JP2005164199A - refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent moisture in air about an evaporator from condensing to deposit waterdrops on the surface of the evaporator, in a direct cooling system refrigerator capable of direct cooling in a refrigeration compartment. <P>SOLUTION: A cooling plate 21 of a natural air convection type direct cooling system forming the evaporator 14 for cooling the refrigeration compartment 6 is a hydrophilic material at least at portions where a cooling pipe 22 is positioned, to increase water wettability. The refrigerator can thereby prevent deposits of waterdrops on the surface while maintaining a higher humidity than a refrigerator of a forced air convection type indirect cooling system, to keep the compartment clean. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator and relates to prevention of condensation on a direct cooling evaporator.

  In recent years, in the refrigerator industry, each company has put emphasis on the preservation of food, and the inside of refrigerators has been increasing in humidity and humidity.

There are two types of refrigerator cooling methods: the indirect cooling method in which the air cooled by the evaporator is circulated in the chamber by a fan, and the direct cooling method in which the interior is cooled by radiation and heat transfer from the evaporator. In order to achieve this, a direct cooling method is advantageous in which no air is applied to the object to be cooled in the warehouse. (For example, see Patent Document 1)
Hereinafter, the conventional refrigerator will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional refrigerator. As shown in FIG. 3, a conventional refrigerator includes a compressor 1, a condenser 2, a decompression means 3, and an evaporator 4 that are connected in a ring shape, and a refrigeration cycle 5 that circulates refrigerant therein, A cycle 5 and a refrigerating room 6 for storing an object to be cooled are provided.

  The evaporator 4 includes a cooling plate 8 that forms an inner box 7 of the refrigerator compartment 6 and a cooling pipe 9 through which the refrigerant that has exited the condenser 2 circulates.

  The refrigerator compartment 6 includes an internal fan 10 and a duct 11 that circulates the air cooled by the evaporator 4 into the refrigerator compartment 6 when the internal load is large.

The operation of the refrigerator configured as described above will be described below. The high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed by the compressor 1 is cooled and condensed by the condenser 2 and depressurized by the decompressor 3 such as a capillary tube. It becomes a low-temperature, low-pressure gas-liquid two-layer refrigerant and flows to the evaporator 4.

  The low-pressure gas-liquid two-layer refrigerant that has flowed into the evaporator 4 evaporates due to the temperature difference between the air in the cooling plate 8 and the refrigerator compartment 6, and cools the surrounding air with the heat of evaporation and vaporization.

  At this time, since the inside of the refrigerator compartment 6 is radiatively cooled by the evaporator 4, the cooling air is not directly applied to the object to be cooled unlike the case of the indirect cooling type. The inside of 6 can be humidified.

Further, when the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 6 rises due to opening and closing of the door, etc., the internal fan 10 is operated to quickly cool the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 6.
JP 2000-28257 A

  However, in the above-described conventional refrigerator, the cooling plate 8 is exposed in the refrigerator compartment 6, and especially in Japan where the climate is hot and humid, the moisture in the air in the refrigerator compartment 6 is as low as about -20 ° C. There was a risk of condensation and condensation on the surfaces of the cooling plate 8 and the duct 11.

  As a result, the condensed moisture may adhere to the object to be cooled, or water droplets may adhere to the wall surface of the inner box 7, which may give the user an unsanitary impression.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems and aims to prevent water droplets from adhering to the cooling plate 8.

  Moreover, in the said conventional refrigerator, since the temperature of the cooling plate 8 is as low as -20 degreeC, since the water droplet which condensed on the surface of the cooling plate 8 freezes and grows, it was necessary to perform a defrost operation frequently.

  Another object of the present invention is to lower the frequency of the defrosting operation of the cooling plate 8 by making the temperature of the cooling plate 8 higher than before.

  In the conventional refrigerator, when the inside of the refrigerator is directly cooled, the vicinity of the cooling plate 8 is cooled, but the temperature is relatively far from the cooling plate 8, for example, near the door, and the temperature distribution in the refrigerator is high. There was a problem that it was not uniform.

  Another object of the present invention is to make the temperature distribution uniform while keeping the humidity in the cabinet higher than that of the intercooled refrigerator.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a refrigerator according to the present invention includes a cooler and a refrigeration room that houses an object to be cooled, and the cooler includes a cooling plate that is a part of an inner box that forms the refrigeration room, and a cooling pipe. Because at least the position where the cooling pipe passes through the cooling plate is made of a hydrophilic material, even if moisture in the air is condensed on the surface of the cooling plate, the surface of the cooling plate is made of a hydrophilic material. Can be difficult to adhere as water droplets.

  The refrigerator of the present invention includes a cooler and a refrigerating chamber for storing an object to be cooled, and the cooler includes a cooling plate that is a part of an inner box that forms the refrigerating chamber, and a cooling pipe. Since at least the position through which the cooling pipe passes is made of a hydrophilic material, the water wettability of the cooling plate is improved, it is possible to make it difficult for water droplets to adhere to the surface, and a highly clean refrigerator can be obtained.

  The refrigerator invention according to claim 1 includes a cooler and a refrigeration chamber for storing an object to be cooled. The cooler includes a cooling plate that is a part of an inner box forming the refrigeration chamber, and a cooling pipe. Since at least the position where the cooling pipe passes through the cooling plate is made of a hydrophilic material, even if moisture in the air is condensed on the surface of the cooling plate, the surface of the cooling plate is made of a hydrophilic material. Can be difficult to adhere.

  In the refrigerator invention according to claim 2, since the temperature of the cooler is always -10 ° C. or higher, the evaporation temperature can be made higher than that of the conventional refrigerator, and moisture in the air is condensed on the surface of the cooling plate. In addition, water droplets are less likely to adhere to the surface of the cooling plate.

  In the refrigerator invention according to claim 3, since a dehumidifier having a temperature lower than that of the cooler is provided in the refrigerator, the moisture in the air is condensed to some extent on the surface of the dehumidifier, and the relative humidity is lowered. Water in the air is less likely to condense on the plate surface, and water droplets are less likely to adhere to the cooling plate surface.

  In the refrigerator invention according to claim 4, since the dehumidifier is provided vertically above the cooler, only the dehumidified air passing through the dehumidifier passes near the cooling plate surface by natural convection, and further Water droplets are less likely to adhere to the cooling plate surface.

  Since the dehumidifier comprises a plurality of fins and a cooling pipe, the surface area of the dehumidifier increases and the dehumidifying effect of the dehumidifier can be enhanced.

  The invention of the refrigerator according to claim 6 is provided with the internal fan that stirs the air in the refrigerator, so that even if an evaporator having a high evaporation temperature is used, the humidity in the refrigerator is kept higher than that in the cold refrigerator. Can be made uniform at a desired temperature.

  The invention of the refrigerator according to claim 7 is configured such that the flow of wind by the internal fan flows in the order of the dehumidifier and the cooler, so that only the dehumidified air passing through the dehumidifier is near the surface of the cooling plate. As a result, there is an effect that water droplets are less likely to adhere to the surface of the cooling plate.

  In the refrigerator according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, since the dehumidifier is provided at the upper corner of the refrigerator compartment, the dehumidifier can be disposed at a position where the object to be cooled is not easily placed in the refrigerator compartment, and the dehumidifier is attached to the object to be cooled. Water droplets attached to the are difficult to adhere.

  In the refrigerator according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the cover is provided on the side opposite to the inner box of the dehumidifier, the dehumidifier is not exposed in the refrigerator compartment, and water droplets do not adhere to the object to be cooled.

  The invention of the refrigerator according to claim 10 is provided with a defrost heater in the vicinity of the dehumidifier, defrosts the dehumidifier every time it operates for a certain period of time, and drains the drain water generated when defrosting is discharged to the outside. Since the pipe is provided, even when frost adheres to the dehumidifier, the frost is not melted and the dehumidifying ability of the dehumidifier is not reduced.

  In the refrigerator according to the eleventh aspect, since the internal fan is stopped during the defrosting of the dehumidifier, the air heated by the heater is refrigerated by the internal fan during the defrosting of the dehumidifier. The room is stirred and the refrigerated room is never warmed.

  The invention of a refrigerator according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention includes a compressor, a condenser, a decompression means, a switching valve, an evaporator, a second decompression means, and a dehumidifier connected in an annular shape, and a refrigerant inside. A refrigeration cycle for circulating the refrigerant and a bypass pipe connecting the switching valve and the compressor are provided, and the refrigerant flow path is switched so that the refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator returns directly to the compressor by the switching valve during the defrosting of the dehumidifier. Since it was set as the structure, the inside of a refrigerator can be cooled even during dehumidifier cooling, and the temperature change in a store | warehouse | chamber can be decreased.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, about the same structure as the past, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. Further, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the defrosting operation of the embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigeration cycle 12 includes a compressor 1, a condenser 2, a decompression means 13, an evaporator 14, a switching valve 15, a second decompression means 16, a dehumidifier 17, and a return. The pipe 18 is composed of a bypass pipe 19 that connects the switching valve 15 and the return pipe 18.

  The decompression means 13 controls the decompression amount so that the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator 14 is always −10 ° C. or higher.

  The evaporator 14 includes an inner box 20 of the refrigerating chamber 6, for example, a cooling plate 21 made of a hydrophilic material provided with, for example, titanium oxide coating, and a cooling pipe 22 through which the refrigerant exiting the condenser 2 flows.

  The switching valve 15 can switch the refrigerant that has exited the condenser 2 between the second decompression unit 16 and the bypass pipe 19, and is normally controlled to flow toward the decompression unit 16.

  In the dehumidifier 17, since the refrigerant pressure is reduced by the second decompression means 16, the evaporation temperature is also lower than that of the evaporator 14.

  Further, the dehumidifier 17 is provided with fins (not shown) so as to increase the surface area, and a cover 23 is provided on the side opposite to the inner box.

  In the refrigerator compartment 6, an internal fan 24 that stirs air and a heater 25 provided in the vicinity of the dehumidifier 17 are housed. A drain pipe 26 that communicates with the outside is provided directly under the dehumidifier 17.

  Further, when the operating time T of the compressor 1 is detected and the time exceeds T1, the heater 24 is energized for a certain time T2, the internal fan 23 is turned off, and the defrosting control means for switching the switching valve 15 to the bypass pipe 19 side. 27.

  About the refrigerator comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement is demonstrated below.

  First, during normal operation, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed by the compressor 1 is cooled and condensed by the condenser 2, and is decompressed by the decompression means 13 such as a capillary tube from the switching valve 15, so that the low-temperature and low-pressure gas-liquid is obtained. It becomes a two-layer refrigerant and flows to the evaporator 14.

  The low-pressure gas-liquid two-layer refrigerant that has flowed into the evaporator 14 evaporates due to the temperature difference between the air in the cooling plate 21 and the refrigerator compartment 6, and cools the surrounding air with the heat of evaporation and vaporization.

  And the air in the refrigerator compartment 6 is stirred by the internal fan 23, and the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 6 is equalized.

  At this time, the relative humidity of the air in the refrigerator compartment 6 increases as the temperature decreases in the vicinity of the cooling plate 21 having a low temperature. When the temperature falls below the dew point temperature, moisture condenses and adheres to the cooling plate 21 as water droplets. To do.

  Here, since the cooling plate 21 is made of a hydrophilic material at least through the cooling pipe 22 where the temperature is lowered, even if moisture adheres to the surface, the wettability is good and water droplets are formed on the surface. There is no.

  Moreover, in the conventional refrigerator, the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant is as low as about −20 ° C., and moisture in the air is likely to condense.

  If the evaporation temperature is low, the water droplets freeze and grow as frost when operated for a long time, so that the cooling plate 21 is frequently defrosted, so that the internal temperature rises during the defrosting operation.

  However, in the present embodiment, since the surface temperature of the cooling plate 21 is always kept at −10 ° C. or higher, moisture in the air is less likely to condense, and water droplets adhere more to the surface of the cooling plate 21. In addition, it is possible to reduce the frequency of the defrosting operation of the cooling plate 21 and suppress the rise in the internal temperature.

  Further, since the internal fan 24 is provided in the refrigerator compartment 6, the air in the refrigerator can be agitated to make the internal temperature distribution uniform, and the temperature of the cooling plate 21 is the same as that of the intercooled refrigerator. Since it is higher than the evaporator, the humidity in the refrigerator compartment 6 can be kept higher than that of the intercooled refrigerator.

  In the refrigerator compartment 6, a dehumidifier 17 having a temperature lower than that of the cooling plate 21 is provided on the upstream side of the cooling plate 21 with respect to the wind flow of the internal fan 23. Since it flows in the vicinity of the cooling plate 21, moisture in the air is less likely to condense in the vicinity of the cooling plate 21, and water droplets are less likely to adhere to the surface of the cooling plate 21.

  Further, moisture in the air condenses and drops of water adhere to the dehumidifier 17, but the dehumidifier 17 is located in the upper corner where it is difficult to reach even in the refrigerator compartment 6, and the cover 23 further provides the refrigerator compartment. 6 is not exposed, the moisture adhering to the dehumidifier 17 does not adhere to the object to be cooled.

  Therefore, since water droplets are not deposited in the refrigerator compartment 6 while keeping the humidity higher than that of the intercooled refrigerator, the refrigerator can be made clean.

  Next, when the compressor 1 is operated to some extent, the moisture condensed in the dehumidifier 17 freezes and grows as frost, and the dehumidifying capacity is reduced.

  When the compressor 1 is operated for a predetermined time T1 or longer, the defrosting control means 27 detects this and energizes the heater 24 for a predetermined time T2, and at the same time turns off the internal fan 23.

  Thereby, the frost adhering to the dehumidifier 17 is thawed and the dehumidifying ability is recovered.

  Further, since the internal fan 24 is OFF at this time, the air warmed by the heater 24 is not stirred into the refrigerator compartment 6 and the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment 6 is not increased.

  Further, at this time, since the switching valve 15 is controlled so that the refrigerant exiting the condenser 2 flows to the bypass pipe 19, the refrigerant flows into the evaporator 17 even when the dehumidifier 17 is defrosted, and the refrigerator compartment 6 can be cooled, and the temperature in the refrigerator compartment 6 can be kept constant while maintaining the dehumidifying capacity of the dehumidifier 17.

  Therefore, a refrigerator with high cleanliness and low temperature fluctuation in the refrigerator compartment 6 can be obtained.

  In the present embodiment, the refrigerator having only the refrigerator compartment 6 has been described. However, the same effect can be obtained with the same configuration in the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator-freezer provided with the freezer compartment for freezing the object to be cooled. .

  In the present embodiment, the refrigerator using the refrigeration cycle in which the compressor compresses and circulates the refrigerant has been described. However, the effects of claims 1 to 11 can be achieved by a refrigerator having a low-temperature cooling plate, for example, Peltier. The same effect can be obtained in a refrigerator or the like in which brine is circulated in the cooler using an element.

  Further, the hydrophilic material is the cooling plate 21 constituting the cooler. However, when a decorative plate or the like is provided on the inner side of the cooling plate 21, the decorative plate is made the hydrophilic material similarly. The effect is obtained.

  As described above, the refrigerator according to the present invention improves the water wettability of the cooling plate, makes it difficult for water droplets to adhere to the surface, and can provide a highly clean refrigerator. It can be widely applied to cooling equipment equipped with a refrigeration system.

Longitudinal sectional view of Embodiment 1 of the refrigerator according to the present invention The flowchart which shows the operation | movement of the defrost driving | operation of the embodiment Cross-sectional view of a conventional refrigerator

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Compressor 2 Condenser 6 Refrigerating room 12 Refrigeration cycle 13 Depressurization means 14 Evaporator 15 Switching valve 17 Dehumidifier 19 Bypass piping 20 Inner box 21 Cooling plate 22 Cooling pipe 23 Cover 24 Fan in the chamber 25 Heater 26 Drain pipe

Claims (12)

A cooler and a refrigerating chamber for storing an object to be cooled, the cooler comprising a cooling plate that is a part of an inner box forming the refrigerating chamber and a cooling pipe, and at least a cooling pipe of the cooling plate. Refrigerator with a hydrophilic material in the passing position. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the cooler is always −10 ° C. or higher. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a dehumidifier having a temperature lower than that of the cooler is provided in the refrigerator. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the dehumidifier is provided vertically above the cooler. The refrigerator according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the dehumidifier comprises a plurality of fins and a cooling pipe. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an internal fan that stirs the air in the refrigerator. The refrigerator of Claim 6 comprised so that the flow of the wind by the fan in a warehouse might flow in order of a dehumidifier and a cooler. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein a dehumidifier is provided at an upper corner in the refrigerator compartment. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein a cover is provided on the side opposite to the inner box of the dehumidifier. The defrosting heater is provided in the vicinity of the dehumidifier, the dehumidifier is defrosted every time it operates for a certain time, and a drain pipe for discharging drain water generated when defrosting is provided outside the warehouse. The refrigerator of Claim 1. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the internal fan is stopped during defrosting of the dehumidifier. A compressor, a condenser, a pressure reducing means, a switching valve, an evaporator, a second pressure reducing means, and a dehumidifier are connected in a ring shape, a refrigeration cycle for circulating a refrigerant therein, a switching valve, and a compression A bypass pipe for connecting a machine is provided, and during the defrosting of the dehumidifier, the refrigerant flow is switched by the switching valve so that the refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator returns directly to the compressor. 11. The refrigerator according to 11.

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