EP2306126A2

EP2306126A2 - Modular thermo-refrigeration unit

Info

Publication number: EP2306126A2
Application number: EP10181216A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mariano Covolo; Margherita Novello
Original assignee: Climaveneta SpA
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Hydronics and IT Cooling Systems SpA
Priority date: 2009-10-02
Filing date: 2010-09-28
Publication date: 2011-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 2030-09-28
Also published as: EP2306126A3; ITMI20091687A1; IT1396188B1; EP2306126B1

Abstract

The modular thermo-refrigeration unit (1) comprises at least a first module (2) of a first type and a second module (3) of a second type, disposed with their longitudinal axes (4, 5) transversally to the longitudinal axis (6) of the unit (1), the modules (2, 3) having a length substantially equal to the width of the unit (1) and a prismatic shape having at least three main lateral faces (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12), the first module (2) comprising at least a first and a second finned battery (13, 14) present at its first and second lateral faces (7, 8) and fans (15) shared by the first and the second finned batteries (13, 14) and present at its third lateral face (9), the second module (3) comprising a finned battery (16) present at its first lateral face (10), a separator baffle part (18) present at its second lateral face (11) and a plurality of fans (17) dedicated to its finned battery (16) and present at its third lateral face (12).

Description

The present invention refers to a modular thermo-refrigeration unit.
Since a long time the construction of air thermo-refrigeration units is diffused in the technical practice, both in chiller version and in heat pump version, and also of remotized condensing units with a constructive layout of the V-transverse type.
A particular typology of such units is illustrated in figure 1, in which for instance three condensing/evaporating modules 2 are provided, arranged with their longitudinal axis 4 transversally to the longitudinal axis 6 of the unit 1. The modules 2 have a width substantially equal to the width of the unit 1 and a prismatic shape having at least three main lateral faces 7, 8, 9. Each module 2 comprises a first and a second finned batteries 13, 14 arranged along two of its lateral faces 7, 8 and two fans 15 shared by the first and second finned batteries 13, 14 and arranged along its third lateral face 9.
The condensing/evaporating modules 2 permit to remove the heat from the air when the unit 1 works in a heat pump mode and to discharge the excess heat when the unit 1 works in a chiller mode. Obviously the unit 1 derives from the modular combination of a from time to time suitable number of modules 1 according to the power it can dispose of, determined by its matching with the different sizes of compressors and by its working conditions.
Due to the fact that in such a modular system the finned batteries have a fixed length, by increasing the power to dispose of, the number of necessary finned batteries increases.
The advantages of such a modular thermo-refrigeration unit consist in the possibility of standardizing the production process, of standardizing the sizes of the finned batteries and of the fans, of decreasing the identification codes of the finned batteries and of the fans, of simplifying the logistics and the storage of the finned batteries and of the fans.
Such a modular thermo-refrigeration unit has nevertheless some limitations.
In the case for instance that in a circuit an odd number of finned batteries is sufficient, one of the modules is deprived of a finned battery and of a fan, but substantially it has an unchanged encumbrance.
When instead an odd number of finned batteries for the single circuit and an even number of circuits are necessary, one proceeds as illustrated in figure 1. A first circuit 19 of a refrigerant fluid is associated to the finned batteries 13, 14 of the module 1 at left and to the finned battery 13 of the central module 1, whereas a second circuit 20 of a carrier refrigerant fluid is associated to the finned batteries 13, 14 of the module 1 at right and to the finned battery 14 of the central module 1. The result is that the two circuits 19 and 20 of the refrigerant fluid generate a mutual interference at the central module 1.
The technical task of the present invention is therefore to realize a modular thermo-refrigeration unit permitting to eliminate the technical drawbacks lamented in the known art, by maintaining at the same time its advantages.
Within this technical task an aim of the invention is to realize a modular thermo-refrigeration unit having improved performances and a greater flexibility of use.
The technical task, and also these and other aims according to the present invention, are reached by realizing a modular thermo-refrigeration unit according to claim 1.
The modular thermo-refrigeration unit according to the invention permits to divide the various circuits by eliminating the mutual interference, by performing in the heat pump functioning mode defrost cycles independently and not contemporarily with the various circuits, by increasing the stability of the water delivered to the users during defrosting, and by improving and making more homogeneous the air distribution with a respective improvement of the performances, by improving the efficiency at the partial loads, and being able to optimize the absorption and the rotation regime of the fans and by increasing the compactness of the unit with the same power in cases when an odd number of batteries and circuits are provided. Other features of the present invention are also defined by the following claims.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be clearer from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the modular thermo-refrigeration unit according to the finding, illustrated by an indicative and non limitative way in the annexed drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a perspective view of a modular thermo-refrigeration unit pertaining to the known state of the art; and
figure 2 shows a perspective view of a modular thermo-refrigeration unit according to the invention.

With reference to figure 2, a modular thermo-refrigeration unit is shown, indicated globally the reference character 1.
The modular thermo-refrigeration unit 1 comprises at least a first condensing/evaporating module of a first type of a condensing/evaporating module 2 and a second condensing/evaporating module of a second type of condensing/evaporating module 3.
The modular thermo-refrigeration unit 1 generally comprises a number of modules of a first type 2 and of a second type 3 variable at will according to the applicative needs.
For example the modular thermo-refrigeration unit in figure 2 has four modules disposed in a series of modules of a first type 2 and of a second type 3 or of the second type 3 and of the first type 2. The modules 2 and 3 respectively are disposed with their longitudinal axis 4 and 5 respectively in a transversal way with respect to the longitudinal axis 6 of the unit 1 and have a length practically equal to the width of the unit 1.
The module 2 of the first type has a prismatic shape with at least three main lateral faces 7, 8, 9. A first lateral face 7 of the module 2 has a first finned battery 13, a second lateral face 8 of the module 2 has a second finned battery 14 and a third lateral face 9 of the module 2 has a plurality of fans 15, for example two fans, shared by the first and second finned batteries 13 and 14. The module 3 of the second type has a prismatic shape with at least three lateral faces 10, 11, 12. A first lateral face 10 of the module 3 has a finned battery 16, a second lateral face 11 of the second module 3 has a separator baffle 18, and a third lateral face 12 of the module 3 has a plurality of fans 17, for example four fans, dedicated to the finned battery 16.
The fans 15 and 17 are aligned in the longitudinal direction 4 and 5 of the modules 2 and 3 to which they belong.
More precisely the third lateral face of the modules 2 and 3 where the fans 15 and 17 are provided is the apical one developing horizontally. The finned batteries 13, 14 and 16 instead develop on inclined lateral faces of the modules 2 and 3, whereas the separator baffle 18 develops along the vertical lateral face of the module 3. Advantageously to the combination in sequence of a module 2 and of a module 3 a single circuit of a refrigerant fluid of the unit 1 is associated.
In the case shown in figure 2, to the first combination in series of the module 2 at left and of the module 3 at left a first circuit 19 of a refrigerant fluid of the unit 1 is associated, whereas to the second combination in series of the module 2 at right and of the module 3 at right a second module 20 of a refrigerant fluid of the unit 1 is associated.
In this way, the heat exchange between air and the refrigerant fluid (Freon or such) of the first circuit 19, performed through the finned batteries 13, 14 and 16 of the first combination in series of the module 2 at left and of the module 3 at left, does not interfere with the heat exchange between air and refrigerant fluid of the second circuit 20, performed through the finned batteries 13, 14 and 16 of the second combination in series of the module 2 at right and of the module 3 at right. Each module 2 of the first type has a cross section in the form of isosceles triangle, whereas each module 3 of the second type has a cross section in the form of a right-angled triangle.
More precisely, the cross section of the module of the second type is substantially equal to the half of the cross section of the first module 2 of the first type, so that the assembly of two modules 2 of the second type united by juxtaposition of their separator baffle 18, has substantially the same shape and encumbrance of a module 2 of the first type.
In order to improve the modularity of the thermo-refrigeration unit 1, each finned battery 13 and 14 of the first type of module 2 has the same length of the finned battery 16 of the second type of the module 3.
Also to improve the modularity of the unit 1, on the one end the fans 17 of the second type of module 3 have a diameter substantially half of that of the fans 15 of the first type of module 2, but on the other end the fans 17 of the second type of module 3 substantially are double in number with respect to that of the fans 15 of the first type of module 2.
For example, each finned battery can have a standard length of 2100 mm, the fans 15 of the module 2 of the first type can have a diameter of 800 mm and the fans 17 of the module 3 of the second type can have a diameter of 450 mm.
In the illustrated case, the cross section of the modules 2 and 3 of the first and second type 2 is triangular, as seen, but in a possible variation of the invention a trapezial cross section is provided, so that the modules in this case are delimited by four main lateral faces.
The disposition of batteries and fans at the main lateral faces of the modules can also be different from that here illustrated.
The modular thermo-refrigeration unit so conceived is susceptible of various changes and variations, all falling inside the inventive concept; furthermore all the details can be substituted by technically equivalent elements.
In practice the used materials, and also their sizes, can be of any kind, according to the needs and to the state of the art.

Claims

Modular thermo-refrigeration unit (1) comprising at least a first condenser/evaporator module of a first type of module (2) and a second condenser/evaporator module of a second type of module (3) arranged with their longitudinal axis (4, 5) transverse to the longitudinal axis of said unit (1), said first and second modules (2, 3) having a length substantially equal to the width of said unit (1) and prismatic structure having at least three main lateral faces (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12), said first module (2) comprising a first and respectively a second finned coil (13, 14) present on a first and respectively a second lateral face (7, 8) thereof, and a plurality of fans (15) shared by said first and second finned coils (13, 14) and present on a third lateral face (9) thereof, characterized in that said second module (3) comprises a finned coil (16) present on a first lateral face (10) thereof, a separator baffle (18) present on a second lateral face (11) thereof, and a plurality of fans (17) dedicated to said finned coil (16) thereof, and present on a third lateral face (12) thereof.
Modular thermo-refrigeration unit (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a single circuit (19, 20) of a coolant fluid of said unit (1) is associated with the combination in series of said first module (2) and said second module (3).
Modular thermo-refrigeration unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second module (2, 3) have a triangular cross section.
Modular thermo-refrigeration unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second module (2, 3) have a trapezoidal cross section.
Modular thermo-refrigeration unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first module (2) has a cross section in the form of isosceles triangle and said second module (3) has a cross section in the form of right-angled triangle.
Modular thermo-refrigeration unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross section of said second module (3) corresponds to half the cross section of said first module (2).
Modular thermo-refrigeration unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second coil (13, 14) of said first module (2) and said coil (16) of said second module (3) have the same length.
Modular thermo-refrigeration unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fans (17) of said second module (3) have a diameter smaller than that of said fans (15) of said first module (2).
Modular thermo-refrigeration unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fans (17) of said second module (3) have a diameter substantially half that of said fans (15) of said first module (2).
Modular thermo-refrigeration unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fans (17) of said second module (3) are double in number with respect to said fans (15) of said first module (2).
Modular thermo-refrigeration unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fans (15, 17) of said first and respectively second module (2, 3) are aligned in the longitudinal direction of said first and respectively second module (2, 3) .
Modular thermo-refrigeration unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that modules (3) of said second type are connected by juxtaposing of said second face thereof having said separator baffles (18).
Modular thermo-refrigeration unit (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said third face (9, 12) of said first and second module (2, 3) is the apical face which extends horizontally.