EP0750732A1 - Element having a double heat transfer function for isothermal chambers, and isothermal chamber provided therewith - Google Patents

Element having a double heat transfer function for isothermal chambers, and isothermal chamber provided therewith

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Publication number
EP0750732A1
EP0750732A1 EP95913201A EP95913201A EP0750732A1 EP 0750732 A1 EP0750732 A1 EP 0750732A1 EP 95913201 A EP95913201 A EP 95913201A EP 95913201 A EP95913201 A EP 95913201A EP 0750732 A1 EP0750732 A1 EP 0750732A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
compartment
isothermal
enclosure
refrigerant
partition
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP95913201A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0750732B1 (en
Inventor
Jean-Pierre Grazon
Claude Gibot
Alain Bechennec
Gérard TIBY
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MONETTI FRANCE
Carboxyque Francaise SA
Premark FEG LLC
Original Assignee
MONETTI FRANCE
Carboxyque Francaise SA
Premark FEG Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MONETTI FRANCE, Carboxyque Francaise SA, Premark FEG Corp filed Critical MONETTI FRANCE
Publication of EP0750732A1 publication Critical patent/EP0750732A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0750732B1 publication Critical patent/EP0750732B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/06—Walls
    • F25D23/069—Cooling space dividing partitions
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2331/00—Details or arrangements of other cooling or freezing apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2331/80—Type of cooled receptacles
    • F25D2331/804—Boxes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
    • F25D2400/38—Refrigerating devices characterised by wheels
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
    • F25D3/10—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using liquefied gases, e.g. liquid air
    • F25D3/102—Stationary cabinets

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the conservation, in isothermal conditions independent of any external energy source, of all products such as for example food or pharmaceutical products for which a homogeneous temperature must be necessarily preserved between the time of their preparation and their use by an end user.
  • Each compartment must ensure a constant ambient temperature both in the volume of said compartment and in the autonomy time necessary to keep these speakers outside of any external refrigerant energy source, and in any event at least for a period between 0 and 4 hours.
  • constant temperature or “controlled temperature” a room temperature for which the variations are within a range of plus or minus 4 ° C around the temperature chosen in the fresh produce compartment and the temperature variation is between -18 "C and -26 ° C in the frozen product compartment; the meaning of maintaining a constant or practically constant temperature notwithstanding variations in the outside temperature also applies to variations in the time in an interval of 0 to 4 h during which the enclosure is dissociated from any source of external cold.
  • the object of the present invention is also to produce such an insulated enclosure comprising any number of compartments which can be maintained individually at different temperatures, not requiring the use, in this enclosure, of separating partitions made of inert insulating material, which would create a large dead volume inside the enclosure.
  • the invention which consists in the development of a removable double-sided partition element usable in particular in an isothermal enclosure, characterized in that it has in its thickness two compartments contiguous to each other, the first non-watertight compartment is capable of being filled with a solid and sublimable refrigerant element, for example dry ice, the other watertight compartment, which can be assimilated to a housing, has been filled with eutectic in the form of gel or mixture or air; the compartment contiguous to the sealed housing is provided with openings distributed in a substantially homogeneous manner on its external face so as to establish different directed temperatures on either side of this partition element, these directed temperatures being sufficiently different to be able to ensure compartments capable of simultaneously containing frozen products in one and fresh products in the other, without breaking the cold chain for all the products considered.
  • a solid and sublimable refrigerant element for example dry ice
  • the other watertight compartment which can be assimilated to a housing, has been filled with eutectic in the form of
  • eutectic in the present application any mixture of two or more bodies whose fusion takes place at constant temperature. Under these conditions, as long as the frigories are provided by the dry ice, the eutectic remains at a constant temperature which is its melting temperature, which can therefore be determined by the choice of the eutectic mixture considered, as a function of the ambient temperature. chosen in the compartment. The only condition is that the solidification temperature of the refrigerant (dry ice) is very significantly lower than the melting temperature of the gel or the eutectic mixture.
  • this refrigerant will consist of solid carbon dioxide in all its forms (wafers, sticks, pellets, snow) whose sublimation temperature is -78 ° C to atmospheric pressure, but other refrigerants can be considered in other applications.
  • this refrigerant may have the function of directing a temperature, even a very low one, in one of the volumes of the isothermal enclosure and of transferring the necessary refrigerants through the buffer housing described above in order to maintain a another different directed temperature in another volume of the isothermal enclosure, temperature determined as a function of the envisaged application, this temperature being for example close to 0 ° C. for keeping food fresh.
  • a partition element in accordance with the invention could thus constitute, in an isothermal enclosure, at least two compartments at different temperatures: on the side of the refrigerant space, a freezing compartment at temperature in principle notably below 0 ° C (up to -18 or -25 ° C if necessary) for the products to be kept at negative temperatures and on the side of the buffer housing containing for example the eutectic gel, a refrigeration compartment at a temperature close to 0 ° C for the products to be kept fresh.
  • the "buffer box” thus represents between these two refrigerator and freezer compartments, a “balance of impedance” mechanism avoiding the use of any inert insulating partition.
  • temperatures in the various compartments can be adjusted and maintained over time at the desired values as a function of the impedance of the buffer and that of the refrigerant, as well as heat losses to the outside (function of the outside temperature), the initial state of the buffer (eutectic) and the expected duration of transport.
  • a partition element according to the invention is also characterized in that the compartment contiguous to the sealed housing is delimited on one side by the latter and on the opposite side by a wall provided with one or more openings, or a grid, leaving transition to refrigerant gas from the sublimation of said refrigerant (perforated face).
  • a gap is formed between said housing and the lower part of said non-sealed wall or grid to allow the flow of said refrigerant gas downward, the latter being heavier than air in the case where it comes from the sublimation of solid carbon dioxide (C02).
  • the element can also be characterized in that the lower part of said housing is widened at its base to offer said buffer a sufficient volume of capacity, this housing advantageously being made of a material with high thermal conductivity, for example stainless steel or aluminum.
  • the refrigerant may be in any suitable form mentioned above and users will thus be able to obtain easily and at low cost the refrigerant, and introduce it into said space of the elements just before putting them in place. isothermal enclosure.
  • the invention also relates to an isothermal enclosure equipped with one or more partition elements as they have just been defined.
  • Such an enclosure will preferably have the form of a box or a conventional parallelepiped box with insulating walls, which can be hermetically closed using a cover which is also insulating, the partition elements then being established in this enclosure , as advantageously removable vertical walls, making it possible to form in this enclosure modular compartments capable of being maintained at different temperatures.
  • the height of the box or box representing the isothermal enclosure is substantially equal to the height of the double-sided partition element of the invention.
  • Such an enclosure may thus be characterized, in general, in that it contains at least one removable double-sided partition element, having in its thickness two compartments contiguous to each other, the first non-sealed compartment being susceptible to be filled with a solid and sublimable refrigerant element, in particular carbon dioxide or dry ice, the second sealed compartment or housing being filled with a eutectic type buffer substance; such a double-sided partition element delimits two compartments in the enclosure; it goes without saying that two partition elements determine three enclosures, etc.
  • a removable double-sided partition element having in its thickness two compartments contiguous to each other, the first non-sealed compartment being susceptible to be filled with a solid and sublimable refrigerant element, in particular carbon dioxide or dry ice, the second sealed compartment or housing being filled with a eutectic type buffer substance; such a double-sided partition element delimits two compartments in the enclosure; it goes without saying that two partition elements determine three enclosures, etc.
  • the compartment of the insulated enclosure adjoining the sealed housing part of the double-sided partition element maintains the ambient temperature of said compartment at a temperature close to the melting temperature of the eutectic, while the compartment adjoining the non-watertight part of the double-sided partition element containing a refrigerant element is maintained at an ambient temperature less than or equal to -18 "C, therefore much lower than the previous one.
  • such an enclosure has in its bottom grooves extending perpendicular to the plane of the cooling elements, these grooves allowing the circulation of the gas of sublimation of the refrigerant, this gas, in principle refrigerated CO 2 coming from the sublimation of the solid carbon dioxide constituting the refrigerant, being heavier than air.
  • the entire device comprising an isothermal enclosure provided with one or more removable double-sided partition elements as described above therefore allows a double directed temperature transfer with maintenance of a temperature which is: a) in the fresh produce compartment maintaining an ambient temperature of 4 ° C ⁇ 4 "C, said fresh product contained in such a compartment keeping a core temperature of 2 ° C ⁇ 2 ° C for a period of between 0 and 4 hours, being it being understood that the enclosure provided with the double-sided partition of the invention being loaded with a fresh product previously brought to a homogeneous temperature of 2 ° C; b) as regards the frozen food compartment, the ambient temperature is maintained at a temperature less than or equal to -18 ° C., knowing that the system of the invention allows natural convection allowing the maintenance of a temperature exhibiting no difference greater than 6 "C. between the top and bottom of the enclosure; the core temperature of products previously frozen and placed in such a compartment varies within a maximum range of -26 ° C to -18 ° C.
  • FIG. 1 shows in perspective a cooling and freezing element according to the invention, arranged as an intermediate partition in an isothermal enclosure, which is shown in perspective with cutaway;
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of the cooling element
  • FIG. 3 shows schematically in section an isothermal enclosure according to the invention and divided by an element into a freezer compartment and a cooling compartment;
  • FIG. 4 shows schematically in section an isothermal refrigeration chamber according to the invention, in which the cold is maintained by two elements arranged so that their buffer housings are vis-à-vis;
  • FIG. 5 shows schematically in section an isothermal freezing enclosure according to the invention, in which the cold is maintained by two elements arranged so that their buffer housings are turned towards the end walls of the enclosure;
  • FIG. 6 shows an application of the invention to an isothermal enclosure in the form of a refrigerated cabinet comprising two compartments which can be modulated at different temperatures.
  • the insulated enclosure partially shown in perspective has been referenced in 1 and is in the form of a box with lateral insulating walls 2 and ends 3, produced for example by molding of synthetic material, and comprising a foam of insulating material 4 between two shells, exterior 5 and interior 6; it can be closed with a tight cover (fig. 3).
  • the shell 6 On its lateral faces, the shell 6 has pairs of opposite vertical grooves 7, spaced apart according to a determined module.
  • the bottom 8 of the box and the end walls 3 they have longitudinal ribs 9.
  • the double-sided partition element having a double thermal transfer function, made for example of stainless steel, is generally referenced at 10. It comprises a buffer housing made up of a flat (or ribbed) part 11 enlarged at its base at 12 and constituting a reservoir for a eutectic gel, water, air, an expanded insulating material, etc.
  • the element 10 has a profile 13 allowing the element 10 to be guided vertically by the lateral grooves 7 of the enclosure 1 when it is placed in the latter.
  • the element 10 further comprises a free space contiguous to the face 11, extending above the enlarged part 12 and delimited by a perforated sheet, grid or the like, referenced 14 in parallel to the flat part 11.
  • the fixing of the grid 14 on the buffer tank is ensured by any suitable means, for example welding spots 17 between the grid and the corresponding part of the buffer tank.
  • a refrigerant 15 for example solid carbon dioxide
  • the sublimation carbon dioxide can thus escape into the isothermal enclosure 1, on the side opposite to the flat part 11, by passing through the grid 14.
  • a freezing temperature for example of the order of -25 "C (negative temperature)
  • a refrigeration temperature generally greater than 0 ° C ( Figure 3) (positive temperature).
  • a slight space 16 (FIG. 2) is provided between the lower part of the grid 14 and the enlarged part 12 of the buffer tank.
  • the ribs 9 of the bottom 8 and of the extreme walls of the enclosure contribute to ensuring this good circulation.
  • FIG. 4 shows an arrangement making it possible to obtain a refrigeration temperature, for example of the order of + 3 ° C., in the whole of the isothermal enclosure 1. It suffices for this to have the elements 10 , with the desired charge of refrigerant 15 so that their smooth faces 10 are arranged opposite one another, the grids 14 of these elements then being applied against the end walls 3 of the pregnant.
  • the reverse arrangement of the elements 10 will make it possible to obtain, throughout the enclosure, a freezing temperature, for example of the order of -25 "C.
  • FIG. 6 Another mode of implementation is shown in FIG. 6 and relates to an insulated cabinet in the form of a refrigerated cabinet.
  • Two partition elements according to the invention 10 ′ arranged as horizontal partitions in an insulated cabinet 1 ′, for example mounted on wheels 19.
  • One of the elements 10 ′ will always be arranged at the top, the other element 10 'can be arranged at different heights, resting on projecting lugs 20 or of configuration similar to the previous example (groove 7 and conjugate profile 13), provided on the side walls 21 of the cabinet, or be of design similar to the refrigerator and freezer described above.
  • the refrigerating and freezing element 10 ′ may consist of a reservoir 22 for the eutectic gel or the buffer reservoir, and of a tank 23 in thermal contact with this reservoir and intended to contain the refrigerant 24, again consisting, for example, of solid carbon dioxide.
  • the tray 23 being closed by a grid 14 ′, it will be possible to have there food or other products to be kept frozen, for example at a temperature of the order of -25 ° C. as in the case of the previous application, while the lower part of the enclosure may be maintained at a refrigeration temperature of the order of, for example, 3 ° C. for the products to be kept cool, and this for the duration of the transport of the cabinet.
  • the cabinet l is provided with insulating walls 25 to 27 comprising grooves 9 * (or grooves 7 ') ensuring good circulation of cold gases and can be closed by a hermetic door 28, also insulating and also comprising grooves or grooves performing the same function as above.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Radiation Pyrometers (AREA)
  • Electromechanical Clocks (AREA)
  • Battery Mounting, Suspending (AREA)
  • Devices For Use In Laboratory Experiments (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)

Abstract

A double-sided releasable partition element (10), particularly for an isothermal chamber, containing two adjacent compartments, i.e. a first unsealed compartment which can be filled with a solid sublimable coolant element (15), particularly carbon dioxide or dry ice, and a second sealed compartment or housing (11) filled with a eutectic or air. The outer surface (14) of the first compartment has one or more openings for diffusing the sublimed coolant element outside the compartment, said openings being substantially uniformly distributed over said outer surface. Said two-compartment partition element maintains significantly different temperatures on opposite sides of said element.

Description

ELEMENT A DOUBLE FONCTION DE TRANSFERT THERMIQUE POUR ENCEINTES ISOTHERMES ; ENCEINTE ISOTHERMIQUE EQUIPEE D'UN TEL ELEMENTELEMENT WITH DOUBLE THERMAL TRANSFER FUNCTION FOR ISOTHERMAL SPEAKERS; ISOTHERMAL ENCLOSURE EQUIPPED WITH SUCH AN ELEMENT
La présente invention concerne la conservation, dans des conditions isothermes indépendantes de toute source d'énergie extérieure, de tous produits tels que par exemples les aliments ou les produits pharmaceutiques pour lesquels une température homogène doit être obligatoirement préservée entre le moment de leur préparation et leur utilisation par un utilisateur final.The present invention relates to the conservation, in isothermal conditions independent of any external energy source, of all products such as for example food or pharmaceutical products for which a homogeneous temperature must be necessarily preserved between the time of their preparation and their use by an end user.
Ceci implique que, notamment pendant le transport de ces produits, transport qui peut durer un laps de temps relativement long et, dans certains cas, atteindre plusieurs heures, cette chaîne isothermique ne soit pas rompue.This implies that, in particular during the transport of these products, transport which can last a relatively long period of time and, in certain cases, reach several hours, this isothermal chain is not broken.
Se pose également le problème d'un transport simultané de produits devant impérativement être conservés à des températures différentes, sans rupture de leur chaîne de froid, tels les produits frais et les produits surgelés.There is also the problem of a simultaneous transport of products which must imperatively be kept at different temperatures, without breaking their cold chain, such as fresh products and frozen products.
Il est en effet bien connu de l'homme du métier qu'une bonne conservation de produits alimentaires ou pharmaceutiques est dépendante non seulement du maintien de la température de conservation desdits produits, mais également d'une variation minimale autour de cette température et, en tout état de cause, exempte de changements de phases : un produit surgelé notamment se conservera moins bien lorsqu'il aura subi des écarts de température importants même vers des valeurs négatives élevées que des produits surgelés qui sont maintenus sensiblement à la même température, celle-ci ne devant naturellement pas être supérieure à -18°C. De même, un produit frais devant être maintenu à une température de 2-4 ° C peut subir des dommages importants à des températures négatives.It is indeed well known to those skilled in the art that good preservation of food or pharmaceutical products is dependent not only on maintaining the storage temperature of said products, but also on a minimum variation around this temperature and, in in any event, free of phase changes: a frozen product in particular will keep less well when it has undergone significant temperature differences even towards high negative values than frozen products which are maintained at approximately the same temperature, this should naturally not be greater than -18 ° C. Likewise, a fresh product to be kept at a temperature of 2-4 ° C can suffer significant damage at negative temperatures.
Le problème posé, non encore résolu par la technologie existante, était donc la mise en oeuvre d'une enceinte isotherme autonome de toute source d'énergie extérieure, susceptible de contenir simultanément un ou plusieurs compartiments de taille modulable en fonction des besoins, des compartiments contiguε présentant des températures d'ambiance suffisamment différentes pour assurer le maintien de la chaîne de froid tant pour des produits surgelés que pour des produits frais, notamment des salades, fruits ou autres.The problem posed, not yet resolved by existing technology, was therefore the implementation of an isothermal enclosure autonomous from any external energy source, capable of simultaneously containing one or more compartments of modular size according to the needs, of the compartments contiguous with sufficiently different ambient temperatures to ensure the maintenance of the cold chain both for frozen products and for fresh products, in particular salads, fruits or others.
Chaque compartiment devra assurer une température d'ambiance constante à la fois dans le volume dudit compartiment et dans le temps d'autonomie nécessaire au maintient de ces enceintes hors de toute source énergétique frigorigène extérieure, et en tout état de cause au moins pendant une durée comprise entre 0 et 4 heures.Each compartment must ensure a constant ambient temperature both in the volume of said compartment and in the autonomy time necessary to keep these speakers outside of any external refrigerant energy source, and in any event at least for a period between 0 and 4 hours.
Dans tout ce qui suit, on appellera "température constante" ou "température contrôlée" une température d'ambiance pour laquelle les variations se situent dans un intervalle de plus ou moins 4°C autour de la température choisie dans le compartiment de produits frais et la variation de température se situe entre -18"C et -26°C dans le compartiment de produits congelés ; la signification du maintien d'une température constante ou pratiquement constante nonobstant les variations de la température extérieure s'applique également aux variations dans le temps dans un intervalle de 0 à 4 h pendant lequel l'enceinte est dissociée de toute source de froid extérieure.In what follows, we will call "constant temperature" or "controlled temperature" a room temperature for which the variations are within a range of plus or minus 4 ° C around the temperature chosen in the fresh produce compartment and the temperature variation is between -18 "C and -26 ° C in the frozen product compartment; the meaning of maintaining a constant or practically constant temperature notwithstanding variations in the outside temperature also applies to variations in the time in an interval of 0 to 4 h during which the enclosure is dissociated from any source of external cold.
Le but encore de la présente invention est de réaliser une telle enceinte isotherme comportant un nombre quelconque de compartiments pouvant être maintenus individuellement à différentes températures, ne nécessitant pas la mise en oeuvre, dans cette enceinte, de cloisons séparatrices en matière isolante inerte, qui créeraient un volume mort important à l'intérieur de l'enceinte.The object of the present invention is also to produce such an insulated enclosure comprising any number of compartments which can be maintained individually at different temperatures, not requiring the use, in this enclosure, of separating partitions made of inert insulating material, which would create a large dead volume inside the enclosure.
Les problèmes posés ci-dessus ont été résolus par l'invention qui consiste en la mise au point d'un élément de cloison à double face, amovible utilisable notamment dans une enceinte isotherme, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte dans son épaisseur deux compartiments contigus l'un à l'autre, le premier compartiment non étanche est susceptible d'être rempli d'un élément frigorigène solide et sublimable, par exemple de la carboglace, l'autre compartiment étanche, pouvant être assimilé à un boîtier, a été rempli par un eutectique sous forme de gel ou de mélange ou d'air ; le compartiment contigu au boîtier étanche est pourvu d'ouvertures réparties de façon sensiblement homogène sur sa face externe de façon à établir des températures dirigées différentes de part et d'autre de cet élément de cloison, ces températures dirigés étant suffisamment différentes pour pouvoir assurer des compartiments aptes à contenir simultanément des produits surgelés dans l'un et des produits frais dans l'autre, sans rupture de la chaîne du froid pour 1'ensemble des produits considérés.The problems posed above have been resolved by the invention which consists in the development of a removable double-sided partition element usable in particular in an isothermal enclosure, characterized in that it has in its thickness two compartments contiguous to each other, the first non-watertight compartment is capable of being filled with a solid and sublimable refrigerant element, for example dry ice, the other watertight compartment, which can be assimilated to a housing, has been filled with eutectic in the form of gel or mixture or air; the compartment contiguous to the sealed housing is provided with openings distributed in a substantially homogeneous manner on its external face so as to establish different directed temperatures on either side of this partition element, these directed temperatures being sufficiently different to be able to ensure compartments capable of simultaneously containing frozen products in one and fresh products in the other, without breaking the cold chain for all the products considered.
Par "eutectique", on entend dans la présente demande tout mélange de deux corps ou plus dont la fusion se fait à température constante. Dans ces conditions, tant que les frigories sont apportés par la carboglace, 1*eutectique reste à une température constante qui est sa température de fusion, qui peut donc être déterminée par le choix du mélange eutectique considéré, en fonction de la température d'ambiance choisie dans le compartiment. La seule condition est que la température de solidification de l'agent frigorigène (carboglace) soit très notablement inférieure à la température de fusion du gel ou du mélange eutectique.By "eutectic" is meant in the present application any mixture of two or more bodies whose fusion takes place at constant temperature. Under these conditions, as long as the frigories are provided by the dry ice, the eutectic remains at a constant temperature which is its melting temperature, which can therefore be determined by the choice of the eutectic mixture considered, as a function of the ambient temperature. chosen in the compartment. The only condition is that the solidification temperature of the refrigerant (dry ice) is very significantly lower than the melting temperature of the gel or the eutectic mixture.
Dans le cadre de la description de la présente invention, nous utilisons de façon indifférente les termes "eutectique", "mélange eutectique", "gel eutectique" ou "tampon" pour caractériser la substance (y compris l'air) qui est mise dans le boîtier étanche et permet d'assurer et de maintenir une température dirigée dans le compartiment contigu audit boîtier étanche sensiblement identique à la température de fusion.de ladite substance tampon ou gel.In the context of the description of the present invention, we use the terms "eutectic", "eutectic mixture", "eutectic gel" or "buffer" interchangeably to characterize the substance (including air) which is placed in the sealed casing and makes it possible to ensure and maintain a temperature directed in the compartment contiguous to said sealed casing substantially identical to the melting point of said buffer substance or gel.
Dans les applications les plus courantes telles que celles qui ont été évoquées plus haut, cet agent frigorigène sera constitué de gaz carbonique solide sous toutes ses formes (plaquettes, sticks, pellets, neige) dont la température de sublimation est de -78°C à la pression atmosphérique, mais on peut envisager d'autres agents frigorigènes, dans d'autres applications. En tout cas, cet agent frigorigène pourra avoir pour fonctions de diriger une température, même très basse, dans l'un des volumes de l'enceinte isotherme et de transférer les frigories nécessaires à travers le boîtier-tampon décrit précédemment en vue de maintenir une autre température dirigée différente dans un autre volume de l'enceinte isotherme, température déterminée en fonction de l'application envisagée, cette température étant par exemple voisine de 0°C pour le maintien d'aliments au frais.In the most common applications such as those mentioned above, this refrigerant will consist of solid carbon dioxide in all its forms (wafers, sticks, pellets, snow) whose sublimation temperature is -78 ° C to atmospheric pressure, but other refrigerants can be considered in other applications. In any case, this refrigerant may have the function of directing a temperature, even a very low one, in one of the volumes of the isothermal enclosure and of transferring the necessary refrigerants through the buffer housing described above in order to maintain a another different directed temperature in another volume of the isothermal enclosure, temperature determined as a function of the envisaged application, this temperature being for example close to 0 ° C. for keeping food fresh.
On conçoit qu'un élément de cloison conforme à l'invention pourra ainsi constituer dans une enceinte isotherme au moins deux compartiments à températures différentes: du côté de l'espace à agent frigorigène, un compartiment de congélation à température en principe notablement inférieure à 0°C (jusqu'à -18 ou -25°C le cas échéant) pour les produits à maintenir à des températures négatives et du côté du boîtier-tampon contenant par exemple le gel eutectique, un compartiment de réfrigération à température voisine de 0°C pour les produits à maintenir frais. Le "boîtier- tampon" représente de la sorte entre ces deux compartiments réfrigérateur et congélateur, un mécanisme "d'équilibre d'impédance" évitant le recours à toute cloison isolante inerte.It will be understood that a partition element in accordance with the invention could thus constitute, in an isothermal enclosure, at least two compartments at different temperatures: on the side of the refrigerant space, a freezing compartment at temperature in principle notably below 0 ° C (up to -18 or -25 ° C if necessary) for the products to be kept at negative temperatures and on the side of the buffer housing containing for example the eutectic gel, a refrigeration compartment at a temperature close to 0 ° C for the products to be kept fresh. The "buffer box" thus represents between these two refrigerator and freezer compartments, a "balance of impedance" mechanism avoiding the use of any inert insulating partition.
L'avantage de ce système pour moduler le volume utile de chacun des compartiments apparaît clairement.The advantage of this system for modulating the useful volume of each of the compartments is clearly apparent.
Bien entendu, les températures dans les différents compartiments peuvent être réglées et maintenus dans le temps aux valeurs voulues en fonction de 1•impédance du tampon et de celle de l'agent frigorigène, ainsi que des pertes thermiques vers l'extérieur (fonction de la température extérieure), de l'état initial du tampon (eutectique) et de la durée prévue pour le transport.Of course, the temperatures in the various compartments can be adjusted and maintained over time at the desired values as a function of the impedance of the buffer and that of the refrigerant, as well as heat losses to the outside (function of the outside temperature), the initial state of the buffer (eutectic) and the expected duration of transport.
Un élément de cloison conforme à 1'invention est aussi caractérisé en ce que le compartiment contigu au boîtier étanche est délimité d'un côté par ce dernier et du côté opposé par une paroi munie d'une ou plusieurs ouvertures, ou une grille, laissant passage au gaz réfrigérant provenant de la sublimation dudit agent frigorigène (face perforée) .A partition element according to the invention is also characterized in that the compartment contiguous to the sealed housing is delimited on one side by the latter and on the opposite side by a wall provided with one or more openings, or a grid, leaving transition to refrigerant gas from the sublimation of said refrigerant (perforated face).
Avantageusement, un interstice est ménagé entre ledit boîtier et la partie inférieure de ladite paroi non étanche ou grille pour permettre l'écoulement dudit gaz réfrigérant vers le bas, celui-ci étant plus lourd que l'air dans le cas où il provient de la sublimation du gaz carbonique solide (C02) .Advantageously, a gap is formed between said housing and the lower part of said non-sealed wall or grid to allow the flow of said refrigerant gas downward, the latter being heavier than air in the case where it comes from the sublimation of solid carbon dioxide (C02).
L'élément peut aussi se caractériser en ce que la partie inférieure dudit boîtier est élargie à sa base pour offrir audit tampon un volume de contenance suffisante, ce boîtier étant avantageusement réalisé en un matériau à conductibilité thermique élevée, par exemple en acier inoxydable ou en aluminium.The element can also be characterized in that the lower part of said housing is widened at its base to offer said buffer a sufficient volume of capacity, this housing advantageously being made of a material with high thermal conductivity, for example stainless steel or aluminum.
L'agent frigorigène pourra se présenter sous toute forme appropriée rappelée précédemment et les utilisateurs pourront ainsi se procurer facilement et à bas prix l'agent frigorigène, et l'introduire dans ledit espace des éléments juste avant mise en place de ceux-ci dans l'enceinte isotherme.The refrigerant may be in any suitable form mentioned above and users will thus be able to obtain easily and at low cost the refrigerant, and introduce it into said space of the elements just before putting them in place. isothermal enclosure.
L'invention concerne par ailleurs une enceinte isotherme équipée d'un ou plusieurs éléments de cloison tels qu'ils viennent d'être définis. Une telle enceinte aura préférentiellement la forme d'un caisson ou d'une boîte parallélépipédique classique à parois isolantes, pouvant être fermée de façon hermétique à l'aide d'un couvercle également isolant, les éléments de cloison étant alors établis, dans cette enceinte, en tant que parois verticales avantageusement amovibles, permettant de constituer dans cette enceinte des compartiments modulables susceptibles d'être maintenus à différentes températures.The invention also relates to an isothermal enclosure equipped with one or more partition elements as they have just been defined. Such an enclosure will preferably have the form of a box or a conventional parallelepiped box with insulating walls, which can be hermetically closed using a cover which is also insulating, the partition elements then being established in this enclosure , as advantageously removable vertical walls, making it possible to form in this enclosure modular compartments capable of being maintained at different temperatures.
La hauteur du caisson ou de la boîte représentant l'enceinte isotherme est sensiblement égale à la hauteur de l'élément de cloison à double face de 1'invention.The height of the box or box representing the isothermal enclosure is substantially equal to the height of the double-sided partition element of the invention.
Une telle enceinte pourra ainsi se caractériser, en général, en ce qu'elle contient au moins un élément de cloison à double face amovible, comportant dans son épaisseur deux compartiments contigus l'un à l'autre, le premier compartiment non étanche étant susceptible d'être rempli par un élément frigorigène solide et sublimable, notamment du gaz carbonique ou carboglace, le deuxième compartiment étanche ou boîtier, étant rempli par une substance tampon de type eutectique ; un tel élément de cloison à double face délimite deux compartiments dans l'enceinte ; il va de soi que deux éléments de cloison déterminent trois enceintes, etc... ; le compartiment de l'enceinte isotherme jouxtant la partie boîtier étanche de l'élément de cloison à double face, maintient la température d'ambiance dudit compartiment à une température voisine de la température de fusion de 1'eutectique, alors que le compartiment jouxtant la partie non étanche de 1'élément de cloison à double face contenant un élément frigorigène est maintenu à une température d'ambiance inférieure ou égale à -18"C, donc très inférieure à la précédente.Such an enclosure may thus be characterized, in general, in that it contains at least one removable double-sided partition element, having in its thickness two compartments contiguous to each other, the first non-sealed compartment being susceptible to be filled with a solid and sublimable refrigerant element, in particular carbon dioxide or dry ice, the second sealed compartment or housing being filled with a eutectic type buffer substance; such a double-sided partition element delimits two compartments in the enclosure; it goes without saying that two partition elements determine three enclosures, etc. ; the compartment of the insulated enclosure adjoining the sealed housing part of the double-sided partition element maintains the ambient temperature of said compartment at a temperature close to the melting temperature of the eutectic, while the compartment adjoining the non-watertight part of the double-sided partition element containing a refrigerant element is maintained at an ambient temperature less than or equal to -18 "C, therefore much lower than the previous one.
Il va de soi que, pour que la température à coeur des produits conservés dans l'un ou l'autre des compartiments reste constante et ne subisse pas de rupture dans la chaîne du froid, il est nécessaire que l'enceinte isotherme munie des éléments de cloison à double face amovible de 1•invention soient chargés soit avec des produits surgelés ayant déjà une température inférieure ou égale à -18°C pour le compartiment congélateur jouxtant le compartiment contenant le frigorigène, et des produits préalablement amenés à la température désirée pour le compartiment produits frais.It goes without saying that, in order for the core temperature of the products stored in one or other of the compartments to remain constant and not to be broken in the cold chain, it is necessary for the isothermal enclosure provided with the elements of removable double-sided partition 1 • invention are loaded either with frozen products already having a temperature less than or equal to -18 ° C for the freezer compartment adjoining the compartment containing the refrigerant, and products previously brought to the desired temperature for the fresh produce compartment.
Avec deux éléments conformes à 1'invention accolés à deux parois opposées d'une telle enceinte, on peut aussi obtenir, selon l'orientation de ces éléments, soit une enceinte entière de réfrigération (température positive en général) , soit une enceinte entière de congélation (température négative) , selon que les faces du boîtier étanche contenant le tampon seront disposées vis-à-vis l'une de l'autre ou qu'elles seront disposées chacune contre la paroi correspondante (en principe la paroi d'extrémité la plus étroite de l'enceinte).With two elements in accordance with the invention attached to two opposite walls of such an enclosure, it is also possible, depending on the orientation of these elements, to obtain either an entire refrigeration enclosure (positive temperature in general), or an entire enclosure of freezing (negative temperature), depending on whether the faces of the watertight case containing the buffer are arranged opposite one another or whether they are each disposed against the corresponding wall (in principle the end wall the narrower of the enclosure).
Avantageusement encore, une telle enceinte comporte dans son fond des rainures s'étendant perpendiculairement au- plan des éléments réfrigérants, ces rainures permettant la circulation du gaz de sublimation de l'agent frigorigène, ce gaz, en principe du C02 réfrigéré provenant de la sublimation du gaz carbonique solide constituant l'agent frigorigène, étant plus lourd que l'air.Advantageously also, such an enclosure has in its bottom grooves extending perpendicular to the plane of the cooling elements, these grooves allowing the circulation of the gas of sublimation of the refrigerant, this gas, in principle refrigerated CO 2 coming from the sublimation of the solid carbon dioxide constituting the refrigerant, being heavier than air.
L'ensemble du dispositif comportant une enceinte isotherme munie d'un ou plusieurs éléments de cloison amovibles à double face tel que décrit précédemment autorise donc un double transfert de température dirigée avec maintien d'une température qui est : a) dans le compartiment produits frais le maintien d'une température d'ambiance de 4°C ± 4"C, ledit produit frais contenu dans un tel compartiment gardant une température à coeur de 2°C ± 2°C pendant une durée comprise entre 0 et 4 heures, étant entendu que l'enceinte munie de la cloison à double face de 1'invention étant chargée par un produit frais préalablement amené à une température homogène de 2°C ; b) pour ce qui concerne le compartiment de surgelés, la température d'ambiance est maintenue à une température inférieure ou égale à -18°C, sachant que le système de 1'invention autorise une convection naturelle permettant le maintien d'une température ne présentant pas d'écart supérieur à 6"C entre le haut et le bas de l'enceinte; la température à coeur des produits préalablement surgelés et disposés dans un tel compartiment varie dans un intervalle maximum de -26°C à -18°C.The entire device comprising an isothermal enclosure provided with one or more removable double-sided partition elements as described above therefore allows a double directed temperature transfer with maintenance of a temperature which is: a) in the fresh produce compartment maintaining an ambient temperature of 4 ° C ± 4 "C, said fresh product contained in such a compartment keeping a core temperature of 2 ° C ± 2 ° C for a period of between 0 and 4 hours, being it being understood that the enclosure provided with the double-sided partition of the invention being loaded with a fresh product previously brought to a homogeneous temperature of 2 ° C; b) as regards the frozen food compartment, the ambient temperature is maintained at a temperature less than or equal to -18 ° C., knowing that the system of the invention allows natural convection allowing the maintenance of a temperature exhibiting no difference greater than 6 "C. between the top and bottom of the enclosure; the core temperature of products previously frozen and placed in such a compartment varies within a maximum range of -26 ° C to -18 ° C.
Enfin, la présence de rainures s'étendant perpendiculairement au plan des éléments de cloison décrits ci-dessus permet la circulation du gaz de sublimation de l'agent frigorigène en assurant la convection naturelle de la température et permettant le maintien d'une homogénéité de la température ambiante dans l'ensemble du compartiment dans les limites décrits ci-dessus. Des modes d'exécution de 1'invention vont maintenant être décrits à titre d'exemples nullement limitatifs avec référence aux figures des dessins ci- annexés dans lesquels :Finally, the presence of grooves extending perpendicular to the plane of the partition elements described above allows the circulation of the sublimation gas of the refrigerant by ensuring the natural convection of the temperature and allowing the homogeneity of the ambient temperature throughout the compartment within the limits described above. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the figures of the attached drawings in which:
- la figure 1 montre en perspective un élément réfrigérant et congélateur conforme à l'invention, disposé en tant que cloison intermédiaire dans une enceinte isotherme, laquelle est représentée en perspective avec arrachements;- Figure 1 shows in perspective a cooling and freezing element according to the invention, arranged as an intermediate partition in an isothermal enclosure, which is shown in perspective with cutaway;
- la figure 2 est une vue en plan de l'élément réfrigérant;- Figure 2 is a plan view of the cooling element;
- la figure 3 montre schématiquement en coupe une enceinte isotherme conforme à 1'invention et divisée par un élément en un compartiment congélateur et un compartiment réfrigérant;- Figure 3 shows schematically in section an isothermal enclosure according to the invention and divided by an element into a freezer compartment and a cooling compartment;
- la figure 4 montre schématiquement en coupe une enceinte de réfrigération isotherme conforme à l'invention, dans laquelle le froid est maintenu par deux éléments disposés de telle sorte que leurs boîtiers-tampons se fassent vis-à-vis;- Figure 4 shows schematically in section an isothermal refrigeration chamber according to the invention, in which the cold is maintained by two elements arranged so that their buffer housings are vis-à-vis;
- la figure 5 montre schématiquement en coupe une enceinte de congélation isotherme conforme à l'invention, dans laquelle le froid est maintenu par deux éléments disposés de telle sorte que leurs boîtiers-tampons soient tournés vers les parois d'extrémité de l'enceinte;- Figure 5 shows schematically in section an isothermal freezing enclosure according to the invention, in which the cold is maintained by two elements arranged so that their buffer housings are turned towards the end walls of the enclosure;
- la figure 6 montre une application de 1'invention à une enceinte isotherme en forme d•armoire frigorifique comportant deux compartiments modulables à températures différentes.- Figure 6 shows an application of the invention to an isothermal enclosure in the form of a refrigerated cabinet comprising two compartments which can be modulated at different temperatures.
Sur la figure 1, l'enceinte isotherme partiellement représentée en perspective a été référencée en 1 et se présente sous la forme d'un caisson à parois isolantes latérales 2 et extrêmes 3, élaboré par exemple par moulage de matière synthétique, et comportant une mousse de matériau isolant 4 entre deux coquilles, extérieure 5 et intérieure 6 ; elle peut être fermée par un couvercle étanche la (fig. 3) . Sur ses faces latérales, la coquille 6 présente des paires de gorges opposées 7 verticales, espacées selon un module déterminé. Quant au fond 8 du caisson et aux parois extrêmes 3, ils présentent des nervures longitudinales 9.In FIG. 1, the insulated enclosure partially shown in perspective has been referenced in 1 and is in the form of a box with lateral insulating walls 2 and ends 3, produced for example by molding of synthetic material, and comprising a foam of insulating material 4 between two shells, exterior 5 and interior 6; it can be closed with a tight cover (fig. 3). On its lateral faces, the shell 6 has pairs of opposite vertical grooves 7, spaced apart according to a determined module. As for the bottom 8 of the box and the end walls 3, they have longitudinal ribs 9.
L'élément de cloison à double face, présentant une double fonction de transfert thermique, réalisé par exemple en acier inoxydable, est référencé globalement en 10. Il comporte un boîtier-tampon constitué d'une partie plate (ou nervurée) 11 élargie à sa base en 12 et constituant un réservoir pour un gel eutectique, de l'eau, de l'air, une matière isolante expansée, etc.. L'élément 10 présente un profil 13 permettant à l'élément 10 d'être guidé verticalement par les gorges latérales 7 de l'enceinte 1 lors de sa mise en place dans cette dernière. L'élément 10 comporte en outre un espace libre contigu à la face 11, s'étendant au-dessus de la partie élargie 12 et délimité par une tôle perforée, grille ou analogue, référencée 14 en parallèle à la partie plate 11. La fixation de la grille 14 sur le réservoir-tampon est assurée par tout moyen approprié, par exemple des points de soudure 17 entre la grille et la partie correspondante du réservoir-tampon. De la sorte, cet espace libre peut être rempli par un agent frigorigène 15 par exemple du gaz carbonique solide, sous toutes ses formes. Le gaz carbonique de sublimation peut ainsi s'échapper dans l'enceinte isotherme 1, du côté opposé à la partie plate 11, en traversant la grille 14. Dans le compartiment de l'enceinte 1 situé à gauche de l'élément 10, on pourra ainsi maintenir une température de congélation, par exemple de l'ordre de -25"C (température négative) , pendant un temps appréciable, suffisant pour assurer un transport normal de produits congelés, tandis que dans le compartiment de l'enceinte situé à droite de cet élément, on pourra maintenir une température de réfrigération en général supérieure à 0°C (figure 3) (température positive) .The double-sided partition element, having a double thermal transfer function, made for example of stainless steel, is generally referenced at 10. It comprises a buffer housing made up of a flat (or ribbed) part 11 enlarged at its base at 12 and constituting a reservoir for a eutectic gel, water, air, an expanded insulating material, etc. The element 10 has a profile 13 allowing the element 10 to be guided vertically by the lateral grooves 7 of the enclosure 1 when it is placed in the latter. The element 10 further comprises a free space contiguous to the face 11, extending above the enlarged part 12 and delimited by a perforated sheet, grid or the like, referenced 14 in parallel to the flat part 11. The fixing of the grid 14 on the buffer tank is ensured by any suitable means, for example welding spots 17 between the grid and the corresponding part of the buffer tank. In this way, this free space can be filled with a refrigerant 15, for example solid carbon dioxide, in all its forms. The sublimation carbon dioxide can thus escape into the isothermal enclosure 1, on the side opposite to the flat part 11, by passing through the grid 14. In the enclosure of the enclosure 1 situated to the left of the element 10, will thus be able to maintain a freezing temperature, for example of the order of -25 "C (negative temperature), for an appreciable time, sufficient to ensure normal transport of products frozen, while in the enclosure compartment located to the right of this element, it will be possible to maintain a refrigeration temperature generally greater than 0 ° C (Figure 3) (positive temperature).
Pour assurer une bonne circulation du gaz carbonique de sublimation dans l'enceinte de congélation, on prévoit un léger espace 16 (figure 2) entre la partie inférieure de la grille 14 et la partie élargie 12 du réservoir-tampon. Les nervures 9 du fond 8 et des parois extrêmes de 1'enceinte contribuent à assurer cette bonne circulation.To ensure good circulation of the sublimation carbon dioxide in the freezing chamber, a slight space 16 (FIG. 2) is provided between the lower part of the grid 14 and the enlarged part 12 of the buffer tank. The ribs 9 of the bottom 8 and of the extreme walls of the enclosure contribute to ensuring this good circulation.
A la figure 4 on a représenté une disposition permettant d'obtenir une température de réfrigération, par exemple de l'ordre de +3°C, dans l'ensemble de l'enceinte isotherme 1. Il suffit pour cela de disposer les éléments 10, avec la charge voulue d'agent frigorigène 15 de telle sorte que leurs faces lisses 10 soient disposées vis-à-vis l'une de l'autre, les grilles 14 de ces éléments étant alors appliquées contre les parois extrêmes 3 de l'enceinte.FIG. 4 shows an arrangement making it possible to obtain a refrigeration temperature, for example of the order of + 3 ° C., in the whole of the isothermal enclosure 1. It suffices for this to have the elements 10 , with the desired charge of refrigerant 15 so that their smooth faces 10 are arranged opposite one another, the grids 14 of these elements then being applied against the end walls 3 of the pregnant.
Comme représenté sur la figure 5, la disposition inverse des éléments 10 permettra d'obtenir dans toute l'enceinte une température de congélation, par exemple de l'ordre de -25"C.As shown in FIG. 5, the reverse arrangement of the elements 10 will make it possible to obtain, throughout the enclosure, a freezing temperature, for example of the order of -25 "C.
Un autre mode de mise en oeuvre est représenté dans la figure 6 et est relatif à une armoire isotherme en forme d'armoire frigorifique. Deux éléments de cloison conformes à 1'invention 10' disposés en tant que cloisons horizontales dans une armoire isotherme 1', par exemple montée sur des roues 19. L'un des éléments 10' sera toujours disposé à la partie supérieure, l'autre élément 10' peut être disposé à différentes hauteurs, en reposant sur des taquets en saillie 20 ou de configuration analogue à l'exemple précédent (gorge 7 et profil conjugué 13) , prévus sur les parois latérales 21 de l'armoire, soit être de conception analogue à l'élément réfrigérant et congélateur décrit précédemment. L'élément réfrigérant et congélateur 10' peut être constitué d'un réservoir 22 pour le gel eutectique ou le réservoir-tampon, et d'un bac 23 en contact thermique avec ce réservoir et destiné à contenir l'agent frigorigène 24, là encore constitué, par exemple par du gaz carbonique solide. Le bac 23 étant fermé par une grille 14', on pourra y disposer des aliments ou autres produits à maintenir congelés, par exemple à une température de l'ordre de -25°C comme dans le cas d'application précédent, tandis que la partie inférieure de l'enceinte pourra être maintenue à une température de réfrigération de l'ordre, par exemple, de 3°C pour les produits à maintenir au frais, et ceci pendant toute la durée du transport de l'armoire l'.Another mode of implementation is shown in FIG. 6 and relates to an insulated cabinet in the form of a refrigerated cabinet. Two partition elements according to the invention 10 ′ arranged as horizontal partitions in an insulated cabinet 1 ′, for example mounted on wheels 19. One of the elements 10 ′ will always be arranged at the top, the other element 10 'can be arranged at different heights, resting on projecting lugs 20 or of configuration similar to the previous example (groove 7 and conjugate profile 13), provided on the side walls 21 of the cabinet, or be of design similar to the refrigerator and freezer described above. The refrigerating and freezing element 10 ′ may consist of a reservoir 22 for the eutectic gel or the buffer reservoir, and of a tank 23 in thermal contact with this reservoir and intended to contain the refrigerant 24, again consisting, for example, of solid carbon dioxide. The tray 23 being closed by a grid 14 ′, it will be possible to have there food or other products to be kept frozen, for example at a temperature of the order of -25 ° C. as in the case of the previous application, while the lower part of the enclosure may be maintained at a refrigeration temperature of the order of, for example, 3 ° C. for the products to be kept cool, and this for the duration of the transport of the cabinet.
Bien entendu, l'armoire l' est pourvue de parois isolantes 25 à 27 comportant des rainures 9* (ou des gorges 7') assurant une bonne circulation des gaz froids et peut être fermée par une porte hermétique 28, également isolante et comportant aussi des rainures ou des gorges remplissant la même fonction que ci-dessus. Of course, the cabinet l is provided with insulating walls 25 to 27 comprising grooves 9 * (or grooves 7 ') ensuring good circulation of cold gases and can be closed by a hermetic door 28, also insulating and also comprising grooves or grooves performing the same function as above.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Elément de cloison (10) à double face, amovible, notamment pour enceinte isotherme, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte dans son épaisseur deux compartiments contigus l'un à l'autre, le premier compartiment non étanche étant susceptible d'être rempli par un élément frigorigène (15) solide et sublimable, notamment du gaz carbonique ou carboglace, le deuxième compartiment étanche ou boîtier (11) étant rempli par un eutectique ou de l'air, le premier compartiment étant pourvu sur sa face externe (14) d'une ou plusieurs ouvertures autorisant la diffusion vers l'extérieur du compartiment de l'élément frigorigène sublimé, lesquelles ouvertures sont réparties de façon sensiblement homogène sur cette face externe, ledit élément de cloison à double compartiment ayant pour fonction de diriger des températures notablement différentes de part et d'autres dudit élément.1. partition element (10) with double face, removable, in particular for isothermal enclosure, characterized in that it has in its thickness two compartments contiguous to each other, the first non-sealed compartment being capable of being filled with a solid and sublimable refrigerant element (15), in particular carbon dioxide or dry ice, the second sealed compartment or case (11) being filled with eutectic or air, the first compartment being provided on its external face (14 ) one or more openings authorizing the diffusion of the sublimated refrigerant element towards the outside, which openings are distributed in a substantially homogeneous manner on this external face, said partition element with double compartment having the function of directing temperatures markedly different on both sides of said element.
2. Elément de cloison selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'un interstice (16) est ménagé entre la face externe du compartiment non étanche et la partie inférieure du boîtier étanche pour permettre l'écoulement dudit gaz frigorigène vers le bas.2. Partition element according to claim 1, characterized in that a gap (16) is formed between the external face of the non-sealed compartment and the lower part of the sealed case to allow the flow of said refrigerant gas downwards.
3. Elément de cloison selon l'une des revendications 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que le boîtier étanche est élargi à sa base (12) pour offrir à 1'eutectique un volume de contenance suffisante.3. Partition element according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the sealed housing is widened at its base (12) to provide the eutectic with a sufficient volume of capacity.
4. Elément de cloison selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'il est réalisé dans un matériau à conductibilité thermique élevée, notamment en métal ou alliage métallique.4. Partition element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of a material with high thermal conductivity, in particular metal or metal alloy.
5. Elément selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que l'espace compris entre le boîtier étanche (11) et la face externe du boîtier non étanche (14) est rempli de gaz carbonique solide (15) sous toutes ses formes et constituant l'agent frigorigène.5. Element according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the space between the sealed housing (11) and the outer face of the leaktight casing (14) is filled with solid carbon dioxide (15) in all its forms and constituting the refrigerant.
6. Elément selon les revendications 3 et 5, caractérisé en ce que le gaz carbonique solide repose sur la base élargie (12) dudit boîtier.6. Element according to claims 3 and 5, characterized in that the solid carbon dioxide rests on the enlarged base (12) of said housing.
7. Enceinte isotherme, caractérisée en ce qu'elle contient au moins un élément de cloison (10) conforme à l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, disposé en tant que paroi verticale, avantageusement amovible et dont la hauteur correspond sensiblement à celle des parois latérales (2) de ladite enceinte (1) .7. Isothermal enclosure, characterized in that it contains at least one partition element (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, arranged as a vertical wall, advantageously removable and the height of which corresponds substantially to that of the walls side (2) of said enclosure (1).
8. Enceinte isotherme selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en ce qu'elle contient au moins un élément de cloison (10) délimitant au moins deux compartiments intérieurs, l'un en contact avec le boîtier étanche maintenu à une température d'ambiance voisine de la température de fusion de 1'eutectique, l'autre en contact avec le compartiment non étanche contenant le frigorigène et maintenu à une température de congélation très inférieure à la précédente.8. Isothermal enclosure according to claim 7, characterized in that it contains at least one partition element (10) delimiting at least two interior compartments, one in contact with the sealed housing maintained at an ambient temperature close to the melting temperature of the eutectic, the other in contact with the leaktight compartment containing the refrigerant and maintained at a freezing temperature much lower than the previous one.
9. Enceinte isotherme selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en ce que deux de ses parois opposées (3) sont recouvertes chacune d'un élément de cloison conforme à l'une des revendications i à 6, les compartiments étanches de chacun des éléments de cloison étant vis-à-vis l'un de l'autre de sorte à constituer entre eux un compartiment isotherme maintenu à une température positive voisine de la température de fusion de 1'eutectique.9. isothermal enclosure according to claim 7, characterized in that two of its opposite walls (3) are each covered with a partition element according to one of claims i to 6, the sealed compartments of each of the partition elements being opposite one another so as to constitute between them an isothermal compartment maintained at a positive temperature close to the melting point of the eutectic.
10. Enceinte isotherme selon la revendication 7, caractérisée en ce que deux de ses parois opposées (3) sont recouvertes chacune d'un élément de cloison (10) conforme à l'une des revendications 1 à 6, leurs boîtiers étanches respectifs étant disposés contre ses parois de sorte à constituer entre lesdits éléments un compartiment isotherme maintenu à une température de congélation.10. Isothermal enclosure according to claim 7, characterized in that two of its opposite walls (3) are each covered with a partition element (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, their respective watertight housings being arranged against its walls so as to constitute between said elements a isothermal compartment maintained at a freezing temperature.
11. Enceinte isotherme selon l'une quelconque des revendications 7 à 10, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte dans son fond (8) des rainures (9) s'étendant perpendiculairement au plan des éléments de cloison (10) , ces rainures (9) permettant la circulation du gaz de sublimation de l'agent frigorigène.11. Isothermal enclosure according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that it comprises in its bottom (8) grooves (9) extending perpendicular to the plane of the partition elements (10), these grooves ( 9) allowing the circulation of the sublimation gas of the refrigerant.
12. Enceinte isotherme en forme d'armoire frigorifique, caractérisée en ce qu'elle contient par exemple deux éléments réfrigérant et congélateur (10') selon la revendication 1 ou 2, ces éléments étant disposés horizontalement dans l'enceinte, l'une à la partie supérieure, l'autre sous la forme d'une paroi séparatrice amovible et de hauteur réglable, et comportant d'une part un réservoir plat (22) contenant le gel eutectique ou le réservoir-tampon, et d'autre part un bac (23) fermé par une grille (14') et dans lequel peut être déversée la quantité voulu d'agent frigorigène (24) , notamment sous forme de gaz carbonique solide. 12. Isothermal enclosure in the form of a refrigeration cabinet, characterized in that it contains for example two cooling and freezing elements (10 ′) according to claim 1 or 2, these elements being arranged horizontally in the enclosure, one to the upper part, the other in the form of a removable separating wall and of adjustable height, and comprising on the one hand a flat reservoir (22) containing the eutectic gel or the buffer reservoir, and on the other hand a tank (23) closed by a grid (14 ') and into which the desired quantity of refrigerant (24) can be discharged, in particular in the form of solid carbon dioxide.
EP95913201A 1994-03-15 1995-03-15 Element having a double heat transfer function for isothermal chambers, and isothermal chamber provided therewith Expired - Lifetime EP0750732B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9402998 1994-03-15
FR9402998A FR2717565B1 (en) 1994-03-15 1994-03-15 Element with double thermal transfer function for isothermal enclosures; isothermal enclosure equipped with such an element.
PCT/FR1995/000315 WO1995025253A1 (en) 1994-03-15 1995-03-15 Element having a double heat transfer function for isothermal chambers, and isothermal chamber provided therewith

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0750732A1 true EP0750732A1 (en) 1997-01-02
EP0750732B1 EP0750732B1 (en) 1999-08-25

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EP95913201A Expired - Lifetime EP0750732B1 (en) 1994-03-15 1995-03-15 Element having a double heat transfer function for isothermal chambers, and isothermal chamber provided therewith

Country Status (7)

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EP (1) EP0750732B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE183819T1 (en)
CA (1) CA2184073A1 (en)
DE (2) DE69511685T2 (en)
FI (1) FIU960472U0 (en)
FR (1) FR2717565B1 (en)
WO (1) WO1995025253A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69511685D1 (en) 1999-09-30
EP0750732B1 (en) 1999-08-25
ATE183819T1 (en) 1999-09-15
DE69511685T2 (en) 2000-03-02
DE29580117U1 (en) 1996-12-05
FIU960472U0 (en) 1996-09-16
WO1995025253A1 (en) 1995-09-21
FR2717565A1 (en) 1995-09-22
CA2184073A1 (en) 1995-09-21
FR2717565B1 (en) 1996-08-14

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