HEAT-INSULATED STORAGE CONTAINER AND METHOD FOR DESIGNING A HEAT-INSULATED STORAGE CONTAINER

Abstract

A storage container and a method for designing same, including a wall that forms the storage container and has an inner face and an outer face, and an insulation layer that rests against the outer face of the wall, encloses the storage container and has different thicknesses in different regions of the wall. The insulation layer is thicker in a region that has an above-average temperature difference between the inner face and the outer face of the wall than in a region that has a smaller temperature difference between the inner face and the outer face of the wall.

Claims

1: A heat-insulated storage container, comprising a wall (1) that forms the storage container and has an inner face and an outer face, and an insulation layer (2) that rests against the outer face of the wall (1), encloses the storage container and is configured to have different thicknesses on different regions (1.1, 1.2) of the wall (1), wherein the insulation layer (2) is configured to be thicker on a region (1.1) that has an above-average sized temperature difference between the inner face and the outer face of the wall (1) than on a region (1.2) that has a smaller temperature difference between the inner face and the outer face of the wall (1).

2: The heat-insulated storage container according to claim 1, wherein the wall (1) is configured to be curved in a concave manner on the outside and correspondingly curved in a convex manner on the inside on the region (1.1) that has an above-average sized temperature difference, in order to receive the thicker insulation layer (2).

3: The heat-insulated storage container according to claim 1, wherein the wall (1) is configured to be curved on a region (1.3) that has a container internal pressure of above-average size, in order to increase the pressure stability of the storage container.

4: The heat-insulated storage container according to claim 1, wherein the insulation layer (2) enclosing the storage container has a cuboidal shape.

5: The heat-insulated storage container according to claim 1, wherein this storage container is arranged in a housing of a heat pump, in particular a heat pump provided for installation in the interior of a building.

6: The heat-insulated storage container according to claim 1, wherein this storage container is configured as a defrosting buffer of a heat pump.

7: The heat-insulated storage container according to claim 1, wherein the insulation layer (2) is configured to be thicker on the region (1.1) on which the inner face of the wall (1) is particularly cold relative to other regions (1.2) and colder than the outer face of the wall (1) during the operation of the storage container.

8: A method for designing a heat-insulated storage container, in which a thickness of an insulation layer (2) that rests against a wall (1) of the storage container, that has an inner face and an outer face, and encloses the storage container is specified, wherein a region (1.1) of the wall (1) that has an above-average sized temperature difference between the inner face and the outer face of the wall (1) during the operation of the storage container is determined, and a greater thickness of the insulation layer (2) is specified on the determined region (1.1) than on any other region (1.2) of the wall (1).

9: The method according to claim 8, wherein a region (1.3) of the wall (1) that has a container internal pressure of above-average size is deter-mined and is configured to be curved in order to avoid a deformation.

10: The method according to claim 8, wherein a mode of operation of the storage container is selected in which the inner face of the wall (1) is colder than the outer face of the wall (1), in order to determine the above-average sized temperature difference on a region (1.1).

Description

[0012] In the drawings

[0013] FIG. 1 shows in section the storage container according to the invention together with its insulation layer;

[0014] FIG. 2 shows in perspective the storage container according to FIG. 1 without its insulation layer;

[0015] FIG. 3 shows in a front view the storage container according to FIG. 2; and

[0016] FIG. 4 shows in section the storage container according to FIG. 3 along the cutting line D-D.

[0017] The storage container which is shown in the figures firstly consists in the known manner of a wall 1 that forms the storage container and has an inner face and an outer face, and an insulation layer 2 that rests against the outer face of the wall 1, encloses the storage container and is configured to have different thicknesses on different regions 1.1, 1.2 of the wall 1.

[0018] Said wall 1 preferably consists of a metallic material.

[0019] It is also preferably provided that the storage container is formed from two half-shells which are adapted to one another.

[0020] The storage container also preferably has a supply connection 3 and a discharge connection 4 (see in particular FIG. 2).

[0021] When designing such a storage container, a thickness of an insulation layer 2 (or the insulation layer) that rests against a wall 1 (or the wall) of the storage container, that has an inner face and an outer face, and encloses the storage container is specified in the known manner.

[0022] Considered in terms of the subject matter, it is thus essential for the storage container according to the invention that the insulation layer 2 is configured to be thicker on a region 1.1 that has an above-average sized temperature difference between the inner face and the outer face of the wall 1 than on a region 1.2 that has a smaller temperature difference between the inner face and the outer face of the wall 1.

[0023] Considered in terms of the method, it is essential for the storage container according to the invention that a region 1.1 of the wall 1 that has an above-average sized temperature difference between the inner face and the outer face of the wall 1 during the operation of the storage container is determined, and a greater thickness of the insulation layer 2 is specified on the determined region 1.1 than on any other region 1.2 of the wall 1.

[0024] Regarding the shape, it is also particularly preferably provided that the wall 1 is configured to be curved in a concave manner on the outside and to be correspondingly curved in a convex manner on the inside on the region 1.1 that has an above-average sized temperature difference in order to receive the thicker insulation layer 2.

[0025] It is also particularly preferably provided that the wall 1 is configured to be curved, in particular wave-shaped, on a region 1.3 that has a container internal pressure of above-average size, in order to increase the pressure stability of the storage container, or in that a region 1.3 of the wall 1 that has a container internal pressure of above-average size is determined in order to avoid a deformation, wherein the exact determination and design of said regions 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 are correspondingly considered in the context of the aforementioned computer simulation.

[0026] As mentioned in the introduction, it is also particularly preferably provided that the storage container is arranged in a housing of a heat pump, in particular a heat pump provided for installation in the interior of a building. Alternatively, in other words: according to the invention a heat pump is provided with a housing and a storage container of the described type which is arranged therein. It is particularly preferably provided that the storage container is configured as a defrosting buffer of a heat pump, or the heat pump, i.e. in particular serves to provide heat for defrosting an iced-up evaporator. In this context, it is also particularly preferably provided that the storage container has a storage volume of less than 30 litres, preferably of less than 20 litres, particularly preferably of less than 16 litres. For a design which is as compact as possible, it is also further preferably provided that the insulation layer 2 enclosing the storage container has a cuboidal shape on the outside.

[0027] As already set forth above, finallyand in particular when used in a heat pump in cooling modein order to avoid the formation of condensate between the wall 1 and the insulation layer 2, it is particularly preferably provided that the insulation layer 2 is configured to be thicker on the region 1.1 on which the inner face of the wall 1 is particularly cold relative to other regions 1.2 and colder than the outer face of the wall 1 during the operation of the storage container, or that a mode of operation of the storage container is selected in which the inner face of the wall 1 is colder than the outer face of the wall 1, in order to determine the above-average sized temperature difference on a (specific) region 1.1 (and relative to other regions 1.2).

[0028] As can be seen in all of the above, said temperature difference can be positive or negative depending on the mode of operation of the storage container, i.e. externally cold and internally warm (for example heating mode of the heat pump) or externally warm and internally cold (for example cooling mode of the heat pump).

[0029] Finally, relative to the aforementioned condensation, it is preferably provided that the insulation layer 2 is configured to be at least sufficiently thick that no point of the wall 1 falls below the dew point or that no condensation occurs thereon.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs 1 Wall 1.1 Region 1.2 Region 1.3 Region 2 Insulation layer 3 Supply connection 4 Discharge connection