Energy storage heat preservation heat exchange system and vehicle-mounted refrigerator

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of energy storage heat preservation heat exchange systems and vehicle refrigerator, it is related to refrigeration technical field.The system includes shell, is set in shell for accommodating cold storage liquid's energy storage tank, air duct formed between the two and the first evaporator being set in energy storage tank.Cooling, the first evaporator carries out refrigeration to cold storage liquid to store cold quantity, while air flows through air duct and the outer wall of energy storage tank heat exchange and is cooled.Optimally, second evaporator is additionally provided at air duct air outlet, and refrigerant is made to flow through the second evaporator preferentially, realize the direct quick cooling of air, subsequently again enter first evaporator and carry out cold storage.The utility model combines instant refrigeration and cold quantity storage high efficiency, when power on, refrigeration efficiency is high, cooling speed is fast, after power off, it can rely on the cold quantity of energy storage tank release and realize long-acting heat preservation, significantly improve the performance and energy utilization efficiency of vehicle refrigerator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of refrigeration technology, specifically to an energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system and a vehicle-mounted refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] Car refrigerators are a common and convenient device in modern automotive life, providing passengers with chilled drinks and fresh food during journeys, greatly enhancing travel comfort and convenience. Traditional car refrigerators mainly rely on the car's power supply system and operate through compressor refrigeration or semiconductor refrigeration.

[0003] However, existing vehicle-mounted refrigerators generally suffer from the following problems and drawbacks:

[0004] 1. Poor heat preservation performance during power outages: When the vehicle is turned off or the power to the car refrigerator is disconnected, the refrigeration system inside the refrigerator stops working. Due to the lack of an effective cold storage mechanism, the temperature inside the refrigerator will rise rapidly, especially in the high temperatures of summer. The heat preservation time is extremely short, which cannot meet the needs of storing items for a long time, resulting in food spoilage or beverages deteriorating in taste.

[0005] 2. Cooling efficiency and speed need improvement: Some car refrigerators, especially during initial startup or when the ambient temperature is high, take a long time to reach the set low temperature inside, resulting in a "slow cooling" problem. 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 moving, bumping, or the doors are frequently opened and closed, causing the cold air to be lost. This will continuously consume the vehicle battery's power and put a certain amount of pressure on the vehicle's power management.

[0007] 4. Insufficient structural design optimization: Some car refrigerators have unreasonable internal air duct designs, resulting in poor cold air circulation, uneven temperature in different parts of the refrigerator, and local overcooling or overheating, which affects the overall cooling and preservation effect.

[0008] Therefore, how to design a new type of vehicle refrigerator refrigeration system that can provide long-term heat preservation after the vehicle is powered off, while optimizing energy utilization efficiency, is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in this field. Utility Model Content

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

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the first aspect of this utility model provides an energy storage and 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 disposed within the shell; an air duct 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 communicating with the outside, the air inlet and the air outlet being located at different positions on the energy storage tank to guide airflow sequentially through at least a portion of the outer wall of the energy storage tank; and a first evaporator disposed within the energy storage tank and connected to a refrigerant pipeline of a refrigeration device for cooling the cold storage liquid.

[0011] As a preferred technical solution, the air inlet and air outlet are respectively located 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 sequentially through the at least three sides and then flows out from the air outlet. This surround air duct design greatly extends the heat exchange path and time between the air and the energy storage tank, thereby significantly improving the heat exchange efficiency.

[0012] As a more specific preferred technical solution, the air inlet is located in the bottom region of the energy storage tank, and the air outlet is located in the top region 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 one side outer wall 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 sequentially through the bottom channel, the side channel, and the top channel, 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 used to cool the air about to flow out of the air duct. This second evaporator achieves direct, forced cooling of the circulating air, enabling rapid temperature reduction.

[0014] In addition to including a second evaporator, a more preferred technical solution is that the first and second evaporators are connected in series with the refrigerant piping of the refrigeration equipment, with the refrigerant preferentially flowing through the second evaporator and then through the first evaporator. This solution uses the lowest-temperature refrigerant first to directly cool the outlet air, ensuring the fastest cooling response speed. Then, the remaining refrigerant with cooling capacity is used to store cold in an energy storage tank, achieving cascaded utilization of the refrigerant and high energy efficiency.

[0015] To further enhance heat exchange, a preferred embodiment is that the energy storage tank is made of a material with good thermal conductivity (such as aluminum alloy) and has multiple cooling fins on its outer wall, which are located within the air duct. The cooling fins increase the heat exchange area and effectively disrupt the airflow boundary layer, thus enhancing convective heat transfer. Specifically, the cooling fins can be preferentially 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 arrangement is to have one end of the first evaporator tightly attached to 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, as well as the cold storage liquid, making the transfer of cold energy more direct and rapid.

[0017] As a preferred solution for enhanced functionality, the system also includes a semiconductor cooling module. The semiconductor cooling module is disposed 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 cooling module, eliminating the need for an additional bulky cooling fan, resulting in a compact structure while providing additional or independent cooling capacity to the system. Furthermore, the cold end of the semiconductor cooling module may be connected to a first heat dissipation fin, and the energy storage tank may have a second heat dissipation fin on its inner wall at the contact point with the hot end of the semiconductor cooling module, to respectively enhance the heat exchange effect of the cold and hot ends.

[0018] To achieve forced convection, a preferred embodiment is that the system further includes a fan located at the air outlet to drive airflow through the duct.

[0019] To improve overall insulation performance, a preferred solution is to fill the space between the outer wall of the shell and the inner liner of the vehicle refrigerator with an insulation layer, such as polyurethane foam.

[0020] The second aspect of this utility model provides a vehicle-mounted refrigerator, characterized in that it includes the energy storage and heat exchange system described in any one of the first aspects.

[0021] Compared with the prior art, the technical solution provided by this utility model has the following significant advantages:

[0022] 1. Achieve long-lasting heat preservation during power outages: By using a built-in energy storage tank containing phase change cold storage liquid, a large amount of cold energy can be effectively stored when power is on. After 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 achieving "continuous cold energy" and greatly expanding the application scenarios of the vehicle refrigerator.

[0023] 2. High cooling efficiency and fast cooling speed: By setting up a second evaporator to directly cool the air at the outlet, and adopting a series scheme in which the refrigerant preferentially flows through the second evaporator, instantaneous and rapid cooling is achieved. Combined with the design of the surrounding air duct and cooling fins, convective heat transfer is enhanced, and the overall cooling efficiency and cooling speed of the system far exceed those of traditional products.

[0024] 3. High energy efficiency and greater energy saving: This invention combines refrigeration with cold storage. When the refrigeration system is working, it not only cools the storage space but also charges the "cold energy battery" (energy storage tank). After reaching the set temperature, the energy storage tank can maintain the temperature, thereby greatly reducing the compressor's starting frequency and lowering the overall energy consumption. The cascaded utilization of the refrigerant further improves energy efficiency.

[0025] 4. Compact structure and uniform temperature: The clever use of the energy storage tank as the heat sink for the semiconductor refrigeration module achieves 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 chamber and avoiding problems such as localized overcooling or overheating. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the disclosed embodiments of this utility model, the accompanying drawings of the embodiments will be briefly described below. These drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an energy storage and heat exchange system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 .

[0028] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an energy storage and heat exchange system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 .

[0029] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional exploded view of an energy storage and heat exchange system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 4 This is a side view schematic diagram of an energy storage and heat exchange system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of an energy storage and heat exchange system according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the energy storage and heat preservation method in one embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration system used in the energy storage and heat exchange system of one embodiment of this utility model.

[0034] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration system used in the energy storage and heat exchange system including a semiconductor refrigeration module, according to another embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0035] The technical solution (including preferred technical solution) of this utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and by listing some optional embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this utility model, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this utility model without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0036] Example 1

[0037] This embodiment provides a high-performance energy storage and heat exchange system 100, the structure of which is shown in the attached figure. Figures 1 to 5 As shown. This system can be integrated into a vehicle refrigerator as a functional module to give the vehicle refrigerator efficient cooling and long-lasting heat preservation capabilities.

[0038] Reference Figures 1 to 5 The energy storage and 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 a cooling component arranged inside the system.

[0039] The housing 10 is the external support structure of the entire system, typically made of high-strength engineering plastics or lightweight metal sheets through injection molding or stamping. It defines an internal space to house all the core components of the system. When assembled into the vehicle refrigerator, a high-efficiency insulation layer, such as polyurethane (PU) foam, is filled between the outer wall of the housing 10 and the inner liner of the vehicle refrigerator. This insulation layer 11 effectively isolates heat intrusion from the external environment and is fundamental to achieving long-term insulation of the entire unit.

[0040] The energy storage tank 20 plays a crucial role in storing and releasing cold energy. For example... Figure 3As shown in the exploded view, the energy storage tank 20 is a container with a hollow interior, 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), whose freezing point is designed within the commonly used 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 will solidify from a liquid state to a solid state, releasing a large amount of latent heat of solidification in the process (i.e., absorbing and storing cold energy); conversely, when the ambient temperature is higher than its phase change point, it will melt and absorb heat (i.e., release cold energy), thereby maintaining a stable ambient temperature.

[0041] The air duct 30 is the channel for airflow, and its design is crucial to heat exchange efficiency. In this embodiment, the air duct 30 is not a separate pipe, but rather cleverly formed by a pre-defined gap between the outer wall of the energy storage tank 20 and the inner wall of the shell 10. (Refer to...) Figure 4 and Figure 5 The air duct 30 has an air inlet 31 and an air outlet 32, both of which are connected to the storage space of the vehicle refrigerator. Specifically, the air inlet 31 is located in the bottom area of ​​the energy storage tank 20, while the air outlet 32 ​​is located in the top area of ​​the energy storage tank 20. The path of the air duct 30 is carefully designed as a wraparound structure. After entering through the air inlet 31, the air first flows through the bottom channel 33 formed between the bottom outer wall of the energy storage tank 20 and the inner wall of the housing 10; then, the airflow turns upward and flows through the 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 airflow turns again at the top and flows through the top channel 35 formed between the top outer wall of the energy storage tank 20 and the inner wall of the housing 10, and flows out from the air outlet 32. This "bottom-side-top" U-shaped or J-shaped flow path greatly extends the contact time and contact area between the air and the energy storage tank 20, ensuring sufficient heat exchange.

[0042] To further enhance the heat exchange effect, such as Figure 3 and Figure 5 As shown, multiple cooling fins 22 are integrally formed or welded onto the outer wall of the energy storage tank 20, particularly in the bottom channel 33 and side channel 34 areas through which air flows. These cooling fins 22 are strip-shaped or wavy, perpendicular to the airflow direction or at a certain angle to the airflow direction. Their functions are: 1) to greatly increase the effective heat exchange surface area of ​​the energy storage tank 20; and 2) to generate turbulence when air flows through, disrupting the laminar boundary layer and thus significantly improving the convective heat transfer coefficient. In particular, placing the cooling fins 22 on the bottom outer wall allows for initial and powerful cooling of the air entering the channel.

[0043] The refrigeration component in 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 vehicle refrigerator's refrigeration equipment (such as a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, etc.).

[0044] The first evaporator 51 is a section of coil, such as Figure 5 As shown, it is arranged inside the energy storage tank 20 and completely submerged in the cold storage liquid 21. In order to maximize the cold storage efficiency, a portion of the piping of the first evaporator 51 is preferably laid close to the bottom inner wall of the energy storage tank 20, so that the cold 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.

[0045] The second evaporator 52 is a finned tube heat exchanger located at the air outlet 32 ​​of the air duct 30. Its function is to provide direct and deep cooling to the circulating air before it returns to the storage space.

[0046] In some embodiments of this 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 throttling valve preferentially enters the second evaporator 52, where it evaporates and absorbs heat, causing a rapid drop in the temperature of the air flowing through the air outlet 32. Thus, at the initial stage of refrigerator startup, the user can immediately feel a strong cold air and obtain an excellent rapid cooling experience. Although the temperature of the refrigerant flowing out of the second evaporator 52 rises somewhat, it remains at a relatively low evaporation temperature. At this point, it flows back into the first evaporator 51 and continues to evaporate inside the energy storage tank 20, using all its remaining cooling capacity to cool the cold storage liquid 21 for long-term, deep cold storage. This series connection achieves the tiered utilization of refrigerant cooling capacity, balancing the two major goals of immediate cooling and long-term energy storage.

[0047] In addition, such as Figure 2 As shown, the system also has a fan 40 at the air outlet 32. The function of the fan 40 (e.g., a low-noise axial fan) is to provide power and force the air in the storage space to circulate along the preset air duct 30 path, thereby overcoming wind resistance and achieving efficient forced convection heat exchange.

[0048] During the refrigeration and cold storage stages, in addition to the first evaporator 51 refrigerating the cold storage liquid 21 and indirectly cooling the air through the energy storage tank 10, the second evaporator 52 directly cools the air at the outlet, achieving rapid cooling.

[0049] In some embodiments of this invention, only one evaporator is needed, namely, only the first evaporator 51 in the energy storage tank 20. The operating process at this time is as follows:

[0050] 1. Refrigeration and Cold Storage: When the vehicle refrigerator starts refrigeration, the refrigeration equipment 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. At the same time, the fan 40 starts, drawing air from the storage space into the air duct 30 through the air inlet 31. The air flows through the bottom channel 33 (including cooling fins 22), side channel 34, and top channel 35, which are in contact with the low-temperature energy storage tank 10 (due to the cooling of the cold storage liquid and the action of the first evaporator), and after being effectively cooled, it is sent back to the storage space through the air outlet 32.

[0051] Power-off insulation: When the vehicle is turned off or the refrigeration equipment stops working, the cold energy stored in the coolant 21 is continuously released to the air flowing through the air duct 30 through the thermally conductive energy storage tank 10 wall and its cooling fins 22. At this time, the fan 40 can be driven by a small backup power supply or rely on natural convection to maintain a certain airflow, thereby keeping the storage space at a low temperature for a period of time.

[0052] Example 2

[0053] Based on Embodiment 1, this embodiment adds an auxiliary cooling unit—a semiconductor cooling module 60 (also known as a TEC or thermoelectric cooler)—to provide a more flexible cooling mode and stronger cooling capacity.

[0054] 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 that cools one side (cold end) and heats the other side (hot end) when powered on. 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.

[0055] The ingenuity of this design lies in its use of the large-volume, high-heat-capacity energy storage tank 20 as a heat sink for the hot end of the semiconductor cooling module 60. When the semiconductor cooling module 60 is operating, the cooling energy generated at 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 at its hot end is efficiently conducted to the energy storage tank 20. Due to the coolant 21 inside the energy storage tank 20 and its own large heat capacity, it can easily absorb this heat without causing a significant increase in its own temperature. When the main cooling system is operating, this heat will eventually be carried away by the first evaporator 51; when the main cooling system is shut down, this heat will only be absorbed slowly. This design completely avoids the problem of traditional semiconductor cooling requiring a large, noisy cooling fan to dissipate heat from the hot end, allowing the entire system to remain compact and quiet while increasing functionality.

[0056] To further improve efficiency, a miniaturized first heat dissipation fin 61 can be connected to the cold end of the semiconductor cooling module 60 to increase the heat exchange area with the air. Simultaneously, several second heat dissipation fins 62 can be provided on the inner wall of the energy storage tank 20 in the area corresponding to the contact position with the hot end of the semiconductor cooling module 60, to enhance the energy storage tank 20's absorption of heat from the hot end and its dispersion efficiency within the coolant 21.

[0057] The semiconductor cooling module 60 can be activated as needed. 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 from the hot end is introduced into the coolant 21 through the wall of the energy storage tank 10 and the second heat dissipation fins 52.

[0058] Example 3

[0059] This embodiment describes an energy storage and heat preservation method using the above-mentioned energy storage and heat preservation heat exchange system 100, the specific process of which is attached. Figure 6 As shown.

[0060] This method mainly includes two core operating modes: cooling / cold storage mode and power outage insulation mode.

[0061] 1. Cooling / Cold Storage Mode ( Figure 6 (S602 to S618)

[0062] When the vehicle refrigerator is powered on and the user sets the cooling requirement (step S602 determines "yes"), the system enters the cooling / cold storage mode (step S603).

[0063] The controller activates the compressor refrigeration system of the vehicle refrigerator, supplying refrigerant to the refrigerant pipeline 50 of this utility model system. According to the preferred design of Embodiment 1 (steps S610, S611), the refrigerant preferentially flows into the second evaporator 52 located at the air outlet 32 ​​(step S609), directly cooling the air. At the same time, the fan 40 starts (step S606), driving the air in the storage space 70 from the air inlet 31 into the air duct 30.

[0064] Subsequently, the refrigerant flows into the first evaporator 51 in the energy storage tank 20 (step S604) to begin deep cooling of 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).

[0065] The air driven by the fan 40, as it flows through the air ducts 33, 34, and 35 at the bottom, sides, and top, undergoes sufficient heat exchange with the already cooled outer wall of the energy storage tank 20, which is covered with cooling fins 22, resulting in a significant temperature reduction (step S607). This cooled air is then further cooled by the second evaporator 52 and blown out from the air outlet 32 ​​back into the storage space 70.

[0066] During this process, the controller can determine whether auxiliary cooling needs to be activated based on preset logic (e.g., rapid cooling is required or the ambient temperature is too high) (step S613). If necessary, the semiconductor cooling module 60 is activated (step S614) to supplement the cooling of the air flowing through it (step S615).

[0067] The controller continuously monitors the temperature of the storage space 70. When the temperature does not reach the set value (step S617 determines "No"), the above cycle continues. When the temperature reaches the set value (step S617 determines "Yes"), the controller can stop the operation of the compressor and the semiconductor cooling module, allowing only the fan to run at low speed to balance the temperature, or put the entire system into a low-power standby state (step S618).

[0068] 2. Power outage insulation mode ( Figure 6 (S619 to S621)

[0069] When the vehicle is turned off and the car refrigerator is powered off (step S602 determines "No"), the system automatically enters the power-off heat preservation mode (step S619).

[0070] At this point, all active cooling equipment (compressors, semiconductor modules) has stopped working. The massive amount of cold energy stored in the solid cold storage liquid 21 in the energy storage tank 20 begins to slowly melt and absorb heat because the temperature inside the tank is higher than its melting point, that is, the cold energy is stably released to the outside through the outer wall of the energy storage tank 20 (step S620).

[0071] Under the influence of natural convection (cold air sinks and hot air rises), the air in the storage space 70 will spontaneously flow through the air duct 30 and exchange heat with the outer wall of the low-temperature energy storage tank 20, thereby maintaining the low temperature of the storage space 70 for a long time without any energy consumption (step S621). If the vehicle refrigerator has a small-capacity backup power supply, the fan 40 can also be run intermittently with extremely low power consumption (e.g., running for 30 seconds every 10 minutes) to enhance the circulation of cold air and obtain a more uniform and longer-lasting heat preservation effect.

[0072] Example 4

[0073] This embodiment will combine Figure 7 From the macroscopic perspective of the entire vehicle refrigerator refrigeration system, the integration and working principle of the energy storage and heat exchange system 100 described in Example 1 are explained in detail. Figure 7 This demonstrates how the energy storage and heat exchange system of this invention can be integrated into a complete refrigeration system as a core subsystem.

[0074] like Figure 7As shown, the vehicle-mounted refrigeration system is a closed-loop refrigerant circulation system with dual electronic valves working together. Its main components include: a compressor 80, a condenser 82, an electronic expansion valve 83 located at the front end of the evaporator (as a main throttling valve), a large-diameter electronic expansion valve 85 located at the rear end of the evaporator (as a back pressure control valve), the energy storage and heat exchange system 100 of this invention (which internally includes a first evaporator 51 and a second evaporator 52), a gas-liquid separator 81, and multiple PT sensors 84 for precise system monitoring.

[0075] The system's workflow, i.e., the refrigerant circulation path, is as follows:

[0076] 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.

[0077] 2. Condensation process: High-pressure, high-temperature gaseous refrigerant flows into condenser 82. In condenser 82, the refrigerant exchanges heat with the external environment (usually outside air), releasing heat and thus condensing into high-pressure, medium-temperature liquid refrigerant.

[0078] 3. Throttling process: High-pressure liquid refrigerant flows through electronic expansion valve 83. 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.

[0079] 4. Evaporation process:

[0080] 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 and absorbs heat from the circulating air, directly and rapidly cooling the air. This is a key step in achieving "instant cooling".

[0081] (b) The refrigerant flowing out of the second evaporator 52, although its temperature rises somewhat, is still in a low-temperature evaporation state. At this point, it flows back 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 in the form of latent heat. This is a key step in achieving "energy storage and heat preservation".

[0082] 5. Return Process: The refrigerant flowing out of the first evaporator 51 has completely turned into a low-pressure gaseous state. It flows through the gas-liquid separator 81 to ensure that no liquid refrigerant can enter the compressor 80 and cause damage. Subsequently, the gaseous refrigerant is drawn into the suction port of the compressor 80 to begin the next cycle.

[0083] 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.

[0084] Through this system-level integration, the energy storage and heat exchange system 100 of this invention is not only an independent module, but also the core of the entire refrigeration system strategy. It perfectly combines the two objectives of "instant cooling" and "long-term energy storage" within a single refrigeration cycle through the ingenious series connection and functional division of evaporators.

[0085] Example 5

[0086] like Figure 8 As shown, the basic vapor compression refrigeration cycle of this system is exactly the same as that in Example 4. The key 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.

[0087] This hybrid system features a more flexible and efficient control mode:

[0088] 1. High-Efficiency Hybrid Cooling Mode: In scenarios requiring rapid cooling (e.g., starting the refrigerator for the first time in a hot summer), the controller can simultaneously activate the compressor 80 and the semiconductor cooling module 60. At this time, the 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 supplemental cooling from the cold end of the semiconductor cooling module 60 as it flows through the side channel 34. The combination of these three cooling methods achieves the fastest cooling speed. The heat generated by the semiconductor cooling module 60 is effectively absorbed by the energy storage tank 20.

[0089] 2. Conventional Refrigeration / Cold Storage Mode: In this mode, only the compressor refrigeration cycle operates, and the working principle is the same as in Example 4. The semiconductor refrigeration module 60 remains off.

[0090] 3. Low Temperature Maintenance / Energy Saving Mode: When the internal temperature has reached the set value and only a small amount of cooling is needed to offset the heat loss from the outside, the high-energy-consuming compressor 80 can be turned off, and only the low-energy-consuming semiconductor cooling module 60 can be activated. At this time, the semiconductor cooling module 60 provides a small amount of cooling to maintain the low temperature inside the chamber, achieving precise temperature control and extreme energy saving.

[0091] 4. Power-off insulation mode: In this mode, both the compressor 80 and the semiconductor refrigeration module 60 stop working. The system relies entirely on the cold energy stored in the energy storage tank 20 to maintain the low temperature, and the working principle is the same as described in Example 3.

[0092] Those skilled in the art will readily understand that the above are merely preferred embodiments of the present utility model and are not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, combinations, substitutions, improvements, etc., made under the spirit and principles of the present utility model are included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

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

2. The energy storage and heat exchange system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The air inlet and air outlet are respectively located 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 exchange system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The air inlet is located in the bottom region of the energy storage tank, and the air outlet is located in the top region 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 side outer wall 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 then flows out from the air outlet.

4. The energy storage and heat exchange system according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a second evaporator, which is located at the air outlet and is used to cool the air that is about to flow out of the air duct; the first evaporator and the second evaporator are connected in series with the refrigerant pipeline of the refrigeration equipment, and the refrigerant flows first through the second evaporator and then through the first evaporator.

5. The energy storage and heat exchange system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The energy storage tank is made of a material with good thermal conductivity and has multiple cooling fins on its outer wall, which are located inside the air duct; the cooling fins are disposed on the bottom outer wall of the energy storage tank.

6. The energy storage and heat exchange system according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that: One end of the first evaporator is tightly attached to the inner wall of the bottom of the energy storage tank.

7. The energy storage and heat exchange system according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a semiconductor cooling module, which is disposed in 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; the cold end of the semiconductor cooling 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 the position where it is in contact with the hot end of the semiconductor cooling module.

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

9. The energy storage and heat exchange system according to claim 1, characterized in that: An insulation layer is filled between the outer wall of the shell and the inner liner of the vehicle refrigerator.

10. A vehicle-mounted refrigerator, characterized in that: The system includes the energy storage and heat exchange system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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