REFRIGERATOR WITH VARIABLE CAPACITY COMPRESSOR AND CYCLE PRIMING ACTION THROUGH CAPACITY CONTROL AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
First Claim
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1. A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
- a refrigeration compartment;
a condenser;
an evaporator in thermal communication with the compartment;
a refrigerant;
a multi-capacity compressor with a maximum capacity, a minimum capacity, and a nominal capacity;
a refrigerant circuit arranged to allow flow of the refrigerant between the condenser, the evaporator and the compressor, the circuit comprising a primary evaporator conduit arranged between the condenser and the evaporator;
a primary pressure reducing device arranged within the primary evaporator conduit;
a valve system in the evaporator conduit capable of selectively directing or restricting flow of the refrigerant through the evaporator conduit; and
a controller for controlling the valve system and the compressor to maintain the refrigeration compartment at any of a plurality of selectable temperatures, wherein the controller is further adapted to operate the compressor upon the initiation of a compressor ON-cycle at a priming capacity above the nominal capacity for a priming duration that is predetermined or calculated.
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Abstract
A refrigerator appliance (and associated method) that includes a condenser, evaporator and a multi-capacity compressor. The appliance also includes a pressure reducing device arranged within an evaporator-condenser refrigerant circuit, and a valve system for directing or restricting refrigerant flow through the device. The appliance further includes a controller for operating the compressor upon the initiation of a compressor ON-cycle at a priming capacity above a nominal capacity for a predetermined or calculated duration.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
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a refrigeration compartment; a condenser; an evaporator in thermal communication with the compartment; a refrigerant; a multi-capacity compressor with a maximum capacity, a minimum capacity, and a nominal capacity; a refrigerant circuit arranged to allow flow of the refrigerant between the condenser, the evaporator and the compressor, the circuit comprising a primary evaporator conduit arranged between the condenser and the evaporator; a primary pressure reducing device arranged within the primary evaporator conduit; a valve system in the evaporator conduit capable of selectively directing or restricting flow of the refrigerant through the evaporator conduit; and a controller for controlling the valve system and the compressor to maintain the refrigeration compartment at any of a plurality of selectable temperatures, wherein the controller is further adapted to operate the compressor upon the initiation of a compressor ON-cycle at a priming capacity above the nominal capacity for a priming duration that is predetermined or calculated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
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a refrigeration compartment; a freezer compartment; a condenser; a first and a second evaporator, the first evaporator in thermal communication with the refrigeration compartment and the second evaporator in thermal communication with the freezer compartment; a refrigerant; a multi-capacity compressor with a maximum capacity, a minimum capacity, and a nominal capacity; a refrigerant circuit arranged to allow flow of the refrigerant between the condenser, the evaporators and the compressor, the circuit comprising a primary evaporator conduit arranged between the condenser and each evaporator; a primary pressure reducing device arranged within each primary evaporator conduit; a valve system in the evaporator conduits capable of selectively directing or restricting flow of the refrigerant through each one, or all, of the evaporator conduits; and a controller for controlling the valve system and the compressor to maintain the refrigeration compartment and the freezer compartment at any of a plurality of selectable temperatures, wherein the controller is further adapted to operate the compressor upon the initiation of a compressor ON-cycle at a priming capacity above the nominal capacity for a priming duration that is predetermined or calculated. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a refrigeration compartment, a condenser, a refrigerant, an evaporator in thermal communication with the refrigeration compartment, a refrigerant circuit arranged between the condenser, the compressor and the evaporator, a primary pressure reducing device arranged in the refrigerant circuit between the condenser and the evaporator, and a valve system in the refrigerant circuit capable of selectively directing or restricting flow of the refrigerant through the pressure reducing device, comprising the steps:
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providing a multi-capacity compressor with a maximum capacity, a minimum capacity, and a nominal capacity; controlling the valve system and the compressor to maintain the refrigeration compartment at any of a plurality of selectable temperatures; and priming the compressor upon the initiation of a compressor ON-cycle at a priming capacity above a nominal capacity, wherein the priming lasts for a duration that is predetermined or calculated. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification