KR20030026106A - refrigerator having rapid freezer room and thawing room - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A refrigerator with a quick freezer compartment and a quick thawing compartment is provided to execute quick freezing and thawing functions. CONSTITUTION: A refrigerator includes a quick freezer compartment(110) and a quick thawing compartment(120) partitioned in a freezer compartment(2) and a refrigerator compartment(3), respectively; a cold/heat generating part making air introduced from the quick freezer compartment and the quick thawing compartment with low temperature/high temperature air; ducts fluidically connecting the cold/heat generating part with the quick freezer compartment and the quick thawing compartment so that chilled air and hot air are supplied and return; a blowing device forcibly circulating air between the cold/heat generating part and the quick freezer compartment and the quick thawing compartment; and a corresponding position control part selectively switching corresponding positions between the cold/heat generating part and the quick freezer compartment and the quick thawing compartment.

Description

Refrigerator with rapid freezer and rapid thaw room {refrigerator having rapid freezer room and thawing room}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to the inside of the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment using an exothermic reaction and an endothermic reaction occurring in each reactor when hydrogen is absorbed or released into a hydrogen storage alloy charged inside a pair of reactors. The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a rapid freezing chamber and a quick thawing chamber, which can perform a rapid freezing function and a thawing function by supplying cold and warm air to a separate compartment.

In general, the refrigerator is provided with a refrigerating compartment for storing the refrigeration object, and a freezing compartment for storing the refrigeration object, and the cold air generated by the operation of the refrigeration cycle according to the phase change of the refrigerant by the separate duct means By supplying inside the freezer compartment, the internal temperatures of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment can be maintained at a desired temperature state.

The above-described conventional general refrigerator can store frozen foods as well as general refrigerated foods at an appropriate temperature for a long time.

However, in order to cook frozen foods such as meat or other frozen foods, the frozen foods are taken out of the freezing chamber, then left at room temperature for a long time or thawed for a predetermined time using hot water. There is a troublesome problem due to thawing by using a heating apparatus such as a microwave oven.

Especially, when thawing frozen food at room temperature, it takes too long, and when thawing using hot water or microwave, it is necessary to use a separate container or warm water to a predetermined temperature. Several disadvantages have been raised in terms of convenience.

In addition, if you want to use the refrigerator used in the home to freeze ice or refrigerate drinks, it takes a long time, so the need for a refrigerator equipped with a quick freezer that can perform a quick freezing function continuously Has been raised.

The present invention has been made to solve the conventional problems as described above, the present invention can perform a quick freezing function and thawing function using the endothermic reaction and exothermic reaction that occurs during the reaction of the hydrogen storage alloy and hydrogen An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having a quick freezing chamber and a quick thawing chamber.

1 is a rear perspective view showing the structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a refrigerator showing a heat exchange structure between the first and second reactors shown in FIG. 1 and a rapid freezing chamber and a quick thawing chamber; FIG.

3 is an enlarged view of a portion “A” of FIG. 2;

4 is a rear view of the refrigerator showing a state in which corresponding positions of the first and second reactors, the rapid freezing chamber and the quick thawing chamber are switched from the state of FIG. 2;

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

Body, 110 ... rapid freezer,

115..Cold air supply duct, 116.Cold air return duct,

120 .... Rapid thawing chamber, 125 .... Warming duct,

126 .... warm return duct, 200 ... case,

210,220 ... heat exchange chamber, 270 ... hydrogen transfer pipe,

310,320 ... first and second reactors.

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in the refrigerator having a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment inside the main body, the first and second compartments, each partitioned into a predetermined size inside the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment, A cold / temperature generating unit for heat-exchanging the air introduced from the two-compartment chamber with low-temperature or high-temperature air, duct means for communicating between the cold-temperature generating unit and the first and second compartments to supply or return the cold and warmth, And a blowing means for forcibly circulating air between the cold and hot generators and the first and second compartments, and a corresponding position adjuster for selectively switching the corresponding positions between the cold and hot generators and the first and second compartments. A refrigerator having a quick freezing chamber and a quick thawing chamber is provided.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 is a rear perspective view showing the structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a side of the refrigerator showing a heat exchange structure between the first and second reactors and the quick freezer and the quick thaw shown in FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion “A” of FIG. 2. Referring to the drawings, the configuration of a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

The refrigerator according to the present invention includes a rapid freezing chamber (110) and a quick thawing chamber (120) partitioned into predetermined sizes inside the freezing chamber (2) and the refrigerating chamber (3), respectively, and the quick freezing chamber (110) and the quick thawing chamber (120). The cold and hot generating unit for heat-exchanging the air introduced from the low-temperature or high-temperature air and the cold and hot generating unit and the rapid freezing chamber 110 and the quick thawing chamber 120 to communicate or supply the cold and warmth Duct means, a blowing fan (51 to 54) for forcibly circulating air between the cold and hot generating section and the rapid freezing chamber (110) and the quick thawing chamber (120), the cold and hot generating section and the rapid freezing chamber (110) and rapid It may be configured as a corresponding position adjusting unit for selectively switching the corresponding position between the thawing chamber (120).

Hereinafter, the components of the present invention will be described in detail.

1 to 3, a freezing compartment 2 and a refrigerating compartment 3 are separated and formed up and down by the trimmer 4 inside the main body 1 of the refrigerator, and the freezing compartment 2 and the refrigerating compartment 3 are formed. At the front of the door), doors 2a and 3a which can be opened and closed are installed.

In addition, inside the freezing chamber (2) and the refrigerating chamber (3) is surrounded by a partition wall (110a, 120a) made of a heat insulating material and the thermal freezing chamber 110 and the rapid freezing chamber 120 thermally insulated from the outside, respectively, a predetermined size It is formed by partitioning.

In this case, the doors 111 and 121 are installed in the front of the rapid freezing chamber 110 and the quick thawing chamber 120 so as to be able to open and close the freezing object or the thawing object.

In addition, according to the present invention, there is provided a cold temperature generating unit so as to perform heat exchange for supplying cold and warm air into the rapid freezing chamber 110 and the quick thawing chamber 120.

The cold / hot generating unit has a hollow casing 200 installed in the rear wall 1a of the main body 1 having a substantially hexahedral shape in which a pair of heat exchange chambers 210 and 220 are separated and partitioned by partition walls 201 formed therein. It is provided.

In addition, first and second reactors 310 and 320 are installed inside the heat exchange chambers 210 and 220 of the case 200, respectively, and hydrogen storage alloys are filled in the first and second reactors 310 and 320 to store each hydrogen. As the hydrogen is absorbed or released into the alloy, one side of the reactor generates heat and the other side of the reactor alternately performs an endothermic reaction.

At this time, the hydrogen transfer tube 270 is connected between the first and second reactors 310 and 320 to allow the movement of hydrogen between the hydrogen storage alloys charged therein, and the hydrogen transfer tube 270 is flexible. It is preferable to form the material, and the reason is to allow the rotation operation of the case 200 when the case 200 is rotated by the corresponding position adjusting unit described later.

In addition, the cold and hot generating unit is provided with a pumping means 280 for releasing the hydrogen absorbed in the hydrogen storage alloy inside the one side of the reactor through the hydrogen transfer pipe 270 and pumped to the other side.

In addition, on the hydrogen pipe 270, a valve means 290 such as a four-way valve is provided to switch the moving direction of hydrogen pumped by the pumping means 280.

In this case, the pumping means 280 and the valve means 290 can be installed in the machine room 7 provided on the rear lower side of the main body (1).

In addition, one side surface of the case 200 facing the rear wall 1a of the main body 1 may include the quick freezing chamber 110 and the quick thawing chamber through the duct means provided on the rear wall 1a. Discharge holes 211 and 221 and suction holes 212 and 222 are provided to communicate with the 120.

On the other hand, the duct means may be composed of cold air supply / return ducts (115, 116) and warm air supply / return ducts (125, 126) formed through the rear wall (1a) of the main body 1, the heat exchange chamber (210, 220) and the rapid freezing chamber ( 110) and the rapid thawing chamber 120 to communicate with each other to enable the movement of cold or warm air.

In more detail, the duct means includes a cold air supply duct 115 for supplying cold air from the one side heat exchange chamber 210 corresponding to the rapid freezing chamber 110 to the rapid freezing chamber 110, and the rapid freezing chamber ( The cold air return duct 116 for returning the air in the 110 to the heat exchange chamber 210 enables supply and return of cold air to the quick freezing chamber 110.

In addition, the duct means is a warming supply duct 125 for supplying warmth from the other side heat exchange chamber 220 (Fig. 2) corresponding to the rapid thawing chamber 120 to the rapid thawing chamber 120, and the rapid thawing chamber ( The warm air return duct 126 for returning air in the heat exchange chamber 220 to the side of the heat exchange chamber 220 enables supply and return of warm air to the rapid thawing chamber 120.

On the other hand, inside each of the ducts 115, 116, 125 and 126, for example, blowing fans 151 to 154, such as an axial flow fan, are installed, forcibly blowing air by operating the blowing fans 151 to 154, thereby inwards the respective heat exchange chambers 210 and 220. Rapid heat exchange between the first and second reactors 310 and 320 and the air inside the quick freezing chamber 110 and the quick thawing chamber 120 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, one blower fan 151 to 154 is installed in each of the ducts 115, 116, 125, and 126, but the air flows from the heat exchange chambers 210 and 220 to the quick freezing chamber 110 and the quick thawing chamber 120. On the at least one side of the cold air / warm air supply duct (115, 125) or the cold air / warm air return duct (116, 126) in which air is returned to the heat exchange chamber (210, 220) from the quick freezing chamber 110 and the quick thaw chamber (120) Only one of each may be installed.

Meanwhile, according to the present invention, the case 200 with the heat exchange chambers 210 and 220 and the first and second reactors 310 and 320 described above are coupled to the rear wall 1a of the main body 1 by a predetermined angle 180. Fig. 6) is provided with a corresponding position adjusting unit for imparting rotational force so as to rotate as much as possible.

The reason why the case 200 is rotatably installed is to change the positions of the reactors 310 and 320 of the cold / temperature generating unit corresponding to the rapid freezing chamber 110 and the quick thawing chamber 120 according to the reaction state of each reactor. For sake.

That is, when hydrogen is released from the first reactor 310 and all of the hydrogen is absorbed in the hydrogen storage alloy charged in the second reactor 320, the moving direction of hydrogen is reversely reversed under the control of the controller for continuous operation of the reactor. This is because the endothermic reaction and the exothermic reaction are alternately performed in each reactor.

The corresponding position control unit is a motor 400 is fixed on the main body 1 to generate a rotational force in the forward and reverse direction under the control of the controller when the hydrogen movement from one reactor to the other reactor is completed, that is, when the hydrogenation reaction is completed And, it may be composed of a shaft fixing unit 202 provided in the case 200 to be engaged with the drive shaft 410 of the motor 400 to receive a rotational force.

On the other hand, by installing a temperature sensing means (not shown) on the adjacent sides of the first and second reactors 310 and 320, respectively, by detecting a temperature change of each of the reactors 310 and 320, by the temperature signal detected by the temperature sensing means. It is possible to detect whether the hydrogenation reaction in each reactor is finished.

Then, by applying the temperature signal to the control unit to control the operation of the above-described valve means 290 and the corresponding position adjusting means under the control of the control unit.

On the other hand, in one side wall of the heat exchange chamber (210,220) provided in the case 200, when the heat exchange chamber (210,220) is located to correspond to the rapid thawing chamber 120, the reactor (310, 320) under the control of the control unit outside air It is preferable to install the heat dissipation fans (219, 229) so as to exchange heat with.

The reason is that, for example, when only the quick freezing chamber 110 is used by a user's operation, the exothermic reaction is performed in response to the quick thawing chamber 120 for smooth heat exchange of one side of the reactor in which the endothermic reaction occurs in response to the quick freezing chamber 110. This is because the heat dissipation of the other side of the reactor should be made appropriately.

Referring to the operation of the refrigerator having the rapid freezing chamber and the rapid thawing chamber of the present invention having the above-described configuration is as follows.

4 is a rear view of the refrigerator showing a state in which corresponding positions of the first and second reactors, the rapid freezing chamber and the quick thaw chamber are switched from the state of FIG. 2, and the operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. Is as follows.

According to the present invention, the rapid freezing chamber 110 and the rapid freezing chamber 120 may be used at the same time, or only the quick thawing chamber 120 may be used. First, the rapid freezing chamber 110 and the quick thawing chamber 120 are used simultaneously. This will be described as an example.

First, when a user is input to use the quick freezing chamber 110 and the quick thawing chamber 120 simultaneously by operating an operation unit (not shown), by operating the pumping means 280 under the control of the control unit to generate a pumping force do.

When the pumping force is generated by the operation of the pumping means 280, as the flow path of the valve means 290 is switched by the control of the control unit, hydrogen is pumped inside the first reactor 310 by the pumping force of the pumping means 280. It is released from the hydrogen storage alloy of the second storage 320 is absorbed by the hydrogen storage alloy inside.

Accordingly, an endothermic reaction occurs in the first reactor 310 and an exothermic reaction occurs in the second reactor 320.

Subsequently, the blowing fans 151 and 152 are operated under the control of the controller, and as shown by arrows in FIG. 2 by the rotational force of the blowing fans 151 and 152, the air inside the rapid freezing chamber 110 is the cold air return duct ( After entering the heat exchange chamber 210 through 116, the heat exchange chamber 110 exchanges heat with the first reactor 310, and then repeats the circulation supplied to the rapid freezing chamber 110 through the cold air supply duct 115. The internal temperature is rapidly lowered to a predetermined predetermined temperature to perform the freezing function.

As described above, the thawing function is performed inside the rapid thawing chamber 120 while the cold air is supplied to the rapid freezing chamber 110.

That is, the exothermic reaction occurs in the second reactor 320 and the blowing fans 153 and 154 operate under the control of the controller, and as shown by the arrows in FIG. 2 by the rotational force of the blowing fans 153 and 154, After the air inside the rapid thawing chamber 120 flows into the heat exchange chamber 220 through the warm air return duct 126, heat exchanges with the second reactor 320, and then rapidly thaws through the warm air supply duct 125. While repeating the circulation supplied to the chamber 120, the temperature inside the rapid thawing chamber 120 rapidly rises to a predetermined predetermined temperature to perform the thawing function.

As described above, during the refrigerating and thawing functions, the hydrogenation of the hydrogen from the hydrogen storage alloy inside the first reactor 310 to the hydrogen storage alloy inside the second reactor 320 is completed. If the heat exchange reaction in each of the reactors 310 and 320 is slowed down, the temperature sensing means (not shown) installed adjacent to each of the reactors 310 and 320 detects the state as a temperature change and applies it to the controller. do.

Then, the control unit receives the signal to switch the flow path of the valve means 290 to move the hydrogen to move the hydrogen from the hydrogen storage alloy inside the second reactor 320 to the hydrogen storage alloy inside the first reactor (310). In addition to switching directions, power is applied to the motor 400 to rotate the drive shaft 410 of the motor 400.

As the drive shaft 410 is rotated as shown in FIG. 4, the case 200 is rotated by an angle of 180 degrees, so that the first reactor 310 is located corresponding to the rapid thawing chamber 120. The two reactors 320 are positioned to correspond to the rapid freezing chamber 110.

In this state, when the pumping means 280 and the blowing fans 151 to 154 are operated under the control of the controller, an exothermic reaction occurs in the first reactor 310 and an endothermic reaction occurs in the second reactor 320. As a result, the freezing function and the thawing function are continuously performed in the quick freezing chamber 110 and the quick thawing chamber 120.

As described above, when the hydrogenation reaction of the hydrogen storage alloy inside the reactors 310 and 320 is completed, the endothermic reaction and the exothermic reaction continuously occur alternately in each reactor by switching the moving direction of hydrogen under the control of the controller. According to the endothermic or exothermic state of each reactor, the rapid freezing chamber 110 and the corresponding positions of the first and second reactors 310 and 320 and the quick freezing chamber 110 and the quick thawing chamber 120 are switched. In the quick thaw chamber 120, the freezing and thawing functions can be continuously performed.

On the other hand, according to the user's needs will be described the operation in the case of using only one side of the rapid freezing chamber 110 or quick thawing chamber 120 as follows.

For example, when only the rapid freezing chamber 110 is operated but the rapid thawing chamber 120 is not operated, the rapid freezing chamber is operated by operating the cold air supply duct 115 and the blowing fans 151 and 152 inside the cold air return duct 116. While it is possible to supply the cold air to the (110) side, the blower fans 153 and 154 inside the warm air supply duct 125 and the cold air return duct 126 are not operated.

In addition, among the heat dissipation fans 219 and 229 provided in the heat exchange chambers 210 and 220, the heat dissipation fan of the reactor side in which the exothermic reaction is occurring is operated to exchange heat with external air.

Therefore, the supply and return of the cold air is made only inside the quick freezing chamber 110 to perform only the freezing function, and the supply and return of warmth to the quick thawing chamber 120 is not performed, so that the thawing function is not performed.

On the other hand, the embodiment of the present invention as described above is configured to help the understanding of the present invention is not limited only to the above-described embodiment, various modifications are possible within the scope without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

As described in detail above, the refrigerator according to the present invention has a rapid freezing function and a thawing function because the calorific value and the endothermic amount generated when hydrogen is absorbed or released from the hydrogen storage alloy are high and the reaction rate is fast. There is one effect that can be done.

Claims (10)

In the refrigerator provided with a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment inside the main body, First and second compartments each divided into predetermined sizes inside the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment; A cold temperature generator for heat-exchanging the air introduced from the first and second compartments with low temperature or high temperature air; Duct means for communicating between the cold and hot generating unit and the first and second compartments to supply or return the cold and warmth; Blowing means for forcibly circulating air between the cold and hot portions and the first and second compartments; And a corresponding position adjusting unit for selectively switching the corresponding positions between the cold and hot generating units and the first and second compartments. The method of claim 1, The cold / hot generating unit includes a case in which a pair of heat exchange chambers each having a discharge hole and a suction hole are separately partitioned so as to communicate with the first and second compartments; A first and second reactors installed in the heat exchange chamber, each of which is filled with a hydrogen storage alloy, and alternately performs reactions in which one side is exothermic and the other is endothermic by absorbing or releasing hydrogen in each hydrogen storage alloy; A hydrogen transfer tube connected between the first and second reactors to allow the transfer of hydrogen between the hydrogen storage alloys charged in the first and second reactors; Pumping means for discharging hydrogen absorbed by the hydrogen storage alloy inside the reactor through one side of the hydrogen transfer pipe and forcing the same to the other reactor; A refrigerator having a quick freezing chamber and a quick thawing chamber, characterized in that the valve means for switching the movement direction of hydrogen pumped by the pumping means. The method of claim 1, The duct means is a cold air supply duct for supplying cold air from the heat exchange chamber of the cold and hot portion to the first compartment; A cold air return duct for returning air in the first compartment to the heat exchange chamber; A warmth supply duct for supplying warmth from the heat exchange chamber to the second compartment; 2. A refrigerator having a quick freezing chamber and a quick thawing chamber, characterized in that it comprises a warming return duct for returning air in the second compartment to the heat exchange chamber side. The method of claim 1, The blowing means is installed on at least one side of the supply duct for supplying air from the heat exchange chamber of the cold and heat generating unit to the first and second compartments, or the return duct for returning air from the first and second compartments to the heat exchange chamber. A refrigerator having a quick freezer and a quick freezer. The method according to claim 1 or 4, The air blowing means is a refrigerator having a quick freezing chamber and a quick thawing chamber, characterized in that the axial flow fan. The method of claim 1, The corresponding position adjusting unit is fixed on the main body to generate a rotational force in the forward and reverse direction under the control of the control unit when the hydrogen movement from one reactor to the other reactor is completed, so that the rotational force can be received by engaging the drive shaft of the motor A refrigerator having a quick freezing chamber and a quick thawing chamber comprising a storage unit provided in the cold / hot generating unit so as to selectively switch the positions of the first and second compartments corresponding to each reactor of the cold / hot generating unit. . The method of claim 1, A refrigerator having a quick freezing chamber and a quick thawing chamber, wherein the first and second compartments are provided with a door that can be opened and closed. The method of claim 1, The first and second compartments are refrigerators having a quick freezing chamber and a quick thawing chamber, characterized in that the partition wall of the insulating material to block the heat movement to the outside. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The refrigerator having a quick freezing chamber and a quick thawing chamber, characterized in that the heat dissipation fan is provided on the case of the cold and hot generating unit to heat exchange the reactor in the heat exchange chamber corresponding to the second compartment with external air. The method of claim 2, The hydrogen transfer pipe is a refrigerator having a quick freezing chamber and a quick thawing chamber, characterized in that made of a flexible material to allow the rotation of the case when the case rotates.