EP2664877A2 - Refrigeration and/or freezer device - Google Patents

Abstract

The cooling- or refrigerating device has a cooled interior space and a refrigerant circuit, which comprises a compressor for conveying the cooling agent, a condenser for heat dissipation and a vaporizer for cooling the interior space. A control- or regulating unit is so formed that it changes the speed or run-time of the blower depending on one or multiple compressor parameters, such as speed, run-time, current, torque, output power, acceptance power or pressure difference of the compressor. A blower is arranged relative to the condenser such that an air flow is generated over the condenser by the blower.

Description

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer with at least one refrigerated interior and at least one refrigerant circuit having at least one compressor for conveying the refrigerant, at least one condenser for heat dissipation and at least one evaporator for cooling said interior, and at least a fan, which is arranged relative to the condenser such that by means of the fan, an air flow through the condenser can be generated.

From the prior art it is known to arrange the condenser and the compressor and a fan in so-called base units, wherein the fan has the task of generating an air flow through the compressor and / or via the condenser.

From the prior art, it is also known to use speed-controlled fans for this purpose, which are operated in dependence on various parameters, such as the ambient temperature at different speeds.

The present invention has the object of developing a refrigerator and / or freezer of the type mentioned in that the fan is operated such that the device is operable with a more efficient or with a more comfortable operating mode.

This object is achieved by a refrigerator and / or freezer with the feature of claim 1.

Thereafter, it is provided that at least one control or regulating unit is provided, which is designed such that it varies the speed and / or the running time of the fan in dependence of one or more of the following parameters or data of the compressor: speed, running time, current or current consumption or current flow, torque, output power, recording power of the compressor, pressure difference across the compressor.

So it is conceivable, for example, that the speed of the fan is set in dependence on which speed the compressor is operated. Power variable compressors (eg VCC / linear) are known from the prior art which can be operated at different speeds. These different speeds may, for example, depend on what refrigeration demand is reported by a refrigeration or freezer compartment. This aspect of the invention is based on the idea to set the speed of a variable-speed fan so that it depends on the speed of the compressor.

It is preferably provided that with a higher speed of the compressor, a higher speed of the fan is set to always be able to dissipate the waste heat compressor via the condenser or the Verflüssigerabwärme always efficient.

It is also conceivable, for example, to detect the compressor torque and to adjust the running time and / or the speed of the fan as a function of this measured value.

It is furthermore known from the prior art to operate devices with a special cooling or freezing mode, for example a so-called super-frost or super-cool mode, in which a particularly high cooling capacity is generated at the instigation of the user ,

This may be necessary, for example, when a larger amount of refrigerated or frozen goods is stored and a rapid cooling is desired.

In this case, the compressor is operated at an increased power or with an increased runtime. Also in such cases can now be provided according to the invention that the fan speed and / or the running time of the fan is set depending on whether such a special operating mode is selected, d. H. whether there is an increased need for refrigeration or not.

It is conceivable, for example, that upon actuation of a corresponding button by the user, the z to an increased cooling capacity. B. in Kühlkompartiment or in the freezer leads, the fan is put into operation or that the fan is operated at a higher speed and / or longer runtime.

It is conceivable that this increased speed or the operation of the fan is maintained as long as the increased cooling capacity is required. In this interval, the fan can be operated permanently or intermittently.

In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer with at least one cooled interior and with at least one refrigerant circuit, the at least one compressor for conveying the refrigerant and at least one evaporator for cooling said interior space comprising, as well as with at least one fan and with at least one condensation collecting container for collecting the resulting defrost of the evaporator condensation water, wherein the fan is arranged relative to the condensation collection container such that by means of the fan, an air flow through the condensation collection container can be generated.

From the prior art it is known to provide a condensation collection container, for example in the form of a shell or the like, into which the thawing water arising during the defrosting of the evaporator is introduced.

The term "container" is to be understood generally and includes any conceivable medium which is suitable for catching the condensation water.

This condensation collection container can be arranged, for example, on the compressor or else preferably be arranged elsewhere in the compressor or in the base unit mentioned above.

According to the invention it is now provided that at least one control or regulating unit is provided, which is designed such that it determines the speed and / or running time of the fan depending on the amount of condensation water in the condensation collecting container and / or depending on the time of the Evaporator defrosting changed.

Thus, it is conceivable, for example, that the amount of condensation water present in the condensation-collecting container is detected via a fill-level sensor or in another manner, and the fan speed and / or the fan-run time is set as a function thereof. It is conceivable that the fan speed is set the higher, the more condensate is in the condensation collection container. The same can also apply to the running time of the fan.

It is conceivable to increase or even to provide the fan speed with increasing volume of the dew water contained in the condensation collecting container, that a stepwise change in the fan speed is made. If, for example, the level in the condensation-collecting container reaches a first value, it is conceivable to operate the fan at a first speed, if a second value is exceeded, the fan is operated at a second speed, etc.

In principle, it is also conceivable to provide only one on / off behavior, d. H. the fan remains off when the level is below a threshold and is turned on when it exceeds this limit.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the speed and / or the running time of the fan is changed as a function of the time of the defrost. Thus, it is customary in particular in no-frost devices that defrosting of the evaporator is carried out at certain time intervals or depending on certain parameters, which is usually a defrost heater is used. It is conceivable to couple the operation of the fan now at the time of this defrost, for example, to the effect that in a certain period of time after the onset of defrost or at the beginning of the defrosting process, the fan is turned on or operated at a higher speed level.

It is possible, for example, to change the fan speed over the duration of the defrost. It is thus possible to adapt the speed of the fan to the volume flow of the condensation water which accumulates per unit of time or is conducted into the condensation-collecting container. If this is low, it is possible to set a lower speed of the fan than at higher volume flows of the effluent water.

It is conceivable to use empirical values for setting the fan speed or to measure the volume flow per unit time and to use the fan speed depending on this.

If one returns to empirical values, it is conceivable to provide certain time periods in which the fan is operated at the respective desired speed.

The present invention further relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer having at least one refrigerated interior and at least one refrigerant circuit having at least one compressor for conveying the refrigerant and at least one evaporator for cooling said interior, wherein at least one heat storage medium is provided, which is arranged relative to the compressor and / or the condenser so that it receives heat from the compressor and / or condenser and that at least one fan is provided, which is arranged such that it generates an air flow over this heat storage medium.

Thus, it is conceivable to provide one or more heat storage media, which are arranged in the region of the compressor and / or the condenser, in such a way that they can accommodate compressor or Verflüssigerabwärme. According to the invention it is now provided that the fan is arranged such that it can generate an air flow through this heat storage medium.

Thus, for example, it is conceivable to provide a heat storage medium on which the compressor stands or is in contact with the condenser or is arranged in the region of the condenser and which receives waste heat from the compressor or the condenser during operation of the compressor. This waste heat of the compressor or the condenser or the heat of the heat storage medium can now be at least partially removed by the air flow, which is listed by said fan.

So it is conceivable, for example, to operate the fan in a "heat storage stage" in which the fan in the runtime of the compressor at a low level or at a lower speed than usual runs and therefore in the downtime the compressor is running to dissipate the heat from the heat storage medium.

The present invention further relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer having at least one cooled interior and at least one refrigerant circuit having at least one compressor for conveying the refrigerant and at least one evaporator for cooling said interior space, wherein at least one control unit and at least one fan is provided, which is in communication with the control or regulating unit, wherein the control or regulating unit is designed such that it the fan depending on the time or time of day and / or depending on the opening of the door and or depending on whether it is the first commissioning of the device or not. The setting of the speed and / or running time of the compressor can thus, for example, the above-mentioned parameters time, time of day, door opening, type of commissioning act.

Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that the control or regulating unit is designed such that it controls the fan, in particular with regard to its rotational speed and / or running time as a function of one or more of the parameters: internal temperature of the refrigerator and / or freezer, Operation of the refrigerator and / or freezer, in particular number of compartments to be cooled, ambient temperature, condenser temperature, door opening and choice of a special program such as SuperFrost or SuperCool controls or regulates. So it is conceivable, for example, that the speed of the fan and / or its running time is set as a function of the actual temperature in the cooled compartment and / or depending on how many compartments are to be cooled. Thus, it is conceivable that in combination devices with several compartments, such as a cooling part and a freezer part a higher speed is set than when only one compartment is cooled, such as only the cooling part.

We use the ambient temperature as a parameter, depending on which the speed or running time of the fan is set, it is conceivable that the sensor z. B. on the electronics, the compressor, etc. is arranged.

In principle, it can be provided that an activation / deactivation or rotational speed takes place via fixed values and / or the gradient.

The compressor may be a variable-capacity compressor (eg VCC-linear) and the fan speed may be adjusted depending on the speed of the compressor.

As already stated above, other parameters that can be used as an alternative or in addition to all the aforementioned parameters for setting the speed or running time of the fan, the level of condensate and, in particular, no-frost devices, the time of defrost. It is also conceivable, a high speed when activating special programs such. B. SuperFrost or SuperCool.

In principle it can be provided that the speed and / or running time of the fan depends on one of the parameters mentioned in the context of the present invention or also on several or all of these parameters.

Preferably, it is a variable speed (DC) fan. A speed check may be performed by sensing the speed directly, by sensing the fan voltage, by the condenser temperature, by the condenser pressure, and / or by the temperature around the fan. It is conceivable to make the control of the speed of the fan directly or via a voltage control.

In principle, it is also conceivable to make a change in the rotational speed in discrete stages or continuously, ie to make a continuous speed change.

With regard to the operating mode, it should be pointed out that the fan is operated in parallel with the operation of the compressor or is also delayed in relation to the compressor, i. H. by running after and / or by pre-running. An endurance run as well as an emergency operation of the ventilator are also included in the invention.

So it is conceivable, for example, that the fan is operated in a minimum level, in which the fan operation is particularly quiet. This operation can be set, for example, depending on the time of day or time. Thus, it is conceivable, for example, to control or program the device in such a way that in times of the presence of a user, the fan is operated at low speed and, if necessary, temporarily impermissibly high refrigeration parts or freezer temperatures are tolerated. It is conceivable, for example, during the day a quiet fan operation and at night a comparatively loud fan operation, d. H. to set a higher speed operation or vice versa, depending on the needs of the user. It is conceivable that the device has a button or the like, by means of which a corresponding fan operation can be set. It is also conceivable that the device has a receiving unit, are received by the signals from a remote control, such as a smartphone that has a corresponding app. Accordingly, a user can set the fan operation via such a remote control.

Preferably, the fan is arranged such that it causes an air duct in the base unit, d. H. is arranged in the base. This applies to all variants of the present invention.

This also applies accordingly to the further variant, according to which the operation of the fan depends on the opening of the door.

It should be noted at this point that the term "door" is to be understood in general and has any conceivable closure element, such as, for example, a flap, drawer or the like.

It is conceivable to make the fan operation now dependent on whether the door is open or not. Thus, it is possible, for example, to operate the fan in a door-opening mode in which the fan is switched off when the door is open, so that the user is not "blown" and, incidentally, the lowest possible noise level arises when the user opens the device.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is possible to operate the fan in a so-called pull-down mode, d. H. to set a maximum power by the fan during initial start-up.

The aforementioned options can be realized with discrete speed stages of the fan or even with a constant speed change of the fan, both variants are included in the invention.

Preferably, the fan is a variable speed fan.

However, a non-speed-controlled fan is also included in the invention. Here the regulation takes place over a certain frequency, z. B. ten seconds on, 20 seconds off, etc.

As already stated above, it is conceivable that the fan is at least temporarily operated even in the standstill of the compressor, which is particularly in the case of relevance that heat should be dissipated from a heat storage medium. The "heat storage medium" is also the mass of the condenser itself, ie usually steel. Measurements have shown that the continuous operation of the fan is energetically particularly advantageous.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is that the fan and / or the compressor and / or the condenser is arranged in the base region of the device.

The present invention thus preferably relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer with a so-called base unit, in which the compressor and / or the condenser and also the fan is located.

The air supply or air discharge into and out of the base unit can be done for example via the front of the device. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible to make an air supply or removal on the back of the device, for example in an area between the rear of the device and an adjacent building or furniture wall.

It is also conceivable that means are provided which are designed so that it can be determined by this, whether the air resistance experienced by the fan conveyed air has increased over one or more previous times. This can e.g. by means of the measurement or evaluation of one or more of the parameters mentioned in the context of the present invention, in particular of its time course. Exemplary are the temperature of the condenser or the compressor speed. For example, if we determine that the temperature of the condenser is increasing over time, it can be concluded that the volume flow of the air delivered by the fan has decreased because air resistance has increased. It is conceivable, for example, that the increase in air resistance to contamination of the air inlet area, e.g. the air inlet shutter is due.

Then it can be displayed to the user, for example on the control panel of the refrigerator and / or freezer or on a display of the device that the air inlet must be cleaned.

It is also possible that by controlling by a control or regulating unit, the speed of the fan is increased to maintain despite increased air resistance, the volume flow of the air conveyed by the fan or counteract the reduction of the flow rate, which can be attributed to the increased air resistance ,

It is also possible that by a control unit, e.g. by voltage reversal, the conveying direction of the fan and thus the flow direction of the air conveyed through this is reversed, so that e.g. the dust is "blown away" from the air inlet.

A combination of two or three of the aforementioned measures (display, flow reversal, speed increase) is conceivable and encompassed by the invention. The invention also includes that the three variants mentioned are run through as "escalation stages", i. first the display is made, then the increase of the speed and then the flow reversal.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the above-mentioned aspects of the invention may be provided by themselves or in combination, i. H. The objects of claims 1 to 10 can be present in any conceivable combination.

Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment described below.

The embodiment relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer with a body having a cooled interior. This cooled interior is surrounded by an inner container whose open side can be closed by an also insulated door or flap or the like. Between the inner container and the outer housing of the device is a heat insulation, for example in the form of PU foam.

The lower portion of the device is formed by a device base in which the compressor, the condenser and a fan are located, wherein the fan is arranged such that it generates an air flow around the compressor and / or around the condenser in operation.

In the device base is also a condensation water tray, which is arranged so that it absorbs the thawing water arising during defrosting of the evaporator. The evaporator can be located, for example, in the rear region of a refrigerator part and / or a freezer part. In the case of a no-frost evaporator, it is defrosted at certain intervals or depending on certain parameters. The condensation then runs through a condensation drainage channel or the like into the condensation collection container located in the base.

This condensate collection container may be located on the compressor so that the waste heat of the compressor can be used to promote the evaporation of the condensation water. The condensation water shell or the condensation water collection container can also be arranged elsewhere, for example below the condenser.

Furthermore, in the region of the compressor, a heat storage medium may be provided, which is arranged such that the waste heat of the compressor is absorbed by the heat storage medium.

In the embodiment described here, the fan is switched in discrete stages and / or continuously, i. H. operated either with different speed levels or with a continuously variable speed.

In the embodiment, the fan is operable in a "minimum level", which is provided for a particularly quiet operation of the fan. This mode may, for example, depending on the time of day, z. B. silent operation by day, louder operation at night or vice versa.

The fan can also be operated in a so-called "evaporation stage", which is set, for example, in the context of defrosting a no-frost evaporator. If a lot of condensation occurs, the evaporation is promoted with a higher speed level and / or longer duration of the fan, in which case the fan can optionally be operated in the uptime of the compressor.

The fan can also be operated in a "heat storage stage" where the fan runs at a slower rate during the runtime of the compressor than during normal operation of the unit. For this, the fan also runs in the standstill of the compressor, to dissipate the heat from the heat storage medium.

Finally, a "door opening mode" and a "pull-down mode" can be used, wherein in the "door opening mode" the fan is switched off with the door open, so that the user no unpleasant air flow is noticeable and, moreover, prevents ambient air in the device is inserted. In "pull-down mode", a maximum fan power is set when the fan is started for the first time.

Claims (12)

Refrigerated and / or freezer with at least one refrigerated interior and with at least one refrigerant circuit having at least one compressor for conveying the refrigerant, at least one condenser for heat dissipation and at least one evaporator for cooling said interior, and at least one fan, the relative is arranged to the condenser such that by means of the fan, an air flow through the condenser can be generated, characterized in that at least one control or regulating unit is provided which is designed such that they the speed and / or running time of the fan in dependence or more of the compressor parameters speed, running time, current, torque, power output, power consumption, pressure difference of the compressor changed. Refrigerated and / or freezer with at least one refrigerated interior and with at least one refrigerant circuit having at least one compressor for conveying the refrigerant and at least one evaporator for cooling said interior space, as well as at least one fan and at least one condensation collecting container for collecting at the defrost of the evaporator resulting condensation water, wherein the fan is arranged relative to the condensation collection container such that by means of the fan, an air flow through the condensation collection container can be generated, characterized in that at least one control or regulating unit is provided, which is designed such that they varies the speed and / or running time of the fan depending on the amount of condensation water present in the condensation collection container or in dependence on the time of the evaporator defrosting. Cooling and / or freezer with at least one cooled interior and with at least one refrigerant circuit having at least one compressor for conveying the refrigerant, at least one condenser for heat dissipation and at least one evaporator for cooling said interior, characterized in that at least one heat storage medium provided which is arranged relative to the condenser so that it receives heat from the condenser and that at least one fan is provided which is arranged such that it generates an air flow over this heat storage medium. Cooling and / or freezer with at least one cooled interior and with at least one refrigerant circuit having at least one compressor for conveying the refrigerant and at least one evaporator for cooling said interior, characterized in that at least one control unit and at least one fan is provided, which is in communication with the control or regulating unit, wherein the control or regulating unit is designed such that it the fan in response to one or more of the following parameters controls: internal temperature of the refrigerator and / or freezer, number of compartments to be cooled, ambient temperature of the refrigerator and / or freezer, temperature of the condenser of the refrigerant circuit, time and / or time of day, door opening, type of commissioning, selection of a special program. The refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one control or regulating unit is provided, which is designed such that the fan is at least temporarily operated even in the uptime of the compressor. The refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 1, characterized in that the control or regulating unit is designed such that the fan is operated at a higher speed, the higher the rotational speed of the compressor. The refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 1 or 6, characterized in that the control or regulating unit is designed such that the fan is operated at a higher speed and / or longer running time, when the device is operated in a mode with a particularly high cooling capacity , Cooling and / or freezing appliance according to claim 4, characterized in that a lowest speed stage of the fan is provided and that the control or regulating unit is designed such that it operates the fan depending on the time or time of day with this lowest speed level and / / or that the device is designed such that the adjustment of the speed and / or the running time of the fan on the user side and / or via a remote control is adjustable. The refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 4, characterized in that the control or regulating unit is designed such that it switches off the fan when the door is open. The refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 4, characterized in that the control or regulating unit is designed such that it operates the fan at the first start-up with a maximum power. Cooling and / or freezing appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means are provided by which it can be determined that the air resistance has increased, the air conveyed by the fan experiences. A refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 11, characterized in that display means are provided which indicate the increase in air resistance or an associated measure and / or means are provided which change the fan operation after detecting an increase in air resistance so in that the flow direction of the air conveyed by the fan is reversed and / or the volume flow of the air conveyed by the fan is increased.