JP2006266539A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator provided with an electrolytic gas converting device having a humidity releasing face and a humidity absorbing face, in a vegetable compartment, and capable of storing vegetable for a long time by keeping the vegetable compartment in high humidity and low oxygen concentration. <P>SOLUTION: This refrigerator is provided with the vegetable compartment 5 for storing the vegetable or the like, the electrolytic gas converting device 20 generating moisture by consuming oxygen by electrolytic action at its one face (humidity releasing face) and generating oxygen by consuming moisture at the other face (humidity absorbing face), is mounted in such manner that the humidity releasing face is kept into contact with the air in the vegetable chamber 5, and the humidity absorbing face is kept into contact with the air outside of the refrigerator. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator having a vegetable room for storing vegetables and the like.

  In order to preserve vegetables for a long period of time, it is necessary to suppress breathing and transpiration, and since vegetables breathe using their own nutrition, it is necessary to suppress breathing in order to maintain nutrition is there. In this case, keeping the environment where the vegetables are placed at a low temperature can suppress the breathing of the vegetables, and keeping the humidity at a high humidity can prevent the transpiration of the vegetables.

  Conventionally, the cooling air cooled by the upper heat exchange cooler is blown into the vegetable compartment from the air inlet to the refrigerator for keeping the environment around the vegetables at low temperature and high humidity, and the outer surface of the vegetable case and lid is covered. After being distributed, it is configured to be blown out from the exhaust port to the refrigerator compartment at the top of the vegetable compartment, thereby cooling the vegetable case and cooling the vegetables contained in the interior, and heat when defrosting during refrigerator operation Slow frost water generated from the exchange cooler is supplied from the slow frost hose to the ultrasonic humidifier installed in the vegetable compartment, and the supplied water is discharged as fine water droplets by ultrasonic vibration to humidify the vegetable case. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP-A-6-257933 (page 3, FIG. 1)

  In the refrigerator of Patent Document 1, the ultrasonic humidifier provided in the vegetable room needs to supply slow frost water in order to spray water droplets. For this purpose, a reservoir tank for storing the slow frost water in the vegetable room is provided. Therefore, there is a problem that the storage space for vegetables becomes narrow accordingly. Moreover, since the odor of food etc. has moved to the cold air in the refrigerator and this odor has also moved to the slow frost water, it has been necessary to provide a deodorizing filter or the like in order to spray clean water droplets.

Moreover, conventionally, as a refrigerator for maintaining the nutrition of vegetables, there is one in which a light source is installed in a vegetable room. In such a refrigerator, photosynthesis of vegetables is promoted by a light source provided in the vegetable room, and vitamin C and the like are used. Nutrition can be increased.
However, in such a refrigerator, since the pores of the vegetables are opened to take in carbon dioxide when performing photosynthesis, and moisture is evaporated from the open pores, there is a problem that the vegetables are dried.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an electrolytic gas conversion device having a moisture release surface and a moisture absorption surface is provided in a vegetable room, and the vegetable room is maintained at a high humidity and a low oxygen concentration. Therefore, it aims at providing the refrigerator which can preserve | save vegetables for a long term.

  The refrigerator according to the present invention includes a vegetable room for storing vegetables and the like, and in the vegetable room, oxygen is consumed on one surface by electrolysis to generate moisture (this surface is referred to as a moisture releasing surface), and the other An electrolysis gas converter that consumes moisture on the surface to generate oxygen (this surface is referred to as a hygroscopic surface) has the moisture releasing surface in contact with the air in the vegetable compartment and the moisture absorbing surface in contact with the air outside the chamber. It is provided as follows.

  According to the present invention, the vegetable compartment can be maintained at a low temperature, high humidity and low oxygen concentration, and the vegetable compartment can be made into an environment suitable for holding vegetables, so that vegetables can be stored for a long period of time.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an AA sectional view of FIG.
The refrigerator body 1 is divided in the vertical direction by partition members 2a, 2b, and 2c to form a refrigeration room 3, a switching room 4, a vegetable room 5 and a freezing room 6, with doors 3a, 4a, 5a, 6a are provided. A refrigerator 8, a cooling fan 9, and an on-off valve 10 are provided in the refrigerator internal air passage 7 provided on the rear side, and a defrosting heater 11 is provided in the vicinity of the cooler 8. Reference numeral 12 denotes a pipe that opens below the cooler 8, and 13 denotes a water collection container disposed below the freezer compartment 6.

  The partition member 2b provided in the upper part of the vegetable compartment 5 is provided with a duct 15 that opens to the outside of the refrigerator. The duct 15 communicates with an opening 16 provided on the vegetable compartment 5 side of the partition member 2b. . The opening 16 is provided with an electrolytic gas converter 20 that consumes oxygen on the moisture release surface to generate moisture and consumes moisture on the moisture absorption surface to generate oxygen.

  The electrolysis gas converter 20 is attached to the opening 16 of the partition member 2b so that the moisture release surface is in contact with the air in the vegetable compartment 5 and the moisture absorption surface is in contact with the air outside the refrigerator. . In addition, although the case where the vegetable case 17 was provided in the vegetable compartment 5 was shown in FIG. 1, it is not limited to this, A shelf etc. may be provided instead of the vegetable case 17.

  In the refrigerator as described above, the cold air generated by the cooler 8 circulates in the air passage 7 in the refrigerator by the cooling fan 9 as indicated by an arrow. And temperature is measured by the temperature sensor (not shown) provided in each room, and the on-off valve 10 provided in the air path 7 in the refrigerator is opened and closed so that it may become set temperature. The cold air sent into the refrigerator compartment 3 passes through the vegetable compartment cooling air passage 14 on the top and back of the vegetable compartment 5 on the way back to the cooler 8 after cooling the inside of the refrigerator compartment 3, and part of it The vegetable compartment 5 is cooled by blowing from an opening 14 a provided on the top of the vegetable compartment 5. The cold air that has passed through the vegetable room cooling air passage 14 returns to the cooler 8, is cooled again by the cooler 8, and is circulated through the refrigerator air passage 7 by the cooling fan 9.

  When the air is cooled by the cooler 8, moisture contained in the air becomes frost and adheres to the cooler 8. If the cooler 8 is frosted, heat transfer between the air and the cooler 8 is hindered by the frost, so that the air is difficult to cool. Therefore, the defrosting heater 11 is energized to remove frost attached to the cooler 8. The melted frost passes through the pipe 12, is sent to the water collection container 13 provided at the bottom, evaporates, and is discharged outside the refrigerator.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operating principle of the electrolytic gas converter 20 of FIG.
The solid electrolyte membrane 21 is sandwiched between an anode 22 and a cathode 23, and a DC power source 24 is connected between the anode 22 and the cathode 23. Then, when power is supplied between the anode 22 and the cathode 23 by the DC power supply 24, on the anode 22 side (moisture absorption side), water is electrolyzed by the reaction of the following formula (1) and oxygen is supplied. And moisture is removed.
2H ₂ O → O ₂ + 4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻ (1)

The hydrogen ions H ⁺ generated at this time reach the cathode 23 through the cation conductive solid electrolytic membrane 21. Together with these, the electron e ⁻ reaches the cathode 23 through an external circuit including the DC power supply 24 and generates water while consuming oxygen on the cathode 23 side by the reaction of the following formula (2).
O ₂ + 4H ⁺ + 4e ⁻ → 2H ₂ O (2)
Further, since 1-3 water molecules together with hydrogen ions H ⁺ move through the solid electrolytic membrane 21 from the anode 22 side to the cathode 23 side, humidification is promoted on the cathode 23 side (moisture release side).

  In the refrigerator provided with the electrolytic gas conversion device 20 configured as described above, gas conversion is performed by the air inside the vegetable compartment 5 and the air outside the refrigerator, and air containing moisture is released into the vegetable compartment 5. Thus, the inside of the vegetable room 5 can be made to be high humidity. If the inside of the vegetable room 5 is kept at high humidity, the transpiration of the vegetables can be prevented, so that the vegetables can be stored for a long time. Moreover, since oxygen is consumed on the moisture release surface of the electrolysis gas converter 20, the oxygen concentration in the vegetable compartment 5 can be lowered. If the oxygen concentration is low, consumption of nutrients in the body due to vegetable respiration is suppressed. And can create a more desirable environment for storing vegetables.

  In the above description, the case where the duct 15 that is provided on the partition member 2b and communicates with the outside of the refrigerator and the vegetable compartment 5 is formed in a straight line is shown. However, both ends of the duct 15 are outside the refrigerator as shown in FIG. The electrolytic gas conversion device 20 may be formed in a substantially U-shape that is open, and the central portion thereof may be provided. By providing an air inlet and an exhaust port by this, the electrolysis gas converter 20 is provided. A flow can be created in the air in contact with the hygroscopic surface. As the reaction of the electrolysis gas converter 20 progresses, the humidity of the air near the hygroscopic surface decreases, but the reaction of the electrolysis gas converter 20 becomes more active as the humidity of the air near the hygroscopic surface increases. Therefore, the electrolysis type gas converter 20 can be reacted efficiently by forming the duct 15 in a substantially U shape to create an air flow and keeping the air near the hygroscopic surface always fresh.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, a gas flow path 18 provided in a foam-filled heat insulating material is opened near the water collection container 13 of the refrigerator, and penetrates the bottom member 2d and the partition member 2c. Alternatively, the electrolysis type gas converter 20 may be provided in an opening on the vegetable compartment 5 side of the flow path 15a, which is connected to the flow path 15a provided in the partition member 2b at the top of the vegetable compartment 5. Thereby, the air in contact with the hygroscopic surface of the electrolysis gas converter 20 can be used as the air in the vicinity of the water collection container 13, and gas conversion can be performed using high-humidity air. The electrolytic gas converter 20 can be reacted.

  According to the refrigerator according to the first embodiment configured as described above, the electrolytic gas that generates moisture by consuming moisture on the moisture absorption surface and generating oxygen on the moisture release surface by electrolytic action. The conversion device 20 is provided, and the moisture absorbing surface is disposed so as to be in contact with the outside air of the refrigerator, and the moisture absorbing surface is disposed so as to be in contact with the air in the vegetable compartment 5, whereby the moisture absorbing surface is in contact with the air outside the refrigerator. Therefore, gas conversion with infinite air outside the refrigerator instead of the limited air inside the refrigerator can be performed, so that the electrolytic gas converter 20 can be reacted efficiently.

  In addition, since the vegetable compartment 5 can be humidified without being affected by the opening and closing of the doors 3a, 4a, 6a of the storage rooms other than the vegetable compartment 5, it is possible to realize long-term preservation of vegetables. Furthermore, since oxygen is consumed on the moisture releasing surface of the electrolysis gas converter 20, the oxygen concentration in the vegetable compartment 5 can be reduced, and the vegetables generate energy using oxygen and nutrients in the body by breathing. Therefore, by lowering the oxygen concentration, it is possible to suppress consumption of nutrients in the body due to the respiration of vegetables, so that longer-term storage can be realized.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to this same part as Embodiment 1 (FIG. 1), and description is abbreviate | omitted.
In the present embodiment, the vegetable room 5 is electrolyzed so that the moisture absorption surface is in contact with the air in the vegetable room cooling air passage 14 that cools the vegetable room 5 with cold air, and the moisture release surface is in contact with the air in the vegetable room 5. A type gas converter 20 is provided.

  In the present embodiment configured as described above, substantially the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained, but the following effect can be further obtained. That is, when the reaction of the electrolysis gas converter 20 is performed, the humidity near the hygroscopic surface decreases, but the cold air passing through the vegetable room cooling air passage 14 is cold air that has passed through the refrigerating room 3, and the refrigerating room 3 Since the door 3a is opened and closed many times, gas conversion with air having humidity can always be performed. Moreover, since the humidity of the cold air of the vegetable compartment cooling air path 14 falls by gas conversion, frost formation to the cooler 8 can be suppressed, and the energization time to the defrosting heater 11 can be shortened. Power can be saved.

[Embodiment 3]
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The same parts as those in Embodiment 1 (FIG. 1) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
In the present embodiment, the cold air outlet 14a to the vegetable room 5 of the vegetable cooling circuit 14 in the first embodiment is eliminated, and the cold air that is blown out to the vegetable room 5 is shut off with the vegetable room 5 sealed.

  In the present embodiment configured as described above, substantially the same effect as in the case of the first embodiment can be obtained, but further, the vegetables stored in the vegetable room 5 are not directly subjected to cold air, but the vegetables Since cooling is performed by radiation of cold air flowing in the cooling air passage 14, drying in the vegetable compartment 5 can be prevented, and the inside of the vegetable compartment 5 can be efficiently made high humidity. Moreover, since the air of high humidity and low oxygen concentration released by the electrolysis gas converter 20 can be kept in the sealed vegetable room 5, it is suitable for the preservation of vegetables in the vegetable room 5 more efficiently. Environment.

[Embodiment 4]
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. The same parts as those in Embodiment 2 (FIG. 6) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
In this embodiment, the air outlet 14a for the cold air to the vegetable room 5 in the vegetable cooling air passage 14 in the second embodiment is eliminated, and the cold air blown out to the vegetable room 5 is shut off with the vegetable room 5 sealed.

  In the present embodiment, substantially the same effect as in the second embodiment can be obtained, but further, the vegetable room cooling air passage 14 is not directly applied to the vegetables or the like stored in the vegetable room 5. Since it cools by the radiation of the cold air which flows through, the drying in the vegetable compartment 5 can be prevented, and the inside of the vegetable compartment 5 can be made highly humid efficiently. Moreover, since the air of high humidity and low oxygen concentration released by the electrolytic gas converter 20 can be kept in the sealed vegetable room 5, the vegetable room 5 is suitable for storing vegetables more efficiently. Can be in the environment.

[Embodiment 5]
FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to this same part as Embodiment 1 (FIG. 1), and description is abbreviate | omitted.
In the present embodiment, in the refrigerators of the first to fourth embodiments (in the figure, the case of the first embodiment is shown), the heater 25 serving as a heat retaining means is provided at the bottom of the vegetable compartment 5 (the partition member 2c). It is provided.

  In the present embodiment, by energizing the heater 25, the vegetable compartment 5 can be kept warm and the temperature of the vegetable compartment 5 can be prevented from becoming too low. In addition, although the case where the heater 25 was provided in the bottom part of the vegetable compartment 5 was shown in FIG. 9, it is not limited to this, You may provide in the back surface or side surface of the vegetable compartment 5. FIG.

[Embodiment 6]
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention. The same parts as those in the fifth embodiment (FIG. 9) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
In this embodiment, in the refrigerators of the first to fifth embodiments (the case of the fifth embodiment is shown in the drawing), the temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the vegetable room 5 in the vegetable room 5 The temperature sensor 26 is provided.

  In the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 26 constantly monitors the temperature in the vegetable compartment 5, and when the temperature in the vegetable compartment 5 becomes lower than the set temperature, the heater 25 is energized so that the vegetable compartment 5 is always kept at a low temperature. By maintaining a constant temperature state, a change in humidity due to the temperature in the vegetable compartment 5 is suppressed. In addition, in FIG. 10, although the case where the temperature sensor 26 was provided in the back side of the vegetable compartment 5 is shown, it is not limited to this, The top, the side surface, the bottom face, etc. of the vegetable compartment 5 are provided in appropriate places. It may be provided.

[Embodiment 7]
FIG. 11: is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 7 of this invention. The same parts as those in Embodiment 6 (FIG. 10) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
This embodiment is humidity detection means for detecting the humidity in the vegetable compartment 5 in the vegetable compartment 5 in the refrigerators of Embodiments 1 to 6 (the case of Embodiment 6 is shown in the figure). A humidity sensor 27 is provided.

  In the present embodiment, the humidity sensor 27 monitors the humidity in the vegetable compartment 5 without always operating the electrolysis gas converter 20, and the electrolysis gas converter 20 is operated only when the humidity is low. As a result, power consumption is reduced. Moreover, when the humidity in the vegetable compartment 5 is too high, dew condensation in the vegetable compartment 5 can be prevented by stopping the operation of the electrolytic gas converter 20. In addition, although the case where the humidity sensor 27 was provided in the top | upper surface of the vegetable compartment 5 was shown in FIG. 11, it is not limited to this, It provides in appropriate places, such as the side surface of the vegetable compartment 5, a back surface, a floor surface. May be.

[Embodiment 8]
FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a vegetable room of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 8 of the present invention. The same parts as those in Embodiment 7 (FIG. 11) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
In the present embodiment, in the refrigerators of the first to seventh embodiments (in the figure, the case of the seventh embodiment is shown), the moisture absorption surface of the electrolytic gas converter 20 provided in the vegetable compartment 5 and A fan 28 is provided as air agitation means for agitating the air in contact therewith.

When the electrolysis gas converter 20 is operated, the humidity near the hygroscopic surface decreases, but the electrolysis gas converter 20 reacts more actively as the humidity of the air near the hygroscopic surface is higher.
In the present embodiment, a fan 28 is provided in the vicinity of the hygroscopic surface of the electrolysis gas converter 20, the air in the vicinity thereof is stirred, the dry air is forcibly removed, and the air with humidity is absorbed. Since it is sent to the vicinity of the surface, the inside of the vegetable compartment 5 can be efficiently maintained in a high humidity and low oxygen concentration state.

[Embodiment 9]
FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator according to the ninth embodiment. The same parts as those in the eighth embodiment (FIG. 12) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
In the present embodiment, in the refrigerators of the first to eighth embodiments (the vegetable room of the eighth embodiment is shown in the figure), the vegetable room 5 is provided with a light source 29 for promoting the photosynthesis of vegetables. Is. Note that the vegetable case 17 is made of a light-transmitting material so that the vegetables are exposed to light.

  FIG. 14 shows a diagram representing the effects of light wavelength, photosynthesis, and photomorphogenesis (germination, flowering, etc.). As shown in the figure, red light having a wavelength near 660 nm is most effective for photosynthesis, but it also affects the optical morphogenesis. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the light source 29 has an orange color with a wavelength near 590 nm. The light source was used.

  According to the present embodiment, since the vegetables themselves can be photosynthesized by the light of the light source 29, the decrease in the chlorophyll concentration contained in the leaves of the green leafy vegetables is suppressed and the green color is maintained, and nutritional components such as vitamin C Can be increased. Moreover, since the vegetable compartment 5 is maintaining a high humidity state, since the transpiration of the vegetable at the time of performing photosynthesis can be suppressed, nutrition can be increased while preventing drying of the vegetable.

  Moreover, the humidity in the vegetable compartment 5 is monitored by the humidity sensor 27, and light is emitted from the light source 29 when the humidity is high, and light irradiation is stopped when the humidity is low, thereby drying the vegetables by photosynthesis. Can be efficiently prevented.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, light sources 29 having different wavelengths of light may be provided. For example, when a blue light source having a wavelength near 440 nm is provided, the photomorphogenesis of vegetables can be promoted. Two or more light sources having different wavelengths may be combined, and the ratio of the effects of photosynthesis and photomorphogenesis can be arbitrarily changed by adjusting the number of light sources and the light intensity.
In addition, when vegetables perform photosynthesis or photomorphogenesis, they consume water in the body, and in combination with humidification by the electrolysis gas converter 20, promote vegetable activities while preventing vegetable drying. Can be made.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the refrigerator which concerns on this Embodiment 1. FIG. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is an operation principle explanatory view of the electrolysis type gas converter of Drawing 1. It is explanatory drawing of the other example of the duct of FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the other example of the refrigerator of Embodiment 1. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 6 of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 7 of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 8 of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 9 of this invention. It is a diagram which shows the effect of light, a wavelength, photosynthesis, and photomorphogenesis.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator main body, 2a-2c Partition member, 5 Vegetable room, 7 Refrigerator air path, 8 Cooler, 14 Vegetable room cooling air path, 15 Duct, 20 Electrolytic gas converter, 25 Heater, 26 Temperature sensor, 27 Humidity sensor, 28 fan, 29 light source.

Claims (8)

  It has a vegetable room for storing vegetables, etc., and in the vegetable room, oxygen is consumed on one side by electrolysis to generate moisture (this surface is referred to as a moisture release surface), and moisture is consumed on the other side. An electrolysis gas conversion device that generates oxygen (this surface is referred to as a moisture absorption surface) is provided so that the moisture release surface is in contact with air in the vegetable compartment and the moisture absorption surface is in contact with air outside the cabinet. Refrigerator.   It has a vegetable room for storing vegetables, etc., and in the vegetable room, oxygen is consumed on one side by electrolysis to generate moisture (this surface is referred to as a moisture release surface), and moisture is consumed on the other side. An electrolysis gas conversion device that generates oxygen (this surface is referred to as a moisture absorbing surface) is configured so that the moisture releasing surface is in contact with the air in the vegetable compartment, and the moisture absorbing surface is in contact with the air in the cooling air passage of the vegetable compartment. A refrigerator provided in the room.   The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vegetable compartment is sealed and the vegetable compartment is cooled by radiation.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vegetable compartment is provided with heat retaining means for keeping the vegetable compartment warm.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vegetable room is provided with temperature detection means for detecting the temperature in the vegetable room.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the vegetable compartment is provided with humidity detecting means for detecting the humidity in the vegetable compartment.   The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein an air agitating means for agitating the air in contact with the hygroscopic surface is provided in the vicinity of the hygroscopic surface of the electrolysis gas converter. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a light source for promoting photosynthesis of vegetables in the vegetable compartment is provided in the vegetable compartment.

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