WO2007066360A1

WO2007066360A1 - Device for detecting the characteristics of ice-snow-hoar frost

Info

Publication number: WO2007066360A1
Application number: PCT/IT2005/000718
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giuseppe Floris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-06
Filing date: 2005-12-06
Publication date: 2007-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-06

Abstract

The invention is a new device for detecting the characteristics of ice, snow or hoar frost, comprising an electric/electronic control circuit connected to ice sensors and local heater, if necessary. The sensors are applied and positioned in the areas where ice is most likely to form, like shadowy roads or heat exchanger fins, where the formation of ice reduces the efficiency of the chiller. In the event of formation of ice on the fins, the sensors indicate its presence to the electric/electronic circuit which suspends the operation of the chiller, adjusts opening and closing of the expansion valves located at the evaporator inlet, or suspends the operation of the chiller compressor only, and if necessary operates the heaters, thus melting the ice into water which is removed via the known means used for removing condensate.

Description

DEVICE FOR DETECTING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ICE- SNOW-HOAR FROST

DESCRIPTION

The present invention concerns all the situations in which it may be useful to know the stages of the water transformation process.

In cold conditions and in its various cooling stages water changes into hoar frost, snow, ice, and it is necessary to know the values of its different characteristics in order to be able to intervene and overcome any problems that may arise during this process.

Water is the most widespread element in nature and makes life on the earth possible through its numberless forms.

Thousands of essays and reports have been written on the studies carried out on the many forms of this element, which vary depending on heat, humidity, wind, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc.

To sum up all this, we know that according to its temperature water undergoes some specific changes: with heat it tends to evaporate, and it starts boiling at 100°, while when temperature decreases it tends to condensate, crystallize and solidify (ice) at

0⁰ C.

The crystallization process starts from hoar frost and may take place in numberless variants implemented at industrial level with machines called chillers, or, in nature, in the form of hoar frost or snow that accumulates and is compressed until it becomes ice that, depending on altitude, may also become everlasting glaciers.

These natural events make it possible to have water reserves for drought periods, snow-covered ski tracks for winter sports, but they may also represent a problem when the process is oversized, and gives origin to avalanches and snowslides with devastating consequences for the environment and the population.

In the areas where these phenomena take place hundreds of university researchers are committed to finding solutions in order to prevent and anticipate these events and to be able to intervene and avoid such catastrophes.

The studies carried out have shown that there are different types of ice crystallization and that according to these ice consistency varies and consequently these events are more or less likely to occur.

These different types of crystallization may vary according to environmental parameters, such as temperature, wind pressure, etc.

To overcome all the above mentioned drawbacks, a new device has been designed and implemented, which is capable of measuring and transforming into values the various forms of crystallization in the various processes and changes of weather parameters.

The new electric/electronic device may be used in very many situations, ranging from natural phenomena to industrial applications in the field of refrigeration and air conditioning.

The aim of the new device is to measure the parameters of ice, snow, or hoar frost in order to allow the necessary measures to be taken once the programmed value has been reached, opening or closing certain contacts that will serve to start certain functions useful to achieve the purpose for which such intervention has been decided.

Some possible applications are described here below to better explain the possible uses of the invention.

We all know that in shadowy areas, with low temperatures and with the humidity of the night, ice may form on the roads and persist even if the temperature of the air increases, thus creating serious danger for the circulation of vehicles.

The new device, when properly set, may activate light signals, even intermittent, which, if there are no electric lines, may be powered by photovoltaic cells, in order to warn drivers of the imminent danger, and then deactivate them when normal conditions and parameters are restored.

Another possible application in the environmental field may include the positioning of different sensors of the new device at different depths into the snow or ice: said sensors should be properly set and, when the alarm threshold has been reached, activate a telephonic contact with a control or supervision station, thus signalling the danger of avalanches and snowslides and allowing the personnel in charge with these emergency situations to get ready to intervene.

The operation centre can periodically establish a telephonic contact with the new device in order to retrieve, in its internal memory, the registered variation data and if necessary also those regarding other possible functions of the new electric/electronic device, like for example the height of the snow, the wind speed (anemometer), the degree of humidity of the external air, the temperature at the various times of the day (thermometer), tele camera data and others. Following the processing of the data obtained it will be possible to intervene on the device with a suitable tele-management system to vary the parameters and carry out the settings that may be considered useful to achieve the set goals.

In the industrial field a possible use of the invention may be its application to ice or artificial snow making machines to check whether the product obtained corresponds to the optimal characteristics expected.

Other many varied applications are possible in the refrigeration field.

It is known that cooling systems use a gas or gas mixture or a previously cooled non-freezable liquid which is circulated in a closed cooling circuit in which said gas is compressed and expanded.

Exploiting the drop in temperature due to expansion of the gas and the increase in temperature due to compression of the same gas, the temperature of an environment, for example the external environment, is increased by heat exchange, and the temperature of another environment, for example the environment to be cooled, is lowered by heat exchange.

At the level of the expansion and compression ducts, i.e. cooling and heating ducts, of the cooling circuit, plates are applied between which the air is circulated to cool the closed environment of the chiller by heat exchange or to disperse the heat produced, i.e. removed from the environment to be cooled.

When the physical conditions, for example the temperature on the finned pack or the velocity of the cooling air, are beyond certain limits, the condensation water freezes on the plates and on the ducts of the finned cooling pack (evaporator).

Said ice produces various highly negative effects on the efficiency of the chiller.

A first negative effect is due to the lower thermal conduction of the layer of ice. The heat of the air passing through the finned pack is not absorbed, or is absorbed to a lesser extent, by the gas circulating in the ducts of the finned pack and consequently there is less cooling of the air passing through the finned pack. The chiller consequently increases its speed to reach the set cooling temperature. In this way the cooling unit compressor is overloaded and subject to extra work without a consequent significant improvement in result. A second negative effect consists in reduction of the gap in the finned pack. The ice that forms on the plates and on the ducts increases the overall dimensions of the plates and ducts and consequently the space for passage of the air, or the gap, decreases, reducing the flow rate and the cooling capacity with the result that the air circulation fan is overloaded.

The new device can overcome all these drawbacks, by detecting the formation of ice and activating the various devices suited to eliminate it, for example by closing or adjusting the valves that allow the cooling gas or fluid to circulate, switching off the compressors, starting fans or resistances or heaters that melt ice and transform it into water that will be eliminated via the known systems used for the removal of condensate.

These and other direct and complementary aims have been achieved through the implementation of a new device for detecting the characteristics of ice, snow or hoar frost, comprising an electric/electronic control system, and sensors that when correctly set allow the circuits corresponding to the desired applications to be activated or deactivated.

The new device may also be connected to humidity detecting probes, humidifiers, anemometers, tele cameras and memory cards for the recording of the processes that have taken place and for using the data obtained to optimize the parameters and settings for the intended purpose.

In the case of a refrigeration system, the purpose may be to achieve a perfect heat exchange in the evaporator, a constant humidity level, a regular distribution of ventilation, etc.

The main features of the new device for detecting the characteristics of ice-snow-hoar frost will be highlighted in greater detail in the following description with reference to the drawing, attached as a non-limiting example.

The figure illustrates an example of embodiment of the new device and its application to a cooling system.

In this example the ice sensors (1) detect the formation of ice on a finned pack (A) inside a duct (C) of a cooling system.

Electric heaters (2) are positioned on some plates of the finned pack (A).

Both the sensors (1) and the heaters (2) are connected to the electric/electronic circuit (3).

Said electric/electronic circuit (3) may be provided with at least one display (3.1) to show the parameters detected and the operating parameters, with buttons and knobs (3.2) for adjustment of the operating parameters and a connector (3.3) for the supply.

A connector (3.4) can be provided for interfacing to a computer in order to permit detection and optimised remote setting of the electric/electronic circuit.

The new device constituted as described above detects the formation of ice, snow or hoar frost and their parameters at the critical points and/or at the points where formation of ice is most likely.

If the anomalous formation of ice, snow or hoar frost is detected by the sensors (1), the electric/electronic circuit (3) performs the set actions to solve the problem.

These are the schematic characteristics that are sufficient to a person skilled in the art to carry out the invention, consequently upon implementation changes may be made that do not affect the substance of the innovative concept.

Therefore with reference to the above description and the attached drawing the following claims are expressed.

Claims

1. Device for detecting the characteristics of ice, snow or hoar frost, characterized in that it comprises:

• one or more sensors to detect the values (1) of ice, snow or hoar frost, suited to be positioned in the points to be checked;

• one or more systems suited to activate or deactivate the contacts

(2);

• at least one electric/electronic circuit (3) connected to said sensors

(1) and activation or deactivation systems (2);

• and wherein said sensors (1) read and quantify the parameters to be communicated to said electronic circuit (3), according to the crystallization or consistency of the ice, snow or hoar frost.

2. Device for detecting the characteristics of ice, snow or hoar frost according to claim 1 , characterised in that said activators or deactivators can activate or deactivate heaters (2) located in the points where ice is most likely to form.

3. Device for detecting the characteristics of ice, snow or hoar frost according to claims 1 , 2, characterised in that said electric/electronic circuit (3) operates said heaters (2) or fans or both in order to perform a defrosting process (3) when said sensors (1) detect the formation of ice, snow or hoar frost.

4. Device for detecting the characteristics of ice, snow or hoar frost according to claims 1 , 2, characterised in that said electric/electronic circuit (3) operates said activators or deactivators (2) at pre-set time intervals.

5. Device for detecting the characteristics of ice, snow or hoar frost according to the preceding claims, characterised in that said electric/electronic circuit (3) is provided with a display (3.1) for showing the parameters detected and the operating parameters, and with buttons and knobs (3.2) for adjustment of the operating parameters.

6. Device for detecting the characteristics of ice, snow or hoar frost according to the preceding claims, characterised in that it interrupts the operation of the valves or of the chiller cooling unit before operating the heaters and the fans (2).

7. Device for detecting the characteristics of ice, snow or hoar frost according to the preceding claims, characterised in that it interrupts the operation of the cooling unit and of the electric fan before operating the heaters (2).

8. Device for detecting the characteristics of ice, snow or hoar frost according to the preceding claims, characterised in that it interrupts the operation of the cooling unit only or of the valves only, leaving only the fans on, thus defrosting with a practically dry process, when it intervenes, according to its setting, as soon as hoar frost, which can be easily eliminated with ventilation only, is formed.

9. Device for detecting the characteristics of ice, snow or hoar frost according to the preceding claims, characterised in that it is set so that in the place to be cooled it prevents the first threshold temperatures set from being exceeded and that the cooling process starts again before the temperature increases beyond the second threshold limit set, thus guaranteeing that said temperature remains within the optimal range desired and avoiding changes in temperature that may damage the preserved products.

10. Device for detecting the characteristics of ice, snow or hoar frost according to the preceding claims, characterised in that said electric/electronic circuit (3) is provided with a connector (3.4) for interfacing to a computer, thus permitting detection and optimised remote setting of the electric/electronic circuit operating parameters.

11. Device for detecting the characteristics of ice, snow or hoar frost according to the preceding claims, characterised in that it is connected to humidity sensors and to humidifying devices positioned in the cooling system ventilation duct, in such a way as to maintain a constant humidity level.

12. Device for detecting the characteristics of ice, snow or hoar frost according to the preceding claims, characterised in that it is connected to a tele camera for the remote check, even visual, in real time, of the results of the activated applications.

13. Device for detecting the characteristics of ice, snow or hoar frost according to the preceding claims, characterised in that it is connected to a remote control circuit in order to allow its remote setting.

14. Device for detecting the characteristics of ice, snow or hoar frost

I l according to the preceding claims, characterised in that it is connected to a remote control circuit in order to be able to send out alarms when previously set alarm thresholds are reached.

15. Device for detecting the characteristics of ice, snow or hoar frost according to the preceding claims, characterised in that it is provided with an inner memory and is connected to a remote control circuit in order to be able to transmit the data registered during the time intervals between the various connections.