Methods for increasing efficiency in multiple-temperature forced-air refrigeration systems
US6427463B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 16, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 6, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 16, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25D2400/06
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method using controlled forced-convection to couple (or de-couple) a refrigerant-evaporator thermally to a refrigerated compartment, and a method to use heat from a fresh food compartment (or other compartment maintained above 0C) of a two or more temperature refrigeration appliance to defrost a freezer evaporator automatically without using a controller or heater. When thermally coupled to its compartment, an evaporator can provide efficient cooling to the compartment. The ability to de-couple the evaporator from its compartment enables refrigerant flow through the evaporator at significantly different temperatures than its compartment, but without significant heat transfer. This ability enables using a single refrigeration system (with one or no valves) to remove heat (sequentially) at two or more different temperatures from two or more refrigerated compartments.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.