Noise reduction reservoir, Refrigeration system, Refrigerator and Defrosting control method
By introducing a spiral guide plate, a splash guard, and a microporous sound-absorbing layer into the liquid receiver, and by using an electromagnetic discharge valve to actively discharge liquid refrigerant, the noise problem during defrosting is solved, achieving noise reduction while maintaining the system's high-efficiency operation.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- GREE ELECTRIC APPLIANCE INC OF ZHUHAI
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-23
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-09
AI Technical Summary
During the defrosting process of a refrigerator, the liquid refrigerant in the receiver boils violently, generating significant noise. Existing technologies have failed to solve the noise problem at its source.
Design a noise-reducing liquid receiver comprising a spiral guide plate, a splash guard, and a microporous sound-absorbing layer. The spiral guide plate enables preliminary gas-liquid separation and pre-evaporation, the splash guard blocks liquid droplets, the microporous sound-absorbing layer absorbs sound waves, and the electromagnetic discharge valve actively discharges liquid refrigerant before defrosting, using the system pressure difference to drive the discharge.
It effectively reduces the intensity of boiling of liquid refrigerant during defrosting, significantly reduces noise, improves user experience, and does not affect the normal operation of the refrigeration system.
Smart Images

Figure CN122170574A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of refrigerators with noise-reducing liquid receivers, and more particularly to a noise-reducing liquid receiver, a refrigeration system, a refrigerator, and a defrosting control method. Background Technology
[0002] In household refrigeration equipment such as refrigerators and freezers, the receiver-of-liquid (NAS) is a crucial component of the refrigeration cycle system, typically installed between the evaporator outlet and the compressor return line. Its core function is to separate and temporarily store the incompletely evaporated liquid refrigerant and compressor lubricating oil flowing from the evaporator, preventing "liquid slugging" damage to the compressor and ensuring the lubricating oil returns smoothly to the compressor. A typical NAS is a sealed cylindrical container with a relatively simple internal structure, relying on a reduction in gas velocity and a change in flow direction to achieve gas-liquid separation. However, this traditional structure reveals a significant drawback during the refrigerator's periodic defrosting process: some liquid refrigerant always accumulates at the bottom of the NAS during the refrigeration cycle. When the refrigerator enters the defrosting cycle, the defrosting heater activates, causing a rapid increase in the temperature of the evaporator and the connected NAS walls. The accumulated liquid refrigerant in the NAS is rapidly heated and boils violently, generating numerous bubbles. These bubbles continuously produce a noticeable gurgling sound as they escape from the liquid surface and burst, severely impacting the user experience.
[0003] While existing technologies offer methods such as optimizing pipelines and wrapping with sound-absorbing cotton, these are all "post-event remedies" and do not address the noise generation problem at its source. Therefore, this disclosure provides a noise-reducing liquid reservoir capable of suppressing defrosting noise at its source. Summary of the Invention
[0004] This disclosure provides a noise-reducing liquid receiver, a refrigeration system, a refrigerator, and a control method to solve the technical problems existing in the prior art.
[0005] The first aspect of this disclosure provides a noise-reducing liquid reservoir, comprising: A sealed housing, wherein an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe are provided on the housing, the inlet pipe is used to connect to the evaporator outlet of the refrigeration system, and the outlet pipe is used to connect to the compressor return pipe of the refrigeration system. The bottom of the housing is connected to a capillary tube, and an electromagnetic discharge valve is connected in series on the capillary tube. The end of the capillary tube away from the housing is used to connect to the evaporator inlet of the refrigeration system. The electromagnetic discharge valve is used to be electrically connected to the main controller of the refrigerator so as to be opened in a controlled manner before the refrigerator enters the defrosting mode, so as to create a pressure difference between the noise-reducing liquid receiver and the evaporator inlet, and pre-discharge the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the housing to the evaporator inlet.
[0006] The housing is equipped with a spiral guide plate located below the outlet end of the inlet pipe. The gas-liquid mixed refrigerant flowing into the housing through the inlet pipe forms a swirling flow and slows down under the guidance of the spiral guide plate, so that the liquid droplets in the gas-liquid mixed refrigerant are thrown to the inner wall of the housing under the action of centrifugal force, thus completing the initial gas-liquid separation.
[0007] The spiral guide plate has multiple microporous structures on its spiral plate surface. These microporous structures are used to adsorb liquid refrigerant and form a liquid film, so that the low-temperature gaseous refrigerant flowing through the spiral guide plate can pre-evaporate the liquid film.
[0008] The spiral guide plate is constructed as a multi-layered involute spiral structure, and the diameter of the micropore structure of the spiral guide plate ranges from 0.5mm to 2mm.
[0009] The spiral guide plate has a guide groove etched on its spiral plate surface. The guide groove is used to guide the liquid refrigerant after centrifugal separation to slide down the spiral plate surface to the bottom of the shell.
[0010] The housing is also equipped with a splash shield, which is located between the spiral guide plate and the liquid surface at the bottom of the housing. The splash shield covers the liquid surface area at the bottom of the housing, and its edge extends toward the liquid surface at the bottom of the housing. The splash guard is used to block the liquid refrigerant at the bottom of the housing from boiling and splashing droplets during the defrosting process. At the same time, the splash guard forces the rising airflow inside the housing to bypass the edge of the guard, so as to perform secondary gas-liquid separation on the droplets carried in the airflow.
[0011] The splash guard is constructed in an inverted bowl shape, and the splash guard and the spiral guide plate are spaced apart.
[0012] The inner wall of the housing is further fitted with a microporous sound-absorbing layer, which covers the inner wall of the upper part of the housing and the inner wall of the top cover of the housing, and is used to absorb and attenuate the sound waves generated inside.
[0013] The bottom of the housing is provided with a liquid collection groove, and the electromagnetic discharge valve is installed at the liquid collection groove to discharge the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the liquid collection groove.
[0014] The air inlet pipe is located at the top of the housing, and the air outlet pipe is located at the side of the housing, so that the liquid reservoir forms an upper inlet and upper outlet structure.
[0015] A second aspect of this disclosure provides a refrigeration system for use in a refrigerator, including the aforementioned noise-reducing liquid receiver, and further including an evaporator, a compressor, a defrost heater, and a main controller. The inlet pipe of the noise-reducing liquid receiver is connected to the outlet of the evaporator, the outlet pipe of the noise-reducing liquid receiver is connected to the return pipe of the compressor, the capillary guide tube of the noise-reducing liquid receiver is connected to the inlet of the evaporator, and the defrost heater and the electromagnetic discharge valve are both electrically connected to the main controller. The main controller is configured to open the electromagnetic discharge valve at a preset time before the refrigerator enters defrost mode, and discharge the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the noise-reducing liquid receiver to the inlet of the evaporator by utilizing the pressure difference between the noise-reducing liquid receiver and the inlet of the evaporator.
[0016] The main controller is configured to close the electromagnetic discharge valve before or at the same time as the defrosting heater is started.
[0017] The main controller is also configured to, while sending an opening command to the electromagnetic discharge valve, control the refrigerator's circulating fan to shut down and control the compressor to maintain continuous operation.
[0018] A third aspect of this disclosure provides a refrigerator, including the refrigeration system described above.
[0019] A fourth aspect of this disclosure provides a defrosting control method for a refrigeration system, applied to the aforementioned refrigeration system, comprising the following steps: S1. At a preset time before the refrigerator enters defrost mode, the main controller controls the electromagnetic discharge valve at the bottom of the noise-reducing liquid receiver to open. S2. Utilizing the pressure difference between the noise-reducing liquid receiver and the inlet of the evaporator, the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the noise-reducing liquid receiver is discharged to the inlet of the evaporator; S3. Before or at the same time as the defrosting heater is started, the main controller controls the electromagnetic discharge valve to close.
[0020] In step S1, the main controller sends an instruction to open the electromagnetic discharge valve while simultaneously controlling the refrigerator's circulating fan to shut down and controlling the compressor to maintain continuous operation.
[0021] In step S3, when controlling the electromagnetic discharge valve to close before the defrosting heater is started, the following is also included: when the refrigerator is in the normal cooling stage, the main controller controls the electromagnetic discharge valve to remain closed so that the noise reduction liquid receiver can normally collect the unevaporated liquid refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator.
[0022] In step S3, when the defrosting heater is started and the electromagnetic discharge valve is closed, the main controller sends a start command to the defrosting heater and a close command to the electromagnetic discharge valve at the same time, so that the electromagnetic discharge valve is closed and the defrosting program is executed normally.
[0023] The technical solutions provided in this disclosure have the following advantages compared with the prior art: The noise-reducing liquid receiver, refrigeration system, refrigerator, and defrosting control method provided in this disclosure embodiment, during normal refrigeration operation, have a sealed shell connected to the evaporator outlet of the refrigeration system via an inlet pipe and a compressor return pipe via an outlet pipe. The electromagnetic discharge valve remains normally closed, fully realizing the core functions of a traditional liquid receiver: gas-liquid separation, storage of unevaporated liquid refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator, and prevention of liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor and causing liquid slugging. It is fully compatible with the original refrigeration cycle operation logic of the refrigerator, requiring no modification to the main system circuit, and has excellent engineering feasibility. At a preset time before the refrigerator enters defrosting mode, the electromagnetic discharge valve is opened under control by the refrigerator's main controller. Relying on the stable pressure difference formed between the liquid receiver and the evaporator inlet during refrigeration system operation, the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the shell is driven to be pre-discharged to the evaporator inlet via a capillary tube, directly reducing the total amount of liquid refrigerant that can be heated and boiled in the shell during defrosting, thus weakening the intensity of refrigerant boiling from the root cause of noise generation. Attached Figure Description
[0024] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure.
[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure or the prior art, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.
[0026] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.
[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the noise-reducing liquid reservoir provided in the embodiments of this disclosure; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the main structure of the spiral guide plate in the noise reduction liquid reservoir provided in this embodiment of the disclosure; Figure 3A top view of the spiral guide plate in the noise reduction reservoir provided in this embodiment of the disclosure; Figure 4 The system connection method provided in the embodiments of this disclosure.
[0028] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Shell; 2. Inlet pipe; 3. Outlet pipe; 4. Spiral guide plate; 41. Microporous structure; 5. Splash shield; 6. Microporous sound-absorbing layer; 7. Electromagnetic discharge valve; 8. Capillary guide tube; 9. Liquid collection groove. Detailed Implementation
[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this disclosure clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this disclosure. Based on the embodiments of this disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.
[0030] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of this disclosure. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed.
[0031] For ease of description, spatial relative terms may be used in this text to describe the relative position or movement of one element or feature relative to another element or feature, as shown in the figure. These relative terms include, for example, "inside," "outside," "middle," "outer," "below," "below," "above," "front," "back," etc. Such spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation, other than those depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the figure undergoes a positional flip, orientation change, or change of motion, these directional indications will change accordingly. For instance, an element described as "below other elements or features" or "below other elements or features" will subsequently be oriented "above other elements or features" or "above other elements or features." Therefore, the example term "below" can include both upper and lower orientations. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or in other directions), and the spatial relative descriptions used in this text have been explained accordingly.
[0032] This disclosure provides a noise-reducing reservoir capable of suppressing defrosting noise at its source.
[0033] refer to Figures 1-4 This disclosure provides a noise-reducing liquid receiver, which adopts an overall top-inlet and top-outlet structure, including a sealed shell 1. The shell 1 is provided with an inlet pipe 2 and an outlet pipe 3. The inlet pipe 2 is used to connect to the evaporator outlet of the refrigeration system, and the outlet pipe 3 is used to connect to the compressor return pipe of the refrigeration system. The bottom of the shell 1 is connected to a capillary guide tube 8, and an electromagnetic discharge valve 7 is connected in series on the capillary guide tube 8. The end of the capillary guide tube 8 away from the shell 1 is used to connect to the evaporator inlet of the refrigeration system. The electromagnetic discharge valve 7 is used to be electrically connected to the main controller of the refrigerator so as to be opened under control before the refrigerator enters the defrosting mode, so as to form a pressure difference between the noise-reducing liquid receiver and the evaporator inlet, and pre-discharge the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the shell 1 to the evaporator inlet.
[0034] The noise-reducing receiver of this embodiment, during normal refrigeration operation, connects the sealed housing 1 to the evaporator outlet of the refrigeration system via the inlet pipe 2 and the outlet pipe 3 to the compressor return pipe. The electromagnetic discharge valve 7 remains normally closed, fully realizing the core functions of traditional receivers: gas-liquid separation, storage of unevaporated liquid refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator, and prevention of liquid refrigerant from entering the compressor and causing liquid slugging. At a preset time before the refrigerator enters defrosting mode, the electromagnetic discharge valve 7 is opened under control by the refrigerator's main controller. Relying on the stable pressure difference formed between the receiver and the evaporator inlet during refrigeration system operation, the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the housing 1 is driven to be pre-discharged to the evaporator inlet via the capillary guide pipe 8. This directly reduces the total amount of liquid refrigerant that can be heated and boiled in the housing during defrosting, thus weakening the intensity of refrigerant boiling from the root cause of noise generation.
[0035] For example, adding an active discharge structure to a noise-reducing liquid reservoir adds a controllable liquid discharge path to the reservoir.
[0036] For example, the capillary tube 8 is connected to the bottom of the housing 1 to draw out liquid refrigerant. Its slender structure acts as a throttling device to prevent a sudden surge of liquid into the system and causing an impact.
[0037] For example, the electromagnetic discharge valve 7 is mounted on the capillary guide tube 8 and is a normally closed two-position two-way valve. Its coil is electrically connected to the refrigerator's main controller and receives instructions from the main controller to open or close.
[0038] For example, the other end of the low-pressure side connection capillary tube 8 is used to connect to the low-pressure side of the refrigeration system to provide differential pressure driving force for liquid discharge.
[0039] For example, the housing 1 can be a vertically arranged cylindrical or elliptical cylinder made of aluminum alloy, which has good pressure resistance and thermal conductivity.
[0040] For example, the capillary tube 8 is a copper tube, or the capillary tube 8 can also be other tubes within the industry standard range. One end of the capillary tube 8 is connected to the outlet of the discharge valve 7, and the other end is welded near the evaporator inlet. It should be noted that the area near the evaporator inlet is the low-pressure side of the system.
[0041] This adds a controller-controlled drainage path to the reservoir, enabling it to actively drain accumulated liquid at specific times. In other words, it allows the liquid level to be reduced to a safe level before defrosting, significantly reducing the intensity of subsequent boiling.
[0042] It should be noted that the end of the capillary tube 8 furthest from the electromagnetic discharge valve 7 is connected to the evaporator inlet of the refrigeration system. This places the evaporator inlet on the low-pressure side of the refrigeration system, creating a significant pressure difference with the higher-pressure liquid receiver during operation, providing a natural driving force for liquid discharge. Simultaneously, the discharged liquid refrigerant is directly returned to the evaporator inlet, allowing it to immediately participate in the subsequent refrigeration cycle instead of being discharged into the return pipe and wasting energy.
[0043] In other words, the system utilizes its own pressure difference to achieve discharge and recover cooling energy. On the one hand, no additional power is required; the discharge can be driven by the natural pressure difference between the liquid receiver and the evaporator inlet, making it energy-efficient. On the other hand, cooling energy recovery is achieved, as the discharged liquid immediately participates in the refrigeration cycle, avoiding energy waste.
[0044] Considering the application scenario of the gas-liquid preliminary separation of the noise reduction liquid storage device in this embodiment, in this embodiment, a spiral guide plate 4 is provided inside the housing 1. The spiral guide plate 4 is located below the outlet end of the air inlet pipe 2. The gas-liquid mixed refrigerant flowing into the housing 1 through the air inlet pipe 2 forms a swirling flow and decelerates under the guiding action of the spiral guide plate 4, so that the liquid droplets in the gas-liquid mixed refrigerant are thrown to the inner wall of the housing 1 under the action of centrifugal force, thus completing the gas-liquid preliminary separation.
[0045] In this way, during the normal operation of the refrigerator's refrigeration system, the gas-liquid mixed refrigerant flowing at high speed from the evaporator outlet into the casing 1 through the inlet pipe will directly act on the spiral guide plate 4 below the outlet end of the inlet pipe 2. The spiral surface of the spiral guide plate 4 will form a directional guide for the high-speed gas-liquid mixed flow, turning the fluid that was originally in a straight impact state into a swirling flow along the spiral path. As the fluid flows along the spiral plate surface, the flow velocity is gradually reduced. At the same time, the swirling state will generate a continuous centrifugal force, which will continuously throw the denser liquid refrigerant droplets in the gas-liquid mixed refrigerant towards the inner wall of the casing 1, completing the initial separation of the gas and liquid phases.
[0046] By using a spiral flow guide, the high-speed gas-liquid flow is prevented from directly impacting the internal space of the casing and forming a turbulent flow field, thus reducing the flow noise generated by fluid impact. At the same time, the centrifugal force significantly improves the gas-liquid separation efficiency, allowing more liquid refrigerant to be separated and settled in advance, reducing the risk of airflow carrying liquid droplets into the compressor, and strengthening the core function of the liquid receiver in protecting the compressor from liquid slugging.
[0047] Specifically, the regular spiral flow guiding structure transforms the turbulent high-speed fluid into a stable swirling flow, which improves the gas-liquid separation efficiency while significantly reducing the noise and liquid surface disturbance caused by fluid impact, further suppressing the noise generation inside the liquid reservoir from the perspective of fluid flow.
[0048] Considering the pre-evaporation function of the spiral guide plate 4, in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the spiral plate surface of the spiral guide plate 4 is provided with a plurality of microporous structures 41. The microporous structures 41 are used to adsorb liquid refrigerant and form a liquid film, so that the low-temperature gaseous refrigerant flowing through the spiral guide plate 4 pre-evaporates the liquid film.
[0049] In this way, during the normal operation of the refrigerator refrigeration system, as the spiral guide plate 4 guides and decelerates the flow and completes the initial gas-liquid separation, the microporous structures 41 on the surface of the spiral guide plate 4 will capture the liquid refrigerant attached to the spiral plate surface after centrifugal separation, as well as the tiny droplets carried in the airflow, through capillary adsorption effect. At this time, the low-temperature gaseous refrigerant flowing out from the evaporator and entering the shell 1 through the inlet pipe 2 will continue to flow along the surface of the spiral guide plate 4 and fully contact the liquid film formed on the plate surface. By utilizing the superheat of the low-temperature gaseous refrigerant itself, the liquid refrigerant in the liquid film will be continuously pre-evaporated, so that this part of the liquid refrigerant is directly converted into gas and enters the compressor with the return gas flow, instead of settling to the bottom of the liquid receiver shell 1 and accumulating. In the normal refrigeration cycle, the total amount of liquid refrigerant accumulated in the shell 1 can be continuously reduced.
[0050] For example, the spiral guide plate 4 is formed by stamping a thin metal sheet and is in the shape of a multi-layered involute spiral, connected to the air inlet pipe 2. Its surface is densely covered with micropores 10 with a diameter of 0.5-2 mm or etched guide grooves. During system operation, it can rotate and decelerate the high-speed inflowing gas-liquid mixture, causing the droplets to be thrown to the container wall and slide down the plate surface under the action of centrifugal force; in addition, the microporous structure 41 can adsorb a layer of liquid film, which is pre-evaporated by the incoming low-temperature gas, reducing the total amount of liquid in advance.
[0051] Specifically, the spiral guide plate 4 is constructed as a multi-layer involute spiral structure, and the diameter of the microporous structure 41 of the spiral guide plate 4 ranges from 0.5mm to 2mm.
[0052] For example, the spiral guide plate 4 is constructed as a multi-layered involute spiral structure, which can provide a longer rotation path for the airflow and increase the action time and effect of centrifugal separation.
[0053] For example, the micropore diameter is a preferred range verified through experiments. When it is less than 0.5 mm, the processing difficulty increases and it is easily blocked by impurities; when it is greater than 2 mm, the ability to adsorb liquid film weakens and the pre-evaporation effect decreases. That is, this range ensures both sufficient porosity to form a stable liquid film and ensures the structural strength of the plate, enabling it to withstand the scouring of refrigerant over a long period of time.
[0054] In this way, by optimizing the geometric parameters, the separation efficiency and pre-evaporation effect of the spiral guide plate 4 are maximized. The multi-layer involute spiral increases the gas-liquid separation path and time, and the optimized micropore diameter ensures the stability of liquid film adsorption and pre-evaporation efficiency, providing more favorable initial conditions for subsequent noise reduction.
[0055] Specifically, the spiral guide plate 4 has a guide groove etched on its spiral plate surface. This guide groove is used to guide the liquid refrigerant after centrifugal separation to slide down the spiral plate surface to the bottom of the housing 1.
[0056] For example, flow-guiding grooves are etched on the plate surface to replace or supplement the microporous structure 41.
[0057] These grooves can be straight, annular, or spiral, and their depth and width can be adjusted according to processing technology and performance requirements. The grooves also utilize capillary action to adsorb liquid films, increasing the gas-liquid contact area and promoting pre-evaporation.
[0058] In this way, etching grooves can also increase the surface area, adsorb liquid film, and guide liquid flow, which helps to enhance the pre-evaporation efficiency. Various implementation methods can be applied, and the choice can be made flexibly according to the manufacturing process and cost.
[0059] Specifically, a splash shield 5 is also provided inside the housing 1. The splash shield 5 is located between the spiral guide plate 4 and the liquid surface at the bottom of the housing 1. The cover of the splash shield 5 covers the liquid surface area at the bottom of the housing 1, and its edge extends toward the liquid surface at the bottom of the housing 1. The splash guard 5 is used to block the liquid refrigerant at the bottom of the housing 1 from boiling and splashing droplets during the defrosting process. At the same time, the splash guard 5 is used to force the rising airflow inside the housing 1 to bypass the edge of the guard so as to perform secondary gas-liquid separation on the droplets carried in the airflow.
[0060] For example, the splash guard 5 is located on the side of the spiral guide plate 4 away from the air outlet pipe 3, that is, below the spiral guide plate 4. The cover of the splash guard 5 covers the liquid surface area at the bottom of the housing 1, and its edge extends toward the liquid surface at the bottom of the housing 1.
[0061] One of the functions of the splash guard 5 is to block liquid droplets. When the defrosting cycle starts, the residual liquid refrigerant at the bottom of the casing 1 boils due to heat, generating a large number of splashing droplets. The splash guard 5 can effectively block these droplets, preventing them from being directly drawn into the outlet pipe 3 and returned to the compressor with the airflow.
[0062] The second function of the splash guard 5 is secondary separation. During the cooling or defrosting process, the rising airflow must bypass the edge of the splash guard 5 to reach the outlet pipe 3. This detour forces the airflow to change direction and reduce its velocity, allowing any tiny droplets that may be carried in the airflow to be further separated under the action of gravity and fall back to the bottom of the shell 1.
[0063] In this way, a physical barrier is set up inside the casing 1 to prevent the direct escape of boiling liquid droplets during defrosting and to guide the airflow for secondary separation. On the one hand, this avoids the risk of liquid slugging in the compressor and eliminates some of the noise generated by droplet impact and rupture; on the other hand, it further ensures that only gaseous refrigerant returns to the compressor, improving system reliability and indirectly reducing the amount of liquid entering the compressor return line.
[0064] Therefore, the splash guard 5 passively suppresses noise generation and propagation when boiling occurs and protects the compressor, thus constituting a third function of noise reduction.
[0065] Specifically, the splash guard 5 is constructed as an inverted bowl shape, with a gap between the splash guard 5 and the spiral guide plate 4. It should be noted that the inverted bowl shape of the splash guard 5 allows for better separation of gas and liquid. During operation, due to their high density and inertia, the droplets cannot follow the airflow at sharp turns and directly impact the outer wall of the bowl shape. At the same time, the small droplets attached to the bowl wall slide downwards along the smooth arc under the action of gravity, merge with each other to form larger droplets, and finally drip back into the bottom liquid pool.
[0066] For example, the splash guard 5 is an inverted bowl-shaped structure with edges that can extend below the liquid surface under normal operating conditions. This structure maximizes the barrier area and provides a uniform flow path for airflow.
[0067] For example, the splash guard 5 and the spiral guide plate 4 are kept at a certain distance to ensure smooth airflow and avoid excessive local resistance from affecting system performance.
[0068] In this way, the performance of the splash guard 5 is optimized through specific geometry and spatial relationships. The inverted bowl-shaped structure provides a uniform annular barrier surface, effectively covering the liquid surface area; the spacing ensures unobstructed airflow. That is, while ensuring the barrier effect, it does not create additional resistance to the normal operation of the system, achieving a balance between noise reduction and system performance.
[0069] In some embodiments, a microporous sound-absorbing layer 6 is also attached to the inner wall of the housing 1. The microporous sound-absorbing layer 6 covers the inner wall of the upper half of the housing 1 and the inner wall of the top cover of the housing 1, and is used to absorb and attenuate the sound waves generated inside.
[0070] For example, it is made of materials resistant to refrigerants and lubricating oils, such as closed-cell rubber foam or special polymer materials. Its surface has a large number of micropores, with pore sizes typically ranging from tens to hundreds of micrometers.
[0071] For example, the microporous sound-absorbing layer 6 is attached to the upper half of the housing 1 and the inner wall of the top cover to absorb and attenuate the sound waves generated inside.
[0072] For example, the microporous sound-absorbing layer 6 is attached to the upper half of the housing 1 and the inner wall of the top cover, i.e. the gas area inside the liquid reservoir.
[0073] When the refrigerant boils and generates sound waves during defrosting, the sound waves enter the microporous structure 41 of the sound-absorbing layer, causing the air molecules and material ribs to vibrate. The sound energy is then converted into heat energy and consumed through friction and viscous resistance.
[0074] This allows for the direct absorption of sound wave energy generated inside the reservoir, serving as a passive acoustic noise reduction method. In other words, it provides a final attenuation and absorption of residual boiling noise that cannot be completely avoided, further enhancing the quietness. The microporous sound-absorbing layer 6 effectively absorbs the gurgling sound generated during defrosting, significantly reducing the noise emitted from the reservoir.
[0075] Specifically, a liquid collection groove 9 is provided at the bottom of the housing 1, and an electromagnetic discharge valve 7 is installed at the liquid collection groove 9 to discharge the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the liquid collection groove 9.
[0076] For example, the liquid collection groove 9 is located at the lowest point of the bottom of the housing 1, and the electromagnetic drain valve 7 is directly installed in the liquid collection groove 9. This design ensures that the accumulated liquid is preferentially collected at the drain port, and that the liquid is fully drained regardless of whether the reservoir is slightly tilted during installation.
[0077] For example, the liquid collection groove 9 can be a hemispherical, conical, or annular groove, and the depth can generally be 2-5 mm.
[0078] In this way, the design of the liquid collection groove 9 allows the accumulated liquid to be preferentially collected at the discharge port, avoiding the problem of incomplete discharge caused by the tilting of the liquid reservoir or the fluctuation of the liquid surface, and ensuring the effectiveness of active discharge.
[0079] In some embodiments, the air inlet pipe 2 is located at the top of the housing 1, and the air outlet pipe 3 is located at the side of the housing 1, so that the liquid reservoir forms an upper inlet and upper outlet structure.
[0080] For example, both the air inlet pipe 2 and the air outlet pipe 3 are located on the upper part of the housing 1. This top-inlet and top-outlet structure is compatible with conventional refrigerator piping and facilitates direct replacement and upgrade of existing products.
[0081] For example, the inlet pipe 2 is connected to the evaporator outlet, and the outlet pipe 3 is connected to the compressor return pipe. This is the standard connection method for the liquid receiver in the refrigeration system.
[0082] This defines the structural form of the liquid receiver and its position in the system. In other words, it clarifies the receiver's applicable scope and installation method, ensuring the correct and effective operation of the internal noise reduction structure. The top-inlet, top-outlet layout allows the liquid to settle naturally under gravity after the gas-liquid mixture enters, while the gas rises and flows out smoothly, which helps improve separation efficiency.
[0083] Alternatively, the splash guard 5 can be an umbrella-shaped shield, an inverted umbrella with a relatively gentle cone surface and edges immersed in the liquid. Similar to a bowl shape, but with a steeper cone surface. The airflow changes direction more sharply, resulting in slightly better separation, but with slightly higher drag. It is simple to manufacture, can be formed by stamping, and is low-cost. However, it has slightly higher drag and is more sensitive to airflow impact.
[0084] The spiral guide plate 4 can also be replaced with an L-shaped annular baffle, a horizontal circular baffle with a hole in the middle, and a short vertical cylinder above it. The gas first passes through the gap between the horizontal ring and the shell downwards, and then goes around the edge of the vertical cylinder upwards, forming a "Z" shaped path. The structure is simple and easy to weld and assemble. However, it has relatively high resistance, and droplets may accumulate at the corners.
[0085] The spiral guide plate 4 can also be replaced with a louvered baffle, with a ring of inclined blades around the outlet pipe, resembling louvers. Gas must pass through the oblique slits of the blades to enter the outlet pipe. The blades intercept droplets and guide the flow back. It offers high separation efficiency, and performance can be optimized by adjusting the blade angle. However, it has a complex structure, high mold cost, and is prone to clogging.
[0086] In addition, the porous cover, combined with a filter layer, has a bowl-shaped or cylindrical structure with numerous small pores on its surface and filled with wire mesh or foamed metal inside. As gas passes through the pores and filter layer, droplets are intercepted and coalesced; the filter layer also acts as a noise reducer. Separation is extremely thorough, and it also has noise reduction capabilities. However, it has the highest resistance and may become clogged with prolonged use.
[0087] In summary, the housing 1 serves as the outer shell of the liquid receiver, providing a closed space. The inlet pipe 2 is located at the top to receive the gas-liquid mixture of refrigerant flowing from the evaporator; the outlet pipe 3 is located on the side to guide the separated gaseous refrigerant to the compressor return pipe. This top-inlet, top-outlet layout provides the basic conditions for internal gas-liquid separation. A spiral guide plate 4 is located inside the housing 1 below the inlet pipe 2. When the high-speed gas-liquid mixture impacts the spiral guide plate 4, the airflow path is altered, creating a rotating flow above the spiral guide plate 4, thereby reducing the flow velocity. Larger droplets are thrown against the inner wall of the housing 1 by centrifugal force and slide down the surface of the spiral guide plate 4 to the bottom of the housing 1, completing the initial gas-liquid separation.
[0088] During normal operation of the refrigeration system, these micropores can adsorb a very thin liquid film through capillary action or surface tension. When the low-temperature gaseous refrigerant continuously flows in from the inlet pipe 2 and passes through the spiral guide plate 4, it will exchange heat with this liquid film, causing a small amount of liquid refrigerant in the film to pre-evaporate continuously. This pre-evaporated refrigerant will be drawn away by the compressor from the outlet pipe 3 with the airflow.
[0089] Thus, this embodiment utilizes a spiral guide plate 4 to simultaneously achieve two functions: first, gas-liquid separation through physical rotation and centrifugal force; and second, pre-evaporation of the liquid through microporous adsorption and heat exchange. This design allows for an initial and proactive reduction in the total amount of liquid refrigerant accumulated at the bottom of the receiver before the defrosting stage begins. In other words, by reducing the liquid volume in advance through pre-evaporation, a foundation is laid for reducing defrosting boiling noise subsequently. This addresses the problem collaboratively from both structural and thermodynamic dimensions, constituting the first and second levels of noise reduction.
[0090] It should be noted that when the noise-reducing liquid receiver is working, the gas-liquid mixed refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator enters the interior of the shell 1 at high speed through the inlet pipe 2. It first impacts the spiral guide plate 4, and the airflow is forced to rotate and decelerate in the area above the spiral guide plate 4. Using centrifugal force, the larger droplets are thrown to the inner wall of the shell 1 and slide down the plate surface to the bottom, completing the initial mechanical separation of gas and liquid. At the same time, the microporous structure 41 set on the surface of the spiral guide plate 4 uses capillary action to adsorb a very thin liquid film. When the low-temperature gaseous refrigerant continues to flow through the plate surface, it exchanges heat with the liquid film, causing some of the liquid refrigerant to pre-evaporate and be sucked away by the compressor through the outlet pipe 3 with the airflow. Thus, the total amount of liquid refrigerant accumulated at the bottom of the receiver is reduced in advance during the refrigeration stage.
[0091] In other words, a spiral guide plate simultaneously achieves the dual functions of gas-liquid separation and pre-evaporation, ensuring the normal operation of the refrigeration stage and reducing the liquid storage in advance for the subsequent defrosting stage. This reduces the intensity of noise generated by liquid boiling during defrosting from the source, laying the physical foundation for the entire noise reduction solution.
[0092] This disclosure also provides a refrigeration system for a refrigerator, including the aforementioned noise-reducing liquid receiver, as well as an evaporator, a compressor, a defrost heater, and a main controller. The inlet pipe 2 of the noise-reducing liquid receiver is connected to the outlet of the evaporator, the outlet pipe 3 of the noise-reducing liquid receiver is connected to the return pipe of the compressor, and the capillary guide tube 8 of the noise-reducing liquid receiver is connected to the inlet of the evaporator. The defrost heater and the electromagnetic discharge valve 7 are both electrically connected to the main controller. The main controller is configured to control the electromagnetic discharge valve 7 to open at a preset time before the refrigerator enters the defrost mode, and to discharge the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the noise-reducing liquid receiver to the inlet of the evaporator by utilizing the pressure difference between the inlet of the noise-reducing liquid receiver and the inlet of the evaporator.
[0093] For example, the air inlet pipe 2 of the noise reduction liquid receiver is connected to the evaporator outlet, the air outlet pipe 3 is connected to the compressor return pipe, and the defrosting heater and the electromagnetic discharge valve 7 are both electrically connected to the main controller.
[0094] For example, the main controller is configured to control the electromagnetic discharge valve 7 to open at a preset time before the refrigerator enters defrost mode, so that part of the liquid refrigerant in the noise-reducing receiver is discharged to the evaporator inlet.
[0095] In this way, the noise-reducing liquid receiver with active discharge function is integrated with other components of the system and logically linked through the main controller. That is, it realizes the leap from component-level innovation to system-level innovation, turning the originally isolated liquid receiver into a controlled execution unit in the system, enabling it to actively adjust its own state according to the system's operating status, and providing a complete defrosting and noise reduction method for the entire refrigerator.
[0096] In some implementations, the main controller is configured to close the solenoid vent valve 7 before or simultaneously with the start-up of the defrost heater. Thus, after venting is complete, the defrost heater begins operation.
[0097] In some implementations, the main controller is also configured to simultaneously shut down the refrigerator's circulating fan and keep the compressor running while sending an opening command to the electromagnetic discharge valve 7. This shuts down the circulating fan to prevent heat generated during the initial defrosting phase from being blown into the refrigerator compartments and affecting the storage temperature.
[0098] This disclosure also provides a refrigerator, including the aforementioned refrigeration system.
[0099] In this way, the aforementioned refrigeration system is used as the core component of the refrigerator, forming the final product. That is, refrigerators incorporating this refrigeration system can significantly reduce boiling noise during defrosting, improving user experience and the product's high-end quiet operation.
[0100] This disclosure also provides a control method for a refrigeration system, applied to the aforementioned refrigeration system, characterized by comprising the following steps: S1. At a preset time before the refrigerator enters defrost mode, the main controller controls the electromagnetic discharge valve 7 connected to the bottom of the noise reduction liquid receiver to open. S2. Utilize the pressure difference between the noise reduction liquid receiver and the evaporator inlet to discharge part of the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the noise reduction liquid receiver to the evaporator inlet, where the evaporator inlet is the low-pressure side of the system. S3. Before or at the same time as the defrosting heater is started, the main controller controls the electromagnetic discharge valve 7 to close.
[0101] This can be understood as follows: Step 1 (Start-up): At a preset time before defrosting mode, the main controller sends an start-up command to the solenoid vent valve 7. This preset time is crucial and must occur before the defrosting heater is powered on.
[0102] Step 2 (Discharge): Utilizing the pressure difference between the receiver and the low-pressure side, a portion of the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the receiver is discharged to the low-pressure side. The discharge process relies on natural pressure difference and requires no additional power.
[0103] Step 3 (Close): Before or during the start-up of the defrosting heater, the controller closes the solenoid vent valve 7. After venting is complete, the defrosting heater begins operation.
[0104] This defines a time-critical control sequence: actively draining accumulated liquid using pressure difference before the defrost heater starts. In other words, through simple and precise timing control, an active drainage step is cleverly inserted without interfering with the original defrost logic, thus solving the noise problem at its source. The control logic is clear and easy to implement in existing refrigerator control programs.
[0105] In some implementations, during step S1, while the main controller sends an opening command to the electromagnetic discharge valve 7, the refrigerator main controller controls the refrigerator's circulating fan to shut down, while keeping the compressor running continuously.
[0106] For example, while the electromagnetic discharge valve 7 is opened, the controller controls the circulating fan to shut down.
[0107] For example, the compressor remains continuously running during the emission process.
[0108] In this way, the effectiveness and safety of the discharge process are ensured through accompanying operations. That is, turning off the recirculating fan can prevent the heat generated in the early stages of defrosting from being blown into the refrigerator compartment and affecting the storage temperature; keeping the compressor running is the key to maintaining the pressure difference between the receiver and the low-pressure side. The continuous operation of the compressor keeps the receiver side at a higher pressure and the low-pressure side at a lower pressure, thereby ensuring that the discharge process has sufficient driving force and can proceed smoothly and quickly.
[0109] In some embodiments, step S3, when controlling the electromagnetic discharge valve 7 to close before the defrost heater is started, further includes: when the refrigerator is in the normal cooling stage, the main controller controls the electromagnetic discharge valve 7 to remain closed, so that the noise reduction liquid receiver can normally collect the unevaporated liquid refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator.
[0110] For example, the normal states in the method are further explained, clarifying the state of the electromagnetic discharge valve 7 during the non-defrosting stage.
[0111] This clarifies the system's default state. Specifically, it ensures that during normal cooling, the receiver performs its regular gas-liquid separation and liquid storage functions without affecting the normal operation of the refrigeration cycle. This characteristic forms the basis of the entire control logic: discharge is only activated when explicitly needed, remaining closed at other times, thus guaranteeing functionality while avoiding unnecessary operations and potential malfunctions.
[0112] In some embodiments, step S3, which controls the electromagnetic discharge valve 7 to close simultaneously with the start of the defrosting heater, further includes: the main controller sending a start command to the defrosting heater and a close command to the electromagnetic discharge valve 7 at the same time, so that the electromagnetic discharge valve 7 closes and the defrosting program is executed normally.
[0113] That is, it limits one specific time when the discharge valve closes, namely, at the instant the defrost heater starts.
[0114] This maximizes the use of all the time before defrosting begins for draining liquid. In other words, by setting the shut-off time to the instant the heater starts, as much accumulated liquid as possible can be drained, while ensuring a seamless transition between the draining and defrosting processes, without affecting the normal execution of the defrosting procedure.
[0115] To better understand the specific solutions of the embodiments of this disclosure, the following is a detailed description of specific implementation examples: As attached Figure 1 As shown, the liquid reservoir has an upward flow pattern and is mainly composed of a shell 1, an air inlet pipe 2, an air outlet pipe 3, a spiral guide plate 4, a splash guard 5, a microporous sound-absorbing layer 6, an electromagnetic discharge valve 7, and a capillary guide tube 8.
[0116] The shell 1 is a vertically arranged cylindrical or elliptical cylinder made of aluminum alloy, which has good pressure resistance and thermal conductivity.
[0117] For example, the air deflector is fixed to the inner wall of the housing 1 by a bracket or a buckle, and does not directly contact the air inlet, but the air inlet is aligned with the surface of the air deflector.
[0118] Spiral guide plate 4 (e.g.) Figure 2 and Figure 3 The plate is formed by stamping thin metal sheet into a multi-layered involute spiral shape and is connected to the inlet pipe 2. Its surface is densely covered with micropores or finely etched grooves with a diameter of 0.5-2 mm. During system operation, it can rotate and decelerate the high-speed inflowing gas-liquid mixture, causing the droplets to be thrown to the wall of the container and slide down the plate surface under the action of centrifugal force; in addition, the microporous structure 41 can adsorb a layer of liquid film, which is pre-evaporated by the incoming low-temperature gas, reducing the total amount of liquid in advance.
[0119] The splash guard 5 is an inverted bowl-shaped structure with its edge extending below the liquid surface under normal operating conditions. It effectively prevents droplets splashed up during bottom boiling from directly entering the compressor, while also forcing the rising airflow to bypass the edge of the guard, thus further separating any droplets that may be carried along.
[0120] Explanation regarding droplets entering the compressor: During defrosting heating, the liquid refrigerant accumulated at the bottom of the receiver boils violently, producing a large number of bubbles. At the moment the bubbles burst at the liquid surface, they eject tiny droplets into the gas space above, forming a "droplet mist." When the compressor is running, it acts like a continuous suction pump, generating suction at the outlet pipe 3 of the receiver, causing the gas inside the receiver to flow towards the outlet pipe 3. This flowing gas, like a gust of wind, carries the droplets suspended in the gas towards the outlet. If the outlet pipe 3 is directly exposed to the gas space at the top of the receiver (without the splash guard 5), these entrained droplets will enter the outlet pipe 3 with the airflow and eventually be drawn into the compressor cylinder.
[0121] The microporous sound-absorbing layer 6 is made of closed-cell rubber foam material or special polymer material that is resistant to refrigerant and lubricating oil corrosion. It is attached to the upper part of the shell 1 and the inner wall of the top cover to absorb and attenuate the sound waves generated inside.
[0122] The electromagnetic discharge valve 7 is a normally closed two-position two-way valve, and its coil is connected to the refrigerator's main control board. It is welded to the specially designed liquid collection groove 9 at the bottom of the housing 1.
[0123] The capillary guide tube 8 is a copper tube, with one end connected to the outlet of the discharge valve and the other end welded near the inlet of the evaporator (low-pressure side of the system).
[0124] As attached Figure 4 As shown, the liquid receiver is connected to the refrigeration system in a conventional manner: the inlet pipe 2 is connected to the evaporator outlet, and the outlet pipe 3 is connected to the compressor return pipe.
[0125] Its noise reduction control process is integrated into the defrosting program of the refrigerator's main controller: Refrigeration stage: The receiver operates normally, accumulating unevaporated liquid from the evaporator. The drain valve is closed.
[0126] Pre-defrost stage: When the controller determines that defrosting is about to begin based on time or an algorithm (set to T1 seconds before the defrost heater is powered on, e.g., T1=60 seconds), it first shuts off the circulating fan to prevent hot air generated by the defrost heater from being blown into the compartment. Also, the fan operation causes the refrigerant in the evaporator to evaporate rapidly, resulting in a lower internal pressure. After the fan is shut off, the refrigerant evaporation in the evaporator slows down, and its pressure relatively increases. The higher pressure maintained in the receiver by the compressor's continuous operation creates and maintains a stable pressure difference with the evaporator, allowing the liquid refrigerant in the receiver to flow smoothly and steadily back to the evaporator inlet through the active discharge valve. The compressor continues to run, and an opening command for a duration of T2 seconds (e.g., T2=30 seconds) is sent to the solenoid discharge valve 7.
[0127] Active discharge phase: Within T2 seconds, because the compressor is still running, the internal pressure of the receiver (approximately 0.5-0.8 MPa gauge pressure, depending on the refrigerant) is much higher than the evaporator inlet pressure (close to atmospheric pressure or slightly negative). Driven by this pressure difference, approximately 30%-70% of the accumulated liquid at the bottom of the receiver is smoothly and slowly guided back to the evaporator inlet through the open discharge valve and capillary tube 8. This process occurs before defrosting heating.
[0128] It should be noted that the solenoid valve is closed during the defrosting stage after the accumulated liquid has been drained.
[0129] The receiver-of-liquid is located after the evaporator outlet. As the refrigerant flows through the entire evaporator piping, it continuously absorbs heat and evaporates. While there is a slight pressure loss due to flow resistance, more importantly, the temperature and gas-to-gas ratio increase significantly. The compressor continuously draws in refrigerant from the other end, maintaining pressure stability on the low-pressure side throughout this section. However, this pressure is still significantly higher than the pressure after throttling at the evaporator inlet. The pressure relationship from the evaporator inlet to the compressor inlet is: Evaporator inlet (lowest pressure) < Later section of evaporator / Receiver-of-liquid (lower pressure) < Compressor suction port (lower pressure formed by suction).
[0130] Defrosting and Reset Phase: After T2 seconds, the drain valve closes. Subsequently, the defrost heater starts. At this time, the residual liquid in the receiver has been significantly reduced, and the amount of bubbles and the intensity of boiling generated after heating are significantly weakened. Combined with the internal noise reduction structure, the final noise level is extremely low. After defrosting, the system resumes its refrigeration cycle.
[0131] It should be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “described” as used herein may also include the plural forms. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and “having” are inclusive and therefore indicate the presence of the stated features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not construed as requiring them to be performed in a particular order described or illustrated unless the order of performance is explicitly indicated. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be used.
[0132] Although terms such as first, second, third, etc., may be used in this document to describe multiple elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or segment from another. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms used herein do not imply order or sequence. Therefore, the first element, component, region, layer, or segment discussed below may be referred to as the second element, component, region, layer, or segment without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiments.
[0133] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this disclosure, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement it. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.
Claims
1. A noise-reducing liquid receiver, applied to a refrigerator refrigeration system, characterized in that, include: A sealed housing, wherein an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe are provided on the housing, the inlet pipe is used to connect to the evaporator outlet of the refrigeration system, and the outlet pipe is used to connect to the compressor return pipe of the refrigeration system. The bottom of the housing is connected to a capillary tube, and an electromagnetic discharge valve is connected in series on the capillary tube. The end of the capillary tube away from the housing is used to connect to the evaporator inlet of the refrigeration system. The electromagnetic discharge valve is used to be electrically connected to the main controller of the refrigerator so as to be opened in a controlled manner before the refrigerator enters the defrosting mode, so as to create a pressure difference between the noise-reducing liquid receiver and the evaporator inlet, and pre-discharge the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the housing to the evaporator inlet.
2. The noise-reducing liquid reservoir according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing is equipped with a spiral guide plate located below the outlet end of the inlet pipe. The gas-liquid mixed refrigerant flowing into the housing through the inlet pipe forms a swirling flow and slows down under the guiding action of the spiral guide plate, so that the liquid droplets in the gas-liquid mixed refrigerant are thrown to the inner wall of the housing under the action of centrifugal force, thus completing the initial gas-liquid separation.
3. The noise-reducing liquid reservoir according to claim 2, characterized in that, The spiral guide plate has multiple microporous structures on its spiral plate surface. These microporous structures are used to adsorb liquid refrigerant and form a liquid film, so that the low-temperature gaseous refrigerant flowing through the spiral guide plate can pre-evaporate the liquid film.
4. The noise-reducing liquid reservoir according to claim 2, characterized in that, The spiral guide plate is constructed as a multi-layered involute spiral structure, and the diameter of the micropore structure of the spiral guide plate ranges from 0.5mm to 2mm.
5. The noise-reducing liquid reservoir according to claim 2, characterized in that, The spiral guide plate has a guide groove etched on its spiral plate surface. The guide groove is used to guide the liquid refrigerant after centrifugal separation to slide down the spiral plate surface to the bottom of the housing.
6. The noise-reducing liquid reservoir according to claim 2, characterized in that, The housing is also provided with a splash shield, which is located between the spiral guide plate and the liquid surface at the bottom of the housing. The splash shield covers the liquid surface area at the bottom of the housing, and its edge extends toward the liquid surface at the bottom of the housing. The splash guard is used to block the liquid refrigerant at the bottom of the housing from boiling and splashing droplets during the defrosting process. At the same time, the splash guard forces the rising airflow inside the housing to bypass the edge of the guard, so as to perform secondary gas-liquid separation on the droplets carried in the airflow.
7. The noise-reducing liquid reservoir according to claim 6, characterized in that, The splash guard is constructed in an inverted bowl shape, and the splash guard and the spiral guide plate are spaced apart.
8. The noise-reducing liquid reservoir according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner wall of the housing is also fitted with a microporous sound-absorbing layer, which covers the inner wall of the upper part of the housing and the inner wall of the housing top cover, and is used to absorb and attenuate the sound waves generated inside.
9. The noise-reducing liquid reservoir according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the housing is provided with a liquid collection groove, and the electromagnetic discharge valve is installed at the liquid collection groove to discharge the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the liquid collection groove.
10. The noise-reducing liquid reservoir according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air inlet pipe is located at the top of the housing, and the air outlet pipe is located at the side of the housing, so that the liquid reservoir forms an upper inlet and upper outlet structure.
11. A refrigeration system applied to a refrigerator, characterized in that, The system includes a noise-reducing liquid receiver as described in any one of claims 1-10, and further includes an evaporator, a compressor, a defrosting heater, and a main controller; The inlet pipe of the noise-reducing liquid receiver is connected to the outlet of the evaporator, the outlet pipe of the noise-reducing liquid receiver is connected to the return pipe of the compressor, the capillary guide tube of the noise-reducing liquid receiver is connected to the inlet of the evaporator, and the defrosting heater and the electromagnetic discharge valve are both electrically connected to the main controller. The main controller is configured to open the electromagnetic discharge valve at a preset time before the refrigerator enters defrost mode, and discharge the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the noise-reducing liquid receiver to the inlet of the evaporator by utilizing the pressure difference between the noise-reducing liquid receiver and the inlet of the evaporator.
12. The refrigeration system according to claim 11, characterized in that, The main controller is configured to close the electromagnetic discharge valve before or at the same time as the defrosting heater is started.
13. The refrigeration system according to claim 11, characterized in that, The main controller is also configured to, while sending an opening command to the electromagnetic discharge valve, control the refrigerator's circulating fan to shut down and control the compressor to maintain continuous operation.
14. A refrigerator, characterized in that, Includes the refrigeration system as described in any one of claims 11-13.
15. A defrosting control method for a refrigeration system, applied to the refrigeration system of claim 11, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. At a preset time before the refrigerator enters defrost mode, the main controller controls the electromagnetic discharge valve at the bottom of the noise-reducing liquid receiver to open. S2. Utilizing the pressure difference between the noise-reducing liquid receiver and the inlet of the evaporator, the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the noise-reducing liquid receiver is discharged to the inlet of the evaporator; S3. Before or at the same time as the defrosting heater is started, the main controller controls the electromagnetic discharge valve to close.
16. The defrosting control method according to claim 15, characterized in that, In step S1, while sending the electromagnetic discharge valve opening command, the main controller controls the refrigerator's circulating fan to shut down and controls the compressor to keep running continuously.
17. The defrosting control method according to claim 15, characterized in that, In step S3, when controlling the electromagnetic discharge valve to close before the defrosting heater is started, the following is also included: when the refrigerator is in the normal cooling stage, the main controller controls the electromagnetic discharge valve to remain closed so that the noise reduction liquid receiver can normally collect the unevaporated liquid refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator.
18. The control method according to claim 15, characterized in that, In step S3, when the defrosting heater is started and the electromagnetic discharge valve is closed, the method further includes: the main controller sends a start command to the defrosting heater and a close command to the electromagnetic discharge valve at the same time, so that the electromagnetic discharge valve is closed and the defrosting program is executed normally.