Method and apparatus for controlling refrigeration

Article heat transfer apparatus comprising:

• a) drivable heat transfer apparatus connectable to an energy source;
• b) control apparatus for said heat transfer apparatus to control operation thereof in accordance with sensed thermal characteristics;
• c) a chamber to contain at least one article during operation of said heat transfer apparatus;
• d) said chamber being in operative association with said heat transfer apparatus and adapted to cause the latter to effect heat transfer to or from said chamber;
• e) said control apparatus comprising a thermal sensor responsive to sensed thermal characteristics within said chamber;
• f) said control apparatus further comprising one of a thermal sink and a body associated with said thermal sensor and having a thermal capacity adapted to modify a responsiveness of said control apparatus to thermal characteristics of said chamber;
• and
• g) said one of said thermal sink and body comprising a temperature-sensing food simulating article provided within said chamber and comprising a body of solid food-simulant material able to retain its shape without the support of an external container and having said thermal sensor located therein in direct contact with the food simulant material, the food simulant material simulating the thermal properties of a foodstuff and adapted to provide a food-simulating temperature-dependent control signal to said heat transfer apparatus based upon the temperature within said food-simulant material at a defined distance from a surface of said food simulating article so as to control said heat transfer apparatus in accordance with a thermal model based on actual required internal food temperature.

A method of monitoring article heat transfer apparatus comprising the steps of:

• a) providing drivable heat transfer apparatus connectable to an energy source;
• b) providing monitoring apparatus for said heat transfer apparatus to monitor operation thereof in accordance with sensed thermal characteristics;
• c) providing a chamber to contain at least one article during operation of said heat transfer apparatus;
• d) providing said chamber in operative association with said heat transfer apparatus and causing the latter to effect heat transfer to or from said chamber;
• e) providing said monitoring apparatus comprising a thermal sensor responsive to sensed thermal characteristics within said chamber;
• f) providing the monitoring apparatus comprising a thermal sensor responsive to sensed thermal characteristics within a chamber, the monitoring apparatus comprising means for transmission of the monitoring signal to a monitoring/recordal facility means for transmission of the monitoring signal to a monitoring/recordal facility;
• g) said one of said thermal sink and body comprising a temperature sensing food simulating article provided within said chamber and comprising a body of solid food simulant material able to retain its shape without the support of an external container and having said thermal sensor located therein in direct contact with the food simulant material, the food simulant material simulating the thermal properties of a foodstuff and adapted to provide a food simulating temperature dependent monitoring signal, so as to monitor the heat transfer apparatus in accordance with a thermal model based on actual required internal food temperatures.