Refrigerator

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a refrigerator including a cooling cycle mechanism having improved cooling cycle efficiency by more effectively performing heat exchange between a refrigerant discharged from an evaporator and a refrigerant discharged from a condenser. The refrigerator includes a cooling cycle mechanism including a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator. The refrigerator also includes a first pipe configured including a first heat exchanger and configured to guide the refrigerant from the condenser, to the evaporator. The refrigerator further includes a second pipe including a heat exchanger and configured to guide the refrigerant from the evaporator, to the compressor. The second heat exchanger is adjacent to first heat exchanger and configured to exchange heat with the first heat exchanger. The first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are arranged to guide the refrigerant in a same direction.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising: a cooling cycle mechanism comprising a compressor, a condenser, and multiple evaporators; a first pipe configured to guide a refrigerant from the condenser to a first evaporator of the multiple evaporators; and a second pipe configured to guide the refrigerant from a second evaporator of the multiple evaporators to the compressor, wherein the second pipe is: adjacent to the first pipe, and configured to exchange heat with the first pipe, wherein at least one portion of the first pipe and at least one portion of the second pipe are in direct physical contact with each other and extend in a serpentine manner, wherein the portions of the first and second pipes in contact with each other are disposed adjacent to each other and external to each other in a vertical or horizontal arrangement along a full length of the portions where heat is exchanged, wherein the portion of the first pipe includes a first end and a second end and the portion of the second pipe includes a first end which is in contact with the first end of the first pipe and a second end which is in contact with the second end of the first pipe, and wherein the refrigerant flowing in the first pipe flows in a direction from the first end to the second end, and the refrigerant flowing in the second pipe flows in a direction from the first end to the second end, resulting in a parallel flow arrangement relative to the refrigerant flowing in the first pipe.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a machine room including the compressor and the condenser; a cooling room including at least one of the multiple evaporators; and a housing body element configured to separate the machine room from the cooling room and comprising insulation, wherein at least part of the first pipe and at least a part of the second pipe pass through the insulation.

3. A refrigerator comprising: a cooling cycle mechanism comprising a compressor, a condenser, and multiple evaporators; a first pipe configured to guide a refrigerant from the condenser to a first evaporator of the multiple evaporators; and a second pipe configured to guide the refrigerant from a second evaporator of the multiple evaporators to the compressor, wherein a contact portion of the second pipe is in direct physical contact with a contact portion of the first pipe and is configured to exchange heat with the first pipe, wherein the contact portion of the second pipe and the contact portion of the first pipe are disposed adjacent to each other and external to each other in a vertical or horizontal arrangement along a full length of the contact portions where heat is exchanged, wherein at least one portion of the contact portion of the first pipe is bent, wherein at least one portion of the contact portion of the second pipe includes a bent shape corresponding to the at least one portion of the contact portion of the first pipe, wherein the contact portion of the first pipe includes a first end and a second end and the contact portion of the second pipe includes a first end which is in contact with the first end of the contact portion of the first pipe and a second end which is in contact with the second end of the contact portion of the first pipe, and wherein the refrigerant flowing in the first pipe flows in a direction from the first end to the second end, and the refrigerant flowing in the second pipe flows in a direction from the first end to the second end, resulting in a parallel flow arrangement relative to the refrigerant flowing in the first pipe.

4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein: the first pipe is closer to the condenser as compared to the second pipe, and the second pipe is closer to the second evaporator as compared to the first pipe.

5. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein: at least a portion of the second pipe other than the contact portion intersects with the first pipe.

6. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein: the second pipe is perpendicular to the first pipe or parallel to the first pipe.

7. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein: the first pipe comprises an expander configured to expand the refrigerant.

8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein: the expander is arranged to form at least a portion of the first pipe.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein: the expander comprises a capillary tube or an expansion valve.

10. The refrigerator of claim 3, further comprising: a machine room including the compressor and the condenser; a cooling room including at least one of the multiple evaporators; and a housing body element configured to separate the machine room from the cooling room and comprising insulation, wherein at least a portion of the first pipe and at least a portion of the second pipe pass through the insulation.

11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the insulation is configured to: surround a part of the first pipe, and surround a part of the second pipe.

12. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein: the first pipe is arranged closer to the machine room than the cooling room, and the second pipe is arranged closer to the cooling room than the machine room.

13. The refrigerator of claim 3, further comprising: a first housing body element including a storage room; and a second housing body element including the cooling cycle mechanism, the second housing body element detachably coupled to the first housing body element.

14. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein: the first evaporator is a refrigerating evaporator and the second evaporator is a freezing evaporator connected to the refrigerating evaporator, wherein the first pipe is configured to connect the condenser and the refrigerating evaporator, and the second pipe is configured to connect the freezing evaporator to the compressor.

15. A refrigerator comprising: a first housing body element configured to form a storage room; a second housing body element detachably coupled to the first housing body element; a cooling cycle mechanism arranged in the second housing body element, and comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expander, and multiple evaporators; a first pipe configured to guide a refrigerant from the condenser to a first evaporator of the multiple evaporators; and a second pipe configured to guide the refrigerant from a second evaporator of the multiple evaporators to the compressor, wherein a portion of the second pipe is in direct physical contact with a portion of the first pipe and is configured to exchange heat with the first pipe, wherein the portions of the first and second pipes in contact with each other are disposed adjacent to each other and external to each other in a vertical or horizontal arrangement along a full length of the portions where heat is exchanged, wherein the portion of the first pipe and the portion of the second pipe extend in a serpentine manner, wherein the portion of the first pipe includes a first end and a second end and the portion of the second pipe includes a first end which is in contact with the first end of the first pipe and a second end which is in contact with the second end of the first pipe, and wherein the refrigerant flowing in the first pipe flows in a direction from the first end to the second end, and the refrigerant flowing in the second pipe flows in a direction from the first end to the second end, resulting in a parallel flow arrangement relative to the refrigerant flowing in the first pipe.

16. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein: a second portion of the second pipe intersects with the first pipe.

17. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein: the first pipe includes the expander, and the second pipe is arranged adjacent to an outlet of the second evaporator.

18. The refrigerator of claim 15, further comprising: a machine room arranged in the second housing body element, the machine room including the compressor and the condenser; and a cooling room formed by the first housing body element and the second housing body element, the cooling room including at least one of the multiple evaporators; wherein the second housing body element is configured to separate the machine room from the cooling room and comprises insulation, and wherein at least a part of the first pipe and at least a part of the second pipe pass through the insulation.

19. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein: when the second housing body element is coupled to the first housing body element, the second housing body element forms a cooling room with the first housing body element, and the second pipe is arranged closer to the cooling room than the first pipe.

20. The refrigerator of claim 19, wherein the second housing body element comprises: a machine room including the compressor and the condenser, and insulation configured to: separate the machine room from the cooling room, and surround at least a part of the first pipe and at least a part of the second pipe.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a state in which a second housing body element (cooling unit) is connected to a first housing body element of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a state in which the second housing body element (cooling unit) is not connected to the first housing body element of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the cooling unit according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of a cooling cycle according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and

(7) FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate schematic diagrams of a heat exchanger of a first pipe and a second pipe according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIGS. 1 through 6B, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged system or device.

(9) The disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(10) A refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment is mainly used in general households. However, the disclosure is applicable not only to a domestic refrigerator but also to a commercial refrigerator. In addition, the refrigerator according to an embodiment includes not only a refrigerator provided with a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment but also a refrigerator provided with only refrigerating compartment or a refrigerator provided with only freezing compartment.

Embodiment

(11) As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment includes a refrigerator housing body (BD) forming an inner space (IS) and a cooling cycle mechanism (CM) provided with each device configured to cool the inner space IS. Further, the cooling cycle mechanism CM according to an embodiment includes a compressor 20, a blowing fan 21, a condenser 22 and two evaporators 23, which are corresponding to each device.

(12) The refrigerator housing body BD is formed in such a way that opposite side surfaces, a back surface (rear surface), a ceiling surface, and a bottom surface thereof is surrounded by an outer wall 10 and a front surface (forward surface) thereof is opened. A pair of doors (D) is installed in the refrigerator housing body BD through a hinge to close the opening. In addition, the refrigerator housing body BD is divided into two housing body elements (BD1 and BD2) along a predetermined separate surface (SS), as illustrated in FIG. 2. Particularly, the refrigerator housing body BD is divided into the two housing body elements BD1 and BD2 along a tilted separate surface SS extending from the back surface (rear surface) to the bottom surface.

(13) Therefore, the two housing body elements BD1 and BD2 are all formed by an insulating member (“insulation”) forming the outer wall 10 of the refrigerator housing body BD. More particularly, the two housing body elements BD1 and BD2 are formed by an insulating member that is formed by foaming an insulating material such as urethane resin in a casing material generally used as the outer wall 10 of the refrigerator housing body BD.

(14) Between the two housing body elements BD1 and BD2, one side housing body element B1 (hereinafter referred to as “first housing body element BD1”) occupies a main portion of the inner space IS and arranged in the front side about the separate surface SS, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Further, in the first housing body element BD1, a partition 11 configured to divide the inner space IS into the front side and the separate surface SS side is installed inside the inner space IS. In the first housing body element BD1, a storage room (SR) configured to be opened and closed by one pair of doors D is placed in the front side of the partition 11, and a part of a re-cooling room (CR) configured to re-cool gas cooling the storage room SR is formed in the separate surface SS side of the partition 11. Although not shown, the first housing body element BD1 according to an embodiment is provided with a partition configured to divide the storage room SR and the re-cooling room CR into the left and the right to separate the storage room SR and the re-cooling room CR for refrigerating and freezing.

(15) In the storage room SR, a plurality of shelves 12 are provided on the upper side, and a plurality of drawers (not shown) are provided on the lower side. The partition 11 is provided with an inlet 11a introducing gas from the storage room SR to the re-cooling room CR along the bottom surface, and an outlet 11b delivering the gas from the cooling room CR to the storage room SR along the back surface. The first housing body element BD1 is provided with a duct 30 extending from the outlet 11b provided in the partition 11 to the storage room SR. The duct 30 is provided with a wind inlet 30a installed in accordance with a height of each shelf 12 or the drawer, and a fan 31 is installed around the outlet 11b of the partition 11.

(16) Between the two housing body elements BD1 and BD2, the other side housing body element B2 (hereinafter referred to as “second housing body element BD2”), is connected to the first housing body element BD1 to form the re-cooling room CR together with the first housing body element BD1. Further, the second housing body element BD2 forms a machine room (MR) at the outer space of the refrigerator and the machine room MR receives the compressor 20, the blowing fan 21 and the condenser 22. The second housing body element BD2 is provided with two evaporators 23 on the inner space forming the re-cooling room CR. The second housing body element BD2 and the cooling cycle mechanism CM are both installed on a support board (B) together with a control box (CB) to constitute the cooling unit. Thus, the second housing body element BD2 may be detachably connected to the first housing body element BD1 as the cooling unit.

(17) When the first housing body element BD1 and the second housing body element BD2 are connected to each other, the storage room SR and the re-cooling room CR are formed in the inner space, and the machine room MR is formed in the outer space. Among the devices constituting the cooling cycle mechanism CM, the evaporator 23 is placed in the re-cooling room CR in the inner space, and the compressor 20, the blowing fan 21 and the condenser 22 are placed in the machine room MR in the outer space. In addition, according to an embodiment, when the first housing body element BD1 and the second housing body element BD2 are connected, the re-cooling room CR is partitioned into the left and right, and the evaporator 23 is respectively positioned in one re-cooling room CR for refrigerating and one re-cooling room CR for freezing. That is, one of the two evaporators 23 serves as a refrigerating evaporator 23a, and the other serves as a freezing evaporator 23b.

(18) Further, as illustrated in FIG. 5, each device constituting the cooling cycle mechanism CM is connected by a plurality of pipe 5, and each device is configured to circulate the refrigerant in the pipe. Particularly, the devices arranged on the machine room MR side are connected the devices arranged on the re-cooling room CR side through a first pipe P1 introducing the refrigerant, which is discharged from the condenser 22, into the refrigerating evaporator 23a and a second pipe P2 introducing the refrigerant, which is discharged from the freezing evaporator 23b, into the compressor 20. Further, devices arranged on the machine room MR side are connected to each other through a third pipe P3 introducing the refrigerant, which is discharged from the compressor 20, to the condenser 22, and devices arranged on the re-cooling room CR side are connected to each other through a fourth pipe P4 introducing the refrigerant, which is discharged from the refrigerating evaporator 23a, to the freezing evaporator 23b. Accordingly, the compressor 20, the condenser 22, and the two evaporators 23a and 23b constituting the cooling cycle mechanism CM are connected to each other through each pipe and thus the refrigerant is circulated through each of these devices.

(19) Further, the first pipe P1 is provided with an expander P1a configured to expand a refrigerant, which is flowing in the first pipe P1, before the refrigerant flows into the refrigerating evaporator 23a. According to an embodiment, the expander P1a corresponds to a capillary tube (indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 4) forming a part of the first pipe P1. The capillary tube according to an embodiment constitutes the downstream side of the first pipe P1.

(20) In addition, the first pipe P1 and the second pipe P2 are arranged to have a section (S) which is a part intersecting on the downstream side. The first pipe P1 and the second pipe P2 are provided with heat exchangers 24a and 24b. The heat exchangers 24a and 24b are positioned on the upstream side than the intersecting section, and the heat exchanger 24a and the heat exchanger 24b are arranged in parallel so as to exchange heat between the refrigerant flowing in the first pipe P1 and the refrigerant flowing in the second pipe P2. For example, the heat exchanger 24a of the first pipe P1 and the heat exchanger 24b of the second pipe P2 are connected to be in parallel with each other (refer to FIG. 6 A). The first pipe P1 and the second pipe P2 according to an embodiment form the heat exchangers 24a and 24b by connecting the middle of the capillary tube P1a constituting the first pipe P1 to an end portion of the evaporator 23b side of the second pipe P2.

(21) In addition, both the heat exchangers 24a and 24b are arranged to allow the refrigerant flowing in the first pipe P1 and the refrigerant flowing in the second pipe P2 to perform the parallel flow. That is, the refrigerant flowing in the heat exchanger 24a of the first pipe P1 and the refrigerant flowing in the heat exchanger 24b of the second pipe P2 flow in the same direction.

(22) Further, as illustrated in FIG. 4, at least a part of the heat exchangers 24a and 24b is placed in the insulating member constituting the second housing body element BD2. Particularly, the first pipe P1 extends from the machine room MR side to pass through the inside of the second housing body element BD2 and then reach the re-cooling room CR side. The second pipe P2 extends from the re-cooling room CR side to pass through the inside of the second housing body element BD2 and then reach the machine room MR side. A section of the first pipe P1 and the second pipe 2 passing through the inside of the second housing body element BD2 corresponds to the heat exchangers 24a and 24b. Therefore, both the heat exchangers 24a and 24b are covered by the insulating member constituting the second housing body element BD2.

(23) As illustrated in FIG. 4, both the heat exchangers 24a and 24b pass through a section (insulting member) that is separated between the machine room MR and the evaporator 23a in the re-cooling room CR in the second housing body element BD2. Both the heat exchangers 24a and 24b extend in a serpentine manner in the second housing body element BD2. Accordingly, it is possible to secure a distance in a longitudinal direction between the heat exchanger 24a of the first pipe P1 and the heat exchanger 24b of the second pipe P2 and thus it is possible to secure a sufficient distance for heat exchange. An upstream end of the first pipe P1 constituting the heat exchanger 24a extends toward the machine room MR and connected to the condenser 22 and a downstream end thereof extends toward the re-cooling room CR and connected to the refrigerating evaporator 23a. An upstream end of the second pipe P2 constituting the heat exchanger 24b extends toward the re-cooling room CR and connected to the freezing evaporator 23b, and a downstream end thereof extends toward the machine room MR and connected to the compressor 20.

(24) Therefore, the first pipe P1 is configured to cool a high temperature and high pressure liquid refrigerant, which is discharged from the condenser 22, in some degree by using the heat exchanger 24a and configured to allow two-phase state of liquid refrigerant and gas refrigerant to flow to the refrigerating evaporator 23a. The second pipe P2 is configured to heat a low temperature and low pressure gas refrigerant, which is discharged from the freezing evaporator 23b, in some degree by using the heat exchanger 24b and configured to allow the refrigerant to flow to the compressor 20. Accordingly, it is possible to efficiently use heat generated by the first pipe P1 and the second pipe P2, thereby improving the efficiency of the cooling cycle.

(25) In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, the heat exchanger 24a of the first pipe P1 is arranged in the machine room MR side, and the heat exchanger 24b of the second pipe P2 is arranged in the re-cooling room CR side. In other words, the heat exchanger 24a of the first pipe P1 and the heat exchanger 24b of the second pipe P2 are arranged in the vertical direction with respect to each other. As illustrated in FIG. 6B, the heat exchanger 24a of the first pipe P1 and the heat exchanger 24b of the second pipe P2 may be arranged in the horizontal direction with respect to each other.

Other Embodiments

(26) In the above embodiment, the capillary tube is used as the expander P1a of the first pipe P1, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. Therefore, an expansion valve may be used as the expander P1a. In this case, the same heat exchange efficiency may be obtained although either or both of the upstream side and the downstream side of the expansion valve of the first pipe P1 servers as the heat exchanger 24a.

(27) In the above embodiment, the heat exchangers 24a and 24b are formed in the middle between the first pipe P1 and the second pipe P2. However, the heat exchanger 24b of the second pipe P2 is formed in an end portion of the evaporator 23 side. In this the case, the coldest refrigerant, which is discharged from the evaporator 23 to the second pipe P2, may be used for heat exchange with the refrigerant flowing in the first pipe P1, thereby further improving the heat exchange efficiency.

(28) However, when employing the above-mentioned configuration, it is required that the first pipe P1 extends from the machine room MR to pass through the second housing body element BD2 and bypasses the re-cooling room CR, and then passes through the inside of the second housing body element BD2 together with the second pipe P2.

(29) In the above embodiment, the first pipe P1 and the second pipe P2 are arranged to have a section S which is a part intersecting on the downstream side. However, the section S on which the first pipe P1 and the second pipe P2 intersect is not limited to the downstream side, and thus the section S may be arranged on the upstream side or the center. That is, the intersecting section S may be arranged in the middle between the first pipe P1 and the second pipe P2 in accordance with the arrangement of the device constituting the cooling cycle mechanism CM (particularly, the arrangement of the compressor 20 and the condenser 22 in the outer space, and the arrangement of the evaporator 23 in the inner space). Alternatively, according to the arrangement of the device constituting the cooling cycle mechanism CM, the heat exchanger 24 may be formed without the section S on which the first pipe P1 and the second pipe P2 intersect.

(30) In the above embodiment, the heat exchanger 24 is formed on one position in the middle between the first pipe P1 and the second pipe P2, but the heat exchanger 24 may be formed intermittently in a plurality of positions.

(31) In the above embodiment, the configuration in which only the heat exchangers 24a and 24b of the first pipe P1 and the second pipe P2 pass through the inside of the second housing body element BD2, is employed but is not limited thereto. Therefore, a configuration in which other than the heat exchangers 24a and 24b of the first pipe P1 and the second pipe P2, other part may pass through the inside of the second housing body element BD2 may be employed.

(32) In the above embodiment, the refrigerator is described as a type in which the cooling cycle mechanism CM is detachable from the cooling unit. However, the disclosure may be applicable to a refrigerator in which the cooling cycle mechanism CM is not detachable.

(33) As is apparent from the above description, by using the cooling cycle mechanism of the refrigerator, it may be possible to improve the efficiency of the cooling cycle by effectively exchanging heat between the refrigerant discharged from the evaporator and a refrigerant discharged from the condenser.

(34) Although the present disclosure has been described with various embodiments, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.