Cooling System for a Transporting Vehicle with a Plurality of Cooling Chambers

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for cooling at least one chamber of a transporting vehicle for chilled products by means of a cooling unit, preferably a tank for liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide, in which there is at least one cooling intermediate circuit having a heat exchange medium, the cooling intermediate circuit having a first heat exchanger for cooling the heat exchange medium by means of the cooling unit, each chamber in each case being assigned a second heat exchanger which can be connected on the primary side to the intermediate circuit and by means of which, on the secondary side, the air in the particular chamber can be cooled. There are preferably two or more chambers, each having a second heat exchanger, wherein the cooling intermediate circuit and a heating intermediate circuit, preferably having the same heat exchange medium, are arranged and connected in such a manner that each of the second heat exchangers can be connected either to the cooling intermediate circuit or the heating intermediate circuit. The heating intermediate circuit is particularly preferably connected via heat exchangers and a mechanically or electrically driven heat pump to the cooling intermediate circuit in such a manner that heat can be withdrawn from the cooling intermediate circuit and supplied to the heating intermediate circuit. In this manner, even a plurality of cooling chambers of a transporting vehicle are to be kept at any desired different temperatures in an energy-saving manner.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of refrigerated transporting vehicles, in particular refrigerating transporting vehicles in which at least some of the cooling required is implemented by carrying liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide.

Various methods for cooling a freight container by means of liquid nitrogen carried with it are known, the methods either providing direct spraying of liquid nitrogen into a cooling chamber when the temperature thereof is to be lowered, or indirect cooling by means of a heat exchanger if the intention is to avoid the oxygen content in the cooling chamber from dropping too far. The known cooling systems can be adapted to many different transport situations, and therefore there are different apparatuses and methods for cooling chilled products for storage, long-distance transportation, and delivery transport with a great number of loading or unloading operations.

A particular difficulty can arise if the ambient conditions and/or the transport conditions require not only cooling, but occasionally or frequently also heating of transporting chambers. Such an effect may occur as a function of the ambient temperature, but particularly also if products are to be transported in a transporting vehicle at different temperatures. For such purposes, there are transporting vehicles having a plurality of separate chambers, with a particular degree of difficulty then occurring if transporting vehicles which are divided in the longitudinal direction are to be used.

Although the external dimensions, prescribed in European goods traffic, for a lorry and/or a container and the typical dimensions of freight containers and transporting means permit the outer walls of a refrigerated transporting vehicle to be very well insulated, if a refrigerated transporting vehicle is divided in the longitudinal direction there is not sufficient space to also provide the partitions with good thermal insulation. At the same time, the transporting tasks and the logistics of the transporting companies require each of the chambers running in the longitudinal direction to be set to any desired temperature, irrespective of the temperatures which possibly adjacent chambers have. Therefore, situations may occur in which there are three longitudinal chambers and, in the central one, for example fresh products at temperatures of a few degrees Celsius above freezing are to be transported while deep-frozen food is transported in the two adjacent chambers at, for example, approximately −20° C. This requires that the central chamber has to be heated rather than cooled because of the poor heat insulation of the partitions. This in turn leads to the adjacent chambers requiring increased cooling. A refrigerated transporting vehicle may additionally also have a trailer with one or more cooling chambers for which cooling and/or heating likewise has to be provided.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for cooling at least one chamber of a transporting vehicle for chilled products, which apparatus can satisfy different cooling or heating requirements in an economical manner. A cooling method, with which the problems described can be solved economically, is also to be provided.

This object is achieved by an apparatus according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 12. Advantageous refinements are provided in the respectively dependent claims.

An apparatus according to the invention for cooling at least one chamber of a transporting vehicle for chilled products has a cooling unit, in particular a tank for liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide. There is at least one cooling intermediate circuit having a heat exchange medium, the cooling intermediate circuit having a first heat exchanger for cooling the heat exchange medium by means of the cooling unit, each chamber in each case being assigned a second heat exchanger which can be connected on the primary side to the intermediate cooling circuit and by means of which, on the secondary side, the air in the particular chamber can be cooled. A conventional, mechanical cooling assembly may also be used as the cooling unit, but the invention affords the greatest advantages when using a tank with liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide which, by means of their heating and/or evaporation, cool the heat exchange medium in the intermediate cooling circuit.

The use of a cooling intermediate circuit makes it possible to operate said circuit at a variable temperature, which would not be possible if liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide were conducted directly through the heat exchanger of a chamber. Highly flexible prerequisites are thus provided in order to adapt the cooling system to different conditions.

In an advantageous refinement of the invention, there are least two chambers on the transporting vehicle, each of the chambers having a dedicated cooling intermediate circuit with a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, and at least one of the intermediate circuits additionally having a heating system, preferably in the form of a third heat exchanger. With such an arrangement, it is possible to convert the cooling intermediate circuit of one or both chambers into a heating circuit, by switching on the heating system and switching off the cooling unit, in particular the supply of liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide, such that the chamber in question can be heated.

Particular advantages arise in a further refinement of the invention, in which there are at least two chambers which each have a second heat exchanger, but only one cooling intermediate circuit and additionally a heating intermediate circuit are provided, wherein each second heat exchanger can be connected either to the cooling intermediate circuit or the heating intermediate circuit. The substantial advantages of this arrangement are afforded only when there are more than two chambers, but the principle can also be applied to two chambers. As is explained in further detail with reference to the drawing, by means of this arrangement according to the invention, cold is available for each chamber in a cooling intermediate circuit when the chamber has to be cooled, and heat is available from a heating intermediate circuit when the chamber has to be heated. The second heat exchangers arranged in each chamber can either have a primary cooling circuit, which can then be connected via four valves either to the cooling intermediate circuit or to the heating intermediate circuit, or two primary circuits can be provided, in which case only two valves are needed in order to operate the one or the other primary circuit. On the secondary side, the second heat exchanger cools the air in the particular chamber, this preferably being brought about by a fan which blows recirculated air through the heat exchanger.

When only one primary circuit is used in the second heat exchangers, the heat exchange media in the cooling intermediate circuit and in the heating intermediate circuit must be identical in each case. Also if there are two primary circuits, it is advisable to use the same heat exchange medium in the cooling intermediate circuit and in the heating intermediate circuit, since the two primary circuits in the second heat exchangers are in close heat contact and therefore both heat exchange media have to withstand approximately the same temperature ranges. Use is preferably made of a heat exchange medium, generally commercially available oils and the like, which still remains free-flowing, even when liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide is at raised temperatures, and has a boiling point of significantly above 50° C. The lower temperature at which the heat exchange medium is still usable is determined by the first heat exchanger through which liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide flows. However, concepts are also known in which heat exchange medium freezes in a layer to the walls of the heat exchanger tubes and, as a result, reduces the transfer of heat to the liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide and thus maintains a flow of heat exchange medium at a somewhat higher temperature within the interior of the cooling tubes.

In a further refinement of the invention, energy can additionally be saved and the consumption of liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide reduced, namely by the use of a heat pump with which a temperature difference between the cooling intermediate circuit and the heating intermediate circuit is maintained or supported. Precisely in situations in which cooling and heating have to take place at the same time, a heat pump affords particular advantages. In this case, a step which is crucial in terms of energy can reside in particular in the heat pump being driven directly by an engine of the transporting vehicle, this requiring much less energy than for operating a dedicated drive for the heat pump. However, in all cases, a heat pump can withdraw heat from the cooling intermediate circuit and supply it to the heating intermediate circuit, this affording considerable advantages in certain operating phases. Of course, situations may occur in which the heat required in the heating circuit cannot be withdrawn or not completely withdrawn from the cooling circuit, or vice versa. In this situation, the difference can be removed via an equalizing heat exchanger.

If a transporting vehicle having the cooling system according to the invention pulls a trailer, it is particularly simple to connect the latter to the cooling system. Since the cooling intermediate circuit does not operate by a long way at the temperature of liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide and the heating circuit is also not operated at very high temperatures, the cooling intermediate circuit and the heating intermediate circuit can be routed to the trailer in a simple manner via couplings and hose connections such that one or more chambers can also be connected there to said systems in the same manner as in the transporting vehicle itself.

Each chamber is preferably connected to a temperature-regulating means, in particular to a central regulating device, which, when cooling is required, connects the second heat exchanger, which is assigned to the respective chamber, on the primary side to the cooling intermediate circuit and, when heating is required, to the heating intermediate circuit, the air in the associated chamber being conducted in each case as recirculated air on the secondary side through the assigned second heat exchanger.

For situations in which at least one of the chambers is to be cooled rapidly after a loading or unloading operation, said chamber can be provided with an additional device for the direct spraying in of liquid nitrogen. In the case of such devices, care has to be taken, if appropriate, to ensure a breathable atmosphere before personnel enter it.

For the operation of the apparatus, it is expedient to operate the cooling intermediate circuit and the heating intermediate circuit at certain temperature levels, and therefore the two circuits should have separate temperature-regulating circuits. An essential element in the temperature-regulating circuit of the cooling intermediate circuit is the first heat exchanger, and an essential element of the temperature-regulating circuit of the heating intermediate circuit can be the heat pump or, of course, any other heating system desired. In modern installations, the entire regulating technology is generally accommodated in a central regulating device.

The present invention provides the possibility of fitting a tank for liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide and the first heat exchanger as a constructional unit to or under the transporting vehicle. Systems can even be provided in which the two components are formed together as an exchangeable unit such that, instead of a refuelling operation at the vehicle, tank and heat exchanger can be exchanged. In this case, no connections conducting liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide would have to be released and reconnected, which can have considerable advantages.

To provide an even more flexible manner of operation, it is advantageous in each case to provide a third primary circuit in the second heat exchangers or in a part thereof, said primary circuit being able to be supplied with liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide directly from the tank. This gives rise to additional operating options which can be used at the beginning of the operation, in certain situations or if other operating systems break down.

It is particularly advantageous for the control and maintenance also to accommodate all or most of the valves of the apparatus in an end-side control panel behind which further important components, for example the heat exchangers, can preferably be arranged. Easy controllability and clarity are therefore achieved with little outlay on wiring.

Exemplary embodiments for apparatuses according to the invention and methods according to the invention and individual refinements thereof are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing, the invention, however, not being restricted to these exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows schematically the typical construction of a refrigerated transporting vehicle with a plurality of chambers and trailers,

FIG. 2 shows schematically a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows schematically, with the driver's cab being omitted, a transporting vehicle T, which is divided in the longitudinal direction into three cooling chambers A, B, C. The partitions W bringing about the division have to be of a thinness such that complete heat insulation is not possible, and therefore particular measures are required in order to maintain temperature differences between the chambers A, B, C. A Tank 1 for liquid nitrogen which can possibly also be designed as a constructional unit together with a first heat exchanger 4 is located below the transporting vehicle T. For particular cooling requirements, a system for spraying liquid nitrogen directly into one of the chambers A, B, C can be provided in the form of a spraying-in line 41 which can be shut off by means of a spray valve 40. If the transporting vehicle T tows a trailer H, the cooling chambers D, E of the trailer H can be connected to the systems of the transporting vehicle T via couplings 20.

FIG. 2 shows, in a partially schematic view, an exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrating the supply, according to the present invention, of three chambers A, B, C of a transporting vehicle T and of two or more further chambers D, E . . . of a trailer H with cooling or heating. The cooling required is provided by liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide which is carried in a tank 1. The liquid nitrogen or the carbon dioxide passes via a safety valve 2 and an inlet valve 3 into a first heat exchanger and from there via an outlet valve 5 to a blowing-off means 6. In the first heat exchanger 4, a heat exchange medium which flows through the first heat exchanger 4 on the secondary side can therefore be cooled by heating or evaporating the liquid nitrogen/carbon dioxide. This cooled heat exchange medium flows in a cooling intermediate circuit and is conveyed by a pump 11 via a multi-way valve 12 through the first heat exchanger 4 and then to a cold distributor line 15 from where it passes again via a throttle device 13 to the pump 11. A cold-collecting line 16 is also connected between the throttle device 13 and the pump 11. During the operation of the pump 11, a difference in pressure between the cold distributor line 15 and the cold-collecting line 16 is maintained by the throttle device 13 such that, when the need arises, two heat exchangers 30A, 30B, 30C can be connected between them and cooled on the primary side. This takes place by means of the inlet valves 19A, 19B, 19C. If one of these valves is opened, then heat exchange medium flows from the cold distributor line 15 on the primary side through the associated second heat exchanger 30A, 30B, 30C to the cold-collecting line 16. In the chamber A, B, C in question, recirculated air can be conducted on the secondary side by means of a recirculated air fan 31A, 31B, 31C through the second heat exchanger 30A, 30B, 30C until the desired cooling in the chamber A, B, C in question is reached.

The transporting vehicle T also contains a heating intermediate circuit in which a heat exchange medium, preferably the same one as in the cooling intermediate circuit, is conducted by a pump 21 to a heat distributor line 25 via a throttle device 23 and back to the pump 21 through a heat exchanger 24. A heat-collecting line 26 is connected between the throttle device 23 and the heat exchanger 24 in the heating intermediate circuit. During operation of the pump 21, the throttle device 23 in the heating intermediate circuit causes a difference in pressure to be maintained between the heat distributor line 25 and the heat-collecting line 26 such that, when the need arises, the second heat exchangers 30A, 30B, 30C can be connected on the primary side to the heating intermediate circuit. In the present exemplary embodiment, this takes place by means of a second secondary circuit in which one of the inlet valves 29A, 29B, 29C is opened, as a result of which heat exchange medium flows out of the heating intermediate circuit through the relevant second heat exchanger 30A, 30B, 30C. The associated chamber A, B, C can then be heated by the relevant recirculated air fan 31A, 31B, 31C.

Of course, it is possible also to use second heat exchangers 30A, 30B, 30C having only a circuit on the primary side, but this would require double the number of valves and absolutely necessitates the use of the same heat exchange medium in the cooling intermediate circuit and in the heating intermediate circuit.

In terms of energy, it may be particularly advantageous if a heat pump 35 is also connected between the cooling intermediate circuit and the heating intermediate circuit. In favourable cases, such a heat pump can bring about the required cooling and the required heating virtually at the same time, but in any case can reduce the energy required for maintaining differences in temperature in the two circuits. Of course, in the simplest case, the heating intermediate circuit can also have a different heat source, for example an electric heating system or a connection to the cooling circuit of an engine. However, FIG. 2 illustrates the particularly favourable use of a heat pump which can withdraw heat from the intermediate cooling circuit via a heat exchanger 14 to the heat pump and a heat exchanger 24 from the heat pump and can supply it to the heating intermediate circuit. Excess cold or heat can be removed or supplied via the equalizing heat exchanger 34.

Depending on the position of the three-way valve 12, the cold can be placed in the cooling intermediate circuit entirely or partially via the heat exchanger 14 or via the first heat exchanger 4. Typical temperatures for the different operations are indicated in FIG. 2. The temperature in the cooling intermediate circuit downstream of the first heat exchanger 4 may be, for example, approximately −60° C. while, during operation of the heat pump 35 downstream of the heat exchanger 14, temperatures, for example, of −30° C. can be achieved. The heating circuit can be located downstream of the pump 21, for example at a temperature level of approximately 30° C.

A central regulating device 50 is connected, as illustrated schematically, via lines 51 to sensors, in particular temperature sensors, in the chambers A, B, C, if appropriate also to further sensors in the trailer H. In addition, the central regulating device 50 is connected via control lines 52 to valves, fans and pumps of the entire system such that a central control or regulation of the entire system is possible.

If, for example, the temperature in the chamber A is too high, then the inlet valve 19A is opened and the recirculated air fan 31A placed into operation until the correct temperature is set. If, in the process, the temperature in the cooling intermediate circuit becomes too high, the inlet valve 3 is opened and liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide is conducted through the first heat exchanger 4. As an alternative, depending on the operating conditions at a particular moment, the heat pump 35 can also be put into operation, as a result of which the temperature in the cooling intermediate circuit is reduced via the heat exchanger 14. If at the same time the temperature in the chamber B is too low, then the inlet valve 29B is opened and the recirculated air fan 31B in put into operation until the chamber B is heated to the desired temperature. If, in the process, the temperature in the heating intermediate circuit drops too far, this can be equalized again by the heat pump 35 via the heat exchanger 24. All of the second heat exchangers 30A, 30B, 30C can preferably be connected on the primary side either to the cold distributor line 15 and to the cold-collecting line 16 or to the heat distributor line 25 and the heat-collecting line 26. Each chamber A, B, C can thus be set to any desired temperature within a certain range.

If a trailer H having further chambers D, E is present, the cold distributor line 15, the cold-collecting line 16, the heat distributor line 25 and the heat-collecting line 26 can be extended in a simple manner to a cold distributor line 17 in the trailer, a cold-collecting line 18 in the trailer, a heat distributor line 27 in the trailer and a heat distributor line 28 in the trailer. Further second heat exchangers 30D with recirculated air fans 31D can be connected via inlet valves 19D . . . or 29D . . . to the cooling intermediate circuit or the heating intermediate circuit, in an entirely analogous manner to the connection in the transporting vehicle T itself.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 3, essentially all of the components are present as described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, but some thereof are not illustrated. In order to have greater flexibility during the operation, in particular at the beginning of the operation or during exceptional situations, the second heat exchangers 30A, 30B, 30C, . . . are in each case equipped with a third primary circuit 32A, 32B, 32C, . . . which can be directly supplied with liquid nitrogen via an inlet valve 33. The third primary circuits 32A, 32B, 32C, . . . can be supplied with liquid nitrogen individually or together via additional outlet valves 39A, 39B, 39C. This provides additional cooling circuits which can be regulated in a very simple manner and are also available if other systems break down.

In order to enable simple control of all or many of the elements, it is particularly advantageous, as indicated schematically in FIG. 3, to arrange all or most of the valves in a control panel 53 on the transport vehicle, preferably on an end side of the vehicle.

The present invention is particularly suitable for refrigerated transporting vehicles which are used in delivery transport and have a plurality of chambers in which different temperatures are to be set in a flexible manner.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

• T Transporting vehicle
• A Chamber
• B Chamber
• C Chamber
• D Chamber
• E Chamber
• H Trailer
• W Partition
• 1 Cooling unit, tank for liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide
• 2 Safety valve
• 3 Inlet valve
• 4 First heat exchanger
• 5 Outlet valve
• 6 Blowing-off means
• 11 Pump in the cooling intermediate circuit
• 12 Three-way valve
• 13 Throttle device in the cooling intermediate circuit
• 14 Heat exchanger to the heat pump
• 15 Cold distributor line
• 16 Cold-collecting line
• 17 Cold distributor line in the trailer
• 18 Cold-collecting line in the trailer
• 19A, B, C . . . . Inlet valve of a first primary circuit of the second heat exchanger
• 20 Couplings
• 21 Pump in the heating intermediate circuit
• 23 Throttle device in the heating intermediate circuit
• 24 Heat exchanger from the heat pump
• 25 Heat distributor line
• 26 Heat-collecting line
• 27 Heat distributor line in the trailer
• 28 Heat-collecting line in the trailer
• 29A, B, C, . . . . Inlet valve of second primary circuit of the second heat exchanger
• 30A, B, C, . . . . Second heat exchanger of each chamber
• 31A, B, C, . . . . Secondary-side recirculated fan of each chamber
• 32A, B, C, . . . . Additional (third) primary circuit of the second heat exchanger
• 33 Inlet valve for third primary circuits
• 34 Equalizing heat exchanger
• 35 Heat pump
• 36 Steam outlet for third primary circuit
• 39A, B, C, . . . . Additional outlet valve of the third primary circuit
• 40 Spraying-in valve
• 41 Spraying-in line
• 50 Central regulating device
• 51 Lines to sensors
• 52 Control lines for valves, fans, pumps
• 53 End-side control panel for valves

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. An apparatus for cooling a chamber of a transporting vehicle for chilled products, comprising:

a cooling unit comprising a tank of liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide;

a cooling intermediate circuit having a heat exchange medium and a first heat exchanger, the cooling intermediate circuit being adapted to exchange heat between the heat exchange medium and the cooling unit;

a second heat exchanger operatively associated with said chamber, said second heat exchanger being connected on a primary side with said intermediate circuit and on a secondary side with air from the chamber, said second heat exchanger being adapted to cool the air from the chamber with the heat exchange medium from the cooling intermediate circuit.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the transporting vehicle has two chambers and said apparatus further comprises another cooling intermediate circuit having a heat exchange medium, another first heat exchanger, and another second heat exchanger, wherein:

each one of the cooling intermediate circuits is adapted to exchange heat between the heat exchange medium and the cooling unit;

each one of the second heat exchangers is adapted to cool the air from a respective one of two chambers with the heat exchange medium from a respective one of the two cooling intermediate circuits.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the transporting vehicle has two chambers and said apparatus further comprises another second heat exchanger, wherein:

the cooling intermediate circuit is adapted to exchange heat between the heat exchange medium and the cooling unit;

each one of the second heat exchangers is adapted to cool the air from a respective one of the two chambers with the heat exchange medium from a the cooling intermediate circuit.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the cooling intermediate circuit also has an associated heating system, preferably in the form of a third heat exchanger.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the transporting vehicle has at least two chambers and said apparatus further comprises another intermediate cooling circuit with a heat exchange fluid and an associated heating system, another first heat exchanger, and another second heat exchanger, wherein:

each one of the cooling intermediate circuits is adapted to exchange heat between the heat exchange medium and the cooling unit;

each one of the second heat exchangers is adapted to cool the air from a respective one of the two chambers with the heat exchange medium from a respective one of the two cooling intermediate circuits;

each of the cooling intermediate circuits and respective heating intermediate circuit, preferably having the same heat exchange medium, is arranged and connected in such a manner that each of the second heat exchangers can be connected either to the respective cooling intermediate circuit or to the respective heating intermediate circuit.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein each one of the heating intermediate circuit is connected via heat exchangers and a mechanically or electrically driven heat pump to the respective cooling intermediate circuit in such a manner that heat can be withdrawn from the respective cooling intermediate circuit and supplied to the heating intermediate circuit.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the transporting vehicle has at least two chambers and said apparatus further comprises another second heat exchanger, wherein:

each one of the second heat exchangers is adapted to cool the air from a respective one of the two chambers with the heat exchange medium from the two cooling intermediate circuits;

the cooling intermediate circuit and associated heating intermediate circuit, preferably having the same heat exchange medium, are arranged and connected in such a manner that each of the second heat exchangers can be connected either to the cooling intermediate circuit or to the associated heating intermediate circuit.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the heating intermediate circuit is connected via heat exchangers and a mechanically or electrically driven heat pump to the cooling intermediate circuit in such a manner that heat can be withdrawn from the cooling intermediate circuit and supplied to the heating intermediate circuit.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the cooling intermediate circuit and the heating intermediate circuit are routed as far as an end region of the transporting vehicle and are provided with couplings in such a manner that each of the cooling intermediate and heating intermediate circuits can be opened and extended to a trailer having further chambers.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a temperature-regulating device adapted to be connected to the chamber, wherein:

the temperature-regulating device is adapted to, when cooling is required, connect the primary side of the second heat exchanger to the cooling intermediate circuit; and

the temperature-regulating device is further adapted to, when heating is required, connect the primary side of the second heat exchanger to the heating intermediate circuit.

28. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising a liquid nitrogen sprayer adapted to spray liquid nitrogen from the tank into the chamber.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the heating intermediate circuit is connected via heat exchangers and a mechanically or electrically driven heat pump to the cooling intermediate circuit in such a manner that heat can be withdrawn from the cooling intermediate circuit and supplied to the heating intermediate circuit

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the cooling intermediate circuit and the heating intermediate circuit have separate temperature-regulating circuits, the temperature-regulating circuit of the heating intermediate circuit comprising the heat pump while the temperature-regulating circuit of the cooling intermediate circuit comprises the first heat exchanger.

31. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the tank and the first heat exchanger are adapted to be fitted as a unit to or below the transporting vehicle.

32. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second heat exchanger has an additional primary circuit, in particular designed as a third cooling coil which can be connected via an inlet valve directly to the tank and via an outlet valve to a steam outlet for the additional primary circuit.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the valve is arranged in an end-side control panel.

34. A method for setting a desired temperature in a chamber of a transporting vehicle for chilled products, wherein a cooling unit comprising a tank of liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide, comprising the steps of:

cooling a heat exchange medium through heat exchange with the liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide at a first heat exchanger in an intermediate cooling circuit;

cooling air in the chamber through heat exchange with the heat exchange medium at a second heat exchanger.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein:

the transporting vehicle has an additional chamber;

the intermediate cooling circuit and the chamber are associated with an intermediate heating circuit that is adapted to heat a heat exchange medium;

another intermediate cooling circuit is adapted to cool heat exchange medium through heat exchange with the liquid nitrogen or liquid carbon dioxide at another first heat exchanger and is further adapted to cool air in the additional chamber through heat exchange with the heat exchanger medium of the other intermediate cooling circuit at another second heat exchanger of the other intermediate cooling circuit;

the other intermediate cooling circuit and additional chamber are associated with another intermediate heating circuit that is adapted to heat a heat exchange medium;

identical or different desired temperatures may be set in the two chambers by connecting the second heat exchangers of the two chambers with either a respective one of the intermediate cooling circuits or with a respective one of the intermediate heating circuits, depending on whether the chamber temperature at issue is to be cooled or heated.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein air in the chamber may be heated through heat exchange with a heat exchange medium at the second heat exchanger and the heat exchange medium is heated with an intermediate heating circuit.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein an electrically or mechanically driven heat pump is connected between the intermediate circuit and the heating intermediate circuit, the heat pump withdrawing heat from the cooling intermediate circuit and supplying it to the heating intermediate circuit.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein:

the second heat exchanger of a chamber is connected in each case on a primary side thereof, via valves, with either the intermediate cooling circuit or the intermediate heating circuit; and

the chamber temperature is regulated by the quantity of chambers air circulated through a secondary side of the second heat exchanger.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein:

the heat pump is used to regulate a temperature in the intermediate heating circuit; and

a temperature of the intermediate cooling circuit is regulated by the degree of cooling supplied to a primary side to the first heat exchanger.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein a temperature of the intermediate cooling circuit is regulated by the quantity of liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide supplied to the primary side of the heat exchanger per unit of time.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein excess heat or cold which cannot be exchanged between the heating intermediate circuit and the cooling intermediate circuit by the heat pump is removed via an equalizing heat exchanger.