JP7438451B2 - Freezer refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator-freezer.

Conventionally, in a refrigerator-freezer, a defrosting operation is periodically performed in order to prevent deterioration in performance due to frost formation on the cooler. As a defrosting method for refrigerator-freezers, a mechanism that applies heat by heating a heater is generally used to completely melt the frost on the cooler. When defrosting the heater, warm air leaks from the cooler room to other chambers, causing a rise in temperature, which is unfavorable in terms of food quality.

Japanese Patent No. 3,633,997 (Patent Document 1) discloses a refrigerator-freezer in which a damper is installed in each room and the damper is closed during heating by a heater to prevent hot air from leaking into each room. A damper in each room of the refrigerator-freezer disclosed in Patent Document 1 is generally installed at the entrance (air outlet) of each room to prevent hot air from being blown out. On the other hand, each room of the refrigerator-freezer in Patent Document 1 is equipped with an air inlet from each room to the cooler chamber, and has a structure in which cold air circulates, but the inlet is equipped with a damper. Often not installed. Therefore, in the refrigerator-freezer disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the suction port is open during defrosting of the heater, warm air leaks from the suction port to each room.

In particular, in the refrigerator-freezer disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the freezer compartment adjacent to the cooler compartment does not have a long air passage structure, the influence of warm air leaking from the cooler compartment is large. In a refrigerator that has a mechanism to prevent warm air from leaking from the air outlet of the freezer compartment, such as the one disclosed in Patent Document 1, the leakage of warm air from the air outlet of the freezer compartment is suppressed, but the warm air leaks from the air intake of the freezer compartment, causing the freezing Food temperature increases near the suction port of the chamber. As described above, the damper at the outlet of the freezer compartment alone cannot prevent warm air from leaking from the intake port of the freezer compartment, and cannot particularly suppress the rise in food temperature near the intake port of the freezer compartment.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-127345 (Patent Document 2) discloses a refrigerator-freezer in which a damper is attached to the suction port in order to prevent warm air from leaking from the suction port. In the refrigerator/freezer disclosed in Patent Document 2, providing a damper at the suction port increases costs, and the damper in the return air path freezes due to the passage of moist air, causing problems during operation.

Patent No. 3633997 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-127345

In conventional refrigerator-freezers, there is room for improvement in the opening/closing control of the damper during defrosting operation.

The purpose of the present disclosure is to suppress the temperature rise in the vicinity of the suction port due to warm air leakage from the cooler room during defrosting operation in a configuration in which a damper is not provided at the suction port, while preventing uneven temperature distribution in the freezing room. There is no refrigerator provided.

The refrigerator-freezer of the present disclosure includes a freezer compartment, a cooler that cools air blown to the freezer compartment, a cooler compartment in which the cooler is arranged, a heater that removes frost attached to the cooler, and a cooler compartment. detecting the temperature of the air blown from the first air path to the air outlet provided in the freezing room; a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the air returned from the suction port provided in the freezer compartment to the second air passage; It includes a damper that opens and closes one air path, and a control device that controls the damper. The control device controls opening and closing of the damper based on the temperatures detected by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor when performing a defrosting operation by driving the heater.

According to the present disclosure, in a configuration in which a damper is not provided at the suction port, while suppressing the temperature rise near the suction port due to warm air leaking from the cooler room during defrosting operation, the temperature distribution in the freezing room is uneven. You can avoid it.

1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a refrigerant circuit of a refrigerator-freezer in Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a refrigerator-freezer in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an air outlet and a suction port of the refrigerator-freezer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the outlet temperature and the inlet temperature when the damper is always closed. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the outlet temperature and the inlet temperature when the damper opening/closing control is executed. 5 is a flowchart during defrosting operation in Embodiment 1. FIG. 7 is a flowchart during defrosting operation in Embodiment 2. FIG.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments described below, when referring to the number, amount, etc., the scope of the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to the number, amount, etc. unless otherwise specified. Identical or equivalent parts will be given the same reference numbers, and duplicate descriptions may not be repeated. It has been planned from the beginning to use the configurations in the embodiments in appropriate combinations.

Embodiment 1.
<Configuration of refrigerant circuit in refrigerator-freezer>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a refrigerant circuit 10 of a refrigerator-freezer 1 in the first embodiment. The refrigerator-freezer 1 cools the inside of the refrigerator-freezer 1 to a target temperature using the refrigerant circuit 10.

As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerant circuit 10 of the refrigerator-freezer 1 includes a compressor 2, a condenser 3, a condenser pipe 4, a cabinet pipe 5, a three-way valve 6, a capillary tube 7, and a cooler 8. are connected and configured. In the refrigerant circuit 10, refrigerant flows in the order of the compressor 2, condenser 3, condenser pipe 4, cabinet pipe 5, three-way valve 6, capillary tube 7, and cooler 8.

The compressor 2 compresses the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit 10 into a high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant. The compressor 2 discharges refrigerant in a high temperature and high pressure state to the condenser 3. The operation of the compressor 2 is controlled according to the internal situation of the refrigerator.

The condenser 3 condenses the refrigerant through heat exchange with air. The refrigerant passing through the condenser 3 exchanges heat with air by forced convection generated by a fan provided in the refrigerator-freezer 1, and is condensed. The condenser pipe 4 is disposed on the back and side surfaces of the refrigerator-freezer 1, and condenses the refrigerant by exchanging heat with air. The cabinet pipe 5 is arranged at the front of the refrigerator-freezer 1, and condenses the refrigerant by exchanging heat with the air. The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant flows through the condenser 3, condenser pipe 4, and cabinet pipe 5 in this order, and is gradually cooled down.

The three-way valve 6 switches the flow path of the refrigerant after passing through the cabinet pipe 5. The capillary tube 7 is connected in parallel with the cabinet pipe 5 and the cooler 8. The capillary tube 7 is composed of a tube with a small diameter, and changes the refrigerant condensed by the condenser 3, the condenser pipe 4, and the cabinet pipe 5 to a low-temperature, low-pressure state by reducing the pressure of the refrigerant. The refrigerant that has passed through each of the capillary tubes 7 connected in parallel flows into the cooler 8 after merging.

Cooler 8 is connected between capillary tube 7 and compressor 2. The cooler 8 is provided in a cooler chamber formed inside the refrigerator-freezer 1. The cooler 8 exchanges heat between the refrigerant in a low-temperature, low-pressure state and the air surrounding the cooler 8, and evaporates the refrigerant. Thereby, the cooler 8 cools the air around the cooler 8.

A fan is provided near the cooler 8, and the air cooled by the cooler 8 is circulated within the refrigerator-freezer 1 by this fan. As a result, the air inside the refrigerator-freezer 1 is cooled.

The refrigerant evaporated by the cooler 8 returns to the compressor 2, is compressed again by the compressor 2, is discharged to the condenser 3, and circulates through the refrigerant circuit 10.

<Overall configuration of refrigerator-freezer 1>
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of the refrigerator-freezer 1 in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the air outlets 134a, 134b and the suction port 134c of the refrigerator-freezer 1 in the first embodiment. In FIG. 2, when the refrigerator-freezer 1 is viewed from the front side, the front-rear direction is the Y-axis direction, the left-right direction is the X-axis direction, and the up-down direction is the Z-axis direction.

The refrigerator-freezer 1 includes an insulating box 1a having a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, and doors 121, 122, 123, 124, and 125 attached to each of five openings provided in the front of the insulating box 1a. The insulating box body 1a is enclosed between a rectangular outer box made of metal, resin, etc., an inner box smaller than the outer dimensions and made of metal, resin, etc., and the outer box and the inner box. It has a heat insulating member. Inside the heat insulating box 1a, there are, for example, a refrigerator compartment 131 for refrigerating food, an ice making compartment 132 for storing an ice maker, and a switching compartment 133 that can switch the interior temperature between a temperature at which ice can be made and a temperature other than that. , a freezer compartment 134 that stores and freezes frozen foods, and a vegetable compartment 135 that stores vegetables. In addition, in FIG. 2, among the ice making chamber 132 and the door 122, and the switching chamber 133 and the door 123 on the left and right in the X-axis direction, the switching chamber 133 and the door 123 are illustrated.

The refrigerator-freezer 1 includes a cooler room 16 , a machine room 18 connected to the cooler room 16 via a drain pipe 17 , and a control device 100 . The cooler compartment 16 is connected to a refrigerator compartment 131, an ice-making compartment 132, a switching compartment 133, a freezing compartment 134, and a vegetable compartment 135, respectively, via air ducts 15A and 15B. The cooler chamber 16 accommodates a cooler 8 , a fan 161 , a heater 35 , and a cooler thermistor 30 . A compressor 2 that compresses refrigerant flowing from the cooler 8 is housed in the machine room 18 .

The control device 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 51, a memory 52 (ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory)), and an input/output device (not shown) for inputting various signals. be done. The CPU 51 expands a program stored in the ROM into a RAM or the like and executes the program. The program stored in the ROM is a program in which the processing procedure of the control device 100 is written. The control device 100 executes control of each device according to these programs. This control is not limited to processing by software, but can also be performed by dedicated hardware (electronic circuit). The control device 100 controls, for example, the opening and closing states of a damper, which will be described later.

A condensing section consisting of a condenser 3, a condenser pipe 4, and a cabinet pipe 5 condenses the refrigerant flowing in from the compressor 2, and a decompression section consisting of a capillary tube 7 decompresses and expands the refrigerant flowing in from the condensing section. By causing a portion of the refrigerant to evaporate, the refrigerant is brought into a two-phase state of gas and liquid. The cooler 8 cools the air surrounding the cooler 8 in the cooler chamber 16 by utilizing an endothermic effect when the liquid refrigerant of the two-phase refrigerant flowing from the decompression section evaporates. A suction pipe (not shown) exchanges heat with the capillary tube 7 to raise the temperature of the refrigerant flowing from the cooler 8 to its condensation temperature.

The heater 35 melts and removes frost attached to the cooler 8 by increasing the temperature of the cooler 8. Cooler thermistor 30 detects the temperature of cooler 8.

When the fan 161 operates, the air cooled in the cooler compartment 16 (hereinafter also referred to as cold air) flows through the air path duct 15A to the refrigerator compartment 131, the ice making compartment 132, the switching compartment 133, the freezing compartment 134, and the vegetable compartment 135. (see arrow AR10). The cold air supplied to each of the refrigerator compartment 131, the switching compartment 133, the freezing compartment 134, and the vegetable compartment 135 is blown inward from the vents 131a, 133a, 134a, 134b, and 135a provided in each compartment. The cold air supplied toward the ice-making compartment 132 is similarly blown inward from an air outlet (not shown) provided in the ice-making compartment 132. Thereby, the food placed inside each of the refrigerator compartment 131, ice making compartment 132, switching compartment 133, freezing compartment 134, and vegetable compartment 135 is cooled.

The air warmed by the objects to be stored in each of the refrigerator compartment 131, switching compartment 133, freezing compartment 134, and vegetable compartment 135 is returned to the suction ports 131b, 133b, 134bc, and 135b provided in each compartment. The air flows into the cooler chamber 16 through an air passage duct 15B provided in the chamber. Similarly, the air existing in the ice making compartment 132 flows into the cooler compartment 16 from a suction port (not shown) provided in the ice making compartment 132 through the air path duct 15B. In this way, cold air circulates between the cooler compartment 16 and the refrigerator compartment 131, the ice making compartment 132, the switching compartment 133, the freezing compartment 134, and the vegetable compartment 135 through the air path ducts 15A and 15B.

Dampers (for example, dampers 1511, 1513, 1514, and 1515) are provided at the connection portions of the air passage duct 15A with the refrigerator compartment 131, the ice making compartment 132, the switching compartment 133, the freezing compartment 134, and the vegetable compartment 135, respectively. Each damper opens and closes independently. When a damper is in an open state, cold air flows into the refrigerator compartment 131, ice making compartment 132, switching compartment 133, freezing compartment 134, or vegetable compartment 135 corresponding to the damper. For example, when the damper 1514 is in the open state, cold air flows into the freezer compartment 134 corresponding to the damper 1514. On the other hand, when a damper is in a closed state, cold air is blocked from flowing into the refrigerator compartment 131, ice making compartment 132, switching compartment 133, freezing compartment 134, or vegetable compartment 135 corresponding to the damper. For example, when the damper 1514 is in the closed state, the flow of cold air into the freezer compartment 134 corresponding to the damper 1514 is blocked.

The freezer compartment 134 is provided with two air outlets 134a and 134b that blow out cold air to two upper and lower regions of the inside, and a suction port 134c that sucks warmed air into the inside. An upper case 21 is arranged inside the freezer compartment 134, and a lower case 22 is arranged below the freezer compartment 134.

The cold air blown out from the air outlet 134a flows into the upper case 21. The cold air that has flowed into the upper case 21 enters the freezer compartment 134 through the wall of the insulation box 1a from the heat stored in the storage objects placed inside the upper case 21 and the air existing outside the refrigerator-freezer 1. It is warmed by the heat generated. The air inside the upper case 21 is discharged from a return port 21a provided in the upper case 21 and flows out of the upper case 21. Here, the amount of heat that enters into the freezer compartment 134 from the air existing outside the refrigerator-freezer 1 can be considered to be constant unless the temperature inside the freezer compartment 134 changes significantly. Therefore, the greater the heat stored in the storage object, the higher the temperature of the air discharged from the return port 21a. The freezer compartment 134 is provided with a door open/close detector 19 that detects whether the door 124 is open or closed.

The cold air blown out from the air outlet 134b flows into the lower case 212 and is warmed by exchanging heat with the storage target placed in the lower case 22. The air inside the lower case 22 is discharged from a return port 22a provided in the lower case 22 and flows out of the lower case 22. Air discharged from the return port 21a of the upper case 21 and the return port 22a of the lower case 22 is returned to the suction port 134c of the freezer compartment 134, and flows into the cooler compartment 16 through the air path duct 15B.

As shown in FIG. 3, a freezing chamber 134 is provided below the ice making chamber 132 and the switching chamber 133. The freezer compartment 134 includes an outlet thermistor 31 as a first temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the air blown out from the outlet 134a and the outlet 134b, and a return port 21a of the upper case 21 and a return port 22a of the lower case 22. A suction port thermistor 32 is provided as a second temperature sensor that detects the temperature of air discharged from the air and returned to the suction port 134c. The outlet thermistor 31 is provided closer to the outlet 134a and the outlet 134b than the inlet thermistor 32. The inlet thermistor 32 is provided closer to the inlet 134c than the outlet thermistor 31. Hereinafter, the temperature detected by the outlet thermistor 31 will also be referred to as the outlet temperature Te, and the temperature detected by the inlet thermistor 32 will also be referred to as the inlet temperature Tr.

<About the damper>
The refrigerator-freezer 1 is operated so that the temperature rises due to heat intrusion from outside the refrigerator, and the temperature inside the refrigerator is kept constant through a balance with a cooling mechanism using a refrigeration cycle. The refrigerator-freezer 1 has upper and lower temperature limits set by a setting dial. The control device 100 controls the temperature of each chamber in the refrigerator by opening and closing dampers provided at the connection portions between each chamber and the air duct 15A. The control device 100 uses a damper to adjust the flow rate of cold air blown by the fan 161 based on the temperature detected by a thermistor installed in each room. When the temperature inside the refrigerator rises and reaches the upper limit temperature, the damper is opened to cool the refrigerator, the temperature inside the refrigerator decreases, and when the lower limit temperature is reached, the damper closes and the temperature rises due to heat intrusion from outside the refrigerator. The temperature inside the refrigerator rises and falls repeatedly, and the average temperature remains constant.

<About defrosting operation>
The defrosting operation of the cooler 8 will be explained. Inside the refrigerator-freezer 1, air passing through the cooler 8 is circulated by a fan 161. The air inside the refrigerator-freezer 1 is moist due to water vapor from the food and intrusion of outside air by opening and closing the door. In the cooler 8, the temperature is below freezing, so when air containing a large amount of air moisture passes through the cooler 8, the moisture in the air freezes on the surface of the cooler 8, forming frost. The amount of frost that adheres to the cooler 8 increases as the operation continues for a long time. Frost adhering to the cooler 8 inhibits heat transfer, resulting in a decrease in the cooling capacity of the refrigerator-freezer 1. Therefore, in the refrigerator-freezer 1, defrosting operation is performed periodically.

As a defrosting method, a mechanism that applies heat by heating the cooler 8 to completely melt the frost is generally used. In the first embodiment, the frost is melted by applying heat to the frost using the heater 35 installed at the bottom of the cooler 8. The defrosting operation is started when the cumulative operating time of the refrigerator-freezer 1 reaches a predetermined time. The defrosting operation ends when the output of the heater 35 is turned off when the cooler thermistor 30 attached to the cooler 8 reaches the set temperature. This series of defrosting operations is performed periodically during operation of the refrigerator-freezer 1 to suppress performance deterioration.

On the other hand, in the defrosting operation by the heater 35, the temperature of the cooler 8 and the vicinity of the cooler 8 increases, so warm air is generated in the cooler 8 and the vicinity of the cooler 8. The control device 100 closes the damper in order to suppress leakage of warm air into each room.

Here, dampers are generally installed only at the air outlets of each room and not at the suction ports due to reasons such as high cost and damper freezing. An increase in the temperature of the air causes an increase in pressure, but if the outlet is closed and the inlet is open, an air flow will occur from the inlet. During defrosting operation, warm air leakage from the outlet can be suppressed by closing the damper, but warm air leaks through the suction port. This can suppress the temperature rise of food near the air outlet in the refrigerator, but the temperature of food near the air inlet also increases, resulting in uneven temperature distribution depending on the position in the refrigerator, which reduces food preservation. Getting worse.

In the refrigerator-freezer 1 of the first embodiment, the flow rate of warm air at the air outlets 134a, 134b and the suction port 134c is controlled by controlling the opening and closing of dampers 1514 provided at the air outlets 134a, 134b during defrosting operation. As a result, in the refrigerator-freezer 1 of the first embodiment, the internal temperature rise during the defrosting operation is made uniform, and food preservation is improved.

<About damper control during defrosting operation>
The damper control executed by the control device 100 of the refrigerator-freezer 1 during the defrosting operation will be described below. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the outlet temperature Te and the suction port temperature Tr when the damper is always closed. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the air outlet temperature Te and the suction port temperature Tr when the opening/closing control of the damper 1514 is executed. FIG. 6 is a flowchart during defrosting operation in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the damper 1514 provided in front of the air outlets 134a and 134b is always closed during the period of overheating the heater 35 during the defrosting operation, the temperature rise in the air outlet temperature Te can be suppressed; The suction port temperature Tr increases due to warm air leaking from the suction port 134c. As described above, if the control device 100 simply continues to close the damper 1514 during the defrosting operation, the temperature rise near the suction port 134c cannot be suppressed.

The control device 100 switches the state of the damper 1514 during a period in which the heater 35 is overheated during the defrosting operation. As shown in FIG. 5, the control device 100 keeps the damper 1514 in the closed state from the start of overheating of the heater 35 to the middle, and switches the damper 1514 to the open state halfway. As a result, in the refrigerator-freezer 1 of the first embodiment, during the defrosting operation, during the period when the damper 1514 is closed, the rise in the outlet temperature Te is suppressed, and during the period when the damper 1514 is open, the suction The rise in mouth temperature Tr can be suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 5, at the end of defrosting, the air outlet temperature Te>the suction port temperature Tr, but the air outlet temperature Te is still lower than the suction port temperature Tr when the damper is always closed. Therefore, the maximum temperature inside the refrigerator at the end of defrosting can also be lowered.

As shown in FIG. 6, the control device 100 starts the defrosting operation of the cooler 8 when the cumulative operating time of the refrigerator-freezer 1 reaches a predetermined time (step S1). The control device 100 closes the damper 1514, which is provided between the freezer compartment 134 and the air duct 15A and opens and closes the air duct 15A, at the timing of starting the defrosting operation (step S2). Next, the control device 100 determines whether or not the cooler thermistor 30 has reached a preset temperature at which the cooler 8 is able to remove frost (step S3).

When the control device 100 determines in step S3 that the cooler thermistor 30 has reached the set temperature (YES in step S3), the control device 100 opens the damper 1514 to end the defrosting operation (step S4), and continues the process as shown in FIG. Return to the main routine from the subroutine shown in . When the control device 100 determines in step S3 that the cooler thermistor 30 has not reached the set temperature (NO in step S3), the process proceeds to step S5.

Here, the temperature difference between the outlet temperature Te and the suction port temperature Tr is assumed to be ΔT, and the determination temperature with respect to ΔT, which has been set in advance through experiments or the like, is assumed to be ΔTa. In step S5, the control device 100 determines whether the relationship between the outlet temperature Te and the inlet temperature Tr satisfies ΔT=Tr−Te>ΔTa. If the control device 100 determines in step S5 that ΔT=Tr−Te>ΔTa is not satisfied (NO in step S5), the control device 100 moves to step S2 and maintains the damper 1514 in the closed state.

When the control device 100 determines in step S5 that ΔT=Tr−Te>ΔTa is satisfied (YES in step S5), it controls the damper 1514 from the closed state to the open state (step S6). In the refrigerator-freezer 1, by opening the damper 1514, warm air leakage from the suction port 134c is prevented. In the refrigerator-freezer 1, by opening the air outlets 134a, 134b and dispersing the leakage of warm air between the air outlets 134a, 134b and the suction port 134c, the air from the air inlet 134c is released relative to the air outlets 134a, 134b. Reduces warm air leakage. Thereby, in the refrigerator-freezer 1, the temperature rise near the suction port 134c can be reduced when the damper 1514 is open.

Next, in step S7, the control device 100 determines whether the relationship between the outlet temperature Te and the inlet temperature Tr satisfies ΔT=Tr−Te≦−ΔTa. When the control device 100 determines in step S7 that ΔT=Tr−Te≦−ΔTa is not satisfied (NO in step S7), the control device 100 moves to step S6 and maintains the damper 1514 in the open state. When the control device 100 determines in step S7 that ΔT=Tr−Te≦−ΔTa is satisfied (YES in step S7), the control device 100 moves to step S2 and controls the damper 1514 from the open state to the closed state.

In the refrigerator-freezer 1, by closing the damper 1514, warm air leakage from the air outlets 134a and 134b is prevented. In the refrigerator-freezer 1, leakage of warm air from the air outlets 134a, 134b is reduced by closing the air outlets 134a, 134b. Thereby, in the refrigerator-freezer 1, the temperature rise near the air outlets 134a and 134b can be reduced when the damper is closed.

The control device 100 in the refrigerator-freezer 1 repeatedly controls the opening and closing of the damper 1514 during defrosting operation. The control device 100 opens the damper 1514 and ends the defrosting operation on the condition that the cooler thermistor 30 reaches the preset temperature. Thereby, the refrigerator-freezer 1 can suppress the temperature rise near the suction port 134c compared to the case where the damper 1514 is maintained in the closed state during the defrosting operation. By controlling the opening and closing of the damper 1514 during defrosting operation, the refrigerator-freezer 1 can make the temperature difference between the outlet temperature Te and the suction port temperature Tr smaller than when the damper is always closed or when the damper is always open. Thereby, the refrigerator-freezer 1 can make the temperature distribution in the freezer compartment 134 uniform, and can improve the preservation quality of food.

Embodiment 2.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart during defrosting operation in the second embodiment. The control device 100 according to the second embodiment can change the opening degree of the damper during defrosting operation. The control device 100 can change the opening degree of the damper 1514 as Xc<X1<X2<...<Xn<...<Xo (X=c opening degree 0%, Xo=opening degree 100%).

As shown in FIG. 7, the control device 100 starts the defrosting operation of the cooler 8 when the cumulative operating time of the refrigerator-freezer 1 reaches a predetermined time (step S11). At the timing of starting the defrosting operation, the control device 100 sets the opening degree of the damper 1514, which is provided between the freezing chamber 134 and the air passage duct 15A and opens and closes the air passage duct 15A, to a certain opening degree Xi (step S12). . Next, the control device 100 determines whether or not the cooler thermistor 30 has reached a preset temperature at which the cooler 8 is able to remove frost (step S13).

When the control device 100 determines that the cooler thermistor 30 has reached the set temperature in step S13 (YES in step S13), the control device 100 sets the opening degree of the damper 1514 to Xo=100% and ends the defrosting operation (step S14), the process returns from the subroutine shown in FIG. 7 to the main routine. If the control device 100 determines in step S13 that the cooler thermistor 30 has not reached the set temperature (NO in step S13), the process proceeds to step S15.

Here, the temperature difference between the outlet temperature Te and the suction port temperature Tr is assumed to be ΔT, and the determination temperature with respect to ΔT, which has been set in advance through experiments or the like, is assumed to be ΔTa. In step S15, the control device 100 determines whether the relationship between the outlet temperature Te and the inlet temperature Tr satisfies -ΔTa<ΔT=Tr−Te<ΔTa. If the control device 100 determines in step S15 that -ΔTa<ΔT=Tr−Te<ΔTa is satisfied (YES in step S15), the control device 100 maintains the opening degree Xi of the damper 1514 (step S16), and performs the process in step S17. Move to.

If the control device 100 determines in step S15 that -ΔTa<ΔT=Tr−Te<ΔTa is not satisfied (NO in step S15), the relationship between the outlet temperature Te and the inlet temperature Tr is ΔT=Tr−. It is determined whether Te≧ΔTa is satisfied (step S18). When the control device 100 determines in step S18 that ΔT=Tr−Te≧ΔTa is satisfied (YES in step S18), the control device 100 sets the opening degree of the damper 1514 to Xi+ΔX (step S19), and moves to the process of step S17. do. ΔX is a unit increase in the opening degree Xi.

In the refrigerator-freezer 1, if the opening degree of the damper 1514 remains at Xi, the opening degree is small and warm air leaks from the suction port 134c. For this reason, in the refrigerator-freezer 1, by increasing the opening degree of the damper 1514 from Xi to Xi+ΔX, warm air leakage between the air outlets 134a, 134b and the suction port 134c is dispersed. Warm air leakage from the suction port 134c is relatively reduced. Here, in the refrigerator-freezer 1, when ΔT=Tr-Te≧ΔTa and the damper opening degree is Xo=opening degree 100%, the opening degree is set to Xo until defrosting is completed.

If the control device 100 determines in step S18 that ΔT=Tr-Te≧ΔTa is not satisfied (NO in step S18), the relationship between the outlet temperature Te and the inlet temperature Tr is ΔT=Tr-Te≦−. It is determined that ΔTa, and the process moves to step S20. In step S20, the control device 100 sets the opening degree of the damper 1514 to Xi-ΔX (step S19), and proceeds to the process of step S17.

In the refrigerator-freezer 1, if the opening degree of the damper 1514 remains at _Xi , the opening degree is large and warm air leaks from the air outlets 134a and 134b. Therefore, in the refrigerator-freezer 1, by reducing the opening degree of the damper 1514 from Xi to Xi-ΔX, the leakage of warm air from the air outlets 134a and 134b is reduced relative to the suction port 134c. Here, in the refrigerator-freezer 1, when ΔT=Tr-Te≦-ΔTa and the damper opening degree is Xc=opening degree 0%, the opening degree is set to Xc until defrosting is completed.

In step S17, the control device 100 sets the damper opening degree Xi to the opening degree set in step S16, step S19, and step S20. Next, the control device 100 executes the processes from step S12 onwards based on the set opening degree. The control device 100 in the refrigerator-freezer 1 executes the process shown in FIG. 7 to change the opening degree of the damper 1514 during the defrosting operation. As a result, the refrigerator-freezer 1 makes the temperature difference between the outlet temperature Te and the suction port temperature Tr smaller than in the normally closed damper state or the normally damper open state by controlling the opening degree of the damper 1514 during the defrosting operation. can do. Thereby, the refrigerator-freezer 1 can make the temperature distribution in the freezer compartment 134 uniform, and can improve the preservation quality of food.

<Summary>
The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator-freezer 1. The refrigerator-freezer 1 includes a freezer compartment 134, a cooler 8 that cools air blown to the freezer compartment 134, a cooler compartment 16 in which the cooler 8 is placed, and a heater 35 that removes frost attached to the cooler 8. , an air path duct 15A that communicates between the cooler chamber 16 and the freezer compartment 134, an air path duct 15B that connects the freezer chamber 134 and the cooler chamber 16, and air outlets 134a and 134b provided in the freezer chamber 134. The air outlet thermistor 31 detects the temperature of the air blown out from the air duct 15A, the inlet thermistor 32 detects the temperature of the air returned to the air duct 15B from the air inlet 134c provided in the freezing chamber 134, and The damper 1514 is provided at the connection between the chamber 134 and the air duct 15A, and includes a damper 1514 that opens and closes the air duct 15A, and a control device 100 that controls the damper 1514. The control device 100 controls the opening and closing of the damper 1514 based on the temperatures detected by the outlet thermistor 31 and the inlet thermistor 32 when performing a defrosting operation by driving the heater 35 .

By having such a configuration, the refrigerator-freezer 1 can suppress the temperature rise near the suction port 134c due to warm air leakage from the cooler chamber 16 during defrosting operation in a configuration in which a damper is not provided at the suction port. , it is possible to prevent the temperature distribution inside the freezing chamber 134 from becoming uneven.

Preferably, the control device 100 controls the damper 1514 to either an open state or a closed state. In the refrigerator-freezer 1, the temperature near the air outlets 134a and 134b detected by the air outlet thermistor 31 is Te, the temperature near the air inlet 134c detected by the air inlet thermistor 32 is Tr, and the temperature near the air outlets 134a and 134b is Te. Let ΔT be the temperature difference between the temperature Tr and the temperature Tr near the suction port 134c, and let ΔTa be the first temperature set in advance. During defrosting operation, the control device 100 opens the damper 1514 when ΔT=Tr−Te>ΔTa, and closes the damper 1514 when ΔT=Tr−Te≦−ΔTa.

With such a configuration, the refrigerator-freezer 1 can control the opening/closing of the damper 1514 during defrosting operation to reduce the temperature difference between the outlet temperature Te and the suction port temperature Tr compared to when the damper is always closed or when the damper is always open. can be made smaller. Thereby, the refrigerator-freezer 1 can make the temperature distribution in the freezer compartment 134 uniform, and can improve the preservation quality of food.

Preferably, the control device 100 controls the opening degree of the damper 1514 to be changeable. In the refrigerator-freezer 1, the temperature near the air outlets 134a and 134b detected by the air outlet thermistor 31 is Te, the temperature near the air inlet 134c detected by the air inlet thermistor 32 is Tr, and the temperature near the air outlets 134a and 134b is Te. Let ΔT be the temperature difference between the temperature Tr and the temperature Tr near the suction port 134c, and let ΔTa be the first temperature set in advance. During defrosting operation, when -ΔTa<ΔT=Tr-Te<ΔTa, the opening degree of the damper 1514 is X _i , and the unit increase amount is ΔX, ΔT=Tr-Te. When ≧ΔTa is satisfied, the opening degree of the damper 1514 is set to Xi+ΔX, and when ΔT=Tr−Te≦−ΔTa, the opening degree of the damper 1514 is set to Xi−ΔX.

By having such a configuration, the refrigerator-freezer 1 can control the opening degree of the damper 1514 during defrosting operation to make the outlet temperature Te and the suction port temperature Tr lower than in the damper always closed state or the damper always open state. It is possible to reduce the temperature difference between Thereby, the refrigerator-freezer 1 can make the temperature distribution in the freezer compartment 134 uniform, and can improve the preservation quality of food.

Preferably, a cooler thermistor 30 for detecting the temperature of the air in the cooler chamber 16 is further provided. The control device 100 stops the defrosting operation and opens the damper 1514 when the temperature detected by the cooler thermistor 30 reaches a predetermined set temperature.

With such a configuration, the refrigerator-freezer 1 can reliably send cold air to the freezer compartment 134 during subsequent operation by opening the damper 1514 when the set temperature is reached.

<Modified example>
The refrigerator-freezer 1 may perform the above-described control using dampers in each chamber in the refrigerator other than the freezer compartment 134. In such a case, the preset first temperature ΔTa may be changed depending on each room.

The refrigerator-freezer 1 may be provided with separate dampers for the air outlet 134a and the air outlet 134b. The control device 100 may control each damper individually.

The embodiments disclosed this time should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the claims rather than the description of the embodiments described above, and it is intended that all changes within the meaning and range equivalent to the claims are included.

1 Freezer-refrigerator, 1a Insulated box, 2 Compressor, 3 Condenser, 4 Condenser pipe, 5 Cabinet pipe, 6 Three-way valve, 7 Capillary tube, 8 Cooler, 10 Refrigerant circuit, 15A, 15B Air path duct, 16 Cooling Chamber, 17 Drain pipe, 18 Machine room, 19 Door opening/closing detection section 21 Upper case, 21a, 22a Return port, 22 Lower case, 30 Cooler thermistor, 31 Air outlet thermistor, 32 Suction port thermistor, 35 Heater, 100 Control Apparatus, 131 Refrigerator compartment, 134a, 134b Air outlet, 134c Suction port, 132 Ice making compartment, 133 Switching compartment, 134 Freezer compartment, 135 Vegetable compartment, 161 Fan, 1514 Damper.

Claims (4)

A refrigerator-freezer,
A freezer and
a cooler that cools the air blown to the freezer compartment;
a cooler chamber in which the cooler is arranged;
a heater that removes frost attached to the cooler;
a first air path that communicates the cooler chamber and the freezing chamber;
a second air path that communicates the freezer compartment and the cooler compartment;
a first temperature sensor that detects the temperature of air blown out from the first air path to the air outlet provided in the freezer compartment;
a second temperature sensor that detects the temperature of air returned to the second air path from a suction port provided in the freezer compartment;
a damper provided at a connection between the freezing compartment and the first air passage, and opening and closing the first air passage;
A control device that controls the damper,
The refrigerator-freezer is configured such that the control device controls opening and closing of the damper based on temperatures detected by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor when performing a defrosting operation by driving the heater. The control device controls the damper to either an open state or a closed state,
The temperature near the air outlet detected by the first temperature sensor is Te, the temperature near the air inlet detected by the second temperature sensor is Tr, and the temperature near the air outlet and the temperature near the air inlet are When the temperature difference between is ΔT and the judgment temperature for ΔT is ΔTa,
The control device, during defrosting operation,
When ΔT=Tr−Te>ΔTa is satisfied, the damper is opened;
The refrigerator-freezer according to claim 1, wherein the damper is closed when ΔT=Tr-Te≦-ΔTa is satisfied. The control device variably controls the opening degree of the damper,
The temperature near the air outlet detected by the first temperature sensor is Te, the temperature near the air inlet detected by the second temperature sensor is Tr, and the temperature near the air outlet and the temperature near the air inlet are When the temperature difference between is ΔT and the judgment temperature for ΔT is ΔTa,
The control device, during defrosting operation,
-ΔTa<ΔT=Tr-Te<ΔTa, when the opening degree of the damper is Xi and the unit increase is ΔX,
When ΔT=Tr−Te≧ΔTa, the opening degree of the damper is Xi+ΔX,
The refrigerator-freezer according to claim 1, wherein the opening degree of the damper is set to Xi-ΔX when ΔT=Tr-Te≦-ΔTa is satisfied. further comprising a third temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the air in the cooler chamber,
Any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control device stops the defrosting operation and opens the damper when the temperature detected by the third temperature sensor reaches a predetermined set temperature. The refrigerator-freezer according to item 1.

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