Refrigerating apparatus

Abstract

A refrigerating apparatus includes: a storage compartment, an air-circulating member, a refrigerating unit, and an electric field-generating unit. The storage compartment has an evaporator-side region and a cooling-side region. The air-circulating member is disposed to establish an air circulation path in which a to-be-cooled air flows from the cooling-side region to the evaporator-side region along an onward flow route, and in which a cooled air flows from the evaporator-side region back to the cooling-side region along a backward flow route. The refrigerating unit includes an evaporator disposed in the evaporator-side region, a compressor, and an expansion valve. The electric field-generating unit is disposed to impose a DC voltage over the onward flow route so as to minimize cohesion of water droplets in the evaporator-side region, thereby reducing phenomenon of frosting on the conduit body of the evaporator.

1 . A refrigerating apparatus comprising:
 a storage compartment which includes an evaporator-side region and a cooling-side region;   an air-circulating member disposed to establish an air circulation path in which a to-be-cooled air flows from said cooling-side region to said evaporator-side region along an onward flow route, and in which a cooled air flows from said evaporator-side region back to said cooling-side region along a backward flow route;   a refrigerating unit including:
 an evaporator having a conduit body disposed in said evaporator-side region for evaporation of a refrigerant, and inlet and outlet members which are disposed upstream and downstream of said conduit body respectively to lead the refrigerant in and out of said conduit body, respectively; 
 a compressor which is disposed outwardly of said storage compartment, which is positioned downstream of said outlet member to compress the vapor of refrigerant led out thereof for supply of liquefied refrigerant, and which is upstream of said inlet member for delivering the liquefied refrigerant towards said inlet member; and 
 an expansion valve which is disposed downstream of said compressor and upstream of said inlet member for flash evaporation of the liquefied refrigerant; and 
   an electric field-generating unit positioned adjacent to said evaporator-side region to impose a DC voltage over the onward flow route with a sufficient intensity such that water droplets entrained in the to-be-cooled air are charged so as to minimize cohesion of water droplets in said evaporator-side region, thereby reducing phenomenon of frosting on the conduit body of the evaporator.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said electric field-generating unit includes a voltage grid disposed upstream of said evaporator to apply the DC voltage to the water droplets flowing therethrough on the onward flow route. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the DC voltage is up to 5000V. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerating apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the DC voltage ranges from 3000V to 5000V. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said air-circulating member includes a ventilating fan. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerating apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said air-circulating member is disposed on the onward flow route and upstream of said electric field-generating unit. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerating apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said air-circulating member is disposed on the backward flow route and downstream of said evaporator.