EP2098809B1 - Cooling element with excessive cooling protection - Google Patents

Abstract

The element (110) has a casing (112) provided with a heat transfer wall (122) to interchange thermal energy with goods i.e. medicament, to be refrigerated. A fluid space (120) is adjacent to the wall, and a storage space (118) is separated from the fluid space by a separating element (114). The storage space is arranged such that a supply of cooling agent (126) e.g. parafme, is kept away from the fluid space in a solid aggregation condition. The cooling agent is transferred from the storage space into the fluid space in a fluid aggregation condition. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a cooling container comprising an outer container with a receiver for spatial fixing of a cooling element (2) a method for cooling goods to be refrigerated (3) a method for manufacturing a cooling element.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a cooling element for cooling a refrigerated goods and a refrigerated container with a cooling element according to the invention. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for cooling a refrigerated goods using a cooling element according to the invention and to a method for producing a cooling element. Such cooling elements, refrigerated containers and methods can be used in particular in the field of pharmacy and medicine for the transport of pharmaceutical and / or medical samples. However, other applications are possible.

State of the art

Cooling elements are used in numerous applications and applications. As examples, which are not exhaustive, there are various natural sciences, such as chemistry and biology, as well as medicine and medical technology. Also in pharmacy, for example, such cooling elements are used to store medicines at an optimum temperature and / or to transport. In addition, there are cooling elements, which are used in the household sector or cooling elements for the food industry.

Such cooling elements, often also called "cooling batteries", usually have a flexible or rigid enclosure into which a cold accumulating liquid (also referred to below as coolant) is introduced. If the cooling element is "charged", then the cold accumulating liquid is present in the frozen state. This liquid may be present directly in the enclosure or incorporated in a carrier substrate or storage medium. The latter is often used for immobilization and has an advantageous effect on the shape of the cooling element and on a possible cooling time. The Cooling element is pre-frozen for a predetermined period of time before use. As a rule, such cooling elements do not have their own active cooling, in particular no power supply.

A disadvantage of such cooling elements or cooling batteries, however, is that such Vorvorieren or sub-cooling to a temperature below the target temperature of the cooling material usually causes temperatures well below the phase transition between solid state and liquid state of aggregation of the coolant. As a result of this subcooling of the cooling elements below the ultimately desired target temperature of the goods to be cooled or of the goods, it is only possible to maintain the cooling over a longer period of time. In this respect, such a hypothermia of the cooling elements is indispensable in many cases.

If, however, such undercooled cooling elements are introduced into a packaging, then, inter alia, in the region of the packaging which contains the goods to be cooled or the goods to be cooled, at first a strong cooling takes place through the undercooled cooling elements. For many types of refrigerated goods, for example in the food industry and / or pharmacy, such hypothermia of the refrigerated goods are associated with partially irreversible damage. Household or food use may cause freezer burn or other damage. In the field of pharmacy or biology, sensitive samples and drugs can become completely unusable due to hypothermia. Therefore, refrigerated goods usually have a target temperature at which should be cooled, a maximum temperature, which should not be exceeded over time, and a tolerance threshold or minimum temperature below the target temperature, within which usually no damage occurs.

Various solutions are known from the prior art, which can be used to avoid undercooling of the refrigerated goods. For example, describes JP 101 11 057 a cooling element, which can be used in particular for vegetables. The cooling element has a foam element integrated in a common envelope, which is introduced between the coolant present in closed spaces and the goods to be cooled, in order to protect the refrigerated goods from being supercooled as an insulating element in this way.

That from the JP 101 11 057 known principle of inserting additional insulation layers between the cooling elements and the refrigerated goods is also used in large freezer containers, in which, for example in an outer insulating box initially marginal cooling elements are introduced, and then in the still free lumen of this box a second, smaller box made of insulating material is introduced, in which ultimately the refrigerated goods is added. Although such "passive" insulation concepts reduce the described problem of initial supercooling of the chilled goods, since the additional layer acts as a "buffer" to build a temperature gradient between the cooling element and the chilled goods. However, in such systems significantly more complex, costly and associated with additional handling steps steps are required because both additional materials (for example, an inner box or intermediate layers) and additional operations in packaging the goods are required. Another disadvantage of purely passive buffer isolations is that the overall service life of the cooling elements is comparatively low.

More complex cooling systems are known from the prior art, which should also avoid the above-described problems of an initial supercooling of the goods to be cooled. For example, describes EP 1 477 751 A1 an initial supercooling of the chilled goods by combining a pre-frozen cooling element with a thermal regulation barrier with a liquid which has a temperature above 0 ° C. This additional liquid thus acts as a thermal buffer. The disadvantages of this structure, however, are comparable to the disadvantages of the above-described JP 101 11 057 , Again, a complex construction is required with additional handling steps. Furthermore, the total cooling time is again limited by the preheated intermediate element.

Also WO 00/12409 describes a cooling package for a sensitive refrigerated goods, in which the refrigerated goods is first wrapped with an inner layer with a volume of water. This inner layer is in turn covered with an outer layer of coolant which is frozen and may have temperatures well below 0 ° C. The supercooled outer layer must first cool the inner water layer until the chilled goods themselves can be cooled. In this way, the inner layer also acts as a thermal buffer which mitigates initial "cold spikes". WO 00/12409 discloses a cooling element according to the preamble of claim 1. Also in WO 00/12409 However, the solution described is comparatively complex. It always requires the introduction of two separate layers in two operations, since these two layers must be pretreated differently thermally to avoid undercooling of the inner layer. In addition, the inner layer limits which again a "preheated" layer, the entire duration of use of the cooling element.

Object of the invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cooling element which at least largely avoids the disadvantages of known cooling elements. In particular, the cooling element should on the one hand reduce or eliminate the known problem of an initial harmful undercooling of temperature-sensitive refrigerated goods, in particular when introducing the refrigerated goods into a transport packaging or during the introduction of pre-frozen cooling elements into the transport packaging. On the other hand, the cooling element should, however, be as simple as possible and should at least largely avoid the requirement of additional work steps or additional materials. Furthermore, the temperature transitions and temperature conditions within a packaging comprising the cooling elements should be defined as much as possible in order to be able to provide reliable information about the cooling temperature and cooling time of the goods packed therein.

Description of the invention

This object is achieved by the invention with the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims. The wording of all claims is hereby incorporated by reference into the content of this specification.

In contrast to the "buffer concepts" known from the prior art with simple insulation layer buffers or thermal buffer media, the present invention is based on a targeted utilization of a phase transition of a coolant from the solid state of aggregation into the liquid state of aggregation. However, for the purposes of the present invention, a "liquid state of aggregation" is generally understood to mean a fluid state of aggregation, that is to say an aggregate state in which the coolant has a low viscosity and high ductility, ie in particular flowability and / or flowability. Aside from liquid coolants, these can in principle also be coolants in the gaseous state.

A basic idea of the present invention is that a phase transition between the solid state of aggregation and the liquid state of aggregation is known Boundary conditions always takes place at a known melting point and / or within a known melting range (depending on the type of coolant or coolant mixture). The invention is based on the recognition that it is possible to spatially separate the solid state of aggregation of the coolant and the liquid state of aggregation of the coolant within a cooling element. Accordingly, for example, a supply of the coolant in the solid state can be cooled down or subcooled almost as long as it is sufficiently thermally separated and / or isolated from the material to be cooled. By contrast, the liquid state of aggregation of the cooling medium, which has a temperature of at least the temperature of the melting point and / or melting range, can be made possible by suitable devices to come into closer thermal contact with the goods to be cooled and thus as a heat transfer medium between the goods to be cooled and the solid state of aggregation to act of the coolant.

To implement this idea, therefore, a cooling element is proposed, which can be used for cooling a refrigerated goods. The refrigerated goods can, for example, as shown above, be taken from the field of natural sciences, medicine, pharmacy, food industry or household. However, other applications are conceivable. In particular, the item to be cooled may comprise thermally sensitive item to be cooled, which should not be cooled below a certain minimum temperature and / or below a tolerance threshold below a target temperature.

The cooling element comprises an envelope, which may be configured in particular as a closed envelope. This enclosure may include a flexible and / or rigid enclosure, as further detailed below. Particularly suitable as materials for such sheaths are plastics, in particular plastic films or plastic sheets. Due to their low permeability in particular mixed plastics of polyethylene and polyamide have proven to be advantageous. The envelope can also be designed in several layers and can be designed differently, for example, in different areas of the cooling element, for example, to allow anisotropic different heat transfer in different areas of the enclosure.

Thus, the envelope in particular has at least one heat transfer wall for exchanging thermal energy with the refrigerated goods. For example, the enclosure may have exactly one heat transfer wall, for example a planar heat transfer wall. By way of example, this heat transfer wall may be one or more sides of a film wrapping, for example a film bag. However, the term "for exchanging thermal energy with the refrigerated goods" is not necessarily to be understood as a direct thermal contact with the refrigerated goods, so that, for example, in addition to a direct contact with the refrigerated goods, an interposition of other thermally insulating elements, such as foam - Or Styrofoam elements, and / or air or gas layers may be possible.

In order to implement the above-described basic idea of the spatial separation of the phases of the coolant, the cooling element has at least one fluid space adjoining the heat transfer wall and at least one storage space separated from the fluid space. The fluid space and the storage space are separated by at least one separating element. The term "separation" here refers to a mechanical retention of the solid phase of the coolant (see the description below) and at least largely keeping this solid phase away from the fluid space. Preferably, however, the separation, as explained below, additionally also relates to a thermal separation, that is to say an at least partial thermal insulation.

For the purposes of the present application, a solid state of aggregation is also understood to mean a viscous state of a coolant in which the viscosity of the coolant is so high that the coolant in this viscous state can not flow into the fluid space separated by at least one separating element. For the purposes of the present application, a liquid state of aggregation is also understood to mean a liquid state of a coolant in which the viscosity of the coolant is correspondingly low, so that the coolant in this liquid state can flow into the fluid space separated by at least one separating element. Examples of such coolants may be, for example, paraffins or wax-like substances.

The storage space is set up to receive a coolant supply in a fixed state of aggregation. For example, this may be one or more solid blocks of the coolant, which may assume a virtually random geometric shape. As explained below, the storage space can additionally have at least one storage element for receiving the coolant supply, although this is not absolutely necessary.

The separator is configured to substantially keep the coolant supply in the solid state from the fluid space substantially. By "substantially" in this context is meant that the fluid space should preferably not have more than 5%, preferably not more than 1% of the refrigerant in the frozen state. Keeping away the solid state of aggregation from the fluid space can, as will be further exemplified below, be accomplished by a simple mechanical retention which keeps voluminous debris of the solid state coolant away from the fluid space, for example by means of correspondingly small sized fluid channels. However, coolant in the liquid state of aggregation should be allowed to pass from the storage space into the fluid space.

Due to the inventive concept of at least partial spatial separation of coolant in solid state and liquid state of aggregation, preferably only the liquid coolant can come into closer thermal contact with the goods to be cooled, the above-described disadvantages of known cooling concepts are skilfully avoided. The coolant supply of the solid coolant can be subcooled almost arbitrarily, without any damage to the chilled goods is to be feared. Nevertheless, it is ensured that only coolant, which has passed into the liquid state of aggregation, comes into closer thermal contact with the refrigerated goods, so that this coolant always has a known minimum temperature. The structure described thus allows long cooling periods, in contrast to the known "buffer concepts", while maintaining high supercooling security. Furthermore, the cooling element can be constructed comparatively simple, in contrast, for example, to the complex multi-chamber systems of JP 101 11 057 or the WO 00/12409 , The handling of the cooling element, which may be formed as a single cooling element is extremely simple, since this can be overcooled as a whole, in contrast to the separate pretreatments of in WO 00/12409 and EP 1 477 751 A1 described multi-part structures.

The cooling element according to the invention can be further developed in various ways advantageous. These optional developments can be implemented individually or in combination.

Thus, the cooling element in the storage space, as described above, at least one storage element having, which is adapted to receive the coolant supply in whole or in part and at least partially immobilize. In this way, it is possible to facilitate a spatial concentration of the coolant supply, in particular in a solid state of aggregation, in contrast, for example, to solidification in the context of individual solid particles which are not interconnected and which can be retained with greater difficulty by the separating element.

This immobilization, ie the reduction of the spatial mobility by increasing a coherent, spatially concentrated mass, in particular on solid coolant, can be done in various ways. For example, the storage element can absorb the coolant supply mechanically, by adsorption and / or by absorption. In particular, the storage element may comprise at least one sponge-like element, that is, an element having a plurality of pores for receiving the coolant supply. The sponge-like element may comprise a material which is well suited, for example, for its surface properties for receiving the coolant. Generally, alternatively or additionally, the storage element may also comprise a foam substrate, a plastic foam, in particular a melamine resin foam, a superabsorber, a swelling agent or similar materials. Alternatively or additionally, the storage element may also comprise further additives, for example wetting agent for better filling of the storage element with the coolant. Alternatively or additionally, the storage element may also comprise at least one immobilization medium, which is set up to thicken the coolant and in this way reduce the mobility of the coolant. For example, gelatin, agar agar, pectin, polyvinyl alcohol or the like may be used as the immobilizing medium.

The coolant supply may be wholly or partially received in the storage element. The storage element may then be arranged to receive only the fixed coolant supply, whereas the coolant in the liquid state of aggregation should be allowed to circulate to the fluid space. For this purpose, the storage element, for example, have different retention properties for the coolant in the solid and liquid state of aggregation, so that, for example, coolant, which has passed into the liquid state of aggregation, more easily detached from the storage element. For this purpose, for example, surface properties of the storage element can be set specifically. Alternatively or additionally, changes in volume during the phase transition can also be used. For example, the coolant supply can be dimensioned such that it completely saturates the storage element in the liquid state. When freezing, that is the phase transition into the solid state of aggregation, then, for example, an increase in volume can take place, as is the case with different coolants, such as water. The "excess" volume may then be accumulated, for example, on the outside of the storage element and may more easily transition to the liquid state and circulate.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention relate to the design of the at least one separating element and to the embodiment of enabling an overflow of the liquid coolant in the fluid space. Thus, for example, the at least one storage space and the at least one fluid space can communicate with one another through at least one fluid channel. This at least one fluid channel can be designed in various ways and should be dimensioned such that this at least larger pieces of coolant in the frozen state, that is, in a solid state, denied the passage into the fluid space. For example, the fluid channel can be wholly or partially configured in the at least one separating element. For example, the fluid channel can pass through the separating element in the form of at least one bore and / or at least one opening. Also, a plurality of holes and / or openings is conceivable, for example in the form of a sieve. A porous separating element is also conceivable, in which case the pores should be configured such that they allow passage of the liquid coolant.

Alternatively or additionally, the at least one fluid channel can also be formed, for example, by a combination of the separating element and the casing and / or an additional component. For example, the fluid channel can be formed between the separating element and the envelope. In order to keep the fluid channel open and / or to keep the fluid channel to a specific dimensioning, separating webs may be provided for this purpose, for example, which are formed between the separating element and the casing. These partitions may be wholly or partly, for example, part of the separating element and / or may be part of the enclosure and / or may be at least partially formed as an independent component. For example, the enclosure may be oversized, so that a circulation of the separating element is made possible by the liquid coolant. The use of dividers is particularly suitable for rigid sheaths, but is also possible with flexible sheaths. The partitions act in this case, for example, as a spacer on the inside of the enclosure. By these proposed possible embodiments of the fluid channel and / or the enclosure or the separating element, a particularly effective separation between the liquid and solid phase of the coolant can be realized, at the same time comparatively simple and inexpensive construction.

Further advantageous embodiments relate to the separating element. As described above, the separating element may in particular, alone or in cooperation with the enclosure, form the at least one fluid channel. Furthermore, the separating element may, for example, at least one sheet-shaped, plate-shaped or disc-shaped separating element include, in general, an element whose lateral dimensions exceed its thickness by a multiple. In this case, at least one fluid channel designed as a fluid gap should be formed between the separating element and the casing for exchanging fluid coolant between the storage space and the fluid space. The coolant can thus reach the fluid space by flowing around the sheet, plate or disc-shaped separating element in liquid state of aggregation. Instead of a single sheet, plate or disc-shaped separating element, ie an element whose lateral dimensions exceed its thickness by a multiple, the use of a plurality of such elements is conceivable. For example, the separating element may comprise a plurality of stacked, plate-shaped or disk-shaped separating elements stacked on one another. For example, this plurality of such separators may require multiple recirculation until the liquid coolant enters the fluid space. In this way or in another way, a labyrinth structure or a labyrinth-like structure can be created and used as a separating element or as part of the separating element. In addition, a good thermal insulation between the coolant in a fixed state of aggregation and the fluid space or the goods to be cooled can be achieved in this way. A further advantage of using a plurality of individual separating elements is that, by varying the number and / or the thermal properties of the individual separating elements, the thermal properties, in particular the thermally insulating properties such as thermal conductivity or thermal resistance, of the entire separating element structure in a simple manner can be adapted to different requirements, for example by varying the number of layers of individual separating elements.

The separating element can in particular be made mechanically flexible. In particular, the separating element may comprise a nonwoven fabric, ie a nonwoven or non-knitted or knitted fabric, in particular a nonwoven plastic material. In particular, the plastic nonwoven fabric may be a plastic nonwoven fabric of extruded material having short chain and long chain portions and an amorphous structure. Nonwovens, in particular porous nonwovens, have proved to be good thermal insulators and can at the same time be optimally adapted to the required properties (for example low wetting and / or uptake of the coolant). In particular, the cooling element may comprise one or more layers of a flexible insulation layer, for example a flexible nonwoven. Furthermore, as an alternative or in addition, extruded thermally insulating plastics, in particular polyethylenes, polystyrenes, polypropylenes, polyamides or other plastics or mixed plastics can be used. Such extruded plastics, for example, in turn plastic nonwovens, have particularly favorable properties on the one hand because they are thermally insulating and on the other hand have a low proportion of air pockets, which could reduce the basic effect of the invention described above. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one separating element may also comprise one or more insulating elements, for example one or more evacuated carrier plates or insulating elements with gaseous insulating media. By adapting the materials and / or the configurations of the separating element, for example, the insulating performance of the separating element, that is to say the thermal insulation of the storage space relative to the fluid space and / or to the cooling medium, can be influenced within wide ranges. For example, this can be done easily by the use of insulating webs by the choice of the number of layers of the nonwoven fabric.

As stated above, the separating element may in particular have thermally insulating properties in order to reduce or restrict an immediate heat transfer from the coolant in a fixed state of aggregation in the storage space to the refrigerated goods. Accordingly, it is particularly preferred if the separating element has a thermal conductivity of 0.01 W / (m * K) to 0.5 W / (m * K), particularly preferably in the range of 0.035 W / (m * K). For example, for this purpose, the separating element may contain one or more corresponding insulating materials which, alone or in combination, cause said thermal conductivities. Alternatively or additionally, it is preferred if the separating element has a thermal resistance of at least 0.05 m ² K / W. Also for this purpose, one or more appropriate insulation materials and / or isolation media (such as gas-filled and / or evacuated plates) may be provided, which cause the properties mentioned alone or in combination.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention is that the separating element should absorb the smallest possible proportion of the coolant in the liquid and / or solid state. This further development has the advantage that the separating element does not or only to a very small extent absorbs cooling agent in the solid state during subcooling, which could then come into closer thermal contact with the refrigerated goods. For example, many cooling elements are stored at room temperature, only to be subcooled before use. Had the separator a large capacity for the liquid coolant, so this would be soaked before subcooling, for example, already with coolant, which would then freeze within this separator. In order to prevent this, it is particularly preferred if the separating element is such is configured that this can accommodate a coolant content of at most 1%, preferably even less, for example, a maximum of 0.2%.

Thus, for example, the coolant may be a polar coolant or at least have a polar coolant component, wherein the separator in this case preferably has at least partially hydrophobic properties. Thus, for example, water can be used as the coolant, for example in combination with a hydrophobic nonwoven as the separating element, so that a low uptake of coolant in the nonwoven fabric is ensured. In some cases, however, it is also advisable to use a non-polar coolant or at least one non-polar coolant component. In this case, it is preferred if the separating element has hydrophilic properties at least in sections.

The coolant can be designed in various ways and, in particular, can be adapted to the goods to be cooled, as described below. Generally, the coolant should be a material having a suitable melting point and / or melting range, which is preferably adapted to receive latent heat upon melting. It is possible to use individual coolants or even coolant mixtures. In particular, the melting point and / or the melting range can be adjusted in a wide range of optimum temperatures of the refrigerated goods. The coolant may in particular comprise water or alcohol as a polar component. Alternatively or additionally, the coolant may also comprise non-polar components, for example oils, fats, paraffins or similar non-polar liquids. While polar liquids are used in particular in the range up to 0 ° C, non-polar liquids can be used for example as a coolant in the range of positive temperatures, in particular in the range of positive temperatures below room temperature.

Furthermore, the coolant can be influenced by one or more additives in its properties. In particular, the melting point or melting range can in turn be adjusted by suitable selection and / or concentration of such additives, as well as other properties such as viscosity, polarity, wetting power or the like. Thus, in particular at least one salt and / or at least one sugar can be used as an additive. For example, sol-containing aqueous solutions can be used, ie salt-water solutions, for example saline solutions.

Further possible advantageous embodiments relate to the fluid space. A "space" in this context is generally to be understood as meaning at least one lumen which can receive liquid coolant. Several contiguous or separate lumens are possible.

The fluid space, which adjoins the at least one heat transfer wall directly or with the interposition of additional thermally insulating elements, can be designed in various ways. In particular, the fluid space can be arranged wholly or partly between the separating element and the heat transfer wall. In this case, usually a fluid space of extremely small thickness is sufficient, for example, only a small gap between the separating element and the heat transfer wall. The use of narrow dimensions for the fluid space and / or the fluid channel also offers the advantage that capillary forces can be utilized to move liquid coolant from the storage space into the fluid space.

As an alternative or in addition to an embodiment of the fluid space between the separating element and the heat transfer wall, the fluid space may also be wholly or partly contained in the separating element. In particular, for this purpose, for example in a region assigning the heat transfer wall, the separating element may have a porous volume and / or grooves, depressions, bores or the like. Other embodiments are possible.

Another embodiment relates to the envelope. As described above, this enclosure may be configured, for example, rigid or flexible and may, for example, comprise a film wrapping. The envelope can also be designed in several layers. The sheath may in particular comprise at least one insulating element which at least partially prevents and / or slows down a heat transfer via at least one wall of the sheath. For these insulating elements, which in turn can also be configured in multiple layers, in turn, for example, thermally insulating plastic materials and / or natural material materials can be used, which are known to prevent heat transfer. For example, foams, other types of porous materials or nonwovens may be used for this purpose again. Also fabric materials or knitted fabrics can be used. For example, the storage space can in this way be thermally insulated from the environment and / or shielded, for example on the sides, which are not the separating element or the fluid space to assign. In this way, it is ensured that a heat input into the coolant contained in the storage space can preferably take place exclusively or predominantly via the liquid coolant from the fluid space. As also shown above, however, the heat transfer wall can also comprise a lower degree of such a thermal insulation or an insulating element, so that the heat transfer through this heat transfer wall is at least slowed down. In this way, for example, a coolant can be selected, with a melting point or a melting range at the bottom of the tolerance range of the refrigerated goods or even below this tolerance range, without damaging the refrigerated goods must be feared by hypothermia. In this way, the inventive principle can be combined with the traditional principles of the thermal buffer. This thermal buffer or the insulating element, in addition to pure passive insulating materials, accordingly naturally also include more complex insulating media, such as liquids, as in the WO 00/12409 and / or the EP 1 477 751 A1 shown. The at least one insulating element can abut directly against the casing, in particular at least in partial areas, so that no further fluid space is formed between the insulating element and the casing, in particular not in the areas of the casing which are not directly facing the refrigerated goods.

As described above, it is particularly preferred if the envelope has a film or is designed as a film envelope. In this case, in particular mixed plastics have proven to be advantageous, in particular mixed plastics with at least a proportion of polyethylene and at least a proportion of polyamide (PE / PA plastics). Such mixed plastics have a particularly low penetration capacity for conventional coolants, in particular for aqueous coolants. In this way, even with a stacking of the cooling elements when subcooling a sticking together of the cooling elements, for example, by freezing "condensation" can be avoided. The thickness of the film or the cladding may, for example, be in the range of a few tens to a few hundred micrometers, for example 50 micrometers.

The enclosure may further comprise at least one mark for identifying the heat transfer wall. Such markings may include, for example, imprints which facilitate positioning or orientation of the cooling elements, so that it can be ensured that the heat transfer wall and not the remaining walls are always allocated to the goods to be cooled. Alternatively or additionally, the wrapper also have an asymmetrical outer shape (for example in the form of lugs, beads, ridges, grooves or the like), which makes a reversed insertion of the cooling element in a refrigerated container at least recognizable and / or at least partially prevented. This asymmetric shape can be realized, for example, in welded foil bags or foil pockets by an asymmetrically extending weld.

The enclosure may in particular comprise at least one recessed bottom part, in particular a foil bag. This film bag can be produced, for example, by a film-deep-drawing process. Furthermore, the enclosure may comprise at least one lid part welded to the bottom part. Instead of welding, however, other types of connection techniques of positive, cohesive or non-positive nature are possible. The heat transfer wall may in particular be formed either in the cover part and / or in a bottom surface of the bottom part opposite the cover part. In particular, it is preferred if the surface which forms the heat transfer wall completely or partially is configured as flat as possible. A more complex configuration is also possible, for example with an internal storage space and with one or more fluid spaces arranged on the outside.

In addition to the cooling element in one or more Ausfühningsformen described above, a refrigerated container for cooling a refrigerated goods is also proposed. The refrigerated container can in particular be completely or partially closed and can be designed, for example, to receive one or more of the refrigerated goods described above. In particular, the refrigerated container can be configured as a transportable refrigerated container, in particular as a transport box. For this purpose, the refrigerated container may include, for example, wheels and / or handles and / or other types of transport devices which facilitate transport of the refrigerated container.

The refrigerated container comprises at least one thermally insulating outer container. This outer container may for example be configured in one or more layers and may in particular comprise one or more thermally insulating materials. For example, these may again be porous plastics, foams or similar insulating materials. Also a multi-layer construction is possible. Furthermore, the refrigerated container comprises at least one cooling element according to one or more of the embodiments described above. In this case, the cooling element is arranged in the outer container such that the heat transfer wall assigns the refrigerated goods.

In order to ensure this orientation or arrangement of the at least one cooling element (wherein preferably a plurality of cooling elements are accommodated in the cooling container), the outer container may have at least one receptacle for the spatial fixing of the cooling element. This receptacle may include, for example, one or more slots, in which the at least one cooling element can be inserted. Alternatively or additionally, however, other types of fixing devices are possible, such as bolts, flaps or other positive or non-positive connections. The fixation should in this case take place in such a way that when the cooling element accommodated in the receptacle assigns the heat transfer wall of the cooling element to the refrigerated goods.

Furthermore, the refrigerated container and / or the receptacle can in particular also be designed such that all outer surfaces of the envelope of the cooling element, with the exception of the heat transfer wall, are separated from the refrigerated goods. For this purpose, for example, at least one cover may be provided, which covers the side walls of the cooling element, so that only one of the heat transfer wall-containing front side of the cooling element assigns the refrigerated goods. Alternatively or additionally, however, a recording is possible such that a plurality of cooling elements mutually shield their edges against the refrigerated goods, so that only the heat transfer walls with the refrigerated goods in thermal contact (directly or indirectly) are.

Furthermore, the refrigerated container can have at least one inner container arranged between the cooling element and the refrigerated goods. This inner container may, for example, have certain mechanical properties which, for example, cause a mechanical separation of the refrigerated goods from the cooling element, so that, for example, the refrigerated goods do not damage the cooling elements. A transport or insertion of the refrigerated goods in the refrigerated container by means of the inner container is possible. Alternatively or additionally, the inner container may also have thermally insulating properties, in order to create an additional "passive" buffer layer (naturally also several buffer layers can be provided) between the at least one cooling element and the refrigerated goods.

In addition to the cooling element and the refrigerated container, a method for cooling a refrigerated product using at least one cooling element is also proposed. In this case, a cooling element is used according to one or more of the embodiments described above, so that reference can be made to the above description for details of the cooling element.

The cooling element is selected such that it has at least one coolant with a melting point and / or a melting range below a target temperature for the cooling of the cooling material. However, this melting point and / or the melting range should be within a predetermined tolerance range below the target temperature, with an area above a minimum temperature of the term "tolerance range" should be included. On the one hand, this tolerance range can be predetermined by the item to be cooled, in that this tolerance range designates, for example, the range within which no damage to the item to be cooled can occur due to hypothermia. For example, the tolerance range can be 1-15 Kelvin, more preferably about 1-5 Kelvin. If, in addition, a further insulation is used, for example one or more insulation layers and / or insulation elements between the cooling element and the item to be cooled, the tolerance range can, however, be extended further downwards. Thus, the cooling element may have a temperature below the tolerance range, which, however, may be thermally separated by one or more additional insulating elements, which may for example be integrated into the cooling element and / or mounted separately from the cooling element between the cooling element and the cooling material. In this way it can be ensured that no damage to the chilled goods occurs.

In the method proposed according to the invention, the cooling element is first subcooled to a subcooling temperature below the target temperature and in particular below the tolerance range. In this case, the coolant supply introduced into the storage space is brought into the solid state of aggregation and cooled to the subcooling temperature. Subsequently, the cooling element is brought directly or indirectly with its heat transfer wall in thermal contact with the refrigerated goods. By "directly or indirectly" can be understood that the heat transfer wall is directly connected to the refrigerated goods and / or that one or more intermediate layers between the heat transfer wall and the refrigerated goods are introduced, for example, vessel walls, packaging, air or gas layers, thermally insulating Layers or similar.

The pre-frozen cooling element thus initially contains the coolant in the storage space at a subcooling temperature, which is preferably far below the phase transition temperature. Since the coolant can not yet penetrate into the fluid space, the frozen coolant is still separated from the material to be cooled at least by the separating element, the fluid space and the heat transfer wall. There is thus only an extremely low heat transfer. This is particularly favored by the fact that the at least a separating element additionally has thermally insulating properties, such as by using the above-described nonwovens with thermally insulating properties. It is thus avoided a direct thermal contact between the solid, supercooled phase of the coolant with the product side facing the envelope, so that there are no harmful low temperatures at the onset of the cooling element on this page.

Over time, the solid phase of the coolant melts from the outside by heat input, so that now liquid coolant is present at the same time with the solid phase. This liquid coolant, which has temperatures at or just above the melting temperature or the phase transition temperature, can now flow into the fluid space facing the refrigerated goods between the separating element and the casing or the heat transfer wall and tempered this fluid space or the heat transfer wall accordingly. In this way, a targeted and defined temperature control of the refrigerated goods at or just above the phase transition temperature over a long period of time, until the solid phase of the coolant is completely melted in the storage space.

It is particularly preferred, depending on the coolant used, when the melting range is in a range between -18 ° C and 0 ° C. The supercooling temperature is preferably below this melting point or melting range, for example in a range between -18 ° C and -20 ° C.

In addition to the described method for cooling a cooling product using at least one cooling element, a method for producing a cooling element is also proposed. In particular, the cooling element may be a cooling element according to a plurality of the embodiments described above, so that reference may be made to the above description for possible details and possible embodiments of this cooling element.

The proposed manufacturing process comprises the following process steps. However, these steps do not necessarily have to be performed in the order shown. Furthermore, one or more of the method steps can also be carried out in parallel or repeatedly in time.

In the proposed manufacturing method, at least a bottom part of a sheath of the cooling element is produced. In particular, it may, as stated above, at this bottom part to act on a foil bag, so for example a pot-shaped or bowl-shaped bag with one or more wells. For example, a film deep drawing process can be used for this production.

Furthermore, at least one coolant supply is introduced into the bottom part. In this case, the coolant can basically be introduced alone in the bottom part. Alternatively, however, as described above, a storage element can be introduced into the bottom part, which is completely or partially filled with the coolant prior to introduction or after introduction. The storage element can be set up to completely or partially receive and at least partially immobilize the coolant supply. In this case, the coolant supply is preferably dimensioned such that it is substantially completely absorbable in the liquid state in the storage element. "Substantially complete" may also be understood to mean a slight excess or deficit, for example an excess or deficit of not more than 5%. With respect to possible embodiments of the memory element, reference may be made to the above description. Alternatively or additionally, another type of immobilization can be used. For example, again another immobilization medium can be used, which is set up to thicken the coolant and thus reduce the mobility of the coolant. For example, gelatin, agar agar, pectin or the like may be used as the immobilizing medium. Furthermore, it is possible to form, for example, by polycondensation reactions, for example of polyvinyl alcohols with acids, for example boric acid, matrices which serve as immobilization medium.

Furthermore, at least one separating element is introduced into the bottom part, which is designed to subdivide an interior space of the enclosure into a coolant reservoir receiving storage space and a fluid space, wherein the separating element is arranged to substantially keep the coolant supply in a fixed state of aggregation of the fluid space and coolant in the liquid state of aggregation to allow the passage from the storage space into the fluid space. With regard to possible embodiments of the separating element, reference may again be made to the above description.

In a further method step, finally, a cover part is applied to the bottom part and connected to the bottom part. For example, this cover part may in turn comprise a foil lid or be a foil lid. Suitable connection techniques with the bottom part are in principle suitable form and / or force and / or cohesive joining techniques. Particularly preferred is a Welding the lid part with the bottom part, for example, along a weld.

The at least one heat transfer wall may be formed either in the cover part or in the bottom part. Accordingly, the order of introduction of the coolant supply and / or of the optional storage element and of the separating element may also change in relation to the sequence described above. If, for example, a heat transfer wall is provided in the bottom part, then for example the dividing element can first be introduced, and then the storage element and / or the coolant supply. If, on the other hand, the heat transfer wall is provided in the cover part, then preferably the sequence given above can be used.

As described above, a wide selection of coolants can be used, which can be adapted in particular to the goods to be cooled from the melting point or melting range. It is particularly preferred, as also stated above, if a coolant is used which has a lower density in the solid state of aggregation than in the liquid state of aggregation. The change in volume then associated with the change in the state of aggregation, that is to say the phase transition, can drive or promote the circulation of the liquid coolant through the fluid space.

embodiments

Further details and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the subclaims. In this case, the respective features can be implemented on their own or in combination with one another. The invention is not limited to the embodiments. The embodiments are shown schematically in the figures. The same reference numerals in the individual figures designate the same or functionally identical or with respect to their functions corresponding elements.

Figur 1A

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Kühlelements in unterkühltem Zustand;

Figur 1B

das Kühlelement gemäß Figur 1A in teilweise aufgeschmolzenem Zustand;

Figur 2

ein zu Figur 1A alternatives Kühlelement;

Figur 3

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Kühlcontainers;

Figur 4A

ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Kühlelements;

Figur 4B

ein zu Figur 4A analoges Ausführungsbeispiel eines erfindungsgemäßen Kühlelements in umgekehrter Aufbauweise;

Figur 5

eine ausschnittsweise Darstellung eines Kühlcontainers mit einer Aufnahme für ein erfindungsgemäßes Kühlelement; und

Figur 6

einen Temperaturverlauf an verschiedenen Punkten eines mit einem erfin- dungsgemäßen Kühlelement bestückten Kühlcontainers.

In detail shows:

Figure 1A

a first embodiment of a cooling element according to the invention in the supercooled state;

FIG. 1B

the cooling element according to Figure 1A in partially molten state;

FIG. 2

one too Figure 1A alternative cooling element;

FIG. 3

a first embodiment of a refrigerated container according to the invention;

FIG. 4A

a third embodiment of a cooling element according to the invention;

FIG. 4B

one too FIG. 4A analogous embodiment of a cooling element according to the invention in the reverse structure;

FIG. 5

a partial view of a refrigerated container with a receptacle for a cooling element according to the invention; and

FIG. 6

a temperature profile at various points of a refrigerated container equipped with a cooling element according to the invention.

In the FIGS. 1 and 2 a first embodiment of a cooling element 110 according to the invention is shown in a highly schematic sectional view from the side. The cooling element 110 comprises a sheath 112, which is merely indicated in the figures. For example, it may be a foil wrapping.

Inside the enclosure 112, a partition 114 is inserted. This separating element 114 may, for example, comprise one or more layers of a hydrophobic plastic fleece, for example a fleece of polystyrene, similar to nonwovens, which are used, for example, in impact sound insulation for floors. The separator 114 is intended to have thermal insulation properties.

In this case, the separating element 114 is undersized in such a way in comparison to the sheath 112 that a fluid channel 116 in the form of a gap is formed on the side edges of the separating element 114 between the separating element 114 and the sheath 112. The partition 114 is preferably not fixedly connected to the enclosure 112 here and in other embodiments, but is formed as a "floating" partition 114 inside this enclosure 112, which also facilitates the manufacture of the cooling element 110 in particular.

The separating element 114 subdivides the interior of the envelope 112 of the cooling element 110 into a storage space 118 and a considerably smaller sized fluid space 120 compared to the storage space 118. The fluid space 120 is formed only as a thin gap between the separating element 114 and a heat transfer wall 122 of the envelope 112 , The heat transfer wall 122 is at the in the Figures 1A and 1B However, other embodiments are possible, as described in more detail below.

Furthermore, a coolant 124, 126 is introduced into the storage space 118. Figure 1A shows a state in which the coolant is completely in the solid state, which is designated in the figures by the reference numeral 124. This condition in Figure 1A For example, may be a supercooled state in which the cooling element 110 is supercooled to a temperature far below a phase transition temperature (melting temperature) of the coolant 124, 126. In this case, the coolant 124, 126 is preferably completely accommodated in the storage space 118 in this supercooled state. On the other hand, the fluid space 122 is preferably completely free of coolant 124, 126.

This in Figure 1A shown cooling element 110 is brought with a refrigerated goods, which is not shown in the figures, in direct or indirect thermal contact, so that on the heat transfer wall 122, a heat exchange is possible, which is symbolically denoted by the reference numeral 128 in the figures. Preferably, the remaining side walls, which are designated 130 in the figures, are additionally thermally insulated so that the heat exchange takes place almost completely via the heat transfer wall 122.

As a result of the heat input via the heat exchange 128 into the cooling element 110, the coolant 124, 126 begins to melt, which generally takes place from the edge. The block of the solid coolant 124 melts, and liquid coolant 126 initially forms in the storage space 118. For example, this liquid coolant may be an aqueous coolant and / or an alcoholic coolant, optionally with the addition of additives, such as, for example, salts. to set a melting point. In this case, ie when using a polar coolant 126, with simultaneous use of a hydrophobic separating element 114, the separating element 114 absorbs practically no coolant 126. The liquid coolant 126 therefore flows through the fluid channel 116, the separating element 114. This flow is in FIG. 1B symbolically denoted by the reference numeral 132. The liquid coolant 126 occurs in the Fluid space 120 and can via the heat transfer wall 122 in thermal contact with the goods to be cooled, so that a heat exchange 128 can take place.

With the illustrated phase transformation of the coolant 124, 126, the type of heat exchange 128 changes Figure 1A shown supercooled state the refrigerated goods by the thermally insulating partition member 114 was thermally shielded from the supercooled solid coolant 124 and a heat exchange could be done only "passively buffered" by the separator 114, in the in FIG. 1B shown partially frozen state buffering done by the liquid coolant 126. In this case, heat is first transferred from the refrigerated goods to the liquid coolant 126, and from there to the solid coolant 124 in the storage space 118. In this way, optimal cooling is always ensured, with simultaneous protection against hypothermia and thus protection against damage, for example in the form of freezer brandy. In FIG. 2 is a comparison with the embodiment in the Figures 1A and 1B slightly modified cooling element 110 shown in sectional view from the side. For simplification, only the supercooled state is analogous to Figure 1A represented.

The embodiment of the cooling element 110 according to FIG. 2 differs from the embodiment according to Figure 1A in that, as above to the Figures 1A and 1B already mentioned, the remaining walls 130 of the enclosure 112, that is, the walls other than the heat transfer wall 122, are additionally thermally shielded by insulating elements 134. These insulating members 134, which preferably closely abut the sheath 112 and / or are part of this sheath 112 so that no additional fluid space 120 can form between these sheath members 134 and the sheath 112, prevent or reduce heat exchange through these remaining walls 130. The heat exchange 128 with the environment or the refrigerated goods thus takes place almost exclusively via the heat transfer wall 122.

In FIG. 3 is a highly simplified embodiment of a refrigerated container 136 shown in section from above. The refrigerated container 136 comprises in this embodiment a thermally insulated outer container 138, which thermally shields a heat input from the outside. For example, the outer container 138 may comprise a foam and / or a polystyrene.

Inside the outer container 138 are in the in FIG. 3 shown embodiment, four cooling elements 110 arranged. For simplification, examples in FIG 3 shows the cooling elements 110 according to the in FIG. 2 used embodiment shown. However, other embodiments of inventive cooling elements 110 are possible.

The orientation of the cooling elements 110 in the interior of the refrigerated container 136 takes place in such a way that the heat transfer walls 122 of the cooling elements 110 always point into the interior of the refrigerated container 136, that is to say in the interior of the refrigerated container 136 FIG. 3 only indicated refrigerated goods 140. The remaining walls 130 of the cooling elements 110 preferably have completely either the outer container 138 or an adjacent cooling element 110, so are compared to the refrigerated goods 140 and the interior of the refrigerated container 136 shielded.

In the FIGS. 4A and 4B Further embodiments of cooling elements 110 are shown schematically in a sectional view from the side. These cooling elements 110 correspond structurally largely to the structure of the cooling element 110 in the FIGS. 1A, 1B or 2 and have a sheath 112. In contrast to the preceding embodiments, this envelope 112 is configured in two parts and has a recessed bottom part 142 and a cover part 144. Both parts 142, 144 may for example be made of a PA / PE film, for example with a film thickness of 100 to 500 microns. In addition, the sheath 112, analogous to FIG. 2 , nor one or more insulating elements 134, which in the FIGS. 4A and 4B are not shown. The bottom part 142 may be formed for example as a deep-drawn film pocket. The cover part 144 and the bottom part 142 may, for example, be connected to one another along a weld seam 146, for example a circumferential weld seam.

As a further difference from the previous embodiments, the cooling element 110 comprises in the in the FIGS. 4A and 4B shown embodiment, a storage element 148 which, for example, in the in the FIGS. 4A and 4B shown supercooled state, the coolant 124 can almost completely absorb. This storage element 148 may, for example, be designed as a sponge-like element, that is to say as a porous element with a high capacity for holding the liquid or solid coolant 124, 126. For example, a foamed melamine resin may be used for this purpose. The storage element 148 preferably fills the storage space 118 substantially completely. For example, the storage element 148 can be introduced into the storage space 118 as a rectangular block or as a block with a circular cross section.

As in the previous exemplary embodiments, the separating element 114 adjoins the storage space 118. With regard to the possible embodiments of this separating element 114, reference may be made to the above description. Again, between the separating element 114, which may be configured, for example, as a single-layer or multi-layer hydrophobic nonwoven fabric, and the sheath 112, a fluid channel 116 may be formed. Alternatively or additionally, however, the fluid channel 116 can also be configured in other ways, for example in the form of bores, through-going pores, a sieve, spacers or the like passing through the separating element 114.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 4A In this case, the separating element 114 is shown symbolically as a single-layer separating element 114, for example as a single layer of a nonwoven. In FIG. 4B In contrast, a preferred embodiment is shown, in which the separating element 114 comprises four individual layers of a nonwoven, for example polystyrene nonwovens with a thickness of approximately 1 to 3 mm, for example 2 mm. However, the multilayer configuration can also in the embodiment in FIG. 4A or other embodiments may be used.

The embodiments in the FIGS. 4A and 4B differ substantially by the orientation of the heat transfer wall 122. While in the embodiment in FIG. 4A the heat transfer wall is part of the bottom part 142 and the cover part 144 is arranged opposite, is in the embodiment in FIG. 4B the heat transfer wall 122, the lid part 144 and part of this cover part 144. In function, these different configurations differ only slightly. However, since the film projections 150 are used in many cases as a positioning aid, as below with reference to FIG. 5 is explained in more detail, this different configuration may be of practical importance to facilitate a correct alignment of the heat transfer wall 122 to the chilled goods 140. In addition, the enclosure 112 may be wholly or partially printed to additionally identify, for example, the heat transfer wall 122 and to prevent improper insertion of the cooling elements 110 into a refrigerated container 136.

In FIG. 4B symbolically different dimensions of the cooling element 110 and the components of this cooling element are shown. These dimensions can vary greatly depending on the field of application. For example, cooling elements were produced, which have a width b between 170 mm and 210 mm, for example, a rectangular base with an edge length of 210 mm x 170 mm. The height h _{1 of} the memory element 148 can also vary widely and can be, for example, about 40 mm. The total height h ₂ can also vary and can be, for example, 50 mm.

At the in FIG. 4B For example, four layers of a polystyrene nonwoven having a thickness of 2.2 mm have proved to be advantageous. However, other thicknesses are used, for example, thicknesses of 3 mm or 5 mm. For test samples in particular polystyrene fleece of the brand "SELITAC" SELIT Dämmtechnik GmbH, Erbes-Büdesheim, Germany, were used, which are also used for the purpose of impact sound insulation in floors. Such nonwovens have a thermal conductivity of between 0.026 W / mK (effectively measured according to DIN 52612) and 0.35 W / mK (classification according to the heat conduction group according to DIN 4108). The thermal resistance for nonwovens with a thickness of 2.2 mm or 3 mm or 5 mm at 0.063 or 0.086 or 0.143 m ² K / W (calculated from Wärmeleitgruppe according to DIN 4108) or at 0.085 or 0.115 or 0.190 m ² K / W (effectively measured thermal resistance according to DIN 52612). When using four webs as a separating element 114, each with a thickness of 2.2 mm, this results in, for example, a thermal resistance of 0.34 m ² K / W for the entire separator 114. However, other constellations are of course possible.

In FIG. 5 is a section of a second embodiment of a refrigerated container according to the invention 136 shown in sectional view with top view. The refrigerated container 136 in turn has an outer container 138, which is only partially shown here. Inside the outer container 138, the Kühlgut 140 assigning, is in the in FIG. 5 shown embodiment, a receptacle 152 for the spatial fixation of the cooling element 110 is provided. Of course, a plurality of such receptacles 152, corresponding to the use of a plurality of cooling elements 110 may be provided, wherein in each of these receptacles 152 preferably at least one, possibly even more cooling elements can be entered.

The receptacle 152 is at the in FIG. 5 shown embodiment designed as a slot and includes projections 154, which serve as guide rails. At the same time, these projections 154 serve to thermally shield the remaining walls 130 of the sheath 112 of the cooling element 110. The cooling element 110 is in FIG FIG. 5 shown only schematically and can, for example, the cooling element 110 according to the embodiment in FIG. 4A correspond. In this case, the heat transfer wall 122 to the interior of the refrigerated container 136.

In order to avoid or make it difficult to interchange or reversed insertion of the cooling element 110 into the receptacle 152, the envelope 112 has an imprint 156. This imprint 156 may be on the heat transfer wall 122, for example, and may include, for example, an indication "this side inside." Alternatively or additionally, corresponding imprints may also be located on other sides of the envelope.

In addition, the receptacle 152 at the in FIG. 5 shown embodiment recesses 158. These recesses 158 are used to receive the film projections 150 in the region of the weld 146. A reversed introduction of the cooling elements 110 in the receptacles 152 is not or only with difficulty possible due to the film projections 150 and missing in the region of the projections 154 recesses. In this or otherwise, an asymmetry of the cooling elements 110 can preferably be used to prevent or at least complicate a reversed introduction of the cooling elements 110 in the receptacles 152.

In FIG. 6 is a highly schematic of an example course of temperatures inside a refrigerated container 136 shown. Based on these temperature profiles, the effects of the cooling element 110 according to the invention will be explained.

On the x-axis is in FIG. 6 the time t is plotted in hours. The units shown are each 12-hour units, ie one graduation on the scale corresponds to 12 hours. The temperature in ° C is plotted on the y-axis.

In this case, a refrigerated goods 140 was assumed, which has a typical limit 160, which in FIG. 6 indicated by dashed lines. This limit 160 should not or not be permanently exceeded (for example, for no more than a predetermined total period) and thus represents, for example, a maximum temperature for storage. For example, this limit may be 12 ° C, which is a common size for typical medicines. Generally, however, this limit 160 is highly dependent on the type of goods to be cooled 140.

The curve 162 describes an outside temperature profile in a climatic chamber into which a refrigerated container 136 has been introduced. The illustrated profile of the outside temperature 162 is subject to fluctuations, which may be due to the time of day, for example. The illustrated temperature profile is, for example, a temperature profile which corresponds approximately to a summer profile.

Furthermore, three measured temperature curves 164, 166 and 168 are shown. In this case, the curve 164 shows the temperature profile on an uninsulated outside of the casing 112 on a wall 130 of the casing 112 which is different from the heat transfer wall 122 FIG. 4B be a point denoted by A. As stated above, is in FIG. 4B the cooling element 110 surrounded with a generally uninsulated enclosure 112, but also an at least partially insulated embodiment is conceivable. In the present case, however, it is assumed that the temperature profile 164 was recorded in an uninsulated enclosure 112, so that this temperature profile 164 approximately represents the temperature profile in the region of the memory element 148.

On the other hand, the curve 166 describes the temperature profile on the heat transfer wall 122. For example, this may be a measurement in the point which is in FIG. 4B symbolically denoted by B. Finally, the curve 168 describes a temperature profile on a sample arranged in the immediate vicinity of the cooling element 110, for example the product to be cooled 140 in FIG FIG. 5 , For example, this may be a measurement on the in FIG. 5 be designated C point of the item to be cooled 140.

At a time in which FIG. 6 symbolically denoted by t *, a supercooled cooling element 110 is introduced into the refrigerated container 136. For example, the cooling element 110 may be undercooled to a temperature of about -12 ° C. For samples or refrigerated goods 140, which must not fall below a tolerance threshold or minimum temperature of 0 ° C, for example, even this cold shock would possibly lead to destruction. However, as a comparison of the curves 164 and 166 or 168 shows, this effect is mitigated by the inventive design of the cooling element 140. The temperature at point B only drops to just below 0 ° C (curve 166), whereas the temperature on the goods to be cooled 140 at point C (curve 168) also remains immediately after the introduction of the cooling element 110 above 0 ° C. Despite the strong supercooling of the cooling element 110, which ensures sufficient thermal storage in the interior of the cooling element 110, the initial temperature peak is thus buffered according to the invention. The amount of differential temperatures ΔT ₁ and ΔT ₂ in FIG. 6 For example, by suitable selection of the separating element 114, such as a fleece thickness and / or a nonwoven material, can be adjusted. In this way, the cooling element can be adjusted very precisely to the tolerance threshold of the product to be cooled 140.

Such buffering of the initial supercooling as in FIG. 6 In principle, it would also be possible with a purely passive thermal insulation, such as, for example, the passive thermal insulation known from the prior art. In such passive thermal insulation by introducing insulation materials between the actual cooling element and the goods to be cooled 140, however, the curve 168 would be shifted with a nearly parallel course of the curve follow 164 and thus reach the temperature limit 160 after a short time. The cooling element 160 would thus be usable only over a comparatively short period of time and would then have to be subcooled again. This would be a considerable disadvantage, especially with longer transport or storage.

In contrast, in the cooling element 110 according to the invention, the curves 166 and 168 of the curve 164 do not follow each other in parallel, but approach this curve and show a flatter course. This is due to the fact that according to the invention with increasing heat input into the cooling element 110 an increasing amount of liquid coolant 126 is formed, which causes an improved heat transfer between the goods to be cooled 140 and serving as the actual thermal storage solid coolant 124 in the fluid space 120. This significantly reduces the distance between the curves 164 and 166 or 168.

This curve shows that, on the one hand, due to considerable hypothermia, a large thermal reservoir can be created in the cooling element 110, without causing damage to the cooling product 140. On the other hand, the heat transfer between the cooling element 110 and the goods to be cooled 140 is designed to be variable in time, which causes an extension of the maximum service life of the cooling element 110.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

110

cooling element

112

wrapping

114

separating element

116

fluid channel

118

storage space

120

fluid space

122

Heat transfer wall

124

Coolant, solid

126

Coolant, liquid

128

heat exchange

130

remaining walls

132

flow around

134

insulating

136

refrigerated containers

138

outside container

140

refrigerated

142

the bottom part

144

cover part

146

Weld

148

storage element

150

Foil projections

152

admission

154

projections

156

imprint

158

recesses

160

Temperature limit (upper limit)

162

outside temperature

164

Temperature profile uninsulated outside, A

166

Temperature profile Heat transfer wall, B

168

Temperature profile refrigerated goods, C

Claims (20)

1. A cooling element (110) for cooling goods to be cooled (140), comprising

   a) a covering (112) with at least one heat transfer wall (122) for exchanging thermal energy with the goods to be cooled (140), wherein the cooling element (110) comprises furthermore

   b) at least one fluid space (120) adjacent to the heat transfer wall (122) and

   c) at least one storing space (118) separated from the fluid space (120) by at least one separating element (114), wherein

   d) the storing space (118) is arrange to take up a supply of coolant in the solid state of matter,
   characterized in that

   e) the separating element (114) is arranged to

   e1) keep the supply of coolant in solid the state of matter substantially away from the fluid space (120) and

   e2) to enable the coolant (126) in the liquid state of matter to pass over from the storing space (118) to the fluid space (120).
2. A cooling element (110) according to the preceding claim, wherein the storing space (118) has at least one storing element (148), wherein the storing element (148) is arranged to take up in whole or in part and/or to immobilize at least in part the supply of coolant.
3. A cooling element (110) according to the preceding claim, wherein the storing element (148) has at least one spongy element, wherein the spongy element comprises a plurality of pores for taking up the supply of coolant.
4. A cooling element (110) according to any one of the two preceding claims, wherein the storing element (148) comprises at least one of the following materials: a plastic foam, in particular a melamine resin foam; a superabsorbent polymer; a foam substrate.
5. A cooling element (110) according to any one of the three preceding claims, wherein the storing element (148) comprises at least one immobilization medium, wherein the immobilization medium is arranged to thicken the coolant, wherein the immobilization medium comprises at least one of the following media: gelatine; agar-agar; pectin; condensed polyvinyl alcohols.
6. A cooling element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the storing space (118) and the fluid space(120) are connected by at least one fluid channel (116), wherein preferably the fluid channel (116) comprises at least one of the following fluid channels (116): at least one fluid channel (116) penetrating the separating element (114), in particular at least one bore and/or one pore channel; at least one fluid channel (116) formed by a separating strip between the separating element (114) and the covering (112).
7. A cooling element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the separating element (114) comprises at least one leaf-shaped, one plate-shaped or one disc-shaped separating element (114), wherein at least one fluid channel (116) embodied as a fluid gap for exchanging liquid coolant (126) between the storing space (118) and the fluid space (120) is formed between the separating element (114) and the covering (112).
8. A cooling element (110) according to the preceding claim, wherein the separating element (114) comprises a plurality of stacked leaf-shaped, plate-shaped or disc-shaped separating elements (114).
9. A cooling element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the separating element (114) comprises at least one of the following elements: a nonwoven, in particular a plastic nonwoven; an extruded thermally insulating plastic, in particular an extruded polyethylene, an extruded polystyrene, an extruded polypropylene, an extruded polyamide; an evacuated support plate.
10. A cooling element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the separating element (114) is mechanically flexible.
11. A cooling element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the separating element (114) has thermally insulating properties, preferably at least one of the following properties:

    - a thermal conductivity from 0.01 W/(m*K) to 0,5 W/(m*K), particularly preferably in the range of 0.035 W/(m*K);

    - thermal resistance of at least 0.05 m²K/W.
12. A cooling element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the separating element (114) is embodied in such way that it is able to take up a maximum coolant proportion of 1 %, preferably of 0.2 %.
13. A cooling element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising:

    - a coolant (124, 126) with a polar coolant component, wherein the separating element (114) has at least in sections hydrophobic properties, or

    - a coolant (124, 126) with a non-polar coolant component, wherein the separating element (114) has at least in sections hydrophilic properties.
14. A cooling element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fluid space (120) is embodied in at least one of the following ways: the fluid space (120) is arranged in whole or in part between the separating element (114) and the heat transfer wall (122); the fluid space (120) is contained in whole or in part in the separating element (114), in particular in a porous volume of the separating element (114).
15. A cooling element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one of the following coolants (124, 126): water; a briny watery mixture; an alcohol; an oil; a fat; a paraffin; a liquid, in particular water and/or an alcohol, with at least one additive, in particular at least one salt and/or at least one sugar.
16. A cooling element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling element (110) has at least one insulating element (134), wherein the insulating element (134) prevents at least in part a heat input via at least one wall of the covering (112), in particular at least one wall different from the heat transfer wall (122).
17. A cooling element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the covering (112) has at least one mark (156) for marking the heat transfer wall (122) and/or the covering (112) has an asymmetric external form, which makes a reversed insertion of the cooling element (110) in a refrigerated container (136) at least visible and/or prevents it at least in part.
18. A refrigerated container (136) for cooling goods to be cooled (140), comprising at least a thermally insulating external container (138) and at least a cooling element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling element (110) is arranged in the external container (138) in such way that the heat transfer wall (122) points to the goods to be cooled (140), wherein preferably the external container (138) has at least one seat (152) for spatially fixing the cooling element (110), in such way that, when a cooling element (110) is taken up in the seat (152), the heat transfer wall (122) of the cooling element (110) points to the goods to be cooled (140).
19. A method for cooling goods to be cooled (140) using at least one cooling element (110) according to any one of the preceding claims directed to a cooling element (110), wherein the cooling element (110) is chosen in such way that it has at least one coolant (124, 126) with a melting point and/or melting range below a target temperature for cooling the goods to be cooled (140), wherein the melting point and/or melting range is within a preset tolerance range below the target temperature, wherein the cooling element (110) is sub-cooled to a sub-cooling temperature below the target temperature and in particular below the tolerance range, and wherein the cooling element (110) with its heat transfer wall (122) is subsequently brought directly or indirectly into thermal contact with the goods to be cooled (140).
20. A method for manufacturing a cooling element (110), in particular of a cooling elements (110) according to any one of the preceding claims directed to a cooling element (110), comprising the following steps:

    - at least one bottom part (142), in particular a foil pocket, of a covering (112) of the cooling element (110) is manufactured;

    - at least one supply of coolant is introduced into the bottom part (142);

    - at least one separating element (114) is introduced into the bottom part, wherein the separating element (114) is embodied to divide an inner space of the covering (112) into a storing space (118) taking up the supply of coolant and a fluid space (120), wherein the separating element (114) is arranged to keep the coolant (124) in the solid state of matter substantially away from the fluid space(120) and to enable the coolant (126) in the liquid state of matter to pass over form the storing space (118) to the fluid space (12); and

    - at least one lid part (144) is put on the bottom part (142) and joined to the bottom part (142).

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