WO2016173790A1 - Cooling device comprising a condenser used in two independent refrigeration cycles - Google Patents

Cooling device comprising a condenser used in two independent refrigeration cycles Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2016173790A1
WO2016173790A1 PCT/EP2016/056728 EP2016056728W WO2016173790A1 WO 2016173790 A1 WO2016173790 A1 WO 2016173790A1 EP 2016056728 W EP2016056728 W EP 2016056728W WO 2016173790 A1 WO2016173790 A1 WO 2016173790A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
condenser
inlet
cooling device
outlet
refrigeration
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2016/056728
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Funda ERDEM
Tolga Nurettin AYNUR
Vasi Kadir Ertis
Egemen TINAR
Gokmen PEKER
Kaan SAHNALI
Original Assignee
Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
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Application filed by Arcelik Anonim Sirketi filed Critical Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Publication of WO2016173790A1 publication Critical patent/WO2016173790A1/en

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    • 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
    • F25D11/022—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cooling compartments at different temperatures with two or more evaporators
    • 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
    • F25B39/00—Evaporators; Condensers
    • F25B39/04—Condensers
    • 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
    • F25B6/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, with several condenser circuits
    • F25B6/02—Compression machines, plants or systems, with several condenser circuits arranged in parallel
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
    • F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
    • F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
    • F28D1/0408—Multi-circuit heat exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat exchangers for more than two fluids
    • F28D1/0426—Multi-circuit heat exchangers, e.g. integrating different heat exchange sections in the same unit or heat exchangers for more than two fluids with units having particular arrangement relative to the large body of fluid, e.g. with interleaved units or with adjacent heat exchange units in common air flow or with units extending at an angle to each other or with units arranged around a central element
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28D—HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS, NOT PROVIDED FOR IN ANOTHER SUBCLASS, IN WHICH THE HEAT-EXCHANGE MEDIA DO NOT COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT
    • F28D1/00—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators
    • F28D1/02—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid
    • F28D1/04—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits
    • F28D1/047—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag
    • F28D1/0477—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag the conduits being bent in a serpentine or zig-zag
    • F28D1/0478—Heat-exchange apparatus having stationary conduit assemblies for one heat-exchange medium only, the media being in contact with different sides of the conduit wall, in which the other heat-exchange medium is a large body of fluid, e.g. domestic or motor car radiators with heat-exchange conduits immersed in the body of fluid with tubular conduits the conduits being bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag the conduits being bent in a serpentine or zig-zag the conduits having a non-circular cross-section
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F28F1/00—Tubular elements; Assemblies of tubular elements
    • F28F1/02—Tubular elements of cross-section which is non-circular
    • F28F1/022—Tubular elements of cross-section which is non-circular with multiple channels
    • 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—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
    • F25B2400/06—Several compression cycles arranged in parallel
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F28—HEAT EXCHANGE IN GENERAL
    • F28F—DETAILS OF HEAT-EXCHANGE AND HEAT-TRANSFER APPARATUS, OF GENERAL APPLICATION
    • F28F2215/00—Fins
    • F28F2215/02—Arrangements of fins common to different heat exchange sections, the fins being in contact with different heat exchange media

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a condenser that is used in two separate refrigeration cycles.
  • the heat energy from the condenser in the refrigerant cycle is discharged to the exterior by natural or enforced heat convection methods.
  • the condensers that function with natural heat convection are generally used in conventional refrigerators and the condensers that operate with enforced heat convection are generally used in no-frost type refrigerators.
  • the refrigerant pipes through which the refrigerant fluid flows branch out into arms like in manifold or mini channel type structures and are contacted with wires or cooling fins.
  • each of the fresh food compartment and the freezing compartment comprises its own refrigeration system and each refrigeration cycle comprises a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator.
  • each refrigeration cycle comprises a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator.
  • the aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device comprising a condenser that is used in two separate refrigeration cycles.
  • the fresh food compartment and the freezing compartment are cooled with two independent refrigeration cycles.
  • the compressor, the condenser and the condenser fan that realize the refrigeration cycle are disposed at the base of the cabin or in the machine room of the cooling device.
  • two compressors or a compressor with large capacity and size
  • two evaporators and two expansion members are used; however, only one (single piece) condenser is used for the two refrigeration cycles.
  • the condenser of the present invention has two portions and comprises a serpentine condenser tube having mini channels through which the refrigerant fluid (refrigerant) passes and cooling fins that are disposed to the condenser tube.
  • the mini channels in the first portion of the condenser is used for the refrigeration cycle of the fresh food compartment and the mini channels in the second portion of the condenser is used for the refrigeration cycle of the freezing compartment.
  • Said two portions of the condenser are separated by an imaginary line that passes at longitudinally the middle of the condenser tube.
  • the imaginary line is defined so as to make the embodiment of the present invention clear and understandable.
  • the line separating the portions is not imaginary, but a separator mini channel through which no refrigerant passes.
  • the two portion structure of the condenser is obtained by the inlet and outlet pipes that enable the refrigerant used in both refrigeration cycles to separately enter and exit from the mini channels.
  • the inlet and outlet pipes of the refrigerant connected to the condenser are referred to as "inlet” and "outlet” in the description.
  • the condenser comprises interconnecting pipes that provide the connection of the refrigerant inlet and outlets to the mini channels, that are shaped in a curved form by being bent in the upwards and downwards direction and that create a level difference between the side-by-side inlets and side-by-side outlets arranged on the condenser tube, thus facilitating the connection of the refrigerant pipes to the inlets and the outlets.
  • the rotational speed of the condenser fan is adjusted according to the refrigeration need of the condenser.
  • the rotational speed of the condenser fan is at the lowest level and while the fresh food compartment is being cooled, the rotational speed is at the middle level and while both compartments are being cooled, the rotational speed is at the highest level.
  • two compressors, the condenser fan and the refrigerant pipes that provide the refrigeration cycle can be placed into the limited space at the base of the cabin of the appliance together with a single condenser, thus providing ease of production and cost advantage.
  • Figure 1 – is the perspective view of the cooling device and the base region of the cabin.
  • Figure 2 – is the rear view of the cooling device and the base region of the cabin.
  • Figure 3 — is the perspective view of the condenser.
  • Figure 4 – is the perspective view of the condenser whereto the refrigerant inlet and outlets are connected.
  • Figure 5 — is the top schematic view of the condenser.
  • the cooling device (1) of the present invention has two independent refrigeration cycles and comprises at least one fresh food compartment (2) and at least one freezing compartment (3).
  • the cooling device (1) furthermore comprises at least one, for example two compressors (4) realizing the refrigeration cycles of the fresh food compartment (2) and the freezing compartment (3) separately or together; a condenser (5) that has cooling fins (15) enabling the thermal energy to be discharged to the outer environment; more than one evaporator (not shown in the figures); more than one refrigerant pipe (6) that provides the refrigerant transfer among the compressor (4), the condenser (5) and the evaporator; more than one expansion member (expansion valve or capillary tube) disposed between the condenser (5) and the evaporators, and a condenser fan (7) that provides the discharge of heat from the condenser (5) to the outer environment with forced convection.
  • the condenser comprises
  • serpentine condenser tube (9) that has more than one mini channel (9) through which the refrigerant passes and
  • the compressors (4), the condenser (5) and the condenser fan (7) are disposed in the region at the lower side of the body of the cooling device (1), namely the cabin base or the machine room.
  • the compressor (4) of the first refrigeration cycle providing the refrigeration of the fresh food compartment (2) is connected to the first inlet (10) of the condenser (5) and the other compressor (4) of the second refrigeration cycle providing the refrigeration of the freezing compartment (3) is connected to the second inlet (12) by means of the refrigerant pipe (6).
  • the expansion member and the evaporator of the first refrigeration cycle providing the refrigeration of the fresh food compartment (2) are connected to the first outlet (11) of the condenser (5) and the expansion member and the evaporator of the second refrigeration cycle providing the refrigeration of the freezing compartment (3) are connected to the second outlet (13) by means of the refrigerant pipe (6).
  • the refrigerant pumped by the compressors (4) passes from the refrigerant pipe (6) through the first inlet (10) and/or the second inlet (12) of the condenser (5) to the first portion (I) and/or the second portion (II) of the condenser (5), moves through the mini channels (8) and reaches the first outlet (11) and/or the second outlet (13) and returns to the compressors (4) by passing through the refrigerant pipe (6) and the expansion members and the evaporators of the first and/or the second refrigeration cycles.
  • a single condenser (5) can be used in two independent refrigeration cycles.
  • the first portion (I) of the condenser (5) is activated, while the freezing compartment (3) is being refrigerated, the second portion (II) of the condenser is activated and while both compartments (2, 3) are being cooled, both portions (I, II) of the condenser (5) are activated.
  • the refrigerant that is pressurized by one or both of the compressors (4) operated according to the refrigeration need of the fresh food compartment (2) and/or the freezing compartment (3) and that reaches the first inlet (10) and/or the second inlet (12) of the condenser (5) by means of the refrigerant pipe (6) enters the mini channels (8) in the first portion (I) and/or the second portion (II) and moves in the condenser tube (9) from end to end and leaves the condenser (5) through the first outlet (11) and/or the second outlet (13).
  • the refrigerant is transferred to the expansion members and the evaporators by means of the refrigerant pipe (6) connected to the first outlet (11) and the second outlet (13).
  • the heat of the refrigerant moving in the mini channels (8) in the condenser tube (9) is discharged to the outer environment by means of the cooling fins (15).
  • the condenser (5) comprises a separator mini channel (14) that extends in the condenser tube (9) along the line (S) separating the condenser tube (9) at the middle, that separates the mini channels (8) in both portions (I, II), that is not connected to the inlets and outlets (10, 12, 11, 13), thus through which no refrigerant passes (Figure 3 and Figure 5).
  • the separator mini channel (14) extends between the mini channels (8) whereto the first inlet (10) and the first outlet (11) are connected and the mini channels (8) whereto the second inlet (12) and the second outlet (13) are connected, and separates the first portion (I) and the second portion (II) from each other.
  • the separator mini channel (14) provides thermal insulation since it is hollow, and by preventing the heat transfer between the refrigerants at different temperatures in the first portion (I) and the second portion (II), enables both portions (I, II) to be operated independently.
  • the condenser (5) comprises more than one interconnecting pipe (16) that provides the connection of the first and second inlets (10 and 12) and the first and second outlets (11 and 13) to the first and second portions (I, II) of the condenser tube (9).
  • the interconnecting pipes (16) have curved shapes, extending by being bent upwards and downwards so as to create a level difference (H) in the vertical direction between the first inlet (10) and the second inlet (12) and between the first outlet (11) and the second inlet (13) ( Figure 4). Since there is a level difference (H) between the inlets and outlets (10, 12 and 11, 13), the refrigerant pipe (6) can be easily mounted to the inlets and outlets (10, 12 and 11, 13) without requiring any interconnecting members, thus providing savings from space at the cabin base which has limited space.
  • the condenser fan (7) is operated at different rotational speeds (low, middle, high) in cases wherein the first portion (I) or the second portion (II) or both portions (I, II) are activated.
  • the condenser fan (7) is operated at low rotational speed when the second portion (II) is activated for the refrigeration of the freezing compartment (3), operated at middle rotational speed when the first portion (I) is activated for the refrigeration of the fresh food compartment (2) and operated at high rotational speed when the two portions (I, II) are activated for the refrigeration of both of the fresh food compartment (2) and the freezing compartment (3).
  • the condensation temperatures of the first portion (I) and the second portion (II) of the condenser related to the first and second refrigeration cycles vary depending on the refrigeration need of the fresh food compartment/compartments (2) and the freezing compartment/compartments (3). Accordingly, the amount of air flow provided by the condenser fan (7) so as to provide heat transfer from the condenser (5) to the outer environment by forced convection varies and the rotational speed of the condenser fan (7) is adjusted according to the desired air flow. Since the evaporation temperature of the freezing compartment (3) is low, the condensation temperature at the second portion (II) activated is also low and the thermal load to be discharged to the outer environment is at the lowest level.
  • the condenser fan (7) is operated at the lowest rotational speed. Since the evaporation temperature of the fresh food compartment (2) is higher than that of the freezing compartment (3), the condensation temperature at the first portion (I) activated is higher than that of the second portion (II) and the thermal load to be discharged to the outer environment increases. Accordingly, the rotational speed of the condenser speed (7) is also increased. Since the first and second portions (I, II) of the condenser (5) are activated while the fresh food compartment (2) and the freezing compartment (3) are simultaneously refrigerated, the total thermal load to be discharged to the outer environment and hence the rotational speed of the condenser fan (7) are at the highest level.
  • cooling device (1) different refrigeration needs of one or more than fresh food compartment (2) and freezing compartment (3) can be met with a single condenser (5) without requiring any additional volume and energy consumption is reduced by operating the condenser fan (7) at the suitable rotational speed.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Geometry (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) having two independent refrigeration cycles, comprising at least one fresh food compartment (2), at least one freezing compartment (3), at least one compressor (4) realizing the refrigeration cycles separately or together; a condenser (5) that has cooling fins (15) providing the discharge of the thermal energy to the outer environment; more than one evaporators; more than one refrigerant pipe (6) that provides the refrigerant transfer; more than expansion member arranged between the condenser (5) and the evaporators, and a condenser fan (7) that provides the discharge of heat from the condenser (5) to the outer environment with forced convection.

Description

COOLING DEVICE COMPRISING A CONDENSER USED IN TWO INDEPENDENT REFRIGERATION CYCLES
The present invention relates to a cooling device comprising a condenser that is used in two separate refrigeration cycles.
In cooling devices, for example in the refrigerators, the heat energy from the condenser in the refrigerant cycle is discharged to the exterior by natural or enforced heat convection methods. The condensers that function with natural heat convection are generally used in conventional refrigerators and the condensers that operate with enforced heat convection are generally used in no-frost type refrigerators. In order to increase the heat transfer surface area in condensers, the refrigerant pipes through which the refrigerant fluid flows, branch out into arms like in manifold or mini channel type structures and are contacted with wires or cooling fins. In order to maintain rigidity in structures wherein the fins or the wires are intertwined with the refrigerant pipes, generally a multiple number of weld or solder joints have to be used; however, the desired resistance cannot be attained and costs increase by the prolonging of labor hours.
In cooling devices with separate refrigeration systems, each of the fresh food compartment and the freezing compartment comprises its own refrigeration system and each refrigeration cycle comprises a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator. However, in these systems, in embodiments wherein the two condensers should be used at the base of the cabin, problems may occur due to space constraint.
In the start of the art patent applications no. US2006144076, JP2005061807 and JP2005201492, multipass and microchannel type condenser structures are explained.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device comprising a condenser that is used in two separate refrigeration cycles.
In the cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, the fresh food compartment and the freezing compartment are cooled with two independent refrigeration cycles. The compressor, the condenser and the condenser fan that realize the refrigeration cycle are disposed at the base of the cabin or in the machine room of the cooling device. In the cooling device, for the two refrigeration cycles, two compressors (or a compressor with large capacity and size), two evaporators and two expansion members are used; however, only one (single piece) condenser is used for the two refrigeration cycles. Thus, two compressors, the condenser fan and the condenser of the present invention can be disposed into the limited space at the base of the cabin and need for a second condenser for the second refrigeration cycle is eliminated. The condenser of the present invention has two portions and comprises a serpentine condenser tube having mini channels through which the refrigerant fluid (refrigerant) passes and cooling fins that are disposed to the condenser tube. The mini channels in the first portion of the condenser is used for the refrigeration cycle of the fresh food compartment and the mini channels in the second portion of the condenser is used for the refrigeration cycle of the freezing compartment. Said two portions of the condenser are separated by an imaginary line that passes at longitudinally the middle of the condenser tube. The imaginary line is defined so as to make the embodiment of the present invention clear and understandable. In an embodiment of the present invention, the line separating the portions is not imaginary, but a separator mini channel through which no refrigerant passes. The two portion structure of the condenser is obtained by the inlet and outlet pipes that enable the refrigerant used in both refrigeration cycles to separately enter and exit from the mini channels. The inlet and outlet pipes of the refrigerant connected to the condenser are referred to as "inlet" and "outlet" in the description.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the condenser comprises interconnecting pipes that provide the connection of the refrigerant inlet and outlets to the mini channels, that are shaped in a curved form by being bent in the upwards and downwards direction and that create a level difference between the side-by-side inlets and side-by-side outlets arranged on the condenser tube, thus facilitating the connection of the refrigerant pipes to the inlets and the outlets.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the rotational speed of the condenser fan is adjusted according to the refrigeration need of the condenser. Thus, while the freezing compartment is being cooled, the rotational speed of the condenser fan is at the lowest level and while the fresh food compartment is being cooled, the rotational speed is at the middle level and while both compartments are being cooled, the rotational speed is at the highest level.
By means of the present invention, two compressors, the condenser fan and the refrigerant pipes that provide the refrigeration cycle can be placed into the limited space at the base of the cabin of the appliance together with a single condenser, thus providing ease of production and cost advantage.
The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 – is the perspective view of the cooling device and the base region of the cabin.
Figure 2 – is the rear view of the cooling device and the base region of the cabin.
Figure 3 – is the perspective view of the condenser.
Figure 4 – is the perspective view of the condenser whereto the refrigerant inlet and outlets are connected.
Figure 5 – is the top schematic view of the condenser.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:
  1. Cooling device
  2. Fresh food compartment
  3. Freezing compartment
  4. Compressor
  5. Condenser
  6. Refrigerant pipe
  7. Condenser fan
  8. Mini channel
  9. Condenser tube
  10. First inlet
  11. First outlet
  12. Second inlet
  13. Second outlet
  14. Separator mini channel
  15. Cooling fin
  16. Interconnecting pipe
I: First portion of the condenser
II: Second portion of the condenser
S: Line separating the first portion and the second portion of the condenser
H: Level difference between the refrigerant inlets and outlets of the condenser
The cooling device (1) of the present invention has two independent refrigeration cycles and comprises at least one fresh food compartment (2) and at least one freezing compartment (3). The cooling device (1) furthermore comprises at least one, for example two compressors (4) realizing the refrigeration cycles of the fresh food compartment (2) and the freezing compartment (3) separately or together; a condenser (5) that has cooling fins (15) enabling the thermal energy to be discharged to the outer environment; more than one evaporator (not shown in the figures); more than one refrigerant pipe (6) that provides the refrigerant transfer among the compressor (4), the condenser (5) and the evaporator; more than one expansion member (expansion valve or capillary tube) disposed between the condenser (5) and the evaporators, and a condenser fan (7) that provides the discharge of heat from the condenser (5) to the outer environment with forced convection.
The condenser comprises
- a serpentine condenser tube (9) that has more than one mini channel (9) through which the refrigerant passes and
- a first inlet (10), a first outlet (11), a second inlet (12) and a second outlet (13), that together separate the condenser (5) at the middle into two portions (I, II) so that at least one mini channel (8) is disposed in each region (I, II) along a serpentine line (S) passing longitudinally at the middle of the condenser tube (9) from end to end, that enable the refrigerant circulated in two independent refrigeration cycles to separately enter and exit from the first portion (I) and the second portion (II) of the condenser tube (9), the first inlet (10) and the first outlet (11) both being connected to the mini channels (8) in the first portion (I), and the second inlet (12) and the second outlet (13) both being connected to the mini channels (8) in the second portion (II).
In the cooling device (1) of the present invention, the compressors (4), the condenser (5) and the condenser fan (7) are disposed in the region at the lower side of the body of the cooling device (1), namely the cabin base or the machine room. The compressor (4) of the first refrigeration cycle providing the refrigeration of the fresh food compartment (2) is connected to the first inlet (10) of the condenser (5) and the other compressor (4) of the second refrigeration cycle providing the refrigeration of the freezing compartment (3) is connected to the second inlet (12) by means of the refrigerant pipe (6). The expansion member and the evaporator of the first refrigeration cycle providing the refrigeration of the fresh food compartment (2) are connected to the first outlet (11) of the condenser (5) and the expansion member and the evaporator of the second refrigeration cycle providing the refrigeration of the freezing compartment (3) are connected to the second outlet (13) by means of the refrigerant pipe (6). The refrigerant pumped by the compressors (4) passes from the refrigerant pipe (6) through the first inlet (10) and/or the second inlet (12) of the condenser (5) to the first portion (I) and/or the second portion (II) of the condenser (5), moves through the mini channels (8) and reaches the first outlet (11) and/or the second outlet (13) and returns to the compressors (4) by passing through the refrigerant pipe (6) and the expansion members and the evaporators of the first and/or the second refrigeration cycles. Thus, a single condenser (5) can be used in two independent refrigeration cycles. While the fresh food compartment (2) is being refrigerated, the first portion (I) of the condenser (5) is activated, while the freezing compartment (3) is being refrigerated, the second portion (II) of the condenser is activated and while both compartments (2, 3) are being cooled, both portions (I, II) of the condenser (5) are activated.
In the cooling device (1), the refrigerant that is pressurized by one or both of the compressors (4) operated according to the refrigeration need of the fresh food compartment (2) and/or the freezing compartment (3) and that reaches the first inlet (10) and/or the second inlet (12) of the condenser (5) by means of the refrigerant pipe (6) enters the mini channels (8) in the first portion (I) and/or the second portion (II) and moves in the condenser tube (9) from end to end and leaves the condenser (5) through the first outlet (11) and/or the second outlet (13). The refrigerant is transferred to the expansion members and the evaporators by means of the refrigerant pipe (6) connected to the first outlet (11) and the second outlet (13). The heat of the refrigerant moving in the mini channels (8) in the condenser tube (9) is discharged to the outer environment by means of the cooling fins (15).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the condenser (5) comprises a separator mini channel (14) that extends in the condenser tube (9) along the line (S) separating the condenser tube (9) at the middle, that separates the mini channels (8) in both portions (I, II), that is not connected to the inlets and outlets (10, 12, 11, 13), thus through which no refrigerant passes (Figure 3 and Figure 5). The separator mini channel (14) extends between the mini channels (8) whereto the first inlet (10) and the first outlet (11) are connected and the mini channels (8) whereto the second inlet (12) and the second outlet (13) are connected, and separates the first portion (I) and the second portion (II) from each other. The separator mini channel (14) provides thermal insulation since it is hollow, and by preventing the heat transfer between the refrigerants at different temperatures in the first portion (I) and the second portion (II), enables both portions (I, II) to be operated independently.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the condenser (5) comprises more than one interconnecting pipe (16) that provides the connection of the first and second inlets (10 and 12) and the first and second outlets (11 and 13) to the first and second portions (I, II) of the condenser tube (9).
In another embodiment of the present invention, the interconnecting pipes (16) have curved shapes, extending by being bent upwards and downwards so as to create a level difference (H) in the vertical direction between the first inlet (10) and the second inlet (12) and between the first outlet (11) and the second inlet (13) (Figure 4). Since there is a level difference (H) between the inlets and outlets (10, 12 and 11, 13), the refrigerant pipe (6) can be easily mounted to the inlets and outlets (10, 12 and 11, 13) without requiring any interconnecting members, thus providing savings from space at the cabin base which has limited space.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the condenser fan (7) is operated at different rotational speeds (low, middle, high) in cases wherein the first portion (I) or the second portion (II) or both portions (I, II) are activated. In the embodiment of the present invention, the condenser fan (7) is operated at low rotational speed when the second portion (II) is activated for the refrigeration of the freezing compartment (3), operated at middle rotational speed when the first portion (I) is activated for the refrigeration of the fresh food compartment (2) and operated at high rotational speed when the two portions (I, II) are activated for the refrigeration of both of the fresh food compartment (2) and the freezing compartment (3).
In the cooling device (1), the condensation temperatures of the first portion (I) and the second portion (II) of the condenser related to the first and second refrigeration cycles vary depending on the refrigeration need of the fresh food compartment/compartments (2) and the freezing compartment/compartments (3). Accordingly, the amount of air flow provided by the condenser fan (7) so as to provide heat transfer from the condenser (5) to the outer environment by forced convection varies and the rotational speed of the condenser fan (7) is adjusted according to the desired air flow. Since the evaporation temperature of the freezing compartment (3) is low, the condensation temperature at the second portion (II) activated is also low and the thermal load to be discharged to the outer environment is at the lowest level. Therefore, the condenser fan (7) is operated at the lowest rotational speed. Since the evaporation temperature of the fresh food compartment (2) is higher than that of the freezing compartment (3), the condensation temperature at the first portion (I) activated is higher than that of the second portion (II) and the thermal load to be discharged to the outer environment increases. Accordingly, the rotational speed of the condenser speed (7) is also increased. Since the first and second portions (I, II) of the condenser (5) are activated while the fresh food compartment (2) and the freezing compartment (3) are simultaneously refrigerated, the total thermal load to be discharged to the outer environment and hence the rotational speed of the condenser fan (7) are at the highest level.
By means of the present invention, in the cooling device (1), different refrigeration needs of one or more than fresh food compartment (2) and freezing compartment (3) can be met with a single condenser (5) without requiring any additional volume and energy consumption is reduced by operating the condenser fan (7) at the suitable rotational speed.

Claims (6)

  1. A cooling device (1) having two independent refrigeration cycles, comprising at least one fresh food compartment (2), at least one freezing compartment (3), at least one compressor (4) realizing the refrigeration cycles of the fresh food compartment (2) and the freezing compartment (3) separately or together; a condenser (5) that has cooling fins (15); more than one evaporators; more than one refrigerant pipe (6) that provides the refrigerant transfer, and a condenser fan (7) that provides the discharge of heat from the condenser (5) to the outer environment with forced convection, characterized in that the condenser (5) comprising
    - a serpentine condenser tube (9) that has more than one mini channel (9) through which the refrigerant passes and
    - a first inlet (10), a first outlet (11), a second inlet (12) and a second outlet (13), that together separate the condenser (5) at the middle into two portions (I, II) so that at least one mini channel (8) is disposed in each region (I, II) along a serpentine line (S) passing longitudinally at the middle of the condenser tube (9), that enable the refrigerant circulated in two independent refrigeration cycles to separately enter and exit from the first portion (I) and the second portion (II), the first inlet (10) and the first outlet (11) both being connected to the mini channels (8) in the first portion (I), and the second inlet (12) and the second outlet (13) both being connected to the mini channels (8) in the second portion (II).
  2. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the condenser (5) comprising a separator mini channel (14) that extends in the condenser tube (9) along the line (S) separating the condenser tube (9) at the middle, that separates the mini channels (8) in both portions (I, II), that is not connected to the inlets and outlets (10, 12, 11, 13).
  3. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the condenser (5) comprising more than one interconnecting pipe (16) that provides the connection of the first and second inlets (10 and 12) and the first and second outlets (11 and 13) to the first and second portions (I, II) of the condenser tube (9).
  4. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 3, characterized in that the interconnecting pipes (16) that have curved shapes, extending by being bent upwards and downwards so as to create a level difference (H) in the vertical direction between the first inlet (10) and the second inlet (12) and between the first outlet (11) and the second inlet (13).
  5. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the condenser fan (7) that is operated at different rotational speeds in cases wherein the first portion (I) or the second portion (II) or both portions (I, II) are activated.
  6. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 5, characterized in that the condenser fan (7) that is operated at low rotational speed when the second portion (II) is activated for the refrigeration of the freezing compartment (3), operated at middle rotational speed when the first portion (I) is activated for the refrigeration of the fresh food compartment (2) and operated at high rotational speed when the two portions (I, II) are activated for the refrigeration of both of the fresh food compartment (2) and the freezing compartment (3).
PCT/EP2016/056728 2015-04-30 2016-03-25 Cooling device comprising a condenser used in two independent refrigeration cycles WO2016173790A1 (en)

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TR201505290 2015-04-30
TRA2015/05290 2015-04-30

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