MXPA97005011A - Method and apparatus for cooling an s - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for climatically conditioning a room by means of radiant heat exchange, characterized in that it comprises: providing at least one cooling element in radiant heat exchange relation with the room to be conditioned; condensed in ice on the cooling element during a cooling phase, keeping the ice on the cooling element during the cooling phase to climatically condition the room by means of radiant heat exchange between the ice in the cooling element and the ambient air of the room that is going to be conditioned, and subsequently melting the ice during a regeneration phase

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING A ROOM Description of the invention The invention relates to a method for cooling a room according to the preamble of claim 1 and to an apparatus for carrying out the method. It is known (see for example H. Sokolean: "Kühldeckentechnologie zur Erreichung des bestmóglic en Raumkomforts", [Roof cooling technology to obtain the best possible conditions in interior spaces]; Architektur und Technik 8/92, pp. 49 - 53, B + L Verlag AG, Schiieren (Switzerland)), the cooling of rooms or rooms by means of cooling elements which are preferably arranged in the roof area and through which a heat transfer medium cooled in a central cooling unit. In this case, the cooling is carried out by heat exchange by convection of the cooling element with the air in the room and in particular by direct radiation exchange thereof with the objects located in the room. The cooling capacity of such cooling elements is limited by the fact that their surface temperature should not decrease at a temperature lower than the dew temperature, because otherwise a condensate forms during the cooling phases, which usually coincides with the time during which the room is in use. Although it has been proposed (WO-A-91/13 294) to cool to a temperature below the dew point temperature and to drain the condensate produced by means of REF: 25088 channels or trays for condensate, it must be assumed that the formation Condensate during the use of the climatically conditioned room is always problematic and undesired A device for drying and drying is also known (from DE-A-28 02 550). cooling air, in which the air is sucked by means of a fan on a cooling element which is temporarily cooled to a temperature lower than the freezing temperature and which is released from the frost deposited by heating during brief phases of cooling. However, such devices are usually not suitable for use in a room to be conditioned climatically and therefore would require air to be conveyed by forced convection, which would have to cause unwanted venting Since the spray temperature at the usually prevailing atmospheric pressure levels is approximately 12 ° C to 15 ° C, yes i; > the formation of the condensate is to be avoided in the case of a conventional wrapping element arranged in the room to be cooled, the difference between the permissible temperature of the element and the desired room temperature of approximately 22 ° C is very small and the cooling capacity which can be obtained is correspondingly moderate As a result, it is require very large cooled surfaces, which comprises comparatively high costs and has the effect of restpngir the possibilities of interior design It is the object of the invention to provide a solution to the above. The invention, as characterized in the claims, provides a method for climatically conditioning the rooms, in which the temperature of the cooling element is no longer restricted by the dew temperature. The fundamental idea in the present is to cool the cooling element during the cooling phases, which coincides to a great extent with the times during which the climatic conditioned room is in use, to such an extent that the condensate deposited on the element is It quickly turns into ice and as a result no problematic condensation of water occurs. During the regeneration phases, which are generally chosen to be out of use times, the frozen condensate melts and drains in liquid form. The advantages obtained by the present invention are particularly associated with the fact that the temperature of the cooling element can be adjusted to as low a temperature as desired. As a result, very high cooling capacities can be obtained even with small cooling surfaces, even if the exchange of heat with the room to be climatically conditioned is carried out exclusively by means of radiation and in any case, free convection. This effect is further promoted by the fact that, in the infrared range, the ice has radiation properties very similar to those of a black body and the freezing of the cooling element has a completely favorable effect on the exchange of direct or indirect radiation decisive with the objects that are in the climatically conditioned room. The cooling elements can consequently be kept small and simple in construction, by which of course the costs are reduced and they no longer play the previous restrictive role as a factor to be taken into account in the interior design. In addition, an additional problem is solved, which until now presented difficulties with the general methods to climatically condition the rooms and could only be treated with the exchange of air in the room, which, however, requires additional facilities and covers the risk of that unwanted venting occurs. Particularly if the room is used for a considerable period of time by a high concentration of people, the humidity of the air in the room increases rapidly. This is perceived as unpleasant and frequently leads to the attempt to remedy the situation with the opening of the windows, which however in the summer months specifically, further aggravates the problem, due to the high humidity of the outside air. The high atmospheric humidity can finally result in that, even with the cooling elements at a relatively high temperature, there is the risk of condensation and that the cooling system is completely turned off by the spray temperature monitors. Consequently, cooling stops at the same time that it is most urgently needed. In contrast, in the case of the method according to the invention, the atmospheric humidity is limited on the cooling element by the freezing of the condensate. As a result, the air in the room remains dry, which makes the conditions considerably more comfortable and does not allow the difficulties of the kind described to arise in any way. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, which illustrate only exemplary embodiments in which: Figure 1 shows schematically a section through a room which is climatically conditioned by the method according to the invention . Figure 2a shows a plan view of a first embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, to carry out the method according to the invention. Figure 2b shows a cross section along the line B-B through the apparatus of figure 2a. Figure 3a shows a plan view of a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention. Figure 3b shows a cross section along the line B-B through the apparatus of figure 3a. Figure 4a shows a plan view of a third embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, to carry out the method according to the invention.

Figure 4b shows a cross section along the line BB through the apparatus of figure 4a. A room 1 to be climatically conditioned (figure 1) contains objects that emit heat, such as people and equipment, which exchange heat with a cooling apparatus through a perforated roof 2 The cooling apparatus comprises at least one cooling element 3, which is connected by means of a supply line 4 and a drainage line 5 directly or indirectly to a cooling unit. cooling 6 and also a condensate tray 7, which is arranged vertically below the cooling element 3, is of a slightly larger surface area and has a discharge 8 The cooling apparatus is arranged above the perforated ceiling 2 It is also possible, however, integrate the condensate tray 7 to the roof 2, for example, in such a way as to replace a roof panel above the cooling apparatus, preferably 20 to 30 cm away from the cooling element, an intermediate roof or ceiling 9 of concrete or gypsum is incorporated. During a cooling phase, the cooling element 3 is cooled to a temperature lower than the freezing temperature, a at least -5 ° C, but preferably at a much lower temperature, for example -40 ° C. Usually the condensate is soon deposited on the cooling element, immediately becomes ice and subsequently adheres to the cooling of the room 1 is carried out predominantly by radiation exchange via the intermediate ceiling 9 which is intensively cooled by direct radiation exchange with the frozen enfolding element, since, in the infrared range, the latter is very similar to a black body ideal and very efficiently absorbs the radiation emanating from the intermediate ceiling 9, while for its part, taking into account its low temperature, radiates much less heat has The intermediate ceiling 9 On the other hand, the intermediate ceiling 9 exchanges heat radiation with the room 1, in particular with the objects emitting heat that are in it, through the perforated ceiling 2, in which it absorbs part of the heat radiation emanating from them and taking into account their lower temperature, radiates less heat per se than absorbed. Part of the radiation reaching the intermediate ceiling 9 is of course reflected and partially absorbed by the cooling element 3 The tray 7 of the condensate is also cooled by the exchange of radiation with the cooling element 3 and in turn contributes to the cooling of the room 1 by exchange of radiation with it. However, the temperature outside the tray 7 of the The condensate must not descend to a temperature lower than the dew temperature, since otherwise the condensate would form on its lower side. In addition, the heat exchange by convection, in particular with the intermediate roof 9 but also directly with the cooling apparatus, is also presented in Figure 1. In FIG. 1, this is indicated by the air hot rising by the curved arrows of continuous lines and for the cold air descending by arrows with discontinuous lines. However, convection plays a secondary role. Due to the large temperature difference between the cooling element 3 and the room, which can be 60 ° C, the cooling effect of the radiation exchange, which as we know follows a law T4 is very high. As a result, an intense cooling effect can still be obtained even with a small cooling element 3. Furthermore, the air in room 1 always remains relatively dry, since the excess atmospheric moisture is precipitated on the cooling element 3 and turns to ice. In this way, the most comfortable room conditions are established without additional measures. During a prolonged cooling phase, a relatively large amount of ice is precipitated on the cooling element and has to be melted and drained during a regeneration phase, which is usually arranged to be at a time during which room 1 does not It's in use. Usually it is sufficient for the melting to turn off the cooling unit and allow the ice deposited on the cooling element 3 to melt by exchanging heat with the surrounding atmosphere, but it is also possible to carry out a rapid regeneration by heating the element. Cooling 3. The molten water is cooled by the condensate tray 7 and drained via the discharge 8. After the ice has completely or perhaps only partially melted, the cooling apparatus is ready to be used again.

According to a first embodiment of a cooling apparatus (Figures 2a, b) the cooling element 3 is designed as a laminar steel evaporator, which is connected via a line 4 of heat-isolated feed and a similar drain line 5 to cooling unit 6 (figure 1), which in this case is designed as a condenser. The liquid refrigerant, for example Freon, is piped to the evaporator via the feed line, evaporated in a corrugated passage 10, which connects the feed line 4 to the drain line 5 and as a result cools the cooling element. at a temperature of about -40 ° C. The steam is led via the drain line 5 back to the cooling unit 6 and condensed therein by means of heat extraction. The condensate tray 7, arranged below the cooling element 3, has an outer cover 11 of steel, which is covered with powder on the outside, in such a way that it absorbs well therein and an internal cover 12 of polyurethane or wool mineral or some other material of low thermal conductivity, which is inserted to the outer cover 11. On the outside it is provided with a reflective metal sheet lining. By the construction described, cooling of the exterior of the condensation tray 7 is generally prevented at a temperature lower than the dew temperature. If these measures are not sufficient, the outer cover 11 can be heated slightly. To facilitate drainage of the condensate, the tray 7 of the condensate is manufactured in such a way that it is inclined towards the discharge 8.

To facilitate the radiation exchange of the cooling element 3 with the room 1 via the intermediate ceiling 9, the cooling apparatus is arranged at a distance below the last one. The part of the intermediate ceiling 9 lying above the cooling element 3 is it intensively cools by exchange of radiation with the element and in turn cools room 1 by radiation exchange. This effect is aided by the conduction of heat in the intermediate ceiling 9. The exchange of radiation with the intermediate roof 9 - at least in the initial phase of a cooling phase when no ice is still formed - can be further intensified by the cooling element 3 which is provided on the upper side with a covering which absorbs well In contrast, its lower side, facing the tray 7 of the condensate, is preferably reflective. In the case of a second embodiment of the cooling apparatus (Figures 3a, b), the cooling element 3 is designed as a steel tube 13 bent in a U-shape, through which chilled brine is channeled to a temperature of about -40 ° C in the cooling unit 6 (figure 1) To intensify the exchange of radiation with the intermediate roof 9, the steel pipe 13 carries on the upper side a steel plate 14, to which it is welded. The steel plate can be coated with matt black on the upper side. The condensate tray 7 is basically the same construction as that according to the first exemplary embodiment, but it is held on a rotating spindle 15 which extends parallel to its longitudinal direction, so that it can rotate at the sides at approximately 90 ° (direction of the arrow) out of its position below the cooling element 3 Then the cooling element 3 is exposed and can enter the direct radiation exchange with the objects found in the room 1 In this way, it can be obtain a particularly intense cooling effect, as can be desired for example when cooling an overheated room at the beginning of a cooling phase The edges of the condensate tray 7 are bent slightly inwards, so that any residual condensate can not run out while rotating the tray. According to a third mode of the cooling apparatus, the tray 7 of the condensate is designed as a flat disc of, for example, the shape of a spherical cup. The wrapping element 3 is designed as part of a copper tube which is bent to form a double spiral 16 and in the The center of the tray 7 of the condensate is fused to a line 4 of heat insulated feed and a similar drain line 5, which are stretched to an additional tube 17 of laminar steel. At the outer end, the double spiral 16 can be Provide with a ventilation valve. The ends of the copper tube 16 are joined there, via two quick-acting couplings 19, by means of two hoses 19 also heat insulated, which are led through the tube 17 to a hollow floor 21, located between a floor 20 and a floor 20. concrete base (not shown) and are connected to permanently laid lines which establish the connection to the cooling unit 6 (unit 1) and carry brine or glycol as the cooling medium. Also, arranged in the center of the condensate tray 7 is a filter 22, which is joined by a discharge 8 for the molten water, which ends in a collection tank 23 The condensate tray 7 is basically the same construction like that according to the first exemplary embodiment However, it also has a lighting element, a fluorescent tube 25, which runs above a reflector 24, for indirect lighting. Of course, additional lighting elements can be provided for the illumination. direct lighting The tube, together with a base plate 26 that surrounds it, forms a frame 27, which carries the enfolding element 3 and the condensate tray 7. The base plate 26 carries on the lower side a base element 29, which can be used in vain points of the floor 20, where it replaces a normal floor element for example Slightly above the base plate 26, the tube 17 it has a hole 29, which can be closed by a cover and behind which the quick-acting couplings 18 and the collection tank 23 are located. In the case of this configuration, it is easily possible to move the wrapping apparatus to any part, by releasing the quick-action couplings 18 and lifting the frame 27 with the floor element 29 off the floor 20 and replacing the element with a normal floor element. Subsequently, the cooling apparatus may be used at another point on the floor and be connected again via quick-action couplings 18 to insulated heat hoses, which establish the connection with permanently laid lines. This offers the possibility assigning a single cooling device to a workplace, for example, and moving it, if needed, to the workplace is also possible with a comparatively low expense and under certain circumstances, significantly reduce energy consumption, to produce a pleasant climate in the direct vicinity of the workplace, without it being necessary to cool the entire room, possibly much larger. In the example described, a light workplace is integrated at the same time into the cooling apparatus, designed in this way as a workplace cooler With the compact design of the cooling apparatus as a workplace cooler, use is made in a particularly advantageous manner of the high cooling capacity which the method according to the invention offers. The described design can be modified in a wide variety of ways. For example, instead of the collection tank 23, a coupling can be provided. additional rapid action, which connects the discharge to an additional hose and also to a discharge of the condensate provided in the hollow floor. On the condensate tray can be provided fixed and adjustable reflectors, arranged above the cooling element or other elements of deviation for thermal radiation, to influence the spatial distribution of the cooling effect and possibly also deviating elements for the light. An additional modification is the use of an evaporator or Peltier element instead of the double spiral 16 as the cooling element. A Peltier element makes it unnecessary - in particular when using a collection tank for the molten water which then only needs to be emptied occasionally - the supply line 4 and the drainage line 5 to connect the cooling element to the unit. Refrigeration are partially produced by hoses and instead allow them to be formed entirely or partially as wires to be connected by a plug connection, similar to an electrical plug connection, to an appropriate cooling installation, which may have, for example in each room, a heat exchanger, from which the heat generated by the Peltier element or plurality of Peltier elements is captured and transported to the cooling unit by means of the cooling medium. In this case, the frame can be provided with a flat base, in such a way that the cooling device can move freely in the room like a standard lamp. Although the use of a Peltier element as a cooling element is particularly advantageous in the case of a movable cooler of the workplace, it is also of course possible in the case of fixed cooling apparatuses. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention.

Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following

Claims (14)

1. Claims 1. A method for climatically conditioning a room by means of at least one cooling element arranged inside the room, characterized in that the cooling phases are alternated with regeneration phases, the temperature of the cooling element is adjusted during a phase of cooling. cooling in each case, such that any condensate that forms on it is converted to ice and adjusted during a regeneration phase in each case, in such a way that the condensate converted to ice on the cooling element melts.
2. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, during a regeneration phase, in each case any molten condensate is collected and drained.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, during a cooling phase, in each case the temperature of the cooling element is adjusted to a temperature of at least -2 ° C.
4. 4. The method according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, during a regeneration phase, in each case the cooling element is turned off.
5. The method according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cooling element is arranged in the ceiling area of the room to be cooled
6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the heat exchange of the cooling element with the room to be cooled is carried out predominantly by means of radiation exchange via surface areas arranged above the cooling element
7. A cooling apparatus for carrying out the method according to any of claims 1 to 6, having a cooling element and a tray for the condensate arranged vertically below the latter, characterized in that the outside of the condensate tray is thermally insulated with respect to its interior, facing the cooling element
8. The cooling apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the exterior of the condensate tray is of an absorbent design
9. The cooling apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the interior of the condensate tray is of a reflector design
10. 10. The cooling apparatus according to any of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the cooling element is of an absorbent design on the upper side and a reflective design on the lower side, facing the condensate tray.
11. The cooling apparatus according to claim 7 to 10, characterized in that the condensate tray can be at least partially articulated or pushed out of the area lying vertically below the cooling element.
12. 12. The cooling apparatus according to claim 7 to 11, characterized in that the cooling element and the condensate tray are transported by means of a frame, which can be supported on a floor.
13. 13. The cooling apparatus according to claim 7 to 12, characterized in that the cooling element is connected to a cooling unit via a feed line and a drain line, which are at least partially of a flexible design.
14. 14. The cooling apparatus according to claim 7 to 13, characterized in that the cooling element is designed as a tube, as an evaporator or as a Peltier element.