	US 11,796,241 B2
	Method and apparatus for controlling humidity within a compartment of refrigeration appliance
Jemsheer Thayyullathil, Greenwood, MS (US)
Assigned to Viking Range, LLC, Greenwood, MS (US)
Filed by Viking Range, LLC, Greenwood, MS (US)
Filed on Oct. 14, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/70,659.
Prior Publication US 2022/0113077 A1, Apr. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. F25D 11/02 (2006.01); F25D 17/04 (2006.01); F24F 3/14 (2006.01)

CPC F25D 17/042 (2013.01) [F24F 3/14 (2013.01); F25D 11/02 (2013.01); F25D 2600/02 (2013.01); F25D 2700/00 (2013.01); F25D 2700/12 (2013.01)]

19 Claims

1. A method for controlling humidity within a first compartment of a refrigeration appliance, the refrigeration appliance comprising a compressor, an evaporator, and an evaporator fan, the method comprising:

determining, by a controller, that a measured temperature value within the first compartment exceeds a preset cut-in threshold temperature value;

activating, by the controller, the compressor to decrease a coil temperature of the evaporator in response to determining that the measured temperature value within the first compartment exceeds the cut-in threshold temperature value;

determining, by the controller, a measured humidity value within the first compartment;

delaying, by the controller, a starting time of the evaporator fan by an evaporator fan starting delay time relative to a starting time of the compressor based at least in part on the measured humidity value;

determining, by the controller, that the measured temperature value reaches a preset cut-out threshold temperature value;

at a first time, by the controller, at least one of deactivating the compressor or decoupling the compressor from the evaporator in response to determining that the measured temperature value within the first compartment reaches the preset cut-out threshold temperature value; and

delaying, by the controller, a stopping time of the evaporator fan by an evaporator fan stopping time relative to the first time based at least in part on the measured humidity value.

19. A controller for controlling temperature and humidity within a first compartment of a refrigeration appliance, the controller configured to:

determine that a measured temperature value within the first compartment exceeds a preset cut-in threshold temperature value;

activate a compressor to decrease a coil temperature of an evaporator in the first compartment in response to determining that the measured temperature value within the first compartment exceeds the cut-in threshold temperature value;

determine a measured humidity value within the first compartment; and

delay a starting time of an evaporator fan by an evaporator fan starting delay time relative to a starting time of the compressor based at least in part on the measured humidity value,

wherein the refrigeration appliance further comprises a second compartment, and wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine a first delta-to-cut-in temperature for the first compartment comprising a difference between the measured temperature of the first compartment and the cut-in temperature of the first compartment;

determine a second delta-to-cut-in temperature for the second compartment comprising a difference between a measured temperature of the second compartment and a cut-in temperature of the second compartment;

determine that the first delta-to-cut-in temperature is greater than the second delta-to-cut-in temperature; and

select the first compartment as an active compartment to begin cooling in response to determining that the first delta-to-cut-in temperature is greater than the second delta-to-cut-in temperature.