EP4246068A1 - Unité de cassette pour vitrines réfrigérées avec un système pour empêcher le passage d'air de l'extérieur - Google Patents

Unité de cassette pour vitrines réfrigérées avec un système pour empêcher le passage d'air de l'extérieur Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4246068A1
EP4246068A1 EP23161923.0A EP23161923A EP4246068A1 EP 4246068 A1 EP4246068 A1 EP 4246068A1 EP 23161923 A EP23161923 A EP 23161923A EP 4246068 A1 EP4246068 A1 EP 4246068A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
reservoir
cassette unit
drip tray
evaporator
chamber
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
EP23161923.0A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
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 EP4246068A1 publication Critical patent/EP4246068A1/fr
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
    • F25D21/00—Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
    • F25D21/14—Collecting or removing condensed and defrost water; Drip trays
    • 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
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2600/00—Control issues
    • F25B2600/25—Control of valves
    • F25B2600/2515—Flow valves
    • 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
    • F25D2321/00—Details or arrangements for defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2321/14—Collecting condense or defrost water; Removing condense or defrost water
    • F25D2321/142—Collecting condense or defrost water; Removing condense or defrost water characterised by droplet guides
    • 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
    • F25D2321/00—Details or arrangements for defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2321/14—Collecting condense or defrost water; Removing condense or defrost water
    • F25D2321/143—Collecting condense or defrost water; Removing condense or defrost water characterised by means to fix, clamp, or connect water pipes or evaporation trays
    • 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
    • F25D2321/00—Details or arrangements for defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2321/14—Collecting condense or defrost water; Removing condense or defrost water
    • F25D2321/144—Collecting condense or defrost water; Removing condense or defrost water characterised by the construction of drip water collection pans
    • F25D2321/1442—Collecting condense or defrost water; Removing condense or defrost water characterised by the construction of drip water collection pans outside a refrigerator
    • 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
    • F25D2321/00—Details or arrangements for defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2321/14—Collecting condense or defrost water; Removing condense or defrost water
    • F25D2321/145—Collecting condense or defrost water; Removing condense or defrost water characterised by multiple collecting pans
    • 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
    • F25D2321/00—Details or arrangements for defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2321/14—Collecting condense or defrost water; Removing condense or defrost water
    • F25D2321/146—Collecting condense or defrost water; Removing condense or defrost water characterised by the pipes or pipe connections

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 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/basement.
  • 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 on a roof, in a basement, and on a side of a refrigerated display cabinet (200), respectively.
  • Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate the cassette unit (100) of Fig. 2A .
  • the cassette unit (100) comprises a basement (1).
  • a body (2) is mounted on the basement (1) and defines a compartment wherein an evaporator (3) is arranged.
  • a compressor (4) and a condenser (5) are arranged on the basement (1) outside 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).
  • Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate the specific case where the cassette unit (100) is to be installed on a roof of a refrigerated display cabinet.
  • an air intake opening (10) and an air delivery opening (11) are machined into the basement (1) under the body (2) and are interfaced with an interface of the refrigerated display cabinet to allow a flow of cold air inside the refrigerated display cabinet.
  • the cassette units that are to be installed in a basement or on the side of a refrigerated display cabinet have a different structure from that shown in Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C .
  • such cassette units have a body that defines a compartment wherein the evaporator is arranged. Therefore, if the cassette unit is to be installed in a basement of a refrigerated display cabinet, the air intake opening and the air delivery opening will be machined on an upper wall of the body. Conversely, if the cassette unit is to be installed on the side of a refrigerated display cabinet, the air intake opening and the air delivery opening will be machined on a side wall of the body.
  • ice is formed on the surface of the evaporator (3) due to the defrost deposit 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 in 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:
  • the choice of one of the systems depends on several factors and variables, such as defrosting speed, energy consumption, and cost.
  • the ice deposited on the surface of the evaporator is dissolved in water by the heat brought to the evaporator by the overheated refrigerant.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates an assembly comprising an evaporator (3) and a drip tray (6) arranged under the evaporator to collect the liquid obtained from the defrosting of the evaporator.
  • the drip tray (6) has a drain conduit (60) to discharge the defrost liquid that drips onto the drip tray.
  • the drain conduit (60) has an outlet (61) from which the defrost water flows out and falls into a collection tank outside the compartment of the body (2).
  • the evaporator (3) is a heat exchanger, generally of finned pack type, comprising a plurality of plates (fins) (3) arranged parallel to each other and serpentine conduits (31) running through the plates (30).
  • the refrigerant flows inside the conduits (31), generating a heat exchange with the plates (30).
  • the drip tray (6) is put in communication with a hot zone of the cassette unit via the drain conduit (60), in the vicinity of the condenser (5), outside the body (2).
  • the drain conduit (60) of the drip tray (6) communicates with a collection tank (7) arranged outside the body (2), in the basement, in the vicinity of the compressor (4) and the evaporator (5) in order to collect the defrost liquid.
  • a collection tank (7) arranged outside the body (2), in the basement, in the vicinity of the compressor (4) and the evaporator (5) in order to collect the defrost liquid.
  • the water accumulated in the collection tank (7) will be eliminated by natural evaporation due to the combined effect of the positive temperature caused by the heat produced by the condenser (5) and of a forced ventilation obtained by means of a fan (50) arranged in the vicinity of the condenser (5) to increase the heat exchange between the condenser and the ambient air.
  • US2007/214823A1 describes a heat exchanging device for refrigerator according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • DE102009028775A1 describes a refrigeration appliance having a defrost water channel through which defrost water can be discharged into an evaporation tray and a siphon in the passage between the defrost water channel and the evaporation tray.
  • WO2009/141117A1 describes a cold appliance.
  • DE29820730U1 describes an evaporation tray of a refrigeration unit.
  • the purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a cassette unit that is capable of preventing the entrance of hot air in the compartment wherein the evaporator is arranged.
  • Another purpose of the present invention is to provide such a cassette unit that is efficient, reliable, versatile, and space-saving.
  • the cassette unit according to the invention is defined by claim 1.
  • the cassette unit according to the invention is capable of preventing the passage of air through the communication channel between the drip tray of the evaporator arranged in the cold zone in the body, and the condensate collection tank arranged in the hot zone outside the body.
  • Such a system avoids the use of particularly sophisticated technologies (e.g., evaporation coil in the collection tank) and allows to discharge the defrost water from the drip tray to the collection tank arranged below the condenser, preventing a return of moist air from the outside to the interior of the body compartment.
  • the cassette unit (100) according to the invention is substantially similar to the one shown in Figs. 3A, 3B and 3C .
  • the cassette unit (100) comprises:
  • the evaporator (3) of the cassette unit is substantially similar to the one shown in Fig. 4 .
  • the cassette unit (100) has a defrost system of the evaporator (3) of known type, as described above.
  • the cassette unit (100) has a drip tray (6) disposed under the evaporator (3) to receive the defrost water dripping from the evaporator (3).
  • the drip tray (6) is disposed at a higher height than the collection tank (7) to let the water flow from the drip tray to the collection tank.
  • the collection tank (7) of the defrost water which is disposed under the condenser (5), comprises two reservoirs: a first reservoir (70) under the outlet (61) of the drain conduit (60) of the drip tray, and a second reservoir (71) in overflow communication with the first reservoir (70).
  • the overflow between the first reservoir (70) and the second reservoir (71) can be achieved by means of a partition wall (72) that is bypassed by the water that fills the first reservoir (70) and overflows into the second reservoir (71).
  • the communication between the first reservoir and the second reservoir can be achieved by means of an overflow hole on the partition wall (72) at a distance from the bottom of the first reservoir.
  • the first reservoir (70) is smaller than the second reservoir (71).
  • the first reservoir (70) extends only in correspondence with the outlet (61) of the drain conduit of the drip tray.
  • the second reservoir (71) extends outside the body (2), under the condenser (5).
  • the second reservoir (71) has the shape of a rectangular tray.
  • the first reservoir (70) is disposed side by side with the second reservoir (71) towards the body (2).
  • the first reservoir (70) is always filled with water for several reasons:
  • Siphon means (9) are provided between the drain conduit (60) of the drip tray and the first reservoir (70).
  • the siphon means (9) allow the water to flow from the drain conduit (60) of the drip tray to the first reservoir (70), whereas they prevent a passage of air from outside the body (2) through the first reservoir (70). Therefore, the water in the first reservoir (70) prevents the entrance of humid air from the outside towards the drain conduit (60) of the drip tray and therefore towards the evaporator (3).
  • said siphon means (9) can be obtained by means of a partition wall (25) that protrudes inferiorly from a side wall (26) of the body (2) and is immersed in the liquid of the first reservoir (70), without touching the bottom of the first reservoir, whereby a slot (25a) is generated between the lower edge of the partition wall (25) and the bottom of the first reservoir (70)
  • the first reservoir (70) is divided into a first chamber (70a) and a second chamber (70b) in communication with each other through the slot (25a) below the partition wall (25).
  • the first chamber (70a) is located in the compartment of the body.
  • the second chamber (70b) is in communication with the outside of the body.
  • the siphon means (9) are provided between the first chamber (70a) and the second chamber (70b) of the first reservoir and are configured to allow a water flow from the first chamber (70a) of the first reservoir to the second chamber (70b) of the first reservoir and prevent a passage of air from the outside of the body (2) through the second chamber (70b) of the first reservoir.
  • first reservoir (70) is constantly filled with water and the partition wall (25) is always immersed in the water of the first reservoir, there will always be water in the first chamber (70a) and in the second chamber (7b) preventing the passage of air from the outside of the body (2) to the interior of the body.
  • the first reservoir (70) operates as a hydraulic siphon that maintains a constant filling level of the first reservoir and thus prevents the entrance of moist air from the outside towards the interior of the body, given that the partition wall (25) is always immersed.
  • the siphon means (9) comprise the partition wall (25) of the side wall of the body that is immersed in the liquid of the first reservoir (70).
  • a one-way valve (8) is arranged in the first reservoir (70) so as to allow a passage of liquid from the drip tray (6) to the collection tank (7) and prevent a passage of air from the collection tank (7) to the drip tray (6).
  • the one-way valve (8) acts as a safety system, in case the first reservoir (70) is completely emptied of water.
  • the one-way valve (8) may comprise a floating wing (80).
  • the floating wing (80) is arranged between the bottom of the first reservoir (70) and the partition wall (25) of the side wall (26) of the body to allow a passage of water from the first chamber (70a) to the second chamber (70b) of the first reservoir and prevent a passage of air from the second chamber (70b) to the first chamber (70a) of the first reservoir.
  • the floating wing (80) can be attached to the bottom of the first reservoir (70).
  • the floating wing (80) When the first reservoir is empty and a flow of pressurized air is generated from the collection tank (7) towards the drip tray (6), the floating wing (80) is lifted by the air and goes in contact with the partition wall (25), blocking the passage of air.
  • said liquid flow compresses the floating wing (80) toward the bottom of the first reservoir, allowing the liquid to flow from the drip tray (6) to the collection tank (7).
  • the floating wing (80) can be attached to the outlet (61) of the drain conduit. In such a case, the floating wing normally closes the outlet (61) of the drain conduit to prevent the passage of air in the drain conduit.
  • the water flow pushes the diaphragm (8), which opens the outlet (61) to let the water flow out.

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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)
  • Removal Of Water From Condensation And Defrosting (AREA)
EP23161923.0A 2022-03-18 2023-03-14 Unité de cassette pour vitrines réfrigérées avec un système pour empêcher le passage d'air de l'extérieur Pending EP4246068A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT202200005402 2022-03-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4246068A1 true EP4246068A1 (fr) 2023-09-20

Family

ID=81927685

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP23161923.0A Pending EP4246068A1 (fr) 2022-03-18 2023-03-14 Unité de cassette pour vitrines réfrigérées avec un système pour empêcher le passage d'air de l'extérieur

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4246068A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE29820730U1 (de) 1998-11-19 1999-05-06 Liebherr-Hausgeräte GmbH, 88416 Ochsenhausen Verdunstungsschale
US20070214823A1 (en) 2006-03-14 2007-09-20 Lg Electronics Inc. Heat exchanging device for refrigerator
WO2009141117A1 (fr) 2008-05-23 2009-11-26 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Appareil de froid
DE102009028775A1 (de) 2009-08-21 2011-02-24 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Kältegerät mit einem Abtauwasserkanal und einem Siphon

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE29820730U1 (de) 1998-11-19 1999-05-06 Liebherr-Hausgeräte GmbH, 88416 Ochsenhausen Verdunstungsschale
US20070214823A1 (en) 2006-03-14 2007-09-20 Lg Electronics Inc. Heat exchanging device for refrigerator
WO2009141117A1 (fr) 2008-05-23 2009-11-26 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Appareil de froid
DE102009028775A1 (de) 2009-08-21 2011-02-24 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Kältegerät mit einem Abtauwasserkanal und einem Siphon

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