KR20040038311A - Refrigerator and Method for controlling a cycle fan of refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A refrigerator and a control method of a circulating fan are provided to reduce the number of defrosting with a defrosting heater by defrosting naturally with the circulating fan and to save power by restricting increase of temperature in the refrigerator with the defrosting heater. CONSTITUTION: An evaporator is installed to a refrigerating room side to cool a refrigerating room. A circulating fan circulates air of the refrigerating room and a rotating motor rotates the circulating fan. A temperature sensor(401) senses temperature of the refrigerating room. A defrosting temperature sensor(403) senses temperature of the evaporator. A micro computer(400) operates a defrosting operation by controlling the rotating motor after comparing temperature of the temperature sensor with the defrosting temperature sensor when the refrigeration room is not cool. Thereby, defrosting time of the evaporator and power are reduced.

Description

Refrigerator and Method for controlling a cycle fan of refrigerator}

The present invention relates to a method of controlling a refrigerator and a circulation fan of a refrigerator. More particularly, the present invention relates to a refrigerant circulation system configured to cool a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment, and a method of controlling rotation of a cooling system and a circulation fan.

A refrigerator is a device capable of keeping food fresh for a long time, and generally includes a freezer compartment for freezing and preserving food by strong cooling and a refrigerating compartment for preserving food in a fresh state at low temperature by mild cooling. Cooling of the freezer or refrigerating chamber is usually carried out through a compressor-condenser-capillary tube (or expansion valve) and rapidly moved to the evaporator to desorb the heat of evaporation from the surrounding air, and thus to extract the heat of evaporation from the evaporator. By forced circulation to the freezer or refrigerating compartment. In general, the cooling of the refrigerating compartment is performed by receiving the cold air of the freezing compartment and the method which is independent of the freezing compartment. The latter case is referred to as an independent cooling method and will be described with reference to FIG. 1.

1 is a block diagram of a refrigerant circulation circuit and a cooling system of a refrigerator employing a conventional independent cooling method. First, the refrigerant circulation circuit includes a compressor 101, a condenser 102, a capillary tube 104 which is an expander, a refrigerator compartment side evaporator 105, and a freezer compartment side evaporator 107 connected by a refrigerant pipe. In addition, the cooling system includes the refrigerant circulation circuit and the refrigerating chamber side circulation fan 106 for circulating the cold air generated by the refrigerating chamber side evaporator 105 to the refrigerating chamber, and the refrigerating chamber side rotating motor 106a for rotating the same. It consists of a freezer compartment side circulation fan 108 for circulating the cold air generated by the freezer compartment side evaporator 107 to the freezer compartment and a freezer compartment side rotation motor 108a for rotating the same.

When the temperature of the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment is lower than the preset temperature in the conventional cooling method having such a configuration, the compressor is driven to achieve refrigerant circulation according to the refrigerant circulation circuit, and the refrigerating compartment side rotating motor 106a and the freezing compartment side rotating motor. The freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment are cooled by the rotation of the refrigerating compartment side circulation fan 106 and the freezer compartment side circulation fan 108 by the driving of 108a.

However, since the air in the refrigerating compartment is circulated through the refrigerating compartment side evaporator 105 by the operation of the refrigerating compartment side circulation fan 108, water vapor contained in the air of the refrigerating compartment is implanted in the refrigerating compartment side evaporator 105. Due to this idea, the evaporation efficiency of the refrigerating compartment side evaporator 105 is reduced. Therefore, a defrosting operation by a defrost heater (not shown) provided separately is to be performed. The operation of the defrosting heater is performed periodically in consideration of the frequency of opening the refrigerator door and the operating time of the compressor. In this case, as well as the power consumption according to the use of the defrost heater as well as the power consumption due to the rise of the temperature of the refrigerating chamber by the defrost heater and the increase in the operation rate of the compressor accordingly, the refrigerating chamber deodorized moisture in the refrigerator compartment side evaporator 105 There is a problem that the drying occurs, resulting in a reduction in the freshness of the stored food. On the other hand, there is a cooling system of the refrigerator disclosed in the Republic of Korea Patent Registration No. 10-0336221 as a technique for realizing the natural defrost using the refrigerating chamber side circulation fan to overcome this problem, but also, the circulation fan according to the simple set time Due to the operation, the effectiveness of the effect on the natural defrosting is questionable, and there was a problem that even if the natural defrost is made, the delicate defrost is not made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a system capable of realizing sophisticated natural defrosting while reducing defrost by a defrost heater as much as possible and using a circulation fan, and a control method of such a system. .

1 is a block diagram illustrating a refrigerant circulation circuit of a conventional refrigerator.

Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of a refrigerant circulation circuit of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram of a cooling system control of a refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a circulation fan of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

210: refrigerator compartment 220: freezer compartment

230: machine room 201: compressor

205: refrigerator compartment side evaporator 206: refrigerator compartment side circulation fan

206a: refrigerating chamber side rotating motor 207: freezing chamber side evaporator

208: freezer compartment circulation fan 208a: freezer compartment rotation motor

302: condenser 304: first capillary tube

306: third capillary tube 308: second capillary tube

310: three-way valve 400: microcomputer

401: refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 402: freezer compartment temperature sensor

403: defrost temperature sensor

Refrigerator according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the refrigerator compartment side evaporator is installed for cooling the refrigerator compartment; A refrigerator compartment side circulation fan for circulating air in the refrigerator compartment and a refrigerator compartment side rotation motor for rotating the refrigerator compartment side circulation fan; A refrigerator compartment side temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the refrigerator compartment; A defrost temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the refrigerator compartment side evaporator; Cooling system including a microcomputer to perform the defrost operation by controlling the refrigerating chamber side motor by recognizing and comparing the temperature detected from the defrost temperature sensor and the refrigerating chamber temperature sensor when the refrigerating chamber is not cooled. It is characterized by employing.

In addition, the refrigerator according to the present invention for achieving the above object, the first refrigerant circulation to circulate the refrigerant to the compressor-condenser-first expander-refrigerator side evaporator-third expander-freezer side evaporator, compressor-condenser-made A refrigerant circulation circuit capable of performing a second refrigerant circulation to circulate the refrigerant to a two expander-freezer-side evaporator; A switching device capable of selectively switching the first circulation and the second circulation or closing all of them; A refrigerator compartment side circulation fan for circulating air cooled by the refrigerator compartment side evaporator and a refrigerator compartment side rotation motor for rotating the refrigerator compartment side circulation fan; A refrigerator compartment temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the freezer compartment; A defrost temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the refrigerator compartment side evaporator; Recognizing and comparing the temperature detected by the defrost temperature sensor, the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor and the freezer compartment temperature sensor, and employs a cooling system including a microcomputer for controlling the switching device, the compressor, the refrigerating compartment side motor. .

On the other hand, the circulation fan control method of the refrigerator according to the present invention for realizing the above object comprises the steps of determining whether the compressor is running (S1); Comparing the temperature of the refrigerating compartment and the temperature of the refrigerating compartment side evaporator when the compressor is not operated (S3); Calculating a temperature difference when the temperature of the refrigerator compartment is higher than the temperature of the refrigerator compartment side evaporator (S4b); When the temperature difference arithmetic in the step S4b is more than a predetermined value (epsilon) is characterized in that it comprises a step (S5a) to rotate or continue the rotation of the refrigerating chamber-side circulation fan.

In addition, the circulation fan control method of the refrigerator according to the present invention for realizing the above object comprises the steps of: determining whether the compressor is running (S1); Determining whether cooling of the refrigerating compartment is performed when the compressor is operated (S2); Comparing the temperature of the refrigerating compartment and the temperature of the refrigerating compartment side evaporator when the refrigerating compartment is not cooled (S3); Calculating a temperature difference when the temperature of the refrigerator compartment is higher than the temperature of the refrigerator compartment side evaporator (S4b); When the temperature difference arithmetic in the step S4b is more than a predetermined value (epsilon) is characterized in that it comprises a step (S5a) to rotate or continue the rotation of the refrigerating chamber-side circulation fan.

In the following description, overlapping descriptions will be omitted or compressed for the sake of brevity, and preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator compartment 210 and the freezer compartment 220 is formed, the refrigerator compartment side evaporator 205 and the refrigerator compartment side circulation fan 206 at the rear of the refrigerator compartment 210. And a freezing compartment side rotating motor 206a for rotationally driving the refrigerating compartment side circulation fan 206 and a freezing compartment side evaporator 207 and a freezing compartment side circulation fan 208 and the freezing compartment side at the rear of the freezing compartment 220. A refrigerating chamber side rotating motor 208a for rotating the circulation fan 208 is provided. On the other hand, the compressor 201 is shown in the lower machine room 230 of the refrigerator. An embodiment according to the present invention having such a schematic configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 3 in more detail.

3 shows a refrigerant circulation circuit employed in this embodiment and a cooling system using such a refrigerant circulation circuit. The refrigerant circulation circuit includes a refrigerator compartment side evaporator 205 located behind the refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment side evaporator 207 located behind the freezer compartment, a compressor 201 and a condenser 302 located in the machine compartment 230, Located between the condenser 302 and the refrigerator compartment side evaporator 205 and provided between the first capillary tube 304, an expander provided for expansion of the refrigerant, and between the condenser 302 and the freezer compartment side evaporator 207. The second capillary tube 308 is formed, and the third capillary tube 306 is provided between the refrigerator compartment side evaporator 205 and the freezer compartment side evaporator 207.

The refrigerant circulation system includes the refrigerant circulation circuit and a refrigerant circulation path according to the refrigerant circulation circuit such as a compressor 201-a condenser 302-a first capillary tube 304-a refrigerator compartment side evaporator 205-a third capillary tube ( 306) -the first refrigerant circulation consisting of the refrigerator compartment side evaporator 207 or the compressor 201 -the condenser 302 -the second capillary tube 308-the second refrigerant circulation consisting of the refrigerator compartment side evaporator 207, Located between the condenser 302 and the first capillary tube 304 and the second capillary tube 308 to selectively circulate the refrigerant according to the first refrigerant circulation or the second refrigerant circulation or the refrigerant circulation circuit The three-way valve 310, which is a switching device capable of closing the valve, and the microcomputer for controlling the operation of the three-way valve 310 according to the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 210 and the freezing chamber 220 and the like. Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 4, the microcomputer is electrically connected to a refrigerating compartment temperature sensor 401 for detecting a temperature of a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment temperature sensor 402 for detecting a temperature of a freezing compartment. It is also connected to the defrost detection sensor 403 for sensing the temperature of 205. In addition, the microcomputer 400 is a three-way valve 310, the compressor 201 to control the cooling system through a process of determining and comparing the temperature detected from the temperature sensors (401, 402, 403) And a refrigerating compartment side rotating motor 206a for rotating driving the refrigerating compartment side circulation fan 206 to be described later and a freezing compartment side rotating motor 208a for rotating driving the freezing compartment side circulation fan 208. Of course, the temperature sensors are included in the cooling system.

On the other hand, referring back to Figure 3, the cooling system employed in the present embodiment, the refrigerator compartment side circulation fan for circulating the cold air generated by the refrigerant circulation system and the refrigerator compartment side evaporator 205 to the refrigerator compartment 210. 206 and a refrigerating chamber side rotating motor 206a for rotating the same, and a freezing chamber side circulation fan 208 for circulating cold air generated by the freezer compartment side evaporator 207 to the freezing chamber 220 and a freezing unit for rotating the same. It consists of the actual rotating motor 208a. At this time, the microcomputer 400 controls the refrigerating chamber side rotating motor 206a and the freezing chamber side rotating motor 208a.

Referring to the cooling operation of the refrigerator employing the refrigerant circulation system and the cooling system having the above-described configuration, first, when the temperature detected by the refrigerating chamber side temperature sensor 401 is higher than a predetermined set temperature alpha, Since the cooling of the 210 is required, the microcomputer 400 operates the compressor 201 and switches the three-way valve 310 so that the flow of the refrigerant forms the first refrigerant circulation and the refrigerating chamber side rotation motor 206a. And the freezing compartment side rotating motor 208a to cool the refrigerating compartment 210 and the freezing compartment 220. When the temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment side temperature sensor 401 is lower than a predetermined set temperature (alpha) and the temperature sensed by the freezer compartment side temperature sensor 402 is higher than the set temperature beta of the freezer compartment 220. The microcomputer 400 switches the three-way valve 310 to allow the flow of the refrigerant to achieve the second refrigerant circulation so that only the cooling of the freezing chamber 220 is performed. At this time, the microcomputer 400 compares the temperature detected by the refrigerating-side temperature sensor 401 with the temperature detected by the defrosting temperature sensor 403 to determine the temperature detected by the refrigerating-side temperature sensor 401. If the temperature is higher than the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 403, the difference is arithmetic, and if the difference is equal to or more than a predetermined value epsilon, the operation of the refrigerating chamber side rotating motor 206a is continued to continuously operate the refrigerating chamber side circulation fan 206. Rotate In this case, the frost formed on the refrigerating chamber side evaporator 205 exchanges temperature with the air in the refrigerating chamber 210 due to the rotation of the refrigerating chamber side circulation fan 206, thereby forming a natural defrost. Is encapsulated with water vapor in the air to maintain the high humidity of the refrigerating compartment 210, and also to preserve the cold air of the refrigerating compartment 210 for a longer time due to the frost of defrosted frost is circulated to the refrigerating compartment 210. do. The natural defrost is made until the difference between the temperature detected by the refrigerating-side temperature sensor 401 and the temperature detected by the defrost temperature sensor 403 becomes less than or equal to a predetermined value epsilon and is less than or equal to a predetermined value epsilon. The microcomputer 400 stops the rotation of the refrigerating chamber side circulation fan 206 by controlling the refrigerating chamber side rotating motor 206a to stop the operation.

On the other hand, while operating the cooling system, the temperature detected by the refrigerator compartment side temperature sensor 401 is lower than a predetermined set temperature alpha and the temperature detected by the freezer compartment side temperature sensor 402 is also a preset temperature (beta) of the freezer compartment. If lower than), the microcomputer 400 determines this to control the three-way valve 310 and the compressor 201 to close the refrigerant circulation circuit and stop the operation of the compressor 201. In addition, the temperature detected by the refrigerating-side temperature sensor 401 and the temperature detected by the defrosting temperature sensor 403 are compared, and the temperature detected by the refrigerating-side temperature sensor 401 is similar to the defrosting temperature sensor 403. If the difference is higher than the sensed temperature, the difference between them is calculated, and if the difference is greater than or equal to a predetermined value (epsilon), the refrigerator compartment side motor 206a is continuously operated to continuously rotate the refrigerator compartment side circulation fan 206. If the difference is equal to or less than a predetermined value epsilon, the operation of the refrigerating compartment side rotating motor 206a is stopped to stop the rotation of the refrigerating compartment side circulation fan 206. At this time, the temperature of the defrost temperature sensor 403 is higher than the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 401 at the same time as closing the refrigerant circulation circuit and stopping the operation of the compressor 201. When the difference is equal to or less than a predetermined value epsilon, the operation of the refrigerating compartment side rotating motor 206a is stopped to stop the rotation of the refrigerating compartment side circulation fan 206. Of course, when the microcomputer 400 is in a state where the refrigerator compartment side circulation fan 206 is not rotated, the refrigerator compartment side rotation motor 206a to rotate the refrigerator compartment side circulation fan 206 in such a stopped state. Control to start the operation. However, unlike the embodiment described above, the temperature of the refrigerating compartment is lowered below a predetermined temperature without the defrost temperature sensor, and the cooling of the refrigerating compartment is stopped (the cooling of the refrigerating compartment is stopped together, that is, the refrigerant circulation circuit It is also possible to configure the microcomputer to continuously rotate the refrigerating chamber side circulation fan for a predetermined time.

The above-described method of controlling the circulating fan of the microcomputer 400 will be described in more detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5.

First, the microcomputer determines whether the compressor 201 is operating (S1), and when the compressor 201 is operated, determines whether cooling of the refrigerating chamber 210 is performed, which is performed by the three-way valve 310. It is to determine whether the first refrigerant circulation is made by the control (S2). In this case, when the second refrigerant circulation is performed instead of the first refrigerant circulation and only the cooling of the freezing compartment is performed, that is, when the cooling of the refrigerating compartment 210 is not performed, the refrigerating compartment side temperature sensor 401 The detected temperature (temperature of the refrigerating compartment) and the temperature detected by the defrost temperature sensor 403 (temperature of the refrigerating compartment side evaporator) are compared (S3). At this time, when the temperature of the refrigerating compartment 210 is higher than the temperature of the refrigerating compartment side evaporator 205, the temperature difference is arithmetic (S4b), and when the arithmetic temperature difference is greater than or equal to a predetermined value epsilon, the refrigerating compartment side circulation. The rotation of the fan 206 is continued (S5a). Of course, when the refrigerating chamber side circulation fan 206 is stopped, the refrigerating chamber side circulation fan 206 in such a stopped state is rotated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the compressor 201 is not operated in the step S1 of determining whether the compressor 201 is operating, it is not necessary to determine whether the refrigerating chamber is cooled, so the temperature of the refrigerator compartment side immediately. In step S3, the temperature detected by the sensor 401 (the temperature of the refrigerating compartment) and the temperature detected by the defrost temperature sensor 403 (the temperature of the refrigerating compartment side evaporator) are compared.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S3 that the temperature of the refrigerating compartment 210 is lower than the temperature of the refrigerating compartment side evaporator 205, the operation of the refrigerating compartment side rotating motor 206a is stopped to stop the operation of the refrigerating compartment side circulation fan. The rotation of 206 is immediately stopped (S4a).

In addition, when it is determined that the temperature difference between the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 210 and the refrigerator compartment side evaporator 205 is less than or equal to a predetermined value epsilon in step S4b, the rotation of the refrigerator compartment side circulation fan 206 is stopped. (S5b).

In the method of controlling a circulation fan of a refrigerator according to the present invention, the basic technical idea is to compare the temperature of a refrigerator compartment side with a temperature of a refrigerator compartment side evaporator and thereby rotate the refrigerator compartment side circulation fan to naturally defrost frost formed on the refrigerator compartment side evaporator. As a description of the above embodiment, the refrigerator is not limited to the refrigerator employing the cooling system described with reference to FIG. 3, but is a refrigerator equipped with a refrigerator compartment side evaporator that is installed for independent cooling or cooling of the refrigerator compartment. Naturally, it is suitable for the practice of the present invention and all of them are included in the scope of the present invention.

Likewise, in addition to those described above, a person having ordinary knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains may easily implement the present invention in other forms within the same scope as described above only by the description of the embodiments of the present invention.

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the natural defrosting by the circulation fan is performed, thereby reducing the number of defrosting times using the defrost heater and reducing the temperature rise in the refrigerating chamber by using the defrost heater, thereby reducing power consumption. In addition, the cooling efficiency is improved because the cold air of frost is circulated to the refrigerating chamber. On the other hand, due to the decrease in the number of temperature rise in the refrigerating chamber also increases the operation rate of the compressor is also reduced to reduce the power consumption.

On the other hand, the frost is entrained in the surrounding air in the form of water vapor by natural defrosting, which enables the refrigerating chamber to maintain high humidity, which enables food to be preserved fresh.

Claims (9)

A refrigerator compartment side evaporator installed for cooling the refrigerator compartment; A refrigerator compartment side circulation fan for circulating air in the refrigerator compartment and a refrigerator compartment side rotation motor for rotating the refrigerator compartment side circulation fan; A refrigerator compartment side temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the refrigerator compartment; A defrost temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the refrigerator compartment side evaporator; Cooling system including a microcomputer to perform the defrost operation by controlling the refrigerating chamber side motor by recognizing and comparing the temperature detected from the defrost temperature sensor and the refrigerating chamber temperature sensor when the refrigerating chamber is not cooled. Refrigerator characterized in that to employ. A first refrigerant circulation which circulates the refrigerant through a compressor, a condenser, a first expander, a refrigerator-side evaporator, a third expander, a freezer-side evaporator, and a second refrigerant circulation that circulates the refrigerant by a compressor, a condenser, a second expander, a refrigerator-side evaporator And a refrigerant circulation circuit capable of; A switching device capable of selectively switching the first circulation and the second circulation or closing all of them; A refrigerator compartment side circulation fan for circulating air cooled by the refrigerator compartment side evaporator and a refrigerator compartment side rotation motor for rotating the refrigerator compartment side circulation fan; A refrigerator compartment side temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the refrigerator compartment; A freezer compartment temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the freezer compartment; A defrost temperature sensor capable of sensing a temperature of the refrigerator compartment side evaporator; Recognizing and comparing the temperature detected by the defrost temperature sensor, the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor and the freezer compartment temperature sensor to adopt a cooling system including a microcomputer for controlling the switching device, the compressor, the refrigerator motor side rotation motor. Refrigerator. The method of claim 2, And the first expander, the second expander, and the third expander are expansion valves or capillaries. The method of claim 2, The switching device is a refrigerator, characterized in that the three-way valve. Determining whether the compressor is operating (S1); comparing the temperature of the refrigerator compartment with the temperature of the refrigerator compartment side evaporator when the compressor is not operated (S3); Calculating a temperature difference when the temperature of the refrigerator compartment is higher than the temperature of the refrigerator compartment side evaporator (S4b); And rotating (S5a) the refrigerator compartment side circulation fan or continuing the rotation when the temperature difference calculated in the step S4b is equal to or greater than a predetermined value epsilon. Determining whether the compressor is in operation (S1); determining whether cooling of the refrigerating chamber is performed when the compressor is in operation (S2); Comparing the temperature of the refrigerating compartment and the temperature of the refrigerating compartment side evaporator when the refrigerating compartment is not cooled (S3); Calculating a temperature difference when the temperature of the refrigerator compartment is higher than the temperature of the refrigerator compartment side evaporator (S4b); And rotating (S5a) the refrigerator compartment side circulation fan or continuing the rotation when the temperature difference calculated in the step S4b is equal to or greater than a predetermined value epsilon. The method according to claim 5 or 6, If it is determined in step S3 that the temperature of the refrigerating compartment is lower than the temperature of the refrigerating compartment side evaporator, the step of controlling the rotation of the refrigerating compartment side circulation fan (S4a) further comprising the step of controlling the circulation fan of the refrigerator. . The method of claim 7, wherein If it is determined in step S4b that the temperature difference between the temperature of the refrigerating compartment and the refrigerating compartment side evaporator is less than or equal to a predetermined value epsilon, stopping the rotation of the refrigerating compartment side circulation fan (S5b) further comprising: How to control the circulation fan of the refrigerator. The method according to claim 5 or 6, If it is determined in step S4b that the temperature difference between the temperature of the refrigerating compartment and the refrigerating compartment side evaporator is less than or equal to a predetermined value epsilon, stopping the rotation of the refrigerating compartment side circulation fan (S5b) further comprising: How to control the circulation fan of the refrigerator.