Method for operating a heat exchanger unit for changing the physical state of matter of an aqueous formulation

Method for operating a heat exchanger unit (14) for changing the physical state of matter of an aqueous formulation (12) by freezing or thawing,

• the aqueous formulation (12) being contained in a container and the heat exchanger unit acting on the aqueous formulation (12) in the container,
• such that a temperature of said aqueous formulation (12) during an operating cycle is regulated based on a target temperature course (TT(t)), the method comprising the steps of:
• (S2) segmenting the target temperature course (TT(t)) into at least two distinct phases (P), wherein at least one phase (P2, P6) refers to a change in physical state of matter of the aqueous formulation (12);
• (S3) based on the target temperature course (TT(t)), determining a control parameter variation (C(t)) based on which operation of the heat exchanger unit (14) is to be controlled during an operating cycle;
• (S4) performing a test run operating cycle comprising the sub-steps of:
• (S4.1) operating the heat exchange unit (14) during the test run operating cycle based on the determined control parameter variation (C(t)), and
• (S4.2) measuring a temperature course (TM(t)) being indicative of the course of the aqueous formulation's temperature during the test run operating cycle;
• (S5) segmenting the measured temperature course (TM(t)) into at least two distinct phases, wherein at least one phase refers to a change in the physical state of the aqueous formulation (12);
• (S6) adapting the determined control parameter variation (C(t)) based on a comparison of the segmented measured temperature course (TsM(t)) with the segmented target temperature course (TsT(t));
• and
• operating the heat exchanger unit (14) based on the adapted control parameter variation for changing the physical state by freezing or thawing the aqueous formulation (12).