Refrigeration and / or freezer device

Abstract

A refrigerator and / or freezer with at least one component adjustable with respect to at least one parameter, and a control unit configured to measure an operating parameter of the refrigerator and / or freezer and / or the at least one component and to automatically adapt and / or optimize a setting of the at least one component with respect to the at least one parameter such that the setting corresponds to a preferably global optimum detected within a specific time period. A method for optimizing the operating parameters of a refrigerator and / or freezer to a preferably global optimum occurring within a specific time period.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator and / or freezer with at least one component, for example a compressor, whose operation is adjustable with respect to at least one parameter, for example, the speed. According to the invention, the operating parameters are automatically optimized toward a global or local optimum detected within a time period, for example, the most energy-efficient and / or quiet operation possible.

[0002] The refrigeration circuit of highly efficient refrigerators and freezers usually contains a variety of controllable components, such as compressors, expansion valves, or fans on the heat exchangers. The speeds of the compressors and fans are influenced by the device's electronic control system. The position of an expansion valve can be changed electrically, e.g., with a stepper motor. The ideal interaction of these components enables the device to operate optimally, for example, with minimal energy consumption and / or as quietly as possible. Optimal can mean various things for refrigerators and / or freezers: e.g., minimal energy consumption, minimal noise (with the same energy consumption or a minimal increase in energy consumption), or minimal time, e.g., when cooling down goods or when switching on the device, or during defrosting processes (especially with commercial appliances), or ice cube production cycles, etc.

[0003] It is known from the state of the art to operate refrigerators and / or freezers with parameters defined in advance, for example during production, regardless of their operating conditions at the end user (installation location, operating mode, etc.).

[0004] However, these factory settings do not always lead to optimal energy operation.

[0005] The present invention is therefore based on the object of developing a refrigerator and / or freezer in such a way that an adaptive and rapid adjustment of the operating parameters is possible.

[0006] This object is achieved by a refrigerator and / or freezer having the features of claim 1 and a method according to claim 14.

[0007] According to this, it is provided that a refrigerator and / or freezer is equipped with at least one component that can be adjusted with respect to at least one parameter and a control unit that is designed to measure an operating parameter (for example energy consumption and / or noise emission) of the refrigerator and / or freezer and / or the at least one component and to automatically adapt and / or optimize a setting of the at least one component with respect to the at least one parameter in such a way that the setting corresponds to a preferably global or local optimum detected within a certain time period.

[0008] Conceptually, the present invention is therefore preferably directed toward optimizing a specific value or parameter that can be influenced by changing the parameters of the adjustable device components. The value can be recorded on the device itself or outside the device using external sensors. For example, if the microphone of a mobile device is connected to the cooling device, the compressor can be regulated to a lower speed to minimize or optimize the noise signals reaching the microphone.

[0009] The conventional process of software parameterization of all controllable components is complex to achieve the desired optimum in the device development process. Furthermore, the parameter set according to current design procedures only represents an optimal parameter set for the devices actually tested and at the particular time of the test. However, due to production tolerances of the components, particularly in the compressors, or aspects such as foam aging, this parameter set may not necessarily lead to optimal operation for all devices produced and throughout their entire service life.

[0010] According to the invention, a parameter optimization approach is preferably provided that enables a device to independently adjust itself toward a desired optimum for all environmental conditions and throughout its entire service life, including during real-life operation, using a sensor-based measurement. One example would be to adjust the device's energy consumption to the optimal energy consumption at the user's location using a device-based power measurement (or one performed via an external measuring device).

[0011] According to the invention, the advantage can be achieved that the workload of the engineer during the design process in the production of the device can be reduced, since some device parameters are parameterized independently.

[0012] A further advantage is that, for example, the tolerances for measured energy consumption, which traditionally have to be estimated relatively high, can be defined more tightly. This is because unavoidable component tolerances, which in turn affect the device's energy consumption, play a less significant role when the device is individually optimized. For example, the expected results of follow-up measurements during market inspections can be predicted more accurately. Furthermore, larger manufacturing tolerances for components can be accepted, which should result in price reductions due to less scrap.

[0013] In principle, within the scope of the present invention, the operating parameter according to which optimization is carried out is arbitrary and optimization can also be carried out according to several operating parameters.

[0014] Furthermore, according to the invention, at least two basic optimization approaches are conceivable: First, an iterative optimization of a parameter towards a global (or local) optimum can be carried out for a specific time period. The global or local optimum is identified by considering the entire specific time period, so that a global (or local) optimum can actually be determined and not just the first, local optimum is recorded, and the device is operated with the parameters / settings corresponding to the global optimum. In this variant, the measurements are preferably carried out at indeterminate times. This procedure is exemplified in Fig. 3 illustrated.

[0015] In In other words, the control unit can be designed so that within the specific time period, in an iterative process, the operating parameter is measured several times and the setting is adjusted several times, whereupon the control unit retrospectively identifies a preferably global optimum indicated by the measured values.

[0016] When a global optimum is mentioned in the context of the present invention, this represents a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0017] However, the term "global optimum" should be understood more broadly and is essentially a placeholder for any optimum, including a local optimum. In the context of the present invention, the term is therefore to be understood as "global or local optimum."

[0018] Second, the operating parameters can be measured at predetermined times within a specific time period, and the control unit is designed to calculate the global optimum of the settings from the measured values. In contrast to the first variant, in the second variant, the global optimum is not determined by an actual measurement, but rather calculated based on measured values. This procedure is exemplified in Fig. 4 illustrated.

[0019] In other words, the control unit can be designed to measure the operating parameter a predetermined number of times within the specific time period, and the control unit can be designed to determine a global optimum and the associated settings of the operating parameters from the measured values ​​using a mathematical model.

[0020] The control unit may be designed to identify the global optimum with respect to at least two operating parameters, preferably with respect to energy consumption and noise emission.

[0021] The operating parameter(s) can be set by a user or they can be predefined on the device. For example, the at least two operating parameters for which the global optimum is identified can be set by a user using an input unit external to the device (e.g., using an app on a terminal device) or integrated into the device, and / or a relative weighting of the at least two operating parameters for which the global optimum is identified can be set by a user using an input unit external to the device or integrated into the device.

[0022] For example, a flowing scale can be present in the input, where a user can select a relative weighting between 1 (quietest possible operation, energy consumption irrelevant) and 10 (energy-saving possible operation, noise emission irrelevant), where a value of 5 represents an equivalence of the optimization parameters energy consumption and noise emission.

[0023] According to the invention, the optimization or an optimization algorithm does not have to run on the refrigerator and / or freezer, but can also run partially or completely on another, external device and / or in the cloud.

[0024] In In other words, the functionality of the control unit can run or be implemented at least partially outside the refrigerator and / or freezer, for example in the cloud or on an external computer or server.

[0025] According to one embodiment, a plurality of components adjustable with respect to at least one parameter, preferably a plurality of parameters, are present, and the control unit is designed to systematically adapt and / or optimize at least one setting for a plurality of components one after the other and / or a plurality of settings with respect to different parameters for each component for a specific time period and then to detect a global optimum of the settings within the specific time period.

[0026] The specific time period preferably corresponds to a time period in which an optimization process according to the invention takes place.

[0027] Preferably, according to the invention, the entire specific time period is always considered, and a global optimum of the entire time period is determined. This preferably distinguishes the present invention from other embodiments, which assume that the settings at the end of the specific time period necessarily constitute the global optimum and therefore refrain from examining the entire specific time period. However, by considering the entire time period, the optimization can be carried out more flexibly and purposefully according to the invention.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the control unit may be configured to adapt a setting of at least one component with respect to at least one parameter from an active cycle of a compressor of the refrigerator and / or freezer to the next active cycle of the compressor and / or within an active cycle of the compressor.

[0029] The control unit can be designed to adapt at least one setting of at least one component with respect to at least one of the following parameters: a) compressor speed of at least one compressor; b) degree of opening of at least one valve, in particular an expansion valve, in particular a micro-expansion valve in the refrigerant circuit upstream of the evaporator; c) fan speed of at least one fan, preferably at the evaporator and / or condenser; and d) running time of a cooling application to a cooling part and / or a freezing part and preferably a subsequent downtime of a compressor.

[0030] The control unit or at least one functional unit thereof, which is designed to measure an operating parameter of the refrigerator and / or freezer and / or the at least one component, can be implemented internally within the device, preferably on a main electronics unit, or externally within the device, for example as an external device capable of communicating with the refrigerator and / or freezer.

[0031] It is also conceivable that the sensor technology for detecting at least one parameter, for example, a microphone for detecting noise emissions or a sensor for measuring the device's power consumption, is implemented externally, for example, as part of an external device capable of communication with the refrigerator and / or freezer and / or as part of a mobile device. If parameter settings are in the limit range, the device may become stuck in a continuous loop. In this case, according to one embodiment, it can be provided that the control unit jumps to the next setting after a time limit has elapsed. This allows the optimization to be carried out quickly and efficiently.

[0032] Furthermore, a user can be informed about an optimization process according to the invention and / or can set this process, preferably interactively by means of a device-internal or device-external user interface (which, for example, comprises an app on a mobile device). This will be illustrated using four examples: Example 1: Optimization to a global optimum with regard to the two operating parameters noise emission and energy efficiency. First, the device carries out energy consumption measurements. In addition, the device and / or a mobile device of the user carries out noise measurements during operation of the device. From both results, a scale, for example with 10 levels, is then defined on the user interface, which the user can adjust using the user interface, e.g., an app, from level 1 (extremely quiet, energy consumption not optimized) to level 10 (lowest energy consumption, noise emission not optimized).Based on the user's settings, the operating parameters corresponding to a global optimum are then determined.

[0033] Example 2: Site optimization. Based on data obtained regarding the device's location (e.g., via GPS) and / or the prevailing air pressure at that location, calculations can be made regarding the volume flow of the device's fans. These calculations provide new approaches to reducing energy consumption and / or noise emissions, for example, by adjusting the fan operating parameters to suit the location.

[0034] Example 3: User-defined target specification. In this example, no measurement is taken initially. Instead, a user enters, via a user interface, preferably from a predefined selection, how and / or where they would like to use the device (bedroom, basement, etc. / lots of fruit and vegetables, little meat / lots of ready meals / lots of tropical fruit, etc.). From this information, the device's control unit can determine the desired operating mode of the device (e.g., taking into account the temperature / humidity in the individual areas; noise emissions should be avoided in the bedroom, but less critical in the basement; meat requires a particularly low storage temperature, etc.). The control unit then optimizes the optimal setting of the device's operating parameters using an inventive procedure. The optimization can take place when the device is first installed and / or at intervals or.be repeated after certain events.

[0035] Example 4: Optimization can be initiated by multiple actors. Furthermore, not only one device user can initiate an optimization process according to the invention. Alternatively or additionally, optimizations can be initiated automatically by the device, customer service, and / or the user themselves. Optimization can be performed once, at regular intervals, or upon specified events or detected changes (e.g., if a room temperature change of >3K is detected, an optimization can be performed based on the changed site conditions, or after a noise peak is detected, for example, by a user's mobile device, a (re)optimization can be performed to reduce noise emissions).

[0036] The control unit can be configured to abort or interrupt a process for adjusting and / or optimizing the setting of the at least one component with respect to the at least one parameter if a disturbance to the process is detected by the control unit during the ongoing process, and to automatically determine a time to resume the process, preferably at night. The disturbance can, for example, be the opening of the device door.

[0037] A refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention may further comprise a communication unit which is designed to output a notification, preferably to an external terminal, when the control unit has detected at a time that the refrigerator and / or freezer is in an operating state which corresponds to a global optimum.

[0038] In a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention, an input unit can further be provided by means of which the execution of a process for adapting and / or optimizing the setting of the at least one component can be activated or deactivated for a specific period of time and / or by means of which the setting of the at least one component with regard to the at least one parameter can be reset to an initial setting.

[0039] Furthermore, the control unit can be designed to initiate a cleaning program for the refrigerator and / or freezer, or at least one component thereof, at the beginning of an optimization process. For example, at the start of an optimization process, a cleaning interval can be initiated with, for example, a high compressor speed and an open micro-expansion valve to remove particles / ice, and / or defrosting can be performed to prevent ice from distorting the measured values.

[0040] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for optimizing at least one operating parameter of a refrigerator and / or freezer having at least one component to a global optimum identifiable within a specific time period, comprising the steps of: measuring an operating parameter of the refrigerator and / or freezer and / or of the at least one component and automatically adjusting at least one setting of the at least one component with respect to the operating parameter such that the setting corresponds to a global optimum detected within a specific time period.

[0041] According to one embodiment, within the specific time period, the operating parameter is measured several times and the setting is adjusted several times in an iterative process, whereupon a control unit retrospectively identifies a global optimum indicated by the measured values.

[0042] Alternatively or additionally, the operating parameter is measured a predetermined number of times within the specific time period and, using a mathematical model, a global optimum and the associated settings for the operating parameter are determined from the measured values.

[0043] The global optimum can be identified with respect to at least two operating parameters, preferably energy consumption and noise emissions. In principle, the global optimum can also be identified with respect to just one parameter or multiple parameters.

[0044] Furthermore, it can be provided that the at least two (or another number) operating parameters with respect to which the global optimum is identified can be set by a user by means of an input unit external to the device or integrated in the device and / or a relative weighting of the at least two operating parameters with respect to which the global optimum is identified can be set by a user by means of an input unit external to the device or integrated in the device.

[0045] A method according to the invention can be carried out at least partially or completely by a control unit outside the refrigerator and / or freezer, for example in the cloud or on an external computer or server or a mobile terminal.

[0046] Furthermore, in a method according to the invention, it can be provided that a plurality of components are present which can be adjusted with respect to at least one parameter, preferably a plurality of parameters, and that systematically, for a specific time period, at least one setting for a plurality of components is successively adjusted and / or optimized and / or a plurality of settings with respect to different parameters for each component are adjusted and / or optimized, whereupon a global optimum of the settings within the specific time period is recorded retroactively.

[0047] For example, in an application according to the invention, it can be provided that a refrigerator and / or freezer with at least one component adjustable with respect to at least one parameter has a control unit which is designed to measure an energy consumption of the refrigerator and / or freezer and / or of the at least one component and to automatically adapt and / or optimize a setting of the at least one component with respect to the at least one parameter in order to reduce the energy consumption.

[0048] However, the optimization of energy consumption represents only one exemplary application, which is described below to illustrate the present invention. However, the present invention is by no means limited to this exemplary case, and any other optimization objective can be used instead of reducing energy consumption.

[0049] In this example case, the present invention therefore preferably comprises a parameter optimization approach which results in a device being able to independently regulate itself towards operation with the lowest possible energy consumption for all ambient conditions and throughout its entire service life by means of a device-integrated power measurement for determining energy consumption.

[0050] Furthermore, the engineer's workload during the design process may be reduced because some device parameters are parameterized independently.

[0051] According to one embodiment, a plurality of components adjustable with respect to at least one parameter, preferably a plurality of parameters, are present in the refrigerator and / or freezer, and the control unit is designed to systematically adapt and / or optimize at least one setting for a plurality of components one after the other and / or a plurality of settings with respect to different parameters for each component.

[0052] For example, the setting of the compressor can be optimized first and then a fan.

[0053] The control unit may be configured to adapt and / or optimize a setting of at least one component with respect to at least one parameter from one active cycle of a compressor of the refrigerator and / or freezer to the next active cycle of the compressor and / or within an active cycle of the compressor.

[0054] After adjusting the parameter, the energy consumption can be determined again and so on, so that an iterative optimization of the parameter with regard to reduced energy consumption takes place.

[0055] The control unit may be configured to adjust at least one setting of at least one component with respect to at least one of the following parameters: a) compressor speed of at least one compressor; b) degree of opening of at least one valve, in particular an expansion valve; c) fan speed of at least one fan, preferably on the evaporator and / or condenser, and d) running time of a cooling application to a cooling part and / or a freezing part and preferably a subsequent downtime of a compressor.

[0056] In other words, the preferred idea of ​​the new control approach is to determine the immediate effects of a systematic and automated parameter change on the energy consumption of the compressor or the entire device (compressor + auxiliary loads, such as device electronics, fans, etc.) and to adjust the parameters one after the other along a variation algorithm, always toward minimum energy consumption. The variation parameters include, for example, the above-mentioned examples a) to d).

[0057] The aforementioned parameters a) to c) are either constant throughout a cycle and only change from one cycle to the next, or they are changed within the active compressor cycle, for example, based on predefined time periods. Varying the duration of these time periods within a cycle can therefore also become part of the optimization procedure from one cycle to the next.

[0058] The control unit and / or at least one functional unit thereof, which is designed to measure an energy consumption of the refrigerator and / or freezer and / or the at least one component, can be implemented internally to the device, preferably on a circuit board of a compressor inverter of the refrigerator and / or freezer and / or on a main electronics unit of the device, or externally to the device, for example as an external device capable of communication with the refrigerator and / or freezer.

[0059] The electronic components for power measurement can thus be located on the compressor inverter circuit board or the device's main electronics. Alternatively, it would also be conceivable to offer the customer a networkable socket power meter or socket energy meter as an accessory, which communicates with the device's electronics for the purpose of parameter optimization and providing the customer with information about the device's current energy consumption.

[0060] The control unit may be designed to continuously measure the energy consumption of the refrigerator and / or freezer and / or the at least one component thereof for one or more cycles of a compressor of the refrigerator and / or freezer and to detect at least one steady state and / or at least one change in an operating condition based on the measured values.

[0061] For example, a software algorithm can continuously evaluate the cycle energy consumption of the device and detect steady-state conditions and changed operating conditions, which preferentially lead to the start or the next possible scheduling of the parameter optimization procedure after reaching a steady-state condition.

[0062] The control unit can thus be designed to automatically carry out a process for adapting and / or optimizing the setting of the at least one component with respect to the at least one parameter in order to reduce the energy consumption as a result of an event detected by the control unit, in particular a detected steady state or change in an operating condition and / or at predetermined time intervals.

[0063] The execution of the parameter optimization process therefore preferably takes place either as a result of an event (changed installation location, changed seasonal environmental conditions, corresponding user input on the device or an external device, etc.) and / or in regular repetition with a definable execution interval (e.g. 1 x per day or 1 x per week or 1 x per month).

[0064] The control unit can be designed to abort or interrupt a process for adapting and / or optimizing the setting of the at least one component with respect to the at least one parameter in order to reduce the energy consumption if a disturbance of the process has been detected by the control unit during the ongoing process, and to automatically determine a time for re-executing the process, preferably at night.

[0065] For example, if a disturbance (e.g., a door opening) is detected during the parameter optimization process, the optimization is preferably aborted and continued at a later time after a renewed steady state to avoid any time loss. Therefore, the parameter optimization approach should preferably be executed at night.

[0066] Furthermore, a device according to the invention can have a communication unit which is designed to output a notification preferably to an external terminal when the control unit has detected at a time that the refrigerator and / or freezer is in an energetically optimal operating state.

[0067] A user can thus be actively notified, e.g., via an app, when the device has independently adjusted to its optimal energy state. If the performance measurement is sufficiently accurate, the user can be notified of the specific energy savings in absolute values ​​(kWh / year) or as a relative value (e.g., "Energy consumption after optimization is X% lower than before optimization," "Your device continues to operate at optimal energy levels").

[0068] Furthermore, a device according to the invention can have an input unit by means of which the execution of a process for adapting and / or optimizing the setting of the at least one component for reducing energy consumption can be activated and / or deactivated for a specific period of time and / or by means of which the setting of the at least one component with regard to the at least one parameter can be reset to an initial setting.

[0069] The parameter optimization mode can therefore be activated and deactivated, preferably via the user interface. This is necessary, for example, to perform energy consumption measurements during the design process based on constant operating conditions. Furthermore, the user interface can be used to reset the parameters to the factory settings.

[0070] The control unit can be designed, for example, to measure an energy consumption of a first component, preferably a compressor, and to automatically adapt and / or optimize a setting of the first component and a plurality of other components, preferably fans, with respect to one or more parameters in order to reduce the energy consumption, wherein the control unit is designed to read data regarding an energy consumption of the plurality of other components from a database.

[0071] For example, if only the compressor performance is measured, but other performance-related components are also modified with regard to their operating parameters during the optimization process, corresponding performance data for these additional components is stored in the software. For example, the performance / energy consumption data for fans can be stored, e.g., using a performance table or a mathematical function that maps the following relationship: Pel, Fan = Function (operating voltage, speed, operating temperature).

[0072] Furthermore, the control unit can be designed, for example, to measure the energy consumption of the refrigerator and / or freezer and / or the at least one component during a stable operating state and / or normal operation and / or to detect temporary fluctuations in energy consumption, for example caused by one or more door openings and the resulting inflow of warm air into the compartment interior, and therefore to interrupt the energy consumption measurement and to execute the energy optimization procedure again at a later time.

[0073] For example, the control unit can be designed to wait for a certain time period in which energy consumption is constant and fluctuates little or not at all (steady state) before measuring energy consumption. Unstable time windows in which energy consumption changes quite frequently are preferably ignored.

[0074] According to one embodiment, the control unit is designed such that the adaptation / optimization or parameter recalculation to find an energetically optimized parameter set is carried out either locally on the device electronics or server- or cloud-based as a result of an IoT networking solution.

[0075] The optimized parameter set is then preferably sent back to the device via the networking solution, where it enables energy-optimized operation.

[0076] For example, the control unit can be designed to operate the device in continuous mode (compressor permanently switched on) rather than in cycle mode (compressor cycles on / off) during the optimization or parameter optimization procedure.

[0077] As a result, parameter changes during parameter optimization can be performed at shorter intervals, while power consumption is continuously checked. This approach allows energy-optimized parameterization to be completed in just a few hours, thus faster than intermittent operation.

[0078] The control unit can be designed to measure energy consumption not by measuring power, but to derive it indirectly from temperature measurements or sensor values ​​that are already available in the electronics (e.g. ambient temperature, controller position or evaporator sensor temperature).

[0079] The performance values ​​of the individual consumers (compressor, fans, etc.) are preferably derived for the various operating states from operating point-specific performance curves that are stored in the device electronics.

[0080] Preferably, the control unit is designed so that a customer can start the energy optimization procedure independently upon request, for example by actuating a control unit accordingly.

[0081] Preferably, the control unit is designed to find the global efficiency optimum by intentionally crossing temporarily less efficient operating ranges to ensure that the optimization runs not only to a local, but also a global efficiency optimum. This mode is preferably used during the device development process rather than at the customer's site.

[0082] The control unit can further be designed to perform a dynamic and gradient-based step size variation instead of constant step sizes of the parameter variations in order to find the efficiency optimum within the optimization procedure more quickly and reliably.

[0083] Possible optimization methods for this are, for example, the Gauss-Newton method or the Levenberg-Marquardt method.

[0084] Furthermore, a device according to the invention can benefit from a data-based wealth of experience through a suitably designed control unit, which can be derived from the mass of devices due to networked devices (= big data solution or swarm-based solution) and can be captured by the control unit. The efficiency-optimized parameters of one customer can be transferred, for example, to the device of another customer, provided the operating conditions (device type, installation situation, device age, ambient temperature, controller setting temperatures, etc.) are comparable.

[0085] The control unit may further comprise a predictive maintenance function in which the manner in which the optimal parameters change over time is analyzed with regard to an indication of imminent component failure.

[0086] Furthermore, the control unit can have a self-test function and be designed to independently evaluate and verify a new parameter data set to ensure that it does not cause undesirable or harmful operating conditions. This could, for example, relate to a shortened service life of the components, particularly concerning the compressor, or increased noise generation.

[0087] It is particularly preferred if the refrigerator and / or freezer or its control unit is designed in such a way that an optimum, in particular an energy optimum of the device, is found using the evaporator temperature as a measured variable and the opening position of an expansion valve. The refrigerant flows through the expansion valve before it reaches the evaporator.

[0088] In this case, the control unit is designed in such a way that different opening positions of the expansion valve are set in several measuring cycles and then the evaporator temperature is measured during an operating cycle of the compressor.

[0089] The device preferably comprises an expansion valve, preferably a micro-expansion valve, which is also referred to simply as an MEV hereinafter. The features disclosed in this invention for an expansion valve also apply equally to an MEV and vice versa.

[0090] Thus, the measured operating parameter can be the evaporator temperature and the control unit can be designed to adjust the opening position of the expansion valve for the purpose of optimization depending on the measured evaporator temperature.

[0091] Within the scope of this optimization process, it is preferably provided that the control unit is designed to adjust only the opening position of the expansion valve during the optimization process and not to change the operating parameters of all other components. In other words, preferably, when an optimal expansion valve position is found, no other operating parameters, such as the compressor speed or a fan speed, are changed, i.e., there are no "disturbance variables."

[0092] Preferably, the control unit is designed to carry out several iterations at different opening positions of the expansion valve as part of the optimization and that an iteration is terminated when first a drop in the evaporator temperature and then a rise in the evaporator temperature is measured again.

[0093] Preferably, an iteration is a compressor start-up phase. During this phase, the expansion valve is open. It is closed when the compressor is turned off and reopened the next time the compressor is started up, i.e., at the start of a new iteration. Preferably, the compressor runtime and the expansion valve opening duration are constant in each iteration, i.e., they do not change from iteration to iteration.

[0094] Preferably, the control unit is designed to determine the opening position of the expansion valve as optimal at which the lowest evaporator temperature and / or the greatest gradient of reduction in the evaporator temperature and / or the longest phase of constant evaporator temperature during a period in which the compressor is switched on and / or the lowest evaporator temperature at the time the compressor is switched off was measured or calculated. An individual iteration is preferably also terminated when a switch-off condition is reached in the device - as with normal control with on and off value or with time-based control. It is thus conceivable to determine the opening position of the expansion valve as optimal when a switch-off condition for the compressor is reached, in particular when the target temperature in the cooled interior or the target running time of the compressor is reached.

[0095] The evaporator temperature drops during a compressor start-up phase. The optimum opening position of the expansion valve can be considered to be the one at which the lowest evaporator temperature and / or the greatest gradient of evaporator temperature reduction and / or the longest period of constant evaporator temperature is measured during the start-up phase.

[0096] The opening position of the expansion valve can also be considered optimal if the evaporator temperature is at a minimum at the time the compressor is switched off.

[0097] Preferably, the control unit is configured such that the expansion valve opening positions set in the multiple iterations include both expansion valve opening positions that are greater than the expansion valve opening position determined as optimal, as well as those that are smaller than the expansion valve opening position determined as optimal. Several further preferred embodiments of the invention are summarized below. These can be used as such or in any combination. The control unit can be configured to carry out or initiate these steps. Preferably, in particular, the position of the expansion valve is optimized by measuring the evaporator temperature. Preferably, a stepper motor is present, by means of which the position, i.e. the opening position of the expansion valve, can be changed. The optimization of the position of the expansion valve can take place in several process steps. A process step for optimizing the position of the expansion valve can be a process step in which only the position of the expansion valve is changed while keeping other operating parameters of the device constant, in particular the speeds of compressors and fans. The position of the micro-expansion valve can be changed from a position with low flow to a position with high flow. The position of the micro-expansion valve can be changed from a position with high flow to a position with low flow.It is conceivable that the control unit is designed such that the first process step is terminated after a drop in the evaporator temperature at the measuring point has been observed, followed by an increase in the evaporator temperature at the measuring point. Preferably, the position of the micro-expansion valve is determined to be optimal at which the lowest evaporator temperature is observed immediately before the valve position is changed. Preferably, the position of the micro-expansion valve is determined to be optimal at which the lowest evaporator temperature was observed, selected from the operating states passed through, in particular from the set valve positions. It is conceivable that the position of the micro-expansion valve at which the lowest evaporator temperature is to be expected is determined from the measured data using a mathematical method.It is also conceivable that one or more further steps are performed in which the behavior of the device in cyclical cooling operation is examined. Preferably, the refrigerator and / or freezer is operated in an operating mode in which operation with several different expansion valve positions is carried out consecutively in several cooling cycles. It is conceivable that the expansion valve positions set in the individual cooling cycles include positions with both lower and higher flow rates than the position that resulted in the lowest evaporator temperature before the compressor was shut down.Preferably, the position of the expansion valve at which the lowest evaporator temperature was observed before the compressor was switched off is selected from the operating states passed through, in particular from the set positions of the expansion valve. It is conceivable that the position of the micro-expansion valve at which the lowest evaporator temperature is to be expected is determined from the measured data using a mathematical method. In one embodiment, it is provided that the refrigerator and / or freezer is operated with a position of the expansion valve determined according to the invention, at which the lowest evaporator temperature was observed or is to be expected. Furthermore, it can be provided that the device is operated with a position of the expansion valve determined according to the preceding claims and subsequently changed by a predetermined value.Optimization preferably occurs from smaller to larger opening positions of the MEV. The opening positions are preferably changed by a constant amount.

[0098] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method for reducing energy consumption of a refrigerator and / or freezer having at least one component, comprising the steps of: measuring energy consumption of the refrigerator and / or freezer and / or at least one component thereof, and automatically adjusting and / or optimizing at least one setting of the at least one component with respect to the at least one parameter for reducing energy consumption.

[0099] At this point, it is pointed out that all steps that the control unit of a refrigerator and / or freezer according to the invention can carry out can also be the subject of the method claimed within the scope of the present invention, such as, for example, the adjustment of the optimal opening position of the micro-expansion valve as a function of the evaporator temperature.

[0100] In a method according to the invention, several components adjustable with respect to at least one parameter, preferably several parameters, can be present in the refrigerator and / or freezer and systematically at least one setting for several components one after the other and / or several settings with respect to different parameters for each component can be adjusted and / or optimized.

[0101] According to one embodiment, a setting of at least one component with respect to at least one parameter is adjusted from one active cycle of a compressor of the refrigerator and / or freezer to the next active cycle of the compressor and / or within an active cycle of the compressor.

[0102] According to one embodiment, at least one setting of at least one component is adapted and / or optimized with respect to at least one of the following parameters: a) compressor speed of at least one compressor; b) degree of opening of at least one valve, in particular an expansion valve; c) fan speed of at least one fan, preferably at the evaporator and / or condenser; and d) running time of a cooling application to a cooling part and / or a freezing part and preferably a subsequent downtime of a compressor.

[0103] To carry out the method, a control unit or at least one functional unit thereof can be used, which is designed to measure an energy consumption of the refrigerator and / or freezer and / or the at least one component, wherein the control unit and / or the functional unit is implemented internally in the device, preferably on a circuit board of a compressor inverter of the refrigerator and / or freezer and / or on a main electronics unit of the device, or externally in the device, for example as an external device capable of communication with the refrigerator and / or freezer.

[0104] The energy consumption of the refrigerator and / or freezer and / or the at least one component can be measured continuously for one or more cycles of a compressor of the refrigerator and / or freezer, and on the basis of the measured values, at least one steady state and / or at least one change in an operating condition can be detected.

[0105] A method according to the invention and / or a process for adapting and / or optimizing the setting of the at least one component with respect to the at least one parameter to reduce the energy consumption can be carried out automatically as a result of an event preferably detected by a control unit of the refrigerator and / or freezer, in particular a detected steady state or change in an operating condition and / or at predetermined time intervals.

[0106] A method according to the invention and / or a process for adapting and / or optimising the setting of the at least one component with regard to the at least one parameter in order to reduce the energy consumption can be aborted or interrupted if, during the ongoing method or process, a fault in the method or process has been detected by a control unit of the refrigerator and / or freezer, and a time for re-executing the process, preferably at night or when no fault is to be expected (such as during holidays, etc.), can be determined automatically.

[0107] A method according to the invention can further comprise the step of: issuing a notification, preferably by means of a communication unit, to an external terminal device when it has been detected, preferably by means of a control unit of the refrigerator and / or freezer, that the refrigerator and / or freezer is in an energetically optimal operating state.

[0108] A method according to the invention can further comprise the step of: activating and / or deactivating an execution of the method and / or a process for adapting and / or optimizing the setting of the at least one component to reduce energy consumption for a specific period of time, preferably by making an input at an input unit, and / or resetting a setting of the at least one component with regard to the at least one parameter to an initial setting, preferably by making an input at the input unit.

[0109] A method according to the invention can further comprise the step of measuring an energy consumption of a first component, preferably a compressor, and automatically adjusting and / or optimizing at least one setting of the first component and a plurality of other components, preferably fans, with regard to one or more parameters for reducing the energy consumption, wherein data regarding an energy consumption of the plurality of other components is read from a database.

[0110] It should be noted here that the terms "a" and "an" do not necessarily refer to exactly one of the elements, although this is a possible interpretation, but can also refer to a plurality of the elements. Likewise, the use of the plural also includes the presence of the element in question in the singular, and conversely, the singular also encompasses several of the elements in question.

[0111] Furthermore, all features of the invention described herein may be combined with one another as desired or claimed in isolation from one another.

[0112] Further details and advantages of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing.

[0113] They show: Figure 1: an exemplary diagram of an iterative optimization process according to the invention, in which a global optimum is identified. Fig. 2: an exemplary diagram of an iterative optimization process according to the invention, in which two global optima are identified with respect to different optimization parameters. Fig. 3: illustrates an optimization algorithm according to the invention according to a first variant. Fig. 4: illustrates an optimization algorithm according to the invention according to a second variant. Fig. 5: a schematic view of an evaporator sensor and an air sensor on a no-frost evaporator module. Fig. 6: a representation to clarify the determination of the lower and upper limits of the opening position of the MEV for the optimization process.7: Another illustration to illustrate the iterative determination of the lower and upper limits of the opening position of the MEV for the optimization process, as well as a representation of the optimal opening position of the MEV.

[0114] In Fig. 1 and 2 It is shown by way of example how a control unit designed according to the invention changes the parameter settings step by step in order to achieve an optimum.

[0115] In the Fig. 1 In the example shown, the optimum is at a different point than the end of the algorithm, namely at the beginning of the time period under consideration. In this case, it is advantageous to examine the entire time period for a global optimum in order to correctly identify it.

[0116] As in Fig. 2 As shown, during the specific time period in which the setting of the micro expansion valve (MEV) and a fan (e.g. the compressor fan "Fan_cond") is varied, different optima can occur, e.g. with regard to different parameters.

[0117] In Fig. 2 An energetic optimum (3.2% consumption reduction) and an acoustic optimum (7.5 V is quieter than the series value of 8.5 V) are shown as examples.

[0118] In such a case, optimization can be carried out according to the invention in such a way that the operation of the device is optimized energetically (e.g., based on the power sensor of the compressor inverter) and / or acoustically (e.g., based on fan voltage or an acceleration sensor on the compressor inverter, etc.). Examples of measured values ​​include power (e.g., if energy consumption is to be reduced) or noise emissions (e.g., if particularly quiet operation is desired), a time, duration, a date, a speed, a voltage, an acceleration, an air pressure, an air humidity, a light intensity, a detected door opening of the device, or any combination thereof.

[0119] In Fig. 3 a variant of the optimization according to the invention is shown.

[0120] An indefinite number of measurements are performed. Each measurement is compared with the previous value and the optimum achieved so far, and the desired value is iteratively improved step by step until an optimum is reached. The duration is determined by the number of optimizing components, their order, and the starting point of the algorithm.

[0121] Optionally, the starting point of a calculation method can be set according to Fig. 4 be determined approximately, so that the number of measurements required can be reduced.

[0122] In Fig. 3 The process is illustrated for two components (compressor and compressor fan "Fan_cond"), and the optimization is carried out in this example with the goal of an energetic optimum. Preferably, as in Fig. 1 This ensures that an optimum is observed globally or locally, not just step by step. This means that at the end of the optimization algorithm, a check must be made to determine whether the final value is actually the optimum, or whether inappropriate steady-state criteria, tolerance specifications, or other inaccuracies have distorted the "path" to the optimum.

[0123] In Fig. 4 the procedure of an alternative optimization algorithm is shown.

[0124] The parameter settings are chosen within reasonable limits and a fixed number of measurements are carried out within these limits (In Fig.4 e.g. nine measurements with the optimization goal of energy consumption), the result of which is the value to be optimized.

[0125] In other words, a fixed or predetermined number of measurements are carried out at predetermined points in a parameter coordinate system and the optimum parameter settings are calculated using a mathematical model.

[0126] However, this is different from the variant from Fig. 3 The order of measurements is preferably not fixed. The goal is to cover primarily or exclusively the possible ranges of parameter settings. Following the measurements, the desired global or local optimum is calculated using a mathematical model, and the parameters are then adjusted as close as possible to this optimum.

[0127] There is also the possibility to change the variants of Figuren 3 and 4 To combine them, for example, the variant of Fig. 4 be carried out to find the ideal starting points, so that the variant from Fig. 3 then you can achieve the optimum in just a few steps.

[0128] In general, the parameter optimization process should preferably be performed at times when the device is running at optimal steady state without door openings or other changes in environmental influences, for example, at night. If a door is opened during the optimization procedure, the procedure can be aborted and repeated at a different time (e.g., at night).

[0129] Fig. 5 shows an evaporator no-frost module with the reference numeral 100, 110 an evaporator sensor, i.e., a sensor for detecting the evaporator temperature, which is arranged directly on the evaporator, and 120 an air temperature sensor. The latter measures the air temperature not directly on the evaporator, but at a distance from it.

[0130] In the context of the present invention, the cooling curve, ie the temperature profile of the temperature value 110 measured with the evaporator sensor 110, allows conclusions to be drawn which are essential in the context of optimizing the energy consumption of the device.

[0131] Fig. 6 shows the course of the temperature measured with the evaporator sensor over time at different opening positions of the MEV, which are shown here below the graph with 100 to 120. The measured evaporator temperature is shown on the left ordinate, the opening position of the MEV on the right ordinate, and time on the abscissa.

[0132] An initial value and an end value for the opening position of the MEV are determined by comparing the evaporator temperature at the start (TE,Start ) and at the end (TE,End ) of a cycle. The opening position of the MEV is increased by a certain value every five minutes, as defined by the step-like function in Fig. 6 is shown. The evaporator temperature curve is marked with V.

[0133] The lower limit is defined as TE,Start - ΔTs ≥ TE,End . The final temperature must therefore be a certain amount below the starting temperature.

[0134] The upper limit is defined as TE,Start + ΔTs ≤ TE,End .The final temperature must therefore not be higher than the starting temperature by a certain amount.

[0135] ΔTs is preferably defined as a constant value, for example as a value of 0.3 K.

[0136] In the example according to Fig. 6 the above requirements are met between an opening position of the MEV of 100 and 120.

[0137] Fig. 7 a) bis c) shows the evaporator temperature on the left ordinate, the time on the abscissa and the opening position of the MEV on the right ordinate.

[0138] The evaporator temperature curve is marked with V.

[0139] In each of the intervals shown, the compressor runs at the same power or speed.

[0140] The vertical lines indicate the switching on of the compressor and the simultaneous opening of the MEV, as well as the switching off of the compressor and the simultaneous closing of the MEV. In the areas in between, the compressor runs at a constant speed (horizontal lines).

[0141] This results in the Fig. 7 The repeating box-like structure shown. Between each two of these boxes, the compressor is switched off and the MEV is closed.

[0142] In Fig. 7 a the MEV is open in the time interval A with the value 98, in the time interval B with the value 102, in the time interval C with the value 109, in the time interval D with the value 116 and in the time interval E with the value 123. The larger the value, the more the MEV is open for the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator.

[0143] Out of Fig. 7 a shows that the lowest evaporator temperature is measured in the interval C.

[0144] In a further subsequent cycle, this is repeated, but for the purpose of determining the optimum, the range of values ​​for the opening of the MEV is compared to Fig. 7 a reduced on both sides.

[0145] This results from Fig. 7 b. In this case, as shown in the figure, the MEV opening values ​​are set to 102, 106, 110, 114, and 118, with the lowest evaporator temperature being obtained at an MEV opening value of 110.

[0146] The interval from Fig. 7 b will now be further reduced, as can be seen from Fig. 7 c emerges.

[0147] In Fig. 7 c The opening values ​​of the MEV are 106, 108, 110 and 112. Fig. 7 c It turns out that the lowest evaporator temperatures are obtained at values ​​of 108 and 110.

[0148] This MEV setting routine can be repeated automatically by the device at specific times or when a specific event occurs, such as after a door is opened, after a power failure or after the Nofrost evaporator has defrosted.

[0149] The routine is in Fig. 7 shown for an outside temperature of 30 °C. It is conceivable that a different outside temperature would result in a different optimal value for the opening position of the MEV.

Claims

1. A refrigerator and / or freezer having at least one component adjustable with respect to at least one parameter and a control unit designed to measure an operating parameter of the refrigerator and / or freezer and / or the at least one component and to automatically adapt and / or optimize a setting of the at least one component with respect to the at least one parameter such that the setting corresponds to a global or local optimum detected within a specific time period.

2. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 1, characterized in that Within the specific time period, the operating parameters are measured several times in an iterative process and the setting is adjusted several times, whereupon the control unit retrospectively identifies a global or local optimum indicated by the measured values.

3. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe operating parameters are measured a predetermined number of times within a specific time period and the control unit is designed to use a mathematical model to determine a global or local optimum and the associated settings of the operating parameters from the measured values.

4. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the global or local optimum is identified with regard to at least two operating parameters, preferably with regard to energy consumption and noise emission.

5. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 4, characterized in thatthe at least two operating parameters with respect to which the global or local optimum is identified can be set by a user by means of an input unit external to the device or integrated in the device and / or a relative weighting of the at least two operating parameters with respect to which the global or local optimum is identified can be set by a user by means of an input unit external to the device or integrated in the device.

6. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the functionality of the control unit runs at least partially outside the refrigerator and / or freezer, for example in the cloud or on an external computer or server.

7. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thata plurality of components adjustable with respect to at least one parameter, preferably a plurality of parameters, are present, and the control unit is designed to systematically adapt and / or optimise at least one setting for a plurality of components one after the other and / or a plurality of settings with respect to different parameters for one component at a time for a specific time period and then to record a global or local optimum of the settings within the specific time period, and / or that the control unit is designed to adapt a setting of at least one component with respect to at least one parameter from one active cycle of a compressor of the refrigerator and / or freezer to the next active cycle of the compressor and / or within an active cycle of the compressor.

8. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe control unit is designed to adapt at least one setting of at least one component with respect to at least one of the following parameters: a) compressor speed of at least one compressor; b) degree of opening of at least one valve, in particular an expansion valve, in particular a micro-expansion valve in the refrigerant circuit upstream of the evaporator; c) fan speed of at least one fan, preferably at the evaporator and / or condenser and d) running time of a cooling application to a cooling part and / or a freezing part and preferably a subsequent downtime of a compressor.

9. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe control unit or at least one functional unit thereof, which is designed to measure an operating parameter of the refrigerator and / or freezer and / or of the at least one component, is implemented internally in the device, preferably on a main electronics unit, or externally in the device, for example as an external device capable of communication with the refrigerator and / or freezer, and / or that the control unit is designed to abort or interrupt a process for adapting and / or optimising the setting of the at least one component with regard to the at least one parameter if a fault in the process has been detected by the control unit during the ongoing process, and to automatically determine a time for resuming the process, preferably at night.

10. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatFurthermore, a communication unit is provided which is designed to output a notification, preferably to an external terminal, when the control unit has detected at a time that the refrigerator and / or freezer is in an operating state which corresponds to a global or local optimum.

11. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Furthermore, an input unit is provided by means of which the execution of a process for adapting and / or optimizing the setting of the at least one component can be activated or deactivated for a specific period of time and / or by means of which the setting of the at least one component with regard to the at least one parameter can be reset to an initial setting.

12. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe component is an expansion valve that can be adjusted to several opening positions and that the measured operating parameter is the evaporator temperature and that the control unit is designed to set the opening position of the expansion valve for the purpose of optimization depending on the measured evaporator temperature, wherein it is preferably provided that the control unit is designed to set only the opening position of the expansion valve as part of the optimization and not to change the operating parameters of all other components.

13. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 12, characterized in thatthe control unit is designed to carry out several iterations at different opening positions of the expansion valve as part of the optimization and that an iteration is terminated when first a drop in the evaporator temperature and then a rise in the evaporator temperature is measured again.

14. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to one of claims 12 to 13, characterized in thatthe control unit is designed to determine the opening position of the expansion valve as optimal at which the lowest evaporator temperature and / or the greatest gradient of reduction in the evaporator temperature and / or the longest phase of constant evaporator temperature during a period in which the compressor is switched on and / or the lowest evaporator temperature at the time of switching off the compressor was measured or calculated or when a switch-off condition for the compressor is reached, in particular when the target temperature in the cooled interior or target running time of the compressor is reached.

15. Refrigerator and / or freezer according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in thatthe opening positions of the expansion valve set in the several iterations include both opening positions of the expansion valve that are larger than the opening position of the expansion valve determined as optimal and those that are smaller than the opening position of the expansion valve determined as optimal.

16. Method for optimizing at least one operating parameter of a refrigerator and / or freezer having at least one component to a global or local optimum identifiable within a specific time period, comprising the steps of: measuring an operating parameter of the refrigerator and / or freezer and / or of the at least one component and automatically adjusting at least one setting of the at least one component with respect to the operating parameter such that the setting corresponds to a global or local optimum detected within a specific time period.

17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that within the specific time period, the operating parameter is measured several times and the setting is adjusted several times in an iterative process, whereupon a global or local optimum indicated by the measured values ​​is retrospectively identified by a control unit, wherein it is preferably provided that within the specific time period the operating parameter is measured for a predetermined number of times and the control unit is designed to determine a global or local optimum and the associated settings with regard to the at least one operating parameter from the measured values ​​by means of a mathematical model.

18. Method according to one of claims 16 to 17, characterized in thatthe global or local optimum is identified with regard to at least two operating parameters, preferably with regard to energy consumption and noise emission, and / or that the at least two operating parameters with regard to which the global or local optimum is identified can be set or are set by a user by means of an input unit external to the device or integrated in the device and / or a relative weighting of the at least two operating parameters with regard to which the global or local optimum is identified can be set or is set by a user by means of an input unit external to the device or integrated in the device.

19. Method according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in thatthe method is carried out at least partially or completely by a control unit outside the refrigerator and / or freezer, for example in the cloud or on an external computer or server or a mobile device.

20. Method according to one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that several components are present which can be adjusted with respect to at least one parameter, preferably several parameters, and systematically at least one setting for several components one after the other and / or several settings with respect to different parameters for each component are adjusted and / or optimized for a specific time period, whereupon the global or local optimum of the settings within the specific time period is recorded retrospectively.

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