Refrigerator appliance

Abstract

A refrigerator appliance is generally provided herein. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a secondary liner, and a circulation duct. The cabinet may include an internal liner defining a freezer chamber and a fresh food chamber. The secondary liner may be positioned at the fresh food chamber. The secondary liner may define a sub-compartment in fluid isolation from the freezer chamber and the fresh food chamber. The circulation duct may extend within the sub-compartment in fluidly-isolated thermal communication with the sub-compartment. The circulation duct may define an air passage in fluid communication with the freezer chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator appliance comprising:
 a cabinet comprising an internal liner defining a freezer chamber and a fresh food chamber;   a secondary liner positioned at the fresh food chamber, the secondary liner defining a sub-compartment in fluid isolation from the freezer chamber and the fresh food chamber; and   a circulation duct extending within the sub-compartment in fluidly-isolated thermal communication with the sub-compartment, the circulation duct defining an air passage in fluid communication with the freezer chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising an icemaker mounted within the sub-compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the icemaker comprises a mold body configured for receiving liquid water and forming ice in the mold body, and wherein the mold body is mounted to the circulation duct in thermal communication with the air passage. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a door attached to the cabinet to selectively restrict access to the fresh food chamber or the freezer chamber in a closed position, wherein the secondary liner is mounted to the door, and wherein the sub-compartment is in fluid isolation from the freezer chamber and the fresh food chamber in the closed position. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a thermo-electric heat exchanger attached to the secondary liner to draw heat from the sub-compartment. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the thermo-electric heat exchanger is mounted on the circulation duct and is partially positioned within the air passage. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the thermo-electric heat exchanger comprises a solid state heat pump having a hot side and a cold side, and wherein the hot side is disposed in fluid communication with the air passage. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the cold side is disposed in fluid communication with the sub-compartment. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the thermo-electric heat exchanger is spaced apart from the circulation duct. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the thermo-electric heat exchanger comprises a solid state heat pump having a hot side and a cold side, and wherein the hot side is disposed in fluid communication with the fresh food chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 10 , wherein the cold side is disposed in fluid communication with the sub-compartment. 
     
     
         12 . A refrigerator appliance comprising:
 a cabinet comprising an internal liner defining a freezer chamber and a fresh food chamber;   a secondary liner attached to the cabinet, the secondary liner defining a sub-compartment in fluid isolation from the freezer chamber and the fresh food chamber;   an icemaker mounted within the sub-compartment, the icemaker comprising a mold body configured for receiving liquid water and forming ice in the mold body; and   a circulation duct extending along the mold body within the sub-compartment, the circulation duct being in fluid communication with the freezer chamber and fluidly-isolated thermal communication with the sub-compartment.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 12 , further comprising a door attached to the cabinet to selectively restrict access to the fresh food chamber or the freezer chamber in a closed position, wherein the secondary liner is mounted to the door, and wherein the sub-compartment is in fluid isolation from the freezer chamber and the fresh food chamber in the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 12 , further comprising a thermo-electric heat exchanger attached to the secondary liner to draw heat from the sub-compartment. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the thermo-electric heat exchanger is mounted on the circulation duct and is partially positioned within the air passage. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 15 , wherein the thermo-electric heat exchanger comprises a solid state heat pump having a hot side and a cold side, and wherein the hot side is disposed in fluid communication with the air passage. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the cold side is disposed in fluid communication with the sub-compartment. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 17 , wherein the hot side is disposed downstream from the mold body. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the thermo-electric heat exchanger is spaced apart from the circulation duct, wherein the thermo-electric heat exchanger comprises a solid state heat pump having a hot side and a cold side, and wherein the hot side is disposed in fluid communication with the fresh food chamber. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 19 , wherein the cold side is disposed in fluid communication with the sub-compartment.