Absorption refrigerator with ice-maker

Abstract

Absorption refrigerator ( 1 ) including a cabinet having outer walls ( 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ) and at least one door ( 7, 8 ) encasing a low temperature storage compartment ( 9 ) and a higher temperature storage compartment ( 10 ), said compartments being separated by a partition wall ( 11 ). An ice-maker is arranged in one of the compartments. The refrigerator is cooled by an absorption refrigerating system which includes an evaporator tube ( 20 ) in which a refrigeration medium flows from an upstream end to a downstream end of the evaporator tube, and which evaporator tube comprises a first tube section ( 21 ) which is arranged to absorb heat from the low temperature compartment, a′ second tube section ( 22 ), which is arranged to cool the higher temperature compartment and a third tube section ( 23 ) which is arranged to cool the ice-maker. The first, second and third tube sections are connected in series and the first tube section is arranged upstream of the second tube section. In order to minimize the negative influence of the operation of the ice-maker on the temperature in the freezer compartment, and to reduce the humidity influence of the ice-maker, the third tube section is arranged downstream of said first tube section and upstream of said second tube section and the ice fabrication device is exposed to air circulating in the low temperature compartment or in the higher temperature compartment ( 10 ), and means are provided for melting frost generated by humidity in said low temperature Compartment ( 9 ) or said higher temperature compartment ( 10 ) respectively.

1 . Absorption refrigerator ( 1 ) including 
 a cabinet having outer walls ( 2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ) and at least one door ( 7 ,  8 ) encasing a low temperature storage compartment ( 9 ) and a higher temperature storage compartment ( 10 ), said compartments being separated by a partition wall ( 11 ),    a device for ice fabrication, and    an absorption refrigerating system including an evaporator tube ( 20 ) in which a refrigeration medium flows from an upstream end to a downstream end of the evaporator tube, and which evaporator tube comprises a first tube section ( 21 ) which is arranged to absorb heat from the low temperature compartment, a second tube section ( 22 ), which is arranged to absorb heat from the higher temperature compartment and a third tube section ( 23 ) which is arranged to absorb heat from the ice fabrication device,    wherein the first, second and third tube sections are connected in series and the first tube section is arranged upstream of the second tube section,    characterized in that    said third tube section ( 23 ) is arranged to predominantly absorb heat from the ice fabrication device by heat conduction and is arranged downstream of said first tube section ( 21 ) and upstream of said second tube section ( 22 ) and in that    the ice fabrication device is exposed to air circulating in the low temperature compartment or in the higher temperature compartment ( 10 ), wherein means are provided for melting frost generated by humidity in said low temperature compartment ( 9 ) or said higher temperature compartment ( 10 ) respectively.    
   
   
       2 . Absorption refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first ( 21 ) and third ( 23 ) tube sections are arranged in the low temperature compartment ( 9 ) and the second tube section ( 22 ) is arranged in the higher temperature compartment ( 10 ).  
   
   
       3 . Absorption refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the third tube section is arranged in a separate ice fabrication compartment which communicates with the low temperature compartment or the higher temperature compartment.  
   
   
       4 . Absorption refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the upstream end of the third tube section ( 23 ) is connected directly to the downstream end of the first tube section ( 21 ).  
   
   
       5 . Absorption refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the upstream end of the second tube section ( 22 ) is connected to the downstream end of the third tube section ( 23 ) through a passive gas heat exchange tube section ( 28 ), which is arranged inside one of the walls ( 2 ) of the cabinet.  
   
   
       6 . Absorption refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first tube section ( 21 ) includes two non-coaxial tube portions ( 21   a ), the axis of which together define a general extension plane of the first tube section and the third tube section ( 23 ) includes two non-coaxial tube portions ( 23   a ), the axis of which together define a general extension plane of the third tube section, whereby said general extension plane of the first tube section is essentially perpendicular to the general extension plane of the third tube section.  
   
   
       7 . Absorption refrigerator according to  claim 6 , wherein the general extension plane of the first tube section ( 21 ) is essentially vertical and generally parallel to the general extension plane of the partition wall ( 11 ).  
   
   
       8 . Absorption refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the ice fabrication device includes heating means for effecting partial melting of the ice for facilitating harvesting of the ice.