WO2010133516A2 - A cooling device heated to prevent frosting - Google Patents

A cooling device heated to prevent frosting Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2010133516A2
WO2010133516A2 PCT/EP2010/056642 EP2010056642W WO2010133516A2 WO 2010133516 A2 WO2010133516 A2 WO 2010133516A2 EP 2010056642 W EP2010056642 W EP 2010056642W WO 2010133516 A2 WO2010133516 A2 WO 2010133516A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
temperature
evaporator
fan
defrost
cooling
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2010/056642
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2010133516A3 (en
Inventor
Turgay Ercan
Ferkan Gulbas
Original Assignee
Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
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
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=43126567&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=WO2010133516(A2) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Arcelik Anonim Sirketi filed Critical Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority to CN201080032311.6A priority Critical patent/CN102483283B/en
Priority to ES10720591T priority patent/ES2431805T3/en
Priority to EP10720591.6A priority patent/EP2433066B1/en
Publication of WO2010133516A2 publication Critical patent/WO2010133516A2/en
Publication of WO2010133516A3 publication Critical patent/WO2010133516A3/en

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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
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
    • F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
    • F25D17/062—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators
    • F25D17/065—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators with compartments at different temperatures
    • 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
    • F25B2600/00—Control issues
    • F25B2600/11—Fan speed control
    • F25B2600/112—Fan speed control of evaporator fans
    • 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
    • F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
    • F25B2700/21—Temperatures
    • F25B2700/2117—Temperatures of an evaporator
    • 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
    • F25D21/04—Preventing the formation of frost or condensate
    • 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
    • F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
    • F25D2400/04—Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion
    • 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
    • F25D2600/00—Control issues
    • F25D2600/02—Timing
    • 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
    • F25D2700/00—Means for sensing or measuring; Sensors therefor
    • F25D2700/12—Sensors measuring the inside temperature

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a cooling device which is heated to prevent frosting.
  • cooling devices at least two compartments kept at different temperatures are provided generally one being the cooling compartment and the other freezing compartment.
  • the cooling compartment is reserved for foods such as fruits and vegetables and the foods are cooled to be stored for a few weeks. Foods required to be stored for a longer period of time are placed in the freezing compartment which is cooled more.
  • cooling of the compartments is realized by different methods.
  • air is cooled by being passed over the evaporator by means of a fan and afterwards circulated inside the freezing compartment and the cooling compartment. Air reaches the evaporator again by passing through the channel situated in the intermediate wall separating the freezing and cooling compartments.
  • the moisture in the heated air delivered from the cooling compartment is condensed and freezes on the air channel and the evaporator.
  • the ice layers accumulated on the air channel and the evaporator are defrosted at certain intervals.
  • the defrosting process is predominantly performed by electric defrost heaters and hence the frequently performed defrost process considerably increases the consumption of energy.
  • sensors are utilized for detecting frosting and defrost heaters are utilized for preventing frosting.
  • defrost heaters are utilized for preventing frosting.
  • the aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device which comprises a control unit for preventing frosting.
  • the cooling device cools the foods by means of the refrigerant circulated by the compressor cooling the ambient air in the evaporator and the cooled air being circulated between the compartments by a fan.
  • the fan is operated when the refrigerant is circulated and stops at other times.
  • the cooled air passes through the channel situated in the intermediate wall while passing from the cooling compartment to the freezing compartment.
  • the evaporator is heated by a defrost heater at times when the refrigerant does not pass there through.
  • the cooling device furthermore comprises a control unit which operates the fan, if the fan operation ratio, the temperatures of the compartment and evaporator are within determined intervals.
  • the fan operation ratio determines the compressor operation ratio that is the need for cooling. Consequently, whether or not moisture is accumulated inside the cooling device is detected. If moisture accumulation is detected then the compartment temperatures are controlled to understand whether or not frosting has occurred.
  • the temperature of the defrost heater is checked in order to eliminate frosting and the temperature of the evaporator is checked to detect the fan operation conditions. If all the conditions are favorable, frost is eliminated by operating the fan.
  • the defrost heater is utilized in order to maintain the evaporator temperature.
  • the cooling device has three compartments and the compartments are cooled by different evaporators in order to have different temperature values.
  • the evaporators can be controlled separately by means of at least one valve, the compressor is also operated while the fan operates during the defrosting process by not delivering refrigerant to the evaporator to be defrosted.
  • the frosting is detected from fan operation ratios and the fan is activated in order to take advantage of the heat of the defrost heater for defrosting. Consequently, frosting is effectively detected and energy is saved by the fan delivering the heated air to the evaporator and the channel wherein frosting is detected.
  • Figure 1 - is the sideways schematic view of a cooling device.
  • Figure 2 - is the sideways schematic view of a cooling device comprising three compartments..
  • Figure 3 - is the algorithm of the control unit in an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the cooling device (1) comprises
  • the cooling device (1) furthermore comprises a control unit (10) which
  • T2 cooling compartment (2) temperature
  • T2O predetermined compressor (6) activation temperature
  • the compressor (6) When the compressor (6) operates, the refrigerant is circulated in the refrigeration cycle and cools the environment while passing through the evaporator (5). When the environment reaches the desired temperature (T 2t T3t), the environment is prevented from further cooling by the compressor (6) being stopped. If the environment heats again, the compressor (6) is operated again and the refrigeration cycle continues. During refrigeration, frosting can occur on the evaporator (5) due to the moisture in the environment. Frosting occurs predominantly due to frequent opening of the cooling device (1 ) door or the high temperature of the external environment. When these conditions are met, the temperatures (T2 , T3) of the compartments (2 and 3) also fall and the compressor (6) operates without interruption for a long period of time.
  • the ratio of the minimum operation time (rwt m j n ) is recorded in the memory of the control unit (10) and the ratio of the fan (8) operation time (Fw) getting lower than the ratio of the minimum operation time (Fw tmin) is prevented by operating the fan (8).
  • the control unit (10) operates the defrost heater (9) in order to defrost the evaporator (5).
  • the defrost heater (9) the refrigerant does not pass though the evaporator (5) thus the evaporator (5) is defrosted quickly without condensation thereon.
  • Using the evaporator (5) heat to defrost other places can be achieved only if the cooling air is not circulated in other places.
  • the heated air should not mix in the refrigeration cycle and increase the temperature (T2 or T3) of the compartments (2 and 3).
  • the temperature (T2) of the cooling compartment (2) is measured and if the cooling compartment (2) is sufficiently cool ( ⁇ T2t) then it is deduced that the refrigeration cycle, that is the compressor (6) is not operating.
  • the control unit (10) provides the heated air to be delivered to other frosted places by operating the fan (8) if the evaporator (5) is sufficiently hot and the cooling compartment (2) is sufficiently cold.
  • the control unit (10) prevents frosting of the channel (7) by operating the fan (8).
  • the control unit (10) eliminates the further use of a heating unit for defrosting the channel (7) by operating the fan (8) for delivering the evaporator (5) heat to the channel (7). Consequently, frosting in both the evaporator (5) and the channel (7) is prevented by a single defrost heater (9) ( Figure 1).
  • the control unit (10) operates the defrost heater (9) until it reaches the determined temperature (T5O and operates the fan (8) upon reaching the determined temperature (T5O.
  • the cooling device (1) comprises more than one cooling compartment (2, 102) and a separate evaporator (5, 105, 205) in each of the compartments (2, 102 and 3) and at least one valve (not shown in the figures) which controls the refrigerant delivered to the evaporators (5, 105, 205).
  • the cooling device (1) furthermore comprises the control unit (10) which operates the defrost heater (9) and the fan (8) of the evaporator (5) from the evaporators (5, 105 or 205) whose valve is closed and does not operate the defrost heaters (9) and the fans (8) of the other evaporators (105, 205) whose valves are open.
  • the cooling device (1) is operated according to the following method in an embodiment of the present invention:
  • control unit (10) of the present invention By means of the control unit (10) of the present invention, whether or not frosting has occurred can be detected effectively by monitoring the fan (8) operation ratio. Moreover, the air heated by the defrost heater (9) utilized for defrosting the evaporator (5) can be delivered to other places which might have frosting problem, for example the channel (7) by means of the fan (8). Accordingly, the utilization of additional heater units is not required and savings in costs and energy is provided.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Defrosting Systems (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising at least one cooling compartment (2) and at least one freezing compartment (3), an insulator intermediate wall (4) which separates the compartments (2 and 3) from each other, at least one evaporator (5) which provides the cooling of the air circulated in the compartments (2 and 3), a compressor (6) which compresses the refrigerant passing through the evaporator (5) and circulates in the refrigeration cycle, a channel (7) through which the air passes returning from the cooling compartment (2) to the volume (H) containing the evaporator (5), a fan (8) which blows the cooled air towards the compartments (2 and 3), and a defrost heater (9) situated on the evaporator (5).

Description

Description
A COOLING DEVICE HEATED TO PREVENT FROSTING
[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling device which is heated to prevent frosting.
[0002] In cooling devices at least two compartments kept at different temperatures are provided generally one being the cooling compartment and the other freezing compartment. The cooling compartment is reserved for foods such as fruits and vegetables and the foods are cooled to be stored for a few weeks. Foods required to be stored for a longer period of time are placed in the freezing compartment which is cooled more.
[0003] In this type of cooling devices, cooling of the compartments is realized by different methods. According to one method, air is cooled by being passed over the evaporator by means of a fan and afterwards circulated inside the freezing compartment and the cooling compartment. Air reaches the evaporator again by passing through the channel situated in the intermediate wall separating the freezing and cooling compartments. The moisture in the heated air delivered from the cooling compartment is condensed and freezes on the air channel and the evaporator. In order to maintain the necessary performance, the ice layers accumulated on the air channel and the evaporator are defrosted at certain intervals. The defrosting process is predominantly performed by electric defrost heaters and hence the frequently performed defrost process considerably increases the consumption of energy.
[0004] In the state of the art International Patent Application No WO2006092759, a cooling device wherein the exterior ambient temperature is detected and if this temperature is decided to cause frosting then the fan and the defrost heater are operated to prevent frosting is explained.
[0005] In the state of the art United States Patent Application No US6266966, a cooling device comprising a heat transfer plate situated in the air channel is explained.
[0006] In the state of the art United States Patent Application No US2007033956, a cooling device comprising a controller unit which operates the fan and the evaporator defrost heater by checking the sensor of the outside surrounding when the compressor of the refrigerating compartment is off is explained.
[0007] In the state of the art embodiments, sensors are utilized for detecting frosting and defrost heaters are utilized for preventing frosting. Although utilizing a plurality of defrost heaters is a costly solution, the right time and suitable conditions should be determined for delivering the hot air heated by the evaporator defrost heater to the air channel by means of the fan.
[0008] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a cooling device which comprises a control unit for preventing frosting.
[0009] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the attached claims.
[0010] The cooling device cools the foods by means of the refrigerant circulated by the compressor cooling the ambient air in the evaporator and the cooled air being circulated between the compartments by a fan. The fan is operated when the refrigerant is circulated and stops at other times. The cooled air passes through the channel situated in the intermediate wall while passing from the cooling compartment to the freezing compartment. The moisture frosts in cold places particularly on the evaporator as a result of the external environment being very hot or the door being opened frequently. In order to eliminate this, the evaporator is heated by a defrost heater at times when the refrigerant does not pass there through.
[0011] The cooling device furthermore comprises a control unit which operates the fan, if the fan operation ratio, the temperatures of the compartment and evaporator are within determined intervals. The fan operation ratio determines the compressor operation ratio that is the need for cooling. Consequently, whether or not moisture is accumulated inside the cooling device is detected. If moisture accumulation is detected then the compartment temperatures are controlled to understand whether or not frosting has occurred. The temperature of the defrost heater is checked in order to eliminate frosting and the temperature of the evaporator is checked to detect the fan operation conditions. If all the conditions are favorable, frost is eliminated by operating the fan. In an embodiment of the present invention, the defrost heater is utilized in order to maintain the evaporator temperature.
[0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device has three compartments and the compartments are cooled by different evaporators in order to have different temperature values. The evaporators can be controlled separately by means of at least one valve, the compressor is also operated while the fan operates during the defrosting process by not delivering refrigerant to the evaporator to be defrosted.
[0013] By means of the present invention, the frosting is detected from fan operation ratios and the fan is activated in order to take advantage of the heat of the defrost heater for defrosting. Consequently, frosting is effectively detected and energy is saved by the fan delivering the heated air to the evaporator and the channel wherein frosting is detected.
[0014] The cooling device realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
[0015] Figure 1 - is the sideways schematic view of a cooling device.
[0016] Figure 2 - is the sideways schematic view of a cooling device comprising three compartments..
[0017] Figure 3 - is the algorithm of the control unit in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:
1. Cooling device
2. Cooling compartment
3. Freezing compartment
4. Intermediate wall
5. Evaporator
6. Compressor
7. Channel
8. Fan
9. Defrost heater
10. Control unit
[0019] The cooling device (1) comprises
- at least one cooling compartment (2) and at least one freezing compartment (3), - an insulator intermediate wall (4) which separates the compartments (2 and 3) from each other,
- at least one evaporator (5) which provides the cooling of the air circulated inside the compartments (2 and 3),
- a compressor (6) which compresses the refrigerant passing through the evaporator (5) and circulates in the refrigeration cycle,
- a channel (7) through which the air passes returning from the cooling compartment (2) to the volume (H) containing the evaporator (5),
- a fan (8) which blows the cooled air towards the compartments (2 and 3) and
- a defrost heater (9) situated on the evaporator (5) (Figure 1). [0020] The cooling device (1) furthermore comprises a control unit (10) which
- detects the fan (8) operation time (t.7a), the fan (8) stop time (t.7b), the cooling compartment (2) temperature (T2) and the evaporator (5) temperature (T5), and which operates the fan (8)
- if the ratio (Tw) of the fan (8) operation time (t7a) to the total of operation and stop times (t7a +t7t>) is lower than a predetermined limit operation ratio (Fwt),
- if the evaporator (5) temperature (T5) is higher than a predetermined temperature (T5O,
- if the cooling compartment (2) temperature (T2 ) is lower than a predetermined compressor (6) activation temperature (T2O (Figure 1).
[0021] When the compressor (6) operates, the refrigerant is circulated in the refrigeration cycle and cools the environment while passing through the evaporator (5). When the environment reaches the desired temperature (T 2t T3t), the environment is prevented from further cooling by the compressor (6) being stopped. If the environment heats again, the compressor (6) is operated again and the refrigeration cycle continues. During refrigeration, frosting can occur on the evaporator (5) due to the moisture in the environment. Frosting occurs predominantly due to frequent opening of the cooling device (1 ) door or the high temperature of the external environment. When these conditions are met, the temperatures (T2, T3) of the compartments (2 and 3) also fall and the compressor (6) operates without interruption for a long period of time. When the refrigeration cycle operates for a long time, frosting occurs on the evaporator (5) and the channel (7). The operation time of the compressor (6) being long shows that the fan (8) operation time is also high. The control unit (10) monitors the fan (8) operation time (tβa) and the fan (8) stop time (tβb)- If the ratio (Fw = tβa / (tδb + tδb) ) of the fan operation time (tδa) to the total of fan (8) operation and stop times (tβb + t 8b) is lower than a predetermined limit operation ratio (Fwt) then occurrence of frosting is detected. In an embodiment of the present invention, the ratio of the minimum operation time (rwtmjn) is recorded in the memory of the control unit (10) and the ratio of the fan (8) operation time (Fw) getting lower than the ratio of the minimum operation time (Fw tmin) is prevented by operating the fan (8). The control unit (10) operates the defrost heater (9) in order to defrost the evaporator (5). During the operation of the defrost heater (9), the refrigerant does not pass though the evaporator (5) thus the evaporator (5) is defrosted quickly without condensation thereon. Using the evaporator (5) heat to defrost other places can be achieved only if the cooling air is not circulated in other places. Because, the heated air should not mix in the refrigeration cycle and increase the temperature (T2 or T3) of the compartments (2 and 3). In order to detect this, the temperature (T2) of the cooling compartment (2) is measured and if the cooling compartment (2) is sufficiently cool (<T2t) then it is deduced that the refrigeration cycle, that is the compressor (6) is not operating. The control unit (10) provides the heated air to be delivered to other frosted places by operating the fan (8) if the evaporator (5) is sufficiently hot and the cooling compartment (2) is sufficiently cold. For this process, when the fan (8) is operated, the time (tδ) is not calculated as the operation time (tβt)- In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (10) prevents frosting of the channel (7) by operating the fan (8). The control unit (10) eliminates the further use of a heating unit for defrosting the channel (7) by operating the fan (8) for delivering the evaporator (5) heat to the channel (7). Consequently, frosting in both the evaporator (5) and the channel (7) is prevented by a single defrost heater (9) (Figure 1).
[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, if the evaporator (5) temperature (T5) is smaller than the determined temperature (T5O the control unit (10) operates the defrost heater (9) until it reaches the determined temperature (T5O and operates the fan (8) upon reaching the determined temperature (T5O.
[0024] In an embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device (1) comprises more than one cooling compartment (2, 102) and a separate evaporator (5, 105, 205) in each of the compartments (2, 102 and 3) and at least one valve (not shown in the figures) which controls the refrigerant delivered to the evaporators (5, 105, 205). The cooling device (1) furthermore comprises the control unit (10) which operates the defrost heater (9) and the fan (8) of the evaporator (5) from the evaporators (5, 105 or 205) whose valve is closed and does not operate the defrost heaters (9) and the fans (8) of the other evaporators (105, 205) whose valves are open. Accordingly, while the evaporator (5, 105 or 205) closed by the valve is heated, stopping of the compressor (6) is not required and the other compartments (2, 102 or 3) are continued to be cooled. In the meantime, the outlets of the air channels (7) are closed in the compartments (2, 102 or 3) wherein the defrost heater (9) operates so that the heated air is not mixed in the refrigeration cycle. Consequently, the channel (7) is also defrosted without delivering heated air to the other compartments (2, 102 or 3) (Figure 2).
[0025] The cooling device (1) is operated according to the following method in an embodiment of the present invention:
- Starting the refrigeration cycle (1000),
- inquiring whether or not the fan (8) has stopped (1001),
- if the fan (8) operates then continuing the cycle (1000),
- inquiring whether or not the fan (8) operation ratio (Tw) is lower than the limit operation ratio (fwt) if the fan (8) has stopped (1002),
- continuing to control the operation ratio (Tw) if the fan (8) operation ratio (Fw) is not lower than the limit operation ratio (Fwt) (1001),
- inquiring whether or not the cooling compartment (2) temperature (T2) is lower than the compressor (6) activation temperature (T2O if the fan (8) operation ratio (Fw) is lower than the limit operation ratio (Twt) (1003),
- if the cooling compartment (2) temperature (T2) is not lower than the compressor (6) activation temperature (T2O, then operating the compressor (6) (2003),
- if the cooling compartment (2) temperature (T2) is lower than the compressor (6) activation temperature (T2O, then inquiring whether or not the evaporator (5) temperature (T5) is higher than the defrost temperature value (T5O (1004),
- if the evaporator (5) temperature (T5) is higher than the defrost temperature value (Tst) then operating the fan (8) (3004),
- if the evaporator (5) temperature (T5) is not higher than the defrost temperature value (Tst) then operating the defrost heater (9) (2004),
- inquiring whether or not the evaporator (5) temperature (T5) is higher than the defrost temperature value (T5O (1005),
- if the evaporator (5) temperature (T5) is higher than the defrost temperature value (T5O then returning to step 1003, and
- if the evaporator (5) temperature (T5) is not higher than the defrost temperature value (T5O then operating the defrost heater (9) (2004) (Figure 3).
[0026] By means of the control unit (10) operating the cooling device (1) according to this method, detection of frosting and starting the defrosting process is guaranteed in the condition that the refrigeration cycle is not required to be operated.
[0027] By means of the control unit (10) of the present invention, whether or not frosting has occurred can be detected effectively by monitoring the fan (8) operation ratio. Moreover, the air heated by the defrost heater (9) utilized for defrosting the evaporator (5) can be delivered to other places which might have frosting problem, for example the channel (7) by means of the fan (8). Accordingly, the utilization of additional heater units is not required and savings in costs and energy is provided.
[0028] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These should be considered within the scope of the protection postulated by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

Claims
1. A cooling device (1) comprising
- at least one cooling compartment (2) and at least one freezing compartment (3),
- an insulator intermediate wall (4) which separates the compartments (2 and 3) from each other,
- at least one evaporator (5) which provides the cooling of the air circulated in the compartments (2 and 3),
- a compressor (6) which compresses the refrigerant passing through the evaporator (5) and circulates in the refrigeration cycle,
- a channel (7) through which the air passes returning from the cooling compartment (2) to the volume (H) containing the evaporator (5),
- a fan (8) which blows the cooled air towards the compartments (2 and 3), and
- a defrost heater (9) situated on the evaporator (5), and characterized by a control unit (10) which
- detects the fan (8) operation time (t.7a), the fan (8) stop time (t.7b), the cooling compartment (2) temperature (T2) and the evaporator (5) temperature (T5), and which operates the fan (8)
- if the ratio (Tw) of the fan (8) operation time (t7a), to the total of fan (8) operation and stop times (t7a+t7b) is lower than a predetermined limit operation ratio (Fwt),
- if the evaporator (5) temperature (T5) is higher than a predetermined temperature (T5O and
- if the cooling compartment (2) temperature (T2 ) is lower than a predetermined compressor (6) activation temperature (Ϊ2t).
2. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by the control unit (10) which operates the defrost heater (9) until it reaches the determined temperature (Tst ) if the evaporator (5) temperature (T5) is smaller than the determined temperature (T5O and operates the fan (8) upon reaching the determined temperature (Tst).
3. A cooling device (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, comprising more than one cooling compartment (2, 102) and a separate evaporator (5, 105, 205) in each of the compartments (2, 102 and 3) and at least one valve which controls the refrigerant delivered to the evaporators (5, 105, 205) and characterized by the control unit (10) which operates the defrost heater (9) and the fan (8) of the evaporator (5) from the evaporators (5, 105 or 205) whose valve is closed and does not operate the defrost heaters (9) and the fans (8) of the other evaporators (105, 205) whose valves are open.
4. For a cooling device (1) as in any one of the above claims, a method comprising the following steps:
- starting the refrigeration cycle (1000),
- inquiring whether or not the fan (8) has stopped (1001),
- if the fan (8) operates then continuing the cycle (1000),
- inquiring whether or not the fan (8) operation ratio (Fw) is lower than the limit operation ratio (fwt) if the fan (8) has stopped (1002),
- continuing to control the operation ratio (Fw) if the fan (8) operation ratio (Fw) is not lower than the limit operation ratio (Fwt) (1001),
- inquiring whether or not the cooling compartment (2) temperature (T2) is lower than the compressor (6) activation temperature (T2O if the fan (8) operation ratio (Fw) is lower than the limit operation ratio (Fwt) (1003),
- if the cooling compartment (2) temperature (T2) is not lower than the compressor (6) activation temperature (T2O, then operating the compressor (6) (2003),
- if the cooling compartment (2) temperature (T2) is lower than the compressor (6) activation temperature (T2O, then inquiring whether or not the evaporator (5) temperature (T5) is higher than defrost temperature value (T5O (1004),
- if the evaporator (5) temperature (T5) is higher than the defrost temperature value (Tst), then operating the fan (8) (3004),
- if the evaporator (5) temperature (T5) is not higher than the defrost temperature value (Tst) then operating the defrost heater (9) (2004),
- inquiring whether or not the evaporator (5) temperature (T5) is higher than the defrost temperature value (Tst) (1005),
- if the evaporator (5) temperature (T5) is higher than the defrost temperature value (T5O then returning to step 1003,
- if the evaporator (5) temperature (T5) is not higher than the defrost temperature value (T5O then operating the defrost heater (9) (2004).
PCT/EP2010/056642 2009-05-22 2010-05-14 A cooling device heated to prevent frosting WO2010133516A2 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN201080032311.6A CN102483283B (en) 2009-05-22 2010-05-14 A cooling device heated to prevent frosting
ES10720591T ES2431805T3 (en) 2009-05-22 2010-05-14 Heated cooling device to prevent frosting
EP10720591.6A EP2433066B1 (en) 2009-05-22 2010-05-14 A cooling device heated to prevent frosting

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
TRA2009/03968 2009-05-22
TR200903968 2009-05-22

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WO2010133516A2 true WO2010133516A2 (en) 2010-11-25
WO2010133516A3 WO2010133516A3 (en) 2011-05-26

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US20160327329A1 (en) * 2013-12-31 2016-11-10 Indesit Company S.P.A. Method and device for controlling a freezing phase in a single-control combined refrigeration appliance, and related refrigeration appliance

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CN111854269B (en) * 2020-07-16 2021-12-14 黄冈市津志家电科技有限公司 Negative pressure controlled frost-free refrigerator

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US20160320121A1 (en) * 2013-12-31 2016-11-03 Indesit Company S.P.A. Method and device for controlling a freezing phase in a single-control combined refrigeration appliance, and related refrigeration appliance
US20160327329A1 (en) * 2013-12-31 2016-11-10 Indesit Company S.P.A. Method and device for controlling a freezing phase in a single-control combined refrigeration appliance, and related refrigeration appliance

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EP2433066B1 (en) 2013-08-14
EP2433066A2 (en) 2012-03-28
WO2010133516A3 (en) 2011-05-26
ES2431805T3 (en) 2013-11-28
CN102483283B (en) 2014-10-22
CN102483283A (en) 2012-05-30

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