Thermally insulated storage tank

Abstract

Thermally insulated storage container, comprising a wall (1) forming the storage container, having an inside and an outside, and an insulation layer (2) lying against the outside of the wall (1), enclosing the storage container and having different thicknesses in different regions (1.1, 1.2) of the wall (1), characterized in that the insulation layer (2) is thicker in a region (1.1) with an above-average temperature difference between the inside and outside of the wall (1) than in a region (1.2) with a smaller temperature difference between the inside and outside of the wall (1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a thermally insulated storage tank according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] A thermally insulated storage tank of the type mentioned above is generally known per se, so no special written documentation is required. Such a thermally insulated storage tank, designed to hold heating circuit fluid (usually water), consists of a wall forming the storage tank, which has an inner and an outer side, and an insulation layer adjacent to the outer side of the wall, enclosing the storage tank, and having different thicknesses in different areas of the wall. When designing such a thermally insulated storage tank, the thickness of the insulation layer adjacent to and surrounding the wall of the storage tank, which has an inner and an outer side, is usually specified (initially considered very generally).

[0003] The invention is based on the object of improving a thermally insulated storage tank of the type mentioned above. In particular, a storage tank with optimized thermal insulation is to be provided.

[0004] This object is achieved with a thermally insulated storage tank of the type mentioned at the outset by the features listed in the characterising part of claim 1.

[0005] According to the invention, it is therefore provided that the insulation layer is thicker in an area with an above-average temperature difference between the inside and outside of the wall than in an area with a smaller temperature difference between the inside and outside of the wall, whereby this naturally refers to a temperature difference that occurs during operation, in particular during stationary operation, of the storage tank. In other words, the invention provides that an area of ​​the wall with an above-average temperature difference between the inside and outside of the wall during operation of the storage tank is determined, and a greater thickness of the insulation layer is specified in the determined area than in any other area of ​​the wall.

[0006] To put it another way, the storage tank according to the invention is characterized in that the thickness of the insulation layer is designed based on the heat flow through the wall of the storage tank. Depending on the intended use of the storage tank or the heat flow, different temperature differences can occur in different areas of the wall. These areas are determined either by practical tests - which is feasible for a person skilled in the art - or by computer simulation - which is also feasible for a person skilled in the art with the appropriate simulation skills. Once these areas have been identified, a particularly thick insulation layer is provided there in order to compensate for the temperature differences or to make them uniform across the entire wall. A storage tank designed or...A storage tank designed in this way is thermally more advantageous than one in which the areas where particularly large temperature differences are likely to be affected have not been taken into account.

[0007] In order to obtain a storage tank with the smoothest possible exterior surface after applying the insulation layer, which is preferably done by foaming the storage tank, and thus easy to handle geometrically and with regard to its further installation, it is also particularly preferred, as will be discussed in more detail below, that the wall in the areas with above-average temperature differences be concave on the outside and correspondingly convex on the inside to accommodate the thicker insulation layer. This requirement also results in a particularly pressure-stable storage tank.

[0008] Furthermore, it is particularly preferred, as will be discussed in more detail below, that the storage tank is designed as a defrost buffer or buffer storage unit for a heat pump (see, for example, the buffer storage unit according to DE 10 2018 102 670 A1) and is arranged in the housing of the heat pump itself, in particular a heat pump intended for installation inside a building. The storage tank according to the invention, which is or can be very compact due to its special design and shape, is particularly well suited for this purpose.

[0009] In all of this, it is particularly preferably provided that the insulation layer is thicker in the area or areas where the inside of the wall is colder than the outside of the wall when the storage tank is in operation. In other words, it is particularly preferably provided that, to determine the above-average temperature difference, an operating mode of the storage tank is selected in which the inside of the wall is colder than the outside of the wall. These specifications are therefore particularly oriented towards an operating mode of the storage tank in which the temperature on the outside of the wall could fall below the dew point and thus condensation could form. When the storage tank is used in a heat pump, this is particularly the so-called cooling mode, i.e. the mode in which the heat pump is used to cool the building.

[0010] Other advantageous further training options arise from the dependent protection claims.

[0011] The heat-insulated storage container according to the invention, including its advantageous developments according to the dependent claims, is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing of a preferred embodiment.

[0012] It shows Fig. 1 shows a section through the storage container according to the invention including its insulation layer; Fig. 2 perspective view of the storage tank according to Fig. 1 without its insulation layer; Fig. 3 in front view the storage tank according to Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 in section the storage tank according to Fig. 3 along the section line DD.

[0013] The storage container shown in the figures consists, in a known manner, of a wall 1 forming the storage container, having an inner and an outer side, and an insulation layer 2 adjacent to the outer side of the wall 1, enclosing the storage container and having different thicknesses in different areas 1.1, 1.2 of the wall 1.

[0014] The said wall 1 preferably consists of a metallic material.

[0015] Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the storage container is formed from two matching half-shells.

[0016] Furthermore, the storage container preferably has a supply connection 3 and a discharge connection 4 (see in particular Fig. 2).

[0017] When designing such a storage tank, a thickness of an insulation layer 2 is determined in a known manner, which is adjacent to a wall 1 of the storage tank, said wall having an inner and an outer side, and which surrounds the storage tank.

[0018] From a practical point of view, it is now essential for the storage container according to the invention that the insulation layer 2 is thicker in a region 1.1 with an above-average temperature difference between the inside and outside of the wall 1 than in a region 1.2 with a smaller temperature difference between the inside and outside of the wall 1.

[0019] Viewed from another perspective, it is essential for the storage tank according to the invention that an area 1.1 of the wall 1 with an above-average temperature difference between the inside and outside of the wall 1 during operation of the storage tank is determined and that a greater thickness of the insulation layer 2 is specified at the determined area 1.1 than at another area 1.2 of the wall 1.

[0020] With regard to the shape, it is furthermore particularly preferred that the wall 1 in the region 1.1 with an above-average temperature difference is concave on the outside and correspondingly convexly curved on the inside to accommodate the thicker insulation layer 2.

[0021] Furthermore, it is particularly preferably provided that the wall 1 is curved, in particular corrugated, in a region 1.3 with above-average internal container pressure in order to increase the pressure stability of the storage container or that a region 1.3 of the wall 1 with above-average internal container pressure is determined in order to avoid deformation, wherein the precise determination and design of the said regions 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 is taken into account accordingly in the context of the aforementioned computer simulation.

[0022] As explained at the outset, it is further particularly preferably provided that the storage tank is arranged in a housing of a heat pump, in particular a heat pump intended for installation inside a building. Or in other words: According to the invention, a heat pump is provided with a housing and a storage tank of the type described arranged therein. It is particularly preferably provided that the storage tank is designed as a defrost buffer for a or the heat pump, i.e., in particular, serves to provide heat for defrosting an iced-up evaporator. In this context, it is further particularly preferably provided that the storage tank has a storage volume of less than 30 liters, preferably less than 20 liters, particularly preferably less than 16 liters.For a construction that is as compact as possible, it is also particularly preferred that the insulation layer 2 surrounding the storage container has a cuboid shape on the outside.

[0023] Finally, as also already explained above, in order to avoid condensate formation between the wall 1 and the insulation layer 2 - in particular when used in a heat pump in cooling mode - it is particularly preferred that the insulation layer 2 is made thicker in the area 1.1 where, during operation of the storage tank, the inside of the wall 1 is particularly cold compared to other areas 1.2 and colder than the outside of the wall 1, or that in order to determine the above-average temperature difference in a (specific) area 1.1 (and compared to other areas 1.2), an operating mode of the storage tank is selected in which the inside of the wall 1 is colder than the outside of the wall 1.

[0024] As can be seen, the temperature difference in question can be positive or negative depending on the operating mode of the storage tank, ie cold outside and warm inside (for example heating mode of the heat pump) or warm outside and cold inside (for example cooling mode of the heat pump).

[0025] With regard to the condensation mentioned, it is ultimately preferably provided that the insulation layer 2 is at least thick enough that the dew point is not undercut or condensation occurs at any point on the wall 1. List of reference symbols 1 wall 1.1 Area 1.2 Area 1.3 Area 2 insulation layer 3 Supply connection 4 Discharge connection QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2018 102 670 A1

[0008]

Claims

[1] Thermally insulated storage container, comprising a wall (1) forming the storage container, having an inner and an outer side, and an insulation layer (2) adjacent to the outer side of the wall (1), enclosing the storage container and having different thicknesses in different areas (1.1, 1.2) of the wall (1), characterized by that the insulation layer (2) is thicker in a region (1.1) with an above-average temperature difference between the inside and outside of the wall (1) than in a region (1.2) with a smaller temperature difference between the inside and outside of the wall (1). [2] Thermally insulated storage tank according to claim 1, characterized by that the wall (1) in the area (1.1) with an above-average temperature difference is concave on the outside and correspondingly convex on the inside to accommodate the thicker insulation layer (2). [3] Thermally insulated storage container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the wall (1) is curved in an area (1.3) with above-average internal tank pressure in order to increase the pressure stability of the storage tank. [4] Thermally insulated storage container according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the insulation layer (2) surrounding the storage container has a cuboid shape. [5] Thermally insulated storage container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that it is arranged in a housing of a heat pump, in particular a heat pump intended for installation inside a building. [6] Thermally insulated storage container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that it is designed as a defrost buffer for a heat pump. [7] Thermally insulated storage container according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized bythat the insulation layer (2) is thicker in the area (1.1) where, during operation of the storage tank, the inside of the wall (1) is particularly cold compared to other areas (1.2) and colder than the outside of the wall (1).

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