US 12,742,584 B2 · Refrigerator appliance post-cool fan operation

Abstract

A method of operating a refrigerator appliance includes operating a compressor of the refrigerator appliance to flow a refrigerant to an evaporator of the refrigerator appliance. The method also includes operating a fan to motivate a flow of air between the evaporator and a compartment of the refrigerator appliance while operating the compressor to flow the refrigerant to the evaporator. The compartment is thereby cooled. The method further includes stopping the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator. The method also includes determining a post-cool fan time based on a temperature setpoint of the compartment of the refrigerator appliance. The method further includes operating the fan for the determined post-cool fan time after stopping the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method of operating a refrigerator appliance, the method comprising:

operating a compressor of the refrigerator appliance to flow a refrigerant to an evaporator of the refrigerator appliance;
operating a fan to motivate a flow of air between the evaporator and a compartment of the refrigerator appliance, whereby the compartment is cooled, while operating the compressor to flow the refrigerant to the evaporator;
stopping the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator;
determining a post-cool fan time based on a temperature setpoint of the compartment of the refrigerator appliance and a post-cool fan time slope, the post-cool fan time slope having units of time over temperature;
and
operating the fan for the determined post-cool fan time after stopping the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator.

3 more elements

A refrigerator appliance, comprising:

a compressor;
an evaporator;
a fan;
a compartment;
and
a controller, the controller configured for:
operating the compressor to flow a refrigerant to the evaporator;
operating the fan to motivate a flow of air between the evaporator and the compartment, whereby the compartment is cooled, while operating the compressor to flow the refrigerant to the evaporator;
stopping the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator;
determining a post-cool fan time based on a temperature setpoint of the compartment of the refrigerator appliance and a default temperature setpoint of the compartment of the refrigerator appliance;
and
operating the fan for the determined post-cool fan time after stopping the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator.

9 more elements

A refrigerator appliance, comprising:

a compressor;
an evaporator;
a fan;
a compartment;
and
a controller, the controller configured for:
operating the compressor to flow a refrigerant to the evaporator;
operating the fan to motivate a flow of air between the evaporator and the compartment, whereby the compartment is cooled, while operating the compressor to flow the refrigerant to the evaporator;
stopping the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator;
determining a post-cool fan time based on a temperature setpoint of the compartment of the refrigerator appliance and a default post-cool fan time;
and
operating the fan for the determined post-cool fan time after stopping the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Refrigerator appliance post-cool fan operation

Life of this patent

Refrigerator appliance post-cool fan operation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18