Low charge heat exchanger in a sealed refrigeration system

Abstract

A consumer refrigeration appliance, such as a refrigerator, includes a refrigeration system charged with a refrigerant and further having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. At least one of the evaporator or condenser is a spine fin heat exchanger having a defined length of tube with a spine fine material configured around at least a portion of tube. The tube has a reduced refrigerant side diameter that provides a reduced refrigerant side area defined by the tube length and refrigerant side diameter. The refrigeration system has a reduced refrigerant charge mass.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A consumer refrigeration appliance, comprising:
 at least one compartment configured for storage of items to be refrigerated;   a refrigeration system, said refrigeration system charged with a refrigerant and further comprising:
 a compressor; 
 a condenser; 
 an expansion device; and 
 an evaporator 
   said evaporator comprising a spine fin heat exchanger having a defined length (L 1 ) of tube with a spine fine material configured around at least a portion of said tube;   said tube having a refrigerant side diameter (D 1 ) of less than 0.3 inch and a refrigerant side area (A 1 ) (square inches) defined by (L 1 ) and (D 1 );   said refrigeration system having a refrigerant charge mass (grams) such that a ratio (R 1 ) of said charge mass to (A 1 ) is less than 0.10 and a refrigerant pressure drop across said evaporator is less than 0.7 psi.   
     
     
         2 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said refrigerant is R-134a and said (L 1 ) is from 20 to 40 ft. 
     
     
         3 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 2 , wherein said evaporator tube has an outside diameter (OD) of 5/16 inch, said (D 1 ) is from 0.2525 to 0.2725 inch, and said (R 1 ) is from 0.085 to 0.095. 
     
     
         4 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 2 , wherein said evaporator tube has an outside diameter (OD) of ¼ inch, said (D 1 ) is from 0.19 to 0.21 inch, and said (R 1 ) is from 0.062 to 0.071. 
     
     
         5 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 2 , wherein said evaporator tube has an outside diameter (OD) of 3/16 inch, said (D 1 ) is from 0.1275 to 0.1475 inch, and said (R 1 ) is from 0.040 to 0.049. 
     
     
         6 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said refrigerant is R-600a and said (L 1 ) is from 20 to 40 ft. 
     
     
         7 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 6 , wherein said evaporator tube has an outside diameter (OD) of 5/16 inch, said (D 1 ) is from 0.2525 to 0.2725 inch, and said (R 1 ) is from 0.030 to 0.035. 
     
     
         8 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 6 , wherein said evaporator tube has an outside diameter (OD) of ¼ inch, said (D 1 ) is from 0.19 to 0.21 inch, and said (R 1 ) is from 0.021 to 0.027. 
     
     
         9 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 6 , wherein said evaporator tube has an outside diameter (OD) of 3/16 inch, said (D 1 ) is from 0.1275 to 0.1475 inch, and said (R 1 ) is from 0.014 to 0.018. 
     
     
         10 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 1 , wherein said condenser also comprises a spine fin heat exchanger having a defined length (L 2 ) of tube with a spine fine material configured around at least a portion of said tube;
 said tube having a refrigerant side diameter (D 2 ) of less than 0.2 inch and a refrigerant side area (A 2 ) (square inches) defined by (L 2 ) and (D 2 );   said refrigeration system having a refrigerant charge mass (grams) such that a ratio (R 2 ) of said charge mass to (A 2 ) is less than 0.23.   
     
     
         11 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 10 , wherein said refrigerant is R-134a and said (L 2 ) is from 30 to 80 ft. 
     
     
         12 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 11 , wherein said condenser tube has an outside diameter (OD) of ¼ inch, said (D 2 ) is from 0.17 to 0.19 inch, and said (R 2 ) is from 0.197 to 0.221. 
     
     
         13 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 11 , wherein said condenser tube has an outside diameter (OD) of 3/16 inch, said (D 2 ) is from 0.1315 to 0.1475 inch, and said (R 2 ) is from 0.152 to 0.173. 
     
     
         14 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 10 , wherein said refrigerant is R-600a and said (L 2 ) is from 30 to 80 ft. 
     
     
         15 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 14 , wherein said condenser tube has an outside diameter (OD) of ¼ inch, said (D 2 ) is from 0.17 to 0.19 inch, and said (R 2 ) is from 0.070 to 0.080. 
     
     
         16 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 14  wherein said condenser tube has an outside diameter (OD) of 3/16 inch, said (D 2 ) is from 0.1315 to 0.1475 inch, and said (R 2 ) is from 0.054 to 0.063. 
     
     
         17 . A consumer refrigeration appliance, comprising:
 at least one compartment configured for storage of items to be refrigerated;   a refrigeration system, said refrigeration system charged with a refrigerant and further comprising:
 a compressor; 
 a condenser; 
 an expansion device; and 
 an evaporator 
   wherein said condenser comprises a spine fin heat exchanger having a defined length (L 2 ) of tube with a spine fine material configured around at least a portion of said tube;   said tube having a refrigerant side diameter (D 2 ) of less than 0.2 inch and a refrigerant side area (A 2 ) (square inches) defined by (L 2 ) and (D 2 );   said refrigeration system having a refrigerant charge mass (grams) such that a ratio (R 2 ) of said charge mass to (A 2 ) is less than 0.23.   
     
     
         18 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 17 , wherein said refrigerant is R-600a and said (L 2 ) is from 30 to 80 ft. 
     
     
         19 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 18 , wherein said condenser tube has an outside diameter (OD) of ¼ inch, said (D 2 ) is from 0.17 to 0.19 inch, and said (R 2 ) is from 0.070 to 0.080. 
     
     
         20 . The consumer refrigeration appliance as in  claim 18 , wherein said condenser tube has an outside diameter (OD) of 3/16 inch, said (D 2 ) is from 0.1315 to 0.1475 inch, and said (R 2 ) is from 0.054 to 0.063.