Compressor For A Refrigeration Circuit Of A Domestic Refrigerator, Domestic Refrigerator With A Compressor And Method For Operating A Compressor Of A Domestic Refrigerator

Abstract

A compressor for a refrigeration circuit of a domestic refrigerator includes a piston being moveable within a compression chamber of a cylinder for compressing a refrigerant. The piston is contactlessly mounted in radial direction relative to the cylinder by a gas pressure bearing formed from the refrigerant. An inlet valve regulates a volume flow of uncompressed refrigerant from a low-pressure inlet of the compressor into the compression chamber and an outlet valve regulates a volume flow of compressed refrigerant from the compression chamber to a high-pressure outlet of the compressor. A stop valve between the low-pressure inlet and the high-pressure outlet prevents a backflow of refrigerant from the high-pressure outlet to the low-pressure inlet when the compressor is deactivated. A domestic refrigerator including a compressor and a method for operating a compressor for a refrigeration circuit of a domestic refrigerator are also provided.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A compressor for a refrigeration circuit of a domestic refrigerator, the compressor comprising:
 a low pressure inlet and a high pressure outlet;   a cylinder having a compression chamber;   a piston being movable within said compression chamber to compress a refrigerant, said piston having a radial direction, and said piston being contactlessly supported by a gas pressure bearing formed by the refrigerant in said radial direction opposite said cylinder;   an inlet valve for regulating a volume flow of uncompressed refrigerant from said low pressure inlet into said compression chamber;   an outlet valve for regulating a volume flow of compressed refrigerant from said compression chamber to said high pressure outlet; and   a stop valve disposed between said low pressure inlet and said high pressure outlet, for preventing the refrigerant from flowing back from said high pressure outlet to said low pressure inlet when the compressor is deactivated.   
     
     
         15 . The compressor according to  claim 14 , which further comprises a gas bearing supply pipe for feeding the refrigerant to form said gas pressure bearing, said stop valve being disposed in said gas bearing supply pipe. 
     
     
         16 . The compressor according to  claim 14 , which further comprises a refrigerant pipe for feeding the compressed refrigerant flow toward said high pressure outlet when the compressor is activated, said stop valve being disposed in said refrigerant pipe. 
     
     
         17 . The compressor according to  claim 14 , wherein said stop valve is a non-return valve. 
     
     
         18 . The compressor according to  claim 14 , wherein said stop valve is actuatable in an electromotive or electromagnetic manner. 
     
     
         19 . The compressor according to  claim 14 , wherein the compressor is a linear compressor. 
     
     
         20 . The compressor according to  claim 14 , wherein said cylinder includes a socket, and said piston is disposed within said socket. 
     
     
         21 . The compressor according to  claim 20 , wherein said socket has a plurality of openings formed therein, through which the refrigerant can be fed toward said piston to form said gas pressure bearing. 
     
     
         22 . A domestic refrigerator, comprising a compressor according to  claim 14 . 
     
     
         23 . The domestic refrigerator according to  claim 22 , which further comprises:
 a refrigeration circuit having a flow direction, an evaporator and a condenser   said compressor being disposed downstream of said evaporator and upstream of said condenser in said flow direction; and   a further stop valve disposed downstream of said condenser and upstream of said evaporator in said flow direction.   
     
     
         24 . A method for operating a compressor of a refrigeration circuit of a domestic refrigerator, the method comprising the following steps:
 contactlessly supporting a piston in radial direction of the piston relative to a cylinder by using a gas pressure bearing formed of a refrigerant;   compressing the refrigerant by moving the piston within a compression chamber of the cylinder;   actuating a compressor inlet valve for regulating a volume flow of uncompressed refrigerant from a low pressure compressor inlet into the compression chamber;   actuating a compressor outlet valve for regulating a volume flow of compressed refrigerant from the compression chamber to a high pressure compressor outlet; and   closing a stop valve disposed between the low pressure compressor inlet and the high pressure compressor outlet as soon as the compressor is deactivated, to prevent a backflow of the refrigerant from the high pressure compressor outlet to the low pressure compressor inlet when the compressor is deactivated.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 24 , which further comprises opening the stop valve according to a predetermined timeline, before the deactivated compressor for compressing the refrigerant is activated again. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 25 , which further comprises selecting the timeline before activating the compressor to be so great that the gas pressure bearing between the piston and the cylinder is formed by the refrigerant flowing into the compressor from the high pressure outlet.