KR20060023367A - Defrosting apparatus of refrigerator and method for controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a defroster of a refrigerator and a control method thereof. The present invention is an evaporator which is installed in the cold air supply unit located on one side of the wall surface of the freezing chamber; An auxiliary evaporator operated during defrosting of the evaporator; It is provided in the cold air supply unit, and provides a defrosting apparatus of the refrigerator comprising a fan circulating the cold air of the freezer compartment and a control method thereof. According to the present invention, during the defrosting operation of the refrigerator, it is possible to maintain a constant temperature inside the freezer compartment and to reduce power consumption.

Refrigerator, Defroster, Control Method

Description

Defrosting Apparatus of Refrigerator and Method for Controlling the same

1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing the main configuration of a conventional refrigerator defrost apparatus.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a refrigerator defroster according to the present invention.

Figure 3 is a flow diagram of an embodiment of a method for controlling a defrosting device of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a refrigerator defroster according to the present invention.

5 is a flowchart of another embodiment of a method for controlling a defrosting device of a refrigerator according to the present invention;

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

10: freezer compartment 13: cold air supply unit

20: refrigerator 31: evaporator

33: auxiliary evaporator 40: heater

50: fan 61: first damper

63: second damper 71: evaporator connecting flow path

73: auxiliary evaporator connecting channel 81: third damper

83: third connection passage 91: damper

93: damper control means 95: freezer connection channel

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a defrosting apparatus of a refrigerator capable of reducing power consumption and a control method thereof.

In general, a refrigerator is a device for keeping a food compartment at a low temperature for storing foodstuffs, and comprises a refrigerator compartment for storing the foodstuff at a temperature of about 3 ° C to 4 ° C and a freezer compartment for storing the foodstuff at a subzero temperature. The principle of the refrigerator is briefly described as follows.

The refrigerant used in the refrigerator is compressed to high temperature and high pressure in a compressor and sent to the condenser along the refrigerant pipe. After that, the refrigerant is liquefied in the condenser, and is moved to the expansion valve along the refrigerant pipe and then the low temperature and low pressure state by the expansion valve. Then, the refrigerant moved to the evaporator along the refrigerant tube is vaporized to instantly take away the heat of the surroundings. As a result, the temperature inside the refrigerator body is lowered, so that foods and the like can be stored at a low temperature.

However, when the refrigerator operates for a long time, ice, frost, frost, etc. (hereinafter referred to as `` frost '') are generated in the evaporator installed in the freezer compartment. If frost is generated in the evaporator, the evaporator may not function properly, and power consumption may increase. Therefore, it is necessary to remove the frost formed on the evaporator so that the evaporator can function properly. In the conventional general refrigerator, the operation of the evaporator is stopped for a certain time to remove the frost, and the heater installed adjacent to the evaporator is operated.

Referring to Figure 1, it looks at in detail with respect to the defrosting apparatus of the conventional refrigerator.

The refrigerator includes a freezing compartment 1 and a refrigerating compartment 2, and a cold air supply unit 1a for supplying cold air to the freezing compartment 1 is formed at one side of a wall inside the freezing compartment. The cold air supply unit 1a is provided with an evaporator 3 for generating cold air, a fan 5 for circulating the cold air, and a heater 4 for removing frost generated in the evaporator. The refrigerator is operated by periodically repeating the normal operation of supplying cold air to the freezer compartment and the defrost operation of removing frost generated in the evaporator.

The evaporator 3 is installed in the cold air supply unit 1a to supply cold air to the freezer compartment 1 during normal operation of the refrigerator. In addition, the fan 5 is formed at one side of the cold air supply part to circulate the cold air generated by the evaporator 3 to the freezing chamber. That is, the fan 5 keeps the foodstuff in the freezer compartment at a low temperature by forcing convection of the cold air. However, the evaporator 3 and the fan 5 do not operate during the defrosting operation of the refrigerator, but operate only the heater 4 installed under the evaporator.

Conventional refrigerators are defrosted with a cycle of about 10 hours, although the refrigerators are different, and the defrosting sensor (not shown) is used to determine whether defrosting is completed. In the conventional refrigerator, the internal temperature of the freezer compartment after defrosting is completed may be raised to 0 ° C. or more.

The refrigerator compartment is a space for storing food, and has a kimchi storage room for storing kimchi. The refrigerating compartment is formed separately from the freezing compartment, and a separate refrigerating compartment evaporator 8 and a fan 7 may be installed to supply cold air inside the refrigerating compartment.

However, the defrosting apparatus of the conventional refrigerator described above has the following problems.

First, there is a problem in that the temperature inside the freezer compartment is increased by stopping the operation of the evaporator and operating a heater to remove frost generated in the evaporator.

Second, there is a conventional problem that the frozen food can be melted by increasing the temperature inside the freezer compartment when defrosting the evaporator. In addition, after the end of the defrosting has been a problem that the refrigeration efficiency of the refrigerator is lowered by cooling the elevated internal temperature again during the defrosting operation.

Third, conventionally, there is a problem that power consumption may be increased by using only a heater without using a separate internal heat source when defrosting an evaporator.

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 defrosting apparatus of a refrigerator capable of maintaining a constant temperature inside a freezer compartment during defrosting operation of the refrigerator, and a control method thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a defrosting apparatus and a control method of the refrigerator that can safely store frozen food during defrosting operation of the refrigerator and increase the freezing efficiency of the refrigerator.                         

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a defrosting apparatus for a refrigerator and a control method thereof, which can reduce power consumption during defrosting of the refrigerator.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is an evaporator which is installed in the cold air supply unit located on one side of the wall surface of the freezer compartment; An auxiliary evaporator operated during defrosting of the evaporator; It is provided in the cold air supply unit, and provides a defrosting apparatus of the refrigerator comprising a fan circulating the cold air of the freezer compartment.

Defroster of the refrigerator is preferably configured to further include a damper for adjusting the cold air environment path of the freezer compartment during the defrost of the evaporator. More specifically, the damper is more preferably configured to include a first damper for closing the evaporator connecting flow path formed in the cold air supply unit during the defrost of the evaporator, a second damper for opening the auxiliary evaporator connecting flow path.

On the other hand, the defroster of the refrigerator is preferably configured to further include an air inlet means for allowing the air of the refrigerating chamber to flow into the cold air supply. In more detail, the air inlet means may further include a third connection passage connecting the cold air supply unit and the refrigerating chamber and a third damper to control whether the refrigerating chamber air is supplied.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the present invention includes an evaporator control step of controlling the operation of the evaporator and the auxiliary evaporator of the freezer compartment; A damper control step of adjusting a circulation path of cold air generated by the evaporator; It provides a method of controlling a defrosting apparatus of a refrigerator comprising a heater control step of controlling a heater for supplying heat to the evaporator.

The method of controlling the defroster of the refrigerator may further include an air inflow step of introducing air from the refrigerating compartment into the cold air supply unit of the freezing compartment. More specifically, the air inflow step is more preferably configured to include a temperature comparison step of comparing the temperature of the cold air supply unit and the refrigerating compartment of the freezer compartment and the third damper control step of adjusting the air inlet of the refrigerating compartment.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the present invention includes a flow path blocking means for blocking the freezer compartment connecting flow path formed between the freezer compartment and the cold air supply unit during the defrosting operation of the refrigerator; A fan for sucking air in the refrigerating compartment to the cold air supply unit; It provides a defrosting apparatus of the refrigerator comprising an air inlet control means for controlling the suction of the refrigerating chamber air. The defroster of the refrigerator may further include a heater for supplying heat to an evaporator installed in the cold air supply unit.

Preferably, the air inflow control means includes a third connection oil that connects the cold air supply unit and the refrigerating compartment, and a third damper to control whether the refrigerating compartment air is supplied. The flow path blocking means may include a damper for blocking a freezing chamber connection flow path formed between the cold air supply unit and the inside of the freezing chamber and a damper control means for controlling the damper.

In addition, the present invention is a flow path blocking step of blocking the freezing chamber connection flow path formed between the cold air supply unit formed on one side of the freezer compartment wall surface and the freezer compartment; It provides a method for controlling a defrosting apparatus of a refrigerator comprising an air inflow step of introducing the refrigerating chamber air into the cold air supply unit of the freezing compartment. The control method of the defroster of the refrigerator is preferably configured to further include a heater control step of controlling a heater for supplying heat to the evaporator.

More specifically, the air inflow step is a step of comparing the temperature of the cold air supply unit and the refrigerating compartment, controlling a fan to suck the air of the refrigerating compartment into the cold air supply unit, supply of air introduced into the cold air supply unit from the refrigerating compartment More preferably, it comprises a third damper control step of adjusting whether or not.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of the present invention that can realize the above object will be described.

The same components as in the related art are denoted by the same names and the same reference numerals for convenience of description, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to Figure 2, an embodiment of a defrosting apparatus of a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described in detail.

The refrigerator according to the present invention includes a freezing compartment 10 for freezing and storing foodstuffs and a refrigerating compartment 20 for storing and storing foodstuffs. In the refrigerating chamber, it is preferable that a separate kimchi storage room 21 capable of storing kimchi is formed.

One side of the inner wall surface of the freezer compartment 10 is formed with a cold air supply unit 13 for supplying cold air to the freezer compartment. In addition, the cold air supply unit 13 includes an evaporator 31 for generating cold air, a fan 50 for circulating the cold air, an auxiliary evaporator 33 operated when the evaporator is defrosted, and a heater 40 necessary for defrosting the evaporator. ) Is installed. However, the present invention may defrost the evaporator by allowing the evaporator to act as a condenser by reversely applying the circulation path of the cooling system without using a heater. Hot water may also be used to remove frost generated in the evaporator.

The evaporator 31 is installed in the cold air supply unit 13 located on one side of the wall surface of the freezer compartment, and does not operate while removing frost generated in the evaporator. In addition, an evaporator connection flow path 71 through which cold air flows is formed at a portion where the evaporator 31 is installed, and first dampers 61 are installed at both ends of the evaporator connection flow path 71 to supply the cold air. Adjust whether or not. That is, when the evaporator is defrosted, the first damper 61 closes the evaporator connecting passage 71 and opens the evaporator connecting passage 71 after the defrosting is finished. In addition, the heater 40 used only for defrosting the evaporator is installed adjacent to the evaporator 31. More specifically, the heater 40 is preferably installed at the bottom of the evaporator.

The auxiliary evaporator 33 is installed in the cold air supply unit 13 and operates only when the evaporator 31 is defrosted. Similarly, a sub-evaporator connecting flow path 73 through which cold air flows is formed at a portion where the sub-evaporator 33 is installed, and second dampers 63 are installed at both ends of the sub-evaporator connecting flow path to supply cold air. Adjust That is, when the evaporator 31 is defrosted, the second damper 63 opens the auxiliary evaporator connection channel 73 and closes the auxiliary evaporator connection channel 73 after the defrosting is completed.

The fan 50 serves to circulate the cold air in the cold air supply unit to the freezing compartment, and is used not only at the operation of the evaporator 31 but also at the operation of the auxiliary evaporator 33. In addition, the fan 50 is installed on one side of the cold air supply unit 13, but is preferably located between the auxiliary evaporator 33 and the evaporator 31.

The refrigerating chamber 20 is formed on one side of the refrigerator body, and consists of a storage room 23 for storing food and a kimchi storage room 21 for storing kimchi. However, the refrigerating chamber may be provided without a separate kimchi storage room. In the refrigerating chamber, as described above in the related art, a fan 85 for circulating air in the refrigerating chamber and an evaporator 87 for supplying cold air into the refrigerating chamber are provided.

However, the present invention may use the air of the refrigerating chamber having a higher temperature than the freezing chamber cold air for defrosting the evaporator installed in the freezing chamber unlike the prior art. In detail, an air inflow means 80 is installed inside the wall surface of the refrigerating compartment to introduce air from the refrigerating compartment to the cold air supply unit 13 during defrosting of the evaporator 31.

The air inflow means 80 is a third damper for controlling the inflow of the refrigerating chamber air while opening and closing the third connection passage 83 and the third connection passage connecting the cold air supply unit 13 and the refrigerating chamber 20 ( 81). Of course, a temperature sensor (not shown) is installed in the cold air supply unit 13 and the refrigerating chamber 20 to control the air inflow means 80. However, the third damper 81 may be installed in the freezing compartment instead of the refrigerating compartment, and the third connection passage 83 may be installed by a separate connecting pipe without directly connecting the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be applied to a defrosting apparatus of all refrigerators including a double door refrigerator, a French door refrigerator, and the like.

3, an embodiment of a method of controlling a defrosting apparatus of a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described in detail.

When the refrigerator starts the defrosting operation in order to remove frost generated in the evaporator of the refrigerator, first, the evaporator and the auxiliary evaporator of the freezer compartment are controlled (S10). Specifically, the operation of the evaporator installed on one side of the cold air supply unit of the freezing chamber is stopped, and the auxiliary evaporator installed on the other side is operated. Then, the evaporator connection channel formed in the cold air supply unit is closed using the first damper (S31), and the auxiliary evaporator connection channel is opened using the second damper (S32). After that, if the air in the refrigerating chamber is not used as a heat source for heating the evaporator, heat is supplied to the evaporator by driving a heater installed under the evaporator (S70). As a result, the evaporator is heated only by the heater in the closed space.

On the other hand, in the case of using the air in the refrigerating chamber to remove the frost generated in the evaporator after the step of controlling the damper (S30) immediately after driving the heater, the air in the refrigerating chamber is first introduced (S50). This is because the temperature of the refrigerating compartment is higher than the temperature of the cold air supply unit of the freezing compartment in the defrosting operation start stage.

In order to introduce the air of the refrigerating chamber, the temperature of the cold air supply unit is compared with the temperature of the refrigerating chamber (S51). This is because even if the temperature of the refrigerating chamber air is high before the heater is operated, the temperature of the cold air supply unit may be high when the heater is operated after a certain time.

As a result of the comparison of the temperatures, when the temperature of the cold air supply unit is higher than the temperature of the refrigerating compartment, the third connection flow path formed between the cold air supply unit and the refrigerating compartment is closed using the third damper (S53). This is because if the temperature of the refrigerating chamber is lower than that of the cold air supply unit, the evaporator is cooled without being heated. On the contrary, when the temperature of the cold air supply unit is lower than the temperature of the refrigerating chamber, the third connection channel is opened by using a third damper.

In addition, after the air is introduced into the refrigerating chamber, the heater is operated (S70), and whether the defrost is completed is measured through the defrost detection sensor (S90). If the defrost is completed, the defrost is terminated and the refrigerator operates normally. However, if the defrosting is not completed, the flow returns to the air inlet step S50 of the refrigerating compartment.

4, another embodiment of a defrosting apparatus of a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described.

The defroster of the refrigerator includes a fan 50 that sucks air from the refrigerating compartment into the cold air supply unit 13, an air inflow control unit 80 that controls whether air is introduced into the cold air supply unit 13, and the cold air supply unit. And a flow path blocking means 90 for blocking the freezer compartment connection passage 95 formed between the inside of the freezer compartment and the freezer compartment.

The fan 50 is installed in the cold air supply unit 13 formed at one side of the freezing chamber wall surface. In addition, the fan 50 serves to circulate cold air in the freezer compartment during normal operation of the refrigerator, but unlike in the above-described embodiment, the fan 50 sucks air in the freezer compartment.

The air inflow control means 80 includes a third connection passage 83 for connecting the cold air supply unit and the refrigerating chamber, and a third damper 81 for controlling the inflow of the refrigerating chamber air, as in the above-described embodiment. It is composed. The third damper 81 is installed in the refrigerating compartment or the freezing compartment, and the third connection passage 83 may be directly connected to the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment, or may be installed by a separate connection pipe.

The flow path blocking means 90 includes a damper 91 for blocking the freezer compartment connection flow path 95 formed between the freezer compartment and the cold air supply unit, and a damper control means 93 for controlling the damper. The damper control unit 93 is connected to a control unit (not shown) of the refrigerator to open the freezer compartment connection passage 95 in the normal operation of the refrigerator, and block all of the freezer compartment connection passage 95 in the defrosting operation.

Unlike the above-described embodiment, only one evaporator 31 is installed in the cold air supply unit 13 and is not operated while removing the frost generated in the evaporator. In addition, the evaporator 31 preferably uses a flat evaporator. However, in the present embodiment, the defrosting operation can be performed by circulating only the air in the refrigerating chamber without using a heater to remove frost generated in the evaporator 31. Of course, the heater 40 may be installed below the evaporator to supply heat to the evaporator together with the air in the refrigerating chamber.

 In the refrigerating chamber 20 of the refrigerator, a refrigerating chamber evaporator 87 for supplying cold air to the refrigerating chamber is installed, as well as a fan 85 for circulating the cold air. Detailed description thereof is the same as described in the embodiment of the present invention and will be omitted.

5, another embodiment of a method for controlling a defrosting apparatus of a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described.

When the refrigerator performs the defrosting operation, first, the freezer compartment connection flow path formed between the freezer compartment and the cold air supply unit is blocked using a flow path blocking means (S300). Then, air in the refrigerating compartment is introduced into the cold air supply unit (S500). The temperature of the refrigerating compartment and the cold air supply unit is always compared using a temperature sensor while introducing the air from the refrigerating compartment (S510). According to a result of comparing the temperature of the refrigerating compartment and the cold air supply unit, a fan for sucking air in the freezing compartment and a third damper for opening and closing the third connection flow path are controlled. Specifically, when the temperature of the refrigerating compartment is higher than the temperature of the cold air supply unit, the fan installed in the cold air supply unit is operated (S530), and the third damper is opened to continuously introduce air from the refrigerating compartment (S550). On the other hand, when the temperature of the refrigerating compartment and the temperature of the cold air supply reaches the thermal equilibrium and has the same temperature, the operation of the fan is stopped (S530), and the third damper is closed to stop the inflow of the refrigerating compartment air (S550).

After this, the defrost is completed or not by using a defrost detection sensor (S900). If the defrost is completed, the defrosting operation is terminated and the normal operation is performed. On the other hand, if the defrosting is not completed using a heater to remove the frost remaining on the evaporator (S700). Thus, unlike the above-described embodiment, the heater operates after the inflow of the refrigerating chamber air is finished. As a result, according to this embodiment, it is possible to remove the frost generated in the evaporator without using a heater.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and those skilled in the art can make modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention.

The effect of the defrosting apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention described above is as follows.

First, according to the present invention has the advantage that the temperature inside the freezer compartment can be kept constant by using the auxiliary evaporator during the defrosting operation of the refrigerator.

Second, according to the present invention, by using the damper and the air of the refrigerating chamber to control the cold air circulation during the defrosting operation of the refrigerator, there is an advantage that can safely store frozen food, and improve the freezing efficiency of the refrigerator.

Third, according to the present invention, there is an advantage in that power consumption can be reduced by using the heater and the refrigerating chamber air together or defrosting the refrigerator during the defrosting operation of the refrigerator.

Claims (15)

An evaporator installed in a cold air supply unit located at one side of a wall surface of the freezer compartment; An auxiliary evaporator operated during defrosting of the evaporator; The defrosting apparatus of the refrigerator, which is installed in the cold air supply unit and comprises a fan circulating cold air of the freezing compartment. The defrosting apparatus of the refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the defrosting apparatus of the refrigerator further comprises a damper for adjusting a cold air environment path of the freezing compartment when the evaporator is defrosted. The defroster of claim 2, wherein the damper comprises a first damper for closing an evaporator connection flow path formed in a cold air supply unit during defrosting of the evaporator, and a second damper for opening an auxiliary evaporator connection flow path. . The defrosting apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the defrosting apparatus of the refrigerator further comprises an air inlet means for introducing air from the refrigerating chamber into the cold air supply unit. The defrosting apparatus of claim 4, wherein the air inflow means comprises a third connection passage connecting the cold air supply unit and the refrigerating chamber and a third damper to control whether the refrigerating chamber air is supplied. . An evaporator control step of controlling operations of the evaporator and the auxiliary evaporator of the freezer compartment; A damper control step of adjusting a circulation path of cold air generated by the evaporator; And a heater control step of controlling a heater for supplying heat to the evaporator. The method of claim 6, wherein the method of controlling the defroster of the refrigerator further comprises an air inflow step of introducing air from the refrigerating compartment into the cold air supply unit of the freezing compartment. The defrost of the refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the air inflow step comprises a temperature comparison step of comparing the temperature of the cold air supply unit of the freezer compartment and the temperature of the refrigerating compartment and a third damper control step of adjusting the air inflow of the refrigerating compartment. Device control method. Flow path blocking means for blocking a freezing compartment connection flow path formed between the freezer compartment and the cold air supply unit during the defrosting operation of the refrigerator; A fan for sucking air in the refrigerating compartment to the cold air supply unit; Defroster of the refrigerator comprising an air inlet control means for controlling the suction of the refrigerating chamber air. The defroster of the refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the defroster of the refrigerator further comprises a heater for supplying heat to an evaporator installed in the cold air supply unit. The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein the air inflow control means is a third connection flow path connecting the cold air supply unit and the refrigerating chamber, characterized in that it comprises a third damper for controlling the supply of the refrigerating chamber air. Defroster of the refrigerator. The defrosting apparatus of claim 9 or 10, wherein the flow path blocking means includes a damper for blocking the freezing chamber connection flow path and a damper control means for controlling the damper. A flow path blocking step of blocking a freezing chamber connection flow path formed between the cold air supply unit formed at one side of the freezing chamber wall and the inside of the freezing chamber; And an air inflow step of introducing a refrigerating chamber air into the cold air supply unit of the freezing compartment. The method of claim 13, wherein the method of controlling the defroster of the refrigerator further comprises a heater control step of controlling a heater supplying heat to the evaporator. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein the air inflow step is a step of comparing the temperature of the cold air supply unit and the refrigerating compartment, controlling a fan for sucking the air in the refrigerating compartment into the cold air supply unit, the cold air supply unit in the refrigerating compartment And a third damper control step of controlling whether air is introduced into the refrigerator.

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