US20070144204A1 - Gas absorption refrigerator - Google Patents

Gas absorption refrigerator Download PDF

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Publication number
US20070144204A1
US20070144204A1 US11/614,549 US61454906A US2007144204A1 US 20070144204 A1 US20070144204 A1 US 20070144204A1 US 61454906 A US61454906 A US 61454906A US 2007144204 A1 US2007144204 A1 US 2007144204A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
section
cooling
operating temperature
absorption
absorption refrigerator
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.)
Abandoned
Application number
US11/614,549
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English (en)
Inventor
Stephane CORDEILLE
Patrick DONDERS
Louis VAN EIL
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.)
Thetford Corp
Original Assignee
Thetford 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 Thetford Corp filed Critical Thetford Corp
Priority to EP06026542A priority Critical patent/EP1801523A3/de
Priority to US11/614,549 priority patent/US20070144204A1/en
Assigned to THETFORD CORPORATION reassignment THETFORD CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: DONDERS, PATRICK, MR., VAN EIL, LOUIS, MR., CORDEILLE, STEPHANE, MR.
Publication of US20070144204A1 publication Critical patent/US20070144204A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
    • F25D11/02—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures
    • F25D11/027—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures of the sorption cycle type
    • 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
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
    • F25D23/025—Secondary closures

Definitions

  • Vehicles including but not limited to recreational vehicles (“RVs”, in the United States and “Caravans” in Europe), tractor trailers, airplanes, boats, trains and the like, often incorporate refrigerators for the comfort and convenience of the occupants.
  • RVs recreational vehicles
  • cargo including but not limited to recreational vehicles (“RVs”, in the United States and “Caravans” in Europe), tractor trailers, airplanes, boats, trains and the like
  • refrigerators for the comfort and convenience of the occupants.
  • recreational vehicle campers often find it convenient, or even necessary, to refrigerate food, drinks, and medicine during their journey and while at campsites. While many prepared camp sites in parks and commercial campgrounds provide for electrical outlets, many do not. Moreover, many highly desirable camping locations exist outside of these prepared sites. Thus, a popular solution has been to equip the recreational vehicle with a refrigerator such as an absorption refrigerator.
  • An absorption refrigerator is a refrigerator that utilizes a heat source to provide the energy needed to drive the cooling system.
  • the cooling system of the absorption refrigerator does not have a compressor or any moving parts, commonly seen in domestic refrigerators, to increase the pressure on the refrigerant gas and force the refrigerant gas to become a refrigerant liquid for another cooling cycle.
  • the absorption refrigerator is powered by heat, either from electrical heaters or fuel burners, to change the form of the refrigerant. Through evaporation of the refrigerant, heat is absorbed from the refrigerator cabinet to make the cabinet cool.
  • the absorption refrigerator uses an absorption solution including a refrigerant and as absorbent. Heating the solution releases a portion of the refrigerant from the solution in the form of a vapor. The refrigerant vapor is condensed in a condenser. The refrigerant is then boiled in the evaporator, which removes heat from the refrigerator cabinet and lowers the temperature inside the refrigerator cabinet. The refrigerant vapor is combined back into the solution in the absorber and the combined solution is directed back to the generator for the next cooling cycle.
  • an absorption refrigerator includes a cabinet defining an interior space and an absorption cooling system.
  • the interior space defines a first section maintained at a first operating temperature, a second section maintained at a second operating temperature, and a third section maintained at a third operating temperature.
  • the cooling system includes a first portion for directly absorbing heat from the first section and maintaining the first section at the first operating temperature.
  • the cooling system includes a second portion directly absorbing heat from the second section and maintaining the second section at the second operating temperature.
  • the second section is in fluid communication with the third section such that the third section receives indirect cooling from the second section.
  • an absorption refrigerator includes a cabinet and a freezer.
  • the cabinet defines an interior space.
  • the freezer is disposed in the interior space between an upper section and a lower section.
  • the upper and lower sections are in fluid communication with each other adjacent a forward side of the freezer.
  • An absorption cooling system is carried by the cabinet and includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion directly absorbs head from the freezer section and maintains the freezer section at a first operating temperature, the second portion directly absorbs heat from the lower section and maintains the lower section at a second operating temperature. The second operating temperature is greater than the first operating temperature.
  • the upper section receives indirect cooling from the lower section for maintaining the upper section at a third operating temperature.
  • a method of cooling a refrigerator having a cabinet defining an interior space with a first section, a second section and a third section includes attaching an absorption cooling system to the cabinet.
  • the first section is cooled with a primary source of cooling of the absorption cooling system.
  • the second section is cooled with a residual source of cooling of the absorption cooling system.
  • the third section is cooled with an indirect source of cooling from the second section.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view of a gas absorption refrigerator in accordance with the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a gas absorption refrigerator in accordance with the present disclosure, the gas absorption refrigerator illustrated with a door rotated to an open position.
  • FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3 - 3 of FIG. 2 , with a drawer removed for purposes of illustration.
  • FIG. 4 is a partially cut-away view of a gas absorption refrigerator in accordance with the present disclosure.
  • the absorption refrigerator 10 may generally include a cooling system 12 and a cabinet 16 to be cooled by the cooling system 12 .
  • the cooling system 12 may be mounted in a conventional manner to a back surface 14 of the cabinet 16 .
  • the cooling system 12 may include various conventional gas absorption cooling components, such as a generator 13 , a condensor 15 , an evaporator 17 , and an absorber 19 .
  • An absorption solution flows in the cooling system 12 in a conventional manner.
  • the evaporator 17 may include an evaporator tube.
  • the evaporator tube may include a first or upstream evaporation portion 21 and a second or downstream evaporation portion 23 .
  • the cooling system 12 may be controlled electrically or with a gas source in a manner well-known in the art. To the extent not otherwise described herein, it will be understood that the construction and operation of the absorption cooling system 12 is conventional.
  • the cabinet 16 may include a rear wall 16 A, a top wall 16 B, a bottom wall 16 C and a pair of side walls 16 D (only one side wall is shown in FIG. 3 ).
  • the cabinet 16 may be thermally insulated for efficiently maintaining a cooled storage space.
  • the refrigerator 10 may include an outer door 18 pivotably mounted to the cabinet 16 for articulation between an openposition (as shown in FIG. 2 ) and a closed position (as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 ) about an axis A (see FIG. 2 ).
  • the outer door is a common door 18 .
  • the axis A may be a vertically extending axis.
  • the door 18 cooperates with the walls 16 A, 16 B, 16 C and 16 D of the cabinet 16 to define an interior space and selectively provide access to the interior space.
  • the interior space of the refrigerator 10 may include a plurality of distinct temperature sections or zones.
  • the plurality of distinct temperature sections may include three or more distinct temperature sections.
  • the interior space of the refrigerator 10 may define a first section 22 , a second section 20 and a third section 24 .
  • the first section may be a freezer section 22 with a normal temperature setting below a freezing point.
  • the freezer section 22 may have a temperature operating range with a median operating temperature.
  • the median operating temperature may be approximately ⁇ 12° C., for example.
  • the freezer section 22 may be positioned vertically between the third section 24 and the second section 20 . As such, the freezer section 22 may separate the third section 24 and the refrigeration section 20 .
  • the freezer section 22 may be an enclosed space defined by side walls 22 A and a freezer door 22 B in order to maintain a freezing temperature inside the freezer section 22 .
  • the freezer door 22 B may be inwardly spaced from the outer door 18 for the refrigerator 10 such that a channel 31 extends therebetween to effectively communicate the third section 24 with the refrigerator section 20 .
  • the second section may be a refrigeration section 20 and may be disposed below the freezer section 22 .
  • the refrigeration section 20 may have an operating temperature range above the operating temperature range of the freezer section 22 .
  • the refrigerator section 20 may have a median setting of approximately 5° C., for example.
  • a drawer 25 may be provided in the refrigeration section 20 to create another compartment.
  • the third section may be indirectly cooled 24 section.
  • the third section 24 may be disposed above the freezer section 22 .
  • the third section 24 may have an operating temperature range above the operating temperature ranges of both the freezer section 22 and the second section 20 .
  • the third section may have a median operating temperature of approximately 13° C., for example.
  • the absorption solution (typically including ammonia as a refrigerant and water as an absorbent) is heated in the generator 13 to preferentially release ammonia vapor.
  • the ammonia vapor in turn flows out of the generator 13 to the condenser 15 .
  • the condenser 15 the ammonia vapor cools and condenses. Outside air driven by a fan (not shown) may be employed to provide the heat transfer necessary to condense the vapor in the condenser 15 .
  • a fan not shown
  • the cool liquid ammonia flows from the condenser 15 and into the evaporator 17 .
  • the liquid ammonia absorbs heat from the interior of the cabinet 14 of the refrigerator 10 to lower the temperature of the cabinet 14 .
  • the first evaporation portion 21 is arranged on a back wall of the freezer section 22 and absorbs heat from the freezer section 22 through a first heat transfer plate 27 located therein.
  • the second evaporation portion 23 is arranged on a back wall of the refrigeration section 20 and absorbs heat from the refrigeration section 20 through a second heat transfer plate 29 located therein.
  • the temperature of the ammonia refrigerant in the first evaporation portion 21 is the lowest. After the ammonia refrigerant passes through the first evaporation portion 21 and flows into the second evaporation portion 23 , the temperature of the ammonia refrigerant rises because the ammonia refrigerant has absorbed predominantly heat from the freezer section 22 .
  • the first evaporation portion 21 functions as the primary source of cooling.
  • the vaporized ammonia in the second evaporation portion 23 absorbs heat from the refrigeration section 20 .
  • the second evaporation portion 23 functions as the residual source of cooling. Thereafter, the vaporized ammonia leaves the second evaporation portion 23 and enters the absorber 19 where the partially depleted water—ammonia mixture absorbs the ammonia vapor to complete the refrigeration cycle.
  • the second evaporation portion 23 is preferably disposed at an upper portion of the refrigeration section 20 .
  • the evaporator 17 does not communicate with the third section 24 of the refrigerator 10 . Therefore, the third section 24 is not directly cooled by the evaporator 17 . Rather the third section 24 receives cooling from the refrigeration section 20 through a channel 31 that communicates the third section 24 and the refrigeration section 20 and is thus indirectly cooled by the refrigeration section 20 .
  • the operating temperature range in the third section 24 may be higher than that in the refrigeration section 20 and the freezer section 22 . In certain applications, the operating temperature range of the third section 24 may have a median temperature of approximately 13° C., for example.
  • the door 18 of the refrigerator 10 may be provided with one or more shelves.
  • the one or more shelves include an upper shelf 26 A, a middle shelf 26 B and a lower shelf 26 C.
  • the shelves 26 A, 26 B, 26 C may be injection molded of a plastic material with the remainder of a liner 28 of the door 18 .
  • the shelves 26 A, 26 B, 26 C may be associated with retention mechanisms 30 for retaining items with the refrigerator 10 while the door 18 is being opened and closed and while the vehicle is in motion.
  • the retention mechanisms 30 may be adjustably positioned along horizontally extending bars 32 .
  • the absorption refrigerator 10 constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure realizes energy saving and thus can maintain the desired operating temperatures with limited cooling capacity.
  • a third section 24 having a higher temperature food such as wine, fruits or vegetables which do not need a low-temperature storage as low as 5° C. can be stored in the third section 24 .
  • the total amount of heat needs to be absorbed by the evaporator 17 to maintain the desired operating temperatures in the cabinet 16 can be reduced, thereby contributing to an energy savings.
  • the third section 24 may additionally provide for easy access to the items stored therein as compared with items stores in a drawer which requires a pulling and closing action to provide access.
  • Use of the third section 24 instead of a drawer may additionally have an advantage in maintaining freshness of fruits and vegetables.
  • ethylene gas is normally given off from various fruits and vegetables during the ripening process. The ethylene gas may facilitate premature deterioration of the fruits and vegetables.
  • the third section 24 the ethylene gas will not be trapped in a small closed compartment and will be distributed or otherwise dilutes amongst the larger refrigeration section 20 to thereby minimize its adverse effect on the fruits and vegetables.
  • the provision of the freezer door 22 B inside the cabinet may further contribute to energy saving.
  • the freezer door is generally exposed to the outside environment and the heat transfer between the freezer and the outside environment is great due to the significant temperature differences. Therefore, in the prior art refrigerator, the evaporator needs to extract more heat than necessary to compensate for the heat transfer between the freezer section and the outside environment.
  • the temperature difference and the heat transfer between the freezer section 22 and the outside environment are reduced, further contributing to energy saving.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
US11/614,549 2005-12-21 2006-12-21 Gas absorption refrigerator Abandoned US20070144204A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP06026542A EP1801523A3 (de) 2005-12-21 2006-12-21 Gasabsorptionskältegerät
US11/614,549 US20070144204A1 (en) 2005-12-21 2006-12-21 Gas absorption refrigerator

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US75257505P 2005-12-21 2005-12-21
US11/614,549 US20070144204A1 (en) 2005-12-21 2006-12-21 Gas absorption refrigerator

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20070144204A1 true US20070144204A1 (en) 2007-06-28

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US11/614,549 Abandoned US20070144204A1 (en) 2005-12-21 2006-12-21 Gas absorption refrigerator

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US (1) US20070144204A1 (de)
EP (1) EP1801523A3 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2614321A2 (de) * 2010-09-07 2013-07-17 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Innenverkleidung für eine kältegerätetür
US20140182319A1 (en) * 2012-12-28 2014-07-03 Arlon J. Hunt Thermal energy storage for temperature regulation in electric vehicles

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101566415B (zh) * 2009-05-19 2010-12-29 广东奥马电器股份有限公司 一种节能电冰箱

Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2608835A (en) * 1947-02-28 1952-09-02 Electrolux Ab Multiple temperature household refrigerator
US3512371A (en) * 1967-06-07 1970-05-19 Electrolux Ab Mobile home heat-operated refrigerator
US4353223A (en) * 1979-07-17 1982-10-12 Bosch-Siemens Hausgerate Gmbh Refrigerator with a large refrigeration chamber cooled by natural convection
US4711098A (en) * 1985-10-11 1987-12-08 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. Refrigerator
US4879881A (en) * 1988-09-19 1989-11-14 Madigan Stephen M Energy efficient frost-free refrigerator
US5388427A (en) * 1992-09-23 1995-02-14 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Refrigerator with kimchi compartment
US6351967B1 (en) * 1999-08-06 2002-03-05 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Refrigerator with a freezer compartment
US6401481B2 (en) * 1999-09-09 2002-06-11 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Refrigerator and method of operating refrigerator
US20030010056A1 (en) * 2001-07-13 2003-01-16 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Fridge-freezer
US20030131617A1 (en) * 2000-01-25 2003-07-17 Eugen Schmid Refrigerating appliance comprising a refrigerating compartment, a cold storage compartment and a freezer compartment
US6742353B2 (en) * 2000-05-22 2004-06-01 Matsushita Refrigeration Company Refrigerator
US20050022543A1 (en) * 2003-07-30 2005-02-03 Youngtack Shim Refrigerators with near-zero compartments
US7082783B2 (en) * 2003-09-19 2006-08-01 U-Line Corporation Stacked drawer refrigerator
US20060191285A1 (en) * 2005-02-28 2006-08-31 U-Line Corporation Drawer refrigeration unit

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2489752A (en) * 1944-11-13 1949-11-29 Hoover Co Refrigeration
US2670607A (en) * 1952-08-16 1954-03-02 Servel Inc Multiple temperature evaporator
SE9702402D0 (sv) * 1997-06-24 1997-06-24 Electrolux Ab Absorption refrigerator
SE0301938D0 (sv) * 2003-07-01 2003-07-01 Dometic Appliances Ab Absorption refrigerator with ice-maker

Patent Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2608835A (en) * 1947-02-28 1952-09-02 Electrolux Ab Multiple temperature household refrigerator
US3512371A (en) * 1967-06-07 1970-05-19 Electrolux Ab Mobile home heat-operated refrigerator
US4353223A (en) * 1979-07-17 1982-10-12 Bosch-Siemens Hausgerate Gmbh Refrigerator with a large refrigeration chamber cooled by natural convection
US4711098A (en) * 1985-10-11 1987-12-08 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. Refrigerator
US4879881A (en) * 1988-09-19 1989-11-14 Madigan Stephen M Energy efficient frost-free refrigerator
US5388427A (en) * 1992-09-23 1995-02-14 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Refrigerator with kimchi compartment
US6351967B1 (en) * 1999-08-06 2002-03-05 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Refrigerator with a freezer compartment
US6401481B2 (en) * 1999-09-09 2002-06-11 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Refrigerator and method of operating refrigerator
US20030131617A1 (en) * 2000-01-25 2003-07-17 Eugen Schmid Refrigerating appliance comprising a refrigerating compartment, a cold storage compartment and a freezer compartment
US6742353B2 (en) * 2000-05-22 2004-06-01 Matsushita Refrigeration Company Refrigerator
US20030010056A1 (en) * 2001-07-13 2003-01-16 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Fridge-freezer
US20050022543A1 (en) * 2003-07-30 2005-02-03 Youngtack Shim Refrigerators with near-zero compartments
US7082783B2 (en) * 2003-09-19 2006-08-01 U-Line Corporation Stacked drawer refrigerator
US20060191285A1 (en) * 2005-02-28 2006-08-31 U-Line Corporation Drawer refrigeration unit

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2614321A2 (de) * 2010-09-07 2013-07-17 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Innenverkleidung für eine kältegerätetür
US20140182319A1 (en) * 2012-12-28 2014-07-03 Arlon J. Hunt Thermal energy storage for temperature regulation in electric vehicles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1801523A3 (de) 2009-04-01
EP1801523A2 (de) 2007-06-27

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AS Assignment

Owner name: THETFORD CORPORATION, MICHIGAN

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:CORDEILLE, STEPHANE, MR.;DONDERS, PATRICK, MR.;VAN EIL, LOUIS, MR.;REEL/FRAME:018669/0911;SIGNING DATES FROM 20031221 TO 20061221

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION