Refrigeration device comprising a refrigerant circuit with a multi suction line

Abstract

A refrigeration device with a refrigerant circuit for cooling at least two cooling chambers. The device has a condenser of the refrigerant circuit configured to liquidize refrigerant, a compressor of the refrigerant circuit compresses refrigerant, a first evaporator of the refrigerant circuit cools a first cooling chamber of the refrigeration device, a second evaporator of the refrigerant circuit cools a second cooling chamber of the refrigeration device, and a multi suction line of the refrigerant circuit connects the condenser with the compressor. The first and second evaporators are positioned on the multi suction line in a consecutive order. The multi suction line has a first capillary tube, a second capillary tube, and a suction pipe. The first capillary tube connects the condenser with the first evaporator, the second capillary tube connects the condenser with the second evaporator, and the suction pipe connects the first and second evaporator with the compressor.

Claims

1. A refrigeration device having a refrigerant circuit for cooling at least two cooling chambers of the refrigeration device, comprising: a condenser of the refrigerant circuit configured to liquidize refrigerant; a compressor of the refrigerant circuit configured to compress the refrigerant; a first evaporator of the refrigerant circuit configured to cool a first cooling chamber of the refrigeration device; a second evaporator of the refrigerant circuit configured to cool a second cooling chamber of the refrigeration device; a third evaporator of the refrigerant circuit configured to cool a third cooling chamber of the refrigeration device; and a multi suction line of the refrigerant circuit configured to connect the condenser with the compressor, wherein the first evaporator, the second evaporator and the third evaporator are positioned on the multi suction line in a consecutive order, wherein the multi suction line comprises a first capillary tube, a second capillary tube, a third capillary tube, and a suction pipe, wherein the first capillary tube directly connects the condenser with the first evaporator, wherein the second capillary tube directly connects the condenser with the second evaporator; wherein the third capillary tube directly connects the condenser with the third evaporator; and wherein the suction pipe connects the first, second and third evaporator with the compressor; and wherein multi suction line is a single multi suction line; wherein the suction pipe is assembled together with the first, second and third capillary tube into the single multi suction line, wherein a first section of the multi suction line between the condenser and the first evaporator comprises the first, second and third capillary tube together with the suction pipe, wherein a second section of the multi suction line between the first evaporator and the second evaporator comprises the second and third capillary tube together with the suction pipe, wherein a third section of the multi suction line between the second evaporator and the third evaporator comprises only the third capillary tube together with the suction pipe, and the diameter of the multi suction line decreases from the first evaporator, to the second evaporator and to the third evaporator.

2. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the first evaporator comprises a first connector, wherein the first connector connects the first capillary tube to the suction pipe within the first evaporator to conduct the refrigerant from the first capillary tube through the first evaporator and through the first connector to the suction pipe.

3. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the second evaporator comprises a second connector, wherein the second connector connects the second capillary tube to the suction pipe within the second evaporator to conduct the refrigerant from the second capillary tube through the second evaporator and through the second connector to the suction pipe.

4. The refrigeration device according to claim 3, wherein the first or second connector is formed as a T-shaped connection element.

5. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second capillary tube comprise differing capillary lengths or differing capillary diameters to obtain differing pressure reduction properties of the first and second capillary tube.

6. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the refrigeration device comprises a first refrigerant valve configured to close the first capillary tube in a first position and configured to open the first capillary tube in a second position, and wherein the refrigeration device comprises a second refrigerant valve configured to close the second capillary tube in a first position and configured to open the second capillary tube in a second position.

7. The refrigeration device according to claim 6, wherein the refrigeration device comprises a temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature of the refrigeration device, wherein the refrigeration device comprises a valve controller for controlling the first and second refrigeration valve in respect to the monitored temperature.

8. The refrigeration device according to claim 7, wherein the temperature sensor comprises an exterior sensor configured to monitor an exterior temperature of the refrigeration device, or wherein the temperature sensor comprises a cooling chamber sensor configured to monitor a temperature of the first or second cooling chamber, or wherein the temperature sensor comprises an evaporator sensor configured to monitor a temperature of the first or second evaporator.

9. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the first cooling chamber and second cooling chamber are separated by a separator wall and are configured to store goods at different temperatures.

10. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second capillary tube are positioned on an exterior surface of the suction pipe, or wherein the first and second capillary tube are positioned within the suction pipe.

11. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the third evaporator comprises a third connector, wherein the third connector connects the third capillary tube to the suction pipe within the third evaporator to conduct the refrigerant from the third capillary tube through the third evaporator and through the third connector to the suction pipe.

12. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the refrigeration device comprises a third refrigerant valve configured to close the third capillary tube in a first position and configured to open the third capillary tube in a second position.

13. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the multi-suction line comprises a first section connecting the condenser with the first evaporator, wherein the first section is S-shaped, traverses the first and second cooling chamber and comprises the first and second capillary tubes.

14. The refrigeration device according to claim 1, wherein the multi-suction line comprises a second section connecting the first evaporator with the second evaporator, wherein the second section traverses the first and second cooling chamber and comprises the second capillary tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a refrigeration device;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a refrigerant circuit of a refrigeration device;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a refrigeration device comprising a refrigeration circuit having three evaporators; and

(4) FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a first evaporator in a first cooling chamber of a refrigeration device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(5) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a refrigeration device according to the principles described herein. The refrigeration device 100 comprises a refrigerator door 101 and a refrigerator casing 102, wherein the refrigerator door 101 closes a cooling chamber 103 of the refrigeration device 100.

(6) FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a refrigerant circuit of a refrigeration device.

(7) The refrigeration device 100 comprises one or several refrigerant circuits 104 each comprising at least one evaporator 105, 106, 107, a compressor 108, a condenser 109 and a throttle arrangement 110, wherein refrigerant is conducted through the refrigerant circuit 104 in a flow direction 111. In FIG. 2, the refrigerant circuit 104 comprises a first evaporator 105 for cooling a first cooling chamber of the refrigeration device 100, comprises a second evaporator 106 for cooling a second cooling chamber of the refrigeration device 100, and comprises a third evaporator 107 for cooling a third cooling chamber of the refrigeration device 100.

(8) The throttle arrangement 110 comprises a first capillary tube 112 for connecting the condenser 109 with the first evaporator 105. The throttle arrangement 110 comprises a second capillary tube 113 for connecting the condenser 109 with the second evaporator 106. The throttle arrangement 110 comprises a third capillary tube 114 for connecting the condenser 109 with the first evaporator 105.

(9) The evaporator 105, 106, 107 is a heat exchanger, wherein the liquid refrigerant is vaporized after expanding by heat-uptake from the external medium, e.g. air. The compressor 108 is a mechanically operated device, which pumps refrigerant vapor from the evaporator 105, 106, 107 to the condenser 109 at an increased pressure. The condenser 109 is a heat exchanger wherein after compression the refrigerant vapor is liquidized by transferring heat from the refrigerant to an external medium, e.g. air. The refrigeration device 100 comprises a ventilator to provide an air-flow to the condenser 109 to efficiently cool the condenser 109. The throttle arrangement 110 comprising capillary tubes 112, 113, 114 is a device to reduce the pressure by reducing the diameter within the refrigerant circuit 104. The refrigerant is a fluid, which takes up heat at low temperatures and low pressure and transfers heat at higher temperatures and higher pressure.

(10) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a refrigeration device comprising a refrigeration circuit having three evaporators.

(11) The refrigeration device 100 comprises a first cooling chamber 115, a second cooling chamber 116 and a third cooling chamber 117, which are separated from each other by chamber floors 118. The refrigeration device 100 comprises a refrigeration circuit 104, part of which is shown in FIG. 3. The refrigeration circuit 104 comprises a first evaporator 105 for cooling the first cooling chamber 115, a second evaporator 106 for cooling the second cooling chamber 116, and a third evaporator 107 for cooling the third cooling chamber 117 of the refrigeration device 100. Therefore, by controlling the temperature of the evaporators 105, 106, 107, the temperature of the first, second and third cooling chamber 115, 116 and 117 can be controlled.

(12) To conduct refrigerant through the refrigerant circuit 104, the condenser 109 is connected to the first evaporator 105 by a first capillary tube 112, the condenser 109 is connected to the second evaporator 106 by a second capillary tube 113, and the condenser 109 is connected to the third evaporator 107 by a third capillary tube 114. To return the refrigerant to the refrigeration circuit 104, the first, second and third evaporator 105, 106, 107 are connected to a single suction pipe 119, so that the refrigerant from the first, second and third evaporator 105, 106, 107 is conducted to the compressor 108 together.

(13) As depicted in FIG. 3, to allow for an efficient assembly of the refrigeration device 100, the suction pipe 119 is assembled together with the first, second and third capillary tube 112, 113, 114 into a single multi suction line 120, which is positioned in the refrigeration device 100 in a S-like shape and traverses the first and second cooling chamber 115, 116, and also extend to the third cooling chamber 117.

(14) Therefore, a first section of the multi suction line 120 between the condenser 109 and the first evaporator 105 comprises the first, second and third capillary tube 112, 113, 114 together with the suction pipe 119. Since the first capillary tube 112 ends in the first evaporator 105, a second section of the multi suction line 120 between the first evaporator 105 and the second evaporator 106 comprises the second and third capillary tube 113, 114 together with the suction pipe 119. Since the second capillary tube 113 ends in the second evaporator 106, a third section of the multi suction line 120 between the second evaporator 106 and the third evaporator 107 comprises only the third capillary tube 114 together with the suction pipe 119. Therefore, the diameter of the multi suction line 120 decreases from the first evaporator 105, to the second evaporator 106 and to the third evaporator 107.

(15) To control the flow of refrigerant in the first, second and third capillary tubes 112, 113 and 114, respective refrigerant valves are positioned in the corresponding capillary tubes 112, 113 and 114, thereby controlling the cooling efficiency of the first, second and third evaporator 105, 106, 107.

(16) By using the multi suction line 120, there will be no need to use additional adaptors to connect the lines between the evaporators 105, 106, 107 and the compressor 108. Moreover, using a multi suction line 120 decreases the construction space needed for connections between condenser 109 and compressor 108. Furthermore, the multi suction line 120 ensures at least the same cooling performance compared to shorter lines.

(17) FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a first evaporator in a first cooling chamber of a refrigeration device according to FIG. 3. A first evaporator 105 of the refrigerant circuit 104 is positioned in a first cooling chamber 115 of the refrigeration device 100 to allow for an efficient temperature reduction in the first cooling chamber 115.

(18) The first evaporator 105 is connected to the refrigerant circuit 104 by a multi suction line 120, which comprises a first, second and third capillary tube 112, 113, 114 and suction pipe 119. In FIG. 4 the first capillary tube 112 is highlighted, which connects the condenser 109 with the first evaporator 105 and ends within the first evaporator 105. The multi suction line 120 further connects the first evaporator 105 with the second evaporator 106, but the multi suction line 120 between the first evaporator 105 and the second evaporator 106 only comprises the second and third capillary tube 113, 114 and the suction pipe 119, since the first capillary tube 112 ends in the first evaporator 105.

(19) To return refrigerant from the first evaporator 105 to the refrigerant circuit 104 and conduct the refrigerant further to the compressor 108, a fluid connection between the first capillary tube 112 inside the first evaporator 105 and the suction pipe 119 is established by a connection element 121, which is formed as a T-shaped connection element 121. After entering the first evaporator 105, the refrigerant is conducted from the first capillary tube 112 through the T-shaped connection element 121 into the suction pipe 119.

(20) While preferred embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein, many variations are possible which remain within the concept and scope of the invention. Such variations would become clear to one of ordinary skill in the art after inspection of the specification and the drawings. The disclosure therefore is not to be restricted except within the spirit and scope of any appended claims.

(21) The following is a summary list of reference numerals and the corresponding structure used in the above description of the invention: 100 Refrigeration device 101 Refrigerator door 102 Refrigerator casing 103 Cooling chamber 104 Refrigerant circuit 105 First evaporator 106 Second evaporator 107 Third evaporator 108 Compressor 109 Condenser 110 Throttle arrangement 111 Flow direction 112 First capillary tube 113 Second capillary tube 114 Third capillary tube 115 First cooling chamber 116 Second cooling chamber 117 Third cooling chamber 118 Chamber floor 119 Suction pipe 120 Multi suction line 121 Connection element