US20200370815A1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Refrigerator Download PDF

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Publication number
US20200370815A1
US20200370815A1 US16/991,479 US202016991479A US2020370815A1 US 20200370815 A1 US20200370815 A1 US 20200370815A1 US 202016991479 A US202016991479 A US 202016991479A US 2020370815 A1 US2020370815 A1 US 2020370815A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
bypass passage
sensor
refrigerator
disposed
evaporator
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US16/991,479
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English (en)
Inventor
Sungwook Kim
Kyongbae PARK
Sangbok Choi
Sung Jhee
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LG Electronics Inc
Original Assignee
LG Electronics Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by LG Electronics Inc filed Critical LG Electronics Inc
Assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC. reassignment LG ELECTRONICS INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: Choi, Sangbok, JHEE, SUNG, KIM, SUNGWOOK, PARK, KYONGBAE
Publication of US20200370815A1 publication Critical patent/US20200370815A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
    • F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D17/00—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces
    • F25D17/04—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection
    • F25D17/06—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation
    • F25D17/062—Arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces for circulating air, e.g. by convection by forced circulation in household refrigerators
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D21/00—Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
    • F25D21/002—Defroster control
    • F25D21/006—Defroster control with electronic control circuits
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D21/00—Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
    • F25D21/02—Detecting the presence of frost or condensate
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D21/00—Defrosting; Preventing frosting; Removing condensed or defrost water
    • F25D21/06—Removing frost
    • F25D21/08—Removing frost by electric heating
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2317/00—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • F25D2317/06—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation
    • F25D2317/067—Details or arrangements for circulating cooling fluids; Details or arrangements for circulating gas, e.g. air, within refrigerated spaces, not provided for in other groups of this subclass with forced air circulation characterised by air ducts
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F25D2500/00—Problems to be solved
    • F25D2500/02—Geometry problems

Definitions

  • This specification relates to a refrigerator.
  • Refrigerators are household appliances that are capable of storing objects such as food at a low temperature in a storage space provided in a cabinet. Since the storage space is surrounded by heat insulation wall, the inside of the storage space may be maintained at a temperature less than an external temperature.
  • the storage space may be classified into a refrigerating storage space or a freezing storage space according to a temperature range of the storage space.
  • the refrigerator may further include an evaporator for supplying cool air to the storage space. Air in the storage space is cooled while flowing to a space, in which the evaporator is disposed, so as to be heat-exchanged with the evaporator, and the cooled air is supplied again to the storage space.
  • an evaporator for supplying cool air to the storage space. Air in the storage space is cooled while flowing to a space, in which the evaporator is disposed, so as to be heat-exchanged with the evaporator, and the cooled air is supplied again to the storage space.
  • the air heat-exchanged with the evaporator contains moisture
  • the moisture freezes on a surface of the evaporator to generate frost on the surface of the evaporator.
  • the refrigerator further includes a defroster for removing the frost on the evaporator.
  • a defrosting cycle variable method is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 2000-0004806 that is a prior art document.
  • the defrosting cycle is adjusted using a cumulative operation time of the compressor and an external temperature.
  • frost generation amount an amount of frost (hereinafter, referred to as a frost generation amount) on the evaporator is not accurately reflected. Thus, it is difficult to accurately determine the time point at which the defrosting is required.
  • the frost generation amount may increase or decrease according to various environments such as the user's refrigerator usage pattern and the degree to which air retains moisture.
  • the defrosting cycle is determined without reflecting the various environments.
  • the defrosting does not start despite a large amount of generated frost that deteriorates cooling performance, or the defrosting starts despite a small amount of generated frost that increases power consumption due to unnecessary defrosting.
  • the present disclosure provides a refrigerator that is capable of determining whether a defrosting operation should be performed by using a parameter that varies depending on an amount of frost generated on an evaporator.
  • the present disclosure provides a refrigerator that is capable of accurately determining a time point at which defrosting is required according to an amount of frost generated on an evaporator by using a bypass passage for sensing the generated frost.
  • the present disclosure provides a refrigerator that is capable of minimizing a length of a passage for sensing generated frost.
  • the present disclosure provides a refrigerator that is capable of accurately determining a time point at which defrosting is required even though accuracy of a sensor is used for determining the time point at which the defrosting is required.
  • the present disclosure provides a refrigerator that is capable of preventing frost from being generated around a sensor for sensing generated frost.
  • the present disclosure provides a refrigerator that is capable of preventing liquid from being introduced into a bypass passage for sensing generated frost.
  • a refrigerator for achieving the above objects includes a cool air duct inside an inner case configured to define a storage space, and the cool air duct defines a heat-exchange space together with the inner case.
  • An evaporator is disposed in the heat exchange space, a bypass passage is disposed at the cool air duct, and a sensor is disposed in a bypass passage.
  • the senor may be a sensor having an output value varying according to a flow rate of the air flowing through the bypass passage, and a time point at which defrosting for the evaporator is required may be determined by using the output value of the sensor.
  • the refrigerator includes a defroster configured to remove frost generated on a surface of the evaporator and a controller configured to control the defroster based on the output value of the sensor.
  • the controller may operate the defroster.
  • the senor may include: a heat generating element; a sensing element configured to sense a temperature of the heat generating element; and a sensor PCB on which the heat generating element and the sensing element are installed.
  • the sensor may further include a sensor housing configured to surround the heat generating element, the sensing element, and the sensor PCB.
  • a difference value between a temperature sensed by the sensing element in a state in which the heat generating element is turned on and a temperature sensed by the sensing element in a state in which the heat generating element is turned off is equal to or less than a reference temperature value, it may be determined that the defrosting is required.
  • the refrigerator may further include a passage cover configured to cover the bypass passage so as to partition the bypass passage from the heat exchange space.
  • the cool air duct may further include a vertical extension surface that is a surface in which the bypass passage is defined
  • the passage cover may include: a cover plate configured to cover the bypass passage; and a barrier extending from the cover plate, the barrier protruding downward from the vertical extension surface in a state in which the cover plate covers the bypass passage, and thus, a flow rate of the air flowing through the bypass passage before the frost is generated may be reduced.
  • bypass passage may extend vertically from the vertical extension surface in a straight-line shape so that the bypass passage is minimized in length.
  • the barrier protruding to the outside of the bypass passage may further include: a rear barrier continuously extending from the cover plate, the rear barrier being disposed adjacent to the evaporator; a plurality of side barriers extending from the rear barrier, the plurality of side barriers being spaced apart from each other in a left and right direction; and a front barrier connected to the plurality of side barriers, spaced apart from the rear barrier, and disposed at an opposite side of the evaporator with respect to the rear barrier.
  • the cool air duct may further include an inclined surface extending to be inclined from an end of the vertical extension surface and configured to guide the air toward the evaporator.
  • the cool air duct may further include a slot configured to define a passage for allowing the air flowing along the inclined surface to flow toward the evaporator which is provided in the rear barrier.
  • the slot may provide an air path and be defined in the rear barrier.
  • the senor may be disposed to be spaced apart from a bottom surface of the bypass passage and the passage cover to prevent the frost from being generated around the sensor within the bypass passage.
  • the sensor may be disposed to be spaced apart from the inlet and the outlet of the bypass passage so as to improve sensing accuracy of the sensor and may be disposed at a point at which a distance between the bottom wall and the cover plate is bisected in the bypass passage.
  • the bypass passage may be disposed so as not to vertically overlap with the cool air inflow hole, thereby preventing the air discharged from the outlet of the bypass passage from being affected by the flow rate of the air introduced into the cool air inflow hole.
  • outlet of the bypass passage may be disposed outside the limit region having a diameter greater than that of the blower fan with respect to a center of the blower fan provided in the cool air duct.
  • a blocking rib may be provided above the bypass passage in the cool air duct to prevent liquid from being introduced into the bypass passage.
  • the blocking rib may have a left-right minimum length greater than a left-right minimum width of the bypass passage, and the entire bypass passage in the left and right direction may be disposed to overlap the blocking rib in the vertical direction.
  • the time point at which the defrosting is required is determined using the sensor having the output value varying according to the amount of frost generated on the evaporator in the bypass passage, the time point at which the defrosting is required may be accurately determined.
  • bypass passage vertically extend in the straight-line shape from the cool air duct, the length of the bypass passage may be minimized.
  • the senor according to the embodiment is disposed at the point, at which the change in flow rate is less, in the bypass passage and disposed in the central region of the passage in the fully development flow region.
  • the senor may be disposed to be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the bypass passage and the passage cover to prevent the frost from being generated around the sensor.
  • the passage cover since the passage cover includes the barrier protruding to the outside of the bypass passage, the flow rate in the bypass passage before the generation of the frost may be minimized to improve the accuracy in determining of the time point, at which the defrosting is required, through the sensor.
  • the blocking rib may be provided above the bypass passage to prevent liquid from being introduced into the bypass passage.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cool air duct according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in which a passage cover and a sensor are separated from each other in the cool air duct.
  • FIGS. 4( a ) and 4( b ) are views illustrating a flow of air in a heat exchange space and a bypass passage before and after frost is generated.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a state in which a sensor is disposed in the bypass passage.
  • FIG. 6 is a view of a sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a thermal flow around the sensor depending on a flow of air flowing through the bypass passage.
  • FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a position of the sensor in the bypass passage.
  • FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an air flow pattern in the bypass passage.
  • FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a flow of air in the state in which the sensor is installed in the bypass passage.
  • FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an arrangement of the bypass passage and the passage cover in the cool air duct according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 12 is an enlarged view illustrating the bypass passage and a rib for preventing defrosting water from being introduced into the bypass passage according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a barrier of the passage cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating a variation in temperature sensed by the sensor depending on a protruding length of the barrier.
  • FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the barrier, taken along line A-A of FIG. 13 .
  • FIGS. 16( a ) and 16( b ) are views illustrating a change in flow of air depending on whether a slot is provided in the barrier.
  • FIG. 17 is a graph illustrating a variation in temperature sensed by the sensor depending on a length of the slot defined in the barrier.
  • FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a flow of air introduced into a heat exchange space according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 19 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • first, second, A, B, (a) and (b) may be used.
  • Each of the terms is merely used to distinguish the corresponding component from other components, and does not delimit an essence, an order or a sequence of the corresponding component. It should be understood that when one component is “connected”, “coupled” or “joined” to another component, the former may be directly connected or jointed to the latter or may be “connected”, coupled” or “joined” to the latter with a third component interposed therebetween.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a cool air duct according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in which a passage cover and a sensor are separated from each other in the cool air duct.
  • a refrigerator 1 may include an inner case 12 defining a storage space 11 .
  • the storage space may include one or more of a refrigerating storage space and a freezing storage space.
  • a cool air duct 20 provides a passage, through which cool air supplied to the storage space 11 flows, in a rear space of the storage space 11 .
  • an evaporator 30 is disposed between the cool air duct 20 and a rear wall 13 of the inner case 12 . That is, a heat exchange space 222 in which the evaporator 30 is disposed is defined between the cool air duct 20 and the rear wall 13 .
  • air of the storage space 11 may flow to the heat exchange space 222 between the cool air duct 20 and the rear wall 13 of the inner case 12 and then be heat-exchanged with the evaporator 30 . Thereafter, the air may flow through the inside of the cool air duct 20 and then be supplied to the storage space 11 .
  • the cool air duct 20 may include, but is not limited thereto, a first duct 210 and a second duct 220 coupled to a rear surface of the first duct 210 .
  • a front surface of the first duct 210 is a surface facing the storage space 11
  • a rear surface of the first duct 220 is a surface facing the rear wall 13 of the inner case 12 .
  • a cool air passage 212 may be provided between the first duct 210 and the second duct 220 in a state in which the first duct 210 and the second duct 220 are coupled to each other.
  • a cool air inflow hole 221 may be defined in the second duct 220
  • a cool air discharge hole 211 may be defined in the first duct 210 .
  • a blower fan (not shown) may be provided in the cool air passage 212 .
  • air passing through the evaporator 13 is introduced into the cool air passage 212 through the cool air inflow hole 221 and is discharged to the storage space 11 through the discharge hole 211 .
  • the evaporator 30 is disposed between the cool air duct 20 and the rear wall 13 .
  • the evaporator 30 may be disposed below the cool air inflow hole 221 .
  • the air in the storage space 11 ascends to be heat-exchanged with the evaporator 30 and then is introduced into the cool air inflow hole 221 .
  • a time point at which defrosting for the evaporator 30 is required may be determined using a parameter that is changed according to the amount of frost generated on the evaporator 30 .
  • the cool air duct 20 may further include a frost generation sensing portion configured so that at least a portion of the air flowing through the heat exchange space 222 is bypassed and configured to determine a time point, at which the defrosting is required, by using a sensor having a different output according to a flow rate of the air.
  • a frost generation sensing portion configured so that at least a portion of the air flowing through the heat exchange space 222 is bypassed and configured to determine a time point, at which the defrosting is required, by using a sensor having a different output according to a flow rate of the air.
  • the frost generation sensing portion may include a bypass passage 230 bypassing at least a portion of the air flowing through the heat exchange space 222 and a sensor 270 disposed in the bypass passage 230 .
  • bypass passage 230 may be provided in a recessed shape in the first duct 210 .
  • the bypass passage 230 may be provided in the second duct 220 .
  • the bypass passage 230 may be provided by recessing a portion of the first duct 210 or the second duct 220 in a direction away from the evaporator 30 .
  • the bypass passage 230 may extend from the cool air duct 20 in a vertical direction.
  • the bypass passage 230 may be disposed to face the evaporator 30 within a left and right width range of the evaporator 30 so that the air in the heat exchange space 222 is bypassed to the bypass passage 230 .
  • the frost generation sensing portion may further include a passage cover 260 that allows the bypass passage 230 to be partitioned from the heat exchange space 222 .
  • the passage cover 260 may be coupled to the cool air duct 20 to cover at least a portion of the bypass passage 230 extending vertically.
  • the passage cover 260 may include a cover plate 261 , an upper extension portion 262 extending upward from the cover plate 261 , and a barrier 263 provided below the cover plate 261 .
  • a specific shape of the passage cover 260 will be described later with reference to the drawings.
  • FIGS. 4( a ) and 4( b ) are views illustrating a flow of air in the heat exchange space and the bypass passage before and after frost is generated.
  • FIG. 4( a ) illustrates a flow of air before frost is generated
  • FIG. 4( b ) illustrates a flow of air after frost is generated.
  • a state after a defrosting operation is completed is a state before frost is generated.
  • the amount (or flow rate) of air flowing through the bypass passage 230 varies according to an amount of frost generated on the evaporator 30 .
  • the senor 270 may have an output value that varies according to a change in flow rate of the air flowing through the bypass passage 230 . Thus, whether the defrosting is required may be determined based on the change in output value.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a state in which the sensor is disposed in the bypass passage
  • FIG. 6 is a view of the sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a thermal flow around the sensor depending on a flow of air flowing through the bypass passage.
  • the sensor 270 may be disposed at one point in the bypass passage 230 .
  • the sensor 270 may contact the air flowing along the bypass passage 230 , and an output value of the sensor 270 may be changed in response to a change in a flow rate of air.
  • the sensor 270 may be disposed at a position spaced from each of an inlet 231 and an outlet 232 of the bypass passage 230 . A specific location of the sensor 270 in the bypass passage 230 will be described later with reference to the drawings.
  • the sensor 270 may face the evaporator 30 within the left and right width range of the evaporator 30 .
  • the sensor 270 may be, for example, a generated heat temperature sensor.
  • the sensor 270 may include a sensor PCB 272 , a heat generating element 273 installed on the sensor PCB 272 , and a sensing element 274 installed on the sensor PCB 272 to sense a temperature of the heat generating element 273 .
  • the heat generating element 273 may be a resistor that generates heat when current is applied.
  • the sensing element 274 may sense a temperature of the heat generating element 273 .
  • the sensor PCB 272 may determine a difference between a temperature sensed by the sensing element 274 in a state in which the heat generating element 273 is turned off and a temperature by the sensing element 274 in a state in which the heat generating element 273 is turned on.
  • the sensor PCB 271 may determine whether the difference value between the states in which the heat generating element 273 is turned on/off is less than a reference difference value.
  • the temperature sensed by the sensing element 274 when the amount of frost generated on the evaporator 30 is large is less than that sensed by the sensing element 274 when the amount of frost generated on the evaporator 30 is small.
  • the difference between the temperature sensed by the sensing element 274 in the state in which the heat generating element 273 is turned on and the temperature by the sensing element 274 in the state in which the heat generating element 273 is turned off is less than the reference temperature difference, it may be determined that the defrosting is required.
  • the sensor 270 may sense a variation in temperature of the heat generating element 273 , which varies by the air of which a flow rate varies according to the amount of generated frost to accurately determine a time point, at which the defrosting is required, according to the amount of frost generated on the evaporator 30 .
  • the sensor 270 may further include a sensor housing 271 to prevent the air flowing through the bypass passage 230 from directly contacting the sensor PCB 272 , the heat generating element 273 , and the temperature sensor 274 .
  • a wire connected to the sensor PCB 271 is withdrawn in a state in which one side of the sensor housing 271 is opened. Thereafter, the opened portion may be covered by the cover portion.
  • the sensor housing 271 may surround the sensor PCB 272 , the heat generating element 273 , and the temperature sensor 274 .
  • FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a position of the sensor in the bypass passage
  • FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an air flow pattern in the bypass passage
  • FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a flow of air in the state in which the sensor is installed in the bypass passage.
  • the passage cover 260 may cover a portion of the bypass passage 230 in the vertical direction.
  • the air may flow along a region (that is partitioned from the heat exchange space) of the bypass passage 230 , in which the passage cover 260 substantially exists.
  • the senor 270 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the inlet 231 and the outlet 232 of the bypass passage 230 .
  • the sensor 270 may be disposed at a position at which the sensor 270 is less affected by a change in flow of the air flowing through the bypass passage 230 .
  • the senor 270 may be disposed at a position (hereinafter, referred to as an “inlet reference position”) that is spaced at least 6 Dg (or 6*diameter of the passage) from the inlet (in this instance, a lower end of the passage cover 260 ) of the bypass passage 230 .
  • the senor 270 may be disposed at a position (hereinafter, referred to as an “outlet reference position”) that is spaced at least 3 Dg (or 3*diameter of the passage) from the outlet (in this instance, an upper end of the passage cover 260 ) of the bypass passage 230 .
  • a change in flow of air is severe while the air is introduced into the bypass passage 230 or discharged from the bypass passage 230 .
  • the sensor 270 when air flows along the bypass passage 230 , the sensor 270 is installed at a position at which the change in flow is small to reduce detection errors.
  • the senor 270 may be disposed within a range between the inlet reference position and the outlet reference position.
  • the sensor 270 may be disposed closer to the outlet reference position than the inlet reference position. Therefore, the sensor 270 may be disposed closer to the outlet 232 than the inlet 231 in the bypass passage 230 .
  • the flow is stabilized at least at the inlet reference position, and the flow is stabilized until the outlet reference position, if the sensor 270 is disposed close to the outlet reference position, the air having a stabilized flow may contact the sensor 270 .
  • the sensing accuracy of the sensor 270 may be improved.
  • the sensor 270 Since the sensor 270 is very sensitive to the change in flow of air, when the sensor 270 is disposed at a center of the bypass passage 230 at the point at which the fully developed flow form occurs, the sensor 270 may accurately sense the change in flow.
  • the senor 270 may be installed in a central region within the bypass passage 230 .
  • the central region of the bypass passage 230 is a region including a portion at which a distance between the bottom wall 236 of the recessed portion of the bypass passage 230 and the passage cover 260 is bisected. That is, a portion of the sensor 270 may be disposed at a point at which the distance between the bottom wall 236 of the recessed portion of the bypass passage 230 and the passage cover 260 is bisected.
  • the sensor 270 may be spaced apart from the bottom wall 236 of the bypass passage 230 and the passage cover 260 .
  • a portion of the air in the bypass passage 230 may flow through a space between the bottom wall 236 and the sensor 270
  • the other portion of the air may flow through a space between the sensor 270 and the passage cover 260 .
  • the senor 270 should be installed in the central region of the passage at the point at which the change in flow of air is minimized in the bypass passage 230 and at the point at which the fully developed flow form flows so as to improve accuracy sensing.
  • the sensor 270 may sensitively react to the change in flow of air according to the large or small amount of generated frost. That is, a variation in temperature sensed by the sensor 270 may increase.
  • the temperature sensing accuracy of the sensor itself is related to cost, it is possible to determine the time point at which the defrosting is required even if the sensor 270 having a relatively low cost having low accuracy is used.
  • FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an arrangement of the bypass passage and the passage cover in the cool air duct according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • a lower end 260 a of the passage cover 260 may be disposed at a height similar to that of a lower end of the evaporator 30 or a height less than that of the lower end of the evaporator 30 .
  • the blower fan since the blower fan is disposed in the cool air duct 20 , when the blower fan rotates, a portion of the air inflow hole 221 of the cool air duct 20 may serve as a low pressure region.
  • a lower side of the evaporator 30 with respect to the evaporator 30 may serve as a high pressure region, and an upper side of the evaporator 30 with respect to the evaporator 30 may serve as a low pressure region.
  • the upper end 260 b of the passage cover 260 may be disposed in the low pressure region.
  • the upper end 260 b of the passage cover 260 may be disposed higher than the evaporator 30 .
  • the phenomenon in which the air discharged from the bypass passage 230 is affected by the air passing through the evaporator may be reduced.
  • the bypass passage 230 may be disposed so as not to vertically overlap the air flow hole 221 . This is to prevent the air discharged from the outlet 232 of the bypass passage 230 from being affected by the air introduced into the air flow hole 221 .
  • outlet 232 of the bypass passage 230 may be disposed lower than a center C of the blower fan. Also, the outlet 232 of the bypass passage 230 may be disposed lower than the lowest point of the air flow hole 221 .
  • the air flow hole 221 has a diameter D 1
  • the blower fan has a diameter D 2 .
  • the diameter D 2 of the blower fan may be greater than the diameter D 1 of the air flow hole 221 .
  • a limit region having a diameter D 3 greater than the diameter D 2 of the blower fan may be set based on the center C of the blower fan, and the outlet 232 of the bypass passage 230 may be disposed in a region outside the limit region having the diameter D 3 .
  • bypass passage 230 may extend vertically in a straight line shape in the region outside the limit region.
  • the diameter D 3 may be set to 1.5 times or more than the diameter of the blower fan.
  • the bypass passage 230 may extend in the straight line shape so as not to be affected by the air having a fast flow velocity around the air flow hole 221 while reducing the length of the bypass passage 230 , and the outlet 232 may be disposed outside the limit region.
  • FIG. 12 is an enlarged view illustrating the bypass passage and a rib for preventing defrosting water from being introduced according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • frost may be generated in the passage due to a capillary phenomenon in a space between the sensor 270 and a wall defined by the bypass passage 230 in the bypass passage 230 .
  • the senor 270 may be spaced apart from the bottom wall 236 of the bypass passage 230 and the passage cover 260 to prevent the frost from being generated in the passage.
  • the senor 270 may be designed to be spaced at least 1.5 mm from each of the bottom wall 236 and the passage cover 260 (which may be referred to as a “minimum separation distance”).
  • a depth D of the bypass passage 230 may be equal to or larger than a thickness of (2*the minimum separation distance) and the sensor 270 .
  • the left and right width W of the bypass passage 230 may be greater than the depth D.
  • the left and right width W of the bypass passage 230 are larger than the depth D, when the air flows in the bypass passage 230 , a contact area between the air and the sensor 270 increases, and thus, the variation in temperature detected by the sensor 270 may increase.
  • the cool air duct 20 may be provided with a blocking rib 240 for preventing liquid such as defrosting water or moisture generated by being melted during the defrosting process from being introduced into the bypass passage 230 .
  • the blocking rib 240 may be disposed above the outlet 232 of the bypass passage 230 .
  • the blocking rib 240 may have a protrusion shape protruding from the cool air duct 20 .
  • the blocking rib 240 may allow the dropping liquid to be spread horizontally so as to prevent the liquid from being introduced into the bypass passage 230 .
  • the blocking rib 240 may be provided horizontally in a straight line shape or be provided in a rounded shape to be convex upward.
  • the blocking rib 240 may be disposed to overlap with the entire left and right side of the bypass passage 230 in the vertical direction and may have a minimum left and right length greater than the right and left width of the bypass passage 230 .
  • the minimum left and right length of the blocking rib 240 may be set to two times or less of the right and left width W.
  • the length of the blocking rib 240 may be shortened.
  • the defrosting water may flow over the blocking rib 240 and then be introduced into the bypass passage 230 .
  • the blocking rib 240 may be spaced apart from the bypass passage 230 in the vertical direction, and the maximum separation distance may be set within a range of the right and left width W of the bypass passage 230 .
  • the cool air duct 20 may further include a sensor installation groove 235 recessed to install the sensor 270 .
  • the cool air duct 20 may include a bottom wall 236 and both sidewalls 233 and 234 for providing the bypass passage 230 , and the sensor installation groove 235 may be recessed in one or more of both the sidewalls 233 and 234 .
  • the senor 270 may be spaced at the minimum separation distance from the bottom wall 236 and the passage cover 260 as described above.
  • FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a barrier of the passage cover according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating a variation in temperature sensed by the sensor depending on a protruding length of the barrier
  • FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the barrier, taken along line A-A of FIG. 13 .
  • FIGS. 16( a ) and 16( b ) are views illustrating a change in flow of air depending on whether a slot is provided in the barrier
  • FIG. 17 is a graph illustrating a variation in temperature sensed by the sensor depending on a length of the slot defined in the barrier.
  • FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a flow of air introduced into the heat exchange space according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the passage cover 260 may include a cover plate 261 , an upper extension portion 262 and a barrier 263 .
  • the cover plate 261 may cover the bypass passage 230 and may be provided in a thin plate shape.
  • the cover plate 261 may cover the bypass passage 230 in a state of being spaced apart from the bottom wall 236 .
  • a seating groove 235 a for seating the cover plate 261 may be defined vertically in the cool air duct 20 .
  • an outer surface of the cover plate 261 may provide a substantially continuous surface with respect to the cool air duct 20 .
  • the upper extension portion 262 may also cover a portion of the bypass passage 230 and extend to be inclined at a predetermined angle from the cover plate 261 .
  • the upper extension portion 262 is configured to extend to be inclined from the cover plate 261 corresponding to a portion ( 226 : hereinafter, referred to as an “upper inclined portion”) of the cool air duct 20 .
  • the upper extension portion 262 may be omitted, and the cover plate 261 may be provided in the straight line shape.
  • the upper extension portion 262 covers only a portion of the bypass passage 230 . Thus, a portion of the bypass passage 230 is exposed to the outside to be the outlet 232 .
  • a portion of the barrier 263 is disposed outside the bypass passage 230 while the cover plate 261 covers the bypass passage 230 .
  • the barrier 263 may protrude downward from upper and lower extension surfaces 227 of the cool air duct 20 .
  • one portion of the barrier 263 is disposed in the bypass passage 230 , and the other portion protrudes downward from the bypass passage 230 .
  • the barrier 263 includes a rear barrier 267 disposed close to the evaporator 30 , a front barrier 264 spaced forward from the rear barrier 267 , and a plurality of side barriers 265 and 266 connecting the front barrier 264 to the rear barrier 267 .
  • the plurality of side barriers 265 and 266 may be spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. Although not limited, the plurality of side barriers 265 and 266 may be disposed in parallel to each other.
  • the rear barrier 267 is a wall provided to be continuous with the cover plate 261 .
  • the plurality of side barriers 265 and 266 are walls extending forward from the rear barrier 267 .
  • the front barrier 264 is a wall connecting front ends of the plurality of side barriers 265 and 266 to each other.
  • the front barrier 264 is disposed at an opposite side of the evaporator 30 with respect to the rear barrier 267 .
  • a bottom surface of the barrier 263 is opened.
  • a guide passage 268 for guiding air to the bypass passage 230 is provided by the front barrier 264 , the plurality of side barriers 265 and 266 , and the rear barrier 267 .
  • the guide passage 268 is a passage communicating with the bypass passage 230 at the outside of the bypass passage 230 .
  • the guide passage 268 also serves as the bypass passage.
  • a vertical extension surface 227 in which the bypass passage 230 is provided may be a substantially vertical surface.
  • the bypass passage 230 may extend vertically in a straight line shape from the vertical extension surface 227 .
  • the cool air duct 20 may further include an inclined surface 228 extending from a lower end of the vertical extension surface 227 .
  • the inclined surface 228 may extend downward as a distance from the evaporator 30 increases.
  • the inclined surface 228 is a surface that guides the air in the storage space 11 to the heat exchange space 222 .
  • the air in the storage space 11 may flow to be inclined upward by the inclined surface 228 when viewed from a side surface of the heat exchange space 222 .
  • the barrier 263 may serve to limit an introduction of the air flowing to the heat exchange space 222 into the bypass passage 230 when an amount of frost generated on the evaporator 30 is small.
  • the barrier 230 may serve to effectively guide the air introduced into the heat exchange space 222 to the bypass passage 230 when an amount of frost generated on the evaporator 30 is large.
  • the sensing accuracy of the sensor 270 may be improved by the barrier 263 .
  • the change in flow rate of the air is large due to the large and small amount of frost generated on the evaporator 30 , the variation in temperature sensed by the sensor 270 is large, and thus, the time point at which the defrosting is required may be accurately determined.
  • the time point at which the defrosting is required may be determined.
  • a flow rate of air introduced into the bypass passage 230 may vary according to a length of the barrier 263 protruding from the lower end (that is a boundary between the vertical extension surface 227 and the inclined surface 228 ) of the vertical extension surface 227 .
  • a horizontal axis represents the protruding length of the barrier
  • a vertical axis represents the variation in temperature before and after the frost generation.
  • the variation in temperature sensed by the sensor 270 (for example, a difference value between the highest temperature and the lowest temperature) is large.
  • the flow rate of the air flowing through the bypass passage 230 is large even after the frost generation, and the variation in temperature sensed by the sensor 270 is large.
  • the variation between the temperature sensed by the sensor 270 before the frost generation and the temperature sensed by the sensor 270 after the frost generation decreases.
  • the protrusion length of the barrier 230 may be set to a value ranging of about 10 mm to about 17 mm so that the variation in temperature sensed by the sensor 270 before and after the frost generation is greater than the reference variation.
  • the lower end of the barrier 263 may be horizontally disposed.
  • the front barrier 264 and the plurality of side barriers 265 and 266 may be disposed on substantially the same horizontal plane.
  • the accuracy of determining the time point at which the defrosting is required may be improved when the flow rate of the air flowing through the bypass passage 230 is minimized before the frost generation.
  • a slot 269 providing a flow path of air may be defined in the rear barrier 267 so that the air passing through the lower end of the front barrier 264 flows directly to the evaporator 30 .
  • the air passing through the lower end of the front barrier 264 may not collide with the rear barrier 267 , and thus may not directly flow to the bypass passage 230 .
  • the air colliding with the front barrier 264 flows along the plurality of side barriers 265 and 266 and then flows toward the rear barrier 267 .
  • the flow rate of the air flowing to the bypass passage 230 may be determined actually by the flow rate of the air directly introduced into the guide passage 268 of at least the barrier 263 and the flow rate of the air introduced into the barrier 263 along the slot 269 after flowing along a circumference of the barrier 263 .
  • the length of the slot 269 is too long, the flow rate of the air flowing through the slot 269 after flowing along the side barriers 265 and 266 increases, and even before the frost generation, the flow rate of the air flowing into the bypass passage 230 increases.
  • the length of the slot may be set to a value ranging of about 4 mm to about 9 mm so that the flow rate of the air flowing into the bypass passage 230 is minimized before the frost generation.
  • the length of the slot 269 may be designed within a range of about 1 ⁇ 5 to about 1 ⁇ 2 of the protruding length of the barrier 263 .
  • FIG. 19 is a control block diagram of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the refrigerator 1 may further include a defroster 50 operating to defrost the evaporator 30 and a controller 40 controlling the defroster 50 .
  • the controller may be an electronic processor.
  • the defroster 50 may include, for example, a heater. When the heater is turned on, heat generated by the heater is transferred to the evaporator 30 to melt frost generated on the surface of the evaporator 30 .
  • the controller 40 may control the heat generating element 273 of the sensor 270 so as to be turned on with a regular cycle.
  • the heat generating element 273 may be maintained in the turn-on state for a certain time, and a temperature of the heat generating element 273 may be sensed by the sensing element 274 .
  • the heat generating element 274 may be turned off, and the sensing element 274 may sense the temperature of the turned off heat generating element 274 . Also, the sensor PCB 272 may determine whether a maximum value of the temperature difference value in the turn on/off state of the heat generating element 273 is equal to or less than the reference difference value.
  • the defroster 50 may be turned on by the controller 40 .
  • the controller 40 may determine whether the temperature difference value in the turn on/off state of the heat generating element 273 is equal to or less than the reference difference value and then control the defroster 50 according to the determination result.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Defrosting Systems (AREA)
  • Air-Conditioning For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Cold Air Circulating Systems And Constructional Details In Refrigerators (AREA)
  • Measuring Volume Flow (AREA)
  • Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
US16/991,479 2018-02-23 2020-08-12 Refrigerator Abandoned US20200370815A1 (en)

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KR1020180021938A KR102627972B1 (ko) 2018-02-23 2018-02-23 냉장고
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KR20220018176A (ko) 2020-08-06 2022-02-15 엘지전자 주식회사 냉장고
KR20220018179A (ko) 2020-08-06 2022-02-15 엘지전자 주식회사 냉장고
KR20220018181A (ko) 2020-08-06 2022-02-15 엘지전자 주식회사 냉장고
KR20220018182A (ko) 2020-08-06 2022-02-15 엘지전자 주식회사 냉장고
KR20220018175A (ko) 2020-08-06 2022-02-15 엘지전자 주식회사 냉장고
US20230288123A1 (en) 2020-08-06 2023-09-14 Lg Electronics Inc. Refrigerator
KR20220018180A (ko) 2020-08-06 2022-02-15 엘지전자 주식회사 냉장고
KR20220018178A (ko) 2020-08-06 2022-02-15 엘지전자 주식회사 냉장고 및 그의 운전 제어방법
KR20220018177A (ko) 2020-08-06 2022-02-15 엘지전자 주식회사 냉장고
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KR20230000232A (ko) 2021-06-24 2023-01-02 엘지전자 주식회사 냉장고
KR20230000231A (ko) 2021-06-24 2023-01-02 엘지전자 주식회사 냉장고

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CN111771092A (zh) 2020-10-13
CN111771092B (zh) 2022-04-15
KR102627972B1 (ko) 2024-01-23
CN114674108B (zh) 2023-12-15
EP3757487A4 (de) 2021-11-10
EP3757487A1 (de) 2020-12-30
AU2018409749A1 (en) 2020-09-10
WO2019164084A1 (ko) 2019-08-29
AU2018409749B2 (en) 2022-07-28
CN114674108A (zh) 2022-06-28

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