Refrigerator and control method thereof, refrigeration system

Abstract

This invention discloses a refrigerator and its control method and refrigeration system. The refrigerator includes at least a low-oxygen preservation system and a sterilization system. The control method includes: when the refrigerator door is closed, detecting whether the refrigerator has activated an oxygen reduction mode; if so, activating the sterilization mode for a first preset time when the time interval since the last activation of the sterilization mode reaches a first threshold time; if not, activating the sterilization system for a second preset time when the time interval since the last activation of the sterilization mode reaches a second threshold time. Compared with the prior art, this invention can achieve rapid ozone accumulation in a short time through oxygen-enriched gas, reducing the operating time of the ion generator, and after the sterilization mode ends, accelerating ozone decomposition through oxygen-enriched gas to reduce the ozone presence time, thus realizing closed-loop control of oxygen-enriched gas reuse, instantaneous high-concentration ozone sterilization, and rapid ozone decomposition.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of refrigerators, and in particular to a refrigerator, its control method, and a refrigeration system. Background Technology

[0002] As consumers demand higher quality food preservation, low-oxygen preservation technology has become one of the core functions of refrigerators. This technology typically uses a vacuum pump to create a pressure difference across a nitrogen-oxygen separation membrane. The membrane selectively removes oxygen-rich gas from the low-oxygen preservation chamber, maintaining the oxygen concentration at a low level of 5% to 18%. This inhibits the respiration of fruits and vegetables, extends the preservation period, and maximizes the retention of nutrients and flavor.

[0003] At the same time, the demand for sterilization in refrigerators is becoming increasingly prominent. Ion generator plasma sterilization is the most widely used sterilization technology in refrigerators. It generates ozone through high-voltage ionization and uses the strong oxidizing properties of ozone to achieve sterilization and deodorization effects.

[0004] However, in current technological solutions, the low-oxygen preservation system and the sterilization system operate independently. This leads to the complete waste of oxygen-rich gas extracted by the vacuum pump in the low-oxygen preservation system. Furthermore, the ion generator uses air (oxygen concentration 20.9%) as the reaction substrate, and the high-voltage ionization to produce ozone is inefficient, requiring more than 2 hours of continuous operation to accumulate an effective sterilization concentration (≥0.1ppm). Low-concentration ozone then requires a long period (≥8 hours) to achieve a 99% sterilization rate. This not only results in high energy consumption but also easily leads to excessive ozone residue. Ozone has a long half-life of 30 minutes; if users open the refrigerator during the sterilization process, they may inhale excessive ozone, harming their respiratory health.

[0005] Existing technologies, such as CN119617765A which discloses a technique combining an ozone generator and a catalyst module for sterilization; CN113915831A which discloses a control method for ozone generation and degradation; CN117338977A which discloses a method for controlling ozone concentration; CN217154647U which discloses a combination of an ozone generator and a gas sensor for sterilization and deodorization; and CN222480868U which discloses a sterilization device combined with an oxygen-enriched membrane for sterilization, all involve improvements to the ozone generator. These solutions do not utilize the oxygen-enriched gas discharged from the low-oxygen preservation chamber, resulting in waste of this oxygen-enriched gas. Furthermore, they fail to effectively address the problem of low ozone generation efficiency caused by air as the reaction substrate in ion generators.

[0006] Therefore, how to design a refrigerator and its control method and refrigeration system that can combine a low-oxygen preservation system with a sterilization system to achieve rapid ozone accumulation in a short time to accelerate sterilization and rapid decomposition of ozone after the sterilization mode ends is a technical problem that the industry urgently needs to solve. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In view of the problems in the existing technology, such as low ozone generation efficiency in sterilization systems, difficulty in achieving rapid sterilization, and long ozone decomposition time after the sterilization mode ends, which may lead to excessive ozone residue, this invention proposes a refrigerator and its control method and refrigeration system.

[0008] The technical solution of the present invention is to propose a control method for a refrigerator, wherein the refrigerator includes at least a low-oxygen preservation system and a sterilization system, and the control method includes: when the refrigerator door is closed, detecting whether the refrigerator has started an oxygen reduction mode, wherein the oxygen reduction mode is used to extract oxygen-rich gas from the low-oxygen preservation system to maintain a low-oxygen environment;

[0009] If so, when the time interval between the last activation of the sterilization mode reaches the first threshold time, the sterilization mode is activated at the first preset time. The sterilization mode is used to obtain the oxygen-enriched gas extracted from the low-oxygen preservation system and transmit the oxygen-enriched gas to the sterilization system to generate ozone for sterilization.

[0010] If not, the sterilization system will be activated at a second preset time when the time interval between the last activation of the sterilization mode reaches the second threshold time.

[0011] Based on the above-mentioned solution, this invention combines a low-oxygen preservation system and a sterilization system. It can utilize oxygen-enriched gas extracted from the low-oxygen preservation system to generate ozone for the sterilization system, achieving the accumulation of high-concentration ozone in a short period of time, thereby achieving rapid and efficient sterilization. Furthermore, after the sterilization mode ends, the oxygen-enriched gas can be used to accelerate the decomposition of ozone, reducing the duration of ozone presence and avoiding adverse effects of ozone on users. This invention achieves closed-loop control of oxygen-enriched gas reuse, instantaneous high-concentration ozone sterilization, and rapid ozone decomposition.

[0012] Furthermore, before detecting whether the refrigerator has started the oxygen reduction mode, the control method further includes: determining whether the user has set a forced sterilization action for the refrigerator; if so, controlling the sterilization system to start at a second preset time.

[0013] Based on the above solution, this invention can perform forced sterilization by user-initiated settings when the cleanliness inside the refrigerator is poor, thereby ensuring the cleanliness of the refrigerator and preventing bacterial growth.

[0014] Furthermore, when the sterilization system is in operation, the control method further includes: when the refrigerator is in sterilization mode, determining whether the refrigerator door has been opened; if so, controlling the oxygen reduction mode and the sterilization mode to be turned off simultaneously.

[0015] When the sterilization system is activated and the refrigerator is not in sterilization mode, it is determined whether the refrigerator door has been opened. If so, the sterilization system is controlled to shut down.

[0016] Based on the above solution, this invention can actively shut down the oxygen reduction mode and sterilization mode when the refrigerator door is opened, thus avoiding the impact of ozone on users.

[0017] Furthermore, after the sterilization mode is turned off, the control method further includes: when the time interval between the sterilization mode being turned off reaches a third preset time, guiding the oxygen-enriched gas into the ozone-containing chamber inside the refrigerator.

[0018] Based on the above solution, this invention can accelerate the decomposition of ozone by using oxygen-enriched gas after the sterilization mode ends, thereby reducing the duration of ozone presence and avoiding adverse effects of ozone on users.

[0019] Furthermore, the first threshold time is 48 hours, the second threshold time is 72 hours, the first preset time is 3 minutes, the second preset time is 30 minutes, and the third preset time is 5 minutes.

[0020] Based on the above solution, this invention can achieve timed sterilization in the refrigerator through a second threshold time. When the oxygen reduction mode is activated, it can use oxygen-enriched gas to accumulate a high concentration of ozone in a short time within a first preset time, thereby achieving a rapid and efficient sterilization effect. Within a third preset time, it can use oxygen-enriched gas to accelerate the decomposition of ozone, reduce the existence time of ozone, and avoid the adverse effects of ozone on users.

[0021] The present invention also proposes a refrigerator using the above control method, including a low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 used as the low-oxygen preservation system and an ion generator 4 used as the sterilization system;

[0022] The low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 is connected to a vacuum pump 2. In the oxygen reduction mode, the vacuum pump 2 extracts the oxygen-rich gas in the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 to keep the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 in a low-oxygen environment.

[0023] The refrigerator also includes an air duct assembly 3, which is connected to the vacuum pump 2 and the ion generator 4. In the sterilization mode, the vacuum pump 2 can transmit the oxygen-enriched gas to the ion generator 4 through the air duct assembly 3, and the ion generator 4 can use the oxygen-enriched gas to generate ozone for sterilization.

[0024] Based on the above-mentioned solution, this invention can extract oxygen-enriched gas from the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 using a vacuum pump 2, and then use this oxygen-enriched gas as a reaction substrate in the ion generator 4 to generate ozone. This achieves two goals: firstly, maintaining the low-oxygen environment within the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 to ensure preservation effectiveness; and secondly, utilizing the oxygen-enriched gas to generate ozone provides a sufficient oxygen source for the ion generator 4, solving the problem of low ozone generation efficiency in the ion generator 4. Furthermore, the intelligent integration of the low-oxygen preservation system with the sterilization system can also accelerate ozone decomposition using oxygen-enriched gas, reducing the duration of ozone's presence and avoiding adverse effects on users.

[0025] Furthermore, the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 described in this invention is composed of a drawer cavity 11 and a drawer body 12. An installation box 13 is provided at the tail of the drawer cavity 11, and a nitrogen-oxygen separation membrane 5 is assembled in the installation box 13.

[0026] Based on the above scheme, the present invention can utilize the difference in the permeation rate of oxygen and nitrogen by the nitrogen-oxygen separation membrane 5 to separate oxygen from the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1, thereby obtaining oxygen-enriched gas. This oxygen-enriched gas has a higher oxygen content, which can provide a sufficient oxygen source for the ion generator 4, improve the ozone generation efficiency, and solve the problem of low ozone generation efficiency of the ion generator 4.

[0027] Furthermore, the refrigerator described in this invention also includes a sealing gasket 6 disposed at the entrance of the drawer cavity 11.

[0028] Based on the above solution, the present invention can ensure the airtightness of the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1, prevent external air from entering the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 and thus destroying the low-oxygen environment, and maintain the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 in a low-oxygen environment, thereby inhibiting the respiration of fruits and vegetables and extending the preservation period.

[0029] Furthermore, the refrigerator of the present invention also includes a one-way valve 7 disposed on the connection path between the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 and the vacuum pump 2, the one-way valve 7 being configured to allow gas to flow only from the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 to the vacuum pump 2.

[0030] Based on the above solution, the present invention can ensure a one-way flow path of oxygen-enriched gas from the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 to the ion generator 4, avoiding the problem of oxygen-enriched gas flowing back into the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 and damaging the low-oxygen environment of the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1.

[0031] Furthermore, the refrigerator of the present invention also includes a three-way valve 8 connected to the vacuum pump 2. The three-way valve 8 has a first exhaust port 81 and a second exhaust port 82. The first exhaust port 81 is connected to the refrigerator chamber for introducing ozone for sterilization, and the second exhaust port 82 is connected to the air duct assembly 3.

[0032] Based on the above-mentioned solution, this invention can introduce oxygen-enriched gas into the refrigerator's ozone sterilization chamber and the ion generator 4, respectively, to achieve secondary utilization of the oxygen-enriched gas. Specifically, connecting the oxygen-enriched gas to the refrigerator's ozone sterilization chamber can accelerate the decomposition of ozone after sterilization mode. Connecting the oxygen-enriched gas to the air duct assembly can provide a sufficient oxygen source for the ion generator 4, solving the problem of low ozone generation efficiency of the ion generator.

[0033] Furthermore, the air duct assembly 3 described in this invention is composed of a metal decorative panel 31, an air duct cover 32, an air duct foam 33, and an adhesive cotton 34, wherein the adhesive cotton 34 is disposed on the side close to the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1.

[0034] Based on the above solution, the present invention can achieve both aesthetics and basic protection through the metal decorative panel 31, regulate the gas flow path and distribute the air volume through the air duct cover 32, absorb sound and reduce noise and buffer airflow through the air duct foam 33 to improve system energy efficiency, and achieve auxiliary sealing and shock absorption isolation through the adhesive cotton 34.

[0035] Furthermore, in this invention, the air duct assembly 3 is installed at the refrigerator liner 9 of the refrigerator and forms an installation cavity with the refrigerator liner 9, and the ion generator 4 is installed in the installation cavity.

[0036] Based on the above solution, the present invention can provide a suitable installation position for the ion generator 4, thereby ensuring the sterilization effect of the ion generator 4 in the refrigerator.

[0037] Furthermore, the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 described in this invention is located at the bottom of all the chambers of the refrigerator.

[0038] Based on the above solution, the present invention can quickly dissipate heat from the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 by means of a heat dissipation structure set at the bottom of the refrigerator, avoiding local temperature rise that could damage the low-oxygen environment. In addition, setting the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 at the bottom can reduce the energy consumed by the low-oxygen gas to counteract the buoyancy of the gas, thereby allowing the gas in the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 to be naturally distributed, reducing the energy consumption for maintaining the low-oxygen environment.

[0039] The present invention also proposes a refrigeration system having the above-described refrigerator.

[0040] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0041] This invention combines a low-oxygen preservation system with a sterilization system. It utilizes oxygen-enriched gas discharged from the low-oxygen preservation system to introduce it into the sterilization system, achieving a high concentration of ozone accumulation in a short time, thereby achieving rapid and efficient sterilization. After the sterilization mode ends, the oxygen-enriched gas can be used to accelerate the decomposition of ozone, reducing the duration of ozone presence and avoiding adverse effects on users. This invention achieves closed-loop control of oxygen-enriched gas reuse, instantaneous high-concentration ozone sterilization, and rapid ozone decomposition. Attached Figure Description

[0042] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0043] Figure 1 This is a side view of the refrigerator in this invention;

[0044] Figure 2 This is a front view of the refrigerator in this invention;

[0045] Figure 3 This is an exploded view of the refrigerator in this invention from a first-person perspective;

[0046] Figure 4 This is a partial enlarged view of the pipe connections at the air pump in this invention;

[0047] Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the refrigerator in this invention from a second perspective;

[0048] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the low-oxygen preservation chamber in this invention from a first-view perspective;

[0049] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the low-oxygen preservation chamber in this invention from a second perspective;

[0050] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram showing the position of the ion generator in this invention;

[0051] Figure 9 This is an exploded view of the air duct assembly in this invention;

[0052] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the specific workflow of the present invention in a preferred embodiment;

[0053] Among them, 1 is the low-oxygen preservation chamber, 11 is the drawer cavity, 12 is the drawer body, and 13 is the installation box;

[0054] 2 is a vacuum pump;

[0055] 3 is the air duct component, 31 is the metal decorative panel, 32 is the air duct cover, 33 is the air duct foam, and 34 is the adhesive cotton.

[0056] 4 is the ion generator;

[0057] 5 represents a nitrogen-oxygen separation membrane;

[0058] 6 represents the sealing gasket;

[0059] 7 is a check valve;

[0060] 8 is a three-way valve, 81 is the first exhaust port, and 82 is the second exhaust port;

[0061] 9 represents the refrigerator liner. Detailed Implementation

[0062] To make the technical problems to be solved, the technical solutions, and the beneficial effects of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0063] Therefore, a feature pointed out in this specification is used to describe one feature of one embodiment of the invention, and does not imply that every embodiment of the invention must have the described feature. Furthermore, it should be noted that this specification describes many features. Although certain features may be combined to illustrate possible system designs, these features may also be used in other combinations not explicitly stated. Therefore, unless otherwise stated, the described combinations are not intended to be limiting.

[0064] The principles and structure of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0065] Currently, the low-oxygen preservation system and sterilization system in refrigerators operate independently. This leads to the complete waste of oxygen-rich gas extracted by the vacuum pump in the low-oxygen preservation system. Furthermore, the ion generator uses air (oxygen concentration 20.9%) as the reaction substrate, and the high-voltage ionization to produce ozone is inefficient, requiring more than 2 hours of continuous operation to accumulate an effective sterilization concentration (≥0.1ppm). Low-concentration ozone then requires a long period (≥8 hours) to achieve a 99% sterilization rate. This not only results in high energy consumption but also easily leads to excessive ozone residue. Ozone has a long half-life of 30 minutes; if users open the refrigerator during the sterilization process, they may inhale excessive ozone, harming their respiratory health.

[0066] To address the above problems, the present invention proposes a refrigerator that combines a low-oxygen preservation system with a sterilization system. Specifically, it includes a low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 for use as a low-oxygen preservation system and an ion generator 4 for use as a sterilization system.

[0067] The low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 is connected to a vacuum pump 2. In the deoxygenation mode, the vacuum pump 2 extracts the oxygen-rich gas in the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 to keep the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 in a low-oxygen environment.

[0068] The refrigerator proposed in this invention also includes an air duct assembly 3, which is connected to a vacuum pump 2 and an ion generator 4. In the sterilization mode, the vacuum pump 2 can transmit oxygen-enriched gas to the ion generator (4) through the air duct assembly 3. The ion generator 4 can use the oxygen-enriched gas to generate ozone for sterilization.

[0069] Please see the appendix Figure 1 and appendix Figure 2 The low-oxygen preservation compartment 1 is the bottommost compartment of the refrigerator; see appendix for details. Figure 3 The low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 is connected to a vacuum pump 2. The vacuum pump 2 can extract oxygen-enriched gas from the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1. Here, oxygen-enriched gas is air with a higher oxygen content (oxygen concentration can reach 30%). After the oxygen-enriched gas is extracted from the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1, the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 will be in a low-oxygen environment. In a low-oxygen environment, the respiration of fruits and vegetables can be inhibited, the preservation period can be extended, and the nutritional components and taste of the food can be preserved to the greatest extent.

[0070] Please see the appendix Figure 3 and appendix Figure 5 The vacuum pump 2 is also connected to the air duct assembly 3, which is also connected to the ion generator 4. The air duct assembly 3 can transfer the oxygen-rich gas extracted by the vacuum pump 2 to the ion generator 4, and the ion generator 4 can use the oxygen-rich gas to generate ozone for sterilization.

[0071] Among them, the ion generator 4 can increase the voltage and then ionize oxygen through corona discharge to produce ozone, plasma and other active substances. The reaction process is as follows:

[0072] Oxygen ionization: O2 + e- → 2O (high-energy electrons bombard oxygen molecules to produce oxygen atoms);

[0073] Ozone synthesis: O + O2 + M → O3 + M (Oxygen atoms collide with oxygen molecules, M is a third-party molecule, such as N2);

[0074] In the ozone generation process described above, the ozone generation rate is directly proportional to the oxygen concentration. Theoretically, using oxygen-enriched gas (oxygen concentration up to 30%) as raw material, the ozone generation efficiency of high-voltage ionization is 3 to 5 times higher than using air (oxygen concentration 20.9%) as raw material. This invention uses oxygen-enriched gas extracted from the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 to generate ozone in the ion generator 4. Compared with the prior art, which uses air as raw material to generate ozone, this greatly improves the ozone generation efficiency.

[0075] As can be seen from the above solution, this invention combines a low-oxygen preservation system with a sterilization system. Firstly, it maintains the low-oxygen environment within the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 by extracting oxygen-enriched gas, ensuring preservation effectiveness. Secondly, it utilizes the oxygen-enriched gas to generate ozone, providing a sufficient oxygen source for the ion generator 4 and solving the problem of low ozone generation efficiency in the ion generator 4. Furthermore, the intelligent integration of the low-oxygen preservation system and the sterilization system also accelerates ozone decomposition using oxygen-enriched gas, reducing the duration of ozone's presence and avoiding adverse effects on users.

[0076] Furthermore, in this invention, the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 is composed of a drawer cavity 11 and a drawer body 12. An installation box 13 is provided at the tail of the drawer cavity 11, and a nitrogen-oxygen separation membrane 5 is assembled in the installation box 13.

[0077] Please see the appendix Figure 6 and appendix Figure 7 The low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 is actually a drawer of the refrigerator, which consists of a drawer cavity 11 and a drawer body 12. The drawer cavity 11 is the space where the drawer is located, and the drawer body 12 is a pull-out drawer box that can be used to store fruits, vegetables and other foods. An installation box 13 is provided at the rear of the drawer cavity 11. The installation box 13 is used to assemble the nitrogen-oxygen separation membrane 5.

[0078] The nitrogen-oxygen separation membrane 5 is a polymer membrane that selectively permeates gases. It can allow oxygen molecules to pass through while blocking nitrogen molecules. The nitrogen-oxygen separation membrane 5 is placed inside the drawer cavity 11, and a protective grid is set on the outer surface of the nitrogen-oxygen separation membrane 5. The gas inside the drawer cavity 11 can be forcibly extracted by the vacuum pump 2. After passing through the nitrogen-oxygen separation membrane 5, this gas is discharged from the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 along the pipeline.

[0079] Due to the filtration of the nitrogen-oxygen separation membrane 5, the gas extracted by the vacuum pump 2 has a high oxygen content, thus forming an oxygen-rich gas. At the same time, since most of the oxygen is removed, a low-oxygen environment will be formed in the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1.

[0080] In other words, based on the above solution, this invention can generate oxygen-rich gas to provide sufficient oxygen for the ion generator 4, thereby improving ozone generation efficiency and solving the problem of low ozone generation efficiency of the ion generator 4. Secondly, it can create a low-oxygen environment in the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1, thereby inhibiting the respiration of fruits and vegetables, extending the preservation period, and preserving the nutritional components and taste of the ingredients to the greatest extent.

[0081] Please see the appendix Figure 3 and appendix Figure 5 The present invention also includes a sealing gasket 6 disposed at the entrance of the drawer cavity 11.

[0082] The sealing gasket 6 is used to ensure the airtightness of the entire low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 when the drawer body 12 is placed into the drawer cavity 11, to prevent external air from entering the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 and disrupting the formation of the low-oxygen environment, and to maintain the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 in a low-oxygen environment, thereby inhibiting the respiration of fruits and vegetables and extending the preservation period.

[0083] Please see the appendix Figure 3 and appendix Figure 4 The invention also includes a one-way valve 7 disposed on the connection path between the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 and the vacuum pump 2, the one-way valve 7 being configured to allow gas to flow only from the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 to the vacuum pump 2.

[0084] Under normal circumstances, if the one-way valve 7 is not set, the oxygen-enriched gas extracted by the vacuum pump 2 may flow back and re-enter the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1, thus disrupting the low-oxygen environment inside the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1. The one-way valve 7 in this invention is used to restrict the flow of the oxygen-enriched gas, allowing it to flow only from the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 to the vacuum pump 2, thereby preventing the oxygen-enriched gas from flowing back.

[0085] In other words, based on the above solution, the present invention can ensure a one-way flow path of oxygen-enriched gas from the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 to the ion generator 4, avoiding the problem of oxygen-enriched gas flowing back into the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 and damaging the low-oxygen environment of the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1.

[0086] Please see the appendix Figure 4 The invention also includes a three-way valve 8 connected to the vacuum pump 2. The three-way valve 8 has a first exhaust port 81 and a second exhaust port 82. The first exhaust port 81 is connected to a chamber in the refrigerator for introducing ozone for sterilization, and the second exhaust port 82 is connected to the air duct assembly 3.

[0087] Specifically, the three-way valve 8 has one inlet and two outlets. The inlet is connected to the vacuum pump 2 to obtain the oxygen-enriched gas drawn by the vacuum pump 2. The two outlets are the first exhaust port 81 and the second exhaust port 82, respectively. The first exhaust port 81 is connected to the refrigerator chamber for introducing ozone for sterilization, and the second exhaust port 82 is connected to the ion generator 4 through the air duct assembly 3.

[0088] Here, the conduction state of the first exhaust port 81 and the second exhaust port 82 can be controlled according to actual needs. When ozone needs to be generated, the second exhaust port 82 can be opened. At this time, the path between the vacuum pump 2 and the air duct assembly 3 is connected, and the oxygen-enriched gas enters the ion generator 4 through the air duct assembly 3.

[0089] When ozone generation is not required, the first exhaust port 81 can be opened. At this time, the path between the vacuum pump 2 and the air duct assembly 3 is cut off, and the oxygen-enriched gas enters the refrigerator's ozone-introduced chamber for sterilization through the first exhaust port 81, which can accelerate the decomposition of ozone.

[0090] In other words, based on the above-mentioned solution, this invention can introduce oxygen-enriched gas into the refrigerator's ozone sterilization chamber and the ion generator 4, respectively, to achieve secondary utilization of the oxygen-enriched gas. Specifically, connecting the oxygen-enriched gas to the refrigerator's ozone sterilization chamber can accelerate the decomposition of ozone after sterilization mode. Connecting the oxygen-enriched gas to the air duct assembly can provide a sufficient oxygen source for the ion generator 4, solving the problem of low ozone generation efficiency of the ion generator.

[0091] Please see the appendix Figure 9 In this invention, the air duct assembly 3 is composed of a metal decorative panel 31, an air duct cover 32, an air duct foam 33, and an adhesive cotton 34, with the adhesive cotton 34 disposed on the side near the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1.

[0092] Among them, the core function of the metal decorative panel 21 is basic protection and appearance. As the first layer of protection for the air duct component 3, it can resist external physical damage such as dust and bumps, while improving the rigidity of the overall structure of the air duct component 3 and reducing the risk of deformation caused by long-term vibration.

[0093] The core function of the duct cover 32 is to adjust the gas flow path and distribute the air volume. It is connected to the duct body through precision buckles, screws or adhesive processes, which can ensure that the gas flows efficiently along the preset path and avoid air volume loss or airflow turbulence caused by air leakage.

[0094] The core function of the duct foam 33 is to absorb sound and reduce noise and buffer airflow. It is laid close to the inner wall of the duct, which can soften the sharp turns and abrupt changes in the airflow, reduce the generation of local eddies, optimize the uniformity of airflow distribution in the duct, and avoid the increase in wind noise or energy consumption caused by excessive local wind speed.

[0095] The core function of the adhesive cotton 34 is to assist in sealing and shock absorption. As a buffer layer between the metal decorative panel 31, the air duct cover 32 and other components, it can absorb mechanical vibration energy through its own elastic deformation, block the vibration from being transmitted to the main body of the equipment through the air duct structure, and reduce the secondary noise caused by "structural sound transmission" from the source.

[0096] Based on the above solution, the present invention can achieve both aesthetics and basic protection through the metal decorative panel 31, regulate the gas flow path and distribute the air volume through the air duct cover 32, absorb sound and reduce noise and buffer airflow through the air duct foam 33 to improve system energy efficiency, and achieve auxiliary sealing and shock absorption isolation through the adhesive cotton 34.

[0097] Please see the appendix Figure 8In this invention, the air duct component 3 is installed in the refrigerator liner 9 of the refrigerator that combines low oxygen preservation and rapid sterilization, and forms an installation cavity with the refrigerator liner 9. The ion generator 4 is installed in the installation cavity.

[0098] Based on the above solution, the present invention can provide a suitable installation position for the ion generator 4, thereby ensuring the sterilization effect of the ion generator 4 in the refrigerator.

[0099] Please see the appendix Figure 1 and appendix Figure 2 In this invention, the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 is located at the bottom of all the chambers of the refrigerator that combines low-oxygen preservation and rapid sterilization.

[0100] Generally speaking, the heat dissipation structure of a refrigerator is located at the bottom of the refrigerator. Based on the above solution, the present invention can quickly dissipate the heat in the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 by means of the heat dissipation structure located at the bottom of the refrigerator, so as to avoid local temperature rise and damage to the low-oxygen environment.

[0101] Furthermore, low-oxygen gases tend to sink in the refrigerator. If the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 is placed at the top of the refrigerator, it will increase the energy required for the low-oxygen gas to counteract buoyancy, and may even require additional air duct structures. By placing the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 at the bottom, this invention can reduce the energy consumed by the low-oxygen gas to counteract gas buoyancy, thereby allowing the gas in the low-oxygen preservation chamber 1 to be distributed naturally and reducing the energy consumption for maintaining the low-oxygen environment.

[0102] In the above-mentioned solution, the present invention proposes a refrigerator that combines a low-oxygen preservation system with a sterilization system. It can use oxygen-enriched gas extracted from the low-oxygen preservation system to generate ozone for the sterilization system, thereby accumulating a high concentration of ozone in a short period of time, achieving a rapid and efficient sterilization effect. After the sterilization mode ends, the oxygen-enriched gas can be used to accelerate the decomposition of ozone, reduce the existence time of ozone, and avoid the adverse effects of ozone on users.

[0103] The present invention also proposes a refrigerator control method, which includes: when the refrigerator door is closed, detecting whether the refrigerator has started an oxygen reduction mode, the oxygen reduction mode being used to extract oxygen-rich gas from the low-oxygen preservation system to maintain a low-oxygen environment.

[0104] If so, when the time interval between the last sterilization mode activation and the first threshold time reaches, the sterilization mode is activated at the first preset time. The sterilization mode is used to obtain the oxygen-enriched gas extracted from the low-oxygen preservation system and transmit the oxygen-enriched gas to the sterilization system to generate ozone for sterilization.

[0105] If not, the sterilization system will be started at the second preset time when the time interval between the last sterilization mode activation and the second threshold time is reached.

[0106] In the control method described above, the present invention sets different execution strategies based on whether the deoxygenation mode is activated. When the deoxygenation mode is activated, since the oxygen-enriched gas can be provided through the low-oxygen preservation system, the sterilization mode can be activated to quickly generate ozone using the oxygen-enriched gas. Conversely, when the deoxygenation mode is not activated, since the oxygen-enriched gas cannot be provided through the low-oxygen preservation system, the sterilization system can only be activated directly to generate ozone using air.

[0107] Compared to the solution of directly activating the sterilization system, the present invention uses oxygen-enriched gas to generate ozone in the sterilization mode, which will have a higher generation efficiency, that is, the first preset time will be less than the second preset time.

[0108] Under the above scheme, the present invention combines a low-oxygen preservation system and a sterilization system. It can use oxygen-enriched gas extracted from the low-oxygen preservation system to generate ozone for the sterilization system, thereby accumulating a high concentration of ozone in a short time and achieving a rapid and efficient sterilization effect. After the sterilization mode ends, the oxygen-enriched gas can be used to accelerate the decomposition of ozone, reduce the existence time of ozone, and avoid the adverse effects of ozone on users. It realizes a closed-loop control of oxygen-enriched gas reuse, instantaneous high-concentration ozone sterilization, and rapid decomposition of ozone.

[0109] Furthermore, before detecting whether the refrigerator has started the oxygen reduction mode, the above control method further includes: determining whether the user has set a forced sterilization action for the refrigerator; if so, controlling the sterilization system to start at a second preset time.

[0110] Based on the above solution, this invention can perform forced sterilization by user-initiated settings when the cleanliness inside the refrigerator is poor, thereby ensuring the cleanliness inside the refrigerator and preventing bacterial growth.

[0111] Furthermore, when the sterilization system is in operation, the above control method also includes: when the refrigerator is in sterilization mode, determining whether the refrigerator door has been opened; if so, controlling the oxygen reduction mode and sterilization mode to be turned off simultaneously.

[0112] When the sterilization system is activated and the refrigerator is not in sterilization mode, it determines whether the refrigerator door has been opened. If so, it controls the sterilization system to shut down.

[0113] Based on the above solution, this invention can actively shut down the oxygen reduction mode and sterilization mode when the refrigerator door is opened, thus avoiding the impact of ozone on users.

[0114] Furthermore, after the sterilization mode is turned off, the control method also includes: when the time interval between the sterilization mode being turned off reaches a third preset time, oxygen-enriched gas is directed into the ozone-containing chamber inside the refrigerator.

[0115] Based on the above solution, this invention can accelerate the decomposition of ozone by using oxygen-enriched gas after the sterilization mode ends, thereby reducing the duration of ozone presence and avoiding adverse effects of ozone on users.

[0116] In the above control method, the first threshold time is 48h, the second threshold time is 72h, the first preset time is 3min, the second preset time is 30min, and the third preset time is 5min.

[0117] Based on the above solution, this invention can achieve timed sterilization in the refrigerator through a second threshold time. When the oxygen reduction mode is activated, it can use oxygen-enriched gas to accumulate a high concentration of ozone in a short time within a first preset time, thereby achieving a rapid and efficient sterilization effect. Within a third preset time, it can use oxygen-enriched gas to accelerate the decomposition of ozone, reduce the existence time of ozone, and avoid the adverse effects of ozone on users.

[0118] Please see the appendix Figure 10 This is the specific workflow executed by the present invention based on the above control method. It first determines whether the refrigerator door is closed. Only when the refrigerator door is closed will the subsequent sterilization and deoxygenation actions be executed.

[0119] When the refrigerator door is determined to be closed, the present invention first detects whether the user has set a forced sterilization action. If so, it indicates that the cleanliness inside the refrigerator is poor and needs to be cleaned first. At this time, the ion generator 4 in the sterilization system is directly turned on for sterilization. Since oxygen-rich gas is not provided by the low-oxygen preservation system in this case, the ion generator 4 generates ozone with air as the reaction substrate. It takes a long second preset time (i.e., 30 minutes) to achieve the sterilization effect. After the second preset time is executed, the ion generator 4 is turned off.

[0120] If the user has not set a forced sterilization action, the system will start detecting whether the refrigerator has started the oxygen reduction mode to determine whether oxygen-rich gas can be provided through the low-oxygen preservation system at this time.

[0121] If the oxygen reduction mode is detected to be activated, the sterilization mode will be activated for a first preset time when the time interval between the last activation of the sterilization mode reaches the first threshold time (i.e., 48 hours). Since the sterilization mode does not need to be activated frequently, this first threshold time is set to ensure the cleanliness of the refrigerator. Since the low oxygen preservation system can provide oxygen-rich gas, ozone can be generated more quickly to achieve a rapid sterilization effect. Therefore, the sterilization effect can be achieved by activating the mode for a shorter first preset time (i.e., 3 minutes). At this time, the three-way valve 8 opens the second exhaust port 82 and the ion generator 4 is turned on.

[0122] During this process, if the refrigerator door is detected to be opened, the oxygen reduction mode and sterilization mode will be turned off, and the timer will be stopped. If the refrigerator door is not opened, the ion generator 4 will be turned off after the first preset time, and the first exhaust port 81 will be switched on after the third preset time (i.e., 5 minutes) to use oxygen-rich gas to accelerate the decomposition of ozone, reduce the existence time of ozone, and avoid the adverse effects of ozone on users.

[0123] If the deoxygenation mode is not detected, the ion generator 4 will be activated when the time interval between the last activation of the sterilization mode reaches the second threshold time (i.e., 72 hours). The second threshold time is set here to achieve regular cleaning inside the refrigerator, which is usually done every 3 days. Since the low-oxygen preservation system cannot provide oxygen-rich gas in this case, the ion generator 4 needs to be activated for a longer second preset time (i.e., 30 minutes) to achieve the sterilization effect.

[0124] During this process, if the refrigerator door is detected to be opening, the ion generator 4 is turned off; if the refrigerator door is not opened, the ion generator 4 is turned off after a second preset time.

[0125] The above is the specific flow of the refrigerator control method in this invention. Based on the above scheme, this invention combines a low-oxygen preservation system with a sterilization system. It can use the oxygen-enriched gas discharged from the low-oxygen preservation system to introduce into the sterilization system, thereby accumulating a high concentration of ozone in a short time, achieving a rapid and efficient sterilization effect. After the sterilization mode ends, the oxygen-enriched gas can be used to accelerate the decomposition of ozone, reduce the existence time of ozone, and avoid the adverse effects of ozone on users. This achieves closed-loop control of oxygen-enriched gas reuse, instantaneous high-concentration ozone sterilization, and rapid decomposition of ozone.

[0126] The present invention also proposes a refrigeration system having the above-described refrigerator.

[0127] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0128] This invention combines a low-oxygen preservation system with a sterilization system. It utilizes oxygen-enriched gas discharged from the low-oxygen preservation system to introduce it into the sterilization system, achieving a high concentration of ozone accumulation in a short time, thereby achieving rapid and efficient sterilization. After the sterilization mode ends, the oxygen-enriched gas can be used to accelerate the decomposition of ozone, reducing the duration of ozone presence and avoiding adverse effects on users. This invention achieves closed-loop control of oxygen-enriched gas reuse, instantaneous high-concentration ozone sterilization, and rapid ozone decomposition.

[0129] It should be noted that the terminology used above is for describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. When the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof. The order of execution of actions, steps, etc., in the apparatus and methods described in the specification and drawings can be implemented in any order unless a specific order is expressly specified, and as long as the output of the preceding process is not used in the subsequent process. Similar sequential terms used for ease of description do not imply that such an order must be followed.

[0130] Techniques, methods, and apparatus known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and apparatus should be considered part of the specification. In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as constraints. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures denote similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it need not be further discussed in subsequent figures.

[0131] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method of a refrigerator, characterized by, The refrigerator includes at least a low-oxygen preservation system and a sterilization system. The control method includes: when the refrigerator door is closed, detecting whether the refrigerator has started an oxygen reduction mode. The oxygen reduction mode is used to extract oxygen-rich gas from the low-oxygen preservation system to maintain a low-oxygen environment. If so, when the time interval between the last activation of the sterilization mode reaches the first threshold time, the sterilization mode is activated at the first preset time. The sterilization mode is used to obtain the oxygen-enriched gas extracted from the low-oxygen preservation system and transmit the oxygen-enriched gas to the sterilization system to generate ozone for sterilization. If not, the sterilization system will be activated at a second preset time when the time interval between the last activation of the sterilization mode reaches the second threshold time. 2.The control method of a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before detecting whether the refrigerator has started the oxygen reduction mode, the control method further includes: determining whether the user has set a forced sterilization action for the refrigerator; if so, controlling the sterilization system to start at a second preset time. 3.The control method of a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the sterilization system is in operation, the control method further includes: when the refrigerator is in sterilization mode, determining whether the refrigerator door has been opened; if so, controlling the oxygen reduction mode and the sterilization mode to be turned off simultaneously. When the sterilization system is activated and the refrigerator is not in sterilization mode, it is determined whether the refrigerator door has been opened. If so, the sterilization system is controlled to shut down. 4.The control method of a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the sterilization mode is turned off, the control method further includes: when the time interval between the sterilization mode being turned off reaches a third preset time, guiding the oxygen-enriched gas into the ozone-containing chamber inside the refrigerator. 5.The control method of a refrigerator according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first threshold time is 48h, the second threshold time is 72h, the first preset time is 3min, the second preset time is 30min, and the third preset time is 5min.

6. A refrigerator employing the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by Includes a low-oxygen preservation chamber (1) used as the low-oxygen preservation system, and an ion generator (4) used as the sterilization system. The low-oxygen preservation chamber (1) is connected to a vacuum pump (2). In the oxygen reduction mode, the vacuum pump (2) extracts oxygen-rich gas from the low-oxygen preservation chamber (1) to keep the low-oxygen preservation chamber (1) in a low-oxygen environment. The refrigerator also includes an air duct assembly (3), which is connected to the vacuum pump (2) and the ion generator (4). In the sterilization mode, the vacuum pump (2) can transmit the oxygen-enriched gas to the ion generator (4) through the air duct assembly (3), and the ion generator (4) can use the oxygen-enriched gas to generate ozone for sterilization.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that The low-oxygen preservation chamber (1) is composed of a drawer cavity (11) and a drawer body (12). An installation box (13) is provided at the tail of the drawer cavity (11), and a nitrogen-oxygen separation membrane (5) is installed in the installation box (13).

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, characterized in that, The refrigerator also includes a sealing gasket (6) disposed at the entrance of the drawer cavity (11).

9. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that, The refrigerator also includes a one-way valve (7) disposed on the connection path between the low-oxygen preservation chamber (1) and the vacuum pump (2), the one-way valve (7) being configured to allow gas to flow only from the low-oxygen preservation chamber (1) to the vacuum pump (2).

10. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that, The refrigerator also includes a three-way valve (8) connected to the vacuum pump (2), the three-way valve (8) having a first exhaust port (81) and a second exhaust port (82), the first exhaust port (81) being connected to the refrigerator chamber for introducing ozone for sterilization, and the second exhaust port (82) being connected to the air duct assembly (3).

11. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that, The air duct assembly (3) consists of a metal decorative panel (31), an air duct cover (32), an air duct foam (33), and adhesive cotton (34), with the adhesive cotton (34) located on the side near the low-oxygen preservation chamber (1).

12. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that, The air duct assembly (3) is installed on the refrigerator liner (9) of the refrigerator and forms an installation cavity with the refrigerator liner (9). The ion generator (4) is installed in the installation cavity.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that, The low-oxygen preservation chamber (1) is located at the bottom of all the chambers of the refrigerator.

14. A refrigeration system characterized by, The refrigeration system includes a refrigerator as described in any one of claims 6 to 13.

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