# US 8,769,975 B2 · Apparatus for refrigeration cycle and refrigerator

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 8,769,975 B2
- Document ID: US8769975B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/513,758
- Filed: 2007-11-02
- Published: 2010-02-18
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2006-11-09
- Assignees: LG Electronics Inc.
- Applicants: Moo Yeon Lee; Jong Jin Park; Myung Ryul Lee
- Inventors: Moo Yeon Lee; Jong Jin Park; Myung Ryul Lee
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8769975B2

## CPC

- F25D 11/022: {with two or more evaporators}
- F25B 5/00: Compression machines, plants or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity (with cascade operation F25B7/00)
- F25B 41/22: between evaporator and compressor
- F25B 2600/2511: Evaporator distribution valves
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A refrigeration-cycle apparatus is provided that includes a plurality of evaporators having various temperature bands, along with a refrigerator including a plurality of cooling compartments to enable stable and even cooling operations in various temperature bands using the plurality of evaporators. The refrigeration-cycle apparatus and the refrigerator enable individual operation of a portion of the plurality of evaporators, thereby reducing consumption of energy and enabling accurate control of an interior temperature of the refrigerator. The refrigeration-cycle apparatus includes a compressor that compresses and discharges a refrigerant, a condensing device including at least one condenser that condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor, a distributor that distributes the refrigerant condensed in the condensing device, and a cold air generator including a plurality of evaporators that evaporates the refrigerant distributed by the distributor. The plurality of evaporators is connected in series and parallel to one another and operates, respectively, to generate cold air having different temperature bands from one another.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A refrigeration-cycle apparatus, comprising:
a compressor that compresses and discharges a refrigerant;
a condensing device that includes at least one condenser that condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor;
a distributor that distributes the refrigerant condensed in the condensing device; and
a cold air generator that includes a plurality of evaporators that each evaporates the refrigerant distributed by the distributor, the plurality of evaporators being connected in series and parallel to one another and operated, respectively, to generate cold air having different temperature bands from one another, wherein the cold air generator comprises:
a first cold air generator that generates cold air from a portion of the refrigerant distributed from the distributor; and
a second cold air generator that is connected in parallel to the first cold air generator and generates cold air from a remaining portion of the refrigerant distributed from the distributor, wherein the second cold air generator has a selective refrigerant flow with the first cold air generator, wherein the first cold air generator comprises:
a first refrigerant flow-path connected to the distributor;
a first expander installed on the first refrigerant flow-path, that expands the refrigerant; and
a plurality of first evaporators connected in series to evaporate the refrigerant expanded in the first expander, so as to generate cold air having different temperature bands from one another, wherein the plurality of first evaporators comprises:
a first-band evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant so as to generate cold air having a predetermined temperature band;
a second-band evaporator that further evaporates the refrigerant which has passed through the first-band evaporator, so as to generate cold air having a lower temperature band than that of the first-band evaporator; and
an intermediate expander installed between the first-band evaporator and the second-band evaporator, that expands the refrigerant which has passed through the first-band evaporator and introduces the expanded refrigerant into the second-band evaporator, and wherein the second cold air generator comprises:
a second refrigerant flow-path connected to the distributor;
a second expander installed on the second refrigerant flow-path, that expands the refrigerant;
at least one second evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant expanded in the second expander, so as to generate cold air; and
a connector that connects the first refrigerant flow-path and the second refrigerant flow-path to each other between a point downstream of the second-band evaporator or the intermediate expander at least one of the plurality of first evaporators and a point upstream of the at least one second evaporator, to provide a selective refrigerant flow between the first refrigerant flow-path and the second refrigerant flow-path, so as to reduce a pressure difference between the refrigerant having passed through the at least one of the plurality of first evaporators and the refrigerant flowing through the second refrigerant flow-path, and to adjust a superheating degree of the refrigerant having passed through the at least one of the plurality of first evaporators, wherein the first expander has a shorter length than a length of the second expander, so that the second expander had a greater pressure drop than a pressure drop of the first expander.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distributor comprises a valve that supplies the condensed refrigerant from the condensing device into the first cold air generator and the second cold air generator simultaneously or selectively.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one second evaporator includes a plurality of evaporators connected in series to evaporate the refrigerant expanded in the second expander, so as to generate cold air having different temperature bands from one another.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of first evaporators further comprises:
at least one parallel-connection evaporator connected in parallel to at least one of the first-band evaporator or the second-band evaporator to generate cold air.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the first-band evaporator, the second-band evaporator, or the at least one parallel-connection evaporator includes an indirect-cooling type evaporator.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condensing device comprises:
a first condenser that condenses the refrigerant to be supplied into the first cold air generator; and
a second condenser that condenses the refrigerant to be supplied into the second cold air generator.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:
a distribution valve that distributes and supplies the refrigerant discharged from the compressor into the first condenser and the second condenser.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises:
a connecting pipe that connects a point downstream of the plurality of first evaporators to a point downstream of the second expander; and
a control valve that controls the flow of the refrigerant through the connecting pipe.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connector comprises:
a connecting pipe that connects a point between the plurality of first evaporators to a point downstream of the second expander; and
a control valve that controls the flow of the refrigerant through the connecting pipe.

### Claim 10

A refrigeration-cycle apparatus, comprising:
a compressor that compresses and discharges a refrigerant;
a condensing device that includes at least one condenser that condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor; and
a refrigeration-cycle device that simultaneously or selectively performs a plurality of refrigeration-cycle operations using the condensed refrigerant from the condensing device, so as to enable cooling operations in various temperature bands, wherein the refrigeration-cycle device comprises:
a distributor that distributes the refrigerant condensed in the condensing device into a plurality of passages simultaneously or into only a portion of the plurality of passages, selectively;
a first cold air generator that performs a refrigeration-cycle operation using a portion of the refrigerant distributed by the distributor; and
a second cold air generator that performs another refrigeration-cycle operation using a remaining portion of the refrigerant distributed by the distributor, wherein the first cold air generator comprises:
a first refrigerant flow-path connected to the distributor;
a first expander installed on the first refrigerant flow-path, that expands the refrigerant; and
a plurality of first evaporators connected in series to evaporate the refrigerant expanded in the first expander, so as to generate cold air having different temperature bands from one another, wherein the plurality of first evaporators comprises:
a first-band evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant so as to generate cold air having a predetermined temperature band;
a second-band evaporator that further evaporates the refrigerant which has passed through the first-band evaporator, so as to generate cold air having a lower temperature band than that of the first-band evaporator; and
an intermediate expander installed between the first-band evaporator and the second-band evaporator, that expands the refrigerant which has passed through the first-band evaporator and introduces the expanded refrigerant into the second-band evaporator, and wherein the second cold air generator comprises:
a second refrigerant flow-path connected to the distributor;
a second expander installed on the second refrigerant flow-path, that expands the refrigerant;
at least one second evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant expanded in the second expander, so as to generate cold air; and
a connector that connects the first refrigerant flow-path and the second refrigerant flow-path to each other between a point downstream of the second-band evaporator or the intermediate expander at least one of the plurality of first evaporators and a point upstream of the at least one second evaporator, to provide a selective refrigerant flow between the first refrigerant flow-path and the second refrigerant flow-path, so as to reduce a pressure difference between the refrigerant having passed through the at least one of the plurality of first evaporators and the refrigerant flowing through the second refrigerant flow-path, and to adjust a superheating degree of the refrigerant having passed through the at least one of the plurality of first evaporators wherein the first expander has a shorter length than a length of the second expander, so that the second expander had a greater pressure drop than a pressure drop of the first expander.

### Claim 11

A refrigerator, comprising:
a body;
a refrigeration-cycle apparatus installed in the body, and including a compressor that compresses and discharges a refrigerant, a condensing device that condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor, a distributor that distributes the refrigerant condensed in the condensing device, a first cold air generator that generates cold air from a portion of the refrigerant distributed from the distributor, and a second cold air generator that is connected to the first cold air generator and generates cold air from a remaining portion of the refrigerant distributed from the distributor, the second cold air generator having a selective refrigerant flow with the first cold air generator; and
a plurality of cooling compartments provided in the body and adapted to be cooled, respectively, by cold air, having different temperature bands from one another, generated from the first cold air generator and the second cold air generator, wherein the first cold air generator comprises:
a first refrigerant flow-path connected to the distributor;
a first expander installed on the first refrigerant flow-path, that expands the refrigerant; and
a plurality of first evaporators connected in series to evaporate the refrigerant expanded in the first expander, so as to generate cold air having different temperature bands from one another, wherein the plurality of first evaporators comprises:
a first-band evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant so as to generate cold air having a predetermined temperature band;
a second-band evaporator that further evaporates the refrigerant which has passed through the first-band evaporator, so as to generate cold air having a lower temperature band than that of the first-band evaporator; and
an intermediate expander installed between the first-band evaporator and the second-band evaporator, that expands the refrigerant which has passed through the first-band evaporator and introduces the expanded refrigerant into the second-band evaporator, and wherein the second cold air generator comprises:
a second refrigerant flow-path connected to the distributor;
a second expander installed on the second refrigerant flow-path, that expands the refrigerant;
at least one second evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant expanded in the second expander, so as to generate cold air; and
a connector that connects the first refrigerant flow-path and the second refrigerant flow-path to each other between a point downstream of the second-band evaporator or the intermediate expander at least one of the plurality of first evaporators and a point upstream of the at least one second evaporator, to provide a selective refrigerant flow between the first refrigerant flow-path and the second refrigerant flow-path, so as to reduce a pressure difference between the refrigerant having passed through the at least one of the plurality of first evaporators and the refrigerant flowing through the second refrigerant flow-path, and to adjust a superheating degree of the refrigerant having passed through the at least one of the plurality of first evaporators wherein the first expander has a shorter length than a length of the second expander, so that the second expander had a greater pressure drop than a pressure drop of the first expander.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein a portion of the plurality of cooling compartments includes a plurality of cooling storage compartments to be cooled, respectively, by the cold air, having different temperature bands from one another, generated by the plurality of first evaporators included in the first cold air generator.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein a remaining portion of the plurality of cooling compartments comprises at least one cooling storage compartment to be cooled by the at least one second evaporator of the second cold air generator.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the second cold air generator comprises a plurality of second evaporators connected in series and used, respectively, to generate the cold air having different temperature bands from one another, and wherein the remaining portion of the plurality of cooling compartments comprises a plurality of cooling storage compartments to be cooled, respectively, by the cold air, having different temperature bands from one another, generated by the plurality of second evaporators included in the second cold air generator.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein one of the plurality of cooling compartments comprises a plurality of cooling spaces partitioned therein to be cooled, respectively, by the cold air, having different temperature bands from one another, generated by the plurality of first evaporators included in the first cold air generator.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein a portion of the plurality of cooling compartments comprises a direct-cooling type cooling compartment realized by at least one direct-cooling type evaporator included in the first cold air generator or the second cold air generator.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a check valve is installed downstream of the second cold air generator, that prevents a backflow of the refrigerant to the second cold air generator.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condensing device comprises a first condenser and a second condenser, wherein the first condenser and the second condenser are connected to each other at a downstream position and connected to the distributor to supply the condensed refrigerant to the distributor.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising:
a distribution valve that distributes and supplies the refrigerant discharged from the compressor into the first condenser and the second condenser.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the distribution valve is a three-way valve.