JP2003287344A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cooling means such as a refrigerator for keeping cooling capacity in a storage without deteriorating heat exchange efficiency of coolers. <P>SOLUTION: For preventing the deterioration in the cooling capacity of the respective coolers 10 and 11, a passing wind speed for passing through the inside of the coolers 10 and 11 is varied according to a lowering speed of a storage inside temperature by frosting to the respective coolers 10 and 11 until defrosting time of the coolers 10 and 11 comes. For varying the passing wind speed in the respective coolers 10 and 11, a rotating speed of respective air blowers 20 and 21 is controlled, or a valve 29 (such as a damper) is arranged in a duct for constituting the cold air circulation of a cooler room 40, a refrigerating room 7, and a vegetable room 8, or a valve 36 (such as a damper) is arranged in a duct for constituting the cold air circulation of a cooler room 41 and a freezing room 9, and an opening-closing angle of the valves 29 and 36 is controlled. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a means for preventing deterioration of cooling capacity due to frost adhering to a cooler.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional refrigerator, for example, as shown in FIG. 1 (only reference numerals are shown), an inside of a heat insulating box 1 composed of an outer box 2, an inner box 3 and a foamed heat insulating material 4 is a heat insulating partition. The refrigerator compartment 7, the vegetable compartment 8 and the freezer compartment 9 are divided by 5 and 6, and the cooler compartment 40 for the refrigerator compartment 7 and the vegetable compartment 8 which is assembled behind the vegetable compartment 8 is provided. A first cooler 10 having a temperature sensor 25 and a first blower 20 are arranged in a cooler chamber 40, and a cooler chamber 41 for the freezing chamber 9 which is assembled behind the freezing chamber 9 is provided,
A second cooler 11 having a temperature sensor 26 and a second blower 21 are arranged in the same cooler chamber 41, and the coolers 10 and 11 are connected by a connecting pipe 12.

The coolers 10 and 11 each include a large number of fins 23 laterally stacked at a predetermined interval and a plurality of heat transfer tubes 24 orthogonal to the fins 23. The blowers 20 and 21 for forced circulation of the cool air are provided above the coolers 10 and 11, while the defrost heaters 13 and 14 are provided below the coolers 10 and 11 to melt the frost formed on the coolers 10 and 11. Was doing. Further, the compressor 16 is arranged in the machine room 27 at the lower rear of the heat insulating box 1.

Further, temperature sensors 30, 31, 32 are arranged inside the chambers 7, 9 and outside the heat insulating box 1, and the temperature inside each chamber is detected by the temperature sensors 30, 31 inside each chamber. When the detected temperature becomes higher than a predetermined cooling temperature, the compressor 16 and the blowers 20 and 21 are controlled to cool the inside of the storage on the detected side.

FIG. 2 shows the refrigerating cycle. As shown in the circuit A of FIG. 2, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 16 is the condenser 15 → first capillary tube 18 → first cooler 10 → first The second cooler 11 → returns to the compressor 16 through the accumulator 17, or as shown in the circuit B, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 16 is the condenser 15 → the second capillary tube 19 → the second cooler 11 -> A refrigerating cycle in which the gas passes through the accumulator 17 and returns to the compressor 16 is configured. Here, the switching of the circuits A and B is performed by the switching valve 22, and the switching valve 22 is switched alternately so that the refrigerating chamber 7 and the vegetable chamber 8 can be operated by the first cooler 10.
And only the freezer compartment 9 was cooled by the second cooler 11.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the defrosting of the respective coolers 10, 11 of the refrigerator having a plurality of coolers is carried out while the respective coolers 10, 11 are at rest, as shown in FIG. ,
14 or each of the blowers 20 and 21 is used for defrosting, and changes in the defrosting start time depending on the number of times the door is opened and closed, and the temperature sensors 25 and 26 attached to the coolers 10 and 11, respectively.
Then, defrost control was performed.

However, as shown in FIG. 6, the rotation speed of each of the blowers 20 and 21 during the normal operation has continued to be a constant rotation speed since the initial operation, so that each of the coolers 1
Since the cooling capacity of each of the coolers 10 and 11 gradually decreases with each cooling cycle as the frost formation amount of 0 and 11 gradually increases. With the passage of time, the temperature decrease rates t1 and t for each cooling cycle
2 and t3 are gradually lengthened as t1 <t2 <t3, and therefore, the decrease in capacity during normal operation is compensated for by extending the operating time of the cooler (compressor), and these increase the power. There is a problem that it may be consumed and heat may flow into the refrigerator.

[0008]

In view of the above problems, the present invention does not reduce the heat exchange efficiency of the cooler,
An object of the present invention is to provide a cooling means such as a refrigerator capable of maintaining the cooling capacity in the refrigerator.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by providing a storage chamber, a cooler chamber on the back surface of the refrigerator, a cooler for generating cool air in the cooler chamber, and a cool air generated. In a refrigerator having a blower for forced circulation of the compressor, a condenser, and the cooler, which are sequentially connected by a refrigerant pipe to form a refrigerant circuit, until the defrosting time of the cooler comes. In addition, the speed of the passing wind passing through the inside of the cooler is varied according to the rate of decrease in the temperature inside the refrigerator due to frost formation on the cooler.

In order to change the passing air velocity in the cooler, the rotation speed of the blower is controlled.

A valve is provided in a duct that forms a cold air circulation between the cooler chamber and the storage chamber, and the opening / closing angle of the valve is controlled in order to change the passing wind speed in the cooler. There is.

By the time the defrosting time of the cooler comes,
According to the rate of decrease of the temperature inside the refrigerator due to frost formation on the cooler, the flow velocity of air passing through the cooler is varied, and the evaporation temperature of the cooler is varied.

In order to change the evaporation temperature of the cooler, the rotational speed of the compressor is controlled.

An adjusting valve for adjusting the flow rate of the refrigerant to the cooler is provided, and in order to change the evaporation temperature of the cooler,
It has a configuration in which the opening / closing angle of the adjusting valve is controlled.

As a detecting means for varying the passing wind speed passing through the inside of the cooler or the evaporation temperature of the cooler, the operating cumulative time of the compressor is set.

As the detection means, the compressor operating rate of the compressor is used.

As the detection means, the operation cumulative time of the cooler is set.

As the detecting means, the cooler operating rate of the cooler is adopted.

Temperature sensors are provided in the cooler and the cooler chamber, respectively, and the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor of the cooler and the temperature of the returned cool air detected by the temperature sensor in the cooler chamber are used as the detecting means. It is configured as a temperature difference from the value.

A door is provided in the storage chamber, and the detection means has a frequency of opening and closing the door.

As the detection means, the pre-defrosting time of the cooler is set.

As the detecting means, the amount of defrosting water before the cooler is set.

As the detection means, the input current value to the compressor is used.

As the detection means, the input current value to the blower is set.

A temperature sensor is provided in the condenser, and the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor is used as the detection means.

A temperature sensor is provided in each of the storage chambers, and the detecting means has a gradient of the temperature value in the refrigerator detected by each of the temperature sensors.

A temperature sensor is provided outside the heat-insulating box body in which a foam insulation material is filled between the outer box and the inner box, and the detecting means has the outside air temperature value detected by the temperature sensor. There is.

[0028]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below as examples based on the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view (A) showing an outline of an internal configuration of a refrigerator main body of the present invention.
And FIG. 2 is a front view (B), FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a control system diagram (A) of the refrigerator and a configuration of valves according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is an enlarged side sectional view (B), and FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator according to the present invention. In addition, the same parts as those in the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the figure, FIG. 1 shows a schematic structure of a refrigerator main body, in which 1 is a heat-insulating box body comprising an outer box 2 made of a steel plate, an inner box 3 made of synthetic resin, a foamed heat insulating material 4 and the like. The inside thereof is divided into a refrigerating compartment 7, a vegetable compartment 8 and a freezing compartment 9 in this order from the top by two heat insulating partition bodies 5 and 6.

A cooler chamber 40 having a temperature sensor 33 for the refrigerating room 7 and the vegetable room 8 assembled behind the vegetable room 8 is provided, and a cooler chamber 40 is provided with a temperature sensor 25 to cool air. A first cooler 10 for generating and a first blower 20 for forcibly circulating the generated cool air are arranged, and a cooler chamber 41 having a temperature sensor 34 for the freezing chamber 9 mounted behind the freezing chamber 9 is provided. The second cooler 11 which is provided and has the temperature sensor 26 in the same cooler chamber 41 to generate cold air
And a second blower 21 for forcibly circulating the generated cool air, and a connecting pipe 1 between the both coolers 10 and 11.
Connected with 2.

The both coolers 10 and 11 are composed of a large number of fins 23 laterally laminated at a predetermined interval and a plurality of heat transfer tubes 24 orthogonal to the fins 23. The blowers 20 and 21 for forced circulation of the cool air are provided above the coolers 10 and 11, while the defrost heaters 13 and 14 are provided below the coolers 10 and 11 to melt the frost formed on the coolers 10 and 11. I am trying. Further, a compressor 16 for circulating a refrigerant is arranged in a machine room 27 at the lower rear of the heat insulating box 1.

Further, temperature sensors 30, 31, 32 are arranged inside the chambers 7, 9 and outside the heat insulating box 1, and the temperature inside each chamber is detected by the temperature sensors 30, 31 in each chamber. When the detected temperature becomes higher than a predetermined cooling temperature, the compressor 16 and the blowers 20 and 21 are controlled to cool the inside of the refrigerator on the detected side.

FIG. 2 shows the refrigerating cycle. As shown in the circuit A of FIG. 2, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 16 is a condenser 15 having a temperature sensor 35.fwdarw.first capillary tube 18.fwdarw.first. Cooler 10-> 2nd cooler 11-> It returns to the said compressor 16 through the accumulator 17, or the refrigerant discharged from the said compressor 16 is the condenser 15 which has the temperature sensor 35-> Two-capillary tube 19-> second cooler 11-> accumulator 1
A refrigerating cycle of passing through 7 and returning to the compressor 16 is configured. Here, the switching of the A and B circuits is performed by the switching valve 2
2, the switching valve 22 is alternately switched to cool the refrigerating compartment 7 and the vegetable compartment 8 by the first cooler 10, and cool only the freezing compartment 9 by the second cooler 11. ing.

As shown in FIG. 6, since the rotation speed of each of the blowers 20 and 21 during the normal operation continues to be a constant rotation speed from the initial operation, the frost formation of each of the coolers 10 and 11 is caused. As the amount gradually increases, the cooling capacity of each of the coolers 10 and 11 also gradually decreases with each cooling cycle. Therefore, the temperature decrease rate t of the internal cold storage temperature also changes with time in each cooling cycle. The temperature decrease rates t1, t2, and t3 are t
It becomes 1 <t2 <t3, and it will be prolonged gradually. Therefore, by maintaining the temperature decrease rate t1 of the initial cooling cycle of the cooling capacity of each of the coolers 10 and 11 without prolonging the temperature decrease rate t of the inside temperature, each cooler 1
It is necessary to prevent the cooling ability of 0 and 11 from decreasing.

Further, the frost formation speed at which the frost forms on the respective coolers 10 and 11 is faster as the temperature difference between the cooler and the returning cool air to the cooler is larger or the passing wind speed is higher, and therefore the frost formation is caused. In the early stage of, increase the evaporation temperature of the cooler (for example,
If the evaporation temperature immediately after defrosting is set to -25 ° C → 20 ° C) and the passing air velocity is low (for example, the rotation speed of the blower is slow), the frost formation speed can be delayed and the heat exchange efficiency is also good. Cooling capacity can also be secured. After that, even if frost is formed, it is known that the cooling capacity (heat exchange efficiency) can be maintained by lowering the evaporation temperature of the cooler and increasing the passing air velocity.

Therefore, as shown in the control system diagram of FIG.
In order to prevent the cooling capacity of each of the coolers 10 and 11 from deteriorating, the present invention stores the frost on the coolers 10 and 11 before the defrosting time of each of the coolers 10 and 11 comes. Depending on the rate of decrease of the internal temperature, the speed of the passing wind passing through the inside of the coolers 10 and 11 is changed, or the cooler 1
While varying the passing wind speed passing through 0 and 11,
The evaporation temperature of each of the coolers 10 and 11 is made variable, so that the cooling capacity of each of the coolers 10 and 11 is not lowered.

Then, in order to change the passing air velocity in each of the coolers 10 and 11, the number of rotations of each of the blowers 20 and 21 is controlled, or the cooler chamber 40, the refrigerating chamber 7 and the vegetables are controlled. A valve 29 (damper or the like) is provided in the duct that forms the cold air circulation with the chamber 8 (see FIG. 3B), or the cold air circulation between the cooler chamber 41 and the freezing chamber 9 is formed. A valve 36 (damper or the like) is provided in the duct to control the opening and closing angles of the valves 29 and 36.
By opening 9, 36 (damper etc.), the passing wind speed is slowed, and by closing it, the passing wind speed is raised.

Further, in order to change the evaporation temperature of each of the coolers 10 and 11, the rotation speed of the compressor 16 is controlled, or the flow rate of the refrigerant to each of the coolers 10 and 11 is adjusted. The adjusting valves 37 and 38 (flow rate adjusting valves and the like) are provided in the refrigerant circuit, respectively, and the opening and closing angles of the adjusting valves 37 and 38 are controlled.

FIG. 4 shows a control block diagram according to the present invention. The cooling device 10, 11 is provided in the control device 28 including a microcomputer provided in the heat insulating box 1 (refrigerator main body). As the detection means TK for varying the passing air velocity passing through the inside or the evaporation temperature, signals of the temperature sensors 25, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, ON / OFF Ad of the compressor 16, and operation totalization Signals of time At, operating rate Ar, and input current value Ai, the respective coolers 10 and 11
Accumulated operating time Rt, operating rate Rr, defrosting time Rj, defrosting water amount Rs
Signal, door opening / closing frequency Th signal, the blowers 20, 21
Input current value Si signals are input, and based on these signals, the rotation speed Sk of each of the blowers 20 and 21, the rotation speed Ak of the compressor 16, and the opening and closing of the valves 29 and 36 (dampers, etc.). The angle Dk and the opening / closing angle Kk of the adjusting valves 37 and 38 are controlled.

Next, based on the control block diagram of FIG.
The detection means TK for varying the passing air velocity passing through the inside of the coolers 10 and 11 or the evaporation temperature will be described. Since the amount of frost increases as the operating time of each of the coolers 10 and 11 increases, the compressor 1 is used as the detection unit TK.
The operation integrated time At of 6 or the operation integrated time Rt of each of the coolers 10 and 11 is used, or the cooler 10 and
Since the operating rate increases as the operating time of 11 increases, the detecting means TK may be the compressor operating rate Ar or the cooler operating rate Rr.

Further, since the temperature difference increases as the amount of frost formed on each of the coolers 10 and 11 increases, the detecting means TK is
A temperature value detected by the cooler temperature sensors 25 and 26;
The temperature difference from the temperature value of the returned cool air detected by the cooler room temperature sensors 33 and 34 is set, or the heat insulating box 1
The door opening / closing frequency Th may be set.

Since the defrosting time increases as the amount of frost formed on each of the coolers 10 and 11 increases, is the defrosting time Rj before the coolers 10 and 11 used as the detection means TK? Alternatively, since the defrosting water amount increases as the frosting amount of the cooling devices 10 and 11 increases, the defrosting water amount Rs before the cooling devices 10 and 11 may be used.

Further, since the compressor input increases as the amount of frost formed on each of the coolers 10 and 11 increases, the detection means TK is set to the input current value Ai to the compressor 16, or Since the blower input increases as the amount of frost on the coolers 10 and 11 increases, the input current value to each of the blowers 20 and 21.
It may be Si.

Further, since the temperature of the condenser 15 rises as the amount of frost formed on each of the coolers 10 and 11 increases, the temperature value detected by the condenser temperature sensor 35 is used as the detecting means TK. Or, as the detection means TK,
It may be a gradient of the inside temperature value detected by each of the room temperature sensors 30 and 31, or the outside air temperature value detected by the outside temperature sensor 32 of the heat insulating box 1 as the detection means TK.

Further, in the above embodiment, the cooler 10,
Although the detection means TK for varying the passing wind speed or the evaporation temperature passing through the inside of the reference numeral 11 is individually used in the embodiment, it is possible to expect more effect by combining the detection means TK as necessary. Become.

Although the first cooler 10 is arranged behind the vegetable compartment 8 in the above embodiment, the first cooler 10 may be arranged behind the refrigerating compartment 7. (Not shown)

In the above structure, the respective coolers 10, 1
1 by varying the passing air velocity passing through the inside of the cooling device 10, or varying the passing air velocity passing through the inside of the cooling devices 10 and 11 and varying the evaporation temperature of the cooling devices 10 and 11. As the amount of frost on the coolers 10 and 11 gradually increases, it is possible to compensate for the decrease in the cooling capacity of the coolers 10 and 11 that gradually decreases, and to operate the cooler (compressor). It is possible to eliminate the problem that consumes electric power and may cause heat to flow into the refrigerator without extending the time.

[0048]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It becomes a cooling means for a refrigerator or the like that can maintain the cooling capacity in the refrigerator without lowering the heat exchange efficiency of the cooler.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view (A) and a front view (B) showing an outline of an internal configuration of a refrigerator main body of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a control system diagram (A) of the refrigerator according to the present invention, and is an enlarged side sectional view (B) of a main part for explaining the configuration of the valve.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of a refrigerator according to a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a time-series explanatory diagram showing changes in the internal temperature of the refrigerator according to the conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Insulation box 2 outer box 3 inner box 4 foam insulation 5, 6 Insulation partition 7 Refrigerator 8 vegetable room 9 Freezer 10 First cooler 11 Second cooler 12 Connection pipe 13 First defrost heater 14 Second defrost heater 15 condenser 16 compressor 17 Accumulator 18 First capillary tube 19 Second capillary tube 20 First blower 21 second blower 22 Switching valve 23 Fine 24 heat transfer tube 25, 26 Temperature sensor (cooler) 27 Machine room 28 Controller 29, 36 valves (damper) 30, 31 Temperature sensor (indoor) 32 Temperature sensor (outside temperature) 33, 34 Temperature sensor (cooler room) 35 Temperature sensor (condenser) 37, 38 Regulator 40, 41 Cooler room

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A storage chamber, a cooler chamber on the back of the inside of the refrigerator, a cooler for generating cool air in the cooler chamber, and a blower for forcedly circulating the generated cool air, and a compressor and a condenser. In the refrigerator in which the coolers are sequentially connected by a refrigerant pipe to form a refrigerant circuit, in the refrigerator until the defrosting time comes, the rate of decrease of the internal temperature due to frost on the cooler According to the above, the refrigerator is configured such that a passing wind speed passing through the inside of the cooler is changed. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the number of rotations of the blower is controlled in order to change the passing wind speed in the cooler. 3. A valve is provided in a duct that constitutes cold air circulation between the cooler chamber and the storage chamber, and an opening / closing angle of the valve is controlled in order to change a passing wind speed in the cooler. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator is a refrigerator. 4. The wind velocity passing through the inside of the cooler is varied according to the rate of decrease of the temperature inside the refrigerator due to the frost formation on the cooler until the defrosting time of the cooler comes. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the evaporation temperature of the cooler is variable. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the number of revolutions of the compressor is controlled in order to change the evaporation temperature of the cooler. 6. An adjusting valve for adjusting the flow rate of the refrigerant to the cooler is provided, and the opening / closing angle of the adjusting valve is controlled in order to change the evaporation temperature of the cooler. Item 4. The refrigerator according to item 4. 7. The operation cumulative time of the compressor is used as a detection means for varying the passing air velocity passing through the inside of the cooler or the evaporation temperature of the cooler. Refrigerator. 8. The compressor operating rate of the compressor is used as the detection means.
Refrigerator described. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detection means is an integrated operation time of the cooler.
Refrigerator described. 10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means is a cooler operating rate of the cooler. 11. A temperature sensor is provided in each of the cooler and the cooler chamber, and the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor of the cooler and the return cool air detected by the temperature sensor in the cooler chamber serve as the detection means. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator has a temperature difference from the temperature value of. 12. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 4, wherein a door is provided in the storage room, and the detection means has a door opening / closing frequency. 13. The detecting means is a pre-defrosting time of the cooler.
Refrigerator described. 14. The amount of pre-defrost water of the cooler is used as the detection means.
Refrigerator described. 15. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the detection means is an input current value to the compressor. 16. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the detection means is an input current value to the blower. 17. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the condenser is provided with a temperature sensor, and the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor is used as the detection means. 18. A temperature sensor is provided in each of the storage chambers,
The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the detecting means is a gradient of a temperature value in the refrigerator detected by each of the temperature sensors. 19. A temperature sensor is provided outside a heat-insulating box body filled with a foamed heat insulating material between the outer box and the inner box, and the detecting means is an outside air temperature value detected by the temperature sensor. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerator is a refrigerator.