Gas extraction device and gas extraction method for refrigerator

Abstract

A gas extraction device installed in a refrigerator removes uncondensed gases that exist in the refrigerator. The gas extraction device includes a gas extraction tank used to circulate a refrigerant put in an evaporator, a circulation pipe for circulation between the gas extraction tank and the evaporator, a gas extraction pump which feeds the refrigerant in the evaporator to the gas extraction tank, a shutoff valve configured to shut off a flow of the refrigerant from the gas extraction tank to the evaporator, a gas extractor which extracts the uncondensed gas in the refrigerator into the gas extraction tank, and an auxiliary tank which receives an inflow of the refrigerant filling up the gas extraction tank, and overflowing therefrom.

1 . A gas extraction device for a refrigerator, which is installed in the refrigerator configured to produce cold water using heat of evaporation generated when evaporating a refrigerant put in a vacuumized evaporator, the gas extraction device for removing an uncondensed gas that exists in the refrigerator comprising:
 a gas extraction tank for circulating the refrigerant in the evaporator;   a circulation pipe for circulation between the gas extraction tank and the evaporator;   a gas extraction pump installed in the circulation pipe to feed the refrigerant in the evaporator to the gas extraction tank;   a shutoff valve installed in the circulation pipe so as to shut off a flow of the refrigerant from the gas extraction tank to the evaporator;   a gas extractor for extracting the uncondensed gas in the refrigerator into the gas extraction tank using the refrigerant supplied from the evaporator to the gas extraction tank; and   an auxiliary tank connected to an upper section of the gas extraction tank and receives an inflow of the refrigerant filling up the gas extraction tank, and overflowing therefrom.   
     
     
         2 . The gas extraction device for a refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the gas extraction tank includes a first liquid level gauge which outputs a water-level signal when a liquid level of the refrigerant in the gas extraction tank becomes the same as or lower than a predefined height;   the auxiliary tank includes a second liquid level gauge which outputs a water-level signal when a liquid level of the refrigerant in the auxiliary tank becomes the same as or higher than a predefined height; and   a controller is provided, which is configured to perform a gas extraction operation by opening the shutoff valve, and continuously operating the gas extraction pump until reception of the water-level signal output from the first liquid level gauge, and a filling operation by closing the shutoff valve, and continuously operating the gas extraction pump until reception of the water-level signal output from the second liquid level gauge.   
     
     
         3 . The gas extraction device for a refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the circulation pipe includes a feed pipe connected to a lower section of the evaporator and equipped with the gas extraction pump, and a return pipe connected to a lower section of the gas extraction tank and equipped with the shutoff valve; and   end portions of the feed pipe and the return pipe that are open to the gas extraction tank are positioned lower than the height of the liquid level of the refrigerant, which is established upon output of the water-level signal from the first liquid level gauge.   
     
     
         4 . The gas extraction device for a refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 a first tank valve is provided between the gas extraction tank and the auxiliary tank;   a second tank valve is provided above the auxiliary tank; and   the controller is configured to close the first tank valve when performing the gas extraction operation, open the first tank valve and the second tank valve when performing the filling operation, and close the first tank valve when receiving the water-level signal output from the second liquid level gauge.   
     
     
         5 . The gas extraction device for a refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 an upper section of the gas extraction tank has a shape with a horizontal sectional area that becomes smaller toward an upward direction; and   the auxiliary tank is connected to a portion at the upper section of the gas extraction tank, which has a minimum horizontal sectional area.   
     
     
         6 . A gas extraction method for a refrigerator, which uses the gas extraction device for a refrigerator according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 gas extraction step of opening the shutoff valve accompanied with an operation of the gas extraction pump, circulating the refrigerant in the evaporator to the gas extraction tank, and drawing the uncondensed gas in the refrigerator into the gas extraction tank using the gas extractor; and   discharging step of closing the shutoff valve accompanied with the operation of the gas extraction pump, filling up the gas extraction tank with the refrigerant put in the evaporator so as to be overflowed into the auxiliary tank, and discharging the uncondensed gases drawn and stored in the gas extraction tank into the auxiliary tank.   
     
     
         7 . The gas extraction device for a refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 a first tank valve is provided between the gas extraction tank and the auxiliary tank;   a second tank valve is provided above the auxiliary tank; and   the controller is configured to close the first tank valve when performing the gas extraction operation, open the first tank valve and the second tank valve when performing the filling operation, and close the first tank valve when receiving the water-level signal output from the second liquid level gauge.   
     
     
         8 . The gas extraction device for a refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 an upper section of the gas extraction tank has a shape with a horizontal sectional area that becomes smaller toward an upward direction; and   the auxiliary tank is connected to a portion at the upper section of the gas extraction tank, which has a minimum horizontal sectional area.   
     
     
         9 . The gas extraction device for a refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 an upper section of the gas extraction tank has a shape with a horizontal sectional area that becomes smaller toward an upward direction; and   the auxiliary tank is connected to a portion at the upper section of the gas extraction tank, which has a minimum horizontal sectional area.   
     
     
         10 . The gas extraction device for a refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 an upper section of the gas extraction tank has a shape with a horizontal sectional area that becomes smaller toward an upward direction; and   the auxiliary tank is connected to a portion at the upper section of the gas extraction tank, which has a minimum horizontal sectional area.   
     
     
         11 . A gas extraction method for a refrigerator, which uses the gas extraction device for a refrigerator according to  claim 2 , the method comprising:
 gas extraction step of opening the shutoff valve accompanied with an operation of the gas extraction pump, circulating the refrigerant in the evaporator to the gas extraction tank, and drawing the uncondensed gas in the refrigerator into the gas extraction tank using the gas extractor; and   discharging step of closing the shutoff valve accompanied with the operation of the gas extraction pump, filling up the gas extraction tank with the refrigerant put in the evaporator so as to be overflowed into the auxiliary tank, and discharging the uncondensed gases drawn and stored in the gas extraction tank into the auxiliary tank.   
     
     
         12 . A gas extraction method for a refrigerator, which uses the gas extraction device for a refrigerator according to  claim 3 , the method comprising:
 gas extraction step of opening the shutoff valve accompanied with an operation of the gas extraction pump, circulating the refrigerant in the evaporator to the gas extraction tank, and drawing the uncondensed gas in the refrigerator into the gas extraction tank using the gas extractor; and   discharging step of closing the shutoff valve accompanied with the operation of the gas extraction pump, filling up the gas extraction tank with the refrigerant put in the evaporator so as to be overflowed into the auxiliary tank, and discharging the uncondensed gases drawn and stored in the gas extraction tank into the auxiliary tank.   
     
     
         13 . A gas extraction method for a refrigerator, which uses the gas extraction device for a refrigerator according to  claim 4 , the method comprising:
 gas extraction step of opening the shutoff valve accompanied with an operation of the gas extraction pump, circulating the refrigerant in the evaporator to the gas extraction tank, and drawing the uncondensed gas in the refrigerator into the gas extraction tank using the gas extractor; and   discharging step of closing the shutoff valve accompanied with the operation of the gas extraction pump, filling up the gas extraction tank with the refrigerant put in the evaporator so as to be overflowed into the auxiliary tank, and discharging the uncondensed gases drawn and stored in the gas extraction tank into the auxiliary tank.   
     
     
         14 . A gas extraction method for a refrigerator, which uses the gas extraction device for a refrigerator according to  claim 5 , the method comprising:
 gas extraction step of opening the shutoff valve accompanied with an operation of the gas extraction pump, circulating the refrigerant in the evaporator to the gas extraction tank, and drawing the uncondensed gas in the refrigerator into the gas extraction tank using the gas extractor; and   discharging step of closing the shutoff valve accompanied with the operation of the gas extraction pump, filling up the gas extraction tank with the refrigerant put in the evaporator so as to be overflowed into the auxiliary tank, and discharging the uncondensed gases drawn and stored in the gas extraction tank into the auxiliary tank.