Cooling device

Abstract

Cooling device 1, in particular a freezer 2, having a closable cooling space 3, an electrically operated cooling circuit, and preferably a cold storage pack 4, wherein the at least one closable cooling space 3 and the cold storage pack 4 can be cooled by the electrically operated cooling circuit. The cooling device has a power distributor 5 for distributing electrical power of at least one regenerative power source 6 to an electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1 and to at least one further electricity consuming device 7. In addition, the power distributor 5 has a control system with a computing unit 23, a memory 24 and priority logic. The priority logic is used to preferentially supply the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1 with electricity if there is a lack of electrical power of the at least one regenerative power source 6.

Claims

1. A vaccine cooling device comprising: at least one closable cooling space; an electrically operated cooling circuit configured to cool the at least one closable cooling space; and a power distributor; and the cooling device for providing battery-free buffering of peak loads; the power distributor comprising: at least one power input; a first power output; and at least one second power output; the at least one power input being configured for connecting the power distributor to at least one solar collector, said solar collector providing a regenerative power source; said first power output being a cooling device connection configured for connecting said power distributor to said electrically operated cooling circuit; said at least one second power output being an electricity consuming device connection configured for connecting said power distributor to at least one further electricity consuming device; said power distributor having a plurality of power output modes with selection between said power output modes being controlled by priority logic of a control system; one of said power output modes being a mode in which said power distributor provides power from said solar collector simultaneously to said cooling circuit and to said further electricity consuming device; another of said power output modes being a mode in which said power distributor provides power from said solar collector to said cooling circuit without providing power from said solar collector to said further electricity consuming device; said priority logic being configured such that, in the event of a lack of electrical power from said solar collector for providing power from said solar collector to said cooling circuit and to said further electricity consuming device, said priority logic preferentially supplies electrical power from said solar collector to said cooling circuit; and said priority logic being configured to disconnect said further electricity consuming device from said solar collector when the electrical power produced by said solar collector falls below the power consumption of said cooling device and said further electricity consuming device.

2. The vaccine cooling device of claim 1, wherein said regenerative power source consists of said solar collector.

3. The vaccine cooling device of claim 1, wherein said power distributor comprises at least one first sensor configured to determine a power consumption of said cooling circuit.

4. The vaccine cooling device of claim 3, said control system being configured to operate according to an operating procedure comprising: a) determining a first a power consumption (P.sub.1) of said cooling circuit using a first sensor before said further electricity consuming device is connected to said at least one regenerative power source; b) storing said first power consumption (P.sub.1) in a memory of said control system; c) connecting said further electricity consuming device to said regenerative power source; d) determining a second power consumption (P.sub.2) of said cooling circuit using said first sensor after said further electricity consuming device has been connected to said regenerative power source; e) comparing said first power consumption (P.sub.1) with said second power consumption (P.sub.2); f) disconnecting said further electricity consuming device from said regenerative power source if said second power consumption (P.sub.2) is less than said first power consumption (P.sub.1); and g) periodically repeating a) to f).

5. The vaccine cooling device of claim 3, said control system being configured to operate according to an operating procedure comprising: a) inputting an operating voltage/nominal voltage (U.sub.op) into a memory of the control system; b) measuring a first voltage (U.sub.1) of a supply voltage applied to the cooling device using said first sensor; c) storing the value of said first voltage (U.sub.1) in said memory of said control system; d) comparing said operating voltage/nominal voltage (U.sub.op) to said value of said first voltage (U.sub.1) using said control system and subsequently following a procedure selected from: i) continuing to b) if said first voltage value is less than said operating voltage/nominal voltage; and ii) otherwise continuing to e) connecting said further electricity consuming device to said regenerative power source; f) measuring a second voltage (U.sub.2) of said supply voltage applied to said cooling device using said first sensor after said further electricity consuming device has been connected to said regenerative power source; g) comparing said operating voltage/nominal voltage (U.sub.op) to said second voltage value (U.sub.2) using said control system and subsequently following a procedure selected from: i) proceeding to f) if said second voltage (U.sub.2) is greater than or equal to said operating voltage/nominal voltage (U.sub.op); and ii) otherwise proceeding to h); h) disconnecting said further electricity consuming device from said regenerative power source if said operating voltage/nominal voltage (U.sub.op) is greater than said second voltage value (U.sub.2); i) periodically repeating b) to h).

6. The vaccine cooling device of claim 1, wherein said power distributor comprises at least one second sensor configured to determine a density of available energy.

7. The vaccine cooling device of claim 6, said control system being configured to operate according to an operating procedure comprising: a) inputting into a memory of said control system: a maximum power consumption (P.sub.max(1)) of said cooling circuit; performance characteristics (P.sub.max(6) of said regenerative power source; and a maximum power consumption (P.sub.max(7)) of said further electricity consuming device; b) determining a density of available energy (Q) using said second sensor; c) calculating the available power (P.sub.act) of said regenerative power source on the basis of the performance characteristics (P.sub.max(6)) of said regenerative power source and the density of the available energy (Q); d) connecting said further electricity consuming device to said regenerative power source if the available power (P.sub.act) of said regenerative power source is determined to be greater than or equal to the sum of the maximum power consumption of said cooling circuit and the maximum power consumption of said further electricity consuming device; e) disconnecting said further electricity consuming device from said regenerative power source if the available power (P.sub.act) of said regenerative power source is determined to be less than the sum of the maximum power consumption of said electrically operated cooling circuit and the maximum power consumption of said further electricity consuming device; and f) periodically repeating b) to e).

8. The vaccine cooling device of claim 1, wherein said priority logic is configured to connect the at least one further electricity consuming device to said solar collector when the electrical power of solar collector exceeds the power consumption of said cooling circuit and said further electricity consuming device.

9. The vaccine cooling device of claim 1, wherein said power distributor (i) is configured to provide electrical power from said solar collector to a plurality of further electricity consuming devices and (ii) said priority logic being configured to disconnect or connect each of the plurality of further electricity consuming devices to said solar collector as a function of the power consumption of each respective further electricity consuming device.

10. The vaccine cooling device of claim 1, wherein said priority logic is configured so as to supply said further electricity consuming device with electricity from said solar collector when said electrically operated cooling circuit consumes no electrical power.

11. The vaccine cooling device of claim 1, wherein said electricity consuming device connection is provided as a charging device for a battery-operated electricity consuming device.

12. The vaccine cooling device of claim 11, wherein said battery-operated electricity consuming device is selected from a lamp, a computer, a telephone, a battery itself, and combinations thereof.

13. The vaccine cooling device of claim 1, wherein said cooling device is a freezer.

14. The vaccine cooling device of claim 1, wherein said cooling device comprises a cold storage pack and said cooling circuit is configured to cool the cold storage pack.

15. A vaccine cooling device comprising: at least one closable cooling space; an electrically operated cooling circuit configured to cool said closable cooling space; a power distributor; at least one solar collector, said solar collector providing a regenerative power source; and at least one further electricity consuming device; said cooling device for providing battery-free buffering of peak loads; said power distributor comprising: at least one power input, a first power output and at least one second power output; said power input being connected to said solar collector; said first power output being a cooling device connection and being connected to said electrically operated cooling circuit; said second power output being an electricity consuming device connection and being connected to said further electricity consuming device; said power distributor having a plurality of power output modes with selection between said power output modes being controlled by priority logic of a control system; one of said power output modes being a mode in which said power distributor provides power from said solar collector simultaneously to said cooling circuit and to said further electricity consuming device; another of said power output modes being a mode in which said power distributor provides power from said solar collector to said cooling circuit without providing power from said solar collector to said further electricity consuming device; said priority logic being configured such that, in the event of a lack of electrical power from said solar collector for providing power from said solar collector to said cooling circuit and to said further electricity consuming device, said priority logic preferentially supplies electrical power from said solar collector to said cooling circuit; and said priority logic being configured to disconnect said further electricity consuming device from said solar collector when the electrical power produced by said solar collector falls below the power consumption of said cooling device and said further electricity consuming device.

16. The vaccine cooling device of claim 15, wherein said regenerative power source consists of said solar collector; said power distributor comprises at least one first sensor configured to determine a power consumption of said cooling circuit of the cooling device; said priority logic is configured to connect said further electricity consuming device to said solar collector when said electrical power of said solar collector exceeds the power consumption of said cooling circuit and said further electricity consuming device; said priority logic is further configured to supply said further electrical electricity consuming device with electricity from said solar collector when said cooling circuit consumes no electrical power.

17. The vaccine cooling device of claim 15, wherein said further electricity consuming device is a battery-operated electricity consuming device selected from a lamp, a computer, a telephone, a battery itself, and combinations thereof.

18. The vaccine cooling device of claim 15, wherein said cooling device comprises a cold storage pack and said cooling circuit is configured to cool said cold storage pack.

19. The vaccine cooling device of claim 15, wherein said regenerative power source consists of said solar collector; said control system comprises at least one second sensor configured to determine the density of available energy; said priority logic is configured to connect said further electricity consuming device to said solar collector when the electrical power of said solar collector exceeds the power consumption of said cooling circuit and said further electricity consuming device; said priority logic is further configured to supply said further electrical electricity consuming device with electricity from said solar collector when said cooling circuit consumes no electrical power.

Description

(1) The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to three examples of the cooling device illustrated in the figures. These show:

(2) FIG. 1 a first embodiment of a cooling device;

(3) FIG. 2 second embodiment of a cooling device;

(4) FIG. 3 a schematic arrangement of the components of a cooling device according to the first or second embodiment;

(5) FIG. 4 a schematic arrangement of the components of a cooling device according to a third embodiment;

(6) FIG. 5 a detailed view of the power distributor for a cooling device according to the first or second embodiment;

(7) FIG. 6 a front perspective view of a cooling device according to the first embodiment;

(8) FIG. 7 a rear perspective rear view of a cooling device according to the first embodiment;

(9) FIG. 8 a rear perspective rear of the power distributor shown in FIG. 7;

(10) FIG. 9 a flow chart with the method steps of the first method;

(11) FIG. 10 a flow chart with the method steps of the second method; and

(12) FIG. 11 a flow chart with the method steps of the third method.

(13) The first embodiment of the cooling device 1 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 is in the form of a freezer 2 and can be closed with a freezer lid 20. The cooling device 1 is connected to the power distributor 5 by wiring 25 between the first power output 9 and its cooling device connection 11. The power distributor 5 is in turn connected to a regenerative power source 6 by wiring 25 from its power input 8. The regenerative power source 6 here consists of four solar panels 15. In addition, the power distributor has a second power output 10 which has three electricity consuming device connections. A computer 18 and a telephone 19 are connected as electricity consuming devices 7 to two of the three electricity consuming device connections. In the first embodiment of the cooling device 1 the power distributor 5 is arranged separately from the cooling device 1 and is only connected to it via the wiring connection 25.

(14) In the second embodiment of the cooling device 1 according to the invention shown in FIG. 2, the cooling device is in the form of a freezer 2 in the inside of which there is the closable cooling space 3. Eight cold storage packs 4 are arranged inside the freezer 2. The second embodiment of the cooling device 1 differs from the first embodiment in that the power distributor 5 is integrated in the cooling device 1. The wiring connection 25 runs from the at least one regenerative power source 6 directly via the power input 8 to the power distributor 5. The illustrated embodiment of the at least one regenerative power source 6 in FIG. 2 also comprises four solar panels 15. In the second embodiment of the cooling device 1 the cooling device connection 11 of the first power output 9 that supplies the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1 with electric power is covered in the freezer 2 and thus, cannot be seen in the illustration of FIG. 2. In the second embodiment three electricity consuming device connections 12 of the power distributor 5 are arranged on the freezer 2 such that they are easily accessible, so that the at least one electricity consuming device 7 (not shown) can be connected to the power distributor 5.

(15) In the schematic illustration shown in FIG. 3, the individual components of the cooling device 1 in the first and the second embodiment are arranged relative to each other and connected via wiring connections 25. For the schematic illustration of the arrangement it is not relevant whether the power distributor 5 is integrated in the cooling device 1 or is arranged outside of the cooling device 1. As already shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 the regenerative power source 6 is connected to the power distributor 5 at the power input 8 via a wiring connection 25. In addition, the cooling device 1 is likewise connected with its electrically operated cooling circuit to the power distributor 5 via the cooling device connection 11 of the first power output 9 via a wiring 25. FIG. 3 also shows how two of the at least one further electricity consuming devices 7 are each connected to the power distributor 5 via a wiring 25 and the electricity consuming device connections 12 of the second power output 10. The schematically shown first sensor 13 arranged inside the power distributor 5 serves to determine the power consumption of the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1.

(16) The schematic illustration of a cooling device 1 of a third embodiment of the cooling device 1 shown in FIG. 4 differs from the first and second embodiment of the cooling device 1 in that the power distributor 5 has a second sensor 14 which measures the density of the available energy acting on the at least one regenerative power source. In the third exemplary embodiment shown, the power distributor 5 can also be integrated in the cooling device 1 or arranged outside the cooling device 1. However, the second sensor is arranged outside of the cooling device 1, close to the at least one regenerative power source 6. The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 also has two regenerative power sources 6 which are connected to the power distributor. The arrangement of the further components in FIG. 4 corresponds to the schematic arrangement shown in FIG. 3.

(17) The power distributor 5 of the first embodiment of the cooling device 1 shown in FIG. 5 is arranged outside the cooling device 1. The power distributor 5 has a power input 8, a first power output 9 with a cooling device connection 11 and a second power output 10 having three electricity consuming device connections 12. The first sensor for determining the power consumption of the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1 is installed inside the power distributor 5 (not visible).

(18) The cooling device 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 6 has a power distributor 5 that is attached to a side of the cooling device 1. The cooling device 1 is in the form of a freezer 2. This is closed by a freezer lid 20. The connection between the cooling device 1 and the power distributor 5 corresponds to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, but the at least one regenerative power source 6 is not shown. A lamp 17 is shown at the second power output 10 as the at least one further electricity consuming device 7. In addition, the power distributor 5 has a storage surface 21 and four further electricity consuming device connections 12 at the second power output 10.

(19) In the cooling device 1 shown FIG. 7, the power distributor 5 is fastened to the rear of the freezer 2 with the aid of a rail 22. The rail 22 projects laterally beyond the freezer 2, so that the power distributor 5 can be arranged laterally on the cooling device 1. The power input 8 and the first power output 9 are arranged on the rear of the power distributor 5. The first power output 9 is connected to the cooling device connection 11 via a wiring 25 on the rear of the freezer 2.

(20) The power input 8, the first power output 9 of the power distributor 5 and the cooling device connection 11 shown in FIG. 8 are provided as a plug connection.

(21) FIG. 9 shows a flow chart of the sequence of the first method for operating a cooling device 1 using a control system 100 and priority logic 101. The first method is suitable for operating a cooling device 1 according to the first or second embodiment. First, a first determination P.sub.1 of the power consumption of the electrically operated cooling circuit is made. The value of the first determination P.sub.1 is stored in the memory 24 of the control system of the power distributor 5. The at least one further electricity consuming device 7 is then connected to the at least one regenerative power source 6. This is followed by a second determination P.sub.2 of the power consumption of the electrically operated cooling circuit. A comparison between the measured value of the first determination P.sub.1 and the measured value of the second determination P.sub.2 is carried out in the computing unit 23 of the power distributor 5. If the measured value of the second determination P.sub.2 is below the measured value of the first determination P.sub.1, this means that the at least one regenerative power source 6 cannot provide sufficient electrical power to sufficiently supply both the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1 and the at least one further electricity consuming device 7 with sufficient power. Accordingly, the control system disconnects the at least one further electricity consuming device 7 from the regenerative power source 6 to ensure the supply of the electrically operated cooling circuit. If, on the other hand, the measured value of the first determination P.sub.1 is equal to the measured value of the second determination P.sub.2, this means that the regenerative power source 6 provides sufficient electrical power to supply both the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1 and the at least one further electricity consuming device 7 with power. Accordingly, the connection between the at least one regenerative power source 6 and the at least one further electricity consuming device 7 is not disconnected. After the comparison between the measured value of the first determination P.sub.1 and the measured value of the second determination P.sub.2 the method steps are repeated by a new determination of the measured value of the first determination P.sub.1.

(22) FIG. 10 shows a flow chart of the method steps of the second method for operating a cooling device 1 using a control system 100 and priority logic 101. The second method for operating a cooling device 1 is suitable for operating a cooling device 1 according to the third embodiment. In the procedure, the maximum power consumption P.sub.max(1) of the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1 and the maximum power consumption P.sub.max(7) of the at least one further electricity consuming device are stored in the memory 24 of the control system of the power distributor 5. In addition, the performance characteristics P.sub.max(6) of the regenerative power source 6 are also entered and stored in the memory 24 of the control system. The density of the available energy Q is then determined by the second sensor 14. On the basis of the stored performance characteristics P.sub.max(6) of the at least one regenerative power source and the density of the available energy Q, the available power P.sub.act of the at least one regenerative power source 5 can be calculated in the computing unit 23 of the control system.

(23) The available electrical power P.sub.act of the at least one regenerative power source 6 is then compared to the sum of the maximum power consumption P.sub.max(1) required for the operation of the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device and the maximum power consumption P.sub.max(7) of the at least one further electricity consuming device 7. If the result of the comparison is that the available power P.sub.act of the at least one regenerative power source 6 is greater than or equal to the sum of the maximum power consumption P.sub.max(1) of the electrically operated cooling circuit and the maximum power consumption P.sub.max(7) of the at least one further electricity consuming device 7, the one further electricity consuming device 7 is connected to the at least one regenerative power source 6. Otherwise, if the available electrical power P.sub.act of the regenerative power source is too low, the at least one further electricity consuming device 7 is disconnected from the at least one regenerative power source 6 or not connected to it. After the method steps have been carried out, the density of the available energy Q is determined again and the method is carried out again.

(24) FIG. 11 shows a flow chart of the method steps of the third method for operating a cooling device 1 using a control system 100 and priority logic 101. The third method is suitable for operating a cooling device 1 according to the first or second embodiment. In the procedure, the operating voltage/nominal voltage U.sub.op of the electrically operated cooling circuit of the cooling device 1 is stored in the control system of the power distributor 5. This is followed by a first voltage measurement U.sub.1 of the supply voltage. The value of the first voltage measurement U.sub.1 is stored in the memory 24 of the control system of the power distributor 5.

(25) Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 11, the measured value of the first voltage measurement U.sub.1 is compared to the operating voltage/nominal voltage U.sub.op in the control system. If it turns out that the measured value of the first voltage measurement U.sub.1 is less than the operating voltage/nominal voltage U.sub.op, a first voltage measurement U.sub.1 is again carried out. If, on the other hand, the measured value of the first voltage measurement U.sub.1 is greater than or equal to the operating voltage/nominal voltage U.sub.op, the at least one further electricity consuming device 7 is connected to the at least one regenerative power source 6. Then the supply voltage is measured in a second voltage measurement U.sub.2 and compared in the control system to the operating voltage/nominal voltage U.sub.op. If the result is that the measured value of the second voltage measurement U.sub.2 is greater than or equal to the operating voltage/nominal voltage U.sub.op, a second voltage measurement U.sub.2 of the supply voltage is carried out again and a new comparison is made between the measured value of the second voltage measurement U.sub.2 and the operating voltage/nominal voltage U.sub.op. If the measured value of the second voltage measurement U.sub.2 is less than the operating voltage/nominal voltage U.sub.op, the at least one further electricity consuming device 7 is disconnected from the at least one regenerative power source 6. After the at least one further electricity consuming device 7 has been disconnected from the at least one regenerative power source 6, a new first voltage measurement U.sub.1 of the supply voltage is carried out. Method steps b) to h) are regularly repeated.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(26) 1: cooling device 2: freezer 3: closable cooling space 4: cold storage pack 5: power distributor 6: regenerative power source 7: electricity consuming device 8: power input 9: first power output 10: second power output 11: cooling device connection 12: electricity consuming device connection 13: first sensor 14: second sensor 15: solar collector 16: wind-driven generator 17: lamp 18: computer 19: telephone 20: freezer lid 21: storage space 22: fastening device 23: computing unit 24 memory 25: wiring connection P.sub.1: first determination P.sub.2: second determination P.sub.max(1): maximum power consumption of the electrically operated cooling circuit P.sub.max(7): maximum power consumption of the at least one further electricity consuming device P.sub.max(6): performance characteristics of the at least one regenerative power source P.sub.act: available power of the at least one regenerative power source Q: density of the available energy U.sub.op: operating voltage/nominal voltage U.sub.1: first voltage measurement U.sub.2: second voltage measurement