REFRIGERATION APPLIANCE WITH A HEAT EXCHANGING ELEMENT

Abstract

A refrigeration appliance includes a refrigeration circuit having a condenser and a heat circulation system for heating an element of the refrigeration appliance. The heat circulation system includes a heat conducting region. A heat exchanging element includes the condenser and the heat conducting region. The condenser and the heat conducting region in the heat exchanger element are thermally coupled in order to output heat from the refrigeration circuit to the heat conducting region of the heat circulation system.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A refrigeration appliance, comprising: a refrigeration circuit including a condenser; a heat circulation system for heating an element of the refrigeration appliance, said heat circulation system including a heat conducting region; and a heat exchanging element including said condenser and said heat conducting region, said condenser and said heat conducting region in said heat exchanging element being thermally coupled to output heat from said refrigeration circuit to said heat conducting region of said heat circulation system.

17. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 16, wherein said condenser of said heat exchanging element is made of a multiport extruded tube.

18. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 16, wherein: said condenser includes a refrigeration duct; said heat conducting region includes a heat duct; said refrigeration duct is configured to convey a refrigerant from said refrigeration circuit into said heat exchanging element; and said heat duct is configured to convey a heat transporting substance from said heat circulation system into said heat exchanging element.

19. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 18, wherein said refrigeration duct and said heat duct are mutually parallel and are configured to convey the refrigerant in said refrigeration duct and the heat transporting substance in said heat duct in opposing flow directions through said refrigeration duct and through said heat duct.

20. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 18, which further comprises a thermally conducting separating wall separating said refrigeration duct from said heat duct.

21. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 16, wherein: said heat exchanging element includes a top unit, and said top unit is configured to connect said heat exchanging element to said refrigeration circuit and to said heat circulation system; said refrigeration circuit includes a refrigerant; and said heat circulation system includes a heat transporting substance.

22. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 21, wherein said top unit includes a refrigerant chamber for receiving the refrigerant through a first opening and a substance chamber for receiving the heat transporting substance through a second opening, and a thermally conducting center web separates said refrigerant chamber and said substance chamber from one another.

23. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 22, wherein the heat transporting substance includes an alkane, a fluorinated hydrocarbon or water.

24. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 22, wherein the heat transporting substance includes isobutane, tetrafluoroethane or water.

25. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 22, wherein the heat transporting substance includes water.

26. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 16, wherein: said heat circulation system contains a heat transporting substance and includes a heat output region; said heat conducting region is configured to output a quantity of heat absorbed by said condenser of said heat exchanging element to the heat transporting substance in said heat circulation system in order to heat the heat transporting substance; said heat circulation system is configured to conduct the heated heat transporting substance from said heat conducting region to said heat output region; and said heat output region is configured to output a quantity of heat absorbed by the heat transporting substance to said element of the refrigeration appliance.

27. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 16, wherein said refrigeration circuit includes an active system with an evaporator, a compressor or a throttle device.

28. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 16, wherein said heat circulation system includes a passive system with a thermosiphon or a heating pipe.

29. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 16, which further comprises an evaporation tray, said heat circulation system being configured to output an absorbed quantity of heat to said evaporation tray.

30. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 29, wherein said heat circulation system includes a heat output region, and said heat output region includes a thermally conducting element being in thermal contact with said evaporation tray to ensure efficient heating of said evaporation tray.

31. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 26, which further comprises a frame of the refrigeration appliance, said heat circulation system being configured to output the absorbed quantity of heat to said frame of the refrigeration appliance.

32. The refrigeration appliance according to claim 31, wherein said frame of the refrigeration appliance has a surface region, and said heat circulation system is configured to output the absorbed quantity of heat to said surface region of said frame of the refrigeration appliance.

Description

[0042] Further exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a refrigeration appliance;

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a heat circulation system in a refrigeration appliance;

[0045] FIG. 3 shows schematic diagram of a condenser as an example for comparison;

[0046] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an MPE tube;

[0047] FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a top unit;

[0048] FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a heat exchanging element; and

[0049] FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of a refrigeration appliance with an evaporation tray.

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a refrigerator, which represents a general refrigeration appliance 100 with a refrigeration appliance door 101, which can be used to close the inner chamber of the general refrigeration appliance 100, and with a frame 103.

[0051] The refrigeration appliance 100 comprises a refrigeration circuit with an evaporator, compressor, condenser and throttle device. The evaporator is a heat exchanger, in which, after expanding, the liquid refrigerant is evaporated by absorbing heat from the medium to be cooled, e.g. air. The compressor is a mechanically operated part which takes in vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator and ejects it to the condenser at a higher pressure. The condenser is a heat exchanger, in which, after being compressed, the evaporated refrigerant is condensed by outputting heat to an external cooling medium, e.g. air. The throttle device is an apparatus for constantly reducing pressure by narrowing cross section. The refrigerant is a fluid used to transfer heat in the cold-generating system, which absorbs heat when the fluid is at low temperatures and low pressure and outputs heat when the fluid is at a higher temperature and higher pressure, with state changes of the fluid generally being included.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a heat circulation system 105 with a heat transporting substance in a refrigeration appliance 100, the heat circulation system 105 comprising a heat conducting region 107 and a heat output region 109. Essential for the operation of the heat circulation system 105 is a temperature difference between the two regions of the heat circulation system 105, in order to allow heat to be transported by the heat transporting substance in the heat circulation system 105. As the temperature outside the heat conducting region 107 is greater than the temperature of the heat transporting substance in the refrigeration appliance 100, a quantity of heat is absorbed by the heat transporting substance in the heat conducting region 107. The heated heat transporting substance is transported through a substance line 111 to the heat output region 109 of the heat circulation system 105 in the flow direction 113. As the temperature outside the heat output region 109 is lower than the temperature of the heated heat transporting substance, the quantity of heat is output from the heat transporting substance in the heat output region 109 to a region outside the heat output region 109.

[0053] Between the heat conducting region 107 and the heat output region 109 the heat circulation system 105 comprises an insulating region 115 to prevent a flow of heat outside the heat circulation system 105 between the two regions with different temperatures in the refrigeration appliance 100.

[0054] If the heat circulation system 105 comprises a thermosiphon, the heat generated in the refrigeration appliance 100 during operation of the cooling circuit is output to the heat conducting region 107 of the heat circulation system 105 in order to heat the heat transporting substance, causing this to evaporate and the gas to rise upward in the substance line 111. In the heat output region 109 the heated heat transporting substance outputs the absorbed heat to the surroundings of the heat circulation system 105, causing it to be cooled and to condense. The cooled condensed heat transporting substance flows back down due to gravity and collects in the heat conducting region 107.

[0055] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a condenser made of extruded MPE tube (MPE condenser) as an example for comparison. The condenser 117 comprises an entry tube 119 and an exit tube 121, through which the refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit can be conducted into and out of the condenser 117. The condenser 117 comprises an extruded MPE tube 123, through which refrigerant is conducted and which has a serpentine structure. Fins 125 are positioned between the serpentine segments of the MPE tube 123, allowing heat to be output efficiently by the condenser 117 to the surroundings.

[0056] The transition of the extruded MPE tube 123 to the entry tube 119 and to the exit tube 121 is brought about in each instance by a top unit 127. The top unit 127 has an opening on a front face, by means of which the entry tube 119 or exit tube 121 is connected to the top unit 127. A gap is located on the longitudinal face of the top unit 127, into which the MPE tube 123 can be inserted to bring about a reliable connection between the MPE tube 123 and the entry tube 119 or the exit tube 121.

[0057] Heated refrigerant can thus be conducted by way of the entry tube 119 through the extruded MPE tube 123 into the condenser 117 and by way of the exit tube 121 back out of the condenser 117. A quantity of heat can be output from the refrigerant to the outer region of the condenser 117 by the fins 125, in order to condense the refrigerant.

[0058] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an MPE tube 123 according to the present invention. The MPE tube 123 can comprise an extruded tube of one or various metals and can be made of aluminum. The MPE tube 123 comprises a number of refrigeration ducts 129, through which the refrigerant from the refrigeration circuit can flow and which are separated from one another by webs 131. The webs 131 strengthen the MPE tube 123 and allow the MPE tube 123 to bend in a serpentine manner.

[0059] The MPE tube 123 also comprises a number of heat ducts 133, through which a heat transporting substance from a heat circulation system 105 can flow and which are also separated from one another by webs 131. A separating wall 135 is present between the heat ducts 133 and the refrigeration ducts 129. The separating wall 135 prevents the refrigerant flowing through the refrigeration ducts 129 from mixing with the heat transporting substance flowing through the heat ducts 133. The separating wall 135 is embodied in such a manner that heat can flow from the refrigerant in the refrigeration ducts 129 through the separating wall 135 to the heat transporting substance in the heat ducts 133.

[0060] FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a top unit 127 according to the present invention. The top unit 127 can comprise an extruded tube of one or various metals and can be made of aluminum. The top unit 127 has a first opening 137 on a front face, by means of which an entry tube 119 or an exit tube 121 of the refrigeration circuit is connected to the top unit 127. Refrigerant from the refrigeration circuit can flow into a refrigerant chamber 139 of the top unit 127 through the opening 137.

[0061] In order to combine a part of the MPE tube 123 with a heat circulation system 105, the top unit 127 has a second opening 141 on the other front face, by means of which an entry tube 119 or exit tube 121 of the heat circulation system 105 is connected to the top unit 127. Heat transporting substance from the heat circulation system 105 can flow into a substance chamber 143 of the top unit 127 through the second opening 141.

[0062] In order to prevent refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber 139 and heat transporting substance in the substance chamber 143 of the top unit 127 from mixing, a center web 145 is positioned between the refrigerant chamber 139 and the substance chamber 143. The center web 145 allows a physical separation between substance chamber 143 and refrigerant chamber 139. However the center web 145 is embodied in such a manner that heat can flow from the refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber 139 to the heat transporting substance in the substance chamber 143 through the center web 145.

[0063] So that the top unit 127 can be connected reliably to the MPE tube 123, the top unit 127 has a slot 147 on a longitudinal face, said slot 147 being configured so as to hold the MPE tube 123. The slot 147 comprises a refrigerant slot 149, by means of which the refrigerant chamber 139 of the top unit 127 is reliably connected to the refrigeration ducts 129 of the MPE tube 123, in order to allow a flow of refrigerant by way of the first opening 137 through the refrigerant chamber 139 to the refrigeration ducts 129 of the MPE tube 123. The slot 147 also comprises a substance slot 151, by means of which the substance chamber 143 of the top unit 127 is reliably connected to the heat ducts 133 of the MPE tube 123, in order to allow a flow of heat transporting substance by way of the second opening 141 through the substance chamber 143 to the heat ducts 133 of the MPE tube 123.

[0064] FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a heat exchanging element according to the present invention with an MPE tube according to FIG. 4 and a top unit according to FIG. 5. The heat exchanging element 153 comprises a condenser 117 and a heat conducting region 107, which are separated by the separating wall 135 and center web 145, as shown by a dividing line 155. The condenser 117 comprises an entry tube 119 and an exit tube 121, through which refrigerant can be conducted into and out of the condenser 117. The condenser 117 and the heat conducting region 107 comprise an extruded MPE tube 123, through which refrigerant or heat transporting substance is conducted and which has a serpentine structure. Fins 125 are positioned between the serpentine segments of the extruded MPE tube 123.

[0065] The transition of the extruded MPE tube 123 to the entry tube 119 and to the exit tube 121 is brought about in each instance by a top unit 127. The top unit 127 has a first opening 137 on a front face, by means of which the entry tube 119 or exit tube 121 is connected to the top unit 127. A slot 147 is located on the longitudinal face of the top unit 127, into which the MPE tube 123 can be inserted to bring about a reliable connection between the MPE tube 123 and the entry tube 119 or the exit tube 121.

[0066] The top unit 127 further comprises a second opening 141, into which a further entry tube 157 and into which a further exit tube 159 can be inserted. The further entry tube 157 and the further exit tube 159 are connected to the heat circulation system 105, so that the heat transporting substance can be conducted through the heat conducting region 107.

[0067] Because of the separating wall 135 in the MPE tube 123 and the center web 145 in the top unit 127 the refrigerant flowing through the refrigeration ducts 129 is prevented from mixing with the heat transporting substance flowing through the heat ducts 133 so the dividing line 155 ensures that the heat exchanging element 153 is divided into two. The condenser 117 of the heat exchanging element 153 separated by the dividing line 155 is part of an active refrigeration circuit with a compressor, while the heat conducting region 107 of the heat exchanging element 153 separated by the dividing line 155 is part of a passive heat circulation system 105, for example a thermosiphon or heating pipe.

[0068] The separating wall 135 and the center web 145 are however configured in such a manner that they are thermally conducting and heat can therefore flow from the refrigerant in the refrigeration ducts 129 to the heat transporting substance in the heat ducts 133. The heat exchanging element 153 therefore functions as a heat exchanger, to transfer heat from the refrigeration circuit to the heat circulation system 105.

[0069] The heat circulation system 105 can output the heat dissipated from the refrigeration circuit by the condenser 117 to an element of the refrigeration appliance 100. For example the dissipated heat can be output to a surface region of the frame 103 of the refrigeration appliance 100 in order to heat the surface region of the frame 103 and prevent water condensing on a cold surface of the frame 103.

[0070] FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of a refrigeration appliance 100 with an evaporation tray 163. The refrigeration appliance 100 comprises a heat circulation system 105, with a heat conducting region 107 for absorbing heat and a heat output region 109 for outputting heat to a thermally conducting element 161, for example an element with a large surface, which is configured to output the output heat to the evaporation tray 163. This ensures that heat is transferred efficiently from the heat conducting region 107 to the evaporation tray 163 of the refrigeration appliance 100.

[0071] The heat circulation system 105 can comprise a heating pipe as well as a thermosiphon to output heat to the evaporation tray 163. A heating pipe is a closed pipe, which is filled with a heat transporting substance and which has a wick on the outer wall of the heating pipe. The heat transporting substance is in a liquid aggregate state in the wick. When the heat conducting region 107 of the heating pipe is heated, the heat transporting substance absorbs heat and evaporates and the resulting pressure increase in the heating pipe causes gaseous heat transporting substance to output heat and condense at the same time in the heat output region 109 of the heating pipe. The heating pipe therefore causes heat to be transported efficiently from a warm to a cold environment, which is much more efficient than the conventional conducting of heat in copper.

[0072] As the heat circulation system 105, e.g. the heating pipe, dissipates heat from the condenser 117 and is therefore colder than its surroundings, the condenser 117 is cooled more efficiently than by air cooling. The lower the condensation temperature of the refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit, the greater the efficiency of the compressor in the refrigeration circuit and the lower the energy consumption of the refrigeration appliance 100 as a whole. The more efficient cooling of the condenser 117 by the heat circulation system 105 can in some instances result in a fan in the refrigeration appliance 100 operating more slowly, thereby reducing noise levels during operation of the refrigeration appliance 100.

[0073] All the features described and illustrated in conjunction with individual embodiments of the invention can be provided in different combinations in the inventive subject matter, in order to bring about their advantageous effects at the same time.

[0074] The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the claims and is not restricted by the features set out in the description or illustrated in the figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0075] 100 Refrigeration appliance [0076] 101 Refrigeration appliance door [0077] 103 Frame [0078] 105 Heat circulation system [0079] 107 Heat conducting region [0080] 109 Heat output region [0081] 111 Substance line [0082] 113 Flow direction [0083] 115 Insulating region [0084] 117 Condenser [0085] 119 Entry tube [0086] 121 Exit tube [0087] 123 MPE tube [0088] 125 Fins [0089] 127 Top unit [0090] 129 Refrigeration ducts [0091] 131 Web [0092] 133 Heat ducts [0093] 135 Separating wall [0094] 137 First opening [0095] 139 Refrigerant chamber [0096] 141 Second opening [0097] 143 Substance chamber [0098] 145 Center web [0099] 147 Slot [0100] 149 Refrigerant slot [0101] 151 Substance slot [0102] 153 Heat exchanging element [0103] 155 Dividing line [0104] 157 Further entry tube [0105] 159 Further exit tube [0106] 161 Thermally conducting element [0107] 163 Evaporation tray