REFRIGERATOR COOLING SYSTEM HAVING A SECONDARY COOLING LOOP

摘要

A refrigerator cooling system and method provides cooling to one or more features of a refrigerator by employing a secondary cooling loop that utilizes the excess cooling capacity of an evaporator to selectively provide supplemental cooling to the features when a thermal demand arises.

主权项

1. A cooling system for use in a refrigerator, comprising:
a first cooling loop having a compressor configured to compress coolant, a condenser operably connected to the compressor, a valving system operably connected to the condenser and configured to selectively provide coolant to a first evaporator thermally connected to a first refrigerator compartment and a second evaporator thermally connected to a second refrigerator compartment; and a secondary cooling loop in non-fluid contact with the first cooling loop and having a reservoir that is thermally connected to the first evaporator and stores a liquid thermal storage material that receives excess cooling capacity from the first evaporator, a heat exchanger thermally connected to a feature positioned within the first compartment, and a pump operably connected to the reservoir that pumps the liquid thermal storage material to the heat exchanger to provide cooling to the feature.