Process for controlling the cooling phase of a container to be cooled for a heat-regenerating adsorption system and a device in a heat-regenerating adsorption system for carrying out such a process

Abstract

The present invention provides a process for controlling the cooling phase of a container to be cooled for a heat-regenerating adsorption system with the following process steps: definition of a cooling phase cut-off temperature as a function of at least one parameter which is characteristic of the cooling process, recording the outlet temperature of a cooling fluid emerging from the container to be cooled by means of an outlet temperature recording device, and termination of the cooling phase when the recorded outlet temperature of the emerging cooling fluid falls below the defined cooling phase cut-off temperature. The present invention also provides a device for a heat-regenerating adsorption system for controlling the cooling phase of a container to be cooled in accordance with this process.

1 . A process for controlling the cooling phase of a container to be cooled for a heat-regenerating adsorption system with the following process steps:
 definition of a cooling phase cut-off temperature as a function of at least one parameter which characterizes the cooling process;   recording the outlet temperature of a cooling fluid emerging from the container to be cooled by means of an outlet temperature recording device; and   termination of the cooling phase when the recorded outlet temperature of the emerging cooling fluid falls below the defined cooling phase cut-off temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling phase cut-off temperature is defined dynamically as a function of at least one parameter which is characteristic of the cooling process and recorded continuously, periodically or aperiodically by means of a recording device, and in particular by means of a parameter associated with the cooling fluid for cooling the container. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the inlet temperature of the cooling fluid is recorded continuously, periodically or aperiodically by means of an inlet temperature recording device and is taken into account when dynamically defining the cooling phase cut-off temperature, with the cooling process being terminated when the currently recorded outlet temperature of the emerging cooling fluid falls below the currently defined cooling phase cut-off temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the adiabatic increase in adsorption temperature of the cooling fluid is determined continuously, periodically or aperiodically and taken into account when dynamically defining the cooling phase cut-off temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the loading of the cooling fluid when entering the container to be cooled is determined continuously, periodically or aperiodically and taken into account in order to determine the adiabatic increase in adsorption temperature of the cooling fluid, for example by measuring the inlet temperature of the cooling fluid entering the container, the relative humidity of the cooling fluid entering the container, the pressure of the cooling fluid during the cooling process, the density and/or the absolute humidity of the cooling fluid entering the container. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 4 , wherein the cooling phase cut-off temperature is defined by a pre-specified value above the defined adiabatic adsorption temperature. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the parameters which characterize the cooling process are estimated and these estimates are taken into consideration when dynamically defining the cooling phase cut-off temperature. 
     
     
         8 . A process for controlling the cooling phase of a container to be cooled for a heat-regenerating adsorption system with the following process steps:
 definition of a cooling phase cut-off temperature gradient;   determination of the time-dependent temperature gradient of a cooling fluid emerging from the container to be cooled by means of an outlet temperature recording device; and   termination of the cooling phase when the determined outlet temperature gradient of the emerging cooling fluid falls below the defined cooling phase cut-off temperature gradient.   
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein the outlet temperature of the emerging cooling fluid is recorded continuously, periodically or aperiodically and the temperature gradient of the emerging cooling fluid is defined continuously, periodically or aperiodically. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein a pre-defined delay time, a pre-defined minimum cooling phase length, a pre-defined coolant flow phase length and/or a pre-defined maximum cooling phase cut-off temperature are also taken into account when controlling the cooling process. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein a cooling gas, for example ambient air, the compressed and cooled process gas from the adsorption system or an externally supplied cooling gas is used as the cooling fluid. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein termination of the cooling phase is initiated if a single evaluation or a pre-defined number of consecutive evaluations for the purposes of a plausibility check indicate that the temperature has fallen below the cooling phase cut-off temperature or the cooling phase cut-off temperature gradient. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein a control unit for receiving and evaluating the recorded data and for controlling the cooling phase accordingly as a function of the recorded data is provided. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 8 , wherein reference values for specific parameters are defined beforehand, stored in a storage device connected to the control unit and taken into account by the control unit, for example, pre-defined measurement curves and/or approximation functions for specific parameters are saved and taken into account. 
     
     
         15 . A device in a heat-regenerating adsorption system for controlling the cooling phase of a container to be cooled with:
 at least one recording device for continuously, periodically or aperiodically recording at least one parameter which characterizes the cooling process;   at least one outlet temperature recording device for continuously, periodically or aperiodically recording the outlet temperature of a cooling fluid emerging from the container to be cooled; and   a control unit for dynamically defining a cooling phase cut-off temperature as a function of the at least one parameter recorded continuously, periodically or aperiodically and for controlling termination of the cooling phase when the recorded outlet temperature of the emerging cooling fluid falls below the defined cooling phase cut-off temperature.   
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the device has an inlet temperature recording device for continuously, periodically or aperiodically recording the inlet temperature of the cooling fluid which transfers the recorded data to the control unit for continuous, periodic or aperiodic evaluation of this data. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the device has at least one additional recording device for continuously, periodically or aperiodically recording the relative humidity of the cooling fluid entering the container, the pressure of the cooling fluid during the cooling process, the density and/or the absolute humidity of the fluid entering the container or similar variables. 
     
     
         18 . A device in a heat-regenerating adsorption system for controlling the cooling phase of a container to be cooled with:
 at least one outlet temperature recording device for continuously, periodically or aperiodically recording the outlet temperature and for continuously, periodically or aperiodically defining a resulting time-dependent temperature gradient for a cooling fluid emerging from the container to be cooled; and   a control unit for controlling termination of the cooling phase when the determined temperature gradient of the emerging cooling fluid falls below a pre-defined cooling phase cut-off temperature gradient.   
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the control unit has a data connection with the individual recording devices and receives the measured data from the individual recording devices, evaluates it accordingly and controls the cooling phase accordingly. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the device has a storage facility which is connected to the control unit and, for example, contains saved and pre-defined reference values for specific parameters, for example in the form of pre-defined measurement curves or approximation functions.