Refrigerating device and refrigerator

Abstract

There are provided a refrigerating device capable of efficiently performing a refrigerant recovering operation even in a case where there are disposed a plurality of heat absorbing units functioning in different temperature zones, and a refrigerator including this refrigerating device. A refrigerating device 30 includes a compressor 1 , a radiator 2 , an expansion valve 3 , a gas-liquid separator 4 , a first heat absorbing unit 10 through which a liquid refrigerant from this gas-liquid separator 4 flows, and a second heat absorbing unit 11 , and the refrigerating device performs a refrigerant recovering operation of stopping circulation of the refrigerant into the second heat absorbing unit 11 , operating the compressor 1 , recovering the refrigerant stored in a heat sink 58 , and sending the refrigerant to the gas-liquid separator 4 to store the refrigerant in a state in which circulation of the refrigerant into the first heat absorbing unit 10 is stopped after ending a freezing operation.

1 . A refrigerating device provided with a refrigeration cycle including: a compressor; a radiator connected to a discharge side of the compressor; first pressure reducing means connected to an outlet side of the radiator; a gas-liquid separator connected to an outlet side of the first pressure reducing means; first heat absorbing means through which a liquid refrigerant from the gas-liquid separator flows and which includes second pressure reducing means and a first heat sink; and second heat absorbing means disposed in parallel with the first heat absorbing means and including third pressure reducing means and a second heat sink, 
 refrigerant pipes of the first and second heat absorbing means on the outlet side being combined and connected to a suction side of the compressor,    the second heat absorbing means functioning in a temperature zone lower than that of the first heat absorbing means,    a first cooling operation to operate the first heat absorbing means and a second cooling operation to operate the second heat absorbing means being switchable to each other,    the refrigerating device comprising:    control means for performing a refrigerant recovering operation to stop circulation of the refrigerant into the second heat absorbing means, operate the compressor, recover the refrigerant stored in the second heat sink, and store the refrigerant in the gas-liquid separator in a state in which circulation of the refrigerant into the first heat absorbing means is stopped after the second cooling operation is completed.    
   
   
       2 . The refrigerating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 blowing means for sending air to the second heat sink,    the blowing means being operated during the refrigerant recovering operation.    
   
   
       3 . The refrigerating device according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the compressor has an intermediate pressure section, 
 the refrigerating device further comprising:    a refrigerant pipe capable of introducing a gas refrigerant separated by the gas-liquid separator into the intermediate pressure section.    
   
   
       4 . The refrigerating device according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein a high-pressure side of the refrigeration cycle is operated with a supercritical pressure.  
   
   
       5 . The refrigerating device according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein the refrigerant recovered from the second heat sink is stored in the gas-liquid separator in a case where the high-pressure side of the refrigeration cycle is operated with the supercritical pressure, and 
 the refrigerant recovered from the second heat sink is stored in the gas-liquid separator and/or the radiator in a case where the high-pressure side of the refrigeration cycle is not operated with the supercritical pressure.    
   
   
       6 . The refrigerating device according to  claim 5 , wherein the blowing means for sending air to the radiator is disposed close to the radiator, and 
 the blowing means is operated at a time when the refrigerant recovered from the second heat sink is stored in the radiator.    
   
   
       7 . A refrigerating device provided with a refrigeration cycle including: a compressor; a radiator connected to a discharge side of the compressor; first pressure reducing means connected to an outlet side of the radiator; a gas-liquid separator connected to an outlet side of the first pressure reducing means; first heat absorbing means through which a liquid refrigerant from the gas-liquid separator flows and which includes second pressure reducing means and a first heat sink; and second heat absorbing means disposed in parallel with the first heat absorbing means and including third pressure reducing means and a second heat sink, 
 refrigerant pipes of the first and second heat absorbing means on the outlet side being combined and connected to a suction side of the compressor,    wherein the second heat absorbing means functions in a temperature zone lower than that of the first heat absorbing means,    a first cooling operation to operate the first heat absorbing means and a second cooling operation to operate the second heat absorbing means are switchable to each other, the refrigerating device permitting circulation of the refrigerant into the first heat absorbing means, stopping circulation of the refrigerant into the second heat absorbing means, and operating the compressor at a frequency higher than that of the first or second cooling operation before starting the first cooling operation.    
   
   
       8 . A refrigerating device provided with a refrigeration cycle including: a compressor; a radiator connected to a discharge side of the compressor; first pressure reducing means connected to an outlet side of the radiator; a gas-liquid separator connected to an outlet side of the first pressure reducing means; first heat absorbing means through which a liquid refrigerant from the gas-liquid separator flows and which includes second pressure reducing means and a first heat sink; and second heat absorbing means disposed in parallel with the first heat absorbing means and including third pressure reducing means and a second heat sink, 
 refrigerant pipes of the first and second heat absorbing means on the outlet side being combined and connected to a suction side of the compressor,    wherein the second heat absorbing means functions in a temperature zone lower than that of the first heat absorbing means,    a first cooling operation to operate the first heat absorbing means and a second cooling operation to operate the second heat absorbing means are switchable to each other,    the refrigerating device performing a refrigerant recovering operation of permitting circulation of the refrigerant into the first heat absorbing means, stopping circulation of the refrigerant into the second heat absorbing means, operating the compressor at a frequency higher than that of the first or second cooling operation, recovering the refrigerant stored in the second heat sink, and sending the refrigerant to the gas-liquid separator to store the refrigerant before starting the first cooling operation.    
   
   
       9 . The refrigerating device according to  claim 7  or  8 , further comprising: 
 blowing means for sending air to the second heat sink,    the blowing means being operated in a case where the compressor is operated at the high frequency.    
   
   
       10 . The refrigerating device according to any one of  claims 1  to  9 , wherein carbon dioxide is used as the refrigerant.  
   
   
       11 . A refrigerator comprising: 
 a refrigerating device according to any one of  claims 1  to  10 .    
   
   
       12 . The refrigerator according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a refrigerating chamber; and    a freezing chamber operated at a temperature lower than that of the refrigerating chamber,    the refrigerating chamber being cooled by the first heat absorbing means, the freezing chamber being cooled by the second heat absorbing means.