EP3541249A1

EP3541249A1 - Refrigerated sales furniture

Info

Publication number: EP3541249A1
Application number: EP16798214.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christophe Vallee; Ahmad M MAMOUD
Original assignee: Carrier Corp
Current assignee: Carrier Corp
Priority date: 2016-11-21
Filing date: 2016-11-21
Publication date: 2019-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2036-11-21
Also published as: WO2018091115A1; CN109982614A; CN109982614B; EP3541249B1

Abstract

A refrigerated sales furniture (10) comprises a front frame (6) with at least one opening providing access to a refrigerated goods presentation space (28) of the refrigerated sales furniture (10); at least one mullion (14), which is detachably mounted to the front frame (6) and which comprises at least one heat pipe (16); and at least one refrigerant conduit (9) extending through at least a section of the front frame (6). The mullion (14) comprises a first heat conducting section (18a) in thermal connection with the at least one heat pipe (16). The front frame (6) comprises a second heat conducting section (18b) in thermal connection with the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit (9). The first and second heat conducting sections (18a, 18b) abut against each other forming a heat conduction device (18), which is configured to provide a thermal connection which allows to transfer heat from the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit (9) to the at least one heat pipe (16).

Description

Refrigerated Sales Furniture

The invention relates to refrigerated sales furniture, in particular to refrigerated sales furniture comprising doors and a mullion detachably mounted to said refrigerated sales furniture and being configured to reduce the risk that undesired condensate or frost forms on the outer front surface of the mullion. The invention further relates to a mullion which is configured to be employed in such refrigerated sales furniture.

Refrigerated sales furniture, as known in the art, comprise a refrigerated goods presentation space which is configured to accommodate goods to be refrigerated and presented. Some refrigerated sales furniture have doors and a front frame with at least one mullion. In order to provide access to the goods accommodated within the goods presentation space openings are formed within said front frame and separated by the at least one mullion. The front frame is configured to receive the doors when they are in the closed position.

The at least one mullion has an outer front surface. The outer front surface, which is facing away from the refrigerated goods presentation space and exposed to ambient air, is configured to receive the doors when they are in their closed positions. The at least one mullion is cooled when the refrigerated sales cabinet is operated. If the temperature of the front surface of the mullion drops below the dew point temperature of ambient air, humidity from the ambient air condenses on the outer front surface which is undesired and a nuisance for the customers. In refrigerated sales furniture intended to store frozen food, temperatures at the front surface of the mullion may even drop below the freezing point of water causing an icing of the door to the front frame and potentially inhibiting access to the goods stored in the refrigerated goods presentation space.

Therefore, it would be beneficial to prevent that the temperature at the outer front surface of the at least one mullion falls below the dew point temperature of ambient air or even below the freezing point of water. It further would be beneficial to provide refrigerated sales furniture comprising a front frame with at least one mullion which may be assembled and disassembled easily. According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention such refrigerated sales furniture comprises: a front frame with at least two openings providing access to a refrigerated goods presentation space of the refrigerated sales furniture; at least one mullion separating the at least two openings, which is detachably mounted to the front frame and which comprises at least one heat pipe; at least two doors which fit to the front frame at the at least two openings and which are movable between a closed position closing the at least two openings and at least one open position allowing access to the refrigerated sales space via the at least two openings; and at least one refrigerant conduit extending through at least a section of the front frame. The mullion comprises a first heat conducting section which is thermally connected with the at least one heat pipe. The front frame comprises a second heat conducting section which is thermally connected with the refrigerant conduit. The first and second heat conducting sections abut against each other forming a heat conduction device, which is configured to provide a thermal connection between the refrigerant conduit and the at least one heat pipe which allows heat to be transferred from the refrigerant conduit to the at least one heat pipe.

The at least one refrigerant conduit is part of a refrigeration circuit and it is arranged in the high pressure part of the refrigeration circuit, i.e. downstream of the compressor and upstream of at least one expansion device of the refrigeration circuit. In a refrigeration circuit the temperature of the compressed and high pressure refrigerant upstream of the expansion device is higher than the temperature of the expanded and low pressure refrigerant downstream of the expansion device. The temperature of the high pressure refrigerant downstream of the compressor and upstream of the expansion device typically is in the range of 30 °C to 50 °C.

Thus, in a refrigerated sales furniture according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the at least one mullion is heated using waste heat which is transferred from the relatively warm refrigerant, i.e. refrigerant having a temperature which typically is in the range of 30 °C to 50 °C, flowing through the refrigerant conduit downstream of the compressor and upstream of an expansion device via the heat conduction device to the at least one heat pipe within the at least one mullion. The at least one heat pipe, which may be fixed to the inner wall of the outer front surface of the at least one mullion , for example using a heat conducting glue, distributes the heat along the length of the at least one mullion. As a result, the temperature on the outer front surface of the at least one mullion does not drop below the dew point temperature of ambient air and the risk that undesired condensate forms on the outer front surface of the at least one mullion is considerably reduced. In refrigerated sales furniture intended to store frozen food, the temperature on the outer front surface of the at least one mullion does not drop below the freezing point of water and the risk of icing of the door to the front frame potentially inhibiting access to the goods stored in the refrigerated goods presentation space is considerably reduced.

Provided that the heat conduction device comprises a first heat conducting section and a second heat conducting section which may be separated from each other, the at least one mullion may be mounted to and dismounted from the front frame of the refrigerated sales furniture easily. This allows assembling and disassembling the refrigerated sales furniture easily and conveniently. Since waste heat from the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit is used, the mullion is heated without increasing the energy consumption of the refrigerated sales furniture.

In the following, exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the enclosed figures:

Figure 1 a shows a schematic sectional view of arefrigerated sales furniture according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Figure 1 b shows a simplified front view of the refrigerated sales furniture without doors according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2a shows an enlarged sectional view of a lower front section of the refrigerated sales furniture shown in Figure 1 a.

Figure 2b schematically illustrates the heat flux going through the heat conduction device and the functionality of heat pipes as they are employed in exemplary embodiments of the invention. Figures 3a shows a rear view of the front assembly parts of a mullion and of the adjacent second heat conducting section according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Figures 3b shows a rear view of the front assembly parts of the mullion and of the adjacent second heat conducting section shown in Figure 3a according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention. Figure 3c shows a rear view of the front assembly parts of a mullion and of the adjacent second heat conducting section shown in Figure 3a according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a second heat conducting section of the heat conduction device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a second heat conducting section of the heat conduction device according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a second heat conducting section of the heat conduction device according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 a depicts a schematic sectional view of the refrigerated sales furniture 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Figure 1 b depicts a simplified front view, which does not show the doors, of the refrigerated sales furniture 10.

The refrigerated sales furniture 10 comprises a furniture body 1 defining a refrigerated goods presentation space 28 which is configured to store products (not shown) to be presented therein. A plurality of shelves or racks 22 (not shown in Figure 1 b) which are configured to accommodate and support said products are provided on top of each other within the refrigerated goods presentation space 28.

An evaporator 2 (not shown in Figure 1 b) which is part of a refrigeration circuit is provided at the bottom of the refrigerated sales furniture 10 below the refrigerated goods presentation space 28. Additional components of the refrigeration circuit, such as a compressor 30, a condenser 32 and an expansion device 36 (not shown in Figure 1 b) may be provided within the refrigerated sales furniture 10 as well, e.g in a bottom section 12 of the refrigerated sales furniture 10. Alternatively, one or more of these components, in particular the compressor 30 and/or the condenser 32, may be located outside the refrigerated sales furniture 10, for example in a machine room or on the outside/on the roof of a building (not shown) housing the refrigerated sales furniture 10. An access area 11 which is provided at the front side of the refrigerated goods presentation space 28 is closed by means of at least one door 8 (not shown in Figure 1 b), in particular a glass door. The door 8 is pivotably supported by upper and lower hinges 7a, 7b (not shown in Figure 1 b). The upper and lower hinges 7a, 7b are attached to upper and lower sections 6a, 6b of a front frame 6 which is part of or attached to the furniture body 1. The upper and lower sections 6a, 6b of the front frame 6 respectively extend substantially along a horizontal axis.

In alternative embodiments which are not shown in the figures the refrigerated sales furniture 10 may be equipped with at least one sliding door mounted on ball bearings rolling on rails.

At least one mullion 14 extends substantially along a vertical axis between the upper and lower sections 6a, 6b of the front frame 6. A refrigerant conduit 9, which fluidly connects the condenser 32 with the expansion device 36 of the refrigeration circuit, passes through the front frame 6. In particular, upper and lower sections 9a, 9b of said refrigerant conduit 9 extend through the upper and lower sections 6a, 6b of the front frame 6, respectively. The refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit 9 upstream of the expansion device 26 is relatively warm, in particular warmer than the refrigerant flowing through evaporator 2 which is arranged downstream of the expansion device 36. Thus, the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit 9 increases the temperature of the front frame 6. This reduces the risk that undesired condensate forms on outer front surfaces of the front frame 6 which are exposed to ambient air. Figure 1 a further shows that a return air duct 26 which extends substantially along a horizontal axis is formed below the lowest shelf or rack 22. The return air duct 26 is fluidly connected to an inlet side of the evaporator 2, which is the right side of the evaporator 2 in the exemplary configuration shown in Figure 1a. The return air duct 26 houses a fan 3, which is configured to suck air from the refrigerated goods presentation space 28 through a return air opening 4 located at the bottom of the refrigerated goods presentation space 28 into the return air duct 26 and to deliver said air to the evaporator 2 where it is cooled. The return air opening 4 is covered by a return air grille 34 which prevents goods and other objects from falling into the return air duct 26.

Cooled air leaving the evaporator 2 (on its left side in the exemplary configuration 5 shown in Figure 1a) is delivered into a vertical cold air duct 24 extending vertically along a back wall 29 of the refrigerated goods presentation space 28.

The vertical cold air duct 24 is provided with openings 30 which allow cold air to flow from the vertical cold air duct 24 into the refrigerated goods presentation i o space 28.

A horizontal cold air duct 25 is fluidly connected with an upper end of the vertical cold air duct 24 in order to deliver cold air from the vertical cold air duct 24 to the front side of the refrigerated goods presentation space 28. A front side end of the 15 horizontal cold air duct 25 is provided with an air discharge opening 5, which is configured to discharge cold air from the horizontal cold air duct 25 into an upper front area of the refrigerated goods presentation space 28.

Cold air which is discharged through the air discharge opening 5 into the upper 20 front area of the refrigerated goods presentation space 28 provides a flow of cold air ("cold air curtain") flowing substantially vertically along the inside of the door 8 and a rear side 14b of the at least one mullion 14 facing the refrigerated goods presentation space 28 from the top to the bottom of the refrigerated goods presentation space 28.

25

When the refrigerated sales furniture 10 is in operation, the at least one mullion 14 is cooled by the refrigerated air delivered into the refrigerated goods presentation space 28. If the temperature of an outer front surface 14a of the mullion 14,which is in contact with ambient air outside the refrigerated sales furniture 10 drops

30 below the dew point temperature humidity from said ambient air condenses on said outer front surface 14a which is undesirable. In refrigerated sales furniture 10 intended to store frozen food, even temperatures below the freezing point of water may be reached at the front surface 14a of the mullion 14, causing an icing of the door 8 to the front frame 6 and potentially inhibiting access to the goods (not

35 shown) stored in the refrigerated goods presentation space 28. Figure 2a shows an enlarged sectional view of a lower front section of the refrigerated goods presentation space 28 and in particular of the at least one mullion 14. The mullion 14 comprises a front plate 15 and at least one heat pipe 16 extending substantially along a vertical axis on the rear side 15b of the front plate 15 of the mullion 14, i.e. on the side of the front plate 15 facing the refrigerated goods presentation space 28. The at least one heat pipe 16 is in thermal connection with said front plate 15. In order to minimize the amount of heat that inevitably is transferred from the at least one heat pipe 16 to the refrigerated goods presentation space 28 the at least one heat pipe 16 is embedded in a thermally insulating material 17 such as a thermally insulating foam which is applied to a rear side 15b of the front plate 15. A lower section of the at least one heat pipe 16 is thermally connected with a first heat conducting section 18a. A second heat conducting section 18b is thermally connected to the lower section 9b of the refrigerant conduit 9 extending through the lower section 6b of the front frame 6. The first and second heat conducting sections 18a, 18b are made of a material having a high thermal conductivity. This may include but is not limited to copper or aluminum, or an alloy comprising copper and/or aluminum.

When the mullion 14 is mounted to the front frame 6 of the refrigerated sales furniture 10, a lower surface of the first heat conducting section 8a abuts against an upper surface of the second heat conducting section 18b so that the first and second heat conducting sections 18a, 18b form a heat conduction device 18. The heat conduction device 18 provides a thermal connection allowing heat to be transferred from the lower section 9b of the refrigerant conduit 9 to the at least one heat pipe 16. In order to enhance the efficiency of the transfer of heat between the first and second heat conducting sections 18a, 18b, a thermally conductive compound 19, e.g. a heat conductive paste or thermal grease, may be provided between the first and second heat conducting sections 18a, 18b.

As described previously, the first and second heat conducting sections 18a, 18b of the heat conduction device 18 abut against each other when the mullion 14 is mounted to the front frame 6 of the refrigerated sales furniture 10. The mullion 14 is mechanically fixed and/or fastened to the front frame 6. , but the first and second heat conducting sections 18a, 18b are not mechanically fixed or fastened directly to each other. Therefore, the first and second heat conducting sections 18a, 18b may be separated easily from each other in order to detach the mullion 14 from the front frame 6. Further, since there is no need to fix or fasten the first and second heat conducting sections 18a, 18b of the heat conduction device 18 to each other when the refrigerated sales furniture 10 is assembled, the assembly of the refrigerated sales furniture 10 is facilitated.

In refrigerated sales furniture 10 intended to store frozen food, the doors 8 are fitted with magnetic gaskets 20 in order to close tightly against the door frame 6. The region around the magnetic gaskets 20 is the most critical temperature zone as the magnetic gaskets 20 increase the heat exchange surface to the low temperature air inside the cabinet and therefore decrease the temperature of the outer surface of the mullion 14. Therefore it would be beneficial to place the refrigerant conduit 9 as well as the heat pipes 16 in front of the magnetic gaskets 20 of the doors 8, when arranged in their closed positions. This avoids an icing of the magnetic gaskets 20 to the front frame 6.

Figure 2b schematically illustrates the functionality of heat pipes 16 as they are employed in a mullion 14 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. When the refrigerated sales furniture 10 is operated, heat is transferred from the lower section 9a of the refrigerant conduit 9 via the first and second heat conducting sections 18a, 18b of the heat conduction device 18 to the bottom section of the heat pipes 16. The heat causes a liquid heat transfer fluid 13aprovided within each heat pipe 16 to partially evaporate. The evaporated heat transfer fluid 13b then rises along the length (height) of the heat pipe 16 and condenses on the slightly colder interior walls of the upper part of the heat pipe 16 which are located higher than the heat conducting section 18a. The condensation process uses latent heat in order to distribute the heat flux along the length (height) of the mullion 14 without causing a substantial temperature drop.

As a result, the risk that the temperature on the outer front surface 15a of the front plate 15is not homogeneously distributed along the full length of the mullion 14 and drops below the dew point temperature of ambient air and undesired condensate forms on the outer front surface 14a of the mullion 14 is considerably reduced.

Due to transferring at least some of its heat to the outer front surface 15a of the front plate 15, the evaporated heat transfer fluid 13b condenses on the interior walls of the at least one heat pipe 16. The liquid heat transfer medium 13a runs along the interior walls of each heat pipe 16 down to the lower section of the heat pipe 16 where it is heated and evaporated again.

Figures 3a, 3b and 3c respectively show a perspective rear view of the front 5 assembly parts of a mullion 14 and of the adjacent second heat conducting section 18b according to exemplary embodiments of the invention.

The mullion 14 comprises a front plate 15 having an outer front surface 15a and a rear side 15b. Two straight sections of at least one heat pipe 16 are attached to the i o upper part of the rear side 15b of the front plate 15 as shown in Figure 3a. As mentioned before with reference to Figure 2a, the at least one heat pipe 16 may be embedded in a thermally insulating material 17 which is applied to the rear side 15b of the front plate 15. In order to allow an unobstructed view onto the at least one heat pipe 16, the thermally insulating material 17 is not shown in Figures 3a,

1 5 3b and 3c.

The lower end sections of the at least one heat pipe 16 is embedded in a first heat conducting section 18a in a manner which provides an efficient thermal connection between the first heat conducting section 18a and the least heat pipe 16.

20

When the mullion 14 is mounted to the front frame 6, which is not shown in Figures 3a, 3b and 3c, a lower surface of the first heat conducting section 18a abuts against an opposing upper surface of the second heat conducting section 18b in order to provide an efficient thermal connection between the first and second heat 25 conducting sections 18a, 18b.

In Figures 3b and 3c, the first and second heat conducting sections 18a, 18b are depicted transparently, illustrating two different exemplary embodiments of the invention. This allows to show the lower end sections of the at least one heat pipe

30 16 which are embedded within the first heat conducting section 18a and the lower section 9b of the refrigerant conduit 9 embedded within the second heat conducting section 18b. Figures 3b and 3c in particular show that the lower section 9b of the refrigerant conduit 9 meanders through the second heat conducting section 18b. Details of the configuration of the lower section 9b of the refrigerant

35 conduit 9 extending through the second heat conducting section 18b will be discussed further below with reference to Figures 5, 6 and 7. Figure 3b shows a rear view of a mullion 14 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention. In said first embodiment, the mullion 14 comprises two straight heat pipes 16 embedded within the first heat conducting section 18a. Although two straight heat pipes 16 are shown in the embodiment depicted in 5 Figure3b, the skilled person will understand that in different embodiments of the invention a mullion 14 may comprise only one straight heat pipe 16 or more than two straight heat pipes 16.

Figure 3c shows a rear view of a mullion 14 according to a second exemplary l o embodiment of the invention.

In said second embodiment, the mullion 14 comprises a single U-shaped heat pipe 16 with two legs 16a, 16b. The two legs 16a, 16bextend parallel to each other along the length of the mullion 14 and are thermally connected to the rear side 15b 15 of the front plate 15. The two legs 16a, 16b are fluidly connected to each other by an arcuate section 16c. The arcuate section 16c is embedded in the first heat conducting section 8a of the heat conduction device 18.

Although a single U-shaped heat pipe 16 is shown in the embodiment depicted in 20 Figures 3c, the skilled person will understand that in different embodiments of the invention a mullion 14 may comprise more than one U-shaped heat pipe 16.

Alternatively, a single heat pipe may also be shaped like an S or a W in order to increase the heat exchange surface. Alternatively, the at least one U-shaped heat pipe 16 may be mounted in a mullion 14 with the straight legs being embedded in 25 the first heat conducting section 18a of the heat conduction device 18 and the arcuate section 16c being located at the opposite side of the mullion 14 (i.e. on top).

Figure 4 shows a schematic perspective view of a second heat conducting section 30 8b of the heat conduction device 18 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. The second heat conducting section 18b is depicted transparently in order to show the extension of the lower section 9b of the refrigerant conduit 9 passing through the second heat conducting section 18b.

35 Figure 4 in particular illustrates that the lower section 9b of the refrigerant conduit 9 meanders through the second heat conducting section 18b. The refrigerant conduit 9 in particular extends through the second heat conducting section 18b in the form of an inverted S including three straight sections 9c running parallel to each other. Additionally, two arcuate turnaround sections 9d of the refrigerant conduit 9, which fluidly connect the straight sections 9c of the refrigerant conduit 9, are arranged within the second heat conducting section 18b. Such a configuration increases the transfer of heat from the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit 9 to the second heat conducting section 18b when compared with a configuration in which only a single straight section 9c of the refrigerant conduit 9 passes through the second heat conducting section 18b.

Figure 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a second heat conducting section 8b. In said alternative embodiment, three straight sections 9c of the refrigerant conduit 9 extend parallel to each other through the second heat conducting section 18b as well. Contrary to the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the arcuate turnaround sections 9d fluidly connecting the straight sections 9c to each other are arranged outside the second heat conducting section 18b. Therefore, only straight channels and no curved channels need to be formed within the second heat conducting section 18b in order to accommodate the straight sections 9c of the refrigerant conduit 9. Thus, arranging the arcuate turnaround sections 9d of the refrigerant conduit 9 outside the second heat conducting section 18b facilitates the production and assembly of the second heat conducting section 18b.

A first arcuate turnaround section 9d fluidly connects a straight section 9c which is arranged in the middle of the second heat conducting section 18b with a lower straight section 9c which is arranged in the lower half of the second heat conducting section 18b, and a second arcuate turnaround section 9d fluidly connects the lower straight section 9c with an upper straight section 9c which is arranged in the upper half of the second heat conducting section 18b. The fluid connection between the lower and upper straight sections 9c with each other allows increasing the radius R of curvature of the second arcuate turnaround section 9d which is advantageous from a manufacturing point of view.

Figure 6 illustrates yet another embodiment of a second heat conducting section 18b. In said embodiment, three straight sections 9c of the lower portion 9b of the refrigerant conduit 9 extend parallel to each other through the second heat conducting section 18b as well. Contrary to the embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5, the turnaround sections 9e fluidly connecting the straight sections 9c to each other are not formed as arcuate sections. Instead the turnaround sections 9e are formed by straight sections of the refrigerant conduit 9, which extend basically orthogonally to the straight sections 9c of the refrigerant conduit 9 extending parallel to each other through the second heat conducting section 18b. A second heat conducting section 18b comprising only straight sections 9c, 9e of the refrigerant conduit 9 allows to manufacture said sections 9c, 9e of the refrigerant conduit 9 within the second heat conducting section 18b easily. The straight sections 9c, 9e of the refrigerant conduit 9 for example may be formed by drilling straight holes/channels 38 from the outer surfaces into the second heat conducting section 18b. Such straight holes/channels 38 may be formed easily at low costs. The holes/channels 38 which are not used as refrigerant inlet or outlet, in particular those needed to drill the turnaround sections 9e, are closed by blind plugs 39.

According to exemplary embodiments, the second heat transfer section 18b may have a length L of 70 mm to 90 mm, in particular a length L of 80 mm, a height H of 30 mm to 50 mm, in particular a height H of 40 mm, and a width W of 8 mm to 15 mm, in particular a width W of 10 mm.

The straight sections 9c may be drilled into the second heat conducting section 18b with a hole diameter of 3 to 8 mm, in particular a diameter of 5 mm, and the arcuate turnaround sections 9d arranged outside the second heat conducting section 18b as shown in Figure 5 may be made of metal, in particular copper or an alloy comprising copper, with a diameter of 6 mm and a radius R of 10 mm to 20 mm, in particular a radius R of 15 mm. The piping of the arcuate turnaround sections 9d may be brazed into the holes drilled into the second heat conducting section 18b. The skilled person will understand that the embodiments shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 are only exemplary and that other configurations, in particular configurations in which only one or two or more than three sections 9c of the refrigerant conduit 9 run in parallel, may be employed. In the embodiments illustrated by the figures, the at least one heat pipe 16 which is arranged within the mullion 14 is only thermally connected to the lower section 9b of the refrigerant conduit 9. The skilled person, however, will understand that alternatively or additionally a heat conduction device 18 comprising separable first and second heat conducting sections 18a, 18b may be arranged at the opposing (upper) end of the at least one mullion 14 in order to provide a thermal connection between the heat pipe(s) 16 and the upper section 9a of the refrigerant conduit 9. In yet another embodiment not shown in the figures, the refrigerant conduit 9 may extend along a front frame 6 which is oriented in a substantially horizontal plane, e.g. a front frame 6 which is arranged on top of a refrigerating chest with an access area 11 oriented in a substantially horizontal plane. In such a configuration the at 5 least one mullion 14 extends substantially along a horizontal axis between opposing sides of the front frame 6. At least one heat conduction device 18 comprising separable first and second heat conducting sections 18a, 18b may be provided at least one end of the mullion 14. i o A number of optional features are set out below. These features may be realized in particular embodiments, alone or in combination with any of the other features.

In one embodiment, the at least one refrigerant conduit extends horizontally through at least one of a lower section and an upper section of the front frame. 15 This reduces the risk of undesired condensate forming in the upper and/or lower sections of the front frame.

In another embodiment, a section of the refrigerant conduit extends through the second heat conducting section embedded in the front frame to provide an efficient 20 heat transfer between the refrigerant and the second heat conducting section embedded in the front frame.

The section of the refrigerant conduit may meander through the second heat conducting section embedded in the front frame. The refrigerant conduit in 25 particular may have the shape of, for example, an S, an inverted S, or a loop with at least two, particularly three, conduit sections running in parallel.

Such a configuration results in an improved and very effective transfer of heat from the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit to the second heat 30 conducting section of the heat conduction device, and ultimately to the at least one heat pipe being thermally connected to the first heat conducting section of the heat conduction device.

In another embodiment, at least one of the first and second heat conducting 35 sections of the heat conduction device comprises metal, in particular copper or aluminum or an alloy comprising copper or aluminum. Metal, particularly copper or aluminum, has a high thermal conductivity and therefore is well suited in order to provide a highly efficient heat conduction device. In another embodiment, the mullion comprises second heat conducting sections at both ends. Providing an additional heat conducting section at a second end of the mullion allows increasing the amount of heat transferred from the refrigerant to the mullion. This is particularly beneficial for instance for extremely long mullions needing higher heat fluxes to maintain surface temperatures above the dew point temperature of ambient air.

In another embodiment, the at least one heat pipe has a straight (linear) shape. A heat pipe having a straight (linear) shape is easy to install and allows for an effective and uniform distribution of the heat along the length of the mullion.

In another embodiment, the at least one heat pipe has a U-shape, wherein the second heat conducting section of the mullion is thermally connected to the arcuate section of the U-shape. This allows for an effective transfer of heat from the second heat conducting section to both legs of the U-shaped heat pipe.

In another embodiment, the at least one mullion extends in a substantially vertical direction, in particular in the case of a refrigerated sales furniture which has at least one basically vertically oriented opening at its front side.

In another embodiment, the at least one mullion comprises a front plate made of metal. A front plate made of metal provides a good thermal distribution of the heat supplied by the heat pipe(s) in the direction perpendicular to the length of the heat pipe(s). In addition, a front plate made of metal provides a proper sealing of the magnetic gasket of the doors onto the outer surface of the at least one mullion.

In another embodiment, the at least one mullion comprises a back plate made of plastic. A back plate made of plastic provides a good thermal insulation, has a low weight and is easy to clean.

In another embodiment, the at least one mullion comprises a thermally insulating material, in particular thermally insulating foam. In particular, the rear side of the front plate of the at least one mullion, the at least one heat pipe and the second heat conducting section may be embedded within the thermally insulating material / thermally insulating foam. Providing a thermally insulating material / thermally insulating foam allows to enhance the thermal insulation and to minimize an undesired transfer of heat from the front plate of the at least one mullion, from the at least one heat pipe and from the second heat conducting section to the refrigerated goods presentation space.

In another embodiment, the at least one heat pipe may be attached to the front plate of the at least one mullion. This allows for an effective transfer of heat from the at least one heat pipe to the at least one mullion, particularly to the front plate in order to reduce the risk of undesired condensate formation on the outer front surface of the at least one mullion. in another embodiment, the front frame is provided as a door frame which is configured to support at least one door configured to close the at least one opening formed within the front frame in order to avoid cold air from flowing out of and warm air from entering into the refrigerated goods presentation space, thereby reducing the amount of energy required to cool the refrigerated goods presentation space to a desired temperature.

In another embodiment, the refrigerated sales furniture further comprises at least one expansion device which is fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit, wherein the second heat conducting section of the front frame is thermally connected to a section of the refrigerant conduit upstream of the at least one expansion device. This allows to very efficiently transfer heat from the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit to the at least one heat pipe via the heat conduction device.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention further include a refrigeration system comprising refrigerated sales furniture according to the invention and at least one condenser fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit upstream of the at least one expansion device. The second heat conducting section is thermally connected to a section of the refrigerant conduit downstream of the at least one condenser. This allows to very efficiently transfer heat from the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit to the at least one heat pipe via the heat conduction device.

In another embodiment, the refrigeration system comprising refrigerated sales furniture according to the invention further includes at least one compressor fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit upstream of the at least one condenser. The second heat conducting section is thermally connected to a section of the refrigerant conduit upstream of the at least one condenser. This allows to very efficiently transfer heat from the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit to the at least one heat pipe via the heat conduction device. In another embodiment, the refrigeration system further comprises at least one evaporator that is fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit downstream of the at least one expansion device and at least one compressor which is fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit downstream of the at least one evaporator. The at least one evaporator is provided within the refrigerated sales furniture, in particular close to or within the refrigerated goods presentation space in order to cool the refrigerated goods presentation space and the goods presented therein. In a further embodiment, all the elements of the vapor compression cycle, namely the at least compressor, the at least condenser, the at least expansion device and the at least evaporator are installed within the refrigerated sales furniture. Such refrigerated sales furniture is often referred to as plug-in refrigerated sales furniture.

Further embodiments include a muliion which is configured to be used in a front frame of refrigerated sales furniture as described herein. The muliion comprises at least one heat pipe, a heat conducting section in thermal connection with the at least one heat pipe and means to be mounted to the front frame of the refrigerated sales furniture, and to detach the muliion from the front frame. The heat conducting section is arranged at one end or at both ends of the muliion and abuts against a corresponding heat conducting section of the front frame, thereby providing a thermal connection which allows to transfer heat from the at least one refrigerant conduit extending through at least a section of the front frame to the at least one heat pipe in the mounted state of the muliion.

For such muliion the advantages and embodiments as described herein with respect to the refrigerated sales furniture apply. Moreover, such mullions can easily be detached and mounted again in case of maintenance of the refrigerated sales furniture or cleaning work. They also can be replaced easily when they are damaged.

While the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition many modifications may be made to adopt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention includes all embodiments falling within the scope of the claims.

References

1 furniture body

2 evaporator

5 3 fan

4 return air opening

5 air discharge opening

6 front frame

6a upper section of the front frame

l o 6b lower section of the front frame

7a upper door hinge

7b lower door hinge

8 door

9 refrigerant conduit

15 9a upper section of the refrigerant conduit

9b lower section of the refrigerant conduit

9c straight channels of the refrigerant conduit

9d arcuate turnaround sections of the refrigerant conduit

9e straight turnaround sections of the refrigerant conduit

20 10 refrigerated sales furniture

11 access area of the refrigerated sales furniture

12 bottom section of the refrigerated sales furniture 13a liquid heat transfer fluid

13b gaseous heat transfer fluid

25 14 mullion

15 front plate of the mullion

15a front surface of the front plate of the mullion

15b rear side of the front plate of the mullion

16 heat pipe

30 16a, 16b straight legs of the heat pipe

16c arcuate section of the heat pipe

17 thermally insulating material

18 heat conduction device

18a first section of the heat conduction device

35 18b second section of the heat conduction device

19 thermally conductive compound

20 magnetic gasket

22 rack or shelve vertical cold air duct

horizontal cold air duct

return air duct

refrigerated goods presentation space

back wall of the refrigerated goods presentation space

compressor

condenser

return air grille

expansion device

holes/channels in the second section of the heat conduction device blind plug

Claims

Claims 1 . Refrigerated sales furniture (10), comprising:

a front frame (6) with at least one opening providing access to a refrigerated goods presentation space (28) of the refrigerated sales furniture (10);

at least one mullion (14), which is detachably mounted to the front frame (6) and which comprises at least one heat pipe (16); and

at least one refrigerant conduit (9) extending through at least a section of the front frame (6);

wherein the mullion (14) comprises a first heat conducting section (18a) in thermal connection with the at least one heat pipe (16);

wherein the front frame (6) comprises a second heat conducting section (18a) in thermal connection with the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit (9); and

wherein the first and second heat conducting sections (18a, 18b) abut against each other and form a heat conduction device (18) configured to provide a thermal connection to transfer heat from the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant conduit (9) to the at least one heat pipe (16).

2. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) according to claim 1 , wherein a section of the refrigerant conduit (9) extends through the second heat conducting section (18b) of the front frame (6).

3. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one refrigerant conduit (9) extends substantially along a horizontal axis through at least one of a lower section (6b) and/or an upper section (6a) of the front frame (6).

4. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) according any of the preceding claims, wherein a section (9b) of the refrigerant conduit (9) meanders through the second heat conducting section (18b) of the front frame (6).

5. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) according to claim 4, wherein the section (9b) of the refrigerant conduit (9) which meanders through the second heat conducting section ( 8b) of the front frame (6) has the shape of either an S, an inverted S, or a loop with at least two, particularly three conduit sections (9c) running in parallel.

6. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the first and second heat conducting sections (18a, 18b) comprises metal, in particular copper or aluminium.

5 7. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the mullion (14) comprises second heat conducting sections (18b) at one or at both ends.

8. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) according to any of the preceding claims, 10 wherein the at least one heat pipe (16) comprised in the at least one mullion (14) has a straight shape.

9. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one heat pipe (16) comprised in the at least one mullion (14) has a Ill s shape, and wherein the second heat conducting section (18b) of the mullion (14) is thermally connected to an arcuate section (16c) of the U-shaped heat pipe (16).

10. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one mullion (14) extends in a substantially vertical direction.

20

11 . Refrigerated sales furniture (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one mullion (14) comprises a front plate (15), particularly a front plate (15) made of metal, which is thermally connected to the at least one heat pipe (16).

25

12. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one mullion (14) comprises a thermally insulating material (17) particularly a thermally insulating foam.

30 13. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) according to claim 12, wherein a rear side of a front plate (15) of the at least one mullion (14), the at least one heat pipe (16) and the first heat conducting section (18a) arranged at one end or at both ends of the mullion (14) are embedded within the thermally insulating material (17).

35 14. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the front frame (6) is a door frame which is configured to support at least one door (8).

15. Refrigerated sales furniture (10) according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one expansion device (36) which is fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit (9), wherein the second heat conducting section (18b) of the front frame (6) is thermally connected to a section of the refrigerant conduit (9) upstream of the at least one expansion device (36).

16. Refrigeration system comprising a refrigerated sales furniture (10) according to claim 15 and at least one condenser (32), which is fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit (9) upstream of the at least one expansion device (36), wherein the second heat conducting section (18b) is thermally connected to a section of the refrigerant conduit (9) upstream or downstream of the at least one condenser (32).

17. Refrigeration system according to claim 16 further comprising at least one evaporator (2), which is fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit (9) downstream of the at least one expansion device (36), and at least one compressor (30), which is fluidly connected to the refrigerant conduit (9) downstream of the at least one evaporator (2).

18. ullion configured for use in a front frame (6) of the refrigerated sales furniture (10) according to any of claims 1 to 15, the mullion (14) comprising:

at least one heat pipe (16);

at least one first heat conducting section (18a) in thermal connection with the at least one heat pipe (16); and

means to mount to and detach the mullion (14) from the front frame (6);of the refrigerated sales furniture (10);

wherein the at least one first heat conducting section (18a) is arranged at one end or at both ends of the mullion (14) in order to abut against a corresponding second heat conducting section (18b) of the front frame (6), thereby providing a thermal connection which allows to transfer heat from the refrigerant flowing through the at least one refrigerant conduit (9) extending through at least a section of the front frame (6) to the at least one heat pipe (16) when the mullion (14) is mounted to the front frame.