EP1519129A1 - Réfrigérateur avec un bloc-batterie auxiliaire - Google Patents

Réfrigérateur avec un bloc-batterie auxiliaire Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1519129A1
EP1519129A1 EP04022660A EP04022660A EP1519129A1 EP 1519129 A1 EP1519129 A1 EP 1519129A1 EP 04022660 A EP04022660 A EP 04022660A EP 04022660 A EP04022660 A EP 04022660A EP 1519129 A1 EP1519129 A1 EP 1519129A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
refrigerator
flame
battery
fuel
coolant
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04022660A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Louis Van Eil
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Norcold Inc
Original Assignee
Norcold Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Norcold Inc filed Critical Norcold Inc
Publication of EP1519129A1 publication Critical patent/EP1519129A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B49/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F25B49/04—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for sorption type machines, plants or systems
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
    • F25B2700/01—Sensors determining characteristics of the burner for a generator
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
    • F25D11/02—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures
    • F25D11/027—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures of the sorption cycle type
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
    • F25D2400/36—Visual displays

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a flame monitor for an absorption refrigerator, and more particularly to a battery powered flame monitor.
  • Vehicles including but not limited to recreational vehicles (“RVs", in the United States and “Caravans” in Europe), tractor trailers, airplanes, boats, trains and the like, often incorporate refrigerators for the comfort and convenience of the occupants.
  • RVs recreational vehicles
  • cargo trucks, trailers, airplanes, boats, trains and the like
  • refrigerators for the comfort and convenience of the occupants.
  • recreational vehicle campers often find it convenient, or even necessary, to refrigerate food, drinks, and medicine during their journal and while at their campsites. While many prepared camp sites in parks and commercial campgrounds provide for electrical outlets, many do not. Moreover, many highly desirable camping locations exist outside of these prepared sites. Thus a popular solution has been to equip the recreational vehicle with an absorption refrigerator.
  • Absorption refrigerators employ heat to vaporize the coolant - water mixture (typically ammonia - water) thereby driving the refrigeration loop in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.
  • Popular heat sources include electrical heaters and fuel burners. Further, the fuel burners typically employ propane which is readily available at camping supply stores, barbeque supply stores, and numerous gas stations. Though, any liquid or gaseous fuel would work well and be controllable through simple, automated control systems.
  • Those refrigerators employing a fuel burner typically include an electronic flame monitor or fire eye which may control an automatic shut off valve.
  • the required electronics depend on a source of electrical power external to the refrigerator.
  • the recreational vehicle must supply power or a battery must be included in the refrigerator. If the recreational vehicle supplies the power and the battery significantly discharges, then the engine of the vehicle must be run for a period sufficient to recharge the recreational vehicle battery. In the worst case situation, (e.g. where the power supply external to the refrigerator the battery may be completely discharged as a result.
  • the refrigerator design must maintain acceptable refrigerator dimensions (e.g. the envelope in which the refrigerator must fit). Since adding a battery large enough to power the entire set of refrigerator electronics would either cause an envelope violation or reduce the usable (cold) volume of the refrigerator, adding such a battery to the refrigerator is not acceptable.
  • the present invention is directed to an absorption refrigerator suitable for use by campers. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an economical, reliable, and low power flame monitor. In one particular application, the flame monitor of the present invention consumes less than milli-watts thereby enabling operation from an auxiliary battery pack.
  • the present invention provides an improved absorption refrigerator which includes a coolant loop, a fuel supply, and a light emitting diode (LED) flame monitor.
  • the coolant loop provides the refrigeration function.
  • the fuel supply supplies a fuel such as propane to warm the coolant as the coolant passes through the evaporator of the coolant loop.
  • a flame detector detects the presence or absence of the flame.
  • the flame detector may instead be placed in the flame.
  • the flame detector causes the monitor to indicate whether the flame is present.
  • the flame monitor may be powered by an auxiliary battery pack rather than requiring external power.
  • the preferred embodiment of the present invention provides economical, reliable, and low power indication of the presence (or absence) of a flame in an absorption refrigerator installed in a vehicle.
  • the absorption refrigerator is intended for use in a recreational vehicle.
  • the teachings of the present invention have broader application to other vehicles and refrigerator uses. Additionally, the preferred embodiment limits the power consumed by the flame monitor circuit so that continuous external power is not required to provide the flame indication.
  • an absorption refrigerator 10 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention may be seen.
  • the refrigerator 10 conventionally includes an interior volume 12 in which the user desires to store perishables and other items needing cooling.
  • An outer shell 16 provides protection for the various components of the refrigerator 10. The shell 16 also prevents warm air intrusion into the interior 12 and prevents cold air seepage from the interior 12.
  • An insulating layer 18 (typically fiberglass) limits heat conduction into the interior 12 from the exterior 14.
  • An inner shell 17 provides similar functions as that of the outer shell 16.
  • a door 20 allows the user access to the interior 12.
  • the door 20 also includes a portion of the insulation 18.
  • a control panel 22 is provided so that the user can turn the refrigerator on and off, adjust the temperature of one or more interior sections, and monitor the performance of the refrigerator 10. Controls for these functions are provided such as the on/off switch 23, a temperature indicator 25, and a temperature set point selector 27 as shown in Figure 3. More particularly, the control panel 22 includes a flame monitor 29 to allow the user to determine whether the flame driving the refrigeration system is present or absent, as will be discussed more below.
  • the refrigerator 10 also includes an absorption refrigeration system 24.
  • the absorption refrigeration system 24 is conventional in construction and operation.
  • the absorption system 24 includes a generator 26, a condenser 28, a receiver 30, and an evaporator 32 arranged in a loop.
  • the coolant mixture typically ammonia and water - anhydrous ammonia
  • the ammonia vapor flows to the condenser 28.
  • the ammonia vapor cools and condenses. Outside air driven by a fan may be employed to provide the heat transfer necessary to condense the vapor in the condenser 28. By gravity, the cool liquid ammonia flows from the condenser 28 and into the receiver 30.
  • the liquid ammonia bleeds through an orifice (not shown) into the evaporator 32.
  • the liquid ammonia absorbs heat from the interior 12 thereby cooling the interior 12.
  • the flow of ammonia to the evaporator 32 may be controlled by a control valve rather than the orifice described above, thus providing closed loop control of the temperature in the interior 12 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
  • the vaporized ammonia then flows from the evaporator 32 to the generator 26 wherein the partially depleted water - ammonia mixture absorbs the ammonia vapor to complete the refrigeration cycle.
  • evaporator 32 is not shown, for clarity, is the insulation around evaporator 32 required to maximize the efficiency of the evaporator 32.
  • air registers and duct work to route air from the interior 12, through the evaporator 32, and back to the interior 12 shown in the figures.
  • a fan is shown schematically as part of evaporator 32.
  • evaporator 32 is shown protruding into the interior 12 to signify that the air in the interior 12 and the cooling surfaces of evaporator 32 are in thermal communication.
  • Other arrangements of the evaporator 32 may be provided without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
  • the heat source may be an electrical heater or a fire. In the alternative, both an electrical heater and a fire may be provided with controls to allow the user to switch between sources of heat.
  • the refrigerator may automatically choose the best available energy source upon which to operate. For instance, the Thetford Corp. of Ann Arbor, Michigan offers the Smart Energy Selection (SES) system in its superior line of absorption refrigerators.
  • SES Smart Energy Selection
  • the present invention provides a flame monitor which requires a significantly reduced amount of energy, thereby enabling operation powered only by an auxiliary battery pack.
  • a fuel system is included in the refrigerator 10.
  • the fuel system includes a fuel pipe, or source 34, a fuel shutoff valve 38 (shown with control wires), and a connection 37 for an external fuel bottle 36. Since propane is a commonly available fuel, propane is frequently used for the fuel. Though other fuels, solid, liquid, or gaseous, could be employed without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.
  • An igniter 40 is also provided to ignite the fuel from a burner 39 and create the flame 42 as required. See Figure 2. Here the igniter 40 is shown as a spark igniter with electrical wires.
  • the generator 26 may incorporate the burner 34 as an integral component along with a fan and duct work to move fresh air into, and exhaust gases out of, the generator 26.
  • the burner 39 is shown external to the generator 26 and the duct work and fans are omitted from the figures. Even where the burner 39 is not integral with the generator 26 it will typically be at the rear of the refrigerator 10 enclosed within the refrigerator 10. Accordingly, the flame 42 will not be visible to the user.
  • the flame detection circuit 100 includes a flame detector 102, a switch, logic circuit, or relay 104, a battery 106, the flame monitor 108, and provisions 110 for connection to a battery re-charger and D.C. power supply.
  • the refrigerator 10 may include the battery re-charger and even a rectifier to convert external A.C. (preferentially either 230 or 120 volts) power to D.C. power (preferentially 12 volts).
  • the circuit 100 may be located within the control panel 22. In the alternative, the circuit 100 may be located to minimize the length of wiring between the flame detector 102 and the circuit 100 so long as the temperature of the components remains within well known acceptable limits.
  • the flame detector 102 is placed in (or near) the flame so as to detect the presence or absence of the flame.
  • the flame detector 102 may be a thermocouple placed in the flame. When the flame is present the thermocouple 102 produces approximately 30 milli-volts.
  • Other types of known flame detectors may also be employed such as thermistors, temperature switches, resistance thermal detectors (RTDs) and the like.
  • thermocouple 102 when the flame heats the thermocouple 102, a voltage develops across the dissimilar metal junction.
  • a transistor or amplifier 112 may sense the voltage across the thermocouple 102 and drive the relay 104.
  • Adjustment means (not shown) may be provided so that the temperature set point at which the relay 104 changes positions may be adjusted. When the set point is reached, the relay 104 changes position and completes the circuit between the battery 106 and the monitor 108.
  • the battery 106 may be either a non rechargeable battery or, as is preferred, a rechargeable 12 volt battery such as a nickel-cadmium battery.
  • the monitor 108 may be any type of indicator. Generally, a light producing indicator is preferred so that when external electricity is unavailable the monitor 108 (located preferentially on the control panel 22) may be seen in the dark. In particular a light emitting diode is preferred because of the associated low current draw of light emitting diodes. Thus, a light emitting diode monitor 108 enables the battery 108 to power the circuit 100 for long periods of time without re-charging.
  • a pair of diodes 114 may block current flow from the battery 106 to the remainder of the control circuitry of the refrigerator (not shown) and the vehicle and external power systems. Also, because the remainder of the refrigerator control circuitry may include a battery pack, the battery pack 106 may be deemed an auxiliary battery pack 106. Moreover, as described above, the auxiliary battery pack 106 may be limited to powering only the circuit 100. Though, relay 104 may provide a pair of contacts such that the relay 104 may control a fuel supply shut off valve (not shown).
  • the present invention provides a superior flame monitor for an absorption refrigerator.
  • the present invention provides a flame monitor which will continue functioning despite the absence of external power for long periods of time.
  • the present invention provides a flame monitor that the user may see even in the event the power to the vehicle lighting is also absent.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
EP04022660A 2003-09-24 2004-09-23 Réfrigérateur avec un bloc-batterie auxiliaire Withdrawn EP1519129A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US50569603P 2003-09-24 2003-09-24
US505696P 2003-09-24

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1519129A1 true EP1519129A1 (fr) 2005-03-30

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04022660A Withdrawn EP1519129A1 (fr) 2003-09-24 2004-09-23 Réfrigérateur avec un bloc-batterie auxiliaire

Country Status (1)

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EP (1) EP1519129A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109855347A (zh) * 2019-03-20 2019-06-07 五邑大学 车载冰箱

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2317857A1 (de) * 1973-04-10 1974-10-24 Licentia Gmbh Flammenkontrolleinrichtung bei gasbetriebenen absorber-kuehlgeraeten
US4257758A (en) * 1977-09-08 1981-03-24 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Safety arrangement in a gas operated apparatus
US4487030A (en) * 1983-08-08 1984-12-11 The Stolle Corporation Gas/electric operated absorption refrigerator having automatic flame detection and restart capability with visual indication of operating status
US20030070444A1 (en) * 2001-10-15 2003-04-17 Dometic Gmbh Energy administration device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2317857A1 (de) * 1973-04-10 1974-10-24 Licentia Gmbh Flammenkontrolleinrichtung bei gasbetriebenen absorber-kuehlgeraeten
US4257758A (en) * 1977-09-08 1981-03-24 Aktiebolaget Electrolux Safety arrangement in a gas operated apparatus
US4487030A (en) * 1983-08-08 1984-12-11 The Stolle Corporation Gas/electric operated absorption refrigerator having automatic flame detection and restart capability with visual indication of operating status
US20030070444A1 (en) * 2001-10-15 2003-04-17 Dometic Gmbh Energy administration device

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN109855347A (zh) * 2019-03-20 2019-06-07 五邑大学 车载冰箱

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