JP2020118318A - Cooling storage - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress unnecessary execution of prescribed processing relating to refrigerant leakage in a case when an ambient temperature is high or in a case when a door is frequently opened and closed.SOLUTION: A refrigerator 1 includes a storage main body 10 having an opening, a heat insulation door 12 for opening and closing the opening, a refrigeration circuit 18 having a compressor 20, a condenser 21, a condenser fan 26 and an evaporator 24, an inside temperature sensor detecting an inside temperature, an ambient temperature sensor detecting an ambient temperature, a detection unit for detecting opening of the heat insulation door 12, and a control unit 40. In the refrigerator 1, the control unit 40 executes a prescribed processing relating to refrigerant leakage when the opening of the heat insulation door 12 is not detected by the detection unit, the ambient temperature is the prescribed temperature or less, and a state that a rise width of the indoor temperature for every 30 seconds is 0.1 K or more, is continued six time under a condition that an operation is instructed to the compressor 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

The technology disclosed herein relates to a cold store.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a cooling storage that detects the occurrence of refrigerant leakage in a refrigeration circuit (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Specifically, while the cooling storage described in Patent Document 1 is operating in the normal cooling mode, the inside detection temperature Tm has a warning temperature Te set in advance to a temperature higher than the inside set temperature Ts. When the excess state continues and reaches the predetermined time, it is determined that the refrigerant leakage may have occurred, and the control is performed in the leakage warning mode.

JP, 2017-219278, A

By the way, the inside temperature also becomes high when the ambient temperature is high or when the door is frequently opened and closed. Therefore, the cooling storage described in Patent Document 1 described above may erroneously determine that the refrigerant may have leaked when the ambient temperature is high or when the door is frequently opened and closed. In the cooling storage described in Patent Document 1, when it is erroneously determined that a refrigerant leak may have occurred, control in the leak warning mode is unnecessarily performed.

The present specification discloses a technique for suppressing a predetermined process relating to refrigerant leakage from being unnecessarily executed when the ambient temperature is high or when the door is frequently opened and closed.

The cooling storage disclosed in this specification includes a storage main body having an opening, a door that opens and closes the opening, a refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, and an evaporator, and a storage that detects the temperature inside the storage. An internal temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor that detects an ambient temperature, a detection unit that detects that the door is opened, and a control unit, and the control unit is that the door is opened. Under the condition that the temperature is not detected by the detection unit, the ambient temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, and the compressor is instructed to operate, the increase range of the internal temperature at constant time is a predetermined value or more. When the above condition continues for a certain number of times or more, a predetermined process regarding refrigerant leakage is executed.

The inventor of the present application, when the refrigerant leakage of the refrigeration circuit occurs, the temperature of the evaporator rises because the low-temperature refrigerant is not sufficiently supplied to the evaporator, and the temperature rise range of the evaporator at constant time intervals increases. It has been found that a certain value or more continues for a certain number of times. Therefore, if the rise in the temperature of the evaporator for a certain period of time is equal to or greater than a certain value and continues for a certain number of times or more, a predetermined process related to refrigerant leakage (process of rotating the condenser fan, refrigerant leakage may occur). It is desirable to execute a process of notifying the user that there is a property).
However, even if the ambient temperature is high, the doors are frequently opened or closed, or even if the compressor is not instructed to operate, the temperature inside the chamber increases and the temperature rise of the evaporator at regular intervals increases. May be a certain value or more continuously for a certain number of times or more. For this reason, the predetermined process may be unnecessarily executed only when the increase in the temperature of the evaporator for a certain period of time is equal to or greater than a certain value for a certain number of times continuously.
According to the above cold storage, the door temperature is not increased, the ambient temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, and the internal temperature rises at regular intervals under the condition that the compressor is instructed to operate. If the width is equal to or greater than a certain value, a predetermined process related to refrigerant leakage is executed if it continues for a certain number of times.Therefore, the predetermined process is unnecessarily executed when the ambient temperature is high or the door is frequently opened and closed. Can be suppressed.

The cooling storage disclosed in this specification includes a storage main body having an opening, a door that opens and closes the opening, a refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, and an evaporator, and a storage that detects the temperature inside the storage. An internal temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor that detects an ambient temperature, a condenser temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the condenser, a detection unit that detects that the door is opened, and a control unit, The control unit does not detect that the door has been opened by the detection unit, the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, and the temperature of the condenser is higher than the ambient temperature by a predetermined value or more. Below, if the increase in the internal cold storage temperature for a certain period of time is equal to or greater than a certain value and continues for a certain number of times or more, a predetermined process related to refrigerant leakage is executed.

Even if the compressor is instructed to operate, it is possible that the compressor (or the control board that controls the compressor) has failed and the compressor is not actually operating.
Normally, even if a refrigerant leak occurs, the temperature of the condenser will be higher than the ambient temperature to some extent if the compressor is operating. Conversely, when the compressor is off, the temperature of the condenser will not rise above ambient temperature to some extent. Therefore, when the temperature detected by the condenser temperature sensor is higher than the temperature detected by the ambient temperature sensor by a predetermined value or more, it can be determined that the compressor is operating.
According to the cooling storage described above, one of the conditions is that the temperature detected by the condenser temperature sensor is higher than the temperature detected by the ambient temperature sensor by a predetermined value or more, rather than simply instructing the compressor to operate. Therefore, when the compressor is stopped due to a failure, it is determined that there is a refrigerant leak even though no refrigerant leak has occurred, and the predetermined process related to the refrigerant leak is unnecessarily executed. Can be suppressed.

The cooling storage disclosed in the present specification detects a storage main body having an opening, a door for opening and closing the opening, a refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan and an evaporator, and a temperature of the evaporator. An evaporator temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor that detects an ambient temperature, a detection unit that detects that the door is opened, and a control unit, and the control unit is that the door is opened. Is not detected by the detection unit, the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, and under the condition that the compressor is instructed to operate, the temperature rise range of the evaporator at constant time intervals. When is equal to or greater than a certain value and continues for a certain number of times or more, a predetermined process regarding refrigerant leakage is executed.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a cooling storage that detects the occurrence of refrigerant leakage in a refrigeration circuit (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-201212). Specifically, the cooling storage described in Patent Document 1 starts counting the continuous operation time when the compressor starts to operate, and turns on the evaporator when the predetermined time (for example, 2 hours) of the continuous operation time has elapsed. It is determined whether the temperature detected by the temperature sensor provided is equal to or higher than the set abnormal temperature. Then, when the elapse of a preset predetermined time (for example, 30 seconds), it is again determined whether or not the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is -8°C or higher. Then, when this time is the second time, the leak detection flag is set, the refrigerant leakage is indirectly detected by detecting the cooling abnormality, and a stop signal of the compressor is output to stop the compressor.
However, according to the cooling storage described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-201212, it is determined that a refrigerant leak may have occurred even when the ambient temperature is high, so the compressor is stopped when it is unnecessary. there is a possibility. When the compressor is stopped, the temperature in the refrigerator rises, which may damage the food in the refrigerator.
The inventor of the present application, when the refrigerant leakage of the refrigeration circuit occurs, the temperature of the evaporator rises because the low-temperature refrigerant is not sufficiently supplied to the evaporator, and the temperature rise range of the evaporator at constant time intervals increases. It has been found that a certain value or more continues for a certain number of times.
Therefore, if the rise in the temperature of the evaporator for a certain period of time is equal to or greater than a certain value and continues for a certain number of times or more, a predetermined process related to refrigerant leakage (process of rotating the condenser fan, refrigerant leakage may occur). It is desirable to execute a process of notifying the user that there is a property).
However, even if the ambient temperature is high or the doors are opened and closed frequently, the temperature rise in the evaporator is kept constant for more than a certain number of times over a certain number of times due to an increase in the internal temperature. There is something to do. For this reason, the predetermined process may be unnecessarily executed only when the increase in the temperature of the evaporator for a certain period of time is equal to or greater than a certain value for a certain number of times continuously.
According to the above cooling storage, the door temperature is not opened, the ambient temperature is lower than or equal to a predetermined temperature, and the temperature of the evaporator is changed at regular intervals under the condition that the compressor is instructed to operate. The predetermined processing is executed when the rising width is equal to or greater than a certain value for a certain number of times or more continuously, so the predetermined processing is unnecessarily executed when the ambient temperature is high or the doors are frequently opened and closed. Can be suppressed.

The cooling storage disclosed in the present specification detects a storage main body having an opening, a door for opening and closing the opening, a refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan and an evaporator, and a temperature of the evaporator. An evaporator temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor that detects an ambient temperature, a condenser temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the condenser, a detection unit that detects that the door is opened, and a control unit. It is provided that the control unit does not detect that the door has been opened by the detection unit, the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, and the temperature of the condenser is higher than the ambient temperature by a predetermined value or more. Under the conditions, if the increase in the temperature of the evaporator for a certain period of time is equal to or more than a certain value for a certain number of times or more continuously, a predetermined process regarding the refrigerant leakage is executed.

Even if the compressor is instructed to operate, it is possible that the compressor (or the control board that controls the compressor) has failed and the compressor is not actually operating.
Normally, even if a refrigerant leak occurs, the temperature of the condenser will be higher than the ambient temperature to some extent if the compressor is operating. Conversely, when the compressor is off, the temperature of the condenser will not rise above ambient temperature to some extent. Therefore, when the temperature detected by the condenser temperature sensor is higher than the temperature detected by the ambient temperature sensor by a predetermined value or more, it can be determined that the compressor is operating.
According to the cooling storage described above, one of the conditions is that the temperature detected by the condenser temperature sensor is higher than the temperature detected by the ambient temperature sensor by a predetermined value or more, rather than simply instructing the compressor to operate. Therefore, when the compressor is stopped due to a failure, it is determined that the refrigerant leakage is occurring even though the refrigerant leakage is not occurring, and the predetermined processing is executed unnecessarily. It can be suppressed more reliably.

A cooling storage disclosed in the present specification detects a storage main body having an opening, a door for opening and closing the opening, a refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan and an evaporator, and a temperature of the condenser. A condenser temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor that detects an ambient temperature, a detection unit that detects that the door is opened, and a control unit, and the control unit is that the door is opened. Is not detected by the detection unit, and the condition that the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature is that the difference between the temperature of the condenser and the ambient temperature at constant time intervals is within a predetermined range. When the above is continued, a predetermined process relating to refrigerant leakage is executed.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a cooling storage that detects the occurrence of refrigerant leakage in a refrigeration circuit (see, for example, JP-A-2005-140409). Specifically, the refrigerator described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-140409 determines that the high pressure side refrigerant circuit is abnormal when the temperature difference between the condensation temperature of the refrigerant and the ambient temperature is a predetermined value (2° C.) or less, When the temperature difference between the condensation temperature and the ambient temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined value (20° C.), it is determined that the low pressure side refrigerant circuit is abnormal, and the light emitting means of different colors notify each other. Further, the refrigerator prompts, by a voice message or a buzzer sound, to take out the food in the refrigerator when the temperature inside the refrigerator rises to a predetermined value (−5° C.) or more when the refrigerant circuit is abnormal.
By the way, there is a case where the temperature difference between the condensation temperature of the refrigerant and the ambient temperature becomes a predetermined value (2° C.) or less because the compressor is stopped due to a failure. According to the refrigerator described in Patent Document 1 described above, even when the temperature difference between the condensation temperature of the refrigerant and the ambient temperature becomes a predetermined value (2° C.) or less due to the compressor being stopped due to a failure, the high-pressure side refrigerant Since it is determined that the circuit is abnormal, there is a possibility that the high-pressure side refrigerant circuit may be falsely notified. For this reason, there is a possibility that an operator who performs maintenance of the refrigerator may not be able to perform quick and accurate repair.
As a result of earnest studies, the inventor of the present application has obtained the following findings.
・When the compressor is not operating, the temperature of the condenser does not rise, so the temperature of the condenser is close to the ambient temperature. Therefore, the difference between the temperature of the condenser and the ambient temperature becomes smaller than the lower limit value (1K) of the predetermined range (for example, 1 to 3K).
When the compressor is operating, the temperature of the condenser rises, so the difference between the temperature of the condenser and the ambient temperature becomes larger than the upper limit (3K) of the predetermined range.
When the difference between the temperature of the condenser and the ambient temperature is within the predetermined range, it is highly possible that the compressor is operating in the state of refrigerant leakage from the high pressure side refrigerant circuit or the low pressure side refrigerant circuit.
Therefore, if the difference between the temperature of the condenser and the ambient temperature is within the predetermined range for a certain number of times or more, a predetermined process related to refrigerant leakage (process of rotating the condenser fan, possibility of refrigerant leakage occurring) It is desirable to execute a process of notifying the user that there is such).
However, even when the ambient temperature is high or the door is frequently opened and closed, the difference between the temperature of the condenser and the ambient temperature is out of the predetermined range even if the temperature of the condenser rises and the refrigerant leaks. For example, it may be larger than 3K). Therefore, if the difference between the temperature of the condenser and the ambient temperature is within the predetermined range for a certain number of times or more, the predetermined process may not be executed.
According to the above cooling storage, the difference between the temperature of the condenser and the ambient temperature is constant within a predetermined range under the condition that the door is not opened and the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature. If the ambient temperature is high or the doors are frequently opened and closed, it is possible to prevent the predetermined processing from being not executed when the ambient temperature is high or when the door is frequently opened and closed.
Then, according to the cooling storage described above, when the compressor is stopped due to a failure, the difference between the temperature of the condenser and the ambient temperature is outside the predetermined range (for example, smaller than 1K), so the predetermined processing is executed. Not done. Therefore, it is possible to suppress unnecessary execution of the predetermined process when the compressor is stopped due to a failure.

A cooling storage disclosed in the present specification detects a storage main body having an opening, a door for opening and closing the opening, a refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan and an evaporator, and a temperature of the condenser. A condenser temperature sensor, an evaporator temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the evaporator, an ambient temperature sensor that detects the ambient temperature, a detection unit that detects that the door is opened, and a control unit. The control unit is not detected that the door is opened by the detection unit, the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, and the temperature of the condenser is a first constant value higher than the ambient temperature. If the temperature obtained by subtracting the temperature of the evaporator from the temperature inside the chamber at regular time intervals is equal to or higher than a second constant value under a condition of being higher than a predetermined number of times consecutively for a predetermined number of times or more, a predetermined process regarding refrigerant leakage is executed. ..

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there is known a cooling storage that detects a refrigerant leak in a refrigeration circuit (see, for example, JP 2006-10126 A). Specifically, in the refrigerator described in JP 2006-10126 A, the temperature difference between the evaporation temperature sensor detecting the pipe temperature of the evaporator and the cold air temperature sensor detecting the temperature of the cold air passing around the evaporator is When the temperature is higher than the predetermined value and the temperature detected by the evaporation temperature sensor becomes lower than the vicinity of the boiling point of the refrigerant, it is determined that the refrigerant is leaked, and the leak countermeasure control is performed (such as extending the defrosting interval).
However, according to the refrigerator described in JP 2006-10126 A mentioned above, since it is necessary to provide a cold air temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the cold air passing around the evaporator, the number of parts is increased and the manufacturing cost is increased. There is a problem.
The inventor of the present application has found that the refrigerant circulation amount in the refrigeration circuit decreases in the initial stage of refrigerant leakage, so that the temperature detected by the evaporator temperature sensor close to the temperature at the inlet of the evaporator decreases, while the cooling capacity of the evaporator decreases. Therefore, it has been found that the internal temperature rises and the internal temperature becomes higher than the temperature of the evaporator by a certain value or more.
For this reason, when the temperature obtained by subtracting the temperature of the evaporator from the internal temperature at constant time intervals is equal to or higher than a constant value for a fixed number of times or more, a predetermined process related to refrigerant leakage (process for rotating the condenser fan, refrigerant It is desirable to execute a process of notifying the user that a leak may have occurred.
However, if the ambient temperature is high, the doors are frequently opened and closed, and abnormal frosting of the evaporator is expected, or even if the compressor is stopped due to a failure, the inside temperature should rise. Therefore, the temperature obtained by subtracting the temperature of the evaporator from the temperature inside the refrigerator for a certain period of time may be a certain value or more continuously for a certain number of times or more. For this reason, if the temperature obtained by subtracting the temperature of the evaporator from the internal temperature at constant time intervals is not less than a certain value for a certain number of times continuously, the predetermined process may be unnecessarily executed. ..
Here, when the compressor is operating, the temperature of the condenser becomes higher, so the temperature of the condenser becomes higher than the ambient temperature by a certain value or more. Therefore, when the temperature of the condenser is higher than the ambient temperature by a certain value or more, it is highly possible that the compressor is operating.
According to the above cold storage, the door is not opened, the ambient temperature is below a predetermined temperature, and the temperature of the condenser is higher than the ambient temperature by a certain value or more, the interior of the storage at regular time intervals. If the temperature obtained by subtracting the temperature of the evaporator from the temperature is equal to or higher than a certain value, the predetermined process is executed when the temperature is equal to or more than a certain number of times consecutively.Therefore, when the ambient temperature is high or the door is frequently opened and closed, It is possible to suppress unnecessary execution of the predetermined processing when abnormal frost formation is expected or when the compressor is stopped due to a failure.
And, according to the above-mentioned cooling storage, since a cold air temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the cold air passing around the evaporator is unnecessary in detecting the refrigerant leakage, in the case of a cooling storage without a cold air temperature sensor, Compared with the refrigerator described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-10126, the number of parts for detecting a refrigerant leak can be suppressed.

The cooling storage disclosed in this specification includes a storage main body having an opening, a door that opens and closes the opening, a refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, and an evaporator, and a storage that detects the temperature inside the storage. An internal temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor that detects an ambient temperature, a detection unit that detects that the door has been opened, and a control unit, and the control unit is a cooling temperature range in which the internal temperature is a predetermined cooling temperature range. The operation of the compressor is stopped when the temperature drops to the lower limit temperature, and the operation is restarted when the internal temperature rises to the upper limit temperature of the cooling temperature range, and the door is opened. Is not detected by the detection unit, the ambient temperature is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature, and the operating time of the compressor is a predetermined number of cycles under the condition that the variation range of the ambient temperature is within a certain range. When the length becomes continuously long, a predetermined process regarding refrigerant leakage is executed.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a cooling storage that detects the occurrence of refrigerant leakage in a refrigeration circuit (see, for example, JP 2002-340462 A). Specifically, the electric refrigerator described in Patent Document 1 detects a current value input to the compressor, and determines a gas leak from the difference between the detected current value and a preset current value. Further, the electric refrigerator is provided with a temperature sensor in the cooler, and monitors the temperature rise of the temperature sensor together with the current value input to the compressor, and when the temperature rise value is higher than the preset temperature rise value, Judge as a gas leak.
However, according to the electric refrigerator described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-340462 described above, the number of components increases because a component that detects the current value input to the compressor and a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the cooler are required. However, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost increases.
The inventor of the present application has found that when the refrigerant leaks in the refrigeration circuit, the operating time of the compressor is continuously lengthened within a predetermined number of cycles due to the rise of the internal temperature. For this reason, when the operating time of the compressor continuously increases within a predetermined number of cycles, a predetermined process related to refrigerant leakage (process for rotating the condenser fan, there is a possibility that refrigerant leakage may have occurred) It is desirable to execute the processing (for example, the processing of notifying).
However, even when the ambient temperature is high, the doors are frequently opened or closed, or the ambient temperature changes greatly, the operating temperature of the compressor is continuously increased within the predetermined number of cycles due to the increase in the internal temperature. It can be long. Therefore, if the operating time of the compressor is continuously increased within a predetermined number of cycles, the predetermined process may be unnecessarily executed.
According to the above cooling storage, the operating time of the compressor is predetermined under the condition that the door is not opened, the ambient temperature is below a predetermined temperature, and the change range of the ambient temperature is within a certain range. When the ambient temperature is high, the doors are frequently opened or closed, or the ambient temperature changes greatly, the prescribed process is unnecessary because the specified process is executed continuously if the number of cycles becomes longer. Can be suppressed from being executed.
Further, according to the above-mentioned cooling storage, since a component for detecting the current value input to the compressor and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the evaporator are not necessary in detecting the refrigerant leakage, a component for detecting the current value is required. In the case of a cooling storage that does not include a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the evaporator or the evaporator, the number of components for detecting refrigerant leakage can be suppressed as compared with the electric refrigerator described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-340462.

The cooling storage disclosed in the present specification includes a storage main body having an opening, a door for opening and closing the opening, a refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, and an evaporator whose rotation speed is variable, and the inside of the storage. An internal temperature sensor that detects a temperature, an ambient temperature sensor that detects an ambient temperature, a detection unit that detects that the door is opened, and a control unit, and the control unit includes an internal temperature and A rotation speed changing process of changing the rotation speed of the compressor according to a difference from the target temperature, and the fact that the door is opened is not detected by the detection unit, and the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. Under certain conditions, if the rotation speed of the compressor is at the maximum rotation speed and the increase in the internal temperature for a certain period of time is equal to or greater than a certain value for a certain number of times or more, a predetermined value related to refrigerant leakage. The process of is executed.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a cooling storage that detects the occurrence of refrigerant leakage in a refrigeration circuit (see, for example, JP-A-2016-31209). Specifically, the refrigeration cycle apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes an information detection unit that detects operation information that is information related to an electric state of the motor in an operation state, and a detection result of the operation information of the information detection unit. According to the detection result of the operation information in a state in which the motor is operating at a high frequency higher than the normal frequency band, the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle Determine the leak. Further, JP-A-2016-31209 describes that the information detection means detects the input power of the motor as the operation information.
However, according to the refrigeration cycle apparatus described in Patent Document 1 described above, there is a problem that the number of parts is increased and the manufacturing cost is increased because it is necessary to include a part for detecting the input power of the motor.
When the refrigerant leakage of the refrigeration circuit occurs, the inventor of the present application raises the temperature inside the refrigerator, so that the width of increase in the temperature inside the refrigerator for every certain time is equal to or more than a certain value continuously for a certain number of times or more. I found that. For this reason, if the increase in the internal temperature for a certain period of time is equal to or greater than a certain value and continues for a certain number of times or more, a predetermined process related to the refrigerant leakage (the process of rotating the condenser fan, the possibility of the refrigerant leakage occurred). It is desirable to execute a process of notifying the user that there is such).
However, even if the ambient temperature is high or the doors are frequently opened and closed, the increase in the internal temperature causes the increase in the internal temperature at a certain time to be a certain value or more continuously for a certain number of times or more. Sometimes. For this reason, the predetermined process may be unnecessarily executed only if the increase range of the internal cold storage temperature at constant time intervals is equal to or larger than a constant value for a predetermined number of times.
Further, in the case of a compressor with a variable rotation speed, the rotation speed of the compressor may be changed, so that the rise width of the internal cold storage temperature over a certain period of time may be a certain value or more continuously for a certain number of times or more. .. That is, there is a possibility that a refrigerant leak may be erroneously determined by changing the rotation speed of the compressor.
According to the above-mentioned cooling storage cabinet, it is constant that the increase range of the internal temperature at every constant time is a certain value or more under the condition that the door is not opened and the ambient temperature is the predetermined temperature or less. When the ambient temperature is high or when the doors are frequently opened and closed, the predetermined processing is executed when the number of times is continuous or more, so that the predetermined processing can be prevented from being unnecessarily executed.
In addition, according to the above-mentioned cooling storage, it is determined whether or not the increase width of the internal temperature at constant time intervals is equal to or more than a certain value continuously for a certain number of times or more in the state where the number of revolutions of the compressor is the maximum number of revolutions. Therefore (in other words, the judgment is made in a state where the rotation speed of the compressor is fixed), the influence of the variable rotation speed of the compressor can be eliminated.
Further, according to the above cooling storage, since a component for detecting the input power of the motor is unnecessary in detecting the refrigerant leakage, in the case of the cooling storage that does not include a component for detecting the input power of the motor, Compared with the refrigeration cycle device described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-31209, the number of parts for detecting refrigerant leakage can be suppressed.

The cooling storage disclosed in the present specification includes a storage main body having an opening, a door for opening and closing the opening, a refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, and an evaporator whose rotation speed is variable, and the inside of the storage. An internal temperature sensor that detects a temperature, an ambient temperature sensor that detects an ambient temperature, a detection unit that detects that the door is opened, and a control unit, and the control unit includes an internal temperature and A rotation speed changing process of changing the rotation speed of the compressor according to a difference from the target temperature, and the fact that the door is opened is not detected by the detection unit, and the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. Under certain conditions, if the rise width of the internal cold storage temperature for each first constant time is equal to or greater than the first constant value and continues for the first predetermined number of times or more, the rotation speed of the compressor is changed to the rotation at that time. The number is fixed to a certain number, and after that, when the increase width of the in-compartment temperature at the second constant time is equal to or larger than the second constant value for the second constant number of times or more, the predetermined process regarding the refrigerant leakage is executed.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a cooling storage that detects the occurrence of refrigerant leakage in a refrigeration circuit (see, for example, JP-A-2016-31209). Specifically, the refrigeration cycle apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2016-31209 discloses an information detecting unit that detects operating information that is information related to an electric state of the motor in an operating state, and operating information of the information detecting unit. With a leakage determination means for determining refrigerant leakage in the refrigeration cycle according to the detection result of the refrigeration cycle, the refrigeration is performed according to the detection result of the operation information when the motor is operating at a high frequency higher than the normal frequency band. Determine refrigerant leakage in the cycle. Further, JP-A-2016-31209 describes that the information detection means detects the input power of the motor as the operation information.
However, according to the refrigeration cycle apparatus described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2016-31209, there is a problem that the number of parts increases and the manufacturing cost increases because it is necessary to include a part for detecting the input power of the motor.
When the refrigerant leakage of the refrigeration circuit occurs, the inventor of the present application raises the temperature inside the refrigerator, so that the width of increase in the temperature inside the refrigerator for every certain time is equal to or more than a certain value continuously for a certain number of times or more. I found that. For this reason, if the increase in the internal temperature for a certain period of time is equal to or greater than a certain value and continues for a certain number of times or more, a predetermined process related to the refrigerant leakage (the process of rotating the condenser fan, the possibility of the refrigerant leakage occurred). It is desirable to execute a process of notifying the user that there is such).
However, even if the ambient temperature is high or the doors are frequently opened and closed, the increase in the internal temperature causes the increase in the internal temperature at a certain time to be a certain value or more continuously for a certain number of times or more. Sometimes. For this reason, there is a possibility that it may be erroneously determined that a refrigerant leak has occurred if the increase in the internal cold storage temperature at regular time intervals is equal to or greater than a certain value for a certain number of times.
Further, in the case of a compressor whose rotation speed is variable, it is possible that the increase width of the internal cold storage temperature at constant time intervals is more than a certain value by the number of rotations of the compressor being changed more than a certain number of times. .. That is, there is a possibility that a refrigerant leak may be erroneously determined by changing the rotation speed of the compressor.
According to the above-described cooling storage, the increase in the internal temperature at the first constant time is the first constant value under the condition that the door is not opened and the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature. If the above is continued for the first fixed number of times or more, the number of rotations of the compressor is fixed to the number of rotations at that time, and thereafter, the increase width of the in-compartment temperature at the second fixed time is equal to or more than the second fixed value. That is, the predetermined processing is executed when the second predetermined number of times or more continues, so that it is unnecessary to execute the predetermined processing when the ambient temperature is high or when the door is frequently opened and closed. In addition to being able to suppress, it is possible to eliminate the influence of the variable rotation speed of the compressor.
Further, according to the above-mentioned cooling storage, since a component for detecting the input power of the motor is unnecessary in detecting the refrigerant leakage, in the case of the cooling storage without the component for detecting the input power of the motor, Compared with the electric refrigerator described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2016-31209, it is possible to suppress the number of parts for detecting a refrigerant leak.

The predetermined process prohibits a process of operating the condenser fan, a process of operating an in-compartment fan that circulates the air cooled by the evaporator in the interior, and a defrosting operation of defrosting the evaporator. At least one of a process and a process of warning a refrigerant leak may be included.

When the condenser fan is operated, in the case of a refrigerant leak outside the refrigerator, the refrigerant leaked outside the refrigerator can be diffused. Therefore, when the refrigerant is a flammable refrigerant, it is possible to reduce the risk of the flammable refrigerant staying in one place.
Further, when the internal fan is operated, in the case of refrigerant leakage in the internal compartment, the refrigerant can be gradually diffused out of the internal compartment through a small gap between the door and the storage body. For this reason, when the refrigerant is a flammable refrigerant, it is possible to reduce the risk of the flammable refrigerant leaking out of the refrigerator staying in one place.
Further, when the defrosting operation is prohibited, it is possible to prevent the foodstuffs stored in the cooling storage from being adversely affected. Specifically, in the defrosting operation, since the compressor is generally stopped, the temperature inside the refrigerator rises. Normally, the operation of the compressor will be restarted after that and the temperature inside the refrigerator will drop, so it will not adversely affect the food, but if a refrigerant leak occurs, even if the compressor is subsequently operated, the inside of the refrigerator will not be affected. Since the temperature does not decrease, the temperature inside the refrigerator remains elevated, which may damage the food in the refrigerator. If the defrosting operation is prohibited, it is possible to prevent the food in the refrigerator from being damaged.
In addition, warning of refrigerant leakage can prompt the user to refrain from opening and closing the heat insulation door. If the opening and closing of the heat insulation door is refrained from, the temperature inside the refrigerator will not rise easily, so that it is possible to prevent the food in the refrigerator from being damaged. In addition, if a warning of refrigerant leakage is given, it is possible to encourage the user to ventilate the room. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the risk of the flammable refrigerant leaking out of the refrigerator from staying indoors. In addition, when the warning of the refrigerant leakage is issued, the user can request the service of the manufacturer of the cooling storage cabinet at an early stage, so that it is possible to prevent the foodstuffs in the refrigerator from being damaged.

At least one of the condenser fan and the internal fan has a variable rotation speed, and the predetermined process is performed by setting at least one of the condenser fan and the internal fan having a variable rotation speed at the highest speed. It may also include a process of rotating.

According to the cooling storage described above, by rotating the condenser fan at the highest speed, the refrigerant can be diffused quickly in the case of refrigerant leakage outside the storage. Further, by rotating the in-compartment fan at the highest speed, it is possible to quickly diffuse the refrigerant to the outside of the refrigerator in the case of refrigerant leakage in the refrigerator. This can more reliably reduce the risk of the flammable refrigerant staying in one place.

The predetermined process may include a process of rotating the internal fan in the reverse direction.

When the internal fan is rotated in the reverse direction, the cold air circulation direction is reversed, so the pressure for blowing the internal cold air toward the door becomes higher. Therefore, the refrigerant inside the refrigerator can be more surely diffused outside the refrigerator through a slight gap between the door and the storage body.

An air pump for sending the air outside the refrigerator to the inside of the refrigerator may be provided, and the predetermined process may include a process of operating the air pump to blow the air outside the refrigerator into the refrigerator.

According to the above cooling storage, the pressure in the storage is increased by sending air from the air pump into the storage, so that the refrigerant can be more surely diffused to the outside of the storage from the slight gap between the door and the storage main body.

A drain pan that receives defrosted water that is defrosted water attached to the evaporator, a drainage pipe that discharges the defrosted water that is received by the drain pan to the outside of the refrigerator, and a drain pipe that branches off from the drainage pipe and goes upward. And a branch pipe that has an end portion that extends upward and is exposed to the outside of the refrigerator.

According to the cooling storage described above, when a refrigerant leak occurs, when the internal fan is rotated, the refrigerant leaked into the refrigerator is easily discharged from the drainage pipe to the outside of the refrigerator via the branch pipe. This can more reliably reduce the risk of the flammable refrigerant staying in one place.

Front view of the cooling storage according to the first embodiment Sectional drawing of the AA line shown in FIG. Schematic diagram of refrigeration circuit Partial sectional view of the refrigeration unit and its surroundings Block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the cooling storage Schematic diagram of operation part Timing chart of cooling operation Timing chart for refrigerant leak detection Timing chart of refrigerant leakage detection according to the second embodiment Timing chart of refrigerant leakage detection according to the third embodiment Timing chart of refrigerant leakage detection according to the fifth embodiment Timing chart of refrigerant leakage detection according to the sixth embodiment Timing chart of refrigerant leakage detection according to the seventh embodiment Timing chart of refrigerant leakage detection according to the eighth embodiment Timing chart of refrigerant leakage detection according to the ninth embodiment Timing chart for refrigerant leakage detection according to the tenth embodiment Perspective view of the storage main body according to the eleventh embodiment (view from an oblique front side) Timing chart for refrigerant leak detection (view from diagonally rear side) Sectional drawing of the cooling storehouse which concerns on other embodiment.

<Embodiment 1>
The first embodiment will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 7. In the following description, the up-down direction and the left-right direction are based on the up-down direction and the left-right direction shown in FIG. 1, and the front-back direction is based on the front-back direction shown in FIG.

(1) Overall Configuration of Refrigerator With reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, the overall configuration of a refrigerator 1 (an example of a cooling storage) according to the first embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 is a two-door refrigerator mainly used for business. The refrigerator 1 has a storage body 10 having an opening 11 (see FIG. 2, upper opening 11A and lower opening 11B) on the front side, a heat insulating door 12 (12A) for opening and closing the upper opening 11A, and a heat insulating door 12 for opening and closing the lower opening 11B. (12B), a machine room 13 arranged above the storage main body 10, an operation section 14 provided on the front surface of the machine room 13, four leg portions 15 provided on the lower surface of the storage main body 10, etc. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening 11 of the storage main body 10 is partitioned into an upper opening 11A and a lower opening 11B by a prismatic front frame 16 extending in the left-right direction at approximately the center in the up-down direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper side of the machine room 13 is open. The machine room 13 accommodates a part of the refrigerating unit 17, an electric equipment box (not shown), an operation unit 14, a power supply unit (not shown), and the like. The refrigeration unit 17 is a unit of a refrigeration circuit 18 (see FIG. 3) described later. A control unit 40 (see FIG. 5) described later is housed in an electric equipment box (not shown). In addition, an ambient temperature thermistor 29 (see FIG. 5) (not shown) is provided on the substrate of the operation unit 14. The ambient temperature thermistor 29 detects the ambient temperature of the refrigerator 1.

The refrigeration circuit 18 will be described with reference to FIG. The refrigeration circuit 18 includes a compressor 20, a condenser 21, a dryer 22, a decompression mechanism 23 (capillary tube or the like), and an evaporator 24, which are circulated and connected by a refrigerant pipe 25. The compressor 20 may be an inverter compressor whose rotation speed is variable, or may be a constant speed compressor whose rotation speed is constant. The refrigeration circuit 18 also has a condenser fan 26 that cools the condenser 21.

The configuration of the refrigerating unit 17 and its surroundings will be described with reference to FIG. The refrigeration unit 17 is unitized by attaching the refrigeration circuit 18 to a heat insulating unit base 19. The unit platform 19 is formed in a shape slightly larger than the opening 10B formed in the ceiling wall 10A of the storage body 10, and is arranged on the ceiling wall 10A so as to close the opening 10B.

The compressor 20, the condenser 21, the dryer 22, and the pressure reducing mechanism 23 are attached to the upper side of the unit base 19. A filter (not shown) is provided on the front side of the condenser 21 to prevent dust in the air from adhering to the condenser 21 and deteriorating the condensation capacity. Further, a clogging thermistor 28 (see FIG. 5) for detecting clogging of the filter is attached to the refrigerant pipe of the condenser 21. The plugged thermistor 28 is an example of a condenser temperature sensor.

The evaporator 24 is attached to the lower side of the unit base 19 and is housed in a cooling duct 31 formed by a ceiling (the ceiling wall 10A and the unit base 19) and an air duct 27 described next. A defrosting thermistor 32 (see FIG. 5) (not shown) is attached to the evaporator 24. The defrosting thermistor 32 is for determining the end of the defrosting operation described later. The defrost thermistor 32 is an example of an evaporator temperature sensor.

The air duct 27 forms a cooling duct 31 between itself and the ceiling, and also functions as a drain pan that receives defrosted water that is water in which frost attached to the evaporator 24 is melted. The air duct 27 includes a substantially flat plate-shaped bottom wall 27A that inclines downward toward the rear side, side walls 27B that rise upward from the left and right edges of the bottom wall 27A, and an upper side from the rear edge of the bottom wall 27A. The rear wall 27C is slightly raised.

A circular suction port 27E for sucking air into the cooling duct 31 is formed in the front portion of the bottom wall 27A. The rear wall 27C is separated from the rear side wall 10C of the storage main body 10 to the front side, and an outlet 27F is formed between the rear wall 27C and the rear side wall 10C of the storage main body 10. Further, the rear wall 27C is integrally formed with a drain groove 27D having a U-shaped cross section that extends from the substantially center in the left-right direction toward the rear side. A drain passage 10D is formed inside the rear wall 10C of the storage main body 10, and the drain groove 27D has a rear end portion inserted into the drain passage 10D. The defrost water received by the air duct 27 is discharged from the drainage groove 27D to the outside of the refrigerator via the drainage passage 10D.

An internal fan 33 is attached to the suction port 27E of the air duct 27 from above. When the internal fan 33 rotates, the air in the internal compartment is sucked into the cooling duct 31 from the suction port 27E, cooled by the evaporator 24, and blown into the internal compartment from the outlet 27F.
An internal thermistor 34 is arranged between the internal fan 33 and the evaporator 24 in the cooling duct 31. The internal thermistor 34 detects the internal temperature. The internal thermistor 34 is an example of an internal temperature sensor.

(2) Electrical Configuration of Refrigerator The electrical configuration of the refrigerator 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The refrigerator 1 includes a control unit 40. The operation unit 14, the compressor 20, the internal fan 33, the condenser fan 26, the internal fan thermistor 34, the plugging thermistor 28, the ambient temperature thermistor 29, the defrosting thermistor 32, and the like are connected to the control unit 40.

The control unit 40 is configured by mounting a microcomputer 40A, a ROM 40B, and the like, in which a CPU, a RAM, etc. are integrated into one chip, on a substrate. The control unit 40 controls each unit of the refrigerator 1 by executing the control program stored in the ROM 40B.

(3) Operation Unit The operation unit 14 will be described with reference to FIG. The operation unit 14 is a display unit 45 that displays the internal temperature, alarm number, and the like for 7 segments, and a plurality of display lamps 46 (inspection lamp 46A, filter lamp 46B, and defrosting state) that light up figures and character strings according to the displayed information. Lamp 46C, ECO lamp 46D), a plurality of operation buttons 47, and the like. The plurality of operation buttons 47 are for the user to perform various settings such as set temperature and various instructions to the refrigerator 1.

(4) Control process executed by control unit The control unit 40 executes various control processes. Here, among the control processes executed by the control unit 40, the door open detection, the filter clogging detection of the condenser 21, the cooling operation, the defrosting operation, the refrigerant leakage detection, and the predetermined processing regarding the refrigerant leakage will be described.

(4-1) Door Open Detection Door open detection is a process of detecting that the heat insulating door 12 has been opened. As a method of detecting that the heat insulating door 12 has been opened, a method of judging from an increase in the internal temperature, a method of using a human sensor (an example of a detection unit), and a door opening/closing switch (detection unit Various methods such as a method using (for example) are possible.

In the method of judging from the rise in the internal cold storage temperature, the internal cold storage thermistor 34 repeatedly detects the internal cold storage temperature at intervals of 1 second or the like. When the adiabatic door 12 is opened, outside air enters the inside of the refrigerator, so that the temperature of the inside of the refrigerator rises greatly in a short time. Therefore, for example, when the temperature inside the refrigerator rises by 0.2 K [Kelvin] or more in 5 seconds, it is determined that the heat insulating door 12 is opened.

In the method using the human sensor, the human sensor is provided in the refrigerator. When a person in front of the refrigerator 1 opens the heat insulation door 12, infrared rays are detected by the motion sensor to detect that the heat insulation door 12 is opened.

In the method using the door opening/closing switch, for example, a door opening/closing switch including a magnet provided on the heat insulating door 12 and a reed switch provided on the storage body 10 is used. When the heat insulating door 12 is opened, the magnet moves away from the reed switch, the reed switch is turned on (or off), and it is detected that the heat insulating door 12 is opened. On the contrary, when the heat insulating door 12 is closed, the magnet approaches the reed switch, so that the reed switch is turned off (or on), and it is detected that the heat insulating door 12 is closed.

In the case of the method of judging from the rise in the internal temperature, it is not necessary to provide parts such as a human sensor and a door opening/closing switch. For this reason, in this embodiment, a method of judging from the rise in the internal temperature is used in order to suppress the increase in the number of parts. That is, in the present embodiment, the thermistor 34 inside the storage serves as both the internal temperature sensor and the detection unit.

(4-2) Detection of clogging of condenser filter When the condenser 21 filter is clogged, even if the condenser fan 26 rotates, heat is not sufficiently exchanged between the condenser 21 and the outside air, and cooling efficiency is improved. Is reduced. Therefore, the control unit 40 uses the clogging thermistor 28 to detect clogging of the filter.

Specifically, the control unit 40 detects the temperature of the condenser 21 by the clogging thermistor 28 at a predetermined sampling interval, and condenses when the temperature of the condenser 21 is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold for a certain time or longer. Increase the rotation speed of the fan 26. When the temperature of the condenser 21 does not decrease even if the number of rotations of the condenser fan 26 is increased, the control unit 40 determines that the filter is clogged, lights the filter lamp 46B, and prompts cleaning of the filter.

(4-3) Cooling Operation The cooling operation will be described with reference to FIG. 7. The cooling operation is to maintain the internal cold storage temperature within a predetermined cooling temperature range by switching on/off of the compressor 20 and the condenser fan 26. The upper limit temperature of the cooling temperature range is, for example, the set temperature +1.7K [Kelvin], and the lower limit temperature is the set temperature -2.0K [Kelvin].

In the cooling operation, the control unit 40 operates the compressor 20, the condenser fan 26, and the internal fan 33, and stops the compressor 20 and the condenser fan 26 when the internal temperature drops to the lower limit temperature. If these are stopped, the internal temperature will gradually rise. The control unit 40 restarts the operation of the compressor 20 and the condenser fan 26 when the internal temperature rises to the upper limit temperature. By repeating this, the internal temperature is maintained within the cooling temperature range.

(4-4) Defrosting Operation When the above cooling operation is performed, frost adheres to the evaporator 24. Therefore, the control unit 40 starts the defrosting operation for defrosting the evaporator 24 when the predetermined defrosting start condition is satisfied. The defrosting start condition is, for example, that a preset defrosting start time has come, a certain time has elapsed since the last defrosting operation ended, or the user instructs the defrosting operation.

In the defrosting operation, the control unit 40 stops the compressor 20 while rotating the internal fan 33 to promote defrosting. When the compressor 20 is stopped, the temperature of the evaporator 24 gradually rises. When the temperature of the evaporator 24 detected by the defrosting thermistor 32 rises to a predetermined defrosting ending temperature, the control unit 40 ends the defrosting operation and restarts the cooling operation.

(4-5) Refrigerant Leakage Detection The control unit 40, under the condition that the heat insulating door 12 is not opened, the ambient temperature is below a predetermined temperature, and the compressor 20 is instructed to operate, It is determined that a refrigerant leak has occurred when the increase in the internal temperature at constant time intervals is equal to or greater than a certain value and a certain number of times or more continuously, and a predetermined process relating to the refrigerant leak described below is executed.

This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 8, time point P1 is a time point when the power of the refrigerator 1 is turned on. When the power is turned on, the control unit 40 starts the cooling operation after a predetermined time (time point P2). Time point P3 is a time point when the compressor 20 and the condenser fan 26 are rotated during the cooling operation. Time point P4 is a time point when a refrigerant leak occurs during the cooling operation. When the refrigerant leaks, the cooling capacity decreases, so the temperature inside the refrigerator rises even when the compressor 20 is operating.

In the example shown in FIG. 8, the temperature inside the refrigerator has not risen by 0.2 K or more in 5 seconds after the time point P3, so that it is not detected that the adiabatic door 12 is opened at least after the time point P3. Further, at least after the time point P3, the ambient temperature is 50° C. (an example of a predetermined temperature) or less. Further, after the time point P3, the compressor 20 is always instructed to operate.
Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 8, the opening of the heat insulating door 12 is not detected in the period after the time point P3, the ambient temperature is below the predetermined temperature, and the compressor 20 is instructed to operate. Meets the condition that

Then, in the example shown in FIG. 8, in the state where the above-described conditions are satisfied, the rise width of the in-compartment temperature every 30 seconds (an example of a constant time) is 0.1 K (an example of a constant value) or more. Is repeated 6 times or more (an example of a certain number of times). For this reason, the control unit 40 executes a predetermined process relating to the refrigerant leakage at a time point P5 when the increase in the internal cold storage temperature is 0.1 K or more for six consecutive times.

(4-6) Predetermined Processing Regarding Refrigerant Leakage The control unit 40 executes the following processing as the predetermined processing regarding refrigerant leakage.
-Always operate the condenser fan 26.
-Always operate the internal fan 33.
-Control so that the defrosting operation that is regularly performed is not performed. Note that the defrosting operation that is performed irregularly may not be performed.
・Alert a refrigerant leak. In the alarm of refrigerant leakage, the control unit 40 blinks the inspection lamp 46A of the operation unit 14, and alternately displays the internal cold storage temperature and the alarm number for alarming refrigerant leakage on the display unit 45. Specifically, the control unit 40 displays the internal temperature when the inspection lamp 46A is off, and displays the alarm number when the inspection lamp 46A is on.

In addition, at least one of the above-mentioned processes may be executed, and not all of them need to be executed. The processing to be executed can be appropriately selected.

(5) Effects of the Embodiment According to the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment, the condition that the heat insulating door 12 is not opened, the ambient temperature is 50° C. or lower, and the compressor 20 is instructed to operate. If the increase in the internal temperature of every 30 seconds is 0.1K or more, the predetermined process regarding the refrigerant leakage is executed 6 times or more consecutively. Therefore, when the ambient temperature is high or the heat insulation door 12 is opened/closed. It is possible to prevent the predetermined process from being unnecessarily executed when the process is frequently performed.

Further, according to the refrigerator 1, the condenser fan 26 is always operated when a refrigerant leak occurs. When the condenser fan 26 is constantly operated, in the case of a refrigerant leak outside the refrigerator, the refrigerant leaked outside the refrigerator can be diffused. Therefore, when the refrigerant is a flammable refrigerant, it is possible to reduce the risk of the flammable refrigerant staying in one place.

Further, according to the refrigerator 1, the internal fan 33 is always operated when a refrigerant leak occurs. When the internal fan 33 is constantly operated, in the case of a refrigerant leak in the internal compartment, the refrigerant can be gradually diffused out of the internal compartment through a small gap between the heat insulating door 12 and the storage body 10. For this reason, when the refrigerant is a flammable refrigerant, it is possible to reduce the risk of the flammable refrigerant leaking out of the refrigerator staying in one place.

Moreover, according to the refrigerator 1, when the refrigerant leaks, the defrosting operation is controlled not to be performed (in other words, the defrosting operation is prohibited). Since the compressor 20 is stopped in the defrosting operation, the temperature inside the refrigerator rises. Normally, if the cooling operation is restarted after that, the temperature inside the refrigerator will not drop, so it will not adversely affect the food, but if there is a refrigerant leak, the temperature inside the refrigerator will not be affected even if the cooling operation is restarted thereafter. Does not decrease, the temperature inside the refrigerator remains high, which may damage the food in the refrigerator. If the defrosting operation is prohibited, the temperature inside the refrigerator can be suppressed from rising, so that the food in the refrigerator can be prevented from being damaged.

Further, according to the refrigerator 1, when a refrigerant leak occurs, a warning of the refrigerant leak is issued. When the warning of the refrigerant leakage is given, the user can be urged to refrain from opening and closing the heat insulating door 12, and the temperature inside the refrigerator is unlikely to rise. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the food in the refrigerator will be damaged. In addition, if a warning of refrigerant leakage is given, the user can be encouraged to ventilate the room, and the risk of the flammable refrigerant leaking out of the refrigerator staying indoors can be reduced. Further, if the warning of the refrigerant leakage is issued, the user can request the manufacturer of the refrigerator 1 for the service at an early stage, so that it is possible to suppress the possibility that the food in the refrigerator is damaged.

<Embodiment 2>
The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the above-described first embodiment, one of the conditions for determining that the refrigerant leakage has occurred is "instructing the compressor 20 to operate". In the second embodiment, the condition "instructing the compressor 20 to operate" of the first embodiment is "the temperature of the condenser 21 detected by the plugging thermistor 28 is lower than the ambient temperature detected by the ambient temperature thermistor 29." It must be higher than a predetermined value".

In other words, in the control unit 40 according to the second embodiment, the heat insulating door 12 is not opened, the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, and the temperature of the condenser 21 detected by the clogging thermistor 28 is the ambient temperature. Under the condition that the ambient temperature detected by the sensor is higher than the ambient temperature by a predetermined value or more, the predetermined process related to the refrigerant leakage is executed when the increase width of the in-compartment temperature at the constant time is equal to or higher than the predetermined value for a predetermined number of times or more. ..

This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 9, a time point P4 is a time point when a refrigerant leak occurs during the cooling operation. In the example shown in FIG. 9, since the temperature inside the refrigerator has not risen by 0.2 K or more in 5 seconds after the time point P3, it is not detected that the adiabatic door 12 is opened at least after the time point P3. Further, at least after the time point P3, the ambient temperature is 50° C. (an example of a predetermined temperature) or less. Further, at least after the time point P6, the temperature of the condenser 21 detected by the clogging thermistor 28 is higher than the ambient temperature detected by the ambient temperature sensor by 3 K (an example of a predetermined value) or more.

Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 9, the opening of the heat insulating door 12 is not detected in the period after the time point P6, the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, and the clogging thermistor 28 detects the ambient temperature. The condition that the temperature of the condenser 21 is higher than the ambient temperature detected by the ambient temperature sensor by a predetermined value or more is satisfied.

Then, in the example shown in FIG. 9, in the state where the above-described conditions are satisfied, the rise width of the in-compartment temperature every 30 seconds (an example of a constant time) is 0.1 K (an example of a constant value) or more. Is repeated 6 times or more (an example of a certain number of times). Therefore, the control unit 40 executes a predetermined process regarding the refrigerant leakage at the time P7 when the increase in the internal cold storage temperature is 0.1 K or more for six consecutive times.

According to the refrigerator 1 according to the second embodiment, one of the conditions is that the temperature of the condenser 21 is higher than the ambient temperature by 3 K or more, rather than merely instructing the compressor 20 to operate. When it is stopped due to a failure, it is possible to prevent unnecessary execution of a predetermined process related to the refrigerant leak, which is determined to be the refrigerant leak even though the refrigerant leak has not occurred.

<Embodiment 3>
The third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 40 according to the third embodiment is configured such that the heat insulating door 12 is not opened, the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, and the compressor 20 is instructed to operate at regular intervals. If the increase in the temperature of the evaporator 24 is equal to or larger than a certain value and continues for a certain number of times or more, a predetermined process regarding refrigerant leakage is executed.

This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 10, since the interior temperature has not increased by 0.2 K or more in 5 seconds after the time point P3, it is not detected that the adiabatic door 12 is opened at least after the time point P3. Further, at least after the time point P3, the ambient temperature is 50° C. (an example of a predetermined temperature) or less. Further, after the time point P3, the compressor 20 is always instructed to operate.
Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 10, the opening of the heat insulating door 12 is not detected in the period after the time point P3, the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, and the compressor 20 is instructed to operate. Meets the condition that

Then, in the example shown in FIG. 10, when the above-described conditions are satisfied, the temperature rise width of the evaporator 24 for every 30 seconds (an example of a constant time) is 0.1 K (an example of a constant value) or more. There is 6 times (an example of a certain number of times) or more in succession. Therefore, the control unit 40 executes the predetermined process regarding the refrigerant leakage at the time point P8 when the increase in the temperature of the evaporator 24 is 0.1K or more for six consecutive times.

According to the refrigerator 1 according to the third embodiment, under the condition that the heat insulation door 12 is not opened, the ambient temperature is 50° C. or less, and the compressor 20 is instructed to operate, the refrigerator 1 is provided every 30 seconds. When the temperature rise range of the evaporator 24 is 0.1 K or more, the predetermined process relating to the refrigerant leakage is executed when the temperature is increased 6 times or more. Therefore, when the ambient temperature is high or the heat insulation door 12 is frequently opened and closed. In this case, it is possible to prevent unnecessary execution of the predetermined process.

<Embodiment 4>
The fourth embodiment is a modification of the third embodiment. In the fourth embodiment, the condition "instructing the compressor 20 to operate" of the third embodiment is the same as in the second embodiment. "The temperature detected by the clogging thermistor 28 is the temperature detected by the ambient temperature thermistor 29." It should be higher than a predetermined value or more”.
The fourth embodiment is substantially the same as the second embodiment except that it is a modified example of the third embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

<Fifth Embodiment>
The fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 40 according to the fifth embodiment provides the temperature of the condenser 21 and the ambient temperature at regular intervals under the condition that the heat insulating door 12 is not opened and the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature. If the difference is within the predetermined range for a certain number of times or more, a predetermined process regarding the refrigerant leakage is executed.

This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 11, after the time point P3, the temperature inside the refrigerator has not risen by 0.2 K or more in 5 seconds, so that it is not detected that the heat insulating door 12 is opened at least after the time point P3. Further, at least after the time point P3, the ambient temperature is 50° C. (an example of a predetermined temperature) or less.
Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 11, the condition that the heat insulating door 12 is not detected to be open and the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature is satisfied in the period after the time point P3.

In the example shown in FIG. 11, the difference between the temperature of the condenser 21 and the ambient temperature every 30 seconds (an example of a constant time) (=the temperature of the condenser 21-the ambient temperature) in the state where the above-described conditions are satisfied. That the temperature is within 1 to 3K (an example of a certain range) is continuous 6 times (an example of a certain number of times) or more. Therefore, the control unit 40 executes the predetermined process regarding the refrigerant leakage at the time point P9 when the difference between the temperature of the condenser 21 and the ambient temperature is within 1 to 3K for six consecutive times.

According to the refrigerator 1 of the fifth embodiment, under the condition that the heat insulating door 12 is not opened and the ambient temperature is 50° C. or less, the difference between the temperature of the condenser 21 and the ambient temperature is 1 to 1. Since the predetermined process relating to the refrigerant leakage is executed when the temperature is within 3K continuously for six times or more, the predetermined process is not executed when the ambient temperature is high or when the heat insulation door 12 is frequently opened and closed. Can be suppressed.

Then, according to the refrigerator 1 according to the fifth embodiment, when the compressor 20 is stopped due to a failure, the difference between the temperature of the condenser 21 and the ambient temperature is outside the predetermined range, and thus the predetermined process is not executed. For this reason, it is possible to suppress unnecessary execution of the predetermined process when the compressor 20 is stopped due to a failure.

In general, in the refrigerator 1, when air enters from the low-pressure side refrigerant pipe and stays in the condenser 21, the condensing pressure rises, but the condensing temperature does not rise, and as time passes, refrigerant leakage occurs and the condensing temperature lowers. It is known to do. Therefore, in the case of the refrigerator 1 described in JP-A-2005-140409, the temperature difference between the condensation temperature of the refrigerant and the ambient temperature becomes a predetermined value (2° C.) or less even in the case of the low-pressure side refrigerant circuit abnormality. There is a possibility that the high pressure side refrigerant circuit may be erroneously notified as an abnormality. For this reason, there is a possibility that an operator who performs maintenance on the refrigerator 1 may not be able to quickly and accurately perform repairs. On the other hand, according to the refrigerator 1 according to the fifth embodiment, when the difference between the temperature of the condenser 21 and the ambient temperature is within the predetermined range, the predetermined process is not executed, so that false notification can be suppressed.

<Sixth Embodiment>
The sixth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The control unit 40 according to the sixth embodiment has a condition that the heat insulating door 12 is not opened, the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, and the temperature of the condenser 21 is higher than the ambient temperature by a first constant value or more. Below, if the temperature obtained by subtracting the temperature of the evaporator 24 from the internal temperature for each fixed time is equal to or higher than the second fixed value for a fixed number of times or more, a predetermined process regarding refrigerant leakage is executed.

This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 12, since the internal cold storage temperature has not risen by 0.2 K or more in 5 seconds after the time point P3, it is not detected that the heat insulating door 12 is opened at least after the time point P3. Further, at least after the time point P3, the ambient temperature is 50° C. (an example of a predetermined temperature) or less. Further, at least after the time point P4, the temperature of the condenser 21 is higher than the ambient temperature by 3K (an example of the first constant value) or more.

Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 12, in the period after the time point P4, it is not detected that the heat insulating door 12 is opened, the ambient temperature is the predetermined temperature or lower, and the temperature of the condenser 21 is the ambient temperature. The condition that the temperature is higher than the temperature by the first constant value or more is satisfied.

In the example shown in FIG. 12, the temperature obtained by subtracting the temperature of the evaporator 24 from the internal temperature for every 30 seconds (an example of a constant time) is 5K (second constant) in the state where the above-described conditions are satisfied. The value is equal to or more than 6 times continuously from the time point P10 as a starting point. Therefore, the control unit 40 executes the predetermined process regarding the refrigerant leakage at the time P11 when the temperature obtained by subtracting the temperature of the evaporator 24 from the internal temperature is 5K or more for six consecutive times.

According to the refrigerator 1 according to the sixth embodiment, the heat insulating door 12 is not opened, the ambient temperature is 50° C. or lower, and the temperature of the condenser 21 is 3 K or higher than the ambient temperature. If the temperature obtained by subtracting the temperature of the evaporator 24 from the internal temperature per second is 5K or more for 6 consecutive times or more, a predetermined process related to refrigerant leakage is executed. Therefore, when the ambient temperature is high or the door is opened and closed frequently. When it is assumed that abnormal frost formation of the evaporator 24 is performed, or when the compressor 20 is stopped due to a failure, it is possible to suppress unnecessary execution of the predetermined process.

Further, according to the refrigerator 1 according to the sixth embodiment, a cool air temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the cool air passing around the evaporator 24 is not necessary for detecting the leak of the refrigerant, and therefore a component for detecting the leak of the refrigerant is provided. The score can be suppressed.

Further, in the refrigerator 1 described in JP 2006-10126 A mentioned above, since the evaporation temperature is high when the set temperature of the freezer is high, even if refrigerant leakage occurs, the temperature detected by the evaporation temperature sensor is It may not be below the boiling point, and refrigerant leakage may not be detected. On the other hand, according to the refrigerator 1 of the sixth embodiment, even if the set temperature is high, the refrigerant leakage can be detected more reliably than the refrigerator 1 described in JP 2006-10126 A.

<Embodiment 7>
The seventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The refrigerator 1 according to the seventh embodiment does not include a component that detects a current value input to the compressor 20 and a defrost thermistor 32 that detects the temperature of the evaporator 24.
Further, as described above, in the cooling operation, the internal/external temperature is maintained substantially within the cooling temperature range by switching the operation/stop of the compressor 20. Here, one operation and stop of the compressor 20 is defined as one cycle.

The control unit 40 according to the seventh embodiment is configured so that the heat insulating door 12 is not opened, the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, and the variation range of the ambient temperature is within a certain range. When the operation time of 20 is continuously increased within a predetermined number of cycles, a predetermined process regarding refrigerant leakage is executed.

This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 13, a time point P13 is a time point when a refrigerant leak occurs during the cooling operation. In the example shown in FIG. 13, after the time point P12, the inside temperature has not risen by 0.2 K or more in 5 seconds, so that it is not detected that the heat insulation door 12 is opened at least after the time point P12. Further, at least after the time point P12, the ambient temperature is 50° C. (an example of a predetermined temperature) or less. At least after the time P12, the change range of the ambient temperature is within 2° C. (within ±1° C. with respect to the median temperature, which is an example of a constant range), so the change in the ambient temperature is small.

Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 13, during the period after the time point P12, the heat insulating door 12 is not opened, the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, and the variation range of the ambient temperature is within a certain range. The conditions are met.

In the example shown in FIG. 13, the operating time of the compressor 20 is 10 minutes, 15 minutes, and 20 minutes within three cycles (an example of a predetermined number of cycles) in a state where the above-described conditions are satisfied. It has become long continuously. Therefore, the control unit 40 executes a predetermined process regarding refrigerant leakage at the time point P14 when the operating time of the compressor 20 continuously increases within three cycles.

According to the refrigerator 1 of Embodiment 7, the compressor is provided under the condition that the heat insulating door 12 is not opened, the ambient temperature is 50° C. or lower, and the variation range of the ambient temperature is within 2° C. When the operating time of 20 is continuously increased within 3 cycles, a predetermined process relating to the refrigerant leakage is executed, so that the ambient temperature is high, the heat insulating door 12 is frequently opened and closed, or the ambient temperature changes greatly. In this case, it is possible to suppress unnecessary execution of the predetermined process.

Further, according to the refrigerator 1 according to the seventh embodiment, a component for detecting the current value input to the compressor 20 and a defrosting thermistor 32 for detecting the temperature of the evaporator 24 are unnecessary for detecting the refrigerant leakage. As compared with the electric refrigerator described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-340462, the number of parts for detecting refrigerant leakage can be suppressed.

<Embodiment 8>
Embodiment 8 will be described with reference to FIG. The refrigerator 1 according to the eighth embodiment includes an inverter compressor 20 as the compressor 20. In the cooling operation, the control unit 40 according to the eighth embodiment sets the internal temperature and the target temperature so that the internal temperature decreases to a target temperature (for example, a set temperature or a lower limit temperature) at a preset cooling rate. The rotation speed of the inverter compressor 20 is changed according to the difference.

Then, in the control unit 40 according to the eighth embodiment, the rotation speed of the inverter compressor 20 is the maximum rotation speed under the condition that the heat insulating door 12 is not opened and the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature. In a certain state, if the rise width of the internal cold storage temperature for a certain period of time is equal to or greater than a certain value and continues for a certain number of times or more, a predetermined process regarding refrigerant leakage is executed.

This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 14, the temperature inside the refrigerator has not risen by 0.2 K or more in 5 seconds after the time point P3, so that it is not detected that the adiabatic door 12 is opened at least after the time point P3. Further, at least after the time point P3, the ambient temperature is 50° C. (an example of a predetermined temperature) or less.
Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 14, the condition that the heat insulating door 12 is not opened and the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature is satisfied during the period after the time point P3.

In the example shown in FIG. 14, the rotation speed of the inverter compressor 20 is increased to a high speed (an example of the maximum rotation speed) at the time point P4. Therefore, in the period after time P4, the rotation speed of the inverter compressor 20 becomes the maximum rotation speed under the condition that the heat insulating door 12 is not opened and the ambient temperature is 50° C. or lower. There is.

Then, in the example shown in FIG. 14, in the period after the time point P15, the increase range of the in-compartment temperature for every 30 seconds (an example of a constant time) is 0.1 K (an example of a constant value) or more 6 times ( It is continuous for more than a certain number of times. Therefore, the control unit 40 executes the predetermined process regarding the refrigerant leakage at the time point P16 when the increase in the internal temperature is 0.1 K or more for six consecutive times.

According to the refrigerator 1 according to the eighth embodiment, under the condition that the heat insulating door 12 is not opened and the ambient temperature is 50° C. or lower, the rotation speed of the inverter compressor 20 is 30 at a high speed. If the rise in the internal temperature per second is 0.1 K or more, the predetermined process relating to the refrigerant leakage is executed when the temperature rises by 6 times or more consecutively. Therefore, when the ambient temperature is high or the heat insulation door 12 is frequently opened and closed. In this case, it is possible to prevent unnecessary execution of the predetermined processing.

In addition, according to the refrigerator 1 of the eighth embodiment, it is determined whether or not the increase range of the temperature inside the refrigerator every 30 seconds is 0.1K or more continuously for 6 times or more at a high rotation speed of the inverter compressor 20. Since the determination is made in a certain state (in other words, the determination is made in the state where the rotation speed of the inverter compressor 20 is fixed), the influence of the variable rotation speed of the inverter compressor 20 can be eliminated.

Further, according to the refrigerator 1 according to the eighth embodiment, a component that detects the input power of the motor is not necessary to detect the refrigerant leakage, so that in the case of the refrigerator 1 that does not include the component that detects the input power of the motor, As compared with the refrigeration cycle apparatus described in JP-A-2016-31209, the number of parts for detecting refrigerant leakage can be suppressed.

Further, in the refrigeration cycle apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2016-31209 mentioned above, when the food stored in the refrigerator is extremely small, or when the R fan motor or the F fan motor fails and does not move, the door is opened and closed. If a large amount of frost adheres to the cooler due to the effect of the above, there is a possibility that it may be erroneously determined that there is a possibility that a refrigerant leak may have occurred because the electric power value decreases due to the temperature decrease of the cooler. .. On the other hand, according to the refrigerator 1 of the eighth embodiment, since no component for detecting the input power of the motor is used, such an erroneous determination can be suppressed.

<Embodiment 9>
The ninth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The ninth embodiment is a modification of the eighth embodiment. In the control unit 40 according to the ninth embodiment, under the condition that the heat insulating door 12 is not opened and the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, the rise width of the internal cold storage temperature at the first constant time intervals increases. If the first constant value or more continues for the first constant number of times or more, the rotation speed of the inverter compressor 20 is fixed to the rotation speed at that time, and then the second temperature rises at every fixed time. If is equal to or greater than the second constant value and continues for the second constant number of times or more, a predetermined process regarding refrigerant leakage is executed.

This will be specifically described with reference to FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 15, after the time point P3, the inside temperature has not risen by 0.2 K or more in 5 seconds, so that it is not detected that the heat insulating door 12 is opened at least after the time point P3. Further, at least after the time point P3, the ambient temperature is 50° C. (an example of a predetermined temperature) or less.
Therefore, in the example shown in FIG. 15, the condition that the heat insulating door 12 is not opened and the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature is satisfied during the period after the time point P3.

Then, in the example shown in FIG. 15, in the state where the above-described condition is satisfied, the increase width of the internal cold storage temperature for every 30 seconds (an example of the first constant time) is 0.1 K (the first constant value of the constant value). One example) The number of times above is repeated three times (an example of the first fixed number of times) or more. Therefore, the control unit 40 fixes the rotation speed of the inverter compressor 20 at a time point P17 when the increase in the internal cold storage temperature is 0.1 K or more for three consecutive times.

Then, in the example illustrated in FIG. 15, after the rotation speed of the inverter compressor 20 is fixed at the time point P17, the rise width of the internal cold storage temperature for every 30 seconds (an example of the second constant time) is 0.1 (second time). Is a value equal to or greater than K three times (an example of a second constant number of times) or more. Therefore, the control unit 40 executes a predetermined process regarding the refrigerant leakage at the time P18 when the increase in the internal cold storage temperature is 0.1 K or more for three consecutive times.

According to the refrigerator 1 according to the ninth embodiment, under the condition that the heat insulating door 12 is not opened and the ambient temperature is 50° C. or less, the increase range of the in-compartment temperature for every 30 seconds is 0.1 K. When the above is three consecutive times, the rotation speed of the inverter compressor 20 is fixed to the rotation speed at that time, and thereafter, the increase width of the internal cold storage temperature every 30 seconds is 0.1 K or more for three consecutive times. Then, since the predetermined process relating to the refrigerant leakage is executed, it is possible to prevent the predetermined process from being unnecessarily executed when the ambient temperature is high or the door is frequently opened and closed, and the inverter compressor 20 It is possible to eliminate the influence of the variable rotation speed.

Further, according to the refrigerator 1 according to the ninth embodiment, a component that detects the input power of the motor is not necessary to detect the refrigerant leakage, so that in the case of the refrigerator 1 that does not include the component that detects the input power of the motor, As compared with the refrigeration cycle apparatus described in JP-A-2016-31209, the number of parts for detecting refrigerant leakage can be suppressed.

When the rotation speeds of the condenser fan 26 and the in-compartment fan 33 are also variable, the rotation speeds of these fans may be fixed at the same time as the rotation speeds of the inverter compressor 20 are fixed.

<Embodiment 10>
The tenth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The tenth embodiment is a modification of the first to ninth embodiments. Here, a modification of the first embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 16, the condenser fan 26 and the in-compartment fan 33 according to the tenth embodiment have variable rotational speeds in three stages of OFF, ON (low speed), and ON (high speed). The control unit 40 according to the tenth embodiment constantly operates the condenser fan 26 and the in-compartment fan 33 at the highest speed as a predetermined process related to refrigerant leakage.
Specifically, the control unit 40 sets the rotation speeds of the condenser fan 26 and the in-compartment fan 33 to high speeds (maximum at maximum) at a time P19 when the increase in the in-compartment temperature is 0.1K or more for six consecutive times. Switch to high-speed example).

According to the refrigerator 1 of the tenth embodiment, when a refrigerant leak occurs, the condenser fan 26 is constantly operated at the highest speed, so that the refrigerant can be diffused quickly in the case of a refrigerant leak outside the refrigerator. This can more reliably reduce the risk of the flammable refrigerant staying in one place.

Further, according to the refrigerator 1, when the refrigerant leakage occurs, the internal fan 33 is always operated at the highest speed, so that in the case of the refrigerant leakage inside the refrigerator, the refrigerant can be quickly diffused to the outside. This can more reliably reduce the risk of the flammable refrigerant staying in one place.

<Embodiment 11>
The eleventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The tenth embodiment is a modification of the first to ninth embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 17, the storage body 10 of the refrigerator 1 has an opening 10B formed in the ceiling. The refrigeration unit 17 (not shown) is arranged on the storage body 10 so as to close the opening 10B. FIG. 18 is a rear view of the storage main body 10 and shows a state in which the rear side exterior plate and the left side exterior plate are removed. As shown in FIG. 4 described above, the drainage passage 10D is formed inside the rear wall 10C of the storage body 10. The drainage pipe 50 shown in FIG. 19 forms a drainage passage 10D.

As shown in FIG. 18, the drain pipe 50 is branched in the middle. Specifically, the branch pipe 51 extends upward from a position spaced a predetermined distance downward from the upper end of the drainage pipe 50, while slightly inclining upward. The branch pipe 51 extends slightly upward after being slightly inclined. A through hole for passing the branch pipe 51 is formed in the ceiling of the storage main body 10, and the upper end of the branch pipe 51 is passed through the through hole. The upper end of the branch pipe 51 and the upper surface 52 of the storage body 10 are substantially flush with each other. Since the upper end of the branch pipe 51 and the upper surface 52 of the storage body 10 are substantially flush with each other, the upper end of the branch pipe 51 is located below the upper surface of the unit base 19.

According to the refrigerator 1 of the eleventh embodiment, the drainage pipe 50 has a branch pipe 51 that branches from the middle and extends upward. For this reason, when the internal fan 33 is rotated when a refrigerant leak occurs, the refrigerant leaked into the internal storage is likely to be discharged from the drainage pipe 50 to the outside of the internal storage via the branch pipe 51. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably reduce the risk of the flammable refrigerant staying in one place.

Further, according to the refrigerator 1, the condenser fan 26 is constantly operated when a refrigerant leak occurs, so that the refrigerant exhausted from the branch pipe 51 can be diffused by the condenser fan 26. In that case, since the upper end of the branch pipe 51 is located below the upper surface of the unit base 19, the wind of the condenser fan 26 does not directly hit the exhaust side opening of the branch pipe 51. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant in the refrigerator from being difficult to be exhausted from the branch pipe 51 to the outside of the refrigerator by the wind from the condenser fan 26.

<Other Embodiments>
The technology disclosed in the present specification is not limited to the embodiments described by the above description and the drawings, and the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope disclosed in the present specification.

(1) In the above embodiment, the internal fan 33 is constantly operated as a predetermined process related to refrigerant leakage. In that case, the rotation direction of the internal fan 33 is the same as that during the cooling operation. On the other hand, the internal fan 33 may be rotated in the opposite direction to that during the cooling operation. Since the cold air circulation direction is reversed when the internal fan 33 is rotated in the reverse direction, the pressure for blowing the internal cold air toward the packing side of the door is increased. Therefore, the refrigerant in the refrigerator can be more surely diffused to the outside of the refrigerator through a slight gap between the packing and the storage body 10.

(2) In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, the air pump 60 is arranged on the unit base 19, and the passage 61 for guiding the air sent from the air pump 60 into the interior is formed in the unit base 19. However, when a refrigerant leak occurs, the air pump 60 may be operated to send the air outside the refrigerator into the refrigerator. In this way, the pressure inside the storage chamber increases due to the air being sent from the air pump 60 to the storage chamber, so that the refrigerant is more reliably diffused outside the storage chamber from the slight gap between the packing of the heat insulating door 12 and the storage body 10. be able to.

(3) In the fifth embodiment, one refrigeration circuit 18 has one condenser 21, but a plurality of refrigeration circuits 18 use one condenser 21, and the clogging for each refrigeration circuit 18 is performed. The thermistor 28 may be provided in the condenser 21. According to the configuration described in the fifth embodiment, even in such a case, it is possible to detect the refrigerant leakage from the difference between the temperature detected by the plugged thermistor 28 and the temperature detected by the ambient temperature thermistor 29. ..

(4) In the tenth embodiment, the case where both the condenser fan 26 and the internal fan 33 have variable rotation speeds has been described as an example, but only one of them may have variable rotation speeds.

(5) In the eleventh embodiment, an exhaust fan is provided above the end face on the exhaust side of the branch pipe 51, and when a refrigerant leak occurs, the exhaust fan is operated to exhaust the refrigerant in the refrigerator to the outside. Good.

(6) The various numerical values exemplified in the above embodiment are examples, and the numerical values are not limited to those exemplified in the above embodiment.

(7) In the above embodiment, the refrigerator is described as an example of the cooling storage, but the cooling storage may be a freezer or a freezer-refrigerator including a refrigerator and a freezer.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Refrigerator (an example of a cooling storage), 10... Storage main body, 12... Heat insulation door (an example of a door), 18... Refrigeration circuit, 20... Compressor, 21... Condenser, 24... Evaporator, 26... Condenser fan , 27... Air duct (one example of drain pan), 28... Clogged thermistor (one example of condenser temperature sensor), 29... Ambient temperature thermistor (one example of ambient temperature sensor), 32... Defrost thermistor (one example of evaporator temperature sensor) , 34... Internal thermistor (an example of internal temperature sensor and detection unit), 40... Control unit, 60... Air pump, 50... Drain pipe, 51... Branch pipe

Claims (14)

A cold store,
A storage body having an opening,
A door for opening and closing the opening,
A refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan and an evaporator,
An internal temperature sensor that detects the internal temperature,
An ambient temperature sensor that detects the ambient temperature,
A detection unit that detects that the door is opened,
A control unit,
Equipped with
The control unit is not detected by the detection unit that the door is opened, the ambient temperature is a predetermined temperature or less, and under the condition that the compressor is instructed to operate, A refrigerating storage cabinet that executes a predetermined process regarding a refrigerant leak when the increase range of the internal temperature for each constant time is equal to or more than a certain value for a certain number of times continuously. A cold store,
A storage body having an opening,
A door for opening and closing the opening,
A refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan and an evaporator,
An internal temperature sensor that detects the internal temperature,
An ambient temperature sensor that detects the ambient temperature,
A condenser temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the condenser;
A detection unit that detects that the door is opened,
A control unit,
Equipped with
The control unit does not detect that the door has been opened by the detection unit, the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, and the temperature of the condenser is higher than the ambient temperature by a predetermined value or more. Below, a cooling storage that executes a predetermined process relating to a refrigerant leak when the increase in the internal temperature for a certain period of time is equal to or more than a certain value for a certain number of times continuously. A cold store,
A storage body having an opening,
A door for opening and closing the opening,
A refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan and an evaporator,
An evaporator temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the evaporator,
An ambient temperature sensor that detects the ambient temperature,
A detection unit that detects that the door is opened,
A control unit,
Equipped with
The control unit is not detected by the detection unit that the door is opened, the ambient temperature is a predetermined temperature or less, and under the condition that the compressor is instructed to operate, A cooling storage, which executes a predetermined process relating to a refrigerant leak when the increase in the temperature of the evaporator for a certain period of time is a certain value or more continuously for a certain number of times or more. A cold store,
A storage body having an opening,
A door for opening and closing the opening,
A refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan and an evaporator,
An evaporator temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the evaporator,
An ambient temperature sensor that detects the ambient temperature,
A condenser temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the condenser;
A detection unit that detects that the door is opened,
A control unit,
Equipped with
The control unit does not detect that the door is opened by the detection unit, the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, and the temperature of the condenser is higher than the ambient temperature by a predetermined value or more. A cooling storage, which performs a predetermined process regarding a refrigerant leak when a rise in temperature of the evaporator for a certain period of time is a certain value or more continuously for a certain number of times. A cold store,
A storage body having an opening,
A door for opening and closing the opening,
A refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan and an evaporator,
A condenser temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the condenser;
An ambient temperature sensor that detects the ambient temperature,
A detection unit that detects that the door is opened,
A control unit,
Equipped with
The control unit detects that the door is opened is not detected by the detection unit, and the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. A cooling storage that executes a predetermined process related to refrigerant leakage when the difference between the two is within a certain range for a certain number of times or more. A cold store,
A storage body having an opening,
A door for opening and closing the opening,
A refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan and an evaporator,
A condenser temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the condenser;
An evaporator temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the evaporator,
An ambient temperature sensor that detects the ambient temperature,
A detection unit that detects that the door is opened,
A control unit,
Equipped with
The control unit has not detected that the door has been opened by the detection unit, the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, and the temperature of the condenser is higher than the ambient temperature by a first constant value or more. Under such a condition, if the temperature obtained by subtracting the temperature of the evaporator from the internal temperature for each constant time is equal to or more than a second constant value for a certain number of times or more continuously, a predetermined process related to refrigerant leakage is executed. Storage. A cold store,
A storage body having an opening,
A door for opening and closing the opening,
A refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan and an evaporator,
An internal temperature sensor that detects the internal temperature,
An ambient temperature sensor that detects the ambient temperature,
A detection unit that detects that the door is opened,
A control unit,
Equipped with
The control unit is
A cooling operation in which the operation of the compressor is stopped when the internal cold temperature drops to the lower limit temperature of the predetermined cooling temperature range, and then the operation of the compressor is restarted when the internal cold room temperature rises to the upper limit temperature of the cooling temperature range. When,
Under the condition that the opening of the door is not detected by the detection unit, the ambient temperature is less than or equal to a predetermined temperature, and the change range of the ambient temperature is within a certain range, A cooling storage that performs a predetermined process regarding refrigerant leakage when the operating time continuously increases within a predetermined number of cycles. A cold store,
A storage body having an opening,
A door for opening and closing the opening,
A refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, and an evaporator whose rotation speed is variable,
An internal temperature sensor that detects the internal temperature,
An ambient temperature sensor that detects the ambient temperature,
A detection unit that detects that the door is opened,
A control unit,
Equipped with
The control unit is
A rotation speed changing process for changing the rotation speed of the compressor according to the difference between the internal temperature and the target temperature,
Under the condition that the opening of the door is not detected by the detection unit and the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the rotation speed of the compressor is the maximum rotation speed. A refrigerating storage cabinet that executes a predetermined process regarding a refrigerant leak when the increase range of the internal temperature for each constant time is equal to or more than a certain value for a certain number of times continuously. A cold store,
A storage body having an opening,
A door for opening and closing the opening,
A refrigeration circuit having a compressor, a condenser, a condenser fan, and an evaporator whose rotation speed is variable,
An internal temperature sensor that detects the internal temperature,
An ambient temperature sensor that detects the ambient temperature,
A detection unit that detects that the door is opened,
A control unit,
Equipped with
The control unit is
A rotation speed changing process for changing the rotation speed of the compressor according to the difference between the internal temperature and the target temperature,
Under the condition that the opening of the door is not detected by the detection unit and the ambient temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, the first temperature rises within the first temperature increase range. When the value is equal to or more than a certain value of the first continuous number of times or more, the number of rotations of the compressor is fixed to the number of rotations at that time, and thereafter, the increase width of the in-compartment temperature at the second certain time is increased to the second value. Is a predetermined value or more for a second predetermined number of times or more continuously, a predetermined process related to refrigerant leakage is executed. The cooling storage according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The predetermined process prohibits a process of operating the condenser fan, a process of operating an in-compartment fan that circulates the air cooled by the evaporator in the interior, and a defrosting operation of defrosting the evaporator. A cooling storage containing at least one of processing and warning of a refrigerant leak. The cooling storage according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
At least one of the condenser fan and the internal fan has a variable rotation speed,
The predetermined process includes a process of rotating at least one of the condenser fan and the internal fan whose rotation speed is variable at the highest speed. The cooling storage according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
The predetermined storage includes a cooling storage that includes rotating the internal fan in the reverse direction. The cooling storage according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
Equipped with an air pump that sends the outside air to the inside,
The predetermined process includes a process of operating the air pump to send air outside the storage into the cooling storage. The cooling storage according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
A drain pan that receives defrost water that is defrosted water attached to the evaporator,
A drainage pipe for discharging the defrosted water received by the drain pan to the outside of the refrigerator,
A branch pipe that is branched from the drainage pipe and extends upward, and an end portion that extends upward is exposed outside the refrigerator,
A cooling storage cabinet.

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