Ergonomic calorie-/frigorie-storage device

Abstract

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

1 . A device for storage of heat/cold by transfer from a fluid, known as a charge fluid, for subsequent reuse by transfer to a fluid, known as a discharge fluid, the device comprising:
 a rigid external container forming walls of the device;   a rigid storage module arranged inside the external container and comprising a rigid internal container forming walls of the storage module, and a storage assembly arranged inside the internal container designed for storage of the calories/frigories;   a cold external interface arranged on one of the walls of the external container and in communication with a cold internal interface arranged on the storage module, the cold external and internal interfaces ensuring the passage of so-called cold fluids between the cold external interface and the storage module;   a hot external interface arranged on one of the walls of the external container and in communication with a hot internal interface arranged on the storage module, the hot external and internal interfaces ensuring the passage of so-called hot fluids having a temperature greater than a temperature of the so-called cold fluids, between the hot external interface and the storage module;   the hot and cold external interfaces being arranged on a single wall or on two adjacent walls among the walls of the external container.   
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cold and hot external interfaces are arranged on a single wall of the external container. 
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cold and hot internal interfaces are spaced from the walls of the external container. 
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cold and hot internal interfaces are arranged on two different walls among the walk of the storage module. 
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the hot internal interface is situated in the vicinity of and facing the wall which receives the hot external interface. 
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one cold duct, connecting the cold external interface to the cold internal interface, and at least one hot duct connecting the hot external interface to the hot internal interface, and in that the cold and hot ducts are arranged in an interior of the rigid external container. 
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the cold duct has a dimension which is smaller than a dimension of the hot duct. 
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the storage module is arranged spaced from at least one of the walls of the external rigid container, forming at least one space between the storage module and the at least one wall, in order to permit the passage of the cold and/or hot ducts. 
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein
 the storage module is arranged against the lower wall of the rigid external container, and against a longitudinal wall the external container,   the cold and hot external interfaces are arranged on a single lateral wall of the external container,   the cold and hot internal interfaces are arranged on two opposite walls of the storage module, and   the hot internal interface is situated in a vicinity of and facing the hot external interface.   
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the rigid external container is a freight container which can be mounted on, and transported by, a semitrailer, and   the cold and hot external interfaces are arranged on a single lateral wall of the external container.   
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the rigid external container comprises a door for access to an interior of the external container, the door being arranged on the lateral wall opposite the lateral wall which receives the cold and hot external interfaces. 
     
     
         12 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one valve arranged between the cold external interface and the cold internal interface; and/or   at least one valve arranged between the hot external interface and the hot internal interface;   the valve(s) being designed to permit or prevent the passage of the fluid(s) from/to the storage module.   
     
     
         13 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one temperature sensor and/or at least one pressure sensor, the temperature and/or pressure sensor(s) being designed to measure a temperature and/or a pressure of the charge and/or discharge fluid. 
     
     
         14 . The device as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising means for control of the valves according to data measured by the temperature and/or pressure sensor(s). 
     
     
         15 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the storage module comprises:
 a rigid insulating layer disposed between the internal container and the storage assembly; and   a flexible insulating layer disposed between the rigid insulating layer and internal container.   
     
     
         16 . The device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the storage module comprises:
 at least one diffuser, called cold diffuser, which is arranged between the cold internal interface and the storage assembly, and which is designed for dispersion of fluid from the cold internal interface to the storage assembly, and/or convergence of fluid from the storage assembly to the cold internal interface; and/or   at least one diffuser, called hot diffuser, which is arranged between the hot internal interface and the storage assembly, and which is designed for dispersion of fluid from the hot internal interface to the storage assembly, and/or convergence of fluid from the storage assembly to the hot internal interface.   
     
     
         17 . The device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein an opening is arranged in an upper wall of the internal container, and another opening is arranged in an upper wall of the external container at the storage module, in order to permit access to the storage assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein a diameter of the cold duct is smaller than a diameter of the hot duct. 
     
     
         19 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one insulating layer arranged between the storage assembly and the rigid internal container. 
     
     
         20 . The device as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the at least one insulating layer is at least one selected from the group consisting of:
 a rigid insulating layer disposed between the internal container and the storage assembly; and   a flexible insulating layer disposed between the rigid insulating layer and the internal container.