High efficiency refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9897364-B2
Application number	US-201715407002-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2017
Priority date	Jul 15, 2009
Publication date	Feb 20, 2018
Grant date	Feb 20, 2018

Abstract

A thermal storage container is coupled to a pump for circulating cooled liquid from the thermal storage container in at least one of two circuits. One circuit includes a heat exchanger coupled to the fresh food evaporator for assisting in cooling the fresh food section of the refrigerator or for chilling the liquid. Another circuit includes a sub-cooler between the condenser and the evaporator for cooling the output from the condenser before entering the evaporator, herby increasing the efficiency of the system. A three-way valve is coupled from the output pump to couple the stored coolant selectively to one or the other or both of the coolant circuits.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cooling system for use within a refrigeration appliance comprising;
a first cooling loop comprising: a compressor,
a condenser coupled to the compressor,
a first evaporator coupled to the condenser, and a second cooling loop comprising:
a bypass valve coupled between the condenser and the first evaporator, and
a second evaporator in communication with the bypass valve;

a sub-cooler thermally coupled between the condenser and the first evaporator;
a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the second evaporator;
a container configured to communicate a fluid flow to the heat exchanger and the sub-cooler;
a pump disposed between the container and a multi-way valve, wherein the multi-way valve is configured to control the fluid flow from the container and selectively direct the fluid flow to the heat exchanger or the sub-cooler.

2. The cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the multi-way valve is configured to:
control the fluid flow through a first circuit comprising the heat exchanger and the container in a first configuration.

3. The cooling system according to claim 2 , wherein the multi-way valve is further configured to:
control the fluid flow through a second circuit comprising the container and the sub-cooler in a second configuration.

4. The cooling system according to claim 3 , wherein the multi-way valve is further configured to:
control the fluid flow through both the first and second circuits in a third configuration.

5. The cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the bypass valve is coupled between the sub-cooler and the first evaporator.

6. The cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the second evaporator is positioned in a refrigerator compartment.

7. The cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises coils surrounding the second evaporator.

8. The cooling system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a pump in fluid communication with the container and the multi-way valve.

9. The cooling system according to claim 8 , wherein the pump is configured to generate the fluid flow through each of the first circuit and the second circuit.

10. The cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the compressor is a linear compressor.

11. The cooling system according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow comprises a thermal mass comprising one of water, a water-alcohol mixture, brine, and a heat transfer fluid.

12. A cooling system comprising;
a first cooling loop comprising:
a compressor,
a condenser coupled to the compressor, and
a first evaporator coupled to the condenser;

a second cooling loop comprising a second evaporator in fluid communication with the first cooling loop between the condenser and the first evaporator, and further in fluid communication with the compressor;
a sub-cooler thermally coupled between the condenser and the first evaporator;
a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the second evaporator;
a container configured to communicate a fluid flow to the heat exchanger and the sub-cooler; and
a control valve in communication with the heat exchanger and the sub-cooler, wherein the control valve is configured to:
control the fluid flow through a first circuit comprising the heat exchanger and the container in a first configuration, and
control the fluid flow through a second circuit comprising the container and the sub-cooler in a second configuration.

13. The cooling system according to claim 12 , wherein the control valve is further configured to:
control the fluid flow through both the first and second circuits in a third configuration.

14. The cooling system according to claim 12 , wherein the second cooling loop further comprises:
a bypass valve coupled between the condenser and the first evaporator and in fluid communication with the second evaporator.

15. The cooling system according to claim 14 , wherein the bypass valve is configured to control a flow of a refrigerant through the first cooling loop or the second cooling loop.

16. The cooling system according to claim 14 , wherein the bypass valve is coupled between the sub-cooler and the first evaporator.

17. A cooling system for a refrigeration unit comprising;
a refrigerant circuit comprising:
a compressor;
a condenser coupled to the compressor;
a first evaporator coupled to the condenser and further in communication with the compressor;
a second evaporator in fluid communication with to the condenser and further in fluid communication with the compressor;

a sub-cooler thermally coupled between the condenser and the first evaporator;
a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the second evaporator;
a container configured to communicate a fluid flow to the heat exchanger and the sub-cooler; and
a control valve in communication with the heat exchanger and the sub-cooler, wherein the control valve is configured to:
control the fluid flow through a first circuit comprising the heat exchanger and the container in a first configuration, and
control the fluid flow through a second circuit comprising the container and the sub-cooler in a second configuration.

18. The cooling system according to claim 17 , further comprising:
a bypass valve coupled between the condenser and the first evaporator and in fluid communication with the second evaporator.

19. The cooling system according to claim 18 , wherein the bypass valve is configured to control a flow of a refrigerant through the first evaporator in a first position and the second evaporator in a second position.

20. The cooling system according to claim 17 , wherein the second evaporator is positioned in a refrigerator compartment.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Kuehl Steven J
• Wu Guolian

Classifications

• F25B40/02

  Subcoolers · CPC title

• F25D16/00 Primary

  Devices using a combination of a cooling mode associated with refrigerating machinery with a cooling mode not associated with refrigerating machinery · CPC title

• F25D11/022 Primary

  with two or more evaporators · CPC title

• F25D17/02

  for circulating liquids, e.g. brine · CPC title

• F25D13/04

  the compartments being at different temperatures · CPC title