JPH09287863A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce an electric power consumption of a refrigerator, wherein a predetermined temperature in the refrigerator is controlled such that the predetermined temperature is altered to take a higher predetermined temperature during a time period in which a power demand peaks thus lowering an operating efficiency of the refrigerator during this time slot. SOLUTION: Except for a time period in which a power demand peaks, a compressor 4 and a cooling fan 19 are operated based on a predetermined temperature in a refrigerating room so as to refrigerate the inside of the refrigerator. On the other hand, during the time period in which the power demand peaks, the compressor 4 and the refrigerating fan 19 are operated based on a second predetermined temperature which is higher than the previous predetermined temperature so as to refrigerate the inside of the refrigerator. Namely, when the temperature in a refrigerating room is not higher than the second predetermined temperature, a signal is fed to a CPU 46 from a second temperature detecting means 51 so as to turn off a relay and stop the operation of the compressor 4 and the cooling fan 19. When the second temperature detecting means 51 detects that the temperature in the refrigerating room is higher than the second predetermined temperature, the CPU 46 makes the relay turn on so as to make the compressor 4 and the cooling fan 19 operate thus refrigerating the inside of the refrigerator. In this manner, during the time period in which the power demand is high, the temperature control is carried out based on the second predetermined temperature so that an operating efficiency of the compressor and the cooling fan can be lowered thus enabling a reduction of an electric power consumption.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator for the purpose of peak cut of electric power demand.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a refrigerator for cooling the inside of a refrigerator by using a heat storage material has been proposed from the viewpoint of effective utilization of late-night power or leveling of power demand by peak cut.
This is considered as shown in Japanese Patent No. 8 publication.

An example of the above-mentioned conventional refrigerator will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the structure of a conventional heat storage type refrigerator, and FIG. 8 is a refrigeration system diagram. In FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, reference numeral 1 is a cool box body, a cabinet 2 having a heat insulating material built therein, a door 3, and a door 3.
And a gasket 14 that seals the cabinet 2. The inside is a horizontal partition wall 1
6 divides into two chambers, an upper freezing chamber 17 and a lower refrigerating chamber 18.

A compressor 4 is connected to a three-way solenoid valve 6 via a condenser 5. Furthermore, the first of the three-way solenoid valve 6
The outlet 6a is connected to the compressor 4 through a capillary 7, an evaporator 8 and an accumulator 13. The second outlet 6b of the three-way solenoid valve 6 is provided with the heat storage capillary 10 and the heat storage device 1 in which the heat storage material 15 is filled.
The accumulator 13 is connected through 0 sequentially.

Further, a closed loop type thermosiphon 12 is provided as a heat transfer path between the evaporator 8 and the heat storage device 10. The closed loop type thermosiphon 12 is provided in the middle of the closed loop type thermosiphon 12 for the heat storage device. A solenoid valve 11 is 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 evaporator 8 and has a freezing chamber upper outlet 2
0 and cold air can be sent out from the lower part 21 of the freezer compartment. A freezer compartment suction port 22 is provided in front of the intermediate partition wall 16 on the freezer compartment side, and a freezer compartment intermediate duct 23 extending from this to the evaporator 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 evaporator 8. This refrigerating room outlet 2
4 can be opened and closed by a damper 26. A refrigerating compartment suction port 27 is provided on the front side of the intermediate partition wall 16 on the refrigerating compartment side, and a refrigerating compartment intermediate duct 28 extending from this to the evaporator 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 evaporator 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 compressor 4 is sequentially passed through the condenser 5, the three-way solenoid valve 6 and the capillary 7. It reaches the evaporator 8 and the accumulator 13 is discharged from the evaporator 8.
A refrigerant flow path to the compressor 4 via the above is formed, and the inside of the refrigerator is cooled by the evaporator 8.

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 from the compressor 4, the condenser 5, the three-way solenoid valve 6, and the capillary 7 are sequentially passed to reach the heat storage unit 10, and from this heat storage unit 10, the accumulator The refrigerant flow path leading to the compressor 4 via the heater 13 is configured to cool the heat storage material 15 in the heat storage device 10.

In the heat storage cooling operation, the heat storage solenoid valve 1 is used.
When 1 is opened, the closed loop type thermosiphon 12 cools the heat storage device 10 to the evaporator 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.

For defrosting of the evaporator 8, when the operating time of the compressor 4 is integrated and the integrated time reaches an arbitrary time, the glass tube heat
Electricity is applied to the switch 29 to perform defrosting. The defrosting frequency is set to an arbitrary time such that it is about twice a day.

[0014]

However, in the above-mentioned structure, a large number of members are required for cooling the heat storage material, and the effective internal volume of the refrigerator is greatly reduced.

Further, in order to freeze the heat storage material whose melting temperature is around -30 ° C, the evaporation temperature is around -40 ° C, and the refrigerating efficiency of the compressor becomes worse than that during normal cooling operation, resulting in an increase in power consumption. There was a problem that it would end up.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems. Since only the control method of the refrigerator is changed during a time period when the electric power demand is high, it is possible to cut the peak of the electric power demand without reducing the effective internal volume of the refrigerator. The purpose is to

[0017]

To achieve the above object, the present invention comprises time control means for changing at least a preset temperature of the freezer compartment to a second preset temperature which is raised by an arbitrary temperature in an arbitrary time zone, The time control means stops the operation of the compressor from the start time of an arbitrary time zone, operates the compressor only when the freezer compartment reaches a second set temperature or higher, and in the arbitrary time zone, the freezer compartment The temperature is controlled to the second set temperature.

As a result, the operating rate of the refrigerator during the peak time of the electric power demand is reduced, the power consumption can be reduced, and the peak demand can be cut.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a condenser, a capillary tube, and an evaporator are sequentially connected, and a set temperature of at least a freezing compartment at any time zone. To a second set temperature increased by an arbitrary temperature, the operation of the compressor is stopped from the start time of an arbitrary time zone by the time control unit, and the freezer compartment is at or above the second set temperature. The compressor is operated only when it reaches the second set temperature, and the freezer compartment temperature is controlled to the second set temperature in any time zone. It is possible to reduce the power consumption, and it is possible to reduce the peak demand of electric power without reducing the effective internal volume of the refrigerator.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the compressor is forcibly continuously operated for a certain period of time before the start time of an arbitrary time zone to perform precooling, and the compressor starts from the start time of the peak time zone of power demand. It has the effect that the stop time can be extended and the peak demand can be cut.

The invention according to claim 3 is provided with a damper for controlling the refrigerating room temperature to a set temperature, and the damper is fully closed regardless of the set temperature in an arbitrary time zone.
By reducing the load heat amount to be cooled during the peak time period of power demand, there is an effect that the power consumption amount of the refrigerator can be reduced.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the defrosting heater, which comprises a defrosting heater for defrosting the frost of the evaporator, wherein the energization start time is determined by the cumulative operation time of the compressor, the defrosting start time is arbitrary. If it becomes a band, do not start the energization of the defrost heater, since the defrosting is performed after performing a pre-cool by forcibly operating the compressor for a certain period from the end of any time period, Since defrost, which consumes a large amount of power, does not enter the peak power demand period, it has an effect of enabling a peak cut in power demand.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the heat storage material having a melting temperature near the second set temperature of the freezing room in which the set temperature is raised by an arbitrary temperature is arranged in the freezing room, so that the heat storage material is frozen. The evaporation temperature can be made equal to or higher than that during normal operation, and has the effect of not increasing the amount of power consumption.

(Embodiment 1) Embodiment 1 of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those of the related art will be designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an electric circuit diagram of a main part of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the first embodiment of the present invention. -It is a chart.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, reference numeral 30 denotes a refrigerator main body which is composed of a cabinet 2 having a heat insulating material built therein, a door 3, and a gasket 14 for sealing the door 3 and the cabinet 2. The inside thereof is partitioned by a horizontally arranged heat insulation partition wall 33 into an upper freezing compartment 17 and a lower refrigeration compartment 18, and a refrigeration compartment suction port 35 is formed in the heat insulation compartment wall 33.

Reference numeral 62 designates a cooling chamber provided in the freezing chamber 17. Inside the cooling chamber 62, an evaporator 8, a cooling fan 19 and a heater 58 for defrosting the evaporator are installed, and 36 is a suction in the freezing chamber. It is a mouth.

Reference numeral 26 is 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 to control the refrigerating compartment 18 to a preset temperature.

Defrosting start determining means 63 determines the defrosting starting time of the evaporator 8 based on the accumulated operation time of the compressor 4 according to the signal from the room temperature detecting means 40.

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 outputs a current time, a clock circuit 45, a room temperature detecting means 40, a freezer temperature detecting means 44, a refrigerator temperature detecting means 75, The energization control of the relays 47, 49, 53, 59 is performed by the output signals from the heat storage temperature detection means 56 and the partial internal compartment temperature detection means 78.

That is, by applying a high level signal to the bases of the respective transistors 48, 50, 54 and 60 connected to the respective relays 47, 49, 53 and 59, the respective relays-
Power is supplied to 7, 49, 53, and 59.

When the relay 47 is energized, the compressor 4 operates. When the relay 49 is energized, the damper 26 operates,
The opening / closing of the damper 26 is controlled by the energization time of the relay 49.

When the relay 53 is energized, the cooling fan 19
Drives. When the relay 59 is energized, the heater 58 defrosts the evaporator 8.

The freezer temperature detection means 44 outputs a signal to the time control means 46 when the value detected by the freezer temperature sensor 43 is equal to or higher than an arbitrary set temperature.

The second freezer temperature detecting means 51 has a second set temperature (for example, 3 ° C.) in which the value detected by the freezer temperature sensor 43 is higher than the set temperature by an arbitrary temperature.
When the temperature is higher than -15 ° C.) or higher, the time control means 46
Output the signal.

The refrigerator internal temperature detecting means 75 outputs a signal to the time controlling means 46 when the value detected by the refrigerating compartment temperature sensor 74 is equal to or higher than an arbitrary set temperature.

The room temperature detecting means 40 detects the room temperature around the refrigerator from the room temperature sensor 41 by the A / D converter 42.
The output voltage is digitized to output a signal to the time control means 46.

FIG. 1 shows the refrigerator constructed as above.
The operation will be described with reference to FIGS.

Peak power demand hours (13:00 to 16
In the cooling operation other than the time), the compressor 4 and the cooling fan 19 are operated and controlled on the basis of the set temperature of the freezer compartment to keep the inside of the refrigerator cool. That is, when the temperature inside the freezer compartment is equal to or higher than the set value, the CPU 46 is activated by the signal from the temperature detector 44 inside the freezer compartment.
Turns on the relays 47 and 53 to operate the compressor 4 and the cooling fan 19 (step S1), whereby the cool air from the evaporator 8 is cooled by the upper freezing chamber outlet 20 of the freezing chamber 17.
From the inside to the inside of the freezing compartment 17 through the freezing compartment inlet 36, and for the refrigerating compartment 18 through the refrigerating compartment duct 25, the damper 26, the inside of the refrigerating compartment 18 and the refrigerating compartment inlet 35 to set each compartment. Cool to below temperature.

When the temperature in the freezer falls below the set value, the signal from the freezer internal temperature detecting means 44 turns off and the CPU 4
6 turns off the relays 47 and 53 to stop the circulation of the refrigerant and the cool air (step S2). By repeating the above operation, the inside of the refrigerator is kept cool at the set temperature.

In the cooling operation during the peak power demand time period (13:00 to 16:00), the compressor 4 and the cooling fan 19 are set at a second set temperature (for example, 3 ° C.) higher than the set temperature of the freezer compartment by an arbitrary temperature. The operation is controlled on the basis of a high temperature set to -15 ° C to keep the inside of the refrigerator cool (step S).
3). That is, from 13:00 when the temperature in the freezer compartment is equal to or lower than the second set value, the CPU 46 causes the relays 47 and 53 to be OF by the signal from the second temperature detector 51 in the freezer compartment.
The compressor 4 and the cooling fan 19 are stopped at F (step S4).

The CPU 46 turns on the relays 47 and 53 only when the second freezer temperature detecting means 51 detects that the temperature inside the freezer compartment is equal to or higher than the second set value, and the compressor 4 and The cooling fan 19 is operated to cool the inside of the refrigerator (step S5).

As a result, the power demand peak hours (13
From the hour to 16:00), the temperature control is performed by the second set temperature, so the operating rates of the compressor 4 and the cooling fan 19 are reduced, and the power consumption can be reduced.

(Second Embodiment) The second embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those of the conventional one will be designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart in the second embodiment of the present invention. The operation will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

1 which is the start time of the power demand peak time zone
From an arbitrary time (for example, 1 hour) before 3 o'clock to 13:00 which is the start time of the power demand peak time zone, C
The PU 46 forcibly operates (precools) the compressor 4 and the cooling fan 19 regardless of the temperature inside the freezer compartment (step S6).

From 13:00, which is the start time of the power demand peak time zone, a second set temperature (for example, 3 ° C. higher, −15 ° C. higher than the set temperature of the compressor 4 and the cooling fan 19 by an arbitrary temperature) is set. Is set) to keep the inside of the refrigerator cool (step S7).

Due to the pre-cooling, the temperature inside the freezer is 13
Since the temperature is significantly lower than the second set temperature at the time point, the compressor 4 and the cooling fan 19 can be stopped for a long time, and the power consumption during the peak power demand period can be significantly reduced.

(Third Embodiment) The third embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those of the conventional one will be designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart in the third embodiment of the present invention. The operation will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5.

Peak power demand hours (13:00 to 16
At the time), the cooling fan duct 25 is used by the cooling fan 19.
A damper 26 that adjusts the amount of air blown into the refrigerating compartment 18 to cool the refrigerating compartment 18 to a set temperature,
The refrigerator compartment is fully closed regardless of the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment (step S8).
By fully closing the damper 26, the load heat amount cooled by the compressor 4 is reduced, and the power consumption amount during the peak time period of power demand is reduced.

(Fourth Embodiment) The fourth embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those of the conventional one will be designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. During the power demand peak time period (13:00 to 16:00), even if the defrosting start determination means 63 outputs the defrosting start signal to the CPU 46, the defrosting is not started. Then, from 16:00, which is the end time of the power demand peak time zone, the CPU 46 performs the forced operation (pre-cooling) of the compressor 4 and the cooling fan 19 for an arbitrary fixed time (step S9), and then evaporates by the heater 58. The device 8 is defrosted (step S10).

As a result, defrost, which consumes a large amount of power, does not enter the peak power demand period, so that the peak demand can be cut during the peak power demand period.

(Fifth Embodiment) A fifth embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same components as those of the conventional one will be designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 52 designates a heat storage material which is arranged in the divider plate of the freezing compartment 17 and has a melting temperature near the second preset temperature of the refrigerating compartment whose preset temperature is raised by an arbitrary temperature. The heat storage material 52 freezes due to the cold air blown from the cooling fan 19 in a time period other than the power demand peak time period, and stores the cold heat.

Then, during the peak power demand time period (13:00 to 16:00), the freezing chamber is cooled by the cold heat stored in the heat storage material 52 and kept at the second set temperature. Further, in the season when the outside air temperature is high, the compressor 4 cools only when the temperature in the freezer compartment becomes equal to or higher than the second set temperature, for example, when the number of doors 3 is opened and closed and the amount of negative cooling heat is increased. .

As a result, since the heat storage material whose melting temperature is near the second set temperature of the freezing room in which the set temperature is raised by an arbitrary temperature is used, the evaporation temperature when freezing the heat storage material is the same as that during normal operation. It is possible to make it equal or higher, and there is no increase in power consumption, and it is possible to cut the peak of power demand in the peak time of power demand.

[0059]

As described above, according to the present invention, the freezing chamber temperature is set to the second setting temperature in an arbitrary time zone by the time control means for changing at least the setting temperature of the freezing chamber to the second setting temperature raised by an arbitrary temperature. Since the temperature is controlled, the operating rate of the refrigerator during the peak hours of power demand can be reduced and the power consumption can be reduced, and the peak demand can be cut without reducing the effective internal volume of the refrigerator. To

Further, since the compressor is forcibly continuously operated for a certain period of time before the start time of an arbitrary time zone to perform precooling, the compressor stop time from the power demand peak time zone start time can be extended. Enables peak cuts in power demand.

Further, since the damper for controlling the refrigerating compartment temperature to the set temperature is fully closed in any time zone regardless of the set temperature, it is possible to reduce the load heat quantity to be cooled in the peak time period of power demand. The power consumption of the refrigerator can be reduced.

When the defrosting starts in an arbitrary time zone, the defrosting heater is not energized, and the compressor is forced to continuously operate for a certain period from the time when the arbitrary time zone ends. Since pre-cooling is performed before defrosting, defrosting, which consumes a large amount of power, does not enter the peak time period of power demand, thus enabling peak cuts in power demand.

Further, since the heat storage material whose melting temperature is higher than the second set temperature of the freezing room by raising the set temperature by an arbitrary temperature is arranged in the freezing room, the evaporation temperature at the time of freezing the heat storage material is in the normal operation. It is possible to make the power consumption equal to or more than the above, and there is no increase in power consumption, and it is possible to cut the peak of the power demand during the peak time of the power demand.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a refrigerator according to a first 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 flow chart of a refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
Chart

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the refrigerator according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
Chart

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
Chart

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]

 4 Compressor 5 Condenser 26 Damper 46 Time Control Means 52 Heat Storage Material 58 Heater

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a condenser, a capillary tube, and an evaporator are sequentially connected, and a time for changing a set temperature of at least the freezer compartment to a second set temperature which is increased by an arbitrary temperature in an arbitrary time zone. And a control means for stopping the operation of the compressor from the start time of an arbitrary time zone by the time control means, and operating the compressor only when the freezer compartment reaches a second set temperature or higher. A refrigerator characterized in that the freezing room temperature is controlled to a second set temperature in a time zone. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein precooling is performed by forcibly operating the compressor continuously for a certain period of time before the start time of an arbitrary time period. 3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a damper that controls the temperature of the refrigerating compartment to a set temperature, and the damper is fully closed regardless of the set temperature in an arbitrary time period. 4. The defrost heater, comprising: a defrost heater for defrosting the frost of the evaporator, wherein the energization start time is determined by the cumulative operating time of the compressor, when the defrost start is in an arbitrary time zone. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein defrosting is performed after the defrosting heater is not energized and the compressor is forcibly continuously operated for a certain period of time to perform pre-cooling after an arbitrary time period ends. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a heat storage material having a melting temperature near a second set temperature of the freezer compartment in which the set temperature is raised by an arbitrary temperature is arranged in the freezer compartment.