KR100471086B1 - Refrigerator and method for controlling - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a main body having a refrigerating compartment, a door for opening and closing the opening of the refrigerating compartment, a thermoelectric semiconductor element for cooling the internal temperature of the refrigerating compartment, and cold air cooled by the cooling unit of the thermoelectric semiconductor element to the inside of the refrigerating compartment. A cooling fan having a blowing fan, a heat dissipation fan for discharging air generated by the heat generating unit of the thermoelectric semiconductor element to the outside of the main body, and a power supply unit for supplying power to the thermoelectric semiconductor element and the cooling fan. A door sensor for detecting whether the door is opened or closed; If the door sensor detects the open state of the door, the control unit for controlling to lower the normal voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element from the power supply unit to a predetermined holding voltage in the closed state It features. As a result, the temperature change of the refrigerating compartment can be reduced, and energy can be saved.

Description

Refrigerator and its control method {REFRIGERATOR AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, a main body having a refrigerating compartment, a door for opening and closing an opening of the refrigerating compartment, a thermoelectric semiconductor element for cooling the internal temperature of the refrigerating compartment, and a cooling unit of the thermoelectric semiconductor element. A cooling fan for blowing cold air cooled by the inside of the refrigerating chamber, a heat dissipation fan for discharging air generated by a heat generating unit of the thermoelectric semiconductor element to the outside of the main body, the thermoelectric semiconductor element, and the cooling fan. It relates to a refrigerator having a power supply for supplying and a control method thereof.

The thermoelectric semiconductor device uses a thermoelectric phenomenon that generates and absorbs heat other than Joule heat when a current flows through a junction surface of a semiconductor and a metal. The amount and direction of heat absorption and heat generation can be controlled by the magnitude and direction of the current. In addition, there is no mechanically operating part, and the installation position or direction does not affect its operation, and thus it is widely used to heat or cool a load.

The calorific value and endothermic amount of the thermoelectric semiconductor element increase in proportion to the magnitude of the current and the absolute temperature of the semiconductor and the metal junction surface, respectively, and the temperature of the heat-generating metal is kept higher than the temperature of the heat absorbing metal by a constant difference. By using the thermoelectric semiconductor element can be used to cool the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator having a thermoelectric semiconductor device will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conventional refrigerator 101 includes a main body 103 having a refrigerating chamber 110 having one side opened, a door 111 opening and closing an opening of the refrigerating chamber 110, and a refrigerating chamber. By the thermoelectric semiconductor element 112 which has the cooling part 112a which faces the inside of 110, and the heat generating part 112b which faces the exterior of the refrigerating chamber 110, and the cooling part 112a of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 112, A cooling fan 113 for blowing cooled cold air into the refrigerating chamber 110 and a heat radiating fan 116 for discharging air heated by the heat generating part 112b of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 112 to the outside of the main body 103. ), A refrigerating chamber temperature sensor 114 for detecting an internal temperature of the refrigerating chamber 110, a power supply unit (not shown) for supplying power to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 112, the cooling fan 113, and the door 111. The door sensor 121 detects whether the door is opened and closed, and the outside air temperature sensor 123 detects the outside temperature of the refrigerator compartment 110.

In addition, a cooling heat exchanger 117a connected to the cooling unit 112a of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 112 and cooled by the cooling unit 112a inside the refrigerating chamber 110 to effectively cool the refrigerating chamber 110, and a refrigerating chamber. The heat exchanger 117b is installed on the outer side of the 110 to be connected to the heat generating portion 112b of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 112 so that the heat generated from the heat generating portion 112b can be effectively transferred to the outside of the refrigerator 101. have.

The cooling heat exchanger 117a and the heat dissipation exchanger 117b are connected to the cooling unit 112a and the heat generating unit 112b of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 112 by a working fluid, respectively, to cool and heat the refrigerator compartment 110. It also cools and effectively releases heat generated from the heat generating portion 112b.

The cooling fan 113 has an upper cooling fan 113a provided at the rear upper portion of the refrigerating chamber 110 and a lower cooling fan 113b provided at the rear lower portion of the cooling chamber 113, and has a cooling portion 112a of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 112. Cooled air is blown into the refrigerating chamber (110). In addition, a heat dissipation fan 116 is installed outside the refrigerating chamber 110 to discharge heat generated from the heat generating portion 112b of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 112 to the outside of the refrigerator 101.

The refrigerating compartment temperature sensor 114 is installed in a nearby area where the cooling fan 113 of the rear wall of the refrigerating compartment 110 is located to detect an indoor temperature of the refrigerating compartment, and controls the temperature inside the detected refrigerating compartment 110. To pass.

The door sensor 121 is provided in an opening of the refrigerating chamber 110 to detect an open and closed state of the door 111, and transmits whether the detected door 111 is opened or closed to the controller 118.

The outside air temperature sensor 123 detects the outside air temperature outside the refrigerating chamber 110 and transmits the detected outside air temperature to the controller 118.

The controller 118 includes a power supply unit (not shown), a thermoelectric semiconductor element 112, a cooling fan 113, a heat dissipation fan 116, a refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 114, a door sensor 121, and an outside air temperature sensor 123. It is electrically connected and intermittently controls the power supplied from the power supply unit 115 to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 112, the cooling fan 113, and the heat dissipation fan 116, or adjusts the strength of the voltage, thereby forming the interior of the refrigerating chamber 110. Control the temperature so that it is in proper condition.

With this configuration, a control method of the refrigerator 101 having a conventional thermoelectric semiconductor element will be described as follows with reference to FIG.

First, the door sensor 121 detects whether the door 111 is closed, and when the door 111 of the refrigerator 101 is closing the refrigerating compartment 110, the control unit 118 receives the power supply from the power supply unit. The thermoelectric semiconductor element 112 is controlled to supply a normal voltage. The controller 118 rotates the cooling fan 113 and the heat radiating fan 116 at a reference speed to maintain the refrigerating chamber 110 at a constant reference temperature.

In addition, when the door 111 is opened, the control unit 118 cuts off the power supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 112 and the cooling fan 113 from the power supply unit, and the heat radiation fan 116 also has a stepped speed. Control to cut off the power by decelerating rapidly. Then, the temperature in the refrigerating chamber 110 rises due to intrusion of outside air.

In addition, when the door 111 of the refrigerator 101 is closed again, the controller 118 may have a higher temperature than the normal voltage from the power supply to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 112 to quickly set the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 110 to the reference temperature. Control to supply voltage. The controller 118 rotates the cooling fan 113 at a speed faster than the reference speed, and rotates the heat radiating fan 116 at the reference speed.

Accordingly, in the refrigerator 101 having the conventional thermoelectric semiconductor elements, the control unit 118 supplies power to the thermoelectric semiconductor elements 112, the cooling fan 113, and the heat radiating fan 116 while the door 111 is opened. By blocking the, cold air of the refrigerating chamber 110 may be prevented from leaking excessively to the outside.

However, in the refrigerator 101 including the conventional thermoelectric semiconductor element, when the control unit 118 cuts off the power supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 112 while the door 111 is opened, the thermoelectric semiconductor element 112 A heat penetration phenomenon in which heat is conducted from the high temperature heating part of the heat to the low temperature cooling part occurs, so that the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 110 rapidly rises toward the outside air temperature (see FIG. 2). Thus, a lot of energy is consumed to cool the elevated temperature of the refrigerating chamber 110 again, and there is a problem that the temperature change of the refrigerating chamber 110 is severe.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same, which can reduce the temperature change of the refrigerating compartment and save energy.

According to the present invention, the object of the present invention is a cold air cooled by a main body in which a refrigerating chamber is formed, a door for opening and closing an opening of the refrigerating chamber, a thermoelectric semiconductor element for cooling the internal temperature of the refrigerating chamber, and a cooling unit of the thermoelectric semiconductor element. A cooling fan for blowing air into the refrigerating chamber, a heat dissipation fan for discharging air generated by the heat generating unit of the thermoelectric semiconductor element to the outside of the main body, a power supply for supplying power to the thermoelectric semiconductor element and the cooling fan. A refrigerator having a part, comprising: a door sensor detecting whether the door is opened or closed; If the door sensor detects the open state of the door, the control unit for controlling to lower the normal voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element from the power supply unit to a predetermined holding voltage in the closed state A refrigerator is featured.

Here, when the door sensor detects the open state of the door, the control unit preferably controls to gradually lower the normal voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element to a predetermined holding voltage.

When the door sensor detects the open state of the door, the control unit preferably controls to reduce the number of revolutions of the heat radiating fan to a step shape according to the drop in the normal voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element.

When the door sensor detects an open state of the door, the control unit preferably controls to stop the operation of the cooling fan.

On the other hand, the object of the present invention is that the refrigerator has a main body, a door for opening and closing the opening of the refrigerating chamber, a thermoelectric semiconductor element for cooling the internal temperature of the refrigerating chamber, and cold air cooled by the cooling unit of the thermoelectric semiconductor element. A cooling fan blown inside, a heat dissipation fan for discharging air generated by the heat generating portion of the thermoelectric semiconductor element to the outside of the main body, a refrigerating chamber temperature sensor for detecting a temperature in the refrigerating chamber, the thermoelectric semiconductor element and A control method of a refrigerator having a power supply unit for supplying power to the cooling fan, comprising: detecting an open state of the door; And controlling the refrigerator to lower the normal voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element from the power supply unit to a predetermined holding voltage when the door is opened. Achieved by the method.

Here, when the open state of the door is detected, further comprising the step of controlling to gradually drop the normal voltage supplied from the power supply to the thermoelectric semiconductor element to a predetermined holding voltage in the state in which the door is closed. desirable.

When the open state of the door is detected, it is preferable to further include the step of controlling the number of revolutions of the heat radiating fan to decrease in a step shape in accordance with the drop in the normal voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element.

When the open state of the door is detected, it is preferable to further include controlling to stop the operation of the cooling fan.

Hereinafter, the refrigerator having a thermoelectric semiconductor device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 and 4, the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention includes a main body 3 having a refrigerating compartment 10 having one side opened, a door 11 opening and closing an opening of the refrigerating compartment 10, and And a thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 having a cooling portion 12a facing the inside of the refrigerating chamber 10 and a heat generating portion 12b facing the outside of the refrigerating chamber 10, and a cooling portion 12a of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12. Cooling fan 13 for blowing cold air cooled by the air into the refrigerating chamber 10 and a heat radiating fan for discharging air heated by the heat generating portion 12b of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 to the outside of the main body 3. (16), a refrigerating compartment temperature sensor (14) for detecting the internal temperature of the refrigerating compartment (10), a power supply unit (15) for supplying power to the thermoelectric semiconductor element (12) and the cooling fan (13), and the door (11). ) Has a door sensor 21 for detecting whether the door is opened or closed, and an outside air temperature sensor 23 for detecting outside temperature of the refrigerator compartment 10.

A cooling heat exchanger (17a) connected to the cooling unit (12a) of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 inside the refrigerating chamber (10) and cooled by the cooling unit (12a) to effectively cool the refrigerating chamber (10), and the refrigerating chamber Outside of the (10) is connected to the heat generating portion (12b) of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12, the heat exchanger (17b) is installed so that heat generated in the heat generating portion (12b) can be effectively transferred to the outside of the refrigerator (1) have.

The cooling heat exchanger 17a and the heat dissipation exchanger 17b are respectively connected to the cooling unit 12a and the heat generating unit 12b of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 by a working fluid, thereby cooling and heating the refrigerator compartment effectively. In addition, the heat generated from the heat generating portion 12b is effectively released.

The cooling fan 13 has an upper cooling fan 13a provided at the rear upper part of the refrigerating chamber 10 and a lower cooling fan 13b provided at the rear lower part, and is provided at the cooling part 12a of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12. The cooled cold air is blown into the refrigerating chamber 10. In addition, a heat dissipation fan 16 that discharges heat generated from the heat generating portion 12b of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 to the outside of the refrigerator 1 is provided outside the cooling chamber.

The refrigerating compartment temperature sensor 14 is installed in a nearby area where the cooling fan 13 of the rear wall of the refrigerating compartment 10 is located to detect the room temperature of the refrigerating compartment, and controls the temperature inside the detected refrigerating compartment 10. To pass.

The door sensor 21 is provided in the opening of the refrigerating chamber 10 to detect the open and closed states of the door 11, and transmits the detected door 11 to the control unit 18.

The outside air temperature sensor 23 detects the outside air temperature outside the refrigerating chamber 10, and transmits the detected outside air temperature to the controller 18.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 18 includes a power supply unit 15, a thermoelectric semiconductor element 12, a cooling fan 13, a heat radiating fan 16, a refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 14, and a door sensor 21. And an outside temperature sensor 23 electrically connected to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12, the cooling fan 13, the heat dissipation fan 16, etc., from the power supply unit 15 to regulate the intensity of the voltage. Thus, the internal temperature of the refrigerating chamber 10 is controlled to maintain an appropriate state.

When the door sensor 21 detects the open state of the door 11, the control unit 18 supplies the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 from the power supply unit 15 to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 in the closed state of the door 11. It serves to control the voltage to drop gradually to a predetermined holding voltage. In addition, the control unit 18 serves to control the rotation speed of the heat dissipation fan 16 to be stepwise reduced in accordance with the drop in the stationary voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 while the door 11 is opened. And to control to stop the operation of the cooling fan (13).

The predetermined holding voltage conducts heat from the high temperature heat generating portion 12b of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 to the low temperature cooling portion 12a when the control unit 18 cuts off the power supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12. The heat penetration phenomenon is generated, and the voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 is such that the heat penetration phenomenon does not occur in the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12. This holding voltage is mainly determined by experiments. For example, the temperature difference between the cooling unit 12a and the heat generating unit 12b of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 is 10 °. Indicates the voltage supplied to maintain the degree.

With this configuration, a control method of the refrigerator 1 having the thermoelectric semiconductor element according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 as follows.

First, the door sensor 21 detects whether the door 11 is opened or closed. When the door 11 is in the state in which the refrigerating chamber 10 is closed, the control unit 18 supplies a normal voltage to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 from the power supply unit 15, and the cooling fan 13 and the heat dissipation. The fan 16 is controlled to rotate at a reference speed to maintain the refrigerator compartment 10 at a constant reference temperature.

Then, when the opening of the door 11 is detected by the door sensor 21 (S1), the control unit 18 gradually lowers the normal voltage supplied from the power supply unit 15 to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12, The rotation speed of the heat radiating fan 16 is reduced in a step shape according to the drop in the normal voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12, and the operation of the cooling fan 13 is stopped (S2). In addition, it is determined whether the voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 is a predetermined holding voltage (S3), and the voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 is a predetermined holding voltage and is supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12. It maintains the voltage to be a sustain voltage and the number of revolutions of the radiating fan () also maintains its speed (S4). If the voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 does not reach the holding voltage, the voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 is continuously dropped. Thus, by supplying a minimum holding voltage to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 10 from rising rapidly.

Then, when the closing of the door 11 is detected by the door sensor 21, the control unit 18 from the power supply unit 15 to make the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 10 at the reference temperature at a high speed. ) To supply a voltage higher than the normal voltage, and rotates the cooling fan 13 at a higher speed than the reference speed, and rotates the heat radiating fan 16 at the reference speed. Then, when the temperature of the refrigerating chamber (1) reaches the reference temperature, as described above, the control unit 18 supplies a normal voltage from the power supply unit 15 to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12, the cooling fan 13 And controlling the heat radiating fan 16 to rotate at the reference speed to maintain the refrigerating chamber 10 at a constant reference temperature.

Accordingly, in the refrigerator 1 having the thermoelectric semiconductor device according to the present invention, even when the door 11 is opened, the refrigerator 1 supplies at least a sustain voltage to the thermoelectric semiconductor device 12 so that the heat penetration phenomenon occurs in the thermoelectric semiconductor device 12. It is possible to prevent the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 10 from rising rapidly by preventing it from occurring, thereby reducing the temperature change of the refrigerating chamber 10, and resetting the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 10 to the reference temperature when the door 11 is closed again. The energy for cooling can be saved.

In the above-described embodiment, the temperature difference between the cooling unit 12a and the heat generating unit 12b of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 is a predetermined holding voltage at least supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 when the door 11 is opened. Although the voltage supplied to maintain the degree is shown, the predetermined holding voltage is dependent on the experiment, and thus the cooling part 12a and the heat generating part of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 may vary depending on the size and other variables of the refrigerator 10. The temperature difference of 12b may be a voltage supplied to maintain 10 ° or less, and the temperature difference between the cooling part 12a and the heat generating part 12b of the thermoelectric semiconductor element 12 may be maintained at 10 ° or more. Of course, the voltage may be supplied so that.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the temperature change of the refrigerating chamber and to save energy.

1 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a conventional refrigerator,

2 is a control state diagram of a conventional refrigerator;

3 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to the present invention;

4 is a control block diagram of a refrigerator according to the present invention;

5 is a control state diagram of a refrigerator according to the present invention;

6 is a control flowchart of the door of the refrigerator according to the present invention in an open state.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: refrigerator 3: body

10: refrigerator compartment 11: the door

12: thermoelectric semiconductor element 13: cooling fan

14: fridge temperature sensor 15: power supply

16: heat dissipation fan 17a: cooling heat exchanger

17b: heat exchanger 18: control unit

21: door sensor 23: outside temperature sensor

Claims (8)

A main body having a refrigerating compartment, a door for opening and closing the opening of the refrigerating compartment, a thermoelectric semiconductor element for cooling the internal temperature of the refrigerating compartment, and a cooling fan for blowing cold air cooled by the cooling unit of the thermoelectric semiconductor element into the refrigerating compartment. And a heat dissipation fan for discharging air generated by the heat generating unit of the thermoelectric semiconductor element to the outside of the main body, a power supply unit for supplying power to the thermoelectric semiconductor element and the cooling fan, A door sensor detecting whether the door is opened or closed; If the door sensor detects the open state of the door, the control unit for controlling to lower the normal voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element from the power supply unit to a predetermined holding voltage in the closed state Featured refrigerator. The method of claim 1, And when the door sensor detects an open state of the door, the control unit controls to gradually lower the normal voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element to a predetermined holding voltage. The method of claim 2, When the door sensor detects the open state of the door, the control unit controls to reduce the number of revolutions of the heat radiating fan to a step shape in accordance with the drop in the normal voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element. . The method of claim 3, And when the door sensor detects an open state of the door, the controller controls to stop the operation of the cooling fan. A main body having a refrigerating compartment, a door for opening and closing the opening of the refrigerating compartment, a thermoelectric semiconductor element for cooling the internal temperature of the refrigerating compartment, and a cooling fan for blowing cold air cooled by the cooling unit of the thermoelectric semiconductor element into the refrigerating compartment. And a heat dissipation fan for discharging air generated by the heat generating unit of the thermoelectric semiconductor element to the outside of the main body, a refrigerating chamber temperature sensor detecting a temperature in the refrigerating chamber, and power to the thermoelectric semiconductor element and the cooling fan. In the control method of the refrigerator having a power supply unit for supplying, Detecting an open state of the door; And controlling the refrigerator to lower the normal voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element from the power supply unit to a predetermined holding voltage when the door is opened. Way. The method of claim 5, And when the open state of the door is detected, controlling the step of gradually decreasing the normal voltage supplied from the power supply to the thermoelectric semiconductor element to a predetermined holding voltage in the state where the door is closed. How to control the refrigerator. The method of claim 6, And controlling the number of rotations of the heat radiating fan to be stepped in accordance with the drop in the normal voltage supplied to the thermoelectric semiconductor element when the door is opened. . The method of claim 7, wherein And controlling to stop the operation of the cooling fan when an open state of the door is detected.