Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. The grow module defines a root chamber and a plurality of apertures for positioning a root end of the plant pod in the root chamber. A resonator may be positioned on each plant pod or at each of the plurality of apertures for generating a unique sound signature when a specific plant pod is inserted into a specific aperture. A detection device, such as a microphone, measures the sound waves generated by the resonator and a controller determines a location and/or a type of the plant pod based on the unique sound signature.

Abstract: An indoor gardening appliance includes a liner defining a grow chamber and a grow module mounted within the grow chamber for receiving a plurality of plant pods. A nutrient dosing system is positioned within a root chamber and includes a plurality of nozzles. A nutrient cartridge and a water supply are fluidly coupled to a dilution tank and are independently regulated to control the flow rate of nutrients and water that are mixed to create a flow of diluted nutrient mixture. A pump system selectively discharges the flow of diluted nutrient mixture to desired locations within the root chamber.

Abstract: A method of operating a refrigerator, as provided herein, may include initiating a first image capture sequence at a camera module and identifying a first stored item based on a first two-dimensional image of the first image capture sequence. The method may further include determining an internal location of the first stored item within a chilled chamber or generating an expanded image of the first stored item and a second stored item spaced apart from the first stored item.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance or a variable shelf assembly, as provided herein, may include a selectively-sealed shelf tube, a support piston, a shelving bracket, a first valve, and a second valve. The selectively-sealed shelf tube may define a fluid inlet to receive water therethrough and a fluid outlet to exhaust water therethrough. The support piston may be slidably disposed within the selectively-sealed shelf tube to move between a top position and a base position according to a volume of water within the selectively-sealed shelf tube. The shelving bracket may be fixed to the support piston to move therewith. The first valve may be upstream from the fluid inlet to selectively permit water thereto. The second valve may be downstream from the fluid outlet to selectively permit water from the variable shelf assembly.

Abstract: A method for forming a caloric regenerator includes depositing layers of additive material. The additive material includes a caloric material. The method also includes joining the layers of additive material to one another. After joining the layers of additive material, the caloric regenerator includes a regenerator body that extends longitudinally between a hot end portion and a cold end portion. A working fluid is flowable through the regenerator body between the hot and cold end portions of the regenerator body. The layers of additive material are deposited such that one or more of a cross-sectional area of the regenerator body, a void fraction of the regenerator body, a characteristic size of the caloric material, and a composition of the caloric material varies along a length of the regenerator body between the hot and cold end portions of the regenerator body.

Abstract: A method for operating an elasto-caloric heat pump includes running the elasto-caloric heat pump with a pre-strain in an elasto-caloric stage of the elasto-caloric heat pump set to an initial pre-strain setting, and gradually shifting the pre-strain in the elasto-caloric stage of the elasto-caloric heat pump set away from the initial pre-strain setting and towards a final pre-strain setting over a time interval.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a fresh food working fluid circuit that couples a hot side heat exchanger, a fresh food cold side heat exchanger and a fresh food regenerator. A first pair of diverter valves and a hot side reservoir are coupled to the fresh food working fluid circuit. The hot side reservoir is positioned below one or both of the first pair of diverter valves. A freezer working fluid circuit couples a freezer cold side heat exchanger and a freezer regenerator. A second pair of diverter valves and a fresh food cold side reservoir are coupled to the freezer working fluid circuit. The fresh food cold side reservoir is positioned below one or both of the second pair of diverter valves. A liquid-liquid heat exchanger is also coupled to the fresh food working fluid circuit.

Abstract: A refrigerator, including a sealed refrigeration system, is provided herein. The sealed refrigeration system may include a compressor, a phase separator, and a rotatable heat exchanger. The phase separator may be in fluid communication with the compressor and include a separator body defining an inner face and an outer face. The inner face may define a refrigerant cavity. The outer face may be directed away from the refrigerant cavity opposite the inner face. The rotatable heat exchanger may include a thermally conductive body and a plurality of spaced planar fins. The thermally conductive body may be positioned about the outer face along a rotation axis. The planar fins may extend from the thermally conductive body in a radial direction away from the phase separator. The plurality of spaced planar fins may define an axial intake channel extending parallel to the rotation axis through one or more planar fins.

Abstract: A refrigerator, including a sealed refrigeration system, is provided herein. The sealed refrigeration system may include a compressor, a phase separator, and a rotatable heat exchanger. The compressor may compress a refrigerant fluid through the sealed refrigeration system. The phase separator may be in fluid communication with the compressor. The phase separator may include a separator body defining an inner face and an outer face. The inner face may define a refrigerant cavity within the phase separator body. The outer face may be directed away from the refrigerant cavity opposite the inner face. The rotatable heat exchanger may include a thermally conductive body defining a dynamic shear surface directed toward the outer face of the separator body. Moreover, a set fluid gap may be defined between the dynamic shear surface and the outer face.

Abstract: A magneto-caloric thermal diode assembly includes a magneto-caloric cylinder. Each of a plurality of thermal stages includes a plurality of magnets and a non-magnetic ring. The plurality of magnets is distributed along a circumferential direction within the non-magnetic ring in each of the plurality of thermal stages. A variable speed motor is coupled to one of the magneto-caloric cylinder and the plurality of thermal stages. The variable speed motor is operable to rotate the one of the magneto-caloric cylinder and the plurality of thermal stages relative to the other of the magneto-caloric cylinder and the plurality of thermal stages.

Abstract: A caloric heat pump includes a plurality of elasto-caloric stages. The plurality of elasto-caloric stages is distributed between along an axial direction within a chamber of a housing. Each elasto-caloric stage includes a hub, a rim and a plurality of elasto-caloric spokes. The plurality of elasto-caloric spokes extend between the hub and the rim along a radial direction. The plurality of elasto-caloric stages is rotatable about the axial direction.

Abstract: A rotating heat carrier system includes a barrier having a first side portion and a second side portion. A plurality of disks is mounted to a shaft. A motor is coupled to the shaft. The motor is operable to rotate the shaft and the plurality of disks. The plurality of disks is at least partially positioned within the barrier. A first portion of each of the plurality of disks extends along a radial direction away from the first side portion of the barrier. A second portion of each of the plurality of disks extends along the radial direction away from the second side portion of the barrier.

Abstract: A magneto-caloric thermal diode assembly includes a magneto-caloric regenerator with a plurality of magneto-caloric stages. Each of the plurality of magneto-caloric stages has a respective Curie temperature. Each of the plurality of magneto-caloric stages also has a stack of magneto-caloric material blocks and metal foil layers distributed sequentially along an axial direction in the order of magneto-caloric material block then metal foil layer.

Abstract: A method for operating a refrigerator appliance, as provided herein, may include initiating an image capture sequence at a camera module. The image capture sequence may include a first two-dimensional image captured at the camera module and a second two-dimensional image captured at the camera module subsequent to the first two-dimensional image. The method may further include assigning an image score to the first two-dimensional image according to a predetermined grading scale, and assigning an image score to the second two-dimensional image according to the predetermined grading scale. The method may still further include comparing the image scores of the first and second two-dimensional images, and presenting one of the first and second two-dimensional images on a digital display based on comparing the image scores.

Abstract: A heat pump, as provided herein, may include a hot side heat exchanger, a cold side heat exchanger, a pump, and a caloric heat pump. The caloric heat pump may include a regenerator housing, a plurality of stages, and a field generator. The regenerator housing may extend along an axial direction between a first end portion of the regenerator housing and a second end portion of the regenerator housing. The plurality of stages may be arranged sequentially along the axial direction from the first end portion to the second end portion. The plurality of stages may be arranged so that caloric temperature peaks of the plurality of stages increase along the axial direction according to a predetermined, non-linear curve. The field generator may be positioned adjacent to the plurality of stages to subject the plurality of stages to a variable field generated by the field generator.

Abstract: A consumer appliance is provided herein. The consumer appliance may include a cabinet, an exterior panel, an electromechanical driver, an electromechanical receiver, and a controller. The cabinet may define an internal chamber. The exterior panel may be mounted to the cabinet. The electromechanical driver may be fixed to the exterior panel to generate a soundwave therefrom. The electromechanical receiver may be mounted within the cabinet. The controller may be configured to initiate a noise canceling operation. The noise canceling operation may include receiving a noise input signal at the electromechanical receiver and initiating an anti-noise wave at the electromechanical driver through the exterior panel based on the received noise input signal.

Abstract: A rotating heat carrier system includes a barrier having a first side portion and a second side portion. A plurality of disks is mounted to a shaft. A motor is coupled to the shaft. The motor is operable to rotate the shaft and the plurality of disks. The plurality of disks is at least partially positioned within the barrier. A first portion of each of the plurality of disks extends along a radial direction away from the first side portion of the barrier. A second portion of each of the plurality of disks extends along the radial direction away from the second side portion of the barrier.

Abstract: A caloric regenerator system includes a flow body that defines a plurality of cold side channels, a plurality of hot side channels and a central passage. A port body is received within the central passage of the flow body such that the flow body is rotatable relative to the port body. The port body defines a hot side port and a cold side port. A width of the hot side port is less than a width of the cold side port. An annular caloric regenerator is in flow communication with the plurality of cold side channels and the plurality of hot side channels such that a heat transfer fluid is flowable into the annular caloric regenerator through the plurality of cold side channels and out of the annular caloric regenerator through the plurality of hot side channels.

Abstract: A mechano-caloric stage includes an elongated outer sleeve. An elongated inner sleeve is disposed within the elongated outer sleeve. A pair of pistons is received within the elongated inner sleeve. Each of the pair of pistons is positioned at a respective end of the elongated inner sleeve. The pair of pistons are moveable relative to the elongated inner sleeve. A mechano-caloric material is disposed within the elongated inner sleeve between the pair of pistons. The mechano-caloric material is compressible between the pair of pistons.

Abstract: A method for operating a caloric heat pump system includes changing a cycle frequency at which a field of a field generator is applied to caloric material in the caloric heat pump system. The method also includes adjusting a speed of a hot side fan in response to the cycle frequency change and adjusting a speed of a cold side fan in response to the cycle frequency change. A respective one of three separate control loops changes the cycle frequency, adjusts the speed of the hot side fan, and adjusts the speed of the cold side fan.