This invention relates to a refrigeration device, in particular the body of such a refrigeration device.
Normally a condenser, which pumps refrigerant under high pressure, is mounted on the exterior of the rear wall, so that it is condensed therein and heat released by the condensation is discharged into the surroundings of the refrigeration device. During operation the liquefier is therefore one of the warmest parts of the refrigeration device, and its close proximity to the rear wall of the body means that some of the heat discharged from it returns to the interior of the refrigeration device through the insulation layer of the rear wall.
To reduce the energy consumption of refrigeration devices considerable effort has been made in recent years to improve the quality of thermal insulation. Improved insulation can of course be achieved by increasing the thickness of the insulation layer, but with predetermined exterior dimensions of the refrigeration device body this results in losses of useful interior volume.
The object of the invention is to indicate a refrigeration device in which the energy consumption can be further reduced by simple means or in which, at a given energy consumption, a particularly favorable ratio of interior volume to exterior dimensions can be achieved.
The invention is based on the fact that as the quality of the insulation of the refrigeration device improves, the average thermal power to be emitted by the condenser decreases. Whilst refrigeration devices of prior art required a condenser extending over the entire surface of the rear wall, modern, well insulated devices are provided with a condenser which only covers part of the rear side of the body. On the rear side of the body there are regions which differ in terms of their coefficient of thermal conductivity: whilst in a central zone of the rear wall the shortest distance between the surrounding area and the interior runs perpendicular to the wall surface and its length is exactly equal to the wall thickness, there are also edge zones of the rear wall behind which can be found not the interior, but a lateral wall, viewed from the direction of the depth of the body. The shortest distance from these edge zones through the insulation layer to the interior does not therefore run perpendicular to the outer surface of the rear wall, and is longer than the thickness of the insulation layer. According to the invention a refrigeration device is therefore proposed in which the condenser does not extend over the entire rear wall of the body but rather extends over only part of its surface, and in doing so covers only the well insulated edge zones but leads a less well insulated central zone uncovered.
Although a condenser is conceivable which covers opposing edge zones of the rear wall and leaves free an intervening central zone, a condenser which extends over exactly one of the edge zones is preferred because of the simpler structure.
In the central zone not covered by the condenser the exterior of the rear wall is preferably designed so that it projects from it. Such a projection may result in an increase in the thickness of the insulation layer in the central zone, but a recess which increases the interior may also be formed on the interior of the rear wall opposite the projection.
The condenser is preferably received in a channel which extends throughout the height of the rear side, thereby promoting efficient ventilation of the condenser in a flue effect.
This channel may be open at the edge, particularly if the refrigeration device is a built-in device in which, when mounted, walls of a furniture recess delimit the channel. However, an elongated shell element may also be mounted on the rear wall to delimit the channel on sides facing away from the rear wall.
To increase the ventilation efficiency of the condenser a forced ventilation device may be provided which, together with a compressor, may suitably be accommodated in a base unit of the body.
In the latter case the shell element extends in one or a plurality of parts from the forced ventilation device to the condenser.
Further features and advantages of the invention are evident from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached figures, in which:
In the design shown in
As shown in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2004 048 476.7 | Oct 2004 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP05/54872 | 9/28/2005 | WO | 3/29/2007 |