KR20070098641A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

A refrigerator is provided to improve maintenance of a supercooling state by indirect cooling which is operated at a temperature lower than 0 degree in the space. A refrigerator comprises: a storage room; a cool air circulating space(66); a heat insulating layer(70); an outlet(57); and a cooler. The storage room cools foods stored in space. The cool air circulating space is formed around the space. The heat insulating layer is formed between the space and the cooling air circulating space. The outlet emits the cool air of cooling temperature in a cool air circulating space for refrigerating the space to freezing temperature less than 0 degree. The cooler generates cool air emitted from the cool air outlet. The indirect cooling for food is operated at a temperature lower than 0 degree in the space.

Description

Refrigerator {REFRIGERATOR}

1 is a front exterior view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of a storage chamber for supercooling.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the inner container installed inside the supercooled container.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a non-slip member provided on the rib.

6 is a view showing a state in which a supercooled container and an inner container are combined.

Fig. 7 is a diagram of a case of a supercooling vessel structure different from the example of Figs. 3 to 6;

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing changes in temperature with time of the liquid in the direct cooling method.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing changes in temperature with time of liquid in the indirect cooling system.

FIG. 10 shows energy changes for ice nucleation based on homogeneous nucleation theory

11 is a diagram schematically showing a tendency of the supercooling maintenance probability with respect to the liquid water temperature.

12 is a schematic diagram of an experimental apparatus.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a change in temperature in each example shown in FIG. 12; FIG.

14 is a schematic view of a storage compartment.

<Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings>

1: compressor

2: condenser

3: throttle

4: chiller

5: cooling fan

6: damper

7: cold storage stove

8: refrigerator

9: cold storage room

10, 11: freezer

12: Vegetable Room

13: freezer furnace

14: freezer return port

15: refrigerator door

16, 17: freezer door

18: vegetable compartment door

26: rib

27: beverage container

29: inner container

30: non-slip member

40, 41: freezer container

42: vegetable chamber container

43: ice room door

45, 53 handle

46: sliding cover

47: slide cover winding

49: guide rail

50, 55: insulation wall

51, 52: flow of cold

54: outer frame

56 container member

57: discharge port

58: cover member

59: packing

60: fan guard

61: suction port

62: supercooled container

65: storage space

66: cold air distribution space

70: heat insulation layer

[Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-214753

[Document 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-4260

The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

Even if water is below freezing temperature, the state which exists in a liquid state, ie, a supercooling phenomenon, is known from the past. For example, when a beverage in a container that has been in a supercooled state is poured into the glass, the supercooling is released at a time by the impact generated at that time, and sherbet-type ice is produced on the glass. The combination of sherbet-type ice and a drink that has not reached freezing is not only pleasant to see, but also attracts attention as a new texture drink, and has been actually provided to guests in fitness clubs, bars and short bars. However, since the supercooled state of the beverage is physically very unstable, it is not easy to maintain. For example, vibrations transmitted to beverages, cooling rates, temperature distributions in refrigerators, and temperature distributions in beverages are considered to be factors in releasing subcooling of the liquid, but many have not yet been clarified academically.

In the case of overcooling the beverage in the domestic refrigerator, measures to prevent the overcooling release due to the vibration at the opening and closing of the door are also important, but at the same time, the method of cooling the beverage is a major problem. In addition, when a beverage is cooled in the refrigerator and below the predetermined freezing temperature, it may be frozen from a place where cold air directly touches the container of the beverage. Therefore, in order to reach a predetermined | prescribed supercooling temperature range and to maintain a temperature, a cooling method which equalizes the inside of a refrigerator and does not have temperature distribution inside a drinking water is required.

In order to solve such a subject, patent document 1 is mentioned. Patent Literature 1 includes a cold air supply duct and a cold air suction duct in order to keep the cold air atmosphere in the refrigerator at a uniform temperature distribution state, and has a uniform temperature distribution state in the case where the beverage is cooled in a supercooled state. The supercooling is prevented from being released before reaching a predetermined temperature (below freezing temperature). Moreover, in patent document 2, the amount of cold air circulation at the time of performing supercooling operation is controlled, and the temperature fluctuation in a refrigerator is made small.

Patent document 1 relates to a supercooling cooling device for producing a supercooled beverage, which is provided so as to face a cold air supply duct and a suction duct installed inside the refrigerator, and has a uniform temperature distribution in the cold air atmosphere at the place where the beverage is stored. . In addition, Patent Document 2 also attempts to suppress temperature fluctuation by controlling the amount of cold air circulation.

However, in the case of using the household refrigerator to supercool the beverage, it is not enough to uniformize the cold atmosphere in the refrigerator, and the temperature distribution inside the beverage may be due to the overcooling release, and the supercooling is likely to be released. I may lose.

This invention is made | formed in view of the said subject, and an object of this invention is to provide the refrigerator which aimed at the improvement of the maintenance of a supercooled state.

A refrigerator having a storage compartment for cooling food stored in a space, the first aspect of the present invention for achieving the above object,

A cold air circulation space provided around the space,

A heat insulation layer provided between the space and the cold air circulation space;

A cold air discharge port for discharging cold air at a freezing temperature to the cold air circulation space so as to cool the inside of the space at a freezing temperature lower than 0 ° C;

And a cooler for generating cold air discharged from the cold air discharge port,

Indirect cooling of the food is performed at a temperature lower than 0 ° C in the space.

Moreover, the 2nd aspect of this invention is cold air circulation space provided around the said space,

A partition wall partitioning between the space and the cold air circulation space for indirectly cooling the food stored in the space;

A heat insulation layer provided between the space and the cold air circulation space;

A cold air discharge port for discharging cold air at a freezing temperature to the cold air circulation space so as to cool the inside of the space at a freezing temperature lower than 0 ° C;

And a cooler for generating cold air discharged from the cold air discharge port.

The preferable specific structure in said 2nd aspect is that the said partition wall is comprised from the container member which has an opening upper part, and has no hole in a side surface and a bottom surface, and the cover member which covers the said opening part.

Moreover, in what has a structure in any one of the above, a more preferable specific aspect is as follows.

(1) A cold air return port for discharging the cold air discharged from the cold air discharge port and circulating the inside of the storage chamber to the cooler is provided, and the cold air discharge port is positioned above the cold air return port.

(2) The temperature of the air in the space is higher than the lower side at the upper side of the space, and the temperature of the cold air flowing in the cold air circulation space is lower than the lower side at the upper side of the space, and the food is 5 ° C or more in the space. When the food is stored, the food passes through a temperature of 4 ° C to 0 ° C and is further cooled to a temperature lower than 0 ° C.

Moreover, the 3rd aspect of this invention is a refrigerator in which the cooling means which cools the inside divided | segmented into the some temperature area | region, and the temperature control means which interlocks the said cooling means and a temperature detection means and performs temperature control in a inside of a refrigerator are provided. And cooling means for circulating cold air in the outer peripheral portion of the wall surface of the container for storing the beverage or fish foodstuff below the freezing temperature.

As explained in this section, in order to make a supercooled beverage in a domestic refrigerator, it was found that it is important to cool the beverage indirectly and to suppress the vertical distribution of the temperature generated in the beverage. Therefore, an indirect cooling system in which direct cold air does not flow into the subcooled container is adopted, and the temperature distribution generated in the vertical direction in the beverage is kept small to maintain the supercooled state.

In this embodiment, a container provided in a storage compartment of a household refrigerator, that is, a method of having a heat insulating layer on the outer circumference of the storage container and indirectly cooling the beverages or fish foods installed in the storage container by cold air flowing around the storage container. I adopt it. The temperature inside the storage container is detected by a temperature sensor and controlled by a damper provided in the cold air inlet portion of the storage chamber in which the storage container is installed.

In addition, the container is provided with an inner container of a separate member provided with rib-shaped convex portions so that a beverage container such as a PET bottle, a bottle or a can directly contacts the wall surface of the storage container, and the supercooling is released from the portion to prevent freezing from proceeding. And the portion where the beverage container directly contacts the inner wall of the container is reduced. In addition, a non-slip member (for example, rubber) is provided at a portion where the convex portion and the beverage container contact each other so that the beverage container does not move, and the beverage container is difficult to move in the storage container even when the door is opened or closed. have. Embodiment of the refrigerator provided with these structures is demonstrated using drawing.

1 is a front exterior view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator shown in FIG. 1 consists of a heat insulation box provided with a refrigerator compartment 9, freezer compartments 10 and 11, and a vegetable compartment 12 from the top (see FIG. 2), and the opening of each storage compartment is shown in the refrigerator compartment door. (15), the ice making chamber door 43, the freezing chamber doors 16 and 17, and the vegetable chamber door 18 are covered. In addition, the arrangement may not necessarily coincide with the case of this drawing.

In addition, the ice-making chamber door 43, the freezer compartment doors 16 and 17, and the vegetable compartment door 18 are draw-out doors, and are taken out with the case in each storage chamber.

2 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator 8 is arranged in the order of the refrigerating chamber 9, the freezing chambers 10 and 11, and the vegetable chamber 12 from the top. Inside the freezer compartment and the vegetable compartment, cases 40, 41 and 42 for food storage are provided in conjunction with opening and closing of the freezer compartment doors 16 and 17 and the vegetable compartment door 18, respectively. In order to cool the inside of the refrigerator, a refrigeration cycle is assembled in the refrigerator 8, and is composed of the compressor 1, the condenser 2, the throttle part 3, the cooler 4, and they are sequentially connected by refrigeration piping. have. The cooler 4 is arrange | positioned in the cooler chamber located in the back part of the freezer compartments 10 and 11, and the cooler chamber is partitioned with the freezer compartment by the partition wall. Cold air is circulated by the in-vehicle cooling fan 5 provided on the downstream side of the cooler 4 to cool the inside of the refrigerator, and by opening and closing the damper 6 provided on the downstream side of the in-vehicle cooling fan 5, (7) Or cold air is guided to the freezer compartment air passage 13 so that cold air is supplied to the refrigerating compartment 9 or the freezing compartments 10 and 11 (the vegetable compartment 12 is a part of the cold air supplied to the refrigerating compartment 9). Structure is cooled by introduction (not shown)].

When the damper 6 is open, cold air is supplied from the refrigerating compartment discharge port or the freezer compartment discharge port provided through the refrigerating compartment air passage 7 and the freezer compartment air passage 13, and the refrigerating chamber 9, the vegetable chamber 12, and the freezing chamber ( 10 and 11 are simultaneously cooled. The cold air which cooled the refrigerator compartment 9 is returned to the cooler 4 via the refrigerator compartment return duct, and the air which cooled the freezer compartments 10 and 11 is a freezer compartment return port (inlet part of the freezer compartment return air) 14 Return to the cooler 4 via). In the case where the freezing chambers 10 and 11 are cooled alone, the damper 6 can be closed to guide cold air into the freezing chamber air passage 13 for cooling. In this case, the cool air returned to the cooler 4 is only from the freezer compartment return port 14.

That is, the refrigerator of the present embodiment includes the freezer compartments 10 and 11 which maintain the inside of the refrigerator at the freezing temperature, the cooler 4 disposed in the rear portion of the freezer compartments 10 and 11, and the internal air circulating air, and the cooler ( 4) is provided, and is provided with the cooler chamber provided in the back part from the partition wall which partitions between the freezer compartments 10 and 11, and the internal cooling fan 5 which circulates the cold air produced by the cooler 4. As shown in FIG. Moreover, the cold air return port 14 which communicates between a cooler chamber and the freezer compartments 10 and 11 is provided in the partition wall which partitions between a cooler chamber and the freezer compartments 10 and 11.

3 is a view showing the structure of a storage chamber for supercooling. Hereinafter, the storage container for performing subcooling is called a subcooling container. In this example, the subcooling vessel 62 is provided in the freezing chamber 10. Therefore, in the following description, the storage chamber which performs subcooling is represented by the freezing chamber 10 and described. The freezer compartment 10 is partitioned between the refrigerating compartment 9 and the freezer compartment 11 at the lower end by the heat insulating walls 50 and 55 so as to avoid heat penetration from other storage compartments. In addition, although not shown in figure, it also partitions with the ice-making chamber which adjoins laterally by the heat insulation wall.

The cold air flowing into the freezing chamber 10 flows into the freezing chamber from the discharge port 57 provided in the fan guard 60 serving as the rear wall of the freezing chamber 10, and the suction port 61 located below the discharge port 57 is opened. It is guided out of the freezer compartment (10). The damper is provided upstream from the discharge port 57 (not shown), and the temperature in the supercooling container 62 can be controlled. Moreover, you may provide the electric heater which performs temperature control as needed.

In addition, the supercooling vessel 62 is provided with a temperature sensor (not shown), and the opening and closing of the damper is controlled based on the output of this temperature sensor. Thus, by controlling the cold air which flows into the freezer compartment 10 from the discharge port 57, the temperature inside the subcooling container 62 can be controlled.

The top opening of the container member 56 having the heat insulating layer 70 is covered by the lid member 58, and a storage space 65 is formed inside the supercooled container 62. Since the lid member 58 also has a heat insulating layer, the storage space 65 is insulated from the outside of the supercooling container 62. Although this heat insulation layer may arrange | position and form heat insulation materials, such as a urethane foam, a foamed styrol, or a vacuum heat insulation material, since it cools in the storage space 65 using the low temperature of the outer side of the supercooling container 62, as mentioned later, You may form with an air heat insulation layer.

In particular, the nature of the subcooling vessel 62, because it can be considered that the moisture adheres to the case of the generation of condensation, the removal of the condensation, etc., the air insulation can be easy. The structure which forms the heat insulation layer by air heat insulation is mentioned later.

The supercooling container 62 is connected to the outer frame 54 so as to interlock with the freezer compartment door 16, and is provided with a packing 59 between the freezer compartment door 16 and the periphery of the opening of the freezer compartment 10, Leakage of cold air to the outside of the refrigerator 8 is suppressed. In addition, the cover member 58 does not need to be pulled out in conjunction with the freezer compartment door 16, and may be fixed even in the freezer compartment 10. When the lid member 58 is configured to be pulled out in conjunction with the freezer compartment door 16, the handle 53 may be provided on the lid member 58.

Next, a brief description will be given of a method of cooling the food (including the beverage) contained in the storage space 65. The cold air discharged from the discharge port 57 to the freezing chamber 10 flows through the cold air circulation space 66 around the subcooling container 62 and is freed from the suction port 61 located below the discharge port 57. Induced out. The space between the storage space 65 and the cold air circulation space 66 is partitioned by the container wall or the lid member 58 of the supercooled container 62. The container wall or the lid member 58 serves as a partition wall so that cold air flowing in the cold air flow passage 66 is not directly introduced into the storage space 65, thereby enabling indirect cooling.

In addition, in order to allow discharge cold air to flow above the lid member 58 in the cold air circulation space 66, the discharge port 57 is disposed above the lid member 58. Therefore, most of the cold air (shown by the arrow: 51) which flowed in from the discharge port 57 passes through the upper part of the lid member 58, and then flows along the outer circumferential portion of the supercooling container 62, and from the suction port 61 Reach out of the freezer compartment 10 (illustrated by arrow: numeral 52). In addition, the cold air cooled in the freezer compartment 10 and guided out of the freezer compartment 10 from the suction port 61 is then returned to the cooler chamber after cooling the freezer compartment 11 at the lower end side, and by the cooler 4. It is cooled again.

In addition, the freezing chamber 10 is switched to a temperature (to be described later) for generating a supercooled state and a normal freezing temperature (-18 ° C. or less). That is, although normal freezing storage is possible by turning on / off the switch (not shown) which performs switching, in the following description, description is abbreviate | omitted about normal freezing storage, and temperature which preserves food in a supercooled state Explain about.

The temperature suitable for preserving the food in the supercooled state was found from the results of the experiment, for example, that the beverage in the PET bottle is about -5 ° C and about -3 ° C to -4 ° C for fish such as tuna. In this way, since the optimum temperature varies depending on the object to be put in the supercooling container 62, the temperature setting can be performed by an input means not shown. Specifically, the temperature detected by the temperature sensor provided in the supercooling container 62 is compared with the temperature set by the input means, and the opening and closing of the damper which controls the discharge of cold air from the discharge port 57 is controlled.

When impact is applied to the supercooled beverage, the supercooled state is released from the gas-liquid interface in the beverage container in an instant to generate sherbet-type ice. Moreover, when preserving fish, such as a tuna, in a supercooled state, the freshness retention period becomes long, and the advantage regarding the preservation of the whole food is acquired.

The more detailed structure of the subcooling container 62 is demonstrated. The supercooled container 62 of this embodiment is provided with the removable inner container 29 inside the outer container which forms an outer shell. Therefore, by providing a gap between the containers inside and outside, the heat insulation layer by air heat insulation can be provided.

4 is a perspective view of the inner container 29. The inner wall side of the inner container 29 is provided with the rib 26 in multiple parts, and it is a structure which supports the beverage container accommodated in the inside of the container 29, for example, a PET bottle, with the rib 26. As shown in FIG. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 5, the non-slip member 30 (for example, rubber | gum) is provided in the part which contact | connects the rib 26 and a beverage container.

The effect by the structure of these inner container 29 is as follows. When a beverage container such as a PET bottle, a bottle, a can, or a food directly comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the subcooling container 62, the portion is likely to be locally cooled. In this embodiment, by providing the convex part like the rib 26 in the inner wall surface of the subcooling container 62, the part which the drink water container and the inner wall surface of the subcooling container 62 directly contact is reduced. Therefore, it can be made easy to maintain a supercooled state.

In addition, by providing a non-slip member 30 such as rubber at the abutment of the beverage container or the food and the convex portion, that is, at the apex of the convex portion, the food or the like moves in the supercooled container 62 when the door is opened or closed. It is difficult to do. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the probability that the supercooled state is released contrary to the meaning of the refrigerator user.

6 is a view showing a state in which the supercooled container 62 and the container 29 are combined. The portion where the beverage container 27 and the subcooled container 62 are directly in contact with the wall surface is reduced so that local freezing does not occur, and even when the subcooled container 62 is slid, the action of the anti-slip member 30 is reduced. By this, since the beverage becomes difficult to move, the probability that the supercooling is released is reduced.

FIG. 7 is a view of the case where the storage space 65 for storing in the supercooled state is configured differently from the example of FIGS. 3 to 6. As another structure of the cover member provided with the heat insulation layer, the example which slides the cover 46 along the guide rail 49 is shown. In this case, since the lid 46 with a slide function is provided with the winding mechanism 47, foods, such as a drink, can be taken in and out without removing the lid 46 from the supercooling container 62. FIG. As a result, even when the supercooled beverage is taken out and the other beverage is put again, since the lid is slide-type, all of the cold air in the storage space 65 is rarely replaced, which leads to shortening of the cooling time. do.

Next, in order to consider the advantages of the above-described specific structure, the result of measuring the temperature change of the beverage is described.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a change in temperature over time when cold air is directly introduced into a storage space in a supercooled container, that is, a beverage (hereinafter referred to as "liquid" in the description of FIGS. 8 to 11) in the direct cooling method. . This is a change over time in the upper and lower portions of the beverage when the table is placed in a space where the cooling air temperature is constant and the beverage contained in the container is cooled. The heat conduction from the table with the container increases the cooling rate of the liquid in the lower part of the container, so that a temperature distribution occurs in the vertical direction, and the lower part has a lower temperature than the upper part in the initial stage of cooling.

However, since water has a maximum density of about 4 ° C., when the top temperature reaches 4 ° C., the liquid at the top moves to the bottom. As a result, the liquid cooled in the lower portion moves to the upper portion, thereby forming a temperature distribution in which the temperature on the upper side is the lowest.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing changes in temperature with time of the liquid in the case where the cold air is not directly introduced into the storage space in the subcooling container, that is, in the indirect cooling system. Unlike the direct cooling method (Fig. 8), the cooling rate is slow, and the liquid in the container is in a quasi-steady state. Therefore, even if density reversal occurs, the temperature distribution in the vertical direction in the container is less likely to occur, so that convection generated in the solution is also weak.

Considering these results, it can be said that the indirect cooling method can reduce the fluctuation of the liquid temperature in comparison with the direct cooling method.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing energy changes for ice nucleation based on the theory of homogeneous nucleation. Freezing does not start even if the liquid is below the freezing temperature because freezing proceeds for the first time after the process of ice nucleation, and ice nucleation is formulated according to homogeneous nucleation theory. Liquids that are supercooled are physically unstable, but are supercooled if the interfacial free energy (plus free energy) based on surface tension exceeds the free energy (negative free energy) when the phase transitions to ice. .

Since the free energy of the liquids in the supercooled state becomes the sum of them, if the cluster radius of water exceeds the threshold, it becomes an ice core and the supercooling is released. In addition, the lower the liquid temperature in the supercooled state, the greater the free energy when the phase transitions to ice, and thus the free energy at the critical radius becomes smaller. In other words, the lower the temperature, the easier the subcooling state is released. However, the actual subcooled water, especially a mixture such as a drink, contains a large number of impurities that become ice nuclei, which is higher than the probability of ice nuclei occurring in homogeneous nucleation, so that the supercooled state is likely to be released (heterogeneous nucleus). produce).

In addition to the impurities similar to the crystal structure of ice, impact forces, the interaction between the gas-liquid interface and the wall surface (deformation of the liquid surface), cavitation, the appearance of the solid wall surface in contact with the liquid, and the action by the electric field, etc. It has been published as a result of the research to release the supercooling, and the supercooling can be easily released by the effect of reducing the magnitude of the free energy in the cluster critical radius shown in FIG.

8 and 9, in the case of actually cooling the liquid contained in the beverage container (for example, a PET bottle), in the case of direct cooling, the upper portion of the liquid becomes relatively low temperature, It is assumed that the subcooling due to the interaction at the solid-liquid interface of the is easily released or the subcooling is easily released by the influence of convection in the liquid. This is suitable.

In addition, in this specification, indirect cooling is a system which is cooled by the low temperature atmosphere around the place where a cooling target is loaded, not the method of directly blowing cold air with respect to a cooling target and promoting cooling. Indicates. Therefore, even if the cooling space and the cold air circulation space communicate somewhat, they are called indirect cooling unless they can directly blow cold air.

Fig. 11 schematically shows the tendency of the supercooling retention probability with respect to the liquid water temperature from the results of counting the number of times the subcooling can be maintained and the number of releases and then probing the probability by changing the temperature of the liquid. The supercooling holding probability means that when the liquid is cooled at a predetermined temperature, the liquid can reach the temperature and the supercooling can be maintained. If the probability is 1, it means that the supercooling can be maintained in all cases. From this result, it turns out that subcooling becomes easy to be released when liquid temperature becomes low, and, on the contrary, subcooling becomes easy to be maintained when liquid temperature is high.

In addition, when the supercooling holding probability of direct cooling and indirect cooling is compared, the tendency of the supercooling holding probability of one side to indirect cooling becomes high. According to the experiment, the holding temperature of the subcooling is actually about -5 ° C, and if the temperature is higher than that, the probability of maintaining the subcooling increases, but the amount of generation of sherbet ice at the time of release is proportional to the subcooling temperature. When the temperature rises, the sherbet-type ice decreases, and the pleasure of the appearance decreases, and the new texture when drank is no longer tasted.

Since the supercooling holding probability in the vicinity of -5 ° C is found to be very high in indirect cooling, in the present embodiment, in order to realize subcooling, the storage room is in a lower temperature range (freezing temperature range) than 0 ° C. Regardless, the indirect cooling system was adopted.

Based on the findings found in Figs. 8 to 11, experiments were also conducted to investigate in more detail the relationship between the temperature distribution inside the supercooled container and the cooling of the beverage. As shown in Fig. 12, in a beverage container containing water, a temperature sensor was provided at the top, middle, and bottom, respectively, and the internal temperature distribution was measured. A thermocouple was used for the temperature sensor. In addition, the measurement was performed while the upper surface of the beverage container 27 was closed by the lid. And when the upper end side of the beverage container 27 was covered with the heat insulating material, it measured respectively about the case where the lower end side was covered with the heat insulating material, and compared with the case where there is no heat insulating material, and compared.

Fig. 12A shows an example of cooling without being covered with a heat insulating material, Fig. 12B shows an example in which the top end is covered with a heat insulating material, and Fig. 12C shows an example in which the bottom end is covered with a heat insulating material. have. And these beverage container 27 were installed in -4.8 degreeC atmosphere, and it cooled.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a change in temperature in each example shown in FIGS. 12A to 12C. From these figures, it turned out that the tendency changes significantly when water temperature passes about 4 degreeC. This phenomenon is because, as described above, the density of water is reversed around the boundary of about 4 ° C.

Fig. 13A shows the transition of the temperature at the upper end, middle end, and lower end when the beverage container is cooled without being covered with a heat insulating material. In this example, since the beverage container is not insulated, the cooling rate is fastest. However, in the area | region where water temperature becomes about 4 degrees C or less, there exists a tendency for the temperature difference on the upper end side and lower end side to become large. FIG. 13B is an example in which the upper end side of the beverage container is covered with a heat insulating material. In the region where the water temperature is about 4 ° C. or higher, the temperature difference between the upper side and the lower end side is large, but the temperature difference is suppressed small in the region below about 4 ° C. 13C is an example in which the lower end side of the beverage container is covered with a heat insulating material. In this example, the temperature difference between the upper end side and the lower end side is suppressed small in the region where the water temperature is about 4 ° C. or more, but the tendency of the temperature difference becomes larger in the region where the water temperature is about 4 ° C. or less.

In each of the examples of Figs. 12A to 12C, the results of 48 experiments were 28.6%, 66.7%, and 45.8%, respectively.

Considering these results, the following findings were obtained.

(1) When cooling the beverage of 5 degreeC or more in the so-called refrigeration temperature range lower than 0 degreeC, when temperature of a beverage falls and passes 4 degreeC, a temperature distribution will reverse up and down.

(2) In the so-called subcooling region below the freezing point, when the temperature distribution in the beverage container is large, the probability of maintaining the supercooling state decreases.

(3) By insulating the upper end side of the beverage container, the fluctuation of the temperature in the container in the region of 4 ° C. or less (including the subcooling region of 0 ° C. or less) can be suppressed small.

Based on these findings, in order to realize a supercooled state in a home refrigerator, it is necessary to suppress the fluctuation of the temperature in a beverage container small at 4 degrees C or less, and to cool from the upper end side as a method. Rather, cooling from the lower end side proved effective.

However, if the upper end of the beverage container (PET bottle, bottle, can, etc.) is forced to be covered with a heat insulator, it is considered that the user of the home refrigerator is troublesome.

Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram in a storage chamber (freezer compartment 10) for realizing a supercooled state, and the relationship between the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container 27 loaded in the subcooled container 62 and the temperature in the subcooled container 62. Also shown. When the temperature of the beverage is cooled to a state lower than 4 ° C., the upper temperature t ₃ on the side close to the liquid level is low, and the lower temperature t _{4 on} the bottom side (lower side) of the beverage container 27 is high. It is easy to distribute as possible. On the other hand, the temperature of the air in the subcooling vessel 62 tends to be distributed so that the temperature T ₁ of the upper layer is high and the temperature T ₂ of the lower layer is lowered.

In the refrigerator described in the present embodiment, the object is to cool the beverage by the low temperature of the space in the subcooling container 62. That is, the premise is that the temperature of the storage space 65 in the subcooled container 62 is lower than the temperature of the beverage. Therefore, T ₁ or T ₂ is lower than t ₃ or t ₄ , and the temperature t _{3 on} the upper side of the beverage container 27 and the upper layer side temperature T1 of the storage space 65 in the subcooling container 62. ) And a temperature difference ΔT ₁₃ smaller than the temperature difference ΔT ₂₄ between the temperature t ₄ of the lower side of the beverage container 27 and the lower temperature T ₂ of the storage space 65 in the subcooling vessel 62. (ΔT ₁₃ <ΔT ₂₄ ).

According to the said structure, since the temperature difference inside and outside the container in the upper side of the beverage container 27 can be made small, it becomes possible to "insulate" an upper side rather than a lower side.

In order to realize these structures, it is effective to make the cold air circulation space 66 on the upper surface side of the storage space 65 into the structure through which the cold air 51 flows. In addition, the upper part is covered with a lid member so that cold air does not directly flow into the subcooling container 62. At this time, between the storage space 65 and the cold air circulation space 66, the container wall of the subcooling container 62 including a lid member becomes a partition wall, and indirect cooling is possible.

At that time, the temperature of the cold air flowing through the cold air circulation space 66 is such that the cold air temperature Ta flowing through the upper surface side of the subcooled container 62 becomes lower than the cold air temperature Tb flowing through the lower surface side, and thus the subcooled container 62 The heat insulation layer 70 is provided in this. Thus, in order to make temperature Ta of the cold air which flows over the supercooling container 62 lower than the cold air temperature Tb which flows in the lower side, for example, the cold air discharge port which discharges cold air to the cold air circulation space 66 ( 57) may be disposed above the cold air intake port and the lid member.

The effect by having these structures is as follows. The cold air (for example, -18 degrees C or less cold air) which flows through the upper surface side of the subcooling container 62 passes through the upper surface side of the subcooling container 62, and one part falls from the side and the other part reaches to the front. It will fall later (refer to the arrow of FIG. 14). 14, the flow of cold air which falls to the side of the subcooling container 62 is shown by the dotted line arrow. Since these cold air flows while cooling the subcooling vessel 62, the temperature gradually rises. Therefore, temperature Tb (for example, -15 degreeC) of the cold air which reached | attained the lower surface side of the subcooling vessel 62 becomes higher than temperature Ta of the cold air which flows over the upper side of the subcooling vessel 62 (Ta <Tb). ).

Although the low temperature is transmitted to the inner side of the subcooling vessel 62 in which the outer surface is cooled by cold air flowing through the cold air circulation space 66, the subcooling vessel 62 includes the heat insulating layer 70, so that the storage space 65 is provided. Slowly cools down. Therefore, in the interior of the storage space 65, the cool air moves to the lower layer, and the upper temperature (T ₁₎ (for example, -4 ℃) is (for example the temperature of the lower layer side (T ₂₎ of the , -6 ° C), a higher temperature distribution is formed.

Drinking water loaded in the storage space 65 having such a temperature distribution gradually decreases in temperature, but when the temperature falls below 4 ° C, the upper side temperature t ₃ of the liquid side (for example, 1 ° C) is reduced. lower temperature (t ₄₎ of the bottom surface side (e. g., 3 ℃) lower than that. At this time, the temperature difference on the lower side becomes larger than the temperature difference between the beverage on the upper side of the beverage container 27 and the atmosphere on the upper layer side in the storage space 65. Therefore, in the beverage container 27, the fluctuation of the temperature of the beverage is reduced, and the probability of realizing subcooling can be improved.

In addition, it is not necessary to seal the storage space 65 inside the supercooling container 62 so as to completely close the space between the cold air circulation space 66 and to prevent cold air from being blown directly into the storage space 65. If it is a structure, it does not interfere. Therefore, there is no particular problem even if there is some gap between the lid member of the subcooling container 62. However, if there is an opening such as a hole in the bottom surface of the subcooling vessel 62, since low-temperature cold air below the storage space 65 flows into the cold air circulation space 66, the bottom surface of the subcooling vessel 62 The method which does not provide an opening part in the side surface is good.

The present embodiment is not limited to the more specific structure shown in Figs. 3 to 7 as long as it is a configuration that satisfies the various conditions described using Fig. 14, and various concrete structures can be employed under the above-described purpose. Do.

According to this invention, the refrigerator which aimed at improving the maintenance of a supercooled state can be provided.

Claims (6)

Is a refrigerator having a storage compartment for cooling food stored in the space, A cold air circulation space provided around the space, A heat insulation layer provided between the space and the cold air circulation space; A cold air discharge port for discharging cold air at a freezing temperature to the cold air circulation space so as to cool the inside of the space at a freezing temperature lower than 0 ° C; And a cooler for generating cold air discharged from the cold air discharge port, A refrigerator comprising indirect cooling of food at a temperature lower than 0 ° C in the space. Is a refrigerator having a storage compartment for cooling food stored in the space, A cold air circulation space provided around the space, A partition wall partitioning between the space and the cold air circulation space for indirectly cooling the food stored in the space; A heat insulation layer provided between the space and the cold air circulation space; A cold air discharge port for discharging cold air at a freezing temperature to the cold air circulation space so as to cool the inside of the space at a freezing temperature lower than 0 ° C; And a cooler configured to generate cold air discharged from the cold air discharge port. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the partition wall includes a container member having an opening at the top thereof, and a container member having no opening at the side and bottom surfaces thereof, and a lid member covering the opening. The cold air return port according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a cold air return port for discharging the cold air discharged from the cold air discharge port and circulating the inside of the storage chamber to the cooler, The cold air discharge port is located above the cold air return port. The temperature of the air in the said space is higher than the lower side in the upper side of the said space, and the temperature of the cold air which flows through the said cold air circulation space is lower in the upper side than the said space. Lower than And when food of 5 ° C. or higher is stored in the space, the food passes through a temperature of 4 ° C. to 0 ° C. and is cooled to a temperature lower than 0 ° C. A refrigerator having cooling means for cooling an interior divided into a plurality of temperature zones and a temperature control means for interlocking the cooling means with a temperature detection means to control temperature inside the refrigerator, wherein the beverage or fish food is stored at a freezing temperature or less. And a cooling means for circulating cold air in the outer peripheral portion of the wall surface of the container.

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