Refrigeration device with variable capacity compressor and cycle priming action through capacity control and associated methods

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.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A refrigeration device, comprising:
 a refrigeration compartment;   a condenser;   an evaporator in thermal communication with the compartment;   a multi-capacity compressor;   a refrigerant circuit arranged to allow flow of a 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; and   a controller for controlling the refrigerant in the circuit to maintain the refrigeration compartment at a selectable temperature,   wherein the controller is further configured to operate the compressor upon the initiation of a compressor ON-cycle at a priming capacity above a nominal capacity for a priming duration that is calculated based at least in part on an evaluation of at least one of temperature and pressure of the refrigerant at the evaporator and at the condenser.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the nominal capacity is approximately 35% of the difference between a maximum and a minimum capacity of the multi-capacity compressor. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a suction line heat exchanger arranged in thermal contact with the primary pressure reducing device.   
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the priming duration is calculated based at least in part on an evaluation of the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant in the evaporator. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the priming duration is calculated based at least in part on an evaluation of the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant in the condenser. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the priming duration is also calculated based at least in part on the presence of the refrigerant in a substantially vapor state at the evaporator. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the priming duration is also calculated based at least in part on the presence of the refrigerant in a substantially liquid state at the condenser. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the controller is further configured to detect the presence of the refrigerant in a substantially vapor state at the evaporator based at least in part on an evaluation of the resonant frequency of the compressor. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to detect the presence of the refrigerant in a substantially liquid state at the condenser based at least in part on an evaluation of the resonant frequency of the compressor. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigeration device, comprising:
 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 multi-capacity compressor;   a refrigerant circuit arranged to allow flow of a 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; and   a controller for controlling the refrigerant in the circuit to maintain the refrigeration compartment and the freezer compartment at selectable temperatures,   wherein the controller is further configured 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 calculated based at least in part on an evaluation of at least one of temperature and pressure of the refrigerant at the evaporators and condenser.   
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a suction line heat exchanger arranged in thermal contact with each of the primary pressure reducing devices.   
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the priming duration is calculated based at least in part on an evaluation of the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant in the evaporators. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the priming duration is calculated based at least in part on an evaluation of the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant in the condenser. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the priming duration is also calculated based at least in part on the presence of the refrigerant in a substantially vapor state at the evaporators. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the priming duration is also calculated based at least in part on the presence of the refrigerant in a substantially liquid state at the condenser. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to detect the presence of the refrigerant in a substantially vapor state at the evaporators based at least in part on an evaluation of the resonant frequency of the compressor. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to detect the presence of the refrigerant in a substantially liquid state at the condenser based at least in part on an evaluation of the resonant frequency of the compressor. 
     
     
         18 . A refrigeration device, comprising:
 a refrigeration compartment;   a condenser;   an evaporator in thermal communication with the compartment;   a multi-capacity compressor;   a refrigerant circuit arranged to allow flow of a 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; and   a controller for controlling the refrigerant in the circuit to maintain the refrigeration compartment at a selectable temperature,   wherein the controller is further configured to operate the compressor upon the initiation of a compressor ON-cycle at a priming capacity above a nominal capacity for a priming duration that is predetermined based at least in part on at least one of a quantity of the refrigerant in the circuit, a length of the circuit, a geometry of the circuit, a maximum capacity of the compressor, a size of the condenser and a size of the evaporator.   
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein the nominal capacity is approximately 35% of the difference between a maximum and a minimum capacity of the multi-capacity compressor. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a suction line heat exchanger arranged in thermal contact with the primary pressure reducing device.