Air-Conditioning Device, In Particular For A Vehicle

Abstract

An air conditioning device with a first heat exchanger on a low-pressure side and a second heat exchanger on a high-pressure side of the air conditioning device. A cooling medium in a cooling circuit of the air conditioning device is under a higher pressure on the high-pressure side than on the low-pressure side. The first heat exchanger is arranged in a first housing portion on the low-pressure side, and the second heat exchanger is arranged in a second housing portion of the air conditioning device on the high-pressure side. A smoke removal opening is arranged between the first and the second housing portions. The smoke removal opening is closed during the normal operation of the air conditioning device and can be opened in the event of a fire and allow a flow of air from the first housing portion into the second housing portion.

Description

The invention relates to an air-conditioning device having a heat exchanger at a low-pressure side of the air-conditioning device and a heat exchanger at a high-pressure side of the air-conditioning device, wherein a cooling medium which is located in a cooling circuit of the air-conditioning device at the high-pressure side is under a higher pressure than at the low-pressure side.

In rail vehicles for passenger transport both in long-distance and in regional transport, high demands with regard to fire protection have to be complied with. To this end, it is particularly necessary in the event of a fire for the highly toxic fire smoke which is produced in the vehicle to be discharged outward as quickly as possible in order to increase the chances of survival for the persons located in the vehicle. For rapid removal of smoke, high air flow volumes are required.

Currently in rail vehicles, in the event of fire, the supply air fans of the air-conditioning systems at the low-pressure side are switched off and the exhaust fans (if present) at the low-pressure side are controlled to maximum speed. In rail vehicles without exhaust fans, folding windows and opening of doors are relied on. The opening of doors may also be a supplementary measure in rail vehicles with exhaust fans.

An object of the invention is to provide an air-conditioning device which is improved in the event of fire compared with conventional air-conditioning devices.

This object is achieved according to the invention by an air-conditioning device having the features according to patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the air-conditioning device according to the invention are set out in dependent claims.

Accordingly, there is provision according to the invention for the heat exchanger at the low-pressure side to be arranged in a first housing portion of the air-conditioning device and for the heat exchanger at the high-pressure side to be arranged in a second housing portion of the air-conditioning device and for there to be arranged between the first and second housing portions a smoke removal opening which is closed during normal operation of the air-conditioning device and which can be opened in the event of a fire and which can enable an air flow from the first housing portion into the second housing portion.

A significant advantage of the air-conditioning device according to the invention is evident in that—in the event of a fire—a discharge of exhaust gases or smoke from the inner space which is air conditioned by the air-conditioning device prior to the fire, for example, the passenger compartment of a rail vehicle, can be carried out using the fan which is generally provided at the high-pressure side or in the second housing portion of the air-conditioning device; previously, this was not possible as a result of the structural separation of the high-pressure side and low-pressure side in air-conditioning devices. At this location, the invention begins by providing a flow connection which can be activated in the event of a fire between the second housing portion and the first housing portion and consequently a switchable flow connection between the air-conditioned inner space and the second housing portion.

Generally, the fan which is located at the high-pressure side of air-conditioning devices in order to cool the heat exchanger which is at that location is very powerful in order to ensure adequate cooling power of the air-conditioning device as a whole; consequently, the fan power of the same fan located at the high-pressure side of the air-conditioning device can advantageously be used in the event of a fire.

With regard to the normal operation of the air-conditioning device, it is considered to be advantageous for the first housing portion to have a fresh air opening for introducing fresh air into the first housing portion and an inner space opening which serves to introduce the fresh air which has been cooled by the heat exchanger located in the first housing portion into an inner space which is intended to be air-conditioned by the air-conditioning device.

The second housing portion preferably has a supply air opening for introducing supply air into the second housing portion and an exhaust air opening for blowing out the supply air which has been heated by the heat exchanger located in the second housing portion from the second housing portion in an outward direction.

The second housing portion is preferably provided with a fan or is preferably connected to a fan which during normal operation of the air-conditioning device draws supply air through the supply air opening into the second housing portion and which blows out the supply air which has been heated by the heat exchanger located in the second housing portion in an outward direction. In the event of a fire—with the smoke removal opening open—the fan additionally draws inner space air through the inner space opening into the first housing portion and therefrom through the smoke removal opening into the second housing portion and blows it from that location outward through the exhaust air opening.

Preferably, the air-conditioning device has a control device which is configured in such a manner that, when a warning signal which signals a fire is present, it produces a control signal by means of which it opens the smoke removal opening.

It is particularly advantageous for the smoke removal opening to be provided with an actuatable closure element, which in the initial state closes the smoke removal opening and which releases it when an actuation signal is present, and for the control device to be constructed in such a manner that, when the warning signal is present as a control signal, it produces the actuation signal in order to actuate the closure element.

With regard to the most rapid possible release of the airflow connection between the housing portions, it is advantageous for the closure element to be a pyrotechnically operating closure element whose pyrotechnical drive is ignited when the actuation signal is present.

In order to achieve the greatest possible exhaust capacity of smoke or fire gas from the inner space (which is air-conditioned prior to the fire), for example, the passenger inner space, it is considered to be advantageous for the control device to be configured in such a manner that it further closes the supply air opening or the fresh air opening when the warning signal is present.

It is particularly advantageous with regard to a maximum exhaust effect for the control device to be configured in such a manner that it opens the smoke removal opening and closes both the fresh air opening and the supply air opening when the warning signal is present.

The invention further relates to a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, which is provided with an air-conditioning device, as explained above. With regard to the advantages of the vehicle according to the invention, reference may be made to the above statements in connection with the air-conditioning device according to the invention. The air-conditioning device air-conditions the vehicle inner space during normal operation and in the event of a fire removes smoke from the vehicle inner space at least also via the smoke removal opening.

The invention further relates to a method for operating an air-conditioning device which has a heat exchanger at a low-pressure side of the air-conditioning device and a heat exchanger at a high-pressure side of the air-conditioning device, wherein a cooling medium which is located in a cooling circuit of the air-conditioning device is placed under a higher pressure at the high-pressure side than at the low-pressure side.

With regard to such a method, there is provision according to the invention for the heat exchanger at the low-pressure side to be arranged in a first housing portion of the air-conditioning device and the heat exchanger at the high-pressure side to be arranged in a second housing portion of the air-conditioning device and for there to be arranged between the first and second housing portions a smoke removal opening which is closed during normal operation of the air-conditioning device and which is opened in the event of a fire, whereby an air flow is enabled from the first housing portion into the second housing portion.

With regard to the advantages of the method according to the invention, reference may be made to the above statements in relation to the air-conditioning device according to the invention since the advantages of the method according to the invention substantially correspond to those of the air-conditioning device according to the invention.

The invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to embodiments; in the drawings by way of example:

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of an air-conditioning device which can be used in a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, wherein FIG. 1 shows the operating method during normal operation,

FIG. 2 shows the embodiment according to FIG. 1 in the event of a fire,

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of an air-conditioning device which can be used in a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, and which has a control device which in the event of a fire opens a smoke removal opening between the low-pressure side and the high-pressure side of the air-conditioning device and which further closes a fresh air opening at the low-pressure side,

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of an air-conditioning device which can be used in a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, and which has a control device which in the event of a fire opens a smoke removal opening between the low-pressure side and the high-pressure side of the air-conditioning device and which further closes a supply air opening at the high-pressure side,

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of an air-conditioning device which can be used in a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle, and which has a control device which in the event of a fire opens a smoke removal opening between the low-pressure side and the high-pressure side of the air-conditioning device and which closes a fresh air opening at the low-pressure side and a supply air opening at the high-pressure side, and

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a rail vehicle according to the invention which is provided with an air-conditioning device according to the invention.

In the Figures, for the sake of clarity, the same reference numerals are always used for identical or comparable components.

FIG. 1 shows an air-conditioning device 10 which is provided with a cooling circuit 20 which guides a cooling medium M. The cooling circuit 20 comprises in addition to only schematically illustrated lines for guiding the cooling medium M an expansion valve 30, a first heat exchanger 40, a compressor 50 and a second heat exchanger 60.

The expansion valve 30 and the compressor 50 sub-divide the air-conditioning device 10 in terms of pressure into a low-pressure side 11 and a high-pressure side 12. The first heat exchanger 40 is arranged at the low-pressure side 11 of the air-conditioning device 10 and the second heat exchanger 60 at the high-pressure side 12.

The air-conditioning device 10 has in the embodiment according to FIG. 1 a housing 80 which comprises a first housing portion 81 and a second housing portion 82. The first housing portion 81 is separated from the second housing portion 82 by a partition wall 83. The low-pressure side 11 of the air-conditioning device 10 is located in the first housing portion 81 of the housing 80 and the high-pressure side 12 in the second housing portion 82.

The first housing portion 81 has a fresh air opening 100 for introducing fresh air FL into the first housing portion 81. Furthermore, the first housing portion 81 comprises an inner space opening 110 for introducing the fresh air KL which has been cooled by the heat exchanger 40 into an inner space IR which is intended to be air-conditioned by the air-conditioning device 10. The inner space IR which is intended to be air-conditioned may, for example, be an inner space of a vehicle, in particular a rail vehicle.

The second housing portion 82 comprises a supply air opening 200 for introducing supply air ZL into the second housing portion 82 and an exhaust air opening 210 for blowing out the supply air, which has been heated by the heat exchanger 60 and which will be referred to below as exhaust air AL, outward from the second housing portion 82.

The supply air ZL and the fresh air FL may, for example, be external air or ambient air which is introduced from the outer side or from the environment of the air-conditioning device 10.

The second housing portion 82 is provided with a fan 300 which during normal operation of the air-conditioning device 80 draws the supply air ZL through the supply air opening 200 into the second housing portion 82, directs it past the heat exchanger 60 and blows out the air which is heated by the heat exchanger 60 as exhaust air AL.

Between the first and the second housing portion 81 and 82 there is arranged a smoke removal opening 400 which is closed during normal operation of the air-conditioning device 80 and which—as will be explained in greater detail below—can be opened in the event of a fire, whereby an air flow from the first housing portion into the second housing portion is enabled.

The smoke removal opening 400 is provided with an actuatable closure element 410 which in the initial state closes the smoke removal opening 400 and releases it only when an actuation signal BS is present (cf. FIG. 2). In order to control the smoke removal opening 400 or the closure element 410, the closure element 410 is connected to a control device 500.

The closure element 410 may be a mechanically adjustable, in particular pivotable flap. With regard to the most rapid and reliable possible opening of the smoke removal opening 400, it is considered to be advantageous for the closure element 410 to have a pyrotechnical drive which is ignited when the actuation signal BS is present and which pyrotechnically brings about the opening of the smoke removal opening 400.

The control device 500 is constructed in such a manner that, when a warning signal WS which signals a fire is present, it produces the actuation signal BS (cf. FIG. 2), by means of which the closure element 410 is actuated and the smoke removal opening 400 is opened. The warning signal WS may be supplied by a fire alarm which is not shown in FIG. 1 for reasons of clarity and which is connected to the control device 500.

The air-conditioning device 10 is preferably operated as follows:

During normal operation (cf. FIG. 1), fresh air FL is introduced, by drawing in using a fan which is not shown for reasons of clarity or by blowing in, for example, in the form of travel wind in the event that the air-conditioning system 10 is used in or on a vehicle, into the first housing portion 81 of the air-conditioning device 10, cooled with the heat exchanger 40 at that location and subsequently directed as cooled fresh air KL into the inner space IR, for example, a vehicle inner space.

In order to discharge the heat of the cooling medium M, using the fan 300 supply air ZL, preferably ambient air, is drawn in and directed past the heat exchanger 60, whereby the air which is directed past becomes heated and the heat exchanger 60 is cooled. The heated air is blown out as exhaust air AL through the exhaust air opening 210.

In the event of a fire (cf. FIG. 2), from the fire alarm mentioned the warning signal WS is transmitted to the control device 500 which subsequently produces the actuation signal BS. As a result of the actuation signal BS, the closure element 410 is activated and the smoke removal opening 400 is opened. By opening the smoke removal opening 400, the generally very powerful fan 300 will draw air from the first housing portion 81, whereby a reduced pressure is produced at that location. As a result of the reduced pressure in the first housing portion 81, air, in particular smoke or fire gas BG, is again drawn from the inner space IR through the inner space opening 110 and blown out through the exhaust air opening 210. The fan 300 consequently functions as a smoke removal device for the inner space IR.

FIG. 3 shows an air-conditioning device 10, in which the fresh air opening 100 at the low-pressure side 11 is connected to the control device 500 and can be closed thereby using the actuation signal BS.

In the event of a fire, the control device 500 will produce the actuation signal BS and thereby open the smoke removal opening 400 between the low-pressure side 11 and the high-pressure side 12 of the air-conditioning device and close the fresh air opening 100.

In contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the embodiment according to FIG. 3 an influx of fresh air FL—in the event of a fire—into the first housing portion 81 is prevented, whereby the degree of efficiency of the fan 300 in the second housing portion 82 with respect to the exhaust of smoke or fire gas BG from the inner space IR is greater than in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Furthermore, with reference to the operating method of the air-conditioning device 10 according to FIG. 3, reference may be made to the above statements in connection with the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 since these apply accordingly to the air-conditioning device 10 according to FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 shows an air-conditioning device 10 in which the supply air opening 200 at the high-pressure side 12 is connected to the control device 500 and can be closed thereby using the actuation signal BS.

In the event of a fire, the control device 500 will produce the actuation signal BS and thereby open the smoke removal opening 400 between the low-pressure side 11 and the high-pressure side 12 of the air-conditioning device and close the supply air opening 200.

In contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the embodiment according to FIG. 4, in the event of a fire, an influx of supply air ZL into the second housing portion 82 is prevented, whereby the degree of efficiency of the fan 300 in the second housing portion 82 with respect to the discharge of smoke or fire gas BG from the inner space IR is greater than in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Furthermore, with respect to the operating method of the air-conditioning device 10 according to FIG. 4, reference may be made to the above statements in connection with the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 since these apply accordingly to the air-conditioning device 10 according to FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 shows an air-conditioning device 10 in which both the supply air opening 200 at the high-pressure side 12 and the fresh air opening 100 at the low-pressure side 11 are connected to the control device 500 and can be closed thereby using the actuation signal BS.

In the event of a fire, the control device 500 will produce the actuation signal BS and thereby open the smoke removal opening 400 between the low-pressure side 11 and the high-pressure side 12 of the air-conditioning device. At the same time, beforehand or afterwards, it will close the fresh air opening 100 and the supply air opening 200.

In contrast to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the embodiment according to FIG. 5, in the event of a fire, an influx of supply air ZL into the second housing portion 82 and an influx of fresh air FL into the first housing portion 81 are prevented, whereby the degree of efficiency of the fan 300 in the second housing portion 82 with respect to the discharge of smoke or fire gas BG from the inner space IR is greater than in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2.

Furthermore, with respect to the operating method of the air-conditioning device 10 according to FIG. 5, reference may be made to the above statements in connection with the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2 since these apply accordingly to the air-conditioning device 10 according to FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a rail vehicle 700 which is provided with an air-conditioning device 10. The air-conditioning device 10 serves during normal operation to cool fresh air FL and at the output side to supply cooled air KL into the inner space IR of the rail vehicle 700.

The air-conditioning device 10 according to FIG. 6 preferably corresponds to one of the air-conditioning devices explained in detail above in connection with FIGS. 1 to 5. With regard to the air-conditioning device 10, in particular the operating method of the air-conditioning device 10 in the event of a fire, reference can consequently be made to the above statements in connection with FIGS. 1 to 5.

Although the invention has been illustrated and described in greater detail by preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed and other variations can be derived therefrom by the person skilled in the art without departing from the protective scope of the invention.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. An air-conditioning device, comprising: a first heat exchanger at a low-pressure side of the air-conditioning device and a second heat exchanger at a high-pressure side of the air-conditioning device;a cooling circuit containing a cooling medium, said cooling medium in said cooling circuit being at a higher pressure at the high-pressure side of the air-conditional device than at the low-pressure side;a first housing portion housing said first heat exchanger at the low-pressure side and a second housing portion housing said second heat exchanger at the high-pressure side;wherein a smoke removal opening is formed between said first and second housing portions, said smoke removal opening being closed during normal operation of the air conditioning device and opened in the event of a fire, for enabling an air flow from said first housing portion into said second housing portion.

14. The air-conditioning device according to claim 13, wherein said first housing portion is formed with a fresh air opening for introducing fresh air into said first housing portion and an inner space opening for introducing the fresh air, after having been cooled by said first heat exchanger in said first housing portion, into an interior space that is intended to be air-conditioned by the air-conditioning device.

15. The air-conditioning device according to claim 13, wherein said second housing portion is formed with a supply air opening for introducing supply air into said second housing portion and with an exhaust air opening for blowing out the supply air, after having been heated by said second heat exchanger in said second housing portion from the second housing portion in an outward direction.

16. The air-conditioning device according to claim 15, wherein said second housing portion is associated with a fan which, during the normal operation of the air-conditioning device, draws supply air through said supply air opening into said second housing portion and blows out the supply air which has been heated by said heat exchanger in said second housing portion in an outward direction and which,in the event of a fire, while the smoke removal opening is open, additionally draws inner space air through said inner space opening into said first housing portion, from said first housing portion through said smoke removal opening into said second housing portion and blows the air from there outward through said exhaust air opening.

17. The air-conditioning device according to claim 16, wherein said fan is disposed in said second housing portion or said fan is fluidically connected with said second housing portion.

18. The air-conditioning device according to claim 13, which comprises a control device configured to issue a control signal which, when a warning signal is present that indicates a fire, causes the smoke removal opening to open.

19. The air-conditioning device according to claim 18, wherein: said smoke removal opening is provided with an actuatable closure element which in an initial state closes the smoke removal opening and opens said smoke removal opening when an actuation signal is present; andsaid control device is configured, when the warning signal is present as a control signal, to produce the actuation signal in order to actuate said closure element.

20. The air-conditioning device according to claim 19, wherein said closure element is a pyrotechnically operating closure element having a pyrotechnical drive that is ignited when the actuation signal is present.

21. The air-conditioning device according to claim 18, wherein said control device is configured to close said supply air opening when the warning signal is present.

22. The air-conditioning device according to claim 18, wherein said control device is configured to close said fresh air opening when the warning signal is present.

23. The air-conditioning device according to claim 18, wherein said control device is configured to open said smoke removal opening and to close said fresh air opening and said supply air opening when the warning signal is present.

24. A vehicle, comprising: an air-conditioning device according to claim 13 configured to air-condition a vehicle interior space during normal operation and to remove smoke from the vehicle interior space via the smoke removal opening in the case of a fire.

25. The vehicle according to claim 24 being a rail vehicle.

26. A method for operating an air-conditioning device which has a heat exchanger at a low-pressure side of the air-conditioning device and a heat exchanger at a high-pressure side of the air-conditioning device, the method comprising: setting a cooling medium in a cooling circuit of the air-conditioning device to a higher pressure at the high-pressure side than at the low-pressure side;wherein the heat exchanger at the low-pressure side is arranged in a first housing portion of the air-conditioning device and the heat exchanger at the high-pressure side is arranged in a second housing portion of the air-conditioning device and there is formed a smoke removal opening between the first and second housing portions;keeping the smoke removal opening closed during normal operation of the air-conditioning device; andopening the smoke removal opening in the event of a fire to enable an air flow from the first housing portion into the second housing portion.