Air duct control method for three-dimensional air supply and refrigerator

Abstract

The invention provides a three-dimensional air supply air duct control method and a refrigerator, and relates to the technical field of refrigerators. The method comprises the following steps: acquiring temperature data and airflow data of different preset positions acquired by temperature sensors and airflow sensors; according to the temperature data and the airflow data, obtaining airflow distribution and a temperature field in the refrigeration cabin of the refrigerator; according to the air flow distribution and the temperature field in the refrigeration cabin of the refrigerator, a preset algorithm is adopted to generate a fan adjusting instruction, and the fan adjusting instruction comprises air speed and / or air direction parameters of a top air outlet system and a side air duct system; the top air outlet system and / or the side air duct system are / is controlled according to the draught fan adjusting instruction, fine air supply control over the interior of the refrigerating cabin of the refrigerator is achieved, the problems of local supercooling and peripheral warm areas are avoided, dead-corner-free airflow coverage of the top and the middle-lower portion of the refrigerating cabin is achieved, and the refrigerating cabin is protected. The problems of non-uniform air flow coverage, temperature dead angles in the top area and poor food fresh-keeping effect in a two-side air supply mode are solved, and the fresh-keeping effect of the refrigerator is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of refrigerator technology, and more specifically, to a three-dimensional airflow control method and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] As household refrigerators rapidly develop towards intelligent and precise temperature control, users have significantly increased their requirements for temperature uniformity within the refrigerator compartment, complete airflow coverage, and food preservation stability.

[0003] In related technologies, most mainstream refrigerators currently adopt a dual-sided air supply architecture, which means that multiple air outlets are set on the left and right sides of the air duct at the back of the refrigerator compartment. Cold air is driven horizontally into the compartment by the fans on both sides, and a circulating airflow is formed by natural convection and the guidance of the compartment structure.

[0004] However, in this traditional two-sided air supply mode, there are structural blind spots in the spatial coverage, resulting in poor preservation in some storage areas. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this application is to provide a three-dimensional air supply duct control method and a refrigerator to address the shortcomings of the prior art, so as to solve the technical problems existing in the prior art.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solutions adopted in the embodiments of this application are as follows: In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a three-dimensional airflow control method for a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes: a top air outlet system, a side air duct system, multiple temperature sensors, multiple airflow sensors, and a main control unit. The main control unit is communicatively connected to the top air outlet system, the side air duct system, the temperature sensors, and the airflow sensors. The top air outlet system is located in the top air duct of the refrigerator compartment, and the side air duct system is located in the back air duct of the refrigerator compartment. The top air duct and the back air duct are isolated from each other. The temperature sensors and the airflow sensors are distributed at preset positions within the refrigerator compartment. The method includes: Acquire temperature data and airflow data from different preset locations collected by each of the temperature sensors and the airflow sensor; Based on the temperature data and the airflow data, the airflow distribution and temperature field inside the refrigerator compartment are obtained; Based on the airflow distribution and temperature field inside the refrigerator compartment, a preset algorithm is used to generate fan adjustment commands, which include wind speed and / or wind direction parameters for the top air outlet system and the side air duct system. The top air outlet system and / or the side air duct system are controlled according to the fan adjustment command.

[0007] Optionally, the step of generating fan adjustment commands using a preset algorithm based on the airflow distribution and temperature field within the refrigerator's cold compartment includes: Based on the airflow distribution and temperature field inside the refrigerator compartment, the temperature uniformity deviation is calculated. If the temperature uniformity deviation is greater than a preset threshold, a fan adjustment command is generated using a preset algorithm based on the airflow and temperature distribution inside the refrigerator compartment.

[0008] Optionally, obtaining the airflow distribution and temperature field within the refrigerator compartment based on the temperature data and the airflow data includes: Based on the pre-constructed fluid dynamics equations, the temperature data, and the airflow data, the airflow distribution and temperature field are simulated.

[0009] Optionally, before simulating the airflow distribution and temperature field based on the pre-constructed fluid dynamics equations, the temperature data, and the airflow data, the method further includes: Based on a structured orthogonal grid of preset size, the effective airflow area in the refrigerator compartment is discretized to obtain multiple grid cells.

[0010] Optionally, the pre-constructed fluid dynamics equations include: continuity equation, momentum equation, and energy equation; The process of simulating the airflow distribution and temperature field based on pre-constructed fluid dynamics equations, temperature data, and airflow data includes: Based on the initial temperature of the refrigerator, the current wind speed of the top air outlet system, the current wind speed of the side air duct system, temperature data, and airflow data, the airflow velocity flux is calculated using the continuity equation, the airflow velocity and direction are calculated using the momentum equation, and the temperature value of each grid cell is calculated using the energy equation. Based on the airflow velocity flux, the airflow velocity and direction, and the temperature value of each grid cell, the airflow distribution numerical matrix and the temperature distribution numerical matrix are obtained.

[0011] Optionally, the step of calculating the temperature uniformity deviation based on the airflow distribution and temperature field within the refrigerator's refrigeration compartment includes: Based on the airflow distribution numerical matrix and the temperature distribution numerical matrix, the airflow dead zone area in the refrigerator compartment where the wind speed is less than the preset wind speed, the temperature fluctuation difference of the entire refrigerator compartment, and the temperature difference between the top of the refrigerator compartment and other areas are obtained.

[0012] Optionally, if the temperature uniformity deviation is greater than a preset threshold, a fan adjustment command is generated based on the airflow and temperature distribution within the refrigerator compartment using a preset algorithm, including: When the temperature difference between the top of the refrigerator compartment and other areas exceeds a preset threshold, a fan adjustment command is generated using a preset algorithm based on the airflow dead zone area where the wind speed in the refrigerator compartment is less than the preset wind speed, the temperature fluctuation difference of the entire refrigerator compartment, and the temperature difference between the top of the refrigerator compartment and other areas.

[0013] Optionally, the method further includes: After the refrigerator starts cooling mode, the top air outlet system is activated to supply air. After the top air outlet system is started and continues for a preset time, the side air duct system is activated to supply air.

[0014] Secondly, this application also provides a refrigerator, which includes: a top air outlet system, a side air duct system, multiple temperature sensors, multiple airflow sensors, and a main control unit. The main control unit is communicatively connected to the top air outlet system, the side air duct system, the temperature sensors, and the airflow sensors. The top air outlet system is disposed in the top air duct of the refrigerator compartment, and the side air duct system is disposed in the back air duct of the refrigerator compartment. The top air duct and the back air duct are isolated from each other. The temperature sensors and the airflow sensors are distributed and disposed at preset positions within the refrigerator compartment. The main control unit is used to execute the above-mentioned three-dimensional air supply duct control method.

[0015] Optionally, the top air outlet system includes a stepper motor and a blower, wherein the stepper motor and the blower are respectively communicatively connected to the main control unit; The top air duct is provided with at least one top air outlet, and each top air outlet is provided with an adjustable air guide plate.

[0016] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide an electronic device, which includes a memory for storing one or more programs and a processor. When the one or more programs are executed by the processor, the above-described three-dimensional airflow duct control method is implemented.

[0017] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described three-dimensional air supply duct control method.

[0018] The beneficial effects of this application are: This application provides a three-dimensional airflow control method and a refrigerator. Specifically addressing the challenges of a small, highly sealed, and precisely temperature-controlled refrigerator compartment, this application proposes not only a side airflow system on the side of the compartment but also a top airflow system on top. During refrigerator operation, temperature and airflow data are acquired at multiple preset locations within the compartment. Based on this data, the airflow distribution and temperature field within the compartment are calculated. The airflow distribution characterizes the velocity and direction of the cold air flow within the compartment. The temperature field characterizes the temperature value inside the refrigerator's cooling compartment. Based on the airflow distribution and temperature field inside the cooling compartment, a preset algorithm generates fan adjustment commands. These commands dynamically adjust the airflow intensity and / or airflow angle of the top air outlet system and side air duct system, enabling precise airflow control within the cooling compartment. This avoids issues such as localized overcooling and surrounding warm areas, achieving complete airflow coverage across the top, middle, and lower parts of the cooling compartment. It also solves the problems of uneven airflow coverage, temperature dead zones in the top area, and poor food preservation in side air outlet modes, thus improving the refrigerator's preservation effect.

[0019] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, preferred embodiments are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this application and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the layout of a refrigerator compartment provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a refrigerator provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 A flowchart illustrating a three-dimensional air supply duct control method provided in this application embodiment; Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating another three-dimensional air supply duct control method provided in this application embodiment; Figure 5 A flowchart illustrating another three-dimensional air supply duct control method provided in this application embodiment; Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating another three-dimensional air supply duct control method provided in this application embodiment; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the overall process of a three-dimensional air supply duct control method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0022] Icons: 100 - Refrigerator; 1 - Rear air duct; 2 - Top air duct; 3 - Top air duct outlet; 4 - Top air supply fan; 5 - Side air supply fan; 6 - Upper shelf; 7 - Middle shelf; 8 - Lower shelf; 9 - Side air supply upper shelf outlet; 10 - Side air supply middle shelf outlet; 11 - Side air supply lower shelf outlet; 12 - Top air supply system; 13 - Side air duct system; 14 - Temperature sensor; 15 - Airflow sensor; 16 - Main control unit. Detailed Implementation

[0023] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of this application described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0024] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of this application provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed application, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the application. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0025] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures indicate similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures. Furthermore, in the description of this application, terms such as "first," "second," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0026] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element.

[0027] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship that the product of this application is usually placed in. They 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. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0028] In the description of this application, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set" and "connection" 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 of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0029] The following detailed description of some embodiments of this application is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features can be combined with each other.

[0030] First, the background technology involved in this application will be introduced.

[0031] In the current technology, most mainstream refrigerators adopt a dual-sided air supply architecture, which means that multiple air outlets are set on the left and right sides of the air duct at the back of the refrigerator compartment. Cold air is driven horizontally into the compartment by the fans on both sides simultaneously. Relying on natural convection and the guidance of the compartment structure, a circulating airflow is formed to achieve directional air supply to the middle and lower space.

[0032] However, in this traditional two-sided air supply mode, the cold air mainly circulates in the lower and middle parts of the cabin, while the top area forms a "temperature dead zone" due to insufficient airflow coverage (for example, the temperature in the top area is usually 1 to 2°C higher than that in the lower and middle areas). In other words, the space coverage of the two-sided air supply mode has a structural blind spot, which leads to a shortened shelf life of food (such as beverages, fruits and vegetables) stored in the top area, making them prone to spoilage and drying out.

[0033] Therefore, in response to the above problems, this application proposes a precise control logic based on a three-dimensional air outlet layout to achieve full airflow coverage without dead angles in the top, middle and lower parts of the refrigerator compartment. This solves the problems of uneven airflow coverage, temperature dead angles in the top area and poor food preservation in the side air supply mode, thereby improving the refrigerator's preservation effect and user experience.

[0034] Optionally, refer to Figure 1 The diagram shown is a layout diagram of the refrigerator compartment according to an embodiment of this application. Figure 1The image shows a left-side view of a refrigerator 100. The refrigerator 100 includes a rear air duct 1 and a top air duct 2. The top air duct 2 is provided with a top air duct outlet 3. A top air supply fan 4 is used to supply air to the top air duct 2 and deliver the air to the refrigerator compartment through the top air duct outlet 3. The top air duct 2 is provided with a side air outlet for the upper shelf, a side air outlet for the middle shelf, and a side air outlet for the lower shelf. The refrigerator compartment is provided with an upper shelf 6, a middle shelf 7, and a lower shelf 8. A side air supply fan 5 is used to supply air to the rear air duct 1 and deliver the air to the refrigerator compartment through the side air outlet for the upper shelf, the side air outlet for the middle shelf, and the side air outlet for the lower shelf.

[0035] Among them, the air outlets of 9 / 10 / 11 are symmetrically arranged so that there is also an air outlet on the right side. For example Figure 1 As shown, the top air duct 2 is located at the top of the refrigerated compartment and has two strip-shaped air outlets (width: 5cm, length: 60cm), equipped with adjustable air guide plates, and driven by a stepper motor (angle range: 0-60°).

[0036] The rear air duct 1 is located on the left and right sides of the rear air duct of the refrigerated compartment. There are 3 layered air outlets on the left and right sides respectively (corresponding to the upper, middle and lower shelves), and the diameter of the air outlet is 3cm. The top air duct 2 and the back air duct 1 are isolated from each other and do not interfere with each other.

[0037] Optionally, the horizontal distance between the top air duct outlet and the side air outlets is 20cm to ensure that the airflow converges and forms a circulation.

[0038] refer to Figure 2 The diagram shown is a structural schematic of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of this application; as shown Figure 2 As shown, the refrigerator 100 includes: a top air outlet system 12, a side air duct system 13, multiple temperature sensors 14, multiple airflow sensors 15, and a main control unit 16.

[0039] For example, the main control unit 16 can be a processor with data processing capabilities, such as a microcontroller or ARM board, to adapt to the low computing power and low power consumption requirements of the refrigerator MCU chip (such as ARM Cortex-M4, 168MHz).

[0040] For example, the airflow sensor 15 can be a thermal micro-anemometer, which can collect airflow data at its location.

[0041] The main control unit 16 is communicatively connected to the top air outlet system 12, the side air duct system 13, the temperature sensor 14, and the airflow sensor 15. Therefore, the main control unit 16 adjusts the air supply intensity of the top air outlet system 12 and / or the side air duct system 13 based on the temperature data collected by the temperature sensor 14 and the airflow data collected by the airflow sensor 15, so as to adapt to the temperature requirements of different areas and achieve airflow coverage without dead angles in the top, middle and lower parts of the refrigerated compartment.

[0042] The top air outlet system 12 is installed in the top air duct of the refrigerator compartment, and the side air duct system 13 is installed in the back air duct of the refrigerator compartment. The top air duct and the back air duct are isolated from each other. The top air outlet system 12 and the side air duct system 13 are respectively installed in different air ducts in the refrigerator compartment. The two have no airflow communication channels in their structure (i.e., no shared air box and no cross air guide cavity). The two are completely separated by physical partitions or sealing structures to ensure that the air source is independent, the pressure is controllable, and the start and stop do not interfere with each other, thus avoiding local air volume attenuation caused by wind pressure crosstalk.

[0043] Temperature sensor 14 and airflow sensor 15 are distributed and set in preset positions inside the refrigerator compartment. For example, the preset positions inside the refrigerator compartment can be 6-8 locations, such as the top center, four corners, above the middle shelf, below the lower shelf, and near the air duct outlet on the back panel. That is, the temperature sensor and airflow sensor can be arranged according to preset key monitoring points to form a sparse and representative sampling network for the three-dimensional temperature field and velocity field, avoiding invalid and redundant points.

[0044] The main control unit 16 is used to execute the three-dimensional air supply duct control method provided in this application to achieve airflow coverage without dead angles in the top, middle and lower parts of the refrigerator compartment, solve the problems of uneven airflow coverage, temperature dead angles in the top area and poor food preservation effect in the side air supply mode, and improve the preservation effect of the refrigerator.

[0045] Optionally, continue to refer to Figure 2 As shown, the top air outlet system 12 includes a stepper motor and a blower. The stepper motor and the blower are respectively connected to the main control unit for communication. That is, the stepper motor and the blower are independently connected to the main control unit. The air direction is controlled by the stepper motor and the air speed is adjusted by the blower, so as to achieve decoupled control of air speed (m / s) and air guide angle (°).

[0046] The top air duct is equipped with at least one top air outlet, and each top air outlet is equipped with an adjustable air guide plate. For example, the top air outlet may include: two strip-shaped air outlets (e.g., width: 5cm, length: 60cm); the air direction angle of the air guide plate is in the range of 0-60°, and the air direction angle of the air guide plate can be adjusted by a stepper motor to achieve precise spatial control of airflow.

[0047] In this embodiment, for the scenario of small space, high sealing and high-precision temperature control in the refrigerator compartment, it is proposed that during the operation of the refrigerator, the main control unit can realize millisecond-level real-time calculation and dynamic optimization of the air supply parameters of the stepper motor and / or the air supply fan based on the real-time temperature data and air temperature data, so as to meet the temperature requirements of the top area. This solves the problem of airflow coverage blind spots and insufficient airflow in the top area forming temperature dead zones in the traditional side air supply layout.

[0048] The following describes in detail the specific implementation process and technical effects of the three-dimensional air supply duct control method of this application through multiple embodiments.

[0049] Optionally, refer to Figure 3 The diagram shown is a flowchart illustrating a three-dimensional airflow control method provided in this application. This method is applied to the refrigerator provided in the above embodiments. Figure 3 As shown, the method includes: S101. Acquire temperature data and airflow data from different preset locations collected by various temperature sensors and airflow sensors.

[0050] Optionally, during refrigerator operation, temperature and airflow data collected by various temperature sensors and airflow sensors at preset locations can be acquired in real time or periodically. Therefore, this application proposes to simultaneously collect temperature and airflow data at multiple preset locations. For example, the temperature data collected at seven preset locations includes: 5cm downstream of the top air outlet (T1), the middle of the left / right / middle three-layer shelves (T2–T4), and the front / middle / rear end of the drawers (T5–T7); and the air temperature data collected at three preset locations includes: the center of the side air duct outlet section (V1), the return air vent on the back panel of the refrigerator compartment (V2), and the gap at the top edge of the door (V3).

[0051] S102. Based on temperature data and airflow data, obtain the airflow distribution and temperature field inside the refrigerator compartment.

[0052] Among them, airflow distribution refers to the collection of instantaneous air velocity vectors at any location in the three-dimensional space inside the refrigerated compartment, including magnitude (wind speed) and direction (horizontal / vertical tilt angle), with the unit being m / s; the airflow distribution at a certain location characterizes the cold energy transport path, recirculation efficiency, and disturbance propagation capability.

[0053] The temperature field refers to the collection of instantaneous air / surface thermodynamic temperatures at any location in the three-dimensional space inside the refrigerated compartment. The unit is ℃. It is an unsteady field that evolves over time and is affected by multiple mechanisms such as airflow convection, wall heat conduction, and radiation. It reflects "where the cold energy reaches and how strong its effect is" and is the ultimate indicator of preservation and energy consumption.

[0054] In this embodiment, the airflow distribution and temperature field inside the refrigerator compartment are obtained by solving based on a preset CFD algorithm, temperature data and airflow data at each preset location.

[0055] S103. Based on the airflow distribution and temperature field inside the refrigerator compartment, generate fan adjustment commands using a preset algorithm.

[0056] Among them, the fan adjustment command includes the wind speed and / or wind direction parameters of the top air outlet system and the side air duct system, that is, the top air outlet system and the side air duct system achieve asynchronous and coordinated air supply under the unified scheduling of the main control unit.

[0057] For example, the default algorithm is the CFD algorithm.

[0058] S104. Control the top air outlet system and / or side air duct system according to the fan adjustment command.

[0059] In one feasible approach, CFD algorithms can be used to process the airflow distribution and temperature field within the refrigerator's cooling compartment, generating fan adjustment commands. Based on these commands, the airflow intensity and / or direction angle of the top air outlet system and side air duct system can be dynamically adjusted. For example, when a temperature sensor detects that the temperature in the middle layer is too high, the side air duct speed is automatically increased and the guide angle is adjusted to create an upward lifting airflow. At the same time, the top airflow speed is reduced to decrease overcooling in the upper layer, thereby actively suppressing stratification caused by natural convection and avoiding the problem of localized overcooling and surrounding warm areas. This achieves complete airflow coverage across the top, middle, and lower parts of the cooling compartment without dead zones, solving the problems of uneven airflow coverage, temperature dead zones in the top area, and poor food preservation in side air outlet modes, thus improving the refrigerator's preservation effect.

[0060] In summary, this application provides a three-dimensional airflow control method. In addition to a side airflow system on the side of the refrigerator compartment, a top airflow system can be installed on the top of the refrigerator compartment. Temperature and airflow data are acquired at multiple preset locations within the refrigerator compartment. Based on this data, the airflow distribution and temperature field within the refrigerator compartment are calculated. The airflow distribution characterizes the velocity and direction of the cold air flow within the refrigerator compartment, while the temperature field characterizes the temperature field within the refrigerator compartment. The system calculates the temperature value and generates fan adjustment commands using a preset algorithm based on the airflow distribution and temperature field within the refrigerator's cooling compartment. This allows for dynamic adjustment of the airflow intensity and / or direction angle of the top air outlet system and side air duct system, achieving precise airflow control within the refrigerator's cooling compartment. This avoids issues such as localized overcooling and surrounding warm areas, ensuring complete airflow coverage across the top, middle, and lower parts of the cooling compartment without dead zones. It also solves the problems of uneven airflow coverage, temperature dead zones in the top area, and poor food preservation in side air outlet modes, thereby improving the refrigerator's preservation effect.

[0061] Optionally, refer to Figure 4 As shown, step S103 above includes: S201. Calculate the temperature uniformity deviation based on the airflow distribution and temperature field inside the refrigerator compartment.

[0062] Temperature uniformity deviation includes: temperature fluctuation difference throughout the entire compartment and temperature difference between the top and lower middle parts. Temperature uniformity deviation characterizes the temperature deviation in different areas of the refrigerator compartment.

[0063] In one feasible approach, based on the airflow distribution within the refrigerator's cooling compartment, dead zones with wind speeds <0.2 m / s can be identified, achieving accurate identification of these dead zones and effectively eliminating the risk of condensation buildup and microbial growth. Furthermore, based on the temperature field within the refrigerator's cooling compartment, the temperature fluctuation difference across the entire compartment and the temperature difference between the top and lower middle sections can be calculated.

[0064] S202. If the temperature uniformity deviation is greater than the preset threshold, the fan adjustment command is generated using a preset algorithm based on the airflow and temperature distribution in the refrigerator compartment.

[0065] For example, the preset threshold is 0.5℃.

[0066] In this embodiment, if the temperature uniformity deviation is greater than a preset threshold, the main control unit generates a fan adjustment command based on the CFD algorithm, the airflow and temperature distribution inside the refrigerator compartment, and sends adjustment commands to the top / side air supply fans and stepper motors to adjust the wind speed and air guide angle until the temperature uniformity deviation is ≤0.5℃. For example, if the temperature uniformity deviation is 0.6℃ (slightly greater than 0.5℃), only the side air duct wind speed is finely adjusted by ±15%; if the temperature uniformity deviation is 1.3℃ (significantly greater than 0.5℃), the top + side dual system collaborative reconstruction is triggered (e.g., the wind speed ratio is dynamically adjusted from 7:3 to 3:7, and air guide angle compensation is superimposed). That is, the "temperature uniformity deviation" is used as the judgment criterion to achieve fine control of the top air supply system and the side air duct system, thereby improving the control accuracy.

[0067] Optionally, step S102 above includes: Based on pre-constructed fluid dynamics equations, temperature data, and airflow data, the airflow distribution and temperature field are simulated.

[0068] Among them, the fluid dynamics equations are a set of mathematical expressions that describe the fundamental physical laws governing how airflow moves, is subjected to forces, transfers heat, and is conserved within the refrigerator's cooling compartment.

[0069] In one feasible approach, temperature and airflow data at various locations can be embedded as physical boundary conditions in the fluid dynamics equations. Using the fluid dynamics equations, the airflow distribution and temperature field in different areas of the refrigerator compartment can be simulated, thus describing "how the cold air flows and how the temperature is distributed" within the refrigerator compartment.

[0070] Optionally, before simulating the airflow distribution and temperature field based on pre-built fluid dynamics equations, temperature data, and airflow data, the following steps are also included: Based on a pre-defined structured orthogonal grid, the effective airflow area within the refrigerator compartment is discretized to obtain multiple grid cells.

[0071] For example, the preset size of the structured orthogonal grid is a 5cm×5cm×5cm structured orthogonal grid.

[0072] In one feasible approach, hardware layout parameters (outlet location and size), real-time operating parameters (current wind speed and initial temperature), and monitoring data from 6-8 distributed sensors are imported from the main control unit. The effective airflow area is discretized using a 5cm×5cm×5cm structured orthogonal grid to obtain multiple grid cells. The number of grid cells is controlled to be less than 5000, which reduces the computational load while ensuring accuracy.

[0073] Optionally, the pre-constructed fluid dynamics equations include: continuity equation, momentum equation, and energy equation; refer to Figure 5 As shown, based on pre-constructed fluid dynamics equations, temperature data, and airflow data, the airflow distribution and temperature field are simulated, including: S301. Based on the initial temperature of the refrigerator, the current wind speed of the top air outlet system, the current wind speed of the side air duct system, temperature data, and airflow data, the airflow velocity flux is calculated using the continuity equation, the airflow velocity and direction are calculated using the momentum equation, and the temperature value of each grid cell is calculated using the energy equation.

[0074] S302. Based on the airflow velocity flux, airflow velocity and direction, and the temperature value of each grid cell, the numerical matrix of airflow distribution and the numerical matrix of temperature distribution are obtained.

[0075] In this embodiment, the solution is simplified based on the three fundamental equations of fluid dynamics, taking into account the characteristics of the scenario. Specifically, the continuity equation (ignoring density changes) is used to solve for the initial temperature of the refrigerator, the current wind speed of the top air outlet system, the current wind speed of the side air duct system, temperature data, and airflow data to calculate the airflow velocity flux. The momentum equation (ignoring turbulent viscosity terms and volume forces) is used to calculate the airflow velocity and direction, and the energy equation (considering only convective heat transfer) is used to calculate the temperature value of each grid cell. Then, with the air outlet as the velocity inlet boundary and the bulkhead as the no-slip boundary, the airflow distribution numerical matrix and temperature distribution numerical matrix are obtained based on the airflow velocity flux, airflow velocity and direction, and the temperature value of each grid cell.

[0076] Optionally, the temperature uniformity deviation is calculated based on the airflow distribution and temperature field within the refrigerator's cold compartment, including: Based on the numerical matrix of airflow distribution and temperature distribution, the following data are obtained: dead zone areas where the wind speed in the refrigerator compartment is less than the preset wind speed; temperature fluctuation difference throughout the refrigerator compartment; and temperature difference between the top of the refrigerator compartment and other areas.

[0077] Among them, the airflow dead zone refers to the area where the cold air delivery fails when the wind speed in the refrigerator compartment is less than the freshness preservation critical value (0.2 m / s).

[0078] The preset fan speed is not set arbitrarily, but is a critical physical criterion for the refrigerator's preservation function to fail.

[0079] Optionally, the airflow rate of all grid units in the refrigerator compartment can be screened point by point to automatically locate low exchange rate areas that cannot be effectively reached by cold air.

[0080] The temperature fluctuation difference of the entire compartment refers to the standard deviation of the temperature calculated by weighting different areas (such as the upper, middle and top areas) of the three-dimensional temperature field inside the refrigerator compartment at the current moment. It characterizes the spatial dispersion and dynamic stability of the overall thermal environment of the refrigerator compartment.

[0081] The temperature difference between the top and other areas refers to the difference between the average temperature of the upper area and the weighted average temperature of the other functional areas (middle area and drawer area) at the current moment. The temperature difference between the top and other areas represents the degree of cold accumulation in the top area.

[0082] In this embodiment, based on all grid cells in the refrigerator compartment, the airflow distribution numerical matrix is ​​screened point by point to identify at least one airflow dead zone area in the refrigerator compartment where the airflow speed is less than 0.2m / s, and the temperature fluctuation difference of the entire compartment and the temperature difference between the top and the middle / lower part are calculated based on the temperature distribution numerical matrix.

[0083] Optionally, if the temperature uniformity deviation exceeds a preset threshold, a fan adjustment command is generated based on a preset algorithm according to the airflow and temperature distribution within the refrigerator compartment, including: When the temperature difference between the top of the refrigerator compartment and other areas exceeds a preset threshold, a fan adjustment command is generated using a preset algorithm based on the airflow dead zone area where the wind speed in the refrigerator compartment is less than the preset wind speed, the temperature fluctuation difference of the entire refrigerator compartment, and the temperature difference between the top of the refrigerator compartment and other areas.

[0084] In one feasible approach, if the temperature difference between the top of the refrigerator compartment and other areas is greater than 0.5°C, a fan adjustment command is generated based on the CFD algorithm, airflow dead zone area, temperature fluctuation difference throughout the compartment, and temperature difference between the top and other areas.

[0085] Optionally, refer to Figure 6 As shown, the method also includes: S401. After the refrigerator starts cooling mode, the top air outlet system will be activated to supply air.

[0086] S402. After the top air outlet system is started and continues for a preset time, the side air duct system is started to supply air.

[0087] In this embodiment, to optimize airflow circulation efficiency, a phased three-dimensional airflow construction strategy is proposed. The specifics are as follows: 1. Start-up trigger: After the refrigerator is powered on and starts the cooling mode, the air duct control system is activated simultaneously, starting the three-dimensional air supply mode; 2. Phased start-up of air supply: The main control unit first sends a start command to the top air supply system, controlling the air supply fan in the top air supply system to supply air at a wind speed of V1 (e.g., 1.2-1.5m / s) for a duration of T (e.g., 3-5 seconds) to ensure that cold air fills the upper space of the refrigerated compartment; 3. Delayed start of side air ducts: After the top air outlet system starts for time T, the main control unit sends a start command to the side air duct systems, controlling the side fans to deliver air at a wind speed of V2 (e.g., 0.8-1.0m / s) to form a three-dimensional circulation with the top airflow.

[0088] Therefore, in this embodiment, a control logic of "top priority start and side delayed start" is proposed. The top air outlet system starts first to fill the upper space, and then starts the side air ducts after a delay (example: 3-5 seconds), guiding the airflow to form a three-dimensional circulation "from top to bottom and from both sides to the middle", avoiding uneven coverage caused by airflow collision and effectively eliminating the top temperature dead zone. At the same time, the logic of combining phased start and dynamic adjustment reduces airflow collision loss, improves air duct circulation efficiency by 25%, and reduces ineffective air supply, reducing refrigerator energy consumption by 12%-15%.

[0089] It should be noted that the phased air supply proposed in this application is to meet the requirements of small space, high sealing and high-precision temperature control of the refrigerator compartment. It solves the problems of existing air supply control schemes that are "synchronous start-up and constant wind speed", which make it impossible to dynamically adjust the air supply parameters according to the airflow distribution in three-dimensional space, unable to adapt to the temperature requirements of different areas, and have low airflow circulation efficiency.

[0090] Optionally, Figure 7 This application provides an overall flowchart of a three-dimensional air supply duct control method as an embodiment of the present application; for example... Figure 7 As shown, the method includes: Step 1, Triggering: After the refrigerator is powered on and starts cooling mode, the air duct control system is activated simultaneously, starting the three-dimensional air supply mode; The second step is to start the air supply in stages: The main control unit first sends a start command to the top air supply system, controlling the top fan to supply air at a wind speed of V1 (e.g., 1.2-1.5m / s) for a duration of T (e.g., 3-5 seconds) to ensure that cold air fills the upper space of the refrigerated compartment. Step 3: Delay the start of the side air ducts: After the top air supply starts for time T, the main control unit sends a start command to the side air duct system, controlling the side fans to supply air at a wind speed of V2 (e.g., 0.8-1.0m / s) to form a three-dimensional circulation with the top airflow.

[0091] Step 4: CFD Dynamic Optimization: The CFD algorithm module collects data from distributed temperature sensors and airflow sensors in the refrigerated compartment in real time, simulates airflow distribution and temperature field, and calculates the temperature uniformity deviation under the current parameters.

[0092] Step 5: Parameter adjustment: If the temperature uniformity deviation is >0.5℃, the main control unit sends adjustment commands to the top / side air supply fans and stepper motors according to the CFD simulation results, and adjusts the wind speed and air guide angle until the deviation is ≤0.5℃.

[0093] Step 6, Steady-state maintenance and monitoring: After the parameters meet the standards, the system enters steady-state operation mode, collecting temperature and airflow data every 1 second and performing CFD simulation optimization every 5 seconds to ensure stable temperature throughout the cabin.

[0094] Optionally, this application proposes to use CFD algorithms to achieve lightweight real-time simulation for refrigerator compartments with small space, high sealing and high-precision temperature control. This is different from the heavy CFD simulation tools used in the traditional industrial design stage. The core of this application is to realize millisecond-level real-time calculation and dynamic optimization of airflow field and temperature field during refrigerator operation, which is adapted to the low computing power and low power consumption operation requirements of refrigerator MCU chips (such as ARM Cortex-M4, main frequency 168MHz).

[0095] The core objective of the CFD algorithm is to calculate the airflow velocity distribution, direction, temperature field distribution, and temperature gradient changes in the refrigerated compartment in real time. The output of the CFD algorithm consists of three core data: the temperature fluctuation difference of the entire compartment, the temperature difference between the top and the middle and lower parts, and the coordinates of the airflow dead zone area, providing a quantitative basis for the adjustment of air duct parameters.

[0096] Optionally, the CFD algorithm is executed intermittently in a loop at a frequency of 5 seconds per iteration (matching the sensor data acquisition frequency), with a single simulation taking 60-80ms, which fully meets the real-time control requirements.

[0097] Optionally, this application also provides a program product, such as a computer-readable storage medium, including a program that, when executed by a processor, performs the above-described method embodiments.

[0098] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

[0099] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this application is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that this application can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of this application. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered exemplary and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of this application is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within this application. No reference numerals in the claims should be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a three-dimensional air supply duct, characterized in that, The method is applied to a refrigerator, which includes: a top air outlet system, a side air duct system, multiple temperature sensors, multiple airflow sensors, and a main control unit. The main control unit is communicatively connected to the top air outlet system, the side air duct system, the temperature sensors, and the airflow sensors. The top air outlet system is located in the top air duct of the refrigerator compartment, and the side air duct system is located in the rear air duct of the refrigerator compartment. The top air duct and the rear air duct are isolated from each other. The temperature sensors and the airflow sensors are distributed at preset positions within the refrigerator compartment. Acquire temperature data and airflow data from different preset locations collected by each of the temperature sensors and the airflow sensor; Based on the temperature data and the airflow data, the airflow distribution and temperature field inside the refrigerator compartment are obtained; Based on the airflow distribution and temperature field inside the refrigerator compartment, a preset algorithm is used to generate fan adjustment commands, which include wind speed and / or wind direction parameters for the top air outlet system and the side air duct system. The top air outlet system and / or the side air duct system are controlled according to the fan adjustment command.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of generating fan adjustment commands based on the airflow distribution and temperature field within the refrigerator's cold compartment using a preset algorithm includes: Based on the airflow distribution and temperature field inside the refrigerator compartment, the temperature uniformity deviation is calculated. If the temperature uniformity deviation is greater than a preset threshold, a fan adjustment command is generated using a preset algorithm based on the airflow and temperature distribution inside the refrigerator compartment.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of obtaining the airflow distribution and temperature field within the refrigerator compartment based on the temperature data and the airflow data includes: Based on the pre-constructed fluid dynamics equations, the temperature data, and the airflow data, the airflow distribution and temperature field are simulated.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, Before simulating the airflow distribution and temperature field based on the pre-constructed fluid dynamics equations, the temperature data, and the airflow data, the process further includes: Based on a structured orthogonal grid of preset size, the effective airflow area in the refrigerator compartment is discretized to obtain multiple grid cells.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The pre-constructed fluid dynamics equations include: continuity equation, momentum equation, and energy equation; The process of simulating the airflow distribution and temperature field based on pre-constructed fluid dynamics equations, temperature data, and airflow data includes: Based on the initial temperature of the refrigerator, the current wind speed of the top air outlet system, the current wind speed of the side air duct system, temperature data, and airflow data, the airflow velocity flux is calculated using the continuity equation, the airflow velocity and direction are calculated using the momentum equation, and the temperature value of each grid cell is calculated using the energy equation. Based on the airflow velocity flux, the airflow velocity and direction, and the temperature value of each grid cell, the airflow distribution numerical matrix and the temperature distribution numerical matrix are obtained.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The step of calculating the temperature uniformity deviation based on the airflow distribution and temperature field within the refrigerator's refrigeration compartment includes: Based on the airflow distribution numerical matrix and the temperature distribution numerical matrix, the airflow dead zone area in the refrigerator compartment where the wind speed is less than the preset wind speed, the temperature fluctuation difference of the entire refrigerator compartment, and the temperature difference between the top of the refrigerator compartment and other areas are obtained.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that, If the temperature uniformity deviation is greater than a preset threshold, then based on the airflow and temperature distribution within the refrigerator compartment, a preset algorithm is used to generate a fan adjustment command, including: When the temperature difference between the top of the refrigerator compartment and other areas exceeds a preset threshold, a fan adjustment command is generated using a preset algorithm based on the airflow dead zone area where the wind speed in the refrigerator compartment is less than the preset wind speed, the temperature fluctuation difference of the entire refrigerator compartment, and the temperature difference between the top of the refrigerator compartment and other areas.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: After the refrigerator starts cooling mode, the top air outlet system is activated to supply air. After the top air outlet system is started and continues for a preset time, the side air duct system is activated to supply air.

9. A refrigerator, characterized in that, The refrigerator includes: a top air outlet system, a side air duct system, multiple temperature sensors, multiple airflow sensors, and a main control unit. The main control unit is communicatively connected to the top air outlet system, the side air duct system, the temperature sensors, and the airflow sensors. The top air outlet system is located in the top air duct of the refrigerator compartment, and the side air duct system is located in the back air duct of the refrigerator compartment. The top air duct and the back air duct are isolated from each other. The temperature sensors and the airflow sensors are distributed and located at preset positions within the refrigerator compartment. The main control unit is used to execute the three-dimensional air supply duct control method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, characterized in that, The top air outlet system includes a stepper motor and a blower, wherein the stepper motor and the blower are respectively communicatively connected to the main control unit; The top air duct is provided with at least one top air outlet, and each top air outlet is provided with an adjustable air guide plate.

Images