DE202010017733U1 - cooler - Google Patents

Abstract

Cooling device (1) for vaccines (7) and / or medication (8), with a cooling container (3) enclosing a cooling space (5), a cold accumulator (10) and a heat pump (20), the cold accumulator (10) with the The cooling space (5) is operatively connected and arranged outside the cooling space (5) and designed to absorb heat from the cooling space (5), and the heat pump (20) is designed to remove heat, in particular in the center, from the cold storage device (10), and the cold storage device ( 10) is formed by a container (10) with a container wall (11), the cold store (10) being designed to receive a storage medium (12), in particular water, and the container wall (11) by means of at least one, in particular, metallic heat conductor (22) is connected to the cooling space (5), so that heat can be conducted from the cooling space (5) via the heat conductor (22) to the cold accumulator (10), and the container wall (11) of the cold accumulator (10) and the The cooling space (5) is thermally insulated from one another in such a way that a heat transfer resistance from the cooling space (5) via the heat conductor ...

Description

The invention relates to a cooling device for vaccines and / or medicaments. The cooling device has a cooling container, wherein the cooling container encloses a cooling space.

The cooling device also has a cold storage and a heat pump, wherein the cold storage with the cooling space operatively connected and preferably arranged outside the cooling chamber and is adapted to receive heat from the cooling space. The heat pump is designed to remove heat in particular centrally from the cold storage.

From the DE 41 42 842 A1 a cooling device with a latent cold storage is known, wherein the latent cold storage is thermally conductively connected to a Peltier element as a heat pump and a cold room.

According to the invention, the cold storage is preferably formed by a container having a container wall, wherein the cold storage is designed to receive a heat-storing liquid, in particular water. The container wall of the cold storage is preferably connected by means of at least one particular metallic heat conductor formed with the cooling chamber, so that heat from the refrigerator via the heat conductor can be passed to the cold storage. The container wall of the cold storage and the cooling chamber are preferably thermally insulated from one another such that a heat transfer resistance of the cooling chamber via the heat conductor to the cold storage is smaller than a heat transfer resistance of the refrigerator to the cold storage.

As a result, a heat conduction takes place between the cold storage and the refrigerator mainly via the heat conductor. Further advantageous is prevented by means of the above-described separation of the cold storage of the refrigerator that can be dissipated from the refrigerator too much heat in the cold storage, and so a cold room temperature falls below a predetermined value.

In a preferred embodiment of the cooling device, the container wall of the cold accumulator is different from the cooling container, in particular a cooling vessel wall. More preferably, at least one heat insulating means is arranged between the container wall of the cold storage and the cooling vessel wall.

Preferably, the heat conductor is formed by at least one thermally conductive sheet. The thermally conductive sheet is, for example, an aluminum or a copper sheet.

In a preferred embodiment, the heat conductor, in particular the sheet from the cold storage leads to the refrigerator. The heat conductor, in particular the sheet is connected to the cold storage, preferably with the container wall of the cold storage. More preferably, the heat conductor, in particular the sheet, leads into an upper region of the cooling space.

By means of the heat conductor, it is thus advantageously possible to selectively remove heat from the cooling space into the cold storage. Further advantageously, such a heat flow flowing from the cooling space to the cold storage can advantageously be specifically limited.

In a preferred embodiment of the cooling device, the heat conductor, in particular the sheet, is preferably connected to the cooling space in a heat-conducting manner in an upper part of the cooling space provided for setting up the cooling device. For example, the sheet can protrude into the cooling space in the upper region of the cooling space. Thus, advantageously, a uniform cooling chamber temperature can be achieved.

In a preferred embodiment, the heat pump to a refrigerant circuit with an evaporator, wherein the evaporator - preferably centrally - is arranged in the cold storage that heat from the cold storage can be removed via the evaporator of the heat pump.

In a preferred embodiment of the cold accumulator, the cold accumulator is a latent cold accumulator. Thus, advantageously, a uniform temperature of the latent cold accumulator can be achieved during heat absorption of the cold accumulator. More preferably, the cold storage is designed to keep a fluid, in particular water or an aqueous salt solution in stock. During heat absorption of heat from the cooling space, it is thus advantageous to use an enthalpy for changing an aggregate state of the latent storage medium.

The above-described advantageous central arrangement of the evaporator of the refrigerant circuit further advantageously in conjunction with the latent storage medium in the form of water, that the latent storage medium in the cold storage starting from the preferably centrally located evaporator increasingly freezes from the inside out. Thus, it can advantageously be achieved that a volume expansion of the latent storage medium is minimal insofar as liquid, non-solidified latent storage medium can be uniformly displaced in the cold storage. Further advantageously, the latent storage medium solidifies in the region of the container wall during heat dissipation last through the evaporator, so that in the region of the container wall, which is preferably connected to the heat conductor, - while the removal of heat from the cold storage by the evaporator - as long as possible, a constant temperature prevails.

The constant temperature of the latent cold accumulator, in particular the melting point of the latent storage medium, may for example be adjusted to a predetermined temperature by means of an addition of at least one salt, for example sodium chloride, sodium nitrite, ammonium nitrite, ammonium chloride, potassium nitrite, potassium sulfate or barium chloride.

Preferably, the heat conductor is connected to a region of the cold accumulator, in particular the container wall of the cold accumulator, in the adjacent region of the storage medium, in particular water, is present - preferably during an operating phase in which the heat pump is switched off - in liquid form.

In a preferred embodiment of the cooling device, the cooling device has a heat quantity regulator. The heat quantity regulator is connected to the heat pump and has at least one temperature sensor connected to the cold storage and / or to the heat conductor. The heat quantity regulator is designed to determine a heat flowing into the cold storage at least as a function of a temperature signal generated by the temperature sensor, and to turn on the heat pump as a function of the determined inflowing heat, to control a heat output of the heat pump or to switch off the heat pump. Thus, it is advantageously possible to prevent freezing of the cold accumulator and, with further advantage, supercooling of the cold room. For example, if the refrigerator is filled with drugs or vaccines, these vaccines or the drugs can not be harmed by hypothermia.

The cooling device, in particular a processing unit of the cooling device, is preferably designed to determine a residual operating time of the cooling device as a function of the heat quantity that can be absorbed by the cold accumulator, and more preferably to generate a residual operating time signal representing the remaining operating time. By way of example, the cooling device has a display unit which is designed to receive the remaining operating time signal and to visibly and / or audibly reproduce a residual operating time corresponding thereto.

The heat quantity regulator is formed, for example, by the processing unit, for example a microprocessor, a microcontroller or an FPGA (FPGA = Field Programmable Gate Array).

Unlike in the previously described form of the heat conductor as a metallic heat conductor, in particular the sheet, the heat conductor can also be formed by a liquid circuit. The liquid circuit preferably has no evaporator, and thus no gas phase.

The liquid circuit preferably has a liquid pump, in particular a rotary vane pump or an impeller pump.

The cooling device preferably has a power supply unit, which is designed to supply the cooling device separately from a supply network with electrical energy. More preferably, the power supply unit has at least one solar cell.

The heat pump preferably has a compressor, which is connected by means of a coolant circuit with the evaporator.

The coolant of the coolant circuit is, for example, propane, butane or a halogen-containing hydrocarbon.

The invention will now be described below with reference to figures and further embodiments. Further advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the features described in the figures and in the dependent claims.

1 shows an embodiment of a cooling device with a latency cold storage.

1 shows - schematically - an embodiment of a cooling device 1 , which is shown in a sectional view.

The cooling device 1 has a cooling tank 3 on which a refrigerator 5 encloses. The cooling device 1 is formed in this embodiment, medication 8th and / or vaccines 7 in the fridge 5 to absorb and cool.

The cooling device 1 also has a cold storage 10 on. The cold storage 10 the cooling device 1 has a container with a container wall 11 on. The tank of cold storage 10 encloses a cavity, which with a latent storage medium 12 is filled. The latent storage medium 12 is water in this embodiment.

The cooling device 1 also has a cooling circuit 16 on, wherein in the cooling circuit 16 one Evaporator 14 , a heat exchanger 17 and a compressor 20 are involved.

The cooling circuit 16 also has a throttle valve 18 on, with the compressor 20 on the output side via the heat exchanger 17 and the throttle valve 18 with a first connection of the evaporator 14 connected is. A second connection of the evaporator 14 is with an input of the compressor 20 connected. The cooling circuit 16 performs a refrigerant, which is formed after passing through the throttle valve 18 in the evaporator 14 to expand and thereby change into a gas phase.

The refrigerant is, for example, propane, butane or a halogenated hydrocarbon.

The container wall 11 the cold storage 10 is by means of a metallic heat conductor 22 with the fridge 5 thermally bonded. The heat conductor 22 is formed in this embodiment as a heat-conducting sheet, such as copper or aluminum sheet.

The container wall 11 is from the fridge 5 by means of an insulating agent 26 thermally insulated. So finds a heat exchange between the refrigerator 5 and the cold storage 10 - Essentially - only on the metallic heat conductor 22 instead of.

The heat conductor formed in this embodiment as a thermally conductive metal sheet 22 protrudes into one - to set up the cooling device 1 provided - upper portion of the refrigerator 5 , The heat conductor 22 is in this embodiment in a for setting up the cooling device 1 provided lower portion of the cooling tank 3 introduced. The heat conductor 22 is in the lower part of the container 3 by means of an insulating agent 28 thermally from the refrigerator 5 isolated. So can only be beneficial from the upper area of the refrigerator 5 Heat by means of the heat conductor 22 in the cold storage 10 , and there into the latent storage medium 12 be dissipated.

The cooling tank 3 , the cold storage 10 and that between the cold storage 10 and the cooling container 3 arranged insulating 26 are together from an insulating agent 24 surrounded and so thermally against an environment 15 isolated.

Exemplary embodiments for the insulating means 24 and / or the insulating agent 26 are each at least one foam, for example polyurethane foam, foam of polystyrene, polystyrene, advantageously a vacuum insulation. By way of example, the vacuum insulation means is designed to conduct much worse, for example ten times worse, heat as a function of at least one nanophysical effect than a comparatively thick foam, for example polyurethane foam or polystyrene.

The vacuum insulation is, for example, welded into a film and evacuated. Exemplary vacuum insulation means are an open cell plastic foam, a microfiber material, a fumed silica, a perlite or kieselguhr. For example, a thermal conductivity of the vacuum insulation means less than 0.01 watts per meter and Kelvin in the case of open-cell plastic foam, in the case of the microfiber material less than 0.003 W / (m · K).

For example, the insulating agent 24 and / or the insulating agent 26 an outer shell having a thermally insulating, in particular nichtevakuierten foam, wherein in an inner of the insulating 24 and or 26 at least one vacuum insulating means is arranged. Thus, the vacuum insulation means, which is sensitive to shock, for example in the form of a Dewar vessel, or which is sensitive to the bite in the case of a vacuum insulation panel, can be advantageously protected by means of the envelope comprising a plastic, foam or Styrofoam or a combination thereof.

The cooling device 1 also has a lid 25 on, which is formed in this embodiment by an insulating means or having an insulating means. The insulating agent may according to the insulating agent 24 be educated.

The lid 25 is trained, the refrigerator 5 to open and close.

The cooling device also has a temperature sensor 30 , a temperature sensor 32 , a temperature sensor 34 and a temperature sensor 36 on. The temperature sensor 36 is arranged and formed, a temperature of the environment 15 to capture and generate a temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the environment 15 represents. The temperature sensor 30 is with the cold storage 10 , in particular with the container wall 11 the cold storage 10 connected and adapted to a temperature of the container wall 11 the cold storage 10 to capture and generate a corresponding temperature signal.

The temperature sensors 32 and 34 are each with the heat conductor 22 connected. The temperature sensors 32 and 34 are along a longitudinal extent of the heat conductor 22 between the refrigerator and the cold storage 10 spaced apart so that by means of the temperature sensors 32 and 34 a temperature gradient along a longitudinal extent of the heat conductor 22 , or additionally by means of the temperature sensor 30 to towards a wall, in particular the container wall 11 the cold storage 10 can be detected. The temperature sensors 32 and 34 the cooling device 1 are in this embodiment, each with the heat conductor 22 connected and thus part of the cooling device 1 , It is also conceivable a cooling device 1 which only one of the temperature sensors 32 and 34 having. The heat conductor 22 is then with the temperature sensor 32 or with the temperature sensor 34 connected.

The temperature sensors 32 and 34 are each designed to generate a temperature signal of the respectively detected temperature, which represents the respectively detected temperature. The temperature sensor 32 is on the output side via a connecting line 42 with a processing unit 38 the cooling device connected. The temperature sensor 34 is on the output side via a connecting line 40 with the processing unit 38 connected. The temperature sensor 30 is on the output side via a connecting line 44 with the processing unit 38 connected. The temperature sensor 36 is on the output side via a connecting line 46 with the processing unit 38 connected. The processing unit 38 is on the output side via a connecting line 45 with a display unit 19 , For example, a LCD display (LCD = Liquid Crystal Display) connected.

The compressor 20 and the processing unit 38 are in this embodiment components of electrical consumers 53 the cooling device 1 , The electrical, consumer 53 the cooling device 1 are over a connection line 49 with an electrical connection 51 the cooling device 1 connected. So can the electrical consumers 53 over the entrance 51 be supplied with electrical energy.

The compressor 20 is in this embodiment, a DC-driven compressor, which is formed in response to a control signal received on the input side and / or an operating voltage received on the input side, a compressor power, in particular a rotational speed of an electric drive of the compressor 20 to change.

The compressor 20 is on the input side via a connecting line 48 with the processing unit 38 connected and is formed over the connecting line 48 receive a control signal which represents a compression power to be generated, in particular a rotational speed of the electric drive and to generate a compression power corresponding to the control signal. The processing unit 38 is formed, depending on the input side received temperature signals of the temperature sensor 30 , the temperature sensor 32 , the temperature sensor 34 , or additionally depending on the temperature sensor 36 received temperature signal, the control signal for driving the compressor 20 to generate and over the connecting line 48 to the compressor 20 to send.

The processing unit is designed, for example, as a function of an operating time of the compressor and / or in dependence on the temperature sensors 30 . 32 . 34 or 36 or a combination of these generated temperature signals in the cold storage 10 to determine the amount of heat that can be absorbed and to determine a residual operating time of the cooling device as a function of the amount of heat that can be absorbed by the cold accumulator. The processing unit 38 is configured to generate a residual operating time signal representing the remaining operating time and the remaining operating time signal to the display unit 19 to send to visible play. The display unit 19 indicates, by way of example, a remaining operating time of six days and nine hours, during which a predetermined temperature in the refrigerator 5 can be held.

For example, the cooling device 1 a - not shown - additional with the processing unit 38 associated temperature sensor for detecting the refrigerator space temperature, wherein the processing unit 38 is designed to generate an alarm signal depending on the detected refrigerator temperature and this via the display unit 19 visible or additionally audible play.

The electrical components 53 are by means of the input 51 with a voltage regulator 50 - In particular separable - connected. The voltage regulator 50 is part of a grid-independent solar power supply, comprising the voltage regulator 50 and a solar panel comprising solar cells 52 , The solar panel, comprising the solar cells 52 , is by means of a connection line 47 with the voltage regulator 50 electrically connected on the output side.

The voltage regulator 50 is trained, one of the solar cells 52 depending on one of the solar cells 52 incident solar radiation 54 from the solar cells 52 To convert generated voltage and provide output side. This can be done by the voltage regulator 50 For example, have a maximum power point tracker.

The cooling device 1 can be as advantageous as a single energy storage the cold storage 10 with the latent storage medium 12 exhibit. Further storage means for storing electrical energy, for example accumulators for storing electrically converted solar energy for pumping Although heat are possible, advantageously not necessary in this embodiment. The processing unit 38 is for example with a backup capacitor 39 connected to store electrical energy, which is formed, in particular during a night or a phase of lack of solar power supply, the processing unit 38 to supply with electrical energy. So can the processing unit 38 for example by means of in the Stützkondenstor 39 stored energy - as already described - the remaining operating time of the cooling device 1 determine and by means of the display unit 19 play.

The processing unit 38 is designed to be dependent on the temperature sensors 32 and 34 generated temperature signals, further in dependence of the temperature sensor 30 generated temperature signal, the control signal to activate the compressor 20 to produce such that the cold storage 10 with the latent storage medium 12 always filled with cold energy as far as possible.

The processing unit 38 is formed, at least in response to an operating time of the compressor 20 , Further advantageous as a function of at least one of the temperature sensors 32 and 34 detected temperature signals, in particular a temperature difference of the temperature signals, further advantageous as a function of the temperature sensor 30 detected temperature of the vessel wall 11 the cold storage 10 , a degree of filling of the cold accumulator 10 , in particular one of the cold storage 10 to keep the amount of cold stored in stock and the compressor 20 such that the latent storage medium 12 in the area of the container wall 11 does not solidify, in the case of water as a latent storage medium 12 not frozen. So can be beneficial in the area of the container wall 11 namely in the area from which by means of the heat conductor 22 Heat from the refrigerator 5 in the cold storage 10 can be introduced, advantageously a constant temperature, in the case of water as a latent storage medium 12 a temperature of zero degrees Celsius prevail. So can be advantageously achieved that in the refrigerator 5 stockpiled medicines 8th and / or the vaccines 7 can not be undercooled, since a predetermined temperature of the refrigerator 5 so can not be fallen below.

When the cold storage 10 is fully loaded, so may in an operating phase of the cooling device 1 by means of the heat conductor 22 Heat from the refrigerator 5 be dissipated. The means of the heat conductor 22 from the fridge 5 Dissipated heat can be a over the insulating 24 and an over the formed in this embodiment as an insulating lid 25 in the fridge 5 compensate for heat flowing into it.

The processing unit 38 For example, it is further advantageously formed as a function of one of the temperature sensor 36 detected ambient temperature 15 If, for example, the ambient temperature 15 exceeds a predetermined value - the control signal for driving the compressor 20 to produce such that the cold storage 10 , in particular the latent storage medium 12 completely solidified in the cold storage and so the solidification temperature of the latent storage medium 12 can be fallen below. So can be beneficial - controlled by the temperature sensors 30 , the temperature sensor 32 and / or the temperature sensor 34 , and in addition by the temperature sensor 36 those from the environment 15 in the fridge 15 incoming heat into the cold storage 10 be discharged such that the predetermined temperature, or a predetermined temperature range of the cooling space 5 is not exceeded.

The temperature sensor 32 is in an area of the heat conductor 22 arranged by the heat conductor 22 in the fridge 5 entry. The temperature sensor 34 is along a longitudinal extent of the heat conductor in a region of the heat conductor 22 between the heat conductor 32 and a location or area of the heat conductor 22 arranged at which the heat conductor 22 with the container wall 11 the cold storage 10 connected is. For example, the heat conductor 22 formed as a cup with an angled bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion is at least partially or completely thermally conductively connected to the container wall.

The latency cold storage, for example, in the case of a solar-powered cooling device - apart from an electrical energy storage device supplying a processing unit and temperature sensors - may advantageously be the only storage means that operates the cooling device during a night or a few days of lack of solar power.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 4142842 A1 [0003]

Claims (8)

Cooling device ( 1 ) for vaccines ( 7 ) and / or medications ( 8th ), with a cold room ( 5 ) enclosing cooling container ( 3 ), a cold storage ( 10 ) and a heat pump ( 20 ), wherein the cold storage ( 10 ) with the cold room ( 5 ) and outside the cold room ( 5 ) is arranged and formed, heat from the cold room ( 5 ), and the heat pump ( 20 ) is formed, heat in particular centrally from the cold storage ( 10 ), and the cold storage ( 10 ) through a container ( 10 ) with a container wall ( 11 ) is formed, wherein the cold storage ( 10 ) is formed, a storage medium ( 12 ), in particular water, and the container wall ( 11 ) by means of at least one in particular metallically formed heat conductor ( 22 ) with the cold room ( 5 ), so that heat from the cold room ( 5 ) over the heat conductor ( 22 ) up to the cold storage ( 10 ), and the container wall ( 11 ) of cold storage ( 10 ) and the refrigerator ( 5 ) are thermally insulated from one another in such a way that a heat transfer resistance from the cooling space ( 5 ) over the heat conductor ( 22 ) up to the cold storage ( 10 ) is smaller than a heat transfer resistance of the cold room ( 5 ) to the cold storage ( 10 ). Cooling device ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the heat conductor ( 22 ) by at least one thermally conductive metal, in particular at least one sheet ( 22 ) is formed. Cooling device ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the heat pump ( 20 ) a refrigerant circuit ( 16 ) and an evaporator ( 14 ), wherein the evaporator ( 14 ), in particular centrally, is arranged in the container. Cooling device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat conductor ( 22 ) only in one to set up the cooling device upper part of the cooling space ( 5 ) with the cold room ( 5 ) is thermally conductively connected. Cooling device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cold storage ( 10 ) a latent cold storage ( 10 ), which one as a storage medium ( 12 ) a latency storage medium ( 12 ) having. Cooling device ( 1 ) according to claim 5, characterized in that the heat conductor ( 12 ) with a region of the cold accumulator ( 10 ), in whose adjacent area the storage medium ( 12 ), in liquid form. Cooling device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the latency cold storage ( 10 ) has as storage medium water. Cooling device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling device ( 1 ) a heat quantity controller ( 38 ), which with the heat pump ( 20 ) and at least one with the cold storage ( 10 ) and / or a temperature sensor connected to the refrigerator compartment ( 30 . 32 . 34 ) and is formed, at least in dependence on one of the temperature sensor ( 30 . 32 . 34 . 36 ) generated in the cold storage ( 10 ) to determine the amount of heat flowing in and the heat pump ( 20 ) depending on the determined amount of heat on or off.

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