WO2021157110A1

WO2021157110A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2021157110A1
Application number: PCT/JP2020/032087
Authority: WO
Inventors: 祐理石▲崎▼; 遵自鈴木; 圭介服部
Original assignee: 日立グローバルライフソリューションズ株式会社
Priority date: 2020-02-07
Filing date: 2020-08-25
Publication date: 2021-08-12
Also published as: CN113251719A; JP2021124259A; JP7351762B2

Abstract

Provided is a refrigerator with which a food item in a refrigeration compartment can be cooled more rapidly while preventing the food item from freezing. A refrigerator having a cooler for feeding cold air, a storage compartment in a refrigeration temperature range, an airflow path linking the cooler and the storage compartment, and a storage compartment fan. The temperature of the cooler progresses so as to decrease, then increase, and then decrease, during which the storage compartment fan substantially continues driving.

Description

refrigerator

The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

A technology with a rapid cooling function that quickly cools food stored in a storage room, for example, a room in a refrigerated temperature range, has been proposed. It is known that rapid cooling of food can improve the shelf life of food rather than slow cooling, especially when a large amount of cold air is continuously supplied to food that should be stored in the refrigerated temperature range. There is concern that foods that are directly sprayed or parts of such foods may freeze.

Under such circumstances, Patent Document 1 closes the damper when the value obtained by subtracting the temperature inside the refrigerator detected by the temperature sensor 12 from the set temperature Ts is 1 deg or more during the rapid refrigeration operation (steps S504 and 505). It is disclosed that the damper is opened (step S511,512) when the value obtained by subtracting the set temperature Ts from the temperature is 1 deg or more (lower right column on page 3 of the specification, FIG. 6).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-73072

If the cold air supply is interrupted by opening and closing the damper as in Patent Document 1, the cold air supply is stopped while the damper is closed, so that the cooling of food is stopped. In addition, since the agitation of the air in the storage chamber is also stopped, the heat heats the food around the hot food, especially when the hot food is stored in the storage room, and the hot food is hardly cooled. ..

The present invention made in view of the above circumstances
A cooler that supplies cold air and
A storage room in the refrigerated temperature range and
An air passage connecting the cooler and the storage chamber,
With a storage room fan,
A refrigerator in which the temperature of the cooler decreases, then increases, and then decreases, during which the storage chamber fan substantially continues to drive.

In addition, the second invention made in view of the above circumstances is
A cooler that supplies cold air and
A storage room in the refrigerated temperature range and
An air passage connecting the cooler and the storage chamber,
With a storage room fan,
A refrigerator that shows a process of changing the location or direction of the cold air blown out from the air passage and then returning to the original state, during which the storage chamber fan substantially continues to drive.

Front view of the refrigerator of the embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the air passage composition of the refrigerator of an Example. A cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. BB sectional view of FIG. The schematic diagram of the refrigerating cycle of the refrigerator of an Example. Time chart of stable state during non-rapid cooling operation of the refrigerator of the embodiment. It is a time chart including while executing a rapid cooling operation.

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view of the refrigerator 1 of the embodiment.
The heat insulating box body 10 of the refrigerator 1 is open to the front and has a plurality of storage chambers. From the top, the storage chambers are the refrigerating room 2 (first refrigerating temperature zone room), the ice making chambers 3 and the upper freezing chamber 4 arranged side by side, the lower freezing chamber 5, and the vegetable compartment 6 (second refrigerating temperature zone room). To be equipped. Hereinafter, the ice making chamber 3, the upper freezing chamber 4, and the lower freezing chamber 5 are collectively referred to as a freezing chamber 7 (freezing temperature zone chamber).

The front opening of the refrigerating chamber 2 is opened and closed by the rotary refrigerating

chamber doors

2a and 2b divided into left and right, and the front opening of the ice making chamber 3, the upper freezing chamber 4, the lower freezing chamber 5, and the vegetable compartment 6 is opened. It is opened and closed by a pull-out type ice making room door 3a, an upper freezing room door 4a, a lower freezing room door 5a, and a vegetable room door 6a, respectively.

For example, the refrigerator compartment door 2a is provided with an operation unit 99 capable of receiving a command from the user and notifying the user. The operation unit 99 has a rapid cooling button as a reception unit for receiving a rapid cooling command from the user. Further, during the execution of the rapid cooling operation, as a display unit for notifying the fact, for example, an LED or a light transmitting unit that emits and outputs "rapid cooling" in a character shape is provided.

A known rotary partition 98 is provided on the refrigerator compartment door 2a, and a rotary partition heater 61 is provided in the rotary partition 98. Since the cooling air blown upward from the refrigerator chamber discharge port 11a, which will be described later, flows upward on the inner surface of the rotary partition 98 to cool the cooling air, dew condensation may occur on the outer surface of the rotary partition 98. In particular, there is a great risk that rapid cooling, which will be described later, is performed. Therefore, at the time of rapid cooling, it is preferable to increase the output of the rotary partition heater 61 as compared with the normal time.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the air passage configuration of the refrigerator 1 of the embodiment.
The air that has become cold due to heat exchange with the refrigerating cooler 14a is blown to the refrigerating chamber 2 through the refrigerating chamber air passage 11 by driving the refrigerating fan 9a to cool the inside of the refrigerating chamber 2. The air sent to the refrigerating chamber 2 returns from the refrigerating chamber return air passage 15 to the refrigerating cooler chamber 8a.

The air that has become cold due to heat exchange with the freezing cooler 14b is blown to the freezing chamber 7 through the freezing chamber air passage 12 by driving the freezing fan 9b, and cools the inside of the freezing chamber 7. The air sent to the freezing chamber 7 returns from the freezing chamber return air passage 17 to the freezing cooler chamber 8b.

When the vegetable compartment damper 19 is open, a part of the cooling air that has flowed into the freezing chamber air passage 12 passes through the vegetable chamber air passage 13 for the air that has become cold due to heat exchange with the freezing cooler 14b. It reaches the vegetable compartment 6 and cools the inside of the vegetable compartment 6. The air sent to the vegetable compartment 6 flows through the vegetable compartment return air passage 18 and returns to the freezing cooler chamber 8b.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG.
A foam heat insulating material or a vacuum heat insulating material is filled between the outer box 10a and the inner box 10b forming the outer shell of the heat insulating box body 10. A chilled room temperature compensating heater 60 for suppressing overcooling of the chilled room is provided in the lower part of the chilled room 35. Since the chilled room 35 is adjacent to the ice making chamber 3 and the upper freezing chamber 4 in the freezing temperature zone via the heat insulating partition wall 28, the temperature tends to be low. When the rapid cooling operation described later is executed, the food in the chilled room 35 is likely to freeze. Therefore, it is preferable that the output of the chilled room temperature compensating heater 60 is higher than in the normal state during the rapid cooling operation.

A refrigerating cooler room 8a is provided substantially behind the refrigerating room 2, and a refrigerating cooler 14a, which is a fin tube type heat exchanger, is housed in the refrigerating cooler room 8a. A refrigerating fan 9a is provided above the refrigerating cooler 14a. Further, a refrigerating chamber air passage 11 connecting the refrigerating cooler chamber 8a and the refrigerating chamber 2 is provided at substantially the center of the back of the refrigerating chamber 2 in the width direction. A refrigerating chamber discharge port 11a provided with a directing means for directing the blown air upward is provided above the refrigerating chamber air passage 11.

The cooling air blown upward from the refrigerating room discharge port 11a flows along the ceiling surface of the refrigerating room 2 as shown by an arrow in FIG. 2 and reaches the area in front of the refrigerating room 2 and reaches the area in front of the refrigerating room 2 and reaches the shelf 34a. It flows down through the gap between -34c and the door pockets 33a-33c, enters the space behind the chilled room 35, and enters the refrigerating cooler room from the refrigerating room return air passage 15a provided at the lower part of the refrigerating cooler room 8a. Return to 8a.

A freezing cooler room 8b is provided substantially behind the freezing room 7, and a freezing cooler 14b, which is a fin tube type heat exchanger, is housed in the freezing cooler room 8b. A freezing fan 9b is provided above the freezing cooler 14b. Further, the back of the freezing chamber 7 is provided with a freezing chamber air passage 12, and the freezing chamber air passage 12 in front of the freezing fan 9b is provided with a plurality of freezing chamber discharge ports 12a. A freezing chamber return air passage 17 for returning the air sent to the freezing chamber 7 is provided in front of the lower part of the freezing cooler chamber 8b.

The vegetable compartment air passage 13 serving as an air passage to the vegetable chamber 6 is branched from the lower right of the freezing chamber air passage 12 and passes through the heat insulating partition wall 29. The vegetable compartment air passage 13 includes a vegetable compartment damper 19. A vegetable compartment return inlet 18a is provided in front of the lower part of the heat insulating partition wall 29 between the vegetable compartment 6 and the freezing chamber 7, and for freezing via the vegetable compartment return air passage 18 passing through the heat insulating partition wall 29. A flow path leading to the return outlet 18b of the vegetable chamber provided in front of the lower part of the cooler chamber 8b is formed.

For example, the refrigerating room 2, the freezing room 7, and the vegetable room 6 are provided with a refrigerating room temperature sensor 41, a freezing room temperature sensor 42, and a vegetable room temperature sensor 43 on the back side of the refrigerator, and the refrigerating room 2, the freezing room 7, and vegetables are provided, respectively. The temperature of the room 6 is detected. Further, a refrigerating room upper temperature sensor 44 is provided on the ceiling of the refrigerating room 2 to detect the temperature of the upper part of the refrigerating room 2. Further, a refrigerating cooler temperature sensor 40a is provided above the refrigerating cooler 14a, a refrigerating cooler temperature sensor 40b is provided above the refrigerating cooler 14b, and the refrigerating cooler 14a and the refrigerating cooler 14b are provided. The temperature of is detected. Inside the door hinge cover 16 on the ceiling of the refrigerator 1, an outside air temperature / humidity sensor 37 that detects the temperature and humidity of the outside air (outside air) is provided.

A defrost heater 21 for heating the freezing cooler 14b is provided in the lower part of the freezing cooler room 8b. The defrost heater 21 is, for example, an electric heater of 50 W to 200 W. The defrosted water (melted water) generated during the defrosting of the refrigerating cooler 14b flows down to the gutter 23b provided in the lower part of the refrigerating cooler room 8b, and flows down to the refrigerator via the drain port 22b and the refrigerating drain pipe 27b. It reaches the machine room 39 provided in the lower part behind (rear side) of No. 1, and is discharged to the evaporating dish 32 in the upper part of the compressor 24 installed in the machine room 39.

On the ceiling of the refrigerator 1, a control board 31 on which a CPU, a memory such as a ROM or RAM, an interface circuit, etc., which are a part of the control device, is mounted is arranged. The control board 31 is connected to the refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 41, the freezer compartment temperature sensor 42, the vegetable compartment temperature sensor 43, the

cooler temperature sensors

40a, 40b, etc., and the CPU described above sets these output values and the operation unit 99. , ON / OFF and rotation speed control of the compressor 24, the refrigerating fan 9a, and the refrigerating fan 9b, the defrosting heater 21, the gutter heater 101, and the drain pipe upper heater, based on the program recorded in advance in the ROM described above. It controls 102, the drain pipe lower heater 103, and the three-way valve 52, which will be described later.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the refrigerating cycle of the refrigerator 1. The refrigerator 1 is a compressor 24 that compresses the refrigerant, an external radiator 50a that is located downstream of the compressor 24 and dissipates the refrigerant, a wall surface heat dissipation pipe 50b, and a heat insulating partition that is located downstream of the compressor 24 and dissipates the refrigerant. At one of the outlets 52a of the dew condensation suppression pipe 50c that suppresses dew condensation on the front edges of the

walls

28, 29, and 30, the three-way valve 52 as a refrigerant switching valve located downstream of the radiator 50a-50c, and the three-way valve 52. Refrigerant capillary tube 53a that is connected to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant, refrigerating capillary tube 53b that is connected to the other outlet 52b of the three-way valve 52 to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant, and is located downstream of the refrigerating capillary tube 53a to evaporate the refrigerant. It is provided with a refrigerating cooler 14a that absorbs heat (supplies cold air) and a refrigerating cooler 14b that is located downstream of the refrigerating capillary tube 53b and absorbs heat by evaporating the refrigerant. These various components are connected in an annular shape by a refrigerant pipe.

In addition, a dryer 51 for removing water during the refrigeration cycle is provided upstream of the three-way valve 52. A refrigerating gas-liquid separator 54a and a refrigerating gas-liquid separator 54b for preventing the liquid refrigerant from flowing into the compressor 24 are provided downstream of the refrigerating cooler 14a and downstream of the refrigerating cooler 14b, respectively. There is. A check valve 56 is provided downstream of the freezing gas-liquid separator 54b and upstream of the confluence portion downstream of the

capillary tubes

53a and 53b.

The temperature of the refrigerating cooler 14a can be adjusted by the rotation speed of the compressor 24 and the refrigerating fan 9a. The temperature of the freezing cooler 14b can be adjusted by the rotation speed of the compressor 24 and the freezing fan 9b.

The three-way valve 52 includes an outlet 52a and an outlet 52b, and the following modes are possible.
A refrigerating mode in which the refrigerant flows to the refrigerating capillary tube 53a side with the outflow port 52a in the open state and the outflow port 52b in the closed state.
A freezing mode in which the refrigerant flows to the refrigerating capillary tube 53b side with the outlet 52a closed and the outlet 52b open.
Fully closed mode in which both the

outlets

52a and 52b are closed.

Regardless of the mode of the three-way valve 52, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 24 flows through the external radiator 50a, the external radiator 50b, and the dew condensation suppression pipe 50c to dissipate heat, and is dissipated through the dryer 51. It reaches 52.

In the refrigerating mode, the refrigerant flows through the refrigerating capillary tube 53a, is depressurized, reaches the refrigerating cooler 14a, and exchanges heat with the return air of the refrigerating chamber 2. The refrigerant discharged from the refrigerating cooler 14a passes through the refrigerating gas-liquid separator 54a, flows through the contact portion 57a with the refrigerating capillary tube 53a, and is compressed after exchanging heat with the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerating capillary tube 53a. Return to machine 24.

In the freezing mode, the refrigerant flows through the freezing capillary tube 53b, is depressurized, reaches the freezing cooler 14b, and exchanges heat with the return air of the freezing chamber 7. When the vegetable compartment damper 19 is in the open state, heat is further exchanged with the return air of the vegetable compartment 6. The refrigerant discharged from the freezing cooler 14b passes through the freezing gas-liquid separator 54b, flows through the contact portion 57b with the freezing capillary tube 53b, exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing in the freezing capillary tube 53b, and is compressed. Return to machine 24.

In the fully closed mode, even if the compressor 24 is driven, the refrigerant is not supplied from the

capillary tubes

53a and 53b. Therefore, the refrigerant in the

coolers

14a and 14b is sucked into the compressor 24 and compressed before being discharged. And collected in the radiator 50.

The refrigerator of this embodiment can be operated as follows.
"Refrigerating operation" in which the three-way valve 52 is controlled to the refrigerating mode to cool the refrigerating chamber 2.
"Frozen vegetable operation" in which the freezing chamber 7 and the vegetable compartment 6 are cooled by controlling the freezing mode and opening the vegetable compartment damper 19.
A "freezing operation" in which the freezing chamber 7 is cooled by controlling the freezing mode and closing the vegetable compartment damper 19.
A "refrigerant recovery operation" in which the compressor 24 is driven by controlling the fully closed mode to recover the refrigerant to the heat radiating means side.
"Operation stop" that controls the fully closed mode and puts the compressor 24 in a stopped state.
Controlling the state in which the refrigerant does not flow into the refrigerating cooler 14a and driving the refrigerating fan 9a, while cooling the refrigerating chamber 2 with the frost grown on the surface of the refrigerating cooler 14a and the cold storage heat of the cooler itself. "Refrigerator defrosting operation" for defrosting the refrigerating cooler 14a.
By controlling the fully closed mode to stop the compressor 24, stop the freezing fan 9b, and energize the defrost heater 21, the freezing cooler 14b is defrosted. Frost operation ".

FIG. 6 is a time chart of a stable state during non-rapid cooling operation when installed in an environment where the outside air is 32 ° C and the relative humidity is 70%. In the ON state of the compressor 24 and the

fans

9a and 9b, the rotation speed increases from the speed 1 to the speed 4.

T0 is the time when the refrigerating operation for cooling the refrigerating chamber 2 is started. The three-way valve 52 is controlled to the refrigerating mode, the compressor 24 is driven at a speed of 1, and the refrigerant is supplied to the refrigerating cooler 14a, so that the temperature of the refrigerating cooler 14a is lowered. When the refrigerating fan 9a is driven at a speed of 2, the air that has passed through the refrigerating cooler 14a and has become low temperature is blown out from the refrigerating chamber discharge port 11a into the refrigerating chamber 2, and the refrigerating chamber 2 is cooled to a temperature. Is declining.

Here, the time average temperature of the refrigerating cooler 14a during the refrigerating operation is −6 ° C., which is higher than the time average temperature of the refrigerating cooler 14b during the refrigerating operation described later, which is −24 ° C. Generally, the higher the cooler temperature (evaporation temperature), the higher the coefficient of performance of the refrigeration cycle (the ratio of the amount of heat absorbed to the input of the compressor 24), and the higher the energy saving performance. In the freezer chamber 7, it is necessary to lower the temperature of the refrigerating cooler 14b in order to maintain the freezing temperature, but since the refrigerating chamber 2 may be maintained at the refrigerating temperature, the temperature of the refrigerating cooler 14a should be increased. The rotation speed of the refrigerating fan 9a and the compressor 24 is controlled to improve the energy saving performance.

The refrigerating room temperature TR detected by the refrigerating room temperature sensor 41 at time t1 drops to the refrigerating operation end temperature TR_off, and the refrigerating operation ends. In this embodiment, after the completion, the operation is switched to the refrigerant recovery operation. In the refrigerant recovery operation, the three-way valve 52 is controlled to the fully closed mode, the compressor 24 is driven at a speed of 1, the refrigerating fan 9a is driven at a speed of 2, and the refrigerant in the refrigerating cooler 14a is recovered for, for example, 2 minutes ( ΔTA1 = 2min). As a result, the amount of refrigerant that can be supplied to the freezing cooler 14b can be secured, and the shortage of refrigerant in the subsequent frozen vegetable operation or freezing operation can be suppressed. At this time, by driving the refrigerating fan 9a, the residual refrigerant in the refrigerating cooler 14a is utilized for cooling the refrigerating chamber 2, and the refrigerating cooler is heated by the air in the refrigerating chamber 2. The pressure drop in 14a is alleviated. As a result, the increase in the specific volume of the suction refrigerant of the compressor 24 is suppressed, a large amount of refrigerant can be recovered in a relatively short time, and the cooling efficiency can be improved.

Time t2 is the time when the refrigerant recovery operation is completed. It is determined whether to execute the refrigerating cooler defrosting operation. Here, it is determined that the refrigerating fan 9a is driven at a speed of 1, and the refrigerating cooler defrosting operation is performed. As a result, the temperature of the refrigerating cooler 14a rises, and the temperature rise of the refrigerating chamber 2 is alleviated by the cooling effect of frost and the cold storage heat of the refrigerating cooler 14a. By providing the mode for driving the refrigerating fan 9a by performing the defrosting operation of the refrigerating cooler 14a in this way, the driving time of the refrigerating fan 9a is longer than the driving time of the refrigerating fan 9b described later. In addition, the air in the refrigerator compartment is circulated for a long time, so that the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment can be equalized.

Further, since the freezing room temperature TF detected by the freezing room temperature sensor 42 at time t2 is equal to or higher than the frozen vegetable operation start temperature TF_on, the frozen vegetable operation is started, the vegetable room 6 is cooled, and the vegetable room temperature TV is lowered. ing. In the frozen vegetable operation, the three-way valve 52 is controlled to the freezing mode, the compressor 24 is driven at a speed of 2, the refrigerant is supplied to the freezing cooler 14b, and the freezing cooler 14b becomes low in temperature. In this state, the vegetable compartment damper 19 is opened, and the freezing fan 9b is driven at a speed of 1, so that the freezing chamber 7 and the vegetable compartment 6 are cooled by the air that has passed through the freezing cooler 14b and has become cold. NS.

When the vegetable room temperature TV detected by the vegetable room temperature sensor 43 reaches the vegetable room cooling end temperature TV_off at time t3, the vegetable room damper 19 is closed and the operation shifts to the freezing operation.

At time t4, the freezing room temperature TF detected by the freezing room temperature sensor 42 reaches the freezing operation end temperature TF_off, and the freezing operation ends. At this time, since the refrigerating room temperature TR detected by the refrigerating room temperature sensor 41 has reached the refrigerating operation start temperature TR_on or higher, the refrigerating operation start condition is satisfied and the refrigerant recovery operation is performed. In the refrigerant recovery operation, the three-way valve 52 is controlled to the fully closed mode, the compressor 24 is driven at a speed of 2, the refrigerating fan 9b is driven at a speed of 1, and the refrigerant in the refrigerating cooler 14b is recovered for, for example, 1.5 minutes. (ΔtB1 = 1.5min). As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in cooling efficiency due to a shortage of refrigerant in the next refrigerating operation. At this time, by driving the freezing fan 9b, the residual refrigerant in the freezing cooler 14b is utilized for cooling the freezing chamber 7, and the inside of the freezing cooler 14b is heated by heating with air in the freezing chamber 7. Pressure drop is alleviated. As a result, the increase in the specific volume of the suction refrigerant of the compressor 24 is suppressed, a large amount of refrigerant can be recovered in a relatively short time, and the cooling efficiency can be improved.

The operations in which the freezing chamber 7 is cooled are the frozen vegetable operation (t2 to t3), the freezing operation (t3 to t4), and the refrigerant recovery operation (t4 to t5), and for freezing during these operations. The freezing fan 9b and the compressor 24 are controlled so that the time average temperature of the cooler 14b is about −24 ° C. Further, the time average value of the air temperature discharged from the refrigerating chamber during the refrigerating operation in which the refrigerating fan 9a is driven and the refrigerating cooler defrosting operation is -1.5 ° C., and refrigerating. The temperature is higher than the arithmetic mean value (-8 ° C.) of the room maintenance temperature TF_keep (4 ° C.) and the refrigerating room maintenance temperature TR_keep (-20 ° C.).

The refrigerating operation was started again from t5 during the time when the refrigerant recovery operation was completed, and the above-mentioned operation was periodically repeated thereafter. It is maintained at 7 ° C.

FIG. 7 is a time chart of the rapid cooling operation. As described above, the rapid cooling operation may be started by an explicit command such as pressing an operation switch by the user, or a region suitable for rapid cooling and a food that detects that food or the like is placed in this region. A sensor may be provided and automatically started by sensor detection.

The temperature of food that the user wants to cool by rapid cooling is called "load temperature". It is assumed that the initial load temperature charged into the storage chamber is higher than the storage chamber temperature (refrigerating chamber temperature TR in this embodiment) and the temperature of other foods in the refrigerating chamber 2.

When the high temperature food that the user wants to quench is put in the refrigerating chamber 2, the rapid cooling button of the operation unit 99 is pressed, and the rapid cooling command is received, the rapid cooling control is started, preferably the rapid cooling LED is turned on to the user. Notifies that rapid cooling has started.

For convenience of explanation, the rapid cooling control of this embodiment will be described in three stages (Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3). The end condition of each phase is controlled by the timer or the detection temperature of the refrigerating room temperature sensor 41 and / or the refrigerating room upper temperature sensor 44. If the rapid cooling command is canceled in the middle of the operation by the user, all the phases are terminated at that time, the rapid cooling control is terminated, the rapid cooling LED is turned off, and the normal operation control is restored.

When the rapid cooling control starts, Phase 1 (quenching step) is started first. In the phase 1, the three-way valve 52 is controlled to the refrigerating mode, and the compressor 24 operates to supply the refrigerant to the refrigerating cooler 14a and drive the refrigerating fan 9a. That is, the refrigerant circulates in the refrigerating cooler 14a to lower the temperature of the refrigerating cooler 14a, and the refrigerating fan 9a can be driven (preferably executed at a higher speed than the non-rapid cooling control or in the non-rapid cooling control). Since the speed is 2 or 3), which is the highest speed among the speeds, the low-temperature cold air that has exchanged heat with the refrigerating cooler 14a is blown to the refrigerating chamber 2 via the refrigerating chamber air passage 11 and the refrigerating chamber discharge port 11a. The temperature of the refrigerator compartment 2 drops. In the time chart, it seems that the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 2 starts to decrease at the same time when it is controlled to the refrigerating mode, but in reality, after being controlled to the refrigerating mode, the temperature of the refrigerating cooler 14a decreases and the refrigerating chamber 2 is cooled. Therefore, there is a slight delay between the control of the three-way valve 52 and the temperature drop of the refrigerating cooler 14a and the refrigerating chamber 2.

In the quenching step, the temperature of the entire refrigerating chamber 2 may be lowered as in the present embodiment, or a region for intensively supplying cold air is set as a part of the refrigerating chamber 2, and the temperature is lowered around this region. You may let me.

After that, when a predetermined time elapses or the detected temperatures of the refrigerating room temperature sensor 41 and / or the refrigerating room upper temperature sensor 44 become equal to or less than the predetermined values, Phase 1 ends. It is preferable that the temperature threshold value of the refrigerating room temperature sensor 41 for determining the end of Phase 1 is set lower than the normal refrigerating operation end temperature TR_off.

By executing the quenching step in Phase 1, which is the first stage, the food can be cooled immediately after the start of rapid cooling. Even if food is taken out during the rapid cooling control or the rapid cooling command is canceled, the food that the user wants to quench cools faster than during normal operation if the refrigerating fan 9a is driven at high speed. Therefore, the user can enjoy the effect of rapid cooling even in a short time.

In Phase 2 (slow cooling step), while the refrigerating fan 9a is driven (preferably driven at high speed), the supply of refrigerant to the refrigerating cooler 14a is reduced or cut off. In this embodiment, the three-way valve 52 is controlled to the freezing mode to execute "freezing operation" or "frozen vegetable operation". The three-way valve 52 may be controlled in the fully closed mode and the compressor 24 may be controlled in the stopped state. Since the temperature of the refrigerating cooler 14a rises due to a decrease or interruption of the refrigerant supply, when the refrigerating fan 9a is driven, air having a higher temperature than the quenching step circulates in the refrigerating chamber 2. Since the temperature of the air circulating in the refrigerating chamber 2 is high in the slow cooling step, it is possible to prevent the food in the refrigerating chamber 2 from freezing.

In the time chart, it seems that the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 2 starts to rise at the same time when it is controlled to the refrigerating mode, but in reality, even after being controlled to the refrigerating mode and the refrigerant supply is cut off, it is possible to cool with some residual refrigerant. Therefore, there is a slight delay time until the temperature of the refrigerating cooler 14a rises.

In this time chart, the three-way valve 52 is set to the refrigerating mode or the fully closed mode in order to execute the slow cooling step, but instead of the refrigerating fan 9a arranged outside the refrigerating chamber 2, for example, the refrigerating cooler chamber 8a. Alternatively or additionally, a refrigerating room fan (referred to as a refrigerating room circulation fan when it is particularly necessary to distinguish between them) can be provided in the refrigerating room 2. In this case, the slow cooling step can be executed regardless of the state of the three-way valve 52. Specifically, since the cold air can be circulated in the refrigerating chamber 2 by driving the refrigerating chamber circulation fan, the temperature of the part of the food that is locally lowered and may be frozen is raised, and other parts are raised. Since the cold air in the refrigerating chamber 2 comes into contact with the portion and other foods, the temperature rise can be suppressed. In this case, the refrigerating chamber fan on the refrigerating chamber 8a side can be stopped as needed while the refrigerating chamber circulation fan is being driven. Further, a refrigerating chamber damper may be provided between the refrigerating chamber 2 and the refrigerating cooler chamber 8a (which may be an air passage or a return air passage) and may be closed while the refrigerating chamber circulation fan is being driven.

In the slow cooling step, if the temperature of the food that is easily rapidly cooled is already lower than the circulating air temperature, the temperature rises due to the circulating air, so freezing is suppressed. Further, in the slow cooling step, foods having a temperature higher than the circulating air temperature among the foods in the target storage chamber are cooled by the circulating air. Therefore, it is less necessary to strictly determine the timing of the transition from Phase 1 to Phase 2. Therefore, the time for executing the phase 1 (quenching step) may be predetermined and timed by a timer without separately providing a sensor for detecting the food temperature.

Further, if the compressor 24 is stopped during the phase 2, the above-mentioned quenching effect can be obtained while suppressing the power consumption to be smaller than that of operating the compressor 24, so that energy-saving rapid cooling can be executed. Whether or not to operate the compressor 24 can be determined by the temperature of the other storage room at the time of transition to Phase 2, that is, the temperature detected by the freezing room temperature sensor 42 and the vegetable room temperature sensor 43. If those temperatures are sufficiently low, it is preferable to stop the compressor 24 to reduce the power consumption. Even if the compressor 24 is stopped at the start of Phase 2, if the temperature of the other storage chamber rises in the middle of Phase 2, the compressor 24 is operated from the middle of Phase 2 to perform "freezing operation". Alternatively, by executing "frozen vegetable operation", the food storage temperature can be maintained appropriately while keeping the power consumption low. Phase 2 ends when the timer detects the passage of a predetermined time, or when the temperatures detected by the refrigerating room temperature sensor 41 and / or the refrigerating room upper temperature sensor 44 become equal to or higher than the predetermined values. .. Since it is not easy to detect a temperature rise in a region where freezing is a concern due to temperature fluctuations of the refrigerating

chamber temperature sensors

41 and 44, determination by a timer is preferable.

After the completion of Phase 2, the process proceeds to Phase 3 (quenching step). Phase 3 may have the same control as Phase 1, and when the execution time is set by the timer, changes may be given such as shortening the execution time.
At least in Phase 3, the refrigerating mode for supplying the refrigerant to the refrigerating cooler 14a is controlled again, and the refrigerating fan 9a is driven. Since the temperature inside the refrigerating chamber 2 is equalized and the average temperature inside the refrigerating chamber 2 is raised by the slow cooling step of the phase 2, the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 2 is adjusted by executing the quenching step again. Let it descend.

When the phase 3 is completed, the rapid cooling control is terminated in this embodiment, the rapid cooling LED is turned off, and the normal operation control is restored. If necessary, the process may shift to Phase 2 again, and Phases 2 and 3 may be repeated.

As described above, in this embodiment, the cooling rate can be improved while suppressing the freezing of food by alternately executing the quenching step and the slow cooling step. For example, when a warm lunch box is stored in the refrigerating chamber 2 and rapid cooling is performed, the refrigerating fan 9a substantially continues to be driven during the rapid cooling operation, so that the air around the lunch box continues to circulate. As a result, it is possible to prevent the air around the lunch box from staying warm, so that it is possible to suppress the temperature rise of other foods around the lunch box and suppress the so-called aging of the food.

In general, low-temperature air tends to collect downward, and the temperature of the lower part of the refrigerator chamber 2 tends to be lower than that of the upper part. Since the temperature can be made uniform, the storage place for the high-temperature food to be stored when the rapid cooling operation is executed can be not only the lower part of the refrigerating chamber 2 but also the upper part. Since the refrigerating room temperature sensor 41 is provided below the center of the refrigerating room 2 and the refrigerating room upper temperature sensor 44 is provided on the ceiling of the refrigerator, the temperatures of the upper and lower parts of the refrigerating room 2 are detected during rapid cooling. can. For this reason, for example, if a plurality of refrigerating chamber discharge ports 11a are preferably provided, a damper capable of opening and closing the cold air discharged from each, and a louver capable of switching the discharge direction of the cold air are provided, the upper and lower portions thereof can be switched. By controlling according to the detected temperature, it is possible to facilitate temperature equalization.
The rapid cooling operation of this embodiment can also be performed in a so-called single cooling type refrigerator having only one cooler. Further, it can be executed not only in the refrigerating room but also in other non-freezing temperature zone storage rooms such as a vegetable room and a chilled room above the freezing point.

In this embodiment, freezing was suppressed by changing the temperature of the cooler while driving the refrigerating fan 9a, but freezing was suppressed by changing the location and direction of the cold air supplied to the refrigerating chamber 2. May be good. For example, the location and direction of blowing out may be changed in Phase 2 and returned in Phase 3.

1 Refrigerator 2

Refrigerator room

2a, 2b Refrigerator room door 3 Ice making room 4 Upper freezer room 5 Lower freezer

room Freezer room

3a, 4a, 5a Freezer room door 6 Vegetable room 6a Vegetable room door 7 Freezer room 8a Refrigerator room 8b Refrigerator Refrigerator room

9a Refrigerator fan

9b Refrigerator fan 10 Insulation box body

10a Outer box

10b Inner box 11 Refrigerator room air passage 11a Refrigerator room air outlet 12 Freezer room air passage 12a Freezer room air outlet 13 Vegetable room air passage 13a Vegetable room Discharge port 14a Refrigerator (refrigerator)
14b Freezing cooler (freezing evaporator)
15a, 15b, 15c Refrigerator return air passage 16 Hing cover 17 Freezer room return port 18 Vegetable room return air passage 18a Vegetable room return port 19 Vegetable room damper 21

Radiant heater

22a,

22b Drain port

23a, 23b Hi 24 Compressor 25 Wind Road 26 Outside fan 27a Refrigerator drain pipe 27b

Refrigerator drain pipe

28, 29, 30 Insulation partition wall 31 Control board 32 Evaporator 35 Chilled room 39 Machine room 40a Refrigerator cooler temperature sensor 40b Refrigerator temperature sensor 41 Refrigerator room temperature sensor 42 Freezer room temperature sensor 43 Vegetable room temperature sensor 44 Refrigerator room

upper temperature sensor

50a, 50b External radiator (radiator)
50c Condensation suppression piping (radiator)
51 Dryer 52 Three-way valve (refrigerant switching valve)
53a Capillary tube for refrigeration (decompression part)
53b Capillary tube for freezing (decompression part)
54a Refrigerator gas-liquid separator 54b Refrigerator gas-liquid separator 55a, 55b Heat exchange part 56 Check valve 60 Chilled room temperature compensation heater 61 Rotating partition heater 91

Deodorizing member

95a, 95b Refrigerator room packing 96a, 96b, 96c Refrigerator room Packing 97 Vegetable room packing 98 Rotating partition 101 Higashi part heater 102 Drain pipe upper heater 103 Drain pipe lower heater

Claims

A cooler that supplies cold air and
A storage room in the refrigerated temperature range and
An air passage connecting the cooler and the storage chamber,
With a storage room fan,
A refrigerator in which the temperature of the cooler decreases, then increases, and then decreases, during which the storage chamber fan substantially continues to drive.
In response to the detection of the rapid cooling operation command, the temperature of the cooler decreases, then rises, and then decreases, and during this period, the storage chamber fan substantially continues to drive the rapid cooling operation control. The refrigerator according to claim 1 to be executed.
After the detection of the rapid cooling operation command, the driving speed of the storage chamber fan is set for a part or almost all of the time during which the temperature of the cooler decreases, then increases, and then decreases. The refrigerator according to claim 2, which is higher than before or immediately before the detection of the rapid cooling operation command.
It has a heater or heating unit provided in the storage chamber, and has a heater or a heating unit.
After the detection of the rapid cooling operation command, the temperature of the heater or the heating unit is lowered for a part or almost all of the time during which the temperature of the cooler is lowered, then raised, and then lowered. The refrigerator according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the calorific value increases from before or immediately before the detection of the rapid cooling operation command.
A refrigeration cycle comprising the cooler and a refrigerant switching valve for changing the amount of refrigerant supplied to the cooler.
After the mode of the refrigerant switching valve is changed and the amount of refrigerant supplied to the cooler is reduced or cut off, the temperature of the cooler rises.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the temperature of the cooler decreases after the mode of the refrigerant switching valve is changed and the amount of refrigerant supplied to the cooler increases.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the storage chamber fan is arranged in a place other than the storage chamber in a loop of cold air including the cooler and the storage chamber.
It has a damper provided in a loop of cold air including the cooler and the storage chamber.
The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the damper is closed between the time when the temperature of the cooler rises and the time when the temperature of the cooler falls again.
The refrigerator according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the storage chamber fan is arranged in the storage chamber in a loop of cold air including the cooler and the storage chamber.
The rapid cooling operation command according to any one of claims 2 to 4, which is a command generated by a user operation or a command issued by a detection means for detecting food input to a part of the storage chamber. refrigerator.
A cooler that supplies cold air and
A storage room in the refrigerated temperature range and
An air passage connecting the cooler and the storage chamber,
With a storage room fan,
A refrigerator that shows a process of changing the location or direction of the cold air blown out from the air passage and then returning to the original state, during which the storage chamber fan substantially continues to drive.