Refrigerator

Abstract

The application provides a refrigerator. The refrigerator comprises an evaporator chamber, an evaporator, an air outlet and an air return arranged on the side wall of the evaporator chamber, a defrosting heating element, an air volume detection module, an air volume adjustment module and a control module. The defrosting heating element is arranged in the evaporator chamber and opposite to the position of the air return. The air volume detection module is used for detecting the air volume distribution of the air flowing into the evaporator at the air return. The air volume adjustment module is used for adjusting the air volume distribution of the air flowing into the evaporator at the air return. The control module is configured to obtain the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element and control the air volume adjustment module to adjust the air volume distribution at the air return according to the heat distribution. The air volume of each region at the air return is proportional to the heat of the defrosting heating element at the corresponding position. In this way, the defrosting efficiency of the evaporator can be improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the field of household appliances, in particular to a refrigerator. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the continuous development of refrigerators, the structure of the refrigeration assembly in the refrigerator also needs to be upgraded. The refrigeration assembly generally includes an evaporator. The evaporator is generally arranged in an evaporator chamber of the refrigerator, and an air outlet and an air return are arranged on the evaporator chamber to realize the circulation of cold air between the evaporator chamber and a storage compartment of the refrigerator. Because the surface temperature of the evaporator is relatively low, the moisture in the air will condense on the surface of the evaporator to form frost when flowing through the evaporator. If the frost layer on the surface of the evaporator is too thick, it will affect the heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator, and thus the evaporator needs to be defrosted. At present, most of the refrigerators adopt a defrosting method of directly arranging an electric defrosting heating element around the evaporator to periodically defrost the evaporator by the heating function of the defrosting heating element. However, this design has the following defects: the frost distribution of the evaporator and the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element do not correspond, resulting in poor defrosting effect. SUMMARY

[0003] The present application aims to provide a refrigerator which can improve the defrosting efficiency of the evaporator by making the air volume distribution of the air flowing through the evaporator correspond to the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned application purpose, an embodiment of the present application provides a refrigerator comprising an evaporator chamber, wherein an evaporator is arranged in the evaporator chamber, an air outlet and an air return are arranged on the side wall of the evaporator chamber, and

[0005] The air return is directed to the evaporator, and gas flows into the evaporator chamber from the air return, and is cooled by the evaporator and then flows out from the air outlet;

[0006] A defrosting heating element is arranged in the evaporator chamber and opposite to the position of the air return;

[0007] An air volume detection module is used to detect the air volume distribution of the air flowing into the evaporator at the air return;

[0008] An air volume adjustment module is used to adjust the air volume distribution of the air flowing into the evaporator at the air return;

[0009] A control module is configured to obtain the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element and control the air volume adjustment module to adjust the air volume distribution at the air return according to the heat distribution, and the air volume of each region at the air return is proportional to the heat of the defrosting heating element at the corresponding position.

[0010] As a further improvement of the embodiment of the present application, the defrosting heating element is provided with a heat detection module for detecting the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element.

[0011] As a further improvement of the embodiment of the present application, the return air inlet is connected with a return air duct through which the gas flows from the return air inlet into the evaporator chamber, and the air volume adjusting module is arranged between the evaporator and the air volume detection module.

[0012] As a further improvement of the embodiment of the present application, the air volume adjusting module comprises a plurality of guide plates, each of which rotates at a specific angle under the control of the control module.

[0013] As a further improvement of the embodiment of the present application, the air volume adjusting module comprises a rotating buckle which connects the guide plates and drives the guide plates to rotate, and the rotating axis of the rotating buckle is perpendicular to the side wall of the return air duct.

[0014] As a further improvement of the embodiment of the present application, the air volume adjusting module comprises a first guide assembly and a second guide assembly, the first guide assembly is arranged at a first position of the return air duct, the second guide assembly is arranged at a second position of the return air duct, the first guide assembly comprises a plurality of first guide plates which are distributed at intervals along the cross section of the first position of the return air duct, and the second guide assembly comprises a plurality of second guide plates which are distributed at intervals along the cross section of the second position of the return air duct.

[0015] As a further improvement of the embodiment of the present application, the number of the first guide plates is greater than the number of the second guide plates, and the first guide assembly is arranged close to the return air inlet.

[0016] As a further improvement of the embodiment of the present application, the first guide assembly is arranged to close the return air duct at the first position, the second guide assembly is arranged to close the return air duct at the second position, and the size and interval of the first guide plates are smaller than those of the second guide plates.

[0017] As a further improvement of the embodiment of the present application, the defrosting heating element is detachably arranged beside the evaporator.

[0018] As a further improvement of the embodiment of the present application, the return air inlet is directly opposite to the evaporator, and the defrosting heating element is parallel to the return air inlet.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the present invention, by setting up an air volume detection module and an air volume adjustment module, makes the air volume distribution flowing through the evaporator correspond to the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element. Its beneficial effect is that it can improve the defrosting efficiency of the evaporator. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the evaporator.

[0022] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 The flowchart shows the control method of the refrigerator. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these embodiments do not limit the present invention, and any structural, methodological, or functional modifications made by those skilled in the art based on these embodiments are included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 One embodiment of the present invention provides a refrigerator 100, which may include an evaporator chamber 1, an evaporator 2 disposed therein, and an air outlet 3 and an air return vent 4 disposed on the side wall of the evaporator chamber 1.

[0025] The return air inlet 4 faces the evaporator 2. Gas flows into the evaporator chamber 1 from the return air inlet 4, is cooled by the evaporator 2, and then flows out from the air outlet 3.

[0026] The defrosting heating element 5 is arranged inside the evaporator chamber 1 and is positioned opposite to the return air vent 4.

[0027] Air volume detection module 6, which is used to detect the air volume distribution flowing to the evaporator 2 at the return air inlet 4;

[0028] Air volume adjustment module 7, which is used to adjust the air volume distribution at the return air inlet 4 towards the evaporator 2;

[0029] The control module is configured to acquire the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element 5 and control the air volume adjustment module 7 to adjust the air volume distribution at the return air vent 4 according to the heat distribution. The air volume of each area at the return air vent 4 is proportional to the heat of the defrosting heating element 5 at the corresponding position.

[0030] In the present embodiment, the refrigerator 100 can comprise a refrigeration system. The refrigeration system can comprise components such as compressor 10, evaporator 2, condenser and capillary tube connected to each other by pipes. Refrigerant can circulate between different components of the refrigeration system through the pipes. Among them, the refrigerant is liquefied in the condenser and releases heat to the outside world, and the refrigerant is vaporized in the evaporator 2 and absorbs heat from the outside world.

[0031] The refrigerator 100 can comprise a cabinet 11, and the cabinet 11 can form a storage compartment 12, a machine compartment 13, and an evaporator compartment 1. The evaporator compartment 1 and the storage compartment 12 can be communicated with a supply air duct 14 and a return air duct 15. The return air inlet 4 of the evaporator compartment 1 can be connected with the return air duct 15. The air outlet 3 of the evaporator compartment 1 can be connected with the supply air duct 14. The evaporator 2 can be arranged in the evaporator compartment 1. The compressor 10, the condenser and the like can be arranged in the machine compartment 13.

[0032] The process of gas circulation in the refrigerator can be in turn: the gas in the return air duct 15 flows into the evaporator compartment 1 through the return air inlet 4 of the evaporator compartment 1; the gas exchanges heat with the evaporator 2 in the process of flowing through the evaporator 2 in the evaporator compartment 1; the cooled gas flows out of the evaporator compartment 1 through the air outlet 3 of the evaporator compartment 1; the gas flows into the storage compartment 12 through the supply air duct 14; the gas in the storage compartment 12 flows into the return air duct 15.

[0033] The supply air duct 14 and the return air duct 15 can be provided with a fan to promote the circulation of the gas between the evaporator compartment 1 and the storage compartment 12.

[0034] In the present embodiment, the storage compartment 12 can comprise a refrigeration compartment 121 and a freezer compartment 122. The evaporator compartment 1 can be arranged at the back of the refrigeration compartment 121 and the freezer compartment 122 respectively, or only one evaporator compartment 1 can be arranged, and cooling can be achieved by arranging multiple air ducts to supply cold to multiple storage compartments 12 at the same time.

[0035] In the present embodiment, the return air inlet 4 is arranged towards the evaporator 2, which can ensure that the evaporator 2 can quickly and sufficiently cool the gas flowing into the evaporator compartment 1 through the return air inlet 4.

[0036] In the present embodiment, the defrosting heating element 5 and the return air inlet 4 are arranged opposite to each other, which means that at least one side of the defrosting heating element 5 is arranged towards the return air inlet 4, and the projection of the front of the defrosting heating element 5 towards the return air inlet 4 can cover the return air inlet 4. In this way, the areas where the defrosting heating element and the return air inlet face each other correspond in space.

[0037] Because the surface temperature of the evaporator 2 is low, part of the water molecules in the gas will condense into frost and adhere to the evaporator 2 in the process of flowing through the evaporator 2.

[0038] To ensure the heat exchange efficiency between the evaporator 2 and the gas, the defrosting heating element 5 can be used to defrost the evaporator 2. The defrosting heating element 5 can be arranged around the evaporator 2 to melt the frost on the evaporator 2 by generating heat.

[0039] In the embodiment, the heat distribution can refer to the distribution of the amount of heat that can be generated by different regions of the defrosting heating element 5 in a unit of time. For example, the defrosting heating element 5 can be such that the middle region generates more heat in a unit of time, and the peripheral region generates less heat in a unit of time.

[0040] The amount of heat that can be generated in a unit of time will affect the defrosting effect and the time required for defrosting. The more heat that can be generated in a unit of time, the less time required for defrosting, the higher the defrosting efficiency, and the better the defrosting effect.

[0041] When the amount of frost on different regions of the evaporator 2 is proportional to the amount of heat at the corresponding positions of the defrosting heating element 5, that is, the places where the evaporator 2 has more frost correspond to the places where the defrosting heating element 5 generates more heat, and the places where the evaporator 2 has less frost correspond to the places where the defrosting heating element 5 generates less heat, the overall defrosting efficiency of the evaporator 2 is higher, the time required for defrosting can be effectively shortened, energy waste can be reduced, energy consumption can be reduced, the defrosting effect is better, and the phenomenon of residual frost on the evaporator 2 after defrosting can be avoided.

[0042] Since the evaporator chamber 1 and the storage chamber 12 are connected by an air duct, when the defrosting heating element 5 is started to defrost the evaporator 2, the generated heat will inevitably enter the storage chamber 12 through the air duct, causing temperature fluctuations in the storage chamber 12 and affecting the freezing and preservation of the storage chamber 12. Therefore, when the frost distribution of the evaporator 2 corresponds to the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element 5, the temperature fluctuations in the storage chamber 12 can also be reduced, and the freezing and preservation effect of the storage chamber 12 can be improved.

[0043] In the embodiment, the air volume distribution can refer to the distribution of the amount of gas flowing through different regions in a unit of time on the same cross section. The cross section can refer to a plane perpendicular to the direction of gas flow.

[0044] The more gas that flows through the evaporator 2 in a unit of time, the more water molecules it carries, and correspondingly, the more frost that condenses on the evaporator 2. Therefore, the frost distribution on the evaporator 2 can be adjusted by adjusting the air volume distribution flowing through the evaporator 2. When the air volume distribution flowing through the evaporator 2 is consistent with the heat distribution at the corresponding positions of the defrosting heating element 5, correspondingly, the frost distribution of the evaporator 2 is also consistent with the heat distribution at the corresponding positions of the defrosting heating element 5.

[0045] In addition, since the gas flows from the return air outlet 4 to the evaporator 2, the air volume adjusting module 7 and the air volume adjusting module 7 are arranged at the return air outlet 4 to achieve air volume adjustment.

[0046] With reference to Figure 3 In actual use, the control method of the refrigerator 100 can be:

[0047] obtaining the heat distribution of each region of the defrosting heating element 5;

[0048] obtaining the air volume distribution of each region at the return air outlet 4 from the air volume detection module 6;

[0049] determining whether the air volume of each region at the return air outlet 4 is proportional to the heat of the defrosting heating element 5 at the corresponding position;

[0050] If not, adjusting the air volume distribution at the return air outlet 4 according to the heat distribution until the air volume of each region at the return air outlet 4 is proportional to the heat of the defrosting heating element 5 at the corresponding position.

[0051] In summary, with such a structure design, air volume adjustment is facilitated, the frost amount of the evaporator 2 is proportional to the heat of the defrosting heating element 5 at the corresponding position, the frost distribution of the evaporator 2 is consistent with the heat distribution at the corresponding position of the defrosting heating element 5, the defrosting efficiency of the entire evaporator 2 is improved, the time required for defrosting is effectively shortened, energy waste is reduced, energy consumption is reduced, the defrosting effect is better, the phenomenon of residual frost on the evaporator 2 after defrosting can be avoided, in addition, the temperature fluctuation of the storage compartment 12 is reduced, and the freezing and preservation effect of the storage compartment 12 is improved.

[0052] In the present embodiment, the defrosting heating element 5 can be a heating plate arranged beside the evaporator 2, or a heating wire distributed beside the evaporator 2.

[0053] With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 Further, in an embodiment of the present application, a heat detection module 9 for detecting the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element 5 can be arranged at the defrosting heating element 5. The heat detection module 9 can be connected to the control module, so that the control module obtains the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element 5.

[0054] In this way, the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element 5 can be more accurately controlled, so as to adjust the air volume distribution at the return air outlet 4 according to the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element 5.

[0055] Of course, in an embodiment of the present application, the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element 5 can be pre-set and known, and the air volume distribution flowing through the evaporator 2 can be adjusted according to the known heat distribution. For example, the defrosting heating element 5 can be composed of uniformly distributed heating wires, and the heating power of each heating wire is consistent, and the heat of the defrosting heating element 5 is uniformly distributed.

[0056] Further, in an embodiment of the present application, the defrosting heating element 5 can be detachably arranged beside the evaporator 2. The defrosting heating element 5 can be provided with a heat detection module 9 for detecting the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element 5.

[0057] In this way, the defrosting heating element 5 can be replaced conveniently, and the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element 5 can be controlled accurately after the defrosting heating element 5 is replaced.

[0058] Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2 Further, in an embodiment of the present application, the return air inlet 4 can be opposite to the evaporator 2, and the defrosting heating element 5 and the return air inlet 4 can be arranged in parallel.

[0059] In this way, it can be ensured that the component distribution of the gas flowing through the corresponding positions of the return air inlet 4 and the defrosting heating element 5 is consistent, so as to adjust the air volume distribution at the return air inlet 4 according to the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element 5.

[0060] In the embodiment, the return air inlet 4 can be arranged opposite to the lower side wall of the evaporator 2, and the defrosting heating element 5 can be arranged below the lower side wall of the evaporator 2 in parallel with the return air inlet 4.

[0061] Since the gas with a higher temperature has a tendency to flow upward. Therefore, arranging the return air inlet 4 directly below the evaporator 2 can cool the gas flowing into the evaporator 2 from the return air inlet 4 sufficiently. Meanwhile, arranging the defrosting heating element 5 directly below the evaporator 2 can improve the defrosting efficiency.

[0062] Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2 Further, in an embodiment of the present application, the return air inlet 4 is connected with a return air duct 15, the gas flows into the evaporator chamber 1 from the return air inlet 4 through the return air duct 15, and the air volume adjusting module 7 is arranged between the evaporator 2 and the air volume detection module 6.

[0063] In this way, the air volume distribution flowing through the evaporator 2 can be adjusted by controlling the air volume adjusting module 7, the air volume distribution adjusted by the air volume adjusting module 7 can be fed back by the air volume detection module 6, the air volume adjusting effect can be improved, and the air volume of each region of the return air inlet 4 can be made proportional to the heat of the corresponding position of the defrosting heating element 5.

[0064] With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 Further, in an embodiment of the present application, the air volume adjusting module 7 can include a plurality of flow guide plates 71, each of which rotates at a specific angle under the control of the control module. In this embodiment, the number of flow guide plates can be multiple and spaced apart from each other, and the rotation direction and rotation angle of each flow guide plate 71 can be independently controlled.

[0065] In this way, the air volume distribution flowing to the evaporator 2 can be effectively adjusted by controlling the rotation of the flow guide plate 71, and the structure is simple and convenient to control.

[0066] With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 Further, in an embodiment of the present application, the air volume adjusting module 7 can include a rotating buckle 72 connected to the flow guide plate 71 and driving the flow guide plate 71 to rotate, and the rotation axis of the rotating buckle 72 can be perpendicular to the side wall of the return air duct 15. In this embodiment, the flow guide plate 71 can be directly clamped on the rotating buckle 72. The flow guide plate 71 rotates around the rotation axis of the rotating buckle 72.

[0067] In this way, the installation of the air volume adjusting module can be facilitated, and the rotation axis of the flow guide plate 71 and the side wall of the return air duct 15 being perpendicular can also increase the contact area between the flow guide plate 71 and the fluid, thereby improving the air volume adjusting effect.

[0068] With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 Further, in an embodiment of the present application, the air volume adjusting module 7 can include a first flow guide assembly 73 and a second flow guide assembly 74, the first flow guide assembly 73 is arranged at a first position of the return air duct 15, and the second flow guide assembly 74 is arranged at a second position of the return air duct 15. The first flow guide assembly 73 can include a plurality of first flow guide plates 711, which are spaced apart along the cross section at the first position of the return air duct 15, and the second flow guide assembly 74 can include a plurality of second flow guide plates 712, which are spaced apart along the cross section at the second position of the return air duct 15.

[0069] Since the gas in the return air duct 15 is more concentrated, the air volume adjusting module 7 arranged in the return air duct 15 can more conveniently adjust the air volume, and at the same time, can avoid occupying the space of the evaporator chamber 1, so that the overall structure of the refrigerator 100 is more compact.

[0070] The two groups of air volume adjusting modules 7 can more accurately adjust the air volume distribution at different positions, improve the air volume adjusting effect, and realize that the air volume of each region at the return air outlet 4 is proportional to the heat of the defrosting heating element 5 at the corresponding position.

[0071] With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 Further, in an embodiment of the present application, the number of the first guide plates 711 is greater than the number of the second guide plates 712, and the first guide assembly 73 is arranged close to the return air outlet 4. The first guide assembly 73 can be spaced apart from the first guide assembly 73 by a certain distance.

[0072] In this way, the first guide assembly 73 can be used to preliminarily adjust the air volume distribution at different positions, and then the second guide assembly 74 can be used to finely adjust the air volume distribution at different positions, thereby improving the air volume adjusting effect and making the air volume of each region at the return air outlet 4 proportional to the heat of the defrosting heating element 5 at the corresponding position.

[0073] With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2 Further, in an embodiment of the present application, the first guide assembly 73 is arranged to close the return air duct 15 at the first position, the second guide assembly 74 is arranged to close the return air duct 15 at the second position, and the size and spacing of the first guide plates 711 are smaller than those of the second guide plates 712.

[0074] In this way, the gas in the return air duct 15 needs to flow through the first guide assembly 73 and the second guide assembly 74 before flowing to the evaporator 2, so that the first guide assembly 73 can preliminarily adjust the air volume distribution at different positions, the second guide assembly 74 can finely adjust the air volume distribution at different positions, the air volume adjusting effect is improved, and the air volume of each region at the return air outlet 4 is proportional to the heat of the defrosting heating element 5 at the corresponding position.

[0075] In summary, the refrigerator 100 of the present application can make the air volume distribution flowing through the evaporator correspond to the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element, solve the problem that the frost distribution of the evaporator and the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element do not correspond, and cause poor defrosting effect.

[0076] The technical scheme in the application can facilitate air volume adjustment, make the frost amount of the evaporator 2 be proportional to the heat of the defrosting heating element 5 at the corresponding position, make the frost distribution of the evaporator 2 be consistent with the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element 5 at the corresponding position, improve the defrosting efficiency of the whole evaporator 2, effectively shorten the time required for defrosting, reduce energy waste and energy consumption, and achieve better defrosting effect, so that the phenomenon of residual frost on the evaporator 2 after defrosting can be avoided, the temperature fluctuation of the storage compartment 12 can be reduced, and the freezing and fresh-keeping effect of the storage compartment 12 can be improved.

[0077] It should be understood that although the present specification is described in terms of embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution, and the description of the specification is only for the sake of clarity, and those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in each embodiment can be combined appropriately to form other embodiments that those skilled in the art can understand.

[0078] The above series of detailed descriptions are only specific descriptions of the feasible embodiments of the present application, and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present application. Any equivalent embodiments or changes made without departing from the spirit of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising an evaporator chamber, wherein an evaporator is arranged in the evaporator chamber, and a return air outlet and an air outlet are arranged on the side wall of the evaporator chamber, characterized in that the return air outlet is arranged to face the evaporator, and air flows into the evaporator chamber from the return air outlet and flows out of the air outlet after being cooled by the evaporator; a defrosting heating element is arranged in the evaporator chamber and opposite to the position of the return air outlet; an air volume detection module is arranged to detect the air volume distribution of the air flowing into the evaporator from the return air outlet; an air volume adjustment module is arranged to adjust the air volume distribution of the air flowing into the evaporator from the return air outlet; and a control module is configured to obtain the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element and control the air volume adjustment module to adjust the air volume distribution of the return air outlet according to the heat distribution, and the air volume of each area of the return air outlet is proportional to the heat of the defrosting heating element at the corresponding position. The defrosting heating element is provided with a heat detection module for detecting the heat distribution of the defrosting heating element. The return air outlet is connected with a return air duct, and air flows into the evaporator chamber from the return air outlet through the return air duct, and the air volume adjustment module is arranged between the evaporator and the air volume detection module. The air volume adjustment module comprises a plurality of guide plates, and each guide plate rotates at a specific angle under the control of the control module. The air volume adjustment module comprises a rotating buckle, the rotating buckle connects the guide plates and drives the guide plates to rotate, and the rotation axis of the rotating buckle is perpendicular to the side wall of the return air duct. The air volume adjustment module comprises a first guide assembly and a second guide assembly, the first guide assembly is arranged at a first position of the return air duct, the second guide assembly is arranged at a second position of the return air duct, the first guide assembly comprises a plurality of first guide plates, the first guide plates are arranged at intervals along the cross section of the first position of the return air duct, and the second guide assembly comprises a plurality of second guide plates, the second guide plates are arranged at intervals along the cross section of the second position of the return air duct.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The number of the first guide plates is greater than the number of the second guide plates, and the first guide assembly is arranged close to the return air outlet.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The first guide assembly is arranged to close the return air duct at the first position, the second guide assembly is arranged to close the return air duct at the second position, and the size and interval of the first guide plates are smaller than those of the second guide plates.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein The defrosting heating element is arranged beside the evaporator in a detachable manner.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein The return air outlet faces the evaporator, and the defrosting heating element and the return air outlet are parallel.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein ​ 7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein ​ 8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein ​ 9. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein ​ 10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein ​

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