ES2905089T3 - Cooling system - Google Patents

Abstract

Cooling system with at least a) a cold accumulator that has at least - a casing (12) surrounding a storage chamber (14), a fluid (16) being housed in the storage chamber (14), - a first set of ducts (18) arranged in the storage chamber (14), the first set of ducts (18) being arranged so that the coolant guided by the first set of ducts (18) flows vertically through the cold accumulator, - a second set of ducts (20) arranged in the storage chamber (14), the second set of ducts (20) being arranged so that the coolant guided by the second set of ducts (20) flows horizontally through the cold accumulator , being the first set of ducts (18), the second set of ducts (20) and/or a third set of ducts (22) connected to a refrigeration circuit in which at least one heat exchanger (42) is arranged , - disposing ose the first set of ducts (18) upstream of the at least one heat exchanger (42) in the forward flow (54) of the refrigeration circuit in the direction of flow of the refrigerant, - the second set of ducts (20) being arranged ) following the at least one heat exchanger (42) in the return flow (56) of the refrigeration circuit in the direction of flow of the refrigerant, and/or - the third set of ducts (22) being arranged following the al at least one heat exchanger (42) in the return flow (56) of the refrigeration circuit in the direction of flow of the refrigerant, and b) at least one refrigeration device (38) with at least one heat exchanger (42) for the cooling of the merchandise housed in a chamber for merchandise, and c) at least one refrigerating machine for the cooling of the refrigerant guided in the refrigeration circuit, - the first set of ducts (18) being coupled to the forward flow (54) of l cooling system, - the second set of ducts (20) being coupled to the return flow (56) of the cooling system, and/or - the third set of ducts (22) being coupled to the return flow (56) of the cooling system cooling, and - the refrigerant being guided through the first set of ducts (18) for charging the cold accumulator, - the refrigerant being guided through the second set of ducts (20) and/or through the third set of ducts (22) for the cooling of the refrigeration device (38), and - the refrigerant being guided through the second set of ducts (20) for the cooling of the refrigeration device (38) when the refrigerating machine does not perform any cooling of the refrigerant.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Cooling system

A cold accumulator and a cooling system are described, a fluid that can be cooled by means of a refrigerant being accommodated in the cold accumulator. For this purpose, the cooling system has at least one refrigerating machine configured for cooling the refrigerant and coupled to the system of ducts of the cooling system.

Cold accumulators configured, for example, as ice accumulators are known from the prior art. Ice packs contain water that can be cooled by a refrigerant. To do this, the refrigerant is guided through the ice store through a set of pipes. For example, the coolant, which has been cooled by means of a refrigerating machine, is guided through the ice store in a first direction and supplied to a cooling device with a consumer. Next, the consumer brings the refrigerant back to the refrigerating machine, repeating the process. For cooling without the refrigerating machine, the refrigerant can be guided through the ice store in the opposite direction by another set of lines, the other set of lines being arranged to guide the heated refrigerant through the ice store through the consumer. The ice contained in the ice store absorbs the heat contained in the refrigerant, so that the refrigerant cools down and can be supplied back to the consumer. Printed memory US 5,944,089 A refers to thermal storage systems for buildings, the corresponding device and procedure being configured to cool and/or heat a thermal storage element, so that this element can be reversibly transferred between the phase liquid and solid phase without requiring a complete discharge of the thermal storage system between phase changes. In the printed specification DE 20 2012 103 715 U1, a device for determining the state of charge of a thermal accumulator is described, which can be detected by means of a measuring device. This measuring device is located on the upper cover wall of the hermetically sealed space that forms part of the thermal accumulator and in which a first system of ducts and a phase change material surrounding the first system of ducts are arranged. Finally, JP H11183012 discloses a cooling method for an open refrigerator cabinet using propylene glycol which is suitably cooled in a tank by a compressor. The D3 has the objective of increasing the efficiency of a refrigeration circuit by shortening the length of the different ducts, thus obtaining a compression of the total structure.

The ice storage bins known from the prior art are designed in such a way that an optimal regeneration of the ice storage bin takes place. Therefore, the conduit assemblies within the ice bin are arranged so that the refrigerant flows vertically through the ice bin.

However, since certain temperature layers are established in the ice store, optimum cooling of the coolant cannot be achieved. Especially in the case of vertically developing duct assemblies, the refrigerant passes through different temperature layers inside the ice store.

Therefore, the object is to propose a cooling system with an ice pack, in which, in addition to a regeneration of the ice pack, an improved cooling of a refrigerant can be carried out.

The task is solved by a cooling system with the technical features stated in claim 1. Advantageous improved variants are stated in detail in the dependent claims.

A cooling system that solves the aforementioned problem presents at least

- a casing surrounding a storage chamber, a fluid being accommodated in the storage chamber,

- a first set of ducts arranged in the storage chamber, the first set of ducts being arranged such that the refrigerant guided through the first set of ducts flows vertically through the cold accumulator, and

- a second set of ducts arranged in the storage chamber, the second set of ducts being arranged such that the refrigerant guided through the second set of ducts flows horizontally through the cold accumulator.

The arrangement of the second set of ducts allows the coolant not to be guided through several temperature layers within the cold accumulator, but rather to be guided essentially only within an area having a certain temperature or temperature range. Thanks to the vertical disposition of the first set of ducts, it is possible to carry out charging and regeneration of the cold accumulator, as is known from the state of the art. The horizontal arrangement of the second set of ducts allows a heated coolant to be guided into the area of the fluid that is, for example, 0 degrees centigrade. The coolant guided in the second set of ducts is not guided through other fluid temperature zones and can thus essentially reach the temperature of the zone in which the second set of ducts develops.

In other embodiments, the second set of ducts can be arranged in an upper area of the storage space. Depending on the fluid used, a certain temperature is established in the area top of the cold store, for example from an ice store. This temperature is maintained over a wide operating range of the cold pack, regardless of whether or not ice has formed inside the cold pack. This makes it possible to cool the refrigerant to a certain temperature even if the cold pack is not charged or not fully charged. Since the second set of ducts is arranged in the upper zone of the storage chamber, the coolant also does not have to be guided through several temperature zones within the storage chamber.

In other embodiments, the cold accumulator may have a third set of ducts arranged in the storage chamber, the third set of ducts being arranged such that the coolant guided by the third set of ducts flows through the cold accumulator vertically. and in the opposite direction to the flow direction of the coolant guided in the first set of conduits. Thanks to the third set of ducts, an additional cooling of the refrigerant can be achieved, selective defrosting being possible analogously to that of the ice accumulators known from the state of the art.

In other embodiments, the cold accumulator can also have several second sets of ducts running parallel to one another. The sets of ducts can be arranged at different distances from each other inside the storage chamber, so that the coolant can be cooled to different temperatures. For example, the area in which a first set of ducts of the second sets of ducts is arranged has a temperature between 0 and 3 degrees centigrade. A second set of ducts of the second sets of ducts can be arranged, for example, within a temperature range of between 3 and 4 degrees centigrade and a third set of ducts of the second sets of ducts can be arranged within a temperature range between 4 and 5 degrees centigrade. The second sets of ducts may be attached to a forward flow of a cooling system via valves or other coupling devices. Depending on the cooling required, the coolant can be guided through one of the second sets of conduits, in order for the coolant to reach a suitable temperature. Preferably, both the first set of ducts, as well as the at least one second set of ducts, have in their respective forward flow sections a speed-controlled pump that regulates the flow of coolant in the respective sets of ducts. As a consequence, a speed-controlled pump can also be arranged in the third set of ducts.

The first set of ducts, the second set of ducts and/or the third set of ducts can be connected to a refrigeration circuit in which at least one heat exchanger is arranged,

- the first set of ducts being arranged in the direction of flow of the coolant before the at least one heat exchanger in the forward flow of the cooling circuit,

- the second set of ducts being arranged in the direction of flow of the refrigerant after the at least one heat exchanger in the return flow of the refrigeration circuit, and/or

- the third set of ducts being arranged in the direction of flow of the refrigerant after the at least one heat exchanger in the return flow of the refrigeration circuit.

The first set of ducts, the second set of ducts and/or the third set of ducts can have at least one heat exchanger and/or helically developing duct sections. The heat exchangers and/or the helical conduit sections provide a large transition zone for heat transfer between the fluid housed in the cold store and the refrigerant. This can further improve the cooling of the coolant. In addition, it is possible to charge the cold pack more quickly.

In other embodiments, the fluid housed in the storage chamber can be water. In addition, salty water, for example a mixture of water and glycol, can be guided into the line sections as a coolant. In the case of a cold accumulator storage chamber filled with water, defined temperature ranges are usually established. Thus, the water in the base area of the cold accumulator has a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius, since at this temperature the water has its highest density. In the upper zone, the water generally has a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius. If, in a conventional cold store configuration, the coolant were cooled by sets of ducts that develop vertically, it would be practically impossible (depending on the temperature of the return flow of the coolant) to bring the guided saline water in the ducts to 0 degrees Celsius. This is mainly due to the fact that the coolant is also guided through areas within the cold accumulator that are above 0 degrees Celsius. However, in the case of the technical theory described here, the coolant can be specifically brought to a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius, since the coolant is guided through the second set of pipes, for example, only in the upper area inside the cold accumulator. The temperature distribution mentioned above is especially independent of whether the ice store is almost fully charged or almost fully discharged. Thus, it is advantageously possible to achieve a defined cooling of the coolant over a broad charge state of the cold accumulator.

In other embodiments, storage elements that consist of a phase change material or have a phase change material can be accommodated in the storage chamber. As phase change material it is possible to use, for example, water or again also a salt water. Said storage elements can be plates with holes, it being possible for fluid or water to flow through the holes, as well as guide the sets of ducts. Furthermore, the storage elements can also be spheres filled with the phase change material.

In other embodiments, the cold pack is configured as an ice pack. The ice store is cooled for charging through the first set of lines. In this case, ice formation occurs in the water, establishing defined temperature ranges within the ice store.

The task is also solved by a cooling system with at least one cold accumulator of the variants described above, with at least one cooling device with at least one heat exchanger, for cooling the goods accommodated in a goods chamber , and with at least one refrigerating machine for cooling the refrigerant guided in the cooling circuit,

- the first set of ducts being coupled to the forward flow of the cooling system,

- the second set of ducts being coupled to the return flow of the cooling system, and/or

- the third set of ducts being coupled to the return flow of the cooling system, and

- the refrigerant being guided through the first set of lines for charging the refrigeration device, - the refrigerant being guided through the second set of lines and/or the third set of lines for cooling the refrigeration device, and

- the coolant being guided through the second set of ducts for cooling the refrigeration device if the refrigerating machine does not carry out any cooling of the coolant.

The first set of ducts, the second set of ducts and/or the third set of ducts may be coupled to the forward flow or return flow of the cooling system by means of valves. In alternative embodiments, the first set of lines, the second set of lines and the third set of lines have in their respective forward flow lines a pump, by means of which the coolant is led from the forward flow line or from the cooling system return flow duct through the cold pack. As a consequence, in these embodiments the valves can be dispensed with. The pumps control whether charging of the cold store or cooling of the cooling device via the cold store is to be carried out. Especially, the refrigerant of the return flow is guided through the cold accumulator by the second set of pipes if the refrigerating machine does not carry out any cooling of the refrigerant. However, this also means that the refrigerator will no longer work or will have to be put into operation if refrigerant cooling is through the second set of ducts.

The refrigerating machine can be, for example, a heat pump. If the heat pump is intended to run at a slower rate or not to run actively for a longer period of time, the refrigerant can be guided through the cold accumulator only through the second set of pipes, thus causing cooling of the cooling device. refrigeration. In this case, the refrigerant cooled by means of the second set of ducts and the cold accumulator passes to the side of a heat exchanger that is coupled to the heat pump and that joins the return flow of the cooling system, especially the device refrigeration, to the forward flow of the cooling system, especially the refrigeration device. In such a case, the refrigerant has a temperature that is usually lower than that prevailing in the return flow. A measuring device detects the temperature, and a regulation and control unit recognizes that a connection of the heat pump is not necessary, since the temperature in the return flow is below a threshold value. Through the heat exchanger, coupled to the heat pump, the cooled refrigerant is supplied to the heat exchanger of the refrigeration device through the forward flow of the refrigeration device or the cooling system and is heated. From the heat exchanger, the coolant is guided back through the cold pack via the second set of pipes and cooled down. This process can be carried out until the temperature rises, for example in the upper zone of the cold accumulator, and thus also until the temperature rises in the return flow of the cooling system or the cooling device. . A sensor device detects a rise in temperature and activates the heat pump so that the refrigerant reaches a certain temperature through the heat pump's heat exchanger. Then, the regulation and control unit provided for this deactivates the pump arranged in the forward flow of the second set of pipes and activates the pump arranged in the forward flow of the first set of pipes, so that the coolant cooled by the heat pump flows through the first set of pipes and thus cools the cold store, then enters through the cold store into the forward flow of the refrigeration device or cooling system and reaches the heat exchanger of the device of refrigeration.

The pumps arranged in the cooling system may preferably be speed controlled pumps. In this way you can easily regulate the operation of the pumps and set different mass flow rates. In particular, by controlling the pumps, valves can also be dispensed with.

The cooling device can be, for example, a cooling shelf that is provided for receiving and cooling goods such as, for example, dairy products, meat, poultry, and/or fruit and vegetables. In normal operation, the refrigerant is cooled by the heat pump, and in this case the cold store, preferably a water-filled ice store, is also cooled, ie charged. In a night mode, in which a kind of blind is lowered for the cooling device, which closes the goods chamber of the cooling device, there is less demand for cooling. The low cooling power that is needed in this case can be provided through the cold accumulator, the refrigerant being guided, as indicated above, through the second set of ducts. If the temperature in the return flow of the cooling system or the cooling device increases, the temperature increase is detected by means of a sensor device and transmitted to a control and regulation device that reactivates the heat pump. Alternatively or additionally, the heat pump can also be operated at night, when cheaper electricity is available, until the cold store is fully charged. Then, in daytime operation, when the electricity costs are considerably higher, the cooling of the refrigeration device can mainly be carried out via the cold store. For this purpose, the coolant within the cooling circuit of the cooling device or cooling system is guided through the second set of ducts. Since the second set of ducts can be arranged in the upper zone of the cold accumulator and, above all, in the case of using water as fluid for the cold accumulator, the temperature in the upper zone of the cold accumulator remains constant throughout. of a wide state of charge of the cold accumulator, being able to provide optimal and lasting cooling.

Other advantages, characteristics, as well as configuration possibilities result from the following description of the figures of exemplary embodiments, which are not to be understood as restrictive.

In the drawings it is shown in the:

FIG. 1 a schematic representation of an ice store;

FIG. 2 another schematic representation of an ice store with storage elements;

Figure 3 a schematic view of a cooling system;

Figure 4 a schematic view of the cooling system of Figure 3 in a first operating state; Y

Figure 5 a schematic representation of the cooling system of Figure 3 in a second operating state.

Components provided in the drawings with the same references correspond substantially to one another, unless otherwise indicated. Furthermore, components that are not essential to an understanding of the technical theory disclosed herein are not described.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an ice store 10 of a first embodiment. The ice store 10 has a housing 12. In addition to the indicated side walls and a base element, the housing 12 also has a cover element. The cover element is not shown in FIG. 1. A fluid 16 is accommodated in the ice store 10. The fluid 16 is preferably water. Water can be mixed with other additives to influence certain properties of the water or to achieve certain properties of the fluid 16.

Housing 12 surrounds a storage chamber 14 in which a first set of ducts 18, a second set of ducts 20, and a third set of ducts 22 are arranged. The first set of ducts 18 is arranged so that a coolant guided by the first set of conduits 18 flow through the storage chamber 14 and thus the fluid 16 in the direction shown. The coolant guided in the first set of pipes 18 flows vertically through two heat exchangers 30, the coolant can also be guided parallel to the base through sections of the first set of pipes 18. If the coolant is guided through the first set of conduits 18 through the ice store 10, a defined ice formation occurs in the storage chamber 14. By means of the third set of conduits 22, a refrigerant can be guided through the storage chamber 14 of the ice store 10 in the opposite direction. For example, the first set of lines is connected to a forward flow of a cooling system, so that cooled refrigerant flows through the ice store 10 to charge it, ie to cool it. In this case, the refrigerant guided through the ice store 10 absorbs heat. For the discharge of the ice store 10 or if the cold stored in the ice store 10 is to be used for cooling a consumer in the cooling system, a heated coolant is guided via the third set of lines 22 through the ice store. ice 10. The heated refrigerant inside the conduit of the third set of conduits 22 transfers heat to the fluid 16 or to the fluid 16 that has turned into ice, cooling the refrigerant guided in the third set of conduits 22. To do this, in the third set From ducts 22 heat exchangers 34 are provided which provide a large heat transfer surface. The third set of ducts 22 is connected downstream of a consumer in the return flow of a cooling system.

In the case of the ice store 10, different temperature layers are established. Since water has the highest density at 4 degrees centigrade, the fluid 16 has a temperature of 4 degrees centigrade in zone 28. In the upper zone 24, the fluid 16 or the water has a temperature of 0 degrees centigrade. In the central zone 26 further temperature layers are established.

In the case of a conventional ice store with only a first set of lines 18 and with a third set of lines 22, a defined charging of an ice store and a defined regeneration, i.e. melting of the ice, can be carried out. . Therefore, the first set of ducts and the third set of ducts in the Conventional ice packs are configured so that the coolant guided therein flows vertically through the ice pack. If it is intended to use the cold stored in the ice store for the cooling of a refrigerant, this is guided through the ice store 10 by means of the third set of pipes 22. However, as a consequence of the different temperature layers in the zones 24, 26 and 28, the coolant cannot be cooled optimally. This is because the coolant is also guided through temperature zones within the storage chamber 14 of the ice store 10 that are above a desired coolant temperature. The reason is the vertical arrangement of the first set of ducts 18 and the third set of ducts 22. However, the configuration of the first set of ducts 18 and the configuration of the third set of ducts 22, that is, the vertical orientation, is advantageous. to achieve a defined charge of the ice store 10 and a defined regeneration of the ice store 10.

In the case of the ice store 10 shown in Figure 1, for optimal cooling of a refrigerant, a second set of ducts 20 is arranged in the return flow of a cooling system. Like the third set of ducts 22, the second set of conduits 20 is disposed in the return flow of a cooling system, and may be traversed by a heated coolant from a consumer in the cooling system. However, the second set of conduits 20 is arranged and configured such that the coolant, which is guided through the second set of conduits 20, flows horizontally through the upper zone 24. In this zone, the water or fluid 16 have a temperature of 0 degrees Celsius. Contrary to what happens in case of a flow through the third set of ducts 22, the coolant guided in the second set of ducts 20 can be cooled down more, since the coolant does not pass through different temperature layers. The second set of ducts 20 may also have a heat exchanger 32 which provides a large transmission surface for heat transfer.

Heat exchangers 30, 32 and 34 can be configured in different ways. For example, these heat exchangers 30, 32, and 34 are formed by duct sections that extend helically across the entire surface of a side wall or base surface of the shell 12.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of an ice store 10. The configuration of the ice store 10 shown in Figure 2 differs from that of the ice store shown in Figure 1 in that the storage elements 16 are arranged in the storage chamber 14. The storage elements 16 have a plastic jacket in which a saline water is housed. The salt water serves as a phase change material and stores the cold that is transferred through the guided coolant in the first set of ducts 18.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a cooling system with an ice store 10. The cooling system has a heat pump 46 intended for cooling a refrigerant. The heat pump 46 has a compressor 48 as well as an expansion valve 50. The structure and function of a heat pump 46 are already known from the prior art. For this reason, these will not be discussed in detail here. By means of a heat exchanger 52, the cold of the refrigerant cooled through the heat pump 46 is transferred to a refrigerant that serves for the cooling of a cooling device 38. The cooling device 38 can be a refrigerator shelf prepared for receiving goods in a supermarket. Merchandise includes, for example, meat, sausage, poultry, and/or fruit and vegetables. The cooling device 38 has a cooling unit 40 for cooling the goods accommodated therein. The cooling unit 40 has a heat exchanger 42, here in the example a plate-shaped heat exchanger 42, and a fan 44. By means of the fan 44, the air passes through the heat exchanger 42, thus cooling the air. . The cooled air then circulates within the cooling device 38. Furthermore, by means of the heat exchanger 42, the side walls of the cooling device 38 surrounding a chamber for goods can also be cooled.

The heat exchanger 52 is connected to a forward flow 54 and to a return flow 56 of the cooling device 38. In the forward flow 54 a pump 58 is arranged which serves as a supply pump for transporting the coolant guided in the cooling system. Pump 58 is especially a speed controlled pump. In addition, the pump 58 is arranged in the part of the cooling system that can supply the coolant to a plurality of cooling devices 38. In Figure 3, only a single cooling device 38 is shown, so the cooling circuit, composed of forward flow 54 and return flow 56, it is carried out in a simple way. However, in other embodiments, several cooling devices 38 connected in parallel can be provided. Then, by means of the pump 58 the coolant is respectively guided in a forward flow of the respective cooling devices 38. In addition, the return flows of the respective cooling devices 38 are connected to each other via a flow line. common return.

With respect to the exemplary embodiment of Figure 3, the forward flow 54 of the cooling system is equal to the forward flow 54 of the cooling device 38 and the return flow 56 of the cooling system is equal to the return flow 56 of the cooling system. cooling device 38. The cooling device 38 has a pump 62 arranged off-centre and also provided as a speed-controlled pump for transporting the coolant. By means of the pump 62, the amount of refrigerant to be supplied to the refrigeration unit 40 can be controlled. The pump 62 regulates the mass flow rate of the refrigerant within the refrigeration unit 38. The pump 58 regulates the mass flow rate within the refrigeration system. cooling. However, since in Figure 3 only one cooling device 38, in the case of such an embodiment, for example, the pump 58 could be dispensed with.

The pump 62 allows a supply of refrigerant to the refrigeration unit 40 depending on the demand. The forward flow 54 presents a parallel flow path for coolant formed by the first set of conduits 18. A pump 60 is arranged in the forward flow of the set of conduits 18. The pump 60 is also a speed-controlled pump and regulates the mass flow rate and flow of refrigerant through the first set of conduits 18. The ice bin 10 is configured corresponding to the ice bin shown in Figure 1.

In a first mode of operation, a refrigerant is cooled by means of the heat pump 46, thus also cooling the refrigerant guided in the cooling system. Via pumps 58 and 62, coolant circulates in forward flow 54 and return flow 56. Additionally, pump 60 is active and guides coolant through ice bin 18 via first set of lines 18, so that a charge of the ice store 10 occurs. In the forward flow section 54, connected downstream of the first set of conduits 18, a slight increase in the temperature of the coolant occurs. In order to still be able to provide the cooling unit 40 with sufficient cooling power, the coolant flow rate can be further increased by means of the pump 62. In this case, the coolant, which is transported via the pump 58, is divided into two flow paths.

A second set of ducts 20 and a third set of ducts 22 are arranged parallel to the return flow 56 in the return flow 56. A pump 66 is arranged in the forward flow of the second set of ducts 20. In the flow A pump 64 is provided forward of the third set of conduits 22. Pumps 60, 64 and 66 are also speed-controlled pumps and regulate the amount of coolant that is guided through the second set of conduits 20 or through the third set of conduits. ducts 22.

Figure 4 shows the cooling system of Figure 3 in a first mode of operation. Arrows indicate the direction of coolant flow. The refrigerant cooled by the heat pump 46 is supplied within the forward flow 54 to the first set of pipes 18 through the pump 58 and the pump 60. In this case it should be noted that in addition to a parallel flow through of the conduit assembly 18 with respect to the forward flow 54, a diversion of the coolant flow can also be achieved, as shown in Figure 4. The distribution of the coolant flow depends on the flow rate of the various pumps 58, 60 and 62 If the flow rate of the pump 62 were considerably higher than the flow rate of the pump 60, a parallel flow could also be set through the bridged conduit section in the forward flow 54. In Fig. 4, the coolant flows at through the first set of pipes 18 and cools the fluid 16 housed in the storage chamber 14. The refrigerant is then supplied to the refrigeration unit 40 by means of the pump 62 and to the heat exchanger 52 by means of medi or from the return flow 56. The refrigerant is cooled again through the heat exchanger 52.

In a second mode of operation shown in Figure 5, the refrigerant circulating in the forward flow 54 and in the return flow 56 for cooling the refrigeration unit 40 is not cooled by the heat exchanger 52, but by through the "cold" stored in the ice store 10. To do this, the pump 60 is deactivated, so that no more refrigerant flows through the first set of lines 18. In addition, the refrigerant heated by the heating unit refrigerant 40 is guided in the return flow 56 via the second set of ducts 20 through the upper zone 24 of the ice store 10. For this purpose, the pump 66 is activated and transports the heated refrigerant in the return flow 56 through ice pack 10. Then the refrigerant, which has cooled down in ice pack 10, flows back through heat exchanger 52 and forward flow line 54 directly to the unit 40. Since the cooling takes place via the ice store 10, the refrigerant in the return flow before the heat exchanger 52 already has the required temperature, so it is no longer necessary for the cooling pump to heat 56 works to cool the coolant. In the return flow 56, a temperature measurement device that detects the temperature of the refrigerant may be provided. The cooling system also has measuring devices at other points for detecting the temperature of the coolant. This information is transmitted to a control and regulation unit for the control of the overall cooling system and/or to secondary control and regulation units, for example for the cooling device 38. In this case, they regulate the refrigerant transport by controlling the pumps 58, 60, 62, 64 and 66. If the temperature in the return flow 56 exceeds a certain threshold value, the heat pump 46 is activated again and the refrigerant is cooled by means of the heat exchanger. As a consequence, pumps 60 and 66 are controlled such that refrigerant is supplied to the first set of lines 18 by pump 60 in order to charge ice pack 10 and deactivate pump 66, so that no heated coolant in the return flow 56 to flow through the second set of ducts 20. The flow of coolant within the sets of ducts 18, 20 and 22, as well as in the forward flow 54 and 56, can actual hoisted only by speed control of pumps 60, 62, 64 and 66.

The cooling device 38 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 additionally has a third set of ducts 22. The function of the third set of ducts 22 has already been described in connection with FIG. 1. For this reason, the third set of ducts 22 should be considered optional. The function of the third set of pipes 22 can also be assumed only by the second set of pipes 20. However, a third set of pipes 22 can also be provided in order to be able to carry out a defined regeneration as already described in connection with the state of The technique.

The arrangement of the second set of ducts 20 in the upper zone 24 inside the ice storage 10 allows the refrigerant to reach, in the second mode of operation, fundamentally the temperature that the fluid 16 presents in zone 24. Yes, for the cooling of the refrigerant If the return flow 56 were to be guided only through the third set of ducts 22, the refrigerant would also flow through zones 26 and 28 which have higher temperatures than zone 24. As a consequence, the refrigerant is not cooled. to the extent that would be necessary for the cooling of the refrigeration unit 40. As a result, in the state of the art a larger amount of refrigerant is conducted through an ice pack, which results in a faster discharge of the refrigerant. ice bin and reduces heat pump cycle times, which significantly increases energy costs. However, in the configuration of the ice store 10 described here, the cycles of a heat pump for cooling the refrigeration unit 40 and for cooling the fluid 16 housed in the ice store 10 can be reduced or reduced. the intervals between the moments of connection of the heat pump 46.

The cooling system described herein allows cooling of a cooling device 38 in an economical and efficient manner. For example, the ice store 10 can be charged when the current costs for operating the heat pump 46 are low. This may be the case, for example, at night. However, during the day a favorable electricity rate may also be established at certain times. The decisive factor for this is sometimes the supply of electricity generated by renewable energies. During the day it switches to the operating mode shown in figure 5, so that the heat pump is inactive. This operation can be performed until the temperature in the return flow 56 upstream of the heat exchanger 52 exceeds a threshold value.

Alternatively, the operating mode shown in figure 5 can also be maintained overnight. In particular, supermarket refrigeration devices 38 for cooling merchandise have closure devices with a shutter. At night, the shutter is lowered so that the merchandise chamber is closed and there is less heat transfer between the environment of the refrigeration device 38 and the merchandise chamber. To maintain a constant temperature in the merchandise chamber and a constant core temperature of the merchandise housed therein, the refrigerant can, for example, be cooled to 0 degrees by guiding it through zone 24 via the second set of ducts 20 .

During daytime operation with an open shutter, a higher heat transfer takes place between the environment and the merchandise chamber. In addition, new goods are always re-introduced into the cooling device 38, whereby further cooling is required. To do this, a refrigerant can be brought to a lower temperature, using the operating mode shown in figure 4.

In all of the ice storage bins 10 described here, a third set of ducts 22 can be dispensed with. A fundamental component is the second set of ducts 20 which extends horizontally in the upper area 24 of the storage chamber 14 and which is mainly located within a temperature shell. In this case, the coolant guided through the second set of ducts 20 can be brought to a defined temperature and does not flow through different temperature layers.

reference list

10 ice bin

12 Casing

14 storage chamber

16 Fluid

18 Duct Assembly

20 Duct Assembly

22 Duct Assembly

24 zone

26 zone

28 zone

30 heat exchanger

32 Heat exchanger

34 Heat exchanger

36 Storage Element

38 cooling device

Cooling unit Heat exchanger Fan

Heat pump Compressor

Expansion valve Heat exchanger Forward flow Return flow Pump

Bomb

Bomb

Bomb

Bomb

Claims (8)

1. Cooling system with at least a) a cold accumulator that has at least - a casing (12) surrounding a storage chamber (14), a fluid (16) being housed in the storage chamber (14), - a first set of ducts (18) arranged in the storage chamber (14), the first set of ducts (18) being arranged so that the coolant guided by the first set of ducts (18) flows vertically through the accumulator cold, - a second set of ducts (20) arranged in the storage chamber (14), the second set of ducts (20) being arranged so that the coolant guided by the second set of ducts (20) flows horizontally through the accumulator cold, with the first set of ducts (18), the second set of ducts (20) and/or a third set of ducts (22) connected to a refrigeration circuit in which at least one heat exchanger (42) is arranged. ), - the first set of ducts (18) being arranged upstream of the at least one heat exchanger (42) in the forward flow (54) of the refrigeration circuit in the direction of flow of the refrigerant, - the second set of ducts (20) being arranged after the at least one heat exchanger (42) in the return flow (56) of the refrigeration circuit in the direction of flow of the refrigerant, and/or - the third set of ducts (22) being arranged after the at least one heat exchanger (42) in the return flow (56) of the refrigeration circuit in the direction of flow of the refrigerant, and b) at least one refrigeration device (38) with at least one heat exchanger (42) for cooling the goods housed in a chamber for goods, and c) at least one refrigerating machine for cooling the refrigerant guided in the refrigeration circuit, - the first set of ducts (18) being coupled to the forward flow (54) of the cooling system, - the second set of ducts (20) being coupled to the return flow (56) of the cooling system, and/or - the third set of ducts (22) being coupled to the return flow (56) of the cooling system, and - the refrigerant being guided through the first set of ducts (18) for charging the cold accumulator, - the refrigerant being guided through the second set of ducts (20) and/or through the third set of ducts (22) for cooling the cooling device (38), and - the refrigerant being guided through the second set of ducts (20) for cooling the refrigeration device (38) when the refrigerating machine does not perform any cooling of the refrigerant. 2. Cooling system according to claim 1, the second set of ducts (20) being arranged in an upper area (24) of the storage chamber (14). 3. Cooling system according to claim 1 or 2, which has a third set of ducts (22) arranged in the storage chamber (14), the third set of ducts (22) being arranged so that the refrigerant guided by the third set of ducts (22) flows through the cold accumulator vertically and in the opposite direction to the flow direction of the coolant guided in the first set of ducts (18). Cooling system according to one of claims 1 to 3, which has several second sets of ducts (20) running parallel to one another. Cooling system according to one of claims 1 to 4, the first set of ducts (18), the second set of ducts (20) and/or the third set of ducts (22) having at least one heat exchanger ( 30; 32; 34) and/or helically developing conduit sections. Cooling system according to one of claims 1 to 5, the fluid (16) housed in the storage chamber (14) being water. Cooling system according to one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein storage elements (36) are accommodated in the storage chamber (14), which consist of a phase-change material or have a phase-change material. Cooling system according to one of Claims 1 to 7, the cold store being in the form of an ice store (10).