[0001] This specification relates to a refrigerator, and particularly, to a refrigerator
having a machine room for accommodating a refrigerant compression cycle apparatus
such as a compressor and a condenser.
[0002] In general, a refrigerator includes a plurality of storage spaces for keeping, for
example, food therein, and a refrigerant compression cycle apparatus for maintaining
the storage spaces in a predetermined temperature range by supplying cold air into
the storage spaces. Several components of the refrigerant compression cycle apparatus
are disposed in a separate space, namely, a machine room, partitioned from the storage
spaces. The machine room is generally located at a lower portion of a rear surface
of a refrigerant main body.
[0003] The machine room accommodates a compressor to compress a refrigerant, a condenser
to condense the compressed refrigerant, a blow fan and the like. For a normal operation
of the refrigerant compression cycle apparatus, the inside of the machine room should
be maintained within an appropriate temperature range. To this end, external air should
continuously be supplied into the machine room, and the supplied external air should
be smoothly drawn out.
[0004] For the purpose, a machine room for a typical refrigerator has an inlet port for
introduction of external air and an outlet port for discharge of air. In addition,
the machine room has a fan to generate air flow through the inlet port and the outlet
port.
[0005] Here, to make air more smoothly flow, a rotation speed (RPM) or size of the fan may
be increased, but it may cause an increase in power consumption and generation of
noise. Hence, it is necessary to optimize an air passage within the machine room such
that heat within the machine room can be exhausted smoothly even by use of a small
capacity fan. Especially, when the number of components are disposed within the machine
room, for example, when two compressors are employed within the machine room, the
size (capacity) of the machine room should be increased, but it may result in a decrease
of a storage space. Consequently, there is a limitation in the increase in the capacity
of the machine room. Therefore, air exhaust efficiency is deteriorated due to installation
of many components within the limited machine room.
[0006] Therefore, to overcome those problems of the related art, an aspect of the detailed
description aims to provide a refrigerator capable of minimizing an increase in a
capacity of a machine room and increasing radiation efficiency.
[0007] In one aspect, a refrigerator includes a refrigerator main body having a storage
space to store foods and a machine room to accommodate a part of a refrigerant compression
cycle apparatus, a condenser disposed between a bottom surface of the refrigerator
main body and a lower surface of the storage space, at least one compressor disposed
within the machine room, and a fan to form an air passage through which external air
passed through the condenser is supplied into the compressor and discharged out of
the machine room.
[0008] The condenser may be installed at the bottom surface of the refrigerator main body
so as to minimize a space occupied by the condenser. Also, external air may primarily
be supplied to the condenser having a relatively large radiation load, thereby improving
radiation efficiency.
[0009] In accordance with another aspect, a refrigerator may include a refrigerator main
body having a refrigerating chamber, a freezing chamber and a machine room, a condenser
disposed within the lower portion of the refrigerating chamber or the freezing chamber
with facing a ground surface where the refrigerator is installed, a pair of compressors
disposed within the machine room along a lateral direction of the refrigerator main
body, and a blow fan disposed in series with the pair of compressors, the blow fan
allowing introduced external air to pass through the condenser and be discharged out
of the machine room via the compressor.
[0010] In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a lower portion of a rear surface of a refrigerator
of a first embodiment;
FIG. 2 is a side view showing an inside of a machine room of the refrigerator of FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the inside of the machine room of the refrigerator of
FIG.1 ;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a condenser cover included in the first exemplary
embodiment;
FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a part of the condenser cover;
FIG. 6 is a view showing a lower surface of the refrigerator of FIG.1;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a lower portion of a rear surface of a refrigerator
of a second embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a rear view showing an inside of a machine room i of the refrigerator of
FIG. 7; and
FIG. 9 is a view showing a lower surface of the refrigerator of FIG. 7.
[0011] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, in the first embodiment, a refrigerator includes a refrigerator
main body 100, which is partitioned into a refrigerating chamber 110, a freezing chamber
120 and a machine room 130, and a refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 having a plurality
of components, some of which are installed in the machine room 140.
[0012] The refrigerating chamber 110 and the freezing chamber 120 are partitioned by a first
barrier 131, which is erected within the refrigerator main body 100. The machine room
140 is be located below the refrigerating chamber 110 and the freezing chamber 120
within a rear side of the refrigerator main body 100.
[0013] Here, a lower frame 160 is installed at the bottom of the refrigerator main body
100.
[0014] The machine room 140 includes a first region ① located between the refrigerating
chamber 110 and the lower frame 160, and a second region ② located below the refrigerating/freezing
chamber 1101120. Here, a lower surface of the refrigerating/freezing chamber 110/120
is inclined such that its height can be increased towards an upper side at the right
side in FIG. 2.
[0015] The condenser 220 of the refrigeration cycle apparatus 200 is disposed in the first
region ①, and two compressors 210 are disposed in parallel in the second region ②.
[0016] The refrigerator main body 100 includes an insulation foam 300 for blocking heat
transfer from the inner space to the exterior. The insulation foam 300 is located
between the refrigerating chamber 110 or the freezing chamber 120 and an outer surface
of the main body 100. Based on a lower portion of the main body 100, the insulation
foam 300 is located between the refrigerating chamber 110 or the freezing chamber
120 and the lower frame 160. The insulation foam 300 is formed by foaming urethane,
and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0017] The insulation foam 300 located below the refrigerating chamber 110 has an insertion
groove 310 in which the condenser 220 is inserted. The insertion groove 310 defines
an approximately rectangular parallelepiped space, in which the condenser 220 may
be disposed to face a ground surface of a space where the refrigerator main body 100
is installed. That is, the condenser 220 is located in the first region ①.
[0018] Also, referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a condenser cover 400 is installed at the lower
frame 160 where the condenser 220 is located. The condenser cover 400 opens or closes
an opening 161 formed at the lower frame 160, is coupled to the lower frame 160 by
bolts,
[0019] Here, the condenser cover 400 has a cover body 410 having an approximately rectangular
parallelepiped shape. The cover body 410 has inclined side walls such that its area
is gradually narrowed downwardly in FIG. 2. A plurality of inlet ports 420 are formed
through the side walls.
[0020] The inlet ports 420 includes front inlet ports 421 facing a front surface of the
refrigerator, namely, a side where doors for opening or closing the refrigerating
chamber 110 and the freezing chamber 120 are disposed, and side inlet ports 422 facing
right and left sides of the refrigerator main body 100. Among others, the side inlet
ports 422 may not be formed all over the side walls of the cover body 410, but formed
only at a first half located at the front (i.e., corresponding front portions of the
side walls, which are located close to the front). Accordingly, it is possible to
prevent direct introduction of exhaust air present within a rear end region of the
refrigerator main body 100, in which the compressors 210 are located, and allow introduced
air to evenly flow through the entire surface of the condenser 220.
[0021] Consequently, the inlet ports 420 allow for formation of a passage (a), such that
external air at the front of the refrigerator main body 100 can be guided into the
condenser 220 via the lower portion of the refrigerator main body 100.
[0022] Hereinafter, description will be given of an arranged state of the compressors 210
in the second region ②. First, as shown, the second region ② may communicate with
the first region ①.
[0023] The second region ② may be shown having two compressors 210 and 212 disposed in parallel
in right and left directions of the refrigerator main body 100. The two compressors
210 and 212 may be mounted on the lower frame 160.
[0024] Also, the second region ② may be shown having a blow fan 230 mounted at a right side
of the compressor 212 (based on FIG. 1). Here, the blow fan 230 may be located below
the freezing chamber 120, and fixed onto the lower frame 160.
[0025] With the configuration, when the blow fan 230 is run, external air may generate air
flow of being introduced into the first region ① through the inlet ports 420, flowing
into the second region ② via the condenser 220, and being discharged outside via outlet
ports 151 formed at a rear cover 150, which is installed at a rear end of the machine
room 140.
[0026] Hereinafter, description will be given of an operation of the first exemplary embodiment.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the condenser and the compressors of the refrigerant
compression cycle apparatus 200 in the first exemplary embodiment, as aforementioned,
are disposed within the machine room 140 partitioned into the refrigerating chamber
110 and the freezing chamber 120. The machine room 140 may be divided into the first
region ① and the second region ②. Here, the first region ① may be lower than the second
region ② in height, thereby minimizing the capacity occupied by the machine room 140.
[0028] Especially, the first region ① is formed similar to the shape of the condenser 220.
Hence, the capacity occupied by the machine room 140 can be more reduced as compared
to the related art structure that the compressor and the condenser are disposed in
the same region.
[0029] The condenser 220 may be cooled by external air introduced via the inlet ports 420
of the condenser cover 400, which is installed at the opening 161 of the lower frame
160. That is, the external air introduced into the machine room initially contacts
the condenser 220 to exchange heat, accordingly, the condenser 220 having a relatively
great heat emission load can be effectively cooled.
[0030] When the blow fan 230 is run, external air present at the front of the refrigerator
main body 100 flows toward the lower portion of the refrigerator main body 100 and
is then introduced into the condenser cover 400 via the inlet ports 420 of the condenser
cover 400. This structure allows for introduction of external air present at the front
having a relatively low temperature than the rear surface of the refrigerator, thereby
more improving heat emission efficiency.
[0031] Such external air introduced via the inlet ports 420 of the condenser cover 400 may
cool the condenser 220 in the first region ①, and flow into the second region ②. Here,
a connected portion between the first region ① and the second region ② may have a
shape like a diffuser, which is gradually increased in height. Hence, the external
air can be evenly diffused into the second region ②.
[0032] The diffused external air may cool the pair of compressors 210 and 212 in a sequential
manner. Here, considering heat emission efficiency, a compressor located at the upstream
of the air passage may emit heat relatively smoothly. Therefore, a compressor for
taking care of a region with a large cooling load, of the compressors, may be disposed
at the upstream of the external air flow.
[0033] The external air passed through the two compressors in the sequential manner may
then flow through the blow fan 230 and thereafter be discharged to the rear side of
the refrigerator main body 100 via the outlet portions 151, which are formed through
the rear cover 150 covering the machine room 140 at the rear of the refrigerator main
body 100.
[0034] In the meantime, the present disclosure may not be limited to the aforementioned
structure, but also applicable to a structure that the blow fan is located between
the two compressors.
[0035] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a second exemplary embodiment for a refrigerator. For the sake
of brief description with reference to the drawings, the same or equivalent components
will be provided with the same reference numbers, and description thereof will not
be repeated.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, in accordance with the second exemplary embodiment, two
compressors 210 and 212 and a blow fan 230 may be disposed within the machine room
140 in the right and left directions of the refrigerator. The blow fan 230 may be
located between the two compressors 210 and 212. When the compressors 210 and 212
are spaced apart from each other as shown in the drawings, a tasking space can be
ensured upon connecting a refrigerant pipe or the like to the compressors, thereby
facilitating an assembly task. The blow fan 230 may be installed after completely
assembling the compressors.
[0037] A first defrosted water storing container 510 may be installed between the two compressors
210 and 212. The first defrosted water storing container 510 may serve to temporarily
collect and store defrosted water generated from an evaporator, which manages cooling
of the refrigerating chamber 110. Also, as the first defrosted water storing container
510 is disposed between the two compressors 210 and 212, a space previously ensured
by installation of the blow fan 230 can be utilized, and accordingly the capacity
of the machine room 140 can be more reduced. Here, the blow fan 230 may alternatively
be disposed above the first defrosted water storing container 510.
[0038] A second defrosted water storing container 520 for collecting defrosted water generated
from an evaporator, which manages cooling of the freezing chamber 120, may further
be disposed. The second defrosted water storing container 520 may be located above
the compressor 212. A pipe P may be disposed above each of the defrosted water storing
containers 510 and 520, so as to guide defrosted water generated from each evaporator
into each of the defrosted water storing containers 510 and 520.
[0039] The water stored in the respective defrosted water storing containers may contribute
to lowering an internal temperature of the machine room. That is, the defrosted water,
which is transferred from the evaporators, has a relatively low temperature, so as
to lower the internal temperature of the machine room. Also, the defrosted water may
partially be evaporated by the external air passed through the machine room, and accordingly
adsorb evaporation heat, which results in further lowering the internal temperature
of the machine room.
[0040] The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed
as limiting the present disclosure. The present teachings can be readily applied to
other types of apparatuses. This description is intended to be illustrative, and not
to limit the scope of the claims. Many alternatives, modifications, and variations
will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods, and
other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described herein may be combined
in various ways to obtain additional and/or alternative exemplary embodiments.
[0041] As the present features may be embodied in several forms without departing from the
characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments
are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise
specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the
appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the
metes and bounds of the claims, are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended
claims.
1. A refrigerator comprising:
a refrigerator main body having a storage space and a machine room to accommodate
at least part of a refrigerant compression cycle apparatus;
a condenser disposed within the machine room;
at least one compressor disposed within the machine room; and
a fan to introduce external air into the machine room and then discharge out of the
machine room;
wherein the condenser is disposed between a bottom surface of the refrigerator main
body and a lower surface of the storage space, and the fan forms an air passage through
which external air passed through the condenser is supplied to the compressor and
discharged out of the machine room.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the refrigerator main body comprises insulation
foam disposed between the storage space and an outer surface thereof, the condenser
being inserted into an insertion groove formed at the insulation foam.
3. The refrigerator of claim 2, further comprising a condenser cover mounted onto the
bottom surface of the refrigerator main body to cover an outside of the condenser.
4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the condenser cover comprises a plurality of
inlet ports for introduction of external air therethrough.
5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the condenser cover has a rectangular parallelepiped
shape having an open surface facing the condenser.
6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the plurality of inlet ports comprise:
front inlet ports formed through a side wall of the condenser cover facing a front
surface of the refrigerator; and
side inlet ports formed through side walls of the condenser cover facing side surfaces
of the refrigerator,
wherein the blow fan is disposed at the rear side of the refrigerator main body more
than the front and side inlet ports.
7. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the front inlet ports are formed through an entire
side wall of the condenser cover facing the front surface of the refrigerator.
8. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the side inlet ports are formed through a front
portion of each side wall of the condenser cover facing the side walls of the refrigerator.
9. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a pair of compressors are disposed, and the fan
is disposed between the pair of compressors.
10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein a defrosted water storing container to collect
defrosted water therein is further disposed within the machine room.
11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the refrigerator main body has a plurality of
storage spaces, and the same number of defrosted water storing containers as the number
of the storage spaces are disposed within the machine room.
12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein one of the plurality of defrosted water storing
containers is disposed between the pair of compressors.
13. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein one of the plurality of defrosted water storing
containers is disposed above one of the pair of compressors.