Device equipped with a heat exchanger and method for operating the heat exchanger of the device

Abstract

An apparatus having heat exchangers (12, 12', 12", 12"'), wherein the heat exchangers (12, 12', 12", 12"') have pipes (14', 14", 14"', 14"", 14"", 14"") for carrying a cooling medium, the heat exchangers (12, 12', 12", 12"') have fin arrays (11, 11') through which the pipes (14', 14", 14"', 14"", 14"", 14"") pass, the heat exchangers (12, 12', 12", 12"') are provided with heating devices (16, 16', 16", 16"', 16"") integrated with the heat exchangers and control devices (22, 22', 22") for controlling the heating devices (16, 16', 16", 16"', 16""), the heating devices (16, 16', 16", 16"', 16"") have two or more individually controllable heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27), 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 the heating devices (16, 16', 16", 16"', 16"") are configured to individually defrost the individual defrosting areas (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12"') by the individually controllable heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus equipped with a heat exchanger and a method for operating the heat exchanger of the apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Heat exchangers are used to remove heat from a system to be cooled or introduce heat into a system to be heated. In the field of refrigeration technology, heat exchangers are used to remove heat from a volume to be cooled by transferring a cooling medium from a liquid phase to a gas phase, and the heat exchanger is used as an evaporator. Similarly, heat exchangers can be used to absorb ambient heat in the field of heating technology to supply heat to a building to be heated in combination with a heat pump. Conversely, such a heat exchanger can also be used as a condenser or a rechiller for releasing heat to the environment.

[0003] Regardless of the specific application, it is important for the reliable and trouble-free function of the heat exchanger that the heat transfer between the heat exchanger and its surroundings is not restricted by disturbing effects that isolate the heat exchanger from the surroundings. Such disturbing effects include, for example, fouling or icing of the heat exchanger that may accumulate between the fins or fin packs of the heat exchanger.

[0004] Heat exchangers often have fins or fin packs in order to maximize the surface area available for heat transfer while keeping the size small. In the actual operation of such heat exchangers, moisture around the fins may condense on the surface of the fins, and the space between the fin surfaces and between the fins may freeze. Due to this freezing insulation effect, the heat transfer between the environment of the heat exchanger and its fins, or between the corresponding fluid conducted within the heat exchanger, is impaired. Furthermore, the air flow through the heat exchanger deteriorates, the pressure loss increases, and the flow rate of air passing through the heat exchanger decreases, resulting in a performance decline. In this state, the heat exchanger may not be able to provide the required cooling capacity or heat output. This may cause the cooled article to be damaged or the cooling system to malfunction. Additionally, the components of the heat exchanger may be damaged due to freezing.

[0005] To remove the ice, it is known to use a heating device to thaw the heat exchanger. Such thawing needs to be carried out as efficiently as possible. If defrosting is carried out too frequently or takes too long, an unnecessarily large amount of heating energy is introduced into the volume to be cooled, and it is necessary to remove that heating energy using the heat exchanger to maintain or set the intended cooling temperature. If the defrosting frequency is too low or the defrosting period is too short, the effect of defrosting cannot be obtained and the function of the problem system deteriorates. Well-known defrosting methods include electric defrosting, hot gas defrosting, hot brine defrosting, water or air defrosting, etc.

[0006] Chinese Utility Model No. 204128254 and Chinese Utility Model No. 214469483 each show a defrosting device for a heat exchanger.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

[0008] The present invention is based on the technical problem of providing an apparatus equipped with a heat exchanger enabling efficient and demand-driven energy-saving defrosting, and a method for operating the heat exchanger of the apparatus.

[0009] The above technical problems are solved by the independent claims in each case. Further designs of the present invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description.

[0010] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to an apparatus having a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger having a pipe for carrying a cooling medium, the heat exchanger having a fin array through which the pipe passes, and the heat exchanger having a heating device integrated therein and a control device for controlling the heating device. The apparatus is characterized in that the heating device has two or more separately controllable heating sections, each defrosting area of the heat exchanger is assigned to a respective heating section, and the heating device is set to separately defrost the individual defrosting areas of the heat exchanger by the separately controllable heating sections.

[0011] The separately controllable heating sections enable more accurate defrosting of the heat exchanger. In this way, using the separately controllable heating sections, heat can be applied to the areas of the heat exchanger where icing actually occurs. Further, the heating sections for which the associated defrosting areas have already been defrosted can be turned off, while other heating sections for which the associated defrosting areas have not yet been completely defrosted can continue to apply heat to the defrosting areas.

[0012] Accordingly, the device according to the invention has the advantage that defrosting by the heating section can be selectively carried out for each area, i.e., for each defrosting area. Furthermore, the device according to the invention has the advantage that the defrosting of the defrosting area can be individually controlled for each defrosting area, i.e., the temperature control or the heat input can be controlled for each area. In this way, compared with a heating device that cannot be controlled for each area, it is not necessary to heat the entire heat exchanger over the entire defrosting period, so the energy input during defrosting can be reduced.

[0013] The defrosting area of the heat exchanger may be, for example, a volume area of the heat exchanger including a part of one or more fins of the fin array and a part of the pipe. Furthermore, the heating section assigned to the defrosting area or volume area can be arranged within the assigned defrosting area or volume area.

[0014] The two or more individually controllable heating sections and the defrosting areas of the heat exchanger assigned to each heating section may be arranged in rows and / or columns. For example, the defrosting areas of the heat exchanger can be arranged in columns, and each column basically extends over the entire length of the heat exchanger. For example, when viewed along the height of the heat exchanger, two or more columns are arranged vertically. Alternatively, the defrosting areas of the heat exchanger can be arranged in columns, and each column basically extends over the entire height of the heat exchanger. For example, two or more columns are arranged adjacent to each other along the length of the heat exchanger. Alternatively, the defrosting areas of the heat exchanger can also be arranged in rows and columns in a grid pattern.

[0015] According to one design of the device, the heating element of the heating device can be partially or completely arranged within the envelope of the fin array. When referring to the envelope of the fin array, this is composed of a volume limited by the maximum outer dimensions of the fin array. For example, the heating element may penetrate the fin array. When viewed along the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger, at least partially, two or more heating elements may be arranged parallel to each other.

[0016] The heating element may be provided with an electric heating element such as a heating rod passing through the fin array. Therefore, the heating element may be a resistance heating element, and the resistance heating element is heated by resistance when electric power passes through it, and electrical energy is converted into heat.

[0017] The heating element is inserted, for example, through the openings of the fins of the fin array and attached to or placed on the fins. Each heating element may completely penetrate the fin array when viewed along the longitudinal direction of the fins. Alternatively, the heating element can be arranged in an empty pipe passing through the fins. Such an empty pipe simplifies the installation and maintenance of the heating element.

[0018] According to one design of the device, individually controllable heating elements can be assigned to each heating section.

[0019] Alternatively, controllable segments of the heating rod can be assigned to each heating section. Each heating element can have, for example, two or more individually controllable segments.

[0020] Alternatively, a group of heating rods can be assigned to each heating section. The group of heating rods can include two or more heating elements that can be controlled together.

[0021] Alternatively, an arcuate electric heating element or a group of arcuate electric heating elements can be assigned to each heating section. Such arcuate or fork-shaped electric heating elements particularly have two longitudinal sections that extend substantially parallel to each other, the ends of which are arranged adjacent to each other and connected to a source of electrical energy, and the longitudinal sections are connected to each other in an arcuate manner or fused to each other in a region away from the ends.

[0022] The heating element may be provided with a pipe passing through the fin array.

[0023] According to one design of the device, controllable piping can be assigned to each heating section, and the control can be effected by means of a switchable valve.

[0024] Alternatively, a controllable segment of the piping can be assigned to each heating section, and the control can be effected by means of a switchable valve.

[0025] Alternatively, a group of controllable piping can be assigned to each heating section, and the control can be effected by means of a switchable valve.

[0026] A heatable fluid, such as hot gas, warm salt water, etc., flows through such piping of the heating device, heating each heating section and being able to defrost the associated defrosting area of the heat exchanger. The device can be provided with additional devices for storing and / or heating the heatable fluid.

[0027] The piping in the heating direction that functions as a heating element may be provided separately from the piping of the heat exchanger that carries the cooling medium. Thus, the fins of the fin array of the heat exchanger are penetrated on the one hand by the piping that carries the cooling medium and on the other hand by the piping of the heating device installed to carry the heatable fluid. In particular, it may be specified that the heating circuit of the heating device is a separate fluid circuit from the cooling circuit of the heat exchanger, and there is no fluid connection between the heating circuit and the cooling circuit.

[0028] According to one design of the device, the piping in the heating direction that functions as a heating element corresponds to the piping of the heat exchanger that carries the cooling medium, and the piping can be switched between a heating mode and a cooling mode by means of a control device. What is advantageous here is that it is not necessary to provide separate piping of the heating device in the fin array of the heat exchanger. Thus, the surface area available for heat transfer at each fin of the fin array is increased compared to a solution with separate piping for the heating device. Furthermore, costs can be saved by eliminating the individual piping for the heating device, and the overall design complexity of the heat exchanger can be reduced.

[0029] The heating device can be provided with a high-temperature gas defrosting system and / or a warm brine defrosting system.

[0030] High-temperature gas defrosting and / or warm brine defrosting can be provided independently and separately from the cooling circuit of the heat exchanger, and the piping for high-temperature gas defrosting and / or warm brine defrosting penetrates the fin array of the heat exchanger.

[0031] For example, switching valves such as expansion valves, two-way valves, three-way valves, etc., a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser are provided, and a refrigeration circuit is formed by these. The heat exchanger forms an evaporator or a condenser, and the heating direction has a high-temperature gas defrosting method or a warm brine defrosting method and can be switched by a switching valve.

[0032] There may be only one expansion valve provided in the device.

[0033] The device can be specified to have exactly one cooling circuit.

[0034] The heat exchanger may be provided with exactly one inlet and exactly one outlet for introducing the refrigerant into the heat exchanger and discharging the refrigerant from the heat exchanger. The inlet is also called the entrance, and the outlet is also called the exit.

[0035] In particular, exactly one expansion valve is provided, switching valves such as two-way valves, three-way valves, four-way valves, etc., a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser are provided, and these form exactly one cooling circuit. The heat exchanger forms an evaporator or a condenser, and the heat exchanger has exactly one inflow and exactly one outflow, or exactly one entrance and exactly one exit, introduces the refrigerant into the heat exchanger, discharges the refrigerant from the heat exchanger, the heating direction is high-temperature gas defrosting or warm brine defrosting, and it can be switched by a switching valve.

[0036] Exactly two expansion valves are provided, in which case the device has exactly one cooling circuit in which the expansion valves are arranged. Specifically, one of the two expansion valves functions as the expansion valve for the cooling operation of the device, and the other of the two expansion valves functions as the expansion valve for the heating operation for defrosting the heat exchanger when the circuit is reversed.

[0037] A distributor may be arranged between the expansion valve and the heat exchanger so as to distribute the cooling fluid to a plurality of pipe strings.

[0038] In order to adjust the flow rate of each pipe string, a regulating valve, that is, a valve for adjusting the flow rate, may be provided between the distributor and the heat exchanger. Each regulating valve may be a controllable valve.

[0039] The regulating valve is not an expansion valve. The regulating valve basically adjusts the flow rate at a constant fluid pressure, while the expansion valve is used to release the fluid pressure, that is, to reduce the fluid pressure.

[0040] According to one design of the device, the control device is configured for sensor control of the heating device, and at least one monitoring device such as a sensor and a photographic imaging device is provided. The monitoring device is provided to detect the degree of icing, determine the time, and control the defrosting process by the control device.

[0041] Two or more monitoring areas are monitored by the monitoring device, and the monitoring areas are arranged in particular rows and / or columns. A defrosting area can be assigned to each monitoring area.

[0042] Two or more defrosting areas can be assigned to each monitoring area.

[0043] Two or more monitoring areas can be assigned to each defrosting area. For example, if the monitoring device detects icing within the monitoring area assigned to the defrosting area, the entire defrosting area can be defrosted.

[0044] There may be a case where exactly one monitoring area is assigned to each defrosting area.

[0045] Alternatively or additionally, exactly one defrosting area may be assigned to each heating section.

[0046] Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible to assign two or more defrosting areas to each heating section.

[0047] Depending on one design of the device, one or more of the monitoring devices listed below may be provided: temperature sensor, pressure sensor, humidity sensor, photographic imaging device in the visible wavelength range, photographic imaging device in the non-visible wavelength range, thermal imaging camera, infrared camera.

[0048] As a device for taking a photographic image in the visible wavelength range, a digital camera is used. The device for taking a photographic image in the visible wavelength range can be combined with a light source that illuminates the heat exchanger to improve the image.

[0049] As a device for taking a photograph in the non-visible wavelength range, an infrared camera is used. To improve the image by illuminating the heat exchanger, an infrared light source for taking a photographic image in a wavelength range other than the visible light range can be assigned to the device.

[0050] Examples of devices for taking a photographic image in the non-visible wavelength range include thermal imaging cameras. Although thermal imaging cameras may not be classified as photographic images in the literature, a thermal imaging camera in the sense of the present disclosure is a device for taking a photographic image in the non-visible wavelength range. A thermal imaging camera generates a thermal image that reproduces the temperature difference or thermal characteristics of the detected object (in this case, the heat exchanger). To generate such a thermal image, a light source for illuminating the object is not required. That is, in this case, a light source for illuminating the heat exchanger is not necessary.

[0051] A first group of one or more monitoring areas is associated with a first arrangement of one or more first monitoring devices for monitoring the first group of one or more monitoring areas, and a second group of one or more monitoring areas may be associated with a second arrangement of one or more second monitoring devices for monitoring the second group of one or more monitoring areas. Thus, depending on the dimensions of the heat exchanger, a plurality of monitoring devices can be provided to monitor one or more monitoring areas.

[0052] For example, depending on the length of the heat exchanger, it is also possible to install a plurality of cameras so as to completely monitor the heat exchanger. For example, a plurality of cameras can be arranged at regular intervals along the length of the heat exchanger, and each camera monitors a part of the length of the heat exchanger. One or more monitoring areas can be set for each partial length.

[0053] A temperature sensor can be assigned to each monitoring area.

[0054] A pressure sensor can be assigned to each monitoring area.

[0055] A humidity sensor can be assigned to each monitoring area.

[0056] According to one design of the device, the control device is set up for time-based and / or sensor control of the heating device, and / or the control device is set up for AI-based control of the heating device, and / or the control device is set up to control the heating device using the thermal images taken by the thermal imaging camera of the device. Thus, defrosting of individual defrosting areas can be controlled by a timer or sensor-controlled by one or more temperature sensors, in which case, for example, the temperature sensors are assigned to each defrosting area. Alternatively or additionally, the thermal images of individual monitoring areas can be evaluated to detect the progress of the defrosting process and identify the end of the defrosting process for each defrosting area.

[0057] In the foregoing context, the term "AI" includes methods based on artificial intelligence and generically refers to methods in the fields of "machine learning" and "deep learning". For example, AI-based image evaluation can be performed to detect the frozen state of each monitoring area, in which case, for example, conventional digital images, infrared images, or thermal images can be evaluated. Such images can be used, on the one hand, to determine the thawing time and, on the other hand, to control the thawing process.

[0058] According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a method including the steps of operating a heat exchanger of a device and defrosting the heat exchanger by a heating device of the heat exchanger. This method is characterized in that, during defrosting of the heat exchanger, two or more individually controllable heating sections of the heating device are controlled by a control device, and the defrosting areas of the heat exchanger assigned to the heating sections are defrosted by the individually controllable heating sections.

[0059] It is also possible to first defrost all defrosting areas simultaneously and then set one or more heating sections to be turned off. In this way, heat can be quickly introduced into the heat exchanger first, and then defrosting can be controlled for specific areas according to the defrosting areas and the correspondingly assigned heating sections. In this way, rapid and efficient defrosting can be achieved.

[0060] Alternatively or additionally, one or more defrosting areas of the heat exchanger may be defrosted while one or more other defrosting areas of the heat exchanger are not defrosted. Therefore, during defrosting, the individual defrosting areas cannot be defrosted by the assigned heating elements, but the other defrosting areas are defrosted by the assigned heating elements.

[0061] Alternatively or additionally, one defrosting area or a plurality of defrosting areas of the heat exchanger may be defrosted with a first heat output, while another defrosting area or a plurality of other defrosting areas of the heat exchanger may be defrosted with a second heat output different from the first heat output. Therefore, the heat input to the relevant defrosting areas can be controlled in a demand-oriented manner with a narrowed target.

[0062] Each heating output can be set, for example, by pulse width modulation.

[0063] For example, the heat output of each heating element may be actively adjusted. For example, in the case of an electric heating element, the power supply can be adjusted, and in the case of a pipe, the valve opening can be adjusted.

[0064] According to one design of this method, the defrosting area of the heat exchanger may be defrosted row by row and / or column by column.

[0065] During operation of the heat exchanger, the degree of icing of the heat exchanger may be monitored. In this case, two or more monitoring areas of the heat exchanger are monitored by at least one monitoring device, the degree of icing is determined for each monitoring area of the heat exchanger, and the monitoring areas are arranged particularly in rows and / or columns.

[0066] According to one design of the method, the device may be designed according to the present invention, and / or the control of the heating device may be executed in a time-based and / or sensor control manner, and / or the control of the heating device may be executed in an AI-based manner, and / or the control of the heating device may be executed using a thermal image from a thermal imaging camera. Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings showing exemplary embodiments schematically showing each case.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0067]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Figure 3C

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 4C

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0068] Figure 1 shows the apparatus 2 according to the present invention. The apparatus 2 is a cooling system 2. The cooling system 2 can be used, for example, to cool a walk-in cooling volume.

[0069] The cooling system 2 has a housing 4 that supports a protective grill 6 for a fan 8 of the cooling system 2. The fan 8 is used to carry air from the environment U along the fins 10 of the heat exchanger 12 of the cooling system 2. The heat exchanger 12 will be described below with reference to FIG. 2.

[0070] Since the heat exchanger 12 is disposed inside the cooling system 2, the housing 4 is hidden in FIG. 2 to show the heat exchanger 12. The heat exchanger 12 has a number of flat or plate-like fins 10, and these fins 10 are arranged substantially parallel to each other along the longitudinal extension L of the heat exchanger 12, forming a fin arrangement 11.

[0071] The fin 10 is traversed by the pipe 14 of the heat exchanger 12 that carries the cooling medium. The fin 10 is also called a cooling fin. The cooling fin 10 is connected to the pipe 14 of the heat exchanger 12.

[0072] The device 2 has a heating device 16 integrated into the heat exchanger 12 with a heating rod 18 for defrosting the heat exchanger 12. The heating rod 18 also penetrates the cooling fin 10 along the longitudinal direction L and is connected to the cooling fin 10.

[0073] The device 2 has a device 20 for taking a photographic image. The device 20 is used to generate a photographic image of the heat exchanger 12 and transmit it to the control unit 22 of the device 2. The control unit 22 may have a computer for evaluating the photographic image, may be connected to a computer for evaluating the photographic image, and / or may be connected to a server for evaluating the photographic image.

[0074] The device 20 is a thermal imaging camera.

[0075] The control unit 22 is also used to control the heating device 16.

[0076] The heating device 16 has four individually controllable heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27. Two heating elements 18 are assigned to each heating section 21, 23, 25, 27. The heating elements 18 of each heating section 21, 23, 25, 27 can be controlled individually, and the heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27 can be heated independently of each other.

[0077] The defrosting regions 29, 31, 33, 35 of the heat exchanger 12 are assigned to each heating section 21, 23, 25, 27, and each defrosting region 29, 31, 33, 35 is a volume region 29, 31, 33, 35 surrounding the assigned heating section 21, 23, 25, 27.

[0078] Therefore, the heating device 16 is configured to individually defrost the individual defrost regions 29, 31, 33, 35 of the heat exchanger 12 by individually controllable heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27.

[0079] The defrost regions 29, 31, 33, 35 also correspond to the monitoring regions 29, 31, 33, 35 of the thermal imaging camera 20, and the degree of icing can be detected for each of the monitoring regions 29, 31, 33, 35 by the thermal imaging camera 20.

[0080] Two or more thermal imaging cameras 20 may be provided to monitor the monitoring regions 29, 31, 33, 35. Further, additional monitoring devices such as temperature sensors 26, pressure sensors 28, and humidity sensors 30 may be provided in each of the monitoring regions 29, 31, 33, 35 to detect the icing state of the associated monitoring regions 29, 31, 33, 35 and / or to control the defrosting of the associated defrost regions 29, 31, 33, 35 by the heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27.

[0081] FIG. 3A shows the cooling fins 10 of the heat exchanger 12 provided with the heating rods 18 and the pipes 14. According to FIG. 3A, the heating rods 18 completely penetrate the entire length along the longitudinal direction L of the arrangement of the fins 10. The heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27 and the defrost regions 29, 31, 33, 35 are also shown.

[0082] The heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27 and the defrost regions 29, 31, 33, 35 are arranged in a row so that defrosting is performed for each cycle.

[0083] The heating device 16 and the heating element 18 are basically completely arranged within the envelope 37 of the heat exchanger 12. The envelope 37, which is shown in only two dimensions here, is understood to delimit a volume that completely surrounds the heat exchanger 12 in three-dimensional space.

[0084] In this case, the heating element 18 is an electric heating element in the form of a heating rod 18.

[0085] For clarity, in FIG. 3B, the heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27 without the heat exchanger 12 and the defrost regions 29, 31, 33, 35 are shown.

[0086] For clarity, in FIG. 3C, the heat exchanger 12 excluding the heating sections 21, 23, 25, 27 and the defrost regions 29, 31, 33, 35 is shown.

[0087] FIG. 4A shows an alternative design of the heat exchanger 12' that can also be used in the apparatus 2 according to the present invention. The heat exchanger 12' in FIG. 4 is different from the heat exchanger 12 in FIG. 3 in that a heating rod 18' is provided that penetrates only a part of the length of the arrangement of the fins 10 when viewed along the longitudinal direction L.

[0088] The heat exchanger 12' has eight heating sections 21', 23', 25', 27', 21", 23", 25", 27" and eight associated defrost regions 29', 31', 33', 35', 29", 31", 33", 35". The defrost regions 29', 31', 33', 35', 29", 31", 33", 35" can be defrosted or heated separately, i.e., independently of each other, by the heating sections 21', 23', 25', 27', 21", 23", 25", 27".

[0089] For clarity, the heat exchanger 12' is shown in FIG. 4B with the defrost regions and the heating sections removed.

[0090] For clarity, the heating sections 21', 23', 25', 27', 21", 23", 25", 27" and the defrost regions 29', 31', 33', 35', 29", 31", 33", 35" are shown in FIG. 4C without the heat exchanger 12'.

[0091] FIG. 5 shows an apparatus 2' that is a cooling system. The apparatus 2' includes an evaporator 12", a condenser 37, an expansion valve 39, and a compressor 41.

[0092] The heat exchanger 12” or the evaporator has six pipe strings 14’, 14”, 14”’, 14””, 14””’, 14””” or pipe groups 14’, 14”, 14”’, 14””, 14””’, 14””’, 14”””, with five pipes in each group (Figure 6). The pipes of the pipe strings 14’, 14”, 14”’, 14””, 14””’, 14””’, 14””” penetrate the fin array 11” of the heat exchanger 12”.

[0093] The pipes are segments of the pipe strings 14’, 14”, 14”’, 14””, 14””’, 14””’, 14”””. The pipes extending along the longitudinal direction of the heat exchanger 12”, that is, the pipes extending perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, are connected to each other via the bends 83. Therefore, the pipe strings 14’, 14”, 14”’, 14””, 14””’, 14””’, 14””” penetrate the fin array 11” while meandering along the width B of the heat exchanger 12”.

[0094] The pipe strings 14’, 14”, 14”’, 14””, 14””’, 14””’, 14””” are the pipes of the heat exchanger 12” that carry the cooling medium. The pipes of the pipe strings 14’, 14”, 14”’, 14””, 14””’, 14””’, 14””” are also the pipes in the heating direction 16” and function as heating elements. The pipes of the pipe strings 14’, 14”, 14”’, 14””, 14””’, 14””’, 14””” can be switched between the heating mode and the cooling mode by the control device 22”.

[0095] The device 2’ has a distributor 81, a collector 43, an inlet 45 for introducing the cooling medium, and an outlet 47 for discharging the cooling medium from the heat exchanger 12’.

[0096] The pipe strings 14’, 14”, 14”’, 14””, 14””’, 14”””’, 14””” can be controlled individually, thus forming the heating section of the heating device 16’. For example, by reversing the circuit, the defrosting area around the heat exchanger 12” can be defrosted individually. The pipe strings 14’, 14”, 14”’, 14””, 14””’, 14”””’, 14””” can be switched via a valve (not shown) by the control device 22”.

[0097] Figure 7 shows yet another device 2”. Here, only the differences from the device 2’ described above are explained, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the same features.

[0098] The device 2” is equipped with a heating device 16” in the form of a high-temperature gas defrosting system. For this purpose, a two-way valve 49 is provided that is set to switch between the cooling mode and the heating mode or the defrosting mode.

[0099] Since the valves 51 of the pipe strings 14’, 14”, 14”’ can be controlled individually, high-temperature gas can flow through the pipe strings 14’, 14”, 14”’ individually and independently of each other to perform selective defrosting of the heat exchanger 12”. The valve 51 is a regulating valve for adjusting the flow rate to set the flow rate of each pipe string 14’, 14”, 14”’.

[0100] Figure 8 shows a further device 2”’. Here, only the differences from the above-described devices 2’, 2” are explained, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the same features.

[0101] The device 2”’ has a heating device 16”’ in the form of a defrosting system using high-temperature gas or warm brine, and its pipes 57, 57’, 57” or heating sections 57, 57’, 57” are provided separately from the pipes 14’, 14”, 14”’ that carry the cooling medium. The pipes 57, 57’, 57” pass through the heat exchanger 12”’. Thus, in the device 2”’, the cooling circuit and the heating circuit are completely separated.

[0102] The heating device 16”’ has a pump 53, a heat source 55 such as a resistance heater, a distribution pipe 61 as an inlet, and a manifold 63 as an outlet. Alternatively or additionally, the waste heat from the compressor 41 can also be used as a heat source.

[0103] Therefore, the heat exchanger 12”’ is selectively supplied with high-temperature gas via the pipes 57, 57’, 57”, and the heat exchanger 12”’ can be defrosted selectively, i.e., region by region. Alternatively, the heating device 16”’ can also be operated with high-temperature brine.

[0104] Figure 9 shows a further device 2””, where only the differences from the above-described devices 2’, 2”, 2”’ are explained, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the same features.

[0105] In the case of the device 2”” shown in Figure 9, the pipes 14’, 14”, 14”’ are reused for both cooling and heating operations. A circuit reversal is used to switch between the cooling mode and the heating mode, and a three-way valve 85 and a four-way valve 65 are used to switch the circuit direction. The valve 51 can be used to selectively defrost the heat exchanger 12” in the heating mode, and depending on the valve position of the valve 51, it is determined whether the pipes 14’, 14”, 14”’ pass through or not.

[0106] Figure 10 shows a further device 2””’, where only the differences from the above-described device 2”” are explained, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the same features.

[0107] The device 2””’ is provided with a heating device 16””’ in the form of a defrosting system by high-temperature gas or warm brine, and its pipes 57, 57’, 57” or heating sections 57, 57’, 57” are provided separately from the pipes 14’, 14”, 14”’ that carry the cooling medium. The pipes 57, 57’, 57” pass through the heat exchanger 12”’. Therefore, in the device 2””’, the cooling circuit and the heating circuit are completely separated.

[0108] The header 63 of the heating device 16””’ is here connected, for example, to an outlet 87 leading to a collector or a separator.

[0109] The monitoring device is used to monitor the degree of icing of each heat exchanger and, in particular, monitors areas according to a predefined monitoring range.

[0110] If defrosting is required, it is desirable to first activate all heating sections with assigned heating elements.

[0111] Defrosting can be monitored section by section by the monitoring device. When the defrosting area in question has been defrosted, the associated heating section is turned off and all heating sections are turned off and this is continued until the heat exchanger is completely defrosted.

[0112] In particular, the defrosting state of the defrosting area can be recorded using a thermal image of the monitoring area. The evaluation of the thermal image or the thermal image recording can be carried out by an AI-based method.

Explanation of Signs

[0113] 2 Device / Cooling System 4 Housing 6 Protection Grill 8 Fan 10 Fin / Cooling Fin 12, 12’, 12”, 12”’ Heat Exchanger 14’, 14”, 14”’, 14””, 14””’, 14””” Pipe / Pipe String 16, 16’, 16”, 16”’, 16”” Heating Device 18, 18’ Heating Rod U Environment L Longitudinal Direction B Width Direction 20 Photo Imaging Device 21 Heating Section 22, 22’, 22” Control Unit 23 Heating Section 24 Sensor 25 Heating Section 26 Temperature sensor 27 Heating section 28 Pressure sensor 30 Humidity sensor 29 Defrosting area 31 Defrosting area 33 Defrosting area 35 Defrosting and freezing area 37 Envelope 39 Expansion valve 41 Compressor 43 Collector 45 Inlet 47 Outlet 49 Two-way valve 51 Valve 53 Pump 55 Heat source 57, 57’, 57” Pipes 61 Distribution pipe 63 Manifold 65 Four-way valve 81 Dispenser 83 Bending part 85 Three-way valve

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus comprising: a heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12'"), the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12''') has piping (14', 14", 14''', 14"", 14""', 14""") for carrying a cooling medium; the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12''') has a fin arrangement (11, 11') through which the piping (14', 14", 14''', 14"", 14""', 14""") passes; the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12''') is provided with a heating device (16, 16', 16", 16'', 16''') integrated into the heat exchanger, a control device (22, 22', 22") for controlling the heating device (16, 16', 16", 16'', 16""); the heating device (16, 16', 16", 16'', 16"") has two or more individually controllable heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27); each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is assigned a defrosting area (29, 31, 33, 35) of said heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12'"); the heating devices (16, 16', 16", 16'', 16'") are configured to individually defrost individual defrosting zones (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchangers (12, 12', 12", 12'") by means of the individually controllable heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27); An apparatus characterized in that

2. the two or more individually controllable heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27) and the defrosting areas (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchangers (12, 12', 12", 12'") assigned to each heating section are arranged in rows and / or columns; 2. The device of claim 1 .

3. the heating elements (18, 18', 14, 14', 14", 14'', 14"", 14""', 14""", 57, 57', 57") of said heating devices (16, 16', 16", 16'', 16"") are partially or completely disposed within the envelope (37) of the fin array (11, 11', 11"); 3. The device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. the heating element (18, 18', 14, 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14""', 14""", 57, 57', 57") comprises an electric heating element (18, 18'), such as a heating rod (18, 18'), passing through the fin array; 4. The device according to claim 3.

5. Each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is assigned an individually controllable heating rod (18, 18'), or Each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is assigned a controllable segment of the heating rod, or A heating rod group is assigned to each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27); or Each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is assigned an arcuate electric heating element; 4. The device according to claim 3.

6. the heating elements (18, 18', 14, 14', 14", 14'', 14"", 14""', 14""", 57, 57', 57") are provided with piping (14, 14', 14", 14'', 14"", 14""', 14""", 57, 57', 57") passing through the fin arrays (11, 11', 11"); 4. The device according to claim 3.

7. each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is assigned a controllable pipe (14, 14', 14", 14'", 14"", 14""', 14""", 57, 57', 57"), or each heating section (21, 23, 25, 27) is assigned a controllable segment of said pipe, or each heating section is assigned a controllable group of said pipe, The control is effected by a switchable valve (51), 7. The device according to claim 6.

8. the piping (57, 57', 57") of the heating direction (16, 16', 16", 16'', 16"") acting as the heating element is provided separately from the piping (14, 14', 14", 14'', 14"", 14""', 14""") of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12"') carrying the cooling medium; 8. The device according to claim 6 or claim 7.

9. the pipes (14, 14', 14", 14"', 14"", 14""', 14""") in the heating direction (16, 16', 16", 16"', 16"") functioning as the heating elements correspond to the pipes (14, 14', 14", 14"', 14"", 14""', 14""") of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12"') carrying a cooling medium; The piping (14, 14', 14", 14''', 14"", 14""', 14""") can be switched between heating and cooling modes by a control device (22, 22', 22"); 8. The device according to claim 6 or claim 7.

10. Expansion valve (39), Switching valves such as two-way valves, three-way valves, and four-way valves (49, 65); a compressor (41), an evaporator (12, 12', 12", 12"'); and A condenser (37) is provided to form a cooling circuit; said heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12''') forming an evaporator (12, 12', 12", 12''') or a condenser (37); The heating directions (16, 16', 16", 16'', 16"") have a hot gas defrosting system or a hot salt water defrosting system, and can be switched by the switching valves (49, 65).

9. The device according to claim 8.

11. said control device (22, 22', 22") is provided for sensor control of the heating device; At least one monitoring device (20, 26, 28, 30), such as a sensor, a photographic imaging device, etc., is provided; the monitoring device (20, 26, 28, 30) is provided to detect the degree of icing, determine the defrosting time and control the defrosting process by the control device (20, 20', 20"); 3. The device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

12. Two or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35) are monitored by the monitoring device (20, 26, 28, 30); the monitoring areas are arranged in rows and / or columns; 12. The device of claim 11 .

13. temperature sensor (26), a pressure sensor (28), Humidity sensor (30), A device (20) for taking photographic images in the visible wavelength range, A photographic imaging device (20) in the non-visible wavelength range, a thermal imaging camera (20); Infrared camera (20), Equipped with one or more of the monitoring devices listed above, 12. The device of claim 11 .

14. a first group of one or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35) associated with a first arrangement of one or more first monitoring devices (20, 26, 28, 30) for monitoring the first group of one or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35); a second group of one or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35) associated with a second arrangement of one or more second monitoring devices (20, 26, 28, 30) for monitoring the second group of one or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35); 12. The device of claim 11 .

15. 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 to control the heating device (16, 16', 16", 16'', 16"") using a thermal image captured by a thermal imaging camera of the heating device; 3. The device according to claim 1 or claim 2.

16. operating the heat exchangers (12, 12', 12", 12''') of the devices (2, 2', 2", 2''', 2"", 2""'); defrosting the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12'') by a heating device (16, 16', 16", 16'', 16'") of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12''); A method comprising: during defrosting of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12'''), two or more individually controllable heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27) of the heating device (16, 16', 16", 16'', 16"") are controlled by a control device; defrosting areas (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchangers (12, 12', 12", 12'") assigned to the heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27) by individually controllable heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27); A method comprising:

17. all said defrosting zones (29, 31, 33, 35) are defrosted simultaneously, after which individual or multiple of said heating sections (21, 23, 25, 27) are turned off; and / or defrosting of one defrosting zone (29, 31, 33, 35) or a plurality of defrosting zones (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger, but not defrosting of one or more further defrosting zones (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12′, 12″, 12′′); and / or defrosting of the defrosting zone (29, 31, 33, 35) or zones (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger is performed with a first heating power; while defrosting of the further defrosting zone (29, 31, 33, 35) or further defrosting zones (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12′, 12″, 12′′) is performed with a second heating power different from the first heating power, 17. The method of claim 16.

18. the defrosting areas (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12'") are defrosted row by row and / or column by column, 18. The method according to claim 16 or 17.

19. monitoring the degree of icing of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12''') during operation of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12'''); two or more monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35) of the heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12'") are monitored by at least one monitoring device (20, 26, 28, 30); the degree of icing is determined for each monitoring area (29, 31, 33, 35) of said heat exchanger (12, 12', 12", 12'"), said monitoring areas (29, 31, 33, 35) being arranged in particular in rows and / or columns; 18. The method according to claim 16 or claim 17.

20. The devices (2, 2', 2", 2"', 2"", 2""') are Designed as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, and / or the control of said heating devices (16, 16', 16", 16"', 16"") is time-based and / or sensor-controlled; and / or The heating devices (16, 16', 16", 16"', 16"") are controlled on an AI basis, and / or The control of the heating devices (16, 16', 16", 16"', 16"") is performed using thermal images from a thermal imaging camera (20).

18. The method according to claim 16 or claim 17.

Images