EP3059528A1 - Cold storage room and method for operating the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A cold storage (4) comprises a plurality of storage spaces (5) with the same dimensions for receiving refrigerated goods and a cooling device (9) for cooling the air in the cold storage (4). In the cold storage one or more mobile fan modules are arranged without their own cooling unit, each mobile fan module (10) electrically operated, adapted to the dimensions of the parking spaces (5) and optionally on one of the parking spaces (5) can be switched off to a parking space (5 ) to be supplied with at least one adjacent parking space (5) with an air flow, for the air within the cooling bearing (4) from the environment of the parking space (5) of the respective mobile blower module (10) is sucked. This allows in a cold chain at existing cold storage with the simplest means an at least occasional increase in manufacturing capacity in the production of refrigerated goods.

Description

The invention relates to a cold storage, comprising a plurality of parking spaces with the same dimensions for receiving refrigerated goods and a cooling device for cooling the air located in the cold storage.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating such a bearing and to a mobile blower module for use in a cold storage

In the production of refrigerated goods, namely goods, in which the maintenance of the economic value of product-specific controlled temperatures during transport and storage depends on bottlenecks in the cold chain, a limitation of manufacturing capacity, unless a loss of refrigerated goods is to be accepted.

Such a cold chain usually includes, after assembly and palletizing of the chilled goods, cooling in a cooling tunnel in order to quickly bring the chilled goods up to storage temperature. Subsequently, the storage takes place in a cold storage for temperature maintenance until the chilled goods are finally brought to the transport path. As a cold storage, the expert understands buildings in which an interior temperature is artificially generated, which is usually below the ambient temperature.

If the capacities of the cooling tunnel are utilized, an increase in the production of refrigerated goods is difficult, since an extension of a cooling tunnel usually requires a great deal of effort.

In DE 20 2005 000 167 U1 It is proposed to carry out the cooling of the goods after packaging and palletizing directly in the cold storage and thus to dispense with an upstream cooling tunnel. Suggests this DE 20 2005 000 167 U1 to provide so-called rapid cooling stations in the cold storage, to which the stored refrigerated goods is increasingly subjected to cooling air. For this purpose, additional Luftverteilschächte and louvers must be provided in the cold storage, which ultimately shifts only the design effort of the cooling tunnel on the side of the cold storage. The Manufacturing capacity is limited in this case by the number of permanently installed fast cooling stations.

Furthermore, it is off DE 695 17 632 T2 a portable refrigeration unit is known, which is specifically designed to cool cargo holds to keep refrigerated food below a predetermined temperature. A rapid cooling of the food, which requires a high cooling capacity is not needed. In that regard, the takes over DE 695 17 632 T2 known cooling unit with respect to the hold only the function of the cooling device to maintain a desired ambient temperature for the already cooled refrigerated goods. Neither the creation of rapid refrigeration stations within the cargo hold to eliminate excess capacity in an upstream cooling tunnel nor the provision of a particularly simple unit suitable for this purpose are required DE 695 17 632 T2 taught. DE 695 17 632 T2 rather conveys the idea to separate by means of an insulating cover a portion of a hold and only to cool this separated Teilbereicht means of a conventional cooling unit. Such an approach would be handling technically cumbersome in a cold storage and associated with a high expenditure on equipment.
Another portable cooling unit is off US 2014/0260365 A1 which expressly serves to cool pallets in a racking system, if expressly no cold storage is available. Among other things, the cooling unit comprises a cooling unit which is installed in a shelving system above the pallet to be cooled. Again, the point of view of maintaining a certain ambient temperature for the refrigerated goods in the foreground. The task of a rapid cooling, ie a reduction in the temperature of the refrigerated goods with removal of process heat from the refrigerated goods, arises in US 2014/0260365 A1 Not.

The invention has for its object to allow for existing cold chain and existing cold storage with the simplest means an at least occasional increase in manufacturing capacity in the production of refrigerated goods.

This object is achieved by a cold storage according to claim 1. Such includes a plurality of locations with the same dimensions for receiving refrigerated goods and a cooling device for cooling the air in the cold storage and is characterized by one or more mobile blower modules, each mobile blower module electrically operated, adapted to the dimensions of the spaces and optionally on one of the pitches can be turned off to act on a parking space from at least one adjacent parking space with an air flow, is sucked for the air within the cooling storage from the vicinity of the parking space of the respective mobile fan module.

Any production spikes that exceed the capacities of an existing cooling tunnel or existing permanently installed fast cooling stations can be absorbed by the temporary introduction of one or more mobile fan modules into the warehouse.

The blower modules are practically self-sufficient. All you need is an electrical connection. As a result, the construction effort on the part of the cold storage remains minimal.

Depending on requirements, the mobile fan module (s) within the cold storage can be quickly and easily moved. In addition, their arrangement can be adapted very flexible warehouse logistics aspects.

By a uniform distribution of the formation of hot springs can be counteracted in the cold storage.

Since the mobile fan modules are also adapted to the dimensions of the parking spaces, thus can be placed on these, operation of the camp is not affected by the mobile fan modules.

In general, with the present invention, a flexibility of the capacity of a cold chain is achieved with extremely little effort, whereby it is possible to keep cooling overcapacity low and thus save energy.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of further claims

For example, a mobile fan module may have two opposite air outlets that are directed from a parking space to two adjacent parking spaces. This makes it possible to cool with a mobile fan module at the same time refrigerated goods at two parking spaces and thus to keep the expenditure on equipment particularly low. By an individual control of the two adjacent parking spaces, a further flexibility can be achieved.

The mobile blower modules are, as already mentioned, adapted to the dimensions of the parking spaces. Preferably, these can be offset with the same storage and retrieval unit as the refrigerated goods themselves.

Furthermore, a control device for controlling the storage and retrieval device and the mobile or the blower modules may be provided, which makes it possible to automate the warehouse management largely. Preferably, the control device is configured in such a way, after a predetermined time interval, to move the refrigerated goods to the parking space on the opposite side of the mobile blower module. In principle, however, the fan module can be moved to the parking space on the opposite side of the refrigerated goods, including, however, to ensure a corresponding electrical connection of the mobile fan module to the new parking space. Further, it is possible to exchange the positions of the refrigerated goods and the mobile blower module. As a result, a particularly rapid and effective cooling of the cooled goods to storage temperature is achieved.

The above-described cold storage allows operation in which refrigerated goods with increased cooling requirement after its introduction into the cold storage is brought to a parking space, which is located next to another parking space on which a mobile fan module is already turned off or then turned off, whereupon by switching of the mobile fan module, the refrigerated goods with increased cooling demand through the mobile fan module flows with air located in the cooling storage and is accelerated accelerated due to the increased heat transfer thereby.

To accelerate the cooling, after a predetermined time interval, the refrigerated goods can be transferred to the parking space on the opposite side of the mobile blower module, and from there, air can be passed on. The duration of the time interval can either be specified or, for example, result from the observation of the temperature of the chilled goods. If a certain target temperature is reached, the refrigerated goods are displaced. The temperature of the item to be cooled can be measured, for example, by means of at least one non-contact sensor. However, it is also possible to move the mobile fan module to the parking space on the opposite side of the refrigerated goods and then to feed the refrigerated goods from the other side with air. It is also possible to exchange the positions of the goods to be cooled and the mobile fan module and then to feed the refrigerated goods from the other side with air.

Furthermore, the present invention proposes a mobile fan module for use in refrigerated warehouses, which comprises at least one pressure chamber, the air outlets on the outer sides of the fan module facing each other, and at least one fan for generating an overpressure in the at least one pressure chamber.

Such a unit can be used very flexibly in a cold storage. It is characterized by an extremely simple structure and requires only a power connection in the cold storage. The air used for cooling is obtained from the immediate environment within the cold storage. Air distribution shafts and other structural measures on the part of the cold store, as described in DE 20 2005 000 167 U1 are proposed, are not required in the present case.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the mobile blower module whose air outlets are designed as nozzle plates with a plurality of outlet openings, wherein the outlet openings are arranged distributed over the surface of the respective nozzle plate. As a result, a favorable outflow behavior is achieved over the entire surface of the air outlets, whereby, for example, refrigerated goods stacked on pallets can be cooled very uniformly.

The mobile blower module can be formed with two separate pressure chambers, which are separated by an inlet shaft arranged between them, wherein in each pressure chamber, a fan is arranged, the air inlet opens into the inlet duct. This allows an individual flow of two adjacent parking spaces.

An individual setting of the operating times of the two fans can be carried out via a control unit provided on the mobile fan module

Furthermore, the fans may be designed as radial fans whose axis of rotation is perpendicular to the respective nozzle plate. This allows compared to axial fans a more uniform flow behavior of the air to the nozzle plates and allows the attachment of two pressure chambers over the surface of a Euro pallet.

Figur 1

eine schematische Ansicht einer Kühlkette mit einem erfindungsgemäßen Kühllager,

Figur 2

eine Ansicht eines Kühllagers von oben mit mehreren mobilen Gebläsemodulen,

Figur 3

eine Seitenansicht mehrerer Stellplätze,

Figur 4

eine räumliche Ansicht eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels eines mobilen Gebläsemoduls nach der Erfindung,

Figur 5

eine räumliche Ansicht eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels eines mobilen Gebläsemoduls nach der Erfindung, und in

Figur 6

eine Schnittansicht des mobilen Gebläsemoduls gemäß Figur 5.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawing. The drawing shows in:

FIG. 1

a schematic view of a cold chain with a cold storage according to the invention,

FIG. 2

a view of a cold storage from above with multiple mobile fan modules,

FIG. 3

a side view of several pitches,

FIG. 4

a spatial view of a first embodiment of a mobile blower module according to the invention,

FIG. 5

a spatial view of a second embodiment of a mobile blower module according to the invention, and in

FIG. 6

a sectional view of the mobile blower module according to FIG. 5 ,

The embodiments relate to a cold chain for refrigerated goods, which in the present case are understood in addition to some industrial materials and products in particular foods such as dairy products.

Such chilled goods get as in FIG. 1 shown, after production and filling in a suitable plant 1 in a palletizer 2, where the corresponding outer packaging are optionally stacked with the aid of additional carriers on a pallet. The loaded with refrigerated goods pallet is then introduced into a cooling tunnel 3, to cool the refrigerated goods accelerated. After cooling, the pallet is introduced into a cold storage 4, where it remains until its removal and is kept at cooling temperature.

This in FIG. 2 illustrated cold storage 4 has a plurality of parking spaces 5 with the same dimensions for receiving refrigerated goods K. The pitches 5 are sized so that they can each take a pallet with refrigerated goods. Within the refrigerated warehouse 4 are several parking spaces 5 next to each other. Preferably, the pitches 5 are arranged in rows 6. In addition, adjacent parking spaces 5 can be arranged one above the other in one or more levels, as shown in FIG FIG. 3 is shown. Between parking lots 6 lanes 7 are provided which allow access to the parking spaces 5 for a stacker crane 8.

Furthermore, in FIG. 2 to detect a cooling device 9 for cooling the air located in the cold storage 4. By means of the cooling device 9, the air temperature in the cold storage 4 is maintained at a temperature in the range of about 0 to 25 ° C, preferably 2 to 10 ° C. If necessary, the temperature can also be kept below freezing point of water.

If the capacity of the cooling tunnel 3 is insufficient, refrigerated goods can be brought directly from the palletizing device 2 into the cold storage 4. With refrigerated goods such as yogurt, however, it would take a few days without cooling in a cooling tunnel 3 for a few days to arrive at the refrigerated goods in the interior of a stack arranged on a pallet at the desired cooling temperature. In order to accelerate the cooling process within the cold storage 4, in this case additionally a mobile blower module 10 is introduced into the cold storage 4.

The mobile fan module 10 is adapted to the dimensions of the parking spaces 5 and can optionally be parked on one of the parking spaces 5. If necessary, several mobile fan modules 10 can be introduced into the cold storage 4, as in FIG. 2 is shown. Since the mobile fan modules 10 are accommodated on the parking spaces 5, an operation of the other parking spaces 5 by stacker cranes 8 remains unaffected. The latter are not only able to transport the refrigerated goods to the desired parking spaces 5, but also to transport the mobile blower modules 10 within the refrigerated warehouse 4 and turn off. For this purpose, the mobile fan modules 10 may be provided with suitable for the respective storage and retrieval device 8 coupling structures, which are preferably integrated into the frame of the mobile fan module 10.

The mobile fan modules 10 are each electrically operated and do without their own cooling unit. They are configured in such a way that at least one adjacent parking space 5 is supplied with airflow from a parking space 5. Due to the increased flow rate, the refrigerated goods located next to the mobile fan module 10 are cooled more quickly. The air required for this purpose is sucked within the cooling bearing 4 from the surroundings of the parking space 5 of the respective mobile fan module 10. For the mobile fan module 10 are therefore, apart from a power supply and, where appropriate, a signaling integration into a warehouse management system no further Measures on the part of the cold storage 4 required. Retrofitting the mobile fan modules 10 in an existing cold storage 4 can therefore be accomplished with minimal effort.

Via the mobile fan modules 10, the cooling capacity of a cold chain can be increased very quickly. If the mobile fan modules 10 are no longer needed and a higher storage capacity is temporarily necessary, they can be removed from the cold storage 4 at short notice. Via the mobile fan modules 10, a flexibility of the capacities of a cold chain is thus achieved, which makes it possible to avoid bottlenecks and to keep cooling overcapacity low and thus to save energy.

Embodiments of a mobile blower module 10 for use in cold stores 4 are shown in FIGS FIGS. 4 to 6 shown in more detail.

In the simplest case, the mobile blower module 10 comprises a pressure chamber 11, the air outlets 15 and 16 on the outer sides of the mobile blower module 10 facing each other, as shown in FIG FIG. 4 is shown. If necessary, the air outlets 15 and 16 can each be preceded by an air guiding device 13 and 14 in the flow direction. Furthermore, this comprises at least one fan 17 for generating an overpressure in the pressure chamber 11. Via a flap 19, the air supply to the air outlets 15 and 16 are controlled, so that, for example, only one of the air outlets 15 and 16 cooling air can be discharged.

In the in the FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrated embodiment, the mobile fan module 10 has two separate pressure chambers 11 and 12, which are separated by an inlet shaft 20 arranged therebetween. In each pressure chamber 11 and 12, a separate fan 17 and 18 is arranged, the air inlet opens into the inlet duct 20. The pressure chambers 11 and 12 each have an air outlet 15 and 16 which oppose each other on outer sides of the mobile fan module 10. If appropriate, the air outlets 15 and 16 may each be preceded by an air guiding device 13 and 14, respectively. In the FIGS. 5 and 6 This results in a mirror image with respect to the inlet shaft 20 arrangement of the pressure chambers 11 and 12, louvers 13 and 14 and fans 17 and 18th

However, it is also possible to arrange the air outlets 15 and 16 over the corner or to provide such on three or all four outer sides of a roughly cuboid blower module 10.

The air outlets 15 and 16 of the aforementioned embodiments are formed as nozzle plates 21 having a plurality of outlet openings 22. The outlet openings 22 can be distributed substantially over the entire surface of the respective nozzle plate 21 in order to achieve a good flow of the cooling product.

By using fans 17 and 18, which are designed as radial fans and whose axis of rotation A is perpendicular to the respective nozzle plate 21 can be achieved in particular in a plurality of pressure chambers 11 and 12, a compact design and a uniform pressure build-up in the pressure chambers 11 and 12. The flow is in FIG. 6 indicated by arrows.

Furthermore, a control device 23 for individually setting the operating times of the two fans 17 and 18 can be provided on the mobile fan module 10. As a result, the pitches adjacent to the mobile fan module 10 can be individually air-flowed. In the case of the erstgenanten embodiment according to FIG. 4 For the same purpose, the fan 17 and the flap 19 can be actuated. Via a sensor 24, for example a light barrier, the presence of a product to be cooled can be detected on an adjacent parking space 5 and then an influx of the product to be cooled can be started.

If such a mobile blower module 10 is parked on a parking space 5, its opposite air outlets 15 and 16 can be directed to the two adjacent parking spaces 5 in order to more intensively cool refrigerated goods located there. Depending on requirements, either a mobile fan module 10 is brought to the refrigerated goods concerned or placed to refrigerated refrigerated goods next to a mobile fan module 10 already in place. Subsequently, by switching on the mobile fan module 10, the refrigerated goods with increased cooling requirement are flown through by the mobile fan module 10 with air located in the cold storage 4. For example, the required cooling time can be set via the control unit 23.

However, the control can also take place from a central warehouse management system. In an automated cold storage 4 this can also be the parking space occupancy and the operation of the control panels 8 are made.

In order to achieve a faster and more uniform cooling, it is expedient to flow the refrigerated goods to be cooled from two sides with air. For this purpose, it is basically possible to place the refrigerated goods between two mobile fan modules 10, wherein an influx can be made simultaneously or alternately. By changing the location, however, it is possible to save a second mobile blower module.

A control device for controlling the storage and retrieval device 8 and the or the mobile blower modules 10 may be configured to move after a predetermined time interval the refrigerated goods on the pitch 5 on the opposite side of the mobile blower module 10, where this further, now from the other Side, is flown with air. Alternatively, the fan module 10 is placed on the parking space 5 on the opposite side of the refrigerated goods and the refrigerated goods are then flown from the other side with air. Furthermore, it is possible to exchange the positions of the refrigerated goods and the mobile blower module 10. Also in this case, the refrigerated goods are successively flown from two opposite sides with air. These operations can be repeated as needed.

It is also possible to make a rotation when moving the item to be cooled and / or the mobile fan module 10. If the refrigerated goods are offset, this can be reset after a rotation of 90 ° or 180 ° back to the original pitch 5, so that then another side of the same is flown with cooling air.

The invention has been described above with reference to various embodiments and further modifications. In particular, individual technical features, which have been explained above in the context of further individual features, can be implemented independently of these as well as in combination with further individual features, even if this is not expressly described, as long as this is technically possible. The invention is therefore expressly not limited to the described embodiments, but includes all embodiments defined by the claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Production and filling plant

2

palletizing

3

cooling tunnel

4

cold storage

5

parking space

6

Pitch Series

7

alley

8th

Storage and retrieval unit

9

cooling device

10

mobile fan module

11

pressure chamber

12

pressure chamber

13

Cowl

14

Cowl

15

air outlet

16

air outlet

17

fan

18

fan

19

flap

20

Einlasschacht

21

nozzle plate

22

outlet

23

control unit

24

sensor

A

Rotary axis of the fan

K

refrigerated

Claims (11)

1. Cooling stock, comprising: a plurality of parking spaces (5) with the same dimensions for receiving refrigerated goods, and a cooling device (9) for cooling the air in the cold storage (4), characterized in that one or more mobile fan modules (10) are arranged without their own cooling unit in the cold store, each mobile fan module (10) being electrically operated, adapted to the dimensions of the parking spaces (5) and optionally on one of the parking spaces (5) can be turned off to act from a parking space (5) from at least one adjacent parking space (5) with an air flow, for the air inside the cold storage (4) from the surroundings of the parking space (5) of the respective mobile fan module (10) is sucked. 2. Cold store according to claim 1, characterized in that the mobile blower module (4) has two opposite air outlets (15, 16) which are directed from a parking space (5) to two adjacent parking spaces (5). 3. Cold storage according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by at least one storage and retrieval unit (8) for moving the refrigerated goods and at least one mobile blower module (10). 5. Cold store according to claim 3, characterized by a control device for controlling the storage and retrieval device (8) and the mobile or the blower modules (10), which is configured to after a predetermined time interval or reaching a target temperature either: to move the refrigerated goods to the parking space (5) on the opposite side of the mobile blower module (10) or to move the fan module (10) to the parking space (5) on the opposite side of the refrigerated goods or to swap the positions of the chilled goods and the mobile blower module (10). 6. A method for operating a refrigerated warehouse of the type according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the refrigerated goods to be cooled with increased cooling demand after his Sliding into the cold storage (4) is brought to a parking space (5), which is located next to another parking space (5) on which a mobile blower module (10) without its own cooling unit is already turned off or then turned off, and then by switching of the mobile fan module (10), the refrigerated goods with increased cooling requirement are flown through by the mobile fan module (10) with air in the cold storage (4). 7. A method for operating a cold storage according to claim 6, characterized in that after a predetermined time interval or after reaching a target temperature either
the refrigerated goods are moved to the parking space (5) on the opposite side of the mobile blower module (10) and from there further air is supplied or
the mobile blower module (10) is moved to the parking space (5) on the opposite side of the refrigerated goods and the refrigerated goods are then flown from the other side with air or
the positions of the refrigerated goods and the mobile blower module (10) are reversed and the refrigerated goods are then flown from the other side with air. 8. A mobile blower module without own cooling unit for use in cold stores or in a cold storage according to one of claims 1 to 5, comprising: at least one pressure chamber (11, 12) having two air outlets (15, 16) facing each other on outer sides of the mobile blower module (10), and at least one fan (17, 18) for generating an overpressure in the at least one pressure chamber (11, 12). 9. A mobile blower module according to claim 8, characterized in that the air outlets (15, 16) as nozzle plates (21) with a plurality of outlet openings (22) are formed, wherein the outlet openings (21) over the surface of the respective nozzle plate (21). are arranged distributed. 10. A mobile blower module according to claim 8 or 9, characterized by two separate pressure chambers (11, 12) which are separated by an inlet shaft arranged therebetween (20), wherein in each pressure chamber, a fan is arranged, the air inlet opens into the inlet shaft. 11. A mobile blower module according to claim 10, characterized by a control unit (23) for individually setting the operating times of the two fans (17, 18). 12. Mobile fan module according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the fans (17, 18) are designed as radial fans, in the axis of rotation (A) perpendicular to the respective nozzle plate (21).

Images