Serving counter, use of a serving counter
A serving counter for displaying refrigerated products in a display space thereof, comprising a display shelf that bounds the display space on a bottom side, which display shelf is configured for supporting the products to be displayed on a supporting surface thereof, a first refrigeration unit configured for supplying cooled gas to the display space via a wall of the display space and a second refrigeration unit configured for cooling the supporting surface. The second refrigeration unit comprises a refrigerating element for cooling the supporting surface in a manner distributed over the display shelf, wherein that the refrigerating element comprises a first refrigerating part and a second refrigerating part, wherein the second refrigerating part is configured for cooling the supporting surface in a portion of the display shelf remote from the wall and the second refrigerating part is configured for realising a larger refrigeration capacity of the supporting surface than the first refrigerating part, wherein the first refrigerating part is configured for cooling the supporting surface in a portion of the display shelf adjacent to the wall.
According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a serving counter for displaying refrigerated products in a display space thereof, comprising a display shelf that bounds the display space on a bottom side, which display shelf is configured for supporting the products to be displayed on a supporting surface thereof, a first refrigeration unit configured for supplying cooled gas to the display space via a wall of the display space and a second refrigeration unit configured for cooling the supporting surface, wherein the second refrigeration unit comprises a refrigerating element for cooling the supporting surface in a manner distributed over the display shelf.
Serving counters are used in supermarkets and cheese stores, among other places, for the refrigerated display of products. The refrigerated products are to that end placed in a display space that is freely accessible to consumers and/or the storekeeper without these persons having to open and close a door or the like, for example, which gives access to the display space. The products are generally kept at a temperature ranging between −1° C. and +4.4° C. The display space of known serving counters is mainly bounded by a display shelf at the bottom side for supporting the products to be displayed thereon. In known serving counters a refrigeration unit is provided for blowing a cooled gas, for example air, into the display space, between the products present therein, via a side wall of the display space, and the display shelf is cooled. Although the known serving counters function well in practice, the energy consumption of the known serving counters is open to improvement.
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a serving counter with a reduced energy consumption.
According to the present invention, this object is achieved in that the refrigerating element comprises a first refrigerating part and a second refrigerating part, wherein the second refrigerating part is configured for cooling the supporting surface in a portion of the display shelf remote from the wall and the second refrigerating part is configured for realising a larger refrigeration capacity of the supporting surface than the first refrigerating part, wherein the first refrigerating part is configured for cooling the supporting surface in a portion of the display shelf adjacent to the wall. The invention is based on the insight that a relatively low temperature of the cooled gas to be blown into the display space is needed in the known serving counters for maintaining a desired temperature of the products in the display space thereof so as to realise the desired temperature of the products that are in a manner distributed over the supporting surface of the display shelf in use. Because the refrigeration capacity of the supporting surface is greater in a portion of the display shelf remote from the wall than in a portion of the display shelf adjacent to the wall, it is possible to keep products present on the supporting surface of the portion of the display shelf remote from the wall within a desired temperature range while using a higher temperature of the gas to be blown into the display space. The use of a higher temperature for the gas to be blown in by the first refrigeration unit leads to a reduced energy consumption of the serving counter in comparison with the known serving counters. An additional advantage is that because of the greater refrigeration capacity, the display shelf can extend along a greater length from the wall while keeping the desired temperature of the products within the aforesaid range.
It is noted that within the scope of the present invention, “a wall of the display space” is understood to mean a wall that bounds the display space.
Within the scope of the present invention, the “refrigeration capacity” is understood to mean the amount of energy that can be withdrawn from the products present on the display shelf per unit time.
Within the scope of the present invention a serving counter is understood to cover serving counters for keeping products at a temperature ranging between −1° C. and +4.4° C. as well as refrigerator and/or freezer cabinets for keeping products at a temperature ranging between −18° C. and +4.4° C.
It is advantageous in this regard if the second refrigerating part is provided at a smaller distance from the supporting surface than the first refrigerating part. By providing the second refrigerating part at a smaller distance from the supporting surface, the refrigeration capacity is increased in a practical manner as a result of an improved heat transfer between the second refrigerating part and the supporting surface.
It is advantageous if a ratio of a cooling surface area of the second refrigerating part to the portion remote from the wall of the supporting surface is greater than a ratio of a cooling surface area of the first refrigerating part to the portion of the supporting surface adjacent to the wall. By increasing this ratio, the refrigeration capacity at the portion remote from the wall can be increased whilst the refrigeration intensity of the refrigerating element can remain the same. Within the scope of the present invention, the term “refrigeration intensity” is understood to mean the refrigeration capacity per unit area of the refrigerating element.
In a practical embodiment, the refrigerating element comprises an arrangement of pipes provided under the supporting surface for cooling the display shelf in a manner distributed over the display shelf, wherein a spacing between adjacent pipes is smaller in the second refrigerating part than in the first refrigerating part. By spacing adjacent pipes closer together in the second refrigerating part, the refrigeration capacity is increased whilst the refrigeration intensity can remain the same.
It is advantageous if the first refrigeration unit comprises an inlet extending in the wall, which inlet is configured for imparting a downward component into the display space to the gas to be blown into the display space for refrigerating the products that are present in the display space in use from above. By refrigerating the products from above, a more even refrigeration of the products that are in a manner distributed over the supporting surface can be realised by the gas being blown into the display space.
It is advantageous in this regard if gas guiding elements are provided at the inlets for guiding the gas to be supplied to the display space in a desired direction. The use of gas guiding elements is advantageous for realising a relatively precise distribution of the gas blown into the display space.
In an advantageous embodiment variant comprising the inlet extending in the wall, an outlet is provided in the wall on the side of the inlet remote from the display shelf for discharging gas that is present in the display space from the display space. Providing the outlet at this position in the wall makes it possible to realise a gas flow in the display space wherein a return flow of gas is present between the relatively cold gas blown into the display space and ambient air outside the serving counter, which return flow at least partially screens the relatively cold gas from the ambient air.
It is advantageous in this regard if a fan is provided on the side of the outlet remote from the display space for discharging gas from the display space, wherein an axis of rotation of the fan extends substantially parallel to the wall. The provision of a fan having an axis of rotation that extends substantially parallel to the wall makes it possible to realise a relatively uniform forced discharge of air from the display space. A uniform forced discharge is advantageous for realising a relatively uniform refrigeration of the products present in the display space.
In an embodiment comprising the outlet in the wall it is advantageous if the outlet is connected for fluid flow to the inlet via a first evaporator, wherein the first evaporator is configured for cooling the gas to be supplied to the display space through evaporation of a refrigerant. Connecting the two for fluid flow is advantageous for reducing the amount of energy that is needed by at least partially recirculating the cooled gas blown into the display space.
It is advantageous in this regard if the first evaporator is configured as a counterflow evaporator that is configured to provide a downward gas flow of the cooled gas to be supplied to the display space via the inlet and an upward flow of refrigerant present in the first evaporator. A counterflow evaporator is advantageous for realising a compact first refrigeration unit.
In an embodiment comprising the first evaporator, it is advantageous if the first evaporator is connected for fluid flow to a first heat exchanger, wherein the first heat exchanger is provided upstream of the first evaporator and the first heat exchanger is configured for cooling gas to be supplied to the display space via the inlet after the gas to be supplied has passed through the first evaporator. By providing the first heat exchanger upstream, a relatively strong cooling of the gas to be supplied to the display space can be obtained before said gas is supplied to the display space via the inlet, wherein the gas cooled by the first heat exchanger is cooled by the first evaporator after being discharged from the display space. Such an embodiment is advantageous for realising a relatively large refrigeration capacity in a relatively compact construction.
In a practical embodiment, the refrigerating element is connected for fluid flow to an evaporator for evaporating a refrigerant that is provided downstream of the refrigerating element, which evaporator is formed by a second evaporator. By providing the refrigerating element upstream of an evaporator, a relatively strong cooling of the supporting surface can be obtained. Such an embodiment is advantageous for realising a relatively large refrigeration capacity in a relatively compact construction.
It is advantageous in this regard if the second evaporator is formed by the first evaporator. The fact that the second evaporator is formed by the first evaporator makes it possible to realise a larger refrigeration capacity in the first refrigeration unit.
It is advantageous if a heating device is provided which comprises a second heat exchanger that can be connected for fluid flow to the refrigerating element and/or the first heat exchanger, wherein the second heat exchanger is configured for heating refrigerant present in the second heat exchanger by heat transfer. This heating device is advantageous with a view to heating the refrigerating element of the first heat exchanger, for example for removing or at least reducing any icing in the serving counter.
This heating device can advantageously be used in a refrigerator or freezer cabinet. Refrigerator or freezer cabinets are used in supermarkets, among other places, for the refrigerated display of products. The refrigerated products are to that end placed in a display space that is accessible to consumers, who must to that end open a closing element, such as a door or the like, for example, which gives access to the display space. The products are generally kept at a temperature ranging between −18° C. and +4.4° C.
A refrigerator or freezer cabinet is essentially different from a display counter according to the first aspect of the present invention in that it comprises a display space that can be closed off from an outside space. Such a refrigerator and/or freezer cabinet for the displaying refrigerated products in a display space that can be closed off from an outside space comprises a display shelf that bounds the display space on a bottom side, which display shelf is configured for supporting the products to be displayed on a supporting surface thereof, and a first refrigeration unit configured for supplying cooled gas to the display space via a wall of the display space, characterised in that a heating device is provided which comprises a second heat exchanger that can be connected for fluid flow to the first refrigeration unit, wherein the second heat exchanger is configured for heating refrigerant present in the second heat exchanger by heat transfer. Providing a refrigerator or freezer cabinet with such a heating device is advantageous for defrosting the first refrigeration unit.
According to the present invention, the aspects described herein can also be used in a refrigerator and/or freezer cabinet, such that the invention also relates to:
Clause 1. A refrigerator and/or freezer cabinet for displaying refrigerated products in a display space thereof, comprising a display shelf that bounds the display space on a bottom side, which display shelf is configured for supporting the products to be displayed on a supporting surface thereof, a first refrigeration unit configured for supplying cooled gas to the display space via a wall of the display space and a second refrigeration unit configured for cooling the supporting surface, wherein the second refrigeration unit comprises a refrigerating element for cooling the supporting surface in a manner distributed over the display shelf, characterised in that the refrigerating element comprises a first refrigerating part and a second refrigerating part, wherein the second refrigerating part is configured for cooling the supporting surface in a portion of the display shelf remote from the wall and the second refrigerating part is configured for realising a larger refrigeration capacity of the supporting surface than the first refrigerating part, wherein the first refrigerating part is configured for cooling the supporting surface in a portion of the display shelf adjacent to the wall.
Clause 2. A refrigerator and/or freezer cabinet according to clause 1, characterised in that the second refrigerating part is provided at a smaller distance from the supporting surface than the first refrigerating part.
Clause 3. A refrigerator and/or freezer cabinet according to clause 1 and/or 2, characterised in that a ratio of a cooling surface area of the second refrigerating part to the portion remote from the wall of the supporting surface is greater than a ratio of a cooling surface area of the first refrigerating part to the portion of the supporting surface adjacent to the wall.
Clause 4. A refrigerator and/or freezer cabinet according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterised in that the refrigerating element comprises an arrangement of pipes provided under the supporting surface for cooling the display shelf in a manner distributed over the display shelf, wherein a spacing between adjacent pipes is smaller in the second refrigerating part than in the first refrigerating part.
Clause 5. A refrigerator and/or freezer cabinet according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterised in that the first refrigeration unit comprises an inlet extending in the wall, which inlet is configured for imparting a downward component into the display space to the gas to be blown into the display space for refrigerating the products that are present in the display space in use from above.
Clause 6. A refrigerator and/or freezer cabinet according to clause 5, characterised in that gas guiding elements are provided at the inlets for guiding the gas to be supplied to the display space in a desired direction.
Clause 7. A refrigerator and/or freezer cabinet according to either one of clauses 5-6, characterised in that an outlet is provided in the wall on the side of the inlet remote from the display shelf for discharging gas that is present in the display space from the display space.
Clause 8. A refrigerator and/or freezer cabinet according to clause 7, characterised in that a fan is provided on the side of the outlet remote from the display space for discharging gas from the display space, wherein an axis of rotation of the fan extends substantially parallel to the wall.
Clause 9. A refrigerator and/or freezer cabinet according to either one of clauses 7-8, characterised in that the outlet is connected for fluid flow to the inlet via a first evaporator, wherein the first evaporator is configured for cooling the gas to be supplied to the display space through evaporation of a refrigerant.
Clause 10. A refrigerator and/or freezer cabinet according to clause 9, characterised in that the first evaporator is configured as a counterflow evaporator that is configured to provide a downward gas flow of the cooled gas to be supplied to the display space via the inlet and an upward flow of refrigerant present in the first evaporator.
Clause 11. A refrigerator and/or freezer cabinet according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterised in that the refrigerating element is connected for fluid flow to an evaporator for evaporating a refrigerant that is provided downstream of the refrigerating element, which evaporator is formed by a second evaporator.
Clause 12. A refrigerator and/or freezer cabinet according to clause 11, characterised in that the second evaporator is formed by the first evaporator.
Clause 13. A refrigerator and/or freezer cabinet according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterised in that a heating device is provided which comprises a second heat exchanger that can be connected for fluid flow to the refrigerating element and/or the first heat exchanger, wherein the second heat exchanger is configured for heating refrigerant present in the second heat exchanger by heat transfer.
Clause 14. Use of a refrigerator and/or freezer cabinet according to any one of the preceding clauses, characterised in that a refrigerant is supplied to the first refrigeration unit for cooling gas to be supplied to the display space and/or to the second refrigeration unit for cooling the supporting surface, wherein the refrigerant has a temperature that ranges between −30° C. and −2° C.
Clause 15. Use according to clause 14, characterised in that the refrigerant has a temperature that ranges between −6.5° C. and −5.5° C.
According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to the use of a serving counter according to the present invention, wherein a refrigerant is supplied to the first refrigeration unit for cooling gas to be supplied to the display space and/or to the second refrigeration unit for cooling the supporting surface, wherein the refrigerant has a temperature that ranges between −8° C. and −2° C. A temperature within this range is higher than the usual temperatures of a refrigerant to be supplied to the known serving counters. A higher temperature of the refrigerant is advantageous for reducing the amount of energy that is required.
It is advantageous in this regard if the refrigerant has a temperature that ranges between −6.5° C. and −5.5° C. An advantage of this temperature range is that it makes it possible to connect the serving counter to a central unit for cooling the refrigerant as for example present in a supermarket, without additional cooling of the refrigerant being required.
The present invention will now be explained in more detail by means of a description of preferred embodiments of a serving counter according to the present invention, in which reference is made to the following schematic figures, in which:
The serving counter 1 is provided with a frame 3 for supporting the serving counter 1 on a ground surface 5. On the side of the serving counter 1 that faces the consumer in use, a display wall 7 which supports a substantially horizontal wall portion 9 on the upper side thereof is provided. The display wall 7 and the wall portion 9 bound a display space 11 on the side of the serving counter 1 that faces the consumer. At the bottom side, the display space 11 is mainly bounded by a display shelf 12 that extends in the transverse direction B of the serving counter. On the side of the serving counter 1 remote from the display wall 7, a housing part 13 is provided, in which a part of the first refrigeration unit 15 is accommodated.
The first refrigeration unit 15 is configured for supplying cooled gas, for example air, to the display space 11 via a wall 17. The wall 17 is to that end provided with an inlet 19 extending in the wall 17. The inlet 19 extends along a length of the serving counter 1, substantially perpendicular to the transverse direction B. The inlet 19 is configured for imparting a downward direction component in the display space 11 to the gas to be blown into the display space 11 for refrigerating products that are present in the display space 11 in use from above. Gas guiding elements 21 are provided at the inlet 19 for guiding the gas to be supplied to the display space 11 in the desired direction. An outlet 23 is provided in the wall 17, on the side of the inlet 19 remote from the display shelf 12, for discharging gas from the display space 11. The outlet 23 extends substantially perpendicular to the transverse direction B along a length of the serving counter 1. On the side of the outlet 23 remote from the display space 11, a fan 25 is provided for discharging gas from the display space 11, with a rotation axis 27 of the fan 25 extending substantially parallel to the wall 17. The outlet 23 is connected for fluid flow to the inlet 19 via a first evaporator 29, wherein the first evaporator 29 is configured for cooling the gas to be supplied to the display space 11 by evaporating a refrigerant. Examples of evaporating refrigerants that can be advantageously used in the first refrigeration unit 15 are R404A, R507, R134a, R407A, R407D, R407F, R448A, R449A, R410A, R744, R290.
The first evaporator 29 is configured as a counterflow evaporator configured for providing a downward gas flow toward the ground surface 5 of the cooled gas to be supplied to the display space 11 via the inlet 19 and an upward flow of refrigerant present in the first evaporator 29. The first evaporator 29 is connected for fluid flow to a first heat exchanger 31. The refrigerant flowing through the first heat exchanger 31 in use flows through an evaporator 29 provided downstream of the first heat exchanger 31. The refrigerant is evaporated upon passing through the evaporator 29, so that the gas to be supplied to the display space can be cooled. The first heat exchanger 31 is configured for cooling gas to be supplied to the display space 11 via the inlet 19 after the gas to be supplied has passed through the first evaporator 29.
Alternatively a substantially non-evaporating (in use) refrigerant, such as for example a glycol such as mono-ethylene glycol DTX (detoxified) 27% or mono-propylene glycol 32% may be used, in which case the first refrigeration unit will be provided with an air cooler rather than with an evaporator.
The serving counter 1 further comprises a second refrigeration unit 33 for cooling the supporting surface 35 of the display shelf 12. The second refrigeration unit 33 comprises a refrigerating element 37 for cooling the supporting surface 35 in a manner distributed over the display shelf 12. The refrigerating element 37 comprises a first refrigerating part 39 and a second refrigerating part 41 and comprises an arrangement of pipes 47 provided under the supporting surface 35 for cooling the display shelf 12 in a manner distributed over the display shelf 12. The first refrigerating part 39 is configured for cooling the supporting surface 35 in a portion 45 of the display shelf 12 adjacent to the wall 17. The second refrigerating part 41 is configured for cooling the supporting surface 35 in a portion 43 of the display shelf 12 remote from the wall 17. The second refrigerating part 41 is configured for realising a larger refrigeration capacity of the supporting surface 35 than the first refrigerating part 39. The pipes 47 of the second refrigerating part 41 are provided closer to the supporting surface 35 than the pipes 47 of the first refrigerating part 39. The pipes 47 of the second refrigerating part 41 are located on an underside of the display shelf 12. The cooling element 37 is connected for refrigerant flow to a second evaporator for evaporating refrigerant present in the second refrigeration unit 33.
Alternatively, a substantially non-evaporating (in use) refrigerant, such as for example a glycol such as mono-ethylene glycol DTX (detoxified) 27% or mono-propylene glycol 32% may be used in the second refrigeration unit, in which case the second refrigeration unit will be provided with a plate cooler provided with pipes rather than with an evaporator.
It is conceivable that the pipes of the second refrigerating part are spaced from the underside of the display shelf or that they are partially or fully incorporated in the display shelf. In one embodiment (not shown), pipes in the second refrigerating part are spaced closer together than the pipes in the first refrigerating part, so that a ratio of a cooling surface area of the pipes of the second refrigerating part to the part of the supporting surface remote from the wall is greater than a ratio of a cooling surface area of the pipes of the first refrigerating part to the part of the supporting surface adjacent to the wall.
In the embodiment shown in
Claims
1. A serving counter for displaying refrigerated products in a display space thereof, comprising a display shelf that bounds the display space on a bottom side, which display shelf is configured for supporting the products to be displayed on a supporting surface thereof, a first refrigeration unit configured for supplying cooled gas to the display space via a wall of the display space and a second refrigeration unit configured for cooling the supporting surface, wherein the second refrigeration unit comprises a refrigerating element for cooling the supporting surface in a manner distributed over the display shelf, characterised in that the refrigerating element comprises a first refrigerating part and a second refrigerating part, wherein the second refrigerating part is configured for cooling the supporting surface in a portion of the display shelf remote from the wall and the second refrigerating part is configured for realising a larger refrigeration capacity of the supporting surface than the first refrigerating part, wherein the first refrigerating part is configured for cooling the supporting surface in a portion of the display shelf adjacent to the wall.
2. A serving counter according to claim 1, characterised in that the second refrigerating part is provided at a smaller distance from the supporting surface than the first refrigerating part.
3. A serving counter according to claim 1, characterised in that a ratio of a cooling surface area of the second refrigerating part to the portion remote from the wall of the supporting surface is greater than a ratio of a cooling surface area of the first refrigerating part to the portion of the supporting surface adjacent to the wall.
4. A serving counter according to claim 1, characterised in that the refrigerating element comprises an arrangement of pipes provided under the supporting surface for cooling the display shelf in a manner distributed over the display shelf, wherein a spacing between adjacent pipes is smaller in the second refrigerating part than in the first refrigerating part.
5. A serving counter according to claim 1, characterised in that the first refrigeration unit comprises an inlet extending in the wall, which inlet is configured for imparting a downward component into the display space to the gas to be blown into the display space for refrigerating the products that are present in the display space in use from above.
6. A serving counter according to claim 5, characterised in that gas guiding elements are provided at the inlets for guiding the gas to be supplied to the display space in a desired direction.
7. A serving counter according to claim 5, characterised in that an outlet is provided in the wall on the side of the inlet remote from the display shelf for discharging gas that is present in the display space from the display space.
8. A serving counter according to claim 7, characterised in that a fan is provided on the side of the outlet remote from the display space for discharging gas from the display space, wherein an axis of rotation of the fan extends substantially parallel to the wall.
9. A serving counter according to claim 7, characterised in that the outlet is connected for fluid flow to the inlet via a first evaporator, wherein the first evaporator is configured for cooling the gas to be supplied to the display space through evaporation of a refrigerant.
10. A serving counter according to claim 9, characterised in that the first evaporator is configured as a counterflow evaporator that is configured to provide a downward gas flow of the cooled gas to be supplied to the display space via the inlet and an upward flow of refrigerant present in the first evaporator.
11. A serving counter according to claim 9, characterised in that the first evaporator is connected for fluid flow to a first heat exchanger, wherein the first heat exchanger is provided upstream of the first evaporator and the first heat exchanger is configured for cooling gas to be supplied to the display space via the inlet after the gas to be supplied has passed through the first evaporator.
12. A serving counter according to claim 1, characterised in that the refrigerating element is connected for fluid flow to an evaporator for evaporating a refrigerant that is provided downstream of the refrigerating element, which evaporator is formed by a second evaporator.
13. A serving counter according to claim 12, characterised in that the second evaporator is formed by the first evaporator.
14. A serving counter according to claim 1, characterised in that a heating device is provided which comprises a second heat exchanger that can be connected for fluid flow to the refrigerating element and/or the first heat exchanger, wherein the second heat exchanger is configured for heating refrigerant present in the second heat exchanger by heat transfer.
15. Use of a serving counter according to claim 1, characterised in that a refrigerant is supplied to the first refrigeration unit for cooling gas to be supplied to the display space and/or to the second refrigeration unit for cooling the supporting surface, wherein the refrigerant has a temperature that ranges between −30° C. and −2° C., preferably between −8° C. and −2° C., more preferably between −6.5° C. and −5.5° C.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 17, 2016
Publication Date: May 18, 2017
Inventors: Karel Cornelis Martinus EVERS (VALKENSWAARD), Frans Elisabeth Marie HOUBEN (VALKENSWAARD)
Application Number: 15/354,443
