Odor removal device and refrigerator

Abstract

The utility model relates to a kind of net taste device and refrigerator.Net taste device includes: photocatalysis module, including carrier and photocatalyst, the carrier is configured as adsorbing odor molecule, the photocatalyst is arranged on the surface of the carrier;And light source, configured as providing excitation light irradiated on the photocatalysis module, for exciting the photocatalyst.Wherein, carrier utilizes the adsorption of odor molecule using "van der waals force", that is, using adsorption method to adsorb odor gas, this method can quickly and efficiently deodorization even in low temperature environment;And by light source provides excitation light irradiated on photocatalysis module, for exciting photocatalyst, so that photocatalyst is excited to produce active substance, the active substance and odor molecule occur catalytic decomposition reaction, to realize continuous and efficient removal of odor, even in low temperature condition, reaction efficiency is also higher.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of air purification technology, and in particular to an odor removal device and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, with the development of the home appliance industry and technological advancements, active odor removal has become one of the main selling points of refrigerators, and a key focus and challenge for major refrigerator manufacturers in their research and development. The odors inside a refrigerator mainly come from small-molecule organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from the polymer plastics that make up the refrigerator, the smell of the stored items themselves, and the sour smell produced by food spoiling over a long period. Generally, these three odor gases are continuously generated, and since the refrigerator interior remains a closed environment except when users open the door to access items, these odor gases constantly accumulate and are generated inside. Therefore, the refrigerator's ability to continuously and effectively remove odors is particularly important and is key to maintaining clean air inside the refrigerator. Utility Model Content

[0003] Some embodiments of this utility model propose an odor removal device and a refrigerator to alleviate the problem of poor continuous odor removal effect of the odor removal device.

[0004] In one aspect of this utility model, an odor-eliminating device is provided, comprising:

[0005] A photocatalytic module includes a carrier and a photocatalyst, wherein the carrier is configured to adsorb odor molecules, and the photocatalyst is disposed on the surface of the carrier; and

[0006] A light source is configured to provide excitation light that irradiates the photocatalytic module to excite the photocatalyst.

[0007] In some embodiments, the odor removal device further includes a receiving box having an inlet and an outlet, and the photocatalytic module is disposed within the receiving box and located between the inlet and the outlet, so that the airflow introduced by the inlet flows through the photocatalytic module to the outlet.

[0008] In some embodiments, the carrier is provided with a plurality of through holes, which allow airflow introduced by the inlet to flow through to the outlet.

[0009] In some embodiments, the light source is disposed within the housing and located downstream of the photocatalytic module along the airflow direction.

[0010] In some embodiments, the odor removal device further includes a fan disposed within the housing, the fan being configured to provide power to introduce airflow from the inlet, pass through the photocatalytic module, and exit from the outlet.

[0011] In some embodiments, the fan is located upstream of the photocatalytic module along the airflow direction.

[0012] In some embodiments, the odor removal device further includes a deflector plate disposed at the outlet of the fan, the deflector plate being configured to guide the airflow from the fan toward the photocatalytic module.

[0013] In some embodiments, the number of the deflector plates is at least two.

[0014] In some embodiments, the carrier is made of a porous material.

[0015] In some embodiments, the odor-eliminating device further includes:

[0016] A fan is configured to provide power to direct airflow toward the photocatalytic module.

[0017] A controller, electrically connected to the light source and the fan, is configured to control the fan and the light source to turn on when odor removal is required.

[0018] In some embodiments, the controller is further configured to control the fan to turn off and the light source to remain on when it is determined that the photocatalytic module has finished adsorbing odor molecules but has not yet finished decomposing odor molecules.

[0019] In one aspect of this utility model, a refrigerator is provided, including the above-described deodorizing device.

[0020] Based on the above technical solution, this utility model has at least the following beneficial effects:

[0021] In some embodiments, the photocatalytic module includes a carrier and a photocatalyst. The carrier uses van der Waals forces to adsorb odor molecules, that is, it uses adsorption to adsorb odor gases. This method can quickly and efficiently remove odors even at low temperatures. Furthermore, an excitation light is provided to the photocatalytic module through a light source to excite the photocatalyst, causing it to generate active substances. These active substances undergo a catalytic decomposition reaction with odor molecules to achieve continuous and efficient odor removal. The reaction efficiency is high even at low temperatures. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and constitute a part of this invention, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description thereof, serve to explain the present invention and do not constitute an undue limitation thereof. In the drawings:

[0023] Figure 1 This is an exploded structural diagram of the odor-eliminating device provided according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the odor-eliminating device provided according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a bottom view schematic diagram of an odor-eliminating device provided according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a photocatalytic module provided in some embodiments of this utility model;

[0027] Figure 5 for Figure 4 An enlarged schematic diagram of local structure A in the image;

[0028] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for deodorizing a refrigerator according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0029] The symbols in the attached image are explained as follows:

[0030] 1-Photocatalytic module; 11-Carrier; 12-Photocatalyst; 13-Through pore; 14-Pore; 15-Odor molecule;

[0031] 2-Light source;

[0032] 4-Container; 41-Inlet; 42-Outlet; 43-Box body; 44-Lid;

[0033] 5- Fan;

[0034] 6-Guide plate.

[0035] It should be understood that the dimensions of the various parts shown in the accompanying drawings are not drawn to actual scale. Furthermore, the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar components. Detailed Implementation

[0036] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The descriptions of the exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative and are in no way intended to limit the present invention or its application or use. The present invention can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. These embodiments are provided to make the present invention thorough and complete, and to fully express the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement of components and steps, the composition of materials, numerical expressions, and values ​​set forth in these embodiments should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limiting.

[0037] The terms "first," "second," and similar words used in this invention do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different parts. Words such as "including" or "comprising" mean that the element preceding the word encompasses the element listed after it, and do not exclude the possibility of encompassing other elements as well. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are only used to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0038] In this invention, when a specific device is described as being located between a first device and a second device, an intermediary device may or may not exist between the specific device and the first or second device. When a specific device is described as being connected to other devices, the specific device may be directly connected to the other devices without an intermediary device, or it may not be directly connected to the other devices but may have an intermediary device.

[0039] All terms used in this invention (including technical or scientific terms) have the same meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains, unless otherwise specifically defined. It should also be understood that terms defined in general dictionaries should be interpreted as having meanings consistent with their meanings in the context of the relevant art, and not as idealized or highly formalized, unless expressly defined herein.

[0040] Techniques, methods, and equipment known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, they should be considered part of the specification.

[0041] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the odor removal device includes a photocatalytic module 1 and a light source 2.

[0042] refer to Figure 4 The photocatalytic module 1 includes a carrier 11 and a photocatalyst 12. The carrier 11 is configured to adsorb odor molecules, and the photocatalyst 12 is disposed on the surface of the carrier 11. Optionally, the photocatalyst 12 is arranged on the surface of the carrier 11 to form an extremely thin (nanoscale) photocatalyst layer.

[0043] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The light source 2 is configured to provide excitation light that irradiates the photocatalytic module 1 to excite the photocatalyst 12, so that the photocatalyst 12 catalyzes the decomposition of odor molecules adsorbed on the carrier 11.

[0044] In the above embodiments, the carrier 11 is configured to adsorb odor molecules using van der Waals forces, that is, to adsorb odor molecules using an adsorption method. This method can quickly and efficiently remove odors even in low-temperature environments. In order to alleviate the problem of the carrier 11 becoming saturated after a period of adsorption, a photocatalyst 12 is provided on the surface of the carrier 11. Excitation light is provided by the light source 2 to irradiate the photocatalytic module 1 to excite the photocatalyst 12, so that the photocatalyst 12 is excited to produce active substances. These active substances react with the odor molecules on the carrier 11 to catalyze decomposition reactions to remove odors, realizing the "adsorption first, decomposition later" approach to quickly and efficiently adsorb and decompose odors, achieving the purpose of continuous and efficient odor removal. Even under the low-temperature conditions inside the refrigerator, the reaction efficiency is high, and it can remove low concentrations of odors.

[0045] During the catalytic reaction, photocatalyst 12 is excited to generate holes and electrons. The holes react with H2O (water molecules present in the natural environment) adsorbed on the surface of photocatalyst 12 to form hydroxyl radicals (·OH) with strong oxidizing properties. At the same time, the electrons react with oxygen molecules adsorbed on the surface to generate superoxide radicals (·O2). － The free radicals include hydroxyl radicals (·OH). These free radicals are highly reactive and can directly oxidize and decompose various organic substances attached to the surface of the photocatalyst 12 into inorganic small molecules such as CO2 and H2O. This can decompose organic odors, decompose ethylene gas, and remove microorganisms in the air, thus alleviating the problem of odors inside the refrigerator during use, which affects the user experience and the preservation effect of stored food.

[0046] refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, the carrier 11 is made of a porous material.

[0047] In the above embodiments, the carrier 11 is made of a porous material, which is covered with tiny pores 14. Odor gas molecules or other small molecules can be adsorbed into the pores 14 by "van der Waals forces". Therefore, odor gas can be quickly adsorbed by the porous material.

[0048] refer to Figure 5 The porous material has many pores 14, and multiple pores 14 connect to form a branch-like structure. Figure 5 The diagram uses a V-shaped groove for simplicity. Odor molecules 15 are adsorbed in the pores 14 of the carrier 11.

[0049] In some embodiments, the porous material includes activated carbon, zeolite, etc. Optionally, the porous material is X-type porous honeycomb zeolite.

[0050] This utility model embodiment uses an "adsorption first, decomposition later" method for odor removal, or more accurately, an "adsorption first, decomposition later, adsorption and decomposition simultaneously" method. This is because, for a single odor molecule, it may directly react with the photocatalyst without being adsorbed by the porous material. However, since there are many odor gases, the photocatalytic reaction cannot quickly decompose all odor molecules. Therefore, the carrier is made of a porous material, which can increase the contact area between the photocatalyst and the odor gas, so that the odor molecules are quickly adsorbed by the carrier and then decomposed through reaction with the photocatalyst.

[0051] For example, suppose there is 100g of odorous gas, and the photocatalytic decomposition rate is 1g / s. The odorous gas passes through photocatalytic module 1 within 1 second. If the adsorption capacity of carrier 11 is set to 100g, it can adsorb 99g of odorous gas in 1 second and decompose 1g of odorous gas simultaneously. Then, it takes another 99 seconds to decompose the remaining 99g of odorous gas. Therefore, although decomposition also occurs during adsorption, the amount adsorbed is far greater than the amount decomposed. This can be described as "adsorption first, then decomposition, adsorption and decomposition simultaneously."

[0052] In some embodiments, the photocatalyst 12 includes titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, tin dioxide, etc. Optionally, the photocatalyst 12 uses 5nm nanoscale titanium dioxide.

[0053] In some embodiments, nanoscale titanium dioxide (preferably 5 nm anatase) is loaded onto a porous honeycomb zeolite (preferably type X) material.

[0054] In some embodiments, the photocatalyst 12 is uniformly distributed in the pores 14 of the porous material of the carrier 11 by immersion or spraying, and not only has a high adsorption capacity for common odor gases in refrigerators, but also has high catalytic activity.

[0055] In some embodiments, the light source 2 includes an ultraviolet lamp.

[0056] In the above embodiments, the photocatalyst 12, combined with a high-power ultraviolet light source, decomposes odor molecules into harmless carbon dioxide and water through a photocatalytic reaction.

[0057] In some embodiments, the number of light sources 2 is at least two, and the at least two light sources 2 are spaced apart downstream of the photocatalytic module 1.

[0058] In the above embodiments, at least two light sources 2 include two or more light sources 2. By setting at least two light sources 2, more sufficient and uniform excitation light can be provided to the photocatalytic module 1.

[0059] In some embodiments, after the photocatalytic module 1 has decomposed the odor molecules, the surface of the porous material can be directly blown with low-humidity cold air from inside the refrigerator to remove the decomposed products and restore the adsorption capacity of the porous material.

[0060] refer to Figure 1 In some embodiments, the odor removal device further includes a container 4, which has an inlet 41 and an outlet 42. The photocatalytic module 1 is disposed in the container 4 and located between the inlet 41 and the outlet 42, so that the airflow introduced by the inlet 41 flows through the photocatalytic module 1 to the outlet 42.

[0061] In the above embodiment, the odor gas enters the container 4 through the inlet 41 and is quickly adsorbed and enriched by the carrier 11 made of porous material, which can meet the user's requirement for quick odor removal. In addition, the excitation light provided by the light source 2 is used to stimulate the photocatalyst 12, so that the photocatalyst 12 is excited to produce active substances. These active substances undergo a catalytic decomposition reaction with odor molecules to remove the odor.

[0062] In some embodiments, the carrier 11 is provided with a plurality of through holes 13, which allow the airflow introduced by the inlet 41 to flow through to the outlet 42.

[0063] In the above embodiments, the carrier 11 is provided with a plurality of through holes 13 to reduce the air resistance of the airflow passing through the photocatalytic module 1, and at the same time to increase the contact area between the airflow and the photocatalytic module 1.

[0064] Alternatively, the carrier 11 is configured as a honeycomb structure.

[0065] The surface of the carrier 11 includes the surface of the through hole 13 and the surface of the pore 14.

[0066] In some embodiments, the receiving box 4 includes a box body 43 and a cover 44. The box body 43 forms a receiving space, and the cover 44 is disposed at the open end of the box body 43. The cover 44 and the box body 43 are connected to form a closed receiving cavity. Components such as the photocatalytic module 1 and the light source 2 are disposed in the receiving cavity.

[0067] In some embodiments, the light source 2 is disposed within the housing 4 and is located downstream of the photocatalytic module 1 along the airflow direction.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the odor gas stream passes through the photocatalytic module 1 and is first fully adsorbed by the photocatalytic module 1, so that the odor molecules are enriched on the carrier 11. A light source 2 is set downstream of the photocatalytic module 1, and then the light source 2 excites the photocatalyst 12, so that the odor molecules react with the photocatalyst 12, thereby improving the decomposition efficiency of the odor molecules.

[0069] In some embodiments, the odor removal device further includes a fan 5 disposed within the housing 4, the fan 5 being configured to provide power to introduce airflow from the inlet 41, pass through the photocatalytic module 1, and exit from the outlet 42.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the fan 5 can provide power to make the odor gas enter the container 4 more quickly, thereby increasing the odor removal speed. Furthermore, by adjusting the speed of the fan 5, the airflow speed can be made more conducive to the contact between the odor molecules and the carrier 11, so that they can be fully adsorbed.

[0071] In some embodiments, the fan 5 is located upstream of the photocatalytic module 1 along the airflow direction.

[0072] In the above embodiments, by drawing airflow from the environment through the fan 5, the odor gas can flow through the photocatalytic module 1 more quickly, stably and evenly, thereby improving the efficiency of odor removal.

[0073] In some embodiments, the fan 5 includes a centrifugal fan.

[0074] In some embodiments, the odor removal device further includes a deflector plate 6, which is disposed at the outlet of the fan 5 and is configured to guide the airflow from the fan 5 toward the photocatalytic module 1.

[0075] In the above embodiment, a guide plate 6 is provided at the outlet of the fan 5. The guide plate 6 helps to guide the airflow to the photocatalytic module 1 evenly and fully, avoid odor leakage, and improve the odor removal effect.

[0076] In some embodiments, the number of deflectors 6 is at least two.

[0077] In the above embodiment, the number of guide plates 6 is at least two, which can evenly divide the airflow at the outlet of the fan 5 into multiple channels, which is conducive to guiding the airflow to the photocatalytic module 1 more evenly.

[0078] In some embodiments, inlet 41 is located on the side wall of the receiving box 4 in the first direction X, and outlet 42 is located on the side wall of the receiving box 4 in the second direction Y. The second direction Y is perpendicular to the first direction X.

[0079] The fan 5, photocatalytic module 1, guide plate 6, light source 2 and outlet 42 are arranged sequentially along the second direction Y.

[0080] In the above embodiment, the inlet 41 and outlet 42 are set to correspond to the air inlet and air outlet of the fan 5. The fan 5, photocatalytic module 1, guide plate 6, light source 2 and outlet 42 are arranged in sequence along the second direction Y, making reasonable use of the space inside the housing 4. The structure is compact and the size is small.

[0081] In some embodiments, inlet 41 is provided at the inlet of fan 5, and inlet 41 includes a plurality of vent holes.

[0082] In some embodiments, the outlet 42 includes a plurality of strip holes, which are spaced apart along a third direction Z, and the length extension direction of the strip holes is consistent with the first direction X.

[0083] The first direction X is perpendicular to the second direction Y, the second direction Y is perpendicular to the third direction Z, and the first direction X is perpendicular to the third direction Z. The receiving box 4 is square. The length of the receiving box 4 is aligned with the second direction Y, the width of the receiving box 4 is aligned with the third direction Z, and the height of the receiving box 4 is aligned with the first direction X. The receiving box 4 is a flat square box, and its height is less than its width. The width of the receiving box 4 is less than its length.

[0084] In some embodiments, the inlet 41, fan 5, photocatalytic module 1, guide plate 6, light source 2, and outlet 42 are arranged sequentially from upstream to downstream along the airflow direction.

[0085] In some embodiments, the odor removal device further includes a fan 5 and a controller.

[0086] Fan 5 is configured to provide power to direct airflow toward photocatalytic module 1.

[0087] The controller is electrically connected to the light source 2 and the fan 5. The controller is configured to control the fan 5 and the light source 2 to turn on when odor removal is required.

[0088] In the above embodiment, the fan 5 and the light source 2 are turned on at the same time. The fan 5 draws in the odor gas and makes the odor gas evenly dispersed through the photocatalytic module 1. Since the carrier 11 of the photocatalytic module 1 is made of porous material, the porous material is covered with tiny pores 14. The odor gas or other small molecules can be adsorbed in the pores 14 by van der Waals forces, thereby improving the odor removal speed.

[0089] Simultaneously with the activation of fan 5, light source 2 is also activated. The excitation light provided by light source 2 irradiates photocatalyst 12. When the absorption threshold of photocatalyst 12 is reached, the valence band electrons of photocatalyst 12 undergo interband transition, that is, they transition from the valence band to the conduction band, thereby generating electron-hole pairs, forming a hole in the valence band and an electron in the conduction band. Typically, the photogenerated holes react with H2O adsorbed on the surface of the photocatalyst particles to form highly oxidizing hydroxyl radicals (·OH). In photocatalysts, holes have greater reactivity and are the main energy-carrying component. At the same time, electrons react with oxygen molecules adsorbed on the surface to generate superoxide ion radicals (·O2). － As well as hydroxyl radicals (·OH), etc. These free radicals are highly reactive and oxidizing, capable of directly oxidizing and decomposing various organic substances attached to the surface of the photocatalyst into inorganic small molecules such as CO2 and H2O, thus achieving the functions of decomposing organic odors, decomposing ethylene gas, and removing microorganisms from the air.

[0090] In some embodiments, the controller is also configured to turn off the fan 5 and keep the light source 2 on when it is determined that the photocatalytic module 1 has finished adsorbing odor molecules but has not finished decomposing odor molecules.

[0091] Because the carrier 11 made of porous material adsorbs odor molecules quickly, and because there are many odor gases, the photocatalytic reaction cannot quickly decompose all the odor molecules. Therefore, the odor molecules are first quickly adsorbed by the carrier, and then the light source 2 is kept on. The light source 2 provides excitation light to excite the photocatalyst, so that the odor molecules react with the photocatalyst to decompose them, thereby achieving continuous and effective removal of odor gases.

[0092] In some embodiments, the controller is also configured to turn off the light source 2 when it is determined that the photocatalytic module 1 has finished decomposing odor molecules.

[0093] Some embodiments of this utility model also provide a refrigerator that includes the deodorizing device in any of the above embodiments.

[0094] The refrigerator provided in this embodiment of the present invention includes the odor removal device provided in this embodiment of the present invention, and accordingly has the beneficial effects of the odor removal device.

[0095] Some embodiments of this utility model also provide a method for deodorizing a refrigerator, wherein the deodorizing device further includes a fan 5, which is configured to provide power to direct airflow toward the photocatalytic module 1; the deodorizing method includes the following steps:

[0096] In the deodorizing mode, the S10 turns on fan 5 and light source 2.

[0097] S20, after determining that the photocatalytic module 1 has finished adsorbing odor molecules, turns off the fan 5 while keeping the light source 2 on; and

[0098] After determining that the photocatalytic module 1 has finished decomposing odor molecules, S30 turns off the light source 2.

[0099] In the above embodiment, after the odor removal mode is activated, the fan 5 and the light source 2 are turned on simultaneously. The fan 5 provides power so that the odor gas can quickly pass through the photocatalytic module 1. The carrier 11 of the photocatalytic module 1 can quickly adsorb the odor molecules to achieve a rapid odor removal effect. At the same time, the light source 2 provides excitation light to excite the photocatalyst 12, so that it produces a highly oxidizing active substance, which directly oxidizes and decomposes various organic substances attached to the surface of the photocatalytic module 1 into inorganic small molecules such as CO2 and H2O to remove odors.

[0100] Since the carrier 11 adsorbs odor molecules faster than the photocatalyst 12 decomposes them, after the photocatalytic module 1 finishes adsorbing odor molecules, the fan 5 is turned off to stop air supply, but the light source 2 remains on to continue providing excitation light to excite the photocatalyst 12, which directly oxidizes and decomposes various organic substances attached to the surface of the photocatalytic module 1 into inorganic small molecules such as CO2 and H2O, so as to continue to complete the decomposition reaction of the adsorbed odor molecules and remove the odor.

[0101] Once it is determined that the photocatalytic module 1 has completely decomposed the odor molecules, the light source 2 is turned off, thus ending a complete odor removal cycle.

[0102] This odor removal method effectively controls the two key processes of odor adsorption and photocatalytic decomposition by controlling the start and stop times of the fan 5 and the light source 2 in stages: during the adsorption stage, the fan 5 runs to accelerate the odor capture efficiency; during the decomposition stage, the fan 5 is turned off, and only the light source 2 is used to maintain the continuous reaction, thereby reducing energy consumption and noise.

[0103] In some embodiments, in step S10, the odor removal mode includes a normal odor removal mode and a forced odor removal mode.

[0104] If the user selects the forced odor removal mode, the forced odor removal mode will be activated.

[0105] If the user does not select the forced odor removal mode, the system will enter the normal mode. In the normal mode, the system will determine whether to enter the normal odor removal mode or the forced odor removal mode based on the odor concentration value.

[0106] In the above embodiments, when the user selects the forced odor removal mode, the system directly enters this mode, starts the fan and light source, and realizes the rapid adsorption and efficient decomposition of odor molecules, which is suitable for scenarios where users have high requirements for odor removal speed; when the user does not select the forced odor removal mode, the system defaults to the normal mode. In this mode, the system makes a judgment based on the real-time detected odor concentration value, and enters the normal odor removal mode or the forced odor removal mode according to the judgment result.

[0107] Users can actively select the forced odor removal mode according to their needs, enabling the system to quickly enter a highly efficient odor removal state and significantly shorten the odor removal time. When the forced odor removal mode is not manually selected, the system automatically determines the operating mode based on the odor concentration, achieving adaptive adjustment of air quality.

[0108] In some embodiments, in normal mode, the method for determining whether to enter normal odor removal mode or forced odor removal mode based on odor concentration value includes:

[0109] If the current odor concentration value is 0-20% higher than the previous odor concentration value, then enter the first normal odor removal mode;

[0110] If the current odor concentration value is more than 50% higher than the previous odor concentration value, then enter the second normal odor removal mode;

[0111] If the current odor concentration is 20% to 50% higher than the previous odor concentration, then the forced odor removal mode will be activated.

[0112] In the above embodiments, the system can intelligently select an appropriate odor purification mode based on the different magnitudes of odor concentration changes, thereby achieving a precise response to different pollution levels. Furthermore, by distinguishing different odor concentration increase ranges, the system can minimize unnecessary high-energy-consumption operation while ensuring air quality, effectively reducing overall energy consumption and extending equipment lifespan. Moreover, users do not need to manually adjust equipment settings; the system can automatically adapt to environmental changes, providing a continuous and stable air purification effect, improving ease of use and comfort.

[0113] In some embodiments, the method for obtaining the current odor concentration value and the prior odor concentration value includes:

[0114] The odor concentration inside the refrigerator is collected every hour.

[0115] Calculate the average odor concentration from the current time to the previous first preset time range to obtain the first average odor concentration value, which is the current odor concentration value;

[0116] Calculate the average odor concentration over the first preset time range from the current time minus one hour to the previous time to obtain the second average odor concentration value, which is the previous odor concentration value.

[0117] In the above embodiment, the average odor concentration within a first preset time range (e.g., 6 hours) backward from the current time is calculated as the current odor concentration value and is recorded as the first average odor concentration value; the average odor concentration within the same first preset time range (i.e., 6 hours) backward from the current time minus 1 hour is calculated as the prior odor concentration value and is recorded as the second average odor concentration value.

[0118] In the above embodiments, by averaging multiple historical sampling points instead of relying on data from a single moment, misjudgments caused by instantaneous fluctuations are effectively reduced, improving the stability and reliability of odor concentration judgment. Furthermore, comparing the current odor concentration value with an earlier historical average reflects the changing trend of odor concentration, rather than just a static value, thus allowing for a more scientific assessment of whether to activate the corresponding odor removal strategy. Based on the comparison of average values ​​from two time periods, the system can more accurately identify the rate of increase in odor concentration, providing a reliable basis for segmented entry into regular or forced odor removal modes and avoiding unnecessary high-power operation.

[0119] In some embodiments, the value of the first preset time ranges from 3h to 12h.

[0120] In the above embodiments, if the first preset time is too short, less than 3 hours, the system is too sensitive to changes in odor concentration and may easily trigger the odor removal mode due to short-term fluctuations; if the time is too long, exceeding 12 hours, it may cause the system to react slowly to the actual pollution trend. Therefore, limiting it to the range of 3h to 12h can improve the stability of the judgment while ensuring timely response.

[0121] Optionally, the first preset time is set to 6 hours.

[0122] In the above embodiments, 6 hours is selected as the preferred value of the first preset time, which can cover the typical change cycle of the air state inside the refrigerator, and will not be excessively disturbed by factors such as occasional door opening or temporary food placement, so as to more accurately reflect the real change trend of odor concentration.

[0123] In some embodiments, the turn-on time of the fan 5 and the turn-on time of the light source 2 in the first normal deodorization mode are both less than the turn-on time of the fan 5 and the turn-on time of the light source 2 in the forced deodorization mode.

[0124] The opening time of the fan 5 and the opening time of the light source 2 in the forced odor removal mode are both shorter than the opening time of the fan 5 and the opening time of the light source 2 in the second normal odor removal mode.

[0125] In the above embodiments, in the first conventional deodorization mode, the running time of the fan 5 and the light source 2 is shorter than that in the forced deodorization mode; in the forced deodorization mode, the running time of the fan 5 and the light source 2 is shorter than that in the second conventional deodorization mode.

[0126] When the odor concentration rises slightly, the first regular odor removal mode, which operates for a shorter time, can maintain fresh air; when the odor concentration rises significantly, switch to the forced odor removal mode to achieve rapid odor removal with a moderate operating time; when the odor concentration is high or continues to accumulate, activate the second regular odor removal mode for long-term deep purification.

[0127] In the above embodiments, different odor-removing operation times are set according to different odor concentration ranges, avoiding excessive operation of the fan 5 and light source 2 when the odor is light, thereby significantly reducing overall energy consumption and optimizing the balance between odor removal efficiency and user experience. Furthermore, the system can automatically select appropriate odor removal intensity and operation time based on the current air quality without user intervention, improving the device's adaptability and intelligent response level to different usage scenarios.

[0128] In some embodiments, in the first conventional odor removal mode, if the fan 5 is turned on for 3 to 10 minutes, it is determined that the adsorption of odor molecules by the photocatalytic module 1 has ended; if the light source 2 is turned on for 6 to 20 minutes, it is determined that the decomposition of odor molecules by the photocatalytic module 1 has ended.

[0129] In the second conventional odor removal mode, if the fan 5 is turned on for 20 to 40 minutes, it is determined that the photocatalytic module 1 has finished adsorbing odor molecules; if the light source 2 is turned on for 40 to 80 minutes, it is determined that the photocatalytic module 1 has finished decomposing odor molecules.

[0130] In the forced odor removal mode, if the fan 5 is turned on for 5 to 15 minutes, it is determined that the photocatalytic module 1 has finished adsorbing odor molecules; if the light source 2 is turned on for 10 to 30 minutes, it is determined that the photocatalytic module 1 has finished decomposing odor molecules.

[0131] In the above embodiments, by setting a reasonable operating time threshold, the system can accurately determine whether the adsorption and decomposition stages of odor molecules are complete without additional sensors, simplifying the control logic and improving the system's automation and intelligent response capabilities. After completing the target processing task, the fan 5 and light source 2 are promptly shut off, effectively avoiding unnecessary prolonged operation, thereby reducing energy consumption and noise interference and improving the user experience. Different odor removal modes correspond to different operating time intervals, allowing the system to flexibly adjust the purification intensity according to the air quality inside the refrigerator, meeting the needs of various usage scenarios from daily light pollution to sudden heavy odors.

[0132] In some embodiments, in step S10, the odor removal mode includes a forced odor removal mode, which is entered when the refrigerator is first powered on.

[0133] When a refrigerator is first powered on, it may contain residual odors, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or other contaminants from the manufacturing process. Activating the forced odor removal mode immediately can quickly and effectively remove these contaminants, providing users with a fresh and healthy storage environment. This enhances the user's first impression of the product and improves overall satisfaction.

[0134] In some embodiments, after step S30, step S40 is further included, in which the fan 5 is started and the fan 5 blows air at a variable speed until a second preset time is reached.

[0135] In the above embodiment, after the initial odor removal treatment is completed in step S30, the fan 5 is started again, and a variable wind speed control strategy is used to turbulent and clean the photocatalytic module 1. This strategy helps to remove dust, foreign matter, and decomposition products (such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, etc.) from the odor gas from the surface of the photocatalytic module 1 in a timely manner, preventing them from depositing on the module surface or in the pores, thereby avoiding them occupying active sites and affecting subsequent adsorption and catalytic efficiency.

[0136] In some embodiments, the variable wind speed control strategy includes: operating at a lower wind speed at the initial stage of fan 5 startup to blow away large particulate impurities on the surface of photocatalytic module 1; and then gradually increasing the wind speed to effectively remove small molecule pollutants, thereby achieving deep cleaning and regeneration of photocatalytic module 1.

[0137] In the above embodiments, the photocatalytic module 1 is typically made of a porous material to adsorb odor molecules. Directly using high-speed airflow could force large particles into the pores, causing irreversible blockage. However, employing a segmented variable-speed airflow control—starting with low speed and then increasing to high speed—can remove impurities of different particle sizes step by step, preventing large particles from being blown into the pores of the porous material and causing blockage.

[0138] By employing a variable wind speed control strategy to periodically clean the surface and pores of the photocatalytic module 1, residues can be effectively prevented from being blocked or covered by the active sites, thus maintaining its good adsorption performance and catalytic activity, thereby extending the module's service life and improving the overall odor removal efficiency.

[0139] In some embodiments, the value of the second preset time ranges from 3 min to 10 min.

[0140] In the above embodiments, if the second preset time is set too long, exceeding 10 minutes, it will increase the energy consumption of the fan 5 and generate unnecessary noise interference; while if the running time is too short, less than 3 minutes, it will be unable to remove dust, foreign objects and decomposition products (such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, etc.) from the surface of the photocatalytic module 1 in a timely manner, affecting the odor removal effect.

[0141] Optionally, the second preset time is set to 5 minutes.

[0142] In some embodiments, setting a second preset time can also enable the fan 5 to effectively circulate and disturb the air inside the refrigerator, ensuring that odor molecules that have not been completely decomposed flow back through the photocatalytic module 1, thereby improving the overall odor removal efficiency.

[0143] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figures 1 to 6 This document describes in detail some specific embodiments of the odor-removing device, and a method for odor removal in a refrigerator using the specific embodiments of the odor-removing device.

[0144] like Figure 1 As shown, the odor removal device includes a container 4, a photocatalytic module 1, a light source 2, a fan 5, and a baffle plate 6.

[0145] The container 4 includes a body 43 and a lid 44. The body 43 has a receiving space and an open end. The lid 44 is located at the open end and is connected to the body 43 to form a relatively closed receiving cavity. The length of the container 4 extends in the same direction as the second direction Y, the width extends in the same direction as the third direction Z, and the height extends in the same direction as the first direction X. The container 4 has a relatively low height; its height is less than its width, and its width is less than its length, making the entire container 4 a flat, rectangular box. The body 43 of the container 4 has an inlet 41 and an outlet 42. The body 43 includes a side wall opposite to the lid 44, two side walls arranged along the second direction Y, and two side walls arranged along the third direction Z. The inlet 41 is located on the side wall of the body 43 opposite to the lid 44 and includes a plurality of spaced-apart circular vent holes arranged within a circular area. The circular area is adapted to the shape of the air inlet of the fan 5. The outlet 42 is located on one side wall of the housing 43 in the second direction Y. The outlet 42 includes multiple strip-shaped holes, which are arranged sequentially along the third direction Z, and the length extension direction of the strip-shaped holes is consistent with the first direction X.

[0146] The photocatalytic module 1, light source 2, fan 5 and guide plate 6 are housed in the housing box 4.

[0147] The air inlet of the fan 5 is adjacent to and connected to the inlet 41 of the receiving box 4, and the air outlet of the fan 5 is provided with at least two guide plates 6, which form at least one guide channel. For example Figures 1 to 3The three guide plates 6 shown form two flow channels. Along the airflow direction from inlet 41 to outlet 42, the photocatalytic module 1 is located downstream of the fan 5. The guide plates 6 guide the airflow from the fan 5 outlet to the photocatalytic module 1. A light source 2 is located between the photocatalytic module 1 and outlet 42. There can be two or more light sources 2, spaced apart along the third direction Z, to provide uniform excitation light to the photocatalytic module 1, ensuring complete illumination of its entire surface. The arrangement of the fan 5 outlet, guide plates 6, photocatalytic module 1, light sources 2, and outlet 42 is parallel to the second direction Y.

[0148] The photocatalytic module 1 includes a carrier 11 and a photocatalyst 12. The carrier 11 is made of a porous material, thus having pores 14 distributed throughout it. The carrier 11 also has multiple through holes 13 to allow the airflow introduced through the inlet 41 to pass through the through holes 13 and finally exit from the outlet 42, reducing the resistance to airflow through the photocatalytic module 1. The photocatalyst 12 is coated on the entire surface of the carrier 11. The photocatalytic module 1 is rectangular. The length extension direction of the photocatalytic module 1 is consistent with the width extension direction of the housing 4.

[0149] The photocatalyst 12 includes titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, tin dioxide, etc. Optionally, the photocatalyst 12 is titanium dioxide. Preferably, the photocatalyst 12 is anatase titanium dioxide semiconductor with a particle size of 5 nm. The carrier 11 is made of a porous material, which may include zeolite, activated carbon, etc. Preferably, the porous material is X-type porous honeycomb zeolite.

[0150] In some embodiments, the light source 2 includes an ultraviolet lamp.

[0151] The working process of the odor removal device is as follows: When the fan 5 is powered on, gas is drawn in from the inlet 41 of the container 4. The gas flows out from the outlet of the fan 5 and is evenly dispersed towards the photocatalytic module 1 under the guidance of the guide plate 6. The odor molecules are adsorbed by the photocatalytic module 1 and simultaneously oxidized and decomposed by the active particles generated by ultraviolet light. The clean air is then discharged from the outlet 42 of the container 4.

[0152] The photocatalytic module 1 is constructed by loading a photocatalyst 12 onto the surface of a carrier 11. The photocatalyst 12 can be selected as anatase titanium dioxide semiconductor with a particle size of 5nm, and the carrier 11 can be selected as X-type porous honeycomb zeolite. Actual measurements show that the 5nm anatase titanium dioxide exhibits extremely high catalytic activity, and the X-type porous honeycomb zeolite has a strong adsorption capacity for organic odor gases inside the refrigerator. The ultraviolet lamp can be selected as a high-power UVA LED, due to its higher light energy conversion efficiency and lower cost compared to UVB and UVC.

[0153] Photocatalyst 12 is excited by the excitation light provided by light source 2 to generate active particles. These active particles are used to oxidize and decompose odor molecules. Specifically, when the excitation light provided by light source 2 irradiates the surface of photocatalytic module 1, and the photon energy is higher than the absorption threshold of photocatalyst 12, the valence band electrons of photocatalyst 12 undergo interband transitions, that is, they transition from the valence band to the conduction band, thereby generating electron-hole pairs, forming a hole in the valence band and an electron in the conduction band. Typically, the photogenerated hole reacts with the H2O adsorbed on the surface of photocatalyst 12 to form a highly oxidizing hydroxyl radical (·OH). In photocatalyst 12, the hole has greater reactivity and is the main energy-carrying component. Simultaneously, the electron reacts with the oxygen molecules adsorbed on the surface to generate superoxide ion radicals (·O2). － The free radicals include hydroxyl radicals (·OH), etc. These free radicals are highly reactive and can directly oxidize and decompose various organic substances attached to the surface of the photocatalyst 12 into inorganic small molecules such as CO2 and H2O, thereby achieving the functions of decomposing organic odors, decomposing ethylene gas, and removing microorganisms from the air.

[0154] The odor-removing device provided in this embodiment can be installed at the top of the refrigerator or in other locations that facilitate air circulation, thereby achieving the purpose of rapid odor removal in the refrigerator.

[0155] The odor removal method of the odor removal device provided in this embodiment includes a photocatalytic module 1, a light source 2 (ultraviolet lamp), a fan 5, etc. It adopts a "first adsorption, then decomposition" approach to achieve rapid and efficient odor removal for different odor forms and usage scenarios. First, the fan 5 draws the odor gas into the receiving box 4. The porous material rapidly adsorbs and enriches the odor gas, meeting the user's requirement for rapid odor removal and increasing the concentration of the odor gas within the pores to allow it to come into close contact with the catalyst. Then, ultraviolet light excites the photocatalyst 12 (titanium dioxide electron-hole cavitation) to generate high-energy active particles that react with the odor gas, ultimately causing the odor gas to be completely decomposed into odorless small molecules and discharged. Simultaneously, the adsorption capacity of the porous material is restored. This achieves highly efficient catalysis and complete decomposition.

[0156] refer to Figure 6 The refrigerator uses a deodorizing device to remove odors as follows:

[0157] 1) When a user plugs in the refrigerator for the first time, the refrigerator has accumulated a large amount of organic odor gas due to the long-term closure during storage and transportation. Therefore, first determine whether the refrigerator is being plugged in for the first time. If so, immediately enter the forced deodorization mode.

[0158] In forced odor removal mode, the odor removal device's fan 5 is turned on, and the ultraviolet lamp is activated.

[0159] After the fan 5 is turned on for 10 minutes (5 min to 15 min), it is determined that the photocatalytic module 1 has finished adsorbing odor molecules, and the fan 5 is turned off. After the ultraviolet lamp is turned on for 20 minutes (10 min to 30 min), it is determined that the photocatalytic module 1 has finished decomposing odor molecules, and the ultraviolet lamp is turned off.

[0160] Actual tests show that the odor removal device achieves an odor removal rate of over 95% within 10 minutes, and after 20 minutes of ultraviolet light irradiation, it can basically restore more than 90% of its adsorption capacity.

[0161] 2) During normal use of the refrigerator, if the user feels an odor inside the refrigerator, or puts in food with an odor or food that is easily affected by cross-contamination of odors, the user can manually select to enter the forced odor removal mode.

[0162] 3) If it is not the first time the refrigerator is powered on, and the user has not selected the forced deodorization mode during normal use, then it will enter the normal mode.

[0163] In normal mode, since the accumulation of odorous gases from food inside the refrigerator is a relatively long process, in order to ensure the accuracy of odor gas concentration monitoring inside the refrigerator, the odor gas concentration sensor inside the refrigerator can collect the current odor concentration value inside the refrigerator every hour and calculate the average value over a previous period (e.g., from the current time to the previous 6 hours), and compare it with the odor gas concentration from the previous hour to a previous period (e.g., from the previous hour to the 6 hours before the previous hour), and adopt different deodorization methods according to different increases.

[0164] If the average odor concentration increases by 0-20% year-on-year in the first 6 hours, then enter the first odor removal mode, turn on the fan 5 of the odor removal device, and turn on the ultraviolet lamp.

[0165] In the first odor-eliminating mode, after the fan 5 is turned on for 5 minutes (selectable range 3 minutes to 10 minutes), it is determined that the photocatalytic module 1 has finished adsorbing odor molecules, and the fan 5 is turned off; after the ultraviolet lamp is turned on for 10 minutes (selectable range 6 minutes to 20 minutes), it is determined that the photocatalytic module 1 has finished decomposing odor molecules, and the ultraviolet lamp is turned off, so that the presence of odor gas can be almost undetectable during daily use.

[0166] If the average odor concentration increases by 20% to 50% year-on-year in the first 6 hours, it indicates that food with an odor (such as onions, garlic, etc.) may have been placed in the refrigerator or that food in the refrigerator has spoiled. In this case, the forced odor removal mode will be activated, the fan 5 of the odor removal device will be turned on, and the ultraviolet lamp will be turned on to quickly remove odor gases.

[0167] In the forced odor removal mode, after the fan 5 is turned on for 10 minutes (5 min to 15 min), it is determined that the photocatalytic module 1 has finished adsorbing odor molecules, and the fan 5 is turned off. After the ultraviolet lamp is turned on for 20 minutes (10 min to 30 min), it is determined that the photocatalytic module 1 has finished decomposing odor molecules, and the ultraviolet lamp is turned off.

[0168] If the average odor concentration in the first 6 hours increases by more than 50% compared to the previous year, it indicates that food with a strong odor (such as durian) may have been placed in the refrigerator or that food in the refrigerator may have rotted. In this case, the second odor removal mode will be activated, the fan 5 of the odor removal device will be turned on, and the ultraviolet lamp will be turned on.

[0169] In the second odor-eliminating mode, after fan 5 is turned on for 30 minutes (20-40 minutes), it is determined that the photocatalytic module 1 has finished adsorbing odor molecules, and fan 5 is turned off. After the ultraviolet lamp is turned on for 60 minutes (40-80 minutes), it is determined that the photocatalytic module 1 has finished decomposing odor molecules, and the ultraviolet lamp is turned off. Tests were conducted using odor gases with concentrations exceeding 1000 times the human olfactory level, achieving complete adsorption within 30 minutes and complete decomposition within 60 minutes.

[0170] Finally, after each odor removal "decomposition" cycle, fan 5 uses a variable speed (e.g., running at 500 rpm for 5 seconds, then 1000 rpm for 5 seconds, then 2000 rpm for 5 seconds, then 3000 rpm for 5 seconds, then 4000 rpm for 5 seconds, and so on, for a total of 5 minutes) to blow away dust, foreign objects, or decomposition products (such as water, carbon dioxide, etc.) from the photocatalytic module 1, preventing them from occupying the active sites in the pores and causing a decrease in adsorption capacity. Therefore, even in the low-temperature environment of a refrigerator, efficient catalytic decomposition and rapid removal of odor gases can be achieved.

[0171] Therefore, different deodorization modes can be adopted according to different user usage methods or the actual cleanliness of the refrigerator to always ensure the cleanliness of the air inside the refrigerator, while reducing energy consumption and extending the service life of the device.

[0172] The odor removal device provided in this embodiment can quickly and efficiently remove odors from the refrigerator without causing secondary pollution, and its lifespan can cover the entire product life cycle of the refrigerator.

[0173] Based on the description of the above embodiments, the odor removal method provided by this utility model has at least the following characteristics and effects:

[0174] 1) Due to the accumulation of odors from small-molecule organic VOCs emitted from the polymer plastics that make up the refrigerator, when the user first powers on the refrigerator, the refrigerator, having accumulated a large amount of organic odor gases due to prolonged periods of storage and transportation with the door closed, immediately enters a forced odor removal mode upon first power-on. The odor removal device's fan runs for 10 minutes, the UV lamp is on for 20 minutes, and then it is turned off. Actual tests show that the device achieves an odor removal rate of over 95% within 10 minutes, and after 20 minutes of UV irradiation, it can restore over 90% of the adsorption capacity.

[0175] 2) Due to the odor emitted by the stored items, if the user feels an odor in the refrigerator during normal use, or if food with an odor or food that is easily affected by cross-contamination is placed inside, the user can manually select to enter the forced odor removal mode.

[0176] 3) The odors produced by food spoilage and deterioration during food storage, as well as the accumulation of odorous gases in the refrigerator, is a relatively long process. Therefore, to ensure the accuracy of odor gas concentration monitoring in the refrigerator, an odor gas concentration sensor in the refrigerator can collect the current odor concentration in the refrigerator every hour and calculate the average value over a period of time (e.g., 6 hours). This value can be compared with the odor gas concentration of the previous hour, and different deodorization methods can be adopted according to different increases.

[0177] 4) After each odor removal "decomposition" cycle, the centrifugal fan uses a variable speed (e.g., running at 500 rpm for 5 seconds, then 1000 rpm for 5 seconds, then 2000 rpm for 5 seconds, then 3000 rpm for 5 seconds, then 4000 rpm for 5 seconds, and so on) to blow away dust, foreign matter, or decomposition products (such as water, carbon dioxide, etc.) from the photocatalytic module 1, preventing them from occupying the active sites in the pores and causing a decrease in adsorption capacity. Using a variable speed prevents large particles from being blown into the pores of the porous material by strong winds, causing blockage. First, a low wind speed is used to blow away large particles, and then the wind speed is gradually increased until small molecules are blown away.

[0178] 5) While chemical decomposition technology has high reaction efficiency under high temperature and high concentration conditions, its reaction efficiency is low under low temperature conditions inside a refrigerator, making it difficult to remove low concentrations of odors. Therefore, photocatalysts are activated by providing excitation light from a light source to catalyze the decomposition of organic odors, ethylene gas, and remove microorganisms from the air. This method is suitable for low-temperature environments such as refrigerators.

[0179] Based on the above embodiments of the present invention, in the absence of explicit denial or conflict, the technical features of one embodiment can be advantageously combined with one or more other embodiments.

[0180] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail by way of examples, those skilled in the art should understand that the above examples are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can be made to the above embodiments or equivalent substitutions can be made to some technical features without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A deodorizing device, characterized in that, include: A photocatalytic module (1) includes a carrier (11) and a photocatalyst (12), wherein the carrier (11) is configured to adsorb odor molecules, and the photocatalyst (12) is disposed on the surface of the carrier (11); and The light source (2) is configured to provide excitation light that irradiates the photocatalytic module (1) to excite the photocatalyst (12).

2. The odor-eliminating device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a container (4), which has an inlet (41) and an outlet (42). The photocatalytic module (1) is located inside the container (4) and between the inlet (41) and the outlet (42), so that the airflow introduced by the inlet (41) flows through the photocatalytic module (1) to the outlet (42).

3. The odor-eliminating device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The carrier (11) is provided with a plurality of through holes (13), which allow the airflow introduced by the inlet (41) to flow through to the outlet (42).

4. The odor-eliminating device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The light source (2) is located inside the housing (4) and downstream of the photocatalytic module (1) along the airflow direction.

5. The odor-eliminating device according to claim 2, characterized in that, It also includes a fan (5) disposed in the housing (4) and the fan (5) is configured to provide power so that airflow is introduced from the inlet (41), passes through the photocatalytic module (1) and flows out from the outlet (42).

6. The odor-eliminating device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The fan (5) is located upstream of the photocatalytic module (1) along the airflow direction.

7. The odor-eliminating device according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes a guide plate (6), which is located at the outlet of the fan (5) and is configured to guide the airflow from the fan (5) toward the photocatalytic module (1).

8. The odor-eliminating device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The number of the guide vanes (6) is at least two.

9. The odor-eliminating device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The carrier (11) is made of porous material.

10. The odor-eliminating device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A fan (5) is configured to provide power to direct airflow toward the photocatalytic module (1); as well as A controller electrically connected to the light source (2) and the fan (5) is configured to control the fan (5) and the light source (2) to turn on when odor removal is required.

11. The odor-eliminating device according to claim 10, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to turn off the fan (5) and keep the light source (2) on when it is determined that the photocatalytic module (1) has finished adsorbing odor molecules but has not finished decomposing odor molecules.

12. A refrigerator, characterized in that, Includes the odor-eliminating device according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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