Device for cooling an energy accumulator

Abstract

A device is disclosed for cooling an energy accumulator in a rail vehicle. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the energy accumulator has a direct thermal connection to an evaporator and the evaporator and a condenser form part of a circuit of a refrigerator.

1 . A device for cooling an energy accumulator in a rail vehicle, wherein the energy accumulator has a direct thermal connection to an evaporator, and wherein the evaporator and a condenser are components of a circuit of a refrigerator. 
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator is connected as a component of a compression refrigerator to the condenser via a compressor, and wherein the condenser is connected to the evaporator via a throttle. 
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the evaporator is connected as a component of an absorption refrigerator to the condenser via a compressor, and wherein the condenser is connected to the evaporator via a thermal compressor. 
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein, in order to conduct thermal energy out of the thermal compressor, the thermal compressor has a thermal connection to a heating circuit for heating the passenger compartment of the rail vehicle. 
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein, in order to feed thermal energy to the thermal compressor, the thermal compressor has a thermal connection to a waste heat line of the rail vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the energy accumulator is an electric energy accumulator. 
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the energy accumulator is an electrochemical energy accumulator. 
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of energy accumulators are connected to just one evaporator. 
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the condenser has a thermal connection to a heating circuit for heating the passenger compartment of the rail vehicle. 
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein, in order to perform open-loop/closed-loop control of the cooling process, a control unit is provided in the rail vehicle. 
     
     
         11 . The device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the control unit is composed of a plurality of units. 
     
     
         12 . The device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein, in order to feed thermal energy to the thermal compressor, the thermal compressor has a thermal connection to a waste heat line of the rail vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the energy accumulator is an electric energy accumulator. 
     
     
         14 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the energy accumulator is an electrochemical energy accumulator. 
     
     
         15 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of energy accumulators are connected to just one evaporator. 
     
     
         16 . A method for cooling an energy accumulator in a rail vehicle, the method comprising:
 directly thermally connecting the energy accumulator to an evaporator, wherein the evaporator and a condenser are components of a circuit of a refrigerator; and   using the direct thermal connection to cool the energy accumulator in the rail vehicle.   
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the evaporator is connected as a component of a compression refrigerator to the condenser via a compressor, and wherein the condenser is connected to the evaporator via a throttle. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the evaporator is connected as a component of an absorption refrigerator to the condenser via a compressor, and wherein the condenser is connected to the evaporator via a thermal compressor. 
     
     
         19 . The device as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein, in order to conduct thermal energy out of the thermal compressor, the thermal compressor has a thermal connection to a heating circuit for heating the passenger compartment of the rail vehicle. 
     
     
         20 . The device as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein, in order to feed thermal energy to the thermal compressor, the thermal compressor has a thermal connection to a waste heat line of the rail vehicle.