Patent ID: 11885544
Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Field: Thermal processes and apparatus (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 0:
1. An appliance, comprising:
a variable speed compressor;
a first evaporator operably coupled to the variable speed compressor;
a second evaporator operably coupled in series to the first evaporator;
a thermal exchange media that changes between a liquid state and a gaseous state;
an electronic expansion valve in fluid communication to the second evaporator and configured to regulate a flow of the thermal exchange media from the first evaporator to the second evaporator, the electronic expansion valve being operable in a partially open state and is configured to selectively open and close based on a percentage of the thermal exchange media that is in the liquid state and the gaseous state as the thermal exchange media enters the electronic expansion valve in the liquid state and the gaseous state;
a pressure regulator operably and directly coupled to the electronic expansion valve via a single conduit, wherein the pressure regulator is a flash chamber that separates the thermal exchange media in the gaseous state from the thermal exchange media in the liquid state, and wherein the pressure regulator directs the thermal exchange media in the gaseous state and the liquid state to the electronic expansion valve; and
a controller configured to regulate the electronic expansion valve, wherein the controller is configured to selectively control the electronic expansion valve to regulate superheating of the thermal exchange media, wherein all of the thermal exchange media recirculates sequentially, and in series, through each of the variable speed compressor, the first evaporator, the pressure regulator, the electronic expansion valve and the second evaporator.