cooling equipment using heat of vaporization. The cooling equipment
has a control unit which controls the compressor. For example, the
control unit starts the compressor to operate the refrigerating
cycle when a temperature inside the cooling equipment is equal to
or higher than a predetermined on-temperature, and stops the
compressor when the temperature inside the cooling equipment is
equal to or lower than a predetermined off-temperature which is
lower than the on-temperature. Since the compressor is periodically
operated in this way, the temperature inside the cooling equipment
is maintained to have a predetermined temperature range.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
[0003] PTL 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication
No. 58-219379
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0004] A compressor consumes a lot of power particularly in
starting. In addition, the power is wastefully consumed since
compressed refrigerant is diffused to cause a cooling loss when the
compressor is stopped. Therefore, there has been a problem in that
if the number of starts per unit time is increased in the
compressor, power consumption of cooling equipment is
increased.
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide cooling
equipment which can reduce power consumption.
Solution to Problem
[0006] The above-described object is achieved by providing cooling
equipment including a storage chamber that stores storage goods; a
latent heat storage material that is disposed inside the storage
chamber; a compressor that configures a refrigerating cycle for
cooling the inside of the storage chamber; a sensor that detects a
state of the latent heat storage material; and a control unit that
controls the compressor based on the state of the latent heat
storage material.
[0007] In the cooling equipment of the present invention, the state
includes any one of a temperature, a volumetric change, a
mechanical strength, and optical characteristics.
[0008] In the cooling equipment of the present invention, the
latent heat storage material is formed to have a different
thickness depending on regions, and the sensor detects a state of a
thin portion in the latent heat storage material.
[0009] In the cooling equipment of the present invention, the
sensor is arranged in contact with the latent heat storage
material.
[0010] In the cooling equipment of the present invention, the
sensor detects a state of the latent heat storage material arranged
in an upper portion inside the storage chamber.
[0011] In the cooling equipment of the present invention, the
latent heat storage material is hermetically sealed inside a
predetermined container.
[0012] The cooling equipment of the present invention further
includes a hollow plate-shaped shelf that is disposed inside the
storage chamber. The latent heat storage material is hermetically
sealed inside the shelf.
[0013] The cooling equipment of the present invention further
includes a cold air passage that circulates a cold air introduced
to the storage chamber; and a hollow plate-shaped separator that
separates the storage chamber and the cold air passage from each
other. The latent heat storage material is hermetically sealed
inside the separator.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0014] According to the present invention, it is possible to
realize cooling equipment which can reduce power consumption.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 1 according to a first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the schematic
configuration of the cooling equipment 1 according to the first
embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating a time variation in a
temperature inside equipment and power consumption in the cooling
equipment 1 according to the first embodiment of the present
invention and cooling equipment in a comparative example.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating a time variation in power
consumption and the maximum power in the cooling equipment 1
according to the first embodiment of the present invention and
cooling equipment in a comparative example.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating on-time and off-time of a
compressor in the cooling equipment 1 according to the first
embodiment of the present invention and cooling equipment in a
comparative example.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating on-time and off-time of the
compressor in the cooling equipment 1 according to the first
embodiment of the present invention and cooling equipment in a
comparative example.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 2 according to a second
embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the schematic
configuration of the cooling equipment 2 according to the second
embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating a time variation in a
temperature inside equipment and power consumption in the cooling
equipment 2 according to the second embodiment of the present
invention and cooling equipment in a comparative example.
[0024] FIG. 10(a) and FIG. 10(b) are front views illustrating a
schematic configuration of cooling equipment 3 according to a third
embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the schematic
configuration of the cooling equipment 3 according to the third
embodiment.
[0026] FIG. 12 illustrates a modification example of an
installation position of a temperature sensor 60 in the cooling
equipment 3 according to the third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0027] FIG. 13 illustrates a modification example of the
installation position of the temperature sensor 60 in the cooling
equipment 3 according to the third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0028] FIG. 14 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 4 according to a fourth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the schematic
configuration of the cooling equipment 4 according to the fourth
embodiment.
[0030] FIG. 16 illustrates a modification example of an
installation position of a temperature sensor 60 in the cooling
equipment 4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0031] FIG. 17 illustrates a modification example of the
installation position of the temperature sensor 60 in the cooling
equipment 4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0032] FIG. 18 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 5 according to a fifth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the schematic
configuration of the cooling equipment 5 according to the fifth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 20 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 6 according to a sixth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the schematic
configuration of the cooling equipment 6 according to the sixth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 22 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 7 according to a seventh
embodiment of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the schematic
configuration of the cooling equipment 7 according to the seventh
embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 24 illustrates a modification example of the cooling
equipment 7 according to the seventh embodiment of the present
invention.
[0039] FIG. 25 illustrates a modification example of the cooling
equipment 7 according to the seventh embodiment of the present
invention.
[0040] FIG. 26 illustrates a configuration of a heat storage member
120 according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.
[0041] FIG. 27 illustrates a configuration of a heat storage member
140 according to the eighth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0042] FIG. 28 illustrates a configuration of a heat storage member
130 according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.
[0043] FIG. 29 illustrates a principle of temperature control used
in cooling equipment, an air conditioner, and a hot water supply
system according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention,
and is a graph illustrating an example of a time variation in a
temperature inside the cooling equipment and thickness dependence
of time variation in a temperature of a latent heat storage
material provided inside the equipment.
[0044] FIG. 30 illustrates the principle of the temperature control
used in the cooling equipment, the air conditioner, and the hot
water supply system according to the tenth embodiment of the
present invention, and illustrates an example of a time variation
or the like in a temperature inside the cooling equipment when
controlling start and stop of cooling inside the equipment based on
a temperature of the latent heat storage material provided inside
the equipment.
[0045] FIG. 31 illustrates the principle of the temperature control
used in the cooling equipment, the air conditioner, and the hot
water supply system according to the tenth embodiment of the
present invention, and illustrates an example of a time variation
or the like in a temperature of latent heat storage materials
having a thickness different from each other.
[0046] FIG. 32 illustrates the principle of the temperature control
used in the cooling equipment, the air conditioner, and the hot
water supply system according to the tenth embodiment of the
present invention, and illustrates a time variation or the like
inside the cooling equipment according to the present
embodiment.
[0047] FIG. 33 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 201 according to Example 1 of
the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0048] FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the schematic
configuration of the cooling equipment 201 according to Example 1
of the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0049] FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a control
process flow in a temperature inside the cooling equipment 201
according to Example 1 of the tenth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0050] FIG. 36 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 210 according to Example 2 of
the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0051] FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the schematic
configuration of the cooling equipment 210 according to Example 2
of the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0052] FIG. 38 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 220 according to Example 3 of
the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0053] FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the schematic
configuration of the cooling equipment 220 according to Example 3
of the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0054] FIG. 40 illustrates various shapes of a plate-shaped member
47 used in the cooling equipment 220 according to Example 3 of the
tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0055] FIG. 41 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 230 according to Example 4 of
the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0056] FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the schematic
configuration of the cooling equipment 230 according to Example 4
of the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0057] FIG. 43 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 240 according to Example 5 of
the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0058] FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the schematic
configuration of the cooling equipment 240 according to Example 5
of the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0059] FIG. 45 schematically illustrates a schematic configuration
of cooling equipment 250 according to Example 6 of the tenth
embodiment of the present invention, the cooling equipment 250
being used in a simulation of a cooling state inside a storage
chamber 205.
[0060] FIG. 46 is a graph illustrating a simulation result of a
time variation in a temperature at measuring points P1 to P5 in the
cooling equipment 250 according to Example 6 of the tenth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0061] FIG. 47 is a graph illustrating a simulation result of a
time variation in a temperature at measuring points P1 to P5 in the
cooling equipment 250 according to Example 6 of the tenth
embodiment of the present invention.
[0062] FIG. 48 illustrates a schematic configuration of a
temperature-control heat storage member 259 which is used in
cooling equipment according to Example 7 of the tenth embodiment of
the present invention.
[0063] FIG. 49 illustrates a schematic configuration of a
temperature-control heat storage member 269 which is used in
cooling equipment according to a modification example of Example 7
of the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0064] FIG. 50 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 260 according to Example 7 of
the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0065] FIG. 51 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 300 according to Example 8 of
the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0066] FIG. 52 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 300 according to Example 9 of
the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0067] FIG. 53 illustrates a schematic configuration of a
temperature-control heat storage member 273 which is used in
cooling equipment according to Example 10 of the tenth embodiment
of the present invention.
[0068] FIG. 54 is an enlarged view illustrating a schematic
configuration of a portion of a temperature-control heat storage
member 283 which is used in cooling equipment according to Example
11 of the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0069] FIG. 55 is an enlarged view illustrating a schematic
configuration of a portion of a temperature-control heat storage
member 289 which is used in cooling equipment according to Example
12 of the tenth embodiment of the present invention.
[0070] FIG. 56 illustrates a schematic configuration of an air
conditioner according to the tenth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0071] FIG. 57 illustrates a schematic configuration of a hot water
supply system 280 according to the tenth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0072] FIG. 58 illustrates a schematic configuration of a
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331 and a
temperature-control heat storage member 333 which are used in
cooling equipment or the like according to the tenth embodiment of
the present invention.
[0073] FIG. 59 illustrates a schematic configuration of another
example of a heat storage member according to the tenth embodiment
of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
First Embodiment
[0074] Cooling equipment according to a first embodiment of the
present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.
The cooling equipment according to the present embodiment is used
as a household refrigerator. FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a
schematic configuration of cooling equipment 1 according to the
present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating
the schematic configuration of the cooling equipment 1 cut away
along line A-A. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cooling
equipment 1 according to the present embodiment has a cooling
equipment main body 10 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape in
which an opening is formed on one surface, and a door member 20
(not illustrated in FIG. 1) which is pivotally attached to the
cooling equipment main body 10 via a hinge portion (not
illustrated) and can open and close the opening of the cooling
equipment main body 10. A storage chamber 30 which stores storage
goods is formed inside the cooling equipment main body 10.
[0075] The cooling equipment main body 10 has an insulator 11 which
insulates the inside of the storage chamber 30 against heat
transmitted from outside. The insulator 11 fills a space between an
outer wall (not illustrated) formed of a thin metal plate for
example and an inner wall (not illustrated) formed of ABS resins
for example. That is, the cooling equipment main body 10 has a
layered structure formed from the outer wall, the insulator 11, and
the inner wall. The insulator 11 is formed of fibrous insulation
materials such as glass wool, foaming resin-based insulation
materials such as polyurethane foam, and natural fiber-based
insulation materials such as cellulose fiber.
[0076] The door member 20 has an insulator 21 which insulates the
storage chamber 30 against the heat from outside. The insulator 21
fills a space between an outer wall (not illustrated) formed of a
thin metal plate for example and an inner wall (not illustrated)
formed of ABS resins for example. Similarly to the cooling
equipment main body 10, the door member 20 has a layered structure
formed from the outer wall, the insulator 21, and the inner wall.
The insulator 21 is formed of the same materials as those of the
insulator 11. In a state where the door member 20 is closed, a
space surrounded with the insulator 11 of the cooling equipment
main body 10 and the insulator 21 of the door member 20 serves as
an insulation space insulated from outside.
[0077] In addition, the cooling equipment 1 has a compressor 40
which configures a part of a vapor compression type refrigerating
cycle for cooling the inside of the storage chamber 30 and
compresses refrigerant. Although not illustrated, in addition to
the compressor 40, the refrigerating cycle is configured to have at
least a condenser which condenses the refrigerant compressed in the
compressor 40 and radiates heat outward, an expansion unit which
expands the condensed refrigerant (for example, a capillary tube),
and an evaporator which vaporizes the expanded refrigerant and
cools the inside of the storage chamber 30 by using vaporization
heat. The compressor 40 and the condenser are disposed outside the
insulation space surrounded with the insulators 11 and 21. The
evaporator is disposed in a cold air passage 70 to be described
later within the insulation space. For example, the compressor 40
is disposed in a lower portion of the cooling equipment main body
10.
[0078] The storage chamber 30 has a flat plate-shaped shelf 50
which divides a space inside the storage chamber 30 into an upper
space and a lower space. The shelf 50 is horizontally supported by
a shelf support or the like disposed on left and right inner walls
inside the storage chamber 30 in a front view.
[0079] A temperature sensor 60 is disposed in an upper left portion
within a rear side inner wall (for example, a separator 80 to be
described later) of the storage chamber 30 in a front view. The
temperature sensor 60 detects a temperature around the temperature
sensor 60 inside the storage chamber 30 and outputs a temperature
signal.
[0080] In addition, the cooling equipment 1 has a control unit 100
which includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and input and output ports and
controls the entire cooling equipment 1. The temperature sensor 60
is connected to the input port of the control unit 100. The control
unit 100 controls the compressor 40 based on the temperature signal
input from the temperature sensor 60. For example, based on the
input temperature signal, the control unit 100 starts the
compressor 40 when determining that a temperature inside the
storage chamber 30 is equal to or higher than a first threshold
temperature. This operates the refrigerating cycle to lower the
temperature inside the storage chamber 30. In addition, based on
the input temperature signal, the control unit 100 stops the
compressor 40 when determining that a temperature inside the
storage chamber 30 is equal to or lower than a second threshold
temperature which is lower than the first threshold temperature.
This stops the refrigerating cycle to raise the temperature inside
the storage chamber 30. After the compressor 40 is stopped and when
determining that the temperature inside the storage chamber 30 is
raised to be equal to or higher than the first threshold
temperature, the control unit 100 restarts the compressor 40. The
temperature inside the storage chamber 30 is maintained to have a
predetermined temperature range since the control unit 100 controls
the compressor 40 to periodically repeat the start and the stop. In
the present embodiment, the temperature range between the first
threshold temperature and the second threshold temperature is
approximately 2.degree. C. to 5.degree. C.
[0081] The cold air passage 70 that is for example vertically
extending is disposed inside the insulator 11, which is a further
rear side from the storage chamber 30. The cold air passage 70
circulates cold air which is supplied by a blower (not illustrated)
and cooled by heat exchange with the evaporator. An arrow in FIG. 2
indicates a flowing direction of the cold air. The cold air
circulating in the cold air passage 70 is caused to blow out into
the storage chamber 30 from a plurality of cold air ports (only two
cold air ports 71 and 72 are illustrated in FIG. 1) disposed in an
upper portion for example within the rear side inner wall of the
storage chamber 30. In the cooling equipment 1 of the present
embodiment, the inside of the storage chamber 30 is cooled by the
cold air which circulates in the cold air passage 70 and blows out
from the cold air ports 71 and 72. The storage chamber 30 and the
cold air passage 70 are separated from each other by a plate-shaped
separator 80. The cold air blowing out into the storage chamber 30
returns to the cold air passage 70 via a suction port (not
illustrated) disposed in a lower portion inside the storage chamber
30 for example.
[0082] A heat storage member 95 is disposed on an upper surface of
the shelf 50. The heat storage member 95 has a rectangular flat
plate shape as a whole. The heat storage member 95 has a
configuration in which the inside of a hollow container body filled
with a latent heat storage material is hermetically sealed. The
latent heat storage material stores or radiates heat energy by
using a phase change between a solid phase and a liquid phase. In
the present embodiment, the container body is made of a resin and
has a predetermined rigidity. If the latent heat storage material
is flammable, it is desirable to form the container body by using a
flame retardant material. When using paraffin as the latent heat
storage material, it is desirable that the container body have a
gas barrier property since paraffin is a volatile organic compound
(VOC) depending on types. Alternatively, a sheet or a film which
adsorbs gas of paraffin may be used.
[0083] The heat storage member 95 is generally used in a
predetermined working temperature range and working pressure range.
The heat storage member 95 of the present embodiment is cooled
inside the storage chamber 30 so as to store coldness when the
compressor 40 of the cooling equipment 1 is operated, and radiates
the coldness so as to suppress the temperature rising inside the
storage chamber 30 when the compressor 40 is stopped. In this case,
the working temperature range of the heat storage member 95
includes a temperature inside the storage chamber 30 during a
normal operation. In addition, the working pressure of the heat
storage member 95 is an atmospheric pressure, for example.
[0084] The latent heat storage material inside the heat storage
member 95 has a phase change temperature (melting point) which
reversibly causes a phase change between the solid phase and the
liquid phase within the working temperature range of the heat
storage member 95. The latent heat storage material has the liquid
phase at a temperature higher than the phase change temperature and
the solid phase at a temperature lower than the phase change
temperature. The heat storage material in the phase change
temperature becomes a solid and liquid two-phase state. The latent
heat storage material at the phase change temperature is in a
two-phase, solid and liquid phases, state where the solid phase and
the liquid phase are mixed together. The phase change temperature
of the latent heat storage material used in the present embodiment
is equal to or higher than a temperature of the heat storage member
95 when the compressor 40 is stopped by the control of the control
unit 100 (that is, when the detected temperature of the temperature
sensor 60 is the second threshold temperature), and is equal to or
lower than a temperature of the heat storage member 95 when the
compressor 40 is started by the control of the control unit 100
(that is, when the detected temperature of the temperature sensor
60 is the first threshold temperature). As illustrated by a graph
in FIG. 3 to be described later, in the present embodiment, the
temperature of the heat storage material (temperature of the heat
storage material surface) is transited across the phase change
temperature, thereby achieving the above-described temperature
control.
[0085] Here, temperature distribution inside the storage chamber 30
is not uniform. In general, due to influence of the heat from the
outside, the temperature near the left and right inner walls of the
storage chamber 30 having the heat storage member 95 and the
temperature in the upper portion inside the equipment are higher
than a temperature in the lower portion inside the equipment. In
the present embodiment also, it can be understood that the
temperature of the upper portion inside the equipment is higher
than the temperature of the lower portion by comparing FIGS. 3 and
9 to be described later. Therefore, the temperature detected by the
temperature sensor 60 is not necessarily the same as the
temperature of the heat storage member.
[0086] The latent heat storage material of the present embodiment
contains paraffin. As the latent heat storage material, single
normal (a straight-chain type structure) paraffin (general formula
is C.sub.nH.sub.2n+2) or a mixture is used. In a case of using the
single paraffin, a melting point of the latent heat storage
material varies depending on the carbon number n of paraffin. In a
case of using the mixture of two types or more of paraffin, it is
possible to adjust the melting point of the latent heat storage
material by changing a mixing ratio. In the present embodiment, as
the latent heat storage material, for example, single n-tetradecane
(molecular formula: C.sub.14H.sub.30) is used. The melting point of
the n-tetradecane is approximately 4.degree. C. to 6.degree. C. A
boiling point of the n-tetradecane is approximately 250.degree. C.
As the latent heat storage material, it is possible to use various
materials such as ice (water) and inorganic salt without being
limited to paraffin.
[0087] For example, the latent heat storage material contains a
gelling agent for gelling (solidifying) paraffin. A gel (chemical
gel) means that molecules are cross-linked to form a
three-dimensional network structure and the inside thereof absorbs
solvent to swell. The gel is chemically stable without being
dissolved as long as a structure thereof is broken. The gelling
agent leads to a gelling effect only by allowing paraffin to
contain a few mass % of the gelling agent.
[0088] The gelling agent used in the present embodiment contains a
polymeric material. In addition, as the polymeric material,
polyethylene is used. That is, the latent heat storage material of
the present embodiment is polyethylene-containing paraffin gelled
with polyethylene. It is possible to change viscosity of the latent
heat storage material by adjusting the mixing ratio of
polyethylene. The melting point of polyethylene used in the present
embodiment is 130.degree. C. Polyethylene-containing paraffin is
not fluidized in a temperature up to 70.degree. C. to 80.degree. C.
by using a suitable amount of polyethylene, and has no liquidity
since the polyethylene-containing paraffin maintains the solid
state as a whole even if paraffin is phase-changed between the
solid phase and the liquid phase. In this manner, the latent heat
storage material in the gel state can maintain the solid state as a
whole before and after the phase change, thereby being handled with
ease. Therefore, when using the latent heat storage material in the
gel state, the latent heat storage material itself maintains a
stable shape. Accordingly, it is possible to use a film-shaped
container body as the container body containing the latent heat
storage material.
[0089] In general, as the heat energy, the latent heat storage
material stores latent heat which is exchanged with the outside
during the phase change of materials. For example, in the heat
storage using the phase change between the solid phase and the
liquid phase, the heat of fusion at the melting point of the latent
heat storage material is used. As long as two phases are mixed
together between the solid phase and the liquid phase during the
phase change, the latent heat storage material continues to take
the heat from the outside at a constant phase change temperature.
Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the temperature from rising
to the melting point or higher for a relatively long period of
time.
[0090] FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating a time variation in the
temperature inside the equipment (shelf temperature) and power
consumption (electric energy) in the cooling equipment 1 according
to the present embodiment and cooling equipment in a comparative
example, which has a configuration the same as that of the cooling
equipment 1 except that the heat storage member 95 is not provided,
respectively. A horizontal axis represents an elapsed time (h) from
a time when the temperature is stabilized after the lapse of three
hours from power supply. A vertical axis represents a temperature
inside the equipment (.degree. C.) or power consumption (kWh). A
curve C1 of a solid line represents the time variation in the
temperature inside the cooling equipment 1 in the present
embodiment, and a curve C2 of a dashed line represents the time
variation in the temperature inside the cooling equipment of the
comparative example. In addition, a curve C3 of the solid line
represents the time variation in the power consumption in the
cooling equipment 1 of the present embodiment, and a curve C4 of
the dashed line represents the time variation in the power
consumption in the cooling equipment of the comparative example. A
solid straight line C11 represents the phase change temperature
(approximately 4.5.degree. C.) of the latent heat storage material.
The temperature inside each cooling equipment was measured by using
a temperature measurement sensor 110 (refer to FIGS. 1 and 2)
arranged in substantially a center portion on an upper surface of
the shelf 50 which is provided in substantially a center portion of
the storage chamber 30. In the cooling equipment 1 of the present
embodiment, the temperature measurement sensor 110 is in contact
with a lower surface of the container body of the heat storage
member 95. The center portion of the storage chamber 30 is unlikely
to be affected by the heat from outside, and the temperature in the
center portion is relatively low in the storage chamber 30. A
volume of the storage chamber 30 of each cooling equipment is
approximately 170 liters, and total mass of the latent heat storage
material used in the cooling equipment 1 of the present embodiment
is approximately 2 kg. Although not illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,
the latent heat storage material is also arranged in a portion on
the rear side inner wall of the storage chamber 30 and inside a
door pocket inside the door member 20. A room temperature is
20.degree. C.
[0091] In a state where the compressor 40 is operated, the
temperature inside the equipment is lowered, and in a state where
the compressor 40 is stopped, the temperature inside the equipment
is raised. Therefore, in the curves C1 and C2 of FIG. 3, the time
when the temperature inside the equipment is the relative maximum
is generally the time when the compressor 40 is started, and the
time when the temperature inside the equipment is the relative
minimum is generally the time when the compressor 40 is stopped. As
illustrated by the curve C2, in the cooling equipment of the
comparative example, the compressor 40 is started approximately six
times during the elapsed time of seven hours. On the other hand, as
illustrated by the curve C1, in the cooling equipment 1 of the
present embodiment, the compressor 40 is started five times during
the same elapsed time of seven hours. Therefore, it is understood
that in the cooling equipment 1 of the present embodiment, the
number of starts of the compressor 40 per unit time is decreased.
This is because the heat storage member 95 disposed inside the
storage chamber 30 suppresses the temperature rising inside the
equipment when the compressor 40 is stopped and thus it is possible
to prolong the time from the stop of the compressor 40 to the next
start. In addition, as illustrated by the curves C3 and C4, it is
understood that the power consumption of the cooling equipment 1 of
the present embodiment is smaller than the power consumption of the
cooling equipment of the comparative example. The power is turned
on in a state where the temperature inside each cooling equipment
is equal to the room temperature and operation was performed for
ten hours. At this time, total power consumption is 0.71 kWh in the
cooling equipment of the comparative example and in contrast, total
power consumption was 0.61 kWh in the cooling equipment 1 of the
present embodiment.
[0092] FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating a time variation in the power
consumption (electric energy) and the maximum power in the cooling
equipment 1 according to the present embodiment and the cooling
equipment of the comparative example, respectively. The horizontal
axis represents the elapsed time (h) corresponding to the
horizontal axis in FIG. 3. The vertical axis represents the power
consumption (kWh) or the power (W). The curves C3 and C4 are the
same as the curves C3 and C4 in FIG. 3. A curve C5 of the solid
line represents the time variation in the maximum power of the
cooling equipment 1 of the present embodiment, and a curve C6 of
the dashed line represents the time variation in the maximum power
of the cooling equipment of the comparative example.
[0093] As illustrated by the curves C5 and C6, the power supplied
to the compressor 40 has a sharp peak when being started. This is
due to the fact that inrush current when the compressor 40 is
started (instantaneous current temporarily flowing when the
compressor 40 is started) is very high. Therefore, in order to
reduce the power consumption of the cooling equipment, it is
effective to reduce the number of starts of the compressor 40 per
unit time. In the cooling equipment 1 of the present embodiment, it
is possible to reduce the number of starts of the compressor 40 per
unit time as compared to the cooling equipment of the comparative
example. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the power
consumption.
[0094] FIG. 5(a) is a graph illustrating a concept of the time
variation in the temperature inside the cooling equipment, and FIG.
5(b) is a graph illustrating a length of time for which the
previous state is continued until the time (on-time or off-time)
when the compressor 40 is switched over between an on-state and an
off-state. FIG. 6 is a graph plotting the length of the on-time or
the off-time of the compressor 40 in the cooling equipment 1 of the
present embodiment and the cooling equipment of the comparative
example respectively by using the concept of the graph illustrated
in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b). A white circle in FIG. 6 represents the
on-time of the cooling equipment of the comparative example and a
white triangle represents the off-time of the cooling equipment of
the comparative example. A black circle represents the on-time of
the cooling equipment 1 of the present embodiment and a black
triangle represents the off-time of the cooling equipment 1 of the
present embodiment.
[0095] As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the cooling equipment 1 of the
present embodiment, as compared to the cooling equipment of the
comparative example, not only the off-time is prolonged but also
the on-time is prolonged since the heat storage member 95 is
disposed inside the equipment. Therefore, when comparing a period
of one cycle from the start to the next start of the compressor 40,
the power consumption of the cooling equipment 1 of the present
embodiment is not necessarily decreased compared to the cooling
equipment of the comparative example. However, in the cooling
equipment 1 of the present embodiment, the number of starts of the
compressor 40 per unit time is less than that of the cooling
equipment of the comparative example. Therefore, it is possible to
reduce the power consumption as a whole.
[0096] As described above, the cooling equipment 1 of the present
embodiment has the storage chamber 30 which stores storage goods;
the compressor 40 which configures the refrigerating cycle for
cooling the inside of the storage chamber 30; the temperature
sensor 60 which is arranged in a predetermined section in the
storage chamber 30 and detects the temperature inside the storage
chamber 30; the control unit 100 which starts the compressor 40
when the temperature inside the chamber is equal to or higher than
the first threshold temperature and stops the compressor 40 when
the temperature inside the chamber is equal to or lower than the
second threshold temperature which is lower than the first
threshold temperature; and the latent heat storage material (heat
storage member 95) which is disposed inside the storage chamber 30
in order to decrease the number of starts of the compressor 40 per
unit time.
[0097] According to this configuration, the heat storage member 95
suppresses the temperature rising inside the storage chamber 30
when the compressor 40 is stopped. Therefore, it is possible to
decrease the number of starts of the compressor 40 per unit time.
Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the power consumption of the
cooling equipment 1. In addition, it is possible to cool the inside
of the equipment during a power failure by using the latent heat
storage material.
[0098] In addition, in the cooling equipment 1 of the present
embodiment, when the temperature inside the chamber is the first
threshold temperature (when the compressor 40 is started), the
temperature of the latent heat storage material is equal to or
higher than the phase change temperature, and when the temperature
inside the chamber is the second threshold temperature (when the
compressor 40 is stopped), the temperature of the latent heat
storage material is equal to or lower than the phase change
temperature.
[0099] According to this configuration, by utilizing the latent
heat generated by the phase change in the latent heat storage
material, it is possible to suppress the temperature rising inside
the storage chamber 30 when the compressor 40 is stopped.
Therefore, it is possible to decrease the number of starts of the
compressor 40 per unit time.
[0100] In addition, in the cooling equipment 1 of the present
embodiment, the latent heat storage material is hermetically sealed
inside the predetermined container body. According to this
configuration, the latent heat storage material is handled with
ease and thus the latent heat storage material is easily arranged
inside the storage chamber 30.
[0101] In addition, according to the present embodiment, it is
possible to reduce the power consumption of cooling equipment
without using an inverter system. Therefore, it is not necessary to
design an inverter circuit or to use an inverter type compressor.
Accordingly, it is possible to realize the cooling equipment which
can reduce the power consumption with a simple mechanism and low
cost.
Second Embodiment
[0102] Next, cooling equipment according to a second embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7
to 9. FIG. 7 is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration
of cooling equipment 2 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8
is a cross-sectional view illustrating the schematic configuration
of the cooling equipment 2 so as to correspond to FIG. 2. The same
reference numerals are given to the same configuring elements
having functions and operations which are the same as those of the
cooling equipment 1 according to the first embodiment, and the
description thereof will be omitted.
[0103] As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cooling equipment 2 of
the present embodiment is different from the cooling equipment 1 of
the first embodiment in that heat storage members 91 to 94 disposed
on left and right inner walls (side walls) of the storage chamber
30 are provided instead of the heat storage member 95 disposed on
the upper surface of the shelf 50. Each of the heat storage members
91 to 94 has a rectangular flat plate shape as a whole. The heat
storage members 91 to 94 have a configuration where the inside of a
hollow container body which is hermetically sealed is filled with a
latent heat storage material. The heat storage member 91 is
attached to the left side inner wall of an upper space which is
above the shelf 50 within the storage chamber 30, and the heat
storage member 92 is attached to the right side inner wall of the
upper space. The heat storage member 93 is attached to the left
side inner wall of a lower space which is below the shelf 50 within
the storage chamber 30, and the heat storage member 94 is attached
to the right side inner wall of the lower space.
[0104] FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating a time variation in the
temperature inside the equipment and the power consumption
(electric energy) respectively in the cooling equipment 2 according
to the present embodiment and cooling equipment in a comparative
example which has a configuration the same as that of the cooling
equipment 2 except that the heat storage members 91 to 94 are not
disposed. A horizontal axis represents an elapsed time (h) from a
time when the temperature is stabilized after the lapse of three
hours from power supply. A vertical axis represents a temperature
inside the equipment (.degree. C.) or power consumption (kWh). A
curve C7 of a solid line represents the time variation in the
temperature inside the cooling equipment 2 in the present
embodiment, and a curve C8 of a dashed line represents the time
variation in the temperature inside the cooling equipment of the
comparative example. In addition, a curve C9 of the solid line
represents the time variation in the power consumption in the
cooling equipment 2 of the present embodiment, and a curve C10 of
the dashed line represents the time variation in the power
consumption in the cooling equipment of the comparative example.
The temperature inside each cooling equipment was measured by using
the temperature measurement sensor 110 (refer to FIGS. 7 and 8)
arranged in substantially a center portion on an upper surface of
the shelf 50 which is substantially a center portion of the storage
chamber 30.
[0105] In the curves C7 and C8 of FIG. 9, the time when the
temperature inside the equipment is the relative maximum is
generally the time when the compressor 40 is started, and the time
when the temperature inside the equipment is the relative minimum
is generally the time when the compressor 40 is stopped. As
illustrated by the curve C8, in the cooling equipment of the
comparative example, the compressor 40 is started approximately six
times during the elapsed time of seven hours. On the other hand, as
illustrated by the curve C7, in the cooling equipment 2 of the
present embodiment, the compressor 40 is started five times during
the same elapsed time of seven hours. Therefore, it is understood
that in the cooling equipment 2 of the present embodiment, the
number of starts of the compressor 40 per unit time is decreased.
This is because the heat storage members 91 to 94 disposed inside
the storage chamber 30 suppress the temperature rising inside the
equipment when the compressor 40 is stopped and thus it is possible
to prolong the time from the stop of the compressor 40 to the next
start. In addition, as illustrated by the curves C9 and C10, it is
understood that the power consumption of the cooling equipment 2 of
the present embodiment is smaller than the power consumption of the
cooling equipment of the comparative example.
Third Embodiment
[0106] Next, cooling equipment according to a third embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10
to 13. FIG. 10 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 3 according to the present
embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the
schematic configuration of the cooling equipment 3 so as to
correspond to FIG. 2. The same reference numerals are given to the
same configuring elements having functions and operations which are
the same as those of the cooling equipment 1 according to the first
embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0107] As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the storage chamber 30
has an upper shelf 51 which defines an upper space of the storage
chamber 30 and a lower shelf 52 which is arranged below the upper
shelf 51 and defines a middle space of the storage chamber 30
between the lower shelf 52 and the upper shelf 51. The upper shelf
51 and the lower shelf 52 are respectively and horizontally
supported by shelf supports or the like disposed on left and right
inner walls inside the storage chamber 30 in a front view. A lower
space of the storage chamber 30 is formed below the lower shelf
52.
[0108] Heat storage members 101 to 106 are disposed on the left and
right inner walls of the storage chamber 30. The heat storage
member 101 is attached to the left side inner wall of the upper
space which is above the upper shelf 51 within the storage chamber
30. The heat storage member 102 is attached to the right side inner
wall of the upper space. The heat storage member 103 is attached to
the left side inner wall of the middle space between the upper
shelf 51 and the lower shelf 52 within the storage chamber 30. The
heat storage member 104 is attached to the right side inner wall of
the middle space. The heat storage member 105 is attached to the
left side inner wall of the lower space which is below the lower
shelf 52 within the storage chamber 30. The heat storage member 106
is attached to the right side inner wall of the lower space.
[0109] The temperature sensor 60 used for controlling the
compressor 40 is disposed near the heat storage member 101 whose
thickness can be thinner than that of the heat storage members 102
to 106, as shown in (a) of FIG. 10, in the upper space of the
storage chamber 30 where the temperature is relatively high inside
the storage chamber 30. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 60
can be disposed in a recess 109 disposed to be partially thinner
than the average thickness of the storage member having the recess
109. As shown in (b) of FIG. 10 the recess 109 is thinner than the
thickness of the remaining portion of the storage member 101.
Specifically, the temperature sensor 60 is disposed on the left
side inner wall of the upper space of the storage chamber 30 so as
to be interposed between the inner wall and the heat storage member
101. Therefore, the temperature sensor 60 for control of the
present embodiment is in contact with a container body of the heat
storage member 101. The temperature sensor 60 may be disposed
inside the container body of the heat storage member 101 so as to
be in direct contact with the latent heat storage material.
[0110] FIGS. 12 and 13 respectively correspond to FIGS. 10 and 11
and illustrate a modification example of an installation position
of the temperature sensor 60. As illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13,
the temperature sensor 60 (60a) may be disposed inside the heat
storage member 103 (center portion of the latent heat storage
material inside the container body and the like). In addition, the
temperature sensor 60 (60b) may be disposed on a surface inside the
equipment, which is inside the heat storage member 105. In
addition, the temperature sensor 60 (60c) may be disposed on a
surface of the heat storage member 102 (surface of the container
body). In addition, the temperature sensor 60 (60d) may be disposed
near the heat storage member 106 without being in contact with the
heat storage member 106. The temperature sensor 60 is arranged in
view of temperature rising of the heat storage member and
temperature rising inside the equipment. That is, when controlling
the heat storage member and the inside of the equipment to have a
low temperature, the temperature sensor 60 may be arranged in the
upper space inside the equipment where the temperature rises early.
In addition, when controlling the heat storage member and the
inside of the equipment to have an average temperature, the
temperature sensor 60 may be arranged near the heat storage member
in a middle stage (middle space) inside the equipment.
[0111] As described above, the cooling equipment 3 of the present
embodiment has the storage chamber 30 which stores storage goods;
the latent heat storage material (heat storage member 101) disposed
inside the storage chamber 30; the compressor 40 which configures
the refrigerating cycle for cooling the inside of the storage
chamber 30; the temperature sensor 60 which detects the temperature
of the latent heat storage materials; and the control unit 100
which controls the compressor 40 based on the temperature of the
latent heat storage material.
[0112] According to this configuration, by allowing the temperature
sensor 60 to detect the temperature of the latent heat storage
material, it is possible to accurately detect a state of the phase
change of the latent heat storage material and to effectively
control the compressor 40. In addition, it is possible to cool the
inside of the equipment during the power failure by using the
latent heat storage material. For example, the compressor 40 is
started before the latent heat storage material is completely in
the liquid phase, and the compressor 40 is stopped after the latent
heat storage material is completely in the solid phase due to the
lowered temperature inside the equipment. This can prevent the
latent heat storage material from being in a completely melted
state due to the temperature rising inside the equipment.
Therefore, a load required for cooling the inside of the equipment
is decreased and thus it is possible to reduce the power
consumption of the cooling equipment. Furthermore, at least portion
of the latent heat storage material can always be maintained to
remain in the solid phase during a normal operation. Therefore, it
is possible to cool the inside of the equipment during the power
failure by using the latent heat of the latent heat storage
material. In addition, according to the present embodiment, it is
possible to effectively control the compressor 40 in response to
the state of the phase change of the latent heat storage material.
Therefore, it is possible to reduce excessive power consumption
caused by the following two reasons. (1) If the temperature inside
the equipment rises, a load during the cooling is increased in
response to the rising temperature. (2) When starting the cooling,
warm air remains inside the equipment, thereby causing a time lag
until the inside of the equipment is filled with cold air.
[0113] In addition, in the cooling equipment 3 of the present
embodiment, the temperature sensor 60 is arranged to be in contact
with the latent heat storage material (heat storage member 101).
According to this configuration, it is possible to detect the
temperature of the latent heat storage material itself by using the
temperature sensor 60. Therefore, it is possible to more
effectively control the compressor 40 in response to the state of
the phase change of the latent heat storage material.
[0114] In addition, in the cooling equipment 3 of the present
embodiment, the temperature sensor 60 detects the temperature of
the latent heat storage material arranged on the upper space inside
the storage chamber 30. The upper space of the storage chamber 30
is likely to have a relatively high temperature inside the storage
chamber 30. Therefore, according to this configuration, it is
possible to detect the temperature of a portion which is likely to
be melted within the latent heat storage material inside the
storage chamber 30. Consequently, it is possible to more
effectively control the compressor 40 in response to the state of
the phase change of the latent heat storage material.
Fourth Embodiment
[0115] Next, cooling equipment according to a fourth embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 14
to 17. FIG. 14 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 4 according to the present
embodiment. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the
schematic configuration of the cooling equipment 4 so as to
correspond to FIG. 2. The same reference numerals are given to the
same configuring elements having functions and operations which are
the same as those of the cooling equipment 1 according to the first
embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0116] As illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the storage chamber 30 of
the cooling equipment 4 has the upper shelf 51 which defines the
upper space of the storage chamber 30 and a lower shelf 53 which is
arranged below the upper shelf 51 and defines the middle space of
the storage chamber 30 between the lower shelf 53 and the upper
shelf 51. The upper shelf 51 and the lower shelf 53 are
respectively and horizontally supported by the shelf supports or
the like disposed on left and right inner walls inside the storage
chamber 30 in a front view. The lower space of the storage chamber
30 is formed below the lower shelf 53.
[0117] The heat storage member 107 is disposed on the upper surface
of the upper shelf 51. The heat storage member 107 has a
rectangular flat plate shape as a whole. The heat storage member
107 has a configuration where the inside of the hollow container
body which is hermetically sealed is filled with the latent heat
storage material. The temperature sensor 60 for controlling the
compressor 40 is arranged in substantially the center portion on
the upper surface of the upper shelf 51. The temperature sensor 60
is in contact with the lower surface of the container body of the
heat storage member 107. The temperature sensor 60 may be disposed
inside the container body of the heat storage member 107 so as to
be in direct contact with the latent heat storage material.
[0118] The lower shelf 53 has a shape of a hollow plate. A latent
heat storage material 53a is hermetically sealed inside the lower
shelf 53. In the present embodiment, the lower shelf 53 and the
latent heat storage material 53a are integrated with each other in
this way.
[0119] FIGS. 16 and 17 respectively correspond to FIGS. 14 and 15
and illustrate a modification example of the installation position
of the temperature sensor 60. As illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17,
the temperature sensor 60 (60e) may be disposed on the upper
surface of the heat storage member 107. In addition, the
temperature sensor 60 (60f) may be disposed on a rear side inner
wall of the middle space in the storage chamber 30. In addition,
the temperature sensor 60 (60g) may be disposed on the upper
surface of the lower shelf 52. In addition, the temperature sensor
60 (60h) may be disposed inside the lower shelf 52 so as to be in
contact with the latent heat storage material 52a.
[0120] The cooling equipment 4 of the present embodiment further
has the hollow plate-shaped lower shelf 53 disposed inside the
storage chamber 30, and the latent heat storage material 53a is
hermetically sealed inside the lower shelf 53. According to this
configuration, the attachment of the heat storage member inside the
storage chamber 30 is facilitated and thus it is possible to reduce
the number of parts in the cooling equipment 4.
Fifth Embodiment
[0121] Next, cooling equipment according to a fifth embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 18
and 19. FIG. 18 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 5 according to the present
embodiment. FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the
schematic configuration of the cooling equipment 5 so as to
correspond to FIG. 2. The same reference numerals are given to the
same configuring elements having functions and operations which are
the same as those of the cooling equipment 1 according to the first
embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0122] As illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 19, in the cooling equipment
5 of the present embodiment, a separator 81 which separates the
storage chamber 30 and the cold air passage 70 from each other is
formed in a hollow plate shape, and a latent heat storage material
81a is hermetically sealed inside the separator 81. In the present
embodiment, the separator 81 and the latent heat storage material
81a are integrated with each other in this way. For example, the
temperature sensor 60 for controlling the compressor 40 is disposed
at a position close to the storage chamber 30 which is inside the
separator 81.
[0123] The separator 81 is in contact with the cold air passage 70.
Accordingly, the heat exchange with the cold air circulating in the
cold air passage 70 is promoted and thus the separator 81 is likely
to have a lower temperature than the inside of the storage chamber
30. Therefore, as the latent heat storage material 81a inside the
separator 81, a material may be used which has the phase change
temperature lower than that of the latent heat storage material
disposed in the other sections inside the storage chamber 30.
[0124] In addition, one surface of the separator 81 is in contact
with the cold air passage 70 and the other surface is in contact
with the storage chamber 30. The cold air which has a lower
temperature than that of the air inside the storage chamber 30
flows inside the cold air passage 70. Accordingly, a difference in
the temperature between one surface and the other surface of the
separator 81 is relatively large. Therefore, heat transfer is
relatively excellent in the separator 81 and the latent heat
storage material 81a thereinside. Consequently, the latent heat
storage material 81a inside the separator 81 may have a capacity, a
thickness or a surface area, each of which is larger than that of
the latent heat storage materials disposed in the other sections
inside the storage chamber 30.
[0125] The cooling equipment 5 of the present embodiment further
has the cold air passage 70 which circulates the cold air
introduced to the storage chamber 30 and the hollow plate-shaped
separator 81 which separates the storage chamber 30 and the cold
air passage 70 from each other, and the latent heat storage
material 81a is hermetically sealed inside the separator 81.
According to this configuration, the attachment of the heat storage
member is facilitated and thus it is possible to reduce the number
of parts in the cooling equipment 5.
Sixth Embodiment
[0126] Next, cooling equipment according to a sixth embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 20
and 21. FIG. 20 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 6 according to the present
embodiment. FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the
schematic configuration of the cooling equipment 6 so as to
correspond to FIG. 2. The same reference numerals are given to the
same configuring elements having functions and operations which are
the same as those of the cooling equipment 1 according to the first
embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0127] As illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21, the cooling equipment 6
of the present embodiment has a heat storage member 108 on an inner
wall side of the door member 20 (storage chamber 30 side rather
than the insulator 21). The heat storage member 108 has a
rectangular flat plate shape as a whole. The heat storage member
108 has a configuration where the inside of the hollow container
body which is hermetically sealed is filled with a latent heat
storage material.
[0128] The temperature sensor 60 for controlling the compressor 40
is disposed inside the container body of the heat storage member
108 so as to be in direct contact with the latent heat storage
material. If the temperature sensor 60 is disposed in the door
member 20 side, in some cases, there is a problem of wiring layout
or the like. Accordingly, the temperature sensor 60 may be disposed
in the cooling equipment main body 10 side. In this case, it is
desirable to dispose the temperature sensor 60 in a position
closest to the heat storage member 108 of the door member 20, which
is the upper space within the storage chamber 30.
Seventh Embodiment
[0129] Next, cooling equipment according to a seventh embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 22
to 25. FIG. 22 is a front view illustrating a schematic
configuration of cooling equipment 7 according to the present
embodiment. FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the
schematic configuration of the cooling equipment 7 so as to
correspond to FIG. 2. The same reference numerals are given to the
same configuring elements having functions and operations which are
the same as those of the cooling equipment 1 according to the first
embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0130] As illustrated in FIGS. 22 and 23, the heat storage members
101 to 106 are disposed on the left and right inner walls of the
storage chamber 30. The heat storage member 101 is attached to the
left side inner wall of the upper space which is above the upper
shelf 51 within the storage chamber 30. The heat storage member 102
is attached to the right side inner wall of the upper space. The
heat storage member 103 is attached to the left side inner wall of
the middle space between the upper shelf 51 and the lower shelf 52
within the storage chamber 30. The heat storage member 104 is
attached to the right side inner wall of the middle space. The heat
storage member 105 is attached to the left side inner wall of the
lower space which is below the lower shelf 52 within the storage
chamber 30. The heat storage member 106 is attached to the right
side inner wall of the lower space.
[0131] The heat storage members 101, 102, and 104 to 106 are formed
to have substantially the same thickness as that of each other. In
contrast, the heat storage member 103 is formed to have the
thickness thinner than that of the heat storage members 101, 102,
and 104 to 106. Since the thickness of any of the container body of
the heat storage members 101 to 106 is substantially the same, the
latent heat storage material inside the heat storage member 103 is
formed to have the thickness thinner than that of the latent heat
storage materials inside the heat storage members 101, 102, and 104
to 106. In the present embodiment, the latent heat storage
materials disposed inside the storage chamber 30 are formed to have
a different thickness depending on a region.
[0132] The temperature sensor 60 for controlling the compressor 40
is disposed in the vicinity of the thin heat storage member 103. In
the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 60 is disposed
inside the container body of the heat storage member 103 so as to
be in direct contact with the latent heat storage material. The
thin latent heat storage material is more likely to be melted than
the thick latent heat storage material. Therefore, the temperature
sensor 60 detects the temperature of a portion which is likely to
be melted relatively within the latent heat storage materials
inside the storage chamber 30.
[0133] FIGS. 24 and 25 respectively correspond to FIGS. 22 and 23
and illustrate a modification example of the cooling equipment 7 of
the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIGS. 24 and 25, the heat
storage member 103 is formed in a concave shape in a
cross-sectional view and has a partially different thickness. That
is, the latent heat storage material inside the heat storage member
103 is formed to have the partially different thickness. The
temperature sensor 60 for controlling the compressor 40 is disposed
in contact with a thin portion within the latent heat storage
material inside the heat storage member 103. Therefore, the
temperature sensor 60 detects the temperature of a portion which is
likely to be melted relatively within the latent heat storage
material inside the storage chamber 30.
[0134] As described above, in the cooling equipment 7 of the
present embodiment, the latent heat storage material (heat storage
members 101 to 106) is formed to have the different thickness
depending on a region. The temperature sensor 60 detects the
temperature of the thin portion of the latent heat storage material
(for example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 22, the entire
heat storage member 103, and in the example illustrated in FIG. 24,
the partially thin portion within the heat storage member 103).
[0135] According to this configuration, since it is possible to
detect the temperature of the portion which is likely to be melted
relatively within the latent heat storage material inside the
storage chamber 30, it is possible to effectively control the
compressor 40 in response to the state of the phase change in the
latent heat storage material. For example, it is possible to start
the compressor 40 before all the latent heat storage materials melt
due to the temperature rising inside the storage chamber 30.
Eighth Embodiment
[0136] Next, as an eighth embodiment of the present invention, a
heat storage member which can be used in the above-described first
to seventh embodiments will be described. FIG. 26 illustrates a
configuration of the heat storage member according to the present
embodiment. FIG. 26 illustrates a plate-shaped heat storage member
120 in a plan view. As illustrated in FIG. 26, the heat storage
member 120 has a rectangular flat plate shape as a whole. The heat
storage member 120 has a hollow container body 121 which is
hermetically sealed and a latent heat storage material 122 filling
the inside of the container body 121. A temperature sensor 123 is
bonded and fixed to substantially a center portion on one outer
surface of the container body 121. That is, the temperature sensor
123 is disposed in contact with the container body 121 of the heat
storage member 120. Required wires 124 and 125 are connected to the
temperature sensor 123. This enables the heat storage member 120 to
function as a temperature sensor integrated heat storage
member.
[0137] According to this configuration, it becomes easy to attach
the heat storage member and the temperature sensor inside the
storage chamber of the cooling equipment, and it is possible to
reduce the number of parts of the cooling equipment. Here, in the
present embodiment, the temperature sensor 123 is disposed in
contact with the container body 121. However, the temperature
sensor 123 may be disposed inside the container body 121 so as to
be in direct contact with the latent heat storage material 122.
[0138] FIG. 27 illustrates a configuration of a heat storage member
140 according to a modification example of the present embodiment.
FIG. 27(a) is a plan view and FIG. 27(b) is a side cross-sectional
view. The heat storage member 140 is formed to have a different
thickness depending on a region. The heat storage member 140 has a
thick portion 141 where an outside is thick and a thin portion 142
where an inside thereof is thin. The temperature sensor 123 is
disposed inside the container body of the thin portion 142. In
other words, in the heat storage member 140, the thickness of the
portion having the temperature sensor 123 is thinner than the
thickness of other portions. The temperature sensor 123 detects the
temperature of a portion which is likely to be melted relatively
within the latent heat storage material inside the heat storage
member 140.
Ninth Embodiment
[0139] Next, as a ninth embodiment of the present invention, a heat
storage member which can be used in the above-described first to
seventh embodiments will be described. FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional
view illustrating a configuration of the heat storage member
according to the present embodiment. FIG. 28 illustrates a state
where a heat storage member 130 is attached to an inner wall (side
wall) 12 of the cooling equipment main body 10. The heat storage
member 130 has a rectangular flat plate shape as a whole. The heat
storage member 130 has a hollow container body 131 which is
hermetically sealed and a latent heat storage material 132 filling
the inside of the container body 131. One end surface (upper end
surface in FIG. 28) of the container body 131 has a protruding
portion 133 which extends in a straight line shape along a
longitudinal direction of the end surface for example. In addition,
the other end surface (lower end surface in FIG. 28) positioned at
a side opposite to the above-described end surface in the container
body 131 has a protruding portion 134 which extends in a straight
line shape along the longitudinal direction of the end surface for
example.
[0140] On the other hand, the cooling equipment main body 10 has a
layered structure configured to have an outer wall (not
illustrated), the insulator 11 and the inner wall 12. An upper side
support portion 13 supporting one end surface (upper end surface)
of the heat storage member 130 and a lower side support portion 14
supporting the other end surface (lower end surface) of the heat
storage member 130 are formed to protrude on a surface of the
storage chamber 30 side of the inner wall 12. The upper side
support portion 13 and the lower side support portion 14 have
predetermined flexibility. A fitting groove 13a to which the
protruding portion 133 of the heat storage member 130 is fitted is
formed in the upper side support portion 13. A fitting groove 14a
to which the protruding portion 134 of the heat storage member 130
is fitted is formed in the lower side support portion 14.
[0141] For example, when attaching the heat storage member 130 to
the inner wall 12, the heat storage member 130 is press-fitted to a
space between the upper side support portion 13 and the lower side
support portion 14 of the inner wall 12. If the heat storage member
130 is press-fitted, the protruding portion 133 is fitted to the
fitting groove 13a of the upper side support portion 13 and the
protruding portion 134 is fitted to the fitting groove 14a of the
lower side support portion 14. Thereby, the heat storage member 130
is detachably attached to the inner wall 12. According to this
configuration, attachment of the heat storage member 130 to the
inner wall 12 of the storage chamber 30 is facilitated.
[0142] The present invention can be modified in various ways
without being limited to the above-described embodiments.
[0143] For example, the above-described embodiments mainly include
household cooling equipment, but without being limited thereto, the
present invention can also be applied to business-purpose cooling
equipment, a vending machine having a cooling function, and so
on.
[0144] In addition, in the above-described embodiments, an example
has been described where tetradecane is used as the latent heat
storage material. However, without being limited thereto, the other
n-paraffin, inorganic salt water solution or the like may be used
in the present invention. In addition, these materials may be used
in combination. as the heat storage material to be used, a material
whose phase change temperature is within a temperature range which
can be obtained inside the cooling equipment is selected. For
example, if sodium chloride water solution of 20 wt % (melting
point is approximately -17.degree. C.) or dodecane (melting point
is approximately -12.degree. C.) is used as the latent heat storage
material, the present invention can be applied to a freezer.
[0145] In addition, in the above-described embodiments, the fan
type (forced convection type) cooling equipment in which the cold
air is caused to blow inside the storage chamber so as to cool the
inside of the storage chamber has been described as an example.
However, without being limited thereto, the present invention can
be applied to a direct cooling type (natural convention type)
cooling equipment in which the evaporator is arranged inside the
storage chamber and the natural convection cools the inside of the
storage chamber.
[0146] In addition, in the above-described embodiments, the latent
heat storage material in gel which has no fluidity in a state of a
liquid phase has been described as an example. However, without
being limited thereto, a latent heat storage material which has
fluidity in a state of the liquid phase can be used in the present
invention.
[0147] In addition, in the above-described embodiments, the cooling
equipment in which the compressor 40 is controlled to be turned on
and off has been described as an example. However, without being
limited thereto, the present invention can also be applied to
inverter type cooling equipment in which a rotation speed of the
compressor 40 or a discharge amount of the refrigerant is variably
controlled.
[0148] In addition, in the above-described embodiments, the
temperature sensor which detects the temperature of the latent heat
storage material has been described as an example. However, the
present invention can use a sensor which detects various states
such as a volume change in the latent heat storage material,
mechanical strength or optical characteristics, or the like. Even
by using the sensor which detects various states, it is possible to
accurately detect a state of the phase change in the latent heat
storage material and to effectively control the compressor 40. With
regard to the volume change, a volume is contracted when the gel
state (liquid phase) is changed to the solid state (solid phase).
Accordingly, strain occurring when the volume is contracted is
observed by using piezoelectric elements, strain gauges (resistance
change), eddy currents, or the like. A member of the sensor portion
may be softened so as to easily receive influence of the volume
contraction. With regard to the mechanical strength, the gel state
is softer than the solid state. Accordingly, a needle vertically
moving at a constant interval is brought into contact with a heat
storage material and a magnitude of stress applied to the needle is
observed so that a state of the heat storage material is
determined. With regard to the optical characteristics, the optical
characteristics such as refractive index, reflectance and
transmittance vary between the gel state and the solid state.
Accordingly, light is transmitted and the reflected light or
transmitted light is observed so that the state of the heat storage
material is determined.
[0149] In addition, the above-described embodiments can be realized
in combination with each other.
Tenth Embodiment
[0150] The present embodiment relates to cooling equipment which
uses a latent heat storage material reversibly phase-transited
between a solid phase and a liquid phase and to a temperature
control system for the same.
[0151] A heat storage refrigerator has been known which includes a
heat storage material in a storage chamber and controls a
temperature of the storage chamber by directly detecting a
temperature of the heat storage material (for example, refer to
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No.
2008-128534). The heat storage refrigerator directly detects the
temperature of the heat storage material. Accordingly, it is
possible to effectively use the heat storage material compared to a
case of measuring the temperature inside the refrigerator, thereby
enabling a high cooling capacity.
[0152] However, in the heat storage refrigerator, if the
temperature of the heat storage material is detected only, the heat
storage material has a tendency to be excessively cooled or
completely melted. In this case, coldness absorbing and radiating
capacity using latent heat is lost, thereby accelerating
significant rising and falling of the temperature inside the
refrigerator. Then, the storage chamber (inside the refrigerator)
of the heat storage refrigerator has a tendency that the
temperature is excessively lowered or excessively raised. In
addition, variations in the temperature occur inside the heat
storage refrigerator. If the variations in the temperature occur
inside the heat storage refrigerator, convection is generated
inside the refrigerator, and thus the convection results in energy
loss or cooling loss in the heat storage refrigerator.
[0153] An object of the present embodiment is to provide cooling
equipment having less irregularities and variations in a
temperature and a temperature control system for the same.
[0154] The above-described object is achieved by providing cooling
equipment that includes a storage chamber that stores storage
goods; a first latent heat storage member that is disposed inside
the storage chamber and includes at least a first latent heat
storage material which is reversibly phase-transited between a
solid phase and a liquid phase; a second latent heat storage member
that is disposed inside the storage chamber and includes at least a
second latent heat storage material which is reversibly
phase-transited between the solid phase and the liquid phase; a
sensor that detects a state of the second latent heat storage
member; a cooling mechanism that cools the inside of the storage
chamber; and a control unit that controls the cooling mechanism
based on the state of the second latent heat storage member. In
this configuration, the second latent heat storage member is
phase-transited earlier than the first latent heat storage
member.
[0155] In the cooling equipment, during cooling of the storage
chamber, at least a portion of the second latent heat storage
member completes phase-transition and freezes earlier than the
first latent heat storage member. During coldness radiating of the
storage chamber, at least a portion of the second latent heat
storage member completes the phase-transition and melts earlier
than the first latent heat storage member.
[0156] In the cooling equipment, the state includes any one of a
temperature, a volumetric change, a mechanical strength, and
optical characteristics.
[0157] In the cooling equipment, the cooling mechanism includes any
one of a compressor, a cold air port, an opening of a vent hole,
and a cooling fan.
[0158] In the cooling equipment, a latent heat amount of at least a
portion of the second latent heat storage member in a thickness
direction is smaller than a latent heat amount of at least a
portion of the first latent heat storage member in the thickness
direction.
[0159] In the cooling equipment, the sensor is disposed in a
section where the latent heat amount of the second latent heat
storage member in the thickness direction is smaller than the
maximum value of the latent heat amount of the first latent heat
storage member in the thickness direction.
[0160] In the cooling equipment, the thickness of the second latent
heat storage member is thinner than the thickness of the first
latent heat storage member.
[0161] In the cooling equipment, the first latent heat storage
member and the second latent heat storage member respectively have
a substantially constant uniform thickness.
[0162] In the cooling equipment, the second latent heat storage
member has a recess, and the sensor detects a state of the
recess.
[0163] The cooling equipment further includes a plate-shaped member
that is included in the second latent heat storage member and has a
thermal conductivity higher than a thermal conductivity of the
second latent heat storage member. In this configuration, the
sensor is arranged in contact with the plate-shaped member.
[0164] In the cooling equipment, the second latent heat storage
member has a particulate having no latent heat in a control
temperature range or a heat conductive filler.
[0165] In the cooling equipment, the first latent heat storage
member has a predetermined container body which seals the first
latent heat storage material, and the second latent heat storage
member has a predetermined container body which seals the second
latent heat storage material.
[0166] In the cooling equipment, a forming material of the first
latent heat storage material is the same as a forming material of
the second latent heat storage material.
[0167] In the cooling equipment, the second latent heat storage
member is arranged at a position where cold air blowing into the
storage chamber is likely to hit relatively and near a corner
inside the storage chamber.
[0168] In addition, the above-described object is achieved by
providing a temperature control system that includes a first heat
storage section including a first latent heat storage material
which is reversibly phase-transited between a solid phase and a
liquid phase; a second heat storage section including at least a
second latent heat storage material which is reversibly
phase-transited between the solid phase and the liquid phase; a
sensor that detects a state of the second heat storage section; and
a temperature control unit that controls a temperature of a
temperature control target in response to the state of the second
heat storage section which is detected by the sensor. In this
configuration, when a state of the first and second latent heat
storage materials is changed, at least a portion of the second
latent heat storage material is phase-transited earlier than at
least a portion of the first latent heat storage material.
[0169] In the temperature control system, the state includes any
one of a temperature, a volumetric change, a mechanical strength,
and optical characteristics.
[0170] In the temperature control system, a latent heat amount of
at least a portion of the second heat storage section in a
thickness direction is smaller in a control temperature range of
the temperature control target than a latent heat amount of at
least a portion of the first heat storage section in a thickness
direction.
[0171] In the temperature control system, the sensor is disposed in
a section where the latent heat amount of the second heat storage
section in the thickness direction is smaller than the maximum
value of the latent heat amount of the first heat storage section
in the thickness direction.
[0172] In the temperature control system, a thickness of at least a
portion of the second heat storage section is thinner than a
thickness of at least a portion of the first heat storage
section.
[0173] In the temperature control system, the first heat storage
section and the second heat storage section respectively have a
substantially constant uniform thickness.
[0174] In the temperature control system, the second heat storage
section has a recess, and the sensor detects a state of the
recess.
[0175] The temperature control system further includes a
plate-shaped member that is included in the second heat storage
section and has a thermal conductivity higher than a thermal
conductivity of the second latent heat storage material. In this
configuration, the sensor is arranged in contact with or internally
in the plate-shaped member.
[0176] In the temperature control system, a thermal conductivity of
the second heat storage section in the thickness direction is
higher than a thermal conductivity of the first heat storage
section in the thickness direction.
[0177] In the temperature control system, the second heat storage
section includes a particulate having no latent heat in a heat
conductive filler or a control temperature range.
[0178] The above-described object is achieved by providing an air
conditioning system that includes the temperature control
system.
[0179] The above-described object is achieved by providing a hot
water supply system that includes the temperature control
system.
[0180] According to the present embodiment, it is possible to
realize cooling equipment having less irregularities and variations
in a temperature and a temperature control system for the same.
[0181] A heat storage member, cooling equipment, an air conditioner
and a hot water supply system according to the present embodiment
will be described with reference to FIGS. 29 to 59. First, a
principle of the heat storage member, the cooling equipment, the
air conditioner and the hot water supply system according to the
present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 29 to
32 while pointing out the problem of the heat storage refrigerator
in the related art.
[0182] FIG. 29 is a graph illustrating an example of a time
variation in a temperature inside the cooling equipment and
thickness dependence of time variation in a temperature of a latent
heat storage material provided inside the equipment. The horizontal
axis represents an elapsed time (h) from the power supply to the
cooling equipment, and the vertical axis represents a temperature
(.degree. C.) of the inside of the equipment and the latent heat
storage material. The curve C1 of the dashed line represents a time
variation in the temperature inside the equipment, the curve C2 of
the dashed line represents a time variation in the temperature of
the latent heat storage material of 4 mm in thickness, the curve C3
of the dashed line represents a time variation in the temperature
of the latent heat storage material of 8 mm in thickness, and the
curve C4 of the dashed line represents a time variation in the
temperature of the latent heat storage material of 20 mm in
thickness. A forming material of each latent heat storage material
is identical. In addition, except for the thickness, each latent
heat storage material has an identical outer shape, and has a
rectangular parallelepiped shape in which a bottom side thereof is
5 cm.times.5 cm. Measurement is performed by arranging each latent
heat storage material side by side on a bottom portion of a
refrigerator where the inside of the equipment contains
approximately 46 liters.
[0183] In FIG. 29, a period when the temperature inside the
equipment falls is a period when the compressor included in the
cooling equipment is operated to cool the inside of the equipment,
and a period when the temperature inside the equipment rises is a
period when the compressor is stopped to stop cooling the inside of
the equipment. The cooling equipment maintains the temperature
inside the equipment by using the latent heat storage material
during a period when the cooling of the inside of the equipment is
stopped. As illustrated in FIG. 29, if the cooling of the inside of
the cooling equipment is started when 21 hours have elapsed from
the power supply for example, the temperature inside the equipment
begins to fall immediately as illustrated by the curve C1. However,
as illustrated by the curves C2 to C4 in FIG. 29, temperature of
any of the latent heat storage materials does not fall immediately
down to a phase change temperature (phase transition temperature)
even if the cooling of the inside of the equipment is started. The
temperature of the latent heat storage material continues to rise
from when the cooling of the inside of the equipment is started
until a predetermined time has elapsed, and thereafter starts to
fall. In addition, for example, if the cooling of the inside of the
equipment is stopped after approximately 22.5 hours have elapsed
from the power supply, the temperature inside the equipment rises
immediately as illustrated by the curves C1 to C4. However, the
temperature of the latent heat storage material continues to fall
until a predetermined time elapses, and thereafter start to rise.
In this manner, with respect to the start time and the stop time of
the cooling inside the equipment, a time lag occurs between the
time when the temperature inside the equipment starts to change and
the time when the temperature of the latent heat storage material
starts to change.
[0184] FIG. 30 illustrates an example of a time variation in the
temperature inside the equipment when controlling start and stop of
the cooling inside the equipment based on the temperature of the
latent heat storage material provided inside the cooling equipment.
In the present embodiment, similar to the heat storage refrigerator
in the related art, the thickness of the latent heat storage
materials provided inside the equipment is substantially constant.
In FIG. 30, sequentially from above in the drawing, "compressor
operation" represents an operation time of the compressor,
"enthalpy of latent heat storage material" represents the time
variation in the enthalpy of the latent heat storage material,
"temperature of latent heat storage material" represents the time
variation in the temperature of the latent heat storage material
inside the equipment, and "temperature inside equipment" represents
the time variation of an average temperature inside the equipment.
In the drawing, the elapsed time is illustrated from the left to
the right. In addition, "on" in the "compressor operation"
represents an operation period of the compressor, and "off"
represents a stop period of the compressor. The straight line L1 of
the dashed line represents the enthalpy in a state where the latent
heat storage material is completely melted (state of the liquid
phase only without any solid phase), the straight line L2 of the
dashed line represents the enthalpy in a state where the latent
heat storage material is completely frozen (state of the solid
phase only without any liquid phase), and the curve C5 of the solid
line represents the time variation in the enthalpy of the latent
heat storage material. The straight line L3 of the dashed line
represents the phase change temperature of the latent heat storage
material, and the curve C6 of the solid line represents the time
variation in the temperature of the latent heat storage material.
The straight line L4 of the dashed line represents the phase change
temperature of the latent heat storage material, and the curve C7
of the solid line represents the time variation in the temperature
inside the equipment.
[0185] As illustrated in FIG. 30, during a period from time t1 to
time t2, the latent heat storage material maintains the phase
change temperature. However, the latent heat storage material
continues to radiate the coldness to the cooling equipment main
body and into the equipment in order to cool the inside of the
equipment during the period. That is, the latent heat storage
material continues to absorb heat energy entering from the cooling
equipment main body and heat energy entering the inside of the
equipment. Therefore, the enthalpy of the latent heat storage
material continues to rise. In addition, the latent heat storage
material is in the solid phase only at time t1, but is in a state
of two phases (solid and liquid phases) with the lapse of time, and
is in the liquid phase only at time t2. That is, the latent heat
storage material has the most excellent cooling capacity at time
t1, gradually has the deteriorated cooling capacity with the lapse
of time, and eventually loses the cooling capacity at time t2.
Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 30, from time t1 to a
predetermined period of time, the average temperature inside the
equipment is maintained to have the phase change temperature of the
latent heat storage material. However, due to the deteriorated
cooling capacity of the latent heat storage material, the average
temperature inside the equipment rises rapidly after the
predetermined period of time elapses.
[0186] If the temperature of the latent heat storage material is
higher than the phase change temperature at time t2, the compressor
is operated to start the cooling inside the equipment. As described
using FIG. 29, if the cooling inside the equipment is started, the
temperature inside the equipment starts to fall immediately, but
the temperature of the latent heat storage material does not start
to fall immediately. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 30, the
temperature of the latent heat storage material continues to rise
from time t2 to time t3. The temperature of the latent heat storage
material starts to fall after time t3 and becomes the phase change
temperature at time t4. The latent heat storage material radiates
the heat energy until time t3, thereby increasing the enthalpy.
Thereafter, the latent heat storage material absorbs the heat
energy, thereby decreasing the enthalpy. A section between the
straight line L1 indicating complete melting and the straight line
L2 indicating complete freezing shows a state where the latent heat
storage material stores the latent heat.
[0187] If the temperature of the latent heat storage material is
lower than the phase change temperature at time t5, the compressor
is stopped to finish the cooling inside the equipment. As described
using FIG. 29, even if the cooling inside the equipment is stopped,
the temperature of the latent heat storage material does not
immediately become constant at the phase change temperature.
Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 30, the temperature of the latent
heat storage material continues to fall from time t5 to time t6.
After time t6, the temperature of the latent heat storage material
starts to rise and becomes the phase change temperature at time t7.
The latent heat storage material absorbs the heat energy until time
t6, thereby decreasing the enthalpy. Thereafter, the latent heat
storage material starts to radiate the heat energy, thereby
increasing the enthalpy. On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG.
30, if the compressor is stopped, the temperature inside the
equipment is changed to follow the temperature of the latent heat
storage material.
[0188] As described above by using FIGS. 29 and 30, the temperature
of the latent heat storage material included inside the cooling
equipment is changed later compared to the temperature inside the
equipment. Therefore, when starting the cooling for example, even
if the cold air is introduced into the equipment after detecting
that the temperature of the latent heat storage material is higher
than the phase change temperature, the temperature of the latent
heat storage material does not start to fall immediately. The
temperature of the latent heat storage material continues to rise
for a while and then starts to fall. Similarly, when stopping the
cooling, the temperature of the latent heat storage material falls
for a while and then starts to rise. Therefore, the heat storage
refrigerator in the related art has a problem in that the latent
heat storage material may be excessively cooled. This causes
storage performance for foodstuff in the cooling equipment to be
decreased. In addition, in the heat storage refrigerator in the
related art, an energy loss occurs during a period when the
temperature of the latent heat storage material is higher than the
phase change temperature (period when the curve C6 becomes convex
upward with respect to the phase change temperature) and during a
period when the temperature of the latent heat storage material is
lower than the phase change temperature (period when the curve C6
becomes convex downward with respect to the phase change
temperature). The energy loss is increased as the period is longer.
In addition, during that period and when the compressor is
operated, the energy loss is increased as the temperature of the
latent heat storage material becomes higher than the phase change
temperature. In addition, during that period and when the
compressor is stopped, the energy loss is increased as the
temperature of the latent heat storage material becomes lower than
the phase change temperature. In the heat storage refrigerator in
the related art, the temperature inside the refrigerator is not
changed to follow the temperature of the latent heat storage
material. Accordingly, there is a problem in that even if the
inside of the refrigerator is cooled based on the temperature of
the latent heat storage material, it is difficult to maintain a
substantially constant temperature inside the refrigerator.
Furthermore, the heat storage refrigerator in the related art has a
problem in that it is not possible to detect a phase change state
of the latent heat storage material (a degree of melting or
freezing).
[0189] FIG. 31 illustrates an example of the time variation in the
temperature of the latent heat storage materials having a different
thickness. FIG. 31(a) illustrates an example of the time variation
in the temperature of the latent heat storage material having a
relatively thin thickness, and FIG. 31(b) illustrates an example of
the time variation in the temperature of the latent heat storage
material having a thickness thicker than that of the latent heat
storage material in FIG. 31(a). In FIGS. 31(a) and 31(b),
sequentially from above in the drawings, "compressor operation"
represents an operation time of the compressor, "enthalpy of latent
heat storage material" represents the time variation in the
enthalpy of the latent heat storage material, "temperature of
latent heat storage material" represents the time variation in the
temperature of the latent heat storage material inside the
equipment, and the elapsed time is illustrated from the left to the
right in the drawing. In addition, "on" in the "compressor
operation" represents an operation period of the compressor, and
"off" represents a stop period of the compressor. The straight
lines L4 and L7 of the dashed line represent the enthalpy in a
state where the latent heat storage material is completely melted
(state of the liquid phase only without any solid phase), the
straight lines L5 and L8 of the dashed line represent the enthalpy
in a state where the latent heat storage material is completely
frozen (state of the solid phase only without any liquid phase),
and the curves C7 and C9 of the solid line represent the time
variation in the enthalpy of the latent heat storage material. The
straight lines L6 and L9 of the dashed line represent the phase
change temperature of the latent heat storage material, and the
curve C8 and of the solid line and the straight line L10 of the
solid line represent the time variation in the temperature of the
latent heat storage material. The straight lines L9 and L10 are
substantially coincident with each other. However, for ease of
understanding, both of the straight lines L9 and L10 are
illustrated by being shifted in FIG. 31(b).
[0190] The "compression operation", "enthalpy of latent heat
storage material" and "temperature of latent heat storage material"
illustrated in FIG. 31(a) are similar to the "compression
operation", "enthalpy of latent heat storage material" and
"temperature of latent heat storage material" illustrated in FIG.
30, and thus the description will be omitted.
[0191] Incidentally, when comparing two latent heat storage
materials having the same forming material and the different
thickness of the outer dimensions, the thick latent heat storage
material can store more latent heat than the thin latent heat
storage material. Since the thick latent heat storage material can
store relatively more latent heat, the melting and the freezing
take a longer period of time compared to the thin latent heat
storage material. That is, the relatively thin latent heat storage
material is likely to be melted and frozen compared to the
relatively thick latent heat storage material. In other words, the
relatively thick latent heat storage material is unlikely to be
melted and frozen compared to the relatively thin latent heat
storage material. Therefore, a distance between the straight lines
L4 and L5 illustrated in FIG. 31(a) is longer than a distance
between the straight lines L7 and L8 illustrated in FIG. 31(b).
Here, a latent heat quantity of a portion which is surrounded by
taking any unit surface from the surface of the latent heat storage
material and extending the unit surface to a surface opposing in a
thickness direction is defined by a latent heat quantity in the
thickness direction. In a case of the thick portion of the latent
heat storage material, the latent heat quantity in the thickness
direction is increased. In contrast, in a case of the thin portion,
the latent heat quantity in the thickness direction is decreased.
That is, if the portion has the relatively small latent heat
quantity in the thickness direction, the portion is melted and
frozen earlier (phase-transited earlier).
[0192] FIG. 31(b) illustrates the time variation in the temperature
and the enthalpy of the latent heat storage material when
operating/stopping the compressor at the same time illustrated in
FIG. 31(a). As described above, the thick latent heat storage
material is unlikely to be melted and frozen compared to the thin
latent heat storage material. Accordingly, the thick latent heat
storage material can maintain a state of two phases (solid and
liquid phases) during a period when the thin latent heat storage
material can be frozen. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 31(b),
the thick latent heat storage material can maintain the phase
change temperature during a period from time t1 to time t2 (period
when the thin latent heat storage material can be frozen
corresponding to the period from time t2 to t5 illustrated in FIG.
31(a)). In addition, the thick latent heat storage material can
maintain the state of two phases (solid and liquid phases) during a
period when the thin latent heat storage material can be melted.
Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 31(b), the thick latent heat
storage material can maintain the phase change temperature during a
period from time t2 to time t3 (period when the thin latent heat
storage material can be melted corresponding to the period from
time t5 to t8 illustrated in FIG. 31(a)).
[0193] Therefore, the cooling equipment according to the present
embodiment includes the first latent heat storage material, the
second latent heat storage material which is phase-transited
earlier than the first latent heat storage material, and the sensor
for controlling the temperature inside the equipment which detects
the state of the second latent heat storage material (for example,
any one of the temperature, the volume change, the mechanical
strength, and the optical characteristics).
[0194] The cooling equipment according to the present embodiment is
configured to introduce the cold air into the equipment if a value
detected by the sensor satisfies a predetermined condition (for
example, if the temperature higher than the phase change
temperature is detected), and to stop introducing the cold air into
the equipment if the value satisfies the other predetermined
condition (for example, if the temperature lower than the phase
change temperature is detected). In addition, the cooling equipment
according to the present embodiment is configured to be capable of
maintaining the temperature inside the equipment to have a
substantially constant temperature by using the first latent heat
storage material which can maintain the phase change temperature by
always storing the latent heat regardless of the state of the
second latent heat storage material. The cooling equipment
according to the present embodiment is configured to start the
cooling before the first latent heat storage material is completely
melted and to stop the cooling before the first latent heat storage
material is completely frozen. The cooling equipment according to
the present embodiment includes at least two types of the latent
heat storage material having the different structure inside the
equipment, detects the state of the phase change of the latent heat
storage material which is phase-transited relatively earlier by
using a simple method, and starts/stops the cooling inside the
equipment based on the state of the latent heat storage material.
By using such a simple configuration and method, it is possible to
obtain an effect of reducing irregularities and variations in the
temperature inside the equipment.
[0195] FIG. 32 illustrates the time variation in the temperature
inside the cooling equipment according to the present embodiment.
In FIG. 32, sequentially from above, "compressor operation"
represents an operation time of the compressor, "temperature of
thin latent heat storage material" represents the time variation in
the temperature of the relatively thin latent heat storage material
(an example of the above-described second latent heat storage
material), "temperature of thick latent heat storage material"
represents the time variation in the temperature of the relatively
thick latent heat storage material (an example of the
above-described first latent heat storage material), "temperature
inside equipment" represents the time variation in the average
temperature inside the equipment, and the elapsed time is
illustrated from the left to the right. In addition, "on" in the
"compressor operation" represents an operation period of the
compressor, and "off" represents a stop period of the compressor.
The straight lines L11, L12 and L14 of the dashed line represent
the phase change temperature of the latent heat storage material,
the curve C10 of the solid line represents the time variation in
the temperature of the thin latent heat storage material, the
straight line L13 of the solid line represents the time variation
in the temperature of the thick latent heat storage material, and
the curve C11 of the solid line represents the time variation in
the temperature inside the equipment. The straight lines L12 and
L13 are substantially coincident with each other, and the straight
line L14 and the straight line portion of the curve C11 are
substantially coincident with each other. However, for ease of
understanding, the straight lines L12, L13 and L14 and the straight
line portion of the curve C11 are illustrated by being respectively
shifted in FIG. 32.
[0196] As illustrated in FIG. 32, since the temperature of the thin
latent heat storage material becomes higher than the phase change
temperature at time t1, the compressor is operated to start the
cooling inside the equipment. Thereafter, since the temperature of
the thin latent heat storage material becomes lower than the phase
change temperature at time t3, the compressor is stopped to finish
the cooling inside the equipment. Furthermore, then, since the
temperature of the thin latent heat storage material becomes higher
than the phase change temperature at time t5, the compressor is
operated to start the cooling inside the equipment. Such a cooling
operation is repeated after time t5.
[0197] In a cooling cycle inside the equipment based on the
temperature of the thin latent heat storage material, the thick
latent heat storage material is not in the completely frozen state
(state of the solid phase only without any liquid phase) or in the
completely melted state (state of the liquid phase only without any
solid phase). In the cooling cycle inside the equipment, the thick
latent heat storage material is always in the solid and liquid
phases. The thick latent heat storage material is in a state where
the liquid phase prevails over the solid phase (close to the melted
state) before and after time t1, and is in a state where the solid
phase prevails over the liquid phase (close to the frozen state)
before and after time t3. The thick latent heat storage material
maintains the phase change temperature even when the state close to
the melted state is changed to the state close to the frozen state
or the state close to the frozen state is changed to the state
close to the melted state. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 32,
the temperature of the thick latent heat storage material is
substantially constant at the phase change temperature in the
cooling cycle inside the equipment.
[0198] The cooling equipment according to the present embodiment
maintains the temperature inside the equipment by using the thick
latent heat storage material. Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 32,
the temperature inside the equipment is substantially constant at
the phase change temperature. When the compressor is switched over
to the on-state or the off-state, the temperature inside the
equipment has a variation in an error range, but there is little
effect on the storage goods inside the equipment.
[0199] Hereinafter, examples of each structure of the heat storage
member used in controlling the temperature inside the equipment and
the heat storage member used in maintaining the temperature inside
the equipment, and an attachment section inside the equipment for
the heat storage member used in controlling the temperature inside
the equipment will be described in more detail with reference to
FIGS. 33 to 55. The cooling equipment according to the following
examples is used as a household refrigerator.
EXAMPLE 1
[0200] First, cooling equipment according to Example 1 of the
present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 33 to
35. FIG. 33 is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration
of cooling equipment 201 according to the present example. FIG. 34
is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a
configuration of the cooling equipment 201 cut along the line A-A
in FIG. 33. As illustrated in FIGS. 33 and 34, the cooling
equipment 201 according to the present example has a rectangular
parallelepiped-shaped cooling equipment main body 203 where one
surface has an opening and a door member 231 (not illustrated in
FIG. 33) which is rotatably attached to the cooling equipment main
body 203 via a hinge (not illustrated) and can open and close the
opening of the cooling equipment main body 203. A storage chamber
205 which stores storage goods is formed inside the cooling
equipment main body 203.
[0201] The cooling equipment main body 203 has an insulator 233
which insulates the inside of the storage chamber 205 so as not to
receive heat from outside. The insulator 233 fills a space between
an outer wall (not illustrated) formed of a thin metal plate for
example and an inner wall (not illustrated) formed of an ABS resin
for example. That is, the cooling equipment main body 203 has a
layered structure formed of the outer wall, the insulator 233 and
the inner wall. The insulator 233 is formed of forming materials
such as fiber-based insulation materials (glass wool or the like)
or foaming resin-based insulation materials.
[0202] The door member 231 has an insulator 235 which insulates the
storage chamber 205 so as not to receive the heat from outside. The
insulator 235 fills a space between an outer wall (not illustrated)
formed of a thin metal plate for example and an inner wall (not
illustrated) formed of an ABS resin for example. That is, similar
to the cooling equipment main body 203, the door member 231 has a
layered structure formed of the outer wall, the insulator 235 and
the inner wall. The insulator 235 is formed of a material the same
as that of the insulator 233. A space surrounded by the insulator
233 of the cooling equipment main body 203 and the insulator 235 of
the door member 231 in a state where the door member 231 is closed
is an insulation space insulated from outside.
[0203] In addition, the cooling equipment 201 has a compressor 241
which configures a part of a vapor compression type refrigerating
cycle for cooling the inside of the storage chamber 205 and
compresses refrigerant. The compressor 241 is disposed in a space
unit 229 disposed in a lower portion of the cooling equipment main
body 203. Although not illustrated, in addition to the compressor
241, the refrigerating cycle is configured to have at least a
condenser which condenses the refrigerant compressed in the
compressor 241 and radiates heat outward, an expansion unit that
expands the condensed refrigerant (for example, a capillary tube)
and an evaporator which vaporizes the expanded refrigerant and
cools the inside of the storage chamber 205 by using vaporization
heat. The compressor 241 and the condenser are disposed outside the
insulation space surrounded with the insulators 233 and 235. The
evaporator is disposed in a cold air passage 228 (to be described
later) within the insulation space.
[0204] The storage chamber 205 has an upper shelf 221 which defines
an upper space of the storage chamber 205 and a lower shelf 223
which is arranged below the upper shelf 221 and defines a middle
space of the storage chamber 205 between the lower shelf 223 and
the upper shelf 221. The upper shelf 221 and the lower shelf 223
are respectively and horizontally supported by the shelf supports
(not illustrated) or the like disposed on left and right inner
walls inside the storage chamber 205 in a front view. A lower space
of the storage chamber 205 is formed below the lower shelf 223.
[0205] The cold air passage 228 vertically extending for example is
disposed inside the insulator 233, which is a further rear side
from the storage chamber 205. The cold air passage 228 circulates
cold air which is supplied by a blower (not illustrated) and cooled
by heat exchange with the evaporator. An arrow in FIG. 34 indicates
a flowing direction of the cold air. The cold air circulating in
the cold air passage 228 is caused to blow out into the storage
chamber 205 from a plurality of cold air ports (only two cold air
ports 225 and 227 are illustrated in FIG. 33) disposed in an upper
portion for example within the rear side inner wall of the storage
chamber 205. In the cooling equipment 201 of the present example,
the inside of the storage chamber 205 is cooled by the cold air
which circulates in the cold air passage 228 and blows out from the
cold air ports 225 and 227. The storage chamber 205 and the cold
air passage 228 are separated from each other by a plate-shaped
separator 237. The cold air blowing out into the storage chamber
205 returns to the cold air passage 228 via a suction port (not
illustrated) disposed in a lower portion inside the storage chamber
205 for example.
[0206] The left and right inner walls of the upper space in the
storage chamber 205 have temperature-maintaining heat storage
members (first latent heat storage member) 209 and 211, the right
inner wall of the middle space has a temperature-maintaining heat
storage member 213, and the left and right inner walls of the lower
space have temperature-maintaining heat storage members 215 and
217. The temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217
are disposed in order to maintain a temperature inside the storage
chamber 205 to have a predetermined temperature for a predetermined
period of time. The temperature-maintaining heat storage member 209
is attached to the left side inner wall of the upper space which is
above the upper shelf 221 within the storage chamber 205. The
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 211 is attached to the
right side inner wall of the upper space. The
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 213 is attached to the
right side inner wall of the middle space between the upper shelf
221 and the lower shelf 223 within the storage chamber 205. The
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 215 is attached to the
left side inner wall in the lower space below the lower shelf 223
within the storage chamber 205. The temperature-maintaining heat
storage member 217 is attached to the right side inner wall of the
lower space.
[0207] The temperature-maintaining heat storage member 209 has a
latent heat storage material (first latent heat storage material)
209a which is reversibly phase-transited between the solid phase
and the liquid phase, and a container body (predetermined container
body) 209b which seals the latent heat storage material 209a.
Similarly, the temperature-maintaining heat storage members 211,
213, 215, and 217 respectively have latent heat storage materials
(first latent heat storage materials) 211a, 213a, 215a, and 217a
which are reversibly phase-transited between the solid phase and
the liquid phase, and container bodies (predetermined container
bodies) 211b, 213b, 215b, and 217b which seal the latent heat
storage materials 211a, 213a, 215a, and 217a.
[0208] The temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209, 211,
215, and 217 have a shape which is substantially the same as each
other. The temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209, 211,
215, and 217 respectively have a rectangular flat plate shape as a
whole. The temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209, 211,
215, and 217 respectively have a substantially constant thickness.
The temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209, 211, 215, and
217 respectively have a substantially uniform thickness. The
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 213 has a square flat
plate shape as a whole. The temperature-maintaining heat storage
member 213 has a substantially constant thickness. The
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217 have the
thickness which is substantially the same as each other. The
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217 are
respectively formed to have an average thickness which is
substantially the same as each other. The thickness of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217 and a
temperature-control heat storage member (to be described later, a
second latent heat storage member) 207 is a length from a contact
surface brought into contact with the inner wall of the storage
chamber 205 to an opposing surface opposing the contact surface for
example. The same is applied to the thickness of the
temperature-control heat storage members and the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member in the following
example.
[0209] The container bodies 209b, 211b, 213b, 215b, and 217b have a
shape of a thin box made of resins such as ABS or polycarbonate,
and have a predetermined rigidity. When the latent heat storage
material is flammable, it is desirable to form the container body
by using a flame-retardant material. In addition, when using
paraffin as the latent heat storage material, it is desirable that
the container body have a gas barrier property since paraffin is a
volatile organic compound (VOC) depending on types. Alternatively,
a sheet or a film which adsorbs gas of paraffin may be used.
[0210] The temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217
are generally used in a predetermined working temperature range and
working pressure range. The temperature-maintaining heat storage
members 209 to 217 of the present example are cooled inside the
storage chamber 205 so as to store coldness when the compressor 241
of the cooling equipment 1 is operated, and radiates the coldness
so as to suppress the temperature rising inside the storage chamber
205 when the compressor 241 is stopped. In this case, the working
temperature range of the temperature-maintaining heat storage
members 209 to 217 includes a temperature inside the storage
chamber 205 during a normal operation. In addition, the working
pressure of the temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to
217 is an atmospheric pressure for example.
[0211] The latent heat storage materials 209a to 217a included in
the temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217 have a
phase change temperature (melting point) which reversibly causes a
phase change between the solid phase and the liquid phase within
the working temperature range of the temperature-maintaining heat
storage members 209 to 217. The latent heat storage material has
the liquid phase at a temperature higher than the phase change
temperature and the solid phase at a temperature lower than the
phase change temperature. The latent heat storage material at the
phase change temperature is in a two-phase (solid and liquid
phases) state where the solid phase and the liquid phase are mixed
together. As described above with reference to FIGS. 29 to 32, the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217 of the
present example always maintain a state of two phases (solid and
liquid phases) when the cooling equipment 1 is in a normal
operation state (operation state where the compressor 241 is
normally controlled).
[0212] A heat storage is a technology where heat is temporarily
stored and the heat is extracted when necessary. A heat storage
method includes sensible heat storage, latent heat storage and
chemical heat storage, but the present example adopts the latent
heat storage. In the latent heat storage, the latent heat of
materials is used to store heat energy of a phase change of the
materials. Heat storage density is high and an output temperature
is constant. As the latent heat storage materials 209a to 217a, ice
(water), paraffin or inorganic salt are used.
[0213] The latent heat storage materials 209a to 217a of the
present example include paraffin. Paraffin refers to a general term
of saturated chain hydrocarbon expressed by a general formula
C.sub.nH.sub.2n+2. In the present example, it is desirable that the
phase change temperature which allows the latent heat storage
materials 209a to 217a to be reversibly phase-changed between the
solid phase and the liquid phase is approximately 4.degree. C. to
6.degree. C.
[0214] In addition, the latent heat storage materials 209a to 217a
contain a gelling agent for gelling (solidifying) paraffin. A gel
means that molecules are cross-linked to form a three-dimensional
network structure and the inside thereof absorbs solvent to swell.
The gelling agent leads to a gelling effect only by allowing
paraffin to contain a few mass % of the gelling agent.
[0215] The temperature-control heat storage member 207 is disposed
opposing the temperature-maintaining heat storage member 213 on the
left inner wall of the middle space. The temperature-control heat
storage member 207 has a latent heat storage material (second
latent heat storage material) 207a which is reversibly
phase-transited between the solid phase and the liquid phase, and a
container body (predetermined container body) 207b which seals the
latent heat storage material 207a. The temperature-control heat
storage member 207 has a rectangular flat plate shape as a whole.
The temperature-control heat storage member 207 has a substantially
constant thickness. The temperature-control heat storage member 207
has a substantially uniform thickness. The temperature-control heat
storage member 207 is used in controlling the temperature inside
the storage chamber 205. The temperature-control heat storage
member 207 is configured to be phase-transited earlier than the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217. The
temperature-control heat storage member 207 has a structure
different from that of the temperature-maintaining heat storage
members 209 to 217. In the present example, the temperature-control
heat storage member 207 is formed to have the thickness thinner
than the thickness of the temperature-maintaining heat storage
members 209 to 217. In this manner, the temperature-control heat
storage member 207 has a structure different from a structure of
the temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217. The
temperature-control heat storage member 207 is formed to have an
average thickness thinner than an average thickness of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217. In this
manner, in the present embodiment, the latent heat storage
materials disposed inside the storage chamber 205 are formed to
have a different thickness depending on a region. The latent heat
quantity of the latent heat storage material in the thickness
direction is increased as the thickness is thicker. The
temperature-control heat storage member 207 has the thickness
thinner than that of the temperature-maintaining heat storage
members 209 to 217. Therefore, the latent heat quantity of the
temperature-control heat storage member 207 in the thickness
direction is smaller than the latent heat quantity of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217 in the
thickness direction. The cooling time of the latent heat storage
material is substantially proportional to the latent heat quantity
of the latent heat storage material in the thickness direction.
That is, the cooling time of the latent heat storage material is
substantially proportional to the thickness of the latent heat
storage material. For example, in order to start the cooling inside
the storage chamber 205 at the time when all the latent heat
storage materials 209a to 217a are respectively melted by 80%, the
thickness of the latent heat storage material 207a at a section for
disposing a temperature sensor 219 (to be described later) is set
to have the thickness of approximately 80% as compared to each
thickness of the latent heat storage materials 209a to 217a. The
temperature-control heat storage member 207, when maintaining the
phase change temperature, also functions as the heat storage member
for maintaining the temperature inside the storage chamber 205.
[0216] The latent heat storage material 207a is formed to have the
forming material the same as that of the latent heat storage
materials 209a to 217a. Thus, the detailed description will be
omitted. The container body 207b is formed to have the forming
material the same as that of the container bodies 209b to 217b.
Thus, the detailed description will be omitted.
[0217] The cooling equipment 201 has the temperature sensor 219
which detects a state of the temperature-control heat storage
member 207. The temperature sensor 219 is used for controlling the
compressor 241. The temperature sensor 219 is disposed in the
vicinity of the temperature-control heat storage member 207 which
is phase-transited earlier than the temperature-maintaining heat
storage members 209 to 217. The temperature sensor 219 is disposed
in the vicinity of the temperature-control heat storage member 207
whose thickness is thinner than that of the temperature-maintaining
heat storage members 209 to 217. In the present example, the
temperature sensor 219 is disposed inside the container body 207b
of the temperature-control heat storage member 207 so as to be in
direct contact with the latent heat storage material 207a included
in the temperature-control heat storage member 207. As described
above with reference to FIGS. 29 to 32, the thin latent heat
storage material is likely to be melted and frozen compared to the
thick latent heat storage material. Therefore, the temperature
sensor 219 detects the temperature of the portion which is likely
to be melted and frozen relatively among the latent heat storage
materials 207a to 217a inside the storage chamber 205. The
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217 are formed
to have a substantially constant thickness. Therefore, the latent
heat quantity of the temperature-maintaining heat storage members
209 to 217 in the thickness direction has a substantially equal
value at any portion. In another point of view, any portion has the
maximum value. Accordingly, the temperature sensor 219 is disposed
at a section where the latent heat quantity of the
temperature-control heat storage member 207 in the thickness
direction is smaller than the maximum value of the latent heat
quantity of the temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to
217 in the thickness direction. Therefore, the temperature sensor
219 detects the temperature of the portion where the latent heat
quantity in the thickness direction is small among latent heat
storage materials 207a to 217a inside the storage chamber 205.
[0218] In addition, the cooling equipment 201 has a control unit
239 which includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, input and output ports and
controls the entire cooling equipment 201. The temperature sensor
219 is connected to the input port of the control unit 239. The
control unit 239 controls the compressor 241 based on the
temperature signal input from the temperature sensor 219. Based on
the input temperature signal, the control unit 239 starts the
compressor 241 when determining that the temperature of the latent
heat storage material 207a of the temperature-control heat storage
member 207, which is likely to be phase-transited relatively, is
higher than the phase change temperature (melting point). This
operates the refrigerating cycle to lower the temperature inside
the storage chamber 205. In addition, based on the input
temperature signal, the control unit 239 stops the compressor 241
when determining that the temperature of the latent heat storage
material 207a is lower than the phase change temperature. The
latent heat storage materials 209a to 217a of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217 can
maintain the phase change temperature during the normal operation
of the compressor 241 and can maintain the state of two phases
(solid and liquid phases). This enables the cooling equipment 201
to easily and accurately maintain a substantially constant
temperature inside the storage chamber 205.
[0219] Next, a control process of the temperature inside the
cooling equipment 201 according to the present example will be
described with reference to FIG. 35. FIG. 35 is a flowchart
illustrating an example of a control process flow of the
temperature inside the cooling equipment 201 according to the
present example. As illustrated in FIG. 35, in the control process
flow of the temperature inside the cooling equipment 201, it is
first determined whether or not a temperature T of the latent heat
storage material 207a included in the temperature-control heat
storage member 207 is higher than an upper limit temperature Thigh
(step S1). The upper limit temperature Thigh is set to have a value
which is higher than the phase change temperature (melting point)
of the latent heat storage material 207a. The upper limit
temperature Thigh is set to be the temperature which is higher than
the phase change temperature by 0.5.degree. C. to 1.degree. C. for
example. The control unit 239 determines whether or not a detection
temperature detected by the temperature sensor 219, that is, the
temperature T of the latent heat storage material 207a is higher
than the upper limit temperature Thigh. The control unit 239
repeats the process until the detection temperature is higher than
the upper limit temperature Thigh, and proceeds to a process in
step S3 when determining that the detection temperature is higher
than the upper limit temperature Thigh.
[0220] In step S3 next to step S1, the cooling of the storage
chamber 205 is started. For example, the control unit 239 proceeds
to a process in step S5 after operating the compressor 241 to start
the cooling of the storage chamber 205.
[0221] In step S5 next to step S3, the control unit 239 determines
whether or not the temperature T of the latent heat storage
material 207a is lower than a lower limit temperature Tlow. The
lower limit temperature Tlow is set to be the temperature which is
lower than the phase change temperature (melting point) of the
latent heat storage material 207a. The lower limit temperature Tlow
is set to be the temperature which is lower than the phase change
temperature by 0.5.degree. C. to 1.degree. C. for example. The
control unit 239 determines whether or not the temperature T of the
latent heat storage material 207a which is detected by the
temperature sensor 219 is lower than the lower limit temperature
Tlow. The control unit 239 repeats the process until the
temperature T is lower than the lower limit temperature Tlow, and
proceeds to a process in step S7 when determining that the
temperature T is lower than the lower limit temperature Tlow.
[0222] In step S7 next to step S5, the cooling of the storage
chamber 205 is stopped. For example, the control unit 239 proceeds
to a process in step S1 after stopping the compressor 241 to stop
the cooling of the storage chamber 205.
[0223] In this manner, the cooling equipment 201 according to the
present example is configured to detect the temperature of the
temperature-control heat storage member 207 which is thinner than
the temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217 and to
control the compressor 241 based on the temperature. The cooling
equipment 201 can accurately maintain a substantially constant
temperature inside the storage chamber 205 by using a simple method
of detecting the temperature of the temperature-control heat
storage member 207 which is independently disposed and separated
from the temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to
217.
[0224] The cooling equipment 201 according to the present example
is configured to start and finish the cooling by using an absolute
value detected by the temperature sensor 219, but is not limited
thereto. For example, the cooling equipment 201 according to the
present embodiment may be configured to sequentially calculate an
amount of the time variation in the temperature detected by the
temperature sensor 219 and to determine the time for starting the
cooling and the time for finishing the cooling by using a size of
the absolute value of the variation amount. In addition, the
control of the cooling inside the storage chamber 205 is not
limited to the operation/stop of the compressor 241. The control
may be an on-off control for the cold air ports 225 and 227, or a
vent hole (not illustrated) located in the middle of the cold air
passages 225 and 227 from the evaporator. Furthermore, the control
of the cooling inside the storage chamber 205 may be an
operation/stop control for a cooling fan (not illustrated) which
blows the cold air to the cold air ports 225 and 227 from the
evaporator. In addition, when a plurality of evaporators is
provided with respect to one compressor, the control may be control
as to whether or not the refrigerant is allowed to flow to the
evaporators.
[0225] As described above, the cooling equipment 201 according to
the present example has the storage chamber 205 which stores
storage goods; the temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209
to 217 which have the latent heat storage materials 209a to 217a,
disposed inside the storage chamber 205 and maintains the
temperature inside the storage chamber 205; the temperature-control
heat storage member 207 which has the latent heat storage material
207a, provided with the structure different from that of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217, disposed
inside the storage chamber 205 and is used in controlling the
temperature inside the storage chamber 205; the temperature sensor
219 which detects the state (in the present embodiment, the
temperature) of the temperature-control heat storage member 207;
the compressor 241 which configures the refrigerating cycle for
cooling the inside of the storage chamber 205; and the control unit
239 which controls the compressor 241 based on the state
(temperature) of the temperature-control heat storage member
207.
[0226] In this manner, the cooling equipment 201 can easily and
accurately maintain a substantially constant temperature of the
storage chamber 205. Since the cooling equipment 201 can more
stably maintain the temperature of the storage chamber 205,
foodstuff stored inside the storage chamber 205 is not under
stress, thereby maintaining freshness of the foodstuff. In
addition, in the cooling equipment 201, the temperature-maintaining
heat storage members 209 to 217 are always in a state of storing
the coldness. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the
temperature rising inside the storage chamber 205 when the door
member 231 is opened and closed. In addition, in the cooling
equipment 201, it is sufficient if the temperature of the cold air
during the cooling is slightly lower than the phase change
temperature of the temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209
to 217. Accordingly, as compared to the heat storage refrigerator
in the related art, it is not necessary to prepare colder air for
lowering the temperature of the heat storage material whose
temperature rises during the period of the stopped compressor.
Therefore, as compared to the heat storage refrigerator in the
related art, the cooling equipment 201 can reduce a load applied to
the compressor 241. Since the load applied to the compressor 241 is
reduced, it is possible for the cooling equipment 201 to
miniaturize the compressor 241, thereby enabling cost saving.
Furthermore, the cooling equipment 201 can prevent the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217 from being
excessively cooled. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce energy
loss, thereby obtaining an energy saving effect.
EXAMPLE 2
[0227] Cooling equipment 210 according to Example 2 of the present
embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 36 and 37.
FIGS. 36 and 37 respectively correspond to FIGS. 33 and 34, and
illustrate a schematic configuration of the cooling equipment 210
according to the present example. The same reference numerals are
given to the same configuring elements having functions and
operations which are the same as those of the cooling equipment 201
according to Example 1 described above, and the description thereof
will be omitted.
[0228] As illustrated in FIGS. 36 and 37, a temperature-control
heat storage member 243 has a latent heat storage material 243a, a
container body 243b which seals the latent heat storage material
243a, and a recess 243c disposed to be partially thin. Since the
temperature-control heat storage member 243 includes the recess
243c, the temperature-control heat storage member 243 is formed to
have a recess shape in a cross-sectional view and to have a
partially different thickness. Within the temperature-control heat
storage member 243, the thickness of a region having the recess
243c is thinner than the thickness of the remaining region. That
is, since the region of the recess 243c is thinner than the
remaining region, the latent heat storage material 243a is formed
to have the partially different thickness. This causes a structure
of the temperature-control heat storage member 243 to be different
from a structure of the rectangular flat plate-shaped
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217.
[0229] The latent heat storage material 243a is formed of the
forming material the same as that of the latent heat storage
material 207a of Example 1 described above. The container body 243b
is formed to have a recess shape in a cross-sectional view and to
have the partially different thickness. The container body 243b is
formed of the forming material the same as that of the container
body 207b of Example 1 described above.
[0230] A temperature sensor 219 for controlling the compressor 241
is disposed in contact with the latent heat storage material 243a
in the thin recess 243c within the temperature-control heat storage
member 243. In addition, the thickness of the temperature-control
heat storage member 243 of the recess 243c having the temperature
sensor 219 is thinner than the average thickness of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217. Therefore,
the temperature sensor 219 detects the temperature of a portion
which is likely to be phase-transited relatively within the latent
heat storage material inside the storage chamber 205.
[0231] As described above, in the cooling equipment 210 of the
present example, the heat storage member (temperature-maintaining
heat storage members 209 to 217 and the temperature-control heat
storage member 243) is formed to have the different thickness
depending on a region, and the temperature sensor 219 is configured
to detect the temperature of the portion in which the latent heat
storage material is thin (thin portion of the recess 243c of the
temperature-control heat storage member 243).
[0232] According to this configuration, it is possible to detect
the temperature of the portion which is likely to be
phase-transited relatively among the latent heat storage materials
209a to 217a and 243a of the temperature-maintaining heat storage
members 209 to 217 and the temperature-control heat storage member
243 inside the storage chamber 205. Accordingly, it is possible to
effectively control the compressor 241 in response to the state of
the phase change of the latent heat storage material 243a. For
example, it is possible to start the compressor 241 before the
temperature inside the storage chamber 205 rises and the latent
heat storage materials 209a to 217a of the temperature-maintaining
heat storage members 209 to 217 are melted. It is possible to stop
the compressor 241 before the temperature inside the storage
chamber 205 falls and the latent heat storage materials 209a to
217a are frozen. This enables the cooling equipment 210 to obtain
the effect the same as that of the cooling equipment 201 according
to Example 1 described above.
EXAMPLE 3
[0233] Next, cooling equipment 220 according to Example 3 of the
present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 38 to
40. FIGS. 38 and 39 respectively correspond to FIGS. 33 and 34, and
illustrate a schematic configuration of the cooling equipment 220
according to the present example. The same reference numerals are
given to the same configuring elements having functions and
operations which are the same as those of the cooling equipment 201
according to Example 1 described above, and the description thereof
will be omitted.
[0234] As illustrated in FIGS. 38 and 39, the cooling equipment 220
has a plate-shaped member 247 provided in a temperature-control
heat storage member 245. This causes a structure of the
temperature-control heat storage member 245 to be different from a
structure of the rectangular flat plate-shaped
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217. The
temperature sensor 219 for controlling the compressor 241 is
arranged in contact with the plate-shaped member 247 inside a
latent heat storage material 245a of the temperature-control heat
storage member 245. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 38 and 39,
the temperature sensor 219 is arranged by being embedded in
substantially a center portion inside the plate-shaped member
247.
[0235] The plate-shaped member 247 is arranged in a portion of the
center of the temperature-control heat storage member 245. The
plate-shaped member 247 is formed of a material having no latent
heat within a temperature range for controlling the temperature
inside the storage chamber 205. The plate-shaped member 247 is
formed of the material having high heat conductivity since
increased uniformity of the temperature is needed. The plate-shaped
member 247 is formed of the material having the heat conductivity
higher than that of the forming material of the latent heat storage
material 245a. The plate-shaped member 247 has a rectangular flat
plate shape. The plate-shaped member 247 is formed in a rectangular
thin plate shape having a vertical length and a horizontal length
which are approximately equal to or longer than the thickness when
viewed in a normal direction. The plate-shaped member 247 is formed
to have the thickness thinner than each thickness of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217 and the
temperature-control heat storage member 245.
[0236] The temperature-control heat storage member 245 has a
rectangular flat plate shape as a whole. In addition, the
temperature-control heat storage member 245 has an outer shape
which is substantially the same as that of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 213. The
temperature-control heat storage member 245 has a thickness which
is substantially the same as that of the temperature-maintaining
heat storage member 213. However, the plate-shaped member 247 is
arranged inside the temperature-control heat storage member 245.
Although the temperature-control heat storage member 245 has the
thickness which is substantially the same as that of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 213, a portion where
the plate-shaped member 247 of the temperature-control heat storage
member 245 is arranged has a smaller latent heat quantity in the
thickness direction by a portion where the plate-shaped member 247
is arranged as compared to a portion where plate-shaped member 247
is not arranged. The portion having the relatively smaller latent
heat quantity is likely to be melted and frozen relatively. In the
present example, the temperature sensor 219 is disposed in the
plate-shaped member 247. Accordingly, the temperature sensor 219 is
arranged in the portion having the smaller latent heat quantity in
the thickness direction of the temperature-control heat storage
member 245. That is, the temperature sensor 219 detects the
temperature of the portion which is likely to be phase-transited
relatively within the latent heat storage material inside the
storage chamber 205. This enables the cooling equipment 220
according to the present example to obtain the effect the same as
that of the cooling equipment 201 according to Example 1 described
above.
[0237] FIG. 40 illustrates various shapes of the plate-shaped
member 247. As illustrated in FIG. 40(a), the plate-shaped member
247 has a square flat plate shape and the temperature sensor 219 is
arranged in substantially the center portion. As illustrated in
FIG. 40(b), the plate-shaped member 247 may have a square flat
plate shape and the temperature sensor 219 may be arranged on the
surface thereof. If the plate-shaped member 247 illustrated in FIG.
40(b) is arranged in the temperature-control heat storage member
245 which is filled with the latent heat storage material 245a, the
temperature sensor 219 can be in direct contact with the latent
heat storage material 245a. Although not illustrated, the
plate-shaped member 247 may have a rectangular flat plate shape and
the temperature sensor 219 may be arranged on the surface thereof.
As illustrated in FIG. 40(c), the plate-shaped member 247 may have
a shape of a flat plate disk and the temperature sensor 219 may be
arranged in substantially the center portion. In addition, as
illustrated in FIG. 40(d), the plate-shaped member 247 may have a
shape of a disk having an elliptical shape when viewed from a
lateral surface side and the temperature sensor 219 may be arranged
in substantially the center portion.
[0238] If the plate-shaped member 247 has a shape other than a
rectangular parallelepiped shape, it is desirable that the
temperature sensor 219 is arranged inside the plate-shaped member
247 such that within the length from the temperature sensor 219 to
the surface of the plate-shaped member 247, the length parallel to
the thickness direction of the temperature-control heat storage
member 245 is substantially equal to or shorter than the length
orthogonal to the thickness direction of the temperature-control
heat storage member 245.
EXAMPLE 4
[0239] Next, cooling equipment 230 according to Example 4 of the
present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 41 to
42. FIGS. 41 and 42 respectively correspond to FIGS. 33 and 34, and
illustrate a schematic configuration of the cooling equipment 230
according to the present example. The same reference numerals are
given to the same configuring elements having functions and
operations which are the same as those of the cooling equipment 201
according to Example 1 described above, and the description thereof
will be omitted.
[0240] As illustrated in FIGS. 41 and 42, the cooling equipment 230
has a temperature sensor 249 which is disposed inside a
temperature-control heat storage member 251 and has a predetermined
thickness. The temperature sensor 249 is used in controlling the
compressor 241. The temperature sensor 249 has a rectangular flat
plate shape. The temperature sensor 249 is arranged by being
embedded in substantially a center inside the temperature-control
heat storage member 251. This causes a structure of the
temperature-control heat storage member 251 to be different from a
structure of the rectangular flat plate-shaped
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217. The
temperature-control heat storage member 251 has a latent heat
storage material 251a and a container body 251b which seals the
latent heat storage material 251a. The latent heat storage material
251a is formed of a material the same as that of the latent heat
storage materials 209a to 217a. The container body 251b has a
rectangular box shape. The container body 251b is formed of the
material the same as that of the container bodies 209b to 217b.
[0241] The temperature sensor 249 is arranged in a portion of the
center of the temperature-control heat storage member 251. The
temperature sensor 249 is formed of a material having no latent
heat within a temperature range for controlling the temperature
inside the storage chamber 205. The temperature sensor 249 is
formed of the material having high heat conductivity since
increased uniformity of the temperature is needed. The temperature
sensor 249 is formed of the material having the heat conductivity
higher than that of the forming material of the latent heat storage
material 251a. The temperature sensor 249 has a rectangular flat
plate shape. The temperature sensor 249 is formed in a rectangular
thin plate shape having a vertical length and a horizontal length
which are longer than the thickness when viewed from a normal
direction. The temperature sensor 249 is formed to have the
thickness thinner than each thickness of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217 and the
temperature-control heat storage member 251.
[0242] The temperature-control heat storage member 251 has a
rectangular flat plate shape as a whole. In addition, the
temperature-control heat storage member 251 has an outer shape
which is substantially the same as that of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 213. The
temperature-control heat storage member 251 has the thickness which
is substantially the same as that of the temperature-maintaining
heat storage members 213. However, the temperature sensor 249 is
arranged inside the temperature-control heat storage member 251.
Although the temperature-control heat storage member 251 has the
thickness which is substantially the same as that of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 213, a portion where
the temperature sensor 249 of the temperature-control heat storage
member 251 is arranged has a smaller latent heat quantity in the
thickness direction by a portion where the temperature sensor 249
is arranged as compared to a portion where temperature sensor 249
is not arranged. The portion having the relatively smaller latent
heat quantity is likely to be melted and frozen relatively. In the
present example, the temperature sensor 249 is arranged in the
portion having the smaller latent heat quantity in the thickness
direction of the temperature-control heat storage member 251. That
is, the temperature sensor 249 detects the temperature of the
portion which is likely to be phase-transited relatively within the
latent heat storage material inside the storage chamber 205. This
enables the cooling equipment 230 according to the present example
to obtain the effect the same as that of the cooling equipment 201
according to Example 1 described above.
EXAMPLE 5
[0243] Next, cooling equipment 240 according to Example 5 of the
present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 43 and
44. FIGS. 43 and 44 respectively correspond to FIGS. 33 and 34, and
illustrate a schematic configuration of the cooling equipment 240
according to the present example. The same reference numerals are
given to the same configuring elements having functions and
operations which are the same as those of the cooling equipment 201
according to Example 1 described above, and the description thereof
will be omitted.
[0244] As illustrated in FIGS. 43 and 44, the cooling equipment 240
has a temperature-control heat storage member 253 which is provided
with a latent heat storage material 253a, a heat conductive filler
253c mixed into the latent heat storage material 253a and a
container body 253b which seals the latent heat storage material
253a and the heat conductive filler 253c. Whereas the
temperature-control heat storage member 253 has the heat conductive
filler 253c, the temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209
to 217 have no heat conductive filler 253c. This causes a structure
of the temperature-control heat storage member 253 to be different
from a structure of the temperature-maintaining heat storage
members 209 to 217. In the temperature-control heat storage member
253, mixing a small amount of the heat conductive filler 253c with
the latent heat storage material 253a slightly decreases the latent
heat quantity in the thickness direction. However, as compared to
the temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217 having
no heat conductive filler 253c, there is little difference in the
latent heat quantity. It is desirable that a particle size of the
heat conductive filler 253c be small to such an extent that the
mixing of the heat conductive filler 253c does not cause
non-uniformity of the temperature-control heat storage member 253.
A range of the particle size of the heat conductive filler 253c is
from a lower limit length which limits machining to an upper limit
length which does not cause irregularities in the heat conduction.
For example, it is desirable that the particle size of the heat
conductive filler 253c be in the range of several .mu.m to several
hundred .mu.m. In addition, there is a need that the heat
conductivity of the heat conductive filler 253c is higher than the
heat conductivity of the latent heat storage material 253a. The
heat conductive filler 253c is small particles formed of aluminum
for example and has several % of the latent heat storage material
253a mixed thereinside by volume ratio.
[0245] The latent heat storage material 253a is formed of a
material the same as that of the latent heat storage materials 209a
to 217a. The container body 253b has a shape of a rectangular box.
The container body 253b is formed of a material the same as that of
the container bodies 209b to 217b.
[0246] The temperature-control heat storage member 253 has the heat
conductive filler 253c in a portion inside the container body 253b
for example. In the portion having the heat conductive filler 253c,
the heat conductivity is increased compared to the other portions.
Therefore, in the latent heat storage material 253a in the vicinity
of the heat conductive filler 253c, heat exchange is accelerated
compared to the latent heat storage material 253a of the other
portions so as to be phase-transited relatively earlier. Therefore,
the cooling equipment 240 according to the present example is
arranged by bringing the temperature sensor 219 into contact with
the latent heat storage material 253a in the vicinity of the heat
conductive filler 253c, thereby obtaining the effect the same as
that of the cooling equipment 1 according to Example 1 described
above. In addition, in the cooling equipment 240 according to the
present example, the heat conductivity is increased in a portion of
the temperature-control heat storage member 253. Therefore, the
temperature-control heat storage member 253 is not necessarily
formed to be relatively thin or formed to have a partial thin
portion. The temperature-control heat storage member 253 can be
formed to have the thickness which is substantially the same as
that of the temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to
217.
[0247] In addition, in the present example, the heat conductive
filler is mixed into the temperature-control heat storage member
253, but the present example is not limited thereto. For example, a
fine particle additive material may be mixed into the
temperature-control heat storage member 253 instead of the heat
conductive filler. The fine particle additive material is formed of
polyethylene for example which is intimate to the latent heat
storage material 253a. It is desirable that the particle size of
the fine particle additive material be several .mu.m to several
hundred .mu.m and uniform. The fine particle additive material is
mixed into the latent heat storage material 253a by volume ratio of
approximately 20% of the latent heat storage material 253a for
example. In the temperature-control heat storage member 253 having
the fine particle additive material mixed, compared to the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217, the heat
conductivity is substantially the same as each other, but the
latent heat quantity is decreased. Therefore, compared to the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 209 to 217, the
temperature-control heat storage member 253 is melted earlier and
frozen earlier. This enables the cooling equipment 240 provided
with the temperature-control heat storage member 253 having the
fine particle additive material to obtain the effect the same as
that of the cooling equipment 201 according to Example 1 described
above.
EXAMPLE 6
[0248] Next, cooling equipment 250 according to Example 6 of the
present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 45 to
47. The cooling equipment 250 according to the present example is
characterized by an arrangement section inside the equipment for a
temperature-control heat storage member. FIG. 45 schematically
illustrates a schematic configuration of the cooling equipment 250
according to the present example by using a simulation of a state
of cooling inside the storage chamber 205. As illustrated in FIG.
45, the cooling equipment 250 has a cold air port 255 which is
disposed in an upper portion on a left side surface and through
which the cold air blows, and a suction port 257 which is disposed
in a lower portion on a front surface and sucks the cold air
flowing in the storage chamber. A thick arrow illustrated in FIG.
45 indicates the cold air flowing into the storage chamber 205. In
addition, measurement points P1 to P5 indicate the arrangement
sections for the latent heat storage materials and indicate data
acquisition sections on the temperature variation in the latent
heat storage material. In addition, a plurality of thin arrows
illustrated in FIG. 45 schematically indicates a convection state
of the cold air inside the storage chamber 205.
[0249] The cold air is caused to blow into the storage chamber 205
toward an opposing surface which opposes a side surface having the
cold air port 255 by a speed of 30 cm/sec. A temperature of the
cold air is 0.degree. C. The inside of the storage chamber 205 is
cooled by the cold air for 20 hours and after finishing the
cooling, the coldness is naturally radiated. FIGS. 46 and 47 are
graphs illustrating a simulation result of the time variation in
the temperature at the measurement points P1 to P5 which is
obtained based on the above-described condition. FIG. 47(a) is a
graph illustrating an enlarged portion of a cooling time
illustrated by a double-headed arrow L15 in FIG. 46, and FIG. 47(b)
is a graph illustrating an enlarged portion of a natural cooling
time illustrated by a double-headed arrow L16 in FIG. 46. In FIGS.
46 and 47, the horizontal axis represents the elapsed time (h) from
the cooling through the natural radiating of the coldness. The
vertical axis represents the temperature (.degree. C.) at the
measurement points P1 to P5. In FIGS. 46 and 47, the curve C12 of
the dashed line represents the time variation in the temperature at
the measurement point P1 on the upper surface inside the storage
chamber 205, the curve C13 of the dashed line represents the time
variation in the temperature at the measurement point P2 in the
upper portion on the side surface inside the storage chamber 205,
the curve C14 of the dashed line represents the time variation in
the temperature at the measurement point P3 in the middle portion
on the side surface inside the storage chamber 205, the curve C15
of the solid line represents the time variation in the temperature
at the measurement point P4 in the lower portion on the side
surface inside the storage chamber 205, and the curve C16 of the
solid line represents the time variation in the temperature at the
measurement point P5 in the bottom surface inside the storage
chamber 205.
[0250] As illustrated in FIGS. 46 and 47(a), the temperature at the
measurement point P1 corresponding to the curve C12 starts to fall
most quickly, then the temperature at the measurement point P2
corresponding to the curve C13 starts to fall, then the temperature
at the measurement point P3 corresponding to the curve C14 starts
to fall, then the temperature at the measurement point P4
corresponding to the curve C15 starts to fall, and then the
temperature at the measurement point P5 corresponding to the curve
C16 starts to fall. In this manner, within the storage chamber 205,
the latent heat storage material arranged in the sections with
which the blowing cold air is likely to collide starts to be frozen
first. The temperature at the measurement point P1 starts to fall
most quickly, but falls in stages. Therefore, the time for reaching
approximately 4.degree. C. which is the lowest cooling temperature
of the latent heat storage material is the shortest at the
measurement point P2, then shorter at the measurement point P3 and
then shorter at the measurement point P1.
[0251] As illustrated in FIGS. 46 and 47(b), the temperature at the
measurement point P4 corresponding to the curve C15 starts to rise
most quickly, then the temperature at the measurement point P2
corresponding to the curve C13 starts to rise, then the temperature
at the measurement point P1 corresponding to the curve C12 starts
to rise, then the temperature at the measurement point P3
corresponding to the curve C14 starts to rise, and then the
temperature at the measurement point P5 corresponding to the curve
C16 starts to rise. In this manner, the latent heat storage
material arranged in the section where the heat is transferred in a
plurality of directions like corners within the storage chamber 205
to cause large heat transfer starts to be melted.
[0252] It is desirable that the temperature-control heat storage
member be likely to be frozen and melted relatively. Therefore, in
the cooling equipment 250 according to the present example, the
temperature-control heat storage member is arranged in the section
which is likely to be frozen and melted relatively, that is, in the
vicinity of the corners with which the cold air is likely to
collide. In contrast, the temperature-maintaining heat storage
members are arranged in the other sections. According to the
configuration illustrated in FIG. 45, the temperature-control heat
storage member is arranged at the measurement point P2. A structure
of the temperature-control heat storage member may adopt any of the
structures in Examples 1 to 5 for example. In addition, since the
temperature-control heat storage member is arranged in the section
which is likely to be frozen and melted relatively, the structure
of the temperature-control heat storage member may be the same as
the structure of the temperature-maintaining heat storage members.
In addition, as the section which is likely to be frozen and melted
relatively, the temperature-control heat storage member may be of
course arranged in a section of large heat transfer, such as a
packing disposed in an outer periphery of the door member in order
to enhance sealability between the door member and the cooling
equipment main body.
[0253] As described above, the cooling equipment 250 according to
the present example has the temperature-control heat storage member
in the section which is likely to be frozen and melted relatively.
Therefore, it is possible to obtain the effect the same as that of
the cooling equipment 201 according to Example 1 described
above.
EXAMPLE 7
[0254] Next, cooling equipment 260 according to Example 7 of the
present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 48 to
50. A temperature-control heat storage member which can be used
instead of the temperature-control heat storage members in Examples
1 to 6 will be described as the present example. FIG. 48
illustrates a configuration of a temperature-control heat storage
member 259 which is used in the cooling equipment according to the
present example. FIG. 48(a) is a plan view and FIG. 48(b) is a side
cross-sectional view. The temperature-control heat storage member
259 is formed to have a different thickness depending on a region.
The temperature-control heat storage member 259 has a thick portion
261 where an outside is thick and a thin portion 263 where an
inside thereof is thin. The temperature sensor 219 is disposed
inside the container body of the thin portion 263. In other words,
in the temperature-control heat storage member 259, the thickness
of the portion having the temperature sensor 219 is thinner than
the thickness of other portions. The temperature sensor 219 detects
the temperature of a portion which is likely to be melted and
frozen relatively within the latent heat storage material 259a
inside the temperature-control heat storage member 259. Required
wires 265 and 267 are connected to the temperature sensor 219. This
enables the temperature-control heat storage member 259 to function
as a temperature sensor integrated temperature-control heat storage
member.
[0255] FIG. 49 illustrates a configuration of a temperature-control
heat storage member 269 according to a modification example of the
present example. FIG. 49(a) is a plan view and FIG. 49(b) is a
cross-sectional view. As illustrated in FIGS. 49(a) and 49(b), the
temperature-control heat storage member 269 has a rectangular flat
shape as a whole. The temperature-control heat storage member 269
has a hollow container body 269b which is hermetically sealed and a
latent heat storage material 269a which fills the inside of the
container body 269b. The temperature-control heat storage member
269 has a plate-shaped member 271 which is arranged in
substantially a center portion inside the container body 269b. The
plate-shaped member 271 has a rectangular flat plate shape as a
whole. The plate-shaped member 271 is formed of a material having
no latent heat in a control temperature range. For example, the
plate-shaped member 271 is formed of aluminum or polyethylene. The
temperature sensor 219 is arranged inside the plate-shaped member
271. The temperature sensor 219 is disposed in contact with the
latent heat storage material 269a via the plate-shaped member
271.
[0256] FIG. 50 corresponds to FIG. 33 and illustrates a schematic
configuration of the cooling equipment 260 according to the present
example. The same reference numerals are given to the same
configuring elements having functions and operations which are the
same as those of the cooling equipment 201 according to Example 1
described above, and the description thereof will be omitted.
[0257] As illustrated in FIG. 50, the temperature-control heat
storage member 259 or the temperature-control heat storage member
269 can be arranged in any place inside the storage chamber 205. In
the present example, the temperature-control heat storage member
259 or the temperature-control heat storage member 269 is arranged
in the upper space of the storage chamber 205 so as to be
attachable and detachable. In the present example, the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 213 are respectively
arranged on left and right side surfaces in the center space inside
the storage chamber 205. In the present example, the
temperature-control heat storage member 259 or the
temperature-control heat storage member 269 is easily attached to
the temperature sensor 219 inside the storage chamber 205 of the
cooling equipment 260. When the temperature sensor 219 fails, it is
easy to replace the temperature sensor 219. In addition, in the
present example, it is not necessary to dispose the temperature
sensor in the heat storage member fixed inside the storage chamber
205. Therefore, it is possible to simplify molding work for forming
the heat storage member.
EXAMPLE 8
[0258] Next, cooling equipment 300 according to Example 8 of the
present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 51. In
the above-described examples, the fan type (forced convection type)
cooling equipment which cools the inside of the storage chamber by
blowing the cold air into the storage chamber has been described as
an example. However, the cooling equipment according to the present
example is a direct cooling type (natural convection type) where
the evaporator is arranged inside the storage chamber to cool the
inside of the storage chamber by using natural convection. FIG. 51
is a front view illustrating a schematic configuration of the
cooling equipment 300 according to the present example.
[0259] The cooling equipment 300 has a rectangular parallelepiped
cooling equipment main body 303 which is high in a vertical
direction when installed. FIG. 51 illustrates a state when observed
from a front surface 303a of the cooling equipment main body 303. A
rectangular opening is disposed on the front surface 303a of the
cooling equipment main body 303. The rectangular opening is
disposed as an open end, and a hollow box-shaped storage chamber
305 which stores storage goods is disposed inside the cooling
equipment main body 303.
[0260] A door member made of resins for example is attached to be
openable and closeable to a right side of the open end of the front
surface 303a via a hinge mechanism (not illustrated). The door
member has a rectangular flat plate shape including a region which
covers the rectangular opening of the storage chamber 305 in a
state where the door member is closed. In addition, a door packing
(not illustrated) for ensuring sealability of the storage chamber
305 when the door is closed is arranged on a side surface of the
door member which opposes an outer periphery including the opening
of the storage chamber 305.
[0261] In addition, the cooling equipment 300 has a compressor (not
illustrated) which configures a vapor compression type
refrigerating cycle for cooling the inside of the storage chamber
205 and compresses refrigerant. The compressor is disposed in a
space unit 329 disposed in the lower portion of the cooling
equipment main body 303. Although not illustrated, in addition to
the compressor, the refrigerating cycle is configured to have at
least a condenser which condenses the refrigerant compressed in the
compressor and radiates the heat outward, an expansion unit which
expands the condensed refrigerant (for example, a capillary tube)
and an evaporator which vaporizes the expanded refrigerant and
cools the inside of the storage chamber 305 by using vaporization
heat.
[0262] A cooling plate 301 as the evaporator is arranged in the
upper portion inside the storage chamber 305 of the cooling
equipment main body 303. The cooling plate 301 has a flat
plate-shaped front surface and rear surface which are arranged
opposing each other by interposing an evaporation mechanism (not
illustrated) vaporizing the refrigerant thereinside. The front
surface of the cooling plate 301 faces the inside of the storage
chamber 305 and is in contact with a temperature-control heat
storage member 307 (details to be described later) and a
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 309 (details to be
described later). The rear surface of the cooling plate 301 faces
the cooling equipment main body 303 and is in contact with the
cooling equipment main body 303.
[0263] In the present example, the temperature-control heat storage
member 307 and the temperature-maintaining heat storage member 309
are formed integrally with each other. The temperature-maintaining
heat storage member 309 is arranged in both sides of the
temperature-control heat storage member 307. The
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 309 has a latent heat
storage material 309a and a container body 309b which seals the
latent heat storage material 309a. The latent heat storage material
309a is formed of a material the same as that of the latent heat
storage material 207a in Example 1 described above. The container
body 309b is formed of a material the same as that of the container
body 207b in Example 1 described above.
[0264] The temperature-control heat storage member 307 has a latent
heat storage material 307a and a container body 307b which seals
the latent heat storage material 307a. The latent heat storage
material 307a is formed of a material the same as that of the
latent heat storage material 207a in Example 1 described above. The
container body 307b is formed of a material the same as that of the
container body 207b in Example 1 described above.
[0265] The temperature-control heat storage member 307 is formed to
have the thickness thinner than that of the temperature-maintaining
heat storage member 309. In addition, the temperature-control heat
storage member 307 is arranged by being interposed between the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 309. Therefore, an
entire shape of the temperature-control heat storage member 307 and
the temperature-maintaining heat storage members 309 which are
integrated with each other has a recess shape in a cross-sectional
view where a portion having the temperature-control heat storage
member 307 is a recess.
[0266] A temperature sensor 319 for controlling the compressor is
disposed in contact with the latent heat storage material 307a of
the temperature-control heat storage member 307. In addition, an
average thickness of the temperature-control heat storage member
307 having the temperature sensor 319 is thinner than an average
thickness of the temperature-maintaining heat storage members 309.
Therefore, the temperature sensor 319 detects the temperature of
the portion which is likely to be melted and frozen relatively
within the latent heat storage material inside the storage chamber
305. This enables the cooling equipment 300 according to the
present example to realize the temperature control the same as that
of the cooling equipment 201 according to Example 1 described
above.
[0267] The entire the front surface of the cooling plate 301 is
almost covered with the temperature-control heat storage member 307
and the temperature-maintaining heat storage members 309.
Therefore, the coldness from the cooling plate 301 is introduced
into the storage chamber 305 via the temperature-control heat
storage member 307 and the temperature-maintaining heat storage
members 309. In this manner, the cooling equipment 300 according to
the present example performs indirect cooling via the
temperature-control heat storage member 307 and the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 309. The air flow
generated inside the storage chamber 305 of the cooling equipment
300 according to the present example flows downward from the center
of the upper portion of the storage chamber 305 and rises along the
side wall inside the storage chamber 305 as illustrated by the
curved arrow in the drawing. The coldness from the
temperature-control heat storage member 307 and the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 309 rides on this
natural convection to be circulated inside the storage chamber 305,
and thus the inside of the storage chamber 305 is cooled.
[0268] The temperature-maintaining heat storage members 309 are
arranged over a wide range of the front surface of the cooling
plate 301 compared to the temperature-control heat storage member
307. The temperature-maintaining heat storage members 309 are
always in two phases (solid and liquid phases). Therefore, the
inside of the storage chamber 305 in which the upper portion is
covered with the temperature-control heat storage member 307 and
the temperature-maintaining heat storage members 309 has the
temperature which is substantially the same as the phase change
temperature of the temperature-maintaining heat storage members
309. This enables the cooling equipment 300 according to the
present example to have the effect the same as that of the cooling
equipment 201 according to Example 1 described above. Furthermore,
since the cooling equipment 300 according to the present example is
the direct cooling type, there is no possibility of supplying the
cold air into the storage chamber 305 unlike the fan type.
Therefore, the cooling equipment 300 can obtain an effect that the
temperature inside the storage chamber 305 is not influenced by the
temperature of the cold air.
[0269] In addition, the cooling equipment 300 performs the
temperature control the same as that of the cooling equipment 201
according to Example 1 at the section where the temperature-control
heat storage member 307 and the cooling plate 301 are combined with
each other. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve a state the same
as a state where a cooling plate having a constant temperature is
always provided. In this manner, it is not necessary for the
cooling equipment 300 to provide a complicated control mechanism to
maintain a constant temperature inside the storage chamber 305,
thereby achieving the cost saving.
EXAMPLE 9
[0270] Next, cooling equipment 310 according to Example 9 of the
present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 52. In
the Example 8 described above, whereas the temperature-maintaining
heat storage member is arranged only in the upper portion inside
the storage chamber 305, the cooling equipment 310 according to the
present example is characterized in that the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members are also arranged in
both side portions, a rear surface portion, a bottom portion and a
door member in the storage chamber 305. FIG. 52 is a front view
illustrating a schematic configuration of the cooling equipment 310
according to the present example.
[0271] As illustrated in FIG. 52, the cooling equipment 310
according to the present example has a temperature-maintaining heat
storage member 311 which is disposed on substantially the entire
surface of the left side portion when viewed from the front surface
303a side of the cooling equipment main body 303, a
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 313 which is disposed
on substantially the entire surface of the right side portion, a
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 315 which is disposed
on substantially the entire surface of the bottom portion, a
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 317 which is disposed
on substantially the entire surface of the rear surface portion,
and a temperature-maintaining heat storage member (not illustrated)
which is disposed on substantially the entire surface of the
storage chamber 305 side of the door member (not illustrated).
[0272] The temperature-maintaining heat storage members 311, 313,
315, and 317 respectively have latent heat storage materials 311a,
313a, 315a, and 317a, and container bodies 311b, 313b, 315b, and
317b which respectively seal the latent heat storage materials
311a, 313a, 315a, and 317a. The latent heat storage materials 311a,
313a, 315a, and 317a are respectively formed of a material the same
as that of the latent heat storage material 207a in Example 1
described above. The container bodies 311b, 313b, 315b, and 317b
are respectively formed of a material the same as that of the
container body 207b in Example 1 described above. In addition, the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member disposed in the door
member has a latent heat storage material (not illustrated) formed
of a material the same as that of the latent heat storage material
207a in Example 1 described above, and a container body (not
illustrated) formed of a material the same as that of the container
body 207b in Example 1 described above.
[0273] The average thickness of the temperature-maintaining heat
storage members 311, 313, 315, and 317 and the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member disposed in the door
member is formed to be thicker than the average thickness of the
temperature-control heat storage member 307. Therefore, the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 309, 311, 313, 315,
and 317 and the temperature-maintaining heat storage member
disposed in the door member are always in two phases (solid and
liquid phases) in an operation state where the compressor (not
illustrated) is normally controlled. Therefore, the inside of the
storage chamber 305 the periphery of which is covered with the
temperature-maintaining heat storage members 309, 311, 313, 315,
and 317, the temperature-maintaining heat storage member disposed
in the door member and the temperature-control heat storage member
307 has substantially the same temperature as the phase change
temperature of these temperature-maintaining heat storage members.
This enables the cooling equipment 310 according to the present
example to have the effect the same as that of the cooling
equipment 300 according to Example 8 described above. Furthermore,
substantially the entire periphery of the storage chamber 305 is
surrounded by the temperature-maintaining heat storage members 311,
313, 315, and 317, the temperature-maintaining heat storage member
disposed in the door member. Therefore, the cooling equipment 310
according to the present example can obtain an effect that the
temperature inside the equipment can be more uniformly
maintained.
[0274] In Examples 1 to 9, the temperature sensor which detects the
temperature of the temperature-control heat storage member has been
described as an example. However, in order to detect a state of the
temperature-control heat storage member without being limited to
the temperature only, a sensor can be used which detects various
states such as the volume change, the mechanical strength or the
optical characteristics of the latent heat storage material. Even
by using the sensor which detects these various states, it is
possible to accurately detect the state of the phase change in the
latent heat storage material and to very accurately control the
temperature inside the cooling equipment.
EXAMPLE 10
[0275] Cooling equipment according to Example 10 of the present
embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 53. The cooling
equipment according to the present example is characterized in that
the cooling equipment detects a state of the latent heat storage
material based on a volume change. With regard to the volume
change, a volume is contracted when a gel state (liquid phase) is
changed to a solid state (solid phase). Accordingly, strain
occurring when the volume is contracted is observed by using
piezoelectric elements, strain gauges (resistance change), eddy
currents, or the like. A member of the sensor portion may be be
softened so as to easily receive influence of the volume
contraction. FIG. 53 illustrates a configuration of the
temperature-control heat storage member 273 used in the cooling
equipment according to the present example. The temperature-control
heat storage member 273 has a rectangular flat plate shape as a
whole. The temperature-control heat storage member 273 has a hollow
container body 273b which is hermetically sealed. The
temperature-control heat storage member 273 has a pair of
electrodes 274a and 274b and a piezoelectric element 275 which is
interposed between the pair of electrodes 274a and 274b disposed
inside the container body 273b. A space between one side surface of
the container body 273b and the electrode 274b is filled with a
latent heat material 273a. In addition, two spring members 281a and
281b are disposed between an opposing side surface of the container
body 273b which opposes the one side surface and the electrode
274a. A wire 277a is connected to the electrode 274a and a wire
277b is connected to the electrode 274b. The temperature-control
heat storage member 273 is formed to be smaller than the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member arranged in the cooling
equipment. In this manner, the latent heat quantity which can be
stored in the temperature-control heat storage member 273 is
smaller than the latent heat quantity which can be stored in the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member. In this manner, as
compared to the temperature-maintaining heat storage member, the
temperature-control heat storage member 273 is likely to be frozen
and melted. In addition, since the temperature-control heat storage
member 273 has the piezoelectric element 275 or the like, the
temperature-control heat storage member 273 has a structure
different from that of the temperature-maintaining heat storage
member having no piezoelectric element or the like.
[0276] The piezoelectric element 275 receives a force from the
latent heat storage material 273a and the spring members 281a and
281b and thus the strain occurs. This causes the piezoelectric
element 275 to generate a positive charge in the electrode 274a
side for example and to generate a negative charge in the electrode
274b side. Therefore, a voltage based generated charge is generated
between the wires 277a and 277b via the electrodes 274a and 274b.
If the latent heat storage material 273a is in a frozen state, the
volume is contracted compared to a melted state. Therefore, the
force applied to the piezoelectric element 275 by the latent heat
storage material 273a is decreased in the frozen state compared to
the melted state. If the force applied to the piezoelectric element
275 is decreased, an amount of the generated charges is decreased.
Accordingly, the voltage generated between the wires 277a and 277b
is further lowered in the frozen state than the latent heat storage
material 273a in the melted state. Therefore, it is possible to
understand a state of the latent heat storage material 273a by
detecting the voltage generated between the wires 277a and 277b.
This enables the cooling equipment using the temperature-control
heat storage member 273 of the present example to have the effect
the same as that of the cooling equipment according to Examples 1
to 7 described above. In addition, without examining a volume
change in the heat storage member of the entire system, it is
possible to understand a state of the phase transition in the heat
storage member of the system.
EXAMPLE 11
[0277] Next, cooling equipment according to Example 11 of the
present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 54. The
cooling equipment according to the present example is characterized
in that the cooling equipment detects a state of the latent heat
storage material based on mechanical strength. With regard to the
mechanical strength, the gel state (liquid phase) is softer than
the solid state. Accordingly, a needle vertically moving at a
constant interval is brought into contact with the latent heat
storage material and a magnitude of stress applied to the needle is
observed so that a state of the latent heat storage material is
determined. FIG. 54 illustrates an enlarged portion of a
temperature-control heat storage member 283 used in the cooling
equipment according to the present example. As illustrated in FIG.
54, similar to the temperature-control heat storage member 207 in
Example 1 described above for example, the temperature-control heat
storage member 283 has a rectangular flat plate shape as a whole.
The temperature-control heat storage member 283 has a latent heat
storage material 283a, a container body 283b filled with the latent
heat storage material 283a, a sensor arrangement portion 283c
formed to protrude from the container body 283b. The latent heat
storage material 283a has a surface covered with a flexible film
(not illustrated) in order to avoid direct contact with a pressing
needle 285a (to be described later). The latent heat storage
material 283a may not be covered with the film. For example, the
sensor arrangement portion 283c has a cylindrical shape and is
formed integrally with the container body 283b. An inner space of
the sensor arrangement portion 283c communicates with an inner
space of the container body 283b. The container body 283b and the
sensor arrangement portion 283c are formed of a material the same
as that of the container body 207b of Example 1 described above. In
addition, the latent heat storage material 283a is formed of a
material the same as that of the latent heat storage material 207a
of Example 1 described above.
[0278] A mechanical strength sensor 285 is arranged inside the
sensor arrangement portion 283c. The mechanical strength sensor 285
is disposed such that one end portion comes into contact with the
film, and has the pressing needle 285a pressing down the latent
heat storage material 283a and a spring member 285b disposed in the
other end portion of the pressing needle 285a. A control unit (not
illustrated) and the spring member 285b cause the pressing needle
285a to apply a constant pressure to the latent heat storage
material 283a while moving vertically in a constant interval. If
the pressing needle 285a presses down the latent heat storage
material 283a, as illustrated by a thick arrow in FIG. 54, the
pressing needle 285a receives a repulsive force from the latent
heat storage material 283a. The repulsive force varies depending on
a state of the latent heat storage material 283a, is relatively
strong in a frozen state and is relatively weak in a melted state.
Therefore, based on the repulsive force from the latent heat
storage material 283a which is detected by the mechanical strength
sensor 285, a control unit 239 (not illustrated in FIG. 54) can
determine whether the latent heat storage material 283a is in a
completely frozen state or in a completely melted state. The
temperature-control heat storage member 283 is formed to have the
thickness thinner than that of the temperature-maintaining heat
storage members 209 to 217 (not illustrated in FIG. 54), and is
formed to be likely to be frozen and melted. Therefore, the cooling
equipment according to the present example can obtain the effect
the same as that of the cooling equipment 201 according to Example
1 described above.
EXAMPLE 12
[0279] Next, cooling equipment according to Example 12 of the
present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 55. The
cooling equipment according to the present example is characterized
in that the cooling equipment detects a state of the latent heat
storage material based on optical characteristics. With regard to
the optical characteristics, the optical characteristics such as
refractive index, reflectance and transmittance vary between the
gel state (liquid phase) and the solid state (solid phase).
Accordingly, light is transmitted to the latent heat storage
material and the reflected light or transmitted light is observed
so that the state of the heat storage material is determined. FIG.
55 illustrates an enlarged portion of the temperature-control heat
storage member 287 used in the cooling equipment according to the
present example. As illustrated in FIG. 55, similar to the
temperature-control heat storage member 207 in Example 1 described
above for example, the temperature-control heat storage member 287
has a rectangular flat plate shape as a whole. The
temperature-control heat storage member 287 has a latent heat
storage material 287a, and a container body 287b sealed with the
latent heat storage material 287a. The latent heat storage material
287a is formed of a material the same as that of the latent heat
storage material 207a of Example 1 described above. In addition,
the container body 287b is formed of a material the same as that of
the container body 207b of Example 1 described above.
[0280] The cooling equipment according to the present example has a
sensor 289 which detects the reflected light of the latent heat
storage material 287a. The sensor 289 has an optical fiber 289a
which conducts light incident on the latent heat storage material
287a and an optical fiber 289b which conducts reflected light
reflected on the latent heat storage material 287a. Solid lines in
FIG. 55 represent a travelling direction of the light. A light
source (not illustrated) is connected to a light input end of the
optical fiber 289a and a light output end is in contact with the
container body 287b of the temperature-control heat storage member
287. The light input end of the optical fiber 289b is in contact
with the container body 287b of the temperature-control heat
storage member 287 and a photoelectric detector (not illustrated)
is connected to the light output end. The light emitted from the
light source passes through the optical fiber 289a and is reflected
on the latent heat storage material 287a. The reflected light
reflected on the latent heat storage material 287a passes through
the optical fiber 289b, is input to the photoelectric detector and
light intensity of the reflected light is detected. The reflectance
of the latent heat storage material 287a is different between a
frozen state and a melted state. Therefore, based on the light
intensity of the reflected light from the latent heat storage
material 287a which is detected by the photoelectric detector, it
is possible to determine whether the latent heat storage material
287a is in a complete frozen state or in a completely melted state.
The temperature-control heat storage member 287 is formed to have
the thickness thinner than that of the temperature-maintaining heat
storage members 209 to 217 (not illustrated in FIG. 54), and is
formed to be likely to be frozen and melted. Therefore, the cooling
equipment according to the present example can obtain the effect
the same as that of the cooling equipment 201 according to Example
1 described above.
[0281] Next, an air conditioner according to the present embodiment
will be described with reference to FIG. 56. FIG. 56 schematically
illustrates a cross-section of a schematic configuration of a
building 288 to which an air conditioner 270 according to the
present embodiment is attached. As illustrated in FIG. 56, the air
conditioner 270 according to the present embodiment is provided in
the building 288 which is disposed to surround a living space 299
and has a temperature-maintaining heat storage member 297 which
maintains a room temperature in the living space 299. The air
conditioner 270 has a latent heat storage material 291a which is
reversibly phase-transited between the solid phase and the liquid
phase and is phase-transited earlier than a latent heat storage
material 297a provided in the temperature-maintaining heat storage
member 297. The air conditioner 270 further has a
temperature-control heat storage member 291 which is disposed
inside the living space 299 and used in controlling the temperature
inside the living space 299, a temperature sensor 292 which detects
a state (temperature in the present example) of the
temperature-control heat storage member 291, a compressor 296
configuring the refrigerating cycle for cooling the inside of the
living space 299 for example, and a control unit 294 which controls
the compressor 296 based on the state of the temperature-control
heat storage member 291. An indoor unit 295 of the air conditioner
270 is attached to an upper portion on a right side wall of the
building 288. The air conditioner 270 blows cold air or warm air
toward the living space 299 of the building 288.
[0282] The compressor 296 is disposed outside of the building 288.
Although not illustrated, the refrigerating cycle is configured to
have at least a condenser which condenses refrigerant compressed in
the compressor 296 and radiates heat outward, an expansion unit
which expands the condensed refrigerant (for example, a capillary
tube) and an evaporator which vaporizes the expanded refrigerant
and cools the inside of the living space 299 by using vaporization
heat, in addition to the compressor 296. The compressor 296 and the
condenser are provided in an outdoor unit disposed outside. The
evaporator is provided in the indoor unit 295 disposed inside the
living space 299.
[0283] The living space 299 is a hollow area surrounded by a floor
plate 288a, a ceiling plate 288b and a circumferential side wall
288c. The floor plate 288a, the ceiling plate 288b and the
circumferential side wall 288c have an insulator 286 which
insulates the living space 299 so as not to receive the heat from
outside.
[0284] The side wall 288c has the temperature-maintaining heat
storage member 297. FIG. 56 illustrates only the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 297 provided on the
side wall 288c opposing the side wall 288c to which the indoor unit
295 is attached. However, the temperature-maintaining heat storage
member 297 is provided in the entire sidewall 288c surrounding the
living space 299. In addition, the temperature-maintaining heat
storage member 297 may be provided in the ceiling plate 288b. The
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 297 has a latent heat
storage material 297a which is reversibly phase-transited between
the solid phase and the liquid phase and a container body 297b
which seals the latent heat storage material 297a.
[0285] The container body 297b has a shape of a thin box made of
resins such as ABS or polycarbonate, and has a predetermined
rigidity. When the latent heat storage material is flammable, it is
desirable to form the container body 297b by using a
flame-retardant material. In addition, when using paraffin as the
latent heat storage material, it is desirable that the container
body have a gas barrier property since paraffin is a volatile
organic compound (VOC) depending on types.
[0286] The temperature-maintaining heat storage member 297 is
generally used in a predetermined working temperature range and
working pressure range. The temperature-maintaining heat storage
member 297 of the present example is cooled inside the living space
299 so as to store coldness when the compressor 296 of the air
conditioner 270 is operated, and radiates the coldness so as to
suppress the temperature rising inside the living space 299 when
the compressor 296 is stopped. In this case, the working
temperature range of the temperature-maintaining heat storage
member 297 includes a temperature inside the living space 299
during a normal operation. In addition, the working pressure of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 297 is an atmospheric
pressure for example.
[0287] The latent heat storage material 297a included in the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 297 has a phase change
temperature (melting point) which reversibly causes a phase change
between the solid phase and the liquid phase within the working
temperature range of the temperature-maintaining heat storage
member 297. The latent heat storage material 297a of the present
embodiment always maintains a state of two phases (solid and liquid
phases) when the air conditioner 270 is in a normal operation state
(operation state where the compressor 296 is normally controlled).
The latent heat storage material 297a contains paraffin. In the
present embodiment, it is desirable that the phase change
temperature which causes the latent heat storage material 297a to
be reversibly phase-transited between the solid phase and the
liquid phase be approximately 25.degree. C. which is an optimum
living temperature. The latent heat storage material 297a contains
a gelling agent for gelling (solidifying) paraffin.
[0288] The temperature-control heat storage member 291 disposed in
the floor plate 288a has a latent heat storage material 291a which
is reversibly phase-transited between the solid phase and the
liquid phase and a container body 291b which seals the latent heat
storage material 291a. The temperature-control heat storage member
291 is provided on substantially the entire surface of the floor
plate 288a. The temperature-control heat storage member 291 is used
in controlling the temperature inside the living space 299. The
temperature-control heat storage member 291 has a structure
different from that of the temperature-maintaining heat storage
member 297. In the present example, the thickness of the
temperature-control heat storage member 291 is formed to be thinner
than the thickness of the temperature-maintaining heat storage
member 297. The latent heat storage material 291a is likely to be
frozen and melted compared to the latent heat storage material
297a. In addition, the structure of the temperature-control heat
storage member 291 is different from the structure of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 297. The average
thickness of the temperature-control heat storage member 291 is
formed to be thinner than the average thickness of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 297. In this manner, in
the present embodiment, the heat storage member disposed inside the
living space 299 is formed to have the different thickness
depending on a region. The temperature-control heat storage member
291, when maintaining the phase change temperature, also functions
as the heat storage member for maintaining the temperature inside
the living space 299.
[0289] Since the latent heat storage material 291a is formed of the
forming material the same as that of the latent heat storage
material 297a, the detailed description will be omitted. In
addition, since the container body 291b is formed of the forming
material the same as that of the container body 297b, the detailed
description will be omitted.
[0290] The air conditioner 270 has a temperature sensor 292 which
detects a state of the temperature-control heat storage member 291.
The temperature sensor 292 is used in controlling the compressor
296. The temperature sensor 292 is disposed in the vicinity of the
temperature-control heat storage member 291 which has the thinner
thickness compared to the temperature-maintaining heat storage
member 297. In the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 292
is disposed inside the container body 291b of the
temperature-control heat storage member 291 so as to be in direct
contact with the latent heat storage material 291a provided in the
temperature-control heat storage member 291. As described above
with reference to FIGS. 29 to 32, the thin latent heat storage
material is likely to be melted and frozen compared to the thick
latent heat storage material. Therefore, the temperature sensor 292
detects the temperature of the portion which is likely to be melted
and frozen relatively within the latent heat storage materials 291a
and 297a inside the living space 299.
[0291] In addition, the control unit 294 provided in the indoor
unit 295 of the air conditioner 270 is configured to include a CPU,
a ROM, a RAM, input and output ports and to control the entire air
conditioner 270. The temperature sensor 292 is connected to the
input port of the control unit 294. The control unit 294 controls
the compressor 296 based on a temperature signal input from the
temperature sensor 292. The control unit 294 starts the compressor
296 when determining that the temperature of the latent heat
storage material 291a of the temperature-control heat storage
member 291 which is likely to be melted and frozen relatively is
higher than the phase change temperature (melting point), based on
the input temperature signal. In this manner, the refrigerating
cycle is operated to lower the temperature inside the living space
299. In addition, the control unit 294 stops the compressor 296
when determining that the temperature of the latent heat storage
material 291a is lower than the phase change temperature, based on
the input temperature signal. The latent heat storage material 297a
of the temperature-maintaining heat storage member 297 can maintain
the phase change temperature and can maintain the state of two
phases (solid and liquid phases) during the normal operation of the
compressor 296. In this manner, the air conditioner 270 can easily
and accurately maintain a substantially constant temperature of the
living space 299. In particular, when there is a need for strict
temperature management in a clean room or a food storage warehouse,
the air conditioner 270 provides more improved effect. In addition,
since variations in the temperature are decreased, cooling loss is
reduced, thereby leading to energy saving.
[0292] Next, a hot water supply system according to the present
embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 57. FIG. 57
schematically illustrates a schematic configuration of a hot water
supply system 280 according to the present embodiment. As
illustrated in FIG. 57, the hot water supply system 280 according
to the present embodiment has a storage tank 258 which stores hot
water and a temperature-maintaining heat storage member 284 that
has a latent heat storage material (first latent heat storage
material) 284a which is reversibly phase-transited between the
solid phase and the liquid phase and that is disposed around the
storage tank 258 to maintain the temperature of the hot water
inside the storage tank 258. The hot water supply system 280 has a
temperature-control heat storage member 282 that has a latent heat
storage material (second latent heat storage material) 282a which
is reversibly phase-transited between the solid phase and the
liquid phase and is phase-transited earlier than the latent heat
storage material 284a, and that is disposed around the storage tank
258 to be used in controlling the temperature of the hot water
inside the storage tank 258. In addition, the hot water supply
system 280 has a temperature sensor 272 which detects a state
(temperature in the present example) of the temperature-control
heat storage member 282, a heat exchanger 268 which heats water
stored inside the storage tank 258 by way of heat exchange with a
predetermined refrigerant, and a control unit 276 which controls
the heat exchanger 268 based on the state of the
temperature-control heat storage member 282.
[0293] The hot water supply system 280 has a housing 278 provided
with the storage tank 258. The temperature-control heat storage
member 282 and the temperature-maintaining heat storage member 284
are arranged between the housing 278 and the storage tank 258. The
periphery of the storage tank 258 is surrounded by the
temperature-control heat storage member 282 and the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 284.
[0294] The hot water supply system 280 has pipes 262 and 264
connected to a top portion of the storage tank 258 and a pipe 266
connected to a bottom portion of the storage tank 258. The storage
tank 258 is connected to the heat exchanger 268 via the pipes 264
and 266. The water stored in a lower section inside the storage
tank 258 is caused to reach the heat exchanger 268 after being
circulated in the pipe 266 by a pump (not illustrated) included in
the heat exchanger 268 for example. The heat exchanger 268 has a
heat exchange mechanism (not illustrated) and heats the water
flowing out from the pipe 266 by way of the heat exchange with a
predetermined refrigerant. This allows the water to be hot water.
The hot water flowing out from the heat exchanger 268 is circulated
in the pipe 264 to flow into the storage tank 258. This allows the
hot water to be stored inside the storage tank 258. In addition,
the hot water inside the storage tank 258 is circulated to be
supplied to a water heater or a heater (both are not illustrated)
through the pipe 262.
[0295] The temperature-maintaining heat storage member 284 disposed
in an outer periphery of the storage tank 258 has a container body
284b which seals a latent heat storage material 284a. The container
body 284b is made of resins such as ABS or polycarbonate, and has a
predetermined rigidity. When the latent heat storage material 284a
is flammable, it is desirable to form the container body 284b by
using a flame-retardant material. In addition, when using paraffin
as the latent heat storage material 284a, it is desirable that the
container body 284b have a gas barrier property since paraffin is a
volatile organic compound (VOC) depending on types.
[0296] The temperature-maintaining heat storage member 284 is
generally used in a predetermined working temperature range and
working pressure range. The temperature-maintaining heat storage
member 284 of the present embodiment is heated by the hot water
flowing from the heat exchanger 268 to the storage tank 258 so as
to store the heat, when the heat exchanger 268 is operated, and
radiates the heat so as to suppress temperature falling of the hot
water inside the storage tank 258, when the heat exchanger 268 is
stopped. In this case, the working temperature range of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 284 includes the
temperature of the hot water inside the storage tank 258 during a
normal operation. In addition, the working pressure of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 284 is an atmospheric
pressure for example.
[0297] The latent heat storage material 284a provided in the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 284 has the phase
change temperature (melting point) which causes a phase change to
reversibly occur between the solid phase and the liquid phase,
within the working temperature range of the temperature-maintaining
heat storage member 284. The latent heat storage material 284a of
the present embodiment always maintains the state of two phases
(solid and liquid phases) when the hot water supply system 280 is
in a normal operation state (operation state where the heat
exchanger 268 is normally controlled). In the present embodiment,
it is desirable that the phase change temperature which causes the
latent heat storage material 284a to be reversibly phase-transited
between the solid phase and the liquid phase be approximately
60.degree. C. to 95.degree. C. Therefore, the latent heat storage
material 284a contains paraffin having 30 or more carbon atoms (The
phase change temperature is approximately 70.degree. C.). The
latent heat storage material 284a contains a gelling agent for
gelling (solidifying) paraffin. Instead of paraffin, the latent
heat storage material 284a may contain sugar alcohol such as
xylitol (the phase change temperature is approximately 95.degree.
C.) and a mixture thereof.
[0298] The temperature-control heat storage member 282 disposed in
the outer periphery of the storage tank 258 has a container body
282b which seals the latent heat storage material 282a. The
temperature-control heat storage member 282 is provided in a part
of the outer periphery of the storage tank 258. The
temperature-control heat storage member 282 is used in controlling
the temperature of the hot water stored in the storage tank 258. In
the present embodiment, the thickness of the temperature-control
heat storage member 282 is formed to be thinner than the thickness
of the temperature-maintaining heat storage member 284. This causes
the structure of the temperature-control heat storage member 282 to
be different from the structure of the temperature-maintaining heat
storage member 284. In addition, the average thickness of the
temperature-control heat storage member 282 is formed to be thinner
than the average thickness of the temperature-maintaining heat
storage member 284. In this manner, in the present embodiment, the
heat storage member disposed in the outer periphery of the storage
tank 258 is formed to have a different thickness depending on a
region. In the present embodiment, the temperature-control heat
storage member 282 is formed integrally with the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 284. The
temperature-control heat storage member 282 may be formed
separately and independently from the temperature-maintaining heat
storage member 284. The temperature-control heat storage member
282, when maintaining the phase change temperature, also functions
as the heat storage member for maintaining the temperature of the
hot water inside the storage tank 258.
[0299] Since the latent heat storage material 282a is formed of the
forming material the same as that of the latent heat storage
material 284a, the detailed description will be omitted. In
addition, since the container body 282b is formed of the forming
material the same as that of the container body 284b, the detailed
description will be omitted.
[0300] The hot water supply system 280 has the temperature sensor
272 which detects the temperature of the temperature-control heat
storage member 282. The temperature sensor 272 is used in
controlling the heat exchanger 268 (pump or heat exchange
mechanism). The temperature sensor 272 is disposed in the vicinity
of the temperature-control heat storage member 282 which is thinner
than the temperature-maintaining heat storage member 284. In the
present embodiment, the temperature sensor 272 is disposed inside
the container body 282b of the temperature-control heat storage
member 282 so as to be in direct contact with the latent heat
storage material 282a provided in the temperature-control heat
storage member 282. As described above with reference to FIGS. 29
to 32, the thin latent heat storage material is likely to be melted
and frozen as compared to the thick latent heat storage material.
Therefore, the temperature sensor 272 detects the temperature of
the latent heat storage material 282a which is likely to be melted
and frozen relatively between the latent heat storage materials
282a and 284a in the outer periphery of the storage tank 258.
[0301] In addition, the control unit 276 provided in the hot water
supply system 280 is configured to include a CPU, a ROM, a RAM,
input and output ports and to control the entire hot water supply
system 280. The temperature sensor 272 is connected to the input
port of the control unit 276. The control unit 276 controls the
heat exchanger 268 (pump or heat exchange mechanism) based on a
temperature signal input from the temperature sensor 272. The
control unit 276 starts the heat exchanger 268 (pump or heat
exchange mechanism) when determining that the temperature of the
latent heat storage material 282a of the temperature-control heat
storage member 282 which is likely to be melted and frozen
relatively is lower than the phase change temperature (melting
point), based on the input temperature signal. In this manner, the
water stored in the lower section inside the storage tank 258 is
heated to be the hot water in the heat exchanger 268 and to flow
into the storage tank 258, thereby raising the temperature of the
hot water stored in the storage tank 258. In addition, the control
unit 276 stops the heat exchanger 268 (pump or heat exchange
mechanism) when determining that the temperature of the latent heat
storage material 282a is higher than the phase change temperature,
based on the input temperature signal. The latent heat storage
material 284a of the temperature-maintaining heat storage member
284 can maintain the phase change temperature and can maintain the
state of two phases (solid and liquid phases) during the normal
operation of the heat exchanger 268. In this manner, the hot water
supply system 280 can easily and accurately maintain a
substantially constant temperature of the hot water inside the
storage tank 258.
[0302] The temperature-maintaining heat storage member and the
temperature-control heat storage member are not limited to the
above-described embodiments. For example, the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member and the
temperature-control heat storage member may have a plurality of
thicknesses respectively.
[0303] The temperature-maintaining heat storage member and/or the
temperature-control heat storage member which have a plurality of
thicknesses will be described with reference to FIG. 58. FIG. 58 is
a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331 and a
temperature-control heat storage member 333 which can be applied to
the cooling equipment, the building or the hot water supply system
according to the above-described embodiments. FIG. 58(a)
illustrates the temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331
having the plurality of thicknesses and the temperature-control
heat storage member 333 having a substantially constant thickness.
As illustrated in FIG. 58(a), the temperature-maintaining heat
storage member 331 has a thickness a and a thickness b which is
thinner than the thickness a. A region of the thickness a occupies
more regions in the overall thickness of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331. Therefore, the
thickness a is a dominant thickness in the temperature-maintaining
heat storage member 331. The temperature-maintaining heat storage
member 331 has a latent heat storage material 331a contained in a
container body (not illustrated).
[0304] As illustrated in FIG. 58(a), the temperature-control heat
storage member 333 has a substantially constant thickness c. The
temperature-control heat storage member 333 has a latent heat
storage material 333a contained in a container body (not
illustrated). The temperature-control heat storage member 333 has a
temperature sensor 335 which is disposed inside the container body
so as to be in direct contact with the latent heat storage material
333a. The temperature sensor 335 exerts a function the same as that
of the temperature sensor 219 in the above-described example 1.
[0305] The latent heat storage material 333a is formed of a
material the same as that of the latent heat storage material 331a.
The latent heat storage material 333a and the latent heat storage
material 331a are formed of a material which can be applied to the
latent heat storage material 207a in Example 1 for example.
[0306] When the temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331 and
the temperature-control heat storage member 333 are used in the
storage chamber or the like of the cooling equipment for example,
since the thickness c is formed to be thinner than the thickness a,
the temperature-control heat storage member 333 can exert an
operation and a function which are the same as those of the
temperature-control heat storage member 207 or the like in the
above-described example. This enables the cooling equipment or the
like provided with the temperature-maintaining heat storage member
331 and the temperature-control heat storage member 333 to have the
effect the same as that of the cooling equipment or the like
according to the above-described examples.
[0307] FIG. 58(b) illustrates another example of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331 having the
plurality of thicknesses and the temperature-control heat storage
member 333 having substantially the constant thickness. As
illustrated in FIG. 58(b), the temperature-maintaining heat storage
member 331 has the thickness a and the thickness b which is thinner
than the thickness a. The region of the thickness a occupies more
regions in the overall thickness of the temperature-maintaining
heat storage member 331. Therefore, the thickness b is the dominant
thickness in the temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331.
The temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331 has the latent
heat storage material 331a contained in the container body (not
illustrated).
[0308] As illustrated in FIG. 58(b), the temperature-control heat
storage member 333 has substantially the constant thickness c. The
temperature-control heat storage member 333 of the present
embodiment has a structure the same as that of the
temperature-control heat storage member 333 illustrated in FIG.
58(a). Accordingly, the detailed description will be omitted.
[0309] The latent heat storage material 333a is formed of a
material the same as that of the latent heat storage material 331a.
The latent heat storage material 333a and the latent heat storage
material 331a are formed of a material which can be applied to the
latent heat storage material 207a in Example 1 for example.
[0310] The thickness b is the dominant thickness in the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331. The thickness c of
the temperature-control heat storage member 333 is formed to be
thinner than the maximum thickness (thickness a in the present
example) of the temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331. In
this manner, the temperature-control heat storage member 333 can
exert an operation and a function which are the same as those of
the temperature-control heat storage member 207 or the like in the
above-described example. This enables the cooling equipment or the
like provided with the temperature-maintaining heat storage member
331 and the temperature-control heat storage member 333 to have the
effect the same as that of the cooling equipment or the like
according to the above-described examples. It is desirable that in
the temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331, the region of
the thickness a have a sufficient latent heat in order to maintain
the temperature inside the entire cooling equipment for
example.
[0311] FIG. 58(c) illustrates further another example of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331 having the
plurality of thicknesses and the temperature-control heat storage
member 333 having substantially the constant thickness. As
illustrated in FIG. 58(c), the temperature-maintaining heat storage
member 331 has the thickness a and the thickness b which is thicker
than the thickness a. The region of the thickness a occupies more
regions in the overall thickness of the temperature-maintaining
heat storage member 331. Therefore, the thickness a is the dominant
thickness in the temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331.
The temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331 has the latent
heat storage material 331a contained in the container body (not
illustrated).
[0312] As illustrated in FIG. 58(c), the temperature-control heat
storage member 333 has substantially the constant thickness c. The
temperature-control heat storage member 333 of the present
embodiment has a structure the same as that of the
temperature-control heat storage member 333 illustrated in FIG.
58(a). Accordingly, the detailed description will be omitted.
[0313] The latent heat storage material 333a is formed of a
material the same as that of the latent heat storage material 331a.
The latent heat storage material 333a and the latent heat storage
material 331a are formed of a material which can be applied to the
latent heat storage material 207a in Example 1 for example.
[0314] When the temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331 and
the temperature-control heat storage member 333 are used in the
storage chamber or the like of the cooling equipment for example,
since the thickness c is formed to be thinner than the thickness a,
the temperature-control heat storage member 333 can exert an
operation and a function which are the same as those of the
temperature-control heat storage member 207 or the like in the
above-described example. This enables the cooling equipment or the
like provided with the temperature-maintaining heat storage member
331 and the temperature-control heat storage member 333 to have the
effect the same as that of the cooling equipment or the like
according to the above-described examples.
[0315] FIG. 58(d) illustrates an example of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331 having the
plurality of thicknesses and the temperature-control heat storage
member 333 having the plurality of thicknesses. As illustrated in
FIG. 58(d), the temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331 has
a concave-convex portion 331b on one surface. The
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331 has an average
length from an opposing surface opposing the one surface to the
concave-convex portion 331b, that is an average thickness a. The
temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331 has a latent heat
storage material 331a contained in the container body (not
illustrated).
[0316] As illustrated in FIG. 58(d), the temperature-control heat
storage member 333 has a concave-convex portion 333b on one
surface. The temperature-control heat storage member 333 has an
average length from an opposing surface opposing the one surface to
the concave-convex portion 333b, that is an average thickness c.
The temperature-control heat storage member 333 has a latent heat
storage material 333a contained in the container body (not
illustrated). The temperature-control heat storage member 333 has a
temperature sensor 335 disposed inside the container body so as to
be in direct contact with the latent heat storage material 333a.
The temperature sensor 335 exerts a function the same as that of
the temperature sensor 219 in Example 1 described above.
[0317] The latent heat storage material 333a is formed of a
material the same as that of the latent heat storage material 331a.
The latent heat storage material 333a and the latent heat storage
material 331a are formed of a material which can be applied to the
latent heat storage material 207a in Example 1 for example.
[0318] When the temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331 and
the temperature-control heat storage member 333 are used in the
storage chamber or the like of the cooling equipment for example,
since the thickness c is formed to be thinner than the average
thickness a (for example, thinner than the thickness a by
approximately 10%), the temperature-control heat storage member 333
can exert an operation and a function which are the same as those
of the temperature-control heat storage member 207 or the like in
the above-described example. This enables the cooling equipment or
the like provided with the temperature-maintaining heat storage
member 331 and the temperature-control heat storage member 333 to
have the effect the same as that of the cooling equipment or the
like according to the above-described examples. However, it is
necessary that a change in the thickness due to the concave-convex
portion 331b of the temperature-maintaining heat storage member 331
(ratio of the minimum thickness to the maximum thickness) is
smaller than a ratio of the average thickness c to the average
thickness a.
[0319] It is desirable that each vertical length and horizontal
length of a plane of the temperature-control heat storage member be
longer than the thickness. In addition, it is desirable that a
surface area of the temperature-control heat storage member be
smaller than a surface area of the temperature-maintaining heat
storage member.
[0320] Next, another example of a heat storage member according to
the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 59.
The heat storage member according to the present example is
characterized in that the heat storage member has a plurality of
thicknesses, a portion of which is used as the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member and the remaining
portion of which is used as the temperature-control heat storage
member. FIG. 59 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic
configuration of a heat storage member 337 according to the present
example. The heat storage member 337 can be applied to the cooling
equipment, the building or the hot water supply system according to
the above-described embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 59(a), the
heat storage member 337 has a heat storage section (first heat
storage section) 336 including at least a latent heat storage
material (first latent heat storage material) 336a which is
reversibly phase-transited between the solid phase and the liquid
phase, a heat storage section (second heat storage section) 338
including at least a latent heat storage material (second latent
heat storage material) 338a which is reversibly phase-transited
between the solid phase and the liquid phase, and a temperature
sensor 339 which detects a state of the heat storage section 338.
When the states of the latent heat storage material 336a and the
latent heat storage material 338a are changed, at least a portion
of the latent heat storage material 338a is phase-transited earlier
than at least a portion of the latent heat storage material 336a.
The latent heat storage material 336a and the latent heat storage
material 338a are formed of the same material. The latent heat
storage material 336a and the latent heat storage material 338a are
formed of the material which can be applied to the latent heat
storage material 207a according to Example 1 for example. The
latent heat storage material 336a and the latent heat storage
material 338a are contained in a container body (not illustrated)
provided in the heat storage member 337.
[0321] As illustrated in FIG. 59(a), the heat storage member 337
has a plurality of thicknesses. The heat storage member 337 has the
heat storage section 336 in a region having a thickness a and a
thickness b, and has the heat storage section 338 in a region
having a thickness c. The thickness b is thinner than the thickness
c and the thickness c is thinner than the thickness a. The
thickness c of at least a portion of the heat storage section 338
is thinner than the thickness a of at least a portion of the heat
storage section 336.
[0322] The latent heat quantity of the heat storage member 337 in
the thickness direction is increased as the thickness is thicker.
Therefore, in the heat storage member 337, the latent heat quantity
is the largest in the region of the thickness a, the latent heat
quantity is the second largest in the region of the thickness c,
and the latent heat quantity is the smallest in the region of the
thickness b. The temperature sensor 339 is disposed in the heat
storage section 338 provided in the region of the thickness c.
Therefore, the temperature sensor 339 is disposed in a section
where the latent heat quantity of the heat storage section 338 in
the thickness direction is small compared to the maximum value of
the latent heat quantity of the heat storage section 336 in the
thickness direction.
[0323] The heat storage member 337 uses the region of the thickness
a of the heat storage section 336 in order to maintain a
temperature of a temperature control target (for example, the
inside of cooling equipment), and uses the heat storage section 338
in order to control the temperature of the temperature control
target. The latent heat quantity of the heat storage section 338 in
the thickness direction is smaller than the latent heat quantity of
the region of the thickness a of the heat storage section 336 in
the thickness direction. This causes the latent heat storage
material 338a provided in the heat storage section 338 to be
phase-transited earlier than the latent heat storage material 336a
provided in the region of the thickness a of the heat storage
section 336. Therefore, the heat storage member 337 can be used as
the heat storage member for maintaining and controlling a
temperature in the cooling equipment or the like according to the
above-described embodiments.
[0324] FIG. 59(b) illustrates a modification example of a heat
storage member having a plurality of thicknesses, a portion of
which is used as the temperature-maintaining heat storage member
and the remaining portion of which is used as the
temperature-control heat storage member. The same reference
numerals are given to the configuring elements having a function
and an operation which is the same as those of the heat storage
member 337 illustrated in FIG. 59(a), and the description thereof
will be omitted.
[0325] As illustrated in FIG. 59(b), the heat storage member 337
according to the present modification example includes the heat
storage section 336 having a substantially constant and uniform
thickness a and the heat storage section 338 having a substantially
constant and uniform thickness b which is thinner than the
thickness a. The heat storage section 338 has a concave portion
338b. The heat storage member 337 has the temperature sensor 339
which detects the temperature of the latent heat storage material
338a provided in the concave portion 338b. The temperature sensor
339 is disposed in contact with the latent heat storage material
338a of the relatively thin heat storage section 338 of the heat
storage member 337. This enables the heat storage member 337
according to the present modification example to have the effect
the same as that of the heat storage member 337 illustrated in FIG.
59(a).
[0326] The heat storage member 337 illustrated in FIGS. 59(a) and
59(b) may use various sensors illustrated in FIGS. 53 to 55 instead
of the temperature sensor 339. That is, in order to understand a
state of the latent heat storage material 338a, the volume change,
the mechanical strength or the optical characteristic may be
detected.
[0327] In addition, the heat storage member 337 may have a
plate-shaped member which is provided in the heat storage section
338 and has heat conductivity higher than heat conductivity of the
heat storage section 338. The temperature sensor 339 may be
arranged inside or in contact with the plate-shaped member. In
addition, the heat storage member 337 may be formed such that the
heat conductivity of the heat storage section 338 in the thickness
direction is higher than the heat conductivity of the heat storage
section 336 in the thickness direction. For example, the heat
storage section 338 may have a heat conductive filler dispersed in
the latent heat storage material 338a.
[0328] In addition, it is possible to configure a temperature
control system by using the heat storage member 337. The
temperature control system has the heat storage member 337 and a
temperature control unit which controls a temperature of a
temperature control target in response to a state (for example, a
temperature) of the heat storage section 338 which is detected by
the temperature sensor 339 provided in the heat storage member 337.
For example, the temperature control target includes the
temperature inside the cooling equipment according to the
above-described embodiments, the temperature of the building to
which the air conditioner is attached or the temperature of the
storage tank provided in the hot water supply system. In the
temperature control system, the latent heat quantity of at least a
portion of the heat storage section 338 in the thickness direction
is set to be decreased in a control temperature range of the
temperature control target, as compared to the latent heat quantity
of the heat storage section 336 in the thickness direction. The
temperature control system can be applied to an air conditioning
system or a hot water supply system.
[0329] The present invention can be modified in various ways
without being limited to the above-described embodiments.
[0330] For example, in the above-described embodiments, the
household cooling equipment has been mainly described as an
example. However, without being limited thereto, the present
invention can also be applied to business-purpose cooling
equipment, a vending machine having a cooling function, heating
equipment, or the like. The present invention is particularly
effective when a precise temperature control is required.
[0331] In addition, in the above-described embodiments, an example
has been described where tetradecane is used as the latent heat
storage material. However, without being limited thereto, the
present invention may use the other n-paraffin or inorganic slat
water solution. In addition, these materials may be used in
combination. In addition, those having the different configuration
may be used as the above-described temperature-maintaining heat
storage member and the above-described temperature-control heat
storage member. The heat storage material to be used is determined
by selecting a material whose phase change temperature is within a
temperature range which can be obtained inside the cooling
equipment or inside the working space. For example, if sodium
chloride water solution of 20 wt % (melting point is approximately
-17.degree. C.) or dodecane (melting point is approximately
-12.degree. C.) is used as the latent heat storage material, the
present invention can be applied to a freezer.
[0332] In addition, in the above-described embodiments, the latent
heat storage material in gel which has no fluidity in a state of
the liquid phase has been described as an example. However, without
being limited thereto, the present invention can use a latent heat
storage material which has fluidity in a state of the liquid
phase.
[0333] In addition, in the above-described embodiments, the cooling
equipment in which the compressor 241 is controlled to be turned on
and off has been described as an example. However, without being
limited thereto, the present invention can also be applied to
inverter type cooling equipment in which a rotation speed of the
compressor 241 or a discharge amount of the refrigerant is variably
controlled.
[0334] In addition, the temperature-maintaining heat storage member
according to the above-described embodiments can be applied in
order to maintain a state where a large amount of latent heat or
coldness is always stored. For example, in this case, the
application is achieved in such a manner that the thickness of the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member is allowed to be
significantly thicker than the thickness of the temperature-control
heat storage member. In this manner, even when the supply of
coldness from the compressor is stopped due to a power failure for
example, it is possible to maintain a proper temperature inside the
cooling equipment by using the coldness stored in the
temperature-maintaining heat storage member. In this case, the
thickness of the temperature-maintaining heat storage member may be
the thickness which can afford an amount required when the supply
of the coldness is stopped, in addition to the thickness of the
temperature-control heat storage member for example.
[0335] In addition, it is possible to perform each example of the
above-described embodiment and the other embodiments in combination
with each other.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0336] The present invention can be widely applied to cooling
equipment which cools storage goods.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0337] 1 to 7 cooling equipment
[0338] 10 cooling equipment main body
[0339] 11, 21 insulator
[0340] 20 door member
[0341] 30 storage chamber
[0342] 40 compressor
[0343] 50 shelf
[0344] 51 upper shelf
[0345] 52, 53 lower shelf
[0346] 60, 123 temperature sensor
[0347] 70 cold air passage
[0348] 80, 81 separator
[0349] 91 to 95, 101 to 107, 120, 130, 140 heat storage member
[0350] 100 control unit
[0351] 110 temperature measurement sensor
[0352] 201, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 300, 310 cooling
equipment
[0353] 3, 303 cooling equipment main body
[0354] 205, 305 storage chamber
[0355] 207, 243, 245, 251, 253, 259, 273, 269, 282, 283, 284, 287,
291, 297, 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 333 temperature-control heat
storage member
[0356] 207a, 209a, 211a, 213a, 215a, 217a, 243a, 245a, 251a, 253a,
259a, 269a, 273a, 282a, 283a, 284a, 287a, 291a, 297a, 307a, 309a,
311a, 313a, 315a, 317a, 331a, 333a, 336a, 338a latent heat storage
material
[0357] 207b, 209b, 211b, 213b, 215b, 217b, 243b, 245b, 251b, 253b,
259b, 269b, 273b, 282b, 283b, 284b, 287b, 291b, 297b, 307b, 309b,
311b, 313b, 315b, 317b container body
[0358] 209, 211, 213, 215, 217, 331 temperature-maintaining heat
storage member
[0359] 219, 249, 272, 292, 319, 335, 339 temperature sensor
[0360] 221 upper shelf
[0361] 223 lower shelf
[0362] 225, 227, 255 cold air port
[0363] 229, 329 space unit
[0364] 228 cold air passage
[0365] 231 door member
[0366] 233, 235, 286 insulator
[0367] 237 separator
[0368] 239, 276, 294 control unit
[0369] 241, 296 compressor
[0370] 243c, 338b recess
[0371] 247, 271 plate-shaped member
[0372] 253c heat conductive filler
[0373] 257 suction port
[0374] 258 storage tank
[0375] 262, 264, 266 pipe
[0376] 265, 267, 277a, 277b wire
[0377] 268 heat exchanger
[0378] 270 air conditioner
[0379] 274a, 274b electrode
[0380] 275 piezoelectric element
[0381] 278 housing
[0382] 280 hot water supply system
[0383] 281a, 281b spring member
[0384] 283c sensor arrangement portion
[0385] 285 mechanical strength sensor
[0386] 285a pressing needle
[0387] 288 building
[0388] 288a floor plate
[0389] 288b ceiling plate
[0390] 288c side wall
[0391] 289 sensor
[0392] 289a, 289b optical fiber
[0393] 295 indoor unit
[0394] 299 living space
[0395] 301 cooling plate
[0396] 303a front surface
[0397] 331b, 333b concave-convex portion
[0398] 336, 338 heat storage section
[0399] 337 heat storage member
* * * * *