DE102012223740A1 - Household cooling device e.g. refrigerator, for cooling and storing foods e.g. beverages, has cooling circuit with compressor for compressing working medium circulated in circuit, where compressor is designed as electrochemical compressor - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has an inner area (5) for accommodating foods, and a cooling circuit for cooling the inner area. The cooling circuit has a compressor for compressing working medium e.g. nitrogen or oxygen, circulated in the cooling circuit, where the compressor is designed as an electrochemical compressor (12). The compressor has a membrane i.e. electron exchange membrane, for compressing the working medium. The compressor cools a wall of an inner container (4) that limits the inner area. The inner container has a feeding opening that is closed by a door (6).

Description

The invention relates to a domestic refrigeration appliance for cooling and storing foodstuffs, with at least one interior space for receiving the food, and at least one refrigeration cycle, with which a cooling system can be produced. The refrigeration cycle has a compressor, with which circulating in the refrigerant circuit working fluid can be compressed.

Domestic refrigerators for refrigerating and storing food, such as a refrigerator or a freezer or a combined refrigerated freezer, usually have at least one refrigeration cycle in which a working fluid circulates and which by compression and expansion for cooling one or more rooms in the household refrigerator is trained. Such a refrigeration cycle usually includes a compressor.

It is also known that individual temperature zones in the domestic refrigeration appliance and thus individual compartments can be cooled individually, whereby a further refrigeration cycle can be provided here.

An alternative to the individual cooling of individual fan contents of a household refrigerating appliance is possible by the use of a thermoelectric element in the form of a Peltier element. In this context, let's look at the DE 10 2008 042 786 A1 directed.

In the known embodiments, an energy-efficient operation of a household refrigerating appliance is only possible to a limited extent.

In addition, it is known to use electrochemical compressors in Joule-Thomson refrigeration cycles. So is out of the DE 691 00 584 T2 a corresponding embodiment known. There, the working fluid is hydrogen, oxygen or an element from group VII A. The fluid is compressed via a proton exchange membrane of the compressor and the expansion of the fluid through an expansion element, the Joule-Thomson effect is used for cooling. Especially in the working fluid hydrogen occurs an additional mass transport in the refrigeration cycle. Moreover, when hydrogen is used as the working fluid, a system leakage problem may occur and other negative influences of hydrogen on the refrigeration cycle and its components, such as a throttle, valve or heat exchanger, may occur. Hydrogen in the refrigeration cycle in the Rankine process has a far too low inversion temperature for a domestic application. The gaseous hydrogen can lead in the capillary, for example to dynamic effects, which in addition to efficiency disadvantages and noise problems. In the evaporators, the ratio between wetted and unwetted pipe surface would continue to deteriorate, since even at low mass fraction, the volume fractions of the gaseous fluids dominate. The general influence of the hydrogen content in the fluid on the fluid mechanics and thus the refrigerant-side heat transfer can also have a negative impact on the efficiency.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a household refrigerator, in which the energy efficiency can be increased.

This object is achieved by a household refrigerator according to claim 1.

An inventive household refrigerator for cooling and storing food includes at least one interior for receiving the food. The domestic refrigeration appliance comprises at least one refrigeration cycle, with which a cooling of a room can be generated. The refrigeration cycle includes a compressor, with which circulating in the refrigerant circuit working fluid is compressible. An essential idea of the invention is to be seen in that the compressor is an electrochemical compressor. By such a specification, a very compact structure can be realized. The function and operation of the electrochemical compressor also helps to increase the energy efficiency of the device.

It is thus possible in particular that an efficient and individual control and cooling of individual compartments in the interior can be performed. Especially the compressor is an essential component with regard to this increase in energy efficiency of household refrigerators. Last but not least, an electrochemical compressor has significant advantages over other compressor concepts in terms of low dependence on operating point variations. He is also much quieter to operate than other compressor concepts, since mechanically moving parts are not available for compression.

Especially with an electrochemical compressor can be an electrochemically active liquid, which is also used for operation of the refrigeration cycle and thus as a working fluid, compressed. For this purpose, a membrane is provided which causes the transport of electrically charged particles upon application of an electrical voltage and thus leads to a compression of an electrochemically active liquid, whereby a compact refrigeration cycle can be operated with a suitable refrigerant.

Through an electrochemical compressor, the complexity of the design of the Refrigeration cycle can be significantly reduced. This is particularly the case with household refrigerators with different zones or different compartments that are heated at different temperatures. The relatively low dependence of the electrochemical compressor on the operating points should be emphasized. In this context, low temperature differences and a low cooling capacity without relevant loss of efficiency are mentioned.

The electrochemical compressor can also be controlled independently of the refrigeration cycle, resulting in a simplified control of the overall system. In addition, a very small effect on the relative humidity in the refrigerated compartment compared to full Nofrost devices can be realized.

It can be provided that the refrigeration cycle works according to the Joule-Thomson principle.

In a particularly advantageous manner, it is provided that the membrane of the electrochemical compressor is an anion membrane or an electron exchange membrane. Such a configuration has significant advantages. The working fluid can be used as a refrigerant, so that no additional transport medium, such as hydrogen, as is the case with an electrochemical compressor with a proton exchange membrane, is required.

Such a specification of the membrane can also simplify the construction of the compressor. Likewise, there are advantages in the design of the membrane, since it must be designed only for a medium.

There may be an elimination of hydrogen in the refrigeration cycle, whereby an increase in the tightness of the system or no hydrogen-related difficulties occur. It is a potential increase in efficiency due to the elimination of the efficiency losses achieved by the osmotic effects necessary to transport refrigerant across the proton exchange membrane.

It is preferably provided that the working medium is nitrogen or oxygen. These gases have the advantage that, in contrast to hydrogen, the inversion temperatures are above 0 ° C. and are therefore suitable for use in a domestic refrigeration appliance. This is not possible with hydrogen, so that the disadvantage of a proton exchange membrane also appears here.

It is preferably provided that the electrochemical compressor is arranged to cool a wall of the interior. It can be provided that the electrochemical compressor is integrated in a wall. By virtue of this specific surface cooling of a wall region of the interior, individual cold wall regions can be produced for individual separated compartments in the interior. As a result, independent of each other refrigeration circuits can be realized, so that a particularly energy-efficient individual cooling of individual zones or compartments of the interior is possible.

Preferably, it is provided that the interior has at least one inner subspace container for cooling and storing food in a subspace or partial space of the interior. An electrochemical compressor is arranged in the subspace container, in particular integrated therein. It is designed to cool only this specific subspace. It can thus be formed by such a configuration, so to speak, a separate module, which can be specifically designed in terms of volume size and individual cooling. It can thus be virtually formed an independent subspace for receiving food, which can also be cooled individually.

This is particularly preferred when this subspace container is disposed non-destructively releasably in the interior. This allows a very individual and variable as well as user-driven and situation-specific placement of the interior done. By virtue of the fact that the electrochemical compressor is virtually connected to or integrated in the subspace container, it can be taken out of it very easily and with little effort or can be reintroduced into the interior space. The individual modular design of the household refrigeration appliance and the individual retrofitting and assembly is thereby particularly favored. Especially with the electrochemical compressor, which is advantageous with its compact structure and its specific functionality, such a concept of household refrigeration appliance can be realized.

It is preferably provided that the subspace container is formed with its own refrigeration cycle with an electrochemical compressor and is designed as a retrofit device that can be installed in the interior. It can be provided that this refrigeration cycle is a separate refrigeration cycle, which is separated from a provided for cooling the interior refrigerant circuit. However, it can also be provided a coupled operation or be formed only a single refrigeration cycle.

It is particularly advantageous that the electrochemical compressor of the subspace container is arranged in a rear wall of the subspace container, in particular is integrated therein. As a result, the accessibility to the subspace from above or from not affected at the front. In addition, this allows a particularly compact design of the subspace container and thus also of the household refrigerator. In addition, the cooling and the cold entry into the subspace are particularly favored by this position of the electrochemical compressor.

Preferably, it is provided that the interior space is designed to accommodate a plurality of separate internal subspace containers for cooling and storing food. At least some of the subspace containers each have their own electrochemical compressor for each individual cooling of the respective subspace, in which case an integrated configuration is provided in each case in particular. The above benefits are reiterated here.

Preferably, it is provided that the household refrigerator is a refrigerator or a freezer or a fridge-freezer combination device.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or in the figures alone can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or in isolation, without the scope of To leave invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are to be regarded as encompassed and disclosed, which are not explicitly shown and explained in the figures, however, emerge and can be produced by separated combinations of features from the embodiments explained.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

1 a perspective view of an embodiment of a household refrigerator according to the invention;

2 a front view of an interior of the household refrigerator limiting inner container;

3 a perspective view of a subspace container of the household refrigerator according to 1 ; and

4 a plan view of the subspace container according to 3 ,

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

In 1 is a perspective view of a household refrigerator 1 shown, which may be, for example, a refrigerator or a freezer or a combined refrigerated freezer, which is designed for cooling and storage of food, such as food and drinks.

The household refrigerator 1 includes a housing 2 which has an outer container 3 and an inner container 4 having. The inner container 4 limited with its walls an interior 5 , wherein the inner container 4 front has a feed opening through a door 6 is closable.

It can be provided that the interior 5 is designed as a single room and represents, for example, a refrigerator compartment. However, it may also be provided that in the interior 5 integrated another compartment, such as a freezer, is designed as a subspace. This is separated by its own walls from the rest of the room and thus formed the refrigerator compartment. This freezer compartment can be closed by its own freezer compartment door.

The household refrigerator 1 can also have, for example, a cold storage compartment or a 0 ° compartment.

At least one wall of the inner container 4 can at least partially by an electrochemical compressor 7 and / or an electrochemical compressor 8th and / or an electrochemical compressor 9 be cooled. In 2 These are three separate electrochemical compressors 7 to 9 shown in FIG 2 a front view of a wall of the inner container 4 is shown. The three separate electrochemical compressors 7 to 9 can thus each individually and independently of the other compressors 7 to 9 operated and thus individual zones or compartments of the interior 5 be tempered accordingly. These compartments can then be separated by corresponding horizontal wall sections formed from each other.

At least one of the electrochemical compressors 7 to 9 , in particular all, have a membrane for compressing a circulating in a refrigerant working fluid, which is preferably nitrogen or oxygen, which is an electron exchange membrane 7a respectively. 8a respectively. 9a is.

It can be provided that the electrochemical compressor 7 to 9 each in its own refrigeration cycle 7b . 8b and 9b are involved the refrigeration circuits 7b to 9b working in particular according to the Joule-Thomson principle.

The exemplary presentation in 2 Can also be on one or more other walls of the inner container 4 be transmitted.

By means of the refrigeration cycles 7b and or 8b and or 9b can be a cooling of the respective associated subspace of the interior 5 be generated.

As in the illustration in 1 moreover, it can be provided in a further embodiment that in addition to or instead of the wall-side cooling with the one or more compressors 7 to 9 a subspace container 10 non-destructively detachable in the interior 5 can be introduced and removed again. Such reversible placement allows a very individual and user-specified design of the household refrigerator 1 , This module in the form of the subspace container 10 Specifies that it has a subspace through its own walls 11 which is smaller than the interior 5 , limited. It can thus be created, so to speak, a separate box, in which then individually a desired temperature can be set and specific foods can be introduced.

It proves to be particularly advantageous if this subspace container 10 its own electrochemical compressor 12 having. As a result, a module can be created which is easy to handle in the interior and extremely energy-efficient and with the most compact construction 5 can be inserted and removed again. Regardless of the remaining spaces in the interior 5 can then be an individual temperature of the subspace 11 respectively.

It is preferably provided that the electrochemical compressor 12 is also formed with an electron exchange membrane or an anion membrane and in an advantageous embodiment on a rear wall 13 of the subspace container 10 arranged, in particular integrated therein. It can be provided that the temperature in the subspace 11 lower than the temperature in the rest of the interior 5 ,

Again, it is preferably provided that the working fluid is oxygen or nitrogen, which is compressed by the membrane. It can also be a separate refrigeration circuit of the subspace tank 10 with the compressor 12 be provided.

Preferably, it is provided that the household refrigerator 1 and especially the interior 5 for holding several separate internal subspace containers 10 is designed for cooling and storage of food and at least some of these subspace containers 10 each with its own electrochemical compressor 12 for each individual cooling of the respective subspace 11 exhibit. The variability with regard to the modular design of the entire device 1 and individual placement is thereby increased again.

In particular, it is thus also envisaged that such a separable subspace container 10 is designed as a retrofit device and in the interior 5 can be installed.

In 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the subspace container 10 shown. Here is the interior 5 and thus from the device 1 separated state of the subspace container 10 shown.

In 4 is a plan view of the subspace container 10 according to 3 shown. The position of the electrochemical compressor 12 is shown, which is due to its principle of action, the rear wall 13 cool and a back wall 14 that the subspace container 10 closes to the rear, on the other hand is much warmer. The back wall 13 thus designates that wall which in the depth direction and thus in the z direction the interior 5 limited to the rear.

The invention also relates to the use of an electrochemical compressor in a household refrigerator, such as a refrigerator or a freezer or a combined refrigerated-freezer. The use of the electrochemical compressor is provided on or in a wall of an inner container which delimits an interior of the household refrigerating appliance, in which case an integrated use is preferably formed. Such a use of an electrochemical compressor in a separate module in the form of a subspace container, which thus delimits and separates a subspace of an inner space, is particularly advantageous. The above-mentioned advantageous embodiments with regard to position and function of the electrochemical compressor are also to be regarded as advantageous embodiments for the corresponding use.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 Household refrigerator

2

 casing

3

 outer container

4

 inner container

5

 inner space

6

 door

7

 Electrochemical compressor

7a

 Electron exchange membrane

7b

 Refrigeration circuit

8th

 Electrochemical compressor

8a

 Electron exchange membrane

8b

 Refrigeration circuit

9

 Electrochemical compressor

9a

 Electron exchange membrane

9b

 Refrigeration circuit

10

 Under Capacity Feeder

11

 subspace

12

 Electrochemical compressor

13

 rear wall

14

 rear wall

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102008042786 A1 [0004]
• DE 69100584 T2 [0006]

Claims (12)

Household refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) for refrigerating and storing foodstuffs, having at least one interior space ( 5 ) for receiving the food, and at least one refrigeration cycle, with which a cooling can be generated, and the refrigeration cycle comprises a compressor with which circulating in the refrigeration cycle working fluid is compressible, characterized in that the compressor is an electrochemical compressor ( 7 . 8th . 9 . 12 ). Household refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the refrigeration cycle works according to the Joule-Thomson principle. Household refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the compressor ( 7 . 8th . 9 . 12 ) has a membrane for compression of the working medium, which is an electron exchange membrane ( 7a . 8a . 9a ). Household refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the working medium is nitrogen. Household refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the working medium is oxygen. Household refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrochemical compressor ( 7 . 8th . 9 . 12 ) for cooling a wall of an interior ( 5 ) limiting inner container ( 4 ) is arranged, in particular in the wall is integrated. Household refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interior ( 5 ) at least one inner subspace container ( 10 ) for cooling and storing food in a subspace ( 11 ), wherein the electrochemical compressor ( 12 ) in the subspace container ( 10 ), in particular integrated, and for cooling the subspace ( 11 ) is trained. Household refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to claim 7, characterized in that the subspace container ( 10 ) non-destructively detachable in the interior ( 5 ) is arranged. Household refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the subspace container ( 10 ) with its own refrigeration circuit with an electrochemical compressor ( 12 ) is formed and designed as a retrofit device, which in the interior ( 5 ) can be installed. Household refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the electrochemical compressor ( 12 ) in a back wall ( 13 ) of the subspace container ( 10 ) is arranged, in particular integrated. Household refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the interior ( 5 ) for receiving a plurality of separate internal subspace containers ( 10 ) is designed for cooling and storing food, and at least some of the subspace containers ( 10 ) each have their own electrochemical compressor ( 12 ) for each individual cooling of the respective subspace ( 11 ), in particular integrated. Household refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a refrigerator or a freezer or a combined refrigerated freezer.

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