Distributed refrigeration system with custom storage modules

Abstract

A distributed refrigeration appliance system for use in a residential kitchen and other locations in a dwelling and includes multiple separate refrigeration appliance modules, a central cooling system and a cooling circuit. The system can also include one or more satellite stations having a heat exchanger and arranged for supplying chilled air to one or more refrigeration appliance modules. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can include a thermal cascade cooling device to cool the module to lower temperatures than the cooling circuit can attain. One or more refrigeration appliance modules can be refrigeration/storage modules that can provide refrigerated, unconditioned or heated storage space. The central cooling system can be a vapor compression system having a refrigerant circuit connecting the modules. Alternately, the central cooling system can cool a secondary cooling medium circuit. The refrigeration system can also have more than one refrigeration machine providing cooling to the secondary refrigeration loop.

1 . A distributed refrigeration appliance system constructed and arranged for use in a residential kitchen and other locations associated with a dwelling comprising:
 one or more refrigerated storage spaces having an apparatus for receiving a cooling medium to chill the air in the refrigerated storage space;   a cooling unit to remove heat from the cooling medium;   at least one separate refrigeration/storage module comprising a cabinet and an insert comprising insulated walls and an insulated door forming an insulated insert arranged to convert a storage cabinet to an insulated cabinet, and located relative to a refrigerated storage space to selectively provide refrigerated storage space or unconditioned storage space; at least one insulated air duct connecting the refrigeration/storage module with the at least one refrigerated storage space; and at least one flow controller to selectively permit circulation of chilled air through the at least one insulated air duct from the at least one refrigerated storage space to the refrigeration/storage module and to return air from the refrigeration/storage module to the at least one refrigerated storage space when the at least one flow controller is arranged to allow chilled air to flow through the at least one insulated air duct and operate the refrigeration/storage module as a refrigerated storage space or to prevent circulation of chilled air through the at least one insulated air duct to operate the refrigeration/storage module as an unconditioned storage space.   
   
   
       2 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet is a wood cabinet 
   
   
       3 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet is a metal cabinet. 
   
   
       4 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet is molded plastic. 
   
   
       5 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the insulated insert and insulated door comprise a kit to convert an uninsulated cabinet to a refrigeration/storage module. 
   
   
       6 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more refrigerated storage spaces comprise a refrigerating module having:
 an insulated refrigerating module cabinet having an opening for access to the interior of the cabinet;   an apparatus for receiving a cooling medium to cool the interior of the refrigerating module cabinet;   a central cooling unit to remove heat from the cooling medium;   a cooling medium circuit connecting the central cooling unit and at least one refrigerated storage space; and   at least one cooling medium flow control device connected in the cooling medium circuit to control flow of cooling medium to the at least one refrigerated storage space.   
   
   
       7 . A distributed refrigeration appliance system constructed and arranged for use in a residential kitchen and other locations associated with a dwelling comprising:
 a freestanding refrigeration apparatus having at least one refrigerated storage space, and a cooling unit space;   at least one separate refrigeration/storage module comprising a cabinet having an insulated walls and an insulated door forming an insulated enclosure, located relative to the freestanding refrigeration apparatus arranged to selectively provide refrigerated storage or unconditioned storage space;   at least one insulated air duct connecting the refrigeration/storage module with the at least one refrigerated storage space; and   at least one flow controller to selectively permit circulation of chilled air through the at least one insulated air duct from the refrigerated storage space to the refrigeration/storage module when the at least one flow controller is arranged to allow chilled air to flow through the at least one insulated air duct.   
   
   
       8 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 7 , wherein the cabinet comprises an insulated insert to convert a cabinet to an insulated enclosure arranged for use as refrigeration/storage module. 
   
   
       9 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 7 , wherein the cabinet is a wood cabinet 
   
   
       10 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 7 , wherein the cabinet is a metal cabinet. 
   
   
       11 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 7 , wherein the cabinet is molded plastic. 
   
   
       12 . The distributed refrigeration appliance system according to  claim 7 , wherein the insulated insert and insulated door comprise a kit to convert an uninsulated cabinet to a refrigeration/storage module.