KR20030018383A - Refrigerator and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A refrigerator and a control method of the same are provided to prevent malfunction of a chilled air controller due to freezing of a blade. CONSTITUTION: A defrosting heater(30) is installed on a lower part of a blade(28a) to prevent freezing of the blade. The defrosting heater is laid in an upper cover(32) of an evaporator(21) extending from a chilled air channel duct(26) formed on a main body(10), and having an inlet fluidically connected with a freezer compartment(14) and an outlet fluidically connected with a refrigerator compartment as a plurality of strands of coated wires to generate heat so as to melt frost formed on the blade and a frozen part between the blade and the upper cover for the frozen blade to rotate.

Description

Refrigerator and its control method {REFRIGERATOR AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a refrigerator and a control method for preventing a malfunction of the cold air control device due to the freezing of the blade.

In general, the refrigerator is forced to supply the cold air generated from the evaporator of the refrigeration cycle to the storage compartment using the fan, thereby preventing the corruption of the stored food and maintain the freshness for a long time.

As shown in FIG. 1, a main body 10 having a refrigerator compartment 13 and a freezer compartment 14 for storing food, and a refrigeration cycle component for generating and supplying cold air to each chamber 13 and 14. And doors 15 and 16 for opening and closing each chamber 13 and 14.

The lower part of the main body 10 is formed with a machine room 12 in which various electrical appliances are installed. The machine room 12 is provided with a compressor 17 of a refrigerating cycle, a condenser (not shown) for condensing the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 17, an electrical equipment box (not shown), and the like.

Each of the chambers 13 and 14 formed in the main body 10 is divided up and down by the intermediate partition 11, and the refrigerating chamber 13 in which the shelf 18 is mounted in a compartment to store a large amount of refrigerated food. ) Is provided, and the freezing chamber 14 for storing the frozen food is configured at the lower side.

In addition, a cold air generating chamber in which the evaporator 51 connected to the refrigerating cycle to generate cold air and a fan motor 22 for rotating the blower fan to be positioned directly above the evaporator 51 are installed at the rear of the freezing chamber 14 ( 19) is formed. That is, the cold air generating chamber 19 is equipped with an evaporator 21 having a defrost heater 20 and a blower fan 22, and the evaporator cover 23 covering the front thereof is disposed, whereby the cold air generating chamber 19 is provided. Is partitioned from the freezer compartment 14. The cold air generated by the evaporator 21 is discharged through the cold air discharge port 24 to the freezing chamber 14 by the blowing force of the blower fan, and the air which has completed the heat exchange action is returned to the evaporator 21 through the suction port 25 again. Done.

In addition, the cold air supply of the refrigerating chamber 13 for storing the refrigerated food is performed through the cold air flow path duct 26 and the cold air return duct 27 provided on the rear wall of the main body 10.

The cold air flow path duct 26 is for guiding a part of the cold air generated in the evaporator 21 to the refrigerating chamber 13 side, and has a lower end 26b having an inlet end communicating with the upper side of the evaporator 21 and having an upper end 26a. The refrigerating chamber 13 and the outlet end communicate with the upper portion. The cold air return duct 27 is provided in the longitudinal direction on the rear wall of the main body 10 to guide the air that has completed the heat exchange operation in the refrigerating compartment 13 to the evaporator 21 side, and the upper end 27a is an inlet end through which the refrigerating chamber air is introduced. It consists of a lower end (27b) is made up of the outlet end of the incoming air exits to the evaporator 21 side.

The inlet end 26b of the cold air flow path duct 26 is provided with a cold air conditioner 28 for controlling the flow of cold air generated by the evaporator 21 and guided to the refrigerating chamber 13. The cold air conditioner 28 has a blade 28a rotatably installed to change the opening area of the inlet end 26b and a motor (not shown) for rotating the blade, the motor being closed, open. A geared motor is used to adjust the rotation angle of the blade 28 so as to be open and swingable. That is, if the internal temperature of the refrigerating chamber 13 is maintained at an appropriate state, and the supply of cold air is temporarily unnecessary, the motor is operated so that the blade 28a closes the inlet end 26b. It is not supplied to (13). On the contrary, when cold air is required to be supplied to the refrigerating compartment 13, the motor is operated to form a flow path by rotating the blade 28a by a predetermined rotation angle, whereby cold air is supplied to the refrigerating compartment 13, and more cold air is supplied in a short time. In the case of supplying to the refrigerating chamber 13, the blade 28a is rotated by a clockwise angle by the operation of the motor, and then the swing operation is repeatedly performed by rotating the counterclockwise by an angle to facilitate the flow of cold air. 13). This motor operation is performed by the control of a control means (not shown) for operating the refrigerator.

However, when the internal temperature of the refrigerating chamber 13 is appropriate, the blade 28a may be kept closed. In this case, the front surface of the blade 28a may be in contact with the cold air in the upper space located above the evaporator 21. And because the rear is in contact with the air in the refrigerating chamber (13) due to the temperature difference between the front and the back will be frosted on the rear side. Subsequently, due to the heating heat of the defrost heater 20 during the defrosting operation to remove the frost formed on the evaporator 21, the frost formed on the rear side of the blade 28a melts and flows down. The defroster 29 is collected in the lower part of the evaporator 21. However, some of the remaining defrost water remains in the gap between the blade 28a and the cold air flow path duct 26, and some cold air generated in the evaporator 21 by the cooling operation following the defrosting operation is blown off by the blowing force of the blower fan. Residual defrost water freezes as it is supplied to 28a.

Such freezing of the blade 28a may appear frequently when the outside air temperature is low, that is, the time that the blade 28a is kept closed because the outside air temperature is low is not required for cooling operation by supplying cold air to the refrigerating chamber. This is because, as the length increases, the amount of defrosting due to the temperature difference between the front and rear surfaces of the blade 28a increases.

In addition, when the power is cut off due to the power failure, the blade 28a is set to the closed state. If the power is supplied again afterwards, there is a high possibility that the blade 28a freezes if the temperature of the freezer is still maintained.

As described above, in the related art, when a cooling operation for supplying cold air to the refrigerating chamber is required, there is a problem that a malfunction of the air conditioner is caused by the freezing of the blade. That is, despite the fact that the motor was operated to rotate the blade, the blade freezes, causing gears to run out of the area where the shaft is engaged (serial engagement), resulting in noisy noises and even component damage. Cause. In addition, there is a problem that the cooling operation of the refrigerating compartment is not made quickly, causing an increase in the refrigerating compartment temperature, resulting in a decrease in the quality of the stored food.

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator and a control method thereof for preventing the malfunction of the cold air control device due to the freezing of the blade.

1 is a side cross-sectional view showing the overall structure of a refrigerator according to the prior art.

Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the overall structure of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

3 is a view showing an extract of the inlet end of the cold air flow path duct according to the present invention.

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

5 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

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

50: key input unit 51: high temperature detection unit

52: outside temperature sensing unit 53: compressor driving unit

54: compressor drive unit 55: operation time integration unit

56 control unit 57 evaporator defrost heater driving unit

58: blade defrost heater driving unit 59: fan motor driving unit

60: blade motor drive unit 61: display unit

An object of the present invention as described above is a refrigerator having a body formed by partitioning the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment with each other, an evaporator for generating cold air, and a cold air flow path duct for supplying cold air generated by the evaporator to the refrigerating compartment, A cold air conditioner installed at an inlet of the cold air flow path duct, the blade being rotatably installed to control the flow of cold air and a motor for rotating the blade; A heater for generating heating heat to prevent freezing of the blades; It is achieved by control means for controlling the operation of the motor and the heater in a predetermined mode of operation.

An object of the present invention as described above is provided with a cold air control device having a blade and a motor for controlling the flow of cold air generated by the evaporator and supplied to the refrigerating chamber through the cold air flow path duct and a heater for preventing freezing of the blade. In the control method of the refrigerator, in a first defrosting operation step of operating a motor and driving a heater to perform a defrosting operation by maintaining a blade in a closed state if the temperature of the freezer compartment is not higher than a predetermined temperature in an initial operation mode where power is supplied. Is achieved.

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

Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the overall structure of the refrigerator according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a view showing the inlet end of the cold air flow path duct according to the present invention, the same components as in the prior art by referring to the same reference numerals. Let's do it.

As shown in FIG. 2, a refrigerating chamber 13 and a freezing chamber 14 for storing food in the main body 10 are formed, and the doors 15 and 16 for opening and closing the chambers 13 and 14 are provided. And a refrigeration cycle component for generating cold air and supplying it to each of the chambers (13) (14).

In the machine room 12 formed below the main body 10, a compressor 17 of a refrigeration cycle, a condenser (not shown), an electric equipment box (not shown), and the like are installed.

Each chamber 13 and 14 is partitioned up and down by an intermediate partition 11, and a refrigerator compartment 13 is provided on the upper side to which a shelf 18 for storing a large amount of refrigerated food is mounted, and a frozen food compartment below. Freezer compartment 14 for storing the is configured.

In addition, an evaporator 51 which is connected to a refrigeration cycle to generate cold air is formed at the rear of the freezing chamber 14, and a cold air generating chamber 19 in which a blower fan 22 and the like are installed to be positioned directly above the evaporator 51 is formed. . That is, the cold air generating chamber 19 is equipped with an evaporator 21 having a defrost heater 20 and a fan motor 22 for rotating the blower fan, and the evaporator cover 23 covering the front thereof is disposed, thereby providing cold air. The production chamber 19 is partitioned from the freezing chamber 14. The cold air generated by the evaporator 21 is discharged through the cold air discharge port 24 to the freezing chamber 14 by the blowing force of the blower fan, and the air which has completed the heat exchange action is returned to the evaporator 21 through the suction port 25 again. Done.

In addition, the cold air supply of the refrigerating chamber 13 for storing the refrigerated food is performed through the cold air flow path duct 26 and the cold air return duct 27 provided on the rear wall of the main body 10.

The cold air flow path duct 26 is for guiding a part of the cold air generated in the evaporator 21 to the refrigerating chamber 13 side, and has a lower end 26b having an inlet end communicating with the upper side of the evaporator 21 and having an upper end 26a. The refrigerating chamber 13 and the outlet end communicate with the upper portion. The cold air return duct 27 is provided in the longitudinal direction on the rear wall of the main body 10 to guide the air that has completed the heat exchange operation in the refrigerating compartment 13 to the evaporator 21 side, and the upper end 27a is an inlet end through which the refrigerating chamber air is introduced. It consists of a lower end (27b) is made up of the outlet end of the incoming air exits to the evaporator 21 side.

The inlet end 26b of the cold air flow path duct 26 is provided with a cold air conditioner 28 for controlling the flow of cold air generated by the evaporator 21 and guided to the refrigerating chamber 13. The cold air conditioner 28 has a blade 28a rotatably installed to change the opening area of the inlet end 26b and a motor 31 for rotating the blade, the motor having a rotation angle of the blade 28. Use a geared motor that can be closed, open, and swingable. That is, if the internal temperature of the refrigerating chamber 13 maintains an appropriate state, and the supply of cold air is temporarily unnecessary, the motor is operated so that the blade 28a closes the inlet end 26b, whereby the flow of cold air is blocked and thus the refrigerating chamber It is not supplied to (13). On the contrary, when cold air is required to be supplied to the refrigerating compartment 13, the motor is operated to rotate the blade 28a by a predetermined rotational angle to form a flow path, whereby cold air is supplied to the refrigerating compartment 13. In the case of supplying to the refrigerating chamber 13, the blade 28a is rotated by a clockwise angle by the operation of the motor, and then the swing operation is repeatedly performed by rotating the counterclockwise by an angle to facilitate the flow of cold air. 13).

In addition, the present invention features a defrost heater (30) installed in the lower portion of the blade (28a) to prevent freezing of the blade (28a). The blade defrost heater 30 is press-installed into the cover wire formed of several strands in the evaporator upper cover 32 extending from the cold air flow path duct 26, and generates a heating heat when the power supply, thereby the blade 28a It not only melts the frost on the frost, but also serves to melt the frozen portion in the gap between the blade 28a and the upper cover 32 so that the frozen blade 28a is rotatable.

In the present invention, in order to prevent the malfunction of the cold air control device due to the freezing of the blade (28a) in advance to perform the defrosting operation based on the freezer compartment temperature at the time of initial power supply, shorten the defrosting period in consideration of the outside air temperature during normal operation After the defrosting operation is finished, the blades are swinged during the idle time to smoothly discharge the melted defrost water, and then the blades 28a are rotated every predetermined time even during the cooling operation according to the high internal temperature to reduce the temperature difference between the front and rear surfaces. Take action. This will be described in more detail.

4 is a control block diagram of a refrigerator according to the present invention, Figure 5 is a flow chart showing a control method of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, the input terminal of the controller 56 is connected with a key input unit 51, a high temperature detecting unit 52, and an outside temperature detecting unit 53, and a compressor driving unit 54, at an output terminal of the control unit 56. The operation time integrating unit 55, the evaporator defrost heater driving unit 57, the blade defrost heater driving unit 58, the fan motor driving unit 59, the blade motor driving unit 60, and the display unit 61 are connected.

The key input unit 51 includes a plurality of keys for input of a user, including setting a driving mode, and applies a corresponding key signal according to the key input to the controller 56. The internal temperature detecting unit 52 is provided with a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of each chamber 13, 14 to apply the detected internal temperature to the controller 56. The outside temperature sensing unit 53 includes an outside temperature sensor (not shown) for sensing an outside temperature and applies the sensed outside temperature to the controller 56.

The compressor driver 54 operates the compressor 17 under the control of the controller 56, and the operation time integrating unit 55 integrates the operation time of each operation mode under the control of the controller 56. The provided operating time to the controller 56. The evaporator defrost heater driver 57 drives the defrost heater 20 to defrost the evaporator 21 under the control of the controller 56, and the blade defrost heater driver 58 controls the controller 56. Accordingly, the defrost heater 30 is driven to prevent freezing of the blade 28a, the fan motor driver 59 drives the fan motor 22, and the blade motor driver 60 of the controller 56 The motor 31 is driven to close, open, and swing the blade 28a under control.

In addition, the display unit 61 displays an operation state and a high internal temperature so that a user can check it.

Hereinafter, a control method of a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described according to the accompanying drawings.

First, when power is supplied in a state in which the refrigerator is stopped due to a power failure (S101), the internal temperature detecting unit 52 senses the internal temperature of each chamber 13 or 14 and applies it to the controller 56. (S102). The controller 56 determines whether the freezer compartment internal temperature is higher than or equal to the set temperature (0 ??) (S103), and as a result, if the freezer compartment internal temperature is not higher than or equal to the preset temperature (0 ??), there is a high risk of freezing of the blade 28a. Report defrosting operation is set (S104). Subsequently, the controller 56 turns on the first and second defrost heaters H1 and H2, that is, the evaporator defrost heater 20 and the blade defrost heater 30, to perform the defrosting operation and the blade motor 31. By driving the blade 28a to block the flow path to maintain a closed state (S105). Accordingly, the freezing portion of the blade 28a may be melted and rotated by the heating heat of the defrost heater H2. Even if the freezing does not occur, the frost formed on the blade 28a is melted. The reason for maintaining the blade 28a in the closed state is to melt the frost formed on the blade back portion by the heating heat.

When the defrosting operation is performed, the operation time integrating unit 55 accumulates the defrosting operation time cumulatively (S106), and the controller 56 determines whether the operation time accumulated by the operation time integrating unit 55 reaches the set time. It is determined whether the defrost is terminated (S107). If it is determined that the defrost is not finished, the flow returns to step S105.

On the other hand, when the defrosting end of the determination in step S107 or when the freezer compartment temperature is higher than the set temperature (0 ??) as a result of the determination in step S103, the internal temperature of each chamber detected after performing the self-diagnosis function to check the abnormality of each part. By operating the components of the refrigeration cycle according to perform the cooling operation for each chamber (S108). That is, when the freezer compartment cooling operation is required, the compressor 17 and the fan motor 22 are driven to supply the cool air to the freezer compartment 14, and when the freezer compartment cooling operation is required, the blade 28 is opened to cool a part of the cold air duct ( Supply to the refrigerating chamber 13 through 26).

When the cooling operation of each chamber is performed, the operation time integrating unit 55 accumulates the cooling operation time cumulatively (S109), and the control unit 56 sets the operating time accumulated by the operation time integrating unit 55 in a first manner. It is determined whether the defrosting cycle (4 hours) has been reached (S110). If the determination result has not reached the first defrosting cycle (4 hours), the process returns to step S108, and as a result, the first defrosting cycle (4 hours) is reached. In one case, the defrosting operation time is accumulated while performing the defrosting operation. That is, the controller 56 turns on the evaporator defrost heater 20 and the blade defrost heater 30 and keeps the blade 28a in a closed state. It is maintained (S111).

Thereafter, the accumulated defrosting operation time reaches the set time to determine whether the defrosting is completed (S112). If the determination result is not the end of the defrost, the process returns to step S111. If the determination is the end of the defrost, the initial operation mode is completed by the initial power supply, and the normal operation mode according to the steps S113 to S127 is performed. Explain this.

In the normal operation mode, the controller 56 performs a cooling operation according to the internal temperature of each chamber (S113), and accumulates the cooling operation time cumulatively (S114). In addition, the outside temperature sensing unit 53 senses the outside temperature of the main surface and applies it to the control unit 56 (S115), and the control unit 56 determines whether the sensed outside temperature is above the set temperature 12 ?? ( S116). As a result of the determination in step S116, if the outside temperature is equal to or higher than the set temperature 12 ??, it is determined whether the accumulated operating time reaches the second defrost cycle (6 hours) (S117), and as a result, the accumulated operating time reaches the second defrost. If the cycle (6 hours) is not reached, the flow returns to step S113, and when the accumulated operation time reaches the second defrost cycle (6 hours), the controller 56 controls the evaporator defrost heater 20 and the blade defrost heater. The defrosting operation time is accumulated while performing the defrosting operation of turning on the 30 and maintaining the blade 28a in the closed state (S118). Thereafter, the accumulated defrosting operation time reaches the set time to determine whether the defrosting is completed (S119). If it is determined that the defrosting is not finished, the process returns to step S118. If the determination is finished, the process proceeds to step S124 to set the idle operation.

On the other hand, if the outside air temperature is not above the set temperature (12 ??) as a result of the determination in step S116, the risk of blade freezing increases, so that the controller 56 shortens the defrosting cycle (6 hours to 3 hours) (S120). It is determined whether the operation time reaches the shortened third defrost cycle (3 hours) (S121). If the accumulated operation time does not reach the third defrost cycle (3 hours) as a result of the determination, the control unit 56 returns to step S113 and if the accumulated operation time reaches the third defrost cycle (3 hours) as a result of the determination. While the evaporator defrost heater 20 and the blade defrost heater 30 is turned on, defrosting operation time is accumulated while performing the defrosting operation of keeping the blade 28a in a closed state (S122). Thereafter, the accumulated defrosting operation time reaches the set time and determines whether the defrosting operation is completed (S123). If it is determined that the defrost is not finished, the process returns to step S122. If the result of the judgment is that the defrost is finished, the process proceeds to step S124 to set the idle operation.

That is, when the idle operation is set in step S124, the evaporator defrost heater 20 and the blade defrost heater 30 are turned off, and the blade motor 31 is operated to rotate the blade 28a clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively. The idle operation time is accumulated while repeating the swing operation alternately rotating by a predetermined rotation angle (S125).

Subsequently, the controller 56 determines whether the accumulated idle operation time reaches the set time and ends the pause (S126). If the determination is not the end of the pause, the control unit 56 returns to step S125. Cooling operation is performed according to the room's internal temperature, and if the set time (30 minutes) elapses during the cooling operation, the blade 28a is rotated counterclockwise and counterclockwise, respectively, for a total of one rotation. It is repeatedly performed every set time 30, thereby preventing the blade freezing (S127).

As described above, the present invention may install a heater under the blade and drive the heater according to the control of the controller to melt the blade icing portion by heating heat, and shorten the defrost cycle when the outside temperature is lower than the set temperature to freeze the heater. Promote prevention. After the defrosting is finished, the blade motor is operated to swing the blades so that the melted defrost water is discharged to the front smoothly, and the blades are rotated every set time during the cooling operation at the end of the idle operation. By eliminating the temperature difference between the front and rear side, the freezing factor is eliminated. In addition, in the case of the initial operation when the power supply is started, the defrosting operation may be performed according to the freezer compartment temperature to solve the icing due to the long time stop such as a power failure. Therefore, the present invention can prevent the malfunction of the cold air control device due to the freezing of the blade when the refrigerator is used, so that the supply of cold air to the refrigerating compartment can be made quickly and smoothly at all times.

Claims (9)

A refrigerator comprising a body formed by partitioning a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment with each other, an evaporator for generating cold air, and a cold air passage duct for supplying cold air generated by the evaporator to the refrigerating compartment, A cold air conditioner installed at an inlet of the cold air flow path duct, the blade being rotatably installed to control the flow of cold air and a motor for rotating the blade; A heater for generating heating heat to prevent freezing of the blades; And a control means for controlling the operation of the motor and the heater in a predetermined operation mode. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising an outside air temperature sensor for sensing the outside air temperature, wherein the control means shortens the preset defrost cycle when the outside air temperature is lower than or equal to the set temperature in the normal operation mode. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the heater is provided at a lower portion of the blade and is formed of several strands of coated wires. A control method of a refrigerator having a cold air control device having a blade and a motor for controlling the flow of cold air generated by an evaporator and supplied to a refrigerating chamber through a cold air flow duct, and a heater for preventing freezing of the blade. A refrigerator comprising: a first defrosting operation step of operating a motor and driving a heater to perform a defrosting operation when the temperature of the freezer compartment is not higher than a predetermined temperature in an initial operation mode in which power is supplied; Control method. The method of claim 4, wherein In the normal operation mode, when the defrost cycle is changed based on the outside air temperature and the cooling operation time reaches the changed defrost cycle, a second defrost operation step is performed in which the motor is operated to keep the blades closed and the heater is driven to perform the defrost operation. Control method of a refrigerator, characterized in that it further comprises. The method of claim 5, And a idle operation step of operating a motor to swing the blade during the idle time after performing the second defrosting operation step. The method of claim 6, And performing a motor to rotate the blades counterclockwise and counterclockwise at every set time during the cooling operation according to the internal temperature after the idle operation step. Control method. The method of claim 4, wherein And controlling the defrosting operation by driving the heater when the cooling operation time reaches the set defrosting period when the temperature of the freezer compartment is higher than the set temperature in the first defrosting operation step. The method of claim 5 The control method of the refrigerator, characterized in that for shortening the predetermined defrost cycle if the outside temperature is not above the set temperature in the second defrost operation step.