EP3961131A1

EP3961131A1 - A cooling appliance having a combined condenser

Info

Publication number: EP3961131A1
Application number: EP21187570.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sarper Marasli; Fatih TURKER; Mert Tosun; Yasin AKSIN; Kerim YILDIRIM
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2020-08-27
Filing date: 2021-07-25
Publication date: 2022-03-02
Also published as: TR202013573A2

Abstract

Cooling appliance comprising; a first compartment and a second compartment wherein the first compartment is kept at a temperature different than the second compartment; a first evaporator (1) for said first compartment; a second evaporator (2) for said second compartment; a compressor (3); a refrigerant circuit for providing a flow of the refrigerant; a condenser (4) having a first condensing coil (4a) and a second condensing coil (4b) wherein the length of said coils (4a, 4b) are different and a valve (5) to direct refrigerant to the first condensing coil (4a) and/or the second condensing coil (4b).

Description

The present invention relates to a cooling appliance, in particular to a cooling appliance having a combined condenser.
Most of the cooling devices are provided with dual evaporators to cool the fresh food compartment and the freezer compartment. By doing this, energy efficiency of the cooling appliance is improved. Apart from this, the condenser is single and the refrigerant has to pass through the whole length of the condenser. This causes the energy efficiency of the cooling appliance to decrease. The evaporator and the condenser used to cool the fresh food compartment, which needs higher evaporation for cooling, operates at a lower efficiency. In order to cool such cooling appliances, usage of dual compressor becomes a necessity, decreasing the energy efficiency and the inner storage capacity of the cooling appliance.
A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as WO2020015407A1 among others, the document disclosing a dual system air cooled refrigerator having a deep freezing function and a control method therefor.
A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as EP0583905A1 among others, the document disclosing a cooling appliance having dual evaporators.
A prior art publication in the technical field of the present invention may be referred to as EP0558095B1 among others, the document disclosing a cooling appliance equipped with a dual evaporator refrigerator system.
An objective of the present invention is to provide a cooling appliance having improved energy efficiency.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a cooling appliance having a condenser with reduced volume, meanwhile not compromising the energy efficiency.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a cooling appliance with a condenser having sub operable parts which are sized according to the cooling needs of compartments of the cooling appliance.
The method realized to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the first claim and the dependent claims comprises a cooling appliance. The cooling appliance comprises a first compartment and a second compartment having different internal temperatures. A first evaporator is assigned to the first compartment and a second evaporator is assigned to the second compartment. A compressor is provided so as to compress and pump the refrigerant towards the evaporators. The cooling appliance further comprises a condenser wherein the condenser comprises a first condensing coil and a second condensing coil. The said condensing coils have different lengths configured to match the cooling needs of respective compartments. A valve is placed between the condenser and the compressor and the valve directs the refrigerant towards the first condensing coil and/or to the second condensing coil. The condenser has a body mainly made of fins that are responsible for dissipating heat and condensing coils passing through the fins. The condenser has two inlets and two outlets, being used as inlets and outlets of condensing coils. The first condensing coil and the second condensing coil extend along the fins of the condenser. Depending on their length, the number of "U" turns each condensing coil has varies. This results in different heat dissipation values for different condensing coils. By means of dividing the condenser into smaller and independently operable parts, energy efficiency of the cooling appliance is improved. Another advantageous effect is that the fins of condenser is used by both condensing lines, decreasing the volume of the condenser and reducing material costs relating to the construction of fins.
In an embodiment of the invention, a first dryer is connected in series to the refrigerant outlet of the first condensing coil and a second dryer is connected in series to the refrigerant outlet of the second condensing coil. Dryers comprise desiccant which helps remove and filter out impurities and water.
In an embodiment of the invention, a first capillary is connected in series to the refrigerant outlet of the first dryer and a second capillary is connected in series to the refrigerant outlet of the second dryer. Capillaries help reduce the pressure of the refrigerant thanks to the thin diameter they have. Thin is meant to be between 0.5 mm - 2.28mm.
In an embodiment of the invention, a first heat exchanger is connected in series to the refrigerant outlet of the first capillary and a second heat exchanger is connected in series to the refrigerant outlet of the second capillary. Heat exchangers helps facilitate the energy transfer from the inside of the refrigerator to the cold refrigerant.
In an embodiment of the invention, a first check valve is connected in series to the refrigerant outlet of the first heat exchanger and a second check valve is connected in series to the refrigerant outlet of the second heat exchanger. The check valves help prevent the backward flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit.
In an embodiment of the invention, a first accumulator is connected in series to the refrigerant outlet of the first check valve and a second accumulator is connected in series to the refrigerant outlet of the second check valve. The accumulators prevent refrigerant from flooding back into the compressor.
In an embodiment of the invention, a fan is placed in close vicinity of the condenser. The fan forces air to circulate through the condenser.
In an embodiment of the invention, the cooling appliance comprises at least two temperature sensors placed inside the compartments. The cooling appliance further comprises a control unit in communication with the said temperature sensors. The control unit, according to the temperature readings of the first compartment and the second compartment, activates the valve and direct the refrigerant to the first condensing coil and/or to the second condensing coil. As a result, optimal cooling has been achieved.
An advantageous effect provided by means of this invention is that the condensing coils are combined together in a single condenser which helps reduce the material cost related to the fins.
Another advantageous effect provided by means of this invention is that the need for using two separate condensers is removed which helps reduce the energy consumption of the cooling appliance.
Another advantageous effect of using a single condenser divided into operable parts helps reduce the energy consumption of the cooling appliance.
The drawings are not meant to delimit the scope of protection as identified in the claims nor should they be referred to alone in an effort to interpret the scope identified in the claims without recourse to the technical disclosure in the description of the present invention.

Figure 1 - is a schematic view of the refrigerant circuit

The following numerals are assigned to different parts demonstrated in the drawings and referred to in the present detailed description of the invention:

1. First evaporator
2. Second Evaporator
3. Compressor
4. Condenser
- 4a. First condensing coil
- 4b. Second condensing coil
5. Valve
6. First dryer
7. Second dryer
8. First capillary
9. Second capillary
10. First heat exchanger
11. Second heat exchanger
12. First check valve
13. Second check valve
14. First accumulator
15. Second accumulator
16. Fan

The present invention relates to a cooling appliance comprising; a first compartment and a second compartment wherein the first compartment is kept at a temperature different than the second compartment; a first evaporator (1) for said first compartment; a second evaporator (2) for said second compartment; a compressor (3); a refrigerant circuit for providing a flow of the refrigerant.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the cooling appliance further comprises a a condenser (4) having a first condensing coil (4a) and a second condensing coil (4b) to dissipate the heat wherein the length of the said coils (4a,4b) are different and a valve (5) in said refrigerant circuit configured to direct the refrigerant exiting the compressor (3) to the first condensing coil (4a) and/or the second condensing coil (4b). The cooling appliance comprises two compartments which are kept at different temperatures. One of the said compartments is used as a fresh food compartment whereas the other one is used as a freezer. Both compartments are assigned an evaporator (1,2). The first evaporator (1) is being used to cool the first compartment whereas the second evaporator (2) is being used to cool the second compartment. The evaporators (1,2) are connected with a compressor (3), the compressor (3) being used for compressing and transmitting the refrigerant along the refrigerant circuit. The cooling appliance further comprises the condenser (4) wherein the condenser (4) comprises two separate condensing coils (4a,4b). The said condensing coils (4a,4b) being operable independent of each other. The condenser (4) has two inlets and two outlets for refrigerant. The first condensing coil (4a) is in relation with the first evaporator (1) and the second condensing coil (4b) is in relation with the second evaporator (2). Meaning that the refrigerant exiting the first condensing coil (4a) is forwarded to the first evaporator (1) and the refrigerant exiting second condensing coil (4b) is forwarded to the second compressor (2). The refrigerant circuit further comprises the valve (5) placed in between the compressor (3) and the condenser (4). The valve (5) is configured to direct the refrigerant to the first condensing coil (4a) and/or to the second condensing coil (4b) depending on the cooling needs of the first and the second compartments. By means of combining the said condensing coils (4a,4b) in a single body helps reduce the volume occupied by the condenser (4). Another advantageous effect provided by means of dividing the condenser (4) into smaller operational parts is that the refrigerant does not need to circulate the whole condenser (4) in order to cool the compartments, improving energy efficiency of the cooling appliance. Another advantageous effect provided by means of providing two separate refrigerant paths, i.e., the two condensing coils (4a,4b) inside the condenser (4), helps reduce the number of fins used at the condenser (4). For instance, if the first compartment is to be cooled, the refrigerant passes through the first condensing coil (4a), using the total number of fins to cool down the refrigerant. Likewise, if the second compartment is to be cooled, the refrigerant passes through the second condensing coil (4b), using the total number of fins to cool down the refrigerant. As a result, the number of fins and therefore the material to be used is decreased.
In an embodiment of the invention, the cooling appliance comprises a first dryer (6) and a second dryer (7) connected in series to the first condensing coil (4a) and the second condensing coil (4b) respectively along the refrigerant circuit. The dryers (6,7) according to the invention comprises a casing having an inlet opening and an outlet opening and a filter desiccant insert arranged inside the casing between the said openings. The dryers (6,7) help serve to filter out impurities and to absorb water.
In an embodiment of the invention, the cooling appliance comprises a first capillary (8) and a second capillary (9) connected in series to the first dryer (6) and the second dryer (7) respectively along the refrigerant circuit. The said capillaries (8,9) are used to decrease the pressure of the refrigerant exiting the condenser (4). The said capillaries (8,9) are made of copper and have an internal diameter that varies from 0.5 mm - 2.28mm.
In an embodiment of the invention, the cooling appliance comprises a first heat exchanger (10) and a second heat exchanger (11) connected in series to the first capillary (8) and the second capillary (9) respectively along the refrigerant circuit. The heat exchangers (10,11) are used to transfer energy from the inside of the refrigerator to the cold refrigerant. This lowers the internal energy of the compartments and raises the internal energy of the refrigerant.
In an embodiment of the invention, the cooling appliance comprises a first check valve (12) and a second check valve (13) connected in series to the first heat exchanger (10) and the second heat exchanger (11) respectively along the refrigerant circuit. The check valves (12,13) prevents the refrigerant to flow backwards along the refrigerant circuit.
In an embodiment of the invention, the cooling appliance comprises a first accumulator (14) and a second accumulator (15) connected in series to the first check valve (12) and the second check valve (13) from one end and to the first evaporator (1) and the second evaporator (2) from the end respectively along the refrigerant circuit. The accumulators (14,15) prevent refrigerant from flooding back to the compressor (3) which in turn prevents low temperature refrigerant hitting the hot valve plate on the compressor (3). Therefore, structural damage to the compressor (3) is prevented.
In an embodiment of the invention, the cooling appliance comprises a fan (16) forcing the air flow through the first condensing coil (4a) and the second condensing coil (4b). The fan (16) sucks in relatively cold air and pushes the air towards the condensing coils (4a,4b).
In an embodiment of the invention, the cooling appliance comprises a plurality of temperature sensor inside the said compartments and a control unit in communication with the valve (5) to direct the flow of refrigerant to the first condensing coil (4a) and/or the second condensing coil (4b) depending on the temperature readings. The control unit, among other functions, controls the flow direction of the refrigerant.
An advantageous effect provided by means of the invention is that the volume of the condenser (4) is decreased, thereby increasing the inner volume of the cooling appliance.
Another advantageous effect provided by means of combining two condensing coils (4a,4b) inside a single condenser (4) reduces the number of fins. Both condensing coils (4a,4b) use the same fin structure, thereby decreasing the material costs related to fins of the condenser.
Another advantageous effect provided by means of the invention is that the refrigerant can be guided to pass through the first condensing coils (4a) or the second condensing coils (4b) depending on the cooling needs of relevant compartments, thereby reducing the length the refrigerant has to pass, which in turn improves the energy efficiency of the cooling appliance.

Claims

A cooling appliance comprising;
a first compartment and a second compartment wherein the first compartment is kept at a temperature different than the second compartment;

a first evaporator (1) for said first compartment;

a second evaporator (2) for said second compartment;

a compressor (3);

a refrigerant circuit for providing a flow of the refrigerant;

characterized by

a condenser (4) having a first condensing coil (4a) and a second condensing coil (4b) to dissipate the heat wherein the length of the said coils (4a,4b) are different and

a valve (5) in said refrigerant circuit configured to direct the refrigerant exiting the compressor (3) to the first condensing coil (4a) and/or to the second condensing coil (4b).
A cooling appliance according to claim 1, characterized by a first dryer (6) and a second dryer (7) connected in series to the first condensing coil (4a) and the second condensing coil (4b) respectively along the refrigerant circuit.
A cooling appliance according to claim 2, characterized by a first capillary (8) and a second capillary (9) connected in series to the first dryer (6) and the second dryer (7) respectively along the refrigerant circuit.
A cooling appliance according to claim 3, characterized by a first heat exchanger (10) and a second heat exchanger (11) connected in series to the first capillary (8) and the second capillary (9) respectively along the refrigerant circuit.
A cooling appliance according to claim 4, characterized by a first check valve (12) and a second check valve (13) connected in series to the first heat exchanger (10) and the second heat exchanger (11) respectively along the refrigerant circuit.
A cooling appliance according to claim 5, characterized by a first accumulator (14) and a second accumulator (15) connected in series to the first check valve (12) and the second check valve (13) from one end and to the first evaporator (1) and the second evaporator (2) from the end respectively along the refrigerant circuit.
A cooling appliance according to any preceeding claim, characterized by a fan (16) forcing the air flow through the condenser (4)
A cooling appliance according to any preceeding claim, characterized by a plurality of temperature sensor inside the said compartments and a control unit in communication with the valve (5) to direct the flow of refrigerant to the first condenser coil (4a) and/or the second condenser coil (4b) depending on the temperature readings.