EP3244144A1 - Conteneur isotherme pour le transport de denrées alimentaires périssables - Google Patents

Conteneur isotherme pour le transport de denrées alimentaires périssables Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3244144A1
EP3244144A1 EP17170355.6A EP17170355A EP3244144A1 EP 3244144 A1 EP3244144 A1 EP 3244144A1 EP 17170355 A EP17170355 A EP 17170355A EP 3244144 A1 EP3244144 A1 EP 3244144A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
vessel
isothermal container
stuffs
temperature
food
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP17170355.6A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Mr. Claudio SOLA
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.)
Bonetto Srl
Original Assignee
Bonetto Srl
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 Bonetto Srl filed Critical Bonetto Srl
Publication of EP3244144A1 publication Critical patent/EP3244144A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • F25D16/00—Devices using a combination of a cooling mode associated with refrigerating machinery with a cooling mode not associated with refrigerating machinery
    • 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
    • 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
    • F25D11/006—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cold storage accumulators

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to isothermal containers for transporting perishable food-stuffs, particularly for the large-scale distribution, comprising an inner compartment for storing the food-stuffs and at least one vessel containing a refrigerant substance for maintaining a cooling temperature for preserving fresh food-stuffs or a freezing temperature for preserving frozen food-stuffs in the compartment.
  • Isothermal containers thus made are for example known from documents EP-0337860 , EP-075816 , EP-0823600 and EP-0863374 , according to which the refrigerant substance is made up of dry ice contained in a drawer arranged in the upper area of the compartment of the isothermal containers. Dry ice is obtained by means of specific equipment for injecting CO2 into the drawer and this entails costs, dosage difficulty as well as environmental pollution risks. The refrigerant effect that can be obtained with this solution generally has a limited duration in particular when it comes to maintaining the freezing temperature of frozen food-stuffs.
  • refrigerant substances made up of eutectic liquids or mixtures i.e. substances whose melting point is lower than that of the single substances they are made up of is also known in the prior art.
  • this solution is used for small isothermal containers designed to hold a meal and kept in a store provided with an external and separate heat regulation unit, like in the case described in US-8952556 , or in a household refrigerator, like in the case described in EP-1939554 .
  • the container with the frozen eutectic liquid and the food-stuffs is removed from the store or respectively from the refrigerator so as to be preserved in an external environment for a limited period of time.
  • thermal-chemical system including a reservoir forming an evaporator and containing a liquefied gas capable of combining with a reactive product contained in a reactor, and switch valves designed to be activated to cool or heat the food-stuffs container are provided.
  • document US-7600392 describes a first cooling sub-system of the compressor type, supplied by an electric source, and a second cooling sub-system constituted by a eutectic accumulator.
  • the first cooling sub-system cools the second cooling sub-system through a first circuit, and a second circuit through which the second cooling sub-system cools the food-stuffs container in absence of electrical power supply is provided.
  • This solution is particularly complex due to the presence of the second circuit.
  • the object of the invention is to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and this object is attained thanks to an isothermal container for transporting perishable food-stuffs as defined in claim 1.
  • the isothermal container is provided with two vessels, each containing a respective cooling eutectic liquid having a different freezing temperature with respect to the other, and the frigorific assembly fixed outside the container comprises two compressors and two evaporators designed to independently cool the eutectic liquid in each vessel to a respective different selectively and adjustably pre-set temperature.
  • the two vessels conveniently have a differentiated volume, greater for the vessel of the eutectic liquid with lower freezing temperature.
  • the two vessels may be arranged adjacent to each other, or one may be contained inside the other.
  • the frigorific assembly conveniently comprises a single capacitor connected to two evaporators, constituted by respective coils contained in the aforementioned vessels.
  • the isothermal container according to the invention is capable of attaining considerable advantages in terms of duration in absence of electrical power supply, the duration of the refrigerant effect, rapidity of conditioning to the desired cooling or freezing temperatures when the frigorific assembly is running, transportability on board distribution vehicles, even of the electric drive type, and easy to recycle at the end of the life cycle thereof.
  • an isothermal container of the generally conventional type formed by a parallelepiped-shaped body obtained through rotational moulding with a monobloc structure, without corners, gaskets and welding, is indicated in its entirety with 1.
  • the outer shell is made of polyethylene and the insulation is made of polyurethane foam enclosed in the polyethylene shell.
  • the container 1 is provided - at the lower part - with swivelling wheels 2 and - at the front part - with a door 3, having the same monobloc structure, for sealingly closing an inner compartment 4 for storing perishable food-stuffs to be transported for distribution.
  • the upper area of the inner compartment 4 has a receptacle 5, to be addressed hereinafter, provided with a front grid 6.
  • the frigorific assembly 8 comprises a pair of motor compressors 9, 10 connected to a common capacitor 11 on one side and to a pair of coil evaporators 12, 13 - illustrated in figures 4 and 5 - on the other.
  • the frigorific assembly 8 further comprises an electronic control unit 14 to which there are operatively associated temperature sensors and probes - not illustrated - as well as a switch 15 and a selector 16 arranged on the front wall of the box 7, as represented in figure 1 .
  • a first and a second vessel each containing a refrigerant substance constituted by a respective eutectic liquid, are indicated with 17, 18.
  • the vessels 17 and 18 are constituted by hermetically sealed vats, provided - at the top part - with respective release valves 19, 20 for compensating the internal pressure, and one containing the coil evaporator 12 and the other the coil evaporator 13.
  • the coil 12 is provided with respective inlet 21 and outlet 22 ducts projecting upwards from the vessel 17 for respectively connecting with the compressor 9 and the capacitor 11, and the coil evaporator 13 is similarly provided with respective inlet 23 and outlet 24 ducts also projecting above the vessel 18 for connecting to the compressor 10 and to the capacitor 11 of the frigorific assembly 8.
  • the vessel refrigerant circuit 17 (cooling circuit) as well as the vessel refrigerant circuit 18 (“ freezing circuit”) use a refrigerant gas R507.
  • the two vessels 17 and 18 are fixedly and adjacently positioned inside the receptacle 5 located at the upper part of the compartment 4, immediately beneath the upper wall of the isothermal container 1 to which the box 7 with the frigorific assembly 8, behind the grid 6, is fixed.
  • the vessel 17 for example measures about a third of the size of the vessel 18 and it contains about 18.5 1 of a eutectic mixture for example made up of water and a thickener, whose eutectic temperature is 0°C.
  • the larger vessel 18 contains about 30.5 1 of eutectic mixture for example made up of water, NaCl and thickener, whose eutectic temperature is -21°C for example. Both vessels 17 and 18 are not fully filled with the respective eutectic liquids, given that the volume increase of the eutectic mixture in the freezing stage obviously has to be taken into account.
  • the frigorific assembly 8 can be adjustably and selectively used, through the selector 16, for creating a cooled or frozen environment in the isothermal container 1, depending on the condition of the perishable food-stuffs introduced into the compartment 4 for transportation in use.
  • the motor compressors 9, 10 when connected to power mains and supplied at 230 Vac and 50 Hz, are capable of cooling the eutectic liquid contained in one or the other vessel 17, 18 within eight hours approximately.
  • the isothermal container 1 is used for transporting the perishable food-stuffs at a controlled temperature: the thermal energy accumulated by the eutectic liquid contained in the vessel 17 and 18 is released into the compartment 4 and it enables transporting fresh or frozen food-stuffs for several hours, without requiring further power supply.
  • the operating modes of the frigorific assembly 8 in the two different modes, designed to be set through the selector 16 respectively for transporting fresh food-stuffs and frozen food-stuffs are described below.
  • both compressors 9, 10 When conditioning the isothermal container 1 for transporting fresh goods, after connecting to the power mains and setting the selector 16 to the corresponding "fresh" position, both compressors 9, 10 are activated.
  • the compressor 10 associated to the vessel 18 automatically stops when the eutectic mixture therein reaches the temperature of -10°C: this value can be changed by means of an electronic thermostat connected to the control unit 14.
  • the compressor 9 associated to the vessel 17 automatically stops when the eutectic mixture therein reaches the temperature of -20°C, so as to be sure that the state of such mixture has fully changed.
  • the average time required for conditioning the isothermal container 1 for transporting fresh products is approximately eight hours: temperature detection in both vessels 17 and 18 is carried out by means of probes, not illustrated, positioned therein. The end of the conditioning cycle may be signalled by means of a light warning.
  • the cooling of the vessel 18 for conditioning the isothermal container 1, even for transporting fresh products is carried out so as to prevent the thermal energy accumulated in the vessel 17 from being absorbed by the eutectic mixture contained in the vessel 18.
  • the temperature inside the isothermal container 1 is conveniently displayed on the front wall of the box 7.
  • both compressors 9, 10 are activated even in this case.
  • the compressor 9 stops when the eutectic mixture contained in the vessel 18 reaches a temperature of -20°C.
  • the compressor 10 instead stops after the eutectic mixture in the vessel 17 reaches -40°C, so as to be sure that the state of the eutectic liquid has fully changed.
  • the average time required for conditioning the isothermal container 1 for transporting frozen food-stuffs is eight hours in this case too.
  • the vessel 17 is also cooled so as to prevent the thermal energy accumulated in the vessel 18 from being absorbed by the eutectic mixture contained in the vessel 17.
  • a solution wherein the vessel 17, possibly replaced by a flexible bag, is contained in the vessel 18 can be envisaged.
  • the eutectic liquid contained in the inner bag accumulates energy and the surrounding eutectic liquid will keep it solidified. In this manner, the system will have plenty of energy to release so as to keep the temperatures positive.
  • the inner vessel 17 may be made of various materials, for example steel or plastic material.
  • a single motor compressor capable of supplying the two frigorific circuits can be provided instead of two motor compressors 9, 10.
  • a third variant represented in figure 7 , provides for the use of one vessel 25 with capacity substantially equal to the sum of the capacities of the two vessels 17 and 18 and containing one coil evaporator 26 connected to the frigorific assembly 8, which will include one motor compressor even in this case.
  • the vessel 25 will contain the eutectic mixture of the type appropriate to preserve fresh food-stuffs or of the type appropriate to preserve frozen food-stuffs.
  • the isothermal container 1 can only be used either for one or for the other type of food-stuffs.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
EP17170355.6A 2016-05-10 2017-05-10 Conteneur isotherme pour le transport de denrées alimentaires périssables Withdrawn EP3244144A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITUA2016A003308A ITUA20163308A1 (it) 2016-05-10 2016-05-10 Contenitore isotermico per il trasporto di alimenti deperibili

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3244144A1 true EP3244144A1 (fr) 2017-11-15

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Family Applications (1)

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EP17170355.6A Withdrawn EP3244144A1 (fr) 2016-05-10 2017-05-10 Conteneur isotherme pour le transport de denrées alimentaires périssables

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP3244144A1 (fr)
IT (1) ITUA20163308A1 (fr)

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0075816A2 (fr) 1981-09-26 1983-04-06 BASF Aktiengesellschaft Procédé de fabrication de corps à partir d'un laminé à trois couches, et utilisation de ce corps creux pour conserver des mélanges à base d'hydrocarbure
EP0337860A2 (fr) 1988-04-08 1989-10-18 Carboxyque Francaise Conteneur isotherme à réservoir de produit réfrigérant et application au transport de produits frais
EP0823600A2 (fr) 1996-07-30 1998-02-11 Olivo Conteneur isotherme avec réserve de frigories
EP0863374A2 (fr) 1997-03-05 1998-09-09 MONETTI S.p.A. Récipient à réfrigérant solide pour conteneurs isothermes, notamment pour le transport à température contrÔlée de produits
EP1236960A1 (fr) * 2001-02-28 2002-09-04 High Technology Participation S.A. Appareil de conservation en particulier pour des produits périssables à une température prédéterminée
WO2006007663A1 (fr) * 2004-07-22 2006-01-26 Era (Environmental Refrigeration Alternatives) Pty Ltd Systeme de refrigeration
EP1939554A1 (fr) 2006-12-28 2008-07-02 CANDY S.p.A. Récipient comprenant une plaque eutectique et réfrigérateur comportant un tel récipient
US20110067852A1 (en) 2009-09-21 2011-03-24 David Scott Farrar Temperature controlled cargo containers
DE102010041951A1 (de) * 2010-10-04 2012-04-05 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Kältegerät mit einem Kältespeicher
FR3007114A1 (fr) 2013-06-18 2014-12-19 Coldway Dispositif modulaire externe de regulation autonome de temperature d une enceinte
US8952556B2 (en) 2011-03-30 2015-02-10 John S. Warren Modular temperature maintaining or regulating storage systems
US20150233617A1 (en) * 2013-11-27 2015-08-20 Tokitae Llc Refrigeration devices including temperature-controlled container systems

Patent Citations (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0075816A2 (fr) 1981-09-26 1983-04-06 BASF Aktiengesellschaft Procédé de fabrication de corps à partir d'un laminé à trois couches, et utilisation de ce corps creux pour conserver des mélanges à base d'hydrocarbure
EP0337860A2 (fr) 1988-04-08 1989-10-18 Carboxyque Francaise Conteneur isotherme à réservoir de produit réfrigérant et application au transport de produits frais
EP0823600A2 (fr) 1996-07-30 1998-02-11 Olivo Conteneur isotherme avec réserve de frigories
EP0863374A2 (fr) 1997-03-05 1998-09-09 MONETTI S.p.A. Récipient à réfrigérant solide pour conteneurs isothermes, notamment pour le transport à température contrÔlée de produits
EP1236960A1 (fr) * 2001-02-28 2002-09-04 High Technology Participation S.A. Appareil de conservation en particulier pour des produits périssables à une température prédéterminée
US7600392B2 (en) 2004-07-22 2009-10-13 ERA (Environmental Refigeration Alternatives) Pty Ltd Refrigeration system
WO2006007663A1 (fr) * 2004-07-22 2006-01-26 Era (Environmental Refrigeration Alternatives) Pty Ltd Systeme de refrigeration
EP1939554A1 (fr) 2006-12-28 2008-07-02 CANDY S.p.A. Récipient comprenant une plaque eutectique et réfrigérateur comportant un tel récipient
US20110067852A1 (en) 2009-09-21 2011-03-24 David Scott Farrar Temperature controlled cargo containers
DE102010041951A1 (de) * 2010-10-04 2012-04-05 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Kältegerät mit einem Kältespeicher
US8952556B2 (en) 2011-03-30 2015-02-10 John S. Warren Modular temperature maintaining or regulating storage systems
FR3007114A1 (fr) 2013-06-18 2014-12-19 Coldway Dispositif modulaire externe de regulation autonome de temperature d une enceinte
US20150233617A1 (en) * 2013-11-27 2015-08-20 Tokitae Llc Refrigeration devices including temperature-controlled container systems

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