JPH05101873A - Heater for refrigerator and composing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the far infrared ray radiating property and a deodorizing function by using a heater whose heating source is buried between base materials consisting of a metal base and a glass layer covered on the surface of the metal base as a heater for defrosting and thawing. CONSTITUTION:A heater 3 as a heating source is buried between base materials 1, 2 consisting of a metal base and a glass layer formed on the surface of the base. The heat generated by the heater 3 is radiated as far infrared rays from the glass layer surfaces of the base materials 1, 2. The heater for a refrigerator is used as heater for defrosting and a heater for thawing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heater for a refrigerator and a method for constructing the heater, which is installed in a refrigerator or the like to enhance the radiation efficiency of far infrared rays and to efficiently remove frost and frozen foods attached to a cooler. It is related to the technology that can be defrosted. Further, the present invention relates to an invention capable of removing an odor component generated from food or the like by coating a heater with a catalyst having a deodorizing effect.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Hitherto, a heater having a heater embedded in a quartz tube is generally used as a heater for defrosting and thawing a refrigerator. The reason why a quartz tube is used as a heater for a refrigerator is that the water generated by thawing contains corrosive ions (for example, Cl, SO4 ions, etc.), and therefore a metallic heater (sheath heater) causes corrosion. Due to that. Although this heater is certainly excellent in corrosion resistance, it has drawbacks such as low desorption of far infrared rays, which is highly absorbed by water and ice, and efficient defrosting and thawing.

Attempts have also been made to provide a catalyst coating layer on a quartz tube heater, but the actual situation is that the quartz tube itself has a small apparent surface area and cannot carry the catalyst required for deodorization.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The heater for a refrigerator of the present invention has the drawbacks of the above-mentioned conventional quartz tube heater, that is, the radiation efficiency of far infrared rays is small, and the surface area for carrying a deodorizing catalyst is small. Is to solve. Further, by providing a glass layer (holo layer), which is cheaper than a quartz tube heater, on a metal substrate, a heater for a refrigerator having excellent mechanical strength and corrosion resistance is provided.

[0005]

The present invention is characterized in that a heater is used as a refrigerator heater in which a metal is used as a substrate and a heating source is embedded between substrates whose surface is covered with a glass layer. The characteristics of this heater are that the metal heating element is covered with the glass layer, so it does not corrode when thawed water is splashed on it, it has a wide heating cross-section, and the surface from which heat is radiated contains ceramics. It has high radiation efficiency of infrared rays, and has means for overcoming the problems of the conventional quartz tube described above. Furthermore, by covering the surface of the glass layer with a coating layer having a deodorizing function, a large area can be utilized.

[0006]

Since the refrigerator heater according to the present invention has a high emissivity of far infrared rays, defrosting and food thawing can be efficiently performed. Further, by covering the surface of the glass layer with the catalyst layer, it becomes possible to add a deodorizing effect. When a deodorizing catalyst is formed around the quartz tube heater, a water drop protection plate is required to protect the catalyst from defrosting water, but in the present invention, the water drop protection plate is provided by coating the side facing the cooler. It is possible to take a configuration that is not necessary.

[0007]

EXAMPLE This example will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a substrate having a metal as a substrate and a glass layer coated on the surface thereof.
Is a combination of the same substrates through heaters 1 to 3 as heating sources. The heat generated by 3 is 1 or 2
Far infrared rays are emitted from the surface of the glass layer.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a cross section of FIG. In the figure, 4 is a metal substrate, and a steel plate for holo or stainless steel is usually used. The thickness of the substrate has a deep relationship with the rising temperature, and the thinner it is, the more advantageous it is. However, since the mechanical strength decreases, 0.4 mm to 0.8 mm is suitable. Reference numeral 5 is a glass layer provided on the metal substrate. The glass that covers the metal substrate is Si
It is composed of O2, Na2O, B2O3, Al2O3, TiO2, CaO, etc. Among these oxides, Al2O3, TiO2, and CaO have high radiation efficiency of far infrared rays having a wavelength of 3 μm to 25 μm, and water is efficiently absorbed. Therefore, the radiation efficiency of far infrared rays can be further increased by changing the composition of the glass. Although the thickness of the glass layer does not affect the emissivity of far infrared rays, it is preferably 100 μm or more from the viewpoint of corrosion resistance.

Reference numeral 6 is a heater, and 7 is a mica provided for the purpose of insulation. Nichrome wire, stainless steel, iron-chromium wire, etc. can be used for No. 6.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the present invention, in which one of the glass coating layer base materials is molded in a U shape, but the heater is sandwiched between flat plates or other base materials. That is optional.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which a catalyst layer is coated on one side of a substrate coated with a glass layer. 12 in the figure
Is the catalyst layer. Reference numeral 13 is a resistor such as Ag-Pd, RuO2, Pt formed by screen printing on the surface of the glass layer. Reference numeral 11 is a glass layer formed on the resistor. 1
0 is a mica for insulation. Catalyst layer 12
Can be formed on the upper surface or both surfaces, but in the present embodiment, as an example, the case of forming on the lower surface is shown. The catalyst layer thus formed can protect the catalyst layer from water droplets when the upper surface of the catalyst layer is positioned below the cooler as a defrosting heater for a refrigerator. Moreover, it is possible to efficiently adsorb odorous substances. Although various catalyst layers may be supported, zeolite is effective in the present invention.

Zeolite is a crystal of hydrous aluminosilicate, which is also called as zeolite. This crystal has a three-dimensional network structure, and alkali and alkaline earth metals such as Na and Ca are present in this structure. These metal ions are characterized by having a function of substituting with other metal ions and having a function of selectively adsorbing other water and odorous components into the cavities. Zeolites exist as natural stones, but they can also be artificially synthesized. In the present invention, it is possible to use either such natural stone or synthetic zeolite. Although natural stone has inferior adsorption capacity to synthetic ones, it can be used in large amounts because it is cheaper in cost.Because it is a stone, it can be molded without adding additives to any molded body or granules. There are advantages. On the other hand, synthetic products are higher in cost than natural products, but it is possible to select those with excellent adsorption capacity, and since it is possible to exert the effect with a small amount, it is possible to coat by applying to the base material. There is an advantage such as. Due to its crystal structure, synthetic zeolite has A,
Although X, Y, and L forms are known, any of these can be used in the present invention. Of these, a copper-containing zeolite in which copper ions are exchanged in the A form is particularly preferable because it has excellent adsorption performance.

When the surface of the base material is coated with the synthetic zeolite, the content is preferably 20 to 80 wt%. 20 wt
When the amount of the inorganic binder is large at less than 50%, the amount of zeolite adsorbed becomes small and the original adsorption function cannot be exhibited. Again 8
When the content is more than 0 wt% and the amount of the inorganic binder is small, the coating film is cracked and it becomes difficult to support the coating film on the substrate. Therefore, when zeolite is supported on the surface of the base material, the content is preferably 20 to 80 wt%.

Next, the inorganic binder will be described. The inorganic binder described in the present invention includes alumina and silica, but it is particularly preferable in the present invention to include silica. By including silica in the coating layer, the adhesion of the coating layer to the quartz tube or the glass substrate can be strengthened. The content of silica of the present invention is 10 to 4 in the coating layer.
It is preferably 0 wt%. Silica content is 40wt%
When it is more than 40% by weight, the catalyst coating layer is apt to be cracked and the adhesiveness is apt to be lowered, and the content of zeolite having an adsorbing ability is lowered, and the like, so that it is preferably 40 wt% or less. On the other hand, if it is less than 10% by weight, sufficient effect of improving adhesion property of silica cannot be obtained. The silica of the present invention is silicon dioxide, but silicic acid may be used instead.

The present invention is based on the above-mentioned composition, that is,
It is characterized in that it is composed of zeolite alone or a system in which an inorganic binder is added to zeolite. The zeolite of the present invention can be placed as it is as a molded body in a refrigerator such as a conventional deodorizing agent such as activated carbon.
Not only does it act as a deodorant that is superior to conventional activated carbon, but it also acts as a selective adsorbent for ethylene. It is possible to

The first one is characterized in that a catalyst made of a noble metal is added to the above-mentioned composition, zeolite and a system in which an inorganic binder is added to zeolite. The noble metal catalyst is composed of Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ir or the like, and these noble metals may be used alone or in combination. By having such a structure and installing in the vicinity of a heat source such as a defrosting heater, the deodorant for a refrigerator made of zeolite can be purified by a precious metal catalyst and can be regenerated and can be semipermanently used.

Next, the second construction method for enabling reproduction will be described. The deodorants for refrigerators known so far have been generally discarded when the adsorption reaches saturation like activated carbon. The construction method of the present invention proposes that even such a conventional adsorbent can be regenerated without being disposable. That is, the deodorant for the refrigerator is placed in the vicinity of the defrosting heater for desorption,
It is characterized in that the desorbed odorous component is absorbed by the water generated by thawing. By adopting such a configuration, it becomes possible to semi-permanently use the deodorant for refrigerators which was conventionally disposable.

The present invention is characterized by the composition and the constitution method described above, but in the composition, in order to improve the adsorption characteristics, it is optional to add the additives as described below.

In the present invention, activated alumina can be used as an adsorbent additive. Activated alumina is β-,
Metastable alumina such as γ-, δ-, θ-, η-, ρ-, and χ-alumina can be used. It is desirable that the catalyst coating layer of the present invention contains cerium oxide. The catalytic oxidative decomposition activity for a hydrocarbon compound containing cerium oxide, barium oxide, and titanium oxide can be improved.

The specific surface area of the coating layer of the present invention is 10 m ² /
It is preferably g or more. This is because as the specific surface area of the catalyst coating layer increases, the ratio of far infrared radiation amount to the amount of near infrared light emitted increases, but the specific surface area is 1
This is because a sufficient far infrared radiation ratio can be obtained at 0 m ² / g or more.

When forming the catalyst coating layer of the present invention, the catalyst coating layer may be provided after roughening the surface of the glass layer or after sufficiently degreasing the surface of the glass layer. desirable. By this manufacturing method, the adhesion between the catalyst body and the catalyst coating layer can be improved. Various methods can be used for forming the coating layer of the present invention.
For example, spray coating, dip coating, electrostatic coating, roll coating
There are a rukoto method, a screen printing method, and the like.

The median particle diameter of the particles in the mixed slurry of the present invention is preferably 1 μm or more and 9 μm or less. 9
If the thickness exceeds μm, the coating layer becomes soft, and if the thickness is smaller than 1 μm, the coating layer is likely to crack.

It is also desirable to include aluminum nitrate in the mixed slurry of the present invention. This is because the addition of aluminum nitrate improves the adhesion of the obtained coating layer.

FIG. 4 shows the case where the heater 15 is spirally wound around the center of the mica (mica) substrate 14. As shown in the figure, in the present invention, the method of installing the heater is optional, and the heating source is embedded between the base material made of metal and having the surface coated with the glass layer. However, the concrete burying method is arbitrary.

FIG. 5 shows an example in which the refrigerator heater of the present invention is installed as a defrosting heater of a refrigerator. In the figure, 16 is a defrosting heater, 17 is a cooler, 18 is a circulation fan, 19 is a freezing compartment, and 20 is a refrigerating compartment. At the time of defrosting, the heater is turned on and the frost attached to the cooler 17 is thawed by the radiation of far infrared rays.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a defrosting room for frozen foods provided inside the refrigerator. In the figure, 21 is a thaw chamber, 22 and 23 are heaters for refrigerators of the present invention provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the thaw product, 24 is a wire mesh for placing food, 25 is a thaw product (frozen meat), and 26 is a door. Shows. Far infrared rays are emitted by heating 22 and 23, and the thawed product is quickly thawed. It is optional to apply a catalyst layer on one side or both sides of 22, 23 to have a deodorizing effect, if necessary.

[0026]

As described above, by using the refrigerator heater of the present invention as a defrosting heater or as a thawing heater, the radiation efficiency of far infrared rays is high, so that ice can be thawed efficiently. Furthermore, it is possible to have a deodorizing effect by forming a catalyst layer on the refrigerator heater,
Odor components adsorbed at the time of defrosting or thawing are oxidized and purified to be regenerated, so that deodorizing effect can be expected semipermanently without the need for replacement.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

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

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a refrigerator heater of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a refrigerator heater of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram in which the refrigerator heater of the present invention is installed as a defrosting heater.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram in which the refrigerator heater of the present invention is installed as a defrosting heater.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Base Material Covering Glass Layer (Upper Surface) 2 Base Material Covering Glass Layer (Lower Surface) 3 Heater 4 Metal Base Material 5 Glass Layer 6 Heater 7 Mica (Mica) Layer 8 Base Material Covering Glass Layer (Upper Surface) 9 Base material (lower surface) coated with a glass layer 10 Mica layer 11 Insulating glass layer 12 Catalyst layer 13 Heater 14 Mica layer 15 Heater 16 Refrigerator heater 17 Cooler 18 Circulation fan 19 Freezing room 20 Refrigerating room 21 Defrosting Room 22 Defrosting Heater (Bottom) 23 Defrosting Heater (Top) 24 Wire Mesh 25 Defrosted Product (Meat) 26 Door

Front page continuation (72) Inventor Kyoe Yamade 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A heater for a refrigerator characterized in that a heating source is embedded between base materials formed by coating a surface of a metal substrate with a glass layer. 2. A heater in which a heating source is embedded between base materials formed by using a metal as a base material and coating a glass layer on the surface thereof.
The heater for a refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the glass layer is covered with a coating layer having a deodorizing function. 3. The refrigerator heater according to claim 2, wherein the coating layer having a deodorizing function contains zeolite. 4. A refrigerator heater in which a heat source is embedded between base materials formed by covering a surface of a metal with a glass layer is located below the cooler. The method for constructing a heater for a refrigerator according to claim 2. 5. A refrigerator heater in which a heat source is embedded between base materials formed by coating a glass layer on the surface of a metal as a base, is placed on the upper surface, the lower surface or both surfaces of the thawed product as the heat source of the defroster. The method for constructing a heater for a refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.