JP2003322454A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator capable of performing defrosting of an evaporator with the reduction of quality of electricity to a heater or without using the heater itself. <P>SOLUTION: When both inside temperature in a refrigeration room and a freezing room become under the predetermined set temperature respectively, the device terminates a compressor until either the temperature in the refrigeration room or the temperature in the freezing room becomes more than the predetermined set temperature. In a part time during stop of the compressor or in the elapse of the predetermined time after the stop of the compressor, the device makes the state where a second cold air passage closes, a first cold air passage opens and the fan is rotating. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional refrigerator has a refrigerating cycle shown in FIG. 7, and the refrigerating cycle will be described. The refrigerant compressed by a compressor 1 flows into a condenser 2 for heat exchange. Then, the pressure is reduced by the decompressor 3 and vaporized by the evaporator 4, and at the same time, the heat of the air sent from the fan 5 is removed to generate cold air.

The cold air generated in the evaporator 4 is sent to the freezing compartment (F in the figure) and the refrigerating compartment (R in the figure), but the refrigerating compartment is provided in the passage for sending the cool air from the evaporator 4 to the refrigerating compartment. Damper 6
Is provided so that the amount of cold air supplied to the refrigerating room can be controlled. Further, since frost adheres to the evaporator 4, the operating time of the compressor is integrated, and when the integrated value is equal to or greater than the set value, the heater 9 is energized to defrost the heat of the heater. There is.

[0004]

However, in the refrigerator shown in FIG. 7, since the heater 9 is energized each time defrosting is performed, a large amount of power is consumed and the power consumption of the entire refrigerator is reduced. There is a problem with that.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a refrigerator capable of defrosting an evaporator by reducing the amount of electricity supplied to the heater or by eliminating the heater itself.

[0006]

The above object is to provide a compressor, an evaporator chamber in which an evaporator is installed and which generates cold air to be supplied to a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, and the refrigerating chamber communicating with the evaporator chamber. A first cold air passage for supplying cold air to the evaporator, a second cold air passage communicating with the evaporator chamber for supplying cold air to the freezer compartment, and a first cold air passage and a second cold air passage. And a second cold air control means for opening and closing the first cold air passage, and a second cold air control means for opening and closing the second cold air passage. When the inside temperature of each of the refrigerators becomes lower than the preset temperature for each of them, the compressor is stopped until either one of the refrigerating room and the freezing room reaches a preset temperature or more, and the compressor is stopped. Part of the time or after a certain time has passed since the compressor stopped The second cold air passage is closed, the first cold air passage is opened, and it is achieved by having a control device that brings the fan into a rotating state. In addition, the time from stopping the compressor to closing the second cold air passage, opening the first cold air passage, and rotating the fan is not particularly limited, but is about 5 to 10 minutes. Preferably.

A compressor, an evaporator chamber in which an evaporator is installed and which produces cold air to be supplied to the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber, and a first chamber which communicates with the evaporator chamber and supplies cold air to the refrigerating chamber are provided. A cold air passage, a second cold air passage that communicates with the evaporator chamber and supplies cold air to the freezing chamber; a fan that supplies cold air through the first cold air passage and the second cold air passage; The compressor includes: first cool air control means that opens and closes a first cold air passage; second cold air control means that opens and closes the second cold air passage; and a heater that removes frost adhering to the evaporator. When the accumulated time reaches a preset time, the compressor is stopped, the second cold air passage is closed, the first cold air passage is opened, and the fan is rotated. At the same time, the first cold air passage was closed and the fan was stopped. It is also achieved by having a control device that starts energization of the heater. In addition, the time from when the compressor is stopped and the fan is rotated until the fan is stopped is not particularly limited,
It is preferably about 10 minutes.

[0008]

1 is a side sectional view of a refrigerator showing an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator body 10 is an outer box 11
And an inner box 12 and a heat insulating material 13 arranged between the outer box 11 and the inner box 12, and the inner box 12 forms a refrigerating room 14, a vegetable room 15, and a freezing room 16 from above. ing.

The freezer 16 and the back plate 17 of the refrigerator body 10
A compressor 18 is installed between and, and an evaporator 19 is installed above the compressor 18. A fan 20 for circulating cold air is installed between the vegetable compartment 15 and the back plate 17 of the refrigerator body 10. Refrigerator 14 and refrigerator body 10
Between the rear plate 17 and the rear plate 17, there is provided a refrigerating room cold air ventilation passage 21 for supplying cold air to the refrigerating room 14, and the cool air circulated by the fan 20 is supplied to the refrigerating room via the refrigerating room damper 22. It flows into the cold air ventilation passage 21.

A freezer compartment damper 23 is provided between the freezer compartment 16 and the evaporator 19, and the freezer compartment damper 23 is provided.
The cold air that has passed through is discharged from the cold air discharge port 24 for the freezer compartment and returns to the fan 20 from the return air passage 25 for the freezer compartment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the refrigerator main body 10 shown in FIG. 1 as seen from the front, and FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. The flow of cold air will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. First, the flow of cold air that cools the refrigerating chamber 14 is the fan 20.
The rotation of the refrigerating compartment return air passage 26 causes the return air from the refrigerating compartment 14 to flow into the evaporator 19 and is cooled by heat exchange with the evaporator 19 to cool the refrigerating compartment damper 2
Advoke via 2 to the cold air passage 21 for the refrigerating room. Next, the cold air advancing to the cold air ventilation passage 21 for the refrigerating compartment is discharged into the refrigerating compartment 14 through a plurality of cold air outlets 27 for the refrigerating compartment in order to uniformly cool the entire refrigerating compartment 14, and the refrigerating compartment 1 is cooled.
The inside of 4 is cooled uniformly. Further, the cold air that has cooled the refrigerating compartment 14 then flows into the vegetable compartment 15, cools the vegetable compartment 15, and then transfers to the refrigerating compartment return air passage 26.

The flow of cold air that cools the freezer compartment 16 is such that the fan 20 rotates first to cause the freezer compartment return air passage 25.
To the evaporator 19, return air from the freezer compartment 16 flows, is cooled by heat exchange with the evaporator 19, and is admitted to the freezer compartment cold air ventilation passage 28 via the freezer compartment dampers 23, 23. . In this embodiment, two freezing chamber dampers 23 are provided because the freezing chamber 16 is divided into the left and right in the central portion in the present embodiment. Are available. Next, the cold air advancing to the freezing room cold air ventilation passage 28 is discharged from the freezing room cold air discharge port 24 (see FIG. 1) to the freezing room 16 to cool the inside of the freezing room 16. Further, the cold air that has cooled the freezer compartment 16 is repeatedly transferred to the freezer compartment return air passage 25 thereafter.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a refrigerating cycle of the refrigerator shown in FIG. The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 18 flows into the condenser 30 and exchanges heat with the decompressor 29.
Thus, the pressure is reduced and vaporized in the evaporator 19, and at the same time, the heat of the air sent from the fan 20 is removed to generate cold air.

The cold air generated by the evaporator 19 is sent to the freezer compartment (F1 and F2 in the figure) and the refrigerating compartment (R in the figure), but in the passage for sending the cool air from the evaporator 19 to the refrigerating compartment. A refrigerating compartment damper 22 is provided so that the amount of cold air supplied to the refrigerating compartment R can be controlled. Further, a freezing chamber damper 23 is provided in the passage for sending the cool air from the evaporator 19 to the freezing chambers F1 and F2, so that the amount of cold air supplied to the freezing chambers F1 and F2 can be controlled.

FIG. 5 shows the fan rotating (ON) and stopped (O).
FF), opening / closing of damper for freezer compartment, opening / closing damper for refrigerator compartment, operation (ON) / stop (OFF) of compressor, refrigerator internal temperature, refrigerator internal temperature chart showing the refrigerator internal temperature. The control of the control device will be described below with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the lower limit set temperature of the refrigerating compartment and the upper limit / lower limit set temperature of the freezing compartment are stored in a storage device in advance, and the temperature sensors installed in the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment respectively store the temperature inside the compartment. The control device controls the operation / stop of the compressor, the opening / closing of the refrigerator compartment damper, the opening / closing of the freezer compartment damper, and the rotation / stop of the fan according to the measurement result. Further, the open / close state of the refrigerator compartment damper and the freezer compartment damper are opposite to each other. If the refrigerator compartment damper is open, the freezer compartment damper is closed, and the refrigerator compartment damper is closed. If is closed, the freezer damper is open.

In the refrigerating compartment, when the compressor is operated, the fan is rotated and the damper for the refrigerating compartment is opened, the temperature inside the refrigerator gradually decreases and eventually reaches point A in the figure. Point A is
It is the lower limit set temperature of the refrigerating compartment, and the control device stops the compressor and the fan so as not to freeze the stored items in the refrigerating compartment. Since the temperature and pressure of the evaporator are lower than that of the condenser when the compressor is stopped, the evaporator takes in the warm refrigerant stored in the condenser to balance the pressure with the condenser, Releases cold refrigerant. as a result,
The temperature of the evaporator gradually rises, and the frost adhering to the surroundings of the evaporator can be removed. This defrosting is continued while the compressor is stopped until the pressure is balanced between the evaporator and the condenser.

Further, in the defrosting, the frost is vaporized and the defrosting water is evaporated to generate high-humidity air. Therefore, in order to use this high-humidity air, the control device rotates the fan to allow the high-humidity air to flow into the refrigerating compartment and the vegetable compartment communicating with the refrigerating compartment, so that the freshness of the stored product can be maintained for a long time. To In the refrigerating chamber, the temperature inside the refrigerator gradually rises while the high-humidity air is being flown in, so that the temperature inside the refrigerator reaches point B before long. Point B is a point where the temperature inside the refrigerating compartment becomes higher than the lower limit set temperature of the refrigerating compartment. Here, the refrigerating compartment damper is closed, the freezing compartment damper is opened, and high-humidity air is stored in the refrigerating compartment. The fan is stopped so as to prevent the temperature of the inside of the refrigerator from increasing by increasing the temperature of the inside of the chamber to stop the flow of high-humidity air.

Since cold air does not flow into the freezer, the temperature inside the freezer gradually rises and eventually reaches point C in the figure. Point C is the upper limit set temperature of the freezing compartment, and it is necessary to cool the freezing compartment immediately. Therefore, the compressor is started and the fan is rotated to supply cold air to the freezing compartment. Immediately lower the temperature inside the refrigerator.

When the temperature inside the freezer continues to drop, it eventually reaches point D. Point D is the lower limit set temperature of the freezing compartment, and there is no need to cool the freezing compartment any more. Therefore, the damper for the freezing compartment is closed and the damper for the refrigerating compartment is opened to supply cold air to the refrigerating compartment. . After that, A
By performing similar control when passing through the points B, C, and D, the evaporator can be defrosted and the refrigerating compartment and the vegetable compartment can be highly humidified.

In the refrigerator performing such control, it is not necessary to energize the heater every time the evaporator is defrosted, and thus the heater is not required or the energization amount to the heater can be reduced. Further, the refrigerating room and the vegetable room can be kept at a high humidity by utilizing frost, so that the stored goods can be prevented from drying and the freshness can be maintained for a longer time.

FIG. 6 shows the fan rotating (ON) and stopped (O).
FF), opening / closing of damper for freezer compartment, opening / closing damper for refrigerator compartment, operation (ON) / stop (OFF) of compressor, energization (ON) / energization stop (OFF) of defrost heater. . The control of the control device will be described below with reference to FIG.

In the initial operation in the figure, the compressor is operated to generate cold air in the evaporator and the fan is rotated, so that the cold air flows into the refrigerating room having the open cold air passage, and the cold air in the refrigerating room is maintained. Cool the supplies. When the temperature in the refrigerating compartment becomes lower than a preset temperature, the control device stops the operation of the compressor so as not to freeze the stored items in the refrigerating compartment. When the compressor stops, the evaporator takes in the warm refrigerant stored in the condenser and releases the cooled refrigerant in an attempt to eliminate the pressure difference between the evaporator and the condenser. As a result, the temperature of the evaporator gradually rises and the frost adhering to the periphery of the evaporator can be removed. This defrosting is while the compressor is stopped,
Continue until pressure balance is achieved between the evaporator and condenser. In the present embodiment, by rotating the fan during defrosting, air that has become highly humid due to vaporization of frost during defrosting and evaporation of defrosting water flows into the refrigerator compartment and the vegetable compartment. This keeps the refrigerating room from drying and moisturizes the stored goods to keep them fresh for a long time.

If the high-humidity air continues to flow in, the humidity approaches 100%, but the temperature inside the refrigerator also rises, so the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment is preset. When the internal temperature is reached or higher, the refrigerating compartment damper is closed to prevent the high humidity air from flowing into the refrigerating compartment, the freezing compartment damper is opened, and the fan is stopped to stop the flow of the high humidity air.
In the freezer compartment, the temperature inside the refrigerator gradually rises when the compressor is stopped, so when the temperature exceeds the preset upper limit set temperature of the freezer compartment, the compressor is operated to cool the inside of the refrigerator. .

Here, when the cumulative operating time of the compressor reaches a preset cumulative time, the compressor is stopped,
The damper for the refrigerator compartment is opened, the damper for the freezer compartment is closed, and the fan is rotated. In this control, the evaporator is defrosted, and the generated high-humidity air is allowed to flow into the refrigerating compartment and the vegetable compartment. This state is maintained for about 10 minutes, after which the fan is stopped and the damper for the freezer compartment is used. Also close and energize the defrost heater. The evaporator starts defrosting when the compressor is stopped, but since it is necessary to stop the compressor for a long time to completely remove the frost, the heater is energized after defrosting to some extent. And forcibly defrost for a short time. After defrosting is completed, operate the compressor and rotate the cooling fan to open both the refrigerator and freezer dampers, allowing cold air to flow into both the refrigerator / vegetable compartment and the freezer compartment. Then, the inside of the refrigerator is cooled.

In this embodiment, the operating time of the compressor is integrated, and when the integrated value reaches a predetermined value, the evaporator is defrosted. However, this defrosting is performed in two stages. The first stage is defrosting in which the compressor is stopped and the pressure difference between the evaporator and the condenser is used, and the second stage is the heater. Defrosting that energizes and uses the heat. Therefore, the defrosting of the present embodiment can reduce the power consumption as compared with the case where all of the defrosting is performed by the heater, and during defrosting in the first stage, the compressor is kept stopped. By rotating the fan, high-humidity air can be made to flow into the refrigerator compartment and the vegetable compartment to maintain the freshness of the stored products for a long period of time.

[0026]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a refrigerator capable of defrosting the evaporator by reducing the amount of electricity supplied to the heater or eliminating the heater itself.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a refrigerator showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1 as seen from the front.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the refrigerator shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a time chart of a refrigerator showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a time chart of a refrigerator showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a refrigeration cycle that occupies a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Compressor, 2 ... Condenser, 3 ... Decompressor, 4 ... Evaporator, 5 ... Fan, 6 ... Refrigerator damper, 9 ... Heater, 10 ... Refrigerator body, 11 ... Outer box, 12 ... Inner box,
13 ... Insulation material, 14 ... Refrigerator room, 15 ... Vegetable room, 16 ...
..Freezing room, 17 ... rear plate, 18 ... compressor, 19 ... evaporator, 20 ... fan, 21 ... cold air passage for refrigerating room, 2
2 ... Refrigerator damper, 23 ... Freezer damper, 24 ...
-Cold air outlet for freezer, 25 ... Return air passage for freezer, 26
... Return air passage for refrigerating room, 27 ... Cold air outlet for refrigerating room, 2
8 ... Cold air passage for freezer, 29 ... Pressure reducer, 30 ... Condenser

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI theme code (reference) F25D 21/08 F25D 21/08 B (72) Inventor Masayuki Shibayama 800 Tomita, Ohira-cho, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi Hitachi Home &・ Life Solution Co., Ltd., Tochigi Plant (72) Inventor Toshihiko Nagamori 800, Tomita, Ohira-machi, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture Hitachi Home and Life Solutions Co., Ltd., Tochigi Plant (72) Inventor, Hirokazu Nakamura 800 Tomita, Ohira-machi, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture F-term at Tochigi Works, Hitachi Home and Life Solutions Co., Ltd. (reference) 3L046 AA02 BA03 CA02 CA06 GA03 JA06 JA09 LA08 MA01 MA04 MA05

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A compressor, an evaporator chamber in which an evaporator is installed and which produces cold air to be supplied to a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, and a first chamber which communicates with the evaporator chamber and supplies cold air to the refrigerating chamber. A cold air passage, a second cold air passage that communicates with the evaporator chamber and supplies cold air to the freezing chamber; a fan that supplies cold air through the first cold air passage and the second cold air passage; A first cold air control unit that opens and closes the first cold air passage, and a second cold air control unit that opens and closes the second cold air passage,
When the internal temperature of the refrigerating room and the freezing room are both lower than a preset temperature for each, while stopping the compressor until either one of the refrigerating room and the freezing room reaches a preset temperature or more, The second cold air passage is closed, the first cold air passage is opened, and the fan is rotating after a part of the time when the compressor is stopped or after a lapse of a predetermined time after the compressor is stopped. Refrigerator with eggplant control device. 2. A compressor, an evaporator chamber in which an evaporator is installed and which produces cold air to be supplied to a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, and a first chamber which communicates with the evaporator chamber and supplies cold air to the refrigerating chamber. A cold air passage, a second cold air passage that communicates with the evaporator chamber and supplies cold air to the freezing chamber; a fan that supplies cold air through the first cold air passage and the second cold air passage; The compressor includes: first cool air control means that opens and closes a first cold air passage; second cold air control means that opens and closes the second cold air passage; and a heater that removes frost adhering to the evaporator. When the accumulated time reaches a preset time, the compressor is stopped, the second cold air passage is closed, the first cold air passage is opened, and the fan is rotated. At the same time, after that, the first cold air passage was closed,
A refrigerator having a control device that stops a fan and starts energizing the heater.