FAN CONTROL DEVICE FOR ENERGY SAVING

Abstract

A fan control device for energy saving in a refrigerator is provided. The fan control device comprises an evaporator fan, an evaporator thermometer, and an evaporator fan controller. The evaporator fan is configured for circulating air around the evaporator and across the storage space. The evaporator thermometer is disposed in a vicinity of the evaporator, configured for detecting temperature of the evaporator, and outputting the temperature of the evaporator. The evaporator fan controller is configured for receiving the temperature of the evaporator and controlling the evaporator fan based on the temperature of the evaporator. The evaporator fan controller is configured to control the evaporator fan to stop operation when the compressor starts operation. The evaporator fan controller is configured to control the evaporator fan to start operation when the temperature of the evaporator falls below a first predetermined value.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fan control device. More particularly, this invention relates to a fan control device for energy saving in a refrigerator.

A refrigerator cools down the temperature of a storage space. Since cooling is very energy-consuming process, it gets important to conserve as more energy as possible. Furthermore, with more pressure from regulation authorities, the demand for energy-saving or energy-efficient refrigerators gets higher and higher.

Conventionally, an evaporator fan and associated fan motor are provided in the refrigerator for circulating air in the storage space of the refrigerator and delivering more heat to the evaporator for cooling.

However, the evaporator fan itself generates its own heat through the operation. Recently, electronically communicated (EC) motors have been used for the evaporator fan motor, which reduced its own heat. The problem is that even though the EC motors generate less heat, if the they operate for a long time in uncontrolled manner, the energy consumption cannot be allowable, either. Therefore, it could not be a perfect solution for the problems.

Accordingly, a need for a more efficient and more fan control device for energy saving in refrigerators has been present for a long time considering the tendency of growing in capacity of refrigerator. This invention is directed to solve these problems and satisfy the long-felt need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the prior art.

An object of the invention is to provide a fan control device for a refrigerator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fan control device for energy saving.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fan control device, in which the operation of the evaporator fan motor is controlled efficiently according to some temperatures in the storage space around the evaporator.

An aspect of the invention provides a fan control device for energy saving in a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a storage space that is cooled by refrigerant flowing through an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser.

The fan control device comprises an evaporator fan, an evaporator thermometer, and an evaporator fan controller.

The evaporator fan is configured for circulating air around the evaporator and across the storage space.

The evaporator thermometer is disposed in a vicinity of the evaporator, configured for detecting temperature of the evaporator, and outputting the temperature of the evaporator.

The evaporator fan controller is configured for receiving the temperature of the evaporator and controlling the evaporator fan based on the temperature of the evaporator.

The evaporator fan controller is configured to control the evaporator fan to stop operation when the compressor starts operation.

The evaporator fan controller is configured to control the evaporator fan to start operation when the temperature of the evaporator falls below a first predetermined value.

The fan control device may further comprise a compressor controller configured for controlling the compressor to start when temperature in the storage space goes up beyond a second predetermined value.

The compressor controller may be configured for controlling the compressor to stop when temperature in the storage space falls down below a third predetermined value.

The third predetermined value may be lower than the second predetermined value.

The third predetermined value may be substantially same as the first predetermined value.

The evaporator fan controller may be further configured to control the evaporator fan to stop operation when a door to the storage space is opened.

The fan control device may further comprise an evaporator fan motor configured for driving the evaporator.

The evaporator fan controller may be configured to control the evaporator fan by controlling the evaporator fan motor.

The evaporator fan controller may be configured to control the evaporator fan motor to stop operation while the compressor is in operation.

The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the fan control device increases the efficiency of the refrigerator; (2) the fan control device provides optimization of the evaporator fan motor.

Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a refrigerator; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a fan control device according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the invention provides a fan control device for energy saving in a refrigerator.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a refrigerator 900, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a fan control device 100 according to an embodiment of the invention.

The refrigerator 900 includes a storage space 91 that is cooled by refrigerant flowing through an evaporator 92, a compressor 94, and a condenser 96 as shown in FIG. 1.

According an embodiment of the invention, the fan control device 100 comprises an evaporator fan 10, an evaporator thermometer 20, and an evaporator fan controller 30. Even though the evaporator fan controller 30 is not connected directly to the evaporator fan 10 in FIG. 1, in certain embodiments of the invention, the evaporator fan controller 30 may be connected directly to the evaporator fan 10 without anything inbetween. In such a case, of course, the evaporator fan 10 is provided with a sort of operational means embedded.

The evaporator fan 10 is configured for circulating air around the evaporator 92 and across the storage space 91, so that warm or hot air in any portion of the storage space 91 can be delivered near to the evaporator 92 and cooled down.

The evaporator thermometer 20 is disposed in a vicinity of the evaporator 92, configured for detecting temperature of the evaporator 92, and outputting the temperature of the evaporator 92. In certain embodiments of the invention, a plurality of evaporator thermometers 20 may be provided at a plurality of different locations according to their distances to the evaporator 10 and directions in the store space 91. Also, each of the evaporator thermometer 20 may be a remote-type temperature detecting device and in such cases can be even away from the evaporator 92. The readings from the evaporator thermometer 20 may be collected and analyzed by the evaporator fan controller 30 in order to optimize energy savings.

The evaporator fan controller 30 is configured for receiving the temperature of the evaporator 92 and controlling the evaporator fan 10 based on the temperature of the evaporator 92. As shown in FIG. 2, the evaporator thermometers 20 may be connected by wire or wireless means as indicated by “A”.

The evaporator fan controller 30 is configured to control the evaporator fan 10 to stop operation when the compressor 94 starts operation.

The evaporator fan controller 30 is configured to control the evaporator fan 10 to start operation when the temperature of the evaporator 92 falls below a first predetermined value.

The fan control device 100 may further comprise a compressor controller 40 configured for controlling the compressor 94 to start when temperature in the storage space 91 goes up beyond a second predetermined value.

The compressor controller 40 may be configured for controlling the compressor 94 to stop when temperature in the storage space 91 falls down below a third predetermined value.

The third predetermined value may be lower than the second predetermined value.

The third predetermined value may be substantially same as the first predetermined value.

The evaporator fan controller 30 may be further configured to control the evaporator fan 10 to stop operation when a door (not shown) to the storage space 91 is opened. The reason is that when the door is opened the internal air can be mixed with the external air and the loss of cold air is unavoidable. Therefore, the operation of the evaporator 92 is stopped so as not to waste energy for that matter.

The fan control device 100 may further comprise an evaporator fan motor 50 configured for driving the evaporator 92 as shown in FIG. 2. The evaporator fan motor 50 may be installed anywhere with respect to the refrigerator 900, inside or outside.

The evaporator fan controller 30 may be configured to control the evaporator fan 10 by controlling the evaporator fan motor 50.

The evaporator fan controller 30 may be configured to control the evaporator fan motor 50 to stop operation while the compressor 94 is in operation.

All of the complicated ON/OFFs are for optimizing the energy saving in the refrigerator 900.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A fan control device for energy saving in a refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator includes a storage space that is cooled by refrigerant flowing through an evaporator, a compressor, and a condenser, the fan control device comprising:

an evaporator fan configured for circulating air around the evaporator and across the storage space;

an evaporator thermometer disposed in a vicinity of the evaporator, configured for detecting temperature of the evaporator, and outputting the temperature of the evaporator; and

an evaporator fan controller configured for receiving the temperature of the evaporator and controlling the evaporator fan based on the temperature of the evaporator,

wherein the evaporator fan controller is configured to control the evaporator fan to stop operation when the compressor starts operation, and

wherein the evaporator fan controller is configured to control the evaporator fan to start operation when the temperature of the evaporator falls below a first predetermined value.

2. The fan control device of claim 1, further comprises a compressor controller configured for controlling the compressor to start when temperature in the storage space goes up beyond a second predetermined value.

3. The fan control device of claim 2, wherein the compressor controller is configured for controlling the compressor to stop when temperature in the storage space falls down below a third predetermined value.

4. The fan control device of claim 3, wherein the third predetermined value is lower than the second predetermined value.

5. The fan control device of claim 4, wherein the third predetermined value is substantially same as the first predetermined value.

7. The fan control device of claim 1, wherein the evaporator fan controller is further configured to control the evaporator fan to stop operation when a door to the storage space is opened.

8. The fan control device of claim 1, further comprising an evaporator fan motor configured for driving the evaporator.

9. The fan control device of claim 8, wherein the evaporator fan controller is configured to control the evaporator fan by controlling the evaporator fan motor.

10. The fan control device of claim 9, wherein the evaporator fan controller is configured to control the evaporator fan motor to stop operation while the compressor is in operation.