U.S. patent application number 15/505069 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-28 for refrigerator.
The applicant listed for this patent is QINGDAO HAIER SMART TECHNOLOGY R&D CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to ENWEI DING, AIMIN WANG, GUOXIN YU, WEIYING ZHANG.
Application Number | 20170276420 15/505069 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55398706 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170276420 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YU; GUOXIN ; et al. |
September 28, 2017 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
The present invention relates to a refrigerator, comprising: a
dry article chamber, a cold chamber, a first cooling and
circulating system and a second cooling and circulating system in
which a coolant circulates respectively, wherein an evaporating
temperature of the first cooling and circulating system is lower
than that of the second cooling and circulating system, the first
cooling and circulating system comprises an evaporator arranged
inside the cold chamber, and a refrigerating output passage is
arranged between the cold chamber and the dry article chamber. By
communicating the dry article chamber with the cold chamber of the
first cooling and circulating system whose evaporating temperature
is relatively low, the absolute humidity of the air entering the
dry article chamber is much lower, realizing a lower absolute
humidity in the dry article chamber.
Inventors: |
YU; GUOXIN; (Qingdao City,
Shandong Province, CN) ; DING; ENWEI; (Qingdao City,
Shandong Province, CN) ; ZHANG; WEIYING; (Qingdao
City, Shandong Province, CN) ; WANG; AIMIN; (Qingdao
City, Shandong Province, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
QINGDAO HAIER SMART TECHNOLOGY R&D CO., LTD. |
Qingdao City, Shandong Province |
|
CN |
|
|
Family ID: |
55398706 |
Appl. No.: |
15/505069 |
Filed: |
November 28, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
November 28, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CN2014/092416 |
371 Date: |
February 17, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 17/04 20130101;
F25D 11/02 20130101; F25D 29/00 20130101; F25D 2700/02
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 17/04 20060101
F25D017/04; F25D 11/02 20060101 F25D011/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 29, 2014 |
CN |
201410432007.0 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising a dry article chamber and a cold
chamber, the refrigerator further comprising a first cooling and
circulating system and a second cooling and circulating system in
which a coolant circulates respectively, wherein an evaporating
temperature of the first cooling and circulating system is lower
than that of the second cooling and circulating system, the first
cooling and circulating system comprises an evaporator arranged
inside the cold chamber, and a refrigerating output passage is
arranged between the cold chamber and the dry article chamber.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the refrigerator further
comprising: a first capillary tube and a second capillary tube that
are connected in parallel and to the evaporator, and control valves
respectively arranged on the first and second capillary tubes,
wherein a flow rate of the first capillary tube is smaller than
that of the second capillary tube, the first cooling and
circulating system comprises the evaporator and the first capillary
tube, the second cooling and circulating system comprises the
evaporator and the second capillary tube, and starting of the first
and second capillary tubes is alternated by the control valves
according to a humidity condition in the dry article chamber.
3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the refrigerator further
comprising: a controller, which is electrically connected to the
control valves and controls the alternative starting of the first
and second capillary tubes according to the humidity condition in
the dry article chamber.
4. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the refrigerator further
comprising: a cooling compartment connected with the refrigerating
output passage, wherein the refrigerating output passage comprises
a main passage connected with the cold chamber and a first
sub-passage and a second sub-passage that are bifurcated from the
main passage and respectively connect the dry article chamber and
the cooling compartment.
5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the cooling compartment
comprises one or a combination of a refrigerating compartment, a
freezing compartment, and a changing-temperature compartment.
6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the refrigerator further
comprising: a freezing compartment cooled by the first cooling and
circulating system, and a refrigerating compartment cooled by the
second cooling and circulating system, wherein the second cooling
and circulating system comprises a refrigerating evaporator, the
refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment are formed
by foam layer clapboards respectively, the dry article chamber is
arranged inside the refrigerating compartment, and the
refrigerating output passage extends from the cold chamber, passes
through the foam layer clapboards and communicates with the dry
article chamber, or extends from the cold chamber to a foam layer
at a side portion of the freezing compartment, and communicates
with the dry article chamber from a side portion of the dry article
chamber.
7. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the refrigerator further
comprising: a return air passage communicating with the dry article
chamber, wherein the return air passage passes downwards and
through the foam layer clapboards and returns exchanging air in the
dry article chamber to the freezing compartment or extends from a
side or rear portion of the freezing compartment and directly
communicates with the cold chamber; and one side of the return air
passage is provided with a return air door.
8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the opening time of the
refrigerating output passage is determined by the following steps:
S1: acquiring an absolute humidity .rho.1 in the dry article
chamber and an absolute humidity .rho.2 in the cold chamber; and
S2: if the absolute humidity .rho.1 is higher than the absolute
humidity .rho.2, opening the refrigerating output passage; or the
opening time of the refrigerating output passage is determined by
the following steps: S1': acquiring a dew point temperature in the
dry article chamber and a temperature in the cold chamber; and S2':
when the temperature in the cold chamber is lower than the dew
point temperature in the dry article chamber, opening the
refrigerating output passage; or the opening time of the
refrigerating output passage is determined by the following steps:
S1'': acquiring a temperature W1 in the dry article chamber; and
S2'': comparing the acquired temperature W1 in the dry article
chamber with a preset temperature range D0 in the dry article
chamber of the refrigerator; if the acquired temperature W1 in the
dry article chamber is higher than the preset temperature range D0,
opening the refrigerating output passage.
9. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein one side of the
refrigerating output passage is provided with an air door for
opening the refrigerating output passage.
10. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the dry article chamber is
provided with a humidity sensor for detecting a relative humidity
in the dry article chamber and/or a temperature sensor for
detecting a temperature therein.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the priority of the Chinese
patent application No. 201410432007.0 filed on Aug. 29, 2014 and
with the title of "Refrigerator", which is incorporated herein in
its entirety as reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention is related to a refrigerator with a
dry article chamber, which belongs to the field of electric home
appliances.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Humidity generally refers to air humidity in meteorology, or
water vapor content in the air excluding water in a liquid or solid
state. Air not containing water vapor is called dry air. As water
vapor in the atmosphere may account 0% to 4% of the air volume,
when the constituents of various gases in the air are listed, it
means the proportion of these constituents in dry air.
[0004] "Absolute humidity" refers to the mass of water vapor
contained in the air of a certain volume, and generally the unit
for this mass is grams/cubic meter. The maximum extent of an
absolute humidity is the highest humidity in a saturation
state.
[0005] "Relative humidity" (RH) refers to a ratio of an absolute
humidity to the highest humidity, and an RH value indicates a
saturation degree of water vapor. Air of an RH of 100% is saturate
air. Air of an RH of 50% contains a half of the water vapor
contained in saturate air with the same temperature. Generally,
water vapor in air of an RH of over 100% condenses into water or
ice. As the temperature rises, air can dissolve more water vapor,
and the AH of air increases. When the RH value of air exceeds 100%,
water vapor contained in the air condenses, which may facilitate
cooling and dehumidification. If the temperature rises further, the
RH value will decrease, which may facilitate drying.
[0006] Drying of food is mainly related with the RH. The lower the
RH value is, the less possible the food will acquire water
content.
[0007] Storage compartments of low RH of refrigerators are
developed to store various dry articles or food requiring a dry
environment (such as tea and nuts). Dry food is sensitive to the RH
of the storage environment, and usually needs a relatively low RH,
which may change in a small range. Otherwise, such food may
deteriorate or its quality may be negatively affected.
[0008] A traditional method of reducing the RH of compartments
utilizes the principle of cooling and dehumidification. In other
words, the air in a compartment is sufficiently cooled by an
evaporator, so that water vapor is precipitated and air of lower
absolute humidity is obtained. Then, the air of higher absolute
humidity in the compartment is exchanged with the dehumidified air
(that is, the air of higher absolute humidity in the compartment is
driven out, and the air absolute humidity in the compartment is
reduced). Then, the temperature is raised by the environment, so
that lower RH is obtained and drying is realized.
SUMMARY
[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a
refrigerator that can provide a dry article chamber therein with
air of lower absolute humidity to achieve better dehumidification
effects.
[0010] To realize the above object, the present invention adopts
the following technical solutions. There is provided a
refrigerator, comprising: a dry article chamber, a cold chamber, a
first cooling and circulating system and a second cooling and
circulating system in which a coolant circulates respectively,
wherein an evaporating temperature of the first cooling and
circulating system is lower than that of the second cooling and
circulating system, the first cooling and circulating system
comprises an evaporator arranged inside the cold chamber, and a
refrigerating output passage is arranged between the cold chamber
and the dry article chamber.
[0011] As an improvement of the present invention, the refrigerator
further comprises a first capillary tube and a second capillary
tube that are connected in parallel and to the evaporator, and
control valves respectively arranged on the first and second
capillary tubes, wherein a flow rate of the first capillary tube is
smaller than that of the second capillary tube, the first cooling
system comprises the evaporator and the first capillary tube, the
second cooling and circulating system comprises the evaporator and
the second capillary tube, and starting of the first and second
capillary tubes is alternated by the control valves according to a
humidity condition in the dry article chamber.
[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, the
refrigerator further comprises a controller, which is electrically
connected to the control valves and controls the alternative
starting of the first and second capillary tubes according to the
humidity condition in the dry article chamber.
[0013] As a yet further improvement of the present invention, the
refrigerator further comprises a cooling compartment connected with
the refrigerating output passage, wherein the refrigerating output
passage comprises a main passage connected with the cold chamber
and a first sub-passage and a second sub-passage that are
bifurcated from the main passage and respectively connect the dry
article chamber and the cooling compartment.
[0014] As a yet further improvement of the present invention, the
cooling compartment comprises one or a combination of a
refrigerating compartment, a freezing compartment, and a
changing-temperature compartment.
[0015] As a yet further improvement of the present invention, the
refrigerator further comprises a freezing compartment cooled by the
first cooling and circulating system, and a refrigerating
compartment cooled by the second cooling and circulating system,
wherein the second cooling and circulating system comprises a
refrigerating evaporator, the refrigerating compartment and the
freezing compartment are formed by foam layer clapboards
respectively, the dry article chamber is arranged inside the
refrigerating compartment, and the refrigerating output passage
extends from the cold chamber, passes through the foam layer
clapboards and communicates with the dry article chamber, or
extends from the cold chamber to a foam layer at a side portion of
the freezing compartment, and communicates with the dry article
chamber from a side portion of the dry article chamber.
[0016] As a yet further improvement of the present invention, the
refrigerator further comprises a return air passage communicating
with the dry article chamber, wherein the return air passage passes
downwards and through the foam layer clapboards and returns
exchanging air in the dry article chamber to the freezing
compartment or extends from a side or rear portion of the freezing
compartment and directly communicates with the cold chamber; and
one side of the return air passage is provided with a return air
door.
[0017] As a yet further improvement of the present invention, the
opening time of the refrigerating output passage is determined by
the following steps:
[0018] S1: acquiring an absolute humidity .rho.1 in the dry article
chamber and an absolute humidity .rho.2 in the cold chamber;
and
[0019] S2: if the absolute humidity .rho.1 is higher than the
absolute humidity .rho.2, opening the refrigerating output
passage;
[0020] or the opening time of the refrigerating output passage is
determined by the following steps:
[0021] S1': acquiring a dew point temperature in the dry article
chamber and a temperature in the cold chamber; and
[0022] S2': when the temperature in the cold chamber is lower than
the dew point temperature in the dry article chamber, opening the
refrigerating output passage;
[0023] or the opening time of the refrigerating output passage is
determined by the following steps:
[0024] S1'': acquiring a temperature W1 in the dry article chamber;
and
[0025] S2'': comparing the acquired temperature W1 in the dry
article chamber with a preset temperature range D0 in the dry
article chamber of the refrigerator; if the acquired temperature W1
in the dry article chamber is higher than the preset temperature
range D0, opening the refrigerating output passage.
[0026] As a yet further improvement of the present invention, one
side of the refrigerating output passage is provided with an air
door for opening the refrigerating output passage.
[0027] As a yet further improvement of the present invention, the
dry article chamber is provided with a humidity sensor for
detecting a relative humidity in the dry article chamber and/or a
temperature sensor for detecting a temperature therein.
[0028] The present invention can produce the following advantageous
effect. By using the first and second cooling and circulating
systems, and by communicating the dry article chamber with the cold
chamber of the first cooling and circulating system whose
evaporating temperature is relatively low, the absolute humidity of
the air entering the dry article chamber is much lower, realizing a
lower absolute humidity in the dry article chamber.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] FIG. 1 is a partial schematic view of a refrigerator
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 shows a curve of the RH in the dry article chamber
relative to time when using capillary tubes of different diameters;
and
[0031] FIG. 3 is a partial schematic view of a refrigerator
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator provided by an
embodiment of the present invention comprises a refrigerating
compartment 11, a freezing compartment, a changing-temperature
compartment, cooling and circulating systems in which a coolant
circulates respectively, and a controller. Generally, the
refrigerating compartment 11, the freezing compartment and the
changing-temperature compartment are called cooling compartments
collectively. A dry article chamber 12 is arranged in the
refrigerating compartment 11 whose standard temperature therein is
0-10 degrees, for example, 6-8 degrees in general. A temperature in
the dry article chamber 12 is lower than that in the refrigerating
compartment 11, and is 3-5 degrees in general. The dry article
chamber 12 is provided with a first temperature sensor (not shown)
for detecting a temperature in the dry article chamber 12 and a
first humidity sensor (not shown) for detecting a relative humidity
in the dry article chamber, and the first temperature sensor and
the first humidity sensor are electrically connected with the
controller. The cooling and circulating systems comprise a
condenser, a compressor, an evaporator 13 and capillary tubes. The
evaporator 13 is arranged inside a cold chamber 14 arranged at a
rear side of the cooling compartment. A second temperature sensor
(not shown) for detecting a temperature in the cold chamber 14 and
a second humidity sensor (not shown) for detecting a relative
humidity in the cold chamber are arranged in the cold chamber 14,
and are electrically connected with the controller. The dry article
chamber 12 is communicated with the cold chamber 14 and the
refrigerating compartment 11 through a refrigerating output passage
15 comprising a main passage 151 connected with the cold chamber 14
and a first sub-passage 152 and a second sub-passage 153, which are
bifurcated from the main passage 151 and respectively connect the
dry article chamber 12 and the cooling compartment 11. The
capillary tubes comprise a first capillary tube 161 and a second
capillary tube 162 that are connected in parallel and to the
evaporator 13, wherein a flow rate of the first capillary tube 161
is smaller than that of the second capillary tube 162, and the flow
rate of the second capillary tube 162 is the same as that of a
capillary tube used in an existing refrigerator. The condenser, the
compressor, the evaporator 13 and the first capillary tube 161 form
the first cooling and circulating system; and the condenser, the
compressor, the evaporator 13 and the first capillary tube 161 form
the second cooling and circulating system. When the refrigerator is
in a normal cooling state, the second capillary tube 162 is
switched on (i.e., the second cooling and circulating system is
switched on), so that the coolant flows into the evaporator 13
through the second capillary tube 162.
[0033] In a cooling and circulating process, based on a throttling
action of the capillary tube, a liquid coolant in a
high-temperature and high-pressure state is depressurized to a
saturated gaseous coolant in a low-temperature and low-pressure
state. In case of a fixed volume, if the pressure becomes lower,
the temperature becomes lower according to a gas pressure and
temperature proportional relationship. Therefore, after the
throttling through the capillary tube, the greater the reduction of
the pressure of the coolant is, the lower the temperature of the
coolant is. In other words, if the flow rate of the capillary tube
becomes smaller, the pressure reduction of the coolant becomes
greater and the temperature of the coolant becomes lower after
throttling. As the two capillary tubes (namely, the first capillary
tube 161 and the second capillary tube 162) form the double cooling
and circulating systems (i.e., the first and second cooling and
circulating systems), when the second capillary tube 162 is
switched on, the flow rate of the coolant is relatively greater,
the pressure reduction of the coolant depressurized by the second
capillary tube 162 is not obvious, and an evaporating temperature
is relatively higher; when the first capillary tube 161 is switched
on, the flow rate of the coolant is relatively smaller, the
pressure reduction of the coolant is obvious, and the evaporating
temperature is relatively lower.
[0034] When dehumidifying and drying are needed, the first
capillary tube 161 is switched on, and the coolant flows into the
evaporator 13 through the first capillary tube 161, so that the
evaporating temperature becomes lower, and correspondingly, an
absolute humidity of air in the cold chamber 14 becomes lower.
After the dehumidifying is completed, the second capillary tube 162
is switched on, and the coolant flows into the evaporator 13
through the second capillary tube 162, so that the cooling
temperature of the evaporator 13 is maintained at a normal
temperature range of the refrigerating compartment. That is, the
temperature is raised so as to reduce the absolute humidity.
[0035] Control valves 18 are arranged on the first capillary tube
161 and the second capillary tube 162 respectively. The controller
is electrically connected to the solenoid valves 8, and is used for
alternating the starting of the first capillary tube 161 and the
second capillary tube 162 according to a humidity condition in the
dry article chamber 12. In the present embodiment, the controller
determines the humidity condition in the dry article chamber
through data detected by the first humidity sensor in the dry
article chamber 12, so as to determine whether to alternate the
starting of the first capillary tube 161 and the second capillary
tube 162.
[0036] A lower side of the evaporator 13 is provided with a fan 19
arranged in the cold chamber 14. One side of the first sub-passage
152 and one side of the second sub-passage 153 are respectively
provided with a first air door 171 and a second air door 172. The
first sub-passage 152 and the second sub-passage 153 can be
respectively opened by opening the first air door 171 and the
second air door 172. The opening of the first air door 171 and the
second air door 172 is controlled by the controller. The second
sub-passage 153 is always in an open state while the cooling
systems are in operation or is in the open state only when the
second capillary tube 61 is opened. The first sub-passage 152 is
opened either when the first capillary 161 tube is opened or after
the first capillary tube 161 is opened. The opening time of the
first sub-passage 152 may be a time that is preset in the
refrigerator and later than a time for opening the first capillary
tube 161, and the preset time is obtained after a plurality of
tests. Alternatively, the opening time of the first sub-passage 152
is determined by the following steps:
[0037] S1: acquiring an absolute humidity .rho.1 in the dry article
chamber 12 and an absolute humidity .rho.2 in the cold chamber 14;
and
[0038] S2: if the absolute humidity .rho.1 is higher than the
absolute humidity .rho.2, opening the first sub-passage 152.
[0039] The particular implementation mode of step S1 is as follows:
the controller in the refrigerator receives and processes the
temperature detected by the first temperature sensor and the
relative humidity detected by the first humidity sensor to obtain
the absolute humidity .rho.1, and receives and processes the
temperature detected by the second temperature sensor and the
relative humidity detected by the second humidity sensor to obtain
the absolute humidity .rho.2.
[0040] When the relative humidity in the cold chamber 14 is 100%,
or condensation occurs to the evaporator 13, the particular
implementation of step Si may be as follows: the controller in the
refrigerator receives and processes the temperature detected by the
first temperature sensor and the relative humidity detected by the
first humidity sensor to obtain the absolute humidity .rho.1, and
receives and processes the temperature detected by the second
temperature sensor to obtain the absolute humidity .rho.2. Here, it
is not necessary to use the second humidity sensor to detect the
relative humidity.
[0041] Since it is difficult to measure the absolute humidity in
the refrigerator, the temperature can be used as a standard in
specific control. Here, the opening time of the second sub-passage
52 is determined by the following steps:
[0042] S1': acquiring a dew point temperature in the dry article
chamber 12 and a temperature in the cold chamber 14 through the
following manner: the controller in the refrigerator receives and
processes the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor
in the dry article chamber 12 and the relative humidity detected by
the first humidity sensor in the dry article chamber to obtain the
dew point temperature, and the temperature in the cold chamber 14
is detected by the second temperature sensor therein, wherein the
dew point temperature is acquired by inquiring a wet air
enthalpy-humidity diagram preset in the controller, and is
particularly acquired by the controller by calculating and
inquiring the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor
and the relative humidity detected by the first humidity sensor;
and
[0043] S2': when the temperature in the cold chamber 14 is lower
than the dew point temperature in the dry article chamber 12,
opening the first sub-passage 152.
[0044] In addition to the above two manners for determining the
opening time of the second sub-passage 52, the opening time of the
second sub-passage 52 may be determined by the following steps:
[0045] S1'': acquiring a temperature W1 in the dry article chamber
12; and
[0046] S2'': comparing the acquired temperature W1 in the dry
article chamber 12 with a preset temperature range D0 in the dry
article chamber of the refrigerator; if the acquired temperature W1
in the dry article chamber 12 is higher than the preset temperature
range D0, opening the refrigerating output passage.
[0047] Referring to FIG. 2, the capillary tube for forming a curve
1 is the first capillary 161, and the capillary tube for forming a
curve 2 is the second capillary tube 162. It can be seen from FIG.
2 that the dehumidifying effect reflected by the curve 2 is
superior to that reflected by the curve 1.
[0048] In the above embodiment, the refrigerating output passage 15
is arranged among the refrigerating chamber 14, the dry article
chamber 12 and the refrigerating compartment 11, and the fan 19 is
arranged on one side of the evaporator 13. However, in other
embodiments, the refrigerating output passage 15 is arranged among
the cold chamber 14, the dry article chamber 12 and other cooling
compartments, and the fan 19 is also arranged on the evaporator 13.
Here, the first sub-passage 152 is connected with the main passage
151 and the dry article chamber 12, and the second sub-passage 153
is connected with the main passage 151 and other cooling
compartments which may include a freezing compartment.
[0049] In the present embodiment, the dual systems are realized by
the first capillary tube 161 and the second capillary tube 162,
which have different flow rates and are connected to the evaporator
13 respectively. As the controller is electrically connected to the
solenoid valves 8 and alternates the starting of the first
capillary tube 161 and the second capillary tube 162 according to
the humidity condition in the dry article chamber 12, when the
first capillary tube 161 with a smaller flow rate is switched on,
the absolute humidity of air in the cold chamber 14 is reduced to
enable a lower evaporating temperature, and the absolute humidity
of the air entering the dry article chambers 12 becomes much lower,
realizing a better dehumidifying effect.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 3, a refrigerator provided by another
embodiment of the present invention comprises a refrigerating
compartment 21, a freezing compartment 22, a changing-temperature
compartment, and first and second cooling and circulating systems
in which a coolant circulates respectively. The refrigerating
compartment 21 and the freezing compartment 22 are formed by foam
layer clapboards 27 respectively. A dry article chamber 23 is
arranged in the refrigerating compartment 21. In the present
embodiment, the dry article chamber 23 nestles up against the foam
layer clapboards 27. A standard temperature in the refrigerating
compartment 21 is 0-10 degrees, for example, 6-8 degrees in
general. A temperature in the dry article chamber 23 is lower than
that in the refrigerating compartment 21, and is 3-5 degrees in
general. An evaporating temperature of the first cooling and
circulating system is lower than that of the second circulating
system. The first cooling and circulating system comprises a
freezing evaporator 241, a condenser, a capillary tube and a
compressor, and the second cooling and circulating system comprises
a refrigerating evaporator 242, a condenser, a capillary tube and a
compressor. A rear side of the freezing compartment 22 is provided
with a first cold chamber 251, a rear side of the refrigerating
compartment 21 is provided with a second cold chamber 252; and the
freezing evaporator 241 is arranged in the first cold chamber 251,
and the refrigerating evaporator 242 is arranged in the second cold
chamber 252. A humidity sensor for detecting a relative humidity in
the dry article chamber 23 and/or a temperature sensor for
detecting a temperature in the dry article chamber 23 are/is
arranged in the dry article chamber 23.
[0051] The first cold chamber 251 is communicated with the dry
article chamber 23 through a first refrigerating output passage 26,
which extends from the first cold chamber 251 to a position below
the foam layer clapboards 27 and upwardly passes through the foam
layer clapboards 27, so as to communicate with the dry article
chamber 23 from the lower portion of the dry article chamber 23.
One side of the first refrigerating output passage 26 is provided
with an air door 28 for controlling the opening or closing of the
first refrigerating output passage 26. Of course, in other
embodiments, the first refrigerating output passage may extend from
the first cold chamber 251 to a foam layer at a side portion of the
freezing compartment 22 and upwardly extend to a side portion of
the dry article chamber 23, so as to communicate with the dry
article chamber 23 from a side portion of the dry article chamber
23, without passing through the foam layer clapboards 27.
[0052] Further, in the present embodiment, a return air passage
271, which is formed between the dry article chamber 23 and the
freezing compartment 22, passes through the foam layer clapboards
27 and returns exchanging air in the dry article chamber 23 to the
freezing compartment 22. One side of the return air passage 271 is
provided with a return air door 272. Of course, the return air
passage 271 may not pass through the foam layer clapboards 27, and
may be an independent return air passage, which is independently
arranged at a side portion or a rear portion of the refrigerator
and directly communicated with the first cold chamber 251.
[0053] In addition, in the present embodiment, there is no direct
passage for communicating the first cold chamber 251 with the
freezing compartment 22 to supply refrigerating output to the
freezing compartment 22. Of course, in actual design, the first
refrigerating output passage may comprise a main passage connected
with the first cold chamber 251, and a first sub-passage and a
second sub-passage, which are bifurcated from the main passage and
respectively connect the dry article chamber 23 and the freezing
compartment 22. The structure of the first sub-passage can be the
same as that of the above-mentioned first refrigerating output
passage 26 which passes through the foam layer clapboards 27 or is
arranged at a side portion of the freezing compartment 22. The
second cold chamber 252 is communicated with the refrigerating
compartment 21 through a second refrigerating output passage
29.
[0054] In the present embodiment, the dual cooling systems (the
first cooling and circulating system and the second cooling and
circulating system) are implemented by two evaporators (a freezing
evaporator 241 and a refrigerating evaporator 242), and the first
refrigerating output passage communicates the first cold chamber
251 provided with freezing evaporator 241 with the dry article
chamber 23. Therefore, the freezing evaporator 241 with a lower
temperature is used to cool and dehumidify the exchanging air in
the dry article chamber 23, enabling a lower absolute humidity of
air entering the dry article chamber 23 and realizing a better
dehumidifying effect.
[0055] In the present embodiment, to make the AH of the air
entering the dry article chamber 23 even lower, the opening time of
the refrigerating output passage may be determined by the following
steps:
[0056] S1: acquiring an absolute humidity .rho.1 in the dry article
chamber and an absolute humidity .rho.2 in the cold chamber;
and
[0057] S2: if the absolute humidity .rho.1 is higher than the
absolute humidity .rho.2, opening the refrigerating output
passage;
[0058] or the opening time of the refrigerating output passage may
be determined by the following steps:
[0059] S1': acquiring a dew point temperature in the dry article
chamber and a temperature in the cold chamber; and
[0060] S2': when the temperature in the cold chamber is lower than
the dew point temperature in the dry article chamber, opening the
refrigerating output passage;
[0061] or the opening time of the refrigerating output passage may
be determined by the following steps:
[0062] S1'': acquiring a temperature W1 in the dry article chamber;
and
[0063] S2'': comparing the acquired temperature W1 in the dry
article chamber with a preset temperature range D0 in the dry
article chamber of the refrigerator; if the acquired temperature W1
in the dry article chamber is higher than the preset temperature
range D0, opening the refrigerating output passage.
[0064] To sum up, by using the first and second cooling and
circulating systems, and by communicating the dry article chambers
12, 23 with the cold chambers 14, 251 of the first cooling and
circulating system whose evaporating temperature is relatively low,
the absolute humidity of the air entering the dry article chambers
12, 23 is much lower, realizing lower absolute humidity in the dry
article chambers 12, 23.
[0065] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed for illustration purposes, those skilled in the art
may realize that various improvements, supplements and
substitutions are possible without departing from the scope and
spirit of the present invention as disclosed by the appended
claims.
* * * * *