JPH06123538A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accumulate heat by utilizing electric power at night and achieve the leveling of power demand by shifting accumulated heat to daytime use. CONSTITUTION:A refrigerator comprises a freezing cycle in which a cooler 8 and a heat accumulator 31 having a heat storage material 32 in its interior are connected in parallel to each other, a time controlling means 46 which controls the time of heat accumulation operation for accumulating heat to the heat accumulator 31 in an arbitrary time zone and controls the time of regenerative cooling operation for cooling the interior of the refrigerator with accumulated heat, a heater 58 for defrosting the cooler, and a door switch for detecting the number of times of opening and closing a door of the refrigerator.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heat storage type refrigerator for keeping the inside of a refrigerator cold by using a heat storage material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a heat storage type refrigerator for cooling the inside of a refrigerator by using a heat storage material has been disclosed from the viewpoint of effective utilization of late-night power or leveling of power demand by peak cut.
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 58068, this is considered.

An example of the above conventional heat storage type refrigerator will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of a conventional heat storage type refrigerator, and FIG. 8 is a refrigeration system diagram. Figure 7
In FIG. 8, reference numeral 1 denotes a cabinet 2 which is a refrigerating cabinet body and has a heat insulating material built therein, a door 3, and a gasket 14 which seals the door 3 and the cabinet 2. The interior is divided into two chambers, an upper freezing chamber 17 and a lower refrigerating chamber 18, by a horizontally arranged intermediate partition wall 16.

A compressor 4 is connected to a three-way solenoid valve 6 via a capacitor 5. Further, the first outlet 6a of the three-way solenoid valve 6 is connected to the compressor 4 through a capillary 7, a cooler 8 and an accumulator 13 in this order. In addition, the second outlet 6b of the three-way solenoid valve 6
Is the accumulator 13 through the regenerator capillary 9 and the regenerator 10 having the regenerator material 15 filled therein.
Connected. Further, a closed loop type thermosiphon 12 is provided as a heat transfer path between the cooler 8 and the heat storage device 10, and a heat storage solenoid valve 11 is provided in the middle of the closed loop type thermosiphon 12. Are arranged. The closed loop type thermosiphon 12 is, for example, a gravity type, and a refrigerant is enclosed in the closed loop type pipe.

Reference numeral 19 denotes a cooling fan for cooling the inside of the refrigerator, which is provided in front of the cooler 8 and has a freezer compartment upper outlet 2
0 and cold air can be sent out from the lower part 21 of the freezer compartment. A freezing compartment suction port 22 is provided in front of the intermediate partition wall 16 on the freezing compartment side, and a freezing compartment intermediate duct 23 extending from this to the cooler 8 is horizontally formed.

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

FIG. 7 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 communicated, and the condenser 4 is sequentially passed through the condenser 5, the three-way solenoid valve 6 and the capillary 7. 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, in the heat storage operation, the three-way solenoid valve 6
By energizing the coil of No. 2, the second outlet 6b is made to communicate with each other, and reaches the heat storage device 10 from the compressor 4 through the condenser 5, the three-way solenoid valve 6 and the capillary 7 in order, and from this heat storage device 10 to the accumulator. The heat storage material 1 in the heat storage device 10 is constituted by a refrigerant flow path reaching the compressor 4 via
Cool 5

In the heat storage cooling operation, the heat storage solenoid valve 1 is used.
When 1 is opened, the closed loop type thermosiphon 12 allows the heat accumulator 10 to cool the cooler 8, and the heat is used to cool the inside of the refrigerator.

Then, each operation is controlled by a timer action (not shown). At night when power demand is low (from 23:00 to 7:00 on the next day), the heat storage operation and the normal cooling operation are alternately performed by the timer action to sufficiently cool the heat storage material 15 while keeping the inside temperature at the set temperature. Every 3 hours during the peak daytime power demand (13:00 to 16:00), the constant temperature heat storage cooling operation is performed instead of the normal cooling operation that requires a large amount of power to control the temperature inside the warehouse. keep.

In the defrosting of the cooler 8, the operating time of the compressor 4 is integrated, and when the integrated time reaches an arbitrary time, the glass tube heater 29 is energized for defrosting. The defrosting frequency is set to an arbitrary time such that it is about twice a day.

[0014]

However, in the above configuration, the defrosting start time of the cooler depends on the operating rate of the compressor, and the usage state varies depending on the customer. Therefore, there is a problem that the electric power demand is biased and the electric power cannot be effectively used.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and defrosts the cooler once a day at the time of the least usage frequency by estimating the usage status of the refrigerator by the signal from the door switch. Therefore, it is possible to provide a refrigerator that can be operated according to the usage condition of the customer, level the power demand, and effectively use the power.

[0016]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the refrigerator of the present invention has a refrigerating cycle in which a cooler and a heat storage device having a heat storage material are connected in parallel, and the refrigerator is provided with the heat storage device at any time zone. A time control means for performing time control of a heat storage operation of storing heat and a heat storage cooling operation of cooling the inside of the refrigerator by the stored heat, a heater for defrosting the cooler, and a door switch for detecting opening / closing of the refrigerator door. By estimating the usage state of the refrigerator from the signal from the door switch,
Defrosting of the cooler is started by the heater once a day at the time of the least use frequency.

[0017]

According to the present invention, since the defrosting start time is set according to the usage condition of the customer, the power demand can be leveled and the power can be effectively used.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A refrigerator according to an 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 refrigeration system diagram in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a main part of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an electric circuit diagram, FIG. 4 is a flow chart in one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the number of times the refrigerator door is opened and closed according to the time in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a daily operation state according to room temperature in one embodiment of the present invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, reference numeral 30 is a cool box body, which is composed of a cabinet 2 containing a heat insulating material, a door 3, and a gasket 14 for sealing the door 3 and the cabinet 2. The inside is divided into a freezer compartment 17 at the upper part and a refrigerating compartment 18 at the lower part by a horizontally arranged heat insulating partition wall 33.
The room is partitioned.

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

Inside the adiabatic partition wall 33, there are provided a ventilation passage A37 for connecting the refrigerating compartment suction port 35 and the cooling chamber 62 by replacing the partition wall 38, and a ventilation passage B39 for communicating the refrigerating compartment suction port 35 and the cooling chamber 62. Is forming. Reference numeral 31 is a regenerator that is filled in the air passage B39 with the regenerator 32, and 56 is a regenerator temperature sensor 5 attached to the regenerator 31.
7 is a heat storage temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the heat storage material 32, and 36 is a freezer inlet.

Reference numeral 34 denotes an air passage switching damper, which is provided on the partition wall 38. The air passage switching damper 34 is the air passage switching means 6
1 switches the air passage B39 to 34a and the air passage A37 to 34b.

Reference numeral 26 denotes a damper for adjusting the discharge air flow rate of the cool air blown to the refrigerating compartment duct 25 by the cooling fan 19 to the refrigerating compartment 18 and controlling the refrigerating compartment 18 to a set temperature.

Reference numeral 63 is a door switch for detecting the number of times the respective doors 3 of the freezing room and the refrigerating room are opened and closed, and is attached to the cabinet 2.

Of the electric circuit diagram, only the portion related to the gist of the present invention is shown, and 46 is C as a time control means.
As is well known, the PU is operated by a program stored in a storage circuit (not shown), and is released by the clock circuit 45 that outputs the current time, the room temperature detection means 40, and the output signal from the internal temperature detection circuit 44. , 49, 51,
Energization control of 53 and 59 is performed. That is, each relay 47, 4
Transistors 48, 5 connected to 9, 51, 53
By applying a high level signal to the bases of 0, 52, 54 and 60, the respective relays 47, 49, 51, 53 and 59 are provided.
Is energized.

When the relay 47 is energized, the compressor 4
Will drive. When the relay 49 is energized, the three-way solenoid valve 6 operates and the second outlet 6b communicates, and when the relay 49 is not energized, the first outlet 6a communicates. Relay
When 51 is energized, 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, it closes the air passage B39 (34a). When the relay 59 is energized, the heater 58 defrosts the cooler 8.

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 is
Around the room temperature of the refrigerator, the signal from the room temperature sensor 41 is A /
The D converter 42 digitizes the output voltage and outputs a signal to the time control means 46. Further, 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, the first outlet 6a of the three-way solenoid valve 6 is connected to the compressor 4 through a capillary 7, a cooler 8 and an accumulator 13 in this order. Further, the second outlet 6b of the three-way solenoid valve 6 is connected to the accumulator 13 through the regenerator capillary 9 and the regenerator 31 filled with the regenerator material 15 in order.

FIG. 1 shows the refrigerator configured as described above.
The operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

In the normal cooling operation, the inside of the refrigerator is cooled by using the cooler 8 and kept at the set temperature. That is, CPU4
By turning off the relays 51 and 53 by 6, the refrigerant flow path is the side communicating with the cooler 8 (step S1), and the cold air flow path is the air path switching means 34a side 34a (step S1).
2) and the ventilation passage A is maintained in the communicating state, and when the temperature inside the refrigerator is equal to or higher than the set value, the CPU 46 turns on the relays 47 and 49 by the signal from the temperature detecting circuit 44 inside the refrigerator, and the compressor 4 and the cooling fan. Drive 19 (Step S
As a result of 3), the inside of the refrigerator is cooled by the cooler 8 to the set temperature or lower. Then, when the temperature inside the refrigerator becomes equal to or lower than the set value, the signal from the temperature detecting circuit 44 inside the refrigerator turns off, and the CPU 46 releases the relay.
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 at the set temperature.

The heat storage operation is performed in a predetermined time zone (from 23:00 to 7:00 of the next day) in which the power demand at night is low (step S5), in which the heat storage material 32 filled in the heat storage unit 31 is operated at a predetermined night time. The electric power in the time zone is replaced with heat to store heat. That is, when the temperature inside the refrigerator 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 in response to a signal from the temperature detecting circuit 44 (step S6). When the temperature inside the refrigerator becomes equal to or lower than the set value, the CPU 46 turns on the relays 51 and 47 in response to the signal from the temperature detecting circuit 44 to hold the refrigerant flow path on the side where the heat storage device 31 communicates with the compressor. By operating No. 4, the refrigerant is evaporated in the heat storage unit 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 based on the room in the refrigerating temperature zone at low room temperature (15 ° C) such as autumn. That is, the weight is such that all heat amounts equivalent to the total load heat amount of the refrigerating room in a predetermined time zone (from 7 o'clock to 23 o'clock) in which daytime power demand is high at low room temperature can be stored.

The heat storage cooling operation is to cool the return air of a room other than the freezing room by utilizing the heat stored in the heat storage unit 31 during the peak daytime power demand. That is, when the temperature in the freezer compartment is equal to or higher than the set value, the CPU 46 responds to a signal from the in-compartment temperature detection circuit 44 to turn on the relays 47 and 49 to operate the compressor 4 and the cooling fan 19 so that the freezer compartment is kept below the set temperature. Cool to.

The temperature of the refrigerating room 18 is controlled by the damper-2.
6, the amount of air blown to the refrigerating chamber 18 is adjusted to control the set temperature, and the return air is released by the CPU 46.
When 3 is turned on, the cold air passage is the air passage switching means 3
4 is on the 34b side, and the ventilation passage B39 is maintained in a communicating state and cooled (step S8). As a result, the amount of heat cooled by the cooler 8 is only the amount of heat applied to the freezer.

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

Next, a method of controlling the defrosting start time of the cooler 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The state of use of the refrigerator depends on the customer. The door switch 63 detects the number of times the door 3 is opened / closed per day, and the usage state according to the customer is stored in the storage means 64 for each hour, and the next day, the data in the storage means 64 is used most once a day. The defrosting start determination means 65 determines a time with a low frequency, and the relay 59 is turned off at the determined time.
Then, the heater 58 starts defrosting the cooler 8 (step S9). Further, when a plurality of times of low usage frequency are used, the time control means 46 discriminates daytime and nighttime and gives priority to nighttime time. That is, in the case of the refrigerator door opening / closing pattern shown in FIG. 5, defrosting is started from 23:00.

Next, the control method for each operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 6. A predetermined time period (from 23:00 to 7:00 of the next day) at which the nighttime power demand is low by the time control means 46.
Alternate operation of normal cooling operation and heat storage operation from time to time. That is, when the temperature inside the refrigerator is equal to or higher than the set value, the inside of the refrigerator is cooled by the normal cooling operation, and when the temperature inside the refrigerator is equal to or lower than the set value, heat is stored instead of heat in the heat storage operation (step S12). ..

However, the heat storage operation time at that time varies depending on the room temperature. This is because the amount of heat entering from the cabinet 2 and the refrigerating capacity of the system change depending on the room temperature, and the heat storage operation time becomes shorter at the low room temperature. Therefore, the heat storage temperature detecting means 56 detects the end of freezing of the heat storage material 32 and ends the heat storage operation (step S10).

For the daytime load, the time control means 46 estimates from the daytime average room temperature 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 a peak time zone (13:00 to 1
The heat storage cooling operation is started so as to include 6:00 (step S11). Then, the heat storage temperature detecting means 56 causes the heat storage material 32 to
Is higher than the set temperature and the signal indicating that the cooling capacity of the heat storage device 31 is lost is sent to the time control means 46, whereby the heat storage cooling operation is completed.

For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the heat storage cooling operation time is 8 hours when the room temperature is 30 ° C. and 16 hours when the room temperature is 15 ° C.

The defrosting of the cooler 8 starts from 23:00 as described above. As for the number of defrosting times, the moisture in the refrigerating chamber 18 during the daytime heat storage cooling operation is frosted by the heat storage unit 31, so that the frosting amount of the cooler 8 can be reduced and defrosting can be performed once a day.

As described above, according to this embodiment, a refrigerating cycle in which a cooler and a heat storage device having a heat storage material are connected in parallel, and a heat storage operation for storing heat in the heat storage device at an arbitrary time zone Time control means for performing time control of the heat storage cooling operation for cooling the inside of the refrigerator by the stored heat, a heater for defrosting the cooler, and a door switch for detecting opening / closing of the refrigerator door, and from the door switch Of the refrigerator, the defrosting of the cooler is started by the heater once a day at the time of the least usage frequency, so the defrosting start time depends on the usage state of the customer. As a result, the power demand can be leveled and the power can be effectively used.

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

[0047]

As described above, the present invention has a refrigeration cycle in which a cooler and a heat storage device having a heat storage material are connected in parallel, a heat storage operation for storing heat in the heat storage device at any time and a heat storage operation. Time control means for performing time control of the heat storage cooling operation for cooling the inside of the refrigerator by the generated heat, and a heater for defrosting the cooler.
And a door switch for detecting the opening and closing of the refrigerator door, predicting the usage state of the refrigerator from the signal from the door switch, and cooling by the heater once a day at the least frequently used time. Since the defrosting of the refrigerator is started, the defrosting start time is set according to the usage condition of the customer, so that the refrigerator can be used to level the power demand and effectively use the power.

[Brief description of 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 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of a main part of the refrigerator shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the number of times the refrigerator door is opened and closed according to the time in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a daily operating state according to the room temperature in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view showing the structure of a conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 8 is a refrigeration system diagram of the refrigerator shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 8 Cooler 31 Heat storage device 32 Heat storage material 46 Time control means 56 Heat storage temperature detection means 58 Heater 63 Door switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A refrigeration cycle in which a cooler and a heat storage device having a heat storage material inside are connected in parallel, a heat storage operation of storing heat in the heat storage device at an arbitrary time zone, and a refrigerator is cooled by the stored heat. A time control means for performing time control of the heat storage cooling operation, a heater for defrosting the cooler, and a door switch for detecting opening / closing of the refrigerator door are provided, and the state of use of the refrigerator is predicted by a signal from the door switch. The refrigerator is characterized in that defrosting of the cooler is started by the heater once a day at a time of least use.