KR19990035502A - Defrost control method in the refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a defrosting control method in a refrigerator to control the defrosting in response to the external temperature and the humidity of the refrigerator during defrosting to increase the efficiency of the refrigerator regardless of a region such as a tropical or dry region. Detecting the external humidity; driving the compressor fan for heat radiation of the compressor when the detected external temperature is higher than the preset reference temperature; driving off the compressor fan if the detected external temperature is lower than the reference temperature; Including the variable defrost cycle to perform the defrost more frequently as the external humidity is higher, shorten the defrost cycle when the external humidity is high in consideration of the external environment of the current refrigerator to prevent deterioration of the refrigerator performance and evaporation Efficiency can be increased, and unnecessary defrosting when the external humidity is low It is possible to prevent the weak cooling phenomenon and the compressor operation rate increase.

Description

Defrost control method in the refrigerator

The present invention relates to a method for controlling defrost in a refrigerator. In particular, a defrost control method is performed in response to an external temperature and an external humidity of a refrigerator so as to increase the efficiency of the refrigerator regardless of a region such as a tropical or dry region. It relates to a defrost control method.

In general, a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerator includes a compressor for compressing and outputting a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant, and a condenser and a condenser for cooling and condensing the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant from the compressor by external air. It is circulated through a capillary tube for depressurizing and outputting a refrigerant in a high pressure liquid state and an evaporator for absorbing and cooling heat by evaporating to a low temperature in a low pressure state. The fan-cooling refrigerator includes a fan for discharging cold air, and discharges cold air around the evaporator into the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment to cool the inside of the refrigerator, and performs temperature control as a driving / stop control of the fan and the compressor. .

On the other hand, moisture in the air inside the refrigerator and water that evaporates from the food freezes, causing frost on the surface of the evaporator. If not, there is a lot of adhesion to the evaporator. The low heat transfer rate results in lower cooling efficiency and higher compressor operation rate, resulting in increased power consumption. Therefore, defrosting is necessary to keep the refrigerator's cooling function at its best at all times.

Accordingly, when a defrost heater is conventionally used to perform defrost of the evaporator, the defrost heater is installed inside the evaporator to perform defrost at a predetermined and fixed defrost cycle. That is, when the frost attached to the evaporator is removed after performing the pre-cool mode in which the compressor is continuously driven for a predetermined time (for example, about 50 minutes) to compensate for the temperature rise of the refrigerator. For example, the defrost heater was energized to remove defrost of the evaporator until the evaporator temperature rose to about 10 ° C.

In addition, a compressor fan for performing a heat dissipation function to improve the efficiency of the compressor and for improving evaporation of the defrost water generated due to defrost was controlled in conjunction with driving of the compressor.

However, without deciding whether the refrigerator is installed in a tropical or dry region, that is, after defrosting is performed at predetermined intervals without considering the external temperature or the external humidity, there is a problem in that a weak cooling and a supercooling phenomenon may occur. There is a problem in that power consumption is increased by driving unnecessary defrost heaters, compressors, and compressor fans.

Therefore, in the present invention, a method for adaptively varying and controlling the defrost cycle, the heat dissipation of the compressor, and the defrost water evaporation amount control has been sought.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a defrosting control method in a refrigerator that can vary the defrost cycle, the heat dissipation of the compressor and the control of the amount of defrosting water evaporation in response to the external environment of the refrigerator.

Defrost control method in the refrigerator according to the present invention, a defrost control method for removing the frost attached to the evaporator in response to the external environment of the refrigerator, the step of detecting the external temperature and the humidity of the refrigerator, and the detected external temperature is When the temperature is higher than the set reference temperature, the compressor fan is driven on for dissipation of the compressor. When the detected external temperature is lower than the reference temperature, the compressor fan is driven off. Characterized in that it comprises a step of performing a variable setting.

1 is a block diagram of a defrost control apparatus of a refrigerator employed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a defrost control process in a refrigerator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings>

10,20: first and second temperature detection unit 30: humidity detection unit

40: microcomputer 50: compressor drive unit

60: compressor 70: heater driving unit

80: heater 90: compressor fan drive unit

100: compressor fan

The above objects and various advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the preferred embodiments of the invention described below with reference to the accompanying drawings by those skilled in the art.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram of a defrost control device of a refrigerator employed in accordance with the present invention, the first and second temperature detectors 10 and 20, the humidity detector 30, the microcomputer 40, the compressor drive unit 50, the compressor 60, a heater driver 70, a heater 80, a compressor fan driver 90, and a compressor fan 100.

In this configuration, the first temperature detector 10 is installed at a predetermined position outside the refrigerator, detects the temperature outside the refrigerator, and applies the detection signal to an A / D (Analog to Digital) port of the microcomputer 40 which will be described later.

The second temperature detector 20 is installed inside the evaporator to detect the temperature of the evaporator surface (inside) and apply the same to the A / D port of the microcomputer 40.

In addition, the humidity detector 30 is installed at a predetermined position outside the refrigerator, detects the humidity outside the refrigerator, and applies a detection signal to the A / D port of the microcomputer 40.

On the other hand, the microcomputer 40 controls the driving on / off of the compressor fan 100 to be described later compared with the external temperature detected through the first temperature detector 10 and a preset reference temperature (for example, 20 ℃). In addition, a defrost cycle inversely proportional to the external humidity detected by the humidity detector 30 is set, and defrost control is performed at the set defrost cycle.

In addition, the microcomputer 40 drives the compressor 60 to be described later during defrost control, performs the precool mode for a predetermined time, turns off the driving of the compressor 60 to stop the precool mode, and the second temperature detector ( Defrost control is performed by controlling the heater 80 to be driven on until the evaporator temperature detected through 20) becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined reference temperature (for example, about 10 ° C.).

On the other hand, the compressor drive unit 50 outputs a predetermined drive signal to the compressor 60 based on the product from the microcomputer 40 using a drive element, a relay, or the like, and the compressor 60 in the refrigeration cycle described above. As a preparation step for re-liquefying the vaporized refrigerant to be reused, the refrigerant gas of low temperature and low pressure from the evaporator, not shown, is compressed and converted into a refrigerant gas of high temperature and high pressure, and outputted to a condenser, not shown.

The heater driver 70 outputs a predetermined driving signal to the heater 80 based on the control of the microcomputer 40 using a driving element and a relay, and the heater 80 removes frost attached to the evaporator. As a defrost heater, it is mounted on an evaporator to generate heat based on a drive signal from the heater driver 70 to melt and remove frost attached to the evaporator.

In addition, the compressor fan driver 90 outputs a predetermined drive signal to the compressor fan 100 under the control of the microcomputer 40 using a drive element and a relay, and the compressor fan 100 is configured to radiate heat from the compressor. It blows outside air and improves evaporation of defrost water caused by defrost.

Next, the defrost control process in the refrigerator according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention including the above-described component will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 2.

First, the microcomputer 40 detects the temperature and humidity outside the refrigerator through the first temperature detector 10 and the humidity detector 30 (step 200).

Next, it is determined whether the detected external temperature is higher than a preset reference temperature (for example, 20 ° C.) (step 202), and if the detected external temperature is higher than the reference temperature, the compressor fan 100 is driven on (step 204) If the detected external temperature is lower than the preset reference temperature, the compressor fan 100 is driven off (step 206).

Next, the microcomputer 40 determines the external humidity detected by the humidity detector 10 (step 208), and sets the defrost cycle to 13 hours if the detected external humidity is 60% or less (step 210). If the external humidity is between 60% and 70%, the defrost cycle is set to 10 hours (step 212). If the detected external humidity is 70% or more, the defrost cycle is set to 8 hours (step 214), and defrost control is performed. (Step 216).

In other words, increase the defrosting cycle to about 13 hours in dry fat where humidity is below 60%, and set it to about 10 hours in temperate regions where humidity is between 60% and 70%, and set it as about 10 hours, and in tropical fats where humidity is 70% or higher. Since the frost attached to the compressor often occurs a lot, the defrost cycle is shortened a lot and set to about 8 hours to perform the defrost frequently.

On the other hand, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

As described above, according to the present invention, in consideration of the external environment of the refrigerator, the defrost cycle can be shortened when the external humidity is high, thereby preventing the deterioration of the performance of the refrigerator and increasing the evaporation efficiency. There is an effect that can prevent the weak cooling phenomenon and increase the operation rate of the compressor.

Claims (1)

A defrost control method for removing frost attached to an evaporator in response to an external environment of a refrigerator, Detecting an external temperature and an external humidity of the refrigerator; Driving on the compressor fan for radiating the compressor when the detected external temperature is higher than the preset reference temperature, and driving off the compressor fan when the detected external temperature is lower than the reference temperature; The defrost control method of the refrigerator comprising the step of varying the defrost cycle to perform the defrost more frequently as the detected external humidity is higher.