Refrigerator, control method for refrigerator, and storage medium

Abstract

Some embodiments provided in the present application belong to the technical field of household appliances. Provided is a refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body configured with a storage compartment; a door configured to open or close the storage compartment; and a refrigeration system, which is arranged in the refrigerator body and comprises: a compressor arranged in a compressor chamber, a condenser, an evaporator, a control valve, an anti-condensation tube arranged at the contact portion between the refrigerator body and the door, and an evaporation tube. When the refrigeration system is in a refrigeration mode, refrigerant flowing out from the compressor sequentially passes through the evaporation tube, the anti-condensation tube, the condenser and the evaporator and then flows back to the compressor; when the refrigeration system is in a defrosting mode, refrigerant flowing out from the compressor sequentially passes through the evaporator and the condenser and then flows back to the compressor.

Description

Refrigerator, Refrigerator Control Methods and Storage Media

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 2024221012012, filed on August 28, 2024; and Chinese Patent Application No. 2024111785733, filed on August 26, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This application relates to the field of home appliance technology. More specifically, it relates to a refrigerator, a refrigerator control method, and a storage medium. Background Technology

[0004] When a frost-free refrigerator is in cooling mode, frost will form on the evaporator surface when the finned evaporator surface temperature is below the air dew point temperature and below 0°C. As the frost layer thickens, defrosting is necessary to prevent reduced heat exchange efficiency and increased compartment temperature due to frost blockage of the evaporator. In related technologies, defrosting can be performed by refrigerant counterflow when defrosting mode is activated. Specifically, the refrigerant flows counterflow through various components of the refrigeration system, with the high-temperature, high-pressure gas from the compressor entering the evaporator, utilizing the heat from the high-temperature, high-pressure gas to defrost the evaporator. To improve defrosting efficiency, a combination of electric defrosting and counterflow defrosting can be used. However, the heater body temperature for electric defrosting is high, requiring safety distance control, heat insulation protection, and temperature fuse protection, posing certain safety hazards. Furthermore, this method has relatively low heat utilization. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Some embodiments of this application provide a refrigerator, including:

[0006] The container is designed with a storage compartment.

[0007] The door is used to open or close the storage room;

[0008] A refrigeration system, housed within the enclosure, includes:

[0009] compressor;

[0010] Condenser;

[0011] Evaporator;

[0012] Control valve;

[0013] A decondensation pipe is installed in the contact area between the housing and the door.

[0014] Evaporator tube;

[0015] The control valve is connected to the exhaust port of the compressor, the air inlet of the compressor, the inlet of the evaporator, the outlet of the decondenser, the inlet of the condenser, and the outlet of the evaporator, respectively. The outlet of the evaporator is connected to the inlet of the decondenser, and the outlet of the decondenser is connected to the inlet of the condenser.

[0016] When the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode, the control valve connects the compressor to the evaporator, the decondenser, the condenser, and the evaporator, so that the refrigerant flowing from the compressor flows through the evaporator, the decondenser, the condenser, and the evaporator in sequence before flowing to the compressor.

[0017] When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, the control valve connects the pipeline between the compressor and the evaporator and the condenser, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the compressor flows through the evaporator and the condenser in sequence before flowing to the compressor.

[0018] In some embodiments of this application, the refrigeration system further includes a compressor compartment and an evaporating dish, wherein the compressor and the evaporating dish are both disposed within the compressor compartment, and the evaporating tube is disposed within the evaporating dish.

[0019] In some embodiments of this application, the control valve includes:

[0020] The first port is connected to the exhaust pipe of the compressor;

[0021] The second port is connected to the inlet of the evaporation tube;

[0022] The third port is connected to the outlet of the decondensation pipe via a connecting pipe;

[0023] The fourth port is connected to the connecting pipe;

[0024] The fifth port is connected to the inlet of the condenser;

[0025] The sixth port is connected to the air inlet of the compressor;

[0026] The seventh port is connected to the outlet of the evaporator;

[0027] When the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode, the first port is connected to the second port, the fourth port is connected to the fifth port, and the sixth port is connected to the seventh port.

[0028] When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, the first port is connected to the third port, the fourth port is connected to the seventh port, and the fifth port is connected to the sixth port.

[0029] In some embodiments of this application, a second branch and a first branch are provided in parallel between the condenser and the evaporator; a first switching valve, a first drying filter and a first throttling device are provided in sequence on the first branch, and a second switching valve, a second throttling device and a second drying filter are provided in sequence on the second branch;

[0030] When the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode, the first switching valve is open and the second switching valve is closed, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser flows to the evaporator after passing through the first switching valve, the first dryer filter and the first throttling device in sequence.

[0031] When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, the first switch valve is closed and the second switch valve is open, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator flows into the condenser after passing through the second dryer filter, the second throttling device and the second switch valve in sequence.

[0032] In some embodiments of this application, the first throttling device and the second throttling device are flow regulating valves.

[0033] In some embodiments of this application, the flow rate of the first throttling device is less than the flow rate of the second throttling device.

[0034] In some embodiments of this application, the flow rate of the first throttling device is the same as the flow rate of the second throttling device.

[0035] In some embodiments of this application, the refrigerator further includes a controller, which is electrically connected to the first switching valve, the second switching valve, the refrigeration system, and the control valve, respectively.

[0036] The controller is configured as follows:

[0037] When a defrosting requirement is detected in the evaporator, the compressor is stopped; and when the ambient temperature of the refrigerator's environment is greater than a preset value, the first and second switching valves are opened; after the first and second switching valves have been open for a preset time, the compressor is started, the first switching valve is closed, and the first port of the control valve is connected to the third port, the fourth port to the seventh port, and the fifth port to the sixth port, so that the refrigeration system enters defrosting mode.

[0038] Some embodiments of this application provide a refrigerator, including:

[0039] The container is designed with a storage compartment.

[0040] The door is used to open or close the storage room;

[0041] A refrigeration system, disposed within the enclosure, includes:

[0042] compressor;

[0043] Condenser;

[0044] Evaporator;

[0045] Control valve;

[0046] A decondensation pipe is installed in the contact area between the housing and the door.

[0047] Evaporator tube;

[0048] The compressor's exhaust port, the evaporator pipe, the decondenser pipe, and the control valve are connected in sequence.

[0049] When the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode, the control valve opens the passage between the compressor and the evaporator, the decondenser, and the condenser, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the compressor flows through the evaporator, the decondenser, and the condenser in sequence before flowing to the compressor;

[0050] When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, the control valve connects the pipeline between the compressor and the evaporator, the defrost pipe, the evaporator and the condenser, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the compressor flows through the defrost pipe, the evaporator and the condenser in sequence before flowing to the compressor.

[0051] In some embodiments of this application, the refrigeration system further includes a compressor compartment and an evaporating dish, wherein the compressor and the evaporating dish are both disposed within the compressor compartment, and the evaporating tube is disposed within the evaporating dish.

[0052] Some embodiments of this application provide a refrigerator, including:

[0053] The container is designed with a storage compartment.

[0054] The door is used to open or close the storage room;

[0055] A refrigeration system, disposed within the enclosure, includes:

[0056] compressor;

[0057] Condenser;

[0058] Evaporator;

[0059] Control valve;

[0060] A decondensation pipe is installed in the contact area between the housing and the door.

[0061] Evaporator tube;

[0062] The control valve is connected to the exhaust port of the compressor, the air inlet of the compressor, the inlet of the evaporator, the outlet of the decondenser, the outlet of the evaporator, the inlet of the condenser, and the outlet of the condenser, respectively. The outlet of the evaporator is connected to the inlet of the decondenser.

[0063] When the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode, the control valve connects the pipeline between the compressor and the condenser, the evaporator, the decondenser, and the evaporator, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the compressor flows through the condenser, the evaporator, the decondenser, and the evaporator in sequence before flowing to the compressor;

[0064] When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, the control valve connects the pipeline between the compressor and the evaporator and the condenser, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the compressor flows through the evaporator and the condenser in sequence before flowing to the compressor.

[0065] In some embodiments of this application, the refrigeration system further includes a compressor compartment and an evaporating dish, wherein the compressor and the evaporating dish are both disposed within the compressor compartment, and the evaporating tube is disposed within the evaporating dish.

[0066] In some embodiments of this application, the control valve includes:

[0067] The first port is connected to the outlet of the condenser;

[0068] The second port is connected to the inlet of the evaporation tube;

[0069] The third port is connected to the outlet of the decondensation pipe;

[0070] The fourth port is connected to the exhaust pipe of the compressor;

[0071] The fifth port is connected to the inlet of the condenser;

[0072] The sixth port is connected to the air inlet of the compressor;

[0073] The seventh port is connected to the outlet of the evaporator;

[0074] When the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode, the first port is connected to the second port, the fourth port is connected to the fifth port, and the sixth port is connected to the seventh port.

[0075] When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, the first port is connected to the third port, the fourth port is connected to the seventh port, and the fifth port is connected to the sixth port.

[0076] Some embodiments of this application provide a refrigerator, including:

[0077] Refrigeration system, including:

[0078] compressor;

[0079] Condenser;

[0080] Evaporator;

[0081] A solenoid valve is located on the pipeline between the compressor and the condenser, and on the pipeline between the compressor and the evaporator; when the refrigeration system is in cooling mode, the solenoid valve opens the pipeline between the compressor and the condenser to allow refrigerant flowing from the compressor to flow to the condenser; when the refrigeration system is in defrosting mode, the solenoid valve opens the pipeline between the compressor and the evaporator to allow refrigerant flowing from the compressor to flow to the evaporator;

[0082] A first temperature sensor is disposed on the pipeline between the compressor inlet and the solenoid valve, and is configured to detect the temperature of the refrigerant at the compressor inlet.

[0083] A first pressure sensor is disposed on the pipeline between the compressor inlet and the solenoid valve, and is configured to detect the pressure of the refrigerant at the compressor inlet.

[0084] The controller, electrically connected to the first temperature sensor, the first pressure sensor, the solenoid valve, and the compressor respectively, is configured as follows:

[0085] When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, a first temperature is obtained through the first temperature sensor, and a first pressure is obtained through the first pressure sensor.

[0086] If the first temperature is less than or equal to the critical temperature, the refrigeration system is controlled to switch from defrosting mode to refrigeration mode; the critical temperature is the temperature of the saturated gaseous refrigerant corresponding to the first pressure.

[0087] When the refrigeration system meets a preset condition, the refrigeration system is controlled to switch from refrigeration mode to defrosting mode, wherein the preset condition is that the pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigeration system reaches a stable state.

[0088] In some embodiments of this application, the refrigerator further includes: a cabinet having a storage compartment, wherein the refrigeration system is disposed within the cabinet.

[0089] In some embodiments of this application, the refrigerator further includes a second pressure sensor disposed on a pipeline between the compressor's exhaust port and the solenoid valve, configured to detect the pressure of the refrigerant at the compressor's exhaust port;

[0090] The controller is configured as follows:

[0091] After the refrigeration system enters the refrigeration mode, a second pressure is obtained through the first pressure sensor, and a third pressure is obtained through the second pressure sensor.

[0092] If the difference between the second pressure and the third pressure is within a preset threshold range, then the refrigeration system is determined to meet the preset condition.

[0093] In some embodiments of this application, if the difference between the second pressure and the third pressure is within a preset threshold range, the controller is further configured to:

[0094] The fourth pressure at multiple moments is obtained through the first pressure sensor, and the fifth pressure at multiple moments is obtained through the second pressure sensor;

[0095] For any one of the plurality of times, determine the difference between the fourth pressure and the fifth pressure at that time;

[0096] If the difference between the multiple time points is within the preset threshold range, then the refrigeration system is determined to meet the preset condition.

[0097] In some embodiments of this application, the refrigerator further includes an ambient temperature sensor disposed on the outside of the refrigerator body, electrically connected to the controller, and configured to acquire the ambient temperature of the environment in which the refrigerator is located;

[0098] The controller is configured as follows:

[0099] After the refrigeration system enters the refrigeration mode, the amount of refrigerant charged in the refrigeration system is obtained;

[0100] The ambient temperature is obtained through the ambient temperature sensor.

[0101] Based on the injection volume and the ambient temperature, a target duration is determined in a preset correspondence, wherein the preset correspondence includes multiple injection volumes and the duration corresponding to each injection volume at different ambient temperatures, and the duration is the time required for the pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigeration system to reach a stable state after the refrigeration system enters the refrigeration mode;

[0102] When the duration for which the refrigeration system enters refrigeration mode reaches the target duration, it is determined that the refrigeration system meets the preset conditions.

[0103] In some embodiments of this application, the refrigerator further includes a second temperature sensor disposed on the air inlet pipe of the evaporator, configured to detect the temperature value of the air inlet of the evaporator;

[0104] The controller is also configured to:

[0105] After the refrigeration system re-enters defrost mode, the second temperature at the current moment is obtained through the second temperature sensor; the third temperature detected by the second temperature sensor at the first moment is obtained, where the first moment is a preset time before the current moment.

[0106] The first temperature change rate is determined based on the second temperature and the third temperature;

[0107] Based on the first temperature change rate, determine whether defrosting has been completed;

[0108] If so, control the refrigeration system to exit defrost mode.

[0109] In some embodiments of this application, a flow regulating valve is provided in the pipeline between the condenser and the evaporator;

[0110] The controller is also configured to:

[0111] When a defrosting requirement is detected in the evaporator, a sixth pressure is obtained through the second pressure sensor, and a seventh pressure is obtained through the first pressure sensor;

[0112] Determine whether the difference between the sixth pressure and the seventh pressure is less than a preset difference;

[0113] If so, the opening degree of the flow regulating valve is controlled to the first opening degree so that the flow of the flow regulating valve is the first flow; the refrigeration system is controlled to enter the defrost mode.

[0114] In some embodiments of this application, the controller is configured as follows:

[0115] When a defrosting requirement is detected in the evaporator, the status of the compressor is obtained, which is either on or off.

[0116] If the compressor is in the "on" state, then the compressor is controlled to stop, and the flow regulating valve is controlled to open to a first degree, so that the flow rate of the flow regulating valve is a second flow rate, which is greater than the first flow rate.

[0117] In some embodiments of this application, a second branch and a first branch are provided in parallel between the condenser and the evaporator; a first switching valve, a first drying filter and a first throttling device are provided in sequence on the first branch, and a second switching valve, a second throttling device and a second drying filter are provided in sequence on the second branch;

[0118] When the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode, the first switching valve is open and the second switching valve is closed, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser flows to the evaporator after passing through the first switching valve, the first dryer filter and the first throttling device.

[0119] When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, the first switching valve is closed and the second switching valve is open, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator flows to the condenser after passing through the second dryer filter, the second throttling device and the second switching valve.

[0120] Some embodiments of this application provide a method for controlling a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprising:

[0121] Refrigeration system, including:

[0122] compressor;

[0123] Condenser;

[0124] Evaporator;

[0125] A solenoid valve is located on the pipeline between the compressor and the condenser, and on the pipeline between the compressor and the evaporator; when the refrigeration system is in cooling mode, the solenoid valve opens the pipeline between the compressor and the condenser to allow refrigerant flowing from the compressor to flow to the condenser; when the refrigeration system is in defrosting mode, the solenoid valve opens the pipeline between the compressor and the evaporator to allow refrigerant flowing from the compressor to flow to the evaporator;

[0126] A first temperature sensor is disposed on the pipeline between the compressor inlet and the solenoid valve, and is configured to detect the temperature of the refrigerant at the compressor inlet.

[0127] A first pressure sensor is disposed on the pipeline between the compressor inlet and the solenoid valve, and is configured to detect the pressure of the refrigerant at the compressor inlet.

[0128] The method includes:

[0129] When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, a first temperature is obtained through the first temperature sensor, and a first pressure is obtained through the first pressure sensor.

[0130] If the first temperature is less than or equal to the critical temperature, the refrigeration system is controlled to switch from defrosting mode to refrigeration mode; the critical temperature is the temperature of the saturated gaseous refrigerant corresponding to the first pressure.

[0131] When the refrigeration system meets a preset condition, the refrigeration system is controlled to switch from refrigeration mode to defrosting mode, wherein the preset condition is that the pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigeration system reaches a stable state.

[0132] In some embodiments of this application, the refrigerator further includes: a cabinet having a storage compartment, wherein the refrigeration system is disposed within the cabinet. Attached Figure Description

[0133] To more clearly illustrate the implementation methods in some embodiments or related technologies of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments or related technologies will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings.

[0134] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigeration system in some embodiments of this application;

[0135] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow direction in defrost mode in the refrigeration system of some embodiments of this application;

[0136] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerator provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0137] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a refrigeration system provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0138] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the installation of the decondensation tube 42 on a refrigerator according to some embodiments of this application;

[0139] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the evaporator tube 41 of some embodiments of this application installed on a refrigerator;

[0140] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the evaporation tube 41 inside the evaporation dish 14 in the example;

[0141] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow direction in the refrigeration system in refrigeration mode;

[0142] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow in the defrosting mode of the refrigeration system;

[0143] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a control valve provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0144] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a refrigeration system provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0145] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow direction when the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode;

[0146] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow when the refrigeration system is in defrost mode;

[0147] Figure 14 is a schematic diagram of another refrigeration system provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0148] Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow direction when the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode;

[0149] Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow when the refrigeration system is in defrost mode;

[0150] Figure 17 is a schematic diagram of another refrigeration system provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0151] Figure 18 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow in the example refrigeration system in refrigeration mode;

[0152] Figure 19 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow in the example refrigeration system in defrost mode;

[0153] Figure 20 is a schematic diagram of another refrigeration system provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0154] Figure 21 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow direction when the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode;

[0155] Figure 22 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow when the refrigeration system is in defrost mode;

[0156] Figure 23 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerator to which this application applies;

[0157] Figure 24 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigeration system 103 provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0158] Figure 25 is a schematic diagram of another refrigeration system 103 provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0159] Figure 26 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow direction in the refrigeration system 103 of some embodiments of this application when it is in refrigeration mode;

[0160] Figure 27 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow in the defrosting mode of the refrigeration system 103 in some embodiments of this application;

[0161] Figure 28 is a schematic diagram of the installation of a pressure sensor according to some embodiments of this application;

[0162] Figure 29 is a flowchart illustrating a refrigerator control method provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0163] Figure 30 is a flowchart illustrating another refrigerator control method provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0164] Figure 31 is a flowchart illustrating another refrigerator control method provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0165] Figure 32 is a flowchart illustrating another refrigerator control method provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0166] Figure 33 is a flowchart illustrating another refrigerator control method provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0167] Figure 34 is a schematic diagram of the rapid temperature change period of the air inlet of the evaporator in some embodiments of this application;

[0168] Figure 35 is a flowchart illustrating another refrigerator control method provided in some embodiments of this application;

[0169] Figure 36 is a schematic diagram of multiple moments before the first moment in some embodiments of this application.

[0170] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached drawings: 10-Refrigerator; 11-Freezer compartment; 101-Cabinet; 102-Door; 103-Refrigeration system; 104-Controller; 121-Center beam; 122-Lower beam; 14-Evaporator dish; 31-Compressor; 32-Condenser; 33-Evaporator; 34-Control valve; 340-Solenoid valve; 341-Rotating structure; 342-First channel; 343-Second channel; 35-First switching valve; 36-First throttling device; 37-Second switching valve; 38-Second throttling device; 39-First dryer filter; 40-Second dryer filter; 41-Evaporator pipe; 42-Defrosting pipe; 43-Connecting pipe; a1-First port of control valve 34; a2-Second port of control valve 34; a3-Third port of control valve 34; a4-Fourth port of control valve 34 Ports; a5 - fifth port of control valve 34; a6 - sixth port of control valve 34; a7 - seventh port of control valve 34; b13 - inlet of solenoid valve 340; b22 - first outlet of solenoid valve 340; b32 - second outlet of solenoid valve 340; b42 - third outlet of solenoid valve 340; c1 - inlet of evaporator pipe 41; d1 - outlet of decondensation pipe 42; c2 - outlet of evaporator pipe 41; d2 - inlet of decondensation pipe 42; e1 - inlet of condenser 32; e2 - outlet of condenser 32; d2 - inlet of decondensation pipe 42; f1 - outlet of evaporator 33. Detailed Implementation

[0171] To make some embodiments of this application clearer, exemplary implementations of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of exemplary embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described exemplary embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. It should be noted that the brief descriptions of terms in this application are only for the convenience of understanding the implementations described below, and are not intended to limit the implementations of this application. Unless otherwise stated, these terms should be understood in their ordinary and common meaning. In addition, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to be omnipresent but not exclusive. For example, a product or device that comprises a series of components is not necessarily limited to those components that are explicitly listed, but may include other components that are not explicitly listed or that are inherent to such products or devices.

[0172] By installing a portion of the refrigerant piping in the refrigerator's refrigeration system as a defrosting pipe on the center beam and door frame of the front of the refrigerator, the heat of the refrigerant can be used to heat the center beam and door frame, preventing condensation from forming on the door and door seams due to low temperatures. Another portion of the refrigerant piping in the compressor compartment is installed as an evaporator pipe to evaporate water flowing from the evaporator or refrigerator compartment (including condensate from the refrigerator compartment and defrost water from the evaporator), preventing overflow and inconvenience to the user.

[0173] In related technologies, as shown in Figure 1, the decondensation pipe and evaporation pipe are installed in the high-pressure condensing pipe section between the evaporator and condenser (i.e., before the throttling device between the evaporator and condenser). When the refrigeration system is in cooling mode, the decondensation pipe and evaporation pipe can utilize the condensation heat of the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser after the condenser has cooled to achieve decondensation and evaporation of condensate. However, when the refrigeration system is in defrosting mode, as shown in Figure 2, the pipe section where the decondensation pipe and evaporation pipe are located changes from a high-pressure section to a low-pressure section due to the refrigerant flowing in reverse, absorbing heat and causing the cabinet and door structures to frost at low temperatures, and the water in the evaporation dish to freeze. Therefore, some embodiments of this application provide a refrigerator that uses a control valve to control the refrigerant backflow and short-circuit control of the decondensation pipe and evaporation pipe in defrosting mode. This ensures that the decondensation pipe and evaporation pipe are not connected in defrosting mode, thereby avoiding the low-temperature frost formation on the cabinet and door structures and the freezing of the water in the evaporation dish in defrosting mode. Furthermore, it saves the driving power of the valve body in the refrigeration system, achieving energy saving.

[0174] The specific structure of a refrigerator provided in some embodiments of this application will be described. For example, FIG3 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerator provided in some embodiments of this application. As shown in FIG3, the refrigerator 10 includes:

[0175] Box 101;

[0176] Door body 102;

[0177] The storage room is located inside the container 101.

[0178] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG3, the storage room includes a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment 11, etc., but the refrigerator compartment is not shown in FIG3.

[0179] It is understood that Figure 3 is only a schematic diagram of a refrigerator applicable to some embodiments of this application, and it can also be a refrigerator with other structures, which this application does not limit. For example, the refrigerator in some embodiments of this application can be a single-system refrigerator (multiple compartments share one evaporator), a dual-system refrigerator (the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment use different evaporators), or a three-system refrigerator (the freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment, and the variable temperature compartment use different evaporators). Generally, the refrigerator exemplified in Figure 3 is a dual-system refrigerator.

[0180] In some embodiments, referring to FIG4, the refrigerator 10 further includes:

[0181] Refrigeration system 103;

[0182] The controller 104 is electrically connected to the refrigeration system 103.

[0183] For example, Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigeration system provided in some embodiments of this application. As shown in Figure 4, the refrigeration system 103 includes:

[0184] Compressor 31 is configured to provide power for the cooling of refrigerator 10.

[0185] The condenser 32 is configured to condense and dissipate heat from the refrigerant from the compressor 31 to form liquid refrigerant;

[0186] Evaporator 33 is configured to absorb heat through evaporation of the refrigerant flowing out of condenser 32, thereby providing cooling capacity to the storage compartment. It can be understood that if refrigerator 10 is a dual-system or triple-system refrigerator, the evaporator 33 can be an evaporator used to cool the freezer compartment 11. The refrigeration system 103 also includes evaporators for cooling other compartments. The connection between the evaporator and condenser 32 can be the same as the connection between the evaporator 33 and condenser 32, which will not be elaborated further here. A control valve 34 is provided between compressor 31 and condenser 32 and evaporator 33. This control valve 34 can control the flow direction of the refrigerant flowing out of compressor 31. For example, in cooling mode, the refrigerant flows from compressor 31 to condenser 32; in defrosting mode, the refrigerant flows from compressor 31 to evaporator 33.

[0187] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG4, the refrigeration system 103 further includes an evaporator pipe 41 and a decondensation pipe 42. In some embodiments, FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the decondensation pipe 42 installed on a refrigerator according to some embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG5, the decondensation pipe 42 (indicated by dashed lines in FIG5) can be disposed in the contact portion between the cabinet 101 and the door 102. For example, the contact portion may include the front plate of the middle beam 121 of the door 102 and the front plate of the lower beam 122 of the cabinet 101. It can be understood that when the door 102 (not shown in FIG5) is closed, the front plate of the middle beam 121 and the front plate of the lower beam 122 can contact the door.

[0188] In some embodiments, the center beam 121, in addition to its supporting and sealing functions, can also be used to install components of the refrigeration system, such as condenser pipes or other electrical components. In some embodiments, the insulation material between the door 102 and the cabinet 101 may also be installed or improved through the center beam 121, thereby improving overall energy efficiency. The lower beam 122, similar to the center beam 121, typically undertakes more physical support tasks, ensuring that the refrigerator door is less prone to deformation after prolonged use. It is also typically integrated with the installation location of the defrosting pipe 42 to guide and regulate airflow at the contact point between the door 102 and the cabinet 101, ensuring effective control of frost in this area. The improved design of the lower beam 122 not only enhances sealing but also prevents energy waste caused by incomplete door closure or poor sealing.

[0189] In some embodiments, FIG6 is a schematic diagram of the evaporator tube 41 installed on a refrigerator according to some embodiments of this application. As shown in FIG6, the refrigerator 10 also includes an evaporating dish 14. The evaporator tube 41 can be disposed on the evaporating dish 14 of the compressor compartment 13. The evaporator tube 41 can be disposed inside the evaporating dish 14 and can be in direct contact with the water on the evaporating dish 14 to facilitate the evaporation of the water on the evaporating dish 13. FIG7 is a schematic diagram of the evaporator tube 41 inside the evaporating dish 14 in an example. The control valve 34 is connected to the exhaust port y1 of the compressor 31, the air inlet y2 of the compressor 31, the inlet c1 of the evaporator tube 41, the outlet d1 of the decondensation pipe 42, the inlet e1 of the condenser 32, and the outlet f1 of the evaporator 33, respectively. The outlet c2 of the evaporator tube 41 is connected to the inlet d2 of the decondensation pipe 42, and the outlet d1 of the decondensation pipe 42 is connected to the inlet e1 of the condenser 32.

[0190] When the refrigeration system 103 is in cooling mode, the control valve 34 connects the compressor 31 to the evaporator 41, the defrost pipe 42, the condenser 32, and the evaporator 33, allowing the refrigerant flowing from the compressor 31 to pass sequentially through the evaporator 41, the defrost pipe 42, the condenser 32, and the evaporator 33 before flowing back to the compressor 31. When the refrigeration system 103 is in defrost mode, the control valve 34 connects the compressor 31 to the evaporator 33 and the condenser 32, allowing the refrigerant flowing from the compressor 31 to pass sequentially through the evaporator 33 and the condenser 32 before flowing back to the compressor 31. In some embodiments, a control valve can be used to control the refrigerant backflow in defrost mode, as well as the short-circuit control of the defrost pipe and the evaporator pipe. That is, in defrost mode, the defrost pipe and the evaporator pipe are not connected, thereby preventing the cabinet, door, and other structures from frosting at low temperatures, and preventing the water in the evaporator dish from freezing in defrost mode. This also saves the power required to drive the valves in the refrigeration system, achieving energy savings.

[0191] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG4, a second branch and a first branch are provided in parallel between the outlet e2 of the condenser 32 and the evaporator 33. A first switching valve 35 and a first throttling device 36 are sequentially connected on the first branch, and a second switching valve 37 and a second throttling device 38 are sequentially connected on the second branch. When the refrigeration system 103 is in refrigeration mode, the first switching valve 35 is open and the second switching valve 37 is closed, allowing the refrigerant flowing from the condenser 32 to flow to the evaporator 33 after passing through the first switching valve 35 and the first throttling device 36. For example, refer to FIG8, which is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow direction when the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode. When the refrigeration system 103 is in defrost mode, the first switching valve 35 is closed and the second switching valve 37 is open, allowing the refrigerant flowing from the evaporator 33 to flow to the condenser 32 after passing through the second throttling device 38 and the second switching valve 37. For example, refer to FIG9, which is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow direction when the refrigeration system is in defrost mode.

[0192] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG4, the first branch is further provided with a first dryer filter 39, which is disposed in the pipeline between the first switching valve 35 and the first throttling device 36. The second branch is further provided with a second dryer filter 40, which is disposed in the pipeline between the second throttling device 38 and the evaporator 33. By providing the first dryer filter 39 in the pipeline between the first switching valve 35 and the first throttling device 36, the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser 32 can be dehydrated and impurities filtered before entering the first throttling device 36, thus preventing the first throttling device 36 from becoming clogged and improving the cooling effect. By providing the second dryer filter 40 in the pipeline between the second throttling device 38 and the evaporator 33, the refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator 33 can be dehydrated and filtered before entering the second throttling device 38, thus preventing the second throttling device 38 from becoming clogged and improving reliability. This configuration allows the refrigerant to flow to the condenser via the second branch in defrost mode and to the evaporator via the first branch in cooling mode. In both modes, the refrigerant can be throttled and its pressure reduced by the throttling device to meet the needs of defrosting and cooling.

[0193] In some embodiments, the first throttling device 36 and the second throttling device 38 can be capillary tubes. This allows for throttling and pressure reduction of the refrigerant. In some embodiments, the first throttling device 36 and the second throttling device 38 can be flow regulating valves, allowing for throttling and pressure reduction of the refrigerant by adjusting the flow rate of the flow regulating valves. In some embodiments, the flow rate of the first throttling device 36 can be less than the flow rate of the second throttling device 38. By setting the flow rate of the first throttling device 36 to be less than the flow rate of the second throttling device 38, the flow rate of the refrigerant in the refrigeration system 103 in cooling mode can be reduced, thereby saving energy. Furthermore, this results in a larger refrigerant flow rate in the defrost mode, improving defrost efficiency. In some embodiments, the flow rate of the first throttling device 36 can be the same as the flow rate of the second throttling device 38. This configuration reduces the design complexity and manufacturing cost of the refrigeration system 103.

[0194] In some embodiments, the control valve 34 consists of an electric valve body, a valve seat, and a valve core, and the opening and closing of the valve core is controlled by an electrical signal. The electric valve body can automatically adjust the refrigerant flow path according to changes in the internal thermostat of the refrigerator or the external environment. In cooling mode control, the control valve 34 connects the compressor, condenser, evaporator, evaporator pipe, and defrost pipe, allowing the refrigerant to flow along a specified path to achieve normal cooling effect. In defrost mode control, the control valve 34 adjusts the flow direction, causing the refrigerant to flow towards the evaporator and condenser, and reverses the operation to heat the evaporator to melt the frost layer and prevent moisture accumulation that could lead to frost formation. In some embodiments, the first throttling device 36 and the second throttling device 38 can also be electronic expansion valves, pressure regulating valves, or rotary throttling devices, providing more accurate flow regulation, response speed, and energy efficiency improvements, adapting to the needs of different operating modes and complex operating conditions, and further improving the performance and stability of the refrigeration system.

[0195] In some embodiments, FIG10 is a schematic diagram of a control valve 34 provided in some embodiments of this application. As shown in FIG10, the control valve 34 includes a first port a1, a second port a2, a third port a3, a fourth port a4, a fifth port a5, a sixth port a6, and a seventh port a7. When the first port a1 and the second port a2 are open, the first port a1 can communicate with the second port a2. When the first port a1 and the third port a3 are open, the first port a1 can communicate with the third port a3.

[0196] In some embodiments, the control valve 34 includes a rotatable rotating structure 341, which has a first channel 342 and a second channel 343. When the rotating structure 341 is in a first state, the fourth port a4 and the fifth port a5 are connected through the first channel 342, and the sixth port 61 and the seventh port 71 are connected through the second channel 343. When the rotating structure 341 is in a second state, the fourth port a4 and the seventh port 71 are connected through the first channel 342, and the fifth port a5 and the sixth port 61 are connected through the second channel 343. For example, when the rotating structure 341 is in the first state, rotating the structure 341 causes it to be in the second state. The center of rotation of the rotating structure 341 can be its center.

[0197] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a refrigeration system provided in some embodiments of this application. As shown in Figure 11, the exhaust port y1 of the compressor 31 is connected to the first port a1. The second port a2 of the control valve 34 is connected to the inlet c1 of the evaporator pipe 41. The third port a3 is connected to the outlet d1 of the decondenser pipe 42 through the connecting pipe 43. The fourth port a4 is connected to the connecting pipe 43. The fifth port a5 is connected to the inlet e1 of the condenser 32, and the sixth port a6 is connected to the air inlet y2 of the compressor 31. The seventh port a7 is connected to the outlet f1 of the evaporator 33. When the refrigeration system 103 is in refrigeration mode, the first port a1 of the control valve 34 is connected to the second port a2 of the control valve 34, the fourth port a4 of the control valve 34 is connected to the fifth port a5 of the control valve 34, and the sixth port a6 of the control valve 34 is connected to the seventh port a7 of the control valve 34. Specifically, the fourth port a4 and the fifth port a5 are connected through the first channel 342, and the sixth port 61 and the seventh port a7 are connected through the second channel 343.

[0198] In some embodiments, Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow when the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode. As shown in Figure 12, low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 31 and compressed into high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant in the cylinder of the compressor 31. The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant enters through the first port a1 and the second port a2 of the control valve 34, passes through the evaporator pipe 41 and the decondenser pipe 42 in sequence, enters the fourth port a4 of the control valve 34, and flows to the condenser 32 through the first channel 342. High-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas dissipates heat through condenser 32, its temperature continuously decreasing until it is gradually cooled into a liquid. It then enters the first branch, passes through the first switching valve 35 to the first dryer filter 39, and then enters the first throttling device 36 to reduce its pressure, becoming room-temperature, low-pressure wet vapor. Subsequently, it begins to absorb heat and vaporize in evaporator 33, lowering the temperature of evaporator 33 and its surroundings, and turning the refrigerant into a low-temperature, low-pressure gas. This gas then enters the seventh port a7 of control valve 34, flows through the second channel 343 to the sixth port a6, and returns to compressor 31, completing the refrigerator's refrigeration cycle. The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant, passing through evaporator pipe 41 and defrost pipe 42, prevents low-temperature frost formation on the cabinet, door, and other structures, as well as preventing water in the evaporator dish from freezing. When the refrigeration system 103 is in defrost mode, the first port a1 is connected to the third port a3, the fourth port a4 is connected to the seventh port a7, and the fifth port a5 is connected to the sixth port a6. Specifically, the fourth port a4 and the seventh port a7 are connected through the first channel, and the fifth port a5 and the sixth port a6 are connected through the second channel.

[0199] In some embodiments, Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow when the refrigeration system is in defrost mode. As shown in Figure 13, low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 31 and compressed into high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant in the cylinder of the compressor 31. Then, it enters the fourth port a4 through the first port a1 and the third port a3 of the control valve 34, and flows out from the seventh port a7 after passing through the first channel 342, thus flowing to the evaporator 33 to defrost the evaporator 33. Then, it enters the second branch, passes through the second dryer filter 40 and the second throttling device 38, and enters the condenser 32. The refrigerant flowing out from the condenser 32 then enters the fifth port a5 of the control valve 34, flows out from the sixth port a6 after passing through the second channel 343, and returns to the compressor 31. In this process, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant can melt the frost condensed on the evaporator 33 through heat conduction, thereby achieving defrost. It is understandable that in defrosting mode, the refrigerant does not pass through the evaporator pipe 41 and the defrost pipe 42, which will not cause the temperature of the cabinet, door and other structures as well as the evaporator to drop, thus avoiding frost formation on the cabinet, door and other structures, and freezing of the water in the evaporator.

[0200] In some embodiments, referring to FIG13, the refrigerator 10 further includes a controller 104, which is electrically connected to a first switching valve 35, a second switching valve 37, a compressor 31, and a control valve 34. The controller 104 is configured to: when a defrosting requirement is detected in the evaporator 33, control the compressor 31 to stop; and when the ambient temperature of the refrigerator's environment is greater than a preset value, control the first switching valve 35 and the second switching valve 37 to open, thereby connecting the first branch and the second branch; after the first switching valve 35 and the second switching valve 37 have been open for a preset duration, control the compressor 31 to start, control the first switching valve 35 to close, and control the first port a1 of the control valve 34 to connect with the third port a3, the fourth port a4 to the seventh port a7, and the fifth port a5 to the sixth port a6, thereby causing the refrigeration system 103 to enter defrosting mode. In some embodiments, the preset duration can be any duration greater than 0 and less than or equal to 10 minutes.

[0201] In some embodiments, the ambient temperature can be detected by an ambient temperature sensor located on the outside of the housing 101, and the controller 104 can obtain the ambient temperature through this temperature sensor. Because the ambient temperature is high, after the compressor 31 stops and the first switching valve 35 and the second switching valve 37 open, the pressure difference between the refrigerant on the high-pressure side (condenser side) and the low-pressure side (evaporator side) will decrease within a preset time. This process is understood as a pressure balancing process, during which the refrigerant on the low-pressure side gradually vaporizes. This increases the amount of refrigerant participating in the defrost cycle after the defrost mode is activated, thereby improving defrost efficiency. Furthermore, after the refrigerant pressure in the refrigeration system 103 is balanced, switching the control valve 34, the first switching valve 35, and the second switching valve 37 consumes less energy, which is beneficial for extending the service life of the control valve 34, the first switching valve 35, and the second switching valve 37.

[0202] In some embodiments, when the ambient temperature is lower than a preset value, the first switching valve 35 can be directly controlled to close, the second switching valve 37 to open, and the first port a1 of the control valve 34 can be connected to the third port a3, the fourth port a4 to the seventh port a7, and the fifth port a5 to the sixth port a6, so that the refrigeration system 103 enters the defrosting mode. That is, the refrigeration system 103 is not pressure balanced, which can reduce the risk of liquid slugging in the compressor 31 due to the decrease in refrigerant temperature at the compressor inlet when the ambient temperature is low.

[0203] In some embodiments, the control valve 34 can not only switch ports via the rotating structure 341, but also incorporate a flow control mechanism. For example, the control valve 34 can integrate an electronic adjustment module, making the valve's on / off state more accurate and automatically adjusting the flow rate according to different operating modes (such as cooling, heating, defrosting, etc.) without manual intervention. Furthermore, by adding a solenoid valve or servo motor drive, the switching of the control valve can be made faster and smoother, especially when the refrigeration system needs to respond quickly to changes (such as load changes, temperature changes, etc.), providing better control precision. In some embodiments, the controller 104 can not only automatically adjust the operating mode of the refrigeration system according to changes in ambient temperature, but also perform scheduling in conjunction with external sensors and real-time data. For example, the controller 104 can connect to a mobile app or cloud platform via wireless communication (such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth), allowing users to remotely monitor and adjust the refrigerator's refrigeration system status. In addition, the controller 104 can adjust the refrigerator's workload according to an external weather forecast system, pre-activating certain energy-saving or improved modes when the outside temperature is about to rise sharply, thereby improving energy efficiency. The controller 104 can be enhanced with support for temperature and humidity sensors to further improve the control of the evaporator 33, condenser 32, and the internal temperature of the enclosure. In complex operating environments (such as areas with large external temperature variations or unstable power supply), the controller 104 can automatically select the operating mode based on real-time data, such as improving defrosting efficiency or selecting a low-energy consumption mode.

[0204] In some embodiments, FIG14 is a schematic diagram of another refrigeration system provided in this application. As shown in FIG14, the refrigeration system 103 includes a condenser 32, an evaporator 33, a control valve 34, a decondensation pipe 42, an evaporation pipe 41, and a compressor 31 disposed in the compressor compartment. The positions of the decondensation pipe 42 and the evaporation pipe 41 within the housing 101 can refer to the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0205] In some embodiments, the discharge port y1 of the compressor 31, the evaporator pipe 41, the defrost pipe 42, and the control valve 34 are connected in sequence. When the refrigeration system 103 is in refrigeration mode, the control valve 34 connects the compressor 31 to the evaporator pipe 41, the defrost pipe 42, and the condenser 32, so that the refrigerant flowing from the compressor 31 flows to the compressor 31 after passing through the evaporator pipe 41, the defrost pipe 42, and the condenser 32 in sequence. When the refrigeration system 103 is in defrost mode, the control valve 34 connects the compressor 31 to the evaporator pipe 41, the defrost pipe 42, the evaporator 33, and the condenser 32, so that the refrigerant flowing from the compressor 31 flows to the compressor 31 after passing through the evaporator pipe 41, the defrost pipe 42, the evaporator 33, and the condenser 32 in sequence.

[0206] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG14, the control valve 34 includes a first port a1, a second port a2, a third port a3, and a fourth port a4. In some embodiments, when the control valve 34 uses all four ports, it functions as a reversing valve, i.e., the control valve 34 can be referred to as a reversing valve. The outlet d1 of the decondenser pipe 42 is connected to the first port a1 of the control valve 34, the second port a2 of the control valve 34 is connected to the inlet e1 of the condenser 32, the third port a3 of the control valve 34 is connected to the inlet y2 of the compressor 31, and the fourth port a4 of the control valve 34 is connected to the outlet f1 of the evaporator 33. In some embodiments, a first branch and a second branch may be provided between the outlet e2 of the condenser 32 and the evaporator 33, as described in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0207] In some embodiments, Figure 15 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow when the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode. As shown in Figure 15, low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 31 and compressed into high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant in the cylinder of the compressor 31. The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant passes through the evaporator pipe 41 and the decondenser pipe 42 in sequence, and then flows to the condenser 32 through the second port b2 of the control valve 34. The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas dissipates heat through the condenser 32, and its temperature continuously decreases, gradually cooling into a liquid. Then it enters the first branch, passes through the first switching valve 35, enters the first dryer filter 39, and then enters the first throttling device 36 to reduce its pressure and become room-temperature, low-pressure wet vapor. Subsequently, it begins to absorb heat and vaporize in the evaporator 33, which not only lowers the temperature of the evaporator 33 and its surroundings, but also turns the refrigerant into a low-temperature, low-pressure gas. After entering the fourth port a4 and the third port a3 of the control valve 34, it returns to the compressor 31, completing the refrigerator refrigeration cycle. The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant, passing through the evaporator 41 and the decondenser 42, can prevent low-temperature frost formation on the cabinet, door, and other structures, as well as the freezing of water in the evaporator dish.

[0208] In some embodiments, Figure 16 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow when the refrigeration system is in defrost mode. As shown in Figure 16, low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 31 and compressed into high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant in the cylinder of the compressor 31. After passing through the evaporator pipe 41 and the defrost pipe 42 in sequence, it flows to the evaporator 33 through the first port a1 and the fourth port a4 of the control valve 34 to defrost the evaporator 33. Then it enters the second branch, passes through the second dryer filter 40 and the second throttling device 38, and enters the condenser 32. The refrigerant flowing out of the condenser 32 then enters the second port a2 and the third port a3 of the control valve 34 and returns to the compressor 31. The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant can melt the frost condensed on the evaporator 33 through heat conduction to achieve defrost. The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant passing through the evaporator pipe 41 and the defrost pipe 42 can prevent low-temperature frost formation on the cabinet, door, and other structures, as well as the water in the evaporation dish from freezing. In some embodiments, the defrosting pipe and the evaporator pipe are arranged between the compressor's exhaust port and the control valve. In defrosting mode, the defrosting pipe and the evaporator pipe are still in the high-pressure section, which can prevent the casing and door from frosting at low temperatures and the condensate in the evaporator from freezing.

[0209] In some embodiments, an electrically or pneumatically controlled control valve 34 can be used to adjust the valve body position via an electrical or pneumatic signal. Electrically or pneumatically operated directional valves offer higher switching accuracy and can automatically adjust the flow direction according to real-time system requirements (such as pressure and temperature changes), thereby improving system response speed and stability. To further enhance the versatility of the control valve 34, it can be designed as a multi-channel directional valve, supporting not only switching between cooling and defrosting modes but also other modes such as heating or air circulation modes. For example, the directional valve can have more ports and flow channels, allowing the refrigerant to flow flexibly under various operating conditions, supporting more mode transitions, and improving system adaptability. The control valve 34 can integrate pressure, temperature, or flow sensors, thus becoming not only a simple switching valve but also capable of real-time monitoring and feedback of the refrigerant flow status. These sensors can send data to the control system (such as controller 104) in real time, helping the system automatically adjust operating parameters, such as controlling the compressor's start / stop and flow regulation. This allows the system to more accurately regulate its operating state, avoiding over-compression or excessively low temperatures.

[0210] In some embodiments, FIG17 is a schematic diagram of another refrigeration system provided in some embodiments of this application. As shown in FIG17, the refrigeration system 103 includes a condenser 32, an evaporator 33, a control valve 34, a decondensation pipe 42, an evaporation pipe 41, and an evaporation dish 14 disposed in the compressor compartment. The positions of the decondensation pipe 42 and the evaporation pipe 41 within the housing 101 can refer to the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0211] In some embodiments, the control valve 34 is connected to the exhaust port y1 of the compressor 31, the intake port y2 of the compressor 31, the inlet c1 of the evaporator pipe 41, the outlet d1 of the decondensation pipe 42, the outlet of the evaporator 33, the inlet e1 of the condenser 32, and the outlet e2 of the condenser 32, respectively. The outlet c2 of the evaporator pipe 41 is connected to the inlet d2 of the decondensation pipe 42. In some embodiments, a first branch and a second branch are provided between the outlet d1 of the decondensation pipe 42 and the evaporator 33, as described in the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0212] In some embodiments, when the refrigeration system 103 is in refrigeration mode, the control valve 34 connects the compressor 31 with the condenser 32, evaporator 41, decondensation pipe 42, and evaporator 33, so that the refrigerant flowing from the compressor 31 flows sequentially through the condenser 32, evaporator 41, decondensation pipe 42, and evaporator 33 before flowing back to the compressor 31. In some embodiments, in refrigeration mode, the first switching valve 35 is open and the second switching valve 37 is closed, so that the refrigerant flowing from the decondensation pipe 42 can flow through the first branch to the evaporator 33. For example, refer to FIG18, which is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow direction in an example refrigeration system in refrigeration mode.

[0213] In some embodiments, when the refrigeration system 103 is in defrost mode, the control valve 34 connects the pipeline between the compressor 31 and the evaporator 33 and condenser 32, so that the refrigerant flowing from the compressor 31 flows back to the compressor 31 after passing through the evaporator 33 and condenser 32. In some embodiments, in defrost mode, the first switching valve 35 is closed and the second switching valve is opened and closed, so that the refrigerant flowing from the evaporator 33 can flow to the condenser 32 through the second branch. For example, refer to FIG19, which is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow direction in an example refrigeration system in defrost mode.

[0214] In some embodiments, during the cooling mode, the refrigerant first passes through the condenser and then flows to the evaporator and defrost pipe. At this time, the temperature of the defrost pipe is relatively low, thus having a smaller impact on the heat of the low-temperature compartment, resulting in a lower heat load and more energy-efficient cooling operation. Furthermore, the control valve can achieve refrigerant backflow control and short-circuit control of the defrost pipe and evaporator pipe in defrost mode. That is, in defrost mode, the defrost pipe and evaporator pipe are not connected, thereby preventing frost formation on the cabinet, doors, and other structures, as well as ice formation in the evaporator dish, during defrost mode.

[0215] In some embodiments, FIG20 is a schematic diagram of another refrigeration system provided in some embodiments of this application. As shown in FIG20, the exhaust pipe y1 of the compressor 31 is connected to the fourth port a4. The fifth port a5 is connected to the inlet e1 of the condenser 32. The first port a1 is connected to the outlet e2 of the condenser 32. The second port a2 is connected to the inlet c1 of the evaporator pipe 41. The third port a3 is connected to the outlet d1 of the decondensation pipe 42. The sixth port a6 is connected to the air inlet y2 of the compressor 31. The seventh port a7 is connected to the outlet f1 of the evaporator 33. When the refrigeration system 103 is in refrigeration mode, the first port a1 is connected to the second port a2, the fourth port a4 and the fifth port a5 are connected, and the sixth port a6 and the seventh port a7 are connected. Specifically, the fourth port a4 and the fifth port a5 are connected through the first channel 342, and the sixth port a1 and the seventh port a7 are connected through the second channel 343.

[0216] In some embodiments, Figure 21 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow when the example refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode. As shown in Figure 21, low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 31 and compressed into high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant within the compressor 31 cylinder. The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant flows through the fourth port a4 of the control valve 34 and through the first channel 342 to the fifth port a5, and then enters the condenser 32. The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas dissipates heat through the condenser 32, and its temperature continuously decreases, gradually cooling into a liquid. The refrigerant flowing from the condenser 32 enters the first port a1 and the second port a2 of the control valve 34, then passes through the evaporator pipe 41 and the defrost pipe 42 in sequence, and enters the first branch. It then passes through the first switching valve 35, enters the first dryer filter 39, and then enters the first throttling device 36 to reduce its pressure, becoming room temperature, low-pressure wet vapor. Subsequently, it begins to absorb heat and vaporize in the evaporator 33, which not only lowers the temperature of the evaporator 33 and its surroundings but also turns the refrigerant into a low-temperature, low-pressure gas. This gas then enters the seventh port a7 of the control valve 34, flows through the second channel 343 to the sixth port a6, and returns to the compressor 31, completing the refrigerator's refrigeration cycle. The refrigerant passing through the evaporator pipe 41 and the defrost pipe 42 prevents frost formation on the cabinet, doors, and other structures, as well as ice formation in the evaporator dish. Furthermore, since the refrigerant flows out of the condenser 32 at a relatively low temperature in the defrost pipe, it has a smaller impact on the heat of the low-temperature compartment, resulting in a lower heat load and more energy-efficient refrigeration operation.

[0217] In some embodiments, when the refrigeration system 103 is in defrost mode, the first port a1 is connected to the third port a3, the fourth port a4 is connected to the seventh port a7, and the fifth port a5 is connected to the sixth port a6. Specifically, the fourth port a4 and the seventh port a7 are connected through the first channel 342, and the fifth port a5 and the sixth port a6 are connected through the second channel 343. In some embodiments, FIG22 shows an example of the refrigeration system in defrost mode. As shown in FIG22, the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 31 and compressed into a high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant in the cylinder of the compressor 31. The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant flows through the fourth port a4 of the control valve 34 and through the first channel 342 to the seventh port a7, thereby flowing to the evaporator 33 to defrost the evaporator 33. Then it enters the second branch, passes through the second dryer filter 40 and the second throttling device 38, and then enters the third port a3 and the first port a1 of the control valve 34, thereby flowing to the condenser 32. The refrigerant flowing from the condenser 32 passes through the fifth port a5 of the control valve 34, then through the second channel 343 to the sixth port a6, and returns to the compressor 31. The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant melts the frost condensed on the evaporator 33 through heat conduction, thus achieving defrosting. Under defrosting mode, the refrigerant does not pass through the evaporator pipe 41 and the defrost pipe 42, preventing a drop in temperature of the cabinet, door, and other structures, as well as the evaporator dish, thus avoiding frost formation on these structures and preventing water freezing in the evaporator dish.

[0218] The preceding embodiments successfully achieved short-circuit switching between the decondensation pipe and condensate evaporation pipe functions during the defrosting process by controlling the counter-current defrosting system with a single valve body. This not only reduces the power consumption of the valve body drive but also effectively avoids heat waste during defrosting, thereby improving defrosting efficiency. Based on this design, subsequent embodiments further introduce a new defrosting principle. By controlling the switching sequence and time of the shutdown valve body, as well as key parameters such as high and low pressure and temperature in the system, combined with real-time monitoring of the evaporator temperature change rate, a dynamically adjustable defrosting process is achieved. This control device can flexibly adjust the defrosting process according to the system's frosting condition and actual operating status to ensure improved defrosting efficiency and overall system performance. Therefore, the following embodiments will focus on exploring how to further improve the system's performance during the defrosting process, making it more adaptable to different working environments and needs, and achieving more efficient and energy-saving defrosting operations.

[0219] In a frost-free refrigerator, when the surface temperature of the evaporator fins is below the air dew point and below 0°C, frost will form on the evaporator surface. Over time, the frost layer thickens, requiring defrosting to prevent frost blockage of the evaporator fins, which can lead to decreased heat exchange efficiency, a smaller air duct cross-section resulting in poor air circulation, and ultimately, a rise in compartment temperature. Defrosting can be achieved by using refrigerant counter-current flow when the defrosting mode is activated. Specifically, the refrigerant flows counter-currently through various components of the refrigeration system. The high-temperature, high-pressure gas from the compressor enters the evaporator, utilizing the heat from the high-temperature, high-pressure gas to defrost the evaporator. However, the heat exchange ratio between the high-pressure and low-pressure heat exchangers in a refrigerator is typically determined based on the requirement of forward refrigerant flow. When the refrigerant flows counter-currently, the original high-pressure heat exchanger becomes the low-pressure heat exchanger, and vice versa. In other words, the change in the heat exchange ratio causes a mismatch in the heat exchange ratio during defrosting mode, leading to a decrease in the heat exchange efficiency of the refrigeration system. This results in the refrigerant not evaporating completely in the heat exchanger, causing liquid refrigerant to be present in the compressor's inlet, leading to liquid slugging and damage to the compressor. The low-pressure end heat exchanger can be an evaporator, and the high-pressure end heat exchanger can be a condenser.

[0220] Some embodiments of this application provide a refrigerator that, when the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, determines whether the refrigerant entering the compressor contains liquid based on the refrigerant pressure and temperature at the compressor's inlet. If so, the refrigeration system can be controlled to switch from defrost mode to refrigeration mode. After entering refrigeration mode, if preset conditions are met, the refrigeration system can be controlled to re-enter defrost mode. The preset conditions may include the refrigerant pressure in the refrigeration system reaching a stable state. In other words, the refrigeration system operates in refrigeration mode for a period of time before entering defrost mode to continue defrosting. During this time, some refrigerant is stored in the evaporator, reducing the amount of refrigerant participating in the defrost cycle. This helps to increase the temperature at the compressor's inlet, preventing liquid slugging in the compressor. Since the evaporator is a low-pressure component in refrigeration mode, the refrigerant inside is in a gas-liquid coexisting state. Due to the large diameter and numerous bends in the evaporator's pipes, it has a liquid storage function. When the refrigerant pressure in the refrigeration system reaches a stable state in cooling mode, the system switches from cooling mode to defrost mode. This is achieved by immediately controlling the solenoid valve to connect the compressor and evaporator, turning the evaporator from a low-pressure component to a high-pressure component. The gas discharged from the compressor and the gaseous refrigerant in the evaporator (which was in cooling mode) then condense and release heat, thus defrosting. Due to the evaporator's liquid storage function, some liquid refrigerant in the evaporator does not participate in the circulation, reducing the amount of refrigerant involved in the defrost cycle. This helps raise the temperature at the compressor's inlet, preventing liquid slugging. After the refrigeration system enters cooling mode, the refrigerant pressure in each component (compressor, condenser, and evaporator, etc.) changes. For example, the pressure at the compressor's inlet tends to decrease, while the pressure at the compressor's outlet tends to increase. After the refrigeration system has been running for a period of time, the pressure in each component will stabilize, meaning the pressure values ​​will remain within a relatively constant range.

[0221] In some embodiments of this application, when the refrigerant pressure in the refrigeration system reaches a stable state, the pressure of each component of the refrigeration system can be maintained within a relatively constant pressure range. It is understood that the pressure of each component is different, and therefore its relatively constant pressure range is also different.

[0222] The specific structure of a refrigerator provided in some embodiments of this application will be described. For example, FIG23 is a schematic diagram of a refrigerator provided in some embodiments of this application. As shown in FIG23, the refrigerator 10 includes:

[0223] Box 101;

[0224] Door 102; and

[0225] A storage room located inside the housing 101.

[0226] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG23, the storage room includes a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment 11, etc., the refrigerator compartment is not shown in FIG23.

[0227] In some embodiments, the refrigerator shown in FIG3 and the refrigerator shown in FIG23 may have the same structure.

[0228] Figure 23 is only a schematic diagram of a refrigerator applicable to some embodiments of this application, and it can also be a refrigerator with other structures, which are not limited by this application. For example, the refrigerator in some embodiments of this application can be a single-system refrigerator (multiple compartments share one evaporator), a dual-system refrigerator (the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment use different evaporators), or a three-system refrigerator (the freezer compartment, the refrigerator compartment, and the variable temperature compartment use different evaporators). Generally, the refrigerator exemplified in Figure 23 is a dual-system refrigerator.

[0229] In some embodiments, the refrigerator 10 further includes:

[0230] Refrigeration system 103;

[0231] The controller 104 is electrically connected to the refrigeration system 103.

[0232] For example, Figure 24 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigeration system 103 provided in some embodiments of this application. As shown in Figure 24, the refrigeration system 103 includes:

[0233] Compressor 31 is configured to provide power for the cooling of refrigerator 10;

[0234] Condenser 32 is configured to dissipate refrigerant from compressor 31;

[0235] Evaporator 33 is configured to provide cooling for the storage compartment;

[0236] Solenoid valve 340 is located in the pipeline between compressor 31 and condenser 32, and in the pipeline between compressor 31 and evaporator 33.

[0237] In some embodiments, if the refrigerator 10 is a dual-system or triple-system refrigerator, the evaporator 33 can be an evaporator for cooling the freezer compartment 11. The refrigeration system 103 also includes evaporators for cooling other compartments. The connection between the evaporator and the condenser 32 can be the same as the connection between the evaporator 33 and the condenser 32, which will not be described in detail here. In some embodiments, the solenoid valve 340 can control the flow direction of the refrigerant flowing from the compressor 31. For example, in cooling mode, the refrigerant flow direction is controlled so that the refrigerant flowing from the compressor 31 flows to the condenser 32; in defrosting mode, the refrigerant flow direction is controlled so that the refrigerant flowing from the compressor 31 flows to the evaporator 33. When the refrigeration system 103 is in cooling mode, the solenoid valve 340 connects the pipeline between the compressor 31 and the condenser 32 so that the refrigerant flowing from the compressor 31 flows to the condenser 32. When the refrigeration system 103 is in defrost mode, the solenoid valve 340 connects the pipeline between the compressor 31 and the evaporator 33 so that the refrigerant flowing from the compressor 31 flows to the evaporator 33.

[0238] In some embodiments, FIG25 is a schematic diagram of another refrigeration system 103 provided in some embodiments of this application. As shown in FIG25, a second branch and a first branch are provided in parallel between the condenser 32 and the evaporator 33. A first switching valve 35 and a first throttling device 36 are provided in sequence on the first branch, and a second switching valve 37 and a second throttling device 38 are provided in sequence on the second branch. When the refrigeration system 103 is in refrigeration mode, the first switching valve 35 is open and the second switching valve 37 is closed, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser 32 flows to the evaporator 33 after passing through the first switching valve 35 and the first throttling device 36. When the refrigeration system 103 is in defrosting mode, the first switching valve 35 is closed and the second switching valve 37 is open, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator 33 flows to the condenser 32 after passing through the second throttling device 38 and the second switching valve 37. In some embodiments, the first switching valve 35, the second switching valve 37, and the solenoid valve 340 are electrically connected to the controller 104, and the controller 104 can control the first switching valve 35, the second switching valve 37, and the solenoid valve 340 according to the operating mode of the refrigeration system (refrigeration mode or defrosting mode).

[0239] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG25, the solenoid valve 340 includes:

[0240] Inlet b13 is connected to the exhaust port of compressor 31;

[0241] The first outlet b22 is connected to the condenser 32;

[0242] The second outlet b32 is connected to the air inlet of the compressor 31;

[0243] The third outlet b42 is connected to the evaporator 33.

[0244] When the refrigeration system 103 is in refrigeration mode, the inlet b13 of the solenoid valve 340 is connected to the first outlet b22, and the second outlet b32 of the solenoid valve 340 is connected to the third outlet b42, so that the refrigerant flowing from the discharge port of the compressor 31 flows to the condenser 32. When the refrigeration system 103 is in defrost mode, the inlet b13 of the solenoid valve 340 is connected to the third outlet b42, and the first outlet b22 is connected to the second outlet b32, so that the refrigerant flowing from the discharge port of the compressor 31 flows to the evaporator 33.

[0245] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG25, the first branch is further provided with a first dryer filter 39, which is disposed in the pipeline between the first switching valve 35 and the first throttling device 36. The second branch is further provided with a second dryer filter 40, which is disposed in the pipeline between the second throttling device 38 and the evaporator 33.

[0246] By providing a first dryer filter 39 between the first switching valve 35 and the first throttling device 36, the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser 32 can be dehydrated and impurities filtered before entering the first throttling device 36, thus preventing clogging and improving the cooling effect. Similarly, by providing a second dryer filter 40 between the second throttling device 38 and the evaporator 33, the refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator 33 can be dehydrated and filtered before entering the second throttling device 38, preventing clogging and improving reliability. This arrangement ensures that in defrost mode, the refrigerant flows to the condenser through the second branch, and in cooling mode, the refrigerant flows to the evaporator through the first branch. This allows for throttling and pressure reduction of the refrigerant in both modes, meeting the needs of defrosting and cooling. In some embodiments, the first throttling device 36 and the second throttling device 38 can be, for example, a capillary tube or a flow regulating valve; this application does not limit the specific type of device.

[0247] For example, Figure 26 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow in the refrigeration system 103 of some embodiments of this application in refrigeration mode. As shown in Figure 26, low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 31 and compressed into high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant in the cylinder of the compressor 31. It enters the condenser 32 through the first outlet b22 of the solenoid valve 340. The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas dissipates heat through the condenser 32, and its temperature continuously decreases, gradually being cooled into a liquid. It enters the first branch, passes through the first switching valve 35, enters the first dryer filter 39, and then enters the first throttling device 36 to reduce its pressure and become room-temperature, low-pressure wet vapor. Subsequently, it begins to absorb heat and vaporize in the evaporator 33, which not only lowers the temperature of the evaporator 33 and its surroundings, but also turns the refrigerant into a low-temperature, low-pressure gas. After entering the third outlet b42 and the second outlet b32 of the solenoid valve 340, it returns to the compressor 31, completing the refrigerator refrigeration cycle.

[0248] For example, Figure 27 is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow in defrost mode of the refrigeration system 103 of some embodiments of this application. As shown in Figure 27, low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 31 and compressed into high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant in the cylinder of the compressor 31. It enters through the third outlet b42 of the solenoid valve 340 and then flows to the evaporator 33. The refrigerant condenses and releases heat in the evaporator 33, then enters the second branch, passes through the second dryer filter 40 and the second throttling device 38, and enters the condenser 32. The refrigerant flowing out of the condenser 32 then enters the first outlet b22 and the second outlet b32 of the solenoid valve 340 and returns to the compressor 31. The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant can melt the frost condensed on the evaporator 33 through heat conduction, thus achieving defrost. The arrows in Figures 26 and 27 indicate the refrigerant flow direction.

[0249] In some embodiments, a mechanical valve, an electronic valve, or a flow regulating valve can be used to replace the solenoid valve 340. The mechanical valve has fewer electronic components, is less susceptible to electromagnetic interference, and can operate without power, making it suitable for some special environments. The electronic valve can be controlled by a microprocessor to achieve more accurate refrigerant flow control and finer adjustment. When the system does not need to frequently switch modes, the flow regulating valve can adjust the flow according to the cooling demand without completely switching the flow direction.

[0250] In some embodiments, the refrigerator 10 further includes a first temperature sensor disposed on the pipeline between the air inlet of the compressor 31 and the solenoid valve 340, configured to detect the temperature of the refrigerant at the air inlet of the compressor 31. In some embodiments, a first pressure sensor is disposed on the pipeline between the air inlet of the compressor 31 and the solenoid valve 340, configured to detect the pressure of the refrigerant at the air inlet of the compressor 31. In some embodiments, the refrigerator 10 further includes a second pressure sensor disposed on the pipeline between the exhaust port of the compressor 31 and the solenoid valve 340, configured to detect the pressure of the refrigerant at the exhaust port of the compressor 31. In some embodiments, the refrigerator 10 further includes a second temperature sensor disposed on the air inlet pipeline of the evaporator 33, configured to detect the temperature of the refrigerant at the air inlet of the evaporator 33. It can be understood that the air inlet of the evaporator 33 is the inlet into the evaporator when the refrigerant flows forward in cooling mode. In defrost mode, when the refrigerant flows forward, this air inlet is the exhaust port of the evaporator. In some embodiments, the refrigerator 10 further includes an ambient temperature sensor disposed on the outside of the cabinet 101, configured to detect the ambient temperature of the environment in which the refrigerator 10 is located. For example, the controller 104 is electrically connected to a first temperature sensor, a first pressure sensor, a second pressure sensor, a second temperature sensor, and an ambient temperature sensor, respectively. In some embodiments, the controller 104 may be a microcontroller unit (MCU).

[0251] In some embodiments, FIG28 is a schematic diagram of the installation of a pressure sensor according to some embodiments of the present application. As shown in FIG28, taking a first pressure sensor as an example, the first pressure sensor may include a pressure-sensitive component 411 and an electrical signal processing component 412 electrically connected to the pressure-sensitive component 411. The pressure-sensitive component 411 is connected to the first end of a preset pipeline, and the detection part of the pressure-sensitive component 411 is in contact with the refrigerant in the preset pipeline. The pipeline between the second end and the third end of the preset pipeline is fixedly arranged in series in the exhaust pipeline near the exhaust port of the compressor 31.

[0252] The electrical signal processing component 412 is electrically connected to the controller 104. The electrical signal processing component 412 is configured to: receive an electrical signal sent by the pressure-sensitive component 411, which is converted by the pressure-sensitive component 411 based on the detected pressure signal; and send a digital signal to the controller 104 based on the electrical signal, the digital signal being used to determine the pressure value. For example, as shown in Figure 28, this is a T-shaped pipe in the preset pipeline. The above setup enables the detection of the refrigerant pressure value in the discharge port of the compressor 31 using a pressure sensor. It is understood that the structure and setup of the second pressure sensor are similar to those of the first pressure sensor, and will not be described further here.

[0253] Below, based on the above-described refrigerator, a refrigerator control method provided in some embodiments of this application will be described. Figure 29 is a schematic flowchart of a refrigerator control method provided in some embodiments of this application. The method can be controlled by the refrigerator controller 104 described above. As shown in Figure 29, the method can include the following steps.

[0254] S701. When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, a first temperature is obtained through a first temperature sensor, and a first pressure is obtained through a first pressure sensor.

[0255] In some embodiments, the controller may acquire the first temperature and the first pressure by, for example, by having the first temperature sensor send the detected temperature value to the controller at a preset time interval, and the first pressure sensor send the detected pressure value to the controller at a preset time interval. For example, the preset time interval may be 1 second.

[0256] S702. Determine whether the first temperature is less than or equal to the critical temperature.

[0257] If so, then execute S703.

[0258] The critical temperature is the temperature of the saturated gaseous refrigerant corresponding to the first pressure.

[0259] In some embodiments, the controller can determine the critical temperature of the saturated gaseous refrigerant corresponding to the first pressure based on the pressure-temperature correspondence. For example, the pressure-temperature correspondence includes multiple pressures and the critical temperature of the saturated gaseous refrigerant corresponding to each pressure; Table 1 shows one pressure-temperature correspondence in some embodiments of this application. Alternatively, the preset correspondence can be multiple pressure ranges and the critical temperature of the saturated gaseous refrigerant corresponding to each pressure range; Table 2 shows another pressure-temperature correspondence in some embodiments of this application.

[0260] Table 1

[0261] Table 2

[0262] Among them, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 and P6 are different pressure values, and t1, t2 and t3 are different temperature values.

[0263] S703 controls the refrigeration system to switch from defrosting mode to refrigeration mode.

[0264] If the first temperature is less than or equal to the critical temperature, it indicates that the refrigerant at the compressor's inlet contains liquid, usually in a gas-liquid mixture state. This poses a risk of liquid slugging to the compressor, typically caused by a high refrigerant content in the counter-current cycle of the refrigeration system. The controller can switch the refrigeration system from defrosting mode to cooling mode, that is, stop defrosting and control the refrigeration system to enter cooling mode.

[0265] In some embodiments, when the refrigeration system switches from defrosting mode to refrigeration mode, the controller can first stop the compressor, and then switch the first and second solenoid valves to connect the refrigeration path shown in Figure 26 before starting the compressor, so that the refrigeration system enters the refrigeration mode.

[0266] S704. When the refrigeration system meets the preset conditions, control the refrigeration system to switch from refrigeration mode to defrosting mode.

[0267] After the refrigeration system enters the cooling mode, when the preset conditions are met, the system can be controlled to switch from cooling mode to defrost mode, that is, to stop cooling, and then the system can be controlled to re-enter defrost mode. In some embodiments, the preset conditions refer to the refrigerant pressure in the refrigeration system reaching a stable state.

[0268] In some embodiments, the controller 104 can calculate a compensation coefficient based on real-time data from the first and second temperature sensors, combined with feedback from the ambient temperature sensor, to dynamically adjust the cooling and defrosting cycles. For example, if the ambient temperature is high, the refrigerator may enter defrosting mode earlier, while in a low-temperature environment, the refrigerator may delay entering defrosting mode to avoid the system defrosting too early or too late. The controller 104 can set multiple temperature targets (e.g., different areas inside the refrigerator) and control the refrigerant flow and compressor operating status based on temperature feedback from each area, making the temperature in each area of ​​the refrigerator more uniform, thereby improving energy efficiency. In some embodiments, based on data from the first and second pressure sensors, the controller 104 can determine whether there is a risk of refrigerant liquid slugging and automatically adjust the compressor operating status. For example, the controller 104 can temporarily reduce the compressor speed or stop the compressor when the refrigerant liquid content is high to avoid liquid slugging and reduce energy consumption. To reduce the impact of excessive starting current on the power grid, the controller 104 can adopt a gradual start-up strategy. When the system needs to start, the controller 104 can gradually increase the compressor load to avoid instantaneous high load; when the system needs to stop, the controller 104 can slowly reduce the compressor load to reduce the impact on the system.

[0269] In some embodiments, the stability of the refrigerant pressure within the refrigeration system can be determined based on the pressure at the compressor's inlet and outlet. It is understood that after the refrigeration system enters cooling mode, the compressor's inlet pressure tends to decrease, while the compressor's outlet pressure tends to increase. After a period of time, both the compressor's inlet and outlet pressures remain within a relatively constant range, i.e., the pressure fluctuations are small. By monitoring the compressor's inlet and outlet pressures, it is possible to determine whether the refrigerant pressure within the refrigeration system has reached a stable state.

[0270] In some embodiments, the duration of operation of the refrigeration system in refrigeration mode can be timed, and then the refrigerant pressure in the refrigeration system can be determined based on the timed duration. When the time required for the refrigerant in the refrigeration system to reach a stable state after the refrigerator enters refrigeration mode is reached, it can be determined that the refrigerant pressure in the refrigeration system has reached a stable state.

[0271] In some embodiments, when the controller controls the refrigeration system to switch from refrigeration mode to defrost mode, it can first control the compressor to stop, and then switch the first and second solenoid valves to connect the defrost passage shown in Figure 27 before starting the compressor, so that the refrigeration system enters the defrost mode to continue defrosting the evaporator.

[0272] In some embodiments of this application, during the defrosting process, if liquid refrigerant is detected in the compressor's inlet, the refrigeration system can be controlled to stop defrosting and enter a cooling mode. After entering the cooling mode, if preset conditions are met, the refrigeration system can be controlled to re-enter the defrosting mode. In cooling mode, the evaporator is a low-pressure component, and the refrigerant inside is in a gas-liquid coexisting state. Due to the large diameter and numerous bends in the evaporator's pipes, it has a liquid storage function. When the refrigerant pressure in the refrigeration system reaches a stable state in cooling mode, the refrigeration system is controlled to switch from cooling mode to defrosting mode. This means immediately controlling the solenoid valve to connect the compressor and evaporator, causing the evaporator to change from a low-pressure component to a high-pressure component. The gas discharged from the compressor and the gaseous refrigerant in the evaporator during cooling mode will condense and release heat, thus achieving defrosting. Based on the evaporator's liquid storage function, some liquid refrigerant in the evaporator does not participate in the circulation, thereby reducing the amount of refrigerant participating in the defrosting cycle. This can increase the temperature of the compressor's inlet and prevent liquid slugging in the compressor.

[0273] The following section explains whether the pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigeration system reaches a stable state after the refrigeration system enters the refrigeration mode, i.e., whether the refrigeration system meets the preset conditions.

[0274] Figure 30 is a flowchart illustrating another refrigerator control method provided in some embodiments of this application. The method can be controlled by the refrigerator controller 104 described above. As shown in Figure 30, the method can include the following steps.

[0275] S801. After the refrigeration system enters the refrigeration mode, the second pressure is obtained through the first pressure sensor, and the third pressure is obtained through the second pressure sensor.

[0276] In some embodiments, after the refrigeration system enters the refrigeration mode, the controller can simultaneously acquire a second pressure (i.e., the pressure at the compressor's inlet) through the first pressure sensor and a third pressure (i.e., the pressure at the compressor's outlet) through the second pressure sensor.

[0277] In some embodiments, after the refrigeration system enters the refrigeration mode, the controller can acquire a second pressure through a first pressure sensor and a third pressure through a second pressure sensor at different times, and the time interval between these two times is short, for example, less than 5 seconds.

[0278] S802. Determine whether the difference between the second pressure and the third pressure is within the preset threshold range.

[0279] If so, then execute S803.

[0280] After obtaining the second and third pressures, the controller can calculate the difference between the second and third pressures and determine whether the difference is within a preset threshold range.

[0281] In some embodiments, when the refrigerant pressure in the refrigeration system reaches a stable state, the preset threshold range can be determined based on the difference between the pressure at the compressor's discharge port and the pressure at the compressor's inlet. For example, if the compressor's discharge port pressure is 543 kPa and the compressor's inlet pressure is 48 kPa, the pressure difference between the discharge and inlet ports is 495 kPa. The preset threshold range can be greater than or equal to 490 kPa and less than or equal to 500 kPa. This is merely an example and can be determined based on the actual pressure changes in the refrigeration system.

[0282] S803. Determine that the refrigeration system meets the preset conditions.

[0283] If the difference between the second and third pressures is within the preset threshold range, it can be determined that the pressure at the compressor's inlet and outlet has reached a stable state, thus confirming that the refrigeration system meets the preset conditions.

[0284] In some embodiments, the pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigeration system can be determined based on the pressure at the compressor's inlet and outlet. When the pressure reaches a stable state, the refrigeration system is controlled to switch from refrigeration mode to defrosting mode. At this time, some refrigerant is stored in the evaporator, which reduces the amount of refrigerant participating in the defrosting cycle. This can increase the temperature at the compressor's inlet and prevent liquid slugging in the compressor.

[0285] Furthermore, if the difference between the second pressure and the third pressure is within a preset threshold range, the controller can obtain the pressure at the compressor's exhaust port and intake port at multiple times, so that it can determine whether the preset conditions are met based on the difference at multiple times, thereby improving the accuracy of the judgment.

[0286] In some embodiments, by introducing an AI-based adaptive algorithm, the controller 104 can better adapt to different environmental conditions and operating states. This method dynamically adjusts thresholds and judgment logic by analyzing historical and real-time data (such as temperature, pressure fluctuations, ambient temperature, etc.). The controller 104 can automatically adjust the pressure difference threshold between the compressor inlet and outlet based on historical pressure data. For example, if the temperature or load conditions change significantly during system operation, the threshold will be automatically adjusted according to different situations to ensure the accuracy of the judgment. Based on the input from an ambient temperature sensor, the controller 104 can automatically adjust the operating parameters of the refrigeration system according to changes in ambient temperature. For example, at higher ambient temperatures, the compressor's discharge pressure may be higher, thus affecting the normal pressure difference range. The controller can dynamically adjust this range through a compensation algorithm to avoid misjudgments. In some embodiments, the controller 104 can incorporate a dynamic pressure fluctuation model to determine system stability not only based on the current pressure difference but also by predicting whether the refrigeration system is in a potential fault state through pressure fluctuation patterns. For example, by statistically analyzing pressure fluctuations over multiple time periods, the controller 104 can predict trends in pressure instability and take preventative measures (such as stopping the compressor or adjusting the refrigeration system parameters).

[0287] Specifically, Figure 31 is a flowchart illustrating another refrigerator control method provided in some embodiments of this application. The method can be controlled by the refrigerator controller 104. As shown in Figure 31, the method can include the following steps.

[0288] S901, acquire a fourth pressure at multiple times using a first pressure sensor, and acquire a fifth pressure at multiple times using a second pressure sensor.

[0289] If the difference between the second and third pressures is within a preset threshold range, the controller can acquire the fourth pressure at multiple moments using the first pressure sensor, and the fifth pressure at multiple moments using the second pressure sensor. In other words, the controller can acquire the fourth pressure using the first pressure sensor and the fifth pressure using the second pressure sensor at multiple moments.

[0290] S902. For any one of the multiple time points, determine the difference between the fourth pressure and the fifth pressure at that time point.

[0291] S903. If the difference between multiple time points is within the preset threshold range, then the refrigeration system is determined to meet the preset conditions.

[0292] If the difference between multiple time points is within the preset threshold range, it indicates that the pressure change of the refrigerant in the refrigeration system is small at multiple time points, and it can be determined that the refrigeration system meets the preset conditions.

[0293] In some embodiments of this application, the pressure at the compressor's exhaust port and intake port at multiple times can be obtained, allowing the determination of whether preset conditions are met based on the differences between multiple times, thereby improving the accuracy of the determination.

[0294] Figure 32 is a flowchart illustrating another refrigerator control method provided in some embodiments of this application. The method can be controlled by the refrigerator controller 104. As shown in Figure 32, the method can include the following steps.

[0295] S1001. After the refrigeration system enters the refrigeration mode, obtain the amount of refrigerant charged in the refrigeration system.

[0296] S1002. Obtain the ambient temperature through an ambient temperature sensor.

[0297] S1003. Determine the target duration based on the infusion volume and ambient temperature in the preset correspondence.

[0298] The preset correspondence includes multiple refrigerant charge amounts and the corresponding duration for each charge amount at different ambient temperatures. This duration is the time required for the refrigerant pressure in the refrigeration system to reach a stable state after the refrigeration system enters cooling mode. It can be understood that the time required for the refrigerant pressure in the refrigerator's refrigeration system to reach a stable state after entering cooling mode varies depending on the refrigerant charge amount and the ambient temperature. For example, the preset correspondence can be found in Table 3. The controller can determine the time required for the refrigerant pressure in the refrigerator's refrigeration system to reach a stable state after entering cooling mode based on the refrigerant charge amount and the current ambient temperature. The charge amount can be the amount of refrigerant charged into the refrigeration system before the refrigerator leaves the factory.

[0299] Table 3

[0300] S1004. When the duration of the refrigeration system in refrigeration mode reaches the target duration, it is determined that the refrigeration system meets the preset conditions.

[0301] Once the target duration is determined, the controller can start timing when the refrigeration system enters the refrigeration mode. When the duration of the refrigeration system in the refrigeration mode reaches the target duration, it is determined that the refrigeration system meets the preset conditions.

[0302] In some embodiments, the time required for the refrigerant pressure in the refrigeration system to reach a stable state after the refrigeration system enters the cooling mode can be determined based on the ambient temperature and the amount of refrigerant charged into the refrigeration system. When the refrigeration system has entered the cooling mode for this duration, it can be determined that the refrigeration system has reached a stable state. Upon reaching a stable state, the refrigeration system is switched from the cooling mode to the defrosting mode. In this mode, some refrigerant is stored in the evaporator, reducing the amount of refrigerant participating in the defrosting cycle. This helps to increase the temperature at the compressor's inlet, preventing liquid slugging in the compressor.

[0303] The following explains how to determine whether defrosting is complete after the refrigeration system enters defrosting mode.

[0304] Figure 33 is a flowchart illustrating another refrigerator control method provided in some embodiments of this application. The method can be controlled by the refrigerator controller 104. As shown in Figure 33, the method can include the following steps.

[0305] S1101. After the refrigeration system enters defrost mode, the second temperature at the current moment is obtained through the second temperature sensor.

[0306] In some embodiments, the controller acquires the second temperature value by, for example, by having the second temperature sensor send the detected temperature value to the controller at a preset time interval, such as 1 second. In some embodiments, the controller may send a detection command to the second temperature sensor at the current moment, enabling the second temperature sensor to detect the temperature value at its location based on the detection command and send the temperature value to the controller.

[0307] S1102. Obtain the third temperature value detected by the second temperature sensor at the first moment, where the first moment is a preset time period before the current moment.

[0308] After acquiring the first temperature value, the controller can acquire the third temperature value detected by the second temperature sensor at the first moment, allowing the controller to determine whether defrosting is complete based on the second and third temperature values. It can be understood that the preset duration is shorter than the time between the moment the refrigeration system enters defrosting mode and the current moment.

[0309] S1103. Determine the first temperature change rate based on the second and third temperature values.

[0310] In some embodiments, the controller can determine the rate of temperature change according to the following formula (1):

[0311] Where T2 is the third temperature value, T1 is the second temperature value, and vt is the first temperature change rate.

[0312] In some embodiments, the controller can determine the rate of temperature change according to the following formula (2):

[0313] Where T2 is the third temperature value, T1 is the second temperature value, vt is the first temperature change rate, and t2-t1 is the duration between the current time and the first time.

[0314] S1104. Determine whether defrosting is complete based on the first temperature change rate.

[0315] If so, then execute S1005.

[0316] The controller can compare the first temperature change rate with a preset value. For example, if the first temperature change rate is above the preset value, it means that the temperature value at the evaporator's air inlet has changed significantly during the period from the first moment to the current moment, and defrosting can be determined to be complete. If the temperature change rate is less than the preset value, it means that the temperature value at the evaporator's air inlet has changed little during that period, and it means that the frost on the evaporator has not completely melted, and defrosting can be determined to be incomplete.

[0317] In some embodiments, the preset value may include a first threshold and a second threshold. If the controller determines the first temperature change rate according to formula (1), it can determine the first threshold based on the preset duration and determine whether defrosting is complete based on the first threshold. For example, the larger the preset duration, the larger the determined first threshold can be. For example, if the preset duration is 30 seconds, the first threshold can be set to 30% or any value within the preset value range of 30%. If the preset duration is 1 minute, the first threshold can be set to 50% or any value within the preset value range of 50%.

[0318] In some embodiments, if the controller determines the first temperature change rate according to formula (2), it can determine a second threshold based on the preset duration and determine whether defrosting is complete based on the second threshold. For example, the larger the preset duration, the smaller the determined second threshold can be. For example, if the preset duration is 1 minute, the second threshold can be set to 5% or any value within the preset value range of 5%. If the preset duration is 4 minutes, the second threshold can be set to 2% or any value within the preset value range of 2%.

[0319] In some embodiments, when the evaporator switches to condenser for defrosting, the evaporator inlet becomes the outlet and the outlet becomes the inlet. This means that high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant enters the evaporator from the outlet and flows through the refrigeration pipes, gradually dissipating heat. This heat melts the frost outside the pipes. Therefore, the evaporator inlet is a better indicator of the defrosting temperature than the outlet. When frost is present on the evaporator body, the condensation heat transfer is stable, and the evaporator inlet pipe wall temperature does not change significantly. As the frost melts, the condensation heat demand gradually decreases, heat dissipation decreases, and the evaporator inlet temperature rises rapidly. This temperature ratio can be used to accurately determine the actual defrosting status of the evaporator.

[0320] In some embodiments, the controller can determine the preset value in the correspondence between the preset duration and the first threshold and the second threshold. It is understood that the correspondence includes multiple preset duration ranges, as well as the first threshold and the second threshold corresponding to each preset duration range. The controller can determine the first threshold or the second threshold according to the range in which the preset duration is located.

[0321] S1105, Control the refrigeration system to exit defrost mode.

[0322] Upon confirming defrosting completion, the controller can control the refrigeration system to exit defrosting mode. In some embodiments, the controller can control the refrigeration system to exit refrigeration mode by, for example, controlling the solenoid valve to connect the compressor and condenser, allowing the refrigerant flowing from the compressor to pass through the condenser and shutting off the compressor. Exemplarily, after the refrigeration system exits defrosting mode, the controller can control the refrigeration system to enter refrigeration mode. For example, the controller can control the first switching valve to open and the second switching valve to close, making the first branch open and the second branch closed, and controlling the compressor to start. In some embodiments, after the refrigeration system enters defrosting mode, the controller can obtain a second temperature value at the current moment through a second temperature sensor, and obtain a third temperature value detected by the second temperature sensor at a first moment. Based on the second and third temperature values, a first temperature change rate is determined, and based on the first temperature change rate, it is determined whether defrosting is complete. If so, the refrigeration system is controlled to exit defrosting mode. Some embodiments of this application determine whether defrosting is complete based on the rate of change of the temperature value at the evaporator inlet, and promptly end defrosting when it is determined to be complete, thereby achieving precise defrosting control and improving defrosting reliability. In some embodiments, the preset time is 1 / n of the defrosting experience time, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The defrosting experience time can be the average of the defrosting times required for multiple refrigerators; it can be understood that the multiple refrigerators referred to here are refrigerators of the same specifications as refrigerator 10.

[0323] In some embodiments, if the defrosting experience duration is 15 minutes, and n is 2, the preset duration is 7.5 minutes. This means the refrigerator can check whether defrosting is complete every 7.5 minutes. Therefore, after entering defrosting mode, the second check will occur near the point where defrosting is complete, increasing the probability of successful defrosting. When n is 3, the preset duration is 5 minutes. This means the refrigerator can check whether defrosting is complete every 5 minutes. Therefore, after entering defrosting mode, the third check will occur near the point where defrosting is complete, increasing the probability of successful defrosting. Determining the defrosting judgment interval (i.e., the preset duration) based on the defrosting experience duration can avoid prolonged defrosting and save energy. For example, with a defrosting experience duration of 15 minutes, if the preset duration is 10 minutes, the refrigerator will check whether defrosting is complete every 10 minutes. If the evaporator is not detected as defrosted during the first check, the second check will occur at the 20th minute after entering defrosting mode, potentially leading to excessively long defrosting times. In some embodiments, the preset duration can be the rounded-up value of 1 / n of the defrosting experience value, which facilitates the controller in detecting whether defrosting has been completed.

[0324] During defrosting, when frost forms on the evaporator, the temperature at the evaporator's air inlet (which becomes the exhaust port during defrosting) fluctuates within a certain range. During the period when the frost is about to completely melt (the time between the near completion of defrosting and its completion), the temperature rises significantly, i.e., there is a rapid temperature change period. For example, as shown in Figure 34, the time from time ta to time tb can be considered a rapid temperature change period. During this time, the temperature changes rapidly due to the impending completion of defrosting (from the presence of a small amount of frost to its complete melting). The duration of the rapid temperature change period can be the time between time ta and time tb. For example, the duration of the rapid temperature change period can be determined based on the duration of the rapid temperature change period monitored during multiple defrosting cycles of multiple refrigerators. It can be understood that the multiple refrigerators mentioned here refer to refrigerators of the same specifications as refrigerator 10. For example, the duration of the rapid temperature change period might be 3 minutes. Furthermore, when the preset duration is less than the duration of the rapid temperature change period, the controller can determine whether defrosting is complete based on multiple temperature change rates to improve the accuracy of the judgment. Among them, the time corresponding to the temperature values ​​used to determine multiple rates of temperature change is a continuous time.

[0325] In some embodiments, a weighted average method can be used to calculate multiple temperature change rates based on the temperature change rate. By assigning a higher weight to the most recent temperature change rate, the temperature change trend at the evaporator inlet can be better reflected, avoiding misjudgments caused by temperature fluctuations. In addition to the temperature change rate, introducing a humidity sensor can make defrosting judgment more accurate. When the evaporator is frosted, the humidity is high; as the frost gradually melts, the humidity gradually decreases. The controller can jointly determine whether defrosting is complete by combining humidity and temperature changes, thereby increasing the reliability and accuracy of the system. The controller 104 can calculate a "humidity-temperature ratio" based on data from the humidity and temperature sensors as an auxiliary judgment basis for the defrosting process. When this ratio reaches a preset value, it can be determined that defrosting is complete.

[0326] Figure 35 is a flowchart illustrating another refrigerator control method provided in some embodiments of this application. The method can be executed by the refrigerator controller. As shown in Figure 35, the method may include the following steps.

[0327] S1301, Obtain at least one second temperature change rate.

[0328] In some embodiments, at least one second temperature change rate is the rate of change of temperature value corresponding to every two adjacent moments in a plurality of moments before the first moment. The duration between any two adjacent moments in the plurality of moments is a preset duration. After determining the first temperature change rate, the controller can acquire at least one second temperature change rate. For example, Figure 36 is a schematic diagram of a plurality of moments before the first moment in some embodiments of this application. It can be understood that at least one second temperature change rate and the first temperature change rate are multiple consecutive temperature change rates, that is, the moments corresponding to the temperature values ​​used to determine at least one second temperature change rate and the first temperature change rate are consecutive moments. In some embodiments, the controller can acquire at least one second temperature change rate from a preset memory. Taking the second temperature change rate during the time between the first moment and the moment before as an example, after determining the second temperature change rate, the controller can store the second temperature change rate in the preset memory. It can be understood that when storing the second temperature change rate, the controller can also store the first moment corresponding to the second temperature change rate for subsequent reading to determine whether defrosting is complete. In some embodiments, since the duration corresponding to the rapid temperature change period is short, the number of second temperature change rates can be 1 or 2. In some embodiments, the number of second temperature change rates can be determined based on a preset duration and the duration corresponding to the rapid temperature change period, avoiding an excessively large or small number of second temperature change rates that would hinder the controller's judgment. For example, if the preset duration is 5 minutes and the duration corresponding to the rapid temperature change period is 2 minutes, then the number of second temperature change rates can be 2, making the number of temperature change rates used to determine whether defrosting is complete 3 (i.e., including the first temperature change rate). If the preset duration is 5 minutes and the duration corresponding to the rapid temperature change period is 3 minutes, then the number of second temperature change rates can be 1, making the number of temperature change rates used to determine whether defrosting is complete 2 (i.e., including the first temperature change rate). For example, the number of temperature change rates used to determine whether defrosting is complete can be obtained by rounding up the ratio of the preset duration to the duration corresponding to the rapid temperature change period.

[0329] S1302. Determine whether at least one second temperature change rate and the first temperature change rate are above a preset value.

[0330] If so, then execute S1303.

[0331] In some embodiments, if at least one of the second temperature change rate and the first temperature change rate is less than a preset value, it can be determined that defrosting has not been completed, that is, no action is performed. The controller can continue to determine whether defrosting has been completed at the next moment after the current moment by using the temperature value detected by the first temperature sensor. It can be understood that the next moment can be a moment after a preset time period of the current moment.

[0332] In some embodiments, if at least one of the second temperature change rate and the first temperature change rate is less than a preset value, the controller can obtain the current defrosting time and determine whether the current defrosting time has reached the preset defrosting time. If the current defrosting time reaches the preset defrosting time, it indicates that the refrigeration system has been in defrosting mode for a long time. The controller can then determine whether the first temperature value is greater than or equal to the preset temperature value. If the first temperature value is greater than or equal to the preset temperature value, defrosting is determined to be complete. If the first temperature value is less than the preset temperature value, defrosting is determined to be incomplete. The current defrosting time is the time between the current moment and the moment the refrigeration system enters defrosting mode. This current defrosting time can be referenced in Figure 36. For example, the preset temperature value can be the temperature at the evaporator inlet when the frost on the evaporator has melted. Since the refrigeration mode is not in effect at this time, this temperature can be 1°C, 2°C, etc. If the current defrosting time has not reached the preset defrosting time, the controller can continue to determine whether defrosting is complete at the next moment by using the temperature value detected by the first temperature sensor. In some embodiments, if there is a rate of change less than a preset value among multiple consecutive rates of change, it can be determined whether the current defrosting time has reached the preset defrosting time. If so, it can be determined directly based on the first temperature value whether defrosting is completed, so as to avoid the melting of frozen food in the storage compartment due to long-term backflow defrosting caused by refrigeration system failure (such as large amount of frost due to refrigerator cold leakage or refrigerant leakage, etc., which may result in the failure to detect the temperature rise).

[0333] S1303, Declare defrosting complete.

[0334] If at least one second temperature change rate and the first temperature change rate are above a preset value, it indicates that the temperature change rate within multiple preset time periods is large, i.e., the temperature is rising, and defrosting can be determined to be complete. In some embodiments, when the preset time period is less than the time corresponding to the rapid temperature change period, defrosting can be determined based on multiple consecutive change rates, which can further improve the accuracy of defrosting judgment, thereby achieving precise defrosting and saving energy. In some embodiments, when the first throttling device is a flow regulating valve, the controller can control the flow regulating valve in the following manner when it detects that there is a defrosting requirement in the evaporator:

[0335] When a defrosting requirement is detected in the evaporator, the sixth pressure is obtained through the second pressure sensor and the seventh pressure is obtained through the first pressure sensor. This allows the system to determine whether the refrigerant pressure inside the refrigeration system has reached equilibrium based on the pressure values ​​at the compressor's exhaust port and intake port. This prevents fluctuations in refrigerant pressure caused by changes in refrigerant flow due to the refrigeration system switching from refrigeration mode to defrosting mode.

[0336] Then, it is determined whether the difference between the sixth and seventh pressures is less than the preset difference. If so, it indicates that the pressure difference between the compressor's discharge port and intake port is small, and the internal pressure of the refrigeration system can be considered to be basically balanced. Therefore, the opening of the flow control valve is set to the first opening, so that the flow rate is the first flow rate, and the refrigeration system enters defrosting mode. When the pressure is basically balanced, the flow rate of the flow control valve is controlled to the first flow rate, which is less than the maximum flow rate of the flow control valve. This reduces the risk of liquid refrigerant entering the compressor while maintaining pressure balance and reducing the accumulation of liquid refrigerant, thereby reducing the risk of liquid slugging in the compressor.

[0337] If the difference is greater than or equal to the preset difference, it indicates that the pressure difference between the compressor's exhaust port and intake port is large. The controller can continue to monitor the pressure difference between the compressor's intake port and exhaust port through the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor respectively, until the pressure difference between the compressor's exhaust port and intake port is less than the preset difference.

[0338] It should be noted that pressure basically reaching equilibrium means that the pressure difference between the various components in the refrigeration system is small. For example, the pressure difference between the various components can be 0, or it can be greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 10, etc.

[0339] In some embodiments, when a defrosting requirement is detected in the evaporator, the pressure balance of the refrigeration system can be determined based on the pressure difference between the compressor's return and exhaust ports. When the pressure is essentially balanced, the flow rate of the flow regulating valve is controlled to a first flow rate, which is less than the maximum flow rate of the flow regulating valve. This reduces the risk of liquid refrigerant entering the compressor, thereby reducing the risk of liquid slugging in the compressor, while maintaining pressure balance and reducing the accumulation of liquid refrigerant. In some embodiments, when a defrosting requirement is detected in the evaporator, the controller can obtain the compressor's status. If the compressor is on, when the refrigeration system exits the refrigeration mode, the compressor is controlled to be off, and the flow rate of the flow regulating valve is controlled to a second flow rate, which is greater than the first flow rate. The compressor's status is either on or off. In some embodiments, the detection of a defrosting requirement in the evaporator can be detected while the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode. When the refrigeration system exits the refrigeration mode, the compressor can be controlled to be off, and the flow rate of the flow regulating valve can be controlled to a second flow rate, which can be the maximum flow rate of the flow regulating valve, to increase the flow rate and accelerate the pressure balance within the refrigeration system. If a defrosting requirement is detected in the evaporator, and the compressor is off, the pressure values ​​of the first and second pressure sensors can be directly obtained to determine whether the internal pressure of the refrigeration system has reached equilibrium, without needing to control the flow regulating valve to the maximum flow rate, thus simplifying the controller's processing flow.

[0340] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium, which may include various media capable of storing program code, such as a USB flash drive, a portable hard drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk. Specifically, the computer-readable storage medium stores computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a computer, are used to implement the technical solutions shown in the above-described method embodiments. This application also provides a program product, which includes executable instructions stored in a readable storage medium. When the computer program is executed by a computer, the technical solutions shown in the above-described method embodiments are executed. The specific implementation methods and technical effects are similar and will not be repeated here. Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

[0341] For ease of explanation, the above description has been provided in conjunction with specific embodiments. However, the above exemplary discussion is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the specific forms disclosed above. Various modifications and variations can be obtained based on the above teachings. The selection and description of the above embodiments are for the purpose of better explaining the principles and practical applications, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better use the embodiments and various different variations of the embodiments suitable for specific use considerations. In this application, "at least one" means one or more. "More than one" means two or more. The descriptions of "first," "second," etc., appearing in some embodiments of this application are only for illustration and to distinguish the described objects, and have no order, nor do they indicate a special limitation on the number of devices in some embodiments of this application, and cannot constitute any limitation on some embodiments of this application. For example, a first threshold and a second threshold are only used to distinguish different thresholds, and do not indicate a difference in the size, priority, or importance of these two thresholds. In this application, "exemplary," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," etc., are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design scheme described as "exemplary" in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or design schemes. Specifically, the use of the term "exemplary" is intended to present the concept in a concrete manner. In this application, the terms "of", "corresponding", "corresponding", and "related" may sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that when the distinction is not emphasized, they have the same meaning.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising: The container is designed with a storage compartment. The door is used to open or close the storage room; A refrigeration system, disposed within the enclosure, includes: The compressor is located inside the compressor compartment; Condenser; Evaporator; Control valve; A decondensation pipe is installed in the contact area between the housing and the door. Evaporator tube; The control valve is connected to the exhaust port of the compressor, the air inlet of the compressor, the inlet of the evaporator, the outlet of the decondenser, the inlet of the condenser, and the outlet of the evaporator, respectively. The outlet of the evaporator is connected to the inlet of the decondenser, and the outlet of the decondenser is connected to the inlet of the condenser. When the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode, the control valve connects the compressor to the evaporator, the decondenser, the condenser, and the evaporator, so that the refrigerant flowing from the compressor flows through the evaporator, the decondenser, the condenser, and the evaporator in sequence before flowing to the compressor. When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, the control valve connects the pipeline between the compressor and the evaporator and the condenser, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the compressor flows through the evaporator and the condenser in sequence before flowing to the compressor.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The refrigeration system also includes a compressor compartment and an evaporating dish, wherein the compressor and the evaporating dish are both located in the compressor compartment, and the evaporating tube is located in the evaporating dish.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The control valve includes: The first port is connected to the exhaust pipe of the compressor; The second port is connected to the inlet of the evaporation tube; The third port is connected to the outlet of the decondensation pipe via a connecting pipe; The fourth port is connected to the connecting pipe; The fifth port is connected to the inlet of the condenser; The sixth port is connected to the air inlet of the compressor; The seventh port is connected to the outlet of the evaporator; When the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode, the first port is connected to the second port, the fourth port is connected to the fifth port, and the sixth port is connected to the seventh port. When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, the first port is connected to the third port, the fourth port is connected to the seventh port, and the fifth port is connected to the sixth port.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein, A second branch and a first branch are provided in parallel between the condenser and the evaporator; a first switching valve, a first drying filter and a first throttling device are provided in sequence on the first branch, and a second switching valve, a second throttling device and a second drying filter are provided in sequence on the second branch; When the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode, the first switching valve is open and the second switching valve is closed, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser flows to the evaporator after passing through the first switching valve, the first dryer filter and the first throttling device in sequence. When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, the first switch valve is closed and the second switch valve is open, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator flows into the condenser after passing through the second dryer filter, the second throttling device and the second switch valve in sequence.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein, The first throttling device and the second throttling device are flow regulating valves.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein, The flow rate of the first throttling device is less than the flow rate of the second throttling device.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein, The flow rate of the first throttling device is the same as that of the second throttling device.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, further comprising: The controller is electrically connected to the first switching valve, the second switching valve, the refrigeration system, and the control valve, respectively. The controller is configured as follows: When a defrosting requirement is detected in the evaporator, the compressor is stopped; and when the ambient temperature of the refrigerator's environment is greater than a preset value, the first and second switching valves are opened; after the first and second switching valves have been open for a preset time, the compressor is started, the first switching valve is closed, and the first port of the control valve is connected to the third port, the fourth port to the seventh port, and the fifth port to the sixth port, so that the refrigeration system enters defrosting mode.

9. A refrigerator, comprising: The container is designed with a storage compartment. The door is used to open or close the storage room; A refrigeration system, disposed within the enclosure, and comprising: compressor; Condenser; Evaporator; Control valve; A decondensation pipe is installed in the contact area between the housing and the door. Evaporator tube; The compressor's exhaust port, the evaporator pipe, the decondenser pipe, and the control valve are connected in sequence. When the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode, the control valve opens the passage between the compressor and the evaporator, the decondenser, and the condenser, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the compressor flows through the evaporator, the decondenser, and the condenser in sequence before flowing to the compressor; When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, the control valve connects the pipeline between the compressor and the evaporator, the defrost pipe, the evaporator and the condenser, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the compressor flows through the defrost pipe, the evaporator and the condenser in sequence before flowing to the compressor.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein, The refrigeration system also includes a compressor compartment and an evaporating dish, wherein the compressor and the evaporating dish are both located in the compressor compartment, and the evaporating tube is located in the evaporating dish.

11. A refrigerator, comprising: The container is designed with a storage compartment. The door is used to open or close the storage room; A refrigeration system, disposed within the enclosure, includes: compressor; Condenser; Evaporator; Control valve; A decondensation pipe is installed in the contact area between the housing and the door. Evaporator tube; The control valve is connected to the exhaust port of the compressor, the air inlet of the compressor, the inlet of the evaporator, the outlet of the decondenser, the outlet of the evaporator, the inlet of the condenser, and the outlet of the condenser, respectively. The outlet of the evaporator is connected to the inlet of the decondenser. When the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode, the control valve connects the pipeline between the compressor and the condenser, the evaporator, the decondenser, and the evaporator, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the compressor flows through the condenser, the evaporator, the decondenser, and the evaporator in sequence before flowing to the compressor; When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, the control valve connects the pipeline between the compressor and the evaporator and the condenser, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the compressor flows through the evaporator and the condenser in sequence before flowing to the compressor.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein, The refrigeration system also includes a compressor compartment and an evaporating dish, wherein the compressor and the evaporating dish are both located in the compressor compartment, and the evaporating tube is located in the evaporating dish.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein, The control valve includes: The first port is connected to the outlet of the condenser; The second port is connected to the inlet of the evaporation tube; The third port is connected to the outlet of the decondensation pipe; The fourth port is connected to the exhaust pipe of the compressor; The fifth port is connected to the inlet of the condenser; The sixth port is connected to the air inlet of the compressor; The seventh port is connected to the outlet of the evaporator; When the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode, the first port is connected to the second port, the fourth port is connected to the fifth port, and the sixth port is connected to the seventh port. When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, the first port is connected to the third port, the fourth port is connected to the seventh port, and the fifth port is connected to the sixth port.

14. A refrigerator, comprising: Refrigeration system, including: compressor; Condenser; Evaporator; A solenoid valve is located on the pipeline between the compressor and the condenser, and on the pipeline between the compressor and the evaporator; when the refrigeration system is in cooling mode, the solenoid valve opens the pipeline between the compressor and the condenser to allow refrigerant flowing from the compressor to flow to the condenser; when the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, the solenoid valve opens the pipeline between the compressor and the evaporator to allow refrigerant flowing from the compressor to flow to the evaporator; A first temperature sensor is disposed on the pipeline between the compressor inlet and the solenoid valve, and is configured to detect the temperature of the refrigerant at the compressor inlet. A first pressure sensor is disposed on the pipeline between the compressor inlet and the solenoid valve, and is configured to detect the pressure of the refrigerant at the compressor inlet. The controller, electrically connected to the first temperature sensor, the first pressure sensor, the solenoid valve, and the compressor respectively, is configured as follows: When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, a first temperature is obtained through the first temperature sensor, and a first pressure is obtained through the first pressure sensor. If the first temperature is less than or equal to the critical temperature, the refrigeration system is controlled to switch from defrosting mode to refrigeration mode; the critical temperature is the temperature of the saturated gaseous refrigerant corresponding to the first pressure. When the refrigeration system meets a preset condition, the refrigeration system is controlled to switch from refrigeration mode to defrosting mode, wherein the preset condition is that the pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigeration system reaches a stable state.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, further comprising: The enclosure has a storage compartment, and the refrigeration system is located inside the enclosure.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein, The refrigerator also includes a second pressure sensor disposed on the pipeline between the compressor's exhaust port and the solenoid valve, configured to detect the pressure of the refrigerant at the compressor's exhaust port; The controller is configured as follows: After the refrigeration system enters the refrigeration mode, a second pressure is obtained through the first pressure sensor, and a third pressure is obtained through the second pressure sensor. If the difference between the second pressure and the third pressure is within a preset threshold range, then the refrigeration system is determined to meet the preset condition.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein, If the difference between the second pressure and the third pressure is within a preset threshold range, the controller is further configured to: The fourth pressure at multiple moments is obtained through the first pressure sensor, and the fifth pressure at multiple moments is obtained through the second pressure sensor; For any one of the plurality of times, determine the difference between the fourth pressure and the fifth pressure at that time; If the difference between the multiple time points is within the preset threshold range, then the refrigeration system is determined to meet the preset condition.

18. The refrigerator according to claim 14, further comprising: An ambient temperature sensor is installed on the outside of the refrigerator body and electrically connected to the controller. It is configured to acquire the ambient temperature of the environment in which the refrigerator is located. The controller is configured as follows: After the refrigeration system enters the refrigeration mode, the amount of refrigerant charged in the refrigeration system is obtained; The ambient temperature is obtained through the ambient temperature sensor. Based on the injection volume and the ambient temperature, a target duration is determined in a preset correspondence, wherein the preset correspondence includes multiple injection volumes and the duration corresponding to each injection volume at different ambient temperatures, and the duration is the time required for the pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigeration system to reach a stable state after the refrigeration system enters the refrigeration mode; When the duration for which the refrigeration system enters refrigeration mode reaches the target duration, it is determined that the refrigeration system meets the preset conditions.

19. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 14-18, further comprising: A second temperature sensor installed on the air inlet pipe of the evaporator is configured to detect the temperature value at the air inlet of the evaporator. The controller is also configured to: After the refrigeration system re-enters defrost mode, the second temperature at the current moment is obtained through the second temperature sensor; The third temperature detected by the second temperature sensor at a first moment is obtained, where the first moment is a preset time period before the current moment; The first temperature change rate is determined based on the second temperature and the third temperature; Based on the first temperature change rate, determine whether defrosting has been completed; If so, control the refrigeration system to exit defrost mode.

20. The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein, A flow regulating valve is installed in the pipeline between the condenser and the evaporator; The controller is also configured to: When a defrosting requirement is detected in the evaporator, a sixth pressure is obtained through the second pressure sensor, and a seventh pressure is obtained through the first pressure sensor; Determine whether the difference between the sixth pressure and the seventh pressure is less than a preset difference; If so, the opening degree of the flow regulating valve is controlled to a first opening degree so that the flow rate of the flow regulating valve is a first flow rate; Control the refrigeration system to enter defrost mode.

21. The refrigerator according to claim 20, wherein, The controller is configured as follows: When a defrosting requirement is detected in the evaporator, the status of the compressor is obtained, which is either on or off. If the compressor is in the "on" state, then the compressor is controlled to stop, and the flow regulating valve is controlled to open to a first degree, so that the flow rate of the flow regulating valve is a second flow rate, which is greater than the first flow rate.

22. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein, A second branch and a first branch are provided in parallel between the condenser and the evaporator; a first switching valve, a first drying filter and a first throttling device are provided in sequence on the first branch, and a second switching valve, a second throttling device and a second drying filter are provided in sequence on the second branch; When the refrigeration system is in refrigeration mode, the first switching valve is open and the second switching valve is closed, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the condenser flows to the evaporator after passing through the first switching valve, the first dryer filter and the first throttling device. When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, the first switching valve is closed and the second switching valve is open, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the evaporator flows to the condenser after passing through the second dryer filter, the second throttling device and the second switching valve.

23. A method for controlling a refrigerator, wherein, The refrigerator includes: Refrigeration system, including: compressor; Condenser; Evaporator; A solenoid valve is located on the pipeline between the compressor and the condenser, and on the pipeline between the compressor and the evaporator; when the refrigeration system is in cooling mode, the solenoid valve opens the pipeline between the compressor and the condenser to allow refrigerant flowing from the compressor to flow to the condenser; when the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, the solenoid valve opens the pipeline between the compressor and the evaporator to allow refrigerant flowing from the compressor to flow to the evaporator; A first temperature sensor is disposed on the pipeline between the compressor inlet and the solenoid valve, and is configured to detect the temperature of the refrigerant at the compressor inlet. A first pressure sensor is disposed on the pipeline between the compressor inlet and the solenoid valve, and is configured to detect the pressure of the refrigerant at the compressor inlet. The method includes: When the refrigeration system is in defrost mode, a first temperature is obtained through the first temperature sensor, and a first pressure is obtained through the first pressure sensor. If the first temperature is less than or equal to the critical temperature, the refrigeration system is controlled to switch from defrosting mode to refrigeration mode; the critical temperature is the temperature of the saturated gaseous refrigerant corresponding to the first pressure. When the refrigeration system meets a preset condition, the refrigeration system is controlled to switch from refrigeration mode to defrosting mode, wherein the preset condition is that the pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigeration system reaches a stable state.

24. The refrigerator according to claim 23, further comprising: The enclosure has a storage compartment, and the refrigeration system is located inside the enclosure.

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