Distributed refrigeration system for modular kitchens

A refrigeration appliance system constructed and arranged for use in a residential kitchen and other rooms in a dwelling comprising:

• a plurality of separate refrigerating modules each having:
• an insulated cabinet having an opening for access to the interior of the cabinet;
• at least one insulated door for covering and uncovering an opening in the insulated cabinet;
• an apparatus for receiving a cooling medium to cool the interior of the refrigerating module;
• at least one temperature sensor for sensing the temperature in the module;
• and
• at least one temperature selector for selecting an operating temperature for the insulated refrigerating module;
• a single, continuously operating variable capacity central cooling unit for chilling a cooling medium comprising a variable speed compressor, a condenser, a variable speed condenser fan and a controller;
• a cooling medium circuit connecting the central cooling unit and the plurality of refrigerating modules to supply cooling medium from the central cooling unit to the plurality of refrigerating modules, and to return cooling medium to the central cooling unit from the refrigerating modules;
• a plurality of cooling medium flow control devices connected in the cooling medium circuit for controlling flow of cooling medium to each of the refrigerating modules;
• a control circuit connecting the temperature sensors, the temperature selectors and the cooling medium flow control devices for the plurality of refrigerating modules with the controller, said controller including:
• a first portion to adjust the capacity of the central cooling unit in response to the aggregate cooling load of the plurality of refrigerating modules in order to supply sufficient cooling medium to cool the plurality of refrigerating modules to the respective selected operating temperatures, and
• a second portion to adjust the volume of cooling medium directed to respective ones of the refrigerating modules to maintain the selected operating temperature in the respective refrigerating modules;
• and
• at least one below freezing freezer module comprising:
• an insulated freezer cabinet defining a freezer compartment having an opening for access to the freezer compartment and an insulated freezer door for selectively closing the opening;
• a freezer cooling unit comprising a freezer compressor and a freezer condenser;
• a freezer evaporator for cooling the freezer compartment;
• a freezer expansion device connected in a refrigerant circuit with the freezer cooling unit and freezer evaporator;
• a freezer temperature sensor for sensing the temperature in the freezer compartment;
• a freezer temperature selector for selecting an operating temperature for the freezer compartment;
• and
• a freezer control circuit connecting the freezer temperature sensor, the freezer temperature selector, the freezer cooling unit to control operation of the freezer cooling unit to maintain the selected freezer compartment temperature.