JP2002107034A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve cooling performance of a refrigerator, having a deep freezing chamber and a cold storage chamber and to alleviate a load at the start of a compressor. SOLUTION: The refrigerator selectively executes a cold storage chamber and deep freezing chamber cooling mode, wherein a refrigerant discharged from a compressor (8) is condensed by a condenser (9) and then is sequentially supplied to a cooler (4) for the cold storage chamber and a cooler (6) for a deep freezing chamber via a first capillary tube (1) from one outlet of a three- way valve (10) and a deep freezing chamber cooling mode wherein the refrigerant is discharged from another outlet of the three-way valve (10) to the cooler (6) for the freezing chamber via a second capillary tube (12). The valve (10) closes a channel during stopping of the compressor (8). In this refrigerator, the valve is closed by the refrigerant switching unit (10), by delaying from the time point of completing the operation of the compressor (8).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator having at least a cooler for a freezer compartment and a cooler for a refrigerator compartment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Refrigerators are often of the type in which a freezer, a refrigerator, and a vegetable room are all cooled by one cooler, but some refrigerators have two coolers. In the refrigerator including the two coolers, the flow path of the refrigerant is changed by the three-way valve.

[0003]

By the way, in the refrigerant circuit of the refrigerator, when the compressor is stopped, the refrigerant moves so that the high-pressure side warm refrigerant naturally flows into the low-pressure side. There is a problem that the efficiency is reduced.

[0004] For this reason, it has been proposed to shut off the flow of the refrigerant by closing the three-way valve while the compressor is stopped.

However, in this case, the pressure difference is maintained, and the load when starting the compressor is increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator that suppresses a decrease in the cooling performance of the refrigerator and reduces the starting load on the compressor.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a refrigerant discharged from a compressor (8) is condensed in a condenser (9), and then condensed from one outlet of a refrigerant flow switch (10). A dual-chamber cooling mode for sequentially supplying the refrigerator cooler (4) and the freezer cooler (6) through the pressure reducing device (11), and a second cooling mode from the other outlet of the refrigerant flow switching device (10). A freezer compartment cooling mode to be supplied to the freezer compartment cooler (6) via the second pressure reducing device (12), and while the compressor (8) is stopped, the refrigerant flow path In the refrigerator in which the switching device (10) closes the flow path, the closing by the refrigerant flow switching device (10) is performed with a delay from the end of the operation of the compressor (8).

Further, according to the present invention, the delay is 30 seconds to 3 seconds.
Minutes.

Further, according to the present invention, after the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (8) is condensed in the condenser (9), the refrigerant flow switch (1)
0) through a first decompression device (11) through a first decompression device (11) to a refrigerator compartment cooler (4) and a refrigerator compartment cooler (6) to sequentially supply the refrigerant flow switching device; And selectively executing a freezing room cooling mode for supplying the freezing room cooler (6) from the other outlet of (10) through the second pressure reducing device (12),
While the compressor (8) is stopped, the refrigerant flow switching device (10)
In the refrigerator closing the flow path by the compressor (8)
Prior to the start of the operation, the refrigerant flow switching device (10) releases the closing.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the closing by the refrigerant flow switching device (10) is released about 10 seconds to 3 minutes before the operation start time of the compressor (8). .

The present invention also provides a refrigerant flow switch (1) after condensing refrigerant discharged from a compressor (8) in a condenser (9).
0) through a first decompression device (11) through a first decompression device (11) to a refrigerator compartment cooler (4) and a refrigerator compartment cooler (6) to sequentially supply the refrigerant flow switching device; And selectively executing a freezing room cooling mode for supplying the freezing room cooler (6) from the other outlet of (10) through the second pressure reducing device (12),
While the compressor (8) is stopped, the refrigerant flow switching device (10)
In the refrigerator that closes the flow path, the compressor (8) is closed by the refrigerant flow switching device (10) with a delay from the end of operation of the compressor (8), and prior to the start of operation of the compressor (8). The closure by the lever flow path switching device (10) is released.

Further, the present invention sets the time for releasing the closing by the refrigerant flow switch (10) prior to the start of the operation of the compressor (8) according to the stop time of the compressor. It is characterized by being variable.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the closing is performed by closing both the outlets of the refrigerant flow switching device (10).

Further, the present invention provides the refrigerant flow switching device (10)
Is a three-way valve (10).

[0015] Further, the present invention provides the above-mentioned three-way valve (10)
It is characterized by being driven by (24).

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator main body. FIG. 2 is a refrigeration circuit diagram of the refrigerator. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram for explaining a control system of the refrigerator.

As shown in FIG. 1, this refrigerator comprises a refrigerator room (1), a vegetable room (2), and a freezer room (3a, 3b). The refrigerator includes a refrigerator cooler (4) and a refrigerator blower (5). This refrigerator compartment cooler (4) allows the refrigerator compartment (1) and the vegetable compartment
(2) is cooling. This refrigerator is a freezer refrigerator (6)
And a freezer blower (7). The freezer compartment (3a, 3b) is cooled by the freezer compartment cooler (6). The refrigerant from the compressor (8) is supplied to the two coolers (4, 6). The compressor (8) is a reciprocating compressor.

The flow of the refrigerant will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 2, (9) is a condenser. (Ten)
Is a motor-driven three-way valve that operates as a refrigerant flow switching device. (11) and (12) are capillary tubes that operate as first and second decompression devices, respectively. The capillary tubes (11, 12) are soldered so as to have a heat exchange relationship with the refrigerant suction pipe (8S).

The refrigerant discharge pipe (9D) of the compressor (9) is connected to a condenser
The outlet of the condenser (9) is connected to a three-way valve (10) via a dryer (13).

One outlet of the three-way valve (10) is connected via a capillary tube (11) to an inlet of a refrigerator cooler (4), and an outlet of the refrigerator cooler (4) is connected to a refrigerator cooler. It is connected to the inlet of the vessel (6).

The other outlet of the three-way valve (10) is connected via a capillary tube (12) to the inlet of a freezer compartment cooler (6). The outlet of the freezer compartment cooler (6) is connected to a refrigerant suction pipe (8S) of the compressor (8).

The three-way valve (10) supplies the liquid refrigerant from the condenser (9) with a capillary tube (11) or a capillary tube (12).
In addition to the function of opening and closing the outlet so that the flow can be selectively flown, it also has the function of closing both outlets to completely close the flow path and the function of opening both outlets. In addition, (14) is a header as a refrigerant reservoir connected between the freezer compartment cooler (6) and the compressor (8).

In FIG. 3, the control system circuit of the refrigerator is constituted by a general-purpose microcomputer (M), and its input is a freezing room temperature sensor (3a, 3b) for detecting the temperature of the freezing room (3a, 3b). 15), a refrigerator compartment temperature sensor (16) that detects the temperature of the refrigerator compartment (1), a refrigerator compartment temperature sensor (17) that detects the temperature of the refrigerator compartment cooler (4), and a refrigerator cooler A freezer compartment cooler temperature sensor (18) for detecting the temperature of (6) is connected.

The output of the microcomputer (M) includes a compressor (8), a machine room blower (19), a freezer room blower (7), and a refrigerator room blower (5) with inverter circuits (20, 21), respectively. , 2
And a motor (24) for controlling the opening and closing of the three-way valve (10).

The operation of the refrigerator will be described.

The refrigerator compartment detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor (16)
The temperature of (1) is high, and the temperature of the freezing compartments (3a, 3b) detected by the freezing compartment temperature sensor (15) increases (exceeds the ON point)
And, by the microcomputer (M), the compressor (8) is started to operate, the motor (24) is controlled, and the three-way valve (10)
The capillary tube (11) side is opened, and the capillary tube (12) side is kept closed. Also, blower (5,7,19)
Start driving.

When the compressor (8) is operated, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant discharge pipe (8D) of the compressor (8) flows into the condenser (9) to radiate heat and condense and liquefy. Is done. And
Refrigerant leaving the condenser (9) passes through the dryer (13) and the three-way valve (10)
to go into.

Since the three-way valve (10) is open on the capillary tube (11) side, the refrigerant is depressurized by the capillary tube (11), and then cooled in the refrigerator (4) and the refrigerator (7). )
, And evaporates, and the cooling capacity is exerted by both coolers (4, 6), and each chamber (1, 2, 3a, 3b) is cooled (bi-chamber cooling mode).

The refrigerator is a refrigerator room (including a vegetable room).
Is designed to reach a predetermined refrigeration temperature (OFF point) earlier than the freezer compartment, so that the temperature of the refrigeration compartment (1) reaches the OFF point first. The microcomputer (M) detects that the refrigerator compartment (including the vegetable compartment) has been cooled to a predetermined temperature based on the output of the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor (16), and controls the motor (24), Three-way valve (10) capillary tube (1
2) Open to the side and close the capillary tube (11) side. The blower (5) is stopped after 3 minutes.

The refrigerant condensed and liquefied in the condenser (9) is decompressed in the capillary tube (12), and then cooled in the refrigerator.
It flows into (6) and evaporates, and exhibits a cooling capacity in the freezer compartment cooler (6) (freezer compartment cooling mode).

When the temperature of the freezer compartment (3a, 3b) reaches a predetermined freezer compartment temperature (OFF point), the microcomputer (M) detects this by a freezer compartment temperature sensor (15).
The compressor (8) and the blowers (19, 7) are stopped, and after 30 seconds, the motor (24) is controlled to close the capillary tube (12) side of the three-way valve (10). Thereby, both outlets of the three-way valve (10) are closed, and the flow path is closed.

By closing the three-way valve (10), the disadvantage that the high-temperature refrigerant naturally flows from the high-pressure side to the low-pressure side is suppressed. As a result, unnecessary rises in temperature and pressure in the coolers (4, 6) are avoided, operation efficiency is improved, and energy is saved.

Further, by the delay of closing the three-way valve (10) for 30 seconds, the pressure difference between the high pressure side and the low pressure side can be reduced, and the load at the time of starting the compressor (8) can be reduced. it can.

As described above, since the compressor (8) is constituted by a reciprocating compressor, the pressure difference (differential pressure) on the low pressure side during the operation and during the stop of the compressor is smaller than that of the rotary compressor. Although it is difficult to remove the refrigerant, the flow path is closed by the motor-driven three-way valve (10), so that the flow of the refrigerant can be reliably suppressed.

When the temperature of the freezer compartment (3a, 3b) rises and reaches the ON point of the freezer compartment, and the temperature of the refrigerator compartment (1) does not reach the ON point of the refrigerator compartment, the microcomputer (M) Is
The compressor (8) is operated again to open the capillary tube (12) side of the three-way valve (10) to cool the freezing compartments (3a, 3b).

In the above embodiment, the three-way valve (10) is a motor-driven type. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the three-way valve (10) may be driven by an electromagnetic solenoid or the like.

In the above embodiment, the refrigerant outlet is closed by closing both outlets of the three-way valve (10) 30 seconds after the compressor (8) is stopped. Of course, depending on the refrigerator, 30 seconds to 3 minutes is considered appropriate.

In the above embodiment, when the compressor (8) is stopped, the pressure difference is attenuated to some extent. However, this may be performed when the operation of the compressor (8) is started.

That is, the temperature of the refrigerator compartment (1) detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor (16) is high, and the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor (15)
When the temperature of the freezer compartment (3a, 3b) detected by the system rises (exceeds the ON point), the microcomputer (M) immediately starts the compressor
Without starting the operation of (8), delay the operation start timing by about 25 seconds. For this reason, the microcomputer (M)
First, the motor (24) is controlled to open the capillary tube (11) side of the three-way valve (10). This capillary tube (1
1) Opening the side reduces the pressure difference. Then, after 25 seconds, the operation of the compressor (8) is started.

The reason why the time is set to 25 seconds instead of 30 seconds is that the pressure difference gradually decreases while the compressor (10) is stopped. The start delay time of the compressor (10) naturally varies depending on the refrigerator, but may vary from 10 seconds to 3 seconds.
Minutes are considered appropriate. Further, since the decrease value of the pressure difference during the stop of the compressor (10) naturally corresponds to the stop time of the compressor (10), the stop time of the compressor (10) is measured. The start delay time of the compressor (10) may be varied according to the following. For example, after stopping the compressor (8),
If restarting immediately, there shall be a delay of 30 seconds.

Further, the pressure difference may be reduced by opening the outlet of the three-way valve (10) not at either the stop or the start of the compressor (8) but at both.

[0044]

According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the cooling performance of the refrigerator and to reduce the starting load of the compressor (8).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a refrigerator main body according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a refrigeration circuit diagram of the refrigerator of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a control system of the refrigerator according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Refrigerator room, (3a, 3b) ・ Freezer room, (4) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Cooler for refrigerator room, (5) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Blower for refrigerator room , (6) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Freezer compartment cooler, (7) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Freezer compartment blower, (8) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ Compressor, (9) ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・· Condenser, (10) · · · · Three-way valve (refrigerant flow path switching device), (11) · · · · Capillary tube (first pressure reducing device), (12) · · · · · Capillary tube (Second decompression device), (M)... Microcomputer (control means).

Claims (9)

[Claims] After condensing a refrigerant discharged from a compressor in a condenser, the refrigerant flows from one outlet of a refrigerant flow switching device to a refrigerator cooler and a freezer cooler through a first pressure reducing device. The two-chamber cooling mode to be sequentially supplied and the freezing-room cooling mode to be supplied to the freezing-room cooler through the second pressure reducing device from the other outlet of the refrigerant flow switching device are selectively executed, and While the compressor is stopped, in the refrigerator in which the refrigerant flow path switch closes the flow path, the closing by the refrigerant flow path switch is performed after a delay from the end of operation of the compressor. Refrigerator. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the delay is about 30 seconds to 3 minutes. 3. A refrigerant discharged from the compressor is condensed by a condenser, and then from one outlet of the refrigerant flow switching device to a refrigerator cooler and a freezer cooler through a first pressure reducing device. A dual-chamber cooling mode to be sequentially supplied, and a freezing-room cooling mode to be supplied to the freezing-room cooler through the second decompression device from the other outlet of the refrigerant flow switching device are selectively executed. While the compressor is stopped, in the refrigerator in which the refrigerant flow path switch closes the flow path, the closing by the refrigerant flow path switch is released prior to the start of operation of the compressor. Refrigerator. 4. A time period from 10 seconds to the start of the operation of the compressor.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the closing by the refrigerant flow switching device is released about three minutes before. 5. A refrigerant discharged from a compressor is condensed by a condenser, and then is passed from one outlet of a refrigerant flow switching device to a refrigerator cooler and a freezer cooler through a first pressure reducing device. The two-chamber cooling mode to be sequentially supplied and the freezing-room cooling mode to be supplied to the freezing-room cooler through the second pressure reducing device from the other outlet of the refrigerant flow switching device are selectively executed, and While the compressor is stopped, in the refrigerator in which the refrigerant flow path switch closes the flow path, the refrigerant flow path switch is closed by the refrigerant flow path switch with a delay from the end of operation of the compressor, and the compressor is closed. A refrigerator wherein the closing by the refrigerant flow switching device is released prior to the start of operation. 6. The compressor according to claim 1, wherein a time for releasing the closing by the refrigerant flow switch is changed in accordance with a stop time of the compressor before the start of the operation of the compressor. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 3 to 5. 7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the closing is performed by closing both outlets of the refrigerant flow switching device. 8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant flow switching device is a three-way valve. 9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the three-way valve is driven by a motor.