Refrigeration device comprising controlled de-humidification

• US 20070137227A1
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Konopa, Kelmut
• Application Number:
  US10/560,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20070137227A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/186
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/0251 with on-off operation
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/112 of evaporator fans
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/02 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/042 Air treating means within refrigerated spaces air conditioning in general F24F
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/062 in household refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0411 by dehumidification
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/04 Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/14 Sensors measuring the temperature outside the refrigerator or freezer
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices

Abstract

A no-frost refrigeration device including at least one storage compartment with an evaporator located in a chamber separated from the storage compartment with a fan for circulating air between the storage compartment and the chamber. The evaporator is alternately activated and deactivated and the average circulation power of the fan during activation of the evaporator can be varied in order to raise the temperature of the evaporator by increasing the circulation power of the fan, thus shortening the duration of the activation phases of the evaporator and reducing the humidity in the storage compartment. In order to lower the temperature of the evaporator the circulation power of the fan is reduced, thus lengthening the duration of the activation phases of the evaporator and increasing the humidity in the storage compartment.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A no-frost refrigeration device, comprising:

at least one storage compartment;

an evaporator which is alternately activated and deactivated located in a chamber separated from said storage compartment;

a fan for circulating air between said storage compartment and said evaporator chamber; and

a control circuit which makes an average circulation power of said fan variable during an activation phase of said evaporator.

13. The no-frost refrigeration device according to claim 12, including said fan can be switched off temporarily during said activated phase of said evaporator.

14. The no-frost refrigeration device according to claim 13, including said control circuit controlling the operation of said evaporator and said fan set up to intermittently operate said fan during said activated phase of said evaporator.

15. The no-frost refrigeration device according to claim 14, including a selector switch on which a duty cycle can be set for said intermittent operation of said fan.

16. The no-frost refrigeration device according to claim 14, including said control circuit coupled to at least one air conditioning sensor and said control circuit regulates the duty cycle as a function of at least one air conditioning parameter recorded by said sensor.

17. The no-frost refrigeration device according to claim 12, including said activation phase of said evaporator and said fan can be set to different non-zero speeds.

18. The no-frost refrigeration device according to claim 17, including said control circuit for controlling the operation of said evaporator and said fan is set to operate said fan at one of a plurality of selectable non-zero speeds when said evaporator is activated.

19. The no-frost refrigeration device according to claim 18, including a selector switch on which a speed for operation of said fan can be set.

20. The no-frost refrigeration device according to claim 18, including said control circuit coupled to at least one air conditioning sensor and said control circuit regulates the speed of said fan using at least one air conditioning parameter recorded by said sensor.

21. A method for operating a refrigeration device, including

at least one storage compartment;

an evaporator which is alternately activated and deactivated located in a chamber separated from said storage compartment;

a fan for circulating air between said storage compartment and said evaporator chamber;

a control circuit which makes an average circulation power of said fan variable during an activation phase of said evaporator, comprising the steps of;

a) estimating a moisture value in said storage compartment;

b) selecting a circulating power for said fan as a function of said estimated moisture value; and

c) operating said fan at said selected circulating power.

22. The method according to claim 21, including selecting said circulating power to be lower, the higher said estimated moisture value.

23. The method according to claim 21, including switching said fan off temporarily during said activated phase of said evaporator.

24. The method according to claim 21, including controlling the operation of said evaporator and intermittently operating said fan during said activated phase of said evaporator.

25. The method according to claim 21, including sensing at least one air conditioning parameter and regulating the duty cycle as a function of at least one sensed air conditioning parameter.

26. The method according to claim 21, including setting said activation phase of said evaporator and said fan to different non-zero speeds.

27. The method according to claim 21, including controlling the operation of said evaporator and said fan and operating said fan at one of a plurality of selectable non-zero speeds when said evaporator is activated.