ERGONOMIC CALORIE-/FRIGORIE-STORAGE DEVICE

Abstract

A device (100) for storing heat/cold, by transfer from a charge fluid, for re-use by transfer to a discharge fluid, comprising: an external rigid container (102) and a storage assembly (118) inside an internal rigid container (116) for calorie/frigorie storage; a cold external interface (104.sub.1) on a wall (106) of the external container (102), communicating with a cold internal interface (110.sub.1) on the storage module (108), for passage of cold fluids between the cold external interface (104.sub.1) and the storage module (108); and a hot external interface (104.sub.2) on a wall (106) of the external container (102), communicating with a hot internal interface (110.sub.2) arranged on the storage module (108), for passage of hot fluids between the hot external interface (104.sub.2) and the storage module (108), the cold and hot external interfaces (104.sub.1, 104.sub.2) being on a single wall (106.sub.1) or on adjacent walls (106) of the external container (102).

Claims

1. A device for storage of heat/cold by transfer from a fluid, known as a charge fluid, for subsequent reuse by transfer to a fluid, known as a discharge fluid, the device comprising: a rigid external container forming walls of the device; a rigid storage module arranged inside the external container and comprising a rigid internal container forming walls of the storage module, and a storage assembly arranged inside the internal container designed for storage of the calories/frigories; a cold external interface arranged on one of the walls of the external container and in communication with a cold internal interface arranged on the storage module, the cold external and internal interfaces ensuring the passage of so-called cold fluids between the cold external interface and the storage module; a hot external interface arranged on one of the walls of the external container and in communication with a hot internal interface arranged on the storage module, the hot external and internal interfaces ensuring the passage of so-called hot fluids having a temperature greater than a temperature of the so-called cold fluids, between the hot external interface and the storage module; the hot and cold external interfaces being arranged on a single wall or on two adjacent walls among the walls of the external container.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cold and hot external interfaces are arranged on a single wall of the external container.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cold and hot internal interfaces are spaced from the walls of the external container.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cold and hot internal interfaces are arranged on two different walls among the walk of the storage module.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hot internal interface is situated in the vicinity of and facing the wall which receives the hot external interface.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one cold duct, connecting the cold external interface to the cold internal interface, and at least one hot duct connecting the hot external interface to the hot internal interface, and in that the cold and hot ducts are arranged in an interior of the rigid external container.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cold duct has a dimension which is smaller than a dimension of the hot duct.

8. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the storage module is arranged spaced from at least one of the walls of the external rigid container, forming at least one space between the storage module and the at least one wall, in order to permit the passage of the cold and/or hot ducts.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the storage module is arranged against the lower wall of the rigid external container, and against a longitudinal wall the external container, the cold and hot external interfaces are arranged on a single lateral wall of the external container, the cold and hot internal interfaces are arranged on two opposite walls of the storage module, and the hot internal interface is situated in a vicinity of and facing the hot external interface.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rigid external container is a freight container which can be mounted on, and transported by, a semitrailer, and the cold and hot external interfaces are arranged on a single lateral wall of the external container.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rigid external container comprises a door for access to an interior of the external container, the door being arranged on the lateral wall opposite the lateral wall which receives the cold and hot external interfaces.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: at least one valve arranged between the cold external interface and the cold internal interface; and/or at least one valve arranged between the hot external interface and the hot internal interface; the valve(s) being designed to permit or prevent the passage of the fluid(s) from/to the storage module.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one temperature sensor and/or at least one pressure sensor, the temperature and/or pressure sensor(s) being designed to measure a temperature and/or a pressure of the charge and/or discharge fluid.

14. The device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising means for control of the valves according to data measured by the temperature and/or pressure sensor(s).

15. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the storage module comprises: a rigid insulating layer disposed between the internal container and the storage assembly; and a flexible insulating layer disposed between the rigid insulating layer and internal container.

16. The device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the storage module comprises: at least one diffuser, called cold diffuser, which is arranged between the cold internal interface and the storage assembly, and which is designed for dispersion of fluid from the cold internal interface to the storage assembly, and/or convergence of fluid from the storage assembly to the cold internal interface; and/or at least one diffuser, called hot diffuser, which is arranged between the hot internal interface and the storage assembly, and which is designed for dispersion of fluid from the hot internal interface to the storage assembly, and/or convergence of fluid from the storage assembly to the hot internal interface.

17. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein an opening is arranged in an upper wall of the internal container, and another opening is arranged in an upper wall of the external container at the storage module, in order to permit access to the storage assembly.

18. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein a diameter of the cold duct is smaller than a diameter of the hot duct.

19. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one insulating layer arranged between the storage assembly and the rigid internal container.

20. The device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at least one insulating layer is at least one selected from the group consisting of: a rigid insulating layer disposed between the internal container and the storage assembly; and a flexible insulating layer disposed between the rigid insulating layer and the internal container.

Description

PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES

[0082] Other advantages and characteristics will become apparent from examining the detailed description of exemplary embodiments which are in no way limiting, and the appended drawings in which:

[0083] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a view in elevation and in cross section of a first example of the device according to the invention; and

[0084] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a view from the side in cross section of the first example of the device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0085] It is understood that the embodiments which will be described hereinafter are in no way limiting. In particular, it is possible to conceive of variants of the invention which comprise only a selection of characteristics described hereinafter, isolated from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to provide a technical advantage, or to differentiate the invention from the prior art. This selection comprises at least one characteristic which is preferably functional without structural detail, or with only part of the structural details, if this part alone is sufficient to provide a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0086] With reference to FIG. 1, the device 100 according to the invention comprises a container 102, known as the external container, comprising an interface 104.sub.1, known as the cold external interface, which is designed for the passage of a charge and/or discharge fluid for calories/frigories. The external container 102 comprises an interface 104.sub.2, known as the hot external interface, which is designed for the passage of said fluids to a temperature greater than the temperature of said fluids at the cold external interface 104.sub.1.

[0087] The external interfaces 104 are arranged on a single lateral wall 106.sub.1 of the external container 102, situated opposite the lateral wall 106.sub.3 in which a door 101 is provided for access to the interior of the container 102, which access door 101 is designed to be situated on the driver's cab side, when the container 102 is a freight container which can be mounted on a semitrailer.

[0088] The device 100 additionally comprises a storage module 108 which is arranged in said external container 102, contiguous to a lateral wall 106.sub.2 of said external container 102, and spaced from the other lateral walls 106.sub.1, 106.sub.3 and 106.sub.4 such as to form a space between these walls and the storage module 108. This space can be empty or filled with a thermal insulator.

[0089] The storage module 108 comprises an interface 110.sub.1, known as the cold internal interface, which is connected to the cold external interface 104.sub.1 by a duct 112.sub.1, known as the cold duct, and an interface 110.sub.2, known as the hot internal interface, which is connected to the hot external interface 104.sub.2 by a duct 112.sub.2, known as the hot duct.

[0090] The hot duct 112.sub.2 has a diameter larger than the diameter of the cold duct 112.sub.1. In fact, the fluid(s) passing through the hot duct 112.sub.2 has/have a temperature greater than the temperature of the fluid(s) passing through the cold duct 112.sub.1, and the volume of the fluid(s) passing through the hot duct 112.sub.2 is therefore greater than that of the fluid(s) passing through the cold duct 112.sub.1.

[0091] The hot internal interface 110.sub.2 is arranged adjacent to the wall 106.sub.1, whereas the cold internal interface 110.sub.1 is arranged adjacent to the wall 106.sub.3 opposite the wall 106.sub.1 comprising the external interfaces 104.

[0092] In addition, the cold duct 112.sub.1 is a duct which is elbowed in order to connect the cold internal interface 110.sub.1 to the cold external interface 104.sub.1. The cold duct 112.sub.1 is disposed in the space formed between the storage module 108 and the walls 106.sub.3 and 106.sub.4. This space also makes it possible to form a technical sheath.

[0093] The storage module 108 also comprises a container 116, known as an internal container, which is made of steel for example, and comprises the internal interfaces 110. More specifically, the hot internal interface 110.sub.2 is arranged on a lateral wall 116.sub.1 of the internal container 116 which is adjacent to the wall 106.sub.1 of the external container 102, whereas the cold internal interface 110.sub.1 is arranged on an opposite lateral wall 116.sub.3 of the internal container 116 which is adjacent to the wall 106.sub.3 of the external container 102 opposite the wall 106.sub.1 comprising the external interfaces 104.

[0094] The internal container 116 can be secured on the external container 102 at its lower walls and one of its longitudinal walls by any securing means such as welding, screwing, etc. Securing of the internal container 116 on a longitudinal wall of the external container 102 is preferred because of the more suitable structural arrangements of the longitudinal walls of the external container 102.

[0095] The internal container 116 can have a length equal to 420 cm, a width equal to 220 cm, and a height equal to 220 cm. The thickness of the walls of the internal container 116 can be equal to 6 mm.

[0096] The internal container 116 surrounds a storage assembly 118 which can be an assembly of balls or cylinders made of material with thermal inertia.

[0097] The storage assembly 118 can have a length equal to 325 cm, a width equal to 170 cm and a height equal to 170 cm.

[0098] The storage module 108 also comprises a diffuser 120.sub.1, known as a cold diffuser, arranged between the cold internal interface 110.sub.1 and the storage assembly 118, which diffuser is designed for the dispersion and/or convergence of fluid(s) from/to the cold internal interface 110.sub.1 to/from the storage assembly 118.

[0099] The storage module 108 also comprises a diffuser 120.sub.2, known as a hot diffuser, arranged between the hot internal interface 110.sub.2 and the storage assembly 118, which diffuser is designed for the dispersion and/or convergence of fluid(s) from/to the hot internal interface 110.sub.2 to/from the storage assembly 118.

[0100] The cross sections of the diffusers 120 of the storage assembly 118 side are identical to the cross section of the storage assembly 118.

[0101] The cross section of the hot diffuser 120.sub.2 of the hot internal interface 110.sub.2 side has dimensions close to the dimensions of the hot duct 112.sub.2. Similarly, the cross section of the cold diffuser 120.sub.1 of the cold internal interface 110.sub.1 side has dimensions close to the dimensions of the cold duct 112.sub.1.

[0102] In addition, the storage module 108 can comprise a rigid insulating layer and/or a flexible insulating layer, not represented in FIG. 1, arranged between the storage assembly 118 and the internal container 116.

[0103] The device 100 comprises two valves 122.sub.1-122.sub.2 arranged respectively on the cold duct 112.sub.1 and the hot duct 112.sub.2.

[0104] The device 100 also comprises a pressure sensor 124.sub.1 and a temperature sensor 126.sub.1 arranged on the cold duct 112.sub.1, in order to measure the pressure and the temperature of the fluids in the cold duct 112.sub.1.

[0105] The device 100 also comprises a pressure sensor 124.sub.2 and a temperature sensor 126.sub.2 arranged on the hot duct 112.sub.2, in order to measure the pressure and the temperature of the fluids in the hot duct 112.sub.2.

[0106] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a side view in cross section of the first example of the device according to the invention.

[0107] The device 100 comprises a trapdoor 128 provided in the upper wall 106.sub.5 of the external container 102, in order to permit access to the storage module 108 and/or to the ducts 112, for the purpose of a maintenance operation. In addition, the internal container 116 comprises an opening provided in its upper wall 116.sub.5 in order to permit access, from the exterior of the external container 102, to the storage assembly 118, in order to fill or empty the storage assembly 118, or for a maintenance intervention in the storage assembly 118.

[0108] In order to store calories in the device 100, the charge fluid with a temperature of between 200 and 1000 C. is injected in the storage module 108 through the hot external interface 104.sub.2. The hot diffuser 120.sub.2 disperses the charge fluid in the storage assembly 118, which permits the transfer of the calories from the charge fluid to the storage assembly 118. By passing through the storage assembly 118, the charge fluid is cooled, and reaches a temperature lower than 600 C., preferably lower than 200 C. The charge fluid is then channeled through the cold diffuser 120.sub.1 to the cold internal interface 110.sub.1. The charge fluid is finally discharged to the cold external interface 104.sub.1 through the cold duct 112.sub.1.

[0109] The device 100 can be transported, thanks to the external rigid container 102 and internal rigid container 116, to a site other than that used for the storage of calories. As previously indicated, the device can be transported by a semitrailer when the external container 102 is a freight container.

[0110] On the other hand, in order to reuse the calories stored in the device 100, a discharge fluid is injected in the cold external interface 104.sub.1 at a temperature lower than 200 C. The discharge fluid passes through the cold duct 112.sub.1 and is introduced into the storage module 108 through the cold internal interface 110.sub.1. The cold diffuser 120.sub.1 disperses the discharge fluid in the storage assembly 118 which transfers the calories, previously stored, to the discharge fluid, which reaches a temperature of between 200 and 1000 C. The discharge fluid is then channeled through the hot diffuser 120.sub.2 to the hot internal interface 110.sub.2. The discharge fluid is finally discharged to the hot external interface 104.sub.2 through the hot duct 112.sub.2.

[0111] The device 100 can additionally comprise a means, not represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, for controlling the valves 122 according to the temperature and pressure measured by the sensors 124 and 126.

[0112] For example, the control means can close the valve 122.sub.1 if the temperature in the cold duct 112.sub.1 is greater than 200 C., or close the valve 122.sub.2 if the temperature in the hot duct 112.sub.2 is greater than 1000 C., or less than 200 C.

[0113] It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described, and many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the context of the invention.