WO2012045574A2

WO2012045574A2 - Refrigerator with a cold accumulator

Info

Publication number: WO2012045574A2
Application number: PCT/EP2011/066292
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bertram Wolf; Frank Bailly; Jörg STELZER
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2010-10-04
Filing date: 2011-09-20
Publication date: 2012-04-12
Also published as: DE102010041951A1; EP2625478B1; WO2012045574A3; EP2625478A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a refrigerator (1, 21, 31) which has an inner container (2), with a coolable interior (3) for storing articles, a cold accumulator (5) with an accumulator material (7), a first refrigerating circuit, with an evaporator (9) for cooling the accumulator material (7) of the cold accumulator (5), and a second refrigerating circuit, which comprises a heat exchanger (11, 32), which is arranged within the interior (3) and is coupled to the accumulator material (7) of the cold accumulator (5).

Description

Refrigerating appliance with a cold storage

The invention relates to a refrigeration device, in particular a household refrigerator, which has a cold storage. DE 38 06 205 C2 discloses a refrigerator with a coolable interior and a separate from the coolable interior main evaporator space in which a

Main evaporator is arranged. In the ceiling of the refrigerator, a cold storage is provided, which is enclosed in a heat-insulating material and surrounds a cold storage evaporator. About a thermo sensor, the two

Evaporator be connected to allow a heat transfer. Of the

Refrigerator can be operated so that heat is exchanged between the cold storage and the main evaporator.

Object of the present invention is an alternative refrigeration device with a

Specify cold storage.

The object of the invention is achieved by a refrigeration device, having a

Inner container with a coolable interior for storing refrigerated goods, one

Cold storage with a storage material, a first refrigeration cycle with a

An evaporator for cooling the storage material of the cold accumulator, and a second refrigeration cycle comprising a heat exchanger disposed within the interior, which is coupled to the storage material of the cold accumulator.

Under a refrigeration device is in particular a household refrigeration appliance understood, ie a refrigeration appliance for household management in households or possibly in the

Catering area is used, and in particular serves to store food and / or drinks in household quantities at certain temperatures, such as a refrigerator, a freezer, a fridge-freezer, a freezer or a wine storage cabinet.

The refrigerator according to the invention therefore comprises the coolable interior and the first refrigeration cycle, preferably as a condenser, a compressor and the evaporator comprehensive compressor refrigeration cycle can be formed. The interior is not cooled by the evaporator. This is rather intended to cool the memory material of the cold accumulator. In order to cool the storage material, the evaporator is coupled to the storage material of the cold storage. In order to cool the memory material as well as possible, it is especially with the

Memory material thermally conductively connected, preferably completely from

Surrounding memory material of the cold storage.

Furthermore, the refrigeration device according to the invention comprises the second refrigeration cycle, which comprises the heat exchanger. This is within the coolable interior of the

Refrigerating appliance, e.g. on a wall of the interior, arranged or integrated in one of the walls, and is coupled to the memory material. Thus, it is possible that the interior is cooled via the heat exchanger and the storage material.

In order to reduce the risk of uncontrolled cooling of the interior through the cold storage at least, according to a variant of the refrigerator according to the invention, the cold storage, at least its storage material, thermally isolated from the interior. This can e.g. be realized by the cold storage is separated by an insulation from the interior. The cold storage may also be arranged inside the interior, but e.g. be surrounded by an insulation. The cold storage can also be arranged completely separate from the inner container.

In order to realize the coupling of the storage material with the heat exchanger, according to one embodiment of the refrigeration device according to the invention, the second

Refrigeration circuit may be formed as a refrigerant circuit, which has the heat exchanger and connected to the heat exchanger, heat-conductively connected to the storage material of the cold storage further heat exchanger, so from

Memory material cooled refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit from further

Heat exchanger flows into the heat exchanger. The other heat exchanger is

preferably completely surrounded by the storage material. Because of this particular closed executed second refrigeration cycle, the interior can be cooled in a relatively simple manner. Thus, it is possible to cool the interior even when the first refrigeration cycle is not in operation, because, for example, no electrical energy an electrical power supply network for the refrigeration device according to the invention is available.

According to a preferred embodiment of the refrigerator according to the invention, the evaporator is thermally conductively connected to the further heat exchanger. The evaporator can in particular touch the further heat exchanger. This will be a

improved heat transfer between the evaporator and the other

Heat exchanger allows. This makes it possible that the refrigerant in the further heat exchanger is also cooled directly via the evaporator. This results in the operation of the first refrigeration cycle improved cooling of the other

Heat exchanger.

According to a further variant of the refrigerating appliance according to the invention, the refrigerant circuit has a circulating pump which is set up to pump the refrigerant from the further heat exchanger to the heat exchanger so that the refrigerant flows through the heat exchanger and back to the further heat exchanger. Due to the

Circulation pump can improve the coming of the other heat exchanger, cooled refrigerant flows through the heat exchanger, whereby the cooling of the interior is improved. In order to realize the coupling of the storage material with the heat exchanger, according to one embodiment of the refrigeration device according to the invention, the second

Refrigeration circuit be designed such that the memory material through the

Heat exchanger is able to flow. Accordingly, according to this embodiment, the storage material does not cool refrigerant via a further heat exchanger, but can flow directly through the heat exchanger arranged in the interior. For this embodiment, the storage material used can be a mushy and therefore optionally also pumpable storage material mixture, which is also referred to as "slurry." The second refrigeration cycle can comprise a circulating pump which is set up to pump the storage material through the heat exchanger the cooled storage material improves flow through the heat exchanger, whereby the cooling of the interior is improved. The refrigerator according to the invention can be connected to the circulation pump

Have control device which is adapted to control the circulation pump for regulating the temperature of the interior. Is e.g. a higher cooling necessary, then the controller can turn on the circulation pump.

The refrigerator according to the invention may comprise a further evaporator, which is thermally connected to the interior to cool the interior. For this embodiment, the control device may then preferably be set up to control the circulation pump for cooling the interior only if no electrical energy is available from an electrical supply network for the refrigeration device and otherwise to cool the interior exclusively via the further evaporator. The further evaporator can in particular within the interior of the

be arranged according to the invention refrigerator. Depending on the embodiment of the refrigerating appliance according to the invention, therefore, a refrigerating appliance, in particular designed as a household refrigerating appliance, with two refrigerating circuits and a PCM tank or, in general, a cold storage is provided. The PCM tank or the cold storage is used in the frozen state as a cold accumulator. The PCM tank or the cold storage may preferably be removed from the refrigerator interior, e.g. be separated by an additional insulation, which can be cooled or frozen largely independent of the interior temperature. In principle, however, the PCM tank / the cold storage could also be located in a container completely separated from the refrigeration appliance according to the invention or positioned at any point in the refrigeration appliance.

Substances or mixtures of substances which have a melting point (or phase change point) below the desired interior temperature can be used as the PCM material or storage material. These are for example

Domestic refrigerators typically brine solutions with a melting point of <4 ° C.

To cool the PCM tank / the cold storage is the evaporator of the primary refrigeration cycle or the first refrigeration cycle (in household refrigerators, preferably a cold steam compression circuit) in the PCM tank and is thermally with coupled to the heat exchanger of the secondary circuit and the second refrigeration circuit.

The control of the interior temperature is preferably carried out via the secondary circuit, which is filled depending on the embodiment of the refrigerator according to the invention with a suitable fluid for heat or cold transport. Optionally via a circulation pump, the cooled fluid can be pumped from the heat exchanger in the other heat exchanger. Here, the fluid can absorb heat from the interior air, which can then be transferred after the return of the fluid in the other heat exchanger in particular to the PCM material or storage material or optionally directly to the refrigerant in the primary circuit. Depending on whether more or less cold fluid is pumped into the heat exchanger, the refrigerator interior temperature can be controlled.

According to an alternative embodiment of the refrigerator according to the invention, the additional heat exchanger and the fluid in the secondary circuit can be dispensed with. As a PCM

Material or storage material is preferably a pasty mixture of frozen and non-frozen components of the PCM material or generally the

Storage material (suspension). This pulpy and therefore pumpable PCM mixture is referred to as "slurry". This can be cooled directly from the primary circuit in the PCM tank or in the cold storage. To cool the refrigerator interior, the PCM slurry, i. E. optionally pumped the storage material from the PCM tank or cold storage in the heat exchanger. Under

Heat absorption can thaw the frozen components of the slurry and extract heat from the interior. The thawed PCM slurry is subsequently

optionally pumped back into the PCM tank / cold storage. An advantage of this variant is that the storage material can cool the interior air of the refrigerator according to the invention directly via the heat exchanger, and possibly only relatively little mass has to be circulated through the pump. Embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a household refrigeration appliance in a sectional view and Figures 2, 3 each show another household refrigeration appliance in a sectional view.

Fig. 1 shows a household refrigerator 1 as an example of a refrigerator in a sectional view.

The household refrigerator 1 has an inner container 2 with a coolable interior 3. The coolable interior 3 is provided to store refrigerated goods. On the inner container 2, a door leaf 4 is hinged so that the interior 3 is accessible. Depending on the design, the coolable interior 3 may be e.g. around a cold room, e.g. to temperatures around 10 ° C, or to act on a freezer room

Temperatures below freezing is coolable.

In the case of the present embodiment, a cold storage 5 is arranged in the lower part of the inner container 2, which is thermally separated by an insulation or a heat-insulating wall 6 from the coolable interior 3. But the cold storage 5 can also completely from the remaining household refrigerator 1, in particular from

Inner container 2 may be arranged separately or be arranged thermally insulated within the interior 3. In the cold storage 5, a memory material 7, a so-called PCM (phase change material) is arranged. Such a storage material 7 is known in the art in principle and is intended to store cold. In particular, substances or substance mixtures which have a melting point (or phase change point) below the desired temperature of the coolable interior 3 are used as the storage material 7. Suitable storage materials 7 are e.g. Sololösungen with a

Melting point of <4 ° C, when it is in the coolable interior 3 to a

Refrigerator acts.

The domestic refrigeration appliance 1 further comprises a compressor refrigeration cycle comprising a condenser 8, an evaporator 9 and a compressor 10. The compressor refrigeration cycle is designed in particular as a cold steam compression circuit and is supplied by means of an electric power supply network, not shown, with electrical energy. The evaporator 9 is thermally conductively connected to the cold storage 5, in particular, the evaporator 9 is disposed within the cold accumulator 5 and of the

Surrounding memory 7, so is directly with the memory material 7 in contact. The compressor refrigeration cycle may e.g. be connected to a control device of the household refrigerating appliance 1, not shown, to be turned on and off as needed, to cool the storage material 7 of the cold accumulator 5.

In the case of the present embodiment, the household refrigerating appliance 1 has a compressor-less refrigerant refrigerant circuit, which comprises a first heat exchanger 1 1, a second heat exchanger 12 connected to the first heat exchanger 11 and a circulating pump 13. The second heat exchanger 12 is thermally coupled to the cold storage 5. In particular, the second heat exchanger 12 is also thermally conductive connected to the evaporator 9 of the compressor refrigeration cycle. This is realized in the case of the present embodiment, characterized in that the second heat exchanger 12 is located within the cold accumulator 5 and of the

Memory material 7 is surrounded, that is directly in contact with the memory material 7. In addition, the second heat exchanger 12 and the evaporator 9 via a

Thermal bridge coupled thermally or are arranged directly adjacent to each other and touch each other in particular surface.

The first heat exchanger 11 is thermally coupled to the coolable interior 3. It is arranged in particular within the coolable interior 3. He can

In particular, be arranged on a directed towards the interior wall of the inner container 2, in particular on the rear wall 14 of the inner container 2. The first heat exchanger 11 may also be integrated in one of the walls of the inner container 2.

The two heat exchangers 1 1, 12 comprehensive refrigeration cycle is with a

suitable fluid for heat or cold transport filled and is arranged such that the cooled fluid from the second heat exchanger 12 by means of the circulation pump 13 to the first heat exchanger 1 1 can be transported.

In the operation of the household refrigerator 1, the regulation or control of the

Temperature of the coolable interior 3 via which the two heat exchangers 1 1, 12th comprehensive refrigeration cycle. For this purpose, the circulating pump 13 is connected, for example, to the control device of the household refrigerating appliance 1, which for example turns on and off the circulating pump 13 on the basis of a setpoint temperature of the interior 3 and on the basis of a measured or determined actual temperature of the interior 3. If the circulating pump 13 is turned on, then it pumps this from the storage material 7 and optionally from the evaporator 9, located in the second heat exchanger 12 fluid in the first heat exchanger 11. Here, the fluid heat from the air of the coolable interior 3 record, which then after the Return transport of the fluid in the second heat exchanger 12 to the storage means 7 or directly to the refrigerant in the compressor refrigeration cycle can be transferred via the evaporator 9. Depending on whether more or less cold fluid is pumped into the first heat exchanger 1 1, the temperature of the interior 3 can be adjusted or even regulated.

When the household refrigerating appliance 1 is operated independently of the mains, i. will that

Domestic refrigerator 1 is not supplied with electrical energy from the power grid, then, in the operation of the household refrigerator 1, the cooled, possibly the frozen storage material 7, the heat from the fluid and thus from the

Take interior 3 without the compressor refrigeration cycle needs to be turned on. The relatively low electrical power requirement of the circulation pump 13 and the control device can be covered by a rechargeable, relatively small battery, not shown, whereby a completely mains independent operation of the household refrigerator 1 with relatively low power consumption from the battery over a certain period is possible.

Fig. 2 shows another household refrigerator 21 as an example of a refrigerator in a sectional view. Unless otherwise described, components of the domestic refrigeration appliance 21 shown in FIG. 2, which are substantially identical in construction and function to components of the household refrigerating appliance shown in FIG. 1, are given the same reference numerals. The household refrigerating appliance 21 shown in FIG. 2 differs essentially from the household refrigerating appliance 1 shown in FIG. 1 by an additional one

Evaporator 15, which is provided, if necessary, the interior 3 to cool directly. The additional evaporator 15 is, for example, within the interior 3, for example on the Rear wall 14 of the inner container 3 is arranged or integrated into this. Accordingly, the interior 3 can be additionally or alternatively cooled by means of the additional evaporator 15. In particular, it is provided, the interior 3 by means of

additional evaporator 15 to cool when electrical energy over the

Power supply network is available.

The additional evaporator 15 is part of a compression refrigeration cycle, e.g.

includes its own compressor and condenser, not shown. This compression refrigeration cycle can be controlled by the control device of the household refrigerator 21 to regulate the temperature of the interior 3 in particular.

In the case of the present embodiment, however, it is provided that the additional evaporator 15 is connected by means of a 2-way valve 16 to the compression refrigeration cycle, which also includes the evaporator 9 for the cold storage 5. The 2-way valve 16 is connected to the control device, for example, and is set up to supply either the evaporator 9 and / or the additional evaporator 15 with refrigerant of the compressor refrigeration cycle as needed.

Fig. 3 shows another household refrigerator 31 as an example of a refrigeration device in a sectional view. Unless otherwise described, components of the household refrigerating appliance 31 shown in FIG. 3, which are substantially identical in construction and function to components of the household refrigerating appliance 1 shown in FIG. 1, are given the same reference numerals.

The household refrigerating appliance 31 shown in FIG. 3 likewise comprises the cold storage 5, which is thermally separated from the coolable interior 3 by means of an insulation or the heat-insulating wall 6. In the cold storage 5, the storage material 7 is also arranged, which is carried out in the case of the present embodiment as a pulpy mixture of frozen and non-frozen components. This pulpy and therefore pumpable PCM mixture is also referred to as "slurry".

In the case of the present embodiment, the household refrigerating appliance 31 also comprises the compressor refrigeration cycle comprising the condenser 8, the evaporator 9 and the compressor 10. The evaporator 9 is also thermally conductive with the Cold storage 5 connected, in particular, the evaporator 9 is within the

Cold storage 5 arranged and surrounded by the storage material 7, so is directly with the memory material 7 in contact.

In the case of the present embodiment, the household refrigerator 31 does not have the compressor-less refrigerant refrigerant circuit of the household refrigerators 2, 21 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

In the case of the present embodiment, that shown in FIG

Domestic refrigerator 31, a heat exchanger 32 and a circulation pump 33. The heat exchanger 32 is thermally coupled to the coolable interior 3. It is arranged in particular within the coolable interior 3, and is preferably arranged on a wall of the inner container 2 directed towards the interior 3, in particular on the rear wall 14 of the inner container 2. One end of the heat exchanger 32 is connected to the circulation pump 33 and the other end is connected via a line with the

Cold storage 5 connected. The end of the circulation pump 33, not with the

Heat exchanger 32 is connected, is also connected to a line with the cold storage. Thus, it is possible that the circulation pump 33 in the operation of the

Domestic refrigerator 31, the cooled storage material 7 from the cold storage 7 through the heat exchanger 32 can pump.

In operation of the household refrigerator 31, the control of the temperature of the coolable interior 3 is effected via the heat exchanger 32. For this purpose, the circulation pump 33 is e.g. connected to the control device of the household refrigerator 31, for example, the circulation pump 33 due to a target temperature of the interior 3 and due to a measured or determined actual temperature of the interior 3 on demand and off. If the circulation pump 33 is turned on, then this storage material 7 pumps into the heat exchanger 32. Here can the

Storage material 7 absorb heat from the air of the coolable interior 3, which is then again cooled after the return of the storage material 7 in the cold storage 7 by means of the evaporator 9. Depending on whether more or less storage material 7 is pumped into the heat exchanger 32, the temperature of the interior 3 can be adjusted or even regulated. If the household refrigerator 31 is operated independently of the mains, that is

Domestic refrigerator 31 is not supplied with electrical energy from the power grid, then in the operation of the household refrigerator 31, the cooled

Storage material 7 via the heat exchanger 32 to cool the interior 3, without the compressor refrigeration cycle needs to be turned on. The relatively low electrical power requirement of the circulation pump 33 and the control device can be covered by a rechargeable, relatively small battery, not shown in detail, whereby a completely mains independent operation of the household refrigerator 31 at relatively low power consumption from the battery over a certain period is possible. According to the household refrigerating appliance 21 shown in FIG. 2, the household refrigerating appliance 31 shown in FIG. 3 may also comprise the further evaporator 15.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 household refrigerator

2 inner containers

3 interior

4 door leaf

5 cold storage

6 wall

7 storage material

8 liquefier

9 evaporator

10 compressors

1 1, 12 heat exchangers

13 circulation pump

14 rear wall

15 evaporator

15 2-way valve

21, 31 Domestic refrigeration appliance

32 heat exchangers

33 circulation pump

Claims

Refrigeration appliance, in particular domestic refrigeration appliance, comprising an inner container (2) with a coolable interior (3) for storing refrigerated goods, a cold storage (5) with a storage material (7), and a first refrigeration circuit with a

Evaporator (9) for cooling the storage material (7) of the cold accumulator (5), characterized by a second refrigeration circuit, which comprises a heat exchanger (11, 32) arranged inside the inner space (3), which communicates with the

Storage material (7) of the cold accumulator (5) is coupled.

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the cold storage (5), at least its storage material (7) is thermally insulated from the interior space (3) that the evaporator (9) thermally conductively connected to the storage material (7), in particular completely from the storage material ( 7) of the cold accumulator (5) is surrounded, and / or that the first refrigeration cycle is formed as a compression refrigeration cycle comprising a condenser (8), a compressor (10) and the evaporator (9).

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second refrigeration circuit is designed as a refrigerant circuit, which is the heat exchanger

(11) and a heat exchanger connected to the heat exchanger (1 1), heat-conductively connected to the storage material (7) of the cold storage (5) further heat exchanger

(12), so that from the storage material (7) cooled refrigerant of the refrigerant circuit from the further heat exchanger (12) flows into the heat exchanger (11).

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 3, characterized in that the evaporator (9) is thermally conductively connected to the further heat exchanger (12), in particular that touch the evaporator (9) and the further heat exchanger (12).

Refrigerating appliance according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the refrigerant circuit has a circulation pump (13) which is adapted to pump the refrigerant from the further heat exchanger (12) to the heat exchanger (1 1), so that the Refrigerant through the heat exchanger (11) and back to the other heat exchanger

(12) flows.

6. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second

Refrigeration circuit is designed such that the storage material (7) through the heat exchanger (32) is able to flow.

7. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that the second refrigeration circuit comprises a circulating pump (33) which is adapted to pump the storage material (7) through the heat exchanger (32).

8. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 5 or 7, characterized by a with the

Circulation pump (13, 33) connected control device which is adapted to the circulation pump (13, 33) for controlling the temperature of the interior (3) to control.

9. Refrigerating appliance according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by a further evaporator (15) which is thermally connected to the interior (3) in order to cool the interior space (3). 10. Refrigerating appliance according to claim 9, characterized in that the control device of the household refrigerator (21) for cooling the interior (3) only the circulation pump (13, 33) for cooling the interior (3) controls when no electrical energy from an electric Supply network for the refrigerator (21) is available and otherwise the interior (3) exclusively on the other evaporator (15) cools.