Device having a heat exchanger and method for operating a heat exchanger of a device
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023730722
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-05-27
- Filing Date
- 2023-05-25
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-09
AI Technical Summary
Heat exchangers face inefficiencies due to icing, which impairs heat transfer and air flow, leading to reduced performance and potential damage, with existing defrosting methods often being either energy-inefficient or insufficiently frequent.
A device with a heat exchanger featuring separately controllable heating sections that allow targeted defrosting of specific areas, using integrated heating elements and a control device to monitor and manage defrosting based on icing detection, reducing energy input and improving defrosting efficiency.
Enables efficient, needs-based, and energy-saving defrosting by selectively heating only the areas with icing, reducing energy consumption and preventing system impairment, while maintaining optimal performance and preventing damage.
Smart Images
Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] 'Device with a heat exchanger and method for operating a heat exchanger of a device'
[0002] The present invention relates to a device with a heat exchanger and a method for operating a heat exchanger of a device.
[0003] Heat exchangers are used to remove heat from a system to be cooled or to introduce heat into a system to be heated. In refrigeration, heat exchangers are used to remove heat from a volume to be cooled by converting a cooling medium from the liquid to the gaseous phase, with the heat exchanger acting as an evaporator. Similarly, in heating technology, a heat exchanger can be used to absorb ambient heat from the outside air and, in conjunction with a heat pump, provide heat for a building to be heated. Conversely, such a heat exchanger can also be used as a condenser or dry cooler to release heat to the environment.
[0004] Regardless of the specific application, it is crucial for the reliable and fault-free operation of the heat exchanger that heat transfer between the heat exchanger and its environment is not impaired by interference that isolates the heat exchanger from the environment. Such interference includes, for example, contamination or icing on the heat exchanger, which can accumulate between the fins or fin packs of the heat exchanger.
[0005] Heat exchangers often have fins or fin packs to provide the largest possible surface area for heat transfer while keeping the overall size small. During practical operation of such a heat exchanger, moisture from the area surrounding the fins can condense on their surfaces, causing these surfaces and the gaps between the fins to ice over. Due to the insulating effect of this icing, heat transfer between the area surrounding the heat exchanger and its fins or the corresponding fluid within the heat exchanger is impaired. In addition, air flow through the heat exchanger is impaired, which increases pressure loss and reduces performance because less air flows through the heat exchanger. In this state, the heat exchanger may no longer deliver the required cooling or heating capacity.This can lead to the destruction of the cooled goods or the failure of a system being cooled. Furthermore, icing can cause damage to the heat exchanger components.
[0006] To remove ice, it is common practice to defrost the heat exchanger using a heating device. This defrosting should be carried out as efficiently as possible. If defrosting occurs too frequently or for too long a period of time, an unnecessary amount of heat energy is introduced, for example, into the volume to be cooled, which then has to be removed using the heat exchanger to maintain or set the desired cooling temperature. If defrosting occurs too infrequently or for too short a period of time, the defrosting is ineffective and the functionality of the system in question is impaired. Common defrosting methods include electric defrosting, hot gas defrosting, warm brine defrosting, and water or air defrosting.
[0007] Documents CN 204128254 U and CN 214469483 U each show devices for defrosting heat exchangers.
[0008] The present invention is based on the technical problem of providing a device with a heat exchanger and a method for operating a heat exchanger of a device which enable efficient, demand-oriented and energy-saving defrosting.
[0009] The technical problem described above is solved by the independent claims. Further embodiments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims and the following description.
[0010] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a device with a heat exchanger, wherein the heat exchanger has pipes that carry a cooling medium, wherein the heat exchanger has a fin arrangement through which the pipes pass, and wherein the heat exchanger has a heating device integrated into the heat exchanger, with a control device for controlling the heating device. The device is characterized in that the heating device has two or more separately controllable heating sections, wherein each heating section is assigned a defrosting region of the heat exchanger, and wherein the heating device is configured for separately defrosting individual defrosting regions of the heat exchanger by means of the separately controllable heating sections. The separately controllable heating sections enable more targeted defrosting of the heat exchanger.This allows separately controllable heating sections to transfer heat to the areas of the heat exchanger where icing is actually present. Furthermore, heating sections whose assigned defrosting areas have already defrosted can be shut down, while other heating sections whose assigned defrosting areas have not yet completely defrosted continue to transfer heat to the defrosting area.
[0011] The device according to the invention therefore has the advantage that defrosting can be carried out by means of the heating sections in a region-by-region manner, i.e., selectively for the defrosting areas. Furthermore, the device according to the invention has the advantage that defrosting of the defrosting areas can be controlled individually for each of the defrosting areas, i.e., temperature control or heat input can be controlled region-by-region. In this way, the energy input during defrosting can be reduced, since, in contrast to a heating device that cannot be controlled region-by-region, the entire heat exchanger does not need to be heated for the entire defrosting period.
[0012] A defrosting area of the heat exchanger can, for example, be a volume area of the heat exchanger that includes parts of one or more fins of the fin arrangement as well as parts of the piping. Furthermore, a heating section associated with the defrosting area or volume area can be arranged within the associated defrosting area or volume area.
[0013] It can be provided that the two or more separately controllable heating sections and the defrosting areas of the heat exchanger assigned to each heating section are arranged in rows and / or columns. For example, the defrosting areas of the heat exchanger can be arranged in rows, with each row extending substantially over the entire length of the heat exchanger and, for example, two or more rows being arranged one above the other when viewed along a height of the heat exchanger. Alternatively, the defrosting areas of the heat exchanger can be arranged in columns, with each column extending substantially over the entire height of the heat exchanger and, for example, two or more columns being arranged next to one another when viewed along a length of the heat exchanger. Alternatively, it can be provided that the defrosting areas of the heat exchanger are arranged in a grid-like or lattice-like manner in rows and columns.
[0014] According to one embodiment of the device, it can be provided that heating elements of the
[0015] Heating devices are arranged partially or completely within an envelope of the fin arrangement. When reference is made here to an envelope of the fin arrangement, this encompasses a volume that is limited by the maximum external dimensions of the fin arrangement. For example, it can be provided that the heating elements penetrate the fin arrangement. It can be provided that two or more heating elements are arranged parallel to one another, at least in sections, along a longitudinal extension of the heat exchanger.
[0016] The heating elements may comprise electrical heating elements, such as heating rods or the like, that penetrate the fin arrangement. The heating elements may therefore be resistance heating elements, which heat up due to their resistance when electrical power is passed through them, converting electrical energy into heat.
[0017] The heating elements can, for example, be inserted through openings in the fins of the fin arrangement and be attached to or in contact with the fins. Each heating element can be arranged to completely penetrate the fin arrangement along its length. Alternatively, the heating elements can be arranged in conduits that penetrate the fins. Such conduits simplify the installation and maintenance of the heating elements.
[0018] According to one embodiment of the device, it can be provided that each heating section is assigned a separately controllable heating rod.
[0019] Alternatively, each heating section can be assigned a controllable segment of a heating rod. A respective heating rod can, for example, have two or more separately controllable segments.
[0020] Alternatively, each heating section can be assigned a heating element group. A heating element group can comprise two or more heating elements that can be controlled jointly.
[0021] Alternatively, each heating section may be assigned a bow-shaped electric heating element or a group of bow-shaped electric heating elements. Such a bow-shaped or fork-shaped electric heating element comprises, in particular, two longitudinal sections arranged essentially parallel to one another, the ends of which are arranged adjacent to one another and connected to a source for supplying electrical energy. The longitudinal sections are connected to one another in an arcuate manner or merge into one another in a region remote from the ends. The heating elements may comprise pipes that penetrate the fin arrangement.
[0022] According to one embodiment of the device, it can be provided that each heating section is assigned a controllable pipeline, wherein control is carried out by means of switchable valves.
[0023] Alternatively, it can be provided that each heating section is assigned a controllable segment of a pipeline, with control being carried out by means of switchable valves.
[0024] Alternatively, it can be provided that each heating section is assigned a controllable group of pipes, with control being carried out by means of switchable valves.
[0025] Such a pipe of the heating device can be permeated by a heatable fluid, such as hot gas, warm brine, or the like, to heat a respective heating section and defrost the associated defrosting area of the heat exchanger. The device can have an additional device for storing and / or heating the heatable fluid.
[0026] It can be provided that the pipes of the heating device, which serve as heating elements, are provided separately from the pipes of the heat exchanger that carry the cooling medium. Accordingly, fins of the fin arrangement of the heat exchanger are penetrated, on the one hand, by pipes that carry the cooling medium, and, on the other hand, by pipes of the heating device, which are designed to carry a heatable fluid. In particular, it can be provided that a heating circuit of the heating device is a separate fluid circuit from a cooling circuit of the heat exchanger, wherein there is no fluid connection between the heating circuit and the cooling circuit.
[0027] According to one embodiment of the device, it can be provided that the pipes of the heating direction, which serve as heating elements, correspond to the pipes of the heat exchanger that carry the cooling medium, wherein the pipes can be switched between heating mode and cooling mode by means of the control device. It is advantageous in this case that no separate pipes for the heating device need be provided in the fin arrangement of the heat exchanger. Accordingly, more surface area is available for heat transfer at the respective fins of the fin arrangement compared to a solution with separate pipes for the heating device. Furthermore, by eliminating the separate pipes for the heating device, costs can be saved and the overall structural complexity of the heat exchanger can be reduced.
[0028] The heating device can have a hot gas defrost and / or a warm brine defrost.
[0029] The hot gas defrosting and / or warm brine defrosting can be provided separately and independently of a cooling circuit of the heat exchanger, with pipes of the hot gas defrosting and / or warm brine defrosting penetrating the fin arrangement of the heat exchanger.
[0030] For example, it can be provided that an expansion valve, a switching valve, such as a two-way valve, a three-way valve or the like, a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser are provided, which form a refrigeration circuit, wherein the heat exchanger forms the evaporator or the condenser and wherein the heating direction has a hot gas defrost or a warm brine defrost, which can be switched by means of the switching valve.
[0031] It can be provided that the device has exactly one expansion valve.
[0032] It can be provided that the device has exactly one refrigeration circuit.
[0033] The heat exchanger can be designed with exactly one inlet and exactly one outlet for introducing a refrigerant into the heat exchanger and for discharging the refrigerant from the heat exchanger. The inlet can also be referred to as the inlet. The outlet can also be referred to as the outlet.
[0034] In particular, it can be provided that exactly one expansion valve is provided, a switching valve, such as a two-way valve, a three-way valve, a four-way valve or the like, a compressor, an evaporator and a condenser are provided, which form exactly one refrigeration circuit, wherein the heat exchanger forms the evaporator or the condenser, wherein the heat exchanger has exactly one inlet and exactly one outlet or exactly one inlet and exactly one outlet for introducing a refrigerant into the heat exchanger and for discharging the refrigerant from the heat exchanger, wherein the heating direction has a hot gas defrost or a warm brine defrost, which can be switched by means of the switching valve. It can be provided that exactly two expansion valves are provided, wherein the device has exactly one refrigeration circuit in which the expansion valves are arranged.In particular, one of the two expansion valves serves as an expansion valve for cooling operation of the device, while the other of the two expansion valves serves as an expansion valve for heating operation to defrost the heat exchanger when the cycle is reversed.
[0035] It can be provided that a distributor is arranged between an expansion valve and the heat exchanger, which distributes cooling fluid to several pipe lines.
[0036] It may be provided that adjustment valves, i.e., valves for adjusting a flow rate, are provided between the manifold and the heat exchanger to adjust a flow rate for each of the piping branches. Each of the adjustment valves may be a controllable valve.
[0037] A control valve is not an expansion valve. A control valve regulates the flow rate at a substantially constant fluid pressure, whereas an expansion valve serves to relax the fluid, i.e., to reduce the fluid pressure.
[0038] According to one embodiment of the device, it can be provided that the control device is configured for sensor-controlled control of the heating device, wherein at least one monitoring device is provided, such as a sensor, a device for photographic imaging or the like, and wherein the monitoring device is provided for detecting a degree of icing, for determining a defrosting time and for controlling a defrosting process by means of the control device.
[0039] It can be provided that two or more monitoring areas are monitored by the monitoring device, with the monitoring areas being arranged in particular in rows and / or columns. Each monitoring area can be assigned a defrosting area.
[0040] Each monitoring area can be assigned two or more defrost areas.
[0041] Two or more monitoring areas can be assigned to each defrost area. If a monitoring device detects icing in a monitoring area assigned to the defrost area, the entire defrost area can be defrosted, for example. It can be configured that exactly one monitoring area is assigned to each defrost area.
[0042] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that each heating section is assigned exactly one defrosting area.
[0043] Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that two or more defrosting areas are assigned to each heating section.
[0044] According to one embodiment of the device, it can be provided that one or more of the following monitoring devices are provided: temperature sensor, pressure sensor, humidity sensor, device for photographic imaging in the visible wavelength range, device for photographic imaging in the non-visible wavelength range, thermal imaging camera, infrared camera.
[0045] The device for photographic imaging in the visible wavelength range can be a digital camera. A light source can be associated with the device for photographic imaging in the visible wavelength range to illuminate the heat exchanger to improve imaging.
[0046] The device for photographic imaging in the non-visible wavelength range can be an infrared camera. An infrared light source can be associated with the device for photographic imaging in the non-visible wavelength range to illuminate the heat exchanger to improve imaging.
[0047] The device for photographic imaging in the non-visible wavelength range can be a thermal imaging camera. Although thermal imaging cameras are sometimes not classified as photographic imaging in the literature, a thermal imaging camera within the meaning of the present disclosure is a device for photographic imaging in the non-visible wavelength range. The thermal imaging camera generates thermal images that depict temperature differences or the heat signature of the detected object, in this case the heat exchanger. To generate such a thermal image, no light source is required to illuminate the object in question, i.e., in this case, no light source is required to illuminate the heat exchanger.It can be provided that a first arrangement of one or more first monitoring devices is assigned to a first group of one or more monitoring areas in order to monitor the first group of one or more monitoring areas, and that a second arrangement of one or more second monitoring devices is assigned to a second group of one or more monitoring areas in order to monitor the second group of one or more monitoring areas. Depending on the dimensions of the heat exchanger, several monitoring devices can therefore be provided to monitor one or more monitoring areas.
[0048] Depending on the length of the heat exchanger, several cameras may be provided to enable complete monitoring of the heat exchanger. For example, several cameras may be arranged at a distance from one another along the length of the heat exchanger, with each camera monitoring a portion of the heat exchanger. Each portion may have one or more monitoring areas.
[0049] A temperature sensor can be assigned to each monitoring area.
[0050] A pressure sensor can be assigned to each monitoring area.
[0051] A humidity sensor can be assigned to each monitoring area.
[0052] According to one embodiment of the device, it can be provided that the control device is configured for time-based and / or sensor-controlled control of the heating device and / or the control device is configured for AI-based control of the heating device and / or the control device is configured to control the heating device based on thermal images taken by a thermal imaging camera of the device. The defrosting of the individual defrosting areas can therefore be controlled by means of a timer or sensor-controlled using one or more temperature sensors, with each defrosting area being assigned a temperature sensor, for example. Alternatively or additionally, thermal images of individual monitoring areas can be evaluated in order to record the progress of a defrosting process and to specify an end to the defrosting process for each of the defrosting areas on an area-specific basis.
[0053] In the aforementioned context, the term "AI" encompasses methods based on artificial intelligence and collectively refers to methods from the fields of "machine learning" and "deep learning." For example, AI-based image analysis can be performed to determine the icing status of a particular monitored area, whereby conventional digital images, infrared images, or thermal images can be evaluated. Such images can be used, on the one hand, to determine a defrosting time and, on the other hand, to control the defrosting process.
[0054] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method comprising the following method steps: operating a heat exchanger of a device; defrosting the heat exchanger by means of a heating device of the heat exchanger. The method is characterized in that, during defrosting of the heat exchanger, two or more separately controllable heating sections of the heating device are controlled by a control device, and defrosting areas of the heat exchanger assigned to the heating sections are defrosted by means of the separately controllable heating sections.
[0055] It can be planned that all defrost zones are initially defrosted simultaneously, followed by individual or multiple heating sections being shut down. This allows heat to be quickly introduced into the heat exchanger, and then defrosting can be controlled specifically according to the defrost zones and the corresponding heating sections. This allows for rapid and efficient defrosting.
[0056] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that one or more defrost zones of the heat exchanger are defrosted, while one or more other defrost zones of the heat exchanger are not defrosted. Therefore, during defrosting, individual defrost zones cannot be defrosted using the assigned heating elements, while other defrost zones are defrosted using the assigned heating elements.
[0057] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that defrosting of one or more defrosting zones of the heat exchanger takes place with a first heating output, while defrosting of another or more defrosting zones of the heat exchanger takes place with a second heating output that differs from the first heating output. The heat input into the respective defrosting zones can therefore be controlled in a targeted and demand-based manner.
[0058] A specific heating output can be adjusted, for example, using pulse-width modulation. For example, the heating output of individual heating elements can be actively controlled. For an electric heating element, for example, a power supply can be controlled, while for a pipeline, the degree of opening of a valve can be controlled.
[0059] According to one embodiment of the method, it can be provided that defrosting of the defrosting areas of the heat exchanger takes place row by row and / or column by column.
[0060] It can be provided that during operation of the heat exchanger, monitoring of a degree of icing of the heat exchanger takes place, wherein two or more monitoring areas of the heat exchanger are monitored by means of at least one monitoring device, wherein a degree of icing is determined for each monitoring area of the heat exchanger, wherein the monitoring areas are arranged in particular in rows and / or columns.
[0061] According to one embodiment of the method, it can be provided that the device is designed according to the invention and / or the control of the heating device is time-based and / or sensor-controlled and / or the control of the heating device is K1-based and / or the control of the heating device is based on thermal images from a thermal imaging camera.
[0062] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to a drawing illustrating exemplary embodiments. The drawings schematically show:
[0063] Fig. 1 shows a device according to the invention in a perspective view;
[0064] Fig. 2 shows the device from Fig. 1 without housing in a perspective view;
[0065] Fig. 3A shows the heat exchanger of the device from Fig. 1 with continuous heating rods;
[0066] Fig. 3B Heating sections and defrosting areas of the heat exchanger from Fig. 3A;
[0067] Fig. 3C the heat exchanger from Fig. 3A without heating sections and defrosting areas;
[0068] Fig. 4A shows a heat exchanger for a device according to Fig. 1 with non-continuous heating elements; Fig. 4B shows heating sections and defrosting areas of the heat exchanger from Fig. 4A;
[0069] Fig. 4C the heat exchanger from Fig. 4A without heating sections and defrosting areas;
[0070] Fig. 5 shows a further device according to the invention;
[0071] Fig. 6 the heat exchanger of the device from Fig. 5;
[0072] Fig. 7 shows another device according to the invention;
[0073] Fig. 8 shows a further device according to the invention;
[0074] Fig. 9 shows another device according to the invention;
[0075] Fig. 10 shows another device according to the invention.
[0076] Fig. 1 shows a device 2 according to the invention. The device 2 is a cooling system 2. The cooling system 2 can be used, for example, to cool a walk-in cooling volume.
[0077] The cooling system 2 has a housing 4 that supports protective grilles 6 of fans 8 of the cooling system 2. The fans 8 serve to convey air of an environment U along fins 10 of a heat exchanger 12 of the cooling system 2. The heat exchanger 12 is described below with reference to Fig. 2.
[0078] The heat exchanger 12 is located inside the cooling system 2, so that the housing 4 is hidden in Fig. 2 to illustrate the heat exchanger 12. The heat exchanger 12 has a plurality of flat or plate-shaped fins 10 that are arranged essentially parallel to one another along a longitudinal extent L of the heat exchanger 12 and that form a fin arrangement 11.
[0079] The fins 10 are interspersed with pipes 14 of the heat exchanger 12, which carry a cooling medium. The fins 10 can also be referred to as cooling fins 10. The cooling fins 10 are connected to the pipes 14 of the heat exchanger 12.
[0080] The device 2 has a heating device 16 integrated into the heat exchanger 12 with heating rods 18 for defrosting the heat exchanger 12. The heating rods 18 also penetrate the cooling fins 10 along the longitudinal direction L and are connected to the cooling fins 10.
[0081] The device 2 comprises a device 20 for photographic imaging. The device 20 serves to generate photographic images of the heat exchanger 12 and transmit them to a control unit 22 of the device 2. The control unit 22 can comprise a computer for evaluating photographic images, be connected to a computer for evaluating photographic images, and / or be connected to a server for evaluating photographic images.
[0082] Device 20 is a thermal imaging camera.
[0083] The control unit 22 also serves to control the heating device 16.
[0084] The heating device 16 has four separately controllable heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27. Two heating rods 18 are assigned to each of the heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27. The heating rods 18 of a respective heating section 21, 23, 25, 27 can be controlled separately, so that the heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27 can be heated independently of one another.
[0085] Each heating section 21, 23, 25, 27 is assigned a defrosting area 29, 31, 33, 35 of the heat exchanger 12, wherein each defrosting area 29, 31, 33, 35 is a volume area 29, 31, 33, 35 surrounding the respectively assigned heating section 21, 23, 25, 27.
[0086] The heating device 16 is therefore designed for separate defrosting of the individual defrosting areas 29, 31, 33, 35 of the heat exchanger 12 by means of the separately controllable heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27.
[0087] The defrosting areas 29, 31, 33, 35 also correspond to monitoring areas 29, 31, 33, 35 of the thermal imaging camera 20, so that a degree of icing for each of the monitoring areas 29, 31, 33, 35 can be detected by means of the thermal imaging camera 20.
[0088] It may be provided that two or more thermal imaging cameras 20 are provided for monitoring the monitoring areas 29, 31, 33, 35. In addition, further monitoring devices, such as temperature sensors 26, pressure sensors 28, and humidity sensors 30, may be provided for each of the monitoring areas 29, 31, 33, 35 in order to detect an icing condition of the respective monitoring area 29, 31, 33, 35 and / or to control defrosting of the associated defrost area 29, 31, 33, 35 by means of the heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27.
[0089] Fig. 3A shows the cooling fins 10 of the heat exchanger 12 with the heating rods 18 and the pipes 14. According to Fig. 3A, the heating rods 18 penetrate the arrangement of fins 10 completely over their entire length, as viewed along the longitudinal direction L. The heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27 and the defrosting areas 29, 31, 33, 35 are also shown.
[0090] The heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27 and the defrosting areas 29, 31, 33, 35 are arranged in rows so that defrosting can take place row by row.
[0091] The heating device 16 and the heating elements 18 are arranged essentially entirely within an envelope 37 of the heat exchanger 12. It is understood that the envelope 37, shown here only two-dimensionally, defines a volume that completely encloses the heat exchanger 12 in three-dimensional space.
[0092] The heating elements 18 are in this case electrical heating elements in the form of heating rods 18.
[0093] For a better overview, the heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27 and the defrosting areas 29, 31, 33, 35 are shown in Fig. 3B without the heat exchanger 12.
[0094] For a better overview, the heat exchanger 12 is shown in Fig. 3C without the heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27 and the defrosting areas 29, 31, 33, 35.
[0095] Fig. 4A shows an alternative embodiment of a heat exchanger 12', which can equally be used in a device 2 according to the invention. The heat exchanger 12' according to Fig. 4 differs from the heat exchanger 12 according to Fig. 3 in that heating rods 18' are provided which penetrate the arrangement of fins 10 only over a partial length, viewed along the longitudinal direction L.
[0096] The heat exchanger 12' has eight heating sections 2T, 23', 25', 27', 21", 23", 25", 27" and eight associated defrosting areas 29', 3T, 33', 35', 29", 31", 33", 35". The defrosting areas 29', 3T, 33', 35', 29", 31", 33", 35" can each be defrosted or heated separately, i.e. independently of one another, by means of the heating sections 2T, 23', 25', 27', 21", 23", 25", 27".
[0097] For better clarity, the heat exchanger 12' is shown in Fig. 4B without the defrosting and heating sections. For better clarity, the heating sections 21, 23', 25', 27', 21", 23", 25", 27" and the defrosting sections 29', 31, 33', 35', 29", 31", 33", 35' are shown in Fig. 4C without the heat exchanger 12'.
[0098] Fig. 5 shows a device 2', which is a refrigeration system. The device 2' has an evaporator 12", a condenser 37, an expansion valve 39, and a compressor 41.
[0099] The 12" heat exchanger or evaporator has six pipe runs 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14"", 14"'" -|4""" or pipe groups 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14"", 14"", 14"', 14""", each having five pipes (Fig. 6). The pipes of the pipe runs 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14"", 14"" 14""' 14""" penetrate a fin arrangement 11" of the 12" heat exchanger.
[0100] The pipes are segments of the pipe runs 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14"", 14""', 14""", whereby the pipes extending along the longitudinal extent of the heat exchanger 12", ie the pipes extending perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, are connected to one another via bends 83. The pipe runs 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14"", 14""', 14""" therefore penetrate the fin arrangement 11" in a meandering manner along a width B of the heat exchanger 12".
[0101] The pipes of the pipe runs 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14"", 14""', 14""" are pipes of the heat exchanger 12", which carry the cooling medium. The pipes of the pipe runs 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14"", 14"", 14""', 14""" are also pipes of a heating direction 16" and serve as heating elements. The pipes of the pipe runs 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14"", 14"", 14""', 14""" can be switched between heating mode and cooling mode by means of the control device 22".
[0102] The device 2' has a distributor 81, a collector 43, an inlet 45 for introducing a cooling medium and an outlet 47 for discharging a cooling medium from the heat exchanger 12".
[0103] The pipe runs 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14"", 14"', 14""' can be controlled separately and thus form heating sections of a heating device 16', which can separately defrost surrounding defrost areas of the heat exchanger 12", for example by reversing the circuit. The pipe runs 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14"", 14"", 14"', 14""" can be switched by means of the control device 22" using valves (not shown).
[0104] Fig. 7 shows a further device 2", wherein only the differences from the device 2' described above are discussed and the same features are assigned the same reference numerals.
[0105] The device 2" has a heating device 16" in the form of a hot gas defroster. For this purpose, a two-way valve 49 is provided, which is configured to switch between cooling mode and heating or defrost mode.
[0106] The valves 51 of the pipe lines 14', 14", 14'" can each be controlled separately, so that the pipe lines 14', 14", 14'" can be flowed through separately and independently of one another with hot gas in order to selectively defrost the heat exchanger 12". The valves 51 are adjustment valves for adjusting a flow rate for each of the pipe lines 14', 14", 14'".
[0107] Fig. 8 shows a further device 2'", wherein only the differences to the previously described devices 2', 2" are discussed and the same features are assigned the same reference numerals.
[0108] The device 2'" has a heating device 16'" in the form of a hot gas or warm brine defroster, whose pipes 57, 57', 57" or heating sections 57, 57', 57" are provided separately from the pipes 14', 14", 14'", which carry the cooling medium. The pipes 57, 57', 57" pass through the heat exchanger 12'". For the device 2'", the cooling circuit and the heating circuit are therefore completely separate from each other.
[0109] The heating device 16'" has a pump 53, a heat source 55, e.g., in the form of a resistance heater or the like, a distribution pipe 61 as the inlet, and a collecting pipe 63 as the outlet. Alternatively or additionally, the waste heat from the compressor 41 can serve as the heat source.
[0110] The heat exchanger 12'" can therefore be selectively supplied with hot gas via the pipes 57, 57', 57" in order to defrost the heat exchanger 12'" selectively, i.e., in certain areas. Alternatively, the heating device 16'" can be operated with warm brine. Fig. 9 shows a further device 2"", wherein only the differences from the previously described devices 2', 2", 2'" are discussed, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the same features.
[0111] For the device 2"" according to Fig. 9, the pipes 14', 14", 14'" are again used for both cooling and heating operation. Switching between cooling and heating operation is achieved by reversing the circuit, with a three-way valve 85 and a four-way valve 65 serving to switch the circuit direction. In heating mode, the valves 51 can be used to selectively defrost the heat exchanger 12" by allowing or blocking flow through the pipes 14', 14", 14'" depending on the valve position of the valves 51.
[0112] Fig. 10 shows a further device 2""', wherein only the differences from the device 2"' described above are discussed and the same features are assigned the same reference numerals.
[0113] The device 2"'" has a heating device 16""' in the form of a hot gas or warm brine defrost, whose pipes 57, 57', 57" or heating sections 57, 57', 57" are provided separately from the pipes 14', 14", 14'", which carry the cooling medium. The pipes 57, 57', 57" pass through the heat exchanger 12"'. For the device 2""', the cooling circuit and the heating circuit are therefore completely separate from one another.
[0114] The collecting pipe 63 of the heating device 16""' is here connected to an outlet 87, which opens, for example, into a collector or a separator.
[0115] Defrosting can be carried out for each of the devices described above as follows:
[0116] The monitoring equipment monitors the degree of swearing of a respective heat exchanger, in particular monitoring areas according to specified monitoring areas.
[0117] If defrosting is necessary, all heating sections with their assigned heating elements are preferably activated first.
[0118] Defrosting can be monitored zone by zone using the monitoring devices. Once defrosting is complete for a particular defrost zone, the corresponding heating section can be shut down until all heating sections are shut down and the heat exchanger is completely defrosted.
[0119] In particular, thermal images of the monitored areas can be used to determine the defrost status for the defrost areas. The thermal images or thermal image recordings can be evaluated using AI.
[0120] Reference symbols
[0121] Device / cooling system
[0122] 4 housings
[0123] 6 protective grilles
[0124] 8 fans
[0125] 10 fins I Cooling fins 10
[0126] 12, 12', 12", 12'" heat exchanger
[0127] 14, 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14""', 14""" Pipeline / Pipeline String
[0128] 16, 16', 16", 16"', 16"" Heating device
[0129] 18, 18' heating elements
[0130] U environment
[0131] L longitudinal direction
[0132] B Width direction
[0133] 20 Photographic imaging facility
[0134] 21 heating section
[0135] 22, 22', 22" control unit
[0136] 23 heating sections
[0137] 24 sensors
[0138] 25 heating sections
[0139] 26 Temperature sensor
[0140] 27 Heating section
[0141] 28 Pressure sensor
[0142] 30 Humidity sensor
[0143] 29 Defrost area
[0144] 31 Defrost area
[0145] 33 Defrost area
[0146] 35 Defrost area
[0147] 37 envelopes
[0148] 39 Expansion valve
[0149] 41 Compressor
[0150] 43 collectors
[0151] 45 Entrance
[0152] 47 Exit
[0153] 49 Two-way valve
[0154] 51 Valve
[0155] 53 Pump 55 Heat source
[0156] 57, 57', 57" pipeline
[0157] 61 distribution pipe
[0158] 63 Collector pipe 65 Four-way valve
[0159] 81 distributors
[0160] 83 sheets
[0161] 85 three-way valve
Claims
Claims 1. Device comprising a heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12'"), wherein the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12'") has pipes (14, 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14""', 14""") carrying a cooling medium, wherein the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12'") has a fin arrangement (11, 11') penetrated by the pipes (14, 14', 14", 14'", 14""', 14"""), and wherein the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12'") has a heating device (16, 16', 16", 16'", 16"") integrated into the heat exchanger. features a control device (22, 22', 22") for controlling the heating device (16, 16', 16", 16"). 16“”), characterized in that the heating device (16, 16', 16“, 16“', 16““) has two or more separately controllable heating sections (21 , 23, 25, 27), wherein each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is assigned a defrosting area (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12“, 12'“), and wherein the heating device (16, 16', 16“, 16'“, 16““) is configured for separately defrosting individual defrosting areas (29, 31 , 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12“, 12'“) by means of the separately controllable heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the two or more separately controllable heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27) and the defrosting areas (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12“, 12'“) assigned to each heating section are arranged in rows and / or columns.
3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that Heating elements (18, 18', 14, 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14""', 14""", 57, 57', 57") of the heating device (16, 16', 16", 16'", 16"") are arranged partially or completely within an envelope (37) of the fin arrangement (11 , 1 T, 11"). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the heating elements (18, 18', 14, 14', 14", 14"', 14"", 14""', 14""", 57, 57', 57") comprise electrical heating elements (18, 18') such as heating rods (18, 18') or the like, which penetrate the lamella arrangement. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that each heating section (21 , 23, 25, 27) is assigned a separately controllable heating element (18, 18') or that each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is assigned a controllable segment of a heating element or that each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is assigned a heating element group or that each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is assigned a stirrup-shaped electrical heating element.Device according to any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that the heating elements (18, 18', 14, 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14""', 14""", 57, 57', 57") have pipes (14, 14', 14", 14'", 14""', 14""", 57, 57', 57") which penetrate the fin arrangement (11, 1T, 11"). Device according to claim 6, characterized in that each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is assigned a controllable pipe (14, 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14"'" 4""" 57 5y 57") or each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) a controllable segment of a pipeline is assigned or a controllable group of pipelines is assigned to each heating section, whereby control is effected by means of switchable valves (51). Device according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that the pipes (57, 57', 57") of the heating direction (16, 16', 16", 16'", 16""), which serve as heating elements, are separated from those pipes (14, 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14""', 14""") d es Heat exchangers (12, 12', 12", 12'") are provided, which carry the cooling medium. Device according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that the pipes (14, 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14""', 14""") of the heating direction (16, 16', 16", 16'", 16""), which serve as heating elements, are connected to those pipes (14, 14', 14", 14'", 4"", 14"'" 14""") d esheat exchangers (12, 12', 12“, 12'“) correspond to the pipes (14, 14', 14“, 14'“, 14““', 14“““) which carry the cooling medium, wherein the pipes (14, 14', 14“, 14'“, 14““’, 14“““) can be switched between heating and cooling operation by means of the control device (22, 22', 22“). Device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that an expansion valve (39), a switching valve (49, 65), such as a two-way valve, a three-way valve, a four-way valve or the like, a compressor (41), an evaporator (12, 12', 12“, 12'“) and a condenser (37) are provided, forming a refrigeration circuit, wherein the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12“, 12'“) forms the evaporator (12, 12', 12“, 12'“) or the condenser (37), wherein the heating direction (16, 16', 16“, 16'“, 16““) has a hot gas defrosting or a hot brine defrosting which can be switched by means of the switching valve (49, 65).Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (22, 22', 22") is configured for sensor-controlled control of the heating device. wherein at least one monitoring device (20, 26, 28, 30) is provided, such as a sensor, a photographic imaging device, or the like, and wherein the monitoring device (20, 26, 28, 30) is provided for detecting a degree of icing, for determining a defrosting time, and for controlling a defrosting process by means of the control device (20, 20', 20"). Device according to claim 11, characterized in that two or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35) are monitored by means of the monitoring device (20, 26, 28, 30), wherein the monitoring areas are arranged in particular in rows and / or columns. Device according to claim 11 or claim 12, characterized in that one or more of the monitoring devices listed below are provided: Temperature sensor (26), Pressure sensor (28), Humidity sensor (30), Device (20) for photographic imaging in the visible wavelength range, Device (20) for photographic imaging in the non-visible wavelength range, Thermal imaging camera (20), infrared camera (20). Device according to one of claims 11-13, characterized in that a first group of one or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35) is assigned a first arrangement of one or more first monitoring devices (20, 26, 28, 30) to monitor the first group of one or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35) and that a second group of one or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35) is assigned a second arrangement of one or more second monitoring devices (20, 26, 28, 30) is assigned to monitor the second group of one or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35).
15. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (22, 22', 22") is configured for time-based and / or sensor-controlled control of the heating device (16, 16', 16", 16'", 16"") and / or the control device (22, 22', 22") is configured for AI-based control of the heating device (16, 16', 16", 16'", 16"") and / or the control device (22, 22', 22") is configured for controlling the heating device (16, 16', 16", 16"', 16"") based on thermal imaging using a thermal imaging camera of the device.
16. Procedure, with the following procedural steps: Operating a heat exchanger (12, 12', 12“, 12'“) of a device (2, 2', 2“, 2'“, 2““, 2““'); Defrosting of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12“, 12'“) by means of a heating device (16, 16', 16“, 16'“, 16““) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12“, 12“'); characterized in that, during defrosting of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12“, 12“') two or more separately controllable heating sections (21 , 23, 25, 27) of the heating device (16, 16', 16“, 16'“, 16““) are controlled by means of a control device and defrosting areas (29, 31 , 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12“, 12'“) assigned to the heating sections (21 , 23, 25, 27) are defrosted by means of the separately controllable heating sections (21 , 23, 25, 27).
17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that first all defrosting areas (29, 31, 33, 35) are defrosted simultaneously and then individual or more heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27) are switched off, and / or defrosting of one or more defrosting zones (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger takes place, while no defrosting takes place for one or more other defrosting zones (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12'"), and / or defrosting of one or more defrosting zones (29, 31, 33, 35) or several defrosting zones (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger takes place with an initial heating load, while defrosting of another or more defrosting zones (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12") 12'") with a second heating power that differs from the first heating power. Method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that defrosting of the defrosting areas (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12'") is carried out row by row and / or column by column.A method according to any one of the preceding claims 16 to 18, characterized in that during the operation of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12“, 12'“) the degree of icing of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12“, 12'“) is monitored, wherein two or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12“, 12'“) are monitored by means of at least one monitoring device (20, 26, 28, 30), wherein a degree of icing is determined for each monitoring area (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12“, 12'“), wherein the monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35) are arranged in particular in rows and / or columns. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (2, 2', 2“, 2'“, 2““, 2“'“) is designed according to one of claims 1 - 15 and / or the control of the heating device (16, 16', 16“, 16'“, 16““)) is time-based and / or sensor-controlled. and / or the control of the heating device (16, 16', 16“, 16'“, 16““)) is based on computer technology and / or the control of the heating device (16, 16', 16“, 16'“, 16““)) is based on thermal imaging recordings from a thermal imaging camera (20).