EP4246065A1 - Kassetteneinheit für gekühlte schaukästen mit einem luftstromumkehrsystem - Google Patents

Kassetteneinheit für gekühlte schaukästen mit einem luftstromumkehrsystem Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4246065A1
EP4246065A1 EP23162253.1A EP23162253A EP4246065A1 EP 4246065 A1 EP4246065 A1 EP 4246065A1 EP 23162253 A EP23162253 A EP 23162253A EP 4246065 A1 EP4246065 A1 EP 4246065A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
chamber
airflow
air
refrigerated display
display cabinet
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
EP23162253.1A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Fabio ORTAGGI
Moreno CAPOSALDO
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.)
Industrie Scaffalature Arredamenti ISA SpA
Original Assignee
Industrie Scaffalature Arredamenti ISA 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 Industrie Scaffalature Arredamenti ISA SpA filed Critical Industrie Scaffalature Arredamenti ISA SpA
Publication of EP4246065A1 publication Critical patent/EP4246065A1/de
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D19/00—Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors
    • F25D19/02—Arrangement or mounting of refrigeration units with respect to devices or objects to be refrigerated, e.g. infrared detectors plug-in type
    • 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
    • F25D21/00—Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
    • F25D21/06—Removing frost
    • 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
    • F25D2323/00—General constructional features not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2323/002—Details for cooling refrigerating machinery
    • F25D2323/0028—Details for cooling refrigerating machinery characterised by the fans
    • F25D2323/00283—Details for cooling refrigerating machinery characterised by the fans the fans allowing rotation in reverse direction

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cassette unit for refrigerated display cabinets for food products and beverages.
  • a cassette unit is a complete refrigeration unit (finished machine) for the refrigeration of refrigerated displayers, such as refrigerated display cabinets, refrigerated display cases, refrigerated counters, and the like.
  • the cassette unit comprises components (compressor, condenser, lamination element, evaporator, and control electronics) that are necessary for performing a thermodynamic compression refrigeration cycle. All components are mounted in a single self-supporting structural case/base.
  • the cassette unit is equipped with intake conduits of external air and delivery conduits of cooled air. Such a unit is inserted into the refrigerated display cabinets, in correspondence with air inlet and outlet conduits of the refrigerated display cabinets that generate a flow of cold air in the refrigerated display cabinet for the storage of consumer products.
  • the components of the refrigeration system were located in different areas of the refrigerated display cabinet, depending on the function they were to perform.
  • the cold function evaporator
  • the hot function condenser + compressor
  • the cassette unit meets the ever-increasing demand of the market for eco-sustainability and easy disposal because components and materials in line with the need to have an increasingly reduced environmental impact were evaluated in the study of this solution.
  • FIGs. 2A, 2B, and 2C illustrate three examples of cassette units (100) installed in a base, on a roof and on a side of a refrigerated display cabinet (300), respectively.
  • the refrigerated display cabinet (300) has an interface wall (301) provided with an air intake outlet (301a) from the cassette unit (100) and an air delivery outlet (301b) toward the cassette unit (100).
  • the interface wall (301) may be a bottom wall ( Fig. 2A ), a roof ( Fig. 2B ) or a side wall ( Fig. 2C ) of the refrigerated display cabinet.
  • Figs. 3A , 3B and 3C illustrate the cassette units (100) of Figs. 2A, 2B and 2C , respectively.
  • the cassette unit (100) comprises a base (1) and a body (2) mounted on the base (1).
  • the body (2) defines a compartment (V) wherein an evaporator (3) with a fan (30) is arranged.
  • a compressor (4), a condenser (5) and a second fan (50) are arranged on the base (1) outside the compartment (V) of the body (2).
  • the evaporator (3) is a heat exchanger that generates cold
  • the condenser (5) is a heat exchanger that generates heat
  • the compressor (4) is a motor that generates heat as well. Therefore, the body (2) is made of heat-insulating material, and a cold zone insulated from the outside is generated inside the body (2).
  • the compartment (V) of the body (2) communicates with an air intake opening (10a) and an air delivery opening (10b) suitable for being respectively interfaced with the air intake outlet (301a) and the air delivery outlet (301b) of the interface wall (301) of the refrigerated display cabinet.
  • the fan (30) creates an airflow that is sucked in from the refrigerated display cabinet, enters the compartment (V) of the body, passes through the evaporator (3), is cooled and is fed into the refrigerated display cabinet.
  • ice is formed on the surface of the evaporator (3) due to the deposit of condensation generated by the moisture of the treated air.
  • the ice on the surface of the evaporator acts as a thermal insulator, resulting in an efficiency loss of the heat exchange between the air and the evaporator. Therefore, the ice formed on the evaporator must be removed by means of a defrost system that performs a defrost cycle.
  • Such a defrost cycle can be performed according to different techniques:
  • defrosting speed the choice of one of said defrosting systems depends on several factors and variables, such as defrosting speed, energy consumption, and cost.
  • the defrosting phase of the evaporator (3) arranged in the compartment (V) of the body (2) is a critical element for the storage of products in the refrigerated display cabinet (300), since such a defrosting phase inevitably increases the air temperature inside the refrigerated display cabinet. The higher the temperature increase, the longer the defrosting time will be, with the risk of deteriorating the products contained in the refrigerated display cabinet.
  • US2007/214823A1 describes a heat exchanging device for refrigerator according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • US2004/020228A1 discloses a method and apparatus for moving air through a heat exchanger.
  • WO2015/075205A2 discloses a multi-compartment locker.
  • US5357767A discloses a low temperature display merchandiser.
  • the purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a cassette unit that is capable of reducing the defrost cycle time of the evaporator.
  • Another purpose of the present invention is to provide such a cassette unit that is capable of increasing the defrosting efficiency during the defrost cycle.
  • the cassette unit according to the invention is defined by claim 1.
  • the cassette unit (100) comprises:
  • the cassette unit also comprises a second fan (50) arranged on the base (1), outside the compartment (V) of the body, to generate an airflow that passes through the condenser (5).
  • the evaporator (3) is a heat exchanger, e.g., of finned pack type, comprising a plurality of plates (fins) arranged parallel to each other and serpentine ducts passing through the plates. A refrigerant flows in the serpentine ducts and cools the evaporator.
  • the evaporator (3) is arranged in the compartment (V) so that the compartment (V) is divided into a first chamber (V1) communicating with the air intake opening (10a) and a second chamber (V2) communicating with the air delivery opening (10b).
  • the fan (30) rotates in a first direction so that the air inside the refrigerated display cabinet is sucked in through the air intake opening (10a), enters the first chamber (V1) of the compartment, passes through the evaporator (3), is cooled, and flows into the second chamber (V2) of the compartment; then, the cold air is expelled through the air delivery opening (10b) to enter the refrigerated display cabinet.
  • the fan (30) is arranged in the second chamber (V2) of the compartment, in front of the air delivery opening (10b), and rotates in the first direction, for instance in a clockwise direction, to create an airflow from the first chamber (V1) to the second chamber (V2) and then the air that is sucked in by the fan is ejected from the air delivery opening (10b) located behind the fan.
  • the evaporator (3) works at temperatures below 0 °C and therefore it freezes.
  • the cassette unit (100) is provided with a defrost system of the evaporator (3) of known type, as described above with reference to the prior art.
  • the cassette unit (100) comprises a control unit configured to reverse the direction of rotation of the fan (30) during a defrost cycle.
  • the fan (30) rotates in a second direction, e.g. in a counterclockwise direction, opposite the first direction of rotation. In such a way, the fan (30) pushes the air from the second chamber (V2) towards the first chamber (V1).
  • the cassette unit according to the invention comprises first one-way flow means (61) arranged at the air delivery opening (10b) that allow for an airflow from the air delivery opening (10b) to the interior of the refrigerated display cabinet and prevent an airflow from the interior of the refrigerated display cabinet to the air delivery opening (10b).
  • the cassette unit may also comprise second one-way flow means (62) arranged at the air intake opening (10a) that allow for an airflow from the interior of the refrigerated display cabinet to the air intake opening (10a) and prevent an airflow from the air intake opening (10a) to the interior of the refrigerated display cabinet.
  • second one-way flow means (62) arranged at the air intake opening (10a) that allow for an airflow from the interior of the refrigerated display cabinet to the air intake opening (10a) and prevent an airflow from the air intake opening (10a) to the interior of the refrigerated display cabinet.
  • the body (2) has a first side wall (21) and a second side wall (22) opposite each other.
  • the evaporator (3) has a first side wall (31) and a second side wall (32) opposite to each other.
  • a first lateral space (11) suitable for allowing the air to pass through is provided between the first side wall (31) of the evaporator and the first side wall (21) of the body.
  • a second lateral space (l2) suitable for allowing the air to pass through is provided between the second side wall (32) of the evaporator and the second side wall (22) of the body.
  • the cassette unit (100) comprises third one-way flow means (63) arranged in the first space (11) and fourth one-way flow means (64) arranged in the second space (l2).
  • the third one-way flow means (63) and the fourth one-way flow means (64) are configured to allow for an air flow from the second chamber (V2) to the first chamber (V1) and prevent and airflow from the first chamber (V1) to the second chamber (V2). Therefore, in the first lateral space (11) and in the second lateral space (l2), an airflow is allowed from the second chamber (V2) to the first chamber (V1) and no airflow is allowed from the first chamber (V1) to the second chamber (V2).
  • the first one-way flow means (61) are obtained by means of a floating wing (8b) arranged over a grille (7b) disposed in the air delivery outlet (301b) of the interface wall of the refrigerated display cabinet.
  • a floating wing (8b) rises, allowing the air to pass through.
  • the floating wing (8b) is brought in contact with the grille (7b) and the air is not allowed to pass through.
  • the second one-way flow means (62) are obtained by means of a floating wing (8a) arranged under a grille (7a) disposed in the air intake outlet (301a) of the interface wall of the refrigerated display cabinet.
  • the floating wing (8a) moves in this way: if air is delivered toward the refrigerated display cabinet, the floating wing (8a) rises, going in contact with the grille (7a) and preventing the air to pass through. Conversely, if air is sucked in toward the cassette unit, the floating wing (8a) lowers, allowing the air to pass through.
  • the grilles (7a, 7b) are obtained in a plate (7) that is placed in a slot (303) of the interface wall (301) of the refrigerated display cabinet.
  • the floating wings (8a, 8b) can be elastic membranes mounted on the plate (7).
  • the third one-way flow means (63) are obtained by means of a floating wing (8c) arranged in front of a grill (7c) between the first chamber (V1) of the compartment of the body and the first lateral space (11).
  • a floating wing (8c) arranged in front of a grill (7c) between the first chamber (V1) of the compartment of the body and the first lateral space (11).
  • the floating wing (8c) is brought in contact with the grille (7c), blocking the passage of the air.
  • the floating wing (8c) opens and allows the air to pass through.
  • the fourth one-way flow means (64) are obtained by means of a floating wing (8d) arranged in front of a grille (7d) between the first chamber (V1) of the compartment of the body and the second lateral space (I2).
  • a floating wing (8d) arranged in front of a grille (7d) between the first chamber (V1) of the compartment of the body and the second lateral space (I2).
  • the floating wing (8d) is brought in front of the grille (7d), blocking the passage of air.
  • the floating wing (8d) opens and allows the air to pass through.
  • Such floating wings (8c, 8d), may also be elastic membranes.
  • the control unit commands a reversal of the direction of rotation of the fan (30), consequently causing a reversal of the airflow in the compartment (V) of the body. Therefore, the first one-way flow means (61) prevent a possible intake of air from the air delivery opening (10b).
  • the fan (30) becomes a pressing fan that operates in the compartment (V), without any air intake from the outside of the compartment.
  • the fan (30) With reference to a characteristic curve (prevalence-flow rate) of a fan, the fan (30) operates near the maximum prevalence and with a flow rate of almost zero.
  • the airflow is recirculated inside the evaporator (3), generating a closed system in the compartment (V). Therefore, by recirculating in the compartment (V) of the body, the airflow exchanges more thermal energy with the ice of the evaporator (3) due to increased convective motions and to the closed system. In such a way, the ice of the evaporator (3) melts more rapidly. Consequently, such a situation allows to reduce the defrosting time compared to a normal cycle without the airflow reversal system.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
EP23162253.1A 2022-03-18 2023-03-16 Kassetteneinheit für gekühlte schaukästen mit einem luftstromumkehrsystem Pending EP4246065A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT202200005408 2022-03-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4246065A1 true EP4246065A1 (de) 2023-09-20

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ID=81927910

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP23162253.1A Pending EP4246065A1 (de) 2022-03-18 2023-03-16 Kassetteneinheit für gekühlte schaukästen mit einem luftstromumkehrsystem

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EP (1) EP4246065A1 (de)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5357767A (en) 1993-05-07 1994-10-25 Hussmann Corporation Low temperature display merchandiser
US20040020228A1 (en) 2002-07-30 2004-02-05 Thermo King Corporation Method and apparatus for moving air through a heat exchanger
US20070214823A1 (en) 2006-03-14 2007-09-20 Lg Electronics Inc. Heat exchanging device for refrigerator
WO2015075205A2 (en) 2013-11-21 2015-05-28 Ocado Innovation Limited Multi-compartment locker

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5357767A (en) 1993-05-07 1994-10-25 Hussmann Corporation Low temperature display merchandiser
US20040020228A1 (en) 2002-07-30 2004-02-05 Thermo King Corporation Method and apparatus for moving air through a heat exchanger
US20070214823A1 (en) 2006-03-14 2007-09-20 Lg Electronics Inc. Heat exchanging device for refrigerator
WO2015075205A2 (en) 2013-11-21 2015-05-28 Ocado Innovation Limited Multi-compartment locker

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