JP2005180719A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator of which refrigerating cycle efficiency at the time of cooling a refrigerating chamber is enhanced. <P>SOLUTION: A damper 8 for the refrigerating chamber is provided in a duct 13 for refrigerating the refrigerating chamber, a damper 17 for a first freezing chamber is provided in a duct 15 for refrigerating the freezing chamber and a damper 18 for a second freezing chamber is provided in a freezing chamber suction duct 16. Only the damper 8 for the refrigerating chamber is opened to cool down only the refrigerating chamber 1. The refrigerating chamber 1 can be cooled down while the freezing chamber 2, where the temperature is low, is completely separated and a cooler 3 can be made to be high evaporation temperature by making the cooler 3 to suck in air only from inside of the refrigerating chamber 1 at a relatively high temperature. Thus, efficiency of a freezing cycle and energy-saving is improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator with improved cooling efficiency.

  In recent years, refrigerators have been required to save energy from the viewpoint of protecting the global environment, and from refrigerators equipped with a cooling cycle for cooling a refrigerator room and a freezer room with one conventional cooler, Refrigerators that are provided with independent coolers in the freezer compartment and cool the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment separately are becoming mainstream. However, the refrigerator has a drawback that the production cost is greatly increased due to an increase in functional parts such as a cooler constituting a cooling cycle, and high efficiency at a low cost is required.

  With regard to increasing the efficiency of a refrigerator that performs cooling with a single cooler, a method has been adopted in which cooling of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment is controlled using a damper for the refrigerator compartment and a damper for the freezer compartment (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).

  FIG. 3 shows the basic configuration of a conventional refrigerator described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, a refrigerator compartment 1 and a freezer compartment 2 are formed in a partition in a refrigerator main body made of a heat insulating box. The cooler 3 constituting the refrigeration cycle is disposed in the cooler duct 4, and the outlet side of the cooler duct 4 communicates with the suction side of the cooling fan 5, and the discharge side of the cooling fan 5. Is communicated with each inlet of the refrigerator compartment duct 6 and the freezer compartment duct 7.

  The outlet of the refrigerator compartment duct 6 communicates with the upper part of the refrigerator compartment 1, and the outlet of the freezer compartment duct 7 communicates with the upper part of the refrigerator compartment 2. A refrigerator compartment damper 8 that is opened and closed by a motor is disposed, and a freezer compartment damper 9 that is opened and closed by an electric motor is disposed in the freezer compartment duct 7. Further, a branch duct 10 is disposed in the refrigerator compartment duct 6 so as to bypass the refrigerator compartment damper 8, and the branch duct 10 has a flow resistance higher than that of the refrigerator compartment duct 6. The cross-sectional area is set to be smaller than that of the refrigerator compartment duct 6 so as to be large.

  Further, inside the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2, a refrigerator compartment temperature detecting means 11 and a freezer compartment temperature means 12 for detecting the inside temperature of the refrigerator are arranged.

  When the control means (not shown) detects that the temperature detected by the refrigerator temperature means 11 and the temperature detected by the freezer temperature detection means 12 are equal to or higher than the upper limit temperature set for each, the compressor and the cooling fan 5 (not shown) are driven. At the same time, the freezer damper 9 is opened and cooling of the freezer 2 is started. At this time, cold air is also supplied to the refrigerating chamber 1 through the branch duct 10 having a larger flow path resistance than the refrigerating chamber duct 6.

Thereby, since the cooler 3 sucks the air in the refrigerator compartment 1 having a high temperature even when the freezer compartment 2 is cooled, it is possible to prevent the evaporation temperature of the cooler 3 from being lowered when the freezer compartment 2 is cooled. The coefficient of performance (COP) of the refrigeration cycle increases as the evaporation temperature increases and decreases as the evaporation temperature decreases, so that the COP of the refrigeration cycle can be improved and the power consumption can be reduced.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-100976

  However, in the above conventional configuration, since the return air passage of the freezer compartment 2 is open, the freezer compartment damper is closed when the refrigerator compartment 1 is cooled, but the amount of cold air (for example, −18 ° C.) in the freezer compartment 2 is small. Is sucked into the cooler 3, it is difficult to raise the evaporation temperature of the cooler 3 to -18 ° C or higher when the refrigerator compartment 1 is cooled, and there is a problem that there is a limit to improvement of COP.

  Moreover, since the refrigerator compartment 1 is cooled through the branch duct 10 when the freezer compartment 2 is cooled, it is difficult to independently control the temperature of the refrigerator compartment 1 and the refrigerator compartment 2, and the defroster of the cooler 3 using a defrost heater. Since warm air sometimes flows into the freezer compartment 2 from the downstream side of the freezer compartment 2, the temperature rise of the freezer compartment 2 at the time of defrosting cannot be prevented, resulting in an increase in power consumption after defrosting.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described conventional problems, and to provide a refrigerator capable of reducing power consumption by improving the efficiency of a refrigeration cycle during cooling in a refrigerator and suppressing temperature rise in the freezer during defrosting.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the refrigerator of the present invention includes a freezer cooling duct that is connected from a cooler to a freezer compartment through a cooling fan, and a freezer compartment suction duct that is connected to the cooler from the freezer compartment. A room damper is provided.

  As a result, when the refrigerator compartment is cooled, the respective refrigerator compartment dampers are closed, and the refrigerator compartment can be cooled in a state where the ducts around the freezer compartment and the freezer compartment are completely separated from the duct for the refrigerator compartment.

  Since the refrigerator of the present invention can cool the refrigerator compartment in a state where the freezer compartment and the duct around the refrigerator compartment are completely separated from the refrigerator compartment duct, the air sucked into the cooler is relatively By using only the air in the refrigerated room at a high temperature, the cooler can be raised to a high evaporation temperature, so that the coefficient of performance of the refrigeration cycle is improved and energy saving can be achieved.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a refrigerator compartment, a freezer compartment, a cooler for cooling the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment, a cooling fan, and the refrigerator through the cooling fan from the refrigerator. A refrigerator compartment cooling duct connected to the refrigerator compartment, a refrigerator compartment suction duct connecting from the refrigerator compartment to the cooler, a refrigerator compartment cooling duct connecting the refrigerator to the refrigerator compartment through the cooling fan, and the refrigerator compartment A freezer compartment suction duct connected to the cooler, a refrigerator compartment damper disposed in the refrigerator compartment cooling duct, a first freezer compartment damper disposed in the refrigerator compartment cooling duct, and the freezer By including the second freezer damper disposed in the room suction duct, the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment can be cooled by independent cooling air passages.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when the refrigerating room damper is opened, the first freezing room damper and the second freezing room damper are closed to cool the refrigerating room. By providing the control means, the refrigerator compartment can be cooled in a state where the freezer compartment and the duct around the freezer compartment at a low temperature are completely separated from the duct for the refrigerator compartment, so that the air sucked into the cooler By using only the air in the refrigerated room having a relatively high temperature, the cooler can have a high evaporation temperature, so that the coefficient of performance of the refrigeration cycle is improved and energy saving can be achieved.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the refrigeration room temperature detection means disposed in the refrigeration chamber and the freezer compartment temperature detection means disposed in the freezer compartment each detect a predetermined temperature or more. Then, the refrigerator for the refrigerator compartment, the damper for the first freezer compartment, and the damper for the second refrigerator compartment are opened, and a control means for simultaneously cooling the refrigerator compartment and the refrigerator compartment is provided. When the load in the freezer compartment is small, perform energy-saving operation by switching between the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment by the action of each damper, and perform simultaneous cooling when both the refrigerator compartment and freezer compartment loads are large This makes it possible to achieve both energy savings and suppression of freshness deterioration of food in the warehouse.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the motor for driving the refrigerator for the refrigerator compartment and the damper for the first freezer compartment is integrated. As a result, the internal volume can be increased by reducing the cost and reducing the size of the damper.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cooler is placed on the refrigerator compartment side of the refrigerator inner box constituting the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment. By disposing, by preventing the cooler temperature from being lowered due to the temperature effect of the relatively low temperature freezer room, the cooler at the time of cooling the refrigerating room can be further increased in evaporation temperature, and energy saving can be achieved.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, further comprising a defrost heater for defrosting the cooler, and for the refrigerator compartment when the defrost heater is energized. By closing all of the damper, the first freezer damper and the second freezer damper, it is possible to completely block the warm air flowing into the freezer compartment during defrosting, thus preventing the freshness of food from deteriorating due to temperature rise. It becomes possible. Moreover, since the workload of the compressor after defrosting can be reduced, energy saving can also be achieved.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein only the refrigerating room damper is opened for a predetermined time and the cooling fan is operated while the compressor is stopped. It is possible to increase the humidity in the refrigerator compartment by reducing the frost attached to the cooler into the refrigerator compartment during the compressor operation. Moreover, since the defrosting of the cooler can be performed in a state where the amount of frost adhering to the cooler is reduced, the defrosting time can be shortened, and food freshness deterioration can be suppressed and energy saving can be achieved. Further, when the compressor is stopped, the defrost heater can be abolished by completely adhering to the cooler with the relatively high temperature air in the refrigerator compartment to defrost the frost, and the cost can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
1 and 2 show schematic views of the refrigerator in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same structure as background art.

  In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the refrigerator compartment 1 which is a relatively high temperature compartment is disposed in the upper part, and the freezer compartment 2 which is a relatively low temperature compartment is disposed in the lower part. For example, it is insulated from the surroundings with a heat insulating material such as urethane. Moreover, taking in and out of stored items such as food is performed through a heat insulating door (not shown).

  The refrigerator compartment 1 is usually set at 1 to 5 ° C. for refrigerated storage, but may be set at a slightly lower temperature, for example, −3 to 0 ° C. to improve the freshness, and may be used depending on the stored items. In some cases, a person can freely switch the temperature setting as described above. In addition, in order to preserve wine, root vegetables, etc., the temperature may be set slightly higher, for example, around 10 ° C.

  The freezer compartment 6 is usually set at −22 to −18 ° C. for frozen storage, but may be set at a lower temperature, for example −30 to −25 ° C., for improving freshness.

  The cooler 3 is a heat exchanger composed of, for example, a copper tube and an aluminum fin that cools the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2 by the latent heat of vaporization of the refrigerant, and is disposed in the cooler duct 4. The outlet of the cooler duct 4 is connected to a cooling fan 5. The cooling fan 5 may be of a variable capacity type that can vary the amount of cooling air by changing the rotational speed, for example. The outlet of the cooling fan 5 is branched into a refrigerator compartment cooling duct 13 connected to the refrigerator compartment 1 and a refrigerator compartment cooling duct 15 connected to the freezer compartment 2.

  The refrigerating room damper 8 is disposed in the refrigerating room cooling duct 13 and is, for example, an electric damper driven by a pulse motor. The outlet of the refrigerator compartment 1 is connected to a refrigerator compartment suction duct 14, which is a return duct for the cool air to the cooler 3. The first freezer compartment damper 17 is disposed in the freezer compartment cooling duct 15 and is, for example, an electric damper driven by a pulse motor. The exit of the freezer compartment 2 is connected to a freezer compartment suction duct 16 which is a return duct for cool air to the cooler 3. The second freezer compartment damper 18 is disposed in the freezer compartment suction duct 16 and is, for example, an electric damper driven by a pulse motor.

  The refrigeration cycle includes a compressor 19, a condenser 20, a capillary 21, and a cooler 3. The compressor 19 may be of a variable capacity type that can change the refrigeration capacity by controlling the circulation rate of the refrigerant by, for example, rotation speed control using an inverter. The capillary 21 may be an electronic expansion valve that can freely control the flow rate of the refrigerant driven by the pulse motor. Further, the refrigerating room 1 and the freezing room 2 are provided with a refrigerating room temperature detecting means 11 and a freezing room temperature detecting means 12 which are, for example, thermistors for detecting the temperature in the compartment. Further, it receives signals from the refrigerator compartment temperature detecting means 11 and the refrigerator compartment temperature detecting means 12, and the cooling fan 5, the refrigerator compartment damper 8, the first compartment freezer damper 17, the second compartment freezer damper 18, and the compression. Control means C1 for controlling the machine 19 is provided.

  When the compressor 19 is stopped or after the cooling of the freezer compartment 2 is finished, for example, when the refrigerator temperature detecting means 11 detects a predetermined temperature or higher, the control means C1 receives this signal, and the compressor 19 and the cooling fan 5 are received. Is operated, the refrigerating room damper 8 is opened, the first freezing room damper 17 and the second freezing room damper 18 are closed, and cooling of the refrigerating room 1 is started.

  The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged by the operation of the compressor 19 dissipates heat in the condenser 20 to be condensed and liquefied, and reaches the capillary 21. Thereafter, the pressure is reduced by the capillary 21 while exchanging heat with a suction line (not shown) to reach the cooler 3.

  Due to the action of the cooling fan 5, the cool air that has become relatively cooler than the evaporating action of the refrigerant in the cooler 3 opens the cold room damper 8, and therefore flows into the cold room cooling duct 13. The refrigerator compartment 1 is cooled. The air at 5 ° C., for example, having a relatively high temperature after cooling the refrigerator compartment 1 passes through the refrigerator compartment suction duct 14 and flows into the cooler 3. The air flowing into the cooler 3 becomes a low temperature by the action of the cooler 3, flows into the refrigerating chamber 1 again, and contributes to cooling of the refrigerating chamber 1.

  The above operation is repeated, and the refrigeration room damper 8 is closed and the cooling of the refrigeration room 1 is finished when the refrigeration room temperature detecting means 11 detects a temperature lower than a predetermined temperature or when the refrigeration room 1 starts cooling and a predetermined time elapses. To do.

  When the compressor 19 is stopped or after the cooling of the refrigerator compartment 1 is finished, for example, when the freezer compartment temperature detecting means 12 detects a predetermined temperature or higher, the control means C1 receives this signal, and the compressor 19 and the cooling fan 5 are received. Is operated, the refrigerator compartment damper 8 is closed, the first freezer compartment damper 17 and the second freezer compartment damper 18 are opened, and cooling of the freezer compartment 2 is started.

  The cooling air having a relatively lower temperature than the evaporation of the refrigerant in the cooler 3 due to the action of the cooling fan 5 opens the first freezer compartment damper 17 and the second freezer compartment damper 18 so that it is frozen. It flows into the room cooling duct 15 and is discharged to the freezer compartment 2 to cool the freezer compartment 2. The air at −18 ° C. that has cooled the freezer compartment 2 passes through the freezer compartment suction duct 16 and flows into the cooler 3. The air flowing into the cooler 3 becomes a low temperature by the action of the cooler 3, flows into the freezer compartment 2 again, and contributes to cooling of the freezer compartment 2.

  The above operation is repeated to cool the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2 alternately. When the refrigerator compartment 1 is cooled, the first freezer compartment damper 17 and the second freezer compartment damper 18 are closed, so the inside of the freezer compartment 1, the freezer compartment cooling duct 15, and the freezer compartment suction duct 16, for example Since the cold air at a low temperature of 18 ° C. is completely cut off, it does not flow into the cooler 3.

  As a result, the air flowing into the cooler 3 during cooling of the refrigerator compartment 1 is only air of, for example, 5 ° C. in the refrigerator compartment 1 having a relatively high temperature. Is possible. As a result, the coefficient of performance of the refrigeration cycle is improved, and energy can be saved when the refrigerator compartment 1 is cooled.

  The cooling fan 5 is used to cool the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2, but a refrigerator for exclusive use of the refrigerator compartment 1 and a fan for the freezer compartment 2 are respectively provided in the refrigerator cooling duct 13 and the refrigerator cooling duct 15. By disposing and operating at the time of each cooling, the amount of cooling air in the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2 can be increased, so that further energy saving can be achieved.

  In addition, when the refrigerator is turned on or the doors of the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2 are frequently opened and closed, the temperatures of the refrigerator compartment 1 and the refrigerator compartment 2 are extremely increased at the same time, and both the refrigerator compartment 1 and the refrigerator compartment 2 need to be quickly cooled. When the refrigerator compartment temperature detecting means 11 and the freezer compartment temperature detecting means 12 respectively detect a predetermined temperature or higher (for example, 10 ° C. and −15 ° C.) at the same time, the refrigerator for refrigeration 8 and the first freezer All the room damper 17 and the second freezer damper 18 are opened. The cold air that has become a low temperature due to the action of the cooler 3 passes through the refrigerating room cooling duct 13 and the freezing room cooling duct 15 and flows into the refrigerating room 1 and the freezing room 2 to cool each room simultaneously. Thereby, the temperature rise of each foodstuff of the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2 can be suppressed to the minimum, and the freshness deterioration of foodstuffs can be suppressed.

  When the load in the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2 is small, energy-saving operation is performed by switching between the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2, and when both the refrigerator compartment 1 and the refrigerator compartment 2 are large in load, simultaneous cooling is performed. It is possible to achieve both energy saving and suppression of freshness deterioration of food in the refrigerator.

  Further, by integrating the pulse motor for driving the refrigerator compartment damper 8 of this embodiment and the pulse motor for driving the first freezer compartment damper 17, the number of pulse motors becomes one, so that the cost can be reduced. . Moreover, since the volume for one pulse motor can be ensured, the food storage space can be increased.

  In FIG. 2, the refrigerator compartment 1 and the freezer compartment 2 are vertically arranged in a refrigerator inner box 22 by a heat insulating partition 23 made of, for example, urethane, and the refrigerator inner box 22 on the refrigerator compartment 1 side, for example, polystyrene. The cooler 3 is disposed between the refrigeration chamber duct partitions 24 configured as described above.

  By disposing the cooler 3 on the refrigerating chamber 1 side, the cooler 3 is further prevented by preventing the temperature of the cooler 3 from being lowered due to the temperature effect of the freezer compartment 1 which is relatively low when the refrigerating chamber 1 is cooled. High evaporation temperature can be achieved and energy saving can be achieved.

  In addition, if the cooler 3 is disposed in the vegetable room in a refrigerator having a vegetable room set at a relatively high temperature (for example, 5 ° C. to 10 ° C.) than the refrigerator compartment 1, the cooler 3 is further raised due to the temperature effect of the vegetable room. The evaporation temperature can be increased and energy saving can be achieved.

Moreover, when the defrost heater 25 comprised, for example with the nichrome wire which defrosts the frost adhering to the cooler 3 is provided, when the defrost heater 25 energizes, the refrigerator 8 for refrigerator compartments and the damper 17 for the 1st freezer compartment By closing all the second freezer dampers 18, it is possible to completely block the warm air flowing into the freezer compartment 1 during defrosting, so that it is possible to prevent the food from being deteriorated due to temperature rise.
Moreover, it becomes possible to suppress the temperature rise of the refrigerator compartment 1 to the minimum.

  Moreover, since the work amount of the compressor 19 after defrosting can be reduced, energy saving can also be achieved.

Further, when the compressor 19 is stopped, when only the refrigerator compartment damper 8 is opened for a predetermined time and the cooling fan 3 is operated, frost attached to the cooler 3 is reduced into the refrigerator compartment 1 during the operation of the compressor 19. By doing so, the inside of the refrigerator compartment 1 can be made highly humid.
Moreover, since the defrosting of the cooler can be performed in a state where the amount of frost adhering to the cooler is reduced, the defrosting time can be shortened, and food freshness deterioration can be suppressed and energy saving can be achieved.
Further, while the compressor 19 is stopped, the defrost heater can be eliminated by completely adhering to the cooler 3 with the relatively high temperature air in the refrigerator compartment 1 to defrost the frost, thereby reducing the cost.

  As described above, the refrigerator according to the present invention can improve the coefficient of performance of the refrigeration cycle and save energy, and therefore can be applied to uses such as equipment having a refrigeration apparatus.

Schematic of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the refrigerator according to the present invention. Sectional drawing of the refrigerator of Embodiment 1 of the refrigerator by this invention Schematic of conventional refrigerator cooling duct

Explanation of symbols

13 Refrigeration room cooling duct 14 Refrigeration room suction duct 15 Refrigeration room cooling duct 16 Freezer compartment suction duct 17 First freezer damper 18 Second freezer damper 19 Compressor 20 Condenser 21 Capillary 22 Refrigerator box 23 Heat insulation partition 24 Refrigeration room duct partition 25 Defrost heater

Claims (7)

A refrigerating room, a freezing room, a cooler for cooling the refrigerating room and the freezing room, a cooling fan, and a cooling room cooling duct connected from the cooler to the refrigerating room through the cooling fan, A refrigerating room suction duct connected from the refrigerating room to the cooler, a freezing room cooling duct connected from the cooler to the freezing room through the cooling fan, and a freezing room suction duct connected from the freezing room to the cooler A refrigerating room damper disposed in the refrigerating room cooling duct, a first freezing room damper disposed in the freezing room cooling duct, and a first refrigerating room suction duct disposed in the freezing room suction duct. A refrigerator having a second freezer damper. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit configured to close the first freezer compartment damper and the second freezer compartment damper when the refrigerator compartment damper is opened to cool the refrigerator compartment. When the refrigerating room temperature detecting means arranged in the refrigerating chamber and the freezing room temperature detecting means arranged in the freezing chamber respectively detect a predetermined temperature or more, the refrigerating room damper and the first freezing room damper The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that opens the second freezer damper and cools the refrigerator and the freezer simultaneously. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a motor for driving the refrigerator for the refrigerator compartment and the damper for the first freezer compartment is integrated. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cooler is disposed on the refrigerator compartment side of a refrigerator inner box constituting the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment. A defrost heater for defrosting the cooler is provided, and when the defrost heater is energized, all of the refrigerator compartment damper, the first freezer compartment damper, and the second freezer compartment damper are closed. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5. 7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein only the refrigerator compartment damper is opened for a predetermined time while the compressor is stopped, and the cooling fan is operated.

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