Refrigerator

Abstract

This refrigerator comprises: a main body having an upper wall; storage chambers formed in the main body; doors for opening and closing the storage chambers; a thermoelectric element which is provided in the upper wall, and which includes a heating unit that generates heat and faces upward and a cooling unit that absorbs heat and faces downward; a cooling sink which includes a cooling sink base in contact with the cooling unit, and a plurality of cooling fins protruding from the cooling sink base in a first direction perpendicular to the lower surface of the cooling sink base and extending in a second direction parallel to the lower surface of the cooling sink base, and which is cooled as the cooling unit absorbs heat; a cooling fan provided in the upper wall so as to blow air toward the plurality of cooling fins in the second direction, such that the air blown by the cooling fan is cooled by means of the cooling sink; and a cooling duct provided in the upper wall.

Description

refrigerator

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator having a thermoelectric element for cooling a storage compartment.

[0002] A refrigerator is a home appliance that has a main body having a storage compartment and a cold air supply device that supplies cold air to the storage compartment to keep food fresh.

[0003] A thermoelectric cooling device that generates heat and cooling through the Peltier effect can be used as a cooling device in a refrigerator. The thermoelectric cooling device may include a thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric element has a heating element formed on one side and a cooling element formed on the opposite side. When current is applied to the thermoelectric element, heat generation occurs in the heating element and heat absorption occurs in the cooling element.

[0004] The thermoelectric cooling device may be equipped with a heat sink, a cooling sink, a heat sink fan, a cooling fan, a heat duct, and a cooling duct to increase the efficiency of cooling the storage room through the thermoelectric cooling device.

[0005] One aspect of the present disclosure discloses a refrigerator including a thermoelectric cooling device using a thermoelectric element.

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure discloses a refrigerator having increased cooling efficiency of a storage compartment through a thermoelectric cooling device.

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure is a refrigerator that prevents the performance of a thermoelectric cooling device from being damaged by defrost water generated by a cooling sink of the thermoelectric cooling device and facilitates the disposal of the defrost water.

[0008] One aspect of the present disclosure discloses a refrigerator in which assembly, disassembly, replacement, and repair of a thermoelectric cooling device are easy.

[0009] The technical problems to be achieved in this document are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigerator includes: a main body having an upper wall; a storage compartment formed inside the main body; a door configured to open and close the storage compartment; a thermoelectric element provided on the upper wall, the thermoelectric element including a heating portion that generates heat and faces upward and a cooling portion that absorbs heat and faces downward; a cooling sink base that contacts the cooling portion; a cooling sink having a plurality of cooling fins that protrude from the cooling sink base in a first direction perpendicular to a lower surface of the cooling sink base and extend in a second direction parallel to a lower surface of the cooling sink base, the cooling sink being cooled as the cooling portion absorbs heat; a cooling fan provided on the upper wall to blow air in the second direction toward the plurality of cooling fins, the cooling fan cooling air blown by the cooling fan by the cooling sink; and a cooling duct provided on the upper wall to guide air cooled by the cooling sink.

[0011] The above cooling fan is a centrifugal fan that sucks air into the cooling fan along the axial direction of the cooling fan and discharges the air sucked into the cooling fan in the radial direction of the cooling fan, and the cooling fan may be provided on the lower surface of the upper wall such that the rotational axis of the centrifugal fan is perpendicular to the lower surface of the upper wall and the cooling sink is positioned in the radial direction of the centrifugal fan.

[0012] The refrigerator further includes an evaporator that evaporates refrigerant to generate cold air; and an evaporator duct provided at the rear side of the storage compartment to supply the cold air generated by the evaporator to the storage compartment; and the cooling duct may include a duct coupling protrusion that protrudes rearward to be coupled to the evaporator duct.

[0013] The main body includes an inner case having an inner opening; an outer case having an outer opening; a connecting frame provided between the inner case and the outer case to connect the inner case opening and the outer case opening so that a through hole penetrating the upper wall is formed; and an insulating material provided in an insulating space formed by the inner case, the outer case, and the connecting frame; wherein the cooling duct can be connected to the connecting frame.

[0014] The above connecting frame includes a frame base connected to the inner opening; and a frame body protruding from the upper surface of the frame base and connected to the outer opening; and the cooling duct can be coupled to the frame base.

[0015] The cooling duct may include an elastic coupling protrusion protruding upward from the cooling duct so as to be elastically coupled to the frame base.

[0016] The refrigerator may further include a cooling duct coupling member that penetrates the cooling duct and is coupled to the frame base so that the cooling duct is coupled to the frame base.

[0017] The above cooling duct may include a cooling duct body having a sink passage hole through which the cooling sink passes, and a cooling duct cover coupled to the lower side of the cooling duct body.

[0018] The above cooling fan may be located in the above cooling duct body.

[0019] The above cooling duct body includes a fan installation portion protruding upward, and a fan accommodation space for accommodating the cooling fan can be formed below the bottom surface of the fan installation portion.

[0020] The above frame base may include a base protrusion protruding upward and an installation portion receiving space for receiving the fan installation portion under the bottom surface of the base protrusion.

[0021] The cooling duct cover may include an intake port provided to allow air inside the storage chamber to be sucked into the cooling space between the cooling duct and the cooling duct cover.

[0022] The cooling duct includes an exhaust outlet configured to discharge cooled air through heat exchange with the cooling sink into the interior of the storage chamber, and the cold air exhaust outlet can be formed between the front portion of the cooling duct body and the front portion of the cooling duct cover.

[0023] The cooling duct cover may include a bottom; a rear portion extending upward from a rear edge of the bottom; and a drain formed in the rear portion to drain the water to the outside of the cooling duct, wherein the bottom may be formed to slope downward as it approaches the drain portion.

[0024] The above cooling duct cover may include a defrost water guide protruding upward from the bottom to guide the defrost water toward the drain.

[0025] In another aspect, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigerator includes a main body having an upper wall, a lower wall, a left wall, a right wall, and a rear wall; a storage compartment formed inside the main body; a door provided to open and close the storage compartment; a thermoelectric element having a heating portion and a cooling portion, wherein the thermoelectric element is disposed on the upper wall such that the heating portion faces above the thermoelectric element and the cooling portion faces below the thermoelectric element; a cooling sink provided to contact the cooling portion; a cooling fan that generates a flow of air; and a cooling duct provided on the upper wall to guide air flowing by the cooling fan to exchange heat with the cooling sink, the cooling duct having a drain for draining defrost water formed by the cooling sink to the outside of the cooling duct.

[0026] The above cooling duct may include a cooling duct body having a sink passage hole through which the cooling sink passes, and a cooling duct cover coupled to the lower side of the cooling duct body.

[0027] The cooling duct cover may include a bottom; and a rear portion extending upward from a rear edge of the bottom; wherein the drain port is formed in the rear portion, and the bottom may be formed to slope downward as it approaches the drain port.

[0028] The cooling duct cover may include a defrost water guide protruding from the bottom to guide the defrost water toward the drain.

[0029] In another aspect, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigerator includes a main body; a storage compartment formed inside the main body; a door provided to open and close the storage compartment; an evaporator that evaporates refrigerant to generate cold air; an evaporator duct provided on a rear side of the storage compartment to supply the cold air generated by the evaporator to the storage compartment; a thermoelectric element having a heating portion and a cooling portion, wherein the heating portion is directed above the thermoelectric element and the cooling portion is directed below the thermoelectric element; a cooling sink provided to contact the cooling portion; a cooling fan that generates a flow of air; and a cooling duct that includes a duct coupling protrusion that is provided on an upper side of the storage compartment to guide air flowing by the cooling fan to exchange heat with the cooling sink and protrudes rearward to be coupled to the evaporator duct.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the cooling efficiency of a storage room can be increased through a thermoelectric cooling device.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the performance of a thermoelectric cooling device can be prevented from being impaired by water generated by a cooling sink of the thermoelectric cooling device.

[0032] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the water generated by the cooling sink of the thermoelectric cooling device can be drained outside the body.

[0033] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the thermoelectric cooling device can be easily assembled, disassembled, replaced, and repaired.

[0034] The effects that can be obtained from the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects that are not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure belongs from the description below.

[0035] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the doors of a refrigerator in an open state according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] FIG. 3 is a drawing of the upper part of a storage compartment of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, viewed from below.

[0038] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I of Figure 2.

[0040] FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating an internal, external, and connecting frame according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating a connection frame according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating a bottom surface of a connecting frame according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a joint structure of a thermoelectric module and an upper wall of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a heat dissipation fan and a thermoelectric module according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0045] FIG. 11 is a drawing illustrating a heat sink according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0046] FIG. 12 is a drawing illustrating a cooling sink according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0047] FIG. 13 is a drawing showing a cooling duct cover and a cooling duct body separated from the upper wall of the main body according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0048] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a joint structure of a cooling duct and an upper wall according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating an exploded view of a cooling duct body and a cooling duct cover according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0050] FIG. 16 is a bottom perspective view illustrating an exploded view of a cooling duct body and a cooling duct cover according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0051] FIG. 17 is a drawing illustrating a bottom surface of a cooling duct body according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0052] FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a cooling duct cover according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0053] FIG. 19 is a drawing showing the arrangement relationship of a cooling duct cover and a cooling sink according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0054] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a cooling duct cover according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0055] FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating an evaporator duct according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0056] FIG. 22 is an exploded view showing the front and rear portions of an evaporator duct according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0057] FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing the rear of an evaporator duct according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0058] It should be understood that the various embodiments of the present disclosure and the terminology used therein are not intended to limit the technical features described in the present disclosure to specific embodiments, but rather include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutes of the embodiments.

[0059] In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components.

[0060] The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of said items, unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0061] In this disclosure, each of the phrases "A or B", "at least one of A and B", "at least one of A or B", "A, B, or C", "at least one of A, B, and C", and "at least one of A, B, or C" may include any one of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase, or all possible combinations thereof.

[0062] The term "and / or" includes any combination of a plurality of related described elements or any one of a plurality of related described elements.

[0063] Terms such as "first," "second," or "first" or "second" may be used simply to distinguish one component from another and do not qualify the components in any other respect (e.g., importance or order).

[0064] In addition, terms such as 'front', 'rear', 'top', 'bottom', 'side', 'left', 'right', 'upper', and 'lower' used in the present disclosure are defined based on the drawings, and the shape and position of each component are not limited by these terms.

[0065] Terms such as "include" or "have" are intended to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part or combination thereof described in the present disclosure, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

[0066] When a component is said to be “connected,” “coupled,” “supported,” or “in contact with” another component, this includes not only cases where the components are directly connected, coupled, supported, or in contact, but also cases where the components are indirectly connected, coupled, supported, or in contact through a third component.

[0067] When we say that a component is "on" another component, this includes not only cases where the component is in contact with the other component, but also cases where there is another component between the two components.

[0068] A refrigerator according to one embodiment may include a body.

[0069] The main body may include an inner case, an outer case located on the outside of the inner case, and an insulating material provided between the inner case and the outer case.

[0070] The inner case may include a case, plate, panel, or liner forming a storage compartment. The inner case may be formed integrally or formed by assembling multiple plates. The outer case may form the outer appearance of the main body and may be attached to the outer surface of the inner case, with insulation positioned between the inner case and the outer case.

[0071] Insulation can insulate the interior and exterior of the storage compartment, ensuring that the temperature inside the storage compartment remains at a set temperature without being affected by the external environment. In one embodiment, the insulation can include foam insulation. The foam insulation can be formed by injecting and foaming urethane foam, a mixture of polyurethane and a foaming agent, between the inner and outer layers.

[0072] In one embodiment, the insulation may include a vacuum insulation material in addition to the foam insulation, or the insulation may consist solely of the vacuum insulation material instead of the foam insulation. The vacuum insulation material may include a core material and an outer shell material that accommodates the core material and seals the interior under a vacuum or near-vacuum pressure. However, the insulation material is not limited to the foam insulation or vacuum insulation material described above, and may include various materials that can be used for insulation.

[0073] A refrigerator according to one embodiment may include a storage compartment formed inside the main body for storing food.

[0074] A "storage room" may include a space defined by an inner frame. The storage room may further include an inner frame that defines a corresponding space. The storage room may store various items, such as food, medicine, and cosmetics, and may be configured so that at least one side is open for the entry and exit of items. The storage room may store food. Food may include food items intended for human consumption and consumption. Specifically, food may include meat, fish, seafood, fruits, vegetables, water, ice, beverages, kimchi, and alcoholic beverages such as wine. However, not only food, but also medicines and cosmetics may be stored in the storage room, and there are no restrictions on the items that may be stored in the storage room.

[0075] A refrigerator may include one or more storage compartments. When two or more storage compartments are formed in a refrigerator, each storage compartment may have a different purpose and may be maintained at different temperatures. To this end, each storage compartment may be separated from the other by a partition wall containing insulating material. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the partition wall may be part of the main body. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the partition wall may be provided independently from the main body and then assembled to the main body.

[0076] The storage room may be designed to maintain an appropriate temperature range depending on its intended use, and may include a "refrigerator," a "freezer," or a "variable temperature room," which are distinguished by their intended use and / or temperature range. A refrigerator may be maintained at a temperature appropriate for refrigerating items, and a freezer may be maintained at a temperature appropriate for freezing items. "Refrigeration" may mean cooling items to a temperature that does not freeze them, and for example, a refrigerator may be maintained at a temperature ranging from 0 degrees Celsius to +7 degrees Celsius. "Freezing" may mean cooling items to freeze them or keep them frozen, and for example, a freezer may be maintained at a temperature ranging from -20 degrees Celsius to -1 degree Celsius. A variable temperature room may be used as either a refrigerator or a freezer, at the user's option or not.

[0077] In addition to names such as "refrigerator," "freezer," and "variable temperature room," a storage room may also be called by various other names such as "vegetable room," "fresh room," "cooling room," and "ice room." The terms "refrigerator," "freezer," and "variable temperature room" used hereinafter should be understood to encompass storage rooms having corresponding uses and temperature ranges.

[0078] In one embodiment, the refrigerator may include at least one door configured to open and close an open side of a storage compartment. The door may be configured to open and close one or more storage compartments, or a single door may be configured to open and close multiple storage compartments. The door may be installed on the front of the main body in a pivotal or sliding manner.

[0079] The door may be configured to seal the storage compartment when the door is closed. The door may include insulation, similar to the body, to insulate the storage compartment when the door is closed.

[0080] According to one embodiment, the door may include a door outer panel forming the front of the door, a door inner panel forming the back of the door and facing the storage compartment, an upper cap, a lower cap, and door insulation provided on the interior of these.

[0081] The door inner panel may be provided with a gasket that seals the storage compartment by contacting the front of the body when the door is closed. The door inner panel may include a dyke that protrudes rearward to accommodate a door basket for storing items.

[0082] In one embodiment, the door may include a door body and a front panel detachably coupled to the front side of the door body and forming the front of the door. The door body may include a door outer panel forming the front of the door body, a door inner panel forming the rear of the door body and facing the storage compartment, an upper cap, a lower cap, and door insulation provided inside these.

[0083] Depending on the arrangement of the door and storage compartment, refrigerators can be classified into French door type, side-by-side type, bottom mounted freezer (BMF), top mounted freezer (TMF), or single-door refrigerator.

[0084] According to one embodiment, the refrigerator may include a cold air supply device configured to supply cold air to the storage compartment.

[0085] The cold air supply device may include a system of machines, devices, electronic devices and / or combinations thereof that can generate cold air and guide the cold air to cool the storage room.

[0086] In one embodiment, the cold air supply device can generate cold air through a refrigeration cycle that includes the processes of compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation of a refrigerant. To this end, the cold air supply device can include a refrigeration cycle device having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator capable of driving the refrigeration cycle. In one embodiment, the cold air supply device can include a semiconductor, such as a thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric element can cool a storage compartment through heat generation and cooling through the Peltier effect.

[0087] According to one embodiment, the refrigerator may include a machine room in which at least some components belonging to the cold air supply device are arranged.

[0088] The machine room may be designed to be partitioned and insulated from the storage room to prevent heat generated by components placed within the machine room from being transferred to the storage room. The interior of the machine room may be configured to be connected to the exterior of the main body to dissipate heat from components placed within the machine room.

[0089] In one embodiment, the refrigerator may include a dispenser provided on the door to provide water and / or ice. The dispenser may be provided on the door so that it is accessible to a user without having to open the door.

[0090] According to one embodiment, a refrigerator may include an ice-making device configured to produce ice. The ice-making device may include an ice-making tray configured to store water, an ice-separating device configured to separate ice from the ice-making tray, and an ice bucket configured to store ice produced in the ice-making tray.

[0091] According to one embodiment, the refrigerator may include a control unit for controlling the refrigerator.

[0092] The control unit may include a memory that stores or memorizes a program and / or data for controlling the refrigerator, and a processor that outputs a control signal for controlling a cold air supply device, etc. according to the program and / or data memorized in the memory.

[0093] Memory stores or records various information, data, commands, programs, etc. necessary for the operation of the refrigerator. Memory can store temporary data generated during the generation of control signals for controlling components within the refrigerator. Memory may include at least one of volatile memory and non-volatile memory, or a combination thereof.

[0094] The processor controls the overall operation of the refrigerator. The processor can control the components of the refrigerator by executing programs stored in memory. The processor may include a separate NPU that performs the operations of an artificial intelligence model. The processor may also include a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or the like. The processor may generate control signals to control the operation of the cooling system. For example, the processor may receive temperature information about the storage compartment from a temperature sensor and generate a cooling control signal to control the operation of the cooling system based on the temperature information.

[0095] Additionally, the processor may process user input of the user interface and control the operation of the user interface based on programs and / or data stored / stored in the memory. The user interface may be provided using an input interface and an output interface. The processor may receive user input from the user interface. Additionally, the processor may transmit display control signals and image data to the user interface for displaying an image on the user interface in response to the user input.

[0096] The processor and memory may be provided as a single unit or separately. The processor may include one or more processors. For example, the processor may include a main processor and at least one subprocessor. The memory may include one or more memories.

[0097] In one embodiment, a refrigerator may include a processor and memory that control all components within the refrigerator, and may include multiple processors and multiple memories that individually control the components within the refrigerator. For example, the refrigerator may include a processor and memory that control the operation of a cooling device based on the output of a temperature sensor. Additionally, the refrigerator may separately include a processor and memory that control the operation of a user interface based on user input.

[0098] The communication module can communicate with external devices, such as servers, mobile devices, and other home appliances, via a nearby access point (AP). The AP can connect the local area network (LAN) to which the refrigerator or user device is connected to the wide area network (WAN) to which the server is connected. The refrigerator or user device can then connect to the server via the WAN.

[0099] The input interface may include keys, a touchscreen, a microphone, etc. The input interface may receive user input and transmit it to the processor.

[0100] The output interface may include a display, a speaker, etc. The output interface may output various notifications, messages, information, etc. generated by the processor.

[0101] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0102] FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating a state in which a door of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is opened. FIG. 3 is a drawing illustrating the upper portion of a storage compartment of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure as viewed from below. FIG. 4 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 2.

[0103] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a refrigerator (1) may include a main body (100), storage chambers (11, 12, 13) formed inside the main body (100), and doors (21, 22, 23, 24) provided to open and close the storage chambers (11, 12, 13).

[0104] The main body (100) may include an inner case (170), an outer case (180) coupled to the outer side of the inner case (170), and an insulating material (190) provided between the inner case (170) and the outer case (180) (see FIG. 6). The inner case (170) may form a storage chamber (11, 12, 13), and the outer case (180) may form the outer appearance of the main body (100).

[0105] In another aspect, the main body (100) may include an upper wall (110), a lower wall (120), a left wall (130), a right wall (140), and a rear wall (150). The upper wall (110), the lower wall (120), the left wall (130), the right wall (140), and the rear wall (150) may form an upper surface, a lower surface, a left surface, a right surface, and a rear wall of the main body (100), respectively.

[0106] Each of the upper wall (110), the lower wall (120), the left wall (130), the right wall (140), and the rear wall (150) may be formed of an inner surface (170), an outer surface (180), and an insulating material (190). For example, the upper surface of the upper wall (110) may be formed by the outer surface (180), the lower surface of the upper wall (110) may be formed by the inner surface (170), and an insulating material (190) may be provided on the inside of the upper wall (110).

[0107] The storage compartments (11, 12, 13) can accommodate items. The storage compartments (11, 12, 13) can be formed to have an open front side so that items can be put in or taken out. The main body (100) can include a horizontal partition wall (160) that divides the first storage compartment (11) from the second storage compartment (12) and the third storage compartment (13), and a vertical partition wall (161) that divides the second storage compartment (12) from the third storage compartment (13). The first storage compartment (11) can be provided at the upper part of the main body (100), and the second storage compartment (12) and the third storage compartment (13) can be provided at the lower part of the main body (100). The first storage compartment (11) can be a refrigerator compartment, the second storage compartment (12) can be a freezer compartment, and the third storage compartment (13) can be a variable temperature compartment.

[0108] Doors (21, 22, 23, 24) can open and close storage rooms (11, 12, 13). The first door (21) and the second door (22) can open and close the first storage room (11), the third door (23) can open and close the second storage room (12), and the fourth door (24) can open and close the third storage room (13). The doors (21, 22, 23, 24) can be rotatably coupled to the main body (100).

[0109] The doors (21, 22, 23, 24) may be rotatably coupled to the main body (100) by hinges. For example, the first door (21) and the second door (22) may be rotatably coupled to the main body (100) by a hinge (31) provided on the upper portion of the main body (100) and a hinge provided in the middle of the main body (100), respectively. The hinge (31) may include a hinge pin that protrudes vertically to form a rotational axis of the door. The hinge (31) may be covered by a top cover (300) provided to cover the upper front portion of the main body (100).

[0110] A rotating bar (40) may be provided on either the first door (21) or the second door (22) to cover the gap formed between the first door (21) and the second door (22) when the first door (21) and the second door (22) are closed. The rotating bar (40) may be provided rotatably on either the first door (21) or the second door (22). The rotating bar (40) may have a rod shape that is formed long in a vertical direction. The rotating bar (40) may also be referred to as a pillar, a mullion, or the like.

[0111] A guide protrusion (46) may be provided at the top of the rotating bar (40), and a rotation guide (119) that guides the rotation of the guide protrusion (46) may be provided at the top of the main body (100).

[0112] The doors (21, 22, 23, 24) may include a gasket (51). The gasket (51) may be pressed against the front of the body (100) when the doors (21, 22, 23, 24) are closed. The doors (21, 22, 23, 24) may include a ditch (52) that protrudes rearward. A door shelf (53) capable of storing items may be mounted on the ditch (52). A rotating bar (40) may be rotatably installed on the ditch (52).

[0113] Although the number and arrangement of storage compartments and the number and arrangement of doors have been described above, there is no limitation on the number and arrangement of storage compartments and the number and arrangement of doors of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0114] The refrigerator (1) may include a thermoelectric cooling device (400) arranged to cool the storage compartment (11).

[0115] A thermoelectric cooling device (400) may be provided on the upper side of the storage room (11) to cool the storage room (11). That is, the thermoelectric cooling device may be provided on the upper wall (110) of the main body (100).

[0116] A thermoelectric cooling device may include a thermoelectric element (530). The thermoelectric element (530) may be a semiconductor element that converts thermal energy into electrical energy using the thermoelectric effect, and may also be referred to as a thermoelectric semiconductor element, a Peltier element, or the like.

[0117] The thermoelectric element (530) includes a heating portion (531) and a cooling portion (532). When current is applied to the thermoelectric element (530), a heating action may occur in the heating portion (531) and a heat absorption action may occur in the cooling portion (532). The thermoelectric element (530) may have a thin hexahedral shape. The heating portion (531) may be provided on one surface of the thermoelectric element (530) and the cooling portion (532) may be provided on the opposite surface.

[0118] The thermoelectric element (530) may be provided on the upper wall (110) such that the heating portion (531) faces above the thermoelectric element (530) and the cooling portion (532) faces below the thermoelectric element (530). That is, the heating portion (531) may face the outside of the main body (100) and the cooling portion (532) may face the inside of the storage chamber (11). Accordingly, air that has been warmed through heat exchange with the heating portion (531) may be discharged to the outside of the main body (100), and air that has been cooled through heat exchange with the cooling portion (532) may be supplied to the storage chamber (11).

[0119] The thermoelectric cooling device (400) may include a heat sink (520) that contacts the heat generating unit (531) so that heat exchange between the heat generating unit (531) and the air outside the main body (100) is efficiently performed.

[0120] A heat sink (520) may be located outside the main body (100). The heat sink (520) may contact the heat generating portion (531) to absorb heat from the heat generating portion (531) and release heat to the outside of the main body (100). The heat sink (520) may also be referred to as a hot sink, a heat dissipation heat sink, a hot heat sink, etc.

[0121] The heat sink (520) may be formed of a metal material with good thermal conductivity. For example, the heat sink (520) may be formed of aluminum or copper.

[0122] The heat sink (520) may include a heat sink base (521) that contacts the heat generating portion (531) and a plurality of heat dissipation fins (525) that protrude from the heat sink base (521) to expand the heat transfer area. The plurality of heat dissipation fins (525) may protrude upward from the heat sink base (521).

[0123] The thermoelectric cooling device (400) may include a cooling sink (570) in contact with the cooling unit (532) so that heat exchange between the cooling unit (532) and the air inside the storage chamber (11) is efficiently performed.

[0124] A cooling sink (570) may be located inside the storage compartment (11). The cooling sink (570) may cool the storage compartment (11) by taking away heat from the storage compartment (11) and transferring it to the cooling unit (532). The cooling sink (570) may also be referred to as a cold sink, a cooling sink, a cooling heat sink, a cold heat sink, a cooling heat sink, etc.

[0125] The cooling sink (570) may be formed of a metal material with good thermal conductivity. For example, the cooling sink (570) may be formed of aluminum or copper.

[0126] The cooling sink (570) may include a cooling sink base (571) that contacts the cooling unit (532) and a plurality of cooling fins (575) that protrude from the cooling sink base (571) to expand the heat transfer area. The plurality of cooling fins (525) may protrude downward from the cooling sink base (571). The cooling sink base (571) and the plurality of cooling fins (575) may be formed integrally.

[0127] The thermoelectric cooling device (400) may include a heat dissipation fan (600) that circulates air to ensure efficient heat exchange between the heat dissipation sink (520) and the air outside the main body (100).

[0128] A heat dissipation fan (600) may be provided to blow air toward a heat dissipation sink (520). The heat dissipation fan (600) may be provided to be positioned in a horizontal direction of the heat dissipation sink (520). The heat dissipation fan (600) may be provided on the outside of the main body (100). The heat dissipation fan (600) may be provided on the upper side of the upper wall (110).

[0129] The heat dissipation fan (600) may be a centrifugal fan that draws in air in an axial direction and discharges it in radial directions. The centrifugal fan may include a blower fan. The rotation axis (610) of the heat dissipation fan (600) may be arranged perpendicular to the upper surface of the upper wall (110).

[0130] The thermoelectric cooling device (400) may include a heat dissipation duct (700) provided to guide air flowing by a heat dissipation fan (600). The heat dissipation duct (700) may guide air from outside the main body (100) to exchange heat with the heat dissipation sink (520), and may discharge the air that has exchanged heat with the heat dissipation sink (520) back to the outside of the main body (100).

[0131] The heat dissipation duct (700) can draw in air from the external space on the upper side of the main body (100). The heat dissipation duct (700) can discharge air that has exchanged heat with the heat dissipation sink (520) to the external space on the upper side of the main body (100). The heat dissipation fan (600) can be located inside the heat dissipation duct (700). The heat dissipation sink (520) can be located inside the heat dissipation duct (700). The heat dissipation duct (700) can be provided on the upper surface of the upper wall (110).

[0132] The heat dissipation duct (700) may include an outside air intake port (751) that draws air outside the main body (100) into the inside of the heat dissipation duct (700), and an outside air exhaust port (782) that discharges air that has exchanged heat with the heat dissipation sink (520) to the outside of the main body (100).

[0133] The thermoelectric cooling device (400) may include a cooling fan (800) that circulates air to ensure efficient heat exchange between the cooling sink (570) and the air inside the storage chamber (11).

[0134] A cooling fan (800) may be provided to blow air toward a cooling sink (570). The cooling fan (800) may be positioned horizontally with respect to the cooling sink (570). The cooling fan (800) may be provided inside the storage compartment (11). The cooling fan (800) may be provided on the lower side of the upper wall (110).

[0135] The cooling fan (800) may be a centrifugal fan that sucks in air in an axial direction and discharges it in radial directions. The rotation axis (810) of the cooling fan (800) may be arranged perpendicular to the bottom surface of the upper wall (110).

[0136] The thermoelectric cooling device (400) may include a cooling duct (900) provided to guide air flowing by a cooling fan (800). The cooling duct (700) may guide air inside the storage chamber (11) to exchange heat with the cooling sink (570), and may discharge the air that has exchanged heat with the cooling sink (570) back into the storage chamber (11).

[0137] A cooling fan (800) may be located inside a cooling duct (900). A cooling sink (570) may be located inside a cooling duct (900). The cooling duct (800) may be provided on the lower surface of the upper wall (110).

[0138] The cooling duct (900) may include an intake port (991) for drawing air inside the storage room (11) into the interior of the cooling duct (900), and an exhaust port (992) for discharging air that has exchanged heat with the cooling sink (570) into the interior of the storage room (11).

[0139] Referring to FIG. 4, the refrigerator (1) may include a refrigeration cycle device to cool the storage compartment through a refrigeration cycle. The refrigeration cycle device may include a compressor (2), a condenser (not shown), an expansion device (not shown), and an evaporator (3). The evaporator (3) may be provided at the rear of the storage compartment (12, 13).

[0140] The refrigerator (1) may include evaporator ducts (60, 70) that guide cold air generated in the evaporator (3). The first evaporator duct (60) may be provided at the rear side of the second storage compartment (12) and the third storage compartment (13). The second evaporator duct (70) may be provided at the rear side of the first storage compartment (11).

[0141] The cold air generated in the evaporator (3) can be sucked into the interior of the first evaporator duct (60) by the evaporator fan (80). The cold air sucked into the interior of the first evaporator duct (60) can be discharged to the second storage chamber (12) or the third storage chamber (13) through a cold air discharge port (not shown) formed on the front. In addition, the cold air sucked into the interior of the first evaporator duct (60) can be guided to the internal passage (78) of the second evaporator duct (70). The first evaporator duct (60) may be provided with a damper (61) that controls the supply of the cold air inside the first evaporator duct (60) to the second evaporator duct (70). A connecting duct (90) may be provided between the first evaporator duct (60) and the second evaporator duct (70) to connect the first evaporator duct (60) and the second evaporator duct (70).

[0142] Cold air introduced into the internal passage (78) of the second evaporator duct (70) can be supplied to the first storage chamber (11) through the cold air discharge port (72) formed on the front of the second evaporator duct (70).

[0143] However, unlike the above embodiment, the cold air generated in the evaporator (3) may be supplied directly to the second evaporator duct (70) without passing through the first evaporator duct (60). In addition, a separate evaporator (3) may be provided at the rear side of the first storage chamber (11) and configured to supply cold air to the second evaporator duct (70).

[0144] In this way, since the refrigerator (1) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a thermoelectric cooling device and a refrigeration cycle device for cooling the storage compartment (11), a method for supplying cold air to the storage compartment (11) may include a first method of supplying only cold air generated by the thermoelectric cooling device (400), a second method of supplying only cold air generated by the refrigeration cycle device, and a third method of supplying both cold air generated by the thermoelectric cooling device and cold air generated by the refrigeration cycle device.

[0145] The refrigerator (1) can supply cold air to the storage compartment (11) in an appropriate manner depending on external and internal conditions. For example, the refrigerator (1) can cool the storage compartment (11) in one of the ways depending on the room temperature in which the refrigerator (1) is installed. That is, when the room temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature and cooling by a refrigeration cycle is more efficient than cooling by a thermoelectric cooling device, the storage compartment (11) can be cooled only by cold air generated by the refrigeration cycle device. Conversely, when the room temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature and cooling by a thermoelectric cooling device is more efficient than cooling by a refrigeration cycle device, the storage compartment (11) can be cooled only by cold air generated by the thermoelectric cooling device. The refrigerator (1) can operate only the thermoelectric cooling device when noise reduction is required. When rapid cooling of the storage compartment (11) is required, the refrigerator (1) can simultaneously supply cold air generated by the thermoelectric cooling device and cold air generated by the refrigeration cycle device to the storage compartment (11).

[0146] Thus, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the refrigerator may include a thermoelectric cooling device and a refrigeration cycle device, but is not limited thereto, and the refrigerator may include only a thermoelectric cooling device (400).

[0147] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an inner surface, an outer surface, and a connecting frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a connecting frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a bottom surface of a connecting frame according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of a thermoelectric module and an upper wall of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is an exploded view illustrating a heat dissipation fan and a thermoelectric module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a heat dissipation sink according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a cooling sink according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0148] Referring to FIGS. 6 to 12, the configuration of a thermoelectric module of a thermoelectric cooling device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure and the installation structure of the thermoelectric module are described.

[0149] The main body (100) of the refrigerator (1) may include an inner case (170) forming a storage compartment, and an outer case (180) coupled to the outside of the inner case (170). An insulating material (190) for insulating the storage compartment may be provided between the inner case (170) and the outer case (180). The inner case (170) may include an inner case opening (171). The outer case (180) may include an outer case opening (181).

[0150] The inner opening (171) may be formed larger than the outer opening (181). However, unlike the present embodiment, the inner opening (171) and the outer opening (181) may be formed to have the same size. In this case, the connecting frame (200) described later may be composed of only the connecting frame body (270) without the connecting frame base (210).

[0151] The main body (100) may include a connecting frame (200) provided between the inner case (170) and the outer case (180) to form a through hole (115) penetrating the upper wall (110) by connecting the inner case opening (171) and the outer case opening (181).

[0152] One side of the connecting frame (200) may be supported on the inner side (side facing the insulation material) of the inner case (170), and the other side of the connecting frame (200) may be supported on the inner side (side facing the insulation material) of the outer case (180).

[0153] When the connecting frame (200) is placed between the inner case (170) and the outer case (180), an insulating space can be formed by the inner case (170), the outer case (180), and the connecting frame (200). By filling and foaming the insulating space with foam insulation, the inner case (170), the outer case (180), and the connecting frame (200) can be joined to each other. The connecting frame (200) can be formed of a material with low thermal conductivity. The connecting frame (200) can be formed of a resin material.

[0154] The connecting frame (200) may include a frame base (210) connected to the inner opening (171) and a frame body (270) protruding from the upper surface of the frame base (210) and connected to the outer opening (181).

[0155] The frame base (210) may have a size corresponding to the size of the inner opening (171). The frame base (210) may include a frame base opening (211). The frame base opening (211) may have a size corresponding to the outer opening (181).

[0156] The frame body (270) may have a rectangular frame shape with a predetermined thickness. The frame body (270) may include a frame body opening (271). The frame body opening (271) may have a size corresponding to the external opening (181). The frame base opening (211) and the frame body opening (271) may form a through hole (115) of the upper wall (110).

[0157] The frame base (210) and the frame body (270) may be provided separately and coupled to each other. The frame base (210) and the frame body (270) may be coupled through a frame coupling member (201). To this end, a coupling hole (240) may be formed in the frame base (210) and a coupling hole (280) may be formed in the frame body (270). The coupling holes (240) and the coupling holes (280) may each be provided in multiple numbers. The frame coupling member (201) may be a coupling mechanical element such as a screw, a pin, a bolt, a rivet, or the like. However, the frame base (210) and the frame body (270) may also be formed integrally.

[0158] The frame base (210) may include a base protrusion (230) that protrudes upward. An installation unit receiving space (231) that receives a fan installation unit (920) to be described later may be formed on the lower surface of the base protrusion (230).

[0159] An elastic protrusion coupling portion (250) may be formed on the bottom surface of the frame base (210) to which an elastic protrusion of a cooling duct (900) to be described later is coupled. A plurality of elastic protrusion coupling portions (250) may be provided. A coupling hole (260) for coupling with the cooling duct (900) may be formed on the bottom surface of the frame base (210).

[0160] The thermoelectric cooling device (400) may include a thermoelectric module (500).

[0161] The thermoelectric element (530), heat sink (520), and cooling sink (570) described above can be assembled integrally to form a thermoelectric module (500). That is, the thermoelectric module (500) can include a thermoelectric element (530), a heat sink (520), a cooling sink (570), and a module plate (550).

[0162] As illustrated in Fig. 9, the thermoelectric module (500) can be coupled to the upper wall (110) of the main body (100) via a separate coupling member (S). The thermoelectric module (500) can be provided to penetrate the through hole (115) of the upper wall (110) such that the heat dissipation sink (520) is positioned outside the main body (100) and the cooling sink (570) is positioned inside the storage chamber (11). A sealing member (560) for sealing can be provided between the module plate (550) of the thermoelectric module (500) and the upper surface of the upper wall (110).

[0163] The module plate (550) can serve as a skeleton of the thermoelectric module. The module plate (550) can be formed of a resin material with low thermal conductivity. The module plate (550) can maintain a gap between the heat sink (520) and the cooling sink (570) and support the heat sink (520) and the cooling sink (570). As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 , the module plate (550) can be formed integrally with a fan case (650) to be described later. However, the module plate (550) can also be provided separately from the fan case (650).

[0164] The module plate (550) may include a heat sink support (552) that supports a heat sink (520).

[0165] The module plate (550) may include a module plate opening (551). The thermoelectric element (530) may be disposed inside the module plate opening (551). The vertical length of the module plate opening (551) may be greater than the vertical length of the thermoelectric element (530), and the thermoelectric element (530) may be disposed on the upper side of the module plate opening (551). The reason why the thermoelectric element (530) is disposed on the upper side inside the module plate opening (551) is because the heat generation amount of the thermoelectric element (530) is typically higher than the heat absorption amount, and the positioning of the thermoelectric element (530) on the upper side of the module plate opening (551) is advantageous for heat dissipation of the heat generating part (531).

[0166] In this way, since the thermoelectric element (530) is placed on the upper side of the module plate opening (551), the cooling sink (570) may include a cooling conductive portion (574) protruding from the cooling sink base (571) for contact with the cooling portion (532) of the thermoelectric element (530).

[0167] The thermoelectric module (500) may include a module plate (550) and an element insulation material (540) that insulates the thermoelectric element (530). The element insulation material (540) may be placed in the module plate opening (551) so that a side of the thermoelectric element (530) does not contact the module plate (550). The element insulation material (540) includes an element insulation opening (541), and the thermoelectric element (530) may be accommodated in the element insulation opening (541).

[0168] The thermoelectric module (500) may include a sink insulation (580) provided between the module plate (550) and the cooling sink (570). The sink insulation (580) may prevent heat from being transferred between the heat dissipation sink (520) and the cooling sink (570) through the module plate (550). The sink insulation (580) may include a sink insulation opening (581). However, the sink insulation (580) may be omitted, in which case the heat dissipation sink (520) may be supported on the upper surface of the module plate (550) and the cooling sink (570) may be supported on the lower surface of the module plate (550).

[0169] Referring to FIGS. 9 to 11, the thermoelectric cooling device (400) may include a fan case (650) in which a heat dissipation fan (600) is installed and which guides air blown by the heat dissipation fan (600). The fan case (650) may be formed integrally with the module plate (550) described above or may be provided separately.

[0170] The fan case (650) may include a case bottom (660) on which a heat dissipation fan (600) is rotatably installed, and a case scroll portion (670) extending upward from the edge of the case bottom (650) to guide air blown from the heat dissipation fan (600) toward a heat dissipation sink (520). The heat dissipation fan (600) is a centrifugal fan, and may be installed on the case bottom (650) so that the rotation axis (610) is perpendicular to the case bottom (650). In addition, the heat dissipation sink (520) may be positioned in one radial direction of the heat dissipation fan (600). With this structure, the overall vertical length of the thermoelectric cooling device (400) can be made compact.

[0171] The case scroll portion (670) may be formed to surround the heat dissipation fan (600). The case scroll portion (670) may have a scroll portion opening (673) open toward the heat dissipation sink (520). The case scroll portion (670) may include a downstream end (671) along the rotational direction (R) of the heat dissipation fan (600) and an upstream end (672) along the rotational direction (R).

[0172] The fan case (650) may include a case guide (680) provided to guide air flowing from the heat dissipation fan (600) to the area around the downstream end (671) of the case scroll section (670).

[0173] Referring to FIG. 11, a plurality of heat dissipation fins (525) may protrude from an upper surface (522) of a heat dissipation sink base (521). The plurality of heat dissipation fins (525) may protrude in a first direction (526) perpendicular to the upper surface (522) of the heat dissipation sink base (521).

[0174] A plurality of heat dissipation fins (525) may be formed to extend in a second direction (527) parallel to the upper surface (522) of the heat dissipation sink base (521). The second direction (527) may be perpendicular to the first direction (526). Heat dissipation channels (528) may be formed between adjacent plurality of heat dissipation fins (525). The heat dissipation channels (528) may extend in the second direction (527) like the plurality of heat dissipation fins (525). Some of the heat dissipation channels (529) among the heat dissipation channels (528) may have a larger width than other heat dissipation channels.

[0175] Air flowing by the heat dissipation fan (600) can pass through the heat dissipation channels (528) and exchange heat with a plurality of heat dissipation fins (525). The airflow (A) flowing by the heat dissipation fan (600) can pass through the heat dissipation channels (528) in a direction parallel to the second direction (527).

[0176] Referring to FIG. 12, a plurality of cooling fins (575) may protrude from the lower surface (572) of the cooling sink base (571). The plurality of cooling fins (575) may protrude in a first direction (576) perpendicular to the lower surface (572) of the cooling sink base (571).

[0177] A plurality of cooling fins (575) may be formed to extend in a second direction (577) parallel to the lower surface (572) of the cooling sink base (571). The second direction (577) may be perpendicular to the first direction (576). Cooling channels (578) may be formed between adjacent cooling fins (575). Some cooling channels (579) among the cooling channels (578) may have a larger width than other cooling channels (578).

[0178] Air flowing by the cooling fan (800) can pass through the cooling channels (578) and exchange heat with a plurality of cooling fins (575). The airflow (B) flowing by the cooling fan (800) can pass through the cooling channels (578) in a direction parallel to the second direction (577).

[0179] FIG. 13 is a drawing illustrating a cooling duct cover and a cooling duct body separated from an upper wall of a main body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a joint structure of a cooling duct and an upper wall according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a cooling duct body and a cooling duct cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 16 is an exploded bottom perspective view illustrating a cooling duct body and a cooling duct cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 17 is a drawing illustrating a bottom surface of a cooling duct body according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a cooling duct cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 19 is a drawing illustrating an arrangement relationship between a cooling duct cover and a cooling sink according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a cooling duct cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0180] Referring to FIGS. 13 to 20, a cooling duct (900) and a storage room cooling structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0181] The refrigerator (1) may include a cooling duct (900) that conducts heat exchange with a cooling sink (570) to guide cooled air into a storage compartment (11). The cooling duct (900) may be located on the upper side of the storage compartment (11). Specifically, the cooling duct (900) may be provided on the lower surface of the upper wall (110).

[0182] The cooling duct (900) may include a cooling duct body (910) coupled to the upper wall (110) of the main body (100) and a cooling duct cover (940) coupled to the lower portion of the cooling duct body (910). A cooling space (990) may be formed by the cooling duct body (910) and the cooling duct cover (940). A cooling sink (570) may be placed in the cooling space (990).

[0183] The cooling duct (900) can be coupled to the connecting frame (200). Specifically, the cooling duct (900) can be coupled to the frame base (210) of the connecting frame (200).

[0184] An elastic coupling protrusion (950) protruding upward may be formed on the cooling duct cover (940). A coupling protrusion through-hole (913) through which the elastic coupling protrusion (950) passes may be formed on the cooling duct body (910). An elastic coupling protrusion coupling portion (250) may be provided on the bottom surface of the frame base (210). The elastic coupling protrusion (950) may pass through the coupling protrusion through-hole (913) and be coupled to the elastic coupling protrusion coupling portion (250). The elastic coupling protrusion (950) may be elastically deformed while being inserted into the elastic coupling protrusion coupling portion (250). When the insertion of the elastic coupling protrusion (950) into the elastic coupling protrusion coupling portion (250) is completed, the elastic coupling protrusion (950) is restored to its original state, and the elastic coupling protrusion (950) and the elastic coupling protrusion coupling portion (250) may be coupled.

[0185] The cooling duct (900) can be connected to the connecting frame (200) via a separate cooling duct connecting member (901). The cooling duct connecting member (901) may be a screw. A connecting hole (951) to which the cooling duct connecting member (901) is connected may be formed in the cooling duct cover (940). A connecting hole (912) to which the cooling duct connecting member (901) is connected may be formed in the cooling duct body (910). A connecting hole (260) to which the cooling duct connecting member (901) is connected may be formed in the frame base (210) of the connecting frame (200).

[0186] The cooling duct (900) can be coupled to the evaporator duct (70) provided at the rear side of the storage chamber (11). The cooling duct (900) can include a duct coupling protrusion (960) that protrudes rearward to be coupled to the evaporator duct (70). The duct coupling protrusion (960) can protrude from the rear side (944) of the cooling dirt cover (940).

[0187] The duct coupling protrusion (960) may include a horizontal portion (961) formed horizontally and a vertical reinforcing portion (962) protruding from the horizontal portion (961). The horizontal portion (961) may extend long in the left-right direction. The vertical reinforcing portions (962) may be provided in multiple numbers and may protrude upward from the horizontal portion (961).

[0188] The evaporator duct (70) may include a duct joining hole (73) into which a duct joining protrusion (960) is inserted. The defrost water drained to the outside of the cooling space (990) through the drain port (970) described later may flow to the drain guide (77, FIG. 22) of the evaporator duct (70) along the duct joining protrusion (960). Specifically, the defrost water may flow to the drain guide (77) along the upper surface of the horizontal portion (961). A drainage path may be formed between a plurality of vertical reinforcing portions (962) that are provided adjacent to each other on both sides of the drain port (970) among the plurality of vertical reinforcing portions (962).

[0189] With this configuration, the cooling duct (900) can be connected to the upper wall (11) by having the duct connecting protrusion (960) of the cooling duct (900) inserted into the duct connecting hole (73) of the evaporator duct (70), the elastic connecting protrusion (950) of the cooling duct (900) connected to the elastic connecting portion (250) of the connecting frame (200), and the cooling duct connecting member (901) penetrating the cooling duct (900) and connecting to the connecting frame (200). Therefore, the work of assembling and separating the cooling duct (900) from the upper wall (110) of the main body (100) can be easily performed, and the cooling duct (900) can be securely fixed.

[0190] Although the example in which the cooling duct (900) is coupled to the connecting frame (200) has been described above, the cooling duct (900) may also be coupled to the inner surface (170) of the upper wall (110) instead of the connecting frame (200). In particular, when the inner surface opening (171) and the outer surface opening (181) are formed to have the same size and the frame base (210) is omitted from the connecting frame (200), the cooling duct (900) may be coupled to the inner surface (170) of the upper wall (110) instead of the connecting frame (200). In this case, a coupling structure such as an elastic protrusion coupling portion (250) and a coupling hole (260) of the connecting frame (200) may be formed in the inner surface (170) of the upper wall (110).

[0191] The cooling duct body (910) may include a sink through hole (911) through which a cooling sink (570) passes. The cooling sink (570) may be placed in the cooling space (990) through the sink through hole (911).

[0192] The cooling duct body (910) may include a fan installation portion (920) protruding upward. A fan accommodation space (921) in which a cooling fan (800) is accommodated may be formed on the bottom surface of the fan installation portion (920). As described above, the frame base (210) of the connecting frame (200) may include a base protrusion (230) protruding upward to accommodate the fan installation portion (920).

[0193] The cooling fan (800) is a centrifugal fan and is installed on the bottom surface of the fan installation portion (920) of the cooling duct body (910), and the rotation axis (810) of the cooling fan (800) can be perpendicular to the bottom surface of the fan installation portion (920). A cooling sink (570) can be positioned in one radial direction of the cooling fan (800). With this structure, the vertical length of the cooling duct (800) can be compact.

[0194] A refrigerator (1) may include a photocatalytic filter (932) provided inside a cooling duct (900) and a light source (931) that irradiates light to the photocatalytic filter (932). The photocatalytic filter (932) and the light source (931) may be installed on the bottom surface of the cooling duct body (910).

[0195] The photocatalytic filter (932) and the light source (931) may be placed in the cooling space (990) of the cooling duct (900) so as to be located between the cooling fan (800) and the cooling sink (570). The photocatalytic filter (932) may be located in one radial direction of the cooling fan (800). The light source (931) may be located at a downstream portion of the photocatalytic filter (932).

[0196] The photocatalytic filter (932) can remove odors in the air through a photochemical reaction. For example, the photocatalytic filter (932) can remove harmful substances such as hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur oxides (SOX), formaldehyde, etc. existing in the air, and can decompose odorous substances such as acetaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, etc. The light source (931) may include a printed circuit board and a light-emitting diode mounted on the printed circuit board.

[0197] The refrigerator (1) may further include an ion generator (930) provided inside the cooling duct (900). When voltage is applied to the ion generator (930), the ion generator (930) may ionize the surrounding air. The ion generator (930) may be installed on the bottom surface of the cooling duct body (910). The ion generator (930) may be positioned in the cooling space (990) of the cooling duct (900) so as to be located between the cooling fan (800) and the cooling sink (570). The ion generator (930) may be located downstream of the light source (931).

[0198] The cooling duct cover (940) may include a bottom (941), side portions (942, 943) extending upward from both side edges of the bottom (941), and a rear portion (944) extending upward from the rear edge of the bottom (941).

[0199] An intake port (991) through which air from the storage chamber (11) is sucked into the interior of the cooling duct (900) may be formed on the bottom (941) of the cooling duct cover (940). The intake port (991) may be formed below the cooling fan (800). The cooling duct (900) may include an exhaust port (992) provided to exhaust air that has exchanged heat with the cooling sink (570) into the storage chamber (11). The exhaust port (992) may be formed at the front end of the cooling duct (900). The exhaust port (992) may be formed between the front portion of the cooling duct body (910) and the front portion of the cooling duct cover (940). The exhaust port (992) may be formed to be long along the left-right longitudinal direction of the cooling duct (900).

[0200] In this way, since the air outlet (992) is formed at the front end of the cooling duct (900), the air discharged through the air outlet (992) can be blown to the front of the storage chamber (11). Accordingly, an air curtain in which air flows vertically downward in the front of the storage chamber (11) can be formed by the air discharged through the air outlet (992).

[0201] Furthermore, the cooling duct (900) may be arranged so that the air outlet (992) is positioned closer to the front of the storage chamber (11). That is, compared to the illustrated embodiment, the cooling duct (900) itself may be positioned closer to the front of the storage chamber (11), or the cooling duct (900) may be formed to have a longer length in the front-to-back direction so that the air outlet (992) is positioned closer to the front of the storage chamber (11). Through this structure, the air curtain can be formed more efficiently.

[0202] The cooling duct (900) can guide the defrost water formed by the cooling sink (570) to the rear of the cooling duct (900). The defrost water formed by melting the frost formed on the surface of the cooling sink (570) can fall from the cooling sink (570) to the bottom (941) of the cooling duct cover (940).

[0203] The cooling duct (900) may include a drain (970) to drain the defrost water that has fallen to the bottom (941) of the cooling duct cover (940) to the outside of the cooling duct (900). The drain (970) may be formed at the rear portion (944) of the cooling duct cover (940). The drain (970) may be formed at the lower portion of the rear portion (944) so ​​that the defrost water flowing through the bottom (941) of the cooling duct cover (940) can be easily drained. That is, the drain (970) may be formed so as not to be spaced apart from the bottom (941).

[0204] The bottom (941) of the cooling duct cover (940) may be formed to slope downward as it approaches the drain (970) to guide the water to the drain (970).

[0205] The cooling duct cover (940) may include a defrost water guide (980) protruding from the bottom (941) of the cooling duct cover (940) to guide the defrost water to the drain (970). The defrost water guide (980) may be formed to extend in the front-rear direction. The defrost water guide (980) may be formed to extend in a direction toward the drain (970). A plurality of defrost water guides (980) may be formed spaced apart from each other on the bottom (941) of the cooling duct cover (940).

[0206] The defrost water guide (980) can extend in a direction (981) perpendicular to the direction (577) in which the plurality of cooling fins (575) extend (see FIG. 11). Accordingly, the defrost water guide (980) can contact the plurality of cooling fins (575) of the cooling sink (570) located in the cooling space (990), and a gap can be formed between the plurality of cooling fins (575) and the bottom (941) of the cooling duct cover (940). In this way, since a gap is formed between the plurality of cooling fins (575) and the bottom (941) of the cooling duct cover (940), the defrost water can be smoothly guided to the drain (970) through the gap.

[0207] With this configuration, the water generated in the thermoelectric module (500) can be smoothly drained to the outside of the main body (100) without being accumulated in the cooling duct (900).

[0208] FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating an evaporator duct according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 22 is an exploded view illustrating the front and rear portions of an evaporator duct according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 23 is a perspective view illustrating the rear portion of an evaporator duct according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0209] Referring to FIGS. 21 to 23, an evaporator duct (70) according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0210] An evaporator duct (70) may be provided at the rear side of the storage compartment (11) to guide cold air generated in the evaporator (3) to the storage compartment (11). The evaporator duct (70) may be connected to the rear wall (150) of the main body (100). For this purpose, the evaporator duct (70) may include a rear wall connecting portion (74) at the rear.

[0211] The evaporator duct (70) may include an internal passage (78) formed therein to guide cold air, and a cold air discharge port (72) formed at the front of the evaporator duct (70) to supply cold air from the internal passage (78) to the storage chamber (11). The evaporator duct (70) may include a cold air intake port (76) formed to allow cold air generated in the evaporator (3) to flow into the internal passage (78). The cold air intake port (76) may be formed at the lower portion of the evaporator duct (70).

[0212] The evaporator duct (70) may include a duct joining hole (73) formed on the front side to allow a duct joining protrusion (960) protruding toward the rear of the cooling duct (900) to be joined.

[0213] The evaporator duct (70) may include a drainage portion (77) provided to guide the defrost water formed by the cooling sink (570). The defrost water formed by the cooling sink (570) may be guided to the drainage guide portion (77) through the drain port (970) of the cooling duct (900).

[0214] A drain guide (77) may be formed inside the evaporator duct (70). The drain guide (77) may extend vertically. The drain guide (77) may be formed to have a passage for guiding the defrost water. The drain guide (77) may have an inlet (77a) and an outlet (77b).

[0215] The water that is drained to the outside of the cooling duct (900) through the drain port (970) of the cooling duct (900) can flow along the duct joining projection (960) and then flow into the inside of the drain guide (77) through the inlet (77a) of the drain guide (77).

[0216] A drain hose (not shown) can be connected to the outlet (77b) of the drain guide (77). A rear opening (79) can be formed at the rear of the evaporator duct (70) so that the drain hose can be connected to the outlet (77b) of the drain guide (77).

[0217] On the other hand, the evaporator duct (70) may include an evaporator duct front portion (71) forming the front of the evaporator duct (70), and an evaporator duct rear portion (75) coupled to the rear side of the evaporator duct front portion (71) to form an internal flow path (78) of the evaporator duct (70). A cold air discharge port (72) for supplying cold air to the storage chamber (11), and a duct coupling hole (73) to which a connecting duct (900) is coupled may be formed in the evaporator duct front portion (71).

[0218] As described above, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the thermoelectric cooling device (400) is placed on the upper part of the main body (100), and the heat dissipation sink (520), the thermoelectric element (530), and the cooling sink (570) are sequentially placed from top to bottom, so that the heat dissipation and cooling performance of the thermoelectric cooling device (400) can be improved.

[0219] In particular, the cold air generated through the thermoelectric cooling device (400) descends downward due to its high density and is efficiently transferred inside the storage room by convection, so the cooling efficiency of the storage room through the thermoelectric cooling device (400) can be improved.

[0220] In addition, since the cooling sink (570) is located below the thermoelectric element (530), the water generated in the cooling sink (570) is prevented from penetrating into the thermoelectric element (530), and failure and malfunction of the thermoelectric element (530) can be prevented.

[0221] While the technical concept of the present invention has been described above through specific examples, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these examples. Various embodiments that can be modified or altered by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention as defined in the claims are also within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A body having an upper wall; A storage room formed inside the above main body; A door provided to open and close the above storage room; A thermoelectric element provided on the upper wall, comprising a heating part that generates heat and faces upward, and a cooling part that absorbs heat and faces downward; A cooling sink having a cooling sink base in contact with the cooling unit, and a plurality of cooling fins protruding from the cooling sink base in a first direction perpendicular to a lower surface of the cooling sink base and extending in a second direction parallel to a lower surface of the cooling sink base, the cooling sink being cooled as the cooling unit absorbs heat; A cooling fan provided on the upper wall to blow air in the second direction toward the plurality of cooling fins, wherein the air blown by the cooling fan is cooled by the cooling sink; and A refrigerator comprising: a cooling duct provided on the upper wall to guide air cooled by the cooling sink; 2. In paragraph 1, The above cooling fan is a centrifugal fan that sucks air into the cooling fan along the axial direction of the cooling fan and discharges the air sucked into the cooling fan in the radial direction of the cooling fan. A refrigerator wherein the cooling fan is provided on the lower surface of the upper wall such that the rotation axis of the centrifugal fan is perpendicular to the lower surface of the upper wall and the cooling sink is positioned in the radial direction of the centrifugal fan.

3. In paragraph 1, An evaporator that evaporates the refrigerant to produce cold air; and It further includes an evaporator duct provided at the rear side of the storage room to supply cold air generated by the evaporator to the storage room; A refrigerator wherein the cooling duct includes a duct coupling projection protruding rearwardly to be coupled to the evaporator duct.

4. In paragraph 1, The above body, Internal wound with internal opening; Trauma with traumatic opening; A connecting frame provided between the inner opening and the outer opening so as to form a through hole penetrating the upper wall; and Including an insulating material provided in an insulating space formed by the inner surface, the outer surface, and the connecting frame; The above cooling duct is a refrigerator connected to the above connecting frame.

5. In paragraph 4, The above connecting frame is, a frame base connected to the above inner opening; and A frame body protruding from the upper surface of the frame base and connected to the external opening; The above cooling duct is a refrigerator connected to the frame base.

6. In paragraph 5, A refrigerator wherein the cooling duct includes an elastic coupling projection protruding upward from the cooling duct so as to be elastically coupled to the frame base.

7. In paragraph 5, A refrigerator further comprising a cooling duct coupling member that penetrates the cooling duct and is coupled to the frame base so that the cooling duct is coupled to the frame base.

8. In paragraph 5, A refrigerator comprising: a cooling duct body having a sink passage hole through which the cooling sink passes; and a cooling duct cover coupled to the lower side of the cooling duct body.

9. In paragraph 8, The above cooling fan is a refrigerator located in the above cooling duct body.

10. In paragraph 8, The above cooling duct body includes a fan installation portion protruding upward, A refrigerator in which a fan accommodation space for accommodating the cooling fan is formed under the bottom surface of the fan installation portion.

11. In paragraph 10, The above frame base has a base projection that protrudes upward, A refrigerator including an installation unit receiving space for receiving the fan installation unit under the bottom surface of the base protrusion.

12. In paragraph 8, A refrigerator wherein the cooling duct cover includes an intake port provided to allow air inside the storage compartment to be sucked into the cooling space between the cooling duct and the cooling duct cover.

13. In paragraph 8, The above cooling duct includes an exhaust outlet provided to discharge cooled air through heat exchange with the above cooling sink into the interior of the storage room, A refrigerator in which the above cold air discharge port is formed between the front part of the above cooling duct body and the front part of the above cooling duct cover.

14. In paragraph 8, The above cooling duct cover, floor; a rear portion extending upward from the rear edge of the above floor; and Including a drain formed in the rear part to drain the above-mentioned water to the outside of the cooling duct; A refrigerator in which the floor slopes downwards as it approaches the drain.

15. In paragraph 14, A refrigerator wherein the cooling duct cover includes a defrost water guide protruding upward from the bottom to guide the defrost water toward the drain.

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