EP2920529A1

EP2920529A1 - A refrigerator comprising a separator

Info

Publication number: EP2920529A1
Application number: EP13788992.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tolga APAYDIN; Husnu Kerpicci; Vasi Kadir Ertis; Tolga Nurettin AYNUR
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2012-11-15
Filing date: 2013-11-08
Publication date: 2015-09-23
Also published as: CN104870914B; CN104870914A; WO2014076006A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) comprising a compartment (2) wherein food and beverage items desired to be cooled and/or frozen are placed, a rear wall (3), an evaporator (4) placed in the rear wall (3) and providing the cooling of the compartment (2) by absorbing the thermal energy inside the compartment (2), a separator (5) disposed in front of the evaporator (4) such that a gap remains between the rear wall (3) and the separator (5), and a channel (6) by means of which cool air flow is provided over the evaporator (4) situated between the rear wall (3) and the separator (5).

Description

A REFRIGERATOR COMPRISING A SEPARATOR

The present invention relates to a refrigerator wherein formation of condensation and frosting on the separator is prevented.
In refrigerators, generally the cold air circulation volume situated in front of the rear wall, wherein the evaporator is embedded, is separated by a separator from the volume wherein the foodstuffs are stored. Moisture is formed on the separator due to the temperature difference between these two volumes. Moisture is accumulated on the separator so as to be visible from the outside and trickling down, drips into the volume wherein the foodstuffs are stored. In state of the art embodiments, insulation elements such sponge, foam, Styrofoam are placed on the separator surface and thereby condensation or frosting resulting from temperature difference is prevented.
In the state of the art United States Patent No. US20020129617, a heat exchanger is disclosed, that is at least approximately in heat-conducting contact against a thermal energy storage medium.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a refrigerator comprising a separator whereon formation of condensation and frosting is prevented.
The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a compartment wherein the foods and beverages desired to be cooled and/or frozen are placed, a rear wall, an evaporator embedded into the rear wall and providing the cooling of the compartment, a separator disposed in front of the evaporator so as not to contact the rear wall, and a channel by means of which the cold air flow is provided over the evaporator situated between the rear wall and the separator. The separator is disposed between the channel and the compartment which exchange heat with one another.
The separator comprises a receptacle that is filled with phase changing material, having high heat conductivity, obtained from binding one or more than one material having eutectic properties. By means of the phase changing material, the surface of the separator facing the compartment is insulated from the heat in the channel and the separator surface temperature is kept close to the interior temperature of the compartment. Thus, formation of condensation or frosting on the surface of the separator, disposed inside the compartment so as to be visible from the outside, due to difference of temperature is prevented without requiring any heating process or additional insulation material. Furthermore, the phase changing material preserves the temperature of the compartment interior for a longer period of time by absorbing the heat inside the compartment in the situation of power failure and thereby prevents spoiling of the foods and beverages inside the compartment.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle is situated inside the separator. Thus, the space inside the refrigerator is provided to be utilized more effectively. The separator, one surface facing the channel, the other surface the compartment, functions as a thermal shield between the compartment and the channel which have a greater difference of temperature. Consequently, formation of condensation and/or frosting on the separator is prevented.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle is situated inside the channel, between the evaporator and the separator. The receptacle insulates the separator from the cold air inside the channel and provides the separator surface temperature to remain close to the temperature of the compartment. Consequently, formation of condensation on the separator is prevented.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle is disposed adjacent to the separator so as to remain between the channel and the separator. Thus, the receptacle realizes heat exchange with the compartment both by convection and also by conduction through the separator when the evaporator does not operate in situations like power failure.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator comprises a container disposed under the separator and a collection tray disposed under the container. The separator surface remains at a lower temperature than the temperature of the compartment while the temperature inside the compartment increases in the course of time in situations like power failure when refrigeration cannot be performed. Therefore, the water vapor droplets in the environment condense on the separator surface depending on the relative humidity inside the compartment. The condensed humidity trickles down towards the container with the effect of gravity as well.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator comprises a water transfer means that extends between the container and the collection tray. The water in the container inclined towards the water transfer means is transferred to the collection tray on the compressor by the water transfer means. The water collected in the collection tray evaporates due to the heat of the compressor.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the phase changing temperature of the phase changing material (M) is between 2° C to 6° C. Phase change is realized without requiring an additional heater since the phase changing temperature of the phase changing material (M) is close to the temperature of the compartment while the evaporator operates.
By means of the present invention, formation of moisture on the separator surface is prevented by insulating the heat between the channel and the compartment. Furthermore, the low temperature inside the compartment is preserved for a long period of time when the refrigerator does not operate due to a reason like power failure.
A refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figure, where:
Figure 1 – is the sideways cross sectional view of a refrigerator.
The elements illustrated in the figure are numbered as follows:

Refrigerator
Compartment
Rear wall
Evaporator
Separator
Channel
Receptacle
Container
Collection tray
Water transfer means

The refrigerator (1) comprises a compartment (2) wherein food and beverage items desired to be cooled and/or frozen are placed, a rear wall (3), an evaporator (4) placed in the rear wall (3), which provides the cooling of the compartment (2) by absorbing the thermal energy inside the compartment (2), a separator (5) disposed in front of the evaporator (4) such that a gap remains between the rear wall (3) and the separator (5), and a channel (6) by means of which cold air flow is provided over the evaporator (4) situated between the rear wall (3) and the separator (5). The separator (5) separates the channel (6) and the compartment (2) such that two different temperature zones are formed.
The separator (5) comprises a receptacle (7) wherein phase changing material (M) is filled. The separator (5) functions as a heat shield between the channel (6) and the compartment (2) at two different temperatures by means of the receptacle (7). Thus, the temperature of the surface of the separator (5) on the side of the compartment (2) remains close to the compartment (2) temperature that is higher than the channel (6) temperature and formation of condensation on the separator (5) surface is prevented. The phase changing material (M) changes phase by absorbing heat from the outside environment and emanating heat to the outside environment. In situations like power failure when the evaporator (4) does not operate, the phase changing material (M) provides the interior temperature of the compartment (2) to be preserved for a longer period of time by absorbing the heat inside the compartment (2) since the temperature of the phase changing material (M) falls very slowly during changing of phase.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle (7) is embedded into the separator (5). Thus, a more compact structure is obtained by benefiting from the space occupied by the separator (5) inside the refrigerator (1). Furthermore, an effective heat transmission is provided between the receptacle (7) and the separator (5).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle (7) is situated inside the channel (6), between the evaporator (4) and the separator (5). The receptacle (7), one surface facing the evaporator (4), the other surface the separator (5), functions as a heat shield between the compartment (2) and the separator (5), which have greater difference of temperature.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle (7) at least partially contacts the separator (5) so as to remain between the evaporator (4) and the separator (5). Thus, the receptacle (7) realizes heat exchange with the compartment (2) both by convection and also by conduction through the separator (5) during power failure.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises a container (8) disposed under the separator (5) and a collection tray (9) disposed under the container (8). The separator (5) surface remains at a lower temperature than the temperature of the compartment (2) while the temperature inside the compartment (2) increases in the course of time in situations like power failure when the evaporator (4) does not operate. Therefore, the water droplets condense on the separator (5) surface depending on the relative humidity inside the compartment (2). The condensed water droplets trickle down from the separator (5) surface towards the container (8) with the effect of gravity as well.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises a water transfer means (10) that extends between the container (8) and the collection tray (9). Water is transferred from the container (8) to the collection tray (9) on the compressor by the water transfer means (10). The water collected in the collection tray (9) evaporates with the heat of the compressor.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the phase changing temperature of the phase changing material (M) is between 2° C to 6° C. Phase change is realized without requiring an additional heater since the phase changing temperature of the phase changing material (M) is close to the temperature of the compartment (2) while the evaporator (4) operates.
By means of the present invention, formation of moisture on the surface of the separator (5) is prevented by lowering the temperature difference between the compartment (2) and the separator (5) surface facing the compartment (2). Furthermore, the temperature inside the compartment (2) is preserved for a longer period of time since the phase changing material (M) absorbs the heat from the environment in situations like power failure when the evaporator (4) cannot cool the interior of the compartment (2).

Claims

A refrigerator (1) comprising a compartment (2) wherein food and beverage items desired to be cooled and/or frozen are placed, a rear wall (3), an evaporator (4) placed in the rear wall (3) and providing the cooling of the compartment (2) by absorbing the thermal energy inside the compartment (2), a separator (5) disposed in front of the evaporator (4) such that a gap remains between the rear wall (3) and the separator (5), and a channel (6) by means of which cold air flow is provided over the evaporator (4) situated between the rear wall (3) and the separator (5), characterized by the separator (5) comprising a receptacle (7) wherein phase changing material (M) is filled.
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the receptacle (7) embedded into the separator (5).
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the receptacle (7) situated inside the channel (6), between the evaporator (4) and the separator (5).
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the receptacle (7) that at least partially contacts the separator (5) so as to remain between the evaporator (4) and the separator (5).
A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a container (8) disposed under the separator (5) and a collection tray (9) disposed under the container (8).
A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by a water transfer means (10) that extends between the container (8) and the collection tray (9).
A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the phase changing material (M), the phase changing temperature of which is between 2° C to 6° C.