US 12,331,973 B2
Refrigerator with anti-condensation features
Paul B. Allard, Coloma, MI (US); and Sanjesh Kumar Pathak, Stevensville, MI (US)
Assigned to WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on Oct. 4, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/492,717.
Prior Publication US 2023/0105421 A1, Apr. 6, 2023
Int. Cl. F25B 49/02 (2006.01); F25B 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC F25B 49/02 (2013.01) [F25B 13/00 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of controlling condensation on an appliance, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a refrigerator with a cabinet structure, a door operably coupled to the cabinet structure for selectively providing access to a storage compartment, a compressor, one or more sensors, a controller operably coupled to the compressor and the one or more sensors, a heat loop operably coupled to the compressor, wherein the heat loop circulates a heated medium during a duty cycle of the compressor;
sensing a first temperature level using the one or more sensors within the storage compartment at a first time interval during an off-duty cycle of the compressor;
sensing a second temperature level using the one or more sensors within the storage compartment at a second time interval during the off-duty cycle of the compressor;
calculating a rate of temperature rise within the storage compartment using the controller, wherein the rate of temperature rise is defined as a rise in temperature from the first temperature level to the second temperature level over time as measured from the first time interval to the second time interval;
initiating the duty cycle of the compressor when the rate of temperature rise reaches a predetermined threshold rate;
circulating the heated medium through the heat loop during the duty cycle of the compressor; and
changing an operating parameter of the refrigerator to increase the duty cycle of the compressor.