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US 11,885,544 B2Granted
Adjustable cooling system
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsAndre Goncalez Ribeiro, Akshit Markan, Ryan Gregory Wasielewski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A refrigeration system comprises a variable speed compressor and a first evaporator. A second evaporator is operably coupled in series with the first evaporator. A first valve is coupled to the variable speed compressor and the first evaporator. A second valve is fluidly coupled to the second evaporator, and a pressure regulator is coupled to the second valve.
Claims19
An appliance, comprising:
- a variable speed compressor;
- a first evaporator operably coupled to the variable speed compressor;
- a second evaporator operably coupled in series to the first evaporator;
- a thermal exchange media that changes between a liquid state and a gaseous state;
- an electronic expansion valve in fluid communication to the second evaporator and configured to regulate a flow of the thermal exchange media from the first evaporator to the second evaporator, the electronic expansion valve being operable in a partially open state and is configured to selectively open and close based on a percentage of the thermal exchange media that is in the liquid state and the gaseous state as the thermal exchange media enters the electronic expansion valve in the liquid state and the gaseous state;
- a pressure regulator operably and directly coupled to the electronic expansion valve via a single conduit, wherein the pressure regulator is a flash chamber that separates the thermal exchange media in the gaseous state from the thermal exchange media in the liquid state, and wherein the pressure regulator directs the thermal exchange media in the gaseous state and the liquid state to the electronic expansion valve;
- and
- a controller configured to regulate the electronic expansion valve, wherein the controller is configured to selectively control the electronic expansion valve to regulate superheating of the thermal exchange media, wherein all of the thermal exchange media recirculates sequentially, and in series, through each of the variable speed compressor, the first evaporator, the pressure regulator, the electronic expansion valve and the second evaporator.
5 more elements
A refrigeration system for an appliance, comprising:
- a compressor;
- a first evaporator;
- a second evaporator operably coupled to the first evaporator;
- a thermal exchange media that changes between a gaseous state and a liquid state;
- an electronic expansion valve configured to selectively regulate the thermal exchange media from the first evaporator into the second evaporator and operable in at least a partially open state, wherein the electronic expansion valve regulates a pressure drop based on a percentage of the thermal exchange media in the liquid state and the gaseous state entering the electronic expansion valve in the liquid state and the gaseous state;
- a pressure regulator operably coupled to the electronic expansion valve via a single conduit and operably coupled to the first evaporator, wherein the pressure regulator is a flash chamber configured to separate the thermal exchange media in the gaseous state from the thermal exchange media in the liquid state, wherein the pressure regulator directs the thermal exchange media in the gaseous state and the liquid state to the electronic expansion valve, wherein the flash chamber is operably coupled in series with the first evaporator and the electronic expansion valve;
- and
- a controller configured to control the electronic expansion valve, wherein all of the thermal exchange media is recirculated sequentially, and in series, through each of the compressor, the first evaporator, the pressure regulator, the electronic expansion valve and the second evaporator.
5 more elements
A refrigeration system, comprising:
- a variable speed compressor;
- a first evaporator;
- a second evaporator operably coupled in series with the first evaporator;
- a first valve coupled to the variable speed compressor and the first evaporator;
- a second valve fluidly coupled to the second evaporator and operable in a partially open state;
- a pressure regulator directly coupled to the second valve via a single conduit;
- a thermal exchange media that changes between a gaseous state and a liquid state as the thermal exchange media is recirculated sequentially and in series through each of the variable speed compressor, the first valve, the first evaporator, the pressure regulator, the second valve and the second evaporator;
- and
- a controller communicatively coupled to the second valve and configured to selectively open the second valve based on a percentage of thermal exchange media in the liquid state and the gaseous state entering the second valve from the pressure regulator, wherein the pressure regulator is a flash chamber configured to separate the thermal exchange media in the gaseous state from the thermal exchange media in the liquid state.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.