WO2009156384A2

WO2009156384A2 - Cooling system for a transporting vehicle with a plurality of cooling chambers

Info

Publication number: WO2009156384A2
Application number: PCT/EP2009/057786
Authority: WO
Inventors: Franz Lürken
Original assignee: L'air Liquide Socie Anonyme Pour L'etude Et L'exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude; Air Liquide Deutschland G.M.B.H.
Priority date: 2008-06-25
Filing date: 2009-06-23
Publication date: 2009-12-30
Also published as: EP2294344A2; WO2009156384A3; DE102008029853A1; US20110253342A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for cooling at least one chamber (A, B, C,... ) of a transporting vehicle (T) for chilled products by means of a cooling unit (1), preferably a tank (1) for liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide, in which there is at least one cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) having a heat exchange medium, the cooling intermediate circuit having a first heat exchanger (4) for cooling the heat exchange medium by means of the cooling unit (1), each chamber (A, B, C,... ) in each case being assigned a second heat exchanger (30A, 30B, 30C,... ) which can be connected on the primary side to the intermediate circuit (4,11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16) and by means of which, on the secondary side, the air in the particular chamber (A, B, C,... ) can be cooled. There are preferably two or more chambers (A, B, C,... ), each having a second heat exchanger (30A, 30B, 30C,... ), wherein the cooling intermediate circuit (4,11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and a heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26), preferably having the same heat exchange medium, are arranged and connected in such a manner that each of the second heat exchangers (30A, 30B, 30C,... ) can be connected either to the cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) or the heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23,24, 25, 26). The heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) is particularly preferably connected via heat exchangers (14, 24) and a mechanically or electrically driven heat pump (35) to the cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) in such a manner that heat can be withdrawn from the cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and supplied to the heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26). In this manner, even a plurality of cooling chambers of a transporting vehicle are to be kept at any desired different temperatures in an energy-saving manner.

Description

COOLING SYSTEM FOR A TRANSPORTING VEHICLE WITH A PLURALITY OF COOLING CHAMBERS

The present invention relates to the field of refrigerated transporting vehicles, in particular refrigerating transporting vehicles in which at least some of the cooling required is implemented by carrying liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide.

Various methods for cooling a freight container by means of liquid nitrogen carried with it are known, the methods either providing direct spraying of liquid nitrogen into a cooling chamber when the temperature thereof is to be lowered, or indirect cooling by means of a heat exchanger if the intention is to avoid the oxygen content in the cooling chamber from dropping too far. The known cooling systems can be adapted to many different transport situations, and therefore there are different apparatuses and methods for cooling chilled products for storage, long-distance transportation, and delivery transport with a great number of loading or unloading operations.

A particular difficulty can arise if the ambient conditions and/or the transport conditions require not only cooling, but occasionally or frequently also heating of transporting chambers. Such an effect may occur as a function of the ambient temperature, but particularly also if products are to be transported in a transporting vehicle at different temperatures. For such purposes, there are transporting vehicles having a plurality of separate chambers, with a particular degree of difficulty then occurring if transporting vehicles which are divided in the longitudinal direction are to be used.

Although the external dimensions, prescribed in European goods traffic, for a lorry and/or a container and the typical dimensions of freight containers and transporting means permit the outer walls of a refrigerated transporting vehicle to be very well insulated, if a refrigerated transporting vehicle is divided in the longitudinal direction there is not sufficient space to also provide the partitions with good thermal insulation. At the same time, the transporting tasks and the logistics of the transporting companies require each of the chambers running in the longitudinal direction to be set to any desired temperature, irrespective of the temperatures which possibly adjacent chambers have. Therefore, situations may occur in which there are three longitudinal chambers and, in the central one, for example fresh products at temperatures of a few degrees Celsius above freezing are to be transported while deep-frozen food is transported in the two adjacent chambers at, for example, approximately -20 ⁰C. This requires that the central chamber has to be heated rather than cooled because of the poor heat insulation of the partitions. This in turn leads to the adjacent chambers requiring increased cooling. A refrigerated transporting vehicle may additionally also have a trailer with one or more cooling chambers for which cooling and/or heating likewise has to be provided.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for cooling at least one chamber of a transporting vehicle for chilled products, which apparatus can satisfy different cooling or heating requirements in an economical manner. A cooling method, with which the problems described can be solved economically, is also to be provided.

This object is achieved by an apparatus according to Claim 1 and a method according to Claim 12. Advantageous refinements are provided in the respectively dependent claims.

An apparatus according to the invention for cooling at least one chamber of a transporting vehicle for chilled products has a cooling unit, in particular a tank for liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide. There is at least one cooling intermediate circuit having a heat exchange medium, the cooling intermediate circuit having a first heat exchanger for cooling the heat exchange medium by means of the cooling unit, each chamber in each case being assigned a second heat exchanger which can be connected on the primary side to the intermediate cooling circuit and by means of which, on the secondary side, the air in the particular chamber can be cooled. A conventional, mechanical cooling assembly may also be used as the cooling unit, but the invention affords the greatest advantages when using a tank with liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide which, by means of their heating and/or evaporation, cool the heat exchange medium in the intermediate cooling circuit.

The use of a cooling intermediate circuit makes it possible to operate said circuit at a variable temperature, which would not be possible if liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide were conducted directly through the heat exchanger of a chamber. Highly flexible prerequisites are thus provided in order to adapt the cooling system to different conditions.

In an advantageous refinement of the invention, there are least two chambers on the transporting vehicle, each of the chambers having a dedicated cooling intermediate circuit with a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, and at least one of the intermediate circuits additionally having a heating system, preferably in the form of a third heat exchanger. With such an arrangement, it is possible to convert the cooling intermediate circuit of one or both chambers into a heating circuit, by switching on the heating system and switching off the cooling unit, in particular the supply of liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide, such that the chamber in question can be heated.

Particular advantages arise in a further refinement of the invention, in which there are at least two chambers which each have a second heat exchanger, but only one cooling intermediate circuit and additionally a heating intermediate circuit are provided, wherein each second heat exchanger can be connected either to the cooling intermediate circuit or the heating intermediate circuit. The substantial advantages of this arrangement are afforded only when there are more than two chambers, but the principle can also be applied to two chambers. As is explained in further detail with reference to the drawing, by means of this arrangement according to the invention, cold is available for each chamber in a cooling intermediate circuit when the chamber has to be cooled, and heat is available from a heating intermediate circuit when the chamber has to be heated. The second heat exchangers arranged in each chamber can either have a primary cooling circuit, which can then be connected via four valves either to the cooling intermediate circuit or to the heating intermediate circuit, or two primary circuits can be provided, in which case only two valves are needed in order to operate the one or the other primary circuit. On the secondary side, the second heat exchanger cools the air in the particular chamber, this preferably being brought about by a fan which blows recirculated air through the heat exchanger.

When only one primary circuit is used in the second heat exchangers, the heat exchange media in the cooling intermediate circuit and in the heating intermediate circuit must be identical in each case. Also if there are two primary circuits, it is advisable to use the same heat exchange medium in the cooling intermediate circuit and in the heating intermediate circuit, since the two primary circuits in the second heat exchangers are in close heat contact and therefore both heat exchange media have to withstand approximately the same temperature ranges. Use is preferably made of a heat exchange medium, generally commercially available oils and the like, which still remains free-flowing, even when liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide is at raised temperatures, and has a boiling point of significantly above 50 ⁰C. The lower temperature at which the heat exchange medium is still usable is determined by the first heat exchanger through which liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide flows. However, concepts are also known in which heat exchange medium freezes in a layer to the walls of the heat exchanger tubes and, as a result, reduces the transfer of heat to the liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide and thus maintains a flow of heat exchange medium at a somewhat higher temperature within the interior of the cooling tubes.

In a further refinement of the invention, energy can additionally be saved and the consumption of liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide reduced, namely by the use of a heat pump with which a temperature difference between the cooling intermediate circuit and the heating intermediate circuit is maintained or supported. Precisely in situations in which cooling and heating have to take place at the same time, a heat pump affords particular advantages. In this case, a step which is crucial in terms of energy can reside in particular in the heat pump being driven directly by an engine of the transporting vehicle, this requiring much less energy than for operating a dedicated drive for the heat pump. However, in all cases, a heat pump can withdraw heat from the cooling intermediate circuit and supply it to the heating intermediate circuit, this affording considerable advantages in certain operating phases. Of course, situations may occur in which the heat required in the heating circuit cannot be withdrawn or not completely withdrawn from the cooling circuit, or vice versa. In this situation, the difference can be removed via an equalizing heat exchanger.

If a transporting vehicle having the cooling system according to the invention pulls a trailer, it is particularly simple to connect the latter to the cooling system. Since the cooling intermediate circuit does not operate by a long way at the temperature of liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide and the heating circuit is also not operated at very high temperatures, the cooling intermediate circuit and the heating intermediate circuit can be routed to the trailer in a simple manner via couplings and hose connections such that one or more chambers can also be connected there to said systems in the same manner as in the transporting vehicle itself.

Each chamber is preferably connected to a temperature-regulating means, in particular to a central regulating device, which, when cooling is required, connects the second heat exchanger, which is assigned to the respective chamber, on the primary side to the cooling intermediate circuit and, when heating is required, to the heating intermediate circuit, the air in the associated chamber being conducted in each case as recirculated air on the secondary side through the assigned second heat exchanger. For situations in which at least one of the chambers is to be cooled rapidly after a loading or unloading operation, said chamber can be provided with an additional device for the direct spraying in of liquid nitrogen. In the case of such devices, care has to be taken, if appropriate, to ensure a breathable atmosphere before personnel enter it.

For the operation of the apparatus, it is expedient to operate the cooling intermediate circuit and the heating intermediate circuit at certain temperature levels, and therefore the two circuits should have separate temperature-regulating circuits. An essential element in the temperature-regulating circuit of the cooling intermediate circuit is the first heat exchanger, and an essential element of the temperature-regulating circuit of the heating intermediate circuit can be the heat pump or, of course, any other heating system desired. In modern installations, the entire regulating technology is generally accommodated in a central regulating device.

The present invention provides the possibility of fitting a tank for liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide and the first heat exchanger as a constructional unit to or under the transporting vehicle. Systems can even be provided in which the two components are formed together as an exchangeable unit such that, instead of a refuelling operation at the vehicle, tank and heat exchanger can be exchanged. In this case, no connections conducting liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide would have to be released and reconnected, which can have considerable advantages.

To provide an even more flexible manner of operation, it is advantageous in each case to provide a third primary circuit in the second heat exchangers or in a part thereof, said primary circuit being able to be supplied with liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide directly from the tank. This gives rise to additional operating options which can be used at the beginning of the operation, in certain situations or if other operating systems break down. It is particularly advantageous for the control and maintenance also to accommodate all or most of the valves of the apparatus in an end-side control panel behind which further important components, for example the heat exchangers, can preferably be arranged. Easy controllability and clarity are therefore achieved with little outlay on wiring.

Exemplary embodiments for apparatuses according to the invention and methods according to the invention and individual refinements thereof are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, the invention, however, not being restricted to these exemplary embodiments.

Figure 1 shows schematically the typical construction of a refrigerated transporting vehicle with a plurality of chambers and trailers, Figure 2 shows schematically a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, and Figure 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows schematically, with the driver's cab being omitted, a transporting vehicle T, which is divided in the longitudinal direction into three cooling chambers A, B, C. The partitions W bringing about the division have to be of a thinness such that complete heat insulation is not possible, and therefore particular measures are required in order to maintain temperature differences between the chambers A, B, C. A Tank 1 for liquid nitrogen which can possibly also be designed as a constructional unit together with a first heat exchanger 4 is located below the transporting vehicle T. For particular cooling requirements, a system for spraying liquid nitrogen directly into one of the chambers A, B, C can be provided in the form of a spraying-in line 41 which can be shut off by means of a spray valve 40. If the transporting vehicle T tows a trailer H, the cooling chambers D, E of the trailer H can be connected to the systems of the transporting vehicle T via couplings 20. Figure 2 shows, in a partially schematic view, an exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrating the supply, according to the present invention, of three chambers A, B, C of a transporting vehicle T and of two or more further chambers D, E... of a trailer H with cooling or heating. The cooling required is provided by liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide which is carried in a tank 1. The liquid nitrogen or the carbon dioxide passes via a safety valve 2 and an inlet valve 3 into a first heat exchanger and from there via an outlet valve 5 to a bio wing-off means 6. In the first heat exchanger 4, a heat exchange medium which flows through the first heat exchanger 4 on the secondary side can therefore be cooled by heating or evaporating the liquid nitrogen/carbon dioxide. This cooled heat exchange medium flows in a cooling intermediate circuit and is conveyed by a pump 11 via a multi-way valve 12 through the first heat exchanger 4 and then to a cold distributor line 15 from where it passes again via a throttle device 13 to the pump 11. A cold-collecting line 16 is also connected between the throttle device 13 and the pump 11. During the operation of the pump 11, a difference in pressure between the cold distributor line 15 and the cold-collecting line 16 is maintained by the throttle device 13 such that, when the need arises, two heat exchangers 3OA, 3OB, 3OC can be connected between them and cooled on the primary side. This takes place by means of the inlet valves 19A, 19B, 19C. If one of these valves is opened, then heat exchange medium flows from the cold distributor line 15 on the primary side through the associated second heat exchanger 30A, 30B, 30C to the cold-collecting line 16. In the chamber A, B, C in question, recirculated air can be conducted on the secondary side by means of a recirculated air fan 3 IA, 3 IB, 31C through the second heat exchanger 30A, 30B, 30C until the desired cooling in the chamber A, B, C in question is reached.

The transporting vehicle T also contains a heating intermediate circuit in which a heat exchange medium, preferably the same one as in the cooling intermediate circuit, is conducted by a pump 21 to a heat distributor line 25 via a throttle device 23 and back to the pump 21 through a heat exchanger 24. A heat-collecting line 26 is connected between the throttle device 23 and the heat exchanger 24 in the heating intermediate circuit. During operation of the pump 21, the throttle device 23 in the heating intermediate circuit causes a difference in pressure to be maintained between the heat distributor line 25 and the heat-collecting line 26 such that, when the need arises, the second heat exchangers 3OA, 3OB, 3OC can be connected on the primary side to the heating intermediate circuit. In the present exemplary embodiment, this takes place by means of a second secondary circuit in which one of the inlet valves 29A, 29B, 29C is opened, as a result of which heat exchange medium flows out of the heating intermediate circuit through the relevant second heat exchanger 3OA, 30B, 30C. The associated chamber A, B, C can then be heated by the relevant recirculated air fan 3 IA, 3 IB, 31C.

Of course, it is possible also to use second heat exchangers 30A, 30B, 30C having only a circuit on the primary side, but this would require double the number of valves and absolutely necessitates the use of the same heat exchange medium in the cooling intermediate circuit and in the heating intermediate circuit.

In terms of energy, it may be particularly advantageous if a heat pump 35 is also connected between the cooling intermediate circuit and the heating intermediate circuit. In favourable cases, such a heat pump can bring about the required cooling and the required heating virtually at the same time, but in any case can reduce the energy required for maintaining differences in temperature in the two circuits. Of course, in the simplest case, the heating intermediate circuit can also have a different heat source, for example an electric heating system or a connection to the cooling circuit of an engine. However, Figure 2 illustrates the particularly favourable use of a heat pump which can withdraw heat from the intermediate cooling circuit via a heat exchanger 14 to the heat pump and a heat exchanger 24 from the heat pump and can supply it to the heating intermediate circuit. Excess cold or heat can be removed or supplied via the equalizing heat exchanger 34.

Depending on the position of the three-way valve 12, the cold can be placed in the cooling intermediate circuit entirely or partially via the heat exchanger 14 or via the first heat exchanger 4. Typical temperatures for the different operations are indicated in Figure 2. The temperature in the cooling intermediate circuit downstream of the first heat exchanger 4 may be, for example, approximately -60 ⁰C while, during operation of the heat pump 35 downstream of the heat exchanger 14, temperatures, for example, of -30 ⁰C can be achieved. The heating circuit can be located downstream of the pump 21, for example at a temperature level of approximately 30⁰C.

A central regulating device 50 is connected, as illustrated schematically, via lines 51 to sensors, in particular temperature sensors, in the chambers A, B, C, if appropriate also to further sensors in the trailer H. In addition, the central regulating device 50 is connected via control lines 52 to valves, fans and pumps of the entire system such that a central control or regulation of the entire system is possible.

If, for example, the temperature in the chamber A is too high, then the inlet valve 19A is opened and the recirculated air fan 3 IA placed into operation until the correct temperature is set. If, in the process, the temperature in the cooling intermediate circuit becomes too high, the inlet valve 3 is opened and liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide is conducted through the first heat exchanger 4. As an alternative, depending on the operating conditions at a particular moment, the heat pump 35 can also be put into operation, as a result of which the temperature in the cooling intermediate circuit is reduced via the heat exchanger 14. If at the same time the temperature in the chamber B is too low, then the inlet valve 29B is opened and the recirculated air fan 3 IB in put into operation until the chamber B is heated to the desired temperature. If, in the process, the temperature in the heating intermediate circuit drops too far, this can be equalized again by the heat pump 35 via the heat exchanger 24. All of the second heat exchangers 30A, 30B, 30C can preferably be connected on the primary side either to the cold distributor line 15 and to the cold-collecting line 16 or to the heat distributor line 25 and the heat-collecting line 26. Each chamber A, B, C can thus be set to any desired temperature within a certain range.

If a trailer H having further chambers D, E is present, the cold distributor line 15, the cold-collecting line 16, the heat distributor line 25 and the heat-collecting line 26 can be extended in a simple manner to a cold distributor line 17 in the trailer, a cold-collecting line 18 in the trailer, a heat distributor line 27 in the trailer and a heat distributor line 28 in the trailer. Further second heat exchangers 3OD with recirculated air fans 3 ID can be connected via inlet valves 19D ... or 29D ... to the cooling intermediate circuit or the heating intermediate circuit, in an entirely analogous manner to the connection in the transporting vehicle T itself.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention according to Figure 3, essentially all of the components are present as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, but some thereof are not illustrated. In order to have greater flexibility during the operation, in particular at the beginning of the operation or during exceptional situations, the second heat exchangers 3OA, 3OB, 30C, ... are in each case equipped with a third primary circuit 32A, 32B, 32C, ... which can be directly supplied with liquid nitrogen via an inlet valve 33. The third primary circuits 32A, 32B, 32C, ... can be supplied with liquid nitrogen individually or together via additional outlet valves 39A, 39B, 39C. This provides additional cooling circuits which can be regulated in a very simple manner and are also available if other systems break down.

In order to enable simple control of all or many of the elements, it is particularly advantageous, as indicated schematically in Figure 3, to arrange all or most of the valves in a control panel 53 on the transport vehicle, preferably on an end side of the vehicle.

The present invention is particularly suitable for refrigerated transporting vehicles which are used in delivery transport and have a plurality of chambers in which different temperatures are to be set in a flexible manner. List of designations

T Transporting vehicle A Chamber

B Chamber

C Chamber

D Chamber

E Chamber

H Trailer

W Partition

1 Cooling unit, tank for liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide 2 Safety valve

3 Inlet valve

4 First heat exchanger

5 Outlet valve

6 B Io wing-o ff means 11 Pump in the cooling intermediate circuit

12 Three-way valve

13 Throttle device in the cooling intermediate circuit

14 Heat exchanger to the heat pump

15 Cold distributor line 16 Cold-collecting line

17 Cold distributor line in the trailer

18 Cold-collecting line in the trailer

19A, B, C... Inlet valve of a first primary circuit of the second heat exchanger

20 Couplings 21 Pump in the heating intermediate circuit

23 Throttle device in the heating intermediate circuit

24 Heat exchanger from the heat pump

25 Heat distributor line 26 Heat-collecting line

27 Heat distributor line in the trailer

28 Heat-collecting line in the trailer

29 A, B, C,... Inlet valve of second primary circuit of the second heat exchanger 3OA, B, C, ... Second heat exchanger of each chamber

3 IA, B, C, ... Secondary-side recirculated fan of each chamber

32A, B, C, ... Additional (third) primary circuit of the second heat exchanger

33 Inlet valve for third primary circuits

34 Equalizing heat exchanger 35 Heat pump

36 Steam outlet for third primary circuit

39A, B, C, ... Additional outlet valve of the third primary circuit

40 Spraying-in valve

41 Spraying-in line 50 Central regulating device

51 Lines to sensors

52 Control lines for valves, fans, pumps

53 End- side control panel for valves

Claims

Patent Claims

1. Apparatus for cooling at least one chamber (A, B, C,...) of a transporting vehicle (T) for chilled products by means of a cooling unit (1), preferably a tank (1) for liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide, characterized in that there is at least one cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) having a heat exchange medium, the cooling intermediate circuit having a first heat exchanger (4) for cooling the heat exchange medium by means of the cooling unit (1), each chamber (A, B, C,...) in each case being assigned a second heat exchanger (3OA, 3OB, 3OC,...) which can be connected on the primary side to the intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and by means of which, on the secondary side, the air in the particular chamber (A, B, C, ...) can be cooled.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that there are least two chambers (A, B, C,...) and each chamber (A, B, C,...) has a dedicated cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) with a first heat exchanger (4) and a second heat exchanger (30A, 30 B, 30C,...), at least one of the intermediate circuits (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) additionally having a heating system (24), preferably in the form of a third heat exchanger (24).

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that there are at least two chambers (A, B, C,...), each having a second heat exchanger (30A, 30B, 30C,...), and in that the cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and a heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26), preferably having the same heat exchange medium, are arranged and connected in such a manner that each of the second heat exchangers (30A, 30B, 30C,...) can be connected either to the cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) or to the heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26).

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterized in that the heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) is connected via heat exchangers (14, 24) and a mechanically or electrically driven heat pump (35) to the cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) in such a manner that heat can be withdrawn from the cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and supplied to the heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26).

5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and the heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) are routed as far as an end region of the transporting vehicle (T) where they are provided with couplings (20) in such a manner that both circuits can be opened and extended to a trailer (H) having further chambers (E, F,...) and circuit lines (17, 18, 27, 28).

6. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each chamber (A, B, C,...) is connected to a temperature-regulating means (50) which, when cooling is required, connects the second heat exchanger (3OA, 3B and 30C,...), which is assigned to the respective chamber (A, B, C,...), on the primary side to the cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and, when heating is required, to the heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26), the air in the associated chamber (A, B, C,...) being conducted in each case as recirculated air on the secondary side through the assigned second heat exchanger (30A, 30B, 30C,...).

7. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the chambers (A, B, C,...) is provided with an additional device (40, 41) for the spraying in of liquid nitrogen.

8. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and the heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) have separate temperature-regulating circuits, the temperature-regulating circuit of the heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) comprising the heat pump (35) while the temperature- regulating circuit of the cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) comprises the first heat exchanger (4).

9. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tank (1) for liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide and the first heat exchanger (4) are fitted as a constructional unit to or below the transporting vehicle (T).

10. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the second heat exchangers (3OA, 3OB, 30C, ...) has an additional primary circuit (32A, 32B, 32C, ...), in particular designed as a third cooling coil which can be connected via an inlet valve (33) directly to the tank (1) and via an outlet valve (39A, 39B, 39C, ...) to a steam outlet (36) for the additional primary circuit (32A, 32B, 32C, ...).

11. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that all or most of the valves are arranged in an end-side control panel (53).

12. Method for setting a desired temperature in at least one chamber (A, B, C,...) of a transporting vehicle (T) for chilled products, wherein a cooling unit, in particular liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide carried in a tank (1), is used for the cooling, characterized in that, for the cooling via a first heat exchanger (4), first of all a heat exchange medium is cooled in an intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and then, via a second heat exchanger (30A, 30B, 30C,...), cools the air in the chamber (A, B, C...), the air being conducted through the second heat exchanger (3OA, 3OB, 3OC,...)-

13. Method according to Claim 12 for setting identical or different desired temperatures in two or more chambers (A, B, C,...) of a transporting vehicle (T) for chilled products, characterized in that there is a cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and a heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26), preferably having the same heat exchange medium, and in that each chamber (A, B, C,...) is assigned a secondary heat exchanger (3OA, 30B, 30C,...) which is connected on the primary side either to the cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) or to the heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) , depending on whether a chamber (A, B, C,...) is to be cooled or heated.

14. Method according to Claim 13, characterized in that an electrically or mechanically driven heat pump (35) is connected between the cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and the heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26), the heat pump withdrawing heat from the cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) and supplying it to the heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26).

15. Method according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the second heat exchanger (30A, 30B, 30C,...) of a chamber (A, B, C,...) is connected in each case on the primary side by means of valves (19A, 19B, 19C,...or 29A, 29B, 29C,...) either into the cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) or into the heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26), the temperature in the relevant chamber (A, B, C,...) preferably being regulated by the quantity of recirculated air of the chambers (A, B, C,...) which is conducted on the secondary side through the second heat exchanger (30A, 30B, 30C,...) of the chambers (A, B, C,...).

16. Method according to Claim 14, characterized in that the heat pump (35) is used to regulate the temperature in the heating intermediate circuit (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26), and in that the temperature of the cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) is regulated by the cooling supplied on the primary side to the first heat exchanger (4), in particular the quantity of liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide per unit of time.

17. Method according to Claim 14, 15 or 16, characterized in that excess heat or cold which cannot be exchanged between the heating intermediate circuit (21, 22,

23, 24, 25, 26) and the cooling intermediate circuit (4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16) by the heat pump (35) is removed via an equalizing heat exchanger (34).