WO2014090718A1

WO2014090718A1 - Container for a domestic cooling appliance comprising a wall with a pcm material, as well as a domestic cooling appliance and use of a pcm material in a wall of a domestic cooling appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2014090718A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/075903
Authority: WO
Inventors: Frank Bailly; Simon Schechinger
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2012-12-12
Filing date: 2013-12-09
Publication date: 2014-06-19
Also published as: DE102012222848A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a container (3, 11, 12) for a domestic cooling appliance (1) which comprises walls (4 to 8; 13 to 17) that delimit a receiving compartment (10, 10a, 10b) for chilled goods, at least some sections of at least one wall (4 to 8; 13 to 17) comprising a PCM material. The invention also relates to a domestic cooling appliance (1) that has a container (3, 11, 12), as well as to the use of a PCM material, particularly a shaped element comprising a PCM material, in a wall (4 to 8; 13 to 17) of a container (11, 12), particularly a cooling storage compartment (12) or an inner container (3) of a domestic cooling appliance (1).

Description

Container for a household refrigerating appliance having a wall with PCM material and a household refrigerating appliance and using a PCM material in a wall of a household refrigerating appliance

The invention relates to a container for a household refrigerator, which has walls that limit a receiving compartment for items to be refrigerated. Furthermore, the invention relates to a domestic refrigerator with at least one such container and the use of a PCM material in a wall of a container of a household refrigerator. From DE 10 2010 041 952 A1 a refrigeration device with a cold storage is known. The cold storage has a PCM (Phase Change Material) material, which is arranged in an air duct. The air duct and the coolable interior, in which refrigerated goods can be accommodated, are separated from each other by a heat-insulating wall. This cold storage is thus arranged in a space between the heat-insulating wall and a container bounding the rear wall. The cold storage is designed as a separate component to these walls and spaced therefrom arranged.

In household refrigerators, it is also known that several receiving spaces are designed as subjects. For example, a refrigerator compartment or a freezer compartment or a cold storage compartment can be mentioned here. These individual compartments are characterized by the fact that they have different temperature values and thus different refrigerants in the form of food, such as food and drinks, can be stored therein. For cold storage compartments, these can also be designed with a size of more than 15 1 receiving volume, with a bonus being granted for determining the energy efficiency of the household refrigerating appliance in the presence of such a compartment according to EN ISO 15502. For the definition of cold storage compartments a necessary temperature stability within a standard between - 2 ° C and + 3 ° C is required. This is usually realized by sophisticated air ducts in the device. This is difficult to maintain for all air conditioning classes on all controller settings of household refrigerators. The evaporator required for cooling must be heated at regular intervals to defrost possible Reifanlagerung. this happens either with an electric heater or by warm air, which is transported by a fan through the evaporator. In both cases, this leads to a correspondingly long time without refrigeration and thus to a rise in temperature in the tray. The basic mode of operation and the energy-efficient operation are impaired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container for a household refrigerator and such a household refrigerator and a use in which or in which a more energy-efficient operation is achieved. This object is achieved by a container, a household refrigerator and a use according to the independent claims.

An inventive container for a household refrigerator includes walls that limit a receiving space for refrigerated goods. The walls thus define the geometry and contour of the container. An essential idea of the invention is to be seen in that at least one wall is at least partially formed of a PCM material or has such a PCM material. By such a configuration, such a PCM material is virtually integrated into a wall. In addition to space-minimizing advantages, thereby the energy-efficient operation of the device can be improved. In addition, a more direct and therefore more direct thermodynamic interaction with the temperature setting in the receiving space can be made possible.

It is preferably provided that the PCM material is designed such that its phase change point is in the temperature range of the receiving space during operation of the household refrigerating appliance. This further improves the energy-efficient operation.

It is preferably provided that the PCM material is designed as a shaped body which forms at least one wall section of at least one wall. By such a configuration, a high mechanical stability and shape specification is possible.

It is preferably provided that at least one wall, in particular all walls, is or are formed from plate-shaped molded bodies of PCM material. It can also be provided that at least one wall, in particular all walls, is or are formed as an injection molded article of PCM material. Such specifications of the molded article favor the above-mentioned advantages substantially. In a particularly advantageous manner, it is provided that such a shaped body based on its weight from 25% to 60% by weight of a carrier component is formed, and based on the weight of the shaped article, the carrier component 5% by weight to 20% by weight of a polymer or polymer blends from the group LDPE, HDPE, PMMA, polycarbonate and mixtures thereof, 5% by weight to 20

% By weight of a styrenic block copolymer and 0% to 20% by weight of one or more additives.

It is preferably provided that the shaped body is formed, based on its weight, from 40% by weight to 75% by weight of a PCM material and the PCM material is selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic paraffins,

Polyethylene glycol and mixtures thereof.

In particular, the styrenic block copolymer is a di or tri-block copolymer and has first and second polymeric components A and B, wherein A is styrene and B is ethylene and / or butadiene and / or butylene and / or isoprene and / or propylene is.

In particular, the styrenic block copolymer is a di- or tri-block copolymer and has a third component B which is of ethylene and / or butadiene and / or butylene and / or isoprene and / or propylene.

Preferably, the styrene block copolymer is selected from SB (styrene-butadiene), SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene), SIS (styrene-isoprene-styrene), SEBS (styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), SEPS (styrene-ethylene-styrene) Propylene-styrene) and SEEPS (styrene-poly- (isoprene-butadiene) -styrene).

In particular, the shaped body has as an additive a nanoscale material, in particular carbon nanotubes. The shaped body preferably has a fiber with a fineness of 5 tex to 70 tex and a residual elongation of 5% to 100% and a fineness-related breaking strength of 7 cN / tex to 15 cN / tex.

Preferably, the shaped body has a film with a thickness of 100 μηη to 1000 μηη, a residual strain of 10% to 100% and a tensile strength of 50 N / mm ² to 200 N / mm ² .

In particular, at the phase transition temperature of the PCM material, the molded article has a heat capacity of 70 J / g to 135 J / g.

These preferred embodiments can each be provided alone or in combinations or in overall combination. Especially such specified moldings with such a specified PCM material allow significant advantages over other PCM materials. It is essential here that mechanical post-processing processes, for example for cleaning the container by a user, in this specified molded body with this specified PCM material does not lead to leakage of the PCM material, as is the case with other known PCM materials can. This specified PCM material also has an advantage in the processing of plastics, since occurring shear stresses do not lead to failure of the shell formed with the molding. This has a significant advantage in that a basic specific shape, such as a

Plate design or an injection molded body with more complex geometry, basically possible. Compared to salt hydrates or corresponding mixtures as PCM materials which have a volume-related high storage capacity, the use of the above specified PCM material has the further significant advantages that no external encapsulation or introduction into a storage system is required. In addition, corrosion of the material is virtually excluded. Even if the composition of this specific PCM material changes within the specified value intervals, there is no significant decrease in storage capacity. This is a significant advantage in Compared to salt-hydrate based PCM materials which show a significant decrease in storage capacity when water is lost.

A significant advantage is also to be seen in the fact that the plastic processing molding processes, which are made possible with the specified PCM material according to the above advantageous embodiments, in principle allow the use of PCM materials for temperature stabilization in walls of a container of a household refrigerator.

A significant advantage of the invention is also to be seen in the fact that thus the cost of the air duct in the domestic refrigerator to achieve such a temperature stabilization in a receiving space of a container can be significantly reduced. In addition to a saving of components thereby space and thus useful volume can be gained for the receiving space and still be achieved a cost reduction of the device.

The temperature stability required for a standard for all climate classes and controller settings can be achieved much more easily. The shelf life of food in a corresponding compartment of the household refrigerating appliance can be positively influenced due to the lower temperature fluctuations.

It is particularly advantageous if the container is a cold storage compartment of the household refrigerating appliance. Especially with these subjects, the temperature stability is particularly important and advantageous. The cold storage compartment is also referred to as a zero degree compartment. It can also be provided that the container is an inner container of the household refrigerator.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a household refrigerator with a container according to the invention or an advantageous embodiment thereof. The household refrigeration appliance is intended for holding foods, such as food and drinks. It may, for example, be a refrigerator or a combined refrigerator-freezer. The invention also relates, as an essential aspect, to the use of a PCM material, in particular a molded article with a PCM material, in a wall of a container, in particular a cold storage compartment or an inner container, of a domestic refrigeration appliance. The PCM material is characterized in a particularly advantageous manner by the specific embodiments already mentioned above. It may be used separately or incorporated or contained in a carrier component. By using the PCM material in such a wall, in which the material is then integrated, the advantages already mentioned above can be achieved.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or in isolation, without the scope of To leave invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are to be regarded as encompassed and disclosed, which are not explicitly shown and explained in the figures, however, emerge and can be produced by separated combinations of features from the embodiments explained. Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a household refrigerator according to the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a container according to the invention.

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

In Fig. 1, a household refrigerator 1 is shown, which may be, for example, a refrigerator or a combined refrigerated-freezer. The household refrigerator 1 is for recording trained by food. It comprises an outer housing 2, which surrounds an inner container 3. The inner container 3 has a bottom 4, side walls 5 and 6, a top wall 7 and a rear wall 8. On the front side, the inner container 3 comprises a loading opening, which can be closed by a door 9. The inner container 3 defines a receiving space 10, in which the food can be introduced. The receiving space 10 may be completely formed by a single compartment. However, it can also be provided that the receiving space 10 is divided and thus a plurality of separate compartments is formed. The household refrigerating appliance 1 may, for example, have only one refrigerating compartment in the context. However, it can also be provided that the household refrigerating appliance 1 has at least one refrigerating compartment and a cold storage compartment. In the embodiment shown, it is provided that several compartments are present. To control the temperature of the at least one compartment and thus also of the receiving space 10, a refrigeration cycle is provided, which is not specified and should be regarded as such known. According to the embodiment shown, a receiving space 10a of a refrigerating compartment 11 and a receiving space 10b of a cold storage compartment 12 are formed.

At least one wall 4 to 8 is at least partially formed of a PCM material or has a PCM material, as specified below, on.

It can be provided that at least one wall section of at least one wall 4 to 7 is formed as a molded body with such a PCM material. In particular, it is provided here that the shaped body is designed such that it is based on its weight from 25% by weight to 60% by weight of a carrier component, and based on the weight of the shaped body, the carrier component 5% by weight to 20% by weight. % of a polymer or blend of LDPE, HDPE, PMMA, polycarbonate and mixtures thereof, from 5% to 20% by weight of a styrenic block copolymer and from 0% to 20% by weight of one or more

Contains additives.

It is preferably provided that the shaped body is formed, based on its weight, from 40% by weight to 75% by weight of a PCM material and the PCM Material from the group comprising natural and synthetic paraffins, polyethylene glycol and mixtures thereof.

In particular, the shaped body has as an additive a nanoscale material, in particular carbon nanotubes.

The shaped body preferably has a fiber with a fineness of 5 tex to 70 tex and a residual elongation of 5% to 100% and a fineness-related breaking strength of 7 cN / tex to 15 cN / tex.

In particular, at the phase transition temperature of the PCM material, the molded article has a heat capacity of 70 J / g to 135 J / g. It can also be provided that in a domestic refrigeration appliance 1, which has a plurality of separate compartments, also a wall of such a compartment, which delimits the associated receiving space, is formed from a corresponding material and a corresponding shaped body. For this purpose, the cold storage compartment 12 with the receiving space 10b is shown by way of example in FIG. This cold storage compartment 12 constitutes a container bounded by outside walls 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17. Again, at least one wall portion of at least one wall 13 to 17 is formed with such a PCM material as set forth above, and / or has a shaped body having such a material.

Preferably, all the walls 13 to 17 are designed as such shaped bodies, so that the entire container and thus the cold storage compartment 12 is designed in such a way specified. The cold storage compartment 12 is thus formed as a kind of box of such a specified PCM material and may be constructed in the context of corresponding plates and / or an injection molded body. The PCM material is designed so that the phase change point in the temperature range of the receiving compartment 10b in the operation of the household refrigerator 1 is. With the invention or an advantageous embodiment thereof, in particular the specified PCM material, which is integrated or embedded in a wall of a container, in addition to significantly reduced temperature fluctuations in the respective receiving space 10, 10a, 10b, each through the respective walls with This PCM material is limited, a more uniform temperature distribution and thus a more uniform temperature over the entire volume of a receiving space 10, 10a, 10b are achieved.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

Household refrigerator

outer casing

inner container

ground

Side wall

ceiling wall

back wall

door

accommodation space

a Reception room of a refrigerated compartment. Storage compartment of a cold storage compartment

refrigerated compartment

Cold storage compartment

wall

Claims

claims

1 . Container (3, 1 1, 12) for a domestic refrigeration appliance (1) having walls (4 to 8; 13 to 17) defining a receiving space (10, 10a, 10b) for refrigerated goods, characterized in that at least one wall (4 to 8, 13 to 17) at least

partially has a PCM material.

2. Container (3, 1 1, 12) according to claim 1, characterized in that the PCM material is formed so that its phase change point in the temperature range of the receiving space (10, 10 a, 10 b) during operation of the household refrigerating appliance (1).

3. Container (3, 1 1, 12) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the PCM material is formed as a shaped body, which forms at least one wall section at least one wall (4 to 8, 13 to 17).

4. Container (3, 1 1, 12) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one wall (4 to 8, 13 to 17), in particular all walls (4 to 8, 13 to 17), of plate-shaped moldings is formed from PCM material or are.

5. Container (3, 1 1, 12) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one wall (4 to 8, 13 to 17), in particular all the walls (4 to 8, 13 to 17), as an injection molded article PCM material is formed or are.

6. Container (3, 1 1, 12) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the shaped body based on its weight from 25% by weight to 60% by weight of a carrier component is formed, and based on the weight of Shaped body, the carrier component 5% by weight to 20% by weight of a polymer or

Polymer blends from the group LDPE, HDPE, PMMA, polycarbonate and mixtures thereof, 5 wt% to 20 wt% of a styrene block copolymer and 0 wt% to 20 wt% of one or more additives, and / or the molded article based on its weight from 40% to 75% by weight of a PCM material is formed and the PCM material from the group comprising natural and synthetic paraffins, polyethylene glycol and mixtures thereof.

7. Container (3, 1 1, 12) according to claim 6, characterized in that the styrene block copolymer is a di- or tri-block copolymer and has a first and a first and second polymeric component A and B, wherein A is styrene and B is ethylene and / or butadiene and / or butylene and / or isoprene and / or propylene,

in particular a third component B which is composed of ethylene and / or butadiene and / or butylene and / or isoprene and / or propylene.

8. Container (3, 1 1, 12) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the styrene block copolymer is selected from SB (styrene-butadiene), SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene), SIS (styrene-isoprene) Styrene), SEBS (styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), SEPS (styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) and SEEPS (styrene-poly- (isoprene-butadiene) -styrene).

9. Container (3, 1 1, 12) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the shaped body contains as an additive a nanoscale material, in particular carbon Nanotubes.

10. Container (3, 1 1, 12) according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the shaped body is a fiber with a fineness of 5 tex to 70 tex and a

Residual elongation of 5% to 100% and a tenacity of 7 cN / tex to 15 cN / tex.

1 1. Container (3, 1 1, 12) according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the shaped body is a film having a thickness of 100 μηη to 1000 μηη, a

Residual elongation of 10% to 100% and a tensile strength of 50 N / mm ² to 200 N / mm ² .

12. Container (3, 1 1, 12) according to any one of claims 3 to 1 1, characterized in that the shaped body at the phase transition temperature of the PCM material a

Heat capacity of 70 J / g to 135 J / g.

13. Container (3, 1 1, 12) according to one of claims 3 to 1 1, characterized in that it is a cold storage compartment (12) or an inner container (3) of the household refrigerating appliance (1).

14. Household refrigerating appliance (1) with a container (3, 1 1, 12) according to one of

previous claims.

15. Use of a PCM material, in particular a shaped body with a PCM material, in a wall (4 to 8, 13 to 17) of a container (3, 11, 12), in particular a cold storage compartment (12) or an inner container ( 3), a household refrigerator (1).