EP2538156A2 - Réfrigérateur à évaporateurs multiples - Google Patents

Réfrigérateur à évaporateurs multiples Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2538156A2
EP2538156A2 EP12171812A EP12171812A EP2538156A2 EP 2538156 A2 EP2538156 A2 EP 2538156A2 EP 12171812 A EP12171812 A EP 12171812A EP 12171812 A EP12171812 A EP 12171812A EP 2538156 A2 EP2538156 A2 EP 2538156A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
evaporator
fresh food
freezer
condenser
icemaker
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Withdrawn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
EP12171812A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Anderson Bortoletto
Nihat Cur
Tony L. Koenigsknecht
Ronald L Voglewede
Matthew E. Young
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.)
Whirlpool Corp
Original Assignee
Whirlpool Corp
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 Whirlpool Corp filed Critical Whirlpool Corp
Publication of EP2538156A2 publication Critical patent/EP2538156A2/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Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • 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
    • F25D11/022—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures with two or more evaporators
    • 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
    • F25B5/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity
    • 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
    • F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
    • F25B2400/04—Refrigeration circuit bypassing means
    • F25B2400/0409—Refrigeration circuit bypassing means for the evaporator
    • 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
    • F25B47/00—Arrangements for preventing or removing deposits or corrosion, not provided for in another subclass
    • F25B47/02—Defrosting cycles
    • F25B47/022—Defrosting cycles hot gas defrosting
    • 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
    • F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
    • F25C2400/00—Auxiliary features or devices for producing, working or handling ice
    • F25C2400/10—Refrigerator units

Definitions

  • the present invention pertains to the art of refrigerators and, more particularly, to the operational control of a refrigerator employing multiple evaporators.
  • a refrigerator in general, includes a freezer compartment for maintaining foods at or below freezing temperatures, and a fresh food compartment for maintaining foods in a temperature zone between ambient and freezing temperatures.
  • a typical refrigerator includes a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, an evaporator and an evaporator fan.
  • temperature sensors are used to measure temperatures within the fresh food and freezer compartments.
  • the refrigeration system is activated to return the temperature to at or below the predetermined temperature.
  • a damper is typically provided between the freezer and fresh food compartments, wherein operation of the damper controls the flow of cooling air from the freezer compartment to the fresh food compartment. Therefore, a common refrigeration system with a single evaporator is typically employed, along with various air flow fans, to create a flow of cold air used to cool each of the fresh food and freezer compartments, and even possibly onto an icemaker provided in the refrigerator.
  • the present invention is directed to a refrigerator incorporating a freezer compartment, a fresh food compartment, an icemaker and a refrigeration system including multiple evaporators and associated valving which operate in conjunction with a common compressor and condenser in order to effectively regulate temperatures in specified zones of the refrigerator throughout various operational modes.
  • the refrigerator can be operated in at least a freezer cooling mode, a fresh food cooling mode and an ice harvesting mode.
  • the icemaker is located in the fresh food compartment and can be selectively linked to the cooling of the fresh food compartment, while being also being selectively isolated for at least the ice harvesting mode.
  • each of the freezer, fresh food and icemaker is provided with a dedicated evaporator such that, during the freezer cooling mode, refrigerant flows from the compressor, to the condenser, through the freezer evaporator and back to the compressor.
  • the refrigerant bypasses the freezer evaporator and instead flows from the condenser to the fresh food evaporator, preferably through the icemaker evaporator, prior to being directed back to the compressor.
  • a gaseous flow from the compressor is routed directly to the evaporator of the icemaker to melt ice at an ice/icemaker evaporator interface in aiding in the release of the ice from an ice mold.
  • the arrangement of the components and the strategic locating of the valving establishes the distinct, isolated flow patterns for the various modes of operation.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to the present invention.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of a refrigeration system for the refrigerator of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of the refrigeration system of Figure 2 in a freezer cooling mode
  • Figure 4 is schematic illustration of the refrigeration system of Figure 2 in a fresh food cooling mode
  • Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of the refrigeration system of Figure 2 in an ice harvesting mode.
  • a refrigerator 2 includes an outer shell or cabinet 4 within which is positioned a liner 6 that defines a fresh food compartment 8.
  • fresh food compartment 8 can be accessed by the selective opening of a fresh food door 10.
  • a freezer door 12 can be opened to access a freezer compartment 13.
  • freezer door 12 includes a dispenser 14 that enables a consumer to retrieve ice and/or fresh water without accessing fresh food or freezer compartments 8 and 13.
  • door 10 of refrigerator 2 is shown to include a dairy compartment 15 and various vertically adjustable shelving units, one of which is indicated at 16.
  • fresh food compartment 8 is provided with a plurality of vertically, height adjustable shelves 20-22 supported by a pair of shelf support rails, one of which is indicated at 25. At a lowermost portion of fresh food compartment 8 is illustrated various vertically spaced bins 28-30.
  • refrigerator 2 also includes an icemaker, generally indicated at 50. In the preferred embodiment shown, icemaker 50 is located within fresh food compartment 8.
  • the invention is particularly directed to the refrigeration system employed in connection with fresh food compartment 8, freezer compartment 13 and icemaker 50, and particularly the manner in which the refrigeration system is structured and controlled through a controller 55 to operate in various distinct modes as will be detailed fully below.
  • refrigeration system 60 includes a compressor 65 having an associated mount 67. Although not represented in this figure, compressor 65 is preferably mounted in a lower machine compartment of cabinet 4, such as below freezer compartment 13. Compressor 65 is connected at an inlet (not labeled) to an intake or suction line 70 and has a main outlet line 72. Interposed within main outlet line 72 is a first, three-way switching valve 74. Downstream of three-way switching valve 74, main outlet line 72 leads to a condenser 75 having an associated fan 77. Leading from condenser 75 is a liquid refrigerant line 85 which represents an input into a three-way switching valve 90.
  • first supply line 93 that leads, through a capillary tube or other expansion device (not labeled), to a freezer evaporator 96 having an associated fan 100.
  • first return line 103 which is connected to suction line 70.
  • first return line 103 Prior to reaching suction line 70, first return line 103 is provided with a one-way check valve 105.
  • one-way check valve 105 only allows fluid to flow in one direction within first return line 103 from freezer evaporator 96 to suction line 70 and back to compressor 65.
  • a second supply line 110 which leads, through another expansion device (not labeled), to an icemaker evaporator 115.
  • a second two-way switching valve 118 is also connected to a bypass line 150 which merges with second supply line 110 so as to be in fluid communication with icemaker evaporator 115.
  • Figure 3 illustrates the flow path of refrigerant when refrigeration system 60 is in a freezer cooling mode.
  • compressor 65 feeds refrigerant flow through three-way switching valve 74, condenser 75 and three-way switching valve 90 to freezer evaporator 96.
  • freezer compartment 13 is effectively cooled, with the refrigerant exiting freezer evaporator 96 being directed back to suction line 70 and compressor 65 through first return line 103 and check valve 105.
  • refrigeration system 60 When cooling of fresh food compartment 8 is indicated, based on the signal from at least one temperature sensor (not shown) and a user-selected cooling level for fresh food compartment 8, refrigeration system 60 is operated in a fresh food cooling mode as represented in Figure 4 .
  • compressor 65 feeds refrigerant flow through main outlet line 72, three-way switching valve 74 and condenser 75 to three-way switching valve 90 in a manner directly corresponding to freezer cooling mode discussed above.
  • the refrigerant is redirected into second supply line 110 so as to flow into icemaker evaporator 115 prior to reaching three-way switching valve 118.
  • the fresh food cooling mode of this preferred embodiment could actually be referred to as a fresh food cooling/icemaking mode.
  • a fresh food cooling mode for the sake of simplicity and to disclose the invention in a more generic fashion, continued reference to a fresh food cooling mode will be made.
  • three-way switching valve 118 is positioned such that the refrigerant flows from icemaker evaporator 118 into third supply line 124 and fresh food evaporator 130.
  • fan 134 is operated in order to direct a flow of air across fresh food evaporator 130 and into fresh food compartment 8.
  • icemaker 50 in fresh food compartment 8 and, correspondingly, icemaker evaporator 115 within fresh food compartment 8.
  • This arrangement represents a preferred embodiment which produces clear ice in refrigerator 2 such that it is desired to maintain a supply of water in icemaker 50 except at an ice making mold or member(s) (not shown). Since the particular manner in which the ice is formed does not form part of the present invention, it will not be discussed in detail here. Instead, any ice making arrangement known in the art can be utilized in accordance with the overall invention, although clear ice making is preferred. However, it is an aspect of the present invention to establish an ice harvesting mode for icemaker 50.
  • Figure 5 illustrates an arrangement wherein refrigeration system 60 is operated such that refrigerant leading from compressor 65 does not reach condenser 75 but instead hot gases are diverted at two-way switching valve 74 into a bypass line 150, which leads directly into icemaker evaporator 115.
  • three-way switching valve 90 is closed and three-way switching valve 118 is positioned by controller 55 to redirect the flow from icemaker evaporator 115 into third return line 145.
  • third return line 145 is in direct communication with suction line 70 so as to return refrigerant to compressor 65.
  • check valve 105 also operates in the ice harvesting mode to prevent back-flow into first return line 103 and freezer evaporator 96.
  • three-way switching valve 118 also blocks flow to fresh food evaporator 130.
  • refrigerator system 60 includes a common compressor 65 and common condenser 75 and, through the use of strategically placed valving, can selectively regulate flow to one or more of freezer evaporator 96, icemaker evaporator 115 and fresh food evaporator 130 in order to selectively establish at least freezer cooling, fresh food cooling and ice harvesting modes of operation.
  • the refrigeration system 60 effectively handles any surplus of cooling capacity and at least compressor 65 can be operated with a lower temperature differential, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of refrigerator 2, while rapidly making ample amounts of ice in an energy efficient manner.
  • the multi-evaporator arrangement establishes more effective temperature control for fresh food and freezer compartments 8 and 13 through the use of separated air zones, while also enhancing odor and humidity control, minimizing temperature swings and reducing defrosting based on a lower humidity load in freezer compartment 13.
  • the fresh food cooling mode has refrigerant flowing serially through the icemaker evaporator and then the fresh food evaporator
  • additional valving could be employed to selectively direct refrigerant from the three-way switching valve into the fresh food evaporator for fresh food cooling, while also enabling a flow to the icemaker evaporator when the icemaker further demands cooling to produce ice.
  • the icemaker evaporator could follow the fresh food evaporator, instead of vise-versa.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
EP12171812A 2011-06-22 2012-06-13 Réfrigérateur à évaporateurs multiples Withdrawn EP2538156A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/165,995 US20120324918A1 (en) 2011-06-22 2011-06-22 Multi-evaporator refrigerator

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2538156A2 true EP2538156A2 (fr) 2012-12-26

Family

ID=46261972

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP12171812A Withdrawn EP2538156A2 (fr) 2011-06-22 2012-06-13 Réfrigérateur à évaporateurs multiples

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US20120324918A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2538156A2 (fr)
BR (1) BR102012017783A2 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107702405A (zh) * 2017-10-10 2018-02-16 无锡市南长实验中学 一种可自动调温除味式冰箱

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9879895B2 (en) * 2013-10-09 2018-01-30 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Ice maker assembly for a refrigerator appliance and a method for operating the same
KR102480701B1 (ko) * 2015-07-28 2022-12-23 엘지전자 주식회사 냉장고
EP3287722B1 (fr) 2016-08-23 2020-07-15 Dometic Sweden AB Armoire pour véhicule de loisirs
DE102016216126A1 (de) 2016-08-26 2018-03-01 Dometic Sweden Ab Kühleinrichtung für ein Freizeitfahrzeug
US10203144B2 (en) * 2016-11-29 2019-02-12 Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh Refrigeration device comprising a refrigerant circuit with a multi suction line
US10948226B2 (en) * 2017-07-07 2021-03-16 Bsh Home Appliances Corporation Compact ice making system for slimline ice compartment
KR20190106944A (ko) * 2019-08-30 2019-09-18 엘지전자 주식회사 지능형 냉장고 및 그 제어 방법

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6672089B2 (en) * 2000-10-12 2004-01-06 Lg Electronics Inc. Apparatus and method for controlling refrigerating cycle of refrigerator
US7062936B2 (en) * 2003-11-21 2006-06-20 U-Line Corporation Clear ice making refrigerator
US7421846B2 (en) * 2004-08-18 2008-09-09 Ice Energy, Inc. Thermal energy storage and cooling system with gravity fed secondary refrigerant isolation
KR20080014559A (ko) * 2006-08-11 2008-02-14 삼성전자주식회사 냉장고
KR101452762B1 (ko) * 2007-12-18 2014-10-21 엘지전자 주식회사 냉장고

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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Title
None

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107702405A (zh) * 2017-10-10 2018-02-16 无锡市南长实验中学 一种可自动调温除味式冰箱

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Publication number Publication date
US20120324918A1 (en) 2012-12-27
BR102012017783A2 (pt) 2013-10-22

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