Abstract:
A climate chamber and method for treating products, such as eggs to be hatched, with a conditioned gas stream. The climate chamber includes a substantially closed compartment having two opposing lateral walls provided with one or more passages, and a substantially closed channel which extends around the outside of the compartment and connects one of said lateral walls to the other of said lateral walls in order to form together with the compartment a substantially closed circuit. The product is placed in the climate chamber, and then the conditioned gas is circulating through the circuit. The direction in which the conditioned gas stream is circulated through the circuit is reversed repeatedly.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates on the one hand to a method for the treating of products, such as eggs to be hatched, with a conditioned gas stream, which method is carried out in a climate chamber, and relates on the other hand to a climate chamber for implementing this method. According to the invention, the climate chamber comprises:
       a substantially closed compartment having two opposing lateral walls provided with one or more passages;   a substantially closed channel which extends around the outside of the compartment and connects one of said lateral walls to the other of said lateral walls in order to form together with the compartment a substantially closed circuit;
 
and the gas stream is circulated through the circuit.
       
 
         [0004]    When treating products with a conditioned gas stream in a climate chamber, it is very important that these products are treated with the conditioned gas stream as uniformly as possible. Various solutions for this are known in the art. It is thus known, for example, to provide in the treatment compartment of the climate chamber fans or otherwise stirring members in order continuously to mix the air in that compartment and thus to ensure that all of the products are treated as uniformly as possible. A further approach is to ensure that the products to be treated are positioned in the compartment in such a way that the flow of air is not excessively impeded, so the air is able to reach all regions. In the case of the method according to the preamble of Claim  1  and the climate chamber according to the preamble of Claim  13 , efforts are made to treat all of the products in the treatment compartment of the climate chamber uniformly by passing the gas stream through the compartment predominantly in one direction, from one lateral wall to the opposing lateral wall. If then the gas stream entering the compartment has uniformly conditioned conditions distributed over the entire wall where the gas stream enters, all of the products will be treated to a high degree uniformly. This allows good results to be achieved. However, the Applicant has found that in the case of some products, such as hatching eggs, not only uniform treatment of the products relative to one another but also uniform treatment of each product plays an important role. The term “uniform treatment of each product” refers in the present case to the fact that the product to be treated is treated uniformly on all sides. In the case of hatching eggs, this is particularly important with regard to the temperature. It has been found that the temperature of hatching eggs at the side where the air stream flows in, known in sailing terminology as the weather side, differs somewhat from the temperature at the side positioned in the shadow of the inflow side, known in sailing terminology as the lee side. The Applicant has found that these small differences in temperature adversely affect the development of the embryo. Particularly in the very early phase of development of the embryo, especially during the first 4 to 10 hours, this has been found to have a relatively marked influence. More generally, the entire initial period of the hatching of the eggs, from 0 to approximately 4 days, is very important for the development of the embryo. However, the Applicant expects these problems also to affect other products. For example, in the case of the ripening of fruit, it is quite conceivable not only for products to be treated uniformly relative to one another—in which case each product is treated the same—but also for each product to be separately subjected uniformly to a specific treatment, such as a gas assembly. In ripening chambers of this type, a gas is often added to influence the ripening process. If the gas assembly does not then access all sides of the product uniformly, the product will not ripen uniformly. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The object of the present invention is therefore to improve the method according to the preamble of Claim  1  and the climate chamber according to the preamble of Claim  13  in such a way that not only are the products treated uniformly relative to one another but also the uniform treatment of each product separately is further improved, in particular made more homogeneous. 
         [0006]    With regard to the method according to the invention, the aforementioned object is achieved in that the direction in which the gas stream is circulated through the circuit is reversed repeatedly, in each case once a reversing time interval has elapsed. 
         [0007]    With regard to the climate chamber according to the invention, this object is achieved in that the gas displacement device is provided with a reversing system configured for reversing repeatedly, in each case once a reversing time interval has elapsed, the direction in which the gas stream is circulated through the circuit. 
         [0008]    Regularly (meaning both at fixed time intervals as well as at variable time intervals) and repeatedly changing the direction in which the gas stream is circulated through the circuit means that the passing gas stream flows through the product placed in the compartment in each case from a different, opposing side. The length of the reversing time interval can in this case remain constant over the entire treatment time or over a portion of the treatment time, in which case the direction in which the gas stream is circulated is thus reversed periodically, although this reversing time interval can also be variable. It may be conceivable to provide on one or more products sensors which activate the reversing of the gas stream as a function of measured values. 
         [0009]    The reversing time interval will depend on the product to be treated. Generally, the reversing time interval will be less than 2.5 hours (i.e. the gap between one reversing action and a subsequent reversing action will be less than 2.5 hours); more particularly, the reversing time interval will generally be less than 1 hour. 
         [0010]    For the hatching-out of eggs (although probably also for other products such as fruit and vegetables), the reversing time interval will be at most 30 minutes, preferably at most 20 minutes. Taking account of the delays which play a part in the treatment process, such as the temperature gradient of the product to be treated, the delayed response of used heat exchangers and the delayed response mass of gas which is circulated, the reversing time interval will in practice be at least 1 minute, preferably at least 5 minutes, more preferably at least 7.5 minutes. 
         [0011]    With regard to the hatching-out of eggs, the direction of the gas stream will reverse over at least 4 to 10 hours, for example over 1 to 4 days or longer, advantageously at a fixed or variable reversing frequency, and in particular from the start of the treatment. After the first 4 to 10 hours or, if appropriate, after 1 to 4 days, or possibly after a different period of time in the case of other products, the reversing, after a respective reversing time interval, of the direction in which the gas stream is circulated can, if appropriate, be terminated if it serves no further purpose. 
         [0012]    According to the invention, it is also advantageous if the gas stream passes through the compartment predominantly from one lateral wall to the other lateral wall. A gas stream having predominantly one clear direction is thus obtained in the compartment. According to the invention, this can be achieved, in particular, if the opposing lateral walls are configured as a perforated plate provided with a fluid pipe through which a fluid is conveyed, in such a way that each lateral wall forms a heat exchanger with which the temperature of the gas stream passing through said lateral wall can be influenced. Thus, on the one hand, the temperature of the gas stream entering the compartment can be regulated very accurately and, on the other hand, it is possible—by means of the perforations—to cause the gas to enter the compartment in a very uniformly distributed manner or, by contrast, distributed according to a specific pattern. According to the invention, it is in this case also advantageous if the compartment is divided in the direction of flow into at least two successive subcompartments, if adjacent subcompartments are each separated from one another by a partition wall configured as an aforementioned perforated plate provided with a fluid pipe through which a fluid is conveyed, in such a way that the partition wall forms a heat exchanger with which the temperature of the gas stream passing through the partition wall is influenced, and if the partition wall extends substantially transversely to the direction of flow of the gas stream through the compartment. These partition walls then allow, in each case at the end of a subcompartment, the gas stream to be brought back to a specific desired temperature, thus allowing cooling or heating of the gas stream when passing through the subcompartment to be compensated for. A compartment of this type, which is divided into subcompartments and has dividing walls configured as heat exchangers and also opposing lateral walls of the compartment in the form of heat exchangers, is known from EP 1 104 987 and from the Applicant&#39;s application PCT/NL 2007/050370 (application number) which was filed on 13 Jul. 2007 and describes an inventive improvement to heat exchangers of this type. For a more detailed description of heat exchangers of this type, reference is therefore also made to the aforementioned two documents. 
         [0013]    For accurately regulating the temperature in each subcompartment, it is in this case advantageous, according to the invention, if the temperature of the gas stream is measured in each case at the downstream side of each subcompartment, if the temperature of the lateral wall or partition wall is regulated in each case at the upstream side of each subcompartment as a function of the temperature measured at the downstream side of the same subcompartment. 
         [0014]    If the products treated using the method according to the invention are hatching eggs, it is advantageous, according to the invention, if the eggs are placed in egg receptacles provided on one or more trays, and if each tray is swivelled about a horizontal swivel axis repeatedly, in each case once a turning time interval has elapsed, for turning the eggs. According to the invention, it is in this case particularly advantageous if the turning time interval of the eggs is longer than the reversing time interval of the gas stream. For example, the eggs can be turned 1× per hour (i.e. turning time interval=1 hour), while the gas stream is reversed in its direction 4× per hour (i.e. the reversing time interval=constant 15 minutes or variable, for example successively 10 minutes, 20 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes). 
         [0015]    With regard to the embodiment of the gas displacement device and the reversing system in the climate chamber according to the invention, the invention provides at least four alternatives, namely:
       the gas displacement device is an air displacement device driven in rotation, and the reversing system is configured for reversing the direction of rotation of the air displacement device;       
 
         [0017]    and/or
       the gas displacement device comprises: one or more first gas displacement units for circulating the gas stream through the circuit in a first direction, and one or more second gas displacement units for circulating the gas stream through the circuit in a second direction, which second direction opposes the first direction; the reversing system being configured to switch between the first and the second gas displacement units, and wherein in each case one of the two gas displacement units is operative and the other gas displacement unit is inoperative;       
 
         [0019]    and/or
       the gas displacement device is active in a single direction of displacement and has an inlet side and outlet side, the channel being interrupted at the location of the gas displacement device and having a first and second orifice connected to the gas displacement device, and the reversing system comprising a valve system configured alternately either to connect the inlet side to the first orifice and the outlet side to the second orifice or to connect the inlet side to the second orifice and the outlet side to the first orifice;       
 
         [0021]    and/or
       the gas displacement device comprises a rotor rotatable around a rotation axis;
           wherein the reversing system comprises an essentially closed drum;   wherein the drum is rotatable around a rotation axis between a first and a second position;   wherein a dividing wall divides the drum in a rotor chamber comprising the rotor and an inlet chamber;   wherein the inlet chamber is connected, on the one hand, via an inlet passage through the wall of the drum with the external of the drum, and, on the other hand, via an axial passage through the dividing wall with the rotor chamber;   wherein the rotor chamber is connected via a radial outlet passage through the wall of the drum with the external of the drum;   wherein, viewed in diametral direction transverse to the rotation axis, the inlet passage and the outlet passage lie opposite each other;   wherein, in the first position, the inlet passage opens into a first channel part of the substantially closed channel while the outlet passage opens into a second channel part of the substantially closed channel, and wherein, in the second position, the inlet passage opens into the second channel part while the outlet passage opens into the first channel part.   
               
 
         [0030]    With a view to accurate regulation of the temperature in the compartment, it is advantageous, according to the invention, if the opposing lateral walls of the compartment are configured as a perforated plate provided with a fluid pipe through which a fluid is to be conveyed, in such a way that each lateral wall forms a heat exchanger with which the temperature of the gas stream passing through said lateral wall can be influenced; if the compartment is divided in the direction of flow into at least two successive subcompartments, adjacent subcompartments each being separated from one another by a partition wall configured as an aforementioned perforated plate provided with a fluid pipe through which a fluid is to be conveyed, in such a way that the partition wall forms a heat exchanger with which the temperature of the gas stream passing through the partition wall is influenced and each partition wall extending substantially transversely to the direction of flow of the gas stream through the compartment; if each partition wall and lateral wall is provided with a sensor system configured to measure the temperature of the gas stream in each case at the downstream side of each subcompartment; if the climate chamber further comprises a temperature regulator configured to couple, in each case when the direction in which the gas stream is circulated is reversed, the sensor system pertaining to each respective partition wall to the heat exchanger of the partition wall or lateral wall, which is in each case positioned upstream, and to regulate the temperature of the lateral wall or partition wall at the respective upstream side of each subcompartment as a function of the temperature measured in each case using the sensor system at the downstream side of the same subcompartment. Each respective subcompartment can thus be adjusted by means of temperature feedback, irrespective of the direction in which the gas stream passes through the subcompartment. According to the invention, the sensor system can in this case very advantageously be configured as, in each partition wall, a passage formed in said partition wall and a temperature sensor provided in said passage at a distance from the edges of said passage. A single temperature sensor can thus be used to measure the temperature of the inflowing gas stream, regardless of the direction from which this gas stream approaches the passage. 
         [0031]    All references in the present application to a climate chamber relate to a broad range of climates chambers. Examples include a climate chamber for the ripening of fruit or a climate chamber for the hatching of eggs. In all of these applications, it is important to be able very accurately to regulate the temperature as well as any other parameters. According to the invention, the term “a climate chamber” refers, in particular, to a means having an internal space (the compartment) that can regulate the temperature in and throughout said internal space with accuracy of ±3° C., more preferably with accuracy of ±1° C. or even more accurately (the term “accuracy” refers in this context to the fact that the greatest difference in temperature between any two locations in said space—the compartment—will be at most the aforementioned accuracy, i.e. at accuracy of ±1° C. this difference in temperature will be at most 2° C.). Use is in this case made of a climate chamber which has insulated walls and in the interior of which a specific desired conditioned environment is maintained. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0032]    The present invention will be described hereinafter in greater detail with reference to the example illustrated schematically in the drawings, in which: 
           [0033]      FIG. 1  is a schematic and perspective view of a climate chamber according to the invention; 
           [0034]      FIG. 2  is a schematic front view of the climate chamber according to  FIG. 1 , although the front wall thereof has been omitted; 
           [0035]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view according to  FIG. 2 , although the direction in which the gas stream is circulated has been reversed; 
           [0036]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a detail of the partition wall from the climate chamber according to  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 5  is a schematic illustration of an alternative embodiment for reversing the direction in which the gas stream is circulated; 
           [0038]      FIG. 6  is a schematic illustration of another alternative embodiment for reversing the direction in which the gas stream is circulated; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 7  is a schematic illustration of still another alternative embodiment for reversing the direction in which the gas stream is circulated. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0040]      FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3  show a climate chamber  1  according to the invention. The outside of this climate chamber  1  is delimited by two opposing lateral walls  4 ,  6 , a rear wall  3 , an opposing front wall  8 , a ceiling  5  and a floor  7 . In order to be able to regulate the temperature in the interior of the climate chamber as accurately as possible, these walls, the floor and the ceiling will preferably be insulated in their configuration. 
         [0041]    The climate chamber contains a compartment  2  through which conditioned air is passed so as to be able to control in the compartment  2  the climatological conditions such as the temperature and/or humidity and/or composition of the air, etc. The compartment  2  is delimited by two opposing lateral walls  12 ,  22 , by a rear wall (not shown) which may coincide with the rear wall  3  of the climate chamber, by a ceiling  28  and by a floor which may coincide with the floor  7  of the climate chamber. In this example, the compartment  2  is divided into four subcompartments  10 . However, more or fewer subcompartments  10  are also entirely possible. The subcompartments  10  are each respectively separated from one another by a partition wall in the form of a heat exchanger  11 . Furthermore, the lateral wall  22  is configured as a heat exchanger and the lateral wall  12  is also configured as a heat exchanger. These heat exchangers  11 ,  12  and  22  can be configured as described in EP 1 104 987. As is also illustrated in the detail of  FIG. 4 , this known heat exchanger consists substantially of a metal plate  48  with a large number of perforations  44  and also with fluid pipes  45 . In order to be able to influence the temperature of this plate, a fluid, in particular water, having a specific desired temperature is passed through the fluid pipes  45 , so the plate  48  is kept at or brought to a specific temperature. The perforated plate  48  is generally positioned vertically upright and has passed through it a—in the case of vertical upright positioning of the plate, horizontal—gas stream which arrives transversely to the face of the plate  48 , passes through the perforations  44  in order then to flow onward at the other side of the plate  48 . The temperature of the gas stream can be influenced as the gas stream passes through the plate  48 . If the temperature of the gas stream is to be increased, the plate  48  will have a higher temperature than the gas stream or be brought to a higher temperature, and if the temperature of the gas stream is to be reduced, the plate  48  will have a lower temperature than the gas stream or be brought to a lower temperature. For a more detailed description of an example of a heat exchanger of this type, reference is made to the aforementioned publication EP 1 104 987 and also to the Applicant&#39;s application PCT/NL2007/050370 (application number) which was filed on 13 Jul. 2007. 
         [0042]    As may be seen in  FIG. 1 , the subcompartments  10  can be accessed via doors  29  provided in the front wall  8 . Via the doors  29 , there can be introduced into the compartments carriages  25  containing products to be treated or to be stored in the subcompartment  10 , such as eggs to be hatched. 
         [0043]    The eggs  27  are placed in this case on trays  49  provided with recesses  26  in which the eggs  27  are received. As is known per se in the art, the eggs are turned from time to time, once a turning time interval has elapsed, by altering the angular position of the trays  49  over what is known as a turning angle between two turning positions. The trays  49  on the right-hand carriage from  FIG. 2  are depicted in one turning position and the trays on the left-hand carriage from  FIG. 2  are depicted in the other turning position. For a further example of a carriage of this type comprising trays which can be swivelled over a turning angle for the turning of eggs during hatching, reference is made to the Applicant&#39;s application PCT/NL2006/050054 (application number) which was filed on 13 Mar. 2006. 
         [0044]    As is illustrated, in particular, in  FIG. 1 , the space between the ceiling  28  of the compartment  2  and the ceiling  5  of the climate chamber  1  is divided by a baffle  14 . Placed in this baffle  14  is a gas displacement device  15  (not illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) for causing an air stream to circulate as indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . In  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the gas displacement device  15  is illustrated schematically as a fan. With reference to  FIG. 2 , the gas displacement device  15  draws at the left-hand side air out of a channel part  23  in order to blow the air out at the right-hand side into a channel part  3 . The baffle  14  and/or the gas displacement device  15  thus form, as it were, a division between the channel part  23  and channel part  3 . The supply channel  3  extends from the gas displacement device  15  up to the heat exchanger(/lateral wall)  22 . Via the perforations in the heat exchanger  22 , the air then enters the compartment  2  in order to arrive in the first subcompartment  10 , to flow horizontally through this first subcompartment  10 , to arrive in the second subcompartment  10  via the heat exchanger  11 , in order to flow horizontally through this second subcompartment  10  and to arrive in the third subcompartment via the opposing heat exchanger  11 , to flow horizontally through this third subcompartment in order subsequently to return to the fourth subcompartment  10  via the opposing heat exchanger  11 . After flowing horizontally through the fourth subcompartment  10 , the gas, in particular air, will arrive in the channel part  23  via the lateral wall  12 , which is configured as a heat exchanger, in order to flow back to the suction side of the gas displacement device  15  via the channel part. 
         [0045]    The direction—clockwise as indicated by the arrows—in which the gas stream is circulated through the gas displacement device in the above-described substantially closed circuit—of the gas displacement device  15 , channel part  3 , compartment  2  and channel part  23 —can be reversed, according to the invention, by means of a reversing system  17 , so the gas stream is circulated in the opposite direction.  FIG. 3  shows by means of the arrows that the gas stream is in this case circulated in the opposite direction, anticlockwise. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 2 and 3  also show a sprayer  18  with which a liquid, for example water, can be sprayed into the channel part  3  in order to be able to increase the humidity of the gas stream. The sprayer  18  could also be provided elsewhere, for example in the channel part  23 . It is also possible to provide a sprayer both in the channel part  23  and in the channel part  3 . 
         [0047]      FIGS. 2 and 3  also show a gas supply  20  via which a gas can be added. This gas to be added may, for example, be fresh air but may also be gas having a specific composition in order, as desired, to be able to adjust or to be able to readjust the composition, for example the CO 2  content. This gas supply  20  is provided in the channel part  23 . It should be noted that the gas supply  20  can also be provided alternatively or additionally in the channel part  3 . Reference  90  indicates a gas discharge. 
         [0048]    With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the gas displacement device  15  is a gas displacement device of the type driven in rotation. The driving in rotation is carried out by means of an electric motor  16 , which drives via shaft  91  the gas displacement device  15 . The reversing system  17  is in this embodiment a reversing regulator  17  which is connected to the motor  16  via a signal line  21  in order to be able to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor once a reversing time interval has elapsed. In the state shown in  FIG. 2 ,  46  is the inlet side of the gas displacement device  15  and  47  the outlet side of the gas displacement device. Once the direction of rotation of the motor  16  has been reversed,  46  will—see FIG.  3 —be the outlet side and  47  the inlet side of the gas displacement device  15 . It will be clear that the gas displacement device  15  can comprise one or more rotating displacement elements, such as rotors, and can optionally also comprise a plurality of motors  16 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 5  shows highly schematically an alternative gas displacement device  115  with an associated reversing system  117 . This gas displacement device  115  and this reversing system  117  can readily be used in the embodiment according to  FIGS. 2 and 3  by replacing the gas displacement device  15  and the reversing system  17  with a gas displacement device  115  and reversing system  117  respectively. 
         [0050]    The gas displacement device  115  comprises a first gas displacement unit  50  which can circulate the gas stream in a first direction indicated by arrows  54  and a second gas displacement unit  51  which can circulate the gas stream in a second direction indicated by arrows  55 . The first and second directions in this case oppose each other. The reversing system  117  is in this case a reversing regulator  117  which is connected to the first gas displacement unit  50  via a signal line  56  and which is connected to a second gas displacement unit  51  via a signal line  57 . The reversing system  117  is in this case configured alternately to activate one gas displacement unit and to deactivate the other whenever the direction in which the gas stream is circulated has to be reversed. For clockwise circulation of the gas stream, the second gas displacement unit  51  will then be operative, whereas the first gas displacement unit  50  is inoperative. When switching over to anticlockwise circulation of the gas stream, the first gas displacement unit  50  will then have been activated and the second gas displacement unit  51  will have been deactivated. For switching back to clockwise circulation, the process will be reversed, in other words the first gas displacement unit  50  is activated and the second gas displacement unit  51  is deactivated. This can be repeated, in each case once a reversing time interval has elapsed, permanently or over a specific desired period of time of, for example, a few days. 
         [0051]      FIG. 6  shows highly schematically still another alternative gas displacement device  215  with an associated reversing system  217 ,  67 ,  68 . This gas displacement device  215  and this reversing system  217 ,  67 ,  68  can readily be used in the embodiment according to  FIGS. 2 and 3  by replacing the gas displacement device  15  and the reversing system  17  with the gas displacement device  215  and reversing system  217 ,  67 ,  68  respectively. 
         [0052]    The gas displacement system  215  comprises a gas displacement unit  60  with an inlet side  61  and an outlet side  62 . The inlet side  61  is connected both to the first orifice  63  and to the second orifice  64  via a tube  69 . The outlet side  62  is connected both to the first orifice  63  and to the second orifice  64  via a tube. The first orifice  63  is positioned in and opens into the channel part  23  and the second orifice is positioned in and opens into the channel part  3 . The gas displacement unit  60  is in each case active in the same direction, so the inlet side  61  and the outlet side  62  are invariable. The reversing system  217 ,  67  and  68  comprises in this case a reversing regulator  217  and two valves  67  and  68 . The reversing regulator is connected to the valves  68  and  67  respectively via signal lines  65  and  66  in order to be able to operate these valves. The valve  68  is provided in the second orifice  64  and the valve  67  is provided in the first orifice  63 . In the position of the valves  67  and  68  shown in  FIG. 6 , the gas displacement unit  60  will displace the gas as indicated by arrows in  FIG. 6 . In the case of integration into the embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the gas stream is then circulated clockwise as shown in  FIG. 2 . As a result of changing both valves  67  and  68  to the position indicated by broken lines in  FIG. 6 , a) the orifice  64  will be connected to the tube  69  (whereas the passage between the orifice  63  and tube  69  is closed), so gas will be drawn from the channel part  3 ; and b) the orifice  63  will be connected to the tube  70  (whereas the passage between the orifice  64  and tube  70  is closed), so gas will be blown out into the channel part  23 . The gas stream will then be circulated anticlockwise as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 7  shows very schematically still another alternative gas displacement device  80  with a reversing system  81  belonging thereto. The gas displacement device comprises a rotor  82  rotatable around an shaft  91 , also called rotor axis  91 . The reversing system comprises an essentially closed drum  81 . A dividing wall  87  divides the drum  81  in a rotor chamber  89  and an inlet chamber  92 . The rotor  82  is arranged in the rotor chamber  89 . The dividing wall  87  is at some place, especially in the middle, provided with a passage  93  which provides a connection between the inlet chamber  92  and the rotor chamber  89 . The inlet chamber  92  is connected via an inlet passage  83  through the wall of the drum  81  with the external of the drum. The rotor chamber  89  is via an outlet passage  84  through the wall of the drum  81  connected with the external of the drum. Controlled by a regulator  317  and by means of a reversing unit  86 , the drum is rotatable around a rotation axis  94  between a first position and a second position. Viewed in the direction transverse to the rotation axis  94 , the inlet passage  83  and outlet passage  84  lie diametrically opposite each other. The dividing baffle  14 , in which the gas displacement device is arranged, divides the substantially closed channel  3 ,  23  in a first channel part  3  at the right of the dividing baffle  14  and a second channel part  23  at the left of the dividing baffle  14 . In the first position of the drum, shown in  FIG. 7   a , the inlet passage  83  opens into the first channel part  3  and the outlet passage  84  opens into the second channel part  23 . In the second position of the drum, shown in  FIG. 7   b , the inlet passage  83  opens into the second channel part  23  and the outlet passage  84  opens into the channel part  3 . During rotation of the drum between the first position and the second position, the rotor can continue rotating uninterrupted. The air is drawn in via the inlet chamber  92  by the rotor  82  and expelled in a direction transverse to the rotation axis  94  of the drum (i.e. in a radial and/or tangential direction with respect to the drum). By simply rotating the drum, the direction of circulation of the gas stream is reversed. As such the rotor can be of many types. Preferably, the rotor  82  will be of a type drawing in from an axial direction and discharging transverse to this axial direction. 
         [0054]    Returning to  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , the regulation of the heat exchangers  11 ,  12 ,  22  will be described hereinafter in greater detail. 
         [0055]      FIG. 4  shows as a detail a portion of a heat exchanger  11 ,  12 ,  22  where a temperature sensor  19  is provided. This temperature sensor  19  is positioned, carried on an arm, in a wide passage  41  through the plate. The temperature sensor  19  is in this case arranged in the face of the plate and at a distance from the edge  42  of the passage  41 . The passage  41  is in this case configured so as to be sufficiently wide around the temperature sensor that the portion of the gas stream that passes through this passage is heated only slightly or not at all by the heat exchanger  11 ,  12 ,  22  as it passes. The phrase “only slightly or not at all” means in the present context that the change in temperature undergone by this portion of the gas stream is at most 20% of the change in temperature which the gas stream as a whole undergoes on average as it passes through this heat exchanger. With the temperature sensor  19  arranged in this way, it is possible, irrespective of the direction in which the gas stream approaches the heat exchanger, to determine the temperature of the approaching gas stream. A minimum number of temperature sensors is thus sufficient to regulate or adjust the heat exchanger provided upstream of a subcompartment  10  by feeding back the temperature of the gas stream downstream of that compartment. It is possible to continue using the same temperature sensors when reversing the gas stream; the signals originating from the temperature sensors have merely to be fed through to the regulator of a different heat exchanger. The alternative would be to provide a temperature sensor at opposing sides of the plate/heat exchangers  11  and to use or, conversely, not to use this temperature sensor as a function of the inflow direction of the gas stream. 
         [0056]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show a regulator  24  for the heat exchangers  11 ,  12  and  22 .  13  denotes the feed stream of cooling/heating medium, usually water.  36 ,  37 ,  38 ,  39  and  40  denote the feed pipes with which the medium is supplied to the respective heat exchangers. The return pipes, with which the medium is discharged from the heat exchangers, are not shown in the present document. However, a person skilled in the art will be able to add these. The regulator  24  is provided with a regulating valve (not shown) for each feed pipe  36 - 40  in order to be able to adjust the flow rate of medium that is allowed to pass. In order to be able to readjust the heat exchangers by means of feedback for each compartment, each heat exchanger is provided with a temperature sensor  19 , the signal line  31 ,  32 ,  33 ,  34  and  35  of which is in each case connected to the regulator  24 . 
         [0057]    In the situation of  FIG. 2 , the heat exchanger  22  will be controlled as a function of the temperature signal received via the signal line  32 , the right-hand heat exchanger  11  will be controlled as a function of the temperature signal received via the signal line  33 , the central heat exchanger  11  will be controlled as a function of the temperature signal received via the signal line  34 , and the left-hand heat exchanger  11  will be controlled as a function of the temperature signal received via the signal line  35 . The heat exchanger  12  and the temperature sensor  19  connected to the signal line  31  can in this case be inoperative, although generally the heat exchanger  12  will be kept in operation in such a way that once the direction of the gas stream has been reversed, this heat exchanger  22  is predominantly already up to temperature. It is also entirely conceivable to control the heat exchanger  12  as a function of the temperature signal received via the signal line  31 . 
         [0058]    In the situation of  FIG. 3 , the heat exchanger  12  will be controlled as a function of the temperature signal received via the signal line  34 , the left-hand heat exchanger  11  will be controlled as a function of the temperature signal received via the signal line  33 , the central heat exchanger  11  will be controlled as a function of the temperature signal received via the signal line  32 , and the right-hand heat exchanger  11  will be controlled as a function of the temperature signal received via the signal line  31 . The heat exchanger  22  and the temperature sensor  19  connected to the signal line  35  can in this case be inoperative, although generally the heat exchanger  22  will be kept in operation in such a way that once the direction of the gas stream has been reversed, this heat exchanger  22  is predominantly already up to temperature. In this case too, it is also entirely conceivable to control the heat exchanger  22  as a function of the temperature signal received via the signal line  35 . 
       LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN THE DRAWINGS 
       [0059]      1  Climate chamber 
         [0060]      2  Compartment 
         [0061]      3  Channel part 
         [0062]      4  Lateral wall of the climate chamber 
         [0063]      5  Ceiling of the climate chamber 
         [0064]      6  Lateral wall of the climate chamber 
         [0065]      7  Floor of the climate chamber 
         [0066]      8  Front wall of the climate chamber 
         [0067]      9  Rear wall of the climate chamber 
         [0068]      10  Subcompartment 
         [0069]      11  Heat exchanger 
         [0070]      12  Heat exchanger 
         [0071]      13  Fluid supply 
         [0072]      14  Dividing baffle 
         [0073]      15  Gas displacement device 
         [0074]      16  Motor 
         [0075]      17  Reversing regulator 
         [0076]      18  Sprayer 
         [0077]      19  Temperature sensor 
         [0078]      20  Gas supply 
         [0079]      21  Signal line 
         [0080]      22  Heat exchanger 
         [0081]      23  Channel part 
         [0082]      24  Regulator for heat exchangers 
         [0083]      25  Carriage 
         [0084]      26  Egg receptacle 
         [0085]      27  Egg 
         [0086]      28  Ceiling of the compartment 
         [0087]      29  Door 
         [0088]      30  Signal line 
         [0089]      31  Signal line 
         [0090]      32  Signal line 
         [0091]      33  Signal line 
         [0092]      34  Signal line 
         [0093]      35  Signal line 
         [0094]      36  Fluid supply of the heat exchanger 
         [0095]      37  Fluid supply of the heat exchanger 
         [0096]      38  Fluid supply of the heat exchanger 
         [0097]      39  Fluid supply of the heat exchanger 
         [0098]      40  Fluid supply of the heat exchanger 
         [0099]      41  Passage 
         [0100]      42  Edge of the passage 
         [0101]      43  Carrier 
         [0102]      44  Perforation 
         [0103]      45  Fluid pipe in the heat exchanger 
         [0104]      46  Inlet/outlet 
         [0105]      47  Inlet/outlet 
         [0106]      48  Plate 
         [0107]      49  Tray 
         [0108]      50  First gas displacement unit 
         [0109]      51  Second gas displacement unit 
         [0110]      52  Signal line 
         [0111]      53  Signal line 
         [0112]      54  Arrow 
         [0113]      55  Arrow 
         [0114]      56  Signal line 
         [0115]      57  Signal line 
         [0116]      60  Gas displacement device 
         [0117]      61  Inlet side 
         [0118]      62  Outlet side 
         [0119]      63  First orifice 
         [0120]      64  Second orifice 
         [0121]      65  Signal line 
         [0122]      66  Signal line 
         [0123]      67  Valve 
         [0124]      68  Valve 
         [0125]      69  Tube 
         [0126]      70  Tube 
         [0127]      80  reversing system 
         [0128]      81  drum 
         [0129]      82  rotor 
         [0130]      83  inlet passage 
         [0131]      84  outlet passage 
         [0132]      86  reversing unit 
         [0133]      87  dividing wall 
         [0134]      89  rotor chamber 
         [0135]      90  Gas discharge 
         [0136]      91  shaft 
         [0137]      92  inlet chamber 
         [0138]      93  passage 
         [0139]      94  rotation axis 
         [0140]      115  Gas displacement device 
         [0141]      117  Reversing system 
         [0142]      215  Gas displacement device 
         [0143]      217  Reversing regulator 
         [0144]      317  regulator