EP3865798B1

EP3865798B1 - Display assembly and method for operating the same

Info

Publication number: EP3865798B1
Application number: EP21157005.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Igor LAURI
Original assignee: ARNEG SpA
Current assignee: ARNEG SpA
Priority date: 2020-02-13
Filing date: 2021-02-13
Publication date: 2022-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 2041-02-13
Also published as: IT202000002878A1; EP3865798A1

Description

Field of application of the invention

The present invention concerns a display assembly configured to display and preserve refrigerated food products or other refrigerated goods and to display heated food products or other heated goods.

State of the art

The display cabinets for hot food, usually called also "hot food counters" and presently used in supermarkets, shopping centres, restaurants, canteens, and other types of shops where goods are sold according to the self-service mode, are powered by electric heating systems which consume high quantities of energy, independently of whether the goods are heated in a bain-marie or in the so-called "pie warmers". CN 107 477 943 B discloses a display assembly providing both cold and warm compartments and comprising a second heat transfer fluid and a tank for accumulating said fluid. US 2016/209097 A1 discloses a prior art display cabinet.
It is one object of the present invention to provide a display cabinet for warmed food that has higher energy efficiency compared to the display cabinets presently used.

Presentation of the invention

The object illustrated above is achieved, according to a first aspect of the present invention, by a display assembly having the characteristics specified in claim 1.
Further characteristics of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.
The advantages achievable with the present invention will appear more evident for the expert in the art from the following detailed description of some particular nonlimiting examples of embodiment, illustrated with reference to the following schematic drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a portion of the refrigerated and heated cabinets of a display assembly according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a side view and a functional diagram of the refrigeration and heating system of a display assembly according to the present invention;
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a refrigerated or heated cabinet of the display assembly of Figure 2.

Detailed description of the invention

Figures 2, 3 concern a display assembly indicated as a whole by the reference number 1.
Said display assembly 1 comprises a refrigerated display compartment 3 configured to contain and preserve refrigerated goods, a heated display compartment 5 configured to contain and preserve heated goods, a cooling system 7 suited to cool the goods and a heating system 9 suited to heat the goods.
The refrigerated goods can be, for example, meat, fish, cured meat, eggs, cheese, milk, yogurt, vegetables, fruit, beer, wine, beverages and other drinks; furthermore, they can be fresh, frozen or deep frozen.
The refrigerated display compartment 3 and the heated display compartment 5 can be provided with one or more shelves 30, 50 on which it is possible to place the goods to be offered for sale or anyway to be displayed.
Each of said shelves 30, 50 can have, for example, an overall length LR equal to or exceeding 1 m or 1.25 m or 1.5 m.
Each of said shelves 30, 50 can have, for example, an overall width WM equal to or exceeding 0.9 m or 1 m or 1.04 m (Figure 3).
Each of said shelves can have, for example, an overall length LR equal to or smaller than 1.25 m and/or an overall width WR equal to or smaller than 0.3 15 m.
The refrigerated display compartment 3 and the heated display compartment 5 are preferably delimited by one or more transparent or opaque walls 31.
The refrigerated display compartment 3 and the heated display compartment 5 are preferably closed by one or more glass panels or other transparent elements 33, 53 which allow the final users to see the food products arranged in the compartments 3, 5 themselves.
Said glass panels may comprise hinged or sliding doors.
Alternatively, the refrigerated display compartment 3 and the heated display compartment 5 can be closed, for example, by air barriers and curtains.
The display assembly comprises a supporting frame, not illustrated in the figures, which is suited to define one or more cabinets. The refrigerated display compartment 3 and the heated display compartment 5 can each be formed in a respective display cabinet having, for example, the shape of a wardrobe, shelving (Figure 1, 2, 3) or counter, for example of an island counter.
The two or more cabinets can be distinct and separate from each other (Figure 2) or joined in such a way as to form a single cabinet (Figure 1).
Each of said cabinets can have, for example, one or more of the following overall dimensions:

a height HM equal to or exceeding 1 m, 1.27 m or 1.5 m;
a length LM equal to or exceeding 1 m, 1.25 m or 1.5 m;
a width WM equal to or exceeding 0.9 m, 1 m, 1.04 m.

Each of said cabinets can have, for example, the overall shape of a parallelepiped or a prism, if necessary with the cover, top or upper side in a substantially convex shape.
The goods cooling system 7 comprises a refrigeration system 11 in turn comprising a compressor 13, an evaporator 15, a lamination element 17 and a first heat transfer fluid suited to flow through the compressor 13, the evaporator 15, the lamination element 17 and a high-pressure heat exchanger 19, thus carrying out a refrigeration cycle, for example a Kelvin cycle.
In the present description the term "evaporator" 15 indicates a heat exchanger suited to exchange heat with the surrounding air, in which it is immersed, and to cool the surrounding environment, at least allowing the expansion and heating of the first heat transfer fluid coming from the lamination element 17, if necessary making it evaporate if upstream of the element 17 it was in the liquid state, even if the first heat transfer fluid, for example according to its chemical nature and to the operating conditions of the condenser - for example based on the temperature of the air in which it is immersed - may even not evaporate and change state in the evaporator 15.
The lamination element 17 is configured to expand the first heat transfer fluid, preferably by subjecting it to an expansion process that must be as adiabatic as possible.
The lamination element 17 can be, for example, a lamination valve, for example of the type known per se, a capillary or a turbine. The first heat transfer fluid is advantageously carbon monoxide (CO2) or a carbon monoxide-based gas mixture, however it can clearly be different, for example a hydroflurocarbon (HFC) or a hydrofluoroether (HFE).
The purity of carbon monoxide, for example, can be equal to or exceed 99.95% or 99.7%.
The second heat transfer fluid is preferably water, or a water solution, but it can also be another liquid, gas or liquid-gas mixture.
The goods heating system 9 comprises a first high-pressure heat exchanger 19 and a second heat transfer fluid suited to flow through the first high-pressure heat exchanger 19, where it is heated with the heat originating from the first heat transfer fluid, and suited to successively heat the heated display compartment 5.
Preferably, the lamination element 17 is a lamination valve.
Preferably, the refrigeration system 11 is configured to convey the first heat transfer fluid coming from the compressor 13 towards the first high-pressure heat exchanger 19.
The first high-pressure heat exchanger 19 is configured in such a way as to allow both the first heat transfer fluid and the second heat transfer fluid to flow through it and exchange heat, preferably heating the second heat transfer fluid with the heat of the first heat transfer fluid.
Preferably, the goods cooling system 7 comprises a condenser 21 configured to cool and condense the first heat transfer fluid coming from the high-pressure heat exchanger 19 if it has not already condensed completely in the latter.
In the present description, the term "condenser 21" indicates a heat exchanger suited to exchange heat with the surrounding air, in which it is immersed, and to heat the surrounding environment at least by cooling the first heat transfer fluid coming from the high-pressure heat exchanger 19, possibly condensing it and changing it from the gas state into the liquid state, even if the first heat transfer fluid, depending, for example, on its chemical nature and on the operating conditions of the condenser - for example based on the temperature of the air in which it is immersed - may also not condense and change state in the condenser 21.
Preferably, the at least one evaporator 15 is configured to allow the evaporation of the first heat transfer fluid expanded in the lamination element 17 by cooling the surrounding environment and in particular the refrigerated display compartment 3.
The high-pressure heat exchanger 19 may comprise one or more of the following devices: a plate heat exchanger, a tube bundle heat exchanger, a spiral heat exchanger.
The goods heating system 9 is configured to maintain a temperature preferably included between 40°and 70°C and more preferably between 60°and 65°C in the inner parts of the food to be heated.
The goods heating system 9 comprises one or more of the following components, and more preferably all of them:

a pump 92 configured to push the second heat transfer fluid coming from the first high-pressure heat exchanger 19 towards the heating heat exchanger 94, if provided;
a heating heat exchanger 94 configured to heat the heated display compartment 5 with the heat of the second heat transfer fluid coming from the first high-pressure heat exchanger 19 and heated in the latter;
a storage tank 96 configured to accumulate and contain the second heat transfer fluid.

The storage tank 96 has preferably a capacity equal to or exceeding 2.5 l, and more preferably equal to or exceeding 5 l or 10 l.
The storage tank 96 has preferably a capacity equal to or smaller than 20 l, and more preferably equal to or smaller than 10 l.
The storage tank 96 is preferably thermally insulated, in such a way as to prevent the cooling of the second heat transfer fluid kept therein as much as possible: the function of the tank 96, in fact, is to keep a reserve of the second heat transfer fluid as hot as possible.
Each evaporator 15 can be arranged substantially under (Figure 2), beside or over the refrigerated display compartment 3.
Each heating heat exchanger 94 can be arranged substantially under (Figure 2), beside or over the heated display compartment 5.
Preferably, each heating heat exchanger 94 and any storage tank 96 are arranged inside the cabinet 6, also referred to as "heated cabinet 6" in this description, in which the heated display compartment 5 is obtained.
In particular, the pump 92 and the storage tank 96 associated with the goods heating system 9 are arranged inside the same cabinet or positioned in different cabinets. These components, furthermore, are connected to the various heating heat exchangers 94, each of which is associated with the heated display compartment 5 of the respective cabinet.
Conveniently, all the elements that make up the goods cooling system 7 (high-pressure heat exchanger 19, compressor 13, condenser 21, lamination element 17, evaporator 15) and all the elements that make up the goods heating system 9 (pump 92, heating heat exchanger 94, storage tank 60, high-pressure heat exchanger 19) can be completely contained in the cabinet (or cabinets).
In this way the display assembly can be easily handled with no need for connections with parts of the systems 7, 9 positioned outside the frame and the cabinet/cabinets.
For this purpose, the heated cabinet 6 can form a kick-plate or base 60 in its lower part, and each heating heat exchanger 94 and the storage tank 96, if any, are advantageously arranged in the kick-plate or base 60, hidden inside it.
Preferably, the compressor 13, the evaporator 15 and the lamination element 17 are arranged inside the cabinet 4 in which the refrigerated display compartment 3 is obtained.
For this purpose, the cabinet 4, also referred to as "refrigerated cabinet" in this description, can form a kick-plate or base 40 in its lower part, and the compressor 13, the evaporator 15 and the lamination element 17 are preferably arranged in the kick-plate or base 40, preferably hidden inside it.
A display assembly 1 according to the present invention can have a modular structure and comprise, for example, one or more refrigerated cabinets 4 and one or more heated cabinets 6 mechanically fixed or even just fluidically connected to each other in such a way as to form larger composite cabinets.
Said composite cabinets may comprise modules configured as a wardrobe, shelving or counter that are neither cooled nor heated, for example because they have neither the goods cooling system 7 nor the goods heating system 9, and these modules, which are neither cooled nor heated, can be advantageously interposed between a refrigerated cabinet 4 and a heated cabinet 6 in such a way as to better insulate them from each other.
The various components of the goods cooling system 7 and of the goods heating system 9, in particular the compressor 13, the evaporator 15, the lamination element 17, the first high-pressure heat exchanger 19, the pump 92, the heat exchanger 94, the heat storage tank 96 can be fluidically connected to one another by means of suitable pipes or other ducts.
The display assembly 1 is advantageously provided with auxiliary heating elements such as, for example, electric resistors, magnetic induction heaters or heating lamps, for example infrared or halogen lamps, to complement and/or replace the thermal power provided by the goods heating system 9 if and when necessary, for example in case of malfunction or maintenance of the goods heating system 9.
These auxiliary heating elements all together define the auxiliary heating means suited to be used in a display assembly according to the invention.
The goods heating system may comprise one or more fans (not illustrated in the figures) suited to convey an air flow through the heating heat exchanger 94. The passage of air through the heat exchanger 94 allows the heat associated with the second heat transfer fluid (which circulates through the heating heat exchanger 94) to be transferred to the heated display compartment 5.
Preferably, at least one electronic control unit (not illustrated in the figures) may be provided, said electronic control unit being connected to the compressor 13 of the goods cooling system 7, to the pump 92 of the goods heating system 9, to the fans and to the auxiliary heating means.
The electronic control unit can be configured to selectively activate the pumps 13, 92 and/or the fans.
More specifically, the cooling system 7 is operated (through the activation of the corresponding compressor 13) according to a mode of the type "always ready", meaning that its operation is possible provided that a substantially constant and preset temperature is maintained inside the refrigerated display compartment 3, in such a way as to create an optimal condition for the cold preservation of the goods.
In other words, the cooling system 7 is constantly maintained in operating condition, as the respective compressor 13 is activated by the electronic control unit at any time day and night (24/24 7/7) as soon as the temperature of the refrigerated display compartment 3 falls below the preset value.
The activation of the compressor 13 cannot be continuous for the whole day (24 hours) since, even if the cooling system 7 is always in operation, the circulation of the first heat transfer fluid through the high-pressure compressor 19 and through the evaporator 15 must be periodically interrupted to allow the defrosting of the internal surfaces of the refrigerated display compartment 3 or due to the fact that the temperature inside said compartment corresponds to the set temperature.
As far as the activation of the goods heating system is concerned, instead, the situation is different, as the activation of the pump 92 can be controlled by the electronic control unit according to a mode of the type "on request".
In this case, the heated display compartment 5 can be heated only at certain times of the day or according to predetermined time intervals, depending on the requests of the user. For example, the electronic control unit can maintain the pump 92 in operating conditions in the daytime; in this case the pump 92 is actually operated in such a way as to make the second heat transfer fluid circulate inside the heat exchanger 94 when, during the daytime, the temperature inside the heated display compartment falls below a predetermined value.
The same operating regime can be applied to the pump 92 even during the time intervals set by the user.
On the contrary, during the night time (or in the time slots complementary to those set by the user) the electronic control unit can maintain the pump 92 in a totally inoperative condition, preventing it from being activated and so that all the second heat transfer fluid (generally constituted by water) is distributed along the system 9 and/or inside the storage tank 96 without circulating through the ducts.
The presence of the storage tank 96 makes it possible to collect the second heat transfer fluid even when the latter is not circulating inside the heating system 9, in such a way as to minimize the dispersion of heat and delay the cooling of the fluid itself as much as possible.
Furthermore, the second heat transfer fluid collected in the storage tank 96 makes it possible to create a "thermal ballast" suited to reduce any temperature oscillations to which the heating system 9 is subjected.
These oscillations can affect the second heat transfer fluid due to the fact that the latter does not exchange heat with the high-pressure heat exchanger 19; this occurs when the compressor 13 is deactivated and the first heat transfer fluid is not circulating inside the high-pressure heat exchanger 19 (this condition occurs during defrosting and/or when the refrigerated display compartment 3 reaches the preset temperature).
The presence of the storage tank 96 makes it possible to minimize the thermal oscillation effects acting on the second heat transfer fluid due to the fact that the storage of a non-negligible quantity of said fluid in a container considerably increases the thermal inertia associated with the heating system 9.
The storage tank 96 can be provided with a thermally insulating external wall (or a thermally insulating external covering) to delay the cooling of the second heat transfer fluid even when the pump 92 remains inoperative for relatively long time periods.
Conveniently, the electronic control unit can be configured to activate the fans associated with the heating system 9 without necessarily activating also the pump 92 at the same time.
In this way it is possible to heat the heated display compartment 5 through the heat transferred to the air flow by the second heat transfer fluid present inside the heating heat exchanger 94 (fluid that does not circulate as the pump 92 is deactivated and that therefore is inside the heat exchanger 94 in a static condition, meaning motionless).
Furthermore, the electronic control unit can activate the auxiliary heating means, possibly in combination with the fans.
In this case the heat transferred to the heated display compartment 5 can be generated partly by the user of one or more auxiliary heating means and partly by the hot air flow obtained through the activation of the fans owing to the presence of the second heat transfer fluid contained inside the ducts making up the heating heat exchanger 94.
The activation of the cooling system 7 and of the heating system 9 is therefore controlled independently by the electronic control unit: it is possible to selectively activate only one of the two systems 7, 9 or both systems 7, 9.
Furthermore, even the fans and the auxiliary heating means can be activated independently by the electronic control unit with respect to the activation of the pump 92 of the heating system.
The presence of the high-pressure heat exchanger 19 and the special configuration of the heating system 9 make it possible to obtain a display assembly whose operating mode is particularly flexible.
The possibility to activate the two systems 7, 9 independently of each other, obtaining the selective cooling and heating of the respective compartments 3, 5, is due to the special configuration of the heating system.
The storage tank 96 is connected in series to the high-pressure heat exchanger 19 and to the heating heat exchanger 94.
In this way, when the goods heating system 9 is activated through the operation of the pump 92, the second heat transfer fluid circulates through the storage tank 96, the high-pressure heat exchanger 19 and the heating heat exchanger 94.
This operating condition remains such even when the compressor 13 of the cooling system 5 is activated alongside the heating system 9.
The simultaneous request for cold and heat in the refrigerated display compartment and in the heated display compartment allows the fluids of the two systems 7, 9 to mutually exchange heat in such a way as to increase the temperature of the second heat transfer fluid, furthermore forcing its circulation inside the storage tank 96 and the heating heat exchanger 94 (these components, in fact, are connected in series to the high-pressure heat exchanger 19).
The heating heat exchanger 94, therefore, comes in contact with the same heat transfer fluid which has been previously heated as a consequence of its passage through the high-pressure heat exchanger 19.
Differently from the assemblies of the state of the art, when the compressor 13 and the pump 92 of the systems 7, 9 are in operation, both fluids circulate inside the high-pressure heat exchanger and the heat absorbed by the second heat transfer fluid is transferred directly to the heated display compartment 5 owing to its circulation inside the storage tank 96 and the heating heat exchanger 94.
The high-pressure heat exchanger 19 and the storage tank 96 thus constitute components of the heating system 9 having an active role in the propagation of heat towards the heated display compartment 5, independently of the operating condition of the assembly and in a completely independent manner with respect to the activation of the cooling system 7.
The series connection between the high-pressure heat exchanger 19 and the storage tank 96 makes it possible to normalize and reduce the thermal gradients which can affect the change in the temperature of the second heat transfer fluid due to the fact that the activation of the cooling system 7 is not continuous over time (rather, it is discrete).
The second heat transfer fluid circulates inside the storage tank 96 when the assembly is operating according to two possible operating situations: i) when the compressor 13 of the cooling system 7 is temporarily deactivated and the pump 92 of the heating system 9 is activated; ii) when the compressor 13 and the pump 92 of the two systems 7, 9 are both working.
An example of operation and use of the display assembly 1 is described below.
The display assembly 1 can be installed, for example, in a supermarket.
The refrigerated display compartment 3 of the refrigerated cabinet 4 can contain food or in any case food products which need to be displayed and preserved at a low temperature such as, for example, meat, fish, cured meat, eggs, cheese, milk, yogurt, vegetables, fruit, beer, wine, beverages and other drinks.
The heated display compartment 5 of the heated cabinet 6, meaning the "hot food counter", can contain food or in any case food products which need to be displayed and kept at a higher temperature such as, for example, roasted or cooked meat, grilled or in any case cooked vegetables, soups, fondue, béchamel sauce, zabaglione and other creams to be served hot.
The goods cooling system 7 and the goods heating system 9 are activated.
The compressor 13 compresses and heats the first heat transfer fluid and conveys it towards the high-pressure heat exchanger 19, 90.
The temperature of the first heat transfer fluid leaving the compressor is advantageously equal to or higher than 70°C, more preferably equal to or higher than 100°C and even more preferably equal to or higher than 120°C.
In the high-pressure heat exchanger 19, 90 the first heat transfer fluid transfers part of its heat to the second heat transfer fluid, thus heating it. Successively, after leaving the heat exchanger 19, the first heat transfer fluid reaches the condenser 21, in which it condenses and at least partially liquefies, then it is expanded and cooled while it flows through the lamination element 17, and subsequently reaches the one or more evaporators 15 which cools/cool the refrigerated display compartment 3 and the food products stored therein.
Once having flown through the one or more evaporators 15, the first heat transfer fluid can, for example, return to the compressor 3, where it starts a second refrigeration cycle.
The second heat transfer fluid heated in the first high-pressure heat exchanger 19, after flowing through the latter, reaches the pump 92 and from there it is conveyed towards each of the second heating heat exchangers 94.
The latter, heated by the second heat transfer fluid, in turn heat the heated display compartment 5 and the food or other food products contained therein.
The second heat transfer fluid coming from each of the heat exchangers 94 preferably reaches the heat storage tank 96, which makes it possible to preferably accumulate a large quantity of heat.
The second heat transfer fluid can thus return from the tank 96 to the first high-pressure heat exchanger 19, in which it can be heated again by the first heat transfer fluid.
In this way, most of the heat produced through the compression of the first heat transfer fluid and substantially a considerable part of the calories taken from the refrigerated display compartment 3 and from the food products contained therein, instead of being dispersed in the surrounding environment by a refrigerating system condenser of the known type, are recovered and used to heat the hot food counter 6, thus obtaining considerable energy efficiency.
In fact, the hot food counter 6, if necessary, can be heated exclusively with the heat produced by the refrigeration cycle that cools the refrigerated cabinet 4, thus making it possible to obtain energy savings up to approximately 80% compared to the known hot food counters.
In supermarkets, refrigerated counters usually work 24/24 while hot food counters work only in the daytime, are emptied in the evening and filled again with new food products the following morning: in fact, the food products which are kept warm in the hot food counters 6 and remain unsold cannot generally be offered for sale the following day but must be disposed of as waste or otherwise recycled.
Therefore, during the night the hot food counters 6 can, for example, be kept operating to eliminate the heat produced by the active refrigeration cycle of the refrigerated cabinets 4.
The carbon dioxide used as first heat transfer fluid offers the advantage that it can leave the compressor 13 at higher temperatures compared to other heat transfer fluids, for example at approximately 120°C, thus increasing the thermal power that can be transferred to the second heat transfer fluid in the high-pressure heat exchanger 19 and consequently the thermal efficiency of the display assembly 1 as a whole.
The storage tank 96 can be arranged not only downstream of the heating heat exchanger 94 and upstream of the first high-pressure heat exchanger 19 but also in other points of the fluidic circuit, for example downstream of the first high-pressure heat exchanger 19 and upstream of the pump 92 or downstream of the pump 92 and upstream of the heating heat exchanger 94.
The examples of embodiment described above can be subjected to various modifications and changes which in any case fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.
For example, the goods cooling system 7 and/or the goods heating system 9 may possibly comprise a heat pump intended to increase the temperature of the first and/or of the second heat transfer fluid.
The first and the second heat transfer fluid can also have the same chemical composition.
When not specified otherwise, numerical references that differ only for different superscripts, for example 21', 21", 21‴ indicate different variants of an element called in the same way.
For example, any materials and sizes can be used, according to the technical requirements.
It is to be understood that an expression like "A comprises B, C, D" or "A is made up of B, C, D" includes and describes also the particular case in which "A is constituted by B, C, D".
Unless specified otherwise, the expression "A comprises an element B" is to be understood as "A comprises one or more elements B".
References to a "first, second, third, ... n-^th entity" have the only purpose to distinguish them from one another but the indication of the n-^th entity does not necessarily imply the existence of the first, second, ... (n-1)^th entity.
The examples and lists of possible variants of this application must not be considered comprehensive.

Claims

Display assembly (1) comprising:
- a supporting frame designed to define at least one cabinet;

- a refrigerated display compartment (3) formed in said cabinet and configured to contain and store refrigerated goods, a heated display compartment (5) formed in said cabinet and configured to contain and store heated goods, a goods cooling system (7) and a goods heating system (9),
wherein:
- the goods cooling system (7) comprises a refrigeration system (11) in turn comprising a compressor (13), an evaporator (15), a lamination element (17);

- the goods cooling system (7) is configured to carry out a refrigeration cycle when said first heat transfer fluid flows through the compressor (13), the evaporator (15), the lamination element (17) and a high-pressure heat exchanger (19);

- the goods heating system (9) comprises at least one high-pressure heat exchanger (19), a heating heat exchanger (94), a second heat transfer fluid and a storage tank (96), the second heat transfer fluid being suited to flow through the at least one high-pressure heat exchanger (19) and the heating heat exchanger (94) to heat the heated display compartment (5) with thermal energy originating from the first heat transfer fluid;
characterized in that the storage tank (96) of the second heat transfer fluid is contained within said cabinet, and in that the storage tank (96) of the second heat transfer fluid is connected in series to the high-pressure heat exchanger (19) and to the heating heat exchanger (94).
Display assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the goods heating system (9) comprises a pump (92) configured to convey the second heat transfer fluid coming from the first high-pressure heat exchanger (19) towards the heating heat exchanger (94) by making it flow through the storage tank (96).
Display assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein at least one electronic control unit is provided, said electronic control unit being operatively connected to the compressor (13) and to the pump (92) to selectively activate them and make the first heat transfer fluid and/or the second heat transfer fluid circulate in the goods cooling system (7) and/or in the goods heating system (9).
Display assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein the at least one electronic control unit is configured to selectively and simultaneously activate the compressor (13) and the pump (92) and convey the flow of the first heat transfer fluid and of the second heat transfer fluid through the high-pressure heat exchanger (19) in a substantially simultaneous way.
Display assembly (1) according to claim 3, wherein auxiliary heating means are provided, said auxiliary heating means being connected to the at least one electronic control unit and being suited to selectively heat the heated display compartment (5).
Display assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the auxiliary heating means comprise heating elements selected from the group comprising electric resistors, magnetic induction heaters, heating lamps and heat pumps.
Display assembly (1) according to one or more the claims 5 and 6, wherein the auxiliary heating means and the pump (92) associated with the goods heating system (9) are suited to be individually or simultaneously activated even if the compressor (13) associated with the goods cooling system (7) is not in operation.
Display assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the goods cooling system (7) is configured to carry out the refrigeration cycle by compressing the first heat transfer fluid and conveying it towards the at least one high-pressure heat exchanger (19) and/or towards the at least one high-pressure heat exchanger (19) through the compressor (13), expanding the first heat transfer fluid in the lamination element (17), evaporating the first heat transfer fluid in the evaporator (15) and conveying the first heat transfer fluid coming from the evaporator (15) towards the compressor (13).
Display assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one high-pressure heat exchanger (19) comprises one or more of the following elements: a plate heat exchanger, a tube bundle heat exchanger, a spiral heat exchanger.
Display assembly (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the goods cooling system (7) comprises a condenser (21) configured to condense the first heat transfer fluid coming from the compressor (13) and/or from the high-pressure heat exchanger (19).
Display assembly (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the refrigerated display compartment (3) and the heated display compartment (5) are provided with one or more shelves (30, 50) on which the goods to be offered for sale or in any case to be displayed can be placed.
Display assembly (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the refrigerated display compartment (3) and the heated display compartment (5) can each be obtained in a respective display cabinet having, for example, the shape of a wardrobe, shelving or counter, for example of an island counter.
Display assembly (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the evaporator (15) is arranged substantially under and/or beside and/or over the refrigerated display compartment (3).
Display assembly (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the heating heat exchanger (94) is integrated in the cabinet and is arranged substantially under and/or beside and/or over the heated display compartment (5).