Modular household refrigeration system and method

Abstract

A modular household refrigeration system and method includes a refrigerated source of a primary coolant. The refrigerated source includes a tank for holding the primary coolant and a vapor compression refrigeration cycle system having a secondary coolant in thermal contact with the primary coolant for cooling thereof. At least one refrigerator module is remotely positioned relative to the refrigerated source and the tank. The at least one refrigerator module is fluidly connected to the refrigerated source and the tank by an inlet coolant line for delivery of the primary coolant and an exit coolant line for return of the primary coolant. The primary coolant is delivered to the at least one refrigerator module for cooling thereof to a predetermined temperature.

1 . A modular refrigerator system for household refrigeration, comprising:
 a tank for holding a primary coolant at a desired temperature;   a first refrigerator module remotely positioned relative to said tank, said first refrigerator module fluidly connected to said tank by an inlet coolant line and an exit coolant line, said inlet coolant line delivering said primary coolant from said tank to said first refrigerator module for cooling thereof and said exit coolant line returning said primary coolant from said first refrigerator module to said tank; and   a second refrigerator module remotely positioned relative to said tank, said second refrigerator module fluidly connected to said tank by said inlet coolant line and said exit coolant line, said inlet coolant line delivering said primary coolant from said tank to said second refrigerator module for cooling thereof and said exit coolant line returning said primary coolant from said second refrigerator module to said tank.   
   
   
       2 . The modular refrigerator system of  claim 1  further including a refrigeration system operatively connected to said tank for providing temperature control for said primary coolant in said tank, said refrigeration system cooling said primary coolant to said desired temperature. 
   
   
       3 . The modular refrigerator system of  claim 2  wherein said refrigeration system is a closed circuit vapor compression refrigeration cycle system having a secondary coolant in thermal communication with said primary coolant in said tank for cooling thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The modular refrigerator system of  claim 3  wherein said closed circuit vapor compression refrigeration cycle system includes including a compressor for circulating said secondary coolant within a secondary coolant closed fluid circuit, an evaporator for transferring heat from said primary coolant to said secondary coolant to cool said primary coolant to said desired temperature, a condenser for condensing said secondary coolant after transferring heat from said primary coolant in said evaporator, and an expansion device for expanding a volume of said secondary coolant after condensing of said secondary coolant in said condenser. 
   
   
       5 . The modular refrigerator system of  claim 4  wherein said secondary coolant closed fluid circuit is a hermetically sealed circuit, said primary coolant flowing through a non-hermetically sealed closed circuit formed of said tank, said inlet and exit coolant lines and said first and said second modules. 
   
   
       6 . The modular refrigerator system of  claim 4  wherein said primary coolant is circulated through said evaporator by a pump and said secondary coolant is circulated through said evaporator by said compressor based on a measured temperature of said primary coolant in said tank for cooling of said primary coolant to said desired temperature. 
   
   
       7 . The modular refrigerator system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first and said second modules include an evaporator for removing heat from a refrigerated portion of said at least one of said first and second modules and transferring said heat to said primary coolant. 
   
   
       8 . The modular refrigerator system of  claim 7  wherein said evaporator is adjustable for regulating an amount of said heat removed from said refrigerated portion to control a temperature in said refrigerated portion. 
   
   
       9 . The modular refrigerator system of  claim 1  wherein a pump selectively circulates said primary coolant through said first and second modules for cooling thereof. 
   
   
       10 . The modular refrigerator system of  claim 9  wherein a module valve is fluid disposed in association with each of said first and said second modules between said inlet coolant line and said exit coolant line for regulating an amount of said primary coolant passed through each of said first and second modules to control temperatures of said first and said second modules. 
   
   
       11 . The modular refrigerator system of  claim 10  wherein a degree of opening of said module valve occurs based on a measured temperature of the module with which said module valve is associated. 
   
   
       12 . The modular refrigerator system of  claim 1  wherein said first refrigerator module is one of, and said second refrigerator module is another of, a cold plate, a refrigerated wine rack compartment, a fresh food refrigerated compartment, a freezer compartment, an ice machine, a cold water dispenser, and a cold sink. 
   
   
       13 . The modular refrigerator system of  claim 12  wherein said first refrigerator module is remotely positioned relative to said second refrigerator module. 
   
   
       14 . The modular refrigerator system of  claim 12  wherein at least one of said first and said second refrigerator modules is located under a kitchen counter. 
   
   
       15 . The modular refrigerator system of  claim 1  wherein said primary coolant remains in liquid form after cooling of said first and second refrigerator modules, each of said inlet coolant line and said exit coolant line, both carrying said primary coolant in liquid form, configured to have a third refrigerator module readily plugged thereinto. 
   
   
       16 . The modular refrigerator system of  claim 15  wherein said inlet and exit coolant lines are configured to have a third refrigerator module readily plugged thereinto. 
   
   
       17 . A modular household refrigeration system, comprising
 a refrigerated source of a primary coolant;   at least one refrigerator module remotely positioned relative to said refrigerated source, said at least one refrigerator module fluidly connected to said refrigerated source by an inlet coolant line for delivering said primary coolant from said refrigerated source to said at least one refrigerator module and an exit coolant line for returning said primary coolant from said at least one refrigerator module to said refrigerated source, said primary coolant delivered to said at least one refrigerator module for cooling said at least one refrigerated module to a predetermined temperature.   
   
   
       18 . The modular household refrigeration system of  claim 17  wherein said refrigerated source includes a tank for holding said primary coolant, and a vapor compression refrigeration cycle system having a secondary coolant in thermal contact with said primary coolant held in said tank, said vapor compression refrigeration system including a compressor for circulating said secondary coolant within a secondary coolant closed fluid circuit, an evaporator for transferring heat from said primary coolant to said secondary coolant to cool said primary coolant, a condenser for condensing said secondary coolant after cooling of said primary coolant in said evaporator, and an expansion device for expanding said secondary coolant after being condensed in said condenser. 
   
   
       19 . The modular household refrigeration system of  claim 17  wherein said refrigerated source includes a first tank holding said primary coolant at a first predetermined temperature and a second tank holding said primary coolant at a second predetermined temperature, said inlet coolant line including a first inlet portion fluidly connecting said first tank to at least one of said at least one refrigerator module for delivery of said primary coolant from said first tank at said first predetermined temperature and a second inlet portion fluidly connecting said second tank to at least one of said at least one refrigerator module for delivery of said primary coolant from said second tank at said second predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       20 . A method of distributing refrigeration in a household, comprising:
 providing a refrigerated source of a primary coolant;   remotely positioning a first refrigerator module relative to said refrigerated source;   fluidly coupling said first refrigerator module to said refrigerated source for delivery and return of said primary coolant;   remotely positioning a second refrigerator module relative to said refrigerated source;   fluidly coupling said second refrigerator module to said refrigerated source for delivery and return of said primary coolant; and   cooling said primary coolant with a secondary coolant of a closed circuit vapor compression refrigeration cycle system.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein said remotely positioning said first refrigerated module includes installing said first refrigerated module under a kitchen counter.