Refrigerated Display Air Distribution to Reduce Temperature Gradient
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial refrigerated display units face challenges in minimizing the temperature gradient within the refrigerated volume, leading to higher energy consumption due to uneven cooling, where products near the heat exchange battery are excessively cooled, while those further away may exceed temperature class limits.
Innovation Solution
A system for distributing refrigerated air flow that includes a carrier fluid distributor device with vertically oriented slots and optimized fan sizing to create a uniform air curtain, reducing temperature gradients by ensuring consistent heat exchange across all products, while maintaining the temperature class limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heat exchange battery operates at temperatures below 0°C to cool products, then products near the battery are effectively cooled, but products far from the battery exceed temperature class limits due to excessive temperature gradient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the refrigerated display unit into multiple independent climate zones (first refrigerated volume and second refrigerated volume) with separate temperature control. The heat exchange battery is segmented to serve different zones independently, allowing optimization of temperature distribution without excessive energy consumption from uniform cooling of the entire space.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the refrigerated display unit are assigned different temperature characteristics. Products near the heat exchange battery (in the first refrigerated volume) are cooled to lower temperatures, while products farther away (in the second refrigerated volume) are maintained at higher temperatures within acceptable limits, optimizing both cooling efficiency and energy consumption.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If the operating temperature of the heat exchange battery is raised to increase average product temperature, then energy consumption decreases, but products near the battery exceed upper temperature thresholds
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerated space is segmented into multiple volumes that can be independently temperature-controlled. This allows the heat exchange battery to operate at optimized temperatures for each zone, reducing overall energy consumption while preventing excessive temperature gradients through localized temperature management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts temperature settings in different refrigerated volumes based on product requirements and thermal conditions. This dynamic control allows optimization of energy consumption while maintaining temperature gradient within acceptable limits by adapting temperatures in real-time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution compresses the temperature range within the refrigerated volume, increasing the average temperature and reducing energy requirements by ensuring uniform cooling, thereby optimizing energy efficiency and product storage conditions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one heat exchange battery (16), through which a cooling fluid and a carrier fluid (typically consisting of air) exchange heat
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of fans (18) placed at the inlet surface (16A) of such a heat exchange battery (16), with the fans (18) being configured to move both the carrier fluid to be refrigerated to the heat exchange battery (16), and the refrigerated carrier fluid to the refrigerated volume (12)
Data Source
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AI summary
Refrigerated display unit (10) comprising: - at least one refrigerating machine; - at least one refrigerated volume (12); - at least one technical volume configured for containing an air treatment unit operatively connected to the refrigerating machine, said air treatment unit comprising at least one heat exchange battery (16), by means of which a cooling fluid and a carrier fluid exchange heat, and a plurality of fans (18) placed at the inlet surface (16A) of said heat exchange battery (16); - one or more doors or walls (20) isolating the refrigerated volume (12) from the external environment; and - one or more ducts (22) of an air flow system, placed in fluid connection with the heat exchange battery (16) and configured for conveying the refrigerated carrier fluid, towards the refrigerated volume (12), wherein each conduit (22) is provided with at least one outlet opening (24) placed in fluid communication with the refrigerated volume (12), such as to diffuse a flow of refrigerated carrier fluid, inside such refrigerated volume (12).