DE102021205140A1 - Refrigeration device Method for defrosting an evaporator in a refrigeration device - Google Patents

Abstract

A storage compartment of a refrigeration appliance comprises a warm storage area, which extends between a floor and a first intermediate floor in relation to the vertical direction, a cold storage area, which extends between the first intermediate floor and a second intermediate floor in relation to the vertical direction, and a cold storage area, which extends extends from the second intermediate floor in the vertical direction. A suction port of an evaporator assembly is connected to an exhaust port formed between the floor and the first intermediate floor in a rear wall of the storage compartment. An air distribution duct extending along the vertical direction on the rear wall is connected to a pressure port of the evaporator assembly, a first air inlet opening formed between the first intermediate floor and the second intermediate floor in the rear wall, and at least one second air inlet opening formed between the second intermediate floor and the top wall is formed in the rear wall.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to a refrigeration appliance, in particular a household refrigeration appliance such as a refrigerator or a fridge-freezer combination, and a method for defrosting an evaporator in a refrigeration appliance.

STATE OF THE ART

Refrigeration appliances, such as refrigerators, usually have an inner container, which defines an interior space or a refrigeration compartment for accommodating refrigerated goods and is cooled by an evaporator integrated into a refrigerant circuit. In so-called no-frost devices, the evaporator is accommodated in an evaporator chamber that is fluidically conductively coupled to the interior, and air is circulated between the evaporator chamber and the interior by means of a fan.

In order to create optimal storage conditions for different types of refrigerated goods, it can be advantageous to provide different temperature zones within a refrigeration compartment. For example, refrigeration devices with separate vegetable compartments are known, in which there is an increased temperature compared to the average temperature in the refrigeration compartment. Furthermore, it can also be advantageous to provide cold storage compartments in which there is a reduced temperature compared to the average temperature in the cold compartment. If different temperature zones are to be provided, efficient distribution of the cooling air is required.

In the JP 2002 318055 A a household refrigeration appliance is disclosed which has a refrigerator compartment, a vegetable compartment and a freezer compartment. The vegetable compartment is arranged between the cooling compartment and the freezing compartment in relation to a vertical direction, wherein the cooling compartment is arranged above and the freezing compartment is arranged below the vegetable compartment in relation to the vertical direction. The vegetable compartment is separated from the other compartments by partitions and is accessible through a separate door. An air distribution space is formed between a rear wall of the compartments and an outer housing. An evaporator is arranged in an evaporator chamber which has a suction inlet and a blower outlet. The suction inlet is connected to the vegetable compartment in the area of a lower partition that separates the vegetable compartment from the freezer compartment. Furthermore, a connecting channel is provided between the vegetable compartment and the cooling compartment. A fan is located in the fan outlet and is configured to draw air from the crisper through the suction inlet, via the evaporator, and expel it into the air distribution space. The air cooled by the evaporator is introduced into ducts formed in shelves of the refrigeration compartment at a plurality of openings formed in a rear wall of the refrigeration compartment and is discharged into the refrigeration compartment through the ducts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide improved solutions for refrigeration devices in whose interior different temperature zones are provided.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a refrigeration device having the features of claim 1 and by a method having the features of claim 12 .

According to a first aspect of the invention, a refrigeration appliance, in particular a household refrigeration appliance, such as a refrigerator or a fridge-freezer combination, comprises a storage compartment which, in relation to a vertical direction, is formed by a floor and a top wall arranged at a distance from the floor, and in relation to a depth direction is delimited by a rear wall extending between the floor and the top wall, an air distribution channel which extends along the vertical direction on an outer surface of the rear wall, and an evaporator assembly arranged on the outer surface and having an evaporator, a suction connection which is connected to the storage compartment, a pressure port connected to the air distribution duct, and a fan configured to draw air from the storage compartment through the suction port and via the evaporator and expel air through the pressure port into the air distribution duct. According to the invention, the storage compartment comprises a warm storage area, which extends in relation to the vertical direction between the floor and a first intermediate floor extending in the depth direction, a cold storage area, which in relation to the vertical direction extends between the first intermediate floor and a second intermediate floor extending in the depth direction intermediate floor, and a refrigerated storage area which extends from the second intermediate floor in the vertical direction, the suction port of the evaporator assembly being connected to an exhaust air opening which is formed between the floor and the first intermediate floor in the rear wall, and the air distribution duct having a first air inlet opening formed between the first intermediate floor and the second intermediate floor in the rear wall, and at least one second air inlet opening formed between the second intermediate floor and the ceiling wall in the rear wall.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a method for defrosting an evaporator in a refrigerator according to the first aspect of the invention is provided. The method includes circulating refrigerant through the evaporator, with the fan drawing in air from the warm storage area through the suction port, passing it over the evaporator and expelling it through the pressure port into the air distribution duct to convey it through the supply air openings into the cold storage area and the cold storage area, interrupting the circulation of the refrigerant through the evaporator and maintaining the operation of the fan, in particular until an ice covering adhering to the evaporator has at least partially melted off by the air sucked in from the warm storage compartment.

One of the ideas on which the invention is based is to arrange a cold storage area in a vertical direction directly adjacent to a warm storage area in a common storage compartment of a refrigeration device, which is intended for vegetables, for example, to extract warm air from the warm storage area, to cool it by means of an evaporator and to cool the cooled air Eject air through a vertical duct directly into the cold storage area and into a cold storage area located above the cold storage area with respect to the vertical direction. The warm storage area is adjacent to the bottom of the storage compartment. Thus, warm air is sucked out of the storage compartment near the bottom, and cold air is discharged in an upper area with respect to the vertical direction and directly into the cold storage area. The cold storage area can be provided, for example, to be cooled to a temperature that is at least 1.5 Kelvin below the average temperature in the storage compartment.

An advantage of the invention is that an even temperature distribution can be achieved within the cold storage area and by arranging the cold storage area and warm storage area directly adjacent to one another, a space-saving, practical division of space in the storage compartment is achieved.

A further advantage is that by sucking air out of the relatively warm warm storage area, efficient defrosting of the evaporator is possible, in particular without additional heating. Furthermore, temperature changes in the storage compartment, in particular in the cold storage area, are advantageously reduced during the defrosting of the evaporator by suction near the floor and the ejection of air directly into the cold storage area without using an additional heater. In addition, a simple, low-loss air flow is achieved within the storage compartment from the top wall towards the floor.

The depth direction is transverse to the vertical direction. A transverse or width direction is transverse to the depth direction and the vertical direction. For example, when the refrigeration device is set up on a solid base, it can be oriented in such a way that the vertical direction runs along the direction of gravity.

Advantageous refinements and developments result from the dependent claims referring back to the independent claims in connection with the description.

According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the storage compartment is delimited with respect to the transverse direction by two opposite side walls, which extend between the top wall and the floor.

According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the refrigeration device has a further storage compartment, which is designed as a freezer compartment, and a further evaporator assembly, which is thermally coupled to the further storage compartment. The further evaporator assembly can have, for example, a suction connection connected to the further storage chamber, a pressure connection connected to the further storage chamber, an evaporator and a blower which is designed to draw in air from the further storage compartment through the suction connection and via the evaporator and through the pressure connection eject into the further storage compartment. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the further evaporator assembly comprises only one evaporator, which is arranged on a rear wall of the further storage compartment.

According to some embodiments, it can be provided that in the rear wall between the second intermediate floor and the ceiling wall, a multiplicity of second inlet air openings are formed which are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction and which are connected to the air distribution duct. Thus, a plurality of air outlets can be formed in the cold storage area along the vertical direction, through which cold air can be expelled. This achieves an even more even temperature distribution in the cold storage area.

According to some embodiments, it can be provided that in the cold storage area a plurality of shelves are arranged spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction, with at least one second air inlet opening being arranged between each two adjacent shelves. This further facilitates the achievement of an even temperature distribution, particularly when the volume of the storage compartment in the cold storage area is subdivided with respect to the vertical direction by shelves.

According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the air distribution channel defines a flow path, the first air inlet opening being at a smaller distance from the pressure connection of the evaporator assembly along the flow path than the at least one second air inlet opening. The flow path is generally from the pressure port of the evaporator assembly along the back wall. For example, the first air inlet opening, through which cold air is expelled into the cold storage compartment, can be in the immediate vicinity of the pressure connection, while the second air inlet opening(s) is/are located at a greater distance, e.g. in relation to the vertical direction, from the pressure connection ( are). Thus, the air expelled at the pressure connection can heat up more on its way to the second air inlet openings than on the short way to the first air inlet opening. This facilitates cooling of the cold storage compartment to a temperature lower than that of the cold storage compartment.

According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the air distribution duct is at least partially formed by an insulating plate arranged on the outer surface of the rear wall. Since the insulating plate is used both for thermal insulation and for air flow, the number of parts is advantageously reduced.

According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the insulating plate is arranged between the outer surface of the rear wall and an inner surface of an outer cover, wherein the insulating plate has at least one groove on an outer surface facing the inner surface of the outer cover, so that the air distribution channel passes through the groove and the inner surface of the Outer cover is defined, and the groove is connected by a respective through hole with a respective second air inlet opening. The groove can in particular run at least in regions along the vertical direction. The formation of the groove on the surface of the insulating plate advantageously facilitates manufacture and assembly.

According to some embodiments, it can be provided that a warm storage drawer that can be pulled out in the depth direction is arranged in the warm storage area.

According to some embodiments, it can be provided that a cold storage drawer that can be pulled out in the depth direction is arranged in the cold storage area. In particular, if both a warm storage drawer and a cold storage drawer are provided, a practical division of space in the storage compartment is achieved by the adjacent arrangement of warm and cold storage compartments. The cold storage drawer also makes it easier to maintain a low temperature, since an at least partially enclosed volume is defined by the cold storage drawer and the intermediate shelves.

According to some embodiments it can be provided that the storage compartment has an access opening arranged opposite the rear wall, which extends between the floor and the top wall and through which the warm storage area, the cold storage area and the cold storage area are accessible.

According to some embodiments, provision can be made for the evaporator assembly to be arranged in the area of the base on the outer surface of the rear wall, with the evaporator assembly having an insulating part which is arranged at least in the area of the warm storage area between the evaporator and the rear wall in relation to the depth direction. Accordingly, the evaporator, which is very cold per se, is arranged adjacent to the comparatively warm warm storage area. The insulating part advantageously prevents the formation of condensation on the rear wall in the warm storage area. A further advantage of the arrangement of the evaporator adjacent to the warm storage area is that due to the short distance that the air sucked in from the warm storage area has to travel to the evaporator, defrosting can be carried out even more efficiently.

According to some embodiments it can be provided that the evaporator forms part of a refrigerant circuit which is set up to circulate a refrigerant in order to evaporate it on the evaporator while absorbing heat and to condense it on a condenser while releasing heat to the environment, for defrosting ice the circulation of the refrigerant can be interrupted at the evaporator and the fan can continue to be operated to maintain air circulation.

According to some embodiments, it can be provided that the operation of the blower is maintained after the interruption without switching on an additional heater.

According to some specific embodiments, it can be provided that the interruption of the circulation of the refrigerant includes switching off a compressor coupled to the evaporator.

According to some embodiments, the fan can be an axial fan or a centrifugal fan.

According to some embodiments, the evaporator can be a finned evaporator.

According to some embodiments, the air distribution duct may have a pressure space that is adjacent to the fan and a distribution section that is adjacent to the cold storage area. The first air inlet opening second then feeds cold air from the pressure chamber to the cold storage area and the second air inlet opening or preferably a plurality of second air inlet openings then feeds cold air from the distribution section to the cold storage area.

The arrangement of the three storage areas with different target temperatures in connection with the air flow according to the invention has the advantage that, on the one hand, three storage areas with different target temperatures can be supplied simultaneously with one evaporator, although the temperature control for the entire storage compartment is only controlled via the temperature in the cold storage area . It has the further advantage that the evaporator, in particular the finned evaporator, is defrosted by circulating air from the storage room without the evaporator having an electric defrost heater. It has the further advantage that during defrosting of the evaporator by air circulation, the three storage areas with different target temperatures are sufficiently supplied with cold air.

character list

• 1 eine vereinfachte, schematische Schnittansicht eines Kältegeräts gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 2 eine Draufsicht auf eine Außenfläche einer Isolierplatte eines Kältegeräts gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung; und
• 3 ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

The invention is explained below with reference to the figures of the drawings. From the figures show:

• 1 a simplified, schematic sectional view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 2 a plan view of an outer surface of an insulating plate of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the invention; and
• 3 a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the invention.

In the figures, the same reference symbols designate identical or functionally identical components, unless otherwise stated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

1 shows an example and in a schematic way a refrigerator 100, for example in the form of a refrigerator. In general, the refrigeration device 100 can be a household refrigeration device. As in 1 shown schematically, the refrigeration device 100 has a storage compartment 1 , an air distribution channel 2 , and a refrigerant circuit 130 with an evaporator assembly 30 .

The storage compartment 1 is provided for accommodating refrigerated goods, such as food, beverages, medicines or the like. For example, the storage compartment 1 can be formed by an interior space bounded by an essentially rectangular storage compartment container 101 . In general, the storage compartment 1 is delimited with respect to a vertical direction V by a base 10 and a top wall 11 arranged at a distance from the base 10 . The storage compartment 1 is delimited by a rear wall 12 with respect to a depth direction T running transversely to the vertical direction V. The rear wall 12 can extend in particular between the floor 10 and the top wall 11, as is shown in 1 is shown schematically. With respect to a transverse direction C extending transversely to the depth direction T and to the vertical direction V, the storage compartment 1 can also be delimited by side walls 13 extending between the top wall 11 and the bottom 10 . As in 1 As further shown, the storage compartment 1 may be accessible on a side opposite the rear wall 12 through an access opening 1A. For example, the access opening 1A may be defined by the side walls 12, the floor 10 and the top wall 11. The access opening 1A thus preferably extends uninterruptedly between the floor 10 and the top wall 11. The access opening 1A can also be covered by a door 8.

As in 1 is shown schematically, a first intermediate floor 16A arranged at a distance from the floor 10 with respect to the vertical direction V is provided in the storage compartment 1 . The first intermediate floor 16A can extend in particular from the rear wall 12 in the depth direction T into the storage compartment 1 . A warm storage area 15 extends between the floor 10 and the first intermediate floor 16A, or the warm storage area 15 is delimited in relation to the vertical direction by the floor 10 and a first intermediate floor 16A. As in 1 shown schematically, a warm storage drawer 6 that can be pulled out in the depth direction T can be arranged in the warm storage area 15 .

As in 1 is also shown, a second intermediate floor 16B arranged at a distance from the first intermediate floor 16A in relation to the vertical direction V is provided in the storage compartment 1 . The second intermediate floor 16B can extend in particular from the rear wall 12 in the depth direction T into the storage compartment 1 . A cold storage area 16, which is provided for cooling to a temperature which is at least 1.5 Kelvin below the average temperature in the storage compartment, extends between the first and the second intermediate floor 16A, 16B. Thus, the first and the second intermediate floor 16A, 16B limit the Cold storage area 16 with respect to the vertical direction V. As in 1 shown schematically, a cold storage drawer 7 that can be pulled out in the depth direction T can be arranged in the cold storage area 16 .

A cold storage area 17 extends in the storage compartment 1 from the second intermediate floor 16B in the vertical direction V. In particular, the cold storage area 17 can be delimited with respect to the vertical direction V by the second intermediate floor 16B and the top wall 11 . As in 1 is also shown schematically, it can be provided that several shelves 19 are provided in the cold storage area 17, which are arranged spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction V. As in 1 shown by way of example, the shelves 19 can extend in the depth direction T from the rear wall 12 into the storage compartment 1 .

Since the access opening 1A, as explained above, is preferably formed continuously between the floor 10 and the top wall 11, the hot storage area 15, the cold storage area 16 and the cold storage area 17 are each accessible through the access opening 1A, e.g. for putting in or removing chilled goods.

As in 1 is also shown schematically, the rear wall 12 has a first air inlet opening 18A, which is arranged with respect to the vertical direction V between the first and the second intermediate floor 16A, 16B. Furthermore, the rear wall 12 can have a multiplicity of second air inlet openings 18B, which are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction V and, with respect to the vertical direction V, are arranged between the second intermediate floor 16B and the top wall 11 . For example, it can be provided that at least one second air inlet opening 18B is arranged between each two adjacent shelves 19, as is shown in 1 is shown schematically. In principle, it is also conceivable that only a second supply air opening 18B is provided in the rear wall 12 , which is arranged between the second intermediate floor 16B and the top wall 11 in relation to the vertical direction V. Furthermore, as in 1 shown schematically, an exhaust air opening 18C is formed in the rear wall 12, which is arranged with respect to the vertical direction V between the floor 10 and the first intermediate floor 16A.

As in 1 shown schematically, the first and second air intake openings 18A, 18B and the exhaust air opening 18C each extend between an inner surface 12a of the rear wall 12, which is oriented towards the storage compartment 1, and an outer surface 12b of the rear wall 12, which is opposite to the inner surface 12a the first air inlet opening 18A establishes a fluidically conductive connection between the cold storage area 16 and an outside or rear side defined by the outer surface 12b of the rear wall 12 . In the same way, the second air inlet openings 18B form a fluidically conductive connection between the cold storage area 17 and the rear side, and the exhaust air opening 18C forms a fluidically conductive connection between the warm storage area 15 and the rear side.

The air distribution channel 2 extends on the back or on the outer surface 12b of the rear wall 12. As in FIG 1 is shown schematically, the air distribution duct 2 runs along the vertical direction V. In general, the air distribution duct 2 is formed by a cavity on the back of the rear wall 12, which has an extension in the vertical direction 2. As in 1 shown schematically, the air distribution duct 2 can extend with respect to the vertical direction V from a lower end, which is located between the first air inlet opening 18A and the exhaust air opening 18C, to a last second air inlet opening 18B with respect to the vertical direction V. As in 1 shown schematically and purely by way of example, the air distribution channel 2 can be delimited or defined in the area of the cold storage area 16 , for example by the rear wall 12 and the evaporator assembly 3 . As in 1 shown, the first air supply opening 18A extends between the air distribution duct 2 and the cold storage area 16. In the area of the cold storage area 17, the air distribution duct 2 can be installed, for example, through the rear wall 12 and an outer cover 5 or, as in FIG 1 shown by way of example, be defined by an optional insulating part or plate 4 and the outer cover 5. In general, the air distribution channel 2 is connected to the second air intake openings 18B.

The insulating plate 4 is formed from a thermally insulating material and is arranged on the outer surface 12b of the rear wall 12, in particular between the outer surface 12b of the rear wall 12 and an inner surface 5a of the outer cover 5. In 2 a top view of an outer surface 4b of the insulating plate 4 facing the inner surface 5a of the outer cover 5 is shown schematically and purely by way of example. As in 2 shown, at least one groove 41 can be formed on the outer surface 4b of the insulating plate 4 . The groove 41 runs at least in regions along the vertical direction V, as shown in 1 is recognizable. For example, a first groove 41A running in the vertical direction V can be provided. Optionally, one or more second grooves 41B can branch off from the first groove 41A, which can run, in particular, in the transverse direction C, as is shown in FIG 2 is shown schematically. As in the 1 and 2 is also shown, in each groove 41A, 41B, a through hole 43 may be formed, which Insulating plate 4 penetrates completely. For example, a through hole 43 can be formed for every second intake air opening 18B. As in 1 shown schematically, each through hole 43 can be arranged in alignment with a respective second air inlet opening 18B. Thus, the duct 2 can be defined by the groove 41 and the inner surface 5a of the outer cover 5, and the groove 41 is connected through a through hole 43 to a second air inlet opening 18B.

The evaporator assembly 3 has an evaporator 30 , a fan 33 , a suction port 31 , a pressure port 32 and an optional insulating part 35 . As in 1 shown schematically, the evaporator 30 is part of a refrigerant circuit 130 which, in addition to the evaporator 30, has a compressor 131, a throttle (not shown) and a condenser 132. The compressor 131 serves to circulate refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 130 , an inlet of the compressor 131 being connected to the evaporator 30 and an outlet of the compressor 131 being connected to the condenser 132 . The throttle is arranged between the condenser 132 and the evaporator 30 . In the evaporator 30, the refrigerant is evaporated while absorbing heat. The compressor 131 sucks the gaseous refrigerant from the evaporator 30 and conveys the compressed refrigerant into the condenser 132, where it condenses, giving off heat to the environment. The pressure of the refrigerant is reduced again at the throttle.

As in 1 shown schematically, the evaporator assembly 3 is arranged on the outer surface 12b of the rear wall 12, in particular in the area of the bottom 10. As in FIG 1 shown, the optional insulating part 35 can be arranged in particular between the rear wall 12 and the evaporator 30 . It is optionally provided that the evaporator 30 is arranged in the area of the warm storage area 15 and the insulating part 35 is located at least in the area of the warm storage area 15 between the evaporator 30 and the rear wall 12 .

The suction connection 31 of the evaporator assembly 3 is located in an area facing the base 10 and can be formed, for example, by a recess in the insulating part 35 extending in the depth direction T, as is shown in FIG 1 is shown schematically. As in 1 shown, the suction port 31 can be positioned in alignment with the exhaust air opening 18C of the rear wall 12, for example. Generally, suction port 31 of evaporator assembly 3 is connected to exhaust port 18C. The pressure connection 32 can be arranged at a distance from the suction connection 31 in relation to the vertical direction V and can be positioned in particular in an end region of the evaporator assembly 3 facing the top wall 11 . For example, the pressure connection 32 can be designed as a recess in the insulating part 35 that extends in the depth direction T and opens into the air distribution duct 2, as shown in FIG 1 shown schematically. In general, the pressure connection 32 is fluidically connected to the air distribution channel 2 .

The evaporator 30 can generally be arranged in an evaporator chamber, which is connected to the storage compartment 1 , in particular to the warm storage area 15 , through the suction connection 31 , and to the air distribution duct 2 through the pressure connection 32 . The evaporator chamber can be delimited, for example, by the insulating part 35 and the outer cover 5, as in FIG 1 shown schematically. Alternatively, it would also be conceivable for the evaporator chamber to be completely surrounded by an insulating part 35 .

The fan 33 is arranged between the evaporator 30 and the pressure port 32, for example in the pressure port 32, as in FIG 1 shown schematically and purely as an example. In particular, the blower 33 is arranged and configured to draw in air from the storage compartment 1 through the suction port 31 so that it is conducted via the evaporator 30 and to eject it through the pressure port 32 into the air distribution channel 2 .

At the in 1 The refrigeration device 100 shown is thus sucked out of the storage compartment 1 by means of the blower 33 through the exhaust air opening 18C warm air in the warm storage area 15 . In 1 this is shown symbolically by the arrows P1 shown in dash-dotted lines. The warm air is passed over the evaporator 30 where heat is extracted from it. The air cooled by the evaporator 30 is conveyed by the blower 33 through the pressure connection 32 into the air distribution duct 2 and expelled from there through the first air inlet opening 18A directly into the cold storage area 16 and through the at least one second air inlet opening 18B into the cold storage area 17, such as this in 1 is represented symbolically by the dashed arrows P2.

As in 1 is shown, the first air inlet opening 18A along a flow path along which the air flows in the air distribution channel 2 can have a smaller distance from the pressure connection 32 of the evaporator assembly 3 than the at least one second air inlet opening 18B. For example, the first air inlet opening 18A can be arranged in the area of the pressure connection 32, as shown in FIG 1 shown schematically. The air thus covers a longer distance on its way to the second air inlet opening(s) 18B, which means that the air is already warming up. Thus, achieving a temperature difference between the cold storage area and the cold storage area.

In 3 the sequence of a method M for defrosting the evaporator 30 of a refrigeration device 100 is shown schematically, which in 1 shown refrigeration device 100 can be implemented. In step M1, refrigerant is circulated through the evaporator 30 by the compressor 131 as described above. At the same time, the blower 33 sucks in air from the warm storage area 15 through the suction connection 31, directs the sucked-in air via the evaporator 30 and expels the air through the pressure connection 32 into the air distribution duct 2, in order to convey it through the air inlet openings 18A, 18B into the cold storage area 16 and to promote the cold storage area 17 as described above. Since the evaporator 30 itself is very cold, moisture contained in the air can condense and freeze on the surface of the evaporator 30 . Such a layer of ice reduces the heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air, which is why it is advantageous to defrost the layer of ice at regular intervals.

In step M2, the circulation of the refrigerant through the evaporator 30 is interrupted, e.g. by switching off the compressor 131.

In step M3, the operation of the fan 33 is maintained even after the refrigerant circulation is stopped. Thus, air which has heated up in the storage compartment 1 continues to be sucked in through the suction connection 31 . This air, which is warm compared to the surface of the evaporator 30 , gives off heat to the evaporator 30 . Since the refrigerant circulation is stopped, the evaporator 30 is heated by the air, which is enough to defrost the ice layer. In particular, in this way it is advantageously possible to dispense with switching on an additional heater.

Although the present invention has been explained above by way of example using exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto but can be modified in many different ways. In particular, combinations of the above exemplary embodiments are also conceivable.

reference list

1

storage compartment

1A

access opening

2

air distribution duct

3

evaporator assembly

4

insulation panel

4b

outer surface of the insulation board

5

outer cover

5a

inner surface of the outer cover

6

warm storage drawer

7

cold storage drawer

8th

door

10

floor

11

ceiling wall

12

back panel

12a

inner surface of the back wall

12b

outer surface of the back wall

13

sidewalls

15

warm storage area

16

cold storage area

16A

first mezzanine

16B

second intermediate floor

17

cold storage area

18A

first intake air opening

18B

second air intake

18C

exhaust vent

19

shelves

30

Evaporator

31

suction port

32

pressure connection

33

fan

35

insulating part

41

groove

41A

first groove

41B

second groove

43

through hole

100

refrigeration device

101

container

130

Refrigerant circulation

131

compressor

132

condenser

C

transverse direction

M

procedure

M1-M3

process steps

P1

Arrow

p2

Arrow

T

depth direction

V

vertical direction

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents cited by the applicant was 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.

Patent Literature Cited

• JP2002318055A [0004]

Claims (14)

Refrigeration appliance (100), in particular domestic refrigeration appliance, comprising: a storage compartment (1) which, in relation to a vertical direction (V), is provided by a floor (10) and a top wall (11) arranged at a distance from the floor (10) and in relation to a The depth direction (T) is delimited by a rear wall (12) extending between the base (10) and the top wall (11); an air distribution duct (2) extending on an outer surface (12b) of the rear wall (12) along the vertical direction (V); and an evaporator assembly (3) arranged on the outer surface (12b) with an evaporator (30), a suction port (31) connected to the storage compartment (1), a pressure port (32) connected to the air distribution duct (2). and a blower (33) which is designed to draw in air from the storage compartment (1) through the suction connection (31) and via the evaporator (30) and to eject it through the pressure connection (32) into the air distribution channel (2); characterized in that the storage compartment (1) has a warm storage area (15) which extends in relation to the vertical direction (V) between the floor (10) and a first intermediate floor (16A) extending in the depth direction (T), a cold storage area (16) extending between the first intermediate floor (16A) and a second intermediate floor (16B) extending in the depth direction (T) with respect to the vertical direction (V), and having a cold storage area (17) extending from the second intermediate floor (16B) extending in the vertical direction (V); the suction port (31) of the evaporator assembly (3) is connected to an exhaust port (18C) formed between the floor (10) and the first intermediate floor (16A) in the rear wall (12); and the air distribution duct (2) is connected to a first air inlet opening (18A) which is formed between the first intermediate floor (16A) and the second intermediate floor (16B) in the rear wall (12), and at least one second air inlet opening (18B) which is formed between the second intermediate floor (16B) and the top wall (11) in the rear wall (12). Refrigeration device (100) after claim 1 , characterized in that in the rear wall (12) between the second intermediate floor (16B) and the top wall (11) are formed a plurality of second air inlet openings (18B) spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction (V) and connected to the air distribution duct (2). are. Refrigeration device (100) after claim 2 , characterized in that in the cold storage area (17) a large number of shelves (19) are arranged spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction (V), with at least one second air inlet opening (18B) being arranged between each two adjacent shelves (19). Refrigeration appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air distribution channel (2) defines a flow path, the first air inlet opening (18A) along the flow path having a smaller distance from the pressure connection (32) of the evaporator assembly (3) than the at least one second air inlet opening (18B). Refrigeration appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air distribution channel (2) is formed at least partially by an insulating plate (4) arranged on the outer surface (12b) of the rear wall (12). Refrigeration device (100) after claim 5 , characterized in that the insulating plate (4) is arranged between the outer surface (12b) of the rear wall (12) and an inner surface (5a) of an outer cover (5), the insulating plate (4) being on one of the inner surface (5a) of the outer cover (5) facing outer surface (4b) has at least one groove (41), so that the air distribution channel (2) is defined by the groove (41) and the inner surface (5a) of the outer cover (5), and the groove (41) through one through hole (43) each is connected to a second air inlet opening (18B). Refrigerating appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a warm storage drawer (6) which can be pulled out in the depth direction (T) is arranged in the warm storage area (15). Refrigerating appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cold storage drawer (7) which can be pulled out in the depth direction (T) is arranged in the cold storage area (16). Refrigerating appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage compartment (1) has an access opening (1A) which is arranged opposite the rear wall (12) and which extends between the floor (10) and the top wall (11) and through which the warm storage area (15), the cold storage area (16) and the cold storage area (17) are accessible. Refrigerating appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the evaporator assembly (3) is arranged in the area of the base (10) on the outer surface (12b) of the rear wall (12), the evaporator assembly (3) having an insulating part (35) which is at least in the area of the warm storage area (15) in Is arranged with respect to the depth direction (T) between the evaporator (20) and the rear wall (12). Refrigeration appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaporator (30) forms part of a refrigerant circuit (130) which is set up to circulate a refrigerant in order to evaporate it on the evaporator (30) with heat absorption and to to condense in a condenser (132) while releasing heat to the environment, the circulation of the refrigerant being able to be interrupted to defrost ice on the evaporator (30) and the blower (33) being able to continue to be operated to maintain air circulation. Method (M) for defrosting an evaporator (30) in a refrigeration device (100) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: Circulating (M1) refrigerant through the evaporator (30), with the fan (33) sucking air from the warm storage area (15) through the suction port (31), passing it over the evaporator (30) and through the pressure port (32) into the ejects air distribution duct (2) to convey it through the supply air openings (18A, 18B) into the cold storage area (16) and the cold storage area (17); stopping (M2) the circulation of refrigerant through the evaporator (30); and maintaining (M3) operation of the fan (33). Procedure (M) according to claim 12 , wherein the operation of the fan (33) is maintained after the interruption (M2) without switching on an additional heater. Procedure (M) according to claim 12 or 13 , wherein the interruption (M2) of the circulation of the refrigerant comprises switching off a compressor (131) coupled to the evaporator (30).

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