KR20120111048A - High porous ceramic structure for frost and dew prevention and refrigerator including the high porous ceramic structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A porous ceramic structure for preventing frost and dew condensation and a refrigerator therewith are provided to prevent offensive odors without additional deodorizing agents. CONSTITUTION: A porous ceramic structure(260) for preventing frost and dew condensation removes frost and dew condensation caused by a temperature difference when a door(240) is opened and closed. The porous ceramic structure comprises multiple fine pores. The fine pores have an average diameter of 4-30nm. The porous ceramic structure is composed of 40-70wt% of a wool material, 5-20wt% of an inorganic binder, and 5-40wt% of a functional material.

Description

Porous ceramic structure for preventing frost and dew condensation and refrigeration apparatus including the same {{HIGH POROUS CERAMIC STRUCTURE FOR FROST AND DEW PREVENTION AND REFRIGERATOR INCLUDING THE HIGH POROUS CERAMIC STRUCTURE}

The present invention relates to a refrigeration apparatus technology including a porous ceramic structure, and more particularly, to open and close a door of a storage compartment, a porous material capable of removing frost or condensation generated by rapid temperature deviations inside and outside the storage compartment. A ceramic structure and a refrigeration apparatus including the same.

The refrigerating device functions to maintain the freshness of the food. The principle is that the refrigerant gas compressed in the compressor is cooled as it passes through the condenser, and the cooled refrigerant gas passes through the capillary again to become a low temperature and low pressure liquefied gas. The liquefied gas uses a principle of phase change into a gas by an evaporator, in which a large amount of surrounding heat is taken away to lower the internal temperature of the refrigerating device to a lower temperature.

The refrigeration apparatus may include a storage compartment for storing food, a cooling cycle including a door, a compressor, a cooler and an evaporator for controlling the opening and closing of the storage compartment, and the like. These refrigeration units open and close the door several times a day.

If the door of the refrigerating device is in operation, there is a high possibility that dew condensation will be generated if hot air in the atmosphere touches the inner wall of the storage compartment. In this case, when the door is closed in a state where condensation is formed on the inner wall of the storage compartment and the interior space of the storage compartment is sealed, the condensation formed inside the storage compartment becomes frozen and turns into frost to generate an ice layer.

This formation of frost can cause various side effects of use in long-term use, for example, it causes the occurrence of odor, mold, etc., and may even have a harmful effect on the human body.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a porous ceramic structure capable of eliminating frost or condensation inherently and a refrigerating device comprising the same.

In order to achieve the above object, the porous ceramic structure for preventing frost and condensation according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a refrigerating device to remove frost or condensation, and includes a plurality of fine pores having an average diameter of 4 to 30 nm. It features.

Refrigerating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object is at least one storage compartment; A door controlling opening and closing of the storage compartment; And a porous ceramic structure mounted inside the storage compartment to remove frost or condensation.

Kimchi refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object is at least one storage compartment; A plurality of kimchi storage containers inserted into the storage compartment; A door controlling opening and closing of the storage compartment; And a porous ceramic structure mounted to the inside of the storage compartment or the outside of the kimchi storage container, and to remove frost or condensation generated by temperature deviation according to opening and closing of the door.

Since the refrigerator according to the present invention is equipped with a porous ceramic structure having moisture absorption or moisture resistance inside the storage compartment, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of frost or condensation, and also to prevent the occurrence of odor and mold removal.

In addition, since the refrigeration apparatus according to the present invention is equipped with a porous ceramic structure excellent in deodorization effect, there is no need to install an additional deodorant.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a refrigeration apparatus including a porous ceramic structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view showing a refrigeration apparatus including a porous ceramic structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a perspective view showing a kimchi storage container equipped with a porous ceramic structure.
4 is a perspective view illustrating a case accommodating a porous ceramic structure.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the porous ceramic structure of FIG. 4. FIG.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI 'of FIG. 5.
7 is a cross-sectional view showing a porous ceramic structure according to another embodiment of the present invention.
8 to 10 are photographs taken of the inside of the storage chamber in which the porous ceramic structure is mounted.
11 to 13 are photographs of the insides of the storage chambers in which the porous ceramic structures are not mounted.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and methods of achieving the same will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is capable of many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, To fully disclose the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

Hereinafter, a porous ceramic structure for preventing frost and condensation and a refrigerating device including the same according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing a refrigeration apparatus including a porous ceramic structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, it is shown for the refrigerator of the refrigeration apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 1, the illustrated refrigeration apparatus 100 includes a storage compartment 120, a door 140, and a porous ceramic structure 160.

The storage chamber 120 may be formed in such a manner that the front surface is opened and the freezing chamber 122 and the refrigerating chamber 124 are separated into upper and lower sides thereof.

The door 140 functions to control the opening and closing of the storage compartment 120. The door 140 may be mounted on the front surface of the storage compartment 120, and may be mounted to correspond to each of the freezing compartment 122 and the refrigerating compartment 124.

The porous ceramic structure 160 is mounted inside the storage compartment 120 to remove frost or condensation. The porous ceramic structure 160 may be mounted in the freezing compartment 122 and the refrigerating compartment 124, respectively, but the refrigerating compartment 124 is maintained at a lower temperature than the freezing compartment 122, so that frost does not occur severely. It is preferable to mount on at least one of the inner wall, the ceiling and the bottom surface of the freezer compartment 122).

In this case, the porous ceramic structure 160 may be mounted on the inner wall of the door 140 that controls the opening and closing of the freezing chamber 122 as well as the inner wall of the freezing chamber 122.

Although not shown in the drawings, the refrigerating device 100 may further include a cooling cycle including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator disposed inside the rear surface.

2 is a perspective view showing a refrigeration apparatus including a porous ceramic structure according to another embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a kimchi storage container equipped with a porous ceramic structure. At this time, Figure 2 is shown with respect to the kimchi refrigerator of the refrigerating device, redundant description of Figure 1 will be omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the illustrated kimchi refrigerator 200 includes a storage compartment 220, a kimchi storage container 230, a door 240, and a porous ceramic structure 260.

The storage compartment 220 provides a space for storing food and may include at least one. In this case, FIG. 2 shows a kimchi refrigerator 200 having two compartments 220. The two compartments 220 may be designed in a box type in which upper portions thereof are opened.

Kimchi storage container 230 may be inserted into a plurality of the storage compartment 220. The kimchi storage container 230 may be made of a plastic material, it may be stored in the storage compartment 220 in a plurality of stacked form.

The door 240 functions to control the opening and closing of the storage compartment 220. The door 240 is disposed at an open upper side of the storage compartment 220 and may be designed to open and close in a vertical direction. In this case, the number of doors 240 may be equal to the number of compartments of the storage compartment 220.

The porous ceramic structure 260 is mounted inside the storage chamber 220, and functions to remove frost or condensation generated by a temperature deviation caused by opening and closing of the door 240. The porous ceramic structure 260 may be mounted at any position within the storage compartment 220, but for effective removal of frost or condensation, the porous ceramic structure 260 may be mounted on at least one of an upper portion of the inner wall of the storage compartment 220 and an inner wall of the door 240. It is preferable to mount.

In this case, the porous ceramic structure 260 may be mounted on any one or more of four surfaces corresponding to the upper portion of the inner wall of the storage chamber 220. The porous ceramic structure 260 may be mounted in a form fixed to the inner wall of the storage compartment 220 by a fitting method, or may be mounted in a form of being attached by an adhesive such as a double-sided tape. In addition, the porous ceramic structure 260 may be attached to the outer wall of the kimchi storage container 230.

Although not shown in the drawings, the porous ceramic structure 260 is preferably mounted on the rear inner wall of the storage chamber 220, because in this case, a cooling pipe through which the refrigerant circulates is disposed, causing severe temperature variations.

Meanwhile, the porous ceramic structure 260 may be mounted on its own or mounted in a case (250 of FIG. 3).

4 is a perspective view showing a case for storing a porous ceramic structure. Referring to this, the case 260 may be formed in a box type having a sliding hole H having one surface opened.

In this case, the porous ceramic structure (260 of FIG. 2) may be accommodated in a form inserted by a sliding method into the case 250 having one surface opened. Thus, the case 250 has a structure surrounding the outside of the porous ceramic structure.

The case 250 may serve to protect the porous ceramic structure, and may include a through hole 252 through which air passes. In this case, the porosity of the case 250 is preferably formed to have 50% or more, which means that the case 250 is introduced into the surface of the porous ceramic structure when the porosity of the case 250 is less than 50%. It may act as a blocking factor and cause a problem of rapidly inhibiting the hygroscopic function of the porous ceramic structure.

Although not shown in the drawings, the case 250 may be made of a material such as a nonwoven fabric, a mesh, or the like, used in a filter of an air cleaner. That is, the case 250 may be any shape as long as the air can pass only while covering the exterior of the ceramic structure, and the material may be variously applied.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the porous ceramic structure 260 is made of a material capable of absorbing or dampening moisture in a predetermined humidity region. Such materials include gamma alumina, volcanic clay, diatomaceous earth, silica gel, and antibacterial silica.

The porous ceramic structure 260 has micropores of several nm, and according to the size of the micropores, it is possible to control a humidity region capable of absorbing or dampening moisture.

At this time, the porous ceramic structure 260 has fine pores of 4 ~ 30nm. The porous ceramic structure 260 exhibits a function of maintaining the relative humidity of the atmosphere at a level of 40 to 70%. That is, when the relative humidity drops below 40%, the porous ceramic structure 260 releases moisture that has been absorbed. On the contrary, when the relative humidity exceeds 70%, the moisture in the atmosphere can be absorbed to lower the relative humidity below 70%.

In general, the internal temperature of the storage chamber 220 is maintained at about minus 1.5 ℃ ~ 4 ℃ image. Although the relative humidity inside is maintained differently depending on the food stored in the storage compartment 220, since the temperature is relatively low, the absolute amount of water vapor is very low. In such a state, while the door 240 of the storage compartment 220 is opened, the food is taken out, and the door is closed again, warm and humid air of atmospheric air is cooled through the inlet of the storage compartment 220 for about 2 to 3 minutes. Contact with

In this case, conventionally, the cold air flowing in while opening the door is in contact with the inner wall of the storage compartment to generate condensation. After the door is closed, the dew condensation is frozen to turn into frost, but in the present invention, the door is opened. While condensation is generated while the incoming cold air contacts the inner wall of the storage compartment, the ceramic structure can gradually vaporize and absorb the condensation formed on the cold inner wall, thereby preventing condensation or frost. have.

5 is an enlarged perspective view of the porous ceramic structure of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI ′ of FIG. 5.

5 and 6, the illustrated porous ceramic structure 260 includes a body 262, an uneven pattern 264, and a catalyst layer 266.

The body 262 may be made of a ceramic material having a plurality of micropores 261. The body 262 may autonomously absorb or dehydrate moisture according to the relative humidity of the atmosphere due to the micropores 261. When the shape of the body 262 is viewed in cross-section, various shapes such as a square shape and a circular shape may be applied, and the area thereof may be changed to various sizes according to the purpose of use.

At this time, the plurality of fine pores 261 is preferably formed to have an average diameter of 4 ~ 30nm. If the average pore size of the micropores 261 is less than 4 nm, water vapor may be adsorbed even in a low relative humidity region, thereby lowering the internal humidity. On the contrary, when the average diameter of the fine pores 261 exceeds 30 nm, the performance of adsorbing water vapor in the interior may be deteriorated, so that frost may occur, and the deodorizing effect may also be reduced.

Here, the porosity of the structure including the plurality of fine pores 261 is preferably formed to have 20% or more. If the porosity of the structure is formed to be less than 20%, there is a problem that the moisture absorption function is sharply lowered because the amount of the fine pores 261 is very small.

The body 262 may be manufactured by appropriately mixing an inorganic binder and an additive with a ceramic base material, and then performing molding, drying, and heat treatment.

At this time, the body 262 may be formed by mixing 40 to 70 parts by weight of the parent material, 5 to 15 parts by weight of the inorganic binder and 5 to 40 parts by weight of the functional material.

The parent material may be one or more selected from materials such as clay and kaolin.

The inorganic binder is added for the purpose of improving the strength of the body 262, and one or more selected from materials such as frit, glass powder, and gypsum powder may be used.

The functional material may be one or more selected from materials such as gamma alumina, volcanic clay, diatomaceous earth, silica gel, and antibacterial silica. Such functional materials are not necessarily added, and may be omitted as necessary.

The uneven pattern 264 may be randomly distributed on the surface of the body 262. The uneven pattern 264 is designed for the purpose of expanding the surface area of the body 262, and may be formed on the surface of the body 262 in a uniform or non-uniform form. As such, when the uneven pattern 264 is formed on the surface of the body 262, the uneven pattern 264 roughens the surface of the body 262, thereby expanding the surface area of the body 262.

Catalyst layer 266 is coated on the surface of body 262. In this case, the catalyst layer 266 may be formed to cover the surface of the body 262 and the entire surface of the uneven pattern 264. Alternatively, the catalyst layer 266 may be disposed between the uneven pattern 264 and the surface of the body 262.

The catalyst layer 266 may be formed by coating a photocatalyst such as TiO ₂ or by coating a room temperature catalyst such as silver, palladium, or the like.

If the photocatalyst is used as the catalyst layer 266, a light irradiation part (not shown) may be further mounted on the inner wall of the refrigerating device (200 of FIG. 2), more specifically, around the porous ceramic structure 260. The light irradiator may be mounted on an inner wall edge of the storage chamber 220 of FIG. 2 or an inner wall edge of the door 240 of FIG. 2, but is not limited thereto. The light irradiating unit may directly irradiate light onto the porous ceramic structure 260. It is irrelevant wherever it is located.

In this case, the light irradiated from the light irradiation unit preferably uses short wavelength or ultraviolet rays. As a light source of the light irradiation unit, a short wavelength LED lamp for irradiating light in a wavelength range of approximately 360 to 480 nm or an ultraviolet LED lamp for irradiating ultraviolet rays may be used.

As such, when the photocatalyst-coated porous ceramic structure 260 is irradiated with light or ultraviolet rays having a short wavelength, electrons having negative charges and holes having positive charges are generated like silicon used in solar cells. Since these holes have much stronger oxidizing power than ozone, carbon-carbon, carbon-hydrogen, carbon-nitrogen, oxygen-hydrogen and nitrogen-hydrogen bonds in organic molecules can be easily cut and decomposed.

In particular, the photocatalyst-coated porous ceramic structure 260 can be used semi-permanently, has higher oxidation power than chlorine or ozone, and has excellent sterilizing power, and can decompose all organic matter into carbon dioxide and water, and thus has excellent deodorization and antibacterial properties. It works.

On the other hand, Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a porous ceramic structure according to another embodiment of the present invention. The porous ceramic structure according to another embodiment of the present invention has substantially the same configuration as the porous ceramic structure according to one embodiment, and thus redundant description will be omitted and the differences will be mainly described.

Referring to FIG. 7, the porous ceramic structure 360 according to another embodiment of the present invention has a through hole 368 that penetrates the upper surface from the lower surface of the body 362, unlike the porous ceramic structure according to the embodiment. It may be provided. The through holes 368 may have an average diameter of 4 to 6 mm, and a plurality of through holes 368 may be randomly arranged at intervals of 5 to 10 mm.

In addition, the porous ceramic structure 360 according to another embodiment of the present invention, unlike the embodiment in which the uneven pattern is formed only on the upper surface of the body 362, the uneven pattern 364 with respect to the entire surface of the body 362 ) May be formed.

As such, when the through hole 368 penetrating the body 362 or the concave-convex pattern 364 is formed on the entire surface of the body 362, the porous ceramic may be expanded by expanding the surface area that may be exposed to air. There is an advantage in that the moisture absorption effect of the structure 360 can be improved.

As described above, in the refrigerating device according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the porous ceramic structure in which the plurality of micropores exist can absorb or dehydrate moisture by itself, the hot and humid air coming from outside when the door is opened is stored in the storage compartment. When moisture forms condensation on the cold inner wall of the water, this moisture can be vaporized immediately and absorbed into the porous ceramic structure.

Therefore, the refrigerating device according to the embodiment of the present invention can prevent the generation of frost or condensation through the porous ceramic structure mounted inside the storage compartment, and also has the effect of preventing the occurrence of odor and removing the mold.

In addition, since the refrigeration apparatus according to the present invention is equipped with a porous ceramic structure excellent in deodorizing effect, there is no need to install a deodorant.

Experimental Method

Put two kimchi storage containers filled with tap water into each compartment of a Kimchi refrigerator with two compartments, and operate it for one day, one week, or one month with the door of the Kimchi refrigerator closed. Experiments were conducted to determine the occurrence of sex in each period. At this time, the two compartments were to open and close the door 10 times a day.

In one of the two compartments, the porous ceramic structure was mounted on the outer wall of the kimchi storage container, and the porous storage structure was not mounted on the outer wall of the kimchi storage container.

8 to 10 are respective pictures taken of the inside of the storage compartment in which the porous ceramic structure is mounted, and FIGS. 11 to 13 are each pictures taken of the inside of the storage compartment in which the porous ceramic structure is not mounted.

8 to 10, when the porous ceramic structure is mounted on the outer wall of the kimchi storage container, even if one day, one week, or one month elapses, no frost was generated because the interior wall of the storage room was clean without any change. Could confirm.

On the other hand, referring to Figures 11 and 12, when the porous ceramic structure is not mounted on the outer wall of the Kimchi storage container, there was no change after one day, but after one week the upper portion of the inner wall of the storage room White pale frosted layer was formed. In addition, as shown in FIG. 13, after one month elapsed, the thickness of the frost layer gradually increased.

As can be seen from the above experimental results, when the porous ceramic structure is mounted on the outer wall of the kimchi storage container, it was confirmed that the frost can be removed by the hygroscopic effect.

Until now, the present invention focused on the mounting of the porous ceramic structure in the freezer compartment or kimchi refrigerator of the refrigerator, but this is only one example, the device that may cause frost or condensation, for example, around the condenser plate of the air conditioner, etc. Also, the porous ceramic structure according to the embodiment of the present invention may be applied.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. These changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be determined by the following claims.

200: kimchi refrigerator 220: storage room
230: kimchi storage container 240: door
250: case 252: through-holes
260 porous ceramic structure 261 fine pores
262 body 264 uneven pattern
266 catalyst layer H: sliding hole

Claims (22)

A porous ceramic structure mounted on a refrigerating device to remove frost or condensation,
A porous ceramic structure for preventing frost and dew condensation, comprising a plurality of fine pores having an average diameter of 4 to 30 nm.
The method of claim 1,
The porous ceramic structure is
40 to 70 parts by weight of a parent material of a ceramic material, 5 to 20 parts by weight of an inorganic binder, and 5 to 40 parts by weight of a functional material are formed by mixing a porous ceramic structure for preventing frost and condensation.
The method of claim 2,
The parent material is
Porous ceramic structure for preventing frost and condensation, characterized in that it comprises at least one material of clay and kaolin.
The method of claim 2,
The inorganic binder is
A porous ceramic structure for preventing frost and condensation comprising at least one material of frit, glass powder and gypsum powder.
The method of claim 2,
The functional material is
A porous ceramic structure for preventing frost and condensation comprising at least one material of gamma alumina, volcanic clay, diatomaceous earth, and silica gel.
The method of claim 1,
The ceramic structure
Porous ceramic structure for preventing frost and condensation, characterized in that having a porosity of 20% or more.
The method of claim 1,
The porous ceramic structure is
The porous ceramic structure for preventing frost and condensation, further comprising a concave-convex pattern randomly distributed on the surface.
The method of claim 7, wherein
The porous ceramic structure is
The porous ceramic structure for preventing frost and condensation, further comprising a catalyst layer coated on the surface.
The method of claim 1,
The porous ceramic structure is
A porous ceramic structure for preventing frost and condensation, comprising a plurality of through holes having an average diameter of 4 to 6 mm.
At least one storage compartment;
A door controlling opening and closing of the storage compartment; And
And a porous ceramic structure mounted inside the storage compartment to remove frost or condensation.
The method of claim 10,
The porous ceramic structure is
A body formed by mixing 40 to 70 parts by weight of a ceramic material, 5 to 25 parts by weight of an inorganic binder, and 5 to 40 parts by weight of a functional material,
Refrigerating apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of fine pores formed in the interior of the average diameter of 4 ~ 30nm.
The method of claim 11,
The ceramic structure
Refrigerating apparatus having a porosity of 20% or more.
The method of claim 11,
The porous ceramic structure is
Refrigerating apparatus further comprises a catalyst layer coated on the surface of the body.
The method of claim 13,
The refrigeration unit
And a light irradiating unit mounted around the porous ceramic structure and irradiating light to the porous ceramic structure.
15. The method of claim 14,
The light source of the light irradiation part
A refrigeration apparatus characterized in that a short wavelength LED lamp or an ultraviolet LED lamp is used.
The method of claim 10,
The refrigeration unit
Refrigerating device further comprises a case surrounding the outer side of the porous ceramic structure, the case having a through hole through which air passes.
17. The method of claim 16,
The case
A refrigeration apparatus having a porosity of 50% or more.
At least one storage compartment;
A plurality of kimchi storage containers inserted into the storage compartment;
A door controlling opening and closing of the storage compartment; And
And a porous ceramic structure mounted on the inside of the storage compartment or the outside of the kimchi storage container and removing frost or condensation generated by a temperature deviation according to opening and closing of the door.
19. The method of claim 18,
The porous ceramic structure is
Kimchi refrigerator, characterized in that mounted on the upper portion of the inner wall of the storage compartment.
20. The method of claim 19,
The porous ceramic structure is
Kimchi refrigerator, characterized in that mounted on the inner wall of the door.
19. The method of claim 18,
The porous ceramic structure is
Kimchi refrigerator, characterized in that attached to the outer wall of the kimchi storage container.
19. The method of claim 18,
The porous ceramic structure is
Kimchi refrigerator, characterized in that mounted on both the upper portion of the inner wall of the storage compartment, the inner wall of the door and the outer wall of the kimchi storage container.

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