Energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system, vehicle-mounted refrigerator and energy storage and heat preservation method

Abstract

The invention discloses an energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system, a vehicle-mounted refrigerator and an energy storage and heat preservation method, and relates to the technical field of refrigeration. The system comprises a shell, an energy storage tank arranged in the shell and used for containing cold storage liquid, an air duct formed between the shell and the energy storage tank, and a first evaporator arranged in the energy storage tank. During refrigeration, the first evaporator refrigerates the cold storage liquid to store cold energy, and meanwhile air flows through the air duct and exchanges heat with the outer wall of the energy storage tank to be cooled. Preferably, a second evaporator is additionally arranged at the air outlet of the air duct, and the refrigerant preferentially flows through the second evaporator, so that the air is directly and quickly cooled, and then enters the first evaporator for cold accumulation. Instant refrigeration and cooling capacity storage are efficiently combined, the refrigeration efficiency is high when the refrigerator is powered on, the cooling speed is high, long-acting heat preservation can be achieved through the cooling capacity released by the energy storage tank after the refrigerator is powered off, and the performance and the energy utilization efficiency of the vehicle-mounted refrigerator are remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of refrigeration technology, and in particular to an energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system, a vehicle-mounted refrigerator, and an energy storage and heat preservation method. Background Art

[0002] Car refrigerators are a common convenience in modern automotive life, providing drivers and passengers with chilled beverages and fresh food during travel, greatly enhancing travel comfort and convenience. Traditional car refrigerators primarily rely on the vehicle's power supply system and operate through compressor cooling or semiconductor cooling.

[0003] However, the car refrigerators in the prior art generally have the following problems and shortcomings:

[0004] 1. Poor heat preservation during power outages: When the vehicle is turned off or the power to the car refrigerator is disconnected, the refrigerator's refrigeration system stops working. Due to the lack of an effective cold storage mechanism, the temperature inside the refrigerator rises rapidly. Especially in high summer temperatures, the heat preservation time is extremely short, which cannot meet the needs of long-term storage, causing food to spoil or beverages to lose taste.

[0005] 2. Refrigeration efficiency and speed need to be improved: Some car refrigerators, especially when first started or when the ambient temperature is high, take a long time to cool the interior to the set low temperature, a problem known as "slow cooling." This affects the user's immediate experience.

[0006] 3. High energy consumption: In order to maintain the low temperature inside the box, the refrigeration system needs to be started frequently, especially when the vehicle is driving, bumping, or the doors are frequently opened and closed, which causes the loss of cold air. This will continuously consume the power of the vehicle battery and put a certain amount of pressure on the vehicle's power management.

[0007] 4. Insufficient structural design optimization: The internal air duct design of some car refrigerators is not reasonable, resulting in poor cold air circulation, uneven temperature in different parts of the box, local overcooling or overtemperature, affecting the overall refrigeration and preservation effect.

[0008] Therefore, how to design a new type of vehicle refrigerator refrigeration system that not only has efficient refrigeration capabilities but also can provide long-term insulation effects after the vehicle is powered off and optimize energy utilization efficiency is a technical problem that needs to be urgently solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The main purpose of the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the existing technology and provide an energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system, a vehicle refrigerator and an energy storage and heat preservation method, aiming to solve the technical problems of the existing vehicle refrigerators such as short heat preservation time after power failure, low refrigeration efficiency and high energy consumption.

[0010] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the first aspect of the present invention provides an energy storage and thermal insulation heat exchange system, comprising: a shell; an energy storage tank for loading a cold storage liquid, the cold storage liquid being used to store cold energy, the energy storage tank being arranged in the shell; an air duct, the air duct being formed between the outer wall of the energy storage tank and the inner wall of the shell, the air duct having an air inlet and an air outlet connected to the outside world, the air inlet and the air outlet being respectively located at different positions of the energy storage tank to guide the air flow to flow through at least a portion of the outer wall of the energy storage tank in sequence; and a first evaporator, the first evaporator being arranged in the energy storage tank and connected to the refrigerant pipeline of the refrigeration equipment to cool the cold storage liquid.

[0011] As a preferred technical solution, the air inlet and outlet are located at opposite ends of the energy storage tank; the air duct surrounds at least three sides of the energy storage tank, so that air entering through the air inlet flows through the at least three sides in sequence before exiting through the air outlet. This wraparound air duct design greatly extends the heat exchange path and time between the air and the energy storage tank, thereby significantly improving heat exchange efficiency.

[0012] As a more specific preferred technical solution, the air inlet is located in the bottom area of the energy storage tank, and the air outlet is located in the top area of the energy storage tank; the air duct includes a bottom channel formed between the bottom outer wall of the energy storage tank and the inner wall of the shell, a side channel formed between the outer wall of one side of the energy storage tank and the inner wall of the shell, and a top channel formed between the top outer wall of the energy storage tank and the inner wall of the shell. The airflow enters from the air inlet, flows through the bottom channel, the side channel and the top channel in sequence, and finally flows out from the air outlet. This "U"-shaped or "J"-shaped flow path conforms to the natural convection law of cold air sinking and hot air rising, which is conducive to forming a stable and efficient circulation.

[0013] As another preferred technical solution, the system further includes a second evaporator, which is disposed at the air outlet and is used to cool the air about to flow out of the air duct. The second evaporator achieves direct and forced cooling of the circulating air, enabling rapid temperature reduction.

[0014] Based on the inclusion of a second evaporator, a more preferred technical solution is to connect the first and second evaporators in series with the refrigerant pipeline of the refrigeration equipment, with the refrigerant preferentially flowing through the second evaporator and then the first evaporator. This solution uses the coldest refrigerant first to directly cool the outlet air, ensuring the fastest cooling response. Refrigerant with remaining cooling capacity is then used to store cold in the energy storage tank, achieving cascaded refrigerant utilization and high energy efficiency.

[0015] To further enhance heat exchange, a preferred solution is to construct the energy storage tank from a material with good thermal conductivity (such as aluminum alloy) and to install multiple cooling fins on its outer wall, located within the air duct. These cooling fins increase the heat exchange area and effectively disrupt the airflow boundary layer, enhancing convective heat transfer. In particular, the cooling fins are preferably located on the bottom outer wall of the energy storage tank to maximize the cooling effect on the air flowing through the bottom channel.

[0016] To improve cold storage efficiency, a preferred solution is to place one end of the first evaporator in close contact with the inner wall of the bottom of the energy storage tank. This arrangement reduces the thermal resistance between the evaporator and the energy storage tank wall and the cold storage liquid, making the cold transfer more direct and rapid.

[0017] As a preferred option for enhanced functionality, the system also includes a semiconductor refrigeration module. The semiconductor refrigeration module is positioned within the air duct, with its cold end facing the airflow and its hot end in contact with the outer wall of the energy storage tank. This design cleverly utilizes the energy storage tank as a heat sink for the hot end of the semiconductor refrigeration module, eliminating the need for a bulky cooling fan. This design maintains a compact structure while providing additional or independent cooling capacity for the system. Furthermore, the cold end of the semiconductor refrigeration module can be connected to a first heat sink fin, and the energy storage tank can be provided with a second heat sink fin on the inner wall of the tank where it contacts the hot end of the semiconductor refrigeration module, thereby enhancing the heat exchange between the cold and hot ends, respectively.

[0018] In order to achieve forced convection, a preferred solution is that the system further includes a fan, which is arranged at the air outlet and is used to drive air to flow through the air duct.

[0019] In order to improve the overall thermal insulation performance, a preferred solution is that a thermal insulation layer, such as polyurethane foam, is filled between the outer wall of the shell and the inner container of the vehicle refrigerator.

[0020] A second aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle-mounted refrigerator, characterized in that it includes the energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system described in any one of the first aspects.

[0021] A third aspect of the present invention provides an energy storage and heat preservation method, which is applied to the energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system described above. The system includes at least: an energy storage tank disposed within a housing, an air duct formed between the outer wall of the energy storage tank and the inner wall of the housing, and a first evaporator disposed within the energy storage tank. The method comprises the following steps:

[0022] When refrigeration or cold storage is required, refrigerant is supplied to the first evaporator to cool the cold storage liquid in the energy storage tank to achieve cold storage;

[0023] The driven air flows through the air duct, and the air is cooled by heat exchange with the outer wall of the energy storage tank (which becomes cold due to the cooling liquid inside).

[0024] As a preferred method scheme, when the system also includes a second evaporator arranged at the air outlet, the method also includes: when refrigeration or cold storage is required, refrigerant is simultaneously supplied to the second evaporator to directly cool the air about to flow out of the air outlet.

[0025] As a more preferred method, the step of supplying refrigerant to the first evaporator and the second evaporator includes: allowing the refrigerant to flow through the second evaporator first and then through the first evaporator.

[0026] As an optional auxiliary cooling method, when the system also includes a semiconductor refrigeration module (whose cold end extends into the air duct and the hot end is in contact with the outer wall of the energy storage tank), the method also includes: starting the semiconductor refrigeration module, auxiliary cooling the air in the air duct through its cold end, and transferring the heat generated by its hot end to the energy storage tank (ultimately absorbed by the cold storage liquid).

[0027] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution provided by the present invention has the following significant beneficial effects:

[0028] 1. Achieve long-term heat preservation during power outages: Through the built-in energy storage tank containing phase-change cold storage fluid, a large amount of cold energy can be effectively stored when the power is on. After the power is off, the cold energy can be released continuously and stably, extending the heat preservation time from tens of minutes to several hours or even longer, truly realizing "cold energy continuation" and greatly expanding the use scenarios of car refrigerators.

[0029] 2. High cooling efficiency and speed: By installing a second evaporator to directly cool the outlet air and using a series connection scheme where the refrigerant preferentially flows through the second evaporator, instant and rapid cooling is achieved. Combined with a wraparound air duct and cooling fin design, convective heat transfer is enhanced, resulting in overall cooling efficiency and cooling speed far exceeding traditional products.

[0030] 3. High energy efficiency and greater energy savings: This invention combines refrigeration with cold storage. During operation, the refrigeration system not only cools the storage space but also charges the "cold battery" (energy storage tank). Once the set temperature is reached, the energy storage tank maintains the temperature, significantly reducing compressor startup frequency and overall energy consumption. The cascaded utilization of refrigerant further enhances energy efficiency.

[0031] 4. Compact structure and uniform temperature: The energy storage tank is cleverly used as the heat sink of the semiconductor refrigeration module, achieving a compact structural design. The carefully designed surround air duct ensures sufficient circulation of cold air within the storage space, improving the uniformity of the temperature field inside the box and avoiding the problem of local overcooling or overheating. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments disclosed in the present invention, the drawings of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. These drawings are only used for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 .

[0034] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system in one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 .

[0035] Figure 3 It is a three-dimensional exploded schematic diagram of an energy storage and thermal insulation heat exchange system in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 4 It is a side view schematic diagram of an energy storage and thermal insulation heat exchange system in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an energy storage and thermal insulation heat exchange system in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 6 It is a flow chart of an energy storage and heat preservation method in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of a refrigeration system used in an energy storage and thermal insulation heat exchange system in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of a refrigeration system used in an energy storage and thermal insulation heat exchange system including a semiconductor refrigeration module in another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] The following further describes the technical solutions (including preferred technical solutions) of the present invention through accompanying drawings and by enumerating some optional embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood that the embodiments described are merely some, and not all, of the present invention. All other embodiments derived by persons of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are intended to fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0042] Example 1

[0043] This embodiment provides a high-performance energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system 100, the structure of which is shown in the attached figure. Figures 1 to 5 As shown in the figure, the system can be integrated into a car refrigerator as a functional module to enable the car refrigerator to achieve efficient cooling and long-term heat preservation.

[0044] Reference Figures 1 to 5 The energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system 100 mainly includes a shell 10, an energy storage tank 20 installed inside the shell 10, an air duct 30 formed by the gap between the two, and refrigeration components arranged inside the system.

[0045] The housing 10 is the external support structure of the entire system, typically made from high-strength engineering plastics or lightweight metal sheets through injection molding or stamping. It defines an internal space that houses all of the system's core components. When assembled in a car refrigerator, a high-efficiency insulation layer, such as polyurethane (PU) foam, is placed between the outer wall of the housing 10 and the refrigerator's inner liner. This insulation layer 11 effectively blocks heat intrusion from the outside environment and provides the foundation for long-term thermal insulation of the entire unit.

[0046] The energy storage tank 20 plays the key role of storing and releasing cold energy. Figure 3 As shown in the exploded view, the energy storage tank 20 is a container with a hollow interior. It is made of a metal with excellent thermal conductivity, such as aluminum alloy, to ensure that cold energy can be quickly absorbed and conducted. The interior of the energy storage tank 20 is filled with a cold storage liquid 21. The cold storage liquid 21 can be a phase change material (PCM) with a freezing point designed to fall within the typical operating temperature range of refrigerators, such as -5°C to 0°C. When the temperature drops below its phase change point, the cold storage liquid 21 solidifies from a liquid to a solid, releasing a large amount of latent heat of solidification (i.e., absorbing and storing cold energy). Conversely, when the ambient temperature rises above its phase change point, the cold storage liquid 21 melts, absorbing heat (i.e., releasing cold energy), thereby maintaining a stable ambient temperature.

[0047] The air duct 30 is a channel for air flow, and its design is crucial to the heat exchange efficiency. In this embodiment, the air duct 30 is not an independent pipe, but is cleverly formed by the preset gap between the outer wall of the energy storage tank 20 and the inner wall of the shell 10. Figure 4 and Figure 5The air duct 30 has an air inlet 31 and an air outlet 32, both of which communicate with the storage space of the vehicle refrigerator. Specifically, the air inlet 31 is located at the bottom of the energy storage tank 20, while the air outlet 32 is located at the top. The air duct 30 is carefully designed to form a wraparound structure. After entering through the air inlet 31, air first flows through a bottom channel 33 formed between the bottom outer wall of the energy storage tank 20 and the inner wall of the housing 10. The air then turns upward and flows through a side channel 34 formed between the outer wall of one side (e.g., the right side) of the energy storage tank 20 and the inner wall of the housing 10. Finally, the air turns again at the top, flowing through a top channel 35 formed between the top outer wall of the energy storage tank 20 and the inner wall of the housing 10, and then flows out through the air outlet 32. This "bottom-side-top" U-shaped or J-shaped flow path greatly extends the contact time and area between the air and the energy storage tank 20, ensuring sufficient heat exchange.

[0048] In order to further enhance the heat transfer effect, Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, multiple cooling fins 22 are integrally molded or welded onto the outer wall of the energy storage tank 20, particularly in the bottom channel 33 and side channels 34 where air flows. These cooling fins 22 are strip-shaped or wavy, oriented perpendicular to or at an angle to the airflow direction. Their functions are to: 1) significantly increase the effective heat exchange surface area of the energy storage tank 20; and 2) generate turbulence as air flows through it, disrupting the laminar boundary layer and significantly improving the convective heat transfer coefficient. In particular, the placement of the cooling fins 22 on the bottom outer wall provides a strong initial cooling effect on the air entering the channel.

[0049] The refrigeration component of this embodiment adopts a dual evaporator design, including a first evaporator 51 and a second evaporator 52, both of which are connected to the refrigerant pipeline 50 of the refrigeration equipment (such as a compressor, a condenser, a throttle valve, etc.) of the vehicle refrigerator.

[0050] The first evaporator 51 is a coil, such as Figure 5 As shown, it is arranged inside the energy storage tank 20 and is completely immersed in the cold storage liquid 21. To maximize the cold storage efficiency, a portion of the first evaporator 51 pipeline is preferably laid close to the bottom inner wall of the energy storage tank 20. In this way, the cooling energy generated by the evaporation of the refrigerant can be transferred to the cold storage liquid 21 through the pipe wall and the inner wall of the tank in the most efficient conduction manner.

[0051] The second evaporator 52 is a fin-tube heat exchanger, which is arranged at the air outlet 32 of the air duct 30. Its function is to directly and deeply cool the circulating air before it is about to return to the storage space.

[0052] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first evaporator 51 and the second evaporator 52 are connected in series in the refrigerant pipeline 50. The low-temperature, low-pressure liquid refrigerant flowing out of the throttle valve flows into the second evaporator 52 first, where it evaporates and absorbs heat, causing the temperature of the air flowing through the air outlet 32 to drop sharply. In this way, at the initial stage of the refrigerator startup, the user can immediately feel the strong cold wind and get an excellent rapid cooling experience. Although the temperature of the refrigerant flowing out of the second evaporator 52 has risen, it is still at a lower evaporation temperature. At this time, it flows into the first evaporator 51 again and continues to evaporate inside the energy storage tank 20, using all its remaining refrigeration capacity to cool the cold storage liquid 21 for long-term, deep cold storage. This series connection method realizes the cascade utilization of the refrigerant's cooling capacity, taking into account the two major goals of instant cooling and long-term energy storage.

[0053] In addition, if Figure 2 As shown, the system is further provided with a fan 40 at the air outlet 32. The function of the fan 40 (e.g., a low-noise axial flow fan) is to provide power to force the air in the storage space to circulate along the preset air duct 30, thereby overcoming wind resistance and achieving efficient forced convection heat exchange.

[0054] During the cooling and cold storage stage, in addition to the cooling of the cold storage liquid 21 by the first evaporator 51 and the indirect cooling of the air through the energy storage tank 10, the second evaporator 52 directly cools the air at the air outlet to achieve rapid temperature reduction.

[0055] In some embodiments of the present invention, only one evaporator is required, that is, only the first evaporator 51 in the energy storage tank 20. The working process at this time is as follows:

[0056] 1. Refrigeration and Cold Storage: When the vehicle refrigerator is activated, the refrigeration system operates, and low-temperature refrigerant flows into the first evaporator 51. The first evaporator 51 cools the cold storage liquid 21 in the energy storage tank 10, allowing the cold storage liquid 21 to store cold energy. Simultaneously, the fan 40 activates, drawing air from the storage space into the air duct 30 through the air inlet 31. This air flows through the bottom channel 33 (including the cooling fins 22), which contacts the low-temperature energy storage tank 10 (due to the cooling of the cold storage liquid and the action of the first evaporator), the side channel 34, and the top channel 35. After being effectively cooled, it is returned to the storage space through the air outlet 32.

[0057] Power-off insulation: When the vehicle is turned off or the refrigeration system stops working, the cold energy stored in the coolant 21 is continuously released to the air flowing through the air duct 30 through the walls of the energy storage tank 10 and its cooling fins 22, which have good thermal conductivity. The fan 40 can be driven by a low-power backup power supply or rely on natural convection to maintain a certain amount of air flow, thereby keeping the storage space cool for a period of time.

[0058] Example 2

[0059] Based on the first embodiment, this embodiment adds an auxiliary refrigeration unit, a semiconductor refrigeration module 60 (also called TEC or thermoelectric refrigeration chip), to provide a more flexible refrigeration mode and a stronger refrigeration capacity.

[0060] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5 The semiconductor cooling module 60 is installed in the side channel 34 of the air duct 30. It is a plate-shaped component 63. When powered, one side (cold end) becomes cold, while the other side (hot end) becomes hot. In this embodiment, its cold end faces the airflow in the side channel 34, while its hot end is in close contact with the side wall of the energy storage tank 20 through a highly thermally conductive interface material such as thermal grease.

[0061] The ingenuity of this design lies in the fact that it uses the energy storage tank 20, which has a huge volume and heat capacity, as the heat sink of the hot end of the semiconductor refrigeration module 60. When the semiconductor refrigeration module 60 is working, the cold energy generated by its cold end directly supplements the cooling of the air flowing through the side channel 34, further reducing the outlet air temperature. The large amount of waste heat generated by its hot end is efficiently transferred to the energy storage tank 20. Due to the cold storage liquid 21 inside the energy storage tank 20 and its own huge heat capacity, it can easily absorb this heat without causing its own temperature to rise significantly. When the main refrigeration system is working, this heat will eventually be taken away by the first evaporator 51; when the main refrigeration system is shut down, this heat will only be absorbed slowly. This design completely avoids the problem that traditional semiconductor refrigeration requires a bulky and noisy cooling fan to dissipate heat from the hot end, making the entire system compact and quiet while increasing functionality.

[0062] To further improve efficiency, the cold end of the semiconductor cooling module 60 can be connected to a miniaturized first heat sink fin 61 to increase the heat exchange area with the air. Furthermore, a plurality of second heat sink fins 62 can be installed on the inner wall of the energy storage tank 20, corresponding to the contact area of the hot end of the semiconductor cooling module 60, to enhance the energy storage tank 20's absorption of the hot end heat and its efficient dispersion within the cold storage liquid 21.

[0063] The semiconductor refrigeration module 60 can be started as needed, and its cold end and the first heat dissipation fins 61 supplement the cooling of the air flowing through the side channel 34 , while the heat at the hot end is introduced into the cold storage liquid 21 through the wall of the energy storage tank 10 and the second heat dissipation fins 52 .

[0064] Example 3

[0065] This embodiment describes the energy storage and heat preservation method using the above energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system 100. The specific process is shown in the attached figure. Figure 6 shown.

[0066] This method mainly includes two core working modes: cooling / cold storage mode and power-off insulation mode.

[0067] 1. Refrigeration / cold storage mode ( Figure 6 S602 to S618)

[0068] When the vehicle refrigerator is powered on and the user sets a cooling requirement (step S602 determines "yes"), the system enters the cooling / cold storage mode (step S603).

[0069] The controller activates the vehicle refrigerator's compressor refrigeration system, supplying refrigerant to the refrigerant pipeline 50 of the present system. According to the preferred design of Example 1 (steps S610 and S611), the refrigerant preferentially flows into the second evaporator 52 located at the air outlet 32 (step S609), directly cooling the air. Simultaneously, the fan 40 activates (step S606), driving the air within the storage space 70 into the air duct 30 through the air inlet 31.

[0070] Subsequently, the refrigerant flows into the first evaporator 51 in the energy storage tank 20 (step S604 ), and begins to deeply cool the cold storage liquid 21 , causing its temperature to drop and eventually undergo a phase change, storing the cold energy in the form of latent heat (step S605 ).

[0071] As the air driven by fan 40 flows through the bottom, side, and top air ducts 33, 34, and 35, it undergoes sufficient heat exchange with the already cooled outer wall of energy storage tank 20, which is covered with cooling fins 22, significantly reducing its temperature (step S607). This cool air is ultimately cooled again by second evaporator 52 before being blown out of air outlet 32 and returned to storage space 70.

[0072] During this process, the controller can determine whether auxiliary cooling is required based on preset logic (for example, if extreme cooling is required or the ambient temperature is too high) (step S613). If so, the controller activates the semiconductor cooling module 60 (step S614) to provide additional cooling for the air flowing through it (step S615).

[0073] The controller continuously monitors the temperature of storage space 70. If the temperature does not reach the set value (step S617 determines "No"), the above cycle continues. If the temperature reaches the set value (step S617 determines "Yes"), the controller may stop the compressor and semiconductor cooling module, operate only the fan at a low speed to equalize the temperature, or put the entire system into a low-power standby mode (step S618).

[0074] 2. Power off and heat preservation mode ( Figure 6 S619 to S621)

[0075] When the vehicle is turned off and the vehicle refrigerator is powered off (step S602 is determined to be "No"), the system automatically enters the power-off insulation mode (step S619).

[0076] At this point, all active cooling equipment (compressors, semiconductor modules) has ceased operation. The vast amount of cold energy stored in the solid coolant 21 in the energy storage tank 20 begins to slowly melt, absorbing heat due to the temperature inside the tank exceeding its melting point. This energy is then steadily released outward through the outer wall of the energy storage tank 20 (step S620).

[0077] Due to natural convection (cold air sinks, hot air rises), the air in storage space 70 spontaneously flows through air duct 30, exchanging heat with the cool outer wall of energy storage tank 20. This maintains the low temperature of storage space 70 for a long time without consuming any energy (step S621). If the vehicle refrigerator has a small backup power supply, fan 40 can also be operated intermittently at very low power consumption (for example, for 30 seconds every 10 minutes) to enhance cold air circulation and achieve more uniform and longer-lasting heat preservation.

[0078] Example 4

[0079] This embodiment will combine Figure 7 From the macro perspective of the entire vehicle refrigerator refrigeration system, the integration and working principle of the energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system 100 described in Example 1 are described in detail. Figure 7 It demonstrates how the energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system of the present invention can be integrated into a complete refrigeration system as a core subsystem.

[0080] like Figure 7 As shown, the vehicle-mounted refrigeration system is a closed-loop refrigerant circulation system using dual electronic valves for coordinated control. Its main components include a compressor 80, a condenser 82, an electronic expansion valve 83 located at the front of the evaporator (serving as the main throttle valve), a large-diameter electronic expansion valve 85 located at the rear of the evaporator (serving as a backpressure control valve), the energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system 100 of the present invention (which internally includes the first evaporator 51 and the second evaporator 52), a gas-liquid separator 81, and multiple PT sensors 84 for precise system monitoring.

[0081] The working process of the system, that is, the circulation path of the refrigerant is as follows:

[0082] 1. Compression Process: In compressor 80, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant is compressed into high-pressure, high-temperature gaseous refrigerant. Compressor 80 provides power for the entire cycle.

[0083] 2. Condensation process: High-pressure, high-temperature gaseous refrigerant flows into the condenser 82. In the condenser 82, the refrigerant exchanges heat with the external environment (usually the air outside the vehicle), releasing heat and condensing into high-pressure, medium-temperature liquid refrigerant.

[0084] 3. Throttling process: High-pressure liquid refrigerant flows through the electronic expansion valve 83. The electronic expansion valve 83 (or other throttling devices such as capillary tubes) throttles and reduces the pressure of the refrigerant, turning it into a low-temperature, low-pressure liquid-gas two-phase mixture.

[0085] 4. Evaporation process:

[0086] a) The low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant mixture preferentially flows into the second evaporator 52, located at the air outlet 32. Here, the refrigerant evaporates, absorbing heat from the circulating air and cooling it directly and rapidly. This is the key step in achieving "instant cooling."

[0087] b) The refrigerant flowing out of the second evaporator 52, though its temperature has risen somewhat, is still in a low-temperature evaporation state. It then flows into the first evaporator 51 inside the energy storage tank 20. The refrigerant continues to evaporate in the first evaporator 51, absorbing heat from the cold storage liquid 21, thereby deeply cooling the cold storage liquid 21 until it undergoes a phase change, storing a large amount of cold energy as latent heat. This is a key step in achieving "energy storage and heat preservation."

[0088] 5. Return Process: The refrigerant flowing out of the first evaporator 51 has completely turned into a low-pressure gas. It flows through the gas-liquid separator 81 to ensure that no liquid refrigerant can enter the compressor 80 and cause damage. The gaseous refrigerant is then sucked into the intake port of the compressor 80, starting the next cycle.

[0089] The system controller (ECU) receives real-time pressure and temperature data from multiple PT sensors 84 and coordinates the control of the front-end electronic expansion valve 83 and the rear-end large-diameter electronic expansion valve 85.

[0090] Through this system-level integration, the energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system 100 of the present invention is not only a standalone module but also the core of the entire refrigeration system strategy. Through the ingenious series connection and functional division of evaporators, it perfectly combines the goals of "instant cooling" and "long-term energy storage" in a single refrigeration cycle.

[0091] Example 5

[0092] like Figure 8 As shown, the basic vapor compression refrigeration cycle of the system is identical to that of Example 4. The core difference is that an auxiliary refrigeration unit consisting of a semiconductor refrigeration module 60 (TEC chip) is added to the side channel 34 of the air duct 30.

[0093] The hybrid system has a more flexible and efficient control mode:

[0094] 1. Powerful Hybrid Cooling Mode: When rapid cooling is required (for example, when starting the refrigerator for the first time on a hot summer day), the controller can simultaneously activate the compressor 80 and the peltier module 60. In this mode, air flowing through the air duct 30 is not only indirectly cooled by the outer wall of the energy storage tank 20 and directly cooled by the second evaporator 52, but also receives additional cooling from the cold end of the peltier module 60 as it flows through the side channel 34. The combined effects of these three cooling methods achieve the fastest possible cooling. Heat generated by the peltier module 60 is effectively absorbed by the energy storage tank 20.

[0095] 2. Conventional refrigeration / cold storage mode: In this mode, only the compressor refrigeration cycle is in operation, and the operating principle is the same as that of embodiment 4. The semiconductor refrigeration module 60 remains closed.

[0096] 3. Low Temperature Maintenance / Energy Saving Mode: When the temperature inside the chamber has reached the set point and only a small amount of cooling is needed to offset external heat leakage, the high-energy-consuming compressor 80 can be shut down, and only the low-energy-consuming semiconductor refrigeration module 60 can be activated. In this case, the semiconductor refrigeration module 60 provides a small amount of cooling capacity to maintain the low temperature inside the chamber, achieving precise temperature control and extreme energy saving.

[0097] 4. Power-off insulation mode: In this mode, the compressor 80 and the semiconductor refrigeration module 60 are both stopped. The system relies entirely on the cold energy stored in the energy storage tank 20 to maintain a low temperature. The operating principle is the same as that described in the third embodiment.

[0098] It will be easily understood by those skilled in the art that the above are only preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, combinations, replacements, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention are included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system, characterized in that: include: case; An energy storage tank is used to load a cold storage liquid, and the cold storage liquid is used to store cold energy; the energy storage tank is arranged in the shell; an air duct formed between an outer wall of the energy storage tank and an inner wall of the shell, the air duct having an air inlet and an air outlet communicating with the outside; the air inlet and the air outlet are respectively located at different positions of the energy storage tank to guide airflow to flow sequentially through at least a portion of the outer wall of the energy storage tank; The first evaporator is arranged in the energy storage tank and connected to the refrigerant pipeline of the refrigeration equipment to cool the cold storage liquid.

2. The energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air inlet and the air outlet are respectively arranged at opposite ends of the energy storage tank; the air duct surrounds at least three sides of the energy storage tank, so that the air entering from the air inlet flows through the at least three sides in sequence and then flows out from the air outlet.

3. The energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The air inlet is located in the bottom area of the energy storage tank, and the air outlet is located in the top area of the energy storage tank; the air duct includes a bottom channel formed between the bottom outer wall of the energy storage tank and the inner wall of the shell, a side channel formed between the outer wall of one side of the energy storage tank and the inner wall of the shell, and a top channel formed between the top outer wall of the energy storage tank and the inner wall of the shell. The air flow enters from the air inlet, flows through the bottom channel, the side channel and the top channel in sequence, and then flows out from the air outlet.

4. The energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a second evaporator, which is arranged at the air outlet and is used to cool the air that is about to flow out of the air duct.

5. The energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The first evaporator and the second evaporator are connected in series with the refrigerant pipeline of the refrigeration equipment, and the refrigerant flows through the second evaporator first and then flows through the first evaporator.

6. The energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The energy storage tank is made of a material with good thermal conductivity, and is provided with a plurality of cooling fins on its outer wall, and the cooling fins are located in the air duct.

7. The energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The cooling fins are arranged on the bottom outer wall of the energy storage tank.

8. The energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that: One end of the first evaporator is closely attached to the inner wall of the bottom of the energy storage tank.

9. The energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a semiconductor refrigeration module, which is arranged in the air duct, with its cold end facing the air flow and its hot end in contact with the outer wall of the energy storage tank.

10. The energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system according to claim 9, characterized in that: The cold end of the semiconductor refrigeration module is connected to a first heat dissipation fin, and the energy storage tank is provided with a second heat dissipation fin on the inner wall at a position in contact with the hot end of the semiconductor refrigeration module.

11. The energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a fan, which is arranged at the air outlet and is used to drive air to flow through the air duct.

12. The energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system according to claim 1, characterized in that: A heat-insulating layer is filled between the outer wall of the shell and the inner container of the vehicle refrigerator.

13. A vehicle-mounted refrigerator, characterized in that: The invention comprises the energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. An energy storage and heat preservation method, characterized in that: The method is applied to an energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system, which includes: an energy storage tank disposed in a shell, an air duct formed between an outer wall of the energy storage tank and an inner wall of the shell, and a first evaporator disposed in the energy storage tank; the method includes the following steps: When refrigeration or cold storage is required, refrigerant is supplied to the first evaporator to cool the cold storage liquid in the energy storage tank to achieve cold storage; The air is driven to flow through the air duct, and the air is cooled by heat exchange with the outer wall of the energy storage tank.

15. The energy storage and heat preservation method according to claim 14, characterized in that: The system further includes a second evaporator disposed at the air outlet; the method further includes: when cooling or cold storage is required, simultaneously supplying refrigerant to the second evaporator to directly cool the air about to flow out of the air outlet.

16. The energy storage and heat preservation method according to claim 15, characterized in that: The step of supplying the refrigerant to the first evaporator and the second evaporator includes allowing the refrigerant to flow through the second evaporator first and then through the first evaporator.

17. The energy storage and heat preservation method according to claim 14, characterized in that: The system also includes a semiconductor refrigeration module, the cold end of the semiconductor refrigeration module extends into the air duct, and the hot end is in contact with the outer wall of the energy storage tank; the method also includes: starting the semiconductor refrigeration module, auxiliary cooling the air in the air duct through its cold end, and conducting the heat generated by its hot end to the energy storage tank.

Images