Refrigerator

Abstract

The application provides a refrigerator, which comprises a cabinet defining a storage compartment, a storage device, a refrigeration unit, a communicating port provided with a moisture-permeable membrane is formed on one side wall of the storage device, and a second humidity sensor and a temperature sensor are arranged in the communicating port, a first fan is arranged on the side wall of the storage device provided with the moisture-permeable membrane, the first fan is located on the side of the side wall close to the storage compartment, the air outlet of the first fan faces the moisture-permeable membrane, and the airflow flowing out of the air outlet of the first fan flows along the surface of the moisture-permeable membrane, the air passing through the refrigeration unit is cooled to form a low-temperature airflow, and the low-temperature airflow enters the storage compartment and flows through the moisture-permeable membrane, and a controller adjusts the temperature T i of the storage compartment according to the storage humidity R N , controls the refrigeration unit to operate to adjust the temperature in the storage cavity, and controls the first fan to operate to adjust the humidity according to the change rate α r of the storage humidity, the change rate α of the storage humidity, and the change rate β of the temperature in the storage cavity, and the change rate β of the temperature in the storage cavity. The application can quickly adjust the storage temperature, efficiently dehumidify, avoid the loss of moisture of food caused by wind blowing due to dehumidification, avoid the mildewing of food, and improve the moisture-retaining and fresh-keeping effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of refrigerators, and particularly relates to a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] Currently available refrigerators with adjustable humidity drawers have two major drawbacks. First, it is difficult to simultaneously achieve the desired humidity control effect at different settings. This often results in the following situations: for example, the high humidity setting has poor moisturizing effect, causing leafy vegetables and other foods that require a high humidity environment to dry out; or when the drawer is set to the high humidity setting, excessive humidity inside the drawer leads to condensation, while when set to the medium or low humidity setting, excessive humidity can cause mold growth if citrus fruits, melons, or other foods that are suitable for medium or low humidity are stored.

[0003] In view of this, the present invention is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention proposes a refrigerator.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0006] Refrigerator, which includes:

[0007] The container defines the storage space;

[0008] A storage device is housed within the storage compartment; the storage device defines a sealed storage cavity, and a communication opening is formed on one side wall of the storage device; a second humidity sensor for detecting the humidity inside the storage cavity and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature inside the cavity are provided inside the storage cavity.

[0009] A moisture-permeable membrane is disposed at the communication port of the storage device;

[0010] A first fan is disposed on the side wall of the storage device having the moisture-permeable membrane, and is located on the side of the side wall close to the storage compartment; the air outlet of the first fan faces the moisture-permeable membrane, and the airflow from the air outlet of the first fan flows along the surface of the moisture-permeable membrane.

[0011] A refrigeration unit has a second air outlet corresponding to the position of the moisture-permeable membrane; the low-temperature airflow generated by the refrigeration unit enters the storage room through the second air outlet and flows through the moisture-permeable membrane;

[0012] The controller is configured to acquire the storage temperature T inside the storage cavity after the storage device enters the storage mode. i Storage humidity R N Storage humidity change rate α r ;

[0013] In Ti >T N0 When the temperature reaches the set storage temperature threshold T of the storage mode, the controller controls the refrigeration unit to operate. N0 ;

[0014] In α r1 ≤α r <α r2 And R N ≥R Z1 At that time, the controller controls the first fan to operate at a first power P1 until the storage humidity R in the storage cavity is reached. N Reaching the storage humidity threshold R Z0 ;

[0015] Where, α r1 α is the threshold for the first rate of change of humidity. r2 R is the second humidity change rate threshold. Z0 R represents the storage humidity threshold under the given storage mode. Z1 R is the first humidity threshold; Z0 <R Z1 .

[0016] As an feasible approach, in α r2 ≤α r And R N ≥R Z2 At that time, the controller controls the first fan to operate at the second power P2 until the storage humidity R in the storage cavity is reached. N Reaching the storage humidity threshold R Z0 ;

[0017] Among them, R Z2 The second humidity threshold; R Z1 <R Z2 P2 > P1.

[0018] As one feasible approach, the rated power of the first fan is denoted as P0, where P1 < P0 < P2.

[0019] As an feasible approach, P1 = 50% P0, P2 = 100% P0, or P2 = 120% P0.

[0020] As one possible implementation, a second fan is provided inside the storage cavity;

[0021] In R N When R2 is greater than or equal to R2, the second fan starts, and the first and second fans work simultaneously; where R2 is the second dehumidification threshold, and R2 > R Z2 .

[0022] As one feasible approach, a second fan is provided within the storage cavity; in α r2 ≤α r And R N ≥R Z2 At that time, the first fan and the second fan operate simultaneously until the storage humidity R in the storage cavity is reached. N Reaching the storage humidity threshold R Z0 .

[0023] As one possible implementation, the controller acquires the continuous closed time t of the storage device, and after the continuous closed time of the storage device reaches a set time threshold t0, at the storage temperature T... i > Storage temperature threshold T N0 At that time, the controller controls the refrigeration unit to operate until the storage temperature R in the storage cavity is reached. i Reaching the storage temperature threshold T N0 .

[0024] As one possible implementation, the storage device is provided with an operation panel for selecting a storage mode;

[0025] The control panel includes buttons for a constant temperature mode for fruits and vegetables and a constant humidity mode for fresh produce; each storage mode has its own corresponding storage temperature threshold T. N0 and storage humidity threshold R Z0 Storage temperature threshold T for fresh produce under constant humidity mode N0 The storage temperature T is less than the constant temperature threshold for fruits and vegetables. N0 .

[0026] As an feasible approach, the storage humidity threshold R Z0 The humidity range is set; the intersection of the humidity ranges corresponding to different humidity thresholds is an empty set; the storage temperature threshold R N0 Set as a temperature range; the intersection of temperature ranges corresponding to different temperature thresholds is an empty set.

[0027] As one possible implementation, the second fan is disposed on the side wall of the storage device having a moisture-permeable membrane and is adjacent to the moisture-permeable membrane; the outlet of the second fan faces the moisture-permeable membrane, and the airflow from the outlet of the second fan flows along the surface of the moisture-permeable membrane.

[0028] Compared with the prior art, the advantages and positive effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0029] This invention provides a refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet defining a storage compartment, a storage device housed within the storage compartment, and a controller; the storage device defining a sealed storage cavity, and a communication opening formed on one side wall of the storage device; a second humidity sensor for detecting humidity within the storage cavity and a temperature sensor for detecting temperature within the storage cavity are disposed within the storage cavity; a moisture-permeable membrane is provided at the communication opening of the storage device; a first fan is provided on the side wall of the storage device having the moisture-permeable membrane, the first fan being located on the side of the side wall closer to the storage compartment, and the air outlet of the first fan facing the moisture-permeable membrane; airflow from the air outlet of the first fan flows along the surface of the moisture-permeable membrane; the controller is configured to acquire the storage temperature T within the storage cavity after the storage device enters a storage mode. i Storage humidity R N Storage humidity change rate α r ; in T i >T N0 When the temperature reaches the set storage temperature threshold T of the storage mode, the controller controls the refrigeration unit to operate. N0 ; in α r1 ≤α r <α r2 And R N ≥R Z1 At that time, the controller controls the first fan to operate at a first power P1 until the storage humidity R in the storage cavity is reached. N Reaching the storage humidity threshold R Z0 ; where α r1 α is the threshold for the first rate of change of humidity. r2 R is the second humidity change rate threshold. Z0 R represents the storage humidity threshold under the given storage mode. Z1 R is the first humidity threshold; Z0 <R Z This invention addresses two key aspects: First, it uses a refrigeration unit to promptly regulate the temperature within the storage cavity, maintaining a constant internal temperature. Second, it utilizes a first fan to effectively increase the airflow velocity across the permeable membrane surface, achieving efficient and rapid dehumidification. This prevents food from losing moisture due to airflow during dehumidification, enhancing the dehumidification effect and preventing excessive humidity within the storage cavity from causing mold growth, thus effectively improving moisture retention and preservation. Furthermore, the controller adjusts the first fan's power output based on the humidity change rate and storage humidity. This allows for rapid adjustment of the humidity within the storage cavity, maintaining a constant humidity level, while also selectively controlling the fan's power to reduce energy consumption. This design effectively maintains a constant temperature and humidity within the storage cavity, comprehensively improving preservation and enhancing product quality. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the refrigerator of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the storage device of the refrigerator of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the storage device of the refrigerator of the present invention in the open state;

[0033] Figure 4 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of the storage device of the refrigerator of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a portion of the storage device of the refrigerator of the present invention from another perspective.

[0035] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the storage device of the refrigerator of the present invention from another perspective;

[0036] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the storage device portion of the refrigerator of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the moisture-permeable membrane and the support frame of the refrigerator of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of the refrigeration unit of the refrigerator of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 10 This is a cross-sectional view of the refrigeration unit of the refrigerator of the present invention from another perspective;

[0040] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration unit of the refrigerator of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration unit of the refrigerator of the present invention from another perspective;

[0042] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the humidity control method for the refrigerator of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 14 This is an overall schematic diagram of another embodiment of the constant humidity control method for the refrigerator of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 15This is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the constant humidity control method for the refrigerator of the present invention. In the above figures: storage room 1; storage device 2; storage cavity 3; moisture-permeable membrane 4; first fan 5; second fan 6; shell 7; drawer 8; bracket 9; cabinet 10; control panel 11; first side 12; second side 13; cover 14; inner liner 15; fan housing cavity 21; supply fan 22; first air duct 23; second air duct 24; return air duct 25; first air outlet 26; second air outlet 27; return air outlet 28; first damper 20; second damper 29. Detailed Implementation

[0045] The present invention will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments, so that those skilled in the art can better understand and implement the present invention. However, the scope of protection claimed by the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the specific embodiments. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be arbitrarily combined with each other.

[0046] It should be noted that the descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., in this invention are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature.

[0047] Furthermore, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only if they are feasible for those skilled in the art. If the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0048] A type of refrigerator, such as Figures 1-8 As shown, the refrigerator includes an insulated cabinet 10; the cabinet 10 includes an outer shell and an inner liner 15, the inner liner 15 defining multiple insulated storage compartments 1 for storing food and other items. In this embodiment, these storage compartments 1 are a refrigerator compartment located at the top and a freezer compartment located at the bottom. Each storage compartment 1 can be closed by its corresponding door. It should be noted that the arrangement of the refrigerator and freezer compartments is not limited to an upper and lower arrangement; for example, the condenser compartment and freezer compartment can be arranged side by side. Of course, the number of storage compartments is not limited to two.

[0049] The storage room 1 is equipped with a storage device 2. The storage device 2 defines a sealed storage cavity 3, and a connecting opening is formed on one side wall of the storage device 2. A moisture-permeable membrane 4 is provided at the connecting opening. A first fan 5 is provided on the side wall of the storage device 2 with the moisture-permeable membrane 4. The first fan 5 is located on the side of the side wall closest to the storage room 1. The first fan 5 is adjacent to the moisture-permeable membrane 4, and the air outlet of the first fan 5 faces the moisture-permeable membrane 4. The airflow from the air outlet of the first fan 5 flows along the surface of the moisture-permeable membrane 4. The sealed storage cavity 3 is provided above. The storage cavity 3 and the storage room 1 exchange moisture through the moisture-permeable membrane 4 at the connecting opening, but no gas exchange occurs, so that the storage cavity 3 is not affected by the airflow of its external environment (the storage room).

[0050] The refrigerator is equipped with a controller, and a first humidity sensor is installed in the storage compartment 1 to monitor the humidity in the storage compartment 1. In this example, the first humidity sensor is installed on the back wall of the storage compartment 1 and corresponds to the position of the storage device 2. A second humidity sensor is installed in the storage cavity 3 to monitor the humidity in the storage cavity 3. When the humidity inside the storage cavity 3 exceeds the humidity inside the storage room 1 by a first threshold, the controller controls the first fan 5 to operate. The airflow from the outlet of the first fan 5 flows along the surface of the moisture-permeable membrane 4, thus accelerating the airflow on the side of the moisture-permeable membrane 4 closest to the storage room 1. This reduces the humidity value outside the sealed storage cavity 3 (especially the moisture-permeable membrane 4), creating a larger humidity difference. This prevents the moisture-permeable membrane 3 from becoming inefficient or completely failing, thus preventing moisture from being trapped inside the storage cavity 3. This increases the moisture permeability, thereby reducing the accumulation of moisture generated by the food inside the storage cavity 3, preventing condensation or frost. This avoids condensation inside the storage cavity 3, which can lead to mold growth on the food. It also prevents the food from being blown away by the wind during dehumidification, thus preventing moisture loss. In addition, it can also promote airflow within the storage room 1, promoting uniform cooling within it.

[0051] The first humidity threshold is set based on the suitable humidity for storing the food. When setting up the refrigerator, multiple thresholds can be preset for different types and quantities of food, allowing users to choose the appropriate threshold for more targeted humidity control.

[0052] As an feasible approach, an operation panel 11 is provided on the upper wall of the storage device 2 for the user to select the storage mode. In this embodiment, the storage modes include a fruit and vegetable constant humidity mode and a fresh food constant humidity mode. In the fruit and vegetable constant humidity mode, the temperature inside the storage cavity 3 is consistent with the temperature inside the storage room 1 (refrigeration room), approximately 3℃-8℃. Since the storage cavity 3 exchanges moisture with the refrigerator room through the moisture-permeable membrane 4, the humidity inside the storage cavity 3 in the fruit and vegetable constant humidity mode mainly comes from the transpiration of the fruits and vegetables themselves, and the relative humidity inside the storage cavity 3 reaches 80%-90%. The fruit and vegetable constant humidity mode is the general mode of the storage device. In the fresh food constant humidity mode, the storage temperature inside the storage cavity 3 is lower than that in the fruit and vegetable constant humidity mode, and its set temperature is -3℃-0℃. A temperature sensor is installed inside the storage cavity to monitor its internal temperature. The control panel 11 is equipped with storage mode buttons, allowing users to select the most suitable storage mode within the storage compartment 3 based on the type of food. This feature enables targeted humidity control of the food, improving preservation and product quality, and enhancing the user experience. As one feasible implementation, the storage device 2 includes a housing 7 and a retractable or retractable drawer 8. The control panel 11 is located on the top wall of the housing 7 near the refrigerator door for easy user operation.

[0053] In this embodiment, a cover 14 is provided at the connecting opening, defining a receiving cavity to accommodate the moisture-permeable membrane 4. In this embodiment, the receiving cavity formed by the cover 14 is located on the side wall of the storage device 2 near the rear wall of the storage compartment 1, so that when the drawer 8 is fully accommodated in the storage cavity 3, the drawer 8 is prevented from contacting the moisture-permeable membrane 4 and damaging it; at the same time, it effectively protects the moisture-permeable membrane 4 from collisions with other components of the storage device 2. Multiple ventilation holes are formed on the cover 14 to allow airflow blown by the first fan 5 to pass through and flow over the surface of the moisture-permeable membrane. In this embodiment, the cover 14 is integrally formed with the side wall of the storage device 2 for easy processing.

[0054] As another feasible approach, a second fan 6 is provided in the storage cavity 3 to promote airflow and mixing in the storage cavity 3, so as to avoid excessive humidity and condensation in the storage cavity 3, which would lead to food spoilage.

[0055] When the humidity inside storage chamber 3 exceeds the humidity inside storage room 1 and reaches a second threshold (where the second threshold > the first threshold), the humidity inside storage chamber 3 becomes even higher. At this time, the first fan 5 and the second fan 6 operate simultaneously. The first fan 5 effectively increases the airflow velocity through the moisture-permeable membrane 4, effectively increasing the water vapor permeation rate of the membrane 4 for rapid dehumidification. The second fan 6 operates, promoting airflow and mixing within storage chamber 3 to prevent excessive humidity from causing condensation and thus preventing food spoilage. The second threshold is set based on the humidity level at which mold growth occurs in the stored food.

[0056] In this embodiment, the second fan 6 is disposed on the side wall of the storage device 2 where the moisture-permeable membrane 4 is located, and is adjacent to the moisture-permeable membrane 4. The air outlet of the second fan 6 faces the moisture-permeable membrane 4, and the airflow from the air outlet of the second fan 6 flows along the surface of the moisture-permeable membrane 4. The airflow from the air outlet of the second fan 6 promotes air circulation within the storage cavity 3 to prevent excessive humidity and condensation. On the other hand, the airflow generated by the second fan 6 flows through the moisture-permeable membrane 4, accelerating the water vapor permeation rate of the moisture-permeable membrane 4 for rapid dehumidification, thus preventing excessive humidity and condensation. The above-mentioned positioning of the second fan 6 accelerates the regulation of humidity within the storage cavity 3, preventing food from becoming moldy.

[0057] As one feasible approach, the first fan 5 and the second fan 6 are positioned on opposite sides of the same side wall of the storage device 2, with the second fan 6 corresponding to the position of the first fan 5. When the storage cavity 3 is in a high-humidity environment, the first fan 5 and the second fan 6 operate simultaneously, increasing the airflow velocity on both sides of the permeable membrane 4, further accelerating the water vapor permeation rate of the permeable membrane 4, and speeding up dehumidification.

[0058] In this embodiment, the area defined by the edge of the side wall of the storage device 2 where the moisture-permeable membrane 4 is located is denoted as S1, and the area of ​​the moisture-permeable membrane 4 is denoted as S2, where S2:S1∈[0.5,0.8]. This allows for the reasonable arrangement of the first fan 5, the second fan 6, and the moisture-permeable membrane 4 on the side wall of the storage device 2, while ensuring that the area of ​​the moisture-permeable membrane 4 meets the requirements for humidity regulation.

[0059] In this embodiment, the plane where the air outlet of the first fan 5 or the second fan 6 is located is perpendicular to the plane where the moisture-permeable membrane 4 is located; that is, the airflow flowing out of the air outlet of the first fan 5 or the second air outlet flows parallel to the moisture-permeable membrane 4; so that the airflow flowing out of the air outlet of the first fan or the second fan can flow through more areas of the moisture-permeable membrane 4, thereby improving the overall water vapor permeability of the moisture-permeable membrane 4 and accelerating dehumidification.

[0060] In this embodiment, the permeable membrane 4 is rectangular; the longer side of the rectangular permeable membrane 4 is designated as the first side 12, and the shorter side is designated as the second side 13. The first fan 5 and the second fan 6 are both positioned adjacent to the shorter second side 13 of the permeable membrane 4. This ensures that the outlets of the first fan 5 and the second fan 6 effectively cover the permeable membrane 4, and also effectively utilizes the airflow to allow the airflow to flow fully through the first side 12 of the permeable membrane 4. Furthermore, the plane containing the outlet of the first fan 5 or the second fan 6 is parallel to the shorter edge of the permeable membrane 4 to effectively ensure the effective airflow through the permeable membrane 4 and improve airflow utilization.

[0061] The above-mentioned moisture-permeable membrane 4 is set as a rectangle, with the length of its first side 12 denoted as C and the length of its second side 13 denoted as B, where C:B∈[1.2, 1.8]. At this time, the airflow from the first fan 5 and / or the second fan 6 can effectively cover the moisture-permeable membrane 4 and ensure the airflow velocity in each area of ​​the moisture-permeable membrane 4, thereby ensuring that the moisture-permeable membrane 4 has a high water vapor permeation rate at all points.

[0062] Along the second side 13 of the permeable membrane 4, the outlet size of the first fan 5 is denoted as W1, and the outlet size of the second fan 6 is denoted as W2; W1: B∈[0.3, 0.7], W2: B∈[0.3, 0.7]; the above settings can reasonably arrange the permeable membrane 4 and the fans by limiting the size of the fans and the size of the permeable membrane 4, and ensure that the airflow flowing out of the outlet of the first fan 5 or / and the second fan 6 has a comprehensive and effective coverage rate, thereby further improving the overall water vapor permeation rate of the permeable membrane 4.

[0063] In addition, the normal line of the permeable membrane 4 passing through the center of the permeable membrane 4 is denoted as axis L, the plane where the air outlet of the first fan or the second fan is located is denoted as air outlet plane P, the distance between axis L and air outlet plane P is denoted as D1, and the distance between the adjacent edge (second edge 13) of the permeable membrane 4 and the air outlet plane P is denoted as D2, D2:D1∈[1,1.5], so that the airflow flowing out of the air outlet plane can effectively maintain kinetic energy flowing through the first edge 12 of the permeable membrane 4, thereby increasing the water vapor permeability of the permeable membrane 4.

[0064] The center line of the moisture-permeable membrane 4, parallel to the bottom surface of the storage room 1, is denoted as the center line M (in this embodiment, the center line of the rectangle parallel to the first side 12). The areas of the moisture-permeable membrane 4 located on opposite sides of the center line M are denoted as the first moisture-permeable area and the second moisture-permeable area, respectively. The air outlet of the first fan 5 and the air outlet of the second fan 6 face one of the first moisture-permeable areas and the other faces the second moisture-permeable area. The airflow from the air outlet of the first fan 5 mainly flows through the moisture-permeable area it faces; the airflow from the air outlet of the second fan 6 mainly flows through the moisture-permeable area it faces. This arrangement ensures a uniform distribution of airflow intensity throughout the entire area of ​​the moisture-permeable membrane 4, fully utilizing the membrane 4 and improving moisture permeability. In this embodiment, the first moisture-permeable area is located below the second moisture-permeable area, and the air outlet of the first fan 5 faces the first moisture-permeable area, while the air outlet of the second fan 6 faces the second moisture-permeable area.

[0065] In the above embodiments, the first fan 5 and the second fan 6 are centrifugal fans or vortex fans. In this embodiment, the permeable membrane 4 is disposed on the rear wall of the storage cavity 3. Furthermore, the permeable membrane 4 is mounted on the bracket 9, which is snapped into place with the storage device 2 at the communication opening. Specifically, the bracket 9 has two permeable membranes 4 arranged side-by-side. As an optional configuration, the two permeable membranes are spaced apart to effectively improve permeability.

[0066] like Figures 9-12 As shown, a refrigeration unit is installed on the rear wall of storage room 1, and the refrigeration unit and the rear wall of storage room 1 together define a return air duct 25. An evaporator (not shown in the figure) is installed in the return air duct 25 to cool the passing air. The refrigeration unit defines a fan housing cavity 21, and a supply fan 22 is installed in the fan housing cavity 21.

[0067] The refrigeration unit defines a first air duct 23 and a second air duct 24 that connect the storage compartment and the fan housing 21. A first air outlet 26 near the upper end of the refrigeration unit, a second air outlet 27 near the lower end of the refrigeration unit, and a return air outlet 28 connected to the return air duct 25 are formed on the front side of the refrigeration unit. The second air outlet 27 corresponds to the moisture-permeable membrane 4 on the storage device 2, and the return air outlet 28 is located below the second air outlet 27. The first air duct 23 connects the fan housing 21 and the first air outlet 26, allowing the low-temperature airflow passing through the evaporator to enter the storage compartment 1 from the top of the storage compartment. The low-temperature air delivered by the first air outlet 26 passes through the storage compartment 1 and enters the return air duct 25 through the return air outlet 28 located at the bottom. After being cooled by the evaporator, it enters the fan housing 21.

[0068] The second air duct 24 connects the fan housing 21 and the second air outlet 27. The low-temperature airflow entering the storage room 1 through the second air outlet 27 flows through the permeable membrane 4 and returns to the return air duct 25 via the return air outlet 28. After being cooled by the evaporator, it enters the fan housing 21. This creates a localized low-temperature airflow circulation around the permeable membrane 4, effectively affecting its water vapor permeability and promoting dehumidification. On the other hand, it lowers the temperature outside the permeable membrane 4, allowing the storage cavity to exchange heat with it, thereby lowering the temperature inside the storage cavity and changing the storage temperature. Simultaneously, the localized low-temperature airflow circulation reduces its impact on the temperature inside the storage room. In this invention, the temperature inside the storage cavity is mainly regulated by forming a localized airflow circulation through the refrigeration unit.

[0069] In this embodiment, the first air duct 23 is provided with a first air door 20 that connects or disconnects the fan housing cavity 21 and the storage room 1, and the second air duct 24 is provided with a second air door 29 that connects or disconnects the fan housing cavity 21 and the storage room 1.

[0070] When the temperature inside storage room 1 (outside storage cavity 3) changes, the water vapor pressure and chemical potential energy of the air outside the moisture-permeable membrane 4 will change. The potential energy difference between the inside and outside of the moisture-permeable membrane 4 will cause spontaneous moisture transfer until the humidity inside storage cavity 3 and the humidity of the air in storage room 1 outside the moisture-permeable membrane 4 reach equilibrium. By changing the humidity inside storage cavity 3 in the above way, when the second humidity sensor inside storage cavity 3 detects that the actual humidity inside storage cavity 3 is consistent with the set humidity threshold, the humidity adjustment process is completed, and the second air damper 29 is closed; the temperature inside storage room 1 is maintained within a constant range, and the humidity inside storage cavity 3 will also continue to be in a humidity equilibrium state, maintaining a constant humidity.

[0071] The technical principle of moisture-permeable membranes is based on the fact that water will undergo a transfer-equilibrium process under the difference in chemical potential in different environments.

[0072] The chemical potential difference is ΔM = M o -M i =R(T) o lnp o -T i lnp i ), where P is the water vapor pressure, T is the temperature, and o and i represent the corresponding parameters on the outside of the moisture-permeable membrane and the inside of the storage cavity, respectively.

[0073] If ΔM>0, the transfer of water vapor from the outside of the moisture-permeable membrane into the storage cavity is a spontaneous process. In order to reach an equilibrium state, the humidity in storage cavity 3 will increase until ΔM=0.

[0074] If ΔM = 0, the water vapor outside the moisture-permeable membrane is in a dynamic equilibrium state, and the humidity inside the storage cavity will neither increase nor decrease.

[0075] If ΔM < 0, the transfer of water vapor from the storage cavity to the outside of the moisture-permeable membrane is a spontaneous process. In order to reach an equilibrium state, the humidity in storage cavity 3 will decrease until ΔM = 0.

[0076] In actual use, the user selects the appropriate storage mode according to the ingredients. The second humidity sensor obtains the real-time humidity in the storage cavity 3. If the actual humidity in the storage cavity 3 is within the humidity range threshold corresponding to the set storage mode, no adjustment is made.

[0077] If the actual humidity inside storage chamber 3 exceeds the set humidity threshold of the storage mode, dehumidification is required. In this case, the blower 22 is activated, and the second damper 29 is opened. The second air duct 24 connects the fan housing 21 to the storage room 1. Low-temperature air enters the storage room 1 through the second air outlet 27 and flows through the permeable membrane 4. Then, it returns to the return air duct 25 through the return air outlet 28, is cooled by the evaporator, and enters the fan housing 21. This creates a localized low-temperature airflow circulation around the permeable membrane, thereby lowering the air temperature outside the permeable membrane 4. At this time, T...o ↓, and T o ↓then p o ↓, and according to ΔM=M o -M i =R(T) o lnp o -T i lnp i Analysis shows that M o This will also cause the water vapor in the storage cavity 3 to spontaneously transfer to the outside of the permeable membrane 4 if ΔM < 0, until ΔM = 0. The above local low-temperature airflow circulation effectively promotes the rapid passage of water vapor in the storage cavity 3 through the permeable membrane 4 into the storage room 1, and can quickly remove the water vapor that has permeated from the storage cavity 3, effectively accelerating the dehumidification rate and achieving rapid humidity adjustment; on the other hand, through heat exchange, the temperature inside the storage cavity decreases, forming a lower temperature storage space suitable for storing fresh food, etc.

[0078] During the dehumidification process described above, the second humidity sensor again determines whether the actual humidity inside the storage cavity is within the humidity range of the set storage mode. If it is, the temperature and humidity adjustment process is complete; if the temperature reaches the temperature threshold of the set storage mode, but the humidity is still higher than the humidity threshold of the set storage mode, the first fan (first fan and second fan) continues to run to continue adjusting the humidity until the second humidity sensor detects that the actual humidity inside the storage cavity 3 is within the humidity range threshold of the set storage mode, so as to form a constant temperature and humidity storage environment.

[0079] In this embodiment, the refrigerator has two storage modes: a fruit and vegetable humidity control mode and a fresh food humidity control mode. The control panel 11 allows the user to select the storage mode to adjust the humidity within the storage compartment 3 accordingly. As mentioned earlier, the control panel 11 includes storage mode buttons, allowing the user to select the most suitable storage mode for the food in the storage compartment 3. When the fresh food humidity control mode is selected, the refrigeration unit is controlled to adjust the temperature within the storage compartment 3 to reach the set storage temperature threshold T for the fresh food humidity control mode. N0 (T N0 This refers to the storage temperature threshold corresponding to the set constant humidity mode for fresh produce. It should be noted that multiple storage modes can be set, each with its own corresponding storage temperature threshold T. N0 In this embodiment, the storage temperature threshold T in the fresh food constant humidity mode is... N0 The storage temperature T is less than the constant temperature threshold for fruits and vegetables. N0 Each storage mode has its own corresponding storage humidity threshold R. Z0 The above storage humidity threshold R Z0When using a humidity range as a threshold, the maximum value exceeding the range is considered above the threshold, the minimum value below the range is considered below the threshold, and values ​​within the range are considered to have reached the threshold. Similarly, the storage temperature threshold T... N0 Using the temperature range as a threshold (e.g., the storage temperature threshold T in a constant humidity mode for fresh produce) N0 When ∈ [-3℃, 0℃], the maximum value greater than its range is considered to be above the humidity threshold, the minimum value lower than its humidity range is considered to be below its humidity threshold, and the value within its range is considered to have reached the threshold.

[0080] In this embodiment, the setting of a constant humidity mode for fruits and vegetables and a constant humidity mode for fresh produce are used as examples for explanation. In the set constant humidity mode for fresh produce, the second humidity sensor monitors the storage humidity R inside the storage cavity 3. N The first fan is activated promptly to increase the airflow speed on the surface of the moisture-permeable membrane 4, thereby adjusting the water vapor permeability of the membrane 4 and effectively regulating the humidity inside the storage cavity 3. Ultimately, the humidity inside the storage cavity 3 is maintained at a constant level (within the set humidity range). The humidity monitored by the second humidity sensor inside the storage cavity is recorded as the storage humidity R. N .

[0081] The refrigerator is equipped with a controller, which is configured to obtain the storage temperature T inside the storage compartment after the storage unit enters the set fresh food humidity control mode. i Storage humidity R N Storage humidity change rate α r The method of the controller acquiring the rate of change of storage humidity is existing technology and will not be elaborated here.

[0082] First, the controller controls the operation of the refrigeration unit to adjust the temperature inside the storage cavity 3 to reach the set storage temperature threshold T for the fresh food constant humidity mode. N0 .

[0083] Simultaneously, the humidity adjustment program for the fresh produce constant humidity mode is implemented; such as... Figure 13 As shown, specifically, in α r1 ≤α r <α r2 And R N ≥R Z1 At that time, the controller controls the first fan to run at the first power P1 until the storage humidity R in the storage cavity is reached. N Reaching the storage humidity threshold R Z0 ; where α r1 α is the threshold for the first rate of change of humidity. r2 R is the second humidity change rate threshold. Z0 R represents the storage humidity threshold under the given storage mode. Z1 R is the first humidity threshold; Z0 <R Z1 .

[0084] As an feasible approach, in α r2 ≤α r And R N ≥R Z2 At that time, the controller controls the first fan to run at the second power P2 until the storage humidity R in the storage cavity is reached. N Reaching the storage humidity threshold R Z0 Among them, R Z2 The second humidity threshold; R Z1 <R Z2 P2 > P1. As an implementable method, the rated power of the first fan is denoted as P0, P1 < P0 < P2; specifically, in this embodiment, P1 = 50% P0, P2 = 100% P0 or P2 = 120% P0.

[0085] Under different humidity change rates and real-time humidity conditions, the controller operates the first fan at different power levels. This allows for rapid humidity adjustment and reasonable control of the fan's operating power to reduce energy consumption. Furthermore, under these humidity conditions, the controller only operates the first fan, accelerating airflow on the side of the moisture-permeable membrane closest to the storage compartment (outside the storage cavity). This reduces the humidity level outside the sealed storage cavity (especially the moisture-permeable membrane), creating a larger humidity difference. This prevents the moisture-permeable membrane from becoming inefficient or completely ineffective, thus preventing moisture from escaping the storage cavity and increasing the moisture permeability. This, in turn, reduces the accumulation of moisture from food inside the storage cavity, preventing condensation or frost formation and avoiding mold growth. It also prevents food from being blown away by the airflow during dehumidification, thus preventing moisture loss. Additionally, it promotes airflow within the storage compartment, ensuring uniform cooling.

[0086] As another feasible approach, such as Figure 14 As shown, in R N When R2 is greater than or equal to R2, the second fan starts, and the first and second fans work simultaneously; where R2 is the second dehumidification threshold, and R2 > R Z2 When the storage chamber is at high humidity, the first and second fans operate simultaneously. The airflow from the outlet of the second fan promotes air circulation within the storage chamber to prevent condensation due to excessive humidity. Simultaneously, the airflow from the second fan passes through the moisture-permeable membrane, accelerating the moisture permeation rate for rapid dehumidification, thus preventing condensation from forming due to excessive humidity. The combined operation of the first and second fans effectively regulates the humidity within the storage chamber, preventing food from becoming moldy.

[0087] Additionally, in α r2 ≤α r And R N ≥R Z2 At that time, the second humidity threshold R is preset.Z2 =Second dehumidification threshold R2; as an alternative method, such as Figure 15 As shown, a controller can be set to operate the first and second fans simultaneously until the storage humidity R in the storage chamber is reached. N Reaching the storage humidity threshold R Z0 At this time, the first and second fans work together to quickly regulate the humidity inside the storage cavity, preventing the food from becoming moldy.

[0088] In this embodiment, the controller acquires the continuous closing time t of the storage device. After the continuous closing time of the storage device reaches the set time threshold t0, the controller controls the opening and closing of the refrigeration unit according to the set storage mode (the default fruit and vegetable constant humidity mode set by the program, or the fresh food constant humidity mode set by the user). When the set mode is the fresh food constant humidity mode (at the storage temperature T...), i > Storage temperature threshold T N0 (At that time), the controller controls the refrigeration unit to operate until the storage temperature R in the storage cavity is reached. i Reaching the storage temperature threshold T N0 .

[0089] The controller operates the first or second fan at a specific power level based on the humidity change rate and storage humidity. It comprehensively considers both the humidity change rate and real-time humidity to control fan operation. On one hand, this allows for rapid adjustment of the humidity within the storage chamber, maintaining a constant humidity level and effectively improving preservation. On the other hand, it specifically controls the fan's operating power to reduce energy consumption. Additionally, the controller adjusts the storage temperature threshold T based on the set storage mode. N0 Control the operation of the refrigeration unit and adjust the temperature inside the storage cavity to quickly switch the storage mode to the fresh food constant humidity mode.

[0090] like Figure 13 As shown, one method for controlling the constant humidity and freshness of the refrigerator described above is as follows:

[0091] S1: Set the storage mode, and the corresponding storage temperature threshold T for the set storage mode. N0 Below the current storage temperature T i When the refrigeration unit (air blower and evaporator) is activated, a localized low-temperature airflow circulation is formed around the moisture-permeable membrane 4. This affects the water vapor permeability of the moisture-permeable membrane 4, accelerating dehumidification, and also lowers the temperature outside the moisture-permeable membrane 4. The storage cavity exchanges heat with the membrane, thereby lowering the temperature inside the storage cavity 3 to adjust the temperature inside the storage cavity 3 to reach the set storage temperature threshold T for the fresh food constant humidity mode. N0 .

[0092] S2: Under the set storage mode, the second humidity sensor monitors the humidity value inside the storage cavity 3 in real time to obtain the rate of change of storage humidity α inside the storage cavity. rStorage humidity R N According to the storage humidity change rate α r and storage humidity R N The first fan is controlled to adjust the humidity in the storage cavity 3 in a timely manner, thereby maintaining a constant humidity level within the storage cavity 3. In this invention, step S1 is performed before step S2 to quickly adjust the storage temperature and humidity. It should be understood that the order is not limited to the above sequence; steps S1 and S2 operate relatively independently to achieve simultaneous control of temperature and humidity regulation.

[0093] Specifically, in this embodiment, each storage mode is configured with two humidity change rate thresholds and two humidity thresholds, denoted as: the first humidity change rate threshold α r1 Second humidity change rate threshold α r2 First humidity threshold R Z1 Second humidity threshold R Z2 Among them, the first humidity change rate threshold α r1 <Second humidity change rate threshold α r2 Storage humidity threshold R Z0 <First humidity threshold R Z1 <Second humidity threshold R Z2 .

[0094] S21: During storage under the set storage mode, at the first humidity change rate threshold α r1 ≤ Storage humidity change rate α r <Second humidity change rate threshold α r2 And the storage humidity R N ≥ First humidity threshold R Z1 At that time, the first fan starts and runs at the first power P1 until the storage humidity R in the storage cavity 3 is reached. N Reaching the storage humidity threshold R Z0 The first fan stopped working.

[0095] As an feasible approach, the rated power of the first fan is denoted as P0, and P1 = 50% of P0.

[0096] S22: During storage under the set storage mode, the second humidity change rate threshold α r2 ≤ Storage humidity change rate α r And the storage humidity R N ≥Second humidity threshold R Z2 At that time, the first fan starts and operates at the second power P2 until the storage humidity R in the storage cavity 3 is reached. N Reaching the storage humidity threshold R Z0The first fan stops working. As an feasible approach, P2 = 100% P0 or P2 = 120% P0 to quickly complete humidity regulation.

[0097] like Figure 14 As shown, as another feasible approach, a first dehumidification threshold R1 is preset to be ≤ a first humidity threshold R. Z1 <Second humidity threshold R Z2 <Second dehumidification threshold R2; After step S22, add step S3; Specifically, step S3 is: at the storage humidity R N When the humidity level is ≥ the second dehumidification threshold R2 (the humidity threshold that controls the start of the second fan), the second fan is activated. The first and second fans work simultaneously to dehumidify at high speed, quickly adjusting the humidity in the storage cavity 3 to the storage humidity threshold R2 of its current storage mode. Z0 Wherein, the second dehumidification threshold R2 ≥ the second humidity threshold R Z2 ;

[0098] like Figure 15 As shown, as another feasible approach, a second humidity threshold R is preset. Z2 = Second dehumidification threshold R2; An alternative to step S22 is: Second humidity change rate threshold α r2 ≤ Storage humidity change rate α r And the storage humidity R N ≥Second humidity threshold R Z2 At that time, the first and second fans are set to work simultaneously until the storage humidity R in the storage cavity is reached. N Reaching the storage humidity threshold R Z0 When performing this operation, step S3 is no longer set.

[0099] In this invention, the storage temperature threshold T corresponding to the set storage mode is... N0 Below the current storage temperature T i The refrigeration unit promptly adjusts the temperature inside the storage cavity, rapidly regulating it to switch storage modes and effectively maintain a constant temperature. Simultaneously, humidity is regulated. When the set constant humidity storage mode for fresh produce is achieved, humidity regulation is primarily achieved through the operation of the first fan. Based on the humidity change rate and storage humidity, the first or second fan is controlled to operate at a specific power. This comprehensive approach, considering both the humidity change rate and real-time humidity, rapidly regulates the humidity inside the storage cavity, maintaining a constant level and effectively improving preservation. Furthermore, it selectively controls the fan power to reduce energy consumption. This invention effectively maintains a constant temperature and humidity in the storage cavity, improving preservation and preventing food from drying out or becoming moldy.

[0100] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any other way. Any person skilled in the art may make changes or modifications to the above-disclosed technical content to create equivalent embodiments for application in other fields. However, any simple modifications, equivalent changes, and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized in that... It includes: The container defines the storage space; A storage device, which is housed within the storage room; The storage device defines a sealed storage cavity, and a communication opening is formed on one side wall of the storage device; a second humidity sensor for detecting the humidity inside the storage cavity and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature inside the storage cavity are provided inside the storage cavity. A moisture-permeable membrane is disposed at the communication port of the storage device; A first fan is disposed on the side wall of the storage device having the moisture-permeable membrane, and is located on the side of the side wall close to the storage compartment; the air outlet of the first fan faces the moisture-permeable membrane, and the airflow from the air outlet of the first fan flows along the surface of the moisture-permeable membrane. A refrigeration unit has a second air outlet corresponding to the position of the moisture-permeable membrane; the low-temperature airflow generated by the refrigeration unit enters the storage room through the second air outlet and flows through the moisture-permeable membrane; The controller is configured to acquire the storage temperature T inside the storage cavity after the storage device enters the storage mode. i Storage humidity R N Storage humidity change rate α r ; In T i >T N0 When the temperature reaches the set storage temperature threshold T of the storage mode, the controller controls the refrigeration unit to operate. N0 ; In α r1 ≤α r <α r2 And R N ≥R Z1 At that time, the controller controls the first fan to operate at a first power P1 until the storage humidity R in the storage cavity is reached. N Reaching the storage humidity threshold R Z0 ; In α r2 ≤α r And R N ≥R Z2 At that time, the controller controls the first fan to operate at the second power P2 until the storage humidity R in the storage cavity is reached. N Reaching the storage humidity threshold R Z0 ; Where, α r1 α is the threshold for the first rate of change of humidity. r2 R is the second humidity change rate threshold. Z0 R represents the storage humidity threshold under the given storage mode. Z1 R is the first humidity threshold; Z0 <R Z1 ;R Z2 The second humidity threshold; R Z1 <R Z2 P2 > P1.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rated power of the first fan is denoted as P0, where P1 < P0 < P2.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that: P1 = 50%P0, P2 = 100%P0 or P2 = 120%P0.

4. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: A second fan is installed inside the storage cavity; In R N When R2 is greater than or equal to R2, the second fan starts, and the first and second fans work simultaneously; where R2 is the second dehumidification threshold, and R2 > R Z2 .

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: A second fan is installed inside the storage cavity; in α r2 ≤α r And R N ≥R Z2 At that time, the first fan and the second fan operate simultaneously until the storage humidity R in the storage cavity is reached. N Reaching the storage humidity threshold R Z0 .

6. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: The controller acquires the continuous closing time t of the storage device. After the continuous closing time of the storage device reaches a set time threshold t0, the storage temperature T is maintained. i > Storage temperature threshold T N0 At that time, the controller controls the refrigeration unit to operate until the storage temperature R in the storage cavity is reached. i Reaching the storage temperature threshold T N0 .

7. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that: The storage device is equipped with an operation panel, which is used to select the storage mode. The control panel includes buttons for a constant temperature mode for fruits and vegetables and a constant humidity mode for fresh produce; each storage mode has its own corresponding storage temperature threshold T. N0 and storage humidity threshold R Z0 Storage temperature threshold T for fresh produce under constant humidity mode N0 The storage temperature T is less than the constant temperature threshold for fruits and vegetables. N0 .

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, characterized in that: Storage humidity threshold R Z0 The humidity range is set; the intersection of the humidity ranges corresponding to different humidity thresholds is an empty set; the storage temperature threshold R N0 Set as a temperature range; the intersection of temperature ranges corresponding to different temperature thresholds is an empty set.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 7, characterized in that: The second fan is disposed on the side wall of the storage device having a moisture-permeable membrane and is adjacent to the moisture-permeable membrane; the air outlet of the second fan faces the moisture-permeable membrane, and the airflow from the air outlet of the second fan flows along the surface of the moisture-permeable membrane.

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