Fresh-keeping device, fresh-keeping method, controller and refrigerator

Abstract

The invention discloses a fresh-keeping device, a fresh-keeping method, a controller and a refrigerator. The fresh-keeping device comprises a fresh-keeping drawer, and an upper cover plate is arranged at an opening of the fresh-keeping drawer; the electric field generating device is arranged on the upper cover plate and is used for generating an electric field into the fresh-keeping drawer; the air supply device is arranged on the upper cover plate and is used for supplying air into the fresh-keeping drawer; and the controller is used for responding to an unfreezing instruction, starting the air supply device, controlling the electric field generation device to generate a first electric field and recording unfreezing duration, and is also used for closing the air supply device and controlling the electric field generation device to generate a second electric field when the unfreezing duration reaches set duration. According to the fresh-keeping device provided by the invention, the unfreezing and partial freezing fresh-keeping functions of meat are integrated, the application scene is widened, and the problem that proper partial freezing fresh-keeping cannot be realized after unfreezing is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of fresh-keeping technology, and in particular to a fresh-keeping device, a fresh-keeping method, a controller and a refrigerator. Background Art

[0002] Using the refrigerator's cold storage room to defrost meat ingredients can preserve the nutrients in the meat during the thawing process and is not prone to breeding bacteria during the thawing process. In order to solve the problem of slow thawing speed in the cold storage room, an electric field generating device is set in the cold storage room in the related art to promote the polarization of water molecules in the meat through the electric field, generate heat through friction, accelerate heat transfer, and speed up the thawing speed of the meat.

[0003] During daily use, the meat is still stored in the refrigerator after thawing. If the user does not take it out in time, the meat will be left for too long, resulting in serious juice loss and reduced nutritional quality. Summary of the invention

[0004] The embodiments of the present application provide a preservation device, a preservation method, a controller and a refrigerator, which automatically perform preservation through an electric field after thawing is completed, thereby extending the preservation time.

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a fresh-keeping device, comprising: A fresh-keeping drawer, wherein an upper cover is provided at the open portion of the fresh-keeping drawer; An electric field generating device, disposed on the upper cover plate, for generating an electric field inside the fresh-keeping drawer; An air supply device; arranged on the upper cover plate, for supplying air to the interior of the fresh-keeping drawer; The controller is used to start the air supply device in response to a thawing instruction, control the electric field generating device to generate a first electric field, and record the thawing time. It is also used to turn off the air supply device and control the electric field generating device to generate a second electric field when the thawing time reaches a set time.

[0006] In some embodiments, the electric field generating device includes an arc-shaped electrode and a power source, and the air supply device is arranged on the inner circle of the arc-shaped electrode.

[0007] In some embodiments, the bottom of the crisper drawer includes a metal plate for heat transfer.

[0008] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a preservation method, which is applied to the preservation device of the first aspect embodiment, and the preservation method includes: In response to a thawing instruction, the air supply device is started, the electric field generating device is controlled to generate a first electric field, and the thawing time is recorded; When the thawing time reaches the set time, the air supply device is turned off and the electric field generating device is controlled to generate a second electric field.

[0009] In some embodiments, the fresh-keeping device is disposed in a refrigerator, and the refrigerator includes a refrigerator door; in response to the thawing instruction, the air supply device is started, and the electric field generating device is controlled to generate the first electric field, including: When a defrosting instruction is received and it is determined that the fresh-keeping drawer is in a closed state and the refrigerator door is in a closed state, the air supply device and the electric field generating device are started; A first voltage is determined according to the set time, and the electric field generating device is controlled to generate a first electric field based on the first voltage. The set time is set by a user or determined according to the type and / or weight of the food in the fresh-keeping drawer.

[0010] In some embodiments, determining the first voltage according to the set time length includes: Searching for the corresponding thawing energy according to the set duration; The first voltage is determined according to the thawing energy, the electrode area of ​​the electric field generating device, the cross-sectional area of ​​the air outlet of the air supply device, and the air supply wind speed of the air supply device.

[0011] In some embodiments, controlling the electric field generating device to generate the second electric field comprises: Controlling the electric field generating device to generate a second electric field based on a preset second voltage; Alternatively, a third voltage is determined according to the height of the fresh-keeping drawer and the distance between the electrode plates of the electric field generating device, and the electric field generating device is controlled to generate the second electric field based on the third voltage.

[0012] In some embodiments, the preservation method further comprises: When it is detected that the fresh-keeping drawer is opened, the electric field generating device is turned off.

[0013] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a controller comprising at least one processor and a memory for communicating with the at least one processor; the memory stores instructions that can be executed by the at least one processor, and the instructions are executed by the at least one processor so that the at least one processor can execute the preservation method as described in the embodiment of the second aspect.

[0014] In a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a refrigerator, comprising the fresh-keeping device of the embodiment of the first aspect or the controller of the embodiment of the third aspect.

[0015] The fresh-keeping device, fresh-keeping method, controller and refrigerator of the embodiments of the present application have at least the following beneficial effects: when thawing meat in the fresh-keeping drawer, a first electric field is generated by the electric field generating device, and air is supplied by the air supply device, so as to accelerate the thawing process of the meat; after the thawing is completed, that is, the thawing time reaches the set time, the micro-freezing fresh-keeping process is automatically entered, at which time the air supply device stops supplying air and generates a second electric field through the electric field generating device, so as to preserve the meat; by setting the first electric field and the air supply speed, the melting of ice crystals in the meat can be accelerated, and by setting the second electric field, the regular arrangement of water molecules to form ice crystals can be suppressed, thereby prolonging the supercooling time and the fresh-keeping time of the food. Therefore, the fresh-keeping device of the embodiments of the present application integrates the thawing and micro-freezing fresh-keeping functions of the meat, broadens the application scenarios, and solves the problem that the micro-freezing fresh-keeping cannot be properly performed after thawing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a fresh-keeping device provided in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an upper cover plate of a fresh-keeping device provided in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 3 This is a flow chart of a preservation method provided in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 4 is a flow chart of a method for controlling the electric field generating device to generate a first electric field provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 5 is a flow chart of a method for determining a first voltage according to the set duration provided by an embodiment of the present application; Figure 6 is a flow chart of a method for controlling the electric field generating device to generate a second electric field provided in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 7 This is a flow chart of a processing method after a fresh-keeping drawer is opened provided in an embodiment of the present application; Figure 8 This is an overall flow chart of a preservation method provided in an embodiment of the present application; Fig. 9 A schematic diagram of the structure of a controller provided in an embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the present application is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and examples. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. In addition, the characteristics, operations or features described in the specification can be combined in any appropriate manner to form various implementation methods. At the same time, the steps or actions in the method description can also be replaced or adjusted in order in a manner that is obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the various sequences in the specification and the accompanying drawings are only for the purpose of clearly describing a certain embodiment and are not meant to be a necessary sequence, unless otherwise specified that a certain sequence must be followed.

[0018] In the description of this application, "several" means one or more, "more" means more than two, "greater than", "less than", "exceed", etc. are understood to exclude the number itself, and "above", "below", "within", etc. are understood to include the number itself. If there is a description of "first" or "second", it is only used for the purpose of distinguishing technical features, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0019] The serial numbers of the components in this document, such as "first", "second", etc., are only used to distinguish the objects described and do not have any order or technical meaning. The "connection" and "coupling" mentioned in this application, unless otherwise specified, include direct and indirect connections (couplings).

[0020] In the food thawing device, frozen food must be thawed before being sold at the food terminal and undergoing secondary deep processing. Unreasonable thawing methods can easily affect the quality of thawed meat. Unreasonable thawing methods during the thawing process of frozen food or failure to preserve food in time after thawing can cause problems such as color deterioration, fat oxidation, high juice loss, and microbial contamination, which pose a food safety hazard and are a problem that needs to be solved urgently.

[0021] Among them, thawing refers to the process of restoring an object or substance from a frozen state to normal temperature. When a substance is in a frozen state, its temperature is low, the arrangement between molecules is relatively orderly, and the energy is low. During the thawing process, energy needs to be provided to the substance to increase its temperature, so that the molecules begin to move and the arrangement gradually becomes disordered.

[0022] The energy required for thawing comes from the external environment or other heat sources, which is absorbed and converted into the internal energy of the substance to increase its temperature. This energy is mainly used to overcome the interaction between molecules in the frozen state, so that the solid structure of the substance is unlocked and reaches a free movement state in the liquid state.

[0023] Based on this, the embodiments of the present application provide a preservation device, a preservation method, a controller and a refrigerator, which use a combination of an electric field and an air supply device for thawing, and perform micro-freezing preservation after thawing to ensure that the nutrients of the food are not lost when left after thawing.

[0024] The following is a description of the fresh-keeping device, the fresh-keeping method, the controller and the refrigerator in conjunction with the accompanying drawings: Reference Figure 1 As shown, a fresh-keeping device provided in an embodiment of the present application includes: a fresh-keeping drawer, an upper cover is provided at the open portion of the fresh-keeping drawer; an electric field generating device, arranged on the upper cover, for generating an electric field to the interior of the fresh-keeping drawer; an air supply device, arranged on the upper cover, for supplying air to the interior of the fresh-keeping drawer; a controller, for responding to a thawing instruction, starting the air supply device, controlling the electric field generating device to generate a first electric field, and recording the thawing time, and also for turning off the air supply device and controlling the electric field generating device to generate a second electric field when the thawing time reaches a set time.

[0025] The fresh-keeping drawer has a certain volume, and notches are arranged on the front and rear top of the fresh-keeping drawer. When the fresh-keeping drawer is pulled out, the electric field generating device, the air supply device and the controller arranged on the upper cover plate can be passed through. The fresh-keeping drawer can be made of colorless and transparent ABS material, so that the status of the food in the fresh-keeping drawer can be clearly seen.

[0026] When food is put into the fresh-keeping drawer, the controller receives the thawing instruction and controls the fresh-keeping drawer to work in the first working mode, that is, the electric field generating device generates the first electric field, generates the electric field effect inside the fresh-keeping drawer, and starts the air supply device to supply air into the fresh-keeping drawer. In this way, the polarization of water molecules is promoted by the first electric field, friction generates heat, and heat transfer is accelerated. In addition, the first electric field changes the distribution of water molecules, promotes some free water to combine with amino acid residues in meat protein, and forms tightly bound water, thereby effectively reducing the loss of water during the thawing process; the air supply device can effectively accelerate heat convection, and can be applied to the thawing process to accelerate the heat exchange between frozen meat and ambient air, reduce the temperature difference between the two, and accelerate the thawing process of food. On the other hand, the thawing time will be recorded by the controller and compared with the set time. When the thawing time reaches the set time, the controller controls the fresh-keeping drawer to work in the second working mode. At this time, the air supply device stops supplying air and generates the second electric field through the electric field generating device. The second electric field can inhibit the regular arrangement of water molecules to form ice crystals, prolong the supercooling time, and thus preserve the thawed food.

[0027] Reference Figure 2As shown, a schematic diagram of the structure of the upper cover plate of a fresh-keeping device provided in an embodiment of the present application, the electric field generating device includes an arc electrode and a power supply, and the air supply device is arranged in the inner circle of the arc electrode. In certain embodiments of the present application, the center is an axial flow fan; surrounding the fan is an arc electrode, the electrode material is stainless steel; the electrode is connected to the power supply through a wire. According to the formula The smaller the radius of curvature, the greater the field strength, the easier it is to penetrate the air, and the stronger the thawing effect.

[0028] It should be noted that under the same parameters, the power supply can be AC ​​power, DC power and pulse power. Among them, the ion activity concentration and quantity produced by the food during pulse thawing are the highest. However, in the thawing scenario, pulse has not been investigated yet, and the thawing effect of AC power is better than that of DC power.

[0029] In certain embodiments of the present application, the bottom of the fresh-keeping drawer includes a metal plate for heat transfer, and the bottom metal plate can be an aluminum plate with high thermal conductivity to improve thermal conductivity. The metal plate is provided with a multi-channel fin-type heat-conducting strip, and the multi-channel fin-type heat-conducting strip can be an aluminum strip with high thermal conductivity. Through the design of the multi-channel fin-type heat-conducting strip, high-speed heat exchange between the food and the metal plate is achieved, and the food is quickly heated up.

[0030] Reference Figure 3 As shown, a preservation method provided in an embodiment of the present application is applied to a preservation device, the preservation device includes a preservation drawer, an electric field generating device, an air supply device and a controller; the preservation method may include but is not limited to the following steps: Step S310, in response to the thawing instruction, starting the air supply device, controlling the electric field generating device to generate the first electric field, and recording the thawing time; In some embodiments, when the user opens the fresh-keeping space and places frozen food in the fresh-keeping drawer, the controller detects whether the food in the fresh-keeping drawer has been placed in the thawing area to ensure that the food is fully exposed to the area where cold air circulates, while ensuring that the food does not contact each other. When it is detected that the food in the fresh-keeping space is not placed in the appropriate area, a prompt message will be sent to the user; when the controller detects that the food in the fresh-keeping drawer is placed correctly, the fresh-keeping device will be controlled to thaw the food in the fresh-keeping space through the electric field generating device and the air supply device, and the thawing time will be recorded and compared with the set time set by the user to ensure that the frozen food is completely thawed.

[0031] It should be noted that the thawing instruction includes a set time set by the user and a start instruction. The user can issue a thawing instruction by using a control panel, which is set at the front or top of the fresh-keeping device. A plurality of buttons are set on the control panel to help the user input the set time, start and pause instructions. The above steps are only general guidelines, and the actual operation may vary due to different settings of different fresh-keeping devices, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited to this.

[0032] Furthermore, the user can set the thawing time according to the type and weight of the food and refer to the thawing reference time. The thawing reference time is established based on the previous database, and a large number of thawing experiments are carried out on the model food. The correlation between the thawing energy Q and the thawing reference time t corresponding to the food of different types and weights is obtained according to the formula Q=cmΔT, and the Qt database is obtained.

[0033] Specifically, the air supply device can use an axial flow fan, place the food to be thawed in an appropriate thawing drawer, ensure that the food is not stacked too densely, start the axial flow fan, and ensure that the wind direction of the fan is directed to the food so that the air can fully cover the surface of the food, and let the airflow generated by it pass through the food. The airflow of the axial flow fan can accelerate the heat exchange between the frozen meat and the ambient air, and reduce the temperature difference between the two. The above scheme is only an embodiment provided by this application, and this application does not limit it.

[0034] It should also be noted that the safety drawer adopts an alternating electric field and uses its periodic electric field change shock waves to break the hydrogen bonds of the ice, produce tiny microcrystals, and heat up the inside and outside of the food at the same time. Among them, since water molecules are polar molecules, the forces they receive in the inhomogeneous electric field are different everywhere, which is equivalent to the action of variable forces, thereby destroying the stable and orderly hydrogen bond structure and causing the ice to gradually transition to the state of water; after the energy-carrying ions enter the water-containing material, they interact with the material molecules and water molecules, gradually transferring kinetic energy to the material molecules and water molecules until the kinetic energy of the ions is completely dissipated and stops in the material, that is, the transmission and deposition process of the incident ion energy increases the energy of the original water molecules, causing the hydrogen bonds between the chain molecular clusters of water molecules to break; the ions and water molecules exchange charges, increase the electric dipole moment of the water molecules in the material, enhance the directional polarization of the water molecules, improve the polar state of water, increase the energy storage of the water system and the carrying capacity of water for ions, and make the low-energy ions and water molecules combine, even if the number of charges carried by the water molecules increases, so that under the action of the electric field, the electric field force on the water molecules increases; as the radius of curvature of the charged conductor increases, the charge density at the tip also increases accordingly. When the charge density reaches a certain level, tip power generation will occur, and corona discharge will occur. Under the action of the electric field, these charges will be blown away from the tip to form an ion wind, which accelerates the melting of ice crystals from both the surface and the center, speeding up thawing in all directions.

[0035] Step S320, when the thawing time reaches the set time, the air supply device is turned off and the electric field generating device is controlled to generate a second electric field.

[0036] In some embodiments, the fan rotates at high speed to increase the heat convection rate inside the environment space, so that the food can be quickly heated up. At the same time, the periodic electric field change shock wave breaks the hydrogen bonds of the ice, produces fine crystals, and heats up the inside and outside of the food at the same time. When the thawing time recorded by the controller reaches the set time set by the user, the food inside the safety drawer has been completely thawed from the inside to the outside. At this time, the controller controls the air supply device to turn off and controls the change of the first electric field strength generated by the electric field generating device, gradually converting it to the second electric field, and the inside of the fresh-keeping drawer automatically enters the micro-freezing and fresh-keeping stage. The second electric field can delay the corruption and deterioration process of the food by inhibiting the regular arrangement of water molecules to form ice crystals or affecting the microbial activity, enzyme activity and chemical reaction in the food, thereby extending its shelf life and achieving "supercooling without freezing". The specific preservation effect may vary depending on factors such as the type of food, the parameters of the alternating electric field and the preservation time.

[0037] It should be noted that, as mentioned above, the set time set by the user can refer to the thawing reference time. The thawing reference time is established based on the previous database, and a large number of thawing experiments are carried out on the model ingredients to ensure that when the thawing time recorded by the controller reaches the set time, the thawed ingredients in the fresh-keeping drawer are already completely thawed.

[0038] refer to Figure 4 As shown, Figure 4 A method for controlling an electric field generating device to generate a first electric field is provided in an embodiment of the present application. This embodiment is a further refinement of step S310 and is applied to a fresh-keeping device, the fresh-keeping device is arranged in a refrigerator, and the refrigerator includes a refrigerator door; the method for generating a first electric field may include but is not limited to the following steps: Step S410, when a defrosting instruction is received, it is determined that the fresh-keeping drawer is in a closed state, and it is determined that the refrigerator door is in a closed state, then the air supply device and the electric field generating device are started; In some embodiments, when the controller receives a defrosting instruction issued by the user using the control panel, the refrigerator controller can detect the closed state of the fresh-keeping drawer and the refrigerator door through the contact sensor. When the fresh-keeping drawer or the refrigerator door is completely closed, the contact points between the contact sensors will be closed, and the contact sensor sends a signal to the controller that the safe drawer or refrigerator is in a closed state. The controller then determines that the safe drawer or refrigerator is in a closed state to ensure that the food is thawed in a closed state, which has a better thawing effect and also prevents microorganisms from adhering to the frozen food during the thawing process. In addition to the contact sensor, a magnetic sensor and an optical sensor can also be used to determine whether the safe drawer or refrigerator is in a closed state, which is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0039] Step S420, determining a first voltage according to the set time, and controlling the electric field generating device to generate a first electric field based on the first voltage, wherein the set time is set by the user or determined according to the type and / or weight of the food in the fresh-keeping drawer.

[0040] In some embodiments, after receiving the thawing instruction, the controller determines the first voltage according to the set duration, and controls the electric field generating device to generate the first electric field according to the first voltage. The electric field generating device generates an electric field by generating a charge distribution. The process can be divided into the following steps: 1. The electric field generating device requires an energy source, usually a power source. This can be a battery, generator or other device that can provide electrical energy.

[0041] 2. When a power source is connected to the electric field generating device, a voltage is applied to the charges in the device. Positive charges are attracted to positive voltages, and negative charges are attracted to negative voltages. This causes the charges to move within the device.

[0042] 3. The design of the electric field generating device results in the distribution of charges in a specific area. Typically, the conductors or electrodes in the device control the location and density of the charges. The shape and arrangement of the charge distribution directly affects the generated electric field.

[0043] 4. As the charge distribution is formed, an electric field is generated in the surrounding space. According to Coulomb's law, there is a certain relationship between the distribution of charge and voltage. The strength and direction of the electric field are determined by the amount and spatial layout of the charge.

[0044] By applying voltage and controlling the distribution of charge, the electric field generating device can successfully generate an electric field, and the shock wave of periodic electric field changes breaks the hydrogen bonds of ice, produces fine crystals, and achieves simultaneous heating of the inside and outside of the food. It should be noted that the electric field generation method is one of the methods provided in the embodiments of the present application, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited here.

[0045] refer to Figure 5 As shown, Figure 5 A method for determining a first voltage according to a set duration provided in an embodiment of the present application is provided. This embodiment is a further refinement of step S420 and is applied to a fresh-keeping device, wherein the fresh-keeping device is arranged in a refrigerator, and the refrigerator includes a refrigerator door. The method for determining the first voltage may include but is not limited to the following steps: Step S510, searching for corresponding thawing energy according to the set duration; It should be noted that thawing energy refers to the energy required in the thawing process, which is used to overcome the interaction force in the frozen state, so that the solid structure of the substance is thawed and warmed to normal temperature. The size of the thawing energy depends on factors such as the nature, mass and freezing temperature of the substance. The thawing energy of different substances will be different, which is why it is necessary to adjust the thawing time and method according to the nature and conditions of the substance during the thawing process. According to the above, the thawing reference time is established based on the previous database, and a large number of thawing experiments are carried out on the model ingredients. The correlation between the thawing energy Q and the thawing reference time t corresponding to ingredients of different types and weights is obtained according to the formula Q=cmΔT, and the Q-t database is obtained. According to the set time set by the user, the corresponding thawing energy Q is compared in the Q-t database.

[0046] Step S520, determining a first voltage according to the thawing energy, the electrode area of ​​the electric field generating device, the cross-sectional area of ​​the air outlet of the air supply device, and the air supply speed of the air supply device.

[0047] In some embodiments, the first voltage is determined according to the thawing energy, the electrode area of ​​the electric field generating device, the cross-sectional area of ​​the air outlet of the air supply device, and the air supply speed of the air supply device. The thawing energy provided by the electric field is: Q 电 =σ*E2*A*t, where σ is the dielectric constant, E is the field strength, A is the electrode area, and t is the working time of the electric field; the thawing energy formula provided by the air supply device is: Q 风 =1 / 2*ρ*t*s*v3, where ρ is the air density, t is the fan operation time, s is the cross-sectional area of ​​the air outlet, and v is the wind speed. According to the Q value, the following relationship should be obtained: Q 电 + Q 风 =Q σ*E2*A*t+1 / 2*ρ*t*s*v3=Q Then E=((Q-1 / 2*ρ*t*s*v3) / σ*A*t)1 / 2 Set the voltage according to the height between the two plates.

[0048] That is, the electric field voltage parameter is .

[0049] It should be noted that since the wind turbine model and input voltage are fixed on the mass-produced module, the wind speed v is fixed, and the electric field parameters are set with reference to the wind speed.

[0050] In some embodiments, it is necessary to use a fresh-keeping drawer to thaw multiple types of food at the same time. First, for each type of food, according to its reference thawing time, compare it in the Q-t database, calculate the energy level required for thawing, and compare the thawing energy requirements of various food ingredients with the energy output of the electric field generating device and the air supply device. If the energy of the electric field and the air supply device is sufficient to meet the thawing requirements of all food ingredients, then the first voltage can remain unchanged. If the thawing energy requirements of some food ingredients cannot be met by the electric field and the air supply device, the first voltage of the electric field generating device can be gradually increased. By increasing the electric field strength, more energy can be provided to meet the thawing requirements of these specific food ingredients. Finally, the first voltage is adjusted according to the thawing energy requirements of various food ingredients and the energy output of the electric field and the air supply device to ensure that all food ingredients can be effectively thawed.

[0051] refer to Figure 6 As shown, Figure 6 A method for controlling an electric field generating device to generate a second electric field is provided in an embodiment of the present application. This embodiment is a further refinement of step S320 and is applied to a fresh-keeping device, which includes a fresh-keeping drawer, an electric field generating device, an air supply device, and a controller. The method for generating a second electric field may include but is not limited to the following steps: Step S610, the thawing time reaches the set time; When the defrosting time recorded by the controller reaches the set time, the controller controls the air supply device to turn off.

[0052] Step S620, controlling the electric field generating device to generate a second electric field based on a preset second voltage; In a certain embodiment of the present application, when the thawing time reaches the set time, the frozen food in the fresh-keeping drawer is thawed to prevent the user from not taking it out in time after thawing, resulting in the meat being placed for too long, causing serious loss of juice and reduced nutritional quality. At this time, the controller controls the air supply device to close, and controls the electric field generating device to generate a second electric field according to the pre-set second voltage. The electric field can affect the regular arrangement and formation of ice crystals by applying electric field forces to water molecules. Specifically, when water molecules are subjected to the electric field, the electric field force changes the interaction between water molecules, thereby affecting the arrangement of water molecules and the way ice crystals are formed, and prolonging the supercooling time. Under normal circumstances, water molecules will form ice crystals according to a regular lattice structure. However, when there is an electric field of appropriate strength and direction, the electric field force can interfere with the interaction between water molecules, resulting in an increase in the irregularity of the arrangement of water molecules, thereby inhibiting the formation of ice crystals. Specifically, the electric field can cause directional orientation between water molecules, making the arrangement of water molecules more disordered, and preventing the formation and growth of ice crystals. When the electric field is strong, the free movement and lattice arrangement of water molecules can be inhibited, causing the water molecules to aggregate in an irregular manner, thereby reducing the formation of ice crystals and extending the shelf life, achieving "supercooling without freezing". In addition, the electric field can reduce the activity of enzymes by changing their structure and function. Under the action of the electric field, the conformation of enzyme molecules may change, which may reduce the activity of the enzyme, reduce the physiological activity of the food, and extend the shelf life of the food.

[0053] Step S630, determining a third voltage according to a target height and the distance between the electrode plates of the electric field generating device, and controlling the electric field generating device to generate a second electric field based on the third voltage, wherein the target height is the height of the fresh-keeping drawer or the distance from the electric field generating device to the surface of the food in the fresh-keeping drawer.

[0054] In another embodiment of the present application, when the thawing time reaches the set time, the controller controls the air supply device to turn off, and determines the third voltage according to the surface height of the food in the fresh-keeping drawer and the distance between the electrode plates of the electric field generating device, and controls the electric field generating device to generate a second electric field according to the third voltage.

[0055] It should be noted that, since the transmembrane voltage of animal cells is 0.5 kV / cm, if the field strength exceeds this, electroporation will occur, which will damage the quality of meat. For example, in a certain embodiment, the height of the fresh-keeping drawer is about 14 cm, and the distance between the two electrodes is about 10 cm. Based on this, the voltage for micro-freezing and fresh-keeping is set to UB = 0.1 to 5 kV.

[0056] Reference Figure 7As shown, a processing method after a fresh-keeping drawer is opened provided in an embodiment of the present application is applied to a fresh-keeping device, the fresh-keeping device comprising a fresh-keeping drawer, an electric field generating device, an air supply device and a controller; the processing method may include but is not limited to the following steps: Step S710, detecting that the fresh-keeping drawer is opened; Step S720, turning off the electric field generating device.

[0057] In some embodiments, the controller determines whether the fresh-keeping drawer is opened by means of a door switch sensor. The door switch sensor is usually a magnetic switch consisting of two parts: one located on the drawer body and the other located on the upper cover. When the fresh-keeping drawer is closed, the two parts will approach and close the sensor. When the fresh-keeping drawer is opened during the thawing stage or the slightly frozen preservation stage, the two sensor parts will separate, causing the sensor to disconnect. This state change will be detected by the sensor and a signal will be sent to the controller. The controller receives this signal and controls the electric field generating device to turn off the electric field.

[0058] It should be noted that, when the fresh-keeping drawer is opened during the thawing stage, the controller will cancel the previous instruction of the safety drawer, and the thawing time recorded by the controller will be cleared. In addition, if the user still needs to thaw the food, it is necessary to close the fresh-keeping drawer, re-enter the set time through the control panel, and issue a thawing instruction, then the controller controls the fresh-keeping device to thaw the food in the fresh-keeping drawer; when the fresh-keeping drawer is opened during the micro-freezing preservation stage, the controller will cancel the previous instruction of the safety drawer. If the user needs to thaw the food, it is necessary to close the fresh-keeping drawer, re-enter the set time through the control panel, and issue a thawing instruction, then the controller controls the fresh-keeping device to thaw the food in the fresh-keeping drawer; if there is still food in the fresh-keeping drawer but the user has not issued a thawing instruction, the controller controls the fresh-keeping device to continue micro-freezing preservation.

[0059] Reference Figure 8 As shown, the overall process of a preservation method provided in an embodiment of the present application is applied to a preservation device, the preservation device is arranged in a refrigerator, and the refrigerator includes a refrigerator door; the preservation method may include but is not limited to the following steps: Step S810, the user sets the set time and sends a thawing instruction to the controller; Step S820, determining whether the fresh-keeping drawer is in a closed state, and determining whether the refrigerator door is in a closed state; Step S830, starting the air supply device, searching for the corresponding thawing energy according to the set duration, and recording the thawing duration; Step S840, determining a first voltage according to the thawing energy, the electrode area of ​​the electric field generating device, the cross-sectional area of ​​the air outlet of the air supply device, and the air supply speed of the air supply device; Step S850, controlling the electric field generating device to generate a first electric field based on the first voltage; Step S860, whether the thawing time reaches the set time; Step S870, turning off the air supply device and controlling the electric field sending device to generate a second electric field; The preservation method of the present application is described in detail below by using an example.

[0060] Take steak as an example. Steak contains high-quality nutrients such as protein, fat, vitamin B, iron and zinc. It is also a rich source of energy that the body needs. Steak is easy to deteriorate at room temperature, and refrigeration can extend its shelf life. Proper refrigeration can prevent bacterial growth and food poisoning. Refrigeration can also slow down the activity of enzymes, thereby reducing the loss of nutrients in food. In addition, steak can maintain its meat quality, taste and flavor during the refrigeration process.

[0061] Nowadays, the more common way to refrigerate steaks is to put the steaks in a sealed freezer bag or freezer box, make sure the steaks are tightly wrapped, and remove excess air. Put it in the freezer of the refrigerator and let the temperature reach below -18°C. In this case, the steaks can be kept in a frozen state for a longer time, usually 3 to 12 months, depending on the freshness of the steaks and the quality of the packaging. As mentioned above, steaks are easy to deteriorate at room temperature. When cooking steaks, it is necessary to thaw the steaks in advance and keep them fresh in time after thawing. The preservation method of the present application can maintain the original quality of the steaks to a great extent and extend their shelf life.

[0062] After the user puts the steak to be thawed into the fresh-keeping drawer, he sets the set time and issues a thawing command by using the control panel; when the controller receives the thawing command issued by the user by using the control panel, the refrigerator controller can detect the closing state of the fresh-keeping drawer and the refrigerator door through the contact sensor. When the fresh-keeping drawer or the refrigerator door is completely closed, the contact points between the contact sensors will be closed, and the contact sensor sends a signal that the safety drawer or the refrigerator is in a closed state to the controller, and the controller then determines that the safety drawer or the refrigerator is in a closed state to ensure that the steak is thawed in a closed state; the controller starts the air supply device, and according to the set time set by the user, the air supply device is turned on and off at Q- t database comparison to find the corresponding thawing energy Q; determine the first voltage according to the thawing energy, the electrode area of ​​the electric field generating device, the cross-sectional area of ​​the air outlet of the air supply device and the air supply speed of the air supply device; control the electric field generating device to generate a first electric field according to the first voltage, and thaw the steak simultaneously through the first electric field and the air supply device, accelerate the melting of ice crystals from both the surface and the center, and accelerate the thawing in all directions; on the other hand, the thawing time will be recorded by the controller and compared with the set time. When the thawing time reaches the set time, the second electric field is generated by the electric field generating device. The second electric field can inhibit the regular arrangement of water molecules inside the steak to form ice crystals, prolong the supercooling time, and solve the problem of not being able to properly freeze and preserve after thawing.

[0063] Reference Fig. 9 As shown, Fig. 9 A schematic diagram of the structure of a controller provided in an embodiment of the present application. The controller includes: The processor 1010 may be implemented by a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits, and is used to execute relevant instructions to implement the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present application; The memory 1020 can be implemented in the form of a read-only memory (ROM), a static storage device, a dynamic storage device, or a random access memory (RAM). The memory 1020 can store an operating system and other application programs. When the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this specification are implemented by software or firmware, the relevant program codes are stored in the memory 1020, and the processor 1010 calls and executes the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application; Input / output interface 1030, used to implement information input and output; The communication interface 1040 is used to realize the communication interaction between the device and other devices. The communication can be realized through a wired manner (such as USB, network cable, etc.) or a wireless manner (such as mobile network, WIFI, Bluetooth, etc.); Bus 1050 , which transmits information between various components of the device (e.g., processor 1010 , memory 1020 , input / output interface 1030 , and communication interface 1040 ); The processor 1010 , the memory 1020 , the input / output interface 1030 , and the communication interface 1040 are connected to each other in communication within the device via a bus 1050 .

[0064] An embodiment of the present application also provides a refrigerator, which includes the fresh-keeping device and the controller described above.

[0065] When the meat is thawed in the fresh-keeping drawer, the present application generates a first electric field through the electric field generating device, and supplies air through the air supply device, so as to accelerate the thawing process of the meat; after the thawing is completed, that is, the thawing time reaches the set time, the micro-freezing preservation process is automatically entered, at which time the air supply device stops supplying air and generates a second electric field through the electric field generating device, so as to preserve the meat; by setting the first electric field and the air supply speed, the melting of ice crystals in the meat can be accelerated, and by setting the second electric field, the regular arrangement of water molecules to form ice crystals can be suppressed, thereby extending the supercooling time and the food preservation time. Therefore, the fresh-keeping device of the embodiment of the present application integrates the thawing and micro-freezing preservation functions of the meat, broadens the application scenarios, and solves the problem that the micro-freezing preservation cannot be properly performed after thawing.

[0066] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that all or some of the steps and systems in the methods disclosed above may be implemented as software, firmware, hardware, and appropriate combinations thereof. Some or all physical components may be implemented as software executed by a processor, such as a central processing unit, a digital signal processor, or a microprocessor, or as hardware, or as an integrated circuit, such as an application specific integrated circuit. Such software may be distributed on a computer-readable medium, which may include a computer storage medium (or non-transitory medium) and a communication medium (or temporary medium). As is known to those skilled in the art, the term computer storage medium includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storing information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage media include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) flash memory or other memory technology, compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disc (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tapes, magnetic disks, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired information and can be accessed by a computer. In addition, it is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art that communication media generally include computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and may include any information delivery media.

[0067] It should be understood that in the present application, "at least one (item)" means one or more, and "plurality" means two or more. "And / or" is used to describe the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships may exist. For example, "A and / or B" can mean: only A exists, only B exists, and A and B exist at the same time, where A and B can be singular or plural. The character " / " generally indicates that the objects associated before and after are in an "or" relationship. "At least one of the following" or similar expressions refers to any combination of these items, including any combination of single or plural items. For example, at least one of a, b or c can mean: a, b, c, "a and b", "a and c", "b and c", or "a and b and c", where a, b, c can be single or multiple.

[0068] In several embodiments provided in the present application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely schematic, for example, the division of units is only a logical function division, and there may be other division methods in actual implementation, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. Another point is that the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of apparatuses or units, which can be electrical, mechanical or other forms. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components displayed as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place, or they may be distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the scheme of this embodiment.

[0069] It should also be understood that the various implementations provided in the embodiments of the present application can be combined arbitrarily to achieve different technical effects.

[0070] The above is a specific description of the preferred implementation of the present application, but the present application is not limited to the above-mentioned implementation mode. Technical personnel familiar with the field can also make various equivalent deformations or substitutions without violating the spirit of the present application. These equivalent deformations or substitutions are all included in the scope defined by the claims of the present application.

Claims

1. A fresh-keeping device, characterized in that: include: A fresh-keeping drawer, wherein an upper cover is provided at the open portion of the fresh-keeping drawer; An electric field generating device, disposed on the upper cover plate, for generating an electric field inside the fresh-keeping drawer; An air supply device, arranged on the upper cover plate, for supplying air to the interior of the fresh-keeping drawer; The controller is used to start the air supply device in response to a thawing instruction, control the electric field generating device to generate a first electric field, and record the thawing time. It is also used to turn off the air supply device and control the electric field generating device to generate a second electric field when the thawing time reaches a set time.

2. The fresh-keeping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The electric field generating device comprises an arc electrode and a power source, and the air supply device is arranged on the inner circle of the arc electrode.

3. The fresh-keeping device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the fresh-keeping drawer includes a metal plate for heat transfer.

4. A preservation method, characterized in that: Applicable to the fresh-keeping device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the fresh-keeping method comprises: In response to a thawing instruction, the air supply device is started, the electric field generating device is controlled to generate a first electric field, and the thawing time is recorded; When the thawing time reaches the set time, the air supply device is turned off and the electric field generating device is controlled to generate a second electric field.

5. The preservation method according to claim 4, characterized in that: The fresh-keeping device is arranged in a refrigerator, and the refrigerator includes a refrigerator door; in response to the thawing instruction, the air supply device is started, and the electric field generating device is controlled to generate a first electric field, including: When a defrosting instruction is received and it is determined that the fresh-keeping drawer is in a closed state and the refrigerator door is in a closed state, the air supply device and the electric field generating device are started; A first voltage is determined according to the set time, and the electric field generating device is controlled to generate a first electric field based on the first voltage. The set time is set by a user or determined according to the type and / or weight of the food in the fresh-keeping drawer.

6. The preservation method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The determining the first voltage according to the set time length includes: Searching for the corresponding thawing energy according to the set duration; The first voltage is determined according to the thawing energy, the electrode area of ​​the electric field generating device, the cross-sectional area of ​​the air outlet of the air supply device, and the air supply wind speed of the air supply device.

7. The preservation method according to claim 4, characterized in that: Controlling the electric field generating device to generate a second electric field comprises: Controlling the electric field generating device to generate a second electric field based on a preset second voltage; Alternatively, a third voltage is determined based on a target height and the distance between the electrode plates of the electric field generating device, and the electric field generating device is controlled to generate a second electric field based on the third voltage, wherein the target height is the height of the fresh-keeping drawer or the distance from the electric field generating device to the surface of the food in the fresh-keeping drawer.

8. The preservation method according to claim 4, characterized in that: The fresh-keeping method also includes: When it is detected that the fresh-keeping drawer is opened, the electric field generating device is turned off.

9. A controller, characterized in that It comprises at least one processor and a memory for communicating with the at least one processor; the memory stores instructions that can be executed by the at least one processor, and the instructions are executed by the at least one processor so that the at least one processor can execute the preservation method as described in any one of claims 4 to 8.

10. A refrigerator, characterized in that The fresh-keeping device comprises any one of claims 1 to 3 or the controller comprises the controller according to claim 9.

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