APPLIANCE WITH TIMED PREHEATING FOR DISPENSED FLUIDS
A refrigerator appliance is provided that includes a hot water dispenser and/or hot beverage dispenser. The appliance can provide the hot water at a particular time selected by the user. In addition, the appliance can also be equipped to provide the hot water over a particular period of time. As such, the user can avoid an undesirable or inconvenient waiting period for dispensing hot water and certain energy efficiencies can be provided.
1 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser, the method comprising the steps of:
placing fluid into a container;
receiving a first temperature, TEMP-1, to which the fluid is to be heated;
providing a first time, TIME-1, by which the fluid is to be ready at first temperature, TEMP-1;
ascertaining a first time period, Δt 1 , required to heat the fluid in the container to at least the first temperature, TEMP-1; and
operating a heater for at least the first time period, Δt 1 , before first time, TIME-1, so as to heat the fluid and provide the fluid at about first temperature, TEMP-1, by the first time, TIME-1.
2 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
maintaining the fluid in the container at about the first temperature, TEMP-1, for a second time period, Δt 2 .
3 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
receiving second time period, Δt 2 , from a user of the appliance.
4 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
receiving first temperature, TEMP-1, from a user of the refrigerator appliance.
5 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
measuring the temperature of the fluid in the container; and
determining first time period, Δt 1 , using the measured temperature of the fluid in the container.
6 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
ascertaining a second temperature, TEMP-2, to which fluid in the container is to be heated;
providing a second time, TIME-2, by which the fluid is to be ready at the second temperature, TEMP-2; and
operating the heater at a second time period, Δt 2 , before second TIME-2, so as to heat the fluid and provide the fluid at about second temperature, TEMP-2, by second time, TIME-2.
7 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in claim 5 , further comprising the step of:
receiving second temperature, TEMP-2, from a user of the refrigerator appliance.
8 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in claim 5 , further comprising the step of:
receiving second time period, Δt 2 , from a user of the refrigerator appliance.
9 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in claim 6 , further comprising the step of deactivating the heater after second time period, Δt 2 .
10 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in claim 1 , further comprising the step of deactivating the heater after the first time period, Δt 1 .
11 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in claim 1 , wherein the step of ascertaining a first time period, Δt 1 , further comprises measuring the temperature of the fluid in the container.
12 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in claim 1 , further comprising the step of monitoring the temperature of the fluid in the container during the step of operating the heater.
13 . A method of operating a refrigerator appliance having a hot fluid dispenser as in claim 12 , further comprising the step of deactivating the heater once the temperature of the fluid in the container is heated to about the first temperature, TEMP-1.
14 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
one or more refrigerated chambers;
a dispenser for providing a heated fluid;
a fluid heating assembly configured to provide heated fluid to the dispenser, the fluid heating assembly comprising
a container for the receipt of a fluid to be heated;
a heater for heating fluid in the container;
a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the fluid in the container;
a controller in communication with the heater and the temperature sensor, the controller configured for
receiving a first temperature, TEMP-1, to which the fluid in the container is to be heated;
receiving a first time, TIME-1, by which the fluid is to be ready at first temperature, TEMP-1;
ascertaining a first time period, Δt 1 , required to heat the fluid in the container to at least the first temperature, TEMP-1; and
operating the heater for at least the first time period, Δt 1 , before first time, TIME-1, so as to heat the fluid and provide the fluid at about first temperature, TEMP-1, by about the first time, TIME-1.
15 . A refrigerator appliance as in claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured for maintaining the fluid in the container at about the first temperature, TEMP-1, for a second time period, Δt 2 .
16 . A refrigerator appliance as in claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to deactivate the heater after second time period, Δt 2 .
17 . A refrigerator appliance as in claim 15 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive second time period, Δt 2 , from a user of the appliance.
18 . A refrigerator appliance as in claim 14 , wherein the controller is further configured to receive first temperature, TEMP-1, from a user of the refrigerator appliance.