JP2012017920A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator which prevents dew condensation in the refrigerator by a dew-proofing pipe and further achieves energy-saving.SOLUTION: The refrigerator 1 includes at least one condensing means 16 provided on a heat radiating side pipe and at least one dew-proofing pipe 18 allowing a hot refrigerant compressed in a compressor 13 to flow, and prevents dew condensation in the refrigerator by the heat of the dew-proofing pipe 18. Provision of a switching means 24 switching the order of flow of the refrigerant in at least one condensing means 16 and at least one dew-proofing pipe 18 allows the change of temperature of the dew-proofing pipe 18 heated with the heat of the refrigerant.

Description

  The present embodiment relates to a refrigerator that prevents dew condensation in a warehouse by a dew-proof pipe through which a high-temperature refrigerant passes.

  There is provided a refrigerator that prevents dew condensation in a warehouse provided with a dew-proof pipe by passing a high-temperature refrigerant compressed by a compressor through the dew-proof pipe provided in the heat radiation side pipe (Patent Literature). 1 and 2).

JP 2000-18789 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-189753

If the dew-proof pipe is placed on the most downstream side of the heat-dissipation side pipe, the temperature of the dew-proof pipe may drop too much from the normal state when the food in the cabinet is cold or under a low load such as at low outside temperatures. Condensation may occur.
On the other hand, when the dew-proof pipe is placed upstream or in the middle of the heat-dissipation side pipe, the temperature of the dew-proof pipe is higher than the normal state in a high load condition such as when high temperature food is put in the cabinet or at high outside air temperature. It may rise too much, resulting in a large heat leak into the chamber and a large energy loss.
Therefore, the present embodiment provides a refrigerator that can save energy while preventing dew condensation in the cabinet with the dew-proof pipe.

  According to this embodiment, the switching means for switching the flow order of the refrigerant in at least one condensing means and at least one dew-proof pipe is provided.

The block diagram which shows the main structures of the refrigerating cycle in 1st Embodiment. Perspective view schematically showing the refrigeration cycle Sectional view schematically showing the structure of the 4-way valve Front view of refrigerator Flow chart showing switching operation of four-way valve according to dew-proof mode Flow chart showing the switching operation of the direction valve according to the humidity detected by the humidity sensor FIG. 1 equivalent view showing the second embodiment

(First embodiment)
The first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the refrigerator. The refrigerator main body 1 is a heat insulating box body in which a steel plate outer box and a plastic inner box are combined, and a heat insulating material made of, for example, urethane foam (not shown) is foam-filled in a space between them. It is configured. In the refrigerator main body 1, a refrigerator compartment 2, an ice making compartment 3, a switching compartment 4, a vegetable compartment 5, and a freezer compartment 6 are formed as storage rooms from above.

  A kannon door 7 is rotatably attached to the front surface of the refrigerator compartment 2. The storage rooms 3 to 6 other than the refrigerator compartment 2 are each a drawer-type storage room. In these storage chambers 3 to 6, drawer-type storage containers (both not shown) are accommodated, and the respective storage chambers 3 to 6 are connected by doors 8 to 11 connected to the respective storage containers. It is configured to be opened and closed.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the refrigeration cycle. The refrigeration cycle 12 includes a compressor 13, a muffler 14, an evaporation pipe 15 for evaporating defrost water, a condensing condenser 16 (corresponding to a condensing means), and a heat radiating pipe 17 (condensing means, a refrigerant switching channel). Equivalent), dew prevention pipe 18 (corresponding to refrigerant switching flow path), dryer 19, capillary tube 20, evaporator 21, accumulator 22, check valve not shown, suction pipe 23, four-way valve 24 (corresponding to switching means) Are connected by brazing to the heat radiation side pipe in order. Inside the refrigeration cycle 12, a so-called natural refrigerant (for example, isobutane) that does not adversely affect the ozone layer even when released into the atmosphere is enclosed as a refrigerant.

Among the elements constituting the refrigeration cycle 12, the compressor 13, the muffler 14, the evaporation pipe 15, the dryer 19, and the like are disposed in a machine room 25 provided in the lower part on the back side of the refrigerator body 1. The condenser 16 is disposed on the back side of the refrigerator body 1. The evaporator 21 is disposed in a cooler chamber (not shown) provided on the back side of the refrigerator body 1.
Although not shown, the refrigerator main body 1 has a cooling fan that blows air to the compressor 13 and the condenser 16 and a blower that supplies cold air generated by the evaporator 21 to the freezer compartment 6 and the refrigerator compartment 2. A fan and the like are also provided.
The heat radiating pipe 17 is embedded in the back surface of the refrigerator body 1. The dew-proof pipe 18 is attached to a partition located at the peripheral edge of the front opening of the storage chambers 2 to 6 of the refrigerator body 1, and evaporates water droplets adhering to the front of these partitions by the heat of the refrigerant. .

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the refrigeration cycle. In the refrigeration cycle 12, when the freezer compartment 6 reaches a predetermined temperature or higher, the compressor 13 is driven by a control device (not shown). When the compressor 13 is driven, refrigerant compressed to a high temperature and high pressure state is sent from the compressor 13, liquefied in the condenser 16, the heat radiating pipe 17, and the dew prevention pipe 18, and then passed through the capillary tube 20 to the evaporator 21. Sent to. In the evaporator 21, the refrigerant takes the heat from the surroundings and vaporizes, and then returns to the compressor 13. The cold air cooled by the evaporator 21 is sent to the freezing room 6 and the ice making room 3, and is also sent to the switching room 4 and the refrigerating room 2 according to the opening of a damper (not shown) by the control device. Thereby, each storage room, such as the freezer compartment 6 and the refrigerator compartment 2, is cooled to target temperature.

  FIG. 3 is a sectional view schematically showing the structure of the four-way valve 24. The four-way valve 24 is provided inside the main body 26 having an inlet 26a, an outlet 26b, a first switching port 26c, and a second switching port 26d, and is slidable by an actuator (not shown). And a valve body 27. The first switching port 26c connects the valve body 27 to the inflow port 26a at the first switching position and to the outlet 26b at the second switching position. The second switching port 26d is connected to the outlet 26b in the first switching state and is connected to the inlet 26a in the second switching state. In this case, the inlet 26a is connected to the condenser 16, the outlet 26b is connected to the capillary tube 20 via the dryer 19, the first switching port 26c is connected to the heat radiating pipe 17, and the second switching port 26d. Is connected to the dew-proof pipe 18. Therefore, when the four-way valve 24 is in the first switching state shown in FIG. 3A, a refrigerant flow path is formed in which the condenser 16 and the heat radiating pipe 17, the dew prevention pipe 18 and the capillary tube 20 are connected. In the second switching state shown in (b), a refrigerant flow path is formed in which the condenser 16 and the dew proof pipe 18, the heat radiating pipe 17 and the capillary tube 20 are connected. By adopting the four-way valve 24 having such a configuration as the refrigerant flow switching valve means, the refrigeration cycle 12 can be configured with one valve means.

  An operation panel (corresponding to the dew-proof mode setting means) (not shown) is provided on the front surface of the door 7 of the refrigerator 1, and the user can set the strength of the dew-proof mode in addition to the normal operation. As a result, the user can select whether to give priority to energy saving or prevention of dew condensation, so that it is possible to operate according to the user's preference. Specifically, the operation panel provided on the door 7 is provided with an operation switch for switching the dew-proof mode, and the position of the valve element 27 is determined by setting the dew-proof mode for the operation switch. A switching operation for switching between the two is executed.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the switching operation of the four-way valve 24 according to the dew-proof mode. When the user selects “weak” (in the case of “YES”), the four-way valve 24 enters the first switching state shown in FIG. 3A, and the refrigerant flow in the four-way valve 24 flows into the inlet. 26a → first switching port 26c, second switching port 26d → outflow port 26b. Thus, the refrigerant flow in the refrigeration cycle 12 is as follows: compressor 13 → condenser 16 → four-way valve 24 → radiation pipe 17 → dew condensation pipe 18 → four-way valve 24 → capillary tube 20 → evaporator 21 → compressor 13 Become. That is, by flowing the refrigerant through the heat radiating pipe 17 before the dew proof pipe 18, the refrigerant whose temperature has been lowered by the heat radiating pipe 17 can be flowed through the dew proof pipe 18, and energy saving can be prioritized. The reason why the temperature of the refrigerant decreases on the downstream side of the heat dissipation side in this way is that the temperature is constant because the refrigerant is in a two-phase state on the upstream side, whereas the temperature becomes a liquid phase on the most downstream side. This is because of a decrease. When the user selects “strong” (in the case of “NO”), the four-way valve 24 enters the second switching state shown in FIG. 3B, and the refrigerant flow in the four-way valve 24 flows into the inlet. 26a → second switching port 26d, first switching port 26c → outflow port 26b. As a result, the refrigerant flow in the refrigeration cycle 12 changes from the compressor 13 to the condenser 16 to the four-way valve 24 → the dew-proof pipe 18 → the heat radiation pipe 17 → the four-way valve 24 → the capillary tube 20 → the evaporator 21 → the compressor 13. In order. That is, by flowing the refrigerant through the dew prevention pipe 18 before the heat radiating pipe 17, the refrigerant having a high temperature can be flowed through the dew prevention pipe 18, and dew prevention can be given priority.

  Thus, the heat radiating pipe 17 and the dew proof pipe 18 that function as the refrigerant switching flow path are connected in series, and the four-way valve 24 switches the order in which the refrigerant flows to either one of energy saving and condensation prevention. Can be prioritized. That is, by positioning the dew proof pipe 18 at the most downstream side where the temperature of the refrigerant is low in the heat radiating side pipe, the temperature of the dew proof pipe 18 having a large heat leak into the warehouse can be lowered, which contributes to energy saving. it can. On the other hand, the temperature of the dew prevention pipe 18 can be raised by positioning the dew prevention pipe 18 in the middle stream where the temperature of the refrigerant is high in the heat radiation side pipe, and the food in the refrigerator is cooled or the low outside air temperature. Condensation can be prevented even when the load is low.

According to such an embodiment, the following effects can be produced.
Since the refrigerant flow order with respect to the heat radiating pipe 17 and the dew prevention pipe 18 functioning by the refrigerant switching flow can be switched, the temperature of the dew prevention pipe 18 heated by the heat of the refrigerant can be changed, and condensation is achieved while saving energy. Can be prevented.
Since the refrigerant flow order of the heat radiating pipe 17 and the dew proof pipe 18 is switched by the four-way valve 24, the refrigerant flow path can be switched at once by one four-way valve 24, which can be implemented with a simple configuration. it can.

Since the dew-proof mode can be changed according to the user's operation, the user can select whether to give priority to energy saving or prevention of dew condensation, and operation according to the user's preference becomes possible. In this case, when it is desired to prioritize energy saving, an efficient cooling operation is possible, and when priority is given to preventing condensation, a cooling operation with high dew-proof performance is possible.
In place of the operation panel for setting the dew-proof mode, a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity inside the cabinet is provided, and if the humidity detected by the humidity sensor is higher than the set humidity as shown in FIG. The refrigerant flow path may be switched by setting “strong” and setting the dew proof to “weak” when the humidity is lower than the set humidity.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7, and the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. The second embodiment is characterized in that a plurality of dew-proof pipes are provided.
In FIG. 7 schematically showing the configuration of the refrigeration cycle, the refrigeration cycle 12 includes a compressor 13, a condenser 16 (corresponding to the condensing means), a heat radiation pipe 17 (corresponding to the condensing means and the refrigerant switching channel), the first A dew-proof pipe 31 (corresponding to a refrigerant switching channel), a second dew-proof pipe 32, a capillary tube 20, an evaporator 21, and a four-way valve 24 are connected by a heat radiation side pipe. When energy saving is prioritized by switching the four-way valve 24, the compressor 13 → the condenser 16 → the four-way valve 24 → the heat radiating pipe 17 → the first dew-proof pipe 31 → the four-way valve 24 → the second prevention When the refrigerant flows in the order of dew pipe 32 → capillary tube 20 → evaporator 21 → compressor 13 and priority is given to prevention of dew condensation, compressor 13 → condenser 16 → four-way valve 24 → first dew pipe 31 → heat radiation The refrigerant flows in the order of pipe 17 → four-way valve 24 → second dew-proof pipe 32 → capillary tube 20 → evaporator 21 → compressor 13.

  Here, the first dew-proof pipe 31 in which the refrigerant flow order is changed is provided to prevent condensation in the freezer compartment 6, and the second dew-proof pipe 32 in which the refrigerant flow order is fixed is provided in the refrigerator compartment 2. It is provided to prevent condensation. This is because by installing the first dew-proof pipe 31 to prevent dew condensation in the freezer compartment 6 where condensation is likely to occur, the optimum dew-proof performance according to the load can be exhibited, and energy-saving cooling operation is possible. It becomes. Further, by installing the second dew-proof pipe 32 as a dew condensation prevention in the refrigerator compartment 2 where dew condensation hardly occurs, an energy saving cooling operation can be performed without increasing the dew prevention performance more than necessary.

  According to such an embodiment, the first dew-proof pipe 31 capable of switching the refrigerant flow order is provided in the freezer compartment 6 where condensation is likely to occur, and the most downstream side of the heat-dissipation side pipe is provided in the refrigerator compartment 2 where condensation is unlikely to occur. In addition, since the second dew-proof pipe 32 in which the flow order of the refrigerant is fixed is provided, the first dew-proof pipe 31 can give priority to either energy saving or prevention of condensation. The energy saving can be prioritized by the dew-proof pipe 32.

(Other embodiments)
Three or more heat radiating pipes and three or more dew proof pipes may be provided, and the flow order of the refrigerant in the predetermined condensing means and the predetermined dew proof pipe may be switched.
In each of the above embodiments, when the refrigerant can sufficiently dissipate heat, one of the condenser and the heat radiating pipe that functions as the condensing means may be omitted. When the heat radiating pipe is omitted, the flow order of the refrigerant in the dew proof pipe is changed with respect to the condenser.
Means other than the four-way valve may be used as means for switching the refrigerant flow path.

  In the drawing, 12 is a refrigeration cycle, 16 is a condenser (condensing means), 17 is a heat radiating pipe (condensing means, refrigerant switching flow path), 18 is a dew proof pipe (refrigerant switching flow path), and 24 is a four-way valve (switching). Means), 26a is an inlet, 26b is an outlet, 26c is a first switching port, 26d is a second switching port, 31 is a first dew-proof pipe, and 32 is a second dew-proof pipe.

Claims (9)

One or more condensing means and one or more dew-proof pipes are provided in the heat radiation side pipe so that a refrigerant having a high temperature compressed by the compressor flows, and the dew condensation in the cabinet is caused by the heat of the dew-proof pipes. In the refrigerator to prevent
A refrigerator comprising switching means for switching a flow order of refrigerant in at least one condensing means and at least one dew-proof pipe. The condensing means and the dew proof pipe whose refrigerant flow order is switched by the switching means form a refrigerant switching flow path by being connected in series,
The switching means includes an inlet, an outlet, a first switching port that communicates with the inlet in a first switching state and communicates with the outlet in a second switching state, and a first switching state. A four-way valve having a second switching port communicating with the inlet in the second switching state, wherein the refrigerant flows in from the outlet side of the compressor. The outlet is connected so as to allow the refrigerant to flow out to the suction port side of the compressor, the first switching port is connected to one end of the refrigerant switching channel, and the second switching The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the mouth is connected to the other end of the refrigerant switching channel. It is equipped with a dew-proof mode setting means for setting a dew-proof mode that shows the strength of the dew according to the user's operation,
The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the switching unit switches connection to the refrigerant switching channel according to a dew prevention mode set by the dew prevention mode setting unit. A humidity sensor for detecting the humidity in the cabinet;
A dew-proof mode setting means for setting a dew-proof mode indicating the degree of dew-proof according to the humidity detected by the humidity sensor;
The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the switching unit switches connection to the refrigerant switching channel according to a dew prevention mode set by the dew prevention mode setting unit.   When the dew-proof mode is set relatively weak by the dew-proof mode setting unit, the switching unit causes the refrigerant to flow from the condensing unit that forms the refrigerant switching channel to the dew-proof pipe. The refrigerator according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the connection to the switching channel is switched.   When the dew-proof mode is set relatively strongly by the dew-proof mode setting unit, the switching unit causes the refrigerant to flow from the dew-proof pipe forming the refrigerant switching channel to the condensing unit. The refrigerator according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the connection to the switching channel is switched. A plurality of the dew-proof pipes are provided,
At least one first dew-proof pipe is provided so that the flow order of the refrigerant can be switched by the switching means,
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the flow order of the refrigerant is fixed to at least one second dew-proof pipe regardless of the operation of the switching means.   The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the first dew-proof pipe is provided to prevent dew condensation in the freezer compartment.   The refrigerator according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the second dew-proof pipe is provided to prevent dew condensation in the refrigerator compartment.

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