A refrigerator and its control method

Abstract

This invention discloses a refrigerator and its control method. A water level sensor is installed on the evaporating dish to detect the remaining water in its drip tray. When the remaining water in the drip tray exceeds a threshold, the compressor speed is reduced to extend its operating time, thus keeping the drip tray in a higher temperature environment for a longer period, thereby accelerating water evaporation. Furthermore, during normal use, condensate may mix with small food scraps and flow into the evaporating dish through the refrigerator's drain hole. Over time, dirt will accumulate in the evaporating dish, potentially causing odors. This invention addresses this by installing a filter at the water inlet of the evaporating dish to remove impurities, and simultaneously using a collection device to collect these impurities and promptly reminding the user to clean the collection device, thereby reducing refrigerator odors.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of refrigerator technology, and more particularly to a refrigerator and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] The evaporating dish is typically installed inside the back cover of the refrigerator, above the compressor. Its main function is to collect condensate produced inside the refrigerator. The water in the evaporating dish evaporates using the heat from the compressor itself or the condenser. Due to space limitations in the refrigerator, the evaporating dish in the compressor compartment cannot be too large. However, sometimes a lot of water flows from the drain pipe, causing the evaporating dish to overflow. In such cases, the evaporating dish cannot be enlarged or deepened. Even with a large drain tray to accommodate extra space, it's still impossible to guarantee adequate drainage in harsh environments, such as high temperature and humidity, frequent door opening and closing, or placing a large amount of watery food inside at once. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a refrigerator and its control method, which extends the running time of the compressor by reducing the speed of the compressor when the water level in the evaporation dish drip tray exceeds a threshold, thereby evaporating the water in the drip tray.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, embodiments of the present invention provide a refrigerator, comprising:

[0005] A box body, in which a storage compartment is formed, the storage compartment including at least a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment;

[0006] The cabinet door is used to open and close the storage room;

[0007] The compressor, located in the compressor compartment of the housing, is used to compress the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerator's refrigeration cycle and provide power for the refrigeration cycle.

[0008] An evaporating dish is positioned above the compressor, and a water collection tray is provided inside the evaporating dish. The water collection tray is used to collect the condensate generated inside the refrigerator and evaporate it.

[0009] A water level sensor is installed inside the evaporating dish to detect the real-time water level in the water receiving tray;

[0010] The controller is configured as follows:

[0011] In response to a compressor start-up operation, the compressor is controlled to operate at its set speed.

[0012] The real-time water level of the water receiving tray detected by the water level sensor is obtained at each preset first time interval;

[0013] When the real-time water level is greater than the preset water level threshold and the compressor is not at the preset minimum speed, the speed of the compressor is reduced and maintained for a set duration.

[0014] If the real-time water level is detected to be greater than the water level threshold after the set time has elapsed, the compressor speed will continue to be reduced and maintained for the set time until the real-time water level is detected to be less than or equal to the water level threshold. Then, the compressor will be controlled to maintain the current speed until it stops.

[0015] As an improvement to the above solution, the controller is further configured to:

[0016] Obtain the refrigerator's setting information and the ambient temperature of the environment in which the refrigerator is located;

[0017] Based on the ambient temperature, the corresponding target ambient temperature setting is searched from the preset ambient temperature settings to obtain the corresponding water level threshold based on the setting information and the target ambient temperature setting.

[0018] As an improvement to the above solution, the refrigerator further includes:

[0019] A bottom-cooled fan is located inside the compressor compartment of the housing, used to allow cold air to exchange heat through the condenser and send the heat-absorbing air to the outside of the compressor compartment.

[0020] The controller is also configured to increase the rotational speed of the bottom cooling fan when the real-time water level is greater than the water level threshold.

[0021] As an improvement to the above solution, the inlet of the evaporating dish is provided with a detachable filter device and a collection device; wherein, the filter device is used to filter out impurities in the water discharged into the water receiving tray, and the filter device includes a filter screen that is inclinedly arranged in the outlet; the collection device is used to collect the impurities, and the collection device is located on one side of the filter screen.

[0022] As an improvement to the above solution, the collecting device is equipped with a weight sensor; therefore, the controller is further configured to:

[0023] The weight of impurities detected by the weight sensor is obtained at each preset second time interval;

[0024] When the weight of the impurities exceeds a preset weight threshold, a prompt message is issued; wherein the prompt message is used to remind the user to clean the collection device.

[0025] As an improvement to the above solution, the filter device is further equipped with a drive motor, which controls the filter screen to vibrate when started; therefore, the controller is further configured to:

[0026] The drive motor is controlled to start at a preset third time interval, and the drive motor is controlled to maintain operation for a preset fixed duration.

[0027] To achieve the above objectives, this invention also provides a refrigerator control method. The refrigerator has an evaporating dish above its compressor, and the evaporating dish contains a water collection tray and a water level sensor. The water collection tray collects condensate generated inside the refrigerator and evaporates it. The water level sensor detects the real-time water level in the water collection tray. Therefore, the refrigerator control method includes:

[0028] In response to a compressor start-up operation, the compressor is controlled to operate at its set speed.

[0029] The real-time water level of the water receiving tray detected by the water level sensor is obtained at each preset first time interval;

[0030] When the real-time water level is greater than the preset water level threshold and the compressor is not at the preset minimum speed, the speed of the compressor is reduced and maintained for a set duration.

[0031] If the real-time water level is detected to be greater than the water level threshold after the set time has elapsed, the compressor speed will continue to be reduced and maintained for the set time until the real-time water level is detected to be less than or equal to the water level threshold. Then, the compressor will be controlled to maintain the current speed until it stops.

[0032] As an improvement to the above solution, the method further includes:

[0033] Obtain the refrigerator's setting information and the ambient temperature of the environment in which the refrigerator is located;

[0034] Based on the ambient temperature, the corresponding target ambient temperature setting is searched from the preset ambient temperature settings to obtain the corresponding water level threshold based on the setting information and the target ambient temperature setting.

[0035] As an improvement to the above solution, the refrigerator further includes a bottom-cooling fan located in the compressor compartment of the cabinet. The bottom-cooling fan is used to allow cold air to exchange heat through the condenser and to send the heat-absorbing air to the outside of the compressor compartment; therefore, the method further includes:

[0036] When the real-time water level is greater than the water level threshold, the rotation speed of the bottom cooling fan is increased.

[0037] As an improvement to the above solution, the inlet of the evaporating dish is provided with a detachable filter device and a collection device; wherein, the filter device is used to filter out impurities in the water discharged into the water receiving tray, and the filter device includes a filter screen that is inclinedly arranged in the outlet; the collection device is used to collect the impurities, and the collection device is located on one side of the filter screen.

[0038] Compared to existing technologies, the refrigerator and its control method disclosed in this invention incorporate a water level sensor on the evaporating dish to detect the remaining water in its drip tray. When the remaining water in the drip tray exceeds a threshold, the compressor's operating time is extended by reducing its speed. This keeps the drip tray in a higher-temperature environment for a longer period, thus accelerating water evaporation. Furthermore, during normal use, condensate may mix with small food scraps and flow into the evaporating dish through the refrigerator's drain hole. Over time, this can lead to the accumulation of dirt and potentially unpleasant odors. This invention addresses this by incorporating a filter at the evaporating dish's inlet to remove impurities, and simultaneously using a collection device to collect these impurities and promptly reminding the user to clean the collection device, thereby reducing refrigerator odors. Attached Figure Description

[0039] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigeration system in a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the compressor compartment provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the evaporating dish provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 5 This is a first working flowchart of the controller in a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the heat dissipation of the compressor at different temperatures provided in this embodiment of the invention;

[0045] Figure 7 This is a second working flowchart of the controller in a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 8 This is a third workflow diagram of the controller in a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 9 This is the fourth workflow diagram of the controller in the refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the invention;

[0048] Figure 10 This is the fifth workflow diagram of the controller in the refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the invention;

[0049] Figure 11 This is a flowchart of a refrigerator control method provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] Among them, 100 is a refrigerator; 1 is a compressor; 2 is an evaporator; 3 is a capillary tube; 4 is a condenser; 5 is a bottom-cooling fan; 6 is an evaporating dish; 61 is a filter device; and 62 is a collection device. Detailed Implementation

[0051] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0052] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0053] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "multiple" means two or more.

[0054] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0055] See Figure 1 , Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the external structure of a refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator 100 of this embodiment has an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape. The refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage space and multiple doors located at the opening of the cabinet. Each door includes a door shell located outside the cabinet, a door inner liner located inside the cabinet, an upper cover, a lower cover, and an insulation layer located between the door shell, door inner liner, upper cover, and lower cover; typically, the insulation layer is filled with foam material. The cabinet has chambers, including component storage chambers for placing refrigerator components, such as a compressor compartment, and storage spaces for storing food, etc. The storage spaces can be divided into multiple storage compartments, which, depending on their purpose, can be configured as refrigerator compartments and freezer compartments, and may also include variable temperature compartments, vacuum drawers, humidifier drawers, etc. Each storage compartment corresponds to one or more doors, for example, in... Figure 1 The upper storage compartment features double doors. These doors can be pivotally mounted at the opening of the cabinet or can open like drawers for drawer-style storage.

[0056] See Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration system in a single-system refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The refrigeration system includes a compressor 1, an evaporator 2, a dryer filter (not shown in the figure), a capillary tube 3, a condenser 4, and a gas-liquid separator (not shown in the figure). The working process of the refrigeration system includes a compression process, a condensation process, a throttling process, and an evaporation process. The compression process is as follows: when the refrigerator power cord is plugged in and the thermostat contacts are closed, the compressor 1 starts working. Low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant is drawn into the compressor 1 and compressed into high-temperature, high-pressure superheated gas in the cylinder of the compressor 1 before being discharged into the condenser 4. The condensation process is as follows: the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas dissipates heat through the condenser 4, and the temperature continuously decreases, gradually cooling into room-temperature, high-pressure saturated vapor, and further cooling into saturated liquid. The temperature no longer decreases; this temperature is called the condensation temperature. The pressure of the refrigerant remains almost constant throughout the condensation process. The throttling process... The process is as follows: After condensation, the saturated liquid refrigerant flows into capillary tube 3 after being filtered to remove moisture and impurities through a dryer filter. Through capillary tube 3, the refrigerant is throttled and depressurized, turning into room temperature, low pressure wet vapor. The evaporation process is as follows: The room temperature, low pressure wet vapor begins to absorb heat and vaporize in evaporator 2, which not only lowers the temperature of evaporator 2 and its surroundings, but also turns the refrigerant into a low temperature, low pressure gas. The refrigerant coming out of evaporator 2 passes through a gas-liquid separator and returns to compressor 1. The above process is repeated to transfer the heat inside the refrigerator to the outside air, thus achieving the purpose of refrigeration.

[0057] See Figure 3 , Figure 3This is an internal structural diagram of the compressor compartment in a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The compressor compartment is equipped with a compressor 1, a condenser 4, and a bottom-cooling fan 5. The bottom-cooling fan 5 is used to allow cold air to exchange heat through the condenser 4 and to send the heat-absorbing air to the outside of the compressor compartment. In this embodiment of the present invention, the evaporation dish is located above the compressor. When the remaining water in the drip tray exceeds a threshold, the compressor speed is reduced to extend its operating time, thereby keeping the drip tray in a higher temperature environment for a longer period of time, which can accelerate the evaporation of water in the drip tray.

[0058] See Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an evaporating dish 6 provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The evaporating dish 6 is provided with a water receiving tray (not shown in the figure), which is used to collect condensate generated in the refrigerator and evaporate it. The water inlet of the evaporating dish 6 is provided with a detachable filter device 61 and a collecting device 62. The filter device 61 is used to filter out impurities in the water discharged into the water receiving tray, and the filter device 61 includes a filter screen that is inclinedly arranged in the water outlet. The collecting device 62 is used to collect the impurities and is located on one side of the filter screen. During normal use, condensate water mixed with small food scraps may flow into the evaporation dish through the drain hole inside the refrigerator. Over time, dirt will accumulate in the evaporation dish, which may produce odors. This invention solves this problem by installing a filter device 61 at the water inlet of the evaporation dish 6 to filter out impurities. Since the filter screen in the filter device 61 is set at an angle, and the collection device 62 is located on the lower side of the filter screen, impurities will fall into the collection device 62 under the action of gravity. The collection device 62 collects impurities and promptly reminds the user to clean the collection device and filter screen, thereby reducing refrigerator odors.

[0059] It is worth noting that in this embodiment of the invention, considering that most of the heat generated by the compressor comes from the reciprocating motion of the rotor inside the casing, it is not significantly related to the input power of the compressor itself. This is positively correlated with the compressor's operating rate. The heat dissipated from the top of the compressor casing, after being dissipated into the air, is absorbed by the water in the evaporating dish, including two parts: (1) The heat contained in the unevaporated part: Q1=mcΔt, Δt=t2-t1, t2 is the ambient temperature, t1 is the water temperature, m is the mass of the water in kg, c is the specific heat capacity of the water in J / kg*℃, calculate the heat of temperature rise, the saturation pressure of the liquid rises with the increase of temperature to the pressure above the liquid and begins to evaporate. (2) The latent heat of vaporization Q2=M*ΔH, ΔH is the enthalpy of vaporization of the liquid in J / kg. 水 =Q1+Q2, Q 压 =f*W 压*t and f are loss coefficients, W pressure is the compressor's unit heat output, and t is the start-up time. Under ideal limiting conditions, the water in the evaporating dish completely evaporates: Q2 = Q 压 But in reality Q 水 =Q 压 Therefore, it is evident that the operation of the compressor plays a decisive role in the evaporation capacity of the evaporating dish. Thus, in this embodiment of the invention, the speed of the compressor is adjusted to accelerate the evaporation effect of the evaporating dish.

[0060] Specifically, the controller in the refrigerator is configured to: in response to a compressor start-up operation, control the compressor to run at its set speed; acquire the real-time water level of the water tray detected by the water level sensor at preset first time intervals; when the real-time water level is greater than a preset water level threshold and the compressor is not at a preset minimum speed, reduce the speed of the compressor and maintain it for a set duration; if the real-time water level is detected to be greater than the water level threshold after the set duration has elapsed, continue to reduce the speed of the compressor and maintain it for the set duration until the real-time water level is detected to be less than or equal to the water level threshold, then control the compressor to maintain its current speed until it stops.

[0061] For example, see Figure 5 , Figure 5This is a first working flowchart of the controller in the refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the invention. The controller is configured to execute steps S11 to S19. After the compressor starts (starts after reaching the start-up temperature or after defrosting), the compressor is first controlled to run at its set speed. The set speed may be related to the ambient temperature or be a fixed speed. During the operation of the compressor, it is determined whether the time since the last measurement value of the water level sensor has exceeded a first time period (e.g., the first time period is 96 hours). If so, the real-time water level of the water tray detected by the water level sensor is obtained. When the real-time water level is greater than the preset water level threshold, it indicates that there is too much water in the water tray. If not handled, there is a risk of water overflow. At this time, the speed of the compressor is further determined. If the compressor is already at the lowest speed, there is no need to adjust the speed of the compressor. Other control logic can be used at this time (e.g., increasing the speed of the bottom cooling fan). After the real-time water level of the water tray is less than or equal to the water level threshold, the compressor is controlled to continue to maintain the current speed until it stops. If the compressor is not at its lowest speed, the compressor speed is reduced. The specific reduction amount can be preset by experience and is not specifically limited here. After reducing the compressor speed, the compressor is controlled to maintain this reduced speed for a set period of time (e.g., 3 hours). Then, it is determined whether the real-time water level is greater than the water level threshold. If it is less than or equal to the water level threshold, the compressor is controlled to maintain its current speed until it stops. If it is still greater than the water level threshold, the compressor speed is further reduced until it reaches the lowest speed or the real-time water level is less than the water level threshold. The compressor is then controlled to maintain its current speed until it stops.

[0062] It is worth noting that in this embodiment of the invention, the compressor speed is reduced to extend the time it remains in the running state, thereby ensuring the evaporation effect of the water in the evaporation dish. During the actual operation of the compressor, it undergoes start-up and shutdown. The start-up and shutdown process is measured by preset start-up and shutdown temperatures. When the refrigerator compartment reaches the shutdown temperature, it indicates that the cooling capacity of the refrigerator compartment is sufficient, and the compressor needs to be shut down. When the refrigerator compartment reaches the start-up temperature, it indicates that the temperature in the refrigerator compartment has risen due to shutdown, and the temperature is too high, requiring the compressor to continue cooling, at which point the compressor is turned on. Although a higher compressor speed will result in a higher temperature of the compressor casing, and high temperature will accelerate the evaporation of water in the evaporation dish, since the compressor speed is directly proportional to the compressor's cooling effect, increasing the compressor speed will cause the compressor to quickly reach its shutdown point. Once the compressor stops, its temperature will drop sharply, and the evaporation of water in the evaporation dish cannot be accelerated during the compressor shutdown phase. Therefore, at the same speed and within the same time period, such as 24 hours, increasing the compressor speed is equivalent to reducing the operating time, but the temperature recovery time after shutdown will not change. This is equivalent to the refrigerator frequently starting and stopping within a unit of time (24 hours), during which heat evaporates rapidly and is not conducive to heat accumulation.

[0063] See Figure 6 , Figure 6 This diagram illustrates the heat dissipation of the compressor at different temperatures according to an embodiment of the invention. T1 to T5 represent the compressor's operating cycle. T1 to T3 represent the operating cycle without reducing the compressor speed (at which point the compressor casing temperature is approximately 100 degrees Celsius), and T4 to T5 represent the operating cycle with reduced compressor speed (at which point the compressor casing temperature is approximately 90 degrees Celsius). The rectangular area represents the heat dissipation of the compressor during this cycle; a larger rectangular area indicates greater heat dissipation and better evaporation of the evaporating dish. Although the heat per unit time decreases slightly, reducing the speed extends the start-up time, resulting in a greater total heat dissipation at low speed (as shown by the rectangular area in the diagram) than at high speed within the same timeframe. Furthermore, according to the manufacturer's measured temperatures, at an ambient temperature of 25 degrees Celsius, the compressor motor reaches a maximum temperature of 130 degrees Celsius, and the upper casing temperature reaches a maximum of 105 degrees Celsius. For the variable frequency compressor, the upper casing temperature is approximately 105 degrees Celsius at the highest speed and around 95 degrees Celsius at the lowest speed, a negligible difference. However, upon shutdown, the temperature directly matches the ambient temperature, which significantly impacts the evaporation capacity of the water collection box on the casing. Therefore, compared to increasing the compressor speed in a short period of time, the method of reducing the compressor speed in this embodiment of the invention extends the time the compressor is in the running state, resulting in a better evaporation effect.

[0064] Specifically, the controller is further configured to: acquire the refrigerator's gear position information and the ambient temperature of the environment in which the refrigerator is located; search for the corresponding target ambient temperature gear position from the preset ambient temperature gear positions according to the ambient temperature, so as to acquire the corresponding water level threshold according to the gear position information and the target ambient temperature gear position.

[0065] For example, see Figure 7 , Figure 7 This is a second working flowchart of the controller in the refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the invention. The controller is further configured to execute steps S101 to S103. Under standard atmospheric pressure and constant refrigerator setting, the higher the ambient temperature, the faster the evaporation. Therefore, based on the ambient temperature and setting information of the refrigerator, a corresponding water level threshold can be obtained to determine the risk of water overflow from the drip tray. The specific water level threshold measurements under different ambient temperatures and settings can be obtained through pre-testing in a laboratory and are not specifically limited here.

[0066] Specifically, the controller is further configured to increase the rotational speed of the bottom cooling fan when the real-time water level is greater than the water level threshold.

[0067] For example, see Figure 8 , Figure 8 This is a third working flowchart of the controller in the refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the invention. After executing step S15, the controller is also used to execute steps S21 to S23. When the water level in the evaporation dish is too high, if the bottom cooling fan is not at its highest speed, the speed of the bottom cooling fan is increased to blow air onto the surface of the evaporation dish to accelerate evaporation. If the bottom cooling fan is at its highest speed at this time, it is controlled to remain at the current speed.

[0068] Specifically, the collection device is equipped with a weight sensor; therefore, the controller is further configured to: acquire the weight of impurities detected by the weight sensor at preset second time intervals; and issue a prompt message when the weight of the impurities exceeds a preset weight threshold; wherein the prompt message is used to remind the user to clean the collection device.

[0069] For example, see Figure 9 , Figure 9 This is a fourth workflow diagram of the controller in the refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the invention. The controller is further configured to execute steps S31 to S34. As the filter screen continues to filter, more and more impurities will flow into the collection device. The weight sensor detects the weight of the impurities in the collection device. After the weight accumulates to a certain level, a reminder is issued to inform the user that the collection device needs to be cleaned to avoid the accumulation of impurities for too long and the generation of odors.

[0070] Specifically, the filter device is also equipped with a drive motor, which controls the filter screen to shake when it is started; then, the controller is also configured to: control the drive motor to start at a preset third time interval, and control the drive motor to maintain the running state for a preset fixed duration.

[0071] For example, see Figure 10 , Figure 10 This is the fifth operational flowchart of the controller in the refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the invention. The controller is further configured to execute steps S41 to S44. To prevent impurities in the filter from getting stuck on the filter instead of falling into the collection device, a drive motor is provided on one side of the filter. When the drive motor is started, it can shake the filter to dislodge the impurities stuck on the filter into the collection device. In addition, the drive motor does not need to be running continuously; it can run once every third time interval (e.g., 72 hours), with a fixed running time of 10 seconds, thus saving energy.

[0072] It is worth noting that the first time period, the second time period, the third time period, the fixed duration, and the weight threshold can all be set by the R&D personnel based on experience before the refrigerator leaves the factory, or users can adjust these settings themselves, without any specific limitations here.

[0073] Compared to existing technologies, the refrigerator disclosed in this invention incorporates a water level sensor on the evaporation dish to detect the remaining water in its drip tray. When the remaining water in the drip tray exceeds a threshold, the compressor's operating time is extended by reducing its speed. This keeps the drip tray in a higher-temperature environment for a longer period, thus accelerating water evaporation. Furthermore, during normal use, condensate may mix with small food scraps and flow into the evaporation dish through the refrigerator's drain hole. Over time, this can lead to the accumulation of dirt and potentially unpleasant odors. This invention addresses this by incorporating a filter at the water inlet of the evaporation dish to remove impurities, and a collection device to collect these impurities, promptly reminding the user to clean the collection device, thereby reducing refrigerator odors.

[0074] See Figure 11 , Figure 11 This is a flowchart of a refrigerator control method provided by an embodiment of the present invention. An evaporating dish is provided above the compressor of the refrigerator. The evaporating dish contains a water collection tray and a water level sensor. The water collection tray is used to collect condensate generated inside the refrigerator and evaporate it. The water level sensor is used to detect the real-time water level in the water collection tray. Therefore, the refrigerator control method includes:

[0075] S 1. In response to the compressor start-up operation, control the compressor to operate at its set speed;

[0076] S2. At each preset first time interval, the real-time water level of the water receiving tray detected by the water level sensor is obtained;

[0077] S3. When the real-time water level is greater than the preset water level threshold and the compressor is not at the preset minimum speed, reduce the speed of the compressor and maintain it for the set time.

[0078] S4. If the real-time water level is detected to be greater than the water level threshold after the set time has elapsed, the compressor speed is reduced and maintained for the set time until the real-time water level is detected to be less than or equal to the water level threshold. Then, the compressor is controlled to maintain the current speed until it stops.

[0079] For example, after the compressor starts (starting after reaching the start-up temperature or after defrosting), the compressor is first controlled to run at its set speed. The set speed may be related to the ambient temperature or be a fixed speed. During the operation of the compressor, it is determined whether the time since the last measurement value of the water level sensor has exceeded a first time period (e.g., the first time period is 96 hours). If so, the real-time water level of the water receiving pan detected by the water level sensor is obtained. When the real-time water level is greater than the preset water level threshold, it indicates that there is too much water in the water receiving pan. If not dealt with, there is a risk of water overflow. At this time, the speed of the compressor is further determined. If the compressor is already at the lowest speed, there is no need to adjust the speed of the compressor. Other control logic can also be used (e.g., increasing the speed of the bottom cooling fan). After the real-time water level of the water receiving pan is less than or equal to the water level threshold, the compressor is controlled to continue to maintain the current speed until it stops. If the compressor is not at its lowest speed, the compressor speed is reduced. The specific reduction amount can be preset by experience and is not specifically limited here. After reducing the compressor speed, the compressor is controlled to maintain this reduced speed for a set period of time (e.g., 3 hours). Then, it is determined whether the real-time water level is greater than the water level threshold. If it is less than or equal to the water level threshold, the compressor is controlled to maintain its current speed until it stops. If it is still greater than the water level threshold, the compressor speed is further reduced until it reaches the lowest speed or the real-time water level is less than the water level threshold. The compressor is then controlled to maintain its current speed until it stops.

[0080] Specifically, the method further includes: obtaining the refrigerator's setting information and the ambient temperature of the environment in which the refrigerator is located; searching for a corresponding target ambient temperature setting from a preset ambient temperature setting based on the ambient temperature, so as to obtain the corresponding water level threshold based on the setting information and the target ambient temperature setting.

[0081] For example, under standard atmospheric pressure and with the refrigerator set at a constant setting, the higher the ambient temperature, the faster the evaporation. Therefore, based on the ambient temperature and setting information of the refrigerator, a corresponding water level threshold can be obtained to determine the risk of water overflow from the drip tray. The specific water level threshold measurements at different ambient temperatures and settings can be obtained through pre-testing in the laboratory and are not specifically limited here.

[0082] Specifically, the refrigerator further includes a bottom-cooling fan located in the compressor compartment of the cabinet. The bottom-cooling fan is used to allow cold air to exchange heat through the condenser and send the heat-absorbing air to the outside of the compressor compartment. The method further includes increasing the rotation speed of the bottom-cooling fan when the real-time water level is greater than the water level threshold.

[0083] For example, if the water level in the evaporating dish is too high, and the bottom cooling fan is not at its highest speed, the speed of the bottom cooling fan is increased to blow air onto the surface of the evaporating dish and accelerate evaporation. If the bottom cooling fan is at its highest speed, it is controlled to remain at its current speed.

[0084] Specifically, the evaporating dish is provided with a detachable filter and a collection device at the water inlet; wherein, the filter is used to filter out impurities in the water discharged into the water receiving tray, and the filter includes a filter screen that is inclinedly arranged in the water outlet; the collection device is used to collect the impurities, and the collection device is located on one side of the filter screen.

[0085] For example, the filtering device is used to filter out impurities in the water discharged into the drip tray. The filtering device includes a filter screen inclinedly disposed in the water outlet. The collecting device is used to collect the impurities and is disposed on one side of the filter screen. During normal use of the refrigerator, condensate water may mix with small food scraps and flow into the evaporating dish through the drain hole inside the refrigerator. Over time, some dirt will accumulate in the evaporating dish, which may produce odors. This invention uses a filtering device at the water inlet of the evaporating dish to filter out impurities. Since the filter screen in the filtering device is inclined, and the collecting device is disposed on the lower side of the filter screen, the impurities will fall into the collecting device under the action of gravity. The collecting device collects the impurities and promptly reminds the user to clean the collecting device and the filter screen, thereby reducing refrigerator odors.

[0086] Specifically, the collection device is equipped with a weight sensor; the method further includes: acquiring the weight of impurities detected by the weight sensor at preset second time intervals; when the weight of the impurities is greater than a preset weight threshold, issuing a prompt message; wherein the prompt message is used to remind the user to clean the collection device.

[0087] For example, as the filter screen continues to filter, more and more impurities will flow into the collection device. The weight sensor detects the weight of the impurities in the collection device, and after they accumulate to a certain weight, it issues a reminder to the user that the collection device needs to be cleaned to avoid the impurities accumulating for too long and producing an odor.

[0088] Specifically, the filter device is also equipped with a drive motor, which controls the filter screen to shake when it is started; then, the method further includes: controlling the drive motor to start at a preset third time interval, and controlling the drive motor to maintain the running state within a preset fixed duration.

[0089] For example, to prevent impurities in the filter screen from getting stuck on the filter screen instead of falling into the collection device, a drive motor is provided on one side of the filter screen. When the drive motor is started, it can shake the filter screen to dislodge the impurities stuck on the filter screen into the collection device. In addition, the drive motor does not need to be started continuously. It can run once every third time period (e.g., 72 hours), and the fixed duration of each run can be 10 seconds, thus saving energy.

[0090] Compared to existing technologies, the refrigerator control method disclosed in this invention incorporates a water level sensor on the evaporating dish to detect the remaining water in its drip tray. When the remaining water in the drip tray exceeds a threshold, the compressor's operating time is extended by reducing its speed. This keeps the drip tray in a higher-temperature environment for a longer period, thus accelerating water evaporation. Furthermore, during normal refrigerator use, condensate may mix with small food scraps and flow into the evaporating dish through the refrigerator's drain hole. Over time, this can lead to the accumulation of dirt and potentially unpleasant odors. This invention addresses this by installing a filter at the evaporating dish's inlet to remove impurities, and simultaneously using a collection device to collect these impurities and promptly reminding the user to clean the collection device, thereby reducing refrigerator odors.

[0091] The above description represents the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications without departing from the principles of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications are also considered to be within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator characterized by comprising: The refrigerator comprises: a cabinet in which a storage compartment is formed, the storage compartment comprising at least a refrigeration compartment and a freezer compartment; a cabinet door for opening and closing the storage compartment; a compressor provided in a compressor chamber of the cabinet, for compressing refrigerant flowing in a refrigeration cycle of the refrigerator to provide power for the refrigeration cycle; an evaporation pan provided above the compressor, the evaporation pan being provided with a water pan therein, the water pan being used to collect and evaporate condensate generated in the refrigerator; a water level sensor provided in the evaporation pan, for detecting a real-time water level of the water pan; the controller is configured to: in response to a compressor start operation, control the compressor to operate at a set speed; acquire the real-time water level of the water pan detected by the water level sensor every interval of a preset first time period; when the real-time water level is greater than a preset water level threshold and the compressor is not at a preset minimum speed, reduce the speed of the compressor and maintain for a set time period; if the real-time water level is detected to be greater than the water level threshold after the set time period, continue to reduce the speed of the compressor and maintain for a set time period, and when the real-time water level is detected to be less than or equal to the water level threshold, control the compressor to keep the current speed until shutdown.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The controller is further configured to: acquire gear information of the refrigerator and an ambient temperature of an environment in which the refrigerator is located; according to the ambient temperature, find a corresponding target ambient temperature gear from preset ambient temperature gears, to acquire a corresponding water level threshold according to the gear information and the target ambient temperature gear.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The refrigerator further comprises: a bottom cooling fan provided in the compressor chamber of the cabinet, for making cold air pass through a condenser for heat exchange and sending the heat-absorbed air to the outside of the compressor chamber; The controller is further configured to: when the real-time water level is greater than the water level threshold, increase the speed of the bottom cooling fan.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein A detachable filter device and a collection device are provided at a water inlet of the evaporation pan; the filter device is used to filter impurities in water discharged into the water pan, and the filter device comprises a filter screen obliquely arranged in the water inlet; the collection device is used to collect the impurities, and the collection device is arranged on one side of the filter screen.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein A weight sensor is arranged on the collection device; the controller is further configured to: acquire the weight of the impurities detected by the weight sensor every interval of a preset second time period; when the weight of the impurities is greater than a preset weight threshold, issue a prompt information; the prompt information is used to remind a user to clean the collection device.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein A driving motor is further arranged on the filter device, and the driving motor controls the filter screen to shake when started; the controller is further configured to: control the driving motor to start every interval of a preset third time period, and control the driving motor to keep in a running state for a preset fixed time period.

7. A refrigerator control method, characterized by, The refrigerator control method comprises: In response to a compressor start operation, the compressor is controlled to operate at a set rotation speed; Every interval of a preset first time period, a real-time water level of the water pan detected by the water level sensor is obtained; When the real-time water level is greater than a preset water level threshold and the compressor is not at a preset minimum rotation speed, the rotation speed of the compressor is reduced and maintained for a set time period; After the set time period is exceeded, if the real-time water level is detected to be greater than the water level threshold, the rotation speed of the compressor is continuously reduced and maintained for a set time period, and when the real-time water level is detected to be less than or equal to the water level threshold, the compressor is controlled to maintain the current rotation speed until shutdown.

8. The refrigerator control method of claim 7, wherein, The method further comprises: Obtaining gear information of the refrigerator and an ambient temperature of an environment in which the refrigerator is located; According to the ambient temperature, a target ambient temperature gear is found from preset ambient temperature gears, so as to obtain a corresponding water level threshold according to the gear information and the target ambient temperature gear.

9. The refrigerator control method of claim 7, wherein, The refrigerator further comprises a bottom cooling fan arranged in a compressor cabin of a cabinet, and the bottom cooling fan is used to make cold air pass through a condenser for heat exchange and send the heat-absorbed air to the outside of the compressor cabin; therefore, the method further comprises: When the real-time water level is greater than the water level threshold, the rotation speed of the bottom cooling fan is increased.

10. The refrigerator control method of claim 7, wherein, A detachable filtering device and a collecting device are arranged at a water inlet of the evaporating dish; the filtering device is used to filter impurities in water discharged into the water pan, and the filtering device comprises a filtering screen obliquely arranged in the water inlet; the collecting device is used to collect the impurities, and the collecting device is arranged at one side of the filtering screen.

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