JPH1144474A - Refrigerator and control method of same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To permit indoor temperature control and defrosting control with a small number of temperature sensors optimally by a method wherein a compressor and a ventilating fan are operated when the detecting temperature of an evaporator is higher than an upper limit temperature while the operation of the compressor and the ventilating fan is stopped when the detecting temperature of the evaporator is lower than a lower limit temperature. SOLUTION: Upon operating a refrigerator, an evaporator temp. TE, detected by an evaporator temp. sensor 15, is decided in a control unit 11 whether it is higher than an upper limit temp. TEH or not at first and when it is YES, it is considered as a time when the cooling of a refrigerating chamber is necessitated and the compressor 10 as well as the ventilating fan 4 are operated to supply cooling air to the refrigerating chamber. Next, when the evaporator temp. TE is lower than a lower limit temp. TEL, the operation of the compressor 10 and the ventilating fan 4 is stopped. On the other hand, a refrigerating chamber temp. TR is detected by a refrigerating chamber temp. sensor 13 during the operation of the compressor 10 as well as the ventilating fan 4 and when the detecting temp. is higher than the upper limit temp. TRH, a damper 7 is opened but when the detecting temp. is lower than a lower limit temp. TRL, the damper 7 is shut to maintain the temp. of refrigerating chamber within a predetermined range.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same, and more particularly, to a refrigerator and a control thereof capable of controlling the indoor temperature and defrosting with a small number of temperature sensors and reducing the manufacturing cost. About the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Refrigerators generally include a cabinet having a relatively low-temperature freezer compartment and a relatively high-temperature refrigerator compartment, and a refrigerating system for cooling the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment. The refrigeration system includes a compressor for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant from the compressor, and an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant from the condenser to generate cool air. The evaporator cools the surrounding air by the latent heat of evaporation of the refrigerant flowing inside the evaporator, and the cool air is supplied to the freezing room and the refrigerating room by the blower fan. Since the refrigerating compartment requires a relatively small amount of cool air than the freezing compartment, a damper that can be opened and closed is provided in a cool air passage from the blower fan to allow or shut off the flow of the cool air as required.

When cold air generated from an evaporator is continuously supplied to a freezing room or the like, the room may be overcooled. Therefore, temperature sensors are provided in the freezing room and the refrigerating room and these temperature sensors are used. A control unit including a microcomputer controls the compressor, the blower fan, and the damper based on the detection signal.

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a conventional refrigerator. As shown in this drawing, the control unit (microcomputer)
141 receives the detected temperatures from the freezer compartment temperature sensor 143 and the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 144, and controls the compressor 140, the blower fan 134, and the damper 137 to adjust the temperature of the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a temperature control process performed by the control unit 141. As can be seen from this flowchart, the freezing room temperature _TF is detected (P1), and if the temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined freezing room upper limit temperature _TFH (P2), the compressor 140 and the blower fan 134 are operated to operate the freezing room. Is supplied with cold air (P3). As a result, when the freezer compartment is cooled and the freezer compartment temperature _TF falls below the predetermined freezer compartment lower limit temperature _TFL (P4), the operation of the compressor 140 and the blower fan 134 is stopped (P5). On the other hand, during the operation of the compressor 140 and the blower fan 134, and detects the refrigerating compartment temperature T _R (P6), a predetermined refrigerating compartment upper limit temperature T _RH
Then, by opening and shutting off the damper 137 at the lower limit temperature T _RL and allowing or shutting off the supply of cold air into the refrigerator compartment, the temperature of the refrigerator compartment is controlled so as to be within a predetermined range (P7).
~ P10).

On the other hand, in a refrigerator, moisture is condensed on the surface of the evaporator due to a difference in relative humidity between the surface of the evaporator and the surrounding air, and frost is generated. The heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator is reduced, so that the efficient cooling function is reduced and the power consumption is increased. In order to remove the frost, an evaporator temperature sensor 145 for detecting the temperature of the evaporator and a defrost heater 136 provided adjacent to the evaporator and capable of heating the evaporator are further provided. The controller 141 determines the defrost timing from the temperature detected by the evaporator temperature sensor 145, and when it is determined that the defrost timing has been reached, activates the defrost heater 136 to melt and remove frost on the surface of the evaporator. I do.

As described above, the conventional refrigerator has a freezing room temperature sensor 143 and a refrigerator room temperature sensor 144 for controlling the indoor temperature, and an evaporator temperature sensor 145 attached to the evaporator for defrosting control. Are provided. In particular, in the case of a so-called independent cooling type refrigerator in which an independent evaporator is attached to the freezing room and the refrigerating room, one temperature sensor is provided for each of the freezing room, the refrigerating room, and each evaporator, and It has four temperature sensors.

Since this temperature sensor is relatively expensive, an increase in the number thereof causes an increase in manufacturing cost. on the other hand,
Since the detected temperature of the evaporator temperature sensor provided for determining the defrost timing increases or decreases due to the operation of the compressor, it naturally has a correlation with the detected temperature of the room, especially the freezing room temperature sensor. If the temperature sensor is used for both the defrost control and the indoor temperature control in consideration of this point, it can contribute to a reduction in manufacturing cost.

[0008]

Accordingly, the present invention takes into account that there is a correlation between the evaporator temperature and the room temperature, and the room temperature control and the defrosting control are performed with a small number of temperature sensors. An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator and a control method thereof which are appropriately performed to reduce the manufacturing cost.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided, according to the present invention, a cabinet having at least one cooling chamber, a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, an evaporator for generating cool air,
In a refrigerator including a blower fan that blows the cool air generated by the evaporator into a cooling chamber, an evaporator temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the evaporator, and a detected temperature of the evaporator is equal to or higher than a predetermined upper limit temperature. A control unit that operates the compressor and the blower fan at the time of the operation, and stops the operation of the compressor and the blower fan when the detected temperature of the evaporator is equal to or lower than a predetermined lower limit temperature. Achieved by refrigerator.

Here, it is provided adjacent to the evaporator,
The apparatus may further include a defrost heater capable of heating the evaporator for defrost, and the control unit may control an operation of the defrost heater based on a temperature detected by the evaporator temperature sensor.

An additional cooling chamber which is maintained at a higher temperature than the cooling chamber and is supplied with cool air by the blower fan; a damper for opening and closing the flow of the cool air toward the additional cooling chamber; An additional temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the cooling chamber, wherein the control unit is configured to control the temperature of the additional cooling chamber based on the detected temperature of the additional temperature sensor during operation of the compressor and the blower fan. Of the damper can be controlled so that is maintained within a predetermined range.

[0012] The object is also a cabinet having at least one cooling chamber, a refrigerant compression compressor, an evaporator for generating cool air, and a blower fan for blowing the cool air generated by the evaporator to the cooling chamber. Detecting the temperature of the evaporator, operating the compressor and the blower fan when the detected temperature of the evaporator is equal to or higher than a predetermined upper limit temperature, Interrupting the operation of the compressor and the blower fan when the detected temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined lower limit temperature.

[0013] Here, a step of judging the defrosting time of the evaporator based on the detected temperature of the evaporator, and if it is judged that the defrosting time is reached, the evaporator is heated to execute a defrosting operation. Performing the steps.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a cabinet having a freezing room and a cooling room, a compressor for compressing refrigerant, a freezing room evaporator and a freezing room attached to the freezing room and the cold room, respectively. An evaporator, a refrigerator including a freezer compartment fan and a refrigerator compartment fan for blowing cold air generated from the freezer compartment evaporator and the refrigerator compartment evaporator to the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, respectively, wherein the freezer compartment evaporator and the A freezer compartment evaporator temperature sensor and a refrigerator compartment evaporator temperature sensor for respectively detecting the temperature of the refrigerator compartment evaporator; and the compressor and the freezer compartment fan so that the temperature of the freezer compartment evaporator is within a predetermined range. A control unit that controls the operation of the refrigerator compartment fan during the operation of the compressor so that the temperature of the refrigerator compartment evaporator is within a predetermined range. Offer It is.

In a preferred embodiment, the control unit further includes a freezing room defrost heater and a refrigerating room defrost heater provided adjacent to each of the evaporators and capable of heating the respective evaporators for defrosting. Controls the operation of each defrost heater based on the temperature detected by each evaporator temperature sensor.

According to the present invention, a cabinet having a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a freezer compartment evaporator and a refrigerator compartment evaporator respectively attached to the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, A method of controlling a refrigerator including a freezer compartment fan and a refrigerator compartment fan for blowing cold air generated from the freezer compartment evaporator and the refrigerator compartment evaporator to the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, respectively, wherein the temperature of the freezer compartment evaporator is controlled by Detecting, and starting and stopping the operation of the compressor and the freezer compartment fan at a predetermined upper limit temperature and lower limit temperature of the freezer compartment evaporator based on the detected temperature of the freezer compartment evaporator. A control method is provided.

Detecting the temperature of the refrigerator compartment evaporator during the operation of the compressor and the freezer compartment fan;
The method may further include starting and stopping the operation of the refrigerator compartment fan at a predetermined upper limit temperature and a lower limit temperature of the refrigerator compartment evaporator based on the detected temperature of the refrigerator compartment evaporator. A step of determining a defrost timing of each of the evaporators based on a detected temperature of each of the evaporators; and a step of heating each of the evaporators and performing a defrost operation when the defrost time is determined. It is desirable to further include

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a refrigerator according to the present invention. As can be seen from this drawing, the refrigerator comprises a cabinet 1 forming an upper freezer compartment 2 and a lower refrigerating compartment 3, a compressor 10 provided at a lower rear portion of the cabinet 1 for compressing a refrigerant, An evaporator 5 provided in a cool air duct formed in the wall surface;
It has a blower fan 4 for blowing cool air generated from the evaporator 5 to the freezing room 2 and the refrigerator room 3, and a damper 7 for interrupting the supply of cool air to the refrigerator room 3. In the lower part of the evaporator 5,
A defrost heater 6 for defrosting the evaporator 5 is provided. The refrigerating compartment 3 is provided with a refrigerating compartment temperature sensor 13 for detecting the indoor temperature, and the evaporator 5 is provided with an evaporator temperature sensor 15 for detecting the temperature of the evaporator 5. I have. Another temperature sensor for detecting the room temperature is not provided in the freezer compartment 2.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a process in which the temperature in the freezing compartment 2 and the surface temperature of the evaporator 5 change due to the periodic on / off operation of the compressor 10, the blower fan 4, and the damper 7. . In this drawing, the horizontal axis represents time, and the vertical axis represents the ON / OFF state of the compressor 10 and the blower fan 4 and the damper 7.
And the detected temperatures of the evaporator 5 and the freezer 2.
When the compressor 10 operates periodically to supply the refrigerant to the evaporator 5, the evaporator 5 cools the surrounding air,
The cooled air is supplied to the freezing room 2 and the refrigerating room 3 by the periodic operation of the blower fan 4 and the damper 7, and the temperature in the room is lowered. As can be seen from FIG. 4, while the compressor 10, the blower fan 4, and the damper 7 perform periodic operations, the detected temperatures of the evaporator 5 and the freezing room 2 have a certain direct proportional relationship, and It gradually increases and decreases and reciprocates in a predetermined limit range in a wave shape.

As described above, the temperature in the freezer compartment 2 and the evaporator 5
It is understood that there is a close correlation with the temperature. Based on the correlation between the room temperature of the freezer compartment 2 and the temperature of the evaporator 5, even if the room temperature of the freezer compartment 2 is not detected, the room temperature of the freezer compartment 2 can be calculated from the temperature detected by the evaporator temperature sensor 15. The temperature can be predicted relatively accurately.

FIG. 5 is a control block diagram for controlling the temperature of the refrigerator using the correlation between the freezing room temperature and the evaporator temperature. As shown in the figure, a control unit 11 usually composed of a microcomputer receives the respective detection signals from the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 13 and the evaporator temperature sensor 15 and receives signals from the compressor 10, the blower fan 4, the damper 7, and the defroster. The heater 6 is controlled.

In the case of normal operation, the control unit 11 needs to lower the room temperature of the freezing room 2 based on the temperature detected by the evaporator temperature sensor 15 when the detected temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined upper limit temperature of the evaporator. Then, the compressor 10 and the blower fan 4 are operated. Thereby, the cool air generated from the evaporator 5 is supplied to the freezing room 2 to lower the internal temperature of the freezing room 2. When the temperature detected by the evaporator temperature sensor 15 becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined set temperature, the indoor temperature of the freezing room 2 is also assumed to be equal to or lower than a certain temperature, and the control unit 11 controls the compressor 10 and the blower fan 4.
Is stopped and the supply of cool air is shut off. On the other hand, in a cool air duct formed in the rear wall of the refrigerator, a damper 7 for intermittently supplying cool air to the refrigerator compartment 3 is provided. When the temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 13 becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined upper limit temperature, the control unit 11 opens the damper 7, and when the temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 13 becomes lower than or equal to the predetermined lower limit temperature, the damper 7 is closed. Then, the flow path of the cool air supplied to the refrigerator compartment 3 through the cool air duct by the operation of the compressor 10 and the blower fan 4 is interrupted.

On the other hand, as the temperature of the evaporator 5 decreases, the relative humidity around the evaporator 5 increases, and frost is accumulated on the surface of the evaporator 5. Since the accumulated frost reduces the heat exchange efficiency of the refrigerator, the control unit 11 determines the defrost timing based on the temperature detected by the evaporator temperature sensor 15, and activates the defrost heater 6 when the defrost timing is determined. Then, the frost accumulated on the surface of the evaporator 5 is melted and removed. As described above, the control unit 11 adjusts the temperatures of the freezing compartment 2 and the refrigerating compartment 3 by the detection signals of the evaporator temperature sensor 15 and the refrigerating compartment temperature sensor 13 even without the freezing compartment temperature sensor, and performs the defrosting operation. Control.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a process of controlling the room temperature by the control unit 11. As can be seen from this drawing, when power is supplied and the refrigerator operates,
First, to detect the temperature T _E of the evaporator (S1). If evaporator temperature T _E is the predetermined upper limit temperature T _EH more (S2), supplying cool air to the freezing chamber 2 of the cooling time as operating the compressor 10 and the blower fan 4 viewed necessary (S3) freezer compartment I do. Temperature T _E of the evaporator 5 refrigerant is continuously supplied to the evaporator 5
Is lower than the predetermined evaporator lower limit temperature _TEL (S4), it is determined that cooling of the freezing compartment 2 is not required, and the operation of the compressor 10 and the blower fan 4 is stopped (S5). Such a freezing room temperature control process is repeated.

On the other hand, during the operation of the compressor 10 and the blower fan 4 detects the refrigerating compartment temperature T _R (S6), if the refrigerating compartment temperature T _R is higher than _RH predetermined refrigerating compartment upper limit temperature T ( S
7) Open the damper 7 (S8), and if it is lower than the predetermined refrigerator compartment lower limit temperature _TRL (S9), shut off the damper 7 (S8).
10), control is performed so that the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 3 is within a predetermined range.

As described above, even if there is no temperature sensor for detecting the room temperature of the freezing room 2, the evaporator temperature sensor 15
Thus, the temperature of the freezer compartment can be controlled so as to be appropriately maintained, and the refrigerator compartment 3 is controlled by the detection signal of the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 13 in the conventional manner.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention. As can be seen from this drawing, the refrigerator comprises a cabinet 51 forming an upper freezer compartment 52 and a lower refrigerating compartment 53, a compressor 54 provided at the lower rear portion of the cabinet 51 for compressing a refrigerant,
A freezer compartment evaporator 55 and a refrigerator compartment evaporator 57 which are provided in the cold air duct formed in the rear wall surface and correspond to the freezer compartment 52 and the refrigerator compartment 53, respectively, and are connected in series with the compressor 54. And the freezer evaporator 55 and the refrigerator evaporator 57
Has a freezing room fan 56 and a refrigerating room fan 58 for sending the cool air generated from the air to the freezing room 52 and the refrigerating room 53, respectively. Below the freezer evaporator 55 and the refrigerator evaporator 57, a freezer evaporator defrost heater 59 and a refrigerator evaporator defrost heater 60 for defrosting the evaporators 55 and 57 are provided, respectively. I have. The freezer evaporator 55 and the refrigerator evaporator 57 are respectively provided with a freezer evaporator temperature sensor 72 and a refrigerator evaporator temperature sensor 74 for detecting temperatures.

FIG. 8 shows the temperatures of the freezing room 52, the freezing room 53, the freezing room evaporator 55, and the freezing room evaporator 57 by the cyclic on / off operation of the compressor 54, the freezing room fan 56, and the freezing room fan 58. It is the graph which showed the experimental value of the change. In this drawing, the horizontal axis indicates time, and the vertical axis indicates the on / off operation of the compressor 54, the freezing room fan 56, and the refrigerating room fan 58 or the freezing room 52, the refrigerating room 53, the freezing room evaporator 55, and the refrigerating room. The temperature of the chamber evaporator 57 is shown. During the operation of the compressor 54, the refrigerant evaporates in the freezer evaporator 55 and the refrigerator evaporator 57, and cool air is generated by the latent heat of evaporation.
The temperatures of the freezer evaporator 55 and the refrigerating room evaporator 57 linearly decrease to reach the lower limit set temperature, and the generated cool air is cooled by the heat conduction and the operation of the blowing fans 56 and 58. Since it is supplied into the refrigerator compartment 53, the freezer compartment 5
2 and the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 53 drop to a predetermined lower limit temperature.
When the operation of the compressor 54 is stopped, each evaporator 55, 57
Does not generate any more cool air, so that each evaporator 55, 57
Temperature rises slowly. Thereby, the freezer 52,
The temperature of the refrigerator compartment 53 also reaches a predetermined upper limit temperature. When the compressor 54 is restarted after the room temperature of the freezing room 52 reaches the upper limit set temperature, each of the evaporators 55 and 57 and the freezing room 52
And the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 53 falls again. As described above, the temperature of the freezer compartment evaporator 55 and the temperature of the refrigerating compartment evaporator 57 rise or fall, so that the temperature of the freezer compartment 52 and the refrigerating compartment 53 rises or increases approximately in proportion to the temperature of the evaporators 55 and 57. Since it descends, the temperature of the freezer compartment 52 and the refrigerator compartment 53 and the temperature of each evaporator 55 and 57 have a close correlation. Therefore, the temperature in the freezer compartment 52 can be predicted using the temperature of the freezer compartment evaporator 55, and the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 53 can be predicted using the temperature of the refrigerator compartment evaporator 57. Also, through sufficient experiments, the freezing room 52 and the refrigerating room 53
The relationship between the temperature of the evaporator 55 and the temperature of each of the evaporators 55 and 57 can be clearly determined to improve the accuracy of prediction.

FIG. 9 is a control block diagram for controlling the temperatures of the freezing room 52 and the refrigerating room 53 using the detected temperature of the freezing room evaporator 55 and the detected temperature of the refrigerating room evaporator 57. Such control is based on the above-described correlation between the temperatures of the evaporators 55 and 57 and the temperatures of the freezing compartment 52 and the refrigerating compartment 53. As shown in the figure, a control unit 70, usually composed of a microcomputer, receives detection signals from a freezer compartment evaporator temperature sensor 72 and a refrigerator compartment evaporator temperature sensor 74, and receives signals from a compressor 54, a freezer compartment fan 56, and a refrigerator. Room fan 58, freezing room evaporator defrost heater 59, and refrigerating room evaporator defrost heater 60
Control.

The control unit 70 includes a freezer evaporator temperature sensor 7.
2 and the temperature of the freezer compartment 52 and the refrigerator compartment 53 are estimated based on the detection signals from the refrigerator compartment evaporator temperature sensor 74, thereby controlling the compressor 54, the freezer compartment fan 56, and the refrigerator compartment fan 58. When the temperature detected by the freezing room evaporator temperature sensor 72 becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined upper limit temperature, the control unit 70 operates the compressor 54 and the freezing room fan 56, assuming that the room temperature of the freezing room 52 is equal to or higher than the set upper limit temperature. Thereby, the cool air generated from the freezer compartment evaporator 55 is supplied to the freezer compartment 52 to lower the temperature in the freezer compartment 52. When the freezer evaporator temperature sensor 72 detects that the temperature has become equal to or lower than a predetermined set temperature, it determines that the temperature in the freezer 52 is equal to or lower than an appropriate temperature, and the control unit 70 controls the compressor 54 and the freezer fan 56.
To stop the supply of cold air. On the other hand, the refrigerator compartment evaporator 57 attached to the refrigerator compartment 53 is
5, the refrigerant is supplied together with the refrigerant to the freezer evaporator 55 by the operation of the compressor 54 to generate cool air. Then, the control unit 70
During the operation of the compressor 54, the refrigerator temperature evaporator temperature sensor 7
The on / off control of the refrigerating compartment fan 58 is performed based on the detected temperature of 4 in accordance with the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature, thereby maintaining the indoor temperature of the refrigerating compartment 53 within a set range.

On the other hand, the controller 70 receives the temperature detection signals from the freezer compartment evaporator temperature sensor 72 and the refrigerator compartment evaporator temperature sensor 74, and determines the defrost timing of each of the evaporators 55 and 57. While the operation of the compressor 54 is stopped, each evaporator temperature sensor 7
The temperature rise of each of the evaporators 55 and 57 is confirmed based on the detected temperatures from the evaporators 55 and 57. If the temperature does not rise beyond a predetermined temperature after a certain period of time has elapsed after the compressor 54 has stopped, the evaporator is not operated. It is determined that the defrosting time is due to the large amount of frost. When it is determined that any one of the evaporators is in the defrosting period, the defrost heater attached to the evaporator is operated to melt and remove the frost accumulated on the surface of the evaporator.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a temperature control process of the control unit 70. As can be seen from the drawing, when power is supplied and the refrigerator operates, first, the temperature T _FE of the freezer evaporator 55 is detected (Q1). If the freezer evaporator temperature T _FE is equal to or higher than the predetermined upper limit temperature T _FEH (Q
2) The compressor 54 and the freezing room fan 56 are operated at a time when cooling of the freezing room 2 is necessary (Q3), and cool air is supplied to the freezing room 52. When the refrigerant is continuously supplied to the freezing room evaporator 55 and the temperature T _FE of the freezing room evaporator 55 becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined lower limit temperature T _FEL (Q4), it is determined that the freezing room 52 does not need to be cooled, and compression is performed. The operation of the refrigerator 54 and the freezer fan 56 is stopped (Q5).

On the other hand, during the operation of the compressor 54 and the freezer compartment fan 56, the refrigerator compartment evaporator temperature T _RE is detected (Q6).
When the temperature T _RE of the refrigerator compartment evaporator is higher than the predetermined upper limit temperature T _REH (Q7), the refrigerator compartment fan 58 is operated to supply cool air to the refrigerator compartment 53 (Q8), and the temperature of the refrigerator compartment evaporator is increased. When T _RE is lower than a predetermined lower limit temperature T _REL, (Q
9) The operation of the refrigerator compartment fan 58 is stopped to cut off the cool air (Q10), thereby controlling the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 53 to be within a predetermined range.

As described above, even if there is no temperature sensor for detecting the room temperature in the freezing room 52 and the refrigerator room 53, the temperature sensor 72 and the refrigerator room evaporator temperature sensor 74 detect the temperature based on the detection signals. , The temperature of the freezer compartment 52 and the refrigerating compartment 53 can be controlled appropriately, and the defrosting control of each evaporator can be performed.

[0035]

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator capable of appropriately controlling the temperature of a cooling chamber using a small number of temperature sensors, and a method for controlling the refrigerator.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a control block diagram of a conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a temperature control process of a conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a graph for explaining a correlation between the evaporator temperature and the freezing room temperature.

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

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a temperature control process according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of an independent cooling refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a graph for explaining a temperature correlation between the evaporator and the cooling chamber.

FIG. 9 is a control block diagram of the embodiment according to FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the temperature control process.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cabinet 2 Freezer compartment 3 Refrigerator compartment 4 Blow fan 5 Evaporator 6 Defrost heater 7 Damper 10 Compressor 11 Control part 13 Refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 15 Evaporator temperature sensor 51 Cabinet 52 Freezer compartment 53 Refrigerator compartment 54 Compressor 55 Freezer compartment Evaporator 56 Freezer compartment fan 57 Refrigerator compartment evaporator 58 Refrigerator compartment fan 59 Refrigerator compartment evaporator defrost heater 60 Refrigerator compartment evaporator defrost heater 72 Refrigerator compartment evaporator temperature sensor 74 Refrigerator compartment evaporator temperature sensor

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A cabinet having at least one cooling chamber, a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, an evaporator for generating cool air, and a blower fan for blowing cool air generated by the evaporator to the cooling chamber. In the refrigerator, an evaporator temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the evaporator, and when the detected temperature of the evaporator is equal to or higher than a predetermined upper limit temperature, the compressor and the blower fan are operated to detect the temperature of the evaporator. A refrigerator for controlling operation of the compressor and the blower fan when the temperature is equal to or lower than a predetermined lower limit temperature. 2. The apparatus further includes a defrost heater provided adjacent to the evaporator and capable of heating the evaporator for defrosting, wherein the control unit is configured to perform the defrosting based on a temperature detected by the evaporator temperature sensor. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the frost heater is controlled. 3. An additional cooling chamber maintained at a higher temperature than the cooling chamber and supplied with cool air by the blower fan, a damper for opening and closing the flow of the cool air toward the additional cooling chamber, and the additional cooling chamber. An additional temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the compressor, wherein the control unit is configured to control the temperature of the additional cooling chamber based on the detected temperature of the additional temperature sensor during operation of the compressor and the blower fan. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the opening and closing of the damper is controlled so that is maintained within a predetermined range. 4. A cabinet having at least one cooling chamber, a compressor for compressing refrigerant, an evaporator for generating cool air, and a blower fan for blowing the cool air generated by the evaporator to the cooling chamber. Detecting the temperature of the evaporator, operating the compressor and the blower fan when the detected temperature of the evaporator is equal to or higher than a predetermined upper limit temperature, and detecting the temperature of the evaporator. Interrupting the operation of the compressor and the blower fan when the temperature is lower than a predetermined lower limit temperature. 5. A step of judging a defrost timing of the evaporator based on the detected temperature of the evaporator, and if the defrost timing is judged, heating the evaporator to execute a defrost operation. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of: 6. A cabinet having a freezing room and a cooling room, a compressor for compressing refrigerant, a freezing room evaporator and a cold room evaporator attached to the freezing room and the cold room, respectively.
A refrigerator comprising: a freezer fan and a refrigerator fan for sending cold air generated from the freezer evaporator and the refrigerator evaporator to the freezer and the refrigerator, respectively, wherein the freezer evaporator and the refrigerator evaporator are provided. The temperature of the freezer compartment evaporator temperature sensor and the temperature of the refrigerator compartment evaporator temperature sensor, respectively, and controls the operation of the compressor and the freezer compartment fan so that the temperature of the freezer compartment evaporator is within a predetermined range. A control unit for controlling the operation of the refrigerator compartment fan during the operation of the compressor such that the temperature of the refrigerator compartment evaporator is within a predetermined range. 7. A freezing room defrost heater and a refrigerating room defrost heater provided adjacent to each of the evaporators and capable of heating the respective evaporators for defrosting, wherein the control unit includes: The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the operation of each of the defrost heaters is controlled based on a temperature detected by an evaporator temperature sensor. 8. A cabinet having a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, a compressor for compressing refrigerant, a freezer compartment evaporator and a refrigerator compartment evaporator attached to the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, respectively.
A method of controlling a refrigerator comprising: a freezer fan and a refrigerator fan for blowing cold air generated from the freezer evaporator and the refrigerator evaporator to the freezer and the refrigerator, respectively. Detecting, and starting and stopping the operation of the compressor and the freezer compartment fan at a predetermined upper limit temperature and lower limit temperature of the freezer compartment evaporator based on the detected temperature of the freezer compartment evaporator. Control method. 9. detecting the temperature of the refrigerator compartment evaporator during the operation of the compressor and the freezer compartment fan; and determining a predetermined upper limit temperature of the refrigerator compartment evaporator based on the detected temperature of the refrigerator compartment evaporator. The method of claim 8, further comprising: starting and stopping the operation of the refrigerator compartment fan at a lower limit temperature. 10. A step of judging a defrost timing of each of the evaporators based on a detected temperature of each of the evaporators; and, if it is judged that the defrost timing is, heating each of the evaporators to perform a defrosting operation. The method according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising: performing.