EP2735826B1 - Réfrigérateur - Google Patents

Réfrigérateur Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2735826B1
EP2735826B1 EP12818386.0A EP12818386A EP2735826B1 EP 2735826 B1 EP2735826 B1 EP 2735826B1 EP 12818386 A EP12818386 A EP 12818386A EP 2735826 B1 EP2735826 B1 EP 2735826B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
heat insulation
compartment
compressor
machine compartment
disposed
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.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP12818386.0A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
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EP2735826A1 (fr
EP2735826A4 (fr
Inventor
Tsuyoki Hirai
Hisakazu Sakai
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Panasonic Corp
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Panasonic Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Panasonic Corp filed Critical Panasonic Corp
Publication of EP2735826A1 publication Critical patent/EP2735826A1/fr
Publication of EP2735826A4 publication Critical patent/EP2735826A4/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2735826B1 publication Critical patent/EP2735826B1/fr
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D29/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F25D29/005—Mounting of control devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D23/00—General constructional features
    • F25D23/006—General constructional features for mounting refrigerating machinery components
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
    • F25B2400/12—Inflammable refrigerants
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2600/00—Control issues
    • F25B2600/02—Compressor control
    • F25B2600/021—Inverters therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a structure of a heat insulation box of the refrigerator.
  • an accommodating section for a substrate such as a control circuit substrate is formed in an intermediate portion of a back surface portion of a heat insulation box of refrigerator 500 in the vertical direction (see PTL 1 for example).
  • FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing an internal structure of conventional refrigerator 500.
  • Heat insulation box 102 of body 101 of refrigerator 500 is formed by foaming and charging heat insulation material 105 between outer box 103 made of steel plate and inner box 104 made of resin.
  • Machine compartment 106 is formed in a lower portion on a far side of heat insulation box 102 by entirely notching a portion of a bottom surface portion of heat insulation box 102 in the lateral direction as viewed from rear.
  • Machine compartment 106 is provided with compressor 107 which constitutes a portion of a refrigeration cycle.
  • Heat insulation box 102 is divided into storage compartments by partition wall 108 and the like. As the storage compartments, there are formed refrigerating compartment 109 at an uppermost portion of heat insulation box 102, vegetable compartment 110 under refrigerating compartment 109, ice-making compartment 111 and a switching compartment (not shown) laterally arranged side by side under vegetable compartment 110, and freezing compartment 113 at a lowermost portion of heat insulation box 102.
  • Storage set temperatures of refrigerating compartment 109 and vegetable compartment 110 are set to a cooling temperature zone.
  • Storage set temperatures of ice-making compartment 111 and freezing compartment 113 are set to a freezing temperature zone.
  • For the switching compartment one of temperature zones of a plurality of storage set temperatures from the cooling temperature zone to the freezing temperature zone is selected and set.
  • Substrate accommodating section 114 is formed in a back surface portion of vegetable compartment 110, with heat insulation material 105 interposed therebetween, by denting a portion of heat insulation box 102.
  • Control circuit substrate 115 which electrically controls compressor 107 and the like is disposed in substrate accommodating section 114.
  • substrate accommodating section 114 may be disposed at an uppermost portion of heat insulation box 102. In this case, it is not necessary to divide the vacuum heat insulation panel and dispose the divided panels. However, if an inverter compressor which requires DC power is used as compressor 107 to further reduce an amount of consumed power, for example, refrigerator 500 is likely to receive electromagnetic interference since a distance between compressor 107 and control circuit substrate 115 is increased.
  • EMC Electro-Magnetic Compatibility
  • a heat insulation wall may be made thick by increasing outer box 103 in size or reducing inner box 104 in size, so that the heat insulation performance is enhanced, and the amount of consumed power is reduced. In this case, however, costs such as material costs and mold costs are increased.
  • refrigerator 500 since freezing compartment 113 and compressor 107 which is subjected to high temperature are opposed to each other, there is a problem that an amount of heat entering from machine compartment 106 to freezing compartment 113 is large.
  • Patent literature PTL 2 discloses a fan installed in the machine room for cooling the machine room and thus lower the temperature in the machine room.
  • the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a refrigerator capable of reducing an amount of consumed power at low cost without investing in a mold or adding a new member.
  • a refrigerator of the present invention includes a refrigerator body having a heat insulation box having a heat insulation wall, a machine compartment disposed on a back surface side of the heat insulation box, a refrigeration cycle including at least a compressor, and a controller which controls operation of the compressor.
  • the compressor and the controller are disposed in the machine compartment, the machine compartment is disposed opposed to the storage compartment disposed at an uppermost portion of the refrigeration body, with the heat insulation wall interposed therebetween, at least the storage compartment disposed at the uppermost portion of the refrigeration body being set to a cooling temperature zone.
  • the machine compartment is disposed in an upper portion of the back surface of the storage compartment disposed at the uppermost portion of the refrigeration body.
  • a combustible refrigerant is used as a refrigerant that circulates through the refrigeration cycle.
  • the compressor includes a discharge pipe from which a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is discharged and a suction pipe into which the refrigerant flows.
  • the suction pipe is disposed closer to the controller than the discharge pipe in the machine compartment.
  • a machine compartment cover is provided on at least a back surface of the machine compartment.
  • the machine compartment cover has ventilation openings which communicate inside and outside of the machine compartment.
  • the ventilation openings are provided at least at a lower portion of the machine compartment cover in the vicinity of the controller and the suction pipe, and at least at an upper portion of the machine compartment cover in the vicinity of the discharge pipe and the compressor.
  • the refrigerator of the present invention it is possible to reduce an amount of consumed power at low cost without investing in a mold or adding a new member.
  • FIG. 1 is a front view of refrigerator 300 in a first embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing an internal structure of refrigerator 300
  • FIG. 3 is a rear view of essential portions of refrigerator 300.
  • Refrigerator 300 includes heat insulation box 21 having a heat insulation wall, machine compartment 60 disposed on a back surface side of heat insulation box 21, a refrigeration cycle having at least compressor 50, and controller 70 which controls operation of compressor 50.
  • Compressor 50 and controller 70 are disposed in machine compartment 60.
  • Machine compartment 60 is disposed opposed to a storage compartment with the heat insulation wall interposed therebetween.
  • the storage compartment is set to a cooling temperature zone.
  • Refrigerator 300 includes heat insulation box 21 in refrigerator body 20.
  • Heat insulation box 21 is formed from inner box 22 made of resin, outer box 23 made of a metal magnetic material such as a steel plate, and a heat insulation wall formed by charging heat insulation material 24 between inner box 22 and outer box 23.
  • Heat insulation box 21 has front surface opening 21a.
  • Heat insulation box 21 is heat-insulated and partitioned by partition walls 25, 26, 27 and 28, and a plurality of storage compartments, i.e., refrigerating compartment 29, ice-making compartment 30, first freezing compartment 31, second freezing compartment 32, and vegetable compartment 33 are formed in this order from above.
  • ice-making compartment 30 and first freezing compartment 31 are laterally arranged side by side.
  • Storage set temperatures of refrigerating compartment 29 and vegetable compartment 33 is set to a cooling temperature zone.
  • the storage set temperatures of ice-making compartment 30, first freezing compartment 31, and second freezing compartment 32 are set to a freezing temperature zone.
  • the storage compartments are provided with refrigerating compartment door 29a, ice-making compartment door 30a, first freezing compartment door 31a, second freezing compartment door 32a, and vegetable compartment door 33a.
  • Each of the doors closes front surface opening 21a when the door is closed, is connected to heat insulation box 21, and has a heat insulation wall.
  • Upper and lower ends of a right side of refrigerating compartment door 29a as viewed from front are turnably connected to heat insulation box 21 by upper hinge 34 and lower hinge 35 each having a rotation axis.
  • the storage compartment doors other than refrigerating compartment door 29a are drawer-type doors, and these doors are connected to heat insulation box 21 such that the doors can open in the longitudinal direction by rail members 36 provided to the storage compartments.
  • Rail members 36 for example, rail member 36 of ice-making compartment 30 having a relatively small capacity and rail member 36 of vegetable compartment 33 having a large capacity, may be different members or may be formed at different positions depending on drawer capacities, drawer lengths, and the like of the storage compartments.
  • the refrigeration cycle which cools refrigerator body 20 at the time of operation is disposed in heat insulation box 21.
  • the refrigeration cycle includes compressor 50, a condenser (not shown), a decompressor (not shown), evaporator 51, and a series of refrigerant paths.
  • a refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle it is possible to use a combustible hydrocarbon-based refrigerant, e.g., isobutane.
  • a density of isobutane is higher than that of air.
  • Upper concave portion 21b is formed by notching portions of an upper surface portion and a back surface portion of heat insulation box 21 such that upper concave portion 21b faces refrigerating compartment 29 with heat insulation material 24 interposed therebetween.
  • Machine compartment 60 is disposed in upper concave portion 21b.
  • Compressor 50 and controller 70 are disposed in machine compartment 60.
  • An upper surface and a back surface of machine compartment 60 are integrally covered by machine compartment cover 80 which is made of a material having excellent thermal conductivity such as a steel plate.
  • Compressor 50 includes discharge pipe 50a from which a high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant is discharged and suction pipe 50b into which a low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant flows.
  • Discharge pipe 50a and suction pipe 50b are respectively provided in both left and right ends of compressor 50 as viewed from front, and these pipes are connected to other parts which form the refrigeration cycle.
  • Pressure of the refrigerant at the time of operation is several atmospheres in discharge pipe 50a and 1 atmosphere or lower in suction pipe 50b.
  • Compressor 50 is a reciprocating-type compressor in which a piston reciprocates in a cylinder to compress the refrigerant. Compressor 50 electrically converts DC power into AC power, and is inverter-controlled.
  • Controller 70 controls operations of electric components of refrigerator body 20 such as compressor 50. Controller 70 is connected to the electric components through cables (not shown). Controller 70 is disposed close to suction pipe 50b of compressor 50.
  • controller 70, suction pipe 50b, compressor 50, and discharge pipe 50a are disposed in this order from the left as viewed from a back surface of refrigerator body 20.
  • Machine compartment cover 80 includes ventilation ports 80a. Ventilation ports 80a are provided on a back surface side of machine compartment cover 80. In the vicinity of suction pipe 50b of compressor 50 and controller 70, lower portions of the back surface of machine compartment cover 80 are opened so that ventilation ports 80a are formed. In the vicinity of discharge pipe 50a, upper portions of the back surface of machine compartment cover 80 are opened so that ventilation ports 80a are formed. In this manner, ventilation ports 80a are formed roughly in two groups in the vicinity of left and right ends on the back surface side of machine compartment 60. Accordingly, even if a combustible refrigerant having greater specific gravity than that of air leaks, the refrigerant can be prevented from staying in the vicinity of controller 70 by utilizing natural convection, and it is possible to secure safety of refrigerator 300.
  • ventilation ports 80a are desirably opened widely, but in this case, there is a possibility that a problem of noise occurs by an operating sound of compressor 50.
  • ventilation ports 80a by providing ventilation ports 80a in the lower portion in the vicinity of controller 70 and in the upper portion in the vicinity of compressor 50, air whose specific gravity becomes small by waste heat of compressor 50 is discharged from ventilation ports 80a in the vicinity of compressor 50. Accordingly, outside air is naturally sucked from ventilation ports 80a in the vicinity of controller 70, and it is possible to ventilate entire machine compartment 60 by natural convection without having to add new ventilating means such as a machine compartment fan.
  • lower concave portion 21c is formed by notching portions of a bottom surface portion and a back surface portion of heat insulation box 21 such that lower concave portion 21c is opposed to vegetable compartment 33 with heat insulation material 24 interposed therebetween.
  • defrosting water processor 90 which forcibly evaporates defrosting water generated at the time of defrosting operation of evaporator 51 by using a heat source and by blowing air.
  • a height of the notched portion of the back surface portion of lower concave portion 21c is smaller than a height of the notched portion of upper concave portion 21b.
  • Vacuum heat insulation panel 100 is disposed in heat insulation material 24 between upper concave portion 21b and lower concave portion 21c in a back surface portion of outer box 23.
  • Vacuum heat insulation panel 100 integrally covers, by a predetermined thickness, a substantially entire flat surface portion of the back surface portion of outer box 23 between upper concave portion 21b and lower concave portion 21c. Vacuum heat insulation panel 100 is disposed on the back surface side of evaporator 51 and the storage compartments with heat insulation material 24 interposed therebetween. Vacuum heat insulation panel 100 is opposed to substantially entire duct 110 through which low-temperature air is circulated into the storage compartments.
  • Thermal conductivity of vacuum heat insulation panel 100 is lower than thermal conductivity of heat insulation material 24.
  • a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged by compressing action of compressor 50 exchanges heat with surrounding air by the condenser and dissipates heat.
  • the refrigerant which is condensed and liquefied by the heat radiation is decompressed in the decompressor, and then, the refrigerant exchanges heat with air in the storage compartment and evaporates in evaporator 51.
  • vacuum heat insulation panel 100 Since vacuum heat insulation panel 100 is disposed, an amount of heat entering from the back surface portion of heat insulation box 21 can be reduced as compared with a case where the back surface portion is formed of only heat insulation material 24.
  • vacuum heat insulation panel 100 is disposed outside evaporator 51 and duct 110, it is possible to reduce the amount of heat entering into evaporator 51 and duct 110 having the lowest temperature in refrigerator body 20. In particular, since a heat-receiving loss when low-temperature air passes through duct 110 can be reduced, it is possible to greatly enhance heat insulation performance when refrigerator body 20 is operated.
  • a reduction effect of the heat-receiving loss becomes higher as an area of a path of duct 110 is wider. Therefore, a particularly high effect is obtained in a large refrigerator having a large storage compartment capacity.
  • heat insulation box 21 It is possible to further enhance the heat insulation performance of heat insulation box 21 by adding vacuum heat insulation panels 100 to both side surface portions or upper and lower surface portions of heat insulation box 21 as viewed from front. However, it is possible to enhance the heat insulation performance most efficiently by disposing vacuum heat insulation panel 100 on a back surface portion of heat insulation box 21 which is opposed to evaporator 51 and duct 110.
  • vacuum heat insulation panel 100 is integrally formed. If vacuum heat insulation panel 100 is divided or a hole is formed in vacuum heat insulation panel 100, a side area of vacuum heat insulation panel 100 in its thickness direction adversely increases, and the amount of heat entering from the back surface of outer box 23 to heat insulation material 24 adversely increases. Hence, in view of conditions such as material costs and mass production construction methods of vacuum heat insulation panel 100 and refrigerator body 20, it is possible to further enhance the heat insulation performance if vacuum heat insulation panel 100 is integrally formed to a maximum extent.
  • refrigerator 300 of this embodiment refrigerating compartment 29 and machine compartment 60 are disposed opposed to each other. Accordingly, as compared with a case where machine compartment 60 is opposed to the storage compartment in the freezing temperature zone, it is possible to reduce a temperature difference between air in the storage compartment and warm air in machine compartment 60 generated when compressor 50 is operated. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of heat entering into the storage compartment. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce consumed power of refrigerator 300.
  • the lowermost storage compartment is vegetable compartment 33 which is set to the cooling temperature zone.
  • the lowermost storage compartment is vegetable compartment 33 which is set to the cooling temperature zone.
  • a notch height of lower concave portion 21c is smaller than a notch height of the back surface portion of upper concave portion 21b.
  • Vegetable compartment 33 which is the lowermost storage compartment is provided with rail member 36 to form the drawer door. Accordingly, a depth of vegetable compartment 33 is increased, usability is enhanced, and food products to be cooled can be easily taken in and out from vegetable compartment 33.
  • compressor 50 and controller 70 are disposed close to each other, so that electromagnetic interference can be suppressed.
  • inverter control When inverter control is carried out, household AC power is first converted into high voltage DC power, and the DC power is again electrically converted into AC power.
  • voltage and the like of compressor 50 are controlled at intervals of a few thousandths of a second, there is a possibility that even very small electromagnetic interference may cause malfunction or an operation loss.
  • compressor 50 and controller 70 are disposed close to each other, a range where the countermeasures should be taken also becomes narrow, and it is possible to easily take the countermeasures against electromagnetic interference.
  • machine compartment cover 80 is provided with ventilation ports 80a. Accordingly, even if heat in machine compartment 60 or a refrigerant leaks in machine compartment 60, the refrigerant can be discharged to outside air without staying in machine compartment 60.
  • Heat in machine compartment 60 is generated mainly from compressor 50 and controller 70. If compressor 50 and controller 70 have high temperatures, efficiency and reliability thereof are deteriorated. Therefore, it is necessary to suppress the temperature rise thereof by ventilation.
  • machine compartment cover 80 is made of a material having excellent thermal conductivity. Accordingly, in addition to the ventilation from ventilation ports 80a, heat radiation can be carried out also by thermal conduction of machine compartment cover 80. For example, even when refrigerator body 20 is installed in a state where it is in close contact with a wall or ventilation ports 80a are clogged with dust or the like when the refrigerator is used for a long term, it is possible to suppress deterioration in efficiency and reliability of compressor 50 and controller 70.
  • Ventilation ports 80a are provided in the upper portion of machine compartment cover 80 in the vicinity of discharge pipe 50a of compressor 50 having the highest temperature, thereby discharging air. Ventilation ports 80a are also provided in the lower portion of machine compartment cover 80 in the vicinity of relatively-low-temperature suction pipe 50b and a relatively-low-temperature controller 70, thereby sucking air. In this manner, the natural convection is facilitated by providing ventilation ports 80a in the portions having a large temperature difference.
  • compressor 50 and controller 70 are disposed in the lateral direction as viewed from front of refrigerator body 20, and ventilation ports 80a are disposed in the vicinity of both left and right ends of machine compartment 60. Accordingly, convection can be generated inside entire machine compartment 60.
  • Ventilators 80a Positions of ventilation ports 80a are not absolutely limited to the above-described ranges, and it is desirable that wide ventilation ports 80a are secured for heat radiation and for preventing the refrigerant from staying.
  • ventilation ports 80a may be provided in an upper surface portion or the like of machine compartment cover 80.
  • the upper portion of discharge pipe 50a is provided with ventilation ports 80a, it is possible to obtain an extremely excellent heat radiation effect.
  • Suction pipe 50b into which the refrigerant flows is disposed close to controller 70 than discharge pipe 50a from which the combustible refrigerant circulating through the refrigeration cycle is discharged. Accordingly, even if the combustible refrigerant leaks in machine compartment 60, a risk that the combustible refrigerant leaks in the vicinity of controller 70 can be reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to secure safety of refrigerator body 20. Even if the refrigerant leaks on the side of suction pipe 50b, a large amount of refrigerant does not leak in a short time since pressure of the refrigerant is weak.
  • the amount of consumed power of refrigerator body 20 is reduced by using compressor 50 which carries out the inverter control, vacuum heat insulation panel 100, and the like.
  • compressor 50 which carries out the inverter control, vacuum heat insulation panel 100, and the like.
  • the present invention is not limited to this example.
  • heat insulation material 24 it is necessary to add and replenish heat insulation material 24 of an amount corresponding to a volume of vacuum heat insulation panel 100.
  • heat insulation material 24 can be added only by changing the setting of equipment, and additional costs such as changing costs of compressor 50 and investment in a mold are not generated.
  • compressor 50 and controller 70 are disposed in machine compartment 60.
  • Machine compartment 60 is disposed opposed to refrigerating compartment 29 with heat insulation material 24 interposed therebetween.
  • the storage set temperature of refrigerating compartment 29 is the cooling temperature zone.
  • the back surface portion of heat insulation box 21 can be widely formed using the same surface.
  • vacuum heat insulation panel 100 is disposed on the back surface portion, it is possible to integrally and widely dispose an area of vacuum heat insulation panel 100. Accordingly, it is possible to greatly enhance heat insulation performance of heat insulation box 21, and to reduce the amount of consumed power of refrigerator body 20.
  • compressor 50 and controller 70 are disposed in machine compartment 60. Hence, even when an inverter compressor which requires DC power is used as compressor 50, electromagnetic interference is not received, and a loss at the time of energization is not increased. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the amount of consumed power of refrigerator body 20 by using the inverter compressor without taking new countermeasures against the electromagnetic problem.
  • controller 70 is provided at a position of the back surface portion of heat insulation box 21 which is different from machine compartment 60.
  • controller 70 is disposed in machine compartment 60. Accordingly, an area of the back surface portion of refrigerator 300 increases.
  • vacuum heat insulation panel 100 is disposed on the back surface portion, it is possible to integrally and widely dispose the area of vacuum heat insulation panel 100. Accordingly, it is possible to greatly enhance the heat insulation performance of heat insulation box 21, and to reduce the amount of consumed power of refrigerator 300.
  • vacuum heat insulation panel 100 may be added or omitted, or compressor 50 may be changed to the specification which is driven by AC power. Hence, it is not necessary to newly develop heat insulation box 21 by investing in a mold.
  • the present invention can also be applied to types of refrigerators having a plurality of functions and different capacities. As described above, it is possible to greatly change the heat insulation performance of heat insulation box 21 and the amount of consumed power of refrigerator body 20 without investing in a mold or adding a new member for taking countermeasures against the problem.
  • machine compartment 60 is disposed in an upper portion of the back surface of heat insulation box 21. Accordingly, since the upper portion of heat insulation box 21 in which usability is poor in the conventional technique is utilized as machine compartment 60, it is possible to reduce the amount of heat entering from machine compartment 60 into refrigerating compartment 29 without deteriorating user's usability.
  • Machine compartment cover 80 is provided at least on a back surface of machine compartment 60. Ventilation ports 80a which communicate inside and outside of machine compartment 60 are provided in the lower portion of machine compartment cover 80 at least in the vicinity of controller 70, and provided in the upper portion of machine compartment cover 80 in the vicinity of compressor 50. Accordingly, the refrigerant can be prevented from staying in the vicinity of controller 70 even if the combustible refrigerant leaks, and thus, it is possible to secure the safety of refrigerator body 200.
  • refrigerator 400 of a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
  • FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing an internal structure of refrigerator 400 in the second embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 5 is a rear view of essential portions of the refrigerator.
  • refrigerator body 200 of refrigerator 400 of this embodiment is a small refrigerator having an outer shape smaller than that of refrigerator 300 of the first embodiment.
  • the present invention is not limited to a small refrigerator.
  • Refrigerator 400 includes heat insulation box 201 having a heat insulation wall, machine compartment 230 disposed on a back surface side of heat insulation box 201, a refrigeration cycle including at least compressor 220, and controller 240 which controls operation of compressor 220.
  • Compressor 220 and controller 240 are disposed in machine compartment 230, and machine compartment 230 is disposed opposed to a storage compartment with a heat insulation wall interposed therebetween.
  • the storage compartment is set to a cooling temperature zone.
  • Heat insulation box 201 of refrigerator body 200 is configured by inner box 202 made of resin, outer box 203 made of a metal magnetic material such as a steel plate, and a heat insulation wall formed by charging heat insulation material 204 between inner box 202 and outer box 203.
  • Heat insulation box 201 includes front surface opening 201a. Heat insulation box 201 is heat-insulated and partitioned by partition wall 205, and refrigerating compartment 206, freezing compartment 207, and a plurality of storage compartments are formed in this order from above.
  • a storage set temperature of refrigerating compartment 206 is set to a cooling temperature zone.
  • a storage set temperature of freezing compartment 207 is set to a freezing temperature zone.
  • the storage compartments are provided with refrigerating compartment door 206a and freezing compartment door 207a which close front surface opening 201a when the doors are closed.
  • Refrigerating compartment door 206a and freezing compartment door 207a are connected to heat insulation box 201 and respectively include heat insulation walls.
  • Upper and lower ends of right sides of refrigerating compartment door 206a and freezing compartment door 207a are turnably connected to heat insulation box 201 by upper hinge 208, middle hinge 209, and lower hinge 210, each having a rotation axis.
  • Heat insulation box 201 includes a refrigeration cycle which cools refrigerator body 200 at the time of operation.
  • the refrigeration cycle includes compressor 220, a condenser (not shown), a decompressor (not shown), and evaporator 221 in this order.
  • the refrigeration cycle further includes a series of refrigerant flow paths.
  • the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle it is possible to use a combustible hydrocarbon-based refrigerant, e.g., isobutane.
  • a density of isobutane is higher than that of air.
  • Upper concave portion 201b and lower concave portion 201c are respectively formed in upper and lower ends of heat insulation box 201 on the back surface side.
  • Upper concave portion 201b is formed by notching portions of an upper surface portion and a back surface portion of heat insulation box 201 such that upper concave portion 201b is opposed to refrigerating compartment 206 with heat insulation material 204 interposed therebetween.
  • Machine compartment 230 is disposed in upper concave portion 201b.
  • Compressor 220 and controller 240 are disposed in machine compartment 230.
  • a back surface of machine compartment 230 is covered by machine compartment cover 250 which is made of a material having excellent thermal conductivity such as a steel plate.
  • An upper surface of heat insulation box 201 and an upper surface of machine compartment 230 are integrally covered by upper surface plate 260 made of resin having a heatproof temperature of 100°C or higher. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent reduction in an area of the upper surface of heat insulation box 201 caused by disposing machine compartment 230 on an upper portion of the back surface of heat insulation box 201.
  • Compressor 220 includes discharge pipe 220a from which a high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant is discharged and suction pipe 220b into which a low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant flows.
  • Discharge pipe 220a and suction pipe 220b are respectively provided to left and right ends as viewed from front of compressor 220, and are connected to other parts which form the refrigeration cycle.
  • Pressure of the refrigerant at the time of operation is several atmospheres in discharge pipe 220a, and 1 atmosphere or lower in suction pipe 220b.
  • Compressor 220 is a reciprocating-type compressor in which a piston reciprocates in a cylinder to compress the refrigerant.
  • Compressor 220 is inverter-controlled using AC power which is obtained by electrically converting DC power.
  • drive frequency of compressor 220 can be stepwisely switched between a plurality of predetermined values, and thus, it is possible to efficiently cool the storage compartments.
  • Controller 240 controls operations of electric components of refrigerator body 200 such as compressor 220. Controller 240 is connected to the electric components through cables (not shown), and disposed on the side of suction pipe 220b of compressor 220.
  • controller 240, suction pipe 220b, compressor 220, and discharge pipe 220a are disposed in this order from the left when refrigerator body 200 is viewed from the back surface.
  • Machine compartment cover 250 is provided with ventilation ports 250a which communicate inside and outside of machine compartment 230.
  • ventilation ports 250a are formed by opening a lower portion of machine compartment cover 250.
  • ventilation ports 250a are formed by opening an upper portion of machine compartment cover 250.
  • ventilation ports 250a are formed roughly in two groups in the vicinity of both left and right ends on the back surface side of machine compartment 230. Accordingly, even if a combustible refrigerant having greater specific gravity than that of air leaks, the refrigerant can be prevented from staying in the vicinity of controller 240, and it is possible to secure safety of refrigerator 400.
  • a ventilation opening is not formed in upper surface plate 260.
  • ventilation ports 250a are widely open, but in this case, a problem of noise may occur by the operating sound of compressor 220.
  • ventilation ports 250a in the lower portion in the vicinity of controller 240 and in the upper portion in the vicinity of compressor 220, air whose specific gravity becomes small by waste heat of compressor 220 is discharged from ventilation ports 250a in the vicinity of compressor 220. Accordingly, outside air is naturally sucked from ventilation ports 250a in the vicinity of controller 240, and it is possible to ventilate entire machine compartment 230 by natural convection without newly adding ventilating means such as a machine compartment fan.
  • lower concave portion 201c is formed by notching portions of a bottom surface portion and a back surface portion of heat insulation box 201 such that lower concave portion 201c is opposed to freezing compartment 207 with heat insulation material 204 interposed therebetween.
  • defrosting water processor 270 which forcibly evaporates defrosting water generated at the time of defrosting operation of evaporator 221 by using a heat source and by blowing air.
  • a height of the notched portion of the back surface portion of lower concave portion 201c is smaller than a height of the notched portion of upper concave portion 201b.
  • Vacuum heat insulation panel 280 is disposed in heat insulation material 204 between upper concave portion 201b and lower concave portion 201c in a back surface portion of outer box 203.
  • Vacuum heat insulation panel 280 integrally covers, by a predetermined thickness, a substantially entire flat surface portion of the back surface portion of outer box 203 between both the concave portions. Vacuum heat insulation panel 280 is disposed on the side of evaporator 221 and back surfaces of the storage compartments with heat insulation material 204 interposed therebetween. Vacuum heat insulation panel 280 is opposed to substantially entire duct 290 through which a low-temperature air is circulated into the storage compartments.
  • a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged by compressing action of compressor 220 exchanges heat with surrounding air in the condenser and dissipates heat.
  • the refrigerant which is condensed and liquefied by the heat radiation reaches the decompressor and is decompressed therein, and the refrigerant exchanges heat with the air in the storage compartment in evaporator 221 and evaporates.
  • refrigerating compartment 206 and machine compartment 230 are opposed to each other. Accordingly, as compared with a case where machine compartment 230 and the storage compartment in the freezing temperature zone are opposed to each other, a temperature difference between air in the storage compartment and warm air generated when compressor 220 in machine compartment 230 is operated becomes small. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the amount of heat entering the storage compartment.
  • compressor 220 and controller 240 are disposed close to each other, electromagnetic interference can be suppressed.
  • inverter control when inverter control is carried out, household AC power is converted into high voltage DC power, and the DC power is again electrically converted into AC power.
  • voltage and the like of compressor 220 are controlled at intervals of a few thousandths of a second, there is a possibility that even very small electromagnetic interference may cause malfunction or an operation loss.
  • refrigerator 400 of this embodiment is a small refrigerator. Therefore, the above-described reducing effect of the heat-receiving loss, the reducing effect of the amount of consumed power and the influence on electromagnetic interference become smaller than those of refrigerator 300 described in the first embodiment.
  • vacuum heat insulation panel 280 on the back surface portion of heat insulation box 201 as in the first embodiment. If vacuum heat insulation panel 280 is disposed on the back surface portion of heat insulation box 201, a barycenter of refrigerator body 200 moves toward the back surface. Therefore, even if heavy compressor 220 is disposed on an upper portion of heat insulation box 201, it is possible to prevent refrigerator body 200 from overturning and to enhance the safety.
  • refrigerating compartment door 206a and freezing compartment door 207a are pivoted doors. As compared with the drawer door, forward movement of a barycenter of refrigerator body 200 when the door is opened can be reduced in the pivoted door. Accordingly, it is possible to further enhance safety against overturning.
  • compressor 220 of this embodiment which is inverter-controlled, as compared with a compressor which is driven by AC power, the same freezing performance can be obtained even if efficiency at the time of operation is slightly deteriorated.
  • the compressor can be made lighter in weight by simplifying a driving part of compressor 220, and it is possible to further enhance the safety against overturning.
  • machine compartment cover 250 is provided with ventilation ports 250a, it is possible to discharge, to outside air, heat in machine compartment 230 and a refrigerant if the refrigerant leaks in machine compartment 230 without allowing the heat and the refrigerant to stay in machine compartment 230 as in the first embodiment.
  • upper surface plate 260 is not provided with ventilation openings.
  • the present invention is not limited to this example, and upper surface plate 260 may be provided with the ventilation openings.
  • an electric device such as a microwave oven or food products not to be cooled may be placed on an upper surface of the refrigerator.
  • compressor 220 and controller 240 are adversely affected.
  • it is desirable that upper surface plate 260 is not provided with ventilation openings as much as possible.
  • upper surface plate 260 is close to ears of a user as compared with a large refrigerator. Hence, if ventilation openings are provided, the user may hear the operation sound of compressor 220 more loudly. From this aspect also, it is desirable that upper surface plate 260 is not provided with ventilation openings.
  • the ventilation openings should be formed behind heat insulation box 201 as much as possible.
  • An installation surface in which a space for installing the electronic device is secured is set lower than the ventilation openings. Thus, the liquid and the crumbs are less likely to enter, and usability is not deteriorated.
  • heat insulation box 201 may need to be increased in size.
  • vacuum heat insulation panel 280 is disposed on the back surface portion of heat insulation box 201 in this embodiment. Accordingly, the heat insulation performance of heat insulation box 201 is greatly enhanced, and it is possible to reduce the amount of consumed power of refrigerator body 200.
  • Compressor 220 is disposed opposed to refrigerating compartment 206 which is set to the cooling temperature zone. Accordingly, a temperature difference between compressor 220 and refrigerating compartment 206 becomes smaller than a temperature difference between compressor 220 and freezing compartment 207. Therefore, the amount of heat entering refrigerating compartment 206 is reduced. Hence, it is possible to reduce the amount of consumed power of refrigerator body 200.
  • compressor 220 and controller 240 are disposed in machine compartment 230.
  • compressor 220 and controller 240 are disposed in machine compartment 230.
  • controller 240 is provided at a position of the back surface portion of heat insulation box 201 which is different from machine compartment 230. In this embodiment, however, controller 240 is disposed in machine compartment 230. Accordingly, an area of the back surface portion of refrigerator 400 is increased. Hence, when vacuum heat insulation panel 280 is disposed on the back surface portion, it is possible to integrally widely dispose the area of vacuum heat insulation panel 280. Accordingly, it is possible to greatly enhance the heat insulation performance of heat insulation box 201, and to reduce the amount of consumed power of refrigerator 400.
  • vacuum heat insulation panel 280 may be added or omitted, or compressor 220 may be changed to the specification which is driven by AC power.
  • the present invention can also be applied to refrigerators having a plurality of functions and different capacities. As described above, it is possible to greatly change the heat insulation performance of heat insulation box 201 and the amount of consumed power of refrigerator body 200 without investing in a mold or adding a new member for taking countermeasures against the problem.
  • the upper surface of heat insulation box 201 and the upper surface of machine compartment 230 are integrally covered by upper surface plate 260. Hence, even when machine compartment 230 is disposed on the upper portion of the back surface of heat insulation box 201, user's usability is not deteriorated and it is not necessary to increase the depth of heat insulation box 201.
  • Suction pipe 220b into which refrigerant flows is disposed close to controller 240 than discharge pipe 220a from which the combustible refrigerant circulating through the refrigeration cycle is discharged. Accordingly, even if the combustible refrigerant leaks in machine compartment 230, a risk that the combustible refrigerant leaks in the vicinity of controller 240 is reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to secure the safety of refrigerator body 200. Even if the refrigerant leaks on the side of suction pipe 220b, a large amount of refrigerant does not leak in a short time since pressure of the refrigerant is weak.
  • Machine compartment cover 250 is provided on at least a back surface of machine compartment 230, ventilation ports 250a are provided in the lower portion of machine compartment cover 250 at least in the vicinity of controller 240, and ventilation ports 250a are provided in the upper portion of machine compartment cover 250 in the vicinity of compressor 220. Accordingly, the combustible refrigerant can be prevented from staying in the vicinity of controller 240 even if the combustible refrigerant leaks, and it is possible to secure the safety of refrigerator body 200.
  • the refrigerator of the present invention can exert a special effect that an amount of consumed power can be reduced at low cost without investing in a mold or adding a new member.
  • the present invention can be applied not only to the refrigerator but also to devices having other storages, e.g., a freezer and a heat insulating device.

Landscapes

  • 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)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
  • Refrigerator Housings (AREA)

Claims (3)

  1. Réfrigérateur (300, 400) comprenant:
    un carter de réfrigérateur (20, 200) avec une enceinte calorifuge (21, 201) et une paroi calorifuge (24, 204);
    une pluralité de compartiments de stockage;
    une zone machine (60, 230) qui est disposée sur une face arrière de l'enceinte calorifuge (21, 201);
    un circuit de refroidissement qui renferme au moins un compresseur (50, 220); et
    un contrôleur (70, 240) qui contrôle le fonctionnement dudit compresseur (50, 220),
    le compresseur (50, 220) et le contrôleur (70, 240) étant disposés dans la zone machine (60, 230),
    la zone machine (60, 230) étant disposée à l'opposé du compartiment de qui est disposé dans une partie la plus haute du carter de réfrigérateur (20, 200), la paroi calorifuge (24, 204) étant disposée entre ceux-ci,
    au moins le compartiment de stockage qui est disposé dans la partie la plus haute du carter de réfrigérateur (20, 200) étant réglé sur une zone de température de refroidissement, et
    la zone machine (60, 230) étant disposée dans une partie supérieure de la face arrière dudit compartiment de stockage qui est disposé dans la partie la plus haute du carter de réfrigérateur (20, 200),
    un agent réfrigérant inflammable est utilisé en tant qu'agent réfrigérant circulant dans le circuit de réfrigération,
    dans lequel
    le compresseur (50, 220) renferme un tube d'évacuation (50a, 220a) par lequel est évacué un agent réfrigérant à haute température et à haute pression, et un tube d'aspiration (50b, 220b) dans lequel entre l'agent réfrigérant,
    un élément de recouvrement de la zone machine (80, 250) est prévu sur au moins une face arrière de la zone machine (60, 230) ;
    l'élément de recouvrement de la zone machine (80, 250) possède des orifices de ventilation (80a, 250a) à travers lesquels l'intérieur de la zone machine (60, 230) est en contact avec l'extérieur,
    caractérisé en ce que
    le tube d'aspiration (50b, 220b) est disposé dans la zone machine (60, 230) de manière à être plus près du contrôleur (70, 240) que ne l'est le tube d'évacuation (50a, 220a),
    les orifices de ventilation (80a, 250a) sont prévus au moins dans une partie inférieure de l'élément de recouvrement de la zone machine (80, 250) à proximité du contrôleur (70, 240) et du tube d'aspiration (50b, 220b), et au moins dans une partie supérieure de l'élément de recouvrement de la zone machine (80, 250) à proximité du tube d'évacuation (50a, 220a) et du compresseur (50, 220).
  2. Réfrigérateur (300, 400) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel
    le compresseur (50, 220) est contrôlé par le contrôleur (70, 240) par contrôle inverter.
  3. Réfrigérateur (400) selon la revendication 1 comprenant en outre un panneau de face supérieure (260) qui est disposé sur une partie de surface supérieure de l'enceinte calorifuge (201),
    dans lequel le panneau de face supérieure couvre la partie de surface supérieure de l'enceinte calorifuge (201) et une partie de surface supérieure de la zone machine (230).
EP12818386.0A 2011-07-22 2012-07-04 Réfrigérateur Not-in-force EP2735826B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2011160572A JP5899406B2 (ja) 2011-07-22 2011-07-22 冷蔵庫
PCT/JP2012/004323 WO2013014867A1 (fr) 2011-07-22 2012-07-04 Réfrigérateur

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2735826A1 EP2735826A1 (fr) 2014-05-28
EP2735826A4 EP2735826A4 (fr) 2015-05-27
EP2735826B1 true EP2735826B1 (fr) 2017-08-30

Family

ID=47600745

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP12818386.0A Not-in-force EP2735826B1 (fr) 2011-07-22 2012-07-04 Réfrigérateur

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Country Link
EP (1) EP2735826B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP5899406B2 (fr)
CN (1) CN103703331A (fr)
WO (1) WO2013014867A1 (fr)

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CN113883797A (zh) * 2020-07-02 2022-01-04 日立环球生活方案株式会社 冷藏库

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN103703331A (zh) 2014-04-02
EP2735826A1 (fr) 2014-05-28
JP5899406B2 (ja) 2016-04-06
JP2013024490A (ja) 2013-02-04
EP2735826A4 (fr) 2015-05-27
WO2013014867A1 (fr) 2013-01-31

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