Patent Application
20190331403
The present invention relates to an evaporation unit and a refrigerator having the same.
A refrigerator is an apparatus for storing food at a low temperature. The refrigerator can be configured to store the food in a frozen or refrigerated state according to the type of food to be stored. The inside of the refrigerator is cooled by continuously supplied cold air, and the cold air is continuously generated by the heat exchange action of a refrigerant by way of a refrigeration cycle going through the process of compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation. Since the cold air supplied to the inside of the refrigerator is evenly delivered inside the refrigerator owing to convection, the food inside the refrigerator can be stored at a desired temperature.
An evaporator is included in the refrigerator. The evaporator cools air by exchanging heat between the air around the evaporator and a refrigerant inside the evaporator. If moisture in the air generates condensation around the evaporator as the air is cooled, the efficiency of the heat transfer between the air and the refrigerant decreases. Accordingly, frost generated from the cooling of the moisture in the process of refrigerator operation should be periodically removed from the evaporator.
An object of the present invention is to provide an evaporation unit (e.g., an evaporator) that operates effectively, and a refrigerator having the same.
In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide an evaporation unit that can reduce the incidence of freezing the moisture in the air around the evaporator, and a refrigerator having the same.
In addition, still another object of the present invention is to provide an evaporation unit that can prevent direct contact of relatively warm air from a refrigeration room with relatively cold air (e.g., in the evaporation unit), and a refrigerator having the same.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising a main body having a storage room therein; a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room; and an evaporation unit at one side of the storage room, wherein the evaporation unit includes an evaporator configured to cool air by exchanging heat between a refrigerant in the evaporator and the air; and a partition at least partially in the evaporator, configured to partition the evaporator into two areas.
The evaporator may include a plurality of cooling fins spaced apart from each other by a preset distance, which may be in a row (e.g., along one direction); and a refrigerant pipe containing (and optionally providing a path for) the refrigerant, in thermal communication (e.g., configured to exchange heat) with the cooling fins. The partition may be adjacent to or alongside the row of cooling fins.
The evaporator may further include a heater adjacent to the cooling fins, wherein the partition may be in contact with (e.g., fixed to) the heater.
The partition may have a width or length that is smaller than a corresponding width or length of the evaporator.
The partition may have a center area with a greater dimension (e.g., protruding downwards more) than first and second ends of the partition along the width or the length of the partition. For example, the center of the partition may have a greater width than the ends of the partition, wherein the ends of the partition are on opposite sides of the center of the partition along the length of the partition. The greater dimension of the center of the partition relative to the ends of the partition may define a lower portion of the partition.
The partition (or the lower portion of the partition) may be at one side of the row of cooling fins, and the lower portion of the partition may be exposed to a rear side or surface of the storage room.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising a main body having a freezer room and a refrigeration room therein; a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage rooms; an evaporation unit at one side of the freezer room; and a duct configured to allow relatively warm air in the refrigeration room to flow into the evaporation unit, wherein the evaporation unit includes an evaporator configured to cool air adjacent to the evaporator by exchanging heat between a refrigerant in the evaporator and the air adjacent to the evaporator; and a partition in front of an area where the relatively warm air flows into the evaporation unit from the duct to block the relatively warm air from directly contacting cold air in the evaporation unit. The duct may connect the refrigeration room and the evaporation unit.
The evaporator may include a plurality of cooling fins spaced apart from each other by a preset distance, which may be in a row (e.g., along one direction); a refrigerant pipe containing (and optionally providing a path for) the refrigerant in thermal communication (e.g., configured to exchange heat) with the cooling fins; and optionally a heater adjacent to the cooling fins. The partition may be in contact with (e.g., fixed to) the heater.
The refrigerator may further include a drain hole in an area below the evaporation unit. The partition may be above the drain hole.
The partition may include a planar region having a preset area and/or one or more transfer pins having a preset length or height. The transfer pin(s) may be on an outer corner, an uppermost edge, or a side surface of the partition.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an evaporation unit comprising an evaporator configured to cool air by exchanging heat between a refrigerant in the evaporator and the air; and a partition in the evaporator, configured to partition the evaporator into two areas.
The evaporator may include a plurality of cooling fins spaced apart from each other by a preset distance which may be in a row (e.g., along one direction); a refrigerant pipe containing (and optionally providing a path for) the refrigerant, in thermal communication (e.g., configured to exchange heat) with the cooling fins; and optionally a heater adjacent to the cooling fins. The partition may be in contact with (e.g., fixed to) the heater.
The partition (or a lower part or portion thereof) may have a center area with a greater dimension than both of first and second ends of the partition along the width or the length of the partition, as described above.
The partition may include a planar region having a preset area and/or one or more transfer pins, each of which may have a preset length, height and/or width. The transfer pin(s) may be on an outer corner, an uppermost edge, or a side surface of the partitioning unit.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an evaporation unit for effectively operating an evaporator and a refrigerator having the same can be provided.
In addition, an evaporation unit that can reduce the phenomenon of freezing moisture in the air around the evaporator and a refrigerator having the same can be provided.
In addition, an evaporation unit that can prevent direct contact of air from a refrigeration room with cold air and a refrigerator having the same can be provided.
Hereafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The disclosed embodiments may be modified in a variety of forms, and the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the embodiments described below. The embodiments are provided to explain the present invention to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the shapes of the elements in the drawing may be exaggerated to emphasize more clear descriptions.
Referring to
Hereinafter, the direction from the rear side to the front side of the refrigerator 1 is referred to as a thickness direction, the direction from one side surface to another side surface of the refrigerator 1 is referred to as a width direction, and the direction from the bottom surface to the top surface of the refrigerator 1 is referred to as a height direction. The door(s) 20 are at the front of the refrigerator 1, and the icemaker 30 is adjacent to the top surface of the refrigerator 1.
The main body 10 provides and/or defines the overall external shape of the refrigerator 1. At least one storage room 11 may be inside the main body 10. The storage room(s) 11 inside the main body 10 may be partitioned by a barrier 12. The storage room(s) 11 may include one or more refrigeration rooms R and one or more freezer rooms F. For example, the refrigeration room(s) R may be at or in the upper part of the main body 10, and the freezer room(s) F may be at or in the lower part of the main body 10.
At least one door 20 is on the main body 10. The door 20 opens and closes the storage room 11. For example, the door 20 is hingedly or pivotally fixed to the main body 10 to rotate, and may open and close the storage room 11 as it rotates with respect to the main body 10. The number of doors 20 may correspond to the number of partitions of the storage room 11. For example, doors 20 are provided in front of the refrigeration room(s) R and the freezer room(s) F, respectively, and may individually open and close a corresponding one of the refrigeration room(s) R and the freezer room(s) F. For example, two doors 20 may be provided in the refrigeration room R on the left and right sides of the refrigerator 1. One or more shelves 21 may be provided on the inside surface of the door 20.
An ice maker 30 may be at or on one side of one storage room 11. For example, the ice maker 30 may be in one refrigeration room R and/or at the upper part of one of the storage rooms 11. Alternatively, the ice maker 30 may be in one door 20 or in the freezer room F.
Referring to
The duct 40 may include a cold air duct 41 and a collection duct 45.
The cold air duct 41 provides a path for supplying cold air from the space around the evaporator 51 (
The cold air duct 41 may include a first cold air duct 42 and a second cold air duct 43.
The first cold air duct 42 and the second cold air duct 43 may be branched at the supply terminal (e.g., at or near the fan 44) or at a point spaced apart from the supply terminal by a preset distance. The first cold air duct 42 is connected to the ice maker 30 and may supply cold air from the supply terminal to the ice maker 30. The second cold air duct 43 is connected to the refrigeration room R and may supply cold air from the supply terminal to the refrigeration room R. A fan 44 may be at a point or location in the cold air duct 41. The fan 44 may provide pressure for flowing the cold air through the cold air ducts 42 and 43 from the supply terminal. For example, the fan 44 may be located at the supply terminal (e.g., adjacent to the evaporator).
The collection duct 45 provides a path for collecting air (e.g., cold air) from other areas of the refrigerator 1 to the evaporator 51 or the vicinity of the evaporator 51. The collection duct 45 may include a first collection duct 46 and a second collection duct 47. First and second opposed ends of the first collection duct 46 may be connected to the ice maker 30 and the freezer room F, respectively. The first collection duct 46 provides a path for returning the cold air from the ice maker 30 that was used for making ice. First and second opposed ends of the second collection duct 47 may be connected to the refrigeration room R and the freezer room F, respectively. The second collection duct 47 returns the cold air in the refrigeration room R to the freezer room F or to the evaporator 51 behind the freezer room F in response to the cold air being supplied from the evaporator 51 (or, alternatively, the freezer room F) to the refrigeration room R.
Referring to
The evaporation unit 50 may be at one side of the storage room 11. For example, the evaporation unit 50 may be behind the freezer room F. The evaporation unit 50 cools air immediately adjacent to the evaporator 51 by exchanging heat between a refrigerant in the evaporator 51 and the air, while preventing generation of frost on the outer surface of the evaporator 51 as the moisture is cooled.
The evaporation unit 50 is in the rear side or back of the refrigerator 1 as shown in
The evaporator 51 cools air by exchanging heat between the refrigerant flowing therein and the air. The evaporator 51 may include one or more cooling fins 500 and a refrigerant pipe 510.
The cooling fins 500 increase the area of the evaporator 51 contacting the air to more effectively cool the air. Each of the cooling fins 500 may be planar or flat, and have a preset area.
A plurality of cooling fins 500 spaced apart from each other at preset intervals to form a row. The row of cooling fins 500 may be in or along the second direction Y. In addition, the row of cooling fins 500 may be in or along the third direction Z. In addition, the row of cooling fins 500 may be in or along the first direction X.
In various embodiments, the evaporator 51 may have a small number of rows of cooling fins 500 in the lower portion thereof, compared with the upper portion of the evaporator 51. In
The refrigerant pipe 510 provides a path for refrigerant flowing through the evaporator 51. The refrigerant pipe 510 is in contact with the cooling fins 500 to exchange heat with the cooling fins 500. For example, the refrigerant pipe 510 may be inside the cooling fins 500 and may pass through a point or area of the cooling fins 500 along the row direction of the cooling fins 500. Alternatively, the cooling fins 500 may surround and/or contact the outer periphery of the refrigerant pipe 510. The refrigerant pipe 510 may have a section that is bent (e.g., U-shaped or semicircular) outside the row of cooling fins 500, and the refrigerant pipe 510 passes through all the rows of cooling fins 500 at least once.
One or more supporting units 530 may be in the outer area of the evaporator 51 (e.g., outside the cooling fins 500) along the width direction. The supporting unit(s) 530 may be provided on one side or opposite sides of the evaporator 51 in the width direction. The supporting unit 530 may be planar and have a preset area. The refrigerant pipe 510 may pass through the supporting unit 530 outside the rows of cooling fins 500. Thus, the supporting unit 530 may support the refrigerant pipe 510. Some or all bent or curved sections of the refrigerant pipe 510 may be outside the supporting unit 530 in or along the width direction.
A heater 540 may be in the evaporator 51 and adjacent to the cooling fins 500. The heater 540 may comprise a linear heater 540 having a preset length. The heater 540 may have at least one section oriented along the direction of the rows of cooling fins 500, and it (or any of its section[s]) may have a preset length. For example, the heater 540 may have three sections oriented along the direction of the rows of cooling fins 500, and each section may independently have a length corresponding to (e.g., substantially equal to or slightly greater than) the length(s) of the rows of cooling fins 500. The heater 540 may be supported by the supporting unit 530 and may have a curved or bent (e.g., U-shaped) section on the outside of the supporting unit 530. The heater may be located in the lower part of the evaporator 51 and/or below the rows of cooling fins 500.
The partition 55 is in a center area of the evaporator 51 in or along the thickness direction and may partition the evaporator 51 into two areas. The partition 55 may be in the lower part or area of the evaporator 51.
The partition 55 may have one or more planar regions, and each may have a preset area independent of the other planar regions. The partition 55 may comprise a thermally conductive material. For example, the partition 55 may comprise a metallic material such as aluminum or the like. The partition 55 may be oriented in or along the height direction of the evaporator 51 and/or the width direction of the evaporator 51.
The vertical height of the partition 55 may be smaller than the height of the evaporator 51. Accordingly, when the partition 55 is in the evaporator 51, the lower part or area of the evaporator 51 may be partitioned by the partition 55 along the thickness direction.
The partition 55 may include an insertion unit 551 in the upper part and a guide unit 552 in the lower part in or along the height direction. When a row of cooling fins 500 is in the lower part of the evaporator 51, the insertion unit 551 may be between rows of cooling fins 500 in the thickness direction, and the guide unit 552 may be at one side of a row of cooling fins 500 in the lower part of the evaporator 51. Accordingly, the guide unit 552 may be exposed to the rear (e.g., of the refrigerator 1). A step or offset may be between the insertion unit 551 and the guide unit 552 along the width or height direction, which may be directed toward the thickness direction of the refrigerator 1.
The partition 55 may include at least one fixing unit 553 along the width direction. For example, two fixing units 553 may be at opposite ends of the guide unit 552 in or along the width direction. The fixing unit 553 extends from one side surface of the partition 55 and may have a fixing groove or hole 554 that may be open downwards. The partition 55 may be installed at least in part by placing the fixing hole(s) 554 on the heater 540 (or a section thereof).
The lower portion of the partition 55 may be formed to have a center area protruding downwards more than both ends of the width direction. For example, the lower portion (e.g., the lowermost edge or periphery) of the partition 55 may be sloped downwards from the ends along the width direction toward the center. In addition, a guide groove 555 (which may be or comprise an arc-shaped cutout or recess upwards) may be in the center area of the lower portion of the partition 55. A drain hole 60 may be on the bottom and/or the rear side of the storage room 11 where the evaporation unit 50 is located. The drain hole 60 provides a path for discharging water that may drip from the evaporator 51 to the outside (e.g., of the refrigerator 1). Drain grooves 61 may be around the drain hole 60 so that the water flows to the drain hole 60. The drain grooves 61 may slope downwards toward the drain hole 60. The center area of the lower portion of the partition 55 (e.g., the lowest part or position of the partition 55) may be above the drain hole 60. Accordingly, when the heater 54 operates and the evaporator 51 begins defrosting, the water from the defrosting process may be effectively discharged through the drain hole 60 after the water moves to the center area of the lower portion of the partition 55 (e.g., the guide groove 555).
Referring to
If the evaporation unit 50 is located or behind in the freezer room F, an end portion of the first collection duct 46 and an end portion of the second collection duct 47 may be located behind the evaporation unit 50. Accordingly, the air flowing into the first collection duct 46 and the second collection duct 47 flows to the evaporator 51 and is cooled again.
The air in the freezer room F may circulate. For example, as the cold air is discharged from the supply terminal, air may flow in a direction from an area far from the supply terminal toward the supply terminal.
cold air and warm air may meet in the evaporation unit 50 in areas adjacent to the ends of the first collection duct 46 and the second collection duct 47. When the warm air contains more moisture than can be held or contained by the cold air, frost may form on the outer surface of the evaporator 51 as the moisture in the warm air meeting the cold air is abruptly cooled and the excess moisture freezes. Thus, the operational efficiency of the evaporator 51 may decrease.
Contrarily, in the evaporation unit 50 according to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the partition 55 is located a preset distance in front of a location where warm air flows in. In addition, the evaporation unit 50 may be partitioned by the partition 55 into a front area and a rear area of the evaporator 51. Accordingly, the warm air and the cold air do not directly contact each other in or around the evaporator 51.
For example, the warm air may indirectly exchange heat with the cold air through the partition 55, and the excess moisture in the warm air may condense and/or freeze on the surface of the partition 55. Accordingly, the amount of moisture freezing on the surface of the evaporator 51 decreases, and the operational efficiency of the evaporator 51 can be enhanced.
The amount of the moisture in the warm air flowing into the evaporator 51 or the freezer room F may vary according to the path through which the warm air flows. For example, the warm air from the refrigeration room R entering through the first collection duct 46 may contain more moisture than the warm air from the ice maker 30 entering through the second collection duct 47. Accordingly, the partition 55 in the evaporator 51 may have a width smaller than the width of the evaporator 51 and may be in front of or behind the first collection duct 46.
The temperature of the warm air flowing into the evaporator 51 or the freezer room F may vary. For example, the temperature of the warm air from the refrigeration room R entering through the first collection duct 46 may be higher than that of the warm air from the ice maker 30 entering through the second collection duct 47. Accordingly, the supply terminal may be adjacent to the second collection duct 47, rather than the first collection duct 46. For example, the first collection duct 46 and the second collection duct 47 may be spaced apart from each other by a preset distance in or along the width direction, and the supply terminal may be spaced apart from the second collection duct 47 by a preset distance in the third direction X and may be above or below the second collection duct 47. Accordingly, the warm air from the first collection duct 46 may be effectively cooled while being guided by the partition 55 and flowing to the supply terminal.
In addition, the rows of cooling fins 500 may be in the lower part of the evaporator 51 only on the side of the partition 55 opposite from the cooling room. Accordingly, the warm air containing a relatively large amount of moisture may be cooled before it meets the partition 55, the excess moisture may condense or freeze on the partition 55, and freezing of the moisture in the warm air around the evaporator 51 may decrease.
In addition, since the partition 55 may directly contact the heater 540, the frost formed on the partition 55 can be effectively removed by operating the heater 540. In addition, as heat is transferred to the evaporator 51 through the heated partition 55, the evaporator 51 can be efficiently defrosted.
Referring to
When the partition 56 is in the evaporator 51, each of the transfer pin(s) 557 may contact or be adjacent to one or more cooling fins 500. In addition, the transfer pin(s) 557 may contact or to be adjacent to additional cooling fins 500 above the partition 56.
The transfer pin(s) 557 can enhance the efficiency of heat transfer between the partition 56 and the evaporator 51. Accordingly, when the evaporator 51 operates, the warm air guided by the partition 56 can be effectively cooled. In addition, the evaporator 51 can be effectively heated using the partition 56 in the defrosting process.
Since the configuration of the insertion unit 551′, the guide unit 552′ and the fixing unit 553′ in the partition 56 is the same as or similar to that of the partition 55 of
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an evaporation unit for effectively operating an evaporator and a refrigerator having the same can be provided.
In addition, an evaporation unit that can reduce the amount of moisture freezing on or around the evaporator and a refrigerator having the same can be provided.
In addition, an evaporation unit that can prevent direct contact of relatively warm air from a refrigeration room with cold air (e.g., in the evaporator) and a refrigerator having the same can be provided.
The above detailed description provides examples of the present invention. In addition, the above description explains by showing preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention may be used in various different combinations, changes and environments. That is, the present invention may be modified or changed within the scope of the spirit of the present invention disclosed in this specification, within a scope equivalent to the disclosed contents, and/or within the scope of the technique(s) or knowledge of the prior art. The above embodiments describe the best conditions for implementing the technical spirit of the present invention, and various changes in the specific application fields and usages of the present invention also can be made. Accordingly, the detailed description of the present invention as described above shows disclosed embodiments and is not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, the appended claims should be interpreted as also including other embodiments.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2018-0049717 | Apr 2018 | KR | national |
