KR20010055665A - Method for defrosting of refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A control method for defrosting a refrigerator is provided to prevent temperature rising of a cavity, to keep uniform temperature distribution in the cavity and to reduce production cost by removing frost deposited on the surface of a freezer with air in a refrigeration compartment without a heater. CONSTITUTION: A control method for defrosting a refrigerator comprises the steps of deciding a defrosting timing when a compressor is driven continuously for a specific time period and driving a refrigeration fan for defrosting of a freezer of a refrigeration compartment with circulation of air in the refrigeration compartment while stopping the compressor upon decision of a defrosting timing. By performing defrosting with circulation of air in the refrigeration compartment, temperature rising in the refrigeration compartment is avoided. As defrosting is performed without a heater, production cost is saved.

Description

Defrosting control method of refrigerator {Method for defrosting of refrigerator}

The present invention relates to a method for controlling defrost of a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a method for controlling defrost of a refrigerator for defrosting frost formed on the surface of a cooler using air in a refrigerating chamber.

In general, a refrigerator is provided with a fan that blows air so that air in the refrigerator is circulated through the cooler. Therefore, when moisture generated from food in the store or moisture in the outside air introduced due to the opening of the door passes through the cooler, frost is formed on the surface of the cooler.

When frost is formed on the surface of the cooler, the heat exchange rate decreases during the high air temperature and the cooling period, and thus, the fan and the compressor have to be driven for a long time to lower the internal temperature below the set temperature, thereby increasing the power consumption.

In order to solve such a problem, the conventional refrigerator installed a defrost heater in close proximity to the cooler, and performed the defrosting operation of driving the defrost heater when the accumulated time reaches the reference time by accumulating the driving time of the compressor each time.

However, when the defrost heater is used, there is a problem in that the manufacturing cost is increased and productivity is decreased due to the addition of an assembly process such as mounting and electrical wiring.

In addition, the conventional refrigerator has a problem that the air temperature in the surroundings of the defrosting operation through the defrost heater excessively rises. As a result, the food stored adjacent to the defrost heater has a severe temperature change than the food stored in the lower part or other part of the refrigerator, so that the damage speed is increased and there is a limit to maintaining the temperature in the refrigerator uniformly.

In addition, since the defrosting operation is performed only when the integration time according to each drive of the compressor has passed the reference time, the conventional refrigerator is actively stored in the refrigerator even when humid food is stored in the refrigerator or excessive frost is generated due to frequent opening of the door. I could not cope. As a result, there is a problem that the cooling efficiency is lowered, the driving time of the compressor and the fan is longer, and the life of the parts is shortened.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, the object of the present invention is to remove the frost formed on the surface of the cooler by using the air in the refrigerating chamber without having a defrost heater to prevent the temperature rise in the high temperature and the temperature distribution in the high temperature To provide a defrost control method of the refrigerator that can maintain a uniform and reduce the manufacturing cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary defrosting operation for removing frost formed on the surface of a cooler by using a refrigerating chamber air separately from a defrosting operation performed by driving a defrost heater when the operation integration time of the compressor has passed a reference time. Accordingly, a defrosting control method of a refrigerator capable of shortening a defrosting time by a defrosting heater and suppressing a temperature rise in a refrigerator is provided.

1 is a view showing the inside of a refrigerator applied to the present invention,

Figure 2 shows an example of a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator according to the present invention,

3 is a view showing an example of a defrost control device of a refrigerator according to the present invention;

Figure 4 shows an example of a defrost control method of the refrigerator according to the present invention,

5 is a view showing another embodiment of a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator according to the present invention;

6 is a view showing another embodiment of a defrost control apparatus of a refrigerator according to the present invention;

7 is a view showing another embodiment of a defrost control method of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

10: freezer 11: freezer door

13: Freezer compartment cooler 14: Freezer compartment fan

20: refrigerator 21: refrigerator door

23: refrigerator compartment cooler 24: refrigerator compartment fan

25: duct 30: compressor

In order to achieve the above technical problem, the present invention provides a cooling step of driving a refrigerator so that cold air generated from a refrigerator compartment cooler is discharged into a refrigerator when the refrigerator compartment temperature detected by a temperature sensor is higher than a set temperature. In the defrost control method of the refrigerator provided, the defrosting time determination step of determining the defrosting time of the refrigerating compartment cooler when the compressor is continuously driven for a predetermined period of time by performing the cooling step, and the refrigerating compartment cooler in the defrosting time determination step And a defrosting step of driving the cooling fan to stop the compressor and defrost the refrigerating chamber cooler by circulation of the refrigerating chamber air when the defrosting time point is determined.

The present invention also provides a cooling step of driving a compressor and driving a refrigerator compartment fan when a refrigerator compartment temperature detected by a temperature sensor is higher than a set temperature, and an operation integration time of the compressor driven by performing the cooling step is a reference time. In the defrost control method of a refrigerator having a defrost step of driving a defrost heater to defrost the refrigerator compartment cooler when the elapsed time passes, when the compressor is continuously driven for a predetermined period by performing the cooling step to the defrost point of the refrigerator compartment cooler An auxiliary agent for driving the cooling fan to stop the compressor and defrost the refrigerating chamber cooler by circulation of the refrigerating chamber air when the defrosting time determination step and the defrosting time point of the refrigerating chamber cooler are determined in the defrosting time determination step. Characterized in that it comprises a step.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

1 is a cross-sectional view showing the inside of a refrigerator applied to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the freezer compartment 10 is formed on the upper side and the refrigerating compartment 20 is formed on the lower side of the main compartment 1 so as not to be mixed with each other so that the cold air is mixed with each other. 13) and the freezer compartment 14 are installed, and the refrigerator compartment cooler 23 and the refrigerator compartment fan 24 are installed on the rear wall of the refrigerating compartment 20. The freezing compartment 10 and the refrigerating compartment 20 are opened and closed by the freezing compartment door 11 and the refrigerating compartment door 21, respectively.

In addition, the rear wall of the refrigerating chamber 20 is provided with a duct 25 for guiding the flow of air so that the air blown by the refrigerating chamber fan 24 is circulated through the refrigerating chamber cooler 23. Reference numeral 27 is a refrigerating chamber temperature sensor, 30 is a compressor.

2 is a view showing an embodiment of a refrigeration cycle according to the present invention. As shown here, the compressor 30, the condenser 17, the pressure reducer 16, the refrigerator compartment cooler 23, and the freezer compartment cooler 13 are connected in series by a refrigerant pipe. The compressor 30 is usually driven when the refrigerator compartment temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 27 is higher than the refrigerator compartment set temperature. The refrigerating compartment fan 24 is driven in conjunction with the compressor 30 to blow the cool air generated by the refrigerating compartment cooler 23 to the storage space by the driving of the compressor 30 or by using the air of the refrigerating compartment 20. It is driven separately from the compressor 30 so as to remove frost formed on the surface of the cooler 23.

3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a defrost control device of a refrigerator according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, programs such as refrigeration and refrigeration, power saving operation, and defrost operation using the refrigerating compartment fan 24 are built-in to output control signals to each component to increase the temperature of the freezing compartment 10 and the refrigerating compartment 20. The control unit 100 controls the convergence to the set temperature, the temperature setting unit 31 for setting the temperature of the refrigerating chamber and inputting it to the control unit 100, and drives the compressor 30 by the control signal of the control unit 100. The compressor driver 30a, the refrigerator compartment fan driver 24a for driving the refrigerator compartment fan 24 according to the control signal of the control unit 100, and the opening / closing of the door controlling the cold air of the refrigerator compartment 20 are detected. The door open / close detection unit 32 and the refrigerating chamber temperature sensor 27 and the compressor 30 for detecting the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 20, that is, until the compressor is turned on and off. A compressor drive time counter 33 is provided for counting the time of.

Next, an embodiment of a defrost control method of a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the above-described configuration and FIG. 4.

The present invention is for defrosting the refrigerator compartment cooler using the air in the refrigerator compartment, and focuses on the fact that the refrigerator compartment temperature is generally maintained at about 3 to 4 ℃ and the refrigerator compartment cooler is maintained at approximately -10 ℃ to sufficiently cool the refrigerator compartment. (案 出) became. That is, since the refrigerating chamber temperature is relatively higher than the refrigerating chamber cooler 23 temperature, when the refrigerating chamber fan 24 is driven while the compressor 30 is stopped, the refrigerating chamber cooler 23 only by circulating air without increasing the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 20. Defrosting on the surface of the frost can be effectively removed.

First, the control unit 100 detects the temperature of the refrigerating compartment through the refrigerating compartment temperature sensor 27 every predetermined time during operation (S41). In operation S42, the detected temperature of the refrigerating compartment is compared with the set temperature and the size of the set temperature through the temperature setting unit.

If the refrigerator detection temperature is higher than the set temperature in step S42, the control unit 100 outputs a control signal to the compressor driving unit 30a to drive the compressor 30 (S43). On the contrary, when the refrigerating chamber temperature is lower than the set temperature, the controller 100 outputs a control signal to the compressor driver 30a to stop the compressor 30 or maintain the stopped state.

When the compressor 30 is driven in step S43, the compressor driving time counter 33 counts the operation time of the compressor 30 (S44). In addition, the controller 100 compares the operation time of the counted compressor with a preset defrosting reference time (S45).

Here, the defrost reference time is a determination element for starting defrosting operation using the refrigerating chamber fan 24. That is, normally, when predetermined time (for example, 100 minutes) passes by the drive of the compressor 30, the temperature of a refrigerator compartment will reach | attain the set temperature. However, if the frost is excessively implanted in the refrigerator compartment cooler 23, even if the heat exchange rate of the refrigerator compartment cooler 23 decreases and a predetermined time elapses, the temperature of the refrigerator compartment does not reach the set temperature and the compressor 30 is continuously driven. Therefore, in the present invention, when the defrosting reference time passes by counting the driving time of the compressor 30, it is determined that the frost is excessively implanted in the refrigerating chamber cooler 23 and is recognized as the defrosting time.

When the operation time of the compressor 30 accumulated in step S45 has passed the defrosting reference time, the control unit 100 outputs a control signal to the compressor driving unit 30a to stop the compressor 30 and the refrigerator compartment fan driving unit 24a. ) To output a control signal to drive the refrigerator compartment fan 24.

As a result, the flow of air guided along the duct 25 by the blowing action of the refrigerating compartment fan 24 is continuously circulated through the refrigerating compartment cooler 23, thereby eliminating frost formed on the refrigerating compartment cooler 23.

As a result, since the defrosting operation is performed without using a separate heat source (for example, a defrost heater), there is no temperature increase in the refrigerating chamber, and the refrigerating chamber temperature is uniformly distributed by the blowing operation of the refrigerating chamber fan 24, By preventing excessive operation, the service life of the compressor 30 and related parts is extended.

When the refrigerating compartment fan 24 is driven in step S46, the controller 100 determines whether the refrigerating compartment door 21 is opened or closed through the door open / close detection unit 32 (S47).

If it is determined in step S47 that the refrigerating chamber door is opened, the control unit 100 outputs a control signal to the refrigerating chamber fan driving unit 24a to immediately stop the refrigerating chamber fan 24 to prevent external leakage of cold air (S471). Thereafter, when the closing of the refrigerating chamber door 21 is detected, the refrigerating chamber fan 24 is re-driven and the process proceeds to step S48 to accumulate the operation time of the refrigerating chamber fan 24.

If it is determined that the operation time of the refrigerator compartment fan accumulated in step S48 does not pass the reference time, the control unit 100 further drives the refrigerator compartment fan 24 for the remaining time and determines that the set time has elapsed. A control signal is output to the drive unit 24a to stop the refrigerator compartment fan. Thus, the defrosting operation is finished.

Thereafter, the control flow of the control unit 100 is returned to the initial step (S41), and the above-described control flow is repeated. Here, the control of the fan 14 of the freezer compartment is omitted, but this is in accordance with conventional techniques.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

5 is another embodiment of a refrigerating cycle of the refrigerator according to the present invention, in contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 2 described above, a defrost heater 28 is further provided in the refrigerating chamber 20.

6 is another embodiment of the defrost control device of the refrigerator according to the present invention, and compared to the above-described embodiment of FIG. 3, the defrost heater driving unit 28a, the defrost heater 28, and the driving time of the compressor 30 each time. The compressor driving time integrating unit 34 is further provided. Here, the defrost heater 28 is driven when the integration time according to the operation of the compressor 30 passes a reference time (for example, 6-12 hours) separately from the defrosting operation using the refrigerating chamber fan 24.

7 is another embodiment of a method for controlling a defrost of a refrigerator according to the present invention, which is a defrosting operation using a refrigerating chamber fan 24 separately from a defrosting operation using a defrost heater 28 (hereinafter, referred to as a main phase operation). Auxiliary defrosting operation) is performed, and when defrosting conditions described below are satisfied, auxiliary defrosting operation is performed at any time. As a result, the drive time of the defrost heater 28 can be shortened during the main phase operation, and the temperature rise of the refrigerating chamber can be suppressed.

To this end, as described above in FIG. 4, when the refrigerator compartment temperature is lower than the refrigerator compartment preset temperature, the compressor 30 is driven by the control of the controller 100 (S41 to S43).

When the compressor 30 is driven, the control unit 100 counts the driving time of the compressor 30 through the compressor driving time counter 33, and the compressor 30 of the compressor 30 each time through the compressor driving time integration unit 34. The total driving time is integrated (S44 '). Here, the reason for integrating the driving time of the compressor 30 is to determine the start time of the normal defrosting operation (thematic defrosting operation) using the defrost heater 28.

Thereafter, the controller 100 compares the driving time of the compressor 30 counted in step S44 'with the first defrosting reference time (S45'). Here, the first defrosting reference time is an element for determining the starting point of the auxiliary defrosting operation using the refrigerating chamber fan 24. That is, normally, when predetermined time (for example, 100 minutes) passes by the drive of the compressor 30, the temperature of a refrigerator compartment will reach | attain the set temperature. However, when the frost is excessively implanted in the refrigerating compartment cooler 23 (for example, when humid food is stored in the refrigerating compartment or when air is introduced due to frequent opening and closing of the door), the heat exchange rate of the refrigerating compartment cooler 23 drops and a predetermined time is lost. Even if it passes, the temperature of the refrigerating compartment does not reach the set temperature, and the compressor 30 is continuously driven. Therefore, when the driving time of the compressor 30 (until it is turned on and off) has passed the first defrosting reference time, it is determined that the frost is excessively implanted in the refrigerating chamber cooler 23 and is recognized as the defrosting time point.

If it is determined in the determination step S45 'that the count time according to the driving of the compressor 30 has not passed the first defrosting reference time, the process proceeds to step S52, and the count time according to the driving of the compressor 30 is the first defrosting reference. If it is determined that the time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S46 to stop the compressor 30 while driving the refrigerating chamber fan 24 to perform the defrosting operation. As a result, the flow of air guided along the duct 25 by the blowing action of the refrigerating compartment fan 24 is continuously circulated through the refrigerating compartment cooler 23, thereby defrosting the frost formed on the refrigerating compartment cooler 23.

When the refrigerating compartment fan 24 is driven in step S46, the control unit 100 determines whether the refrigerating compartment door 21 is opened or closed through the door opening / closing detection unit 32 (S47).

If it is determined in step S47 that the refrigerating chamber door 21 is opened, the control unit 100 outputs a control signal to the refrigerating chamber fan driving unit 24a to immediately stop the refrigerating chamber fan 24 to prevent external leakage of cold air (S471). ). Thereafter, when the closing of the refrigerating chamber door 21 is detected, the refrigerating chamber fan 24 is re-driven and the process proceeds to step S48.

In step 48, the time according to the operation of the refrigerating chamber fan 24 is accumulated. Then, it is determined whether the accumulated refrigerating fan 24 operation time has elapsed a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) (S49).

If it is determined in step S49 that the set time has not elapsed, the control unit 100 further drives the refrigerating compartment fan 24 for the remaining time, and if it is determined that the set time has elapsed, sends the control signal to the refrigerating compartment fan driver 24a. It outputs and stops the refrigerator compartment fan 24 (S50). As a result, the auxiliary defrosting operation is completed. Here, the auxiliary defrosting operation is set shorter than the defrosting operation time disclosed in FIG. 4. This is because the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 4 drives the refrigerator compartment fan and sets the refrigerator compartment operating time to completely defrost the refrigerator compartment cooler, while the other embodiment disclosed in FIG. 7 controls the refrigerator compartment operation time to prevent excessive frost on the refrigerator compartment cooler. Is set.

Thereafter, the control flow of the control unit 100 is returned to the initial step (S41).

On the other hand, when the control flow proceeds to step S52, that is, when the auxiliary defrosting condition is not satisfied, the controller 100 compares the accumulated operating time and the second defrosting reference time for each operation of the compressor 30. Here, the second defrost reference time is an element for determining the start time of main phase operation using the defrost heater 28.

If the integration time according to the operation of the compressor 30 in step S52 does not pass the second defrosting reference time, the control flow returns to the initial stage, and when it passes, the control unit 100 sends a control signal to the compressor driver 30a. The compressor 30 is stopped to output the control signal to the defrost heater driver 28a to drive the defrost heater 28. As a result, main defrosting is performed by the defrost heater 28 to completely defrost the refrigerator compartment cooler.

If the defrost heater 28 is driven in step S53, the control unit 100 determines whether the main operation time has elapsed the set time (S54). Here, the main phase operation time is set shorter than the defrost operation time using the conventional defrost heater. This is because the auxiliary defrosting operation is often performed prior to the main operation. That is, when it is determined that frost is excessively implanted on the surface of the refrigerating chamber cooler 23 as described above, defrosting is performed by the refrigerating chamber fan 24 every time to prevent excessive frost formation. Accordingly, even when the driving time of the defrost heater 28 is set short during the main phase operation, the frost formed on the refrigerator compartment cooler 23 can be sufficiently defrosted.

If it is determined that the time set in step S54 has not elapsed, the controller 100 further drives the defrost heater 28 for the remaining time, and when it is determined that the set time has elapsed, the controller 100 controls the defrost heater 28. While the operation is stopped, the operation time of the accumulated compressor 30 is erased (reset) (S55). Here, since the main phase operation time using the defrost heater 28 is set to be shorter than the defrost time using the conventional defrost heater, the temperature rise of the refrigerating chamber is suppressed and the power consumption is lowered.

Thereafter, the control flow of the control unit 100 is returned to the initial step (S41), and the above-described control flow is repeated. Here, the defrost control of the freezer compartment fan 14 and the freezer compartment cooler is omitted, but this is in accordance with conventional techniques.

As described above in detail, the present invention performs the defrosting operation of the refrigerator compartment cooler by circulating the refrigerator compartment air by driving the refrigerator compartment fan when the compressor is continuously driven for a predetermined time and determined to be the defrosting point of the refrigerator compartment cooler. As a result, the temperature rise of the refrigerating compartment is prevented, the temperature distribution of the refrigerating compartment is kept uniform, and the manufacturing cost is reduced because no separate defrost heater is provided.

In addition, the present invention, if the integration time according to each operation of the compressor has passed the reference time, the compressor is forced to stop the compressor when the drive continues for a predetermined time separately from the defrosting operation through the defrost heater while driving the refrigerating chamber fan Auxiliary defrosting operation for the refrigerator compartment cooler is performed by circulation of air. As a result, the refrigerator compartment cooler is always defrosted in an appropriate state, thereby improving the cooling efficiency, shortening the defrosting time by the defrost heater, and suppressing the temperature rise in the refrigerator compartment.

Claims (5)

In the defrosting control method of a refrigerator having a cooling step of driving a refrigerator so that the cold air generated from the refrigerator compartment cooler discharged into the refrigerator when the refrigerator compartment temperature detected by the temperature sensor is higher than the set temperature, Counting each drive time of the compressor; Determining whether the counted compressor running time exceeds the defrost reference time; And a defrosting step of defrosting the compressor by stopping the compressor and driving the refrigerator compartment fan for a predetermined time when the compressor driving time exceeds the defrosting reference time. The method of claim 1, And stopping the refrigerating compartment fan immediately when the refrigerating compartment door is opened while driving the refrigerating compartment fan in the defrosting step. The method of claim 1, wherein the defrost reference time The defrost control method of the refrigerator, characterized in that the refrigerator compartment temperature is set longer than the time to reach the refrigerator compartment set temperature by the drive of the compressor. The method of claim 1, If the counted running time of the compressor does not reach the defrosting reference time, the driving time of the total compressor is integrated, and if the compressor driving integration time exceeds the second defrosting reference time, the compressor is stopped and the compressor driving integration time is determined. The defrosting control method of the refrigerator further comprising the step of performing a defrost by the defrost heater by driving the defrost heater to reset. The method of claim 4, wherein the second defrost reference time is Defrost control method of the refrigerator characterized in that the shorter than the normal defrosting operation time to perform the defrosting operation only provided with a defrost heater.