KR20120084857A

KR20120084857A - Efrigerator

Info

Publication number: KR20120084857A
Application number: KR1020110006150A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 박소희; 윤석준; 이태희; 조일현
Original assignee: 엘지전자 주식회사
Priority date: 2011-01-21
Filing date: 2011-01-21
Publication date: 2012-07-31

Abstract

PURPOSE: A refrigerator is provided to cool a storage room by using a thermosyphon while the power is shut off. CONSTITUTION: A refrigerator comprises a main body(10), an evaporator(14), an cold storage member(15), and a thermosyphon(16). The cold storage member is comprised to be cooled by the evaporator and filled with cold storage materials. The thermosyphon is contacted with the evaporator and cold storage member and cools a storage room by being extended to the storage room.

Description

Refrigerator {efrigerator}

This embodiment relates to a refrigerator.

In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance that allows food to be stored at a low temperature in an internal storage space shielded by a door. The refrigerator may be configured to optimally store stored foods by cooling the inside of the storage space by using cold air generated through heat exchange with a refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration cycle.

The refrigerator having the general structure can store food in the storage space at low temperature by maintaining the set temperature inside the storage space by a refrigeration cycle while power is supplied.

On the other hand, a refrigerator that cools the storage coolant at night with low electric power demand and stops the compressor during the day when the electric power demand is high, allows the refrigerator to cool the storage space by the coolant and the thermosiphon. It is listed in the issue.

However, when an emergency situation in which power cannot be supplied to the refrigerator, such as a power failure, occurs, the refrigeration cycle in the refrigerator is stopped and the temperature of the storage space is increased to make it impossible to cool the food stored in the storage space.

In addition, even when the storage space is cooled by the coolant, if the valve for the operation of the thermosiphon is not driven, cooling of the storage space becomes impossible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which the working fluid inside the thermosiphon is melted to cool the storage space when the temperature of the evaporator reaches a predetermined temperature in a state where the power is cut off.

Refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, the body to form a storage space; An evaporator provided in the main body; A refrigerating member provided on the other side of the main body to be cooled by the evaporator, and filled with a refrigerating agent therein; A thermosiphon which is in contact with the heat storage member and the evaporator and extends into the storage space to cool the storage space, wherein the thermosiphon is filled with a working fluid that is melted at a sub-zero set temperature to set the temperature of the evaporator. When the working fluid is higher than the temperature is characterized in that it is configured to flow along the thermosiphon to cool the storage space.

In addition, the thermosiphon is characterized in that it comprises a contact portion in contact with the evaporator or the cold storage member, and an extension portion extending into the storage space.

In addition, at least a portion of the thermosiphon is formed in contact with the inner surface of the storage space is characterized in that configured to enable direct cooling in the interior.

In addition, the main body is partitioned into a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment, the evaporator and the refrigeration member is provided on the freezer compartment side, the thermosiphon is characterized in that extending from the freezer compartment side to the refrigerator compartment side.

In addition, the working fluid of the thermosiphon is characterized in that it has a freezing point at -20 ℃ ~ -30 ℃.

In addition, the thermosiphon and the cold storage member are in communication with each other, it characterized in that the working fluid is provided to flow therein.

In addition, the main body is partitioned into a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment by the barrier, the freezer compartment is provided with the evaporator and the refrigeration member, the thermosiphon is characterized in that the barrier is provided on the barrier of the refrigerating compartment side.

According to the proposed embodiment, even when the power input to the refrigerator is cut off in an emergency situation such as a power failure, when the temperature of the evaporator reaches the set temperature, the working fluid inside the thermosiphon is melted and stored through the cold storage member and the thermosiphon. Cooling of the space becomes possible.

Therefore, even in an emergency situation in which power input such as a power failure is impossible, the temperature in the refrigerator can be maintained, thereby preventing damage to the stored food.

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator.
3 is a schematic view schematically showing the operation of the thermosiphon of the refrigerator.
4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the refrigerator.

1 to 2, the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 10 forming a storage space and a door 20 opening and closing the storage space of the main body 10. The appearance is formed.

The main body 10 is divided into a freezer compartment 13 and a lower refrigerator compartment 12 by the barrier 11, the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 13 can be stored at different temperatures to store food It can be configured to be. In addition, a plurality of shelves and drawers are provided in the refrigerating chamber 12 and the freezing chamber 13 to efficiently store food in an appropriate space.

The door 20 includes a freezing compartment door 21 and a refrigerating compartment door 22, and is rotatably provided in the main body 10. The freezer compartment door 21 and the refrigerating compartment door 22 have shapes corresponding to the freezer compartment 13 and the refrigerating compartment 12, respectively, and are configured to open and close the freezer compartment 13 and the refrigerating compartment 12 by rotation. do.

On the other hand, the freezer compartment 13 is provided with an evaporator 14, which is one component of a refrigeration cycle. The evaporator 14 cools the air in the refrigerator by heat exchange with a refrigerant circulating in a freezing cycle, and may be disposed in a heat exchange space communicating with the freezing compartment 13 or the freezing compartment 13.

The evaporator 14 may be formed to be in contact with the left and right sides and the upper surface of the freezer compartment 13 as shown in FIG. 1, and may be configured to directly or indirectly cool the interior space by contacting the inner wall surface of the interior of the refrigerator. Can be.

Although not shown, a fan motor (not shown) and a separate cold air flow path may be further formed inside the freezing compartment 13 to facilitate heat exchange with the evaporator 14 and to facilitate circulation of cold air in the refrigerator.

On the other hand, the cooler member 15 is provided above the evaporator (14). The heat storage member 15 has a space for accommodating the cold storage material for storing cold air therein. The coolant may be heat exchanged with the cold of the evaporator (14) and coolants having excellent cold resistance may be used, and typically ethylene glycol may be used.

The heat storage member 15 may be disposed to contact the upper surface of the evaporator 14, and may be configured to be continuously cooled by the evaporator 14 when the refrigeration cycle is driven. Therefore, while the refrigeration cycle is driven, the cooling is continuously performed, the driving of the refrigeration cycle is stopped, and when the temperature in the refrigerator becomes higher than the temperature of the cold storage member 15, cooling by the cold storage member 15 can be achieved. It can be configured to be. In addition, the heat storage member 15 may be provided inside the freezing chamber 13 or the heat exchange space together with the evaporator 14, and may be disposed to be cooled by the evaporator 14 directly or indirectly. Can be.

On the other hand, the freezing chamber 13 may be provided with a thermosiphon (16). The thermosiphon 16 allows heat transfer with the heat storage member 15, and may be configured to cool the internal space in a situation where a refrigeration cycle cannot be driven.

In detail, the thermosiphon 16 is formed in a tubular shape, and configured to fill a working fluid therein. The working fluid filled therein may be a phase change material having a freezing point at -20 ° C to -30 ° C. That is, the eutectic salt (Eutectic salt) forming a co-mixture may be used as the phase change material to lower the melting point. At this time, the melting point of the working fluid is -20 ℃ ~ -30 ℃ because the temperature of the freezer compartment is -30 ℃ ~ -35 ℃ in the normal driving state of the normal refrigeration cycle, the thermostat after the refrigeration cycle is stopped This is to allow heat exchange by the siphon 16.

The thermosiphon 16 is repeatedly bent repeatedly in succession to maximize the area in contact with the cold storage member 15 and the side surface of the chamber so that more effective heat exchange can be achieved.

On the other hand, the thermosiphon 16 may be composed of a contact portion 161 in contact with the cold storage member 15 and an extension portion 162 extending to the inner space of the freezer compartment and the refrigerating chamber 12.

In detail, the contact portion 161 is disposed above the cold storage member 15 or between the cold storage member 15 and the evaporator 14, and the heat storage member 15 is easily transported with the cold storage member 15. 15) And, the contact portion 161 is formed in a shape that is continuously bent repeatedly so that the heat exchange with the cold storage member 15 can be effectively made.

The extension part 162 may extend downward from one side of the contact part 161, and may extend from the rear wall surface of the freezing chamber 13 to the rear wall surface of the refrigerating chamber 12. The extension portion 162 may also be formed to be repeatedly continuously bent in order to maximize the surface area capable of heat exchange with the air in the air. The extension part 162 is provided on the rear wall of the freezing chamber 13 and the refrigerating chamber 12, and is formed on the rear surface of the incase 17 that forms the inner wall of the freezing chamber 13 and the refrigerating chamber 12. Can be located. Therefore, the freezing chamber 13 and the refrigerating chamber 12 can be directly cooled during the operation of the thermosiphon 16.

On the other hand, the thermosiphon 16 may be disposed to be exposed to the interior space, it may be located inside the flow path that the cold air is moved, or may be installed to be shielded by a separate duct or grill pan.

In addition, the thermosiphon 16 and the cold storage member 15 may not be disposed to be in contact with each other, but may be formed to communicate with each other so that a working fluid may flow. In this case, the cold storage member 15 And the thermosiphon 16 may be configured to be filled with a working fluid having a melting point at -20 ° C to -30 ° C.

Hereinafter, the operation of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a schematic view schematically showing the operation of the thermosiphon of the refrigerator.

1 to 3, in a state in which power is applied to the refrigerator 1 and is normally driven, heat exchange between the refrigerant in the evaporator 14 and the air in the refrigerator is performed by a refrigeration cycle.

Therefore, the freezing chamber 13 may be maintained at a temperature of approximately −30 ° C. to −35 ° C., and freezing and storing of food in the freezing chamber 13 may be possible. The cold air generated by the evaporator 14 may be supplied to the refrigerating chamber 12 through a duct and a blowing fan (not shown) provided separately, and the refrigerating chamber 12 may maintain a set temperature.

On the other hand, in a state where the refrigeration cycle is normally driven, the temperature of the evaporator 14 is maintained at least -30 ° C or less, and the cold storage member 15 can be continuously cooled. In addition, the thermosiphon 16 in contact with the heat storage member 15 may also be directly or indirectly cooled.

Since the working fluid inside the contact portion 161 of the thermosiphon 16 in contact with the cold storage member 15 has a melting point of -20 ° C. to -30 ° C., the working fluid is frozen while the refrigeration cycle is being driven. It becomes impossible. Therefore, heat transfer through the thermosiphon 16 may not be achieved, and thus, the refrigerating chamber 12 and the freezing chamber 13 are continuously cooled by the evaporator 14.

On the other hand, when the refrigeration cycle is unable to operate normally due to a power failure or an error in the refrigerator operation, the temperature of the evaporator 14 is increased. When the power failure or abnormal operating condition is continued, the temperature of the evaporator 14 is continuously raised to rise to a set temperature, that is, -20 ° C to -30 ° C.

When the temperature of the evaporator 14 rises to −20 ° C. to −30 ° C., the temperature of the cold storage member 15 may also rise to −20 ° C. to −30 ° C., and the contact with the heat storage member 15 may occur. The contact portion 161 of the thermosiphon 16 is also raised to -20 ° C to -30 ° C. When the temperature of the contact portion 161 is raised to the set temperature, all the working fluid inside the contact portion 161 is melted and can flow along the thermosiphon 16.

Therefore, the working fluid of the contact portion 161 flows along the extension portion 162 and circulates along the thermosiphon 16. In addition, the contact portion 161 of the thermosiphon 16 is in a state of being in contact with the heat storage member 15, thereby continuously cooling the working fluid of the thermosiphon 16.

Through such a process, the thermosiphon 16 can be cooled to the refrigerating chamber 12 even in a power failure or abnormal operation state, and in particular, at a temperature higher than a set temperature in a state in which electrical components such as a blower fan and a damper are not operated at all. As the temperature in the refrigerator rises, the thermosiphon 16 is automatically operated to prevent the temperature in the refrigerator from rising rapidly.

When the cold air is supplied to the refrigerator 1 again or normal operation is performed again, the temperature of the evaporator 14 is lowered again. When the temperature of the evaporator 14 is lowered below the set temperature, the inside of the contact unit 161 is reduced. The working fluid freezes again to stop heat transfer through the thermosiphon 16.

On the other hand, the refrigerator according to the present invention will be possible other embodiments in addition to the above-described embodiment, will be described below with respect to other embodiments of the present invention.

A second embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the evaporator, the cold storage member, and the thermosiphon are provided inside the heat exchange chamber behind the freezing chamber. Therefore, all other configurations except for the positions of the evaporator, the heat storage member, and the thermosiphon are the same, and the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, in the refrigerator 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, a freezing chamber 13 is formed above, and a refrigerating chamber 12 is formed below. The freezing compartment 13 and the refrigerating compartment 12 are opened and closed by the refrigerating compartment door 22 and the freezing compartment door 21, respectively.

The heat exchange chamber 18 is partitioned by the grill pan 131 at an inner rear side of the freezing chamber 13 and in which the evaporator 31 may be accommodated. The evaporator 31 is formed in a rectangular shape so as to be accommodated inside the heat exchange chamber 18.

In the grill pan 131, a cold air outlet 131a and a cold air inlet 131b communicating with the freezing chamber 13 of the heat exchange chamber 18 are formed to form cold air of the heat exchange chamber 18 and the freezing chamber 13. To be circulated. In addition, a blowing fan 132 is provided at the rear of the grill pan 131 to force cold air circulation between the heat exchange chamber 18 and the freezing chamber 13.

An evaporator 31 may be provided inside the heat exchange chamber 18 to generate cold air, and a heat storage member 32 may be provided behind the evaporator 31. The heat storage member 32 may be in close contact with the rear surface of the evaporator 31, and configured to be directly or indirectly cooled by the evaporator 31. In addition, a thermosiphon 33 may be provided at the rear of the heat storage member 32.

The thermosiphon 33 may include a contact part 331 which may be in contact with the heat storage member 32, and an extension part 332 which extends downward from the contact part 331 and extends to the refrigerating chamber 12 side. Can be. Therefore, cooling of the refrigerating chamber 12 side is enabled by the working fluid inside the thermosiphon 33 cooled by the heat storage member 32.

On the other hand, the thermosiphon 33 may be formed in a shape that is continuously bent repeatedly in order to maximize the surface area capable of heat exchange with the heat storage member 32 and the interior space.

In addition, a portion of the extension portion 332 of the thermosiphon 33 extending toward the refrigerating chamber 12 may extend toward the refrigerating chamber through an inside of the cold air duct 121 through which cold air flows inside the refrigerating chamber 12. have. Of course, if necessary, the thermosiphon 33 may be disposed to be in contact with the rear surface of the inner case (17 in FIG. 2) which is exposed to the inside of the refrigerating chamber 12 or forms the inner surface of the refrigerating chamber 12.

Therefore, when the evaporator of the refrigerator 1 cannot be operated normally due to a power failure or failure, the temperature of the evaporator 31 is increased, and the working fluid frozen in the contact portion of the thermosiphon 33 is melted. This will be. In such a state, heat transfer through the thermosiphon 33 becomes possible, and the thermocooling member 32, the refrigerating chamber 12, and the freezing chamber 13 become heat exchangeable through the thermosiphon 33. The space can be cooled.

On the other hand, the refrigerator according to the present invention will be possible other embodiments in addition to the above-described embodiments, will be described below with respect to other embodiments of the present invention.

A third embodiment of the present invention is provided at the rear of the evaporator and the freezer compartment freezer, characterized in that the thermosiphon is located in the barrier. Therefore, the other components except for the evaporator, the heat storage member price, and the thermosiphon are the same, and the same reference numerals are used for the same components, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

5 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator.

5 and 6, the refrigerator 2 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 40 forming a storage space and a door 50 opening and closing the storage space. The main body 40 is divided into left and right sides by the barrier 41 to form the freezing chamber 42 and the refrigerating chamber 43, respectively. The freezing compartment 42 and the refrigerating compartment 43 are provided with a freezing compartment door 51 and a refrigerating compartment door 52, respectively, to open and close the freezing compartment 42 and the refrigerating compartment 43.

At the rear of the freezing chamber 42 is formed a heat exchange chamber 44 partitioned from the freezing chamber 42 by a grill pan 421. An evaporator 61 may be provided inside the heat exchange chamber 44 to generate cold air, and a heat storage member 62 may be provided behind the evaporator 61.

On the other hand, the grill fan 421 may be further formed with a cold air outlet or inlet, a blower fan (not shown) for circulation of cold air between the heat exchange chamber 44 and the freezing chamber 42 may be further provided. .

In addition, the heat exchange chamber 44 and the refrigerating chamber 43 may communicate with each other, and a flow path between the heat exchange chamber 44 and the refrigerating chamber 43 is configured to be opened and closed by a damper to be supplied to the refrigerating chamber 43. You can adjust the amount of cold.

Meanwhile, the heat storage member 62 may be disposed to contact the rear surface of the evaporator 61, and may be directly or indirectly cooled by the evaporator 61. In addition, a thermosiphon 63 may be provided on the rear surface of the heat storage member 62. The thermosiphon 63 is for heat exchange between the cold storage member 62 and the refrigerating chamber 43 and extends from one side of the cold storage member 62 to the refrigerating chamber 43.

The thermosiphon 63 is continuously formed in a bent shape a plurality of times so as to maximize the heat exchange area between the heat storage member 62 and the internal space. The thermosiphon 63 may include a contact portion 631 in contact with the heat storage member 62 and an extension portion extending from the contact portion 631 toward the refrigerating chamber 43.

The contact part 631 may be provided in the heat exchange chamber 44 to be in contact with the heat storage member 62, and the extension part 632 may extend toward the refrigerating chamber 43 through the barrier 41. Can be. In particular, the extension part 632 may be disposed on an inner side surface of the barrier 41 forming one side surface of the refrigerating compartment 43.

In this case, the extension part 632 may be disposed on the outer surface of the barrier 41 to be exposed to the inside of the refrigerating chamber 43, and may be configured to be shielded by a separate cover. If necessary, the barrier 41 may be disposed inside the barrier 41 to be in contact with the surface of the barrier 41.

In a refrigerator having such a structure, when the operation of the evaporator 61 is not normally performed, the temperature in the refrigerator is increased. When the temperature of the evaporator 61 rises above the set temperature, the working fluid inside the contact portion 631 is melted and flows, and in this state, the thermosiphon 63 flows the working fluid. As a result, the heat storage between the heat storage member 62 and the refrigerating chamber 43 is enabled, thereby enabling cooling in the refrigerator.

12. Cold Storage Room 13. Freezer Room
14. Evaporator 15. Cooling element
16. Thermosiphon 161. Contact
162. Extensions

Claims

A body forming a storage space;
An evaporator provided in the main body;
A refrigerating member provided on the other side of the main body to be cooled by the evaporator, and filled with a refrigerating agent therein;
A thermosiphon which is in contact with the heat storage member and the evaporator and extends into the storage space to cool the storage space,
The thermosiphon is filled with a working fluid that is melted at a set temperature below zero so that when the temperature of the evaporator becomes higher than the set temperature, the working fluid flows along the thermosiphon to cool the storage space. Refrigerator.

The method of claim 1,
The thermosiphon is,
A contact portion in contact with the evaporator and the cold storage member;
Refrigerator comprising an extension extending into the storage space.

The method of claim 1,
At least a portion of the thermosiphon is formed to be in contact with the inner surface of the storage space is configured to enable direct cooling in the refrigerator.

The method of claim 1,
The body is divided into a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment,
The evaporator and the refrigeration member is provided on the freezer compartment side, wherein the thermosiphon extends from the freezer compartment side to the refrigerating compartment side.

The method of claim 1,
The working fluid of the thermosiphon is a refrigerator, characterized in that the freezing point at -20 ℃ ~ -30 ℃.

The method of claim 1,
The thermosiphon and the refrigeration member is in communication with each other, the refrigerator, characterized in that the working fluid is provided to be movable therein.

The method of claim 1,
The main body is partitioned into a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment by a barrier,
The freezer compartment side is provided with the evaporator and the cold storage member,
The thermosiphon is provided in the barrier at the side of the refrigerator compartment from the freezer compartment side.