KR20080064051A - Refrigerator refriging indepentently - Google Patents

Abstract

A separate cooling type refrigerator is provided to reduce power consumption by stopping operation of a condensation fan during cooling a refrigerator compartment. A separate cooling type refrigerator comprises a compressor, a condenser(440), a condensation fan, a three-way valve(500), a first evaporator(482), a second evaporator(484), a first fan(620), and a second fan(640). The three-way valve supplies refrigerant of the condenser into the first evaporator and the second evaporator. The first and second evaporators cool a refrigerator compartment(R) and a freezer compartment(F), respectively. The first and second fans circulate cool air of the first and second evaporators, respectively. Only when the freezer compartment is cooled, the condensation fan operates.

Description

Independent Cooling Refrigerator {REFRIGERATOR REFRIGING INDEPENTENTLY}

1 is an embodiment of an independent cooling refrigerator according to the present invention.

2 is a configuration diagram of a cooling cycle of the independent cooling refrigerator of FIG. 1.

3 is a block diagram of an independent cooling refrigerator according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of an independent cooling refrigerator according to the present invention.

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

12: fridge temperature sensor 14: freezer temperature sensor

24: fan drive unit 26: valve drive unit

30: control unit

The present invention relates to an independent cooling refrigerator, and more particularly, to an independent cooling refrigerator that performs simultaneous cooling of a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment and minimizes power consumption and noise.

In general, a refrigerator uses a principle of a refrigeration cycle that absorbs ambient heat as the compressed and cooled refrigerant expands to lower the ambient temperature at which the refrigerant expands and evaporates. And condenser, evaporator and accumulator.

In addition, the refrigerator is provided with a plurality of box-shaped storage compartment with its front open to accommodate food, and the front opening of the storage compartment is formed such that one end thereof is opened / closed by a door coupled to the front opening via a hinge. Is common.

In addition, it is common for each of the storage compartments to cool the air in each of the storage compartments so that the evaporators are installed to deprive the heat of the ambient air.

Republic of Korea Utility Model Publication No. 0148118 has a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment arranged up and down, the evaporator for supplying cold air to the freezer compartment, the cold air supply passage structure is formed to be supplied to the freezer compartment supplied to the freezer compartment through the evaporator to distribute the cold air to the refrigerating compartment An example of is disclosed.

In addition, the Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 0182726 has a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment arranged up and down, a refrigerator compartment evaporator for generating cold air to supply cold air to the refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment evaporator for generating cold air to supply cold air to the freezer compartment, a refrigerator compartment An example of the structure of the refrigerator compartment flow path which supplies cold air from an evaporator to a refrigerator compartment, and the freezer compartment flow path which supplies cold air to a freezer compartment from a freezer compartment evaporator is disclosed. That is, a common independent cooling refrigerator is provided with one condenser and a compressor, two evaporators, and two refrigerators to independently cool the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment.

In the independent cooling refrigerator, when the cooling of the refrigerating compartment is required, cooling by the evaporator of the refrigerating compartment may be performed, and when the cooling of the freezing compartment is required, the cooling by the evaporator of the freezing compartment may be performed. However, in the conventional independent cooling refrigerator, a method of minimizing power consumption and minimizing noise due to driving of a fan is required in performing cooling of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment.

In order to solve this problem, the present invention is to provide an independent cooling refrigerator and a control method according to the present invention to minimize the generation of noise and power consumption according to the driving of the condensation fan in the cooling of the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment. It is done.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide an independent cooling refrigerator and control method according to the present invention by controlling the driving of the condensation fan in accordance with the cooling of the refrigerating chamber and the cooling of the freezer compartment.

The compressor of the present invention, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant from the compressor, a condensation fan, a three-way valve for supplying the refrigerant from the condenser to the first and second evaporators, and a freezing space and refrigeration by evaporating the supplied refrigerant. In the independent cooling refrigerator having a first and a second evaporator for cooling the space, respectively, and a first and a second blower fan for circulating the cold air by the first evaporator and the second evaporator, wherein the refrigerator is the freezing space Operate the condensation fan only during cooling.

In this case, the refrigerator preferably blocks the refrigerant flow into the first and second evaporators by controlling the three-way valve.

In addition, the refrigerator may drive the compressor and stop driving of the first and second blowing fans and the condensation fan.

In addition, the refrigerator preferably maintains the blocking of the refrigerant inlet for a predetermined time.

In addition, in the control method of the independent refrigeration refrigerator having the first and second evaporators for cooling the freezing space and the refrigerating space of the present invention, the control method is to drive the condensation fan only when the refrigerant flows into the first evaporator. Steps.

Hereinafter, the present invention is not limited to the above-described specific preferred embodiments, and any person having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention claimed in the claims may make various modifications. Of course, such changes are within the scope of the claims.

In this embodiment, a refrigerator-freezer and a freezer compartment are described as an example of a double door refrigerator, but the present invention can be applied to a refrigerator in which a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment are arranged up and down.

1 is an embodiment of an independent cooling refrigerator according to the present invention. The independent cooling refrigerator includes an outer case 100, an inner case 200, a door 300, and a refrigerating cycle 400.

The outer case 100 forms the outside of the independent cooling refrigerator. The inner case 200 is formed inside the outer case 100 and defines a refrigerating chamber R and a freezing chamber F. In this embodiment, the inner case 200 is formed inside the outer case 100 such that a refrigerating chamber R is defined at the inner right side of the outer case 100 and a freezing chamber F at the left side thereof.

The door 300 opens and closes the refrigerating compartment R or the freezing compartment F defined by the inner case 200. In this embodiment, the door 300 opens the right side of the outer case 100 to open and close the refrigerating compartment R. And a refrigerating compartment door 310 installed at the left side, and a refrigerating compartment door 310 installed at the left side of the outer case 100 to open and close the freezing compartment F. In addition, the freezer compartment door 320 is a dispenser (not shown) for taking out water or ice from the outside of the independent cooling refrigerator, and the refrigerating compartment door 310 is a food or beverage stored in the refrigerating compartment (R) outside the independent cooling refrigerator. A home bar (not shown) can be provided.

The refrigeration cycle 400 is installed between the outer case 100 and the inner case 200 to supply cold air to the refrigerating chamber (R) and the freezing chamber (F). The refrigeration cycle 400 also includes a compressor 420, a condenser 440, expansion means 460, and an evaporator 480. The compressor 420 compresses the refrigerant to high temperature and high pressure, the condenser 440 condenses the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 420, the expansion means 460 decompresses the refrigerant condensed in the condenser 440, and the evaporator ( 480 evaporates the refrigerant passing through the expansion means 460 to form cold air around the evaporator 480. The refrigerating chamber R and the freezing chamber F are cooled by cold air formed around the evaporator 480.

In the present embodiment, the evaporator 480 includes a first evaporator 482 and a second evaporator 484. The first evaporator 482 supplies cold air to the refrigerating chamber R, and the second evaporator 484 supplies cold air to the freezing chamber F. Accordingly, the cold air is supplied to each of the freezing chamber F and the refrigerating chamber R independently. In addition, in this embodiment, the expansion means 460 includes a first expansion means 462 installed on the first evaporator 482 side, and a second expansion means 464 installed on the second evaporator 484 side. . In this embodiment, the first expansion means 462 and the second expansion means 464 are made of a capillary tube.

In the present embodiment, a three-way valve 500 is further provided to supply the refrigerant condensed while passing through the condenser 440 to each of the first evaporator 482 and the second evaporator 484. Is installed between the condenser 440 and the first and second expansion means 464 to supply a portion of the refrigerant condensed while passing through the condenser 440 to the first expansion means 462 and the first evaporator 482. The remaining condensed refrigerant passing through the condenser 440 is supplied to the second expansion means 464 and the second evaporator 484. At this time, the three-way valve 500 supplies a refrigerant to at least one of the first evaporator 482 and the second evaporator 484, or the refrigerant supplied to adjust the cold air supplied to the refrigerating chamber (R) and the freezing chamber (F). Can be blocked.

The independent cooling refrigerator supplies the first blowing fan 620 for supplying the cold air generated in the first evaporator 482 to the refrigerating chamber R, and the cold air generated in the second evaporator 484 to the freezing chamber F. A second blowing fan 640 is provided. In the present exemplary embodiment, the first blowing fan 620 is installed in the inner case 200 that defines the refrigerating chamber R to blow cold air generated by the first evaporator 482 into the refrigerating chamber R, and the second blowing fan. 640 is installed in the inner case 200 defining the freezer compartment F to blow cold air generated by the second evaporator 484 into the freezer compartment F.

Cold air is supplied to the refrigerating chamber (R) and the freezing chamber (F) through the refrigerating cycle (400) having such a configuration, the cold air supplied to the refrigerating chamber (R) and the freezing chamber (F) by the refrigerant compressed in the compressor (420) The cooling power may be adjusted, and the cooling amount may be adjusted by the first blowing fan 620 or the second blowing fan 640.

2 is a configuration diagram of a cooling cycle of the independent cooling refrigerator of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the cooling cycle 400 includes a compressor 420 for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser 440 for condensing the compressed refrigerant, and a condensation fan 660 for dissipating the condenser 440. ), And the condensed refrigerant to the first evaporator (consisting of the first evaporator 482, expansion means 462) and the second evaporator (second evaporator 484, expansion means 464, accumulator And a three-way valve 500 for forming and blocking a flow path to the 700 and a check valve 720, a first evaporator part, and a second evaporator part.

The refrigeration cycle 400 includes a refrigerant passage through the first evaporator and a refrigerant passage through the second evaporator. The refrigerator compartment R is cooled by the refrigerant passage through the first evaporator, and the freezer compartment F is cooled by the refrigerant passage through the second evaporator. Means for selecting one of the two refrigerant passages, or selecting all or blocking all are made by the three-way valve (500). The three-way valve 500 forms or closes a refrigerant passage under the control of the controller 30 shown in FIG. 3.

3 is a block diagram of an independent cooling refrigerator according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 10 of the independent cooling refrigerator includes a refrigerating compartment temperature sensor 12 detecting a temperature of the refrigerating compartment R, and a freezing compartment temperature sensor 14 detecting a temperature of the freezing compartment F. And a refrigerator compartment defrost sensor 16 for generating a defrost signal for the first evaporator 482 for cooling the refrigerator compartment R, and a refrigerator compartment defrost heater 18 for performing defrost for the first evaporator 482. And a freezer compartment defrost sensor 20 generating a defrost signal for the second evaporator 484 that cools the freezer compartment F, and a freezer compartment defrost heater 22 that performs defrost for the second evaporator 484. And a fan driver 24 for driving the operation of the refrigerator compartment blowing fan 620, the freezer compartment blower fan 640, and the condensation fan 660, a valve driver 26 driving the three-way valve 500, and a compressor. The compressor drive 28 for driving the compression / expansion stroke for 420 and the above-described components are controlled for the refrigerator compartment R and the freezer compartment F. It comprises a control unit 30 so that cooling is done. However, in FIG. 3, a power supply unit for supplying power to each component is not shown. However, the description of the power supply unit is omitted because it is clearly recognized by those skilled in the art.

The refrigerating compartment temperature sensor 12 and the freezing compartment temperature sensor 14 are mounted on the side walls of the refrigerating compartment R and the freezing compartment F, respectively, to detect the internal temperatures Tr and Tf of the refrigerating compartment R and the freezing compartment F, respectively. Then, the sensed temperature is applied to the controller 30. Temperature detection by the refrigerating compartment temperature sensor 12 and the freezer compartment temperature sensor 14 may be performed according to a detection command from the controller 30 or may be independently performed without receiving the detection command.

The refrigerating compartment defrost sensor 16 and the freezing compartment defrost sensor 20 are sensors that change their resistance in response to the temperatures of the first evaporator 482 and the second evaporator 484. Since the first evaporator 482 and the second evaporator 484 cool by the evaporative heat taken from the surroundings when the refrigerant evaporates, the first evaporator 482 and the second evaporator are cooled by the moisture around them. Is caught in (484). Accordingly, the controller 30 may use different current values when the defrost signal corresponding to the resistance value according to the temperature of the first evaporator 482 and the second evaporator 484 is applied to the same voltage. Is detected and the same current is applied, so that different voltage values are detected) from the refrigerator compartment defrost sensor 16 and the freezer compartment defrost sensor 20.

The refrigerating compartment defrost heater 18 and the freezer compartment defrost heater 22 are respectively heated in the first evaporator 482 and the second evaporator 484 according to an operation signal (for example, a HIGH signal) from the control unit 30. Means to supply. This heat supply removes frost and the like generated by freezing moisture around the first evaporator 482 and the second evaporator 484.

The fan driver 24 is a means for driving the refrigerating compartment blowing fan 620, the freezing compartment blowing fan 640, and the condensing fan 660 according to a driving command from the control unit 30. It may be made of, or may be provided in plurality in correspondence with each blowing fan (620, 640) and the condensation fan (660).

The valve driver 26 controls the opening and closing of the three-way valve 500, but controls the formation of the refrigerant flow path to the first evaporator portion, the formation of the refrigerant flow path to the second evaporator portion, and the blocking of the three-way valve 500 from the control unit 30. Execute according to the driving command of.

The compressor driving unit 28 drives the compressor 420. For example, when the compressor 420 is a linear compressor, the generation of the PWM signal for the application of the driving voltage and the like are applied to the command of the controller 30. Follow along.

The control unit 30 receives a refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 12, a refrigerator compartment detection temperature Tr, which is a detection temperature from the freezer compartment temperature sensor 14, and a freezer compartment detection temperature Tf, by default. The necessity of cooling of the refrigerator compartment R and the freezer compartment F is determined by comparing the set temperature Trr and the freezer compartment sensing temperature Tfr, respectively. In accordance with the determination of the cooling, the control unit 30 applies a driving command to the valve driving unit 26 to form and block the refrigerant flow path to the first evaporator unit and / or the second evaporator unit. When the refrigerant flow path is formed and blocked, the controller 30 performs driving / blocking of the compressor 420 so that the refrigerant flow path is efficiently formed and blocked.

In particular, when the controller 30 forms the refrigerant passage to the first evaporator section after forming the refrigerant passage to the second evaporator section, the second evaporator 484 of the second evaporator section, the accumulator 700, and the like. Since the refrigerant remains inside, it is necessary to transfer all of the refrigerant to the compressor 420 and the condenser 440. Therefore, the control unit 30 causes the three-way valve 500 to block both the first evaporator unit and the second evaporator unit, and operates the compressor 420 to supply the refrigerant remaining in the second evaporator unit to the compressor 420 or the like. Perform the pump down operation, which is the operation to transfer to the motor. Thus, the controller 30 controls the three-way valve 500 to transfer the refrigerant remaining in the second evaporator to the compressor 420 and the like so that a refrigerant flow path to the first evaporator is formed. Allow cooling to the refrigerating chamber (R).

In addition, the controller 30 may be configured to drive the first blower fan 620 and the second blower fan 640 in response to the formation and blocking of the refrigerant flow path to the first evaporator part and / or the second evaporator part. The driving command is applied to the fan driving unit 24 so that cooling of the refrigerating chamber R and the freezing chamber F is performed quickly.

In particular, the controller 30 may differently control the driving of the condensation fan 660 when performing the cooling of the refrigerating chamber R and the cooling of the freezing chamber F. FIG. For example, in the case of cooling of the refrigerating chamber R, when the set temperature of the refrigerating chamber R is generally 4 to 7 ° C and the temperature of the place where the refrigerator is installed is 20 ° C, the cooling temperature is about 13 to 16 ° C. Thus, even when there is no heat dissipation to the condenser 440 at the time of formation of the refrigerant passage, the set temperature may be maintained according to the cooling power of the compressor 420. In addition, as the user frequently uses the refrigerating chamber R, the cooling time of the refrigerating chamber R is relatively large. Accordingly, the controller 30 can maintain the set temperature of the refrigerating chamber R even when the driving of the condensation fan 660 is stopped during the cooling of the refrigerating chamber R, and the cooling time of the refrigerating chamber R is relatively long. Noise caused by the condensation fan 660 can be prevented.

On the other hand, in the case of cooling the freezer compartment F, the set temperature of the freezer compartment F is generally -17 ° C. or lower, and when the temperature of the place where the refrigerator is installed is 20 ° C., the cooling temperature is 37 ° C. or higher. It is difficult to maintain the set temperature only by the cold power of the compressor 420 without the heat dissipation for 440. Therefore, when the control unit 30 performs the freezing of the freezing compartment F, the control unit 30 drives the condensation fan 6640 together with the compressor 420 to maintain the set temperature of the freezing compartment F. In addition, since the user's use of the freezer compartment F is relatively infrequent compared to the refrigerator compartment R, the cooling time of the freezer compartment F is relatively small, so that the condensation fan 660 during the cooling of the freezer compartment F is maintained. ), The drive can be terminated within a short time, so there are fewer obstacles due to noise.

When cooling the freezer compartment F, the condenser fan 660 for cooling the condenser 440 may be driven to more rapidly condense the refrigerant.

In addition, the controller 30 is applied to the defrost signal detected by the refrigerator compartment defrost sensor 16 and the freezer compartment defrost sensor 20, and compares the previously stored defrost conditions (for example, a reference voltage value and a current value). When the defrost condition is satisfied, an operation signal is applied to the refrigerating compartment defrost heater 18 and / or the freezer compartment defrost heater 22 so that defrosting of the corresponding evaporator is performed, and thus the first evaporator 482 and / or defrosting is performed. Allow defrost for the evaporator 484 to be performed.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of an independent cooling refrigerator according to the present invention. In the control method according to FIG. 4, as described above, when the control unit 30 forms the refrigerant passage to the first evaporator unit after the formation of the refrigerant passage to the second evaporator unit, the second evaporator of the second evaporator unit Since the coolant remains inside the 484 and the accumulator 700 and the like, it is necessary to transfer all of the coolant to the compressor 420 and the condenser 440.

In detail, in step S71, the controller 30 determines whether to end the cooling of the freezing space currently in progress. That is, the controller 30 determines whether the three-way valve 500 ends the formation of the refrigerant flow path to the second evaporator unit through the valve driver 26. In this step S71, when the cooling of the freezer compartment F is terminated and the cooling of the freezer compartment F is finished, or when the cooling of the freezer compartment F is terminated, the control unit 30 proceeds to step S72. do.

In step S72, the controller 30 blocks the refrigerant flow path to the second evaporator unit for performing cooling to the freezing compartment F, so that the three-way valve 500 is connected to the valve driver 26 to the second evaporator unit. And a driving command for blocking the refrigerant flow path to the first evaporator unit. In this way, the three-way valve 500 blocks the refrigerant flow path to the first and second evaporators. At this time, the controller 30 applies a command to stop the driving of the refrigerating chamber blowing fan 620 and the freezing compartment blowing fan 640 to the fan driving unit 24.

In step S73, the controller 30 applies a driving command to the compressor driver 28 to the compressor 420. Accordingly, the compressor 420 extracts the refrigerant remaining in the second evaporator unit and transfers the refrigerant remaining in the compressor 420 to the condenser 440.

In step S74, the controller 30 applies a stop command to the condenser fan 660 to the fan driver 24. Accordingly, the fan driver 24 stops the condensation fan 660, thereby eliminating power consumption and noise generated by the condensation fan 660. Since the controller 30 blocks both the first and second evaporators by the three-way valve 500, cooling of the refrigerating chamber R and the freezing chamber F (in particular, cooling of the freezing chamber F) is not performed. Therefore, the condensation fan 660 may be stopped.

In step S75, the controller 30 allows steps S72 to S74 to be continuously performed for a set time. That is, the controller 30 performs the pump down for a set time corresponding to the time when all the refrigerant remaining in the second evaporator is transferred.

In step S76, the controller 30 extracts the refrigerant remaining in the second evaporator unit and the first evaporator unit, and then cools the refrigerating chamber R, which is a refrigerating space. That is, the controller 30 allows the three-way valve 500 to form the refrigerant flow path as the first evaporator unit and maintains the shut-off state for the second evaporator unit. In addition, the control unit 30 applies a driving command to the refrigerating chamber blowing fan 620 and a driving command to the condensation fan 660 to the fan driving unit 24 to supply the refrigerating chamber blowing fan 620 and the condensing fan 660. ) To rotate.

The present invention of such a configuration has an effect of minimizing the power consumption and the generation of noise in the cooling of the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment, the driving of the condensation fan.

 In addition, the present invention stops the driving of the condensation fan during cooling of the refrigerating chamber, thereby reducing power consumption and minimizing noise generation during a relatively long refrigerating chamber cooling time.

Claims (7)

A compressor, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant from the compressor, a condensation fan, a three-way valve for supplying the refrigerant from the condenser to the first and second evaporators, and evaporating the supplied refrigerant to provide a freezing space and a refrigerating space. In the independent cooling refrigerator having a first and a second evaporator to cool respectively, and a first and a second blower fan for circulating the cold air by the first evaporator and the second evaporator, respectively, the freezer for the freezing space Independent cooling refrigerator, characterized in that to operate the condensation fan only during cooling. The method of claim 1, The refrigerator controls the three-way valve to block the refrigerant flow into the first evaporator and the second evaporator, characterized in that the refrigeration. The method of claim 2, The refrigerator drives the compressor and stops the driving of the first and second blowing fans and the condensation fan. The method of claim 2, The refrigerator is an independent cooling refrigerator, characterized in that to maintain the blocking of the refrigerant flow for a certain time. A control method of an independent cooling refrigerator having first and second evaporators for cooling a freezing space and a refrigerating space, respectively, wherein the control method includes driving a condensation fan only when refrigerant is introduced into the first evaporator. Control method of the independent cooling refrigerator, characterized in that. The method of claim 5, The control method may include blocking the flow of refrigerant into the first and second evaporators, and stopping the driving of the first and second blowing fans and the condensation fan corresponding to the first and second evaporators, respectively. Control method of the independent cooling refrigerator comprising a. The method of claim 6, The control method is a control method of the independent cooling refrigerator, characterized in that to perform the operation stop step of the condensation fan corresponding to the time of performing the blocking step.

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