Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
  • B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
  • B60H1/00007—Combined heating, ventilating, or cooling devices
  • B60H1/00014—Combined heating, ventilating, or cooling devices for load cargos on load transporting vehicles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60H—ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
  • B60H1/00—Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices
  • B60H1/32—Cooling devices
  • B60H1/3204—Cooling devices using compression
  • B60H1/3232—Cooling devices using compression particularly adapted for load transporting vehicles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
  • B60P3/00—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects
  • B60P3/20—Refrigerated goods vehicles
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
  • F25D3/005—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies combined with heat exchangers
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
  • F25D3/10—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies using liquefied gases, e.g. liquid air
  • F25D3/105—Movable containers
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
  • Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
  • Y02T10/80—Technologies aiming to reduce greenhouse gasses emissions common to all road transportation technologies
  • Y02T10/88—Optimized components or subsystems, e.g. lighting, actively controlled glasses

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of refrigerated transporting vehicles, in particular refrigerating transporting vehicles in which at least some of the cooling required is implemented by carrying liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide.
• a particular difficulty can arise if the ambient conditions and/or the transport conditions require not only cooling, but occasionally or frequently also heating of transporting chambers. Such an effect may occur as a function of the ambient temperature, but particularly also if products are to be transported in a transporting vehicle at different temperatures. For such purposes, there are transporting vehicles having a plurality of separate chambers, with a particular degree of difficulty then occurring if transporting vehicles which are divided in the longitudinal direction are to be used.
• a refrigerated transporting vehicle may additionally also have a trailer with one or more cooling chambers for which cooling and/or heating likewise has to be provided.
• a cooling method, with which the problems described can be solved economically, is also to be provided.
• a cooling unit in particular a tank for liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide.
• a conventional, mechanical cooling assembly may also be used as the cooling unit, but the invention affords the greatest advantages when using a tank with liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide which, by means of their heating and/or evaporation, cool the heat exchange medium in the intermediate cooling circuit.
• each of the chambers having a dedicated cooling intermediate circuit with a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, and at least one of the intermediate circuits additionally having a heating system, preferably in the form of a third heat exchanger.
• the second heat exchangers arranged in each chamber can either have a primary cooling circuit, which can then be connected via four valves either to the cooling intermediate circuit or to the heating intermediate circuit, or two primary circuits can be provided, in which case only two valves are needed in order to operate the one or the other primary circuit.
• the second heat exchanger cools the air in the particular chamber, this preferably being brought about by a fan which blows recirculated air through the heat exchanger.
• the heat exchange media in the cooling intermediate circuit and in the heating intermediate circuit must be identical in each case. Also if there are two primary circuits, it is advisable to use the same heat exchange medium in the cooling intermediate circuit and in the heating intermediate circuit, since the two primary circuits in the second heat exchangers are in close heat contact and therefore both heat exchange media have to withstand approximately the same temperature ranges.
• Use is preferably made of a heat exchange medium, generally commercially available oils and the like, which still remains free-flowing, even when liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide is at raised temperatures, and has a boiling point of significantly above 50 0 C. The lower temperature at which the heat exchange medium is still usable is determined by the first heat exchanger through which liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide flows.
• energy can additionally be saved and the consumption of liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide reduced, namely by the use of a heat pump with which a temperature difference between the cooling intermediate circuit and the heating intermediate circuit is maintained or supported.
• a heat pump affords particular advantages.
• a step which is crucial in terms of energy can reside in particular in the heat pump being driven directly by an engine of the transporting vehicle, this requiring much less energy than for operating a dedicated drive for the heat pump.
• a heat pump can withdraw heat from the cooling intermediate circuit and supply it to the heating intermediate circuit, this affording considerable advantages in certain operating phases.
• situations may occur in which the heat required in the heating circuit cannot be withdrawn or not completely withdrawn from the cooling circuit, or vice versa. In this situation, the difference can be removed via an equalizing heat exchanger.
• a transporting vehicle having the cooling system according to the invention pulls a trailer, it is particularly simple to connect the latter to the cooling system. Since the cooling intermediate circuit does not operate by a long way at the temperature of liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide and the heating circuit is also not operated at very high temperatures, the cooling intermediate circuit and the heating intermediate circuit can be routed to the trailer in a simple manner via couplings and hose connections such that one or more chambers can also be connected there to said systems in the same manner as in the transporting vehicle itself.
• Each chamber is preferably connected to a temperature-regulating means, in particular to a central regulating device, which, when cooling is required, connects the second heat exchanger, which is assigned to the respective chamber, on the primary side to the cooling intermediate circuit and, when heating is required, to the heating intermediate circuit, the air in the associated chamber being conducted in each case as recirculated air on the secondary side through the assigned second heat exchanger.
• a temperature-regulating means in particular to a central regulating device, which, when cooling is required, connects the second heat exchanger, which is assigned to the respective chamber, on the primary side to the cooling intermediate circuit and, when heating is required, to the heating intermediate circuit, the air in the associated chamber being conducted in each case as recirculated air on the secondary side through the assigned second heat exchanger.
• said chamber can be provided with an additional device for the direct spraying in of liquid nitrogen. In the case of such devices, care has to be taken, if appropriate, to ensure a breathable atmosphere before personnel enter it.
• the cooling intermediate circuit and the heating intermediate circuit For the operation of the apparatus, it is expedient to operate the cooling intermediate circuit and the heating intermediate circuit at certain temperature levels, and therefore the two circuits should have separate temperature-regulating circuits.
• An essential element in the temperature-regulating circuit of the cooling intermediate circuit is the first heat exchanger, and an essential element of the temperature-regulating circuit of the heating intermediate circuit can be the heat pump or, of course, any other heating system desired.
• the entire regulating technology is generally accommodated in a central regulating device.
• the present invention provides the possibility of fitting a tank for liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide and the first heat exchanger as a constructional unit to or under the transporting vehicle.
• Systems can even be provided in which the two components are formed together as an exchangeable unit such that, instead of a refuelling operation at the vehicle, tank and heat exchanger can be exchanged. In this case, no connections conducting liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide would have to be released and reconnected, which can have considerable advantages.
• Figure 1 shows schematically the typical construction of a refrigerated transporting vehicle with a plurality of chambers and trailers
• Figure 2 shows schematically a first exemplary embodiment of the invention
• Figure 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 1 shows schematically, with the driver's cab being omitted, a transporting vehicle T, which is divided in the longitudinal direction into three cooling chambers A, B, C.
• the partitions W bringing about the division have to be of a thinness such that complete heat insulation is not possible, and therefore particular measures are required in order to maintain temperature differences between the chambers A, B, C.
• a Tank 1 for liquid nitrogen which can possibly also be designed as a constructional unit together with a first heat exchanger 4 is located below the transporting vehicle T.
• a system for spraying liquid nitrogen directly into one of the chambers A, B, C can be provided in the form of a spraying-in line 41 which can be shut off by means of a spray valve 40.
• FIG. 2 shows, in a partially schematic view, an exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrating the supply, according to the present invention, of three chambers A, B, C of a transporting vehicle T and of two or more further chambers D, E... of a trailer H with cooling or heating.
• the cooling required is provided by liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide which is carried in a tank 1.
• the liquid nitrogen or the carbon dioxide passes via a safety valve 2 and an inlet valve 3 into a first heat exchanger and from there via an outlet valve 5 to a bio wing-off means 6.
• a heat exchange medium which flows through the first heat exchanger 4 on the secondary side can therefore be cooled by heating or evaporating the liquid nitrogen/carbon dioxide.
• This cooled heat exchange medium flows in a cooling intermediate circuit and is conveyed by a pump 11 via a multi-way valve 12 through the first heat exchanger 4 and then to a cold distributor line 15 from where it passes again via a throttle device 13 to the pump 11.
• a cold-collecting line 16 is also connected between the throttle device 13 and the pump 11.
• a difference in pressure between the cold distributor line 15 and the cold-collecting line 16 is maintained by the throttle device 13 such that, when the need arises, two heat exchangers 3OA, 3OB, 3OC can be connected between them and cooled on the primary side. This takes place by means of the inlet valves 19A, 19B, 19C. If one of these valves is opened, then heat exchange medium flows from the cold distributor line 15 on the primary side through the associated second heat exchanger 30A, 30B, 30C to the cold-collecting line 16.
• recirculated air can be conducted on the secondary side by means of a recirculated air fan 3 IA, 3 IB, 31C through the second heat exchanger 30A, 30B, 30C until the desired cooling in the chamber A, B, C in question is reached.
• the transporting vehicle T also contains a heating intermediate circuit in which a heat exchange medium, preferably the same one as in the cooling intermediate circuit, is conducted by a pump 21 to a heat distributor line 25 via a throttle device 23 and back to the pump 21 through a heat exchanger 24.
• a heat-collecting line 26 is connected between the throttle device 23 and the heat exchanger 24 in the heating intermediate circuit.
• the throttle device 23 in the heating intermediate circuit causes a difference in pressure to be maintained between the heat distributor line 25 and the heat-collecting line 26 such that, when the need arises, the second heat exchangers 3OA, 3OB, 3OC can be connected on the primary side to the heating intermediate circuit.
• this takes place by means of a second secondary circuit in which one of the inlet valves 29A, 29B, 29C is opened, as a result of which heat exchange medium flows out of the heating intermediate circuit through the relevant second heat exchanger 3OA, 30B, 30C.
• the associated chamber A, B, C can then be heated by the relevant recirculated air fan 3 IA, 3 IB, 31C.
• second heat exchangers 30A, 30B, 30C having only a circuit on the primary side, but this would require double the number of valves and absolutely necessitates the use of the same heat exchange medium in the cooling intermediate circuit and in the heating intermediate circuit.
• a heat pump 35 is also connected between the cooling intermediate circuit and the heating intermediate circuit.
• a heat pump can bring about the required cooling and the required heating virtually at the same time, but in any case can reduce the energy required for maintaining differences in temperature in the two circuits.
• the heating intermediate circuit can also have a different heat source, for example an electric heating system or a connection to the cooling circuit of an engine.
• Figure 2 illustrates the particularly favourable use of a heat pump which can withdraw heat from the intermediate cooling circuit via a heat exchanger 14 to the heat pump and a heat exchanger 24 from the heat pump and can supply it to the heating intermediate circuit. Excess cold or heat can be removed or supplied via the equalizing heat exchanger 34.
• the cold can be placed in the cooling intermediate circuit entirely or partially via the heat exchanger 14 or via the first heat exchanger 4.
• Typical temperatures for the different operations are indicated in Figure 2.
• the temperature in the cooling intermediate circuit downstream of the first heat exchanger 4 may be, for example, approximately -60 0 C while, during operation of the heat pump 35 downstream of the heat exchanger 14, temperatures, for example, of -30 0 C can be achieved.
• the heating circuit can be located downstream of the pump 21, for example at a temperature level of approximately 30 0 C.
• a central regulating device 50 is connected, as illustrated schematically, via lines 51 to sensors, in particular temperature sensors, in the chambers A, B, C, if appropriate also to further sensors in the trailer H.
• the central regulating device 50 is connected via control lines 52 to valves, fans and pumps of the entire system such that a central control or regulation of the entire system is possible.
• the inlet valve 19A is opened and the recirculated air fan 3 IA placed into operation until the correct temperature is set. If, in the process, the temperature in the cooling intermediate circuit becomes too high, the inlet valve 3 is opened and liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide is conducted through the first heat exchanger 4. As an alternative, depending on the operating conditions at a particular moment, the heat pump 35 can also be put into operation, as a result of which the temperature in the cooling intermediate circuit is reduced via the heat exchanger 14. If at the same time the temperature in the chamber B is too low, then the inlet valve 29B is opened and the recirculated air fan 3 IB in put into operation until the chamber B is heated to the desired temperature.
• All of the second heat exchangers 30A, 30B, 30C can preferably be connected on the primary side either to the cold distributor line 15 and to the cold-collecting line 16 or to the heat distributor line 25 and the heat-collecting line 26.
• Each chamber A, B, C can thus be set to any desired temperature within a certain range.
• the cold distributor line 15, the cold-collecting line 16, the heat distributor line 25 and the heat-collecting line 26 can be extended in a simple manner to a cold distributor line 17 in the trailer, a cold-collecting line 18 in the trailer, a heat distributor line 27 in the trailer and a heat distributor line 28 in the trailer.
• Further second heat exchangers 3OD with recirculated air fans 3 ID can be connected via inlet valves 19D ... or 29D ... to the cooling intermediate circuit or the heating intermediate circuit, in an entirely analogous manner to the connection in the transporting vehicle T itself.
• the second heat exchangers 3OA, 3OB, 30C, ... are in each case equipped with a third primary circuit 32A, 32B, 32C, ... which can be directly supplied with liquid nitrogen via an inlet valve 33.
• the third primary circuits 32A, 32B, 32C, ... can be supplied with liquid nitrogen individually or together via additional outlet valves 39A, 39B, 39C. This provides additional cooling circuits which can be regulated in a very simple manner and are also available if other systems break down.
• the present invention is particularly suitable for refrigerated transporting vehicles which are used in delivery transport and have a plurality of chambers in which different temperatures are to be set in a flexible manner. List of designations

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• 2008
  • 2008-06-25 DE DE102008029853A patent/DE102008029853A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2009
  • 2009-06-23 EP EP09769233A patent/EP2294344A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2009-06-23 US US13/000,801 patent/US20110253342A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2009-06-23 WO PCT/EP2009/057786 patent/WO2009156384A2/en active Application Filing

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