U.S. patent application number 12/896287 was filed with the patent office on 2012-04-05 for refrigerator having circulation fan controller for saving power consumption.
Invention is credited to Min-Ho LEE.
Application Number | 20120079842 12/896287 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45888642 |
Filed Date | 2012-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120079842 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Min-Ho |
April 5, 2012 |
REFRIGERATOR HAVING CIRCULATION FAN CONTROLLER FOR SAVING POWER
CONSUMPTION
Abstract
Disclosed is a refrigerator comprising: a compressor ON/OFF
detector configured to detect an operation of the compressor when
the compressor is operated; a circulation fan operation controller
checks an operation of the compressor based on a signal input from
the compressor ON/OFF detector and set and output an operation
condition of a circulation fan; a circulation fan power source (50)
configured to supply drive power to the circulation fan (60) in
response to an output signal of the circulation fan operation
controller (30); and a circulation fan control switch (40)
configured to interrupt the power of the circulation fan power
source (50) in response to an output signal of the circulation fan
operation controller (30).
Inventors: |
LEE; Min-Ho; (Gwangju,
KR) |
Family ID: |
45888642 |
Appl. No.: |
12/896287 |
Filed: |
October 1, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/186 ;
62/498 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02B 30/743 20130101;
F25B 2600/0251 20130101; Y02B 30/70 20130101; F25D 29/00 20130101;
F25B 2600/112 20130101; F25D 17/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/186 ;
62/498 |
International
Class: |
F25D 17/06 20060101
F25D017/06; F25B 1/00 20060101 F25B001/00 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator including a refrigeration cycle having a
compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, a condenser
configured to condense the refrigerant compressed by the
compressor, a capillary tube configured to decompress the liquid
refrigerant condensed by the condenser, and an evaporator
configured to evaporate the liquid refrigerant decompressed by the
capillary tube to produce cold air by exchanging heat, and a
circulation fan configured to circulate the cold air produced by
the evaporator, comprising: a compressor ON/OFF detector configured
to detect an operation of the compressor when the compressor is
operated; a circulation fan operation controller configured to
check an operation of the compressor based on a signal input from
the compressor ON/OFF detector and set and output an operation
condition of a circulation fan; a circulation fan power source
configured to supply drive power to the circulation fan in response
to an output signal of the circulation fan operation controller;
and a circulation fan control switch configured to interrupt the
power of the circulation fan power source in response to an output
signal of the circulation fan operation controller.
2. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compressor
ON/OFF detector includes a photoelectric switch.
3. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circulation
fan control switch includes a relay having a coil and a contact
point operated by an attractive or repulsive force of the coil, and
a semiconductor device configured to interrupt power energizing the
coil in response to an output signal of the circulation fan
operation controller.
4. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circulation
fan operation controller includes a circulation fan controller that
controls the circulation fan control switch to output a signal for
continuously operating the circulation fan if the compressor is
switched on and controls the circulation fan control switch to
output an interruption signal for operating the circulation fan
such that the circulation fan is stopped for three minutes and is
operated for one minute if the compressor is switched off.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a fan control circuit for
saving power consumption of a refrigerator by controlling an
evaporator fan, and more particularly, to a power saving circuit
using control of a fan of a refrigerator that saves power
consumption by controlling the operation of an evaporator fan
located within the refrigerator in association with the operation
of a compressor.
[0003] 2. Discussion of Related Art
[0004] Refrigerators, air conditioners, and refrigerating show
cases all includes a refrigeration cycle. The refrigeration cycle
includes a compressor configured to compress a gaseous refrigerant
of low temperature and low pressure to produce a gaseous
refrigerant of high temperature and high pressure, a condenser
connected to a discharge opening of the compressor and configured
to condense the gaseous refrigerant of high temperature and high
pressure produced by the compressor into a liquefied state, a
capillary tube configured to decompress the pressurized liquefied
refrigerant which has passed through the condenser, and an
evaporator configured to produce cold air by absorbing heat from
the liquefied refrigerant decompressed by the capillary tube, and a
circulation fan (also, referred to as an evaporator fan) configured
to circulate the cold air produced by the evaporator into a
compartment is installed around the evaporator.
[0005] The compressor functions to increase the pressure of a
refrigerant by compressing a gaseous refrigerant of low pressure
using the rotational force of a motor. The motor of the compressor
may be an AC motor, a brushless motor, etc.
[0006] The compressor of the refrigeration cycle compresses a
gaseous refrigerant of low pressure into a gaseous refrigerant of
high pressure. The gaseous refrigerant compressed by the compressor
undergoes a phase transition to a liquid state while passing
through the condenser.
[0007] The refrigerant which has been liquefied while undergoing a
phase transition is decompressed after it passes through the
capillary tube and absorbs the surrounding heat in the evaporator
to undergo a phase transition to a gaseous state. Then, the
refrigerant is changed to a gaseous state by the phase transition.
That is, the refrigerant undergoes a phase transition to a gas
state in the evaporator.
[0008] If the circulation fan 60 is operated, heat exchange is
further activated in the evaporator. Further activation of heat
exchange in the evaporator means expedition of evaporation of the
refrigerant in the evaporator.
[0009] As illustrated in FIG. 1, in a refrigerator, a show case,
etc. (hereinafter, referred to as "refrigerator") having a general
refrigeration cycle, a circulation fan 60 is operated within an
interior (hereinafter, referred to as "compartment") to efficiently
exchange heat in the evaporator and make the temperature of the
compartment uniform. The circulation fan 60 is controlled by a
controller (FIG. 1 illustrates a mechanical refrigerator in which a
compressor is controlled not by a separate controller but by a
compartment temperature adjustor) according to the temperature of
the compartment, the opening/closing state of the door, etc.
[0010] Technologies of controlling a circulation fan according to
various operation conditions to enhance the operation efficiencies
of a refrigerator, e.g. the condition of a compartment are
disclosed in Korean Laid-Open Patent No. 2000-0055339, Korean
Utility Model No. 20-0290179, etc.
[0011] However, according to the disclosed technologies, in
controlling the circulation fan 60, the operation of the
circulation fan 60 is controlled only by opening and closing the
door regardless of the operation of the compressor 10, or is
controlled to be operated during the operation of the compressor 10
and be stopped when the compressor is stopped, restraining frost
generated in the evaporator (not shown) from being completely
removed. As a result, the temperature of the compartment cannot be
controlled to a desired temperature, which is complained by users
during use.
[0012] In particular, in a mechanical temperature adjusting
refrigerator where only the operation of the compressor 10 is
controlled in association with the operation of the compartment
temperature adjustor 70 and the circulation fan is operated at all
times, the circulation fan 60 is normally operated regardless of
the operation of the compressor 10, causing loss of power.
[0013] In particular, in the case of a refrigerating show case,
since the circulation fan motor is operated at all times, it
rapidly radiates heat and circulates cold air. Accordingly, heat is
transferred through a glass door and cold air is leaked, causing
power to be wasted due to increase in the operation time of the
compressor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The prevent invention has been made in an effort to solve
the above-described problems associated with the prior art, and an
object of the present invention is to provide a fan control circuit
that saves power consumption by checking an operation of a
compressor and continuously operate a circulation fan or
periodically switching on and off the circulation fan according to
the operation of the compressor, and a control method thereof.
[0015] According to an aspect of the present invention for
achieving the above object, there is provided a refrigerator
including a refrigeration cycle having a compressor configured to
compress a refrigerant, a condenser configured to condense the
refrigerant compressed by the compressor, a capillary tube
configured to decompress the liquid refrigerant condensed by the
condenser, and an evaporator configured to evaporate the liquid
refrigerant decompressed by the capillary tube to produce cold air
by exchanging heat, and a circulation fan configured to circulate
the cold air produced by the evaporator, comprising: a compressor
ON/OFF detector configured to detect an operation of the compressor
when the compressor is operated; a circulation fan operation
controller checks an operation of the compressor based on a signal
input from the compressor ON/OFF detector and set and output an
operation condition of a circulation fan; a circulation fan power
source 50 configured to supply drive power to the circulation fan
60 in response to an output signal of the circulation fan operation
controller 30; and a circulation fan control switch 40 configured
to interrupt the power of the circulation fan power source 50 in
response to an output signal of the circulation fan operation
controller 30.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary
skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments
thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a control circuit diagram illustrating an
operation of mechanically controlling a fan of a conventional
refrigerator;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating an operation of
controlling a fan of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of
the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a circulation fan controller of
the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0020] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the circulation fan
controller of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
will be described below in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings such that those skilled in the art to which
the present invention pertains can easily practice the present
invention.
[0022] First, in a refrigerator including a refrigeration cycle of
FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a
compartment temperature adjustor 70 configured to detect the
temperature of a refrigerator compartment or a freezer compartment
(hereinafter, referred to as "compartment") such that the
compartment temperature adjustor 70 is switched on and off
according to a set temperature of the compartment and a compressor
is operated or stopped according to the switching operation of the
compartment temperature adjuster 70.
[0023] Then, the circulation fan controller 100 detects the ON/OFF
state of the compartment temperature adjuster 70 and controls an
operation of the circulation fan 60 according to a predetermined
period or condition.
[0024] FIGS. 3 and 4 are a block diagram and a circuit diagram of
the circulation fan controller 100 of FIG. 2, and the operation and
configuration of a power saving circuit of the refrigerator
according to the embodiment of the present invention will be
described with reference to the drawings.
[0025] If the compressor is operated, a voltage applied to an input
terminal of the compressor 10 is detected by a compressor ON/OFF
switch 20.
[0026] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the compressor ON/OFF detector 20
photoelectrically converts a compressor operating voltage inputted
to an input terminal of the compressor through a diode and a light
emitting diode into an electrical signal, i.e. a CDs device
commonly used in the field and sends it to an operation controller
30.
[0027] When the compressor is switched on, the photoelectric device
inputs a HIGH signal to the circulation fan operation controller 30
and, when the compressor is turned off, it inputs a LOW signal to
the circulation fan operation controller 30.
[0028] It is noted that HIGH and LOW signals can be determined
according to a circuit design of a person skilled in the art to
which the present invention pertains and can be set in the opposite
way and such a photoelectric device is used to secure the
reliability of the operation of the circulation fan operation
controller 30 by preventing components such as noise, i.e. an
unintended signal that may be contained in a detection signal from
being introduced into the circulation fan operation controller
30.
[0029] In the detection step, the circulation fan operation
controller 30 checks an operation of the compressor 10 based on a
signal input to the circulation fan operation controller 30, and
sets and outputs an operation condition of the circulation fan
60.
[0030] A device commonly used to output a signal indicating an
operation period or an ON/OFF state according to the state of a
signal that is recognized by the circulation fan operation
controller 30 when a signal is input to the circulation fan
operation controller 30 is suitable for the circulation fan
operation controller 30. Meanwhile, although a commercialized
device, e.g. MC814104 is used in the present invention, the present
invention is not limited thereto and any device having the same
function is available.
[0031] If the compressor 10 is switched on, the circulation fan
control switch 30 outputs a signal for continuously operating the
circulation fan 60, and if the compressor 10 is switched off, the
circulation fan control switch 30 outputs an interruption signal
for switching off the circulation fan 30 for three minutes and
switching on the circulation fan 30 for one minute.
[0032] The interruption period may be modified according to the
design condition of a designer, but is an optimum embodiment in the
present invention.
[0033] The circulation fan control switch 40 configured to apply
and interrupt a voltage of the circulation fan power source 50 to
the circulation fan 60 in response to an output signal of the
circulation fan operation controller 30 includes a coil commonly
utilized in the field, a relay having a contact point operated by
an attractive or repulsive force of the coil, and a semiconductor
device interrupting a voltage for energizing the coil in response
to an output signal of the circulation fan operation controller 30,
i.e. a semiconductor device through which a current flows in
response to a biased signal (or an applied signal) such as a
transistor commonly used in the field.
[0034] It is noted that while the present invention illustrates a
mechanical relay as an example of the circulation fan control
switch 40, the present invention is not limited thereto and a
switch circuit or a switch device having an electronic circuit may
be utilized as the circulation fan control switch 40.
[0035] The circulation fan power source 50 is a power supply that
supplies drive power of the circulation fan 60 supplied through the
circulation fan control switch 40 and is limited to the
specification of the circulation fan 60. The circulation fan power
source 50 includes a condenser for interrupting unnecessary noise
and a Zener diode transistor.
[0036] Although not illustrated in the present invention, the power
supplied to the circulation fan power source 50, the circulation
fan control switch 40, and the circulation fan operation controller
30 is generally obtained by rectifying and AD-converting a common
power of 50 to 60 Hz and 100 to 240 V.
[0037] The power may be supplied by an SMPS (Switching Mode Power
Supply) generated by a power electronic circuit disposed on the
printed circuit board on which the circulation fan controller 100
is mounted, and may be a DC power supplied through a separate power
source.
[0038] In the operation of the circulation fan controller 100
comprises a step of detecting and checking an operation of the
compressor 10 by the compressor ON/OFF detector 20 when the
compressor 10 is operated, a step of checking an operation of the
compressor 10 based on an input signal by the circulation fan
operation controller 30 and setting and outputting an operation
condition of the circulation fan, and a step of supplying and
interrupting an operation power of the circulation fan 60 through
the circulation fan control switch 40 such that drive power can be
supplied to the circulation fan 60 in response to an output signal
of the circulation fan operation controller 30.
[0039] As described above, the operation of the circulation fan 60
is controlled by determining an operation of the compressor
according to the present invention so that the circulation of cold
air can be limited when the circulation fan motor is off in the
case of a freezer show case such that heat is refrained from being
transferred through a glass door and cold air is refrained from
being leaked, making it possible to reduce operation time.
Moreover, consumption of power of the motor is reduced by stopping
the circulation fan when the compressor is off.
[0040] In order to measure the power saving effect of the
refrigerator of the present invention, the California Energy Saving
Test Standard is applied in a condition of a peripheral temperature
of 24 degrees Celsius, a relative humidity of 50%, measurement of
24 hours, opening and closing of a door by an interval of 10
minutes for 8 hours, and 3 minutes OFF and 1 minute ON of a cooling
fan when a compressor is switched off The result shows that the
power consumption of the refrigerator of the present invention is
decreased by 12 to 15% as compared with a conventional refrigerator
regardless of the ON/OFF state of a compressor.
[0041] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications can be made to the above-described exemplary
embodiments of the present invention without departing from the
spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the
present invention covers all such modifications provided they come
within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *