EP3155329A1

EP3155329A1 - Temperature-controlled container

Info

Publication number: EP3155329A1
Application number: EP15728412.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jochen Hiemeyer; Martin Kerstner; Michael Freitag
Original assignee: Liebherr Hausgeraete Lienz GmbH; Liebherr Hausgeraete Ochsenhausen GmbH
Current assignee: Liebherr Hausgeraete Lienz GmbH; Liebherr Hausgeraete Ochsenhausen GmbH
Priority date: 2014-06-16
Filing date: 2015-06-11
Publication date: 2017-04-19
Anticipated expiration: 2035-06-11
Also published as: CN106461292A; RU2686362C2; ES2895482T3; EP3155329B1; RU2017100930A; US20170131000A1; WO2015192952A1; DE102015006583A1; MY188984A; RU2017100930A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a temperature-controlled container (10) comprising a cooled or heated inner chamber (100) and a thermoelectric element (20), particularly a Peltier element (20), arranged such that said inner chamber (100) is cooled or heated by means of the thermoelectric element (20). In order to control the temperature of the inner chamber (100), a plurality of thermoelectric elements (20) are provided which are arranged to be spaced apart from one another.

Description

Temperate container

The present invention relates to a temperature-controlled container, with at least one cooled or heated interior and with a thermoelectric element, in particular with a Peltier element, which generates in operation in the interior of the container, cold or heat.

From the prior art, different concepts for cooling in refrigerators and freezers are known. In all cases, for the greatest possible efficiency and thus for a good energy efficiency, an effective heat exchanger on both the cold room side and on the waste heat side is necessary to keep the temperature to be overcome as low as possible. In this context, the coupling to the area of Refrigeration and to the cold room and to the outside air of importance, to which the heat dissipated is discharged.

An essential parameter in the required cooling capacity of a refrigerator or freezer is the thermal insulation that surrounds the cooled interior. Improving the thermal insulation reduces the need for cooling capacity. With a low refrigeration requirement, the provision can be made by simpler means than by compression refrigerating machines namely, in particular by a thermoelectric element. For example, the use of a Peltier element is known. For example, a small, vacuum-insulated refrigerator only requires a cooling capacity of 3-4 W, e.g. can be applied by a thermoelectric element.

When using Peltier elements, a special feature is that the generated cooling capacity and the waste heat occur in the immediate vicinity - a refrigerant as a heat transfer medium is not available. In this case, the heat transfer to the cooled interior and to the outside air to which the heat is released, is of particular importance. From the prior art it is known that this heat transfer in Peltier cooling devices, such. portable coolers, through finned heat exchangers and through fan-generated airflow. Their power requirement is similar to that of the Peltier element.

These considerations are by no means limited to refrigerators and / or freezers but apply to thermally insulated containers in general, with heat-insulated containers covered by these considerations have at least one tempered interior, which may be cooled or heated, so that in the interior a temperature below or above the ambient temperature of eg 21 ° C results. The present invention has the object of developing a temperature-controlled container of the type mentioned in that the best possible dissipation of the heat generated in the temperature-controlled interior for the purpose of heating or warming or outward for the purpose of cooling the interior is achieved.

This object is achieved by a tempered container with the features of claim 1.

Thereafter, it is provided that a plurality of thermoelectric elements are provided for controlling the temperature of the interior of the container, which are arranged at a spatial distance from each other.

The present invention is therefore based on the idea to use not only a single thermoelectric element, but at least two thermoelectric elements for controlling the temperature of the cooled interior. This allows an improved temperature control (heating or cooling) of the interior make, since the waste heat in the case of cooling the interior can be well distributed to the outer skin of the device and in the case of heating well on the wall bounding the interior.

In addition, the use of a plurality of thermoelectric elements, which are arranged spatially distributed, the possibility of targeted temperature control of different areas of the interior, so that there at different locations different cooling / heat outputs can be provided. It is preferably provided that the container has major surfaces and that at least two of the thermoelectric elements are arranged on different major surfaces. "Main surfaces" in the case of a cupped container, the two side walls, the top wall, the bottom and the rear wall and in the case of a chest-shaped container, the two side walls, the front wall, the rear wall and the floor understood.

It is conceivable for at least one thermoelectric element to be arranged in each of the main surfaces or in a part of the main surfaces. It is conceivable, for example in the case of a cabinet-shaped container, that at least one thermoelectric element is arranged in the side walls, in the bottom and in the top wall.

Alternatively or additionally, provision can be made for one or more thermoelectric elements to be arranged in the closure element (door, cover, flap, front of a drawer, etc.), by means of which the temperature-controlled interior space can be closed.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the one or more thermoelectric elements with a preferably passive primary heat exchanger are thermally conductive in connection. By passively operating heat exchanger is meant an element that conducts or otherwise transfers heat from or to the thermoelectric element without the need for energy.

The primary heat exchanger can be arranged on the cold and / or on the warm side of the thermoelectric element.

It is conceivable that the primary heat exchanger consists of a metallic body, preferably of aluminum or metal, in particular aluminum having. The metal body (s) thus communicate with the cold and / or warm side of the thermoelectric element and conduct heat to the thermoelectric element or heat away from the thermoelectric element.

For a coupling of the waste heat, i. for a transfer of heat without a large temperature gradient, it is advantageous if the primary heat exchanger (s) have a cross-sectional area which increases with increasing distance from the thermoelectric element, so that the heat or waste heat is distributed over a larger area.

It is particularly advantageous if the thermoelectric element or elements are arranged in such a way that they are thermally conductive or otherwise heat-transferring to the outer skin and / or the inner wall of the container bounding the inner space, so that the outer skin and / or the inner wall are secondary Heat exchangers are used.

The outer skin of the container and / or the inner wall of the container delimiting the inner space may consist partly or wholly of metal or of metal, wherein the metal is preferably aluminum.

Are em provided at least one primary and at least one secondary heat exchanger, these are directly or indirectly heat-transmitting, in particular thermally conductive with each other.

It is preferably provided that the outer skin and / or the inner wall of the container bounding the inner space consists partially or completely of a metal sheet. It is preferably provided that the sheet has a thickness of <3 mm, preferably a thickness of 1 to 2 mm.

If the temperature-controlled container is a refrigerator or freezer, it is sufficient for the distribution of waste heat on the entire outer skin of the device, if it is made of an aluminum sheet with a thickness of 1 to 2 mm. This outer skin may be on either side of the body or only on a part of the body sides.

Since the accumulated amount of refrigerant is less than the waste heat, exist inside the device, i. in the interior no high demands on the heat exchanger. Nevertheless, it makes sense to keep the inner container, i. also the wall delimiting the interior of a metal sheet and preferably made of an aluminum sheet, to which a smaller plate thickness can be used than for the outer shell.

The container may be designed like a cabinet and have a rear wall, two side walls, a ceiling and a floor or, in the case of a chest, two side walls, a rear wall, a floor and a front wall. At least one thermoelectric element may be arranged in each or at least two of said walls.

As stated above, the container may comprise a closure element such as e.g. a door, a lid or the like and the at least one thermoelectric element may be arranged in the closure element.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that different temperature zones exist in the interior. So, for example Cooling zones of different temperatures may be provided, wherein the usual temperature of a conventional Kühlkompartimentes in one zone and the usual temperature of a cold storage compartment may be present in another zone.

This can be e.g. achieve by a separate control of the individual thermoelectric elements.

This separate control can be used not only to provide regions of different temperature within the cooled or heated interior, but also in the case of a particularly large heat input in an area of the interior, e.g. by inserting refrigerated or frozen goods, there to produce a particularly large cooling capacity. The same applies to the reverse case of a heated container.

Thus, at least one control or regulation unit can be provided, which controls the several thermoelectric elements all the same or different, so that they provide an identical or different performance.

Particularly preferred is an embodiment in which between the interior wall bounding the inner space and the outer wall, a thermal insulation is arranged, which consists of a full vacuum system. This is to be understood as a thermal insulation which consists exclusively or predominantly of an evacuated area which is filled with a core material. The limitation of this range can be formed for example by a vacuum-tight film and preferably by a high-barrier film. Thus, between the inner wall of the device and the outer wall as thermal insulation, only such a film body can be present, which has a region surrounded by a vacuum-tight film in which vacuum prevails and in which a core material is arranged. A Foaming and / or vacuum insulation panels as thermal insulation or other thermal insulation except the full vacuum system between the inside and the outside of the container are preferably not provided.

This preferred type of thermal insulation in the form of a full vacuum system may be between the wall bounding the interior space and the outer shell of the body and / or between the inside and the outside of the closure element, e.g. a door, flap, cover or the like extend.

The full vacuum system can be obtained by filling a casing of a gas-tight film with a core material and then sealing it in a vacuum-tight manner. In one embodiment, both the filling and the vacuum-tight sealing of the envelope takes place at normal or ambient pressure. The evacuation is then carried out by connecting a suitable incorporated in the envelope interface, such as an evacuation nozzle, which may have a valve to a vacuum pump. Preferably, normal or ambient pressure prevails outside the enclosure during the evacuation. In this embodiment, it is preferably not necessary at any time during manufacture to introduce the envelope into a vacuum chamber. In this respect, it is possible in one embodiment to dispense with a vacuum chamber during the production of the vacuum insulation.

Under a vacuum-tight or diffusion-tight envelope or under a vacuum-tight or diffusion-tight connection or the term high barrier film is preferably understood a sheath or a compound or a film, by means of which the gas input is reduced so much in the vacuum insulation that the gas by Conditional increase in the thermal conductivity of the vacuum insulation body over its lifetime is sufficiently low. The life span is, for example, a period of 15 years, preferably 20 years and more preferably 30 years. Preferably, the increase in the thermal conductivity of the vacuum insulation body due to the introduction of gas is <100% and particularly preferably <50% over its service life.

Preferably, the area-specific gas transmission rate of the coating or the high barrier film is <10-5 mbar * l / s * m ² and particularly preferably <10-6 mbar ^* l / s ^* m ² (measured according to ASTM D-3985). , This gas passage rate applies to nitrogen and oxygen. For other types of gas (especially water vapor), low gas flow rates are preferably in the range of <10-2 mbar ^* I / s * m ² and more preferably in the range of <10-3 mbar * I / s * m ² (measured according to ASTM F -1249-90). Preferably, the above-mentioned small increases in the thermal conductivity are achieved by these low gas passage rates.

A known from the field of vacuum panels envelope system are so-called high barrier films. For the purposes of the present invention, preference is given to single-layer or multilayer films (which are preferably sealable) having one or more barrier layers (typically metallic layers or oxide layers, preferably aluminum or an aluminum oxide being used as the metal or oxide), which comprises the above requirements (increase in thermal conductivity and / or area-specific gas passage rate) as a barrier against the gas entry meet.

The above-mentioned values or the structure of the high-barrier film are exemplary, preferred details which do not limit the invention. Preferably, the container according to the invention is a refrigerator and / or freezer, the interior of which is cooled by the thermoelectric elements. However, the invention also includes the case that it is a container whose interior is heated by the thermoelectric elements.

The temperature-controlled interior is either cooled or heated depending on the type of appliance (cooling unit, heating cabinet etc.).

The refrigerator and / or freezer may be, for example, a household appliance or a commercial refrigerator. For example, such devices are included, which are designed for a stationary arrangement in the home, in a hotel room, in a commercial kitchen or in a bar. For example, it may also be a wine refrigerator. Furthermore, refrigerated and / or freezers are also included in the invention. The devices according to the invention may have an interface for connection to a power supply, in particular to a household power supply (for example a plug) and / or a standing or installation aid such as leveling feet or an interface for fixing within a furniture recess. For example, the device may be a built-in device or a stand-alone device.

In one embodiment, the container or the device is designed such that it can be operated with an alternating voltage, such as, for example, with a mains voltage of, for example, 120 V and 60 Hz or 230 V and 50 Hz. In an alternative embodiment, the container or the device is designed such that it can be operated with direct current of a voltage of, for example, 5 V, 12 V or 24 V. In this embodiment, it can be provided that a plug-in power supply is provided inside or outside the device, via which the device is operated. An advantage of using Thermoelectric heat pump is in this embodiment that the complete EMC problem occurs only on the power supply.

In particular, it can be provided that the refrigerator and / or freezer has a cabinet-like shape and has a usable space which is accessible to a user at its front side (in the case of a chest at the top). The working space can be subdivided into several compartments, which are all operated at the same or at different temperatures. Alternatively, only one compartment can be provided. Within the useful space or a compartment and storage aids such as storage compartments, drawers or bottle holders (in the case of a chest also room divider) may be provided to ensure optimum storage of refrigerated or frozen goods and optimum space utilization.

The useful space can be closed by at least one door pivotable about a vertical axis. In the case of a chest, a flap pivotable about a horizontal axis or a sliding lid is conceivable as a closure element. The door or other closure element can be in the closed state by means of a peripheral magnetic seal with the body substantially airtight in combination. Preferably, the door or another closure element is thermally insulated, wherein the heat insulation can be achieved by means of a foaming and possibly based on vacuum insulation panels, or preferably by means of a vacuum system and particularly preferably by means of a full vacuum system. If necessary, door racks can be provided on the inside of the door in order to be able to store refrigerated goods there as well.

In one embodiment, it may be a small appliance. In such devices, the working space defined by the inner wall of the container, for example, a volume of less than 0.5 m ³ , less than 0.4 m ³ or less than 0.3 m ³ .

The outer dimensions of the container or device are preferably in the range up to 1 m in terms of height, width and depth.

The invention is not limited to refrigerators and / or freezers but generally relates to appliances with a temperature-controlled interior, for example, heat cabinets or Wärmetruhen.

Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. The single figure shows a longitudinal sectional view through a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention.

In the figure, the reference numeral 10, the body of a cabinet-like refrigerator and / or freezer is characterized.

The body 0 has two side walls 12, a ceiling 14 and a bottom 16. Together with the rear wall and a door, these limit the refrigerated interior 100.

As can be seen from the figure, a thermoelectric element 20 are provided in the two side walls 12, in the top wall 14 and in the bottom 16 in each case.

In principle, exactly one such thermoelectric element can be provided per wall. However, the invention also includes the case that in one or more than two walls, two or more than two thermoelectric elements are present.

The arrangement of one or more thermoelectric elements on the back of the device is conceivable and encompassed by the invention.

Each of the themoelectric elements 20 is heat-transmitting, in particular heat-conducting, both on the cold side facing the interior 100 and on the warm side facing outward, each having a heat exchanger 30, 40. These primary heat exchangers 30, 40 are metallic bodies, e.g. made of aluminium.

During operation of the thermoelectric elements 20, heat is removed from the cooled interior via its cold side and by means of the heat exchanger 30 and the inner wall I. This heat is dissipated via the warm side of the thermoelectric element 20, the heat exchanger 40 and the outer wall A to the environment.

As can be seen further from the figure, the cross-section of the primary heat exchangers 30, 40 increases from the thermoelectric element 20 to the outer wall A and also to the inner wall I, which together with the inside of the door delimits the cooled inner space 100. In this way, the waste heat which is withdrawn from the interior 100 by means of the thermoelectric elements 20 can be distributed over a larger area without a larger temperature gradient.

The outside of the device is formed by the outer wall A, which consists of a metal sheet, preferably aluminum sheet, in whole or in part. In the embodiment shown here, this sheet metal forms the outside A of the side walls 12, the ceiling 14 as well as the bottom 16. Also, the back and / or the door can be designed accordingly on the outside.

The sheet forming the outer wall A forms the secondary heat exchanger, which communicates with the primary heat exchangers 40 in a heat-transmitting, in particular heat-conducting, connection.

The inner wall I is likewise formed by a metal sheet, in particular by an aluminum sheet. The inner wall I is heat-transmitting, in particular thermally conductive with the primary heat exchangers 30 in connection.

The term "heat exchanger" according to the present invention includes any element suitable for transferring heat In the preferred embodiment, the heat exchangers are formed by metallic bodies.

The reference numeral 50 denotes the thermal insulation which extends between the inner wall I and the outer wall A of the body. This thermal insulation consists of a limited by one or more vacuum-tight films volume in which a core material, in particular perlite is located. Preferably further insulation materials, such as e.g. a foaming and / or vacuum insulation panels between the inner wall I and the outer wall A is not provided.

A corresponding full vacuum thermal insulation can also be provided for the door or another closure element. The Peltier elements 20 or the other thermoelectric elements are distributed over the device geometry such that their waste heat is distributed as well as possible on the outer skin A of the device. For the distribution of waste heat on the entire outer skin A, this can be constructed from an aluminum sheet with a thickness of 1 to 2 mm.

Since the resulting amount of cold is less than the waste heat, there are no such high demands on the heat exchanger inside the device 100. Preferably, however, a sheet (e.g., an aluminum sheet) which may have a lower thickness than the sheet forming the outer skin A or may be identically formed is also used for the inner wall of the apparatus.

As stated above, can be realized by a separate control of the thermoelectric elements 20, a refrigerator and / or freezer or a heated container in which different temperature zones prevail. In principle, however, the invention also encompasses the case that exactly one temperature prevails in the cooled or heated interior 100.

Depending on the interconnection of the thermoelectric elements, these can heat or cool the interior, so that the container according to the invention can be used for both purposes. Thus, the container can exercise a warming function. The embodiment thus applies with reversely driven thermoelectric elements 20, in which the warm side is inside and the cold side outside, even for a heated container.

If the container is not required for heating, the same container can be used by appropriate control of the thermoelectric elements for cooling. The present invention thus relates to a tempered container with a thermoelectric heat pump, wherein more than one thermoelectric element is used in spatial distance to achieve the desired interior temperature.

Preferably, only thermoelectric elements are used for controlling the temperature of the cooled interior.

Claims

Temperate container claims

1. Temperiertes container, with a cooled or heated interior and with a thermoelectric element, in particular with a Peltier element, which is arranged such that the interior is cooled or heated by means of the thermoelectric element, characterized in that for controlling the temperature of the interior more thermoelectric elements are present, which are arranged at a distance from each other.

2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the container has major surfaces and that at least two of the thermoelectric elements are arranged on different major surfaces.

3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the one or more thermoelectric elements with a preferably passively operating primary heat exchanger are thermally conductive in communication, wherein the primary heat exchanger is disposed on the cold and / or on the warm side of the thermoelectric element.

4. Container according to claim 3, characterized in that the primary heat exchanger consists of or comprises a metallic body, wherein the metal is preferably aluminum.

5. Container according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the primary heat exchanger has a cross-sectional area which increases with increasing distance from the thermoelectric element.

6. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the one or more thermoelectric elements are arranged such that these are heat-transmitting, in particular thermally conductive with the outer skin and / or with the inner space bounding the inner wall of the container in connection, so that the outer skin and / or serve the inner wall as a secondary heat exchanger.

7. Container according to claim 6, characterized in that the outer skin and / or the interior wall bounding the inner wall of the device consists of metal or metal, wherein it is preferably aluminum in the metal.

8. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer skin and / or the inner space bounding the inner wall of the container partially or completely consists of a metal sheet, wherein it is preferably provided that the sheet has a thickness of <3 mm, preferably one Thickness of 1 to 2 mm.

9. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner wall delimiting the inner space has a lower thickness than the outer skin of the container.

10. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container is designed like a cabinet and has a rear wall, two side walls, a ceiling and a floor or in the case of a chest two side walls, a rear wall, a bottom and a front wall and that at least one thermoelectric element is arranged in each or at least two of said walls.

A container according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container comprises a closure element, e.g. a door, a lid or the like, and the at least one thermoelectric element is disposed in the shutter.

12. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that different temperature zones exist in the interior.

13. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a control or regulating unit is provided, which controls all the same or different thermoelectric elements.

14. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the interior wall delimiting the inner space and the outer wall, a thermal insulation is arranged, which consists of a full vacuum system, in whole or in part.

15. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is the container is a refrigerator and / or freezer.