Device having heat exchanger and method for operating heat exchanger of device
By designing a separately manipulated heating section and sensor monitoring system in the heat exchanger, the efficient and energy-saving thawing of the heat exchanger is achieved, the problem of icing affecting heat transfer is solved, and the operation efficiency and reliability of the equipment are improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202380039213.2
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-05-27
- Filing Date
- 2023-05-25
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-31
AI Technical Summary
The heat transfer of existing heat exchangers is affected in the case of freezing, resulting in a decrease in cooling or heating power, and the thawing method is insufficient in efficiency and energy saving.
A heat exchanger device with a separately manipulated heating section is designed to achieve local, on-demand thawing by independently controlling heating in multiple thawing areas of the heat exchanger, and monitor icing with sensors and thermal imaging cameras. situation, optimize the thawing process.
An efficient and energy-saving thawing process is achieved, which reduces energy input, improves the reliability and operating efficiency of the heat exchanger, and avoids the problem of overheating or incomplete thawing.
Smart Images
Figure CN119234122A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The invention relates to a system having a heat exchanger and a method for operating a heat exchanger of a system. Background Art
[0002] Heat exchangers are used to remove heat from a system to be cooled or to introduce heat into a system to be heated. In the field of refrigeration technology, heat exchangers are thus used to remove heat from a volume to be cooled by converting a cooling medium from a liquid phase into a gas phase, wherein the heat exchanger is used as an evaporator. Similarly, heat exchangers can also be used in the field of heating technology to absorb ambient heat from the outside air in order to provide heat for a building to be heated in cooperation with a heat pump. Conversely, such heat exchangers can also be used as condensers or recoolers in order to output heat to the surroundings.
[0003] Independent of the respective application, it is essential for the reliable and trouble-free function of the heat exchanger that the heat transfer between the heat exchanger and its surroundings is not restricted by disruptive influences which isolate the heat exchanger from the surroundings. Such disruptive influences are, for example, contamination or ice formation of the heat exchanger which can accumulate, for example, between the plates or plate packages of the heat exchanger.
[0004] Heat exchangers usually have plates or plate groups in order to provide as large an area as possible for heat transfer, while at the same time having small structural dimensions. In the actual operation of such heat exchangers, it may happen that moisture from the surroundings of the plates condenses on their surfaces and freezes these surfaces and the intermediate spaces formed between the plates. Due to the insulating effect of such ice formations, the heat transfer between the surroundings of the heat exchanger and its plates or the corresponding fluids guided in the heat exchanger is negatively affected. In addition, the air flow through the heat exchanger also deteriorates, wherein on the one hand the pressure loss increases, and on the other hand the power decreases because less air flows through the heat exchanger. In this state, the heat exchanger may no longer provide the required cooling power or heating power. This may lead to the destruction of the cooled items or the failure of the equipment to be cooled. In addition, the ice formation may also cause damage to the components of the heat exchanger.
[0005] In order to remove the frozen part, it is known to defrost the heat exchanger with the aid of a heating device. This defrosting should be carried out as efficiently as possible. If the defrosting is too frequent or over too long a period of time, an unnecessary amount of heating energy is introduced into the volume to be cooled, for example, which then has to be transported away with the aid of a heat exchanger in order to maintain or adjust to a preset cooling temperature. If the defrosting is too infrequent or over too short a period of time, the defrosting is ineffective and the functional effectiveness of the relevant system is adversely affected. Known methods for defrosting are, for example, electric thawing, hot air thawing, warm salt water thawing and water thawing or air thawing.
[0006] Documents CN204128254U and CN214469483U respectively describe devices for defrosting a heat exchanger. Summary of the invention
[0007] The invention is based on the technical problem of specifying a device having a heat exchanger and a method for operating a heat exchanger of a device which allow efficient, demand-based and energy-saving defrosting.
[0008] The above technical problems are solved by the independent claims respectively. Other designs of the present invention are obtained from the dependent claims and the following description.
[0009] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a device having a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger has a pipe for conducting a cooling medium, wherein the heat exchanger has a plate arrangement through which the pipe passes, and wherein the heat exchanger has a heating device integrated into the heat exchanger, and wherein the device has a control device for controlling the heating device. The device is characterized in that the heating device has two or more individually controllable heating sections, wherein each heating section is assigned a thawing area of the heat exchanger, and the heating device is set up for individually thawing a plurality of individual thawing areas of the heat exchanger by means of individually controllable heating sections.
[0010] Individually controllable heating sections allow for more targeted defrosting of the heat exchanger. Thus, heat can be introduced into the regions of the heat exchanger in which ice is actually present, using the individually controllable heating sections. Furthermore, a heating section can be switched off, the thawing region to which it is assigned has already been thawed, while another heating section can continue to introduce heat into the thawing region, the thawing region to which it is assigned has not yet been completely thawed.
[0011] The device according to the invention thus has the advantage that the thawing area can be thawed locally, i.e. selectively, by means of the heating section. The device according to the invention also has the advantage that the thawing of the thawing area can be controlled individually for each of the thawing areas, i.e. the temperature control or the introduction of heat can be controlled locally. In this way, the energy input during thawing can be reduced, since, in contrast to heating devices which cannot be controlled locally, the entire heat exchanger does not have to be heated over the entire thawing period.
[0012] For example, the thawing area of the heat exchanger can be a volume area of the heat exchanger, which includes a portion of one or more plates of the plate arrangement and a portion of the pipeline. In addition, the heating section equipped with the thawing area or volume area can be arranged in the equipped thawing area or volume area.
[0013] It can be provided that two or more individually controllable heating sections and the thawing areas of the heat exchanger associated with each heating section are arranged in rows and / or columns. For example, the thawing areas of the heat exchanger can be arranged in rows, wherein the corresponding rows extend substantially over the entire length of the heat exchanger and, for example, two or more rows are arranged one above the other as viewed along the height of the heat exchanger. Alternatively, the thawing areas of the heat exchanger can be arranged in columns, wherein the corresponding columns extend substantially over the entire height of the heat exchanger and, for example, two or more columns are arranged side by side as viewed along the length of the heat exchanger. Alternatively, it can be provided that the thawing areas of the heat exchanger are arranged in rows and columns in a grid-like or lattice-like manner.
[0014] According to one embodiment of the device, it can be provided that the heating element of the heating device is arranged partially or completely within the envelope of the plate arrangement. If the envelope of the plate arrangement is mentioned, the envelope includes a volume that is limited by the largest outer dimension of the plate arrangement. For example, it can be provided that the heating element passes through the plate arrangement. It can be provided that two or more heating elements are arranged parallel to each other at least in sections, viewed along the longitudinal extension of the heat exchanger.
[0015] It can be provided that the heating element has an electric heating element, such as a heating rod or the like, which passes through the plate arrangement. Thus, the heating element can be a resistance heating element which, due to its resistance, is heated when electrical power is passed through it, wherein the electrical energy is converted into heat.
[0016] For example, the heating element can be inserted through an opening of a slat of the slat arrangement and can be fixed or abutted against the slat. It can be provided that each of the heating elements passes completely through the slat arrangement as viewed along the longitudinal extension of the slat arrangement. Alternatively, the heating element can be arranged in a hollow tube passing through the slat. Such a hollow tube simplifies the installation and maintenance of the heating element.
[0017] According to one embodiment of the device, it can be provided that each heating section is assigned an individually controllable heating rod.
[0018] Alternatively, it can be provided that each heating section is assigned a controllable section of the heating rod. A corresponding heating rod can, for example, have two or more individually controllable sections.
[0019] Alternatively, it can be provided that each heating section is assigned a heating rod group. A heating rod group can have two or more heating rods, which can be controlled together.
[0020] Alternatively, it can be provided that each heating segment is assigned a bow-shaped electric heating element or a group of bow-shaped electric heating elements. Such bow-shaped or fork-shaped electric heating elements have, in particular, two longitudinal segments extending substantially parallel to one another, the ends of which are arranged adjacent to one another and are connected to a source for supplying electrical energy, wherein the longitudinal segments are connected to one another or merge into one another in an arc-shaped manner in the region facing away from the ends.
[0021] It may be provided that the heating element has a line which passes through the plate arrangement.
[0022] According to one embodiment of the device, it can be provided that each heating section is assigned a controllable line, wherein the control takes place by means of switchable valves.
[0023] Alternatively, it can be provided that each heating section is assigned a controllable section of the line, wherein the control takes place by means of switchable valves.
[0024] Alternatively, it can be provided that each heating section is assigned a set of controllable lines, wherein the control takes place by means of switchable valves.
[0025] Such pipes of the heating device can each be traversed by a heatable fluid, such as hot air, warm salt water or similar heatable fluids, in order to heat the corresponding heating section and thaw the associated thawing area of the heat exchanger. The device can have additional devices for storing and / or heating a heatable fluid.
[0026] It can be provided that the pipes serving as heating elements in the heating direction are arranged separately from the pipes of the heat exchanger conducting the cooling medium. Accordingly, the plates of the plate arrangement of the heat exchanger are penetrated on the one hand by the pipes conducting the cooling medium and on the other hand by the pipes of the heating device, which are designed to conduct a heatable fluid. In particular, it can be provided that the heating circuit of the heating device is a fluid circuit separate from the cooling circuit of the heat exchanger, wherein there is no fluid connection between the heating circuit and the cooling circuit.
[0027] According to one embodiment of the device, it can be provided that the pipes serving as heating elements in the heating direction correspond to pipes of the heat exchanger that carry the cooling medium, wherein the pipes can be switched between heating operation and cooling operation by means of a control device. Advantageously, separate pipes for the heating device do not have to be provided in the plate arrangement of the heat exchanger. Accordingly, a larger area is available for heat transfer at the corresponding plates of the plate arrangement compared to a solution with separate pipes for the heating device. Furthermore, by eliminating separate pipes for the heating device, costs can be saved and the overall structural complexity of the heat exchanger can be reduced.
[0028] The heating device may have a hot air thawing system and / or a warm salt water thawing system.
[0029] The hot gas thawing system and / or the warm brine thawing system may be provided separately and independently from the cooling circuit of the heat exchanger, wherein the pipes of the hot gas thawing system and / or the warm brine thawing system pass through the plate arrangement of the heat exchanger.
[0030] For example, it can be provided that an expansion valve, a switching valve, such as a two-way valve, a three-way valve, a four-way valve or the like, a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser are provided, which form a refrigeration circuit, wherein the heat exchanger constitutes an evaporator or a condenser, and wherein the heating direction has a hot gas thawing system or a warm brine thawing system, and the hot gas thawing system or the warm brine thawing system can be switched by means of a switching valve.
[0031] It may be provided that the device has exactly one expansion valve.
[0032] It may be provided that the device has exactly one refrigeration circuit.
[0033] It can be provided that the heat exchanger can have exactly one inflow and exactly one outflow for introducing the refrigerant into the heat exchanger and for discharging the refrigerant from the heat exchanger. The inflow can also be referred to as an input. The outflow can also be referred to as an output.
[0034] In particular, it can be provided that exactly one expansion valve is provided, a switching valve, such as a two-way valve, a three-way valve, a four-way valve or the like, a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser are provided, which form exactly one refrigeration circuit, wherein the heat exchanger constructs an evaporator or a condenser, wherein the heat exchanger can have exactly one inlet and exactly one outflow or the heat exchanger can have exactly one input and exactly one output for introducing the refrigerant into the heat exchanger and for discharging the refrigerant from the heat exchanger, wherein the heating direction has a hot gas thawing system or a warm brine thawing system, and the hot gas thawing system or the warm brine thawing system can be switched by means of a switching valve.
[0035] Provision can be made for exactly two expansion valves to be provided, wherein the device has exactly one refrigeration circuit in which the expansion valve is arranged. In particular, one of the two expansion valves is used as an expansion valve for the cooling operation of the device, and the other of the two expansion valves is used as an expansion valve for the heating operation in order to defrost the heat exchanger in the event of a circuit reversal.
[0036] It can be provided that a distributor is arranged between the expansion valve and the heat exchanger, which distributor distributes the cooling fluid to a plurality of line lines.
[0037] It may be provided that a regulating valve, ie a valve for regulating the flow rate, is provided between the distributor and the heat exchanger in order to regulate the flow rate for each of the pipeline lines. Each of the regulating valves may be a controllable valve.
[0038] A regulating valve is not an expansion valve. A regulating valve adjusts the flow rate when the fluid pressure is basically constant, while an expansion valve is used to reduce the fluid pressure, that is, to lower the fluid pressure.
[0039] According to a design of the device, it can be provided that the control device is set up to control the heating device in a sensor-controlled manner, wherein at least one monitoring device is provided, such as a sensor, a device for photographic imaging or the like, and wherein the monitoring device is arranged to detect the degree of freezing, to determine the thawing time point and to control the thawing process with the aid of the control device.
[0040] Provision can be made for two or more monitoring areas to be monitored by means of the monitoring device, wherein the monitoring areas are arranged in particular in rows and / or columns. A thawing area can be associated with each monitoring area.
[0041] Each monitoring area can be equipped with two or more thawing areas.
[0042] Each thawing area can be equipped with two or more monitoring areas. If the monitoring device detects that the monitoring area equipped with the thawing area is frozen, then for example the entire thawing area can be thawed.
[0043] It can be provided that each thawing area is assigned exactly one monitoring area.
[0044] Alternatively or additionally, provision can be made for each heating section to be assigned exactly one thawing zone.
[0045] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that two or more defrosting zones are associated with each heating section.
[0046] According to a design scheme of the device, it can be stipulated that one or more of the following monitoring devices are provided: temperature sensor, pressure sensor, humidity sensor, device for photographic imaging in the visible wavelength range, device for photographic imaging in the invisible wavelength range, thermal imaging camera, infrared camera.
[0047] The device for photographic imaging in the visible wavelength range can be a digital camera. The device for photographic imaging in the visible wavelength range can be equipped with a light source in order to illuminate the heat exchanger for improved imaging.
[0048] The device for photographic imaging in the invisible wavelength range can be an infrared camera. The device for photographic imaging in the invisible wavelength range can be equipped with an infrared light source in order to illuminate the heat exchanger for improved imaging.
[0049] The device for photographic imaging in the invisible wavelength range can be a thermal imaging camera. Although thermal imaging cameras are partially not provided for photographic imaging in the literature, in the sense of the present disclosure, a thermal imaging camera is a device for photographic imaging in the invisible wavelength range. The thermal imaging camera generates a thermal image, which reproduces the temperature differences or thermal characteristics of the object being detected, in this case the heat exchanger. In order to generate such a thermal image, a light source for illuminating the relevant object is not required, i.e. a light source for illuminating the heat exchanger is not currently required.
[0050] It can be provided that a first group of one or more monitoring areas is associated with a first arrangement of one or more first monitoring devices in order to monitor the first group of one or more monitoring areas, and a second group of one or more monitoring areas is associated with a second arrangement of one or more second monitoring devices in order to monitor the second group of one or more monitoring areas. Thus, depending on the size of the heat exchanger, a plurality of monitoring devices can be provided to monitor one or more monitoring areas.
[0051] For example, it can be provided that, depending on the length of the heat exchanger, a plurality of cameras are provided in order to be able to monitor the heat exchanger completely. For example, a plurality of cameras can be arranged spaced apart from one another along the longitudinal extension of the heat exchanger, wherein each camera monitors a partial length of the heat exchanger. Each partial length can have one monitoring area or a plurality of monitoring areas.
[0052] Each monitoring area can be assigned a temperature sensor.
[0053] A pressure sensor can be assigned to each monitoring area.
[0054] Each monitoring area can be equipped with a humidity sensor.
[0055] According to one embodiment of the device, it can be provided that the control device is set up to control the heating device based on time and / or in a sensor-controlled manner, and / or the control device is set up to control the heating device based on AI, and / or the control device is set up to control the heating device according to a thermal image recording unit generated by means of a thermal imaging camera of the device. Therefore, the thawing of the individual thawing areas can be controlled by means of a timer or in a sensor-controlled manner by means of one or more temperature sensors, wherein, for example, each thawing area is equipped with a temperature sensor. Alternatively or in addition, the thermal images of multiple individual monitoring areas can be evaluated to detect the progress of the thawing process, and the end of the thawing process can be set area-specifically for each of the thawing areas.
[0056] In the above-mentioned context, the term "AI" includes methods based on artificial intelligence and generally represents methods from the fields of "machine learning" and "deep learning". For example, an AI-based image evaluation can be carried out to detect the icing state of the corresponding monitoring area, wherein, for example, conventional digital cameras, infrared cameras or thermal image cameras can be evaluated. Such cameras can be used on the one hand to determine the thawing time point and on the other hand to control the thawing process.
[0057] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method, comprising the following method steps: operating a heat exchanger of an apparatus; thawing the heat exchanger by means of a heating device of the heat exchanger. The method is characterized in that, when thawing the heat exchanger, two or more individually controllable heating sections of the heating device are controlled by means of a control device, and a thawing area of the heat exchanger associated with the heating section is thawed by means of the individually controllable heating section.
[0058] It can be provided that all thawing zones are first thawed simultaneously and then individual or multiple heating sections are switched off. In this way, heat can initially be introduced quickly into the heat exchanger so that the thawing can then be controlled in a targeted manner in a zone-specific manner depending on the thawing zone and the correspondingly assigned heating sections. In this way, fast and efficient thawing can be achieved.
[0059] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that one or more thawing regions of the heat exchanger are thawed, while one or more other thawing regions of the heat exchanger are not thawed. Thus, during thawing, individual thawing regions can be thawed without the aid of the associated heating element, while other thawing regions can be thawed with the aid of the associated heating element.
[0060] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that a thawing region or regions of the heat exchanger are thawed with a first heating power, while a further thawing region or regions of the heat exchanger are thawed with a second heating power, which is different from the first heating power. Thus, the introduction of heat into the relevant thawing regions can be controlled in a targeted and demand-based manner.
[0061] For example, the corresponding heating power can be adjusted by pulse width modulation.
[0062] For example, it can be provided that the heating power of a plurality of individual heating elements is actively regulated. For example, for an electric heating element, the current supply can be regulated, and for a pipeline, the opening of a valve can be regulated.
[0063] According to one configuration of the method, it can be provided that the thawing regions of the heat exchanger are thawed row by row and / or column by column.
[0064] It can be provided that during operation of the heat exchanger, the degree of icing of the heat exchanger is monitored, wherein two or more monitoring areas of the heat exchanger are monitored by means of at least one monitoring device, wherein the degree of icing is determined for each monitoring area of the heat exchanger, wherein the monitoring areas are in particular arranged in rows and / or columns.
[0065] According to a design scheme of the method, it can be provided that the device is constructed according to the present invention, and / or controls the heating device based on time and / or sensor control, and / or controls the heating device based on AI, and / or controls the heating device according to the thermal imaging unit of a thermal imaging camera. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0066] The invention is described in more detail below with the aid of the accompanying drawings showing exemplary embodiments. They are schematically shown:
[0067] Figure 1 A perspective view showing a device according to the invention;
[0068] Figure 2 Shown without housing Figure 1 A perspective view of the device in FIG.
[0069] Figure 3A Shown with continuous heating rod Figure 1 Heat exchangers for equipment in the
[0070] Figure 3B Show Figure 3A The heating section and thawing area of the heat exchanger;
[0071] Figure 3CShows no heating section and thawing area Figure 3A Heat exchanger in;
[0072] Figure 4A A non-continuous heating rod is shown for use according to Figure 1 Heat exchangers for equipment;
[0073] Figure 4B Show Figure 4A The heating section and thawing area of the heat exchanger;
[0074] Figure 4C Shows no heating section and thawing area Figure 4A Heat exchanger in;
[0075] Figure 5 A further device according to the invention is shown;
[0076] Figure 6 Show Figure 5 Heat exchangers for equipment in the
[0077] Figure 7 A further device according to the invention is shown;
[0078] Figure 8 A further device according to the invention is shown;
[0079] Fig. 9 A further device according to the invention is shown;
[0080] Fig.10 A further device according to the invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0081] Figure 1 A device 2 according to the invention is shown. The device 2 is a cooling system 2. The cooling system 2 can be used, for example, to cool a walkable cooling volume.
[0082] The cooling system 2 has a housing 4 which carries a protective grille 6 of a ventilator 8 of the cooling system 2. The ventilator 8 is used to convey air from the surroundings U along plates 10 of a heat exchanger 12 of the cooling system 2. Figure 2 The heat exchanger 12 will be described.
[0083] The heat exchanger 12 is located inside the cooling system 2, so that the housing 4 is hidden so as to Figure 2 1 . The heat exchanger 12 has a plurality of planar or plate-shaped plates 10 which are arranged substantially parallel to one another along a longitudinal extension L of the heat exchanger 12 and which form a plate arrangement 11 .
[0084] The plates 10 are penetrated by pipes 14 of a heat exchanger 12 , which pipes carry a cooling medium. The plates 10 can also be referred to as cooling plates 10 . The cooling plates 10 are connected to the pipes 14 of the heat exchanger 12 .
[0085] The device 2 has a heating device 16 integrated into the heat exchanger 12, which has a heating rod 18 for defrosting the heat exchanger 12. The heating rod 18 also passes through the cooling plate 10 in the longitudinal direction L and is connected to the cooling plate 10.
[0086] The device 2 has a device for photographic imaging 20. The device 20 is used to generate a photographic image of the heat exchanger 12 and transmit it to a control unit 22 of the device 2. The control unit 22 can have a computer for evaluating the photographic image, can be connected to a computer for evaluating the photographic image, and / or can be connected to a server for evaluating the photographic image.
[0087] The device 20 is a thermal imaging camera.
[0088] The control unit 22 is also used to control the heating device 16 .
[0089] The heating device 16 has four individually controllable heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27. Each of the heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27 is provided with two heating rods 18. The heating rods 18 of the respective heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27 can be controlled individually, so that the heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27 can be heated independently of each other.
[0090] Each heating section 21 , 23 , 25 , 27 is assigned a defrosting region 29 , 31 , 33 , 35 of the heat exchanger 12 , wherein each defrosting region 29 , 31 , 33 , 35 is a volume region 29 , 31 , 33 , 35 which surrounds the respectively assigned heating section 21 , 23 , 25 , 27 .
[0091] The heating device 16 is therefore designed for individual thawing of the individual thawing regions 29 , 31 , 33 , 35 of the heat exchanger 12 by means of individually controllable heating sections 21 , 23 , 25 , 27 .
[0092] The thawed areas 29 , 31 , 33 , 35 furthermore correspond to the monitoring areas 29 , 31 , 33 , 35 of the thermal imaging camera 20 , so that the degree of icing for each of the further monitoring areas 29 , 31 , 33 , 35 can be detected by means of the thermal imaging camera 20 .
[0093] It can be provided that two or more thermal imaging cameras 20 are provided for monitoring the monitoring areas 29, 31, 33, 35. In addition, for each of the monitoring areas 29, 31, 33, 35, further monitoring devices, such as temperature sensors 26, pressure sensors 28 and humidity sensors 30, can be provided to detect the freezing state of the relevant monitoring area 29, 31, 33, 35 and / or control the thawing of the associated thawing area 29, 31, 33, 35 by means of the heating section 21, 23, 25, 27.
[0094] Figure 3A The cooling plates 10 of the heat exchanger 12 are shown together with the heating rods 18 and the pipes 14. Figure 3A The heating rod 18 passes completely through the arrangement of the plates 10 over the entire length, as viewed in the longitudinal direction L. Furthermore, heating sections 21 , 23 , 25 , 27 and thawing regions 29 , 31 , 33 , 35 are shown.
[0095] The heating sections 21 , 23 , 25 , 27 and the thawing areas 29 , 31 , 33 , 35 are arranged in rows so that thawing can be performed row by row.
[0096] The heating device 16 and the heating element 18 are arranged substantially completely within the casing 37 of the heat exchanger 12. It goes without saying that the casing 37, which is shown here only in two dimensions, delimits a volume which completely surrounds the heat exchanger 12 in three dimensions.
[0097] The heating element 18 is in the present case an electric heating element in the form of a heating rod 18 .
[0098] For a better overview, Figure 3B 3 shows the heating sections 21 , 23 , 25 , 27 and the defrosting regions 29 , 31 , 33 , 35 without the heat exchanger 12 .
[0099] For a better overview, Figure 3C 1 and 2 show the heat exchanger 12 without the heating sections 21 , 23 , 25 , 27 and the defrosting regions 29 , 31 , 33 , 35 .
[0100] Figure 4A An alternative design of a heat exchanger 12' is shown, which can also be used in the device 2 according to the invention. The heat exchanger 12' according to FIG. 4 differs from the heat exchanger 12 according to FIG. 3 in that a heating rod 18' is provided which, viewed in the longitudinal direction L, passes through the arrangement of the plates 10 only over a portion of its length.
[0101] The heat exchanger 12' has eight heating sections 21', 23', 25', 27', 21'', 23'', 25'', 27'' and eight associated thawing areas 29', 31', 33', 35', 29'', 31'', 33'', 35''. The thawing areas 29', 31', 33', 35', 29'', 31'', 33'', 35'' can be thawed or heated individually, i.e. independently of one another, by means of the heating sections 21', 23', 25', 27', 21'', 23'', 25'', 27''.
[0102] For a better overview, Figure 4B The heat exchanger 12 ′ is shown in FIG. 1 without the defrosting area and the heating section.
[0103] For a better overview, Figure 4C 2 shows heating sections 21 ′, 23 ′, 25 ′, 27 ′, 21 ″, 23 ″, 25 ″, 27 ″ and thawing regions 29 ′, 31 ′, 33 ′, 35 ′, 29 ″, 31 ″, 33 ″, 35 ′ without heat exchanger 12 ′.
[0104] Figure 5 The device 2 ′ is shown, which is a cooling system. The device 2 ′ has an evaporator 12 ″, a condenser 37 , an expansion valve 39 and a compressor 41 .
[0105] The heat exchanger 12 ″ or evaporator has six pipeline lines 14 ′, 14 ′′, 14 ′′′′, 14 ′′′′′, 14 ′′′′′, 14 ′′′′′′ or pipeline groups 14 ′, 14 ′′, 14 ′′′′, 14 ′′′′′, 14 ′′′′′, 14 ′′′′′′, 14 ′′′′′′, each having five pipelines ( Figure 6 The pipes of the pipe lines 14 ′, 14 ″, 14 ′″′, 14 ′″′′, 14 ′″′′, 14 ′′′′′′, 14 ′′′′′′′ pass through the plate arrangement 11 ″ of the heat exchanger 12 ″.
[0106] The pipelines are sections of pipeline lines 14′, 14″, 14′″′, 14′″′′, 14′′′′′, 14′′′′′, 14′′′′′′, wherein pipelines extending along the longitudinal extension of the heat exchanger 12″, i.e., perpendicularly to the drawing plane, are connected to one another via arcs 83. The pipeline lines 14′, 14′′, 14′′′′, 14′′′′′, 14′′′′′, 14′′′′′′, 14′′′′′′ therefore meander through the plate arrangement 11″ along the width B of the heat exchanger 12″.
[0107] The pipes of the pipe lines 14′, 14″, 14′″′, 14′″′′, 14′′′′′, 14′′′′′′, 14′′′′′′ are pipes of the heat exchanger 12″, which pipes carry a cooling medium. The pipes of the pipe lines 14′, 14′′, 14′′′′, 14′′′′′, 14′′′′′, 14′′′′′′ are also pipes of a heating direction 16″ and serve as heating elements. The pipes of the pipe lines 14′, 14′′, 14′′′′, 14′′′′′, 14′′′′′, 14′′′′′′ can be switched between a heating operation and a cooling operation by means of a control device 22″.
[0108] The device 2 ′ has a distributor 81 , a collector 43 , an inlet 45 for introducing a cooling medium and an outlet 47 for discharging the cooling medium from the heat exchanger 12 ″.
[0109] The pipeline lines 14′, 14″, 14′″′, 14′″′′, 14′′′′′, 14′′′′′, 14′′′′′′ can be individually controlled and thus form a heating section of the heating device 16′, which can individually thaw the thawing area around the heat exchanger 12″, for example, by reversing the circuit. The pipeline lines 14′, 14′′, 14′′′′, 14′′′′′, 14′′′′′, 14′′′′′′ can be switched by means of valves (not shown) by means of the control device 22′.
[0110] Figure 7 A further device 2 ″ is shown, wherein only the differences from the above-described device 2 ′ are discussed and identical features are provided with the same reference numerals.
[0111] The device 2 ″ has a heating device 16 ″ in the form of a hot gas defrosting system. For this purpose, a two-way valve 49 is provided, which is designed to switch between a cooling operation and a heating operation or a defrosting operation.
[0112] The valves 51 of the pipelines 14', 14'', 14''' can be controlled individually, so that the pipelines 14', 14'', 14''' can be individually and independently passed through by hot gas to perform selective defrosting of the heat exchanger 12''. The valve 51 is a regulating valve for regulating the flow rate, so as to regulate the flow rate for each of the pipelines 14', 14'', 14'''.
[0113] Figure 8 A further device 2 ′″ is shown, wherein only the differences from the above-described devices 2 ′, 2 ″ are discussed and identical features are provided with the same reference numerals.
[0114] The device 2''' has a heating device 16''' in the form of a hot air or warm brine thawing system, whose pipes 57, 57', 57'' or heating sections 57, 57', 57'' are arranged separately from the pipes 14', 14'', 14''' conducting the cooling medium. The pipes 57, 57', 57'' pass through the heat exchanger 12'''. Therefore, in the device 2''', the cooling circuit and the heating circuit are completely separated from each other.
[0115] The heating device 16 ′″ has a pump 53 , a heat source 55 , for example in the form of a resistance heater or the like, a distribution pipe 61 as an input and a collecting pipe 63 as an output. Alternatively or additionally, waste heat from the compressor 41 can be used as a heat source.
[0116] Thus, the heat exchanger 12''' can be selectively supplied with hot gas by means of the lines 57, 57', 57'' in order to selectively, ie locally, defrost the heat exchanger 12'''. Alternatively, the heating device 16''' can be operated with hot salt water.
[0117] Fig. 9 A further device 2 ″″′ is shown, wherein only the differences from the above-described devices 2 ′, 2 ″, 2 ″′ are discussed and identical features are provided with the same reference numerals.
[0118] For according to Fig. 9 In the device 2'''', the pipes 14', 14'', 14''' are used not only for cooling operation but also for heating operation. Switching between cooling operation and heating operation is performed by reversing the circuit, wherein the three-way valve 85 and the four-way valve 65 are used to switch the circuit direction. The heat exchanger 12'' can be selectively defrosted in the heating operation by means of the valve 51, in that the pipes 14', 14'', 14''' are flowed through or not flowed through depending on the valve position of the valve 51.
[0119] Fig.10 A further device 2 ″″″′ is shown, wherein only the differences from the above-described device 2 ″′ are discussed and identical features are provided with the same reference numerals.
[0120] The device 2''''' has a heating device 16''''' in the form of a hot gas or warm brine thawing system, whose pipes 57, 57', 57'' or heating sections 57, 57', 57'' are arranged separately from the pipes 14', 14'', 14''' that carry the cooling medium. The pipes 57, 57', 57'' pass through the heat exchanger 12'''. Therefore, in the device 2''''', the cooling circuit and the heating circuit are completely separated from each other.
[0121] The collecting pipe 63 of the heating device 16 ″″″″ is connected here to a discharge 87 which opens, for example, into a collector or a separator.
[0122] For each of the above devices, the unfreezing process can be as follows:
[0123] The monitoring device is used to monitor the degree of icing of the corresponding heat exchanger, in particular to monitor the degree of icing of the corresponding heat exchanger locally corresponding to a predefined monitoring area.
[0124] If defrosting is required, preferably all heating segments with their associated heating elements are activated first.
[0125] The thawing can be monitored locally by means of a monitoring device. If the relevant thawing area has thawed, the correspondingly assigned heating section can be turned off until all heating sections are turned off and the heat exchanger is completely thawed.
[0126] In particular, the thermal image of the monitoring area can be used to detect the thawing state of the thawing area. The evaluation of the thermal image or the thermal image capturing unit can be performed based on AI.
[0127] Reference numerals list
[0128] Equipment / Cooling System
[0129] 4 Shell
[0130] 6 Protective grille
[0131] 8 Ventilator
[0132] 10 plates / cooling plates 10
[0133] 12, 12', 12'', 12''' heat exchanger
[0134] 14, 14', 14'', 14''', 14'''', 14''''', 14'''''', 14'''''' pipeline / pipeline line
[0135] 16, 16', 16'', 16''', 16'''' heating device
[0136] 18, 18′ heating rod
[0137] USurrounding Environment
[0138] L Longitudinal direction
[0139] BWidth direction
[0140] 20 Apparatus for photographic imaging
[0141] 21 Heating Zone
[0142] 22, 22', 22'' control unit
[0143] 23 Heating section
[0144] 24 sensors
[0145] 25 heating zones
[0146] 26 Temperature Sensor
[0147] 27 Heating Zone
[0148] 28 Pressure Sensor
[0149] 30 Humidity Sensor
[0150] 29 Thawing Area
[0151] 31 Thawing Area
[0152] 33 Thawing area
[0153] 35 Thawing area
[0154] 37 Package Department
[0155] 39 Expansion valve
[0156] 41 Compressor
[0157] 43 Collector
[0158] 45 Input unit
[0159] 47 Output
[0160] 49 Two-way valve
[0161] 51 valve
[0162] 53 Pumps
[0163] 55 heat source
[0164] 57, 57′, 57′′ pipeline
[0165] 61 distribution pipe
[0166] 63 Collection tube
[0167] 65 four-way valve
[0168] 81 Distributor
[0169] 83 arc part
[0170] 85 three-way valve
Claims
1. A device, The device has a heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12'''), wherein the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12''') has pipes (14, 14', 14'', 14''', 14'''', 14''''', 14'''''', 14'''''', -in, The heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12''') has a plate arrangement (11, 11') which is penetrated by pipes (14, 14', 14'', 14''', 14'''', 14''''', 14'''''', 14'''''', - the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12''') has a heating device (16, 16', 16'', 16''', 16'''') integrated into the heat exchanger, the device comprises a control device (22, 22', 22'') for controlling the heating device (16, 16', 16'', 16''', 16''''), It is characterized in that the heating device (16, 16', 16'', 16''', 16'''') has two or more individually controllable heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27), - each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is provided with a defrosting zone (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12'''), The heating device (16, 16', 16'', 16''', 16'''') is designed to individually defrost a plurality of individual defrosting areas (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12''') by means of individually controllable heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27).
2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that Two or more individually controllable heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27) and a thawing area (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12''') associated with each heating section are arranged in a row and / or in a column.
3. The device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that A heating element (18, 18', 14, 14', 14'', 14''', 14'''', 14'''', 14''''', 57, 57', 57'') of a heating device (16, 16', 16'', 16'''', 16'''') is arranged partially or completely within an enclosure (37) of the plate arrangement (11, 11', 11'').
4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that The heating element (18, 18', 14, 14', 14'', 14''', 14'''', 14'''', 14''''', 57, 57', 57'') has an electric heating element (18, 18'), such as a heating rod (18, 18') or the like, which passes through the plate arrangement.
5. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that - each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is equipped with an individually controllable heating rod (18, 18'), or - each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is provided with a controllable section of the heating rod, or - Each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is equipped with a heating rod group, or Each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is assigned a segment-shaped electric heating element.
6. The device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that The heating element (18, 18', 14, 14', 14'', 14''', 14'''', 14''''', 57, 57', 57'') has a duct (14, 14', 14'', 14''', 14'''', 14''''', 57, 57', 57'') which passes through the plate arrangement (11, 11', 11').
7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that - each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is equipped with a controllable pipe (14, 14', 14'', 14''', 14'''', 14''''', 57, 57', 57'), or each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is equipped with a controllable section of the pipe, or each heating section is equipped with a group of controllable pipes, -in, The control is carried out by means of a switchable valve (51).
8. The device according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that The pipes (57, 57', 57'') of the heating direction (16, 16', 16'', 16'''', 16'''') serving as heating elements are arranged separately from the pipes (14, 14', 14'', 14''', 14'''', 14''''', 14'''''') of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12''') conducting a cooling medium.
9. The device according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that the pipes (14, 14', 14'', 14''', 14'''', 14'''', 14'''''' and 14'''''' of the heating direction (16, 16', 16''', 16'''') serving as heating elements correspond to the pipes (14, 14', 14'', 14''', 14'''', 14''''' and 14'''''' of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12''') conducting a cooling medium, -in, The pipelines (14, 14', 14'', 14''', 14'''', 14''''', 14'''''') can be switched between a heating operation and a cooling operation by means of a control device (22, 22', 22'').
10. The device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that Set up - Expansion valve (39), - a switching valve (49, 65), such as a two-way valve, a three-way valve, a four-way valve or the like, - compressor (41), - an evaporator (12, 12', 12'', 12'''), and - condenser (37), which forms a refrigeration circuit, wherein the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12''') is configured as an evaporator (12, 12', 12'', 12''') or a condenser (37), - wherein the heating directions (16, 16', 16'', 16''', 16'''') have a hot air thawing system or a warm salt water thawing system, and the hot air thawing system or the warm salt water thawing system can be switched by means of a switching valve (49, 65).
11. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (22, 22', 22'') is designed to control the heating device in a sensor-controlled manner, - wherein at least one monitoring device (20, 26, 28, 30) is provided, such as a sensor, a device for photographic imaging or the like, and wherein the monitoring device (20, 26, 28, 30) is provided for detecting the degree of icing, for determining a defrosting time and for controlling the defrosting process by means of the control device (20, 20', 20'').
12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that - monitoring two or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35) by means of the monitoring device (20, 26, 28, 30), In this case, the monitoring areas are arranged in particular in rows and / or columns.
13. The device according to claim 11 or claim 12, characterized in that -Equipped with one or more of the following monitoring devices: - temperature sensor (26), - pressure sensor (28), - Humidity sensor (30), - a device (20) for photographic imaging in the visible wavelength range, - a device (20) for photographic imaging in the invisible wavelength range, - Thermal imaging cameras (20), - Infrared camera (20).
14. The device according to any one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that a first group of one or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35) is associated with a first arrangement of one or more first monitoring devices (20, 26, 28, 30) in order to monitor the first group of one or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35), A second group of one or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35) is associated with a second arrangement of one or more second monitoring devices (20, 26, 28, 30) in order to monitor the second group of one or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35).
15. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the control device (22, 22', 22'') is designed to control the heating device (16, 16', 16'', 16''', 16'''') in a time-based and / or sensor-controlled manner, and / or The control device (22, 22', 22'') is configured to control the heating device (16, 16', 16'', 16''', 16'''') based on AI, and / or The control device (22, 22', 22'') is designed to control the heating device (16, 16', 16'', 16''', 16'''') as a function of a thermal image recording produced by a thermal imaging camera of the device.
16. A method comprising the following method steps: - a heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12''') of an operating device (2, 2', 2''', 2'''', 2'''''); - thawing the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12''') by means of a heating device (16, 16', 16'', 16''', 16'''') of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'''); It is characterized in that - when defrosting the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12'''), two or more individually controllable heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27) of the heating device (16, 16', 16'', 16''', 16'''') are controlled by means of a control device, and - defrosting regions (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12''') associated with the heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27) are thawed by means of individually controllable heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27).
17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that - first thaw all thawing zones (29, 31, 33, 35) simultaneously and then switch off individual or multiple heating zones (21, 23, 25, 27), and / or - thawing one thawing area (29, 31, 33, 35) or a plurality of thawing areas (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger, while not thawing one or more other thawing areas (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12''') and / or - defrosting a defrosted area (29, 31, 33, 35) or a plurality of defrosted areas (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger with a first heating power, and defrosting a further defrosted area (29, 31, 33, 35) or a plurality of further defrosted areas (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12''') with a second heating power, the second heating power being different from the first heating power.
18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that The thawing areas (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchangers (12, 12', 12'', 12''') are thawed row by row and / or column by column.
19. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 16 to 18, characterized in that - monitoring the degree of icing of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12''') during operation of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12''', 12'''), wherein two or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12''') are monitored by means of at least one monitoring device (20, 26, 28, 30), - wherein a degree of icing is determined for each monitoring area (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12'', 12'''), wherein the monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35) are arranged in particular in rows and / or columns.
20. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The device (2, 2', 2'', 2''', 2'''', 2''''') is constructed according to any one of claims 1 to 15, and / or - controlling the heating device (16, 16', 16'', 16''', 16'''') in a time-based and / or sensor-controlled manner, and / or - AI-based control of the heating device (16, 16', 16'', 16''', 16'''')), and / or - the heating device (16, 16', 16'', 16''', 16'''') is controlled according to the thermal image recording part of the thermal imaging camera (20).