EP3803231A1 - A cooling system - Google Patents

A cooling system

Info

Publication number
EP3803231A1
EP3803231A1 EP19728365.8A EP19728365A EP3803231A1 EP 3803231 A1 EP3803231 A1 EP 3803231A1 EP 19728365 A EP19728365 A EP 19728365A EP 3803231 A1 EP3803231 A1 EP 3803231A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cooling line
cooling
enabling
valve
refrigerant
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Withdrawn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
EP19728365.8A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Mert PATKAVAK
Funda ERDEM
Sabahattin Hocaoglu
Tolga APAYDIN
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.)
Arcelik AS
Original Assignee
Arcelik AS
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 Arcelik AS filed Critical Arcelik AS
Publication of EP3803231A1 publication Critical patent/EP3803231A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • F25B5/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity
    • F25B5/02—Compression machines, plants or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity arranged in parallel
    • 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—Component parts or details not otherwise provided for in this subclass
    • F25B2400/19—Pumping down refrigerant from one part of the cycle to another part of the cycle, e.g. when the cycle is changed from cooling to heating, or before a defrost cycle is started
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cooling system enabling in particular cooling at least two separate compartments to different temperatures.
  • Refrigerators enable in particular food products to be kept cool and thereby their shelf life to be prolonged.
  • Refrigerators generally comprise at least two compartments, namely a cooler and a freezer compartment. Heat drawn from said compartments by means of a refrigerant is discharged to environment and the compartments of a refrigerator are thus cooled.
  • refrigerators generally having two evaporators connected in series, are widely used. Since evaporation temperatures of a cooler compartment and a freezer compartment are identical in this type of a refrigerator, thermodynamic losses are high in the system.
  • Another system used in the state of the art is completely parallel cooling systems. Such systems have a lower compression ratio in the cooler compartment with respect to the freezer compartment, and thereby provide a higher energy performance compared to refrigerators with evaporators connected in series.
  • two separate cooling cycles are achieved by introducing a three-way valve and a second refrigerant line to the condenser outlet. Separate compartments can thus be operated at different evaporation temperatures, thereby enabling increasing the coefficient of performance (COP) of the system.
  • COP coefficient of performance
  • EP1376031 discloses the operation algorithm of a cooling system with parallel cycles.
  • the aim of the present invention is to realize a cooling system enabling in particular cooling separate compartments to different temperatures.
  • Another aim of the present invention is to realize a cooling system with enhanced efficiency.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic view of the cooling system.
  • Cooling system 2. First cooling line 21. First capillary tube 22. First evaporator 3. Second cooling line 31. Second capillary tube 32. Second evaporator 4. Valve 5. Condenser 6. Compressor 7. Control unit
  • the cooling system (1) enabling in particular cooling separate compartments to different temperatures, comprises in its most basic form,
  • the cooling system (1) enabling in particular cooling separate compartments to different temperatures, comprises at least one first cooling line (2) having at least one first capillary tube (21) enabling changing refrigerant pressure and at least one first evaporator (22) enabling heat to be drawn from a first compartment desired to be cooled, and at least one second cooling line (3) having at least one second capillary tube (31) enabling changing refrigerant pressure and at least one second evaporator (32) enabling heat to be drawn from a second compartment desired to be cooled.
  • the first cooling line (2) and the second cooling line (3) can be operated so as to have different evaporation temperatures.
  • the first cooling line (2) may be a cooler compartment of a refrigerator
  • the second cooling line (3) may be a freezer compartment of the refrigerator.
  • To which cooling line (2, 3) the refrigerant is to be sent is determined by means of at least one valve (4) preferably having three-ways, namely one inlet and two outlets.
  • the first cooling line (2) is connected to one outlet of the valve (4) and the second cooling line (3) is connected to the other outlet of the valve (4).
  • the refrigerant returning from the cooling lines (2, 3) is condensed on the condenser (5).
  • the compressor (6) enables pressurizing the refrigerant.
  • the control unit (7) is adapted to activate or to halt the compressor (6).
  • the operating temperature range of a cooling compartment associated with a cooling line is between the highest temperature at which cooling is desired to be initiated and the lowest temperature at which cooling is desired to be halted.
  • the operating temperature of each cooling compartment may be different.
  • the operating temperature of the freezer portion may be -18°C and the cooler compartment may have an operating temperature in the vicinity of 4°C.
  • the temperatures of said compartments are preferably measured by at least one heat sensor.
  • the control unit (7) takes said temperature values into consideration in determining which cooling line is to be activated and for how long, and enables the valve (4) to be switched to the position to activate the desired cooling line.
  • the control unit (7) positions the valve (4) according to the next cooling line (2, 3) to be activated in the halting process of the compressor (6).
  • refrigerant pressure does not drop during activation of the next cooling line (2, 3), thereby minimizing performance losses of the system.
  • Chart 1 displays an example regarding to which position the control unit (7) will switch the valve (5) and for how long it will continue operation of the compressor (6), according to the currently operating cooling line (2,3) and the next cooling line (2,3) to be activated.
  • Cooling Line Next Cooling Line Valve Position Operating Duration 1. cooling line 1. cooling line 1. cooling line T 1. cooling line 2. cooling line 2. cooling line Y Off Z 2. cooling line 2. cooling line 2. cooling line X 2. cooling line 1. cooling line 1. cooling line M
  • Chart 1 Valve positions and compressor operating durations according to operating sequence of the cooling lines.
  • the valve (4) is switched to the first cooling line (2) position and pressure is equalized for a duration of T. If the second cooling line (3) is to be activated after operation of the first cooling line (2), the valve (4) is switched to the second cooling line (3) position and pressure is equalized for a duration of Y. Then, the valve (4) is switched to an off position for both of the cooling lines (2, 3), and the refrigerant in the evaporator (22) of the first cooling line (2) is enabled to be collected in the condenser (5) for a duration of Z. This step may be referred to as the collection step.
  • the valve (4) is switched to the second cooling line (3) position and pressure is equalized for a duration of X. If the first cooling line (2) is to be activated after operation of the second cooling line (3), the valve (4) is switched to the first cooling line (2) position and pressure is equalized for a duration of M.
  • the above-given operations are solely an example of operation of the cooling system (1) of the invention. Different valve (4) positions can be used in different applications.
  • the number of cooling lines (2, 3) can be increased within the framework of the above-disclosed operation principles.
  • a third cooling line can be introduced, whose operating temperature range differs than that of the first cooling line (2) and the second cooling line (3).
  • the number of valve (4) positions should be increased as well.

Landscapes

  • 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)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling system (1) enabling in particular cooling separate compartments to different temperatures. The cooling system (1) of the invention is characterized by the control unit (7) adapted to position the valve (4) according to the next cooling line (2, 3) to be activated and to enable the compressor (6) to be activated further for a predetermined duration once the operation in the currently operating cooling line (2, 3) is terminated.

Description

    A COOLING SYSTEM
  • The present invention relates to a cooling system enabling in particular cooling at least two separate compartments to different temperatures.
  • Refrigerators enable in particular food products to be kept cool and thereby their shelf life to be prolonged. Refrigerators generally comprise at least two compartments, namely a cooler and a freezer compartment. Heat drawn from said compartments by means of a refrigerant is discharged to environment and the compartments of a refrigerator are thus cooled.
  • Nowadays, refrigerators generally having two evaporators connected in series, are widely used. Since evaporation temperatures of a cooler compartment and a freezer compartment are identical in this type of a refrigerator, thermodynamic losses are high in the system.
  • Another system used in the state of the art is completely parallel cooling systems. Such systems have a lower compression ratio in the cooler compartment with respect to the freezer compartment, and thereby provide a higher energy performance compared to refrigerators with evaporators connected in series. In these systems, two separate cooling cycles are achieved by introducing a three-way valve and a second refrigerant line to the condenser outlet. Separate compartments can thus be operated at different evaporation temperatures, thereby enabling increasing the coefficient of performance (COP) of the system. However, when switching between said cooling cycles, a certain amount of refrigerant with low temperature and pressure may remain in the cycle which is not in use. Therefore, the amount of refrigerant in the cycle currently being used is reduced, decreasing the performance.
  • State of the art international patent application no. WO2013091691 mentions a refrigerator with parallel cycles.
  • State of the art European patent document no. EP1376031 discloses the operation algorithm of a cooling system with parallel cycles.
  • None of the state of the art documents include a solution such as the one in the present invention.
  • The aim of the present invention is to realize a cooling system enabling in particular cooling separate compartments to different temperatures.
  • Another aim of the present invention is to realize a cooling system with enhanced efficiency.
  • The cooling system realized to achieve the aims of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
    Figure 1: is a schematic view of the cooling system.
    1. Cooling system
    2. First cooling line
    21. First capillary tube
    22. First evaporator
    3. Second cooling line
    31. Second capillary tube
    32. Second evaporator
    4. Valve
    5. Condenser
    6. Compressor
    7. Control unit
  • The cooling system (1) enabling in particular cooling separate compartments to different temperatures, comprises in its most basic form,
    • at least one first cooling line (2) having at least one first capillary tube (21) enabling changing refrigerant pressure and at least one first evaporator (22) enabling heat to be drawn from a first compartment desired to be cooled,
    • at least one second cooling line (3) having at least one second capillary tube (31) enabling changing refrigerant pressure and at least one second evaporator (32) enabling heat to be drawn from a second compartment desired to be cooled,
    • at least one valve (4) preferably having three-ways, namely one inlet and two outlets, enabling determining to which cooling line the refrigerant is to be sent,
    • at least one condenser (5) enabling condensing the refrigerant,
    • at least one compressor (6) enabling pressurizing the refrigerant, and
    • at least one control unit (7) adapted to activate or to halt the compressor (6), to determine which cooling line is to be activated for how long, to switch the valve (4) to the position activating the desired cooling line, and to position the valve (4) according to the next cooling line (2, 3) to be activated and to enable the compressor (6) to be activated further for a predetermined duration once the operation in the currently operating cooling line (2, 3) is terminated.
  • In its most basic form, the cooling system (1) enabling in particular cooling separate compartments to different temperatures, comprises at least one first cooling line (2) having at least one first capillary tube (21) enabling changing refrigerant pressure and at least one first evaporator (22) enabling heat to be drawn from a first compartment desired to be cooled, and at least one second cooling line (3) having at least one second capillary tube (31) enabling changing refrigerant pressure and at least one second evaporator (32) enabling heat to be drawn from a second compartment desired to be cooled. The first cooling line (2) and the second cooling line (3) can be operated so as to have different evaporation temperatures. In other terms, the first cooling line (2) may be a cooler compartment of a refrigerator, and the second cooling line (3) may be a freezer compartment of the refrigerator. To which cooling line (2, 3) the refrigerant is to be sent is determined by means of at least one valve (4) preferably having three-ways, namely one inlet and two outlets. The first cooling line (2) is connected to one outlet of the valve (4) and the second cooling line (3) is connected to the other outlet of the valve (4). The refrigerant returning from the cooling lines (2, 3) is condensed on the condenser (5). The compressor (6) enables pressurizing the refrigerant. The control unit (7) is adapted to activate or to halt the compressor (6). The operating temperature range of a cooling compartment associated with a cooling line is between the highest temperature at which cooling is desired to be initiated and the lowest temperature at which cooling is desired to be halted. The operating temperature of each cooling compartment may be different. For example, in a refrigerator, the operating temperature of the freezer portion may be -18°C and the cooler compartment may have an operating temperature in the vicinity of 4°C. The temperatures of said compartments are preferably measured by at least one heat sensor. The control unit (7) takes said temperature values into consideration in determining which cooling line is to be activated and for how long, and enables the valve (4) to be switched to the position to activate the desired cooling line. Furthermore, once operation in a currently active cooling line (2, 3) is terminated, the control unit (7) positions the valve (4) according to the next cooling line (2, 3) to be activated in the halting process of the compressor (6). Thus, refrigerant pressure does not drop during activation of the next cooling line (2, 3), thereby minimizing performance losses of the system.
  • Chart 1 displays an example regarding to which position the control unit (7) will switch the valve (5) and for how long it will continue operation of the compressor (6), according to the currently operating cooling line (2,3) and the next cooling line (2,3) to be activated.
  • Table 1
    Operating Cooling Line Next Cooling Line Valve Position Operating Duration
    1. cooling line 1. cooling line 1. cooling line T
    1. cooling line 2. cooling line 2. cooling line Y
    Off Z
    2. cooling line 2. cooling line 2. cooling line X
    2. cooling line 1. cooling line 1. cooling line M
  • Chart 1. Valve positions and compressor operating durations according to operating sequence of the cooling lines.
  • In the chart above, if the first cooling line (2) is to be activated again after operation of the first cooling line (2), the valve (4) is switched to the first cooling line (2) position and pressure is equalized for a duration of T. If the second cooling line (3) is to be activated after operation of the first cooling line (2), the valve (4) is switched to the second cooling line (3) position and pressure is equalized for a duration of Y. Then, the valve (4) is switched to an off position for both of the cooling lines (2, 3), and the refrigerant in the evaporator (22) of the first cooling line (2) is enabled to be collected in the condenser (5) for a duration of Z. This step may be referred to as the collection step. If the second cooling line (3) is to be activated again after operation of the second cooling line (3), the valve (4) is switched to the second cooling line (3) position and pressure is equalized for a duration of X. If the first cooling line (2) is to be activated after operation of the second cooling line (3), the valve (4) is switched to the first cooling line (2) position and pressure is equalized for a duration of M. The above-given operations are solely an example of operation of the cooling system (1) of the invention. Different valve (4) positions can be used in different applications.
  • The number of cooling lines (2, 3) can be increased within the framework of the above-disclosed operation principles. For example, a third cooling line can be introduced, whose operating temperature range differs than that of the first cooling line (2) and the second cooling line (3). In this case, the number of valve (4) positions should be increased as well.

Claims (2)

  1. A cooling system (1) enabling separate compartments to be cooled to different temperatures, comprising
    - at least one first cooling line (2) having at least one first capillary tube (21) enabling changing refrigerant pressure and at least one first evaporator (22) enabling heat to be drawn from a first compartment desired to be cooled,
    - at least one second cooling line (3) having at least one second capillary tube (31) enabling changing refrigerant pressure and at least one second evaporator (32) enabling heat to be drawn from a second compartment desired to be cooled,
    - at least one valve (4) preferably having three-ways, namely one inlet and two outlets, enabling determining to which cooling line the refrigerant is to be sent,
    - at least one condenser (5) enabling condensing the refrigerant,
    - at least one compressor (6) enabling pressurizing the refrigerant, and
    - at least one control unit (7) adapted to activate or to halt the compressor (6), to determine which cooling line is to be activated and for how long, and to enable the valve (4) to be switched to the position activating the desired cooling line, characterized by
    - the control unit (7) adapted to position the valve (4) according to the next cooling line (2, 3) to be activated and to enable the compressor (6) to be activated further for a predetermined duration once the operation in the currently operating cooling line (2, 3) is terminated.
  2. A cooling system (1) according to claim 1, comprising a first cooling line (2) whose operating temperature range differs from the operating temperature range of the second cooling line (3).
EP19728365.8A 2018-06-05 2019-05-28 A cooling system Withdrawn EP3803231A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
TR201807951 2018-06-05
PCT/EP2019/063755 WO2019233814A1 (en) 2018-06-05 2019-05-28 A cooling system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3803231A1 true EP3803231A1 (en) 2021-04-14

Family

ID=66752074

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19728365.8A Withdrawn EP3803231A1 (en) 2018-06-05 2019-05-28 A cooling system

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3803231A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2019233814A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111913099B (en) * 2020-10-13 2021-01-08 天津金海通自动化设备制造有限公司 Temperature control device and temperature control method of test equipment

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3462156B2 (en) * 1999-11-30 2003-11-05 株式会社東芝 refrigerator
EP1376031B1 (en) 2002-06-26 2016-10-12 LG Electronics, Inc. Method for controlling operation of cooling system having two evaporators
KR100870540B1 (en) * 2007-03-30 2008-11-26 엘지전자 주식회사 Refrigerator Control Method
KR20110072441A (en) * 2009-12-22 2011-06-29 삼성전자주식회사 Refrigerator and its operation control method
WO2013091691A1 (en) 2011-12-21 2013-06-27 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Method of operating refrigeration system and refrigeration system
KR102341711B1 (en) * 2015-07-02 2021-12-21 삼성전자주식회사 Refrigerator and control method thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2019233814A1 (en) 2019-12-12

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