EP3935327A2 - Rechargeable thermal accumulator, transport container comprising such accumulator, thermal recharging device of such accumulator and related system - Google Patents

Rechargeable thermal accumulator, transport container comprising such accumulator, thermal recharging device of such accumulator and related system

Info

Publication number
EP3935327A2
EP3935327A2 EP20724237.1A EP20724237A EP3935327A2 EP 3935327 A2 EP3935327 A2 EP 3935327A2 EP 20724237 A EP20724237 A EP 20724237A EP 3935327 A2 EP3935327 A2 EP 3935327A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
accumulator
fluid
thermal
chamber
connecting means
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP20724237.1A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Danilo Spagna
Daniele BARBIERATO
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.)
SandenVendo Europe SpA
Original Assignee
SandenVendo Europe SpA
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 SandenVendo Europe SpA filed Critical SandenVendo Europe SpA
Publication of EP3935327A2 publication Critical patent/EP3935327A2/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • F25D3/00—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies
    • F25D3/005—Devices using other cold materials; Devices using cold-storage bodies combined with heat exchangers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D20/00—Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00
    • F28D20/02—Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00 using latent heat
    • F28D20/021—Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00 using latent heat the latent heat storage material and the heat-exchanging means being enclosed in one container
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D20/00—Heat storage plants or apparatus in general; Regenerative heat-exchange apparatus not covered by groups F28D17/00 or F28D19/00
    • F28D2020/0065—Details, e.g. particular heat storage tanks, auxiliary members within tanks
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
    • Y02E60/14—Thermal energy storage

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to a rechargeable thermal accumulator, namely indifferently for cold or heat, to a transport container comprising at least one of such accumulators, to a thermal recharging device of at least one of such accumulators and to a system comprising at least one of such accumulators and at least one of such devices .
  • freezerine are known in the art, and are composed of a casing made of plastic material, with different shapes, sizes and consistency, containing a gel or an eutectic liquid: after having been suitably refrigerated inside a refrigerating cell, they keep a high refrigerating power and therefore a greater capability of keeping an optimum temperature for longer times without having the inconveniences related to dripping, particular of ice.
  • One of their custom uses in fact is being placed inside thermal bags for refrigerating and storing foodstuff and/or beverages during their transport : such accumulators however have the inconvenience of requiring a relatively long period of time to be again refrigerated once having reached an almost ambient temperature or, anyway, a temperature not any more optimum for their efficient use.
  • Portable devices are also known in the art, typically as small flexible parallelepipeds, capable of producing heat upon request by triggering exothermal chemical reactions. Such devices however are generally disposable and, once having produced heat by exploiting the above reactions, such items cannot be used any more.
  • object of the present invention is solving the above prior art problems by providing a thermal accumulator, namely indifferently of cold or of heat, which can preferably be of a portable type and easily rechargeable with a thermally treated fluid, in order to be easily reusable according to needs .
  • Another object of the present invention is providing a transport container comprising at least one rechargeable thermal accumulator which allows easily thermally conditioning its own contents (for example foods) according to needs.
  • an object of the present invention is providing a device which simply allows thermally recharging at least one thermal accumulator by replacing, at least partially, at least one discharging fluid contained inside such accumulator with at least one charging fluid thermally conditioned in such device, namely having a different temperature (greater of less than) that of the discharging fluid.
  • Another object of the present invention is providing a system comprising at least one accumulator and at least one device as described above .
  • Figure la shows a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the rechargeable thermal accumulator according to the present invention.
  • FIG. lb shows a schematic perspective and partially transparent view of another preferred embodiment of the rechargeable thermal accumulator according to the present invention.
  • Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the transport container according to the present invention.
  • Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the thermal recharging device according to the present invention.
  • the rechargeable thermal accumulator 1, preferably of the portable type, according to the present invention comprises at least one casing 3, for example made of a plastic material, comprising therein at least one chamber 5 containing at least one thermal fluid (also called discharging fluid FS) , preferably having a temperature T1, such accumulator 1 further comprising connecting means 7 of at least one of such chambers 5 with the outside of such casing 3 to allow replacing or at least partially integrating such thermal fluid or discharging fluid FS, preferably having such temperature T1 , with another thermal fluid (also called charging fluid FC) , preferably having a temperature T2, where T1 1 T2.
  • thermal fluid also called discharging fluid FS
  • FC another thermal fluid
  • the accumulator 1 according to the present invention is designed to subtract heat from the external environment and therefore provide cooling, it will be T1 > T2, while if the accumulator 1 according to the present invention is designed to provide heat to the external environment, and therefore heating, it will be T1 ⁇ T2.
  • the accumulator 1 when, for example, the accumulator 1 according to the present invention is aimed to subtract heat from the external environment and therefore provide cooling, it is enough to replace or at least partially integrate the thermal or discharging fluid FS contained inside the chamber 5 and having a temperature T1 ⁇ for example substantially coinciding with the ambient temperature) , with another thermal or charging fluid FC, suitably cooled, namely thermally conditioned to have a temperature T2 ⁇ T1 , through the connecting means 7.
  • the accumulator 1 when, for example, the accumulator 1 according to the present invention is designed to provide heat to the external environment, and therefore heating, it is enough to replace or at least partially integrate the thermal or discharging fluid FS contained inside the chamber 5 and having a temperature T1 (for example substantially coinciding with the ambient temperature) , with another thermal or charging fluid FC suitably heated, namely thermally conditioned to have a temperature T2 > T1 , through the connecting means 7.
  • T1 for example substantially coinciding with the ambient temperature
  • the accumulator 1 comprises a single chamber 5 substantially coinciding, for example, with the whole internal volume of the casing 3, as shown, for example, in Figure la,
  • the chamber 5 is contained in the casing 3 leaving free a residual internal volume 9 of the casing 3 itself, as shown, for example, in Figure lb: it can be provided that the residual internal volume 9 of the casing 3 can be empty or containing air or another fluid.
  • the chamber 5 can be shaped as a serpentine.
  • the number, arrangement and size of the five chambers of the accumulator 1 can be various, without therefore departing from the scope of the present invention.
  • the connecting means 7 are therefore aimed to allow introducing from outside the charging fluid
  • FC (for example, from a source of such charging fluid FC once being thermally conditioned to be taken at the desired temperature T2) inside at least one chamber 5 and the possible extraction of the discharging fluid FS from inside the chamber 5 itself .
  • the connecting means 7 can be composed of a single duct or a single opening (not shown) communicating with at least one chamber 5: in this case, throuni such single duct or single opening, it is possible, for example, to:
  • the connecting means 7 can also be composed, as for example shown in Figures la and lb) of at least one loading duct or opening 7a and of at least one unloading duct or opening 7b communicating with at least one chamber 5.
  • the connecting means 7 can comprise valve means (not shown) , for example made as quick connections of any type substantially known in the art, which allow, when necessary, keeping the thermal fluid inside the chamber 5 and, when necessary, for example when connected to a source of charging fluid FC, the extraction of the discharging fluid FS from the chamber 5 and/or the introduction of the charging fluids FC in the chamber 5 itself.
  • valve means not shown
  • the present invention further deals with a transport container comprising at least one accumulator 1 as previously described.
  • the transport container 10 comprises at least one casing outside 12 defining therein one or more compartments to house the goods to be transported (for example, foods, medicines, etc.) under thermal cooling or heating conditions depending on the temperature of the external environment, and at least one accumulator 1 according to the present invention as previously described, placed in thermal conduction with such one or more compartments: obviously, if the accumulators 1 of the container 10 are designed to subtract heat to the external environment, such one or more compartments will be subjected to cooling while, if the accumulators 1 of the container 10 are designed to provide heat to the external environment, such one or more compartments will be subjected to heating.
  • the external casing 12 can be indifferently rigid to make, for example, a thermal box or vessel (not shown) or flexible to make, for example, a thermal bag like the one representing the transport container 10 of Figure 2.
  • the casing 12 comprises one or more portions, such as, for example, pockets, technical compartments, hollow spaces, etc . , suitable to unmovably house one or more accumulators according to the present invention, which, in this way, can be removed from the casing 12 to proceed, for example, to the replacement or integration of the thermal fluids FC, FS therefrom with the above described modes, to be then placed again in such portions.
  • the accumulators according to the present invention are integrated in the casing 12 (for example in the base of this latter one, as shown, for example, in Figure 2) and substantially unmovable: in this case, it is possible to provide that the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b of the accumulators can go out of the casing 12 towards outside of the container 10 to allow replacing or integrating the thermal fluids FC, FS with the above described modes, without the need of removing the accumulators from such casing 12 ,
  • the present invention further deals with a thermal recharging device of at least one accumulator 1 according to the present invention as previously described.
  • the thermal recharging device 20 comprises: thermal conditioning means (for cooling if T2 ⁇ T1 or for heating if T2 > T1) of at least one thermal fluid to take it to the thermal conditions of a charging fluid FC (for example, at a temperature T2) ;
  • fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b to the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b of at least one accumulator 1 according to the present invention
  • such fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b being equipped at least for introducing the charging fluid FC into at least one chamber 5 of an accumulator 1 when the fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b are connected to the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b of such accumulator 1 and/or for extracting at least partially the discharging fluid SC, for example when it reaches a temperature next to T1, with at least one chamber 5 of the accumulator 1 when the fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b are connected to the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b of the accumulator 1.
  • the device 1 according to the present invention can further comprise collecting means of the discharging fluid FS coming from the chamber 5 of the accumulator 1 to convey it to the thermal conditioning means in order to take it back to the thermal conditions of a charging fluid FC,
  • the fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b of the device 20 can have complementary configuration and arrangement to those of the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b of the accumulator 1.
  • the connecting means 7 of the accumulator 1 are composed of a single duct or a single opening as described above, also the fluid connecting means 22 of the device 20 can be composed of a single duct suitable to be fluid connected with the duct or the opening of the actuator 1, for example by interposing valve means. Therefore, when such fluid connecting means 22 are operatively and fluid connected to such connecting means 7 of the accumulator 1, it is possible, for example, to:
  • the connecting means 7 of the accumulator 1 are composed of at least one loading duct or opening 7a and of at least one unloading duct or opening 7b
  • the fluid connecting means of the device 20 can be composed of a respective loading duct 22a and unloading duct 22b, each of which being adapted to be fluid connected to the corresponding loading duct or opening 7a or unloading duct or opening 7b of the actuator 1 , for example by interposing the valve means.
  • the accumulators 1 are integrated in a transport container 10 according to the present invention, it will be enough to connect the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b going out of the casing 12 to the respective fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b of the device 20.
  • the device 20 is further equipped with control means which detect how an actuator 1 is regularly connected to the fluid connecting means 22 and automatically actuate the operation of introducing the charging fluid FC and/or extracting the charging fluid FC.
  • the device 20 comprises suitable control means 24 capable of being actuated by a user when the actuator 1 is connected to the fluid connecting means 22 for manually starting the operation of introducing the charging fluid FC and/or extracting the charging fluid FC.
  • At least one accumulator 1 according to the present invention as previously described;
  • At least one thermal recharging device 20 according to the present invention as previously described.
  • the system according to the present invention can further comprise at least one transport container 10 according to the present invention as previously described.

Abstract

A rechargeable thermal accumulator (1) is described, comprising at least one casing (3) comprising therein at least one chamber (5) containing at least one thermal fluid or discharging fluid (FS) and connecting means (7) of such chamber (5) with outside of such casing (3) to replace or at least partially integrate such thermal fluid or discharging fluid (FS) with another thermal fluid or charging fluid (FC). A transport container comprising at least one accumulator, a thermal recharging device of at least one accumulator and a system comprising at least one accumulator and at least one device are further described.

Description

RECHARGEABLE THERMAL ACCUMULATOR, TRANSPORT CONTAINER COMPRISING SUCH ACCUMULATOR, THERMAL RECHARGING DEVICE OF SUCH ACCUMULATOR AND RELATED
SYSTEM
The present invention refers to a rechargeable thermal accumulator, namely indifferently for cold or heat, to a transport container comprising at least one of such accumulators, to a thermal recharging device of at least one of such accumulators and to a system comprising at least one of such accumulators and at least one of such devices .
Portable cold thermal accumulators or
"freezerine" are known in the art, and are composed of a casing made of plastic material, with different shapes, sizes and consistency, containing a gel or an eutectic liquid: after having been suitably refrigerated inside a refrigerating cell, they keep a high refrigerating power and therefore a greater capability of keeping an optimum temperature for longer times without having the inconveniences related to dripping, particular of ice. One of their custom uses in fact is being placed inside thermal bags for refrigerating and storing foodstuff and/or beverages during their transport : such accumulators however have the inconvenience of requiring a relatively long period of time to be again refrigerated once having reached an almost ambient temperature or, anyway, a temperature not any more optimum for their efficient use.
Portable devices are also known in the art, typically as small flexible parallelepipeds, capable of producing heat upon request by triggering exothermal chemical reactions. Such devices however are generally disposable and, once having produced heat by exploiting the above reactions, such items cannot be used any more.
Therefore, object of the present invention is solving the above prior art problems by providing a thermal accumulator, namely indifferently of cold or of heat, which can preferably be of a portable type and easily rechargeable with a thermally treated fluid, in order to be easily reusable according to needs .
Another object of the present invention is providing a transport container comprising at least one rechargeable thermal accumulator which allows easily thermally conditioning its own contents (for example foods) according to needs.
Moreover, an object of the present invention is providing a device which simply allows thermally recharging at least one thermal accumulator by replacing, at least partially, at least one discharging fluid contained inside such accumulator with at least one charging fluid thermally conditioned in such device, namely having a different temperature (greater of less than) that of the discharging fluid.
Another object of the present invention is providing a system comprising at least one accumulator and at least one device as described above .
The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will result from the following description, are obtained with a thermal accumulator as claimed in claim 1.
Moreover, the above and other objects and advantages of the invention are obtained with a transport container as claimed in claim 10, with a thermal recharging device as claimed in claim 11 and with a system as claimed in claim 13 ,
Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims ,
It is intended that all enclosed claims are an integral part of the present description.
It will be immediately obvious that numerous variations and modifications (for example related to shape, sizes, arrangements and parts with equivalent functionality) can be made to what is described, without departing from the scope of the invention, as appears from the enclosed claims.
The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non- limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:
Figure la shows a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the rechargeable thermal accumulator according to the present invention;
- Figure lb shows a schematic perspective and partially transparent view of another preferred embodiment of the rechargeable thermal accumulator according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the transport container according to the present invention; and
Figure 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the thermal recharging device according to the present invention.
With reference to Figures la and lb, it is possible to note that the rechargeable thermal accumulator 1, preferably of the portable type, according to the present invention comprises at least one casing 3, for example made of a plastic material, comprising therein at least one chamber 5 containing at least one thermal fluid (also called discharging fluid FS) , preferably having a temperature T1, such accumulator 1 further comprising connecting means 7 of at least one of such chambers 5 with the outside of such casing 3 to allow replacing or at least partially integrating such thermal fluid or discharging fluid FS, preferably having such temperature T1 , with another thermal fluid (also called charging fluid FC) , preferably having a temperature T2, where T1 ¹ T2. In particular, if the accumulator 1 according to the present invention is designed to subtract heat from the external environment and therefore provide cooling, it will be T1 > T2, while if the accumulator 1 according to the present invention is designed to provide heat to the external environment, and therefore heating, it will be T1 < T2.
From a practical point of view, when, for example, the accumulator 1 according to the present invention is aimed to subtract heat from the external environment and therefore provide cooling, it is enough to replace or at least partially integrate the thermal or discharging fluid FS contained inside the chamber 5 and having a temperature T1 {for example substantially coinciding with the ambient temperature) , with another thermal or charging fluid FC, suitably cooled, namely thermally conditioned to have a temperature T2 < T1 , through the connecting means 7.
Similarly, when, for example, the accumulator 1 according to the present invention is designed to provide heat to the external environment, and therefore heating, it is enough to replace or at least partially integrate the thermal or discharging fluid FS contained inside the chamber 5 and having a temperature T1 (for example substantially coinciding with the ambient temperature) , with another thermal or charging fluid FC suitably heated, namely thermally conditioned to have a temperature T2 > T1 , through the connecting means 7.
In a first preferred embodiment of the accumulator 1 according to the present invention, it can be provided that it comprises a single chamber 5 substantially coinciding, for example, with the whole internal volume of the casing 3, as shown, for example, in Figure la,
In a second preferred embodiment of the accumulator 1 according to the present invention, it can be provided that the chamber 5 is contained in the casing 3 leaving free a residual internal volume 9 of the casing 3 itself, as shown, for example, in Figure lb: it can be provided that the residual internal volume 9 of the casing 3 can be empty or containing air or another fluid.
In a further alternative, always as shown in Figure lb, the chamber 5 can be shaped as a serpentine.
Obviously, the number, arrangement and size of the five chambers of the accumulator 1 can be various, without therefore departing from the scope of the present invention.
The connecting means 7 are therefore aimed to allow introducing from outside the charging fluid
FC (for example, from a source of such charging fluid FC once being thermally conditioned to be taken at the desired temperature T2) inside at least one chamber 5 and the possible extraction of the discharging fluid FS from inside the chamber 5 itself .
In particular, the connecting means 7 can be composed of a single duct or a single opening (not shown) communicating with at least one chamber 5: in this case, throuni such single duct or single opening, it is possible, for example, to:
introduce the charging fluid FC into at least one substantially empty chamber 5;
- introduce a suitable amount of charging fluid FC to integrate the discharging fluid FS already present in the chamber 5 ;
- partially extract an amount of discharging fliiid FS from the chamber 5 and afterwards integrate the discharging fluid FS remaining in the chamber 5, introducing a suitable amount of charging fluid FC; totally extract the discharging fluid FS from the chamber 5 and afterwards introduce in the chamber 5 a suitable amount of charging fluid FC.
The connecting means 7 can also be composed, as for example shown in Figures la and lb) of at least one loading duct or opening 7a and of at least one unloading duct or opening 7b communicating with at least one chamber 5. In this case, through such loading 7a and unloading 7b ducts or openings, it is also possible, for example, to introduce an amount of charging fluid FC into at least one chamber 5 through the loading duct or opening 7a and simultaneously extract a similar amount of discharging fluid FS from the chamber 5 itself through the unloading duct or opening 7b: obviously, depending on the amount of charging fluid FC introduced in the chamber 5 and on the amount of discharging fluid FS going out of the chamber 5 itself, a partial or total replacement of the first fluid, initially present in the chamber 5, will be performed.
The connecting means 7 can comprise valve means (not shown) , for example made as quick connections of any type substantially known in the art, which allow, when necessary, keeping the thermal fluid inside the chamber 5 and, when necessary, for example when connected to a source of charging fluid FC, the extraction of the discharging fluid FS from the chamber 5 and/or the introduction of the charging fluids FC in the chamber 5 itself.
The present invention further deals with a transport container comprising at least one accumulator 1 as previously described.
With reference then to Figure 2, it is possible to note that the transport container 10 according to the present invention comprises at least one casing outside 12 defining therein one or more compartments to house the goods to be transported (for example, foods, medicines, etc.) under thermal cooling or heating conditions depending on the temperature of the external environment, and at least one accumulator 1 according to the present invention as previously described, placed in thermal conduction with such one or more compartments: obviously, if the accumulators 1 of the container 10 are designed to subtract heat to the external environment, such one or more compartments will be subjected to cooling while, if the accumulators 1 of the container 10 are designed to provide heat to the external environment, such one or more compartments will be subjected to heating.
Obviously, the external casing 12 can be indifferently rigid to make, for example, a thermal box or vessel (not shown) or flexible to make, for example, a thermal bag like the one representing the transport container 10 of Figure 2.
In a possible embodiment of the transport container 10 according to the present invention, it is possible to provide that the casing 12 comprises one or more portions, such as, for example, pockets, technical compartments, hollow spaces, etc . , suitable to unmovably house one or more accumulators according to the present invention, which, in this way, can be removed from the casing 12 to proceed, for example, to the replacement or integration of the thermal fluids FC, FS therefrom with the above described modes, to be then placed again in such portions.
It is also possible to provide that the accumulators according to the present invention are integrated in the casing 12 (for example in the base of this latter one, as shown, for example, in Figure 2) and substantially unmovable: in this case, it is possible to provide that the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b of the accumulators can go out of the casing 12 towards outside of the container 10 to allow replacing or integrating the thermal fluids FC, FS with the above described modes, without the need of removing the accumulators from such casing 12 ,
The present invention further deals with a thermal recharging device of at least one accumulator 1 according to the present invention as previously described.
With reference then to Figure 3, it is possible to note that the thermal recharging device 20 according to the present invention comprises: thermal conditioning means (for cooling if T2 < T1 or for heating if T2 > T1) of at least one thermal fluid to take it to the thermal conditions of a charging fluid FC (for example, at a temperature T2) ;
fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b to the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b of at least one accumulator 1 according to the present invention, such fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b being equipped at least for introducing the charging fluid FC into at least one chamber 5 of an accumulator 1 when the fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b are connected to the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b of such accumulator 1 and/or for extracting at least partially the discharging fluid SC, for example when it reaches a temperature next to T1, with at least one chamber 5 of the accumulator 1 when the fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b are connected to the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b of the accumulator 1.
In addition, the device 1 according to the present invention can further comprise collecting means of the discharging fluid FS coming from the chamber 5 of the accumulator 1 to convey it to the thermal conditioning means in order to take it back to the thermal conditions of a charging fluid FC,
Obviously, the fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b of the device 20 can have complementary configuration and arrangement to those of the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b of the accumulator 1.
For example, if the connecting means 7 of the accumulator 1 are composed of a single duct or a single opening as described above, also the fluid connecting means 22 of the device 20 can be composed of a single duct suitable to be fluid connected with the duct or the opening of the actuator 1, for example by interposing valve means. Therefore, when such fluid connecting means 22 are operatively and fluid connected to such connecting means 7 of the accumulator 1, it is possible, for example, to:
extract from least one chamber 5 at least partially the discharging fluid FS, for example when this has been taken to a temperature next to T1 or the ambient temperature, and possibly recover it through the collecting means to convey it to the thermal conditioning means;
afterwards, introduce the charging fluid FC into at least one chamber 5 of such accumulator already taken to the temperature T2 from the thermal conditioning means of the device 20.
If the connecting means 7 of the accumulator 1 are composed of at least one loading duct or opening 7a and of at least one unloading duct or opening 7b, also the fluid connecting means of the device 20 can be composed of a respective loading duct 22a and unloading duct 22b, each of which being adapted to be fluid connected to the corresponding loading duct or opening 7a or unloading duct or opening 7b of the actuator 1 , for example by interposing the valve means. Therefore, when such fluid connecting means 22a, 22b are operatively and fluid connected to such connecting means 7a, 7b of the accumulator 1, it is possible, for example, to introduce the charging fluid FC into at least one chamber 5 of the accumulator already taken to the temperature T2 by the thermal conditioning means of the device 20 through the loading duct 22a connected to the loading duct or opening 7a and simultaneously extract a similar amount of discharging fluid FS, for example when this has been taken to a temperature next to T1 or the ambient temperature, from the chamber 5 itself through the unloading duct or opening 7b connected to the unloading duct 22b (for example exploiting the pressing action of the incoming charging fluid FC) and possibly recovering it through the collecting means to convey it to the thermal conditioning means,
If the accumulators 1 are integrated in a transport container 10 according to the present invention, it will be enough to connect the connecting means 7, 7a, 7b going out of the casing 12 to the respective fluid connecting means 22, 22a, 22b of the device 20.
Obviously, it is possible to provide that the device 20 is further equipped with control means which detect how an actuator 1 is regularly connected to the fluid connecting means 22 and automatically actuate the operation of introducing the charging fluid FC and/or extracting the charging fluid FC.
It is also possible to provide that the device 20 comprises suitable control means 24 capable of being actuated by a user when the actuator 1 is connected to the fluid connecting means 22 for manually starting the operation of introducing the charging fluid FC and/or extracting the charging fluid FC.
Finally, the present invention further deals with a system comprising:
at least one accumulator 1 according to the present invention as previously described;
at least one thermal recharging device 20 according to the present invention as previously described.
The system according to the present invention can further comprise at least one transport container 10 according to the present invention as previously described.

Claims

1. Rechargeable thermal accumulator (1) characterized in that it comprises at least one casing (3) comprising therein at least one chamber (5) containing at least one thermal fluid or discharging fluid (FS) and connecting means (7) of said chamber (5) with outside said casing (3) to replace or at least partially integrate said thermal fluid or discharging fluid (FS) with another thermal fluid or charging fluid (FC) .
2. Accumulator (1) according to the previous claim, characterized in that said discharging fluid (FS) has a temperature T1 and said charging fluid (FC) has a temperature T2 , where
T1 ¹ T2.
3. Accumulator (1) according to the previous claim, characterized in that T1 > T2 or T1 < T2 ,
4. Accumulator (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said chamber (5) substantially coincides with the whole internal volume of said casing (3) .
5. Accumulator (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said chamber (5) is contained in said casing (3) leaving free a residual internal volume (9) of said casing (3 ) .
6. Accumulator (1) according to the previous claim, characterized in that said residual internal volume (9} is empty or containing air or another fluid.
7. Accumulator (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said chamber {5} is shaped as a serpentine.
8. Accumulator (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said connecting means (7) are composed of a single duct or a single opening communicating with said chamber (5) .
9. Accumulator (1) according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said connecting means (7) are composed of at least one loading duct or opening (7a) and of at least one unloading duct or opening (7b) communicating with said chamber (5) .
10. Transport container (10) characterized in that it comprises at least one external casing (12) defining therein one or more compartments to house the goods to be transported and at least one accumulator (1) according to any one of the previous claims, said at least one accumulator (1) being placed in thermal conduction with said one or more compartments.
11, Thermal recharging device (20) of at least one accumulator (1) according to any one of claims da 1 a 9 characterized in that it comprises: thermal conditioning means of at least one thermal fluid to take it to the thermal conditions of said charging fluid (FC) ;
- fluid connecting means (22, 22a, 22b) to said connecting means ( 7 , 7a, 7b), said fluid connecting means (22, 22a, 22b) being equipped at least for introducing said charging fluid (FC) into said chamber (5) when said fluid connecting means (22, 22a, 22b) are connected to said connecting means
(7, 7a, 7b) and/or for extracting at least partially said discharging fluid (SC) from said chamber (5) when said fluid connecting means (22, 22a, 22b) are connected to said connecting means (7, 7a, 7b) ,
12, Device (20) according to the previous claim, characterized in that it comprises collecting means of said discharging fluid (FS) coming from said chamber (5) of said accumulator (1) to convey it to said thermal conditioning means in order to take it back to said thermal conditions of said charging fluid (FC) .
13, System characterized in that it comprises:
at least one accumulator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9;
at least one thermal recharging device (20) according to any one of claims 11 or 12.
EP20724237.1A 2019-03-07 2020-02-25 Rechargeable thermal accumulator, transport container comprising such accumulator, thermal recharging device of such accumulator and related system Pending EP3935327A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT102019000003317A IT201900003317A1 (en) 2019-03-07 2019-03-07 RECHARGEABLE THERMAL ACCUMULATOR, TRANSPORT CONTAINER INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE SUCH ACCUMULATOR, THERMAL RECHARGE DEVICE FOR AT LEAST ONE SUCH ACCUMULATOR AND SYSTEM INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE SUCH ACCUMULATOR AND AT LEAST ONE SUCH DEVICE.
PCT/IT2020/000019 WO2020178866A2 (en) 2019-03-07 2020-02-25 Rechargeable thermal accumulator, transport container comprising such accumulator, thermal recharging device of such accumulator and related system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3935327A2 true EP3935327A2 (en) 2022-01-12

Family

ID=66776716

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP20724237.1A Pending EP3935327A2 (en) 2019-03-07 2020-02-25 Rechargeable thermal accumulator, transport container comprising such accumulator, thermal recharging device of such accumulator and related system

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3935327A2 (en)
IT (1) IT201900003317A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2020178866A2 (en)

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5172567A (en) * 1991-05-29 1992-12-22 Thermo King Corporation Eutectic beams for use in refrigeration
KR20140072764A (en) * 2012-11-09 2014-06-13 한국생산기술연구원 cold storage module, refrigerator container mounting a plurality of cold storage module, and refrigerator vehicle
CN105579797A (en) * 2013-05-02 2016-05-11 冷王公司 Apparatus for the storage, transport and distribution of refrigerated or frozen goods, in particular for thermally insulated containers of refrigerated vehicles, cold rooms and the like

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT201900003317A1 (en) 2019-06-07
WO2020178866A2 (en) 2020-09-10
WO2020178866A3 (en) 2020-10-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20220325938A1 (en) Hybrid method and system for transporting and/or storing temperature-sensitive materials
US20180335241A1 (en) Configurable insulated storage container
US7040115B1 (en) Insulated container assembly having insertable cooling and heating gel packs
US11719480B2 (en) Portable container
US10549900B2 (en) Insulated storage and transport system
CN113557399A (en) Portable cooler with active temperature control
US6253570B1 (en) Traveling bag with exterior display of interior temperature
US20130008182A1 (en) Self-contained temperature controlled apparatus
US9182155B2 (en) Environmentally adaptable transport device
US5899088A (en) Phase change system for temperature control
US4516409A (en) Portable beverage cooler
US6532749B2 (en) Stirling-based heating and cooling device
WO2018231613A1 (en) Freeze-free medicinal transport carriers
US4981019A (en) Solar powered portable food container
US10823478B2 (en) Modular thermal device
CN107567571B (en) Cooling device
CN110023698A (en) Portable temperature storage-stable device
AU2001286740B2 (en) Thermal barrier enclosure system
US5640855A (en) Portable cooler for golf bag
CN113015430B (en) Apparatus, system and method for controlling environmental conditions of a substance
US10465980B2 (en) Self-cooling device for beverages
EP3935327A2 (en) Rechargeable thermal accumulator, transport container comprising such accumulator, thermal recharging device of such accumulator and related system
US20190285329A1 (en) Cooler with a Secondary Compartment
US8695373B1 (en) Segmented liner system with microencapsulated phase change material
KR20150052042A (en) Dispensing of food and beverage products

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: UNKNOWN

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATION HAS BEEN MADE

PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20210827

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

DAV Request for validation of the european patent (deleted)
DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)