EP2161520A2 - Refrigeration and/or freezer device - Google Patents

Abstract

The freezer has an interior for receiving products to be refrigerated and/or frozen. A thermoacoustic cooler (10) is partially arranged in the interior. A thermal insulator is arranged between the interior and an environment of the freezer, where a part of the cooler is arranged in the thermal insulation. A set of lines (25-28) for guiding cold heat transfer medium is arranged within the interior and are connected with cold heat exchangers (23, 24). Another set of lines (33-35) for guiding hot heat transfer medium is arranged outside the interior.

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer with an interior to be cooled for receiving the refrigerated and / or frozen goods and with a thermo-acoustic cooler.

From the prior art it is known to use a so-called thermoacoustic cooler for cooling the interior of a refrigerator and / or freezer. For such thermoacoustic cooler different operating principles are known.

Thermoacoustic cooling uses the effect that acoustic waves (sound waves) can generate inhomogeneous temperature distributions at limiting contact surfaces. For example, the working medium (eg helium) is excited by a resonator (eg loudspeaker) into monochromatic oscillations of high intensity. The working medium is guided back and forth by the longitudinal waves in a so-called stack. This stack is preferably made of a material with high heat capacity and low thermal conductivity. Due to the longitudinal vibration is now through compression and expansion the working medium this locally heated and cooled. In the simplified model, many adjacent gas packages are considered, which remove heat from one heat exchanger (cold reservoir) in their cooperation and transport one oscillation amplitude per gas package along the stack to the other heat exchanger (warm reservoir). With this process, it is possible to transfer heat from one heat exchanger to another and thus to drive a chiller.

A conceivable refrigeration cycle includes a cold heat exchanger, the thermoacoustic cooler, a warm heat exchanger and a pump for conveying the heat transfer medium. While the resonator of the thermoacoustic cooler is running, the heat transfer medium flowing through the thermoacoustic cooler is heated in a heat exchanger and then guided by means of said pump in the warm heat exchanger, in which it is cooled.

The invention encompasses any type of embodiment or the operating principle of a thermoacoustic cooler.

From the state of the art further widely known devices are known which operate with a refrigerant compressor, which is positioned outside the device. Preferably, it is arranged in the lower area at the rear of the device.

The present invention has for its object to develop a refrigerator and / or freezer of the type mentioned in an advantageous manner, in particular to the effect that this achieved by simple means efficient cooling.

This object is achieved by a refrigerator and / or freezer with the features of claim 1. Thereafter, it is provided that a refrigerator and / or freezer has an interior to be cooled for receiving the refrigerated and / or frozen goods and with a thermo-acoustic cooler, wherein the thermo-acoustic cooler at least partially disposed in the interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer is. Of course, it can be provided that a thermoacoustic cooler or more thermoacoustic cooler are provided. Further, the refrigerator and / or freezer may have a plurality of internal spaces, wherein the cooling of at least one of these interiors or even all interiors by means of one or more thermoacoustic cooler takes place.

The invention further relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer with an interior to be cooled for receiving the refrigerated and / or frozen, with a thermo-acoustic cooler and with a thermal insulation between the interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer and the environment the refrigerator and / or freezer is arranged, wherein the thermo-acoustic cooler is at least partially disposed in the heat insulation. The thermal insulation may include, for example, foamed cavities of the device wall or be formed by this substantially.

The thermoacoustic cooler is thus arranged partially or completely in the interior of the refrigerator or freezer in the first mentioned alternative of the invention, resulting in the essential advantage that the cold lines of the thermoacoustic cooler are not to be dammed. Due to the arrangement of the thermoacoustic cooler in the interior are also the cold lines, i. the lines that carry the cooled heat transfer medium in the interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer, which can be dispensed with the thermal insulation and whereby an undesirable heat input into the heat transfer medium can be prevented.

In said second alternative of the invention it is provided that the device has an interior to be cooled for receiving the refrigerated and / or frozen goods, a thermoacoustic cooler and a thermal insulation, which serves to reduce the heat input into the interior of the device. According to the invention, it is provided that the thermoacoustic cooler is at least partially disposed in the thermal insulation.

It is conceivable that the cold heat transfer medium leading lines are at least partially disposed within the interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer.

It is also conceivable that the cold heat transfer medium leading lines are arranged at least partially in the thermal insulation of the refrigerator and / or freezer.

In both of the aforementioned cases can be dispensed with a separate thermal insulation of the cold lines, since they are located in the interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer or in the existing insulation of the refrigerator and / or freezer, so that an additional thermal insulation not is required.

It is also conceivable that the cold heat transfer medium lines leading lines are at least partially disposed within the thermal insulation of the refrigerator and / or freezer and sections in the interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer, where they communicate with at least one cold heat exchanger.

The arrangement of the cold heat exchanger is largely arbitrary. The cold heat exchanger can be arranged for example in the interior or on the outside of the inner container or in the foaming. It can be provided that one or more cold heat exchangers are provided, which are assigned either each a separate thermoacoustic cooler or a common thermoacoustic cooler.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the lines carrying the warm heat transfer medium, at least in sections outside the heat insulation of the refrigerator and / or freezer, that are preferably arranged on the outside of the device.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the hot heat transfer medium leading lines are arranged at least partially in the thermal insulation of the refrigerator and / or freezer.

It is conceivable, for example, that the thermoacoustic cooler within the heat insulation of the refrigerator and / or freezer is arranged such that its cold side is in the interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer and its warm side on the outside of the device.

In addition, it can be provided that the thermoacoustic cooler is in the thermal insulation of the refrigerator and / or freezer and from there the cold heat transfer medium leading lines optionally through the thermal insulation in the interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer lead and the lead hot heat transfer medium leading lines optionally through the thermal insulation on the outside of the device and there preferably communicate with at least one warm heat exchanger, by means of which heat is removed from the heat transfer medium.

Fig. 1:

eine schematische Zeichnung eines Wärmeträgerkreislaufs mit thermoakustischen Kühler;

Fig. 2:

eine schematische Zeichnung eines Wärmeträgerkreislaufs mit thermoakustischen Kühler in einer weiteren Ausführungsform;

Fig. 3:

eine schematische Darstellung eines thermoakustischen Kühlers.

Further details and advantages of the invention will be described with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1:

a schematic drawing of a heat transfer circuit with thermoacoustic cooler;

Fig. 2:

a schematic drawing of a heat transfer circuit with thermoacoustic cooler in another embodiment;

3:

a schematic representation of a thermo-acoustic cooler.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a cooling circuit with thermo-acoustic cooler 10. The thermo-acoustic cooler 10 is located between a cold part-circuit 20 and a warm part-circuit 30, the are each connected to one side of the thermo-acoustic cooler 10. The thermoacoustic cooler 10 is with its cold side 18 (see. Fig. 3 ) arranged in the interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer. The thermoacoustic cooler 10 extends from the interior to the exterior of the device, with the warm side 14 of the thermoacoustic cooler 10 located on the outside of the device.

Due to the arrangement of the thermoacoustic cooler 10 in the interior of the device, the length of the lines 25, 26, 27, 28 to the cold heat exchanger 23, 24 minimal, because the cold is generated at the point where it is needed.

Energy losses on the cold side or in the cold part cycle 20 are not expected in this way.

This embodiment of the refrigerator and / or freezer is thus comparatively simple, since it is preferably provided that a thermal insulation of the cold lines, i. that the cold heat transfer medium leading lines of the thermoacoustic cooler 10 can be omitted. In the arrangement of the thermo-acoustic cooler in the interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer cold is generated efficiently where it is needed for cooling the refrigerated / frozen food.

Alternatively, it may be provided that the positioning of the thermoacoustic cooler 10 takes place in such a way that it is located substantially in the thermal insulation of the refrigerator and / or freezer. It is provided that the cold side 18 of the thermoacoustic cooler 10 is aligned in the heat insulation towards the interior and the warm side 14 of the thermoacoustic cooler 10 is located outside of the refrigerator and / or freezer. Again, there is no need to insulate the lines 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35 of the hot and cold subcircuits 20, 30.

Energy losses via the lines 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35 are not available.

In this case, the cold partial circuit 20 with a pump 21 and two series-connected cold heat exchanger 23, 24 executed. In this case, the first cold heat exchanger 24 may be assigned to the freezer compartment and the second cold heat exchanger 23 to the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator and / or freezer. The cold heat exchanger 23, 24 can be arranged in the refrigerator or freezer compartment or around the refrigerator or freezer compartment. The cold part circuit 20 has lines 25, 26, 27, 28, which are arranged within the heat insulation of the refrigerator and / or freezer. In this case, the line 25 connects the thermoacoustic cooler 10 with the downstream of the thermoacoustic cooler 10 arranged pump 21. The line 26 leads from the pump 21 to the inlet of the cold heat exchanger 24, the outlet side connected by line 27 to the inlet of the second cold heat exchanger 23 is. Via the line 28, the heat transfer medium is returned to the thermoacoustic cooler 10 after passing through the cold heat exchanger 23, 24.

The warm part circuit 30 has an air-cooled, attached to the outside of the refrigerator and / or freezer warm heat exchanger 32, wherein the heat transfer medium is conveyed in the hot part circuit 30 by the pump 31. The warm part circuit 30 has lines 33, 34, 35, which are arranged on the outside of the refrigerator and / or freezer. In this case, the line 35 connects the thermoacoustic cooler 10 with the downstream of the thermoacoustic cooler 10 arranged warm heat exchanger 32. The line 34 leads from the warm heat exchanger 32 to the pump 31 of the warm part circuit 30. Via line 33, the heat transfer medium after the pump 31 for thermoacoustic Cooler 10 returned.

Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of a cooling circuit according to the invention for a refrigerator and / or freezer with a thermo-acoustic cooler 10. Comparable components are provided with the same reference numerals. The partial circuit 20 in this case has a pump 21 which is arranged downstream of the thermoacoustic cooler in the cold partial circuit 20.

The cold partial circuit 20 is designed with a large, cold heat exchanger 24. By means of a fan 40 while warm air from the refrigerator and / or freezer compartment of the refrigerator and / or freezer is supplied. This forced convection can be used to dry any adhering moisture. Furthermore, an improved heat transfer from the cooling and / or freezing space to the corresponding heat exchanger (s) 23, 24 is achieved. The heat absorption by the cold heat exchanger 24 is thus effected substantially by the air supplied by the fan 40, as is already known in comparable form from so-called no-frost devices.

Fig. 3 shows the schematic structure of a thermo-acoustic cooler 10, which includes two heat exchanger units 14, 18, which may be designed as a structural unit or separated from each other. These heat exchanger units 14, 18 are made of a material with high thermal conductivity or have such a material. Due to the sound waves generated by the resonator 12, the gas molecules are heated in the stack 16 and transport heat from the cold heat exchanger 18 to the warm heat exchanger 14. Accordingly, the heat transfer medium is passed through the heated heat exchanger unit 14, a heating and the heat transfer medium through the cooled heat exchanger unit 18 is guided, a cooling. The warm heat exchanger unit 14 is in communication with the warm partial circuit 30, while the cold heat exchanger unit 18 is in communication with the cold partial circuit 20.

As described above, the thermoacoustic cooler 10 may be disposed in the heat insulation of the refrigerator and / or freezer. Just as well, the thermoacoustic cooler 10 may also be located in the interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer.

In both cases, the cold side 18 of the thermoacoustic cooler 10, in Fig. 3 comprising the cold heat exchanger unit 18, preferably arranged in the interior or facing the interior, while the warm side 14 of the thermoacoustic Radiator 10 faces the outside of the refrigerator and / or freezer or is arranged on this and the warm heat exchanger unit 14 includes.

Claims (9)

Refrigerator and / or freezer with an interior to be cooled for receiving the refrigerated and / or frozen food and with a thermo-acoustic cooler (10), characterized in that the thermo-acoustic cooler (10) at least partially in the interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer is arranged. Cooling and / or freezing appliance with an interior to be cooled for holding the refrigerated and / or frozen food, with a thermoacoustic cooler (10) and with a heat insulation between the interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer and the environment of the refrigerator and / or freezer is arranged, characterized in that the thermo-acoustic cooler (10) is at least partially disposed in the thermal insulation. Cooling and / or freezing appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cold heat transfer medium carrying lines (25, 26, 27, 28) are arranged at least partially within the interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer. Cooling and / or freezing appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cold heat transfer medium leading lines (25, 26, 27, 28) are arranged at least partially in the thermal insulation of the refrigerator and / or freezer. Cooling and / or freezing appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cold heat transfer medium leading lines (25, 26, 27, 28) at least partially within the thermal insulation of the refrigerator and / or freezer and sections in the interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer, where they communicate with at least one cold heat exchanger (23, 24). Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hot heat transfer medium leading lines (33, 34, 35) at least partially outside the heat insulation on the outside of the refrigerator and / or freezer are arranged. Cooling and / or freezing appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hot heat transfer medium leading lines (33, 34, 35) are arranged at least partially in the thermal insulation of the refrigerator and / or freezer. The refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thermo-acoustic cooler (10) is disposed within the thermal insulation of the refrigerator and / or freezer and that the cold side (18) of the thermo-acoustic cooler (10) in Interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer and the warm side (14) of the thermoacoustic cooler (10) located on the outside of the device. Cooling and / or freezing appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thermoacoustic cooler (10) is arranged in the thermal insulation of the refrigerator and / or freezer, from which the cold heat transfer medium carrying lines (25, 26, 27, 28) lead through the thermal insulation in the interior of the refrigerator and / or freezer and wherein the warm heat transfer medium leading lines (33, 34, 35) through the thermal insulation on the outside of the device and there with at least one warm heat exchanger (32) are in communication, by means of which heat is removed from the heat transfer medium.

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