EP2394111B1 - Temperature distribution improvement in refrigerated container - Google Patents

Temperature distribution improvement in refrigerated container Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2394111B1
EP2394111B1 EP10739123.7A EP10739123A EP2394111B1 EP 2394111 B1 EP2394111 B1 EP 2394111B1 EP 10739123 A EP10739123 A EP 10739123A EP 2394111 B1 EP2394111 B1 EP 2394111B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
fan
container
air
container box
refrigeration machine
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP10739123.7A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2394111A4 (en
EP2394111A1 (en
Inventor
Yu H. Chen
Paul Chen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Carrier Corp
Original Assignee
Carrier Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Carrier Corp filed Critical Carrier Corp
Publication of EP2394111A1 publication Critical patent/EP2394111A1/en
Publication of EP2394111A4 publication Critical patent/EP2394111A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2394111B1 publication Critical patent/EP2394111B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
    • F25D11/003—Transport containers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/0001—Control or safety arrangements for ventilation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F7/00—Ventilation
    • F24F2007/005—Cyclic ventilation, e.g. alternating air supply volume or reversing flow direction
    • 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
    • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/005—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces in cold rooms
    • 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
    • F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
    • F25D2317/068—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the fans
    • F25D2317/0684—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by the fans the fans allowing rotation in reverse direction

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to refrigerated containers and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for obtaining a more uniform temperature distribution therein.
  • a method and an apparatus according to the preambles of claims 1 and 4 are known, for example, from US-A-5 816 053 .
  • Refrigerated containers are used to transport perishable cargo that requires very tight temperature control.
  • the industry standard today is to have the refrigeration machine mounted at one end of the container box.
  • the air in the container box is drawn into the refrigeration machine by fans which then blow the warmer air through an evaporator coil, with the cooled air then passing back into the container box to cool the cargo.
  • the common problem with this arrangement is that the cargo's temperature tends to be higher towards the back door of the container and away from the refrigeration machine.
  • the main reason is due to poor airflow distribution from the front to the back of the container box, with airflow being reduced significantly toward the back door.
  • the temperature of the cargo is generally higher as it extends toward the rear door.
  • the problem is exacerbated by the fact that the typical perishable cargo gives off heat of its own.
  • US 5816053A discloses an apparatus including an evaporator having multiple fans for moving air through refrigerated coils and a cooler; the fans are alternately rotated in opposite directions for equal time segments.
  • WO 97/39639A1 discloses the use of air control units to transfer air from an interstitial volume of a room to a side air space during one time period, and to reverse the airflow direction during another time period to reduce temperature variations.
  • the present invention provides a method of operating a refrigerated container of the type having a container box and a refrigeration machine at one end of the container box with the refrigeration machine having a fan for circulating warmer return air through an evaporator coil to be cooled and then to flow rearwardly to the container to cool its cargo, comprising the steps of: during normal operation, operating the fan in one direction so as to draw in return air at one end of the refrigeration machine and discharge it from the other end thereof; periodically reversing the direction of the fan so as to draw in return air at the other end of the refrigeration machine and discharge it from the one end thereof; whereby the air in the refrigerated container is mixed so as to provide a more uniform temperature distribution throughout; and characterised by providing a door at an opening near said one end, opening said door when said fan is operating in said one direction and closing it so that the opening is of reduced cross section when operating in said reverse direction.
  • the present invention provides a container of a type for holding cargo to be refrigerated, said container having a container box and a refrigeration machine at one end of the container box, said refrigeration machine comprising: an evaporator coil; a fan for causing warm air to be drawn in from one portion of the container box, to pass through the evaporator coil to be cooled, and then flow outwardly from the refrigeration machine to another portion of the container box; a control for selectively operating the fan in one direction so as to draw in air from said container box one portion and return cooled air to said container box other portion and, periodically, reversing the direction of the fan such that the air is drawn in from said container box other portion and the cooled air is returned to said container box one portion; and characterised by a door at an opening near said box one portion that automatically opens when said fan is operated in said one direction and closes so that the opening is of reduced cross section when said fan is operating in said reverse direction.
  • a refrigerated container is shown generally at 11 as including a container box 12 having bottom and top sides 13 and 14 and front and rear ends 16 and 17.
  • the container box 12 is designed to temporarily hold perishable cargo as shown at 18.
  • a refrigeration machine 19 is installed in such a manner as to fluidly communicate with the air in the container box 12 in order to cool that air for the purpose of refrigerating the cargo 18.
  • the refrigeration machine 19 includes a standard refrigeration circuit comprising, in serial flow relationship, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator. It is by the flow of the return air from the container box 12 and through the evaporator, that the air in the container box 12 is cooled. Circulation of air through the evaporator and into and out of the container box 12 as shown in Fig. 1 is caused by operation of a fan 21 within the refrigeration machine 19.
  • the fan 21 is located near a top portion 22 of the refrigeration machine 19 which, during normal operation, acts to draw the return air forwardly along a top portion 23 of the container box 12 and through an open door 24.
  • the warm air is then blown through the evaporator coil 24 where the air is cooled, with the cooled air then being discharged from a lower portion 26 of the refrigeration machine 19.
  • the cooled air flows rearwardly through a bottom portion 27 of the container box 12 as shown by the arrows.
  • the cooler air rises upwardly through a t-bar floor as indicated by the upwardly extending arrows.
  • the cooled air passes upwardly through the cargo 18 with heat being transferred thereto from the cargo 18.
  • the warmer air then continues upwardly to enter the top portion 23 of the container box 12 to complete the cycle.
  • the cooler cargo will be in the lower left portion of the container box and the warmer cargo will be at the upper right portion thereof.
  • the perishable cargo temperature distribution in a container determines the shelf life of the cargo.
  • the shelf life of the cargo will be variable as indicated by the temperature distribution in Fig. 3 . It is thus desirable to eliminate the hot spots and promote a more uniform temperature distribution within the container box 12. This is accomplished by operation of the system as shown in Fig. 4 .
  • the fan 21 is caused to operate in reverse so as to draw air through the evaporator coil 14 rather than blow air therethrough.
  • This causes an associated reversal of airflow through the container box 12 as shown by the arrows. That is, the cooled air from the evaporator coil 24 passes upwardly through the fan 21 and into the top portion 22 of the refrigeration machine 19. From there it passes through the opening 30 and into the top portion 23 of the container box 12 to then flow rearwardly and downwardly as indicated by the arrows. The cooled air passes through the cargo 18 and then downwardly into the bottom portion 27 of the container box 12 before returning forwardly to the bottom portion 26 of the refrigeration machine 19 to complete the cycle.
  • This reversal of flow causes mixing of the air within the container box 12 so as to thereby promote a more uniform distribution.
  • the door 25 is provided at the front end of the container top portion 23 as shown in Figs. 5A and 5B . That is, as shown in Fig. 5A , during normal operation the return airflow causes the door 25 to open and allow the air to flow freely across the entire cross section of the top portion 23 as shown. However, in reverse flow operation, the flow of air will cause the door 25 to be moved to the closed position such that the opening 30 is of reduced cross section as shown in Fig. 5B . This will, in turn, cause the velocity of the airflow therethrough to increase, which will provide better "throw" and further promote mixing.

Description

  • This invention relates generally to refrigerated containers and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for obtaining a more uniform temperature distribution therein. A method and an apparatus according to the preambles of claims 1 and 4 are known, for example, from US-A-5 816 053 .
    • Background of the Invention
  • Refrigerated containers are used to transport perishable cargo that requires very tight temperature control. The industry standard today is to have the refrigeration machine mounted at one end of the container box. The air in the container box is drawn into the refrigeration machine by fans which then blow the warmer air through an evaporator coil, with the cooled air then passing back into the container box to cool the cargo. The common problem with this arrangement is that the cargo's temperature tends to be higher towards the back door of the container and away from the refrigeration machine. The main reason is due to poor airflow distribution from the front to the back of the container box, with airflow being reduced significantly toward the back door. As a result, the temperature of the cargo is generally higher as it extends toward the rear door. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that the typical perishable cargo gives off heat of its own.
  • US 5816053A discloses an apparatus including an evaporator having multiple fans for moving air through refrigerated coils and a cooler; the fans are alternately rotated in opposite directions for equal time segments.
  • WO 97/39639A1 discloses the use of air control units to transfer air from an interstitial volume of a room to a side air space during one time period, and to reverse the airflow direction during another time period to reduce temperature variations.
    • Disclosure of the Invention
  • According to an aspect, the present invention provides a method of operating a refrigerated container of the type having a container box and a refrigeration machine at one end of the container box with the refrigeration machine having a fan for circulating warmer return air through an evaporator coil to be cooled and then to flow rearwardly to the container to cool its cargo, comprising the steps of: during normal operation, operating the fan in one direction so as to draw in return air at one end of the refrigeration machine and discharge it from the other end thereof; periodically reversing the direction of the fan so as to draw in return air at the other end of the refrigeration machine and discharge it from the one end thereof; whereby the air in the refrigerated container is mixed so as to provide a more uniform temperature distribution throughout; and characterised by providing a door at an opening near said one end, opening said door when said fan is operating in said one direction and closing it so that the opening is of reduced cross section when operating in said reverse direction.
  • By another aspect the present invention provides a container of a type for holding cargo to be refrigerated, said container having a container box and a refrigeration machine at one end of the container box, said refrigeration machine comprising: an evaporator coil; a fan for causing warm air to be drawn in from one portion of the container box, to pass through the evaporator coil to be cooled, and then flow outwardly from the refrigeration machine to another portion of the container box; a control for selectively operating the fan in one direction so as to draw in air from said container box one portion and return cooled air to said container box other portion and, periodically, reversing the direction of the fan such that the air is drawn in from said container box other portion and the cooled air is returned to said container box one portion; and characterised by a door at an opening near said box one portion that automatically opens when said fan is operated in said one direction and closes so that the opening is of reduced cross section when said fan is operating in said reverse direction.
    • Brief Description of the Drawings
    • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerated container with the present invention incorporated therein.
    • FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration thereof showing the airflow therein during normal operation.
    • FIG. 3 is a graphic illustration of the temperature distribution therein during normal operation.
    • FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the airflow pattern which results in a refrigerated container when operated in accordance with the present invention.
    • FIG. 5A and 5B are perspective views of a door portion thereof during normal and reverse flow operation thereof.
    Detailed Description of the Invention
  • A refrigerated container is shown generally at 11 as including a container box 12 having bottom and top sides 13 and 14 and front and rear ends 16 and 17. The container box 12 is designed to temporarily hold perishable cargo as shown at 18.
  • At the front end 16 of the container box 12, a refrigeration machine 19 is installed in such a manner as to fluidly communicate with the air in the container box 12 in order to cool that air for the purpose of refrigerating the cargo 18. The refrigeration machine 19 includes a standard refrigeration circuit comprising, in serial flow relationship, a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator. It is by the flow of the return air from the container box 12 and through the evaporator, that the air in the container box 12 is cooled. Circulation of air through the evaporator and into and out of the container box 12 as shown in Fig. 1 is caused by operation of a fan 21 within the refrigeration machine 19.
  • As will be seen in Fig. 2, the fan 21 is located near a top portion 22 of the refrigeration machine 19 which, during normal operation, acts to draw the return air forwardly along a top portion 23 of the container box 12 and through an open door 24. The warm air is then blown through the evaporator coil 24 where the air is cooled, with the cooled air then being discharged from a lower portion 26 of the refrigeration machine 19. From there, the cooled air flows rearwardly through a bottom portion 27 of the container box 12 as shown by the arrows. The cooler air rises upwardly through a t-bar floor as indicated by the upwardly extending arrows.
  • The cooled air passes upwardly through the cargo 18 with heat being transferred thereto from the cargo 18. The warmer air then continues upwardly to enter the top portion 23 of the container box 12 to complete the cycle.
  • It should be recognized that as the cooled air travels rearwardly, it gradually becomes warmer such that when it reaches the rear end 17 it is at its higher temperature. Further, since the flow of air through the container box 12 relies on the momentum created by the fan 21 and the convection currents within the container box 12, the velocity of flow will be reduced as its extends toward the rear wall 17. For that reason, a substantial temperature gradient will exist both in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction, within the container box 12. Since the cargo is exposed to this distribution of air for long periods of time such as days or even weeks, the temperature of the cargo 18 within the container box reflects a similar temperature distribution. This cargo temperature distribution is shown in Fig. 3. Here it will be seen that the cooler cargo will be in the lower left portion of the container box and the warmer cargo will be at the upper right portion thereof. In fact, at the top and rear of the container box 12 there is a hot spot that may well impact the quality of the cargo. That is, the perishable cargo temperature distribution in a container determines the shelf life of the cargo. Thus, the shelf life of the cargo will be variable as indicated by the temperature distribution in Fig. 3. It is thus desirable to eliminate the hot spots and promote a more uniform temperature distribution within the container box 12. This is accomplished by operation of the system as shown in Fig. 4.
  • Here, the fan 21 is caused to operate in reverse so as to draw air through the evaporator coil 14 rather than blow air therethrough. This causes an associated reversal of airflow through the container box 12 as shown by the arrows. That is, the cooled air from the evaporator coil 24 passes upwardly through the fan 21 and into the top portion 22 of the refrigeration machine 19. From there it passes through the opening 30 and into the top portion 23 of the container box 12 to then flow rearwardly and downwardly as indicated by the arrows. The cooled air passes through the cargo 18 and then downwardly into the bottom portion 27 of the container box 12 before returning forwardly to the bottom portion 26 of the refrigeration machine 19 to complete the cycle. This reversal of flow causes mixing of the air within the container box 12 so as to thereby promote a more uniform distribution.
  • In order to increase the airflow speed, and thus the "throw", during reverse flow operation, the door 25 is provided at the front end of the container top portion 23 as shown in Figs. 5A and 5B. That is, as shown in Fig. 5A, during normal operation the return airflow causes the door 25 to open and allow the air to flow freely across the entire cross section of the top portion 23 as shown. However, in reverse flow operation, the flow of air will cause the door 25 to be moved to the closed position such that the opening 30 is of reduced cross section as shown in Fig. 5B. This will, in turn, cause the velocity of the airflow therethrough to increase, which will provide better "throw" and further promote mixing.
  • It is recognized that the blow-through operation of the fan 21 as shown in Fig. 2 is more efficient then the draw-through approach as shown in Fig. 4. However, the time in which the fan 21 is operated in the reverse mode is relatively small compared with the time that it operates in the normal mode as shown in Fig. 2. A typical time cycle of normal and periodic reverse operation is shown in Fig. 6.
  • While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred mode as illustrated in the drawing, it will be understood by one skilled in the art that various changes in detail may be effected therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

Claims (4)

  1. A method of operating a refrigerated container (11) of the type having a container box (12) and a refrigeration machine (19) at one end of the containe box, with the refrigeration machine having a fan (21) for circulating warmer return air through an evaporator coil (24) to be cooled and then to flow rearwardly to the container to cool its cargo (18), comprising the steps of:
    during normal operation, operating the fan in one direction so as to draw in return air at one end of the refrigeration machine and discharge it from the other end thereof;
    periodically reversing the direction of the fan so as to draw in return air at the other end of the refrigeration machine and discharge it from the one end thereof; whereby the air in the refrigerated container is mixed so as to provide a more uniform temperature distribution throughout; and
    characterised by providing a door (25) at an opening (30) near said one end, opening said door when said fan is operating in said one direction and closing it so that the opening is of reduced cross section when operating in said reverse direction
  2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fan (21) operates in a blow-through mode during normal operation and as a draw-through mode during periodic reverse operation.
  3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said refrigeration machine (19) at one end is near the top thereof and the other end is near a bottom end thereof.
  4. A container (11) of a type for holding cargo to be refrigerated, said container having a container box (12) and a refrigeration machine (19) at one end of said container box, said refrigeration machine comprising:
    an evaporator coil (24);
    a fan (21) for causing warm air to be drawn in from one portion of the container box, to pass through the evaporator coil to be cooled, and then flow outwardly from the refrigeration machine to another portion of the container box;
    a control for selectively operating the fan in one direction so as to draw in air from said container box one portion and return cooled air to said container box other portion and, periodically, reversing the direction of the fan such that the air is drawn in from said container box other portion and the cooled air is returned to said container box one portion; and
    characterised by a door (25) at an opening (30) near said box one portion that automatically opens when said fan is operated in said one direction and closes so that the opening is of reduced cross section when said fan is operating in said reverse direction.
EP10739123.7A 2009-02-09 2010-02-04 Temperature distribution improvement in refrigerated container Not-in-force EP2394111B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US15101609P 2009-02-09 2009-02-09
PCT/US2010/023196 WO2010091181A1 (en) 2009-02-09 2010-02-04 Temperature distribution improvement in refrigerated container

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2394111A1 EP2394111A1 (en) 2011-12-14
EP2394111A4 EP2394111A4 (en) 2015-08-26
EP2394111B1 true EP2394111B1 (en) 2016-10-12

Family

ID=42542381

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP10739123.7A Not-in-force EP2394111B1 (en) 2009-02-09 2010-02-04 Temperature distribution improvement in refrigerated container

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20110283719A1 (en)
EP (1) EP2394111B1 (en)
CN (1) CN102308165B (en)
DK (1) DK2394111T3 (en)
SG (1) SG173543A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2010091181A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SG173543A1 (en) 2011-09-29
CN102308165B (en) 2014-06-18
WO2010091181A1 (en) 2010-08-12
US20110283719A1 (en) 2011-11-24
DK2394111T3 (en) 2017-01-23
CN102308165A (en) 2012-01-04
EP2394111A4 (en) 2015-08-26
EP2394111A1 (en) 2011-12-14

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