PROCESS FOR OPTIMISING THE POSITION OF REFRIGERATOR AIR GUIDES IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE INCREASED ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF THE REFRIGERATOR

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a method for configuring an open display refrigerator, the method comprises: measuring an initial temperature difference between the warmest temperature recorded by an array of temperature sensors and the coldest temperature recorded by the array of temperature sensors; coupling an air guide to at least one shelf; adjusting the distance between the air guide and the edge of the shelf for the at least one shelf; measuring a final temperature difference associated with the distance, the final temperature difference being the temperature difference between the warmest temperature recorded by the array of temperature sensors and the coldest temperature recorded by the array of temperatures sensors after coupling an air guide to the at least one shelf; selecting a distance from the plurality of distances that gives rise to at least a threshold temperature difference, or selecting the distance from the plurality of distances wherein the difference between the initial temperature difference and the associated final temperature difference is greatest.

Claims

1. A method, comprising: measuring a first energy consumption from a plurality of energy consumptions of a display refrigerator that has an air curtain separating an interior refrigerated space from exterior air with an air curtain guide that is coupled to an edge of a shelf and in a first position; adjusting the air guide such that the air guide is spaced apart from the edge of the shelf by each of a plurality of distances; measuring remaining energy consumptions from the plurality of energy consumptions, each energy consumption from the plurality of energy consumptions measured with the air curtain guide spaced apart from the edge of the shelf by a different distance from the plurality of distances; and selecting a distance from the plurality of distances based on that distance being associated with a lowest energy consumption from the plurality of energy consumptions.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the shelf is a first shelf, the method further comprising: determining a maximum distance between the air guide and the edge of the shelf, the maximum distance being a distance beyond which the air guide obstructs vision of an average user from viewing an item placed on a second shelf sited below the first shelf.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the air guide is adjusted at 10 mm increments.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the air guide includes moving the air guide in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the air guide is coupled to the edge of the shelf at a minimum distance from the plurality of distances.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising measuring each distance from the plurality of distances while adjusting the air guide.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the air guide is an aerofoil.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: measuring an initial energy consumption; and coupling the air curtain guide to the edge of the shelf after the initial energy consumption is measured.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each energy consumption from the plurality of energy consumptions is measured over a period of 24 hours.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein measuring each energy consumption from the plurality of energy consumptions occurs after a temperature within the refrigerator stabilizes following adjustment of the air guide.

11. A method, comprising: measuring an initial energy consumption of a display refrigerator that has an air curtain separating an interior refrigerated space from exterior air; coupling an air curtain guide to an edge of a shelf after measuring the initial energy consumption; adjusting the air guide such that the air guide is spaced apart from the edge of the shelf by each of a plurality of distances; measuring a plurality of energy consumptions, each energy consumption from the plurality of energy consumptions measured with the air curtain guide spaced apart from the edge of the shelf by a different distance from the plurality of distances; and selecting a distance from the plurality of distances based on a difference between (1) the initial energy consumption and (2) an energy consumption from the plurality of energy consumptions that is associated with that distance being greater than a threshold energy difference.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the initial energy consumption is measured over a period of 24 hours.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein each energy consumption from the plurality of energy consumptions is measured over a period of 24 hours.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein measuring each energy consumption from the plurality of energy consumptions occurs after a temperature within the refrigerator stabilizes following adjustment of the air guide.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the shelf is a first shelf, the method further comprising: determining a maximum distance between the air guide and the edge of the shelf, the maximum distance being a distance beyond which the air guide obstructs vision of an average user from viewing an item placed on a second shelf sited below the first shelf.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein adjusting the air guide includes moving the air guide in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows method steps for configuring an open display refrigerator.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows an average user viewing an item on the shelf of an open display refrigerator.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a bracket for attaching an air guide to a shelf and an air guide attached to the air guide in different positions.

[0027] FIGS. 4a-4c show a longitudinal section, a cross section and a plan view respectively of jelly bricks in an open display refrigerator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a flow chart for a method of configuring an open display refrigerator, wherein the open display refrigerator comprises a refrigerated storage space and at least one shelf in the interior of the open display refrigerator, air in the refrigerated storage space being separated from air exterior to the open display refrigerator by an air curtain established by a fan which blows air towards an air outlet, air in the air curtain being recovered by an air inlet which recirculates the air from the air curtain into an air duct coupled to the air outlet and wherein the method comprises: providing an array of temperature sensors within the interior of the open display refrigerator 100; measuring an initial temperature difference between the warmest temperature recorded by the array of temperature sensors and the coldest temperature recorded by the array of temperature sensors 101; coupling an air guide to an edge of the at least one shelf distal to a rear wall of the refrigerated storage space at a start point 102; adjusting the distance between the air guide and the edge of the shelf for the at least one shelf 103; measuring a final temperature difference associated with the distance, the final temperature difference being the temperature difference between the warmest temperature recorded by the array of temperature sensors and the coldest temperature recorded by the array of temperatures sensors after coupling an air guide to the at least one shelf 104; repeating steps 103 and 104 for a plurality of distances at regular intervals 105; selecting a distance from the plurality of distances that gives rise to at least a threshold temperature difference, or selecting the distance from the plurality of distances wherein the difference between the initial temperature difference and the associated final temperature difference is greatest 106.

[0029] A threshold energy difference might be, for example, a reduction of 1 C. between the warmest and coldest recorded temperatures. Other characteristics may be measured, such as energy consumed by the refrigerator with the air guides at different distances. In this case, the method may be changed, so that an initial energy consumption over a set period is measured in step 101. The energy consumed by the refrigerator over a set period is may be measured with the air guide at different distances in step 104. The distance selected in step 106 may be based on a threshold energy consumption or the greatest difference in energy consumption. The set period may be, for example, 24 hours or any amount of time that allows the temperature in the refrigerator to stabilise. The energy consumption may be measured in kWh/24 hr.

[0030] In some embodiments, the array of temperature sensors are provided within the refrigerated storage space. In some embodiments, a temperature sensor of the array of temperature sensors is provided proximate the air inlet and/or the air outlet. Additionally, at least one temperature sensor of the array of temperature sensors may be provided in the air duct. The temperature sensor(s) may be located before and/or after the heat exchanger.

[0031] In some embodiments, the method may include steps that comprise measuring the temperature by placing numerous jelly-bricks (examples of jelly-bricks known in the art are Tylose packs or M-Packs) on the shelves of the refrigerator, wherein each jelly-brick has its own temperature sensor or probe, which together make up the array of temperature sensors or probes, so that the temperature at different points of the refrigerator can be tracked. As the location of the warmest jelly-brick and the location of the coolest jelly-brick may change with adjustments made to the air guide, the difference between the warmest temperature of the jelly-brick and the coolest temperature of the jelly-brick may be measured as opposed to measuring the temperature of the same jelly-bricks before and after adjusting the air guide.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a cross section through an open display refrigerator 200. The refrigerator 200 has a storage space 205 that is maintained at a lower than ambient temperature. Within the storage space there are five storage shelves 206a-e. Different embodiments may have one, two, three, four, six or any other reasonable number of storage shelves depending on the size of the refrigerator. The storage shelves may be flat, may be at an angle or may be a mix of angled and flat shelves. The refrigerator 200 establishes an air curtain (not shown) by a fan (not shown) which blows cold air towards an air outlet 207, out of the air outlet 207 and towards and air inlet 208. Air inlet 208 recovers air from the air curtain and a fan 209 within the refrigerator 200 recirculates the air to the air outlet 207. An air guide 203, attached to the shelf 206d helps to maintain the path of the air curtain. Air guides may optionally be attached to one or more of the other shelves 206a-c, 206e. The air guide(s) may be in the form of an aerofoil, which works by being situated in the airflow of the air curtain of the refrigerator 200, with a portion of the air flow flowing either side of the aerofoil. The shape of the aerofoil causes a change in the direction of flow of the air curtain as it flows over the aerofoil. An aerofoil comprises a pressure surface and a suction surface. A cooling unit or heat exchanger 210 within the refrigerator 200 maintains the recirculated air (and hence the air blown through the air outlet 207 to form the air curtain) at a desired temperature. The desired temperature is chosen to be lower than ambient and acts to prevent cold air in the storage space 205 from mixing with warm air exterior to the refrigerator. An average user 201 is shown standing in front of the refrigerator 200, looking at an item 204 on a lower shelf 206e. A portion of the field of view of the user 201 that is obstructed by the air guide 203 is shown by the area 202. As can be seen in this example, the air guide 203 impedes the user's view of the item 204, as it protrudes out too far from the edge of the shelf 206d. The method of this application aims to avoid the view of a user from being impeded, whilst still allowing improved energy efficiency associated with installing aerofoils on one or more shelves of a refrigerator.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a bracket 302 for attaching an air guide to the shelf of a refrigerator (for example, the refrigerator 200 shown in FIG. 2). The bracket allows the air guide 301 to be moved between a number of discrete positions 301a-d. For example, 301c might represent a neutral position for an air guide, 301d might represent moving the air guide from a neutral position closer to the shelf, for example by a distance of 10 mm (or 10 mm), 301b might represent moving the air guide from a neutral position away from the shelf, for example by a distance of 10 mm (or +10 mm) and 301a might represent moving the air guide even further away from the shelf, for example by a distance of 20 mm (or +20 mm). Other discrete intervals are contemplated, for example 5 mm, 7 mm or 15 mm. Although the same interval is used in this explanation, a mix of intervals may be used, for example 4 mm, +6 mm and +9 mm. The positions 301a-301d may represent the regular intervals of step 105 in FIG. 1.

[0034] FIGS. 4a-4c show a longitudinal section, a cross section and a plan view of jelly bricks in an open display refrigerator. This is an example of how the jelly bricks and the temperature sensors used for measuring the temperature in the refrigerated storage space may be arranged. As mentioned previously, numerous jelly-bricks (the jelly-bricks are represented by rectangles on the shelves 403a, b of the refrigerator 400a-c and are indicated by 401a-c) may be placed on the shelves 403a, b of a refrigerator 400a-c, where the jelly-bricks 401a-c emulate items placed in the refrigerator 400a-c. The jelly-bricks further comprising an x (indicated, for example, by 402a-c) are where the jelly-bricks also comprise a temperature probe for measuring the temperature difference as indicated in steps 101 and 104 of FIG. 1.

[0035] By repeating steps 103 and 104 of the method, the user will obtain a number of final temperature differences associated with the selected distances between the air guide and the edge of the shelf. These temperature differences can be analysed to see if any of the temperature differences meet a threshold temperature difference or to see which of the temperature differences is the greatest. The user can then select the distance between the air guide and the edge of the shelf that best meets their needs or can repeat steps 103 and 104 again in order to collect more data points. Once the distance between the air guide and the edge of the shelf associated with the threshold temperature distance or the greatest temperature difference is selected, this distance can then be used to configure the refrigerator. The refrigerator can configured by setting the distance between the one or more air guides and the one or more shelves at the selected distance.