Synchronous temperature rate control and apparatus for refrigeration with reduced energy consumption

摘要

A refrigerator appliance configuration, and associated methods of operation, for an appliance with a controller, a condenser, at least one evaporator, a compressor, and two refrigeration compartments. The configuration may be equipped with a variable-speed or variable-capacity compressor, variable speed evaporator or compartment fans, a damper, and/or a dual-temperature evaporator with a valve system to control flow of refrigerant through one or more pressure reduction devices. The controller, by operation of the compressor, fans, damper and/or valve system, depending on the appliance configuration, synchronizes alternating cycles of cooling each compartment to a temperature approximately equal to the compartment set point temperature.

主权项

1. A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
a condenser, a refrigerant, and a compressor; a refrigeration compartment having a refrigeration compartment set point temperature; a refrigeration compartment upper threshold temperature set above the refrigeration compartment set point temperature; a refrigeration compartment lower threshold temperature set below the refrigeration compartment set point temperature; a freezer compartment having a freezer compartment set point temperature; a freezer compartment upper threshold temperature set above the freezer compartment set point temperature; a freezer compartment lower threshold temperature set below the freezer compartment set point temperature; an evaporator in thermal communication with the refrigeration compartment and the freezer compartment; a refrigeration compartment fan for directing cool air in thermal communication with the evaporator to the refrigeration compartment; a freezer compartment fan for directing cool air in thermal communication with the evaporator to the freezer compartment; a refrigeration compartment sensor that generates a signal indicative of a temperature in the refrigeration compartment as a function of time; a freezer compartment sensor that generates a signal indicative of a temperature in the freezer compartment as a function of time; a refrigerant circuit arranged to allow flow of the refrigerant between the condenser, the evaporator and the compressor; and a controller coupled to the compressor, freezer and refrigeration compartment fans, and freezer and refrigeration compartment sensors, wherein the controller is adapted to receive the signals from the freezer and refrigeration compartment sensors, and further adapted to synchronize alternating cycles of cooling the freezer and refrigeration compartments to temperatures approximately equal to their respective compartment set point temperatures by operation of one or more of the compressor, the refrigeration compartment fan and the freezer compartment fan, and further wherein the controller is adapted to begin a cycle of cooling the refrigeration compartment at substantially a same time as the temperature in the freezer compartment reaches the freezer compartment lower threshold temperature, and begin a cycle of cooling the freezer compartment at substantially a same time as the temperature in the freezer compartment reaches the freezer compartment upper threshold temperature by operation of one or more of the compressor, the refrigeration compartment fan and the freezer compartment fan, and further adapted to control a rate of cooling in the freezer compartment such that the temperature in the freezer compartment during the cycle of cooling the freezer compartment reaches the freezer compartment lower threshold temperature at substantially a same time as the temperature in the refrigeration compartment reaches the refrigeration compartment upper threshold temperature by operation of one or more of the compressor, the refrigeration compartment fan and the freezer compartment fan.