• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    A cold storage with a power unit and a separate container. To obtain a uniform temperature within narrow tolerances, the power unit comprises separate ducts comprising separate ventilators and separate heat exchangers.
    公开号:DK201470765A1
    申请号:DKP201470765
    申请日:2014-12-05
    公开日:2016-06-27
    发明作者:Lars Thorsen
    申请人:Lowenco As；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    A COLD STORAGE FIELD OF THE INVENTION
    The present invention relates to a cold storage comprising a power unit and a container, the cold storage forming a compartment with a floor, a sidewall, and a ceiling for storage of items which are to be kept in cold or frozen condition.
    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
    Traditional refrigerators and other cold storages comprise a compartment with highly insulated walls and including a refrigeration system for reducing the temperature in the compartment. Typically, the refrigeration system is a compressor based system with a refrigerant being exchanged between a condenser and an evaporator.
    It is an object of existing cold storages is to obtain a uniform temperature in the compartment. US5584191 discloses a conventional refrigerator with a fan which circulates cold air from an air duct. The duct controls a quantity of the cold air which is injected into the storage space and the air is injected into different parts of the space.
    DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
    It is an object of embodiments of the invention to provide an improved cold storage, and particularly to reduce temperature variations and to allow maintenance and defrost operation without influencing the temperature. It is a further object to facilitate very low temperatures and particularly to provide a cold storage for medical products and biological samples at temperatures below minus 65 degrees Celsius with very small temperature tolerances.
    According to a first aspect, the invention provides a cold storage comprising a power unit and a container. The cold storage forms a compartment with a floor, a sidewall, and a ceiling, and the floor and the sidewall is formed by the container. The power unit comprises at least two separate ducts each extending between an inlet and an outlet in the ceiling, and each duct comprises a separate ventilator for creating a forced flow of air in the duct. Each duct further comprises a separate heat exchanger connected to a refrigeration system, and each duct being separately controllable.
    Since each duct comprises a separate ventilator and a separate heat exchanger, the operation can be carried out by use of a selected one of the ducts, by use of a combination between both ducts, by use of both ventilators but only one active heat exchanger or by use of both heat exchangers and only one active ventilator. Accordingly, the cold storage can be controlled more precisely to provide very narrow tolerances on the temperature in the compartment, the air in the compartment may obtain a homogenous temperature distribution with identical temperature in the entire compartment, and the reliability of the cold storage is improved, particularly since one duct can supply cold air if the other duct is malfunctioning or if the other duct is in defrost operation.
    The power unit and/or the container may e.g. have the shape and size of a shipping container known for intermodal shipments, and it may be constituted by such a container or by a similar movable housing e.g. having an integral or self-supporting body having strength suitable to withstand shipment, storage, and handling.
    The ducts may be formed by tubular elements forming a passage for a flow of air between the inlet and outlet in the ceiling. The tubular elements may e.g. be made of anti-corrosive steel etc.
    The heat exchanger could be a single unit or it could be constituted by a plurality of units arranged inside the tubular element. For that purpose, the tubular cross section may widen out and form space for the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger may particularly be constituted by one or more evaporators of a compressor based refrigeration system.
    One, or several ventilators, e.g. in the form of traditional fans, is located in, or at, the passage formed by the duct such that it can establish a forced flow of air through the passage.
    The floor is that part of the container facing downwards during use. The container may comprise doors or other entrances which are suitable for use when the container is in an orientation where the floor is downwards and the ceiling is upwards. In this orientation, the power unit is vertically above the ceiling. This location of the power unit relative to the compartment further enables low temperature tolerances and enables defrost operations to be carried out without or essentially without affecting the temperature in the compartment.
    To improve reliability further, and particularly to ensure a cold storage which is always operational and thus to minimize the risk of large temperature fluctuations, the power unit and the container may particularly be separate parts being detachably attached to facilitate replacement of one power unit on a container. Should the individual control and operation of each duct not satisfy the needs for cooling capacity or tolerances, the entire power unit can be replaced, and the detached power unit be serviced without jeopardising the need for cooling. In one embodiment, the container terminates upwardly in an interface, e.g. in the form of a fixed frame, which matches a corresponding interface on the power unit. The corresponding interface on the power unit may particularly terminate the power unit downwardly such that the power unit can be arranged on top of the container. The interfaces may include snap locking features, bolt connections or any similar easily operated fixing structures for attachment and detachment of the power unit from the container. Additionally, at least one of the upward face of the container and the downward face of the power unit may comprise a guide structure guiding the power unit onto the container.
    The separate control of the ducts may particularly be carried out by use of an electronic control unit. The cold storage may further comprise such a control unit, particularly a computerised control unit configured for individual control of each of the ducts. By allowing individual control of each duct, the temperature can be controlled even more precisely, and one duct can be operated independent on the other ducts. Particularly, the control unit may be configured to control an expansion valve for release of a refrigerant into an evaporator, to control the ventilator and thus to control the flow speed of air in the duct, and to control defrost of the heat exchanger e.g. by reversing the flow direction of refrigerant.
    The control unit may particularly be located in the power unit since that will facilitate an easier replacement of one power unit with another power unit for a particular container.
    The power unit may also house the refrigeration system and other components needed for the system, e.g. a power supply, e.g. in the form of a combustion engine, a power converter or other types of equipment.
    The ceiling may comprise a separate inlet and a separate outlet for each duct in the power unit, and the ceiling may be formed by the container such that the compartment can thereby remain closed even when the power unit is disconnected from the container. The inlets and outlets may include shut-off valves for blocking air passage when the power unit is not attached to the container or if service is performed on one of the ducts.
    The power unit may form a closed space with a sidewall extending between a lower and an upper panel, the lower panel forming openings at opposite free ends of each duct. In that way, the power unit may form a completely sealed unit e.g. for outdoor use without the need for further shielding of the ducts, the control unit, the refrigeration system, the power supply and other equipment in the power unit.
    The openings in the lower panel may comprise resilient sealing elements facilitating an airtight interface to each inlet and outlet in the ceiling. In that way, the assembly between the power unit and the container could be reduced to the task of placing the power unit on the ceiling of the container whereby the openings in the lower panel and the resilient sealing means engage the inlets and outlets and forms an air tight connection between the ducts and the inlets and outlets in the ceiling.
    The ceiling could be formed by the container and comprises an interface for receiving free ends of the duct.
    The cold storage may comprise temperature sensors attached to the power unit and located in the compartment. The temperature sensors may e.g. be formed on elongated rods pointing downwards from the lower panel and engaging through openings in the ceiling when the power unit is attached to the container.
    In a second aspect, the invention provides a cold storage array comprising at least two cold storages according to the first aspect of the invention as described until now. The cold storages are arranged to form a free space between opposite outer surfaces of the at least two cold storages. The cold storage array includes cooling means for reducing the temperature in the free space. In that way, an entrance zone can be established in which the humidity in the air is reduced by the reduced temperature. This enables operation of the cold storages with very low temperatures, e.g. below minus 60 degrees Celsius which is sometimes required for storage of medical products and biological samples. The cold storages may e.g. be arranged at a distance of 2-5 meters thereby forming an aisle there between. In this cold storage array, access doors to the compartments may preferably point towards the aisle, and the aisle may preferably be covered and insulated. In one embodiment, the space between the cold storages is cooled to minus 10-30 degrees Celsius. This prevents humidity and thus prevents freezing of access doors and formation of ice in the compartment. The temperature in the compartment may e.g. be reduced to below minus 60 degrees Celcius.
    In a third aspect, the invention provides the use of a cold storages or a cold storage array according to the first or second aspects of the invention for obtaining temperatures below minus 60 degrees Celsius and for storage of medical products and biological samples.
    In a fourth aspect, the invention provides, power unit for a cold storage comprising a container forming a compartment with a floor, a sidewall, and a ceiling, the power unit being configured for placement vertically above the ceiling and comprises at least two separate ducts each extending between an inlet and an outlet in the ceiling, each duct comprising a separate ventilator for creating a forced flow of air, a separate heat exchanger connected to a refrigeration system, and each duct being separately controllable.
    The power unit according to the third aspect of the invention may include any of the features mentioned in connection with the cold storage according to the first embodiment of the invention.
    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    Embodiments of the invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings, in which:
    Figs, la and lb illustrate a cold storage according to the invention;
    Figs. 2-4 illustrate the power unit for the cold storage;
    Figs. 5-8 illustrate removable ventilator and heat exchanger units for the power unit; and.
    Fig. 9 illustrates a cold storage array comprising several cold storages.
    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
    It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
    Fig. 1 illustrates a cold storage 1 comprising a power unit 2 and a container 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the container 3 forms a floor 4, a sidewall 5, and a ceiling 6, and the power unit 2 is located vertically above the ceiling.
    Figs. 2-4 illustrate the power unit in a top view (Fig. 3), in a cross section seen from above (Fig. 4), and in a cross section along line AA (Fig. 2). The power unit and the container are separate parts being detachably attached to facilitate replacement of the power unit.
    The power unit 2 comprises at least two separate ducts 7, 8 formed by tubular steel elements. Each of the ducts extends between an inlet and an outlet in the ceiling of the container, and each duct comprises a heat exchanger 9 and a ventilator 10.
    The power unit forms a closed space with a sidewall 11 extending between a lower and an upper panel 12, 13. The lower panel 12 forms openings 14, 15 at opposite free ends of each duct. The openings 14, 15 communicate with the inlet and outlet to provide an airflow, forced by the ventilator 10 from the compartment through the ducts and thus across the heat exchanger 9. Lifting lugs 16, 17 enable easy and safe lifting of the power unit for replacement purpose.
    Each duct is individually controllable by a controller housed in the closed space. Upon replacement of a power unit, the control unit is replaced with the ducts and correct functioning and adjustment of the ducts can therefore be ensured. The control unit is not illustrated in the drawing but may include a computer unit and suitable software and storage capacity for storing data. The control unit may control the cooling function including a flow of refrigerant to the heat exchanger, the speed of the ventilator, and various surveillance functions including data collection for documentation purpose.
    The power unit may further house the refrigeration system and other components, e.g. for power supply etc. Such components are not shown in the drawing but may include: a combustion engine driving a compressor and/or an electrical generator, a fuel tank for the combustion engine, solar panels for providing electrical power, warning or alert equipment for signalling in case of malfunction etc.
    The lower panel 12 may advantageously be arranged against the lower panel 12 of another power unit whereby such two power units form a container suitable for shipping. In this configuration, the lifting lugs can be used for lifting, and the combination of the two power units protects the entrance openings into the ducts.
    The ventilators and the heat exchangers are both arranged as removable units which can slide into and out of the tubular passage of the duct. The removable units are shown in further details in Figs. 5-8. Fig. 5-6 illustrates a ventilator unit 18 with handles 19 by which the ventilator unit can be lifted out of the duct and replaced or repaired. Fig. 7-8 illustrates a Heat exchanger unit 20 which includes an evaporator for a compressor based refrigeration system and provided with handles 21 by which the heat exchanger unit can be lifted out of the duct and replaced or repaired.
    The Ventilator and heat exchanger units are both inserted into and removable out of the upper panel 13 thereby allowing easy access to replacement without having to enter the compartment. The use of reversibly insertable units thereby further increases the ability to maintain the cold storage operational and the ability of preventing temperature fluctuation.
    In use, the temperature in the compartment can be maintained by use of one or both of the ducts. In case of faults or in case of maintenance work, one of the ducts can be shut-off and the ventilator and/or the heat exchanger be removed for cleaning or repair. Should it be necessary to stop operation of both ducts simultaneously, the power unit can be taken of the container and new power unit can be attached. This ensures continuous operation even when larger repair or maintenance work is required.
    Fig. 9a illustrates 6 cold storages arranged to form a cold storage array 22. In this cold storage array, a set of three cold storages is placed opposite another set of three cold storages. In that way, a free space is defined between neighbouring cold storages thereby forming an aisle 23. The temperature in the aisle is reduced to thereby prevent humidity and thus enable an even further reduced temperature in the compartments of each of the cold storages.
    Fig. 9b illustrates one half of the cold storage array. In this view, it is clear that opening doors 24, 25, 26 into each of the compartments opens into the aisle 23.
    NUMBERED EMBODIMENTS
    1. A cold storage (1) comprising a power unit (2) and a container (3), the cold storage forming a compartment with a floor, a sidewall, and a ceiling, where the floor and the sidewall is formed by the container, and where the power unit is located vertically above the ceiling and comprises at least two separate ducts each extending between an inlet and an outlet in the ceiling, each duct comprising a separate ventilator for creating a forced flow of air, a separate heat exchanger connected to a refrigeration system, and each duct being separately controllable.
    2. A cold storage according to embodiment 1, where the power unit and the container are separate parts being detachably attached to facilitate replacement of the power unit.
    3. A cold storage according to embodiment 1 or 2, comprising a control unit configured for the individual control of each of the ducts.
    4. A cold storage according to embodiment 3, where the control unit is housed in the power unit.
    5. A cold storage according to any of the preceding embodiments, where the power unit houses the refrigeration system.
    6. A cold storage according to any of the preceding embodiments, where the ceiling comprises a separate inlet and a separate outlet for each duct in the power unit.
    7. A cold storage according to any of the preceding embodiments, where the ceiling is formed by the container.
    8. A cold storage according to any of the preceding embodiments, where power unit forms a closed space with a sidewall extending between a lower and an upper panel, the lower panel forming openings at opposite free ends of each duct.
    9. A cold storage according to embodiment 8, where the openings comprises resilient sealing elements facilitating an airtight interface to each inlet and outlet in the ceiling.
    10. A cold storage according to any of the preceding embodiments, where the ceiling is formed by the container and comprises an interface for receiving free ends of the duct.
    11. A cold storage according to any of the preceding embodiments, comprising temperature sensors attached to the power unit and located in the compartment.
    12. A cold storage according to any of the preceding embodiments, where the container is formed by a mobile container unit suitable for shipping items.
    13. A cold storage according to any of the preceding embodiments, where the power unit is attachable to another identical power unit to thereby obtain a container shaped as a standard container for shipping purpose.
    14. A cold storage according to any of the preceding embodiments, where at least one of the ventilators is arranged in a unit which is reversibly insertable into a matching seat in the duct.
    15. A cold storage according to any of the preceding embodiments, where at least one of the heat exchangers is arranged in a unit which is reversibly insertable into a matching seat in the duct.
    16. A cold storage array comprising at least two cold storages according to any of embodiments 1-15 and being arranged to form a free space between opposite outer surfaces of the at least two cold storages, and comprising an cooling means for reducing the temperature in the free space.
    17. Use of a cold storages according to any of embodiments 1-15 for obtaining temperatures below minus 60 degrees Celsius and for storage of medical products and biological samples.
    18. A power unit (2) for a cold storage (1) comprising a container (3) forming a compartment with a floor, a sidewall, and a ceiling, the power unit being configured for placement vertically above the ceiling and comprises at least two separate ducts each extending between an inlet and an outlet in the ceiling, each duct comprising a separate ventilator for creating a forced flow of air, a separate heat exchanger connected to a refrigeration system, and each duct being separately controllable.
    权利要求:
    Claims (10)
    [1] 1. A cold storage (1) comprising a power unit (2) and a container (3), the cold storage forming a compartment with a floor, a sidewall, and a ceiling, where the floor and the sidewall is formed by the container, and where the power unit is located above the ceiling and comprises at least two separate ducts each extending between an inlet and an outlet in the ceiling, each duct comprising a separate ventilator for creating a forced flow of air, a separate heat exchanger connected to a refrigeration system, and each duct being separately controllable.
    [2] 2. A cold storage according to claim 1, where the power unit and the container are separate parts being detachably attached to facilitate replacement of the power unit.
    [3] 3. A cold storage according to claim 1 or 2, comprising a control unit configured for the individual control of each of the ducts.
    [4] 4. A cold storage according to any of the preceding claims, where the power unit houses the refrigeration system.
    [5] 5. A cold storage according to any of the preceding claims, where the ceiling is formed by the container.
    [6] 6. A cold storage according to any of the preceding claims, comprising temperature sensors attached to the power unit and located in the compartment.
    [7] 7. A cold storage according to any of the preceding claims, where at least one of the ventilators or heat exchangers is arranged in a unit which is reversibly insertable into a matching seat in the duct.
    [8] 8. A cold storage array comprising at least two cold storages according to any of claims 1-7 and being arranged to form a free space between opposite outer surfaces of the at least two cold storages, and comprising an cooling means for reducing the temperature in the free space.
    [9] 9. Use of a cold storage according to any of claims 1 - 7 for obtaining temperatures below minus 60 degrees Celsius and for storage of medical products and biological samples.
    [10] 10. A power unit (2) for a cold storage (1) comprising a container (3) forming a compartment with a floor, a sidewall, and a ceiling, the power unit being configured for placement vertically above the ceiling and comprises at least two separate ducts each extending between an inlet and an outlet in the ceiling, each duct comprising a separate ventilator for creating a forced flow of air, a separate heat exchanger connected to a refrigeration system, and each duct being separately controllable.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    DK178573B1|2016-07-04|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    EP0138348A1|1983-09-16|1985-04-24|Crescent Metal Products, Inc.|Insulated cabinet with interchangeable heat transfer units|
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    DKPA201470765A|DK178573B1|2014-12-05|2014-12-05|A cold storage comprising a power unit and a container|DKPA201470765A| DK178573B1|2014-12-05|2014-12-05|A cold storage comprising a power unit and a container|
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