JPH10141792A - Vortex tube refrigerating machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vortex tube refrigerating machine which can lower the arrival temperature by raising a cooling efficiency with a smaller size, a lighter weight and a simple structure. SOLUTION: There are arranged a compressor 10 which performs a compression and a heat radiation of a refrigerant gas to discharge it, a cold storage 20 which performs a heat exchange of the refrigerant gas flowing through a first passage 21 and a second passage 22 formed inside with a heat storage body 23 to allow storing of residual cold heat into the heat storage body 23 and a vortex tube 30 having a gas introduction port 31 at a position between a low temperature end 30a and a high temperature end 30b. The vortex tube 30 is so arranged to introduce the refrigerant gas in the tangential direction of a tube wall through the gas introduction port 31 to generate a vortex in the tube and the refrigerant gas turned to a high temperature flows out of a high temperature end side outlet 33 while that turned to a low temperature does out of a low temperature end side outlet 32.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a vortex tube refrigerator, and more particularly, to a vortex tube (vortex tube).
The present invention relates to a refrigerator capable of easily generating cold heat using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a small and lightweight refrigerator, a low-temperature end of a pulse tube and a low-temperature end of a regenerator are communicated through a heat absorbing connection path (cold head), and a compressor is connected through a refrigerant gas passage. There is known a pulse tube refrigerator in which refrigerant gas supplied to a high-temperature end of the regenerator is introduced from the low-temperature end of the pulse tube to a high-temperature end of the pulse tube through the regenerator and heat absorption connection path. (For example, JP-A-8-121891). In this pulse tube refrigerator, a temperature gradient is generated in the pulse tube by introducing the refrigerant gas from the low-temperature end to the high-temperature end of the pulse tube, and the heat absorbing connection path (cold head)
Can generate cold heat.

[0003]

However, in the above-described pulse tube refrigerator, a pressure adjusting mechanism such as a buffer tank must be provided at the high temperature end of the pulse tube in order to increase the cooling efficiency and lower the attained temperature. However, there is a problem that the system becomes complicated. In addition, since the refrigerant gas flows from the low-temperature end to the high-temperature end of the pulse tube, heat flow from the high-temperature end to the low-temperature end via the refrigerant gas also poses a problem.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a vortex tube refrigerator having a vortex tube in place of a pulse tube, and having a small, lightweight and simple configuration, capable of increasing the cooling efficiency and lowering the ultimate temperature. It is in.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vortex tube refrigerator comprising: a compressor for compressing and radiating a refrigerant gas to discharge the refrigerant gas; Regenerator that can perform heat exchange between the refrigerant gas flowing through the flow path and the second flow path and the heat accumulator to accumulate surplus cold heat in the heat accumulator, and a position between the low-temperature end and the high-temperature end. Equipped with a vortex tube with a gas inlet,
After flowing the refrigerant gas discharged by the compressor into the first flow path of the regenerator, the refrigerant gas is led to a gas inlet of the vortex tube,
The refrigerant gas flowing out of the low-temperature end side outlet of the vortex tube flows into the second flow path of the regenerator and then guided to the suction side of the compression device, and the refrigerant gas flowing out of the high-temperature end side outlet of the vortex tube is discharged. The compression device is guided to the suction side.

The vortex pipe introduces a refrigerant gas through the gas inlet in a tangential direction of the pipe wall to generate a vortex inside the pipe. While flowing the refrigerant gas flowing out of the outlet from the high-temperature end side, the refrigerant gas having a temperature lower than the temperature at the gas inlet through the orifice provided in the center of the pipe is caused to flow out from the low-temperature end side outlet. It has become.

[0007] In the vortex tube refrigerator of the first aspect, the compressor first compresses and radiates the refrigerant gas to discharge it. The refrigerant gas discharged from the compression device flows through the first flow path in the regenerator and exchanges heat with the heat storage body to be cooled. The refrigerant gas that has exited the regenerator through the first flow path is subsequently led to the gas inlet of the vortex tube, and from the low-temperature end side outlet and the high-temperature end side outlet of the vortex tube to the gas inlet respectively. Refrigerant gas having a temperature lower than the temperature and a refrigerant gas having a high temperature. Refrigerant gas flowing out of the low-temperature end side outlet of the vortex tube flows through the second flow path in the regenerator, exchanges heat with the heat storage body, and is heated. The heat transferred to the heat storage unit by cooling the refrigerant gas flowing through the first flow path is offset by the cold heat obtained by raising the temperature of the refrigerant gas flowing through the second flow path, and the surplus cold heat is stored in the heat storage medium. Remains in the body. The refrigerant gas exiting the regenerator through the second flow path is subsequently led to the suction side of the compression device. At the same time, the refrigerant gas that has exited from the outlet on the high-temperature end side of the vortex tube is directly guided to the suction side of the compression device. The refrigerant gas guided to the suction side of the compression device is compressed and radiated by the compression device, and is discharged again. As a result of repeating such a cycle, cold heat is accumulated in the heat storage body of the regenerator. Therefore,
The user can provide a cold head in a flow path that connects the low-temperature end side outlet of the vortex tube and the second flow path of the regenerator, and can use cold heat through the cold head.

In this vortex tube refrigerator, since a vortex tube is used, cold heat can be obtained with a small, lightweight and simple configuration. In addition, the low-temperature refrigerant gas and the high-temperature refrigerant gas in the vortex tube flow in opposite directions toward the low-temperature end exit and the high-temperature end exit of the tube, respectively, and the flow paths are completely separated. ing.
Also, of the refrigerant gas discharged from the low-temperature end side outlet and the high-temperature end side outlet of the vortex tube, only the refrigerant gas discharged from the low-temperature end side outlet is led to the regenerator and discharged from the high-temperature end side outlet. The cooled refrigerant gas is directly guided to the suction side of the compressor, so that cold heat is efficiently accumulated in the heat storage body of the regenerator. As a result, according to the vortex tube refrigerator, it is possible to increase the cooling efficiency and lower the ultimate temperature as compared with the pulse tube refrigerator without providing a pressure adjusting mechanism such as a buffer tank.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a vortex tube refrigerator according to one embodiment. The vortex tube refrigerator includes a compressor unit 10 as a compression device and a regenerator 2.
0 and a vortex tube 30.

As shown in FIG. 2, the compressor unit 10 includes a compressor 1 for compressing a refrigerant gas, a cooler 2 for releasing heat of the refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 1, and a gas and an oil. The oil separator 3 for separation and the adsorber 4 for adsorbing moisture and the like are connected in order by a discharge side pipe 40, and a gas discharge port 11 is connected.
The refrigerant gas is discharged therethrough. In addition,
The oil separator 3 and the adsorber 4 in the discharge side pipe 40 of the compressor 1
And a bypass pipe 47 is provided between a portion connecting the suction pipe and the suction pipe 46 of the compressor 1. The pressure holding valve 5 is interposed in the bypass pipe 47, and the pressure difference between the discharge side and the suction side of the compressor 1 is adjusted by the pressure holding valve 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, the regenerator 20 has a heat storage body 23 made of a metal mesh such as stainless steel, copper or lead laminated inside a case 24. Then, heat exchange is performed between the refrigerant gas flowing through the first flow path 21 and the second flow path 22 formed inside the case 24 and the heat storage body 23.

The vortex tube 30 has a cylindrical tube wall 35 whose both end surfaces are closed, and has a low-temperature end 3 of an outer cylindrical portion 30c.
A gas inlet 31 is provided at a position between 0a and the high temperature end 30b. In addition, the gas inlet 31 has a lower temperature end 30.
An orifice 34 is formed in the center of the pipe (near the pipe axis) at a position closer to a. Tube wall 3 through gas inlet 31
When the refrigerant gas is introduced in the tangential direction of 5, a vortex is generated in the pipe 30, and a pressure gradient is generated in the radial direction of the pipe 30 by centrifugal force. The refrigerant gas traveling toward the high-temperature end 30 b while spiraling around the inside of the pipe becomes higher than the temperature at the gas inlet 31 and flows out from the high-temperature end side outlet 33. On the other hand, the refrigerant gas passing through the orifice 34 must first reach the center of the tube from the high pressure portion in the periphery of the tube against the centrifugal force, and at this time, cooling occurs. Orifice 3
The refrigerant gas that has passed through 4 and has become lower in temperature than the gas inlet 31 flows out from the low-temperature end side outlet 32. The amount of the low-temperature refrigerant gas flowing out of the low-temperature end outlet 32 can be controlled by a throttle valve (not shown) provided at the high-temperature end outlet 33.

The gas outlet 11 of the compressor unit 10 and the first flow passage inlet 21a of the regenerator 20 are connected by a pipe 41 and a regenerator 20.
The first passage outlet 21b and the gas inlet 31 of the vortex tube 30 are connected to a pipe 42 in which a check valve 51 is inserted, the low temperature end side outlet 32 of the vortex tube 30 and the second passage inlet 22a of the regenerator 20. The pipe 43 in which the check valve 52 is inserted, the second flow path outlet 22b of the regenerator 20 and the gas inlet 12 of the compressor unit 10 are connected by a pipe 45, respectively. Also, a pipe 4 connecting the high temperature end side outlet 33 of the vortex tube 30 and the gas inlet 12 of the compressor unit 10.
5 is connected by a pipe 44.

In this vortex tube refrigerator, first, the compressor unit 10 compresses and radiates the refrigerant gas and discharges the refrigerant gas from the gas discharge port 11. The refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor unit 10 passes through the pipe 41 to the first flow path inlet 21a.
And flows through the first flow path 21 in the regenerator 20 to exchange heat with the regenerator 23 to be cooled. The refrigerant gas flowing out of the first flow path outlet 21 b through the first flow path 21 then flows through the pipe 42 to the gas inlet 31 of the vortex tube 30.
It is led to. Then, the gas flows out from the low temperature end side outlet 32 and the high temperature end side outlet 33 of the vortex tube 30 as a refrigerant gas having a temperature lower than the temperature at the gas inlet 31 and a refrigerant gas having a high temperature. Low temperature end side outlet 3 of vortex tube 30
2 reaches the second flow path inlet 22 a through the pipe 43, flows through the second flow path 22 in the regenerator 20,
The temperature is raised by performing heat exchange with the heat storage body 23. The heat transferred to the heat accumulator 23 by cooling the refrigerant gas flowing through the first flow path 21 is offset by the cold heat obtained by raising the temperature of the refrigerant gas flowing through the second flow path 22, and is thus left behind. Cold heat remains in the heat storage body 23. The refrigerant gas flowing out of the second flow path outlet 22b through the second flow path 22 is subsequently led to the gas inlet 12 of the compressor unit 10 through the pipe 45. At the same time, the refrigerant gas discharged from the high temperature end side outlet 33 of the vortex tube 30 is directly guided to the gas inlet 12 of the compressor unit 10 through the pipes 44 and 45. The refrigerant gas that has entered the gas inlet 12 of the compressor unit 10 is compressed and radiated by the compressor unit 10, and is discharged again. As a result of repeating such a cycle, cold heat is accumulated in the heat storage body 23 of the cool storage device 20. Therefore, the user can use the cold heat in the pipe (cold head) 43 connecting the low temperature end side outlet 32 of the vortex tube 30 and the second flow path inlet 22a of the regenerator 20.

In this vortex tube refrigerator, since the vortex tube 30 is used, cold heat can be obtained with a small, lightweight and simple configuration. Moreover, the low-temperature refrigerant gas and the high-temperature refrigerant gas in the vortex tube 30 are respectively connected to the low-temperature end side outlet 3 of this tube 30.
2. The flows flow in opposite directions toward the hot end side outlet 33, and the flow path is completely separated. Further, of the refrigerant gas discharged from the low temperature end side outlet 32 and the refrigerant gas discharged from the high temperature end side outlet 33 of the vortex tube 30, only the refrigerant gas discharged from the low temperature end side outlet 32 is led to the regenerator 20, Since the refrigerant gas that has exited from the end side outlet 33 is directly guided to the suction side of the compressor, cold heat can be efficiently stored in the heat storage body 23 of the regenerator 20. As a result, according to the vortex tube refrigerator, it is possible to increase the cooling efficiency and lower the ultimate temperature as compared with the pulse tube refrigerator without providing a pressure adjusting mechanism such as a buffer tank.

The shape of the cold head 43 can be designed variously depending on the application utilizing cold.

[0018]

As is clear from the above, in the vortex tube refrigerator of the first aspect, since the vortex tube is used, it is possible to obtain cold heat with a small, light and simple configuration. In addition, the low-temperature refrigerant gas and the high-temperature refrigerant gas in the vortex tube flow in opposite directions toward the low-temperature end exit and the high-temperature end exit of the tube, respectively, and the flow paths are completely separated. ing. Also, of the refrigerant gas discharged from the low-temperature end side outlet and the high-temperature end side outlet of the vortex tube, only the refrigerant gas discharged from the low-temperature end side outlet is led to the regenerator and discharged from the high-temperature end side outlet. The cooled refrigerant gas is directly guided to the suction side of the compressor, so that cold heat can be efficiently accumulated in the heat storage body of the regenerator. Therefore,
According to the vortex tube refrigerator, the cooling efficiency can be increased and the ultimate temperature can be reduced as compared with the pulse tube refrigerator without providing a pressure adjusting mechanism such as a buffer tank.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vortex tube refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a compressor unit of the vortex tube refrigerator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Compressor unit 20 Regenerator 30 Vortex tube

Claims (1)

[Claims] A compression device (11) for compressing and radiating a refrigerant gas to discharge the refrigerant gas, a first flow passage (21) and a second flow passage (2) formed therein.
2) a regenerator (20) capable of storing heat in the regenerator (23) by exchanging heat between the refrigerant gas flowing through the regenerator (23) and a low-temperature end (30a). A vortex tube (30) having a gas inlet (31) at a position between the refrigeration unit (20) and the high-temperature end (30b). After flowing into the channel (21), the refrigerant gas is led to the gas inlet (31) of the vortex tube (30), and the refrigerant gas discharged from the low-temperature end side outlet (32) of the vortex tube (30) is subjected to the regenerator (20). Of the second flow path (2
After flowing to 2), the refrigerant gas is guided to the suction side of the compression device (11), and the refrigerant gas discharged from the high temperature end side outlet (33) of the vortex tube (30) is guided to the suction side of the compression device (11). A vortex tube refrigerator.