Refrigerator refrigerating system and refrigerator

Abstract

The application provides a refrigerator refrigeration system and a refrigerator, and relates to the technical field of refrigerator refrigeration. The refrigerator refrigeration system comprises a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a reversing valve, an anti-condensation pipe, a humidity sensor, a control module, a first capillary tube and a second capillary tube. The first outlet of the reversing valve is communicated with the first capillary tube, the second outlet of the reversing valve is communicated with the second capillary tube via the anti-condensation pipe, and the first capillary tube and the second capillary tube are communicated with the evaporator after being converged. The control module controls the opening and closing states of the first outlet and the second outlet of the reversing valve according to the environmental humidity collected by the humidity sensor, so that the refrigerant flows to the evaporator through the first capillary tube, or the refrigerant flows to the evaporator after flowing through the anti-condensation pipe and the second capillary tube. The application can switch the refrigerant flow direction according to the environmental humidity, and reduce the energy consumption of the refrigerator.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] In the field of refrigerator refrigeration technology, refrigerant is compressed by a compressor to form a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, which then enters the condenser to dissipate heat to the external environment. To prevent condensation on the refrigerator door seal surface in high-humidity environments, anti-condensation pipes are usually embedded between the inner liner and side panels of the refrigerator compartment. The high-temperature refrigerant inside the anti-condensation pipe dissipates heat, maintaining the temperature of the door seal area above the dew point temperature, thereby preventing condensation.

[0003] Currently, the mainstream refrigerator refrigeration systems in the industry generally adopt the anti-condensation pipe front-mounted solution, which connects the anti-condensation pipe directly between the compressor exhaust pipe and the condenser, so that the high-temperature refrigerant flows through the anti-condensation pipe before entering the condenser, thereby improving the anti-condensation effect of the door seal.

[0004] However, in existing technologies, the anti-condensation pipe is connected in series in the main refrigerant circulation loop. Regardless of the ambient humidity, the refrigerant must flow through the anti-condensation pipe, and its heating effect is continuous. Existing technologies lack a mechanism to adaptively adjust the refrigerant flow direction based on ambient humidity. In low-humidity environments, the door seal surface itself is not prone to condensation and requires no additional heating measures, but the anti-condensation pipe still continuously dissipates heat into the compartment, increasing the refrigerator's heat load and thus its energy consumption. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a refrigerator refrigeration system and a refrigerator to solve the problem that the anti-condensation pipe in the existing refrigerator refrigeration system is always in a conductive state and cannot adjust the refrigerant flow according to the ambient humidity, resulting in increased refrigerator heat load and energy consumption in low humidity environments.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a refrigerator refrigeration system, comprising: a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, a reversing valve, an anti-condensation tube, a humidity sensor, a control module, a first capillary tube, and a second capillary tube; the compressor's exhaust port is connected to the condenser's inlet, and the condenser's outlet is connected to the reversing valve's inlet, the reversing valve having a first outlet and a second outlet; the reversing valve's first outlet is connected to the first capillary tube; the reversing valve's second outlet is connected to the second capillary tube via the anti-condensation tube; the first capillary tube and the second capillary tube merge and connect to the evaporator's inlet, and the evaporator's outlet is connected to the compressor's return port; a humidity sensor is disposed on the outer wall of the refrigerator body, and the humidity sensor is configured to collect the ambient humidity of the environment in which the refrigerator is located; the control module is electrically connected to the reversing valve and the humidity sensor; the control module is configured to acquire the ambient humidity collected by the humidity sensor; based on the ambient humidity, the opening and closing states of the first outlet and the second outlet of the reversing valve are controlled, selectively allowing the refrigerant to flow to the evaporator via the first capillary tube, or allowing the refrigerant to flow to the evaporator after passing through the anti-condensation tube and the second capillary tube.

[0007] In this way, by setting a reversing valve and placing the anti-condensation tube between the condenser and the evaporator, the control module can control the opening and closing status of the first and second outlets of the reversing valve according to the ambient humidity. In a high humidity environment, the refrigerant flows through the anti-condensation tube to maintain the anti-condensation effect in the door seal area. In a low humidity environment, the refrigerant bypasses the anti-condensation tube and flows directly to the evaporator through the first capillary tube, avoiding the anti-condensation tube from continuously dissipating heat to the compartment and increasing the heat load. Thus, while ensuring the anti-condensation effect, the refrigerator's energy consumption is effectively reduced, and the overall structure is simple and the control is reliable.

[0008] In some feasible embodiments, a first filter is provided between the condenser and the reversing valve, and a second filter is provided between the anti-condensation tube and the second capillary tube.

[0009] In this way, filtering the refrigerant entering the reversing valve through the first filter can prevent impurities in the refrigerant from entering the reversing valve and causing it to jam and fail. Filtering the refrigerant flowing out of the anti-condensation tube through the second filter can prevent impurities that may exist in the anti-condensation tube from entering the second capillary tube and causing throttling and blockage, thereby improving the operational reliability of the refrigeration system.

[0010] In some feasible embodiments, the refrigerator refrigeration system further includes: a water collection pan evaporator tube connected in series between the compressor exhaust port and the condenser inlet.

[0011] In this way, the high-temperature refrigerant discharged from the compressor first flows through the evaporator tube of the drip tray, using the heat carried by the refrigerant to heat the refrigerator drip tray, accelerating the evaporation of defrost water, reducing defrost water residue and odor, and making full use of the refrigerant's waste heat to improve the system's energy utilization rate.

[0012] In some feasible embodiments, the control module is also configured to: acquire the ambient humidity collected by the humidity sensor according to a preset acquisition cycle; and update the control of the opening and closing states of the first and second outlets of the reversing valve based on the ambient humidity acquired in the current acquisition cycle.

[0013] In this way, the control module periodically acquires the ambient humidity according to the preset acquisition cycle and updates the control status of the reversing valve accordingly. This not only allows the refrigerant flow direction to be adjusted in a timely manner according to changes in ambient humidity, but also avoids frequent operation of the reversing valve due to instantaneous fluctuations in ambient humidity, thus balancing control response speed and system operation stability.

[0014] In some feasible embodiments, the control module performs the function of controlling the opening and closing states of the first and second outlets of the reversing valve according to the ambient humidity. Specifically, it is configured to: compare the ambient humidity with a first preset humidity threshold to obtain a comparison result; and control the opening and closing states of the first and second outlets of the reversing valve according to the comparison result.

[0015] In this way, the opening and closing state of the reversing valve outlet is determined by comparing the ambient humidity with the first preset humidity threshold. The control logic is simple and clear, and the judgment basis is single and clear, which makes it easy for the control module to output control commands quickly and stably, reducing control complexity.

[0016] In some feasible embodiments, the control module controls the opening and closing states of the first and second outlets of the reversing valve based on the comparison results. Specifically, it is configured to: when the ambient humidity is less than or equal to a first preset humidity threshold, control the first outlet of the reversing valve to open and the second outlet of the reversing valve to close, so that the refrigerant flows to the evaporator through the first capillary tube without passing through the anti-condensation tube; when the ambient humidity is greater than the first preset humidity threshold, control the second outlet of the reversing valve to open and the first outlet of the reversing valve to close, so that the refrigerant flows to the evaporator through the second capillary tube after passing through the anti-condensation tube.

[0017] In this way, in low humidity environments, the refrigerant bypasses the anti-condensation pipe, preventing the anti-condensation pipe from continuously dissipating heat into the compartment and increasing the heat load, thus achieving energy-saving operation; in high humidity environments, the refrigerant flows through the anti-condensation pipe, maintaining the anti-condensation capability of the door seal area, thereby achieving a dynamic balance between the anti-condensation effect and operating energy consumption.

[0018] In some feasible embodiments, the compressor is a variable frequency compressor, and the control module is further configured to: control the compressor to reduce its operating speed to a target speed when the ambient humidity is greater than a second preset humidity threshold, wherein the second preset humidity threshold is greater than a first preset humidity threshold.

[0019] In this way, when the ambient humidity exceeds the second preset humidity threshold, the refrigerator enters the enhanced anti-condensation mode, which adjusts the operating state of the refrigeration system by reducing the compressor speed, further enhancing the anti-condensation effect in the door seal area and adapting to the anti-condensation needs in high humidity environments.

[0020] In some feasible embodiments, the control module is also configured to: increase the set temperature of the refrigerator compartment by a preset temperature value when the ambient humidity is greater than a second preset humidity threshold.

[0021] In this way, appropriately raising the set temperature of the refrigerator compartment in a high-humidity environment can reduce the cooling load of the refrigeration system. Combined with measures to reduce the compressor speed, this can meet the requirements for preventing condensation while also taking into account the refrigerator's operating energy consumption.

[0022] In some feasible embodiments, the control module is also configured to: close both the first outlet and the second outlet of the reversing valve after the compressor stops; and control the opening and closing states of the first and second outlets of the reversing valve according to the ambient humidity in response to the refrigerator start-up cooling command.

[0023] In this way, both outlets of the reversing valve are closed after the compressor stops, which can maintain pressure in the refrigeration system during shutdown. This prevents the condenser side pressure from dropping and absorbing ambient heat during shutdown, and allows the refrigerant heat to be transferred to the evaporator through the capillary tube to accelerate the evaporator's temperature recovery. At the same time, it avoids the need to rebuild the pressure difference when the compressor restarts, thus avoiding additional consumption of refrigeration capacity and further reducing the refrigerator's energy consumption. When the refrigerator is turned on to cool, the opening and closing state of the reversing valve outlets is restored according to the ambient humidity to ensure that the anti-condensation effect is not affected.

[0024] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a refrigerator, including: a refrigerator body and the refrigerator refrigeration system provided in the first aspect.

[0025] In this way, after adopting the above-mentioned refrigerator refrigeration system, the refrigerator can automatically switch the refrigerant flow direction according to the ambient humidity, thereby reducing the energy consumption in low humidity environments while ensuring the anti-condensation effect of the door seal and improving the energy efficiency of the refrigerator. Attached Figure Description

[0026] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a traditional refrigerator refrigeration system; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigerator refrigeration system provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0028] Illustrated label 100-Compressor; 200-Condenser; 300-Evaporator; 400-Reversing valve; 410-First outlet; 420-Second outlet; 500-Anti-condensation pipe; 600-Humidity sensor; 700-Control module; 800-First capillary tube; 900-Second capillary tube; 1000-First filter; 1100-Second filter; 1200-Drain tray evaporator pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The embodiments described below do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. They are merely examples of systems and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the claims.

[0030] It should be noted that the brief descriptions of terms in this application are only for the convenience of understanding the embodiments described below, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this application. Unless otherwise stated, these terms should be understood in their ordinary and common meaning.

[0031] The terms "first," "second," "third," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish similar or related objects or entities, and do not necessarily imply a specific order or sequence, unless otherwise specified. It should be understood that such terms are interchangeable where appropriate.

[0032] The terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, are intended to cover but not exclude inclusion, for example, a product or device that includes a range of components is not necessarily limited to all of the components that are clearly listed, but may include other components that are not clearly listed or that are inherent to such product or device.

[0033] This application provides a refrigerator refrigeration system and a refrigerator. The refrigerator refrigeration system uses a reversing valve with a first outlet and a second outlet to place an anti-condensation pipe between the condenser and the evaporator. A humidity sensor installed on the outer wall of the refrigerator body collects ambient humidity data. The control module controls the opening and closing of the two outlets of the reversing valve based on the ambient humidity. This allows the refrigerant to flow through the anti-condensation pipe in high humidity environments to maintain the door seal and prevent condensation, while in low humidity environments, it bypasses the anti-condensation pipe to prevent heat loss to the compartment. This achieves a dynamic balance between anti-condensation effect and operating energy consumption. Furthermore, the system can close the two outlets of the reversing valve after the compressor stops to maintain pressure during shutdown, further reducing refrigerator energy consumption.

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of a traditional refrigerator refrigeration system. A traditional refrigerator refrigeration system includes a compressor 1, an anti-condensation pipe 2, a condenser 3, a filter 4, a capillary tube 5, and an evaporator 6, connected in series in the refrigerant circuit. The anti-condensation pipe 2 is directly connected between the exhaust port of the compressor 1 and the inlet of the condenser 3, employing a front-mounted anti-condensation pipe layout. High-temperature refrigerant flows through the anti-condensation pipe 2, dissipating heat to the door seal area to prevent condensation on the door seal surface in high-humidity environments. In traditional designs, the anti-condensation pipe 2 is always connected in series in the main refrigerant circulation circuit; regardless of ambient humidity, the refrigerant always flows through the anti-condensation pipe 2, and its heating effect is continuous.

[0035] like Figure 2 As shown, Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a refrigerator refrigeration system provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0036] In one embodiment, the refrigerator refrigeration system includes a compressor 100, a condenser 200, an evaporator 300, a reversing valve 400, an anti-condensation pipe 500, a humidity sensor 600, a control module 700, a first capillary tube 800, and a second capillary tube 900. The discharge port of the compressor 100 is connected to the inlet of the condenser 200, and the outlet of the condenser 200 is connected to the inlet of the reversing valve 400. The reversing valve 400 has a first outlet 410 and a second outlet 420. The first outlet 410 of the reversing valve 400 is connected to the first capillary tube 800, and the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 is connected to the second capillary tube 900 via the anti-condensation pipe 500. The first capillary tube 800 and the second capillary tube 900 merge and connect to the inlet of the evaporator 300. The outlet of the evaporator 300 is connected to the return port of the compressor 100, thus forming a complete refrigerant circulation loop. Figure 1 Compared to the conventional scheme shown, the anti-condensation pipe 500 is no longer located between the compressor 100 and the condenser 200, but is placed between the condenser 200 and the evaporator 300. The reversing valve 400 selectively introduces the refrigerant into the branch where the anti-condensation pipe 500 is located or directly into the branch where the first capillary tube 800 is located.

[0037] In one implementation, a first filter 1000 is provided between the condenser 200 and the reversing valve 400 to filter the refrigerant entering the reversing valve 400, preventing impurities in the refrigerant from entering the reversing valve 400 and causing it to malfunction. A second filter 1100 is provided between the anti-condensation tube 500 and the second capillary tube 900 to filter the refrigerant flowing out of the anti-condensation tube 500, preventing any tiny impurities that may be present in the anti-condensation tube 500 from entering the second capillary tube 900 and causing throttling blockage.

[0038] In one implementation, a water collection pan evaporator 1200 is connected in series between the exhaust port of the compressor 100 and the inlet of the condenser 200. The high-temperature refrigerant discharged by the compressor 100 first flows through the water collection pan evaporator 1200, using the heat carried by the refrigerant to heat the refrigerator's water collection pan, accelerating the evaporation of defrost water before entering the condenser 200.

[0039] A humidity sensor 600 is installed on the outer wall of the refrigerator body and is configured to collect the ambient humidity of the environment in which the refrigerator is located. A control module 700 is electrically connected to a reversing valve 400 and a humidity sensor 600. The control module 700 is configured to acquire the ambient humidity collected by the humidity sensor 600 and control the opening and closing states of the first outlet 410 and the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 according to the ambient humidity, selectively allowing the refrigerant to flow through the first capillary tube 800 to the evaporator 300, or allowing the refrigerant to flow through the anti-condensation tube 500 and the second capillary tube 900 before flowing to the evaporator 300.

[0040] In one implementation, the control module 700 can be set on the main control board of the refrigerator. The ambient humidity signal collected by the humidity sensor 600 is processed by the adaptive program built into the refrigerator control board, and the control module 700 controls the opening and closing state of the two outlets of the reversing valve 400 according to the needs of refrigerator operation, so as to realize different flow directions of refrigerant.

[0041] In one implementation, compressor 100 is a variable frequency compressor, and control module 700 is electrically connected to compressor 100 to adjust the operating speed of compressor 100 according to ambient humidity.

[0042] During the actual operation of a refrigerator's refrigeration system, ambient humidity fluctuates with changes in season, region, and weather conditions. In low-humidity environments, condensation is less likely to form on the refrigerator door seal surface, eliminating the need for additional heating from the anti-condensation pipe. In high-humidity environments, condensation easily forms on the door seal surface, requiring the anti-condensation pipe to continuously dissipate heat to maintain the door seal area temperature above the dew point temperature. In traditional solutions, the anti-condensation pipe is always open and cannot adjust with changes in ambient humidity. Even in low-humidity environments, the anti-condensation pipe continues to dissipate heat into the compartment, leading to increased heat load and energy consumption in the refrigerator. Simultaneously, during compressor shutdown, the condenser absorbs ambient heat after the pressure drops and transfers this heat to the evaporator through the capillary tube, accelerating the evaporator's temperature recovery. When the compressor restarts, it needs to re-establish the pressure difference, a process that consumes a significant amount of compressor cooling capacity for evaporator cooling, further increasing the refrigerator's energy consumption. This embodiment addresses these issues by using a reversing valve 400 to switch the refrigerant flow direction based on ambient humidity and controlling the system pressure during shutdown.

[0043] To facilitate understanding of the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the core terms involved are explained below. A reversing valve is a valve with one inlet and two outlets, capable of selectively allowing refrigerant to flow from one outlet according to a control signal. For example, it can be a solenoid valve, an electric rotary valve, or a bistable solenoid valve. In the embodiments of this application, the reversing valve is used to switch the refrigerant flow path according to ambient humidity. An anti-condensation pipe is a coil embedded between the inner liner and sidewalls of the refrigerator compartment. High-temperature refrigerant flows through it, dissipating heat to the door seal area to maintain the door seal surface temperature above the dew point temperature, thereby preventing condensation on the door seal. The dew point temperature is the temperature at which water vapor in the air condenses into dew. The higher the ambient humidity, the closer the dew point temperature is to the ambient temperature, and the easier it is for condensation to form on the door seal surface.

[0044] See also Figure 2 The functions of each component are described below. The compressor 100 compresses the refrigerant, transforming the low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, providing power for the refrigerant's circulation within the system. The condenser 200 dissipates heat from the high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, condensing it into a high-pressure liquid refrigerant. The reversing valve 400, located between the condenser 200 and the evaporator 300, serves as a refrigerant flow switching device. Its first outlet 410 directly connects to the branch containing the first capillary tube 800, and its second outlet 420 connects to the branch containing the anti-condensation pipe 500. By controlling the opening and closing states of the first outlet 410 and the second outlet 420, the refrigerant's flow path can be selected. The anti-condensation pipe 500 is positioned between the condenser 200 and the evaporator 300. When the refrigerant flows through the anti-condensation pipe 500, it utilizes the heat carried by the refrigerant to dissipate heat to the door seal area, maintaining the door seal area temperature above the dew point temperature. The first capillary tube 800 and the second capillary tube 900 are used to throttle and reduce the pressure of the refrigerant flowing through them, so that the high-pressure liquid refrigerant becomes a low-temperature, low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant before entering the evaporator 300. The evaporator 300 is used to absorb heat from the refrigerator compartment, causing the refrigerant to evaporate into a low-temperature, low-pressure gaseous refrigerant, which then returns to the return port of the compressor 100, completing the refrigeration cycle.

[0045] In one implementation, the reversing valve 400 is a solenoid valve with one inlet and two outlets. The inlet of the solenoid valve is connected to the outlet of the condenser 200, the first outlet 410 of the solenoid valve is connected to the first capillary tube 800, and the second outlet 420 of the solenoid valve is connected to the inlet of the anti-condensation pipe 500. Exemplarily, the solenoid valve can be an electric rotary valve or a bistable solenoid valve. Both electric rotary valves and bistable solenoid valves share the common feature of one inlet and two outlets, and both can select the outlet through which the refrigerant flows according to a control signal. The bistable solenoid valve can maintain its current open / closed state after power failure, which is beneficial for maintaining system pressure during compressor shutdown.

[0046] After acquiring the ambient humidity collected by the humidity sensor 600, the control module 700 controls the opening and closing states of the first outlet 410 and the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 based on the ambient humidity. Specifically, the control module 700 compares the ambient humidity with a first preset humidity threshold. When the ambient humidity is less than or equal to the first preset humidity threshold, it controls the first outlet 410 of the reversing valve 400 to open and the second outlet 420 to close, allowing the refrigerant to flow directly to the evaporator 300 via the first capillary tube 800, bypassing the anti-condensation tube 500. When the ambient humidity is greater than the first preset humidity threshold, it controls the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 to open and the first outlet 410 to close, allowing the refrigerant to flow through the anti-condensation tube 500 and then through the second capillary tube 900 to the evaporator 300. In low-humidity environments, the door seal surface temperature is typically higher than the dew point temperature, making condensation less likely. In this case, the refrigerant bypasses the anti-condensation tube 500, preventing heat dissipation into the compartment and avoiding additional heat load on the compartment, thus achieving energy-saving operation. In high humidity environments, condensation easily forms on the door seal surface. In this case, refrigerant flows through the anti-condensation pipe 500, which dissipates heat to the door seal area, maintaining the door seal surface temperature above the dew point temperature and ensuring the anti-condensation effect. For example, the first preset humidity threshold can be set to a relative humidity of 50%.

[0047] Furthermore, in the branch containing the anti-condensation pipe 500, the refrigerant's temperature decreases after being cooled by the anti-condensation pipe 500, and then it enters the evaporator 300 through the second capillary tube 900. In the branch containing the first capillary tube 800, the refrigerant does not undergo cooling by the anti-condensation pipe 500 and directly enters the evaporator 300 through the first capillary tube 800. The refrigerants from the two branches merge at the junction and enter the evaporator 300 together. The outlet of the evaporator 300 is connected to the return port of the compressor 100, completing the refrigerant return flow.

[0048] In one implementation, the control module 700 acquires the ambient humidity collected by the humidity sensor 600 according to a preset acquisition cycle, and updates the control of the opening and closing states of the first outlet 410 and the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 based on the ambient humidity acquired in the current acquisition cycle. For example, the preset acquisition cycle can be set to 3 to 10 minutes, meaning the control module 700 acquires the ambient humidity every 3 to 10 minutes and updates the opening and closing states of the two outlets of the reversing valve 400 according to the latest acquired ambient humidity. This allows the refrigerant flow direction to be adjusted promptly according to changes in ambient humidity, while also preventing frequent operation of the reversing valve 400 due to instantaneous fluctuations in ambient humidity.

[0049] In the technical solution provided in this application embodiment, by placing the anti-condensation tube 500 between the condenser 200 and the evaporator 300, and using the reversing valve 400 to switch the refrigerant flow direction according to the ambient humidity, the refrigerant bypasses the anti-condensation tube 500 in a low humidity environment, avoiding the anti-condensation tube 500 from continuously dissipating heat to the compartment and increasing the refrigerator's heat load. While ensuring the door seal's anti-condensation effect, the refrigerator's energy consumption is effectively reduced. The overall structure is simple, and the control logic is clear and reliable.

[0050] In one embodiment, a first filter 1000 is provided between the condenser 200 and the reversing valve 400, and a second filter 1100 is provided between the anti-condensation tube 500 and the second capillary tube 900.

[0051] The first filter 1000 is located between the outlet of the condenser 200 and the inlet of the reversing valve 400 to filter out impurities, moisture, and other contaminants carried in the refrigerant. During assembly, welding, and long-term operation of the refrigeration system, metal shavings, welding slag, oxides, and other impurities may remain or be generated in the pipeline. If these impurities enter the reversing valve 400 with the refrigerant, they may cause the valve core of the reversing valve 400 to become stuck or the seal to fail, leading to a malfunction in which the reversing valve 400 cannot switch the refrigerant flow direction normally. The first filter 1000 intercepts impurities before the reversing valve 400, ensuring the reliable operation of the reversing valve 400. The second filter 1100 is located between the outlet of the anti-condensation tube 500 and the second capillary tube 900. The anti-condensation tube 500 is usually made of bent metal tubing, and impurities may fall off its inner wall due to long-term operation. The second filter 1100 filters the refrigerant flowing out of the anti-condensation tube 500 to prevent impurities from entering the second capillary tube 900 and causing blockage of the throttling orifice. For example, the first filter 1000 and the second filter 1100 can be dryer filters, which can adsorb moisture in the refrigerant while filtering out impurities, thus preventing ice blockage.

[0052] In one implementation, the filter that is traditionally placed before the capillary tube is moved forward to before the inlet of the reversing valve 400. That is, the first filter 1000 is directly placed between the outlet of the condenser 200 and the inlet of the reversing valve 400 to prioritize the protection of the reversing valve 400 and prevent impurities from entering the reversing valve 400 and causing failure.

[0053] In the technical solution provided in this application embodiment, the refrigerant entering the reversing valve 400 and the refrigerant entering the second capillary tube 900 are filtered by the first filter 1000 and the second filter 1100 respectively, which effectively avoids impurities causing the reversing valve 400 to jam or fail or the capillary tube to become blocked, thereby improving the operational reliability and service life of the refrigeration system.

[0054] In one embodiment, the refrigerator refrigeration system further includes a water tray evaporator 1200, which is connected in series between the exhaust port of the compressor 100 and the inlet of the condenser 200.

[0055] The evaporator tube 1200 of the drip tray is located inside or near the drip tray of the refrigerator. The high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor 100 first flows through the evaporator tube 1200, using the heat carried by the refrigerant to heat the drip tray and accelerate the evaporation of defrost water. The refrigerant then enters the condenser 200 for heat dissipation. During refrigerator operation, defrost water condenses on the surface of the evaporator and flows into the drip tray. If this water accumulates for a long time, it can easily breed bacteria and produce odors. By using the waste heat of the refrigerant to heat the defrost water through the evaporator tube 1200, the evaporation of the defrost water can be accelerated, keeping the drip tray dry and clean. For example, the evaporator tube 1200 can be made of metal tubing bent into a serpentine coil structure to increase the heat exchange area with the defrost water in the drip tray and improve the evaporation efficiency of the defrost water.

[0056] In the technical solution provided in this application embodiment, by setting a water receiving pan and evaporation pipe 1200 connected in series between the exhaust port of the compressor 100 and the inlet of the condenser 200, the waste heat of the high-temperature refrigerant is fully utilized to accelerate the evaporation of defrost water, reducing the bacterial growth and odor problems caused by defrost water accumulation, while improving the overall energy utilization efficiency of the refrigeration system.

[0057] In one embodiment, the control module 700 is further configured to acquire the ambient humidity collected by the humidity sensor 600 according to a preset acquisition cycle, and update the control of the opening and closing states of the first outlet 410 and the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 based on the ambient humidity acquired in the current acquisition cycle.

[0058] Ambient humidity is a parameter that changes slowly over time. The control module 700 does not need to continuously collect ambient humidity data; instead, it periodically acquires the data from the humidity sensor 600 according to a preset collection cycle. Within each collection cycle, the control module 700 re-evaluates the current ambient humidity range based on the latest acquired data and updates the opening and closing states of the two outlets of the reversing valve 400 accordingly. If the ambient humidity acquired in the current collection cycle has not changed compared to the previous collection cycle, the current opening and closing state of the reversing valve 400 remains unchanged. If the ambient humidity changes beyond a humidity threshold, the opening and closing state of the reversing valve 400 is switched accordingly. For example, the preset collection cycle can be set to 3 to 10 minutes, such as 5 minutes. In one implementation, the control module 700 can also acquire the ambient humidity collected by the humidity sensor 600 in real-time or near real-time and immediately update the opening and closing state of the reversing valve 400 when the ambient humidity exceeds a preset threshold; in this case, a fixed collection cycle is not required.

[0059] In the technical solution provided in this application embodiment, the control module 700 periodically acquires the ambient humidity according to a preset acquisition cycle and updates the control state of the reversing valve 400 accordingly, so that the refrigerant flow direction can be adjusted in a timely manner with the change of ambient humidity. At the same time, it avoids the frequent operation of the reversing valve 400 due to the instantaneous fluctuation of ambient humidity, reduces the number of times the reversing valve 400 operates, extends the service life of the reversing valve 400, and takes into account both control response speed and system operation stability.

[0060] In one embodiment, the control module 700 performs the function of controlling the opening and closing state of the first outlet 410 and the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 according to the ambient humidity. Specifically, it is configured to: compare the ambient humidity with a first preset humidity threshold to obtain a comparison result; and control the opening and closing state of the first outlet 410 and the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 according to the comparison result.

[0061] The first preset humidity threshold is used to delineate the boundary between low-humidity and high-humidity environments. For example, the first preset humidity threshold can be set to a relative humidity of 50%. The control module 700 compares the ambient humidity collected by the humidity sensor 600 with the first preset humidity threshold to determine whether the current ambient humidity is less than or equal to the first preset humidity threshold, or greater than the first preset humidity threshold, thus obtaining a comparison result. Based on this comparison result, the control module 700 directly determines the opening and closing states of the first outlet 410 and the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 without performing complex multi-parameter comprehensive calculations. In one implementation, the control module 700 can also modify the first preset humidity threshold by incorporating parameters such as ambient temperature. For example, different first preset humidity thresholds can be used at different ambient temperatures to more accurately match the physical conditions of condensation on the door seal.

[0062] In the technical solution provided in this application embodiment, the opening and closing state of the outlet of the reversing valve 400 is determined by comparing the ambient humidity with a first preset humidity threshold. The determination basis is single and clear, the control logic is simple and clear, and it is convenient for the control module 700 to output control commands quickly and stably, thereby reducing control complexity and improving control reliability.

[0063] In one embodiment, the control module 700 controls the opening and closing states of the first outlet 410 and the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 based on the comparison result. Specifically, it is configured to: when the ambient humidity is less than or equal to a first preset humidity threshold, control the first outlet 410 of the reversing valve 400 to open and the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 to close, so that the refrigerant flows to the evaporator 300 through the first capillary tube 800 without passing through the anti-condensation tube 500; when the ambient humidity is greater than the first preset humidity threshold, control the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 to open and the first outlet 410 of the reversing valve 400 to close, so that the refrigerant flows to the evaporator 300 through the second capillary tube 900 after passing through the anti-condensation tube 500.

[0064] The ambient humidity being less than or equal to the first preset humidity threshold indicates that the refrigerator is in a low-humidity environment. In a low-humidity environment, the air contains less water vapor, resulting in a larger temperature difference between the dew point and the door seal surface. Condensation is less likely to form on the door seal surface, and the anti-condensation pipe 500 does not need to provide additional heat to the door seal area. The first outlet 410 of the control reversing valve 400 is opened, and the second outlet 420 is closed, allowing the refrigerant to flow directly to the evaporator 300 through the branch containing the first capillary tube 800. No refrigerant flows through the anti-condensation pipe 500, and the anti-condensation pipe 500 does not dissipate heat to the compartment, thus the heat load on the refrigerator compartment does not increase due to the anti-condensation pipe 500. The ambient humidity being greater than the first preset humidity threshold indicates that the refrigerator is in a high-humidity environment. In high humidity environments, the dew point temperature rises, and condensation easily forms on the door seal surface. At this time, the second outlet 420 of the control reversing valve 400 is opened and the first outlet 410 is closed, so that the refrigerant flows through the anti-condensation pipe 500. The anti-condensation pipe 500 uses the heat carried by the refrigerant to dissipate heat to the door seal area, maintaining the door seal surface temperature above the dew point temperature, thereby preventing condensation on the door seal surface.

[0065] In one implementation, the anti-condensation pipe 500 is disposed within the cavity between the inner liner and sidewalls of the refrigerator compartment, and coiled along the door seal area. When refrigerant flows through the anti-condensation pipe 500, the temperature of the anti-condensation pipe 500 rises, transferring heat to the door seal area through heat conduction and radiation, thus maintaining the temperature of the door seal area above the dew point temperature. For example, when the ambient humidity is between 50% and 80% relative humidity, the refrigerant flowing through the anti-condensation pipe 500 can ensure that no condensation occurs on the door seal surface; when the ambient humidity further increases, enhanced measures such as reducing the compressor speed by 100 rpm and increasing the compartment set temperature can be used to further improve the anti-condensation effect.

[0066] In the technical solution provided in this application embodiment, the refrigerant bypasses the anti-condensation pipe 500 in a low humidity environment to avoid the anti-condensation pipe 500 continuously dissipating heat to the compartment, thereby increasing the heat load and achieving energy-saving operation; in a high humidity environment, the refrigerant flows through the anti-condensation pipe 500 to maintain the anti-condensation capability of the door seal area, thereby achieving a dynamic balance between the anti-condensation effect and operating energy consumption, taking into account both the anti-condensation performance and energy efficiency of the refrigerator.

[0067] In one embodiment, the control module 700 is further configured to: control the compressor 100 to reduce its operating speed to a target speed when the ambient humidity is greater than a second preset humidity threshold, wherein the second preset humidity threshold is greater than a first preset humidity threshold.

[0068] The second preset humidity threshold is used to delineate the boundary between normal high humidity environments and extreme high humidity environments. For example, the second preset humidity threshold can be set to a relative humidity of 80%. When the ambient humidity exceeds the second preset humidity threshold, the refrigerator operates in an extremely high humidity environment, significantly increasing the risk of condensation on the door seal surface. Conventional anti-condensation methods relying solely on refrigerant flowing through the anti-condensation pipe 500 may not be sufficient to meet the anti-condensation requirements. In this case, the refrigerator enters an enhanced anti-condensation mode. In this enhanced anti-condensation mode, the control module 700 controls the compressor 100 to reduce its operating speed to a target speed to adjust the operating state of the refrigeration system and enhance the anti-condensation effect in the door seal area. For example, the target speed can be the lowest speed at which the compressor 100 can operate stably, such as 960 rpm to 1200 rpm.

[0069] In this system, when the compressor 100 reduces its operating speed, the refrigerant circulation flow rate decreases. The heat exchange time between the refrigerant and the anti-condensation pipe 500 wall is relatively prolonged as the refrigerant flows through the anti-condensation pipe 500. This allows the heat transferred from the anti-condensation pipe 500 to the door seal area to better maintain the temperature of the door seal area. Simultaneously, reducing the compressor 100's speed also reduces the compressor's input power, which helps balance overall energy consumption in high-humidity environments. In one implementation, the control module 700, while controlling the compressor 100 to reduce its operating speed, can also control the compressor 100 to operate according to a preset low-speed operating curve and dynamically adjust the target speed based on real-time changes in ambient humidity.

[0070] In the technical solution provided in this application embodiment, when the ambient humidity is greater than the second preset humidity threshold, the compressor 100 is controlled to reduce its operating speed to the target speed. By adjusting the operating status of the refrigeration system, the anti-condensation effect of the door seal area is further enhanced, adapting to the anti-condensation requirements in extreme high humidity environments, while also taking into account the compressor's operating energy consumption.

[0071] In one embodiment, the control module 700 is further configured to: increase the set temperature of the refrigerator compartment by a preset temperature value when the ambient humidity is greater than a second preset humidity threshold.

[0072] When the ambient humidity exceeds a second preset humidity threshold, the refrigerator enters an enhanced anti-condensation mode. The control module 700, while controlling the compressor 100 to reduce its operating speed, simultaneously raises the set temperature of the refrigerator compartment by a preset value to reduce the cooling load on the refrigeration system. For example, the preset temperature value can be 1 to 2 degrees Celsius. After the set temperature of the refrigerator compartment is raised, the heat required to absorb by the evaporator 300 decreases, the operating burden on the compressor is reduced, and the refrigeration system maintains low energy consumption while ensuring the door seal's anti-condensation effect.

[0073] In one implementation, the control module 700 quantifies and adjusts the set temperature of the refrigerator compartments to ensure the cooling effect of the compartments. For example, if the set temperature of the refrigerator compartment is 4 degrees Celsius, then all the setting levels of the refrigerator compartment are quantized to 4 degrees Celsius, that is, the refrigerator compartment still operates at 4 degrees Celsius after the set temperature is increased; if the set temperature of the freezer compartment is -18 degrees Celsius or a quick-freeze mode is set, then all the setting levels of the freezer compartment are quantized to -18 degrees Celsius, that is, the freezer compartment still operates at -18 degrees Celsius after the set temperature is increased.

[0074] In one implementation, when the set temperature of the refrigerator compartment is greater than 4 degrees Celsius, the set temperature is maintained. If the refrigerator compartment has a freezer compartment, the freezer compartment maintains its set value.

[0075] In the technical solution provided in this application embodiment, the set temperature of the refrigerator compartment is appropriately increased in a high humidity environment to reduce the refrigeration load of the refrigeration system. This is combined with the measure of reducing the compressor speed by 100 rpm to meet the door seal anti-condensation requirements while taking into account the refrigerator's operating energy consumption, and to avoid a significant increase in energy consumption due to the enhanced anti-condensation mode.

[0076] In one embodiment, the control module 700 is further configured to: close both the first outlet 410 and the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 after the compressor 100 stops; and control the opening and closing states of the first outlet 410 and the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 according to the ambient humidity in response to the refrigerator start-up cooling command.

[0077] In this refrigerator's refrigeration system, once the refrigerator compartment temperature reaches the set temperature, the compressor 100 stops, and the refrigeration system enters the shutdown phase. After the compressor 100 stops, the control module 700 controls the first outlet 410 and the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 to close, sealing the refrigerant in the high-pressure circuit on the compressor 100 and condenser 200 side, achieving pressure maintenance during shutdown. In traditional solutions, after the compressor 100 stops, the refrigerant circuit pipes remain interconnected. The pressure drop on the condenser 200 side absorbs ambient heat and transfers this heat to the evaporator 300 through a capillary tube, accelerating the evaporator 300's temperature recovery. Simultaneously, the pressure difference between the condenser 200 and evaporator 300 sides gradually disappears. When the compressor 100 restarts refrigeration, it needs to re-establish the pressure difference, a process that consumes the compressor's refrigeration capacity for cooling the evaporator 300, increasing the refrigerator's energy consumption. In this embodiment, both outlets of the reversing valve 400 are closed after shutdown, sealing the high-pressure refrigerant before the reversing valve 400, preventing the pressure on the condenser 200 side from dropping rapidly due to shutdown, slowing down the temperature recovery rate of the evaporator 300, and at the same time, the compressor 100 does not need to rebuild the pressure difference when it restarts, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the refrigerator.

[0078] When the refrigerator restarts and begins cooling, the control module 700 responds to the refrigerator's start-up and cooling command, re-acquires the ambient humidity collected by the humidity sensor 600, and controls the opening and closing states of the first outlet 410 and the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 according to the current ambient humidity. For example, if the ambient humidity at startup is less than or equal to a first preset humidity threshold, the first outlet 410 of the reversing valve 400 is opened and the second outlet 420 is closed, allowing the refrigerant to flow directly to the evaporator 300 via the first capillary tube 800; if the ambient humidity at startup is greater than the first preset humidity threshold, the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 is opened and the first outlet 410 is closed, allowing the refrigerant to flow through the anti-condensation tube 500 and then through the second capillary tube 900 to the evaporator 300. In one implementation, when the refrigerator is operating in energy-saving mode, the first outlet 410 and the second outlet 420 of the reversing valve 400 are closed after the compressor 100 stops. When the refrigerator issues a command to start cooling, the corresponding outlet of the reversing valve 400 is opened according to the ambient humidity, so as to minimize energy consumption while ensuring the anti-condensation effect.

[0079] In the technical solution provided in this application embodiment, after the compressor 100 stops, both outlets of the control reversing valve 400 are closed to achieve pressure maintenance during shutdown. This prevents the condenser 200 from absorbing ambient heat due to pressure drop during shutdown and transferring heat to the evaporator 300 through the capillary tube, thus accelerating the evaporator 300's temperature recovery. Simultaneously, it avoids the need to re-establish a pressure difference when the compressor 100 restarts, thus consuming additional cooling capacity and further reducing refrigerator energy consumption. When the refrigerator is turned on to cool, the opening and closing state of the reversing valve 400 outlets is restored according to the ambient humidity, ensuring that the door seal's anti-condensation effect is not affected.

[0080] In one embodiment, the refrigerator includes a refrigerator body and a refrigerator refrigeration system provided in any of the foregoing embodiments.

[0081] The refrigerator's refrigeration system is located inside the refrigerator body, forming storage spaces such as a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment. Components in the refrigeration system, including the compressor 100, condenser 200, anti-condensation pipe 500, evaporator 300, first capillary tube 800, second capillary tube 900, and reversing valve 400, are connected sequentially according to the refrigerant circuit. The evaporator 300 is located inside or near the refrigerator compartment to absorb heat from it. The anti-condensation pipe 500 is embedded between the inner liner and sidewalls of the refrigerator compartment to dissipate heat to the door seal area. A humidity sensor 600 is located on the outer wall of the refrigerator body to collect the ambient humidity of the environment in which the refrigerator is located. The control module 700 is located on the main control board of the refrigerator body and is electrically connected to the reversing valve 400 and the humidity sensor 600.

[0082] In one implementation, the refrigerator is an inverter refrigerator, with compressor 100 being an inverter compressor. Control module 700 is electrically connected to compressor 100 and can control the operating speed of compressor 100 based on ambient humidity. During refrigerator operation, control module 700 controls the opening and closing of the two outlets of reversing valve 400 based on the ambient humidity collected by humidity sensor 600. This allows refrigerant to flow through anti-condensation pipe 500 in high humidity environments to maintain the door seal anti-condensation effect, and bypass anti-condensation pipe 500 in low humidity environments to reduce heat load. After compressor 100 stops, the two outlets of reversing valve 400 are closed to achieve shutdown pressure maintenance, thereby reducing the overall energy consumption of the refrigerator while ensuring the anti-condensation effect. Exemplarily, the refrigerator may also include conventional components such as a display panel, door, and shelves, which will not be described in detail here.

[0083] In the technical solution provided in this application embodiment, after the refrigerator adopts the above-mentioned refrigerator refrigeration system, it can automatically switch the refrigerant flow direction according to the ambient humidity of the environment, reduce the operating energy consumption in low humidity environment while ensuring the anti-condensation effect of the door seal, and further reduce energy consumption by stopping the machine to maintain pressure, thereby improving the energy efficiency performance of the refrigerator.

[0084] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

[0085] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

Claims

1. A refrigerator refrigeration system, characterized in that, include: Compressor, condenser, evaporator, reversing valve, anti-condensation tube, humidity sensor, control module, first capillary tube and second capillary tube; The compressor's exhaust port is connected to the condenser's inlet, and the condenser's outlet is connected to the reversing valve's inlet. The reversing valve has a first outlet and a second outlet. The first outlet of the reversing valve is connected to the first capillary tube; The second outlet of the reversing valve is connected to the second capillary tube via the anti-condensation tube; The first capillary tube and the second capillary tube merge and are connected to the inlet of the evaporator, and the outlet of the evaporator is connected to the return port of the compressor; The humidity sensor is installed on the outer wall of the refrigerator body, and the humidity sensor is configured to collect the ambient humidity of the environment in which the refrigerator is located. The control module is electrically connected to the reversing valve and the humidity sensor. The control module is configured as follows: The ambient humidity is acquired by the humidity sensor. Based on the ambient humidity, the opening and closing states of the first and second outlets of the reversing valve are controlled to selectively allow the refrigerant to flow to the evaporator through the first capillary tube, or to allow the refrigerant to flow to the evaporator after passing through the anti-condensation tube and the second capillary tube.

2. The refrigerator refrigeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that, A first filter is provided between the condenser and the reversing valve, and a second filter is provided between the anti-condensation tube and the second capillary tube.

3. The refrigerator refrigeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A water collection pan evaporator tube is connected in series between the exhaust port of the compressor and the inlet of the condenser.

4. The refrigerator refrigeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control module is also configured to: The ambient humidity collected by the humidity sensor is acquired according to a preset acquisition cycle; Based on the ambient humidity obtained in the current acquisition cycle, the control of the opening and closing states of the first and second outlets of the reversing valve is updated.

5. The refrigerator refrigeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control module controls the opening and closing states of the first and second outlets of the reversing valve according to the ambient humidity, specifically configured as follows: The ambient humidity is compared with a first preset humidity threshold to obtain the comparison result; Based on the comparison results, the opening and closing states of the first and second outlets of the reversing valve are controlled.

6. The refrigerator refrigeration system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The control module executes, based on the comparison result, to control the opening and closing states of the first and second outlets of the reversing valve, specifically configured as follows: When the ambient humidity is less than or equal to the first preset humidity threshold, the first outlet of the reversing valve is opened and the second outlet of the reversing valve is closed, so that the refrigerant flows to the evaporator through the first capillary tube instead of the anti-condensation tube. When the ambient humidity is greater than the first preset humidity threshold, the second outlet of the reversing valve is opened and the first outlet of the reversing valve is closed, so that the refrigerant flows through the anti-condensation tube and then through the second capillary tube to the evaporator.

7. The refrigerator refrigeration system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The compressor is a variable frequency compressor; The control module is also configured to: When the ambient humidity is greater than a second preset humidity threshold, the compressor is controlled to reduce its operating speed to a target speed, wherein the second preset humidity threshold is greater than the first preset humidity threshold.

8. The refrigerator refrigeration system according to claim 7, characterized in that, The control module is also configured to: If the ambient humidity is greater than the second preset humidity threshold, the set temperature of the refrigerator compartment will be increased by the preset temperature value.

9. The refrigerator refrigeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control module is also configured to: After the compressor stops, both the first outlet and the second outlet of the reversing valve are closed. In response to the refrigerator's start-up and cooling command, the opening and closing states of the first and second outlets of the reversing valve are controlled according to the ambient humidity.

10. A refrigerator, characterized in that, include: The refrigerator body and the refrigerator refrigeration system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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