EP3006868A1 - Abtauen eines eisfachs eines kühlgeräts und zugehöriges kühlgerät - Google Patents

Abtauen eines eisfachs eines kühlgeräts und zugehöriges kühlgerät Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3006868A1
EP3006868A1 EP15189202.3A EP15189202A EP3006868A1 EP 3006868 A1 EP3006868 A1 EP 3006868A1 EP 15189202 A EP15189202 A EP 15189202A EP 3006868 A1 EP3006868 A1 EP 3006868A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cell
defrosting
heating element
freezer
coil
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP15189202.3A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Giorgio Sabatini
Mehmet Ali Acar
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Original Assignee
Indesit Co SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Indesit Co SpA filed Critical Indesit Co SpA
Publication of EP3006868A1 publication Critical patent/EP3006868A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • 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
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B47/00—Arrangements for preventing or removing deposits or corrosion, not provided for in another subclass
    • F25B47/02—Defrosting cycles
    • 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
    • F25B2339/00—Details of evaporators; Details of condensers
    • F25B2339/02—Details of evaporators
    • F25B2339/023—Evaporators consisting of one or several sheets on one face of which is fixed a refrigerant carrying coil
    • 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
    • F25B2400/01—Heaters
    • 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
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/06—Walls
    • F25D23/061—Walls with conduit means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of household appliances, particularly to a method and a device for defrosting a freezer cell of a refrigerating appliance, as well as to a related refrigerating appliance.
  • Refrigerating appliances which comprise at least one refrigerated cell, a door allowing access to the refrigerated cell, and a refrigeration circuit implementing a refrigeration cycle.
  • appliances which comprise at least one cooled cell having an internal temperature slightly above 0°C (e.g. 4-5 °C), hereafter referred to as refrigerator cell, which is normally used for preserving unfrozen fresh foods or objects, and at least one freezer cell kept at a freezing temperature below 0°C (e.g. - 18°C), which is normally used for preserving frozen foods or objects; each cell is normally fitted with an access door of its own.
  • refrigerator cell which is normally used for preserving unfrozen fresh foods or objects
  • freezer cell kept at a freezing temperature below 0°C (e.g. - 18°C)
  • each cell is normally fitted with an access door of its own.
  • frost or ice may occur on the inner walls of the cells, in particular on the coldest parts thereof, such as those near the evaporator of the refrigeration circuit, which is due to the moisture present inside the refrigerating appliance.
  • the layer of frost or ice grows in operation, also leading to increased thermal insulation between the evaporator of the refrigeration circuit of the refrigerating appliance and the environment to be cooled, thus adversely affecting thermal exchange efficiency.
  • a type of refrigerating appliance wherein the evaporator of the freezer cell is shaped as a coil spiral-wound around the outer side surface of the cell, as described, for example, in EP-1831625-A .
  • the problem that needs to be addressed is to optimize the freezer cell defrosting operation by making it automatic and fast, thereby ensuring the utmost energetic efficiency and optimizing the energy consumption of the refrigerating appliance.
  • a further problem that needs to be addressed it to prevent frozen foods or objects from unfreezing and deteriorating during this defrosting operation.
  • the refrigerating appliance is equipped with a refrigerator cell and a freezer cell, each fitted with an access door of its own.
  • the general idea at the basis of the present invention is to wind a heating element in a spiral fashion around the outer side surface of the freezer cell, in the interspace between the windings of the coil of the evaporator of the cell itself.
  • the heating element is provided as an electric cable or tube, or as a hot-fluid circulation duct.
  • the present invention relates to a defrosting device of a freezer cell of a refrigerating appliance, said refrigerating appliance comprising a refrigerator cell and a freezer cell, a refrigeration circuit comprising a freezer cell evaporator shaped as a coil spiral-wound around the outer side surface of said freezer cell, a refrigerating fluid flowing in said coil, said defrosting device comprising:
  • the present invention particularly relates to a method and a device for defrosting a freezer cell of a refrigerating appliance as specifically set out in the appended claims, which are an integral part of the present description.
  • a freezer cell 1 of a refrigerating appliance is equipped with side walls 2, on the outer surface of which a coil 3 of the refrigeration circuit is wound, which is of the type known in the art, with windings occupying all or most of the side surface, the pitch between a plurality of windings being advantageously constant.
  • the door of the cell is not shown.
  • a heating element 4 is spiral-wound around the outer side surface 2 of the freezer cell, in the interspace between the windings of the coil 3 of the evaporator of the cell itself. Therefore, also the windings of the heating element 4 occupy all or most of the outer side surface of the cell, the pitch between a plurality of windings of the heating element 4 being advantageously constant.
  • the heating element is provided as an appropriately shielded electric cable or tube, e.g. of the distributed electric resistance type, or as a hot-fluid circulation duct.
  • the side surface 2 of the cell is normally made of a rigid plastic material.
  • a layer 5 of heat-conducting material is preferably wound, such as, for example, an aluminium sheet, which is interposed between the windings 3, 4 and the outer surface 2 of the cell. This can improve and speed up the thermal exchange between the inside of the cell and, respectively, the coil 3 of the refrigeration circuit, during the cooling step, and the coil 4 of the heating element, during the defrosting step.
  • the distribution of the coil of the heating element 4 is preferably uniform over the side walls of the cell, and parallel to the distribution of the evaporator coil, with no overlapping.
  • the coil preferably has a uniform circular cross-section throughout its length, though other cross-sections are also possible, e.g. a rectangular flat cable.
  • the material it is made of is a metallic one, preferably copper or aluminium, preferably with braided wires; since it must carry electric energy, it is coated with a layer of electrically insulating material.
  • the power supply to the electric cable or tube can be obtained through a normal connection to the mains power.
  • an electric voltage adapter circuit of a per se known type may be interposed.
  • the fluid of the refrigeration circuit is made to flow in the duct by a controlled valve that diverts the circulation of the fluid of the refrigeration circuit, taking it downstream of the condenser and returning it upstream of the compressor of the circuit.
  • the refrigeration circuit comprises, in a per se known manner, a compressor 31, a condenser 32 downstream of the compressor with reference to the direction of circulation of the refrigerating fluid 33, a block 34 comprising expansion elements and evaporators not specifically highlighted in the drawing, in particular specific for the refrigerator cell and the freezer cell, which close the circulation of the fluid 33 of the refrigeration circuit from the condenser 32 to the inlet of the compressor 31.
  • the evaporator of the freezer cell is shaped as a coil spiral-wound around the outer side surface of the freezer cell, as previously described.
  • the heating element 4 of the invention in the form of a hot-fluid circulation duct, is schematically represented in the drawing within the dashed line 35.
  • a suitably controlled valve 36 arranged downstream of the condenser 32 when activated in order to execute the defrosting function of the invention, can divert the flow of fluid exiting the condenser 32 into said heating element 4, thus stopping the circulation of the fluid in the elements of the block 34.
  • the hot-fluid circulation duct feeds the fluid upstream of the compressor 31.
  • a known cooling element 37 may be present for cooling the fluid exiting the defrosting branch before it enters the compressor.
  • a layer of foam is preferably applied over the cell, including the coils, which are coated beforehand with polyethylene tape.
  • the defrosting function control circuit may include a manually-operated switch, which activates the heating element 4, or turns on electric current circulation in the case of a heating element 4 shaped as an electric cable or tube, or switches the valve 36 in the case of a heating element 4 shaped as a hot-fluid circulation duct.
  • the defrosting step is carried out in a controlled manner.
  • This control can be effected by imposing a predefined duration or a predefined temperature.
  • a manual deactivation may be effected by operating the switch again, e.g. at the end of a manual cell cleaning step.
  • the refrigerating appliance is equipped with a circuit for controlling the operation of the refrigeration circuit, which turns on/off the compressor and controls the circulation of the refrigerating fluid in both circuits, i.e. the refrigerator and freezer circuits, and the defrosting function of the present invention.
  • the method for controlling the defrosting step of the invention includes the following steps:
  • the freezer cell will be defrosted quickly, thus ensuring the utmost energetic efficiency and contributing to optimizing the energy consumption of the refrigerating appliance.
  • a signalling is preferably activated first to allow the user, for example, to clean the freezer cell.
  • the heating element is deactivated and the circulation of refrigerating fluid in the circuit of the freezer cell is restored: the refrigerating appliance will thus resume its normal operation.
  • the activation of the various steps may be signalled by means of an audible or visual signalling device, which is especially useful when such steps are activated manually.
  • control device for implementing the above-described method will not be a problem for those skilled in the art.
  • the steps of the method can be carried out through a controller using known hardware and, possibly, known software.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Defrosting Systems (AREA)
EP15189202.3A 2014-10-10 2015-10-09 Abtauen eines eisfachs eines kühlgeräts und zugehöriges kühlgerät Withdrawn EP3006868A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO20140815 2014-10-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3006868A1 true EP3006868A1 (de) 2016-04-13

Family

ID=52355080

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP15189202.3A Withdrawn EP3006868A1 (de) 2014-10-10 2015-10-09 Abtauen eines eisfachs eines kühlgeräts und zugehöriges kühlgerät

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3006868A1 (de)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2802346A (en) * 1956-07-27 1957-08-13 Gen Motors Corp Refrigerator evaporator with defroster-heater
US6230511B1 (en) * 1997-08-26 2001-05-15 Lg Electronics, Inc. Evaporator in refrigerator
DE202005006284U1 (de) * 2005-04-20 2005-06-16 Wenzel, Bernhard Kältemittelkreislauf für eine Wärmepumpe
EP1831625A1 (de) 2004-12-28 2007-09-12 Liebherr-Hausgeräte Ochsenhausen GmbH Kühl- und gefriergerät
CA2552454A1 (en) * 2006-07-17 2008-01-17 W. C. Wood Company Limited Frost management system for a refrigerated cabinet

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2802346A (en) * 1956-07-27 1957-08-13 Gen Motors Corp Refrigerator evaporator with defroster-heater
US6230511B1 (en) * 1997-08-26 2001-05-15 Lg Electronics, Inc. Evaporator in refrigerator
EP1831625A1 (de) 2004-12-28 2007-09-12 Liebherr-Hausgeräte Ochsenhausen GmbH Kühl- und gefriergerät
DE202005006284U1 (de) * 2005-04-20 2005-06-16 Wenzel, Bernhard Kältemittelkreislauf für eine Wärmepumpe
CA2552454A1 (en) * 2006-07-17 2008-01-17 W. C. Wood Company Limited Frost management system for a refrigerated cabinet

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