Refrigerator

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of refrigeration equipment, and provides a refrigerator, which comprises a refrigeration chamber, a drain pipe and a heating piece, the refrigeration chamber is provided with a water outlet; the drain pipe comprises a first pipe section and a second pipe section which are connected in sequence, the first pipe section is connected with the water outlet, and the second pipe section is located on the side of the first pipe section away from the water outlet; the heating piece comprises a first heating wire and a second heating wire, the first heating wire is arranged in the first pipe section, the second heating wire is arranged in the second pipe section, and the laying density of the first heating wire is smaller than that of the second heating wire. Since the first pipe section is close to the refrigeration chamber, the temperature is higher than that of the second pipe section, and the icing risk is lower; by aiming at the icing risks of different regions of the drain pipe, the laying density of the first heating wire is smaller than that of the second heating wire, the drain pipe is prevented from being blocked by ice, excessive heating of the low-risk region is avoided, and the overall energy consumption of the refrigerator is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of refrigeration equipment technology, and in particular relates to a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, dual-system refrigerators typically employ a split structure, with the refrigerator compartment located above the freezer compartment. The defrost water drainage path of the refrigerator evaporator is designed so that after flowing out from the refrigerator compartment, it passes through the foamed insulation layer at the rear of the freezer compartment and finally flows into the water collection box located in the compressor compartment. However, this layout has a significant drawback in low-temperature environments: the drain pipe passes through the low-temperature zone of the freezer compartment, making it highly susceptible to ice formation due to excessively low temperatures, leading to ice blockage and affecting the refrigerator's normal defrosting and drainage functions.

[0003] Some solutions address ice blockage by heating the drain pipe with a heating element, but this consumes a lot of power, resulting in high overall energy consumption for the refrigerator. Utility Model Content

[0004] This application provides a refrigerator to solve the problem of high energy consumption in existing refrigerators.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a refrigerator, comprising:

[0006] The cold storage compartment is equipped with a drain outlet;

[0007] The drain pipe includes a first pipe section and a second pipe section connected in sequence. The first pipe section is connected to the water outlet, and the second pipe section is located on the side of the first pipe section away from the water outlet.

[0008] The heating element includes a first heating wire and a second heating wire. The first heating wire is disposed in the first pipe section, and the second heating wire is disposed in the second pipe section. The laying density of the first heating wire is less than the laying density of the second heating wire.

[0009] In some embodiments of this application, the refrigerator further includes a compressor compartment, which is provided with a water receiving tray; the drain pipe further includes a third pipe section, which is connected between the second pipe section and the water receiving tray;

[0010] The heating element further includes a third heating wire, which is disposed in the third pipe section, and the laying density of the third heating wire is less than that of the second heating wire.

[0011] In some embodiments of this application, the laying density of the third heating wire is less than that of the first heating wire.

[0012] In some embodiments of this application, the first heating wire, the second heating wire, and the third heating wire are all independently provided;

[0013] Alternatively, the first heating wire, the second heating wire, and the third heating wire can be connected in series.

[0014] In some embodiments of this application, the resistance value of the first heating wire is less than the resistance value of the second heating wire;

[0015] And / or, the resistance value of the third heating wire is less than the resistance value of the second heating wire.

[0016] In some embodiments of this application, the first heating wire, the second heating wire, and the third heating wire are all spirally wound and arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the drain pipe.

[0017] In some embodiments of this application, the cover plate of the press chamber is provided with a through hole, the drain pipe passes through the through hole to connect with the water receiving tray, and a sponge is provided at the through hole.

[0018] In some embodiments of this application, the compressor chamber is provided with a compressor and a heat-conducting component, and the heat-conducting component connects the compressor and the drain pipe.

[0019] In some embodiments of this application, the refrigerator further includes:

[0020] A temperature sensor is installed in the drain pipe to detect the ambient temperature information of the drain pipe area;

[0021] The controller, electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the heating element, is configured to control the heating element to turn on and off based on the ambient temperature information.

[0022] In some embodiments of this application, a heat-conducting layer is provided on the outer wall surface of the drain pipe;

[0023] And / or, the inner wall of the drain pipe is provided with a heat insulation layer.

[0024] The refrigerator provided in this application includes a refrigerator compartment, a drain pipe, and a heating element. The refrigerator compartment has a water outlet. The drain pipe includes a first pipe section and a second pipe section connected in sequence. The first pipe section is connected to the water outlet, and the second pipe section is located on the side of the first pipe section away from the water outlet. The heating element includes a first heating wire and a second heating wire. The first heating wire is disposed in the first pipe section, and the second heating wire is disposed in the second pipe section. The density of the first heating wire is less than the density of the second heating wire. Since the first pipe section is closer to the refrigerator compartment and has a higher temperature than the second pipe section, the risk of icing is lower. By addressing the icing risk in different areas of the drain pipe, the density of the first heating wire is made less than the density of the second heating wire. This prevents the drain pipe from freezing and clogging while avoiding overheating of low-risk areas, thus reducing the overall energy consumption of the refrigerator.

[0025] Additional aspects and advantages of this application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] To gain a more complete understanding of this application and its beneficial effects, the following description will be provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals denote the same parts.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0029] Figure 2 This is a partially enlarged schematic diagram of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the fit between the drain pipe and the heating element provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 1 .

[0031] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the fit between the drain pipe and the heating element provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 .

[0032] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the refrigerator control method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0033] Figure label:

[0034] 100. Refrigeration compartment; 110. Drain outlet;

[0035] 200. Drainage pipe; 210. First pipe section; 220. Second pipe section; 230. Third pipe section;

[0036] 300, heating element; 310, first heating wire; 320, second heating wire; 330, third heating wire; 400, press chamber; 410, cover plate; 411, through hole; 420, sponge. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. The following examples are used to illustrate this application, but should not be used to limit the scope of this application.

[0038] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this application. In addition, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0039] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connected" and "linked" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0040] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature is in indirect contact with the second feature through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "on top of," and "over" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0041] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the embodiments of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0042] In related technologies, dual-system refrigerators typically employ a split structure, with the refrigerator compartment located above the freezer compartment. The defrost water drainage path of the refrigerator evaporator is designed so that after flowing out from the refrigerator compartment, it passes through the foamed insulation layer at the rear of the freezer compartment and finally flows into the water collection box located in the compressor compartment. However, this layout has a significant drawback in low-temperature environments: the drain pipe passes through the low-temperature zone of the freezer compartment, making it highly susceptible to ice formation due to excessively low temperatures, leading to ice blockage and affecting the refrigerator's normal defrosting and drainage functions.

[0043] Some solutions address ice blockage by heating the drain pipe with a heating element. However, the design of the heating device often fails to adequately consider the risk of ice formation in different areas of the drain pipe, resulting in low heating efficiency or excessive energy consumption, leading to high overall energy consumption of the refrigerator.

[0044] This application provides a refrigerator to solve the problem of high energy consumption in existing refrigerators. The following will be discussed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Figures 1-5 Please provide an explanation.

[0045] The refrigerator provided in this application embodiment is referenced. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the device includes a refrigerator compartment 100, a drain pipe 200, and a heating element 300. The refrigerator compartment 100 is provided with a water outlet 110. The drain pipe 200 includes a first pipe section 210 and a second pipe section 220 connected in sequence. The first pipe section 210 is connected to the water outlet 110, and the second pipe section 220 is located on the side of the first pipe section 210 away from the water outlet 110. The heating element 300 includes a first heating wire 310 and a second heating wire 320. The first heating wire 310 is disposed in the first pipe section 210, and the second heating wire 320 is disposed in the second pipe section 220. The laying density of the first heating wire 310 is less than the laying density of the second heating wire 320.

[0046] For example, the refrigerator is divided into at least a refrigerator compartment 100 and a freezer compartment. The refrigerator compartment 100 is located above the freezer compartment. The bottom of the refrigerator compartment 100 is provided with a water outlet 110 for draining defrost water. The defrost water mainly comes from the melt water produced by the refrigerator evaporator during the periodic defrosting process.

[0047] Water from outlet 110 is guided through drain pipe 200 to the water collection tray in the compressor compartment. Based on the temperature gradient of the environment surrounding drain pipe 200, drain pipe 200 can be divided into at least a first pipe section 210 and a second pipe section 220. The first pipe section 210 is the starting part of drain pipe 200, and its inlet end is directly connected to outlet 110 of refrigerator compartment 100. The first pipe section 210 is located below or behind refrigerator compartment 100, and its surrounding environment is mainly affected by the temperature of refrigerator compartment 100, which is relatively high, usually above 0°C.

[0048] The second pipe section 220 is connected to the outlet end of the first pipe section 210 and is located on the side of the first pipe section 210 away from the outlet 110. Because the refrigerator's overall structure has the refrigerator compartment 100 on top and the freezer compartment below, the second pipe section 220 passes through or is adjacent to the foam insulation layer area behind the freezer compartment. Therefore, the ambient temperature of the second pipe section 220 is extremely low, making it the part with the lowest temperature and the highest risk of freezing in the entire drainage path.

[0049] To prevent defrost water in the drain pipe 200 from freezing, the heating element 300 in this embodiment includes two parts: a first heating wire 310 and a second heating wire 320. The first heating wire 310 can be wound or attached to the outer wall of the first pipe section 210 to provide auxiliary heating for the first pipe section 210 and prevent freezing in extreme cases. The second heating wire 320 is wound or attached to the outer wall of the second pipe section 220 to provide effective heating protection for the second pipe section 220 in the high-risk low-temperature zone, preventing the drain pipe 200 from freezing in this area.

[0050] Furthermore, the laying density of the first heating wire 310 is less than that of the second heating wire 320, meaning the number of turns or coverage area of ​​the first heating wire 310 per unit length is less than that of the second heating wire 320. This results in the second tube segment 220 receiving significantly higher heating power per unit length than the first tube segment 210 under the same energizing conditions. By concentrating the heating power in the second tube segment 220, which has a higher risk of icing, overheating of low-risk areas is avoided, while the risk of icing in high-risk areas is reduced, significantly lowering the total power consumption of the heating element 300 and the refrigerator's energy consumption.

[0051] In one optional implementation, combined with Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the refrigerator also includes a compressor compartment 400, which is provided with a water receiving tray (not shown in the figure); the drain pipe 200 also includes a third pipe section 230, which is connected between the second pipe section 220 and the water receiving tray; the heating element 300 also includes a third heating wire 330, which is disposed in the third pipe section 230, and the laying density of the third heating wire 330 is less than the laying density of the second heating wire 320.

[0052] Understandably, a compressor compartment 400 is typically located at the bottom of a refrigerator, housing the compressor, condenser, and other major components. Because the compressor generates a significant amount of heat during operation, the ambient temperature inside the compressor compartment 400 is significantly higher than in other parts of the refrigerator. Inside the compressor compartment 400, a drip tray (or evaporator tray) is installed to collect defrost water flowing from the drain pipe 200 and allows it to evaporate naturally using the high-temperature environment of the compressor compartment 400.

[0053] The drain pipe 200 also includes a third pipe section 230, one end of which is connected to the outlet end of the second pipe section 220, and the other end extends into the compressor chamber 400 to guide defrost water into a drip tray. The entire path of the third pipe section 230, or at least its terminal portion, is located within or near the high-temperature compressor chamber 400. Therefore, the external ambient temperature of the third pipe section 230 is higher than that of the second pipe section 220, resulting in a lower risk of icing. A third heating wire 330 is laid or wound along the outer wall of the third pipe section 230, and the laying density of the third heating wire 330 is less than that of the second heating wire 320.

[0054] In this embodiment, the heating wires corresponding to the drain pipe 200 are arranged with a sparser density at both ends and a denser density in the middle. Since the starting end of the drain pipe 200 is the drain outlet of the cold storage compartment, where the temperature is above 0°C, and the tail end is the compressor compartment 400, where the temperature is high during compressor operation, the risk of icing is low. Therefore, the winding spacing of the heating wires at both ends of the drain pipe 200 is larger to reduce energy consumption. The middle area of ​​the drain pipe 200 (i.e., the second pipe section 220) is close to the variable temperature compartment and the freezer compartment, where the temperature is below -18°C, and the risk of icing is higher. Therefore, the winding spacing of the heating wires in the middle of the drain pipe 200 is smaller to enhance the heating effect.

[0055] In one alternative implementation, refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the laying density of the third heating wire 330 is less than that of the first heating wire 310. Since the third pipe section 230 of the drain pipe 200 is close to the compressor chamber 400 with a higher temperature, the temperature of the third pipe section 230 is relatively high. Therefore, the laying density of the third heating wire 330 can be further set to be less than that of the first heating wire 310 to further reduce the power consumption of the heating element 300.

[0056] In one optional embodiment, the first heating wire 310, the second heating wire 320, and the third heating wire 330 are all independently provided. Each of the first heating wire 310, the second heating wire 320, and the third heating wire 330 has its own independent power supply line and forms an independent electrical circuit, which is connected to the main control board of the refrigerator. Each heating wire can be independently turned on or off according to the actual heating needs, so as to avoid overheating, reduce energy waste, and reduce energy consumption.

[0057] In one alternative implementation, refer to Figure 4 As shown, the first heating wire 310, the second heating wire 320 and the third heating wire 330 are connected in series, which has a simple structure and low cost.

[0058] In one optional embodiment, the resistance value of the first heating wire 310 is less than the resistance value of the second heating wire 320; in another optional embodiment, the resistance value of the third heating wire 330 is less than the resistance value of the second heating wire 320.

[0059] Understandably, according to Joule's law, the formula P = I 2 In a series circuit, since the current I is the same throughout the entire loop, the electrical power P, i.e., the heat generated, by each segment of the heating wire is only proportional to its own resistance R. By setting the resistance of the second heating wire 320 to be larger, the heating power can be further concentrated in the second heating wire 320, and the heat can be concentrated in the second tube segment 220 for de-icing, thereby reducing the overall energy consumption.

[0060] Furthermore, the resistance of the third heating wire 330 can be less than the resistance of the first heating wire 310.

[0061] In one alternative implementation, refer to Figure 3 As shown, the first heating wire 310, the second heating wire 320 and the third heating wire 330 are all spirally wound and arranged along the axial direction of the drain pipe 200 to ensure that different areas of the drain pipe 200 are fully heated and reduce the possibility of defrosting water freezing inside the drain pipe 200.

[0062] In one optional implementation, combined with Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the cover plate 410 of the compressor compartment 400 is provided with a through hole 411. The drain pipe 200 passes through the through hole 411 to connect with the water receiving tray. A sponge 420 is provided at the through hole 411. The sponge 420 can play a sealing role to prevent the foam material in the foam layer from leaking, prevent foam leakage, and improve the safety performance of the refrigerator.

[0063] In an alternative embodiment, the compressor compartment 400 is provided with a compressor and a heat-conducting element (not shown in the figure), the heat-conducting element connecting the compressor and the drain pipe 200.

[0064] It is understandable that the compressor generates a lot of heat during operation. The heat-conducting component can be an aluminum block, copper sheet, or copper tube, which has high thermal conductivity and can quickly and efficiently transfer heat from the compressor to the target drain pipe 200, recovering and utilizing the heat of the compressor, preventing the drain pipe 200 from freezing, reducing the on-time of the heating element 300, and helping to reduce energy consumption.

[0065] In an optional embodiment, the refrigerator further includes a temperature sensor and a controller. The temperature sensor is located on the drain pipe 200 to detect ambient temperature information in the area of ​​the drain pipe 200. The controller is electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the heating element 300 and is configured to control the heating element 300 to turn on and off based on the ambient temperature information. This ensures that the heating element 300 is only turned on to heat the drain pipe 200 when there is a risk of icing and heating is required, avoiding overheating and reducing energy consumption.

[0066] In one optional embodiment, the outer wall surface of the drain pipe 200 is provided with a heat-conducting layer; in another optional embodiment, the inner wall surface of the drain pipe 200 is provided with a heat-insulating layer.

[0067] Optionally, the thermally conductive layer may include thermally conductive silicone, metal foil, graphene coating, etc., which can better conduct heat, improve heating efficiency, achieve good thermal conductivity of the drain pipe 200, and improve ice blockage. The inner wall of the drain pipe 200 may be provided with an insulation layer such as nano-aerogel or polyurethane microporous coating to delay heat loss, lock in temperature, and reduce energy consumption.

[0068] The refrigerator provided in this application embodiment includes a refrigerator compartment 100, a drain pipe 200, and a heating element 300. The refrigerator compartment 100 is provided with a water outlet 110. The drain pipe 200 includes a first pipe section 210 and a second pipe section 220 connected in sequence. The first pipe section 210 is connected to the water outlet 110, and the second pipe section 220 is located on the side of the first pipe section 210 away from the water outlet 110. The heating element 300 includes a first heating wire 310 and a second heating wire 320. The first heating wire 310 is disposed in the first pipe section 210, and the second heating wire 320 is disposed in the second pipe section 220. The laying density of the first heating wire 310 is less than the laying density of the second heating wire 320. Since the first pipe section 210 is close to the refrigerator compartment 100, its temperature is higher than that of the second pipe section 220, and the risk of freezing is lower. By targeting the freezing risk in different areas of the drain pipe 200, the laying density of the first heating wire 310 is made lower than that of the second heating wire 320. This prevents the drain pipe 200 from freezing and getting blocked, while avoiding overheating of low-risk areas and reducing the overall energy consumption of the refrigerator.

[0069] In one alternative implementation, refer to Figure 5 As shown, the refrigerator's control method may include: a temperature sensor monitoring the ambient temperature around the drain pipe in real time; when the ambient temperature is below 10°C, entering a preparatory state for heating wire activation; when the refrigerator compressor starts working, the heating wire starts simultaneously to heat the drain pipe; when the compressor stops working, the heating wire stops working after a 2-minute delay to ensure that residual water in the drain pipe does not freeze; when the ambient temperature is above 10°C, the heating wire remains off and does not need to operate.

[0070] Understandably, by linking the compressor's operating status and ambient temperature, the heating wires are activated only when ice blockage is likely to occur, avoiding unnecessary energy consumption. Optimizing the arrangement of the heating wires and the control logic effectively solves the problem of drain pipe icing, ensuring unobstructed drainage. The heating wire arrangement, with sparser wires at both ends and denser wires in the middle, combined with intelligent control logic, further reduces energy consumption. Furthermore, the heating device is simple in design, easy to install and maintain, and suitable for various models of French-style refrigerators.

[0071] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0072] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate this application and are not intended to limit this application. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that various combinations, modifications, or equivalent substitutions of the technical solutions of this application do not depart from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this application and should all be covered within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A refrigerator characterized by comprising: include: The cold storage compartment is equipped with a drain outlet; The drain pipe includes a first pipe section and a second pipe section connected in sequence. The first pipe section is connected to the water outlet, and the second pipe section is located on the side of the first pipe section away from the water outlet. The heating element includes a first heating wire and a second heating wire. The first heating wire is disposed in the first pipe section, and the second heating wire is disposed in the second pipe section. The laying density of the first heating wire is less than the laying density of the second heating wire.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigerator also includes a compressor compartment, which is equipped with a water receiving tray; the drain pipe also includes a third pipe section, which is connected between the second pipe section and the water receiving tray. The heating element further includes a third heating wire, which is disposed in the third pipe section, and the laying density of the third heating wire is less than that of the second heating wire.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The laying density of the third heating wire is less than that of the first heating wire.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first heating wire, the second heating wire, and the third heating wire are all independently provided; Alternatively, the first heating wire, the second heating wire, and the third heating wire can be connected in series.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The resistance of the first heating wire is less than the resistance of the second heating wire; And / or, the resistance value of the third heating wire is less than the resistance value of the second heating wire.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein The first heating wire, the second heating wire, and the third heating wire are all spirally wound and arranged sequentially along the axial direction of the drain pipe.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cover plate of the press chamber is provided with a through hole, the drain pipe passes through the through hole to connect with the water receiving tray, and a sponge is provided at the through hole.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The compressor chamber is equipped with a compressor and a heat-conducting component, and the heat-conducting component connects the compressor and the drain pipe.

9. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The refrigerator also includes: A temperature sensor is installed in the drain pipe to detect the ambient temperature information of the drain pipe area; The controller, electrically connected to the temperature sensor and the heating element, is configured to control the heating element to turn on and off based on the ambient temperature information.

10. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The outer wall of the drain pipe is provided with a heat-conducting layer; And / or, the inner wall of the drain pipe is provided with a heat insulation layer.

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