Kitchen operation table

Abstract

According to the kitchen operation table, the flowing direction of a refrigerant is changed through the one-way valve, the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged by the compressor is directly introduced into the evaporator coil needing to be defrosted, and a frost layer is melted through heat released by condensation of the refrigerant. Melted water is discharged through the drainage pipe. And after defrosting is finished, the valve is switched back to normal refrigeration cycle, and the defrosting mode is small in temperature fluctuation range of the cabinet body, short in time and most beneficial to food preservation. Meanwhile, the refrigerating unit is in an integral layout, is directly placed on one side of an operation table after being assembled and welded in a natural space, and is fixed through screws. The arrangement mode is not limited by the narrow space of the compressor bin, piping and pipeline welding are convenient, and the installation efficiency is high.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of kitchen appliances, and in particular to a kitchen worktop. Background Art

[0002] In high-frequency commercial kitchens like those in restaurants and hotels, the kitchen countertop, a core piece of equipment, has a design that directly impacts back-of-house efficiency and food management quality. These large kitchen appliances typically feature an integrated "bottom-up" storage and top-up processing structure: The lower section incorporates a freezer / refrigerator unit, providing a suitable storage environment for ingredients through precise temperature control. This effectively extends the shelf life of foods like meat, fruits, and vegetables, reduces food waste due to spoilage, and ensures food safety from the storage stage. The upper section features a flat, open work surface, seamlessly integrating food storage with processing operations. This eliminates the need for separate storage and processing areas, significantly reducing kitchen floor space and enabling chefs to seamlessly transition between food handling and processing, significantly improving operational continuity and efficiency.

[0003] From a refrigeration technology perspective, kitchen countertops are primarily categorized as direct cooling and air cooling. Direct cooling countertops achieve cooling through direct heat exchange between the evaporator inside the cabinet and the air, but these systems have significant limitations. Firstly, the cooling effect is significantly affected by the evaporator's location, leading to significant temperature differences between different areas within the cabinet, which can easily lead to localized overcooling or undercooling. Secondly, thick frost easily forms on the evaporator surface, which not only reduces cooling efficiency but also requires regular manual cleaning, increasing maintenance costs and workload. In contrast, air-cooled countertops use a built-in fan to force air circulation, distributing cooling more evenly throughout the cabinet, significantly improving cooling efficiency and temperature stability. Consequently, they are gradually replacing direct cooling systems as the mainstream in the market. Currently, the cooling system for air-cooled countertops is typically located on one side of the countertop. Depending on the design requirements, the evaporator can be placed inside the cabinet or in a dedicated compressor compartment, maintaining a stable, low temperature inside the cabinet through continuous air circulation.

[0004] However, existing air-cooled kitchen worktops still have technical defects that need to be urgently addressed in practical applications: First, evaporator defrosting generally relies on electric defrosting technology, which requires the release of heat by energizing the heating wire to melt the frost layer. Not only is the defrosting power high, but long-term operation will significantly increase the electricity consumption and operating costs of catering companies. In addition, the temperature inside the cabinet is prone to violent fluctuations during the electric heating process, which has a potential impact on the preservation of food ingredients. Second, in order to maximize the effective storage space of the cabinet, the compressor compartment often adopts an extremely compact layout design, which restricts the piping direction of the refrigeration system and narrows the welding operation space. It is difficult for operators to accurately control the welding angle and strength, which not only increases the process difficulty and scrap rate of pipe connection, but also significantly extends the production and assembly cycle, seriously restricting the improvement of production efficiency, and becoming a key bottleneck hindering the further optimization and upgrading of air-cooled kitchen worktops. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present application provides a kitchen workbench to solve the problems of currently common electric defrosting for kitchen workbench, which has the disadvantages of high defrosting power, compact space of compressor compartment of existing kitchen workbench, increased difficulty in piping and welding, and low production efficiency.

[0006] The present application provides a kitchen worktop, comprising:

[0007] Operation table cabinet and refrigeration unit;

[0008] The inside of the operating table cabinet is provided with an air duct side panel, on which an air inlet and an air outlet are provided, for transferring the cooling energy of the evaporator to the operating table cabinet through the refrigeration fan;

[0009] The refrigeration unit is arranged on one side of the operating table cabinet, and the refrigeration unit includes a compressor, a condenser, a condensing fan, a capillary tube, a one-way valve and an evaporator insulation chamber; the evaporator insulation chamber is provided with an evaporator;

[0010] The refrigeration unit is of an integrated layout and can be installed on the operating table cabinet by screws after being assembled as a whole;

[0011] The connection between the evaporator insulation chamber and the operating table cabinet is provided with a viscose sponge seal;

[0012] The evaporator adopts a hot gas defrosting method, changes the refrigerant flow direction through a one-way valve, and directly introduces the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor into the evaporator coil for defrosting.

[0013] In some possible implementations, the refrigeration unit is placed on a base plate of the compressor, and a mounting hole is opened on the base plate of the compressor;

[0014] After the refrigeration unit is welded, it is placed in the corresponding position of the operating table cabinet through the matching between the mounting holes, and the bottom plate of the compressor is fixed to the bottom plate of the operating table cabinet by screws.

[0015] In some possible implementations, the heat dissipation duct of the refrigeration unit is located on the left side of the front and the right side of the back of the operating console cabinet;

[0016] The compressor compartment air inlet is located on the left side of the front of the console cabinet;

[0017] The compressor compartment air outlet is located on the right side of the back of the operating console cabinet;

[0018] The condensing fan discharges the heat generated by the operation of the condenser and the compressor through the air outlet.

[0019] In some possible implementations, the cooling air duct of the console cabinet is provided on the left side and top of the storage compartment of the console cabinet;

[0020] Air outlets are provided on the upper left side and top of the storage compartment in multiple rows of holes;

[0021] A return air vent is provided at the lower left side of the storage compartment to form an air circulation that transfers the cooling energy of the evaporator to the interior space of the cabinet.

[0022] In some possible implementations, the pipes and fins of the condenser are distributed in an array;

[0023] The refrigerant enters from the front air inlet side and flows out from the side away from the air inlet.

[0024] In some possible implementations, when the refrigeration unit is working, air flows into the refrigeration unit from the air inlet, sweeps the condenser, passes through the condensing fan, blows toward the compressor, and blows out of the box from the refrigeration unit outlet.

[0025] In some possible implementations, the refrigeration unit is further provided with a controller, which is configured to:

[0026] Receive a defrost instruction, and obtain the door opening time of the operating table cabinet and the current temperature of the operating table cabinet;

[0027] Calculate the temperature fluctuation value based on the current temperature of the operating table cabinet and the previous temperature of the operating table cabinet, and calculate the dynamic variance value;

[0028] Calculating a dynamic trigger threshold based on the door opening time of the console cabinet and the dynamic variance value;

[0029] When the dynamic trigger threshold is equal to the preset threshold and the current defrost instruction is within the reference set period, the evaporator is controlled to defrost.

[0030] In some possible implementations, the controller is further configured to:

[0031] After defrosting, delay starting the compressor until the box temperature returns to within ±2°C before defrosting or wait for more than 5 minutes.

[0032] In some possible implementations, the defrosting process is divided into a strong melting period and a temperature equalization period;

[0033] During the strong melt period, the refrigeration fan is turned off and the one-way valve remains open to continuously introduce the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor into the evaporator coil;

[0034] During the temperature equalization period, the one-way valve is closed to stop the introduction of high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, and the refrigeration fan is turned on, so that the residual heat remaining in the refrigeration cycle circulates in the operating table cabinet through the air duct to even out the temperature inside the cabinet.

[0035] In some possible implementations, the controller is further configured to:

[0036] During the defrosting process, the humidity value inside the cabinet is collected in real time through the humidity sensor installed in the operating table cabinet;

[0037] When the humidity value exceeds the preset humidity threshold, the condensing fan speed is controlled to increase by 20%-30% to enhance the air circulation in the cabinet, and the strong melting period is shortened to 80%-90% of the original period. At the same time, the average temperature period is extended to 1.1-1.2 times the original period to reduce condensation inside the cabinet during the defrosting process.

[0038] From the above content, it can be seen that the present application provides a kitchen workbench, which includes a workbench cabinet and a refrigeration unit; the workbench cabinet is provided with an air duct side panel, and the air duct side panel is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet for transferring the cold of the evaporator to the workbench cabinet through the refrigeration fan; the refrigeration unit is arranged on one side of the workbench cabinet, and the refrigeration unit includes a compressor, a condenser, a condensing fan, a capillary tube, a one-way valve and an evaporator insulation chamber; the evaporator insulation chamber is provided with an evaporator; the refrigeration unit is an integral layout and can be installed on the workbench cabinet by screws after the overall assembly; the connection between the evaporator insulation chamber and the workbench cabinet is provided with a viscose sponge seal; the evaporator adopts a hot air defrosting method, changes the refrigerant flow direction through a one-way valve, and directly introduces the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor into the evaporator coil for defrosting. The refrigerant flow direction is changed by a one-way valve, and the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor is directly introduced into the evaporator coil that needs to be defrosted, and the heat released by the condensation of the refrigerant is used to melt the frost layer. The melted water is discharged through the drain pipe. After the defrost is completed, the valve switches back to the normal refrigeration cycle. This defrost method has a small fluctuation range of cabinet temperature and a short time, which is most beneficial for food preservation. At the same time, the refrigeration unit of the present application has an integral layout. After assembly and welding in the natural space, it is directly placed on the side of the operating table and fixed by screws. This layout is not constrained by the narrow space of the compressor compartment, and the piping and pipeline welding are convenient, with high installation efficiency. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of the present application, the following is a brief introduction to the drawings required for use in the embodiments. Obviously, for ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0040] Figure 1Schematic diagram of the structure of the kitchen workbench provided in the embodiment of this application Figure 1 ;

[0041] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the structure of the kitchen workbench provided in the embodiment of this application Figure 2 ;

[0042] Figure 3 A scene diagram of a kitchen worktop provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0043] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigeration unit provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0044] Figure 5 A flow chart of the kitchen workbench provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0045] Illustration:

[0046] 1-operating table cabinet; 2-air outlet; 3-air inlet; 4-compressor compartment air inlet; 5-compressor compartment air outlet; 6-condenser; 7-capillary tube; 8-compressor; 9-evaporator insulation chamber; 10-refrigeration fan; 11-condensing fan; 12-check valve; 13-refrigeration unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] The following embodiments are described in detail, with examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, identical numbers in different figures represent identical or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The embodiments described in the following embodiments are not intended to represent all possible implementations consistent with the present application. They are merely examples of systems and methods consistent with certain aspects of the present application, as detailed in the claims.

[0048] In high-frequency commercial kitchens like those in restaurants and hotels, the kitchen countertop, a core piece of equipment, has a design that directly impacts back-of-house efficiency and food management quality. These large kitchen appliances typically feature an integrated "bottom-up" storage and top-up processing structure: The lower section incorporates a freezer / refrigerator unit, providing a suitable storage environment for ingredients through precise temperature control. This effectively extends the shelf life of foods like meat, fruits, and vegetables, reduces food waste due to spoilage, and ensures food safety from the storage stage. The upper section features a flat, open work surface, seamlessly integrating food storage with processing operations. This eliminates the need for separate storage and processing areas, significantly reducing kitchen floor space and enabling chefs to seamlessly transition between food handling and processing, significantly improving operational continuity and efficiency.

[0049] From a refrigeration technology perspective, kitchen countertops are primarily categorized as direct cooling and air cooling. Direct cooling countertops achieve cooling through direct heat exchange between the evaporator inside the cabinet and the air, but these systems have significant limitations. Firstly, the cooling effect is significantly affected by the evaporator's location, leading to significant temperature differences between different areas within the cabinet, which can easily lead to localized overcooling or undercooling. Secondly, thick frost easily forms on the evaporator surface, which not only reduces cooling efficiency but also requires regular manual cleaning, increasing maintenance costs and workload. In contrast, air-cooled countertops use a built-in fan to force air circulation, distributing cooling more evenly throughout the cabinet, significantly improving cooling efficiency and temperature stability. Consequently, they are gradually replacing direct cooling systems as the mainstream in the market. Currently, the cooling system for air-cooled countertops is typically located on one side of the countertop. Depending on the design requirements, the evaporator can be placed inside the cabinet or in a dedicated compressor compartment, maintaining a stable, low temperature inside the cabinet through continuous air circulation.

[0050] However, existing air-cooled kitchen worktops still have technical defects that need to be urgently addressed in practical applications: First, evaporator defrosting generally relies on electric defrosting technology, which requires the release of heat by energizing the heating wire to melt the frost layer. Not only is the defrosting power high, but long-term operation will significantly increase the electricity consumption and operating costs of catering companies. In addition, the temperature inside the cabinet is prone to violent fluctuations during the electric heating process, which has a potential impact on the preservation of food ingredients. Second, in order to maximize the effective storage space of the cabinet, the compressor compartment often adopts an extremely compact layout design, which restricts the piping direction of the refrigeration system and narrows the welding operation space. It is difficult for operators to accurately control the welding angle and strength, which not only increases the process difficulty and scrap rate of pipe connection, but also significantly extends the production and assembly cycle, seriously restricting the improvement of production efficiency, and becoming a key bottleneck hindering the further optimization and upgrading of air-cooled kitchen worktops.

[0051] Based on this, Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the present application provides a kitchen worktop, which includes:

[0052] Operation table cabinet and refrigeration unit;

[0053] The inside of the operating table cabinet is provided with an air duct side panel, on which an air inlet and an air outlet are provided, for transferring the cooling energy of the evaporator to the operating table cabinet through the refrigeration fan;

[0054] The refrigeration unit is arranged on one side of the operating table cabinet, and the refrigeration unit includes a compressor, a condenser, a condensing fan, a capillary tube, a one-way valve and an evaporator insulation chamber; the evaporator insulation chamber is provided with an evaporator;

[0055] The refrigeration unit is of an integrated layout and can be installed on the operating table cabinet by screws after being assembled as a whole;

[0056] The connection between the evaporator insulation chamber and the operating table cabinet is provided with a viscose sponge seal;

[0057] The evaporator adopts a hot gas defrosting method, changes the refrigerant flow direction through a one-way valve, and directly introduces the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor into the evaporator coil for defrosting.

[0058] The kitchen countertop provided in this application uses a one-way valve to redirect the refrigerant flow, directing the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor directly into the evaporator coils that require defrosting. Heat released by the condensed refrigerant is used to melt the frost layer. The melted water is discharged through a drain pipe. After defrosting is complete, the valve switches back to the normal refrigeration cycle. This defrosting method minimizes cabinet temperature fluctuations and minimizes time, making it optimal for food preservation.

[0059] In some embodiments, the refrigeration unit is placed on a base plate of the compressor, and a mounting hole is opened on the base plate of the compressor;

[0060] After the refrigeration unit is welded, it is placed in the corresponding position of the operating table cabinet through the matching between the mounting holes, and the bottom plate of the compressor is fixed to the bottom plate of the operating table cabinet by screws.

[0061] The refrigeration unit can be assembled and welded entirely within a natural space, eliminating the existing limitations imposed by the cramped space of the compressor compartment on piping routing and welding operations. Operators no longer need to perform high-precision welding within a compact space, significantly reducing the difficulty of piping and welding processes, as well as assembly errors and scrap rates caused by spatial constraints, and effectively improving production efficiency. The mounting holes on the compressor baseplate form a matching structure with the corresponding positions on the console cabinet, providing a precise positioning reference for the assembly of the refrigeration unit and the cabinet. This avoids manual alignment deviations, ensures the accurate connection between the refrigeration unit and the cabinet, reduces pipe stress and poor sealing caused by misaligned installation, and ensures the stability of the refrigeration system's operation.

[0062] The refrigeration unit is removably connected to the console cabinet using screws secured through mounting holes. When the refrigeration system requires maintenance or component replacement, the entire unit can be removed by simply removing the screws without damaging the cabinet structure. This significantly reduces maintenance effort and costs, resolving the maintenance difficulties inherent in the existing compact layout.

[0063] In some embodiments, the heat dissipation duct of the refrigeration unit is located on the left side of the front and the right side of the back of the operating console cabinet;

[0064] The compressor compartment air inlet is located on the left side of the front of the console cabinet;

[0065] The compressor compartment air outlet is located on the right side of the back of the operating console cabinet;

[0066] The condensing fan discharges the heat generated by the operation of the condenser and the compressor through the air outlet.

[0067] The cooling air duct draws air from the left front side of the console cabinet and exhausts from the right rear side, creating a one-way airflow circulation path: "front intake, internal sweep across heat-dissipating components, and rear exhaust." This path allows incoming cold air to fully sweep across the condenser before flowing through the compressor, maximizing both the contact time and area between the airflow and heat-generating components. This ensures more complete heat exchange, quickly dissipating heat generated by the condenser and compressor, significantly improving the cooling system's efficiency and preventing a decrease in cooling capacity due to insufficient heat dissipation.

[0068] The air inlet (front left) and air outlet (back right) are located on different sides of the workbench and are far apart. This can effectively prevent the hot air discharged from the air outlet from being directly sucked into the air inlet, preventing the formation of a "heat cycle" that causes the inlet air temperature to rise, and ensure that the air entering the heat dissipation duct is always at room temperature in the kitchen environment, maintaining the stable condensation efficiency of the condenser.

[0069] The front of the kitchen countertop is typically the operator's work area, while the back is often used for equipment placement or access. Placing the air inlet on the left side of the front countertop reduces air obstruction during operation. Placing the air outlet on the right side of the back countertop dissipates heat to non-operation areas, preventing hot air from blowing directly onto operators or affecting the normal operation of other kitchen equipment, thereby improving comfort and safety in kitchen operations.

[0070] In some embodiments, the cooling air duct of the operating table cabinet is arranged on the left side and top of the storage compartment of the operating table cabinet;

[0071] Air outlets are provided on the upper left side and top of the storage compartment in multiple rows of holes;

[0072] A return air vent is provided at the lower left side of the storage compartment to form an air circulation that transfers the cooling energy of the evaporator to the interior space of the cabinet.

[0073] The air outlets are located in multiple rows on the upper left side and top, allowing cold air to diffuse bidirectionally from the top and sides. The cold air from the top outlet naturally sinks downward due to its higher density, covering the upper middle area of ​​the cabinet. The cold air from the upper left outlet diffuses horizontally to the right, covering the middle and right areas of the cabinet. The return air outlet on the lower left side recycles the air that has completed heat exchange in the lower part of the cabinet, forming a complete "top-out, bottom-back" air circulation system. This layout allows cold air to penetrate evenly into every corner of the cabinet, avoiding the localized overcooling or temperature dead spots caused by traditional single outlets. It significantly reduces temperature differences between different areas of the cabinet, ensuring that all types of food are stored in a stable temperature environment and extending their shelf life.

[0074] The multi-row air outlet design expands the cooling output coverage area, ensuring more efficient heat exchange between the cold air and the cabinet interior. Furthermore, the "up-out, down-in" circulation path aligns with the natural flow characteristics of cold air (sinking), reducing energy loss during the cooling airflow's diffusion process. The air recovered from the return air outlet, already carrying some cooling capacity, re-enters the evaporator for heat exchange, reducing the cooling load and indirectly reducing compressor run time, thereby lowering overall energy consumption.

[0075] The air outlets on the upper left side and the top avoid the loading and unloading area in the front of the cabinet, reducing the direct leakage of cold air when opening and closing the door; the lower return air outlet is located on the left side and does not occupy the main storage space in the middle and right sides of the cabinet, avoiding interference with the placement of food. While ensuring the cooling effect, it also takes into account the convenience of cabinet storage and space utilization.

[0076] By reasonably setting the position of the air inlet and outlet and the direction of the air duct, the airflow is guided to circulate in an orderly manner along the preset path, avoiding the turbulence caused by air flow collision and backflow, reducing wind resistance and the friction noise between the airflow and the internal components of the cabinet; at the same time, the uniform airflow distribution reduces the power required by the fan to overcome local resistance, further weakening the abnormal noise during operation and improving the quietness of the equipment.

[0077] In some embodiments, the tubes and fins of the condenser are arranged in an array;

[0078] The refrigerant enters from the front air inlet side and flows out from the side away from the air inlet.

[0079] In some embodiments, when the refrigeration unit is working, air flows into the refrigeration unit from the air inlet, sweeps across the condenser, passes through the condensing fan, blows toward the compressor, and is blown out of the box from the air outlet of the refrigeration unit.

[0080] The airflow first sweeps across the condenser, directly removing the significant heat released by the condensing refrigerant. This ensures the condenser maintains efficient heat dissipation and maintains the refrigerant's condensation. The airflow is then driven by the condensing fan and blows toward the compressor. While this airflow has absorbed some of the condenser's heat, it still effectively removes the mechanical heat generated by the compressor, preventing overheating and the resulting loss of efficiency. This sequence of "cooling core heat dissipation components first, then cooling secondary heat sources" fully utilizes the airflow's cooling capacity in a step-by-step manner, significantly improving overall heat dissipation efficiency.

[0081] The airflow path follows an orderly progression from "air inlet → condenser → condensing fan → compressor → air outlet," aligning with the condensing fan's drive direction and creating a smooth airflow path. The condensing fan, located between the condenser and compressor, efficiently draws air through the condenser while also directing it directly to the compressor. This reduces wind resistance during turns and detours, lowering the fan's operating load and indirectly saving energy.

[0082] In some embodiments, Figure 5 As shown, the refrigeration unit is further provided with a controller, which is configured as follows:

[0083] Receive a defrost instruction, and obtain the door opening time of the operating table cabinet and the current temperature of the operating table cabinet;

[0084] Calculate the temperature fluctuation value based on the current temperature of the operating table cabinet and the previous temperature of the operating table cabinet, and calculate the dynamic variance value;

[0085] Calculating a dynamic trigger threshold based on the door opening time of the console cabinet and the dynamic variance value;

[0086] When the dynamic trigger threshold is equal to the preset threshold and the current defrost instruction is within the reference set period, the evaporator is controlled to defrost.

[0087] By calculating a dynamic trigger threshold based on the door opening duration and the temperature fluctuation variance, the problems of "over-defrosting" or "under-defrosting" caused by traditional fixed-cycle defrosting are avoided. When the actual frost demand in the cabinet precisely matches the trigger conditions, unnecessary defrosting operations can be reduced, reducing energy consumption during the hot air defrosting process while avoiding drastic temperature fluctuations in the cabinet caused by frequent defrosting. The introduction of a dynamic variance value can reflect the temperature stability in the cabinet in real time. When frequent door opening or external environmental interference causes increased temperature fluctuations, the system can advance or delay the defrost timing through threshold adjustment, reducing the impact of the defrost process on the temperature field in the cabinet. Combined with the constraints of the baseline set cycle, it ensures that the defrost operation will not be repeated in a short period of time, providing a more stable low-temperature storage environment for food and extending the shelf life.

[0088] This application abandons control logic based on single time or temperature parameters and instead uses a multi-dimensional parameter calculation based on temperature fluctuations when the door is opened, resulting in dynamic thresholds that better align defrost decisions with actual usage scenarios. For example, when frequent door openings cause a large amount of humid air to enter, the system can adjust the threshold to initiate defrost promptly. Meanwhile, when the cabinet temperature is stable and door openings are rare, the defrost interval is automatically extended, achieving intelligent "defrost on demand" control.

[0089] In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to:

[0090] After defrosting, delay starting the compressor until the box temperature returns to within ±2°C before defrosting or wait for more than 5 minutes.

[0091] In some embodiments, the defrosting process is divided into a strong melting period and a temperature equalization period;

[0092] During the strong melt period, the refrigeration fan is turned off and the one-way valve remains open to continuously introduce the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor into the evaporator coil;

[0093] During the temperature equalization period, the one-way valve is closed to stop the introduction of high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, and the refrigeration fan is turned on, so that the residual heat remaining in the refrigeration cycle circulates in the operating table cabinet through the air duct to even out the temperature inside the cabinet.

[0094] In this application, the defrost process of the kitchen workbench is divided into a strong melting period and a temperature equalization period. During the strong melting period, the refrigeration fan is turned off to prevent cold air from interfering with the heat release of the high-temperature refrigerant. The one-way valve is continuously opened to ensure that the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged by the compressor enters the evaporator coil in a concentrated manner, so that the heat quickly acts on the frost layer, achieving efficient and rapid melting of the frost layer. Compared with traditional defrosting methods, the time of the core defrost stage is greatly shortened, reducing the continuous impact of the defrost process on the low-temperature environment in the cabinet.

[0095] During the strong melting period, centralized heating is used to quickly defrost the cabinet, avoiding excessive temperature increase in the cabinet due to long defrosting time; during the uniform temperature period, the refrigeration fan is turned on, and the residual heat remaining in the refrigeration cycle is circulated in the cabinet, which can not only eliminate the local temperature difference between the evaporator and other areas of the cabinet after defrosting, but also evenly spread the residual heat through the circulating airflow, so that the temperature in the cabinet can quickly return to a stable state, avoiding the adverse effects of drastic temperature fluctuations on the preservation of food.

[0096] During the strong melting period, the heat of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is directly used to defrost, without the need for additional electric heating elements to consume energy, which significantly reduces the defrost power compared to electric defrosting; during the uniform temperature period, the temperature is balanced by recycling the residual heat remaining in the refrigeration system, without the need to start additional heating or cooling components, further reducing energy waste and achieving energy-saving operation of the defrost process.

[0097] The continuous high-temperature refrigerant supply during the strong melting period can completely melt the thick frost layer on the evaporator coil and reduce the residual frost layer; the air flow circulation during the uniform temperature period can evenly distribute the water vapor generated by defrosting with the air flow, avoiding local water vapor condensation to form new thin frost, and at the same time accelerate the discharge of water vapor inside the cabinet through the drain pipe, reducing the risk of secondary icing and ensuring the long-term heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator.

[0098] Through phased control, the defrost process is made more controllable. The strong melting period focuses on "rapid defrosting" and the uniform temperature period focuses on "temperature balance". The two are connected in an orderly manner, avoiding frequent start and stop of the refrigeration system due to local overheating or uneven temperature after defrosting, reducing the impact of operating condition switching of components such as one-way valves and fans, and extending the service life of the equipment.

[0099] In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to:

[0100] During the defrosting process, the humidity value inside the cabinet is collected in real time through the humidity sensor installed in the operating table cabinet;

[0101] When the humidity value exceeds the preset humidity threshold, the condensing fan speed is controlled to increase by 20%-30% to enhance the air circulation in the cabinet, and the strong melting period is shortened to 80%-90% of the original period. At the same time, the average temperature period is extended to 1.1-1.2 times the original period to reduce condensation inside the cabinet during the defrosting process.

[0102] During the defrosting process, high temperatures can easily cause moisture inside the cabinet to evaporate. If the humidity is too high, moisture can easily condense on the cabinet walls and food surfaces, forming dew and even refreezing. A humidity sensor monitors the humidity in real time. When the humidity exceeds the threshold, the condensing fan speed is increased to enhance air flow, accelerating the discharge of moisture from the cabinet through the air duct. A shortened thaw period reduces the duration of high temperatures and reduces excessive evaporation. Extended uniform temperature periods allow continuous air circulation to remove locally accumulated moisture and evenly disperse it for discharge. These three factors work together to significantly reduce condensation, preventing food spoilage and condensation-induced corrosion and freezing of the cabinet.

[0103] If condensation adheres to the evaporator surface or air duct, it can easily refreeze into frost after defrosting, increasing the burden of subsequent defrosting. If it adheres to the refrigeration piping surface, it can also affect heat exchange efficiency. This control step suppresses condensation by dynamically adjusting parameters to keep the evaporator and piping surfaces dry, ensuring that the refrigeration system can quickly restore efficient heat exchange after defrosting, reducing the loss of cooling efficiency caused by residual condensation.

[0104] Example

[0105] like Figures 1 to 4 The kitchen workbench provided in this embodiment includes a workbench cabinet 1 and a refrigeration unit 13. The workbench cabinet 1 is used to store frozen food. The cabinet has air duct side panels inside. The air duct side panels are provided with air inlet 3 and air outlet 2, which are used to transfer the cold energy of the evaporator to the workbench cabinet 1 through the refrigeration fan 10. At the same time, the air inlet 3 is arranged on the top and multiple air outlets and sides to improve the temperature uniformity of the workbench cabinet; the refrigeration unit 13 is arranged on the left side of the workbench cabinet 1, and includes a compressor 8, a condenser 6, a condensing fan 11, a capillary tube 7, a one-way valve 12, an evaporator insulation chamber 9, etc., and is characterized in that the refrigeration unit 13 can be installed on the workbench cabinet 1 by screws after being assembled as a whole, wherein the connection between the evaporator insulation chamber 9 and the workbench cabinet 1 is sealed around the evaporator insulation chamber by viscose sponge to ensure the temperature stability of the workbench cabinet.

[0106] The refrigeration unit is located on the left side of the console cabinet 1. It mainly includes a compressor 8, a condenser 6, a condensing fan 11, a capillary tube 7, a one-way valve 12, and an evaporator insulation chamber 9. The refrigeration unit 13 is placed entirely on the compressor baseplate, which has mounting holes. After assembly and welding, the refrigeration unit 13 is placed in the corresponding position of the console cabinet 1 through the fitting between the mounting holes. The compressor baseplate is fixed to the baseplate of the console cabinet 1 with screws to complete the assembly of the entire unit.

[0107] The heat dissipation air duct of the refrigeration unit 13 is located on the left side of the front and the right side of the back of the operating table cabinet. The air inlet 4 of the refrigeration unit is located on the left side of the front of the operating table cabinet, and the air outlet 5 of the refrigeration unit is located on the right side of the back of the operating table cabinet. The heat generated by the operation of the condenser 6 and the compressor 8 is taken away through the air outlet 5 of the refrigeration unit by the condensing fan 11, thereby ensuring the stable operation of the refrigeration system.

[0108] The operating table cabinet 1 has a cooling air duct located on the left side and top of the storage compartment of the operating table cabinet. An air outlet 2 is provided at the upper left side and multiple rows of holes at the top, and an air inlet 3 is provided at the lower left side, which is used to form an air circulation that transfers the cold energy of the evaporator to the internal space of the cabinet.

[0109] The condenser 6 is arranged in an array between the pipes and the heat sinks, and the refrigerant flows in from the front air inlet side and out from the side away from the air inlet.

[0110] When the refrigeration unit 13 is working, the air flow enters from the refrigeration unit air inlet 4 (one side of the box), sweeps across the condenser 6, passes through the condensing fan 11, blows toward the compressor 8, and is blown out of the box from the refrigeration unit air outlet 5 (the other side of the box).

[0111] like Figure 4 As shown, the evaporator defrost of the refrigeration unit uses hot gas defrost. The hot gas defrost system changes the refrigerant flow direction by opening a one-way valve, directly introducing the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor into the evaporator coil that needs to be defrosted. The heat released by the condensed refrigerant is used to melt the frost layer. The melted water is discharged through the drain pipe. After the defrost is completed, the valve switches back to the normal refrigeration cycle. It is characterized by calculating the dynamic trigger threshold Tset based on the cumulative door opening time Topen and the variance of the temperature fluctuation inside the cabinet. The defrost is only started when it meets the reference set period Tf. The defrost process is divided into a strong melting period (fixed duration t1) and a temperature averaging period (duration t2 = 0.1×accumulated door opening time). The temperature averaging period activates the residual heat of the refrigeration cycle. After the defrost is completed, the compressor start is delayed until the cabinet temperature returns to within ±2°C before the defrost or waits for more than 5 minutes.

[0112] t1=8;

[0113] t2 = 0.1 × Topen;

[0114] Tset = 1200-10 × temperature fluctuation variance in the box;

[0115] In this embodiment, if the temperature fluctuation variance = 5, then Tset = 1200 - 10 × 5 = 1150 s.

[0116] The hot gas defrost system determines the defrost control scheme by accumulating the door opening time, the refrigeration unit operating time, and the cabinet temperature.

[0117] As can be seen from the above embodiment, the kitchen workbench includes a workbench cabinet and a refrigeration unit; the workbench cabinet is internally provided with an air duct side panel, which is provided with an air inlet and an air outlet for transferring the cooling energy of the evaporator into the workbench cabinet via a refrigeration fan; the refrigeration unit is arranged on one side of the workbench cabinet, and includes a compressor, a condenser, a condensing fan, a capillary tube, a one-way valve, and an evaporator insulation chamber; the evaporator is arranged in the evaporator insulation chamber; the refrigeration unit is an integrated layout and can be installed on the workbench cabinet via screws after overall assembly; a viscose sponge seal is provided at the connection between the evaporator insulation chamber and the workbench cabinet; the evaporator uses a hot gas defrost method, which redirects the refrigerant flow through a one-way valve and directly introduces the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor into the evaporator coil for defrosting. The one-way valve redirects the refrigerant flow through the evaporator coil, directly introducing the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor into the evaporator coil that needs to be defrosted, and the heat released by the condensed refrigerant is used to melt the frost layer. The melted water is discharged through the drain pipe. After defrosting, the valve switches back to the normal refrigeration cycle. This defrosting method has a small temperature fluctuation in the cabinet and a short duration, which is most beneficial for food preservation. At the same time, the refrigeration unit of this application has an integrated layout. After being assembled and welded in a natural space, it is directly placed on the side of the operating table and fixed with screws. This layout is not constrained by the small space in the compressor compartment, and piping and pipe welding are convenient, with high installation efficiency.

[0118] Similar parts between the embodiments provided in this application can be referenced to each other. The specific implementation methods provided above are only a few examples under the overall concept of this application and do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this application. For those skilled in the art, any other implementation methods expanded based on the scheme of this application without expending creative work shall fall within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A kitchen worktop, characterized in that: The kitchen worktop comprises: Operation table cabinet and refrigeration unit; The inside of the operating table cabinet is provided with an air duct side panel, on which an air inlet and an air outlet are provided, for transferring the cooling energy of the evaporator to the operating table cabinet through the refrigeration fan; The refrigeration unit is arranged on one side of the operating table cabinet, and the refrigeration unit includes a compressor, a condenser, a condensing fan, a capillary tube, a one-way valve and an evaporator insulation chamber; the evaporator insulation chamber is provided with an evaporator; The refrigeration unit is of an integrated layout and can be installed on the operating table cabinet by screws after being assembled as a whole; The connection between the evaporator insulation chamber and the operating table cabinet is provided with a viscose sponge seal; The evaporator adopts a hot gas defrosting method, changes the refrigerant flow direction through a one-way valve, and directly introduces the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor into the evaporator coil for defrosting.

2. The kitchen worktop according to claim 1, characterized in that: The refrigeration unit is placed on the bottom plate of the compressor, and the bottom plate of the compressor is provided with a mounting hole; After the refrigeration unit is welded, it is placed in the corresponding position of the operating table cabinet through the matching between the mounting holes, and the bottom plate of the compressor is fixed to the bottom plate of the operating table cabinet by screws.

3. The kitchen worktop according to claim 2, characterized in that: The heat dissipation ducts of the refrigeration unit are located on the left side of the front and the right side of the back of the operating table cabinet; The compressor compartment air inlet is located on the left side of the front of the console cabinet; The compressor compartment air outlet is located on the right side of the back of the operating console cabinet; The condensing fan discharges the heat generated by the operation of the condenser and the compressor through the air outlet.

4. The kitchen worktop according to claim 3, characterized in that: The cooling air duct of the operating table cabinet is arranged on the left side and top of the storage compartment of the operating table cabinet; Air outlets are provided on the upper left side and top of the storage compartment in multiple rows of holes; A return air vent is provided at the lower left side of the storage compartment to form an air circulation that transfers the cooling energy of the evaporator to the interior space of the cabinet.

5. The kitchen worktop according to claim 4, characterized in that: The pipes and radiating fins of the condenser are arranged in an array; The refrigerant enters from the front air inlet side and flows out from the side away from the air inlet.

6. The kitchen worktop according to claim 5, characterized in that: When the refrigeration unit is working, air flows in from the air inlet of the refrigeration unit, sweeps across the condenser, passes through the condensing fan, blows toward the compressor, and is blown out of the box from the air outlet of the refrigeration unit.

7. The kitchen worktop according to claim 1, characterized in that: The refrigeration unit is further provided with a controller, which is configured to: Receive a defrost instruction, and obtain the door opening time of the operating table cabinet and the current temperature of the operating table cabinet; Calculate the temperature fluctuation value based on the current temperature of the operating table cabinet and the previous temperature of the operating table cabinet, and calculate the dynamic variance value; Calculating a dynamic trigger threshold based on the door opening time of the console cabinet and the dynamic variance value; When the dynamic trigger threshold is equal to the preset threshold and the current defrost instruction is within the reference set period, the evaporator is controlled to defrost.

8. The kitchen worktop according to claim 7, characterized in that: The controller is further configured to: After defrosting, delay starting the compressor until the box temperature returns to within ±2°C before defrosting or wait for more than 5 minutes.

9. The kitchen worktop according to claim 7, characterized in that: The defrosting process is divided into a strong melting period and a temperature equalization period; During the strong melt period, the refrigeration fan is turned off and the one-way valve remains open to continuously introduce the high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor into the evaporator coil; During the temperature equalization period, the one-way valve is closed to stop the introduction of high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, and the refrigeration fan is turned on, so that the residual heat remaining in the refrigeration cycle circulates in the operating table cabinet through the air duct to even out the temperature inside the cabinet.

10. The kitchen worktop according to claim 7, characterized in that: The controller is further configured to: During the defrosting process, the humidity value inside the cabinet is collected in real time through the humidity sensor installed in the operating table cabinet; When the humidity value exceeds the preset humidity threshold, the condensing fan speed is controlled to increase by 20%-30% to enhance the air circulation in the cabinet, and the strong melting period is shortened to 80%-90% of the original period. At the same time, the average temperature period is extended to 1.1-1.2 times the original period to reduce condensation inside the cabinet during the defrosting process.

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