Patent Application
20200386452
This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. ยง 119, of German patent application DE 10 2019 003 957, filed Jun. 4, 2019; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a cooling device, in particular a cooling device for a device of a vehicle which is intended to be cooled, such as, for example, a galley of a passenger aircraft.
In order to cool galleys of passenger aircraft, cooling devices (e.g. air refrigeration units, (ARUs)) in the form of compression refrigerating machines are generally used. Such compression refrigerating machines typically have a refrigerating medium circuit which contains a compressor, a high-pressure-side heat exchanger in the form of a condenser for discharging heat of the refrigerating medium to an ambient air flow, an expansion member, and a low-pressure-side heat exchanger in the form of an evaporator for absorbing heat of the refrigerating medium from a cold air flow of the device which is intended to be cooled. As a result of the cooling of the cold air flow when flowing through the evaporator, the air moisture which is contained in the cold air flow condenses and when falling below freezing point accumulates in the form of ice on the cold evaporator surfaces. Since the cooling power of the evaporator is thereby reduced, defrosting cycles are regularly carried out, in which the condensate water which is discharged is collected in a collection container. The condensate water which is collected in the collection container is then generally discharged via gravitational force via drainage ports into a drain which in particular in the application field of aircraft is technically very complex. In addition to the cooling device, generally in the galley as a result of damp air flows along cold surfaces condensate water which can then be discharged into a collection region/container in the galley is produced. Furthermore, as a result of other cooling devices or devices in the region of the galley, condensate water or waste water which is discharged into a collection container can also be produced.
An object of the invention is to provide an improved measure for discharging water which is received in collection devices.
This object is achieved with a cooling device having the features of the independent claim. Particularly advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.
The cooling device of the invention has a cooling apparatus having a refrigerating medium circuit which contains a first heat exchanger for discharging heat of the refrigerating medium to an ambient air flow and a second heat exchanger for absorbing heat of the refrigerating medium from a cold air flow of a device which is intended to be cooled and at least one first collection device for receiving water. The cooling device according to the invention further has at least one component which is selected from a conveyor unit for conveying water from one of the at least one first collection device into the ambient air flow of the cooling apparatus and a suction unit for drawing water from at least one second collection device for receiving water from other apparatuses or devices into one of the at least one first collection device.
According to the invention, there is proposed a cooling device by which using a conveyor unit water which is received in collection devices (for example, water or condensate water from the cooling apparatus of the device which is intended to be cooled or other apparatuses or devices) can be collected and can be directed into the ambient air flow upstream of the first heat exchanger of the cooling apparatus or the warm ambient air flow downstream of the first heat exchanger of the cooling apparatus. Thus, the water no longer has to be discharged as liquid, but instead is further processed inside the system. When used in galleys of passenger aircraft, complex constructions for discharging water through base plates or similar arrangements can thus be prevented. Another advantage is that, as a result of the water, a humidification of the ambient air flow takes place. The humidified ambient air flow may, for example, be supplied to the cabin air or a waste air shaft.
Alternatively or preferably additionally, the cooling device according to the invention contains a suction unit by which water which occurs or is produced in other apparatuses or devices and which has been collected in a second collection device is drawn into one of the first collection devices. The use of such a suction unit is particularly advantageous if the second collection device is located in the vicinity of the floor and therefore the water cannot run off by means of gravitational force into another (for example, central) collection container. As a result of the suction of the water of other apparatuses or devices into one of the first collection devices, the quantities of water present are combined and can then be discharged together. The technical measures can thereby be significantly improved in comparison with separately discharging the different quantities of water. If the suction unit is provided in addition to the conveyor unit, the water quantities from the first collection devices and from the second collection devices can be introduced into the ambient air flow.
In both, alternative or combined variants, the cooling device in addition to its basic function for cooling a cold air flow of a device which is intended to be cooled has an additional function of discharging water. As a result of the multifunctional cooling device, additional devices or measures for discharging water can be dispensed with and/or disadvantages as a result of excessive quantities of water in the collection devices can be prevented. The cooling device preferably forms together with the conveyor unit and/or the suction unit a structural unit so that the assembly operation can be simplified and no or at most a small modification of the device which is intended to be cooled is required.
The at least one first collection device generally serves to absorb water. Preferably, at least one of the at least one first collection devices serves to receive water from the cooling apparatus, in particular condensate water which is produced by the cooling apparatus during de-frosting cycles. The at least one second collection device serves to receive water from other apparatuses or devices, such as, for example, other cooling apparatuses or the device which is intended to be cooled by the cooling apparatus (for example, galley of a vehicle, in particular aircraft). This is, for example, condensate water or waste water which is produced by the respective other apparatus or the respective other device.
The cooling apparatus of the cooling device is preferably constructed as a compression refrigerating machine having a refrigerating medium circuit which contains a compactor or compressor. The first heat exchanger is preferably a high-pressure-side heat exchanger in the form of a liquefier or condenser; the second heat exchanger is preferably a low-pressure-side heat exchanger in the form of an evaporator.
The first and second collection devices are preferably arranged in such a manner that the water runs into them by means of gravitational force or an air flow. Preferably, drip edges which direct the water to the collection device may be provided. Particularly suitable are the lowest points of the device which is intended to be cooled, that is to say, for example, the galley or a region of the galley or a trolley in the galley.
In an embodiment of the invention, there are provided a plurality of collection containers (first and second collection devices) for receiving (condensate) water from part-regions of the cooling device or the device which is intended to be cooled and at least one central collection container as a first collection device for receiving water from the plurality of collection containers. The central collection container may selectively be arranged inside the cooling apparatus or inside the device which is intended to be cooled.
The conveyor unit preferably has at least one suction channel which is connected to the first collection device and at least one pump (for example, diaphragm pump). The pump may, for example, be fitted inside or outside the cooling apparatus. The energy supply of the pump(s) is preferably provided by the cooling apparatus, in particular also for pumps which are arranged outside the cooling apparatus.
The suction unit preferably has at least one suction channel which is connected to the second collection device, and at least one pump (for example, diaphragm pump). The pump may, for example, be fitted inside or outside the cooling apparatus. The energy supply of the pump(s) is preferably provided by the cooling apparatus, in particular also for pumps which are arranged outside the cooling apparatus.
Preferably, the cooling device further has at least one first sensor (for example, fluid level sensor or moisture rate sensor) for detecting a water quantity in the at least one first collection device and/or at least one second sensor (for example, fluid level sensor or moisture rate sensor) for detecting a water quantity in the at least one second collection device. In this instance, the conveyor unit (in particular the pump thereof) and the suction unit (in particular the pump thereof) are preferably operated in accordance with the quantity of water detected in each case.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the conveyor unit is provided with an evaporation unit for evaporating the water before or when it is introduced into the ambient air flow. As a result of the transfer of the water into the gaseous aggregation state, the introduction into the ambient air flow can be carried out more efficiently.
For the transfer of the water into the gaseous aggregation state, different construction variants of the evaporation unit are possible. The evaporation unit preferably contains one or more of the following components:
a) a spray device for introducing the water into the ambient air flow downstream of the first heat exchanger;
b) a heating element for heating the water before it is introduced into the ambient air flow downstream of the first heat exchanger;
c) a heat exchanger for absorbing the heat of the water from the refrigerating medium circuit of the cooling apparatus, preferably from the compressor of the refrigerating medium circuit, before it is introduced into the ambient air flow downstream of the first heat exchanger;
d) for the water, an open container (for example, drip tray) over which the ambient air flow flows downstream or upstream of the first heat exchanger; and
e) a spray device for introducing the water into the ambient air flow upstream of the first heat exchanger.
The measures for heating the water before it is introduced into the ambient air flow are in this instance preferably only selected when it is introduced downstream of the first heat exchanger.
Embodiments of the invention may contain from the components listed above one individual component or any combination of two or more of these components. In this instance, in the context of the invention, there are also conceivable in particular embodiments in which the water is introduced into the ambient air flow both upstream of the first heat exchanger and downstream of the first heat exchanger.
Depending on the construction variant of the evaporation unit, different additional advantages of the cooling device can be achieved. In the case of introducing the water into the ambient air flow upstream of the first heat exchanger, the ambient air flow is cooled by adiabatic evaporation, which can increase the efficiency of the first heat exchanger and consequently the entire cooling apparatus. In the case of thermal absorption of the water from the refrigerating medium circuit, preferably from the compressor of the refrigerating medium circuit, a cooling effect for the refrigerating medium circuit or the compressor thereof is achieved, which can also increase the efficiency of the entire cooling apparatus.
In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one first collection device has a central collection container in the device which is intended to be cooled. The central collection container is preferably connected to the conveyor unit and/or a water drain. Preferably, the at least one first collection device further has in or on the cooling apparatus at least one cooling apparatus collection container which is connected to the central collection container via a drainage channel in order to allow (condensate) water to be discharged from the cooling apparatus collection container, preferably by means of gravitational force, into the central collection container. In this embodiment, the suction unit preferably draws water from the at least one second collection device into the cooling apparatus collection container or the central collection container.
In an embodiment of the invention, the at least one first collection device has in or on the cooling apparatus at least one cooling apparatus collection container which is connected to the conveyor unit and/or a water drain. In this embodiment, the suction unit preferably draws water from the at least one second collection device into the cooling apparatus collection container or the central collection container, if also provided.
The energy supply for the conveyor unit and/or the suction unit are preferably provided by the cooling apparatus. In this instance, the conveyor unit may have a pump inside or outside the cooling apparatus and the cooling apparatus, if the pump is arranged externally, may have an energy supply for the pump of the conveyor unit. This promotes the formation of the structural unit of the cooling apparatus together with the conveyor unit. In a similar manner, the suction unit may have a pump inside or outside the cooling apparatus and the cooling apparatus, if the pump is arranged externally, may have an energy supply for the pump of the suction unit, whereby the formation of the structural unit of the cooling apparatus is conveyed together with the suction unit.
The above-described cooling device of the invention can be used in a particularly advantageous manner for a device of a vehicle which is intended to be cooled, in particular an aircraft, in particular for a galley of an aircraft. However, the invention is not limited to this application.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a cooling device, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
The cooling device contains in particular a cooling apparatus 10 for a device 12 which is intended to be cooled. The device 12 which is intended to be cooled is, for example, a galley of a passenger aircraft or a galley region or a trolley.
In the embodiment of
The cooling device is further provided with a cooling apparatus collection container (first collection device in the context of the invention) 22 in or on the cooling apparatus 10 in which a condensate water produced by the cooling apparatus 10 can be discharged and collected. The condensate water is produced, for example, on the cold surfaces of the second heat exchanger 19 by the air moisture contained in the cold air flow and is then defrosted in defrosting cycles of the cooling apparatus 10 and directed into the cooling apparatus collection container 22. The cooling apparatus collection container 22 is, for example, fitted in the vicinity of the base of the second heat exchanger 19 or the cooling apparatus 10.
The cooling device is further provided with a cooling device collector (second collection device in the context of the invention) 23 in or on the galley 12 in which a condensate water or waste water which is produced in/on the galley 12 can be discharged and collected. The condensate water is produced, for example, on cold surfaces of the galley 12 as a result of moist air, which flows into the galley, for example, as a result of leakages or frequent opening of the doors.
The two collection containers 22, 23 are connected to a central collection container (first collection device in the context of the invention) 24 into which the (condensate) water from the cooling apparatus collection container 22 and the cooling device collector 23 runs as a result of gravitational force and in which it is then temporarily stored.
As illustrated in
In the embodiment of
The cooling apparatus 10 is further provided with an evaporation unit 29. The evaporation unit 29 is provided in order to transfer the water which is conveyed from the pump 27 through the suction channel 26 in the direction towards the ambient air channel 28 into a gaseous aggregation state.
In the embodiment of
In this construction of the cooling device, in which the collected water is brought (back) from the cooling apparatus 10 and then transferred into the gaseous aggregation state, in order to introduce it into the ambient air flow, a structurally complex water drain leading, for example, from the aircraft can be dispensed with.
The cooling apparatus of
Otherwise, the structure and function of the cooling device of
The cooling device of
Otherwise, the structure and function of the cooling device of
The cooling device of
Otherwise, the structure and function of the cooling device of
The embodiments of
In the embodiments of
In the embodiments of
The cooling device of
The condensate water of the cooling apparatus 10 received in the cooling apparatus collection container 22 and the water of the galley 12 drawn by means of the suction unit 36 into the cooling apparatus collection container 22 can then run off together by means of gravitational force into the central collection container 24. From this, the water can then be discharged, for example, in liquid form, via drainage ports.
The cooling apparatus 10 otherwise corresponds in terms of structure and operation to the cooling apparatus of the previous embodiments of
Alternatively or additionally to the cooling device collector 23, the suction unit 36 may also be connected to another second collection device for receiving water (for example, condensate water or waste water) from other cooling devices, such as, for example, other cooling apparatuses, in order to direct the water which has been collected therein via the cooling apparatus collection container 22 into the central collection container 24.
The cooling device of
Otherwise, the structure and function of the cooling device of
In the two embodiments of
The cooling device of
Alternatively or additionally, the embodiment of
As another alternative of the invention, the embodiment of
The cooling device of
Otherwise, the structure and function of the cooling device of
The cooling device of
Alternatively or additionally, the embodiment of
As other alternatives of the invention, the cooling devices illustrated in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102019003957 | Jun 2019 | DE | national |
