Refrigeration appliance including a compartment that can be heated and cooled

Abstract

A refrigeration appliance, in particular a household refrigeration appliance, includes at least first, second and third storage chambers, and a refrigerant circuit on which the following are connected in series between a pressure connection and a suction connection of a compressor: a condenser, a first expansion valve, a first heat exchanger of the first storage chamber, a second expansion valve, a second heat exchanger of the second storage chamber, a third heat exchanger assigned to the third storage chamber, and a control circuit for controlling operation of the compressor and the expansion valves. The third heat exchanger is connected in series downstream of the second heat exchanger. The control circuit is configured to maintain a higher storage temperature in the third storage chamber than in the second storage chamber. A method for operating the refrigeration appliance and a computer program product are also provided.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A refrigeration appliance or household refrigeration appliance, comprising:
 at least first, second and third storage chambers;   a compressor having a pressure connection and a suction connection;   a refrigerant circuit;   connected to said refrigerant circuit in series one behind another between said pressure connection and said suction connection of said compressor:   a condenser,   a first expansion valve,   a first heat exchanger of said first storage chamber,   a second expansion valve,   a second heat exchanger of said second storage chamber, and   a third heat exchanger of said third storage chamber, said third heat exchanger connected in series downstream of said second heat exchanger; and   a control circuit for controlling operation of said compressor and said expansion valves, said control circuit configured to maintain a higher storage temperature in said third storage chamber than in said second storage chamber.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 14 , wherein said second and said third heat exchangers are connected to one another without an intermediate restriction. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 14 , wherein said compressor has a rotational speed being adjustable to a plurality of values or being continuously adjustable, and said control circuit is configured to at least one of increase the rotational speed when a temperature of said second storage chamber is above a target value or reduce the rotational speed when the temperature of said second storage chamber is below a target value. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 14 , wherein said control circuit is configured to at least one of enlarge a degree of opening of said first expansion valve when a temperature in said third storage chamber is above a target value or reduce the degree of opening of said first expansion valve when the temperature in said third storage chamber is below a target value. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 14 , wherein said control circuit is configured to at least one of enlarge a degree of opening of said second expansion valve when a temperature of said third storage chamber is above a target value or reduce the degree of opening of said second expansion valve when the temperature of said third storage chamber is below a target value. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 14 , wherein said control circuit is configured to at least one of enlarge a degree of opening of said second expansion valve when a temperature in said first storage chamber is above a target value or reduce the degree of opening of said second expansion valve when the temperature in said first storage chamber is below a target value. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 14 , wherein said control circuit is configured to at least one of enlarge a degree of opening of said first expansion valve when a temperature in said first storage chamber is below a target value or reduce the degree of opening of said first expansion valve when the temperature in said first storage chamber is above a target value. 
     
     
         21 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 14 , wherein said control circuit is configured, upon a deviation of a temperature of said third storage chamber from a target value, to select an expansion valve to be adjusted as a function of whether a target temperature of said first storage chamber is above or below an ambient temperature. 
     
     
         22 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 14 , which further comprises a third expansion valve, a fourth storage chamber, a fourth heat exchanger of said fourth storage chamber and a fourth expansion valve being connected in series with one another and in parallel with said first expansion valve, said first heat exchanger and said second expansion valve. 
     
     
         23 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 14 , which further comprises at least one fan associated with at least one of said heat exchangers for driving an air exchange between said at least one heat exchanger and at least one of said storage chambers. 
     
     
         24 . The refrigeration appliance according to  claim 23 , wherein said control circuit is configured to regulate a rotational speed of said at least one fan based on a predetermined temperature difference between one of said heat exchangers and one of said storage chambers associated with said one of said storage chambers. 
     
     
         25 . A method for operating a refrigeration appliance or household refrigeration appliance, the method comprising:
 providing a refrigeration appliance or household refrigeration appliance according to  claim 14 ;   at least one of enlarging a degree of opening of said second expansion valve when a temperature of said first storage chamber is above a target value or reducing the degree of opening of said second expansion valve when the temperature in the first storage chamber is below a target value;   at least one of increasing a rotational speed of said compressor when a temperature in said second storage chamber is above a target value or reducing the rotational speed of said compressor when the temperature in said second storage chamber is below a target value; and   at least one of enlarging the degree of opening of said first expansion valve when a temperature in said third storage chamber is above a target value or reducing the degree of opening of said first expansion valve when the temperature in said third storage chamber is below a target value.   
     
     
         26 . A non-transitory computer program product with instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a computer, operates as said control circuit in the refrigeration appliance or household refrigeration appliance according to  claim 14 . 
     
     
         27 . A non-transitory computer program product with instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a computer, performs the method according to  claim 25 .