U.S. patent application number 14/941733 was filed with the patent office on 2016-05-19 for refrigerator.
The applicant listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Jisun JUNG, Sunghun LEE, Yoonseong NAM.
Application Number | 20160138849 14/941733 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54293140 |
Filed Date | 2016-05-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160138849 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Sunghun ; et
al. |
May 19, 2016 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
Disclosed is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet
having a storage compartment, a duct unit formed with a plurality
of discharge holes for discharge of cold air to the storage
compartment, the duct unit providing a path for movement of the
cold air, a guide provided inside the duct unit, the guide being
configured to guide the cold air to be discharged to the storage
compartment by dividing the cold air, moving to the top of the duct
unit, into opposite sides, and a compressor configured to compress
a refrigerant so as to supply the cold air to the duct unit. The
guide includes a Phase Change Material (PCM) having a melting point
at a lower temperature than a temperature inside the storage
compartment, the temperature inside the storage compartment being
set to initiate driving of the compressor.
Inventors: |
LEE; Sunghun; (Seoul,
KR) ; JUNG; Jisun; (Seoul, KR) ; NAM;
Yoonseong; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
54293140 |
Appl. No.: |
14/941733 |
Filed: |
November 16, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/186 ;
62/407 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 17/062 20130101;
F25D 17/08 20130101; F25D 2317/0672 20130101; F25D 11/006 20130101;
F25D 17/06 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 17/06 20060101
F25D017/06; F25D 17/08 20060101 F25D017/08; F25D 11/00 20060101
F25D011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 18, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0160576 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet defining a storage
compartment; a duct unit defining a plurality of discharge holes
that are configured to discharge cold air into the storage
compartment, the duct unit defining a path for movement of the cold
air; a guide provided inside the duct unit, the guide being
configured to divide cold air that is moving toward the plurality
of discharge holes of the duct into opposite sides of the guide;
and a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant to thereby
generate the cold air supplied to the duct unit, wherein the guide
includes a Phase Change Material (PCM) having a melting point at a
lower temperature than a set temperature inside the storage
compartment, the compressor being configured to be driven based on
the temperature inside the storage compartment reaching the set
temperature.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the guide is
configured to undergo heat exchange with the cold air within the
duct unit.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the compressor is
configured to supply cold air having a lower temperature than the
melting point of the phase change material, and wherein the guide
is configured to increase the temperature of the cold air that is
supplied to the storage compartment while the compressor is
operated.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the storage
compartment is lowered in temperature by the guide while the
compressor is not operating.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the duct unit
includes: a duct cover that is exposed to the storage compartment;
a first insulation member attached to a back of the duct cover; and
a second insulation member installed to a back of the first
insulation member to thereby define a space for passage of the cold
air between the first insulation member and the second insulation
member, wherein the guide is installed between the first insulation
member and the second insulation member.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the guide
includes a tapered portion having an upwardly increasing cross
sectional width.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the guide
includes a body that is charged with the phase change material, and
wherein the body has greater thermal conductivity than the phase
change material.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the body is
formed of HDPE(5200B).
9. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the body is not
charged in a lower end region thereof with the phase change
material, and a guide member is provided in the lower end region of
the body.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the duct cover
includes a protrusion, and wherein the first insulation member and
the guide respectively define through-holes for penetration by and
coupling with the protrusion.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the discharge
holes are located in the duct cover and the first insulation
member, and wherein the discharge holes are arranged at opposite
sides of the guide that is interposed therebetween.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the guide has a
lowermost end that is located lower than a lowermost end of the
discharge holes.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storage
compartment is a refrigerating compartment, and wherein the phase
change material has a melting point near 0.degree. C.
14. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising: a
temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature inside the
storage compartment; a fan installed in the duct unit; and a
controller configured to drive the fan based on the temperature
inside the storage compartment being increased to a prescribed
temperature or higher.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the discharge
holes are maintained in an open state.
16. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet defining a storage
compartment; a duct unit defining a plurality of discharge holes
that are configured to discharge cold air into the storage
compartment, the duct unit defining a path for movement of the cold
air; a guide provided inside the duct unit, the guide being
configured to divide cold air that is moving toward the plurality
of discharge holes of the duct into opposite sides of the guide;
and a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant to thereby
generate the cold air supplied to the duct unit, wherein the guide
includes a Phase Change Material (PCM) having a melting point at a
lower temperature than a set temperature inside the storage
compartment, the compressor being configured to be driven based on
the temperature inside the storage compartment reaching the set
temperature, and wherein the compressor is configured to generate
cold air having a lower temperature than the freezing point of the
phase change material.
17. The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the phase
change material is configured to accumulate cold air by being
changed to a solid phase while the compressor is driven.
18. The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the phase
change material is configured to discharge cold air by being
changed to a liquid phase while the compressor is not driven.
19. The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein a temperature
that causes the compressor to stop driving is lower than a
temperature that initiates driving of the compressor.
20. The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the duct unit
includes: a duct cover that is exposed to the storage compartment;
a first insulation member attached to a back of the duct cover; and
a second insulation member installed to a back of the first
insulation member to thereby define a space for passage of the cold
air between the first insulation member and the second insulation
member, wherein the guide is installed between the first insulation
member and the second insulation member.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2014-0160576, filed on Nov. 18, 2014, which is
hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a refrigerator and, more
particularly, to a refrigerator which is improved in terms of power
consumption.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, a refrigerator includes a machine room in the
lower region of a main body. The machine room is generally
installed in the lower region of the refrigerator, in consideration
of the center of gravity of the refrigerator, easy of assembly, and
vibration attenuation.
[0006] A refrigeration cycle device is installed in the machine
room of the refrigerator and serves to keep the interior of the
refrigerator in a frozen or refrigerated state using the
characteristics of a refrigerant which absorbs external heat while
varying from a low-pressure liquid state to a gaseous state,
thereby realizing the stable storage of fresh food.
[0007] The refrigeration cycle device of the refrigerator includes,
for example, a compressor which changes a low-temperature and
low-pressure gas phase refrigerant into a high-temperature and
high-pressure gas phase refrigerant, a condenser which changes the
high-temperature and high-pressure gas phase refrigerant, acquired
from the compressor, into a high-temperature and high-pressure
liquid phase refrigerant, and an evaporator which absorbs external
heat while changing a low-temperature and high-pressure liquid
phase refrigerant, acquired from the condenser, into a gas phase
refrigerant.
[0008] Recently produced refrigerators are increasing in storage
capacity and, correspondingly, tend to consume more power. Studies
with the aim of reducing the power consumption have been
conducted.
[0009] A conventional refrigerator exhibits temperature
distribution having the highest temperature in the uppermost shelf
of a storage compartment. However, the compressor is driven based
on the temperature of the upper region of the storage compartment
even through the lower region of the storage compartment has a
lower temperature than the upper region, which unnecessarily
increases power consumption.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a
refrigerator that substantially obviates one or more problems due
to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
[0011] One object of the present invention is to provide a
refrigerator which is capable of exhibiting reduced power
consumption.
[0012] In addition, another object of the present invention is to
provide a refrigerator which is capable of achieving even
temperature distribution within a storage compartment.
[0013] Additional advantages, objects, and features will be set
forth in part in the description which follows and in part will
become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon
examination of the following or may be learned from practice. The
objectives and other advantages may be realized and attained by the
structure particularly pointed out in the written description and
claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0014] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, in accordance with one aspect of the
present invention, a refrigerator includes a cabinet having a
storage compartment, a duct unit formed with a plurality of
discharge holes for discharge of cold air to the storage
compartment, the duct unit providing a path for movement of the
cold air, a guide provided inside the duct unit, the guide being
configured to guide the cold air to be discharged to the storage
compartment by dividing the cold air, moving to the top of the duct
unit, into opposite sides, and a compressor configured to compress
a refrigerant so as to supply the cold air to the duct unit,
wherein the guide includes a Phase Change Material (PCM) having a
melting point at a lower temperature than a temperature inside the
storage compartment, the temperature inside the storage compartment
being set to initiate driving of the compressor.
[0015] The guide may undergo heat exchange with the cold air to be
discharged to the storage compartment within the duct unit.
[0016] The compressor may supply the cold air having a lower
temperature than the melting point of the phase change material,
and the cold air, supplied to the storage compartment while the
compressor is operated, may be increased in temperature by the
guide.
[0017] The storage compartment may be lowered in temperature by the
guide while the compressor is not operating.
[0018] The duct unit may include a duct cover configured to be
exposed to the storage compartment, a first insulation member
attached to the back of the duct cover, and a second insulation
member installed to the back of the first insulation member so as
to define a space for passage of the cold air between the first
insulation member and the second insulation member, and the guide
may be installed between the first insulation member and the second
insulation member.
[0019] The guide may include a tapered portion having an upwardly
increasing cross sectional width.
[0020] The guide may include a body charged with the phase change
material, and the body may have greater thermal conductivity than
the phase change material.
[0021] The body may be formed of HDPE(5200B).
[0022] The body may not be charged in a lower end region thereof
with the phase change material, and a guide member having a
prescribed volume may be provided in the lower end region of the
body.
[0023] The duct cover may be formed with a protrusion, and the
first insulation member and the guide may be respectively formed
with through-holes for penetration and coupling of the
protrusion.
[0024] The discharge holes may be formed in the duct cover and the
first insulation member, and the discharge holes may be arranged at
opposite sides of the guide interposed therebetween.
[0025] The guide may have a lowermost end located lower than a
lowermost one of the discharge holes.
[0026] The storage compartment may be a refrigerating compartment,
and the phase change material may have a melting point near
0.degree. C.
[0027] The refrigerator may further include a temperature sensor
configured to sense a temperature inside the storage compartment, a
fan installed in the duct unit, and a controller configured to
drive the fan when the temperature inside the storage compartment
is increased to a prescribed temperature or higher.
[0028] The discharge holes may be continuously kept in an open
state.
[0029] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention,
a refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage compartment, a
duct unit formed with a plurality of discharge holes for discharge
of cold air to the storage compartment, the duct unit providing a
path for movement of the cold air, a guide provided inside the duct
unit, the guide being configured to guide the cold air to be
discharged to the storage compartment by dividing the cold air,
moving to the top of the duct unit, into opposite sides, and a
compressor configured to compress a refrigerant so as to supply the
cold air to the duct unit, wherein the guide includes a Phase
Change Material (PCM) having a freezing point at a lower
temperature than a temperature inside the storage compartment, the
temperature inside the storage compartment being set to initiate
driving of the compressor, and wherein the compressor supplies cold
air having a lower temperature than the freezing point of the phase
change material.
[0030] The phase change material may accumulate cold air by being
changed to a solid phase while the compressor is driven.
[0031] The phase change material may discharge cold air by being
changed to a liquid phase while the compressor is not driven.
[0032] A temperature, set to cause the compressor to stop driving,
may be lower than a temperature set to initiate the driving of the
compressor.
[0033] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
further explanation of the present invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated
in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate
embodiment(s) of the present invention and together with the
description serve to explain the principle of the present
invention. In the drawings:
[0035] FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating major
components according to the embodiment;
[0037] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of FIG. 2;
[0038] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the coupled state of some
major components according to the embodiment;
[0039] FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are views illustrating a guide according
to the embodiment; and
[0040] FIG. 6 is a control block diagram according to another
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0041] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in
order to concretely realize the objects as set forth above.
[0042] The size, shape, or the like of components illustrated in
the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of
description. In addition, terms specially defined in consideration
of the configuration and operation of the present invention may
vary according to the intention of a user or an operator, or
according to customs. Definitions related to these terms should be
based on the content throughout the specification.
[0043] FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator according to the
embodiment includes a cabinet 1 which defines the external
appearance of the refrigerator.
[0045] The cabinet 1 is provided with a storage compartment 2 in
which food may be stored.
[0046] The outer contour of the storage compartment 2 may be
defined by an inner case 10 which is provided inside the cabinet 1.
The inner case 10 may include an upper sidewall 12 and a lower
sidewall 14, which form the inner surface of the storage
compartment 2. The front side of the storage compartment 2 is open
to allow a user to access the storage compartment 2 through the
open front side of the storage compartment 2.
[0047] The cabinet 1 is provided at the front side thereof with a
first door 20, which is pivotably installed to the cabinet 1 and is
configured to open or close one side of the storage compartment 2,
and a second door 40 which is pivotably installed to the cabinet 1
and is configured to open or close the opposite side of the storage
compartment 2. At this time, when the first door 20 and the second
door 40 close the front side of the storage compartment 2, the
storage compartment 2 may be completely sealed.
[0048] The second door 20 may be provided with a pillar 100, which
rotates so as to come into contact with the first door 20. The
pillar 100 may generally have a cuboidal shape, and may be coupled
to the second door 40 so as to be rotatable relative to the second
door 40.
[0049] The first door 20 may be provided with a door dike 42, which
defines the rear outer contour of the first door 20. In addition,
the second door 40 may be provided with a door dike 22, which
defines the rear outer contour of the second door 40.
[0050] Baskets 44 and 24 may be installed to the respective door
dikes 42 and 22. The baskets 44 and 24 may be configured to store
various shapes of food therein.
[0051] The storage compartment 2 may be provided with a first
drawer 34, which is located toward the first door 20, and a second
drawer 32, which is located toward the second door 40. At this
time, the first drawer 34 and the second drawer 32 may be placed in
the same horizontal plane. That is, the first drawer 34 and the
second drawer 32 may be located in left and right sides at the same
height within the storage compartment 2. The first drawer 34 and
the second drawer 32 may be pulled out independently of each
other.
[0052] A duct unit 200 is provided at the rear wall of the storage
compartment 2, i.e. the rear wall of the inner case 10. At this
time, the duct unit 200 may serve as a passage through which cold
air, generated by a refrigeration cycle device that includes a
compressor 600 installed in a machine room, is supplied to the
storage compartment 2.
[0053] A temperature sensor 400 may be installed in the storage
compartment 2 to measure the temperature inside the storage
compartment 2. When the temperature inside the storage compartment
2, measured by the temperature sensor 400, rises to a set
temperature, which is set either arbitrarily or by the user, the
compressor 600 is driven to cool the storage compartment 2 to the
set temperature or lower.
[0054] The duct unit 200 may generally extend lengthwise in the
direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the
cabinet 1. Cold air supplied via the duct unit 200 may be supplied
into the storage compartment 2 through a plurality of discharge
holes 212 which are provided at different heights inside the
storage compartment 2.
[0055] That is, the discharge holes 212 formed at various heights
allow the cold air to be discharged at different heights within the
storage compartment 2.
[0056] At this time, the storage compartment 2 may be a freezing
compartment, but alternatively may be a refrigerating compartment.
When the storage compartment 2 is a refrigerating compartment, cold
air, which has a higher temperature than that in the freezing
compartment, is merely supplied into the storage compartment 2.
[0057] The discharge holes 212 may be open, without the
installation of a separate closure member, to provide continuous
communication between the storage compartment 2 and the interior of
the duct unit 200.
[0058] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating major
components according to the embodiment, FIG. 3 is a detailed view
of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the coupled state of
some major components according to the embodiment.
[0059] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, a machine room 5 is formed in the
lower region of the cabinet 1 such that, for example, the
compressor 600 used to compress a refrigerant is installed in the
machine room 5. A refrigeration cycle device, which includes, for
example, a condenser in addition to the compressor 600, may be
installed in the machine room 5.
[0060] The duct unit 200 may include a duct cover 210 which is
exposed to the storage compartment 2, a first insulation member 220
attached to the back of the duct cover 210, and a second insulation
member 240 installed to the back of the first insulation member 220
so as to define a space for the passage of cold air between the
first insulation member 220 and the second insulation member
240.
[0061] At this time, the front surface of the duct cover 210 may be
exposed to the outside of the storage compartment 2. The discharge
holes 212 are formed in the duct cover 210 such that cold air
guided by the duct unit 200 may be supplied to the storage
compartment 2 through the discharge holes 212.
[0062] Because the discharge holes 212 formed in the duct cover 210
are arranged at different heights, cold air is supplied to
different height regions of the storage compartment 2 while the
compressor 600 is driven, which allows the interior of the storage
compartment 2 to be evenly cooled to a constant temperature.
[0063] The first insulation member 220 and the second insulation
member 240 may have prescribed thicknesses, which are required to
prevent the cold air passing through the duct unit 200 from forming
condensation due to the temperature difference between the duct
unit 200 and the outside of the cabinet 1 or the storage
compartment 2 located at the front side of the duct cover 210.
[0064] Generally, when the compressor 600 is driven to supply cold
air via the duct unit 200, the temperature of the cold air may be
lower than the temperature inside the storage compartment 2. In
this case, the temperature difference between the front side of the
duct cover 210 (i.e. the interior of the storage compartment 2) and
the rear side of the duct cover 210 (i.e. the interior of the duct
unit 200) increases, thus causing condensation.
[0065] Meanwhile, the first insulation member 220 and the second
insulation member 240 may generally have a rectangular column shape
in the coupled state thereof.
[0066] The first insulation member 220 is formed with discharge
holes 222, which are provided in number and shape equal to the
discharge holes 212 formed in the duct cover 210 and are located at
positions corresponding to the discharge holes 212 formed in the
duct cover 210.
[0067] Accordingly, cold air, moved to between the first insulation
member 220 and the second insulation member 240, may pass through
the discharge holes 222 formed in the first insulation member 220,
and may thereafter be supplied to the storage compartment 2 through
the discharge holes 212 formed in the duct cover 210.
[0068] The discharge holes 212 and 222 may be located at opposite
sides of a guide 230 interposed therebetween. As such, the air,
discharged through the discharge holes 212 and 222, may easily
undergo heat exchange thanks to the guide 230.
[0069] Meanwhile, the guide 230 may be installed between the first
insulation member 220 and the second insulation member 240 and
serve to guide the cold air passing through between the first
insulation member 220 and the second insulation member 240. The
guide 230 may be received in the duct unit 200 to guide the cold
air so that it is discharged to the storage compartment 2.
[0070] The duct cover 210 may be formed with a discharge port 214,
which protrudes toward the rear surface of the duct cover 210, and
the first insulation member 220 and the guide 230 may be formed
with respective through-holes 224 and 234, through which the
discharge port 214 penetrates and is coupled.
[0071] Since the discharge port 214 is inserted into and coupled to
the through-holes 224 and 234, the duct cover 210, the first
insulation member 220, and the guide 230 may be easily positioned
at desired positions so as to be coupled into a single member.
[0072] Referring to FIG. 4, the guide 230 is generally oriented
lengthwise in the height direction of the duct unit 200, but is
shaped such that no structure is provided at the lower end
thereof.
[0073] The guide 230 may function to guide the cold air, which
moves from the bottom to the top of the duct unit 200, so that the
cold air is divided into opposite directions. As such, the duct
unit 200 may evenly discharge the cold air, introduced from the
lower side thereof, through the discharge holes 212 that are formed
in the duct cover 210 at different heights. At this time, the guide
230 may divide the cold air, moving upward from the lower side of
the duct unit 200, so as to move in opposite directions from the
center of the duct unit 200.
[0074] As exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 4, the cold air,
introduced from the lower side of the duct unit 200, may be divided
into opposite sides of the guide 230, thereby being supplied to the
storage compartment 2 through the discharge holes 222 distributed
at different heights.
[0075] FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are views illustrating the guide
according to the embodiment.
[0076] Referring to FIG. 5(a), the guide 230 may include a body 231
which defines the outer appearance of the entire guide 230, and a
Phase Change Material (PCM) 233 inside the body 231.
[0077] Meanwhile, the through-hole 234 is formed in the center of
the guide 230 to allow the discharge port 214 of the duct cover 210
to be inserted thereinto. At this time, although the through-hole
234 is a hole formed in the front surface and the rear surface of
the guide 230, the body 231 may be formed so as to be sealed in
order to prevent the phase change material 233 received therein
from leaking to the outside.
[0078] The guide 230 may have a tapered portion 232, the cross
sectional width of which gradually increases from the bottom to the
top. At this time, the tapered portion 232 is a structure that is
provided to sequentially cause variation in cross sectional area in
order to reduce momentum loss due to the resistance by the guide
230 when the cold air, introduced from the lower side of the duct
unit 200, moves to the top of the duct unit 200.
[0079] The lowermost end of the guide 230 may be located lower than
the lowermost one of the discharge holes. This serves to increase
the probability of heat exchange between the guide 230 and the air
supplied through the duct unit 200.
[0080] At this time, the body 231 may have greater thermal
conductivity than that of the phase change material 233. The phase
change material 233 is a material that changes between a liquid
phase and a solid phase on the basis of a particular temperature,
and needs to be charged in the body 231.
[0081] The body 231 needs to successfully transfer variation in
external temperature to the phase change material 233. In order to
efficiently use the phase change material 233, the body 231 may
have greater thermal conductivity than that of the phase change
material 233, which ensures easy heat exchange between the outside
and the phase change material 233.
[0082] Specifically, the body 231 may be formed of HDPE(5200B).
HDPE(5200B) has high stiffness and shows good resistance at low
temperatures as well as chemical resistance. HDPE(5200B) is a
material provided by HONAM PETROCHEMICAL CORP., and a detailed
description thereof will be omitted herein.
[0083] Of course, the body 231 needs to be stiff to some extent in
order to prevent the phase change material 233 from leaking to the
outside due to external shocks or variation in volume depending on
temperature variation applied to the phase change material 233.
[0084] The phase change material 233 may have a melting point at a
lower temperature than the temperature inside the storage
compartment 2, which is set to initiate the driving of the
compressor 600. The phase change material 233 may discharge a great
amount of cold air when changed from a solid phase to a liquid
phase. While the compressor 600 is not driven and the temperature
inside the storage compartment 2 is increasing, the phase change
material 233 may supply accumulated cold air to the storage
compartment 2 so that the temperature inside the storage
compartment 2 is increased slowly until the temperature of the
storage compartment 2 reaches the set temperature for the driving
of the compressor 600. In this way, the driving initiation time of
the compressor 600 may be delayed, which may reduce power
consumption.
[0085] Meanwhile, assuming that the storage compartment 2 is a
refrigerating compartment, which is a storage space in which food
is stored at low temperatures above 0.degree. C., the phase change
material 233 may have a melting point near 0.degree. C. The melting
point refers to the temperature at which the change from a solid
phase to a liquid phase occurs. The phase change material 233 may
accumulate a greater amount of energy at the melting point or the
freezing point, at which phase change occurs, than at other
temperatures, and may then emit the energy to the outside. That is,
when the melting point of the phase change material 233 is near
0.degree. C., the phase change material 233 may absorb and
discharge a greater amount of cold air near 0.degree. C. than that
in a different temperature variation range.
[0086] FIG. 5(b) illustrates an embodiment that is different from
that of FIG. 5(a). Therefore, the following description focuses on
the differences therebetween, and a description of configurations
that are the same will be omitted.
[0087] In FIG. 5(b), the body 231, into which the phase change
material 233 is inserted, forms the upper region of the guide 230.
The lower region of the guide 230, in which no phase change
material 233 is inserted, is formed of a guide member 239 having a
prescribed volume.
[0088] At this time, the guide member 239 may have the same shape
as the lower region of the body 231 of FIG. 5(a) However, there is
a difference in that no phase change material is inserted in the
guide member 239.
[0089] Generally, the storage compartment 2 shows a greater
increase in temperature in the upper region than that in the lower
region as time passes in the state in which the compressor 600 is
not driven. This is because cold air has a strong tendency to stay
in the lower region, rather than the upper region. In the present
embodiment, the phase change material 233 is located at a
relatively high height so that the temperature inside the storage
compartment 2 is maintained constant without deviation between the
upper region and the lower region due to the inclusion of cold air
in the phase change material 23 of the guide 230.
[0090] This is because the phase change material 233 may accumulate
cold air, and therefore the cold air may be supplied to the storage
compartment 2 by the phase change material 233 when the temperature
of the upper region of the storage compartment 2 increases.
[0091] Explaining the operating process according to the embodiment
of the present invention described above with reference to FIGS. 1
to 5, when the temperature of the storage compartment 2 is
increased in the state in which the compressor 600 is not driven,
cold air that has accumulated in the phase change material 233 may
be supplied to the storage compartment 2 through the discharge
holes 212 and 222. While the temperature of the storage compartment
2 is increasing, the storage compartment 2 has a relatively high
temperature and the phase change material 233 has a relatively low
temperature, which may cause natural convection between the storage
compartment 2 and the phase change material 233. Accordingly, an
increase in the temperature of the storage compartment 2 is delayed
compared to the case where no phase change material 233 is
provided.
[0092] In this way, the frequency of the case where it is necessary
to reduce the temperature of the storage compartment 2 by driving
the compressor 600 may be reduced, or the driving initiation time
of the compressor 600 may be delayed. That is, the total power
consumption of the refrigerator may be reduced by the cold air
accumulated in the phase change material 233.
[0093] FIG. 6 is a control block diagram according to another
embodiment.
[0094] Referring to FIG. 6, the temperature sensor 400 may be
provided to measure the temperature inside the storage compartment
2. At this time, the temperature measured by the temperature sensor
400 may be transmitted to a controller 300.
[0095] Meanwhile, the controller 300 may drive a fan 500, which is
capable of creating airflow within the duct unit 200, or may drive
the compressor 600 in order to generate cold air.
[0096] In the case where the temperature inside the storage
compartment 2, as measured by the temperature sensor 400, is a
first set temperature or lower, the controller 300 may drive both
the fan 500 and the compressor 600, or may drive only the
compressor 600.
[0097] At this time, in the case where the temperature inside the
storage compartment 2, as measured by the temperature sensor 400,
is a second set temperature or lower, the controller 300 may drive
only the fan 500, without driving the compressor 600.
[0098] Through the flow of air generated by the fan 500, the cold
air accumulated in the phase change material 233 of the guide 230
may be supplied to the storage compartment 2 through the discharge
holes 212.
[0099] The first set temperature may be higher than the second set
temperature. That is, when the temperature inside the storage
compartment 2 reaches the second set temperature, which is a
relatively low temperature, the controller 300 may drive only the
fan 500 so as to cool the storage compartment 2 using the cold air
that has accumulated in the phase change material 233.
[0100] At this time, as the guide 230 undergoes heat exchange with
the air discharged from the duct unit 200 to the storage
compartment 2, the temperature inside the storage compartment 2 is
lowered by the guide 230 while the refrigeration cycle device is
not operating.
[0101] Of course, even if the controller 300 does not drive the fan
500, since the duct unit 200 and the storage compartment 2 are in
communication with each other through the discharge holes, the
phase change material 233 maintains a relatively low temperature
and undergoes heat exchange with the surrounding air, thereby
causing natural convection with air received in the storage
compartment 2.
[0102] That is, since the fan 500 is driven to artificially cause
convection, or since natural convection occurs even if the fan 500
is not driven, cooling of the storage compartment 2 may be
implemented by the phase change material 233.
[0103] On the other hand, when the temperature inside the storage
compartment 2 reaches the first set temperature, which is a
relatively high temperature, the controller 300 may drive only the
compressor 600, or may drive both the compressor 600 and the fan
500, so as to cool the storage compartment 2.
[0104] In this case, as the guide 230 undergoes heat exchange with
the cold air discharged from the duct unit 200 to the storage
compartment 2, the temperature of the cold air supplied to the
storage compartment 2 may be increased by the guide 230 while the
refrigeration cycle device is operated. The temperature of the cold
air may be increased as the phase change material 233 is cooled
because the cold air generated while the compressor 600 is driven
has a lower temperature than the temperature of the phase change
material 233.
[0105] When the compressor 600 is driven, the phase change material
233 may accumulate cold air.
[0106] The cold air supplied while the compressor 600 is driven
generally has a lower temperature than the desired set temperature
of the storage compartment 2. Thus, condensation may occur at the
exterior of the duct unit 200, and more particularly, at the front
surface of the duct cover 210 because of the considerable
temperature difference between the interior of the duct unit 200
and the exterior of the duct unit 200.
[0107] However, in the present embodiment, the temperature of the
cold air passing through the duct unit 200 may be increased via
heat exchange with the phase change material 233, which may prevent
condensation at the duct unit 200.
[0108] Meanwhile, the compressor 600 may supply cold air having a
lower temperature than the freezing point of the phase change
material 233.
[0109] When controlling the temperature of the storage compartment
2, the temperature that is set to cause the compressor 600, which
has stopped, to again be driven, may be lower than the temperature
that is set to stop the driving of the compressor 600.
[0110] For example, the compressor 600 may be set to be driven when
the temperature of the storage compartment 2 reaches 1.degree. C.
At this time, the cold air supplied to the storage compartment 2 by
the compressor 600 may be set to -1.degree. C. Meanwhile, the
compressor 600 may be set to stop driving when the temperature of
the storage compartment 2 reaches -0.5.degree. C. The
aforementioned temperatures are given by way of example, and it
should be noted that the actual temperatures may be changed in
various ways in the present invention.
[0111] In the case of the above-described embodiment, the freezing
point (or the melting point) of the phase change material 233 may
be -0.75.degree. C., which is higher than the temperature of the
cold air supplied by the compressor 600. This is because the phase
change material 233 may accumulate a great amount of cold air at
temperatures close to the freezing point.
[0112] Accordingly, while the compressor 600 is driven, the phase
change material 233 may accumulate cold air by being changed to a
solid phase. While the compressor 600 is not driven, the phase
change material 233 may discharge cold air by being changed to a
liquid phase, thereby allowing the temperature inside the storage
compartment 2 to be maintained for a prescribed length of time.
[0113] As is apparent from the above description, according to the
present invention, it is possible to reduce the power consumption
of a refrigerator.
[0114] In addition, according to the present invention, owing to
the even temperature distribution within a storage compartment, it
is possible to prevent a compressor from being unintentionally
driven due to a relatively high temperature in some region of the
storage compartment.
[0115] Although the exemplary embodiments have been illustrated and
described as above, of course, it will be apparent to those skilled
in the art that the embodiments are provided to assist
understanding of the present invention and the present invention is
not limited to the above described particular embodiments, and
various modifications and variations can be made in the present
invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the present
invention, and the modifications and variations should not be
understood individually from the viewpoint or scope of the present
invention.
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