Refrigeration control method of refrigerator

Abstract

The invention provides a refrigeration control method of a refrigerator, the refrigerator comprises an inner container, an evaporation refrigeration system and a cold storage refrigeration system, the evaporation refrigeration system is used for conveying cold energy to the inner container, the evaporation refrigeration system comprises a compressor and a refrigeration fan, and the cold storage refrigeration system comprises a cold storage fan and a cold storage device; the refrigeration control method comprises the steps that a high-price time period and a low-price time period of electricity utilization are obtained; the starting temperature of the compressor in different time periods is set, and the starting temperature of the compressor in the high-price time period is not lower than the starting temperature of the compressor in the low-price time period; the rotating speed of the compressor in different time periods is set, and the rotating speed of the compressor in the high-price time period is not higher than the rotating speed of the compressor in the low-price time period; and starting stages of the cold storage air blower in different time periods are set, the cold storage air blower is set to be started in the high-price time period in the temperature rising state of the inner container, and the cold storage air blower is set to be started in the refrigerating and cooling state of the inner container in the low-price time period.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of freezer technology, and in particular to a refrigeration control method for a freezer that is controlled according to changes in electricity prices. Background Technology

[0002] my country has vigorously developed various power generation technologies, but the power supply still cannot meet the needs of the rapid development of the national economy and the sharp increase in people's electricity consumption. The nationwide power shortage situation has not been fundamentally changed, and the use of electricity is characterized by a large peak-valley difference and a serious shortage of peak power.

[0003] Existing refrigeration solutions for freezers typically include direct cooling and air cooling. Direct cooling involves wrapping the evaporator pipes around the outside of the inner liner of the freezer, diffusing the cold air from the evaporator into the interior space of the inner liner through heat conduction to achieve a cooling effect. Air cooling uses a fan to blow the cold air from the evaporator into the interior of the inner liner. In both of these existing refrigeration solutions, the temperature change inside the inner liner is directly affected by the evaporator temperature, resulting in a relatively simple refrigeration structure.

[0004] Furthermore, in existing technical solutions, when the temperature rises and the inner tank warms up to the compressor's start-up temperature, the compressor starts to refrigerate; when cooling down, the compressor and refrigeration fan run, and the compressor stops when the inner tank temperature drops to the shutdown temperature. If the compressor frequently starts and stops during peak electricity consumption periods, it will lead to a large consumption of electricity, which is not conducive to energy conservation and emission reduction, and will also shorten the compressor's lifespan.

[0005] In view of this, it is necessary to design a refrigeration control method for freezers with diverse refrigeration structures that can be controlled according to changes in electricity prices. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a refrigeration control method for a freezer with diverse refrigeration structures that can be controlled according to changes in electricity prices.

[0007] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides a refrigeration control method for a freezer, the freezer comprising an inner liner, an evaporative refrigeration system for supplying cold energy to the inner liner, and a cold storage refrigeration system, the evaporative refrigeration system comprising a compressor, the cold storage refrigeration system comprising a cold storage fan and a cold storage device, the cold storage device containing cold storage material; the refrigeration control method includes:

[0008] Obtain information on periods with high and low electricity prices;

[0009] Set the compressor start-up temperature for different time periods, wherein the compressor start-up temperature during the high-price period shall not be lower than the compressor start-up temperature during the low-price period.

[0010] Set the compressor speed for different time periods, wherein the compressor speed during high-price periods shall not be higher than the compressor speed during low-price periods;

[0011] The start-up phase of the cold storage fan is set for different time periods. During the high-price period, the cold storage fan is set to start when the inner tank temperature rises, and during the low-price period, the cold storage fan is set to start when the inner tank is cooling down.

[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, the low-price period includes off-peak periods and flat-price periods, wherein the electricity price during off-peak periods is lower than that during flat-price periods, and the cooling control method includes:

[0013] During off-peak hours, the compressor's start-up temperature is controlled at Tset+1, the compressor's shutdown temperature is controlled at Tset-1, and the compressor is controlled to run at high speed.

[0014] During the off-peak period, the compressor's start-up temperature is controlled at Tset+2, the compressor's shutdown temperature is controlled at Tset-2, and the compressor is controlled to run at medium speed.

[0015] Where Tset is the reference temperature.

[0016] As a further improvement of the present invention, the refrigeration control method includes:

[0017] During the price-off period, the temperature change rate ΔTEMP of the real-time temperature inside the inner tank was measured under the cooling state of the inner tank.

[0018] The duration t of detecting ΔTEMP > ΔT1;

[0019] If t > t1, then control the compressor to run at high speed;

[0020] Where ΔT1 is the first temperature change threshold and t1 is the first time duration threshold.

[0021] As a further improvement of the present invention, the high-price period includes a peak period and a low-price period, wherein the electricity price during the peak period is lower than that during the low-price period, and the cooling method includes:

[0022] During peak hours, the compressor's start-up temperature is controlled at Tset+3, the compressor's shutdown temperature is controlled at Tset-3, and the compressor is controlled to run at low speed.

[0023] During peak periods, the compressor's start-up temperature is controlled at Tset+3, the compressor's shutdown temperature is controlled at Tset, and the compressor is controlled to run at low speed.

[0024] Where Tset is the reference temperature.

[0025] As a further improvement of the present invention, the refrigeration control method includes:

[0026] During peak hours, when the inner tank is in cooling mode, the temperature change rate ΔTEMP of the real-time temperature inside the inner tank is measured.

[0027] The duration t of detecting ΔTEMP > ΔT1;

[0028] If t > t1, then control the compressor to run at medium speed;

[0029] Where ΔT1 is the first temperature change threshold and t1 is the first time duration threshold.

[0030] As a further improvement of the present invention, the refrigeration control method includes:

[0031] During peak periods, when the inner liner is in cooling mode, the temperature change rate ΔTEMP of the real-time temperature inside the inner liner is measured.

[0032] The duration t of detecting ΔTEMP > ΔT1;

[0033] If t > t2, then control the compressor's start-up temperature to Tset+3, control the compressor's shutdown temperature to Tset-3, and control the compressor to run at medium speed.

[0034] After the compressor runs at medium speed for a period of time tq, the temperature change rate ΔTEMP of the real-time temperature inside the inner liner is re-detected.

[0035] If ΔTEMP < ΔT1, then control the compressor's start-up temperature to Tset+3, control the compressor's shutdown temperature to Tset, and control the compressor to run at low speed.

[0036] Where ΔT1 is the first temperature change threshold and t2 is the second time duration threshold.

[0037] As a further improvement of the present invention, if the peak time period and the peak period period are set consecutively, the cooling control method during the peak time period is replaced with the cooling control method during the low price period period.

[0038] As a further improvement of the present invention, the low-price electricity period includes off-peak period and flat-price period, the electricity price during the off-peak period is lower than that during the flat-price period, wherein the compressor start-up temperature during the flat-price period is not lower than the compressor start-up temperature during the off-peak period, and the compressor speed during the flat-price period is not higher than the compressor speed during the off-peak period.

[0039] The refrigeration control method includes:

[0040] If the off-peak and peak periods are set consecutively, the cooling control method for the off-peak period will be replaced with the cooling control method for the low-peak period.

[0041] As a further improvement of the present invention, when the inner tank temperature rises during the high-price period, the refrigeration control method includes:

[0042] TEMP, a real-time temperature sensor located inside the liner, is used to detect the temperature.

[0043] When TEMP > Ton, the cold storage fan starts and performs cooling, while the temperature change rate ΔTEMP of the real-time temperature TEMP is obtained.

[0044] If ΔTEMP < ΔT2, the compressor remains off, the refrigeration fan does not start, and only the cold storage fan starts.

[0045] If ΔTEMP > ΔT2, then the compressor and refrigeration fan are started; where Ton is the compressor's start-up temperature and ΔT2 is the second temperature change threshold.

[0046] As a further improvement of the present invention, the cooling control method is as follows during the low-price period when the inner tank is refrigerated and cooled:

[0047] TEMP, a real-time temperature sensor located inside the liner, is used to detect the temperature.

[0048] When Toff < TEMP < Ton, the cold storage fan starts and performs cold storage.

[0049] When TEMP > Ton, obtain the rate of temperature change ΔTEMP of the real-time temperature TEMP.

[0050] If ΔTEMP > ΔT3, the cold storage fan starts and begins cold storage.

[0051] If ΔTEMP < ΔT3, the cold storage fan will not start;

[0052] Where ΔT3 refers to the third temperature change threshold, Ton is the compressor's start-up temperature, and Toff is the compressor's shutdown temperature.

[0053] Therefore, this invention provides a refrigeration control method for a freezer, which can change the control mode of the freezer according to different electricity price periods to reduce compressor startup and achieve energy saving and emission reduction. Furthermore, the freezer in this invention can achieve refrigeration through various structures and reduce compressor startup during periods of high electricity prices, thereby lowering the compressor speed and further promoting energy saving, emission reduction, and extending compressor lifespan. Attached Figure Description

[0054] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the freezer in this invention;

[0055] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the cold storage partition plate in this invention;

[0056] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the overall flow of the refrigeration control method of the present invention;

[0057] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the specific process of the cooling control method of the present invention during the period of low prices;

[0058] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the specific process of the cooling control method of the present invention during peak hours;

[0059] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the specific process of the cooling control method of the present invention during peak periods;

[0060] Among them, 10-box body; 1-outer shell; 2-inner liner; 3-cold storage partition plate; 31-cold storage layer; 32-air guide layer; 33-cold storage fan; 321-cold storage return air outlet; 322-cold storage air outlet. Detailed Implementation

[0061] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0062] It should also be noted that, in order to avoid obscuring this disclosure with unnecessary details, only the structures and / or processing steps closely related to the solution of this disclosure are shown in the accompanying drawings, while other details that are not closely related to this disclosure are omitted.

[0063] Furthermore, it should be noted that, unless otherwise defined, the technical or scientific terms used in the embodiments of this disclosure should have the ordinary meaning understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. Words such as "comprising" or "including" mean that an element or object preceding the word encompasses the elements or objects listed following the word and their equivalents, without excluding other elements or objects. Words such as "connected" or "linked" are not limited to physical or mechanical connections, but can include electrical connections, whether direct or indirect.

[0064] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this disclosure clearer, a further detailed description of this disclosure is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is hereby declared that the following embodiments are merely specific examples of the methods proposed in this disclosure, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by making detailed adjustments without inventive effort based on the embodiments in this disclosure are within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0065] like Figures 1 to 6As shown, this invention discloses a refrigeration control method for a freezer. The freezer includes an inner liner 2, an evaporative refrigeration system for supplying cooling capacity to the inner liner 2, and a cold storage refrigeration system. The evaporative refrigeration system includes a compressor and a refrigeration fan. The cold storage refrigeration system includes a cold storage fan 33 and a cold storage device, the cold storage device containing cold storage material. The refrigeration control method includes:

[0066] Obtain information on periods with high and low electricity prices;

[0067] Set the compressor start-up temperature for different time periods, wherein the compressor start-up temperature during the high-price period shall not be lower than the compressor start-up temperature during the low-price period.

[0068] Set the compressor speed for different time periods, wherein the compressor speed during high-price periods shall not be higher than the compressor speed during low-price periods;

[0069] The start-up phase of the cold storage fan 33 is set for different time periods. During the high-price period, the cold storage fan 33 is set to start when the temperature of the inner tank 2 rises, and during the low-price period, the cold storage fan 33 is set to start when the temperature of the inner tank 2 drops.

[0070] Therefore, the refrigeration method of the freezer in this invention can change the control method of the freezer according to different electricity price periods to achieve the purpose of reducing compressor starts and saving energy and reducing emissions. Specifically, the compressor's starting temperature is set to be higher during high-price periods, thereby reducing the compressor's starting frequency during high-price periods; the compressor's speed is set to be lower during high-price periods, thereby saving energy; the cold storage fan 33 is set to start when the temperature of the inner liner 2 rises during high-price periods, so that the compressor does not start when the temperature of the inner liner 2 rises, and the inner liner 2 is cooled by the cold storage fan 33 blowing the cold storage device stored in the cold storage device, thereby further reducing the compressor starts during high-price periods. Therefore, the refrigeration method of the freezer in this invention can achieve refrigeration through multiple structures and reduce compressor starts and reduce compressor speed during high-price periods, which is more conducive to energy saving, emission reduction and extending compressor life.

[0071] Specifically, the freezer in this invention includes a cabinet 10 and a door that opens and closes on the cabinet 10, wherein the cabinet 10 includes:

[0072] Outer shell 1;

[0073] The inner liner 2 is housed within the outer shell 1;

[0074] The evaporative refrigeration system and the cold storage refrigeration system are used to transfer cold energy to the inner tank 2;

[0075] The evaporative refrigeration system includes a compressor, an evaporator, a refrigeration fan, an air outlet duct and a return air duct connected to the evaporator, and the air outlet duct is provided with a refrigeration air outlet 41 in each storage space.

[0076] The cold storage refrigeration system includes a cold storage partition plate 3, which is provided with at least one partition plate to divide the inner liner 2 into at least two storage spaces. The cold storage partition plate 3 includes a cold storage layer 31, a cold storage air duct 32 arranged parallel to the cold storage layer 31, and a cold storage fan 33 arranged in the cold storage air duct 32. The cold storage air duct 32 has a cold storage air outlet 322 and a cold storage air return outlet 321 on the surface of the cold storage partition plate 3.

[0077] In the refrigerator of this invention, during the low-price period, while the inner liner 2 is cooling down, the compressor runs and the refrigeration fan blows air into the inner liner 2 for cooling. At the same time, the cold storage fan 33 can be controlled to start, so that the cold storage layer 31 in the cold storage partition plate 3 can store cold. After the cold storage layer 31 has absorbed sufficient cold energy, during the high-price period, if the temperature of the inner liner 2 rises, and the compressor stops and the refrigeration fan does not start, the cold storage fan 33 can be controlled to start for auxiliary cooling.

[0078] Furthermore, in this specific embodiment, since the cold storage device is a cold storage partition plate 3, and the inner liner 2 is divided into at least two storage spaces, the cold storage partition plate 3 can reasonably plan the storage space inside the inner liner 2, and can directly contact the inner liner 2 for heat conduction, which is conducive to achieving cold storage and cooling more quickly under different conditions.

[0079] Each of the aforementioned cold storage layers 31 contains at least one cold storage material, and at least two cold storage partition plates 3 are provided, with different cold storage materials in the two cold storage partition plates 3, and the different cold storage materials have different phase transition temperatures. Of course, the purpose of this invention can also be achieved if the refrigerator contains only one type of cold storage material.

[0080] The cold storage material is a high-density energy storage material, and its phase change temperature is the temperature at which the cold storage material undergoes a phase change. When the cold storage material needs to store cold, the cold storage fan 33 is turned on, and the heat of the cold storage material is carried away through cold air circulation, causing it to undergo a phase change and store cold energy. When the cold storage material needs to cool, the cold storage fan 33 is turned on, allowing the cold storage material to release cold energy. Of course, the temperature inside the inner tank 2 is the main factor determining whether the cold storage material is storing or releasing cold. When the compressor's start-up temperature is set higher than the phase change temperature of the cold storage material, the cold storage material can meet the cooling requirements.

[0081] Specifically, the low-price period includes off-peak hours and flat-price hours, where the electricity price during off-peak hours is lower than that during flat-price hours. The cooling control method includes:

[0082] During off-peak hours, the compressor's start-up temperature is controlled at Tset+1, the compressor's shutdown temperature is controlled at Tset-1, and the compressor is controlled to run at high speed.

[0083] During the off-peak period, the compressor's start-up temperature is controlled at Tset+2, the compressor's shutdown temperature is controlled at Tset-2, and the compressor is controlled to run at medium speed.

[0084] Where Tset is the reference temperature.

[0085] The low-price period is further subdivided into off-peak and flat-price periods based on electricity prices, with the off-peak period having a lower price than the flat-price period. Therefore, during the off-peak period, the compressor's start-up temperature is Tset+1, and its shutdown temperature is Tset-1, with only a 2°C difference between the two. This allows the compressor to be switched on and off more frequently and operate at high speed during this period, while simultaneously working with the refrigeration fan to maintain a stable temperature inside the inner tank 2. Furthermore, the cold storage fan 33 can be activated during this period to store cold in the cold storage device, ensuring the cold storage material within the device undergoes a phase change and maximizing the retention of cold energy.

[0086] Similarly, during the off-peak period, the compressor's start-up temperature is Tset+2, and its shutdown temperature is Tset-2, with a difference of 4°C between the two. During this period, the compressor can also be frequently switched on and off for cooling and will operate at medium speed to store cold energy in the cold storage device; this will not be elaborated further.

[0087] Furthermore, since electricity prices are lower during off-peak hours and higher during off-peak hours, the compressor is designed to start at a higher temperature, shut down at a lower temperature, and run at a lower speed during off-peak hours. This not only ensures the cooling effect but also further improves energy efficiency.

[0088] Of course, it should be noted that if the compressor's start-up temperature, shut-off temperature, or speed is the same during both off-peak and flat-peak periods, the purpose of this invention can also be achieved and it is within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0089] In addition, the reference temperature Tset is 0°C in this specific embodiment, but it can also be set to other temperatures according to the required temperature environment of the stored items in the freezer, which is also within the protection scope of this invention.

[0090] Furthermore, the refrigeration control method includes:

[0091] During the price-off period, when the inner liner 2 is in a cooling state, the temperature change rate ΔTEMP of the real-time temperature inside the inner liner 2 is measured.

[0092] The duration t of detecting ΔTEMP > ΔT1;

[0093] If t > t1, then control the compressor to run at high speed;

[0094] Where ΔT1 is the first temperature change threshold and t1 is the first time duration threshold.

[0095] As described above, during off-peak periods, the compressor in the inner liner 2 is controlled to operate at medium speed to achieve energy saving and emission reduction. However, under special circumstances, even operating the compressor at medium speed may not be sufficient to maintain a stable temperature inside the inner liner 2. Therefore, in this specific embodiment, the refrigeration of the freezer is further controlled by detecting the real-time temperature change rate ΔTEMP inside the inner liner 2.

[0096] Under normal circumstances, during cooling, the temperature inside the inner liner 2 should decrease at a uniform rate, and the lower the temperature drops, the smaller the real-time temperature change rate ΔTEMP inside the inner liner 2 should be. Therefore, if the duration t for ΔTEMP > ΔT1 is too long and exceeds the first time duration threshold t1, it indicates that the temperature change inside the inner liner 2 is abnormal, possibly due to the placement of high-temperature stored objects or frequent opening and closing of the door. Therefore, under these conditions, if the compressor continues to run at medium speed, it cannot maintain a continuous and stable temperature drop inside the inner liner 2. Therefore, the compressor should be controlled to run at high speed for powerful and efficient cooling.

[0097] The high-price period includes peak hours and peak periods, with electricity prices during peak hours being lower than those during peak periods. The cooling method includes:

[0098] During peak hours, the compressor's start-up temperature is controlled at Tset+3, the compressor's shutdown temperature is controlled at Tset-3, and the compressor is controlled to run at low speed.

[0099] During peak periods, the compressor's start-up temperature is controlled at Tset+3, the compressor's shutdown temperature is controlled at Tset, and the compressor is controlled to run at low speed.

[0100] Where Tset is the reference temperature.

[0101] The high-price period is further subdivided into peak and low-price periods based on electricity prices, with peak periods having lower prices than off-peak periods. Therefore, during peak periods, the compressor's start-up temperature is Tset+3, and its shutdown temperature is Tset-3, a difference of 6°C. This extends the compressor's operating time, reduces its frequency of operation, and allows it to run at low speed during cooling, maximizing energy savings. Conversely, during the temperature rise period, the cold storage fan 33 activates, blowing the stored cold energy from the cold storage material into the inner liner 2 to lower its temperature and reduce compressor startup.

[0102] Similarly, during peak hours, the compressor's start-up temperature is Tset+3, and its shutdown temperature is Tset, with only a 3°C difference between the two. Therefore, in cooling mode, the compressor shuts down quickly, resulting in shorter running and cooling times. During peak hours, due to extremely high electricity consumption and prices, a cold storage device is needed to maintain a stable temperature inside the inner tank 2. As the temperature rises from Tset to Tset+3, the cold storage fan 33 starts, blowing the stored cold energy into the inner tank 2 to maintain a stable temperature. This extends the compressor's start-up and shutdown time, achieving energy conservation and emission reduction.

[0103] Furthermore, since electricity prices are higher during peak hours than during off-peak hours, and electricity consumption is much higher during peak hours, the compressor's start-up and shutdown temperatures are designed to be higher during peak hours, thereby reducing the compressor's running time and further saving energy.

[0104] Of course, it should be noted that if the compressor's start-up temperature is the same during peak hours and peak periods, or if the compressor's shutdown temperature is the same during peak periods, the purpose of this invention can be achieved, and it is also within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0105] In this specific embodiment, the high-price periods are typically from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM, and 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This data is obtained by the control unit through mains power usage or based on internet big data statistics. Similarly, the specific time points of off-peak periods, average-price periods, peak periods, and super-peak periods can be obtained. If the high-price periods fall within other time periods, the purpose of this invention can still be achieved.

[0106] Furthermore, the refrigeration control method includes:

[0107] During peak hours, when the inner liner 2 is in a cooling state, the temperature change rate ΔTEMP of the real-time temperature inside the inner liner 2 is measured.

[0108] The duration t of detecting ΔTEMP > ΔT1;

[0109] If t > t1, then control the compressor to run at medium speed;

[0110] Where ΔT1 is the first temperature change threshold and t1 is the first time duration threshold.

[0111] Similar to the above, during peak hours, the inner liner 2 controls the compressor to operate at a low speed to achieve energy saving and emission reduction. However, in special circumstances, the compressor needs to operate at a medium speed to quickly cool down. For example, in this specific real-time mode, the refrigeration of the freezer is further controlled by detecting the real-time temperature change rate ΔTEMP inside the inner liner 2.

[0112] If the duration t of ΔTEMP > ΔT1 is detected to be too long, and longer than the first time duration threshold t1, it indicates that the temperature change inside the inner liner 2 is abnormal. Therefore, the compressor's operating speed is increased from low speed to medium speed to ensure that the temperature inside the inner liner 2 continues to decrease. This is similar to the control method during the above-mentioned price-controlled period, and will not be described in detail here.

[0113] Furthermore, if the temperature inside the inner liner 2 becomes unstable or drops abnormally during peak hours, the cooling control method includes:

[0114] During peak periods, when the inner liner 2 is in a cooling state, the temperature change rate ΔTEMP of the real-time temperature inside the inner liner 2 is measured.

[0115] The duration t of detecting ΔTEMP > ΔT1;

[0116] If t > t2, then control the compressor's start-up temperature to Tset+3, control the compressor's shutdown temperature to Tset-3, and control the compressor to run at medium speed.

[0117] After the compressor runs at medium speed for a period of time tq, the temperature change rate ΔTEMP of the real-time temperature inside the inner liner 2 is re-detected.

[0118] If ΔTEMP < ΔT1, then control the compressor's start-up temperature to Tset+3, control the compressor's shutdown temperature to Tset, and control the compressor to run at low speed.

[0119] Where ΔT1 is the first temperature change threshold and t2 is the second time duration threshold.

[0120] During peak periods, if the temperature change rate ΔTEMP is high and lasts for a long time while the inner liner 2 is cooling down, the cooling method needs to be changed to quickly lower and stabilize the temperature inside the inner liner 2, preventing adverse effects on stored items. Therefore, the compressor's shutdown temperature is changed to Tset-3, lowering the compressor's shutdown temperature, extending its operating time, and increasing its speed, controlling the compressor to run at medium speed for rapid cooling. After the compressor's operating time tq, the temperature change rate ΔTEMP of the inner liner 2 is further monitored. If the temperature change rate ΔTEMP has returned to normal and decreased below the first temperature change threshold ΔT1, it indicates that the temperature inside the inner liner 2 has stabilized and is cooling normally. Therefore, the compressor's shutdown temperature is restored to Tset, and the compressor is adjusted to continue running at low speed.

[0121] It should be noted that the time period tq can be the cumulative time of repeated compressor switching on and off, such as 30 minutes, or it can refer to the duration of a single compressor operation.

[0122] Furthermore, if peak and low-price periods are set consecutively, the cooling control method during the peak period will be replaced with the cooling control method during the low-price period. These will be discussed separately below.

[0123] If the peak period precedes the peak period, and the cooling control method used during the peak period is still applied, the cold storage fan 33 will still start and transfer cold energy during the peak period as the temperature rises. Before entering the peak period, the cold energy of the cold storage device has already been consumed, and it has not been fully stored; the cold storage material in the cold storage device has also not undergone a complete phase change. During the temperature rise during the peak period, relying solely on the cold storage device cannot guarantee a stable temperature inside the inner tank 2, and the temperature inside the inner tank 2 will still rise rapidly, causing the compressor to start. Therefore, if the peak period precedes the peak period, the cooling control method used during the peak period should be replaced with the cooling control method used during the low-temperature period. In this way, during the cooling and cooling process, the cold storage device can store cold energy, and the cold storage material can also undergo a complete phase change, so as to provide sufficient cooling during the subsequent peak period.

[0124] If the cooling control method used during peak hours continues after the peak period, the temperature inside the inner liner 2 will remain between -3 and 3°C, and the compressor will continue to operate at low speed. Maintaining a high temperature and low cooling efficiency for an extended period could negatively impact the storage of items. Therefore, by replacing the peak-period cooling control method with the low-period method, the compressor can operate more frequently and at a faster speed during subsequent cooling processes, maintaining a low-temperature environment inside the inner liner 2 and minimizing the adverse effects on stored items during peak hours.

[0125] It should be noted that in replacing the cooling control method during peak hours with the cooling control method during low-price periods, the low-price period is the period of normal price. Of course, if the low-price period is the period of off-peak, the purpose of this invention can also be achieved.

[0126] Similarly, if the off-peak and peak periods are set consecutively, the cooling control method for the off-peak period will be replaced with the cooling control method for the low-peak period.

[0127] Similarly, if the cooling control method used during off-peak hours is still applied during off-peak hours, the compressor's low start-up frequency may prevent the cold storage device from fully storing cold. Consequently, the cold storage material may not undergo a complete phase change when the peak hours begin. Therefore, when the off-peak hours are preceded by off-peak hours, the cooling control method used during off-peak hours should be replaced with the method used during off-peak hours. During the cooling process, the cold storage device can fully store cold, and the cold storage material can undergo a complete phase change, ensuring sufficient cooling during the subsequent peak hours.

[0128] When the peak period is followed by the off-peak period, if the cooling control method used during the off-peak period is still applied, the temperature inside the inner liner 2 will remain between -2 and 2°C, and the compressor will continue to operate at medium speed. Maintaining a high temperature and low cooling efficiency for an extended period could negatively impact the storage of items. Therefore, when the peak period is followed by the off-peak period, the cooling control method used during the off-peak period should be replaced with the method used during the off-peak period. This allows the compressor to operate more frequently and at a faster speed during subsequent cooling processes, maintaining a low-temperature environment inside the inner liner 2 and reducing the adverse effects on stored items during peak periods.

[0129] Furthermore, in this embodiment, during the period of high price increase when the temperature of the inner tank 2 rises, the cooling control method includes:

[0130] Detect the real-time temperature TEMP inside the inner liner 2;

[0131] When TEMP > Ton, the cold storage fan 33 starts and performs cooling, while simultaneously acquiring the temperature change rate ΔTEMP of the real-time temperature TEMP.

[0132] If ΔTEMP < ΔT2, the compressor remains off, the refrigeration fan does not start, and only the cold storage fan 33 remains running.

[0133] If ΔTEMP > ΔT2, then start the compressor and refrigeration fan;

[0134] Where Ton is the compressor's start-up temperature, and ΔT2 is the second temperature change threshold.

[0135] When the freezer temperature rises, the compressor is off, and neither the refrigeration fan nor the cold storage fan 33 starts. As mentioned above, if the real-time temperature TEMP has risen to the compressor's start-up temperature Ton, the cold storage fan 33 starts, and the compressor and refrigeration fan temporarily stop, utilizing the cold energy of the cold storage material to cool the inner liner 2. However, the cold energy of the cold storage material is limited, and in the event of a sudden situation such as opening or closing the door or placing a hot item inside, the real-time temperature TEMP inside the inner liner 2 may suddenly increase, and the temperature change rate ΔTEMP will change significantly.

[0136] At this point, the real-time temperature TEMP inside the inner liner 2 has risen above Ton. If ΔTEMP < ΔT2, it means that the temperature rise inside the inner liner 2 is relatively slow. In this case, the cold storage fan 33 can still be started to cool down, and the compressor and the cooling fan can be kept off. If ΔTEMP > ΔT2, it means that the temperature rise inside the inner liner 2 is relatively fast. At this point, the cold storage material in the cold storage partition plate 3 alone is not enough to keep the temperature of the inner liner 2 of the freezer stable. In this case, the compressor and the cooling fan will be started to cool down, while the cold storage fan 33 can be stopped or continue to run.

[0137] Of course, if the temperature of the inner tank 2 changes drastically or even exceeds the upper temperature threshold Ttop (Ttop > Ton), the compressor and refrigeration fan will start, and the cold storage fan 33 will also be started to assist in refrigeration so that the temperature inside the inner tank 2 can be stabilized quickly.

[0138] Therefore, during the reheating phase of the freezer, in order to reduce the compressor's start-up frequency, after the real-time temperature TEMP rises above the compressor's start-up temperature Ton, the cold storage fan 33 can be started, and adjustments can be made based on different situations. As long as the temperature change rate ΔTEMP inside the inner liner 2 is small, cooling can still be achieved solely by dissipating cold energy through the cold storage material in the cold storage partition plate 3. This can greatly extend the compressor's lifespan and is also more conducive to energy conservation and emission reduction.

[0139] It should be noted that, in this specific embodiment, when TEMP = Ton, the cold storage fan 33 may or may not be started. When ΔTEMP = ΔT2, the cold storage fan 33 may or may not be started. All of the above are within the protection scope of this invention.

[0140] Furthermore, during the low-price period when the inner tank 2 is in a cooling and temperature-reducing state, the cooling control method is as follows:

[0141] Detect the real-time temperature TEMP inside the inner liner 2;

[0142] When Toff < TEMP < Ton, the cold storage fan 33 starts and performs cold storage;

[0143] When TEMP > Ton, obtain the rate of temperature change ΔTEMP of the real-time temperature TEMP.

[0144] If ΔTEMP > ΔT3, the cold storage fan 33 starts and begins cold storage.

[0145] If ΔTEMP < ΔT3, the cold storage fan 33 will not start;

[0146] Wherein, parameter ΔT refers to the third temperature change threshold, Ton is the compressor's start-up temperature, and Toff is the compressor's shutdown temperature.

[0147] In certain situations during refrigeration and cooling, such as when a hot object is suddenly placed inside the inner tank 2, the temperature inside the inner tank 2 may suddenly rise, even exceeding the compressor's start-up temperature Ton. In this case, when TEMP > Ttop (Ttop refers to the upper temperature threshold and Ttop > Ton), the real-time temperature TEMP inside the inner tank 2 is too high. The compressor and refrigeration fan must have already started cooling, but because the temperature inside the inner tank 2 is too high, it is not suitable for the cold storage material to store cold, so the cold storage fan 33 does not start. If the real-time temperature TEMP inside the inner tank 2 has dropped below Ttop, it can be determined whether the cold storage fan 33 needs to be started. First, the temperature change rate ΔTEMP is obtained based on the change in the real-time temperature TEMP inside the inner tank 2. If ΔTEMP > ΔT3, it indicates that the temperature inside the inner tank 2 is dropping rapidly and the refrigeration efficiency is high. In this case, the cold storage fan 33 can be started, causing the cold storage layer 31 to absorb cold energy and undergo a phase change for cold storage. If ΔTEMP < ΔT3, it means that the temperature inside the inner tank 2 decreases more slowly and the cooling efficiency is lower. In this case, keep the cold storage fan 33 off and only start the compressor and the cooling fan.

[0148] It should be noted that in this specific embodiment, when ΔTEMP=ΔT3, the cold storage fan 33 may or may not be started, both of which are within the protection scope of this invention.

[0149] Furthermore, if the real-time temperature TEMP inside the inner liner 2 continues to drop below Toff, i.e., when TEMP < Toff or TEMP ≤ Toff is detected, the compressor will stop immediately, while the evaporator fan and the cold storage fan 33 may be delayed for a period of time before stopping, so that the phase change of the cold storage material in the cold storage partition plate 3 ends and the cold storage is completed.

[0150] In summary, this invention provides a refrigeration control method for a freezer, which can adjust the freezer's control method according to different electricity price periods to reduce compressor starts and achieve energy conservation and emission reduction. Furthermore, by employing multiple refrigeration structures, the frequency of compressor starts is reduced during high-price periods, lowering the compressor speed and further contributing to energy conservation, emission reduction, and extending compressor lifespan. Moreover, this invention refines high-price periods into peak and low-price periods, and low-price periods into off-peak and flat-price periods, thereby enabling more precise control of the freezer's refrigeration and resulting in more stable temperature changes in the inner liner 2 of the freezer.

[0151] Those skilled in the art should understand that the discussion of any of the above embodiments is merely exemplary and is not intended to imply that the scope of this disclosure (including the claims) is limited to these examples; within the framework of this disclosure, the technical features of the above embodiments or different embodiments can also be combined, the steps can be implemented in any order, and there are many other variations of different aspects of the embodiments of this disclosure as described above, which are not provided in detail for the sake of brevity.

[0152] Although this disclosure has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, many substitutions, modifications and variations of these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description.

[0153] This disclosure is intended to cover all such substitutions, modifications, and variations that fall within the broad scope of the appended claims. Therefore, any omissions, modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this disclosure should be included within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

[0154] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigeration control method for a freezer, characterized in that, The freezer includes an inner liner, an evaporative refrigeration system for supplying cooling capacity to the inner liner, and a cold storage refrigeration system. The evaporative refrigeration system includes a compressor and a refrigeration fan. The cold storage refrigeration system includes a cold storage fan and a cold storage device, the cold storage device containing cold storage material. The refrigeration control method includes: Obtain information on periods with high and low electricity prices; Set the compressor start-up temperature for different time periods, wherein the compressor start-up temperature during the high-price period shall not be lower than the compressor start-up temperature during the low-price period. Set the compressor speed for different time periods, wherein the compressor speed during high-price periods shall not be higher than the compressor speed during low-price periods; The start-up phase of the cold storage fan is set for different time periods. During the high-price period, the cold storage fan is set to start when the inner tank temperature rises, and during the low-price period, the cold storage fan is set to start when the inner tank is cooling down.

2. The refrigeration control method for a freezer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The low-price period includes off-peak hours and flat-price hours, where the electricity price during off-peak hours is lower than that during flat-price hours. The cooling control method includes: During off-peak hours, the compressor's start-up temperature is controlled at Tset+1, the compressor's shutdown temperature is controlled at Tset-1, and the compressor is controlled to run at high speed. During the off-peak period, the compressor's start-up temperature is controlled at Tset+2, the compressor's shutdown temperature is controlled at Tset-2, and the compressor is controlled to run at medium speed. Where Tset is the reference temperature.

3. The refrigeration control method for a freezer according to claim 2, wherein the refrigeration control method comprises: During the off-peak period, under the cooling state of the inner tank, the rate of temperature change inside the inner tank was measured. △ TEMP; Detection △ TEMP> △ The duration t of T1; If t > t1, then control the compressor to run at high speed; in, △ T1 is the first temperature change threshold, and t1 is the first time duration threshold.

4. The refrigeration control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The high-price period includes peak hours and peak periods, with electricity prices during peak hours being lower than those during peak periods. The cooling method includes: During peak hours, the compressor's start-up temperature is controlled at Tset+3, the compressor's shutdown temperature is controlled at Tset-3, and the compressor is controlled to run at low speed. During peak periods, the compressor's start-up temperature is controlled at Tset+3, the compressor's shutdown temperature is controlled at Tset, and the compressor is controlled to run at low speed. Where Tset is the reference temperature.

5. The refrigeration control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cooling control method includes: during peak periods, when the inner liner is in a cooling and temperature-reducing state, detecting the real-time temperature change rate ΔTEMP inside the inner liner; The duration t of detecting ΔTEMP > ΔT1; If t > t1, then control the compressor to run at medium speed; Where ΔT1 is the first temperature change threshold and t1 is the first time duration threshold.

6. The refrigeration control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cooling control method includes: during peak periods, when the inner liner is in a cooling and temperature-reducing state, detecting the real-time temperature change rate ΔTEMP inside the inner liner; The duration t of detecting ΔTEMP > ΔT1; If t > t2, then control the compressor's start-up temperature to Tset+3, control the compressor's shutdown temperature to Tset-3, and control the compressor to run at medium speed. After the compressor runs at medium speed for a period of time tq, the temperature change rate ΔTEMP inside the inner tank is re-detected. If ΔTEMP < ΔT1, the compressor's start-up temperature is controlled at Tset+3, the compressor's shutdown temperature is controlled at Tset, and the compressor is controlled to run at low speed. Where ΔT1 is the first temperature change threshold and t2 is the second time duration threshold.

7. The refrigeration control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, If peak time periods and low-price time periods are set consecutively, the cooling control method during the peak time period will be replaced with the cooling control method during the low-price time period.

8. The refrigeration control method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The low-price electricity period includes off-peak periods and flat-price periods. The electricity price during off-peak periods is lower than that during flat-price periods. During flat-price periods, the compressor's start-up temperature is not lower than that during off-peak periods, and the compressor's speed during flat-price periods is not higher than that during off-peak periods. The refrigeration control method includes: If the off-peak and peak periods are set consecutively, the cooling control method for the off-peak period will be replaced with the cooling control method for the low-peak period.

9. The refrigeration control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, During periods of high prices when the inner tank temperature rises, the cooling control method includes: TEMP, a real-time temperature sensor located inside the liner, is used to detect the temperature. When TEMP > Ton, the cold storage fan starts and performs cooling, while the temperature change rate ΔTEMP of the real-time temperature TEMP is obtained. If ΔTEMP < ΔT2, the compressor remains off and the refrigeration fan does not start; only the cold storage fan starts. If ΔTEMP > ΔT2, the compressor and the refrigeration fan start. Where Ton is the compressor's start-up temperature, and ΔT2 is the second temperature change threshold.

10. The refrigeration control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, During the low-price period when the inner tank is in a cooling and temperature-reducing state, the cooling control method is as follows: TEMP, a real-time temperature sensor located inside the liner, is used to detect the temperature. When Toff < TEMP < Ton, the cold storage fan starts and performs cold storage. When TEMP > Ton, obtain the rate of temperature change ΔTEMP of the real-time temperature TEMP. If ΔTEMP > ΔT3, the cold storage fan starts and begins cold storage. If ΔTEMP < ΔT3, the cold storage fan will not start; Where ΔT3 refers to the third temperature change threshold, Ton is the compressor's start-up temperature, and Toff is the compressor's shutdown temperature.

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