KR20190104776A - Defrosting device and refrigerator having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, a defrosting device comprises: a heat source; a heat pipe forming a circulation flow path of a working fluid filled therein, and arranged to be adjacent to a cooling pipe to transmit heat of the working fluid heated by the heat source to the cooling pipe of an evaporator; and a holder coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the heat pipe to support the heat pipe. The heat pipe has a structure that is repeatedly bent to be stacked in multiple stages, and the holder is formed with a thermally conductive material, and is coupled to a lower layer portion and an intermediate layer portion to transmit heat of the working fluid flowing in the lower layer portion of the heat pipe to the intermediate layer portion arranged at a higher position than the lower layer portion.

Description

Defrosting apparatus and refrigerator including the same {{DEFROSTING DEVICE AND REFRIGERATOR HAVING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a defrosting device for removing frost formed on the evaporator and a refrigerator having the same.

In general, a refrigerator includes a cabinet and a door filled with a heat insulating material therein, and the cabinet and the door form a food storage space capable of blocking heat penetrating from the outside.

The refrigerator includes a freezing device including an evaporator for absorbing heat inside the food storage space and a heat dissipation device for discharging heat collected outside the food storage space. The refrigeration apparatus maintains the food storage space in a low temperature temperature area difficult to survive and multiply the microorganisms, so that the food stored in the food storage space can be stored for a long time without alteration.

The food storage space of the refrigerator includes a refrigerating chamber storing food in a temperature region of an image and a freezing chamber storing food in a sub-zero temperature region. Types of refrigerators may be classified according to the arrangement of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment.

Top Freezer refrigerators have an upper freezer compartment and a lower freezer compartment. The Bottom Freezer refrigerator includes a lower freezer and an upper freezer. Side by side refrigerators have a left freezer compartment and a right refrigerator compartment, or vice versa.

The refrigerator is provided with a plurality of shelves and drawers in the food storage space so that a user can conveniently store or withdraw the food stored in the food storage space.

The evaporator provided in the refrigerating device lowers the ambient temperature by using the cold air generated by the circulation of the refrigerant flowing through the cooling tube. However, in this process, if the temperature difference between the refrigerant and the ambient air occurs excessively, water in the air may condense and freeze on the surface of the cooling tube to generate frost. The frost formed on the evaporator acts as a factor to lower the heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator.

Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-2016-0072642 (2016.06.23.) Discloses a defrosting apparatus for removing frost formed on an evaporator and a refrigerator provided with the defrosting apparatus. Heat is transferred from the heater to the heat pipe, and heat is transferred from the heat pipe back to the evaporator to remove frost.

However, in the configuration disclosed in the patent document there is a limit that the heat of the heater is not evenly transferred to the entire region of the heat pipe. As a result, a temperature difference occurs between one portion and the other portion of the heat pipe. And, due to this temperature difference, there is a problem that the frost is not sufficiently removed in a certain region.

One object of the present invention is to provide a defrosting device having a structure capable of solving the problem that the temperature difference is partially generated in the heat pipe and the frost is not sufficiently removed.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a defrost apparatus having a structure capable of transferring heat from a high temperature region of a heat pipe to a low temperature region of a heat pipe.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure capable of transferring heat from the high temperature region to the low temperature region of the heat pipe by using a holder for supporting the cooling pipe of the evaporator and the heat pipe of the defrosting apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object of the present invention, the defrosting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a heat pipe that receives heat from a heat source and transfers it to a cooling pipe and a holder formed to support the heat pipe. The heat pipe has a structure that is repeatedly bent and stacked in multiple stages. The holder is formed of a thermally conductive material and is coupled to the lower layer portion and the middle layer portion to transfer the heat of the working liquid flowing through the lower layer portion of the heat pipe to the middle layer portion disposed at a position higher than the lower layer portion.

The heat source is arranged below the evaporator.

The heat pipe forms a circulation passage of the working liquid filled therein, and is disposed adjacent to the cooling tube to transfer the heat of the working liquid heated by the heat source to the cooling tube of the evaporator.

The holder is coupled to the outer circumferential surface of the heat pipe.

The holder includes a body portion surrounding at least a portion of the cooling tube to support the cooling tube; And an arm portion having a structure projecting in two directions from the body portion toward the heat pipe so as to surround an outer circumferential surface of the heat pipe.

The lower layer portion and the middle layer portion of the heat pipe extend toward the first direction closer to the horizontal direction than the vertical direction, and the two branches of the arm portion are formed to face each other in the second direction crossing the first direction.

The area of the body portion is larger than the area of the arm portion.

The arm portion may include: a lower arm coupled to a lower layer of the heat pipe; And a middle arm disposed at a position higher than the lower arm and coupled to the middle layer of the heat pipe.

The lower arm and the middle arm are connected to each other by the body portion.

The holder further includes a cooling tube accommodating portion formed between the lower layer arm and the middle layer arm, and the body portion surrounds at least a portion of the cooling tube accommodated in the cooling tube accommodating portion.

The inlet of the cooling tube accommodating part is formed larger than the cooling tube accommodating part to guide the cooling tube inserted into the cooling tube accommodating part.

The inlet of the cooling tube accommodating portion is inclined or curved.

The cooling tube accommodating part is provided in plurality, and the plurality of the cooling tube accommodating parts are disposed to be spaced apart from each other by a height difference.

The middle arm is provided in plurality, and the plurality of middle arm are arranged to be spaced apart from each other with a height difference.

The heat pipe may include: a first row disposed on one side of the cooling tube and having a structure in which the heat pipe is repeatedly bent and stacked in multiple stages; And a second row disposed on the other side of the cooling tube, the second row having a structure which is repeatedly bent and stacked in multiple stages, wherein the arm part is bifurcated toward the first row from one side of the body part to be coupled to the first row. A first arm projecting into the; And a second arm that protrudes bifurcated toward the second row from the other side of the body portion so as to be coupled to the second row.

The holder further includes a recessed portion recessed toward the inside of the holder in an outline, and the recessed portions are respectively formed at the outer sides of the two branches to allow the two branches to open.

The holder is installed between two cooling fins provided in the evaporator.

The defrosting apparatus further includes a heat transfer case formed of a thermally conductive material, and a portion of the heat transfer case is formed to surround the heat source, and another portion of the heat transfer case is formed to surround a portion of the heat pipe. .

The holder is coupled downstream of a portion of the heat pipe based on the flow of the working fluid.

According to this invention of the above structure, the heat of the working liquid which flows through the lower layer part of a heat pipe can be transmitted to a middle layer part using the holder which supports a cooling pipe and / or a heat pipe, without adding another structure. The defrosting effect may be incomplete because a relatively low temperature working fluid flows through the middle layer, but the defrosting effect in the middle layer may be improved by using heat transferred by the holder.

In addition, since the holder of the present invention is connected not only to the heat pipe but also to the cooling pipe, heat of the working liquid flowing through the lower layer of the heat pipe can be transferred to the cooling pipe through the holder. Even though the heat pipe is spaced apart from the cooling pipe, since the heat of the heat pipe can be transferred directly to the cooling pipe through the holder, the defrosting effect in the cooling pipe can be improved.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a refrigerator.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an evaporator and a defrost apparatus applied to the refrigerator of FIG. 1.
3 is a conceptual view showing an enlarged mounting position of the holder.
4 is a side view of the holder shown in FIG. 3.

Hereinafter, a defrosting apparatus and a refrigerator having the same according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the present specification, different embodiments are given the same or similar reference numerals for the same or similar components, and description thereof is replaced with the first description.

When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it may be directly connected to or connected to that other component, but it may be understood that other components may be present in between. Should be. On the other hand, when a component is said to be "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there is no other component in between.

Also, the singular forms used herein include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a refrigerator.

The refrigerator 100 stores the food stored therein at low temperature using cold air generated by a freezing device (or a freezing cycle) in which a process of compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation is performed continuously.

The food storage spaces 112 and 113 formed by the refrigerator main body 110 and the doors 114 and 115 are divided into a refrigerator compartment 112 and a freezer compartment 113. In general, the set temperatures of the refrigerating compartment 112 and the freezing compartment 113 are different from each other, and the partition wall 111 forms a boundary between the refrigerating compartment 112 and the freezing compartment 113.

Although the freezer compartment 113 shows a top mount type refrigerator in which the freezer compartment 113 is disposed on the refrigerating compartment 112, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention can also be applied to a side by side type refrigerator, a bottom freezer type refrigerator, and the like.

Doors 114 and 115 are connected to the refrigerator main body 110 to open and close the front opening of the refrigerator main body 110. In this figure, it is shown that the refrigerator compartment door 114 and the freezer compartment door 115 are configured to open and close front portions of the refrigerator compartment 112 and the freezer compartment 113, respectively. The door may be variously configured as a rotatable door rotatably connected to the refrigerator main body 110, a drawer-type door connected to the refrigerator main body 110 to be slidably movable.

The refrigerator main body 110 includes at least one storage unit 180 (eg, a shelf 181, a tray 182, a basket 183, etc.) for efficient utilization of the internal storage space. For example, the shelf 181 and the tray 182 may be installed inside the refrigerator body 110, and the basket 183 may be installed inside the door 114 connected to the refrigerator body 110.

On the other hand, the cooling chamber 116 of the freezing chamber 113 is provided. The cooling chamber 116 is provided with an evaporator 130 and a blowing fan 140. The partition 111 is provided with a refrigerating compartment return duct 111a and a freezing compartment return duct 111b for allowing the air in the refrigerating compartment 112 and the freezing compartment 113 to be sucked and returned to the cooling compartment 116. In addition, a cold air duct 150 is provided at the rear side of the refrigerating chamber 112 and communicates with the freezing chamber 113 and has a plurality of cold air discharging outlets 150a at the front side thereof.

A machine room 117 is provided at the lower rear side of the refrigerator main body 110, and a compressor 160, a condenser (not shown), and the like are provided inside the machine room 117.

Meanwhile, air in the refrigerating chamber 112 and the freezing chamber 113 is sucked into the cooling chamber 116 through the refrigerating chamber return duct 111a and the freezing chamber return duct 111b by the blowing fan 140 to exchange heat with the evaporator 130. Then, the process of discharging to the refrigerating chamber 112 and the freezing chamber 113 through the cold air discharge port 150a of the cold air duct 150 is repeated. In this case, frost may be implanted on the surface of the evaporator 130 by circulating air re-introduced through the refrigerating compartment return duct 111a and the freezing compartment return duct 111b.

In order to remove the frost evaporator 130 is provided with a defrosting device 170, the water removed by the defrosting device 170, that is, the defrost water is the lower portion of the refrigerator main body 110 through the defrost water discharge pipe 118 It will be collected in the side water receiver (not shown).

Hereinafter, the defrosting device 170 will be described in more detail.

2 is a perspective view illustrating an evaporator 130 and a defrosting device 170 applied to the refrigerator of FIG. 1. 3 is a conceptual view showing an enlarged mounting position of the holder 173.

The evaporator 130 includes a cooling pipe 131, a plurality of cooling fins 132, and supports 133a and 133b.

The cooling tube 131 is repeatedly bent in a zigzag form to form a plurality of stages or steps, and a refrigerant is filled therein. The cooling tube 131 may be formed of aluminum.

The cooling pipe 131 may be configured by a combination of the horizontal pipe part 131a1 and the bent pipe part 131a2. The horizontal pipe portions 131a1 are arranged horizontally with each other vertically to form a plurality of stages, and the horizontal piping portions 131a1 of each stage are configured to penetrate the cooling fins 132. The bent pipe 131a2 is configured to connect the ends of the upper horizontal pipe 131a1 and the ends of the lower horizontal pipe 131a1 to communicate with each other inside the two horizontal pipes 131a1.

The cooling tube 131 is supported by penetrating the support 133a, 133b provided on both the left and right sides of the evaporator 130, respectively. At this time, the bent pipe portion 131a2 of the cooling pipe 131 is bent from the outside of the support (133a, 133b) is configured to connect the end of the upper horizontal pipe portion (131a1) and the end of the lower horizontal pipe portion (131a1). do.

In this embodiment, it is shown that the first cooling tube 131a and the second cooling tube 131b are disposed in the front and rear portions of the evaporator 130 to form two rows. The first cooling tube 131a in front and the second cooling tube 131b in the rear may be formed in the same shape. For reference, in FIG. 2, the second cooling tube 131b is partially covered by the first cooling tube 131a or other components.

However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The front first cooling pipe 131a and the rear second cooling pipe 131b may be formed in different shapes. On the other hand, the cooling tube 131 may be formed in a single row.

In the cooling tube 131, a plurality of cooling fins 132 are spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals along the extending direction of the cooling tube 131. The cooling fins 132 may be formed of a flat plate made of aluminum. The cooling tube 131 may be expanded in the state of being inserted into the insertion hole of the cooling fin 132 (expanding the inner and outer diameters of the tube) to be firmly fitted into the insertion hole.

A plurality of supports (133a, 133b) are respectively provided on the left and right sides of the evaporator 130, each extending in the vertical direction is configured to support the cooling tube 131. Support holes 133a and 133b are formed with insertion holes or insertion grooves into which heat pipes 172 to be described later are fitted and fixed. 2 illustrates an insertion hole, and FIG. 3 illustrates an insertion groove 133a1.

Meanwhile, the accumulator 134 may be connected to the cooling tube 131. The accumulator 134 is provided in the refrigerant circulation flow path composed of the cooling tube 131 and the like. The accumulator 134 improves the efficiency of the refrigerating apparatus through gas-liquid separation.

The temperature sensor 135 is configured to measure the temperature around the evaporator 130. In FIG. 2, the temperature sensor is illustrated as being installed on the outer surfaces of the supports 133a and 133b. However, it is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, the temperature sensor 135 may be installed at a suitable position as needed. The temperature around the evaporator 130 measured by the temperature sensor 135 may be used to operate the freezer and the defroster 170.

Next, the detailed structure of the defrosting apparatus 170 is demonstrated.

The defrosting device 170 is installed in the evaporator 130 and made to remove frost generated in the evaporator 130. The defrost apparatus 170 includes a heat source 174 and a heat pipe (heat pipe) 172.

The heat source 174 is disposed below the evaporator 130. The heat source 174 is electrically connected to a controller (not shown) of the refrigerator 100 to generate heat when receiving a driving signal from the controller.

The controller may be configured to apply a driving signal to the heat source 174 at predetermined time intervals. For example, the control unit stops (OFF) the operation of the compressor 160 and operates a power supply unit (not shown) after a predetermined time after the compressor 160 constituting the refrigerating device (refrigeration cycle) is operated. ON) to allow power to be supplied to the heat source 174.

Control of the controller is not limited to time control. The controller may be configured to apply a driving signal to the heat source 174 when the temperature of the cooling chamber 116 sensed by the temperature sensor 135 is lowered below a preset temperature.

For example, the heat source 174 may be configured as a heater. When current flows through the resistance wire of the heater, Joule's Heat is generated in the resistance wire, and this joule heat may be used for defrost.

As another example, the heat source 174 may be configured as a PTC module. The PTC module includes two electrode plates spaced apart from each other and at least one PTC temperature (Positive Temperature Coefficient Thermistor) disposed therebetween. PTC thermistors have the property of increasing resistance with increasing temperature. The PTC thermistor is formed of barium titanate-based ceramics calcined by mixing a small amount (0.1 to 1.5%) of oxides such as lanthanum, yttrium, bismuth, and thorium with barium titanate.

PTC thermistors have a relatively small resistance at low temperatures, but suddenly increase resistance when a certain temperature is reached. Therefore, the current is suppressed above the specific temperature.

The temperature at which the temperature-resistance characteristics of PTC thermistors change rapidly is called Curie Point or Curie Temperature. The Curie point may be moved to the high temperature side or the low temperature side by controlling the components of the PTC thermistor. Thus, by adjusting the components of the PTC thermistor, it is possible to produce a heat source 174 that generates sufficient heat in the defrost but is limited in heat generation above a certain temperature.

The method to adjust the Curie point is as follows. When part of the barium is replaced with lead, the Curie point moves toward the higher temperature. If barium is replaced with strontium, or part of titanium is replaced with tin or zirconium, the Curie point moves toward the lower temperature. In this way, a PTC thermistor having an exothermic property suitable for use as the defrost heat source 174 can be made.

The heat source 174 is mounted inside the heat transfer case 171. The heat transfer case 171 may be disposed at any position between the two supports 133a and 133b of the evaporator 130. The heat transfer case 171 may be disposed adjacent to the lowermost layer (or the lowermost end) of the cooling tube 131. For example, the heat transfer case 171 may be disposed at the same height as the lowermost layer of the cooling tube 131 or at a position lower than the lowest layer of the cooling tube 131.

The heat transfer case 171 is formed to surround the heat source 174, and is also formed to surround a portion of the heat pipe 172. The heat transfer case 171 is formed by combining the heat transfer part 171a and the cover 171b.

The heat transfer part 171a has an external shape of a square pillar shape. The heat transfer part 171a is formed of a heat conductive material such as metal (eg, aluminum) to transfer heat generated from the heat source 174 to the heat pipe 172.

The heat transfer part 171a may be formed by extrusion molding. In this case, the heat pipe seating portion 171a1 and the heat source accommodating portion 171a2 described later may extend along the extrusion molding direction. Here, the extrusion direction means the length direction of the heat transfer part 171a, and the length direction of the heat transfer part 171a refers to a direction parallel to the heating part 172a1 of the heat pipe 172 which will be described later.

The heat transfer part 171a has a heat pipe seating part 171a1. The heat pipe seating portion 171a1 forms a space in which a portion of the heat pipe 172 may be seated. The heat pipe seating portion 171a1 has a form of a groove recessed in one surface (the upper surface in FIG. 2) of the heat transfer portion 171a and extends along the length direction of the heat transfer portion 171a.

The heat pipe seating portion 171a1 may have a shape that partially corresponds to the outer shape of the heat pipe 172 so that the heat pipe 172 may be seated at a specific position of the heat transfer portion 171a. For example, when the heat pipe 172 has a round pipe shape, the heat pipe seating portion 171a1 may be formed in a groove structure having a semicircular cross section whose width gradually decreases from top to bottom. At this time, in order to seat the heat pipe 172 on the heat pipe seat 171a1 from the top to the bottom, the heat pipe seat 171a1 is preferably made to cover less than half of the circumference of the heat pipe 172.

The heat pipe 172 seated on the heat pipe seat 171a1 is in surface contact with the heat pipe seat 171a1. Accordingly. Heat generated from the heat source 174 is sufficiently transferred to the heat pipe 172 through the heat transfer part 171a, thereby improving the efficiency of the defrosting device 170.

When the heat pipe 172 is composed of the first row 172a and the second row 172b to form two rows, the heat pipe seating portion 171a1 includes the first row 172a and the second row ( Two grooves corresponding to 172b) may be formed. The two grooves may be arranged parallel to each other.

The heat pipe 172 is disposed to be in continuous contact with the heat pipe seat 171a1. Continuous contact means that the heat pipe 172 is disposed to completely cover the heat pipe seat 171a1.

The heat transfer part 171a is provided with a heat source accommodating part 171a2 into which the heat source 174 is inserted. The heat source accommodating part 171a2 extends in parallel with the heat pipe seating part 171a1 and is open at both ends of the heat transfer part 171a. That is, the heat source accommodating part 171a2 is formed to penetrate the heat transfer part 171a. In this figure, the heat source accommodating part 171a2 is shown below the heat pipe seating part 171a1.

The heat source accommodating part 171a2 is equipped with a heat source 174 for heating the working liquid in the heat pipe 172 seated on the heat pipe seating part 171a1. The heat source 174 is formed to generate heat upon power supply, and the working liquid in the bottom pipe is heated to a high temperature by receiving heat by the heat source 174 that generates heat. The arrangement in which the heat source 174 is disposed below the heat pipe 172 is advantageous for allowing the heated working liquid to have upward thrust.

The heat source 174 may be in surface contact with the inner circumferential surface of the heat source accommodating part 171a2. In addition, if a gap exists between the inner circumferential surface of the heat source receiving portion 171a2 and the heat source 174, a heat transfer material such as a thermal compound is applied between the inner circumferential surface of the heat source receiving portion 171a2 and the heat source 174 to fill the gap. Can be.

The heat transfer part 171a is formed of a heat conductive material. Therefore, heat may be transferred from the heat source 174 to the heat pipe 172 through the heat transfer unit 171a.

The cover part 171b is detachably coupled to the heat transfer part 171a to cover the heat pipe 172 seated on the heat pipe seating part 171a1. Cover portion 171b may be formed of a synthetic resin material or a metal material capable of a predetermined elastic deformation.

The cover part 171b may be fixed to the heat transfer part 171a through hook coupling. To this end, hooks may be formed on both sides of the cover part 171b, respectively. The heat transfer part 171a may be provided with a locking part to which the hook is engaged.

Next, the heat pipe 172 is demonstrated.

The heat pipe 172 forms a circulation flow path of the working liquid filled therein. That is, the heat pipe 172 itself forms a closed loop. A portion of the heat pipe 172 receives heat when the heat source 174 is driven, and the working liquid therein is heated to a high temperature by heat.

The bottom pipe 172 is disposed adjacent to the cooling tube 131 to transfer the heat of the working liquid heated by the heat source 174 to the cooling tube 131 of the evaporator 130. In this case, even though the heat pipe 172 and the cooling pipe 131 do not contact each other, heat of the working liquid flowing through the heat pipe 172 may be transferred to the cooling pipe 131 adjacent to the heat pipe 172 by convection. .

In the present embodiment, the heat pipe 172 is shown as being composed of a first row 172a and a second row 172b, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Heat pipe 172 may be formed in a single row.

Like the cooling pipe 131, the heat pipe 172 may be repeatedly bent and stacked in multiple stages. Since the heat pipe 172 having such a structure is disposed adjacent to the cooling pipe 131, the heat of the working liquid flowing through the heat pipe 172 is not concentrated in any part of the cooling pipe 131. The entire area of the cooling tube 131 may be evenly transmitted.

The structure of the heat pipe 172 may be described as the heating unit 172a1, the primary extensions 172a2 and 172b2, the secondary extensions 172a3 and 172b3, and the heat dissipation unit 172a4.

The heating part 172a1 is a part wrapped by the heat transfer part 171a and the cover part 171b. The heating unit 172a1 receives heat from the heat source 174 through the heat transfer unit 171a when the heat source 174 is driven. At least a portion of the heating part 172a1 overlaps the heat source 174 in the thickness direction of the heat transfer part 171a.

When the heat source 174 is driven, the working liquid in the heating unit 172a1 is heated to a high temperature. As the working liquid is heated to high temperatures, the working liquid is given a driving force for the circulating flow.

The extension parts 172a2, 172a3, 172b2, and 127b3 form a flow path for transferring the working liquid heated by the heating part 172a1 to the upper side of the evaporator 130. In this figure, the heating part 172a1 is provided below the evaporator 130, and the extension parts 172a2, 172a3, 172b2, 127b3 are based on the flow of a working liquid, and the evaporator (downstream) of the heating part 172a1 is carried out. It is shown that the first extension toward one side of 130, and the second extension toward the top from the bottom of the evaporator 130 again.

The primary extensions 172a2 and 172b2 may extend in the horizontal direction from the lower side of the evaporator 130 or along a direction close to the horizontal direction. Here, close to the horizontal direction means closer to the horizontal direction than the vertical direction. The lengths of the primary extension parts 172a2 and 172b2 may vary depending on the position of the heating part 172a1. If the primary extensions 172a2 and 172b2 are long, since the high temperature working liquid passes through the lower side of the evaporator 130, there is an advantage that the defrosting of the lowermost layer of the cooling tube 131 may be smoothly performed.

The secondary extension parts 172a3 and 172b3 extend from the bottom of the evaporator 130 in the vertical direction or near the vertical direction in a state spaced apart from the support 133a outside the one support 133a. Can be. Here, close to the vertical direction means closer to the vertical direction than the horizontal direction. The working fluid flows sequentially through the primary extensions 172a2 and 172b2 and the secondary extensions 172a3 and 172b3.

The heat dissipation part 172a4 is connected to the secondary extension parts 172a3 and 172b3 extending to the upper part of the evaporator 130, extends in a zigzag form along the cooling tube 131 of the evaporator 130, and is repeatedly bent in multiple stages. It has a laminated structure. The heat dissipation unit 172a4 is composed of a combination of a plurality of horizontal pipes forming a plurality of stages up and down and a connection pipe formed in a U-shaped tube bent to connect them in a zigzag form.

The secondary extension portions 172a3 and 172b3 or the heat dissipation portion 172a4 may extend to a position adjacent to the accumulator 134 to remove frost formed on the accumulator 134.

On the basis of the flow of the working liquid, the high temperature working liquid flows out downstream of the heating part 172a1, and the low temperature working liquid is recovered on the upstream side of the heating part 172a1. In this embodiment, the working liquid heated by the heat source 174 is transferred to the upper portion of the evaporator 130 through the extension 172b, and then flows along the heat radiating portion 172a4 to heat the cooling tube 131. After the transfer is performed to perform defrosting, it is returned to the heating unit 172a1 and reheated by the heat source 174 to circulate the heat pipe 172.

The heat pipe 172 has a structure for injecting the working liquid. The structure for injection of the working liquid is formed by the first connecting pipes 172a5 and 172b5, the second connecting pipes 172a6 and 172b6 and the joint pipes 172a7 and 172b7. A structure for injecting the working liquid may be formed upstream of the heating unit 172a1 as shown in FIG. 2, and more specifically, may be formed between the heating unit 172a1 and the heat dissipation unit, but is not limited thereto. It doesn't happen.

The first connection pipes 172a5 and 172b5 and the second connection pipes 172a6 and 172b6 may be continuously connected to the rest of the heat pipe 172 by welding. Here, continuous means a straight form. The first connection pipes 172a5 and 172b5 and the second connection pipes 172a6 and 172b6 may have the same diameter as the rest of the heat pipe 172. Alternatively, the inner diameters of the first connecting pipes 172a5 and 172b5 and the second connecting pipes 172a6 and 172b6 may be set smaller than the inner diameters of the remaining parts and inserted therein, or vice versa.

Joint pipes 172a7 and 172b7 are disposed between the first connection pipes 172a5 and 172b5 and the second connection pipes 172a6 and 172b6 to interconnect them. The joint pipes 172a7 and 172b7 have T-shaped portions projecting in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the first connecting pipes 172a5 and 172b5 and the second connecting pipes 172a6 and 172b6, and are operated through the T-shaped portions. Liquid may be injected.

As the working fluid circulating in the heat pipe 172, a refrigerant that exists in a liquid state under a freezing condition of the refrigerator 100, and when heated, phase changes into a gas phase to transport heat (for example, R-134a, R-600a, etc.) may be used.

Next, the holder 173 will be described.

Since the cooling pipe 131 and the heat pipe 172 have a portion extending in the horizontal direction, deflection may occur due to its own weight. The deflection of the cooling tube 131 and the heat pipe 172 prevents the smooth circulation of the refrigerant circulating in the cooling tube 131 and the working liquid circulating in the heat pipe 172. The holder 173 is installed between the two cooling fins 132 and supports at least one of the cooling pipe 131 and the heat pipe 172 to prevent sagging of the cooling pipe 131 and the heat pipe 172. Do it.

The holder 173 is coupled to the outer circumferential surface of the holder 173 and / or the heat pipe 172 to support the cooling tube 131 and / or the heat pipe 172. The holder 173 supports the cooling pipe 131 and / or the heat pipe 172 to maintain the space between the layers.

A support holder 173 is also disclosed in a patent document introduced in the technical section that is the background of the invention. However, the holder 173 according to the present invention does not merely support the cooling pipe 131 and / or the heat pipe 172, but heats the heat from the first portion to the second portion of the heat pipe 172. It delivers to maximize the defrosting effect.

The first portion refers to the high temperature region of the heat pipe 172, and the second portion refers to the low temperature region. The working fluid heated in the heating unit 172a1 is relatively high in temperature, but the working liquid recovered through the heat dissipating unit 172a4 and back to the heating unit 172a1 already heats the cooling tube 131 or the cooling fin 132. It is relatively cold because most of it has been delivered. The defrosting effect is excellent in the region where the temperature of the working liquid is high, but the defrosting effect is inferior in the region where the temperature of the working liquid is low. Therefore, in order to maximize the defrosting effect, it is necessary to improve the defrosting effect of the low temperature region by transferring heat from the high temperature region to the low temperature region.

When the heat pipe 172 is repeatedly bent and stacked in multiple stages as in this embodiment, the horizontal portions of the heat pipe 172 may be divided into layers. For example, the first extension parts 172a2 and 172b2 correspond to lower layers. The heat dissipation part 172a4 is disposed above the first extension parts 172a2 and 172b2, and thus corresponds to the middle layer part and the upper layer part. The middle layer is disposed at a position higher than the lower layer, and the upper layer is disposed at a position higher than the middle layer.

The hottest fluid flows through the lower layer. This is because the working liquid heated in the heating portion 172a1 flows. The lower temperature operating fluid flows through the upper layer, but the temperature of the operating liquid flowing through the upper layer is not deficient in defrost. On the contrary, since the lowest operating fluid flows through the middle layer, the defrosting effect needs to be improved. The lowest operating fluid flows in the middle layer because the operating liquid flows in the order of the lower layer, the upper layer, and the middle layer.

In view of this, if the holder 173 is installed in the upper layer, it is difficult to expect the effect of improving the defrosting effect of the middle layer. Accordingly, the holder 173 must be coupled to the lower layer and the middle layer to transfer the heat of the working fluid flowing through the lower layer to the middle layer. In addition, the holder 173 must be formed of a thermally conductive material.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower layer of the heat pipe 172 corresponds to the first stage (first stage from the bottom), and the middle layer corresponds to the second to third stages (second to third stage from the bottom). Is shown. Therefore, it is anticipated that the heat of the first stage will be transferred to the second to third stages through the holder 173. However, the number of stages of the lower, middle, and upper layers of the heat pipe 172 is not necessarily limited to those shown in the drawings.

The detailed structure of the holder 173 will be described with reference to FIG. 4.

4 is a side view of the holder 173 shown in FIG.

The holder 173 has a structure for supporting the cooling pipe 131 and the heat pipe 172 in a flat plate shape.

Holder 173 includes body portions 173a1, 173a2, 173a3 and arm portions 173c1, 173c2, 173c3, 173d1, 173d2, 173d3 (arm portions).

The body parts 173a1, 173a2, and 173a3 are portions forming the skeleton of the holder 173. The body parts 173a1, 173a2, and 173a3 extend vertically (vertically) to connect the respective ends of the cooling pipe 131 and the heat pipe 172, and horizontally (horizontally) to support the cooling pipe 131. Is extended.

The body parts 173a1, 173a2, and 173a3 surround at least a portion of the cooling tube 131 to support the cooling tube 131. In FIG. 4, the body parts 173a1, 173a2, and 173a3 have a structure formed to support the cooling tube 131 corresponding to the first to third stages. The upper end 173b of the holder surrounds the cooling tube 131 corresponding to the third stage. The number of stages of the cooling tubes 131 supported by the body parts 173a1, 173a2, and 173a3 is not necessarily limited to those shown in the drawings.

The arm portions 173c1, 173c2, 173c3, 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3 protrude two-pronged structures from the body portions 173a1, 173a2, and 173a3 toward the heat pipe 172 so as to surround the outer circumferential surface of the heat pipe 172. Have The horizontally extending portion (first extension portion and heat dissipation portion) of the heat pipe 172 is fitted to the arm portions 173c1, 173c2, 173c3, 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3, and the arm portions 173c1, 173c2, 173c3, 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3 wrap horizontally extending portions of the heat pipe 172 from above and below. The arm portions 173c1, 173c2, 173c3, 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3 come into contact with the outer circumferential surface of the heat pipe 172, and thus not only support the heat pipe 172 but also heat exchange with the heat pipe 172.

The two branches of the arm portions 173c1, 173c2, 173c3, 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3 are formed to face each other in a direction crossing the extension direction of the heat pipe 172. If the direction in which the lower layer portion and the middle layer portion of the heat pipe 172 extend is called the first direction, the two branches of the arm portions 173c1, 173c2, 173c3, 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3 are formed to face each other in the second direction. In this case, the first direction and the second direction correspond to directions crossing each other, and the concept includes an intersection cross orthogonality.

In more detail, the lower layer and the middle layer of the heat pipe 172 may extend in the horizontal direction, or may extend in a direction close to the horizontal direction even if not exactly horizontal. Here, the direction close to the horizontal direction means any direction closer to the horizontal direction than the vertical direction. This direction in which the lower layer portion and the middle layer portion of the heat pipe 172 extend may be referred to as a first direction.

The two branches of the arm portions 173c1, 173c2, 173c3, 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3 may be formed to face each other in the vertical direction or to face each other in a direction close to the vertical direction, if not the exact vertical direction. Here, the direction closer to the vertical direction means an arbitrary direction closer to the vertical direction than the horizontal direction. The direction in which the two branches of the arm parts 173c1, 173c2, 173c3, 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3 face each other may be referred to as a second direction.

Arm parts 173c1, 173c2, 173c3, 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3 are formed in plural. When the lower layer part of the heat pipe 172 is comprised by the 1st stage, and the middle layer part is comprised by the 2nd-3rd stage, it arrange | positions below the several arm parts 173c1, 173c2, 173c3, 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3. Lower arm 173c1 and 173d1 are coupled to the lower layer of the heat pipe 172, and the middle arm 173c2, 173c3, 173d2, and 173d3 on the lower arm 173c1 and 173d1 are connected to the middle layer of the heat pipe 172. Combined.

The lower arm 173c1, 173d1 and / or the middle arm 173c2, 173c3, 173d2, 173d3 may be provided in plural. The plurality of lower arm 173c1 and 173d1 or the plurality of middle arm 173c2, 173c3, 173d2 and 173d3 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other by a height difference.

Cooling tube accommodating portions 173f1, 173f2, and 173f3 may be formed between the lower arms 173c1 and 173d1 and the middle arms 173c2, 173c3, 173d2, and 173d3. The cooling tube accommodating parts 173f1, 173f2, and 173f3 have a shape that is open toward one side of the holder 173. The body parts 173a1, 173a2, and 173a3 are formed to surround at least a portion of the cooling tube 131 inserted into the cooling tube accommodating parts 173f1, 173f2, and 173f3. Like the arm portions 173c1, 173c2, 173c3, 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3, the two branches of the body portions 173a1, 173a2, and 173a3 surround the cooling pipe 131 facing each other in the second direction.

The inlets of the cooling tube accommodating parts 173f1, 173f2, and 173f3 are larger than the cooling tube accommodating parts 173f1, 173f2, and 173f3 to guide the cooling tube 131 inserted into the cooling tube accommodating parts 173f1, 173f2, and 173f3. do. The inlet of the cooling tube accommodating parts 173f1, 173f2, and 173f3 means an area open to one side of the holder 173. If the inlet of the cooling tube accommodating parts 173f1, 173f2, and 173f3 has the same size as the cooling tube accommodating parts 173f1, 173f2, and 173f3, the cooling tube 131 is connected to the cooling tube accommodating parts 173f1, 173f2, and 173f3. You may have difficulty with the insertion process. However, if the inlet of the cooling tube accommodating part 173f1, 173f2, 173f3 is larger than the cooling tube accommodating part 173f1, 173f2, 173f3, insertion of the cooling tube 131 becomes easy.

In addition, the inlet of the cooling tube accommodating parts 173f1, 173f2, and 173f3 may be inclined to guide the cooling tube 131 inserted into the cooling tube accommodating parts 173f1, 173f2, and 173f3, or may have a curved shape. In Fig. 4 a curved inlet is shown.

The cooling tube accommodating part 173f1, 173f2, 173f3 is provided in multiple numbers corresponding to the number of lower arm 173c1, 173d1, and the middle arm 173c2, 173c3, 173d2, 173d3. The plurality of cooling tube accommodating parts 173f1, 173f2, and 173f3 have height differences with each other and are spaced apart from each other. The height difference between the cooling tube accommodating parts 173f1, 173f2, and 173f3 corresponds to the mutual height difference between the cooling tubes 131.

Corresponding to the heat pipe 172 having two rows, the arm portions 173c1, 173c2, 173c3, 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3 may also be configured in two rows. The first arms 173c1, 173c2, and 173c3 are coupled to the first row 172a of the heat pipe 172 so that the first arms 173c1, 173c2, and 173c3 are coupled to the first row 172a of the heat pipe 172. It protrudes in two directions toward you. Similarly, the second arm 173d1, 173d2, 173d3 is coupled to the second row 172b of the heat pipe 172 so that the second row 172b of the heat pipe 172 on one side of the body portions 173a1, 173a2, 173a3. It protrudes in two directions toward). The first arms 173c1, 173c2, 173c3 and the second arms 173d1, 173d2, 173d3 protrude in opposite directions.

Recess portions 173e1 ', 173e1 ”, 173e2', 173e2”, and 173d1, 173c2, 173c3 and recesses 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3, respectively, among the first arms 173c1, 173c2, and 173c3. 173e3 ', 173e3 ") may be formed. 4 illustrates a configuration in which recesses 173e1 ', 173e1', 173e2 ', 173e2', 173e3 ', and 173e3' are formed outside the second arms 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3. Since the arm parts 173c1, 173c2, 173c3, 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3 and the heat pipe 172 should be in close contact with each other for heat transfer, the heat pipe 172 is the arm parts 173c1, 173c2, 173c3, 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3. ) Is preferably combined in an interference fit manner.

The recesses 173e1 ', 173e1', 173e2 ', 173e2', 173e3 ', and 173e3' have a structure recessed toward the inside of the holder 173. As the recess portions 173e1 ', 173e1 ”, 173e2', 173e2”, 173e3 ', and 173e3 ”are formed, two branches of the second arms 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3 may be opened, and the heat pipe 172 may be opened. May be coupled to the second arms 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3 by an interference fit method. If the recesses 173e1 ', 173e1 ”, 173e2', 173e2”, 173e3 ', and 173e3 ”are not present, the second arms 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3 cannot be opened to the second arms 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3. The heat pipes 172 become difficult to join.

In contrast, since the outer edges of the first arms 173c1, 173c2, and 173c3 are opened by the inlets of the cooling tube accommodating parts 173f1, 173f2, and 173f3, recesses are provided on the outer sides of the first arms 173c1, 173c2, and 173c3. (173e1 ', 173e1 ", 173e2', 173e2", 173e3 ', 173e3 ") are unnecessary.

The lower arm 173c1, 173d1 disposed at the bottom receives heat from the lower layer of the heat pipe 172. This is because a high temperature working liquid flows through the lower layer portion of the heat pipe 172. On the other hand, the middle arm 173c2, 173c3, 173d2, 173d3 thereon transfers heat to the middle layer of the heat pipe 172. This is because a low temperature working liquid flows through the middle layer of the heat pipe 172.

The lower arm 173c1, 173d1 and the middle arm 173c2, 173c3, 173d2, 173d3 are connected to each other by the body portions 173a1, 173a2, 173a3, so that heat is transmitted through the body portions 173a1, 173a2, 173a3. do. The areas of the body portions 173a1, 173a2, and 173a3 are preferably larger than the areas of the arm portions 173c1, 173c2, 173c3, 173d1, 173d2, and 173d3.

Heat transfer mechanisms include conduction, convection, and radiation, and the heat transfer mechanism through the holder 173 corresponds to conduction. Since the heat transfer rate due to conduction is proportional to the heat transfer area, if the area of the body parts 173a1, 173a2, 173a3 is smaller than the area of the arm parts 173c1, 173c2, 173c3, 173d1, 173d2, 173d3, the bottleneck in the heat transfer process It may occur.

When the holder 173 described above is installed in the evaporator 130, the heat of the working liquid flowing through the lower layer of the heat pipe 172 can be transferred to the middle layer, so that the defrosting effect of the middle layer can be improved. If necessary, a plurality of holders 173 may be installed. Since the heat transfer rate is proportional to the heat transfer area, the effect of defrosting by heat transfer may be further improved.

The defrosting apparatus and the refrigerator having the same described above are not limited to the configuration and method of the embodiments described above, but the embodiments are configured by selectively combining all or some of the embodiments so that various modifications can be made. May be

Claims (16)

A heat source disposed below the evaporator;
A heat pipe disposed adjacent to the cooling tube to form a circulation flow path of the working liquid filled therein, and to transfer heat of the working liquid heated by the heat source to a cooling tube of the evaporator; And
A holder coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the heat pipe to support the heat pipe,
The heat pipe is repeatedly bent to have a multi-layered structure,
The holder is formed of a thermally conductive material, defrost apparatus characterized in that coupled to the lower layer and the middle layer to transfer the heat of the working fluid flowing through the lower layer of the heat pipe to the middle layer disposed at a position higher than the lower layer. The method of claim 1,
The holder,
A body portion surrounding at least a portion of the cooling tube to support the cooling tube; And
And an arm portion having a structure projecting in two directions from the body portion toward the heat pipe so as to surround an outer circumferential surface of the heat pipe. The method of claim 2,
Lower and middle layers of the heat pipe extend in a first direction closer to the horizontal direction than the vertical direction,
The two branches of the arm portion are formed to face each other in a second direction crossing the first direction. The method of claim 2,
The area of the body portion is larger than the area of the arm portion defrost apparatus. The method of claim 2,
The arm part,
A lower arm coupled to the lower layer of the heat pipe; And
And a middle arm disposed at a position higher than the lower arm, the middle arm being coupled to the middle layer of the heat pipe. The method of claim 5,
The lower arm and the middle arm are connected to each other by the body portion. The method of claim 5,
The holder further comprises a cooling tube accommodating portion formed between the lower layer arm and the middle layer arm,
Defrosting apparatus characterized in that the body portion is formed to surround at least a portion of the cooling tube accommodated in the cooling tube receiving portion. The method of claim 7, wherein
An inlet of the cooling tube accommodating part is formed larger than the cooling tube accommodating part to guide the cooling tube inserted into the cooling tube accommodating part. The method of claim 7, wherein
The inlet of the cooling tube accommodating portion is characterized in that the inclined or curved shape. The method of claim 7, wherein
The cooling tube receiving portion is provided in plurality,
Defrosting apparatus, characterized in that a plurality of the cooling tube receiving portion is disposed spaced apart from each other with a height difference. The method of claim 5,
The middle arm is provided in plurality,
A plurality of said middle arm is a defrosting device, characterized in that the spaced apart from each other with a height difference. The method of claim 2,
The heat pipe,
A first row disposed on one side of the cooling tube, the first row having a structure stacked repeatedly in multiple stages; And
It is disposed on the other side of the cooling tube, and includes a second row having a structure that is repeatedly bent repeatedly stacked in multiple stages,
The arm part,
A first arm projecting bifurcated toward the first row from one side of the body portion so as to be coupled to the first row; And
And a second arm protruding bifurcated toward the second row from the other side of the body to be coupled to the second row. The method of claim 2,
The holder further includes a recessed portion recessed inwardly toward the inside of the holder,
Defrosting device, characterized in that each recess is formed in the outer periphery of the two branches to allow the opening of the two branches. The method of claim 1,
The holder is a defrosting device, characterized in that installed between the two cooling fins provided in the evaporator. The method of claim 1,
The defrosting apparatus further includes a heat transfer case formed of a thermally conductive material,
Defrosting apparatus, characterized in that any portion of the heat transfer case is formed to surround the heat source, the other portion of the heat transfer case is formed to surround a portion of the heat pipe. The method of claim 15,
And the holder is coupled to the downstream side of the portion of the heat pipe based on the flow of the working fluid.

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