JPH10300305A - Thermoelectric module type electric refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To further improve the efficiency by driving a thermoelectric member under the optimum condition taking into consideration even the outside air temperature and the in-chamber temperature to eliminate excessive cooling and the insufficient cooling. SOLUTION: An outside temperature detection sensor to detect the temperature of the outside temperature and an in-chamber temperature detection sensor to detect the in-chamber temperature are provided, the drive voltage of a thermoelectric member is set to the high level VH and the low level VL according to the outside air temperature, and the thermoelectric member is driven in an appropriately preferential manner of the relationship between the efficiency of the thermoelectric heat exchange block and the heat absorption by switching the high level VH and the low level VL according to the in-chamber temperature.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a thermoelectric module type electric refrigerator for cooling the inside of a refrigerator using a thermoelectric member such as a Peltier element.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A technique using a Peltier element in a refrigeration system is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-504361. This technology forms a thermoelectric heat exchange block in which a circulation path for circulating heat exchange water is thermally coupled to each of the heat dissipation surface and the cooling surface of the Peltier element, and the thermoelectric heat exchange block is connected to the circulation path thermally coupled to the cooling surface of the Peltier element. The target object is cooled by cooling in the mounted heat exchanger, or the target object is warmed by heat radiation in a heat exchanger interposed in a circulation path thermally coupled to the heat radiation surface of the Peltier element.

[0003]

However, in order to realize a refrigerator using the above-mentioned conventional technology, it is necessary to further improve the thermal efficiency, but there has not yet been provided one satisfying this.

[0004] The present inventors have repeatedly conducted various experiments on how to improve the efficiency of this type of refrigerator. In the process, in the thermoelectric module type electric refrigerator, the thermoelectric members are uniformly driven under the optimum conditions set from the relationship between the drive voltage and the efficiency shown in FIG. 7 and the relationship between the drive voltage and the heat absorption shown in FIG. Then, the inventor has found that the efficiency may be deteriorated due to the influence of the outside air temperature or the inside temperature, which wastes electric power or causes overcooling or insufficient cooling.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a thermoelectric device that drives thermoelectric members under optimum conditions in consideration of the outside air temperature and the internal temperature based on such knowledge, thereby achieving further improvement in efficiency without overcooling or insufficient cooling. An object of the present invention is to provide a modular electric refrigerator.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is to provide a first heat exchange portion thermally coupled to a heat radiation surface of a thermoelectric member and a cooling surface of the thermoelectric member. A thermoelectric heat exchange block formed with a second heat exchange unit thermally coupled to the first heat exchange unit, a first heat exchange unit of the thermoelectric heat exchange block, and a first circulation pump, a heat radiation heat exchanger, and a first heat exchange unit. Form a circulation path, fill the inside with liquid to form a heat dissipation system,
A second circulation path is formed by a second circulation pump, a cooling heat exchanger, and a second heat exchange unit of the thermoelectric heat exchange block,
The interior of the refrigerator is filled with a liquid to form a heat absorbing system, and the interior of the refrigerator body is cooled by heat exchange between the cooling heat exchanger of the heat absorbing system and the air inside the refrigerator body, and the heat dissipation of the heat dissipation system is performed. The heat exchanger is configured to exchange heat with external air to radiate heat, and includes an outside air temperature detection sensor that detects outside air temperature, and an inside temperature detection sensor that detects inside temperature. The high level and the low level are set according to the outside air temperature, and the high level and the low level are switched according to the inside temperature.

In such a configuration, since the thermoelectric member is driven to be switched between a high level and a low level in accordance with the internal temperature, a high level of heat absorption is given priority at a high level for a high internal temperature and low. With respect to the internal temperature, priority is given to efficiency at the low level, and the internal temperature can be maintained in a predetermined temperature range while avoiding wasteful consumption of electric power, and the high level and the low level correspond to the outside air temperature. When the difference from the predetermined temperature inside the refrigerator is large, the heat absorption amount is prioritized at the higher high level and the low level, and when the difference between the predetermined temperature inside the refrigerator is small, the higher heat level is used. And priority on efficiency at low level,
It is possible to prevent the inside of the refrigerator from being overcooled or undercooled outside the predetermined temperature range while avoiding wasteful consumption of electric power, thereby improving efficiency.

In this case, if the continuation time of the operation in the high-level drive is within a predetermined time, the values of the high level and the low level based on the outside air temperature are reduced.

When the duration of the operation in the high level drive is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the values of the high level and the low level based on the outside air temperature are increased.

If the duration of the operation in the low-level drive is within a predetermined time, the values of the high level and the low level based on the outside air temperature are increased.

If the duration of the low-level drive operation is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the values of the high level and the low level based on the outside air temperature are reduced.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the driving of the thermoelectric member is stopped for a predetermined period at predetermined time intervals, and at the same time, the cooling system side of the thermoelectric heat exchange block is further provided. When the temperature becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the driving stop of the thermoelectric member is ended and the driving is restarted.

Alternatively, when the temperature of the heat exchanger for cooling the endothermic system becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the driving stop of the thermoelectric member is terminated and the driving is resumed. Alternatively, a time period from the start to the end of the drive stop is set according to the outside air temperature.

When the internal temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the high level value based on the outside air temperature for driving the thermoelectric member is increased.

It is more preferable to adopt the configuration described above.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a thermoelectric heat exchange unit having a first heat exchange unit thermally coupled to a heat radiation surface of a thermoelectric member and a second heat exchange unit thermally coupled to a cooling surface of the thermoelectric member. A first circulating pump, a radiating heat exchanger, and a first heat exchanging section of the thermoelectric heat exchanging block, forming a first circulating path, filling a liquid therein, and forming a radiating system. The second circulation pump, the cooling heat exchanger, and the second heat exchange part of the thermoelectric heat exchange block form a second circulation path, and are filled with liquid to form a heat absorbing system. Then, the inside of the refrigerator body is cooled by forced heat exchange between the cooling heat exchanger of the heat absorption system and the air inside the refrigerator body by the cooling fan, and the heat exchanger for heat dissipation of the heat dissipation system is radiated to the outside air. External air for detecting the external air temperature With a degree sensor, and a storage room temperature sensor for detecting the internal temperature, setting the drive voltage of the thermoelectric element according to the outside air temperature, the driving of the thermoelectric element according to the internal temperature,
The present invention is characterized in that the drive stop is controlled.

In such a configuration, according to the outside air temperature,
The thermoelectric member can be driven with a drive voltage that does not consume power unnecessarily, and the efficiency is improved. Further, the thermoelectric member can be driven only when necessary according to the temperature in the refrigerator, so that power consumption is reduced and excessive It is possible to prevent supercooling caused by driving and troubles caused by the supercooling. In addition, when the thermoelectric members are not driven in accordance with the internal temperature, if the first and second circulating pumps, the cooling fan, and the radiation fan are also stopped, the life thereof can be extended.

In this case, when the driving time of the thermoelectric member is equal to or longer than a predetermined time, the driving voltage based on the outside air temperature of the thermoelectric member is increased.

When the internal temperature is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature, the drive voltage based on the outside air temperature of the thermoelectric member is increased.

It is more preferable to adopt the configuration described above.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Some embodiments of the present invention and some modifications thereof will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment 1) Embodiment 1 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a first heat exchange portion 26 a thermally coupled to a heat dissipation surface of a modularized Peltier device 25, which is an example of a thermoelectric member, and a second heat thermally coupled to a cooling surface of the Peltier device 25, This is a thermoelectric module electric refrigerator of a refrigeration cycle system using a thermoelectric heat exchange block 11 formed integrally with an exchange section 26b.

The housing of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a refrigerator body 1 and a front door 4 pivotally supported by a shaft 3 to open and close a front opening 2 of the refrigerator body 1.
It is composed of A partition 6 attached to the refrigerator body 1 at an interval from the rear plate 5 inside a back plate 5 that closes an opening at the back of the refrigerator body 1, and a refrigerator body 1
A heat insulating material is filled between the inside of the container 7 and the in-compartment formed body 7 to form a heat insulating wall 8. The front door 4 is also filled with a heat insulating material to form a heat insulating wall, and the heat insulating wall 8 is formed so as to be able to open and close the interior chamber 17 that covers the inside of the interior.

Basically, the first outside of the thermoelectric heat exchange block 11 is provided in the outside chamber 9 formed between the back plate 5 and the partition 6.
A heat radiation system A connected to the heat exchanging part 26a is built in and radiates heat to the outside of the housing.
A heat absorbing system B connected to the second heat exchanging portion 26b is arranged to absorb heat from the inside of the storage chamber 17 and cool it. Here, the heat radiation system A and the heat absorption system B are blocked by the heat insulating wall 8 and do not mutually affect each other. However, a specific configuration for satisfying the basic functions of such a refrigerator is not limited to the first embodiment, and can be variously designed. In addition,
The first heat exchange unit 26a and the second heat exchange unit 26b
It is preferable in terms of thermal efficiency to have a so-called manifold structure in which a number of known labyrinth-like heat exchange passages are formed in parallel. However, it is not limited to this.

Peltier element 2 of thermoelectric heat exchange block 11
When electricity is supplied, the heat sink 5 absorbs heat on the cooling surface while radiating heat on the heat dissipation surface, and this heat absorption characteristic depends on the heat radiation characteristic. The radiating system A includes the first circulating pump 14a and the radiating heat exchanger 1
0 and the first heat exchange section 26 of the thermoelectric heat exchange block 11
3 and 4 is connected by pipes 32a to 32c to form a first circulation path, and is formed by filling a liquid therein. The liquid circulated through the first circulation path by the first circulation pump 14a is supplied to the first heat exchange section 26a
Receives the heat radiated on the heat radiating surface of the Peltier element 25 and transfers the heat to the external air A1 in the heat radiating heat exchanger 10 to increase the heat radiating efficiency on the heat radiating surface of the Peltier element 25 as the heat radiating air A2. .

The heat absorption system B is provided with a second circulation pump 14
b, cooling heat exchanger 20 and thermoelectric heat exchange block 11
The second heat exchange section 26b is connected to the second heat exchange section 26b via conduits 32d to 32f as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 to form a second circulation path, and is formed by filling a liquid therein. The liquid circulated through the second circulation path by the second circulation pump 14b is
In the second heat exchange section 26b, heat is deprived of heat by the heat absorption on the cooling surface of the Peltier element 25 and the cooling is performed.
0, cools the inside air B1 by removing the heat of the air B1.
And

In the heat radiating system A, a heat radiating heat exchanger 10 is provided in a lower portion of the outside room 9 for radiating heat to the outside of the housing of the refrigerator. External air A1 is sucked through the suction port 15a of the lower grill plate 15 forming the bottom of
After the heat is exchanged by contacting the outside of the refrigerator, heat is released from the outlet 16a of the grill plate 16 forming the top surface of the outside chamber 9 to the outside of the refrigerator as radiated air A2. Also,
The heat absorbing system B is partitioned by a refrigeration region of the chamber 17 and a partition 18 to cool the inside of the chamber, and a cooling heat exchanger 20 is provided in a lower part of the partition chamber 19 formed by the partition. After the inside air B1 sucked from the suction port 21 provided at the lower part of the partition wall 18 by the cooling fan 13b provided at the upper part of the partition wall and brought into contact with the cooling heat exchanger 20 to exchange heat, the cooling air is provided above the partition wall 18. Cooling air B from discharge port 22
2 and is discharged into the refrigerator, which cools the refrigerated material while moving the refrigerator compartment 17 to the lower part.

The specific configuration for heat radiation by the heat radiation system A and the specific configuration for cooling by the heat absorption system B are not limited to the first embodiment, but can be variously designed. It is.

The thermoelectric heat exchange block 11 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, the refrigerator main body 1 is provided in a refrigerator interior 9 and a refrigerator interior 17 partitioned by a heat insulating wall 8. As a result, the thermoelectric heat exchange block 11 is located in the interior chamber 17 of the refrigerator main body 1, and all of the heat absorbing system B is located on the interior chamber 17 side and does not come into contact with the warm air in the exterior chamber 9. Condensation water generated in the system B can be reduced, and the heat efficiency increases accordingly.

Further, such a thermoelectric heat exchange block 11
In relation to the arrangement of the thermoelectric heat exchange block 11, the piping of the inlet 27 a and the outlet 27 b of the first circulation path in the first heat exchange section 26 a of the thermoelectric heat exchange block 11 It is drawn out from the facing part 11a to the outside room 9 of the refrigerator main body 1 through the heat insulating wall 8. Thereby, even if the thermoelectric heat exchange block 11 is provided in the interior chamber 17, the first heat exchange part 26a on the heat radiation side thereof is covered with the heat insulating wall 8 and does not contact the interior air, Mutual heat exchange is also prevented, and the first circulation path extends from the facing portion 11a to the heat insulating wall 8.
The pipes 27a, 27a from the first heat exchange section 26a are drawn out to the outside chamber 9 through the
Even part b does not come into contact with the air inside the refrigerator, and mutual heat exchange is also prevented, so that the first heat exchange part 26a and the piping of the heat radiation system A drawn out therefrom reduce the thermal effect on the air inside the refrigerator. Heat efficiency can be increased accordingly.

Further, the first heat exchange portion 26a of the thermoelectric heat exchange block 11 is fitted into the concave portion 8a formed in the heat insulating wall 8, and the side circumference is also covered with the heat insulating wall 8.
Thereby, the periphery of the first heat exchanging portion 26a is prevented from coming into contact with the air inside the refrigerator and exchanging heat, and the thermal effect of the heat radiation system A on the air inside the refrigerator is further reduced. This is preferable because the thermal efficiency is further improved.

Further, drain water 24 from the cooling heat exchanger 20 is provided in the intake path 23 near the heat radiating heat exchanger 10 and for taking external air for heat exchange therewith toward the heat radiating heat exchanger 10. Is provided. As a result, the external air A1 that is taken in for heat exchange with the heat-radiating heat exchanger 10 has its intake path 23
Cooling heat exchanger 2 guided to the evaporating dish 28 located at
The drain water 24 from 0 is exposed to high ambient temperature in the vicinity of the heat radiation heat exchanger 10 and evaporates, and the non-evaporated drain water 24 evaporates and accompanies. Heat exchange with the heat exchanger 10 for
The heat radiation efficiency of the heat radiation heat exchanger 10 can be increased by the amount of vaporization heat of the accompanying drain water, and the heat efficiency can be improved.

The evaporating dish 28 guides the drain water 24 from the cooling heat exchanger 20 through a drain port 29 extending downward from the bottom of the partitioning chamber 19, and is preferably provided at a lower part of the refrigerator body 1. However, since the volume efficiency of the refrigerator main body 1 is not affected and it is preferable that the evaporating dish 28 is located at the outside which is easily detachable for performing maintenance such as cleaning, the evaporating dish 28 is placed under the bottom of the refrigerator main body 1 in the first embodiment. It is provided at the rear. Correspondingly, the heat-exchanging heat exchanger 10 is connected to the outside chamber 9.
Is located at the lowermost part and is located immediately above the evaporating dish 28, so that the drain water 24 guided to the evaporating dish 28 is easily heated and easily evaporated. Thereby, the heat exchange with the heat radiation heat exchanger 10 accompanying the evaporation of the drain water 24 can be further promoted, and the heat efficiency is improved accordingly.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, two radiating fans 13a are provided on the left and right,
Numeral 8 is provided at a position facing between the heat radiating fans 13a, 13a, and the outside air A1 sucked from the suction ports 15a on both sides thereof flows toward the heat radiating heat exchanger 10 from both sides of the evaporating dish 28. This facilitates efficient evaporation of the drain water 24 in the evaporating dish 28 from both sides.

The first circulating pump 14a is located at the uppermost position of the first circulating path of the heat radiation system A as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, and an air reservoir 37a is connected thereto. And the second circulating pump 14b is shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 5.
As shown in (2), it is located at the uppermost position of the second circulation path of the heat absorption system B, and the air reservoir 37b is connected thereon.
Accordingly, even if air is mixed in the liquid in the first and second circulation paths of the heat radiation system A and the heat absorption system B, the air is moved to the uppermost position through the first and second circulation pumps 14a and 14b. And rises to the air reservoirs 37a and 37b. Therefore, the mixed air circulates in the first circulation path and the second circulation path, or accumulates in the first circulation pump 14a and the second circulation pump 14b to cause a decrease in the function thereof. First heat exchange unit 26a, second heat exchange unit 2
6b, heat exchanger 10 for heat radiation, and heat exchanger 20 for cooling
Can be prevented from lowering in the heat exchange rate in this case, thereby also improving the thermal efficiency.

The T-tubes 33a and 33b are located at intermediate positions lower than the first circulation pump 14a in the first circulation path and lower than the second circulation pump 14b in the second circulation path. , And the remaining connection ports of each of the T-tubes 33a and 33b are used as liquid filling ports, and are closed with caps 34a and 34b after filling. At the time of liquid injection, it is preferable to open the air reservoirs 37a and 37b, which are the uppermost portions of the first and second circulation paths, to provide air outlets. The air can be expelled from each circulation path.

The thermoelectric heat exchange block 11 according to the first embodiment is provided with a cover 41 made of a synthetic resin as shown in FIG. Receiving is prevented and contributes to improvement of thermal efficiency.

By the way, the efficiency of the thermoelectric module type electric refrigerator of the refrigeration cycle using the Peltier element 25 shows the characteristic shown in FIG. 7 with respect to the driving voltage for driving the Peltier element 25, and becomes maximum at V ₀ . Relationship between the amount of heat absorbed by the drive voltage and the Peltier element 25 against which indicates the characteristics as shown in FIG. 8, the endothermic amount at the V ₀ is obtained only slightly lower. Therefore, FIG. 7, when to drive the Peltier element 25 in consideration of both characteristics at the most advantageous slightly voltages V ₁ higher as shown in FIG. 8, the first embodiment described above
In combination with the above configuration, a practically usable thermal efficiency can be obtained.

On the other hand, a change in the outside air temperature causes a change in a difference between the outside air temperature and the inside temperature set to keep the temperature constant. this is,
When the refrigeration cycle is driven under the above-mentioned constant conditions, it means that the cooling capacity is excessive or insufficient, which causes overcooling or insufficient cooling. At the same time, wasteful power consumption is caused and the efficiency is reduced. Therefore, it affects the overall efficiency and performance of the thermoelectric modular electric refrigerator.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, in order to cope with this, the driving voltage for driving the Peltier element 25 is changed as shown in FIG.
Set the high level V _H in accordance with the outside air temperature and a low level V _L as shown in, and the high level V _H depending on the inside temperature and the low level V _L, switched as shown in FIG. 10. For this reason, as shown in FIG.
An external air temperature sensor S1 for detecting an external air temperature and an internal temperature sensor S2 for detecting an internal temperature are input to the control device 51 as shown in FIG. The controller 51 controls the drive voltage of the Peltier element 25 in accordance with the inputs as described above. The control device 51 shares a microcomputer for controlling the operation of the thermoelectric modular electric refrigerator of the first embodiment. Therefore, the control device 51 transmits the
6 drives the heat radiation fans 13a, 13a, the cooling fan 13b, the first circulation pump 14a, the second circulation pump 14b, and the Peltier element 25. Needless to say, it is also possible to drive other components as necessary, or to use a dedicated control device for controlling the drive voltage of the Peltier element 25.

When the above control is performed, the Peltier element 25 changes the high level _VH and the low level _VH according to the internal temperature.
Since the switch drive is in the _L, for the low internal temperature T _L, the efficiency as shown in FIG. 7 preferentially at low level V _L until higher inside temperature T _H, a high internal temperature T for _H, preferentially an endothermic amount as shown in FIG. 8 at the high level V _H to a low internal temperature T _L, a given temperature in the refrigerator while avoiding wasteful consumption of power range T _L it can be kept to T _H from. Further, the high level V _H and the low level V
_L is set as shown in FIG. 9 corresponding to the outside air temperature,
When the difference from the predetermined inside temperature is large, the higher level of the high level V _HH and the low level V _LH gives higher priority to the heat absorption, and when the difference from the predetermined inside temperature is small, the high level V and more preferentially efficiency in _HL and low eye values of the low level V _LL, the refrigerator becomes supercooled and insufficient cooling off the T _H from a predetermined temperature range T _L while avoiding wasteful consumption of power This can be prevented, and the efficiency is improved.

In this embodiment, the relationship between the outside air temperature, the high level _VH and the low level _VL is set as shown in Table 1 below. The switching condition of the level drive was suitably set as shown in Table 2 below.

[0043] It should be noted that, driving at a high level V _H is stopped when the inside temperature, starting from the inside temperature up to T _H drops to T _L, it switched to driving at a low level V _L.

When driving at the low level V _L , the internal temperature is T _L
Is-compartment temperature begins to drop in is stopped to be a T _H, I switched to driving in the high level V _H. The change in the internal temperature at this time is as shown in FIG. 10, and it is better that the temperature change is smooth and the temperature difference is small. However, it is meaningless if the temperature is less than the range of the temperature inside the refrigerator when the refrigerator is normally used.

[0045]

[Table 1]

[0046]

[Table 2]

In the first embodiment, the control device 5
1, the duration t of the operation at the high level V _H shown in FIG.
_{If H} is within the predetermined time, the values of the high level V _H and the low level _VL based on the outside air temperature are shifted to the low values V _HL and V _LL shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. When,
The values of the high level _VH and the low level _VL based on the outside air temperature are shifted from FIG. 7 to high values _VHH and _VLH shown in FIG.

[0048] Also, counted by continuous time t _L, for example, an internal counter 58 operating at the low level V _L shown in FIG. 10, the continuation time t _L is, if it is within a predetermined time,
The values of the high level V _H and the low level V _L based on the outside air temperature are shifted to the high values V _HH and V _LH shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, and if the predetermined time or more, the high level V _H based on the outside air temperature is used. And the low level V _L are shifted to lower values V _HL and V _LL shown in FIGS. 7 to 9.

As a result, the values of the high level V _H and the low level V _L set according to the outside air temperature, for example, as shown in Table 1 can be further optimized while observing the influence on the actual internal temperature. Power savings can be achieved by further improving efficiency, and slight overcooling and undercooling can be eliminated.

In the first embodiment, the control device 5
1, the Peltier element for a relatively long predetermined time t1 set by the internal timer 59 shown in FIG. 10, for example, every 27 hours, for example, for a very short predetermined time t2 set by the internal timer 60, for example, several minutes 25 is stopped.

This is a countermeasure against frost formation on the cooling heat exchanger 20 in the refrigerator when the operation is continued for a long time. When the driving of the Peltier element 25 is stopped every predetermined time t1 at which frost formation starts or frost formation occurs, the cooling fan of the heat absorbing system B is stopped in a state where the thermoelectric effect is stopped, that is, the refrigeration cycle is stopped. 13b and the second circulating pump 14b continue to be driven, thereby preventing over-frosting of the cooling heat exchanger 20 even for a very short time, for example, for several minutes, and reliably defrosting even if frosted. In addition, a state in which frost does not form can be immediately restored, and a decrease in thermal efficiency due to frost can be prevented.

However, the required time t2 of the defrosting operation varies due to the influence of the inside temperature and the outside air temperature. If the full range of variation is covered by the setting of the predetermined time t2, the defrosting operation is performed more than necessary in many cases, which is disadvantageous.

FIGS. 1 and 6 show a modified example to cope with this.
As shown in the figure, a cooling-side temperature sensor S3 for detecting the temperature on the cooling side of the thermoelectric heat exchange block 11, that is, the second heat exchange section 26b is provided. When the cooling-side temperature of the thermoelectric heat exchange block 11 detected by the cooling-side temperature sensor S3 becomes equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature after the start of the defrosting operation, the controller 51 terminates the defrosting operation. As a result, it is possible to prevent the defrosting operation from being excessive or insufficient due to the outside air temperature.

Further, based on the temperature information detected by the cooling-side temperature sensor S3, it is necessary to warn or prevent the freezing of the liquid in the heat absorbing system B due to the supercooling and the volume destruction due to the freezing. Can be done according to. The cooling-side temperature sensor S3 is a metal plate 61 having good heat conductivity as shown in FIG.
And attached to the outer surface of the thermoelectric heat exchange block 11. Thereby, the temperature of the outer surface of the thermoelectric heat exchange block 11, which is substantially the same as the cooling-side temperature of the Peltier element 25, can be accurately detected with good responsiveness.

Further, as another modified example, the defrosting operation may be stopped by the control device 51 when the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor S2 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature.

Further, as another modified example, if the time interval t1 for stopping the driving of the Peltier element 25 and the required time t2 for the defrosting operation are set in accordance with the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor S1, the outside air The defrosting operation can be performed according to the difference in the degree of frost due to the influence of the temperature.

Further, as another modified example, when the inside temperature detected by the inside temperature sensor S2 exceeds a certain upper limit temperature, the controller 51 drives the Peltier element 25 based on the outside air temperature. Increase the high level value.

According to this, when the temperature inside the refrigerator exceeds or exceeds a predetermined temperature range when the power is turned on or when a hot thing is put into the refrigerator, the amount of heat absorbed in FIG. The temperature can be quickly adjusted and stabilized. As an embodiment, this operation for adjusting the internal temperature is performed every time the internal temperature reaches 6 ° C.
And the cooling fan 13b, and the first and second fans.
Of the circulation pumps 14a and 14b is driven at a full power, and when the internal temperature reaches 5 ° C., the internal temperature adjusting operation is stopped.

(Embodiment 2) Embodiment 2 has the same basic configuration as that of Embodiment 1 and will be described with reference to the drawings of Embodiment 1.

The control device 51 controls the outside air temperature sensor S1.
A drive voltage for driving the Peltier element 25 is determined according to the detected outside air temperature, and the driving and stopping of the Peltier element 25 are performed according to the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor S2.

With this control, the Peltier device 25
There driven according to the internal temperature, are driven down, against the lower inside temperature T _L priority to power saving at the drive stop of the Peltier element 25, the Peltier device for high internal temperature T _H preferentially an endotherm at drive 25, to be able to keep in the refrigerator while avoiding wasteful consumption of power from the predetermined temperature range T _L to T _H, for example, the drive voltage corresponding to the outside air temperature 9
At the high level V _H of about illustrated in more preferentially endotherm 8 at a high value when the difference between the predetermined temperature inside a large, when the difference between the predetermined inside temperature is small and more preferentially efficiency as shown in FIG. 7 at a low value, that as the refrigerator while avoiding wasteful consumption of power is supercooled and insufficient cooling off the T _H from a predetermined temperature range T _L Can be prevented and efficiency is improved.

The Peltier device 2 according to the second embodiment
5, the cooling fan 13b, the first and second circulating pumps 14
It is also possible to drive and stop the a and b, and if such control is performed, their life can be extended.

Here, the relationship between the outside air temperature and the driving voltage will be described in the following Table 3 showing the example of the second embodiment.
Table 4 below shows the relationship between the internal temperature, drive, and drive stop.

[0064]

[Table 3]

[0065]

[Table 4]

In such an operation of the second embodiment, as a modified example, the duration of driving of the Peltier element 25 is further counted by the counter 71 of the control device 51, and this duration is longer than a predetermined time, for example, When it is longer than 30 minutes, the Peltier device 25 is
The driving voltage value shown in Table 3 based on the outside air temperature is increased. As a result, when the cooling rate is low at the start of operation or due to installation conditions, this can be accelerated.

As another modified example, when the internal temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the control device 51 increases the driving voltage shown in Table 3 based on the outside air temperature of the Peltier element 25.

In this way, the cooling rate can be increased when the operation is started or when the cooling rate is slow due to installation conditions, etc., and when the front door 4 is opened or a hot thing is thrown in, the cooling rate can be reduced. It is possible to quickly respond to a rise in the temperature inside the refrigerator.

[0069]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the inside of a refrigerator from being overcooled or undercooled outside a predetermined temperature range while avoiding wasteful consumption of electric power. Efficiency is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an overall configuration of a thermoelectric refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the refrigerator of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a heat radiation system of the refrigeration cycle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a heat absorption system of the refrigeration cycle of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an installation state of a thermoelectric heat exchange block of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a relationship between a driving voltage of a Peltier element and efficiency.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing a relationship between a Peltier element driving voltage and a heat absorption amount.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing a relationship between an outside air temperature and a set drive voltage of a Peltier element set according to the outside air temperature.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing a Peltier element driving state and a change in the internal temperature at that time.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a control circuit of the refrigerator in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator main body 4 Front door 10 Heat dissipation heat exchanger 13a Heat dissipation fan 13b Cooling fan 14a First circulation pump 14b Second circulation pump 17 Interior chamber 20 Cooling heat exchanger 25 Peltier element 26a First heat Exchange unit 26b Second heat exchange unit 51 Controller 57, 58, 71 Counter 59, 60 Timer S1 to S4 Sensor A Heat dissipation system B Heat absorption system

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Muneda Maeda 4-5-2-5 Takaida Hondori, Higashi Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Refrigerating Machinery Co., Ltd. Matsushita Refrigerating Machinery Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshikazu Arakawa 4-2-5 Takaida Hondori, Higashi Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture

Claims (13)

[Claims] A thermoelectric heat exchange block having a first heat exchange portion thermally coupled to a heat radiating surface of the thermoelectric member and a second heat exchange portion thermally coupled to a cooling surface of the thermoelectric member; A first heat exchange section of the circulating pump, the heat-exchanging heat exchanger, and the first heat-exchanging section of the thermoelectric heat-exchange block, and a liquid being filled therein to form a heat-dissipating system; A circulation pump, a cooling heat exchanger, and a second heat exchange section of the thermoelectric heat exchange block form a second circulation path, and a liquid is filled therein to form a heat absorption system. The heat exchange between the cooling heat exchanger and the air inside the refrigerator main body cools the inside of the refrigerator main body, and the heat radiation heat exchanger of the heat radiation system is configured to exchange heat with external air to radiate heat, An external air temperature sensor for detecting an external air temperature and an internal temperature sensor for detecting an internal temperature; A thermoelectric module-type electric power source, wherein the drive voltage to the thermoelectric module is set to a high level and a low level according to the outside air temperature, and the high level and the low level are switched according to the internal temperature. refrigerator. 2. The thermoelectric module-type electric refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the value of the high level and the value of the low level based on the outside air temperature are reduced when the continuation time of the operation in the high level drive is within a predetermined time. 3. The thermoelectric module-type electric refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the value of the high level and the value of the low level based on the outside air temperature are increased when the continuation time of the operation in the high level drive is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. 4. The thermoelectric module-type electric refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein when the continuation time of the operation in the low-level drive is within a predetermined time, the values of the high level and the low level based on the outside air temperature are increased. 5. The thermoelectric module-type electric refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a value of the high level and a value of the low level based on the outside air temperature are reduced when a continuation time of the operation in the low level drive is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. 6. The thermoelectric module-type electric refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the driving of the thermoelectric member is stopped for a predetermined time every predetermined time. 7. A cooling-side temperature sensor for detecting a cooling-system-side temperature of the thermoelectric heat exchange block, wherein when the detected temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the driving stop of the thermoelectric member is terminated and the driving is restarted. The described thermoelectric modular electric refrigerator. 8. A cooling heat exchanger temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of a cooling heat exchanger of an endothermic system, wherein when the detected temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature, the driving stop of the thermoelectric member is ended and the driving is restarted. A thermoelectric modular electric refrigerator according to claim 6. 9. The thermoelectric module type electric refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein a time period from the start to the end of the drive stop of the thermoelectric member is set according to the outside air temperature. 10. When the internal temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature,
The thermoelectric module type electric refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a high level value of a drive voltage based on an outside air temperature of the thermoelectric member is increased. 11. A thermoelectric heat exchange block having a first heat exchange portion thermally coupled to a heat dissipation surface of a thermoelectric member and a second heat exchange portion thermally coupled to a cooling surface of said thermoelectric member, 1
A first circulation path is formed by the circulation pump, the heat radiation heat exchanger, and the first heat exchange section of the thermoelectric heat exchange block, and a liquid is filled therein to form a heat radiation system; The circulation pump, the heat exchanger for cooling, and the second heat exchange part of the thermoelectric heat exchange block form a second circulation path, which is filled with liquid to form a heat absorbing system, and cools the heat absorbing system. The inside of the refrigerator body is cooled by forced heat exchange between the heat exchanger for cooling and the air inside the refrigerator body by the cooling fan, and the forced heat exchange of the radiating heat exchanger of the radiating system is performed by external air and the radiating fan. A heat sensor for detecting the outside air temperature and an inside temperature sensor for detecting the inside temperature, and setting a driving voltage to the thermoelectric member according to the outside air temperature. It is configured to control the drive and stop of the thermoelectric member according to the temperature A thermoelectric modular electric refrigerator, characterized in that: 12. The thermoelectric module type electric refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the drive voltage based on the outside air temperature of the thermoelectric member is increased when the driving time of the thermoelectric member is equal to or longer than a predetermined time. 13. When the internal temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature,
The thermoelectric modular electric refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the drive voltage based on the outside air temperature of the thermoelectric member is increased.