EP2546591A1 - Verfahren zum schnellen Einfrieren von Lebensmitteln - Google Patents

Verfahren zum schnellen Einfrieren von Lebensmitteln Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2546591A1
EP2546591A1 EP11174276A EP11174276A EP2546591A1 EP 2546591 A1 EP2546591 A1 EP 2546591A1 EP 11174276 A EP11174276 A EP 11174276A EP 11174276 A EP11174276 A EP 11174276A EP 2546591 A1 EP2546591 A1 EP 2546591A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
compressor
fan
compartment
temperature
evaporator
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Withdrawn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
EP11174276A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Andrea Olivani
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
Priority to EP11174276A priority Critical patent/EP2546591A1/de
Publication of EP2546591A1 publication Critical patent/EP2546591A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
    • F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
    • F25D17/062—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators
    • F25D17/065—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators with compartments at different temperatures
    • 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
    • F25B2600/00—Control issues
    • F25B2600/02—Compressor control
    • F25B2600/025—Compressor control by controlling speed
    • F25B2600/0251—Compressor control by controlling speed with on-off operation
    • 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
    • F25B2600/00—Control issues
    • F25B2600/11—Fan speed control
    • F25B2600/112—Fan speed control of evaporator fans
    • 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
    • F25D2400/30—Quick freezing
    • 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
    • F25D2700/00—Means for sensing or measuring; Sensors therefor
    • F25D2700/12—Sensors measuring the inside temperature
    • 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
    • F25D2700/00—Means for sensing or measuring; Sensors therefor
    • F25D2700/12—Sensors measuring the inside temperature
    • F25D2700/122—Sensors measuring the inside temperature of freezer compartments

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for fast freezing food in a refrigerator apparatus. More precisely, the present invention relates to a method to be implemented in a refrigerator apparatus comprising a fresh food compartment, a freezer compartment, a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser, a first evaporator situated in said freezer compartment, and a second evaporator situated in said fresh food compartment.
  • a refrigerator apparatus we mean any refrigeration appliance including two cavities for food storage at two different temperatures, i.e. a fresh food compartment in which the food is stored at a temperature around 5°C and a freezer compartment in which the food is stored at a temperature around -18°C.
  • the refrigeration system elements i.e. the compressor, the condenser, the first and second evaporators, are connected in series in a closed loop.
  • EP 0558095 discloses a refrigerator apparatus having a first evaporator placed in the fresh food compartment and a second evaporator placed in the freezer compartment, where in each compartment a fan is used and in which such fans are switched on only when the compressor is operating. Such document does not disclose any fast freezing function of the appliance.
  • Extra freezing features are typically required by customers when they place a small amount of food (1-2 kg) that is at ambient temperature inside a freezer and they are willing to quickly reduce food temperature in order to maintain the proper texture and organoleptic features of food when it will be reheated.
  • Extra freezing conditions are typically achieved in today products by increasing the running time of the compressor (typically during these functions operation the compressor run time is 100%, while during normal operation is around 45% - cycling mode). These functions are commonly used across several products with only one evaporator (e.g. side by side or chest freezer or upright freezer) or also with two cavities but with also two evaporators that are cooled down independently (e.g.
  • At least a fan is situated in the freezer compartment for providing an air flow over said first evaporator and over a food item to be fast frozen.
  • the solution according to the invention does include also a control of the fan inside the freezer compartment in order to improve the heat exchange process between cold air and selected food items and to modulate the on/off time of the compressor and the on/off time of the fan independently one from the others.
  • the refrigeration appliance according to the invention is not necessary to use any further fan in the fresh food compartment.
  • the fan in the freezer compartment is preferably positioned in a place where it will be able to suck air from the evaporator outlet and to drive the cold air on the food mass that the customer is willing to quickly freeze (around 1-2 kg located into the extra freezing area).
  • the idea is to run the compressor operation as usual, allowing compressor switch on or off accordingly to fresh food compartment reaching target temperature (typically cycling around +5 °C), and running the fan or fans in the freezer compartment not only during compressor ON phases, but also partially during the compressor OFF phases.
  • target temperature typically cycling around +5 °C
  • the fan or fans in the freezer compartment not only during compressor ON phases, but also partially during the compressor OFF phases.
  • the food to be frozen will be cooled down by cold air stream coming from freezer evaporator.
  • the fan will continue to blow cold air on the food items to be frozen (the thermal inertia of the rest of the cavity being used to guarantee that the air blown on the additional food mass will be cold enough).
  • the fan is switched-off accordingly to the temperature sensor of the freezer cavity when the temperature goes beyond a predetermined threshold, such threshold being preferably around -16 °C).
  • the control process unit of the appliance can also reduce its speed. Therefore the switching off of the fan has to be intended here either as an actual stop of the fan, or to a reduction of the speed thereof in order to obtain a technical effect similar to an actual switching off.
  • a refrigeration circuit comprises a compressor 10, a condenser 12, an expansion device 14 (for instance a capillary tube), a first evaporator 16 placed in a freezer compartment FZ and a second evaporator 18 placed downstream the first evaporator 16 and placed in a fresh food compartment FF.
  • a fan 20 is placed for providing air flow over the first evaporator 16 and over a food item A to be fast frozen and placed in a dedicated zone 22 of the freezer compartment FZ for fast freezing of food.
  • the fan is sucking air from the first evaporator 16 and delivers it to the dedicated fast freezing zone 22, but it is clear that other configurations may be adopted, for instance where the fan blows air to the evaporator and to the dedicated zone 22. Moreover, more fans 20 can be used.
  • An electronic control process unit 23 is linked to a temperature sensor 25 placed in the freezer compartment FZ and to a temperature sensor 27 placed in the fresh food compartment (FFC), and sends driving signals to the compressor 10 and to the fan 20.
  • FIG 2 it is shown the process which starts when the user put a food item A in the dedicated zone 22 of the freezer compartment FZ.
  • this fast freezing or quick freezing process may be started by activating a switch which changes the usual process according to which the fan 20 in the freezer compartment FZ is either switched off when the compressor 10 is switched off or it is kept continuously switched off.
  • the control method according to the invention may be adopted as a default control method, and therefore used even if there is no need of fast freezing (in this case there is no need of a fast freezing switch or button).
  • the compressor 10 When the temperature in the fresh food compartment FFC is higher that a first set temperature (for instance 5°C), the compressor 10 is switched on together with the fan 20 in the freezer compartment FZ (block 30). When the temperature in the fresh food compartment FFC is below the first set temperature, the compressor 10 is switched off (block 32) while the fan 20 is kept running up to when the temperature in the freezer compartment FZ is above a second set temperature (for instance -16°C). At this point also the fan 20 is switched off (block 34) and the control waits for the raising of temperature in the fresh food compartment FFC above the first set temperature, when both the compressor 10 and the fan 20 are both switched on again. Both set temperatures are stored in the control process unit 23 and may be changed either in the production line or by the user.
  • the preferred temperature values for the first set temperature are comprised between 0°C and 10°C, more preferably between 2°C and 8°C.
  • the preferred temperature values for the second set temperature are comprised between - 18°C and -14°C, more preferably between -17°C and -15°C.
  • the method according to the invention allows a simple and inexpensive way of providing a mono-circuit refrigerator with efficient fast freezing capabilities, with the simple addition of a fan in the freezer compartment and minor modification in the algorithm controlling the refrigeration circuit.
EP11174276A 2011-07-15 2011-07-15 Verfahren zum schnellen Einfrieren von Lebensmitteln Withdrawn EP2546591A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP11174276A EP2546591A1 (de) 2011-07-15 2011-07-15 Verfahren zum schnellen Einfrieren von Lebensmitteln

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP11174276A EP2546591A1 (de) 2011-07-15 2011-07-15 Verfahren zum schnellen Einfrieren von Lebensmitteln

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2546591A1 true EP2546591A1 (de) 2013-01-16

Family

ID=44582235

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP11174276A Withdrawn EP2546591A1 (de) 2011-07-15 2011-07-15 Verfahren zum schnellen Einfrieren von Lebensmitteln

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2546591A1 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2016169739A1 (en) 2015-04-21 2016-10-27 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH A domestic cooling device with shock freezing
CN109612200A (zh) * 2018-12-07 2019-04-12 长虹美菱股份有限公司 一种用于啤酒和饮料的快速冰镇方法

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0558095A2 (de) 1989-01-03 1993-09-01 General Electric Company Regelungsvorrichtung für Doppelverdampfer- und Doppellüfterkühlschrank mit unabhängigen Temperaturregelungen
EP0845643A2 (de) * 1996-11-27 1998-06-03 CANDY S.p.A. Kühlanlage mit veränderlicher Zwangsbelüftung
WO1999042772A1 (fr) * 1998-02-03 1999-08-26 Elena Vladimirovna Gurova Circuit de regulation de mode thermique pour differentes temperatures
WO2000071947A1 (en) * 1999-05-26 2000-11-30 Work Smart Energy Enterprises, Inc. Improved control system for a refrigerator with two evaporating temperatures

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0558095A2 (de) 1989-01-03 1993-09-01 General Electric Company Regelungsvorrichtung für Doppelverdampfer- und Doppellüfterkühlschrank mit unabhängigen Temperaturregelungen
EP0845643A2 (de) * 1996-11-27 1998-06-03 CANDY S.p.A. Kühlanlage mit veränderlicher Zwangsbelüftung
WO1999042772A1 (fr) * 1998-02-03 1999-08-26 Elena Vladimirovna Gurova Circuit de regulation de mode thermique pour differentes temperatures
WO2000071947A1 (en) * 1999-05-26 2000-11-30 Work Smart Energy Enterprises, Inc. Improved control system for a refrigerator with two evaporating temperatures

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2016169739A1 (en) 2015-04-21 2016-10-27 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH A domestic cooling device with shock freezing
CN109612200A (zh) * 2018-12-07 2019-04-12 长虹美菱股份有限公司 一种用于啤酒和饮料的快速冰镇方法

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
JP5608356B2 (ja) カーゴのチルド状態の制御
KR100568060B1 (ko) 냉장고
JP5594425B2 (ja) 冷凍装置
US11067324B2 (en) Refrigerator and control method therefor
CN106568269B (zh) 冰箱
EP3499157B1 (de) Kühlschrank
EP2546591A1 (de) Verfahren zum schnellen Einfrieren von Lebensmitteln
EP2447651B1 (de) Kühlanwendung mit Feuchtigkeitssteuerung und Verfahren zur Steuerung einer solchen Anwendung
CN111351310A (zh) 制冷设备及其除霜的控制方法和控制装置、存储介质
JP2008096028A (ja) 冷蔵庫用冷凍機
KR20200082221A (ko) 냉장고 및 그의 제어방법
JP2005180719A (ja) 冷蔵庫
JP4837019B2 (ja) 冷蔵庫
EP2520881A1 (de) Kühlsystem und Verfahren zum Kühlen von zwei Fächern mit Serienverdampfern
KR102213125B1 (ko) 냉장고의 운전 제어 방법
EP2636976A1 (de) Hybrider Kühlschrank und Steuerungsverfahren dafür
KR100425114B1 (ko) 2개의 증발기가 구비된 냉장고의 제상운전방법
TWI717312B (zh) 能快速降溫保鮮的智慧型冰箱
EP3732413B1 (de) Kühler mit einem durch wärme gesteuerten sonderfach
JP2003287331A (ja) 冷蔵庫
EP4137763A1 (de) Kühlschrank und verfahren dafür
JP7112338B2 (ja) 冷蔵庫
KR20150077740A (ko) 냉장고의 급속 냉동 장치 및 급속 냉동 방법
KR20160009312A (ko) 냉장고 및 그 제어방법
JPH11304331A (ja) 冷蔵庫の制御方法

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20130711

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: F25D 29/00 20060101ALI20181017BHEP

Ipc: F25D 17/06 20060101AFI20181017BHEP

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20181107

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20190319