US20100242525A1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

A refrigerator comprises: a case having a cooling chamber; a machine room disposed on one side of the case, and configured to accommodate a compressor therein; a condenser disposed on an outer surface of the case; and a heat emission unit configured to guide external air of the case for heat emission of the compressor and the condenser. In the refrigerator, heat emission of the machine room and the condenser is sufficiently performed, and a compact configuration of the machine room is implemented.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD
• The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator having a condenser at an outer side of a machine room in which a compressor is installed.
BACKGROUND ART
• Generally, a refrigerator serves to store food and drink in a low temperature state by providing a cooling chamber. The cooling chamber of the refrigerator may be divided into a freezing chamber maintained in a temperature below zero, and a refrigerating chamber maintained in a temperature above zero.
• The refrigerator can freshly store food in a frozen state or in a cooled state by lowering each temperature of the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber, by transmitting cool air to the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber. Here, the cool air is generated by a refrigeration cycle constituted by a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator.
• For installation of the refrigeration cycle, a machine room is installed in a rear bottom portion of the refrigerator. A fan, a compressor, a condenser, and so on constituting the refrigeration cycle are installed at the machine room.
• A great deal of heat occurs from the compressor, the condenser, and so on of the machine room, and the occurred heat has to be dissipated outside. For dissipation of heat, a plurality of vents through which external air flows are formed at a cover for protecting the machine room. And, a blowing fan is installed at the machine room so as to generate a blowing force such that external air can be introduced into the vents.
• However, since the conventional machine room is equipped therein with not only the condenser but also the compressor, the fan, etc., the machine room occupies a prescribed space of a bottom portion of the refrigerator.
• The space occupied by the machine room can not be utilized as a storage space of the refrigerator. Accordingly, there has been proposed a refrigerator having a structure in which heat of the condenser is smoothly emitted, and the machine room is compacted.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
• Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator capable of sufficiently emitting heat of a machine room and a condenser, and implementing a compact configuration of the machine room.
• To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a refrigerator, comprising: a case having a cooling chamber; a machine room disposed on one side of the case, and configured to accommodate a compressor therein; a condenser disposed on an outer surface of the case; and a heat emission unit configured to guide external air of the case for heat emission of the compressor and the condenser.
• In the refrigerator, the machine room may be disposed on a rear bottom portion of the case, and the condenser may be disposed on a rear surface of the case.
• The heat emission unit may include a machine room cover configured to cover the machine room, and having a plurality of first vents; a condenser case configured to fix the condenser accommodated therein onto a wall surface of the case, having a plurality of second vents, and communicated with one side of the machine room; a blowing fan configured to generate a flow of air passing through the first and second vents; and a communication portion configured to communicate an inner side of the machine room with an inner side of the condenser case.
• The blowing fan may be installed such that air introduced into one of the first vents and the second vents is discharged to the other.
• The fan may be coupled to a rear surface of the machine room cover.
• The fan may be installed at the communication portion configured to communicate an inner side of the machine room with an inner side of the condenser case.
• The blowing fan may be implemented as a cross flow fan.
• The communication portion may include a communication duct configured to communicate an inner side of the machine room with a rear side of the case, and a guide duct configured to communicate an inner side of the communication duct with an inner side of the condenser case.
• The communication duct may be formed at a lower middle portion on a rear surface of the case.
• The machine room may have an opened surface toward a side surface of the case, and the machine room cover may cover the opened surface. The communication duct may be formed on a rear surface of the case so as to be adjacent to the opened surface of the machine room.
• Each of the second vents may be formed to have a size increased toward a side surface of the condenser case, from a connection passage of the condenser case communicated with the guide duct.
• The condenser may be implemented as refrigerant pipes for passing a refrigerant are curved a plurality of times on the same plane.
• The communication portion may be provided so as to have a decreased sectional area in a flow direction of air by the blowing fan.
• The refrigerator of the present invention has the following advantages.
• Firstly, the condenser is installed on an outer surface of the case not inside the machine room, and the heat emission unit for emitting heat of the machine room and the condenser is provided. Accordingly, the machine room may have a decreased capacity, and heat of the condenser may be effectively emitted.
• Secondly, since the condenser is positioned on a rear surface of the refrigerator, a degraded appearance of the refrigerator may be prevented.
• Thirdly, since the condenser is not installed in the machine room, a position of the machine room may be variable to right and left portions or a middle portion of a rear surface of the refrigerator.
• Fourthly, the condenser case having the condenser accommodated therein may serve to guide a flow of air to each portion of the condenser, and may prevent a degraded appearance due to exposure of the condenser. Owing to the condenser case, may be prevented damage of the condenser when the refrigerator is moved.
• Fifthly, since an opened surface of the machine room is formed at a side surface of the case, a flow path of air passing through the machine room and the condenser case may be simplified. Accordingly, a flow resistance of air may be reduced, and power consumption of the blowing fan may be decreased.
• Sixthly, each of the second vents is formed to have a size increased toward a side surface of the condenser case, from the connection passage of the condenser case communicated with the guide duct. This may minimize air leakage occurring through the second vents before air inside the condenser case is heat-exchanged with each part of the condenser, in the case when air is introduced from the connection passage to the condenser case, or from the condenser case to the connection passage.
• Seventhly, the condenser may be implemented as refrigerant pipes for passing a refrigerant are curved a plurality of times on the same plane. This may minimize each thickness of the condenser and the condenser case. Furthermore, since the condenser may be installed on an outer surface of the case, the refrigerator may have an increased installation space.
• Eighthly, the communication portion may be provided so as to have a decreased sectional area in a flow direction of air generated by the flowing fan. This causes air to flow with an increased speed, thereby enhancing a heat emission efficiency of the condenser or the compressor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat emission unit installed on a rear surface of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the heat emission unit ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line ‘I-I’ inFIG. 1;
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a flow of air through the heat emission unit ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a heat emission unit installed on a rear surface of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line inFIG. 5;
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a heat emission unit installed on a rear surface of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line ‘III-III’ inFIG. 7; and
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a condenser case and a blowing fan of a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
• Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat emission unit installed on a rear surface of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the heat emission unit ofFIG. 1, andFIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line ‘I-I’ inFIG. 1.
• Referring toFIGS. 1 to 3, a refrigerator according to the present invention comprises acase40 having a cooling chamber (S); amachine room70 disposed on one side of thecase40, and configured to accommodate acompressor50 therein; acondenser20 disposed on an outer side of thecase40; and aheat emission unit100 configured to guide external air of thecase40 for heat emission of thecompressor50 and thecondenser20.
• Hereinafter, each component of the refrigerator according to the present invention will be explained in more detail.
• The refrigerator according to the present invention comprises thecase40 that forms appearance thereof, and having a cooling chamber (S) where food items are cooled to be stored.
• Themachine room70 is formed below a rear surface of thecase40.
• Thecompressor50 is installed at themachine room70.
• Thecompressor50, an evaporator (not shown), thecondenser20, and an expander (not shown) constitute a refrigeration cycle.
• Thecondenser20 is disposed on a rear surface of thecase40, not inside themachine room70.
• Theheat emission unit100 is provided to guide external air of thecase40 for heat emission of thecompressor50 and thecondenser20.
• Theheat emission unit100 includes amachine room cover101 configured to cover themachine room70, and having a plurality offirst vents102; acondenser case114 configured to fix thecondenser20 accommodated therein onto a wall surface of thecase40, having a plurality ofsecond vents114b, and communicated with one side of themachine room70; a blowingfan103 configured to generate a flow of air passing through the first andsecond vents102 and114b; and acommunication portion113 configured to communicate an inner side of themachine room70 with an inner side of thecondenser case114.
• Thecommunication portion113 includes acommunication duct113bconfigured to communicate an inner side of themachine room70 with a rear side of thecase40, and aguide duct113aconfigured to communicate an inner side of thecommunication duct113bwith an inner side of thecondenser case114.
• Thecommunication duct113bis formed at a lower middle portion on a rear surface of thecase40.
• Air introduced into one of thefirst vents102 and thesecond vents114bis discharged to the other by the blowingfan103. Accordingly, thecompressor50 inside themachine room70, and thecondenser20 inside thecondenser case114 are cooled.
• Preferably, a flow direction of air by the blowingfan103 is determined so that air having a high temperature by passing around thecondenser20 can absorb heat from thecompressor50, by passing around thecompressor50 having a relatively higher temperature than thecondenser20.
• The blowingfan103 is implemented as an axial flow fan, and is installed on a rear surface of themachine room cover101.
• In the present invention, thecondenser20 is installed inside thecondenser case114. And, thecondenser case114 is installed on one outer side of thecase40, not inside themachine room70. This allows the cooling chamber (S) to have a more increased capacity compared to when the condenser is installed at themachine room70.
• As thecondenser case114 is installed so as to contact with external air, heat having conducted to thecondenser case114 from the condenser200 installed inside thecondenser case114 is emitted by air passing through an outer surface of thecondenser case114. Accordingly, thecondenser case114 serves as a heat emission plate for emitting heat generated from thecondenser20 to outside of the refrigerator.
• Thecondenser20 is formed in an in-line shaped plate so as to be inserted into thecondenser case114, i.e., is formed as refrigerant pipes for passing a refrigerant are curved a plurality of times. Here, the refrigerant pipe is disposed on the same plane. Aninlet21 of thecondenser20 is connected to anoutlet51 of thecompressor50 inside themachine room70. Anoutlet22 of thecondenser20 is connected to ahot line inlet25 installed on a front surface of the refrigerator so as to prevent dew condensation.
• Thecondenser case114 includes acase member114ahaving a prescribed space to accommodate thecondenser20 therein, and having one opened side surface; a plurality ofsecond vents114bpenetratingly formed at thecase member114a, and configured to introduce air thereinto so as to cool thecondenser20; and aconnection passage113aadisposed on a lower end of thecase member114ain communication with theguide duct113a, so that thecondenser case114 and themachine room70 can be communicated with each other.
• Preferably, each of thesecond vents114ais formed to have a size increased toward a side surface of thecondenser case114, from theconnection passage113aaof thecondenser case114 communicated with theguide duct113a.
• Under this configuration, heat emission of thecondenser20 disposed in thecondenser case114 is uniformly performed.
• In the present invention, themachine room cover101 may be installed at thecase40 by a coupling member such as bolts. However, themachine room cover101 may be integrally formed with thecase40.
• Hereinafter, with reference toFIG. 4, will be explained processes for installing the heat emission unit, and processes for emitting heat of the compressor and the condenser through the heat emission unit, in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a flow of air through the heat emission unit ofFIG. 1.
• Firstly, will be explained processes for coupling thecondenser20 accommodated in thecondenser case114 to thecompressor50 installed in themachine room70, and processes for fixing thecondenser case114 to thecase40.
• Thecondenser20 disposed on a plane in the form of in-line is inserted into thecondenser case114. Then, thecondenser20 is fixed to thecondenser case114 by a coupling member (not shown) such as screws or in a welding manner so as to be prevented from moving in thecondenser case114.
• Theinlet21 of thecondenser20 is connected to theoutlet51 of thecompressor50 installed inside themachine room70. And, theoutlet22 of thecondenser20 is connected to thehot line inlet25 installed on a front surface of the refrigerator so as to prevent dew condensation.
• Then, the opened one side surface of thecondenser case114 having thecondenser20 therein is adhered, by using acoupling member114c, to a wall surface of a rear surface of thecase40.
• In correspondence to thecommunication duct113bpositioned at theblower fan103 inside themachine room70, theguide duct113aintegrally formed on a lower end of thecondenser case114 is fixed to the blowingfan103, by thecoupling member114c, as one opened side thereof is adhered to the blowingfan103.
• Through the above processes, may be completed the processes for coupling thecondenser20 accommodated in thecondenser case114 to thecompressor50, and the processes for fixing thecondenser case114 to a rear wall of thecase40.
• The blowingfan103 is coupled to a rear wall of thecase40 so as to face thecompressor50. And, themachine room cover101 is installed on a rear wall of thecase40 by a coupling member, so as to cover the blowingfan103.
• Hereinafter, will be explained processes for emitting heat of thecompressor50 and thecondenser20 by theheat emission unit100 provided on a rear wall of thecase40.
• A refrigerant introduced into the refrigerator via an evaporator (not shown) in a low-temperature low-pressure gaseous state is compressed into a high-temperature high-pressure gaseous state by thecompressor50, thereby being used to heat thecompressor50. Therefore, thecompressor50 requires to be cooled so as to prevent damage and lowering of a driving efficiency thereof.
• Thecompressor50 is cooled by a flow of air generated by the blowingfan103 and discharged to or introduced into the first vents102.
• The refrigerant discharged through thecompressor50 is condensed into a high-temperature high-pressure liquid state via thecondenser20. In this case, a large amount of heat occurs around thecondenser20. Therefore, thecondenser20 requires to be cooled so as to prevent damage and lowering of a driving efficiency thereof.
• Thecondenser20 is cooled by a flow of air generated by the blowingfan103 and discharged to or introduced into thesecond vents114b.
• The reason is because a flow of air by the blowingfan103 also occurs at thecondenser20 through thecommunication portion113.
• As thecondenser case114 having thecondenser20 accommodated therein in a fixed state is installed so as to directly contact with external air, heat having conducted from the condenser200 is emitted out by natural convection of air passing through an outer side of thecondenser case114.
• Here, thecondenser case114 serves as a heat emission plate.
• Here, a flow direction of air is determined such that air having served to cool one of thecompressor50 and thecondenser20 can be supplied to the other for cooling.
• Since thecompressor50 has a relatively higher temperature than thecondenser20, a flow direction of air is preferably set so that thecondenser20 can be firstly cooled and then thecompressor50 can be cooled.
• In conclusion, since external air can absorb heat of thecompressor50 and thecondenser20 to dissipate the heat by the heat emission unit, heat emission of themachine room70 and thecondenser20 is smoothly performed. Also, themachine room70 can have a compact configuration.
• Next, will be explained state changes of a refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle constituted by thecompressor50 and thecondenser20.
• A refrigerant introduced into thecompressor50 through the evaporator (not shown), and pressurized into a high-temperature high-pressure gaseous state from a low-temperature low-pressure gaseous state flows to thecondenser20 accommodated in thecondenser case114 fixed to thecase40. Then, the refrigerant introduced into thecondenser20 has a state change to a room-temperature high-pressure liquid state through a heat emission process by thecondenser20.
• Here, the refrigerant having complete a condensation process by thecondenser20 is introduced into thehot line inlet25 connected to theoutlet22 of thecondenser20, and then flows on an entire part of a hot line (not shown) installed on a front surface of the refrigerator for prevention of dew condensation. Then, the refrigerant moves into an expansion valve (not shown) through an inlet of the expansion valve connected to an outlet of the hot line.
• The refrigerant introduced into the expansion valve is depressurized into a state that can be easily evaporated, through a heat exchange by the evaporator. The refrigerant is introduced into the evaporator, and then is evaporated by an absorption reaction by which internal heat of the refrigerator is absorbed. The evaporated refrigerant is changed into a low-temperature low-pressure gaseous state, thus to be introduced into thecompressor50 again.
• The refrigeration cycle is completed through the above processes, and is repeated to discharge the generated cool air into the refrigerator. Accordingly, the refrigerator can have a lowered internal temperature.
• Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference toFIGS. 5 and 6. Explanations for the same components as those of the first embodiment will be omitted.
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a heat emission unit installed on a rear surface of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line ‘II-II’ inFIG. 5.
• Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, the refrigerator according to a second embodiment is different from the refrigerator according to a first embodiment in the aspects of positions of amachine room cover201 and acommunication portion213.
• Themachine room270 has an opened surface toward a side surface of thecase40, and amachine room cover201 covers the opened surface. Acommunication duct213bis formed on a rear surface of thecase40 so as to be adjacent to the opened surface of themachine room270.
• Each of a plurality of thesecond vents114bformed at thecondenser case114 has a size increased to both side surfaces of thecondenser case114, from theconnection passage113aaof thecondenser case114 communicated with theguide duct213a.
• Under this configuration, air passing through themachine room270 and thecondenser case114 can smoothly flow. This allows the blowing fan for generating a flow of air to have reduced power consumption.
• Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference toFIGS. 7 and 8. Explanations for the same components as those of the first embodiment will be omitted.
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a heat emission unit installed on a rear surface of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line ‘III-III’ inFIG. 7.
• Referring toFIGS. 7 and 8, the refrigerator according to a third embodiment is different from the refrigerator according to a first embodiment in the aspect of acommunication portion313.
• Thecommunication portion313 includes acommunication duct313bconfigured to communicate an inner side of themachine room70 with a rear side of thecase40, and aguide duct113aconfigured to communicate an inner side of thecommunication duct313band an inner side of thecondenser case114. Thecommunication portion313 is provided such that thecommunication duct313band theguide duct113acan have a decreased sectional area in a flow direction of air, respectively.
• Under this configuration, as air flows with an increased speed, heat of the condenser or the compressor is more effectively emitted. Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference toFIG. 9. Explanations for the same components as those of the first embodiment will be omitted.
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a condenser case and a blowing fan of a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
• Referring toFIG. 9, the refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment is different from the refrigerator according to a first embodiment in the aspects of an installation position and a type of a blowingfan403.
• Here, the blowingfan403 is implemented as a cross flow fan, and is installed at one side of theguide duct113a.
• As the blowingfan403 is installed at a position where a flow direction of air frequently changes, a cooling efficiency by thecompressor50 and thecondenser20 can be more enhanced.
• It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims (18)

1. A refrigerator, comprising:

a case having a cooling chamber;

a machine room disposed on one side of the case, and configured to accommodate a compressor therein;

a condenser disposed on an outer surface of the case; and

a heat emission unit configured to guide external air of the case for heat emission of the compressor and the condenser.

2. The refrigerator ofclaim 1, wherein the machine room is disposed on a rear bottom portion of the case, and the condenser is disposed on a rear surface of the case.

3. The refrigerator ofclaim 2, wherein the heat emission unit comprises:

a machine room cover configured to cover the machine room, and having a plurality of first vents;

a condenser case configured to fix the condenser accommodated therein onto a wall surface of the case, having a plurality of second vents, and communicated with one side of the machine room;

a blowing fan configured to generate a flow of air passing through the first and second vents; and

a communication portion configured to communicate an inner side of the machine room with an inner side of the condenser case.

4. The refrigerator ofclaim 3, wherein the blowing fan is installed such that air introduced into one of the first vents and the second vents is discharged to the other.

5. The refrigerator ofclaim 4, wherein the fan is coupled to a rear surface of the machine room cover.

6. The refrigerator ofclaim 4, wherein the fan is installed at an inner side of the communication portion.

7. The refrigerator ofclaim 3, wherein the blowing fan is implemented as a cross flow fan.

8. The refrigerator ofclaim 3, wherein the communication portion comprises:

a communication duct configured to communicate an inner side of the machine room with a rear side of the case; and

a guide duct configured to communicate an inner side of the communication duct with an inner side of the condenser case.

9. The refrigerator ofclaim 8, wherein the communication duct is formed in a lower middle portion on a rear surface of the case.

10. The refrigerator ofclaim 8, wherein the machine room has an opened surface toward a side surface of the case, and the machine room cover covers the opened surface.

11. The refrigerator ofclaim 10, wherein the communication duct is formed on a rear surface of the case so as to be adjacent to the opened surface of the machine room.

12. The refrigerator ofclaim 9, wherein each of the second vents is formed to have a size increased toward a side surface of the condenser case, from a connection passage of the condenser case communicated with the guide duct.

13. The refrigerator ofclaim 1, wherein the condenser is implemented as refrigerant pipes for passing a refrigerant are curved a plurality of times on the same plane.

14. The refrigerator ofclaim 6, wherein the communication portion is provided so as to have a decreased sectional area in a flow direction of air by the blowing fan.

15. The refrigerator ofclaim 4, wherein the blowing fan is implemented as a cross flow fan.

16. The refrigerator ofclaim 5, wherein the blowing fan is implemented as a cross flow fan.

17. The refrigerator ofclaim 6, wherein the blowing fan is implemented as a cross flow fan.

18. The refrigerator ofclaim 11, wherein each of the second vents is formed to have a size increased toward a side surface of the condenser case, from a connection passage of the condenser case communicated with the guide duct.

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