WO2016037907A1

WO2016037907A1 - A cooling device comprising a pcm container

Info

Publication number: WO2016037907A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/069985
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gokmen PEKER; Tolga Nurettin AYNUR; Egemen TINAR; Tayfun ATSIZ; Erkan KARAKAYA; Vasi Kadir Ertis
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2014-09-10
Filing date: 2015-09-02
Publication date: 2016-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2017-03-10

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising a body (2), one or more than one compartment (3) wherein foodstuffs and/or beverages to be cooled and/or frozen are placed, a PCM container (5) that is placed into the compartment (3) and that contains phase changing material and at least one blowing port (6) that is arranged on the body (2) and that allows the cool air to enter into the compartment (3).

Description

A COOLING DEVICE COMPRISING A PCM CONTAINER

The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a container wherein phase changing material is placed.

In cooling devices, foodstuffs like vegetables, fruits and beverages are generally placed into the fresh food compartment and these foodstuffs are desired to be stored for a long period of time without getting spoiled. Due to the fresh food compartments being excessively loaded by the user with food packages and due to the loading process, a homogeneous heat distribution cannot be obtained in the compartment, thus creating regions at different temperatures. The temperature differences cause the energy consumption of the cooling device to increase and prevent the storage conditions suitable for foodstuffs from being reached.

In the state of the art, embodiments are devised wherein thermal energy storage units such as containers, panels, etc. containing phase changing material (PCM) are placed into the compartment in order to prevent temperature differences. For an effective regional cooling, it is critical to place the thermal energy storage units into the compartment.

In the state of the art Japanese Patent Application No. JP2014515469A, a cooling device is disclosed, comprising a container wherein phase changing material is placed, that is installed under the shelves in the fresh food compartment.

In the state of the art German Patent Application No. DE3605891A1, a cooling device is disclosed, comprising a container wherein phase changing material is placed, that is installed into the shelves in the fresh food compartment.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device, of which the cooling effectiveness is improved, wherein a homogeneous cooling is obtained by providing regional cooling by means of a PCM container.

The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises one or more than one compartment wherein foodstuffs and/or beverages to be cooled and/or frozen are placed and at least one blowing port that allows the entry of air into the compartment. In the compartment, a carrier apparatus is provided to allow the placement of the PCM container that contains the phase changing material obtained by combining one or more than one eutectic material. The compartment wherein the foodstuffs to be frozen are placed is operated at -18°C and the compartment wherein the foodstuffs to be cooled are placed is operated at 5°C. Therefore, materials that change phase at different temperatures are used for different compartments. For the fresh food compartment, a phase changing material that is solid at 5°C or preferably at temperatures below 5°C is used and for the freezing compartment, a phase changing material that is solid preferably at -18°C or at temperatures below -18°C.

The cooling device of the present invention comprises a carrier apparatus that is placed in front of the blowing port so as to enable the cool air blown into the compartment via the blowing port to directly pass over the PCM container. Thus, effective heat transfer is provided between the cool air and the PCM container. The cool air blown onto the PCM container moves by sweeping the surface of the PCM container, thus increasing the heat transfer surface. The PCM container has preferably the same width as the blowing port. Thus, the entire air leaving the blowing port contacts the PCM container. The height of the PCM container is selected so small as to enable the effective flow of the cool air leaving the blowing port and to keep the space loss in the compartment at minimum.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the carrier apparatus comprises at least one arm thereon, that enables the carrier apparatus to be fitted into the housing arranged on the body. By means of the connection between the arm and the housing, the carrier apparatus is detachably mounted into the compartment. The user can easily detach the carrier apparatus and properly position the latter during remounting by means of the housing. The housing that is arranged preferably in the vicinity of the blowing port allows the entry of the cool air into the compartment so as to support the blowing ports when the carrier apparatus is taken outside of the compartment.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a protrusion is provided at the arm end fitted into the housing. When fitted into the housing, the protrusion bears against the body and prevents the forward movement of the carrier apparatus. Thus, the carrier apparatus is enabled to be fixed in the compartment.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier apparatus comprises a lower plate whereon the PCM container is placed. The lower plate is disposed perpendicularly to the surface whereon the blowing port is arranged. Thus, when positioned on the lower plate the PCM container does not create any obstruct in the air flow direction, and the cool air continues to move by sweeping the surface of the PCM container.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier apparatus comprises at least one retainer on the lower plate, that enables the PCM container to be suspended so as to prevent the contact of the latter with the lower plate. Thus, the cool air passes also over the lower surface of the PCM container and an improved cooling performance is obtained.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the lower plate has holes. Thus, part of the air passing under the PCM container exits via the holes and dissipates into the compartment. Thus, a homogeneous cool air distribution is obtained inside the compartment.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier apparatus comprises a front plate with holes, that is disposed onto the lower plate and that enables the cool air passing over the PCM container to be guided into the compartment. Thus, the cool air is enabled to be conveyed to the front section of the cooling device. Moreover, the front plate prevents the user from seeing the PCM container.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the front plate is V-shaped. Thus, the cool air passing over the PCM container is delivered in different directions into the compartment via the two arms of the front plate. Accordingly, a homogeneous heat distribution is obtained inside the compartment.

In an embodiment, the cooling device is a deep freezer. In the deep freezer comprising more than one compartment, the carrier apparatus is mounted at the upper section of the uppermost compartment where the cooling performance is lowest. The cool air guided from the evaporator can be conveyed to the upper compartments with decreasing flow rate and amount. Therefore, the upper compartment cannot be sufficiently cooled. By placing the PCM container at the upper compartment, possible temperature differences between the compartments are prevented.

By means of the present invention, particularly by means of the phase changing material placed into the compartment, a homogeneous air distribution is provided, thus preventing the formation of the regions at different temperatures in the compartment. Thus, the foodstuffs stored in the compartment can be kept fresh for a long time.

The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the perspective view of a cooling device.

Figure 2 – is the perspective view of a carrier apparatus whereon the PCM container is placed when the former is mounted onto the body in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 – is the perspective view of the carrier apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Cooling device
Body
Compartment
Carrier apparatus
PCM container
Blowing port
Housing
Arm
Protrusion
Lower plate
Retainer
Front plate
First segment
Second segment

The cooling device (1) comprises a body (2), one or more than one compartment (3) wherein foodstuffs and/or beverages to be cooled and/or frozen are placed, a PCM container (5) that is placed into the compartment (3) and that contains phase changing material and at least one blowing port (6) that is arranged on the body (2) and that allows the cool air to enter into the compartment (3) (Figure 1 and Figure 2).

The cooling device (1) of the present invention comprises a carrier apparatus (4) that is placed in front of the blowing port (6) so as to enable the cool air blown into the compartment (3) via the blowing port (6) to directly pass over the PCM container (5). The cool air leaving the blowing port (6) dissipates into the compartment (3) after passing over the PCM container (5), thereby the cool air is used effectively.

The carrier apparatus (4) of the present invention carries the PCM container (5) at the level of the blowing port (6) so that the air blown from the blowing port (6) directly contacts the PCM container (5), thus the air blown from the blowing port (6) is enabled to sweep all the surface of the PCM container (5), particularly lower and upper surfaces having wide surface areas, thereby providing the regional effective cooling of the compartment (3).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises at least one housing (7) disposed on the body (2) and at least one arm (8) that is disposed on the carrier apparatus (4) and that enables the carrier apparatus (4) to be mounted to the housing (7). When the arm (8) is fitted into the housing (7), the PCM container (5) is positioned in the compartment (3) in front of the blowing port (6) in the flow direction of the cool air leaving the blowing port (6). After the user removes the arm (8) from the housing (7), the carrier apparatus (4) can be taken out of the compartment (3). Thus, the user is enabled to increase the usable area in the compartment (3) as needed by detaching the carrier apparatus (4). By means of the housing (7), the user can properly position the carrier apparatus (4) in the compartment (3). By means of the detachable carrier apparatus (4), the user is provided with usage flexibility.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier apparatus (4) comprises a protrusion (9) that is disposed at the arm (8) end fitted into the housing (7). When the arm (8) is fitted into the housing (7), at least one surface of the protrusion (9) bears against the rear surface of the body (2). Thus, the arm (8) is prevented from dislodging from the housing (7) and the carrier apparatus (4) is prevented from falling into the compartment (3). In order to detach the arm (8) from the housing (7), first the protrusion (9) must be brought to a position enabling the latter to align with the housing (7) and to pass through the housing (7) so as to break the contact of the protrusion (9) with the body (2). Thus, the carrier apparatus (4) is prevented from being detached from the compartment (3) without user intervention.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier apparatus (4) comprises a lower plate (10) whereon the PCM container (5) is placed. The PCM container (5) is detachably mounted onto the lower plate (10).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier apparatus (4) comprises at least one retainer (11) that is disposed on the lower plate (10) and that prevents the PCM container (5) from contacting the lower plate (10). The PCM container (5) is positioned on the retainer (11). Thus, the PCM container (5) is suspended above the carrier apparatus (4) and the PCM container (5) creates a gap allowing the flow of cool air between the PCM container (5) and the lower plate (10). The cool air blown from the blowing port (6) moves by sweeping both the upper surface and the lower surface of the PCM container (5). Thus, the heat transfer surface on the PCM container (5) is increased and also the cool air circulation inside the compartment (3) is improved.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier apparatus (4) comprises the lower plate (10) with holes, that enables the cool air passing between the lower plate (10) and the PCM container (5) to be guided into the compartment (3). Thus, the cool air moving in contact with the lower surface of the PCM container (5) passes through the holes and is guided into the compartment (3) and enabled to reach the regions remaining below the PCM container (5).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier apparatus (4) comprises a front plate (12) with holes, that is mounted onto the lower plate (10) and that enables the cool air passing over the PCM container (5) to be guided into the compartment (3). The cool air passing through the holes on the front plate (12) is homogeneously guided into the compartment (3).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the carrier apparatus (4) comprises the V-shaped front plate (12). The front plate (12) comprises a first segment (13) and a second segment (14) that create the V shape. The first segment (13) extends upwards from the lower plate (10) perpendicularly to the horizontal plane in front of the PCM container (5) while the second segment (14) extends between the lower plate (10) and the first segment (13) in an inclined manner. Thus, the cool air directed into the compartment (3) is enabled to be dissipated into the compartment (3).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises the PCM container (5) having the same width with the blowing port (6). Thus, the entire cool air leaving the blowing port (6) is enabled to contact the PCM container (5) and the heat transfer surface between the PCM container (5) and the cool air is increased.

In the cooling device (1) of the present invention, the cool air blown from the blowing port (6) into the compartment (3) is sent directly onto the PCM container (5) to be dissipated inside the compartment (3), thus formation of regions with different temperatures in the compartment (3) is prevented. Moreover, by means of the homogeneous cool air distribution obtained, the cooling effectiveness is improved, thereby providing energy savings.

Claims

A cooling device (1) comprising a body (2), one or more than one compartment (3) wherein foodstuffs and/or beverages to be cooled and/or frozen are placed, a PCM container (5) that is placed into the compartment (3) and that contains phase changing material and at least one blowing port (6) that is arranged on the body (2) and that allows the cool air to enter into the compartment (3), characterized by a carrier apparatus (4) that is placed in front of the blowing port (6) so as to enable the cool air blown into the compartment (3) via the blowing port (6) to directly pass over the PCM container (5).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by at least one housing (7) disposed on the body (2) and at least one arm (8) that is disposed on the carrier apparatus (4) and that enables the carrier apparatus (4) to be mounted to the housing (7).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the carrier apparatus (4) comprising a protrusion (9) on the arm (8) end fitted into the housing (7).
A cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the carrier apparatus (4) comprising a lower plate (10) whereon the PCM container (5) is placed.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by the carrier apparatus (4) comprising at least one retainer (11) that is disposed on the lower plate (10) and that prevents the PCM container (5) from contacting the lower plate (10) by keeping the PCM container (5) suspended.
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the carrier apparatus (4) comprising the lower plate (10) with holes, that enables the cool air passing between the lower plate (10) and the PCM container (5) to be guided into the compartment (3).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 6, characterized by the carrier apparatus (4) comprising a front plate (12) with holes, that is mounted onto the lower plate (10) and that enables the cool air passing over the PCM container (5) to be guided into the compartment (3).
A cooling device (1) as in Claim 7, characterized by the V-shaped front plate (12).