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
  • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
  • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
  • F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
  • F25D17/062—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators
  • F25D17/065—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators with compartments at different temperatures
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B2600/00—Control issues
  • F25B2600/02—Compressor control
  • F25B2600/025—Compressor control by controlling speed
  • F25B2600/0251—Compressor control by controlling speed with on-off operation
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B2600/00—Control issues
  • F25B2600/11—Fan speed control
  • F25B2600/112—Fan speed control of evaporator fans
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
  • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
  • F25B2600/00—Control issues
  • F25B2600/23—Time delays
• • 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
  • F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
  • F25B2700/21—Temperatures
  • F25B2700/2117—Temperatures of an evaporator
• • 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
  • F25D21/00—Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
  • F25D21/06—Removing frost
  • F25D21/08—Removing frost by electric heating
• • 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
  • F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
  • F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
  • F25D2317/061—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation through special compartments
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
  • Y02B40/00—Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a refrigeration appliance comprising a zero degree (0°C) compartment, temperature of which is controllable by adjusting fan rotation speed with respect to evaporator surface temperature.
• a refrigerating appliance such as a refrigerator operates based on the principles of the vapor-compression refrigeration cycle. Namely, cooling is performed by the refrigerant fluid, which is circulated between an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser and a tube expander (throttling device).
• the refrigerant fluid While passing through the evaporator, the refrigerant fluid undergoes a phase transition from liquid phase into gas phase by way of absorbing the ambient heat of the refrigeration compartment.
• the cooled air around the evaporator is circulated back to the compartments where food items are preserved via a fan and cooling ports placed on the compartment's wall.
• a refrigeration appliance has a plurality of shelves and compartments for preserving food items.
• Two main compartments found in refrigerators are a freezing compartment (at -18°C) and a refrigerating compartment (at or below 4°C).
• Food items can decompose enzymatically, biochemically, microbiologically and/or physically.
• the speed and mechanism of decomposition is closely related to the temperature of the preservation environment. Especially perishables such as meat need to be preserved at near freezing temperatures.
• current refrigerators comprise an additional compartment, referred to as a zero degree compartment, which is kept at 0°C.
• the temperature control in this compartment cannot be achieved efficiently.
• US8117853B2 discloses a system and method for a refrigeration appliance comprising two or more compartments.
• Each compartment has an associated temperature sensor to detect temperature of the compartment and use this information to change the opening of the air flap associated with the compartment and thus change the amount of cold air blown into the compartment to achieve temperature control.
• supply of cold air by opening/closing of air flap is determined by the deviation of compartment temperature from set (closing) temperature.
• a specific temperature interval is determined for each compartment and actual temperature is monitored by temperature sensors.
• the temperature deviations in each compartment are compared and the compartment with the smallest temperature deviation is determined. Then, the air flap corresponding to this compartment is closed until all temperature deviations are equalized.
• the present invention addresses the situation where overly complicated and costly air flaps, motors, NTC sensors and controller mechanisms are not necessary to efficiently maintain temperature of zero degree compartments.
• the present invention provides a refrigeration appliance operating based on the principles of the vapor-compression refrigeration cycle; where said refrigeration appliance comprises at least two compartments and where at least one of said compartments is used as a zero degree compartment.
• the temperature of said zero degree compartment is regulated by adjusting evaporator fan speed according to evaporator surface temperature, thereby lowering heat release and preventing unwanted heating of the refrigerating compartment.
• the present invention provides a system for the operation and temperature regulation and maintenance of a zero degree compartment of a refrigerating appliance as provided by the characterizing features defined in Claim 1.
• Primary object of the present invention is to provide a system for the operation and temperature regulation and maintenance of a zero degree compartment of a refrigerating appliance by adjusting evaporator fan speed according to evaporator surface temperature.
• Fig. la demonstrates a refrigeration appliance with a zero degree compartment according to the present invention.
• Fig. lb demonstrates cross sectional view of a refrigeration appliance with a zero degree compartment according to the present invention.
• the present invention proposes a refrigeration appliance (1) having a generally rectangular cross-sectional storage cabin (2).
• the refrigeration appliance (1) conventionally operates based on the principles of the vapor-compression refrigeration cycle such that cooling is achieved by circulation of a refrigerant through a compressor, a condenser, a tube expander and an evaporator, where said refrigeration appliance (1) comprises a plurality of shelves (3) and compartments and where at least one of said compartments is used as a zero-degree compartment (4).
• Said zero-degree compartment (4) is placed within the storage cabin (2) to be positioned below the lowermost portion of the evaporator level in the proximity thereof.
• the evaporator (not shown) extends in perpendicular to the base of the refrigeration appliance (1) in parallel with the rear surface of the cabin. More particularly, the zero-degree compartment (4) is configured to be at the lower portion of the fresh food compartment below several shelves (3) and below the evaporator's lowermost tubes. In this configuration, there still exist additional space for an extractable division (5) for fruits and vegetable at the lowermost portion of the storage cabin (2) below said zero-degree compartment (4).
• the temperature of said zero-degree compartment (4) is regulated by adjusting speed of an evaporator fan (not shown) according to evaporator surface temperature, thereby lowering heat release and preventing unwanted heating of the refrigerating compartment.
• Said evaporator fan is in flow communication with air directly around said evaporator.
• the evaporator fan can be configured at any suitable location to effectuate forced transfer of cooler air in the proximity of evaporator surfaces within the storage cabin (2) to ensure homogeneity therein.
• evaporator fan is operated in a special regime in the manner it is not stopped for the entire duration of OFF cycle of compressor, but instead it is only stopped while evaporator surface temperature remains below -2°C. In this manner, evaporator fan is discontinuously operated and it is only stopped for 1/3 of OFF cycle of compressor. When evaporator surface is below -2°C, the air cooled by evaporator is sufficient to maintain temperature of zero-degree compartment (4).
• this cooler air around the evaporator is directly effective on the zero-degree compartment's (4) temperature to maintain its temperature when the compressor is not operated.
• the effect of the non-homogenous temperature profile within the storage cabin (2) becomes more important to prevent temperature rise in the zero-degree compartment (4). Therefore, the evaporator fan becomes operational from where the evaporator surface temperature reaches -2°C and further disturbance of temperature homogeneity within the storage cabin (2) is prevented.
• evaporator fan is delayed by 5-30% of ON cycle duration to prevent air warmer than 0°C at the very beginning of compressor ON cycle to enter into storage cabin (2). Further, to regulate heat release, evaporator fan must be operational for at least a predetermined time duration t. After t has passed, whether the refrigerating fan will be stopped or remain operational is determined by cut- in/cut-out values. Evaporator fan becomes operational when storage cabin (2) temperature is above cut-in value and remains operational and cooling is continued until cut-out temperature is reached. Therefore, during ON cycle of compressor, said evaporator fan is delayed by a certain duration in the amount of 5-30% of ON cycle duration and its exact operational time interval is determined by predetermined cut-in and cut-out temperature values.
• said evaporator fan being operational when the compressor is stopped during a relatively long period causes the temperature of the air flow into zero-degree compartment (4) to increase by 3-5°C.
• evaporator fan operation is delayed during defrost cycle until evaporator surface reaches -2°C. In this manner, the contact time between cold air flow supplied during the initial stage of the defrost cycle and zero-degree compartment (4) is lengthened.
• fresh food defrost cycle is divided into three separate stages.
• the contact time between cold air flow supplied before fresh food defrost cycle and zero-degree compartment (4) is lengthened by delaying evaporator fan operation.
• evaporator fan becomes operational to achieve temperature homogeneity in the storage cabin (2).
• evaporator fan is stopped and ice collected on evaporator surface is melted by a defrost heater (not shown) placed in the proximity of the evaporator surfaces. Stopping evaporator fan operation during operation of defrost heater prevents flow of warm air into the storage cabin (2).
• a refrigeration appliance (1) comprising a storage cabin (2), a compressor, a condenser, a tube expander and an evaporator such that cooling of said storage cabin (2) is effectuated by circulation of a refrigerant through said compressor, condenser, tube expander and evaporator, said refrigeration appliance (1) further comprising a zero-degree compartment (4) and an evaporator fan in said storage cabin (2).
• said compressor is operated discontinuously and the temperature of said zero-degree compartment (4) is regulated by adjusting speed of the evaporator fan according to evaporator surface temperature in the manner that operation of said evaporator fan is delayed during OFF cycle of compressor.
• said evaporator fan is discontinuously operated during OFF cycle of the compressor such that it is stopped for initial 1/3 of OFF cycle of said compressor. In a further embodiment of the present invention, operation of said evaporator fan is delayed during OFF cycle of the compressor until evaporator surface temperature reaches -2oC.
• said evaporator fan is initially delayed by 5-30% of ON cycle during ON cycle of the compressor.
• evaporator fan is operational for at least a predetermined time duration during compressor ON cycle until the temperature in said storage cabin (2) reaches a predetermined lower limit.
• said evaporator fan operation is delayed during a first stage of a defrost cycle until said evaporator surface temperature reaches a certain temperature, said evaporator fan being operated during a second stage of said defrost cycle starting from said certain temperature.
• said evaporator fan operation is delayed during the first stage of said defrost cycle until evaporator surface temperature reaches -2oC.
• said evaporator fan is stopped during a third stage of said defrost cycle and ice collected on evaporator surface is melted by a defrost heater.
• said zero-degree compartment (4) is placed within the storage cabin (2) to be positioned below the lowermost portion of the evaporator level in the proximity thereof.
• said evaporator fan is in flow communication with air directly around said evaporator surface.
• a system for the operation and temperature regulation and maintenance of a zero-degree compartment (4) of a refrigerating appliance (1) is proposed such that the temperature of said zero-degree compartment (4) is regulated by adjusting evaporator fan speed according to evaporator surface temperature.

Landscapes

• 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)
• Defrosting Systems (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=61656322

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2016
  • 2016-08-08 TR TR2016/11080A patent/TR201611080A3/tr unknown
• 2017
  • 2017-08-08 WO PCT/TR2017/050372 patent/WO2018067095A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2017-08-08 EP EP17851907.0A patent/EP3497385A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events