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(11) | EP 1 712 855 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | System for refrigeration of perishable goods |
| (57) The invention relates to a system for refrigeration of perishable goods contained
within a space (2) comprising a refrigeration group (3), provided inside said space,
and comprised of a plurality of modules (33) associated each other, each one of which
comprising at least a tubular inner element (36,37) within which a frigorific fluid
is contained, each module being conformed as an outer tubular element realising, along
which said at least one inner tubular element, a gap (38) within which a fluid is
inserted determining thermal capability of the refrigeration group, characterised
in that each module comprises a support (35) in each lower part of which said inner
tubular element engages, the refrigeration group being associated with said space
in such a way that a sufficient gap is present between the group and a wall of said
space.
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[0002] Particularly, the present invention relates to a system for refrigeration of perishable goods, such as foodstuffs contained within an insulating room.
[0003] It is known that, when transporting and storing perishable goods, such as foodstuffs, temperature within storing space must be maintained at substantially constant values for even quite long time. A meaning example of the above is represented by transportation of foodstuffs within TIR for distance of at least 500 km.
[0004] Coibentante cells are known in the art within which it is present a cooling member, comprised of a frigorific circuit with the aid of one or more fans suitable to make air circulating so as to increase the convection coefficient within the cell.
[0005] Applicant has faced up the problem of realising a system for refrigeration of perishable goods, already at optimum preservation temperature, maintaining temperature inside the space wherein goods are provided substantially constant for rather long periods and/or in case many accesses to the space occur.
[0006] An aspect of the present invention concerns a system for refrigeration of perishable goods contained within a space comprising a refrigeration group, provided inside said space, and comprised of a plurality of modules associated each other, each one of which comprising at least a tubular inner element within which a frigorific fluid is contained, each module being conformed as an outer tubular element realising, along which said at least one inner tubular element, a gap within which a fluid is inserted determining thermal capability of the refrigeration group, characterised in that each module comprises a support in each lower part in which said inner tubular element engages, the refrigeration group being associated with said space in such a way that a sufficient gap is present between the group and a wall of said space.
[0007] Features and advantages of the system according to the present invention will be more clear and evident from the following exemplificative but not limitative specification, of an embodiment, made making reference to the enclosed figures, wherein:
figure 1 diagrammatically represents a system for refrigeration of perishable goods according to the present invention inserted within an insulating cell;
figure 2 is a view of a refrigerant group for refrigeration of perishable goods according to the invention;
figure is an enlarged portion of the group for refrigeration according to the invention;
figure 4 diagrammatically represents the refrigeration group associated with a fan for circulation of cooled air according to the present invention;
figure 5 shows a graph of temperatures within an insulating cell obtained experimentally;
figure 6 show a curve of connection of inner element tubes according to the invention.
[0008] Making reference to the above figures, system according to the present invention can be applied to a container body, equivalent to a insulating cell, such as loading space of motor transport means, a container, placed on board a vehicle.
[0009] Container body has inside a room provided with walls, which are thermally insulated according to the standard techniques, so as to define an inner space permitting the introduction of goods to be preserved.
[0010] System according to the present invention comprises a refrigeration group 3 that is for example positioned close to the ceiling of said space 2. Refrigeration group can be as well positioned on one of the container walls.
[0011] In case said group is positioned close to the ceiling, it is fixedly jointed, for example by a pair of brackets 31, to the space or container walls, so as to leave a gap between ceiling and upper surface of the refrigeration group so as to make air to be cooled passing.
[0012] Generally speaking, refrigeration group is associated with said space in such a way that a gap is present between the group surface and a wall of said space.
[0013] To this end, refrigeration group is provided with opposed ends of a pair of shaped supports 32 inserting between said brackets 31.
[0014] Refrigeration group comprises a plurality of refrigeration modules 33, preferably smooth both on the upper and on the lower portion.
[0016] Each refrigeration module is conformed as an outer tubular element, preferably at least an inner tubular element run inside by a frigorific fluid. An embodiment is shown in figure 1, in which tubular elements inside each module and run by a frigorific fluid are two, an upper one 36 and a lower one 37 juxtaposed each other.
[0017] Said inner and outer tubular elements create a gap 38 within which a fluid (e.g. water) is introduced, determining thermal capability of the heat exchanger. Inner tubular elements have radial fins 39 further promoting thermal exchange.
[0018] Inner tubes are connected each other by one of said fins and further a radial fin associated with the lower tube introduces within a seat 40 realised on the module base, particularly on the above mentioned support 35, safely and efficiently constraining the tubes to the module.
[0019] Inner element tubes 36 and 37 are preferably connected each other by a curved portion 41 so as to obtain a passage of the inlet and suction refrigerant gas, as shown in figure 6.
[0020] Refrigeration group is comprised of a plurality of modules provided side by side and having such a length to correspond to the loading space length or to the height of a wall of said space.
[0021] System further preferably comprises an air conveyor 5, suitable to force air ventilation inside the gap existing between refrigeration group and wall to which it is associated the same group.
[0022] Operation function of the system according to the present invention is based on the capability of transferring in thermal accumulators units of refrigeration necessary for autonomous operation for required travel period, obtaining a thermal autonomy of at least five days.
[0023] In system according to the present invention, function of charging refrigeration group is obtained by a single recharge unit, for example an electrically supplied unit, not provided on board the vehicle. Once recharged, system can have an autonomy even longer than six days at a temperature between 0° and 6°.
1. System for refrigeration of perishable goods contained within a space (2) comprising
a refrigeration group (3), provided inside said space, and comprised of a plurality
of modules (33) associated each other, each one of which comprising at least a tubular
inner element (34, 35) within which a frigorific fluid is contained, each module being
conformed as an outer tubular element realising, along which said at least one inner
tubular element, a gap (38) within which a fluid is inserted determining thermal capability
of the refrigeration group, characterised in that each module comprises a support (35) in each lower part of which said inner tubular
element engages, the refrigeration group being associated with said space in such
a way that a sufficient gap is present between the group and a wall of said space.
2. System according to claim 1, wherein said group comprises, on its opposed ends, a
pair of shaped supports (32) inserting between said brackets (31), associated with
the wall of the space on which the group can be fixed.
3. System according to claim 1, wherein tubular elements inside each module and run by
frigorific fluid are two, one upper element (36) and on lower element (37) juxtaposed
each other.
4. System according to claim 1, wherein inner tubular elements has radial fins (39) promoting
thermal exchange.
5. System according to claims 3 and 4, wherein upper (36) and lower (37) inner tubular
elements are connected each other by one of said fins.
6. System according to claims 3 and 4, wherein one of said fins associated with the lower
tubular element introduces within a seat (40) realised on said support (35).
7. System according to claim 1, wherein refrigeration group is comprised of a plurality
of modules provided side by side and having such a length to correspond to the loading
space length or to the height of a wall of said space.
8. System according to claim 1, comprising an air conveyor (5), suitable to force air
ventilation inside the gap existing between refrigeration group and wall to which
it is associated the same group.
9. System according to claim 1, wherein said support (35) is comprised of plastics.
10. System according to claim 1, wherein each module comprises cooling fins on its upper
portion.