Refrigerator appliance dual flow refrigerant decoupling

Abstract

A method of operating a refrigerator appliance includes directing a flow of liquid refrigerant through a sealed system of the refrigerator appliance from a condenser of the sealed system to a fresh food evaporator of the sealed system. the method also includes warming a freezer evaporator of the sealed system while directing the flow of liquid refrigerant through the sealed system to the fresh food evaporator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 directing a flow of liquid refrigerant through a sealed system of the refrigerator appliance from a condenser of the sealed system to a fresh food evaporator of the sealed system; and   warming a freezer evaporator of the sealed system while directing the flow of liquid refrigerant through the sealed system to the fresh food evaporator.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising monitoring a temperature of a suction line of the sealed system and comparing the monitored temperature of the suction line to a minimum temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein warming the freezer evaporator comprises operating an ice box fan, whereby air is circulated between the freezer evaporator and an ice box of the refrigerator appliance, while directing the flow of liquid refrigerant through the sealed system to the fresh food evaporator. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the air circulated between the freezer evaporator and the ice box does not flow through a freezer compartment of the refrigerator appliance. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the ice box fan is operated at a speed, and wherein the speed is selected such that an ice box target temperature is reached approximately simultaneously with a fresh food target temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein warming the freezer evaporator comprises operating a freezer fan, whereby air is circulated between the freezer evaporator and a freezer compartment of the refrigerator appliance, while directing the flow of liquid refrigerant through the sealed system to the fresh food evaporator. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising, after operating the freezer fan while directing the flow of liquid refrigerant through the sealed system to the fresh food evaporator, deactivating the freezer fan when a temperature of the freezer evaporator is approximately equal to a temperature of a freezer compartment of the refrigerator appliance. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein warming the freezer evaporator further comprises operating an ice box fan, whereby air is circulated between the freezer evaporator and an ice box of the refrigerator appliance, while directing the flow of liquid refrigerant through the sealed system to the fresh food evaporator. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the ice box fan is operated to circulate air between the freezer evaporator and the ice box after deactivating the freezer fan. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein warming the freezer evaporator comprises raising a temperature of the freezer evaporator above a temperature of a freezer compartment of the refrigerator appliance. 
     
     
         11 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 a sealed system comprising a condenser, a fresh food evaporator, and a freezer evaporator; and   a controller in operative communication with the sealed system, the controller configured for:
 directing a flow of liquid refrigerant through the sealed system from the condenser to the fresh food evaporator of the sealed system; and 
 warming the freezer evaporator while directing the flow of liquid refrigerant through the sealed system to the fresh food evaporator. 
   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured for monitoring a temperature of a suction line of the sealed system and comparing the monitored temperature of the suction line to a minimum temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein warming the freezer evaporator comprises operating an ice box fan, whereby air is circulated between the freezer evaporator and an ice box of the refrigerator appliance, while directing the flow of liquid refrigerant through the sealed system to the fresh food evaporator. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the air circulated between the freezer evaporator and the ice box does not flow through a freezer compartment of the refrigerator appliance. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 13 , wherein the ice box fan is operated at a speed, and wherein the speed is selected such that an ice box target temperature is reached approximately simultaneously with a fresh food target temperature. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein warming the freezer evaporator comprises operating a freezer fan, whereby air is circulated between the freezer evaporator and a freezer compartment of the refrigerator appliance, while directing the flow of liquid refrigerant through the sealed system to the fresh food evaporator. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured for, after operating the freezer fan while directing the flow of liquid refrigerant through the sealed system to the fresh food evaporator, deactivating the freezer fan when a temperature of the freezer evaporator is approximately equal to a temperature of a freezer compartment of the refrigerator appliance. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 17 , wherein warming the freezer evaporator further comprises operating an ice box fan, whereby air is circulated between the freezer evaporator and an ice box of the refrigerator appliance, while directing the flow of liquid refrigerant through the sealed system to the fresh food evaporator. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 18 , wherein the ice box fan is operated to circulate air between the freezer evaporator and the ice box after deactivating the freezer fan. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 11 , wherein warming the freezer evaporator comprises raising a temperature of the freezer evaporator above a temperature of a freezer compartment of the refrigerator appliance.