CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (France)
Inventor
Pubill, Aleix
Rigaud, Laurent
Tadiotto, David
Stitou, Driss
Mazet, Nathalie
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for refrigerating a thermally insulating box (C) to a target temperature according to which: • - an evaporator (E) is placed in the box (C); • - the evaporator (E) is placed in fluid communication with a thermochemical reactor Ri; • - simultaneously, the heat produced by the reactor Ri is evacuated; the method is characterized in that at least n>1 other thermochemical reactors are provided; • I) the pressure Pevi in the evaporator (E) is determined after it is placed in fluid communication with the thermochemical reactor Ri, along with the temperature of the thermochemical reactor Ri connected to the evaporator; • II) when the temperature difference DTRi between the temperature of the reactor Ri connected to the evaporator and the equilibrium temperature TeSi of the reactive mixture contained in the thermochemical reactor Ri, at the pressure Pevi of the evaporator, is equal to a first given deviation and/or when the temperature difference DTev between the evaporator and the interior of the box is equal to a second given deviation, the reactor Ri is isolated from the evaporator and the evaporator is placed in fluid communication with at least one thermochemical reactor Ri+1 which has a lower pressure Pevi and/or a lower temperature than a given value; simultaneously, all or part of the heat produced by the reactor(s) Ri+1 connected to the evaporator is also removed, • III) steps I and II are repeated in reference to the thermochemical reactor Ri+1 in fluid communication with the evaporator (E) until the target temperature is reached in the box C.
F25B 17/08 - Sorption machines, plants or systems, operating intermittently, e.g. absorption or adsorption type the absorbent or adsorbent being a solid, e.g. salt
F25B 27/00 - Machines, plants or systems, using particular sources of energy
F25B 35/04 - Boiler-absorbers, i.e. boilers usable for absorption or adsorption using a solid as sorbent
F25B 49/04 - Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for sorption type machines, plants or systems
C09K 5/16 - Materials undergoing chemical reactions when used
2.
METHOD FOR GETTING THE INSIDE OF A THERMALLY INSULATED SPACE UP TO TEMPERATURE AND MAINTAINING IT AT TEMPERATURE WITHOUT THE PROVISION OF CONTINUOUS ENERGY, AND ASSOCIATED DEVICE
The present invention relates to a method for getting the interior volume of a thermally insulated space (5) up to temperature and maintaining it at temperature using two thermochemical systems (TCU1; TCU2). According to the invention, a suitable device is supplied and - steps are taken to ensure that all the fluid of each of said systems (TCU1; TCU2) is contained in the reservoir (1; 2) of each of said systems (TCU1; TCU2); - at least one of said systems (TCU; TCU2) is used to bring said space to a setpoint temperature, a) the reactor (15; 25) of one of said systems (TCU1; TCU2) is heated until fully regenerated, while the other system (TCU1; TCU2) keeps the temperature at said setpoint temperature; b) when the reactor (15; 25) is fully regenerated, said system comprising the reactor that has just been regenerated is used to maintain the temperature and the reactor (15; 25) of the other system (TCU1; TCU2) is heated - as long as said connection means are connected to said external energy source, the aforementioned steps a) and b) are repeated; - when said heating means (19; 29) are disconnected from said external energy source, each of said systems (TCU1; TCU2) is used in turn to keep the temperature of the space (5) at said setpoint temperature.
F25B 17/08 - Sorption machines, plants or systems, operating intermittently, e.g. absorption or adsorption type the absorbent or adsorbent being a solid, e.g. salt
3.
DEVICE THAT CAN BE USED TO HEAT AND/OR REFRIGERATE AND/OR MAINTAIN THE TEMPERATURE OF A RECEPTACLE SUITED TO HOUSING FOODSTUFFS IN PARTICULAR
The present invention relates to a device that can be used for heating and/or refrigerating and/or maintaining the temperature of a receptacle. According to the invention, characteristically it comprises a base module which comprises: heat-producing means (5) and cold-producing means (7), said cold-producing means comprising a reservoir (7) containing a fluid and possibly connected to an evaporator, said heat-producing means comprise a thermochemical reactor (5) connected to said reservoir (7) and containing a reagent able to react reversibly with said fluid during an exothermal reaction: - means forming a valve that allows said reservoir (7) or said evaporator to be connected to said thermochemical reactor (5) to produce heat in said reactor (5) as a result of said aforementioned exothermal reaction and simultaneously to produce cold in said reservoir (7), as the result of the expansion and/or evaporation of said fluid; - at least one receptacle (3) made of a thermally conducting material which has a first face able to house the foodstuff that is to be heated/refrigerated and a second face, opposite to said first face and arranged in contact with said heat-producing means (5) or said cold-producing means (7); - an insulating element (15) which thermally insulates said heat-producing means (5) from said cold-producing means (7); and said reactor (5) and/or said receptacle (3) are removably mounted on said base module.
F25D 11/02 - Self-contained movable devices associated with refrigerating machinery, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures
A47J 39/00 - Heat-insulated warming chambersCupboards with heating arrangements for warming kitchen utensils
F25D 25/02 - Charging, supporting, or discharging the articles to be cooled by shelves
The present invention relates to a modular device for temperature regulation that is able to be associated with at least one storage enclosure (1). This device is characterized in that it comprises a thermochemical system comprising a tank (13) which contains a liquefied gas that is able, following evaporation, to combine with a reactive product contained in a reactor (9), said device comprising switching means that are able: - to bring the reactor compartment (10) into communication with only the storage enclosure (1) in order to heat the latter and, at the same time, to bring the evaporator compartment (14) into communication with the outside of the device, - to bring the evaporator compartment (14) into communication with only the storage enclosure (1) in order to cool the latter and, at the same time, to bring the reactor compartment (10) into communication with the outside of the device.
F25B 17/08 - Sorption machines, plants or systems, operating intermittently, e.g. absorption or adsorption type the absorbent or adsorbent being a solid, e.g. salt
F25B 29/00 - Combined heating and refrigeration systems, e.g. operating alternately or simultaneously
F25D 11/02 - Self-contained movable devices associated with refrigerating machinery, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures
5.
SUB-COOLING SYSTEM OF A COMPRESSION-REFRIGERATION SYSTEM
The present invention relates to a refrigeration facility and a method for maintaining the temperature of an isothermal enclosure (3) including: a refrigerating unit (5) comprising a compressor (7) driven by a heat engine (8) and an evaporator (13); and a thermochemical cooling system (15) including a vessel (23) containing a liquefied gas capable, after evaporation, of combining with a reactive product, consisting of a mixture of a reactive salt and natural expanded graphite, contained in a reactor (17), the reaction product obtained being capable of being regenerated by a heating means, said cooling system including an evaporator (25) and a condenser (21). The facility is characterised in that: the evaporator (25) of said cooling system is in thermal contact with the refrigerant circuit of the refrigerating unit (5) upstream from the evaporator (13) thereof; the reactor of the cooling system is in thermal contact with a heating means using the heat energy dissipated by the heat engine during the operation thereof; the natural expanded graphite used has an apparent density of 100 to 120 kg/m3; and the weight percentage of the salt in the reactive product is of 50 % to 75 %.
F25B 17/08 - Sorption machines, plants or systems, operating intermittently, e.g. absorption or adsorption type the absorbent or adsorbent being a solid, e.g. salt
The present invention relates to an enclosure which is refrigerated and kept at a predetermined set temperature (Te), containing the evaporator (7) of a refrigerating unit (5). Said enclosure is characterised in that: same comprises a thermochemical system (9) the circuit of which is separate from that of the refrigerating unit and which includes a reactor (1) containing a reactive product capable of absorbing a gas, a condenser and an evaporator arranged in said enclosure (3), the reactive product and the gas being such as to be the subject, when placed in the presence of one another, of a reaction which has the effect of the gas being absorbed by the reactive product and, conversely, to be the subject of a desorption reaction of the gas absorbed by the reactive product when heat is applied thereto once the gas has been absorbed, the thermochemical system having two operating phases, namely a cold-production phase and a regeneration phase, said system comprising measurement (14) and control (19) means which only enable the thermochemical system (9) to enter the regeneration phase if the temperature of the condenser (17) thereof is below a predetermined threshold temperature (Ts).
F25B 17/08 - Sorption machines, plants or systems, operating intermittently, e.g. absorption or adsorption type the absorbent or adsorbent being a solid, e.g. salt
F25B 35/04 - Boiler-absorbers, i.e. boilers usable for absorption or adsorption using a solid as sorbent
7.
CONTAINER HAVING SELF-CONTAINED TEMPERATURE CONTROL
The present invention relates to a container having self-contained temperature control for adjusting the temperature to a set value, comprising at least one series of two compartments (3b, 3c), i.e. a compartment for holding said products (3c) and a compartment (3b) capable of supplying cold or heat, and comprising: a means capable of creating an airflow that circulates through the receiving compartment (3c) and the cold or hot compartment (3b), and a means (7) capable of adjusting the airflow, the aforementioned means being grouped together in at least one removable module (5) accommodated in an additional compartment. Said container is characterized in that the additional compartment (3a) is divided into two sub-compartments, i.e. an upper sub-compartment in which the module (5) is accommodated, and a lower compartment through which the airflow from the receiving compartment flows and is directed toward the hot/cold compartment (3b).
F25D 11/00 - Self-contained movable devices associated with refrigerating machinery, e.g. domestic refrigerators
F25D 17/06 - Arrangements for circulating cooling fluidsArrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating gas, e.g. by natural convection by forced circulation
B65D 81/18 - Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents providing specific environment for contents, e.g. temperature above or below ambient
F25D 29/00 - Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
8.
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE CONTINUOUS THERMOCHEMICAL PRODUCTION OF COLD
The invention relates to a system and a thermochemical method for the production of cold, of the type that uses at least one reactive device comprising a reactor (1a, 1b) or a chamber for storing a reactive product that can absorb a gas. The reactive product and the gas are such that, when they are exposed to one another, they undergo a reaction that results in the absorption of the gas by the reactive product and, conversely, they undergo a reaction comprising the desorption of the gas absorbed by the reactive product as a result of heat applied to the reactive product when it absorbed the gas. The system comprises two substantially identical reactive devices disposed such as to have opposing operating cycles, so that when the reactor (1b) of one reactive device is operating in the absorption cycle, the reactor (1a) of the other is operating in the desorption cycle. The system is characterised in that it comprises means for determining the progress rate (X) of the thermochemical reaction.
F25B 17/08 - Sorption machines, plants or systems, operating intermittently, e.g. absorption or adsorption type the absorbent or adsorbent being a solid, e.g. salt
9.
SELF-CONTAINED TROLLEY FOR TEMPERATURE CONDITIONING AND DISTRIBUTION OF MEAL TRAYS
The present invention relates to a self-contained trolley for temperature conditioning and distribution of meal trays (13) comprising two compartments separated by an insulating wall (11), namely a compartment for heating, called the hot compartment, and a compartment for chilling, called the cold compartment, receiving at least one stack of meal trays arranged so that one part of each meal tray (13) is located in the hot compartment and the other part thereof is located in the cold compartment, wherein the heating of the hot compartment and the chilling of the cold compartment are simultaneously obtained by means of a thermochemical system. This trolley is characterised in that said reactor (15) and the evaporator of the thermochemical system are respectively and exclusively arranged in the hot compartment and in the cold compartment and in that the reactive material used in the thermochemical system consists of a compacted mixture of manganese chloride and expanded natural graphite (ENG), and the gas consists of ammonia. (Fig 3)
Method for storing a gas in solid phase so that it can be distributed in gaseous phase, that consists in introducing the gas in gaseous phase into a storage tank (1) containing a reactive mixture the apparent density of which is between 40 kg/m3 and 60 kg/m3 and preferably of the order of 50 kg/m3, and which is made up of a reactive product and of expanded natural graphite, this reactive mixture and the gas being such that, when brought into the presence of one another, the reactive product and the gas undergo a thermochemical reaction the effect of which is that the gas is absorbed by the reactive product and a solid product of reaction is produced and, conversely, undergo a reverse thermochemical reaction in which the gas absorbed by the reactive product is desorbed when this product is heated after it has absorbed the gas.
The invention relates to a method for filling a tank (1) with a gas in gaseous phase in order to store said gas in solid phase, in which the gas is introduced into the tank (1) at either: a filling pressure (Pr) equal to the equilibrium pressure of a reactant product at a filling temperature plus α times the difference between the saturation vapour pressure (PS) of the gas at the filling temperature (Tr) and the equilibrium pressure of the reactant product, α being between 0.1 and 0.9; or a filling temperature (Tr) equal to the vaporisation temperature of the gas at the filling pressure (Pr) plus β times the difference between the equilibrium temperature (Te) of the reactant product at the filling pressure (Pr) and the vaporisation temperature of the gas, β being between 0.1 and 0.9.
The present invention relates to a thermochemical system comprising a reactor (1), or an enclosure for storing a solid reactive material capable of absorbing a gas, the reactive material (2) and the gas being such that, when placed together, a chemical reaction occurs which results in the gas being absorbed by the reactive material (2), and a reverse chemical reaction occurs, wherein the gas absorbed by the reactive material is desorbed when heating means (19) are applied to said reactive material when the latter has absorbed the gas. Said thermochemical system is characterized in that the reactor (1) consists of an outer housing (9) which is made of a composite material and which contains a sealed inner housing (8) containing the reactive material, the heating means (19) being arranged between the two enclosures (8, 9).
The present invention relates to a thermochemical system comprising a reactor (1) or a chamber for storing a reactive material capable of absorbing a gas that is taken into the reactor by a diffuser (17, 17') placed along the longitudinal axis (xx') of the latter, wherein the reactive material (2) and the gas are such that, when placed in the presence of each other, same are subjected to a reaction causing the reactive material (2) to absorb the gas, and conversely, same are subjected to a reaction for desorbing the gas, absorbed by the reactive material (2), by means of heating applied to the latter when it has absorbed gas. Said thermochemical system is characterized in that the diffuser includes a gas supply means (15a), a means (15c, 19) for dispensing the gas into the reactive material (2), a filtration means (17b, 17c), and a heating means. Said various means form a sub-assembly that is attached onto the housing (9) of the reactor (1) by means of a sealing element (16).
F25B 15/04 - Sorption machines, plants or systems, operating continuously, e.g. absorption type without inert gas the refrigerant being ammonia evaporated from aqueous solution
F25B 35/04 - Boiler-absorbers, i.e. boilers usable for absorption or adsorption using a solid as sorbent
F25B 17/08 - Sorption machines, plants or systems, operating intermittently, e.g. absorption or adsorption type the absorbent or adsorbent being a solid, e.g. salt
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