US 12,228,321 B2
Adjustable cooling system
Andre Goncalez Ribeiro, St. Joseph, MI (US); Akshit Markan, Benton Harbor, MI (US); and Ryan Gregory Wasielewski, St. Joseph, MI (US)
Assigned to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on Nov. 29, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/523,066.
Application 18/523,066 is a continuation of application No. 16/703,031, filed on Dec. 4, 2019, granted, now 11,885,544.
Prior Publication US 2024/0102709 A1, Mar. 28, 2024
Int. Cl. F25B 49/02 (2006.01); F25B 5/04 (2006.01); F25B 41/22 (2021.01); F25B 41/31 (2021.01); F25B 41/20 (2021.01); F25B 41/30 (2021.01); F25B 43/00 (2006.01)
CPC F25B 49/02 (2013.01) [F25B 5/04 (2013.01); F25B 41/22 (2021.01); F25B 41/31 (2021.01); F25B 41/20 (2021.01); F25B 41/30 (2021.01); F25B 43/006 (2013.01); F25B 2313/0311 (2013.01); F25B 2400/06 (2013.01); F25B 2400/23 (2013.01); F25B 2600/2513 (2013.01); F25B 2700/191 (2013.01); F25B 2700/1933 (2013.01); F25B 2700/197 (2013.01); F25B 2700/21174 (2013.01); F25B 2700/21175 (2013.01); F25D 2700/12 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refrigeration system for an appliance, the refrigeration system comprising:
a thermal exchange media that is delivered through a sequential path and changes between a liquid state and a gaseous state;
a first evaporator and a second evaporator that are each operably coupled to the sequential path;
an electronic expansion valve coupled to the sequential path and in fluid communication to the second evaporator and configured to regulate a flow of the thermal exchange media from the first evaporator to the second evaporator, the electronic expansion valve configured to selectively open and close based on a percentage of the thermal exchange media that is in the liquid state and the gaseous state as the thermal exchange media enters the electronic expansion valve in the liquid state and the gaseous state;
a flash chamber operably and directly coupled to the electronic expansion valve via the sequential path, wherein the flash chamber separates the thermal exchange media in the gaseous state from the thermal exchange media in the liquid state; and
a controller that operates the electronic expansion valve in a partially open state to regulate superheating of the thermal exchange media, wherein all of the thermal exchange media recirculates sequentially, and in series, through each of the first evaporator, the flash chamber, the electronic expansion valve and the second evaporator, wherein the electronic expansion valve defines a first mode and a second mode, wherein the first mode is a high flow state and the second mode is a low flow state, wherein the electronic expansion valve cooperates with the flash chamber and the thermal exchange media separated therein to regulate the percentage of the thermal exchange media that is in the liquid state as the thermal exchange media enters the electronic expansion valve.