Fresh-keeping refrigerator
By installing a porous microfluidic chip and a negative oxygen ion generator in the refrigerator, combined with electrolyzed water and photocatalysts, dead-angle sterilization and food protection are achieved in the refrigerator, solving the problems of incomplete sterilization and oxidative damage, improving the sterilization coverage and vitamin retention rate, and reducing energy consumption and the frequency of consumables replacement.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202510888767.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-06-30
- Publication Date
- 2025-09-09
AI Technical Summary
Existing refrigerators do not sterilize thoroughly, especially in shadow areas and gaps, where the sterilization rate is insufficient. Traditional methods can cause oxidative damage to food or pesticide residues, consume high energy, and require frequent replacement of consumables.
Using porous microfluidic chip technology, combined with electrolyzed water and a negative oxygen ion generator, the electrolyzed water mist containing silver ions and the negative oxygen ion aerosol are mixed in the refrigerator through the microfluidic chip, the pesticides are decomposed by photocatalysts, and the photocatalysts are recovered through magnetic particles to achieve three-dimensional space coverage sterilization and inhibition of oxidation reactions.
It achieves sterilization without dead corners in the refrigerator, and the sterilization coverage rate is increased to 98.7%, avoiding oxidative damage to food ingredients. The strawberry vitamin C retention rate is increased to 89%, reducing energy consumption and extending the service life of the photocatalyst.
Smart Images
Figure CN120609169A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of refrigerators, in particular to a fresh-keeping refrigerator. Background Art
[0002] Currently, refrigerator sterilization and preservation mainly rely on ultraviolet irradiation or ozone generators. Most ultraviolet sterilization solutions involve installing ultraviolet lamps on the top of the refrigerator's cold storage compartment to inactivate surface microorganisms through regular irradiation. However, this method does not provide sufficient coverage of shadowed areas (such as drawer corners), and the linear propagation characteristics of ultraviolet rays result in a sterilization rate of less than 40% in areas such as under drawer shelves and in gaps between sealing strips. Ozone deodorization and preservation methods often use high-voltage ionization to generate ozone (O3) to oxidize and decompose odor molecules. However, high-concentration ozone accelerates the oxidation of fruits and vegetables, leading to vitamin loss. When the ozone concentration exceeds 0.1ppm, the water loss rate of leafy vegetables increases by 2 times, and the vitamin C loss rate is ≥15%. Passive adsorption solutions use activated carbon filters to adsorb ethylene gas, but they cannot degrade pesticide residues and require regular replacement of consumables. In addition, existing refrigerator preservation solutions can only delay spoilage but cannot decompose organophosphorus pesticides (such as chlorpyrifos) on the surface of fruits and vegetables; and the UV lamp and ozone generator need to run continuously, with a daily power consumption of more than 0.5kWh and high-frequency howling noise (above 45dB).
[0003] Therefore, how to achieve sterilization without dead corners in the refrigerator while avoiding oxidative damage to food; in addition, how to efficiently degrade residual pesticides on the surface of fruits and vegetables, how to dynamically adjust the sterilization intensity to reduce energy consumption, and how to avoid frequent replacement of traditional filter consumables are all technical problems that fresh-keeping refrigerators need to solve. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a fresh-keeping refrigerator that can achieve sterilization without dead corners in the refrigerator refrigeration chamber and avoid oxidative damage to food in response to the above-mentioned existing technology.
[0005] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above technical problems is: a fresh-keeping refrigerator, comprising a box body, wherein a food storage space is provided in the box body, characterized in that: a first porous microfluidic chip is provided on the inner wall of the food storage space, and a second porous microfluidic chip is also provided on the inner wall of the food storage space; an electrolyzed water storage tank is further provided in the box body, and the electrolyzed water storage tank stores electrolyzed water containing silver ions, and the electrolyzed water storage tank is connected to the first porous microfluidic chip through a first channel; a negative oxygen ion generator is further provided in the box body, and the negative oxygen ion generator is connected to the second porous microfluidic chip through a second channel; the first porous microfluidic chip can cut the electrolyzed water containing silver ions stored in the electrolyzed water storage tank into silver ion electrolyzed water mist containing less than 60 μm and release it into the food storage space; the second porous microfluidic chip is loaded with a photocatalyst, and the second porous microfluidic chip can mix the negative oxygen ions generated by the negative oxygen ion generator with the photocatalyst to generate a negative oxygen ion aerosol loaded with the photocatalyst, and release it into the food storage space.
[0006] As an improvement, the first porous microfluidic chip is a microfluidic mesh plate with a pore size of 30μm to 60μm, and the second porous microfluidic chip includes plates A and B bonded together, wherein plate A is a microfluidic mesh plate with a pore size of 30μm to 60μm, and plate B includes a SiO2 mesh substrate with a pore size of 4mm to 6mm, and a surface layer of TiO2 nanoparticles coated on the surface of the SiO2 mesh substrate. The main function of titanium dioxide is as a photocatalyst. The TiO2 nanoparticles carried by the negative oxygen ion aerosol are used to stimulate a photocatalytic reaction under the action of the refrigerator lighting to decompose organophosphorus pesticide molecules. After the aerosol is sprayed, TiO2 is adsorbed on the surface of fruits and vegetables, and the LED light source (wavelength 385nm) inside the refrigerator activates the photocatalytic reaction, decomposing chlorpyrifos into CO2, H2O and PO43-.
[0007] As a further improvement, Fe3O4 magnetic particles are loaded in the pores of the B plate, and ferrosoferric oxide is used to recover the photocatalyst, which is convenient for recycling and reuse. The Fe3O4 magnetic particles make the TiO2 recovery rate greater than 92%.
[0008] Further improvement, the box is provided with a water tank, an electrolysis module and a micro-flow pump, the electrolysis module is arranged in the water tank, the water tank is connected to the electrolyzed water storage tank through the micro-flow pump, the electrolysis module is used to generate electrolyzed water containing silver ions and transport the electrolyzed water containing silver ions to the electrolyzed water storage tank.
[0009] Further improvement, the refrigerator's preservation control mode includes an electrolysis water preservation mode and an aerosol preservation mode; in the electrolysis water preservation mode, the electrolysis module starts working, the electrolysis module generates electrolyzed water containing silver ions and transports it to the electrolyzed water storage tank through a microflow pump, the electrolyzed water storage tank transports the electrolyzed water containing silver ions to the first porous microfluidic chip through the first channel, the first porous microfluidic chip cuts the electrolyzed water containing silver ions into silver ion electrolyzed water mist less than 60 μm and releases it into the food storage space; in the aerosol preservation mode, the negative oxygen ion generator starts working, the negative oxygen ion generator generates negative oxygen ions, driven by airflow, the negative oxygen ions reach the second porous microfluidic chip through the second channel, the second porous microfluidic chip can mix the negative oxygen ions generated by the negative oxygen ion generator with the photocatalyst to generate a negative oxygen ion aerosol loaded with the photocatalyst, and release it into the food storage space.
[0010] The refrigerator's freshness preservation control method is further improved to cycle through the following steps every 6 hours: first, the electrolyzed water preservation mode is used for 8 to 15 minutes, then the aerosol preservation mode is used for 4 to 8 minutes, and then the refrigerator enters silent waiting mode, effectively reducing the power consumption of the entire machine.
[0011] As a further improvement, an inclined guide plate is provided at the bottom of the food storage space, and the bottom of the inclined guide plate is connected to a condensate recovery trough, which is connected to the water trough, or the condensate recovery trough is the water trough.
[0012] A humidity sensor is provided in the food storage space. In the aerosol preservation mode, when the humidity sensor detects that the humidity is greater than 85%, the second microfluidic chip switches to a high-frequency pulse mode, such as opening and closing the valve body three times per second.
[0013] The food storage space is a cold storage chamber; the first porous microfluidic chip and the second porous microfluidic chip are both arranged on the top inner wall of the cold storage chamber.
[0014] The top inner wall of the refrigeration chamber is provided with an LED lighting lamp.
[0015] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are: by setting two porous microfluidic chips and two channels, and respectively setting an electrolytic water storage tank and a negative oxygen ion generator, the first porous microfluidic chip can cut the silver ion-containing electrolytic water stored in the electrolytic water storage tank into silver ion-containing electrolytic water mist less than 60 μm and release it into the food storage space; the second porous microfluidic chip can mix the negative oxygen ions generated by the negative oxygen ion generator with a photocatalyst to generate a negative oxygen ion aerosol loaded with a photocatalyst, and release it into the food storage space, thereby achieving three-dimensional space coverage sterilization and inhibiting oxidation reactions; the sterilization coverage rate is increased to 98.7% (compared with 61% of the ultraviolet solution); the vitamin C retention rate of strawberries after 7 days of storage is increased from 58% to 89%. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the top inner wall of the refrigerator compartment and related functional modules in a fresh-keeping refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] Figure 2 1 is an exploded view of the second porous microfluidic chip in an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The present invention will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.
[0019] This embodiment provides a fresh-keeping refrigerator, which includes a box body, a refrigerator compartment, and a first porous microfluidic chip 1, an LED lighting lamp 2, and a second porous microfluidic chip 3 on the top of the refrigerator compartment wall. Figure 1 As shown; in addition, an electrolyzed water storage tank 4 is further provided in the cabinet of the fresh-keeping refrigerator, and electrolyzed water containing silver ions is stored in the electrolyzed water storage tank 4, and the electrolyzed water storage tank 4 is connected to the first porous microfluidic chip 1 through a first channel; a negative oxygen ion generator 5 is also provided in the cabinet, and the negative oxygen ion generator 5 is connected to the second porous microfluidic chip 3 through a second channel; the first porous microfluidic chip 1 can cut the electrolyzed water containing silver ions stored in the electrolyzed water storage tank 4 into silver ion electrolyzed water mist less than 60 μm and release it into the cold storage chamber; the second porous microfluidic chip 3 is loaded with a photocatalyst, and the second porous microfluidic chip can mix the negative oxygen ions generated by the negative oxygen ion generator with the photocatalyst to generate a negative oxygen ion aerosol loaded with a photocatalyst, and release it into the cold storage chamber.
[0020] In this embodiment, the first porous microfluidic chip is a microfluidic mesh plate with a pore size of 30 μm to 60 μm, preferably 50 μm, and is made of PDMS; the second porous microfluidic chip 3 includes an A plate 31 and a B plate 32 bonded together, see Figure 2 As shown, plate A 31 is a microfluidic mesh plate with a pore size of 30 μm to 60 μm, preferably 50 μm, and the material is PDMS; plate B includes a SiO2 mesh substrate with a pore size of 4 mm to 6 mm, and a TiO2 nanoparticle surface layer coated on the surface of the SiO2 mesh substrate, and the pores of plate B are loaded with Fe3O4 magnetic particles.
[0021] A water tank 6, an electrolysis module 7 and a micro-flow pump 8 are provided in the box body. The electrolysis module 7 is arranged in the water tank 6. The water tank 6 is connected to the electrolyzed water storage tank 4 through the micro-flow pump 8. The electrolysis module is used to generate electrolyzed water containing silver ions and transport the electrolyzed water containing silver ions to the electrolyzed water storage tank 4.
[0022] An inclined guide plate (not shown in the figure) is provided at the bottom of the refrigerating chamber. The inclined guide plate has an inclination angle of 15 degrees, and the bottom of the inclined guide plate is connected to the water tank 6.
[0023] The fresh-keeping control modes of the fresh-keeping refrigerator include an electrolytic water fresh-keeping mode and an aerosol fresh-keeping mode; in the electrolytic water fresh-keeping mode, the electrolysis module starts working, the electrolysis module generates electrolytic water containing silver ions and transports it to the electrolytic water storage tank through a microflow pump, the electrolytic water storage tank transports the electrolytic water containing silver ions to the first porous microfluidic chip through the first channel, the first porous microfluidic chip cuts the electrolytic water containing silver ions into silver ion electrolytic water mist containing less than 60 μm and releases it into the food storage space; in the aerosol fresh-keeping mode, the negative oxygen ion generator starts working, the negative oxygen ion generator generates negative oxygen ions, driven by airflow, the negative oxygen ions reach the second porous microfluidic chip through the second channel, the second porous microfluidic chip can mix the negative oxygen ions generated by the negative oxygen ion generator with the photocatalyst to generate negative oxygen ion aerosol loaded with the photocatalyst, and release it into the food storage space.
[0024] The refrigerator's freshness preservation control method is: every 6 hours, the following operations are cyclically performed: first, the electrolyzed water freshness preservation mode is executed for 8 to 15 minutes, then the aerosol freshness preservation mode is executed for 4 to 8 minutes, and then the refrigerator enters silent waiting.
[0025] In addition, a humidity sensor 9 is provided in the refrigeration chamber. In the aerosol preservation mode, when the humidity sensor detects that the humidity is greater than 85%, the second microfluidic chip switches to a high-frequency pulse mode, such as opening and closing the valve three times per second.
[0026] The fresh-keeping refrigerator in this embodiment utilizes microfluidic chip dual-mode atomization technology to alternately release silver ion electrolytic water mist and photocatalyst-loaded negative oxygen ion aerosol, achieving three-dimensional spatial coverage sterilization and inhibiting oxidation reactions. The sterilization coverage rate is increased to 98.7% (compared to 61% for ultraviolet light). The vitamin C retention rate of strawberries after seven days of storage increases from 58% to 89%. After aerosol spraying, TiO2 adsorbs onto the surface of fruits and vegetables. The LED light source (wavelength 385nm) inside the refrigerator activates the photocatalytic reaction, breaking down chlorpyrifos into CO2, H2O, and PO43-. Testing shows a chlorpyrifos degradation rate of ≥87% within 24 hours, and the Fe3O4 magnetic particles achieve a TiO2 recovery rate of >92%. The Ag+ ion concentration in the electrolyzed water is adjusted by pulse voltage (0.5V→3V→0.5V cycles) to prevent electrode passivation. After one year of continuous operation, the system's Ag+ release efficiency remains at 91% of its initial value, eliminating the need for filter replacement.
Claims
1. A fresh-keeping refrigerator, comprising a box body, wherein the box body is provided with a food storage space, characterized in that: A first porous microfluidic chip is provided on the inner wall of the food storage space, and a second porous microfluidic chip is also provided on the inner wall of the food storage space; an electrolyzed water storage tank is also provided in the box, and electrolyzed water containing silver ions is stored in the electrolyzed water storage tank, and the electrolyzed water storage tank is connected to the first porous microfluidic chip through a first channel; a negative oxygen ion generator is also provided in the box, and the negative oxygen ion generator is connected to the second porous microfluidic chip through a second channel; the first porous microfluidic chip can cut the electrolyzed water containing silver ions stored in the electrolyzed water storage tank into silver ion electrolyzed water mist containing less than 60μm and release it into the food storage space; the second porous microfluidic chip is loaded with a photocatalyst, and the second porous microfluidic chip can mix the negative oxygen ions generated by the negative oxygen ion generator with the photocatalyst to generate a negative oxygen ion aerosol loaded with the photocatalyst, and release it into the food storage space.
2. The fresh-keeping refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first porous microfluidic chip is a microfluidic mesh plate with a pore size of 30μm to 60μm, and the second porous microfluidic chip includes a plate A and a plate B bonded together, wherein the plate A is a microfluidic mesh plate with a pore size of 30μm to 60μm, and the plate B includes a SiO2 mesh substrate with a pore size of 4mm to 6mm, and a TiO2 nanoparticle surface layer coated on the surface of the SiO2 mesh substrate.
3. The fresh-keeping refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that: The pores of the B plate are loaded with Fe3O4 magnetic particles.
4. The fresh-keeping refrigerator according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that: A water tank, an electrolysis module and a micro-flow pump are provided in the box. The electrolysis module is arranged in the water tank. The water tank is connected to the electrolyzed water storage tank through the micro-flow pump. The electrolysis module is used to generate electrolyzed water containing silver ions and transport the electrolyzed water containing silver ions to the electrolyzed water storage tank.
5. The fresh-keeping refrigerator according to claim 4, characterized in that: The fresh-keeping control modes of the fresh-keeping refrigerator include an electrolytic water fresh-keeping mode and an aerosol fresh-keeping mode; in the electrolytic water fresh-keeping mode, the electrolysis module starts working, the electrolysis module generates electrolytic water containing silver ions and transports it to the electrolytic water storage tank through a microflow pump, the electrolytic water storage tank transports the electrolytic water containing silver ions to the first porous microfluidic chip through the first channel, the first porous microfluidic chip cuts the electrolytic water containing silver ions into silver ion electrolytic water mist containing less than 60 μm and releases it into the food storage space; in the aerosol fresh-keeping mode, the negative oxygen ion generator starts working, the negative oxygen ion generator generates negative oxygen ions, driven by airflow, the negative oxygen ions reach the second porous microfluidic chip through the second channel, the second porous microfluidic chip can mix the negative oxygen ions generated by the negative oxygen ion generator with the photocatalyst to generate negative oxygen ion aerosol loaded with the photocatalyst, and release it into the food storage space.
6. The fresh-keeping refrigerator according to claim 5, characterized in that: The refrigerator's freshness preservation control method is: every 6 hours, the following operations are cyclically performed: first, the electrolyzed water freshness preservation mode is executed for 8 to 15 minutes, then the aerosol freshness preservation mode is executed for 4 to 8 minutes, and then the refrigerator enters silent waiting.
7. The fresh-keeping refrigerator according to claim 5, characterized in that: A humidity sensor is provided in the food storage space. In the aerosol preservation mode, when the humidity sensor detects that the humidity is greater than 85%, the second microfluidic chip switches to the high-frequency pulse mode.
8. The fresh-keeping refrigerator according to claim 4, characterized in that: An inclined guide plate is provided at the bottom of the food storage space, and the bottom of the inclined guide plate is connected to a condensed water recovery tank, which is communicated with the water tank, or the condensed water recovery tank is the water tank.
9. The fresh-keeping refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The food storage space is a cold storage chamber; the first porous microfluidic chip and the second porous microfluidic chip are both arranged on the top inner wall of the cold storage chamber.
10. The fresh-keeping refrigerator according to claim 9, characterized in that: The top inner wall of the refrigeration chamber is provided with an illumination lamp.