Carriage kitchen module for an aircraft and method for controlling and / or regulating the temperature in a food- and / or beverage compartment of a carriage kitchen module

Abstract

The invention relates to a loadable kitchen module (1) for an aircraft, comprising at least one heating unit and / or cooling unit, with at least one first compartment (2) for beverages and / or food, the temperature of which can be regulated by means of at least one thermoelectric element (5), wherein the thermoelectric element (5) comprises a first and a second heat exchanger (8, 9), one heat exchanger (8, 9) constituting the cold side and the other heat exchanger (8, 9) constituting the warm side of the thermoelectric element (5), wherein the residual heat of the thermoelectric element (5) is discharged by means of a primary coolant from the central coolant supply of the aircraft, wherein the primary coolant is supplied by means of a cooling air channel (10), which can optionally be supplied with ambient air and / or with regulated cold air from the central cooling system (11) of the aircraft.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a galley module for an aircraft, comprising at least one heating unit and / or cooling unit, having at least one first compartment for beverages and / or food, the temperature of which can be adjusted by means of at least one thermoelectric element, wherein the thermoelectric element comprises a first and a second heat exchanger, wherein one heat exchanger constitutes the cold side and the other heat exchanger constitutes the warm side of the thermoelectric element, wherein the residual heat of the thermoelectric element is discharged from the central cooling system of the aircraft by means of a primary coolant.

[0002] The invention furthermore relates to a method for controlling and / or adjusting the temperature in a preferably closed compartment of a galley module according to the invention. BACKGROUND

[0003] A solid cooling device for a galley of an aircraft is known, for example, from WO 2017 / 173130 A1, which comprises at least one cooling compartment, which is cooled with a thermoelectric device, which is configured as a so-called solid-air-air cooling device. Thermoelectric devices of this type are also generally referred to as Peltier elements. The thermoelectric element comprises a semiconductor element, which generates a voltage when a temperature difference prevails at the two sides, or which generates a temperature difference at the two sides when a voltage is applied. The semiconductor is usually embedded between heat exchangers, wherein cooling bodies provided with ribs or heat exchangers with a liquid heat carrier are considered as heat exchangers. The warm side of the Peltier element or thermoelectric element is usually cooled with a fan placed onto the cooling body, which leads to the fact that the cooling side or cold side of the thermoelectric element is further cooled.

[0004] The galley described in WO 2017 / 173130 A1 comprises a cooling device having a plurality of cooling compartments arranged one above the other, in which a Peltier element is arranged in each case. A first thermoelectric device assigned to the uppermost cooling compartment supplies cooled air first to the uppermost cooling compartment and then in the form of a cold air cascade to the cooling compartments arranged thereunder.

[0005] A control of a thermoelectric cooling system for a galley of an aircraft is known from US 8,516,832 B2, which controls a plurality of thermoelectric elements which are electrically connected in parallel and in series. The cooling system comprises a closed cooling compartment, through which a circulation of cold air is maintained by means of a fan arranged on the cold side of the thermoelectric elements. On the warm side of the thermoelectric elements, a heat exchanger is arranged, which is preferably traversed with a liquid coolant from the central cooling system of the aircraft.

[0006] Today's aircraft-galley equipment is provided with so-called galley cooling units which cool the compartments in such a way that they can be cooled to a fixedly predefined lower temperature both as open and as closed compartments. The temperature control of the compartments cannot be effected by the crew. SUMMARY

[0007] It is the task of the present invention to provide a galley module of the type mentioned at the outset, in which the prevailing temperature in the compartments for food and / or beverages can be set by the crew. It is furthermore the task of the present invention to provide a method for controlling and / or regulating the temperature in such compartments of a galley module according to the invention.

[0008] The task of the present invention is solved by a galley module having the features of claim 1. The task is furthermore solved by a method having the features of claims 12 and 14. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention result from the dependent claims.

[0009] According to the present invention, a galley module for an aircraft is provided, comprising at least one heating unit and / or cooling unit, having at least one first compartment for beverages and / or food, the temperature of which can be regulated by means of at least one thermoelectric element, wherein the thermoelectric element comprises a first and a second heat exchanger, wherein one heat exchanger constitutes the cold side of the thermoelectric element and the other heat exchanger constitutes the warm side, wherein the residual heat of the thermoelectric element is discharged by means of a primary coolant from the central cooling system of the aircraft, wherein the galley module according to the invention is distinguished especially in that the primary coolant is supplied by means of a cooling air channel, which can optionally be applied with ambient air and / or with regulated cold air from the central cooling system of the aircraft. In this way and manner, the relevant compartments for food and / or beverages can be cooled or heated in different operating modes, wherein for each operating mode a different compartment temperature can be set.

[0010] The galley module according to the invention can have a plurality of warm and / or cooling compartments, which can be configured as closed compartments, open compartments or beverage drawers.

[0011] In the galley module according to the invention, for example the first compartment can be temperature-regulated by means of a thermoelectric element, whereas the second and / or further compartments can only be cooled with regulated cold air from the central cooling system of the aircraft.

[0012] The first grid layer can be optionally heated or cooled, for example, wherein the switch from heating to cooling or vice versa can be achieved, for example, by correspondingly switching the polarity of the thermoelectric elements. Within the scope of the present invention, multiple thermoelectric elements (Peltier elements) connected in parallel and / or in series can be assigned to a single grid layer; for simplicity, a single thermoelectric element will be mentioned below.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the load-bearing galley module according to the present invention, the first compartment is configured as a compartment with an air circulation system that can be switched between at least two operating positions. In the first operating position, a closed warm air or cold air circulation is established within the compartment, while in the second operating position, an open purge air circulation is established through the cooling air duct. In the second operating position, ambient air from the passenger cabin and / or conditioned cold air from the aircraft's central cooling system, supplied via the cooling air duct, can be circulated through the compartment. This is useful, for example, when switching from heating to cooling or vice versa. After the heating operation, any remaining warm air can be initially purged from the compartment during such a switchover, thereby further cooling the cabin air temperature level or the conditioned cold air temperature level. When switching from cooling to heating operation, further heating of the compartment can be achieved based on the cabin air temperature level. This is particularly energy-efficient.

[0014] In a suitable variant of the inventive portable galley module, the first compartment includes a blower that is not mechanically coupled to the thermoelectric elements. This makes it relatively easy to maintain air circulation within the compartment that is decoupled from the air circulating through the cooling air duct.

[0015] The thermoelectric element can have at least one further blower or a further fan.

[0016] The aforementioned operating position can be achieved in an advantageous variant of the onboard galley module according to the invention by arranging the first heat exchanger in a cooling air distributor of the cooling air duct; the cooling air distributor comprises at least one actuable inlet flap and an actuable outlet flap, and in the open position, the inlet and outlet flaps release a flush air circulation of the primary coolant through the compartment. In the first operating position, the inlet and outlet flaps are preferably closed, thereby isolating the air circuits of the compartment from the aircraft's central cooling system. In this operating position, the sides of the thermoelectric element, or preferably the first heat exchanger, can be exposed to ambient air from the passenger cabin and / or conditioned cold air from the aircraft's central cooling system.

[0017] In the second operating position, the inflow flap and the outflow flap are preferably opened. In this operating position, the air circuits of the galley and of the central cooling system of the aircraft are connected to one another, so that ambient air from the passenger cabin and / or conditioned cold air from the central cooling system of the aircraft can be circulated through the galley.

[0018] At least one blower is provided in the cooling channel and / or in the cooling air distributor in a suitable manner, with which blower an air circulation through the cooling channel and / or the cooling air distributor independent of the galley can be maintained.

[0019] The galley module according to the application can comprise at least one second galley with at least one thermoelectric element, to which second galley ambient air and / or conditioned cold air from the central cooling system of the aircraft can optionally be fed.

[0020] In a further variant of the galley module according to the application, a first heat exchanger is arranged in the inflow channel towards the first galley, and the primary coolant can be further cooled as required with the cold side of the thermoelectric element, and a second heat exchanger is arranged in the outflow channel of the first cooling galley. In this variant of the galley module, it is advantageous that the first galley has a continuously open cold air circulation, which is not separated from the cooling air channel of the primary coolant. When, for example, a cooling operation should be implemented within the galley, temperatures significantly below the normal cooling galley temperature can also be achieved in such a configuration. The normally predefined cooling galley temperature for a galley is between 4°C and 7°C. With the system according to the application described above, a cooling galley temperature significantly below the freezing point can be achieved.

[0021] It is particularly advantageous here that the thermoelectric element is arranged between the inflow channel and the outflow channel. A stepwise cooling of the air supplied to the first galley is thereby advantageously brought about, which can be relatively simply controlled or adjusted.

[0022] A further advantageous variant of the galley module according to the application is proposed, which is distinguished in that the thermoelectric element is rotatably supported in an air guide housing, which is arranged between the cooling air channel of the central cooling system and the cooling air channel of the first galley or the delimiting wall of the first galley.

[0023] Preferably, the thermoelectric element is pivotable within the air guiding housing during operation at least from a first operating position into a second operating position by means of at least one rotary drive, wherein in the first operating position the primary coolant is decoupled from the own cold air circulation of the first cooling panel and in the second operating position the primary coolant circulates through the first panel. In this way and manner a switchover between at least two operating modes of the associated panel is possible, wherein in one operating mode the air circuits of the cooling panel and of the primary cooling system are separated and in the other operating mode the air circuits of the panel and of the central cooling system are in communication with one another.

[0024] In this configuration of the galley module according to the application, a further operating mode is possible by means of the arrangement of the hot and cold sides of the thermoelectric element being exchanged by a 180° rotation within the air guiding housing. In this way a switchover from heating to cooling and vice versa can be realized relatively simply. The further operating mode is possible by means of the switchover from ambient air to conditioned cold air provided according to the application and by means of the control of one or more thermoelectric elements (other polarity).

[0025] The application furthermore relates to a method for controlling and / or regulating the temperature in a panel of a galley module having one or more of the features described above. The method is distinguished in particular in that the panel is cooled or heated, wherein in the cooling mode the warm side of the thermoelectric element is cooled with ambient air from the passenger cabin or with conditioned cold air depending on the cooling capacity and / or cooling demand of the panel.

[0026] In a particularly preferred variant of the method according to the application it is provided that ambient air from the passenger cabin and / or conditioned cold air from the central cooling system of the aircraft circulates through the panel before a switchover from the heating mode to the cooling mode or before a switchover from the cooling mode to the heating mode.

[0027] In a variant of the method according to the application it is provided that at least one thermoelectric element is operated in a first, second or further operating mode depending on the cooling capacity and / or cooling demand of the associated panel according to a preset of the control or regulation, wherein the thermoelectric element extracts heat from the primary coolant supplied to the panel and delivers heat to the primary coolant discharged by the panel in the first operating mode and delivers heat to the primary coolant supplied to the panel and extracts heat from the primary coolant discharged by the panel in the second operating mode.

[0028] The concept "thermoelectric element" in the sense of the application can comprise a system of a plurality of thermoelectric elements with parallel and / or series circuits.

[0029] In a particularly preferred variant of the method according to the invention, it is additionally provided that the speed or rotational speed of the blower assigned to a compartment is adapted to the cooling capacity of the associated cooling compartment and / or to the current cooling demand. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The present invention is explained below based on a number of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] in:

[0032] Figure 1 FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a load-bearing kitchen module according to the present invention.

[0033] Figure 2 A view showing the compartments according to a first embodiment of a load-bearing galley module according to the invention,

[0034] Figure 3 shows a first view of a second embodiment of a load-bearing galley module according to the invention,

[0035] Figure 4 Shown in accordance with Figure 3 A second view of an embodiment,

[0036] Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of a load-bearing galley module according to the present invention,

[0037] Figure 6 A fourth variant of a transportable galley module according to the invention is shown, with a rotatable arrangement of the thermoelectric element in a first operating position, and

[0038] Figure 7 Shown in accordance with Figure 6 A variant of the load-bearing galley module in the second operating position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] First refer to Figure 1 . Figure 1 The illustration shows a transportable galley module 1 having a first compartment 2 and two additional compartments 3 and 4. The first compartment 2 includes a thermoelectric element 5 (Peltier element), which is arranged in the insulating wall structure 6 of the first compartment 2 and comprises a system of semiconductors 7 arranged between a first heat exchanger 8 and a second heat exchanger 9. The first heat exchanger 8 forms the cold side of the thermoelectric element, and the second heat exchanger 9 forms the warm side of the thermoelectric element 5. As mentioned above, the term "thermoelectric element" within the meaning of the present invention is understood to mean a system of multiple thermoelectric elements. The heat exchangers 8 and 9 of the thermoelectric element 5 are designed as air-to-air cooling elements. The thermoelectric element 5 includes at least one fan, which is not shown in the drawing for simplicity.

[0040] In a system according to Figure 1 the second heat exchanger 9, which constitutes the warm side of the thermoelectric element, is connected to a cooling air channel 10 of a central cooling system 11 (Galley Chiller) of the aircraft. From the central cooling system 11 of the aircraft, ambient air and / or conditioned cold air can be supplied to the second heat exchanger 9 of the first shelf 2, optionally. The cooling air channel 10 comprises a section configured as inflow channel 12 and a section configured as outflow channel 13. In order to be able to control and regulate the thermoelectric element 5 according to the application, a temperature sensor 14 is arranged in the inflow channel 12 and in the outflow channel 13, respectively.

[0041] As can be derived, inter alia, from Figure 2 the first shelf 2 according to the first embodiment is configured as a closed cooling shelf with a closed cold air circulation. For this purpose, a blower 15 is arranged in the first shelf 2, which is not mechanically coupled to the thermoelectric element 5 and the rotational speed of which can be adjusted independently of the manipulation of the thermoelectric element 5. In the first embodiment according to Figure 2 the air circuit of the first shelf 2 and of the central cooling system 11 are separated from one another.

[0042] An embodiment of the galley module 1 according to the application is in Figure 3 and 4As shown, the load-free galley module includes a compartment 2 designed not only for heating but also for cooling. In this embodiment, a second heat exchanger 9 is also arranged in the cooling air duct 10 of the central cooling system. In this embodiment—in which identical components are designated by the same reference numerals—the second heat exchanger 9 can form both the warm side and the cold side of the thermoelectric element. The cooling air duct 10 includes a cooling air distributor 17 having an inlet duct 12 and an outlet duct 13, as well as inlet and outlet flaps 18 and 19 in the insulating wall structure 6 of the compartment 2, which respectively establish or interrupt the connection between the cooling air duct 10 and the compartment 2. The inlet and outlet flaps 18 and 19 can be opened and closed by a control unit. When both the inlet and outlet flaps 18 and 19 are open, cabin air circulating through the cooling air duct 10 and / or conditioned cold air circulating through the cooling air duct can circulate completely or partially through the compartment 2. In this position of the inlet and outlet flaps 18 and 19, the air circuits of the grid 2 and the cooling air duct 10 are connected. This air routing not only allows temperature control and / or regulation, but also allows the grid 2 to be flushed with cabin air or conditioned cold air when switching from heating to cooling, and vice versa. This has the advantage that, when switching from heating to cooling, the grid 2 can initially be flushed with air from the aircraft cabin and / or conditioned cold air, so that the thermoelectric elements 5 can further cool the already low temperature level. Conversely, when switching from cooling to heating, for example, the grid 2 can initially be flushed with cabin air, so that the thermoelectric elements 5 can be warmed or heated starting from the higher temperature level of the cabin air. Reference numeral 20 designates the blower of the thermoelectric elements 5.

[0043] Figure 5 A third embodiment of the present invention is shown. Identical components are also provided with the same reference numerals there. Figure 5In an embodiment of the application, the air circuit of the first grid layer 2 and the central cooling system 11 are in communication with one another. The thermoelectric element 5 is arranged between the inflow channel 12 and the outflow channel 13 of the central cooling system 11 in such a way that the first heat exchanger 8 is arranged in the inflow channel 12 and the second heat exchanger 9 is arranged in the outflow channel 13. If necessary, the conditioned air from the central cooling system 11 is further cooled in the inflow channel 12 by the first heat exchanger 8 of the thermoelectric element 5 and circulated through the first grid layer 2. In the outflow channel 13 of the central cooling system 11, the second heat exchanger 9 delivers the heat extracted from the inflow air to the outflow air stream, which is fed back to the central cooling system 11. With this embodiment, different operating modes of the cooling can be realized. For example, ambient air or cold air (conditioned air) can optionally be supplied through the inflow channel 12. When the thermoelectric element 5 is not energized, cooling can only be realized with cold air from the central cooling system 11. In a second phase, the thermoelectric element 5 can be manipulated in such a way that the first heat exchanger 8 extracts heat from the ambient air or the conditioned cold air in the inflow channel 12. In a third phase, the polarity of the thermoelectric element 5 can be changed, so that the air in the inflow channel 12 is warmed and the air in the outflow channel 13 is cooled.

[0044] Figure 6 A fourth embodiment of the mobile kitchen module 1 according to the application is shown. In this case, the same components are provided with the same reference numerals. Figure 6

[0045] In the variant of the mobile kitchen module 1 shown in Figure 6 In the variant of the mobile kitchen module 1 according to the application, the cooling air channel 10 of the central cooling system 11 is connected to the first grid layer 2 by means of an air guide housing 16, in which the thermoelectric element 5 is arranged rotatably. With the variant of the mobile kitchen module 1 according to the application, at least two different configurations can be realized, as will be explained further below, wherein the first configuration approximately corresponds to the first embodiment according to the application and the second configuration approximately corresponds to the third embodiment according to the application. Figure 6 A first operating position of the thermoelectric element 5 within the air guide housing 16 is shown, in which the cooling air channel 10 of the central cooling system 11 is separated from the air circulation or cold air circulation of the first grid layer 2. The cold air circulation within the grid layer 2 is maintained by the blower 15. The circulating air within the grid layer 2 is cooled by the first heat exchanger 8 of the thermoelectric element 5. The heat discharged by the thermoelectric element 5 is delivered to the air circulating through the cooling air channel 10 by the second heat exchanger 9. The thermoelectric element 5 can be rotated during operation from the first operating position shown in Figure 6 Figure 7 ​​In the second operating position shown in the middle. In this position of the thermoelectric element 5, the cooling air channel 10 constitutes an inflow channel 12 into the first compartment 2 and an outflow channel 13 from the compartment 2. The air circuit of the central cooling system 11 and the air circuit of the first compartment are in communication with each other in the second operating position of the thermoelectric element 5.

[0046] In this position it should be noted that a transition between heating and cooling can also be achieved by the rotation of the thermoelectric element 5 in the air guiding housing 16, since the cold side and the warm side of the thermoelectric element 5 can be exchanged by the rotation of the same thermoelectric element within the air guiding housing 16.

[0047] List of reference signs:

[0048] 1 Mobile kitchen module

[0049] 2 First compartment

[0050] 3, 4 Further cooling compartments

[0051] 5 Thermoelectric element

[0052] 6 Insulating wall structure

[0053] 7 Semiconductor

[0054] 8 First heat exchanger

[0055] 9 Second heat exchanger

[0056] 10 Cooling air channel

[0057] 11 Central cooling system

[0058] 12 Inflow channel

[0059] 13 Outflow channel

[0060] 14 Temperature sensor

[0061] 15 Blower

[0062] 16 Air guiding housing

[0063] 17 Cooling air distributor

[0064] 18 Inflow flap

[0065] 19 Outflow flap

[0066] 20 Blower

Claims

1. An onboard galley module (1) for an aircraft, comprising at least one heating unit and / or cooling unit, having at least one first compartment (2) for beverages and / or food, the temperature of which can be adjusted by means of at least one thermoelectric element (5), wherein: The thermoelectric element (5) comprises a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger (8, 9), wherein one heat exchanger (8, 9) forms the cold side of the thermoelectric element and the other heat exchanger (8, 9) forms the warm side, wherein waste heat of the thermoelectric element (5) is discharged from the central cooling system (11) of the aircraft via a primary coolant, wherein the primary coolant is supplied via a cooling air duct (10) which can optionally be supplied with ambient air from the passenger cabin and / or conditioned cold air from the central cooling system (11) of the aircraft, characterized in that the first panel (2) is designed as a panel having an air circuit that can be switched between at least two operating positions, wherein in the first operating position a closed warm air circuit or a cold air circuit is produced within the panel (2) and in the second operating position an open flush air circuit is produced through the cooling air duct (10).

2. The load-carrying kitchen module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thermoelectric element (5) is switchable or reversible between at least two operating modes, wherein the first grid is cooled in a first operating mode and heated in a second operating mode.

3. The load-carrying kitchen module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first heat exchanger (8) is arranged in a cooling air distributor of the cooling air channel (10), which comprises at least one operable inlet flap and an operable outlet flap, and in an open position the inlet flap and the outlet flap release a purge air circulation of the primary coolant through the grid.

4. The load-carrying kitchen module according to claim 3, characterized in that: At least one blower is arranged in the cooling air duct and / or in the cooling air distributor.

5. The load-carrying kitchen module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: At least one second grid having at least one thermoelectric element (5) is provided, to which ambient air and / or conditioned cooling air from a central cooling system (11) of the aircraft can be optionally supplied.

6. The load-carrying kitchen module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first heat exchanger (8) is arranged in an inflow channel (12) toward the first grid (2), so that the primary coolant can be further cooled as required by the cold side of the thermoelectric element (5), and the second heat exchanger (9) is arranged in an outflow channel (13) from the first grid (2).

7. The portable kitchen module according to claim 6, characterized in that: The thermoelectric element (5) is arranged between the inflow channel (12) and the outflow channel (13) of the first grid layer (2).

8. The portable kitchen module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thermoelectric element (5) is rotatably mounted in an air guide housing (16) which is arranged between a cooling air duct (10) of the central cooling system (11) and a cooling air duct of the first compartment (2) or a boundary wall of the first compartment (2).

9. The portable kitchen module according to claim 8, characterized in that: During operation, the thermoelectric element (5) can be rotated within the air guidance housing (16) by means of at least one rotary drive at least from a first operating position into a second operating position.

10. Method for controlling and / or regulating the temperature in a compartment of a load-bearing galley module having the features of any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The grid can be optionally cooled or heated, wherein in cooling mode the warm side of the thermoelectric elements is cooled with ambient air from the passenger cabin or with conditioned cold air, depending on the cooling capacity and / or cooling requirement of the grid.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that Before switching from heating operation to cooling operation or vice versa, ambient air from the passenger cabin and / or conditioned cold air from the aircraft's central cooling system is circulated through the grid.

12. Method for controlling and / or regulating the temperature in a compartment of a transportable galley module having the features of any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that The at least one thermoelectric element is operated in a first, second or further operating mode according to the cooling capacity and / or cold demand and / or heat demand of the relevant grid in accordance with presettings for the control or regulation, wherein, in the first operating mode, the at least one thermoelectric element extracts heat from the primary coolant supplied to the grid and delivers heat to the primary coolant discharged from the grid, and in the second operating mode, it discharges heat to the primary coolant supplied to the grid and extracts heat from the primary coolant discharged from the grid.

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