Refrigeration module and method for operating a refrigeration module

Abstract

The refrigeration module (3) for a refrigerant system has a gas-tight control housing (42) with a plurality of side walls (46A, 46B) that delimit an interior space in which at least some components of a refrigerant circuit (4) are arranged. At least one of the side walls (46A) forms a flexible side wall (46A), which is flexible in at least a partial region such that, in the event of a pressure increase in the interior space, the flexible side wall (46A) expands and thus the volume of the interior space is increased, while at the same time the gas-tightness of the control housing (42) is maintained. This dampens a pressure increase in the event of a refrigerant leak. The escaping refrigerant is discharged into the external environment, in particular via a discharge line (44).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cooling module and a method for operating such a cooling module.

[0002] The cooling module has a gas-tight control housing, in particular with a drain connected to it for refrigerant escaping in the event of a leak.

[0003] Such a cooling module can be found in EP 4 194 769 A1.

[0004] A refrigerant system generally comprises a refrigerant circuit that includes two heat exchangers, namely an evaporator and a condenser, as well as a compressor and an expansion valve. A refrigerant flows through the refrigerant circuit during operation.

[0005] During the service life of refrigerant systems, refrigerant leaks can occur for a variety of reasons. In the case of refrigerant systems installed inside buildings (indoor systems), these leaks can directly affect the room in which they are installed. Depending on the installation and use of the refrigerant system, several rooms or even the entire building may be exposed to escaping refrigerant from refrigerant leaks. The escaping refrigerant escapes in gaseous form. This can lead to harmful or toxic concentrations for living organisms. Furthermore, the decomposition of some refrigerant gases on hot surfaces can lead to toxic decomposition products.In addition, when using highly or hardly flammable refrigerants, such as propane (R290), there is a risk of deflagration, explosion or fire if a leak occurs, flammable mixtures form and ignition sources all act simultaneously.

[0006] To prevent refrigerant from escaping into the installation room, EP 4 194 769 A1 provides a control module with a gas-tight control housing in which at least parts of the refrigerant circuit, and preferably the entire refrigerant circuit, are located. A drain is attached to the control housing through which the refrigerant can escape into the external environment in the event of a refrigerant leak, thus reliably preventing a dangerous or health-critical accumulation of the refrigerant, particularly in the installation room.

[0007] Further safety concepts include, for example, setting a negative pressure in the housing containing the refrigerant circuit, as described in DE 10 2016 112 851 A1. According to DE 20 2016 103 305 U1, the pressure in the housing is monitored and, if necessary, the housing is flushed with outside air. Flushing the housing is also described in DE 10 2018 113 332 A1.

[0008] In the event of a major leak, a large amount of refrigerant can escape in a short period of time, resulting in a rapid and strong increase in pressure inside the control housing, which must be reliably absorbed by the control housing without refrigerant leaking out until the refrigerant has escaped, for example, via the drain line.

[0009] Based on this, the invention is based on the object of specifying a control module with a gas-tight control housing, wherein gas tightness is ensured in the event of a pressure increase, in particular in the event of short-term pressure peaks.

[0010] The object is achieved according to the invention by a refrigeration module for a refrigerant system and by a method for operating such a refrigeration module. The refrigeration module has a gas-tight control housing with a plurality of side walls that define an interior space in which at least some components of a refrigeration circuit are arranged. At least one of the side walls forms a flexible side wall that is flexible at least in a partial area in such a way that, in the event of a pressure increase in the interior space, the flexible side wall expands, thus increasing the volume of the interior space, while simultaneously maintaining the gas-tightness of the control housing.

[0011] The control housing therefore has at least one flexible section, so that the overall volume of the control housing, which is sealed off from the outside in a gas-tight manner, is variable. In this context, a flexible side wall is generally understood to mean a side wall that has at least one such flexible section or that can expand as a whole and is thus flexible overall. The entire control housing is resistant to internal overpressure, even at an overpressure of, for example, several bar (for example, at least up to 2 bar).

[0012] The control housing is therefore a flexible control housing. This has the particular advantage that, particularly in the case of larger refrigerant leaks and a rapid increase in pressure, the pressure is at least dampened by expanding the volume, while at the same time maintaining the tightness of the control housing. There is sufficient time, particularly in a design variant with a connected drain, for the leaked refrigerant to be discharged via the drain, particularly into an external environment. The external environment is, in particular, an open outdoor area or a sufficiently large and / or adequately ventilated area.

[0013] In this case, a control housing is generally understood to mean a housing in which preferably only components of the refrigerant circuit are housed, as well as any safety devices such as a drain for any escaping refrigerant.

[0014] The control cabinet is not a walk-in room, and in particular it is not a utility room, such as a cold room or a lounge.

[0015] The refrigeration module and thus also the control housing are, in the final assembled state, in particular part of a refrigeration system, especially a heat pump system, which is intended and designed in particular for indoor installation in a room, for example a central boiler room in a building.

[0016] The refrigeration module and especially the control housing are integrated into a system housing of the refrigerant system.

[0017] Depending on the system size and performance, as well as the system type (air-water or brine-water system), the entire system housing has a volume of less than 2m3, in particular less than 1.5m3, and especially in the case of brine-water systems, less than 1m3. The system housing is typically designed as a vertical, cuboid-shaped housing with a base area of ​​typically less than 1m2 or less than 0.75m2.

[0018] The control housing preferably only has an internal volume of, for example, a maximum of 60% and preferably a maximum of 30% of the volume of the system housing.

[0019] The internal volume of the control housing is, for example, a maximum of 1.0 m 3< , a maximum of 0.75 m 3< or a maximum of 0.5 m 3< .

[0020] The heat pump systems considered here have a (maximum) heat output of less than 20 kW, particularly in the range between 6 kW and 20 kW. However, the concept described here can also be applied to other system sizes.

[0021] Depending on the system type, all components of the refrigerant circuit are located within the control housing. Alternatively, one of the heat exchangers is located outside the control housing, so that at least the compressor, expansion device, and a heat exchanger are located in the control housing.

[0022] The control housing generally initially has a predefined volume, which only expands when the pressure inside increases. The possibility of any other, particularly manual, increase in volume is preferably not provided.

[0023] The control housing preferably has connections for connecting at least one hydraulic circuit.

[0024] The control housing typically has two reversibly connectable housing sections, allowing it to be opened for inspection purposes. Conventional control housings carry the risk of not being able to withstand the internal overpressure in the event of a refrigerant leak, and refrigerant may escape, for example, if the two housing sections separate.

[0025] In this context, gas-tight means that the escape of gas from the control housing into a safety-critical area is prevented, particularly into the installation room of the cooling module in the case of indoor installation. In particular, this prevents the formation of a flammable gas-air mixture. Except for a possibly connected discharge line, which forms a particularly open flow path from the interior of the control housing to the outside environment, the control housing is gas-tight.

[0026] However, such a flexible control housing, i.e. a control housing with at least one flexible side wall, is also advantageous for other known safety concepts, for example where flushing is carried out.

[0027] The at least one flexible side wall is preferably configured to allow an increase in the volume of the interior space (internal volume) by at least 10%, and more preferably by at least 15% or even by at least 20%. This means that the at least one flexible side wall can therefore expand or widen in a suitable manner without compromising the integrity of the control housing and thus the gas tightness. In principle, it is possible for several side walls to be configured as flexible side walls, and for these several flexible side walls to enable the specified increase in the volume of the interior space.

[0028] In a suitable embodiment, the flexible side wall is elastic, at least in some areas. The expansion or expansion of the volume is therefore reversible, so that after the pressure increase, the side wall returns to its original state. To achieve this, a suitable elastic material is used for at least one partial area.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one partial region has a modulus of elasticity of the material of less than 50 MPa and in particular of less than 10 MPa.

[0030] The specified values ​​are determined in particular in accordance with DIN EN ISO 527 - 1A and are specifically determined in a tensile test described therein under defined ambient conditions (in particular ambient temperature of, for example, 20°C).

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, the partial region and in particular the complete flexible side wall consists of an elastic material, in particular with such a modulus of elasticity.

[0032] A suitable elastomeric plastic is used as the elastic material.

[0033] The flexible partial area or the entire elastic side wall is therefore in particular a type of rubber-elastic membrane, which is suitably attached to the remaining control housing or, in the case of the partial area, to the remaining side wall.

[0034] As an alternative to the design in which the entire flexible side wall is made of an elastic material, only a partial area is made of such an elastic material. This means that the side wall itself is formed from two different materials and / or has a frame made of a different, particularly harder and stiffer material, to which the elastic partial area is attached.

[0035] As an alternative to the use of an elastic material, a wall section that can be extended elastically, for example, against a spring force, can be formed. This could be, for example, a lid-like section that is connected to the remaining side wall via gathered or folded wall sections, particularly in the manner of a bellows. These gathered or folded wall sections ensure gas tightness.

[0036] As an alternative to the use of an elastic material or generally an elastic design of the partial area / flexible side wall, a non-elastic design is provided. In this embodiment, the side wall has a flexible, extendable wall area, which is, for example, designed in the manner of a lid-like partial area, which is connected to the remaining side wall via gathered or folded wall areas, particularly in the manner of a bellows.

[0037] In a useful embodiment, the control housing has, in addition to the at least one flexible side wall, at least one rigid side wall which is dimensionally stable and does not expand in the event of a pressure increase in the interior.

[0038] Alternatively or additionally, the rigid side wall has a lower elasticity than the flexible and in particular elastic partial region and / or than the flexible and in particular elastic side wall.

[0039] The rigid side wall preferably has a modulus of elasticity that is at least 10 times, and preferably at least 100 times, greater than the modulus of elasticity of the elastic subregion or the elastic side wall. The modulus of elasticity is determined as described above in accordance with DIN EN ISO 527-1A.

[0040] Specifically, the control housing has only one (single) flexible side wall. Alternatively, the control housing may, for example, have only two, in particular opposing, flexible side walls. The only one flexible side wall or the only two flexible side walls are attached to a dimensionally stable remaining control housing. This serves as a mechanically stable housing part in which the components of the refrigeration circuit are arranged and, in particular, fastened. In particular, this remaining control housing has a mounting plate, for example, telescopically extendable, on which the components of the refrigerant circuit are attached.

[0041] The material of the further rigid side wall is preferably a plastic, for example a foamed plastic.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, the flexible side wall is designed as a reversibly closable cover for the control housing. This cover thus allows access to the interior and thus to the components of the refrigeration circuit, for example, for inspection purposes.

[0043] The remaining control housing is preferably a one-piece, inherently rigid and monolithic housing part, in particular made of plastic.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one flexible side wall, particularly in the case of a cover configuration, is attached to the remaining control housing via a fixing element. This can be, for example, a locking element, particularly in conjunction with a hinge, thus ensuring reliable attachment of the cover to the remaining control housing.

[0045] Alternatively, in a preferred embodiment, the remainder of the control housing has a circumferential groove into which the cover engages in a form-fitting manner and is held there by the fixing element. The fixing element is in particular designed as a circumferential band which ensures form-fitting securing in the groove. This design variant is used in particular in designs in which the entire flexible side wall is made of an elastic material. The side wall is in particular approximately pot-shaped, i.e. U-shaped in cross-section, and has a circumferential edge region with which the side wall is pulled slightly over the remainder of the control housing so that the circumferential groove formed there is overlapped.

[0046] Optionally, a sensor device for detecting the expansion of the flexible side wall is also provided. The sensor device detects at least whether the flexible side wall has expanded and, in particular, the degree of expansion is also detected. For this purpose, for example, a strain gauge is attached directly to the flexible section or, alternatively, a distance sensor is arranged at a defined distance from the flexible section. A corresponding measurement result from the sensor device is evaluated, for example, to detect a refrigerant leak.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment, the sensor device is used for a functional test within the framework of a test mode, wherein the control housing is deliberately subjected to an overpressure in order, for example, to check the functional reliability of the control housing, in particular its integrity and especially the function of the flexible side wall.

[0048] In an optional embodiment, at least one of the side walls, and in particular the flexible side wall, is at least partially transparent, allowing inspection of the interior when the inspection housing is closed. This enables visual inspection of the interior. Specifically, the entire flexible and, in particular, elastic portion is transparent, and more preferably, the entire side wall. Therefore, in an optional embodiment, the portion or the entire side wall is made of a transparent material.

[0049] In a useful further development, a refrigerant detector is arranged in the interior of the control housing, which detects refrigerant escaping from the refrigerant circuit into the interior. In an optional embodiment, this detector is designed to visually indicate refrigerant detection, for example, by changing color when refrigerant is present in the interior. The refrigerant detector is visible from the outside, i.e., from outside the control housing. In particular, it is visible through the at least partially transparent side wall.

[0050] In an optional development, a further control housing with at least one flexible side wall is arranged, wherein a potential ignition source, in particular an electrical control unit and / or an electrical switching unit, is arranged in this further control housing. The switching unit is, for example, a switching unit for the compressor. The advantages and preferred embodiments previously mentioned with regard to the further control housing also apply equally to the further control housing.

[0051] This design is based on the consideration that in the event of a leak and the release of refrigerant, a critical accumulation of refrigerant can occur within the control housing, which could lead to an explosion if an ignition source, such as an electrical spark during a switching operation, is present. By isolating such potential ignition sources, the risk of such an explosion is at least reduced in the event of a leak.

[0052] The two control enclosures are typically connected via cables, particularly electrical supply lines or control lines.

[0053] This (first) control housing, in particular, has the discharge line. The further control housing preferably has no discharge line.

[0054] The flexible control housing described here with the at least one flexible sub-area is used in particular in the safety concept with a drain for the refrigerant, as described in particular in EP 4 194 769 A1. In a preferred embodiment, such a drain is therefore arranged on the control housing, via which a particularly open flow path is formed from the interior to an external environment. In the event of a pressure increase, the gas in the interior automatically escapes via this flow path into the external environment and thus into a non-safety-critical area. By expanding the control housing over the at least one flexible side wall and thus by increasing the internal volume, the pressure increase is dampened in the event of a refrigerant leak.In the event of a major leak, for example in the event of a pipe burst in a refrigerant line, a comparatively large amount of the typically pressurized refrigerant escapes into the interior in a very short time, evaporates due to the lower pressure in the interior, so that there is a sudden increase in pressure, which can only be gradually reduced again via the discharge line.

[0055] The refrigerant module is generally a component of a refrigerant system. This is designed, in particular, as a heat pump system. At least one hydraulic circuit is connected to the refrigerant module, in particular a consumer circuit, which is connected to one of the heat exchangers of the refrigerant circuit, in particular to the condenser (in heating mode). Within this consumer circuit, at least one consumer, for example a space heater and / or a hot water tank, is installed. The heat pump system and thus the refrigerant circuit can preferably be operated reversibly, i.e., in both a heating mode and a cooling mode.

[0056] The heat pump system is designed, for example, as a so-called air-to-water heat pump system, in which the second heat exchanger, in particular the evaporator (heating mode), is supplied with outside air. Specifically in this design variant, one heat exchanger (evaporator) is located outside the control housing. Preferably, it is arranged in an air duct that leads from the outside into the building and back out again, so that outside air can flow through the evaporator via this air duct. At the same time, the evaporator is arranged separately from the installation room or is directly connected to the outside environment. Specifically in this design variant with the air duct, the previously described discharge line opens into this air duct. In this design variant, all components of the refrigerant circuit, except for the evaporator, are arranged inside the control housing.

[0057] Alternatively, the heat pump system can be designed as a water / water heat pump system or as a brine / water heat pump system. Both types are referred to simply as brine / water heat pump systems. In this design variant, a second hydraulic circuit, referred to as the brine circuit, is arranged on the second heat exchanger of the refrigerant circuit. In this design variant with two hydraulic circuits, all components of the refrigerant circuit are preferably located within the control housing.

[0058] In both cases, i.e. both with an air / water heat pump system and with a brine / water heat pump system, pressure-tight feedthroughs or connection points for at least one hydraulic circuit are attached to the control housing.

[0059] The refrigerant system comprises a system housing, in which the control housing is located as a separate housing. A domestic hot water storage tank, for example, is also located within the system housing. The refrigerant system as a whole is preferably of modular design, as described, for example, in EP 4 194 769 A1.

[0060] The refrigerant system is designed specifically for indoor installation, and therefore, in its final assembled state, is located inside a building, specifically a residential building. Alternatively, the system housing can be installed outside the building (outdoor installation). In this case, at least / only the hydraulic lines of the consumer circuit lead into the building.

[0061] Regardless of the type of installation, interfaces, in particular coupling points for connecting hydraulic lines for at least one hydraulic circuit, are generally attached to the system housing.

[0062] Other system components are located within the system housing, such as the circulation pump in the hydraulic circuits, valves, pressure sensors, and temperature sensors. Furthermore, the system housing includes a control unit for controlling the system, as well as a control and input unit with a display.

[0063] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures, which show, in partially simplified representations: FIG 1 a circuit diagram of an air / water heat pump system FIG 2 a circuit diagram of a brine / water heat pump system, FIG 3 a simplified representation of a control housing with an elastic side wall and FIG 4 a schematic representation of a building with a heat pump system, wherein a control housing and a further control housing are arranged within a system housing.

[0064] In the figures, parts with the same function are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0065] In the Figures 1 and 2Each of these shows a refrigerant system configured as a heat pump system 2. This generally comprises a refrigeration module 3 with a refrigerant circuit 4, which typically includes two heat exchangers 6, 8, a compressor 10, and an expansion device 12. The heat pump system 2 can preferably be operated in both heating and cooling modes. The two heat exchangers are referred to below as the evaporator 6 and the condenser 8 for heating mode.

[0066] Connected to the refrigerant circuit 4, in particular to the condenser 8, is a hydraulic circuit, referred to below as the consumer circuit 14, in which a consumer 16 is located. Also installed in the consumer circuit 14 are a circulation pump 18, a check valve 20, a hydraulic overflow device 22, and various sensors 24, such as a pressure sensor, a volume flow sensor, or a temperature sensor. Furthermore, a safety valve 26 and, typically, an expansion tank are installed within the consumer circuit 14.

[0067] For the air / water heat pump system 2 according to FIG 1 the evaporator 6 is arranged within an air duct 28, which is guided through an outer wall 30 of a building 32 and is connected to the environment U. Within this air duct 28, a fan 34 is additionally arranged, via which the outside air is sucked in and guided over the evaporator 6.

[0068] In the brine-to-water heat pump system 2, on the other hand, a second hydraulic circuit, referred to as the brine circuit 36, is connected to the evaporator 6. Similar to the consumer circuit 14, several components are installed in this circuit, specifically a circulation pump 18, a check valve 20, sensors 24, and also a safety valve 26. Finally, an ambient heat exchanger 38 is integrated into the brine circuit 36 ​​for heat exchange with the environment.

[0069] The heat pump system 2 has a system housing 40, in which a control housing 42 is arranged, in which at least some components of the refrigerant circuit 4 are integrated. The control housing 42 is part of the refrigeration module, which can be arranged, for example, as a prefabricated modular unit in the system housing 40. Preferably, at least the components compressor 10, condenser 8 and expansion device 12 are arranged within the control housing 42. In the embodiment according to FIG 2 all components of the refrigerant circuit 4 are arranged within the control housing 42.

[0070] A discharge line 44 is connected to the control housing 42 and is in flow connection with the environment U. In the design variant according to FIG 1 the discharge line 44 flows into the air duct 28 and in the variant according to FIG 2 directly into the surrounding area U.

[0071] Of particular importance is that the control housing 42 is designed as a flexible control housing 40. The control housing 40 generally has side walls 46A, 46B, which delimit an interior space in which the various components of the refrigerant circuit 4 are arranged. At least one of the side walls, and preferably exactly one of the side walls, is designed as a flexible and in particular elastic side wall 46A. The rest of the control housing is formed by rigid and thus dimensionally stable side walls 46B. In the event of a pressure increase in the interior space, the elastic side wall 46A expands, as shown in the Figures 1 and 2 is shown by the respective dashed line.

[0072] The control housing 42 preferably has a cuboidal configuration with a total of six side walls 46A, 46B. The corners are preferably rounded. Alternatively, the control housing 42 can also have a different geometry, for example, a cylindrical configuration.

[0073] Adjacent to the control housing 42, a sensor device 48 is arranged, which is designed to detect the expansion of the flexible side wall 46A.

[0074] A refrigerant detector 49 is optionally mounted within the control housing 42. This detector permanently indicates visually, for example, by a color change, whether a defined refrigerant concentration has been exceeded in the control housing 42. The flexible side wall 46A is preferably transparent so that the refrigerant detector 49 can be monitored from the outside.

[0075] In the version according to FIG 1For example, a further control housing 50 is mounted in which an ignition source 52, for example a switching unit, is arranged.

[0076] A preferred and exemplary embodiment of the flexible control housing 42 is shown in the FIG 3 shown in a side view. In the exemplary embodiment, the control housing 42 is formed by five rigid side walls 46B and one flexible side wall 46A. The rigid side walls 46B form a cuboid-shaped, remaining control housing, which is open at a front side. The components of the refrigerant circuit 4 are arranged within this remaining control housing. This remaining control housing is closed by the flexible side wall 46A in the manner of a lid.

[0077] The flexible side wall 46A is preferably made of an elastic material and is designed overall in the manner of an elastic membrane, which preferably encompasses a circumferential edge of the remaining control housing. For this purpose, the flexible side wall 46A has a lateral, circumferential edge region with which it is slipped over a corresponding circumferential edge region of the remaining control housing. This corresponding circumferential edge region of the remaining control housing forms a circumferential recess or groove 54 into which the flexible side wall 46A engages with its circumferential edge region. The flexible side wall 46A is held in a form-fitting manner within this groove 54, in particular by means of a fixing element 56, which is preferably designed as a circumferential fixing band.

[0078] Due to its elastic design, the flexible side wall 46A can expand when the pressure inside the control housing 42 increases. This condition is FIG 3 represented by the dashed line and the double arrow.

[0079] If a leak occurs during operation of the heat pump system 2 and refrigerant escapes into the interior of the control housing 42, leading to a pressure increase there, the flexible side wall 46A expands outwards and thus increases the volume of the interior. This at least dampens the pressure increase. At the same time, the escaping refrigerant flows into the environment U via the discharge line 44. This reduces the pressure again, in particular until pressure equalization between the interior and the environment U is established. The discharge line 44 represents, in particular, an open flow path to the environment U, and therefore has no blocking element, in particular no active blocking element that must first be actively opened. Rather, a check valve and / or a weather / insect / small animal protection grille may be installed. In the event of excess pressure, the refrigerant automatically flows into the environment U.

[0080] If the pressure is reduced again by the refrigerant flowing out via the discharge line 44, the flexible side wall 46A returns to its original state.

[0081] The FIG 4 shows a typical arrangement of a heat pump system 2 within a building 32. It is clearly visible that the discharge line 44 is led out into the environment U. In the illustrated embodiment, the control housing 42 and, optionally, the additional control housing 50 are shown as examples within the system housing 40. Furthermore, lines 58 are shown, with which the two control housings 42, 50 are connected to one another. These are, in particular, electrical control lines and / or electrical supply lines. List of reference symbols 2 Heat pump system 56 Fixing element 3 Cooling module 58 Line 4 Refrigerant circuit U Vicinity 6 evaporator 8 capacitor 10 compressor 12 Expansion facility 14 consumer group 16 consumer 18 Circulation pump 20 Non-return device 22 hydraulic overflow device 24 Sensors 26 safety valve 28 air duct 30 exterior wall 32 Building 34 fan 36 brine circuit 38 Ambient heat exchanger 40 System housing 42 Control housing 44 Derivation 46A flexible side walls 46B rigid sidewall 48 Sensor device 49 Refrigerant detector 50 additional control housing 52 Ignition source 54 Groove

Claims

1. Refrigeration module (3) for a refrigerant system with a gas-tight control housing (42) which has a plurality of side walls (46A, 46B) which delimit an interior in which at least some components of a refrigerant circuit (4) are arranged, characterized in that at least one of the side walls (46A) forms a flexible side wall (46A) which is flexible at least in a partial area, such that in the event of a pressure increase in the interior, the flexible side wall (46A) expands and thus the volume of the interior is increased, while at the same time the gas-tightness of the control housing (42) is maintained.

2. Cooling module (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the at least one flexible side wall (46A) enables an increase in the volume in the interior by at least 10% and preferably by at least 15%.

3. Cooling module (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe flexible side wall (46A) is elastic at least in some areas, and / or that the partial area has a modulus of elasticity of less than 50 MPa, in particular less than 10 MPa.

4. Cooling module (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible side wall (46A) is made of an elastic material.

5. Cooling module (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control housing (42) has, in addition to the at least one flexible side wall (46A), at least one rigid side wall (46B) which is dimensionally stable and does not expand in the event of a pressure increase in the interior and / or which has a greater modulus of elasticity than the partial region, wherein the modulus of elasticity of the rigid side wall (46B) is preferably at least a factor of 10 and more preferably a factor of 100 greater than a modulus of elasticity of the flexible partial region.

6. Cooling module (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the control housing (42) has only one flexible side wall (46A), and / or that the flexible side wall (46A) forms a reversibly closable cover for the control housing (42).

7. Cooling module (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the flexible side wall (46A) is attached to the rest of the control housing (42) via a fixing element (56).

8. Cooling module (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the remaining control housing (42) has a circumferential groove (54) into which the cover engages in a form-fitting manner and on which the cover is held by means of the fixing element (56), which is designed in particular as a circumferential fixing band.

9. Cooling module (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sensor device (48) is arranged to detect the extension of the flexible side wall (46A).

10. Cooling module (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the side walls (46A, 46B), in particular the flexible side wall (46A) is at least partially transparent, so that an inspection of the interior is possible when the control housing (42) is closed.

11. Cooling module (3) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a refrigerant detector (49) is arranged in the control housing (42), which optically indicates refrigerant detection and which is visible from the outside.

12. Cooling module (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a further control housing (42) with at least one flexible side wall (46A) is arranged, in which a potential ignition source (52), in particular an electrical control device or an electrical switching unit, is arranged.

13. Cooling module (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thata discharge line (44) is connected to the control housing (42), via which gas can escape in the event of a pressure increase in the interior of the control housing (42).

14. Cooling module (3) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is integrated in a system housing (40) of a refrigerant system (2).

15. A method for operating a cooling module (3) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the event of a pressure increase in the control housing (42), the flexible side wall (46A) expands, wherein the expansion of the flexible side wall (46A) is preferably detected, in particular in a test mode for checking the functional reliability of the control housing (42).

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