JPH07294100A - Apparatus for controlling refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an energy-saving deep freeze refrigerator capable of effecting defrosting only when necessity arises without deteriorating the cooling capacity of a refrigerator by detecting interior humidities of a refrigerator, performing calculation on the basis of detection results and the open/close state of a damper in order to obtain the amount of frost adhering to an evaporator and performing defrosting at an appropriate amount of frost so as to avoiding unnecessary defrosting. CONSTITUTION:The title apparatus comprises an interior humidity detecting means 17 for detecting interior humidities of a refrigerator, a frost amount calculating means 16 for calculating the amount of frost on the basis of detection results of the interior humidity detecting means, a control means 18 for opening-and-closing a damper and a defrosting control means 14 for performing defrosting when the amount of frost adhering on an evaporator reaches an appropriate amount. The amount of frost is calculated by the frost amount calculating means 16 on the basis of the detection results of the interior humidity detecting means and a damper-opening/closing signal. When the amount of frost reaches an appropriate amount, the defrosting control means 14 driven to effect defrosting.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator control device in which an evaporator is heated and defrosted.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of a control device for a refrigerator of this type, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-65582 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-33.
There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 592.

An example of the operation of a conventional refrigerator control device will be described below with reference to the drawings with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. This is the case with a defrost heater.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 is a refrigerator box, which is composed of a freezing compartment 2, a refrigerating compartment 3 and a vegetable compartment 4. The evaporator 5 provided on the inner surface of the freezer compartment 2 is composed of a capillary 6 which is an inlet of the refrigerant of the evaporator 5 and an accumulator 7 which collects the liquid refrigerant at the outlet. Reference numeral 8 denotes a defrost heater attached to the lower portion of the evaporator 5 and serves to defrost the frost formed on the evaporator 5. 9 is a defrosting temperature sensor attached to the upper surface of the evaporator 5 at -3 ° C, "H", at + 10 ° C "L"
Is output to detect the end of defrosting. 10 is an internal temperature detecting means that outputs "H" at -17 ° C and "L" at -23 ° C. 11 is a refrigerant to the evaporator 5 of the freezer compartment 2. It is a compressor for circulating and cooling.

In FIG. 8, reference numeral 12 is a temperature control means to which a signal a for inputting the operation of the internal temperature detection means 10 and a signal b for output to the AND gate 13 are connected. Reference numeral 14 denotes a defrost control means that integrates the operating time of the compressor 11 and outputs a signal e when a predetermined time is reached, and a signal c output to the AND gate 13 for starting defrosting.
An output signal g for operating the defrost heater 8 and a signal h for inputting the operation of the defrost temperature sensor 9 are connected. Further, the signal d output from the AND gate 13 is the compressor 11
Is connected to the operation integrating means 15.

The operation will be described below with reference to the timing chart of the control device shown in FIG. The signal a is the state of the input signal from the internal temperature detection means 10 to the temperature control means 12, and the signal b.
Represents the state of the output signal from the temperature control means 12 to the AND gate 13. Further, the signal c is the defrost control means 14
State of the output signal from the AND gate 13 to the AND gate 13, the signal d is A
The state of the output signal from the ND gate 13 to the compressor 11 and the operation integration means 15, the signal e is the state of the output signal from the operation integration means 15 to the defrost control means 12, and the signal g is the defrost control means 14 from the defrost control means 14. The state of the output signal to the heater 8 and the signal h represent the state of the input signal from the defrost temperature sensor 9 to the defrost control means 8.

In the periods A and B, since the signal a of the internal temperature detecting means 10 is -17 ° C. or higher in the normal cooling state, the signal b from the temperature controlling means 12 is ON and the normal cooling is being performed. Therefore, the signal c from the defrost control means 14 is also O.
The signal d output from the N and AND gates 13 is also turned on, and the compressor 11 and the operation integrating means 15 are operating.

In the period B, since the signal a of the in-compartment temperature detecting means is -23 ° C. or lower, the signal b from the temperature controlling means 12 is OFF, and since the cooling is stopped, the defrost controlling means 14 outputs. The signal c is turned off, the signal d output from the AND gate 13 is also turned off, and the compressor 11 and the operation integrating means 15 are stopped. That is, during the normal cooling operation, the periods A and B are repeated.

In the period C, the inside temperature detecting means 10
The output signal b from the temperature control means 12 to the AND gate 13 is ON because the signal a from the above is -17 ° C. or higher, but the operation integrating means 15 causes the operation time of the compressor 11 to reach a predetermined time. Since the signal e to the defrost control means 14 is inverted to the signal of the integrated UP, the defrost control means 14 turns off the signal c to the AND gate 13 in order to shift from the normal cooling operation state to the defrost operation. The output signal d to the AND gate 13 is also turned off, the compressor 11 is stopped, the defrost heater 8 is turned on, the defrost heater is energized, and the defrost operation is started.

During the period D, the defrosting operation is being performed, the compressor 11 is stopped, heating by the defrost heater 8 and the heat conduction effect by the refrigerant remaining inside the evaporator 5 when the compressor 11 is stopped are normally caused. The frost formed on the evaporator 5 in the cooling operation is defrosted.

The period E is the end of defrosting, and when the temperature of the defrosting temperature sensor 9 installed above the evaporator 5 rises above + 10 ° C., the signal is inverted to the ON state and the defrosting ends. Simultaneously with the end, the operation integrating means 15 returns to the initial state. After that, the output signal c of the defrost control means 14 is turned on, and the operation returns to the normal cooling operation in the periods A and B. Also,
Defrost sensor 9 turns off when the evaporator temperature drops below -3 ° C
Invert to state.

[0012]

However, when defrosting is performed in the above refrigerator control device, the operation integrating means 15 integrates the operation time of the compressor 11 to operate the compressor at regular intervals. Defrosting control means 1 after stopping
The defrosting heater 8 of No. 4 is operated, and after the temperature of the evaporator reaches a predetermined temperature, the compressor 11 is restarted.

According to this method, since the defrosting timing is determined only by the time when the operation of the compressor 11 is integrated, unnecessary defrosting is performed when the amount of frost adhering to the evaporator is small, and frosting is performed. There were cases where defrosting was not performed despite the large amount.

For this reason, the refrigerator cannot be defrosted at the time when it is most needed, and when the amount of frost is large, the cooling capacity is lowered, and the defrosting is not necessary. However, there is waste in terms of power consumption.

The present invention solves the above problems and calculates the amount of frost formation by taking into consideration the state of the damper in the refrigerator and defrosting it. Therefore, the calculation of the frost formation amount is performed. It is possible to improve the accuracy when performing the defrosting, to enable defrosting at an appropriate time, and to provide a refrigerator control device that defrosts as needed without reducing the cooling capacity of the refrigerator. .

Further, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems by taking into consideration the difference in the frosting manner during the operation and stoppage of the compressor, and further considering the input power to the compressor depending on the frosting amount. Since the amount of frost formation is calculated in consideration of the difference and defrosting is performed, the accuracy when calculating the amount of frost formation can be increased, and defrosting can be performed at an appropriate time. The present invention provides a control device for a refrigerator that defrosts as necessary without reducing the cooling capacity of the refrigerator.

[0017]

In order to achieve this object, a control device for a refrigerator according to the present invention uses a refrigerator temperature detecting means for detecting a refrigerator temperature and an output result of the refrigerator temperature detecting means. A temperature control means for operating the compressor, an in-compartment humidity detection means for detecting the absolute humidity in the refrigerator, a frost amount calculation means for calculating the frost amount from the detection result of the in-compartment humidity detection means, and a freezer compartment And a defrosting control means for defrosting when the amount of frost adhering to the evaporator reaches an appropriate value, and a defrosting control means for controlling the state of a damper provided in the air passage of the refrigerating room. It is a control device for a refrigerator that calculates the amount of frost by the frost amount calculation unit based on the detection result of the detection unit and the output result of the damper opening / closing control unit and drives the defrost control unit.

Further, the control device for a refrigerator according to the present invention comprises an internal temperature detection means for detecting the internal temperature, and a temperature control means for operating the compressor based on the output result of the internal temperature detection means. An internal humidity detecting means for detecting absolute humidity in the refrigerator, a compressor status detecting means for outputting a signal for operating and stopping the compressor, and an input power detecting means for detecting input power to the compressor, The frost amount calculating means for calculating the frost amount from the detection result of the internal humidity detecting means, and the defrost control means for performing defrosting when the amount of frost adhering to the evaporator reaches an appropriate value. A refrigerator control device that reads the difference in input power by the input power detection unit, calculates the frost amount by the frost amount calculation unit from the change in the input power and the detection result of the internal humidity detection unit, and drives the defrost control unit. is there.

[0019]

The present invention does not stop the compressor at regular intervals for defrosting as in the prior art, but detects the humidity inside the refrigerator by means of the humidity detecting means in the refrigerator according to the above configuration. In consideration of the change in absolute humidity in the refrigerator due to opening and closing of the damper, the amount of frost adhering to the evaporator is detected by the frost amount calculation means, and defrosting is performed via the defrost control means. It is possible to improve the accuracy when calculating the amount, eliminate unnecessary defrosting, and always perform defrosting when defrosting is required, so without reducing the cooling capacity of the refrigerator. Can be defrosted if necessary,
In addition, energy saving can be expected by eliminating unnecessary defrosting.

Further, according to the present invention, with the above configuration, the amount of frost formation is calculated and removed in consideration of the difference in the frost formation when the compressor is operating and when it is stopped, and the difference in the input power at that time. Since frosting is performed, it is possible to increase the accuracy when calculating the amount of frost formation, enable defrosting at an appropriate time, and remove as needed without reducing the cooling capacity of the refrigerator. It is possible to frost, and energy saving can be expected by eliminating unnecessary defrosting.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The operation of the refrigerator control apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The same components as those of the conventional example are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 12 is a temperature control means, which is connected with a signal a for inputting the operation of the inside temperature detection means 10 and AND.
The signal b output to the gate 13 is connected. Defrost control means 14 is a signal i for inputting the output of the frost amount calculating means 16, a signal g for outputting to the defrost heater 8, a signal h for inputting the operation of the defrost temperature sensor 9, and an AND gate 13. It is connected to the signal c output to. Reference numeral 16 is a frost amount calculation means, which is connected to the signal i output to the defrost control means 14 and the output signal j of the in-compartment humidity detection means 17.

The inside humidity detecting means 17 is the evaporator 5 of FIG.
It is installed in the refrigerating compartment 3 which is the final air passage to the refrigerator and constantly detects the humidity of the refrigerator. The output signal of the internal humidity detecting means 17 is a signal of absolute humidity and is input to the frost amount calculating means 16 as a signal j.

The frost amount calculating means 16 is an internal humidity detecting means 17
The entered absolute humidity is 3 from the start of the refrigerator operation.
Accumulate at 0 second intervals. The humidity in the refrigerator compartment changes at any time because the cold air circulates or due to the operation of the compressor 11 or the like, but the compartment humidity detection means 17 is attached to the vegetable compartment 4 and the absolute humidity is integrated. This makes it possible to detect the amount of water that passes through or enters the evaporator 5 at a certain time.

Further, the frost amount calculating means 16 converts the integrated humidity into the amount of frost growing in the evaporator 5.

The damper opening / closing control means 18 is a damper 18a provided in the air passage connecting the freezing compartment 2 and the refrigerating compartment 3 in FIG.
Is controlled so that each temperature becomes a predetermined temperature,
Information for turning on the open state of the damper 18a and turning off the closed state of the damper 18a is output to the frost amount calculating means 16 via the signal k.

As shown in FIG. 3, the absolute humidity detected by the internal humidity detecting means 17 is closely related to the movement of the damper 18a. When the damper 18a is opened, the absolute humidity detected decreases. When the damper 18a is closed, the detected absolute humidity shows an increasing tendency.

For example, when the damper 18a is opened, the absolute humidity detected by the internal humidity detecting means 17 tends to decrease. This is because the air inside the refrigerator is blown by the opening of the damper 18a. This is because the evaporator 5 passes through the passage and passes through the evaporator 5, and the evaporator 5 dehumidifies the passing air at that time. Therefore, the degree of growth of frost that forms on the evaporator 5 is large. When the damper 18a is in the closed state, the absolute humidity detected by the internal humidity detecting means 17 shows an increasing tendency. This is because the air inside the refrigerator passes through the air passage when the damper 18a is closed. This is because dehumidification by the evaporator 5 is small and therefore the growth degree of frost that forms on the evaporator 5 is small.

When the damper 18a is in the open state, the signal k outputs "ON", and the frost amount calculating means 16 operates as shown in FIG.
The α function of is selected, and the frosting amount for the accumulated absolute humidity at that time is calculated. When the damper 18a is in the closed state, the signal k outputs OFF, and the frost amount calculation means 16
The function of β in FIG. 4 is selected, and the frost formation amount with respect to the integrated absolute humidity at that time is calculated. The frost amount calculating means 16 selects and changes the functions α and β of FIG. 4 according to the opening and closing of the damper 18a, and repeatedly performs the calculation by repeatedly selecting until the appropriate frost amount is obtained.

When the amount of frost obtained by converting the integrated absolute humidity in the frost amount calculating means 16 reaches a predetermined amount, a signal i is transmitted from the frost amount calculating means 16 and input to the defrost control means 14. . In response to the signal i, the defrost control means 14 outputs the signal g to the defrost heater 8, and the defrost heater 8 is energized to generate heat and defrost. At the same time, AND gate 1
The signal c is output to 3, and is combined with the signal b, and the signal d
Is sent to the compressor 11, and the compressor stops.

When the defrosting temperature sensor 9 has a predetermined temperature (+10
(° C) or higher, the defrost control means 14 transmits a signal c informing the end of defrost, and the compressor 11 starts operation again.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the inside temperature detecting means 10 for detecting the inside temperature of the refrigerator and the compressor operation is performed based on the output result of the inside temperature detecting means 10. Temperature control means 12, internal humidity detection means 17 for detecting the absolute humidity inside the refrigerator, frost amount calculation means 16 for calculating the frost amount from the detection result of the internal humidity detection means, freezing room and refrigerating room The damper opening / closing control means 18 for controlling the state of the damper provided in the air passage and the defrost control means 14 for defrosting when the frost amount calculated by the frost amount calculating means 16 reaches a predetermined value. The inside humidity of the refrigerator is detected by the inside humidity detecting means 17, and the frost amount attached to the evaporator is calculated in consideration of the detection result and the change in the absolute humidity inside the refrigerator due to opening and closing of the damper. It is calculated by the means 16 and the defrost control means 14 Since the defrosting is performed by using the defrosting method, it is possible to improve the accuracy when calculating the frosting amount, eliminate unnecessary defrosting, and defrosting is always performed when defrosting is required. Therefore, defrosting can be performed as necessary without reducing the cooling capacity of the refrigerator.

The operation of the control device for the refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The same components as those of the conventional example and the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 12 is a temperature control means, which is ANDed with a signal a for inputting the operation of the inside temperature detection means 10.
The signal b output to the gate 13 is connected. Defrost control means 14 is a signal i for inputting the output of the frost amount calculating means 16, a signal g for outputting to the defrost heater 8, a signal h for inputting the operation of the defrost temperature sensor 9, and an AND gate 13. It is connected to the signal c output to. Reference numeral 16 is a frost amount calculation means, which is connected to the signal i output to the defrost control means 14 and the output signal j of the in-compartment humidity detection means 17.

Reference numeral 11 denotes a compressor, which receives the signal d,
Drive or stop. The compressor status detecting means 19 outputs the same signal as this d through the signal l to the input power detecting means 20.
Output to. This signal 1 informs whether the compressor 11 is currently operating or stopped.

The input power detection means 20 receives the output signal 1 of the compressor status detection means 19, detects the input power when the compressor is operating, and the power consumption per hour is frosted by the signal m. It is output to the quantity calculation means 16.

For example, in a refrigerator-freezer, the power consumption of the compressor 11 has a correlation with the amount of frost frosted on the evaporator 5, and the relationship shown in FIG. 6 can be seen.

When the compressor 11 is operating, the signal l
Outputs ON, and the input power detection means 20 receives the power consumption from the input power value at that time, and outputs it as a signal m. The power consumption at this time is 250 and the amount of frost does not increase.
If the value is ml, when the value is Xn or less, the frost amount calculation means 16
Calculates the frost amount based on the integrated absolute humidity input from the internal humidity detecting means 17. When the signal m becomes Xn or more, the frost amount calculation means 16 determines that the frost amount has become an appropriate amount, outputs the signal i, and the defrost control means 14 defrosts.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the inside temperature detecting means 10 for detecting the inside temperature and the temperature control for operating the compressor based on the output result of the inside temperature detecting means 10. Means 12, in-compartment humidity detecting means 17 for detecting absolute humidity in the refrigerator, compressor status detecting means 18 for outputting a signal for operating and stopping the compressor, and input power detection for detecting input power of the compressor. Means 20, a frost amount calculating means 16 for calculating the frost amount from the detection result of the internal humidity detecting means, and a defrost control for performing defrosting when the frost amount calculated by the frost amount calculating means 16 reaches a predetermined value. And means 14 and
Considering the power consumption at that time, unnecessary defrosting is eliminated and defrosting is always performed when defrosting is required, so it is possible to improve the accuracy when calculating the frosting amount. The defrosting can be performed at an appropriate time, and the defrosting can be performed as needed without reducing the cooling capacity of the refrigerator.

[0041]

As described above, the refrigerator control device of the present invention controls the operation of the compressor based on the internal temperature detecting means for detecting the internal temperature and the output result of the internal temperature detecting means. Temperature control means for performing, internal humidity detection means for detecting absolute humidity inside the storage, frost amount calculation means for calculating the amount of frost from the detection result of the internal humidity detection means, and air passages for the freezer compartment and the cold storage compartment Damper opening / closing control means for controlling the state of the damper provided in
It consists of defrosting control means that defrosts when the amount of frost adhering to the evaporator reaches an appropriate value.The humidity inside the refrigerator is detected by the humidity detecting means inside the refrigerator. Considering the absolute humidity change as well, the amount of frost adhering to the evaporator is detected by the frost amount calculation means, and defrosting is performed via the defrost control means. The accuracy can be improved, unnecessary defrosting is eliminated, and defrosting is always performed when defrosting is required, so defrosting can be performed as necessary without reducing the cooling capacity of the refrigerator. It can be done, and energy saving can be expected by eliminating unnecessary defrosting.

Further, the control device for a refrigerator according to the present invention comprises an internal temperature detecting means for detecting the internal temperature, and a temperature control means for operating the compressor based on the output result of the internal temperature detecting means. An internal humidity detecting means for detecting absolute humidity in the refrigerator, a compressor status detecting means for outputting a signal for operating and stopping the compressor, an input power detecting means for detecting an input power of the compressor, It consists of a frost amount calculation means for calculating the frost amount from the detection result of the internal humidity detection means, and a defrost control means for performing defrosting when the amount of frost attached to the evaporator reaches an appropriate value. In consideration of this, the amount of frost formation is calculated and defrosting is performed. Therefore, the accuracy in calculating the amount of frost formation can be increased, and defrosting at an appropriate time can be performed. It can be defrosted as needed without reducing the cooling capacity. In addition, energy saving can be expected by to abolish the wasteful defrosting.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a refrigerator control device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a refrigerator having a refrigerator control device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a correlation diagram between a change in absolute humidity in the refrigerator and a damper opening / closing timing chart according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a correlation diagram of accumulated absolute humidity and frost formation in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of a refrigerator control device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a correlation diagram of power consumption and frost formation in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a refrigerator having a conventional refrigerator control device.

FIG. 8 is a control block diagram of a conventional refrigerator control device.

FIG. 9 is a control timing chart of a conventional refrigerator control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 8 defrost heater 9 defrost temperature sensor 10 in-compartment temperature detection means 11 compressor 12 temperature control means 13 AND gate 14 defrost control means 16 frost amount calculation means 17 in-compartment humidity detection means 18 damper opening / closing control means 19 compressor status Detecting means 20 Input power detecting means

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An inside temperature detecting means for detecting the inside temperature, a temperature control means for operating a compressor based on an output result of the inside temperature detecting means, and an absolute humidity inside the inside. Internal humidity detecting means, frost amount calculating means for calculating the frost amount from the detection result of the internal humidity detecting means, and damper opening / closing control means for controlling the states of dampers provided in the air passages of the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment. And the defrost control means for defrosting when the amount of frost adhering to the evaporator reaches an appropriate value, and the frost amount is determined by the detection result of the internal humidity detection means and the output result of the damper opening / closing control means. A control device for a refrigerator, characterized in that the defrosting control means is driven by a calculation means. 2. An inside temperature detecting means for detecting the inside temperature, a temperature controlling means for operating a compressor based on an output result of the inside temperature detecting means, and an absolute humidity inside the refrigerator. Inside humidity detecting means, a compressor status detecting means for outputting a signal for operating and stopping the compressor, an input power detecting means for detecting input power to the compressor, and a detection result of the inside humidity detecting means The frost amount calculation means for calculating the frost amount more, and the defrost control means for defrosting when the amount of frost attached to the evaporator reaches a proper value, and the difference in the input power of the compressor is detected by the input power detection means. A control device for a refrigerator, characterized in that a frost amount is calculated by a frost amount calculation unit based on a change in the input power and a detection result of the internal humidity detection unit, and the defrost control unit is driven.