Abstract: A refrigerator appliance having a defrost chamber is provided herein. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet defining a chilled chamber, a defrost drawer housing, and a pair of electromagnetic electrodes. The defrost drawer housing may be mounted within the chilled chamber and define the defrost chamber for the receipt of a food item. The pair of electromagnetic electrodes may be spaced apart along a vertical direction within the drawer housing. Each electromagnetic electrode may include a first heating ring and a second heating ring that is larger than the first heating ring. Each electromagnetic electrode may also include a conductive path and an electrical restrictor element. The conductive path may extend between the first heating ring and the second heating ring. The electrical restrictor element may be coupled to the conductive path and selectively permit a current therethrough.

Abstract: A microchannel condenser includes a first header, the first header including a body defining an interior and further defining an inlet bore and a first outlet bore, and a second header spaced apart from the first header, the second header including a body defining an interior and further defining a second outlet bore. The microchannel condenser further includes a conduit in fluid communication with the second outlet bore. The microchannel condenser further includes a plurality of tubes extending between the first header and the second header, each of the plurality of tubes defining a plurality of microchannels, each of the plurality of microchannels in fluid communication with the interior of the first header and the interior of the second header, each of the plurality of microchannels having a maximum cross-sectional width of less than or equal to 5 millimeters.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a freezer chamber divided into multiple compartments, such as e.g., a first compartment and a second compartment. The refrigerator appliance includes features for conditioning the compartments. In particular, the refrigerator appliance includes features for selectively adjusting the temperature within one of the compartments while maintaining the temperature within the other compartment(s).

Abstract: A packaged terminal air conditioner unit is provided. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit includes a casing. A compressor, an interior coil, an exterior coil and a reversing valve are positioned within the casing. The reversing valve is configured for selectively reversing a flow direction of compressed refrigerant from the compressor. The packaged terminal air conditioner also includes at least one ejector for combining a stream of refrigerant from a primary loop with a stream of refrigerant from an auxiliary cooling loop, thereby improving system efficiency.

Abstract: A duct system for a refrigerator appliance is provided. A fresh food supply duct provides fluid communication between an evaporator chamber and a fresh food chamber. A convertible chamber supply and return duct each provide fluid communication between the evaporator chamber and a convertible chamber. A dual damper is operably coupled to the convertible chamber supply and return duct for selectively and simultaneously opening or closing the convertible chamber supply duct and the convertible chamber return duct.

Abstract: The present invention provides a binary refrigerant mixture that can be used in single or dual evaporator refrigeration systems to provide for efficient cooling without the use of a high global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant such as R-134a and that is less flammable than a hydrocarbon refrigerant such as R-600 (n-butane) or R-600a (isobutane). Further, the binary refrigerant mixture can be classified as an A2 refrigerant in that it has a heat of combustion of less than 19 kilojoules per kilogram. In addition, the binary refrigerant mixture has a comparable energy efficiency when compared to R-134a and can be used in refrigeration systems designed for use with R-600 or R-600a refrigerants without having to change their design (i.e., without having to change the compressor design).

Abstract: A refrigeration heating assembly and method of operation are generally provided herein. The heating assembly may include an inner glass tube, a resistive heating element, an outer glass tube, a first end cap, a second end cap, and a sensor assembly. The inner glass tube may include a continuous inner wall defining a central passage. The resistive heating element may be disposed within the central passage. The outer glass tube may include a continuous outer wall disposed about the inner glass tube. A radial gap may be defined between the glass tubes. The first end cap may be positioned on the outer glass tube and the inner glass tube at a first end. The second end cap may be positioned on the outer glass tube and the inner glass tube at a second end. The sensor assembly may be disposed in fluid communication with the radial gap.

Abstract: The present invention provides a ternary natural refrigerant mixture containing R-600a (isobutane), R-600 (isobutane), and R-290 (propane) that can be used in single or dual evaporator refrigeration systems to provide for more energy efficient cooling than a single refrigerant such as R-134a without having to change the compressor design, which can add to manufacturing costs. For example, the ternary natural refrigerant mixture can be used in a refrigeration system that uses dual evaporators to provide more efficient cooling. The refrigeration system can be used in, e.g., a refrigerator having a fresh food compartment and a frozen food compartment to provide separate cooling to each compartment simultaneously.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is provided having a fresh food chamber, a convertible chamber, and a freezer chamber. A fan urges a flow of cooled air from an evaporator chamber into a freezer supply duct and a secondary supply duct. A damper housing defines an inlet in fluid communication with the secondary supply duct, a first outlet in fluid communication with the convertible chamber, and a second outlet in fluid communication with the fresh food chamber. A rotary damper is mounted within the damper housing and is selectively rotated to block the flow of cooling air or to supply the flow of cooling air to one or both of the convertible chamber and the fresh food chamber.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is provided including a freezer chamber divided into a first compartment and a second compartment by a removable mullion. A refrigeration system includes a single evaporator coil having a first evaporator section in series with a second evaporator section. The first evaporator section is positioned in the first freezer compartment to maintain the temperature in that compartment at a fixed, low temperature (e.g., 0 ° F.). The second evaporator section is positioned in the second freezer compartment which is a “convertible” compartment capable of maintaining temperatures between the freezer and fresh food compartment temperatures (e.g., between about 0 ° F. and 37 ° F.).

Abstract: An ice maker includes a plurality of fingers extending into a tub. A manifold has a plurality of outlets. The plurality of outlets is positioned below the plurality of fingers within the tub. A multi-speed pump is operable to flow liquid water from a reservoir to the manifold such that the liquid water exits the manifold at each outlet of the plurality of outlets and flows upwardly towards the plurality of fingers. A controller is configured for changing a speed of the multi-speed pump during an ice making cycle of the ice maker.

Abstract: An evaporator for an appliance includes a conduit extending between an inlet and an outlet. The conduit has a diameter. The diameter of the conduit is less than three-eighths of an inch. A vapor bypass is mounted to the conduit such that the vapor bypass extends between the inlet of the conduit and the outlet of the conduit. The vapor bypass has a diameter. The diameter of the vapor bypass is less than the diameter of the conduit.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber and a freezer chamber below the fresh food chamber. The refrigerator appliance further includes an ice maker disposed within the cabinet outside of the freezer chamber and proximate to the fresh food chamber. The ice maker is in thermal communication with a freezer evaporator via a fan, a supply duct, and a return duct. The ice maker includes a harvest heater and the freezer evaporator is deactivated while the harvest heater is active.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance is generally provided herein. The refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet, a sealed system, and an electrical heater. The cabinet may define a chilled chamber. The sealed system may include an evaporator that is disposed at the chilled chamber. The electrical heater may be positioned adjacent the evaporator. The electrical heater may include a resistive wire, a sheath disposed about the resistive wire from a first end portion to a second end portion, and an oxidation layer formed on the sheath from the first end portion to the second end portion.

Abstract: A refrigeration system is provided which utilizes an electrochemical compressor to circulate a refrigerant through a condenser and an evaporator. The refrigerant is a mixed refrigerant that includes a working fluid and an electrochemically active fluid. The working fluid includes a mixture of water and a carbohydrate liquid to increase the vapor pressure of the refrigerant and enable more efficient operation of the refrigeration system.

Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a user interface, an environmental control system, a plurality of compartments disposed within the food storage chamber, each compartment of the plurality of compartments defining a food storage sub-chamber, at least one of the food storage sub-chambers having independently controlled environmental conditions, the independently controlled environmental conditions of the at least one food storage sub-chamber comprising temperature and humidity, at least one sensor associated with each food storage sub-chamber having independently controlled environmental conditions, and a controller in operative communication with the user interface, the environmental control system, and the at least one sensor, the controller operable to identify a food item, determine preferred environmental conditions for storage of the identified food item, and provide an indication of which of the food storage sub-chambers most closely matches the determined preferred storage conditions.

Abstract: A packaged terminal air conditioner unit is provided. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit includes a casing. A compressor, an interior coil, an exterior coil and a reversing valve are positioned within the casing. The reversing valve is configured for selectively reversing a flow direction of compressed refrigerant from the compressor. The packaged terminal air conditioner also includes at least one phase separator and at least one ejector.

Abstract: A slow cooker appliance and methods of operation are provided. The slow cooker appliance may include a casing, a heating element, a cooking utensil, and a sealed refrigeration system for circulating a refrigerant. The casing may define a utensil chamber. The heating element may be mounted within the casing proximate to the utensil chamber. The cooking utensil may be received within the utensil chamber. The sealed refrigeration system may include an evaporator and a compressor. The evaporator may be in conductive thermal engagement with the cooking utensil. The compressor may be positioned downstream from the evaporator to compress refrigerant from the evaporator.

Abstract: A packaged terminal air conditioner unit is provided. The packaged terminal air conditioner unit includes a casing. A compressor, an interior coil, an exterior coil and a reversing valve are positioned within the casing. The reversing valve is configured for selectively reversing a flow direction of compressed refrigerant from the compressor. The packaged terminal air conditioner also includes at least one ejector for combining a stream of refrigerant from a primary loop with a stream of refrigerant from an auxiliary cooling loop, thereby improving system efficiency.

Abstract: Air conditioner units and operating methods are provided. A unit includes an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, and a compressor. The unit further includes a bulkhead disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The unit further includes a vent aperture defined in the bulkhead. The unit further includes a dehumidification system which includes an evaporator, a condenser, and an auxiliary compressor in fluid communication with the evaporator and the condenser. The unit further includes a humidity sensor disposed within the outdoor portion, and a controller in communication with the compressor, the auxiliary compressor and the humidity sensor. The controller is configured to deactivate the auxiliary compressor when the compressor is active and an outdoor humidity level sensed by the humidity sensor is above a predetermined humidity threshold.