Control method and control device of refrigerator and refrigerator

Abstract

The application discloses a refrigerator control method, a control device and a refrigerator. The refrigerator control method comprises the following steps: obtaining a first set temperature and a first real-time temperature of a refrigerator chamber; when the first set temperature is less than the first real-time temperature, starting a compressor, a water pump and a fan, and continuously operating for a first preset time; obtaining a second real-time temperature and a second set temperature of refrigerant at an outlet of a heat exchanger; when the second real-time temperature is less than the second set temperature, closing the water pump; obtaining a third real-time temperature and a third set temperature of refrigerant at an outlet of a condenser; and when the third real-time temperature is less than the third set temperature, closing the fan. The refrigerator control method can perform heat exchange on refrigerant through water cooling, so that the refrigerant can transfer part of heat to water before entering the condenser, thereby reducing the total amount of heat emitted by the refrigerant in the condenser, reducing the heat dissipation load of the condenser, reducing the load of the fan, improving the heat dissipation effect of the refrigerator, and meeting the heat dissipation requirement of the refrigerator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of household appliance technology, and in particular to a refrigerator control method, control device, and refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, refrigerators mainly use compression cycle refrigeration. The refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor has high pressure and high temperature characteristics. When the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas passes through the condenser, it condenses, generating a large amount of heat. This heat is usually directly discharged into the indoor environment, resulting in energy waste. Moreover, the condenser needs to enhance air convection through a fan during the heat dissipation process, consuming a lot of energy, and the heat dissipation load of the condenser is relatively large. With the development of refrigerator integration into home furnishings, fully flush-mounted refrigerators have become the mainstream of refrigerator development. Because fully flush-mounted refrigerators have relatively small installation space and a small gap between the cabinet and the inner wall of the installation position, the requirements for heat dissipation are even higher. However, existing refrigerators usually use fans to cool the condenser, which is difficult to meet the heat dissipation requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this invention proposes a refrigerator control method that uses water cooling to lower the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor, thereby reducing the heat dissipation load on the condenser and improving the refrigerator's heat dissipation effect.

[0004] A refrigerator control method according to a first aspect embodiment of the present invention includes:

[0005] Obtain the first set temperature and the first real-time temperature of the refrigerator compartment;

[0006] Compare the values ​​of the first set temperature and the first real-time temperature. If the first set temperature is less than the first real-time temperature, start the compressor, water pump, and fan, and continue to run for a first preset time.

[0007] Obtain the second real-time temperature and the second set temperature of the refrigerant at the heat exchanger outlet;

[0008] Compare the values ​​of the second real-time temperature and the second set temperature. If the second real-time temperature is lower than the second set temperature, turn off the water pump.

[0009] Obtain the third real-time temperature and the third set temperature of the refrigerant at the condenser outlet;

[0010] The fan is turned off when the third real-time temperature is compared with the third set temperature.

[0011] The refrigerator control method according to the first aspect of the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0012] The refrigerator's control method enables heat exchange between the refrigerant and the water cooling system. This allows the refrigerant to transfer some of its heat to the water before entering the condenser, thereby reducing the total amount of heat dissipated by the refrigerant in the condenser. This reduces the heat dissipation load on the condenser and the fan, improving the refrigerator's heat dissipation effect and meeting its heat dissipation requirements.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the step of comparing the values ​​of the first set temperature and the first real-time temperature further includes: stopping the compressor when the first set temperature is greater than or equal to the first real-time temperature.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the step of comparing the values ​​of the second real-time temperature and the second set temperature further includes: when the second real-time temperature is greater than or equal to the second set temperature, controlling the water pump to run continuously for a second preset time.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the step of comparing the values ​​of the third real-time temperature and the third set temperature further includes: when the third real-time temperature is greater than or equal to the third set temperature, controlling the fan to run continuously for a third preset time.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a control device includes a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor. When the processor executes the computer program, it implements the refrigerator control method as described in the first aspect of the present invention.

[0017] A refrigerator according to a third aspect of the present invention includes:

[0018] The refrigeration system is equipped with a compressor and a condenser.

[0019] The hot water preparation system is equipped with a water storage tank and a heater;

[0020] The waste heat recovery system includes a heat exchanger, a first pipe, a second pipe, and a water pump. The heat exchanger has a heat exchange chamber, and the first pipe and the second pipe pass through the heat exchange chamber.

[0021] A control device according to a second aspect of the present invention is used to control the refrigeration system, the hot water system, and the waste heat recovery system;

[0022] The compressor delivers refrigerant to the condenser through the first pipe, and the water pump pumps water from the water tank to the inlet of the heater through the second pipe. The first pipe and the second pipe are capable of exchanging heat in the heat exchange chamber to transfer the heat of the refrigerant to the water.

[0023] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first pipe and / or the second pipe are provided with a heat exchange section, the heat exchange section is located inside the heat exchange cavity, and the heat exchange section is spiral-shaped and extends along the length direction of the heat exchange cavity.

[0024] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the second pipe has a flow-diverting section disposed within the heat exchange cavity, and the outer wall of the flow-diverting section is provided with a plurality of through holes communicating with the heat exchange cavity.

[0025] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a heat storage medium is provided in the heat exchange chamber, the heat storage medium fills the gap between the first pipe and the second pipe, the heat storage medium can absorb the heat of the first pipe and release the heat to the second pipe.

[0026] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the hot water preparation system is further provided with a temperature control device, the temperature control device including a controller and a first temperature sensor connected to each other, the first temperature sensor being used to detect the water temperature at the outlet end of the second pipe, and the controller being connected to the heater.

[0027] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the temperature control device further includes a second temperature sensor connected to the controller, the second temperature sensor being used to detect the water temperature at the outlet of the heater.

[0028] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the refrigerator is provided with a refrigerator compartment and a compressor compartment, the water storage tank is provided in the refrigerator compartment, and the heat exchanger is provided in the compressor compartment.

[0029] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention 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 the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and readily understood in conjunction with the following description of the embodiments, in which:

[0031] Figure 1 These are schematic diagrams of the structure of a refrigerator according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the waste heat recovery system according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the waste heat recovery system in the diagram;

[0034] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the waste heat recovery system according to other embodiments of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the layout of the waste heat recovery system of a refrigerator according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 6 This is a flowchart of a refrigerator control method according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0037] The attached icons are numbered as follows:

[0038] Refrigeration system 100; compressor 110; condenser 120; evaporator 130;

[0039] Hot water preparation system 200; heater 210; temperature control device 220; water storage tank 230;

[0040] Waste heat recovery system 300; heat exchanger 310; heat exchange chamber 311; insulation layer 312; second pipe 320; diversion section 321; through hole 322; outlet section 323; first pipe 330; heat exchange part 340; heat storage medium 350;

[0041] Cabinet body 400; refrigerator compartment 410; hot water outlet 411; cold water outlet 412; freezer compartment 420; compressor compartment 430. Detailed Implementation

[0042] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0043] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientation descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention 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 limiting this invention.

[0044] In the description of this invention, the use of "first" and "second" is for the purpose of distinguishing technical features only, and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated or the order of the technical features indicated.

[0045] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "set up," "install," and "connect" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0046] In related technologies, refrigerators mainly use compression cycle refrigeration. The refrigerant gas discharged from the compressor has high pressure and high temperature characteristics. When the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas passes through the condenser, it condenses, generating a large amount of heat. This heat is usually directly discharged into the indoor environment, resulting in energy waste. Moreover, the condenser needs to enhance air convection through a fan during the heat dissipation process, consuming a lot of energy, and the heat dissipation load of the condenser is relatively large. With the development of refrigerator integration into home furnishings, fully flush-mounted refrigerators have become the mainstream of refrigerator development. Because fully flush-mounted refrigerators have relatively small installation space and a small gap between the cabinet and the inner wall of the installation position, the requirements for heat dissipation are even higher. However, existing refrigerators usually use fans to cool the condenser, which is difficult to meet the heat dissipation requirements.

[0047] Therefore, this invention proposes a refrigerator control method that can cool the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor by water cooling, thereby reducing the heat dissipation load of the condenser and improving the heat dissipation effect of the refrigerator.

[0048] A refrigerator includes a compressor, condenser, heat exchanger, water pump, and fan. (Refrigerator referenced) Figure 6 The control method includes the following steps:

[0049] S100: Obtain the first set temperature and the first real-time temperature of the air in the refrigerator compartment. It is understood that in some embodiments, a temperature sensor can be installed in the refrigerator compartment to detect and obtain the first real-time temperature of the air in the refrigerator compartment. The value of the first set temperature can be specifically set by the user according to the actual needs of refrigeration.

[0050] S200: Compare the values ​​of the first set temperature and the first real-time temperature. If the first set temperature is lower than the first real-time temperature, start the compressor, water pump, and fan, and continue running for a first preset time. The first preset time can be set as needed, for example, it can be 1 minute, 5 minutes, or other times. It is understood that when the first set temperature is lower than the first real-time temperature, it indicates that the temperature in the refrigerator compartment is still relatively high, so cooling is still needed to lower the temperature to the set temperature. At this time, the compressor, water pump, and fan can be started and run continuously for the first preset time. When the compressor runs, it compresses the low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant. The high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant is then transported to the condenser after passing through the heat exchanger. The water pump transports water through pipes to the heat exchanger to exchange heat with the refrigerant. At this time, the heat of the refrigerant is transferred to the water, thus the refrigerant... As the temperature of the refrigerator decreases, the temperature of the water increases. After passing through the heat exchanger, the refrigerant enters the condenser to release heat and form a low-temperature liquid refrigerant. The fan blows air onto the condenser to dissipate heat, allowing the heat of the refrigerant to be released as quickly as possible. The low-temperature liquid refrigerant enters the evaporator after throttling. The refrigerant exchanges heat with the air in the refrigerator compartment in the evaporator. At this time, the heat of the air is transferred to the refrigerant, thereby lowering the temperature of the refrigerator compartment. The refrigerant absorbs the heat of the air and evaporates to form a gaseous refrigerant. The gaseous refrigerant is then sent back to the compressor for compression, completing one cycle of refrigerant compression.

[0051] S300: Obtain the second real-time temperature and the second set temperature of the refrigerant at the heat exchanger outlet. It is understood that in some embodiments of the present invention, the refrigerant temperature at the heat exchanger outlet can be detected by setting a corresponding temperature sensor, and the second set temperature is the target temperature of the refrigerant after water cooling heat exchange.

[0052] S400: Compare the values ​​of the second real-time temperature and the second set temperature. If the second real-time temperature is lower than the second set temperature, turn off the water pump. This means that when the second real-time temperature is lower than the second set temperature, it indicates that the refrigerant has cooled to the required temperature after water cooling heat exchange, and the water pump can be turned off to stop the water cooling heat exchange of the refrigerant.

[0053] S500: Obtain the third real-time temperature and the third set temperature of the refrigerant at the condenser outlet. It is understood that in some embodiments of the present invention, a corresponding temperature sensor can be set to detect the refrigerant temperature at the condenser outlet, and the third set temperature is the target temperature of the refrigerant after it has dissipated heat through the condenser.

[0054] S600: Compare the third real-time temperature with the third set temperature. If the third real-time temperature is lower than the third set temperature, turn off the fan. This means that when the third real-time temperature is lower than the third set temperature, it indicates that the refrigerant has already dissipated heat sufficiently within the condenser and reduced the temperature to the target range. At this point, the fan can be turned off to stop air cooling of the condenser.

[0055] The control method of this refrigerator can exchange heat with the refrigerant through water cooling, so that the refrigerant can transfer some of its heat to the water before entering the condenser, thereby reducing the total amount of heat dissipated by the refrigerant in the condenser. This reduces the heat dissipation load of the condenser and the fan load, which helps to improve the heat dissipation effect of the refrigerator and meet the heat dissipation requirements of a flat-panel refrigerator. At the same time, it helps to reduce the heat dissipation area of ​​the condenser, reduce the cost of the condenser, reduce the noise of the fan, and improve the quietness of the refrigerator.

[0056] It is understood that, in some embodiments of the present invention, in the step of comparing the values ​​of the first set temperature and the first real-time temperature, if the first set temperature is greater than or equal to the first real-time temperature, it indicates that the temperature of the refrigerator compartment has reached the set target temperature, and therefore the compressor can be turned off to stop cooling the refrigerator compartment and reduce the energy consumption of the refrigerator.

[0057] It is understood that, in some embodiments of the present invention, in the step of comparing the values ​​of the second real-time temperature and the second set temperature, if the second real-time temperature is greater than or equal to the second set temperature, it indicates that the refrigerant still has a large amount of heat after water-cooling heat exchange in the heat exchanger, and further water-cooling heat exchange is needed. Therefore, the water pump can be controlled to run continuously for a second preset time to continuously perform water-cooling heat exchange on the refrigerant. The second preset time can be specifically set as needed, for example, it can be 1 minute, 5 minutes, or other times.

[0058] It is understood that, in some embodiments of the present invention, in the step of comparing the values ​​of the third real-time temperature and the third set temperature, if the third real-time temperature is greater than or equal to the third set temperature, it indicates that the heat of the refrigerant has not been fully dissipated after passing through the condenser, and further air cooling is required for heat dissipation. Therefore, the fan can be turned on for a third preset time to air cool the condenser. The third preset time can be specifically set as needed, for example, it can be 1 minute, 5 minutes, or other times.

[0059] A second aspect of the present invention also provides a control device, including a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor executes the computer program to implement the refrigerator control method of the first aspect of the present invention.

[0060] The control device includes one or more processors and memory, which can be connected via a bus or other means. The memory, as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store non-transitory software programs and non-transitory computer-executable programs. Furthermore, the memory may include high-speed random access memory, and may also include non-transitory memory, such as at least one disk storage device, flash memory device, or other non-transitory solid-state storage device. In some embodiments, the memory may optionally include memory remotely located relative to the processor, which can be connected to the control device via a network. Examples of such networks include, but are not limited to, the Internet, intranets, local area networks, mobile communication networks, and combinations thereof.

[0061] It should be noted that ice making and ice water making are common functions of refrigerators. Some refrigerators also have the function of preparing hot water. The common method for preparing hot water is to heat cold water electrically, but this consumes a lot of electricity. When the refrigerator is working, on the one hand, the refrigeration system releases a lot of heat into the environment, and on the other hand, preparing hot water requires a lot of electricity, making the refrigerator's energy efficiency relatively low. To address this, the present invention also proposes a refrigerator that can recover the heat emitted by the refrigeration system to prepare hot water using the control method of the first aspect of the present invention, thereby improving the refrigerator's energy efficiency.

[0062] Reference Figures 1 to 5 A refrigerator, as proposed in a third aspect embodiment of the present invention, includes a refrigeration system 100, a hot water preparation system 200, a waste heat recovery system 300, and a control device according to a second aspect embodiment of the present invention. The refrigeration system 100 serves as the refrigeration module of the refrigerator, used to realize the refrigeration function of the refrigerator. Specifically, the refrigeration system 100 is equipped with a compressor 110, a condenser 120, and an evaporator 130. The compressor 110 compresses a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, which is then delivered to the condenser 120. The high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant condenses and releases heat to form a low-temperature liquid refrigerant, which then enters the evaporator 130 after throttling and pressure reduction. The liquid refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat to form a gaseous refrigerant, which then flows back to the compressor 110, completing one cycle of the refrigerant. The refrigeration system 100 typically also has an ice-making module. When the ice-making module is running, the refrigeration system 100 requires a large refrigeration load, resulting in a high heat dissipation load on the condenser 120, and the refrigeration system 100 needs to dissipate a large amount of heat.

[0063] The hot water preparation system 200 includes a water storage tank 230 and a heater 210. The water storage tank 230 is a cavity container that can store a large amount of water to meet the user's need for multiple uses of drinking water, avoiding the need for frequent refilling. The water in the water storage tank 230 can be used for ice making or for preparing hot water. The heater 210 can use electric heating or other heating methods to heat the water to raise the outlet water temperature to the user-set temperature, meeting the user's hot water temperature requirements.

[0064] The waste heat recovery system 300 includes a heat exchanger 310, a first pipe 330, and a second pipe 320. The heat exchanger 310 is located between the compressor 110 and the condenser 120. Specifically, the heat exchanger 310 has a heat exchange chamber 311, through which the first pipe 330 and the second pipe 320 pass. The first pipe 330 connects the compressor 110 and the condenser 120, thus allowing the compressor 110 to deliver refrigerant to the condenser 120 via the first pipe 330. The second pipe 320 connects the water storage tank 230 and the heater 210, so the water storage tank 230 can transport water to the heater 210 through the second pipe 320. Both the first pipe 330 and the second pipe 320 pass through the heat exchange chamber 311. The high-temperature refrigerant in the first pipe 330 and the cold water in the second pipe 320 can exchange heat in the heat exchange chamber 311, allowing the cold water to absorb the heat from the high-temperature refrigerant and thus achieve preheating. The temperature of the preheated water is increased, thereby reducing the energy consumption required for the subsequent heater 210 to heat the water to the set temperature. Furthermore, the refrigerant and water are transported separately through the first pipe 330 and the second pipe 320, and the pipes 330 and 320 are not connected, forming independent transport pipelines. This prevents water and refrigerant from mixing and causing contamination of drinking water, thus helping to ensure the quality of drinking water.

[0065] The control device can control the refrigeration system, the hot water preparation system, and the waste heat recovery system so that the refrigerator can operate the control method of the first aspect embodiment of the present invention.

[0066] When the refrigerator is working, the high-temperature refrigerant discharged by the compressor 110 is transported to the condenser 120 through the first pipe 330. When the user needs hot water, the control device controls the refrigerator to operate according to the control method of the first aspect embodiment of the present invention. At this time, the water storage tank 230 transports cold water to the heater 210 through the second pipe 320. Since both the first pipe 330 and the second pipe 320 pass through the heat exchange chamber 311 of the heat exchanger 310, the high-temperature refrigerant in the first pipe 330 and the cold water in the second pipe 320 can exchange heat in the heat exchange chamber 311, thereby transferring the heat of the high-temperature refrigerant to the cold water. This allows the cold water to be preheated and its temperature increased. The preheated water is then passed into heater 210 for further heating to reach the temperature required by the user. The refrigerator recovers the exhaust heat from the refrigeration system 100 through the waste heat recovery system 300, and uses the recovered heat to preheat the water. On the one hand, this reduces the energy consumption required for the subsequent heater 210 to heat the water to the predetermined temperature. On the other hand, the water cooling reduces the temperature of the refrigerant, thereby reducing the heat dissipation load of the condenser 120 and reducing the heat dissipation energy consumption of the condenser 120. This reduces the overall energy consumption of the refrigerator and improves its energy efficiency.

[0067] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 It is understood that, in order to improve the heat exchange efficiency of the refrigerant in the heat exchange cavity 311, in some embodiments of the present invention, the first pipe 330 is provided with a heat exchange section 340, which is located inside the heat exchange cavity 311. The refrigerant can better dissipate heat into the heat exchange cavity 311 through the heat exchange section 340, allowing the water to better absorb the heat and increase the water temperature. Specifically, the heat exchange section 340 may have a thinner wall thickness, making it easier for the heat from the refrigerant to dissipate into the heat exchange cavity 311; or the heat exchange section 340 may be made of a material with good thermal conductivity, which facilitates the rapid transfer of heat from the refrigerant to the heat exchange cavity 311, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the refrigerant; or the heat exchange section 340 may have a larger heat exchange area, allowing the heat from the refrigerant to be fully dissipated into the heat exchange cavity 311, thereby improving the heat exchange efficiency of the refrigerant. Similarly, to improve the heat exchange efficiency of water within the heat exchange chamber 311, the second pipe 320 can also be equipped with a heat exchange section 340. The heat exchange section 340 is located within the heat exchange chamber 311, and its structure can be similar to that of the heat exchange section 340 of the first pipe 330 described above. This improves the heat exchange efficiency of water within the heat exchange chamber 311, allowing the water to fully absorb heat from the refrigerant and thus preheat the water. Alternatively, both the first pipe 330 and the second pipe 320 can be equipped with heat exchange sections 340 to further enhance the heat exchange efficiency between the refrigerant and the water.

[0068] Reference Figure 3It is understood that in some embodiments of the present invention, the heat exchange section 340 is generally spiral-shaped, and the heat exchanger 310 is generally cylindrical. The heat exchange section 340 extends from one end of the heat exchange cavity 311 along its length to the other end, thereby increasing the length of the heat exchange section 340 within the heat exchange cavity 311 and increasing its area within the cavity. This results in a larger heat exchange area between the refrigerant and the water, which improves the heat exchange efficiency between them. This allows the heat from the refrigerant to be transferred more fully to the water, thus preheating the water and increasing its temperature, thereby improving the effective utilization of the refrigerant's heat. Alternatively, the heat exchange section 340 can also be constructed by repeatedly bending and splicing multiple straight segments, which can also achieve a larger heat exchange area.

[0069] Reference Figure 3 It is understood that in some embodiments of the present invention, the second pipe 320 has a diversion section 321 and an outlet section 323. The diversion section 321 is disposed in the heat exchange chamber 311. The outer wall of the diversion section 321 is provided with a plurality of through holes 322 communicating with the heat exchange chamber 311. The through holes 322 can be relatively small micropores. The outlet section 323 is connected to the end of the heat exchanger 310. The water in the heat exchange chamber 311 is discharged from the heat exchange chamber 311 through the outlet section 323 and then enters the heater 210. The section of the second pipe 320 extending into the heat exchange chamber 311 forms a branch section 321. When cold water from the water reservoir 230 enters the branch section 321, the water can be sprayed into the heat exchange chamber 311 through the through-hole 322 on the outer wall of the branch section 321. This allows the cold water to cover the outer wall of the first pipe 330, enabling the heat from the high-temperature refrigerant to be directly transferred to the cold water through the first pipe 330, reducing the heat transfer distance and improving the efficiency of heat exchange, thus rapidly increasing the temperature of the cold water. Furthermore, it should be noted that when the cold water enters the heat exchange chamber 311 and essentially fills it, it can more fully cover the first pipe 330 within the heat exchange chamber 311. This allows more heat from the refrigerant to be transferred to the cold water through the first pipe 330, improving the heat recovery effect of the waste heat recovery system 300. The preheated water exits the heat exchange chamber 311 from the outlet section 323 and then enters the heater 210 for further heating. Of course, in order to release more heat from the refrigerant in the heat exchange chamber 311, the portion of the first pipe 330 in the heat exchange chamber 311 can be spiral-shaped, which can greatly increase the contact area between the first pipe 330 and the cold water in the heat exchange chamber 311, so that when the refrigerant flows through the first pipe 330, the heat of the refrigerant can be transferred to the cold water more fully.

[0070] It should be noted that in the above embodiments, when the refrigerator is not in cooling mode, the compressor 110 stops supplying high-temperature refrigerant to the condenser 120, or the amount of refrigerant supplied is very small. At this time, the waste heat recovery system 300 can only recover a small amount of refrigerant heat. When the user takes hot water, the water absorbs less refrigerant heat, and the preheating effect of the water is also relatively low, causing the heater 210 to consume more energy to heat the water. Therefore, referring to... Figure 4 In some embodiments of the present invention, a heat storage medium 350 is provided in the heat exchange chamber 311. The heat storage medium 350 fills the gap between the first pipe 330 and the second pipe 320. The heat storage medium 350 can absorb the heat of the first pipe 330 and release the heat to the second pipe 320. With the above arrangement, when the refrigerator is in cooling mode, the compressor 110 continuously delivers high-temperature refrigerant to the condenser 120 through the first pipe 330. When the high-temperature refrigerant passes through the heat exchange chamber 311, the heat storage medium 350 can absorb and store the heat of the high-temperature refrigerant. When the refrigerator is not in cooling mode, but the user needs to use hot water, the water storage tank 230 delivers cold water to the heater 210 through the second pipe 320. When the cold water passes through the heat exchange chamber 311, the heat storage medium 350 transfers the stored heat to the cold water, so that the cold water can be preheated and the temperature rises. This reduces the energy consumption required for the subsequent heater 210 to heat the water to the set temperature and improves the stability of the waste heat recovery system 300 in preheating the cold water.

[0071] It should be noted that, in order to reduce the heat dissipation of the heat storage medium 350 to the outside of the heat exchanger 310 and improve the heat storage effect of the heat storage medium 350, refer to Figure 4 In some embodiments of the present invention, the heat exchanger 310 is further provided with a heat insulation layer 312, which covers the outer periphery of the heat exchange cavity 311. The heat insulation layer 312 can reduce the heat dissipation of the heat storage medium 350 to the outside of the heat exchanger 310. Specifically, the heat insulation layer 312 can be a vacuum layer, a foam layer, or other heat insulation structure.

[0072] It is understood that in some embodiments of the present invention, the heat storage medium 350 is sodium acetate, sand, or water. Sodium acetate has a high energy storage density and can absorb or release a large amount of heat through phase change, making it a relatively common heat storage medium 350. Of course, sand and water are also common heat storage media 350, and a suitable heat storage medium 350 can be selected according to actual needs. When installing the waste heat recovery system 300, sodium acetate is filled into the heat exchange chamber 311. The first pipe 330 and the second pipe 320 are inserted into the heat exchange chamber 311, and both pipes 330 and 320 are enclosed within the heat exchange chamber 311 to prevent sodium acetate from contaminating the water or refrigerant. Sodium acetate coats the outer walls of the first pipe 330 and the second pipe 320. When the refrigeration system 100 is working, when the high-temperature refrigerant flows through the first pipe 330 in the heat exchange chamber 311, the heat from the high-temperature refrigerant is absorbed by the sodium acetate. If the user uses hot water at this time, the cold water flows through the second pipe 320 in the heat exchange chamber 311, and the sodium acetate transfers some of the heat to the cold water through the second pipe 320. The system preheats the cold water. If the user does not use hot water at this time, no cold water flows through the second pipe 320 in the heat exchange chamber 311. Sodium acetate absorbs the heat from the high-temperature refrigerant and stores the heat. When the refrigeration system 100 stops working, no high-temperature refrigerant flows through the first pipe 330 in the heat exchange chamber 311. If the user uses hot water at this time, cold water flows through the second pipe 320 in the heat exchange chamber 311. Sodium acetate releases the previously stored heat, so that the cold water can still be preheated even without the refrigerant releasing heat. This improves the reliability and stability of the waste heat recovery system 300 in preheating the cold water, so that the heater 210 can heat the water to the set temperature with a lower power. Specifically, the heater 210 can use a heating wire to heat the water. If the waste heat recovery system 300 does not use the heat storage medium 350 to buffer the heat release, when the refrigerator is not in cooling mode and hot water is taken out, the heater 210 needs a higher power to heat the water to the set temperature in a short time. If the waste heat recovery system 300 uses the heat storage medium 350 to buffer the heat release, when the refrigerator is not in cooling mode and hot water is taken out, the heat storage medium 350 can release the previously accumulated heat to preheat the cold water. Therefore, the heater 210 can heat the water to the set temperature in a short time with a lower power, which helps to reduce the cost of the heater 210 and can make fuller use of the exhaust waste heat of the refrigeration system 100.

[0073] Understandably, in order to further improve the heat exchange efficiency of the refrigerant and water in heat exchange cavity 311, referring to Figures 2 to 4In some embodiments of the present invention, the refrigerant is transported in the opposite direction to the water within the heat exchange chamber 311. For example, the heat exchange chamber 311 is generally cylindrical and placed horizontally, with the refrigerant transported from the left end to the right end, while the water is transported from the right end to the left end. This allows the refrigerant to exchange heat with the water that has just entered the heat exchange chamber 311 when it exits, thus further releasing the heat from the refrigerant. This facilitates the cold water fully absorbing the heat from the high-temperature refrigerant, improving the efficiency of the heat exchange.

[0074] Understandably, to improve the heating accuracy of heater 210, in some embodiments of the present invention, the hot water preparation system 200 is further provided with a temperature control device 220. The temperature control device 220 includes a controller and a first temperature sensor connected to each other. The first temperature sensor is used to detect the water temperature at the outlet of the second pipe 320. The controller is connected to heater 210. Cold water is preheated in heat exchange chamber 311, and its temperature rises. The preheated water is discharged through the outlet of the second pipe 320 and finally enters heater 210 for reheating to a preset temperature. The first temperature sensor detects the water temperature at the outlet of the second pipe 320 to obtain the temperature of the preheated cold water. Then, the first temperature sensor sends the relevant data to the controller. The controller controls the heating power and / or heating time of heater 210 according to the relevant data, thereby enabling the rapid provision of hot water to users and improving user satisfaction with the refrigerator.

[0075] Of course, it is understandable that, in order to monitor the temperature of the water heated by the heater 210 and further improve the accuracy of the outlet water temperature, in some embodiments of the present invention, the temperature control device 220 further includes a second temperature sensor connected to the controller. The second temperature sensor is used to detect the water temperature at the outlet of the heater 210. When the second temperature sensor detects that the water temperature at the outlet of the heater 210 has not reached the preset temperature, the second temperature sensor feeds back the relevant data to the controller. The controller controls the heater 210 to increase the heating power and / or heating time, so that the outlet water temperature can be increased to the preset temperature, thereby improving the accuracy of the outlet water temperature and improving user satisfaction with the refrigerator. When the second temperature sensor detects that the water temperature at the outlet of the heater 210 exceeds the preset temperature, the second temperature sensor feeds back the relevant data to the controller. The controller controls the heater 210 to reduce the heating power and / or heating time, so that the outlet water temperature can be reduced to the preset temperature, thereby improving the accuracy of the outlet water temperature and improving user satisfaction with the refrigerator.

[0076] Understandably, to enable faster water dispensing, in some embodiments of the present invention, the hot water preparation system 200 further includes a water pump. The water pump can be installed on the second pipe 320, on the water storage tank 230, or at another location on the cold water delivery pipeline. When a user needs hot water, the water pump starts, driving the water through the impeller, thereby pumping the cold water in the water storage tank 230 through the second pipe 320 to the inlet of the heater 210. As the cold water passes through the heat exchange chamber 311, it is preheated, causing its temperature to rise. Finally, it is fed into the heater 210 for further heating, ensuring the water temperature reaches a preset level for the user.

[0077] Reference Figure 5 It is understood that a refrigerator typically has a cabinet 400, which includes a refrigerator compartment 410, a freezer compartment 420, and a compressor compartment 430. The compressor compartment 430 is located at the bottom of the freezer compartment 420, and the compressor 110 is located inside the compressor compartment 430. The compressor 110 generates a significant amount of waste heat during operation, resulting in a relatively high temperature in the compressor compartment 430. In some embodiments of the present invention, to further improve the utilization rate of waste heat from the refrigeration system 100 by the waste heat recovery system 300, a water storage tank 230 is located in the refrigerator compartment 410, and a heat exchanger 310 is located in the compressor compartment 430. This allows the cold water to first absorb heat from the compressor compartment 430 when passing through the heat exchanger 310, and then absorb heat from the high-temperature refrigerant or heat storage medium 350 in the heat exchange chamber 311 for preheating. This results in a higher temperature increase for the cold water, improving the recovery and utilization rate of the heat discharged from the refrigeration system 100 by the waste heat recovery system 300.

[0078] The following are several specific application examples of the present invention.

[0079] Example 1: Refer to Figures 1 to 3The refrigerator is a 500L ice-making refrigerator. The heater 210 is an electrically heated wire structure. The first pipe 330 has a heat exchange section 340 located in the heat exchange chamber 311. The heat exchange section 340 is spiral-shaped. The second pipe 320 has a branch section 321 extending into the heat exchange chamber 311. The outer wall of the branch section 321 is densely covered with through holes 322 communicating with the heat exchange chamber 311. After the refrigerator is running stably, it is switched to the ice-making function. The refrigerator temperature is set to 6℃ and the freezing temperature is set to -18℃. The water pump delivers 20℃ water to the heater 210 through the second pipe 320 at a flow rate of 0.5L / min to simulate the water supply from the water tank 230 to the heater 210. The hot water outlet temperature is set to 80℃. In addition, using the same temperature control device 220 and heater 210, the 0.5L / min 20℃ cold water is directly heated to 80℃. The power consumption of all tests is recorded. After the refrigerator stabilized, tests showed that the average power consumption during ice making was 285W. In the first test scenario, cold water absorbed heat from the refrigerant through the heat exchange chamber 311 for preheating. The average water temperature at the outlet of the second pipe 320 was 40.3℃, an increase of 20.3℃. The average hot water temperature at the outlet of the heater 210 was 73℃, and the heating power of the heater 210 was 1300W. In the second test scenario, the cold water was not preheated through the heat exchanger 310 but was directly heated by the heater 210. When the hot water temperature at the outlet of the heater 210 reached 73℃, the heating power of the heater 210 exceeded 2400W. It is evident that this invention recovers heat from the refrigeration system 100 through the waste heat recovery system 300 and uses this heat for preheating cold water during hot water preparation. This significantly reduces the energy consumption required for the heater 210 to heat the water to the set temperature. Therefore, a smaller power heater 210 can be used to meet the hot water preparation needs, reducing the cost of hot water preparation and improving the refrigerator's energy efficiency.

[0080] Example 2: The refrigerator is a 500L ice-making refrigerator, and the heater 210 is a heating wire structure that generates heat when energized, as shown in the reference. Figure 4The heat exchange chamber 311 of the heat exchanger 310 is filled with a heat storage medium 350, sodium acetate. Both the first pipe 330 and the second pipe 320 have heat exchange sections 340 located within the heat exchange chamber 311. These heat exchange sections 340 are spiral-shaped, and sodium acetate coats the outer wall of each section. Other test conditions are consistent with Example 1. During testing, the average power of the refrigerator during ice making was 263W, the average water temperature at the outlet of the second pipe 320 was 42.5℃, an increase of 22.5℃, and the water temperature at the outlet of the second pipe 320 was relatively stable, enabling the continuous production of a large amount of hot water. The average hot water temperature at the outlet of the heater 210 reached 78℃, and the heating power of the heater 210 was fixed at 1300W. This is related to the fact that the heat storage medium 350 not only increases the water temperature but also continuously outputs heat. Compared to Example 1, the heat exchanger 310 in this embodiment absorbs and releases heat through the heat storage medium 350, resulting in higher efficiency in hot water production and further improving the refrigerator's energy efficiency.

[0081] Example 3: Reference Figures 1 to 3 , Figure 5 The refrigerator is a 500L ice-making refrigerator. The heater 210 is an electrically heated wire structure. The refrigerator uses R600a mixed with R290 as refrigerant to improve ice-making speed and exhaust temperature. The structure of the heat exchanger 310 is the same as in Example 1. The water tank 230 is installed in the refrigerator compartment 410. The door of the refrigerator compartment 410 has a cold water outlet 412 and a hot water outlet 411. The heat exchanger 310 is arranged in the compressor compartment 430. The second pipe 320 is placed on the foam layer close to the outer shell. After the refrigerator is running stably, it is switched to the ice-making function. The refrigerator temperature is set to 6℃ and the freezing temperature is set to -18℃. The water in the water tank 230 is pumped to the heat exchanger 310 for preheating. Then, after being heated by the heater 210, it flows to the hot water outlet. The hot water flow rate is set to 0.2L / min. The heating power of the heater 210 is 500W. The temperature of 0.2L of water in one cup is tested and recorded. After the refrigerator stabilized, tests showed that the average power consumption during ice making was 330W, and the average water temperature at the outlet of the second pipe 320 was 54.5℃. With a temperature increase of 48℃, the water was further heated by the heater 210, reaching an average water temperature of 75℃ at the hot water outlet 411. Compared to Example 1, this example, by placing the heat exchanger 310 inside the compressor compartment 430, allows the cold water to absorb more heat, increasing the temperature rise and achieving efficient instant hot water production.

[0082] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method of a refrigerator, characterized by, The method comprises: acquiring a first set temperature and a first real-time temperature of a refrigerator compartment; comparing the values of the first set temperature and the first real-time temperature, and when the first set temperature is less than the first real-time temperature, starting a compressor, a water pump and a fan, and continuously operating for a first preset time; acquiring a second real-time temperature and a second set temperature of refrigerant at an outlet of a heat exchanger; comparing the values of the second real-time temperature and the second set temperature, and when the second real-time temperature is less than the second set temperature, stopping the water pump; acquiring a third real-time temperature and a third set temperature of refrigerant at an outlet of a condenser; comparing the values of the third real-time temperature and the third set temperature, and when the third real-time temperature is less than the third set temperature, stopping the fan. 2.The control method of a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of comparing the values of the first set temperature and the first real-time temperature further comprises: when the first set temperature is greater than or equal to the first real-time temperature, stopping the compressor. 3.The control method of a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of comparing the values of the second real-time temperature and the second set temperature further comprises: when the second real-time temperature is greater than or equal to the second set temperature, controlling the water pump to continuously operate for a second preset time. 4.The control method of a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of comparing the values of the third real-time temperature and the third set temperature further comprises: when the third real-time temperature is greater than or equal to the third set temperature, controlling the fan to continuously operate for a third preset time.

5. Control device of a refrigerator, comprising: A memory, a processor and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor implements the control method of the refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4 when executing the computer program.

6. A refrigerator characterized by The method comprises: a refrigeration system provided with a compressor and a condenser; a hot water preparation system provided with a water storage device and a heater; a waste heat recovery system provided with a heat exchanger, a first pipeline and a second pipeline, and a water pump, the heat exchanger having a heat exchange cavity, the first pipeline and the second pipeline being arranged in the heat exchange cavity; a control device according to claim 5, for controlling the refrigeration system, the hot water preparation system and the waste heat recovery system; wherein the compressor delivers refrigerant to the condenser through the first pipeline, the water pump is used to pump water in the water storage device to the inlet end of the heater through the second pipeline, and the first pipeline and the second pipeline can exchange heat in the heat exchange cavity to transfer heat of the refrigerant to the water.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that The first pipeline and / or the second pipeline are provided with a heat exchange portion, the heat exchange portion being arranged in the heat exchange cavity, and the heat exchange portion being arranged in a spiral shape and extending along the length direction of the heat exchange cavity.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second pipeline has a flow dividing section, the flow dividing section being arranged in the heat exchange cavity, and the outer wall of the flow dividing section being provided with a plurality of through holes in communication with the heat exchange cavity.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that, The heat exchange cavity is provided with a heat storage medium, the heat storage medium being filled in the gap between the first pipeline and the second pipeline, and the heat storage medium being capable of absorbing heat of the first pipeline and releasing the heat to the second pipeline.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that, The hot water preparation system is further provided with a temperature control device, which comprises a controller and a first temperature sensor connected therewith, the first temperature sensor being used for detecting the water temperature at the outlet end of the second pipeline, and the controller being connected with the heater.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, characterized in that, The temperature control device further comprises a second temperature sensor connected with the controller, the second temperature sensor being used for detecting the water temperature at the outlet end of the heater.

12. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that, The refrigerator is provided with a refrigeration compartment and a compressor compartment, the water storage device is arranged in the refrigeration compartment, and the heat exchanger is arranged in the compressor compartment.

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