JP3098892B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a regenerative refrigerator in which the interior of a refrigerator is kept cool by using a heat storage material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a regenerative refrigerator that cools the inside of a refrigerator using a regenerative material has been proposed from the viewpoint of effective use of late-night power or leveling by peak-cutting power demand.
This is considered as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 58068.

An example of the above-described conventional regenerative refrigerator will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of a conventional regenerative refrigerator, and FIG. 7 is a refrigeration system diagram. FIG.
In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 denotes a cool box main body, which comprises a cabinet 2 having a built-in heat insulating material, a door 3, and a gasket 14 for sealing the door 3 and the cabinet 2. The interior is partitioned into two compartments, an upper freezer compartment 17 and a lower refrigerating compartment 18 by an intermediate partition wall 16 arranged horizontally.

A compressor 4 is connected to a three-way solenoid valve 6 via a condenser 5. Further, a first outlet 6a of the three-way solenoid valve 6 is connected to the compressor 4 via a capillary 7, a cooler 8, and an accumulator 13 in this order. The second outlet 6b of the three-way solenoid valve 6
The accumulator 13 is successively connected via a heat storage capillary 9 and a heat storage 10 in which a heat storage material 15 is filled.
Connected. Further, a closed loop type thermosiphon 12 is provided between the cooler 8 and the regenerator 10 as a heat transfer path. Is arranged. The closed loop type thermosiphon 12 is, for example, a gravity type, and a refrigerant is sealed in the closed looped pipe.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a cooling fan for cooling the inside of the refrigerator.
0 and the freezer compartment lower outlet 21 can send out cool air. A freezer inlet 22 is provided in front of the intermediate partition 16 on the freezer side, and a freezer intermediate duct 23 extending from the freezer inlet 22 to the cooler 8 is formed horizontally.

Further, a refrigerator duct 25 extending from the cooling fan 19 to the refrigerator outlet 24 is provided vertically at the back of the cooler 8 along the back of the refrigerator. This refrigerator compartment outlet 2
4 can be opened and closed by a damper 26. A refrigerator compartment suction port 27 is provided in front of the intermediate partition wall 16 on the refrigerator compartment side, and a refrigerator compartment intermediate duct 28 extending from the refrigerator compartment inlet 27 to the cooler 8 is formed horizontally. A glass tube heater 29 is arranged at the outlet of the refrigerator compartment intermediate duct 28, and enables the defroster 8 disposed above the glass tube heater 29 to be defrosted.

[0008] FIG. 6 shows a refrigerator constructed as described above.
The operation will be described with reference to FIG.

In the normal cooling operation, the coil of the three-way solenoid valve 6 is not energized, the first outlet 6a is connected, and the cooler is connected from the compressor 4 via the condenser 5, the three-way solenoid valve 6 and the capillary 7 sequentially. 8, a refrigerant flow path from the cooler 8 to the compressor 4 via the accumulator 13 is formed, and the cooler 8 cools the inside of the refrigerator.

On the other hand, the heat storage operation is performed by the three-way solenoid valve 6.
When the coil is energized, the second outlet 6b is connected to the compressor 4, the compressor 5 passes through the condenser 5, the three-way solenoid valve 6, and the capillary 9 in order to reach the heat accumulator 10, and the accumulator from the heat accumulator 10 A refrigerant flow passage extending to the compressor 4 through the cooling medium 13 is provided to cool the heat storage material 15 in the heat storage 10.

The heat storage and cooling operation is performed by the heat storage solenoid valve 1.
By opening 1, the closed loop type thermosiphon 12 cools the regenerator 10 to the cooler 8 and uses the heat to cool the inside of the refrigerator.

Each operation is controlled by a timer function (not shown). During the night when power demand is low (from 23:00 to 7:00 of the next day), the heat storage operation and the normal cooling operation are alternately performed by the timer operation, so that the heat storage material 15 is sufficiently cooled while keeping the internal temperature at the set temperature. For three hours during peak hours (13:00 to 16:00) during the daytime power demand, constant-time regenerative cooling operation is performed instead of normal cooling operation requiring a large amount of electric power to reduce the temperature in the refrigerator. keep.

The defrosting of the cooler 8 is performed by integrating the operation time of the compressor 4 and, when the accumulated time reaches an arbitrary time, energizes the glass tube heater 29 to perform defrosting. An arbitrary time is set so that the number of times of defrosting is about twice a day.

[0014]

However, in the above configuration, the night time zone (from 23:00 to 7:00 the next day)
In summer, when the room temperature is high, the amount of heat load increases, so that the normal cooling operation time increases, so that a sufficient heat storage operation time cannot be secured and the required heat amount cannot be stored.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems. When the room temperature is equal to or higher than an arbitrary set temperature, the temperature in the refrigerator is set to an arbitrary temperature in the night time zone to reduce the normal cooling operation time and reduce the room temperature. It is intended to provide a refrigerator capable of sufficiently securing the heat storage operation time even in summer or the like when the temperature is high, and enabling effective use of electric power throughout the year.

[0016]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a refrigerator according to the present invention comprises a refrigerating cycle in which a cooler and a heat accumulator having a heat accumulating material therein are connected in parallel, and a refrigerating cycle for the heat accumulator in an arbitrary time zone. Time control means for performing time control of a heat storage operation for storing heat and a heat storage and cooling operation for cooling the refrigerator with the stored heat, a room temperature detection means for detecting a room temperature, and raising the temperature setting in the refrigerator to an arbitrary temperature A room temperature setting control unit, and when a room temperature detected by the room temperature detection unit is equal to or higher than an arbitrary set temperature in a predetermined time zone at night, the room temperature setting is increased by the room temperature setting control unit. This ensures nighttime heat storage operation time.

[0017]

According to the present invention, when the room temperature is equal to or higher than an arbitrary set temperature, the temperature inside the refrigerator is set to an arbitrary temperature during the night time to reduce the normal cooling operation time, and the summertime when the room temperature is high. In such cases, sufficient heat storage operation time can be secured, and electric power can be effectively used throughout the year.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a refrigerator in one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram of a refrigeration system in one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of main parts in one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a flow chart according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a one-day operation state according to room temperature in one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, reference numeral 30 denotes a cool box main body, which comprises a cabinet 2 having a built-in heat insulating material, a door 3, and a gasket 14 for sealing the door 3 and the cabinet 2. The interior thereof is divided into two sections by the horizontally arranged heat-insulating partition wall 33 and the upper freezer compartment 17 and the lower refrigerator compartment 18.
It is divided into rooms.

Reference numeral 62 denotes a cooling room provided in the freezing room 17. The cooling room 62 is provided with a cooler 8, a cooling fan 19, and a heater 58 for defrosting the cooler.

In the heat insulating partition wall 33, a ventilation passage A37 for connecting the refrigerator compartment suction port 35 to the cooling chamber 62 by changing the partition wall 38 and a ventilation passage B39 for connecting the refrigerator compartment suction port 35 to the cooling chamber 62 are formed. Has formed. Numeral 31 denotes a heat storage unit in which the heat storage material 32 is filled inside the ventilation passage B39, and 56 denotes a heat storage material temperature sensor 5 attached to the heat storage unit 31.
Reference numeral 7 denotes a heat storage temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the heat storage material 32, and reference numeral 36 denotes a freezer compartment suction port.

Numeral 34 denotes an air path switching damper, which is provided on a partition wall 38. The air path switching damper 34 is provided with the air path switching means 6.
1 switches between two stages of 34a for closing the air passage B39 and 34b for closing the air passage A37.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a damper for adjusting the amount of cold air blown into the refrigerator compartment duct 25 by the cooling fan 19 to the refrigerator compartment 18 to control the refrigerator compartment 18 to a set temperature.

Reference numeral 63 denotes a defrosting start judging means for judging the defrosting start time of the cooler 8 in accordance with a signal from the room temperature detecting means 40.

Numeral 70 denotes an internal temperature setting control means for judging a change in the internal temperature setting in the night time zone (from 23:00 to 7:00 the next day) in accordance with a signal from the room temperature detecting means 40.

Only those parts of the electric circuit diagram relevant to the gist of the present invention are shown.
The PU operates according to a program stored in a storage circuit (not shown) as is well known. The PU 47 is operated by a clock circuit 45 for outputting the current time, an output signal from the room temperature detecting means 40 and an internal temperature detecting circuit 44. , 49, 51,
The energization control of 53 and 59 is performed. That is, each relay 47, 4
Each transistor 4 connected to 9, 51, 53, 59
By applying a high-level signal to the bases of 8, 50, 52, 54, 60, each relay 47, 49, 51, 5,
3, 59 are energized.

When the relay 47 is energized, the compressor 4
Drives. When the relay 51 is energized, the three-way solenoid valve 6 operates to communicate with the second outlet 6b, and when the relay 51 is not energized, the first outlet 6a communicates. Relay
When the power is supplied to 49, the cooling fan 19 operates. Relay
When 53 is energized, the air passage switching means 34 closes the air passage A37 (34b), and when the relay 53 is not energized, the air passage B39 is closed (34a). When the relay 59 is energized, the cooler 8 is defrosted by the heater 58.

The internal temperature detection circuit 44 outputs a signal to the time control means 46 when the value detected by the temperature sensor 43 is equal to or higher than the set temperature. Further, the room temperature detecting means 40
The signal from the room temperature sensor 41 is A /
The output voltage is digitized by the D converter 42 and a signal is output to the time control means 46. Also, the heat storage temperature detecting means 5
6 outputs a signal to the time control means 46 when the value detected by the heat storage material temperature sensor 57 is equal to or higher than the set temperature.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 4 denotes a compressor, which is connected to a three-way solenoid valve 6 via a condenser 5. Further, a first outlet 6a of the three-way solenoid valve 6 is connected to the compressor 4 via a capillary 7, a cooler 8, and an accumulator 13 in this order. The second outlet 6b of the three-way solenoid valve 6 is connected to the accumulator 13 via the heat storage capillary 9 and the heat storage 31 in which the heat storage material 15 is filled.

FIG. 1 shows the refrigerator constructed as described above.
The operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5.

In the normal cooling operation, the inside of the refrigerator is cooled by using the cooler 8 and kept at a set temperature. That is, CPU4
6, the relays 51 and 53 are turned off, so that the refrigerant flow path is on the side communicating with the cooler 8 (step S1), and the cool air path is on the side 34a (step S1).
2), the air passage A is maintained in a communicating state, and when the internal temperature is equal to or higher than the set value, the CPU 46 turns on the relays 47 and 49 by a signal from the internal temperature detection circuit 44 to turn on the relays 47 and the cooling fan 4. 19 (Step S)
3) The cooler 8 cools the inside of the refrigerator to a set temperature or less. When the internal temperature falls below the set value, the signal of the internal temperature detecting circuit 44 is turned off, and the CPU 46 sets the relay mode.
47 and 49 are turned off, and the circulation of the refrigerant and the cool air is stopped (step S4). By repeating the above operation, the inside of the refrigerator is kept cool to the set temperature.

In the heat storage operation, during a predetermined time period during which nighttime power demand is low (from 23:00 to 7:00 the next day) (step S5), the heat storage material 32 filled in the heat storage device 31 is stored in the heat storage material 32 at night. The electric power in the time zone is stored instead of heat. That is, when the internal temperature is equal to or higher than the set value, the CPU 46 performs a normal operation of turning on the relays 47 and 49 and operating the compressor 4 and the cooling fan 19 according to a signal from the internal temperature detecting circuit 44 (step S6). When the temperature in the refrigerator becomes equal to or less than the set value, the relay 46 is turned on by the CPU 46 based on the signal from the refrigerator temperature detection circuit 44, thereby holding the refrigerant flow path on the side where the regenerator 31 communicates. By operating 4, the refrigerant is evaporated in the heat accumulator 31 and the heat storage material 32 is frozen (step S7).

The weight of the heat storage material 32 is as follows:
The weight is set based on the room in the refrigerated temperature zone at the time of low room temperature (15 ° C.) such as in autumn. That is, the weight is such that all the heat amount equivalent to the total load heat amount of the refrigerating compartment in a predetermined time zone (from 7:00 to 23:00) when the power demand in the daytime is high at the low room temperature can be stored.

In the heat storage cooling operation, the return air in the room other than the freezing room is cooled by utilizing the heat stored by the heat storage unit 31 during the peak power demand in the daytime. That is, when the freezing room temperature is equal to or higher than the set value, the CPU 46 turns on the relays 47 and 49 and operates the compressor 4 and the cooling fan 19 according to a signal from the internal temperature detecting circuit 44 to lower the freezing room below the set temperature. Cool.

The temperature of the refrigerator compartment 18 is controlled by the damper-2.
6 to control the set temperature by adjusting the amount of air blown to the refrigerating chamber 18, and return air to the relay 46 by the CPU 46.
By turning ON the cold air path 3, the air path switching means 3
4 is on the 34b side, and the blower passage B39 is kept in the communicating state and cooled (step S8). Thus, the amount of heat to be cooled by the cooler 8 is only the amount of heat applied to the freezing compartment.

When the internal temperature falls below the set value, the signal of the internal temperature detecting circuit 44 is turned off and the CPU 46
Turns off the relays 47 and 49 and stops the circulation of the compressor and the cool air. By repeating the above operation, the inside of each refrigerator is kept at the set temperature.

Next, a method for controlling the defrosting start time of the cooler 8 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The time of the heat storage operation varies depending on the room temperature. This is because the amount of heat entering from the cabinet 2 and the refrigeration capacity of the system change depending on the room temperature. In summer, when the heat storage operation time is long and the room temperature is high, a signal is sent from the room temperature detection means 40 indicating that the room temperature is higher than an arbitrary set temperature. Then, the defrost start determining means 63 starts defrosting the cooler 8 at a time during the daytime when power demand is not in a peak time period in order to secure a sufficient heat storage operation time.

In a season in which the heat storage operation time is short and the room temperature is low, the defrosting start determining means 63 starts defrosting the cooler 8 in a predetermined time zone at night when power demand is small.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the room temperature is higher than the set temperature, 7:00 and 21:00, and when the room temperature is lower than the set temperature, 2 hours.
At 3 o'clock, start defrosting.

Next, a method of controlling the internal temperature setting by the internal temperature setting control means 70 will be described.

In the summer, for example, when the cooling load of the refrigerator is large, the internal temperature setting control means, which receives a signal from the room temperature detecting means 40 that the room temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined set temperature, sets the temperature in the arbitrary time zone (23 From the time until 7:00 of the next day), the internal temperature setting is raised to such an extent that there is no problem in use (step S12), whereby the cooling load of the refrigerator is suppressed and the normal cooling operation time is reduced so that a sufficient heat storage operation time is obtained. Secure.

Next, a method of controlling each operation will be described with reference to FIGS. A predetermined time period during which nighttime power demand is low (from 23:00 to 7:00 the next day) 23 by the time control means 46
From time to time, alternate operation of the normal cooling operation and the heat storage operation is performed. That is, when the inside temperature is equal to or higher than the set value, the inside is cooled by the normal cooling operation, and when the inside temperature is equal to or less than the set value, the heat is stored in the heat storage operation instead of heat (step S5). ,
The end of freezing of the heat storage material 32 is detected by the heat storage temperature detecting means 56, and the heat storage operation is ended (step S10).

The daytime load amount is estimated by the time control means 46 from the average daytime room temperature of the day before detected by the room temperature detection means 40.

From this estimated value, the time control means 46 determines that at least the daytime power demand is in the peak time zone (13:00 from 13:00).
6:00) is started (step S11). Then, the heat storage temperature detecting means 56
Is sent to the time control means 46, indicating that the cooling capacity of the heat accumulator 31 has been lost due to the temperature exceeding the set temperature.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the time of the heat storage cooling operation is 7 hours when the room temperature is 30 ° C., and 16 hours when the room temperature is 15 ° C.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a refrigeration cycle in which a cooler and a heat accumulator having a heat accumulating material therein are connected in parallel, and a heat accumulating operation for accumulating heat in the heat accumulator at an arbitrary time zone. Time control means for performing time control of a heat storage cooling operation for cooling the inside of the refrigerator by the stored heat, room temperature detection means for detecting the indoor temperature, and an internal temperature setting control means for increasing the internal temperature setting to an arbitrary temperature. When the room temperature detected by the room temperature detecting means is equal to or higher than an arbitrary set temperature in a predetermined time zone at night, the internal temperature setting is raised to an arbitrary temperature by the internal temperature setting control means. Even in high summer season, the normal cooling operation time of the refrigerator in the night time zone is reduced, so that the heat storage operation time can be sufficiently secured, and the electric power can be effectively used throughout the year.

Further, a heat storage material having a large latent heat of fusion can be used, and a decrease in the effective internal volume of the refrigerator can be suppressed as much as possible, and the power consumption does not increase.

[0050]

As described above, the present invention provides a refrigeration cycle in which a cooler and a heat accumulator having a heat accumulating material therein are connected in parallel, a heat accumulating operation for accumulating heat in the heat accumulator at any time, and a heat accumulating operation. Time control means for performing time control of a heat storage cooling operation for cooling the inside of the refrigerator with the applied heat, room temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the room, and internal temperature setting control means for increasing the internal temperature setting to an arbitrary temperature. When the room temperature detected by the room temperature detecting means is equal to or higher than an arbitrary set temperature in a predetermined time zone at night, the internal temperature setting is raised to an arbitrary temperature by the internal temperature setting control means. Even in the high summer season, the normal cooling operation time of the refrigerator at night is reduced, so that the heat storage operation time can be sufficiently secured, and the refrigerator can effectively use electric power throughout the year.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a refrigeration system diagram of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of a main part of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation state of the day according to the room temperature in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of a conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 7 is a refrigeration system diagram of the refrigerator of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 8 cooler 31 heat storage device 32 heat storage material 40 room temperature detection means 46 time control means 70 internal temperature setting control means

────────────────────────────────────────────────── (5) References JP-A-5-71847 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F25D 16/00 F25B 5/00

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A refrigerating cycle in which a cooler and a heat accumulator having a heat accumulating material therein are connected in parallel, a heat accumulating operation for accumulating heat in the heat accumulator in an arbitrary time zone, and cooling the inside of the refrigerator by the accumulated heat. A time control unit for performing time control of the heat storage cooling operation, a room temperature detecting unit for detecting a room temperature, and an internal temperature setting control unit for increasing an internal temperature setting to an arbitrary temperature, and a predetermined time period during the night. When the room temperature detected by the room temperature detecting means is equal to or higher than an arbitrary set temperature, the internal temperature setting control means raises the internal temperature setting to an arbitrary temperature to secure a heat storage operation time. .