JP2010277225A - Beverage providing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a beverage providing device which effectively uses waste heat of a refrigerating cycle unit, and achieves energy saving. <P>SOLUTION: The device includes an ice maker 12 and the refrigerating cycle unit 13 in order to supply ice. The device includes a hot water tank 21 having a heater 24, and a sub tank 22 for storing water by receiving water supply and for supplying the stored water to the hot water tank 21 in order to supply hot water. The refrigerating cycle unit 13 configures a refrigerating cycle 38 by feeding refrigerant sequentially through a compressor 31, a heat exchanger 32 for warming, a condenser 33, and an evaporator 36. The heat exchanger 32 for warming is disposed within the sub tank 22. Water in the sub tank 22 is continuously warmed by utilizing the waste heat of the refrigerating cycle unit 13, when the refrigerating cycle unit 13 is operated. The warmed water in the sub tank 22 is supplied into the hot water tank 21, when supplying warmed water is supplied into the hot water tank 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a beverage providing device that provides a hot beverage and a cold beverage.

  Conventionally, a cup-type beverage vending machine as a beverage providing device has a hot water tank for supplying hot water, a chiller for supplying cold water, an ice maker for supplying ice, and the like, and can provide hot and cold beverages. . Generally, a heater is used to boil hot water stored in a hot water tank to a predetermined temperature, and a refrigeration cycle unit is used to cool a water chiller or an ice maker.

  In such a cup-type beverage vending machine, in order to save energy, the waste water of the refrigeration cycle unit is used to heat the hot water in the hot water tank to reduce the power consumption of the heater. is there. The refrigeration cycle unit includes a refrigeration cycle in which refrigerant flows in the order of a compressor, a heating heat exchanger, a condenser, and an evaporator, and the heating heat exchanger is disposed in a hot water tank.

  When the temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank is lower than a predetermined reference temperature, the waste heat of the refrigeration cycle unit is utilized by switching the refrigerant flow path so that the refrigerant flows through the heating heat exchanger. When the hot water in the hot water tank is heated, and the temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank is higher than a predetermined reference temperature, the refrigerant flow path is switched so that the refrigerant flows by bypassing the heating heat exchanger. This prevents the refrigerant from being heated by the hot water in the hot water tank (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-119542 (page 3, FIGS. 1 and 3)

  However, the hot water in the hot water tank is usually boiled and kept at a high temperature of, for example, about 95 ° C., and the hot water in the hot water tank is not used except when there is a large amount of water supply in the hot water tank due to continuous sales. The temperature of the refrigeration cycle does not decrease to a low temperature that can be heated using waste heat of the refrigeration cycle unit. In a situation where the temperature decreases to a low temperature, the heater is energized and heated to a high temperature. become. Moreover, there is not much opportunity for the operation timing of the refrigeration cycle unit to coincide with the temperature decrease timing of the hot water tank. Therefore, there are few opportunities to heat the hot water in the hot water tank using the waste heat of the refrigeration cycle unit, and there is a problem that the waste heat of the refrigeration cycle unit cannot be used effectively.

  In addition, even when using waste heat from the refrigeration cycle unit, the temperature of the hot water in the hot water tank is considerably higher than the water supply temperature, etc., and the waste heat from the refrigeration cycle unit can be efficiently exchanged for hot water in the hot water tank. In this respect, there is a problem that the waste heat of the refrigeration cycle unit cannot be used effectively.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a point, and it aims at providing the drink provision apparatus which can utilize the waste heat of a refrigerating cycle unit effectively, and can aim at energy saving.

  The beverage providing device according to claim 1 is a refrigeration cycle unit having a refrigeration cycle in which refrigerant flows in the order of a compressor, a heat exchanger for heating, a condenser and an evaporator, and at least one of ice supply and cold water supply. On the other hand, a cooling unit in which the evaporator of the refrigeration cycle unit is disposed, a hot water supply tank having a boiling means for boiling hot water to a predetermined temperature, a hot water supply tank for receiving water and storing water, The sub-tank which heats the stored water by heat exchange with the heating heat exchanger of the refrigeration cycle unit and supplies the stored water to the hot water tank is provided.

  According to the beverage providing device of the first aspect, when the refrigeration cycle unit is operated, the water in the sub tank can always be heated using the waste heat of the refrigeration cycle unit, and the refrigeration cycle unit is cooled. When the refrigeration cycle unit is in operation, the water in the sub tank is often in a medium to low temperature state due to natural heat dissipation, water supply, etc., and the waste heat of the refrigeration cycle unit is transferred to the water in the sub tank. Therefore, by effectively using the waste heat of the refrigeration cycle unit, the water in the sub tank is heated and the heated water in the sub tank is supplied to the hot water tank. The power consumption of the heater can be reduced and energy saving can be achieved.

It is a block diagram of the drink provision apparatus which shows one embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  There is a cup-type beverage vending machine as a beverage supply device. This cup-type beverage vending machine is used to inject raw materials into the cup at the time of beverage sales, and to add hot water or cold water, and ice in the case of cold beverages. And the drink in a cup is stir-mixed and prepared by inserting and rotating a stirring tool in the cup, and the cup containing a drink is provided.

  FIG. 1 shows a hot water supply unit 11 for supplying hot water, an ice making machine 12 as a cooling unit for supplying ice, and a refrigeration cycle unit 13 in a cup-type beverage vending machine, and other configurations are omitted. Yes.

  The hot water supply unit 11 has a hot water tank 21 for storing hot water and a sub tank 22 for supplying water to the hot water tank 21, and a lower part of the hot water tank 21 and an upper part of the sub tank 22 are connected by a connecting pipe 23.

  In the hot water tank 21, for example, a heater 24 as a boiling means for boiling hot water to a predetermined boiling temperature of 95 ° C., hot water temperature detecting means (not shown) for detecting the hot water temperature, and hot water level not shown (not shown). A water level detection means is arranged. Connected to the upper side of the hot water tank 21 are a hot water solenoid valve (not shown) for discharging the hot water in the hot water tank 21 and a hot water supply pipe 25 for supplying the hot water to a predetermined hot water supply place.

  A water supply pipe 26 from a water supply source such as a water pipe is connected to the lower part of the sub tank 22.

  The water supply pipe 26 is provided with a water supply electromagnetic valve (not shown), and when the water position detecting means of the hot water tank 21 detects a decrease in the water level in the hot water tank 21, the water supply electromagnetic valve opens and the water supply pipe 26 Water is supplied to the lower part of the sub tank 22 and water in the sub tank 22 is supplied from the upper part to the lower part of the hot water tank 21 so that the water level in the hot water tank 21 is kept constant.

  Further, the ice making machine 12 is configured to accumulate a predetermined amount of ice produced by a predetermined ice making operation, and to accumulate a predetermined amount of ice by the ice making operation when the accumulated amount of ice decreases as the ice is discharged and supplied. ing.

  The refrigeration cycle unit 13 includes a compressor 31 for compressing the refrigerant, a heat exchanger 32 for heating disposed in the sub tank 22, a condenser 33 for condensing the refrigerant, a dryer 34 for removing moisture in the refrigerant, It has a capillary tube 35 that expands the refrigerant, an evaporator 36 that is disposed in the ice making machine 12 and absorbs and cools the refrigerant, and a refrigerating cycle 38 that flows in sequence to the compressor 31 via an accumulator 37 that separates gas and liquid. The condenser 33 includes a fan 39 for heat dissipation.

  Next, the operation of the cup-type beverage vending machine will be described.

  At the time of beverage sales, raw materials are put into the cup, hot water in the hot water tank 21 is poured in the case of hot beverages, and cold water and ice from the ice maker 12 are poured in in the case of cold beverages, A stirrer is inserted into the cup and rotated, and the beverage in the cup is stirred and mixed to prepare a cup with beverage.

  When it is detected that the amount of accumulated ice has decreased with the supply of ice from the ice making machine 12, the refrigeration cycle unit 13 is operated to perform the ice making operation. During operation of the refrigeration cycle unit 13, the refrigerant is compressed by the compressor 31, and the refrigerant that has become high-temperature and high-pressure gas passes through the heating heat exchanger 32 and flows to the condenser 33 to be condensed to become high-pressure liquid. The refrigerant that has passed through the dryer 34 expands in the capillary tube 35, the refrigerant that has become low-pressure liquid flows into the evaporator 36, cools the ice making machine 12, and the refrigerant that has become low-pressure gas passes through the accumulator 37 to the compressor 31. The flowing refrigeration cycle 38 is repeated.

  As a result, the ice making machine 12 makes ice, and the sub tank 22 heats the water in the sub tank 22 by heat exchange between the water in the sub tank 22 and the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant in the heating heat exchanger 32. That is, the water in the sub tank 22 is heated using the waste heat of the refrigeration cycle unit 13.

  When a predetermined amount of ice is accumulated in the ice making machine 12, the operation of the refrigeration cycle unit 13 is stopped. As a result, the ice making operation and the heating of the water in the sub tank 22 are stopped.

  When the water position detecting means detects a decrease in the water level in the hot water tank 21 with the hot water supply from the hot water tank 21, the water supply electromagnetic valve is opened to supply water from the water supply pipe 26 to the lower part of the sub tank 22, and the sub tank The water in 22 is supplied from the upper part to the lower part of the hot water tank 21. When the water level in the hot water tank 21 reaches a predetermined water level, the water supply electromagnetic valve is closed and the water supply is stopped.

  When the water supplied into the sub-tank 22 is heated using the waste heat of the refrigeration cycle unit 13, the pre-warmed water having a heat quantity compared to the water at the water supply temperature is used as the hot water tank 21. To be supplied with water. Therefore, it is possible to delay the decrease in the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 21 as compared with the case where water at the hot water temperature is supplied to the hot water tank 21.

  When the hot water temperature detecting means detects that the hot water temperature in the hot water tank 21 has decreased to a predetermined boiling start temperature, the heater 24 is energized and heated to a predetermined boiling completion temperature. Even at this time, compared with the case where water at the water supply temperature is supplied to the hot water tank 21, since the heated water has a predetermined amount of heat, the time until completion of boiling can be shortened, that is, the heater 24 is energized. Time can be shortened and power consumption can be reduced.

  Further, when the operation of the refrigeration cycle unit 13 is stopped, the heat of the water in the sub-tank 22 is naturally radiated, or water at the water supply temperature is supplied to the sub-tank 22 during the water supply operation to the hot water tank 21. The temperature of the water inside falls. Therefore, as described above, during operation of the refrigeration cycle unit 13 that makes ice with the ice making machine 12, the water in the sub-tank 22 is in an intermediate / low temperature state that is lower than the limit temperature that can be heated using the waste heat of the refrigeration cycle unit 13. In many cases, heat exchange between the water in the sub-tank 22 and the refrigerant in the high-temperature and high-pressure gas state in the heating heat exchanger 32 is performed efficiently. That is, the waste heat of the refrigeration cycle unit 13 can be efficiently exchanged with water in the sub tank 22.

  Thus, during operation of the refrigeration cycle unit 13, the waste heat of the refrigeration cycle unit 13 can always be used to heat the water in the sub tank 22, and the refrigeration cycle unit 13 can cool the ice making machine 12. When the refrigeration cycle unit 13 is operated, the water in the sub tank 22 is often in a medium to low temperature state due to natural heat dissipation or water supply, and the waste heat of the refrigeration cycle unit 13 is transferred to the sub tank 22 Heat can be efficiently exchanged with water. Accordingly, the waste heat of the refrigeration cycle unit 13 is effectively used to heat the water in the sub-tank 22, and the water heated in advance in the sub-tank 22 is supplied to the hot water tank 21 to consume the heater 24. Electric power can be reduced and energy saving can be achieved.

  The cooling unit is not limited to the ice making machine 12 and may be a cold water supply unit that supplies cold water. The cold water supply unit is configured to store cooling water in a water tank and to cool through a part of a cold water pipe that supplies the cold water into the cooling water, and a refrigeration cycle unit is used for cooling the cooling water. . When the ice making machine 12 and the cold water supply unit share the refrigeration cycle unit, the shared refrigeration cycle unit is used for heating the water in the sub tank 22.

  Moreover, as a drink provision apparatus, it is applicable not only to a cup-type drink vending machine but a tea dispenser.

12 Ice machine as a cooling unit
13 Refrigeration cycle unit
21 Hot water tank
22 Sub tank
24 Heater as boiling means
31 Compressor
32 Heat exchanger for heating
33 Condenser
36 Evaporator
38 Refrigeration cycle

Claims (1)

A refrigeration cycle unit having a refrigeration cycle in which refrigerant flows in the order of a compressor, a heat exchanger for heating, a condenser and an evaporator;
A cooling unit for supplying ice and cold water, wherein the evaporator of the refrigeration cycle unit is disposed;
A hot water tank for providing hot water having boiling means for boiling hot water to a predetermined temperature;
A sub tank for receiving and storing the supplied water, heating the stored water by heat exchange with the heating heat exchanger of the refrigeration cycle unit, and supplying the stored water to the hot water tank. A beverage providing apparatus characterized by that.

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