Electronic refrigeration control system including a variable speed compressor

• US 8,726,680 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2010
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Original Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Incorporated (AB Electrolux)
• Inventors: Schenk, Dennis, Truitt, Karl M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABDUR RAHIM, AZIM
• Application Number:
  US12/729,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20100175402A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 621/77, 621/78, 621/79, 621/80, 621/86, 621/87, 622/281, 622/284, 622/285, 622/29, 624/41
• US Class Current: 62/228.4
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/0253 with variable speed
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/112 of evaporator fans
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/025 Motor control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/02 with cooling compartments at different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/045 Air flow control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/30 Quick freezing
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/12 Sensors measuring the inside temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/121 of particular compartments
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/122 of freezer compartments
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/70 Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating

Abstract

A refrigerator is provided having a refrigeration system including a variable speed compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, an evaporator, a variable speed evaporator fan. The refrigerator further includes multiple temperature sensors that communicate with an electronic microprocessor-based control system that in turn controls the operation of the refrigerator system based on the information provided by the multiple temperature sensors.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a first compartment;

a second compartment;

a refrigeration system including a variable speed compressor for cooling the first and second compartments; and

,

an electronic control system for controlling a speed of the variable speed compressor;

wherein;

the electronic control system controls the speed of the variable speed compressor according to a calculated speed using a first polynomial equation that includes a first compartment set-point temperature, a second compartment set-point temperature and an ambient temperature, when a first compartment temperature is within a first predetermined level and a second predetermined level greater than the first predetermined level, and

controls the speed of the variable speed compressor using a second polynomial equation that includes the first polynomial equation and additional parameters when the first compartment temperature is greater than the second predetermined level, and

controls the speed of the variable speed compressor using a third polynomial equation that includes the first polynomial equation and other additional parameters when the first compartment temperature is less than the first predetermined level.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a change in speed of the variable speed compressor is a function of at least one of the first compartment set-point temperature, the first compartment temperature, a first compartment upper limit temperature and a first compartment lower temperature limit.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the refrigeration system further comprises:

a condenser;

a condenser fan; and

,

an evaporator;

wherein the electronic control system controls the operation of the condenser, the condenser fan, and the evaporator based on the first compartment temperature.

4. The refrigerator of claim 3 further comprising:

a channel connecting the first compartment with the second compartment to allow air flow between the two compartments; and

,

a damper located in the channel to regulate the air flow between the first compartment and the second compartment;

wherein the operation of the damper is a function of a second compartment temperature.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein during a demand fan on request or when the first compartment is cooling, the damper is in a full open position when the second compartment temperature is greater than or equal to a second compartment upper temperature limit and wherein the damper is in a full closed position when the second compartment temperature is less than or equal to a second compartment lower temperature limit.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the refrigeration system further comprises a variable speed evaporator fan, wherein the speed of the variable speed evaporator fan is a function of the first compartment temperature.

7. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the refrigeration system further comprises a variable speed evaporator fan, wherein the operation of the variable speed evaporator fan is a function of the second compartment temperature.

8. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the refrigeration system further comprises a variable speed evaporator fan, wherein the speed of the variable speed evaporator fan is a function of the position of the damper.

9. A refrigerator comprising:

a first compartment;

a second compartment;

a refrigeration system including a variable speed compressor for cooling the first and second compartments; and

,

an electronic control system for controlling a speed of the variable speed compressor;

a damper to regulate the air flow between the first compartment and the second compartment and,

multiple temperature sensors comprising a second compartment temperature sensor, a first compartment temperature sensor and an ambient temperature sensor,

wherein the electronic control system controls the speed of the variable speed compressor according to a calculated speed that is a function of a first compartment set-point temperature, a second compartment set-point temperature and an ambient temperature and wherein if no electrical signal is sent by the second compartment temperature sensor to the electronic control system, the electronic control system will open and close the damper at predetermined open and close intervals having calculated durations that are a function of the first compartment set-point temperature, the second compartment set-point temperature and the ambient temperature.