In order to navigate when the kitchen equipment fails, many housewives are forced to understand the principle of operation of many devices, such as: electric stove, microwave oven, refrigerator other. The main function of the refrigerator compartment is to keep nutritious food fresh, so it has to work constantly, and the services of a repair specialist cannot be used instantly. Understanding how the refrigerator works will help save financial and time resources, and many malfunctions can be fixed by hand.
Content
- The interior of the refrigerator
- Single and double chamber models
- Fast freezing function
The interior of the refrigerator
Everyone knows how a refrigerator works, in simple words - this equipment freezes and cools a wide variety of products, allowing them to avoid spoilage for some time.
At the same time, not everyone knows certain features of this device: what does the refrigerator consist of, where does it come from coldness in the inner plane of the chamber, how it is created by the refrigerator and why the device from time to time turns off.
To understand these issues, it is necessary to consider in detail the principle of operation of the refrigerator.. To begin with, we note that cold air masses do not arise by themselves: a decrease in air temperature is carried out inside the chamber during the operation of the unit.
This refrigeration equipment includes several main parts:
- refrigerant;
- evaporator;
- capacitor;
- compressor.
The compressor is the heart of any refrigeration unit. This element is responsible for the circulation of the refrigerant through a large number of special tubes, some of which are located at the back of the refrigerator. The rest of the parts are camouflaged in the inside of the camera under the panel.
During operation, the compressor, like any motor, is exposed to significant heating, so it needs some time to cool down. So that this unit does not lose its performance due to overheating, a relay is built into it, which opens the electrical circuit at certain temperature indicators.
The tubes located on the outer surface of the refrigeration equipment are the condenser. It is designed to release heat energy to the outside. The compressor, while pumping the refrigerant, sends it inside the condenser by means of high pressure. As a result, a substance with a gaseous structure (isobutane or freon) becomes liquid and begins to heat up. The excess heat is then dissipated in the room so that the refrigerant is cooled naturally. It is for this reason that it is forbidden to install heating devices next to refrigerators.
The owners, who know about the principle of operation of the refrigerator, try to arrange for their “kitchen assistant” the most optimal conditions for cooling the condenser and compressor. This allows you to extend its life..
To obtain cold in the inner chamber, there is another part of the pipe system, into which the liquefied gaseous substance is sent after the condenser - it is called the evaporator. This element is separated from the condenser by a drying filter and a capillary. The principle of cooling inside the chamber:
- Once in the evaporator, freon begins to boil and expand, again transforming into gas. In this case, the absorption of thermal energy is carried out.
- The tubes in the chamber cool not only the air masses of the unit, but also cool themselves.
- The refrigerant is then sent back to the compressor and the cycle repeats.
In order to prevent nutritious foods from freezing inside the refrigerator, a thermostat is built into the equipment. A special scale makes it possible to set the required degree of cooling, and after reaching the required values, the equipment automatically turns off.
Single and double chamber models
The unit that cools the air in each refrigerator has a common design principle. However, there are still differences in the functioning of different equipment. They are based on the peculiarities of the movement of the refrigerant in refrigeration cabinets with one or a pair of chambers.
The scheme, which was presented just above, is typical for single-chamber models. Regardless of the location of the evaporator, the principle of operation will be the same. However, if the freezer is located under or above the cooling compartment, then an additional compressor is required for stable and full operation of the refrigerator. For a freezer, the principle of operation will be the same.
The refrigeration compartment, in which the temperature does not fall below zero, starts only after the freezer has cooled sufficiently and turned off. Just at this moment, the refrigerant from the freezing system is sent to the chambers with a positive temperature, and the evaporation / condensation cycle takes place already at a lower level, therefore it is impossible to say exactly how much refrigeration equipment needs to work before automatic shutdown. It all depends on the setting of the thermostat and the volume of the freezer chamber.
Fast freezing function
This function is typical for two-compartment refrigerators. In this mode, the refrigerator can work continuously for a long time. Fast freezing is intended for effective freezing of products in large volumes..
After activating the option, special LED indicators on the panel will light up, indicating that the compressor is running. Here you need to take into account the fact that the operation of the unit will not be stopped automatically, and too long the operation of the refrigerator can negatively affect its condition.
After manual shutdown of the unit, the indicators themselves will go out, and the compressor drive will shut down.
Modern refrigerators are equipped with a wide variety of functions. And today, housewives are aware of the existence of an automatic defrosting function. Non-freezing and drip refrigeration systems have made human life much easier, but the principle of the refrigerator has remained the same.
