An expansion valve includes: a main body portion having a valve chamber and a valve seat; a valve body configured for moving forward and backward relative to the valve seat; a case fixed to the main body portion; an excitation portion; a rotor that is driven to rotate by the excitation portion; and a forward and backward moving mechanism that converts a rotational movement of the rotor into a linear movement to move the valve body forward and backward. The valve chamber has a bellows housed therein externally mounted on the valve body and configured for expanding and contracting in association with the forward and backward movement of the valve body, and a space between the bellows and the valve body is held in a vacuum state.

An expansion valve includes a valve element, a valve seat as well as a biasing member. The valve element and the valve seat are arranged in a first fluid passage of the expansion valve. The expansion valve further includes a shape memory alloy actuator that exerts a force on the valve element towards an open valve position when the shape memory alloy actuator is heated by an electric current. An expansion valve for a vapour compression system of the above type may be controlled externally but also be self-regulating. The shape memory alloy actuator is arranged in a second fluid passage of the expansion valve and the shape memory alloy actuator is in thermal contact with fluid in the second fluid passage, such that the shape memory alloy actuator actuates the valve element towards a closed valve position when the shape memory actuator is cooled by the fluid.

An expansion valve includes a valve element, a valve seat as well as a biasing member. The valve element and the valve seat are arranged in a first fluid passage of the expansion valve. The expansion valve further includes a shape memory alloy actuator that exerts a force on the valve element towards an open valve position when the shape memory alloy actuator is heated by an electric current. An expansion valve for a vapour compression system of the above type may be controlled externally but also be self-regulating. The shape memory alloy actuator is arranged in a second fluid passage of the expansion valve and the shape memory alloy actuator is in thermal contact with fluid in the second fluid passage, such that the shape memory alloy actuator actuates the valve element towards a closed valve position when the shape memory actuator is cooled by the fluid.

A refrigerator includes a main body that has a storage chamber and a drying chamber; a thermoelectric module that includes a heat absorber and a heat dissipater; a cooling fan that circulates air in the storage chamber to the heat absorber and the storage chamber; a heat-dissipating fan that blows air to the heat dissipater; an air guide that has a passage for guiding air heated by the heat dissipater to the drying chamber; a heater that is disposed in the passage; and a damper that controls a flow of air in the passage between the heat-dissipating fan and the heater. Heat of the heat dissipater transfers to the drying chamber through the passage of the air guide and the damper, thereby being able to dry an object to be dried.

The invention relates to an actuator for a valve in a refrigeration system. The invention also relates to a valve with such actuator, and to a refrigeration system with such valve. The actuator comprises an elongated Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) element extending along two or more string-like extensions from a distant end to a proximate end in relation to a valve element of a valve. The SMA element, when forming part of the valve, may extend from the distant end to the proximate end connected to a housing of the SMA element, however, electrically insulated from the housing. An encapsulation may provide a thermal resistance, a thermal conductor and/or an electrical resistance between the SMA element and other elements or the surroundings of the SMA element.

An expansion valve (2) for a vapour compression system (1) and a vapour compression system (1) are disclosed. The expansion valve (1) comprises a valve element (9), a valve seat (13) as well as a biasing member (12). The valve element (9) and the valve seat (13) are arranged in a first fluid passage (6) of the expansion valve (2). The expansion valve (2) further comprises a shape memory alloy actuator (17) that exerts a force on the valve element towards an open valve position when the shape memory alloy actuator is heated by an electric current. The object of the invention is to provide an expansion valve for a vapour compression system of the above type that maybe controlled externally but is also self-regulating. To this end the shape memory alloy actuator (17) is arranged in a second fluid passage (7) of the expansion valve (2), wherein the shape memory alloy actuator (17) is arranged to be in thermal contact with the fluid in the second fluid passage (7), such that the shape memory alloy actuator also actuates the valve element (9) towards a closed valve position when the shape memory actuator (17) is cooled by the fluid in the second fluid passage (7).

A refrigeration system includes a compressor, a condenser fluidly connected to the compressor, an evaporator fluidly connected to the condenser and the compressor, such that fluid may flow from the compressor through the condenser, through the evaporator, and again through the compressor. An expansion device is fluidly connected between the condenser and the evaporator, and a micro-expansion valve is also connected between the condenser and the evaporator.