EP2413075A2 - Kühlschrank und Steuerungsverfahren dafür - Google Patents

Kühlschrank und Steuerungsverfahren dafür Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2413075A2
EP2413075A2 EP11175667A EP11175667A EP2413075A2 EP 2413075 A2 EP2413075 A2 EP 2413075A2 EP 11175667 A EP11175667 A EP 11175667A EP 11175667 A EP11175667 A EP 11175667A EP 2413075 A2 EP2413075 A2 EP 2413075A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
evaporator
light
refrigerator
frost
optical sensor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP11175667A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2413075A3 (de
EP2413075B1 (de
Inventor
Yongjoo Park
Yonghwan Eom
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LG Electronics Inc
Original Assignee
LG Electronics Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from KR1020100073368A external-priority patent/KR101678437B1/ko
Priority claimed from KR1020100073369A external-priority patent/KR20120011522A/ko
Application filed by LG Electronics Inc filed Critical LG Electronics Inc
Publication of EP2413075A2 publication Critical patent/EP2413075A2/de
Publication of EP2413075A3 publication Critical patent/EP2413075A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2413075B1 publication Critical patent/EP2413075B1/de
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25DREFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D21/00Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
    • F25D21/02Detecting the presence of frost or condensate
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25DREFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D21/00Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
    • F25D21/002Defroster control
    • F25D21/006Defroster control with electronic control circuits
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25DREFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D21/00Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
    • F25D21/06Removing frost
    • F25D21/08Removing frost by electric heating

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to refrigerators, and more particularly, to a refrigerator which can measure an amount of frost on an evaporator in real time and determine a frost removing time; and a method for controlling the same.
  • the refrigerator is an appliance for storing goods at a low temperature for long time fresh storage of food, wherein the goods are stored in a frozen state or a refrigerated state depending on a state of the goods intended to store.
  • Cold air to be supplied to the refrigerator is produced by heat exchange of refrigerant which is kept supplied to the refrigerator as a cycle of compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation is performed repeatedly, and provided to an inside of the refrigerator uniformly by convection, enabling to store the food in the refrigerator at a desired temperature.
  • refrigerators there are general type refrigerators, side by side door type refrigerators, and bottom freezer type refrigerators depending on a structure of a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber.
  • the general type refrigerator has a structure in which the freezing chamber is positioned on an upper side and the refrigerating chamber is positioned on a lower side, and the side by side door type refrigerator has a structure in which the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber are arranged side by side in a left to right direction.
  • the bottom freezer type refrigerator is a type currently used in the U.S.A. and the Europe mostly, and has the refrigerating chamber greater than the freezing chamber positioned on the upper side while the freezing chamber is positioned on the lower side.
  • the refrigerator is provided with a body having at least one storage space for low temperature storage of food and a door rotatably mounted to the body for selective opening/closing of the storage space.
  • the storage space of the refrigerator is partitioned into the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber, and, in rear of the storage space, there are an evaporator for making heat exchange with air in the storage space to produce cold air, and a fan for introducing the air from the storage space to the evaporator, and blowing the cold air having heat exchanged thus to the storage space, again.
  • the evaporator in the cycle makes heat exchange between the air circulating in the storage space and the refrigerant, to form condensed water on a surface thereof in a process of making heat exchange with the air which circulates the storage space because a surface temperature of the evaporator is lower than a room temperature.
  • the condensed water freezes on the surface of the evaporator to turn to frost, to cause a problem of poor heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator when the frost accumulates on the surface of the evaporator.
  • a method in which a frost removal heater is mounted to one side of the evaporator to operate the same at fixed time intervals.
  • frost removal operation is performed taking operation times of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber and a door open time into account, regardless of an actual amount of accumulation of the frost.
  • the frost removal time predicted with reference to the door open time and the operation times of the storage space has a problem in that, in actual conditions of use of the refrigerator, the frost removal heater comes into operation at a time no frost removal is required actually, or the frost removal heater does not come into operation even if the frost removal is required.
  • the present invention is directed to a refrigerator and a method for controlling the same.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator which can measure an amount of frost on an evaporator in real time and determine a frost removing time; and a method for controlling the same.
  • a refrigerator includes a body having at least one storage space for low temperature storage, a compressor in the body for compressing refrigerant, an evaporator for making heat exchange between the refrigerant from the compressor and air in the storage space, a frost removal heater for removing frost from the evaporator, an optical sensor having a light emitting unit for directing a light to the evaporator and a light receiving unit for receiving the light from the light emitting unit, and a control unit for controlling operation of the frost removal heater with reference to a quantity of the light received at the light receiving unit.
  • the optical sensor can be arranged over or under the evaporator.
  • control unit can put the frost removal heater into operation only if the quantity of the light received at the light receiving unit is greater than a reference value.
  • the optical sensor can be arranged such that the evaporator is positioned between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit.
  • control unit can put the frost removal heater into operation only if the quantity of the light received at the light receiving unit is smaller than a reference value.
  • the light emitting unit of the optical sensor can include an infrared light emitting diode.
  • the refrigerator can further include a bracket which connects the optical sensor to the evaporator.
  • the bracket can include a body which is an extension in a height direction of the evaporator and has at least one slot for placing the tube therein, and a mounting portion which is an inward bent from an end of the body for mounting the optical sensor thereto such that the optical sensor faces the evaporator.
  • the bracket can have an angle shaped section.
  • control unit can put the frost removal heater into operation only if the quantity of the light received at the light receiving unit is greater than a reference value.
  • the bracket can include a body which is an extension in a height direction of the evaporator and has at least one slot for placing the tube therein, and a mounting portion which is inward bents from both ends of the body for mounting the optical sensor thereto such that the optical sensor faces the evaporator.
  • the body can have one end with the light emitting unit mounted thereto and the other end with the light receiving unit mounted thereto.
  • the bracket has a channel shaped section.
  • control unit can put the frost removal heater into operation only if the quantity of the light received at the light receiving unit is smaller than a reference value.
  • a method for controlling a refrigerator includes the steps of (a) directing a light to an evaporator, (b) receiving the light passed through the evaporator, and (c) removing frost with reference to a quantity of the light received thus.
  • the step (a) can include the step of directing a light with an infrared light emitting diode.
  • the step (b) can include the step of receiving a light reflected at the evaporator.
  • the frost removal can be performed if the quantity of the light reflected thus is greater than a reference value.
  • the step (a) can include the step of receiving a light passed through the evaporator.
  • the frost removal can be performed if the quantity of the light passed thus is smaller than a reference value.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a refrigerator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which one of doors is opened.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a section of key parts of the refrigerator in FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a control unit in a refrigerator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate schematic views showing mounting positions of an optical sensor in a refrigerator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively.
  • FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate graphs for describing a method for determining a frost removing time in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a method for controlling a refrigerator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a refrigerator 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which one of doors is opened
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a section of key parts of the refrigerator in FIG. 1 .
  • a refrigerator 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is applicable to all refrigerators of various types (For an example, a general type, a side by side door type, or a bottom freezer type), the refrigerator 1 will be described taking the side by side door type refrigerator having a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber positioned side by side in a left to right direction to be opened/closed by respective doors selectively as an example.
  • the refrigerator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a body 10 having at least one storage space 40 for low temperature storage, a compressor 90 in the body 10 for compressing refrigerant, an evaporator 60 for making heat exchange between the refrigerant from the compressor 90 and air in the storage space 40, a frost removal heater 70 for removing frost from the evaporator 60, an optical sensor (Not shown) having a light emitting unit for directing a light to the evaporator 60 and a light receiving unit for receiving the light from the light emitting unit, and a control unit (Not shown) for controlling operation of the frost removal heater 70 with reference to a quantity of the light received at the light receiving unit.
  • the refrigerator 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a body 10 which provides a space 40 for storage of food and food containers at a low temperature and an exterior of the refrigerator, wherein the body 10 has a hexahedral shape substantially, with an opened front for placing the food and the food containers therein.
  • the body 10 of the refrigerator 1 can also include an outer case (No reference numeral is given) and at least one inner case (No reference numeral is given) in the outer case for providing the storage space for refrigerated or frozen storage of the food.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a side by side door type refrigerator in a case a first door 20 and a second door 30 are mounted to the body 10 for opening/closing a left side storage space and a right side storage space, respectively.
  • the refrigerator 1 can further include a dispenser 21 provided to the door 20 or 30 for dispensing purified water or ice to an outside of the refrigerator directly, and a home bar 31 for placing or storage of a certain amount of food or food containers therein, conveniently.
  • At least one basket 33 and one storage box 32 can be mounted.
  • the body 10 has an inside space partitioned into the left side space and the right side space, wherein, in general, the left side space serves as a freezing chamber (Not shown) for holding the food or the food container at a sub-zero temperature, and the right side space serves as a refrigerating chamber 40 for holding the food or the food container at a temperature higher than a zero degree.
  • the left side space serves as a freezing chamber (Not shown) for holding the food or the food container at a sub-zero temperature
  • the right side space serves as a refrigerating chamber 40 for holding the food or the food container at a temperature higher than a zero degree.
  • the freezing chamber is used for long time storage of the food by freezing the food at the sub-zero temperature, and the refrigerating chamber 40 is maintained at a temperature lower than a room temperature for fresh storage of the food.
  • the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber 40 have a plurality of shelves 41 provided to inside spaces thereof for placing the food or the food container thereon, thereby partitioning the inside spaces of the freezing chamber and refrigerating chamber 40 into a plurality of tiers to form a plurality of storage spaces. And, the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber 40 can have drawers 42 for holding food, such as vegetable and fruit.
  • the refrigerator stores not only the vegetable and the fruit, but also meat, fish, various food materials and cooked food, and since the body 10 has the plurality of storage spaces with the shelves and the drawers, the food can be stored separately for each kind of food.
  • a cold air producing chamber (No reference numeral is given) having the evaporator 60 placed therein for making heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air in the storage space.
  • the cold air producing chamber has a fan 50 for discharging the cold air produced by the evaporator 60 to the storage space 40, the frost removal heater 70 for removing frost from the evaporator 60, and a drain portion 80 under the frost removal heater 70 for collecting water of the frost.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a control unit in a refrigerator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate schematic views showing mounting positions of an optical sensor in a refrigerator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention respectively
  • FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate graphs for describing a method for determining a frost removing time in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • the evaporator 60 in the cycle of the refrigerator 1 makes heat exchange between the air circulating the storage space and the refrigerant, and since the surface temperature of the evaporator 60 is lower than the room temperature, the condensed water is formed on the surface of the evaporator 60 in a heat exchange process with the air which circulates the storage space.
  • the condensed water freezes on the surface of the evaporator 60 into the frost, and if the frost accumulates on the surface of the evaporator 60, a problem causes in that heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator 60 becomes poor.
  • the frost removal heater 70 is mounted to one side of the evaporator 60, for removing the frost from the surface of the evaporator 60 by operating the frost removal heater 70.
  • the frost is formed on the evaporator 60, the heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator 60 becomes poor. And, it is important to detect an amount of the frost on the evaporator 60 in real time to determine an accurate frost removal time for reducing power consumption caused by unnecessary frost removal operation and a number of temperature rise times of the storage space.
  • the optical sensor 100 includes the light emitting unit 110 for directing the light to the evaporator and the light receiving unit 120 for receiving the light from the light emitting unit 110.
  • the optical sensor 100 senses a quantity of the light which is directed to the evaporator, reflected at the frost on the evaporator, and received at the light receiving unit 120, and the control unit 200 determines a frost removing time with reference to the quantity of light received at the light receiving unit 120, and puts the frost removing heater 70 into operation.
  • the control unit 200 can put the frost removing heater 70 into operation.
  • the light emitting unit 110 of the optical sensor 100 can be a light source for emitting a light of an infrared wavelength or an ultrasonic wavelength, preferably, can include an infrared light emitting diode.
  • the evaporator 60 can include a refrigerant tube 110 for the refrigerant to flow therethrough and a plurality of fins 62 in contact with the refrigerant tube for increasing a heat exchange area.
  • the optical sensor can be mounted over the evaporator 60. That is, both the light emitting unit 110 and the light receiving unit 120 can be arranged at positions spaced predetermined distances away from a top of the evaporator 60, respectively.
  • the optical sensor 100 senses the quantity of the light which is directed to evaporator, reflected at the frost F on the evaporator, and received at the light receiving unit 120, and the control unit 200 determines a frost removing time with reference to the quantity of light received at the light receiving unit 120, and puts the frost removing heater 70 into operation.
  • the control unit 200 can put the frost removing heater 70 into operation.
  • the optical sensor 100 can be arranged under the evaporator 60. That is, both the light emitting unit 110 and the light receiving unit 120 can be arranged at positions spaced predetermined distances away from a bottom of the evaporator 60, respectively.
  • the frost F is formed starting from the top toward the bottom of the evaporator, or starting from the bottom toward the top of the evaporator.
  • the frost forming pattern can vary with a flow path of the cold air producing chamber and a structure of the evaporator, in most of cases, in general, since the frost F is formed starting from the top toward the bottom of the evaporator, it is preferable that the optical sensor 100 is arranged over the evaporator.
  • the optical sensor 100 can be arranged such that the evaporator 60 is positioned between the light emitting unit 110 and the light receiving unit 120.
  • the light emitting unit 110 is arranged over the evaporator 60, and the light receiving unit 120 is arranged under the evaporator, or vice versa.
  • the light emitting unit 110 is arranged in front of the evaporator 60, and the light receiving unit 120 is arranged in rear of the evaporator, or vice versa.
  • the control unit 200 can put the frost removing heater 70 into operation.
  • a distance d from the optical sensor (the light emitting unit 110 and the light receiving unit 120) to the evaporator is fixedly maintained.
  • the refrigerator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention can include a bracket 130 which connects the optical sensor to the evaporator, additionally.
  • the bracket 130 includes a body 131 which is an extension in a height direction (upward or downward) of the evaporator and has at least one slot 132 for placing the tube 61 therein, and a mounting portion 133 which is an inward bent from an end of the body 131 for mounting the optical sensor toward the evaporator 60 thereto.
  • the body 31 has a structure which is applicable to the cases the optical sensor is arranged over or under the evaporator 60, and can have an angle shaped section, actually.
  • the control unit can operate the frost removal heater in a case the quantity of the light received at the light receiving unit is greater than the reference value.
  • the slot 132 has elasticity, and is detachably mounted to the refrigerant tube 62 for convenience of replacement or service.
  • the bracket can include a body which is an extension in a direction of a height of the evaporator with at least one slot for placing the refrigerant tube therein, and a mounting portion which is inward bents from both ends of the body for mounting the optical sensor thereto, respectively.
  • the body can have one end with the light emitting unit mounted thereto and the other end with the light receiving unit mounted thereto.
  • the body structure can be applicable in a case the evaporator 60 is arranged between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit of the optical sensor, and the body can have a channel shaped section, actually.
  • the control unit can operate the frost removal heater in a case the quantity of the light received at the light receiving unit is smaller than the reference value.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates a flow chart showing the steps of a method for controlling a refrigerator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a case the optical sensor is arranged at a position shown in FIG. 6 .
  • the method for controlling a refrigerator includes the steps of (a) directing a light to an evaporator (S102), (b) receiving the light passed through the evaporator (S103), and performing frost removal with reference to a quantity of the light received thus (S104 and S105) .
  • the steps (a) and (b) can be preformed with the optical sensor 100, and the step (a) can further include the step (S101) of determining whether a measuring time is reached or not, and, accordingly, since power is applied only when measurement is required, power consumption can be reduced.
  • the optical sensor is positioned as described with reference to FIGS. 4 - 6 , and in a case the optical sensor is positioned at a position of FIGS. 4 and 5 , the light reflected at the evaporator can be received in the step (b), and the frost can be removed in a case the quantity of the reflected light is greater than the reference value.
  • the optical sensor is arranged at a position of FIG. 6 , the light passed through the evaporator can be received at the step (b), and the frost can be removed in a case the quantity of the passed light is smaller than the reference value.
  • the refrigerator and the method for controlling the same of the present invention have the following advantages.
  • the amount of frost on the evaporator can be measured in real time to determine the frost removal time.
  • Power consumption caused by unnecessary frost removal can be reduced, and a number of temperature rise times of the storage space can be reduced.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Defrosting Systems (AREA)
EP11175667.2A 2010-07-29 2011-07-27 Kühlschrank und Steuerungsverfahren dafür Active EP2413075B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
KR1020100073368A KR101678437B1 (ko) 2010-07-29 2010-07-29 냉장고
KR1020100073369A KR20120011522A (ko) 2010-07-29 2010-07-29 냉장고 및 이의 제어방법

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2413075A2 true EP2413075A2 (de) 2012-02-01
EP2413075A3 EP2413075A3 (de) 2016-11-23
EP2413075B1 EP2413075B1 (de) 2021-02-17

Family

ID=44651056

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP11175667.2A Active EP2413075B1 (de) 2010-07-29 2011-07-27 Kühlschrank und Steuerungsverfahren dafür

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US20120023974A1 (de)
EP (1) EP2413075B1 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112050541A (zh) * 2020-09-04 2020-12-08 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 一种制冷机组、化霜控制方法和装置

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9657983B2 (en) * 2013-08-26 2017-05-23 Sinjin Enertec Co., Ltd. Apparatus for defrosting evaporator in refrigeration system using infrared emitting diode sensor
US9459038B1 (en) * 2015-03-04 2016-10-04 Robert Michael Read System for defrost termination
KR102292004B1 (ko) * 2017-04-11 2021-08-23 엘지전자 주식회사 냉장고

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US4593533A (en) * 1974-12-05 1986-06-10 Alsenz Richard H Method and apparatus for detecting and controlling the formation of ice or frost
US4232528A (en) * 1978-03-16 1980-11-11 Emerson Electric Co. Frost detector
US4409795A (en) * 1981-04-03 1983-10-18 Russell Coil Company Demand defrost system
DE3175212D1 (en) * 1981-06-26 1986-10-02 Richard H Alsenz Refrigerator defrost control
WO1984001019A1 (en) * 1982-08-27 1984-03-15 Richard H Alsenz Improved optical defrost apparatus
GB2143945B (en) * 1983-07-26 1986-11-19 Agriculture Fisheries And Food Frost sensor
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JP5197244B2 (ja) * 2008-09-02 2013-05-15 三菱電機株式会社 冷凍サイクル装置、冷凍装置及び空気調和装置

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN112050541A (zh) * 2020-09-04 2020-12-08 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 一种制冷机组、化霜控制方法和装置
CN112050541B (zh) * 2020-09-04 2021-08-24 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 一种制冷机组、化霜控制方法和装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2413075A3 (de) 2016-11-23
US20120023974A1 (en) 2012-02-02
EP2413075B1 (de) 2021-02-17

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