Back to results
US 12,228,321 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.
Claims20
A refrigeration system for an appliance, the refrigeration system comprising:
- a thermal exchange media that is delivered through a sequential path and changes between a liquid state and a gaseous state;
- a first evaporator and a second evaporator that are each operably coupled to the sequential path;
- an electronic expansion valve coupled to the sequential path and 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 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 flash chamber operably and directly coupled to the electronic expansion valve via the sequential path, wherein the flash chamber separates the thermal exchange media in the gaseous state from the thermal exchange media in the liquid state;
- and
- a controller that operates the electronic expansion valve in a partially open state to regulate superheating of the thermal exchange media, wherein all of the thermal exchange media recirculates sequentially, and in series, through each of the first evaporator, the flash chamber, the electronic expansion valve and the second evaporator, wherein the electronic expansion valve defines a first mode and a second mode, wherein the first mode is a high flow state and the second mode is a low flow state, wherein the electronic expansion valve cooperates with the flash chamber and the thermal exchange media separated therein to regulate the percentage of the thermal exchange media that is in the liquid state as the thermal exchange media enters the electronic expansion valve.
3 more elements
A refrigeration system for an appliance, comprising:
- a plurality of evaporators;
- an electronic expansion valve configured to selectively regulate a thermal exchange media sequentially and in series through the plurality of evaporators, the electronic expansion valve operable in at least a partially open state that regulates a pressure drop based on a percentage of the thermal exchange media in a liquid state and a gaseous state entering the electronic expansion valve in the liquid state and the gaseous state;
- a flash chamber operably coupled to the electronic expansion valve via a single conduit and operably coupled to a first evaporator of the plurality of evaporators, wherein the flash chamber is configured to separate the thermal exchange media in the gaseous state from the thermal exchange media in the liquid state, wherein the flash chamber 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 first evaporator, the flash chamber, the electronic expansion valve and a second evaporator of the plurality of evaporators.
2 more elements
A refrigeration system, comprising:
- a first evaporator;
- a second evaporator operably coupled in series with the first evaporator;
- a first valve coupled to a variable speed compressor and the first evaporator;
- a second valve fluidly coupled to the second evaporator and operable in a partially open state;
- a flash chamber 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 flash chamber, 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 the thermal exchange media in the liquid state and the gaseous state entering the second valve from the flash chamber, wherein the flash chamber is configured to separate the thermal exchange media in the gaseous state from the thermal exchange media in the liquid state, wherein the second valve is an electronic expansion valve that defines a first mode and a second mode, wherein the first mode is a high flow state and the second mode is a low flow state, wherein the electronic expansion valve cooperates with the flash chamber and the thermal exchange media separated therein to regulate the percentage of the thermal exchange media that is in the liquid state as the thermal exchange media enters the electronic expansion valve.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.