KR100743753B1 - Refrigerator and controlling method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a method of controlling the refrigerator, and more particularly, when the refrigeration or freezing function is performed simultaneously or separately, to improve the condensation efficiency of the condenser so that the freezing efficiency of the refrigerator is increased and the power consumption is reduced. It relates to a refrigeration cycle structure.

By the above configuration, the condenser capacity can be adjusted according to the evaporator load, thereby reducing the power consumption of the refrigerator having a plurality of evaporators.

Refrigeration cycle, compressor, evaporator, refrigerant flow control unit

Description

Control method for refrigerators and freezers

1 is a system diagram showing a refrigeration system of a refrigerator according to the spirit of the present invention.

Figure 2 is another embodiment showing a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator according to the spirit of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration for controlling the driving of the refrigeration system according to the spirit of the present invention.

4 is a flowchart showing a driving process of a refrigeration system according to the spirit of the present invention.

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

10: refrigerator 11: compressor

12 condenser 13 four-way valve

14: capillary 15: evaporator

16: blower fan 17: gas-liquid separator

18: check valve 20: refrigerant flow rate variable valve

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a method of controlling the refrigerator, and more particularly, when the refrigeration or freezing function is performed simultaneously or separately, to improve the condensation efficiency of the condenser so that the freezing efficiency of the refrigerator is increased and the power consumption is reduced. It relates to a refrigeration cycle structure.

 Refrigerators are generally home appliances that maintain the internal temperature lower than the room temperature, so that food can be stored for a long time in a refrigerated or frozen state.

In general, refrigerators are roughly classified into a top mount method, a side by side method, and a bottom freezer method according to configurations of a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment.

In detail, a top mount refrigerator is a refrigerator in which a refrigerating compartment is provided at a lower side of the freezer compartment, and a side by side method is a refrigerator in which the refrigerating compartment and the freezer compartment are divided into left and right sides. The bottom freezer system is a refrigerator in which a freezer compartment is located below the refrigerating compartment.

In more detail, the side-by-side refrigerator is also referred to as a double door refrigerator as a method in which a refrigerator compartment door and a freezer compartment door are opened to both sides. In addition, the side-by-side type refrigerator has a larger capacity than the other types of refrigerators and has various functions, and thus, the demand of the side-by-side type refrigerator is rapidly increasing.

On the other hand, the conventional refrigerator has a structure in which the cold air cooled through one evaporator flows divided into a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment, and a structure in which a freezer compartment evaporator and a refrigerating compartment evaporator are provided separately. The freezer compartment evaporator and the refrigerator compartment evaporator are connected in series or in parallel to allow the refrigerant to flow.

In addition, when the refrigerating chamber evaporator and the freezing chamber evaporator are connected in parallel, each evaporator can be individually operated when load fluctuations occur, such as being operated in separate operations at the same time or vice versa. Therefore, the compression work of the compressor is reduced, there is an advantage that the efficiency of the refrigerator is increased.

However, in the refrigerator in which the refrigerator compartment evaporator and the freezer compartment evaporator are operated separately as described above, only one condenser is generally mounted. Therefore, the condenser should be manufactured in a size that can cope until the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment are operated at the same time. As a result, in the individual operation stage in which only one of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment operates, there is a problem that the capacity of the condenser becomes excessive compared to the capacity of the evaporator. This is inefficient in terms of power consumption compared to the case where the capacity of the evaporator and the condenser is the same.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, in a refrigerator equipped with a plurality of evaporators capable of individual operation and simultaneous operation, so that the capacity of the condenser can be properly adjusted according to the operation mode, so that power consumption is reduced An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator and a control method thereof.

A refrigerator according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a compressor for compressing a refrigerant; A plurality of condensers in which a refrigerant compressed by the compressor is heat-exchanged with ambient air, and connected in parallel to an outlet side of the compressor; A plurality of expansion members through which the refrigerant passing through the condenser is expanded at low temperature and low pressure; A plurality of evaporators respectively connected to the expansion members to exchange heat with a refrigerating chamber or a freezing chamber cold; A refrigerant flow rate variable valve (PMV) interposed between the condenser and the expansion member, the opening degree of which is controlled by a pulse to control the flow and flow rate of the refrigerant; and extends from the refrigerant flow rate variable valve to be connected to the compressor inlet, A branch pipe for distributing the remaining refrigerant, which is distributed by the refrigerant flow rate variable valve, is included.

In addition, the control method of the refrigerator according to the present invention for achieving the object as described above is controlled to operate the same number of condensers as the evaporator is operated by the refrigerant flow rate control unit according to the individual operation or simultaneous operation, the refrigerator compartment Alternatively, in the case of the freezer compartment individual operation, only one of the outlet of the refrigerating compartment condenser or the freezer compartment condenser is opened by the refrigerant flow rate adjusting unit and flows only to the evaporator in which the refrigerant is operated. The outlets of both the condenser and the freezer compartment condenser are opened, so that the refrigerant flows into the refrigerator compartment evaporator and the freezer compartment evaporator.

By the above configuration, the condenser capacity can be adjusted according to the evaporator load, thereby reducing the power consumption of the refrigerator having a plurality of evaporators.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented, and other embodiments included within the scope of other inventive inventions or the scope of the present invention can be easily made by adding, changing, or deleting other components. I can suggest.

1 is a system diagram showing a refrigeration system of a refrigerator according to the spirit of the present invention.

1, the refrigerator system of the refrigerator according to the present invention is characterized in that the same number of condensers as the number of evaporators is mounted.

In detail, the refrigerator 10 according to the present invention includes a compressor 11, a condenser 12 into which a refrigerant compressed at high temperature and high pressure by the compressor 11 flows in, and a high temperature and high pressure passed through the condenser 12. A capillary 14 through which the refrigerant is cooled at a low temperature and a low pressure, an evaporator 15 through which the refrigerant in an abnormal state of a liquid phase and a gaseous phase is introduced while passing through the capillary 14 and exchanging heat with a cold compartment and a freezer compartment cold, And a blower fan 16 that sucks and blows the cold air passed through the evaporator 15 and blows it into the air, and a gas-liquid separator 17 in which the refrigerant passing through the evaporator 15 is separated into a liquid and a gas.

In more detail, the condenser 12 is divided into a freezer compartment condenser 121 and a refrigerating compartment condenser 122. The freezer compartment condenser 121 and the refrigerating compartment condenser 122 are divided in both directions from the condensation pipe 123 connected to the outlet of the compressor 11. The blower fan 16 includes a freezer compartment blower fan 161 and a refrigerating compartment blower fan 162. The capillary 14 is divided into a freezer compartment capillary 141 and a refrigerating compartment capillary 142.

In addition, a four-way valve 13 is mounted between the condenser 12 and the capillary 14.

In detail, the four-way valve 13 is connected to the outlet of the refrigerating compartment condenser 122 and the freezer compartment condenser 121, and the inlet portion of the freezer compartment capillary 141 and the refrigerating compartment capillary 142 is connected. Therefore, the refrigerant flowing into the refrigerating compartment condenser 122 and the freezer compartment condenser 121 is concentrated toward the four-way valve 13. The refrigerant is transferred to the freezer compartment capillary 141 and the refrigerating chamber by the four-way valve 13. The capillary 142 may flow simultaneously or selectively.

In addition, the evaporator 15 is divided into a freezer compartment evaporator 151 and a refrigerator compartment evaporator 152, and the refrigerant passing through the freezer compartment capillary 141 moves to the freezer compartment evaporator 151, and the refrigerator compartment capillary. The refrigerant passing through 142 is moved to the refrigerating chamber evaporator 152. In addition, the gas-liquid separator 17 is further divided into a refrigerating chamber gas-liquid separator 171 and a freezer compartment gas-liquid separator 172, and the refrigerant in an abnormal state passing through each evaporator is separated into liquid and gas. The gaseous phase refrigerant among the refrigerants separated by the gas-liquid separator 17 flows into the compressor 11.

In addition, the outlet of the freezer compartment evaporator 151 and the refrigerating compartment evaporator 152 is concentrated to the suction pipe 111 connected to the inlet of the compressor 11. In addition, a check valve 18 is mounted at the outlet of the freezer compartment evaporator 151 to prevent the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerating compartment evaporator 152 from flowing back to the freezer compartment evaporator 151.

In detail, the refrigerant passing through the refrigerating compartment capillary 142 is dropped to an intermediate pressure state, and the refrigerant passing through the freezer compartment capillary 141 is dropped to a low pressure state. Therefore, the pressure of the refrigerating compartment evaporator 152 is maintained higher than the pressure of the freezing compartment evaporator 151. As a result, the phenomenon that the refrigerant passing through the refrigerating chamber evaporator 152 flows back to the freezing chamber evaporator 151 having a low pressure occurs. In order to prevent such a refrigerant backflow phenomenon, a check valve 18 is installed at the outlet side of the freezing chamber evaporator 151 having a low pressure to prevent the backflow of the refrigerant. The refrigerant passing through the freezer compartment evaporator 151 and the refrigerating compartment evaporator 152 is combined in the suction pipe 111 and introduced into the compressor 11.

On the other hand, when the compressor 11 is a two-stage compressor, the check valve 18 is not necessary. In detail, when the compressor 11 is a two-stage compressor, the refrigerant passing through the refrigerator compartment evaporator 152 and the refrigerant passing through the freezer compartment evaporator 151 are separately introduced into the compressor 11. In the compressor 11, the low-pressure refrigerant passing through the refrigerating chamber evaporator 152 is primarily compressed, and the low-pressure refrigerant passing through the refrigerating chamber evaporator 151 and the refrigerant passing through the freezing chamber evaporator 151 are combined at a second high pressure. Will be compressed.

In the refrigeration system of the refrigerator having the cycle configuration as described above, when the refrigerator 10 is in an individual operation state, the refrigerator valve capillary 142 or the freezer chamber capillary 141 is provided by the four-way valve 13. Only one is adjusted to flow the refrigerant.

For example, if the refrigerating compartment load is increased and only the refrigerating compartment evaporator 152 needs to be driven, the four-way valve 13 may open only the outlet of the refrigerating compartment condenser 122 and the inlet of the refrigerating compartment capillary 142. Adjusted. Therefore, only the refrigerator compartment condenser 122, the refrigerator compartment capillary 142, and the refrigerator compartment evaporator 152 are driven during the individual operation of the refrigerator compartment.

By this refrigeration system, even if only one of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment is individually operated, the condenser 12 performance is kept constant.

According to this operating principle, in the case of simultaneous operation of the refrigerating compartment and the freezer compartment, both inlet and outlet of the four-way valve 13 are opened, and both the refrigerating compartment condenser 122 and the freezing compartment condenser 121 are driven, and the refrigerating compartment capillary 142. The freezer compartment capillary 141 and the refrigerating compartment evaporator 152 and the freezer compartment evaporator 151 are driven.

Figure 2 is another embodiment showing a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator according to the spirit of the present invention.

2, the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the operation of the condenser and the evaporator is controlled by a refrigerant flow modulation valve (Pulse Modulation Valve) mounted between the condenser and the capillary It is done.

In the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are assigned to components that perform the same functions as the components described in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and descriptions of these functions will be omitted.

In detail, the refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator according to the present invention includes a refrigerant pipe connecting the freezer compartment condenser 121 and the freezer compartment capillary 141, and a refrigerant pipe connecting the refrigerator compartment condenser 122 and the refrigerator compartment capillary 142. It is formed separately.

In addition, a refrigerant flow rate variable valve 20 (PMV: Pulse Modulation Valve) is mounted between the capillary 14 and the condenser 12. In detail, the refrigerant flow rate variable valve 20 is a valve in which the opening degree is adjusted by a pulse, and the opening degree is adjusted according to the rotation amount so that the refrigerant discharge amount is adjusted.

In more detail, the refrigerant flow rate variable valve 20 includes a freezer compartment variable valve 201 mounted between the freezer compartment condenser 121 and the freezer compartment capillary 141, a refrigerator compartment condenser 122, and a refrigerator compartment capillary ( Includes a refrigerator compartment variable valve 202 mounted between the 142.

In addition, the branch pipe 21 is branched from the freezer compartment variable valve 201. In detail, the branch pipe 21 includes a first branch pipe 211 branched from the freezer compartment variable valve 201 and a second branch pipe 212 branched from the refrigerator compartment refrigerant variable valve 202. do. The first and second branch pipes 201, 202 are joined at one point and connected to the suction pipe 111. Here, the first branch pipe 211 and the second branch pipe 212 may be matched to one point of the suction pipe 111, the branch pipes (211, 212) are matched and then to the connecting pipe (22) It may be connected to the suction pipe 111 by.

When the refrigerating compartment individual operation is performed in the refrigerating cycle as described above, only the refrigerating compartment refrigerant variable valve 202 is opened, and the freezing compartment refrigerant variable valve 201 is closed. The opening degree of the refrigerating compartment variable valve 202 is adjusted such that a required amount of refrigerant is supplied to the refrigerating compartment capillary 142 according to the refrigerating compartment internal load.

On the other hand, the opening degree of the refrigerant variable valve 201 is adjusted, the refrigerant is sent to the refrigerating chamber capillary 141 and the remaining refrigerant flows toward the second branch pipe (212). The refrigerant flowing into the second branch pipe 212 meets the refrigerant flowing in the suction pipe 111 and is introduced into the compressor 11. In addition, the refrigerant supplied to the refrigerating chamber capillary 142 is expanded through an throttling process, exchanges with the cold while passing through the refrigerating chamber evaporator 152, and then flows into the compressor 11 along the suction pipe 111. . Here, since the refrigerant flowing through the first branch pipe 212 is in a high temperature and high pressure state, the temperature of the refrigerant increases while being mixed with the refrigerant inside the suction pipe 111. Therefore, the compression work of the compressor 11 is reduced. In addition, the compressor 11 preferably uses an inverter compressor capable of varying the compression capacity since the amount of the refrigerant flowing into the compressor is changed according to the individual operation and the simultaneous operation.

On the other hand, when the refrigerating compartment and the freezer compartment are operated at the same time, the freezer compartment refrigerant variable valve 201 and the refrigerating compartment refrigerant variable valve 202 are operated at the same time.

In detail, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 11 flows into the refrigerator compartment condenser 122 and the freezer compartment condenser 121. In addition, an appropriate flow rate is sent to the capillary 14 by the refrigerator compartment variable valve 202 and the freezer compartment variable valve 201 for the refrigerant that has moved to the refrigerator compartment condenser 122 and the freezer compartment condenser 121, respectively. . Then, each of the refrigerant sent to the capillary 14 and the remaining refrigerant is branched through the branch pipe 21, is matched at any point and then introduced into the compressor 11 through the suction pipe 111. In addition, since the refrigerant flowing through the branch pipe 21 has a higher temperature than the refrigerant passing through the evaporator 15, the temperature of the refrigerant increases while being mixed in the suction pipe 111. Therefore, there is an advantage that the volume efficiency is improved by increasing the superheat degree of the refrigerant entering the inlet of the compressor (11).

3 is a block diagram showing a configuration for controlling the driving of the refrigeration system according to the spirit of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the refrigeration system according to the present invention includes a control unit 100, a key input unit 120 for inputting an operating condition of a refrigerator to the control unit 100, a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment to sense a temperature. Operation is controlled by the temperature sensor 110, the refrigerant flow rate control unit 13 for adjusting the opening degree in accordance with the temperature value transmitted from the temperature sensor 110, and the control unit 100 in accordance with the load variation in the interior And a memory 130 for storing information transmitted from the key input unit 120 or the temperature sensor 110 to the control unit 100. In addition, the driving unit 140 includes a compressor 11 or a blowing fan 16.

From the above configuration, whether the individual operation or the simultaneous operation is determined according to the internal temperature value detected by the temperature sensor 110 or a command input by the user through the key input unit 120. When it is determined whether the individual operation or the simultaneous operation is determined, the opening degree of the refrigerant flow rate adjusting unit 13 is adjusted by the controller 100, and the driving load of the driving unit 140 is determined. Here, the refrigerant flow rate control unit 13 is a device for controlling the flow rate and / or flow direction of the refrigerant, and includes the four-way valve or the refrigerant flow rate variable valve shown in the above embodiments.

On the other hand, when the refrigeration system operates according to the operating conditions determined by the control unit 100, and the internal temperature of the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment reaches the target temperature, the operation of the compressor is stopped.

Hereinafter, the refrigeration system as described above will be described in more detail using a flowchart.

4 is a flowchart showing a driving process of a refrigeration system according to the spirit of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, power is supplied to the refrigerator (S110), and the controller determines whether or not individual operation is performed (S120). Here, whether or not the individual operation may include a case in which the user inputs individual operation conditions of the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment through the key input unit, or when the load of one of the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment is increased while the refrigerator is operating.

In detail, when it is determined that the individual operation, it is determined whether which part of the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment is individually operated (S130). When it is determined that the refrigerator compartment is individually operated, the compressor is driven (S140) to compress the refrigerant. The compressed refrigerant is distributed to and flows into the refrigerating compartment condenser 122 and the freezing compartment condenser 121, respectively. Then, the coolant flow rate controller is operated (S150) to determine the flow rate and flow direction of the coolant.

In more detail, in the case of the refrigerating compartment individual operation, the refrigerant flow rate control unit is operated to open the outlet of the refrigerating compartment condenser (S160), and the refrigerant passing through the refrigerating compartment condenser 122 passes through the refrigerating compartment capillary 142 and moves to the refrigerating compartment evaporator. It becomes (S170). The refrigerator compartment is cooled to the target temperature while the cold and the refrigerant exchange heat in the refrigerator compartment evaporator (S180). Then, the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment is sensed by the temperature sensor, and the sensed temperature is transmitted to the controller to determine whether the temperature inside the refrigerator reaches the target temperature (S190). Then, when it is determined that the internal temperature reaches the target temperature, the driving of the compressor is stopped (S200). However, if it is determined that the target temperature has not been reached, the compressor continues to be driven.

In addition, even when it is determined that the freezer compartment individual operation, the compressor is driven (S131), the refrigerant flow rate control unit is operated (S132). That is, only the outlet of the freezer compartment condenser 121 is opened (S133) and only the inlet of the freezer compartment capillary 141 is opened by the refrigerant flow rate controller. Alternatively, when the refrigerant flow rate variable valve 20 is mounted as described in FIG. 2, only the freezer compartment side refrigerant variable valve 201 is operated.

In detail, the flow and the flow rate of the refrigerant are determined by the refrigerant flow rate adjusting unit so that the refrigerant is supplied to the freezer compartment evaporator (S134), and the freezer compartment is cooled (S135). Then, the compressor is driven until the freezer compartment reaches the target temperature, and stopping the compressor when the target temperature is reached is the same as the individual operation of the refrigerator compartment.

On the other hand, when it is determined that it is not individual operation, that is, in the case of simultaneous operation, the freezer compartment evaporator and the refrigerator compartment evaporator are simultaneously driven.

In detail, the operation of the compressor (S121) and the refrigerant flow rate adjusting unit (S122) are the same as described above. However, both the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment side refrigerant flow rate control unit is operated, the difference is that the load of the compressor is increased.

In more detail, the outlets of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment condenser are all opened by the operation of the refrigerant flow rate adjusting unit (S123), and the refrigerant is distributed to the refrigerating compartment and the freezer compartment evaporator (S124). In addition, the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber are cooled (S125) to fall to the target temperature.

In this case, when the refrigerant flow rate control unit is a refrigerant flow rate variable valve PMV, the refrigerant flow rate is sent to the refrigerating chamber evaporator 152 and the freezing chamber evaporator 151 and the remaining refrigerant is branched into the branch pipe and flows toward the suction pipe.

By such a system, even if the load of the evaporator fluctuates, it is possible to appropriately cope with the load fluctuation of the evaporator without loss of condensation heat of the condenser, thereby reducing the power consumption and increasing the refrigeration efficiency.

According to the refrigerator and the control method according to the present invention having the above configuration, the capacity of the condenser can be changed appropriately according to the evaporator load fluctuation, thereby reducing the power consumption of the refrigerator having a plurality of evaporators. .

In addition, when a plurality of evaporators are simultaneously operated and only some evaporators are to be operated individually, there is an effect that the amount of condensation heat that is suitable for the capacity of the operated evaporators can be obtained. Therefore, the amount of heat loss of condensation is remarkably reduced as compared to a refrigeration system in which one condenser is used in a plurality of conventional evaporators.

In addition, the valve for adjusting the refrigerant flow rate is installed in the refrigeration system according to the present invention, when the refrigerant discharged from the plurality of condensers is introduced into the plurality of evaporators, there is an advantage that the flow rate is adjusted accurately. That is, there is an advantage that the excessive supply of the refrigerant or the excessive shortage of the refrigerant does not occur.

In addition, by the valve for adjusting the flow rate of the refrigerant during the individual operation or the simultaneous operation, the high temperature surplus refrigerant of the state after passing through the condenser and before entering the expansion member is bypassed toward the compressor inlet.

As a result, since the refrigerant is preheated at the inlet of the compressor, the compression work is reduced, thereby improving the refrigerating efficiency and reducing the power consumption for driving the compressor.

Claims (12)

A compressor for compressing the refrigerant; A plurality of condensers in which a refrigerant compressed by the compressor is heat-exchanged with ambient air, and connected in parallel to an outlet side of the compressor; A plurality of expansion members through which the refrigerant passing through the condenser is expanded at low temperature and low pressure; A plurality of evaporators respectively connected to the expansion members to exchange heat with a refrigerating chamber or a freezing chamber cold; A refrigerant flow rate variable valve (PMV) interposed between the condenser and the expansion member, the opening degree of which is controlled by a pulse to control the flow and flow rate of the refrigerant; and And a branch pipe extending from the coolant flow variable valve and connected to the compressor inlet, and having a branch pipe for distributing the remaining coolant flown by the coolant flow variable valve. delete delete The method of claim 1, The refrigerant flow rate variable valve includes a refrigerator compartment variable valve and a freezer compartment variable valve. delete The method of claim 1, The evaporator further comprises a refrigerator compartment evaporator and a freezer compartment evaporator, and further comprising a backflow preventing member mounted at an outlet of the freezer compartment evaporator to prevent backflow of the refrigerant. delete Refrigerant flow regulator is operated according to individual operation or simultaneous operation, and controlled to drive the same number of condensers as the operated evaporator, In the case of the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment individual operation, only one of the outlets of the refrigerating compartment condenser or the freezing compartment condenser is opened by the refrigerant flow rate adjusting unit so that the refrigerant flows only to the evaporator in which the refrigerant is operated. In the case of simultaneous operation of the refrigerating compartment and the freezer compartment, the outlet of the refrigerating compartment condenser and the freezing compartment condenser is opened by the refrigerant flow rate control unit so that the refrigerant flows into the refrigerating compartment evaporator and the freezer compartment evaporator. delete delete The method of claim 8, And a refrigerant having a proper flow rate is sent toward the evaporator according to the load inside the high temperature by the refrigerant flow rate adjusting unit, and the refrigerant remaining in the evaporator is branched and controlled to flow toward the compressor inlet. delete

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