EP2085723B1 - Method for operating a fridge and/or freezer and fridge and/or freezer operating according to such a method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for operating a refrigerator and / or freezer with two or more than two compartments, each having at least one closable by a closure element opening through which the compartments are acted upon with cold air, wherein at least one temperature sensor for indirect or immediate detection of the respective temperature actual value is provided.

From the prior art refrigerators or freezers are known which have a plurality of compartments, wherein the supply of cooled air to the compartments and the air return of heated air from the compartments is controlled by means of louvers. In this case, devices are known in which each compartment with a different temperature associated with a louver. From the prior art it is also known to provide devices in which subjects without lower temperature limit, such as freezing parts are provided, which are mitigkühlt when cooling request another compartment.

US 5,816,061 A discloses an apparatus and method according to the preamble of claim 1 for controlling the temperature in the refrigerated space of a refrigerator by supplying suitable cooled air to each of the refrigerators in accordance with the temperature in each of the refrigerators.

JP 2006 336972 A discloses a temperature control device for controlling the size of the passage area of the compartments in dependence on the temperature difference between a temperature detected by a sensor and a predefined setpoint temperature in each compartment.

The present invention has the object of developing a method of the type mentioned in such a way that the adjustment of the temperatures in the compartments is particularly energy efficient.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1.

Thereafter, it is provided that for several or all of the compartments, a temperature value (closing value) is defined, that the compartment with the smallest difference between actual temperature and closing value (temperature difference) is determined and that the closure element of this compartment is closed until its temperature difference is equal to or greater is the temperature difference of a compartment with a larger, preferably with the next larger temperature difference. It is conceivable, for example, that at a certain temperature value above the closing value, the temperature differences of the compartments are compared with open closure element and that then the closure element of the compartment is closed, in which the lowest temperature difference, that is the smallest distance between actual temperature and closing value. Due to the fact that the closure element of this already comparatively cold compartment is closed, the entire cold air is now the remaining subjects supplied with open closure element, which means that they undergo a relatively rapid cooling and the relatively cold compartment is not too cold. The closure element of said compartment is closed until it is determined that its temperature difference is equal to or greater than that of another compartment. Preferably, it is provided that the compartment in question is opened with the originally lowest temperature difference by opening the closure element when its temperature difference is equal to or greater than the temperature difference actual value to closing value of the compartment with the next larger temperature difference actual value to closing value. The hysteresis can be for example 0.5 K.

Thereafter, it is envisaged that for each or all of the compartments of the device a temperature range (opening corridor) is defined, that the evaporator is activated when the temperature in one of the compartments reaches or exceeds the upper value of the opening corridor and / or reaches the evaporator on temperature or exceeded. Furthermore, it is provided that the closure element of this compartment as well as the closure elements of the one or more further compartments are opened whose actual temperature values lie in the respective opening corridor.
In this case, it is provided that the closure element of the compartment is opened, the temperature has reached or exceeded the upper limit of the opening corridor. Furthermore, the closure elements of the compartments are opened whose actual temperature value lies in the respective opening corridor.

The term "temperature sensor" is to be construed broadly and includes every conceivable means which is capable of drawing conclusions about the temperature in the compartments. It is conceivable that one or more temperature sensors are provided in each or in some of the compartments. It is also conceivable that, alternatively or additionally, a temperature sensor is provided, which detects the evaporator temperature or another temperature, can be drawn on the conclusions about the temperatures in the compartments.
In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the determination of the compartment with the lowest temperature difference and the closing of the closure element takes place only when the actual temperature has reached or fallen below a predetermined distance to the closing value. It is conceivable, for all compartments, the differences between the actual temperatures and the to determine the respective closing values. If it is determined that in a compartment the distance of the actual temperature value from the closing value has reached or fallen below a certain distance, for example 4 K, it can be provided that the temperature differences, that is to say the differences between the respective actual temperatures and closing values, of the compartments with opened closure elements are mutually connected be compared. Then the closure element of the compartment is closed with the lowest temperature difference.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the device has at least one fan, by means of which cold air can be introduced through said closable openings in the compartments.

The device may have at least one cooling air channel, wherein the fan is arranged such that it moves the air through the cooling air channel in the one or more compartments. The cooling air channel can be limited for example by a vertical partition plate, which is located in the rear region of the device and which can form, for example, the rear wall of the compartment or compartments.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the fan is activated when the evaporator temperature reaches or falls below a threshold. It is conceivable, for example, that the fan is activated when the evaporator temperature is a predetermined value, for example 1 K below the temperature of the compartment, whose temperature has reached or exceeded the upper value of the opening corridor.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the closure elements of the compartments are opened, whose actual temperature reaches or exceeds the lower region of the opening corridor. Accordingly, if there are compartments whose actual temperature value is below the lower limit of the opening corridor, their closure elements initially remain closed. If the actual temperatures are the lower part of the opening corridor reach, the associated closure elements are opened, so that the compartments are charged with cold air.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the evaporator is deactivated when the Temperaturistwerte all compartments have reached their respective closing value.

If this is the case, it may additionally be provided that the speed of the fan is reduced compared to the actual cooling operation.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the closure elements of the compartments whose closure elements were temporarily or permanently opened during the cooling process are now opened when the actual temperatures of all compartments have reached their respective closing value. In this case, cold air is introduced into the compartments at reduced fan speed. In this way, the residual cold can be exploited and shorten the downtime. Furthermore, it can be provided that the fan is finally deactivated when the evaporator temperature reaches or exceeds a limit value.

Finally, it can be provided that the respective closure element is closed as soon as the respective actual temperature value or a characteristic value for the temperature reaches a desired value or exceeds it by a predetermined amount.

In a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that for at least one of the compartments, a temperature setpoint is predetermined and that the opening corridor and / or the closing value of the other compartments depends on the temperature setpoint. If, for example, with the setpoint setting of the compartment above arranged unchanged, the setpoint setting of a compartment below it is changed to "cold", the opening corridor and the closing value of the closure element of the upper compartment are corrected in the "warm" direction in order to control the to compensate for increased cooling by the return air flow from the lower compartment.

The present invention further relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer with the features of claim 15. Further details and advantages of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing.
The sole figure shows a cooling device according to the present invention.
The cooling device according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated here has a cooling part 10 arranged at the top as well as a compartment ("biofresh variable") arranged underneath and a compartment 30 ("biofresh fix") underneath. This arrangement is merely exemplary. Other arrangements of the compartments are conceivable. The reference numeral 40 denotes a fan, which draws air from the compartment 10 and conveys it into the cooling air duct 50. In this is the evaporator 60 with evaporator sensor 62. The evaporator cooler 62 outputs a characteristic of the temperature of the evaporator 60 temperature value.
As can be seen further from the figure, a temperature sensor 12, 22, 32 is located in each of the compartments.
Furthermore, each of the compartments 10, 20, 30 can be connected to the cooling air channel 50 via an air flap or another closure element 14, 24, 34. When the air damper 14, 24, 34 is open, air is accordingly introduced from the cooling air duct 50 into the respective compartment 10, 20, 30.
As can be seen further from the figure, the air that has flowed through the compartments 10, 20, 30, is returned to the fan 40 through the actual Nutzinhaltsbereich the device. In this way, a Nutzinhaltsverlust by specially provided air ducts for returning already heated air avoided. Rather, according to the embodiment, the air return of all temperature zones or compartments takes place together in Nutzinhaltsbereich.

The cooling device according to the present invention comprises an evaporator and a fan and serves to independently control or regulate the temperatures in the individual compartments.

In order to minimize the compressor run times, the times when the louvers 14, 24, 34 are opened are synchronized depending on the respective refrigeration requirements.

Any temperature influence by the air return through the Nutzinhaltsbereich can be prevented by an appropriate control / regulation of the individual temperature zones or compartments 10, 20, 30 associated opening and closing times of the respective louvers 14, 24, 34.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated here, it is provided that the compartments 10, 20, 30 are each operated at a specific setpoint temperature or in a setpoint temperature range, wherein the setpoint values or the setpoint ranges may differ from one another.

The control of the louvers 14, 24, 34 via a corresponding control member, which in turn is in communication with a control / control unit, not shown. This receives actual temperatures from the temperature sensors 12, 22, 32.

For each of the compartments 10, 20, 30, an opening corridor and a closing value are defined. The opening corridor should allow the highest possible share of the parallel operation of the individual compartments and thus an energy-saving mode of operation.

• Sobald einer der drei Temperaturfühler 12, 22, 32 den oberen Wert des dem jeweiligen Kompartiment zugeordneten Öffnungskorridors überschreitet und der Verdampferfühler seinen Einschaltwert erreicht hat, wird der Verdampfer 60 aktiviert, was mit anderen Worten bedeutet, dass der Kältemittelkreislauf ggf. mit Kompressor, Magnetventil, etc. in Betrieb gesetzt wird. Meldet der Verdampferfühler 62 einen Temperaturwert von beispielsweise 1 K unter dem Temperaturwert des Kompartimentes, dessen Temperatur den dem Kompartiment zugeordneten Öffnungskorridor überschritten hat, wird der Ventilator 40 mit hoher Drehzahl eingeschaltet und die entsprechende Luftklappe des Kompartimentes geöffnet. Hat beispielsweise der Temperaturwert im Kompartiment 10 die obere Grenze des Öffnungskorridors überschritten und hat der Verdampferfühler 62 den Einschaltwert erreicht, wird der Verdampfer aktiviert. Ist der Verdampfer 60 ausreichend kalt, liegt beispielsweise die mit dem Temperaturfühler 62 gemessene Temperatur 1 K unter der mit dem Temperaturfühler 12 gemessenen Temperatur, wird der Ventilator 40 eingeschaltet und die Luftklappe 14 geöffnet, so dass das Kompartiment 10 mit Kaltluft beaufschlagt wird.

The temperature control or regulation is as follows:

• As soon as one of the three temperature sensors 12, 22, 32 exceeds the upper value of the respective compartment associated with the opening corridor and the evaporator sensor has reached its switch-on value, the evaporator 60 is activated, which means in other words that the refrigerant circuit may be equipped with a compressor, solenoid valve, etc. is put into operation. If the evaporator sensor 62 reports a temperature value of, for example, 1 K below the temperature value of the compartment whose temperature has exceeded the compartment corridor associated with the compartment, the fan 40 is switched on at high speed and the corresponding air damper of the compartment is opened. If, for example, the temperature value in the compartment 10 has exceeded the upper limit of the opening range and the evaporator sensor 62 has reached the switch-on value, the evaporator is activated. If the evaporator 60 is sufficiently cold, for example, the temperature measured with the temperature sensor 62 1 K below the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 12, the fan 40 is turned on and the air damper 14 is opened, so that the compartment 10 is supplied with cold air.

The same applies, of course, to the other compartments if their actual temperatures have exceeded the upper values of the respective opening corridors.

If the temperature values of the other compartments are in the respective opening corridor, their associated louvers (in the above-mentioned example thus the louvers 24 and 34) are also opened. If there are compartments whose actual temperature values are not (yet) in the respective opening corridor, their air dampers remain closed until the actual temperature has reached the lower value of the associated opening corridor. Then the associated air damper is opened.

It is conceivable in the embodiment shown here, that during the cooling process all closure elements or louvers 14, 24, 34 are open, so that all compartments 10, 20, 30 are supplied from the cooling air passage 50 through the openings with cold air.

From a certain distance (eg 4 K) before the respective closing value, the temperature differences, that is to say the differences from the actual temperature value to the closing value of the compartments 10, 20, 30, whose closure element 14, 24, 34 is opened, are compared with one another. In this case, the compartment with the lowest temperature difference of actual temperature value and closing value is determined and its closure element is closed. If, for example, the difference between the actual temperature value and the closing value in the compartment 30 is lower than in the compartments 10 and 20, the closure element 34 is closed. The closure element remains closed until the temperature difference of this compartment is equal to or greater than the temperature difference of the compartment with the next higher temperature difference. If, for example, the temperature difference between the actual temperature value and the closing value in the compartment 30 whose closure element 34 is closed is 5 K and the compartment 20 is cooled sufficiently that the temperature difference there is also 5 K or less, the closure element 34 of the compartment becomes 30 reopened.

Have all compartments 10, 20, 30 reaches its closing value, the evaporator 60 is deactivated by switching off the compressor or interconnecting any solenoid valve and the speed of the fan 40 is set to a lower value. If louvers 14, 24, 34 are closed, they will be opened provided that they have reached their closing value in the phase in which not all compartments have yet reached their final value, d. H. were at least partially opened in the cooling phase.

If the evaporator sensor 62 reports a certain temperature value, for example 5 ° C., the ventilator 40 is completely switched off.

The flaps 14, 24, 34 are closed as soon as the corresponding temperature sensor 12, 22, 32 reports a temperature which corresponds to the setpoint temperature of the respective compartment and optionally a surcharge of, for example, 3K.

The evaporator remains deactivated until the evaporator sensor 62 has reached the switch-on value and / or an air sensor has reached an upper corridor value.

The adjustment of the individual temperature zones influences the opening and closing values of the air flaps assigned to the other temperature zones or compartments by means of parallel and steepness-defined correction factors.

If, for example, the setpoint setting of the compartment 20 is changed downwards, ie in the "cold" direction, with the setpoint setting of the upper compartment 10 unchanged, the opening and closing values or the opening corridor and the closing value of the upper compartment 10 are corrected in the "warm" direction, to compensate for the increased cooling by the return air flow from the lower compartment 20. The opposite applies, of course, if the setpoint setting of a compartment is changed in the "warm" direction.

Claims (15)

1. A method for the operation of a refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit having two compartments or more than two compartments (10, 20, 30) which each have at least one opening which is closable by a closure element (14, 24, 34) and through which the compartments (10, 20, 30) can be charged with cold air, with at least one temperature sensor (12, 22, 32) being provided for the indirect or direct detection of the respective actual temperature value of the compartments (10, 20, 30), characterized in that a closing value is defined for a plurality of the compartments (10, 20, 30) or for all of the compartments (10, 20, 30); in that the compartment (10, 20, 30) with the lowest temperature difference between the actual temperature value and the closing value is determined; and in that the closure element (14, 24, 34) of this compartment (10, 20, 30) is closed until this temperature difference is the same as or larger than the temperature difference of a compartment (10, 20, 30) having a larger temperature difference, preferably having the next larger temperature difference.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the refrigerator unit and/or the freezer unit have at least one evaporator (60), characterized in that an opening corridor is defined for a plurality of these compartments (10, 20, 30) or for all of these compartments (10, 20, 30); in that the evaporator (60) is activated when the temperature in one of the compartments (10, 20, 30) reaches or exceeds the upper value of the opening corridor and/or when the evaporator activation temperature has been reached or exceeded; and in that the closure element (14, 24, 34) of this compartment (10, 20, 30) as well as the closure elements (14, 24, 34) of the further compartment or compartments (10, 20, 30) are opened when their actual temperature values are within the respective opening corridor.
3. A method in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the determination of the compartment (10, 20, 30) having the lowest temperature difference and the closing of its closure element (14, 24, 34) only takes place when the actual temperature value has reached or fallen below a predetermined interval from the closing value.
4. A method in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the unit has at least one fan (40) by means of which cold air can be introduced into the compartments (10, 20, 30) through the named closable openings.
5. A method in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that a refrigeration air passage is provided, with the fan (40) being arranged such that the air is moved into the compartment or compartments (10, 20, 30) through the refrigeration air passage.
6. A method in accordance with either of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the fan (40) is activated when the evaporator temperature reaches or falls below a limit value.
7. A method in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that the fan (40) is activated when the evaporator temperature is below the temperature of the compartment (10, 20, 30) whose temperature has reached or exceeded the upper value of the opening corridor by a predetermined value.
8. A method in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure elements (14, 24, 34) of the compartments (10, 20, 30) are opened when their actual temperature value reaches or exceeds the lower range of the opening corridor.
9. A method in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaporator (40) is deactivated when the actual temperature values of all compartments (10, 20, 30) have reached their respective closing values.
10. A method in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the speed of the fan (40) is reduced when the actual temperature values of all compartments (10, 20, 30) have reached their respective closing values.
11. A method in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure elements (14, 24, 34) of the compartments (10, 20, 30) whose closure elements (14, 24, 34) were opened at times or permanently during the cooling procedure are opened when the actual temperature values of all the compartments (10, 20, 30) have reached their respective closing values.
12. A method in accordance with one of the claims 4 to 11, characterized in that the fan (40) is deactivated when the evaporator temperature reaches or exceeds a limit value.
13. A method in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective closure element (14, 24, 34) is closed as soon as the respective actual temperature value or a value characteristic for it has reached a desired value or has exceeded it by a preset amount.
14. A method in accordance with one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a desired temperature value is presettable for at least one of the compartments (10, 20, 30); and in that the opening corridor and/or the closing value of the other compartments (10, 20, 30) depend on the desired temperature value.
15. A refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit having two compartments (10, 20, 30) or more than two compartments (10, 20, 30) which each have at least one opening which is closable by a closure element (14, 24, 34) and through which the compartments (10, 20, 30) can be charged with cold air, with at least one temperature sensor (12, 22, 32) being provided for the indirect or direct detection of the actual temperature value in the respective compartments (10, 20, 30), characterized in that the unit has a control and/or regulation unit which is configured such that it operates the unit in accordance with one or more of the claims 1 to 14.

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