Method, computer program and control unit for determining whether to initiate a defrosting process of a cooling device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method for determining whether to initiate a defrosting process of a cooling device usable in an industrial environment, the method comprising: determining that a defrosting process is to be initiated, comprising one or more of the following steps: determining that a predetermined minimum duration of active cooling of the cooling device is reached; determining that a cooling intensity is greater than or equal to a predetermined cooling intensity value; and / or determining that a predetermined maximum duration of active cooling of the cooling device is reached; if it has been determined that the defrosting process is to be initiated: initiating the defrosting process of the cooling device. The present disclosure also relates to a corresponding computer program, control unit, cooling device and system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for determining whether to initiate the defrosting process of a cooling device, and a corresponding computer program, control unit, apparatus, and system. Background Technology

[0002] Cooling devices, particularly air coolers, operate on the basis of evaporative cooling, a process that uses the evaporation of a refrigerant to cool the air in cold storage rooms and freezers, typically used in industrial environments such as the food and beverage or pharmaceutical industries. For refrigerants such as water or ammonia, energy is required to change from a liquid to a gaseous state. This energy is drawn from the surrounding air of the cooling device, thereby lowering the temperature of the surrounding air in the process. Cooling devices commonly used in the food and beverage or pharmaceutical industries often need to maintain rooms or cold storage rooms at sub-zero temperatures. In such cases, water vapor in the air being cooled can cause ice to form at the evaporator of the cooling unit.

[0003] Ice buildup can impair the equipment's ability to effectively cool air, potentially leading to higher operating temperatures in areas where target temperatures need to be maintained. However, to maintain the desired target temperature, more cooling is required due to icing, resulting in increased energy consumption of the cooling unit. Furthermore, excessive weight due to severe icing can lead to dangerously heavy loads, which can have negative consequences. The increased weight of the cooling unit due to ice may weaken its anchorage to the wall, potentially causing it to fall off, for example.

[0004] Therefore, cooling systems typically require periodic defrosting to maintain cooling efficiency and prevent safety hazards caused by excessive ice buildup. Similar to other thermodynamic processes, the defrosting process is inefficient, meaning that only a small fraction of the energy used actually contributes to melting the ice. This leads to increased power consumption in the cooling system. There is a direct correlation between the frequency of defrosting operations and the energy consumption of the cooling system. Therefore, the frequency of defrosting operations must be optimized to avoid unnecessary defrosting while ensuring that the operation of the cooling system is not negatively affected by ice buildup.

[0005] In conventional methods for controlling the execution of defrosting processes, defrosting is performed according to a fixed, predefined defrosting schedule. This means that cooling units (such as air coolers) perform their defrosting processes at one or more predetermined time points. Such a defrosting schedule can be applied to defrosting processes performed by other air coolers cooling the same cooling room, equipment, or cold storage. The defrosting schedules for two or more cooling units operating in the same environment can be configured so that their defrosting processes do not overlap; that is, the defrosting processes of two or more cooling units occur at different times. This ensures consistent cooling of the environment, which is particularly desirable in industrial environments where large fluctuations in room temperature can be critical. However, determining the settings for a fixed defrosting schedule (i.e., which cooling unit should initiate defrosting operations at what time) requires expert evaluation and observation during the months leading up to the operation of the environment. While determining the settings for a fixed defrosting schedule for two or more air coolers is reliable and widely used, it is extremely time-consuming. Furthermore, a fixed schedule may result in unnecessary defrosting processes because the cooling units have not yet undergone significant ice buildup.

[0006] Another drawback of fixed defrosting schedules is the need to readjust predetermined defrosting cycles. For example, defrosting schedules need to be readjusted after changes in production curves or environmental conditions (i.e., temperature variations between warm and cold seasons). Furthermore, the daily variations present in modern production plants and warehouse facilities are not taken into account through seasonal readjustments.

[0007] Given these drawbacks, the currently known fixed scheduling of defrosting operations may not always lead to the desired results. Therefore, there is a need to improve the currently used fixed defrosting schedules to reduce the number of unnecessary defrosting processes by simultaneously maintaining the desired target temperature of the room cooled by more than one cooling unit.

[0008] In this context, the object of the present invention is to solve one or all of the above-mentioned disadvantages. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The foregoing and other objectives, which will become apparent from the following description, are addressed by the subject matter of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0010] A first embodiment of the present invention relates to a computer-implemented method for determining whether to initiate a defrosting process for a cooling device suitable for use in an industrial environment, the method comprising: determining that the defrosting process will be initiated, including one or more of the following steps: determining a predetermined minimum duration for active cooling of the cooling device to be achieved; determining that the cooling intensity is greater than or equal to a predetermined cooling intensity value; and / or determining a predetermined maximum duration for active cooling of the cooling device to be achieved; if it has been determined that the defrosting process should be initiated: initiating the defrosting process of the cooling device.

[0011] By determining the minimum duration required for the cooling unit to actively cool, the defrosting process is ensured to start only after sufficient time has elapsed for ice to form. Conversely, in a fixed defrosting schedule, the defrosting process starts at predetermined times. For example, suppose the cooling unit is scheduled to defrost once a day at 12 PM. However, since the last defrosting has already occurred, the cooling unit is not needed at all. In a fixed, scheduled defrosting, the cooling unit will still begin the defrosting process regardless of whether ice has actually accumulated. In contrast, requiring a minimum duration for the cooling unit to actively cool ensures that the defrosting process is initiated only when ice could theoretically have accumulated or is accumulating. Therefore, initiating the cooling process only after the minimum duration for active cooling is reached can result in reduced power consumption of the cooling unit because unnecessary cooling processes are avoided. Another advantage compared to conventional fixed-schedule defrosting is the flexibility of the defrosting schedule.

[0012] Similarly, initiating a defrosting process if the maximum duration of active cooling of the cooling unit is reached ensures that the cooling unit will not operate for too long without defrosting. The advantage of performing the defrosting process after a certain maximum duration is that it always occurs at some point, regardless of whether significant or minimal cooling has occurred. In this way, hardware failures of the cooling unit, such as internal leaks from valves, can be prevented. Having a maximum duration as a requirement for initiating the defrosting process can be derived from the fact that slow icing can still occur even when the general heat load covered by a single cooling unit is likely very small. Therefore, considering the maximum duration of active cooling of the cooling unit can be considered a safety measure to prevent hardware failure and can improve the commissioning of the cooling unit. Furthermore, considering the maximum duration of active cooling can lead to lower maintenance requirements.

[0013] The intensity of cooling activity is taken into account by determining that the cooling intensity is greater than or equal to a predetermined cooling intensity value. The intensity of cooling activity is related to the amount of ice formed, as ice accumulation can reduce heat transfer between the evaporator of the cooling unit and the surrounding air to be cooled. For example, a cooling unit actively cooling at a very low intensity (e.g., expected temperature -15°C, current temperature -14.5°C) does not experience as significant icing as a unit actively cooling at a high intensity (e.g., expected temperature -15°C, current temperature -13°C). This prevents the cooling unit from initiating a defrosting process when it is not actually needed. Therefore, the advantage of considering the cooling intensity of the cooling unit is reduced power consumption due to the avoidance of unnecessary defrosting. Furthermore, the lifespan of the cooling unit can be increased due to the reduced total number of defrosting cycles.

[0014] Another advantage of this invention, relating to the method described above for determining whether to initiate the defrosting process of a cooling device, is that it does not require modification of the cooling device. While alternative methods would require the installation of sophisticated sensing technology, this invention utilizes existing components of the cooling device. Using existing components further facilitates the maintenance and commissioning of the cooling device, as it does not require acquiring additional skills to perform such tasks.

[0015] According to the second embodiment, the step of determining to initiate the defrosting process further includes: determining when a predefined defrosting time has been reached.

[0016] Determining when to reach a predefined defrost time ensures that defrosting occurs only at the predefined time. This prevents defrosting from happening at undesirable times and thus provides some control over the defrost process.

[0017] This is particularly important in industrial settings with multiple cooling units that require continuous cooling, such as cold storage rooms or cooling chambers in warehouse facilities in the food and beverage or pharmaceutical industries, where a constant temperature needs to be maintained and multiple cooling units are powering the system. Food and pharmaceutical processing systems are tailored for transporting, storing, and processing food and pharmaceuticals, with a focus on ensuring safety, extending shelf life, and meeting the quality standards necessary for consumer satisfaction and public health. Defining predefined defrost times allows warehouse facility administrators to program the defrost times of cooling units in a staggered manner and avoid situations where all cooling units are defrosting simultaneously. In short, this provides the safety of knowing when a cooling unit can theoretically undergo a defrost process. This, in turn, provides enhanced management of environments that include one or more cooling units.

[0018] According to the third embodiment, determining that the cooling intensity is greater than or equal to the predetermined cooling intensity value further includes: obtaining an integral temperature value; and comparing the integral temperature value with the predetermined cooling intensity value.

[0019] Obtaining an integrated temperature value and comparing it with a predetermined cooling intensity value provides a reliable way to quantify whether a predetermined intensity of cooling operation has been achieved. The intensity of the cooling operation can originate from various factors. However, temperature has the advantage of being an accurate and reliable factor for determining cooling intensity. This is because temperature can be readily obtained, for example, by a temperature sensor. Furthermore, temperature measurement can provide the accuracy required to precisely determine the cooling intensity. Another advantage of using temperature as a measure is that obtaining a temperature reading is the default for cooling devices, emphasizing the compatibility of this invention with existing technology and eliminating the need to modify the cooling device.

[0020] According to the fourth embodiment, obtaining the integrated temperature value further includes: receiving a first temperature value and a second temperature value from a temperature sensor arranged near the cooling device; calculating a first difference between the received first temperature value and a target cooling temperature; calculating a second difference between the second temperature value and the target cooling temperature; and accumulating the calculated first and second differences.

[0021] Placing temperature sensors near the cooling unit offers the advantage of obtaining accurate localized temperature measurements, i.e., taking into account the temperature near the cooling unit. This can be beneficial because the temperature near the cooling unit best reflects its workload. Calculating the difference between a first received temperature value and a target cooling temperature value, and performing the same operation for a second received temperature value, provides the advantage of presenting a reliable unit for comparison. In other words, the difference between the measured temperature value and the target temperature value can provide an accurate indicator of the cooling intensity of the cooling unit. Having several temperature measurements and accumulating the calculated differences can provide a suitable measure of the intensity of the cooling operation of the cooling unit.

[0022] According to the fifth embodiment, a first temperature value and a second temperature value are obtained at different time points.

[0023] Obtaining first and second temperature values ​​at different time points indicates that the integral value is observed not only at a single moment but over a period of time. This provides the advantage of obtaining more accurate results regarding the cooling intensity of the cooling device. While temperature measurements at a single time point may only provide a snapshot of the cooling scenario, temperature measurements at multiple time points provide a more comprehensive view of the cooling scenario. For example, a cooling chamber door may be closed at time point A and open at time point B. Considering only the temperature measurement at point A or only the temperature measurement at point B would distort the quantification of the actual cooling scenario. In contrast, considering temperature measurements at point A when the door is closed and point B when the door is open (i.e., multiple time points) provides the advantage of delivering a more accurate description of the cooling scenario.

[0024] According to the sixth embodiment, the predetermined cooling intensity value is in the range of 1.5 Kelvin hours to 0.5 Kelvin hours, and preferably 1.0 Kelvin hours.

[0025] Kelvin hours are a physical unit used to quantify cooling intensity. Therefore, cooling intensity measured in Kelvin hours provides compatibility with other methods or systems using the corresponding unit. Furthermore, Kelvin hours facilitate the understanding of cooling intensity. Additionally, the mentioned range (i.e., between 1.5 Kelvin hours and 0.5 Kelvin hours, and preferably 1 Kelvin hour) offers the advantage of delivering appropriate results for evaluating cooling intensity in industrial applications.

[0026] According to the seventh embodiment, the temperature sensor is preferably arranged at a distance of about 0 to 2 meters from the cooling device, more preferably at a distance of about 0.5 to 1.5 meters from the cooling device, and most preferably at a distance of about 1 meter from the cooling device.

[0027] As mentioned earlier, placing the temperature sensor near the cooling unit offers the advantage of delivering accurate temperature readings. A distance of approximately 1 meter provides the highest accuracy because it is neither too far from the room nor too close to the cooling unit. A distance of approximately 0.5 to 1.5 meters offers similar advantages. Finally, a distance of approximately 0 to 2 meters also offers similar advantages. If the temperature sensor is placed further into the cooling area, the measured temperature value may not accurately record the effect of the cooling unit. However, the range of 0 to 2 meters provides some flexibility in positioning the temperature sensor because, due to the structure of the area or room to be cooled, it is not always possible to place the sensor close to the cooling unit. For example, in a cooling area with multiple cooling units, it may be unclear which unit is responsible for measuring the temperature. On the other hand, placing the temperature sensor too close to the cooling unit may not accurately reflect the temperature of the cooling area, but rather the temperature of the cooling unit itself. Therefore, the ranges described above (i.e., 0 to 2 meters, 1.5 to 0.5 meters, preferably 1 meter) provide suitable distances to avoid the aforementioned situations.

[0028] According to the eighth embodiment, the method further includes: measuring a predetermined minimum duration from the start of the last defrosting operation.

[0029] Measuring the predetermined minimum duration since the last defrost operation ensures that there is no ice present when the measurement begins. Since the minimum duration should reflect the minimum amount of time the cooling unit must actively cool before ice can form, it is crucial that this time is measured from a point when there is no ice on the cooling unit. Therefore, measuring the predetermined minimum duration since the last defrost operation provides the advantage of accurately measuring the minimum time required for ice to form on the cooling unit.

[0030] According to the ninth embodiment, the method further includes: measuring the predetermined maximum duration from the start of the last defrosting operation.

[0031] Similar to the minimum duration of active cooling for a cooling unit, the maximum duration of active cooling for a cooling unit is also measured from the start of the last defrost operation. This again provides the advantage of ensuring that there is no ice on the cooling unit when the maximum duration measurement begins. This also provides the advantage of more accurate measurement of the maximum duration.

[0032] According to the tenth embodiment, the method further includes: resetting the active cooling time of the cooling device when the defrosting process is initiated, completed, or executed.

[0033] Resetting the cooling unit's active cooling time during the start, completion, or execution of the defrosting process ensures accurate measurement of both minimum and maximum durations. Both measurements take into account the time the cooling unit has been actively cooling since the last defrosting operation. Therefore, resetting the cooling unit's active cooling time at a specific point in time provides the advantage of enabling precise measurement of the aforementioned durations.

[0034] According to the eleventh embodiment, the cooling device is an air cooler.

[0035] The above embodiments are particularly suitable for air coolers, because these types of cooling devices are often subjected to severe icing and therefore typically require extensive defrosting processes to ensure proper and reliable operation.

[0036] The twelfth embodiment of the present invention relates to a computer program including instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of embodiments 1 to 11.

[0037] The thirteenth embodiment of the present invention relates to a control unit for controlling the defrosting process of a cooling device, the control unit including means for performing the method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 11.

[0038] The fourteenth embodiment of the present invention relates to a cooling device that includes the control unit of embodiment 13.

[0039] The fifteenth embodiment of the present invention relates to a system comprising a plurality of cooling devices, the system comprising: a first and a second cooling device among the plurality of cooling devices, each cooling device including a control unit, wherein the control unit includes means for performing the methods of any one of embodiments 1 and 2 and embodiments 3-11; wherein the predefined defrost time of each of the first and second cooling devices is set in a non-overlapping manner.

[0040] Setting the predefined defrost times for each of the first and second cooling devices (preferably air coolers) in a non-overlapping manner ensures that the two cooling devices do not initiate their defrost processes simultaneously. Since the cooling devices do not cool during defrost, this can provide an advantage in situations where constant cooling must be ensured, such as the cooling of food and beverages or medical supplies. For example, if a storage facility needs to be cooled to a certain temperature (e.g., due to medical supplies stored in the facility), and the cooling devices in that facility begin their individual defrost processes simultaneously or in an overlapping manner, it is possible that the actual temperature rises above the desired target temperature. As described in this invention, the non-overlapping predetermined defrost times prevent this from occurring. Attached Figure Description

[0041] Various aspects of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in these drawings.

[0042] Figure 1 An exemplary cooling scenario according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0043] Figure 2 The predetermined defrosting timelines of the first and second cooling devices according to embodiments of the present invention are shown.

[0044] Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating the decision process for initiating the defrosting process according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0045] Figure 4 A cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown;

[0046] Figure 5 A computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0047] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the invention can also be used in other embodiments not explicitly disclosed below. As detailed below, the embodiments are compatible with each other, and various features of one embodiment can also be applied to another embodiment.

[0048] Throughout the accompanying drawings and description, unless otherwise stated, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. The drawings may not be drawn to scale, and the relative dimensions, scale, and depiction of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience. The drawings do not limit the scope of the claims but merely support an understanding of the invention.

[0049] Figure 1An exemplary cooling scenario 100 is illustrated. The objective is to maintain the temperature in room 105 at a target temperature 110. This might be the case, for example, in a storage facility for pharmaceuticals or food that needs to be stored at a specific target temperature 110. Several cooling units 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170 are installed in the cooling room 105 to achieve the goal of maintaining the temperature at the specific target temperature 110. This setup can be common in industrial environments because the room 105, which needs to be maintained at the target temperature 110, is too large to be cooled by a single cooling unit. As previously mentioned, frost builds up when the cooling units actively cool, thus requiring periodic defrosting operations to maintain the efficiency of the cooling units.

[0050] exist Figure 1 In scenario 100, performance-based criteria can be used to assess whether a defrosting process should be initiated. In this case, the performance-based criteria could refer to the intensity of the active cooling by the cooling unit. This intensity can be measured by comparing the target temperature 110 with the actual temperature measured near the cooling unit. Figure 1 Temperature sensors 121, 131, 141, 151, 161, and 171 located near the cooling device are shown.

[0051] In this example, cooling device A 140 is located near door 101 of the refrigerated facility. This means that whenever door 101 is opened, the temperature measured by temperature sensor 141 of cooling device A 140 shows a higher temperature due to the influx of warm air. The temperature measurement value from temperature sensor 141 of cooling device A 140 could be, for example, -20.5°C measured at time X and -20°C measured at time X+1. On the other hand, cooling device B 150 is located on the other side of the refrigerated facility where the opening and closing of door 101 does not significantly affect the temperature measurement. Therefore, the temperature measurement value from temperature sensor 151 of cooling device B 150 could be, for example, -21°C measured at time X and -21°C measured at time X+1 (i.e., constantly maintained at the target temperature 110). To derive the cooling intensity value measured in Kelvin hours, the temperatures measured at different time points are compared with the target temperature 110, and the differences are summed. For cooling unit A 140, this results in a difference of 0.5 Kelvin hours (i.e., actual temperature -20.5°C and target temperature -21°C) + 1.0 Kelvin hours (i.e., actual temperature -20°C and target temperature -21°C), totaling 1.5 Kelvin hours. Conversely, for cooling unit B 150, this results in a difference of 0 Kelvin hours (i.e., actual temperature -21°C and target temperature -21°C) + 0 Kelvin hours (i.e., actual temperature -21°C and target temperature -21°C), totaling 0 Kelvin hours. This comparison shows that the cooling intensity of cooling unit A 140 is higher than that of cooling unit B 150, which is significant because cooling unit A 140 is located closer to door 101 and is therefore exposed to greater temperature fluctuations.

[0052] The cooling intensity of a cooling device is related to ice formation. In other words, the higher the cooling intensity, the more ice accumulates on the cooling device. As described above, this embodiment utilizes this fact by measuring the cooling intensity of the cooling device and using it as a criterion for determining whether to initiate the defrosting operation of the cooling device. The defrosting process itself can be performed using one or more standard available methods to defrost the cooler units in industrial refrigeration equipment. Such defrosting methods can be hot gas defrosting, electric defrosting, chemical defrosting, ultrasonic defrosting, etc.

[0053] Note that, for accurate temperature measurements, temperature sensors 121, 131, 141, 151, 161, and 171 should be located near the corresponding cooling devices 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, and 170. More specifically, the temperature sensors can be located at a distance of approximately 0 to 2 meters from the cooling device, preferably at a distance of approximately 0.5 to 1.5 meters, and most preferably at a distance of approximately 1 meter. This distance provides the advantage of indicating the individual cooling intensity of each individual cooling device by the measured temperature.

[0054] Figure 2 Two predetermined defrost timelines 210 and 220 are shown. The upper timeline 210 represents the predetermined defrost time for cooling unit A 140, and the lower timeline 220 represents the predetermined defrost time for cooling unit B 150. Two horizontal lines represent time, and vertical lines 211, 212, 213, 221, 222, and 223 represent specific points in time when defrost operations are scheduled.

[0055] It should be noted that the specific defrosting times (i.e., 211, 221, 212, 222, etc.) are arranged in a non-overlapping manner. According to this embodiment, this means that cooling device A 140 and cooling device B 150 may never perform defrosting operations simultaneously. This is particularly relevant in temperature-sensitive environments. Return to Reference Figure 1 In the example discussed, if door 101 is opened for an extended period and all cooling devices are currently defrosting, the current temperature rise cannot be offset because all cooling devices are effectively disabled during this time. Figure 2 The non-overlapping defrost schedule shown prevents this situation. If door 101 is opened for an extended period of time, there will always be a cooling unit that is not currently undergoing defrost operation and can begin to increase its cooling activity to manage sudden temperature rises.

[0056] Figure 3 A flowchart illustrates a method for determining whether to initiate a defrosting process for a cooling system suitable for industrial environments. It should be noted that, as... Figure 3 The order of steps shown is merely an example, and all steps may be performed in a different order or even omitted. More specifically, determining whether to initiate the defrosting process includes one or more of the steps included in the flowchart.

[0057] The flowchart begins at point 300, as shown in the upper right corner, and ends at point 380 after resetting the cooldown time by 370, as shown in the lower left corner.

[0058] As in Figure 3 As shown in the flowchart, the first step 310 after the start of the method involves determining that 210 has reached a predefined defrost time. (See reference...) Figure 2 It describes timelines 210 and 220 for an exemplary defrosting schedule for two cooling units (cooling unit A 140 and cooling unit B 150), where the predefined defrosting time can be a predefined point in time when the cooling units are scheduled to theoretically perform defrosting operations. Still refer to Figure 2 The predefined defrosting time is indicated by vertical lines 211, 212, 213, 221, 222, and 223 on timelines 210 and 220. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the first step 310 shown in the flowchart checks whether a specific time point has been reached (i.e., as...). Figure 2 (The vertical line is shown). If the defrost time has not yet arrived (e.g., the current time is...), Figure 2 If the point is somewhere between the two vertical lines in the diagram, then the check is performed again, such as... Figure 3 The loop is shown in the diagram. However, if the check is positive and the defrosting time has been reached, then step 320 is executed.

[0059] Figure 3 The second step 320 shown checks whether the cooling unit has been actively cooled for the minimum duration (i.e., whether the minimum cooling time has been reached). This minimum duration check is relevant because ice formation can only occur during the period when the cooling unit is actively cooling. Therefore, initiating the defrosting process before the cooling unit has actively cooled for the minimum duration will not constitute an optimized defrosting schedule and will result in unnecessary defrosting. An exemplary default setting for the minimum duration could be 8 hours, meaning a defrosting cycle can be initiated at most once every 8 hours, and this can be changed by a service expert. Therefore, this embodiment is simple from a service perspective. It is important to note that the minimum time for the cooling unit to actively cool is always measured from the start of the last scheduled defrosting operation. This ensures that there is no ice on the cooling unit when the minimum duration timer is started. Figure 3 The flowchart shows that if the minimum duration has not been reached, the first step 310 is performed (i.e., determining whether the predefined defrosting time has been reached). On the other hand, if the check is positive and the cooling device has actively cooled for the minimum duration, the third step 330 is performed.

[0060] Step 330 checks whether the temperature difference monitoring, described in more detail in step 340, is effective for the cooling device. Therefore, it can be performed with or without steps 340 and 350, according to... Figure 2 The process. The temperature difference refers to the temperature difference between the target temperature 110 and the actual temperature measured by temperature sensors 121, 131, 141, 151, 161, and 171 arranged near the cooling device. Figure 1 An example is provided. If temperature difference monitoring is not activated, the defrosting process 360 begins. However, if temperature difference monitoring is indeed activated, step 340 is performed.

[0061] Step 4, 340, involves checking whether a temperature difference has been reached (i.e., determining whether the cooling intensity is greater than or equal to a predetermined cooling intensity value). The idea behind this step is to incorporate a performance-based metric into the process. The temperature difference should represent the intensity of the cooling activity of the cooling device. More specifically, it is predetermined at which cooling intensity value the check should result in a positive result. Note that a positive result (i.e., reaching a predefined cooling intensity) triggers a defrost operation. Exemplary predetermined cooling intensity values ​​may include, but are not limited to, 1.5 Kelvin-hours, 0.5 Kelvin-hours, or preferably 1 Kelvin-hour. Figure 1 The example details the process of measuring cooling intensity. In summary, the measurements from temperature sensors 121, 131, 141, 151, 161, and 171, located near the cooling unit, are compared to the target temperature 110. These differences are summed over a period of time, and it is checked whether the summed difference exceeds a predetermined cooling intensity value expressed in Kelvin hours. As described above, if the check is affirmative, the defrosting process is initiated. However, if the check is negative (i.e., the summed temperature difference does not reach the predefined cooling intensity), the execution of step 350 is triggered.

[0062] Similar to step 320 in step 2, step 350 checks whether the cooling unit has actively cooled for the maximum duration (i.e., whether the maximum cooling time has been reached). An exemplary default setting for the maximum duration could be 24 hours, meaning the defrost cycle starts at least once every 24 hours, and this can be changed by a maintenance expert. Therefore, from a service perspective, this embodiment is simple. As mentioned above, slow icing may still occur on the cooling unit even if the cooling intensity does not reach the predetermined level. Therefore, the maximum time standard (i.e., forced defrosting) ensures that the cooling unit defrosts at regular intervals. This may also be related to safety concerns, as icing can place a heavy load on the cooling unit, not only inefficient in terms of cooling activities but also creating safety hazards. It is important to note that the maximum active cooling time of the cooling unit is always measured from the start of the last scheduled defrost operation. This ensures that there is no ice on the cooling unit at the point when the timer for the maximum duration is started. If the maximum active cooling time of the cooling unit has not yet been reached, step 310 regarding whether the predetermined defrost time has been reached is executed again. However, if the maximum active cooling time of the cooling unit has been reached, defrost step 360 is executed.

[0063] As described above, defrosting step 360 can be reached via different paths, and is not limited to the paths specifically mentioned in this specification. The defrosting step itself includes the operation of defrosting the cooling device.

[0064] Finally, when defrosting step 360 is initiated, completed, or executed, timer reset step 370 is performed. Timer reset step 370 involves resetting the time the cooling unit has been actively cooling. This value is related to the calculation of the minimum duration and the calculation of the maximum duration.

[0065] Once the timer reset step 370 completes, the process ends with step 380. In summary, Figure 3 The flowchart illustrates the flexible method of this embodiment, which automatically adjusts the number of defrosting procedures based on actual operating conditions (humid air penetration, ambient temperature, seasonal changes, product load, etc.). It is also evident that this embodiment encompasses all the benefits of traditional methods such as fixed-time scheduling.

[0066] Figure 4 An exemplary illustration of a cooling device 400 is shown. Specifically, Figure 4 An air cooler is shown that is typically used in combination with multiple air coolers in industrial installations. Figure 1 Typical usage scenarios are described in more detail, including, for example, cooling of a warehouse using multiple air coolers. It should be noted that this embodiment is not limited to air coolers, but can relate to any type of cooling device 400.

[0067] A temperature sensor 410, located near the cooling device, is shown on the left side of the cooling device. Figure 3 As described in detail, temperature sensor 410 measures the local temperature at different time points to calculate the integral value and determine the cooling intensity of the cooling device. Furthermore, Figure 4 An air cooler is shown, comprising a body 420 and an outlet 430. Air is circulated through the body 420 by means of a fan (not shown), and the outlet 430 ejects air toward the right-hand side of the cooling unit 400, as indicated by arrow 440. The circulated air may pass through a heat exchanger device that can be thermally connected to an evaporator, in which the refrigerant can boil and extract heat from the circulated airflow.

[0068] Although Figure 4 While not visible in the image, the air cooler includes a cooling unit configured to perform a computer-implemented method for determining whether to initiate a defrosting process for the cooling device.

[0069] In addition to significantly reducing energy consumption, one advantage of this embodiment related to the method of determining whether to initiate the defrosting process may be that the lifespan of the cooling unit 400 is increased due to the potential reduction in defrosting cycles. The reduced number of defrosting cycles, compared to conventional methods such as those using a fixed schedule, can also result in less commissioning and fewer maintenance requirements. For example, safety measures already implemented to prevent overloading due to excessive icing can also be applied to this invention. From the perspective of a user or service personnel, a general advantage of this invention may be its reliability and simplicity.

[0070] Figure 5 A processing system 500 is shown for executing instructions to perform a defrosting process to determine whether to activate a cooling device available in an industrial environment. (Example) Figure 4 As shown, the processing system 500 includes a storage subsystem 501, one or more processors 502, a network interface 503, and user interfaces and output devices 505. The components of the processing system can be connected via a central bus system 506, such as... Figure 4 As indicated by the arrows in the diagram. Bus system 506 can provide a secure and reliable means for different components of the processing system to communicate. Storage subsystem 501 can store computer program code that, when executed, performs a method for determining whether to initiate the defrosting process. One or more central processing units 502 can be responsible for executing the program code. User interface and output device 505 can be used to adapt predetermined values, such as the minimum duration of active cooling by the cooling device or the maximum duration of active cooling by the cooling device.

[0071] The processing system 500 can be used to implement a control unit for controlling the cooling device.

[0072] Embodiments of this disclosure can be implemented in any of a variety of forms, such as software. For example, in some embodiments, the invention can be implemented as a computer-implemented method, a computer-readable storage medium, or a computer system.

[0073] In some embodiments, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may be configured to store program instructions and / or data, wherein the program instructions, if executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to perform a method, such as any method embodiment of the methods described herein, or any combination of method embodiments described herein, or any subset or combination of such subsets of any method embodiments described herein.

[0074] In some embodiments, a computing device may be configured to include a processor (or a group of processors) and a storage medium, wherein the storage medium stores program instructions, and the processor is configured to read from the storage medium and execute the program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement any of the various method embodiments described herein (or any combination of the method embodiments described herein, or any subset of any method embodiments described herein, or any combination of such subsets). The device may be implemented in any of a variety of forms.

[0075] While specific embodiments have been described above, these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure, even if only a single embodiment is described with respect to a particular feature. Unless otherwise stated, the examples of features provided in this disclosure are intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive. The above description is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that will be apparent to those skilled in the art who benefit from this disclosure.

[0076] The scope of this disclosure includes any feature or combination of features disclosed herein (expressly or implicitly), or any generalization thereof, whether or not it alleviates any or all the problems addressed herein. Specifically, with reference to the appended claims, features in dependent claims may be combined with features in independent claims, and features in individual independent claims may be combined in any suitable manner, not just the specific combinations listed in the appended claims.

[0077] List of reference numerals

[0078] 101 doors

[0079] Room 105

[0080] 110 target temperature

[0081] 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 400 cooling devices

[0082] 121, 131, 141, 151, 161, 171, 410 Temperature Sensors

[0083] 210 Upper Timeline

[0084] Vertical lines 211-213, 221-223

[0085] 220 bottom timeline

[0086] Starting from 300

[0087] 310 First Step

[0088] 320 Second Step

[0089] 330 Third Step

[0090] 340 Fourth Step

[0091] 350 Fifth Step

[0092] 360 defrosting steps

[0093] 370 Reset Timer

[0094] 380 End

[0095] 420 main body

[0096] 430 Export

[0097] 440 arrow

[0098] 500 processing system

[0099] 501 Storage Subsystem

[0100] 502 (multiple) processors

[0101] 503 Network Interface

[0102] 505 User Interface and Output Devices

[0103] 506 bus system

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for determining whether to initiate a defrosting process for a cooling device suitable for use in an industrial environment (120), the method comprising: Determining that the defrosting process will be initiated includes one or more of the following steps: Determine (320) the predetermined minimum duration for active cooling of the cooling device (120); Determine (340) that the cooling intensity is greater than or equal to a predetermined cooling intensity value; and / or Determine (350) the predetermined maximum duration for which the cooling device (120) actively cools; If it has been determined that the defrosting process should be initiated: Start the defrosting process of the cooling device (120) (360).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining to initiate the defrosting process further comprises: Determine (310) the predefined defrosting time.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, determining that the cooling intensity (340) is greater than or equal to the predetermined cooling intensity value further includes: Obtain the integral temperature value; The integral temperature value is compared with the predetermined cooling intensity value.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein, Obtaining the integrated temperature value also includes: A first temperature value and a second temperature value are received from a temperature sensor arranged near the cooling device (120); Calculate the first difference between the received first temperature value and the target cooling temperature; Calculate the second difference between the second temperature value and the target cooling temperature; and The calculated first and second differences are summed together.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, The first temperature value and the second temperature value are obtained at different time points.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the predetermined cooling intensity value is in the range of 1.5 Kelvin-hours to 0.5 Kelvin-hours, and preferably 1.0 Kelvin-hours.

7. The method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the temperature sensor is preferably arranged at a distance of about 0 to 2 meters from the cooling device (120), more preferably about 0.5 to 1.5 meters, and most preferably about 1 meter from the cooling device (120).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: The predetermined minimum duration from the start of the last defrosting operation is measured.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: The predetermined maximum duration from the start of the last defrosting operation is measured.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: When the defrosting process is started, completed, or performed, the active cooling time of the cooling device (120) is reset (370).

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The cooling device (120) is an air cooler.

12. A computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. A control unit for controlling the defrosting process of a cooling device (120), the control unit comprising means for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

14. A cooling device (120) comprising the control unit according to claim 13.

15. A system comprising a plurality of cooling devices, the system comprising: The first cooling device and the second cooling device (120) of the plurality of cooling devices, each of the first cooling device and the second cooling device includes a control unit, wherein the control unit includes means for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 and 2 and claims 3 to 11; The predefined defrosting time of each of the first cooling device (120) and the second cooling device (120) is set in a non-overlapping manner.

Images