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WO2002039854A1 - Dispositif de refroidissement - Google Patents

Dispositif de refroidissement Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2002039854A1
WO2002039854A1 PCT/AU2001/001378 AU0101378W WO0239854A1 WO 2002039854 A1 WO2002039854 A1 WO 2002039854A1 AU 0101378 W AU0101378 W AU 0101378W WO 0239854 A1 WO0239854 A1 WO 0239854A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cooling device
shell
accordance
conductive shell
goods
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/AU2001/001378
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Stephen Collis
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
NEEMAT Pty Ltd
Original Assignee
NEEMAT Pty Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by NEEMAT Pty Ltd filed Critical NEEMAT Pty Ltd
Priority to AU1478502A priority Critical patent/AU1478502A/xx
Priority to NZ526509A priority patent/NZ526509A/en
Priority to AU2002214785A priority patent/AU2002214785B2/en
Publication of WO2002039854A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002039854A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
    • A47F3/00—Show cases or show cabinets
    • A47F3/04—Show cases or show cabinets air-conditioned, refrigerated
    • A47F3/0404—Cases or cabinets of the closed type
    • A47F3/0408—Cases or cabinets of the closed type with forced air circulation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B21/00—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects
    • F25B21/02—Machines, plants or systems, using electric or magnetic effects using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
    • F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
    • F25D17/08—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation using ducts
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
    • F25D23/023—Air curtain closures
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/06—Walls

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a display for consumables, such as food and/or beverages, and in particular a display having a cooling system to allow cooling of the food and/or beverages for sale in a cooled state.
  • Existing "point of sale" refrigerated displays have often included compressed fluid based refrigerators which include a compressor which compresses the refrigerant fluid, and an expansion zone where the fluid expands to provide the cooling effect.
  • compressed fluid based refrigerators which include a compressor which compresses the refrigerant fluid, and an expansion zone where the fluid expands to provide the cooling effect.
  • these devices are generally bulky, and often noisy. They include, by their nature, moving parts, and complex plumbing systems to allow containment of the fluid, which is often volatile.
  • Heat pump devices have been proposed for refrigeration applications, however, such devices were invariably found to be unviable. Low power outputs (in terms of heat transfer) and inefficient configurations have resulted in such heat pump devices being rejected as alternatives to compressed fluid systems in food display appliances.
  • a cooling device including :-
  • a conductive shell for receiving goods to be cooled; a heat pump means connected to said conductive shell for drawing heat from the shell;
  • the conductive shell has inner and outer surfaces, and the air circulated within the outer shell passes over both surfaces of the conductive shell.
  • the configuration of the cooling device is such that goods received in the conductive shell are cooled both by conduction of the conductive shell, and convection associated with the circulating air within the outer shell.
  • the heat pump is a Peltier device.
  • the "cold side" of the Peltier device comprises the entire conductive shell.
  • the conductive shell is composed of solid aluminium.
  • the mass of the conductive shell is high in proportion to the power of the heat pump.
  • the conductive shell may be powder coated.
  • the conductive shell may be plastic dipped.
  • the conductive shell is a solid continuous shell which provides the function of an evaporator in a traditional refrigeration device.
  • the cooling device includes access means to enable removal of goods received therein.
  • access means includes a convenient opening in the outer shell.
  • air circulating within the outer shell acts as an air curtain to contain cool air within the cooling device.
  • the device may be provided with a lid, closeable to enclose the cooled zone of the cooling device, and openable to allow access to the contents therein.
  • a cooling device including:-
  • an enclosure substantially comprised of a conductive shell for receiving goods to be cooled in a cooled zone
  • heat pump means including hot side and cold side heat distributors
  • the hot side heat distributor is located outside the cooled zone, and the cold side heat distributor consists substantially of the said conductive shell.
  • Figure 1 is a partially cut-away perspective view of a cooling device in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a sectional perspective view of a cooling device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 3 is a sectional side view of the cooling device of Figure 2.
  • a cooling device 10 having an outer shell 12 and a lid 14.
  • An inner shell 16 forms a receptacle for food items 18, and is enclosed by the lid 14.
  • One or more barriers 20 may be provided to divide the cooling volume contained by the inner shell 16 and the lid 14.
  • a gap is provided between the barrier 20 and the lid 14 to allow air flow between the sections of the enclosed space.
  • the inner shell 16 is formed of solid conductive material, in this embodiment of aluminium, and is directly connected to a further solid block of conductive material (also aluminium in this case), referred to herein as the transfer block 24, on the opposite surface of the inner shell from the surface 22 which forms the receptacle volume with the lid 14.
  • the transfer block 24 is directly connected to a Peltier device 26, which acts to transfer (or "pump") heat from the transfer block 24 to a further conductive block, referred to herein as a dissipation block 28, which includes an array of aluminium fins 30 through which heat transferred into the dissipation block 28 can be efficiently dissipated.
  • a fan 32 draws external air at ambient temperatures as indicated by air flow indicator arrow A. Air drawn through the fan 32 then passes through the aluminium fins 30 allowing heat to be transferred from the aluminium fins 30 to the air and dissipated as indicated by air flow indicator arrows B.
  • the dissipation block 28, aluminium fins 30 and fan 32 are on the "hot side" of the Peltier device 26.
  • the hot side of the device is separated from the "cold side” components of the inner shell 16 by insulating foam 34.
  • Other cold side regions of the device are insulated from the external shell 12 (and therefore external temperatures) by insulating foam 36.
  • a further fan 38 is provided within the cold side enclosure (or the cooled region of the cooling device). The fan 38 is positioned at a lower end of the inner shell 16. The fan 38 draws air from the receptacle volume enclosed by the inner shell 16 and the lid 14 through a recess 40 formed in the inner shell 16, thus forming a gap between the inner shell 16 and the lid 14.
  • Air drawn through the recess 40 and through the fan 38 is then pumped through base conduit 42, formed between the insulating foam 36 and inner shell 16, as shown by air flow indicator arrows D. Air then flows to side conduits 44 (right hand conduit only shown) formed between the insulating foam 36 and the inner shell 16, as shown by air flow indicator arrows E. Air is thus delivered to an upper conduit 46 and through a gap formed between the lid 14 and the inner shell 16 formed by recess 48 formed in the inner shell 16, as shown by air flow indicator arrows F. In this way, air is circulated around the cooled region of the cooling device 10.
  • This circulation contributes to the efficiency of the cooling device 10 by allowing the cooling effect of the cold side "heat sink” formed by the inner shell 16 to have maximum effect by passing the air in the cooled region over both surfaces thereof.
  • the solid aluminium construction of the "heat sink” inner shell 16 also allows for high conductivity, and thus greater efficiency of the Peltier device 26.
  • the fan 38 is not required to be particularly powerful, and should emit as little heat as possible so as to limit any warming effect caused by the existence of the additional fan 38. •
  • the transfer plate has a surface area less than that of the surface 22, and greater than that of the transfer block 24. This graduation between the large surface area of the surface 22 and the relatively small surface area of the transfer block 24 enhances heat flow and reduces the potential for "choking" of the heat flow at the junction between the surface 22 and the transfer block 24.
  • a lid 14 is provided as per the first embodiment, however, this lid 14 is positioned at the top of the more upright structure of this device, and is generally used for depositing items 18 to be cooled in the cooler 10. Such items are intended to be removed by customers through an opening 60 near the base of the front transparent wall 62 of the device. This allows customer to more easily remove the goods 18 being cooled.
  • the air flow within the cooled region of the device 10 is somewhat altered. Fan 38 still causes the circulation of the cooled air within the cooled region, however the path of the air is different. Air is drawn from the base region 64 of the device 10 and delivered from the lower side of a dividing plate 66 to the upper side thereof to the upper base region 68. The air then flows from the upper base region 68 through upward passages (not shown) formed between the side walls 70 of the inner shell 16 and insulating foam 36 of the sides of the device 10.
  • the upper edges 72 of the side walls 70 and the lid 14 form a gap 74 through which air flows into the receptacle chamber formed by the inner shell 16, the front wall 62 and the lid 14. The air then flows down through the receptacle chamber and is drawn through apertures 76 in the inner shell 16. Apertures 76 are connected to the base region 64, and thus air flow returns to the fan 38 for continued circulation.
  • the cooler is provided without a lid. Goods within the cooling device 10 is provided without a lid. Goods within the cooling device 10 are accessed through an opening in the cooling device 10 which does not have a closure.
  • This embodiment would be most suitably used in relatively stable airconditioned environments. Although it will clearly not be possible to prevent cool air escaping from the cooling device 10 in this situation, the effect of such losses can be minimised by the use of an air curtain effect.
  • the air curtain would be provided by the air flow generated by the fan 38. As air circulated by the fan 38 passes over the goods and is re-circulated within the cold side enclosure, the effect is that of an air curtain minimising escape of cooled air from the cooling device 10.
  • the lid 14 may be provided in the rear of the cooling device 10, so that access to the cooling device 10 is limited to, for example, a person behind a counter in a store where the cooling device may be situated. This provides the advantage that the shop attendant has control over access to the cooling device 10, and the potential for theft is minimised.
  • the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3 also includes a thermostat 78 in the base region 64.
  • This is a simple device which is simply designed to ensure that the goods 18 in the cooling device 10 are not cooled to too low a temperature. It essentially switches off the Peltier device when the temperature in the base region 64 reaches a predetermined low temperature. As it is considered important in some applications that the temperature of the products not fall below zero degrees Celsius, the cut-off temperature for the thermostat 78 may be set at around three to four degrees Celsius.
  • the cooling device 10 will cool the air within the cooled region of the device to approximately 14 degrees Celsius below ambient room temperature. As such, the device will generally only be consuming electricity continuously where ambient air temperature is above seventeen to eighteen degrees Celsius. Below these temperatures, the device will be operating only part of the time. This may result in further cost savings.
  • the mass of the solid aluminium inner shell is high when compared with the power of the Peltier device. This high mass enables efficiencies in the operation of the device.
  • the solid mass of aluminium of the inner shell actually "stores" coolness by constantly having heat drawn from it by the heat pump, and the mass of aluminium provides a significant inertia preventing or reducing rising temperature during ambient temperature peaks.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif de refroidissement (10) constitué d'une enveloppe extérieure (12) et d'un couvercle (14), d'une enveloppe intérieure (16) formée en matériau conducteur destinée à recevoir des marchandises à refroidir, d'une pompe à chaleur (26) reliée à l'enveloppe conductrice permettant d'extraire la chaleur de l'enveloppe, ainsi que de moyens (38) de circulation d'air à l'intérieur de l'enveloppe.
PCT/AU2001/001378 2000-11-16 2001-11-16 Dispositif de refroidissement Ceased WO2002039854A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU1478502A AU1478502A (en) 2000-11-16 2001-11-16 A cooling device
NZ526509A NZ526509A (en) 2000-11-16 2001-11-16 A cooling device
AU2002214785A AU2002214785B2 (en) 2000-11-16 2001-11-16 A cooling device

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPR1502A AUPR150200A0 (en) 2000-11-16 2000-11-16 A cooling device
AUPR1502 2000-11-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2002039854A1 true WO2002039854A1 (fr) 2002-05-23

Family

ID=3825543

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU2001/001378 Ceased WO2002039854A1 (fr) 2000-11-16 2001-11-16 Dispositif de refroidissement

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AUPR150200A0 (fr)
NZ (1) NZ526509A (fr)
WO (1) WO2002039854A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004056242A1 (fr) 2002-12-20 2004-07-08 Cadbury Confecionery Limited Unite de refroidissement
JP2012233651A (ja) * 2011-05-06 2012-11-29 Serabo Kk 冷却庫

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3733836A (en) * 1972-01-17 1973-05-22 Melbro Corp Temperature controlled mobile cart
US5718124A (en) * 1993-10-15 1998-02-17 Senecal; Lise Chilled service bowl
EP0843137A1 (fr) * 1996-11-18 1998-05-20 Thermovonics Co., Ltd Réfrigérateur thermoélectrique
US5771788A (en) * 1996-07-23 1998-06-30 Mando Machinery Corp. Food storage device employing a thermoelectric element as a heat source and sink
WO1998030134A1 (fr) * 1997-01-10 1998-07-16 Haendel Klaus Vitrine frigorifique a circulation d'air
US5941077A (en) * 1998-12-21 1999-08-24 Safyan; Bernard Chill-hot buffet serving tray

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3733836A (en) * 1972-01-17 1973-05-22 Melbro Corp Temperature controlled mobile cart
US5718124A (en) * 1993-10-15 1998-02-17 Senecal; Lise Chilled service bowl
US5771788A (en) * 1996-07-23 1998-06-30 Mando Machinery Corp. Food storage device employing a thermoelectric element as a heat source and sink
EP0843137A1 (fr) * 1996-11-18 1998-05-20 Thermovonics Co., Ltd Réfrigérateur thermoélectrique
WO1998030134A1 (fr) * 1997-01-10 1998-07-16 Haendel Klaus Vitrine frigorifique a circulation d'air
US5941077A (en) * 1998-12-21 1999-08-24 Safyan; Bernard Chill-hot buffet serving tray

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2004056242A1 (fr) 2002-12-20 2004-07-08 Cadbury Confecionery Limited Unite de refroidissement
JP2012233651A (ja) * 2011-05-06 2012-11-29 Serabo Kk 冷却庫

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NZ526509A (en) 2004-11-26
AUPR150200A0 (en) 2000-12-07

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